Another Scoliosis Blog to Follow!

A girl named Ellen commented on my last post and said she started her own scoliosis blog! She has some cute outfits posted, so go check it out

thebracekase.blogspot.com

~*~Ava~*~

To All the Girls Like Me

Hello, everyone!

I received a few emails recently from some very sweet girls saying that this blog has helped them and inspired them, and I really can't say how much that means to me!

I haven't posted in a while because of the usual busy life stuff. But I definately do plan to keep posting, because scoliosis is still a part of me, and always will be.

I want all of you to know that you are not alone. And that hearing from you reminds me that I'm not alone either.

It's been a few years since my brace, and I'm ending my junior year of high school soon. I think it's time to show you who I am now - and how scoliosis has shaped me (haha no pun intended).

So here are a few pictures of my style now :)

So there you have it! Me, past the brace. :)

Honestly, without scoliosis, I would not have been interested in fashion. But now I love it, and want to pursue a career in it.

Things happen for a reason - God works in mysterious ways.

Please feel free to email me anytime or leave comments, and tell me what you want me to post! :)

~*~Ava~*~

Fashion Inspiration!

Hello! I just emailed a girl some pictures of outfits that she wanted advice on, so I thought I'd share some new fashion ideas.


The scarf and jacket over a simple, fairly loose shirt is simple and fashionable.




I just bought a cape similar to this at Modcloth, and just realized how perfect - and on trend - it would be for a brace! Just wear a long sleeved shirt underneath, and pair it with jeans and cute boots! There would be no sign of the brace at all.


Wear this loose tank over a tight one, add some long necklaces, a big ring, and jean shorts. Viola.
     Remember that not everything has to be loose - you can show off your waist with tops and dresses that are cinched in the middle. Trust me, people aren't looking to see if you have a brace. It's the last thing on their mind.
     Sometimes certain outfits don't work out, but keep looking! Get out there and find your own style. Because of scoliosis, I want to major in fashion in college. Everything happens for a reason.
     Happy Thanksgiving! :)

Another Cool Scoliosis Blog

Here's an up-and-coming scoliosis help blog: 

 http://plastic-corset.blogspot.com/

Margaret's got some awesome outfits and posts, so go check out her blog! :)

Fashion Feature: Jeans

~*~Jeans!~*~

This is basically what my jeans look like! They're Opal Low Rise Jeans from Charlotte Russe. They're pretty low on my waist, but they worked with my brace well. Low rise jeans are probably the best choice for a brace. The only problem I had was that if I bent straight over, the back of my jeans would pop under my brace.

They fit me really well, and I still wear them! As long as I had a shirt that was long enough to cover the back, I was fine.  

 

Flare, Bootcut, Skinny... it shouldn't make a difference. It's only the very top that matters! The rest can look however you want. 

What NOT to wear:

Jeggings! These would make it sooo much easier to see your brace. (And they're not very flattering anyway.)

Nicole Marquez - True Inspiration

Nicole Marquez is a dancer from Mississippi who was living in New York until she accidentally fell 6 floors outside her apartment, and wasn't discovered for days. She came to speak to my school last year. Some teachers knew her, and we had all been praying for her for months.

When she spoke at out school, I was amazed at her absolute determination to get her life back.

Here's her amazing story:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThCK-93wAME

Good News!

     A few days ago, I went in to my doctor for my four-month check-up like usual. I had been wearing my brace 8 hours a day (so I just slept in it). My back had been really sore lately, so I was expecting to be told I would have to wear the brace full time again. 

     But instead, he told me that I was done with the brace. For good.

     So, I'm out of my brace!!!!! I got it a month before 8th grade, and got it off four months into 10th grade. That's about two years with a scoliosis back brace. When I got the news, I just couldn't stop smiling.

     It's been hard. I've cried a lot and I've gotten angry, but I've also smiled and been thankful. I believe that God only puts us in situations that we have the strength to handle. And I have proven to myself that I have the strength to handle scoliosis and all that comes with it.  Here are a few things I've learned and would like to pass on to you:
     1.) Walk with confidence. You are you, and if anyone has a problem with that, well, screw them. They can just deal with it, can't they? ;)
     2.) Listen to people when they tell you about their problems. Relate them to yours. You'll understand them better.
     3.) Let scoliosis make you better. Kind of an oxymoron, but if you let it bring you down, it's not your back that's failed you, it's your heart.
     4.) Learn to appreciate hugging people. And dancing like a lunatic. And simply standing up. 
     5.) Don't hold yourself in. Don't let emotions build up inside of you. If you are feeling bad, talk to someone. Find that one best friend (of group of friends) that you know will listen, and at least try to understand. 

     I will keep posting on this blog, because scoliosis is still a part of me. And just because I love doing it. If you ever want to talk, please email me! I would LOVE to hear from you!!

~*~Ava~*~