Heart Choices: October 2015 -->

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October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month



October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Since I worked as a nurse for 25 years, I'm always interested in promoting good health. Heart Choices is all about making healthy choices body, mind and spirit.

I've had many friends and family impacted by breast cancer. I'm amazed at the number of women impacted by this disease.

This is a photo of me and one of my best friends from high school. Maria was in the process of being diagnosed with breast cancer when we reconnected back in 2004.

We had so much fun visiting the beach and reminiscing about old times.  I cherish these times as she died from breast cancer several years later. 

I try to live a healthy lifestyle. I exercise, watch my diet and have my yearly mammogram. Since there is a history of breast cancer in my family, I want to be diligent about this. This year I was told that my mammogram was abnormal. I had to wait to schedule an ultrasound. In the meantime, my mind went to all my friends and family who have dealt with this disease. Thankfully, everything came out fine. 

Bankers Healthcare Group works closely with medical professionals. They want to get the word out about increased awareness and early detection of breast cancer. They supplied me with a graphic to post on Heart Choices.

Breast Cancer Awareness Infographic

Here are a few highlights:
  • One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.
  • Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death in women.
  • Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women.

To see a larger copy of this helpful graphic, I encourage you to link here.

Here are a few additional resources that you  might find helpful:


So don't hide your head in the sand! Knowledge is power and early detection is a must.

Do you do monthly self check exams? Do you have a yearly mammogram? Now is the time to take action.

Blessings and love,

QuickEdit

Autumn Blessings


Source

Autumn is my favorite season. Memories of growing up on Long Island, New York include the changing colors of leaves, cool crisp days and lots of leaves to rake. Now that I live in Phoenix, Arizona autumn is different but ...I still love this time of year.

It's been too long since I wrote about counting my blessings. I'd been in the habit of writing them down every Monday. I'd accumulated well over 1,000 and ...then I stopped.

So what better time to pick up this habit when I have so much to be thankful for.


Yes, it's warmer in Phoenix than Lindenhurst, NY but it's still pumpkin time. And did I mention that I love everything pumpkin. Pumpkin spice coffee, pumpkin soup, pumpkin candles.  I even bought a fun t-shirt from Zulily.

What do you think? I love it!

I was so excited when my Trader Joe's Fearless Flyer arrived in the mail. I had to go shopping to see everything pumpkin and I wasn't disappointed. They had large pumpkins. They had small pumpkins. They had flowers; lots of flowers.




I can't wait to teach my little Mini-Mustang class all about pumpkins. I know our Science teacher Mrs. Baer plans such fun activities but I want to add a little bit to it. I have pumpkin fever after all!

I love to observe little children as they discover what's inside a pumpkin. You never know what they will do but that's part of the fun. 

This is what happened last year when Mandie and I worked together. No Leo, don't put your head in the pumpkin. :)

I found this cute autumn subway art printable which you can download for yourself here


My thankful list:
  • Temperatures in the double digits in Phoenix (not triple)
  • Lots of pumpkins
  • Pumpkin spice lattes at Starbucks
  • A four day weekend
  • Getting closer to Thanksgiving
  • Talking to Heidi, my amazing friend and co-worker for four years
  • Going to Scottsdale Fashion Square to meet a friend (I've not been in the mall in years)
  • Long walks in the morning
  • Losing weight (I'm almost at the goal I set for myself)
  • A delicious dinner last evening prepared and served by my hubby Greg 
  • One more day before returning to work tomorrow
I will leave you with a photo I took at Trader Joe's on Saturday.


Will you take time this week to notice your every day blessings? I can guarantee that it will begin to change your perspective.

Blessings and love,

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