Gem and Jo Donate Blood

We are pretty passionate about donating not only time and money but also blood. Last year our university hosted a blood donation clinic and we decided to donate for the first time.
We totally understand that there is a huge difference between giving a couple of euros and donating your blood. For one, lots of people are afraid of needles and some people just cannot stand the sight of blood (twilight would not be their thing!) but we would love to convince anyone who has considered blood donation to go and try it!

It really isn't that scary at all. The needle doesn't even hurt, it's just a bit uncomfortable, (like being in a room with your ex for the first time..... okay maybe not that uncomfortable), like a soft pinch and the discomfort is over in seconds. To be honest you don't even feel anything when the blood is being taken. If you're not sure if you're able to donate, when you register the nurses are really super helpful and tell you everything you would need to know.

On Monday the blood clinic arrived back on campus and we were pretty much the first in line like eager little beavers(except without the huge teeth and tails)! The feeling you get from donating your blood, knowing that it is going to help someone suffering from cancer, someone who was hit by a drunk driver or a newborn baby is overwhelming and you really realise that a simple 15 minute donation could save someone's life. It's truly an amazing experience!

We're not going to lie, some people do experience light-headedness, but the nurses supervise you for a while after donating to make sure you are (in the words of Nina Simone) feeling good.

In college, and we're sure in most donation clinics, sugary snacks and drinks are also available and your pockets are practically stuffed full of sweets by the nurses when you're leaving (us college students always appreciated free food)! The nurses yesterday were so incredibly nice and sweet, especially Cora who reminded us of us of our own mothers and really put us at ease! Plus you get to have a great ole chat while you're donating, you get all the goss!

The point of this post? If you think you would be eligible to donate blood (and you don't vomit at the sight of it (we don't want the nurses having to clean up a big mess)), go to your nearest clinic. In Ireland the blood banks are almost never full and we would love for them to be just as much as the doctors and nurses do. It's such an important cause that really is the difference between life and death.

If you want to check the current blood supply in Ireland, click Here (This site has tons of really interesting information!)

As always thank you for taking the time to read our posts!
Until next time,

Want to see why we've gone pink? 

Click this ribbon > 

Gem and Jo's Hat Wishlist

Today is Mad Hatter day (yep that's really a real thing, how great is that!). So to celebrate one of the most memorable characters from one of our favourite books, we compiled a little bit of a list of the hats in the shops at the moment that we are loving. What better way to keep warm this season and celebrate the weird and wonderful mad hatter.
Jo's Picks 

                                   

Parfois Tech Hat: €17.95

I absolutely love Parfois for all this accessories, and for hats it's no difference. I love this simple black hat. It would add a bit of interest to just about any outfit. 

Buy it here

Forever 21 Braided Trim Wool Fedora: €12.45

This hat just looks so cosy and grey goes with just about anything!

Buy it here

Accessorize Beanie Hat: €9.90

Everyone needs a simple beanie. This one looks really soft and warm and cosy. I really love the grey colour for winter. 

Buy it here

Miss Selfridge Black Embellished floppy Hat: £30.00

This hat is just so pretty with the embellishment and its super floppy. This hat would add some serious glamour to any winter outfit. 

Buy it here

Forever 21 Zigzag Pompom Beanie: €7.45

Love how this hat has a little more interest than just a plain beanie. What else can I say? It's just super cute and cosy!

Buy it here

Gem's Picks: 

New Look Cream Knitted Flecked Bobble Hat: £7.99

This is just the cutest little bobble hat I have ever laid eyes on. The combination of cream purple and blue had me from the minute I saw it! 

Buy it Here

River Island Oversized Blue Fedora hat: €37.00

Stop what you are doing and look at this hat. Isn't she beautiful? I absolutely adore this fedora however, at €37.00 this hat is wishful thinking on my part. Sad face. 

Buy it Here

Dunnes Stores Embellished Headband: €8.00

I know, I know, this isn't technically a hat. However it is far too cute to be excluded from this post. Sometimes all you need is a headband. A really pretty headband. 

Buy it Here

BooHoo Sofie Feather Trim Hat: £10.00 

I just love that this hat isn't simply a hat. It has serious sass. Buckets of that stuff called sass. Love it, and for a tenner? Yes please!

Buy it Here

ASOS Barts Winna Beanie: €42.64. 

That is the strangest, most random price for a hat. But it is a very pretty hat and alas it is out of my purses league. However should a similar hat show up in some other shop such as, oh I don't know, Primark? Then it shall be claimed as mine! 

Buy it Here

Well there ya go, our hat wishlist to celebrate Mad Hatter Day. What a wonderful holiday. 

Let us know if you have any favourites from our wishlists or if you recommend any great hats! (We'll need them soon, the weather is getting cold here in Ireland!)

Thanks!

Until next time, 

*All photos in this post are stock photos from their respective websites.

Click this ribbon if you want to know

 why we've gone pink this month >

Gem and Jo Paint It Pink

If you're a regular visitor here at Gem and Jo Take The World, then you're probably wondering, "hey what's up with all the pinkness all up in here" (or something along those lines). Well it's October and as some of you may know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month! In honor of all the amazingly strong and courageous women who have battled this horrendous disease, we are painting our blog pink for the rest of the month! We are also asking that anyone who visits our blog, if you could please consider donating to your local Breast Cancer Researcher, they need your help to continue their  research and help every person affected by cancer.

In Ireland, over 2000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 660 will pass away every year. 1 in 10 women will get breast cancer at some stage in their lives. These rates are even higher in other parts of the world and the risk gets higher the older women get. Cancer research is so important, as currently it isn't known what causes breast cancer, but with more funding hopefully, this will be a thing of the past. Although rare, men can suffer from breast cancer too, 16 men were diagnosed with breast cancer last year in Ireland.

Research into cancer is important, but you can also help by regularly doing simple checks on yourself. Self checks mean that if you feel anything out of the ordinary, you can get to a doctor before other symptoms occur, meaning your survival rate is much higher. The sooner cancer is detected the easier it is to treat. Here in Ireland, 74% of women with breast cancer detected it themselves. Here's how you can self check:

1.  Check in the mirror. Take a look and see if there is any distortion of your breasts or any discoloration.
2. Raise your arms and look for the same things as in step 1.
3. Lying down, use the pads of your fingers and press into the breast tissue and move around in a circular motion, make sure to check all over using this technique.
4. After showering and before you dry off, use your whole hand to check your breasts for lumps or pain.

These steps are so easy and quick and doing them regularly could save your life. If you have noticed any change in your breasts please go and see your GP or doctor. It is so important that we make breast cancer as easy to treat as possible and that means early diagnosis.

We urge all you girls to stand up with us and make sure that every woman knows what to look for and where to go to get the help they may need.

So there you go! Throughout this month you'll be seeing our regular posts but some will have a bit of a pink twist. We hope you enjoy our pinkness this October and please donate if you can.

To donate €4 in the Republic of Ireland, text PINK to 50300.
To donate £5 in the UK, text PINK245 to 70070.
to donate $5 in the US, text HOPE to 20222.
To donate from other countires, please contact your local cancer charity online.

For  more information on cancer, check out the Irish Cancer Society's website Here.

Until next time,

Gem and Jo Take On The Ice Bucket Challenge

Well the challenge was bestowed upon us and we feel we rose to the occasion. You may find the following video highly disturbing and young children should be ushered out of the room now.
 Joke! we're actually very proud of this video!

P.s. this video is also known as "Johannah and the Disappearing Wine Glass" Keep an eye out for it, we seriously can't find it...

Until Next Time.