Degrees of Difference

Hey Bombshells,

I'm exhausted, but I'll try to make this update as informative as possible. I thought that I was superwoman, evidently, and tacked on a huge appointment with an endo specialist at the end of an amazing weekend visiting one of my very best friends. We Just Dance-d, we coffee-d, we slept, we  winery-ed, and we movie-d to our hearts' content. But Monday afternoon I sat in a very plush office and awaited the very specialized expertise of a very knowledgeable doctor and spent three hours learning, in his opinion, what I am up against.

His diagnosis was one hundred eighty degrees different from what the last doctor gave me. Truth be told, he almost missed it. And as he stood next to the exam table explaining to me what he thought was wrong, a lightbulb went off, as they say, and he actually went back and redid his exam before delivering the rather heavy news. He believes I do not, in fact, have andenomyosis, but that I do have a very seriously advanced case of endometriosis.

I couldn't help but laugh, really, as he said to me, "I was nice to meet you, Abigail. You are a very unusual case." I smirked and replied, "What's new." Because really, I'm like a medical anomaly. My hypothyroidism defies "typical" lab work and conventional diagnosis. I have Meniere's Disease, which is a ridiculously debilitating inner ear disorder which randomly, and without warning, makes life into the world's worst tilt-a-whirl ride. And now, I have an "usual case" of endometriosis that a doctor, who is world-renowned in his ability, whom people come to see FROM OTHER COUNTRIES, almost missed.

Yay me.

Kinda.

Not really.

Immediately, I was reminded of Glennon Doyle Melton at Momastery and her post in which she shared the experience of her doctor calling to inform her of her Lyme Disease and the accompanying rare and life threatening parasite destroying her body. She makes reference, completely in jest, to being "special" and that's why God chooses her for these challenges. I have to say, I completely agree.

I am special.

The end outcome is somewhat hazy. And depending on which procedures I choose, I'm weighing the possibility of needing surgery again down the road or losing my ability to carry a child ever again. Surgery is a necessity if I want to increase my quality of life. Very expensive surgery. Which means while I am eager to feel better, my decision making will be financially prudent and not a knee-jerk reaction. I will be seeking the opinion of one more doctor before I start moving forward on anything.

I'd love to hear from other Endo Warriors out there. I'm new to all of this. I'm all about absorbing and receiving right now. Share your story. Too many of us have been silent for too many years. We need to speak up. We need to eradicate the shame and embarrassment associated with female reproductive health.

Honeybee Gardens *Queen Bee* Truly Natural Lip Stick REVIEW

I've been a fan of Honeybee Gardens Truly Natural lipstick for quite some time. So when the opportunity arose to review their newest shade, Queen Bee, I jumped at it!

Honeybee Gardens lipstick is the best natural lipstick I have found. They are made without FD&C colors, without mineral oil, without any chemicals or artificial preservatives, and are never tested on animals. NEVER.

Here's what they say about their Truly Natural lipstick:

You need the protection only a lip balm can provide. But you want the full color coverage of a lipstick. Why compromise? Our lipstick combines lip-quenching botanicals with natural mineral pigments to give you all the benefits of both! Goes on smooth for long-lasting color. PARABEN-FREE!! No mineral oil, no FD&C colors. Only natural beneficial ingredients like coconut oil which penetrates and moisturizes lips, shea butter which protects your lips, sesame seed oil to heal and soften, vitamin E as an antioxidant, and pure botanical extracts which act as a 100% natural preservative.  


This is completely true. I know, you're saying, "Shut the front door!" As an admitted lip balm lover, this lipstick does exactly what they say it will.  Every time I wear it my lips are soft, smooth, and hydrated. Plus, those safe and chemical-free ingredients means you don't have to worry about what is ending up in your body when you eat, drink, or give your honey a smooch. 

Their colors range from neutral to vibrant and never disappoint. Being a true red lover, I was very excited when they announced Queen Bee. As with most reds, always remember that your particular pH levels will effect how the color comes out. For me, Queen Bee is a gorgeous bright red with pink undertones. Perfect for day wear AND evening. The first day I received my Queen Bee I wore it to the zoo with the family. If that's not a test of lipstick, then I don't know what is. 

Queen Bee stayed true to its color the entire time. The creamy texture did not become gummy or dry, but remained smooth which meant the color stayed even as well. Here's what's most exciting about Queen Bee – if any of you have ever worn red lipstick before, you know "feathering" is a huge problem. Feathering is when the lipstick color bleeds or fans out from your natural lip line into the creases around your mouth. On this day at the zoo, as every single time I have worn Queen Bee since, there has been no feathering. Zero. Zilch. Nada. 

Because it's a natural lipstick, you do need to reapply more often, about every 1.5-2 hours, but it's a worthwhile trade off. I suspect if I had used one of their lip liners, like Fantasy, the color would have lasted even longer. And because of the soft nature of the natural ingredients, please be very careful not to twist the lipstick too high in the tube, as it will break at the base. (But that's just good lipstick care, in general). 

This lipstick is a winner in my book. I highly recommend Queen Bee and all of the other Truly Natural Lipstick colors from Honeybee Gardens.






**This product was received for review. This is not a paid review or a sponsored post.