Showing posts with label things I have done. Show all posts
Showing posts with label things I have done. Show all posts

Monday, 3 September 2012

Have you felt yourself today ?

One of the reasons I am blogging about my breast cancer journey is to raise and spread awareness. I know that reminding people to check their breasts could save their life.

It is healthy habit that should be as much a part of your daily routine, like showering, dressing and looking in the mirror. 

You don't need to wait for a special day, check your breasts wherever and whenever works for you but do it regularly. A minimum of monthly is recommended.


I was always a little Breast Aware but even so I was slack and hap hazard about checking.
I wasn't aware of all the changes to look for ...it isn't just a lump.

Most breast changes aren’t due to cancer - but if you find a change that is unusual for you, see your GP to make sure.

I had 2-3 symptoms at diagnosis - though my breasts were always lumpy. I found this website which tell you what to look for

 

cheeky check-up A new lump or lumpiness, especially if it's only in one breast.
cheeky check-up
cheeky check-up A change in the size or shape of your breast.
cheeky check-up
cheeky check-up A change to the nipple such as crusting, ulcer, redness or inversion.
cheeky check-up
cheeky check-up A nipple discharge that occurs without squeezing
cheeky check-up
cheeky check-up A change in the skin of your breast such as redness or dimpling.
cheeky check-up
cheeky check-up An unusual pain that doesn't go away.
cheeky check-up

I had 2-3 symptoms at diagnosis - pain, discharge on squeezing (because I had pain) and my breasts were always kind of lumpy. I did see my GP immediately, both times I had nipple discharge. May 2011 it wasn't breast cancer (that I know).

How do you reduce your risks ? 

I had no family history .
I breast fed for over 4 yrs .
I have never been overweight.
I'm active and I've had a reasonably healthy diet with only a little alcohol consumption.

How do you calculate your risk based on evidence ?
Calculator

 I didn't know that an inherited faulty gene only accounts for 5% of all breast cancers. Even then breast cancer is so common that it need not be a faulty inherited gene that causes BC within the same family.

I thought it couldn't happen to me , though I've had several mammograms and ultrasounds despite that misguided belief...just for reassurance.


So have you felt yourself today ...you can never be too busy !


Cheeky checkups is a campaign aimed at younger women because mammograms and ultrasounds are apparently less effective at detecting breast cancer -   https://www.facebook.com/NBOCCCheekyCheckUp


Like further information, visit www.nbocc.org.au/resources
This not a sponsored post I am just continuing in my quest to remind everyone how important it is.

Friday, 27 April 2012

Nooks , Hooks and Hammocks

Things I know and or maybe 'I wish I knew then what I know now’

 1.I know my wishful thinking about lazing in The hammock is butt a dream. It's been too windy and cool the last few days despite the filtered sunshine. Really it is you , FB and twitter an excuse.

2.


 

so I've also been de-cluttering and organising - of course I need hooks

 


They are just NOT where I want them yet !

3. The SKUBB clothes boxes
– ( with a nifty handle on the side so it's easy to pull out from the shelf) -

fit my
Expedit bookcases PERFECTLY -though hubby is concerned about the white and grubby little boy hands. ( have you entered $150 IKEA giveaway closes 30/4 win the Skubb's and more). 
MORE ! he roared !!
 

4. The toys won't stay this tidy more than 12hrs - however I'm masterminding a plan to toss them out if not ! {By hook, nook or by crook ~ meaning ~ By whatever means necessary}

5. The ANTONIUS Frame


 is perfect for storing Lego and bulky Duplo in large bottom draw. Yes, it even fits the baseboards which are forever in the way!

I'd like a second Antonius because they stack and we have years of  stepping on collecting Lego ahead of us. (ps  The Lego Games prize has been doubled to 4 games per winner each valued over $126 ). I want the Antonius for my laundry too - because they hide a lot of baggage stuff neatly


5. Inspired by Eden's journey to Africa - {which I would never be brave enough to contemplate} - I am running the tortuous 14km City to Surf with Team World Vision to raise funds for World Vision to help change lives. My goal is $1000 - sponsor me here and I'll get a t -shirt to run in !


If I ever needed motivation to run ...I don't anymore.



  Things I Know 150x150


 

Tuesday, 10 January 2012

Wordless Wednesday ~ The Big Move





What has been keeping me busy the last 2 weeks !

Tuesday, 20 December 2011

Wordless Wednesday ~ Wish you were here ~ love Sammy


The Tanker Jetty in Esperance


 








PS It is the last day to a Win Skylanders Wii Starter pack , then enter for your chance to win Sony PSP-E1000 Prize Packs x 5 !

Wednesday, 26 October 2011

Wordless Wednesday ~ A long way from Gnome

We told the Drummer Boys to go find Gnomeo and they DID ! No Juliet :(


There is no place like ~Gnomesville~

ABC



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Thursday, 14 July 2011

Something new ~ Hair

I few weeks ago I was invited to THE Barney Martin's  hair salon in Surry Hills courtesy of P & G to colour my own hair . 



I have darkish brown hair and fortunately very few grey hairs*.


I have to confess that I haven't ever coloured my hair...never apart from a few foaming highlights.


Having had long hair for most of my adult life I haven't spend much time or money on my hair.

My career was in Nursing, in a Children's ward so I always wore my hair tied back and up in a pony tail. It was simple and quick to manage. NO style no worries.

Very occasionally I wore my hair down or styled when we went out.I just never worried  too much about it.
I rarely wore makeup either I preferred to go 'ugly' naturally.

I am far from 'attractive' due to many complicated reasons I won't go into here, mostly a genetic disease NF1 and my eyes. Hair and makeup have been the least of my day to day concerns.

However, as I 'age' with young sons, I am now more self - conscious because I do not want to be called their grandmother when they start school. As an older mother I want to look my best and take care of what I have left.

I am just too much of a scrooge to spend money on my vanity. I do feel more self conscious now more than ever as NF1 is causing an increasing number of small but highly visible lumps over my face (& everywhere).

I really try not to let it bother me because beauty is only skin deep.


Anyway, I digress. I decided to bite the bullet and try a new hair colour - medium golden brown. I wanted to feel better about myself because I've been feeling down. 

At the P & G event I was given the opportunity to colour my own hair with the Clairol Nice ‘n Easy Colour Blend Foam (rrp $17.99). Amidst several other fabulous 'style' bloggers also receiving Nice ‘n Easy Colour HAIR makeovers or for some just a pampering hair wash and salon blow dry & style , I felt very insignificant (- like why was I invited). 

I was pleased to hear my hair was in very good condition.

...So on with it - we started the colouring process ourselves - it was incredibly simple : Just pour bottle 1 into bottle 2, tilt the bottle gently up and down 3 times , then gently squeeze the bottle onto your hand and apply the no-drip foam to your hair. Long hair needs a little sectioning I learned.

I realised it was something I could probably do myself at home with a successful result. It's very affordable too. Though my stylist helped me finish up as the salon chair was not as easy at the bathroom at home. There was little mess and I only slopped a little foam onto my face.

The foam was left for about 10 mins then rinsed out by the stylist . I felt very pampered because it included a divine scalp massage. Followed up with a blow-dry and professional style experience. It was quite a treat for me as I only get my hair cut about 2-3 times a year ; rarely salon shampooed and styled.
 

The P & G event included the promotion of Pantene Pro-V Nature Fusion Shampoo & Conditioner . A new formula enriched with ingredients uniquely derived from Cassia seeds (One hundred crushed Cassia seeds in every bottle).

I loved the smell. Nature Fusion is specially designed to promote hair fullness and shine with scientifically naturally derived ingredients. It's suitable for most hair types. My husband likes it too.

I've been using it for 4 weeks and I love the way it makes my hair feel. It deeply conditions my hair and I've noticed less breakage. I love my new colour, though most people didn't notice a difference.

We were also shown the new Wella Pro Series {at home} Collection , they used these products {mousse & hair spray} to style our hair.

Inspired by stylists and developed by WELLA experts, closest to salon smooth hair in retail at an affordable price
I got to try the Pro Series mousse and Hair spray at home .They have a whole range in the collection.I look forward to trying their Shampoo and Conditioner range (It's available in a pump pack ...my favourite). All are available in supermarkets and/or Pharmacies.

Click the links below to read some of the other fun and informative posts for P & G Hair day.

Procter&Gamble certainly do everything in style. They even flew down Kelly & Nikki from Brisbane for the day.



Kelly has some great tips for busy mums.There are some great hair care tips on the Wella site too.

This is not a sponsored post though I was by invited Procter & Gamble and their PR to attend, I had no obligation to write this post; all opinions expressed are my own.
  
Professional Photos Credit - Georgina Morrison

PS: I only posted my pics so people who I haven't met , yet, will know who I am when I attend the Blogger's Brunch & Nuffnang Blogopolis.

* I did have a scary dream the other night I woke up with all grey hair growing out.


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Monday, 18 February 2008

Australian Bicentennial bike ride

Australian Bicentennial bike ride 1988 ITS BACK for 2008 - maybe ?

wow 20 years ago ,when I was 22yrs old (to save you getting your calculator out) I did this ride Australian Bicentennial Bike Ride 1988

I lived in Sydney and half the 2100 people arrived in Dandenong by overnight coach - from many starting points.

In 1988, as part of Australia's bicentennial celebrations, a 14 day bike ride was held from Melbourne to Sydney. The distance covered was over 1,200km and we endured all sorts of weather from pouring rain thunderstorms and driving wind to beautiful sunny days.

We traveled along the coastline, climbed through the Snowy Mountains, descended from the heights into Canberra and finished on a hot sunny day in Sydney where several thousand riders celebrated the finish of a wonderful experience. It doesn't get any better than this!


Our support crew carried our tents ,clothes and sleeping bags etc to the next night stop.We only had to pack up each day, load it on the truck and then set up at the next night's stop -usually a country town showground or paddock. There was also a car with a trailer to carry injured, and broken down riders.

Meals were all eaten al fresco Portable kitchens were set up under large tents and we took turns serving and helping. During meal times we meet and talked with other riders and shared experiences.

Inevitably, dishes had to be washed and dried. Portable sinks with running water were set up near the kitchen.


Portable showers and loos too ...

We were given a packed lunch (roll/sandwich) every day and riders stopped wherever we pleased.

Or alternatively, a more convenient place was found!(The PUB)

Riders drifted into camp across various times of the day ... my uncle was always ahead of me.So he usually set up tent before I got there.Then we had spare time to explore and discover the town we were located at that night.... or sleep !

The Snowy mountains to Canberra leg was the most gruelling and longest in kilometres (1oo plus too) . Mountainous hills, pouring rain,windy and freezing cold (in Dec - Australian summer).I was in tears most of the day. Alone. I stopped for a leg massage from the support team at lunchtime -soaked through and in agony. I almost gave up and called my Dad ... till when I arrived in Canberra my Uncle had looked up his friends ( went into the local Bank - he worked in another branch of same bank in Sydney).

We had a comfy dry bed and even better food for 2 nights and I was refreshed to begin again.

I made a friend from Melbourne along the way - most days we rode together .For a few years we kept in touch till be both moved/got married and then lost addresses.

The culmination of 14 days on the road; a finish in the Domain Gardens in Sydney where we had a big party to celebrate.
Australia travel tips: Australia Guinness Records.
Most participants in a bike ride

In 1988 there were 2,157 starters in the Australian Bicentennial Caltex Bike Ride from Melbourne to Sydney.


I conned my uncle who was 9 years older than me into coming along. We had a great time except I was pinning for my new 'boyfriend' (I meant the one and only) and wondering if absence really did make the heart grow fonder or out of sight out of mind...

The story had a happy ending ...I made it home and he was waiting for me

Fast forward 19 years later, married 18years ...hardly riden my bike (well unless you count the exercise bike) .I doubt I could even get my husband to think about doing this but I would consider it if he came along as my support team with a caravan in tow.

Your turn ... tell me something odd , great or unusual you have done ... skydiving , hot air ballooning ?? anything