January is Cervical Health Awareness Month in the U.S. Each year in the U.S. approximately 12,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer, and more than 4,000 lives are lost as a result.
Each year in Canada, 400,000 women receive an abnormal Pap test result, 1,300 to 1,500 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and almost 400 women die of this disease.
But according to the Public Health Agency of Canada, 15% of women have never been screened and 30% have not been screened in the last 3 years.
I have always stayed on top of my health, visiting my doctor for my annual check-up. About a decade ago, one of my pap tests came back abnormal.
I freaked out of course. I’ve heard too much about cervical cancer but was relieved to know it is one of the cancers most treatable.
The abnormal cells were at a stage that they were pre-cancerous – early detection meant having those cells removed before they turned into cancer.
Luckily through a procedure, doctors removed all of the abnormal cells on my cervix. A year later, I was pregnant with my first child.
I still go routinely for check-ups and often wonder if they will ever come back again. But I know that through annual pap tests, if those abnormal cells come back, they will be detected early enough to be treated.
If I hadn’t gone for my annual pap test, those abnormal cells could have easily turned into cancer.
Please get yourself checked regularly. Even though you may be frightened and the test itself isn’t the most comfortable, just do it.
The good news is that the occurrence of cervical cancer has declined and mortality rates have also decreased. The main reasons for these reductions are improved knowledge, the widespread regular use of Pap test screening, and the availability of HPV vaccination.
Along with the sleigh bells ringing this past Christmas, the wedding bells were ringing as well!
Drew Barrymore and Will Kopelman are engaged to be married. Kopelman, an art consultant, popped the question to the actress over the holidays Sun Valley, Idaho, reports Us Weekly.
The couple have been dating for about a year. Kopelman is the son of former Chanel boss Arie Kopelman.
This will be the third marriage for Barrymore who was once married to bar owner Jeremy Thomas in 1994 and Tom Green in 2001.
Drew Barrymore
Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel are also engaged! Justin Timberlake’s grandmother has confirmed the engagement to RadarOnline.
Sadie Bomar, gave her blessing to the couple’s wedding as she confirmed the pair are set to be married.
“Yes, Justin is engaged,” Bomar told Radar Online. “Jessica is a very sweet girl, she’s upright and everything and we love her.”
“She’s a wonderful campaigner for the environment and Justin is too, a fine young man. Jessica will be a lovely member of the family.”
The couple tied the knot in Big Sky, Montana where Timberlake has a home. According to a source, Justin proposed with a “custom-designed” ring.
The Hollywood couple first started dating in January 2007 at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah. They’ve been on again off again in 2011 but I guess Timberlake decided that Biel was “the one”.
Nick Cannon is in the hospital for kidney failure.
The America’s Got Talent’s wife, singer Mariah Carey posted an update on Twitter:
Please pray for Nick as he’s fighting to recover from a mild kidney failure. #mybraveman
Carey also spoke to People.com, saying:
“As always, he’s in good spirits considering the situation. We are hopeful that he’ll be 100 percent as soon as possible.”
Why Cannon went into kidney failure is still unknown. But Carey said that “the situation is not easy” and that Cannon is stable but “in a lot of pain.”
“We really appreciate everybody’s love and support,” she continued.
Cannon tweeted:
Currently being transfered to a hospital in LA. Thank you all for all your love, prayers and concern. You know me… I will be a’ight
The super couple, along with their twins, Moroccan and Monroe, were on vacation in Colorado when Cannon was hospitalized.
Lately my boys have been a little obsessed about the D word.
The other night, my almost five-year-old started crying and said, “I don’t want you to die… Mommy what happens when we die?”
Oh boy. How do I answer? How much do I tell them?
Right before bed, he will often ask: “Will we die when we’re 100?”
He’ll also say, “You are going to die before me!”
And then the tears start to flow.
I usually let out a big sigh because I honestly don’t know how best to answer. I can’t avoid the question completely but I don’t want to say too much either.
“Honey you don’t have to think about that for a long time,” I say, hugging my boys ever so tightly.
But the questions keep coming. From my seven-year-old as well.
“When we die we’ll still be in our house?”
“Will we all be together in the cemetery?”
“Will we come back as ghosts?”
I hate having to answer these questions but know that I must address them simply.
So how do you explain death to your younger child?
It’s normal for your child to ask about death even if he/she hasn’t yet lost someone. It’s actually better to discuss it before losing a loved one. So answer his/her questions about death. Story books might help explain it better.
Younger kids probably can’t handle too much information all at once. For example, explaining that the physical functions have stopped might be better understood. “Aunt Maggie was very very sick and now that she has died, her body has stopped working. She doesn’t eat, sleep or breathe anymore.”
When they ask when they will die, a good answer might be: “No one really knows exactly when we will die, but most of us live a very long time. I am sure you will live to be very old.”
Explaining death and the afterlife will of course depend on what you believe in. If you talk about heaven, you may have to be careful about how you explain it. My son asked, “so we’ll all be happier in heaven?”
Oh boy.
“Well honey, when we die, our spirit lives on forever and ever. We’ll always be together and we’ll always be happy and dancing and playing.” Is this the right thing to say?
Kids want to hear that they will always be with their parents, no matter what. So you could say, “I plan to be right here with you until I’m very, very old and you’re all grown up.”
What if they’ve lost a loved one?
“We’re so sad that Uncle Jim isn’t here with us and we’ll miss him very much, but it’s nice that he’s with God now,” might be a good way to reassure your child without adding to his worries.
My kids have been asking me these difficult questions for months now, and I’ve realized that they will continue to ask much more for a long time. From what I’ve researched, children will likely ask new questions as they become more aware of death. These ongoing questions are normal and it’s best to keep answering them.
The new year is the perfect time to purge and organize!
Start the year by getting rid of clutter and organizing your home. Where do you even begin?
Begin with your biggest areas, ones that annoy you the most. Is the kitchen in disarray? The kids’ rooms? Your home office? Your closet? Organizing the most annoying clutter zone in your home is the best place to start the de-clutter.
Here are 5 easy ways to organize your home.
5 Easy Ways to Organize Your Home
1. Start small
Tackle one room or area at a time, starting with the obvious clutter. Purge what you don’t need anymore. Rule of thumb – if you haven’t used it in a year, you likely won’t need it again.
2. Do one job at a time
Don’t even try to de-clutter the entire house all at once. Start with one room at a time, or even one section. Stick to one area until it’s completely done and then move on to the next.
3. Toss, Donate or Keep
This is the time to buy those big plastic bins that are see-through and easy to carry. Keep three piles: one to toss, one to donate and one to keep. Sort items from an area into these bins or piles, organize what you plan on keeping and then get rid of the rest.
4. Set a time limit
Tackle each room or area at a time. If you don’t have a full day dedicated to re-organizing, set aside an hour or two each day.
5. Get into a routine
De-cluttering and staying organized needs to become a part of your routine. Once a week or month, go through every room again and clean up what doesn’t belong or what needs to go. That way, you won’t end up in a big mess again.
Here we go again! Another season of The Bachelor has started and everyone is talking about it.
The Bachelor premiered on ABC Monday night and the women going all out to impress Ben Flajnik.
One gimmick after another…
First it was one bachelorette wearing an enormous hat… Holly, a 34-year-old pharmaceutical rep from Kentucky, who tried to impress the Bachelor by wearing a huge Derby hat to let him know what her hometown is known for: “beautiful women and fast horses.”
Then, Anna, the 25-year-old student from Detroit came out of the limo, said nothing at all and walked right by the bachelor! “That’s a bold move. That’s awesome. Gotta be some kind of first,” Ben said. But sadly, Anna did not receive a rose.
Another surprise of the evening was Sheryl, 72, who got out of the limo on crutches! Was she competing for the Bachelor too? No – her granddaughter Brittney, a 26-year-old medical sales rep from Denver, was in the race to get a rose.
So who went way over the top?
Lindzi, a 26-year-old from Seattle, rode in on a horse! Of course, she made “Bachelor history” with her grand entrance… she also won the first impression rose.
There was already lots of drama in the house as Jenna, a 27-year-old blogger from New York, spent most of the evening crying.
There appeared to be a couple of Bachelorettes hooking up too! Yes – Monica Spannbauer was making moves on a fellow contestant, Blakely Shea, rather than Ben! whispered to Blakely, “You’re beautiful, you’re amazing,” and asked for her phone number.
We love to see celebrities hook up with one another… and we usually like to guess how long they will last.
Although it’s sad to see so many celeb couples who split up this past year, on the bright side, here are a few celebs who hooked up in 2011!
Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux
Aniston and Theroux hooked up on the set of Wanderlust. They raised a few brows because Theroux was still reportedly with his girlfriend of 14 years! Jen and Justin went public with their relationship at the MTV Movie Awards after-party in June. The hot couple now live together in New York.
Jennifer and Justin
Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez
Last New Years, Biebs, 17, and Gomez, 19, were spotted sharing kisses on a Caribbean yacht and they finally went public shortly after. The young teen couple are still going strong this New Years.
Leonardo DiCaprio and Blake Lively
DiCaprio and lively were first spotted getting cozy on a yacht in Monte Carlo during the Cannes Film Festival in May. But just a few months later, their short-lived romance ended by October.
Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds
Then, Lively and Ryan Reynolds hooked up with her Green Lantern co-star. I think Reynolds should just wait around for me, dontcha think?
Ryan Reynolds
Scarlett Johannson and Sean Penn
Reynolds, 35, had to wait until his divorce from Scarlett Johansson was finalized… meanwhile, Johannson, 26, started dating 50-year-old Sean Penn!
What a love triangle!
They had a whirlwind romance but the couple only lasted five months.
Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes
The other Ryan hooked up with Eva Mendes while shooting The Place Beyond the Pines. Isn’t this always the case in Hollywood? The two made their relationship known in Disneyland in September – interesting choice of venue… both big kids at heart?
George Clooney and Stacy Keibler
Oh George George… will the ultimate bachelor ever settle down? Shortly after breaking Elisabetta Canalis’ heart in June, Clooney began dating Keibler, a former WWE wrestler.
George Clooney
Cameron Diaz and Sean Combs?
Cameron Diaz and on-again off-again couple Alex Rodriguez hooked up and broke up several times. She is apparently dating Sean “Diddy” Combs. Sources say the two are longtime friends but have reportedly been spotted making out recently in New York City.
Jennifer Lopez and Casper Smart
Didn’t take long for JLo to move on after her split from hubby Marc Anthony in July! She was rumored to have briefly dated Bradley Cooper and has reportedly already found love again with her dancer Casper Smart, who is 18 years younger!
Ashlee Simpson and Vincent Piazza
Simpson split up from her baby daddy Pete Wentz and started dating Vincent Piazza. The couple started dating in June and have been together since.
Olivia Wilde and Jason Sudeikis
For weeks, rumors were flying that Jason Sudeikis of Saturday Night Live and Olivia Wilde hooked up. Finally, the couple were spotted on the big screen during a basketball game over the holidays.
Drew Barrymore and Will Kopelman
Barrymore, 36, is dating art director, Will Kopelman, since February this year and already the couple have moved in together.
Drew Barrymore
Kristin Cavallari and Jay Cutler
The Hills star got engaged to NFL star Jay Cutler back in April, but the engagement was called off in July. The couple hooked up again in November that the wedding was still on.
Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel
Justin and Jessica broke up back in March but it seems they are back together. They were spotted in Toronto this past August and rumors are flying that Justing will soon pop the question. Will Justin be engaged soon like his ex Britney Spears who recently got engaged to Jason Trawick?
A couple of weeks ago, my oldest son and I were cuddling on a lazy Sunday afternoon. My youngest was napping, the house was blissfully quiet except for the beeping sounds of my oldest’s tag reader as the two of us relaxed together enjoying our respective books.
I stopped and watched him for a moment. My heart swelled with love and joy. We had reached that point, the point where we could relax companionably in each other’s company. I was struck by how much he has grown up, how much he has changed, seemingly overnight. No longer a toddler, no longer even a preschooler, now a full on boy at almost six.
My mind wandered as he focused on discovering his books. As always, whenever I allow myself a moment to take stock, I considered this new phase of his life. I’ve noticed he’s changing.
While he continues to test his boundaries it has taken on a new edge. No longer is it about basic behaviour, but now it comes from his budding individuality. More and more he’s asserting himself with ideas that are all his own.
Life has a way of moving forward even when we aren’t completely paying attention. Until recently I haven’t focused much on who he is outside of our family unit. I’ve looked at him as my son, my oldest son, a part of us. Now I’m starting to see him for himself.
This leaves me feeling torn – between excitement for him, and apprehension and sadness for me. Everything is changing. Changing as it should, but that doesn’t make it easy.
I know that similar emotions run through the hearts and minds of mothers everywhere. We must let our children grow up, it’s important that we trust them in the world and let them be all that they should be. But we must also provide a safety net of comfort that they can come home to and guidance to help them navigate the new influences they face.
And so, though things are changing, much stays the same. He still needs me, perhaps more than ever. I will be here to hug him, to encourage him, to provide a soft place to land when he needs it.
Christine LaRocque is a communications professional and mom to two boys. She blogs at Coffees & Commutes, where she reflects on life as a full-time working mom.
‘Tis the season to engage in holiday cheer with family and friends, sing songs, play games and feast on whichever meals and treats are traditional in your family. It’s a time to be grateful for all the wonderful things and people who surround us.
There’s one problem – why does it feel like even before the tinsel has been removed from the tree or the wax has melted from the Menorah, we are bombarded with messages from TV talk shows and diet ad commercials telling us it’s time to repent for everything we’ve eaten or had to drink during the holidays?
After weeks of baking and sharing recipes, talk instantly turns to dieting and losing weight. It’s almost like giving a child the video game they asked Santa for, only to turn around and call them lazy for playing with it! It has gotten to the point where many people find it nearly impossible to eat something without an instant calorie count coming to mind.
Just the other day, I was at the gym doing a spin class and feeling pretty good about doing something good for myself, when the instructor ruined it for me by explaining that we would need to do seven spin classes in order to burn off ONE Christmas dinner! Really? Was that necessary? If she was trying to be motivating, she had failed miserably.
Here’s the good news: All that shame and guilt we feel post-holiday indulgence is unwarranted. The best way to return to our pre-holiday weight is NOT by dieting, but by returning to our regular, balanced meals and active lifestyles.
It’s estimated that nearly 50% of North Americans make losing weight their #1 New Year’s Resolution and it’s believed that close to 80% will fail. Any regular gym goers know to expect their gyms to get busier in January with an influx of new members and then quiet down by mid-February when these members give up.
Here are a few common mistakes we make during the holiday season:
1. Completely overindulging with plans to restrict later on: “I’m going to eat everything I can NOW, and start a STRICT diet January 1st!”
2. Setting unrealistic goals: “I will lose 50lbs by March, even if it kills me!”
3. Making exercise a punishment: “I’ve been BAD, so I will make myself go to the gym everyday, whether I like it or not.”
A better way to handle it:
1. Do not shock your body with a very restrictive diet.
Instead, return to a balanced diet with the focus being on healthy choices and portions. Believe it or not, your body knows where it wants to be and with proper food and activity, will get there easier than you’d expect.
2. Set realistic goals based on improvement.
Our aim should be to improve our fitness level which includes things like strength and flexibility. Speak to a trainer about what you can expect and appreciate the positive changes as they come.
3. Do not make exercise a punishment.
Being active is a good thing. Don’t think of it as something we do because we hate our bodies, but something we do because we love them and want them to be healthy.
Exercise doesn’t have to happen in a gym either, find something you enjoy doing and you’ll be successful at it.. Some people enjoy the atmosphere of group classes at fitness clubs, while others prefer to on a sports team or walking club. If you like what you’re doing, there’s a much better chance that you’ll stick with it.
Guilt and shame are never good motivators.
Enjoy the holidays… and every day that comes after it!
Marci Warhaft-Nadler is the mother of two very active tween boys and has spent the last few years bringing her Fit vs Fictionworkshop to schools in an effort to change the way kids treat and feel about themselves.
