Worldwide Endometriosis March and Awareness

Since my domain expired for my personal blog, So a Blonde Walks Into a Blog, in the interest of keeping things simple, I'm merging my new personal blog posts to TheBlondeBlogger.com so that everything can be found in one spot. So you'll not only get my opinions on various brands, events, etc., you'll also get more of me ( you get to decide if that's a good or bad thing, lol!)

I've always been told my life could be a reality television show, and if you know me well, you know how true that is! So hang on tight because this could be a bumpy ride! ;)

The most important thing in my life right now, aside from my faith, husband, our children, family and friends, is my health.

This month is Endometriosis Awareness Month. Endometriosis is the disease that's brought me to my knees. I have been in and out of the hospital with two botched surgeries over the past year. My adrenal and heart are now being affected by the stress this disease has caused my body. I suffer from co-morbid conditions such as fibromyalgia, hypertension, adrenal fatigue and insufficiency, CFS/ME, Interstitial Cystitis and more. The chronic pain and fatigue are the toughest to deal with and I am in bed 90% of the time now.

You will see me write a lot about this disease, but let me assure you, it's not an attempt to gain sympathy. It's not an attempt to merely whine and complain.

My goal is to help spread awareness, and to show my fellow EndoWarriors they are not alone (which is critical for having the strength to fight this battle).

If you find it sad, annoying, depressing, etc., be thankful that you get to walk away from it while those who are fighting endo have no escape.

Between pain, crippling fatigue, brain fog, mistreatment at the hands of those who are supposed to heal us, losing our dignity in ER's that accuse us of "drug seeking" when our pain is spiraling out of control, suicides committed by women who couldn't keep fighting the battle, marriages that have fallen apart due to the pressures living with endo places on a family, guilt, anxiety, depression, fear, hopelessness, financial devastation from medical bills, job loss, and more, it is everything a woman with endo can do just to get through each day.

But there is also hope, determination, strength, courage, faith, support, love, compassion, understanding, endurance, etc.

And THAT is what the Worldwide Endometriosis March is all about! This Saturday, March 28, in cities across the world, EndoSisters and their caregivers, loved ones and supporters, will be marching to help fight for change, awareness and a cure! Most of all a cure. Oh my how we desperately need and deserve a cure!

My husband and I will be "marching" (I will most likely be in my wheelchair, though I will try my best to walk as much of it as I can) at the DC march. Check out the list of cities hosting a march this year here, and if there is one near you, please join us! It's completely free and easy to do!

There is solidarity in numbers, and seeing the sea of people marching for our lives means more than words could ever express! And if you have anything yellow (our awareness color), please wear it!

If you can't attend the march, you can sign up here to be a virtual marcher. And you can stay tuned to my blog to follow along here as I document my own personal endometriosis journey.

Other great, informative resources can be found at:

~Endomarch.org - The official webpage for the 2015 march.

~The Center for Endometriosis Care- Informative site with information on the disease, proper "gold standard" treatments and more.

~EndoCenter.org

~Endometriosis.org

~LunaGraceBoutique.etsy.com -This is the store I opened to try to generate income for my family while 90% bedridden and disabled. My store focuses on awareness for all chronic illness and 10% of proceeds go to awareness charities.


YouTube has many informative testimonies from women with endo, but let me say this. No two cases are alike and we must be VERY careful not to pigeonhole women into neat and orderly categories based on others' experiences.

I say this as I myself was guilty of thinking in my 20's and 30's that all endo patients must feel the way I did. Suffering, but functioning.

It wasn't until my forties that I learned how wrong that was. I now have a very rare, aggressive form of the disease (stage IV) that causes me pain daily. And as I stated before, it has brought on other conditions that greatly affect my quality of life.

There are rare days that I get out of bed and push through the pain. But most others are spent in bed hoping for strength just to shower.

My husband's sketch of me in the midst of an endo flare.

Despite what this disease tries to steal from me, I still feel incredibly blessed. I have kind and supportive friends and family. Amazing kids. And a very loving and patient husband who has stayed by my side and loves me through it all without complaint! He makes me focus on and celebrate what I can do rather than beat myself up over what I cannot do.

Most of all, I have a Father in Heaven that loves me beyond description and I have absolute faith and trust in His plans for my life and in His own timing. I completely surrender my life into His hands and let Him lead me. He is my strength, my hope and my everlasting rock.

Faith, love and support are better than any medicine in my opinion. And I know that I personally will be so uplifted seeing all of those who march on Saturday for every EndoSister across the world!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who helps us to fight for a cure, whether by marching on Saturday, or simply by speaking up for awareness.

Together, we WILL find a cure and END Endo, once and for all!

Montaigne Template from PipDig Review

Disclosure: I received a discount on the Montaigne template from Pipdig.co to facilitate this review. As always, opinions expressed on TheBlondeBlogger.com are never influenced by discounts or comp/free products and/or services.

 

Hello, dear readers! It's here! It's here! Thanks to the very talented designer Phil at PipDig.co, TheBlondeBlogger.com has a brand new look! How many of you guessed that the template would be the elegant and feminine "Montaigne?" It was a hard choice as there are so many fabulous designs to choose from at Pipdig!

From designs like "Culture Shock:"

To "Style and Light," which I was very close to choosing!

You're sure to find one that fits your site's style and taste! Pipdig offers premade templates for both Blogger and Wordpress as well as custom and semi-custom designs for those who want an exclusive look.

The customer service at PipDig is superb as well. Phil was so great to work with, from installing the template for me, to helping me tweak little touches here and there until it was exactly how I wanted the site to look. If you're a blogger, I highly recommend checking out Pipdig! Ask for Phil, and tell him that The Blonde Blogger sent you! ;)

I wanted all of my fabulous readers to have a beautiful place to visit when coming here, so I hope I've opened the door into a charming and exquisite world for you! I have some really exciting and fun reviews and giveaways planned, so stay tuned!

In fact, a couple of my giveaways involve two celebrities...both in reality television. One has a love/hate relationship with the public and the other is brand new to the Real Housewives franchise. I can't wait to share both of their products that I have come to love with you!

Thanks again for being such loyal readers and friends! I truly adore each and every one of you!

The Blonde Blogger Relaunch

Disclosure: I received a discount on a designer blog template from PipDig in order to facilitate an upcoming review. As with all of my posts, my opinions are never influenced by discounted or comp products and services. 

Due to ongoing health issues, I have had to take a respite from blogging but no matter how long I stay away, I can never leave for good. Writing is in my blood and I've been a blogger long before blogging was cool! ;) So I will always make a comeback, no matter what life throws at me!

I already have some fun reviews and giveaways planned for my awesome readers, so stay tuned! I truly appreciate your patience and for sticking by me and I plan to show it with amazing content for you!

And I don't know about you, but I'm kind of tired of looking at this old design. I think it's time for something new, don't you? What better way to celebrate a relaunch than with a new look?

I've enlisted the help of an amazing designer by the name of Phil at PipDig.co to help create a pretty place for you all to visit when you stop by here. Another way for me to thank you for your loyalty!

Phil will be installing the new look soon, but until then, stop on over at PipDig.co and see if you can guess which Blogger template I chose for TheBlondeBlogger.com! Hint: It's simple and minimalist with a touch of my personality thrown in.

See you back here with my brand new look very soon!

Cirque du Soleil's Amaluna at the National Harbor - Review and Giveaway

Disclosure: Thanks to TAA PR and  Cirque du Soleil, I received four complimentary tickets to Amaluna to facilitate this review as well as four complimentary tickets to giveaway. As always, opinions stated are mine and are never influenced by free or comp products, tickets and/or services.

Please note: Although this review of Cirque du Soleil's Amaluna was carefully written to avoid revealing any major spoilers, if you wish to enter the giveaway for 4 tickets to the August 28 performance at 8pm at the National Harbor without seeing this review, simply scroll to the bottom of this post. Ticket information can be found at the bottom as well. 

I am a big believer in teaching my daughters and stepdaughters that femininity can be both powerful and graceful. I believe that all too often our society tries to separate femininity from power, creating the stereotype that one must be "manly" to be strong.

Thanks to the fabulous minds behind Cirque du Soleil's newest big top show Amaluna that stereotype is put to rest as a 70% female cast (a first in Cirque's 30-year history), along with an all-female band, come together to showcase the strength and beauty that femininity has to offer.

I was invited to a performance of Amaluna at The National Harbor in Maryland and was given tickets for three guests. In the spirit of celebrating women, I chose to bring my stepdaughter, daughter-in-law, and a dear female friend, all of whom were just as enthralled and empowered by the show as I was.

#CirqueSelfie with my powerfully female guests!

“Amaluna is a tribute to the work and voice of women”, explains Director of Creation Fernand Rainville. “The show is a reflection on balance from a women’s perspective."

Director Diane Paulus, winner of a 2013 Tony Award (Pippin) says, “I didn’t want to build a ‘women’s agenda’ show. I wanted to create a show with women at the center of it, something that had a hidden story that featured women as the heroines.”

Paulus drew from a series of classical influences when creating the concept of the show; including tales from Greek and Norse mythology, Mozart’s The Magic Flute and Shakespeare’s The Tempest.

Here is the show's official description:

Amaluna invites the audience to a mysterious island governed by Goddesses and guided by the cycles of the moon. Their queen, Prospera, directs her daughter’s coming-of-age ceremony in a rite that honors femininity, renewal, rebirth and balance which marks the passing of these insights and values from one generation to the next. 

In the wake of a storm caused by Prospera, a group of young men lands on the island, triggering an epic, emotional story of love between Prospera’s daughter and a brave young suitor. But theirs is a love that will be put to the test. The couple must face numerous demanding trials and overcome daunting setbacks before they can achieve mutual trust, faith and harmony. 

Amaluna is a fusion of the words ama, which refers to “mother” in many languages, and luna, which means “moon”; a symbol of femininity that evokes both the mother-daughter relationship and the idea of goddess and protector of the planet. Amaluna is also the name of the mysterious island where this magical story unfolds.

Prospera and Miranda are the main female characters, along with The Moon Goddess who proves that confidence and strength can be alluringly feminine.

Prospera delivers a commanding, confident performance while Miranda is curious, energetic and mischievous.

Miranda's life-long friend, half-lizard, half-human Cali, opens the show by coyly interacting with the audience, immediately inviting them to enter the world of Amaluna. Spectacular peacocks and fanciful fairies are just a few of the other wondrous creatures that inhabit the island.

Cali is in love with Miranda while she views him as merely a pet. This unrequited love triggers Cali's jealousy, especially when Miranda becomes enthralled with the dashing Prince Romeo.

Romeo's manservant Jeeves and Miranda's childhood nurse Deeds, both clowns, provide comic relief in between acts and their adorable romance becomes a sweet story in and of itself.

The music performed live by the all-female band during the show has an edgy, hard rock feel as opposed to Cirque's usual soft and ethereal soundtrack. The bands' spiked hair and electric guitars blended perfectly with the theme of female power.

The acts were as mesmerizing as I had heard they would be (this was my first Cirque show ever), with my favorite being "Cerceau and Waterbowl" in which Miranda performs a challenging hand-balancing routine and dives in and out of the Waterbowl, all while Prince Romeo watches and eventually joins her to frolic and kiss for the first time in the water.

"Chinese Pole" and "Manipulation" were also my favorites as I joined the crowd in disbelieving stares and jaw-dropping awe over the mind-blowing feats pulled off by the artists.

The costumes worn by the band and artists were just as captivating and also added to the wonder of feminine empowerment and beauty.

The costume and the artist are inseparable in costume designer Mérédith Caron's mind. "One calls out to the other," she says. "It's a communion, a symbiotic relationship. But above all, it is the artist that I dress."

For example, Miranda wears linen, cambric and distressed velvet that is highly reminiscent of the Italian Renaissance and conveys Miranda's enthusiasm and thirst for discovery.

Take a look at the detail that goes into the peacock costumes alone for an understanding of how magnificent and intricate Amaluna's wardrobe really is:

The peacock costumes are made up of 14 layers of heat- pleated materials trimmed in leather and stretch metallic fabric. The tails open out to a “fan” of eight feet with hydraulic pistons that compensate for their weight. Made in the same proportion to the performers’ bodies as the bird’s fans have to theirs, the tails are attached to the artists with belts that hide the mechanisms under embroidered feathers. The skeleton and leaves of the fans are made of the same Fiberglass material used in the manufacture of fishing rods, and screen-printed metallic paper is glued to the leaves to recreate the iridescent look of peacock plumage.

We were able to stay after the show for a question and answer session with Amaluna's publicist Rowenna Dunn and Head of Wardrobe Larry Edwards where we learned fun and interesting behind the scenes facts about #CirqueLife.

I was mostly interested in hearing about the costumes so I was thrilled that Edwards was part of the Q&A session! I was fascinated to learn that more than 180 costumes are used in Amaluna and are made up of nearly 1,000 different items. 120 hours per week are spent on laundry alone!

Another fun fact: The Water-bowl which plays such a vital role in the story is 5’5” tall, 7’3” in diameter, and weighs 5,500 lbs when filled with water.

Take a look at this sneak peek of Amaluna to see for yourself how the costumes, acts, storyline, characters, set design and more, all come together to tell a mesmerizing tale:



Trust me when I say that no photographs or videos can come close to the wonder of experiencing the show live. As cliche as it sounds, I seriously had chills during many of the performances and I expressed my feelings about wanting to be just like the enchanting and alluring artists in this tweet:

I want to be an acrobat. Really bad. I'm doing yoga as soon as I get home, lol! #Amaluna @Cirque
— BlondeBlogger (@BlondeBlogger) August 10, 2014

Would you like a chance to see the beauty of Amaluna in person for free? And would you like to bring THREE guests with you at no cost as well?

Cirque was kind enough to offer readers of So a Blonde Walks Into a Review a chance to win FOUR tickets to the August 28 Amaluna show at The National Harbor at 8 pm! One lucky winner will be selected at random to win all four tickets!
Please only enter this giveaway if you are able to attend the August 28 performance at 8pm! 

To enter, simply leave a comment on this post telling us why you'd love to win, then follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter widget below to complete your entry (If you are having trouble commenting, go ahead and mark that entry method as complete on Rafflecopter. It was brought to my attention that Blogger's comment section is acting up, thus that step is no longer mandatory. Thank you for your understanding!) Bonus entry methods are available as shown on Rafflecopter.
This giveaway ends at 12 am EST on August 26, 2014. Winner will be notified by email and will have 24 hours to respond. If no response is received, the prize will be forfeited and offered to another randomly selected winner to ensure that the tickets will be used due to the short turnaround of this giveaway.

By entering, you automatically agree to all of the rules and disclaimers listed here. Please also see my disclosure policy here. Good luck!
If you can't wait to see if you are a winner or if you're unable to make the August 28 performance, click here to purchase tickets for a date and time of your choosing. (Don't miss the Family Four Pack deal before it's gone!) Check out upcoming cities that Amaluna will be touring at here.
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Behind the Seam Designer Jeans Review and Giveaway

Disclosure: I received a complimentary pair of Behind the Seam Designer Jeans to facilitate this review. As always, opinions stated are mine and are never influenced by comp products, tickets or services.

How many of my readers remember the fabulous movie, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants? It's one of my favorite movies of all time! How fabulous would it be to share a pair of jeans with your best girlfriends as well as the memories created while wearing them?


That is the concept behind a super cool new company I discovered on Twitter called Behind the Seam Designer Jeans. Owner and creator Natalie Alberti Salamone collects gently used designer jeans and resells them at an affordable price. The bonus is that each pair comes with a story of a special memory that happened to the previous owner while wearing the jeans.

"Ever since I was a young girl, I have loved fashion and, in particular, the look, feel and quality of good designer jeans," Natalie says. "But high-end jeans are far too expensive for most of our budgets. As I began to do some online research, I found I could locate lightly worn jeans from various sources and offer them for resale."

The stories that come with the jeans have added a fun dimension to the new venture and helps connect women to a common sisterhood.

"Each story is a creative narrative based on true facts (told to me by the original owner) about something interesting or exciting that happened to them while wearing the jeans," says Natalie. "Our jeans have traveled all over the country and come with cool stories, so if you believe in karma, our jeans are for you!"

The brands, which include 7 For All Mankind, Vigoss, Antik Denim, Citizens of Humanity, and Lucky Brand among others, range in price from $40 to $65, about 70% less than original retail prices.

Natalie was kind enough to send me a pair of jeans to review for this article and I have to say, the story behind my new 575's was definitely meant for me!

As someone who has been dealing with chronic pain and illness, being encouraged to believe in my dreams and to realize that anything is possible is something I desperately needed to be reminded of. I don't believe it was a coincidence that these jeans and the story behind them ended up in my hands.

I love the look and feel of the jeans just as much as I love the story, too! Distressed, dark denim is my favorite style...perfect for dressing up or down!

You can check out all of the  current jeans in stock, as well as their stories, here (click photos to display more selections in each style shown). Be sure to check back often as inventory changes frequently.

Natalie also hosts "Trunk Shows for a Cause" to benefit charity and is starting a new program called "The Great Jean Makeover- Inspiring and Empowering Teenage Girls."

Once a month, the program will allow a teenage girl to receive a pair of designer jeans as well as a makeover that teaches appropriate make-up application, and a headshot from a professional photographer. The program is part of Natalie's goal to empower young women.

Behind the Seam Designer Jeans' mission statement is:

...to empower and inspire women of all ages, religions, socioeconomic background, and races by allowing them to make connections with other women across the country through their shared stories of their beloved jeans.

In addition to purchasing online or via trunk show, Behind the Seam Designer Jeans can also be found at these retail stores.

Want a chance to win a pair of your own Behind the Seam Designer Jeans? Post a comment in the comment section below telling us your favorite style of jeans (skinny, boot cut, etc.), then follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter widget below to complete your entry. Other bonus entry actions can be found in the Rafflecopter widget.

Entry deadline is 12:00 am EST on Sunday, August 24, 2014. By entering, you automatically agree to all of the rules and disclaimers listed here. Please also see my disclosure policy here. Good luck!

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