Pull It Up

When I first started seeing my trainer at Crunch, I couldn't do one pull up (on the machine) without her assistance. Yesterday, I did 3 sets of 10 all by myself. I was so proud and excited. Slowly but surely I am getting my strength and muscles back. Yay for the human body.

Fly Me To MARS Nail Salon

I have a new obsession...Mars Nail Salon on Melrose. I may have written about this place already but I don't care, I'm writing about it again. They do the best manicure I've ever had. Just a plain old manicure, not even gel, lasts at least a week with no chips.  It's kinda like going to the spa for your nails. They are so accommodating and so sweet. They give you tea and a cookie when you are done. Yesterday, I got me some early Valentine's Day nails.  I can't stop looking at them.
http://www.mars-salon.com/los/index.html

I Have A Thrush On You

About 2 weeks ago, I had an upper respiratory infection and had to go on antibiotics and steroids. While the meds made my infection go away and make me feel better, they left me with oral thrush. Sounds sexy, right? Now this is going to sound way worse than it is, but pretty much it's a yeast infection in your mouth. My tongue felt like it did right after chemo. It was coated and felt like I burned it. I took an anti-fungal med and it cleared it up. Part of the problem is that my immune system is still not 100% back to normal. Not a big deal. For a few days I didn't know what it was and just dealt the the discomfort, but now I'm back on track folks and ready to eat spicy meatballs.

**update** I tricked everyone. The thrush didn't go away like I thought. It came back and now I am on meds for a week. Ah the joys of a weak immune system.

SUR-per Bowl Saturday

At first I was a bit embarrassed that I watched Vanderpump Rules. Then I thought, "what the hell is wrong with me? This is GREAT TV." I found that many, many women my age feel the same way. This past Saturday, a handful of great girlfriends and I went to Sur, the restaurant where all the train wrecks work on Vanderpump Rules. The first person we see when we walk in is Peter. I would have been satisfied with that, but it got better. A few of the girls saw Kristen, but I missed her. We sat at our table and ordered tasty beverages and enjoyed the scenery. One of my friends got up to use the bathroom and when she came back, she reported that Jax and Tom were working the bar. Well shoot, this is the best night ever. The food was mediocre and the service wasn't great, but we were more going for the "celebrity" sitings. When we left, a couple of us took pictures of Jax and Tom, like jerks. There was also a huge line of people waiting to get in. I don't know that I'd initiate going back because it was such a scene and the food wasn't that good but if someone asked me to go again, I might oblige just to see Jax again.

Girly Sur Night

Jax bartending

Party Lashes In The House Tonight

My eyelashes are taking their sweet time to grow, so I decided to get some falsies put on today that last up to a week. They are a bit dramatic and look nothing like my natural lashes, but they are fun and make me feel a bit more feminine.
I got them done at Makeup Mandy. They've done lashes and makeup for me before. It's a cute lil shop on Melrose and all the girls are super sweet.  http://www.makeupmandy.com/

Tamoxifen Shortage?

For the next 5-10 years, I need to be on a pill called Tamoxifen. It lowers the estrogen in my knockers, which helps prevent a recurrence. Last week I went to pick up  my prescription and they told me they were almost out of stock and it was on back order but she could give me 5 pills to last me the week. They called me today and said they are still on back order and the manufacturer doesn't know when they will ship. I started to freak out a little but thought, "okay I'll just try a different pharmacy." I called 6 pharmacies in my area before I found one that had them in stock. What I don't get is how can a medication like this be on back order? It's not a pain reliever or an antacid. It's a pill that saves lives. So of course, I start going to the dark side. I start thinking that breast cancer is becoming such an epidemic that they can't keep up with the number of pills compared to the number of women who need it. Then I went really cookoo and thought it was the government doing it on purpose for population control. They are the ones halting production so some of us don't get better. I don't really believe that, but it did cross my mind. Luckily, I will be picking mine up this Friday. Ha ha, government, you can't get me!

My First Haircut

I got my first real haircut today since finishing chemo. It was growing more in the back and sides then on the top and needed to be cleaned up a bit. I wouldn't have trusted it with anyone but my amazing hair stylist, Jordana Lorraine. She works wonders and for those of you with hair a bit longer than mine, she does an amazing Brazilian Blowout. It looks like I have an actual pixie cut now that I did on purpose. Thanks, Jordana!!!
 http://jordanalorraine.com/Jordana_Lorraine_Home.html

Follow Ups On My Follow Ups

I had 2 follow up doctor's appointments today and they went great. I actually had 3 appointments, but 1 was with my amazing therapist. She keeps me sane. I met with my surgeon who told me I am doing fantastic. My left knocker is still a bit swollen and she said it could take up to a year for it to go down and if it doesn't go down, I can have plastic surgery, which is not exactly exciting right now haha. My oncologist also told me I looked good. She said the same thing about the swelling. I've been struggling a bit with Tamoxifen and mood swings/anxiety.  I've been waiting it out to see if would get any better but it's not so I think I am going to have to go on an antidepressant. I'm not thrilled but I know I have to stay on Tamoxifen for at least 5 years so if I need a lil antidepressant help in the meantime, then so be it. I won't have any major doctor's appointments 'til March, which is great.

The Vacation That Almost Wasn't

For NYE last year, we were supposed to go up to the San Luis Obispo area, but then I got diagnosed and we had to cancel it. It sucked but it was life. This NYE we decided to take the trip that we didn't get to take last year. It was fabulous. We stayed at Sycamore Mineral Springs in a house and had our own everything, including 2 mineral springs hot tubs. We saw Hearst Castle, took a tour in Paso Robles, which included a couple wineries, a brewery, an olive oil farm and a coffee house. We went hiking and drank beers on the pier in Avila Beach. Actual NYE was a bit mellow. We were so tired from the day, that we just hung at the hotel and watch Ryan Seacrest, but it was perfect. I am so glad my family and I finally got to take this trip. I cannot wait to see what 2014 has in store for me!!

Darren getting pumped for NYE

Drinking beers on the pier

Outside a lil antique store in Cambria

Veris Wine Tasting Room in Paso Robles

Photo at Hearst Castle