Uplifting and Lively Messages. No holds barred..
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Varga, I love to shop too!!! I especially like to bargain hunt. I bet I have given enough away this year to equal what 3 people own and wear. I am a sucker for a puffer vest, anything Calia from Dicks Sporting Goods, higher end labels that I find at consignment/resale shops, and Marc Jacobs bags. I am starting to get a handle on myself, but it takes discipline. I signed up the family for healthcare on the Healthcare Marketplace this morning, and our insurance, gold BCBS, is less expensive than it was this year. My plan is to clean up any outstanding health issues this year, any plastic surgery, etc. and get it behind me. I need to take care of the colon test as well.
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DH will be handling the health care this week or weekend. I get to over whelmed with all the choices and information! I'm so thankful he handles it! He the negotiator. He does all the insurance, cable, cell phone or any other contract type deal. Car salesman hate to see him coming.
I am a barging hunter to. The thrift store in the shopping center close to my house has some excellent finds!
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Today was a good day. I did a brief excursion to the grocery store, a furniture outlet that gets Macy's returns (looking for a new scaled down couch), checked out Target's Christmas selection and met a gal while shopping. DH went to the land with ds, and I took the dog on a walk. I have been trying to walk everyday and feel better when I do. Saturday, we turn our clocks back - ugh. That means it gets darker earlier here. I am going to have to get my schedule together and get up earlier, which is hard because I never know when I am going to sleep. I really don't know why we need daylight savings time, even the farmers don't want it. Time to get my winter SAD light out and start using it every morning. Tomorrow, I am going to check out an old card catalog system from a library. I need a way to organize my volume of jewelry pieces that I use in design. Can you believe that there is no efficient system of storing these items? Someone could make alot of money, if they could figure out how to affordably make and organizational system for jewelry designers.
I have been watching Dynasty from the 80's on Amazon, and for the most part, loving it. I have to admit that there is a bit of machismo and narcissism that I had not noticed before. In the 80's the women were "lucky" and "glamorous" to a poor college student. Now, they appear to be more objects and trophy wives. It is amazing what you see when you have gained some age and wisdom about the world. I don't think that the same tone of program would fly today. Women's rights groups would be all over this show.
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So, what is everyone doing this weekend? I went today and looked at a vintage card catalog system, which may work very well for my jewelry designs. My plan is to ditch my bigger couches for a smaller profile couch, and bring in a card catalog system to my family room. I do most of my work in that room, and prefer not to be stuck away in an office/other room.
Has anyone else noticed how negative so many of the anti hormonal threads are? If I were looking for daily living advice on an anti hormonal, I would not know what to think. Those of us that are doing well, need to let others know that taking anti hormonals is doable. It is strange, but I know when I have missed my afternoon dose of Tamoxifen and quickly take it. I am thankful for the ability to take Tamoxifen and all of the support from the ladies on this thread.
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I guess that is also with chemo, rads and surgery. Some do well and others not so well, but that's what you tend to mostly read about and unfortunately we tend to focus on the negative rather than positive. One has to be able to look past it and try. Everyone is different. I'm only 2months into Tamoxifen but for most part doing good. I take a baby aspirin every other day too.
Clocks are going back on Sunday! 77degrees here today. Did my 4mi walk and feel better for it. Don't know what I am going to do when the weather gets very cold. Guess I will have to go back to they gym and use the treadmill.
I need to get my dining room painted. The can has been sitting there for the past week. My spouse agreed to paint if I bought it...yet there it still sits. Sigh. Kids will be home for Thanksgiving before I know it. Started some Christmas shopping today,a bit online and some at Sephora. My nieces love makeup. I'm more into lipsticks and finding mascara that will make lashes uber long. Lancome Defincils is pretty good for lengthening. Also been trying out and trying to find a good face cream. Oh and I love perfume. Always trying to find ones I like and that are long lasting. Guess I tend to go to the heavier scents, Angel, Burberry Black, Chance Chanel,,,lasts a long time on me. Jo Malone has some nice ones but I hear you have to layer to have staying power. They are very expensive. Maybe when I hit lotto.
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Beach, I am glad that you are doing well on Tamoxifen too!!! I take 50,000 units of vitamin D per week, and I really think it helps the energy level. I love walking outside in the winter. I think it is my favorite time to be outside. Not in 30 degrees below, but anything above 20 and I can walk.
What color are you painting your dining room? My niece is painting her house and using some top colors of 2017, so I am rather familiar with the names. I want mine repainted as well, but it will be 4 rooms, plus a staircase hallway. I am considering a creamy white/off white. We paint most of our rentals in Dover White, which I call builder white. That way, when a tenant moves, you know what color you need to touch up.
On the topic of facial products, you can go to Amazon and try samples of Dermalogica at a very reasonable rate. There is one called super rich moisturizer and then a vitamin power serum that I like. So much cheaper to buy samples in the packets. I also use serious skin care vitamin c scrub, serum, ester c pads, moisturizer, etc. I am a face product junkie with a niece that is an esthetician. She was my nanny, and I always took her to spas in Chicago, along with Saks, sephora, etc. and she became a skin care expert. She is highly sought after in our area and has her own practice.
On the topic of lipsticks, I don't use ones with alot of fragrance. I like Marc Jacobs, Nars, Urban Decay, Bare Minerals, Lipstick Queen, MAC, but I have pared that collection down as well. For mascaras, I like Benefit's they're real, MAC, and in an emergency Maybelline in the pink tube.
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I haven't even looked at any of the "hormonal" threads. I took a peek at the radiation threads and quickly left! There was to much negative talk going on there for me! When I chose to do radiation and tamoxifen I made the decided that I would only have positive thoughts! My best friend (who is a bit of anti-modern medical girl, thinks there's a herb or oil to cure everything ) didn't want me to have surgery, radiation or take tamoxifen. I do believe in the healing property of essential oils and herbs but not to the levelocity that she does! I do feel that the EO have helped with this whole BC journey but it has been a combination of the two.
I love make up! Lipsense lipstick is the only brand of lipstick I wear. They have other great products to. I make my moisturizer, cleanser and toner. Merle Norman is the only other brand you will find in my makeup bag.
The rain is moving into. Yesterday was beautiful and I was inside all day! What a waste. I did a major cleaning and organizing. The g-babies had been here everyday this week and I wasn't able to even get my laundry done. (I'm a 2 loads a day girl!) I did 6 loads of laundry, cleaned out the toy closet in the grandkids room, did all the usual house work, made a trip to the Goodwill donation truck,went to the grocery store (twice! I didn't realize I was out of sugar) blew the carport and driver way, cooked dinner and caught all my documentation up. I finished the day with 32,657 steps! Today I'm not sure what I'm going to do now. I want to go shopping bit loading and unloading a stroller in the rain in no fun. My girl just got up which means I got to run. Lol
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All the negativity surrounding treatments and medications, really forced my hand in starting my own thread. There has to be somewhere for people to go, to be uplifted in their journey taking anti hormonals. We are really lucky on here to have some who have finished therapy, some who are in the throws of therapy, and some who have just started therapy. I really don't know what I would have done without my ladies on here. They made taking the medication, getting a hysterectomy/oopherectomy, an easier journey for me. So, I have to believe that others will find this thread, at some later point, and use it as a guide on how to start taking anti hormonals.
It was just one year ago Monday, that I finished radiation last year. November 6th will forever be burned (no pun intended) into my memory. I counted down the days, 20 days 16 full breast, 4 boosts. I know that after I finished, I had to calm my mind down and figure out my next steps. On December 12th, during the wee hours of the morning, I started this thread.
I just moved a huge dresser into another bedroom for my husband to use. I don't know how designers think that husbands and wives can share a closet and a dresser. I know that I can't. I am going to have my husband do a floor to ceiling closet with racks and shelving, that I hope to put most of my stuff into. Living in a 100 year old house has its disadvantages, and storage is the #1 disadvantage. Being able to live comfortably in an older house, means that you have to have less possessions. I am working on it, but far from there yet.
My DH says we are getting rain tomorrow as well. He went to Chicago to pick up a motorcycle early this morning and it was raining there already. I am taking a break now, watching Dynasty (80's) and volleyball (Penn State vs. Michigan). Probably will head back upstairs to declutter in a while. Tonight we wind our clocks black....ugh....now it will be dark at 4:30pm.
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Michelle
I to have been doing the purge for months, things that I have had for years and WHY, as they mean nothing to me. I have found that I really have found peace with the " Less is More " living . .
All the above food talk got me thinking about Cheescake Factory and the amazing Avocado Toast I had there yesterday. It was so good Crusty bread, fresh spinach, tomatoes and sweet basil all setting on top of fresh chunky avocado with just a touch of olive oil. AMAZING. Avocado toast was one of my go to foods during Chemo as I could eat with out getting sick .
Clair, I love how you describe food, always makes me hungry though .
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Hey, HB from Tennesee, Claire has a way with her food descriptions. Makes me want to be a better cook. Avocado toast does sound good, except for the toast part. I don't eat wheat/gluten or dairy products. But, I do get rice bread at the store. Wanted a piece the other day, and it was moldy in my refrigerator. Usually it keeps for a long time. My go to for energy and protein is a premeasured natural Jif with a banana. It seems to satisfy me in the late afternoon.
The time is sooooo weird today. It feels like a million o'clock, and it is only 3:15pm. Today we had some rain and the sky is gray.....yuk. Time to pull out the winter SAD light.
I am working on getting rid of things that have been castaway in a bedroom I want for myself, compliments of my entire family. I am getting excited about building a closet system. As I look around my house, I see many projects to be done. I did not have any time while raising my kids, to really reflect on how I wanted my house to flow. It was boom......kid1, boom boom kid 2, baseball team/coach/director, ballet, gymnastics, basketball, soccer, volleyball coach/director, cheerleading, countless school projects, room mother, homework overseer, tutor driver, chauffeur, teacher (before we got a tutor) and the list goes on. It was more than a full time job to raise 2 extremely active and involved children, now 19 and 21. My daughter graduated in 2016 from high school, and then I was diagnosed with breast cancer 2 months later. But, I am making up for lost time and getting in gear.
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A quiet weekend working with spots of exercise in between. Part of this was the violent struggle I had yesterday with the squash, with the second one ready for slaying today. These are a Hubbard squash/pumpkin combination called "blue doll" and extremely good eating. The ideal implement is an axe, but I have a cleaver. One is now roasted and in the freezer for the balance of the winter, and the other is ready to go.
Slaying it is quite the upper body workout as these babies are ~15 lb.
It's been snowing here today, so got in a 3+ mile walk in the woods. Hiking boots are perfect for these occasions. Just so still and peaceful, not to mention glorious. In between everything else, I am moving my report and other work forward. I need to do some nonprofit work, but think I will take a nap first and then slay squash #2,
Michelle.....I hear you on wanting smaller-scale furniture. My apartment is very spacious looking, but this is because my furniture is to scale. I needed smaller pieces as my Seattle apartment was a lot smaller. People who downsized from houses find these smaller spaces are quite cramped. The Europeans, who largely live in older houses, deal with lack of storage with what they call a "fitted wardrobe". That was how Ikea got started....by supplying the bits needed for a custom design. I have one of their wardrobes in my bedroom, and a nice supplement to my closet.
Off for my nap.
But before that....I am seeing a need for many to "awfulize" their breast cancer experience (Mark Twain's word). I knew it would not be fun, but I was determined to live to the fullest extent possible during treatment. This included dressing well and getting out in the world during chemo. I was working from home too. Aromatase inhibitors were no fun, but hardly the end of the world. Not nearly as bad as when I landed on RR tracks when I was riding my bicycle during a hail storm, for example.
As for what large objects? I rejected the offer of a crock pot, but I do have a French mandolin for slicing potatoes and the like. It makes fabulous oven fries. So a lot of this is a question of what you need and use frequently. One day, I will make waffles again, so keeping the waffle iron. I could use a few more pots, but only certain ones. I wish I could get rid of the ice maker as the freezer space is far more valuable to me. (I shut it off, as not something I use.)
Doing the wardrobe edit as I go along, and I think making progress. I still don't have a television. Perhaps when I get too feeble to cycle, ski, hike, and jog. But not now. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it. - Claire
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Claire -I could live without tv as well. I have Sirius XM in the house and minivan both and that's all I need. (Plus my ipod) would much rather listen to music than watch tv.
Just checking in while I wait for a new glove/gauntlet. Mine is way to tight!
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Girls, girls, ask me what I am doing!!! Well, my dh bought my birthday present very early and I am cleaning a vintage blonde mid century modern card catalog system to store all of my jewelry supplies. I was not prepared to start on it today, but he brought it home and I felt compelled to clean it. My plan was to get a new smaller couch, before I brought it in the house. Thank God it is on rollers. I had to carry in 60 drawers, but no biggie. My dh moved the piece in, which weighs a ton. I was so in the spirit of ridding myself of excess clothing/bags, etc., now my mind went in another direction.
Pumpkin slayer - you had me at blue doll. Now, I have to figure out where I can get my hands on those and play in the kitchen.
I just can't read other threads, because they get so off topic and turn into battles. I want to stay in a peaceful mental state, with powerful, positive support from my girls (we are all girls regardless of age.) I want to celebrate each day and make a difference in other's lives as well. I have decided to not waste my time arguing with those that want to use other methods of treatment other than standard of care.
Here is a pic of my project. They sell for over $1,500 bucks on ebay and etsy, and my dh paid a fraction of that....much work to do. What do you think? It is mid century and goes with my typing table. I guess, I am having a Mad (Wo) Men moment with my design.
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Love it! It will look fabulous! I adore old vintage pieces like that. I have an old school desk at my front door. I turned it into a little table. We painted the cast iron legs and polished the top. It's so cool the notches and marks on the top.
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It all depends on how well you label those drawers. I can only imagine otherwise.... GREAT FIND!!! - Claire
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Haha! Excellent point Claire!
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I plan to really clean the hardware and label the drawers using a 1960s font on the computer. I will label them by stone type, cabachons, rivolis, and things like buttons, metal beads, findings, etc. I will have 60 drawers to utilize and I plan to get the most bang for my buck.
Today, I went with a relative for a follow up mammogram and US. She has a cyst that is being watched and has to go back in 6 months. When I asked what the bi rad score was, the tech looked at me like I had crossed eye balls. I think that bc patients are in a unique group, where we know those kinds of ratings, etc. While I was waiting for her, I met another gal, 39 years old, has a lump and unidentified object. She did not want a biopsy and has held out for three years. I am thinking if you have dcis or lcis, and let it go, you are a fool. Why are women afraid to get biopsies? Why are 50% of all women over 50 not getting mammograms? It just makes no sense to me.
I am sifting through my insurance coverage for next year and am feeling the guilt of not be able to have my colonoscopy in September. Ugh. I have to really get a grip and decide what future big ticket items that I need done on this calendar year.
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Hi Michelle,
Lady, you need a serious drubbing for feeling "guilty" about a failed colonoscopy. Get a grip girl, do the less invasive "sample", and move on!
I just said "no" to a thankless, ill-paid project that would have put me in the middle of a number of things. Did I mention "ill-paid"??? Half of my original quote and thankfully, I have a number of items lined up for next month so I could gracefully decline. This is not one of them. Not to mention that I want to celebrate Christmas, and hope to get in some serious skiing.
Listening to some amazing Jazz on Jazz 24. One of the great things about Seattle is the amount of jazz in the schools. Even in the remote areas. I was blown away 5 months ago when I was doing a cycling event and was entertained by a first-class local jazz band who were practicing in the lunch space. Wow.
My remaining health items for 2017 are the #2 pneumonia shot (had #1 twice) and an eye checkup. Have scheduled the latter for Thanksgiving Week. It's covered by my health plan, which a great thing. The other is just a case of showing up at the end of the month and doing the deed (with the right thought this time).
Back to jazz...... - Claire
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At this point in our lives, it makes no sense in taking on thankless projects. I only do what I want to do, and I know that is a luxury. Jazz sounds awesome. When I was in pharmacy school at the University of Arizona, Gentle Ben's, was the place to go. I was so underage, just turning 17, that I did not go anywhere. I had a great dorm with other pharm and med students, and was super busy in labs all of the time. I did buy a Spyra Gyra album and a Grover Washington album and was obsessed.
Today, I had my 6 month follow up mammogram, and just needed a couple pics of each side. Got the "See you next year," response and I made my appt for next year and was out the door. What a load off of my mind. With dense breasts, the radiologist in May wanted me back in 6 months. So completely thrilled. As I was walking into the building, I thought how colorful everything was around me and how much more I appreciated everything around me. BC has had a profound effect on my life.
I went to Lowes today and found some carriage screws, which are perfect for my empty pole holes in the mid century modern card catalog. So happy they look great and fit great. Will post pics later. Hugs to all...
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Here are the carriage bolts. I think they look like the poles and go with the other hardware.
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Perfect match!
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My burning bush has turned a bright pinkish red - you can see it from a block away.
I can't tell you girls how relieved I was to hear, "see you next year." But, I bet you already know. I learned a couple of noteworthy points this week: 1) implants do not let the 3d mammograms or any other type of mammograms see the chest wall area and leave alot of breast tissue unreadable; 2) My relative was mad when she has to do these tests (she has implants) and be followed for a "cyst". I explained the some cysts are not simple and can develop into sinister issues. 3) A women assumed she needed to schedule her own MRI and make her own medical decisions, with the help of family members, instead of listening to a doctor. I understand how important control is, but I trust my doctors to help me make the right decision. So, what is my take-away or lesson this week, be happy with the breasts that God gave me and have doctors in my corner to help guide me in my choices.
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Hi Michelle,
Just wanted you to know that I finally had my hysterectomy yesterday after much personal debate. Going to do AIs instead of the Tomoxifen. I thought of your journey and your positive thoughts many times leading up to it. I see you are still as supportive and positive as ever, and wanted to let you know you had helped me do something I was not sure I could do! Thanks!
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Variable, I am really happy to know that I have helped you through your journey. Girl, you have to keep walking to prevent blood clots from forming. So, make sure to get up off of the couch/bed/chair, and do a few laps around the house every hour. Those laps will help you rebuild your strength as well. If the AI's are too harsh for you, just know that Tamoxifen is an option without the worry of uterine issues.
I am, by nature, a positive person, because I have seen the power of positive thinking. My father grew up in the 1920's, orphaned, living with his grandparents. In one instance, he really wanted a bicycle, but they had no money. He had a goat and a little pull behind cart. My father and his goat would walk the alleys looking for usable items, including bike parts. One day, my dad had enough bike parts and built himself a bicycle. With a 5th grade education, my father became a very successful man. He was 50 when I was born, and passed along many life lessons that he learned along the way. He lived to 89, and had 3 children, 7 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren, and touched alot of lives. He continues to inspire me, as I hope to inspire others.
Thank you for letting me know how you are doing. Big hugz from the heartland...
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Tonight is Trivia night at our lake club. I have given our group a name, "Kinky Boots Trivia Tribe." I thought I would raise the bar by giving us a name and having the gals wear their most fun pair of boots. I derived the name from a trivia question that was given at a different event, and my friend who is blind, had the answer immediately. I have only played a few times, but I liked the idea of giving our group an identity. Our group consists of a police commander, technology exec, two tech high level programmers, a graphic artist, builder, marketing exec, airline stewardess/nurse, literature teacher/school counselor. I think we might have a chance to win with a balanced "ticket."
I am working on my mid century modern card catalog, and it is coming along beautifully. I have the top 30 drawers cleaned, de-labeled and de-gunked. It is starting look very "Mad Men" around here. I am going to get a new couch, as my older one is a sectional, tuscan orange leather and at least 12 years old. So many kids have slept on these and it is my "base camp" for beading, etc. They have aged well and were Macy's returns bought from a reseller. They have served us well, now on to my sister. I am thinking about one couch and matching recliner. Maybe something similar to this in a dark navy?
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Had so much fun at Trivia with my "Kinky Boots Trivia Tribe." Every other table, there were 17, so 170 persons, bought mulligans. I refused because I wanted to see where we stood without them. With them, we would have won, without them we still placed very high. I want to to go a trivia game where tables can't buy points or answers. We had a police commander, two computer scientists, graphic artist, literature professor, airline stewardess/nurse, land developer/builder, MBA/designer, and business analyst on our team. We knew most of the answers and really pooled our knowledge base. I would rather pay more per seat, than buy points. Then again, I like a challenge. The girls all wore some version of kinky boots. I wore tall black ones, others had rhinestone hearts up the side, there were some booties with fringe, and some fly london boots. I made a small sign for our table naming our group "Kinky Boots Trivia Tribe" and started a trend. Other tables gave their names such as Charlies' Angels, etc.
I am tired today, so I am just going to clean up a bit around the house. How about you girls?
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Fly London are my favorite! I have 4 pair of summer shoes and would love a pair of boots. Church this morning. Hanging with DD, SIL and 4 of the g-babies now. DH and SIL just closing the pool for the winter and getting the leaves up. Off to Sam's and Aldi when they leave.
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It is a pretty fall day here in Illinois, a bit chilly. Trying to decide how to schedule my week, and what I want to accomplish. I think I need to finish my midcentury card catalog and get it out of the entryway (where my husband placed it.) Then, I need to get back to my weeding out of non essential items. Wish me luck!!!
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I am coming up for air for a moment before packing for my San Francisco conference. Amazingly, I made it through all the deadlines but am feeling the hours and effort. Just got in from a walk in rain and wind, wonderful for clearing my brain. Fortunately, dinner is made, and I have a nice Malbec to have with the chicken and roasted vegetables.
Lost power for a while this evening which was wonderful as an excuse not to pack until the morning. Finishing up a squash soup now and will reheat the chicken and roasted vegetables now. This is following wine, cheese, and dates.
Life is good. Even if I did finish peeling and cutting up the squash by candlelight! - Claire
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Today was a fun day!! Ran errands and stopped at the professional beauty supply store for some Fake N' Bake - self tanner and some Mirabella foundation samples. Tonight was my sister in law's 50th birthday, which we celebrated at a private club. The food was okay, but not as good as that at our lake club and much more expensive. I did eat a piece of cake, and you would have thought I was high. Sugar makes me feel very tipsy and I do not use much of it in my diet. I don't drink alcohol, although I used to love wine coolers in the 80s. I could drink about, um, one, before getting tipsy.
This is hunting week and weekend in Illinois, which means several girl's nights!!! Plan to go out with my husband's relative, who is close to my age.
Claire, how do you make squash soup? I hope you are having a great time in San Francisco!!
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