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A Journey Through Self Care: How BladeFree HD IntraLASIK Changed My Life (The Pre-Op)

February 19, 2016

A Journey Through Self Care: How Blade-Free LASIK Changed My Life (The Pre-Op) has been sponsored by the Kleiman|Evangelista Eye Center in partnership with Mom It Forward. Although I received complementary BladeFree HD IntraLASIK eye surgery, all thoughts, opinions, and experiences are my own. #KEHelpedMeSee

I’ve talked about self care several times this year. The phrase has been a really huge piece of my life the past two months, and I’ve really worked hard to give myself more “me” time. When you have a special needs child, one that’s in the hospital 10 months long, and always in and out of many doctors’ offices, you don’t get to spend a lot of time on yourself. For the new year I committed myself to taking more time for myself and doing things exclusively for me and no one else. I’m trying to regain my old self back, and in order to be the best mom and wife possible, I have to take care of myself. I rang in the New Year at a local charity ball with Mathew, I got new glasses, we cashed in our massage gift certificates, we began Whole 30 (and I lost 15 lbs!), and then I made the seemingly scary decision to get BladeFree HD IntraLASIK eye surgery…all in the month of January. I was really gung-ho about changing my life for the better, and let me tell you, of all the things I did in January, BladeFree HD IntraLASIK changed my life.

To be honest, when I applied to be considered as a blogger for BladeFree HD IntraLASIK at the Kleiman|Evangelista Eye Center, I didn’t think it’d even happen for me. I did some research, I applied thinking it was a long shot, and went about my way. I’d been so frustrated with contacts drying out all the time and glasses always getting mascara flakes or smudges on them that it just seemed like a great idea to finally give in and get LASIK. Then I got an email that said I’d been chosen for consideration- and I froze. Was I really about to consider getting LASIK?! I threw myself into a ton of more research because I’m naturally an anxious person. The more and more I looked into it though, BladeFree HD IntraLASIK at the Kleiman|Evangelista Eye Center actually looked like a really great thing to get. Kleiman|Evangelista Eye Center became one of the first laser eye centers in the DFW area to offer LASIK, and it continues to be the focal point of their practice, which was a HUGE deal to me in deciding whether or not I would go ahead with the procedure. I also checked out the Kleiman|Evangelista Eye Center website and their FAQ page to get a lot of information and even watched a video on an animated procedure to see what I’d be going through if I proceeded with my BladeFree HD IntraLASIK. The Kleiman|Evangelista Eye Center has state-of-the-art technology with two different lasers for the procedure, which was very comforting to know as well.

Although I was still a little nervous about the thought of LASIK (even though I’d wanted it ever since I was in high school), James, the Director of Patient Services, called me from the Kleiman|Evangelista Eye Center for a pre-op consultation. I was so excited to see if I was even a candidate for the BladeFree HD IntraLASIK eye surgery, and James and I talked a little about the events that would occur leading to the procedure, and then told me about the procedure itself. He answered any questions I had about LASIK and really put me at ease with his extensive knowledge and friendly attitude. James is the kind of person that is incredibly thorough, and it really made me more comfortable because I am the type of person that thrives on knowing as much as possible before a procedure. I guess that’s what happens when you’re a mom of a medically fragile child that’s had 6 surgeries and multiple procedures. I hung up with James and was really excited to go to my appointment in a week to see if I was a candidate for BladeFree HD IntraLASIK eye surgery.

A week later, I drove up to Dallas, and I met James in person at the Kleiman|Evangelista Eye Center Dallas location (they have 3 locations in the DFW area). He was just as friendly in person as he was over the phone and he took me around to do two different tests on my eyes to see if I would be a candidate. One test gave a general idea about my prescription, and the other test was a Pentacam, which takes about 25 pictures of your eye in about 5 seconds. The Pentacam was really important because it gives the depth of your eye to see how much corneal thickness you have. After the two tests, I got to sit down with a doctor and had a basic eye exam (you know- one…or two?) to review that my prescription hadn’t changed in about a year or more. We got to talk about any concerns I had and any medical questions that I still needed answered, and we talked about glaucoma. Glaucoma runs in my family (my Memaw had it and my Aunt Gloria has it) and I have a good chance of having it later on in life through genetics. The doctor recommended that he see me again for a Visual Field Test to make sure I had good peripheral vision before having surgery. I would only be allowed to have my BladeFree HD IntraLASIK if I passed the test. The fact that the doctor wanted to make extra sure that I was a candidate really made me feel good about the Kleiman|Evangelista Eye Center. Any other doctor could’ve just said that I was a candidate and then I would’ve been really upset to find out this information later in life, but the Kleiman|Evangelista Eye Center took the time to make sure I was a perfect candidate.

Blogging has brought an amazing opportunity for me- I’m going to be working with the Kleiman Evangelista Eye Center in Dallas to get LASIK! I’m actually at the center today getting pictures taken of my eyes today to review my prescription, check my corneal thickness, dilate my eyes, do another eye test, and talk with the doctor. Y’all know the past year and a half we’ve had and that I made a resolution this year to take better care of myself. This partnership with KEEC has me so excited. It’s just one step to bettering myself! #thevintagemodernwife #SelfCareWithTheVMW #theVMWgetsLASIK
A photo posted by Stephanie W. (@mathewsbambina) on Jan 22, 2016 at 6:46am PST

After the three eye tests, I sat with James in his office and we discussed some great questions as to how the procedure would be done, how much it generally costs for people, payment options, and what to expect after the surgery. We sat chatting for almost an hour just making sure I has all the information I needed, was comfortable, and was ready to make a decision regarding whether or not I would proceed with BladeFree HD IntraLASIK. James was SO helpful and I left my appointment feeling happy and confident that I was choosing the best place possible for my surgery. I was really excited to have decided to go with the Kleiman|Evangelista Eye Center for my BladeFree HD IntraLASIK. To make the day even better? I got to meet up with my sweet friend Amber in Dallas after the appointment. Talk about a great day!

I was so excited about my surgery that James and I scheduled it for the following week after I really thought things through and talked with Mathew. I’ll admit, it made me so excited that everything was happening so soon. I wish I’d gotten BladeFree HD IntraLASIK done years ago!

I’ll be documenting the actual surgery next week (including a fun Snapchat story and surgery pictures) and an FAQ the following week including many of the things I’ve learned about BladeFree HD IntraLASIK. Ask your questions in the comments so I can make sure to discuss them in my FAQ soon!

Filed Under: beauty, fashion ·

Glowing Bentonite Clay Mask

November 23, 2015

I’ve been working really hard to make changes to my lifestyle with the products I use. I’m trying to use less chemicals in our house and more natural products just for the wellness benefits that they bring. Because of Young Living, I’ve really noticed that so many things we use in our day-to-day lives have a ton of junk in them that we don’t need. One of those things? Those little clay mask packets you get at the grocery store for 2 bucks. They’re my favorite…but, they’re loaded with chemicals. After the advice of an up line leader, I started using bentonite clay to make face masks and it has made a world of a difference on my face. This Glowing Bentonite Clay Mask is so chock full of natural ingredients that will plump up your skin with nutrients, dry out any pimples, and will soften it so your face feels smoother than a baby’s butt (trust me, it’s smoother than Addie’s bottom now!)

What you’ll need for the Glowing Bentonite Clay Mask:

Young Living Melaleuca Alternifolia (aka Tea Tree) Essential Oil
Young Living Frankincense Essential Oil
Young Living Gentle Baby Essential Oil
Plastic Measuring Spoon
Half Pint Mason Jar
Aztec Bentonite Clay
Apple Cider Vinegar
Glass Bowl
Stippling Foundation Brush

The Instructions:

In order to make the Glowing Bentonite Clay Mask, you’ll need to add 10 teaspoons of bentonite clay and 10 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar to your bowl. It will foam up and then should form into a paste. If your mixture is too watery, add more bentonite clay. Conversely, if your mixture is too thick, add more apple cider vinegar.

Once your bentonite clay has been made into a paste, you’ll need to add your Young Living Essential Oils and stir them in really well with your plastic spoon. I used 8 drops of Frankincense, 8 drops of Melaleuca Alternifolia, and 4 drops of Gentle Baby. Why those oils? Frankincense includes the naturally occurring constituent boswellic acid, and has a woodsy, warm, balsamic aroma. Applying Frankincense topically may help smooth the appearance of healthy-looking skin. I added Tea Tree essential oil (Melaleuca alternifolia) because it helps reduce the appearance of blemishes. This ingredient is key for this mask! Lastly, Gentle Baby is a soft, fragrant combination of essential oils that is also soothing to tender skin. Many of the essential oils in the Gentle Baby blend are used in elite cosmetics to enhance a youthful appearance. I tend to have normal to dry skin, so this is a combination that works for me. I hate when I put a mask on and my skin is so dry from it. Frankincense, Tea Tree, and Gentle Baby combat that ugly, dry feeling and allow my face to feel plump and moisturized without feeling greasy at all. There’s a difference between feeling like you have healthy skin than skin that’s just completely dried out!

Add your Glowing Bentonite Clay Mask to your mason jar add a label, and you’re all set! Apply with a brush (I like this one) for a spa-like experience, or just with your fingers. You’ll want to let it dry for 5-10 minutes if you have delicate skin or 15-20 minutes for normal skin. Because of the bentonite clay, you’ll feel a pulling, tightening, and tingling sensation. You’ll want to remove your Glowing Bentonite Clay Mask by rinsing it off with warm water or a warm, wet washcloth. Your face will have redness due to the deep pore cleansing of the clay, but it will go away within 30 minutes.

So there you have it, my Glowing Bentonite Clay Mask recipe! I hope you all try it and enjoy it. Send me pictures of you in your masks in the comments (if you’re brave!) and what you think about it!

Filed Under: beauty, YLEO ·

Mom Hair Monday: Braided Headband

September 28, 2015

This braided headband tutorial by The Vintage Modern Wife is SO easy and I'm able to do it in 5 minutes! Stephanie breaks it down into simple steps that are easy to understand. Plus, I love her pink and blonde hair! Check it out for #momhairmonday!

I feel like our weeks have just been flying by. Last week I went to Blog Elevated, Addie was dedicated at church, she had her surgery and ABR test, and she had a doctor’s appointment. Not only that, but our A/C decided to go out on me on Saturday whenever Mathew was out at the deer lease to prepare for deer hunting season. We’ve been quite busy and I feel as though I’m running myself ragged at times. I definitely need a date night with Mathew or a night out crafting with a friend, because it can be pretty exhausting taking care of Addie at times! Still, I made sure to give you guys another fun hairstyle this week, the braided headband! I really love the braided headband because it’s cute, functional so my hair isn’t in my face, and looks more fun than a typical half up, half down hairstyle. Plus, it’s really easy, and you can’t beat that. I only have a few minutes each morning to get ready because I love to sleep in as long as possible until it’s time to relieve Addie’s nurse for the day, so this braided headband is one I can whip up in 5 minutes, tops! The braided headband can be done on medium to long hair.

Makeup: Foundation- Benefit Big Easy in Fair, Concealer- Tarte CC Undereye Collector in Light-Medium, Brows- Anastasia Brow Wiz in Taupe, Eyeshadow- Naked on the Run, Eyeliner- MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack, Mascara- Benefit They’re Real, Blush-Urban Decay Naked Flushed, Highlighter- Benefit Sunbeam, Lipstick- MAC Ramblin’ Rose, Lashes- Ardell

Remember: The goal of Mom Hair Monday? To give you a cute, functional hairstyle that will take you from drab to fab in 5 minutes. 5 minutes is all we have, right moms? I’ll be showing you my tried and true hairstyles that are no fuss but look like you put in a ton of effort.

What will you need for the Braided Headband?

2 clear elastics, bobby pins, and a brush (I love the Wet Brush.)

Here’s how to do it:

1. Part your hair to a side part. You can keep your hair straight like I did, or if you have a couple extra minutes, quickly curl the bottom half of your hair.

2 & 3. Separate your hair on both sides of your head. You’ll want to section off your hair into the pieces in front of your ears as shown in the pictures below, and then take a 2-3 inch section of hair from behind your ears for your braids.

4. Following the fishtail braid tutorial from our previous Mom Hair Monday, you’ll fishtail braid both 2 inch sections of your hair that you took from behind your ears. Secure each braid with a clear elastic.

5. Use your hands to pull apart your braids to widen them and messy them up a little. This is a key part into making them look perfect for your braided headband!

6. Take the left braid and place it above your head, ending at the right ear. Pin the braid down by placing 2 bobby pins in an X shape to secure it to your head. Repeat by taking the right braid and placing it above your head, ending at the left ear and securing.

7. Take the front sections of your hair and twist them. Secure with 2 bobby pins in an X shape behind each ear.

8. You are done! If you have extra time, you can curl your hair like I said earlier or even tease the crown of your head. If you don’t have an extra minute or two, no worries, you still look fab!

This week thankfully is not as busy of a week for our household, and I’m thankful because Addie and I need to just relax for once! She has an appointment today, but other than that we are pretty much free for the week. I’m so happy!

So there you have it- the Braided Headband. Fun, functional, and sexy! Let me know if you try it, and make sure to come back next Monday for another Mom Hair Monday hairstyle!

Filed Under: beauty ·

A Journey Through Self Care: How Blade­Free HD IntraLASIK Changed My Life (The Pre-Op)

I’ll be documenting the actual surgery next week (including a fun Snapchat story and surgery pictures) and an FAQ the following week including many of the things I’ve learned about Blade­Free HD IntraLASIK. Ask your questions in the comments so I can make sure to discuss them in my FAQ soon!