So in the last post, I told you that I had gotten Botox and IPL treatment # 1. So you wanna see the good, bad, and ugly ? Let's go. I had my face and my hands done.
The doctor, Dr David Rayhan, told me that it would feel like a rubber band snapping on my face. It did. But it snapped 300 times. It wasn't bad - they use numbing gel and they blow cool air on it. These pictures are later that day, March 5th.
This is the left side of my face.
It stopped stinging entirely within 4 hours. These pictures are the next day, March 6th.
Left side:
Right side. It got worse this day, and I was a tiny bit nervous that it would always look this way.
The next day, March 7th. Some of it had already started to fall off.
The left side. The bigger spots have become much darker and obvious.
I also got 22 units of Botox in my forehead and around my eyes. The whole area is now wrinkle free.
This is how the left side looked on March 8th:
And the right. Doc was already remarking on the huge improvement, which showed that it wasn't just my imagination.
Final pictures on March 10th. I am delighted with the results, and I have another treatment on April 2nd.
The areas that were treated can continue to improve for up to 6 months.
This period of time also brings the construction of our grandkids Easter baskets. I think they will be pleased.
Easter is April 4th this year. The grandkids LOVE big baskets filled with Dollar Tree toys.
Sorry for the rotation of these pictures. Here Pandi inspects the spoils.
Above, she does a final inspection of the constructed baskets. Here they are, in all their glory.
Benjamin and Joseph get the exact same basket. See the mini Spin Art kit in the left rear? I gave one to Preston on Xmas and he went wild, so now the other two boys get one.
Here they are, put together.
Pandi is inspecting Preston's basket.
Here is what I crammed in there.
Pandi also helped a lot when it was time to build a basket for Calista. Everyone got 2 packages of Kleenex for back to school.
There were also a lot of examples of God's beauty around me these past two weeks. It has been raining once a week, and one day, March 11th, after a rainy day, I was treated to this beautiful cloud on my daily walk around the hospital neighorhood.
And on March 14th, as I was running, our friend the Stork made another appearance.
He must raid dog and cat bowls. This is the third time that I have seen him in the last 6 months.
I think he brings good luck.
And on March 16th, after another rainy day, Mount Arrowhead looked gorgeous:
So of course I have been styling myself all bougie. All the way back to March 8th:
My favorite Ivanka Trump top and shoes, and ivory slacks from Semantix.
I wear different jackets with this outfit. Today, I wore a gold and ivory sparkly swing jacket from a little store in Little Korea, over in Garden Grove. I have a rental condo over there, so when I need to visit my tenant, I stop and look in the boutiques over there.
All of this faux display comes from Nordstrom.
On March 9th, I wore a forest green printed T shirt dress from Lula Roe.
I have a green suede jacket from Bernardo that I wore with this dress.
Here's a better look at the print. Amazingly, these faux gold tone necklaces are also from Nordstrom.
On March 10th, it rained. So I layered. The equestrian style blazer is from Petite Sophisticate.
Underneath, plaid slacks from Alfani, a Liz Claiborne turtleneck and a vest from Joseph A.
Due to the inclement weather, March 11th was quite chilly. I wore a tried and true outfit.
The slacks came from Target and I love them - burgundy tweed with hot pink flecks. The burgundy sweater has lurex woven through it. It is from Casual Corner, a SoCal delight in the 70s and 80s.
The fuchsia suede jacket is from Pamela McCoy. It is beautiful.
The next day, I was tired and did not want to spend time on my outfit. So I got out my trusty Ann Taylor brown slacks and a Fendi logo sweater.
On top, a tonal poncho from Worthington. I remember going to JC Penney especially to get this poncho about a million years ago. I still like it.
Here's a better look at the Fendi sweater and my ever present Hermes Collier De Chien bracelet.
On March 15th, I wore my Carole Little embellished sweater vest. I got it at the CL outlet in Napa years ago. It has a matching skirt, but I don't think that I have ever worn them together.
On top, a crushed velvet blazer from Kohl's. I got both blue and pink in this jacket.
Here's a closer look - the ponte slacks are from Express, and I wear them all the time.
On March 16th, I wore this pretty dress that I got at Nordstrom. It is pale blush, so I like to wear black with it, since the white flowers are outlined in black.
I wore a moto belt - black leather with silver studs- and over the knee boots from Lewit that I got in London.
This great necklace came from JC Penney. I have worn it for several years, and it has always been a favorite.
On March 17th, St Patrick's day, I did not wear green. I wore a dress from Liz Claiborne.
I treated myself to an Escada belt during the lockdown. It is black suede with gold trim.
To finish the look, a blazer from Emmanuel Ungaro and Tahari boots,
Take a look at the details!!
By Friday, I was tired again. So I went with a very relaxed look. The sweater is Calvin Klein, and the joggers and shoes are Gucci.
I forgot to show my outfit from Thursday. This beautiful thick knit dress is from DS Dresses and I call it my DNA dress.
It's always so comfy and flattering. I wore my Tahari boots because I was too lazy to find another alternative and they were out.
I wore gold and garnet jewelry with it. The longer necklace is costume, from Joan Rivers. It was my mom's.
I received both of my cosmetic bags. First, from Ipsy:
From top to bottom:
1) Sweet Chef Oat Milk Latte Cleanser
2) KVD Vegan Beauty Lock-It Setting Powder - I have been using this and I like it.
3) Seraphine Botanicals Berry + Juice 100% Vegan Lip gel in Rose Current - I have been using this also. It is very glossy and wears off easily, but it is pretty.
4) Hanalei Company Kuki Lip Balm in Tropical Citrus
5) SLMISSGLAM P30 Lilac Angled Blusher Brush
And this month's Birchbox:
1) BLONDME Keratin Restore Bonding Mask
2) Sand & Sky Flash Perfection Exfoliating Treatment - I am going to use this tonight to aid in my IPL peeling.
3) Arrow Weightless Brow Tint
4) Purlisse Radiant Glow Illuminating BB Cream in Medium
5) NatureLab TOKYO Perfect Smooth Blowout Lotion
I am still bringing my own lunch to work. This day, I had a chicken strip salad.
It had iceberg lettuce, tricolored tomatoes, black olives, celery, green onion, and Parmesan cheese. I made a balsamic vinegarette dressing.
The next day, I made an Asian noodle bowl with oyster sauce, a boiled egg, and sweet and sour sauce.
One day, I made Loco Moco. That is a Hawaiian dish. It has rice on the bottom, then a hamburger patty on top. Then you put brown gravy and a fried egg on top of that.
I served it with BBQ Ranch coleslaw from a kit.
Last Sunday, I made home made carnitas. You cook the pork roast in a crock pot with spices and the secret ingredients - orange juice, lime juice and cane sugar Coca Cola.
Here is is, in the crock pot with the juices and a wedged onion.
I made them up with tostadas, lettuce, cheese, green onion, avocado and rice with guacamole salsa.
So that's about all for now. I will keep you updated, as I have some shenanigans planned for the coming week. Enjoy your life !!!!
