Sorry I can't hear you... yet!

Had an appointment to discuss hearing aids today.  By luck or good planning my audiologist has single sided hearing loss (like me) and has tried the new fangled hearing aid that was recommended by the folks at UCSF.  She liked it, but at the moment anyway she wears a different type of hearing aid.  After talking to her about the different options, I've decided to try the type of device she uses.  It's called a CROS device (contralateral routing of signals).  Basically there will be a receiver in my deaf ear that will transmit sound to a device in my good ear.  The benefit of this option is that I get a 60 day trial period; if I hate it, I can return it for a refund.  The other benefit is that it will be completely covered by insurance.

The other option is called a SoundBite.  It consists of a receiver in the deaf ear that will transmit sound to a device that fits around your back teeth.  The sound is then carried in the bones of your skull and is detected by the good ear.  The downsides of this option is that is so new it may or may not be covered by insurance, the cost of this option is about $8000, the battery only holds a charge for 5-6 hrs and it takes a lot longer to get one.

My decision seemed pretty easy- I'll try out the CROS, see if I like it.  If I hate it, I can return it and maybe then I'll try the SoundBite.  I'm just excited to be making some progress.  Next Thursday I have an appointment to get fitted for my hearing aid.  Here's hoping it works!

Next up... my scan on Thursday.  I'm really hoping I'll get the results on Friday, but that might be pushing it.

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The Review: Original Moxie @ Black & Brown

I was lucky enough to be sent some Original Moxie goodies from their official European stockist Black&brown.EU. I was sent three full size products and 6 samples from the range.So far I've used Emollience™ Penetrating Moisture, 

Get Clean!™ No-Foam Shampoo, Intense Quench™ Deep Conditioner & Everyday Leave-in™ Detangling Conditioner

Over the weekend I use Emollience a pre-poo made up of Castor Oil, Shea Butter and Cupuacu Butter which is a rich emollient, I had a 14ml sample which I though wasn't going to do much use however Emollience spread really well and I even had a Little left over. I used it on Dry hair and left it over the night. The first thing that hit me was the strong sent of Sandalwood, which I personally didn't like very much, but once I got used to it I was fine. The Emollience is great for de-tangling your hair before you shampoo as it is the consistency of a pomade. The product rinsed out with just warm water and felt soft after it was rinsed thoroughly.

Ricinus communis (Castor) Oil, Virgin Butyrospermum Parkii* (Shea) Nut Butter, Caprylic-Capric TG (Fractionated Coconut Oil and/or Palm Kernel Oil), Theobroma grandiflorum (Cupuaçu) Butter, Polianthes tuberose (Tuberose) Wax, Behentrimonium Methosulfate (and) Cetearyl Alcohol, Cera Flava (Beeswax), Simmondsia chinensis (Jojoba) Oil, Essential Oils of Vanilla planifolia (Vanilla), Citrus sinensis (Sweet Orange), Citrus reticulata blanco var. tangerina (Tangerine), Mentha spicata (Spearmint), Jasminum grandiflorum (Jasmine), Cananga odorata (Ylang Ylang), Cinnamomum cassia (Cassia) Bark, Salvia sclarea (Clary Sage), Santalum album (Sandalwood), Elettaria Cardamomum (Cardamom). *Certified Organic

I followed up with Get Clean a non sudsy shampoo, I'm used to non foaming shampoos but if you are used to shampoo that get really bubbly it may take some getting used to and you may question if your hair is clean. The shampoo got my hair and scalp super clean with out stripping it, which is only what I come to expect from a naturally derived shampoo, I really liked this shampoo it does what it says.

Aqua (Water), Aqueous Extracts of Azadirachta indica* (Neem), Curcuma longa* (Turmeric) Root, Hypericum perforatum* (St. John’s Wort), Pterocarpus soyauxi (Red Sandalwood), Rosa canina* (Rosehips), Sapindus laurifolia (Soapnut) Fruit, & Yucca glauca**(Yucca) Root, Behentrimonium Methosulfate (and) Cetearyl Alcohol, Decyl Glucoside***, Cocoamidopropyl Betaine***, Aloe barbadensis Leaf Preserved With Potassium Sorbate & Citric Acid, Virgin Triticum Vulgare (Wheat Germ) Oil, Sodium Lactate, Vegetable Glycerin***, Phenoxyethanol (and) Caprylyl Glycol (and) Sorbic Acid ,  Cyanmopsis tetragonolobus (Guar) Gum, Polyquaternium-10, Acacia Gum, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein***, Hydrolyzed Silk***, Sorbitol***, Pongamia glabra (Karanja) Seed Oil, Tocopherol*** (Vitamin E), Organic Flavor, Panthenol, Dead Sea Salt, Simmondsia chinensis (Jojoba) Oil, Essential Oils of Bergaptene-Free Citrus bergamia (Bergamot), Citrus reticulata blanco var. tangerina (Tangerine), Citrus sinensis (Sweet Orange),  Vanilla planifolia (Vanilla), Citrus limonum (Lemon), Cananga odorata (Ylang Ylang), Illicium verum (Star Anise), & Pelargonium graveolens (Geranium).

*Certified Organic        ** Wildharvested        *** Natural Source

I then Used Intense Quench Deep Conditioner, which can be used as a treatment if left on with a plastic cap. I used it as a wash out conditioner after shampoo, I found that I had to use quite a bit to get enough slip as it didn't spread  from root to tip easily. However because it was so thick it was very moisturising and left my hair very springy.

Aqua (Water), Aqueous Extracts of Hibiscus sabdariffa* (Hibiscus Flower) & Fragaria Vesca (Strawberry) Fruit, Vegetable Glycerin***, Behentrimonium Methosulfate (and) Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein***, Aqueous Extracts of Zingiber officinalis (Ginger) Root, Hypericum perforatum* (St. John’s Wort), Yucca glauca**(Yucca) Root, Equisetum arvense*(Horsetail), Chondrus crispus**(Irish Moss), Emblica officinalis (Indian Gooseberry) & Azadirachta indica* (Neem), Sodium Lactate, Glycine Soja (Soy) Wax, Caprylic-Capric TG (Fractionated Coconut Oil and/or Palm Kernel Oil), Virgin Triticum Vulgare (Wheat Germ) Oil, Dimethicone, Sorbitol***, Cyclopentasiloxane, Phenoxyethanol (and) Caprylyl Glycol (and) Sorbic Acid, Polyquaternium-10, Theobroma grandiflorum (Cupuaçu) Butter, Virgin Olea Europaea* (Olive) Oil Infused With Ascophyllum nodosum* (Kelp), Azadirachta indica* (Neem), Emblica officinalis (Indian Gooseberry), Equisetum arvense* (Horsetail), Symphytum officinale* (Comfrey) Root, Urtica dioica* (Nettle), & Yucca glauca**(Yucca) Root, Acacia Gum, Tocopherol*** (Vitamin E), Honey (and) Maltodextrin***, Hydrolyzed Silk***, Panthenol, Citric Acid***, Menthol***, Polyaminopropyl Biguanide, Essential Oils of Mentha spicata (Spearmint), Lavandula officinalis (Lavender), Cymbopogon martinii var. motia (Palmarosa), Coriandrum sativum L. (Coriander), Litsea cubeba, Bergaptene-Free Citrus bergamia (Bergamot), & Citrus aurantifolia (Lime).

*Certified Organic        ** Wildharvested        *** Natural Source

Lastly I applied the De-tangling Conditioner which was the stand out product for me, it has a lot of slip so de-tangling was super easy. I have been using the Everyday Leave-in every day! (3 days) and it quickly refreshes my curls and has saved me from a bad hair day today. 

Aqua (Water), Behentrimonium Methosulfate (and) Cetearyl Alcohol, Aloe barbadensis Leaf Preserved With Potassium Sorbate*** & Citric Acid***, Virgin Cucurbita Pepo (Pumpkin) Seed Oil, Virgin Butyrospermum Parkii* (Shea) Nut Butter, Caprylic-Capric TG (Fractionated Coconut Oil and/or Palm Kernel Oil), Ricinus communis (Castor) Oil Triglyceride, Sodium Lactate, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein***, Polyquaternium-10, Phenoxyethanol (and) Caprylyl Glycol (and) Sorbic Acid, Dimethicone, Sorbitol***, Acacia Gum, Cyclopentasiloxane, Tocopherol*** (Vitamin E), Simmondsia chinensis (Jojoba) Oil, Essential Oils of Vanilla planifolia (Vanilla), Rosa damascene (Rose), Cananga odorata (Ylang Ylang), Salvia sclarea (Clary Sage),  Mentha spicata (Spearmint), Styrax benzoin (Benzoin), Pogostemon Cablin (Patchouli), & Syzygium aromaticum L. (Clove Bud).  *Certified Organic        *** Natural Source

Overall Original Moxie is a high standard high performance 90% natural product line (water and oils may contain some safe chemicals) for those who want a one stop shop it caters for all you hair care needs all packaged in fun packaging that has all the information you need on it. Original Moxie is available at Black&Brown.EU NOW! shipping starts at £4.35 Learn more about Original Moxie here

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The Editorial: Ubah Hassan

Ubah rocks an ostentatious afro wig for an editorial shoot for Deluxx Digital...It's massive...I want one.

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Did Solange Get A Relaxer?

Miss Knowles hit the decks again this past week at the NPR event matching her lippy to her skirt and rocking another sleek hairstyle.....The rumour mill is buzzing that Solange Knolwes got a.....(this is hard for me to say!)......A RELAXER! say it ain't so Miss Knowles! SAY IT AIN'T SO!  

ok so seriously if this is true then each to their own, she has stated on many occasions that it is 'just hair' though she has been adopted as one of the poster girls for  naturalista's, she is entitled to do as she pleases.

Though I hope this is just a good blow out & press (what else will I post about? haha) but if not I'll pick myself up (from my crumpled heap!) dust myself off and say a fond farewell to Solanges fro. (this is all I can type on this as the tears are obscuring my view of the screen.....)

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Half-Birthday Half-Cake

We celebrate our boys' half-birthday. Yes, I realize some people may think this is crazy and excessive. But I think it's just another fun reason to have cake and a party! (For the record, no gifts are allowed at either their birthday or half-birthday parties.)

The half-birthday half-cake definitely does not get the planning and consideration of their real birthday cakes. I need something that looks good on a half cake, and that doesn't take too much time, because this isn't a "real" celebration. It's just fun.

This rainbow cake seriously took me less than 3 hours total, including baking, making icing, decorating, etc.

What You Need:
Round cake, baked & cooled (I used an 8"x3" round cake.)
Icing, colored blue (I used my cream cheese icing)
M&Ms
Rainbow Sprinkles
Mini-marshmallows
Optional:
Any other color icing & tip #3

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Alicia Keys @ White House Correspondents Dinner

Alicia Keys looked lovely in mustard smock style dress showcasing her lovely curls! I'm not keen on the belt (to big) but it is nice to see a attainable look on the red carpet 

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how to get SUPER-SHINY HAIR

DID YOU KNOW... ?

hair that gleams can send a clear sign that you're young and in your prime, whatever your actual age? According to a study, that's because youth is associated with fertility, humans are wired to interpret it as a sign of attractiveness. 

Interesting? Follow these rules to restore luminosity and offset the dulling effects of heat styling and 
too-frequent colour touch-ups.

Amp up your colour: Youthful hair is packed with pigment-making cells functioning at full tilt, which makes for rich, saturated, light-reflecting colour.

Could your strands use a little professional help? In the salon, ask for a warm shade (think butter blonde, caramel brown, copper) that's similar to your natural colour so it won't require more upkeep than you have time for. 

Or brighten up with highlights: Adding a few random, subtly lighter strands around your face gives the illusion of extra shine. To help colour sink in more evenly (which turns up the shine factor), use a deep-conditioning mask before and after you colour; repeat treatments once a week to keep your hair looking luminous.

Call Mana 02 8919 0146 to make an appointment

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Prejudice before the Pride

Sunday’s are made for the simple pleasures in life, like the morning read of the newspapers and lazy trawl through the blogs for hair inspiration and celebrity gossip. It’s for reflecting on the week past, scrutinizing the annoyances at work, the food you shouldn’t have eaten, the gym you should have attended more, but the fun you had with the girls on that rare night out. It’s been a while since I’ve blogged with any regularity and so much has happened. I have to start by updating you on news from home and my growing obsession with London’s effervescent fashion scene, the Olympics and modern architecture. Random you say, but alas on this reflective Sunday these were the highlights of my week.

I always thought that the expression of one’s national pride to be a bit peculiar – we’re not American and frankly all that flag waving and tearful singing of the star spangled banner is a bit melodramatic and very un- British. In modern Europe that kind of carry on is easily mistaken for nationalism – in the eugenics sense of the word. I’m not sure if it’s class snobbery (the only exception being in honour of the Royal family) or my immigrant heritage, but effusing a pride in being British, when I’m forever asked ‘where are you from?’ by the virtue of my skin colour, doesn’t bode well for national pride.

Even against the backdrop of a staunchly sporting household where football was the only dialogue that bonded us to our father, the notion of singing the national anthem as the boys lined up for a qualifying match (to this day the only line I know is ‘God save our Queen’), waving a flag from my window or generally purporting a value in being British was unimaginable.

Recently something has changed... Maybe it’s my appreciation of the refreshing dynamism of the UK, maybe it’s the fact that London is the host city for the biggest sporting event on earth (and there isn’t an advert on TV, selling toilet roll or life insurance, that doesn’t reference the Olympic Games and the greatness of the UK); maybe I’m less stuffy and don’t think a flag means you’re a right wing extremist, maybe it’s because when I look at the start line of an England football match, no-one asks the black boys (who form the majority of the team) where they are from? it’s emblazoned on their backs; or maybe it’s my age, but I feel so proud to be a Londoner.

During London’s Fashion Week when Anna Wintour effusively praised the dynamism and ingenuity of our first class designers, I thought I was going to implode. After two weeks in Dubai earlier this month where I experienced the worst in consumerism, capitalism and uniformity, it was refreshing to see the intrinsic creativity of Londoners recognised by fashions aficionado. Although my wallet can’t stretch to much, as Dame Vivienne would say, ‘it’s best to invest in one or two pieces that you’ll love, will last forever and become part of you, rather than become one of the indistinguishable masses.’ She’s right .... It’s always a little awkward when you find yourself in the same clothes as your teenage niece or the kids on the bus.

Then something else magical happened to invigorate my love for this city. I got to go inside the Aquatics Centre (Olympic speak for swimming pool), which in my opinion will be one of the gems in the London Games. The Park is ready and looking good, but before the big event kicks off in July they’re hosting test events, which I was lucky enough to get a ticket for. As fashionistas, I know you’ll appreciate all things beautiful, from fashion to fine design.... The Aquatics Centre is the brain child of Iraqi born, London embraced architect Zaha Hadid. Designed to look like a stingray/ or wave crashing against the shore (depends on your perspective), it is a spectacular feat of modern engineering and is phenomenally designed with the spectator in mind- so no columns impeding your view, in fact it just appears to float on its own axis. 

Then there is the imposingly rugged stadium in the background built by Sir Robert McAlpine. It’s not as spectacular as the Aquatics but it better reflects the industrial working class heritage of east London. And lastly in my sight line is the Turner winning artist, Anish Kapoor’s 150ft spiralling steel viewing tower, the Orbit (which has understandably been confused for an elaborate helter skelter); it puts modern art at the helm of our Olympics, indicative of this country’s love and appreciation of art and culture, even in the most unlikely of places - like an Olympic Park.

So here I stand, a fully fledged convert, ready to profess my pride to anyone who’ll listen. All it took was a pair of Vivienne Westwood heels and the whiff of Usain Bolt running on a track near me. Oh and my guilty pleasure will be scrutinizing what our future Queen, Kate our current Queen of style Victoria Beckham will wear to the opening ceremony. I know they’ll do us proud.  

xoxo

Calamity Jane

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OOTD: Hair Up

Necklace, Polo neck & Skirt from Primark

Lipstick by Sleek in Stiletto 

Shoes from Schuh

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Girls Who Wear Glasses....

“You know what they say about girls who wear glasses...Men don’t make passes at girls who wear glasses.” 

How wrong could Ms Monroe be? OK so this happens a lot, while watching How To Marry A Millionaire I started style crushing on Marilyn as she donned a pair of diamante trimmed, black cat eye frames. I’m addicted to old movies and I fell in love with her retro frames (well not so retro then), I’ve always thought cat eye glasses look a-maz-ing but now that frames are in vogue they are no longer just about function, they are a style statement all of their own. Places like ASOS Marketplace, Retro Specs, Glasses Direct and Ebay offer a massive selection of authentic and affordable vintage frames and sunglasses but for the cash strapped Romwe has a great collection of retro frames for every taste.

All frames from www.Romwe.com offer  free worldwide shipping.

If you fancy making an investment on some true vintage frames check out RetroSpecs or for a free at home trial of frames try GlassesDirect

XOXO 

Stacey

More about → Girls Who Wear Glasses....

Dead Hungry Diner

Dead Hungry Diner is a fun and fast paced game with a fresh approach to restaurant management. Guide Gabe and Gabby, the orphan twins, and discover the secrets of Ravenwood village. Seat, serve and satisfy a variety of monsters but be quick before they get impatient and leave without paying. Call Frankie the bouncer to break up fights between feuding customers. Use a pinch of magic to perfect your customer service and build up big bucks. Manage the most unusual restaurant you have ever seen! 

Game Size 67  MB

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Abandoned - Chestnut Lodge Asylum

These days the Chestnut Lodge Asylum is abandoned and forgotten, but many years ago a terrible tragedy unfolded behind those rusty gates. Every year, patients disappeared from the asylum without a trace. Neither the nurses nor the police could find any clues. But one day, everything changed. My dreams draw me to the asylum and I yearn to return to my normal life - a life without nightmares, premonitions, and fears.... Explore the Asylum and its surroundings, find out the true story of this place and face your fears in this gripping Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure!

New Version Added!

Game Size 265  MB

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Beyond Ötzi: European Evolutionary History and its Relevance to Diet. Part I

In the previous post, I explained that Otzi descended in large part from early adopters of agriculture in the Middle East or nearby.  What I'll explain in further posts is that Otzi was not a genetic anomaly: he was part of a wave of agricultural migrants that washed over Europe thousands of years ago, spreading their genes throughout.  Not only that, Otzi represents a halfway point in the evolutionary process that transformed Paleolithic humans into modern humans.

Did Agriculture in Europe Spread by Cultural Transmission or by Population Replacement?

There's a long-standing debate in the anthropology community over how agriculture spread throughout Europe.  One camp proposes that agriculture spread by a cultural route, and that European hunter-gatherers simply settled down and began planting grains.  The other camp suggests that European hunter-gatherers were replaced (totally or partially) by waves of agriculturalist immigrants from the Middle East that were culturally and genetically better adapted to the agricultural diet and lifestyle.  These are two extreme positions, and I think almost everyone would agree at this point that the truth lies somewhere in between: modern Europeans are a mix of genetic lineages, some of which originate from the earliest Middle Eastern agriculturalists who expanded into Europe, and some of which originate from indigenous hunter-gatherer groups including a small contribution from neanderthals.  We know that modern-day Europeans are not simply Paleolithic mammoth eaters who reluctantly settled down and began farming. 

Read more »

More about → Beyond Ötzi: European Evolutionary History and its Relevance to Diet. Part I

OOTD All Done Up

Head Wrap a gift from Lagos

Necklace from Miss Selfridge

Shirt from Primark

Leggings from H&M Trend

Boots from Zara 

XOXO

Belle

More about → OOTD All Done Up

happy WEEKEND

love the Mana girls

XXXX

More about → happy WEEKEND

And We're Back...

Keith and I are back from a quick trip to the U.P. to see his family.  I was a little nervous about travelling so far given all that is going on with me, but it went fine.  Getting out of the city and visiting with family was just what we needed.  We rented the same cabin we rented at Christmas time.  It's a comfortable place tucked in the woods.  We both really appreciated getting out of our own heads for a while.

It was great to see everyone and I'm happy to report that Keith's mom is doing a lot better.  She has more energy and strength.  Almost a year after all this started, she isn't back to her old self, but she is making progress!

I'm feeling ok, my headaches aren't any worse.  All the sitting around I've been doing lately has made me stiff and sore.  (I'm not confident enough to do really long walks given my Tykerb gut - sorry if that's TMI).  I think I'll be able to figure out a routine now that I've been on Tykerb for a couple weeks.

Just another tidbit about my lame radiation oncologist- skip ahead if you're bored with this storyline:  I expected a call to schedule the brain MRI while we were away, but no...So on Wednesday morning I called my radiation oncologist and left a message.  I hadn't heard back by the end of the day, so I emailed her directly.  On Thursday she emailed me saying that her staff were having trouble getting me in.  The only appointment they could get was at the end of May and she was hoping to figure out how to get me in earlier.  Seemed weird to me, but ok.  I thought I'd wait and see.  Fast forward a couple hours...

I had an appointment with my medical oncologist yesterday and for the first time I saw her nurse practitioner instead.  Since I didn't have anything big to discuss it was fine and actually she gave us a lot of good advice.  She also took charge of scheduling my brain MRI after I mentioned it.  She ordered the MRI and on my way out I sat down with the scheduler.  It took a fax and a phone call, but I'm now scheduled for my MRI next Thursday afternoon.  It amazes me how efficiently some offices work while others are just a clusterfuck. I'm finally learning that I should just avoid dealing with the radiation oncology folks unless necessary.  After seeing the nurse practitioner and the lovely scheduler we went upstairs for my Herceptin drip.  That went smoothly- my new port works GREAT.  I love it!

To top the day off we headed over to the Off the Grid on Stanyon.  For those of you not in the know; Off the Grid is a gathering of some of the local food trucks.  Keith is sick for the Chairman Bao truck and yesterday I tried a bahn mi and some sweet potato tater tots from the Little Green Cyclo truck.  Keith's food was great as usual, the tater tots were really yummy and my sandwich was just ok.  It was a gorgeous and sunny early evening.  We loved topping off our afternoon of medical appointments with something treatful before we headed back into traffic to get home.  (Keith is getting pretty smarty-pants about lane choices prior to the bay bridge.  I don't know if it actually helps much, but at least we seem to keep moving forward...slowly...)

Animal update:
Diesel is fine.  She was back to her spunky self right away.  It was clear when I rescued her that Red had had his mouth on her (she had saliva on both sides of her rib cage), but he must have just mouthed her (thank goodness!).  I can't believe we have a dog that won't leave our cats alone!  When we adopted him they told us he would be fine with cats with a little work.  Well, we've tried.  If one of us is around we can keep it under control, but when left to his own devices, instinct takes over.  Ugh!

More about → And We're Back...

Adore Puzzle 2: Flavors of Europe

Go on a unique gastronomy tour of Europe in Adore Puzzle 2: Flavors of Europe, an incredibly fun Puzzle game! Each level is designed to initiate you into the various cuisines of European countries. Bright colors and challenging gameplay will keep you coming back for seconds! Play through two different game modes as you learn about the food of Europe in Adore Puzzle 2: Flavors of Europe!

Game Size 83  MB

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Screenshots:

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