Living with HIVES

*WARNING: this post contains some graphic pictures taken from my personal case of CIU*

So this isn't something I normally talk about, but it's really been bugging me lately. HIVES. Itchy little red sores that keep me up at night. My body can't fight them off no matter the amount of Benadryl I have poured into my body, or lathered on my skin. Oh maybe I should introduce what I'm meaning by all this medical babble; hi, I'm Stephanie and I suffer from Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria, or in a generic term chronic hives. You think when you are stressed and a small cluster of hives pops up you are annoyed well try having yours last for 7 to 12 days, turning into black bruises and your skin being paper thin. Let me just show you the journey.

Christmas Eve 2015 I came down with what stared as a stomach virus that lead to a fever during the candle light service at church and then the hives. After hiding out after the last Silent Night my mother looked over at a pail version of myself and knew something had to be done. So this begins the never ending cycle of ER visits, thyroid checks, gallbladder examinations, steroid packs, an unlimited amount of medicated ointments, and EpiPens.

 

Looks painful? It is. It burns, it's tender and can make you the most self cautious person on the planet. Working in the pharmacy I can't help but think that these people don't want me touching their medications because I'm "infected". People ask, "isn't there something your allergist can do to help you?" Yes, and she is following all the protocols for my insurance. We started out on Allegra and Zantac, yes a stomach medication can be used as an antihistamine, and the occasional Benadryl when needed. Well, Benadryl was still needed multiple times a day with the new medications. I felt like a zombie. Our next step was to have me sleep through the outbreaks so Doxapin was prescribed for sedation. This served its purpose but now I would wake up with swollen lips and not being able to breathe; meaning more trips to the emergency room. Our last step for medication was Singular. This did absolutley nothing and something had to change as the hives only seemed to affect my everyday life more and more. 

We've finally come to our last resort, Xolair. It's a fairly new drug that is used only for patients who continue to suffer from hives that can't be controlled by H1 antihistamines. I read multiple pamphlets that suggest all the worst possible outcomes like cancer and parasitic infections. Bug infections are not particularly something I want in life, but the hives are unbearable. I was tired of living my life indoors for the soul fact that I knew people would look or ask question or whatever, but also you have no idea the pain of hitting your leg ever so slightly on the corner of a table and now your pants leg is covered in blood because your skin was so fragile. Now I live a happy, hive controlled life that I am very thankful for. This is just something that I was compelled to share with the world. Why? I don't know, but I hope this helps someone in the world. 

-Stephanie

Apartment Living

I've had several request of a home tour, or a home decor tour so I decided to clean my flat (that's what English people call it, in case you were as clueless as I was) and deliver! I'm sure I will be doing another one of these when I move later this year so enjoy the Little Rock apartment view while you can! I may try to do a bedroom and bathroom tour later, but I felt like this post was pretty long without it! If you have any questions of where things are from please feel free to ask and I will do my best to wrack my brain to remember! I will also try to link as many of the items as I can find so that you can pick them up also! It's time to grab a bag of popcorn and your favorite coke, sit back and relax because this one will be a lengthy one!

-Stephanie

Sorry for the lack of lighting, I honestly tried my best. As soon as you walk in my door to your left is this beaut. The dresser was my mother's that has been repainted and distressed by yours truly! My extensive collection of nail polish lives in the cookie jar on the left, while my planner lives in the wooden box, meant for recipe cards, in the middle. The floating shelves are home made. As you may notice you will see no real plants in my apartment, because they all die if I'm in charge, oops!

 Just for a closer look at what is on the shelves. The bunny plate is from Hobby Lobby. The number that I use for each month is from a table number set, meant for weddings, but who cares, from Homegood's. The succulent is from Target. The vase is from the Dollar Tree. 

The spring sign is from the Target dollar spot. The Lilly Pulitzer inspired cross is from an Etsy shop called Mama Duck Creations; go check her out!! The VW is from Ross, and the bunny sign is from Hobby Lobby. 

My entertainment center is a little messy, but well used. The shelves are from Walmart and baskets are from Target. The picture is from TJMaxx. 

This is literally one of my favorite places especially on a rainy night. The monogram is from a thrift store called The Owls Nest in Texarkana, Ar. The tea light holders in the fire place is from The Lakeside Collection. And of course there is a basket full of cat toys; you can think your pal Meredith for that!

Never expect my kitchen table to be set and this neat in real life! The napkins are in Kate Spade's Coming up Roses and the glasses are from Homegood's. The silverware is from Walmart. The white plates are Cornell from Target.

I can't even begin to tell you where all of these things are from, but I'll try! The buffalo canvas and the giant fork are from Hobby Lobby. The mug and plate are from TJMaxx. And the coffee cup is from the Gilmore Girl's pop up cafe before the reboot premier!

You can't have a kitchen tour without the stove! The towel, Kate Spade oven mitt, tea pot, and spoon rest are from Homegood's. The print of the camper is from Target. The Pioneer Woman plate in Country Garden is from Walmart.

Snaps of my Week: Part Three

I guess this should be called "Snaps of my Month" because it's been a while! A lot has gone on since the last time I did one of these; I'm looking in to relocating to another near by city, I've chosen a college (post reveal coming soon!), and I've worked more than ever! I figured the easiest way to let you all know about the fun little things going on in my life was by sharing some fun pictures!

{I did a little shopping at my local Home Good's and regretted not buying this cutie! I work my butt off in all aspects of life and failed to pick up this #GIRLBOSS plaque! Geez, Steph what were you thinking!}

{On to something I don't regret, my hair! I took the plunge and chopped off my long blondish red locks and dyed it dark! Love it!}

{My mom brought me a special delivery last weekend and I couldn't be happier with the results! I was using an old blue desk that I bought at a thrift store about a year ago and refurbished myself, but it was slowly falling apart. Excuse the slight mess but I have to continually rearrange everything until I finally get it to my liking. BTW yes that is a Central Perk coffee mug you see; if you don't get the reference we can't be FRIENDS!}

{My aunt made a surprise visit yesterday and treated me to my favorite restaurant, Mellow Mushroom! If you don't have one of these around you I'm sorry because it's all sorts of magical! The decor is all sorts of 70s and I love it! Including the huge mural of Johnny Cash on the wall.}

{Spring is in the air and butterfly cookies are in my belly! I always prefer the cookies over the coffee, but the coffee is a total plus!}

Hope you all have a happy Sunday and a good week! Be sure to enjoy the spring weather, avoid pollen clouds, and eat good food!

-Stephanie

  

Pre Date Jitters

As I'm sitting in my vintage 1960s yellow La-Z-Boy rocker, dressed and ready for a night out with a boy, a very cute boy at that, I'm trying not to vomit. My nails have a fresh paint of "Let's Playa" by Sinful Colors, I've drowned my body in my favorite Tory Burch perfume, and brushed my teeth nearly 12 times since noon. I realized it's  been almost a year since I've been on a real date. Honestly, I'm not sure if I've really been on a "real date" ever.

I figured the best way for to calm my nerves was to blog, or apply more foundation, but I'm already looking a little orange so I better stop now. I'm pretty lost for words right now other than I'm just ready to get there and hug this boy! Let's be honest I'm too awkward to just walk up and hug a person. I instead sit in my car debating weather if I should say hi or heyyyy, but we all know my lips will start moving and nothing will come out and I'll look like an idiot no matter how hard I try. Wow that was lengthy sentence about literally nothing.

I guess the moral of this blog about nothing is that I'm nervous about literally nothing! It will be great, I can already tell as long as I don't do something stupid; but that's pretty inevitable being the clutz that I truly am. And yes, I know that my date for the evening will probably read this and find it completely hilarious or very truthful when this is posted. Hope you guys are having a good weekend!

-Stephanie