Monday 22 February 2016

Magpie Moments - Silver Heart



Magpie Moments

Beautiful Silver Jewellery from Elizabeth Anne Norris Jewellery

Rarely entering Instagram giveaways, only choosing prizes I truly covet, I was delighted earlier this month to be named the winner.  Having captured my attention with her beautiful jewellery designs, Elizabeth of Elizabeth Anne Norris Jewellery visually fed my love of silver pieces as I followed her Instagram feed (@eanjewellery).  Therefore when I saw Elizabeth was having a giveaway for a gorgeous silver heart pendant, I decided to chance my luck.  All that sharing and screenshotting paid off, I won!  My prize is featured below and is a wonderful addition to my silver jewellery collection.



 As a supporter of artisan businesses I always love the story behind the creations, how the maker developed their skills and started on their creative business journey.  Elizabeth is an award winning designer whose eye for detail and ability to make simplicity truly beautiful, I'm sure you will agree, make the perfect bond in her jewellery design and creation.  

Until next time, take care.
Zoe
xo


Monday 15 February 2016

In The Bag - A Wintry Walk



Wintry Walks

Clockwise from the top -Quilted Jacket from Barbour - Wellies from Joules - Leather Backpack from Eazo -
 Leather Thermos Flask from Beg Bicycles - Wellies from Joules - Leather Backpack from Paper High
Leather Backpack from Iris

Mercury on the thermometer may have plummeted but this should not be an excuse to stay indoors. Although I know how alluring the warmth of an open fire, a pot of tea and a good book can be when outside the air is crisp.  Pack a flask of freshly brewed coffee or hot chocolate, put on a warm coat, hat, gloves and scarf, tuck toes snuggly into boots lined with fluffy socks and head outside.  Exhale dragons breath and listen for the crunch of frost with every step.  

Until next time, take care.
Zoe
xo

Thursday 11 February 2016

Take Me On A Journey

image source - Lisa Barbero on Etsy


A sprinkle of sunshine on a chilly day has turned my thoughts to adventures in the warmer summer months.  Packing a bag, flying away, having an adventure.  With the children getting older plans to travel on our own seem less of a distant horizon.  Yet family adventures are still to be had and I hope for many more years to come, even when our hair is a little greyer, our bones a little creakier, adventures as a family will hopefully still be sought.  

With a hunger for culture, offering sights, scents and tastes to expand my mind and probably my middle, I want to take a trip to many cities.  But tiny islands can captivate our minds and senses in similar ways, tasting traditional recipes created in tavernas passed down through generations, overlooking bays with boats bobbing in a sparkling sea. Italy has always held a place in my heart, feeding my mind, body and soul. Tired feet, having spent days walking along narrow streets, navigating busy roads in cities can quickly be rejuvenated on sandy beaches, whilst the children can head out to sea in toppers, catching the breeze in their sails, returning to shore with sun kissed skin and salt in their hair.

So today as I continue in earnest with my decluttering my thoughts will be taking me off an adventure on cobbled streets, eating sundried tomatoes, olives and sipping an aromatic espresso or chianti in the warm Italian sunshine. Where will your next adventure be taking you?

Until next time, take care.
Zoe 
xo

This post is my entry for the #MarkWarnerMum blogger competition, in the creative writer category. 

Thursday 4 February 2016

World Cancer Day



There seems to be a day for everything these days, but today is an important day for me.  It is World Cancer Day.  Today is my day off, a break in the week when I can stop thinking about cancer.  Sadly for many people they don't get to have a day off from cancer.  Living with cancer is a term that is being spoken more often as survival figures climb, longer remissions possible.  Yet there is still so much to do.  Treatments are harsh, symptoms limiting quality of life and side effects changing peoples lives beyond treatment finishing.  Research is key not only for reducing the percentage of people likely to have cancer but for improving treatments and just as importantly improving care, service and information delivery.  Treatments are becoming evermore personalised yet we still have a long way to go in tailoring information to individuals.  

As part of the ICanWeCan project for World Cancer Day, I Can help every patient I treat cope with their radiotherapy treatment.  Of course I already do this and will continue to do this. But in the coming years I want to help my profession make improvements to service delivery, tailoring information to individuals, finding ways to help patients living with short and long term side effects of radiotherapy get the quality of life they deserve.  Even though I am a newly qualified Band 5 therapeutic radiographer I already have ideas and will research project ideas in coming months to see if they are actually viable. 

So what you can you do for the ICanWeCan project?  You can book that smear test, check your breasts, give up smoking.  You can take a friend who is living with cancer out for coffee and a catch up or head out for a walk with them, fresh air is good for the soul as well as relieving fatigue. You could make some meals for the freezer of a friend or relative currently having cancer treatment for their family, so they don't have to worry that everybody is getting fed.  Whilst we could all give a fixed amount to the various charities, which of course means we can make changes, improve treatments and save more lives.  Giving the gift of time, whether for ourselves to get checked or spend with a friend or family member living with cancer, or making a friends life a little easier whilst they receive treatment, is worth more than any donation.  

Until next time, take care.
Zoe
xo