refreshed
i think i overdid it at the gym because yesterday i was just mush on the couch. yesterday was the first time in years where i did absolutely nothing and just binge-watched vanderpump rules from 12pm to sleep. today, i feel refreshed and was extremely productive.

“if you improve 1% a day, then in 100 days, guess what? you’re 100% better.”

american idol – season 22, episode 2
yes, don’t judge me on american idol. when they changed the judges to katy perry, lionel richie, and luke bryan, it game-changed the show. now why this specific episode? all the auditions were great, but the last audition they showed was absolutely incredible. 21-year old indio local, abi carter, sang her version of billie eilish’s “what was i made for”. trust me, your life will change. click the link above for the youtube video of the audition.

@milkbarstore instagram
in honor of pi day tomorrow (3.14), i would love to feature the milk bar instagram account. for those who don’t know milk bar, known for their famous milk bar pie, formerly known as the crack pie, it is a must-go in major cities like new york, los angeles, las vegas, and more. my favorite favorite thing on their menu is the cereal milk latte (thank you kelly hultz for the rec like a decade ago!)

giggly squad podcast
if you couldn’t tell already, i am paige desorbo and hannah berner obsessed. these ladies keep me updated on pop culture, fashion, sports, mental health, and more. why i love this pod so much is that it’s genuinely authentic, relatable, and extremely entertaining. this hour-long podcast just passes the time with more giggles, and i’m all for it.

milk bar pie (or crack pie)
there are dupe recipes out there trying to re-create the milk bar pie, but i linked directly to the milk bar store where you can have one shipped to you. what is a milk bar pie? “gooey Milk Bar Pie has a sticky, buttery, salty-sweet filling in a hearty oat-cookie crust” – heavenly treat for the savory/salty girly.

burberry goddess perfume
not as sweet as pie, but for the ladies who love vanillas and sweet aromas, this one is for you. i am not a huge perfume wearer – especially now since you can’t wear perfume or powder during mammograms and ultrasounds – but this is a subtly sweet scent that i absolutely love. it also comes in a travel size at sephora for those who don’t want to fully commit to an expensive bottle – which is what i did.

aerie oversized new york polo fleece sweatshirt
small
the polo vibes are everything on this sweatshirt. it is actually extremely oversized and more tunic-like so i highly recommend a black yoga pant or skinny/straight jean to offset the oversized-ness.

medical update
today is a much better day. yesterday was just bleh. ever since saturday, i have been feeling great with no fever. so great that i actually went to equinox on monday and did some cardio/weight lifting [yes, i signed up for an outrageously expensive gym – i mean, i’m not paying rent right now so why not?]. i may have overdone it at the gym because i was extremely fatigued and just had zero motivation to do anything yesterday. my life consisted of sitting in bed scrolling reels until 9:30am, going to ucsf to go get a blood test and check my vitals, and then back on the couch binge watching vanderpump rules and catching up on the new season. my vitals are all in the normal range – woop woop!

also, running into a personal dilemma. random fun fact, you can cold cap during your infusion sessions (icymi, i summarized basic information about cold capping below). when cold capping, it is suggested to only wash your hair once every 7 days to prevent hair loss from treatment. for an italian olive-oily girly, this has been a real struggle. i have read that you can wash your hair twice every 10 days maximum, but i’m trying to hold out. we’ll see how long i can tolerate my hair. do you bet the over or under i can make it to saturday? i bet the under…

lesson learned this week so far, ease into things and listen to your body. if she wants to watch lala kent rebrand herself, let her.

cold capping general information:

• what is cold capping you may ask?
  cold capping is an optional treatment during chemo that helps minimize the amount of hair loss due to chemo. you must decide this before you start your treatment
• what is the cold capping process?
  you basically soak the hair on your scalp and freeze your scalp before, during, and after your infusion session. there are various options available depending on what your hospital can provide.
• what i learned after my first session of cold capping:
  • hair prep: wash your hair with sulfate-free shampoo, and no conditioner on the day-of (or night before if it’s early)
  • headphones: make sure you have the proper style of headphones – over the ear or ear buds. i opted in for the dignicap and that completely covers the ears, so you can be sitting there for 5 hours with no sound. 
  • prepared to be cold: layer, layer, layer, and bring a blanket. push through the first 15 minutes of coldness and it will get better, however it will still be chilly throughout
  • hair care/maintenance: wash your hair 1x every 7 days, or maximum of 2x every 10 days (but no less than 1x every 10 days). continue to use sulfate-free products, brush your hair lightly a couple times a day, get satin pillowcases, and don’t do much to your hair.