Tag Archives: update

Feb8

Facing Your Fears: A Memoir

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Facing Your Fears: A Memoir

Hi! For those of you who recall, around this time last year I was suffering through a recovery from an oral surgery gone severely wrong. For those of you who don’t recall, I had an oral surgery last year that went severely wrong, which you can read about on the provided link! I have always been wary about the dental arts and, after such a traumatic experience, the last thing I wanted was any more people poking around in my mouth with sharp objects.

Unfortunately, things didn’t pan out the way I hoped, which was never having to go to a dentist or oral surgeon again. Especially because the surgery I had last year left me with some lingering problems that needed corrected. And, especially because I turn twenty-six this year, these issues needed sorted out ASAP before I get off my mom and dad’s insurance.

So, with a heaping dose of anxiety, I made my way to the periodontist who my mom recommended as a patient herself. After an exam, the decisions were made that 1) the doctor was very nice and 2) I would need to undergo a deep cleaning of my gums to help with the recession that was happening as well as the recession that became worse post surgery.

This past week, I had the first deep cleaning on the right half of my mouth and I would be a liar if I said I wasn’t freaking out. Last year, one bad procedure on my mouth left me drinking Ensure and out of work for a month and a half. However, I knew that all of this work had to be done so I bucked up and sat myself in the chair after announcing how nervous I was, of course.

In fact, I started crying as soon as the first numbing injection took place. Yes, I was being a baby but I just couldn’t help myself. I was traumatized by a quack of an oral surgeon and being back in an office to get work done on my mouth made a whole flood of scared emotions come out. But, I gritted my teeth metaphorically speaking because my mouth was open and had the doctor continue.

By the time the numbing kicked in, I literally couldn’t feel a thing and the doctor spent at least an hour cleaning the first half of my mouth (I’ll get the second half done this week). At the end of the procedure, my periodontist thanked me for trusting him because he knew how much I had suffered and how hard it was for me to allow someone to do that type of work on me.

I was so moved by this because I was downright embarrassed. No one wants to hear that they take poor care of their mouth and also no one wants to burst into tears as soon as a needle gets pulled out. I didn’t feel one ounce of shame after the doctor thanked me because he understood where I was coming from and didn’t take it lightly that I was even there to begin with.

After the procedure, I was a bit sore and nauseous but, within a few days, everything was back to normal. My mouth already feels infinitely better and, shockingly, I’m looking forward to getting the other half taken care of this week. The doctor helped restore my faith in those working in the field of dentistry and it also motivated me to continue taking the best care of my teeth as all of the problems I have begin to resolve.

I faced my fear in a big way and the risk was definitely worth the reward. Despite not feeling well post procedure, I felt proud of myself and strangely confident. I confronted one of my biggest fears head on and I came out on top. This is a lesson that I am going to always come back to in my life because sometimes taking a leap of faith pays off in the best way!

What are you afraid of? How did you confront that fear? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan20

Paranormal Activity Pt. 3

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Paranormal Activity Pt. 3

Hi! So as all of you know, I have experienced some paranormal activity in my apartment. The major occurrences happened when I first moved in and the last activity before the most recent one took place about a month ago. This spooky situation came about on Friday the tenth around two in the afternoon and it had me SHOOK. So, let’s discuss:

I always have the afternoons off on Friday and some of the days are spent running around doing errands while others involve curling up with a good book and a cup of coffee. This Friday afternoon happened to be one of those days, so I lit my candles, got myself comfortable, and cracked open one of my comic books.

All was going well and I was enjoying my time relaxing when a piece of paper I had on my coffee table FLOATED ON TOP OF ONE OF THE CANDLES. This paper was sitting on top of a board game that was about a foot and a half away from my candles and when I adjusted my head I saw the paper in the air.

Luckily for me, the piece of paper landed on a candle that was burnt down enough that the flame wasn’t going to touch it. But, the candle that it did fall on was about six inches away from a brand new Yankee Candle that I got for Christmas whose two wicks were burning close to the top. Yikes!

Needless to say, I freaked out and phoned my parents who know about the haunting situation in my apartment and they freaked out too. Lol, it was such a crazy thing to have witnessed and I still get goosebumps when I think about it. There was just no way that that paper floating could have happened on its own. It had also been sitting there for months and a situation even remotely similar has never happened.

I have come to associate my “friend” in my apartment with being a man. When I first moved in, I always seemed to hear heavy footsteps at night coming from the office in my top floor apartment. In fact, I used to have to go downstairs to make sure there was no one there.

There is also a mirror in my loft bedroom with a skylight shining directly on it. And, at night when the light from the outdoors is coming in, the shadowy shape that forms behind the mirror looks like a poor silhouette of a man to me. Believe you me, nothing makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up like when I see that at bedtime.

The paranormal activity I had in my apartment in December seemed to be a friendly one but this last occurrence was anything but. I think it will be a good long while before I light my candles again!

What did you do to deal with paranormal activity if you’ve ever experienced any? Does anyone have any advice for me? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec27

Paranormal Activity Update

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Paranormal Activity Update

Hello!! So as you guys might remember, I experienced a few instances of paranormal activity in my apartment when I first moved in. It definitely gave me the creeps but, luckily, after those initial encounters, I haven’t had any cases of unexplained occurrences happen at chez moi. That is, until about one week ago.

I had an unexpected day off on Monday because a client was sick, so I went back to bed for a while and then got up and began to get some writing done. That’s when I heard the catchphrase of little Agnes from Despicable Me, “IT’S SO FLUFFY” coming from my office.

In my office, I have a closet. In this closet, there is my hair dye hoard on one of the top shelves on the left wall, some boxes from when I moved in, and plastic bags from grocery shopping. And, tucked into the corner of the right wall is a bag of stuffed animals, one of which is the stuffed unicorn from Despicable Me, whose paw you can squeeze (Quite hard, I might add.) to hear phrases from the movie.

Because you have to physically squeeze the paw with some extra oomph because of it’s awkward shape, there’s just no way this could have happened on its own. When I checked my closet, nothing fell on the stuffed animals or was out of place in any way. It just happened.

I’d be a liar if I said that I haven’t been freaked out since this paranormal activity occurred, especially because it has been such a long time since I moved in. I don’t think my ghostly friend is trying to be mean, though. Maybe it was just his or her little way of saying “hello” and that they’re still here.

Am I thrilled about it? Not particularly. But, who’s to say that people and spirits can’t live in harmony?!

Have you ever experienced paranormal activity? What did you do about it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec3

Accident Update

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Accident Update

Hellooo everyone! If you recall, in late September, my boyfriend and I were hit head on by a reckless driver and I was hospitalized. I was pretty banged up and went home with a catheter and a lot of pain. Since then, my shoulder area has never stopped hurting. There’s times when I wake up in the morning and I can’t even apply my makeup because I can’t lift my arm.

I assumed that this pain would go away on its own but, then, things began taking a scary turn when I was at work in mid October. My right arm went completely numb and my hand essentially stopped working. I couldn’t grip anything and was dropping stuff left and right. I immediately scheduled an appointment with an orthopedist and was given a cortisone shot with the hopes that that would help.

Unfortunately, a week later, the symptoms moved into my left arm as well as the right and my arms began feeling fuzzy and so heavy that lifting them was impossible. It just didn’t feel like my arms. I called the orthopedist back with the update and an MRI was scheduled and in the time of waiting for that to happen, the pain moved into my neck and collarbones.

The MRI results showed a lot of swelling in my right shoulder as well as an injury to the cervical spine and my doctor ordered physical therapy. I have to begin trying to strengthen these areas of my body for three weeks and if that doesn’t work, then I’m not really sure what happens next.

This whole situation has been extremely frustrating and inconvenient, to say the least, and I am just completely over it. Especially considering that it has been over two months now since the accident and I’m still experiencing symptoms that are quite scary. But, here’s to hoping that the physical therapy will help!

I have had so many people reaching out to check up on me and I appreciate it so much. Thank you all for the well wishes and I will update everyone once the physical therapy finishes up and I find out what happens next.

What have been your experiences with physical therapy? How do you stay positive during a difficult situation? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct17

I Said Yes!

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I Said Yes!

Hello, hello everyone! Some very exciting news in my life is that my best friend of over ten years, Lea, is newly engaged!! Her boyfriend proposed to her in August and they are already beginning the wedding planning process. I am so beyond happy for the beautiful couple and am so honored to have been asked to be a bridesmaid on their big day. Lea came over when I was babysitting my niece to officially pop the question and I said “I DO”!

idolea

I have never been a bridesmaid before and I can’t think of a more perfect initiation into the club than my taking part in my best friend’s wedding. Lea is going to be the most gorgeous bride and I want her day to be nothing short of magical. I can’t wait to help her plan, make new friends, and just enjoy the whole process of making her feel like the queen of the world – even though she already is!

I am so thankful for the friendship and the bond that Lea and I share. In over a decade, we have never had as much as a disagreement with each other and have so many amazing memories to reminisce on. From birthday celebrations and road trips to simply girl talking on the couch, any time we spend is my favorite time.

Thank you so much to my best friend for inviting me to take part in her big day. Let the celebrations commence! ❤

Have you ever been in a wedding before? What was your favorite part? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct14

Back To Normal

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Back To Normal

Hello! I’ll tell you guys what, getting back to work after the car accident was really hard. And I’ll also tell you guys what, getting back to work after the car accident after an additional week off from family vacation was even harder! My life went from having a blast with my family in North Carolina for a whole week to barely moving for a week in a matter of twelve hours, because the accident happened the day after I returned home.

Returning to work was definitely just as difficult as I imagined it to be. I was still experiencing aches and pains and my stamina was so low that not even my normal venti iced coffee from Starbucks could help me. But, like all things, it just took time. And, I figured if I could resume my job after a month and a half off from a surgery gone wrong, surely I could manage after two weeks!

However, I am pleased to say that things are finally on the upswing and I’d like to think that things are officially Back To Normal… as normal as Lil Red can get, anyways. 😉 Now, I can fully enjoy my favorite fall season and Halloween without a dull throb in my chest as well as revel in my time with my clients. And, for that, I am thankful.

The most difficult thing about this whole ordeal, though, was probably getting behind the wheel of a car again. I hadn’t drove for two weeks minus making a trip or two back to my family home, which is literally right up the street. So, diving completely back into it on my first day back at work was scary – especially because I was on the highway and it was rainy during my morning drive.

I would never say that I was a nervous driver before the accident. I have always been highly confident of my ability to drive and am usually quite relaxed in the Little Red Love Machine. And, while I still consider myself an excellent driver, I notice that I have become extra cautious post accident. I am even more aware of my surroundings than usual and I find that my red hot road rage has simmered down to a soft glow.

The car accident was easily one of the scariest things that I’ve experienced in my life and the last thing I want is for it to happen again. And, if that means tacking on some extra time to get to where I need to be without being in a rush, then so be it. A little more patience never hurts anyone and it could end up saving lives in the process. Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk.

I am so happy to be back into the swing of things and I want to thank all of you again so much for your support during such a difficult time! ❤

How did you handle a scary situation in your life? How do you keep a level head while driving? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct12

And In Conclusion…

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And In Conclusion…

Hello everyone! So I definitely laid some scary news on you all yesterday and I’m sorry for it but, oh my god, it was crazy. One of the things that I pride myself on as a blogger is not sugar coating anything. From my ongoing issues with mental health to everything in between, I try to keep it 100% real with all of you because, if not, then what’s the point?

I am so grateful to have been able to walk out of a severe car crash with the injuries that I had, which seem minor in comparison to breaking a bone, a bleeding cut, or worse. My boyfriend and I are both doing much better now but I’d be a liar if I didn’t say that it didn’t suck on ice. One person’s poor decision when it came to driving effected SIX other cars, people, and families. And, not only that, but he also had another major wreck at his own fault two years prior.

It honestly makes you wonder how that person ended up with his license in the first place, when he only seemed to leave destruction in his path. People could have been killed and, after the wreck, he still seemed unfazed – which is scary. I can only hope that the people in my neck of the woods are spared from having him on the road again and all I can do is urge all of you to be careful when you get behind the wheel. Not just careful for yourself but for all of the others around you, as well.

I always say when I’m in the car with my clients and they ask me if I’m afraid to drive that I’m never worried about my ability to drive, but for everyone else around me. And that definitely rang true the day of the accident. I am completely confident in my boyfriend’s ability to drive but that also didn’t prevent someone from getting into our lane and hitting us head on. So, all I can say is – be aware of your surroundings, wear your seat belts, and always be thankful when you make it to your destination safely.

What is something that you’re afraid of? How did you deal with a car accident if you’ve ever been in one? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah