Lavender Love

So these are some photos from the day before my surgery when I went out for lunch/shopping with a friend to celebrate my birthday. I found some amazing vintage leather boots! I love them very much and with the weather the way it is, I will be wearing them soon! Sorry about the picture quality, these photos did not turn out the way I wanted, I don't like them all that much but I had no time! The dress is much more beautiful in person, with the silver thread all through it. I wore my studded flats becasue we were doing a lot of walking and I did not like any of my heels with this dress for some reason. I included some fun photos of my friend Nakael and I who went for birthday lunch that day! I am off to mend my poor battle wound some more

Love-JennaDBewbsNakael = king of awkward faces Coffee Man

Cupcake Update

Spice and creamcheese
Vanilla, was very pink when you bit in
Lemon&Vanilla

Chocolate Chocolate

Green Lemon

As I may have said before I made 90 CUPCAKES for my birthday party now 2 weeks ago, and unfortunatly I have been unable to share my lovely concoctions with everyone. I'm starting to feel a lot better, walking a bit more (I still have the posture of a 70 year old woman) and getting back to myself. I went to the doctor today and she said I am healing quite well and the staples are coming out on monday!! Yaaay! Also, she read us part of the OR report and the surgery to find/remove the stent was quite difficult, complex and I am very lucky the doctor did an amazing job. So I do have some luck eh?! Hearing all the things that could have/almost went wrong I am so thankful that the doctor did such a great job and took such good care of me. I have amazing people in my life right now and they're keeping a smile on my face and are my reasons to get better quick!

Love- JennaD

Lady Luck

Lady luck as it appears is most certainly not my friend, not on my side and doesn't really like me at all. As I posted I was going in to try to have my stent put in AGAIN. They tried it in may left me with a torn femoral in need of replacement. Well this time they made it a little more interesting. They got in there to see the narrowing of my Aorta was more than they thought (even though we did an MRI, a few echos, ultrasounds etc) they got the stent in though, blew it up (even though they couldn't do it to a "normal" size). Then somehow they lost it..... It became dislodged and floated on down my aorta and somewhere into my abdomen. Time for the emergency Laparotomy, in which they cut me open once again this time my wound is about 8 inches up and down from right below my breasts to right below my belly button....

So I spent my 21st birthday in the hospital...recovering from my second surgery to go wrong in 3 months. Not exactly the way I had planned, I knew I would be in recovery but it was supposed to be an easy 1 week recovery not another 5-7 week recovery. I don't exactly know what this does for my schooling now, but I am not about to think of it.

Worst part of this all? Waking up at 3am with a ventillator shoved down my throat, not knowing where I am, or what had happened to me, alone. Needless to say I panicked. Who wouldn't? Waking up with a tube down my throat was a big fear of mine, and it was just as terrible as I had thought. They had told my family they'd keep me sedated until 7am so they should go home, unfortunatly I came out early.

BUT, I am home now, I am starting to heal after 5 days in the hospital!! I had A LOT of visitors and support throughout all this. My mom slept at the hospital the whole time I was there (which was amazing of her). My wonderful boyfriend was there, my dad, my younger brother and even my older brother drove down from Victoria to see me (!) I have an amazing family and amazing friends who I am so thankful for and I know I can count on. I love everyone so much, and thank them for their support. I got up and was out of bed the very day after the surgery, which absolutly astonished the doctors. They said my scar is healing very well and the staples will be out by next week. I am a fighter and am going to kick recovery's ass I have decided.

BRB

BRB; I'm having heart surgery yet again. Keep fingers and toes crossed that all goes well this time. Think Positive!!

This is a photo of one of my mother's star gazer lillies that I took. They are her favorite and are quite beautiful and smell amazing.

Rainy Day Lover

Another rainy day, this summer I seem to love rainy days because I get them off work. Unfortunatly saturday is my last day of work so I probably should be working BUT I have soo much stuff to do. I am undergoing surgery again on tuesday (august 17th) which is exactly 3 day before I turn 21. Good timing no? Ohhh welll. I am having my birthday party this saturday and it is indeed Surgery Themed! I am getting really excited now, we had a rainout day thursday and again today so I was able to get a lot done. I finally redyed the pink part of my hair and was able to sew my costume yesterday. And I am baking cupcakes...lots and lots of cupcakes. About 60...chocolate, vanilla (with pink dye), lemon (with blue colour dye), and spice. I really love baking cupcakes. Anyways this is the outfit I wore to go shopping with my lovely friend Leandra (who is sadly moving away in september for school). We both got quite a few items and it was a very successful trip. I forgot to add that to my post yesterday, make sure you wear something you like and is comfy/easy to take on and off when shopping. Nothing worse than struggling to take off your clothes and put them back on. I was drinking ginger lemon tea in these photos which I bought in the little town of Barrhead, it's quite excellent tea. Anyways I am enjoying my rain day! Off to check the cupcakes :)

Love, JennaD outfit: tshit-forever 21, jacket-little shop in Barrhead, scarf-Liquidationworld (seriously!), sandals-army&navy, jeans-Mauvi

Tips for the smart shopper

My friend and I are going shopping later on this week and I feel there are a few tips one should follow before they go on a serious shopping trip to keep themselves sane. There are so many stores, styles, and options that this whole experience can become quite overwhelming. In getting overwhelmed you can make a snap decision, purchase an item you 1) don't really want/need 2) is more than you really want to pay 3) doesn't necessarily suite your style. When you walk into a store jampacked with items, loud music pumping on the speakers and the heat cranked up too high it could be the makings to a shopping fiasco. I personally love shopping whether it's vintage, thrift shopping, or simply going to the mall, I think of it almost as a sport. And I'd like to believe I've become quite a good shopper out of my experiences.

1. First and foremost, EAT SOMETHING, make sure you've had a meal before you begin your shopping trip. Nothing is worse than a tummy making rumbles, feeling dizzy from lack of food or getting frustrated because you're undernourished. You need fuel people, shopping takes a lot of energy, sometimes a lot of patience, and sometimes a lot of walking. Make sure you don't just eat anything, eat something healthy, and better yet something that won't make you bloat up. Also take it easy on the caffine, nothing worse than being so jittery and hyped up that you think that the cowboy boots, mini pink tutu and striped top is a great sartoral choice....picture that....
2. Bring a good shopping companion, or go it alone. Depending on what you prefer. Don't bring your ultra hipster friend if your style is more boho chic, you will clash on ideas and maybe something she (or he) doesn't like isn't because it doesn't look great you just have different views. Take someone who is HONEST (but not cruelly so..) when you ask for someone's opinion nothing is more frustrating then a shrug and a "yeah it's alright"...thanks for that! Also, in my experience if you want to do a lot of shopping, don't bring the boyfriend, he will get bored, he may get moody, and chances are he thinks you'd look best in a mini skirt and bra (sorry, they're a visual gender). Not exactly the chic look you're going for no? However, some men are good to bring, I bring mine and every now and then, especially because I know we have different views on fashion, I like getting pieces he and I both enjoy. But on those days when I want to get a lot done, going it myself and listening to that little voice in my head helps me think clearer.
3. Have an idea of what you're looking for. Or else you will get lost, confused, and end up purchasing things you don't need. Know what item's you need, not just lust for. There's no point in buying a bunch of lovely new tops if you have absolutly no bottoms to wear it with...
4. Know your style know your style! The ability to realize what you will and will not wear is important, you need to buy items that will fit in with and be able to mix with all your other clothes. Of course you should buy certain stand out pieces, but when you buy things that aren't really your "style" you may end up not wearing it ever. I'm not saying you have to be "rocker" or "relaxed chic" etc, I mix elements from all different areas, but I know when something just isn't me, no matter how badly I want to be able to pull it off, it won't be me. I know in my heart I am not a bohemian type of girl, although I love the way these clothes look and the air of the individuals who do it well, it would look on me as if i were playing dress up...Sigh.
5. Know your body, your shape, your size. You will purchase unflattering clothing if you don't have an understanding of your body and what silhouettes flatter you. It doesn't matter if you're 5'11 or 5'3, 120 lbs or 190 lbs...learn what flatters YOUR body, not anyone elses and you will be on the right track, it will make shopping easier. You will know what you're looking for.
6. BUDGET, I cannot stress this enough....know how much you're willing to spend or else I can gaurentee you will spend more than what you're comfortable with, and no matter how splendid your purchases, they cannot fill up your tank of gas or pay for your lunch!
7. Do not buy something just for the sake of buying it and having something new. Oh the times I have done this, and worn the thing once and left it in my closet to gather dust. Especially don't do this if it's something super trendy...not a good idea.
8. Have fun already, it's just shopping, it's not like you're taking the MCAT. It should be fun, to touch and pull through racks of clothing, to try numerous things on and off even if you don't necessarily buy anything it gives you a good idea of what does and does not work.