Loving life with Lymphedema

My favorite lotion Kiehl's Creme de Corps is on sale in travel size (including my favorite lip balm) and a holiday limited edition bottle.  It's a great way to try it out to see if you like it or if you love it a great deal if you don't mind a holiday label.  Both are 25% off at Nordstrom and shipping is free! Here is the link to the travel size sale:  https://shopstyle.it/l/Xtu6 Or if you know you love it, the 8.4oz holiday edition is one sale:  https://shopstyle.it/l/XtvU I've been using this lotion for years now and haven't found anything that compares.  If you want to read my original review about it check out my Blog Post:  Lotion Commotion .

If you've followed me you know I am always on the hunt for different ways to have my nails looking polished that work with my daily compression stocking routine. I paint my nails like a 5 year old and no matter low long I let them dry they smudge or chip whenever I put on or take off my compression stocking. I did try the new "nail dipping" method at home and let me say it is worth the $45 plus tip to have them professionally done.  Since I don't have heaps of money to spend on my nails I'm always searching for the next best home nail care. My new find?  I'm so happy you asked!  They are basically the new and improved press on nails.  Yes early 2000's called and they want your nails.  I was skeptical, but for $5.99 it was worth a shot.  I have just gotten my nails healthy after I tried to dip manicure them at home . . . in August!  Sure why not potentially destroy them again?!  I picked them up at my local grocery store, they are pretty much e...

  I am finally embracing fall now that I have a few staple items in my wardrobe.  From radiation and cancer treatment it has put my body into early menopause and am running hot!  So I am loving having a light weight jean jacket to throw on and then quickly tear off during a hot flash, ha ha!  This one is from Old Navy . My sweater underneath is from the LOFT from years ago, but I found a similar one currently there the Stitchy Sweater .  These BP Moto leggings come in regular and plus sizes from Nordstrom.  And I live through my shoes as a skater in my Old Skool Vans . I love that I can still wear my Birkenstocks in October!  These are the Gizeh style.  My sweater and top are both Free People.  The sweater is from last year, but this one is on my wish list!   Also my shirt was a gift, but here is a similar one .  And of course my favorite skimmers by HUE , all sizes are still in stock at DSW. Sport...

You guys, how did I not think of this before?!  To really camouflage Bertha, I should just camouflage Bertha.  Confused yet?  It's such a Dad joke, but I thought of it the minute I put on these leggings.  I love the camo trend, but haven't found the perfect piece until I stumbled across these leggings.  The Women's Camo Print High-Rise Leggings by Wild Fable at Target.  At this price point it was worth a shot.  They are a thin cotton/spandex blend legging, I know what you're thinking, because I was thinking it too-are they see through?  Ladies I made sure they were not with a pair obnoxiously crazy pattern knickers. They are super fun to wear sporty with some sneakers or to dress up with a boot.  The green camo did come in regular and plus sizes, but sadly the Plus sizes sold out.  Fear not, these also come in red camo in regular and plus sizes , but they are also selling out fast!  I'll let you know if they come back in gr...

So I've had questions about where I shop, not just for pants or shoes, so I thought I would pick up my outfit of the day post for my last few pictures I posted. Universal Threads by Target top .  It's on clearance now and when I bought it Cartwheel had an extra 20% off!  This is a summer top, but can for sure transfer into winter with a jacket or sweater over it. The jeans are GAP Mid-Rise Jeggings .  They are over 3 years old, but can still be found at GAP Factory.  I love them, because they come in Ankle, Regular and Tall sizes (I need tall.)  They have stood the test of time. My shoe is the Franco Sarto Simone Loafer, while it's no longer being sold there are similar styles at DSW like: Susie Loafe r,  Gracie Loafter ,  Scranton Flat  &  Germina Loafer .  **Head up I did size up two sizes for my loafer since the toe was very pointed. Old Black t-shirt that I love!  They don't carry it anymore, but my new blac...

Well I have a new love . . . HUE !  My first find was on my quest for jeans that fit over Bertha .  I found it all in HUE, after my amazing experience with this brand I decided to try another fit, did I find my lobster?!  (Sorry re-watching FRIENDS.)  Pretty sure I did!  To have a brand I know will fit my lymphie leg is like a constant companion (cat, dog, spouse, friend . . ) even though everything else changes they're always there.  Do I sound too poetic for pants?  Well in previous years pants shopping usually ended with me a puddle on the floor and hating life, so finding things that fit are a big deal. I blogged about the HUE Ripped Jean Skimmer Legging in Loving The HUE of Spring .  But before that I found another HUE pant, but of course right before I went to blog about it the jegging sold out, which is a good sign, right?  Well recently while searching for jeans I again found them in stock and in all sizes at Nordstrom Rack , it's...

Fall.  Most of my girlfriend's live for this season.  Cozy sweaters, pumpkin everything and of course cute boots.  Fall for this lymphie means living in Uggs and as my hubs says they are Uggly.  Totally a Dad joke and while I disagree with him, it's true Uggs don't exactly give you that stylish put together look.  (See my previous post "The Uggly Duckling" about my favorite and fitting style of Uggs.)  So for years I have been on the hunt for cute fall boots.  I have been almost willing to sell my dog for the perfect pair . . . almost. My favorite clothing brand is Free People, they have these adorable booties that would go with everything the  Royale Pointy Toe Flat  (link added for non-lymphies.)  Sadly they don't come in wide sizes.  Da da da daaaaa!!  Here comes Target to the rescue!  They designed a similar boot that comes in regular and wide sizes.  The  Wenda Cut Out Booties by Universal Threads !!...

This past year has been a whirlwind.  My husband and I spent 10 week over the past year living in the hospital while I went through part of a clinical trial and IL2 treatments.   Through it all we tried to stay on top of our eating, but when you feel nauseated sometimes you just have to eat those mashed potatoes.  Well I am happy to say I am done with my address being the Cancer Center's. We eat NSNG (no sugar no grain) for the most past I should say. Basically it's a high fat diet, focusing on a lot of veggies! Yes, I have read the reports about these types of eating plans, but I'm on borrowed time already so I'm not too worried.  Sorry that dark humor escapes me most days.  My hubs can just program his mind to do something and boom he's in the zone and of course looses 5lbs to my 1lb All. The. Time.  But, it's more about being healthy.  I thought along with my clothes and shoe finds I would sprinkle in a little bit of our life in the mix. This r...

I love the moto style and had many failed attempts with other moto jeggings.  I bought these moto leggings in both colors on clearance last December and was so disappointed when I went to write a blog post about them they were SOLD OUT!  I reference them in my blog post " Hello Moto ."  After I saw they were sold out I contacted Nordstrom to see if they would be coming back into stock?  Sadly they were not.  I may of shed a few tears and binge ate Christmas cookies . . . which you can do with these leggings, because they stretch with you.  Lymphie leg . . . or tummy. The BP Washed Moto Legging is a staple for my fall and winter wardrobe.  I was excited to see that they come in plus size this year too!  Every time I have worn them my friends can't believe they're not jeans and I am obsessed with the moto detail which makes them stand apart from just an average legging and of course fitting over Bertha makes me want to sing!  Like I said th...

Target.  Need I say more.  I think we all try to play the game "let's see if I can leave Target with only the items on my list."  I also think it's safe to say we all lose Every. Single. Time.  Well that was the case when I found these sandals.  Sunscreen, check . . toilet paper, check . . . kids breakfast bars, check.  Then I made my fatal mistake of walking past the shoe aisle.  My husband loves how I justify my frivolous Target spending.  "Babe, I returned that t-shirt I bought my last Target trip, then all women's shoes were 25% off, I had a five dollar Target gift card, plus sandals were on Cartwheel and with my Target debit card I got another 5% off, sooooooo basically they were free!" I love the slip on sandal trend going on, but hate that there are few sandals that slip past my toes on Bertha.  The dv Annalyse Woven Slide is not only a beautiful inexpensive sandal, but also has velcro, HELLO!  Game changer!  I simply adju...

A golden tan, it's what we all want, but at what cost?  I am currently living with stage 4 metastatic melanoma, that is not sun related.  My parents always sun screened me as a kid, I was never one to fake & bake, but still here we are.  Having melanoma has given me an ever deeper conviction about always wearing sunscreen. Lucky for me I do live in the Pacific Northwest where it is overcast and rains about 3/4 of the year.  But us PNW'ers live for our summers.  We have a lush landscape with the beach and mountains less than 2 hours away and everything from kite boarding to fishing for famous Chinooks is all at our fingertips.  The only thing about us PNW'ers is many of us come into the summer season pale as ghost!  I've tried all of the creams and lotions to give me that sun kissed look, instead what it gives me is a chemical bath and stained orange sheets.  Well no more, this summer I found my solution! One of my best friends sells Rodan...

So I just got done with my final IL2 treatment!  It's an intense treatment, one of the side effects is capulairy leak symdrom, two weeks ago I gained 14 pounds of fluid, which is almost 2 gallons!  This past week I only gained 10 pounds, ha ha! So it was a dress week, here are some of my favorites. Lots of love, Allie The Jersey-Knit Swing Dress.  Ok, so not a maxi dress, but with the heat we've been having I'm forced to have confidence and bear my lymphie leg.  If I were more brave I would buy this in every color . . . and by that I mean black, grey and stripped.  It's easy and breezy, give me more time I'll have the confidence.  Until then I save this one for at home or when my hair, nails and lips are on point. Link for my Birkenstocks, the Gizeh Birko-Flor. **Ok palm to face just clicked on this link and it's sold out.  But check your store and check Nordstrom Rack, sometimes they'll have this brand.   C...

Monday Free People Low-Rise Flare Jeans .  While I don't actually own these, I thought they would be great for Bertha !  Not sure I can pull them off though. Tuesday   Ugg Mini Bailey Button Boot .  The only style Ugg that fits me.  I'm just got a hole in the toe of mine, so I know what will be on my Christmas list. Wednesday & Thursday Wednesday I was running around to different doctors appointments.  Both Wednesday & Thursday I wore my favorite legging ever!!!  Zella's High-Rise Live In Legging.  It's thick, so you never have that see through awkwardness.  They are true to their name, I live in these, they also last forever!  Currently they are on sale at Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale, which you can shop if you have any of the Nordstrom cards, otherwise you can get them at the sale price on July 20th. Do yourself a favor and buy at least 2 pairs, also they come i...

Monday:  GAP Washwell Mid Rise Favorite Ankle Jegging. These are not the exact jeans I am wearing, but the stretch quality is very similar. Vans Old Skool My "dress up sneaker" as I addressed them in a previous blog.  They open and stretch with Bertha ! Tuesday:  SPANX Faux Leather Leggings They come in an amazing array of colors and are so comfortable.  I would suggest to size up. Steve Madden Feather-LGenuine Calf Hair Loafer  The link is so a similar shoes than I'm wearing.  I love loafers, because they come up higher on the top of my foot which helps keep Bertha from developing the ball on the top on her foot. Wednesday:  HUE Ripped Denim Leggings Usually Bertha rips holes in jeans even bigger, but these have so much stretch they can fit over her! They do stretch out heads up! Birkenstock Essentials Gizeh Flip Flop My love sandal for the summer.  It is made of EVA foam which forms to your foot and the s...

I love Birkenstock's!  So when I saw "Birkenstock for $39.99" I thought I had died and gone to heaven or it was a scam.  To my delight, both were false, I was very much alive and reading the website correctly.  The  Essential Gizeh Flip Flop comes in so many fun colors, it was hard to decide which one, but of course I went with the basic white.  I had a Nordstrom gift card burning a hole in my wallet and bonus, my Nordstrom store had my size & color, 2 hours later they were ready to be picked up!  They also have different colors  and sizes at these retailers:  DSW , Zappos ,  Birkenstock  and Dicks . Mothers Day I developed a erysipelas infection in Bertha .  Happy Mothers Day you get a fever, chills and horrible pain in your leg . . . I don't think Hallmark has a card for that.  I was laying low for a few days, so my husband picked them up.  I opened the box and to my surprise they felt light as a feather....

I've had so many people respond saying they are interested in the    HUE Ripped Denim Skimmer  in midnight rinse . . . or as DSW puts it "blue."  DSW has it in every size (besides XS) online and in stock for $34.99!  I couldn't find a promo code, but DSW always has free shipping!  I hope you love them as much as I have!  Lots of love, Allie

My goal in life besides being a good mom, wife, friend and human is to find stretchy pants (said in a Nacho Libre voice.)  If you have a lymphie leg or not, these pants, jeggings, leggings whatever you want to call them are a God send to my spring and summer wardrobe. It's the HUE Ripped Denim Skimmer .  This pant come in three different colors, the one I am wearing in the picture below is the Midnight Rinse.  Side note I always check retailmenot.com to find coupon codes.  I found a 20% off code for these.   So I am usually a Large to X-Large in clothing.  To be safe that this pair of pants fit Bertha I tried the XL.  While they fit my leg, they do seem a bit loose in my hips & booty, but I won't complain about that problem, ha ha.  Of course I wore them with my nude compression garment so through the rips it looked a little more natural.  My husband jokes that, because I wore my nude stocking I camouflaged my lymphie leg, ...