If your life sucks, fix it.

It's just that simple. If you don't like where your life is heading, do something to fix it, don't just sit around and complain about how much you hate your life. Everyone has it within their ability to make their own life better, if not for themselves, then for their family/kids/husband, whoever, but most importantly, it should be for yourself. If you can't keep yourself happy, how do you expect to keep anyone else happy. If you have to borrow a bike just to make it to work, so you can make money to feed your family or pay your bills, then you should. If you have to apply for government assistance to help you pay for school (www.fafsa.com), or your bills until you can pay for them yourself (www.dhs.gov) the do it. See a doctor to prove you really can't work to get SSI (www.ssa.gov), do it.

Trust me, life will not hand you everything you need to be stable or happy on a silver platter, if you want something, you have to work for it. No one else will do it for you.

If YOU're not willing to make YOUR life better, then don't complain about it, your next best option is to just deal with it, the way it is.

Parenting: Can you ever do it wrong?

I guess the answer to this question could really be as simple as it sounds. Sure, there are good and right ways of parenting. And absolutely, there are bad ways of parenting. But when do you cross the boundary from right to wrong? Who can tell you that you've done something wrong and you will listen?

I'm the type of person, that if you tell me that the way I'm raising my child is wrong, I will more then likely tell you off, and tell you where to stick your words. That's just who I am. Granted, there are times that I wished I would have listened. "If only..." has become my favorite phrase recently.

But what about the people who really need the help? What about the parents on drugs, still taking care of their kids, while they're messed up? Is it smart? No. Is it safe? Hell no! But how do we help them? How do we make them understand that what they are doing is wrong? What about the parents who abuse their kids? What about the kids living on the street, because they have nowhere else to go? How do we help them? We can't all afford to be foster parents, nor can we afford to take in random orphans. So what do we do?

I'm not writing this to give you all an insight to what's going on. I'm not writing this to give you the answer. These are just a few of the random questions in my head and I have no way of answering them...

My only response is to stop. Stop being stupid and hurting your kids. Stop being an idiot and doing drugs so it makes things easier, because it won't. All you're doing is setting your kids up for a harder life then it's already going to be. As for the orphans living on the street... Love them... they're going to need it most...Because they have no one left.

Breast Cancer (Day 2)-- Self Exam

Could I have breast cancer? What are some signs?

There are no specific outward signs of breast cancer that you can feel or see. "If there are outward signs, the more common ones include a lump, an area of thickening, or a dimple in the breast. Less common signs include breast swelling and redness or an enlarged underarm lymph node." (http://www.breastcancer.org/questions/bc_signs.jsp?gclid=CMbz3eO9tp8CFRUeDQod3HVKzg)

Although, even having one or more of these signs does NOT mean you have breast cancer. Remember, that most of these signs usually turn out to mean nothing. Having said that, it is still extremely important that you make an appointment to see your doctor right away. Not only will having your doctor take a look put your mind at ease, but if it does turn out to be something, you can get everything taken care of right away. Any cancer in its earliest forms are easier to get rid of and put into remission, then forms at a later stage.

Women with a family history of breast cancer, could be at a higher risk of developing breast cancer later on in life. (Make sure you know your family's history...) Breast cancer affects 1 of every 7 women of the course of their lifespan. 

Breast Self Examination (It's going to get a little weird...)

(5 Easy Steps)

Step 1: Begin by looking at your breasts in the mirror, with your shoulders straight and your hands on your hips. You're looking to make sure that your breasts look normal. Normal color, shape, and size. You are also looking to make sure that your breasts are evenly shaped with no distortions or swelling.

If you see any changes in your breasts, be sure to point them out to your doctor, such as:

• Dimpling
• Puckering
• Bulging
• Nipple that has changed position (such as inverted [pushing inward instead of sticking out])
• Redness
• Soreness
• Rash
• Swelling

Step 2:

Now raise your arms above your head and looks for the same changes.

Step 3:

While you are standing in front of the mirror check for any signs of leaking fluids. (Such as watery, milky, yellow fluid or blood) 

Step 4:

Next, feel your breast while laying on your back. Use your right hand to check your left breast and vice versa. Use a smooth, firm touch, using only your first few fingers, keep your fingers together. Use a small circular motion about the size of a quarter. Be sure to check all of your breast, top to bottom, side to side.

Step 5:

Finally, check your breasts, in the same manner, while standing up or sitting down. Most women find that it is easier to do this exam while you are in the shower, so the skin is easier move across. Make sure you cover the entire area of your breast as you did in step 4. 

For more information go to http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/testing/types/self_exam/bse_steps.jsp?gclid=CLKx7Y_Atp8CFQUMDQod3Skt3Q

I know this entry went very in depth, and it's not for everyone to read, but it's very important that you know how to check yourself, and what to look for. Thank you for taking the time to read this, and please don't be afraid to look up some of the information and statistics for yourself. Also, please help donate for those who can't afford to get their yearly mammogram exam.

Breast Cancer (Day 1) -- Basic knowledge and information

Day 2 of my blog and I wanted to share a topic with you, that I find very important, and feel very strongly about. My mother and my grandmother are both survivors of breast cancer, both are in remission and are strong and healthy.


Breast Cancer...

"Aside from non-melanoma skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women. Breast cancer is the number one cause of cancer death in Hispanic women. It is the second most common cause of cancer death in white, black, Asian/Pacific Islander, and American Indian/Alaska Native women. For more information, visit Cancer Among Women.

In 2005 (the most recent year numbers are available)—

• 186,467 women and 1,764 men were diagnosed with breast cancer.*†
• 41,116 women and 375 men died from breast cancer.*†

†Source: U.S. Cancer Statistics Working Group. United States Cancer Statistics: 1999–2005 Incidence and Mortality Web-based Report. Atlanta (GA): Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and National Cancer Institute; 2009. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/uscs.

*Note: Incidence counts cover approximately 96% of the U.S. population and death counts cover 100% of the U.S. population. Use caution in comparing incidence and death counts."

(Quote taken from http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/statistics/)

Let alone the fact that approximately 41, 491 people died from breast cancer in 2005, how many more men and women don't have the money to get their yearly mammogram exam, to find out if they have breast cancer? How many of those people, could have been saved?

There are many sites set up to help donate for people who can't afford to get their yearly mammogram, such as The Breast Cancer Site ( http://www.thebreastcancersite.com ), just being one of them. 

Click here for an easy and free way to help fund mammograms for those in need at The Breast Cancer Site!

Breast Cancer Awareness is more important now, then ever before. Statistics are growing, and more people are dying.

First Blog, First Thought...

Well, first off, hello. I'm pretty new to this whole thing, so let me tell you a little bit about myself. My name is Alli. I am 19 years old, I recently had the most adorable little boy, named Markus. My boyfriend and I moved into our own place out of the clutches of our parents. On my 19th birthday, he proposed. The time frames is set for sometime this coming summer. (Hoorah!) Living with someone, who is not my family, on our own has been much more trying (and much much more revealing), then I thought it would be. In 6 months, I have cried, and I have laughed, I have learned, and I have loved. In that time, I couldn't even begin to tell you what has been going on.

Well, enough about me.

A penny for some thoughts.

In the past 6 months, I have figured out that I am exactly where I didn't want to be in life. I am a stay at home mom and housewife. I rely completely on someone else to take care of and support me and my family. When I was young, I had every dream to be a working professional, who had a high school diploma, who went to school to be someone important, who could take care of herself, who was independent, who could work, who didn't need financial aid and the support of others to survive. But I am, exactly that. I stress, and I worry, just like any other individual. And I get frustrated and sometimes, I just don't know what to do with myself, but I love my family very much, and I love my fiancé and my son with all of my heart.

But I guess the moral of the story is that, no matter what happens, and no matter where you end up in life, you still have to be yourself, and be happy with what you have, because eventually, everything WILL work out.

^_^