January is Glaucoma and Cervical Cancer Awareness

Happy 2020 to everyone! It is my hope that you and your family find 2020 a great year!

TappingflamingoBling plans to concentrate on some very import things this year, and that is awareness.

There are so many conditions that people suffer from, and a lot of them, most of us have either never heard of or have no idea what they really are. This is why I want to focus on these things.

For the month of January, I want to bring more awareness to two things..

Cervical Cancer

and

Glaucoma.

January is the awareness month for both of these conditions. 

Cervical cancer occurs in the cells of the cervix which is the lower part of the uterus that connects the vagina. It rarely affects women under the age of 20. Women between the ages of 35 and 44 are at highest risk. More than 15% of women diagnosed with cervical cancer are older than 65. This is why it is so important to continue to have regular check ups, including Pap smear, as this is how it is found. 

Glaucoma is something I had a bit of a scare with a few years ago. It is a condition that damages your eye's optic nerve. It will get worse over time, and it tends to run in families. Glaucoma is something you usually get later in life. Basically it has to do with pressure in your eyes. Intraocular pressure damages the optic nerve. The optic nerve is what sends images to your brain...so yes, you can go blind.

What are the signs? If you see halos around lights, your peripheral vision is diminishing, redness in the eyes, tunnel vision, hazy eyes or vision loss are some of the symptoms. Glaucoma cannot be cured, but it can be slowed down.

Fortunately, high pressure in my eyes is something that runs in my dad's side of the family, but has nothing to do with glaucoma. I was very relieved to learn this. 

To bring more awareness to these two conditions, and other conditions, TappingflamingoBling has crochet bracelets from wax cording in the awareness colors. 

Green is the color for glaucoma awareness...  

...and teal and white is the color for cervical cancer awareness.

These bracelets and other awareness bracelets are available on my TappingflamingoBling Etsy shop

They are adjustable to fit most wrists and waterproof! So...you can swim, bathe or go to the beach in them. You never have to take them off, if you don't want.

If there is something that is close to our heart that you would like to bring more awareness to, just let me know! I'd be glad to make you one in YOUR color. If you need multiples, I can do that too, just let me know....

Hope you have a wonderful day!!!!

and New Year!!!!!

\

GO TEAM!!!!

What are your school colors? Funny thing is, from elementary school to high school, then to Jr. college and university, all but one of those schools had the same colors...blue and white.

I went to St Mary's Catholic school from third grade through the eighth grade and we were the cougars. Go blue and white!!!!

Then in high school, we were the Tigers, and of course our colors were orange and black.

Eventually, I headed west to a church school that was only a two year college. We were the Viking's and our colors were blue and white. Upon graduation, it was off to the big university that the Jr. college fed into, and I found my self, once again, a cougar...and blue and white were the colors. 

TappingflamingoBling is now making fun waterproof adjustable bracelets in school colors. I have most colors, and plan to expand to even more.  

These bracelets are hand crocheted, using high quality wax cording. I hand crochet each and everyone of them MYSELF. 

I'm even thinking about offering fund raiser opportunities.

I know schools are always looking for opportunities to raise some money for athletics, trips, and various other school functions. 

Blue, Black and White...this one would be perfect for the school our two youngest went to.

TappingflamingoBling made several of these camo bracelets for a fund raiser toward a precious little baby who was born with some serious complications. 

I have actually had the opportunity to raise a little money selling these autism awareness bracelets. Our local autism center and Surfers for Autism benefited from these sales. 

If you are interested, you can contact me through my Etsy shop . Just send me a convo, and we can talk about your needs. 

Whether she cruises the high seas on a ship, hang tens on a surfboard or just likes a quiet walk along the shores...Wearing a creation from TappingflamingoBling will keep her favorite places close to her heart and soul.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/TappingflamingoBling

Cruise Gift Exchange

Have you ever been on a cruise? The first time I went was back in 2003 with my husband, for our 20 anniversary. We pretty much go at least once a year now. I LOVE CRUISING!!!

There are a lot of people who love to cruise, and there is a wide variety of activities on these ships. Anything from drinking and gambling, to water slides, towel folding, art auctions, and even gift exchanges. 

My mom, two sisters, and I decided one year to take our one and only Disney cruise....back in 2015. One of the things we learned about. was something called Fish Extender Gifts; and yes! we participated.

So, what are Fish extenders? Well a group on the ship gets together, and exchanges small gifts. I have learned that is is a HUGE thing, so I decided to start creating things to list in my shop that would make great Fish Extender Gifts.

My most popular items are my keychains. No, Disney is not the only cruise line that people exchange gifts. We usually sale with Carnival, and since 2016, we have participated in gift exchanges on every cruise. So...I don't just cater to the Disney people.

I have several styles of Princess or Fairytale keychain sets

This set of keychains would be great for anyone leaving out of New Orleans!

Last year, we sailed on the Carnival Sunshine, and I gave these out. Everyone loved them, and they are actually one of my best sellers.

How about some keychains made from guitar strings...FYI...I don't sell the mouse ears, because that would be copyright infringement, but I do sell these and the other style with all types of tropical charms including FLAMINGOS, of course!

How about a guitar string princess ornament?

On our Disney cruise I made everyone one of these Mardi Gras themed guitar string ornaments. We all tried to give something that represented where you came from.

How about a cruise ship guitar string ornament?

Then of course there are my surfer style waterproof bracelets. Perfect for a cruise, and they come in a variety of colors!

We have our next cruise scheduled for May. Stay tuned for more on that later. We are already signed up for a meet and greet gift exchange, and yes, I do know what I will be making to gift....my mom will be participating too, and she has already appointed me to make her items too.