Book, product review

A Tango with Cancer: My Perilous Dance with Healthcare & Healing – Apryl Allen

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A Tango with Cancer, by Apryl Allen, is Apryl Allen’s  memoir  regarding the challenges people who are diagnosed with cancer, or any illness, are forced to face while searching for a way to recovery.

Apryl Allen is an a award-winning musician, singer, songwriter, playwright, and a former Miss Arizona who had her life altered when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Apryl Allen’s  battle with the disease and her  battle with healthcare and healing is chronicled in A Tango with Cancer.  This book tells her story with complete truth and a passion in the hope of helping the next patient facing this harrowing path. “Music played an essential part in my healing process,” says Allen, author of My Tango with Cancer. “It reduces stress, and for many, it can help with side effects of cancer therapy. We all feel a strong connection with music, and during such a difficult time, that connection can help us through.”

“This is not about survival or changing your lifestyle. It’s about how we as patients are treated by healthcare,”  says Allen.

A Tango with Cancer examines the challenging reality of illness and the healing power of compassion. 

Family

Butterfly Garden Spa-#FullBodySpa

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Question: How can a gift certificate, given to me by my daughter for Christmas, make my day?

Answer: By giving me a spa experience I could never have imagined.

When I opened this gift, I thought I was going to get a facial, and maybe a massage.  Shoot, if I was really lucky I would get both.

When we made the appointment to use the certificate my daughter told me to keep 3 hours of my time free. Why three hours?  A facial and/or a massage is around one hour and half of lost time but three hours of lost time…this did not compute.

Once we arrived, at Butterfly Garden Spa, I realized why this would be a three hour event.

As we prepared to begin my spa experience we were told to remove all clothing.  What?  I was not happy about that but to experience the whole Butterfly Garden Spa it was necessary to just wear your birthday suit.  Once I conceded to this embarrassing moment we were given a  Butterfly Garden Spa robe and escorted to the sauna.  The sauna area was steamy, dreamy!  So steamy, I could not  see my daughter sitting across from me…After the sauna we entered  the Jacuzzi room.  The  room was private,  no one but myself relaxing in the warm, swirling, whirling water.  So relaxing was this Jacuzzi  I didn’t  want to get out.  As soon as our tub moment was over we followed, without protest, a staff member of the spa to another room.  Here we were told to lay down on a table.  Thank heavens my daughter was in the same room with me.  Then, the scrubbing began.  Scrub, scrub, scrub, from head to toe.  As I was being scrubbed I couldn’t help but think I had just entered Oz, and was preparing to see the mighty Wizard.

Once the scrubbing was over the massaging began.  Boy, did my body need that deep, hard massage. As soon as the massage was completed we were given back our robes and quietly escorted to another room.  This was our last stop.  What a room!  The room was glowing, warm, and tantalizing, like an evening sunset.  We were given a cup of herbal tea and just sat on the floor.   We sat, the both of us, quietly  breathing  in our final moments of relaxation.

As I was unable to take any photos of each step we took.

I was able to capture a relaxed mother and daughter preparing to return to the outside world.

  OMG!  The Butterfly Garden Spa gave us a delightful, tantalizing, truly relaxing experience.  

Butterfly Garden Spa gave us three hours of luxury and pampering.  

Time stood still, just like they said it would.

Shopping, Time of the Season

Brrr……Time for New Winter Boots @DSW #whatshewore

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When the temperature starts to drop I start thinking “new pair of boots” and my daughter said ok let’s go to DSW.  Love this store because they carry all kinds of shoes, boots in all kinds of styles for men and woman and children too. If you are like me you end up buying everything in twos. I’ve been like that all my life as far as I can remember. Everything in twos, so you know I ended up with two pairs of winter boots. Yes!!! The pair I am wearing are Francie from Cliffs by White Mountain thigh highs in smooth sueded brown with a low heel.  I need a wide size and there were plenty to choose from.

The other pair that caught my eye were Finnley from Matisse, love the suede tan color and low heel. Both pairs were on sale and ended costing less than $140.00 for both pairs. These are my winter kicks, they are not snow boots, that will be on my next trip, you get the picture. Happy trails.

Family, Time of the Season

New Years’ Day 2017

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It’s a tradition to begin the New Year together, something we have done for many many years. My mom started it when we were young, then after my Dad passed I took over the day. A couple of years ago my daughter Vera asked if she would do New Years’ Day and so the tradition continues.

Mix together family, food, music and fun stir gently and enjoy the first day of the New Year.

We are blessed to still have our parents and for them to enjoy their great grandchildren again.

No diets allowed on this day so no body holds back and everyone digs right on in!! We have never been accused of being shy. bon appetit

Mercis’ son Damian is a NYC cop and worked all night New Years’ Eve so we let him catch a cats’ nap and we then face timed with Owen in Malta. We stay connected.

We had a lot of fun playing games lots of laughing, yelling and trying to cheat a little. Just a little., they wanted to use their teeth to open the gift Ha!!

Counting our blessings and wishing you more. Hope you and yours enjoy the New Year in store. Have a healthy, joyous New Year. Merci & Liz