Breast cancer myths and rumors are endless and recently the rumor that sleeping in a bra can cause breast cancer has been circulating. Ever since the husband and wife team Singer and Grismaijer reported that bras cause cancer in the 1990s, breast health experts have been working to dispel this claim.

Well, you can breathe a sigh of relief because based on cancer research it looks like wearing your makeup to bed is more dangerous than sleeping in a bra. The American Cancer Society confirms “we do not know of any epidemiologic studies published in scientific journals that suggest bras directly contribute to breast cancer.” That includes bras with underwire, bras that don’t fit, or wearing a bra for too many hours a day. Wearing a bra has no link to cancer.

The Maurer Foundation understands that the myths can be rattling so it explains the theory and why it makes no sense. It was reported that underwire can cause pressure to the chest area causing toxins in the lymph system to be blocked. While this sounds like it makes sense, the cause of breast cancer has no link to the lymph system. Instead, breast cancer is believed to be blamed on gene mutations that lead to cells dividing suddenly and rapidly. The actual cause of the mutation is not known.

Need more reasons to doubt the claim that bras cause cancer? How about this: Men get breast cancer too. Also, breast cancer is older than bras! It is reported that breast tumors were detected as early as 1600 BC, but modern day bras weren’t sold until the mid-1930s.

The conversation reminds us of the signs of breast cancer and the obvious links to the disease.

Get a mammography every year after 40 years old, or younger depending on your family history. Look for the following when doing a breast exam:

• changes to breast shape or size
• breast dimpling, rash or other skin changes
• unusual or persistent breast pain
• nipple sores or discharge
• swelling or discomfit in armpit

Women’s risk factors include:

• personal and family history
• inheritance of mutations in the genes BRCA2, BRCA1 and CHEK2,
• exposure to female hormones (natural and administered)
• poor diet and inadequate exercise
• excessive alcohol consumption

So ladies, eat, sleep, jog, meditate, shower, whatever you want – all while wearing your bra! There is no evidence that your bra is bad for your health. Knowing that, maybe it’s time to order a few more CupCases for packing bras and bra protection! (Especially while the Charming Cheetah and Spot on Leopard are on sale through summer!)

Remember when reusable shopping bags started popping up in grocery stores? They were functional (yeah!), reusable (double yeah!) and usually shaped like a paper bag with the store’s logo (yawn).

Oh, how far they’ve come! These days, reusable bags are seeing more than grocery store aisles. The colors and patterns are endless and they’re popping up everywhere. We’ve seen reusable bags at the beach full of essential beach needs, the farmers market where they provide ample room for lots of fresh fruits and veggies, the library for a convenient way to carry books, and on overnight stays for a change of clothes and toiletries (and plenty of room for your Cupcase!). These bags are usually made from fabric like canvas, woven synthetic fibers or plastic and are lightweight and can easily be stored when not in use.

If you’re active and need a sporty-looking bag to take to the gym, bike riding or even a day hike, check out the Glacier Sling rePETe. At $14.99 this messenger style bag can carry up to 40 pounds. It’s machine washable and made of 99% recycled content. When the bag isn’t in use, simply stuff it into the included pouch for easy storage.

For a chic disposable bag, Baggu offers great styles in more than 40 colors and all for $7 and up. Our faves are the Big Baggu ($12. I know! Crazy low!) and the Baby Baggu ($7. Even lower!). At these prices, grab multiple bags to compliment any outfit and any activity.

For a quality, versatile bag, Bed Bath and Beyond’s Totester  is a great buy at $19.99. This bag can be a cute clutch by night and with a quick unzip, become a roomy tote by day. We love that!

We can’t get enough of these great bags that are perfect for any occasion. How fab is it that we can look stylish and take care of the environment at the same time? Just don’t forget to pack your CupCase!

Ladies, if you haven’t purchased a CupCase yet, you have no more excuses. This summer the Spot on Leopard and Charming Cheetah styles are on SALE! We all love a good sale!

For $19.95, you can have your choice of these animal prints. Can’t decide? Just order both! Each CupCase is regularly priced at $24.95, but through the end of summer (Sept. 21), we’re offering a $5 discount on the animal prints. Since they’re on sale, it makes it even easier to buy one for your sis, your mom and your friends. After all, Christmas will be here before you know it! Getting married? A CupCase is the perfect gift for each of your bridesmaids, too. What girl wouldn’t love to travel with such a stylish travel accessory?

The feedback keeps coming and we can’t stop smiling. CupCase gets lots of praise for its design and size and clever way to pack bras. Designed to protect your bra when traveling, CupCase is genius enough to serve additional purposes. Girls love stashing their panties, tights, jewelry, scrunchies – even their money in a CupCase. It easily transfers from your suitcase to the hotel bathroom counter or a drawer so you can keep your intimates organized and protected and travel with bras without worry.

This sale only lasts through September 21, so order now before we sell out! Show off your wild side and order a Spot on Leopard and a Charming Cheetah CupCase. Which is your favorite?

A luau is the perfect way to survive this blistering heat and we’re here to help you plan the perfect Hawaiian-themed party with everything from coconut bras to easy-to-learn hula moves!

Since the temperatures are almost unbearable, party guests will welcome the idea of wearing casual clothes – and very little of them, at that. Luaus wouldn’t be luaus without coconut bras and grass skirts. If you’re the crafty kind, making a coconut bra is pretty simple. It just takes a coconut and string to make and a whole lot of confidence to wear! Ordering a coconut bra online is also an option. It’s one-size fits all and they’re pretty cheap.

A grass skirt with bikini bottoms underneath is the only way to complete the luau look. And you must have the grass skirt for all the hula dancing you’ll be doing!

The history of hula dancing  dates back for centuries. Hula dancing is more complicated than the left to right hip swing most people do. This dance has many movements that are meant to tell a story.  Hawaiians are known to perform this dance at religious ceremonies and social gatherings. At your social gathering, teach your guests some authentic hula moves. The Hukilau is an easy dance to start with.
Check out this how to hula website for the Hukilau and many more hula dances.

We’d love for you to post some pictures of your luau on CupCase’s Facebook page. A big “Aloha” from CupCase!

Ladies, it’s hot out there — make-up-melting-from-your-face hot! MSNBC reported that over the past six months we’ve seen the highest temperatures on record. And according to climate models, there’s no end in sight.

Stifling temperatures can’t ruin all the summer fun. Plan a pool or beach get together and mix up some refreshing drinks to help keep you and your guests cool. Just remember to pack sunscreen and lots and lots of ice!

Beat the heat with these cocktails:

Spicy Skinnygirl Margarita

Real Housewife of New York Bethenny Frankel started Skinnygirl in 2009. Her low calorie, pre-mixed flavored vodkas have become the fastest growing liquor product in the country.

Ingredients:
4 1/4-inch Slices jalapeño (seeds removed)
1.5 ounces Skinnygirl Margarita
Handful of ice

How to mix:
In a cocktail shaker, muddle jalapeño slices
Pour Skinnygirl Margarita over the jalapeños
Add ice and shake
Pour into glass with ice

Citrus Splash

When life hands you lemons, make a pitcher of drinks with them … and invite several friends over because this recipe makes a 10-cup pitcher!

Ingredients:
2 Lemons
2 Oranges
2 Limes
1 Kiwi, peeled and sliced
1 Nectarine, sliced into wedges
1/4 cup Fresh blueberries
3/4 cup Regular simple syrup
3 cups Ice
2-3 cup Club soda
Fresh strawberries for garnish
How to Mix:

• Slice half of one of the oranges, lemons and limes into thin slices and put in a large pitcher.
• Juice the remaining one and a half orange, lime and lemon and pour into pitcher.
• Add simple syrup, kiwi, nectarine and blueberries and stir to combine.
• Add club soda.
• To serve, pour into individual glasses including a bit of fruit. Make a small slit in the pointed end of a strawberry and wedge it onto the rim of the glass.

Caipirissima

Pour this cocktail into a martini glass. No matter how much you’re sweating through your sundress, a martini glass can still make you feel cool and refined.

Ingredients:
1.5 oz. Oronoco® Rum
5 Lime wedges
1 Twist
Sugar
3 oz. Freshly squeezed lime juice
Crushed ice

How to Mix:
In a shaker, muddle 4 lime wedges and sugar.
Add Oronoco® Rum, lime juice and ice.
Shake vigorously.
Strain contents into a chilled martini glass and garnish with lime wedge.

Stay cool! Cheers!

Pregnancy is one of the most exciting times in a woman’s life. To prepare for the arrival of your newborn, there’s an endless amount of to-dos and to-don’ts to learn. One of the last to-dos before the baby is born is to pack a bag for the hospital.

We attended a baby shower recently and the poor mom-to-be hadn’t even thought about her hospital bag. To help this gal out, we thought we’d make a checklist for her and other pregnant ladies out there who have yet to pack their bag.

We love The Bump for all things baby, and it has some of the following suggestions for packing the hospital bag:

1.) Paperwork like insurance information, hospital registration forms and birth plan.

2.) Nightgowns, robe, slippers and a few pair of socks for walking the hall when in labor – or walking anywhere in the hospital. Who knows what those floors have seen.

3.) Lip balm, hairbrush, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, face wash (or a few of those handy facial wipes), makeup (got to look good for all those pictures!), shampoo, conditioner, lotion, hair dryer, contacts, eyeglasses and a headband or hair ties.

4.) Journal or notepad and pen.

5.) Cell phone, charger and a list of phone numbers and email addresses for spreading the new baby news.

6.) Camera, film, extra memory card, battery or charger.

7.) Clothes and shoes for wearing home. And don’t even kid yourself; pack maternity clothes, not pre-pregnancy clothes.

8.) Breast pump and nursing pads.

9.) Nursing bra. Breasts go through so many changes when pregnant and nursing. It’s important that the nursing bra provide proper support, fits in the cups and around the ribs, and is comfortable for you and the baby who will be trying to latch on. It’s a good idea to get fitted by an expert to avoid buying bras that don’t fit or aren’t practical when trying to nurse. It can’t hurt and might save you lots of time and money – two things new moms are often short on! Some hospitals have a lactation center and will fit as well as sell nursing bras there.

10.) CupCase Your Bras – Honey, if you’ve just shelled out a lot of cash on those expensive nursing bras, you might as well make sure they arrive at the hospital in style, as well as safe and sound! The CupCase will hold at least a couple of your nursing bras and protect them from getting crushed or snagged in your hospital bag. There will probably be a little room left over for your hair ties and jewelry!

Feel free to share this checklist with any pregnant ladies you know! And if you’re heading to any baby showers this summer, a CupCase makes a great gift, wink-wink. J

For women, the only sure things in life are death, taxes and droopy boobs. Gravity grabs a hold of our breasts from the moment we outgrow our first training bra and it doesn’t let go until our breasts are hanging like pendulums. Boo!

Mother Nature gave us the ability to birth babies, handle stress and live longer than men, but she provided no natural support for our boobs, darnit! The average weight of a pair of breasts is 2 to 4 pounds and with no support, they will eventually sag.

Why oh why is this every woman’s fate? Is there something, anything, we can do to keep the girls up and perky?

One of our guilty pleasures (if you hadn’t noticed) is reading a certain British newspaper online. The Daily Mail is full of all kinds of “helpful” information, and they really lay stuff out there for you. They’re quite open with bodies, skin and no-holds-barred info. Here are a few tips from the Daily Mail on ways to help preserve our youthful breasts:

Genetics and size are factors in breast firmness. More connective tissue and glands usually means perky bosoms. Women with larger, heavier breasts will experience more stretching and pulling on the skin and ligaments, resulting in sagginess.

Maintain a healthy weight to prevent drooping. Gaining and losing weight causes the tissue in the breasts to thicken and then thin which will cause them to lose firmness.

Don’t blame nursing on your post-baby boobs. During pregnancy, milk glands in breasts expand and contract causing the changes in your breasts. Breastfeeding is very beneficial to babies and doesn’t affect a mother’s breasts.

Don’t smoke cigarettes. Smoking causes the skin to lose its collagen and elastin, which helps keep breasts firm. There you go, yet another reason not to smoke. How many more do women need?

Wear support when exercising. Running in particular causes boobs to bounce and that takes a toll on the girls.  Do them a favor and wear a high-quality, supportive sports bra.

Hormones cause changes in a woman’s breasts. During the menstruating years, breasts can retain water during every cycle causing a fluctuation in their size. After menopause, milk ducts and glands are no longer needed and begin to shrink, causing less firmness.

We know that our bodies will change as we age, but committing to a healthy lifestyle does have a positive impact. We’re feeling perkier already!

Tanlines can be a drag. Let’s say you bought a fabulous strapless for a special occasion this summer. And when you wear it, you don’t want a giant racing back tanline across your shoulders and back from wearing your jog bra to exercise outdoors. As we all know, the sun is strong and it doesn’t take long to sear a tanline anywhere on your body.

The Naked Sports Bra may be able to help you avoid this situation. The bra is racer-back style, but it has a tan-through micromesh fabric (SPF 7) on the shoulders to prevent tanlines when exercising outdoors. It’s stretchy, moisture-wicking and lightweight and it comes in four tie-dye colors: green, red, orange and blue.

It was created by former college volleyball champ Reilly Star and costume designer Katie Sue Nicklos. The bra provides “modest” support comes in sizes XS-L and is priced at $42. The company’s website says Naked Sports Tanks are coming soon.

If you’re looking to cover up all together, this stylish maxi “swim dress” by Parasol would do the trick. This sun-protectant dress is so versatile, with its summery colors and timeless design, you could transition easily from the beach to sunset cocktails. Parasol makes this dress using its signature lightweight Italian fabric and the dress is rated UPF 50!

The company actually has a ton of different swim clothing for women and girls. The company was created by a woman who wanted to protect her skin from the sun with stylish, functional clothing and couldn’t find any. So, she designed her own products started her own company. (Sounds a lot like CupCase’s story!)

Have fun in the sun this summer!

Done any water sports this summer? We’re betting that you’ve been handed a lifejacket that squished the girls flat as pancakes. No matter how you adjust the straps on the lifejacket, you just get smushed; otherwise, it’s too loose and unsafe.

Well, after a little research, we found that there are actual personal flotation devices, or PFDs, made to suit a woman’s body. We’ve compiled some great info for you ladies because the right size/fit is important if you happen to wear a lifejacket a lot and even more important for comfort if you have big breasts. (However, if your only choice is a one-size-fits-all lifejacket, please be sure to wear it to stay safe.)

The outfitter REI says when selecting a PFD, it should be snug and fit like a glove. You should still be able to move freely and the jacket shouldn’t chafe while you’re paddling or playing. To make sure you get the best fit, try a PFD while wearing what you plan to wear under the jacket. For example, if you’re paddling a canoe down the river, wear your paddling clothes to try on the PFD.

Here’s the good part: “Women should consider women-specific PFDs versus unisex styles. Women’s PFDs may offer a better fit thanks to princess seams, contoured cups for larger bust lines and styles made for longer torsos.”

Princess seams and contoured cups? Sounds perfect!

Austin Kayak offers a newly redesigned Stohlquist Cruiser High Back PFD. It’s shaped just for women with a smaller cut, shortened torso and supportive inner cups. Its neoprene padded shoulders and lower back waist band are easy on the skin when worn with a swimsuit. A wide range of adjustability makes for the perfect fit.

So now we know: lifejackets are not created equal! Try the difference between a one-size-fits-all jacket and one made for women’s bodies. We know which one we’ll don for our next water activity! How about you?