Stay Calm & Get Your Mammogram!

Ladies. This is very personal for me, so please listen. This is an important post to draw your attention to getting your annual mammogram. It has been a harrowing past two months leading up to getting my own results - please don't wait as long as I did.  

August 30th began like any other day, ahead of me was a full check-list of things that I needed to get done, not the least of which was my routine appointment for my mammogram.  Even though I hadn't kept up with my mammograms on an annual basis and had in fact gone three years without one, I wasn't the slightest bit worried or nervous about what the results would be. It was just one of those bothersome procedures that I needed to have done and then wouldn't think about again for another twelve months. I was certainly wrong about that.

The first mammogram itself was uneventful, albeit uncomfortable as mammograms always are. I can't really say that it hurts, necessarily, but still, having "the ladies" smashed as flat as a pancake in a modern-day life-size vice isn't on my top ten list of favorite things to do. 

The following week a letter arrived in the mail indicating "abnormal tissue" that needed to "re-evaluated with an ultra sound." At this point I wasn't really alarmed because I have had issues in the past with breast density and numerous cysts that always have to be confirmed via an ultra sound. One year I even had to have a cyst drained (yes, it involved a very large needle and it was exactly as you're probably imagining). So I scheduled my ultrasound for September 11th and tried to not feel superstitious about the actual date.  I proceeded to have the ultrasound, which was completely painless, and of course the technician doing the procedure gave nothing away with her facial expression. I knew not to ask what she thought about what she saw because they aren't allowed to comment. They are sworn to secrecy - it's the ultrasound technician code.

And so then I waited for the result, assuming they would say it was just a cyst as they always had done in the past. But after arriving home from work on September 17th and reading the letter that had arrived that day, I felt like someone had punched me in the stomach ... hard. The phrase "it is recommended that you contact your primary physician to schedule a surgical biopsy as soon as possible" was all that registered, the rest of the letter quite frankly was a blur.

So the next morning, I arrived at my doctor's office, and camped out in the waiting room. I explained to the receptionist that I needed to urgently talk to the doctor about my ultrasound results. In a most uninterested tone she stated matter-of-factly "he won't be able to see you today - you'll need to schedule an appointment." "No, you don't I understand," I replied with as much calm as I could muster, "I received this letter yesterday from the Breast Care Center and it seems awfully important." I turned it over to her and as she read it, her eyes widened. "Have a seat," she said. "I'm sure he'll want to talk to you about this."  After about an hour of sitting in the waiting room chatting with a woman who had only learned the week before that she had stage-4 lung cancer, I was finally called back. My doctor talked with me in the hallway and I wasn't sure if that meant I had nothing to worry about or if it was so urgent he couldn't waste time setting me up in an exam room. "You need to have ultrasound-guided core biopsies done and you definitely want to get this taken care of as soon as possible," he explained. "Wait a minute," I said, "biopsies - as in plural?" "Yes, you have abnormal tissue in both breasts that couldn't be diagnosed with the mammogram or ultrasound." I felt my mouth go completely dry and I swallowed hard. "So just how worried should I be about this?" "Well," he said, "Nine times out of ten these things turn out to be nothing. But you don't want to be the tenth person who does nothing about it assuming that it will be nothing." Okay then. He passed me along to his nurse who immediately called and made an appointment for me, in two days. They weren't messing around.

The morning of September 20th, as I ate breakfast and got dressed, I tried to treat it just as another ordinary day. But it wasn't. Don't get me wrong, I believe with absolute conviction in the body-mind connection and the power of positive thinking - but shaking that feeling of dread that kept creeping over me was challenging to say the least. Fortunately I had a few left over Xanax from a previous procedure, and I gladly swallowed one of the little "happy pills" an hour before my biopsies would begin. And boy was I glad I did. My doctor didn't explain exactly what a Core Biopsy was and for some strange reason I didn't research it either - which is quite out of character for me because anyone who knows me knows that I research everything. I won't even buy a TV without researching all the different brands, so why I was okay with having someone extract tissue from "my girls" without knowing absolutely everything about the procedure, to this day totally baffles me. If you or someone you know is needing to have it done and you don't know the details of the procedure - this is what you can expect:

Core Biopsy - Ultrasound Guided
When a nodule is seen on mammogram, and the same nodule can be seen on ultrasound, or when a nodule is only found on ultrasound, an ultrasound guided CORE biopsy is frequently indicated. The physician scans the breast with the hand held ultrasound transducer while the biopsy is being performed. This means that there is direct visualization on the ultrasound screen of the needle as it is inserted into the breast abnormality to confirm that the needle is being inserted into the correct spot.

The patient is positioned on her back on the table, and the nodule or other abnormality is found on ultrasound. A mark is made on the skin with a pen to indicate the spot for insertion of the needle; the skin is cleansed with sterile antiseptic solution, and the area is numbed with local anesthetic. A small nick is made in the skin.

A special needle is used to biopsy the area. A loud click is heard each time the biopsy is performed, which is anywhere from 2-5 times. There should be no pain. Small cores of tissue are removed from the abnormal area and sent to a pathologist for analysis.

At the conclusion of the biopsy, an inert titanium clip is inserted into the breast to mark the site of the biopsy, in the event of the need for subsequent surgery. 2 mammographic views are performed after the biopsy to confirm that the clip is present in the breast.
 
Did the procedure hurt? I can't say that it did, not really - when you're injected with the numbing agent, that part stings a bit, but nothing a few deep breaths can't handle. After that, the area is completely numb during the procedure so there is no pain involved. But I do have to say, the loud clicking sound that the device makes every time they remove a tissue sample is definitely unnerving. At the conclusion of my procedure, they did insert titanium clips on both sides - and finished with a mammogram to confirm the clips were in place. In spite of my Xanex-induced haze, I was so curious, I just had to see. The technician was kind of enough to let me step around and look at her monitor - and sure enough there they were. I had been micro-chipped like the beloved family pet.

I was only a little sore for about two days afterward and other than the titanium chips on the inside (which I don't even know are there by the way), I was only left with two small little marks as reminders on the outside. And so then the waiting began again.The two weeks that it took to get the results from my doctor felt like two decades. Finally on October 3rd I got the wonderful news that both biopsies were benign.  I know that I am very, very blessed and very, very fortunate. Many woman are not so lucky and get the news that all of us dread to hear. So for me, relief doesn’t even begin to describe how it felt to hear my news. And trust me, the irony of getting my results in early October, as women everywhere began to celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness Month, wasn’t lost on me. My friends, I had waited three years in between mammograms – much too long. So ladies, I implore you – if you’re at the age where you should be having them done each year, please, please don’t wait. Don't put it off. Please schedule your mammogram appointment TODAY.  Breast cancer is curable if caught EARLY!

Simple Ideas to Make Life EASIER - Part 2

As promised my friends, here are a couple more super simple, but crazy-efficient tips for being better organized and as a result - MAKING YOUR LIFE EASIER. These are just so simple you'll be amazed you didn't think of this yourself (I know I was). 

So how often have you had to dig through your linen cabinet to find all the matching pieces of that sheet set (never fails, it always seems like one of the pillow cases has gone missing, doesn't it?). Well this idea is pure genius! Fold your fitted sheet, your flat sheet, and one of the pillow cases and then slide them INSIDE the second pillow case - VIOLA! You'll never have to hunt for matching pieces again!

Now for Idea #2. Let's say you've bought a new DVD player and you want disconnect the old one and connect the new one. But how many of you have faced this dilemma - how do I easily & quickly figure out which cord belongs to the DVD player from that tangle of cords plugged into my surge protector? Well ladies, here is your amazingly simple solution. Just save the little plastic clips from your loaves of bread, get out your Sharpie, and LABEL all your cords - just slip the corresponding plastic clip onto each cord. No more confusion ever again! This works for any area you have a lot of different cords (entertainment center, computer - monitor - printer, etc).

Let me know if you try these ideas and what you think!

Holy Grail of Eye Primers - MAC Paint Pot

Ladies, as many of you may have noticed, our eyelids can darken as we age. And don't even get me started on under eye circles which have been the bane of my existence for my entire life (doesn't matter how much sleep I get or which eye creams I try, nothing seems to make much of a difference). And then there is the issue of our eyelids drooping a bit with age, which means we can't afford to have eye shadow creasing going on - so with all these things we need a super hero when it comes to an eyelid primer, and boy have I found one. 

Let me introduce you to my holy grail of eyelid primers - MAC Paint Pot in Soft Ochre. And if you put a very moisturizing eye cream under your eye, it even can be used as primer before concealer to help give those dark circles the boot. Here are the pics and tips for using:

Important application tips:

1. Apply with a concealer brush - this is critical. This goes on initially with a creamy consistency, but very quickly dries to a matte finish. Once it dries it is impossible to blend any further - it is like spackle - it is not gonna budge. So trying to blend with your fingers or a sponge just isn't as clean or efficient as using the concealer brush - apply it and blend it with the brush all in one motion.
2. If you want to use to conceal dark circles - here is what I do. Make sure you've used a very moisturizing eye cream under your eyes. Then apply the Paint Pot with the concealer brush and be sure to blend it well so there are no streaks or uneven areas - don't forget that dark spot in the inside corners of your eyes. Warning, this will settle into any fine lines/wrinkles under your eyes if used by itself. But, the magic happens when you apply your regular creamy concealer over the Paint Pot (like Bobby Brown corrector or concealer). Because of the Paint Pots spackle-like consistency, the concealer on top glides on and doesn't seem to settle into the fine lines & wrinkles like it would by itself. 

To give you an idea of how it covers - I have a fairly dark birth mark on my hand - below are the before & after photos - for the after shot I used the concealer brush in a stippling motion with two coats - pretty decent coverage.

This product gets 4.5 Cheers - the only reason it doesn't get a 5 is because it's a bit pricey at $21 per pot, but the offset is that a little goes a very long way, so I'm guessing this pot will last me at least six months, maybe longer.

If you are already a fan of Paint Pots or you're trying it for the first time - I would love to hear your comments about it!

Pilates Reformer - My Exercise Miracle!

For me, the challenge with physical fitness has been finding a type of exercise that is an ideal blend of fat-burning cardio, slenderizing toning, and strength training, but that is also absolutely low impact. As a teenager (which was a million years ago, I know) I ran on the high school varsity track team as a sprinter. And my knees took a beating as a result. So for years I have been unable to do any kind of exercise that is high impact. Jogging, forget about it. Running, no way Jose. Dancing, who are you kidding? Jumping Jacks, impossible. Jumping Rope, out of the question. Plyometrics, are you out of your freakin mind?

So that left all of the low impact forms of exercise that either didn't give enough of a cardio burn, were just plain boring, or required donning a bathing suit and getting into a pool. On a treadmill the only way to get a decent cardio workout was to crank it all the way up to 10 incline like I was walking straight up a hill and even with the best workout music mix on my iPod, it was still monotonous. Then I had to do something else for toning and still something else for strength training. Ugh. I'm not retired yet, so I certainly don't have that much time in the day. I loved Yoga, but many of the moves still put too much pressure on my knees and it was a challenge to get a decent cardio burn. People suggested Bikram yoga, but the thought of doing Down Dog in a room heated to 105 degrees while simultaneously having a hot flash left me with one thought - heck no! I had tried mat Pilates which I also enjoyed, but it still lacked the fat burning cardio that I needed for a well rounded exercise program. Keep in mind - whatever I'm doing, I'm always doing it at home. I have tried gym memberships a few times and I always hate it - I'm too intimidated by trying to figure out all the machines and the times I'm able to go to the gym are the same times everyone else is able to go too - standing around waiting for machines just seems counter-productive, not to mention worrying about what I'm wearing and spending time driving there and driving back. It began to feel like the perfect exercise program was as illusive as the fabled unicorn.

Then I began to do research into Pilates Reformers - particularly those that come with Cardio Rebounders. From all appearance, these machines seemed to be the perfect combination of all the things I was looking for. And then I found a brand on QVC that was being offered at an unbelievable price (under $500 and with Easy Pay). So after fulfilling my promise to my husband that I would sell my treadmill (aka coat rack) before buying any other piece of equipment, I ordered my Stamina AeroPilates Reformer from QVC and anxiously waited for it to arrive. Was I going to be disappointed? Was it going to be too good to be true? After using it every day for almost a month, suffice it to say that it has exceeded all of my expectations. I have my found my exercise miracle! Below are photos of my actual machine, along with two videos that describe the machine and also how the cardio rebounder compares to a treadmill and eliptical in terms of cardio benefits. Don't let how easy it looks on the videos fool you - it is unbelievable what an intense cardio workout, ab workout and leg/glute workout you get LYING DOWN! And no stress on my knees! For reference - at first I could only do 10 mins on the cardio rebounder without being completely winded (I've worked myself up to 20 mins now).

Here is my actual machine the AeroPilates 5-Corded Reformer with Cardio Rebounder - the only item not shown in these shots is the padded foot rest which is also included (along with two beginner workout DVDs).

Here is the video talking about the 5-corded reformer and modifications for various exercises:



Here is a video (featuring an older 3-cord machine) that talks about the benefits of the Pilates Reformer in general and specifically the increased heart rate/cardio benefits of the cardio rebounder as compared to both a treadmill and elliptical (not viewable on mobile devices):




And it's even PET APPROVED!

Improve your strength, endurance, and flexibility - shop QVC for AeroPilates equipment today!


So if you are looking for the perfect, low impact cardio, toning & strength training exercise program, I highly recommend you check out the AeroPilates Corded Reformer with Cardio Rebounder. This absolutely gets 5 Cheers from me especially at the price offered on QVC. If you're thinking of ordering it through QVC, here's a tip - the first time I tried to order it on QVC it was sold out, but I checked back a week later and they had it back in stock, so if you have that problem, keep checking back - I think this is an item that will be offered for a long time to come. You can probably also do equally well with the 4-cord reformer. Let me know if you have any questions in the comments!

Simple Ideas to Make Life EASIER!

I'm always looking for creative, simple ways to make life easier. These first three ideas are so simple you'll be saying "why didn't I think of that?!"

And these all involve food ~ hmmm, I must have been hungry when I wrote this post, lol.

Let me know if you try these ideas and what you think. Especially what kind of cookie dough you used for the cookie bowls!

Scarves Aren't Just for Staying Warm

Scarves aren't just for keeping warm ladies. They make a fantastic, quick, stylish accessory that you can throw on in a hurry as you're dashing out the door to completely change the look of your outfit. Let's say that you're wearing jeans and a simple black tee shirt. Nothing special and a little bit blah, right? But quickly throw on a light-weight black & grey scarf and now your look becomes casual chic!

If you're one of those people who hasn't experimented with how to wear a scarf, here is a very simple (but sophisticated looking) way to tie it. I call it the Figure Eight technique. Make sure you have a nice long scarf - shorter ones won't work for this style. Here is the diagram on exactly how to tie it and then underneath is how it looked when I wore one of my scarves this way.

Try it out - it's so easy!

And here's how it looked on me - dressing up that simple black tee shirt! Send me photos of you wearing a scarf with this technique so I can include them in an update!

Getting Caught in Seaweed - Seaweed Bath Co Wildly Natural Seaweed Bath Powder - Review

If you read my last review where I raved about the Everyday Shea Bubble Bath, well as much as I loved that bath product is equal to how much I dislike the Seaweed Bath Co Wildly Natural Seaweed Bath Powder. It's just yucky. There is no other way to describe it. The instructions on the back of the package read:

"Shake well prior to opening. Empty contents of pouch into running water in the bathtub. Swirl with hand until powder dissolves and water turns light brown color."

Swirl until powder dissolves? Really? I started with swirling ... which then progressed to vigorously stirring the water with my hand ... multiple times mind you ... and there wasn't much dissolving going on. Fortunately I only put a handful into the water to test it (thank god it wasn't the whole pouch). The water literally looked like it had dirt floating in it, even 10 mins later. I finally gave up and drained the tub only to find it left a horrible mess of debris stuck to the bottom of the tub. Personally, I think this is taking the "wildly natural" element a little too far (right up there with the ladies who don't shave their underarms and don't use deodorant - no offense, but that's just not how I roll).

It always saddens me to have to give a product a negative review, but hey, sometimes the truth ain't always sunshine & rainbows, now is it?

This product comes up completely empty for me. No cheers for this one...

Tiny Bubbles - Everyday Shea Moisturizing Shea Butter Bubble Bath - Review

So if you are a "bubble bath girl" then this product review is for you! I take a bubble bath almost every night to de-stress and decompress from the day and the Everyday Shea Moisturizing Shea Butter Bubble Bath is my new favorite. This is a humungus 32oz bottle of bubble bath goodness, I'm telling you! The description from the product site reads:

"This naturally foaming, non-irritating, gentle bubble bath is handmade with moisturizing, Certified Fair Trade shea butter to nourish and soften your skin.™ Infused with fresh herbal extracts - clary sage to uplift the spirits and calm nerves, and African yam to help regulate mood and promote relaxation.™ "

I love the Vanilla Citrus Mint scent and what's really fantastic is how little you need. Just one small capful under running water when you start your bath will fill your tub with an amazing plume of luxurious bubbles that last your entire soak! And I have a really deep tub! I've never had bubbles last so long.

At around $13 per bottle it is an excellent buy because of how little you actually use for each bath, especially given it's packed with such healthy skin-nourishing ingredients and it's a Fair Trade product. You can purchase on Amazon or check your local health food store:



This product absolutely gets 5 CHEERS!

The Balm - All About Alex Eyeshadow - Product Review

Ladies, you know how you have those special, favorite products... the ones that you feel would be a devastating loss if they were ever discontinued? Well, this eye shadow falls into that never-to-be-understood-by-men category. Let me introduce you to the shade All About Alex by The Balm. Don't let the greenish color in the package on their site scare you - it actually goes on like a fantastic golden taupe. It's highly pigmented, very blendable, with just the right amount of shimmer (no glitterratzzi here). It's a wonderful shade for your crease and outer corner of the eye. Excuse the tattered look of the case, it just shows how much it's been lovingly used!

The cost at $16 is the only reason it comes in at 4.5 Cheers. Although you may be able to get it on Amazon for less:

Tropical Colada Mango Smoothie

I don't know about you ladies, but I love Pina Coladas. And this is my favorite breakfast smoothie right now (without the alcohol of course). This makes one large serving (or 2 small) about 300 calories for the large or 150 calories each for the small.

Tropical Colada Mango Smoothie

- 1 cup Frozen Pineapple Chunks
- 1/2 cup Frozen Mango Chunks
- 1/2 cup Coconut Almond Milk
- 1/2 cup Pineapple Coconut Water
- 1/2 cup Pineapple Juice
- 2 tablespoons Ground Flax Seed
- Scoop of your favorite Protein Powder
- Handful of Shredded Coconut

 

Mix all ingredients in a blender and enjoy!