Wordless Wednesday

Mary Kay

One of my friends Maria told me she wanted to send me a Mary Kay lipstick. I was having a hard time figuring out which color I wanted based on pictures online. She offered to send me samples of lipsticks in order to figure out which one I wanted. I have tried 4 out of the numerous colors she went. I am LOVING rich fig lipstick. I forgot the awesomeness of Mary Kay lipstick. It is so creamy, moisturizing, pigment is awesome and it lasts for hours. I can put lipstick on before I leave the house in the morning around 6:30am and I will have to wipe it off at lunch. 

I ordered one of my favorite masks. Another oldie but goody. I grew up using Mary Kay products. My mom sold Mary Kay and that is what I started using first. My favorite mask is the clarifying mask which is a mint green color. It can be used as a mask after washing your face or you can use it as a scrub. I love that stuff! 

I have been using Mary Kay products for the past 20 years. The products are just as amazing now as they were when I first started using them. I didn't realize back when I first started wearing make up that there would be such a difference. Now that I am an old granny I realize the importance of great products!

Here is a picture of me wearing the rich fig lipstick. 

If you need any Mary Kay products you can contact my friend Maria. Here is her Mary Kay website. All her contact information is on her website. 

Menu Monday

I do not have a menu really put together for this week. I have some ideas and will probably wing it. I am trying to eat all raw food for breakfast & lunch. I plan to have fruit juice for breakfast, a piece of fruit for a snack, big salad for lunch and a green juice for a snack.  I told Art tonight I had no idea what I would be making. As I started to write this post I was grabbing food ideas. lol We shall see what I come up with for dinner. 

Monday - sweet potato & squash soup
I am making the soup from scratch. I baked the squash and sweet potatoes. I just have to cook some carrots in broth & blend it all. Mmmm super creamy and delish! I made something similar the week before last. It was very filling and also good for a quick snack. 

Other ideas for the week:
Breakfast - french toast, turkey bacon and eggs
Chili
Beet Risotto
Lasagna soup - I have been really hungry for this. I don't have cheese, so I am not sure. 

What is on your menu?

My Yoke is Easy

There are days when I feel like someone has pushed me into a pool. I am shocked, drenched and ready to punch the person who pushed me. Sometimes I feel like my problems are over the top. My pastor told a story the other day about a guy getting pushed into a pool full of piranhas. 


Once there was a billionaire who collected live piranha. He kept them in the pool at the back of his mansion. The billionaire also had a beautiful daughter who was single.
One day, the billionaire decides to throw a huge party, and during the party he announces, “My dear guests, I have a proposition to every man here. I will give one million dollars, or my daughter, to the man who can swim across this pool full of piranhas and emerge unharmed!”
As soon as he finished his last word, there was the sound of a large splash in the pool. The guy in the pool was swimming with all his might, and the crowd began to cheer him on. Finally, he made it to the other side of the pool unharmed.
The billionaire was impressed. He said, “That was incredible! Fantastic! I didn’t think it could be done! Well, I must keep my end of the bargain. Do you want my daughter or the one million dollars?” The guy catches his breath, then says, “Listen, I don’t want your money! And I don’t want your daughter! I want to know who pushed me in the pool!”


Do you ever feel like this guy? You miss the blessing around you because you are too focused on the bad things. Like the person who pushed you into the water instead of the million dollars someone is trying to hand you. What do you do when you feel over the top with your problems? I read Matthew 11:28-30 on Sunday and it brought me so much comfort.

Matthew 11:28-30 (KJV)
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Growing up I thought verse 30 was a little crazy. My yoke - what is Jesus talking about? The egg yoke on his plate or an oxen yoke to pull a wagon? On Sunday it just clicked. Everyone goes through rough times in life. We have burdens we are carrying around and often times feel like no one understands. Or we feel all alone in this crazy world we live in. How often we forget to turn our burdens over to the Lord instead of trying to carry everything. 

Jesus knows what it is like to be all alone. In Mark14:50 - "And they all forsook him, and fled". Jesus was all alone. At first the disciples were all arguing about who would sit on Jesus left or right hand side in heaven. When times got tough they ran away. 

During all the difficult times over the past few months sometimes the only thing that would bring me peace was prayer. I remember laying in bed a week after surgery just crying because of all the blessings I had received. Instead of thinking of all the horrible things that had just happened I would lay there thanking God for all the blessings. I will blog about all the blessing I received very soon. Recently I was at work and I felt so overwhelmed with all the cancer talk. I had to shut my door and just cry. I have really had to lay my burdens on the Lord to get through this difficult time. 

Cancer is one of the ugliest 6 letter words out there. The fear of it coming back is something that can just consume you and eat you alive. A piranha you could see it coming at you or you could see it taking a bite out of your leg. I feel I could defend myself against a piranha a lot better than that ugly 6 letter word. It is the things you are can't see or the unknown that are the roughest in life at times. 

There have been some rough parts lately. I feel it all hit 2 months after it all happened. When I was going through the tests and surgery I felt as strong as a horse. I wasn't worried or scared. I also didn't know exactly what I was dealing with until weeks after surgery. I didn't know how awful Medullary Thyroid Cancer actually is until now.

I have turned off all notifications of the MTC message boards I am part of and stopped reading stuff online. I just need to back away from cancer information for a little while. I can't consume myself with the "what ifs". I am giving my egg yoke to God to handle. He will have to hook up his oxen to the yoke and pull my big wagon full of cancer. I am going off to rest in the sunshine!

DIY Headboard Idea

I have been wanting a headboard for our bed, since we bought it in November 2011. Art and I do not agree on what to get. I like the upholstered headboards and Art hates them. I don't want to pay a lot of money and think we should be able to make one. Well I found the perfect one for Art to make!!!! Like how I said for ART to make. lol Vintage Revivals redid a mantel headboard and IT IS IT!!! I want it! I think we can actually make it without buying an actual mantel. 

How adorable is that headboard?  So now I need to get started on making it! It is going to have to be massive to fit our California king bed. lol I don't want the arrows and I would rather have the background the same color as the sides. I am thinking of doing the whole thing in gray. We will need to buy it all and paint it a light gray. 2013 is the year of finishing, so I think we need to finish decorating our bedroom. 

source: vintage revivals

15 Minutes of Fame

Doesn't everyone get their 15 minutes of fame sometime in their lifetime? Well mine is coming all in 2013. First my friend T.J. mentioned me in his national blog got Philly.com Patient #1. I felt so honored when he asked if he could mention me.

Last year I had lunch with a coworker. I told her a crazy story about my sister Lacey dying Art beard. She found the story so funny & asked if she could use it in her book. Of course I said yes. Well guess what that book has been published. I just got my grubby hands on my very own copy!!!! Sue was kind enough to give me a copy of the book as a thank you.

I'm so proud of Sue. She put all her spare time into her book. Not only do I work with an author but she mentioned me in the book. How exciting is that? You can order your very own copy of the book here. 

Sue and me

Here is me holding my book! 

OOTD

Last week Thursday I finally took a walk to Gap. Gap is my go to shop almost every 2-3 days when I am at work. It is about a 10 minute walk from work. I love going to check out the newest styles and SALES! I love me some bargains! Siri doesn't call me Queen of Bargains for nothing. lol

I picked up this blue & white striped shirt with a hot pink trim around the color. It was on sale for $14.99. I put it back and left the store. I got about a block away and thought hey that shirt would look super cute with my green capris. I went to Anne Taylor Loft, looked around and headed back to Gap. 

top: Gap (similar)

skirt: Jcpennys

shoes: Sears

top: Gap

capris: Old Navy

flip flops: gift from my mother in law

I scored the green capris on clearance for $3 last year at Old Navy.  I try to avoid buying the same color pants or skirts if I have something in the same color. How could you pass up $3 capris though?  

Wordless Wednesday

Nerve Damage

Prior to surgery my surgeon told me I could have problems with my lower lip, tongue, and shoulders because of nerve damage. There were a lot of other risks from nerve damage but the ones listed are what come to mind. I wasn't too concerned with nerve damage. I really thought those would be a rare case. Well turns out I have nerve damage to my left shoulder. 

Right after surgery I was really sore. I went for a massage and that helped my shoulder a little. My left side was horrible. Two weeks after surgery it was AWFUL. I was in tears it hurt so bad. I tried to stretch and it made things worse. I emailed my surgeon and she sent me for physical therapy. I met with the PT and it turns out I had damage to nerve C3 & C4. When the PT was talking about specific nerves I felt REALLY great full she did well in school memorizing the nerves. lol

I have to do stretches at home for 2 weeks and then back to PT. I might have to do PT for awhile. I learned today nerves heal one milometer a day. The PT told me I need to be patient because it could take awhile to heal. The PT was wondering why it took 2 weeks for me to have pain. I was sitting there thinking hmmmm I wonder why. Then the light bulb went off. I had been taking pain pills for 2 weeks. Both of us cracked up laughing. Of course that is why I didn't feel the pain. 

Well the 90 year old woman has to start her PT! Toodles

Raw Diet

I have been doing research on food for about the past 1.5 years. I have done a lot more recently since I have been diagnosed with cancer. I decided to try eating all raw food. Holy cow is that rough! Last week Monday we headed to Costco to stock up! Check out my cart below!

Spinach: 14 pounds

Carrots: 20 pounds

Kale: 7 pounds

2 Pineapples

Case of strawberries, blueberries, oranges, blackberries, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes

1 bag of lettuce

I think that covers our cart! 20 pounds of carrots will last you a lifetime!

 WAY tooooo many carrots!

On the way out of Costco I grabbed a churro! It was going to be my last bit of chocolate for 2 weeks.  I did really well for 4.5 days. I ate all raw food except one night I made some veggie soup. I would drink a juice for breakfast along with a piece of fruit. Lunch I would eat a big salad. Afternoon snack carrot sticks and another juice. Dinner more salad and either veggies or fruit. 

Day 4.5 came around and I was starving. I couldn't get full at all. Art kept talking about Mexican food and I caved! I told him that is it I am NOT eating raw on the weekends. I just can't do it. I did really bad over on Sunday. My stomach was KILLING me last night. I need to find a good balance. This week I am going to try to eat raw food 75% of the time during the week. 

Raw food is really suppose to help fight cancer. I really want my tumor level markings to come way down by the time I have my tests run on the 18th. There is a chance the tumor level markings won't come down until 6 months post surgery. Hopefully all the additional raw food will help fight off any cancer left in my body. For the most part I felt really good eating raw. My stomach felt great! I would just get a little shaky if I didn't eat every 2-3 hours. I did like the fact I could eat as many fruits and veggies as I wanted. I was losing weight even eating a lot of stuff. 

Above are 2 salads I made. I got sick of spinach, so I bought some lettuce later in the week. I can't eat the same thing over and over. I also need some warm food. I made some delicious soup with carrots, potato and broccoli. I boiled the carrots and potato in broth for about 10 minutes and then added in the broccoli for 5 minutes. I blended everything in the food processor. It was a delicious soup and very filling. 

I really enjoy drinking juices for breakfast. It is a great way to start the day with lots of vitamins. I don't think carbs are the way for me to start the day. A lighter healthy breakfast really keeps me going all morning. 

I recently hung this in my office!

Cancer Update

My doctors took my case before a tumor board to review. I had a CT scan and 8 nodules were found on my lungs. The doctors didn't feel a PET scan would provide any additional information and the additional radiation wasn't worth it. A lot of times Medullary Thyroid Cancer and where it has spread will not show up on a PET scan. The tumor board agreed with my doctors. My doctors had suggested watching the nodules by doing blood work at 2 month and 6 months post surgery. They also wanted to do a CT scan a few months after my first CT scan to see if the nodules were growing. The tumor board felt that was the best way to handle the nodules. The nodules are so tiny it will be almost impossible to do a biopsy. They also don't feel they will get an accurate result even if they tried to do a biopsy. If my tumor levels in my blood work are going up they will need to do additional scans to see where the cancer is growing. If the nodules grow then I will have to go through chemo.

My doctor feels they were able to clean my neck very well and got rid of all the cancer. She does not feel I need to do any additional treatments. However she is referring me to get a radiation consultation. She just wants me to hear the pros of getting radiation because she told me the cons of getting radiation. There is a chance my cancer could come back in the lymph nods left in my neck, where my thyroid use to be or in my neck muscle. If I was to get radiation it can cause a lot of scar tissue and could cause a lot of problems if I need additional surgery down the road. I am going to the radiation consultation, but I have no plans to get radiation. A lot of information I have read it can cause more harm than good to prolong my life, since all the cancer is gone. At this point there are no benefits to get radiation. 

I have been going through genetic testing to see if my cancer was genetic. Medullary Thyroid Cancer is a genetic cancer and is usually inherited. My surgeon really felt my cancer was sporadic, but we needed to make 100% sure. I think the genetic testing was the most stressful of everything I have been through in the past few months. The doctors said if it came back genetic my parents and brother would have to go through testing to see if they had the gene. All the first cousins on the side of the family that had the gene would have to be tested. Everyone who came back with the gene would need to have their thyroid remove to avoid cancer. It wouldn't be safe to leave their thyroid in or take the risk of waiting to see if cancer developed. Medullary Thyroid Cancer grows way to fast to take the chance.

I spent so much time praying the cancer was sporadic. My heart felt so heavy and burdened for my family. I didn't want my family to go through all the worry and pain. I also felt that if someone had the gene it would be my responsibility to make sure they went through surgery. My dad was trying to tell me he wouldn't get his taken out. I thought I was going to lose my mind. I then just had to take a deep breath and wait for the answers. 

The genetic counselor thought she would have the information by Friday. Friday was the LONGEST day. I sat around waiting all day for her to call me. At 4:40pm my phone rang and she had the results. The first thing she said was I have some good news. I took a deep breath and felt such relief. My cancer was NOT genetic. 

I hung up the phone, sat on the bed and just bawled. My family was safe! Also any future little Post's were also safe! The genetic counselor was able to confirm all my genes were normal and the miscarriages weren't from anything being abnormal.  RELIEF!!!! 

Now normal life resumes and plannings starts back up. Everything felt it was on hold until we had answers.  I also was SUPER happy because I don't have to go through chemo. I will have hair for Lacey's wedding. I can face anything now that I know my family is safe. Now I am praying for a miracle with my lungs. My prayer is that the next CT scan shows no sign of nodules on my lungs. God can wipe out those nodules. 

Wordless Wednesday

New Hair Routine

I had read Veronika's Blushing tutorial on how she does her hair and wanted to try it. A couple weeks ago I headed off to Sally's to buy velcro rollers, clips and a round brush. In the past I have not had good luck with rollers. They have gotten stuck in my hair or made my hair really frizzy

I learned you can't put the rollers in your hair when your hair is wet. That is why I had issues in the past with frizziness. You need to blow your hair dry really well, take a round brush to the areas you are going to put in the velcro rollers and then put the velcro rollers in your hair. I think I need to buy some smaller rollers for the top of my hair, so my hair curls more. 

I followed the tutorial to a T the first time. The results were GREAT! I actually love it more on the second day. The second day I brush my hair out and curl the ends. The volume is amazing! 

Day 1 - Round 1

Day 2

Day 1 - round 2 

I am wearing a new lipstick from Mary Kay. I forgot that Mary Kay lipstick is my very favorite. 

I really love the results and plan to do this every 3-4 days. I am still trying to go at least 3 days before washing my hair. Baby powder is the best dry shampoo. Suave dry shampoo is great, but baby powder works just as well. I go through a bottle of dry shampoo every 2 weeks. I have a very small bottle of baby powder I have had for months. It is just cheaper and easier to use. 

Quinoa salad

I found a fabulous new quinoa salad recipe. It is super easy and yummy. We took this a couple times last week for lunches. I would eat it with carrots and a pudding. I think we got 6 servings out of the recipe below. 

Ingredients

• 1 cup dry quinoa, rinsed
• 1 tbsp olive oil or coconut oil
• 1 3/4 cup water
• 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 avocado, chopped into chunks
• handful cherry tomatoes, quartered
• 1/2 red onion, diced
• 1 small clove garlic, minced
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped into chunks
• small handful cilantro, diced
• 1 limes, juiced
• 1/2 tsp cumin
• 1/2 tbsp olive oil
• salt, to taste

Directions

1. I cook my quinoa in my rice cooker. I added the chicken bullion to the water for a little extra flavor. If you follow in the instructions from the website it says to toast your quinoa in coconut oil first. I skipped that step. 
2. Let the quinoa cool for about five minutes and then add all the  ingredients. I added a little salt and pepper before I ate it.

Jeremiah 32:17

My dad called me in the middle of all my cancer craziness with a Bible verse for all of us to claim. This verse has brought me a lot of comfort during my trial. If I was am having a rough day I read this verse and remind myself God has control. 

Jeremiah 32:17 (KJV)

Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:

Juicing

I started juicing last week and boy was it an adventure! I did a lot of experimenting with different veggies and fruits. I found somethings I like and other things that are awful! I learned I do not like celery in my juice. Oh my lord it gives it a bitter taste. I cut out the celery and the juice was a TON better. Then I realized I don't like tomato juice in with my green juice. Leave out the celery and tomatoes.

Day 1 I followed this recipe, but I cut it in half. It was perfect for one person.
1 bunch kale

1 bunch spinach

1 cucumber

2 carrots

2 apples

2 tomatoes

4 stalks celery

1 jalapeno

There was no kick or taste of the jalapeno. I was expecting a little bit of spice, but nope. 

It wasn't exactly my favorite, but it was also the first juice I ever made. I think a lot of it has to do with changing my taste buds. I will try this again without the celery and tomatoes. The first day I felt like I was burping up grass all day long. lol That went away after the first day. My body has to adjust to the crazy juices. 

Late Night Snack

Art asked if I was going to make any juice for him. I told him I would make him a juice one night for a night snack. What a better snack then fruit and veggies?  He cracked me up because each drink he took it was like taking a shot. He told me he had to shoot it down to avoid the taste. 

I drank mine so fast I didn't even remember to take a picture. This was my favorite juice! I had to take a picture of Art juice he was slowly shooting down. 

I just grabbed stuff out of the fridge and juiced it - Kale, spinach, apple, pear, strawberries, carrot, sliver of ginger & cucumber

Fruit Juice

The most sweet and easiest drink was a fruity drink. Of course it was a favorite because it was sweet. 

strawberries, carrots, pineapple, and mixed frozen berries. I just threw this one in my blender with a little water. I kept blending it until everything was super fine. 

I juiced 4 out of 7 days. I thought it went a lot better than I expected. I plan to keep juicing for breakfast. I also drink a cup of warm lemon water. I have stopped drinking tea and coffee for awhile. I haven't missed any of the caffeine.

We bought our juicer at Target a few years back. It isn't anything fancy or expensive. To start I recommend buying something cheap. If you continue to juice then upgrade. I don't think you should spend a couple hundred bucks on a juicer if you aren't going to use it all the time. That is just my 2 cents. 

Wordless Wednesday