Zen and the Art of Ta-Ta Maintenance
Made you look! Made you look!
Face it…great breasts make EVERYBODY look so make sure you keep yours!
When I started this blog at 8:15am, I was sitting in the waiting room of the Women’s Imaging Clinic preparing for my first mammogram since 2006. Six years have gone by with nothing but the circular finger dance and a nipple tweak from my primary care physician. A necessary step but a mammogram is really where it’s at.
Strangely enough, I don’t take care of my ta-ta’s and I know it. I go to to the dentist every three months, have a physical and blood work annually but when it comes to a mammogram, I hit a preventative care roadblock. It’s only 10 minutes of my life once I’m in the room, with my fabulous flowered cape. 10 measly minutes! Why the avoidance when I know how desperately important it is for early detection and fighting breast cancer?
Well avoidance no more.
Why? Well here’s two good examples:
In 2006, my sister who is a huge annual mammogram advocate, discovered that one of our friends at work had never had a mammogram. My sister, with our friends consent, jumped on the phone and set up an appointment for her. Our friend had the mammogram and discovered that she had a cancerous lump in her breast. She underwent a biopsy, radiation and chemo and just celebrated her 5th year anniversary, cancer free. What a close call, what an intervention.
Another girlfriend of mine has family history of breast cancer including a younger sister who died after a decade long battle with it. This friend maintained regular and consistent preventative care for her breasts but even then, had to undergo a double masectomy. Because of her tenacity and consistency in taking care of herself, a cancer that would’ve destroyed her was discovered, immediate action was taken and it saved her life. Here she is five years later… happy, healthy and enjoying life with her family and friends.
So, after some prompting from my family to “get back in there”, this morning I submitted to the awkward and mildly uncomfortable “boobie mashing machine”. This check up took only 7 minutes and the cape, the smashing and the patient manipulation of the tech was a small price to pay to preserve my health and my life.
If you have not had a mammogram in the past 12 months and are 37 and older, do it. Save your Ta-Ta’s and ensure your good health!
The Marsupial in the Top Hat… Summer Creative Writing Project for Kids
One of the biggest struggles for parents during the summer months is finding creative ways to keep children stimulated, entertained and to maintain valuable scholastic momentum in regards to reading and writing.
A decade ago, when our oldest daughters were still in elementary school and junior high we used to make a game out of journal writing. Now, as adults, our girls still fondly recall this exercise. Based on it’s success, we will soon be introducing this process to our youngest daughter who will be entering the second grade this fall.
Monica Woods Great Idea, Our Twist
In my early 30′s, my beautiful momma gifted me “The Pocket Muse” by Monica Wood. As a fierce and consistent advocate and supporter of my writing, she has given me a number of books to inspire the writer in me. Out of all the books, “The Pocket Muse” is one of my most favorites both visually and it’s power to help break through writer’s block. Though created for adults, it’s simplicity and beautiful layout provide a useful avenue for children as well.
CREATE YOUR OWN INSPIRATION
Although you can certainly always purchase your own copy of “The Pocket Muse” (and I suggest you do!) you can also take it to another level by creating your own “muse” tools with the help of your child(ren).
- Gather old postcards, quotes, photos, magazine clippings or images from Pinterest and put them in a notebook or old photo album
- Put together a shoe box of trinkets: a screw, buttons, broaches, old baseball cards, shells, sea glass, a bottle cap, a crystal, a feather, etc.
- Compile a list of random statements, such as:
- Write a story about a bathtub.
- Write about a day with the most amazing pet ever.
- Write about what you see out of a window.
- Write a story of the best adventure imaginable.
Note that these statements are simply prompts, there is no real information provided to steer the story…
the bathtub
is it full of water? empty? big or small? floating in a purple ocean off a tropical island with a sail and a dog for a co-pilot?
the amazing pet
is it a dancing elephant in a traveling circus or a crazy wide-eyed marsupial that likes to wear a top hat?
the window
is it a bedroom window at home or a window that opens up high above a magical city where everything sparkles?
the best adventure
is it in the jungles of Borneo or is it on another planet where people live their life in reverse?
Keep it simple and VERY wide open and see where your child takes it!
LET’S GET TO WRITING
Tools of the Trade
Let your kids gravitate toward the tools of their choice. My oldest daughter choose a hardback, bound journal while our youngest choose an outrageously bright tangerine-colored spiral bound. And writing utensils… how fun is it to create a story with electric purple ink?
Carving Out Space
Pick a place where everyone can be together but can choose their favorite space to write. Our’s was a screened porch where one child sprawled on a chaise and the other sat up with one leg swinging over the arm of the chair.
Make it Practice Not a Flight of Fancy
Pick a consistent time of day and a set length for the exercise. For younger children 10-15 minutes is enough time. For 4-8th graders, 30 minutes is a perfect place to start but you may find that once the creative juices are flowing, you may want to expand the time.
If You Can’t Write, Still Create
Summers are busy so if you’ve been out on a lake all day, feel free to let the writing exercise go for the day. On drives or when sitting around, start a story and let each child add something to it… it’s about the process of thinking and having fun that makes it worthwhile.
Example:
Parent: “One day there was this terrible King with a kind, beautiful daughter. Her name was…
Child 1: “Rainbow because her hair grew in all the colors of the rainbow. She had a pet named…
Child 2: “Henrick and it a tiny purple cow that yodeled.
My daughter and I play this game on the 20 minute drives to and from Gramma & Papa’s house.
Set Proper Expectations
Set out a timer so everyone can see it and knows when they need to start concluding their story. The end of the story is often the most challenging and where things can get real hilarious as your kids try to wrap it up.
Eeeny Meeny Miney Mo
Each time you do this exercise, let one person choose the subject or object you’ll all be writing about. It’s interesting how the same “shell” or “quote” can create such diversely different outcomes.
Let it Flow, Don’t Edit, Don’t Judge
Set the timer and just start writing. Whatever comes to mind, put it to paper. Don’t judge the content until you’re done.
Take Center Stage
When you’re all done, take turns reading your story to one another.
Laugh & Bond
Be prepared to be amused and amazed by your family’s incredible creativity.
Repeat as often as you want all summer long!
This is a family exercise that keeps children interested, stimulated and on track for the new school year. In fact, we saw our daughters’ writing skills improve as they learn to develop their stories. But most of all, though, it’s great family time and will provide everyone with fantastic reading material and memories for many years to come.
*The Pocket Muse by Monica Wood at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Pocket-Muse-Monica-Wood/dp/1582973229#reader_1582973229
Powered Sugar Bliss & Beignets
It is Saturday morning and I’m enjoying a blissed out moment…
The sun is peeking thru the trees, illuminating the leaves to this vibrant, lime green. I’m still in my PJ’s sipping coffee that has been French pressed and topped off with cream and a dash of vanilla syrup. I am blogging and loving the act of writing. My daughter is playing “Princess and the Frog” after a breakfast of sugar, frosted french Beignets from the Cafe Du Monde. We’re safe, happy and healthy and enjoying our time at home.
It’s chilly outside but the heater is on and we’re snuggly and secure. My doggies are asleep after a big meal and a treat, the guinea pigs are eating fresh strawberries and my husband is coming home today after being gone a full week. We have missed him and are ready to have our family back together again.
All is right in the world, in this moment, at this time us. This is the mindset and the way I wished I lived and enjoyed every day, no matter where I am and what I’m doing.
This past year, I started listening to Audible books while driving. As it is largely wasted, unconscious time for me anyway, I thought it was important to put it to some use… to some GOOD use. I listen to all kinds of books; those that entertain, those that enlighten and those that inspire. As a result, I get WAY more out of my time in the car than I ever imagined.
Besides all I’ve learned and enjoyed, I appreciate most those books and speakers that keep me conscious, growing, contemplative and aware. For me, it is incredibly difficult to stay focused on the “good” especially when I live in a society that wholly supports, encourages and feeds on drama, bad news, want, lack and viewing our lives, selves, bodies and possessions as largely unfulfilled and unfulfilling. I can easily subscribe to this way of thinking and quite frankly, it sucks the very life out of me and leaves me feeling empty, mediocre and unhappy.
What one believes about the world — the world gladly reflects back.
Life is one big, glorious and self-fulfilling prophecy. And that really is the good news. If you don’t like what your life is reflecting back, change the image. What we choose to focus on is what we’ll continue to see, feel and experience. Focus on bitterness, gossip, anger and feeling misaligned and surely you will experience more of the same. However, focus on love, forgiveness, understanding, right action, service to others and kindness… well, honey, smile and the world smiles with you.
With today’s perfection, I must be putting out some pretty good mojo and I wish the same for you.
Here’s to a wonderful day ahead, for us all; one that moves slowly and allows us the time to relax, enjoy ourselves and our friends and family. Have a great one!
