Today kicks off a new feature every Wednesday, called Gratitude Wednesdays. Giving gratitude each and every day should become one of our practices. If you aren’t there yet, hopefully this weekly post will remind you to do so on Wednesday’s and that will be a great start!
As we go through our day, most of us get caught up in the day’s agenda whether it’s prepping for that big meeting at work, doing well in school, getting the kids where they need to be, you know the drill. Some of us say, yea, yea, I am grateful for my health, my family, my job, my pets… you know, the BIG obvious things that we all fall back on when queried. Gratitude Wednesday’s should make you stop for a moment and be grateful for the LITTLE things in life that for the most part go unrecognized in your day.
A wonderful way to start your practice is when you awaken each day, be thankful that you indeed woke up and when those feet hit the floor and you are breathing and walking, the day can only go uphill from there. Many of us take this for granted and over look this gift of life that we are given each and every day. Do you know that according to the US 2000 Census data there were 49.7 million disabled Americans? How many of them do you think would like to change places with you every day?
As your day unfolds, look for more things to be grateful for, such as your safe travels, the beautiful birds and flowers in your yard, the many friends you have in your life, the yummy muffin you had for breakfast or the time you had to read your favorite book. Just look around and you will find an abundance of gratitude if you just look for it.
As we practice our Gratitude Wednesdays and recognize the small things in our lives that we are thankful for, we’ll start to recognize the abundance we already have and stop looking for the things we don’t have. Over time you will be amazed at the power of gratitude.
What are you grateful for today?
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Pardon My Diversion
As you may have noticed, when I started my blog, I started sharing my personal journey with breast cancer and then veered off that path. I didn’t think anyone would find it particularly interesting, so I took a break to sort things out. Turns out, some of you are interested in hearing about my journey and I am now a bit savvier about blogging, so I am re-launching my blog today. There are lots of things I would like to share with all of you as we go down this path together, but for now I would like you to know why I am the person I am today and why Celebrate In Pink was born. Let’s start over and hit the road together….
I am a loving wife to Greg, mother to Robbie, Shawn and Zeppelin (our four legged son), entrepreneur, nature loving, dog enthusiast, perennial self help seeker who drew the breast cancer card in May 2005. I don’t believe in coincidences, rather that happenings are orchestrated for a reason. For example, feeling at a disadvantage in dealing with my thyroid issues, January 2005 I decided to sign up for a semester long course ‘Anatomy and Medical Terminology’ so that I could participate in a meaningful conversation with my doctors. I highly recommend a course like this for everyone as we need to be our own health advocates. Little did I know that I was taking this class whic was preparing me for the four words no woman wants to hear “you have breast cancer”. With the information I learned in class, I was able to understand much more of the ‘sounds like greek to me speak’ I was in for, which made a big difference in how I approached things.
So, unbeknownst to me, this was the ground work that was being laid for me to start the journey I had no idea I was about to take…stay tuned for how I approached my treatment plan.
I am a loving wife to Greg, mother to Robbie, Shawn and Zeppelin (our four legged son), entrepreneur, nature loving, dog enthusiast, perennial self help seeker who drew the breast cancer card in May 2005. I don’t believe in coincidences, rather that happenings are orchestrated for a reason. For example, feeling at a disadvantage in dealing with my thyroid issues, January 2005 I decided to sign up for a semester long course ‘Anatomy and Medical Terminology’ so that I could participate in a meaningful conversation with my doctors. I highly recommend a course like this for everyone as we need to be our own health advocates. Little did I know that I was taking this class whic was preparing me for the four words no woman wants to hear “you have breast cancer”. With the information I learned in class, I was able to understand much more of the ‘sounds like greek to me speak’ I was in for, which made a big difference in how I approached things.
So, unbeknownst to me, this was the ground work that was being laid for me to start the journey I had no idea I was about to take…stay tuned for how I approached my treatment plan.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Hangin' in the Big Easy
Arrived in New Orleans on Sunday after spending a wonderful wedding weekend in Jackson, AL. It's my first time in NOLA, as the locals call it, and the day couldn't have been grander. The 70 degrees and sunny weather was awesome and much needed. We immediatley headed to the French Quarter to check it out. Boy, what a happening place! It was a lot of fun just people watching and listening to the music!
We took a city tour today which included the many districts that make up the city and the infamous Ward 9 where Katrina left her biggest mark. While it was depressing seeing the homes either abandoned or still unrepaired, it was encouraging to see the many homes that have been rebuilt. I can't imagine what it was like for this city and these neighborhoods to endure what they have, to get to this point. What a display of courage and determination, you can feel it all around here...kudos to NOLA!
I'm glad we decided to visit New Orleans, it gave me a renewed appreciation and reminded me once again that it is life that counts, not houses or cars or stuff...we all need a gentle reminder every now and then.
We took a city tour today which included the many districts that make up the city and the infamous Ward 9 where Katrina left her biggest mark. While it was depressing seeing the homes either abandoned or still unrepaired, it was encouraging to see the many homes that have been rebuilt. I can't imagine what it was like for this city and these neighborhoods to endure what they have, to get to this point. What a display of courage and determination, you can feel it all around here...kudos to NOLA!
I'm glad we decided to visit New Orleans, it gave me a renewed appreciation and reminded me once again that it is life that counts, not houses or cars or stuff...we all need a gentle reminder every now and then.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Vitamin D Story on GMA
Great story today on GMA linking low levels of vitamin D to breast cancer and many other illnesses. There is a lot of research currently underway and the comparison of vitamin's effects compared to tamoxifen were amazing.
I know this isn't new information about vitamin D or the first story but it certainly cited more research than other pieces I have heard about. Check it out at http://bit.ly/8ZVJUd.
On a personal note, about 3 years ago I was diagnosed with very low levels of vitamin D. Unless your doctor orders this test specifically, you don't know if your levels are adequate. Since this was my first test, no one knows how long the deficiency has been going on. Five years ago I was diagnosed with breast cancer and ten years ago at the young age of 42 I was diagnosed with osteoporosis. All of this could've been related to the vitamin D deficiency...
Please take this article serious and make sure you fill up on your recommended dose of vitamin D :)
I know this isn't new information about vitamin D or the first story but it certainly cited more research than other pieces I have heard about. Check it out at http://bit.ly/8ZVJUd.
On a personal note, about 3 years ago I was diagnosed with very low levels of vitamin D. Unless your doctor orders this test specifically, you don't know if your levels are adequate. Since this was my first test, no one knows how long the deficiency has been going on. Five years ago I was diagnosed with breast cancer and ten years ago at the young age of 42 I was diagnosed with osteoporosis. All of this could've been related to the vitamin D deficiency...
Please take this article serious and make sure you fill up on your recommended dose of vitamin D :)
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Today Show MakeOver
Wow! I still can't believe it happened to me...I was chosen to receive the most fantatic makeover from the Today Show! It was part of the Ambush Makeover segment for the Hoda and Kathie Lee show. It was truely amazing and you can view it at http://bit.ly/a2hCGQ.
I can't say enough nice things about the team at Today. They made me feel very special as if I were a celebrity. I love my new hair style and color, the makeup was awesome and I love the dress. I got to keep it and it will be put into action for my niece Melissa's wedding...wish I had the makeover team primping for that too.
I will never forget how I felt in my celebrity moment. A special thanks to my sissy Peggy for being my biggest cheerleader, without her I wouldn't be there.
Now its back to reality doing my own hair and makeup but the memory lives on!
I can't say enough nice things about the team at Today. They made me feel very special as if I were a celebrity. I love my new hair style and color, the makeup was awesome and I love the dress. I got to keep it and it will be put into action for my niece Melissa's wedding...wish I had the makeover team primping for that too.
I will never forget how I felt in my celebrity moment. A special thanks to my sissy Peggy for being my biggest cheerleader, without her I wouldn't be there.
Now its back to reality doing my own hair and makeup but the memory lives on!
Friday, February 5, 2010
Back From The Mountains
Its been a long time since my last post, no I wasn't in the moutains all this time (but would've loved it if I were ;-)...am picking back up with the blog...on with the updates...
I was on tamoxifen for three years and decided to stop taking it. The side effects were too much for me to endure any longer. It's been a year now that I have been off it and the difference is night and day. It was the right decision for me but everyone has to do thier own research and make thier own decison.
I started my staging business and it was a huge success. My timing was perfect, I was one of the first in my area to offer this type of service and was very reasonably priced. I had so much fun doing this, I was never happier in a job. The business became overwhelming and I wanted home staging and the love for it to remain a dream, I didn't want to have any regrets.
During this same time, I decided to participate in my first breast cancer walk. Little did I know that it would change my life forever and I would get yet another dream to follow...I will say that I eased out of my staging dream to make way for a new one...stay tuned for details in the next post on my next great adventure!
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Next Phase of the Treatment
We came home from Houston and I had about 6 weeks off from everything, what a joy! Remember, at this point I had quit my job so I was really enjoying these several weeks (of course, I was recovering from surgery but each day was better than the previous one). I knew I had to start my radiation the end of Aug so I made the most of it.
Prior to radiation, I had to get my 'tatoos' so they could be aligned with the machinery at every visit. My son thought how cool, mom is getting tats and assumed they would be little pink ribbons, how creative! They were instead pinhead size dots, what a disappointment :-). I will go on record as saying that I was the first in the family to get a tat! The radiation treatments start out benign and then as you get zapped and zapped the more tender the area becomes. They give you lots of lotions and potions to help, but it does get sore. Also as the dose increases, toward the end of the 7 weeks, I became fatigued. That didn't last long but I didn't think that would be me (they warned me about it thought I was different - aren't we all;-) Radiation treatment was five times a week for seven weeks. Going to the hospital everyday and being amongst other cancer patients is depressing. All of the staff are extremely nice, I give health care professionals a lot of credit, all of the ones I came in contact with are super!
Once I was done with radiation I got a break for about a month before starting tamoxifen. I relished the break as it gave me time to recuperate. My hubby and I also decided to take a little trip, we went to Newport RI and had a great time there! We look forward to going back there one day.
In the midst of treatment I decided to pursue a long time dream of mine...starting a home staging business. I had been exposed to this concept around 1996 and since have always fantasized about quitting my job and doing staging. I always loved interior design and have a natural gift for it. So since I quit my corporate job, I knew this was the time to pursue my new dream and I did. I took an online and book course during treatment and pursued and completed everything I needed to know and do to start my own business. So Rooms That Sell was born in 2006...more on that later.
As for now, I am somewhere in the mountains of VA enjoying an absolutely beautiful day, I savor these days and never take them for granted. I look forward to my next post...the birds are calling me :-)
Prior to radiation, I had to get my 'tatoos' so they could be aligned with the machinery at every visit. My son thought how cool, mom is getting tats and assumed they would be little pink ribbons, how creative! They were instead pinhead size dots, what a disappointment :-). I will go on record as saying that I was the first in the family to get a tat! The radiation treatments start out benign and then as you get zapped and zapped the more tender the area becomes. They give you lots of lotions and potions to help, but it does get sore. Also as the dose increases, toward the end of the 7 weeks, I became fatigued. That didn't last long but I didn't think that would be me (they warned me about it thought I was different - aren't we all;-) Radiation treatment was five times a week for seven weeks. Going to the hospital everyday and being amongst other cancer patients is depressing. All of the staff are extremely nice, I give health care professionals a lot of credit, all of the ones I came in contact with are super!
Once I was done with radiation I got a break for about a month before starting tamoxifen. I relished the break as it gave me time to recuperate. My hubby and I also decided to take a little trip, we went to Newport RI and had a great time there! We look forward to going back there one day.
In the midst of treatment I decided to pursue a long time dream of mine...starting a home staging business. I had been exposed to this concept around 1996 and since have always fantasized about quitting my job and doing staging. I always loved interior design and have a natural gift for it. So since I quit my corporate job, I knew this was the time to pursue my new dream and I did. I took an online and book course during treatment and pursued and completed everything I needed to know and do to start my own business. So Rooms That Sell was born in 2006...more on that later.
As for now, I am somewhere in the mountains of VA enjoying an absolutely beautiful day, I savor these days and never take them for granted. I look forward to my next post...the birds are calling me :-)
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