Annual Breast Screening is Essential | No More Excuses

Annual Breast Screening is Essential | No More Excuses

by | Jun 19, 2019 | Wellness

This post was sponsored by Hologic.

 

Don’t wait until Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October to prioritize your breast health.
Preventative screening is our best tool in the fight against breast cancer, a disease that affects one in eight women. I was thrilled to know that modern day breast screening technology like the Hologic Genius™ 3D Mammography™ exam can deliver a much more comprehensive breast image allowing the doctor to achieve more accurate breast cancer detection, compared to traditional 2D mammography. [i]

 

 

Now with the Hologic SmartCurve™ breast stabilization system which utilizes a curved compression surface, the comfort level has increased tremendously.[ii] I tried it last week and was amazed at how much more pleasant the experience was for me.

 

 

North Valley Hospital, Whitefish, MT

I scheduled my annual mammogram right away by using the zip code locator and was thrilled that there was a hospital providing this technology directly in my back yard; the North Valley Hospital in Whitefish, MT was listed as a provider of the Genius exam and the SmartCurve system, and my procrastination was finally over! 

 

I tested it for all of us and can tell you without a doubt that the comfort level was incredible. I did a little video while I was there so you can see it firsthand. Honestly, I am glad I took the time to put my health first and get my Genius exam, and I encourage You to stop putting it off too! 
Pass the locator link, www.Genius3DNearMe.com, and info to all the ladies you know. They will thank you for it!

Zip Code Locater

The Genius™ 3D Mammography™ exam (also known as the Genius™ exam) is only available on a Hologic® 3D Mammography™ system. It consists of a 2D and 3D™ image set, where the 2D image can be either an acquired 2D image or a 2D image generated from the 3D™ image set. There are more than 6,000 Hologic 3D Mammography™ systems in use in the U.S. alone, so women have convenient access to the Genius exam. To learn more about the Genius exam, visit http://www.Genius3DNearMe.com.

 

[i] U.S. Food & Drug Administration Premarket Approval (PMA).  FDA.gov https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfpma/pma.cfm?id=P080003S005 accessed June 5, 2017.

[ii] Smith, A. Improving Patient Comfort in Mammography. Hologic WP-00119 Rev 001 (2017).

 

Summer Launch Party | the Lodge at Whitefish Lake

Summer Launch Party | the Lodge at Whitefish Lake

by | Jun 17, 2019 | Fashion, Fashion

Welcome to Summer in Whitefish, Montana! To celebrate, the Lodge at Whitefish Lake throws an annual summer kickoff benefiting the Alpine Theater Project. Every year I go to support the local community and arts. This year the theme was 80’s yacht rock, and I was so thrilled with my chic 80’s look that I had to share! Some who attended had never seen the 80’s and some had seen too much of it! But we all dressed the part and had a blast. And the music was great also! Enjoy 

I love getting ready for a theme party! The first step is finding the perfect inspiration images. I was lucky to shop my closet for this one! 

My favorite Jumpsuit is Chic Chic Chico’s

My favorite Jumpsuit is Chic Chic Chico’s

by | Jun 10, 2019 | Fashion

It doesn’t have to cost much to look great. Case in point this incredible, on-trend, paper bag waist jumpsuit by Chicos 

An exceptional fit and easy to care for it’s the “go anywhere “ piece in my closet.

Black can work well for summer, and this time, I chose gold and colorful accessories to make my outfit pop.  You can easily see this in black and white for summer as well, though.

You know how I feel about having a variety of accessories to change up a look, and some of them are pricey.  I believe in investment pieces, but this time I kept it all within budget.

Check out these shoes from Zara. I loved the heel.

The clutch was a gift from my sister after a trip to India.

And the cuff was bought at one of those at home jewelry parties.  Also a bargain!

I have had a lot of comments about these earrings. 

A little backstory.

We took a girls trip to Grand Cayman I did a photo shoot for all the girls involved. The blog from January 2018 shows the wonderful caftans I took for the shoot.  I also needed a large variety of accessories so my friends could pick and choose to style their chosen looks. That is when I discovered TJMaxx. I had a blast!  There was such a variety of inexpensive and fun pieces. This is a pair from that haul.  Under $20 I am sure. 

Don’t overlook those stores.  If you like it but don’t know what to do with it, don’t pass it up.  Especially if it’s under 20 dollars.  That might be just the ticket to turn blah into WOW!

Remember it doesn’t have to cost much to look Chic. 

ALWAYS HAVE FUN WITH FASHION!

 

Cheers 💃 Sonia

Hotel Figueroa | A Boutique Hotel in the Middle of Downtown Los Angeles

Hotel Figueroa | A Boutique Hotel in the Middle of Downtown Los Angeles

by | Jun 7, 2019 | Travel

 

We love finding unexpected hotels in unexpected places. A few weeks ago, I traveled to Los Angeles to visit Serena and to shoot summer outfits for the blog. We scouted the most fabulous Spanish style hotel in the middle of downtown Los Angeles; Hotel Figueroa.

We were blown away by the hotel’s rich history. To think that in 1926 the Hotel Figueroa was the tallest building in Los Angeles is pretty incredible considering the ever-changing skyscrapers peppering the skyline now! 

Hotel Figueroa has been a hub for social progress and creative endeavors since they opened its doors. The hotel showcases the work of L.A.’s most compelling female artists and culture-makers, ranging from emerging to internationally established talents. The cohesive art collection was curated to complement each other along with the hotel’s redesign, completed last year.

Bar Figueroa

Poolside at the Veranda is where you should pop in for an authentic (yet light) tropical Mexican lunch. We shared the ceviche de pescado and carnitas tacos. The ambiance of the outdoor patio coupled with the energy of people watching both at the restaurant and poolside was refreshing considering you are in the middle of a very bustling downtown LA.

Lunch at Veranda

I will be coming back to give the rooms a spin at the Hotel Figueroa next time Scott, and I go back to LA to visit Serena. It oozes old world charm and impeccable customer service. No detail was left behind here!

4 Tips to Remember If You Are Struggling With Hair Loss

4 Tips to Remember If You Are Struggling With Hair Loss

by | Jun 4, 2019 | Wellness

There are so many causes of hair loss. Between genetic conditions, diet & lifestyle, skin conditions, or a hormone imbalance like I personally overcame last year. Figuring out what is causing your hair loss can be frustrating and may take some trial and error working it out with your doctor.

Last August, I wrote an article about my concern for my rapid hair loss and how a few hormonal changes and supplements made a huge difference. I think that it is important to revisit these major issues every now and again, so I wanted to refer you back to my original article by following this link.

I am happy to report that my hair stopped falling out almost immediately after I changed my hormone balance. That, coupled with my daily regimen of supplements, water, and meditation have helped keep all of the hairs on my head. Here are my four tips for my hair maintenance.

Take a Deep Breath

We all deal with stress from time to time, but it is not sustainable for us on a long term basis. After all, stress can be a major cause of hair loss. I encourage you to learn how to combat stress levels through breathing exercises.

I like the quite, so I find a comfortable seated position, close my eyes and inhale for a count of five, hold the breath for another count of five, and then exhale for yet another count of five. This breathing exercise is effective and straightforward for you to combat stress wherever you are.

 

Drink Your Water

Water is very beneficial to the hair and body. Did you know that the hair is made up of one quarter water? That fact alone should have you reaching for your water bottle right now. When you suffer from dehydration, your body must ration the precious water for the big players like your brain and heart, leaving very little of your water supply to reach your hair leading to excessive shedding because your hair is literally dying from thirst.

 

Take Your Vitamins

Our diets don’t typically give us all we need in regards to vitamins and minerals. In fact, poor nutrition, including vitamin deficiencies, is a major factor of hair loss as well. Choose a balanced vitamin supplement and consider augmenting with a specific formula for hair.  Right now, I am giving HairLaVie a trial. They send a 90 day supply so I won’t run out.

 

Fear Not!

Don’t fear your thinning hair. Instead, take steps to remedy the issue. Ask yourself. Is my Body in Balance? Talk to your doctor about testing your hormones, estrogen, and thyroid and cortisol levels to determine if you have a genetic or hormonal imbalance that could be at play with your hair loss. I am grateful that I talked to my homeopath last year and got to the bottom of my hair pulling, hair loss! To read more on my experience first hand read my blog post My Experience with Hair Loss After 50. 

I hope my experience and subsequent revisiting of this issue is of help to you. Please stay in touch with the tips and tricks that you may use to take better care of your beautiful mane.