Princess Elegance

Something elegant, something classic and feminine, something that goes in a totally different direction than the previous dress in our collaboration.  Those were my criteria when choosing this dress for my collab with Hebeos.  It wasn't difficult to find a dress that fit the bill for elegant, classic, and feminine, but I wanted to try two dresses that are totally opposite of each other just to showcase what Hebeos has to offer. 

This floor length tulle princess dress checked all the boxes in my criteria and this peacock blue was what really stole my heart about this dress. With the gorgeous beading on the bodice that cascades down to the split leg in the skirt, this dress is so, so lovely.  If this shade isn't quite your style, this dress is available in over 50 colors and comes in sizes US 2-26W or you can custom size for free.  I ordered this dress in a custom size, provided all my measurements, and the fit is perfect.  

Prom season is here, so for many the search for a stunning dress is already on.  And then, of course, special events pop up throughout the year and you need a beautiful gown on a budget--this dress cost only $151-- and/or in a hurry--even though I custom sized it, the dress arrived in only three weeks.  I've been so pleased with all the dresses I've received from Hebeos that I recommend them for special occasions and my daughters and I intend to do a little shopping for their prom dresses and I know we'll find something beautiful.

Shopping Info:  A-Line/Princess Sleeveless V-neck Floor-Length Applique Tulle Dresses-$151 from Hebeos.com

Day of Glam with Hebeos

It's my first day out since the surgery and a little bit of activity goes a long way, but with prom season already here, I didn't want to wait another second to get this posted to the blog.  After this morning photo session, I came home, put my pajamas on and took a nice long rest on the couch with a hot cup of tea, but it certainly did feel nice to get all dolled up and put on this gorgeous dress from Hebeos.

I first tried Hebeos for my Youtube channel during a wedding dress unboxing and I was pleasantly surprised at how nice the dresses were for such a low price.  We're always afraid that a bargain is too good to be true, but sometimes we just get lucky and find a great bargain.  Hebeos dresses certainly fall into that category, and with prom just around the corner, this store is a must for any fashionista on a budget.

Of course I was thrilled when Hebeos contacted me about a collaboration, and this stunning A Line Princess Tea dress was my top pick.  So, it's been a difficult wait for my body to mend so that I could wear this beauty. This glorious flowy satin fabric in a rich burgundy red is heavenly.  I love the fitted waist and the full skirt, and the arches on the top of the bodice are just the perfect extra detail on this dress to make it even more amazing.  

This A Line Princess Tea Length dress was custom sized, made according to my measurements and still arrived in only three weeks.  It fits perfectly and I love everything about it.  Hebeos also does custom colors, and while I chose burgundy, this particular dress is available in 29 gorgeous colors.  With prom dresses ranging up to $600 and the average bride's maid dress coming in at $200, this dress is a tremendous bargain at only $115.

There are some undeniable vintage vibes going on with this dress and I am loving every bit of it.  I added a black ruffle petticoat under the skirt for a little extra fullness to enhance the 60s vibes, and thanks to a hidden strap around the back of the bust, this is the first strapless dress I've ever worn that I didn't have to constantly fidget with to get it to stay up.  That means I'm free to enjoy myself and maybe do a little dancing at my next fancy event.

I'm so glad to have found Hebeos and glad that their dresses really are as pretty as they seem and at such an amazing price.  I have one more dress from this collaboration on the way, so join me on Wednesday for that dress review.  I promise it will be totally different from this dress but every bit as lovely.

Shopping Info:  A-Line/Princess Sweetheart Ruffles Satin Tea-Length Short/Mini Homecoming Dresses-$115 from Hebeos.com

The Selkie Wait

About six months ago Selkie did a fashion show for their spring 2022 collection titled "Out of the Tower,"  partly inspired by Rapunzel and partly inspired by the lockdowns of the previous year.  They followed this fashion show with a Pre-Sale of many of the items featured in the runway show.  Oh! There were so many things I loved, but even if I had the money saved to buy a few things, which I definitely did not, by the time I made up my mind, everything had sold out anyway.  

Selkie promised that collection would release around/on the Spring Solstice of 2022.  No problem, I thought, that will give me plenty of time to save up so I'll be ready to get the dresses I want in the spring.  First I spent time pouring over the runway pics, deciding which pieces I wanted and narrowed it down to four dresses.  Then I estimated how much they would cost and padded that amount, just in case inflation reeked havoc on my dress buying plans.  Then the long wait began.  

The Spring Solstice, in case you weren't paying attention, was a week ago, March 20th.  The Spring collection did not release.  However, I did discover that while I was in the hospital having surgery, a number of companies did a teaser drop of some of Selkie's items and by the time I was able to get out of bed on my own and sit in front of my laptop again, every single dress in my size was completely sold out.  For someone who has been waiting so long, it was kind of a slap in the face.  

A fellow Selkie-lover, shared a notice from the company that they wouldn't release Rapunzel from her tower until April and my stomach tightened at reading it, which isn't so good when you've got stitches across your abdomen.  How is April "around" the solstice?  Why not just say April instead of teasing people? I'm still pretty new to Selkie, so maybe I just don't have a feel for how things work.  I'm trying to give them the benefit of the doubt, but the wait is really starting to get me.

After so many months of waiting, I'm ready to see the dresses I've been dreaming of and saving for, or at least know they're on the way.  I managed to whittle my wish list down from four dresses to only two, especially as I have seen some of the reviews of the teaser release dresses and while they still look lovely, they're just not quite what I thought they'd be and I think I'd rather save some money for a rainy day.

In the meantime, I finally made it out to take photos of this Marie dress in Kilburn Wildflower Print, which was also a pre-order and also took a very long time to arrive, so maybe this is just part for the course when it comes to Selkie.  If it is, I can deal with it as long as I know it's part of it.  The not-knowing part is what I find hard to cope with.  Also, the not having the dresses part.  That's probably the hardest thing.  But, the not-knowing is right up there too.

So, I'll keep you posted on the latest from Selkie (they did another mini-drop yesterday and I did manage to snag a dress that I didn't know I needed, before it sold out within hours.  Sheesh!  What is the hold-up?  Just release the collection already!) and in the meantime, I'll just keep waiting and pacing the floor.  This dress on the other hand will be going to prom this year as my oldest has chosen it as her dress of choice and I am more than happy to let her wear this as her dream dress and happy that it will make her feel beautiful.

Shopping Info:  Selkie's Marie Dress in Kilburn Wildflower Print still available at Boho Chic Clothing.

Happy Hen Mamas

With the last of my fall sewing projects done just in time for spring, I'm glad to have simple cotton dresses like this Selkie inspired number for all the warm work days ahead.  Farming is hard but honest work; there is no veil between you and where your meal came from.  Not only does your success at providing homegrown meals largely depend on factors outside your control, like the weather, but much of farming means that we walk the line where life and death converge.  

It's difficult to care for these animals without growing to love them.  It's even harder when you've come to love them to let them go.  That's why springtime on the farm is the very best time of year.  This is the time of all new life, renewed hope, and a fresh promise of all possibility.  When they hurt, I hurt for them.  And, when my animals are happy I cannot help but feel their joy and celebrate with them.  

This spring four of our hens have become broody.  If you're not familiar with poultry, it means their biological clocks are ticking and they're baby crazy.  That's a great thing for any farm wanting to expand as ours is; the only trouble is that our mean rooster is so old, he's shooting dust.  Sorry for the expression, but it's accurate and it presents quite a problem for our farm.  

When a hen gets broody but doesn't see any results for her efforts, she will eventually give up and she may never become broody again.  Which is what happened with one of our broody four.  After about 24 days, she gave up with no babies to show for all her work.  We couldn't let that happen to the other three, so we ordered enough baby chicks to keep each hopeful mama busy and content.  And what good mamas these ladies have been.

The best way to fool your birds is to simply wait until they have gone to sleep for the night.  Once our hens were dozing, we went out and removed the eggs from underneath them and replaced them with fluffy little chicks.  In the morning they woke up and gladly accepted all the chicks as their own and have been busily caring for them ever since.  Incidentally, this is a great way to introduce any new birds into the flock.  Just slip them in the house at night and by morning the birds will think they've always been part of the flock.

While these busy hens are building our flock, the other gals have been chipping in a little and provide us with some extra eggs to make up the difference.  It's all part of a natural rhythm of peak and decline in egg production.  They production builds from an egg or two, then for a while we'll be getting over a dozen eggs a day, and then it will all taper off again until eventually the hens enjoy a brief cessation of egg layers so the ladies can rest and recover.

Of course, there are ways to increase production and delay or deny the cessation of egg laying, but I believe that natural systems such as this are in place for an important reason and I don't tamper with them.  Instead, I think it's best to plan for the excess and preserve as much as possible.  That way nothing goes to waste and I don't burn out my hens by never giving them vacation time.

So, we've been busy dehydrating all those eggs to save up for the lean times when the hens don't lay at all.  You may think dehydrated eggs aren't very appetizing and I'd agree with you 100% if you're trying to rehydrate them for a breakfast burrito.  They have a strange and very unappetizing fishy flavor.  However, when used in baked goods like cookies and brownies, they're great and I swear they make cookies extra soft and fluffy.   So, I suppose it works out that we all get a sweet reward, and that's probably the best I'm going to do at wrapping this post up.

Shopping Info: Dear Stella Digital Little Fawn & Friends Autumn Ferns & Leaves Willow from Fabric.com

Elise Starry Dress

The Fashion Fates smiled last year on Black Friday as Teuta Matoshi held her sale with 30% off all dresses.  I wish I'd had more funds to devote to this sale because, really there was more than one I'd been eyeing for awhile, but all I had left in my savings was enough to buy just one dress and the Elise Starry dress was at the top.  So, on November 28th I ordered a dress that I'd had my eye on for as long as I've been aware of Teuta's shop, and now was my time to finally buy.  And then I waited.  I've never shopped Teuta's Black Friday sale, but evidently it causes such a surge in orders that whereas all my previous purchases shipped within four weeks, this time around the dress carried an 8-10 week wait for delivery.  So, I waited.  And waited.  Annnnd waited.  

The reason my savings was a little shy was because I used most of it in October to buy a new (vintage) bed, new (vintage) couches, a new (to me) accent chair, and a dozen antique windows so that Mr. Bleu and I could begin construction on what I call a conservatory and Mr. Bleu calls a greenhouse.  The difference, in case you're wondering, is that a greenhouse is for growing plants, a conservatory is for enjoying them, and that's what I want.  A little sunny room complete with a chaise lounge and a few bookshelves and tables to make a space for plants to grow and for me to relax in the sunshine through the cold winter months.

Four long months later, the dress finally arrived and I made plans to do a review right away.  Annnnnd then it snowed outside and we were all stuck indoors.  I like to wait to make videos until the house is empty and I prefer to do photos in nicer weather, so I decided to wait until after the snow day and the weekend to unbox this beauty.  But, then my appendix went haywire at the end of that snow day and I wound up having surgery on the weekend and spending a week doubled over, tightly gripping my abdomen in order to slowly schlepp from one resting place to another.  Exactly one week later, I was feeling a little better and more than a little restless after having spent so much time doing nothing that I thought I could manage to make a quick review with a few pics.  Please know that better photos are on the way as soon as I'm able to get up and about more, but for now this little endeavor was pretty exhausting.  

Even though I did not custom size the Elise dress, it fits perfectly and it is my favorite shade of pink!  Truth be told, it was just the little pick me up I needed while spending yet another day alone while recovering.  Shopping isn't the answer to all our problems, but sometimes a little something new doesn't hurt.  There was a little glitter shedding, but nothing extreme and this dress has pockets!  Only three layers of tulle and a lightweight lining layer, so this dress is light and airy.  The tie straps are adjustable and there is a hook and eye clasp at the top to make it easier to zip.

A lot of people ask what I do with my dresses and I do lots and lots of things with my dresses, but even if I didn't I'd still buy them because I love them so much.  As far as this beauty goes, I'm planning to wear the Elise dress to do some family photos this year.  It's been years since we've done a family portrait session and I think it's time before the children are grown and moved out on their own.  Plus, there's a NYE celebration that I missed out on this year, but don't intend to miss again and this dress would be absolutely perfect for it.  All I have to do is get well and stay that way.

Shopping Info:  Elise Starry Dress-$640 from Teutamatoshi.com Save 10% with my link.  Click here first, then shop.

6 Tips for a Healthy Recovery

Something happened, an injury, a surgery, and it wasn't in your plans.  Now you're stuck in a bed with nothing but pain and time on your hands.  It's only natural to find yourself overwhelmed by depression and anxiety, but there are ways to cope in times of stress and difficulty so that your healing isn't hindered by negative thoughts.  Truth be told, it doesn't have to be injury related, the tips we'll talk about today are great for coping with depression and anxiety triggered by anything.

1. Get a Routine.  It's easy for the days to drag on into eternity when you're in pain, and even easier then for them to begin to blend into each other, one indistinguishable from the next.  Screen time makes this fog even more pronounced, which is why it's important to establish a routine and stick to it.  By the way, studies have shown that watching television and being on the computer don't really count as "resting."  In fact, over watching tv leads to higher blood pressure, aggression, and depression*.  Not to mention that spending so much time concentrating on tv leads to stress and fatigue which prevent you from resting well*.  While it's perfectly fine to have some screen time each day, it's important to have tasks that you complete at regular times each day and keep the screens as a small, scheduled part of your routine instead of letting them dominate your day.  Here's an example of my recovery routine:  

• 6:00 a.m. wake up, bathroom, brush and braid hair, start drinking water.
• 7:00 a.m. make breakfast
• 8:00 a.m. brush teeth then five to ten minute walk
• 10:00 a.m. reading for thirty minutes then a nap
• 12:00 p.m. lunch
• 1:00 p.m. five to ten minute walk
• 1:30 p.m. nap
• 3:00 p.m. watch a movie
• 6:00 p.m. dinner
• 7:30 p.m. shower
• 8:30 p.m. reading
• 9:00 p.m. bedtime

It may sound a little unnecessary to schedule things like meals and naps, but having appointments for everything kept me focused.  Also, my doctor said I should begin walking immediately following surgery to prevent blood clots, and to help my body absorb the excess air pumped into my abdomen during surgery.  This air put so much pressure in my chest and shoulders that I had to sleep sitting up for several nights to reduce the pain.  So, having them on the list and then gradually increasing the time I was able to walk not only kept me doing the things my doctor suggested but it also helped me to see my own improvement each day.

2. Eat Healthy.  I know it's easy to crave comfort foods (i.e. junk) when we don't feel well, but during recovery from illness and injury our bodies need nutrients to help us rebuild, so it's important now more than ever to eat healthy, wholesome foods.  Not to mention that foods containing high amounts of caffeine, sugars, and refined carbohydrates have been shown to exacerbate inflammation, fatigue, depression, and anxiety and impair your body's immune system*.  Stick to foods that are high in fiber, lean protein, and nutrients and that are minimally processed and therefore easy to digest.  Your body is working hard on recovery, give it a break on digestion.

3.  Get Some Sleep.  It's hard to rest when you're hurting, but it's even harder when you're not really giving yourself the opportunity to rest because the T.V. is always on the and the phone is constantly buzzing.  You'll notice in my schedule I set aside two times of day to nap.  I didn't always need the nap or sometimes even feel like taking a nap, but twice a day I hobbled to my bedroom, closed the door, turned on some white noise, put in my ear plugs, and closed my eyes for 30 minutes.  If sleep happened, great.  If it didn't, I still got a little peace and quiet time.  It's also important to give yourself a little time to wind down before bed.  I shut my screens off, popped pain meds if I needed them, and then did my showering and teeth brushing, followed by reading for 30 minutes each night.  Shutting the screens off to do another activity before even getting into bed was a big help in disconnecting from the day and winding down.

4. Go Outside.  For the first couple of days, I couldn't go far and the weather wasn't ideal, so I stayed indoors.  But, on the first day that the sun showed up and so did a visitor, I asked for an escort on my walk so I could go outside.  Getting a little fresh air and sunshine does wonders for your mood no matter what's going on in life, but even more so when you've been cooped up in bed for days on end.  We didn't go far, just a stroll around the yard and then another down the driveway, but it was nice to have a little change of scenery and to hear the sounds of the outside world.

 

5.  Be Social.  It's important to keep the crowds to a minimum when you're trying to rest, but don't go to the other extreme and be isolated.  Want to get your mind off yourself?  Talk to someone else.  Having a couple of friends or family members over to laugh with us and love on us a little when we're sick, goes a long way to a better mood and a better state of mind.  It's easy to feel like you're all alone, especially when, like me, you spend so much time in pain and all alone.  So, reach out, invite someone for a visit or a phone chat (texting and emails don't really do the trick) and you'll find the pick-me-up you need.*

6. Set Flexible Goals.  If you're not paying attention, it's easy to miss the milestones in recovery and it can begin to feel like you aren't making any progress at all.  Research your situation and find out what some recovery goals are for you.  Then set some goals that you'd like to reach and get a plan for how to reach them.  For me, I wanted to be up walking each day.  Then I wanted to increase the time each day for two weeks.  Ultimately I wanted to be back to doing moderate physical exercise again by four weeks.  So far, I'm doing well at walking each day and I hope to make my exercise goal in a few weeks, but if I need more time, I don't have any problem slowing down a bit.  Another goal I had was that I wanted to be able to bathe and dress myself by the end of the first week and at four days I knew I was getting there because I needed less help each night. Even though I was still in pain quite often, just by that goal alone, I could tell that I was healing and making progress and it gave me hope for a speedy recovery.  As long as you keep at it and stay focused you are sure to reach your goals.  A little depression and anxiety along the way are to be expected.  Plan for them and know through it all that this too shall pass and you'll be back on your feet again soon.

Sources: https://drnamnoum.com/depression-after-surgery-symptoms-causes-and-how-to-cope/

https://cafemom.com/parenting/124144-too_much_tv_can_make

https://www.lifehack.org/467415/six-reasons-why-watching-tv-excessively-is-bad-for-your-health

https://www.verywellhealth.com/binge-watching-and-health-5092726

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/where-science-meets-the-steps/201309/4-ways-sugar-could-be-harming-your-mental-health

https://www.healthline.com/health/diabetes/diabetes-and-wound-healing#what-leads-to-slow-healing

https://www.simplemost.com/health-benefits-of-being-social/

Recovery is a Bumpy Road

This morning I can tell I'm healing.  As excruciating as that first sneeze was, I'm feeling better, and able to move around a little quicker, more upright, and with far less grunting and groaning.  These photos are still pre-surgery, I'm not feeling that well yet, but I'm on my way.

I've had a few friends over the past few years go through serious injuries with prolonged recovery time and I've always been grateful not to be in their shoes, casts, wheelchairs, etc.  I had plenty of broken bones and long illnesses as a child, but as an adult it all seems so daunting and a whole lot more difficult.  When speaking to my friends, two-thirds mentioned struggling with depression during their recovery time.  While it's not something we hear much about, depression and anxiety after an injury or serious illness is quite common and can affect up to 40% of patients post-surgery.   If it's so common, why is it so unexpected?

For most people coming out of an injury like a broken bone, torn muscle, or for an emergency surgery such as mine, the main issue was that of bodily harm, so the it stands to reason that the main focus for one's family and doctors is on physical health and recovery. But, it's important to take status of your mental and spiritual health during this time too.  We are after all triune beings made of body, soul, and spirit.  One area cannot be affected without affecting the others as well.  

While we may not have actual memory of a procedure, our bodies always know they've been through a trauma, which is why we may have feelings of depression or anxiety without knowing why.  Then again, there are some very common feelings that can trigger these reactions such as, pain, fatigue, medical bills, loss of income, feeling guilty about having to rely on others, interruptions to our beloved schedules, feeling helpless, etc.  All of these things are normal and sometimes they go away over time, but it's better to be aware of what's going on and deal with each emotion as it comes up.

 

I'm only a few days post surgery and it was a mild surgery at that, but the feelings are still there.  I'm trying to take things slowly and just focus on resting right now.  The bills, and everything else will wait.  For someone like me, who likes to be organized and always working at something, even if it's leisure, everyday-all-the-time, this is really difficult.  If you're like me, then just know that in time, all of these other matters will get sorted.  In my next post we'll talk about ways to combat post-surgery/injury depression. Right now, it's time for a much needed nap.

Shopping Info: mata traders dress from Poshmark, Pointed Toe Aria Holiday Flats from VIVAIA.com

My Plans All Changed

Friday was another snow day, which meant no work, or school, or leaving the house.  Instead of moping, I decided to use the time finally get familiar with my new Singer sewing machine which Mr. B very thoughtfully gave me for Christmas last year.  I really dislike learning new tech of any kind, so even though I've watched a tutorial on how to thread it, and have read the user manual, I haven't yet sat down to really work with it.  But, as I had nothing else to do and no where else to go and couldn't stand the thought of another day on a screen, I decided to bite the bullet and learn the tech, especially since Mr. B was also home to walk me through it. 

After some more videos and some fiddling with it, I got the hang of the machine and managed to finish two sewing projects that have been sitting on my sewing table since the fall when my sewing woes began.  After that I did some cleaning and organizing of my fabric bins and the day was very productive.  Since I knew this would likely be our last snow, and since I had freshly finished a couple of dresses including the final autumn Selkie dupe dress, I put together a couple of outfits and planned to go out the following morning into the snow for a photo opportunity.  Oh, the foolish plans of mortals.

After dinner, my stomach started hurting.  At first I thought my dinner just didn't agree with me, but as the hours passed and the pain intensified, I changed my diagnosis to a stomach flu.  More hours passed and the pain felt unlike any stomach flu I'd ever had.  A stomach flu comes in waves and eventually leads to.....something.  But this was just unwavering, ever intensifying pain. I lay on the floor for several hours balled up from pain and alternating between feverish nausea and clammy chills.  I even cried a little from the relentless pain.  

For some reason my medical emergencies never occur during regular business hours, so it's always the struggle to know if this is actually an emergency (i.e. worth the staggering ER bill) or merely an overreaction.  But, by 11:30 p.m. the pain was so intense I was ready to go to Urgent Care.  Mr. B went outside to clear the car of snow and ice while I got ready.  All the moving around made my nausea worse and I headed to the bathroom to throw-up (finally!).  After that I could tell that the nausea subsided.  I hoped that maybe I could rest now and asked Mr. B to cancel the trip to the doctor, crawled into bed and white-knuckled it until morning, hoping this was a virus and it would pass. 

Morning came and the pain had spread from my stomach to the right side of my abdomen.  I looked it up and given the position of the pain, it could have been my gall bladder, my appendix, or nothing at all because it wasn't in the exact right position for anything.  Hard call.  I had a couple of bites of breakfast and the pain began again.  So, I made the decision and we went to the nearest urgent care, who then sent us to the nearest emergency room.

Well, a few hours later, I was wheeled out of surgery missing my appendix but with three fresh incisions on my abdomen.  I think it's safe to say that after this my days of swimsuit modeling are well and truly over, and obviously today's post photos were taken well before I began feeling ill. I was given a prescription for opioid pain killers, but I refused them since they're so highly addictive and the post-surgery pain has been far more manageable than the pain I was in before the surgery.  

It's been a rough couple of days, fighting not just the pain and discomfort but depression as well as I've spent most of this recovery time alone, hobbling around, grieving for my lost appendix.  I hope to be back on my feet in a week or two.  Although I am still holding out hope to be ready to go out and take some photos in the spring flowers next month, I'm not making many plans because I don't know how long it will take me to get back to life as normal.  Just taking it a day at a time and trying to rest as much as possible. I suppose this is all a good reminder that everything can change at a moment's notice and all our plans amount to nothing.