Red – Valentines Day & Heart Health Month

February is a month when everyone thinks of the color red. Most of the time we think of Valentine’s Day when we think of the month of February. Valentines from a loved one, chocolates, roses, and the little candy hearts with the cute sayings, are all a huge part of Valentine’s Day. I am going to be wearing red all week long to celebrate Valentines Day & Heart Health Month. Probably not all red, but there will be red somewhere in the outfit.

Before we talk about Valentine’s Day, I want to spend just a few minutes talking about your heart. Not the perfectly drawn red heart you see on Hallmark cards, but the one that beats inside your chest, and circulates blood through your body. According to goredforwomen.org, heart disease is the number one killer of women, causing 1 in 3 deaths in women. That is approximately one woman every minute!

A very good friend, and co-worker, just had a quadruple bypass this past Tuesday. She just turned 50, is a non-smoker, a non-drinker, and is not over-weight. In other words, she LOOKS perfectly healthy. Heart disease does run in her family, so she got checked out.

Symptoms of a Heart Attack

• Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of your chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back.

• Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.

• Shortness of breath, with or without chest discomfort.

• Other signs such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or light-headedness.

As with men, the most common heart attack symptom in women is chest pain or discomfort. But it’s important to note that women are more likely to experience the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain.

If you experience any of those symptoms, please go to your doctor. My mother gave me some great advice, “Always error on the side of safety.” Be sure to check out the website for more information

Now, let’s move on to Valentines Day. How do you celebrate with your honey-bunny? I will probably cook a nice dinner. We had a wonderful meal at Benihana’s while we were in Orlando. It was a sesame crusted tuna meal with a vinegar sauce. I am going to try to replicate that meal to surprise him. If any of you have a recipe, please let me know. I also bought me a purse (they had to ship it to me) from him, another surprise. Hahaha

I am going to ask you gurls for a favor. There is a little girl in my community that was diagnosed with Neurofibromatosis at the age of 2 months. She is now in first grade, and a darling little girl. Our community has started a “Love To Mattie” campaign and is asking for all the businesses to hang a red ribbon on their business to show support. They are also asking for valentines to be sent to Mattie as a surprise. This is where you come in. I think she would be thrilled to receive cards, notes, etc. from all over the world. Her mother is a local veterinarian in town, and Mattie has inherited her love of animals, so a note from your doggie or kitty would be cute. Here is what is on the Love To Mattie FaceBook page.

What Can Adults Do to Help?

First of all…please keep Mattie and her family in your thoughts and prayers. 

Please mail all of your cards and donations to: “Love to Mattie”, P. O. Box 71, Maxie, Virginia 24628 before February 26, 2016. If you would like to send a donation or card to help Mattie, please see the donation options below. All donations go directly to assist in Mattie’s medical care.
Checks: Make all checks payable to Mattie Rasnake Health Fund. This fund is used only to pay Mattie’s medical expenses.
Online Donations: Donations may also be submitted here https://www.gofundme.com/m8d7rqqk
Cash: All cards will remain sealed and opened by Mattie’s parents. Cash will be collected from the cards and deposited into her Health Fund.

I thought about you gurls while I was in Orlando. My 5 month anniversary of my blog was Sunday, the 6th, so I picked up a little something from the Vera Bradley store for this months giveaway. To enter the giveaway for the Jazzy Blooms tote, send a valentine to little Mattie and leave a comment below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am teaming up today with Ana from Mrs. American Made. We are doing a joint post on the color red. Ana is from the East coast, petite, and a brunette. She is also incredibly beautiful and has a great fashion sense. Reading labels is important to her, not just for food, but in her clothing. After moving to Boulder Colorado, she has made a commitment to only wear clothing “Made In USA.” Please go and check out her blog.

Cardigan – White House Black Market –  Similar, Similar,   Pants – Express – Similar, Similar, Statement Necklace – Stella & Dot Plume Feather Necklace, Similar,  Bracelet – Stella & Dot Pave Crystal & Gold Link Bracelet, Similar

The comment section is at the very end of the post, so keep scrolling. I look forward to reading all the comments, they make my day.

This is also something I WANT and NEED:  I have added a subscription button to the blog, right under the recent posts tab. I would appreciate it if you would take the time to sign up. You will then be notified by email when a new post is made.

Be sure to follow me on Pinterest, Bloglovin, Instagram, and Facebook.

Today I am linking up with Style Nudge, More Pieces of Me, and Not Dead Yet Style. Check these ladies out.