Three Ways to Wear Cool Tones Top & CRPS P.T. O.O.T.D.

Do you like all my acronyms? :) Here are a few ways I've worn out my Cool Tones Top from Anthropologie taken from my outfit archives. I think I really wore it more during the fall and winter last year than I did during the warmer months. I prefer it layered over a shirt -- surprise.

Here it is layered over my favorite layering top, the Pure and Good Slub Tee.  They are perfect for layering as they are thin, just low enough at the neck, and have interesting detail at the neck and cuff.

Then I threw on one of my favorite blazers, the Flipside Blazer. 

CRPS / RSD Update (Click here for more information about this condition.)
So far so good on the Lyrica. As I said before, it makes me extremely sleepy when I take it before bed, but it doesn't give me a lingering hung over feeling in the morning. I woke up with a horrendous headache yesterday that never really went away. I still had it when I went to bed, but no headache today. I'm not sure if this is even related to the Lyrica or Tramadol. So I hope this helps anyone else like me that was scared to take this drug.

In physical therapy today, we started with desentization exercises. She gently rubbed my foot all over for about 5 lovely, wonderful minutes and then she switched to rubbing it with a soft piece of material, then to a sheet, and then she rubbed it all over with a rough towel. Apparently, one of the nice symptoms of RSD, which I have yet to feel thank goodness, is extreme sensitivity to touch. So part of my treatment will be activities such as these to try to keep this from happening. We then moved on to the usual abc's, circles, and towel stretches, but she added heel raises, toe taps, and toe scrunches. I've been very impressed with both therapists I've seen. We laughed the whole time about one thing or another and especially when I would catch my other foot trying to go through the same motions as the bad foot. It was hilarious. I had to really concentrate to keep my good foot still. It's like the good foot was rooting on the bad foot, "Come on little buddy, you can do it! Like this -- see?" Yes, if you haven't figured it out yet, I'm a dork. ha, ha.

Here's my Physical Therapy OOTD. :)

My new and improved stabilizer boot. This one fits much better.

V.B.

Anthro Items for Review - Helpful for Popbacks?

More items that I scored during the sale at Anthropologie this December. 

I get better photo quality when I take the photos in the bathroom, but it is so much easier with my foot issues to just take them in my closet, so deal with the white specks. :D It's becoming my signature look after all.

Borderline Belt
In my humble opinion, this is the perfect belt to go with the Tweedy Leaves Dress. It has to be buckled on the 1st or 2nd buckle for the buckle to align perfectly, so you may want to size up. I tend to wear my belts higher so this works for me. When I tried to wear this with the Peppering Skirt, it sat lower and I had to buckle it on the 3rd buckle which made it off centered. It is actually a black belt with brown weaving, but still looks fine with this dress.

Tying it on with a dress to decide if the belt is a keeper.

Renewed Folds Pullover

I love this top. It has shoulder pads! I'm still debating on whether to take them out.

Avery Pullover

I got this for 50% off sale. Should I keep it or am I suffering once again from my well documented 7 Stages of Anthro Shopper Mind Control Disorder? Help! (You won't hurt my feelings.)

Essentially Yours Top

Almost paper thin but very soft. You have to wear a camisole under this and a neutral colored bra as well. I love the slight cowl neck. This will make a great layering shirt, and will give my poor Pure and Good Slub Tee a much needed break. :) I would love to score a popback in the red.

Essentially yours,

V.B.

Advantage In Skirt Outfits and Foot Update

Advantage Skirt with: Thick and Thin Henley Top, Coral Petal Top, Borrowed Blazer, Bisected Bow Jacket and Redux Jacket.

Some of you possibly, maybe purchased the Advantage In Skirt last year. It didn't get the greatest reviews, but I had really been wanting a gray denim skirt to wear with my black Hunter boots, so I took the plunge. I like it, but I don't love it. Since I got it on deep sale, I'm fine with this. I don't love it because it isn't lined and is therefore prone to static issues when wearing it with tights, which leads to the whole slip issue. Who wants to wear a slip with a casual denim skirt? Plus, it tends to poof a bit if the pleats aren't ironed and starched. I'm much pickier about issues like this now, and have to really love something if I'm going to deal with a slip or ironing. (I prefer to steam.)

Anyway, I'm dredging these photos from the archives as today was my first day of physical therapy, so my outfit was not photo worthy and I was too tired to finish trying on the last of my purchases and returns. I promise I'll get that done soon.

So on with the outfits . . .

These are photos of one of my infamous try-on sessions last year.

Coral Petals Top, Redux Jacket

Coral Petals Top under sweater

Bisected Bow Jacket

Thick and Thin Henley. I love this shirt. It goes with so many different types of outfits

Borrowed Blazer

I'm going to update my foot stuff at the bottom of outfit/review posts from now on, for those who are reading for updates with my tendon/RSD saga. In that way, my fashion friends can just skip over that stuff. It's easier just to plop it all here in this one blog. 

Quick Foot Update:

Day 1 of physical therapy. Physical therapist measured foot, measured range of motion, felt for pain areas. I did circles, alphabet movements with toes, and stretching to improve range of motion. My poor foot can hardly move and it went into spasms almost the whole time. He told me this is typical of RSD. Yay! I don't want to be classic, typical RSD. Boo. I'm so out of shape that even with Lyrica in my system and a whole pain pill, my leg ached a few hours later. I mean, ACHED from just doing little movements with my foot. That's pitiful. :)

Day 1 of Lyrica (and taking pain pills the way I'm supposed to.) 

The doctor told me Lyrica would help trick my nervous system into thinking nothing is wrong and would help me with the spasms, pins and needles, cold sensations and shooting pains. I didn't want to take it because the side effects are scary, but he told me that taking it, and managing my pain might just be all I need to beat this as we caught it early. 

I weighed this morning -- 108.8. We will see if I gain weight or bloat up as I was warned I might. I am going to allow for the P.F. Chang's spring rolls, crab wontons, and chicken low mein that I had for lunch and then dinner today. ha, ha. 

Day 1 Results?
It's amazing how much better it feels not to be in pain all the time. I guess I should have been taking my pain medicine regularly this whole time. duh :) The Lyrica did not make me feel dizzy or tipsy as some have said. I felt fine today. It did make me very sleepy. I took the first one last night along with my usual Tramadol, and it helped me have one of my best night's sleep in a long time. (My foot usually bothers me all night and keeps me up even with a whole pain pill.) When I woke up at 8:00, I was sleepy, but not an unmanageable sleepy. After a couple of cups of coffee, I was good to go. Even after taking a whole pain pill, which I'm not used to doing during the day, I still wasn't so sleepy that I couldn't concentrate or felt like nodding off. It was just a normal, tired feeling -- the kind we all deal with at work after not sleeping well. I have been fighting taking a nap all day, but never felt like I just had to go to sleep. So, that's good. That means so far, so good. I'll be able to take these pills when I go back to work next week. I have high hopes now for Lyrica helping me with my issues. Hooray!

The physical therapy is starting to sink in now. My foot is really talking to me, but that is to be expected. I go back to P.T. on Friday and we will do more. He wants to start slowly because of the RSD and also, he couldn't read my doctor's directions for P.T. so he didn't want to do anything else until he got someone to decipher it. How hilarious is that? :D

Till tomorrow,
V.B.

CRPS: Watch Your Step! You better watch your step . . .

This is sound advice! I love Elvis Costello, and I wish I had indeed watched my step that fateful night because I got some bad news from my doctor today.

The lovely culprit.

Well, if you've been following me, you are aware that I started this blog as a means of distraction during a period of bed rest following tendon/ligament/nerve damage in my foot from a klutzy near fall in my Tom's wedges. :) In between sharing outfits incorporating my stylish air stabilizer boot, I've been trying to document my foot woes in case this may be helpful for others out there with similar issues. :)

I've been dealing with pain, swelling, spasms, cold, numbness, color changes, and pins and needles sensations in my foot for 13 weeks. (Photo of foot at the bottom of this post.) Today I finally went to the foot specialist and received the diagnosis I feared -- Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) formally referred to as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome (RSD). Thanks to excellent doctors, it has been caught early, so my chances of beating this, or causing it to go into remission are much better. Lucky for me, my bones are unaffected at this point. A lovely side effect of this syndrome is loss of bone density and muscle atrophy.

My doctor got onto me for not taking my pain medicine at the full dosage, (I've been taking 1/2 a pill on an irregular basis, and a whole pill only when the pain is really aggravating. I hate how pain meds make me feel.) and he told me that I must take Lyrica to manage the nerve issues. My previous doctor suspected RSD, and prescribed Lyrica but I wouldn't take it. I mean, have you heard the side effects in those commercials? ACK! He reassured me about the possible weight gain with Lyrica, telling me that it is usually as a result of water retention and will go away when I stop taking the medicine. Of course, that's what I fixated on, not the "thoughts of suicide" part of the side effects. ha, ha.

Anyway, my doctor is hopeful that physical therapy coupled with Lyrica and nerve blocks, could have me looking at getting better in 2 or 3 more months. I'm to continue walking with the boot, but I did get a new, lighter boot. :) I start physical therapy tomorrow and will see a Pain Management Specialist to look at my next steps which possibly include sympathetic nerve blocks. He stressed the most important thing I can do right now is manage the pain, as pain sensations somehow tie into the whole wacky nerve response and this makes the RSD worse, as does stress.

I am naturally, very upset right now, but I will fight this and get through it as I get through everything through prayer and familial support, with a hefty dose of laughter and a side of goofiness. :D

Come back to me, V.B.!

After all, there are multiple rows of lovely, lonely shoes beckoning to me from my closet.

I CAN'T LET THEM DOWN!!!!

Yours truly, 

V.B.

Christmas OOTD: What are you in for? Repeat Outfit Offender

Stick 'em up, I've got a gun in my pocket, AND I'm not afraid of repeating variations of the same outfits within a few weeks period -- just TRY ME! :)

Example of my DUH posing.

On a more serious note, I was so happy to attend service at my church on Christmas Day. We sang lots of Christmas hymns and listened to an uplifting sermon, which helped to put the day into perspective for what it is really meant to be -- a celebration of the birth of Christ. 

I was a multiple repeat outfit offender thoughout the day. However, no one I was with was harmed in the process, nor has seen any of the said outfits, except for maybe my dad, and that's okay. :) I wore a variation of the Lucerna Dress pictured here (with a cream camisole) to church and then changed into a Christmas version of the Arched Pleats Pullover outfit to hang out with my family at my Dad's house. This was a difficult year for all of us, as my mother passed away in February of last year, so this was our first Christmas without her. 

Arched Pleats Pullover, Ann Taylor Loft shirt, Sweeping Pips necklace

Gasp! A real photo without speckles. I tried to get my husband to take a few shots, but too late, I discovered that he zoomed in on all of them but this one, so you couldn't actually see the outfit, bless his heart, so here are the normal inside shots below. For some reason, these came out pretty decent -- I have no idea why. I was even tempted not to crop out my head, but I just don't feel comfortable having my face out "there."

Arched Pleats Pullover with Banana Republic coat, and part of my head

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! I finally get to see the foot specialist tomorrow, so here's to hoping for some good news . . . . 

Sincerely,

V.B.

Anthropologie Sale Reviews Part 3

Reviews of: Scavenger Hunt Bracelet in clear and grey, Peppering Skirt, Twisted Ascot Tee, Fleeting Seas Top, Borderline Belt, Arched Pleats Pullover, Renewed Fold Pullover

Just some quick photos of sale stuff. I'm not really going to do much commentary this time. For one reason, I'm not really sure if anyone is reading these posts and it takes a long time to put them together. However, I know how helpful it is for me to see items on someone that is similar in size to me, so hopefully this might help someone in deciding on some last minute 50% off sale purchases. 

I'm lucky in that there is a store about 30 minutes away from me, but I would much rather order from home, try on the clothes with what I have and then send back what doesn't work. Plus, when I do go to the store, most of what I am looking for isn't there or I can't find it in my size. That is why I love all the bloggers out there willing to put up photos and take the time to write up reviews for the community. It really helps me when deciding what to order.

All items pictured are XS or 0. I am on the high end of what is considered petite, at 5'4, and my weight fluctuates between 108 to 110. I'm not linking to anything because I'm pretty sure all of these items have sold out by now. 

These photos are up to my usual high standards -- enjoy. :D

Scavenger Hunt Bracelets

I am so happy with these. They didn't photograph well, (shocking) but they fit my twig wrists very well as is. The bracelets are adjustable but I don't want to mess with them! It is so hard for me to find bracelets, so I'm very pleased and happy that I scored these on sale. I'll probably get my crafty friend to trim the ends and reknot them as the ends are a bit dangly on me.

Scavenger Hunt Bracelet

Peppering Skirt and Twisted Ascot Tee

I just got this skirt and the bracelets yesterday. I waffled back and forth on the skirt and even deleted it from my wishlist at one point, only to put it back in. When I woke up bright and early for the 50% off sale, I couldn't believe it was sitting there in my wishlist for $35! I was worried about it being garish, but as others have said, photos don't do this skirt justice. I couldn't get any really good photos of the side or back, but the pattern continues and is just lovely. Reviewers around the same height as me, seemed to feel the length was too long, but I like the length on me. It falls just past my knees. However, it isn't a good length for boots. It needs to be longer or shorter, so it will be awhile until I can wear this skirt! :'(

I didn't want to take the time to decide between these photos, so I just threw them all on here. I always take photos of potential pairings with new items. It makes getting ready so much easier when you can grab your phone or iPad and look up potential outfits. It also helps me to see what I like and don't like together. For example, I tried on the Wispy Pointelle Cardi and liked it until I saw it in the photos.

I haven't been this enthused about an outfit in awhile. Excuse the awkwardness of the poses, but I was determined to try on this outfit with normal shoes so I had to prop my bad foot on my dressing stool. I'm wearing last year's Prized Peep Toe shoes in these pictures.

No belt

Awkward side view with Wispy Cardi. Look how sad my other leg looks -- the muscle is just gone after 3 months of no walking.

Borderline Belt

I really like the texture and contrasting colors on this belt, but it is one of those belts that doesn't center right with the buckle unless you are the perfect size. I'll need to try it on with more and experiment to decide if it is a keeper. 

Here it is with an Urban Outfitter's knock off  belt I got off of Ebay. The belt stunk to high heaven, but after airing out on my deck for a few days, the smell went away. These are easy to find. I think I paid around $12 or less, can't remember. I have it in chocolate brown as well.

Ta Dah! I wish I had a photographer to take a photo of this completed look because the photos don't bring out much, I'm afraid, but I love this with the Redux Jacket. 

Fleeting Seas Top

Ack! Not more gray! I swear I'm not buying anything else gray, unless it is really, really cool. I threw this in the cart because it was so cheap, I couldn't resist. It said Navy and in my hurry to be sure I got the skirt, I guess I didn't notice how very gray it is! It is really cute and I do love stripes. 

Arched Pleats Pullover, Renewed Folds Pullover

I wore this out last night. It looks kind of late 80's but I like it. :)

I love this jacket. I went into Marshalls last year to get some tights and walked out with three coats, all under $40 dollars each and very unique. I think the brand is Coffee Shop.??? I'm not going to pull on my boot or crawl to the closet to check the label. :) It was really hard to decide between all the cute coats they had that day. 

That's all folks for today. I do have more I can share if anyone is interested. Are these reviews helpful? Anyone out there? :) It's time to order the Honeybaked Ham.

Yours truly,

V.B.

Reviews: In Time for Sale

Here's a start to reviews of some of my recent purchases. I'll post another round later.

It's gray and rainy here today, so I bring you  . . . GRAY reviews! Catalan Tee, Arched Pleat Pullover, Standby Ode Chemise and a boring OOTD.

I have a problem -- gray! Ack. I actually got ready yesterday and went to my Dad's house to watch The Closer. So, while I was up and about, I quickly snapped a few photos of some of my recent purchases and they are all GRAY, although various shades of gray, I might add. Ha, ha. I do have a lot of color in my closet, but I seem to be gravitating towards gray in my more recent purchases. All of the tops are an XS and fit true to size.

Catalan Tee
First up, the Catalan Tee. I got this with my birthday discount. (I told you I was going to end up wearing this Sweeping Pips necklace to death.)

This is my husband's favorite shirt of the bunch. He usually makes comments like, "Oh, that's nice." (yawn) or, likens my shirts to something from Star Trek or the Renaissance, so when he gives an unsolicited thumbs up compliment on something, it is a keeper! Of course, I end up keeping the Princess Leia (Swivel Revolutions Top) and Renaissance Fair Tops (FP Henley) as well. :D

Arched Pleat Pullover:

The Arched Pleat Pullover is so soft and pretty. It is sold out online, but is probably hanging about the sales room waiting for you to purchase it at -- 50% off sale! I threw it on just to see what it would look like over the Catalan Tee. This is another one of my birthday presents from my dad that I am on the fence about. I kind of liked it over this tee even though it was a bit bunchy at the bottom. My husband's response -- "What is that?"  I guess I need to try it on with more things, but I love the idea of it.

Edit: This is now my favorite sweater. I can't stop wearing it. It looks great over button downs, t-shirts, and dresses. Check here for a more detailed review and here for an outfit post.

This is my bemused look -- does this pullover look effortlessly cool or stupid over this bunchy top?

Pilcro cords, Target sweater, Anthro necklace

This is an Anthropologie necklace, but I don't know the name. It is almost identical to the Rings and Things necklace -- just longer. I've actually worn them together before. It's another one of my favorite necklaces, but is VERY delicate. I got it caught in my chair at work and it broke apart in two places. Here it is though, as good as new. :D

Okay, blah, blah. These posts are so time consuming. I don't see how you regular poster ladies do it and go to work. Blah, blah . . . until next time.

XOXO,
V.B.

Three Month Tendon/Ligament/Nerve Issues Foot Update

Three Month Foot Update:

If you read my posts for clothing reviews and outfit posts feel free to skip this one.
I'm working on a reviews post that will be up soon, but I wanted to do a quick update on my foot since documenting this process is one of the main reasons I started this blog. I searched all over google to find someone with similar issues without much luck, so I hope my story will help someone else in need of answers with tendon/ligament and nerve issues in the foot.

Sunday marked 3 months without being able to walk without the aid of crutches or my air stabilizer boot. The most aggravating aspect, besides not being able to WALK or wear cute shoes? Going to the bathroom at night. This involves crawling from the bed to the rolling chair strategically placed at the entrance of the bathroom, heaving myself in the chair from the floor and then rolling in the chair to the "throne" and then repeating the whole process in reverse. This is not conducive to a restful night's sleep. :)

The swelling has gone down since I've been staying off of it this week, but it is still painful and changes colors when I hang it down while sitting in a chair, etc. My appointment with the foot specialist is finally around the corner -- Dec. 27th. I hope to get some more answers and a more realistic healing time frame. I am on a 2 week break from work which will be spent primarily in bed or on the couch with my foot propped up. Not so much fun, but I have got to heal this stupid foot. Here's my advice, readers -- don't do soft tissue damage to any area of your body, but especially your foot. This has been a LONG haul.

Since I started this blog out of boredom due to my foot issues, I'm going to document my foot color changes at the bottom of this post for any readers that have stopped by with similar issues -- tendon, ligament tears and nerve damage (Also, RSD or CRPS have been brought up, but I don't think that is what is wrong. I don't have the burning sensation and sensitivity to touch, thank the Lord! My P.A. brought this up, and it is one of the reasons I'm seeing a specialist.)

Warning! Do not scroll below if you are squeamish. However, it's just a photo of a "normal" foot that is purplish-red.


























The scars are from my Skew Foot (Z foot) surgeries. These photos were taken after the swelling went down. My foot only turns this color now when it hangs down -- sitting, crawling, crutches, etc. It looks normal otherwise. The bottom of my foot also turns a deep purple, especially behind the toe area. The reddish-purple color extends a bit up my leg as well. When it turns this color, the prickly pins and needle sensations increase and it either feels internally and externally much colder or warmer than the other foot. This is the most disturbing part of my foot "issues." :)
Update: I've now been diagnosed as having RSD or also known as CRPS. UGH! More here.

CRPS in right foot after tendon and ligament tears.

Made to Measure Tee Review & Week 11 Foot Update & Grainy Archive Outfit - Yay!

I've got basically nothing in the way of reviews or new outfit photos but I did get my sale and 25% off discount items today and I love them all, so reviews will be upcoming, but probably not until the weekend because I reinjured my stupid foot. Yes, I REINJURED my already injured foot! UGH! My goal was to rest up over winter break and hopefully move from the air boot to something less awkward. I hope this is still possible!

Made to Measure Tee

I do want to give a head's up quickie review of the Made to Measure Tee by Weston Wear. I tried it on today in my usual XS and it was WAAAAAY too tight in the stomach area. It fits well everywhere else, but the ruching in the stomach area is just too clingy and uncomfortable. I think I have only sized up to a small a total of two times in the 6 years I've shopped at Anthropologie, so I'd say this top runs small in the waistline. I'm going to exchange it for a small and hope for the best, because I really like the color, pattern and sleeves. I own a couple of Weston Wear dresses and they fit perfectly in XS, so I am surprised at the fit of this top. I'll post a photo of the small when I get it.

As for the foot, one of my students lunged into me without looking, stepped on my injured foot and caused me to slightly turn the foot as I struggled not to fall over. It is more swollen and painful than it was and is discolored again, so I'll need to rest up before doing another round of photos. 

It's a good thing I have all these great outfit photos saved up to share, now isn't it? Ha, ha. Here's a couple of ways I've worn this wool skirt my mother gave me.

Curtain Call Top & Rings and Things Necklace

This is a great top. It looks very professional tucked into a skirt, but also doubles as a lovely asymmetrical tunic for a "going out" look with skinny jeans and heels. I got the Rings and Things necklace on sale last year for $10 on a "Why not? It's only $10 whim" and ended up wearing it to death last year. I wore it so much, I'm actually tired of it now. :)

Anselle Necklace

I love this outfit as it has a nice vintage feel to it. I only wish the photos could do it justice. Well, that's all for now. Time to prop the old throbbing foot up. Until next time . . . whining over and out. :D

Review: Crochet Cuff Henley

Motor cuff Henley

I pounced during a recent discount promotion and bought two, because I couldn't decide between charcoal and black and oh, who am I kidding, we all know I have a problem with multiple color buying. Ha, ha. (cough)

Crochet Cuff Henley

I asked my husband and his response was, and I quote, "Are you planning on wearing that to the Renaissance Fair? If so, then it is  Kicka$$." He is so not helpful!

Traveling Minstrel - Where's me flute?
according to my husband

I think the detailing is more apparent in the charcoal version, but the black version is going to be more versatile and less Renaissance Fairish as the tepee like stitching in the back is barely noticeable in the black colorway. I love it for its layering potential. I layer a lot and it is nice to have options instead of wearing the same old shirts underneath all the time. However, I would wear this alone for a casual weekend or going out look.

Details and Sizing:

Long sleeve scoop neck Henley with elaborate floral crochet detailing along the sleeves. 6-button placket. Ribbed collar. Shirt tail hem. Features raw seam detailing along the back.

*100% cotton

*Machine wash

*Import 

Measurements for Size Small:

Length: 28"

Chest: 31"

Waist: 26"

As for sizing, I usually wear an XS in Anthropologie clothes and I got an XS in this. 

Here's some shots of the shirts. I just quickly threw on some things I typically layer with in the fall/winter. These are by no means outfits. It's funny, my gut feeling was to keep the black, but now I'm not even sure I want the black. This is why it is worth taking photos of outfits.

I really like this combo. My dad gave this Free People vest to me last year for Christmas.

.

With the Triple Strap Tank