USE IT UP ’14 {update}

Earlier this year I declared I would not buy make-up this year, with the exception of few things from collections I wanted. My goal was to use up what I have. Sadly, I have failed horribly. Well, at the buying part. I’ve used up quite a few things which have made me smile. Hitting pan on eyeshadow makes my soul smile and I feel so accomplished (unless it is limited edition, in that case I cry a little). At any rate I’m back on my no-buy and I think I’d be much more successful if I’d unsubscribe from the emails Urban Decay sends out. Yall pray my strength in keeping my coins in my bank account. Until next time take care.

Pancakes.

The past few months have been extremely rocky with Crohn’s Disease. Dealing with the stress of a new position at work and the death of a friend all while maybe not eating the best caused my Crohn’s to flare in all the worst possible ways. I’m sure everyone handles coming out of a flare differently, culinarily wise that is. I’ve noticed that when I come out of a flare I attach myself to one food that I know for a fact won’t bother my stomach. Thinking back I don’t think the foods that I cling on to are ever the same. After my initial diagnosis I ate tuna and tilapia daily and gradually added other foods in. The past three weeks it has been pancakes… IHOP pancakes to be more specific. I’m thankful to have at least one friend who has been more than understanding with this, even though each time we pull into IHOP she goes on a short diatribe about how this is the most she’s been to IHOP in the last three years combined.
During a flare I don’t eat. At all. I know that is not recommended, however I’m like a child with a hot stove. ‘You don’t have to burn me but once’ is the mentality I have with most pain. During this last flare there wasn’t a moment when I was not in level 8-10 pain. I know that anything other than liquid going into my body would elevate that pain, therefore I choose not to eat. Naturally, when I do start to eat again its very little and very specific things. As of this moment the foods I am eating are pancakes, chicken breast and eggs…. oh and bacon. Do any of yall with Crohn’s or Ulcerative Colitis(or any other similar disease) go through the same thing after a flare? What are the first few weeks coming out of a flare like for yall? Until next time take care!

Remission

I just want my Crohn’s Disease to go into remission… That’s all. Until next time, take care.

January Ipsy Bag — 19 Reasons

The Ipsy Bag for January has arrived! Instead of making a video showing the items that came in the bag I decided to try the products and include a review of the products as well.

The bag: This isn’t a bag that could be described as eye-catching. The best bag was the December bag, the black with red interior. This bag is blue and in a lighter blue (lets say sky blue) there are silhouettes of what appear to be cleansers, nail polish, lotions, and lipsticks. The bag is the same size as the others. The build quality is pleasingly sturdy and is a constant that can be found with Ipsy.

Proactiv+ Mark Fading Pads: Four of these pads came in the bag, which isn’t enough to see any real results. Naturally, the instructions indicate that if you use this with the rest of the Proactiv system you will see the best results. The only complaint with these, besides not having enough to see if they’re worth buying, is that they stink. No. Stink doesn’t accurately capture what my nose experienced. These pads STANK. I can’t put my finger on exactly what it is but it’s not something I’m willing to slide across my skin nightly.

Elizabeth Mott Smooth Shadow Pencil: This item arrived in the color penny, aptly named. The pencil is copper colored with an ample amount of glitter. The pigmentation of the shadow stick is awesome and the color is incredibly easily to blend. The amount of glitter is the only downside, but overall a great pencil.

Malin+Goetz Mojito Lip Balm: According to the packaging this lip balm is a daily protection, soothing treatment with fatty acid absorption technology. I’m sure that’s all great and amazing, however, I was only able to wear this 2 or 3 times. This “balm” is incredibly sticky. Maybe I just used to much when I applied it. I’ll keep it around and give It another try somewhere later down the line. There is no color to this product, which is fine.

Briogeo Deep Conditioning Mask: I really want to try this product! I’m hesitant to try this because I’m not sure if its geared towards natural ethnic hair. The last few week my hair has been incredibly dry and I’m currently struggling with keeping it moisturized in these frigid temperatures. [Side Bar: I feel as though the phrase “frigid temperatures” should never pass through my mouth when describing the weather in my area. I live in Texas there should be nothing frigid about these temperatures.] Anyway, at the current time I cant afford to try something new on my hair in its current state. I will keep y’all posted if and when I try it.

Faith Aromatherapy Sugar Scrub: Aromatherapy? I don’t know about that, maybe its because of my war with allergies. Anti-aging? Can’t really speak on that either. The area I used it on (my hands) were super soft after use. It’s a good product.

I was underwhelmed with this months bag, still haven’t figured out what the 19 reasons are. I think the overall concept was great, new year cleansing and refreshing the skin. I am excited to see what the bag for February looks like! Until next time, take care.

USE IT UP ’14

If I added up the amount of money I spent on make-up in 2013 I would definitely want to kick my own ass. I’ve acquired quite a collection. Now, its time to actually use it. As far as purchasing new make-up, I’m not doing too much of that in 2014. The things I will purchase I have no intention on paying full price for. Well MAC has 3 things coming out this year that I want but that’s it… I promise… hopefully. Ulta always has great sales especially with Maybelline buy 1 get on half off. Right up my little frugal alley. I had initially said that the first 6 months of 2014 I’m not buying ANYTHING, unless it was to replenish, but my plan was foiled when Bare Minerals dropped me a little line about being on QVC. :: face palm:: I couldn’t help but get one of the kits. So there went that. Anyway, I figure it would be fun to create little monthly challenges, for example for one week I’m only allowed to use one particular palette or one lip color. Doing things like that will give me an opportunity to use what I have and rediscover palettes that may have gotten pushed aside. Until next time, take care.

All in a Days Work.

I’ll be the first to admit that when I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease I was terrible with taking my medicine. The first three months or so I was great, never missed a dose. As time went on a missed dose here and there turned into me not taking it at all. After my initial hospital stay I didn’t really have any symptoms of Crohn’s, so naturally I wasn’t driven to take my medicine. There was the occasional what I like to call blips or slight flare. Things remained that way up until about the summer of 2012. Around August 2012 symptoms started appearing, nothing too crucial. It was in the winter when the pain (something akin to machetes being tossed around my intestines) or cramps started. I then started taking my medicine periodically.

Fast forward to early summer 2013, I experienced the WORST flare I’ve ever had to date with my Cohn’s disease. I’ll spare yall the gross details but just know that every symptom associated with Crohn’s Disease was on ten. I lost around 17lbs in about a week and a half. Making the journey from my living room to my bed required all the strength in the world. I made a few trips to the E.R. but there wasn’t really anything they could do. I made an appointment with my G.I. doctor immediately, mainly to get refills on my medicine. After a ‘I’m so disappointed in you’ speech from doctor regarding my lack of visits he explains my blood work looked terrible. Obviously. Since then I have really good about taking my medicine. I’m not perfect, I miss a dose every once and a while but never two in a row. With out this hand full of pharmaceuticals I have to consume on a daily I would be extremely ill and in a hell of a lot of pain. Until next time Take care.

Product Review: MAC Punk Couture Collection Lipsticks

I cant wait for these Lipsticks to come out. I want all four!!!

Butterfly Eyes

Many of you may already be aware of the December 26th Punk Couture Collection that MAC will be releasing (and if you were lucky enough to catch Nordstrom’s brief online pre-sale you might already have your hands on the collection). The collection includes pigments, an eye shadow quad, lip glasses, and 4 lipsticks. This review focuses on the lipsticks in the collection.

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Ruminations of the Chronically Ill (1)

Turkey, dressing, macaroni and cheese, cranberry sauce, green beans, yams, pies, cakes and other various items. All of the aforementioned things will be spread out before me in less than 24 hours. Awesome right? Well, all that actually depends on how my stomach is feeling. By the looks of things I should be fine this year, however thats not always the case. All this food talk and preparation has led me to thinking about food in general. I understand the general population isn’t privy to all the ins and outs of Crohn’s Disease and naturally people have questions. Hell, I have it and I’m no expert.  ‘What can you eat?’ ‘Should you eat that?’ have quickly become questions I despise. This question only makes me shudder when it comes repeatedly from people close to me. For example if a close friend, that I’ve already had this conversation with ask if I should be eating a particular food. I know it comes out of love but its still slightly aggravating.  Wait, let me explain. The thing is Crohn’s Disease if very unpredictable. I could eat one dish on Monday and be completely okay, the very same dish could have me on the floor in the fetal postion on Thursday. When I was diagnosed with Crohn’s I was handed a list of foods to stay away from during a flare and on that same list they listed a few “safe” foods. The “safe” foods list is very small and as you continue to live with the disease it changes. During my last flare I only consumed plain mashed potatoes(sans butter), boiled (unseasoned) chicken and applesauce. While I’m not flaring I love a huge salad and slightly spicy foods. I’m from Louisiana, what do you expect? I know my limitations(for the most part) and I don’t like to feel as though anyone is policing my condition. Again, I know its out of love but still. I hope everyone has an amazing Thanksgiving. Until we meet again, take care.

Did it work?

Let me just go ahead and accept the fact that no matter what face primer I use, it will never work. Ever. Over the past week or so I’ve been trying out a couple of Neutrogena’s shine control products, both the primer and the powder. Maybe I’m not clear on how a primer is supposed to work, but from my understanding, its purpose it to help improve the application and extend the wear of the make-up. This product didn’t recieve the message. I applied this product and did not notice a difference.  My experience with the shine control powder was pleasing. No matter what I do during the appplication of make-up, my nose will shine bright like a diamond a couple hours later. During my 12-hour days, I only need to apply the shine control powder once, maybe twice. I would re-purchase the shine control powder and leave the primer in its position on the shelf. 

Will this work? (1)

Plagued with oily skin, I’ve found a lot of the products claiming to control oil simply don’t. A beauty guru I suscribe to on YouTube mentioned this product so I’d thougth I’d give it a try. Until next time, take care.