Life and Media Update

Life:

Ok, so since I've last posted I have started losing my right eyelashes now. It is pretty disappointing, but I've been lucky to recently have found someone very special who loves me unconditionally and actually likes me better without my wig or makeup. He tells me I'm beautiful several times a day and really makes me feel that way. I still rather have my eyelashes of course, but he makes it seem like it's not so important that I won't have them.

The BF.

Honestly, I think the reason why I have lost so much hair in a short period of time is because my thyroid is now hyper active. It's usually hypo active, but after so many years it decided to switch on me. Now that my meds have changed perhaps my hair will start to grow back and what not.

Media Update:

Many people are trying to get over a 1,000 signatures to approve for a Cancer Barbie doll. The doll would be bald and help teach young girls that not having hair does not make them worthless or not pretty. That barbie also supports those struggling with alopecia and trichotillomania.

Read full stories here and here.

A co-worker showed me an article in the Life section of USA Today about a 14-year-old girl who wrote a book about having alopecia and the bullying that comes from it. She wants to inspire others and educate those who don't understand the disease.

Read full article here.

Vacuum Wig

So, I know I've been MIA for a bit, but my music blog and 2 jobs keep me busy! Good news I always come back :).

I got fitted for my vacuum wig a couple of weeks ago, and I can't wait to get it in....in April. It takes a while because the hair is European and is processed in New Zealand. I will have to get it styled, and it makes me miss my wonderful Laura back in Denver who styled my wigs there. Anyone else have a vacuum wig? What do you think of it?

The lady who I'm doing the process through told me the way I draw my eyebrows are the best she's ever seen, which made me happy :). I'm actually thinking about going back to the idea of tattooing them on. When I first did a consultation back in high school the idea scared me and I had never drawn on my eyebrows before, but I think I have come to the terms that they'll never come back and I'm used to my face with the drawn on ones. It would be nice to not have to worry about them rubbing off or doing them every day though! Any one have tattooed eyebrows?

New York Times Article

I rediscovered this article in a facebook message sent to me last summer. Wanted to share it with everyone! It is a look at people with alopeica and their personal experiences called "The Voices of Alopecia" in the New York Times' Health section.

Here is the link: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/06/the-voices-of-alopecia/?partner=rss&emc=rss

Getting my hair did

Thank you to my avid reader Clamco! She is the lucky winner of the My Memories giveaway! Hope you enjoy it and have fun with the scrapbooking!

So I've made an appointment with a Fuller Hair to get a vacuum wig! I have to keep my head shaved, which I'm not too happy about. However, the wig lasts 3-5 years, and I can do a lot more activities in it without worrying about it falling off my head. The process is a long one and expensive. I won't get the wig until about March or April...birthday present to me!

I met someone last night who asked me why I was wearing a wig, and so I told him I had alopecia. I don't mind talking about it when people ask, but I'm always nervous afterwards that others can tell I'm wearing a wig if that person can. Anyways, he shared with me that his godson who is only 2 years old and used to have really blonde hair all over has alopecia and losing his hair. Makes me sad for that little boy because 2 is when I started to lose mine. Apparently, the father blames himself because he was really stressed during his wife's pregnancy and thinks that might have something to do with it. When my mother was pregnant with me she went through some stressful family drama, and we always wondered if that might have had an effect on my makeup. Perhaps alopecia does happen for those at a younger age who experienced stress in the womb. Interesting thought.

My Memories Scrapbooking- Chop chop people!

Ok, people I'm a few days into the giveaway and no one has told me what layout they like...I would really love to give away FREE digital scrapbook software! I've personally tried it myself, and unfort. am not smart enough to figure out how to load my example onto the blog, but please take my word for it! This is not a scam. Just some people trying to grow a fun software business and are offering their product to one lucky person. Please take the time to just check it out and let me know what your favorite layout is!

My Memories Giveaway!!

Liz Gardner contacted me from My Memories and wants to offer one lucky reader a chance to win the My Memories Suite Scrapbook software!! Even better, ALL readers get a $10 discount off if you purchase the My Memories suite! Go to this link: http://www.mymemories.com/digital_scrapbooking_software and enter code STMMMS67400.

To enter the giveaway, visit www.MyMemories.com, choose your favorite digital paper pack, and comment on my blog which one you chose. The winner will be chosen Monday, Oct. 3rd!

I had the chance to experience the software myself, and love how easy it is to use! Plus, there are so many ways to be creative with the digital scrapbooking.


For more information on My Memories scrapbooking check out these links:
Blog: http://blog.mymemories.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/MyMemories/140359372717593
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/mymemoriessuite
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/MyMemoriesSuite

Beauty Lies In The Soul

I've been feeling super self-concious lately with my hair and eyelashes all gone, but I have to realize that my fear of rejection is getting in the way of potential happiness. I'm lucky to be healthy for the most part, and have dealt with alopecia long enough to know what to expect. I was reading a story in Glamour magazine about a young woman's struggle with life after her and her husband became burn victims from a plane crash that also left a friend dead. She judged herself and thought others would judge her, especially her husband. However, she triumphs over the pitied feelings and says something in the article that makes me rethink my situation when I'm feeling down about my own appearance. We can all learn from her attitude on those rough days.

Here is an excerpt from Stephanie Nielson's "I Couldn't Recognize Myself In The Mirror":

"I was afraid to let Christian--who'd also been burned but not nearly as badly--see me. I worried he'd leave me for a beautiful woman who could fulfill his needs. I felt like a beast...I noticed that my husband still looked at me the same way he had when I was his Snow White...I began seeing people for who they really are. I began seeing their soul. The greatest thing we can do as a human race is to see each other the way God sees us: beautiful. No matter if people have a disease, a handicap or a burned face, their eyes say something and most of the time they are saying, 'look at me, not my trial.'"

Her memoir Heaven Is Here will be out in 2012.