The Best Christmas Playlist

It's December 1st which means it is the perfect day to share with you the most brilliant playlist of Christmas songs you'll ever find (trust me, it's a good'n). We'll admit, we've been listening to this for the past month (it's never too early to get into the Christmas spirit) and now you can have a listen too!

From your favourite Christmas movie tracks (Elf... Home Alone...) to your classic winter tunes; we guarantee you'll be raring for the festive season with this playlist. You can listen at home, whilst wrapping presents or decorating the tree! Plus Spotify is free, so, like, why not?

So, plug in your headphones and step into Christmas (get it?!) with me by pressing play!

The Open University

 “More than 190,000 students are studying OU degree courses right now. Our oldest students are in the their nineties and more school leavers are choosing the OU than ever before.”

Whether you’re still working away at school or whether you’re in full-time employment, most people are unaware of what distance learning entails. Usually, we are led to believe that the only way to get a good, well-paid job is by going away to a university; however, the Open University is well recognised by employers. Plus it’s a LOT less expensive – at least half the price of regular universities. Don’t get me wrong; going to an ‘actual’ uni can be really good if that’s what you want…but only if it really is what you want to do.

The point I’m trying to get across however, is that there are lots of options to choose from with regards to further education, especially for school leavers…degrees (distance learning or not), apprenticeships, employment and traineeships to name a few. Currently, the ‘preferred option’ appears to be ‘actual’ universities; the Open University tends to be notorious for people who have already been through employment – that’s probably because schools don’t really talk about it. But, actually, the OU is one of the highest ranked universities available.

I am currently in my third year with the OU, doing a BSc (Honours) Psychology degree. When I started, I was classed as part-time study. That means each year consists of 60 credits – if you go away to university it would be 120 credits. However, you can also do the 120 credits full-time study with the OU. Therefore, it can take between 3-6 years – flexible with how you want to study. Bit of advice though: choose whether you want to study part-time or full-time before you start as academic year starts can be a bit tricky if you try and swap (I’m speaking from experience here). I worked alongside my first year in schools through a supply agency, getting paid to work one-to-one with a variety of children of all ages and a range of behavioural difficulties, as well as some cover supervising roles. It was excellent experience and meant I could earn and save money at the same time as doing my degree!

There are no entry requirements, so no personal statements or immense pressure to get certain grades, and depending on the course, maybe one or no exams. You have lots of choice with your degree; as well as covering core study, you can specialise too. For example, within my psychology degree I could choose from counselling, autism studies, forensics…the list is endless. Studying with the OU does require lots of self-motivation and discipline, but if you’re interested in the subject then you’ll enjoy what you study. I tend to find up to a couple of hours a day is okay and if you get ahead it’s even better. You have a tutor who you can phone/email and also tutorials at a nearby uni that are often weekly. On average, your degree is between £12k-£15k; much less than regular universities. You can take out a loan, pay for it all, pay for parts, be sponsored by an employer…there are so many options that best suit you.

I had applied for regular unis because I felt there was no other route – a family friend told us about the OU and the degrees he had completed with them. School wasn’t his forte, but at age 60+, he’d already completed numerous degrees with the OU. He inspired me, I was so interested; it appealed to me so much more. That’s how I wound up where I am today! Amy is also looking into the OU, though we’ve told her she can do anything she wants when she leaves – the world’s her oyster! However, she’s intrigued by the OU and likes the freedom it gives you. She’s looking into an English degree and hoping she gets a fine-looking tutor. ;)

If you ever want to contact us about the OU or how it works – whether you’re a student or a Mum working full-time – our email is waresisters@gmail.com.

It is important to do what you enjoy in life, not what schools or society imply is ‘right’. Your life is not a book that’s already been written; you hold the pen and create the life you wish to live. There are so many options of what you can do in life, if only you let yourself believe it.

Have a look at the OU’s website: http://www.open.ac.uk

Laura x

Summer Fruits Smoothie

Today I thought I'd share with you lovely people a yummy, healthy smoothie recipe that you can throw together in a matter of minutes! It's brilliant any time of the day; at breakfast, as an afternoon snack or as a dessert! (Serves two - small glasses.) 

You'll need TWO handfuls of frozen fruits (whichever you prefer, I went for summer/forest fruits)
and drop them in the smoothie maker. 

Berries are very messy...you may need to wash your hands now! 

You need one ripened banana (if it's ripe it'll be sweeter). 

Chop up the banana (and, you know, arrange it in a pretty heart for a photo opportunity) and pop it in the smoothie maker. 

I added a small amount of honey (just a lil' drizzle), drop of lemon juice & some summer fruits juice. 

Mix/blend/puree that smoothie until smoooooth. 

Pour it out into two small glasses. 

Add some granola (or whatever you prefer) and drink up! Yummmmmmy.

Love, 

Laura x 

The Three Rings

Some of you may wonder why we each wear a gold band on our wedding finger – as shown in the picture. Well, let’s backtrack a little and explain the story of the three rings.

When Dad was diagnosed with brain cancer, Mum and Dad knew that he was terminal. They went for many walks to talk things through, such funeral arrangements and wishes for our future; after everything had been spoken about, Mum and Dad left it all in the past and focused on trying to help Dad beat the cruel cancer. 

One of Dad’s wishes was for his & Mum’s wedding rings to be melted down and joined to make three wedding bands for his three girls. That way, we would always have a part of Dad to hold with us, forever. 

After Dad had passed away, Birmingham Jewellery Quarter kindly engraved the bands with “Tracey Paul” on Mum’s and “Daddy” on ours.

We will always treasure these rings.

The Three Wares x  

August Playlist

There's a variety of songs on this month's playlist; a collection of different music for you to feast your ears on... With quite a broad taste in music, press play and I'm sure you'll find a track you'll love. Of course, Taylor Swift 'Shake It Off' would have been on there if it was available on Spotify! Leave a comment below with the song name(s) if you like any!

Laura x 

Summer Sounds

It's summer and, for England, it has been surprisingly hot! ☼ 

Whether you are lounging in your back garden, going to the seaside or hitting the beautiful beaches of countries abroad - this post is for you. So, when you're about to board your plane, jump in the car for a road trip, or lay outside in the garden, I have created the perfect playlist to get you in that summery mood.

I'll link each of the songs to YouTube so you can click to listen, or you can listen to the tracks on Spotify (you can get free accounts) by listening to my Beach playlist.

• Three Little Birds - Bob Marley
• No Woman, No Cry (live) - Bob Marley
• Love And Affection - Majek Fashek 
• Truly Madly Deeply - The Dualers 
• You Can Get It If You Really Want - Desmond Dekker 
• Could You Be Loved - Bob Marley
• I Love You, Too - Ziggy Marley
• Tighten Up - The Inspirations
• Beach In Hawaii - Ziggy Marley
• Is This Love - Bob Marley
• Your Love - Wyclef Jean (feat. Eve)
• Take Me To Jamaica - Ziggy Marley 
• Every Breath You Take - UB40 
• Good People - Jack Johnson
• Love Is My Religion - Ziggy Marley 
• I'm Yours (live) - Jason Mraz
• One Love/People Get Ready - Bob Marley
• Moonlight - The Honey Brothers
• Jammin' - Bob Marley 
• Bubble Toes - Jack Johnson
• Red Red Wine - UB40
• Buffalo Soldier - Bob Marley
• Don't Worry, Be Happy - Bobby McFerrin

Happy listening!!! 

Laura and Amy x 

Do you wanna look like Elsa? WE DO!

With the amazing success of Disney's Frozen, we felt our first hair tutorial needed to be inspired by a character from the film...so we chose Queen Elsa!

We had a LOT of fun filming this, and decided (just for giggles) to let you guys see the bloopers at the end of our YouTube video... Here's a glimpse of what to expect...

This is a great look for all of the fellow hippies out there! It's simple and can be completed in minutes; it's especially a really handy hairstyle for festivals as it requires minimum effort and simply a headband with the addition of a lickle elasticated band!

We hope you like this hairstyle...there will be more videos to come!!

Okay, bye... (Sung as in Frozen!)

Amy and Laura x

First YouTube Video: Life Q&A

Helloooo!

We decided to have go at making a YouTube video; a Q&A with L&A... Get it? ;)

We felt that by being able to talk on a video, it would be a more personal approach and also nice for us to look back on in the future. Expect to see a new video each week covering a variety of topics: grieving, cancer, studying, hairstyles, popular challenges etc... If you have any suggestions for video ideas, please let us know, no matter how far fetched they may be!

YouTube will also hopefully be an outlet for us and reach out to people with our story - who knows who it could help!

Watch our first YouTube video :)

Thanks!

Laura & Amy x

Spot The Difference

Spots. They're there through your teenage years and then, for some, carry on popping up every so often in our adult years. Whether they're caused by hormones or diet - they're a right pain! Granted, they may not phase some people, but for most, they can make you very self-conscious. Always remember though, that everyone gets spots at some point and they are not the worst thing in the world. Statistics actually show that when we look in the mirror, we imagine ourselves to look 20% worse than we actually do (or, you know, don't have mirrors).

Over the past six months, we've been trying to find a remedy that gets rid of them. From spot creams and washes to herbal remedies - nothing seemed to be making much difference...
However, whilst in Superdrug one day, we bought a tub of Sudocrem (think it's about £2.55 for the big tub, which should last you about a year to be honest! It's cheaper than all the other spot creams). The cream is notorious for treating nappy rash, but it's also for eczema, sunburn, acne etc., so it is great for spots. It's classified as an 'antiseptic healing cream' and it has lavender in it (really good for clearing up spots).

So if anyone is struggling, definitely look into Sudocrem, alongside drinking lots of water/antioxidant herbal teas and generally eating a healthy, balanced diet. As long as you're wearing suntan cream, vitamin D in small amounts can do wonders for your skin.

If this doesn't work for you, here's a few other things you might like to try:

• Toothpaste 
• Antihistamine/Steroid cream (you can actually get these from places like Home Bargains) 
• An ice pack (takes down the swelling!) 
• Pharmacy creams 
• Lavender gel
• Tea tree oil
• Mashed-up banana 
• Aftershave/Perfume (prepare for the sting, like on Home Alone and hold back those naughty words!!!) 
• Drop of TCP (read instructions first!!) or some salt in your bath 
• Combined-pill (see a GP; it should balance your hormone levels and therefore reduce the amount of spots) 

Also, there's a lot of controversy over wearing make-up. Some say it clogs your pores, but to be honest a dermatologist told us that so long as you apply it correctly and wash it off properly (you can't beat Simple soap and water) it is usually not a problem. Truthfully, girls typically have it easier in this area; we can hide a blemish with a touch of concealer or foundation. Boys could do this, but the majority don't. Remember that spots are just as common with boys and girls, and most celebrities too. (Lorde posted this photo with her acne cream on; web article here about some celebs you wouldn't expect or even guess suffered with their skin.)  

We hope our suggested remedies work for you if you're struggling with spots too. Always remember it is not the end of the world and though it may feel like a volcano to you, others who really care about you probably wouldn't even notice it. *Inserts cliche comment* Beauty comes from within!!!! 

Let us know if any of you spot the difference (get it????) after using any of the suggestions. 

Laura and Amy x 

(Disclosure: we are definitely not skin experts; this is just what works for us!) 

Ware What You Want

Laura and I aren’t your average girls...we are different! We’ve never really followed the ‘fashion trends’ that the media tell us to; who wants to look like everybody else? With experience of attending an ‘all-girls’ school we’ve seen how the pressure of fitting in can lead many to dress like clones or how they think they’re supposed to dress, not how they want to dress. A prime example is that well-known chick flick – Mean Girls...

We’ve decided to construct this blog post through the encouragement of our Mum and Dad telling us that you don’t have to ‘spend to look quality’ and Dad always told us ‘you can look good in a bin bag mate, if you work it right’.

Once you find your style you’ll actually feel more comfortable wearing the clothes that you want to, in comparison to trying to work an outfit that isn’t necessarily ‘your’ fashion. If somebody is looking at an outfit you are wearing, don’t feel intimidated – the fact that they have looked shows that you’ve stood out (obviously if you’re wearing just your underwear, there may be a bigger issue you need to address!).

As you mature you’ll slowly start to realise what types of clothes you like and feel more confident in yourself when wearing them. You don’t always have to shop at the biggest brands, after all who sees the label anyway? Make ‘getting dressed’ in the morning something you enjoy and look forward to – not dread. Perhaps plan what you are going to wear the night before, or whilst you are falling asleep. Getting dressed is like art...you design the product and wear the outcome!

It’s a cliché saying but it really is so important just to be yourself...and most importantly, be as unique as can be...it makes you more interesting, more memorable. Think about it this way – if you dress differently – you’ll never have to worry that you’re going to bump into someone who’s wearing the same outfit as you... Awkward!

We’re not trying to enforce that you go out and buy a bright green feather boa, orange mankini nor a leather mini skirt, just have confidence to WARE WHAT YOU WANT.

Amy & Laura x

Dancing Pigeons

Let’s go back to 2003, the year Black Eyed Peas released ‘Where Is The Love’ and evidently the year that hair braids were all the rage! I remember on various occasions when the sun was out, slapping on the sun cream in between the braids to avoid getting a burnt scalp. Mum spent hours plaiting and we loved them. The above photo was taken when the four of us (Mum, Dad, Amy and I) were staying in a static caravan somewhere in Scotland. I can’t remember the name of the place – all I can recall is that we visited Scotland twice and it rained the entire holiday for both of those times. Despite the downpour, we thoroughly enjoyed both stays.

In the static, I recollect there was a little TV and ‘Titanic’ was on one of the channels. Neither Amy or I had seen the movie before and snuggled up on the sofa with Mum and Dad to watch it. It was raining (surprise, The Wares were in Scotland) outside and it felt like we were on the boat too!!! (I had my lifeboat at the ready.) Myself and Amy still think Jack could have fit onto that piece of driftwood… I also can’t bring myself to watch Titanic now as it’s just too distressing and upsetting!

 

Later that night before went to sleep, Dad was telling us bedtime stories, the three of us lying side by side. Suddenly, we heard a tapping. “Did you hear that?” Dad said, feigning surprise. Amy and I looked at him with wide eyes, “What is it?” we both asked. “It’s those pigeons,” he said. “They must be dancing on the roof again.” Amy and I, only being little, were amazed. “Listen,” Dad said, “They’re dancing again!” We were fascinated, thinking there were pigeons tap dancing on our static’s roof! (It was actually Dad tapping his feet on the static’s wall at the end of the bed!) It’s funny what you believe as a child – Dad would tell us when he was driving and watching us in the rear-view mirror that if we blinked, the volume of the music would increase. We sat there blinking like crazy in the back of the car as Dad increased the volume with the steering wheel controls! We still laugh about it now.

Recently we rooted out boxes and boxes of old photos and they brought back a lot of funny and lovely memories. I know that we can no longer make memories with our Dad, but we treasure the all of the times we did spend with him growing up. He was the best Dad to Ams and I, and the best husband to Mum. I would encourage any of you reading this to always capture the memories - take a photo (even if you're having a bad hair day or woke up with a massive spot) because when you look back that memory will be there and make you feel happy. There are still lots of memories for all of us to create, with Dad watching down on us. He might not be there in person, but I hope he smiles and laughs along with us, sharing the memories. Our very own guardian angel.

Hope you enjoyed the story, Dad was always a cheeky chappy. We have lots of funny memories to share. For those of you who have read our book about Dad’s journey with brain cancer, you’ll have read a few funny family memories in there.

Have a lovely weekend,

Laura x 

Be Thankful

What to be thankful for? Here are at least a few things...

• ·        Be thankful that you have clothes... are they the newest, most fashionable, most well-known brand named items... No! But who cares, I’ve been rocking a £5 pair of dungarees and they are one of my best buys in a while – Money doesn’t buy quality. It’s the way you dress it that makes it work. P.S. A great site that most people don’t know about is https://www.everything5pounds.com/
• ·         Be thankful that you have good health
• ·         Be thankful that you have a roof over your head; a place you can call home
• ·         Be thankful that you have people around you that you love (forget about those haters J)
• ·         Be thankful for the simple things in life, for example, having an education. It is a benefit when you have nice, good (looking ;)) teachers
• ·         Also, us ladies need to be thankful for makeup. Who ever invented foundation and concealer surely deserves an Oscar
• ·         Be thankful that  you have at least someone that believes in you... it goes a long way – no matter what
• ·         Be thankful for words; that help us to communicate with those familiar and even non-familiar
• ·         Be thankful for FOOD! I am always eating. On the occasion I will join in with Mum and Laura on the healthy (rabbit) food ;)
• ·         Be thankful for Family
• ·         Be thankful for Life
• ·         Be thankful for love – it comes in all different forms. Love makes the world go round.
• ·         Be thankful for music – it can bring back a million memories, and sometimes music can even be the starting point of their existence. It is also a great way of communicating
• ·         Be thankful for English weather. Yes it’s crap BUT - as Nana Roberts would say at least there’s a limited chance of there being a Tersami... (She means to say a Tsunami J)
• ·         Having a sense of humour goes a long way. Making people laugh can change a person’s entire perspective on life.
• ·         Be thankful for fluffy socks...let’s face it...who doesn’t own a pair!?
• ·         Be thankful for people that fight to keep us safe. Our love and prayers always go out to their families
• ·         Be thankful for whatever you are good at. Go where your heart tells you, not always where your head may point to
• ·         You have the chance to achieve your dreams if you really push yourself and ‘make it happen’...for example I dream of marrying Richard Gere and I will make that happen ;)
• ·         Be thankful for memories. For instance, old photographs may be very embarrassing but they are something you should be so thankful somebody took the time to take
• ·         Be thankful for basic necessities like food and water
• ·         Be thankful for what is right in front of you – too many people focus on all the things they want and not what they have

Maybe make a list of all the things you are thankful for!

Love,

Amy x 

Bad Day

Are you having a bad day? Have you ever had a bad day?

We are guessing yes, because who hasn’t had a bad day! Well we’ve got a few ideas to help you turn that frown upside down ;)

Since losing Dad, we certainly have our fair share of bad days. Here are just a few songs to listen to and movies to watch that might cheer you up a little when you’re having a bit of a teary kind of day.

First points of call though: 

...phone or see a friend or family and have a good chat! 

...eat chocolate 

...have a cup of tea 

...bubble bath 

For the music, pull out your headphones…or cassette players…or record players if you’re a lil' bit behind with the times…and listen to a few of these upbeat, feel-good (and maybe cheesy) tracks.

Reach For the Stars - S Club 7 (you can do the actions too, get those hands up in the air…wave ‘em like you just don’t care)

Dancing in the Moonlight  - Toploader

When Life Gives Me Lemons I Make Lemonade - The Boy Least Likely To 

C'Est La Vie - B*Witched (some people say I look like me Dad!!!!) 

Happy - C2C feat. D.Martin  

King Of Wishful Thinking - Go West 

Let It Go - Frozen 

Bad Day - Daniel Powter 

Beauty In The World - Macy Gray (saw this on A Little Bit Of Heaven, don't watch that movie without tissues!!!) 

Hard Knock Life - Jay Z 

Many The Miles - Sara Bareilles 

Dream Catch Me - Newton Faulkner 

MMMBop - Hanson 

Build Me Up Buttercup - The Foundations 

Little Bitty Pretty One - Thurston Harris (because we all tried to make things move by pointing at them like Matilda did!) 

Walking On Sunshine - Katrina & The Waves 

Wannabe - Spice Girls (to Spice up your life!) 

Respect - Aretha Franklin 

Jump For My Love - Pointer Sisters (and yes the video has Hugh Grant wiggling his booty!!! Come on all you men...join in!) 

Come on Eileen - Dexy's Midnight Runners 

Pocketful of Sunshine - Natasha Bedingfield 

Undiscovered - James Morrison 

Don't You (Forget About Me) - Simple Minds 

Cups (When I'm Gone) - Anna Kendrick (grab a cup and learn how to do the cup song!) 

So Young - The Corrs 

On Top of the World - Imagine Dragons (you might not be feeling it now, but you will after hearing this lovely song) 

Some movies...

• Mamma Mia! (Abba sing-a-long) 
• Pretty Woman (Richard Gere) 
• Love Actually (Hugh Grant) 
• Bridesmaids (very funny) 
• Frozen (sing-a-long...sometimes the bad guy is a prince in disguise) 
• Dirty Dancing (Patrick Swayze, we'd say Ghost too but you definitely need tissues for that) 
• About Time (really cute story line, a must watch) 
• Mean Girls (that's sooo fetch) 
• 17 Again (Zac Efron) 
• Hairspray (Mr Efron again!) 
• Bridget Jones 
• Notting Hill 
• American Pie (never gets old) 
• Pitch Perfect 
• The Rebound 
• The Holiday (Jude Law) 
• Sister Act 
• Meet The Fockers 
• Did You Hear About The Morgans 
• When In Rome 
• Life As We Know It 
• The Notebook (Ryan Gosling and such a sweet movie) 
• High School Musical (cheesy but if you don't know every song, well, you should) 
• Fool's Gold (Matthew McConaughey) 
• How To Lose A Guy In Ten Days (McConaughey and yes we Google spell-checked that name!!!) 
• Over Her Dead Body 
• Monster In-Law 
• The Back-Up Plan 
• Step Up 
• Stardust 
• Safe Haven 
• The Sapphires 
• Crazy Stupid Love (Ryan Gosling) 
• The Proposal 
• The Bodyguard 
• Rainman 
• Grease
• Footloose 
• Marley & Me (tissues for this one, a whole box in our case...) 
• White Chicks (we're watching this again tonight... 'A Thousand Miles' by Vanessa Carlton will never be the same!!!) 
• She's Out Of My League 
• Just Friends 
• Happy Feet 
• Finding Nemo 
• Death At A Funeral 
• An Officer and A Gentleman 
• Killers 
• Norbit 

Sometimes we all need a pick-me-up. We may have our bad days but it's important to remember that there is a lot to smile about in this world.

Three pieces of advice from Dad: 

1) Have a 'positive mental attitude' 

2) Don't make a mountain out of a molehill 

3) Sometimes it may feel like it's the end of the world, but remember that the world is round and it may just be the beginning. 

Hope we made you smile. 

Love, 

Laura and Amy x 

What To Do When You've Got The Flu!

In the past couple of weeks, the yearly common flu has hit the Ware household! With Mummy Ware suffering the terrible flu the previous two weeks, ickle Amsie has now also been struck. This called for a blog post on what to do when you’ve got the flu! And that rhymes. PS. None of this is claimed to be professional medical advice…just what we tend to do if we’re poorly. 

• First point of call. Drink LOTS of fluids. Your body will probably be incredibly dehydrated and you’ll probably feel like you have little, if any, energy. Seeing as the body is approximately 60% water, make sure you drink up to two litres of water per day. That can seem like a huge amount, so the way we see it, even one bottle of water is better than none. An old herbal remedy is to add honey and lemon to hot water, which doesn’t actually taste too bad. Plus, if you have a sore throat, an ice lolly can help ease the soreness. Oh, and don’t forget your vitamin C, through fresh orange juice etc. 
• Get some rest!!! When you’ve got an awful cough or you’re full of cold, you often don’t sleep all too well. Therefore, when you wake up, you probably aren’t going to feel full of energy. You need to save what little energy you have left to help your body get back to full health. Put your feet up and take a break. Watch your favourite movie or read your favourite book and just chill. 
• Also when you’re full of the sneezes (this one’s for the older ladies reading this post) have your Tena Lady strapped into your bloomers…don’t risk it! 
• Steam. Either a proper steamer or literally putting your head over a bowl of hot water. Sometimes it helps to add a few drops of Olbas oil to the water. If the steam burns your face then, you know, pull back and breathe in a little more slowly. 
• Stay warm! If you’ve got a temperature, your body may vary and go from hot to cold. Keep a blanket nearby if you feel yourself shivering. Or if you’re boiling hot, a cold compress to the forehead may be of benefit. 
• Take your temperature regularly (and check the thermometer you’re using is for your mouth!!!) and take medicines to help speed up the recovery process. You can go to the doctors for a prescription (especially if you continue to get worse), get over the counter flu meds or buy them from a shop such as your local supermarket. Beechams seem to be the best brand for us. 
• Get some fresh air – even if you’re just sitting outside for a few minutes. There’s something about breathing in clean fresh air that feels good. Unless in our case you live near a canal and fields because then the fresh air can sometimes be a little bit pongy!!! Then again, if you’ve got a cold…you probably won’t be able to smell that much anyway. Also, if the sun’s out, get a bit of good old vitamin D!

There’s the Ware’s top flu-alleviating tips.

And if all else fails, ask Mum!!!! 

Hopefully the flu leaves the Ware household soon!!! 

Laura and Amy x 

Article About 'Daddy'

Since writing ‘Daddy’ the reviews we have received have been unbelievably touching. So many who have read our book have been “moved” and “inspired”. Several articles have been written in various newspapers, each of which have been heart-warming to read.

This week we were approached by Joe Haynes, a nineteen year old Stoke City fan who aspires to become a Sports Journalist, asking if he could write an article about ‘Daddy’. He was extremely touched by the book and as he is due to study Journalism at university this September, Joe felt it was a good chance to write a piece of work from the heart.

Of course, we were delighted as reading such lovely articles about the book and Dad are incredible. Joe certainly writes from his heart and we wanted to share his article for you all to read. We are certain he will thrive in his chosen career. Thank you, Joe, for such a lovely article. You’re a credit to the wonderful team you support. The line: "When in a difficult position I think to myself, ‘How would the Ware’s deal with it?’ or ‘What would they be telling me if they saw me in this situation?'" in particular stands out to us, as this is part of the reason for starting our blog. It is amazing to know how much of an impact our book and story has had on people. Please read the full article below. 

FAMILY REACH OUT TO MANY WITH INSPIRATIONAL READ

A story with many meanings and messages.

The family of ex Stoke City footballer Paul Ware have with great courage pulled together to write a book about their experiences and how their life changed having to battle with an illness.

‘Daddy’ was written by Paul’s daughters Amy and Laura with contributions from wife Tracey, taking us through their story. Paul himself, who played for Stoke from 1987-1994, was diagnosed with a rare brain tumour and despite an operation in 2012, passed away in April last year.

Many will know him for his fantastic contribution for the Potters, and in particular that goal against Peterborough sending Stoke to Wembley. However, the book shows us that he had just as much of a positive impact off the pitch as he did on it at home with his family. He was a courageous man and a Dad that two daughters were extremely proud of.

The inspirational book tells what the family have endured over the years and the difficulty of trying to live a normal life, and teaches readers plenty about heart, togetherness and a true family.

Readers are sure to go through every emotion whilst reading the book; from the laughs on family holidays to the difficulty of dealing with the condition and Paul’s down days. A few tears are guaranteed to be shed whilst going from chapter to chapter. Some will be cries of happiness, others not so positive, but all will leave its mark on you.

Teenagers Laura (19), and Amy (16), display a great sister relationship throughout and show us how important it is that siblings look out for each other. They also speak of how they are learning to live a normal life again with Mum Tracey.

After just finishing reading the book, I can personally wax lyrical over the quality of it, as the four members of the family alternate in telling tales of their personal experiences through the journey. I myself have started many books, but before ‘Daddy’ had never finished one, and the fact I couldn’t put this one down shows you the personal influence it had on me. When in a difficult position I think to myself, ‘How would the Ware’s deal with it?’ or ‘What would they be telling me if they saw me in this situation?’

The three girls deserve an enormous amount of credit for dealing with their tough experiences so fantastically and talking so openly about what they have been through. With Laura and Amy working hard in their studies, it’s now their aim to every day make Paul proud.

The book, which was only published on the 6^th March, is already only one of 392 books out of 1.6 million on lulu.com to have a five star rating. Unsurprisingly, my opinion is shared by plenty of others.

I highly recommend you purchase the book, and after reading it, it’s one you along with me certainly won’t forget.

‘Daddy’ can be brought from the link below, and a pound of the £9.99 book price will go to the Brain Tumour Charity.

http://www.lulu.com/shop/laura-and-amy-ware/daddy/paperback/product-21482394.html

Please follow Joe on Twitter @haynes_17 and read more lovely reviews on the link provided in the article above.

Thanks for everyone’s continuous support. It truly means the world to us.

Love,

Laura and Amy x 

Our First Blog Post

Hello! Welcome to our blog.

We are two sisters aged 19 (Laura) and 16 (Amy), based in Cheshire, England. We have both wanted to start a blog for a while now, and felt that now was the perfect time. After self-publishing our book, "Daddy" about our father's brave battle with an incredibly rare brain cancer, we were amazed by the heartwarming reviews. Currently, "Daddy" is 392 out of 1.6 million books on Lulu.com with a 5* rating - incredible. We are so thankful and hope that Dad is smiling down on us from up there!

Despite being an incredibly positive family, nothing could prepare us for the loss of our Dad. The past year has been an incredibly difficult one, though we have tried to find reasons to smile each day as that's definitely what Dad would have wanted. Through the journey of Dad's cancer and his passing, we know how important it is to treasure your loved ones and enjoy the life that you live. Our Mum has been our rock and we know that Dad would be incredibly proud of her too.

In this blog, we intend to write about a variety of topics: grief, cancer, music, happiness, health issues, relationships, fashion, football, maybe even the odd recipe! Basically, anything we can write about, we will write about. Therefore we hope to reach a wide audience, from family, friends, strangers - both male and female, drawn from a range of age groups.

We hope that you enjoy our posts. Please feel free to leave comments; we'll certainly answer!

Love,

Laura and Amy Ware x

Facebook / Twitter / Instagram Laura & Amy / YouTube / Book 

(contact email at the bottom of our blog)