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Kate Winn

Kate Winn

Kate is a teacher, freelance writer and TV guest, as well as a wife and mom to two girls. She launched This Mom Loves in 2010.

 

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katethismomloves
Behind the scenes of my daily reflections: I was g Behind the scenes of my daily reflections: I was given some special gifts that are really helping to comfort and sustain me during this challenge in my life, especially as I begin and end each day. (You know they’re important when I keep them out beside the bed and don’t even consider them clutter!) One is the book Jesus Calling - Morning & Evening by Sarah Young (not my kindergarten partner, a different one!) with a spiritual reflection to start and end each day. January’s theme seems to be trusting in God when plans aren’t going your way...okay, I’m listening! A cancer survivor passed this along to me and I will certainly pay it forward when I’ve made it through all 365 days. The second book, Amazing Grace, was in the Boredom Basket that my staff put together for me. It also has a reflection for each day of the year, and it was appropriate that I started that one in December, as those messages were ones of patience...yes, I know. The final step in my morning routine is to choose an inspirational card from one of the themed bags put together by two of our beloved former babysitters (now beautiful grown women). @brittanylouise_18 first babysat Olivia when she was three months old and (very) frequently watched her and then both girls until her younger sister @courtyroy took over. Brittany remembers that when she went away to school we put together a gift of individually wrapped items to be opened one per day, which inspired this beautiful idea. The messages range from spiritual (Psalms and Gospel verses) to historical (Marcel Proust) to contemporary (Elizabeth Gilbert). They even provided a decorated little box to hold the cards...and gave a similar gift to the girls! (Cancer impacts the whole family, as they well know, having lost their mom to the disease.) One of my favourite messages: “Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.” (Eckhart Tolle) And full disclosure: I changed into a real shirt just for the photo and am now back in my hoodie. #breastcancer
Finally - some news to share! I’m all prepped fo Finally - some news to share! I’m all prepped for radiation and have started my hormonal drug therapy as well. Lots of details in my latest post - link in bio. Never hesitate to ask if you have any questions - I am sharing this story to help others and am happy to answer anything!
Of course there’s a story behind my new earrings Of course there’s a story behind my new earrings! Since well before my breast cancer diagnosis, one of my inspirations has been @ajrobach - even more so now because she has given me so much hope as a cancer survivor (her book is excellent too). My family wanted Christmas gift ideas for me, and I decided to ask for a pair of gorgeous earrings from @accessoryconcierge, as seen many times on Amy as she hosts @abcgma3. I picked the Blue CZ Huggies because they’re nice and small and I don’t feel silly wearing them around the house - where I spend all of every day right now - and I will be wearing them to all of my radiation appointments as well, starting today, as a reminder that I too will get through this. Thanks to Amy’s stylist @jls_style for keeping us up-to-date on style details (and credit to her for the two photos of Amy). Thanks to Accessory Concierge too for their amazing customer service - they expedited shipping, and when I forgot to enter a coupon code they credited me back the difference - little things like that mean a lot!
Look who just got glasses! 👓 @missevamargaret3 Look who just got glasses! 👓 @missevamargaret305
Stop saving stuff. Are you one of those people who Stop saving stuff. Are you one of those people who is "saving" your bath bombs, face masks and hand creams, as if you're not entitled to use them now, but could be at a future date? What better reason to break them out than a pandemic? I've seen some great pieces written lately about how self-care for women is about so much more than bubble baths. I wholeheartedly agree and would love to discuss this deeper issue in the future, but for now I want to say that a bubble bath can still be pretty great. When working from home in the spring, I got myself into a skincare routine (only 2 minutes in the morning and 3 at night) of applying products, instead of "saving them" (or being too lazy to put them on). It helps to place opening and closing parentheses around the long days, and gives me a tiny sense of productivity when I’m not feeling so productive - and I swear, I've seen a difference in my skin. Right now, when my situation is less working and more waiting-from-home, the routines and mini self-care moments are even more important. Why "save" the bath bomb when I'm having a bath right now, in this moment? (It's not like I need to ration these products to feed my family or anything. And in my more unreasonable post-diagnosis moments I actually questioned if I would ever get a chance to use all of the products I own - so why not start now?) It's not just beauty products either: I was hesitant in the past to write in the gorgeous empty notebook, light the candles or use the good dishes but I moved past that, and it's very liberating. (When the girls were younger, they particularly enjoyed drinking their milk out of wine glasses at dinner.) Now that my daughters have started to wear my clothing, there are very few items (e.g., super-sentimental jewelry) that I don't share for their respectful use, because who really cares in the grand scheme of things if a pair of shoes gets worn out or a shirt gets stained? I'd rather see everything used and loved. If you've been "saving" something that could give a boost to your mood or mental health in any way, now's the time to pull it out and use it with as much joy as you can muster - and let me know!
#TBT When a camera crew visited for a Click & Coll #TBT When a camera crew visited for a Click & Collect commercial and the talented @westlaceymakeup made a house call to get me ready! While there are no media appearances, professional makeup applications or visitors in general happening for me anytime soon, I still stand by my love of online grocery ordering several years later - especially amazing during COVID and cancer! And @westlaceymakeup, we will meet again!
New treadmill desk! While the old, original protot New treadmill desk! While the old, original prototype was starting to fall apart, the final push was my mother telling me that my father was in need of a project! This custom-made baby is pine with an ebony stain. While I received the daughter discount, I am told the regular price is $200 if there are any local friends out there wanting an attractive piece of furniture to help combine “work from home” with “workout”! Thanks, Dad!
If you know anything about me, you’ll understand If you know anything about me, you’ll understand how much I need a plan, and how relieved I am to finally have one. (Relatively speaking, this cancer-related post could actually be a pleasant distraction from the events in Washington or the when-are-they-going-back-to-school speculation.) Link in bio, and thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the love.
All set for a cozy winter evening! The magazine wa All set for a cozy winter evening! The magazine was a recovery gift from a friend (who generously noted in her card that I could have written it), the royal fashion book was my Christmas gift from the girls (I love author @eholmes and her “So Many Thoughts” Instagram stories), and the notebook (given to me by a student a couple of years ago) is where I am furiously taking notes to help make one of my dreams come true once I am cancer-free. While it feels strange not to be getting ready to go back to school tomorrow, I know it’s also strange for my family members and colleagues who are getting ready to “go back” from home. Instead of jumping online with my kindergarten class and partner, I will be chatting with my medical oncologist and radiation oncologist for the first time and hopefully getting the plan to launch my treatment (radiation for sure, but possibly chemo first). As soon as I have a plan it will be time for an updated blog post! For now, I’m going to sit by the fire and enjoy reading, writing and dreaming...yes, of better days ahead, but today, right now, is pretty good.
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In Case You Missed It

  • My Cancer Story Part 11: Radiation Ready
  • Your Winter Reading List Part 2
  • My Breast Cancer Story Part 10: Treatment Plan
  • Supporting Your Child’s Education – My Segments on The Social

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