Sunday, June 17 2018
☞ Attention: Calling all young females (u/55) living on the Mid North Coast or Coffs Coast with a stoma, check out this exciting and new FREE event happening in August! My stoma nurse has been excitedly organising this event and I was honoured to have been asked to design the flyer, but I was even more honoured to be asked to speak on the night as one of the speakers. ☞ The event is FREE and is open to all women with a stoma and under 55 from the area, if you're willing to travel you can come along, just make sure you RSVP. ☞ If you have any dietry requirements aside from the stoma, let the stoma nurses know and call 0266567804, that way everyone is catered to. ☞ The night is going to be a fun night with the chance to get to meet other young ostomates under 55's and the hopes of connecting each other to form friendships as ostomy life can be rather lonely for some. ☞ There will be a fun activity for all to join in and will also have reps from different ostomy companies there with samples or to speak more. Guest speakers will include Allied health professionals as well as myself. ☞ This event wouldn't be at all possible without the fundraising done by the Coffs Coast Crafty Crew (scrapbookers) in April 2016, as well as the hard work from the organising team of stoma nurses. I am really looking forward to the night, and looking forward to meeting others from the area. Whether you're from Port, Grafton or in between this event is open to anyone who would like to come, has a stoma and is under 55 and a female. Did I mention it is FREE and catered? Can't wait and I will see you there! Monday, May 14 2018
NB: SORRY THIS IS OPEN FOR AUSTRALIAN READERS ONLY It is here!!! It is finally here, the time you've all been promised is here..... Introducing the: Epic self care and self love package for one to be won by one of you!! Firstly, thank you to all of our kind and generous businesses without whom this would not be as epic or love fuelled as it possible is. ✰ To see all the prizes - click here To enter the competion: You'll love their feeds! Feeling Ostomistic Epic Self Care for One giveaway ✰Please Visit and like/follow the following businesses: 1. ✰ Gorgeous By Carly: click here for facebook ♥ click here for instagram 2. ✰ Sugorma: click here for facebook ♥ click here for instagram 3. ✰ Chatterbox_City: click here for facebook ♥ click here for instagram 4. ✰ The Love Letter Co: click here for facebook ♥ click here for instagram 5. ✰ Sophie Guidolin: click here for facebook ♥ click here for instagram 6. ✰ Pink Pom Pom Printables: click here for facebook ♥ click here for instagram 7. ✰ Salty Fox Co: click here for facebook ♥ click here for instagram 8. ✰ The Scenic Route: click here for facebook ♥ click here for instagram 9. ✰ Kiss and Co: click here for facebook ♥ click here for instagram I am so excited to offer this, and remember it is only for a week only, so hurry!! Due to postage restrictions this prize is only available for Australian readers. Sunday, May 13 2018
NB: SORRY THIS IS OPEN FOR AUSTRALIAN READERS ONLY For as long as I have had this blog I had set myself two milestones I wanted to reach: I know these might seem like small or insignificant goals, but to be honest when I first learned I was 21 had early stage bowel cancer and would require a permanent ileostomy for the rest of my life - I didn't know if it would be a blog worth following, because it wasn't sexy and appealling, so I worried if anyone would read my blog or engage with me or if they would judge me. I was worried I wouldn't be accepted and that I wouldn't help anyone. It is such a sensitive and private topic that I felt so vulnerable putting myself out there so openly. All I had ever set out to do this blog was just to help at least one person, and I know in the past 5 years I have done that! AAAAAnd I found MY TRIBE of people who love and adore me too. This week I also celebrated 5 years since my total colectomy and the moment I became an Ostomate for LIFE! I celebrated each of those extra days and minutes I have had with pure joy and gratitude, as much as my stoma changed my life it saved my life too. My stoma has helped me to have these extra days and years, and my blog became an outlet for me to share my experiences and hope to empower and help others on their own stories. I am so grateful to those who interact/engage with me on social media, many become friends or like family; they celebrate when I have a win, they share my sadness when I am in pain; they encourage and support me to live and celebrate life to the full - and I have. So this giveaway is for YOU as my way of saying thanks. I appreciate every comment, like, message and email and love all of the support, as I believe in the importance of saying thanks I am showing my gratitude with this HUGE giveaway for you. The ultimate self care package for One! Prizes: ✰1 x Pair of Multi Marble Delight Earrings - Gorgeous By Carly Get ready to sparkle with these pretties! Made from premium acrylic with a glitter top with stunning rose Gold findings to make them super classy too. No two pairs are the same due to the placement of the acrylic, these babes are definitely OOAK! ✰1 x Ultimate Body Goodness Care Set from Sugorma
✰ 1 x Neck Wrap Heat or Cold in Boho Feathers - Chatterbox City Designed to sit nicely on your neck and shoulders & sectioned into 8 segments so that you receive an even heat. Use this pack hand free so you can still get on with your daily activities while getting your much needed relief or relax back and wrap it around your ostomy bag for a great tummy relief. To find out more about this heatpack or to view the other innovative packs, click here! ✰ 1 x 'Hey Beautiful' Love Letter - TLL collective
♥ A reminder that YOU are Bright, Brilliant, Beautiful and Brave and most of all YOU are loved. ✰ 1 x 'More than words' book by Sophie Guidolin
Each page within the book details a beautifully hand-scripted quote to lift your spirits, change your mood and focus your goals. If this book sounds like it is something you NEED in your life, you can purchase a copy for $29.95. ✰ 1 x Set of 50 motivational & inspirational quotes - Pink Pom Pom Printables
Whether you're wanting to view all the 50 designs in this pack, or to purchase the pack yourself to print off as gifts when popped in frames, or to start filling your home or bedroom, office cubicle or even if you are studying and want to decorate your bedroom. The need for and use of these beautiful prints are endless.... and SO affordable too at 90% off RRP to buy all individually. Head on over to Etsy to view the full details of this epic motivational package! ✰ 1 x Pink and mint green car diffuser 'french vanilla' - Salty Fox Co
What makes these beauties so versatile is that they aren't limited to being used just in the car! I plan on adding some to our walk in robe to help keep the room smelling fresh, could add to the bathroom or toilet, or sneakily throw in your teenage boy's room. But no matter what, you will be left feeling serene and smelling pretty too. ✰ 1 x 2 pack of Notebooks and a set of Greeting Cards - The Scenic Route
Greeting Cards: ♥ Perfect for all occasions, cards are blank Inside, each comes with recycled brown craft enveloped, and individually packed in a biodegradable clear cellophane pouch bound by a brown kraft paper bellyband. ♥ Made with love in Australia and printed on 100% recycled paper using vegetable based eco friendly inks.
Notebooks: ♥ Splash resistant cello glazed cover, 48 pages and finished with pink saddle sewn binding, perfect handbag size for all of your important notes and daydreams! ♥ Made with love in Australia and printed on 100% recycled paper using vegetable based inks. ✰ 1 x Bath tea soak + candle + clay mask set - Kiss and Co Relax and unwind with our mini pamper pack. Including: Talk about an epic prize pack to win!!! Are you excited? I know I am!!!
Monday, February 12 2018
Please Note: All views in this blog are my own (and I don't claim to speak for or on behalf of anyone other than myself)... also, spoiler alert if you haven't yet watched episode 14 of the Good Doctor. I am just sharing my dismay at how something that saved my life was shown so negatively inflicting a stigma that so many fight to erase. I have finally got around to catching up on the most recent episode of The Good Doctor, which I was rather enjoying up until this week. ☟☟☟☟☟☟ Let me start by sharing (an ironic) quote from the episode: The irony is that they could have shown more compassion surrounding how they approached the idea and livelihood with an ostomy. Just an idea? Myself and so many in the community work tirelessly to try and help people understand a life isn’t over with an Ostomy and comments on tonight’s show sets our work back 10 steps... arrogance isn’t helping anyone.
Here are what other ostomates and advocates said about the episode too: No You Cantcer @NoYouCantcer
Here are some ostomates who inspire me and others: But then there are other ostomates who have regained their lives and done things they never would have imagined, because of their ostomy and because they had the surgery, that in their cases were life-changing as much as it were life-saving. I will introduce you to Zoey Wright, Laura Zapulla aka @stoma_licious, Sam Abarca aka @Aussie_Ostomate, Gaylyn Henderson aka @Gutlessandglamorous, Blake Beckford and Dana Marie. You may have heard of these guys before or seen them on instagram, you may remember Laura and Sam from my 20 Aussie Ostomates on Instagram post. While these are just 6 ostomates, there are so many others out there showing life with an ostomy can still be lived and loved, but also that this can be a second chance many didn't have. I am sharing these 6 ostomates because they have inspired me and I know they will inspire you too! ☟☟☟☟☟☟ ✰Introducing Zoey Wright @zoeywrightx - Pro Fitness Model:
✰Introducing Laura Zapulla @stomalicious - Ostomy travel blogger: ✰Introducing Sam Abarca @aussie_ostomate - RN with an ostomy and training to be a STN too: ✰Introducing Gaylyn Henderson founder of @gutlessandglamorous - helping to inspire the beauty in all of us: "Anything that has the power to save a life can be nothing but beautiful!" For over a decade Gaylyn adapted her life around her pain, her health issues caused from her IBD and struggling to find normalcy. It affected her emotional health too. It was then when she had her total colectomy and became an ostomate that she regained her love of life again. She often has spoken out about the stigma attached to having an ostomy that was the reason she held off for so long. Determined to change this for others, she founded the Gutless and Glamorous foundation with aims at helping to inspire and improve the lives of people with chronic illness and pays special attention to those with an ostomy or need to undergo life altering surgeries. She said (in an interview with BlackDoctor) her ostomy "saved my life and I want to highlight that those living with one can be both #GutlessandGlamorous. It is my goal to help erase the stigma." I think she has done an incredible job and believe she deserves a huge applause for all her tireless work from advocacy, support, education and fundraising for a cure. The world is a better place because of people like Gaylyn. Find her on: Instagram Facebook Twitter Blog ✰Introducing Blake Beckford @Blake_Beckford - Model, Body Builder and advocate:
✰Introducing Dana Marie Arnold @lovedanamarie - country music singer/songwriter, recently married: ☟☟☟☟☟☟ I have talked before about how my ostomy gave me my life back and how it saved my life, my ostomy is the reason I get to cherish the gift of each day I wake up, my ostomy isn't perfect and is complicated but it gives me life and that is precious. In the future I hope that there is more acceptance for life-altering and life-saving surgeries like an ostomy and that it is more accepted. This is why I started my blog 5 years ago, so that I can share life with an ostomy and hope to inspire others to live their best lives. I am so grateful now that there are so many wonderful ostomy advocates and bloggers on social media. My wish is that in 10 years there won't be a stigma for ostomy life, that ostomy life will be accepted and not made to feel embarrassed for pooping different... I have seen how much the landscape has changed in 5 years and it gives me hope for future ostomates and the next generation of ostomates that they will feel love and acceptance and never have to feel ashamed for something out of their control anyway. As I say all the time, I'd rather an ostomy in tow than a tag on my toe, ostomy life has been a rollercoaster ride for me, but it has also gifted me the joy of living too - so I will always be grateful for that.
Friday, January 13 2017
It is a little over 2 weeks until the launch of the first of it's kind and a very needed eZine aimed at helping young people with an Ostomy, it is launching on 28th of January.
There is some pretty amazing content that has been generously contributed by Ostomates and proffesionals all around the world with topics that will help a young Ostomate to navigate life with an Ostomy, so I am pretty excited about this and I know I am not alone either. I have been working with the incredible Vanessa from Becomingness who has contributed some delicious and ostomy friendly recipes (stay tuned for the launch issue to find out more). But it got me thinking, as there is interest all around the world with the eZine, what if they measure out ingredients in a different manner? So rather than the hassle of readers needing to convert different measurements and to prevent any confusion, I decided I would design an A6 conversion reference card for different measurements. You can either download and print at home for FREE via clicking here
I hope you enjoy this quick reference card I designed, and don't forget to sign up for the eZine ahead of the launch to be the first to read it! There will also be some pretty cool prizes up for grabs too!
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