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.

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

7 Week Anniversary of Foot Injury and Passerine Tee Outfit

In honor of the seven week anniversary of my foot injury, I thought I'd share my fall version of the Passerine Tee. It's only fitting as this is the top I was wearing when I wrenched my foot. I haven't worn it since, but decided to wear it out yesterday. Read on below for an update on my stupid foot. :D

I love to layer. Here's the Passerine Tee paired with my FAVORITE layering shirt, the Pure and Good Slub Tee. It is very delicate, so I hand wash it and hang it flat to dry. I have this tee in black, white and red and wish I had been able to find all the colors on sale last year. This is one of my favorite necklaces (Target). 

 Below is the finishing touch -- my favorite boyfriend blazer, The Borrowed Blazer. It seems like the year this jacket came out, Anthropologie had a ton of great jackets and blazers. I had a hard time choosing and wish now I had gotten more than a couple as lately none of the blazers have really appealed to me.

Borrowed Blazer

Foot Update

My foot has gotten worse over the past couple of weeks. It feels like it is always waking up from being asleep -- pins and needles feeling. Sometimes it feels ice cold and turns red or blue tinged. I get twitches/spasms in my foot and sharp shooting pains. My whole foot went from slightly swollen to yuck swollen all over. The severity of swelling, color changes and temperature changes come and go and now the bottom part of my leg is also twitchy and cold feeling as well. It just feels miserable. I went from taking an occasional Naproxen to having to take pain pills every day for the pain which makes me very sleepy all the time. I'm a VERY active, hyper person so this is driving me crazy! 

So, I had another MRI done last week. My tibialis posterior tendon is stretched with multiple tears and the tendon running along the ankle on the other side of my foot is also stretched. My whole foot is inflammed and filled with fluid -- tenosynovitis and tendinosis, there is also ligament damage, AND I have arthritis in several places from the surgeries for my skew feet. Most of this I already knew, although I wondered why the other side of my foot was swollen and hurt and now know that tendon was wrenched as well. That was the good news. Ha, ha. 

The bad news? The doctor brought up RSD (Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome) or Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome (RSDS/CRPS). Yikes! He asked us if we knew what it is and gave a brief overview of nerves going haywire resulting in pain. He then talked about next steps and referred me to another doctor. This went over our heads because I really still didn't understand how serious this condition is. When my husband asked about a time frame for recovery, we were told this was a chronic disabling condition characterized by intense pain with no cure. Well, that got our attention, and we started asking more questions! Of course, I googled it right away and wish I hadn't.  One of my friends at work told me that this is what Dr. House has that makes him pop drugs all the time. GREAT! 

I need your prayers. I am refusing to believe this and am hoping that my foot is just so messed up with inflammation that this is causing my nerve responses. Plus, this wasn't a diagnosis just a suggestion of what it looks like is going on with my foot. So, pray, pray. Did I mention, pray? :)

Skew Feet and Much Rambling About Nothing

This top is one of my latest sale purchases. I really like it paired with the Biloba Necklace. (Note to self: avoid taking photo with CRAZY Hand next time.) 

I'm enjoying playing with my blog and hanging out with my imaginary readers. Ha, ha. I've been following (lurking about) several blogs for about a year now. I have the GREATEST respect for all the hard work that is put into posting reviews and outfit posts. I can't imagine keeping up with my "fake" blog once I start back to work next week.

Peeled Porcelain Top, Biloba Necklace, AG Stevie Cords (wine)

SKEW FEET

I've had feet issues my whole life. I was born with a rare foot disorder called Skew feet or Z feet. My feet always hurt and I sprained my ankle a few times as a child, but it wasn't until I started running track in middle school that the skew feet were discovered. I LOVED to run but it hurt. One day, my foot cracked mid stride on my way to get the mail. After healing from that, I spent the next two years off and on in a wheel chair and crutches from two separate surgeries to reset the bones in my feet. Even though the surgeries were pretty successful, I was told I would have issues as I aged, including early onset arthritis from the surgeries. 

Well, that day has come. Even though the injury was klutz related, it probably wouldn't have happened if I'd had normal feet. The X-rays and MRI for my hurt foot show fraying joints and arthritis as well. I'm taking it easy as I want to be able to run again and . . . wear my Tom's wedges. Ha, ha. I'll worry about arthritis etc. as I get older. 

Further Procrastination: Drapey Bubbled Tee Outfit

Drapey Bubbled Tee,
Providence Necklace

I've now moved from the bed to the couch. Still bored. I thought about checking out an ebook but then that would cause me to not do my work, which I'm not doing anyway, so I'll just keep playing on my computer, lucky reader. I have the whole week off, so I can just procrastinate another day.

Before, tearing my tendon, I was in pretty good shape. I ran, exercised and led an active lifestyle. Now I just sit around, watch my muscles atrophy, and eat. Here are some headless photos of what I used to look like, or rather what I hope I continue to look like sans regular exercise routine. (As I'm typing this, I'm eating a Ghiradelli Intense Dark Twilight Delight.)

I found it to be easier to get ready in the morning if I just quickly snapped a blurry shot of favorite outfits with my old Apple 3G iphone. Thus, no more (or fewer) "what did I wear with that"  or, "what in the world am I going to wear" moments as I'm frantically clawing through/throwing on clothes at the last minute.


I love shoes as you can see in the background of some of these photos. I'm pretty much limited now to tennis shoes, and knee boots when I'm in a matchy mood -- if only the stabilizer boots came with changeable colors like Timex watchbands, there would be no end to what I could put together.

I did drag myself out on my crutches to the 50% off sales room at Anthropologie this Sunday, because well, did you hear me? 50% off salesroom!!! My husband dropped me off up front, helped me pick things out, and then stood in line for me. What a saint! When I asked him if I should try things on, he told me he would just take back what didn't work. So far, there's one yuck, one maybe and the rest "works." :D P.S. Crutches are really useful when trying to look through a packed sales room -- you can pull the sympathy card, AND no one can get in "your shopping space" because you are taking up so much room with your crutches. Heh, heh.

So, did you score anything good during the sale? Does anyone else drag their poor husband out shopping on a regular basis? Anyone else have a husband as great as mine? :D

Sincerely,

V.B.

Don't Tear a Tendon

The Culprit - My Kenya Stripe Tom's Wedges

I'm stuck in bed on my week long vacation because I don't feel like doing anything after tearing a tendon in my foot during a klutz-fest moment involving stairs and my Tom's wedges. So naturally, I started a blog. Journey with me as I chronicle my attempts to incorporate my stabilizer walking boot into my daily fashion routine.