The No Mo - Week Four

By now the staches of the world are in full bloom. Carefully groomed with a loving hand. Thick and bushy like a nice little broom on the upper lip of the men of the world.

But sometimes, despite their best efforts, the mo just don't grow.

My brother in-law happens to be one of the hair follicle impaired men I speak of. But he's a good sport and agreed to give me a quick interview.

Q: Why is Movember important to you?

A: Movember is important to me because it sheds light onto a topic that is typically not spoken about due to men being shy or not vocal about this issue (prostate cancer). Generally when men congregate, the most popular topics to converse about are sports, cars, video games, women etc...not how your prostate is doing. Men's health isn't a typical conversation piece.

With that being said, I hope Movember becomes even more popular in future years. I know most women hate that their significant other has a hairy upper lip, but I think the individuals that look at Movember as just an excuse to grow a 'Mo' really should sit back and look at the actual meaning. 

Q: What style of 'Mo' are you growing?

The Ghost Mo

A: I've unwillingly created my own style. It's called "The Ghost Mo". The mustache will span across the entire upper lip like any other standard mustache BUT since my facial hair is very light, it is difficult to see if you're more than 5 - 10 feet away from my face. This is where the "ghost" portion comes from. The Mo is there...but you can't always see it!

Q: What's your itch factor on a scale of 1 to 5?

A: I spend every night serenading my mustache so it is very tame and has not caused me any itching issues. I think it's very important to have a strong working relationship with your mustache otherwise it will itch and potentially stunt the growth. 

To donate to Trevor and his Ghost Mo follow this link




As for the hubby, he's anxious to shave the Mo. He's managed to raise $115 towards a team total of $740, so far. Donations are still being accepted, so why not do your part and donate to the members of The Velvet Undernose today!

Five Sentence Fiction

I've decided to try my hand at Lillie McFerrin's Five Sentence Fiction. Below is a description from her blog.

What it's all about: Five Sentence Fiction is about packing a powerful punch in a tiny fist. Each week I will post a one word inspiration, then anyone wishing to participate will write a five sentence story based on the prompt word. The word does not have to appear in your five sentences, just use it for direction. This week's inspiration word is : SACRIFICE

Sacrifice

She eyed the last piece of apple pie that she'd been dreaming about all day. She scooped it up with her hands and slipped in onto her plate, licking her sticky fingers. He strolled in just as she was sinking her fork into the flaky pastry, poised for that memorable first bite. His bottom lip jetted out and her heart melted into a mushy goo not unlike the apple filing. She handed him the fork and watched as a smile spread across his face. 

Movember Week 3 - The Man Behind the Mo

Mr. Mo Captain - Sean

Meet the man behind The Velvet Undernose! The man who created the team. Captain Sean shares why Movember is important to him.

Q: Why is Movember important to you? 

A: My grandfather was a huge figure in my life and he died of complications from prostate cancer.  When I first heard about it, MOvember was the easy and fun way to contribute to a growing problem.  Breast cancer is so "out there" because women tend to be more vocal about issues - men are too passive and this is a great tool to use.

Q: Tell us about The Velvet Undernose

A: The Velvet Undernose is a growing team, we have founding members that dedicate their face to their art every November, and at the end of the month we do a hairy gathering.  We do our collective best to snare as many donations as possible, but the hidden agenda is to have fun looking totally ridiculous for one month - and getting away with it.

Q: How can people help?

A: Support The Velvet Undernose. Make a donation to our team, or get a tattoo that says you care about my prostate, whichever is easiest for you.  Either way, prostate cancer must be cured, so the more awareness, the better.  Plus you can touch my 'stache too after you touch Ryan's.

Q: What style of Mo are you growing?

A: " 70's Art-Rock Retro ", when I meet new clients, I introduce my stache as "the real deal sex appeal".  I think it's catching on.

Q: What's your itch factor on a scale of 1 to 5? 

A: No itch.  It's more like a soft and loving caress. Whenever I can, I gently brush it from side to side like a caged tiger I just caught. When I ever so gently kiss my wife's cheek, the tiger roars and makes it's presence known.  No itch: though a wild beast, it is my ally.  

To make a donation to Sean and his 70's Art-Rock Retro Mo follow this link

Brandon contemplating his Mo

This week Brandon's Mo is really started to come in nicely. And by nicely I mean absolutely sick. It's getting quite hard to take anything he has to say serious. I often find myself laughing or staring at the Mo.

When asked about his itch factor, he stated:

"Now that the broom is starting to grow longer, it's less about the itch and more about the maintenance. I am learning how to embrace the stache and it has almost reached its full potential! God I'm SEXY!"

To make a donation to Brandon and his life changing Mo follow this link

Interview with My Mo Bro - Week Two

We're two weeks into Movember and once again the hubby is hairier. Hairier and greasier. '70s Porn Star greasy. Yeah...like that.

So this week I decided to keep the title the same because the interview is quite literally with my brother, Ryan.

Ryan is also a proud member of The Velvet Undernose. He's been known to dye his sick stache and from what I can tell, he actually enjoys sporting a Mo. I'm sure you'll agree after reading his
Q & A.

Q: Why is Movember important to you?

A: Cancer affects so many people in our lives. It's nice to get involved and try to raise money and awareness while having a few laughs along the way. Plus it gives me an excuse to showcase my porn star-esque, charming, yet oh so sexy, hypnotizing demeanor, something that I have to harness the other 11 months of the year...

Q: Tell us about The Velvet Undernose.

A: A good group of dirty mustachios. Best part is the party at the end of the month where my moustache tends to drink more than I do.

Ryan and his "Bread Maker" Mo

Q: How can people support you and The Velvet Undernose?

A: Show me the money baby!! If you're lucky I might let you touch my stache...

Q: What style of Mo are you growing?

A: I like to call it the "Bread Maker". Interpret that as you wish..

Q: On a scale of 1 to 5, how itchy is your Mo?

A: First off, you need to learn to embrace the stache. I don't itch, itching is for catfish-faced prepubescent rookies. These things have a mind of their own and you have to learn to love them. Sometimes I actually wonder to myself...am I growing a moustache or is the stache growing me???

If you want to donate to Ryan and his Bread Maker Mo follow this link.

Learning to embrace the Mo

This week Brandon has listed his itchy factor as a 3 stating...and I quote...

"I give it a 3 cuz I'm still learning how to embrace the stache."

If you want to donate to Brandon and his Undercover Brother Mo follow this link.

If you missed Brandon's Q & A don't fret! You can check out his feelings about Movember by clicking HERE .

Interview with a Mo Bro - Week One

With week one of Movember now behind us, we careen into week two a little bit hairier. Not me of course, the hubby. Though I did debate not shaving my legs. It is Movember after all.

When I first decided to blog about Brandon's journey, I figured it would be a good idea to do a little  research. I found the following facts on Movember's website.

Prostate Cancer Canada

I was quite surprised to learn that on average, 11 Canadian men will die of prostate cancer every day. I also learned that in 2011, there have been more cases of prostate cancer diagnosed than breast cancer.

But it's not just about prostate cancer. Movember is about promoting men's health in general.

• The average life expectancy for men is five years less than women. With men's average age being 78 to women's 83.
• After cancer, the leading cause of death in men is heart disease.
• Among Canadians of all ages, 4 out of every 5 suicides are male.
• 5% more men will develop cancer during their lifetimes in Canada than women.

Those few facts alone are astounding and reinforced for me, how important Movember really is. As someone who has a family member that is battling prostate cancer, I can't emphasize enough how important early detection is. My grandpa has been living and managing his prostate cancer since the '90s. Thankfully his cancer was detected early enough that the doctors were able to offer medical treatments to improve the quality of his life.

Men's health can be somewhat of a tricky topic. Men are often tight-lipped when it comes to anything that concerns their health. Unfortunately this silence ensures that these important health concerns continue to fade into the background.

While the fight to put an end to breast cancer has gained immense coverage over the years, prostate cancer is slowly moving into the light. Movember Canada partnered with Prostate Cancer Canada encourage men to take a stand and speak out against this terrible disease.

As promised I've included a short Q & A with Brandon to get his thoughts on his Movember experience so far.

Brandon's dirty Mo after week one. Lord help us.

Q: Why is Movember important to you?

A: First off I think it's a great fundraiser. I also think it's really funny to see everyone grow a moustache and laugh at each other.

Q: What's the name of your team? Tell us about them.

A: Our team name is The Velvet Undernose. The team is made up of a group of really funny guys that are willing to sacrifice their face for a good cause.

Q:  How can people support you and The Velvet Undernose?
A: If people want to support us they can follow the link and donate to either myself or the team. 

What his Mo should look like.

Q: What style of Mo are you growing?

A: This year I've decided to grow The Undercover Brother.

Q: On a scale of 1 to 5, how itchy is your Mo?

A: Umm...I'd say it's only a 1 right now. Until it starts growing in more.

Next week I'll chat with another member of The Velvet Undernose and get an update on Brandon's Undercover Brother Mo. Stay tuned! 

Will You Donate to Help Change the Face of Men's Health?