N E W S L E T T E R
D E C E M B E R
A MESSAGE FROM SAM
Hi, ladies!
As we come to our final newsletter of the year, I just want to take a moment to reflect on everything we’ve shared and achieved together in 2025. What a journey it has been. From workshops and craft clubs, to retreats, events, and the incredible everyday moments in between - each of you has brought strength, laughter, compassion, and courage into our Sam’s Diamonds family.
We know that the Christmas season can look very different for each of us, especially when navigatging life with or after a cancer diagnosis. However you spend the holidays this year, I hope you carve out time to rest, breathe, and appreciate just how far you’ve come You deserve every moment of joy you can find
I also wanted to share something personal - at the end of last month, I was incredibly honoured to be nominated for the “Courage Award” at the Pride of St Helens Awards. This was a lovely surprise and even though I didn’t win, I am still incredibly proud of how far we’ve come. Thank you to whoever nominated me!
As we close on the year, my wish for each of you is simple: may this festive season bring warmth, light, and hope. May the new year ahead be filled with new beginnings, strength, and exciting chapters waiting to be written.
Thank you for being part of our sparkly family. Thank you for showing up for one another. Thank you for reminding the world that Diamonds don’t just shine - we sparkle under pressure. Have a wonderful Christmas and a very Happy New Year.
With all my love, Sam x
U P D A T E S
PRIDE OF ST HELENS AWARDS
We would like to say a huge congratulations to Sam for being nominated for the “Courage Award” at The Pride of St Helens Awards 2025.
We couldn’t be prouder of her and everything she continues to achieve. It was a lovely evening, filled with inspiring stories from people who have made St Helens proud.
You’re already a winner in all of our eyes, Sam well done! You don’t know what you can do until you try✨
A D V I C E A N D T I P S
GETTING BETTER SLEEP
Getting enough sleep supports your immune system, mood, memory, healing, metabolism, and lowers your risk of chronic disease Lack of sleep slows reaction time, affects concentration, impacts mood, and causes “sleep debt” which is hard to catch up on.
Each night, your body moves through 4-6 cycles of light sleep, deep sleep, and REM.
N1: Lightest sleep
N2: Light sleep where your body starts to relax
N3: Deep sleep - the restorative stage
REM: Active dreaming, emotional and memory processing Disruptions to these cycles can reduce quality of sleep.
A D V I C E A N D T I P S
CAFFEINE AND ALCOHOL
Caffeine can stay in your system for up to 10 hours and blocks your deepest, most restorative sleep.
Tips: Avoid caffeine in the afternoon/evening, stay hydrated, watch for hidden caffeine e.g. in chocolate and soft drinks, and remembersleep will restore you more than coffee ever will.
Alcohol may make you feel sleepy, but it actually disrupts sleep quality by blocking REM and affecting melatonin - often causing wake-ups, snoring, and fragmented rest.
A D V I C E A N D T I P S
3-2-1 RULE
To prepare for great sleep:
3 hours before bed: dim bright lights
2 hours before bed: No big meals, no heavy drinking (you’ll be up in the night to pee)
1 hour before bed - no screens - wind down intentionally
Building your routine:
Keep a consistent sleep schedule
Create a cool, dark, calm bedroom
Use your bed for sleep/rest only Try gentle breathing exercises
If you wake in the night - stay calm, avoid screens, breathe, and allow your body to settle back into a cycle
Check in with yourself. After a week, ask:
Do I feel more refreshed?
Am I waking less?
Is my body settling into a rhythm?
E V E N T S
TRIP TO BENTS
Where: Bents Garden & Home, Warrington Road, Glazebury, Warrington
When: Thursday 4 December 2025 - 11am th
What to expect:
Fancy a Christmas mooch around Bents? Let’s go! Join us for a festive trip as we soak up the magic of their beautiful Christmas displays. We will meet there, wander through the decorations, enjoy the cosy atmosphere, and, if you fancy it, grab a bite to eat together in the cafe afterwards.
Stay for as long or as little as you like. It’s all about enjoying some festive sparkle and lovely company.
E V E N T S
ONLINE ART CLUB
Where: Posted in our private Facebook group
When: Thursday 11 December 2025 th
What to expect:
To make our art club more accessible, we are going to schedule an online art club every other week. Grab a brew, your paint, and patinbrushes and join us for an online painting sesh. These will be pre-recorded so you can watch, pause, rewind and fast forward at your own leisure. I will upload these around the same time as art club would normally be.
E V E N T S
LAST CRAFT CLUB OF THE YEAR!
Where: Ditton Community Centre, Dundalk Road, Widnes
When: Thursday 18 December 2025 1pm3pm th
What to expect:
It’s our last craft club of the year, so let’s make it a good one! This one will be at Ditton Community Centre and I will be bringing lots of great Christmas craft activities to try, along with some yummy treats. Wear your best Christmas jumper if you want to! All are welcome!