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04.14.23 |

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Hi, I’m Liz!

I am a breast cancer survivor, turned cancer support advocate, and small business owner.

Whether you’ve landed here because you are newly diagnosed with cancer or you want to support someone who is, I hope that this is a soft place for you. My intention is to share thoughtful ways to connect, spread awareness and to always foster hope.

Throughout my experience with cancer, I found it was having people who cared, that made all the difference.

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When my mom died, I was almost 8 and the only kid

When my mom died, I was almost 8 and the only kid left at home. My dad decided we would move in with my grandparents, who were in there 80s and 90s, so he could work and I would have someone to be there after I got home from school.
Which was such a wonderful way to grow up. But also hard for me socially, because my grandparents did not drive. So I was a little stuck. It was hard for me to be involved in a lot of activities or friend groups.
Be then there was my mom’s friend, Marilee (Emily’s mom). She stepped in. We lived 10 minutes away from each other but she came to pick me up and had me at her home more times than I can count. She’s not the only one. Many of my friends moms had me over to play and even stay for dinner often — but Marilee was the one who has continued to “invite me” throughout my life.
I’m sure my dad was and is so grateful. I sure am. I didn’t realize it until I became a mom but so many “kid friendships” are based on this unspoken gave and take friendship between the parents.
You take my kids this time, I’ll take yours next. I get it because it’s incredibly helpful for a busy mom to be able to count on her friend having the kids out of her hair for an afternoon.
But what I’m realizing now is that Marilee didn’t have that. It was a lot of give on her end and little take. But it quite literally changed my life. She still shows up for me, even now. All the years later, making sure I know that she cares about what happens to me. 🥹🩷
I guess I’m just saying, look out for those kids (and parents) who can’t give back much in return.
Because maybe they need your empathy more than you even realize. BE the GOOD. ♡
#lighttheworld

Hey, I’ve been a little quiet on here. Life is b

Hey, I’ve been a little quiet on here. Life is busy at the moment and priorities have had to shift for a time, but I wanted to share a thought I’ve had.
This time of year brings a lot of expectation for many of us. There’s also a lot of focus on giving, which I love. But that paired with expectation can feel like a lot. And sometimes I forget that giving doesn’t have to look like anything specific. Maybe you need this reminder too?
Giving doesn’t always mean donating a large amount of money to a worthy cause… it can also simply mean connecting and being the good part of someone’s day.
In my Bible study, I recently came across this phrase in 1 Peter that says “SEE good days” and I love that it doesn’t ensure good days will come, or even that it’s all up to chance. Instead it offers US the power to SEE the good in each new day.
With that I am also reminded of how when I am looking for the good things of life, I am usually drawn to the people in it and how they make my life good. It’s rarely got anything to do with tangible things and more to do with how I feel because of the kindness and care they offer through simple gestures of love.
So my goal this season is to SEE the good days and BE the good part for others — I plan to share more about that this month to hopefully motivate you to do the same! xo

Showing you a few behind the scenes clips today.

Showing you a few behind the scenes clips today.
I’m a creator at my core and believe it or not, worked in “gifting” when I was in my twenties. I helped design and create gift sets for the company I worked for.
My process included market research - which at the time meant going to Bath & Body works and Target etc and checking out their offerings this time of year with @jcorotan
Then we would come back and brainstorm ideas of how to include our company’s products in a gift bundle. We designed all the details of packaging and descriptions plus little extras to complete each gift. It was hands down the best corporate job I ever had!
I love the gesture of a simple gift. It says “I am thinking about you.” And I love that a gift doesn’t have to be big, expensive or over the top to say that either.
If it comes from the heart, it’s meaningful. That’s what I hope my cancer support gifts can be to you. ♡ ♡ ♡
#cancersupport #cancergifts #cancersupportgifts #thoughtfulgifts #chemosupport

When I think about the things I missed most about

When I think about the things I missed most about my “regular life” during chemo, it was truly the simplest of things. Moments I normally would have overlooked in the day-to-day.
After a Red Devil infusion, I would feel so wretched. I would alternate between the bath and my bed, for days. Feeling fatigued and nauseous, with constant bone aches. And I would think about how on a “normal” summer day, I would be at the pool with my kids. Watching them giggle and splash, while soaking in the warmth of sun.
I missed that.
After my bilateral mastectomy, I couldn’t hold my baby for 6 weeks. I REALLY missed that.
I missed being the one who got to drive carpool and listen to the after-school chatter. I even missed hearing their ever-growing list of wants.
These are the thoughts that drove me to my knees. Praying for more of those everyday moments. Moments that were cut short from my mom and me.
I knew my kids would be “OK” if cancer took my life. I was proof that it was possible to survive the loss of a mother.
But I wasn’t sure I would be. If I didn’t get to be part of those everyday moments with them… I felt like I might die from the heartbreak of it all before cancer even had a chance to take me.
I selfishly want to be THE ONE there for all of it and I’m lucky because, I’m still here. It’s not lost on me how truly fortunate I am. Because I know some moms who are not… and some who have constant worry about the realities ahead for them.
My heart feels heavy just thinking about this. But I’m praying for more awareness of the everyday moments while we all continue on. Because everyday moments matter. Regardless of how many we get. 🙏🏼🤟🏼🩷
#breastcancersurvivorship #cancersupport #thegoodstuff

From a young age I knew about breast cancer. I kne

From a young age I knew about breast cancer. I knew there was a chance I would get it. I also knew cancer, in general, was a big part of my family health history.
I was well aware of my cancer risk so I had genetic testing done early. I tested negative for the well-known BRCA genes and felt a huge sense of relief. I exercised often, ate well and went to my yearly check ups. I pushed thoughts of cancer to the back of my mind. Until late one night, when I felt a lump.
Since that time I have learned a few things.
I didn’t realize that genetics play a role but don’t give a full picture of potential cancer risk.
I didn’t realize that health care providers aren’t always proactive and that advocating for further imaging can be the difference between early detection and metastatic cancer.
I didn’t realize how just noticing a difference in my own body would ultimately save my life.
#cancersurvivorship #thingsivelearned #cancerrisk #breastcancersurvivors

A while ago I watched this short series on Netflix

A while ago I watched this short series on Netflix about a man who lost his wife to cancer. He was grief stricken and angry. He decided nothing mattered anymore so he said and acted however he felt without much regard for anyone else.
Then he meets a few people along the way who help him realize there’s more to life than his own circumstances and happiness. He meets this older widow, Anne, and she explains to him how happiness is so amazing that it doesn’t even matter if it’s yours.
This thought feels so tangible to me because I know it well. When I watch my kids do something that makes them proud, or when a friend calls to tell me she’s cancer free, I feel happiness for them bursting out of me.
Life is so much more fulfilling when we know we are having a positive impact on others. I feel like sometimes I get wrapped up in myself and try to make excuses for why I am doing something, like, “I can do what I want because it doesn’t matter what other people think.”
But see that’s a lie, because it does matter to some degree. It matters how we make others feel. We aren’t just here for us. And if I want to feel consistent happiness, I can’t depend on my own circumstances. That doesn’t add up to any sort of consistency. But genuinely sharing in and helping contribute to the happiness of others. That’s it.
The light of happiness is so far reaching, it doesn’t always have to center around me in order to feel it’s rays.
So let’s just all be good people who do good things for others. No excuses. Yeah? I like that idea. ♡
The series is titled, After Life. Loved it but it does have lots of *cursing* 😬 just a heads up if you decide to watch it.
#goodhumans #loveandsupport #cancersupportcommunity #happinessquote

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