.avastin update [5.20.13]

Tomorrow will a full week since my first shot of Avastin.  I have noticed a mild improvement in my vision already.  I was able to decrease the font size on my kindle a little, and I can see my text messages easie.  YAY!  Yesterday completed my round of anti-biotic drops in my eye, I seem to have successfully kept from getting an injection.  All in all I'd say that it was a successful injection!  I go back to my RS [retinal specialist] mid-june.  Hopefully, I'll walk out of there with a success of no bleeding!  *Fingers crossed*

Do you have POHS?  Please share your story below, I love reading and learning about other's experiences. 

.avastin shot update [pohs]

Well it's been 2 days since my first Avastin injection for my POHS.  The injection wasn't as scary as I had expected it to be.  The rest of the day I felt pretty sleepy and mildly uncomfortable in my eye.  Yesterday I discovered little floaters that looked like things swimming around in my eye.  After some research and asking people with POHS, I found this is normal with Avastin injections.  Today I feel much better.  I still have some discomfort, and I'm tired, but all in all I'm starting to feel more normal.

I just wanted to pop in and provide an update.  I try not to sit at the computer any longer than I have to right now.  I'm still sensitive to the light.  Have a wonderful weekend!

.self-help [motivation]

Does anyone else live and breathe by a schedule & to-do lists?  I'm not sure I could survive without mine.  I'm slightly ocd about my schedule as well.  It's color coded with pens, highlighters, sticky notes, and stickers.  But my personal planner is not what I want to talk about today.  Today I'm talking about motivation.  A list of to-do's doesn't mean anything unless you have the motivation to get busy and check them off.

CLEANING
I semi follow the flylady routine for cleaning.  If you are unfamiliar with flylady I'll link the website below.  What I have found most helpful with flylady is the community.  There's several groups on facebook for Flylady Bingo.  Flylady Bingo is fun and really gets me going on my chores.  Short summary of Flylady Bingo:  Prior to game you will make a numbered list of 6 chores you need to get done.  Games are either 6x10 or 6x15, meaning 6 chores spending either 10mins or 15mins on each chore.  The caller will randomly call out a number between 1-6.  You will do that chore for the 10 or 15mins.  Then the next number between 1-6 will be called.  6x15's usually have a break in there too.  It may sound simple, but it's fun to check off your to-do's with other people.  You're timed and feel pressured to stay on task.  It actually saves me time because I don't get distracted.  This is one of my favorite motivational tools.

LIFE
I think it's important to have a Daily Devotional or Daily Reading.  (This doesn't necessarily mean a religious reading, if you're not religious)  Preferably a book with a passage for every day of the year.  Something to reflect on, and motivate you.  If you are religious there are a bunch of daily devotionals for you.  If you are not religious, the selection is a bit slimier unfortunately.  My Daily Reading of choice is one that is not religious. 

Simple Abundance:

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With the grace of Anne Morrow Lindbergh's Gift from the Sea and the wisdom of M. Scott Peck's The Road Less Traveled, Simple Abundance is a book of 366 evocative essays-one for every day of your year-written for women who wish to live by their own lights. In the past a woman's spirituality has been separated from her lifestyle. Simple Abundance shows you how your daily life can be an expression of your authentic self ... as you choose the tastiest vegetables from your garden, search for treasures at flea markets, establish a sacred space in your home for meditation, and follow the rhythm of the seasons and the year. Here, for the first time, the mystical alchemy of style and Spirit is celebrated. Every day, your own true path leads you to a happier, more fulfilling and contented way of life-the state of grace known as... Embrace its gentle lessons, savor its sublime common sense, dare to live its passionate truth, and share its extraordinary and exhilarating gift with every woman you encounter: the authentic self is the Soul made visible.

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I have read a daily reading from this book every day for 2 years.  I think every woman should go through this book at least once.  It is wonderful in helping you remain your true authentic self.  It's easy to become the wife, the mother, the driver, the chef, the maid, etc.  It's easy to lose YOU in all of those titles.

I also keep a Gratitude Journal.  Every night before bed I write down the 5 things I'm grateful for that day.  This can be a plain notebook or a writing journal.  This year I purchased the Simple Abundance Gratitude Journal.  I was hoping for a little more out of the book than was there, so I'll probably go back to a plain writing journal when I fill this one.  The Simple Abundance path also encourages you to keep an Illustrated Discovery Journal.  I don't keep a physical form of one, I made a Pinterest board for mine.  I'll also link it below.  I really encourage you to start the Simple Abundance path.

Flylady: http://www.flylady.net/
My Illustrated Discovery Journal: http://pinterest.com/quorra/illustrated-discovery-journal/
 

.goodreads check-in [Safe Haven]

I'm not a huge Nicholas Sparks fan.  At all.  He's really not that great of a writer.  Every book has the same formula, with details changed.  However, they're good books when you want a quick read or are in the mood for something sappy.  Which is how I was feeling the day I picked up Safe Haven...

BOOK

I actually surprised myself with this book!  I thoroughly enjoyed it.  I thought it was suspenseful, graphic, heart wrenching, and just the right amount of sap.  The ending was a shock to me, I totally didn't see that coming.  All in all, I have to admit I really liked this book.  Which leads me to the corner with my tail between my legs for all the years of dissing Sparks.

MOVIE

I was soooo excited to watch this movie after I read the book.  There was so much potential for this to be an amazing movie.  I've been a long time soap watcher since I was a child (my parents watched AMC & OLTL).  When I saw that Josh Duhamel was in the movie, I got even more excited.  This movie was AWFUL!  From the very beginning I found myself saying, "that didn't happen".  I know movies tend to leave stuff out from the book, but this movie added things and changed things to where it was almost unrecognizable.  I think I could've handled all that and still enjoyed the movie if the movie was actually good.  It wasn't.  The acting was terrible.  Absolutely atrocious.  I do NOT recommend this movie whether you've read the book or not.

Next Up:  Currently reading Silver Linings Playbook for a book club group.  Join the group here

.30 and falling apart? [health update]

Have you ever heard of Presumed Ocular Histoplasmosis?  Yeah me either... Within the last 3 months I've developed vision problems in my eyes.  Blurriness, unable to read without magnifying x100, lines are squiggly, and complete loss of central vision in my right eye.  Fun. 

To make an awfully long and painful visit to the Retinal Specialist, I was diagnosed with Presumed Ocular Histoplasmosis Syndrome [POHS].  This has made working very difficult for me.  I have to utilize Windows Magnifier just to get around on the computer.  Since I blog and work in I.T. at my out of the home job, things have been difficult.  Blogging had to take a backseat. 

I have my first appointment tomorrow for my treatment.  There is no cure for POHS unfortunately, and since the scarring is already so bad in my right eye, I won't regain vision in it.  The left eye is the eye that will be receiving treatment.  The treatment I'm undergoing is a series of injections into my eye with the medicine Avastin.  The insurance company is fighting covering the treatment, which hasn't been fun. 

I'm anxious and unsure if I'm ready for this appointment tomorrow, yet I'm keeping positive thoughts.  I'll update you in a few days after the treatment. 

p.s.
I pre-wrote all this weeks blog posts prior to my treatment.  I've read that the injection can cause people to just want to sleep for days & they feel like they have sand in their eye.  I may not feel like blogging until I recover from that.  So my update may come after several posts, but that is only cause they've been scheduled and pre-written.

.Vox box review

Hello!  Sorry I'm just now getting my Sugar & Spice VoxBox review.  I've had quite the health issue sneak up on me (I'll tell you about it in another post).  The positive thing is I've definitely had time to fully use and experience the products.  Let's get started:

Colgate Opti-White

• Product Claim: The collection of Colgate® Optic White® products whitens more than 3 shades* and results start in one week. With Colgate® Optic White®, the only accessory you need to look fabulous is your smile. *based on twice daily use for 4 weeks 
• What I loved:  I honestly LOVE these products!  I've even purchased several more toothbrushes for the family.  Now we're all using it!  The toothpaste I feel does a wonderful job at whitening (as much as an over the counter toothpaste can).  It's got a great minty taste that sticks with you for awhile for long lasting freshness. 
• What I didn't love:  I'm not a huge fan of the mouthwash.   I do use it, and love the way it works.  However, my issue lays with the "foaming action".  It foams so much it gags me.  It's not a pleasant experience for me, so I probably won't repurchase the mouthwash for myself.  I don't believe in waste though, so I will definitely finish the bottle.

Nectresse Natural Sweetener

• Product claim: NECTRESSE™ Sweetener has a rich sugar-like taste and is naturally zero calories per serving. How? We started with the deliciously sweet extract of monk fruit and combined it with the perfect blend of other natural sweeteners. It's 100% natural with nothing artificial. You're going to love the way it tastes. In our search to create the perfect sweetener, we turned to the place that does sweetness best: nature. We found our inspiration in the monk fruit. Hand-picked in remote mountain regions, monk fruit has been cultivated for hundreds of years and only recently re-discovered as a source of natural sweetness.
• What I loved:  I don't use many artificial sweeteners.  I pretty much stick to Truvia, and I don't even use it that often.  I have made myself become a black coffee and unsweetened tea drinker.  However, I do lightly sweeten my oatmeal with artifical sweetener.  While I did enjoy the sweetener, I didn't feel overly impressed or underwhelmed by it.  Nothing speical stuck out. 
• What I didn't love:  Again... I neither loved nor hated this product.  I know it seems odd to be completely apathetic about an articial sweetener, but I am. 

Belvita Breakfast Biscuits

• Product claim: belVita Breakfast Biscuits are made with delicious ingredients and carefully baked to release nutritious sustained energy, all morning long. They are a good source of Fiber and B-vitamins, contain no high fructose corn syrup, have 18-20 grams of whole grain per 50 gram serving and taste great, which makes belVita Breakfast Biscuits perfect for when you are on the go. Facts:• Nutritious sustained energy all morning• 18-20 grams of whole grains per 50 gram serving• A good source of both energy-releasing B-vitamins + fiber• No high fructose corn syrup• No artificial flavors or sweeteners. 
• What I loved:  Ack, here's another product I don't have a whole lot to say on.  It is not Gluten Free, so I was unable to test it myself.  I let my teenager test it.  He ate it all in about 2.5 seconds, and said it was good, then walked away to find more to eat ;) 
• What I didn't love: That it wasn't gluten free.

Dickinson's Oil Controlling Towelettes

• Product claim: New from Dickinson’s Original Witch Hazel, Oil Controlling Towelettes. The first ever individually wrapped towelette with Original Witch Hazel to gently remove dirt, oil & impurities while eliminating shine – even on the go. Perfect for even the most sensitive skin, each towelette is touched with aloe to help restore essential moisture. The result is a clean, refreshed, and blemish free complexion anytime, anywhere. Oil Controlling Towelettes are conveniently wrapped for active lifestyles and perfectly sized for travel, complying with strict TSA requirements. Benefits of Oil Controlling Towelettes-Gentle spun lace cloth helps extract trapped dirt & oils, tones and protects skin-Original witch hazel is perfect for sensitive skin-Non-drying like many other oil removing products-Simple efficacious ingredients-The small size is convenient to travel with and bring anywhere – the home, office, beach, sporting events and gym-Cleans and conditions on the go .
• What I loved:  Ladies & Gents, I've been using Dickinson's witch hazel for years and years.  As an oily & acne prone person, witch hazel is a must for me.  I loved the convenience of the travel towelettes.  I've even used it to remove makeup in a pinch.  These are wonderful & I will definitely repurchase.
• What I didn't love:  N/A, loved everything about them!

Vaseline Spray & Go

• Product claim: • A convenient 360° continuous spray lotion that moisturizes deeply and absorbs in seconds (less than 10)• Skin feels instantly soft – not sticky or greasy• Contains multi-layer moisture complex and infuses moisture across all layers of skin* – at the top, the core and deep down• Fast to apply, quick to absorb, so women can put their clothes right on after moisturizing• Targeted spray (width of woman’s wrist) dispenses lotion quickly and evenly• To apply simply spray up one side of your body, switch hands, spray down the other side, and then rub in with a few quick rubs (“Up, Switch, Down, Rub”)• All over body coverage• Also comes in Total Moisture®, which contains pure oat extract and leaves skin feeling healthy and soft, Aloe Fresh which contains pure aloe and leaves skin feeling healthy and fresh and Cocoa Radiant™ which contains pure cocoa butter and leaves skin feeling healthy and glowing **Stratum corneum (multi-layer surface skin)
• What I loved: This product was interesting... I found that it was very easy to use and soaked right into the skin with minimal hand/lotion contact.  I use it out of the shower after shaving.  I hope out, dry off, spray it on, and by the time I'm ready to get dressed it has soaked into the skin.
• What I didn't love:  I wasn't crazy about the scent of the one that was sent to me.  However, I have seen more of these in the store with different scents.  So there's more options for you to try out.

All in all I'd say it was a very successful VoxBox!  Here are my product ratings:

• Colgate Optic-White~ A+
• Nutresse~ B
• Belvita~ A
• Dickinson's Towelettes~ A+
• Vaseline Spray & Go~ A

 

.sample society unboxing [march '13]

Excuse the fingerprints on my box lol!  I have already played with some of the products while putting makeup on... I LOVE my sample society boxes!  I'm so excited every month to receive these.  To me they are way worth the $15 price, and I prefer them over any other box.  I haven't tried Glossy Box and may give it a shot some time, but for right now I'm more than satisfied with my Sample Society box, they've never let me down.  Ever.

When you open it, there's the product description card with the $15 off coupon for use on Beauty Bar on any product brand sent that month.  Then there's also a little Allure mini magazine with makeup & beauty tips.

This month's box was exceptionally awesome!  I love when they surprise you and give you a full size product (the Butter London nail polish).  

Contents:

• Oscar Blandi Pronto Wet Hair Care Conditioner 1.7oz (Full size is $24 for 8.4oz)
• Hollywood Fashion Tape 18 strips (Full size is $9.55 for 36 strips)
• Butter London 3 Free Lacquer in Diamond Geezer, this was full size and retails for $15
• Murad Essential-C Moisturizer SPF 30 .33oz (Full size is $60 for 1.7oz)
• Lashfood Nano-Peptide Natural Eyebrow Conditioner .05oz (Full size is $90 for .3oz)

I have tried all the products except the Fashion tape at least once.  I love the Butter London shade! 

The product I'm most obsessed with so far is the Murad Moisturizer.  I sure wish that product wasn't $60!  I may have to breakdown and get it...  It makes my face feel absolutely amazing.  I don't get impressed easily by moisturizers, but this one sure has me dreading the day I empty this sample size!

The conditioner was nice.  I didn't notice anything particularly spectacular about it though.  Maybe I will after a few more uses.  I'll let you know.  Same with the Lashfood.  I think that's one of those products that you notice the change over time.  I don't necessarily see myself spending $90 on brow conditioner though.  I do need growth in my brows since they are getting sparse in areas, but honestly I'd rather fill them in than spend $90 on a conditioner for them =)