Breast Cancer Awareness Month

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October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Being a breast cancer survivor myself, I feel very strongly about helping other women learn more about early detection. It’s a scary subject and no one wants to feel vulnerable. But knowledge is power.

We can’t control everything that happens to us but we can do everything within our power to reduce our risks factors as much as possible. We can do self-screening tests and a mammogram when needed. If found early, survival rates are so much greater.

Hopefully, someday soon a cure will be found. More importantly hopefully someday there will be a way to prevent breast cancer so no woman has to go through what I and hundreds of thousands of other survivors and non-survivors have gone through. Knowledge is power and together we can create a brighter future.

So check out these links to get you started on learning all you can. Forward these links to all the women you know so they can gain the knowledge.

http://www.nbcam.org/

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_6x_National_Breast_Cancer_Awareness_Month.asp

http://komen.org/

http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/

http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=2

Janice

https://cutclutterwithscissors.com

http://twitter.com/jlscissors

http://cutoutthebreastcancer.wordpress.com

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First Day of Autumn

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Today is the first day of Autumn. Here in the Midwest some of the trees have been dropping their leaves. Others, like the dogwood outside my window, are beginning to change colors. The local grocery stores are displaying potted mums in full bloom.

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I know it doesn’t look like Autumn everywhere but that doesn’t mean you can’t start enjoying the season. Red, gold, and orange colors dominate the crafts and other decorations for the home. You can have your own home get the Autumn feeling by making some easy decorations. Here are some links with lots of ideas for you and your children. Many use items you are ready have or can be found in nature. Have fun.

http://www.dltk-holidays.com/fall/index.html

http://www.sciencemadesimple.com/leaves.html

http://familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts/season/specialfeature/famf0802_sf_autumn/famf0802_sf_autumn.html

http://crafts.kaboose.com/holidays/seasons/fall/

http://www.bhg.com/decorating/seasonal/autumn/

Janice

https://cutclutterwithscissors.com

http://twitter.com/jlscissors

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Fall Bulb Planting

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I was talking to a friend today and she mentioned about all the tulip and daffodil bulbs she was planting. I haven’t even thought that far ahead. Now is the time to plan, buy, and plant the spring flowering bulbs. It’s not too late to plant yet, because they say you can plant the bulbs up until the ground freezes. But who wants to be out digging in the soil when it gets cold out?

IMGP1528_edited-1 Looking at the pictures I took at a local park this past spring help motivate me to go out and buy some bulbs. I will put it on my shopping list. First I have to decide where and what I want to plant. Then it is important to know when I will be able to plant the bulbs.

Without a plan it is easy to buy or order lots of bulbs because the pictures on the package or in the catalog look so wonderful. Buying 100 plus bulbs will give the look above but do you have the time to plant them?

IMGP1543 Shutterstock-06_edited-1

It’s probably best to buy a few and get them planted. Then if you have time you can dig up another area of the garden, buy some more bulbs, and plant them. If you start now by doing it in stages you should be able to plant lots of bulbs before the ground freezes.

If you buy too many bulbs at one time and feel overwhelmed because you can’t find a whole weekend to plant them, you could end up with unplanted bulbs that rot over the winter. Been there, done that.

Let me know about some of your bulb planting stories.

Janice

https://cutclutterwithscissors.com

http://twitter.com/jlscissors

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Houseplants in the Fall

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In the Midwest, Autumn is definitely showing it’s face. Some of the trees are losing their leaves. The evenings are beginning to cool down. And the sun is setting a lot earlier than just a few weeks ago.

I have mixed feelings about this time of year. I don’t like the shorter days but the cooler weather is nice. It’s sad to see the vegetable garden looking tired and worn down.

But my houseplants, especially the flowering ones, are looking great with the cooler weather. IMGP1737They will soon have to come inside. That’s where the problem is.
As much as I love the houseplants I don’t have a lot of room to over-winter them inside. When I squeeze them in front of the windows the rooms start to look cluttered. I do have some lights on a timer in my basement for the smaller plants but the big ones are heavy to carry downstairs.

Each year I go through the same debate. Do I let the frost take them or do I bring them inside and have the room look cluttered? I’ve had many of these plants for years so it is hard to let go of them.

Maybe I will get more lights downstairs and put most of the plants there. Then if I can remember to water them on a regular basis they should survive until next spring.

Janice

https://cutclutterwithscissors.com

http://twitter.com/jlscissors

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Remembering 9/11

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We go about our days getting irritated by the little things such as someone else’s car accident causing heavy traffic making us late for work. Or we’re behind someone in the grocery store line who doesn’t have enough money and has to decide what to put back, slowing everything down. Now we have to rush to get home so dinner can be served on time.

It’s when we remember tragedies like 9/11 that we put the human factor back into our thinking. Instead of being irritated about being late for work, be grateful you weren’t the one in the accident. Have empathy for the people who were. Their lives will be forever changed, whether it’s only a bad memory of a minor accident or a life changing event due to major injuries or even death of a loved one or friend.

That person in the line at the grocery store may just be unorganized. Or they may be struggling to put food on the table for their children after a job loss or other financial struggles.

We never know what is going to happen to us nor do we know what other people are going through. In the days, weeks, and months following September 11, 2001 most people in this country showed more empathy towards their fellow man/woman. The little irritating things became unimportant. Family, health, friends, a sense of community, caring about others, pride for our country, became the important things.

Unfortunately we seem to have forgotten these things. Since that time we have become a country of people divided on both sides of the fence with a them vs. us attitude. Whether it is the war, health care, the economy, or any other area we are affected by or have an opinion on, maybe it’s time to at least try to see what the other side is seeing. Step into their shoes for just a moment.

We don’t need another 9/11 to remind us of what is important. Just remembering, truly remembering, the feelings we felt that day and beyond can help us get back to recognizing what makes this country great – it’s people caring about each other in spite of their differences.

Janice

https://cutclutterwithscissors.com

http://twitter.com/jlscissors

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