chronic style

Spring Style Look Book

Disclaimer: This post is done in collaboration with Firmoo.com. I have worked with them before and I adore their products. I received a coupon code for a free pair of frames but I purchased the lens as well as the addition two pair of glasses featured in this look book with my own money. As someone who wears glasses regularly, I want comfortable and stylish glasses but I don’t want to pay a fortune so Firmoo is the answer. As you know, transparency is my highest priority and I would never support and write about a brand that I was not 100% in love with. Now that that is out of the way, on to the fun stuff!

Spring Style Look Book 2016

Spring is here finally and warm weather is upon us! Thank the Lord! It is getting warmer but there is still some cooler temps. You know where is cool in the morning, hot in the afternoon, and then cool again so layers are a must around my area so I tried to incorporate that into a lot of these looks.

Work Look:

Edgy Work Look For Spring

Outfit Details:

Pantsuit – Cato Fashions

Heels – Poshmark

Blazer – Forever 21 (similar)

Necklace – Cato Fashions

Clutch – Bongo Clutch from Kmart

Sunglasses – Firmoo

 

Date Night:

Edgy Date Night Look for Spring 2016

Outfit details:

Jacket – Bongo Moto Jacket from Kmart

Tank: Mossimo Swing Fit Tank from Target

Skinny Jeans – Old Navy Rockstar Jeggings

Shoes – Poshmark

Handbag – Aliexpress

Glasses – Firmoo

Casual Weekend Looks:

Casual Weekend Look for Lipstick Lovers

Lipstick Lovers Unite

Outfit Details:

Top: Lipstick Addict Top from Jane.com

Jeans: Old Navy Rockstar Skinny Jeans

Shoes: JustFab Carmella Sneakers

Glasses: Firmoo

Necklace: Made just for me by FFJ Creations! I am so in love it says “Live Boldly”

Lipstick & Compact: Sephora Disney Minnie Mouse Collection

Spring Weekend Look 2016

Outfit Details:

Top: Marshalls (similar)

Shorts: Old Navy Boyfriend Shorts

Sandals: Boss Sandals by Blowfish

Necklace: FJJCreations

Casual Weekend Outfit for Spring 2016

Outfit Details:

Top: Old Navy Layered Tank

Short: Old Navy Boyfriend Shorts

Sandals: Viorica Sandals by JustFab

I have to say that I am in love with all of these outfits! They are all so comfortable and most importantly I feel like they are all very ME. I finally feel like I’m coming into my own and figuring out my own style. My husband just shook his head at the “Black Is My Happy Color” tank but its so true! I love the color black and that doesn’t mean I’m a creepo. Black lovers unite! The most important thing I learned by putting together these outfits is that accessories make all the difference in the world! You can take a super comfy and basic outfit but add a few accessories and BAM! You’ve got the perfect outfit! Jeans and t-shirts are my style default but I’m learning to use that foundation and take it up a notch. For example, the last outfit: those studded sandals are everything. I could easily throw on flip flops and be completely beach ready but by adding the studded sandals and some spiky bracelets, it gives it a much different vibe. I am totally digging all of the shoes in these outfits. The white sneakers from JustFab* with the silver sequins on the heels are life!

I am also learning I can use my glasses to add spunk to my outfits as well (both regular eyeglasses and sunglasses). Normally I wear contacts the majority of the time but since discovering Firmoo*, I’ve been able to find stylish glasses that add spunk to my outfits and because their glasses are ridiculously affordable, I can own more than one pair so I can mix and match with my outfits.

So here are my quick spring shopping tips:

1- If you are shopping online, always, ALWAYS use Ebates*. You are crazy if you don’t. You get cash back just from shopping online and there is now a browser plugin so you can earn cash without even thinking about it. Hello?! Who doesn’t want free money? Almost all of my favorite stores use Ebates and since being a spoonie means a lot of online shopping, I figure I might as well earn some cash back while I’m at it.

2- Basic pieces are important to every wardrobe but its important to find certain pieces that really speak t you. Whether you stick to basic clothing items and focus on unique accessories such as shoes and jewelry, that’s awesome but its important to really feel like you and feel confident and spunky when you get dressed. Affordable ways to find these unique pieces include shopping stores like Marshalls or Ross where you can find higher end pieces at a lower price, hitting up thrift stores, or shopping sites like Poshmark. I adore Poshmark. You can find a lot of NWT items but there are a lot of second hand listings as well so it is a great place to find some great deals on second hand items (I sell on there as well! You can find my closet here!)

There are a few of my favorite looks for spring and a few quick shopping tips! What are yours? What are your must have items for spring?

Disclaimer: Again, this post was a collaboration with Firmoo.com and while I received one pair of frames free to facilitate a review, I purchased all other glasses on my own (as others that are not featured in this post) and all opinions are 100% my own. Thanks to the generosity of Firmoo, they have provided a discount code “ANEWKIND2” which will cover a complete pair of eyeglasses from this selection of glasses for the first 10 users and is valid through April 20, 2016! Shipping and handling are extra and you must be a first time customer but that is amazing and thank you so, so much Firmoo! As another side note, any link marked with an * throughout this post indicates an affiliate link. All about transparency here y’all. 

chronic illnessfaith

Life Changes: When A Trip To The Hospital Changes Your Life

Life With Chronic Illness: When A Trip To The Hospital Changes Your Life

As someone with chronic illness, I have been in the hospital more times than I can count on both of my hands but this last visit was life changing.

It was scary.

Life changing scary.

It all started very early on a Saturday morning. Like many other nights over the past year, I spent the night up sick and vomiting. I have continued to have issues sleeping (which only adds to the ever-present crushing fatigue of chronic illness), my GI system was definitely not a happy camper and I had one heck of a migraine. I was up for hours vomiting. Every time I would take a Zofran, it would immediately be back up along with anything else I tried to put in my body. John would come in routinely to check on me. I was growing weak and I knew I was becoming dehydrated.

I don’t remember anything else until the paramedics were trying to get me out of the bathroom floor.

Apparently, there was a point where I made it back to the bedroom and passed out. John was sleeping in the other room since I was sick so he could get some sleep and for some unknown reason to him at the time, he came into our room to check on me. He walked in to me projectile vomiting while passed out on my back in bed. He rolled me on my side and I continued to throw up but struggled to come to. He managed to get me to the bathroom and called 911. He worked on getting me cleaned up and somewhat alert while waiting on the EMTs to arrive.

The first thing I remember is being over the toilet crying and completely confused by what was happening. I struggled to comprehend the paramedics instructions and had no idea of what had just happened. The next thing I knew, I was in the back of an ambulance on the way to the hospital.

We got to the hospital and after what seemed like an eternity, they got an IV going and fluids and meds on board. It took John awhile to arrive as he had to get Abby situated and clean up the mess I had created. Most of that day was a haze with the exception of feeling like a pin cushion from what seemed like a constant stream of lab techs and nurses trying to draw blood (the initial IV would flush and give fluids but would not give blood). I have the crappiest veins on the planet on a normal day. Add in the dehydration and my veins are practically non-existent. Its not a great feature to have when you live with chronic illness. I would estimate that it took about ten tries before they were able to successfully draw initial labs.

In addition to the dehydration from the incessant vomiting, they were worried about my kidneys as my labs showed abnormalities so they were going to keep me at least overnight.

I was admitted on Saturday and was discharged on Monday (we spent Valentine’s Day in the hospital – how romantic). In that time, I blew through two IVs and became known throughout the hospital as the impossible stick. My arms were bruised badly from hands to shoulders. They were worried I may have aspirated vomit while I was passed out so I was on antibiotics the course of my stay and given nebulizer treatments (thankfully, my lungs stayed clear and there were no signs of infection). they were able to rule out a possible obstruction early on but wanted to do a CT Enterography to check for other issues.

When they sunk the last IV, it was a major struggle and the only way they were able to secure a line was by using a small gauge IV. I wasn’t on constant fluids at that point so it was able to get the job done until they decided to do the CT. They needed a larger gauge in the bend of my arm to run the IV contrast. This was the start of a quest and finding a vein proved as difficult a search as finding the holy grail. I saw I don’t know how many charge nurses followed by ICU nurses before the finally called in two anesthesiologists. Room 443 was hoppin’ place to be.

After the anesthesiologists couldn’t find a vein, it was decided that we needed to give my veins a break and we would just do the CT on an outpatient basis. It was very unlikely it would reveal anything that would need to lengthen my stay and at this point, I was completely on board. I was exhausted and ready to go home. They discharged me at the absolute worse time weather-wise as an ice storm was rolling in but after an icy and heart pounding drive home, I was so beyond glad to be back with my family. Chloe didn’t leave my side for hours. Just like Charlie would have done.

The hospital visit itself wasn’t anything extraordinary but it was what lead up to it that has left a heavy mark not only on my life but on John’s as well.

I think it was God that woke John up and had him check on me at just the right moment but we are both plagued with the thoughts of “what if?” What if he hadn’t walked in when he did? Would I have eventually woke myself up or would I have aspirated and choked and the outcome have gone another way? Would I still be here?

I cannot even begin to imagine what John had to see when he came in the room to find me passed out and vomiting. I cannot imagine the fear that had to be running rampant through his veins. Getting me to a safe place. The 911 call. The clean up. Trying to figure out what to tell Abby. I know that the fear and the nightmares are still there and probably will be for some time. I wish there was something I could say to make it all go away but I know there isn’t.

My fears rest in the unknown. All the things that happened that I have absolutely no memory of. How could I have been so sick but be too weak to know it? To know that there was a great possibility that had John not walked in when he did, he could have found me dead instead of throwing up. Or worse, Abby could have found me. Those are the thoughts that haunt me. I still hold my breath at the sound of a siren. My life is forever changed knowing how quickly things could have gone in a different direction.

Rising Above Adversity & Chronic Illness

As scary as this whole experience was and how much the thoughts still plague my mind, I cannot help but praise God. Praise God for waking John up in time. Praise God that I didn’t end up sicker than I did. Praise God for another day, another minute, another second of life. Praise God for the reminder that life is so, so precious and nothing, absolutely nothing, should be taken for granted. Praise God for another day to share my story and hope that it can touch someone else’s heart and help them know that they are not alone. And praise God that He can continue to make broken moments beautiful, the weak made strong, and scary situations an opportunity to share His grace, love, and mercy.

[bctt tweet=”Praise God that He can continue to make broken moments beautiful, the weak strong & scary situations an opportunity to share His grace”]

It has taken me so long to write this post for two reasons: 1) I wasn’t ready to relive it, and 2) how do you find the words? I wanted to share initially just as an update but it turned into something more. Something much deeper than I had anticipated. This was hard. Really hard. But it helped knowing that you guys are out there supporting me and praying for me. There are no words to describe my gratitude. My cup runneth over.

I want to find a way to mark this moment in my life for the good, not for the scary. I’ve thought that a new tattoo may be the way to go but I’m stuck on what to get. I’ve got so many ideas rolling around in my head. What would you suggest?

 

bloggingchronic style

Photo Shoot Fun With ColourPop Cosmetics & A Confidence That Was All My Own

CONFIDENCE-COLOURPOP-PHOTO-SHOOT

I needed to have a photo shoot done to update my profile pictures for my blog and to update my blog branding and plus I wanted to show off some of my new Colourpop Cosmetics and show off a confidence that was all my own. At first I feel extremely awkward having pictures taken by myself because a) I’m either the one behind the camera  or 2) I’m either in the middle of my amazingly attractive husband and my gorgeous daughter. So I’m just there so it takes some getting used to but once I start to get used to it, something amazing happens. I begin to feel this confidence overcome me and I feel fierce again. Probably fierce and bold again for the first time since the last time I had pictures taken to update my blog.

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I felt confident,sassy and empowered.

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I felt confidence like I ouuld take over the world – in a good way. When you can embrace your confidence and forget about your chronic illness for awhile, it is a special time.

[bctt tweet=”It is like for those few moments, I feel like I am embodying everything I want my blog to be.”]

Everything I want each of you to feel on a daily basis. It is a very powerful and a very humbling moment all at the same time. Ryanne from R@ck Photography has done my blog portfolio shots the last two years and I could not be more happy with her work. There was a bit of sadness this year when I flipped through last year’s shots and see that Charlie was with me knowing she couldn’t be here with me again. She is here with me in spirit but I would much that be covered in her fur. But I now her spirit was with me. I had fun picking out a few new pieces to add to my wardrobe that exemplified the “new me” and that showed off my new tattoo. I got to show off my love for ColourPop Cosmetics and next week I am going try to my hand at filming a tutorial for the look I wore for this photo shoot. All eyes, cheek, and lip products were all Colourpop.

Here are some of my favorites:

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HEADSHOT 3
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HEADSHOT 5

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HEADSHOT 11

 

What do you think of these headshots? Which one is your favorite? What is the most recent thing you have done for only you?

While you take a walk on the wild side and have a photo shoot done of just you?