The Big Butterfly Count!

 Leading wildlife charity, Butterfly Conservation, has revealed the dates of this year’s highly anticipated Big Butterfly Count! It will take place from the 12th of July until the 4th of August! Will you be taking part?

The Big Butterfly Count is a nationwide citizen science survey aimed at helping the experts assess the health of our environment. This annual event encourages you to go out into your garden, local green space or the countryside to spend 15 minutes counting butterflies. The information gathered helps scientists to understand how butterflies and moths are faring, informs conservation projects, government policies and supports other experts with their research and vital work to protect our planet.

It is open to anyone, of any age, in any part of the UK - towns, cities or the countryside. No green space is too small. A back garden, a small terrace or balcony with some pot plants, a public park, allotment or country lane are all important spaces to explore, track and report.

How to take part:

Simply count the butterflies that you see for 15 minutes during bright (preferably sunny) weather during the Big Butterfly Count dates. This time of year is the best because most butterflies are at the adult stage of their lifecycle so more likely to be seen.

If you are counting from a fixed position in your garden, count the maximum number of each species that you can see at a single time. For example, if you see three Red Admirals together on a bush then record it as 3, but if you only see one at a time then record it as 1 (even if you saw one on several occasions) - this is so that you don't count the same butterfly more than once.

If you are doing your count on a walk, then simply total up the number of each butterfly species that you see during the 15 minutes.

Also please remember that if you don't see any butterflies then let them know that too. It is very important that we know if there are areas where butterflies are not being seen, this may indicate a wider problem.

You can do as many counts as you want to. You can submit separate records for different dates at the same place and for different places that you visit. And your count is useful even if you do not see any butterflies or moths.

To add your counts go to The Big Butterfly Count or download the free Big Butterfly Count app!

Last year more than 135,000 Counts took place up and down the country with participants spending a combined total of almost four years counting butterflies which I think is amazing! Butterflies are more than just pretty insects fluttering in our gardens. They are vital pollinators, indicators of environmental health, and key players in the food web. They are so important to our world.

Do you see many butterflies when you are out and about?

Cup of tea anyone? #InternationalTeaDay

Did you know that it is International Tea Day today?

International Tea Day is a time to raise awareness of the importance of tea in our lives and to raise awareness of the long history and the deep cultural and economic significance of tea around the world! It is also to raise awareness about the global tea trade, promote sustainable practices within the industry and honour the millions of individuals involved in tea cultivation and production.

I love a cup of tea and there is one for every mood! Feeling a bit under the weather? Reach for a soothing cup of chamomile or ginger tea to ease those sniffles. Need a little pick me up to conquer the day? A bold black tea or energizing green tea has got your back. And there is of course the herbal teas: lavender, and peppermint. The possibilities are endless!

Tea is like a warm hug for your soul. There's something incredibly comforting about cradling a mug of steaming tea between your hands. There is of course the social aspect too., whether you're catching up with an old friend over a pot of tea, going out for a fancy afternoon tea complete with scones and cucumber sandwiches tea has a magical way of bringing people together. There's a reason why the phrase "put the kettle on" is a well known. It's like saying, come, sit, let's share a moment!

I don't drink as much coffee as I used to and drink a lot more tea and my favourite of the day is at the end of the day when everyone is home, settled and fed and I get to sit with the soaps on the TV and enjoy the cuppa with a piece of cake! We used to drink PG Tips but when I have been at my dad's I have been drinking Yorkshire Tea and we seem to like it more. So much so my dad has just bought us a huge bag of tea bags from the cash and carry. While I was reading about Yorkshire Tea I discovered the Yorkshire Bedtime Brew which I bought tried and I have been drinking before bed. Of course it's decaf but also has herbs and spices in which make me feel sleepy.

Tea has so many health benefits. From boosting your immune system, aiding digestion and reducing stress. Plus, with so many caffeine free options available you can enjoy its goodness any time of day without worrying about staying up all night!

Today is the day to educate yourself on everything to do with tea, but especially the production of it. Did you know that tea production and processing constitutes a main source of income for millions of families in developing countries.

If you’re a lover of tea, then do some research about some of your favourite tea companies. Look up brands that support fair trade and possibly switch to those brands to make a difference in the way you buy tea. 

Are you a tea drinker? What is your favourite type to drink?

A unique gift with meaning from Treedom.

This week many of our minds are turning to our mother’s or special ladies in our life and how to show them we love them this Mother’s Day. I love the presents that my girls make or buy me but the one's that mean the most to me are one's that are a total surprise and last for years to come!

Treedom is the sustainable tree planting platform that allows you to give a unique gift with meaning this year.

Gifting a remote tree through Treedom, where you can follow the positive impact of the tree planting on the local community and track the growth of your tree is the perfect eco friendly personalised gift.

Since its foundation in 2010 in Florence more than 3.000.000 trees have been planted in Africa, South America and Italy. All trees are planted directly by local farmers and bring environmental, social and financial benefits to their communities.

Like a mother, the trees planted by Treedom are resilient and provide for and nurture their communities. Gifting with Treedom will help foster generations to come. They have grown over 3 million trees worldwide and are on a mission to plant 10 million trees in the next 3 years to help combat the climate crisis, biodiversity loss and empower local farming communities.

How it works:

Choose the tree you like the most:

With over 45 trees to choose from, you can personalise it to Mum’s favourite. Your tree will be photographed, geolocalized and will have an online page. You will be able to find out about the project to which it will give life, customize it with your message and if you want, gift it to someone special.

Follow it's project:

Your tree will grow in one of the nurseries of the projects we carry out in various countries around the world. When it is big enough, it will be handed over to a farmer to be planted and cared for, so that it can grow, absorb CO2 and bear fruit.

Improve the air you breathe:

As it grows, your tree will absorb CO2 from the atmosphere and will release oxygen, thus improving the quality of the air we all breath.

You can send the gift of a tree a few ways: 

By email: If you choose email delivery, you can opt to send the gift now or on a date of your choice. Treedom will take care of the rest!

By card: Once you’ve chosen the perfect card, you can personalise it with a dedication and the recipient’s name. You can download and print it (preferably on recycled paper!) at any time.

By link: Copy the link and send it to the person of your choice. You can send it via WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram, SMS, etc.: click on the link to copy it, then paste it into your message. Please note: if you choose a social networking site, remember to send the link in a private message!

I think giving the gift of a tree is a fantastic idea. You can reach anyone, anytime, with a thought that goes straight to the heart and do a little good for the world too. 

Have you ever gifted a tree? Is it something you would do?

The feel good Christmas gift - Buy dinner or a toy for a foster dog!

Animal welfare charity, Miracle’s Mission is offering a wonderful opportunity to sprinkle some Christmas good cheer for the needy rescue dogs and cats that are waiting to be fostered: to buy them a special Christmas dinner or toy. It’s the ultimate present for the dog or cat lover in your family, who will receive a certificate as their gift.

Your gift could help sick, injured and difficult dogs like Nessy. Nessy was suspected to have been hit by a car and her spinal cord was permanently damaged. Her two back legs needed to be amputated. However, this does not hinder her and she now is happy and full of energy and joy. In fact, Nessy doesn’t seem to realise that she has a disability, she is able to get around very well in and out of her wheels.

Nessy is a very friendly and happy dog. She likes people and is very happy to make new friends. She loves to be petted and to play with toys. She also likes to follow people and stay close to them. She can be anxious and barky around new people, dogs and experiences but this is something that she is working on.

Victoria Bryceson’s charity, Miracle's Mission, is a non profit animal welfare organisation that works with sick, injured and difficult animals. Her mission is to provide a place of safety for animals in danger, to educate on the need for neutering both pets and strays and to neuter stray dogs and cats to prevent the birth of more dogs and cats onto the streets.

You can buy a Christmas Dinner or a toy for a dog or cat, which comes with a certificate. And with so many hungry mouths to feed at Miracle’s Mission, your gift will make a massive difference to the quality of life of a dog or cat at this time of year.

Christmas Dinner for a dog or cat costs £5 and a toy for a dog or cat also costs £5. You can purchase your gift from their website where you can also find out about fostering or adopting an injured or disabled animal.

Do you donate to charities in the run up to Christmas?

The Woodland Trust’s guide to an eco-friendly Christmas!

Are you dreaming of a green Christmas? With the devastating impact of climate change all around us and the nature crisis making headlines on a daily basis, many of us are thinking of ways we can make a difference for this year’s festivities. To help, the UK’s largest woodland conservation charity the Woodland Trust, has compiled a guide to simple ways we can all fight for nature and climate and reduce our impact on the environment while we shop.

Christmas is traditionally a time for excess but your celebrations needn’t cost the earth! Every single purchase from the Woodland Trust shop including Christmas cards and gift wrap makes a contribution to the Trust’s work with woods and trees, meaning you can fight climate change and help create havens for wildlife, while also ticking off items from your Christmas to do list. And this year every product in the Trust’s Christmas range is eco-friendly, whether it’s FSC-certified wooden garden tools or bird feeders made from recycled plastic. And if you’d rather move away from giving traditional gifts completely, the Woodland Trust can still help with a selection of green ‘virtual’ gifts and unique tree and woodland dedications in woods across the UK.

Here are a few great ideas on how to go green this Christmas:

Ditch the glitz.

Buy eco-friendly cards and gift wrap. The Woodland Trust’s range of Christmas cards and wrapping paper is FSC-certified and guaranteed to be plastic and glitter-free. New for this year is fabric gift wrap, in a delightful winter bouquet design, made to be re-used year after year. You won’t even need sticky tape!

Give a tree a home.

Trees are for life, not just for Christmas, so what better way to join the fight against climate change and give a gift to nature than by planting your own tree at home. Go for a holly or yew sapling for a colourful Christmas vibe or choose a fruit or nut tree to give wildlife a tasty treat.

Or dedicate one!

If space is an issue, or you need a gift in a hurry, why not dedicate trees to friends and family this year? Choose from a single tree in a wood of your choice, or areas of woodland from a quarter of an acre or more. Each dedication is unique and surprisingly affordable and comes with its own certificate, map and wood information.

Buy greener gifts.

We’re all looking for simple ways to reduce, reuse and recycle and the Woodland Trust shop makes it easy. The strong and stylish reusable jute and juco shopping bags literally help save trees.

Go plastic free and save trees.

Support woods and trees with every sip with a reusable insulated drink cup made from recycled plastic coffee cups. Proceeds from the sale of every Now Cup go to the Woodland Trust.

Give nature a gift too.

Don’t forget wildlife this winter. The Woodland Trust’s range of outdoor products is the perfect gift for nature with bird feeders, baths and nesters and bee skeps all designed to bring some life to your outside space.

Choose a ‘virtual’ gift.

Virtual gifts are the ultimate environmentally friendly present for anyone who really wants to go green. Your donation to the Woodland Trust will directly help trees, woods and wildlife and could be used to plant trees, create a hedgerow or keep bluebells blooming.

What are you doing to go green in the run up to Christmas?

The ultimate feel good Christmas present for the animal lover in your family!

There is someone in my family who have said that they don't want me to waste my money on them but I do want to get them something and I think I might have found the perfect gift. They are big animal lovers, especially dogs and are always raising money for different charities so with this present I feel good, they feel good and it will help an animal too.

Animal welfare charity, Miracle’s Mission is offering a wonderful opportunity to sprinkle some Christmas good cheer for the needy rescue dogs and cats that they foster; to buy them a Christmas dinner or toy. It’s the ultimate present for the dog or cat lover in your family.

Victoria Bryceson’s charity, Miracle's Mission, is a non-profit animal welfare organisation that works with sick, injured and difficult animals. Her mission is to provide a place of safety for animals in danger, to educate on the need for neutering both pets and strays and to neuter stray dogs and cats to prevent the birth of more dogs and cats onto the streets.

Miracle was a dog who was rescued from the streets of Borneo at one week old, before her tiny eyes were even open. She had several injuries and was very weak, but she made a miraculous recovery and is now strong, happy and healthy living with her adopted brother Ben, sister Star and sister Tess. Victoria is now working towards saving many more stray dogs and other stray animals all around the world, starting in Borneo where Miracle was rescued.

You can buy a Christmas Dinner or a toy for a dog or cat, which comes with a certificate. And with so many hungry mouths to feed at Miracle’s Mission, your gift will make a massive difference to the quality of life of a dog or cat at this time of year. Christmas Dinner for a dog or cat costs £5 and a toy for a dog or cat also costs £5.

Miracle’s Mission is also looking for help to build the UK’s first centre for disabled animals, where founder of Miracle’s Mission, Victoria Bryceson and her team can rehabilitate the most vulnerable, before finding them their forever homes. You can donate to the appeal by clicking here.

I was not compensated for this blog post, I just though it was a nice thing to share.

(Ad - Gifted) Reusable sanitary pads from Trade To Aid.

Disposable sanitary products contribute millions of tons of plastic to landfill every year. Each woman can use between 5 and 15 thousand pads or tampons during their lifetime, the vast majority of which end up in landfill or polluting the oceans. Most disposable pad brands are over 90% plastic and contain synthetic additives, many of which are damaging to both women’s health and the environment.

Reusable pads are much better for our world and ourselves and recently I have been sent some to try out from Trade To Aid.

Reusable pads and the Trade To Aid reusable pads are designed in the same way as disposable sanitary pads and are used the same way too. Instead of throwing them away reusable pads can be removed, washed and reused. The whole process is quick, easy, clean and comfortable.

Made with a super soft bamboo charcoal layer, a highly absorbent microfibre core and a recycled waterproof membrane. The pads are free from the synthetic additives and nasty chemicals found in disposable pads, they are kind to your body. 

I was sent the Reusable Sanitary Pads (Pack of 6) box to try out which contains 2 heavy flow pads, 2 medium flow pads and 2 light flow pads and a waterproof wet bag. 

These pads have the same tried and tested design as standard disposable sanitary pads and work the same way. You fix them to your underwear via the two small clips that are attached to the wings, a lot like the sticky wings on disposable pads. Once you have finished with a reusable pad, you remove it and fold it up and place it in the sealable waterproof bag until it is time to wash it.

Many women put off using reusable pads because of the thought of washing them. If you are out an about you can put the pad in the wash bag supplied with the pads or if you are home just place it in a bowl of cold water to soak. Cold water helps lift out bloodstains. Soaked pads can be washed in a standard dark 40-degree wash or by hand. You can use light detergent but fabric softener will leave a residue on the pads, which you don’t want. If you are worried about disinfecting the pads then you can add some white vinegar to the wash too which is perfectly safe and fine for your washing machine and great for other clothes too! Apart from the soaking washing reusable pads is the same as washing any other clothes! Drying them on the washing line in direct sunlight is ideal but when this isn't possible drying them in front of a radiator is fine. The pads are designed to be absorbent so they’ll absorb a lot of water and will take a while to dry.

These arrived just at the right time. I had been on my period for a couple of days so it was the perfect time to try them out because I didn't have such a heavy flow. They were so soft to touch and when I tried them on they were so comfortable. Way better than plastic, disposable pads. I liked that they came in different sizes depending on what your flow is like because not every day on your period is the same. I didn't have to change them quite as often as disposable pads and towards the end of my period usually my skin is started to get irritated with these it wasn't. I do at least one load of washing a day so washing the reusable pads has been easy. I have a bin in the bathroom half full of water and that is where I have been soaking the pads. Stu did roll his eyes when he noticed the pads hung on the line, worried about what the neighbours would think but to be honest I don't care. 

I have realised that to use these for all of my period I will need more than the six that I was sent and I do intend to buy more as I have got on so well with the one's I was sent to try. The average woman in the UK spends some £13 a month on sanitary products. That works out to over £1,500 a year so once I have bought another couple of packs I will actually be saving money.

Trade to Aid have joined the fight against period poverty. For every pack of reusable pads sold, Trade To Aid donate a pack to someone in need of a better period. Trade To Aid is a non-profit social business and they use every penny of the profits to donate packs to a woman in need in a refugee camp, a conflict zone, or a natural disaster. The profits also go towards funding menstrual education and hygiene programmes.

The pack of 6 reusable sanitary pads cost £29.97 and I think that is a fantastic price considering how much you will save in the long run. Reusable pads will last 5 years or more and also vastly lower your carbon footprint and contribution to landfill.

Have you tried reusable pads before? How did you get on?

I was sent the pack of 6 reusable sanitary pads free of charge in exchange for this blog post.

The Big Ginger Social. An incredibly tasty event to support people with cancer!

1 in 2 people will develop some form of cancer during their lifetime. It's a pretty scary statistic which I tend to put at the back of my mind but it is reality for many people, every day!

Cancer Support UK is calling on kind hearted, generous members of the community to hold their very own Big Ginger Social to raise money to fund Cancer Kits for people going through cancer treatment.

Throughout September we are being encouraged to host a brand new fundraising event to raise money for a very important cause which will support people going through cancer treatment. It will bring family, friends or work colleagues together all for a good cause.

Why the ginger theme?

Included in the Cancer Kits are ginger tea bags as ginger is proven to help offset the nausea that many cancer patients experience. It can also be used in many other delicious recipes including ginger cupcakes to ginger mocktails or even cocktails if you’re feeling particularly spicy.

Of course each Big Ginger Social will be different but all donations raised will make a huge difference to the lives of people going through cancer. Every £25 you raised will help fill a Cancer Kit.

The Cancer Support UK Cancer Kits are supplied free of charge to anyone undergoing cancer treatment and they provide much needed comfort to children and adults having to endure treatment.

The Kits for adults are packed with items to offset some of the unpleasant side effects of treatment, like cold hands and feet, nausea, and sensitive teeth. Whilst Kids' Kits are designed to brighten the days of children living with cancer containing small toys and colouring sets to help entertain and pass the time in hospital, along with practical items like cosy socks. Each of the kits has been designed based on feedback from people who have experienced cancer treatment first hand.

Why should you host a Big Ginger Social when there’s another well known charity that runs a coffee morning?

Cancer Support UK's services have been designed to be different from other charities so they don’t compete with them. They only try to provide support that isn’t currently being provided by other organisations. They really appreciate what other cancer charities do and their hope is that you can see value in what the Cancer Kits mean to people with cancer.

If you are interested in hosting your own Big Ginger Social you can request a fundraising pack which gives you more information, inspiration and some ginger themed recipe ideas.

Daniel’s Story - Alder Hey Children’s Charity!

*Disclosure - This is a paid post on behalf of Alder Hey*

My biggest fear is my children being unwell. We've been in that position before when it was discovered that both of my girls had heart defects and needed open heart surgery. Let me tell you it's no fun! We had the support of a great hospital but when I think of other children's hospitals Alder Hey always springs to mind. Every year Alder Hey cares for over 275,000 patients and their families including one special boy.

Daniel’s Story

For the first few years of Daniel Bell’s life, he was like any other toddler, full of energy, happy and full of life at home in Ormskirk, but doctors soon discovered Daniel had a brain tumour the size of a fist.

At aged three, mum Rosalind and dad Colin, had noticed a change in Daniel’s behaviour. He wasn’t the same happy go lucky toddler he used to be. Rosalind explains “His personality literally changed. He was grumpy had lots of tantrums, was sick and went back to sleeping in the day too, which was the total opposite of what he was previously.”

Thankfully Rosalind recognised some of the symptoms of a brain tumour. Daniel was taken to Ormskirk A&E who quickly realised the severity of the situation and Daniel diagnosed with a brain tumour.

Daniel was rushed straight to Alder Hey which is a centre of excellence for brain conditions. “It was like the bottom had fallen out of my world, our lives changed in a split second. We were told he needed to go to Alder Hey right away and we were blue-lighted to Liverpool,” says Rosalind.

Once at Alder Hey, Daniel was taken straight to theatre where Neurosurgeon Ms Sasha Burns drained fluid on his brain during a 3 hour life-saving operation and the next day Daniel’s tumour was removed during a 9 hour operation by Mr Conor Mallucci, who recently featured in BBC2 documentary Hospital.

“Mr Mallucci told us that Daniel had a cystic tumour which was the size of an adult’s fist and there was a possibility of Daniel losing motor and mobility skills as the result of the procedure,” explained Rosalind.

The operation was a success, helped by the use of Alder Hey’s 3-T MRI scanner, a pioneering scanner which allows surgeons to scan the brain in theatre. Alder Hey is the first hospital in Europe to have this kit, which was paid for by Alder Hey Children’s Charity.

“It was 6pm when we heard that Daniel was out of theatre. We were approaching HDU to see him when we heard Daniel shouting at the nurses. I have to admit it was the best sound ever,” said Rosalind. “Mr Mallucci said that the operation ‘went perfectly’ and that he had successfully managed to remove the whole of Daniel’s tumour. We spent 6 days on HDU to recover and then went to the neuro ward for a week. The nurses were incredible,” said Rosalind.

Rosalind said: “When we got the scans from Oncology which told us that no further treatment was needed it was an amazing relief. I cried a lot after that.”

Daniel is now a healthy and very active little boy and also a budding actor. “Daniel is really happy. He is a cheeky little kid and he loves being with his friends. He has performed in Little Shop of Horrors with his local Performing Arts Club and he loves to raise money for Alder Hey Children’s Charity.”

As a result of his fundraising, Daniel was named a Fundraising Ambassador for Alder Hey Children’s Charity, which made everyone in the Bell family very proud. “I was really emotional when they told us that Daniel was to be an ambassador for the charity. It is an honour and a privilege,” said Rosalind. “Alder Hey is such an inspirational place full of amazing people. The staff put the children first often at the expense of their own time. It is impossible to put into words how world class they are at what they do. We are fortunate to have them on our doorsteps.”

All of the Alder Hey Children’s Charity ambassadors help to raise money for the charity so that it can continue to provide vital funds to provide life-saving medical equipment and facilities that make a real difference to families every day.

Recently the charity installed distraction technology in many rooms to help divert attention away from the treatment or medical examinations that need to be carried out by medical staff, and to entertain young patients with colourful, bright and positive images projected on the walls. This immersive technology helps to transform a white walled room into a magical world where children can escape from reality and be free from fear and anxiety.

To be able to continue to provide innovative solutions such as the distraction technology and provide vital funds for Alder Hey, the charity relies on the support and kindness of the public. There are many fun and exciting ways for people to help and support Alder Hey Children’s Charity such as hosting a bake sale, a charity car wash or signing up to run a charity race. Alder Hey Children’s Charity has recently launched a brand-new running hub to inspire and motivate people to run for charity. With delicious recipe ideas, running tips and 5k, 10K, half marathon and marathon training guides, if you’d like to challenge yourself to run a 5K, 10K or even a marathon why not go and check out the Alder Hey Running Hub now.

This is a paid partnership on behalf of Alder Hey.

Loneliness Awareness Week.

Did you know this week is Loneliness Awareness Week? Loneliness is a common feeling and should be without stigma or shame.

Studies have shown loneliness is as damaging as obesity or smoking fifteen cigarettes a day. In 2017, the Marmalade Trust launched the first Loneliness Awareness Week (LAW) with the aim of raising awareness of loneliness and creating a society where it is spoken about openly and normally. This year one of the event’s key aims is to reduce the stigma of loneliness.

People rarely talk about loneliness, despite this being a common feeling. When people do talk about it, they often refer to loneliness in a negative way saying it is something that is ‘suffered from’ or ‘I admit it, I’m lonely’.” 

I sometimes feel lonely especially now since I don't have to walk the kids to school. When I did I would see and chat to people on the school run now I sometimes go for days without speaking to anyone apart from the kids, Stu and my dad on the phone. I do like to spend time alone but sometimes I do get lonely. I do have friends that I meet up with most weeks and I could quite easily pick up the phone and ring them but they have their own lives and I feel I don't want to bother them. I'm sometimes my own worst enemy.

I've made a promise to myself that when we move house I will make the effort to get out and about more and meet more people. I'd class myself as an introvert, it's going to be hard for me but loneliness can get boring. 

How to help with the loneliness:

Find A Hobby.

Boredom adds to loneliness. Find something to occupy your time. Make sure that what you choose has some social aspect to it. Taking pictures in the park or joining a group of some sort.

Volunteer.

Focusing on the needs of others steers your mind away from sad thoughts. It’s impossible to feel lonely when you’re helping someone.

Take a random bus or train somewhere.

Taking public transport to a random location forces you to do two things, be in the company of strangers, and change your environment. Doing this will ward off loneliness.

Step back from Social Media.

Social media breeds loneliness by giving you false perceptions. Seeing photos of everyone living their best lives and happiest times is not good. We compare our lives to theirs and it's wrong.

Tell your friends.

A lot of times you think that you are the only one that is lonely. I bet you are not!

Marmalade Trust’s vision is to create a society where loneliness is recognised openly as something likely to affect us all. They have over 300 organisations across the UK partnering with them to raise awareness, support people to find friendship by hosting events and raise money to help them do more. You can see what events are happening near you and add your own activity or event.

Do you ever feel lonely?

April has been Bowel Cancer Awareness Month! #PissOffPhyllis

Did you know that April was Bowel Cancer Awareness Month?

I did but only because of a fellow blogger, Emma who is pretty amazing and writes at Island Living 365 is currently going through chemotherapy for bowel cancer! She has called her cancer Phyllis hence the Piss off Phyllis hashtag which you may have seen on social media over the last few days. A large group of bloggers came together to support her and raise awareness about Bowel Cancer.

Some Facts:

Bowel cancer is the second biggest cancer killer in the UK claiming more than 16,000 lives a year, that's over 44 people every day.

Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK, after breast, prostate and lung cancers.

Every 15 minutes in the UK someone is diagnosed with bowel cancer. That’s almost 42,000 people every year. Every 30 minutes someone dies from the disease in the UK. 

More than nine out of ten new cases (94%) are diagnosed in people over the age of 50, and nearly six out of ten cases (58%) are diagnosed in people aged 70 or over. But bowel cancer can affect any age. More than 2,500 people under 50 are diagnosed with bowel cancer in the UK every year.

1 in 14 men and 1 in 19 women will be diagnosed with bowel cancer during their lifetime.

Bowel cancer is very treatable but the earlier it is diagnosed, the easier it is to treat. People whose cancer is diagnosed at an early stage have a much higher chance of successful treatment than those whose cancer has become more widespread.

If you have any symptoms, don’t be embarrassed and don’t ignore them. Doctors are used to seeing lots of people with bowel problems.

The symptoms of bowel cancer can include:

Bleeding from your bottom and/or blood in your poo

A persistent and unexplained change in bowel habit 

Unexplained weight loss

Extreme tiredness for no obvious reason

A pain or lump in your tummy

Most people with these symptoms don’t have bowel cancer. Other health problems can cause similar symptoms. But if you have one or more of these or if things just don’t feel right, go to see your GP. 

Do go and have a read of Emma's blog where she is sharing what she is going through. She is also on social media too. Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!

As well as dealing with bowel cancer Emma is doing the Race for Life 5k to raise money and save lives. You can sponsor her via her page. She has already smashed her target but Every single pound donated makes a difference to Cancer Research UK’s groundbreaking work. 

Critically Endangered Socks - Review!

I was recently contacted by a lovely man called Dom from Critically Endangered Socks. They are a sock company that helps to protect some of the world's most critically endangered animals.

We all know that the rainforests are being destroyed and the earth’s most beautiful creatures are on the brink of extinction but what does that have to do with socks?

Dom, the founder of Critically Endangered Socks thought up a company that would go where no company had gone before, using funds from sock sales to help the Friends of the National Parks Foundation protect the Borneo rainforest. The idea quickly grew into a company that would support five of the world’s most endangered species. And that’s how Critically Endangered Socks was born. 

For each pair of socks that is sold 20% of the total sale price goes to charity. By choosing which sock you buy, you're also choosing which charity you help. The WildCats Conservation Alliance, Friends of the National Parks Foundation, Whale and Dolphin Conservation, The International Elephant Foundation and the Oceanic Society!

The socks themselves are made from a soft blend of 40% bamboo, 40% cotton, 15% polyester, 5% spandex. The materials used are Oeko-Tex Standard certified which means they are certified free of harmful chemicals. The socks come in sizes Small - UK 4-7 or Large - UK 8-13.

The pair I was sent to have a look at is helping out the International Elephant Foundation. Critically Endangered Socks is helping fund the IEF's conservation Response unit (CRU) based in Way Kambas national park in Sumatra. These units protect the Critically Endangered Sumatran Elephant from poachers, bordering villages and deforestation. For every Elephant pair that’s bought, they work with the organization to provide 2 days of care for all Sumatran Elephants in a CRU camp.

On each sock there is a picture of the animal it's helping to protect which I think is a lovely touch.

They have only created 1,000 of each style of sock so each design is critically endangered, much like the animals they are helping!

The socks are £12.00 each and they come in 5 different colours. You can buy 5 for £48.00 which means you get all the colours and a pair free! There is also an option to buy a gift card where the person receiving can chose the pair that they want!

I think these would make a lovely gift for someone. They are not just a pair of socks they are so much more. Mother's day is coming up and I would be very happy to be gifted a pair of these. (obviously if I hadn't have been sent them to review).

I was sent this pair of socks free of charge in exchange for this blog post.

Christmas gifts to give animals a better life.

All the food, drink and gifts at Christmas is lovely but sometimes it is nice to give back a little and help charities.

World Animal Protection works to end the suffering of animals around the world and has ended bear dancing in India, Turkey and Greece, more than halved the number of bears being exploited for bear bile in Vietnam, secured the future of the UK National Wildlife Crime Unit and saved hundreds of thousands of animals from natural disasters.

Why not get someone a Really Wild Gift which are ‘virtual gifts’ that can pay for the rescue of all types of animals including bears, dogs, pigs, seals, elephants, lions or sloths to name a few. 100% of the proceeds from this Really Wild Gift will help animals all over the world. They will send you a card to give to the person receiving the gift. 

As well as virtual gifts they have a Christmas catalogue full of fantastic gifts for animal lovers. Many of the gifts and cards feature cute and cuddly animals who have benefited from the charity’s support. Some of my favourite gifts include:

The Rabble Coaster Set - £7.99

Set of four cork-backed coasters featuring the 'Rabble' pals to brighten your kitchen and bring a smile to your face! 

Papa Bear Sox in a Mug - £12.99

A printed ceramic mug with fun 'Papa Bear, wild without tea' slogan and super-soft mens fluffy socks. 

Let's Flamingle Gift Box - £14.99

Flamboyant bath gift set full of fabulous butters & sassy essential oils.

Squirrel Bird Feeder - £14.99

Cast iron squirrel whose tail acts as a tray for bird seed.

Penguin Mug - £7.50
Fun ceramic mug with penguin shaped handle.

Christmas Donkey Cards - 10 cards - £4.99 or 30 cards - £13.47
This donkey is wearing a nose-band made by one of our wonderful supporters. Our supporters made nearly 40,000 bands to relieve the pain of heavy chains. Inside greeting: With best wishes for Christmas and the New Year. 

We were lucky enough to be sent one of the fab gifts to have a look at for our selves.

The Fluffy Dog Slippers were what I chose.

Slip your feet into the ultimate in warm, fluffy comfort with these super-cute dog slipper socks. One size fits feet up to women's size 7. They have a PVC sole with multi grip for slip resistance.

We do love novelty slippers here and I think these are fantastic for £15.99.

We were sent the Fluffy Dog Slippers free of charge in exchange for this blog post.