Motivational Monday

Never settle for less than your best.

You can do ANYTHING you set your mind to.

people will stare. make it worth their while :)

Good morning!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. Today, I wanted to give you an idea of what the IDEO looks like with bright tights. When it comes to tights, everyone thinks black but colored tights can add a flash of color for a fresh look.  This is an outfit that I wore on Christmas and I have to admit, I felt really cute in it! The great thing about tights/leggings is that they are for the most part pretty inexpensive (Target has a great selection)... so this means you can add all sorts of colors to your IDEOnista wardrobe! Try this look out for yourself & let me know what you think :)

striped turtleneck + black lace skirt + maroon tights + black/red/white compression sock + brooks glycerin
 

My best buddy Rowdy

Wear what makes you happy :)

"A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous." - Coco Chanel



Tips for Traveling Through the Airport with Your IDEO

With the holiday season upon us, many of us will be traveling through the airport this Christmas. To that point, I'd like to offer up my airport wisdom and advice as you go through security wearing your IDEO.

1.) Know that you do NOT have to remove your IDEO to go through the security scanner (unless you want to). When the security personnel ask you remove your shoes, wallets, watches, etc. - do not remove your shoes or take off your IDEO. Explain to the TSA that you need the brace to walk and therefore you will not be removing it or your shoes because you need those too. (it's the truth - can't walk very well without the heel wedge under the IDEO in your shoe!) To that point, if you are given a hard time about it (which occurs rarely on occasion) I recommend politely telling the TSA personnel that the IDEO is like a prosthetic so if they insist you remove it, you will not be able to walk. They can usually understand that.

2.) I prefer to wear a skirt, shorts, tights, or skinny jeans (w/ IDEO on top) when I go to the airport so that the TSA personnel can clearly see the IDEO as I'm approaching the security line - this way they can get a good look at the IDEO and realize that I will likely not be taking it off. The times that I have worn jeans or wind pants over my IDEO (where you can't see the IDEO), I've had to pull up my jeans to show them the IDEO and it takes a little more time to explain why I'm not removing it or taking my shoes off. Again, these are just tips I've found helpful - however, feel free to do whatever works best for you!

3.) Lastly, I'd recommend if at all possible trying to secure an aisle or window seat. This way you will have more room for the IDEO when you are sitting. If you're going to be traveling on a long flight, I'd recommend loosening the straps a bit too, (especially the knee cuff) so that your leg doesn't get stiff from being in the same position. If you're able to get up and walk down the aisle every now and then that helps too.

Well, that's all my airport wisdom for today. Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas!
 
Don't let the TSA intimidate you - you're an IDEOnista!

XO

Life is too short to wear boring clothes :)

Happy Monday!

Today I want to share a fun way to wear fancy leggings with your IDEO and your favorite dress. Like I mentioned in an earlier post, pairing leggings (especially black) with your IDEO can help to tie your outfit together because it bridges what the eye sees at first glance.

I don't always wear my pink sock, but when I do I like to make it pop. So I added a pink waist belt to match. I also love these neutral colored New Balance MT 1210's - they go with almost anything I have in my closet. Tip: If you're wearing black, I'd recommend wearing a black ankle sock on your non-IDEO foot to (a) make it invisible and (b) make you feel less like you are about to go workout in your running shoes (although the great part about wearing running shoes 24/7 is that you're always ready to go for a run!). There are a lot of good socks out there for your non-IDEO foot but since you're wearing socks all day, I'd suggest look for a non-cotton, high performance make so that your foot doesn't sweat. Some of my favorite ankle socks for my non-IDEO foot are Feetures and Brooks.

Dress: Ann Taylor Loft | Belt: Target

Leggings: Target | Compression Sock: CEP

 
Have a great day and always remember to put your best foot forward! (aka your IDEO) 

#itsnevertoolatetobearockstar :)

IDEOnista Spotlight: Lisa

Today, I want to highlight my IDEO friend, Lisa. Though we've never actually met in person, I've followed Lisa on Facebook and I can tell you she is an amazing person with a great sense of style! Hear what advice Lisa has to offer for all you IDEOnista's out there :)

Name: Lisa

How long have you had the IDEO? 3 months

What is your clothing style? I like to mix and match prints and patterns and love wearing layers and comfortable dresses

Favorite outfit to wear with the IDEO: Leggings with my black and white polka dot dress and lace crop top

Favorite shoe brand to wear with the IDEO: Sneakers: New Balance | Boots: Helly Hansen | Work Shoes: Cobb Hill (a sister brand of new balance)

Advice for other IDEOnistas: Keep an open mind and sense of humor when shopping for shoes and clothes. You can't know if a shoe will work or not unless you try it on and possibly get stuck in it (yes, that has happened and it was hilarious)... it took two employees to tug a boot off me :)

How do you dress up the IDEO? I found a great pair of booties by Cobb Hill that I wear anytime sneakers aren't appropriate. I'll also be having a wedding in over a year and have already started scheming ways to make the IDEO fancy for the big day! (i.e rhinestone covered sneakers, flowers, and lace on the IDEO, etc.)

Favorite Quote: "Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius, and it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring." - Marilyn Monroe

Cobb Hill - SO CUTE.

Helly Hansen boots!

Go Lisa go!

Lisa getting her IDEO casted - you're awesome!

Thank you, Lisa! Keep it up girl. Love your style. We look forward to seeing how you bedazzle your IDEO for your wedding next year! :)

If anyone else would like to share their story or advice, please message me and I would love to spotlight you!

#IDEOnista

Super Soul Sunday.

Keep the faith and keep your smile :)

never give up.

Make the most of today - that's one of the many lessons I've learned from this injury. You never know what tomorrow will bring, so get out there, try new things, and always believe in yourself. You didn't make it this far for nothing. #IDEOstrong

My Favorite Compression Socks

I wanted to share some of my favorite brands of compression socks that I wear with the IDEO. I typically like to wear black (like a ninja) because it goes better with my outfits but I do have a few different pair in various colors.

• Swiftwick
• 2XU
• CEP
• ec3d

All brands are in the $35-$55 per pair dollar range but well worth it since if you're like me, you wear the IDEO all day, everyday. Plus, they last a long time as long as you don't put them in the dryer. TIP: Wash on gentle and let air dry and they will last a really long time!

So you want to wear a skirt...

Let's be honest, there are times when you just want to get dressed up and feel pretty. So let's go over some basics for how to wear a skirt with the IDEO.

If you live in a cold environment, you are in luck because I've found some of my best outfits have been during the winter months when I can wear tights and leggings. I live in Texas... so that only happens during a couple months out of the year! Below is a sample from what I call my IDEO fall collection :)

 

This is an outfit I wore to work the other day. I'm telling you, black is the way to go. I felt great in this outfit! Black leggings (from Target), with my black Swiftwick sock, black Zensah knee sleeve, black tennis shoes, and a black ankle sock for my non IDEO boring foot :) and I was set to go. You can barely tell the IDEO is there. 

Check out this other fun outfit. It's all all about finding ways to wear what you already have. We all own a pair of tights and / or leggings. Give it a try! Christmas is a great time to wear red tights with skirt! Last year I even put a bow on my IDEO.... :)

Here are just a few other ideas I wanted to share from the past week of outfits that I wore to work. I'll have to get better at taking pictures of myself! It's a little challenging ;)

Bottom line: Skirts are definitely do-able. In fact, I wear skirts probably 70% of the time. I'd recommend looking for skirts that hit right above the knee. This is a flattering look for both you and the IDEO... :) The key is to look for skirts in neutral colors - this way you can pair your tops with all sorts of outfits!

Does anyone else have ideas on how they wear their skirts?

How to Rock the IDEO.

Step 1 - Walk with confidence. You are amazing so don't let anyone make you feel otherwise.

Step 2 - Wear it like you own it. Whether you like it or not, the IDEO is a part of you. Be confident in your ability to take on the world. With the IDEO, anything is possible.

Step 3 - Never forget what it took to get the IDEO or what you had to go through in your struggle with your injury. Regardless of your story, you persevered. Let that fire within you be the fuel that ignites your passion for life. Dream big. Never give up.

Step 4 - Smile. You're a rockstar. Now, act like it.

Pants: black skinny jeans (these fit really well under the IDEO knee cuff and over the bars at the bottom. 

Sock:  Black Swiftwick sock & Zensah knee sleeve (sometimes with my skinny jeans, I don't even need the knee sleeve)

Shoes: Men's NB MT 1210s - love this color pattern, they go with a lot!

Top: Sweater with black leather jacket (because every girl needs a black leather jacket) ;) 

A different outfit but this is a close-up of how I wear my skinny jeans with the IDEO. My compression sock goes under the pants. I put the pants on first, then pull the IDEO on and slide the end of the pants over the top at the bottom. You may have differing opinions, but I refuse to wear regular jeans over my IDEO with tennis shoes. It's just not my look :)

Next up: how to wear the IDEO with a skirt.

Where to Buy Shoes.

A note up front. There are two types of IDEO's - the standard one and the "church brace version". For those of you who don't know what the church version is - as I understand it, it's basically a low profile IDEO, with one strut instead of two. People use the low profile for dress occasions, work, etc. because it's smaller - but you cannot run on it.  Having the low profile vs. the standard IDEO likely depends on your injury and a multitude of other factors but I wanted to point it out up front because what I will be discussing on my blog is for those who do not have the low profile church version.  Because of where I am with my injury, I only have the standard IDEO, so my choice of shoes remain in the hiking / tennis shoe section (& maybe other types of shoes as I discover more options!) Also, my injury is extremely sensitive to pressure changes so I have to be careful with the shoes that I pick-- it has to fit just right... it's a tedious process :)

Below is a list of stores that may offer a discount to accommodate different sized shoes:

Nordstrom has the following policy:
If you have two different sized feet and are ordering online, you will order two pairs of shoes (one in each size, but they must be at least 1.5 sizes different). You will be charged for one pair and will be asked to send back the shoes that you do not need for credit. If you have the need for only one shoe, a whole pair will be sent to you, and you will be asked to return the unneeded shoe. You will be charged accordingly for only one shoe.
The phone number to call for this program is (888) 282-6060. 
Note: If you order in the store, they follow the same discount and will let you get one pair in different sizes, without extra cost. 

LL Bean has the following policy:
LLBean allows people to order "split sizes"- the size difference can be anything from ½ size difference, and any width difference, to a women's size in one shoe and a men's size in another shoe. They charge 1.5 times the price of one shoe (for example, if one pair is $60, you will be charged $90). LL Bean ships the two odd sizes to you with no need to return the odd shoes. Both shoes in different sizes must be in stock when the order is placed, because they need to compare the shoes to make sure the colors match before they ship the "split size"pair. Please ask to speak with the Product Support Team when you place the order by calling (800) 441-5713 (Surprisingly enough, it LL Bean sells the NB 1210’s and Brooks!)

South Sound Running: Tacoma, WA – Let the associate know you wear the IDEO and they will sell you different sized shoes at no extra cost. :) These people are really nice and will ship the shoes out of state. (I live in Texas and I've had them ship me shoes before!)

Brown's Catalog will discount 20% off each pair and send you the two different sizes that you need.

Run On Retailer: My experience is that as long as you purchase Brooks, they will sell you one pair at full price and the second pair at half price.Your local Run On may have other discounts - explain your situation. It's worth asking!

Fleet Feet Bend, Oregon: For a $30 fee, Brooks will let Fleet Feet order mismatched shoes for people with different sized feet in length or width. Phone: (541) 389-1601 Note: I haven't tried this store yet, but it's another option and I'm all about options! http://www.fleetfeetbend.com/gear/medical-products

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Recently, for the first time, I was able to find a pair of shoes that fit my IDEO and non-IDEO foot in the same size! (Wow!)

Salomon XA Comp 7W Trail Running shoes - Purchased from REI for $110. Salomon's are known for their wide toe box - super comfortable and durable too. I'd definitely recommend giving them a try!

A friend mentioned to me about using Zappos to purchase shoes online. They offer good discounts and free shipping so this might be a good way to purchase shoes once you find the ones you like. 

Another person on the IDEO facebook group shared this discount for Keen footwear - go there, make an account and request a code:  www.keenfootwear.com/pro

Still yet another option -- check with your local New Balance store for any discounts. Each one is locally owned so you never know unless you ask!
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Shoes currently in my closet:

New Balance MT 1210 (men's)

New Balance MT 1210 (men's)

Brooks Glycerin (men's)

Salomon XA Comp 7W (women's)

Those are my options for now! Does anyone else have any places they would recommend? 

#runhappy

The vision behind IDEOnista.

Hi! My name is Beth and I am 26 years old. I wear the IDEO device made by the Hanger Clinic (aka TEAM AMAZING) up in Gig Harbor, WA. I've had my IDEO for a little over a year now and I can honestly say it's changed my life completely. Below I will share my story of how I came to needing the IDEO, but first let me explain my passion behind the blog. Please note: this blog will be a work in progress, but my hope is to inspire other women to believe in themselves and see that fashion is still very much possible with the IDEO and to remember that true beauty always lies within.

After receiving my IDEO last year, one of the first things I did when I returned home was to look for shoes... I said goodbye to my flats and donned New Balance and Brooks running shoes as they fit best with my IDEO. As the shoe search continued, I found that there really wasn't much in fashion retail for women with prosthetic / orthotic needs (except for clunky diabetic shoes and there was NO way I would be wearing those!).  By nature, I was already an athletic girl before my injury so having to wear tennis shoes all the time wasn't a huge issue for me but there have definitely been times when I've longed to wear my riding boots or cute heels with a dress/ skirt to an event. With that being said, I truly believe that as long as you are confident in what you are wearing you will feel beautiful. In the past year, I started experimenting with different tennis shoes and combinations of outfits to find looks that made me feel fashionably fabulous again. It is my hope that these posts will give you ideas of how to use the clothes you already have in your closet to feel cute again. I just want the women out there reading this to know that having to wear tennies and hiking boots is not the end of the world... Fashion is still possible and I am here to help :) but it all starts with how you see yourself. You must recognize the beauty in your strength and all that you have overcome. Be proud of the person you are today, because you fought to become her.

So, a little background on my injury... In June 2011, I suffered a severe ankle injury playing soccer that would end up requiring four surgeries over the course of two and a half years. Each attempt left me unable to walk without pain for more than 100 yards. I tried cortisone shots, countless hours of physical therapy, walking boots / braces, and many alternative treatments but nothing seemed to help. Due to complications after the fourth surgery, I ended up with a condition that caused severe burning pain in my leg, which eventually spread to my other leg leaving me in a wheelchair because of the pain. I forced myself out of the chair and onto crutches but always had to keep shifting my weight to keep the burning and prolonged pain from getting worse with pressure on my feet. At 23 years old, you never think this is how your life would be. As my conditioned worsened in January 2013, I traveled to the Mayo Clinic for tests and IV treatments. After spending a couple of weeks there, I returned home still struggling to walk more than 100 yards without pain. As the months went by, my condition fluctuated and I did another round of IV treatments because the burning had come back. The symptoms continued to get better and then worse again. I had two lumbar sympathetic blocks and hope dwindled as many doctors recommended I strive for pain management. I eventually got to the point where I was considering the possibility of amputation – I wanted so much to be able to walk and run again. However, my faith and determined spirit would not allow me to give up yet. I knew I would find a solution for my ankle– I just couldn’t stop trying. Hope came when a friend showed me an article from TIME magazine about a special leg device called the IDEO. (God works in mysterious ways, doesn't he?) This device, which was originally designed for wounded soldiers, allowed those with severe lower leg injuries to actually stand and run again without pain - I was blown away. I reached out to Ryan Blanck, (the most amazing person), and my life was changed forever. Within a couple of months, I had flown to Johns Hopkins to meet with an orthopedic surgeon for a consultation on my options. It was everyone’s hope that this hybrid prosthetic-orthotic like device would help me be free of pain as well. I traveled to the Hanger Clinic in Tacoma, WA for a test device and received my full IDEO in November 2013. By the time I received the IDEO device, it had been over two years since I had walked without pain. Words cannot describe how much this device and experience has changed my life. Since receiving the IDEO last year, I've hiked over 20 miles in Yosemite National Park, completed a few 5Ks and most recently completed a 120 mile adventure race in the Florida Keys with the Project Athena Foundation. Simply amazing! Though I’ll likely need to wear the IDEO for the rest of my life, I can honestly say just being able to live life to the fullest again is what matters most to me. It hasn’t just given me my life back – it’s given me a new lease on life that I thought at one point might not be possible. If it wasn’t for Ryan Blanck and the amazing Hanger Clinic team I wouldn’t be where I am today. These last few years have been a long journey, but a true testament to the importance of not giving up on your dreams for your life. We can't choose what happens to us in life but we can choose how we respond. 

One of my first races with the IDEO. Never give up.

So, welcome to my blog! I will be posting pictures and tips for outfit ideas as well as inspirational messages, because I think we could all use a little more of that. 

Keep smiling :)

PS: I also write from time to time on another blog called the Yarn of Life. Check it out!

XO Beth