Jane's Girl Blog

One Place Decluttered...

2011-01-06T21:06:00.001-08:00

A great idea from my favourite magazine- taken from their website (realsimple.com):

Home & Organizing
Kick-Start Your New Year: Focus on Keeping One Place Decluttered
Posted on Jan 6, 2011 4:57:02 PM | By Simple Tip

One of the biggest challenges with getting organized, is staying organized. So today's to-do is to pick one small area of your home (or workspace) and keep it organized for a week.

Start tonight by organizing whichever area you choose. For example, your dresser top which might be home to your makeup, jewelry, perfume, and other accessories. Get everything in place how you would like it to look everyday, and take a photo. Now your goal is to keep it looking like that photo for the next 7 days.

So, put away your jewelry at the end of the night, make sure your makeup brushes are in their holder before you leave in the morning, and wipe up any perfume spills that happen along the way. By next week, keeping that space tidy and organized will be well on the way to becoming a habit, and you'll be able to move on to another space.

What space will you pledge to keep organized this week? Share in the comments, and let us know how your project goes.

Follow @Real_Simple on Twitter for more. And share your tips using the hashtag #simpletip.

Spa Water

2011-01-05T18:56:00.000-08:00

Regular water. We all should drink more, right? Well, I suggest that you make it much more refreshing to drink. My friend introduced me to this, "Refreshing Water" as I like to call it. She calls it Spa Water. Let me tell you, it looks cool (tangent: once I put it in a vase for a centrepiece one evening in a last minute panic) and it even tastes really healthy!

All you need is: A pretty pitcher (optional, but really, go get one!), tap water (read on), and a lemon, lime, and cucumber.

Wash a lemon and lime and cucumber really well.

Have lemons and limes sliced normally.

Slice the cucumbers on an angle. They look more interesting.

Fill a pretty glass pitcher of water. Put in a couple slices of lemon and lime in the water, and a couple of cucumber slices. 2 of each should be fine. Or if you only have 1 or 2 of those fruits, that's okay too! The other day I had lime water and it was really good! The cucumber is kind of the "secret ingredient." Who would have thought?!! It gives off a really unique refreshingness, and works nicely with the lime.

What I do, is as I drink the water and the level in the pitcher gets lower, I just keep refilling- topping up the water. No need to change it all constantly. Because if you washed the fruits properly you shouldn't get any bad tastes, and the water continues to absorb the unique combination of flavours more strongly.

Tap water vs. Bottled water: If your tap water is drinkable but you aren't a huge fan of that back of mouth taste (ours tastes a little metallic)... this covers it up. Our water is really "good" but I am sensitive to taste. So yeah, dressing it up definitely makes tap water drinkable. I would never spoil bottled water with fruit or veggies.

The truth about Spinach

2010-12-28T23:19:00.000-08:00

Today I played a game called "Urban Myth". There are two forms of this game. Without elaborating too much about the game itself, I will tell you about something I learned... much to my dismay. There's nothing worse than finding out that you actually don't know something you thought you knew through a GAME. Especially when it's "your subject."

I feel like I know a lot about health. But I apparently don't... because I learned all about Spinach... stuff I did not know. I was so surprised that I felt immediately compelled to share what I learned: That Spinach actually contains 1/10th of bioavailable iron than what we are told. That is not a lot. That is 90% less iron than what we automatically think. So if you hate Spinach... read on.

I had to google this. I have ALWAYS "known" Spinach is high in iron.

Apparently a long time ago, there was a decimal error when documenting the nutritional content of spinach (I am so not kidding), and it went into print, leading to a mass of teaching error when it comes to this and there is a lot of explanation to back this up.

Basically YES, Spinach is high in iron. But can our body utilize it? Raw? In a salad? NO! My blog is not scientific and I don't have time to get all into it. However, if you search this topic, you can find several websites that actually go into this! Listen ladies, all the nutritionists and docs are telling us to eat spinach and they are being taught that it's the truth, we must eat it for it's iron content, but there are different types of iron and ways our body actually utilizes the iron that we put into our bodies. The real truth is we get a tiny bit of iron from spinach in the end, but we would get a lot more iron from meat.

Truth or Myth Game. What a way to find out how much you don't really know! I am truly humbled.

The best lip stuff ever

2010-12-22T20:33:00.000-08:00

I have tried everything on my lips. I don't have the greatest lips. I wish. I find that if I wear ANYTHING, it runs, or I chew it off, or it makes my lips look peely, or it just doesn't stay... and the biggest problem for ME is that they all rub off on my teeth, no matter what! But I have an amazing routine now that involves 2 products that I stand by faithfully.

I finally listened to Drew Barrymore in the Cover Girl ad for their Lip Stain. "It won't stick, it's a stain!" So I picked up a colour that I felt might suit me because I was desperate to try anything.

Its like rubbing a crayola felt marker on your lips. It goes on with precision, and you can apply it as light or as dark as you want, and it's long-lasting, so you really don't have to worry about when you're going to re-apply it next.

Next, I use a lip gloss of choice from Bath & Body Works. Their glosses feel like balms and are nice and thick, tasty, and they stay put! While it does taste nice, it stays on so nicely that my lips appear super shiny and are totally moisturized for a long period of time. The good news has just begun. There are so many colours and flavours to choose from, from tints to full color, from glitter to just gloss, and they even have peppermint and cinnamon ones that provide either no tint or slight tint to give the illusion of fresh breath. They make your lips tingle too. How cool is that?

The price is the best part. You can buy 3 tubes of lip gloss for $15!!! That's the most amazing price for such a good product.

Nobody is paying me to tell you this. Go pamper your lips!

Merry Christmas!

Crazy life of my hair

2010-12-20T00:40:00.000-08:00

I've had a wacky hair life. My hair has always kind of defined me. I've been known to have "great hair." Never a bad hair day, people don't know how I can do my hair like that... get exactly that colour, stuff like that. It's just something I have always associated my femininity and identity with, even though it might sound superficial, it's a bit true.

I don't know if most people would realize that its true for probably lots of women, that their hair is meaningful for them... until their hair goes missing for awhile.

My hair went missing for awhile, TWICE.

The first time, it was because I was put on a medication, Epival. Most of the time, this medication does not cause hair loss. But for me, it did. And as soon as we (my doctor and I)were figuring that out, I changed medications and did everything I could to grow my hair back. Finally, it had grown back, and I had it for a while, but then "something" happened in my life. So for the second time, I was to take the Epival. I contested against it but I had no choice this time around. I HAD to take it. I took large doses for a few months and eventually I was looking for wigs. Not to mention crying every day as I pulled out large chunks of hair and trying to style my hair that was so thin, that my scalp was showing everywhere. I was embarrassed to go out. It was horrible.

Lets rewind... back to, my early 20's (even in my teens actually). I have ALWAYS curled all of my hair with a curling iron and then styled it. I felt that my hair should have volume and I loved curls. Naturally, my hair was a little wavy but mostly frizzy and well, i just didn't have a hair straightener! So beautiful curls it would be! Yes I had to work for them every morning but I didn't care. It was like artwork for me. Not a vain thing, I actually just enjoyed styling my hair.

Fast forward to now. It has been almost 2 years since I've been growing back all my hair. And guess what? It grew back curly! Not really wavy, not tiny curls, but curly exactly how I used to curl it all those years! Even some sweet ringlets. All I basically have to do is use a bit of moroccon oil to smooth the frizz and then later or the next day when most of it is dry, I just curl like a few ones on the top to smooth it out. Nobody believes its natural.

I feel blessed to have great hair. My hair was 'great' a long time ago- but only if I spend tons of time on it. Then I suffered a LOT medically and with my hair falling out significantly twice, which was huge emotional turmoil... so I just so feel thankful that God gave me nice curls that just do it themselves because I am not in my 20's anymore and I don't like spending the time, but I love the look :)

So that is my grateful, bittersweet story about the crazy life of my hair.

Am I? Will I? Can I? Did I?

2010-12-13T23:45:00.000-08:00

Going to the gym... what a popular phrase in my head. To go or not to go... Am I? Will I? Can I? Did I??

Last night I told myself that I would like to think that "tomorrow" will be the day that I go to the gym. But maybe, I will just have to wait until the moment is right and JUST GO.

It was a huge HUGE strain for me to get to the gym today, but I went!!!! I went to the gym! I used to go to the gym all the time but took a *never do this* 2-month-break. Ooooh the gym felt god. It felt really good! My Ipod was on Shuffle and its like it knew exactly what I wanted to hear at exactly the right times. Right after that, I stopped at the grocery store and picked up some of my favourite veggies so I can go back to my fave salads... mmm health!

I promise I will not live off of Mini-Wheats, Honey-nut Cheerios, and Diet Coke, and Egg Nog Lattes ANYMORE.

That salad took away all my cravings for junk food! I was shocked!

And going to the gym only once reminded me of how much I loved the gym and I am so stoked to go back there again and make it part of my routine again. Oh how I miss health!

I would just like to re-iterate HOW DIFFICULT this morning was. I almost couldn't go. The strength I mustered up to go was like waving a surrender flag the whole time I was changing into my gym clothes, and taking a road trip while sighing all the way to the gym (which is only a five minute drive, haha). Now, it's just a hop-skip-anda jump!

To bra or not to bra...

2010-12-11T20:24:00.000-08:00

I wondered today when it's okay to NOT wear a bra, if you're a usual bra-wearer. I went out in a hurry to get hubby's christmas present and I just put on a black sweatshirt and jeans and ran out the door, didn't even do makeup or hair- he was in the shower and I thought I could do the errand before he was out (I was wrong btw). Anyway so here I was in public running around without a bra but black sweatshirt. Probably NOT noticeable to strangers who saw me for like 2 seconds as I ran by. But I don't think I'd hang out in a crowd without the bra no matter how black the shirt is. There's always a side view :P

Christmas Already?

2010-12-09T00:34:00.000-08:00

I know I have slight OCD when it comes to needing things done asap in order to enjoy the christmas holidays but I am RELIEVED to announce that as of tonight, the only thing I have left to finish for christmas is sending off the cards! :)

I am really curious though, where is everyone else at in their holiday readiness? Putting up lights? Buying gifts? Leaving gifts till Christmas Eve? Do you have your tree up, your house decorated? Do you even like that kind of thing?

I would love to hear where you are finding yourself...???

An Organized Christmas?

2010-12-01T23:12:00.001-08:00

I have been reading the most amazing magazine I have ever come across and I think that every woman should know about it. "Real Simple." And probably also the best website EVER (except Google). Its motto is "Life made easier, every day." Now, I have been pleased to discover their magazine in the fall. They practically taught me how to cook (with shopping lists and simple instructions), gave me step by step instructions on how to clean my laundry room in 15 minutes flat, and pointed out basic microwave oven usage-- which I actually had phoned my own mother about only a few days prior to discovering this article! So will I be applying their Christmas tips? The Christmas issue really is brilliant... but simple life all the time is actually a lot of information to retain! ;)

Well, I don't know if I can thank Real Simple Magazine, a healthier lifestyle, a more enjoyable home I'm living in, the culture of my new city, or if it's just how things are falling together naturally, but so far, Christmas feels way more calm AND organized this year.

I'm really trying to just focus on doing things and finishing what I start and doing it all as promptly as possible. I want to have this all done soon, otherwise it will all be over before it starts. I am busy, but I also have a family and have to live in my house. So I'm really trying to focus on my perspective and take the extra few minutes to finish the little things off a bit sooner.

SUMMARY

I'm done with the decor, so that's good. By the end of the week I'd like to have 80% of my Christmas shopping done. Right now I have about 40% of it done. Tomorrow I need to have 40% of it wrapped. :)

My Weight Phenomenon

2010-11-25T21:01:00.000-08:00

I have this really weird weight phenomenon that I think must be either rare, or unique to me. And I just feel like sharing it.

Ok, so I have always weighed the exact same number of lbs, like for a long time now, a couple years? I have gone through periods of going to the gym and toning up, and forgetting the gym being unmotivated and getting flabby and feeling gross.

The weird thing is... the weight NEVER changes, and it's not just my scale. My muscle to fat ratio changes in such a way that no matter how thin or fat I get, I stay the same weight.

Obviously, this is attributed to muscle weighing more than fat. But for me, my muscle develops and the fat dissipates at the pace of my weight not changing. Ever.

The only time my weight changed is when I worked super hard to lose 10lbs last summer. Now, I'm not gaining it back but I'm getting flabby. Its nice to know I'm now at a new stable number but its time to get back to the gym.

Pretty crazy yet kinda cool!

Hormones & Stress

2010-10-30T22:41:00.000-07:00

I haven't found anything interesting about Phosphoric Acid. If I do, I'll let you know.

I have found something interesting about my face. It has troubled me very much. I saw in a very bright light all the peach fuzz on my face. Hear me out. I KNEW I had a moustache and believe me, I take care of it. But to my dismay, I saw under the bright lights all the peach fuzz on my jaw and then I followed it up my face and saw how high it went! It formed a whole beard shape that actually linked to my moustache! This is not at all visible in normal light and I'm positive nobody else has ever noticed. But I totally freaked. I started wondering if my stress levels go to high and then I crashed, and of course in my neurotic mess I was having all kinds of hypochondriasis such as my cortisone and progesterone levels rising in my body because I sabatoged my adrenal glands and therefore was in adrenal fatigue, messing up all my hormones causing hair to grow on my face, cramps, insomnia, dizzy spells, double vision, and weakness and what if it even affects my fertility!

I picked up some plates from the dishwasher and actually FELL on the ground! My husband looked down at me like, uh, you're 30 years old and you just fell on the ground like an old lady. It's a good thing he was there. Later in life I'm going to invest in one of those devices "help I've fallen and I can't get up" if this kind of thing continues. So I know I'm in a crash & burn scenario. Question is, is it affecting my adrenal hormones and affecting my whole body?

Perhaps it is but I don't think it's having quite as big as an effect as I first suspected, after looking into it and taking in some family history.

Where did this all come from? A huge transition in life. Moving. For the past month, I've watched my family grow in numbers and then I've had to move into a new neighbourhood, not far from the old place but a totally new circumstance. And moving has taken EVERYTHING out of me. I think that I gave 400% and most people give 100%. I got super exhausted and ended up completely useless on the couch for a week after.

Turns out that the facial hair is not related to stress. General hair loss IS often related to stress. But my facial hair happens to be genetic and after talking to relatives, I have it GOOD. It may worsen in the future but I was encouraged to enjoy my face while it still looks good and know that it could get worse but I could always maintain it if it looks bad. Kind of encouraging but kind of not.

I don't think my hormones are too messed up but I do think they're abnormal. I wonder if they do hormone testing. It could help me to know if my hormones are doing what they are supposed to be doing. I know I'm sensitive to the phytoestrogens in Soy milk. PMS varies but has sometimes been excruicating or debilitating. I have been trying for nearly a year to get pregnant and it hasn't worked. Hmmm.

It sounds like I've reached adrenal fatigue but Doctors don't seem to discuss that. It's easy to slot that illness in with other bigger problems. What should we really be treating? Tough to say.

Freaky Eaters

2010-10-17T20:55:00.000-07:00

There's a new-ish show on TLC called "Freaky Eaters". Apparently you're a freaky eater if you are addicted to a certain type of food or ingredient and exclusively, and/or obsessively-compulsively eat it for an extended amount of time. For example, a woman eats only french fries since she was 4 years old and she now is nearly 30, still only eating fries. There are 2 interventionists who work together with the addicted on each episode. One, a highly specialized and recognized nutritionist, as well as a psychologist who specializes in Eating Disorders. The people featured on these documentaries really do have serious problems and it's not like it's a joke, and it really doesn't seem too scripted either. I have pocketed a few lessons learned from this show.

I like the show because it's interesting, I learn about medical mysteries, genetic tests I didn't know were available, and even therapies that I wasn't really aware of. I don't know that I would even acknowledge that these kinds of addictions exist if it wasn't for the "show" bringing awareness. So it seems that usually it's a family member who seeks help for the person who is being helped in these cases, but in a couple, they actually sought help for themselves- ie. The Lady addicted to the fries.

The one that got me thinking the most lately was the girl who drinks 30 cans of cola per day. They said what's in the cola (sugar, caffeine, phosphoric acid, and something else) and I know for me, I LOVE diet coke so sugar wouldn't be the problem. Caffeine might be an issue for me if I consumed large amounts. And perhaps the aspartame. But if sugar or caffeine weren't a problem... is soda still ok on it's own? So I'm currently doing a little research project on Phosphoric Acid. I didn't realize how chemistry was involved in an explanation of Phosphoric Acid. Chemistry is NOT my strong suit so its going to take me awhile to look at it from different angles to see if I think it's harmful for me to be consuming it. I really just want to know for myself- is pop really so bad?

So phosphoric acid... that's what I'm looking at at the moment. That's how I got on the topic, and I'll let you know what I decide.

Grape Tomatoes are GREAT!

2010-10-07T22:17:00.001-07:00

Recently, I ran out of most of my salad supplies, but I did have practically a full packet of Grape Tomatoes. They are so easy to snack on! I don't normally eat them as a snack but since we hadn't gone grocery shopping in awhile, I felt that it was a good option. For a few days, I just sat in front of the TV, popping them into my mouth like popcorn. Then it occurred to me, "these are probably really good for me, but I wonder just HOW good they really are?" So I did what I tend to do sometimes and I spent the evening researching tomatoes, but especially grape tomatoes. I found out some very interesting facts! All of the information supplied on this post, I have taken from other websites which will be listed below or directly linked to. Other than what I have quoted, I have tried to put this in my own words to you, my readers, because I want you to know what I learned tonight from my own angle.

First of all, I was really curious about any (and all) possible health benefits of grape tomatoes. If i'm going to make them a regular snack (since they are soooo yummy) then I want to make sure they really are good for me. Here are some practical things I learned, all which have been proven, in plain english:

If you eat them often enough, your skin will get better (texture/colour). Wow!

Helps with Acne problems- Try these tomato-based skin treatments! So cool!

Good blood purifier

It somehow has healing effects on your liver

Dissoves gallstones

Natural antiseptic (especially concerning acne-will go into that later)

Contains Nicotinic Acid which can help reduce blood cholesterol and prevent heart disease.

Enables the skin's ability to protect against harmful UV rays

Prevents premature aging

Full of antioxidants which are recognized for fighting pancreatic cancer, prostrate cancer, skin cancer, lung cancer, and breast cancer

A source of protein!!! Grape tomatoes are the best ones to eat if on a high protein diet (they have the highest amount of protein- more than Roma tomatoes and normal tomatoes combined!)

Roma tomatoes are good to eat for prostrate health

High in Vitamin C- Keeps immune system running well and prevents general illness

Aids in Respiratory infections

Great for your eyes- restoring vision, cataracts, etc.

Now, I must quote this next bit of information- I found it incredibly fascinating: "Tomatoes also have the compounds chlorogenic acid and coumaric acid which have been shown in some researches to have the ability of blocking the effects of nitrosamines that are strongest carcinogen which is found in tobacco smoke. This is why through increasing tomato consumption, you could have a significantly lower chance of developing lung cancer and lung disease, especially if you are a smoker."

There are reasons that Tomatoes have so many health benefits. It's because of their nutritional profile. All of these big wonderful words come with many great effects. I decided to look up all of these compounds and other 'big words' on my own. I read about what they do on the actual tomato websites, but I thought it would be good to source them individually, especially just to document in one place why grape tomatoes are so dynamic and excellent for health. You can click on any of the links I provided in this paragraph for a description that I thought was applicable to the other research I did. Grape Tomatoes contain antioxidents such as Lycopene and Beta-Carotene, Phytochemicals, Lutein, Arginine, and Anthocyanin. Not to mention the vitamins (C, A, K, and a form of B3), as well as protein.

A few more facts

Lycopene & Beta-Carotene make up the tomatoes' bright red colour

Lycopene is the Tomato's top antioxidant. (It's also the one that helps fight UV rays)

Recent studies show that Lycopene is actually more powerful than Beta-Carotene, which is another well known antioxidant also found in tomatoes.

Your Tomatoes:

I was really surprised to find this tid bit of advice! I hope you find it as useful as I do!

"Look for tomatoes that are firm and well-shaped and have a noticeable fragrance. They should be heavy for their size and yield to slight pressure when gently squeezed, but they should not be overly soft. A common mistake is to store tomatoes in the refrigerator. Cold temperatures ruin the taste and texture of a good tomato. Also, wait until you're just ready to serve them before you slice them; once cut, flavor fades." "refrigeration causes tomatoes to soften and have a watery consistency and takes away the “True” tomato flavour." Eat them for a snack. Put them in food. Bottom line. Low Cal, versatile, delicious.

This is great- read if you have time! Interesting Facts on Tomatos including History & Folklore

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My Other Sources:

http://www.sunripe.sunripeproduce.com/media/sweetgrape_facts.pdf

http://hubpages.com/hub/Health_Benefits_of_Tomato

https://www.msu.edu/course/lbs/145/luckie/inquiries2006/tomato/index.html

http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/food-nutrition/natural-foods/natural-weight-loss-food-tomatoes-ga.htm

The Measure Of A Woman

2010-09-26T18:50:00.000-07:00

"The measure of a man is how he copes with his stress."

That's what I heard on TV today. I guess in my case, I think "woman" and then I think "what are my measurements"??

We all have our coping mechanisms. I think mine are breaking plans and then re-making plans MY way (like avoiding an event and then planning a walk with a friend the next day). I think that keeping plans show dependability and commitment, and perhaps in some ways I have improved in that area, but for some things I am just not as good as through in the midst of stress.

If you don't commit to too much, you don't end up breaking as many plans. You can say "yes" to one thing, and it takes up your Tuesday night for the rest of the school year, etc. Things add up quickly. So if you are smart, you can achieve a balanced lifestyle.

I personally need to have a lot of free time in my schedule. So I plan with that in mind. However, it has been my goal as of recently to let myself commit to some things and have more of a "life". It's about finding a balance. I'm working on that. I want to be balanced, everyone should have balance.

Today, I'm really stressed out. And I cancelled a commitment. Slap on wrist, I know. But there is so much going on outside the commitments that I decided on for myself, that I cannot control. And it's resulted in me getting a cold, having family getting married, family living far away, moving in a month, and it's all happening right now. It is very hard to for me to keep myself together. Is today an accurate "measure" of myself? I think I did choose my commitments properly but managing the stress... the measure of a woman... and me cancelling things. This is what I'm thinking about. Any thoughts? How do you cope in a life storm?

Respecting the Childless

2010-09-18T23:00:00.001-07:00

I have been extremely busy this week but have been dying to make a post here. About babies. I don't have one, in fact, I never have. I hear soooo much about manners involving how to treat a pregnant woman but I don't seem to hear anything about manners pregnant women should have toward the rest of society! Some people are sensitive. Yes, share your enthusiasm, it's exciting! But I insist that pregnant women should be aware of their audience and cautious of their "baby talk". It's mostly the baby talk that gets me. I feel like I could go on longer about this, but this issue has really blown me down this week. I must just leave my rant short.

Salad Grows Nails and Hair!

2010-09-11T17:43:00.000-07:00

I have been pursuing a very healthy lifestyle in efforts to attain a toned, slim body to fit into a beautiful and scandalous bridesmaid dress. Part of my plan includes eating a healthy salad each day. There are many benefits to the type of salad that I eat. But I want to point out one benefit in particular: Longer hair, and longer, stronger nails.

The bride saw my hair and couldn't believe how long it was! I used to take hair supplements all the time to help it grow, after it had fallen out at one point. Those pills worked like a dream. But after some time, I couldn't afford the pills anymore. So, I haven't taken them in months. But my hair has been growing and growing. She asked about the pills and I admitted to her it wasn't the pills. It was my salad.

My nails continue to surprise me. I used to have brittle nails. They chipped, broke, bent. Now, it looks like I have a permanent french manicure but it's just my natural nail! They are so strong and they look amazing. Again, it's the salad. I'm telling you. The only other time I had nails like this was when I was taking my other supplements.

This "wonder salad" is very tasty. And it has so many other benefits because it's full of vitamins, nutrients, minerals, antioxidents, and more. My salads are also excellent because they never have to be exactly the same. And they take about 5 minutes to whip together if you have any of the ingredients around. You never have to have everything. You can use what you have. I will explain how I make it:

First, I place some greens in a bowl. Not too much- there will be many other ingredients.

Organic, prewashed spinach (the kind that comes in a plastic box)
Organic other greens (optional)

Then I add the other stuff. Whatever I have on hand, that I am in the mood to eat, and that I feel will taste good together. (And you might have different ingredients than me, which is fine. Like broccoli! I hate broccoli, so it's not on the list.) Make sure none of your ingredients are salted, unless you want to first put salt on your avacado before putting it on the salad (to enhance its flavor), and also to put the nuts on last.

You will need a very small handful of each ingredient for one salad. This is also generally the order in which I put stuff in, but it doesn't matter too much. NEVER use all the ingredients. Just a couple veggies, one or two fruit, a nut, and raisin/craisin if you wish. Top with protein if you can. Cheese is optional.

I will put an arrow to the ones I have been putting together lately.

→Diced pepper (green, orange, yellow, or red)
→Diced cucumber
→Cut up snap peas or snow peas
Avacado
Chopped radishes
Halved cherry tomatoes
→Chopped strawberries
→Blueberries
Other chopped seasonal fruit
Fresh herbs (any) I like cilantro, parsley, and green onion
Diced Cheese of any kind (I prefer cheddar)
Raisins
→Craisins
Sliced or chopped almonds
→Chopped Pecans
→(With this combination(the ingredients I've "→'d") I also top with balsamic vinegarette and some sliced chicken breast. It's amazing.

Shake the bowl slightly to set the ingredients cozy with one another.

Top with a protein. Sliced or diced chicken, pulled pork, OR quinoa that has been cooked with chicken, beef, or vegetable stock.

Rarely will you need a dressing. However, if you prefer to have something, you may squeeze a citrus fruit over top. I normally use lemon but other citrus fruits are good too, depending on your salad. If you use craisins with pecans, a balsamic vinegarette MAKES the salad, no matter what you have going on underneath. If you use the chicken flavoured quinoa with radish and snap peas, a lemon poppy seed dressing is quite nice. You only need a little.

One of these salads is filling enough to be considered an entire meal. Make sure to drink a glass of water with it! :) I guarantee you, you will be feeling great if you can do this once a day- for so many reasons. You will be healthier over all, and your hair and nails will be amazing.

A Cure For Blackheads!

2010-09-10T16:28:00.000-07:00

This summer I began trading in a few of my expensive cosmetic facial cleaners for some of the The Body Shop's "Tea Tree Oil" skin care line. They claimed to "specialize" in blackhead removal which was exactly what I needed. Since tapering off of my Lithium, my acne has been reduced almost to none, but I am left with scars and many blackheads. Even my best and favourite skin cleaners haven't been getting to those blackheads.

Tea tree oil products in themselves seem to have a selling feature. When applied topically, they have been shown to produce antiseptic, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral effects! So when I am briefed at The Body Shop by the cosmetician about it's cosmetic benefits, I'm easily sold.

My skin looks so much better! I have been using the facial wipes in place of my usual cleanser when not in the mood to wash my face late at night, or just give it a wipe after I'm finished at workout at the gym. They are so handy. And they don't leave your skin feeling tight or dry. No need for moisturizers or anything after using these wipes. These have been my favourite product of all.

In addition to using the Tea Tree Oil Wipes, I have also been using the Facial Scrub in the shower every couple of days, and the Mask every week or 2. My other skin care line is just about finished and I don't think I'm going to renew it! I'm super happy with this Tea Tree Oil line.

Has anyone else tried this line of cosmetics before?

Girl Blog Has Made Come-Back!

2010-09-08T22:38:00.000-07:00

Alas I have returned to the girl blog! A lot has happened in the last year and a half, and thankfully, in that time I have had the chance to learn many new things pertaining to what I believe is crucial girl-knowledge! And it's not just stuff girls should know (like products, style, and personal rants), I really like to share health-related things and tips that anyone can benefit from! I can't wait to begin to share... it feels like it's oozing out of me :)

Today I experienced an unfortunate mishap. I puked out an antibiotic. It was terrible. Very uncomfortable, tasted disgusting, looked gross... I really should have listened to the pharmacist when she said to take it with food. But she really wasn't trying to sell me on it so I didn't take her advice seriously! So for tonight, I would just like you all to take this bit of advice from MY mistake. EAT FOOD with pills, especially when you are directed to!

A couple "other" facts about antibiotics that you may not find on the label:

your physician doesn't always know if you're allergic to them, so be sure to tell them before you get your prescription!
they can render birth control pills useless... so use extra protection!
not all antibiotics are equal! They are each good at treating a specific nature of illness, so don't borrow "the extra" pills your friend had left over in her medicine cabinet to save money! They probably expired and they may not help at all!

Where the money goes...

2009-08-02T14:29:00.001-07:00

I was in the Lingerie store yesterday when something dawned upon me. I know I have hardly any pajamas or cute bras or underwear... all my stuff is seemingly getting to be worn out or broken. I keep thinking that it would be nice to have new nice fancy lounge-wear. It would make me happier to stay at home and feel pretty. And I could have the cute weightless cover-up "robe" type thing, or slippers that are "cushiony" again and don't have holes, and things to wear straight out of the shower while I'm getting ready, and underwear that isn't bulk... you get the picture.

And YET, I buy myself a lot of shirts. All kinds of shirts. I'm addicted to buying shirts. I don't even really care to buy pants, I buy them when I have to... but I would rather buy cute tops. People notice tops.

I don't buy many shoes, but having a few nice pairs of shoes really polish off an outfit.

I got to thinking, I should really be evaluating the ratios of time I spend in various situations, and buy my clothes accordingly. Not just drop all of my money into tops, maybe bottoms, and shoes when I'm desperate.

The lingerie store (or whatever you want to call it, the place that has all the cute pajamas and underwear) really doesn't have items that are that expensive. Something is always on sale, and you need to wear something every night. From now on, I think I'm going to amp-up that side of my wardrobe. It's long overdue for an update.

After that, I'll see...

Americano Misto!

2009-07-24T20:06:00.000-07:00

Need a coffee with kick? Prefer a latte and hate the fact that Tim Hortons is trying to mimic Starbucks and gloat about great deals?

My drink of choice is perfect and I'll tell you what it is, and why it's perfect.

Grande American Misto.

-Made with half hot water, half 2% milk... so basically "skinny" except you don't get the awful flavour of the skim milk. (I don't like skim lattes. Yuck.) I add a teensy weensy bit of cream, just to soften it up a bit.
-Way less calories. Only about 100 calories in this Grande beverage. This is a HUGE bonus for me.
-Has 3 shots of espresso. A Grande latte has 2.
-Tastes exactly like a latte.
-In Canada, with tax, it amounts to only $3.20. If you have it iced, sometimes they don't charge for the milk because it's not steamed (technicalities, I know), which then it amounts to $2.65.

A Grande Latte with an extra shot amounts to nearly $5!!! So it really is worth it to take the time and be tricky with how you order the beverage.

Isn't that crazy!!
Oh, and for me, I always like it a little sweet, so I add one full packet of sweet'n'low with the tiny bit of cream and it's the perfect amount of sweet. For sugar-goers, I'm not sure what you'd do.

That's it! Americano Misto, everyone!

Jean Jacket

2009-07-09T17:33:00.000-07:00

I got this new jean jacket awhile back. It's fitted and sits just at the waist or a tiny bit above. It's pale denim. It is just so complimentary to so many outfits! I was previously relying on sweaters to get through the summer because my other light jackets don't fit. SO, if you need a new jacket, I recommend one like mine! Below: I have this one, but mine is the lighter wash version.

The "Part"

2009-07-08T22:40:00.000-07:00

Today I parted my hair on the opposite side. Technically, from various sources I stumbled upon (I won't elaborate on all the particulars here), having a part on the "right" side conveys a person's femininity, while a part on the "left" side conveys authority and dominance.

In the past when I've tried to change my "part", it hasn't worked. I think it's mainly because whatever hairstyle has been trendy at the time didn't suit the way my hair naturally falls. This side-sweeping bangs thing is absolutely perfect for my hair. I can say that now, FINALLY, my bangs have come to a normal length. I could use a bit of a haircut to blend them, but that's it! And the trouble area I had in the back corner of my head is now covered with the soft sweep of new hair! :)

My previous "part" was on the "right" side. I am a very feminine person (Hello, I have a "girl blog" lol), so it's interesting that I always had it parted that way. And I have now parted it on the "left" side. I can definitely see a change but it's hard to pinpoint what it is exactly. Maybe it is the "part."

I think the bold black plastic frames I just got also contribute to this new look. I feel like I'm getting a makeover.

Cigarette Celibacy

2009-06-26T11:22:00.000-07:00

I decided to start off the next decade of my years as a non-smoker. On my birthday, I will be 30. From that day on, I will never smoke another cigarette again. It will be like, a sobriety thing. Like I'm marrying cigarette celibacy. I'm dating the concept of no smoking. When the day comes, I will make my vows, stay loyal, and never cheat. I have 6 months to wean and I think I can do it. I've been smoking just a couple cigs a day since I was 25 and I think it's aged me a bit, especially my skin. My eyes look a bit sunken in. I never used to have dark circles. So when I do quit, I will inform about all the changes! :)

Shopping Companion List

2009-06-10T09:44:00.000-07:00

Thinking of something to buy on your next shopping trip? Here are some ideas based on the latest trends. Of course this list doesn't encompass all the trends.

Light scarves
Florals
Bright pink
Embroidery
Knee-length capris
various cardigan styles
DRESSES
Cute sandles (make sure your toes are groomed)
Platinum blonde hair
Long wavy hair
Super short hair
Statement accessories
White over black

Hair Growth

2009-06-10T09:40:00.000-07:00

Secret Formula:

Selenium 200mcg
Zinc 50mg
Silica
B Complex
Omegas

Take all, once daily.

My hair has been growing fast and thick- and I was at a state where it had almost all fallen out and I almost needed a wig (If you don't believe me, look at past entries).

Spring/Summer Fashion Update

2009-05-16T21:25:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted here in a little while. Okay, a long while!!! But not on purpose.

Firstly, I am super in love with some of the new trends. Like the fact that dresses are cool again. Like, you can just wear a dress! In the past, dresses were considered fancy and now they're made a little more casual so your usual summer wear has an extra feminine touch. There are also tons of cute skirts. I particularly love the white ones. I haven't found one that I can afford yet (I'm a bargain shopper and they're all pretty new) but I did manage to find a black and white floral one. It's so gorgeous! It's flowy and sits just below the knees. Black and white are must haves. They will compliment all the bright colours that are also fashionable.

They just are decorating everything for the summer it seems! Pretty sandles with rhinestones, beautiful long necklaces with beads and silver rings, dangly earrings, and even the summer scarfs are back. Except this year, the trend is more popular so the scarfs are more lightweight.

The blouses... ahhh to die for. They are really ruffly but normally I don't like ruffles. These are not the usual ruffles. These are soft, large, flowy ruffles. And the material is super light, many are see-through so you wear a soft lacey tank underneath and it's really cute. Those come in bright colours as well as black and white. Floral and straight coloured. There are many short/capri things, but this year it's like... capris don't really seem to be as stylish. it's more of a long short. It's fitted and goes down to the knee.

Denim is popular. Get a denim jacket. It will dress down some of your fancy-yet-casual wear and keep you warm on the summer evenings, maybe even keep the mosquitos away!

So shop for the summer, but remember, it's spring and all this stuff will be on sale when the summer comes and the "real" summer clothes are in store. Try and hold off until your favourites are on sale!

Fashion Season

2009-04-15T13:16:00.000-07:00

Well the sun is out in my neighbourhood and it's just about time to go shopping for the summer! Over the year since I started this blog, I learned that I just don't care as much about fashion in the winter as I do in the summer. I do care when it comes to hats and coats, but when we're out and about, unless we work (which I don't) there is no need to wear anything fancy in the cool seasons. It will just be covered up by a coat. So get a fab coat!

I'm keeping my eyes open for the basic accessories that are must-haves for the summer. I think I mentioned that in my last post.

Take Omega 3's. Either fish oils or Flaxseeds. You can get them both in capsule form and they're easiest to take them that way. Take 2 in the morning and 2 at night. They are beneficial for a number of reasons. I'll list them all in human language on my next post here.

Have a good day!

New addition!

2009-04-11T22:19:00.000-07:00

Well I gave in and bought a metabolism booster to add to my morning regime. I need more of a kickstart to my day. It doesn't contain Ephedrine, like last time. This stuff is a bit less dramatic than the diet pill I took last year which caused problems. I'm confident that this will be a good balance. I'm ready to get rid of this weird tummy that appeared out of nowhere! I'm looking forward to Easter ending. Too much chocolate for this chocoholic.

Oh! And I actually went to a MALL today! I saw clothes and stuff! It was certainly an adventure. I can't believe how long it's been since I've spent money. I feel so un-trendy. I have planned so many things to buy when I get money. However, I am going to hold off a little longer because a)I will accumulate more spending money and b)When it starts to get hot outside which will be soonish, hopefully, there will likely be cool NEW trends. I want those ones. :)

I think I'm going to stick with the most basic, lightweight items as I can this summer. I'm not an expert, but I think lightweight items and denim would be nice. So I forecast that. And definitely scarves. I caught onto that one last summer as it emerged but this summer EVERYONE will need a few scarves. Accessories are key. With some plain clothes, you can change your look by mix-matching accessories and THAT is the new awesome trend. Scarves, long chain randomly-beaded necklaces, bracelets, statement earrings, hats, bold sunglasses or glasses frames, expressive rings, or whatever. You take your style shopping and buy it all the gear it needs. There really aren't rules. For the politically correct fashionista's, like me sometimes, it's always stuff like, "don't wear 2 statement pieces, it confuses the outfit." But seriously, whatever, right?

So yah, I'm excited to go accessory shopping this summer. :D

Iron Deficiency?

2009-04-08T10:37:00.000-07:00

The other day, I was wearing my gold necklace, which had a huge, heavy, gold-plated pendant on it. I leaned over the bathroom sink to wash my hands, and as it pulled off my skin, I saw a greyish-black mark! Then, I started to notice grey marks like this all over my chest from where my necklace had moved throughout the day.

Of course, I freaked out. Because in high school, I learned from a friend that if you scrape an old nickle across your skin and it leaves a black mark, then you probably are iron-deficient. I tried that test, many times. It never worked! And suddenly, I'm getting black marks from gold! Does it mean the same thing?

I began looking up "anemia." Skip the actual iron deficiency! Iron deficiency doesn't mean you're necessarily Anemic and being Anemic isn't always because of low iron. That was my first mistake. I got really worked up and started to become a hypochondriac. I started to imagine my doctor telling me I had cancer! Geez, Jena. Get real! So, I got down to business. I didn't want to go to my doctor saying I thought I was low on iron when everything is fine. I needed to rule it out myself, first.

After doing a bunch of research and science experiments on myself, I verified an explanation by Thomas, an expert with gems and minerals, as true:

The leading cause of black smudges from gold is makeup! Why is this? Imagine makeup as extremely fine sandpaper, which in fact some of the foundation ingredients could be used for. The very finely ground base in much makeup is very abrasive. In fact, as long as the makeup is there, it really doen't have to be heavy since abrasives are still present.

Ok, why would this leave a black mark? If I take a piece of gold and rub it on sandpaper, the mark is gold colored(or whitish if white gold). As I take finer and finer sandpaper and do the same thing, the color is gold until I reach the finest paper with the smallest abrasive particles. Now, the mark is black! You see, at a certain point the particles of gold rubbed off by the sandpaper are too small to reflect the color and the metal looks black!

If a person applies makeup while wearing the jewelry and some gets on the jewelry between the finger and the ring, black smudges can show on the skin. If rubbed on the abrasive makeup on the skin, the gold is quite likely to show the black color of the very, very fine particles of gold rubbed off. Does this make sense? Makeup is exactly what causes most cases of black gold smudge I have seen.

It is rarely an allergic reaction but that also means rash like skin. I have never heard of low iron causing black marks from gold. Necklaces contact makeup also and may leave a black smudge on the neck or garment.

When I rubbed the pendant on my face and got makeup on it, the following line on my arm became dark black.
When I cleansed the pendant with soapy water and rubbed on the same arm beside the black mark, there was NO mark whatsoever!

I have enough iron! Cool, hey!!!!

Gym & Other Stuff

2009-04-03T23:34:00.000-07:00

I went to the gym again today. 60 min on treadmill, and weights for my arms. My arms need some toning and shape. I think I might do some pilates right before bed. Just light stuff. I don't run on the treadmill. I'm not strong enough. I'm trying to make healthier and more conscious choices with what I'm eating too. It's hard to do it, you know, pay attention... when you're not used to doing it. I'm thinking that by being more mindful and consistent with my health habits, I'll see results fairly quickly. I really don't want to start the diet pills again. They really screwed me up last time.

I wrote about Vitamin E a few days ago, and it's really worth reading about- This is a vitamin that is well known to be lacking in our diets and has so many health benefits! Especially for women. So please check out my archives, the post is labeled clearly that it's about Vitamin E. See what it could do for you! (Especially, with PMS- I had no idea!)

I wish I had something fashion-worthy to talk about. But we don't have money so I haven't been shopping! And I'm so not motivated to look at trends when I can't buy anything.

My hair is growing well and not falling out, still, so that's great! And the acne is mostly in control. Thanks to all the tips I've had from all my readers here :)

Gym in the dark!

2009-04-03T02:08:00.001-07:00

I went to the gym (Finally!!!) and stayed on the treadmill for an hour. I also officially weighed myself and I need to lose 7lbs. That's do-able, right? I am actually quite excited now that I started. I am no longer going to try to go to the gym during the gym. It's totally not my thing. I've been more of a night-owl. My gym is 24hrs. I'll stay up. I'll sleep in. :)

We all look weird.

2009-04-01T21:57:00.000-07:00

Call me self-indulgent, but whatever. It's my rant and it's on ME.

This might sound a little odd, but I REALLY think I need neck surgery. I was thinking at first, in a moment of stupidity, that I should start a video podcast. It would help me get over fear of speaking in public, and also just so I can have another outlet besides blogs. And I don't particularly like my voice, so if it were a video then people wouldn't be focusing primarily on the sound of my voice. So I was testing the concept and WOW, I really have a double chin issue. Didn't I use to have a jawline? I realized maybe if I look nice in a few pics, the camera just liked me then for those short moments. I do NOT look like that in real life.

I am really having a hard time with my facial flaws at the moment. Usually they don't bug me, at all. But seriously, I do look strange and if I'm not "clear and present" then I have a lisp. My top lip is nice with lipstick but without it, it doesn't look like it exists. I have a bridge (fake teeth b/c of accident) in the front, so not having a big enough lip really reveals my teeth. And I have a huge forehead. It's abnormally large. From my mom's side. I actually started feeling bad for hubby tonight. What does he see in me???

I just want to be rich and get plastic surgery in some places. Not to look great, but to look normal!

And no, the gym thing failed today too! I got sick and it snowed. Great. Or maybe I should have been able to stick it out anyway. Either way, I am frumpy and ugly and ........

I guess we all think we look weird. We don't see ourselves the way others do. We're not used to seeing ourselves act. It was rather intimidating seeing me. Maybe if I do it more often, I won't be so scared. Or, maybe it will be worse? Ugh.

Vitamin E

2009-03-30T20:25:00.000-07:00

Ok, Vitamin E is my newest favourite vitamin! It's going to be yours too when you find out how much stuff it does!

Fights chronic viral illnesses including Hepatitis, and AIDS
Helps stomach and duodenal ulcers
Protect against heart disease and stroke
Reduces risk of formation of blood clots
Treats congenital heart disease
Treats rheumatoid heart disease
Provides relief for severe pain, "Restless Leg Syndrome"
Prevents and treats gangrene in Diabetic patients
Relieves pain of varicose veins
Stabilizes and regulates blood sugar levels (so when we pig out, we don't store as much fat!)
People with Vitamin E in their blood were 2.5 times less likely to develop lung cancer (supplementation required, as diet alone does not provide enough of the vitamin for such results)
A dose of 400 IU daily has been used successfully to treat all symptoms of PMS. It may reduce symptoms such as breast tenderness.
Successful in regulating scant flow during menstruation
Treatment for hot flashes
Eases headaches and migraines
Benefits for nephritis and blood disorders

More About Vitamin E:

Primary role: Antioxidant. Which means it opposes oxidation of substances in the body. So, basically, the short explanation in normal English is, it helps your body to not allow cell clusters develop into tumors, and therefore it can prevent cancer.

Saturated fat indirectly affects your red blood cells. Vitamin E helps your red blood cells work better in that situation, which is important because they carry oxygen to your organs, most importantly your brain and heart.

Vitamin E protects against environmental poisons in air, water, and food, and it protects the lungs and other tissues from damage by air pollution. It also prevents ozone from oxidizing lung lipids.

Common supplemental dosages are 400 IU to 800 IU per day. Selenium has been found to increase the benefits of Vitamin E and it is suggested that they be taken together. (Selenium max common supplemental dosage is 200mcg).

Cautions:
-May cause blood thinning action of aspirin
-May increase blood pressure
-May cause rapid deterioration on overdose if you have rheumatoid heart disease
-Increase dose gradually
-Mega-doses can decrease Thyroid hormone

I have a Fro

2009-03-24T12:53:00.000-07:00

I've been growing out all that hair that fell out because of that stupid Epival. Thank goodness for Selenium, Zinc, and Silica- as well as the others that I decided to embrace for the occasion. But it's all kind of curly and if I don't straighten the whole thing, I can NOT go into public. My hair is a disaster. Part of the reason I don't want to bother going anywhere. I even feel bad for hubby to see me. I could probably win an award on one of those talk shows. Oh well. At least it's growing, right? That's the main thing. I thought about getting it cut shorter but it's really not necessary. Once it's straight, the length is nice. and my hair has body from the fro. I just wanted to vent. I hate having hair sticking up all over the place. I only have 1 hat. It would be nice to have a bigger collection! Too bad I have NO $$$$$!

Laxatives

2009-03-23T21:10:00.000-07:00

What's the big deal about using laxatives? You gotta do what you gotta do. I know this can be taken in a couple different contexts, but let's talk constipation context first. Nothing wrong if you need something to get you going. And if not constipation, what's the difference? It's a useless ED tact because you've already digested all the calories. If I'm wrong, let me know. Why people make an issue out of it... baffles me.

Superstay Lip Color

2009-03-22T23:45:00.000-07:00

I have this amazing new lipstick. Well, it's called "Superstay Lip Color". At first glance, I wasn't really sold on the product, because it looked like lip gloss and I was looking for lip stick. I had the help of a friend who had the product in her purse and she said it was awesome, and the cosmo lady told me it was awesome. Awesome... hmmm. Ok, why?

The brief description I got for application was, apply the colour to your lips as you would lip gloss. Then, wait for it to dry- usually about a minute. Then, apply the balm at the opposite end of the tube and it moistens and seals it. Apparently it's supposed to last all day and you'd have to use makeup remover to get it off! I was loving the sound of it, because lipstick is a pain to touch up all the time. I always get it on my teeth too.

So I bought it. And WOW, I am so impressed. I will never go back to real lipstick ever again. All I need to do is apply chapstick throughout the day, and my colour is still there, and my lips stay moist. It's perfect. I totally recommend it!

Liquid Foundation

2009-03-19T14:24:00.000-07:00

I stopped wearing liquid foundation the minute I discovered wet-to-dry foundation. Not the damp, muddy stuff. It looks and feels like powder, but it's more dense and is intended to be a foundation, for actual coverage. I would apply that stuff with a big brush and was guaranteed a flawless face!! I think that might be a better choice for the summer, when I have a tan, and I'm sweating more.

We're not quite out of winter yet, and my skin is dry with red splotches. I was noticing that I have more red in my skin than I really noticed before. I picked up concealer but it got to the point where I felt like I needed to paint my whole face. That's when I decided it was time for me to find a new liquid foundation. I wanted to have the appearance of perfectly toned skin, once again. I wasn't totally sure if it was possible, but I was willing to give it a try. (This is what my skin usually takes on, but whoever that is in the pic is NOT me).
So I scanned the makeup isle. Cover Girl, Revlon, Maybelline, Rimmel, Loreal... HMM Loreal. I used to use Loreal. When I was younger, I used their foundation and I remember liking it. However I didn't remember which kind I used (now, there are so many kinds!) so I asked the cosmetician to help me decide. I have oily skin. I'm 29 years old, which isn't old, but I'm not getting any younger. I have fine lines from when I used to tan all the time. And of course, all my red blemishes. The perfect liquid foundation? "Loreal Visible Lift" described as "line minimizing & tone-enhancing for normal to oily skin" and is oil free.

I was nervous to try this out. The last liquid foundation I tried was a complete bomb.

I was extremely and pleasantly surprised. It is so thin and smooth when applied, and covers so well without going "cakey". I hardly have to use any concealer at all! One of the interesting features I like is that when you apply it, it seems a little darker than your skin, so you think, oh no, it's too dark, and then you're really aware of where you're putting it. But if you have the right colour, it dries it lightens to match your skin tone exactly. This is because it lightens upon drying rather than darkening unlike many other foundations. The few colours we tested were interesting. I think if you are able to have someone help you select your colour, you should be able to find just the right one. Some brands just don't have good colours at all. Not so in this case.

I think I'd use the wet-to-dry foundation with my brush to touch up during the day, especially if I'm not carrying concealer. But Loreal's Visible Lift is great to start the day!

Mascara

2009-03-18T15:58:00.000-07:00

I have to tell you about my mascara. I have tried a lot of mascaras, and I have found few that have been just right for me. Mary Kay had the best one, but of course, I am no longer using Mary Kay.

In my trials and errors, I would say the worst mascara for me was the Loreal Voluminous mascara (grey tube) because at the three month expiry date, I would start to get swollen eyelids. The skin would turn red and get scaly. I always had to replace my eye makeup pronto. It was an infection, which meant I had to replace all eye makeup. Pricey. I suppose that meant that I have sensitive eye skin? I have not had that kind of reaction to any other kind of mascara. Max Factor mascara was very flaky. Maybelline mascaras tended to clump. I haven't tried every mascara on the market, so if anyone has had a positive experience with a mascara, let me know so I can try it for myself! I'm all for trying something new :)

After many trials with various mascaras, this Cover Girl Volume Exact mascara is perfect for me. I have thin, short, blond eyelashes, so I need a volumizing mascara that doesn't clump. It thickens and lengthens without clumping. The brush doesn't cause any hassle or leave marks on my eyelids. It dries quickly, and it doesn't flake. The only down-side to this mascara is that if you get teary-eyed, it's not water resistent and might run. It also can sting a bit if it gets in your eyes. I get teary a lot, but I rarely have this problem.

I have alternated with the waterproof version of this mascara, because I keep forgetting if I like it better. I do NOT like it better. It is extremely difficult to get off, even with eye-makeup remover. If I accidentally get a spot on my skin, I have to gouge my skin with a Q-tip to get it off, which is a huge pain. The base of my eyelashes accumulate clumps of the mascara over time and I have frequent flaking as I try to remove the mascara. The only difference in the appearance between the regular and waterproof versions of the Volume Exact mascara is that the waterproof version has a blue chrome stripe around the tupe, while the regular has a silver strip. Make sure you choose the Regular version- the silver stripe!

Liberating Makeup!

2009-03-16T13:50:00.000-07:00

I used to wear Mary Kay makeup and use all their cleansing products. My skin looked phenomenal! I became a "consultant" so I could have access to a lot of the product and get it at a discount. The only problem is, to get the discount, you have to sell a certain amount of product (or buy it yourself). I don't do well talking in front of people therefore having parties was OUT, and I wasn't interested in being brainwashed by all the other consultants either. I also decided I wasn't up for paying full price, no matter how good the product was. It's never available "on the spot." You always have to wait. You can never really see it all or try it all on. Well, not unless you're in contact with (or if you are) a seasoned consultant.

Thankfully, there is a Shopper's Drug Mart in walking distance of my home, and I have become very close with the ladies at the cosmetics counter! I have regressed back to my youth, to the time when I felt all grown up using Cover Girl cosmetics. I have been experimenting with everything! It has become super fun. I'm using Loreal foundation, powder, blush, and concealer; also trialling a Maybelline concealer that I first discovered and used in my teens, Maybelline Eyeshadow and stay-on lip colour (non-conventional but very practical lipstick); and finally, using Cover Girl mascara and eyeliner. I am happy with the collection of makeup I have narrowed it down to so far. Maybe I will feature one of these items over the next few posts. I'm telling you, the fact that I have the freedom to buy and try so many items is wonderful! And really, it's helped me to come out of that narrow-mindedness about what is good make up. I think the make up I have now is just as good as what I had!

For cleansing, I am using Viche facial cleanser. A strong one for oily skin at night, and a "milk" one in the morning that doesn't over dry. I don't use any toner anymore. Instead, I use plain lemon juice on a cotton ball. I started doing this as a tip from one of my readers, Wandering Coyote! It is excellent for keeping zits away! I have this amazing lotion that is meant to be dabbed onto trouble areas of the skin. But my face is troubled everywhere so I started using it everywhere and it keeps it spotless! It's an anti blemish cream from Viche as well. All of these Viche items are not cheap, but they work!

I am finallly able to say that I like my skin and face again. Those who read my blog from the start would know my horrible struggles, so this is a huge triumph!

"Grandma Tummy"

2009-03-13T16:15:00.000-07:00

Today I don't really care about this. (Meaning I'm not freaking out at myself!)

I am eating those Cadbury cream eggs. MMMM! My favourite seasonal treat! I have to be careful not to eat too many. Hubby brought some (plural) home last night. And somehow... somehow, I suddenly have "Grandma Tummy!" You know, when you're bulging out right below your belly button? It's so funny! Because I'm still in my pajamas, and my pants have a draw string. So, they're naturally being held up on top of my Grandma Tummy!

Like geez, I don't want to have this bloated belly of mine. Last month I discovered that if you drink 2 pots of black tea, you pee out all of your bloating! So I'm going to do it today and see what happens! lol

Hourglass Problems

2009-03-12T15:13:00.000-07:00

My mind must be seriously warped. Yesterday I was explaining my measurements to my best friend, and how I was insecure about my proportions. I have a really tiny waist (always have) and I'm just built totally hourglass figure. There's nothing I can change about it. I've spent the last 2 years of my life trying to change it. I after analyzing it and trying on all of my clothes to see what they really look like on my figure, I realize how bad I think I look! My friend said that I'm close to the "ideal" measurements, but I think you need boobs for that. Also, now I'm down to the small sizes I never thought I'd reach (which I initially thought was great), but my waist kept shrinking along, so when I look in the mirror behind me, it looks too small between my butt and shoulders. I can't maneuver my bones, right? My butt seems too big even still, and yet my shoulders... if they were smaller, then my back wouldn't appear so V-like. My boobs shrunk, so what... maybe I need implants or something to even myself out!? Not an option right now. Maybe later.

I don't know why it's bothering me so much. Then I look at the scale. I've been eating a lot more lately whereas before I wasn't... so the scale is creeping up which I am finding that I absolutely HATE... I don't think I can stand the thought of gaining more weight. I'm not big, I'm not tiny, I'm normal. (Except in my mom's eyes- "I'm tiny"). When I eat and think about putting on a few pounds, it's to make my ribs not defined and make my waist look bigger. But we can't control where the fat goes, right?! So if I can't control it, and it's going where I usually gain it, MY BUTT, then that makes the problem worse! So I guess I should get back to watching my diet and controlling my calories again. The scale cannot move beyond my number. I want to see it lower, not higher. Then I think, well maybe if I was more toned, everything would be justified. I would know I would look great because I'm in shape and toned. I have to go to the gym for that. I am currently just not getting to the gym even though deep down I want to. I always think about it at night- and it's a 24hr gym, so maybe I should listen to myself and go at night if that's what it takes.

I was talking to a guy friend of mine this morning. I recommended that he ask his pdoc for Topamax because he's gained a lot of weight from meds, and Topamax helps with sleep among other things. He told me today that the Topamax has killed his appetite and he needs to force himself to remember to eat, by the clock. He really did pick up a ton of weight before and wanted to lose it so it seems like this will probably help him. I am also on Topamax and I think it's what has helped me lose weight. I mentioned in passing (I thought) that I want to secretly up my dose too, for more effect. He actually stayed on topic. Normally guys, even him who doesn't normally talk about weight too much or indulge on my weight rants, slide of topic at that point. But he asked me why I would need to do that because I'm already small. I just don't see it that way for some reason. I feel bad when I eat. He was talking about how he thinks it is so terrible that people can't just live their lives not thinking about their appearance and weight, but how polluted our minds have become in our society these days. I guess he's right. It is sad. I wish I didn't care.

Fashion Update

2009-03-06T15:21:00.000-08:00

Women's Spring/Summer
2009 Fashion Trends

Clothes: Key Looks

See-through and sheer fabrics trend

In Spring and Summer fashion tends to get a little more revealing; we blame it on the heat, and one's desire to show off. So in 2009 turn to the sheer / see-through trend to keep you cool yet sexy. 2009's sheer pieces are a mixture of the soft and feminine, to the opposite extremes of the hardcore sex-kitten. Click to read more on the see-through/sheer/nude 2009 fashion trend.

Swimwear / Bikinis 2009

Find out what swimwear you'll be wearing when you hit the beach this Summer with our Bikinis 2009 trends guide. Which monikinis should you be wearing? And what style of bikinis? And which designer is making the sexiest, must-have pieces? Click to find out.

Fringed clothing fashion trend

A flow-on from 2008's flapper trend, fringing was a dominant feature of the Spring/Summer 2009 runways. Whether modern and sleek, silken femininity, or showgirl burlesque, fringed dresses in particular should be on every girls to-buy list this summer. Click here to read more on the fringing trend.

One-Shouldered Tops, Dresses & Bikinis

From single-shouldered dresses to tops and bikinis, asymmetric shoulder-lines have made a huge return in 2009. Showing off one-shoulder in a dress can be subtly sexy and interesting on the eye, and the possibilities for how to wear it are numerous. Click here to read more on the one-shouldered fashion trend.

Grecian dresses fashion trend

History and fashion repeat themselves; so don't be surprised to find out that Roman-esque and Grecian inspired clothing are a key fashion trend in 2009. It's both a logical flow on from the one-shoulder trend, and a natural progression from the flapper trend. Both as maxi-dresses and short little numbers, the Grecian dress is one of the key looks that any woman can indulge in. Click 'Roman / Grecian fashion trend' to read more on the trend.

Tribal / Ethnic Fashion Trend

Fashion in Spring/Summer 2009 is cultured and world-wise. As well as the Grecian and Roman-inspired gowns comes a whole range of exotic and ethnic trends. From tribal-infused prints, to turbans, to flowing kaftans and crisp safari suits... if it evokes a feeling of the exotic and the adventurous, it fits with the 2009 style mindset. Click 'Ethnic / Tribal fashion trend' to read more.

Butterflies: 2009 Motif

Feminine, ethereal and a symbol of renewal. The butterfly takes over from the star as the motif du jour in 2009. Don't fall into the trap of glitzy blingy kitch though - the butterfly this summer is all about elegance. Click here to read more on the butterfly motif trend.

Jewel-encrusted Clothing Trend

It's not the first time bejewelled pieces have been a hit over the past few years. But in 2009 they return brighter, bolder, and more elegant. This time around pieces are not just embellished but often completely encrusted by jewels; the feeling is luxurious, exotic, and yet the glamour remains somewhat understated. Click here to read more on the jewel-encrusted clothing trend.

Exposed Stomach / Midriff

Please consider this the one 2009 fashion trend I am truly scared of, not because I don't like the intention (supermodels' stomachs? Perfect!) but because the implementation has the potential to go completely awry. If you though muffin top was horrible, imagine how bad an exposed midriff trend can go? Ladies, hit the gym.

Fairy-Tale Romance: 2009 Runway Trend

It's not the most practical of trends when it comes to every-day wear; but the romantic fairy-tale princess dress certainly had it's place on the runway for Spring/Summer 2009. Romantic details and classic fairytale silhouettes will make their mark on red carpets and down church isles: but don't be dismayed, there are practical applications for Romantic elements as well. Click here to read more on the fairy-tale romance trend.

Hair Trends

Women's Hair Trends 2009

Not just for Spring/Summer 2009, but covering Autumn (Fall)/Winter 2009 as well, Fashionising.com's women's 2009 hair trends guide will keep you looking hot and your locks perfect throughout the year. Pointing out key styles, and letting you know which hair styles from 2008 you shouldn't carry forwards, click to find out more.

Accessory Trends

Accessory Trend: Statement Jewelry

In 2009, jewelry is all about making a statement, be it a necklace, a bangle or a cocktail ring. From ethnic beading, to exotic stones, to avant garde pieces, the one thing is constant: it must be big and bold. Click here to read more on the statement jewellery trend.

Shoe Trends

Shoe Trends for Spring/Summer 2009

Much like Spring/Summer's jewellery trends, 2009's shoe trends are all about making a statement. Some of the biggest trends to hit the runway were fetish-inspired shoes, fringing, reptile skin and architecturally-inspired. Click here to read more on the 2009 Spring/Summer shoe trends.

Denim Jean Trends

Ripped jeans and torn denim trend 2009

Just when you thought they would never return... ripped jeans are back. Starting in 2008 with a horde of sexed-up editorial shoots and celebrity sightings, those torn denim shorts and shredded jeans are hitting the streets. Ripped denim in 2009 is certainly sexy and revealing - possibly more than ever. Click here to read more on the 2009 take on ripped denim.

Boyfriend jeans trend 2009

Boyfriend jeans are the one 2009 fashion trend that we really scared about because, as Katie Holmes has proved, it has the potential to go terribly wrong. But that's not to say you shouldn't be trying it. Take a risk and prove your fashionising credentials by grabbing a pair of men's jeans, cuffing them, and hitting the streets in 2009's boyfriend jeans trend!

Color Trends

Spring-Summer 2009 Color Trends

For every fashion trend in 2009 there's a colour palette which has influenced it. Pantone and TFL have analysed current consumer trends and released their views on 2009 colour trends for the Spring-Summer seasons.

I'm like Rebecca

2009-03-03T22:45:00.000-08:00

I just watched the movie "Confessions of a Shopaholic." I knew I would probably relate to it, but I didn't know how much I would relate to it. I almost feel like me and the character Rebecca Bloomwood might as well be soulmates. Yes, probably most women at some point have racked up credit card debt, made excuses and rationalized their unnecessary purchases, and found therapy in fashion and spending. The reason I think that maybe I can relate so closely is that I deeply understood her every thought and behaviour. Even her ditzy ones! Her honesty, even when it was innocent and tactless... I have been accused of that, many times. Mind you, I'd rather be accused of honesty than lying. I have had a LOT of credit cards all at once, all racked up, and ended up in collections and needed a consolidation loan to save me. Back then, I was younger and a bit to naive to realize that there were consequences for spending. I even stopped opening my bills! And as I was pondering all of this... I thought to myself, that was when I was unmedicated! It makes perfect sense. Are bipolar spending sprees and huge debts any different than a person who doesn't have it? I think some people are natural shopaholics. And some people shop when they're manic. I think I'm the latter.

The other reason I feel like I identified with Rebecca was because she got a job writing about stuff. At first, she sucked, writing about boring stuff that was not her at all. But as soon as she started writing things she was interested in, as she had seen and experienced them, she became a good writer. I was a horrible writer in school. I usually got C's or C-'s. I hated English. I don't even think I could go to school again if it meant writing another paper. But I LOVE writing on this blog! I didn't even know I liked writing until I started writing about what I wanted to write. I wish I got paid to blog. Seriously. Even with no visitors or comments, I still would love it just as much. (although you readers really make my day with a line or two in the comment section :)) It's journalling my every thought with flying fingers. I'm a piano player so I love flying fingers, lol.

So even though I did like the movie overall, and I loved the ending too- SUPER cute, I don't know if I would have enjoyed it quite as much if I didn't identify with her in such a way. I wish that I could be a shopaholic AND be non-bipolar. Well, now I'm older anyway and I'm married and have no credit cards or savings, so there is no shoppping to be done unless it's groceries. :s That's life. I enjoyed the joys of spending and being single in life very much while it lasted! And I won't even tell you how much debt I racked up. It's a bit crazy. Not as crazy as Rebecca, but crazy for me.

Ditch the Crap

2009-03-01T23:19:00.000-08:00

I'm PMSing, eating eating eating. Chocolate, mmmmmm. Food forever, right?
WRONG.

I have walked down a long and painful road to get to this weight. I even sacrificed a part of my wellbeing that will be affected for the rest of my life and I had no idea that it was going to turn out that way. After all that, I am NOT going to allow myself to gain the weight back. I am healthy. I am 5'6" and I weigh 135lbs. I never thought I'd see that number again. And I hope I never see the other number again.

My goal is not to lose more weight, it's to prevent gaining weight. That's the goal of this post. And to help other people who are struggling with the same. Exercise should be a given (though some have to try harder than others, like me), and nutrition plays a huge component as well.

What worked for me:

1. emptying the cupboards of baking ingredients

2. if you must have bread, make it flax

3. limit your peanut butter and jam intake

4. Pour a pot of tea. Herbal tea, regular tea, decaf, whatever. Switch it up, if necessary. Keep the teapot and your cup (a tea cup) out and continue to refill your cup. It keeps you actively doing something with your hands and then pouring something into your system. It's mostly water so it helps the bloating go away. Tea has a lot of antioxidants in it which are really good for your lymphatic system and can help prevent cancer.

5. Chew gum. Go to a dollar store and buy gum there- it's cheaper. If you have to eat a pack of gum, 1 at a time until the taste runs out, then do it. As long as it's sugar free and you're not swallowing it, there's only about 5 calories a piece maximum.

6. Have a protein drink. The best protein drink I've ever had is "Champion" brand in the Chocolate flavour. It tastes exactly like chocolate milk. I am very sensitive to protein aftertaste, so me liking this drink is a big deal. It is even more filling when you eat an apple with it, which is very low in calories and high in fibre.

7. Eat throughout the day, even in small amounts- if you don't - your body might not tolerate your evening hunger, especially if you're on medication that causes increased appetite.

8. Eat a bowl of straight up oatmeal (from the bulk) with cinnamon, sugar/sweetener, and raisins, every morning for breakfast. It keeps you satisfied until lunch and it tastes really yummy.

9. Get out of the house. Meet up with a friend. Pack up a bag and head out to unknown territory. Treat yourself to an adventure. Take pictures. Find a place to read a magazine. Go to Starbucks and order a "Grande Americano Misto" and it will be the cheapest 3 shot near-latte you'll have ever had. All it needs is a bit of cream and sugar. It's only 100 calories. AND, get the Strawberry Blueberry Yogurt Parfait the have there. It's really filling, and it's the healthiest item in the store. Very well balanced. The two combined are also extremely filling.

10. This is what you can fall back on. When you need to binge, binge on vegetables, in an ATTRACTIVE way. So you will do it again and again. Vegetables are considered "free" in most diets (or whatever). So eat them in abundance! Don't put the crap in your system that is poisonous and constipating! Clean out your blood, your system, your body, your mind, with the energy/minerals/vitamins that are found in our natural foods that we often take for granted. Here's how to do it:

Live on some heavy duty salads. BINGE on them! (I'm serious).

Heavy Duty Salad my include any or all of the following "salad supplies" (I usually use as many as I can). Put the leaves in first, the "decorate it." DO NOT MIX. Leave all the good stuff at the top as it sinks in while you eat it. Eat the fatty ingredients. Studies show that your body is more able to absorb the nutrients and minerals if there is some fat content- otherwise it can go to waste. I always always use cheese. It makes salad amazing. And avacado!

Pre-washed Spinach leaves or Spring Mix
Cucumber (quarter slice)
Avacado (dice)
Green Peppers; Yellow, Orange, or Red are good too! (I change colours to make the salad look pretty)
Parsley (cut them up into salad with scissors)
Cilantro (cut them up into salad with scissors)
Tomato (big dice)
Fresh Strawberries (slice them)
Fresh Blueberries
Almonds (whole or sliced)
Pecans (halved or crushed)
Cheese (Grated)
Raisins- small handful
Craisins- small handful
Green Onion/Chives
Red Onion
Any kinds of seeds (unsalted!!)
Citrus fruits- Orange, Lemon, Lime, Grapefruit.
Any fruit tastes good in a salad. But use the juice of one of these citrus fruits to squeeze over the salad once you're done for a fresh substitute for dressing.

Eating veggies like this will eventually reduce your appetite and help you to crave the vegetables, crave water, crave fibre... it's really crazy! I figured this stuff out on my own. I knew if I didn't stop binging on chocolate I'd end up over 200lbs (seriously) and I wasn't okay with that. These salads literally saved my life in more ways than 1.

From bloated to happy!

2009-02-27T20:46:00.000-08:00

I figured it out! How to blast out of that bloated belly, rid the fatigue that often accompanies it, and flutter into the bliss of happiness! I did it today, I discovered it, by accident. What a great discovery!

1. Make yourself a pot of black tea ("Awake" tea by Tazo is what I used)
2. Settle into a comfy place with your pot of tea and a tea cup. Place the milk & sugar (I prefer Sugar Twin, some like Splenda as sugar substitute) next to your cup.
3. Pour the tea into your cup; prepare it as you please.
4. Refill your drink until the whole pot of tea is finished.
5. Make another pot of tea.
6. Drink as much tea as you can until it either a) it gets cold, or b) you are running to the bathroom.

I guarantee you, that even if you are an avid coffee drinker, this practice will not only satisfy your caffeine craving, it will fly you out of the roof! You will be giddy and laugh a lot, you'll make dumb jokes, you'll be more motivated to clean disgusting messes (like the bathroom, ewww), and you'll notice that you pee a lot more than normal and your stomach begins to flatten! Not only that, but your appetite decreases a bit, so you don't find yourself wanting to eat all day!

This is coming from me, someone who is prone to coffee, chocolate, and snacking addiction, an aversion to cleaning, and an attraction to the couch. Today has been a different and a very good day! I highly recommend this!

Join the bandwagon!

2009-02-27T15:11:00.000-08:00

Over the past week, I have really taken this bandwagon-joining thing seriously. I mean, I really do want to get in shape. As skinny as I might look while fully clothed, I still wouldn't go out in a bathing suit because I'm all flab and no muscle!

So I recognize I have to start small. After writing the post about preparing for June and joining "the bandwagon" I knew I had to be on it myself if I expected anyone else to follow. I hope someone is coming along with me! We need support for each other!

I haven't been a faithful gym-goer but I used to be and I plan to be. For now, I have been going for long (really long) walks, regularly. I'm starting to feel the muscles in my legs. Muscles I haven't felt for a really long time! Being in the fresh air has done wonders for my mental health as well. My goal is to keep up with the long walks right up until I can get the courage to go to the gym regularly. When I'm not at the gym, I want to be walking outside.

And I should point out- even if you're not sure what to do at the gym, you could start out by just walking on the treadmill at the gym at a relaxing pace, just to get used to being there. Eventually, you can ask one of the staff to assist you in getting a program suited for you- they usually show you how to use all of the equipment too. I used to be pretty "in the know" about it all, but my physical needs are different than they have before. Our bodies change. Take advantage of the help. Usually they get you set up for free.

Anyway, I encourage all of you to work on getting fit, for health reasons. And hopefully there will be rewards in it for the summer :)

Leave a comment if you're going to join it with me!!!

Things to think about

2009-02-26T22:36:00.000-08:00

I like clothes. I really do. And I love shopping, of course! That's one of the reasons I started this blog. I wanted to follow the trends and be part of the scene. I must have been manic. lol. I've lost a follower so I'm thinking that maybe people have been coming to realize that this blog is not exactly staying within the range of topics that it first started.

I wonder what I like better. Clothes & shopping, or beauty & products! I think that beauty is much more manageable. People can beautify themselves in various ways if they don't have the money to shop. But... I am still a believer in keeping up with the current look- no need to be "stuck in the 80's!" So if I figure out that something is really cool and a must-have, I'll mention it here.

Weight is a big problem for people. Including me. I eat healthy, over-eat, not eat enough, and binge out on junk food until my stomach is bloated like a basketball. I have ED tendencies but I dodge the disease and I'm trying to stay healthy. Trying to recover from Bipolar and not being a very good cook doesn't exactly lend itself to being a balanced eater. So I talk about that here, too.

TV shows sometimes move me to say a word or two. For example, yesterday on Oprah it was shown in explicit detail just how badly the recession of the economy has hit some parts of the US. Beautiful homes, entire families and beautiful children, broken apart. People have left practically everything behind them and are homeless. There are several "Tent Cities" that are popping up all over the place. People living in tents!!! Can you imagine that? What if that were you? It is so scary what is happening right now. It has been a huge wake-up call for me to see that. My heart breaks for all those families. I look around and see everything I have and I feel grateful, but even more than that, I feel spoiled, humbled, and even a bit guilty. Hubby and I are not in a good financial state by any means, but my desire to spend money or pay attention to material things is really not even there anymore. I think that's why it's hard for me to care about fashion. One thing that bothers me is that while showing all this destruction on her show, Oprah is sitting in her huge studio, with her facelift and beautiful clothes and beautiful hair, and her billions of dollars. I know she can't solve anyone's problems, but I think, isn't there something that people who are rich like her could collectively do in order to help others in the US in this horrible time? She is okay with funding a school in Africa but what about the homeless families everywhere in the US? Argh. It frustruates me. She didn't even really seemed too phased about it.

Things to think about.

Foreign Chocolate

2009-02-25T12:00:00.000-08:00

Well, as I have been saying about the chocolate cravings... I am now in Chocolate heaven!!!!! My brother in law came back from another country where he's from and brought back loads of chocolate for us. I went ballistic. I feel like I'm doing myself in. I'm surprised I haven't already gained 10lbs! Yikes! If I can't stop this binging I will need to haul my ass to the gym!

To make matters worse, this chocolate is NOT the same quality of North American chocolate, and I'm not even sure what it's made of! But wow did I ever feel sick after eating all of it. It was fun and interesting to chow down but yuck yuck yuck.

I am actually MISSING vegetables! I am craving salad! How is this possible??? Another bandwagon that is coming back my way (I fell off it last year) so I better jump on it while it's around. Buy into another good habit that will save my health, since I've been sabatoging it so much lately. I really am a terribly unhealthy person despite all the supplements.

Supplements for Cravings

2009-02-23T18:04:00.000-08:00

I woke up this morning and chowed down on a big milk chocolate bar. YUM. Best breakfast ever! Apparently if you're severely addicted to chocolate, you may deficient of magnesium. I have a calcium magnesium supplement in my cupboard, so I'm going to try taking it and see if it helps reduce my chocolate cravings.

Chromium can help alleviate sugar cravings, supposedly. Spinach, nuts and seeds, as well as other sources of protein have it. I happen to have a supplement of that too! So I'm going to be trying to take that on a regular basis as well, with my others.

I'll let you guys know how it goes!

Sugar Cravings

2009-02-22T19:28:00.000-08:00

When the sugar cravings come, they come without warning and with a vengeance! We have no money right now (literally, not a penny to our name- until next pay cheque) and I have desperately wanted a dessert or especially chocolate. Recognizing the sugar craving and having no sugar to binge on gives me enough time to construct more reasonable ways to binge. But even after doing it, no matter how much healthier it is than the original version of dessert, I eat a ton of it and feel like crap.

Here's what I binged on and made me feel like crap today:
Sliced apples (3 makes for a few servings), cooked in a pot with a bit of cornstarch, lemon juice, Spenda, water, and cinnamon.

It is basically "Peach Cobbler" substitute peaches with apples and sugar with splenda and leave out the dough part. Nice and saucy fruit.

Did it satisfy me? Not a chance. So I'm eating more and more, trying to satisfy my sugar craving! This is horrible. As if I'm not already bloated enough right now. I worry that when I get into the habit of binging that I will never be able to stop and I'll gain all my weight back! Aagh! So now I have to think about basic tricks to lose the appetite. I haven't had to worry about that in so long. Everything was in control. Now it's not!

Think of the summer while it's still early!

2009-02-19T15:53:00.000-08:00

Here's a bandwagon to join:

Okay so we got through a dry winter (or at least a portion of us). We tried skin care, hair care, and you guys were on standbye mode while I babbled on and on about my side effects and all the supplements I took to get my nice hair and skin back. Luckily, I'm well on my way. I'm not even watching my progress anymore- it's happening just fine.

The "next big thing" is getting summer-body back! June is almost 3 months away, so we all have a chance to make our goals and stick to whatever plan we have. Make sure it's realistic and doesn't contain too many details. If it does, you have a bigger chance at falling off the bandwagon.

Here are some tips to get you started.

Make your goal. Short term and long term- and write each baby step! the more specific the better!!
If you have them, pull out last year's spring or summer's magazines for health tips.
Focus on drinking more water, as you will need this habit for the summer.
If you are a gym-goer, tweak your exercise plan. Changing up your workout will startle your muscles and they'll be a bit confused on how to exercise your new plan, so your new workouts will be much more fresh and your metabolism will go higher.
If you're not a gym goer- take a long walk every day (strive for 60 min). Do it in the morning if you can. If you can't walk, do stretches for at least 30 minutes.
If you are overwhelmed with diet and exercise, pick 1 thing to change about your life- either eating wise or exercise, just 1 thing, and commit to it on a regular basis. No change = no change. But you'd be surprised what 1 little change can do.
If you are into tanning, ease into it by going into a low-wattage bed (no king size, stand-ups, or face tanners! they make you go wrinkly by tanning only the top layer, but that's another topic). Wattage should be 100. Most "regular" lay down beds are such. Work up to between 5-10 minutes, twice a week. There are also lots of awesome self tanning lotions or gradual tanning moisturizers that don't turn out orange. I particularly like the Jergen's brand. You can get it pretty cheap at any drug store/market.
Don't expect to lose too much weight. Focus on being healthier, and looking better overall.

Kissing your hugger

2009-02-16T19:20:00.000-08:00

The handshake is easy. Stick out your right hand and give the opposing party's hand a firm yet not with any intimidating eye contact or overbearing grip.

When you hug someone, especially at a front door or in a public area, what side do you stick your face? It's like "Rock-paper-scissors."

You stay right and your counterpart goes right as well, and you've got a good hug coming on.
You stay right and your counterpart goes left and you're accidentally kissing. (This is very bad if you're me and it's your brother-in-law, lol). Same thing with going left while your counterpart goes right.
Now what if you both realize that you're going the wrong way so you change your mind at the last second. You either start a "dance" situation where your head "bobs" to either side until you make it, or you end up kissing. Either way, dancing or kissing a brother-in-law, or anyone you didn't plan (or want) to have this kind of encounter with someone can be extremely awkward.

Kissing side-to-side isn't really in my cultural norm. But I can imagine that this type of greeting might complicate the already delicate scenario!

I won't even go into the topic about how to hug (arms up, one up one down, both down, etc.) but you can imagine the point I would make.

Any thoughts? :)

Valentine's Day and my morning so far.

2009-02-15T10:48:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day can be so commercial. So over-sensationalized. We tend to be the most broke on Valentine's day then on any other day of the year. Go figure. This year felt like it was particularly strained for us financially. I told hubby not to buy me a bunch of dozen roses like he often does. None or 1 rose would be fine. I also told him not to buy me lots of chocolate. I know where that goes- right to a binge. It's never a nice savouring experience as much as I want it to be. In my heart, I was hoping secretly that I'd have a few flowers, maybe a couple Gerber Daisies, which I love (and never have received before), and I always like to wake up to a nice surprise like that. But I didn't want to get my hopes up. Sometimes I hope and dream and get disappointed. I set myself up like that a lot. It's part of the "Starr" family trait.

Well I woke up yesterday morning, and I received a small eloquent bouquet of a colourful variety of flowers including a dark pink rose and 3 Gerber Daisies!!! AND, there was a cute helium balloon wand in the vase with the flowers, the balloon with hearts and squiggles saying "Happy Valentine's Day!" He gave me the cutest card EVER. It was so suited to him (and me)- the guy on the card was the splitting image of him, in cartoon version. It made me laugh and have tears at the same time. I didn't ever really have guys to celebrate Valentine's Day with. I think that that's why it means so much to me to be able to do it now.

I made him a card, and gave him a picture frame with one of our black and white wedding pictures in it to put up in his new office. It's hard to know what to do for guys for Valentine's Day. Usually I would research it and then post it out to everyone what I found out, but I wasn't really in the mood for that this week. We had a good day together. He made me breakfast, we went out for dinner, and a movie afterward. We watched the movie "He's just not that into you" and I loved it. Go see it, and decide for yourself.

I would celebrate "Happy Single's Awareness Day" with my friends most of my life. And it was fun. But it's nice to be one of those people who can enjoy Valentine's Day now too.

Okay now on to today:

How many bad hair days does everyone have?

Today was the worst. I couldn't have it styled on time to save my life. I wanted to go to church today- I have such a hard time waking up and haven't been to church in awhile because of it. I met some cool people there so I'm pretty motivated to go back and see them more. Plus, it's church. I grew up going. I kicked the habit by accident and now I want it back.

But of course, I try try try. The weather is good, I woke up on time, but my hair MY FREAKIN AWFUL GANGLY HAIR!

Ah well. At least the colour is good now, and I have nice products and a straightening iron like I mentioned in a previous "hair" post. So it's not the end of the world.

My skin is much better. Not perfect but definitely amazingly better. I feel almost like my old self! I would have to attribute my skin success not to the absence of coffee or cigarettes, nor drinking more water, as I have done none of those things. I would say it's due to vitamins and zinc, and the fact that my pdoc lowered my lithium by almost HALF! I know acne is a side effect of lithium, so it must have really been the case for me. I may have to even have my lithium d/c'd soon due to kidney damage, so if that's the case, no more acne for me :)

I was feeling weird and "boney" the last couple days so I decided to just not worry about eating and eat. And now I'm soooo bloated and I feel disgusting! And I watched a movie with all those skinny actresses and I am like, why am I sabotaging myself?! I don't want to gain weight! I'm in a healthy range and I do not want to live in the "upper healthy" I want to live in the "lower healthy." I realized that I am going to need to go to the gym more often too, because despite having a lower weight, people have to work out and have muscle tone to look really good. I want to look good. Having a bit of boney-ness is fine if you have some pretty muscle I think. Not if it's covered in flab though. Ahhh getting back to the gym is hard. I went a few weeks ago and it was fine. Why am I not going now? What happened? Argh! I neeeeeeed to get back.

morning illness or Morning Sickness?

2009-02-14T12:29:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I woke up and ran to the bathroom and had a violent puking episode complete with belches and disgusting loudness. Have you ever had that? Where you are just really, really sick and you can't control how loud your puking is? I had never had puking like that before.

There's disgusting and awful puking, and there's not-so-bad puking. Anytime you're running and heaving into the toilet... that to me is awful.

The problem is this. I have no idea why I puked.

I didn't eat anything different, except I did eat the evening before. I haven't really had much of an appetite lately so generally haven't eaten much at all, so could it be that eating too much all at once made me sick?
I phoned the restaurant I ate at to find out if anyone complained of food poisoning and she took my info but said that nobody called at all (I phoned at the end of the day).
My kidneys are not functioning too well at the moment due to one of my medications, and I was reading up on the internet about toxicity in the blood (kidneys clean the blood) and how one of the symptoms is vomiting. Perhaps that's that's the case for me this time?
If one were to ask me if I am sure I am not pregnant I would most definitely say "YES, I am sure I am NOT pregnant." But then I would start questioning to myself, "Am I pregnant... could I be? Do I have other symptoms? Would that be a bad thing or a good thing? No, it's not realistic..."

Apparently Morning Sickness is described exactly the way I experienced it. No fever, chills, diarrhea or anything for the rest of the day! I was fine! Some people get morning sickness as early as a week after conception. That would mean that a pregnancy test wouldn't even work at this stage. But I really don't think I could be pregnant. Truly.

Ok. So reasons I could be puking in conclusion: Toxicity from toxic blood (result from bad kidneys or toxic doses of meds or toxin produced from food), or excessive levels of estrogen from being pregnant.

I was not ill again this morning. Luckily! I feel perfectly normal.

Does anyone know of any reason I would have gotten such a strange puking episode? Without absolutely any other symptoms?

Rhinestones that fall out

2009-02-13T18:06:00.000-08:00

You know when you get really nice jewelry and there's embedded rhinestones? And then you know when they fall out? Well I have rhinestones in my glasses and a few have fallen out. Luckily the warranty covers them, so I will be getting a new pair of frames! I'm so glad. These frames were kind of coming apart already anyway, so I will enjoy the new ones. Anyone know of a way to keep rhinestones in jewelry?

Taking good care of the hair

2009-02-12T15:24:00.000-08:00

Now it's just a countdown to how long it's going to take for these little baby hairs to grow into nice long flowing hairs on my head. Luckily, I just bought a straightener! Let me tell you, it is VERY hard to flatten new growth on the top of your head with a curling iron! My straightener broke quite a long time ago, so I've been relying on my curling iron. Curly hair is cool. I like it on me. But when it comes to sculpting the thin bangs and baby hairs, the straightener is a must.

I also straightened all of my hair for the first time for the last few days to see if I like it that way. I have a lot of body on the top from all the new growth, and the rest is pretty noticibly thin, but it doesn't look nearly as bad as I think it does in my mind. Having it straight is kind of "freeing". It's like running around the house in a bathing suit! Lol. :)

I simplified my hair growth regime. I decided I didn't like taking a million pills, so I'm taking some basics. The "selenium/zinc/silica" combo is for the hair strength & growth. The vitamin B complex helps, but is also good for my mood and other stuff. And the omega 3's. Easy as pie!

I quit taking the Nioxin shampoo. I think it does work, to a degree. Maybe it is good to use a bottle of it. But after doing some research, studies don't support cleaning out follicles as a method of hair growth. Lots of people claim it has helped thicken hair, and perhaps it helped mine too. But now I jut want to grow it. And I just got nice colour that I want to care for. I want the shiny, long lasting vibrant red-brown that I just got done. Nioxin seemed to strip colour out of my hair and dry it all out. I hated how my hair felt.

Instead of Nioxin, I am now using Joico shampoo for colour treated hair. Wow, does it ever smell nice in comparison! And my hair feels so smooth and silky for a change! I also bought a "protectant" that you spray into the hair after you towel dry it. I think it's supposed to protect it from heat and environmental damage. And finally, I bought a serum smoother that activates with heat. You put it on your hair (dry or damp) and when you apply heat, it goes shiny and protects your hair! I love protecting my hair. It needs all the protecting it can get!

So we'll see how long I can keep this nice colour and how long it takes to grow the baby hairs. So far, they're about an inch or so long. Apparently, hair typically grows 7" in a year. This whole thing about my hair... people might not understand why I care so much. I've always loved doing my hair. It's been "my thing" for years. Like a form of art. I was known to never really have a bad hair day. I did and do spend lots of time on it. Because I like to. Many people don't care. I'm different. I do care. That's the difference between me and the average person.

WHY I FIRED MY HAIRDRESSER (rant included)

2009-02-09T11:59:00.000-08:00

My hairdresser is A LIAR and FIRED!

She set a date to "fix" my hair yesterday (Sunday) at 10am. Well she didn't show, and I stood there waiting for her for 45 minutes! The salon didn't open for another 15 minutes, so I texted her and asked her where she was, etc. She said she had been in the hospital on friday because she almost had a heart attack. I was like "uh huh... ok" Like, she's a bit overweight but come on, she's younger than me, and she didn't have the decency to let me know she wasn't able to come meet me? She had 3 freaking days!!! If she's able to text me now, I thought, why couldn't she just text me before I texted her or even call me, to say, hey, I can't make it. Fine, done deal. I would have understood.

Then I find out that her little story about me not being able to get my hair done during a weekday (or I have to pay full price, even though it's a fix) is totally bogus. She made it up. She wanted me to come in on her own hours so it didn't take up her time of any other client. She also told me that when I do come in on the Sunday, because we are using the salon, there would be a "friend fee" of $15. I believed her. She was telling a half truth. The half that was true is that if you were doing a friend's hair you charge them for the product. But if you're doing a "fix" which is what I was having done, it costs nothing. So I had a girl do it for me on Sunday and they were confused about what I was told and explained the policies to me, and then I realized how many times she screwed me over. I think she was stealing money from me, with all her half truths! Anyway, the girl that fixed my hair did an amazing job and she gets the commission taken out of my hairdresser's fund. Thank goodness. My old hairdresser deserves it. I want an honest hairdresser who listens to me. I think I'm going to stick with this new girl.

Ohhhh! And get this! My (old) hairdresser not only worked on Saturday (after her alleged hospitalization for almost heart attack- when she told me she has a few more days of bed rest)- but on Saturday night she was seen at the bar with her husband by one of the other hairdressers who's friends with my friend!

She is a liar a liar a liar a liar!

Yucky Blackheads

2009-02-04T22:56:00.000-08:00

I decided I am a believer of squeezing out blackheads. I have way too many and they're polluting my (almost) otherwise perfectly normal skin. That is, after the "acne" is gone- which will be very, very soon! I mean, the squeezing itself is pretty gross. But blackheads aren't as messy as whiteheads. They don't pop out onto the mirror. They squish out like a banana.

There seems to be a different kind of blackhead though- it looks just like the regular kind, but when you go to squeeze it, woops! it's not there! It's like a crater or something! They don't scratch out to save your life, they don't pop... I don't know, I'm losing hope on those guys. Anyway I think if I tackle like 5 blackheads a day, I will have awesome skin in no time. :)

PS- I'm already 29 years old and my skin has lost its beautiful elasticity, plus it already has scarring and sun damage so I'm really not worried about damaging it further... but if you have beautiful clear youthful skin, don't do this!!

Repair My Hair!!!

2009-02-04T19:16:00.000-08:00

My hair seems to be doing another growth spurt! Yay! What I'm still doing is the Zinc, Selenium, and Silica. I'm also taking daily Vitamin B Complex of course Omega 3's but those support many important aspects of the body.

OK TIME TO RANT ABOUT MY HAIRDRESSER!

My "awesome" hairdresser did a bad job the last time I asked her to do my hair. She just can't get it right. And she's making it very difficult for me to get it fixed while talking to me very nicely. She's the one who told me I needed to get a wig. (I do not need a wig, I was just analyzing my hair 2 days ago, and it's coming along nicely). I didn't appreciate her comment about that, and she has made other suggestions that are just not right. So from now on, I'm going to be tightening the reigns with her and not be so trusting. She speaks highly of herself but she needs to learn to put her skills where her mouth is. I am losing patience. And not only that, but she's a gossip! I have to be careful of what I say because she talks about people when they're not around! Anyway, we had this long text message conversation where I was not necessarily the "caring or forgiving" type, because I wasn't going to get scammed by her again. I wanted my roots fixed! And she pushed and pulled to get out of it but eventually she surrendered and admitted it was "her fault". So I'm getting my hair retouched on the weekend. Thank the Lord. I hope she does a good job this time. I'm glad it's finally getting done though, I'm sick of walking around looking "rooty."

There is a really fabulous new sale coming up in a local jean store. You bring in any old pair of jeans, and for each pair you bring in, you get $10 off your next pair of jeans! Isn't that amazing? I have so many old jeans. If I could find jeans that I like, I'd go ballistic at prices reduced like that! Yay! The sale is starting next week.

Proactive Me!

2009-02-02T10:40:00.000-08:00

I spoke to the lady in the cosmetics section regarding the cayenne pepper (capascin ingredient) that apparently is so useful for treating skin conditions such as acne, eczema, etc., and she said there was no such product in the store. However, she was going to do some research into what product she could find and try to order it into the store. I'm thinking that some kind of organic market or vitamin store may carry it.

The good news is, after all of my efforts to clear my skin using any possible solution that I've heard of, something is paying off. Is it the lemons? My facial scrub once a week? The cayenne rinse every couple of days? The absence of excessive lotion and excessive drying of my skin? I wish I knew what I am doing right. But I will continue doing what I've been doing- I am used to my funny regimen by now! :)

I gave in to my shopping urges yesterday and bought a couple of things! First off, I bought a deep red zip sweater-cardigan. It's still winter, and I don't have too many winter sweaters and it's slimming! I'm so glad I bought it red. A primary colour. Finally.

My second buy was irresistible! It's a hat, like I've never worn before. I already have a plaid newsboys cap so I really wanted something different. I was never the hat type... but with my hair being a disaster while it grows, I decided that hats are a must. It helps that hats are trendy right now. This hat I bought for $2.99!!! Can you believe it! I found a picture of the hat I bought- shown below- but mine isn't brown, it's grey slightly patterned material (looks a bit like trousers). I think I might be a bit self-conscious at first, but in a way I'm going to like how it brings me out of my comfort zone . Kind of like a rebellious feeling. :)

Animal Attraction

2009-01-30T17:56:00.000-08:00

The Felipe Oliveira Baptista Spring 2009 - Couture Collection is in the Fashion DiaryI was glancing through some of the latest pics of a 2009 catwalk, and I saw this and thought I would say a few words. I realize this outfit is a matter of artwork. Still, it captured my interest and I wanted to say a few words on this one.

The hat does not bring out her eyes, and the floppy ear covers don't appear particularly warming. I'm not sure if the floppy ears are attractors, or if they are to serve a purpose. Oh hold on, is that hat a hat, or is it a visor!? It looks like a visor! It also looks metal, very futuristic. I have to give it that. I wonder if it's comfortable? Does it make her head cold in the winter? Would it be safe to wear in a place where there is a lot of lightning? Do you think that her hair would look good in long braids with those floppy ear covers? I think that might be pretty awesome.

She is missing a sleeve. She looks like an animal so this leads me to believe that she was probably attacked. The poor thing. At least she still has her limb. And yet she walks so confidently. I wonder if her confidence has anything to do with the fact that she was (presumably) attacked. Many animals sense fear. She knows that she is at risk for being attacked again, and therefore must walk with complete confidence. What a smart lady.

I just noticed, on her remaining sleeve, there is a built in glove, colored. It's not left as white, it's black! This definitely fits in with the animalistic looking floppy-ear. It appears to be a paw. Luckily she wasn't attacked on her right arm (given that she's right-handed, or else I guess it might be useless), because this black paw might assist her in some of her crazy animal rituals or behaviours. This may include but not be limited to digging when necessary, covering her tracks, or, she may even have a specific abilities with her animal uniform.

Now, if you're going to have an animal alter-ego, you might as well do it fashionably. That's where the big dot in the middle comes in. It's huge, and it slims the waist right down to a tiny hourglass. Beautifully done.

I appreciate the matching hind legs with the arms (arm) and and their matching black paws. By the look of those shiny boots, she'll have good grab and push with them, and hopefully get away from any future attacks next time around. I'm hoping for her sake that the shiny does not attract any more animals.

Speaking of attraction, I am wondering if she is trying to attract animals. I can understand that. You just have to be careful of what kind of animals you attract. :)

True Flu, True Rest

2009-01-29T18:56:00.000-08:00

Today I have the TRUE flu.

I got it last night, didn't sleep at all because I was puking, and I am currently nauseas and having reflux. NOT FUN. I have a headache, my muscles are sore, my face and tongue are numb, my body goes from hot to cold, I have a fever. Now I know all the symptoms of having a flu.

I don't think I've ever had the flu before. I just don't get sick. I'm not one of those people who gets sick... ever.!

But boy I'm starting to think if you need a true beauty rest, you just need to get sick. Your body forces true rest. The rest you need to get well is just as real as the sickness that makes you require the rest! Often stress is our indicator of need for rest, but do we listen to our bodies then? No, of course not. Stress is part of life remember?

NO!!! It's not! At least it shouldn't be!

So people, get some TRUE BEAUTY REST, plan it for some time this weekend if you don't have time in the next day or 2. Veg in front of talk shows, take a bath, sleep a little longer, turn off the phone, do what you need to do to rest. Don't wait for the flu to bite you.

Re: Your Q's on Hot Peppers

2009-01-27T11:36:00.000-08:00

To comment on questions you had about the Cayenne Pepper:

-Use it after you wash your face and before you use your toner. Make sure you completely rinse it off- don't make yourself turn orange!

-Yes it DOES burn on your face. It's quite excruiciating for about 3 minutes. But then the pain goes down and it doesn't bother the skin quite as much, it's just a little tingly.

-It worked for me the first 2 times better than the 3rd. Last night I had to do my facial scrub and I also used a masque so I didn't bother using the pepper. I just applied the lemon juice. The lemon juice is now how I finish my whole regime. It leaves nice tingles and seems to be evening out my skin tone and clearing my zits.

-The ground Cayenne Pepper is really coarse, so I'm trying to soak this next little batch to make it more fluid. I don't want it to be a scrub. It isn't supposed to irritate the skin.

-Taking it in pill form may irritate the stomach, but it should be taken with food! studies show that Cayenne Pepper cures and prevents stomach ulcers!!! It also aids the digestive system in other ways. That is why it is available in capsules. Take them if you have a condition that can benefit from them but just take them with solid foods (i.e. a full meal).

Anna- Thanks for the tip on Hydrogen Peroxide for acne, I'm going to look into it and probably give it a try!!! :)

My "It" Purse

2009-01-26T19:21:00.000-08:00

My new purse:I love it because it seems to go with everything- the pinks, purples, and reds, all seem to alter the tone of the bag so it never clashes. The inside material is gorgeous and smooth. It is my dream purse. (I asked for it for Christmas, and got it from Mom & Dad Starr!) I just remember feeling so giddy while I opened that one up. I had only seen it on the internet, so opening it up in person was like screen coming to real life! LOL. I've used it for 1 month now, and can use it with everything. It's the all time "it" purse. These kinds of bags will stay in fashion this spring.

Skin, Hair, Shopping and More!

2009-01-24T21:43:00.000-08:00

I have some updates!

1. The Cayenne Pepper is working WONDERS on my face! After washing my face and using a toner, I have been rubbing the pepper into my acne areas (via cotton pad), letting it sit awhile, and rinsing it off, and then putting the lemon juice on a cotton pad and rubbing that all over my face for overnight. My skin is almost clear in 3 days! The lemon was already working, so the pepper is just giving it the ultra boost, I guess. I am still trying to find a cream that contains it, and I'm also looking to find more info on how well the pills work, since some of you posted questions about that.

2. My hair is doing horribly. I have no idea why it started falling out again, it's like it's relapsed or something. I do have the regrowth thing happening, but it's only an inch or so. The rest looks so bad, thin and frizzy. My hairdresser tactfully told me I needed I wig when I ran into her today. It was terrible. I wrote the story of my day on my other blog. So I guess looking at wigs is going to be happening after all? I try to make it look good, and I can get away with it, but I don't know how much longer I can disguise the thinness.

3. I am still taking my regime of vitamins and supplements that I was taking before, to support the hair growth and dispel the acne, except the biotin (which was the main ingredient in a supplement I bought across the border). I will have to go looking for biotin. As I mentioned, the acne has been better. My skin is also generally much softer!

4. Shopping wise, I haven't had much money but I have been reading magazines and apparently celebs are wearing vintage items. Old closet items. I don't have old closet items that I could wear in a magazine, but hey, I suppose it could happen! Lol. The main 2 items that caught my eye were white blouses and cardigans. I have a couple really nice white blouses from the past and I just don't know what to wear with them. It's been such a long time! Cardigans are going to be very popular this spring, and the one I saw was red. I wanted it immediately. You know me... I see, I want, I must buy! Haha. Well, if I do fine one, I would like it in red, because as I've mentioned before, my wardrobe seems to lack primary colours. I bought a pair of jeans today. They are awesome. Just a franchise clothing store brand. They're a lighter wash, and "boyfriend cut." They are so cozy and cute. I'm sitting in them now. Good purchase. Excellent.

5. I have neglected my nails. Oh dear. Any beauty salon worker would probably look at my hands and say "Oh dear child."

6. The spoiled brat part of me wants to hire a maid. My house is an absolute disaster. I don't know how 2 people can mess up a place so bad. I will blame it on hubby. :)

Surprises on Cayenne Pepper!

2009-01-23T18:51:00.000-08:00

I have been doing some more research on the Acne. While I have been keeping my promises of following all of the rules of skin care, to have beautiful skin, my skin has somewhat improved, but my acne is still not resolved. I am still taking the zinc faithfully, drinking more water, intaking more vitamins and minerals, and cutting down on the smoking. I am now even exercising which I think will also help. Yet still, I am still getting some zits surfacing. Not as many, but a few. It is still frustrating for me. I also have a lot of blackheads and I think the only way to get rid of those is by having a facial. Does anyone know any other way of extracting those?

I came across some very interesting facts about another element that I think will interest all of my readers, because it is an element that is powerful on so many different levels. Can you guess?

Cayenne Pepper!

I knew this was a beneficial spice but I underestimated just how beneficial it actually is. It can be used in dried and powdered form, dried flakes, and it is also made into lotions and gels.

In Pain:
These peppers have been proven to provide natural pain relief, even in cases of arthritis and other chronic pain conditions. This herb can also cause headache pain to go away and eliminate nerve pain. The ingredient responsible is "capsaicin," and this substance helps eliminate the pain impulse over time. It can be used for any kind of pain and can be found in creams that you rub into the skin. It also will stop inflammation.

In Skin Care:
Cayenne Pepper can eliminate disfiguring skin conditions like psoriasis, and apparently make your skin "glow with health." It stimulates blood flow to the skin, allowing needed nutrients and oxygen to reach these cells and rebuild healthy skin. It resolves dry skin that flakes, peels, and turns red. It can stop actual skin disorders. Research is showing that creams containing Cayenne (capsaicin) can improve skin conditions in a short time.

For Immunity:
Cayenne peppers are full of beta carotene and other antioxidants and immune boosters. So it helps build healthy tissues in the mucous membranes of the body, and these membranes are the first defense against invaders like bacteria and viruses.

In Weight Loss:
This herb resets your metabolism to a higher temperature, so more calories are burned for a few hours after you eat it. This can result in weight loss with no change in habits or exercise. Your body will also use more oxygen during this time, and this also burns more calories. YAH!! I suppose the burning throat is maybe even worth it? :) !!!

With Stomach Ulcers:
Ulcers can be prevented or treated. These peppers can kill off any bacteria that has managed to get to your digestive tract, and they also stimulate stomach mucous which helps to protect the stomach lining from the acid. It also prevents ulcers.

Now, get this... I found the following article on this site and was very enlightened!:

Houston, July 27:

Natural hot pepper face wash to clear acne? This may sound crazy, but regular application of hot pepper face-wash can wipe out acne completely, if American researchers are to be believed.

Researchers at Sicap, a US pharmaceutical company which specialises in pepper-based products, have found that capsaicin, an ingredient in hot pepper, is a promising acne fighter.

Capsaicin works on two fronts: first, it helps to open pores and increase blood flow to the surface of the skin. Secondly, it has powerful antimicrobial properties that help kill harmful bacteria hiding within the layers of skin.

Capsaicin also helps to desensitise sensitive skin and in this way it may also be beneficial for relieving chronic topical pain associated with certain circulatory conditions.

But what about the burning sensation in skin and eyes that slightest contact with pepper sets off?

According to Sicap researchers, ‘Capsiderm’, their anti-acne hot-pepper soap, uses a tiny amount of natural pepper extract along with 10 exotic herbals and pure clove honey. So, they claim, one experiences no burning sensation, just a tingling, after using the soap.

The soap has a side-action too: it tightens the wrinkles on the face. The Sicap researchers say this was not an intended effect, it “somehow pulls up the wrinkles”, they say. So, apart from removing acne, soap ends up removing wrinkles also.

Okay people, I am so excited to try out this new feat! I have ground Cayenne Pepper at home and I'm wondering, how much should I have? I wonder, can I make a masque from it? Guess what I did... *grin*... I rubbed it all over my acne after I washed my face and left it on awhile before washing it away with the lemon juice.. lol! My zits were smaller and much less painful! I think until I figure out how to properly incorporate Cayenne into my regime I'm going to have to be creative and keep doing research!

If you discover anything I haven't already mentioned about Cayenne, please leave a comment!

Treading to the Gym

2009-01-22T19:31:00.000-08:00

I have been spending a LOT of time on the couch. Drinking Diet Coke.

Oh, and walking to Starbucks to order my usual beverage and see my "friends" every day (all us "regulars" mon-fri 3pm) - and I just have to say, this has become so much like "Cheers" that when the middle-aged barista comes around to take out the garbage, all the guys shout "NORM!" LOL...

And... I've already described the other ways of my unusual lifestyle. But there is one aspect of life that was very normal for me- last year. Last year, I hit the gym 3-6 times a week, depending. I didn't ever fall off the bandwagon. I stopped because unforeseeable circumstances came my way and I was inhibited from using the gym for a few months. Then, the gym was renovated.

I don't like change. The psych'ing myself into getting into the gym even to just look inside was huge. It took me 3 months longer to actually go for a workout! I have been thinking of going, talking about going, wanting to go, but always finding an excuse. Today, I had no excuses. None. I could list off what all the excuses were and are now not present, but I won't. I had to think about going and GO. No second guessing, no thinking.

SO I FREAKIN WENT TO THE GYM TODAY.......THERE!!!!!!
And I survived. In fact, I liked it. Actually, I think I'll do it again tomorrow!

Ok, "People...."

2009-01-21T21:55:00.000-08:00

Before I begin this post, I must clarify that what I am about to say has absolutely nothing to do with anyone who has ever read this blog. This rant is specifically to talk about the outside world, and how I have experienced something I don't like......recently.

It really gets to me. It is common, and socially acceptable, and annoying. It's one of those things that unless someone points it out, maybe you won't even notice it :)

Let me start off with an example. "Blah blah blah, and I just don't feel like I was supported by blah blah bah and some people and something blah blah." You nod your head, lend a hand and shoulder to cry on and then OH SO SUDDENLY it turns out that YOU of all people should have been the supporter!

When people commonly give examples or speak of something that involves me and uses a plural pronoun (excuse the grammar if I'm wrong) such as "someone" or "people", it is just tacky and passive aggressive. If you have something to say to someone, say it to them directly, and then afterward, you can complain about everyone else if that's what you want to do!!! It's not fair for the person you're talking to to be the subject of your complaining. It's like stabbing someone in the front... sort of....

*SIGH* Gotta love a good rant!

My Extremely Unusual Lifestyle

2009-01-17T22:23:00.000-08:00

I have an extremely unusual lifestyle. I guess it's because I'm just in a huge transitional phase in my life and I just can't seem to figure out the direction I'm supposed to go in. I have some ideas now, as of this week (you can read about them if you want, on my other blog: jena-fun/dream)

But generally, today, I evaluated how I spend most of my time, like other than the regular things including house duties, playing with the cats, being in touch with family and a few friends, basic hygiene, and shopping (which is light due to the season)...

...I spend hours like this:

Watching TV
Blogging- Reading/Commenting
Blogging- Writing
Blogging- Editing templates to spice up existing blogs
Walking to Starbucks and chatting with regulars for hours

Not exactly a classy lifestyle if you want to be thought of as classy!

But let's think of it a few ways, starting with:

Watching TV - Couch potato, bad hygiene
Blogging- Just totally geeky
Starbucks- Overpriced and commercial

Now, let's think of it this way:

Watching TV- Eye candy, tips on weight loss, people watching, living vicariously through the more interesting lives of others
Blogging-Reading/Commenting-Showing compassion and understanding, willing to put time and thought into issues that will influence others (hopefully for the better), lending a supportive word, and helping people get through their tough times
Blogging-Writing- Coming clean with how it is, being the person you are or want to be, forgetting the person you want to ignore, therapy, education, letting the spell checker help you to be a better speller if nothing else serves you in writing a post. Having a place to write what you want, when you want. Making a place to meet friends with common interests.
Blogging-Editing existing templates- Creative outlet, learning about web design by default, being absorbed in creating something unique for hours (good time waster if you're bored, lol)...
Starbucks- Or should I say "Cheerbucks!" Where everybody knows your name... and they're always glad you came... duh duh duh... Since I went to this Starbucks near my home in the summer, a group of us regulars seemed to congregate and become friends. We all sat outside. At first it was all the smokers. Then the non smokers joined but didn't sit with the smokers. Everyone wondered what would happen when Winter came. Well it came and everyone is pulling tables together and sitting inside! Smokers and nonsmokers united! Smokers go out for smoke breaks! lol. Everyone shows at 3pm Mon-Fri for an hour. Sometimes a few come as early as noon and some stay as late as 4:30pm. So no matter what day of the week, if it's the afternoon, I can jet out to Starbucks and meet up with a friend. How cool is that???

My friends are here, in the blogging world. My friends are at Starbucks. My friends are on the TV where I live vicariously through their crazy lives. I have friends in real life, a few really special friends, but not a crazy social life. And that's ok, right? My lifestyle is weird but, life is unpredictable. I would have never predicted this or chosen it. But I love it.

Fashion Reflections

2009-01-16T12:51:00.000-08:00

I live in an area that becomes cold in the winter. Not dry cold, but rather chill-to-the-bone wet cold. In my opinion, this is the worst kind of cold! Christmas is over, everyone has new things and if you haven't loaded up on fashionable winter gear before Christmas, chances are, you're probably too broke to get some new stuff now. I belong in that category. Luckily I bought my beautiful red coat and my high boots. I don't see many fashion trends going around in the winter. I think everything is getting covered up by winter jackets.

My red coat has faired satisfactorily. A button fell off and it is very obvious- it's a large button, right at the bottom. I have an extra, but unfortunately I don't have any sewing skills. Sad, yes? One of these days I will take it to Mom Starr and have her sew it for me- she's a total expert.

My boots are amazing. I can wear them around the house if I want to! They are so cozy. They are highly stylish stretchy boots and the most comfortable footwear I've ever owned. Worth every penny.

I spent a ton of money in the summer, and have loads of summer clothes. My winter clothes are lacking! I have only 2 sweaters. Next time around, I will have to plan winter outfits and decide the kinds of sweaters I need. I also realized I don't have any clothes in primary colours! Can you believe it? I was looking for a red shirt today and could only find maroon! No wonder my wardrobe feels limited even with the amount of clothes I have.

I have noticed that one of the most interesting trends last year and moving into this year- celebrities and ordinary people- seems to be becoming pregnant. Maybe it's because of my age. But pregnant people seem to be popping up everywhere! A "Cheers" acquaintance, now the 3rd one of us is expecting, and my sister, Ella Starr is expecting. The celebrities are becoming pregnant and making a race to win this unspoken contest about who can lose the baby weight the fastest. I watched a show about it a couple weeks ago. It's insane!

Today I learned a very cool trick. I left the house with lipstick on, as gloss is apparently "out" now. Well, I was so cold and my lips were frozen! I had forgotten my cell phone so I went back home to pick it up and I put on the lip gloss. It actually kept my lips warm! It is Revlon ColorStay Mineral Lipglaze "Eternal Blossom". Pick it up, it's a nice colour and you only need to dab it on and rub it across with your finger!

Hairstyles for 2009 are moving to either pixie cut short, like super duper short, or growing it out long and wavy. If you're half way, I suppose you have to pick a direction! And platinum blonde is where it's at.

And, finally, I'm sure you've all heard about the 'Skinny Jean". Another term for what used to be called "Spray on Jeans" in the late 80's. There's a lot of ways you can wear it. Spandex is in again too- of course it is called something like "leggings" to make it sounds better, but we all know it's actually spandex. Long tops and plenty accessories make this look work. The cute boots you got this year will probably go with your Skinny little legs. Personally, I haven't even tried this look. I try to be fashion forward, but this is a look that I am still intimidated of! I'm happy to hide in my wide legged jeans.

Signing off! xoxo

Tears and TV

2009-01-15T11:17:00.000-08:00

I fight tears like you would believe when I'm watching TV! Sometimes it comes frequently throughout at show, sometimes it comes in a commercial, sometimes in a movie. I am still not sure what triggers it. I think I must be sensitive to a certain kind of emotion. Perhaps "heartfelt" emotions. Happy or sad- it can go both ways. I can honestly say that TV gets my tear ducts working at least once while I'm watching it.

Nobody is home right now and I just finished watching the latest episode of 90210 that I had recorded onto our PVR. I decided that instead of holding my tears back like I normally do (even in private), I was going to just let them take me away and see what happens. I know, 90210, who cries in that? Well, I do, but that's because any show can make me cry :) You should see me in Grey's Anatomy at times. That one can make me a wreck. The first and second seasons were the worst emotionally!

So back to TV crying vs. holding it in. Holding it in is my default but takes a lot of effort. I don't want people to know what makes me cry, I think it's embarrassing! But crying, as I discovered today, what an amazing emotional release! Having a good cry is good for the soul. Sometimes if it's difficult to get started crying, but if it is therapeutic for you, knowing your triggers the things that pull your heartstrings, might help. Crying isn't beneficial for everyone, or maybe just not all the time. "All things in moderation" as they say. I like to stand by that one.

I haven't popped back into my emotional comfort level quite yet, but hopefully in the next hour I will.

Update on skin care:

I have been doing excellent on taking the Zinc religiously, and
I also took some advice from one of my readers who commented on my post about skin care. She mentioned that using lemon juice on acne works wonders. I have been doing just that, and if it's not the zinc that's working, it must be the lemon juice! My skin is not rough at all anymore and my zits are fading. There are still a few to be rid of, but all in good time.
The next thing I am incorporating into my regimen is "blueberry greens" mixed with blueberry juice. It's full of minerals and vitamins and will replenish my body from the inside out.
I have been more thirsty lately so I have been drinking loads of water with lemon in it. I think the lemon keeps me thirsty and I end up drinking more and more water. What a great strategy!

PS- Thank you for those who suggested products that worked for them. I am pretty sure I've used every single one of them- all of the clinique products, and i used to distribute Mary Kay. I love Mary Kay but I didn't want to do the business side and I couldn't afford to purchase at retail price. Currently, I'm using Vichi (?spelling) and it has been ok. Better with the lemon juice added! :)

Computers do suck at times

2009-01-12T21:16:00.000-08:00

What the heck is wrong with the internet tonight? i mean, border lines/margines seem to be half missing, pics are gone one minute and there the next, other people's blogs aren't showing up all the way... Photobucket is practically non-functional, people's profile pics aren't showing up, all this is way too weird.

My computer is operating normally as far as I can tell, my battery is charged.

I'm just not in the mood for this at all. You know? Like I will seriously leave the computer for a little "break" until it sorts itself out on the other side. Geez! And we're supposed to just sit around waiting for things to load all the time???

That's just my rant for the day.

Sugar vs Aspartame

2009-01-10T00:28:00.000-08:00

Lately it seems like people everywhere are anti-aspartame! Personally, I don't get an aftertaste and I totally dig it as way avoid unnecessary empty calories. One of the main reasons I use it is I seem to get addicted to sugar. When I have sugar on a regular basis, my body craves it so badly that I start binging. You can see where that's going. In the past, I gained and lost weight healthily, but the older I get, the less patient I am with weight loss. I am now at a good weight and plan to stay at this weight (or maybe even lower! hehe). I've heard that Splenda is a good alternative to Aspartame, but the thing is, to me it tastes really bad in coffee. Then there's Stevia. I hear good things about that too, but it's not available everywhere and I'm not sure I want to always be carrying it with me.

The bad things I hear about Aspartame is:

Bad for your bones
Memory loss
Confusion/disorientation
Blurry vision
Can burn holes in cars and pavement (or something like that!)
Causes cancer
Causes weight GAIN (although, that hasn't been the case for me)

So... that's just from the top of my head. When I went to research it, there were so many websites I was overwhelmed! I'm thinking I'm addicted to Aspartame (I drink coffee and/or diet coke with aspartame daily), but I'm not sure how it's harming me. If I have a good reason to quit, I will. Feedback anyone? :)

Thoughts on a lump

2009-01-07T15:44:00.000-08:00

Something is really bugging me... and so far I haven't done anything about it. I guess I think it's probably not going to be that big of a deal. But then a small part of me is fearful. Last night while I was washing my face, I was noticing how this pimple that developed behind my earlobe some time ago is still there. Of course being on the subject of getting beautiful skin, I was paying particular attention to this. I started analyzing the bump, and I realized it was really deep. Then I found out that it was also really big- a lot bigger than I initially thought and it has grown since I first noticed it over a month ago. It is extremely visible from the back. I was shocked to look at it- it looks huge compared to how it feels! Anyway, I think it's just a cyst, but my mom and my youngest sister both had cancer already (and survived it with flying colours), so it puts me in a higher risk factor category.

And now I'm also thinking of all the things I'm doing wrong, the things that can cause cancer! I've never been worried about cancer before. I always just thought it was a terrible illness that could affect anyone but me. I do hope it stays away from me. I'm an aspartame junky, a caffeine addict, a bipolar survior (with a million meds), a closet "one a day" smoker (though I'm quitting so I can be classy, hehe), and I just don't take care of myself. I used to, but this year, I really damaged myself. I was addicted to diet pills for awhile, lost a lot of weight, got used to being malnourished, and now addicted to being malnourished- I guess to make up for the diet pills.

Is all of that crap, the materialistic self-gratifying crap really worth risking life over? I am thinking not. We don't have to die at a young age. We can take care of ourselves and thrive and even enjoy life. When we are thin and indulgent, there is an element of ourselves that is lost in the consumption of things just to find what we're looking for. When we give our bodies and mind what it really needs, we can truly glow inside and out. We can enjoy life more than we ever did when we thought we had what we wanted.

I wasn't thinking like this yesterday at the time of my last post. I found a little cyst on my ear and got a huge wake-up call. Imagine what it is like for a person who gets the hard truth that might change their life forever. We only get one life to live. We deserve to treat ourselves well so we can live it to the fullest.

Project Beautiful Skin

2009-01-06T18:17:00.000-08:00

My skin is just not nice at all. I've had a perma-breakout (terrible acne) around my chin for at least over a month, my face is oily yet dry, the skin on my body is dry, and I just want my old skin back. I used to have nice skin. Soft, clear skin. Maybe my skin isn't good because I'm getting older. Or, maybe it's because I am not doing healthy things for my body to thrive!

I've been researching healthy ways to get results for smooth, clear, glowing skin. There is a lot of room for me to move on this, but it will definitely be a "Project"!

I decided I'm going to implement my new habits for healthy skin one at a time, and keep you in the loop as to how it's working! The measures I will be taking will consist mostly of food or fluid intake changes, supplement additions or changes, and perhaps other means if I can find other ideas; such as lotions or masques. If anyone has any ideas for amazing skin, please send me comments!

My first step towards better skin is to commit to my Zinc supplement. I often forget to take it (I've been using it for my hair in conjunction with my other supplements). I have found lots of information to support Zinc as being really effective for treatment of acne.

Why Zinc? I read on this website:

Acne: Another often stated benefit of zinc is in the treatment and prevention of acne. Zinc in the form of zinc gluconate or zinc sulfate is thought to help heal acne blemishes, reduce inflammation caused by acne, and reduce androgenic hormonal effects on skin that contribute to acne breakouts or in other words help regulate the skin’s oil gland activity. (Though apparently there is no official effectiveness statement by the USFDA)

Zinc seems to have many benefits. Some I noted were treatment of eczema, dandruff, the common cold & sore throats, and memory loss. I also found it interesting that it is used for healing wounds and skin irritations, using it a natural insect repellent, and as natural sunscreen. There are many more uses. Adults need less than 20mg per day, but some doses are up to 300mg per day depending on the use. An overdose where you would experience strange symptoms would be 1-2g per day.

I am taking 50mg per day (that was the only dosage amount they carried) and I am confident that this will be a good dose for my trial of acne treatment.

Wish me luck!

Five-0-Six a.m.

2009-01-06T04:58:00.000-08:00

It's 5:06am. I woke up about half an hour ago. This is strange.

Now, why on earth would I wake up around 4am, just out of the blue, for no particular reason? This does not make sense at all- I haven't done this in almost a year! The funny thing is yesterday I saw my doctor and she asked me about my sleep patterns. I explained to her that yeah, okay, so my sleep is totally wonky because it fluctuates a lot. If I had to choose a usual sleep time, it would be around 1am until noon at the lastest. So you can see that 4am really is the middle of the night for me. She asked me if I ever woke up in the night or if I was able to sleep through the night. I told her I never wake up in the night. Talk about jiinxing myself!

So here I type. Bored and wide awake. Now it's 5:16. I'm trying to decide if cleaning the house would be a good way of spending my extra time. That way, I can enjoy my day of lounging. Hubby is gone to work with the car. I seriously don't feel like cleaning. Maybe I should hire someone! You know, like maybe just hire them for an hour. Get some of the annoying stuff out of the way- like doing the kitchen and storing the clean linens. I've never hired a cleaner or maid service. It's not something I would make a habit of, I mean, I'm completely capable of cleaning up my home by myself. Wouldn't you agree that it would be a nice break to not do it once for a chance?

Now it's 5:21. Hubby and I are on a Prison Break (TV show) marathon. We have been watching episodes consecutively right from the pilot in season 1. We're half done (if not close to almost done) season 2 now. I don't really like violence and it's really violent. This is very unlikely show for me to be addicted to. I've gotten to know the characters and I like some of them. Then again, I really don't like some, if not most, of them. Some of the characters really scare me, and some of them are actually frightening to me because they're supposed to be the good guys but really, they are so bad, they are the worst killers, and I still can't really figure out what they're hiding! It's a confusing show. It's really action and violence oriented, very suspenseful (to put it mildly), and I never watch stuff like that but for some reason I'm hooked! How twisted! I'll be relieved when all my regular TV shows resume this week!

Now it's 5:26. Twenty minutes on a blog. Not bad for typing my musings as I muse at this hour. I hope I get tired again. I really want to spend a portion of my day sleeping the hours I missed this morning.

Have a great day everyone!

Losing Hair?

2009-01-04T19:26:00.000-08:00

I think we can probably agree that hair clogging the shower drain and all over the bathroom floor is just not pretty. It's the kind of mess that literally pushes us right out of our very own bathroom and makes us cringe when it comes time to face the dirty work and clean it all up. Welcome to my life, folks!

The good news is, I have finally found a combination of wonderful supplements to finally reverse the process. My hair is no longer falling out, and it is growing back really quickly! When I told my hairdresser that it wasn't falling out anymore, she shrieked and hugged me! LOL. We talked about how it was kind of sad in a way because I wouldn't be needing a wig anymore :)

So for any of you who are experiencing severe hair loss (and I mean severe- because to do this, the severity is what motivates you), here's a list of what you can do:

"Nioxin" Shampoo and Conditioner- I highly recommend this, and so does everyone else I know who has tried it. It takes several weeks to start working though. The drawbacks are that it doesn't smell very good and the Conditioner is runny and seems to dry out the hair. You need to apply a leave in conditioner when you're done.

Supplements:

Multivitamin- I only started this one recently, but really, everyone should be taking one. Especially if you know you're not getting enough nourishment such as fresh fruits and veggies on a regular basis.
Vitamin B Complex- Also good for your mood
Biotin 1300mcg- Part of the Vitamin B Family- It was the main ingredient in a supplement called "Healthy Skin & Hair and Nails" by Irwin Naturals. You will probably have to dig a bit to find a supplement that contains this ingredient
Selenium
Zinc
Silica
Omega 3 Fatty Acids

It's definitely a lineup, but I can personally guarantee you that you will see results. I have tried lots of things. My plan is that once my hair has grown fully back, I will use the Nioxin every other day, and split the supplements so I'm not taking them full strength. It's a load when you combine all of this. Like I said, it is all worth it in the end!!!

One more thing- my nails are rock hard! My manicures last such a long time now!

Smoking My Bad

2009-01-03T13:48:00.000-08:00

Yesterday an unfortunate, scary, horrendous yet hilarious incident occurred at my place. Totally my bad. Let me tell you, I had preconceived notions that what happened in this incident doesn't actually happen in real life. It happens in movies or television, so I had never thought twice about it and have never given it any of my concern.

Now you're probably wondering what the heck I'm talking about.

Well... to put it bluntly, I could have started our apartment on fire because I didn't butt out a cigarette properly on the porch!

There have been several reasons I have figured I shouldn't be smoking. Reasons that other people don't have to tell me- I just know them for myself.

Bad teeth
Ruined fingers (I like to have beautiful fingers and nails)
Bad breath
Smelly smell
Can cause cancer
And now, to add to the mix: Can burn houses and apartments down!

Here's the whole story, and where my luck arrived: I was heading out the door- I had a friend over who was waiting for me at the front while I went back looking for my phone. Then, I saw the smoldering smoke billowing out of the weaved pot, and i was desperately trying to stomp out the embers (I flipped the thing so it was spread everywhere, it was instinct). It was probably not the smartest thing to do since the mat underneath was dry and woven as well. I was yelling for help, and she came out, realized I actually was in trouble, and brought water. What a scene!

If I didn't come back to look for my phone, who knows what would have happened!

*********************************************************************************

I was just thinking, are there any benefits to smoking at all? Like, why am I doing it? I found a website that explains some potential benefits of smoking. I don't necessarily agree with all of them, and I still feel that the best option is to quit. I've smoked on and off for just under 4 years. Mostly off and if on, it's been a very small amount.

What might I think is a benefit for me for smoking at this point (which will NEVER outweigh the risk):

Severe Gum Recession, Less Of A Risk For Smokers - In the strange world that anti-tobacco has wrought, any research that deviates from the tobacco-is-the-root-of-all-evil template is noteworthy. Here is a study that shows that smokers are actually at lower risk from gum disease. In this page (scroll down) there is more scientific evidence from other sources about oral health and smoking.

Honest scientists have always known that smoking has some benefit. From the apparent shielding effect against Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases to the more intangible benefits associated with well-being and tranquility, smoking tobacco in many ways is definitely good for your health. I have a bridge, so it is the thought of having my gums recede at a slower rate is definately a motivating factor (the pic on the left is not my mouth. I wish!). There's nothing worse than having your fake teeth/tooth sticking out further than your gums! The weird thing is, on the cigarette packages, it says that it cigarettes can cause gum disease. How strange is that. I'm seeing a little bit of oxymoron going on around here...

Smoking: Protection Against Neural Tube Defects? - Swedish researchers have some surprising news for pregnant women who smoke: a decreased risk of neural tube defects in babies. Click here for more information on smoking and pregnancy.

I want to have children soon (hopefully get started by the end of the year) after I get off some medication. My medication that I'm on high doses of like Epival are high risk for causing neuro tube defects- so if it is indeed true that smoking can lessen that chance, then that's great! However, I am incli

ned to believe that if it seems to good to be true, it probably is. If this were really the case, then Canadian cigarette packages wouldn't give constant warnings about how much smoking can cause harm in pregnancy and around children, etc. In other words, I wish.

Carbon Monoxide May Alleviate Heart Attacks And Stroke - Carbon monoxide is a by-product of tobacco smoke. A report indicates very low levels of carbon monoxide may help victims of heart attacks and strokes. Carbon monoxide inhibits blood clotting, thereby dissolving harmful clots in the arteries. The researchers focused on carbon monoxide's close resemblance to nitric oxide which keeps blood vessels from dilating and prevents the buildup of white blood cells. "Recently nitric oxide has been elevated from a common air pollutant . . . to an [internal] second messenger of utmost physiological importance. Therefore, many of us may not be entirely surprised to learn that carbon monoxide can paradoxically rescue the lung from [cardiovascular blockage] injury." The pharmacological benefits of tobacco are nothing new.

There is heart and stroke issues in the Starr Family so naturally it is a concern for me in the long run. Realistically, the studies all show that smoking is a causation or contributor to these conditions and nobody should smoke cigarettes to avoid cardio problems. At least, this is my opinion, and a generally shared medical recommendation based on solid research. The website I looked at didn't seem all that credible.

I heard that aspartame can cause memory loss, dementia, and Alzheimer's diseases. I have been a little worried that maybe the aspartame is causing this. I drink a lot of Diet Coke. And I mean A LOT of Diet Coke. I love the stuff. I drink it like I drink water. The only problem is that recently my memory has been really bad and Could smoking actually counteract it like this seemingly odd website says? Could one bad thing and another bad thing equal a good thing? Sounds fishy to me. It was an interesting thing to ponder though!

Anyway... I think the biggest motivator for not smoking is that SMOKING IS NOT CLASSY. Maybe it was in the 50's or 60's but not now. Now, it's just "uncool." (And this is coming from a smoker so please don't give me a hard time! :)

Listing for Leaping

2009-01-01T17:26:00.000-08:00

I was thinking about resolutions last night. Since I really like lists, I thought I'd come up with a few, just to help me organize my thoughts :)

"Typical" Resolutions:
1. Be consistent with what I am determined to do.
2. Set a project goal (related to arts)
2. Set up a weekly routine I am happy with
3. Eat at least one normal meal a day
4. If there is free time, to go to the gym or get out of the house
5. Go to church on Sundays
6. Spend more time with my families
Plus: I found a new mindset about the gym: Get fat October, November, December, and then get thin/toned in January, February March. If I think like that every year, I'm good to go!

The "Beauty Upkeep" Resolutions
1. Hair cute & colour & foils
2. Tanning
3. Manicure/Pedicure
4. Facial
And... that would be the basics on the "take-out" version of the beauty front. The other aspects I take care of on my own.

The Top 5 Never Do Again Resolutions:
1. Inviting strangers into my personal life before I know them well enough
2. Analyze my health problems every day
3. Take diet pills that contain Ephedrine (for those that don't know, this altered my life drastically and permanently and if you want to know more, ask me about it)
4. Worry about what other people are thinking of me all the time
5. Let the house get extremely messy before attempting to keep it clean

The Top 5 Must Live On Resolutions:
1. Maintaining my reputation of being bargain shopper extraordinaire
2. The habit and love for going to the gym
3. My time spent in my art projects
4. Posting on my 2 blogs!!!
5. My involvement with my community, and perhaps expanding into more

Last night I had a lot of fun with some friends and also made some new friends. I tried a "wasabi peanut" and it was awful!!! I will never do that again. Everyone laughed at me for making such crazy faces. I like to try everything once though! :) Oh and I have yet to keep one of my promises to you guys- I said I'd show you my dress! So here are the pics for that- finally!

Uncensored Home Fashion

2008-12-30T14:53:00.000-08:00

Ok, I know that when I'm at home, I don't care about how I look. Like, I really don't care. I see these models wearing cute pajamas all the time and I think to myself, "I really need more cute pajamas." But then when it comes time to purchase some, I get distracted and want to purchase something else instead. Who sees you while you're sleeping anyway? Lounging is different. I guess with all of the fashion clothes I've bought lately, I haven't replenished any of my gym clothes, lounging clothes, or sleepwear. What I have left over are over-sized items that I put together to meet the basic needs of comfort: Warmth and coziness. In this Winter season, I need all of the warmth I can get. I don't think twice about how I look. Okay I'm repeating myself.

My hubby doesn't care how he looks either, but he never looks bad. When I first met him, I was shocked at what kinds of things he wore. Ripped clashing clothes galore. His fashion sense has since improved, but with him, what you see is what you get either way when it comes to being home. At home, he doesn't look different- he doesn't have to remove makeup thus revealing an unpleasant chalky appearance, or by wearing strange clothes (he doesn't get as cold as me) around the house. He has never commented on my strange outfits... until today.

I didn't think about it. My only nice set of pajamas (that I just got a few days ago) are in the laundry, and so are both of my fleece bathrobes. So I had to improvise with a few other pieces. It just seems like logical thought processes. Maybe that's how people generally think about fashion if they don't really care about being fashion-conscious. (Nothing wrong with that!) An old, comfy oversized grey zipped sweatshirt hoodie, my boot slippers, and my lounger spring bathrobe, all over top of my way over-sized pajamas. When I walked out, hubby looked at me and started laughing hysterically and told me how strange I looked in these clothes and how random I dressed! I was shocked he thought anything, let alone said all that! So I looked at myself and realized that wow, I do look weird.

Facing the Gym

2008-12-29T17:28:00.000-08:00

Realistically, I should be going to the gym. I am not going and have not gone for about 3 months. Why have I neglected it? There is totally no excuse at all. I don't think I have even ONE good reason for not going to the gym. Lets see... I'm lazy. Yup. I think that's it.

On the other hand, I have all the reasons TO go to the gym. It's in walking distance from home, it's renovated and nice to be there, I have new cool earphones and an ipod that can store so much that I can't even dream up enough stuff to put on it, I have the gym clothes (although I could probably update that part of my wardrobe for sure) and my gym shoes are new, and finally, I am less nervous of being seen than before when I was overweight.

But if I continue to stay at home and eating all the time and not doing anything, I'm just going to be lazy and depressed and I'll probably end up overweight again. That would really suck.

So it's not a matter of should I stay or should I go. I can go and I must go. It isn't even that hard to get there. Maybe I just need someone to push me out the door and lock it for an hour.

Extraordinary Talent and Passion

2008-12-27T17:34:00.000-08:00

Talent. Extraordinary talent. Passion

I want that. I don't know if everybody has one extraordinary talent that can be honed and perfected until complete mastery and showcase. If that were the case, there would be more famous people, right? There are opportunities for people who have "potential" in their areas of talent to be discovered by shows like "American Idol" or "Top Model," and all those other shows that take people from Zero-One Million in a series of televised challenges.

I think I would be happy to know what my one special talent is, without the need to be famous. If there really exists such a thing.

I don't think I want to be known as a Shopaholic anymore. It's cute to joke about, but it doesn't say much about who I am as a person. I think it could imply that I am self-absorbed and materialistic. I don't want to be like that. If I am like that, I want to undo it. I want to reverse the shopaholicism. Maybe my special talent is that I could start a phenomenon of "Shopaholic Anonymous" support systems in North America. Set up resources and a something-step program for Shopaholics to recover. I would be a motivational figure because I would be recovered by then. You can have a sense of fashion and not be a Shopaholic right?

Shopping is a coping mechanism for a lot of people. It can also be a greedy habit, an addiction to new things, and an obsession for trends. Knowing the root of the problem would be the first step.

Then again, I don't think I have a special talent to be an entrepenure, nor am I truly interested in that. I'm more of the creative juices type.

I think part of the reason I am thinking about this is because I'm wondering if and what I would want to do for work. I am currently unemployed but finances are not an issue. What does one do when there is much to consider for a future and nothing is really planned? Believe me, there was a plan. I was educated in my field and I had solid experience and even loved my career. I had a reputation for being good at what I did. I helped students. I went to conferences. I wanted to keep getting better and better- it was a passion. Then my world crashed down on me.I am starting from scratch because my previous "life" was kind of like the pretty vase that held the rose and shattered on the floor. I need to start all over, from the beginning...

What I have and I'm so grateful for:

Marriage
Extended Families
Kitties
Condo
God and a good church
Friends
Education
Experience
Weight loss

What I desperately want and need:

Kids
Health
Absence of so much medication and side effects
Direction and Purpose, Goals
To stop worrying about what others think of me
To get rid of the empty feeling

Holiday Weight

2008-12-26T21:50:00.000-08:00

How much Holiday Weight did you gain???

I just stepped on the scale.. (drum roll).. I gained 10 pounds!!!!!

*Sigh* I'm trying not to panic. I'm trying to determine if this is actual fat or if this is food in my intestines from the last few days worth of Christmas dinners with my families (yes, plural), or bloating, or if it's just excess carbs turned to sugar and stored as fat. The last option would be the worst one of course because that means that if I don't act fast, the numbers will only continue to rise. Ahhh! Argh!!

So why does weight matter to me? I want to be comfortable in my own skin. I lived most of my life in an average or overweight body and always got the "pretty face" comment. I want a nice body. I also like a good tan.

I'm trying to decide what the best way to wean off the Christmas diet would be.
Buy protein powder
Have protein through day and start with oatmeal for breakfast
Only small meals
Never eat if I'm not actually hungry or if I ate and I'm satisfied.
Make a comeback at the gym for cardio (at first)
Drink a ton of water

I think there are some good ideas in there!

What's Next?

2008-12-23T23:44:00.000-08:00

I am still alive!! I know I've been hibernating and it probably has done no good to you blogger friends and my ratings but ahh well, this is the busiest time of the year for me and most others, so I am going to run with it. I deserve a break!

It has certainly been a Winter Wonderland and for the first time since I can remember, we may actually have a White Christmas! Well, we will definitely have one, but only 60% chance that it will actually snow. Right now, the snow is falling softly in large pieces, everywhere. Not even the slightest breeze. It's nighttime, so the flakes shimmer in front of the lamp posts. I love that. So picturesque!

We have dozens of presents under the tree waiting to be opened. I am so excited to do our gift openings with family! Our tree looks so great. In fact our whole condo looks great- all the decorating paid off. We've had visitors and we could light the candles, put out Christmas cookies and goodies, and hand out my little gift of baked pecans that I made for friends, as we elected to save money and not spend on individual gifts this year. We managed to get that cute holiday photo out to all of our loved ones- even though I did look slightly alien-ish.

So what next? I'm sitting here enjoying the fact that it's Christmas Eve in 7 minutes and we are ready as ever! I thought, what will I do with my downtime now? That's when I remembered I had neglected my much loved blog!!

My brain immediately fired off idea after idea when I asked that question "What's next" and I determined that "next" is the New Year of course! I think back to last year's resolutions. Everything of last year and me hoping to have a super amazing year... wow... I never did see what came my way. This year was the most changing year of my life! And I was pretty much out of control. So this year, I think I'm going to take back some of that control in a healthy way. My very first resolution is going to be- I want great legs. My calves are already pretty good so I'm talking about my thighs. My quads and hamstrings and all the fat in there. I want nice ones. They are the worst attribute to my body and I think that if I am goal-oriented enough (and I can be) then I will accomplish my goal and have the good legs. I will have to keep you all posted on that.

My weight is strange. I weigh too much for how I look, I think. Like, if I lost more weight, I'd look sickly, but some people say that my weight is their "highest" weight. I just don't get that. I think that if I shriveled up and died only then might I lose another 10lbs. So I need to get my bodyweight and muscle mass and bodyfat and all that jazz sorted out. My eating habits are just becoming more and more unhealthy and my mind is abnormal in terms of how I see myself. Sometimes I go through "normal person" times and eat and think normally. Other times, I freak out about food, calories, and the scale and measuring tape, and I act destructively. Luckily this "abnormal person" and "normal person" part of me seems to resemble a mild case of Bipolar Food Person that might be manageable with some extra help. Of course I would be able to draw that painstaking resemblance as I am diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder myself. Up, down, left, right. Go to the doctor, fly under the radar. Fool as many people as you can. Including yourself. Right? :)

Merry Christmas to all of you who celebrate, and have a Happy New Year if I don't see you sooner!!

Photo Cards and More

2008-12-12T13:59:00.000-08:00

This year, we've elected to go the cheesy Photo-Card route. You know the ones. You're all dressed up in red and green (sometimes in tacky sweaters) and posed with your children and/or animals... it is printed off at the photo-lab with a custom border and hallmark message with a custom message to add on as an option. I've always wanted to be one of those cheesy people who do that on Christmas. This year, since we've gone all out already, it's totally fitting. lol.

The only problem is that my digital camera is painfully old and the quality of picture is just not good. Even with the settings up to the best quality. I have spent hours on Photoshop trying to troubleshoot certain areas to no avail. The best picture was the worst quality. So we took one more pic- and in it, I was wearing something less attractive and my hair was not as nice. It seems like some days I am photogenic and some I am not. Maybe it was the full moon. The final came out pretty good. The cats look miserable, wearing their hats and bells (they hate their picture being taken as much as I do mine), and hubby looks happy and cute- he is always photogenic. I am facing the wrong direction in efforts to look thinner, so we're both looking the same way, facing the edge of the card, not the text, nor to each other. If I had just faced the other way it would have looked better! Not only that, but when I look at the pic, my first thought is, "I look weird." Every single time.

Hubby wouldn't pose anymore- he was really sick of the whole thing. The whole process was taking up way too much time. So I'm stuck sending these out to all my relatives who haven't seen us in a long time and I will be on their fridges, looking "weird"! I hope it's just me, and that I don't look as weird as I think. I am trying to remember that other people aren't going to scrutinize me as much as I do, and plus, I don't have to look at the picture. I'm not sending myself a greeting!

On another note, It's hard not to eat what you are baking and I am struggling majorly with feeling out of control with eating bad foods. To top it all off, I am getting all this junk food and cakes and chocolates and everything for my birthday! (which was a couple days ago). That makes December even more of a difficult month weight wise.

All of my baked spiced pecans are done and packaged, ready to be given out as gifts. I am so proud of myself for doing this! It too was a long process- baking everything, and then having to put it into little pots and wrap it all in cellophane and ribbon. I baked other things too, but so far I haven't baked anything without screwing it up! My gingerbread cookies are sticky and pasty... I managed to plop some of it into a pan for a bit of loaf. I am really noticing that Christmas is not limited to shopping and decorating and gift giving. If anyone is creative, it usually means you stay busy for a whole season!

Caught in the Rush

2008-12-06T16:01:00.000-08:00

If everything were to always go exactly according to plan, our world would be much less tired and clumsy. I would be much less tired and clumsy. I had a plan for December so my stresses would be wiped out in the early days of December so that I could retain all my energy for the parties and events happening the rest of the month- the most parties in this short period of time I've ever had!

I am writing you from last night's pajamas and my fluffy bathrobe. I haven't looked in the mirror to see the disaster all over my face. My hair feels nice and clean as I showered last night, but I sense that it looks much like a picked apart rats nest. Combination of sleeping on it wet, and having it so thin.

My body is in pain. While Christmas shopping a few days ago, I had this horrible severe pain in my abdomen, the whole thing was stabbing throbbing pain. It got worse and worse until I couldn't walk and began to cry. We stopped at 2 walk in clinics on our way home and there was no doctor available. Luckily, with rest, it went away for the most part and I was able to dress up in my beautiful new dress for my first exciting event- the "red carpet event party" it was soooo not formal. It was the most "party" party I've ever been to! There were even "dancers." There were probably 200 people there. People were definitely dressed up though and I am so glad I didn't miss it.

I went to the doctor the next day, and he told me I had "abdominal colic" and gave me some medications to relieve the tension. He said that if I continue to have pain like that, I have to go straight to emergency. Yikes! That can't be good! I'm feeling crappy today but not nearly to the extent as before.

My mind is overwhelmed with all the tasks I have at hand. Tasks I have given myself, and tasks I expect the season has given me. (Does that even make sense?) I just need to get un-tired, un-pained, and get a sudden burst of productivity again!!! I had it not long ago. Give it back!!!

A few days ago we got the lights up. Our presents are bought and wrapped. The tree is going up tonight. The ornaments are up around the house. I am doing baking tonight. I can't imagine what else I will need to do for Christmas after this weekend. Oh yes, the Christmas cards. We are going to pose with our cats for the card, isn't that hilarious!!

PS- I told you I'd post pics, and I will but I haven't had time to be online so I will when things slow down... you should see how full my email is, it's insane!

Keeping busy like a bee

2008-12-03T00:02:00.000-08:00

I got a lot achieved today. Mainly, all to do with preparing for the gift giving and the house decorating. We even got our outdoor lights up!! I arranged some candles around the house but our main decor is still in our storage. So when hubby gets home, we will tend to that. I have things clean, I have lots of baking made, and I have an idea of what I am going to give to friends and relatives as a gift, rather than buying presents I can't afford. I bought all my supplies for that too!

I'll share that idea on my next post :)

Tonight I've been making jewelry for my girls group (x5 grade 3's). They are beaded with some glossy stones and a gem trinket as the feature point of the necklace. I'll post pics when I'm done. I can post lots of pics from home now because I figured out how to use the camera properly!!! :)

Oh and the highlight of the day? Going to the dentist to have a cavity filled :s lol
Just kidding!

"That Time of Year"

2008-11-30T12:25:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I went on my emergency shopping spree. I was allotted $70 and it's a good thing that I'm an expert bargain shopper! I bought an extremely cute satin red top, two pairs of black tights, a silver shimmery scarf, a black shrug (I can wear it with my dress) and a small/tiny silver purse. I can't believe the savings! Shopping this year is unbelievably inexpensive. I know it was just Black Friday in the States but in Canada, it's "just that time of year" and the deals seem to be ongoing. I heard on the news last night that Walmart is going to be keeping stores across Canada open 24 hours a day starting December 1st. That is so awesome!

I have my lists prepared for Christmas shopping. I just have to choose a day that both hubby and I can go out and purchase the items. I already bought the wrapping the supplies. I think I'm going to start decorating tonight.

Yesterday I baked my first lot of Christmas Baking. I made 4 pans of Banana Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake- I had a lot of bananas in the freezer I had to get rid of! Plus, we have lots of functions to go to where I can take some as a gift to the hostess. In the years past, I haven't had time to do Christmas Baking. But this year, I'm going to try different recipes. I had such a good time doing it yesterday! There are healthy substitutes to unhealthy ingredients. Like, Splenda instead of Sugar, and Applesauce instead of Shortening. Does anyone know of any other healthy ingredient substitutes for baking?

Last night I had my first Christmas Party. It was a reunion with the Starr's family. Meaning, my Dad's Parent's extended family. It was crazy busy, but really a lot nicer than it ever has been in the past. I wasn't looking forward to it, but it turned out to be a lot of fun. I spilled coffee all over me, in a very dramatic sense, but we were playing a hurried game so nobody really focused on it, including myself. I just sort of wiped it dry and it was no big deal. Luckily black polyester is excellent for just wiping coffee right off with no evidence of a mess! lol

My next party is Monday evening with some girls who I work with in the community. We volunteer with young girls every second Wednesday. We all get along so well. This is more of a quiet informal gathering at a pub, but these friends are super fun so I know I'll have a good time.

How is everyone doing with holiday stuff so far? Any shopping yet??

I need advice ASAP!

2008-11-29T00:08:00.000-08:00

In the past few days, I bought the perfect shoes for my dress-glitzy silver ones, and I finally (drum roll) bought my boots!!! After wanting tall boots for 6 years, I finally purchase a pair! They're stretchy and tall, square toe, no special design. Basic. I am very satisfied with my shoe and boot purchases.

I am trying to pair outfits for the many events that are piling up in December. My wardrobe is still limited, especially in the "dressy" section. I have always been more of a casual dresser and have very few fancy tops. And I have no holiday tops.

This has opened a huge door of conflict for me. I turn to my favourite store, and they have so many perfect clothes- fashion tops, dresses, glittering scarves, accessories, and even super cute black or black/grey skirts! I was not on the outlook for skirts at all, but I saw this cute flirty skirt and I realized how boring my plain black ones are at home! I feel so lost in the chaotic world of amazing clothes!

My obsession with shopping is definitely worsening. The compulsion is so wild that hubby has actually reigned me in, giving me a limit on my spending! Why oh why do I have to be limited now??? I know, I'm being selfish, I should be spending on others like I said on my previous post. But I don't really want to wear the same outfit to 10 different events! And I truly do want to dress up for things.

Tomorrow I go to the store. My mission: purchase tights, a shrug, a top, and possibly a skirt or scarf or necklace, depending on the sales and/or actual cost of items. I am likely only able to purchase all of the items I listed before the "possibly" part of the sentence.

So, as I think deeply about what I will buy tomorrow, I wonder if I should buy a silver sheen top, or a red one. They are both very nice. Or, should I go with a red basic knit but glitzy sleeveless top and a long necklace? I can wear my shrug with any of those. I don't have pics of them, or else I'd post them. I definitely need a top. I don't have a holiday top. Please, if you have any advice on holiday wear that can be well used for several occasions, I welcome advice- and preferably ASAP! I'm going to be back into the store in 12 hours from this posting.

PS- More fashion advice please: Should I wear black nylons or black tights/leggings with my skirt/boots and my holiday dressy top? I don't want to bare the legs for this one. Not formal enough...

Easy Christmas Shopping With Jane

2008-11-26T14:13:00.000-08:00

I haven't started Christmas shopping yet this year. I think I'm going to do it within the next 2 weeks. In the past, I've been a mega-procrastinator with that- sometimes waiting until late December! When I think of it, how can I be so on-top of my own shopping but behind shopping for anyone else? How selfish of me, I think. I need to work on that. Shop for others! And hey, shopping IS fun, so if I can get it done before the crowds REALLY hit, then I will be smooth sailing past the crowd later.

My hope is that I will go out with a list and get it done in 1 day, including the wrapping. Actually, I have a feeling that decorating the house will take longer than the shopping. I recently discovered that the most economical and practical way to shop would be to scope out all the local stores' websites for what they sell, and decide what you're going to buy when you get there. Then you can skip the whole pressure of "browsing." You can just head straight for the item and pay and leave. This has worked for me a few times already! It also helps me not to over-spend, and find the best deals.

Try to have your house decorated in the first week of December. That way you can enjoy the decor for longer. Sometimes it's such a pain to put up and take down- you want to get the most viewing pleasure as possible this season! You can buy home fragrances like reed diffusers that smell like cinnamon, cranberries, forests (great if you have a fake Christmas tree!), and even gingerbread.

When it comes to do the shopping, check the flyers, wish lists, websites for stores nearby. Write a list of who you need to buy for and precisely what you will buy for them at what cost.

Get to the stores on a day you have totally free. If you drink coffee, start your day off well- treat yourself to Starbucks (or your personal fave)! Purchase your items as swiftly as possible according to your list. Your last stop before you head home should be the dollar store for wrapping supplies. To buy wrap anywhere else is an expensive mistake. People don't pay attention to the wrap you use.

If you have already decorated your house (and you are a decorating person) then perfect! Place the wrapped gifts accordingly and enjoy the rest of December. If not, this is your cue to decorate! If you don't decorate, don't hold off wrapping the gifts! Putting in slot of wrapping time will be a weight that never landed on your shoulders if you just do it right away.

Happy Holiday Prep!

Expensive and Bad

2008-11-25T00:51:00.000-08:00

"Expensive and Bad" - MY Top 5 LIST

1. Smoking

Smoking looks bad, smells bad, makes your fingers and teeth gross, and is a very expensive bad habit. It also causes cancer. How can it be worth it to be a smoker? I see no benefit. It's at the top of my bad and expensive list. A habit that I am trying to break. I'm down to 2 smokes per day! (Almost).

2. Emotional Shopping

Some people shop for groceries on an empty stomach. Your mother told you never to do that. Most of you probably still adhere to that rule. I'm good with it. But I'm really bad at shopping for clothes and accessories while I'm in a crappy mood. I think having new stuff is going to make me feel better. Somehow, spending money just feels so great! But then, I wear my new clothes for 10 minutes and all the glory fades. That's how wardrobes grow. Mine got huge. I'm trying to detox. It's really hard on the bank account!

3. X-Box

Hubby bought Xbox behind my back! I was really mad for a long time. I have resented it ever since. I forgave him but I still hate Xbox. I see it as a huge waste of money, and time. Guys who become married men should not be playing video games! They should be acting like men! Ok, so I'm a little old fashioned. But I really don't mind being in the kitchen. Really!

4. X-Box Game Rentals

This is what they do with their Xbox. They rent games from the video store. The games are freaking expensive! My hubby's collection of Xbox and games are probably more expensive than my wardrobe... not to mention his constant renting of new games at 6 bucks a piece!

5. Hockey Pay-Per-View

We have the kind of cable TV that we can sign up for pay-per-view features. When our networks are not broadcasting hubby's team, he signs up to watch it with the pay-per-view at home rather than just going out to a pub with friends. It costs 15 bucks to order it! Let me tell you, it adds up, folks. Think of what our cable bill adds up to at the end of the month. Yuck. And it's most frustrating for me, because I don't even like watching hockey.

On the Fence: Not So Bad?

1. Addiction to daily Starbucks

I tend to go to Starbucks most days. I love it. I get my usual drink and snack (not always the snack) and they know me and I know the regulars, it's great! The "on the fence" part is that it technically is a bad an expensive habit because it's not cheap, and I know I could be spending less money and making my own coffee. Perhaps I like the experience of being inside of starbucks though? And being where "everybody knows my name"...

2. Addiction to weekly celeb magazines

I never ever used to care about celebrity gossip or style nearly as much as I do now. It's not so much that I actually care about it, it's just that it's kind of entertaining. I feel bad, because these people are created into objects that get picked apart by media and have no personal space or privacy. So in that way it's bad. It's also a waste of time for me to be so consumed in wanting to know what's going on, because it's just probably just a bunch of BS. And boy, it does get expensive too. Especially if you can't resist buying more than one magazine in the week. There are 4 magazines that I decide on reading and sometimes I get them all. Usually not, but sometimes.

3. Knowing the line when shopping is necessary for "essentials"...

It's just so hard for me to tell what an essential is right now. I see a lot of "essentials" and I don't know which way is up! I keep trying to find the simplified things, "the basics", and I am stuck. Maybe I have them. I am still new to the fashion world and I think I will have to do some more research on the technicalities of "the basics".

Wigging Out

2008-11-24T00:59:00.000-08:00

My hair falling out issue really is a huge issue, every day, recurring, and I now avoid mirrors so I don't have to adjust my hair if it's sticking up or something. That's my rant. That being said, I'm seriously considering getting a wig. I know a few people who can pull strings and get me a good deal on a wig made of real hair. I've been checking out wigs on the net. Like, how trendy are they, and will I be a total nerd if I get one? My conclusion is... you can look like a freak or a babe, just pick one out with someone who has good taste! :)

Days of our Hair

2008-11-19T21:15:00.000-08:00

I have been known for quite some time to "never have a bad hair day." I often have disagreed. People would tell me that I look well put together and my hair especially was always in place. I loved my hair. I loved it because it was a form of art. I loved it because it reflected my personality. Everyone's hair does, I think.

Sometimes we have to make sacrifices in life in order to have a functional and abundant one. I have to take a medication that is making me lose my hair. I don't really have an alternative. Without the medication, I am a complete wreck. With other medications, the just don't hit the spot. This one is the only one that works for my chronic illness.

Every time I get out of the shower I am plagued with overwhelming emotions of intense sadness, anger, and fear. I'm taking as many supplements as I know how to help the issue, even special shampoo, but the growth isn't coming as fast as I'm losing the hair. I suppose I may need a real wig....

Now I'm the girl who has a bad hair day... every day.

In My McDreams!

2008-11-18T12:25:00.000-08:00

I am convinced that no matter what TV series, no matter what season, there is going to be a "Dreamy" guy attached. You can call him "McDreamy" or you can call him "Just Dreamy". Crushes on dreamy characters in TV shows are, in my opinion, innocent. I am a happily married woman, and my husband takes my silly crushes lightly. And he should! They are silly indeed, and the funny part is that outside of their character, they may not even be so dreamy at all! I have yet to determine what my "type" is, because I seem to crush on a variety of characters. I do know that in character, I find that their "look" is sexy. But outside of their character is often a really quirky looking person!

I'm going to show you who my crushes are and tell you why!

First, there is Link Larkin, from Hairspray. He is like, half my age, which basically makes me a cougar! But can't you honestly admit that it is so sexy for a guy to apologize to a gal for possibly "denting her 'do"? I love that generation of men. So polite. So cute. And that kid was really sexy in that movie. (Although he became unsexy for me when I saw High School Musical!)

Then there is Lex Luthor from Smallville. Lex is this bald guy, and normally I'd never go for bald guys. But he is so savvy and intelligent, quick on his feet, and his vocabulary is impeccable! He always has a plan. He's the bad guy that tried for so long to be good and you see that and want him to hold onto it... so you just can't hate him. That is... until he becomes a total jerk. Then it became a bit easier. But still, he's smooth, rich, and has a mysterious smile.

Do I really have to explain why McDreamy is dreamy? It's his hair. His smile. His voice. His genuineness. He's a neurosurgeon which makes him genius. He's not afraid of commitment. He's kind. He can be nice without being a flop that you walk all over- except from his girl which can't make up her mind about him. She's ridiculous for not knowing to hold on to him. If it were me, there'd be wedding bells a long time ago!

Another one from Smallville- Oliver Queen, who's superhero alter ego is "the Green Arrow". He's blond, blue eyed, kind of skinny, an average nice guy who is just incredibly cute. Since Lex is out of the picture this season, Oliver is nice eye candy as a substitute.

This one took me by surprise... Heroes' very own Gabriel, aka bad-boy/monster/serial killer "Sylar". He wasn't dreamy to me at all for the first 2 seasons. This season, he suddenly appeared yummy! I don't know what it is. Is it that he has a soft side too? Or maybe now I like the fact that he is just so very bad. Do I just like bad boys or boys with power or hunger to uncover mysteries in life?

The other one in Heroes that I like is Peter Petrelli. He is very dreamy. He has that this lip quirk. I have no idea if he does it on purpose or if it's normal, but he does, so his smile looks crooked. On the show until the future, when he becomes corrupted. He goes back and forth between the present and future to prevent more corruption and can become really mean. I like the innocent Peter, not the mean one. I want to hug him.

So there we have it, my list of current dreamy TV crushes! Who are yours?

It Makes the Year's Top Ten!

2008-11-13T19:11:00.000-08:00

Starbucks Goes Holiday!

I have a "Top Ten" list of all my favourite moments in the year. Today was one of them. The store's appeal was very nice as I walked in to the red and green decor. Everyone was oohing and awwing at the new stuff. My favourite place to chill totally transformed to Christmas, from sometime late last night to early this morning! It's like Santa arrived! The whole place is decorated christmas!

There are christmas coffee bags, cups, retail purchases, and of course they are now promoting their Holiday Drinks. My favourite is the Eggnog Latte!

This is where the best part starts. I order a full fat grande- eggnog latte with an extra shot and the very first sip, it feels like diamonds on my mouth! I can only indulge on the real deal as a rare special treat. Good things in moderation right?!

These holiday drinks are scandalous to anyone who is trying to stay on a diet this christmas. There are nonfat varieties, and you can always ask for half sweet and no whip options. If you haven't been to Starbucks or tried their holiday drinks, I would suggest you venture out and give it a try. Worth it. Good therapy! Good for boredom! Good for work! Good to keep warm!
And, Starbucks cups can always also be used as an accessory. LOL.

Ankle Up and Away!

2008-11-12T08:20:00.000-08:00

Have you ever found yourself walking around, doing your usual thing- coffee, lunch, shopping- basically anywhere in public knowing there is something wrong but you're suppressing it? Well if you answered "no," then chances are, you're probably wrong. :)

About 6 years ago, boots were heavily in fashion again (they seem to come in and out of fashion, or, I come in and out of noticing it). I had an event to attend which required me wear a skirt and the only shoes I really had were old and wrecked. My kind, generous roommate lent me her boots. I had never worn boots before! It felt so weird! I felt awkward and it felt like people were going to look at me weird or something... but it was normal. I was in school and didn't have enough money to buy myself a pair after that, but it became quite clear that I needed shoes at the very least. Shoes I could wear in the bad weather but still pull of with pants or jeans. So... I bought some ankle boots from shoe store that markets "cheap" shoes. Those cheap shoes have weathered many years and they still fit but look like a disgrace. If I'm not wearing my cute cotton summer shoes, I am forced to wear those ugly clunkers. Ah well.

As my love of fashion has been expanding, my urge to replace old items with new ones is ever-present. I have become very self conscious of my old cheap ankle boots. Yesterday I ended up in a department store that I would NEVER have gone into if I had the choice. However, I was with a friend and she needed to go there so I zipped my sassy lip just long enough to notice the boots the lady was buying ahead of us. Hmm, I thought. I should see what kind of boots they have here! Anything would be better than what I have at this point. We made a stop at the boot isle and we found extremely cute ankle boots that apparently were on sale. I went to the desk to inquire and I was totally astonished... the final price after tax was like $27! What a steal! So of course I bought them. They aren't the boots that I'm looking for- the long leg boots that are more comfortable and expensive- but at least now I'm not embarrassed to be seen in my old cheap ones that were also totally out of style.

I've been thinking about how you can wear ankle boots and I found a few words of advice whilst inquiring web-wise. I've put together a bit of a show and an ankle boot segment below. I would not normally be an ankle boot person, but I've learned a lot from this experience and actually I think that ankle boots can be used as an accessory- in that case, I would consider wearing them. But me, alone, day to day, if it hadn't been the sequence of my life events back to not buying boots long ago, I probably would have never had the ankle boot experience at all. Interesting. !!

From About.com- Desiree Stimpert
In all honesty, ankle boots are probably my least favorite style of women's footwear. It's not that I dislike ankle boots for what they are, it's more that I dislike how they're worn -- which is often in the most unflattering way possible. I blame the media. Okay, that's a cop out, and technically, I am part of the media, so I guess that statement needs a little clarification.

What I mean to say is that what we see on the runways and in fashion magazines does not always translate well for our own bodies and lives.

For example, ankle boots with cropped leggings or shorter tights is a definite "don't" for women who have shapely calves. Even women who are on the thin side have to be careful as the combination seems to chop inches off your height while adding bulk to your legs.

Ankle Boots with Long Skirts
Whether they're flat or heeled, ankle boots and long skirts are a classic combination. While I personally prefer to pair them with a long skirt that is on the fuller side, I've also seen ankle boots paired fairly successfully with long skirts that are more narrow. Whichever style you prefer, the key is to show no leg. If the skirt isn't long enough to cover the top of the ankle boot on its own, add a pair of tights.

Short Skirts and Ankle Boots
This look is definitely a little more difficult to pull off, because a lot of women don't like their legs. But it works well because instead of showing no leg, you're showing a lot of leg -- the real trouble comes in when you only show a little leg. Look for skirts that are a couple of inches above the knee or shorter and skip anything that's too full, lest your outfit start to like a figure skating costume.

The Best Pants for Ankle Boots
This one is nearly a no-brainer -- ankle boots work with any kind of pants. The advantage to wearing them over shoes or taller boots is that you get ankle coverage without the bulk of a knee-high boot. But -- and this is a big "but" -- the only pants that work well tucked into ankle boots are very tight ones. Wide-legged pants tucked into short boots create a very unflattering balloon effect.

Ankle Boots with Leggings or Tights
I mentioned before that cropped leggings don't work well with ankle boots. Long leggings or tights however, look great -- assuming of course, that leggings look good on you in the first place. If they don't, pairing them with ankle boots isn't going to make the situation any better.

Clothes to Avoid Wearing with Ankle Boots
* Cropped Pants
* Cropped Tights
* Mid-Length Skirts with Bare Legs
* Pencil Skirts
* Shorts
* Capris

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ANKLE BOOTS ankle boots ANKLE BOOTS
I am not sure where I got this advice, but it's worth reading- and if it's yours- let me know so I can credit you!!
Ankle boots, or booties, are everywhere this fall, worn with everything from skinny jeans to dresses and skirts. This doesn't mean it's a trend for everyone, however. Those with shapely calves may have a hard time wearing ankle boots with a skirt or dress since the boots tend to make even thin calves look a little thicker. If you're petite or have short legs, be aware that booties will chop inches off the length of your leg, though this can be compensated for with a high heel.

If you think you're ready to give ankle boots a try, here are some chic options:

1. Wear your ankle boots with skinny jeans
2. Wear them with dresses or skirts that hit just above the knee or higher, below the knee is harder to pull off. You can wear this look bare-legged or with opaque tights.

There you have it you fashion finder friends!

There really IS such thing as a free lunch!

2008-11-10T10:05:00.000-08:00

First, I must say, I finally have my beloved RED COAT as shown in previous post below, in my possession! I am so excited! I scanned the whole mall to make absolute sure that there was no other coat for me. There was not- I had found "the one" before I entered the mall. We got to the till, and the check out lady told us that the price was $66! I was like what the....!!!!!! I thought it was 85 bucks- but no, it was 120, cut to 85, plus an additional percentage clearance sale! Apparently they're trying to clear the store to make room for the winter clothes arriving soon. I was so happy. I LOVE sales! What a bargain!

Now, while I'm on the subject of bargains, I simply MUST tell you this one. We though we'd go out for a light breakfast or brunch at a restaurant nearby. It's known as a higher quality establishment. We ordered, talked a lot, thought nothing about the time. But apparently there was chaos in the kitchen. So the manager approached us and said "I am so sorry, it should never take longer than 30 minutes for someone to receive their food, can I get you a round of drinks or dessert on us? We agreed and thought "awesome"!

Then when our lunch finally did come, I didn't get what I ordered!!! It's not like i was in a bad mood about it or anything. But the poor waitress said she felt so embarrassed and didn't even want to walk by our table! lol. It really wasn't that bad. Except we were there for 2 1/2 hours... In the end, we had our free desserts but the manager said he was going to pay for our whole meal. What a deal!

So there really IS such thing as a free lunch!

THE Red Coat: OCD or Plain Old Heartthrob?

2008-11-08T08:30:00.000-08:00

I just could not stop thinking about THE red coat yesterday. It was like a plague that consumed my whole self, or I was trapped in some kind of crazy bubble that if not popped, I would die of clausterphobia! I have been thinking about a "red winter coat" for weeks now, but seeing it online and then talking about it on the blog really unleashed my feelings hardcore. It stirred my mind into a tizzy all day and I my obsession was becoming a compulsion- something I've never really had before! It was all I could do was think about how much I needed it! I even cried, trying to explain it to hubby! How dorky is that! lol!

Before he knew about the intense coat feelings, I ended up feeling so crappy yesteray evening and my hubby said, "well, if you could do anything in the world right now and money was no issue, what would you do?" I knew the answer immediately. I wanted the red coat. The one I displayed on my blog is from Banana Republic and wayyyy over my budget- it was well over $200. But I searched all the websites from the stores in my general area and found out which ones carry red coats at which price and which styles. By the time I found THE red coat that is right for me and in my budget, I had lots of time to get it before the store closed. Problem is, hubby was not enthralled with this at all. He didn't expect to follow through on doing anything to satisfy my urges to uplift my crappy mood. I hate to admit it, but this is a time I get caught acting like my sis Ella, whining to hubby until I get my way. But I mean, the store was just like 5 minutes away! I'm not supposed to drive at the moment so that's why he was involved.

We did end up going of course. I saw it, tried it on (I pulled it from the website- it's the pic on the right. The only difference I saw is there is aren't actually buttons on the collar, which I prefer anyway. In the end they didn't have my size, so I'll be picking up my size at the other store in the next town over sometime today. Wooo hoo! My craving will be quenched! Isn't it such a beautiful coat? Ahhhh the coat. My coat. I hope this cinches that little holiday indulgence for myself.

I couldn't help but notice that the whole store in which I found my coat is filled with thousands of beautiful merchandise that I would LOVE to get my hands all over! Maybe my new calling in life is something to do with wearing clothes and returning them the next day? lol...
Anyway, I suppose for now I should stick with the online dreaming mode! In order to keep from going bankrupt... :)

Classy Rainy Day

2008-11-07T07:48:00.000-08:00

It's another beautiful rainy fall gloomy day everyone! For me, that means shopping! Wooo! The unfortunate part is that I really shouldn't be spending the thousands of dollars that the real "Stars" spend, so I went on a shopping spree online and carefully crafted today's "Rainy Day Outfit- Violet Starr's Style"! It is of course constructed with extreme thought and effort. If you had a few moments, I hope you took the time to see my slide-show above. You can always refresh the browser to start over.

I will do something on makeup or other things too once in awhile, as I'm realizing how fun it is! Enjoy!

The Life of Love

2008-11-05T19:58:00.000-08:00

How many times can a person fall in love? Stay in love?

I don't know how many times a person can have true love. Once? Many times? But I do have thoughts on the life of the heart, and the life of love.

I think back to my first love. I was so young... did I even know what love means? The boy I loved was not a boyfriend but a best friend. We had so much common ground and great chemistry. He took me on amazing dates, like, he made dinner for me up on a mountain with a view. He used his cute little travel size barbeque and we made our favourite food. There were moments where I thought he might even kiss me. He wrote me letters in college while I was away. Some were so silly and cute! Our friendship continued to grow. He came to my house late at night before his night shifts at work, and I would make him sandwiches. He would hug me. He even told me he loved me. When I saw that he was flirting with a girl that was a close acquaintance of mine, I was worried that he would choose her over me. Perhaps he had been leading me on... I was right. We talked, laughed about how easy it was to talk since we were so close, and then took a few days to decide what he thought. I ended up learning that despite having all of the qualities he sees in a girlfriend and future wife, he could only ever love me like a sister. Ouch. He ended up marrying the other girl.

My second love was a twisted unhealthy relationship that ended on a bad note. We made it right since then. I really did love him, I think. I tried so hard to make it work. So did he, at times. Unfortunately, I was a victim of verbal abuse at the very least. While our relationship had wonderful good times, it had tretcherous bad times. Why did I continue to love him? He was nothing like my first love, except that he said "I love you" back, and not in a sister way. I didn't have that with anyone before and I was afraid I would never have it again.

My third love is my husband. He is my best friend, my boyfriend, and my husband. I've had the best dates with him, the longest relationship with him, and I have never had to worry about another girl. He tells me he loves me, without any verbal abuse. He strives to be the sole provider for our household. He is strong and has high integrity. He treats me like a lady should be treated. When we knew we were right for each other, I pulled out the box of excess paraphenalia from my previous loves. I told him I want to love him with my whole heart.

My first love took up much of my heart. I spent hours daydreaming about our relationship, our future, and the day he would profess his feelings for me. I wrote literally dozens of poems and songs for him and about him. Which, he never knew about and never will. My second love took a smaller portion of my heart, but it was still big. I dreamed about our future together, I sent him cards and gave him gifts, and did whatever I could to please him. My third love started out with a medium size portion of my heart, because the first two loves took up a lot of space.

I pulled out the contents of "the box" and I tore up each item, and if not possible, I cut or broke or burned the other items. I had mixed feelings. I was sad to part with the memories, but I needed my whole heart to give to my husband. I needed the holes in my heart to heal. In time, I believe they have. The heart is very strong, and yet so sensitive. When it was done, I felt so free.

Today I spoke with someone who thinks that if you truly loved a person, it is unconditional and you will love them forever. After considering this for quite some time, I think that if someone is willing to part themselves with their love forever, then the bond of true love in an intimate relationship has been broken. It has become conditional rather than unconditional, because the condition is that you love them as long as they are apart from you. So then, love is not lost unless you cast it away.