James Perse shirred tube skirt (several years old)
Semigloss recycled cotton tee (purchased from Slowre!)
Teva flatform sandals
Ugh. It’s such a buzzword/hashtag thing lately and I hate it, but it’s astonishing how much of a difference the little things we do to take care of ourselves matter. For example: hair cuts. There was a reason I put off getting my haircut for so long, besides saving up the money for it, I wanted the layers I had cut in last time to grow out enough so she could get it back to a short bob. I don’t know why I ever try and stray from that LOL. I’m going to wait a few more weeks to do my color; quite a few grays are growing in and I could use a little brightness on the ends, but I like it enough right now to wait a while.
But man it felt good to finally get my hair cut! Like a weight is lifted off my shoulders, literally. I never realize it until it’s done, but having my hair “right”, my nails manicured (I only paint my toes lately, but try to keep my fingernails nicely shaped and buffed), and just a little makeup or color on my face makes me feel like Beyonce haha. Also, after I got my haircut I went and tried on jeans and for the first time EVER it wasn’t a horrible experience. What is happening???
I think I’ll write more about the jeans later, but I’ll just tell you I tried on the Boy jean by Rag & Bone/JEAN and the Cigarette jean and they were both SO GOOD on me. Words I never thought I’d say. I used my credit at Shopbop to buy the Boy jean in size 26 (they run big!!) and am saving up for the Cigarette jean later (I will get it in the size 28).
So now, on to some updates.
I mentioned a while ago that my eye dr found that the blood vessels in the back of my eyes are “tortuous” and cause for concern. She and my primary care doctor referred me to a retina specialist and I had my appointment this week. To recap, tortuous blood vessels in your eyes can indicate heart disease, atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, or sickle cell anemia. I didn’t have ANY other symptoms for any of those things, so I thought it was a little odd but was concerned enough to have it looked at. I mean, why not?
I had my appointment this week (with a super hot doctor by the way – I have NEVER had a hot doctor…) and he is not concerned at all. He says it’s congenital – I was born with them this way. So, nothing at all to worry about.
Okay, eyes: check. Ovarian cyst needs to be re-imaged next in about six weeks and see what’s up with that.
In the mean time, get ready for some TMI (but you should be used to that by now!), I had my IUD removed a couple weeks ago and am completely hormone-free. I wanted to do nothing for a bit, then have my blood tested and see how close I am to menopause before deciding what to do next. And I am not supposed to take birth control pills because I had one migraine with aura 6 years ago. Not that I want to go back on the pill anyway, but now that I’m off everything, I’m having hormonal migraines again; I’ve basically had a constant migraine for two weeks. It’s the kind that is just there, sometimes it’s bad, and sometimes not so much, but it’s sort of always there in the background. I’m not taking anything for it, but I’m getting a bit tired of the pain. (I do not like to take medications at all)
And I am not a fan of old-fashioned birth control methods LOL
I haven’ t recently had any, but also, I did have two very concerning episodes of nausea, vomiting and almost-passing-out after eating a bit too much, which is why I have been able to very easily maintain the weight I lost while my jaw was wired shut; I just don’t eat much anymore because I’m afraid to. My doctor is befuddled by the nausea/passing out as well – she doesn’t have any explanation for it.
I saw my dentist recently though and she said I took remarkably good care of my teeth while I had all that stuff in my mouth. Which was good to hear, I was so concerned about that; it was impossible to brush my teeth, or floss, so I did the best I could with peroxide and those little flossy brushes 😉
Haha…I sound like a mess, but I’m not. I feel wonderful right now – even with the gnawing pain behind my forehead. I just ate a piece of toast with almond butter – gasp – and will probably have a small glass of wine in an hour or so (I’m writing this at 4:30 PM FYI !!). (I’m trying to drink wine much more infrequently than I have been)
Anyway, I wanted to get those updates out of the way, and let you know how things are going.
Next week I’m going to talk about the Frazier & Wing Greta dress – with lots of pictures (I did put one picture up on instagram already)!! – some natural beauty products I’ve been trying (Fat & the Moon tooth cleanse!!! it’s so weird! but good!!) and post more regular outfits.
I hope all is well with all of you, and you have a wonderful weekend! I don’t have any plans this weekend besides enjoying all the work I did in the backyard LAST weekend haha! Oh, I did start reading The Great Alone and watching Killing Eve, so I look forward to both of those things.
Happy Friday!
Self-care – such a buzz word but yet it is amazing how making the outside facing version of you match who you are in your head makes you feel like you can move mountains. Like somehow those two selves not being at odds means you have way more in you to deal with all the outward stuff.
As for the rest of it, I’m looking forward to your jeans review. I’d love to see you do an update of your jeans essentials post sometime. My absolute favourite jeans have come from your reviews and recommendations over time but I’d love to hear your current thoughts on the whole picture.
Oh and that dress – Love love love.
Glad you’re feeling great throughout all your medical drama. Great hair, check. Great jeans, check. And I love that tee on you!
If you are willing to try meds for your migraine I highly recommend Frovatriptan-or Frova for short. A couple years ago when I was getting migraines that would last for days, this was the thing that really worked with the very least amount of side effects. Its especially effective for hormonal migraines. Last I used it it was pricey and therefore not permitted by most insurances to RX freely-I thought I read it was going generic though.
You look great! I think that’s the skirt I wanted my EF skirt to be (but it’s not). I may have to bite the bullet and get that one (in which case the EF skirt will be heading to Slowre).
I’ve been growing out my hair and haven’t had a cut since December. It might be time for a trim.
I’m glad you are managing your health issues and that they are are manageable! I had my IUD removed several years ago and am happy to have been hormone free ever since (we decided it was my husband’s turn to take responsibility of the birth control situation). 🙂
FWIW I started using baking soda to brush my teeth a few years ago and have had no cavities (or enamel issues). Zero waste FTW!
My husband suffered with migraines since he was a kid. He was in a car accident 13 years ago and developed atypical trigeminal nerve neuralgia (sciatic of the face basically). Long story very very short he started going for acupuncture with electricity treatments about a year ago and not only did his TNN go completely away but so did his migraines. In fact, a big portion of his Doctors office were migraine sufferers who had gone for relief. Acupuncture is one of those things that you have to keep going back for treatments depending on your situation. But I talked to several women in the waiting room(over the course of his treatment period) that after their initial treatment would be migraine free for a few years and when they finally felt one coming one they would book an appointment for treatment and it would go away after the one treatment.
I’m not sure of your complete situation but I thought I would throw out this unsolicited medical advice 😉
It has completely changed my husbands life ( and mine too) and I get a little excited about telling people about it, so just ignore if you want.
Love the Hair, but I always think you look fabulous.
You feeling faint and nauseous after meals could be postprandial hypotension. They would need to measure your blood pressure before and after a meal to diagnose it.
OMG I was just talking with my husband about health yesterday! I just got insurance at the beginning of the year (THANK GOD) but I started seeing a concierge doctor at the end of last year to get my health in check. I feel like there are a million things wrong with me, but it’s better to address it instead of burying my head in the sand. I always tell my doctor (who is also a hot doctor which is so weird) that I feel like a complainer, but he says I am not even close to a complainer. Sigh…… get older is hard.
Lol…I think I’m almost as excited as you are about you having a positive jeans try-on experience! Yayyyy! I love this “classic with an edge” cut on you. It’s super-flattering, and, like you, sometimes in my boredom, I stray from what’s best for me, too. And then I never feel quite right or very good about my looks, and I say, “Ahhh, maybe I should stick with what works!” You know I love the makeup on you! It s just right…not too much – not too little. You look healthy, put together and like you care about yourself. I don’t do it everyday, myself, but when I do, it makes a difference. And I totally get the nails thing…I always tell my hubby, “I feel like such a lady!”
I’m glad that your doc said your eye thingy is nothing to worry about. I find that the hardest part is waiting to get an appointment, tests, test results and a follow-up with your doctor. Basically, ALL of it! I’m going for a 2.5 hr PET-MRI on Wednesday, so wish me luck!
I love the way you put that, Carol. That’s it exactly for me!
Gretchen! I have a quick question about your James Perse skirt! I love love love the length of the one you are wearing — and you do mention that it is a few years old. When I click on the link, it takes me to the Canadian ShopBop site and the skirt is significantly shorter. Is that because of the ruching, it can be pulled down to be longer? Or are the newer ones made shorter? Any idea? I would love to order one but I want it to be the same length as yours!
Yes!! On mine you can fold the waistband over, hike it way up so it’s high waisted, or wear it lower like I am. Mine is older even than the one in the link I think, but I’m pretty sure it’s nearly identical, just an”newer” version
Echoing this. Could be some form of dysautonomia.
Thanks Grechen, (sorry I misspelled your name up above — I hate that!!) . Now I see they are out of my size anyway. Boo! Oh well! Thank you for the info!
yes, i read about that, and my gyn. mentioned that, although he was more inclined to say it’s a blood sugar problem. my primary doctor just doesn’t think anything is wrong with me at all.
wouldn’t i have to replicate it though? like eat too much, almost pass out and measure my blood pressure then? i’m trying vERY hard not to eat too much now!! 😉
thank you for this! I love unsolicited medical advice LOL
i’m willing to try anything when it gets to a point i can’t handle it, but honestly, just beyond being annoyed by it, the pain isn’t so bad really, and over the weekend, i haven’t noticed it much at all. it must be dissipating a bit.
so you just sprinkle some backing soda on your brush? is your brush wet or dry?
i can handle that…although i REALLY REALLY love the anise/clove flavor/smell of the fat & the moon drops. the soapy taste takes a little getting used to, but i really enjoy using it (I guess you’d have to like anise/licorice though)
thank you mallory! I will ask about that. the last rx i took for migraines was imitrex, but i hated to take it. honestly for me, one tylenol seemed to do just as good without the horrible side affects of stronger stuff.
yes! it’s time for a denim update isn’t it??
will put that on the agenda for the next couple of weeks…
AND YES!! i love what you say about the outside matching the inside. that’s exactly what it felt like when i finally got my hair cut, like i was myself again…
I keep a small container of baking soda in the bathroom and dip my wet toothbrush in it. I only use it at night. In the morning I brush with just water. You can always add some essential oil to your baking soda for flavor, I’ve just never been bothered.