fertility awareness birth control: an update

wanted to do a follow up to my posts on using the Fertility Awareness Method for birth control, but I wanted to have at least a year under my belt.  I'm on my 13th cycle now, so I've been doing it for a little over a year.  I went off my birth control pills in mid December 2013 and started charting.  You can read my posts about how it works and why I decided to go off the pill, and I did a follow up a few months into using FAM.

I feel pretty confident using FAM for birth control now.  That being said, it does pay to be consistent at charting, which I slowly became worse and worse at over the course of the year.   The last couple months I've redoubled my efforts to chart fully every day because it really does make the whole picture much clearer and helps me feel so much more confident in using this method, rather than leaving it to guesswork, which is a pretty shoddy method of birth control, or having to be even more careful to make up for not knowing where exactly I am in my cycle.

Even though it's a bit more work and takes some forethought, I like knowing that my body is doing it's own thing, rather than being flooded with faux hormones, throwing off my natural biology.  I haven't had a single migraine since I stopped taking the pill.  I never had them before I went on and after I started taking it I would get one every one to two months and didn't make the connection for about two years.  I did have a ton of hair loss about 4 months after going off the pill, but it's growing back now.  I learned that a lot of women experience hair loss a few months after giving birth, and since the pill works by tricking your body into thinking it's pregnant so it doesn't ovulate, when you go off the pill, it sort of simulates the effect of giving birth, since you're no longer "faux-pregnant".


Having used this method for over a year now, I would say that FAM is definitely for the responsible lady who is at least slightly open to the idea of getting pregnant.  While I think that, when done right, it can be absolutely just as effective as the pill as a birth control method, unless you're completely abstinent during the fertile time, you are taking on a small risk (hey-yo broken condoms.  It happens, y'all).  Plus, I also feel like it's best used in a committed, respectful relationship.  It's nice to be able to not use any form of barrier protection during non-fertile times, but it's definitely important for you partner to understand the utmost importance of using reliable protection if you choose not to abstain during the fertile window (and even reliable protection can become unreliable, shoutout to broken condoms again).

Even if you do end up having a barrier method fail on you, there are options like Plan B.  We had just such a situation occur and I used Plan B, but it messed up my cycle like crazy, y'all.  I'd used it once in the past and it didn't do anything to my cycle, but this time I didn't have a period for 3 months.  It was a little concerning and I definitely took multiple pregnancy tests to make sure I wasn't pregnant.  It was a little bizarre for me, and definitely interesting to see how those faux hormones really can mess with your body's natural rhythms.  I'm curious to see if it has an effect on future cycles, or if I'm back to normal now.



One thing I'm super excited about is Kindara's Wink thermometer.  I've used the Kindara App since I started using the Fertility Awareness Method in 2013, and they're coming out with a thermometer that automatically syncs with the app when you take your Basal Body temperature in the morning.  SO awesome.  Anything that makes tracking your cycle easier is awesome in my book.  Now I just need some kind of device that chills out in my vagina and monitors my cervical position and fluid and syncs to my phone.  Come on scientists/techy people, you've made Birth Control IUD's, how hard could it be?  I'll get on that preorder list ASAP.  (If only as much money and research went towards natural FAM birth control methods as pills/IUDs/etc!)

I've said it before, but even if you don't want to use FAM as your birth control method, I still think it's an incredible way to learn more about your own body and cycle.  I was taught so little about my body's monthly cycle of hormones and the biology of my fertility in my high school health class (think Mean Girls), and it's truly truly amazing what my body does every month to make it possible to create life (even if right now I'd prefer if we put off the whole life-making business).


Dan and I do want to have kids, and using FAM, being more aware of my body, and being more open to the possibility of getting pregnant has really made me think about it and mentally prepare for it.  I'll be turning 29 this year and I know I'd like to get that show on the road in the next year or two (or three), and using FAM has made me think a lot about having kids (or not having them) in a way that I never did when I was on Birth Control.  I know a lot of women do get pregnant even when they are using BC pills (even women who take it religiously!), but for me it was kind of like "out of sight, out of mind" in a way.  Being aware of my fertility and using FAM has made me think about starting a family a lot more than I used to, though it might be just because I'm getting a little older now.  I haven't had any Baby Fever (still skeptical that it exists, you guys), but I'm older now than when my parents had me, their oldest child, which does make me think more about timelines and such.  I know there's never the perfect time to have kids, and it'll always be hard, but at least now I'm open to the idea and have actually thought about it more in depth, which I feel like is the first part of preparing for it.

last photo by arrow + apple

studded pocket diy

his is

a DIY

I did many years ago, as I mentioned in yesterday's outfit post.  When I lived in Anchorage I frequently went to an amazing leather, bead and stone shop that had tons of amazing findings and pieces for DIY projects, including studs, so I was always doing a DIY with studs, making jewelry, or other little accessories.  I haven't yet found a good local resource for studs here in Tacoma, but nowadays there are lots of online shops where you can buy studs, so I grabbed mine from etsy.  

These shredded jeans

from

Lulu's

were the perfect base for adding studs.  I've wanted a pair of shredded jeans for a while, but I never found quite the right pair, but I'm loving these ones!

What you'll need: 

1/2 inch studs

 (appx 50-60)

Seam ripper or xacto knife

Jeans

 or Jean shorts

First, take half the pocket off.  You could remove the whole pocket and stud the entire pocket area, but I like how the studs sort of "peek-a-boo" out from the pocket flap.  Remove the outside vertical seam of the pocket using a seam ripper or an exacto knife.  I had a rivet at the top corner of my jeans that I had to remove also, so you might need a pair of needle nose pliers to get that out if you have one.  If you want to leave the flap loose you can leave it, or you can iron the fold to keep it laying flat, or you can throw a stitch in the loose corner to keep it down, which is what I did.

Then, start placing your studs!  You might want to lay some out to measure how many columns/rows you'll fit in before installing them.  Depending on how big/small your pocket is, you may need more or less studs than I used.  The prongs on my studs were easy to push through the denim, so you probably won't need to pre-cut the holes for the prongs to go through, but if you do, just use your xacto knife.  Press the stud prongs through the denim and flip to the inside to press the prongs down.  My prongs were pretty stiff so I needed to use a flathead screwdriver to push the prongs down, but in the past I've had studs that were easier to bend and I could just do it with my fingers.  

Keep adding studs, installing one at a time, to your rows and columns until you've filled the triangle.  I put my studs a little under the fold of the pocket, so they come out from under the pocket fold.

I've seen a similar DIY done with

front pockets

(minus removing half the pocket), which is also cute!

There you go!  It shouldn't take too long, maybe 45 minutes to an hour, hour and a half.  It took a little longer than I anticipated, just because my stud prongs were stiff and harder to push down than I thought they'd be.  My fingers were a little sore by the end!  But I'm stoked with how they turned out!  Maybe I'll have to do a pair of shorts for the summertime too!

#FLASHBACKFRIDAY // red velvet if you please

his is probably an outfit I'd still wear, if I had that skirt still.  I've had the t-shirt since high school, it was something I grabbed from the little boy's section of Walmart, go figure.  And of course, my trusty Minnetonkas.  This outfit is from my visit to Elsie and Emma's Red Velvet vintage and cupcake shop in Springfield, MO when I was on my Brave trip.  It's crazy to think that it was 5 years ago when I rolled through town and parked my Winne down the street from Red Velvet and visited those ladies.  

Red Velvet If You Please // November 11, 2010

Yesterday I got to go to Red Velvet in Springfield, MO and hang out with Elsie and her sister Emma for the day! After seeing her posts on the shop grand opening, I thought to myself, "I wonder where she's located and if I can go visit!" Turns out, she wasn't that far away at all (I was in Arizona at the time), so I booked it across NM, TX, and OK to get to Red Velvet. It was worth the long days of driving, and I had the best time hanging out at the shop, seeing a bit of Springfield, getting smoothies with Elsie and pizza with Emma, and trying on adorable vintage dresses.

cardigan & tights/target :: top/walmart :: shoes/minnetonka

skirt/courtesy of Vintage Strings

Emma sent me home with some of her delicious cupcakes and I can't wait to have cupcakes for breakfast! Speaking of breakfast, I went to IHOP yesterday for breakfast, which is the first time I've eaten out on my own on this trip (not counting fast food, though I haven't really done that much either). Something about yesterday morning just made me want some major breakfast food, and to not have to make it myself. Also, I kind of slept in and check out at the campground was at 11 am. Not that I couldn't have still cooked myself breakfast, but something about IHOP was calling my name, and it doesn't often do that. Oh my goodness, I thought I was going to explode. Best/worst decision ever. So delicious. IHOP always makes me think of this bit by Jim Gaffigan. "I've never left there feeling like hopping... It should be called, 'IBarelyMove'" SO accurate.

In which Little Bit does not want to pose for photos. She was having the best time sniffing new smells, making friends with customers and wandering around Red Velvet all day. Consequently she was totally uninterested in doing anything I desired her to do.

Go check out Elsie's blog to see pictures of the Brave looking terribly cute sitting down the street from Red Velvet!

outfit shots by elsie!

shredded + studded

ix years ago I did a studded pocket DIY, but I have no clue where those shorts went, and I also never did a tutorial for them.  Since I'm still obsessed with studs, I figured it was high time to re-do that DIY and also do a tutorial for it!  I'll be sharing the DIY tomorrow, but here's a little peek at it in today's outfit!  I thought the studs, being a little bit rock + roll, would go perfectly with a pair of shredded jeans.  This pair from Lulu's was just right, and I didn't even realize until I started writing this post that I paired the shredded jeans with a shredded tee!  Maybe I look like I lost a fight with a weed whacker, but I dig it.   I have some leftover studs from this project so I'm scheming up another studded DIY.  I did a studded purse DIY years ago as well, and I still have that purse!  I haven't used it in a long time, but now I'm inspired to pull it out again.  What is your favorite studded piece or accessory that you've seen/own?  I have studded jackets, bracelets, jeans, purses, phone case... what am I missing?

 

top/skyline fever :: cardigan/courtesy of ruche :: jeans/courtesy of lulu's + DIY hat(similar)/thrifted :: necklaces/handmade + courtesy of tribe jewelry boots(similar)/lulu e. bebe :: photos by Dan

rosemary thyme dubliner soda bread + bread pudding

ast month Kerrygold contacted me to see if I'd be interested in doing some recipe posts with their cheese and butter and seeing as Kerrygold's Dubliner is one of my favorite cheeses, I was pretty stoked to make delicious recipes with their cheese.  In the coming months I'll be posting a few fun recipes with their cheese, so cheese-lovers, get excited! I'm a little belated in posting this recipe, since it was inspired by all things Irish due to St. Patrick's day, but I was on the road during St. Paddy's day, and besides, this recipe is great for any time of year, not just for when we're all decked out in green!  
Dan was really into baking bread for a few months last year and one of his great staples was Irish soda bread, so for this recipe I enlisted his help in taking his soda bread to the next level!  We added cheese and fresh herbs and then used the soda bread to make a savory bread pudding that is divine!

(recipe adapted from epicurious)

Irish Soda Bread Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary

1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme

1/2 cup Kerrygold Dubliner cheese

1 cup buttermilk

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

To make soda bread:

Preheat oven to 375°F.  Whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cheese, and herbs in a large bowl. Add buttermilk and butter. Stir just until dough is evenly moistened but still lumpy.

Transfer the dough to a well-floured surface and turn dough to coat with flour. Gently knead with floured hands about 8 times to form a soft but slightly less sticky dough.

Form into a loaf, appx. 6-inch round and put on an ungreased baking sheet. Cut a 1/2-inch-deep "X" across top of the loaf with a sharp knife. Dust 1 tablespoon of additional flour over the loaf.

Bake in middle of oven until golden brown and bottom sounds hollow when tapped, 35 to 40 minutes. Transfer loaf to a rack and cool completely.

Bread Pudding Ingredients:
1 1/4 cup grated Kerrygold Skellig sweet cheddar cheese
1/4 cup grated Kerrygold Dubliner cheese
4 large eggs
2 1/2 cups whole milk
Loaf of Irish Soda Bread

To make bread pudding:
Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle. Butter ramekins or baking dish.

Cut enough bread into 1-inch cubes to measure 3 3/4 cups. Divide bread among ramekins (or spread in larger baking dish).

Whisk together eggs, milk, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Stir in cheese and spoon over bread in ramekins or baking dish. Let stand 10 minutes.

Put ramekins or baking dish in a larger baking pan and add enough hot water to come halfway up sides of ramekins or dish.

Bake until just set and a knife inserted in center comes out clean, about 35 minutes.

Transfer ramekins or dish from hot water bath to a rack and cool 10 minutes before serving.