Fight Like A Girl

Fight Like A Girl is one of the themes of Breast Cancer Awareness month.  I hope you are keeping your mammogram up to date.  I have been a "qualifier" since before age 40, so it is safe to say that I have had more than my fair share of them.  There is absolutely no good reason women should not annually have this procedure done.  Too painful?  Uhm, no.  Try again.  Time constraints?  I've spent more time in the waiting room with a cold.  Have to travel?  So...?  We travel for lots of things.  Just get yours done. The procedure itself has changed over the years, and it is less painful (if at all).  Man up, -- well, Woman Up -- and get it done.

I borrowed this picture from a person who no longer has a blog, but I link to it on the picture.  What I want to say about the mammogram machine, is that if you haven't seen a piece of equipment this modern, you are behind.  Way behind.  This may not even be the latest and greatest.  I'm telling you.  It's no big deal.

Some people qualify for additional testing.  I'm referring to density, here.  I'm referring to mammogram results.  I'm referring to family history.  Sonograms (ultrasounds), thermograms and biopsies are some of these other types of tests.  Nothing to freak out about...  Just follow your doctor's orders.  :)

This is a sonogram picture.  An ultrasound uses a sound wave and its echo to provide a 3-D sonogram by calculating the depth and the density of the tissue.  

The doctor clicks with the cursor, and she moves all around looking over and under every possible place with the linear array transducer -- sounds like Star Trek, but I didn't want to use another word that sounds icky.  Zero pain.  It's actually pretty interesting.  Dozens of clicks and lots of pictures.

Looks like a big mass or problem, huh?  Nope.  Story of my life.  For me personally, this is almost protocol.  

 It's tiny.  But they measure it and keep tabs on it, anyway.  That's what they do.

They measure from every direction.  Their pictures are much clearer than mine.  

I'm not going to post a picture, but here's a visual for you.  Imagine me, laying on the exam table, having this ultrasound done, and I am holding my phone up taking pictures while it is happening.  Hope that made you laugh.  Honestly, some of these pictures were taken off the screen after the images were saved.  

I have this theory that while a doctor is doing an exam or performing a test on you, and you don't have to stay perfectly still, they ask questions about you.  Here are the things I always say, what my husband does, what my kids do and where they are, and that I really like to travel.  Usually, something spurs on a deeper conversation about any one of those subjects, and *presto* you are relaxing and not thinking about what the doctor is doing.  Multi-tasking at its finest for a doctor, because I doubt I could do more than one thing at a time anymore.  And my super cute doctor who is close to my age, asks me about my blog since I have been taking pictures to post.  I tell her a little about it, but that it's just kind of everyday stuff.  Then she tells me SHE has a blog.  Whaaaaaaatttt????  She is happy to share it with me, and it is very well done.  If you want to know about it, ask me.  And if I get permission from her, I will share it here.  She rocks.

If one person is motivated to get their mammogram, please let me know.  Just curious.  I'm in the clear for another six months.  ;)

Fight Like A Girl

Dog Days of Summer

We give the new boss of the house a bit of a break because she "is still a puppy."  But frankly, it is now autumn, and she needs to start learning her manners.  Here I am.  In the backyard.  Trying to even up my tan.  If you don't know my thoughts on that, my sister and I are in agreement that tan fat looks better than white fat.  Therefore, we use our Native American heritage to protect us as we spend time in the sun.  

Minding my own business.  Can you tell that I am not expecting a rambunctious puppy to jump on my back.  Her cute little wet nose and sharp teeth flailing all over the place....

Not impressed.  I try the "ignore" tactic.  #Fail

So I try the "ignore and pretend to disappear" tactic.  #Fail

Unedited.  I am starting to fight back.  She is interrupting my mellow music time.  You have to be willing to share reality if you have a blog.  Here it is.

Yeah, I'll just push her away and say, "no" - firmly.  

Wow.  Clearly, that works well. 

She absolutely does not believe that I am her mom.  Or maybe she does, and she knows that doesn't mean much in her dog world.

She continues to jump and bounce all over me.  Can you see me reaching and calling for help?  Who do you think is taking the pictures?  The help is dying laughing.  #thanks

Okay.  I.  Am.  Serious.

Stop.  It. 

Good grief.  And then he shows us how darling she is...

Such a pretty girl.  We love Clare, even when she misbehaves.

Dog Days of Summer

Shopping for a Cause

October is here.  Breast Cancer Awareness month is always a big deal during October.  And I have to admit, that I usually look forward to all the great new items that you can buy while contributing to the awesome cause.  

Stila Positive and Pretty Palette, $14.  www.stilacosmetics.com 

Care to get organized?  Pendaflex has these Breast Cancer Awareness folders here. 

Here's a cool tank from the Komen website.  $22 

Helen Ficalora rose gold charm necklace.  Available here.

I'm a huge Bobbi Brown fan, so this will definitely be coming to my house.

You cannot have enough tote bags.  This one is from breastcancer.org   $25.99

Love these.  Can anyone have enough tennis shoes?  Go here.

Under Armour has some other fabulous pink products. 

Being a Kendra Scott collector, I love these pink Elle earrings.  I just wish the benefit went a little further than Komen in Austin.  It doesn''t make these earrings any less cute!

You're helping others!  Shop for a cause.

Shopping for a Cause

Shopping to Help Others

Usually I do not need a reason to shop.  Details like that can be worked out later.  But it sure does help when you think you are buying something to help someone else.  Check out these little treats I have found.  And keep in mind, I have a couple of more posts in the works directing you to philanthropic shopping...

The link won't let me show you the rings, but they are so reasonable, and these two girls have funded Christian missions on a bigger scale than they could have ever imagined.

The Tory Burch Foundation supports and encourages the economic empowerment of women and families.  Click on the picture for shopping information.

These Lily and Laura bracelets are one of my favorite things to wear.  So comfortable, and they come in a million colors, approximately.  They are made by women in Nepal working in their own homes, allowing them to be near their children.

I do love me some purple -- and being that comfort is my middle name, I don't think a girl can have too many t-shirts.  Your purchase here benefits the Alzheimer's Association.

Here is a solid perfume compact which is part of the Limited Edition Pink Ribbon Collection by Estee Lauder.   100% of this purchase goes to the BRCF.  I was impressed.

Always thinking of others...

Shopping to Help Others

September is the Month of Birthdays

You name a family, and I bet I can name a person with a September birthday.  Old, young, -- makes no difference, September has a ton of birthdays.   I laugh at how people think of their own birthdays.  Some people, who shall remain nameless, want no fuss.  Don't talk about it, don't tell anyone, gifts or cards are okay, but not at all necessary, but just..., keep it low key.  Then there are others, who think, "my birthday is this month, let's start the celebration now!"  Some people act like it's really not a big deal, but then when you do something special for them, they really act like, "hey, that was fun, and I wasn't expecting it to be."  I feel like you never really know what kind of "birthday person" each individual is.

We have a nephew who recently turned 16, and that was probably a huge deal for obvious driving reasons.  We also have a niece who will soon turn 18, and I think her biggest deal will be that she will get to vote.  She's a bright girl, beautiful, ethical and very patriotic.

I borrowed the image above from a blog here.  All credit to them for a super cute cake.  :)

September is the Month of Birthdays

Bringing It Down A Notch

After all the baby madness surrounding us for the last few days, I decided to report on some other far insignificant things.  Like celebrity gossip.

Kanye West.  Now there's a piece of work.  I wasted about 30 seconds of my time, and read things he had said about himself to the BBC, like how he is "the number 1 rock star on the planet."  He went on to imply that he had reached heights and achieved goals that even Michael Jackson had not.  His complaints continued as he whined about not realizing his dreams and all the reasons other people had kept him from that.  I have plenty that I could say about all of that, but it's not even worth my breath.  I heard him taking credit for 'dressing' Kim Kardashian while she was pregnant, and all I could think was, "stop, seriously, just stop."

I was looking for some more helpful and constructive news.  Distraction is needed because I just can't sit down and watch the Breaking Bad marathon on AMC leading up to the series finale on Sunday night.  It started yesterday, and I know if I go anywhere near channel 112, I will be sucked in like the weakling that I am.  Homeland is next.  Gotta have a go-to.  I have heard great things about it for quite a while.  

But the bottom line is that I just need something to occupy my time until this grandbaby arrives.  I don't knit, but I may need to learn how to... 

In other news, I abandoned my verizon iPhone which has practically abandoned me.  The dang thing won't work in the afternoon or evening.  Mostly data problems, but sometimes, you can't even complete a phone call.  Ask me, and I can give you every detail, but the fact is -- they have sold more phones than their towers here can handle.  I have heard "two more weeks," "by next month," and "by the end of the year," for the last time.  I am keeping my end of the deal by paying my bill, and they are not keeping their part of the contract by helping my phone work.  So today, I have a new CDMA phone from my local carrier, PTCI, and I am told it will be great.  I believe them.  All good people.

Bringing It Down A Notch

Pretty Big News

Okay, so that last post was a bit of a tease...  I knew a big secret was about to be revealed, I just didn't know when.

Oh.  My.  Gosh.  

Yes, we are!  Oh, yes, we are!  I can't even believe it myself!  Surely to goodness you know this is not my own sonogram picture.  Please tell me that you understand we are going to be grandparents!  Wait, grandparents?  What?  Whaaaaaa???????????  

We are beyond excited.  I have heard that grandchildren are awesome -- now, it's up to Chase & Sheena to prove it to us.  When they first told us, I was like a caged animal.  I couldn't quit moving.  I started cleaning out all the drawers in my bathroom and lower cabinets in my kitchen.  I was baby proofing.  Oh, Lord, help me be a good grandmother.  I try to stay out of the kids' biz, but I don't know how much restraint I will be able to show now.  It's real.  It's crazy.  We are old enough for this?  Seriously?  

Who do we need to tell?  Oh, good, Chase already talked to them, and them, and her, and him.  Oh no. What about Facebook?  Who gets to say it first there?  Who should say it first there?  My mind won't quit.  When will they let me blog about it?  What can I say?  What should I not say?  

Here's what I do know.  Sheena looks radiant!  She is beautiful anyway, but the glow is definitely there.  If I haven't mentioned her skin before, it is perfect.  That really doesn't have anything to do with this, but I am rambling here.  She has to be a trooper to put up with my oldest son's antics, like leaving town at the drop of a hat.  Something tells me that might be a bit less frequent.  :)   They are old enough, that's a plus.  They have a roof over their heads.  And, all I know is April....  I have told you everything I know.  

Whew!  I have to get into shape.

Pretty Big News