Feel yourself up once and awhile.. Seriously do it!

I haven't blogged in awhile however there is a topic that is not often talked about that I would like to address. Listen up ladies, this is for you (or men, pass along to your SO, spouse, Mom or really any woman in your life).. 

We all go to that lovely appointment once a year where the Dr has to go places that no one really wants to talk about. While your there they examine your breasts and feels for lumps. While they are doing this they ask you if you give yourself breast exams, I know myself always answer "when I think of it". But let's be honest, how often do I really 'think of it'?? Maybe a few times shortly after the appointment and then that's it?? Maybe everyone else is different.. 

I had the scare of my life when I went for my 6 week postpartum visit and my midwife found a lump in my breast!!! Say what?! Put your finger here, do you feel it? Oh yes, oh sh$&!? I immediately call my primary care Dr to get her opinion and sure enough here I was today getting my first mammogram and ultrasound of my breasts at age 33!!!! My nerves have never been so shot! If I didn't have enough pp problems as it is, add a lump in my breast and here you go!  

I am fortunate enough to say that this lump which nearly gave me a heart attack was just a cyst. However there are calcification in my other breast that need to be monitored every 6 months that at this moment are totally normal and benign. This my lady friends was a huge wake up call! So I can't stress enough.. Feel your breasts! 

I am embarrassed to say that my midwife found it! I should have found it! 

We need to feel our breasts ladies! And often! Have your partner feel them too!

If you don't know how I have put a link below. 

http://www.checkyourboobies.org/education/breast-self-exam/

Be well, Love Yourself, Love your boobies,

Xoxo

S

Call me an infomercial.. I don't care!

Alright who is going to admit that they have those pesky cracked dried heels year round? Who else is willing to admit that every year they get a few interesting trinkets in their Christmas stocking that end up at the bottom of a drawer somewhere?! Ok, I will admit, both of these apply to me. 

Being 8 months pregnant it is somewhat hard for me to reach down and use the pumice stone on my feet.  I go for pedicures but let's be realistic, that only does so much.  My mother noticed my feet the other day and said why don't you try that thing I gave you for Christmas?  I then promised her that I would try it, not knowing the magic that would ensue! 

I decided to open up the little device, put batteries in it and try it out last night. I sat on the edge of the tub not knowing what to expect.  All I can say is think belt sander spewing sand all over, sparks, protective goggles, breathing mask - the whole nine yards! 

It only took a few min before my feet were as smooth as a babies bum! 

This my friends is the life (well foot) saving device! I don't know where she got it or how much it costs.  What I do know is that I am in love!!

I was able to find it online! I am very happy to see that I can order more rollers aka the sandpaper! 

http://emjoi.com/AP-3RPCS

If you have cracked dry feet I highly recommend that you try this device! My feet have not been this smooth probably since I was  a blip in my mothers uterus ;) 

Much Love, 

S

Turning the I Can't into the I Will Soon Again!

The "I cants" of pregnancy.. 

First I would like to say that I can't express enough how grateful Nick and I are to be welcoming a little baby girl into our lives in the very near future.  Most of this experience has been truly amazing, but nearing the end, I find myself saying "I can't" more and more.  Although I do feel that I have had it pretty easy for the past 8 months! I keep reminding myself that it will all be worth it and when I hold our baby girl for the first time all this will be light years past. 

The I cants.. 

While being pregnant is completely amazing and surreal, there are also the elements that you are not quite prepared for.  These start at about the 30-33 week mark (at least they did for me).  

I would like to consider myself a pretty self sufficient person (until recently).  I find myself saying I can't a lot more than I ever imagined or wanted.  

I can't reach that.. 

I can't pick that up.. 

I can't fit into those pants.. 

I can't clean with bleach or other harsh toxins..

I can't lift that.. 

I can't eat that.. 

I can't drink that.. 

I can't tie my shoes.. 

I can't take photographs laying on the floor.. 

I can't paint my own toe nails.. 

I can't get comfortable.. 

Mind you I have attempted almost all of these more than once in recent weeks with not much luck. This part of pregnancy is so frustrating! I kept telling myself that if I continued to do some of these things that I could continue to do them throughout and not have to rely on other people. WRONG! 

So if you are expecting and starting to get frustrated remember that it doesn't last forever.  All these things are frustrating and annoying, however you realize how lucky you are to be surrounded by an amazing support system and how lucky you are to be expecting at all.  I wouldn't be able to get through the I cants without my husband, Mom, friends, co-workers and neighbors. Everyone has been more than helpful! 

Trying to turn the I cants into.. I will soon again! 

Here is a little sneak peak of the I Can't get comfortable.. Enjoy!!

Ladies and Gentlemen meet the future of the world cup ;)

Much Love, 

S

ISpa, I will never go there again!!!

Alright ladies.. Tell me if I am being too harsh! This was the most bizarre manicure experience I ever had! 

I haven't had time to treat myself to a manicure at my regular place  (I have been craving one) so I did the unthinkable and went down to the South Shore Plaza as I knew they have 2 places that could make this happen. While I knew I wasn't going to get my usual, I have to be honest.. I expected more/different than what I got.

I walk into iSpa outside of Nordstrom in the SSP. I was asked to sign in and leave my email address.. Ok. Then I was brought over to a huge overwhelming wall to pick out my gel color.  While this might seem normal, call me spoiled but I am used to having the swatches to pick from and not the bottles that you can not see through and you have to open each one to see the actual color.  But ok, took a few minutes but I finally choose something similar to my usual. Essie, Dance Class.

A man named Mr. T came over and started telling me why he hates gel and why he misses acrylic. Then he proceeds to hand me a drink menu (yes alcohol too).  I thought to myself ok, maybe this won't be so bad. Well.. 

Mr. T got called to massage and I was left with a woman who was not wearing a name tag.  I asked her to please file my nails so they are fairly short.  She started to give me some run around about short nails and gel.  Mind you I always have my nails short and always get gel and have never once had an issue. She proceeds with my manicure where in the first 5 min my left pinky was bleeding.  Ok Sh#$ happens, I get it but this wasn't the only time during my visit where she would make me bleed. 

Mrs. Unknown proceeds to tell me that for me she will do my nails 2 at a time.. Say what?! Like she was doing me a favor.. All that did was make my hands active for the entire time I was there and make her confused when I took my hands out trying to figure out where she left off!! Not exactly sure how I would have managed a beverage at this point with all the hand activity but again, oh well. 

She was halfway through with my nails and informed me that she had to grab another machine (the light) in which she came back and informed me that the manufacturer suggests that they use the same brand machine to coincide with the polish.  The whole first half of the manicure she used an OPI machine and half way through she went and got the Essie machine.  I think this is a bunch of bull but for some reason she felt the need to get another machine and somehow justify it with some crazy "excuse". 

Ok, So I can deal with all this weirdness.  Then the worst of it.. I pulled my hands out of the machines to examine her handy work and 1. The tips of my nails were very thin and almost transparent (odd) and 2. My nails were now gelled to my finger tips! What the…. Haha I said something to her and she started to try to pry it away with her little tool.  Well guess what.. That gel is now attached to my skin! I now bleed again on my other pinky! I finally told her to just leave it and I would try to work on them when I got home. I mean really?! After a hot hot shower I was able to peel a couple of them off, however many still remain.

To top it all off she didn't stop talking the whole time, proceeded to tell me I looked exhausted and it cost me $30.00 instead of my usual $25.00. 

So, Ladies, you tell me.. Too harsh?

Oh well something to look back and laugh at :) 

Time of for the Superbowl! 

Much Love, 

S