Pearl of Wisdom No. 85 - make morning routine.

Make. Morning. Routine.

Sounds so boring doesn't it?!

If you ask my husband about me and routine when we first met he would tell you that I would balk at the idea and do what ever I could to sabotage his attempts at getting me in to one, especially in the mornings. He however has been the master of them since the dawn of time (slight exaggeration but this man thrives on routine!) and you could set your watch by what he did and when he did it.

Pearl of Wisdom No.84 - Live like Spring

If you want a fresh, brand new, shiny feeling when you go about your days (and who doesn't want to feel this way right?) then embracing this season is the key to success!

But what exactly does it mean to live like...Spring?!

Pearl of Wisdom No.83 - Making resolutions

Is January meant to be a fresh start for you or do you believe that new year, new you is a load of rubbish? Where do you stand on resolutions?

Did you know that only 8% of people who make New Years resolutions actually achieve them? However statistics also show that people who specifically make resolutions are 10 times more likely to be success at achieving their goals and plans! 

Now we're half way through this month already, it feels like January is just slipping away and February is just around the corner! For me that may be because I have a jam packed month ahead which I don't feel anywhere near prepared for, maybe for you it's because you still haven't quite settled on what you want from the year ahead. Maybe you wanted to set some intentions, focus on finding your passion or commit to something that will bring you one step closer to your goals and dreams, or maybe you don't know what you want from life this year so you wanted to spend some time mulling it all over and feeling a bit stuck - if this sounds like you then stick with me my friend!

Pearl of Wisdom No.82 - Digital Detoxing

I'm sure you've read, seen or heard about how smart phones, tablets and even too much TV is turning humanity into unsocial techno zombies who can't live with out there devices by their side right? Did you ever consider that it could also be influencing how you identified yourself with the world and the affect that has on your well being and self esteem ?

Through her looking glass - Jemma Andrew-Adiamah

Today I want to introduce you to a lady who's blog I have totally fallen in love with this year, we share the same passions and are inspired by the same people, her blog is on my must reads list each week and I know you will love her too!

Pearl of Wisdom No. 81 - Taking Care of You

We all go through wobbles about who we are, what we represent or how the world see us, I know I do and it can cause all kinds of crazy and toxic feelings with in ourselves, if you're feeling a bit blah about where you are in life and what your identity says to the world, this pearl of wisdom is for you. Write it down in your dairy, type it into your phone or on a sticky note stuck to your computer or bathroom mirror and refer back to it's message when ever you need a reminder that YOU are in control of your life and YOU get to define it, so get out there and start being who you truly want to be.

Hate Change? How to make it work for you

The secret of Change is to focus all of you not fighting the old but accepting the new - Socrates

Change is inevitable, and it can be healthy and positive depending on your view or reaction of it, but if change normally feels like your enemy rather than your best friend then maybe it's time you took a different view on your relationship with it? 

It's time to learn how to let changes in life, no matter how big or small, become something you don't mind hanging out with! Read on to discover why change can be good for you and some easy, feel good ways to let it in...

Grace + Gratitude - What I learnt from Sarah Peck

I've been wanting to write this post for ages, not because I've been asked to but because of what happened when I signed up for this course - it became such a powerful time in my life and set off a year of some really significant changes in my life, ones that were truly magical.

Feel Good Friday - feel better by serving someone else...

This weeks sees the start of December, how are you feeling about this month?

Love it, but sometimes feel drained or overwhelmed by the whole thing?

Hate it and find it a difficult time of the year to get through?

Or maybe the festive season brings about an ambivalent state of mind?

I could be wrong but Christmas and the run up to the end of year normally brings about one of these feelings in most of us, so which one do you fit under?

Monday's Moment of Wisdom - Pearl Number 76

Courage doesn't always roar, 

sometimes it's the quiet voice at the end of the day whispering 'I will try again tomorrow
― Mary Anne Radmacher

Wow - this couldn't be more powerful for me right now! It feels like I'm trying to juggle a lot at the moment, new baby, preschooler and her ever grow schedule of parties and activities, a new house, my poor neglected blog, Christmas prep all while still trying to make sure my relationship gets a look in, just reading that sentence makes me want to crawl back to bed...

Steps to finding your Mojo when it's MIA!

My blogging mojo has seriously been missing lately, I've found it a bit of a struggle getting back in to the swing of planning, creating and writing for the blog, but here I am, second post of the week! (Do check out the first - this weeks Pearl of Wisdom)

With the run up to Christmas upon us and distractions a plenty like shopping, partying and deciding whether its gonna be turkey, ham or a nut loaf (this is a real life discussion in my family!) it's easy to find yourself getting off course with the things that matter to you and anything that takes you away from your passion and dreams, anything that distracts from taking care of you will leave you feeling frustrated, even down right disheartened.

So here are my top tips to getting that mojo back to the party...

Mondays Moment of Wisdom - Pearl Number 75

Hey Monday - we finally meet again!

Well I never intended to take maternity leave from the blog but it's been a intense full on couple of months, where spending time with my precious newborn and settling my big girl in to a new way of life has been my only priority. (You can read more about why here) We are kind of living day to day because family life has changed so much but I'm hoping though, that this is me, slowly getting back to a place that I love and feel so passionate about. So with my recent way of life in mind I saw this quote and knew it was perfect for my first Pearls of Wisdom post back to the blog.

Feel Good Friday - Pet Power

We are big animal lovers in our house, in fact I suspect that my husband actually prefers them to people, he can't bear to watch the ending of Marley and Me, bless him!

We have two cats which became our furs babies when I was around 6 months pregnant with LC (we had gotten a kitten the year before who was sadly ran over just before her first baby, at this point I was 16 weeks pregnant and couldn't stop crying, I actually got sent home from work and was allowed 3 days off - that's hormones for ya!) These cats (our boy cat as a kitten above) have grown up with our family and are a big part of it, however they are not such big fans of Miss LC, I can remember their little faces when we bought her home from the hospital looking at us as if t say "WTF???" God knows how they will feel when it happens all over again in 7 weeks time, the OH is convinced they'll be sat by the front door with their little cat bags packed, with a house move happening in 3 weeks too I'm sure I will have two grumpy cats on my hands - eek!

Anyway, over the last 4 years that we've had these sweet moggies in our life they have become very precious companions to us all and despite their distaste towards LC they have have been a massive part of how she has developed and learnt.

A few years ago the Cats Protection League conducted some research with the Mental Health Foundation which showed how having a cat as a pet had a significant and positive impact on the owners mental health. Last year Time magazine reported on how having a pet could possibly lower your risk of heart disease too.

Here are some more good reasons why being a pet owner is good for your well being

•  Owning a pet helps with low mood and loneliness through companionship.
•  Encourages healthy lifestyle - walking your dog, horse riding, cleaning out a cage.
•  Helps develops senses that can lower stress from stroking, walking, even talking to them! 
•  Sense of responsibility and routine, having a pet puts structure in your day, positive for your well being and sense or purpose.

Here's my friends cuddly companions

 We've also found that as parents having our two kitties has helped us to teach and encourage LC to have compassion, thoughtfulness of others and about death too. As a toddler we showed her how to pet them carefully and be mindful of their space, now that she is older we get her involved with caring for them, she likes to get involved with feeding and combing.

Lastly, because we live next door to a diary farm, we get a constant stream of "presents"! Some are alive, which sees us running round the house at all times of the day or night trying to rescue mice, voles and birds, but we also get a lot of dead critters, mostly mice outside the front door. We have always been honest with LC about it, a very wise lady once told me not to tell her they were sleeping as this can make her frightened of bed time, so with out going in to too much detail we simply told her they were dead, no longer alive. Being little she just accepted this ans so when her Grandma's dog and Auntie's cat died last year she wasn't unfamiliar with what this meant and could grasp why they were no longer there. And so when my Grandmother passed away in April she wasn't scared by what had happened and understood why she wouldn't see her again. Recently she was in my mum's garden and they found a dead bird and she pointed it out to my mum who wasn't sure quite what to say to LC, "It's dead Granny!" she chimed, my mum agreed and when LC asked her what they were going to do with it my told her that her OH would bury it in the garden to which sweet Miss LC replied "Just like we buried Great Gran!" My poor mum didn't know what to say and just laughed, especially as my Grandmother was cremated! It just goes to show though that by having animals in our life from an early age we begin to understand and accept the cycle of life sooner which I think makes it more easier to handle as we grow older.

Now you could be reading this and be thinking "Well Karen that's all lovely and good but I don't have the time/money/space to be a pet owner!" - well, no problem, borrow a pet! You can do this through local services like this one  or this could simply be taking a friends dog for a walk, agreeing to feed Great Aunt Ethels budgie while she's on holiday or maybe spend some time at your local animal rescue centre as a volunteer, there are so many possibilities for you to boost your well being with some pet power!

So I want to know, do you have a pet that helps boost your well being?
What are your thoughts on pets and children?
Would borrowing a pet help you?

Share in the comments below!

Monthly Gratitude...

I try to find time each month to write a post about gratitude, it feels sometimes like we focus a lot on what's going wrong doesn't it? So by reminding myself about the positives I have a chance to give thanks for all that is right - it also helps my cluttered mind to keep some perspective too!

So as July is coming to an end in the next week here are some things I am grateful for this month...

* Finishing work for maternity leave to start

* Beautiful sunshine, flip flops and discovering these yummy fruit cordials (my favorite right now is their Ginger Beer Presse over ice and fresh mint!)

* Old friendships being renewed

* Some space and time to write down my dreams, ideas and goals

* My growing bump (although this does make things like painting toenails, putting on shoes, driving and getting comfortable at night a little awkward now!)

* How well my gorgeous big girl is coping with all the changes

* My mum, who is literally super granny to all her grandchildren right now!

* The wisdom and insight of others

Actually writing them down really helps it to sink in, keeping a gratitude diary is so helpful too, I write things on the pages of my diary to remind me what I'm thankful for and to try to stay balanced. Could this be something you might try next month? Here's how to get started:

* If you don't already have one, buy a fun, pretty or funky diary - all the new accademic ones are out in the shops right now, or maybe just a cute little notebook. I love these ones from Ban.do - they ship to the UK too!

* Choose a pen in a bright colour, I find that writing my gratitude notes and thoughts down in coloured ink helps them to stand out and stay in my mind, especially if I'm writing down other notes or appointments.

* Decide whether you want to write down daily, weekly or even monthly gratitude note to yourself.

* Set aside some time each week or month to go over your thoughts, ideas and doodles!

* Lastly - just get started, go on, try it out and see how you feel! 

Don't forget to share here too your monthly gratitude and let me know how or if writing them down made a difference. 

A Wednesday Pearl of Wisdom - Pearl Number 74

I know, it's a Wednesday but this post was too good to save until next week and I'm aware of the lack of Pearls on the blog lately so decided to share this with you today...

I was totally spoilt for choice when looking for a quote to match up with today's theme but decided this one from John Holmes was my favourite to use here, simple but powerful.

So I'm going to tell you a little story, a lovely lady who is in my blogging circle of friends had her second baby last year and has spent the following 12 months enjoying every single moment spent at home with her two little ones, her youngest has just turned one years old and the time to return to work has come round quicker than she expected.

We had spoken a few times leading up to this about how she was feeling as her return to the working world was parallel to my exit as my maternity leave started. Becca has been dreading this moment for a while and mentioned how she wished she could remain at home with the kids and have her blog as her main source of work (BTW check her out at Keeping Up with the Joneses this is the cutest lifestyle blog full of family, fashion and beauty!). I always love reading Becca's posts and often ask her advice on beauty products, and have always encouraged her to go for her dreams too as I know it would mean so much to her to spend her days investing in two of the things she is most passionate about, her babies and her blog.

So the dreaded day came for her on Monday and as I checked my Instagram feed that morning I came across a gorgeous picture of her baby boy with a caption about how much she would miss him and how sad she was feeling, I know this feeling well as I have already done it once when I had Miss LC and I sent her a simple message just to cheer her up and hoped it might help her a little.

Photo from Becca Galanopoulos

Later in the evening I returned back to Instagram and found another picture from Becca with the loveliest message for me underneath, Becca had written down my words and taken them with her, she told me it had really helped her to keep things in perspective and reminded her what she was trying to achieve, it had helped her get through that first awful day!

I was really blown away by this, never did I expect that what I had written would make such a big impact and I was thrilled to know that I had made her day a bit easier and lighter, such a simple message but what an amazing difference it went on to have...

I have been reading a lot lately about a certain line of thought and it goes like this, to serve others is the greatest gift you can give to the world and will make the biggest difference to those around you, I believe in this so much and love seeing it in action, knowing that my words had made her day lighter and more bearable was magic!

Now maybe it's just coincidence but I had my own Instagram magic moment this morning where someone has reached out to me and offered their own kindness because of a picture posted there, this only goes to reinforce to me that the vibes you put out there and the energy you want to feel will always come back to you if you support others in the same way.

So this week, how could you make a difference to someone else in need with a simple word or thought? Could you reach out to another to help them over come a hurdle, not for your gain but to simple make their day better? Maybe you have a story you could share here? I would love to read them!

Feel Good Friday - The sugar challenge.

Last Saturday we got back from our holiday in Italy, feeling exhausted and sluggish on the Sunday from too much delicious Italian treats I decided to set myself a challenge for the week to see if I could reduce my sugar intake, I also wanted to try to limit the rest of the family too and my OH got right on board, we had seen a lot of unwanted behaviour from Miss LC whilst away and thought maybe it was connected to how much sugar/additives she had over indulged in.

So, we swapped treats for healthy snacks for LC (there was some slight protest from her but she did like her alternatives also!) and my OH has given up his daily dose of the purple chocolate and and decided to only have a few beers at the weekend - yay a positive start from the family! I also decided to gently reduce my intake each day without going too overboard and record my progress in a journal and on Instagram.

By actually recording what I did and how I felt I've been able to really reflect on how I've managed, measure my progress and commit to myself in making a difference, I gave myself no set goals or outcomes, only to do my best in giving up sugar and make a real effort to reduce my intake. I have also found some great resources to help in the way of blogs, websites and recipes, take a look...

Sarah Wilson's website - I Quit Sugar

This fab YouTube clip from Gabrielle Bernstein about changing your diet.

A great article from Women's Health website on cutting back added sugar.

Kate Harris lovely Blog - Kate Quits Sugar
I'm also going to invest in James Duigan's Clean and Lean Pregnancy Guide as a long term maintenance tool/resource to keep me fit and healthy for the rest of my pregnancy and beyond, let me know if you have read it too! 

I still have a few days left on my challenge, I'm off to Blognix with my gorgeous friend Gemma from Mission 2 Mum tomorrow and I'm not sure how well I will hold up on this challenge, especially with a promise of bake off's and cocktail tasting but I'm determined to not go too overboard, let's see how I get on! 

So do you fancy challenging yourself to make a difference?

What would you do to help stay on track? 

Do share any thoughts or tips below! 

Beating those post holiday blues.

 If you're like me a holiday away from your everyday life is something to revel in and completely embrace - change of scene, food, weather and routine really is an adventure for me, I love experiencing the new and the different and I love broadening my horizons. However when it's time to come home I'm often struck down with the holiday blues and struggle to get back to real life and my everyday again.

This week we're away it Italy on our annual family holiday, a bit of baby-moon for us before we become a family of four. I know despite how much fun we will have I'll come back at the weekend and be as blue as the sky by the time I sit down to the laptop Monday morning, I can guarantee you this slump will last best part of the week too.

So with this in mind I'm thinking ahead and getting prepared and making myself a comfort list of things to help me beat those post holiday blues...

Picture Perfect

We always take hundreds of pictures on holiday and then get home and do nothing with them! This time I'm gonna break that habit and spend time organising them and printing out a few of my favourites to display around the house, I'm hoping this will help me keep that holiday feeling long after it ends.

Indulge in my post holiday body

I love the glow my body has after a break away and god knows this pregnant mama needs a bit of a body boost right now! I'm planning to make that glow last a long as possible this time by keeping my skin and hair well hydrated after a week of sun and treating myself to some indulgent products to slather on. I think a nice manicure/pedicure in a bright summer colour will help to keep me feeling lively also. The time I spend investing me will also help me feel more relaxed also indulging in some space each day to devote to me will hopefully feel like I'm back at the spa!

Being a book worm

One thing myself and the OH have always done when we go away is take a pile of books, pre children we would get through 4 or 5 on holiday, now we're lucky if we get through 2. However we take turns to have time to ourselves to read a little and I have to admit I probably get a bit more than him as he spends a good proportion of our holidays in the pool with LC, they live to swim on holiday! So anyway my goal this year is to keep up my reading habit, it's slipped loads lately and I still have my stack of books on the bedside table from the beginning of the year! I'm going make time each week to have some space to read and focus on books that keep me energised and uplifted (do recommend any you think are a good read at the bottom of this post!).

Catch my dreams

Whenever I'm away I always get inspired by my new surroundings, I'll get a taste of how I want my life to be or a feel of what I want to do or achieve in the future. I'm making note of all these ideas, hopes and feelings when they happen by having a notebook with me whilst we visit and explore Rome, I'm capturing these with pictures if I can and collecting tokens that I find that represent them too. When I get home I intend to organise, collect and write down all these things and turn them in to a step by step planner for me on how to keep my dream and goals alive, a go to book or journal of what I can do or change to incorporate these feelings in to my lifer hat I can keep reading and be invigorate and motivated by.

And that's it these are my tips, ideas and comfort list of things I can do to stop the holidays blues from creeping in, I intend to follow up at some point and let you know how I get on. If you have anymore tips or ideas I can use do share in the comment section below....

A little bit of Gratitude...

It's been a while since I've written a post here about the many things that are good in life and right now, with all the chaos that's happening around us I felt like it was time to scribble down all that was making smile and feeling good...

A happy kicking baby in my belly

Our family holiday in Rome on the horizon

New summer dresses for me and LC 

Fruity smoothie goodness

Playing outside instead of being stuck in

The most helpful and friendly mortgage advisor on the planet (Yes I know, more to come on this!)

Fresh hair cut

Beautiful stationary ready to go out in my new office
My mum, who is helping us out this week with lots of loose ends.

Whilst I'm struggling with a difficult pregnancy, melting in the heat and feeling frustrated with being overly tired and not being able to give my attention to my blog, my daughter and all the things need doing in around this house in the next few months, feeling useless, deflated and frustrated I know it is only temporary, I know that I am doing the important job of keeping my baby safe and I know that I've got some awesome support around me and that when I sit down for a moment and reflect, there is actually so much goodness to see if allow myself to see it. Isn't amazing what a little perspective can do?

What's making you smile this week? Sharing the gratitude shares the love :)

Mondays Moment of Wisdom - Pearl Number 70

With the recent passing of my Granny I have been thinking so much about life, and what it stands for.

What does my life stand for? What does your life stand for?
When we die what will they say it stood for?

I'm sounding morbid I know and for most people death and the life we have lead leading up to it is not something that's though about on a daily basis but for me this has been on my mind a lot...

When I reflect back over the years I have have such a mixture of emotions, joy, regret, proud and disappointed, and a bit of frustration thrown in for good measure. The last 5 years have truly been some of the best so far and a time in my life where I have discovered who I really am and what I stand for, I'm finally becoming someone I feel proud of, who I feel is a great role model for my children and someone who's skin I'm getting really comfy in, this is a good start to the rest of my life.

The big question for me though is what do I want to be remembered for, what will be my legacy and with hand on my heart I can tell you I'm really not sure yet however this only serves to make me feel excited and eager to keep moving forward and create something that fills my soul with passion and lifts others along the way. Once upon a time I may have felt lost, isolated or even anxious at this thought but now?
Well, now it seems like a big adventure that I'm just starting, somewhere I can finally see the way forward to, a path in my future.

Getting to grips with what your legacy may be sounds challenging and daunting doesn't it?
Are you really doing something thing or living a life that is true to you?
Today I'm challenging you to have a think about it, what do you want others to remember you for? How do you want to be know for living your life? What lasting memory would you want to leave for your family and friends? Because actually the answers to those questions are not about the future or what someone will stand up and say when you are laid to rest, there actually about how you start living your life, today...

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this today so do leave a comment bellow, thanks!

Through her looking glass... Heather Von St James

Heather and her daughter Lilly

  Apart from feeling really cross with myself for not getting this post up last week, I am delighted to introduce you to a lady who I know you will feel just as amazed and inspired by as I am. Heather Von St James is a true survivor and I have had the pleasure to get to know her a little over the last few weeks, Heather contacted me asking if I could help raise awareness of Mesothelioma and the use of Asbestos, Heather lives in America where it is still currently legal to use asbestos which is the cause of the illness she has suffered and fought after being given only 15 months to live. Her story is truly an inspiration and you can read more here

 

Heather has kindly agreed to share her more about her life and her wisdom and is next person to be featured in my  "Through Her Looking Glass.." series, I hope you enjoy today's interview.

Question 1

How do you start your day? Can you tell us more about the first 3 things you have to do to get your day started? 

It depends on the day of the week. On the days my husband works, I get to wake him up at 5:55 am, and then crawl into bed until 7:30. On days he doesn't work, I stay in bed until 7:30 and I then get my kiddo up, love on the dogs and cats. I usually snuggle the kiddo for awhile, then crawl out of bed and start the day. The next thing is, I make beeline to the Keurig coffee maker to brew a strong cup of coffee. I can't function until I have that first sip of steaming coffee. After dropping Lily off at school, I generally take a trip to Starbucks.  That is a typical start to my day. 

Question 2

Share your favourite piece of wisdom and why it means something to you.

''Life is a banquet, and most poor suckers are starving to death"  It is a quote from my favorite movie, Auntie Mame.  I like it so much I had it tattooed on my left arm- it covers pretty much my entire arm. It really embodies what I think about life. So many people get caught up in the petty small things, that they don't see all that life has to offer them! I take joy in everything. I feel and embrace all my emotion- I laugh, I cry, I love life. I try not to let the trivial things bother me because in the big picture does it really matter if Starbucks messed up my order? No, it's just coffee and can be fixed. It is the way I approach everything. 

Question 3

What is your go to thing for comfort when it all gets to much? 

My bedroom and my bed. It is my refuge. We recently remodeled our bedroom and made it a lovely, airy room. I have a huge, king size bed and I love expensive sheets. When I am having a down day, (yes, they do happen!) I crawl in bed and turn on something funny on TV. I find I usually feel better after awhile.

Question 4

Who are the women that inspire you?

Number one is my Mom. She is one of the most wise, strong, and loving women I know. I admire everything about her. She is who she is because of her tremendous faith. I strive to be more like her. She has a heart as big as all outdoors and is the best role model I could ever ask for. I'm truly blessed to have her as my mom.

Linda Reinstein from The Asbestos Disease awareness Organization is another woman whom I admire to no end. She lost her husband to mesothelioma 8 years ago, and has made it her life's mission to educate people on the dangers of asbestos. She is a mighty powerhouse and am so honored to call her friend. 

Question 5

How do you see yourself and what makes up your sense of identity?  

I wear many hats. But what doesn't change is the person wearing those hats.  I'm a mom. a wife, a survivor, a motivator and inspiration.. I love to help people and really want to make a difference.  My sense of identity ? Hmm.. physically it is my hair, and my tattoos.. I have the trademark white faux hawk, and both arm covered in colorful tattoos.. But what sets me apart is probably my quiet confidence and my ability to tell the truth to people. What you see with me is what you get.. I have no hidden agenda.. but there will always be a part of me that still sees the awkward 8th grader who was a little overweight, had crooked teeth and bad hair when I look in the mirror.. I sometimes surprise myself at what looks back. I'm a bit of a goofball, and try not to take things too seriously. I'm an optimist, and I think that shines through in all I do, 

Question 6

Do you have a favourite dish or recipe that makes you feel good or gives you a much needed boost?

My dad used to make this stuff called sauerkraut bread. It sounds horrible but it is soooo good. You take bread dough, roll it out into a big circle, and on the inside, spread sauerkraut and Italian sausage mixed together, add salt and pepper, roll it up and then bake it. My dad recently passed away, so I need to learn to make it if I ever want it again. 

Question 7

What's challenging you right now?

Dealing with the loss of my Dad. It's still so fresh. He passed away on February 27th, the day after his birthday. He was only 71. He was diagnosed with clear cell renal carcinoma back in November during a surgery to fuse some vertebrae. By the time they found the cancer, it was everywhere. He went very fast, and for that I am thankful, but wow I miss him. There is a huge hole in my life. Everyday is a new emotion surrounding his loss. I'm learning how to deal with it, and I know it will get easier. I do know I'm relieved he is no longer suffering. My dad was loved by many, many people, and I will always cherish those last days that we got to spend together. I was with him, holding his hand when he passed away.

Question 8 

Tell us more about your latest or next project.

Right now, Asbestos Awareness Week is going on, and I am inviting people to donate their social media status to help bring about awareness. Asbestos is still NOT banned in the US and is being imported and used every day. It is so dangerous and causes such suffering. There needs to be stricter regulations on the substance and an all and all ban. That is going on right now.

As far as other future projects, I'm thinking of a book. It is something that has been in the back of my mind for a few years, and perhaps this is the year I decide to actually do it. 

 

You can find out more about Mesothelioma and read Heather's blog at Mesothelioma.com

You can also connect with Heather on Twitter and Google+ and her Facebook page

If you want to know more about Mesothelioma and live in the UK then do check out the Mesothelioma UK website 

 

 I'd love to hear your thoughts on today's post and Heather's courageous story so do leave a comment below!