Amor Vincit Omnia

I am married to an amazing, wonderful husband and I am working on a doctoral degree in Psychology. I am enjoying myself in the process. This space is reserved for fun, geeky posts about television shows or other current obsessions of mine, such as Italian...

[savvynashay]

https://www.erincondren.com/referral/invite/savannahlebarre1224 for $10 off Erin Condren. Comparison of Erin Condren Planner and Passion Planner. Both are around the same price, but Erin Condren planner comes in better packaging and is made with higher quality materials. She has three versions of the planner, a vertical, horizontal, or hour by hour. The passion planner stressed me out and the pages got easily bent in my bag. I also love how you can change out the cover on the Erin Condren when you get bored. The personalization is a plus as well as the stickers and extras that come along with the planner.

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Fall dreams

[savvynashay]

Paragard journey continued

Yesterday was my follow up at the OBGYN. My strings were there and my IUD in place. I told her about being swollen since after insertion and she had never had a patient have that happen, but said it may be my body getting accustomed to its own hormones. I'm not super concerned as I've read posts where women said it took 6 weeks to a few months, but I'm still really uncomfortable and not happy with how my body looks. However, my first IUD period is this week and it is not as bad as I though it would be. I'm super happy being hormone free. I'm looking into copper free multivitamins to see if that may help some. I highly recommend raspberry leaf tea during the menstrual cycle. Good luck to anyone getting an IUD, and feel free to ask questions.

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Courage is not the absence of fear, rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear

Ambrose Redmoon

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New lipstick from LaSplash, Hermione #lasplash #lasplashcosmetics #hermione #hermionegranger #harrypotter #lipstick #matte #colorful

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I don't know where the path is going, but I must follow. I'm excited about new adventures.

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TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth;        5 Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same,        10 And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back.        15 I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.        20

Robert Frost, From Road Not Taken

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IUD Journey continues

First of all, do not think your experience will be exactly like mine or anyone else’s because from what I have read everyone’s experience is slightly different. I just want to share mine. I had my IUD inserted on August, 26, 2015. The nurse called in misoprostol for me to take the night before. I am not sure if it was where I had been hiking that day or where I took that medication, but I did not feel very well. I ended up staying awake most of the night and my stomach felt crampy. I took 800 mg of ibuprofen one hour before going to the OBGYN. I was not too thrilled about my OBGYN office from the beginning, but I won’t be in this state much longer so I did not feel the need to take the time to switch. After I arrived, I was told to provide a urine sample, but never told why. I knew from Googling and researching Paragard the likely reason, but an explanation would have been nice. Once I was in the room and ready the doctor inserted the speculum and stated that I would feel a pinch and a cramp. The cramp was like a Super cramp. Hello uterus I see you have been angered. Then, she repeated I would have a cramp two more times, and Oh My Stars. Nothing had prepared me for the pain I felt. I assumed like a period cramp, but unfortunately my uterus was too angry for that petty nonsense. The doctor never really said what was happening or explained anything. She told me I could lay there awhile and they would check on me. I did lay there as I was very dizzy and passed out. Every time I went to stand I realized I could not. After a long time, the nurse came in and I told her how severe my pain still was. She said she would tell the doctor and come back. I kept laying there until I decided I wanted to have my pants back on and I almost fell off the table. Once my pants were on the nurse came in and asked how I was and I repeated the previous statement and asked in the following weeks how I would know what was normal and what was not in case I needed to come back in. She said if  your pain is severe. Hmmm...what is severe? I asked how I would check the strings and she said I would be told that I my 4 week follow-up. She left and after a long time I went into the hall and told her I was leaving. Then, I had a severe pain and she said go back into the room and the doctor will come. The dr. did not come so I went into the hall and said something again and she said they want to do an ultrasound to make sure it is in place. Well, at that point I was concerned about insurance and whether that was covered as well as how long would I have to wait. So, I waited ten more min and went home. After I got home the labor like contractions became farther apart and lasted until that night around 8:00 p.m. I was shocked when the pain completely went away and I have not had that kind of pain since. I have experienced only mild cramps every now and then. My acne has cleared and my mood is dramatically different. The only symptom I have currently is bloating. My bloating is so severe I am constantly uncomfortable as it feels my stomach is in my ribs and I constantly have to pee. Working out is uncomfortable as it feels I have a beach ball on my stomach. However, I have read IUD Divas (google them) and many other women have had this symptoms (maybe from going off hormonal pills, aggravating the uterus, and the IUD settling in), and it seems to go away within a week to a couple of months. Everyone says to be patient so I am going to try my best. I will definitely mention it to the OBGYN at my follow-up if it is still there, which hopefully it will not be. I am still happy with my decision and will be even more excited when I am not so bloated. I feel like people think I am pregnant, but it is the opposite. I will update when something changes. For now, forgive me dear uterus and calm down....

One tip I found really useful was the raspberry leaf tea for cramping, heating pad, and having a friend to drive me to and from the procedure. 

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Water is the cleansing, healing, psychic, loving element. (Earth, Air, Fire & Water Scott Cunningham)

By LeBarre Photography

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I love this!

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I love my Italian Greyhound. His name is Kermit and he loves to make funny faces. 

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Our sweet Italian greyhound @lebarrephotography and I love

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The Journey to the Right Birth Control

Seven years ago I started birth control pills. I was told how they could control acne, aid with PMS symptoms, and many other glorious effects. I decided to try the Depoprovera shot as it seemed easy since it required shots every three months. However, after the first shot, I realized that it would not likely be right for me. My mother said I was evil and I honestly did not feel myself. The anger and aggression was unlike anything I had ever experienced. After shot 2, I decided to terminate that method of birth control. I was miserable. I started on Ortho-Tricyclen Lo. My hormones have always been quite different from most people it seems (may be due to excessive stress of college and graduate school), but I thought a low dose might be best to try first. I gained so much weight, even on a low dose. I understand that some of the weight was due to college, but it was so easy for me to gain, even while exercising. My acne never seemed to change. I continued to experience the bad PMS and the migraines. However, I had birth control and it was free. Then, I moved to another state and the name brand was $45 so I had to change to a different birth control. I was changed to Ocella, which was a cheaper, yet supposedly comparable version. I had severe depression and a pain in my leg I never experienced that led me to go to the ER. The doctor then changed me to Tri-Sprintec and after complaints of migraines, she changed me to Sprintec. Sprintec has been on of the better birth control pills I have tried, but I still have some side effects I do not like. I also have been concerned I have had an increase in anxiety and depression. My PMS is still bad and acne no better. I feel like the cons have outweighed the pros at this point. I have also thought that even if my anxiety and depression have not been worsened, I will know when I do not take hormonal birth control which is my body versus which is the hormones. That leads me to my latest insight: my insurance covers IUDs in full. I have decided to try the ParaGard  IUD as it does not contain hormones and is effective for ten years. I have read much information online, from horror stories to happily ever afters and I have decided that this seems to be the best path for me to take. I have understood that I will have worse cramps (especially in the beginning) and I may be miserable for the first few months. However, I am glad to know that it is not caused by hormones. I am hoping that my hormones become more balanced than they have been in a long time. I will be blogging some more about the experience after my appointment to have it installed (LOL) next week. I am just a tinge anxious, but I know that most people have felt it is way worth it. 

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Grow freely like the wildflowers 

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Love these photographs

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A message from Toronto

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Be strong even if you’re the smallest flower in the field. Don’t give up!

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#flowers

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Review of all natural deodorant

I decided to try using all natural deodorant. My dissertation is on breast cancer and posttraumatic growth so I have read much about breast cancer in general. I started reading about the possible harmful effects of regular deodorant and although I don’t buy in to the general deodorant causes cancer myth as I am a researcher, I was still concerned about the effects that the chemicals and aluminum could be having on my lymph nodes. Therefore, I decided to try all natural deodorant. I tried Tom’s first and let me say that deodorant did nothing for me. I had the worst body odor. I am a sweaty person and this deodorant did nothing for me. I used it beyond the recommended two week detox (detoxing from regular deodorant causes a bad smell for about two weeks, kind of scary). Then, I tried the Crystal spray deodorant. I did better with the Crystal spray than the Tom’s, but it was not long until I smelled horrible. I decided to read some blog reviews online and see what some other all natural deodorant alternatives might be. I found Meow Meow tweet to have great reviews. I ordered it and immediately loved it. The deodorant is a cream like consistency that smells like lavender and rubs in easily. I did not mind putting it on my fingers because it is made of ingredients that soften the skin. I ordered the product that contains baking soda, which sometimes causes a rash in people. They offer a non-baking soda version, but I decided to try the one with baking soda first. I did develop a rash, which is not really bothersome, but I will likely try the non-baking soda version next time. This deodorant really lasts. Even in the late evening I do not have an odor. I usually reapply at bedtime though because during the night I start to become smelly. My underarms feel so much better. I will continue to order this deodorant. The only downfall is I live in a small town and I cannot find a store that will carry it so I have to order it and pay the shipping. Finally, I tried an Etsy brand of deodorant from Honey Bee Holistics. I decided on the extra strength because it had great reviews. When I opened the package, I immediately realized I did not like the smell. The deodorant does work great, but I am not a fan of the smell. My husband commented the smell kind of remind him of body odor, which is the opposite of how I want to smell. She carries a lavender version which may smell  better. Once again, having to pay shipping sucks. I highly recommend Meow Meow tweet, it shipped fast, smells great, and works fabulously. 

http://meowmeowtweet.myshopify.com/collections/body-care/products/deodorant

https://www.etsy.com/listing/104650247/organic-extra-strength-deodorant-2-oz

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Live in the moment

#live #love #photography #face #makeup #beautiful

[savvynashay]

My husband posted this black and white picture he took at me. Check out his blog for photography 

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"The depth and strength of a human character are defined by its moral reserves. People reveal themselves completely only when they are thrown out of the customary conditions of their life, for only then do they have to fall back on their reserve"

Leonardo DaVinci