Ok! Beauty Box packed full of winter essentials.

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#MudMasky Leave on autumn mask full size RRP £33 oil free gel based moisturizer is just the ticket for winter chapped skin.

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#NutureNourishing Skin treatment oil full size RRP £8.99 now I’m using this on my recent hip replacement scars as it’s meant to reduce scar redness and stretch marks too. We will see.

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#GraceAndStella Hyaluronic acid travel size RRP £7.00 who doesn’t use this especially in the cold, known to retain 1000 times its weight in moisture. Silky soft addition.

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#VeganByHappySkin Original skin essence toner full size RRP £34.99 using chamomile, calendula bans aloe vera to smooth and balance skin.

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#BalanceMe Pre and Probiotic cleansing milk travel size RRP £8.00 known to strengthen the skin barrier, gently remove impurities, to reveal a brighter complexion.

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I love with this subscription box you can skip months or cancel at will. So for me, I’m skipping December as I’m wanting to use these up and really enjoy them.

This month’s #LFBeautyBox #LookFantasticBeautyBox not bad.

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The main saving grace is definitely the #MoltonBrown Ylang Ylang 100ml and it smells heavenly. Used while away in Northumberland.

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#Prai Ageless 0.35fl Oz I love this cream so always happy to see this addition.

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Foot masks by #LeMiniMacaron who doesn’t love a foot mask, ultimate pamper. Not used yet but soon…

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#BalanceMe BHA exfoliating concentrate 30ml little disappointed in size, but goes well with the Balance me glow mask and cleansing milk I have. Perfect trio when traveling.

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Very disappointed with this size eyebrow pencil by #DiegoDallaPalma shade 103 it’s so small.

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Absolute HERO item was #ComfortZone Renight cream 30ml it smells divine, and I’ve used it every night since it arrived. I love it. This I will buy again, the cream is so lightweight for a night cream, and not thick and sticky.

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A little hit and miss this month, but mainly hits. Now it’s cold and there is harsher air whipping around your face, it’s a lovely time to give your skin extra loving.

Erm… It’s hard to tell if it’s wearing off already, I really really hope not, I was hoping to reach April 2022!! Well realistically it wears off at 4 months usually but I eek it out to reach 6 months between injections.

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Since the drop in temperature, I have felt extra pains in my thighs (stem is metal and boy do I feel the cold) and my lower back, so perhaps it stands that my hands are also getting stiffer and sore??

So the gloves are staying. Still no referral for more splints come through. Though one has for my urgent hip physio and that’s 23rd Dec. So I bet the referral will be for 2022 now, as they don’t class splints as urgent. So that’s disappointing, I may have to cave and just buy more.

This week I’m not really going out, so no using a stick, so I’m hoping the hands will settle down to a more manageable level. Or better yet really go pain free. They have took 6 weeks to really work before, so maybe its like that time?

I’d say fingers crossed, but I’d only dislocate or get stuck in that position.

This time with my first hip replacement we celebrated by going out to a club, but it was sunny and their wasn’t a lockdown, or restrictions. So it felt so so different.

https://debbiehipster.wordpress.com/2019/04/21/100-days-post-hipreplacement/

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Somehow this year it doesn’t feel as epic. Maybe because subconsciously I deduct the days my life and world changed for the worst, and the grief hits hard. I’d be lying if I said it hasn’t affected my recovery journey because it so obviously has affected every aspect of my life, as it should.

But I’ve made it to a milestone, and I should be proud of how far I’ve come. I’m definitely more confident in walking unaided around the house, which means less pressure on hands and shoulders.

To celebrate I probably will try and persuade Mr Moon to grab a kebab and watch a movie, and have all the snuggles.

For most of this week, I’ve used walking as my sole physio exercise. As well as trying to add more day to day chores and daily living. For 2 walks I wore a shoe lift (blue hard one) and it does help my confidence and lower back pain.

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But I’m mindful that my surgeon and this other Top surgeon in a youtube video (click link) https://youtu.be/jTXS93xcIt0 both say to give it a year. So I definitely spend more time walking without a lift, and always always do my physio at home barefooted.

Using a walking stick, or walking pole, I feel I’m planting my feet more, and relying less on a mobility aid, which in turn has freed up the rib pain, and shoulder crunching. So that’s all good. But I do tire quickly, and hip is swelling up, with a white hot burning groin pain. Thankfully after rest it does settle down.

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When I think back to the previous hip, I’m definitely walking better and earlier than that side. Thanks to being able to re read my older posts (2019 Jan onwards) I get to really compare the two surgeries.

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Scar update. Not too bad, some days it stings but I’ve usually done too much that day.

Sadly I’ve been getting extra thigh pain in the opposite hip, but the weather temperature has dipped so could it just be the metal being cold and aching more?? Certainly haven’t over worked them for the last week. Or is this a side effect of walking unevenly? Like my lower back. Feeling a tad lost. Next physio appointment is 29th November. And a Micats physio appointment not until 23rd Dec (this is meant to be urgent intensive physio appointment)

New boots and new coat, I’m ready to get walking for physio. I still lumber along with the height difference. But I’m attempting to walk with a walking stick rather than crutch.

Armed with the hard shoe lift, to relieve my lower back pain (naughty I know, but I’m desperate) we set off to find a waterfall. The sound and view of waterfalls are just so calming.

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Some of these steps are from the devil!! No rails so had to use Mr Moon to be my rail.

Some steps I tried bad leg first, to try and build up some strength. But probably ended up using the good leg a lot more.

Grateful that my walking buddy understands I have to stop a lot, as well as sit down a lot, to be able to do these small walks. And who doesn’t enjoy a Pot Noodle in a huge forest with no one around except you and your loved one!!

It drizzled some rain, but it never bothered us. We found some fairy glen styled areas, and just fell in love with the place. A beautiful time of year to visit, with a carpet of pine needles, orange and yellow leaves falling down like confetti, it’s so romantic.