Our Big Trip in photos

On May 29, we boarded a flight for Venice, Italy. The girls missed their last two days of school. The second to last day of school was a party for Siena and yearbook signing for Morgan. They were a little bummed but not that much. The last day of school lasts 90 minutes and very few student go at all. Last year, my kids didn't.  The flight was long and it sucked. Thanks, Delta Airlines, for nickel and diming us to death. I suppose that paying $1,850 per ticket wasn't enough because we still had to pay from $1 to $8 to watch a movie or play a game from Salt Lake City to JFK. Our leg room was non existent, the food not edible, and for an extra $10 per passenger, we could actually access WiFi. The flight from NYC to Venice wasn't any better except we got free movies.

We arrived in Venice and hauled our luggage onto a boat bound for the center of Venice, which was where our hotel was located. It took over an hour before we reached our stop. The ride was really cool because we got a good bird's eye view of Venice. It also made us all very sleepy.









We got off of our stop and walked to our hotel. It wasn't hard to find at all and it was so dang cute, quaint, pretty and cozy. Best yet, our hotel was centrally located just a few minute's walk from St. Mark's Square. It was two small bedrooms with a bathroom (it had a bath, and I took a very long one after everyone went to bed. I felt so dirty and grimy!). This was the view of from our hotel bedroom. To take this photo, I opened up wooden blinds to take in the fresh air, sounds of church bells, and the soft lull of diners eating in cute cafes. We allowed ourselves a two hour nap before waking up to go sites seeing. It was fun to be awaked by church bells ringing.




We fell in love with Venice. The girls loved feeding the birds at St. Marks Square.












We ate delicious pizza, pasta and salad at an adorable restaurant outside our hotel. It turned out to cost us about $70 US. Ouch. Venice is not cheap!










We explored a lot by foot. My poor feet were really sore after it all because I wore flip flops, not the best choice. We bought stuff-- magnets, sweatshirts, scarves, and a mask. Great shopping, everything is made in Italy, not China, imagine that.

The next morning, we ate breakfast, did a lot more walking and site seeing (the weather was hot and beautifully perfect), packed up and took another boat to our cruise ship terminal. We sailed on Norwegian, which was a very solid cruise line to travel. Not fancy, but good. We actually took this same cruise line last summer when we flew to Paris, then Copenhagen and went to Stockholm, Helsinki, Mecklenburg and Travemunde (Germany), Talin (Estonia), and St Peterburg (Russia) for two days.


First stop was Dubrovnik, Croatia. It was stunningly beautiful. Old town is surrounded by old fortress walls dating back to the Roman era. For 20-Euro each, we climbed the walls and walked the perimeter. Amazing views, even more amazing exercise. It took us nearly three hours to walk it!








Beautiful red roof tops and views of the ocean.














Lots of steps to climb. Lots and lots and lots of steps to climb.

And photo ops with the very nice locals.



A day at sea for R&R and then it was Athens. We saw the Acropolis and the Parthenon. We got some rain but that didn't dampen our spirits. Athens is a lot like Tijuana. Sprawling and dirty. But who cares when you get to see this kind of stuff?



And then it was off to Kusudasi, Turkey with our tour heading to Ephesus. Oh my gosh-- visiting sites from the Bible was just so cool that there are no words. It was one of the most amazing places I've ever been. (Side note: Turkish cuisine is my favorite in all the world. Olives, hummus, figs, cheese... oh my!)

Next stop was Split, Croatia, a place I want to live. It was like San Diego but more beautiful, historic, and, it seems, more outdoor things to do, like river rafting, snorkeling, zip lining, and visiting churches and sites from the Roman era. Me in a Vespa, a fit & flair dress, and a cappuccino in an outdoor café? Yes, please!


Another day at sea and the cruise was over. William flew to Atlanta, the girls and I hooked up with my parents in Venice and we somehow made it to the train station with all of our luggage. That was a nightmare. But we got on the train bound for Milan. When we got there, we split up and the girls and I checked into our hotel room, which was just a couple blocks from the station, centrally located. We indulged in more delicious pasta, pizza and salad, walked the city, and shopped. Oh my gosh, we discovered that the Italians dress so dreamily. We sat in a café and watched how they were dressed. We got inspired. So we shopped and we shopped some more. Oh my gosh we couldn't stop. We needed to dress like an Italian. "When in Rome" right? We bought tops, skirts, sundresses, magnets, T-shirts and shoes. Oh, yes, and we did some site seeing. And we almost got swindled, which is totally expected in Milan. They only got 10 Euro from me but we got some great photos so maybe it was worth it.



We hooked up with our tour group and took a motor coach to Sirmione. This is exactly what a Mediterranean city should look like. Oh my gosh it was beautiful and historic and perfect. I fell in love. Yes, I could definitely live in several Italian cities and this is one of them. We stayed two days at a very cool hotel. Our unit had two full bedrooms and a living room, a beautiful pool, and we at lots of amazing Italian food (and gelato). We had a lot of pool and rest time. One night, I slept 13 solid hours and took a nap out at the pool. Restful, peaceful and relaxing time is important. Lake Garda is dreamy, that's all I can say.



Then we went to Verona, home of the story of Romeo and Juliet. We walked and walked and caught in all the historic sites. And we ate. And we melted. It was a very hot day!



And then it was Lake Como. There's a reason George Clooney bought a home in one of the world's most beautiful places. I saw where Mussolini was killed, we visited amazing castles and gardens, Bellagio, Chernobia, Como, and several other beautiful towns along the lake. We stayed in a beautiful hotel on the lake that was once a mansion. We had fun mommy-daughter bonding time. Siena loved to do my hair when it was time to dress up for dinner (yes, we dressed up every night!). We swam, we slept. Morgan read a lot!


I stopped wearing makeup, except at dinner, and made peace with my curly locks. That was a Big Huge Thing for me. Siena discovered an obsession for strawberry gelato. She asked for it many times a day. What's a mom to do but give in?


We spent a day in the staggeringly expensive and beautiful Lugano, Switzerland. We gave in... we ate at McDonalds. For a kids meal, two chicken sandwiches, one soda, and one large order of fries, I paid $35 US. I bought shoes for Siena and me, a T-shirt for Siena, and three magnets. Morgan wanted a sweatshirt. The cheapest one we found was $90 US. She didn't get it.


I wore my kids out. They were very tired.


We spent two days at Lake Maggiore. Our hotel was gorgeous. We saw gardens and castles. And we shopped! We are obsessed with all things Italian, especially the clothes, shoes, and food!

My 14 year old put her iPhone down long enough to READ!!!!


I found a restaurant just like the one I'd love to open. It sat maybe 10 people total. I'd love to have a tiny restaurant and serve what ever I wanted to that day and that's what you get. Maybe have set eating times, all guests sit together and eat what I prepared. Fun!

Siena and I went swimming in the coolest indoor swimming pool I have ever seen. Very spa, zen, and trippy. We were there for hours.


We had fun dressing for dinner, getting to know the most interesting and well traveled people ever, and celebrating Father's Day with the most amazing dad on the planet in the most beautiful place on the planet. A perfect combo, no?

And I dreamt of buying this fixer-upper and moving into it and living on Lake Como's Bellagio fulltime.


Alas I didn't buy the house. We got on a plane and came home. Another flight on AWFUL Delta Airlines. And when we arrived at JFK? After three weeks of eating amazing food (minus the McDonald's stop in Switzerland), what was our ONLY option for food? Wendy's. Yuck!!!!! And we wonder why we Americans are the most obese and unhealthy people in the entire developed world. I HATE THE WAY WE EAT. But it was good to get home simply because I was tired of living out of a suitcase. We hauled way too much stuff across five countries, three weeks, and nine hotels. And I needed to do laundry. I was down to my last clean pair of panties! Great packing in that area at least for me.


But seriously, I'm ready to go back to Italy. I really do want to live there. After my horrific cold got better, I felt the healthiest I've felt in years. My back and ribcage never hurt. I rested. I never felt fuzzy or buzzy. I was tired, yes, but fatigue? No. Taking that Dex-Velcade break really helped. I didn't feel so chemo-brained. I remembered things. I didn't search for words that wouldn't come out of my mouth. I didn't feel or sound stupid. I felt energetic. I felt emotionally and physically healthy. I missed William like crazy but was so very happy to see him at the airport! I loved traveling with my parents and creating memories. I loved showing my daughters (once again) that the world is a big place and that there are lots of different ways to live. Morgan has started dressing "softer." The Italian women really inspired her for a different look. They inspired me too. I'm obsessed with sundresses and skirta.

I heart Italy. And Turkey. And Croatia. Croatia is a FABULOUS find. Can we somehow rent an apartment there next summer and stay a few months? We're talking about it. Who knows? I'd love to!

From www.myelomacrowd.org: I'm going bald! Tips for the ladies on dealing with hair loss

 

I love writing for www.myelomacrowd.org because I want to do everything I can to help others fight and beat this disease. Plus, of course, I want to help further new treatments and cures. Here's one of the articles I wrote that ran while I was in Italy. One of the hardest aspects of chemo is hair loss. It is really traumatic. But there are ways to cope with that loss and here's my list of suggestions.

I’m going bald! Tips for the ladies on dealing with hair loss

by Lizzy Smith

One of the most awful side effects from chemo is losing your hair, especially for us ladies. And what was the worse part of hair loss? Losing my eyebrows and eyelashes, too. But looking back, there were ways to make the hair loss far less traumatic, if there is such a thing. Here are the things I wish I had known back when my hair started falling out in clumps and, faced with the inevitable, I had it all shaved off and started wearing wigs.

1. Prior to hair loss, my scalp would feel hot, my scalp would throb, and I had headaches. I finally realized that it didn’t mean I had a brain tumor– it was my scalp getting ready to shed its hair.
2. Waking up and finding clumps of hair on my pillow was unnerving. There was no denying the fact that I was going to lose my hair and it was time to just shave it.
3. Going with a really short haircut prior to going bald would have provided a nice transition. I didn’t want to have short hair, though, and I put it off. I always had very long hair. It helped define who I was. Going with a short ‘do was just unfathomable. But the reality is that short hair is cute, I was going to lose how I “used” to look in favor of a “new, different, and more resilient” me. I should have embraced that reality and learned to love it. What was the alternative anyway?
4. When picking a wig, I should have picked a very short wig that I liked. Trying on wigs was actually very fun. But I wanted to look like the “old me” so I purchased four wigs, all with long hair. Long haired wigs are a pain in the neck. They tangle easily and I became obsessed with running my fingers through those wigs constantly trying to work out the tangles. It was really annoying. Short haired wigs are far more comfortable and easy to maintain- trust me! Plus, when my hair started growing back and I pitched the wig, I rocked a short hairstyle anyway. I should have just gone with a short style from the beginning.
5. Purchase several wigs. Because every few weeks, you’ll need to take your wig to get it cleaned, conditioned and styled. It oftentimes means leaving your wig with the stylist for a few days. Also, it’s wise to buy wigs that, say, have a cap attached, or a headband. They are fantastic when working out, going for walks or hikes, or simply hanging out poolside in the summer. They can also be comfortable.
6. There’s a chance you’ll lose your eyebrows. I spent a fortune on fake paste-on eyebrows. And they looked completely ridiculous! I looked like Groucho Marx and it was so obviously fake. Do not even bother with them! I hate to admit to this but I just drew them on with a pencil. At first I was shaky with drawing them in but I got really good at it soon enough. Since it was summer, the eyebrows tended to melt. I made sure I didn’t touch my eyebrows and that I “refreshed” them frequently. I carried my trusty eyebrow pencil with me everywhere I went. The good news is that my eyebrows grew back in very quickly, like within a few weeks.
7. There’s a chance you’ll lose your eyelashes. I purchased falsies and only used them when I had to. Most of the time, I simply used a tick black eyeliner as close to my eyelid  I also used sunglasses or tinted reading-type glasses everywhere I went. One had to look very closely to realize that I had no eyelashes. And when I was at a wedding reception, I sucked it up and wore the uncomfortable fake eyelashes. But they are not easy to get on just right, just sayin’. So be prepared to practice a lot. Give yourself time and remain calm as best you can. The good news is that my eyelashes grew back within a month and they were longer and thicker than they ever were pre cancer. I’m often asked if I have eyelash extension. Nope- they’re all real, thanks, chemo! I guess?
8. Massage and condition your scalp. Your head needs it and will help stimulate hair growth. I went to a beauty college once a week and got a scalp massage for $5. I rubbed organic coconut oil on my scalp every morning. It helped.
9. When your hair starts growing back, your wig won’t fit so well anymore. My wig started sliding off with alarming ease. I really worried that with a little wind, I’d end up hairless and embarrassed. I wore a hat to help. Soon it was time to be brave and go without the wig. It felt weird, scary, and AMAZINGLY LIBERATING when that happened.
10. Be prepared for very tight curls! I went from straight hair to extremely curly. I didn’t know what to do with it. I went back to the beauty college and started letting them shampoo and style it two times a week. It was very inexpensive and it was worth the time and money.
11. When my hair grew a few inches, I added hair extensions. In an instance, I had long hair again It’s been about 18 months and I have just four hair extensions now and my hair is long(er) and healthy. Yay!

 

Losing hair is tough but it will grow back. I look at my new hair and while it’s different and I still struggle with the curls, I’m so happy that it’s here. It’s a sign of how far I’ve come in this Myeloma Journey.

For more amazing info on multiple myeloma, visit my favorite web site: www.myelomacrowd.org

Divorced Moms: 16 Travel Essentials Every Savvy Traveler Must Pack for Holiday

From Divorced Moms!

16 Travel Essentials Every Savvy Traveler Must Pack for Holiday
by Lizzy Smith                     

June 26, 2014

I just got back from a three week vacation. Traveling is a great way to de-stress and rejuvenate. Whether you're going on a grand trip or a "staycation" (a trip in your own town), packing smart can make or break your trip.

The month prior to leaving for Venice, I made endless lists of what I needed to pack. Keeping in mind that it was going to be complicated, as it involved one adult (me), two children (ages 14 and 8), a one week cruise (with the requisite dressy evenings), getting ourselves and luggage from the cruise ship terminal in Venice to the train station and traveling to Milan, and then hooking up with an organized tour via motorcoach for two additional weeks. I had no intention whatsoever of doing any laundry during the entire trip either. That meant a lot of luggage.

As it turns out, I packed way too much stuff. I was happy that I took a lot of dresses and outfits, but not at all happy that our luggage was big and bulky and the wheels didn't work so well and hauling from Point A to Point B was a nightmare. Some of the things I packed were a big homerun; others, not so much. Since I never want to forget the lessons learned on this trip, I've made a list of the essentials.

Keep reading... 

Hanging with the dinosaurs

As if I wasn't tired of packing, suitcases, and hotels, William and I decided that it was time for a mini get-away, just the two of us. No kids. And so we explored Utah and a new national park that neither of us had ever visited- the Dinosaur Park in Vernal, Utah. But that's not all we saw, which I'll get to in a moment. Just a quick summary: we had a great time. Exploring the world is intensely fabulous. But exploring my own back yard is also really fabulous (and a heck of a lot cheaper!).

First, we got to Vernal and checked into our hotel room, the Dinosaur Inn. It was actually recently renovated and very fresh and cute. Then we walked into what looked like a dive Mexican restaurant. Oh no, it was no dive-- it was so cute and adorable and delicious. Dang, I wish I could remember the name of it but it's almost directly across the street from the movie theatre.



After lunch, we went to the Dinosaur National Monument, which is a national park. I'm not sure what we were expecting but it was "unexpected." We took a short tram to what looked like a visitor center (the only way up is via the tram; one must park at the true visitor's center at the park's base). When we walked into the building, it really encased an enormous wall in which thousands of dinosaur bones were captured a few billion years ago. Apparently, many dinos died because of severe drought. Eventually rains wiped the remains down the hill and lodged them against a stone-type wall. And there we see now a virtual burial site of dinosaur bones. It was really unbelievable. I learned something new: Dinosaurs and humans/homo sapiens never lived on Earth at the same time. With the exception of a few small mammals (like rats/mice), no other larger mammals ever shared the earth with dinosaurs. Perhaps nothing larger could diversify and flourish when dinosaurs were the top of the food chain. Who knows, just speculation. In fact, some 1.5 billion years separated the two.



Afterwards, we went and explored the Dry Fork Petroglyphs nearby. There were several sites to stop and walk or hike up for the best views. I literally had no idea that Utah was home to some of these amazing places! This state is literally amazing and awe inspiring. If I ever doubt God's existence (and this doesn't happen often, I have to admit), all I need to do is get out into nature and it removes all doubt.


The next morning, we got up early and drove to find Moonshine Arch. This was really incredibly hard to find and we were the only two people who were there (kind of spooky, honestly!). Off the highway, one must look for a dirt road. The problem is, the dirt road is totally unmarked and almost invisible from the highway. I mean we were looking for it and still drove past it three times before we found it. After you get off on the dirt road, it splits and there is no sign at all on which way one should drive. And there is literally nothing out there but beautiful rock formations and trees (and, I imagine, SNAKES!!!). We veered left. Then the road split again, but there was a rusting brown sign that pointed us to the arch, and then another sign that was almost invisible and then... nothing. We sort of just guessed our way there. It was just a mile's hike but almost straight up hill. Thank goodness we left early before extreme heat set in. Well, it was all worth the effort because the arch was literally breathtaking. Pictures don't do it justice. It is so silent and serene up there. No sounds from the roads or people. Nothing except the rustling of leaves from the many bunnies running around. I didn't see any snakes, thank goodness.


And, finally, we stopped at the Flaming Gorge Dam. Not as big as the Hoover Dam but incredibly impressive and beautiful. It is at the Green River and in the heart of the Ashley National Forest (I can add to the list of forests that I've visited, yay!). We took a tour and lots of photos, and purchased a magnet for a souvenir.

On our way back, right over the Wyoming border, we purchased loads of fireworks for the 4th of July. For the first time in three years, we'll actually be home for the 4th. And then on July 10, we fly to Long Beach for a few weeks, then home for a few days, then off to Montana and Canada. Whooo... that pretty much takes care of our entire summer. And, hard to believe, school again and structure. I'm dreading it.

Today, Morgan is at soccer camp all week. She leaves the house at 8AM and doesn't get home until almost 10PM, no joke. Siena was at a girls craft camp for a big chunk of the day (thanks to my parents who play taxi driver while William and I are gone!), and tomorrow, I think we'll spend the day at a water park to stay as cool as possible.

Because I took almost a three week break from the Dex-Velcade maintenance therapy for myeloma, I have yet to re-experience the intense side effects from my treatment. Since I picked up where I left off last Friday, I know that the side effects will return but, for now, very little. Chemo brain? Nope. Intense fatigue? Not too bad at all. Fuzzy feeling? Non existent. I think I'm functioning really well. My legs and feet tingle and are numb but, really, I can't complain. Other than NEVER walking around barefoot, it doesn't prohibit me from doing anything. I take Thalidomide late at night and so I sleep off that side effect (it makes one incredibly tired). Seriously, all things considered, I really can't complain. At least not today.

Oh, but two more GREAT things happened just prior to leaving for our mini trip! I have to share and I can't believe I almost forgot...

On Monday, I went to the Sage Leaf Spa at Thanksgiving Point (my ultimate Happy Place), which is in the same beautiful building that I attend Bikram Yoga for a 90-minute facial. It is THE BEST facial on the planet! And, this time was no exception. Well, there was some very minor knocking due to some construction. It didn't bother me at all and I dressed and was leaving a very happy girl. On my way out, the receptionist stopped me. They gave me a $110 gift card as a "sorry"! I told them that it was completely unnecessary but, really, I couldn't return the gift card! Yay! My next facial is FREE.

And, this is the best gift EVER, and I will soon write an entire article about this for the www.myelomacrowd.org web site, in which I will post a link here to it in its entirety when it's ready. But, quick summary, my Thalidomide retails at over $7,500 per month. Insurance pays a huge chunk of it but I have a $5,000 annual deductible so I pay a lot for that medication for the first couple months and then, deductible met, it's free for the rest of the year. I met my deductible in mid February. Except, as of June 1, I was placed on Medicare. I purchased the premium gap plan and it's quite a good insurance actually. As good as what I had before and in some respects better. Except I now have a new deductible to meet. I knew that I would pay out $5,000 in medical costs in June and July before I met my new deductible, which would only be good until December 31. And on January 1, 2015, I would need to start working towards meeting my new deductible. That's $15,000 in co-pays in about 15 months. ... Ok, I know this is a long story but stay with me. On Friday when I went to clinic, my coordinator explained to me that there are grant programs for people like me that help pay for drugs. We started off with the first of three and I was approved for a $10,000 grant! They don't send me a check, rather, an approval code. When I go fill the prescription at the Huntsman Cancer Institute's pharmacy, I give them that code and they go directly and bill the organization. My co-pay is ZERO. The grant is good for one calendar year and then I simply get a grant for the next year. Oh my gosh-- no more co-pays for Thalidomide?!? My doctor is saying he plans to take me off of drugs at my 2-year maintenance anniversary. However, I want to stay on one medication and, if I get a pick, I pick Thalidomide. And if I get my way, it's nice to know that I won't be paying THROUGH THE NOSE in co-pays! So for my article for www.myelomacrowd.org, I will share the granting organizations for any of you cancer warriors who need the help, too. And, no, you don't need to be nearly financially destitute to qualify. This is a great huge help! Thank you to my angels at HCI who are forever watching out for me.

Ok, I'm off. In a few days I'm taking William and his daughter to the airport for their trip to Seattle and picking them up next Tuesday. We can then just spend a few days together before I leave for LA on Thursday. I love summers because I get to call the shots as far as scheduling goes.