Wordless Wednesday ~ Brothers in Arms

CAKE - Rawr !

Though we never met his Birth Mother and I don't know if we ever will ... 'thank you for 'our' special son'. 

DS is a great 'dude', though he drives me wild at times ... loved by all our family and many others.

S & J adore him, the original Drummer boy. He came for his birthday visit last weekend.

I hope his BM knows in her heart what a blessing he has been to our family.

While you are here why not enter my current giveaways !

Cadbury Marvellous Chocolate 

AntiOx Snacks and Dark Chocolate  

 Peter Pan Blu-ray

 ♥

Family Movie Night ~ {Peter Pan Giveaway}

Peter Pan is one of my favorite Disney movies, with beautiful animation that carries you off into a totally different world! The animation is just so clever, imagine - pre-digital and all - how talented were artists of old.

Last Saturday night we had a family movie night. It is a great way to snuggle and connect with your kids, if they can keep still and not hog the blanket or the recliner chair.

With a sprinkle of pixie dust, the Darling children are flying toward the second star on the right , straight on till morning and Never Never Land.

Home to Peter, Tink, the Lost Boys, Tiger Lily , and the evil Captain Hook and his pirates - this enchanted island is a magical place.




Once again, trouble is brewing in Never Land.

Captain Hook is a typical Disney, goofy and bumbling villain,  intent on defeating Peter Pan as much as he is from escaping the tick-¬‐tocking crocodile that once ate his hand.

Peter Pan, a boy with a broken shadow, is filled with adventure and spunk.  Wendy John, and Michael all dream of adventure, and want to find some magic in life, as childhood slips away  because they are all growing up.

Tinkerbell is the lovable cheeky pixie/fairy. Tink is independent, sassy, smart, and  some say she was the first empowered girl that Disney created. Though she gets jealous and is a bit naughty , Tinker Bell’s special feature story is truly magical. I loved the old silent film version with real children on DVD. [The Blu has different special features.]

What I enjoyed the most was watching older versions of this classic movie, like going back in time and I didn’t know it began as a stage play.

Overall, I think this is a wonderful, magical film. It is a classic that you’ll love introducing to your children and always carry it in your heart! My boys have watched it a few times now.

Peter Pan is available in high definition picture and sound for the first time on Blu-­‐ray from 5 June
2013.

Win your own copy here - I have three copies of the Blu-Ray rrp $49.95 to give away to my readers.

Tell who your favourite Disney character is and why  ?

1. Only Australian Residents are eligible to enter.
 2. Entries not answering the question will be deemed invalid. The winner will be chosen by originality and creative merit, not by chance. Judges decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into.
3.There are 3 prizes as above. 4. Entries - Open 18/6/2013 - Close 11.59pm 30/6/2013 AEST. The winners will be notified by email, and posted to mylittledrummerboys.blogspot.com.au after they reply - Winners have 7 days to respond or a new winner will be drawn.
5. Prizes are not transferable, changeable or redeemable for cash.
6. Prizes sent out by PR firm directly will not be replaced in the event that they are stolen, lost or damaged in transit.
 
7. Subscribe to my blog  to receive MLDB updates.
8. Follow via Facebook or Bloglovin on the sidebar .

Disclaimer: was invited to the preview screening but I couldn’t attend, I was happy to review the movie because I love it. No financial payment was received.
.
 Facebook
• Follow on Twitter @DisneyStudiosAU
• View videos at www.YouTube.com/WaltDisneyStudiosAU
• www.disney.com.au/peterpan
 ♥

AntiOx Snack Bars and Chocolate {Giveaway}

Product Talk by Nuffnang

Imagine a chocolate that is good for you and that can boost your immunity*! I know my immunity has taken a beating with chemo. My immune system is still recovering 4-5 months after finishing chemo, 3 weeks ago my lymphocytes were still below normal range. I’ve had a cold/cough for 3 weeks.

Well honestly, they had me at FREE chocolate , who wouldn’t say yes. I've been spending more time in the health food aisle. Only after I was sent some to review, did I really notice the AntiOx snack bars.

Now that winter is setting in Vitality Brands has made getting your antioxidants easier, by creating delicious sugar free AntiOx Snack Bars and Chocolate, which are high in natural antioxidants.

I wasn’t sure about the sugar free but I was willing to give it a try. I like Dark chocolate, just not as much as I like Milk. Dark chocolate with 70% cocoa can be an acquired taste I find I don’t want to eat as much Dark chocolate. I am not sure if that is a good thing or not ?

My husband is not normally a fan of dark chocolate (unless it is in shape of a ball) but tried a bit of the AntiOx bar and wanted more.
"No, I have to review it ", I said.

Given that I’m earnest about enhancing my overall well-being, I’m being more careful about what I eat. It’s hard to find products that taste good and are good for you too. Plus , to eat the quantity required to completely fight free radicals.

Why are antioxidants important ?- they help our bodies fight the free radicals that contribute to ill health. Natural antioxidants are found in fruits, grains and seeds, not everyone can get enough from their diet.

I currently drink about 4-5 cups of unsweetened ‘warm’ green tea, I force it down because it’s supposed to be good for me and when the temperature drops I like to drink hot tea all day. I was advised to drink 10 cups of green tea a day....AntiOx chocolate saves the day.

One 80gm AntiOx block provides an antioxidant hit that is equivalent to twelve cups of green tea! I can handle that.The stevia – eliminates excess calories too. Not that I would eat a block a day but a few squares after running has to be good for me. Heed the warning on the packet though - excess consumption could have you running to the bathroom ;) ...I did not test this out.

My real favourites were the Anti Ox snack bars in Acai and Goji berry.They taste soft and slightly chewy, a bit like a Cherry ripe to me. I love that they are sugar free (sweetened naturally by Stevia ), as well as free from artificial colours and flavours. They are made with super fruits, super grains, wholegrains and delicious forest fruits, and covered in rich, 70% cocoa dark chocolate.

Every bite was delicious and I had to limit myself to just one bar. I’ll be keeping these tucked in my handbag when I’m out and about. The rich, smooth chocolate coating provides an additional source of antioxidants and isn’t too sweet. The Chia & Quinoa Bar I enjoyed too.

AntiOx Chocolate {Block} also combines the antioxidant super-power of sugar-free, 70% cocoa dark chocolate and super fruits- sun dried goji and acai. I would have liked more berries because I like it fruitier. It’s a good thing the kids won’t eat my AntiOx chocolate.

GIVEAWAY

Why do you want to try the new AntiOx snack bars and chocolate?

The prize is as follows: 2 prize winners each will each receive - 1 x AntiOx prize pack (valued at over $30), which includes:

• 6 x AntiOx snack bars
• 4 x AntiOx chocolates

The winners will be the entries deemed most creative by the Nuffnang judges. Chance plays no part in determining the winners.

Full terms and conditions can be found here on Nuffnang site.

Australian Residents Only.
Closes Friday 28 June 5.00pm AEST

*Just so we're clear  - Chocolate is not intended to treat, cure or prevent disease ...but it makes for a delicious way to boost immunity and make you happy.


Like AntiOx on Facebook and get a FREE bar too.
AntiOx snack bars and chocolates nutritional information here.
The AntiOx range is available in the health food aisle of supermarkets, health food stores, pharmacies and convenience stores.

Disclaimer: I received 3 x AntiOx Snack bars and 2 x AntiOx Chocolate blocks. No financial payment was received .All opinions are my own.

♥

Tour De Crawf ~ 3600km Challenge.

Today alone, 40 Australian women will hear the words ‘You have breast cancer’.
Life will never be the same again. I was one of those women exactly 12 months ago today.

I posted yesterday, the raw edges are blurred, because yesterday 12 months ago I knew it was bad news (can't miss a teary technician and a quick phone call to tell me you need to go for an urgent biospy), but 'today' (a yr ago) was when the GP confirmed my worst fears.

I love sharing stories about people who undertake incredible challenges* to raise money for my favourite charities like BCNA.

Every extra dollar raised goes towards Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA) works to ensure that women diagnosed with breast cancer, and their families, receive the very best information, treatment, care and support possible, no matter who they are or where they live.

Shane Crawford, legendary Brownlow medallist, BCNA Ambassador and The AFL Footy Show personality, will embark on his biggest challenge yet when he rides his bike 3,600km across Australia to raise funds and awareness for Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA).

Did you know I rode my bicycle 1100km from Melbourne to Sydney as a 22 yr old ...hardly ridden my bike since.

 Tour de Crawf – Ride to the other side is a gruelling 22-day marathon in which Shane will average 170 kilometres a day and will see him pass through towns such as Bendigo, Swan Hill, Mildura, Berri, Port Augusta, Kimba, Penong, Eucla, Madura, Norseman, Kalgoorlie, Yellowdine and Kellerberrin.

We drove across the Nullabor (twice from Sydney to Perth) in 2011 and that was fun ...we saw a bike rider or two and a StormTrooper who walked across. It's a LOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNG way and a lot of  

"Are we there yet Mum? " 

Crawf will be leaving Melbourne on Thursday 20 June and will ride across the Nullarbor to arrive in Perth on Thursday 11 July to meet the boys and appear on The AFL Footy Show live from Crown Perth.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to send off Crawf! at a special Bon Voyage in Melbourne Crawf will get on his bike and start his 3,600km journey at 8:30am.

• For more information and to get involved visit the Tour de Crawf page on our website.

I'm taking part in the City to Surf 14km run  as Gold Charity Runner , raising funds for Breast Cancer Network Australia too. You can help me too I've pledged to raise $1000 - sponsor me here

(Samuel Johnson's Love Your Sister) 
♥

How do you measure a year ~ Breast Cancer

It's been a year today since my breast cancer diagnosis.  ... Five Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand Six Hundred Minutes.

Give or take a few.

Do you even celebrate something like that !
Or merely celebrate living through it all and still thriving.

The Invasive Ductal carcinoma /cancer I was diagnosed with (after surgery and pathology results) was ER & P Postive (Oestrogen / Progesterone ) and HER positive (HER2 receptor positive). An aggressive kind in just 20% of women. Stage II because it had spread 3.5 mm into one Sentinel lymph node.

Right here, I would also like to point out I had very few complications. Apart from one overnight hospitalisation, for vomiting/dehydration and fever, my treatment has been relatively straightforward. Some of my friends spent weeks in hospital with 'critically' low white cells, in isolation, away from their kids.

It was none the less horrendous, they mostly leave you to suffer the side effects at home. A crap experience but you do get through it.

Having cancer ; surgery and chemotherapy, it's been a full time job. I didn't have radiation because I choose to have a mastectomy. If not it would have meant leaving home for 6wks or 4-6hrs round-trip each day to the nearest regional hospital with a Linear Accelerator (Radiation machine) ; at the time they only had one machine for all of Central West NSW .

Who's counting ...

• Double mastectomy
• Insertion of Port-a-Cath (minor operation)
• Overnight stay due to dehydration / fever
• Two breast 'core' biopsies
• Nuclear medicine scan called Lymphoscintigraphy for Sentinel Node Biospy (injections of blue dye directly into breast to map spread of cancer)
• 1 Bone scan
• 1 chest xray
• 1 chest lump ultrasound.
• 1 mammogram
• 1 breast ultrasound
• one dozen+ dressing changes -including community nurse home visits and  going to local hospital community nurse - because I had my axillary/breast drain for a month)
• 4 x three weekly AC chemotherapy (July to Sept -2 different chemos - so 8 treatments and extra anti-nausea and steroid meds - 4 to 5 hours)
• 12 x weekly Taxol Chemo October to Jan (approx -length 3 hours)
• 11 x 3 weekly Herceptin infusion (average 2 hours)...SIX more to go till October
• 4 Heart scans (3 x MUGA and Echo) ...#5 MUGA heart scan next week
• 4 Surgical consultations
• 10 Oncology consultations
• Hundreds of anti-nausea meds (I had paid $36.10 a week x 8wks for 2 pills, plus I was chomping down Maxolon by the handful)
• 20+ blood tests (guessing here - 3 weekly, then weekly for 3 months, now I have them 6wkly, my blood levels are still out of whack).
• 4 months of daily Tamoxifen tablets ...balance of 5-10 years to go.
• Hundreds of vitamins swallowed - Calcium, Vit D, Flaxseed, CQ10 and other.
• Look Good, Feel Better Program
• Encore After Breast Cancer exercise program 6 of 8 (2hrs per week -2 more weeks to go)
• 9,000kms+ traveled for surgery x 2 , surgical and oncology appointments and first 3 months of 3 weekly chemo.
• Lymphodema  Consultation and education.
• One Naturopathy consultation.
• (Another knee x-ray, thigh 'neurofibroma' ultrasound, another surgical consult).
• 2 Hair colours after my hair grew back (a first and second for me)
• Infinite hours lying awake 'sucking up' my fears and holding back tears.The fear of cancer returning is a constant worry (at times very emotionally exhausting).
• Immeasurable words of encouragement, support, prayers and friendship. I do not know how I would have done it without my HUSBAND, my family and friends and my interwebz community.
• Countless reasons to smile, find a silver lining and count my blessings.
• Hours upon hours walking, even when fatigue and nausea was knocking the stuffing out of me ,(and now with running) because exercise has proven to reduce risk of cancer returning.
• 14km City to surf, 5km Color run and 4km Mothers day Classic
• $10,000 + in medical costs, $7k-$8k out of pocket, (not including keeping our Private health Insurance going).
• Plus PUBLIC Chemotherapy patients in NSW rural and regional areas are still forced to pay* for their chemo and anti nausea medications $500 plus at the moment.

*just saying it is still subsidised on PBS - just not free like it was for my first 3 months chemo in a Sydney Public Hospital.


I don't care that I lost my breasts.Reconstruction is complicated and not on my radar any time soon. It's also very expensive...meh - I have $1000 prostheses and a frilly bra I hardly wear. Running is more fun, with less bounce.

I can't don't work apart from doing bookwork for my husband's business and mothering ...I still had to help cook, clean (maybe less because you don't need high standards living in a converted farm shed), listen to home-reading and empty the laundry basket on occasion. My husband really stepped in to care for us all.

I'm fortunate blogging can be done from the comfort of my pjs and home. Plus it has given my kids a few extras, they would not have had otherwise.

In between there is waiting for Drs, waiting for your turn in the Chemo lounge, and waiting while they access the port-a-cath, take bloods, deliver my bloods to pathology, wait for results , wash their hands, then infuse chemo ; so poisonous they gown, double glove or wear thick purple gloves and mask. Then flush the lines, more hand washing, and then remove the port needle from my chest. Send me on my way...all with a smile.

Still waiting was easy enough to endure with my iPad or a book.

Today, it's reason enough to celebrate I'm here after one year.


♥

Marvellous Creations {5 x Cadbury Prize Pack Giveaway}

Giveaway

What do you do on a rainy day ?
Eat chocolate is always my answer .

Following on from last year's fantastical Marvellous Creations range, Cadbury has launched two new flavour combinations ~ 'Clinkers, Gummi Bears & Choc Biscuit' and 'Clinkers, Raspberry Chips & Marshmallows' in same purple attention grabbing wrap {in store now}

I was sent some to try.

Imagine mini marshmallows blended with the crispy Clinkers and Raspberry Chips or Gummi Bears and Choc Biscuit pieces all covered in delicious Cadbury Dairy Milk Chocolate!

Pop a bit in your mouth to find  Gummi bears, hidden in the chocolate, smaller than your average gummi bear , just as delicious. It is going to win fans as the chocolate melts away to reveal other key ingredients. It is very sweet but hard to resist. I love the clinker bits.

I always felt ripped off we never got enough pink and too many yellow and green clinkers.

My only compliant is the unique block is made of different shaped pieces in varying sizes - cries of his bit is bigger than mine are ringing in my ears. So I eat it when they are not around shell out another piece to keep the peace.

I am always happy to share with my chocolate loving readers.
(I also gave a block to a mum from my boys soccer team , she has two chocolate loving rascals).

Five lucky people will each receive a prize of chocolate including the following Cadbury Dairy Milk Chocolate:
· 2 x 290g blocks of Marvellous Creations Clinkers, Raspberry Chips & Marshmallows (RRP $5.49 each)
· 2 x 290g blocks of Marvellous Creations Clinkers, Gummi Bears & Choc Biscuit (RRP $5.49 each)
· 2 x 50g bars of Marvellous Creations Clinkers, Raspberry Chips & Marshmallows (RRP $1.80 each)

Just tell me why you want to pop some Marvellous Creations in your mouth ?

1. Only Australian Residents are eligible to enter.
 2. Entries not answering the question will be deemed invalid. The winner will be chosen by originality and creative merit, not by chance. Judges decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into.
3.There are five prizes as above.
4. Entries - Open 12/6/2013 - Close 11.59pm 26/6/2013 AEST. The winners will be notified by email, and posted to mylittledrummerboys.blogspot.com.au after they reply - Winners have 7 days to respond or a new winner will be drawn.
5. Prizes are not transferable, changeable or redeemable for cash.
6. Prizes sent out by PR firm directly will not be replaced in the event that they are stolen, lost or damaged in transit.
 
7. Subscribe to my blog  to receive MLDB updates.
8. Follow via Facebook or Bloglovin on the sidebar .

 ♥

Wordless Wednesday ~Giant orange spherical orb - Planet: Under Construction (PUC)

I spotted this interesting Sculpture created using 200 traffic / construction cones in a spherical orb at Sydney’s Circular Quay.on 21st May - I snapped it with my iPad .I had no idea till last weekend it was part of Vivid.
 - see it glowing here

 ♥