Yeehaw! Cowgirl style.

At the Old Timey Music Revue my housemate pointed out an awesome cowgirl shirt that one of the artists on stage was wearing, and decided that she thought that I could pull that off and should therefore run out and buy one. I, as a lover of country music and all things tongue-in-cheek, agreed that this was a good idea and went off on an Etsy search. This search proved to be far from fruitful.

Thankfully, on my trip to the US, my dad independently decided that I should own such a shirt and bought one for me. That one was unfortunately two sizes too big but we went back and got me one that fit, and I love it! I decided that, in the spirit of this blog, it was acceptable attire for work. The results are below:

before leaving for work | blue nails now that i don't bite them anymore | glass figure + garden and grass couch installations at the art gallery opening i attended in my cowgirl get up | wrinkled clothes after sitting in them all day at work

Shirt: Wrangler

Skirt: Vintage Cue

Shoes: Acoustic Stomach

Explaining Endometriosis

One of the best videos I've seen explaining endometriosis. It doesn't go through the natural therapies (eg krill oil supplements, etc) that I think are helpful to have complete care, but I think it covers the medical side very well.

Sunny days

Lately it's been a little bit warmer in Canberra. We've finally gotten to the stage where tights are not a requirement and summer dresses can be pulled out of the depths of the cupboard. I even changed my quilt from my Canberra winter weight quilt to my Adelaide winter weight quilt tonight! (I think it might still be awhile before we have 10+ degree nights in Canberra.)

To celebrate the warmer weather, I broke out one of my recent purchases from my travels - my embroidered denim shirt (and my $10 shoes!) Later that day it got a little chillier so I substituted the sandals for my new white connies... no pictures though.

Dress: Lemisee creations (Bondi Markets)

Shirt: Urban Outfitters

Shoes: Urban Outfitters

Banged up knee brought to you by Dramamine, raccoons and San Francisco.

Lantern/tree at the grand opening of Mint Garden Bar on Friday. Come visit me and I will take you there!

Endometriosis and feminine hygiene products: my campaign

On a recent trip to the supermarket, I noticed my pack of Libra pads had a sticker on it saying that they supported ovarian cancer research. This got me thinking - wouldn't that be a great avenue for endometriosis awareness? I searched the websites of feminine hygiene brands available at my local Coles supermarket to see if any of them mentioned endometriosis. I would expect that seeing as 10% of their customers have endometriosis, they would see it as a priority to address. The results were disappointing but not surprising. In each search I simply searched the word "endometriosis".

LIBRA:
Number of results: 0.
Any significant articles on period pain (eg in FAQ)?: Short article on period pain suggesting that people with period pain should try a hot water bottle, or if the pain is really bad, a painkiller. Suggests to ask a doctor about painkillers, but has no mention of what to do if the painkillers don't work and no mention of there being a medical condition that could cause bad period pain. Also suggested that the person in pain should do more exercise. [Considering that elsewhere on the website they feel the need to weigh in on the discussion as to whether or not people should have Brazilians,  I think they have overlooked something here.]
Other causes supported: Ovarian cancer awareness/research.
Overall: On top of there being no mention whatsoever of endometriosis, I actually found the Libra website quite condescending and am now reconsidering buying their products at all. I do think that it is good that they are contributing to ovarian cancer research but I think they could go even further in that by including information on the packets about symptoms of ovarian cancer so it is caught early.

STAYFREE:
Number of results: 0.
Any significant articles on period pain (eg in FAQ)?: No, but there is a link to a similarly condescending "It's my body" website, sponsored by Stayfree/Carefree, with articles on periods clearly directed at girls going through puberty.
Other causes supported: None immediately apparent.
Overall: They don't have a huge amount of information up on their website, so I can understand them not having information up about endometriosis, but it is unfortunate that their linked sponsored website was so condescending.



KOTEX:
Number of results: 9.
Any significant articles on period pain (eg in FAQ)?: Yes, most of the mentions that came up in the results were actually in the comments section, but there were also multiple direct references to endometriosis in other articles. There was a great article on going to the gynaecologist which I wish I had had before I went.
Other causes supported: None immediately apparent.
Overall: By far my favourite website. Photos of real people without any white pants, puppies or flowers in sight. Real medical information that is not condescending. Also has a comments section and forums that allow people to have conversations about any issues they might be having through all stages of a woman's life. Two thumbs up!

Upon further investigation - I discovered that the Kotex site was actually for a "worldwide" audience. I went to the Australian site and was disappointed to find that there was no mention of endometriosis. After a bit of digging I came across this sentence "It is not necessary to suffer period pain so bad that you can't function" followed by an instruction to go see a doctor about potential treatments and some great tips on natural ways to deal with period pain (eg fish oil, magnesium, chamomile tea, etc). A little better, but I still think that they could be more upfront about endometriosis and actually have a section on it.

COTTONS:
Number of results: No search function, but from my browsing, no direct mention.
Any significant articles on period pain (eg in FAQ)?: Yes, an article on "Period Problems" mentioning that 2-6% of women have severe to incapacitating pain, but no mentions of endometriosis explicitly, despite articles in the "Health Issues" section on AIDS, amongst other diseases.
Other causes supported: None immediately apparent.
Overall: Not too condescending, but I find it odd that they have information on AIDS and eating disorders but not endometriosis. They also have a number of links to websites about chlamydia and ovarian cancer so there is definitely space to include information on endometriosis.

MOXIE:
Number of results: 0. (No search function, but couldn't find any in my own browsing)
Any significant articles on period pain (eg in FAQ)?: There was one article on PMS.
Other causes supported: Butterfly foundation for eating disorders.
Overall: Not happy. I was thinking it wasn't so bad, until I found this little section:

"Periods vary greatly, and mean different things to different women – to some they are a minor insignificance, to others, an inconvenience or even a challenge. But they are always a sign that your body is working they way it should. 

Your body is incredible! This intricate chemical and biological event is actually very cool, and the monthly proof of your vast girl power. So cherish it, and make sure it’s as comfortable and as gorgeous a time as you can make it. 

Your period does not prevent you from doing anything and everything you normally enjoy. So no excuses. Eat right, stay fit, and get on with it."

These are the exact lies that were perpetuated to me in the 10 years that it took me to get diagnosed. The last thing we should be telling people with bad period pain is to "get on with it". My periods were always there but they were definitely not a sign that my body was working the way it should.
_________________________________________________________________________________


So now I've got a bright idea. I am going to write to each of these companies asking them to include information about endometriosis on their websites and/or packs, or even think about sponsoring an endometriosis charity. I don't know if anyone has ever tried this before - I hope I'm able to make some difference!


PS I will eventually have more outfit updates... just being lazy with my uploading of photos!

Pain scales: what it's like to have endometriosis

So I've got a whole bunch of outfits that I've taken photos of but the uploader thing is being funny so none of that right now unfortunately! (It will let me copy stuff that is uploaded on the internet though, which means that you get this delightful comic that made me laugh.)

Haven't had the best day ever, had a very frustrating time trying to change my car registration and license over to the ACT (there is a reason I have put it off for a year and nine months!) and I think because of that stress and fatigue I've ended up with the worst pain I've had in awhile. It's definitely still nowhere near as bad as it used to be before my operation, but it's a different kind of pain. A kind of pressing, slightly tugging, constant pain, that I've had to learn to deal with over the last six months because it's a different kind of pain from what I'm used to.

I used to have about 2.5 weeks in a month where I would be mostly fine (0-1 pain scale), and about 1 week where I was in quite a lot of pain but could function (with a lot of effort, drugs and heat packs, 6 -8 pain scale) and about half a week when the pain was excruciating, I could hardly move and I'd get contraction-like pain (this is when I would have time off work, 9-10 pain scale). Now it's more like 4 weeks with constant everyday pain ranging from 2-5, along with frequently having to visit the loo since my bladder hurts when it's even slightly full. Tonight's a 5. I think that in the long run having everyday low-level pain (although hopefully that might resolve itself too) is something that is more conducive to me living a normal life than the crazy labour-type pains I was getting every month that I had no control over. (It helps that I'm pretty much not getting my period anymore because of the Mirena).

I've also pretty much stopped taking all painkillers at the moment - partly so I don't push myself too hard and overdo it (since pain is there for a reason, right?), but also because I don't like the way I feel on them, even if they take away the pain (which they don't always) and I'd rather not have to rely on them and instead be able to cope with my pain using my brain.

Above: a couple of pain scales that I think help to convey what different levels of pain are like.

PS You might see that this blog is changing a bit. I still want to do my outfit posts since that is what makes me happy but after going to an endometriosis research group on Friday and hearing and remembering yet again about how there is still so much shame surrounding this disease, I've decided to start writing more regularly about what it's like to have endometriosis. I also think that sometimes I tend to downplay my pain a bit because I don't want to make a fuss. As a woman, I have been told my whole life that period pain is 'normal' and it's something you just have to deal with, so it's a bit of a reminder to myself as well to take myself seriously. I think it might help my friends and family to understand more what it's like as well.

Here's a link that I think describes the pain well. I read it and found myself nodding in agreement with every sentence. "You can't be ill. You look fine."

Conference chic

photos from my trip to Brisbane for work: T to B - one blouse, three ways (can you tell I love yellow? - blouse and all skirts shown are vintage - cardigans are dangerfield and urban outfitters respectively); gorgeous bow ties/hair clips at the southbank markets; sand sculpture at the conference that was destroyed and rebuilt in another design daily; view from my hotel room balcony

I loved the trip, the conference was so much fun and I learnt a lot. I can't wait to go back to Brisbane - I'd love to live there!

Old Timey Music Revue

So I've been a bit slack with staying true to my favourite vintage style for the past few weeks, but I've been much better this week (partly because I've had time!). Even though I didn't get to record most of my outfits from this week, I can tell you that I made a lot more effort and it showed - I was more confident and happy in myself.*

Friday night was an "Old Timey Music Revue" held at the Polish Club in Turner. My housemate and I got dressed to the nines in vintage gear in order to score discount entry to the event. (On a side note, I love having a housemate that loves getting dressed up in vintage just as much as I do). What followed once we got there was some great country, blues and jazz music and lots of fun swing dancing. I'm thinking I'm going to have to start taking classes! It was so good to have a night out with good music (but not so loud that you can't chat), good company, good dancing and a not-too-late bedtime. Am I sounding old yet? Looks like I'll have to pay another visit to the Polish Club in the near future for some pierogi!

Dress: Vintage (Cue), some vintage store in Adelaide... probably Red Ruby Vintage

Belt: Vintage, Mint Vintage (pretty sure it doesn't exist anymore)

Cardigan: Vintage, Fash & Treasure

Coat: Vintage, Fash & Treasure

Purse: Vintage, some op shop

(Apart from the cardigan and coat I've had most of that outfit for years, so I'm pretty sketchy on the details of where I bought pieces)

PS How gorgeous is my housemate's dress?

*Note: I know that different things give confidence and happiness to different people - for you it might be being able to sew a gorgeous quilt or refurbish some furniture into a lovely new piece. For me, nothing brightens my day more than dressing up in a pretty frock, being creative with my clothes and adding some colour to our sometimes drab world. This blog is all about trying to make every day better by doing things that I know make me a more positive, happy person.