A Better Me - Health Edition

What a great day it is! No, really. Think about it. Today is a GREAT day!

Positive thinking will get you places. I never really believed that until recently. I’d look around at people who were having a miserable day and wonder, why don’t they just make the best of it? Then I realized… I wasn’t making the best of what I had either!

Four weeks ago I decided to change that! Three weeks ago I began the process of creating a better life for myself. Well, I say three weeks… But I actually began this four years ago when I decided to go back to school and get a degree. It was three weeks ago that I decided I was going to better my life FURTHER.

When I was little, I was consistently under weight. Not for lack of eating. I ate constantly! I remember one morning, I was around 6 years old, my Grandmother had made pancakes for breakfast. I was so proud of myself. Why? I ate 6 pancakes! For a teeny tiny 6 year old that was a big deal!

Let me just say now, that I do not want to be skinny. I never have. I just want to be healthy.

Puberty was NOT my friend. Between 10 and 11 I had started to gain weight. I didn’t really notice it until I began taking dance classes and all the other girls were so much thinner than I was. I began to hate my body. The only problem was… The worse I felt about myself, the more I ate. It got to the point where I could eat an entire box of Cheez-it’s in one sitting. I just kept getting bigger and bigger, more and more unhealthy, and I really didn’t care about what I was doing to myself and how it might hurt me in the long run!

After high school I began working at a local fabric store. I started eating ONLY cereal and drinking only Hi-C Juice boxes, water, and the occasional Starbucks. I noticed that I was losing weight! I wasn’t trying to lose weight, but I was happy about it! What I didn’t realize is that, while I was getting thinner, I wasn’t getting healthier. In fact, I was even more tired and my immune system was even weaker than before!

I gave up the accidental juice and cereal diet, and started eating like I had been since I was 11. I quickly put back on all the weight I had lost, and then some. This only got worse when I began working in the food industry.

Now, at 26 years old, I can see the damage I was doing to my body. At 5’2” and 190lbs (as of 4 weeks ago) I was the heaviest I have ever been. I had a physical over the summer and blood work. The test came back stating that I was pre-diabetic and my cholesterol was on the rise. I spoke with my doctor about things I could do, but I never fully understood WHAT I was supposed to do!

I have tried other things in the past, from eating according to a diabetic diet, eating ONLY fruits and veggies, to extremes like trying out diet pills. Nothing has ever worked.

Four weeks ago I found this website: http://rabbitfoodformybunnyteeth.com/

I had a doctors appointment a week after I found this site, and by then I had written down everything I thought was important about it. This included, meals, serving sizes, recipes, and so on. I brought this to my doctors appointment with me and showed it to my Doctor. I didn’t want to start something that would lead to me being malnourished and even less healthy than before. She agreed that this would be a good way for me to get, and stay on the path to a healthy life style.

So three weeks ago I started eating according to the rabbit food pyramid.

Since then I have seen my Doctor again (Don’t try and stab your eye out, it’s painful!), I lost 3 lbs my first week! Not only that, I feel more energetic, happier, I sleep better, my skin looks and feels better! EVERYTHING feels better!!

I want to continue eating healthier for 6 weeks before I introduce anything else into my life style. I have never been able to stick to sudden changes that I have tried to make in my life style. Knowing this, I feel will help me, I can work with how I know I function!

February 17th I am introducing the next step of my journey to be healthier. I will be going back to the gym, no excuses.

The reason I felt motivated to write this post today was… In 2009 I took a trip to Seattle. While I was there I purchased an amazing belt, that I completely adore. This belt was fitted and cut to my size. I haven’t been able to wear this belt in three years, possibly a little longer. This morning, I noticed my favorite jeans were falling a bit more than they usually do. Having no other belts that would help with this situation, I decided to just try and make my belt work for the day.

The belt fits. I’m not being squeezed or pinched. It FITS. I danced around my house singing about my favorite belt fitting me again. And I came into work smiling bright, despite the single digit temperatures outside. This was a milestone that I had set in my mind that I wanted to reach. I kept the belt, knowing that it didn’t fit me, because I wanted to be able to wear it again. It has been my motivation and now a leaping point.

Now I KNOW I can do this! I can be healthy, which is all I have ever wanted!

Bettering my life is a long journey and it is not only about having a healthy body, but a healthy mind. I will continue to post about my journey and my accomplishments. This post was about the success I have already achieved and hope to continue to achieve for a healthy body. This WILL NOT be the subject of the majority of my posts. This is meant only to serve as encouragement. Even if you feel like nothing is working for you, keep your head up. With the right mindset you’ll find something that DOES work for you and you’ll be SO proud of yourself for trying. This is true for ALL things in life, not just being healthy!

YAY Turquoise!!

Yesterday I spent a good chunk of time watching youtube videos. Mostly from KathleenLights (who is super adorable). She has a tutorial posted using a really pretty turquoise eyeshadow, that I LOVED. I instantly wanted to try it!

At first I thought I would need to take a trip to Ulta to get turquoise eyeshadow. Nope. My new Smashbox palette and an eyeshadow compact I have had for a really long time BOTH had really nice turquoise shadows in them! YAY!

I decided to try out both eyeshadows to see if they were the same or which one would be better.

Here are the results!

Eye #1: Right eye - Smashbox
sorry my eye isn't actually open in the open shot :/

Came out nicely! Now for Eye #2! The mark. eye!

I do like how the Smashbox nutrals look better than the mark. brand. The mark. turquoise is definitely more vibrant and slightly more blue, I'm not sure if you can notice that in the photos. It also probably helps that the eye I applied the mark. brand to is slightly larger. My eyes are differently shaped and sized, which makes putting makeup on a HUGE pain, but I make do.

Anyway, here is the full list of products I used:

Right:
•Smashbox shadows from the Wondervision Mega Palette (Orange - crease, Turquoise - lid, Citrine - transition color, Maize - highlight, Pearl - inner corner)
•NYX Jumbo eye pencil in milk - eye shadow base
•BH Cosmetics Waterproof eye crayon in Shadow - Tight line and water line
•Tarte Lights Camera Flashes mascara
•Tarte EmphasEYES inner liner in black - water line
•Smashbox Limitless liquid eyeliner pen in Jet black - winged liner

Left:
•mark. On The Dot eye color compact** (the dark brown - crease, the turquoise - lid, the taupe - transition color, and the metalic cream - highlight and inner corner)
•NYX Jumbo eye pencil in milk - eye shadow base
•BH Cosmetics Waterproof eye crayon in Shadow - Tight line and water line
•Tarte Lights Camera Flashes mascara
•Tarte EmphasEYES inner liner in black - water line
•Smashbox Limitless liquid eyeliner pen in Jet black - winged liner

**I'm not sure if you can still get this. I got it eons ago when my Grandmother was still selling Avon. I just REALLY love the super metallic colors in this compact.

This look will probably become a summer favorite of mine. I really love it!
And here is the link to KathleenLights' tutorial!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVuG0xRVp10

December Glossybox Product Review

For those of you who don't know what Glossybox is...

Glossybox is a monthly subscription box. You pay $21 per month and they send you a pretty pink box with 5 products in it! Most of the products are sample sized, but usually there are a couple of full sized products in there as well.

This was my first Glossybox and I'm really excited to receive more in the future!

Anyway, I have tried out all the products in my Glossybox for December, so if you're interested please keep reading! 

Peace and love!
♥Kayla

I have included photos of the products and prices of the full sized items.

Rating system: Hated ♡ to Loved ♡♡♡♡♡

ANATOMICALS YOU NEED A BLOOMING SHOWER! - 9.50 $ / 10 fl oz. 
This vitalizing body cleanser makes every shower a flower-power experience. The natural healing properties of rose and jasmine leave you feeling as fresh and fragrant as a flower.

WHAT I THOUGHT:I was really excited to try this shower gel. The packaging was adorable, and the fragrance was floraly and pretty, not over powering and didn’t linger (important to me because I didn’t want it to interfere with my favorite perfume). My first experience with this product was it didn’t lather well, and it left a waxy feel to my skin. I wanted to give it a second go before I came to any conclusion. My second try, it lathered better (I used more product), but I still felt a bit waxy. The waxy feel doesn’t really bother me, but I know some people would be very turned off by that. So if you don’t mind a slight waxy, almost tight, feel to your skin after you’ve showered, I definitely recommend this product. If you HATE that feeling, stay away from this wash. 

RATING: ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

MICHAEL TODD TRUE ORGANICS PUMPKIN NUTRIENT-RICH FACIAL MASK - 34.00 $ / 3.38 oz.This mask smells so much like fresh pumpkin you will think it's Thanksgiving. And exfoliant lovers will give Thanks! That tingle is the pumpkin enzyme combining with glycolic acid to go to town on your skin’s flaws dissolving impurities like dead skin and clogged pores. Adds brightness and radiance to the skin and significantly improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles after a single use.

If you thought that masks were only for mature skin types…think again! The key to clearer skin is to unclog pores, reduce bacteria and nourish, tone and heal on and below the skin’s surface. Today’s masks from MICHAEL TODD true organics do all that transforming dull, lackluster skin into clearer irresistible complexions.

WHAT I THOUGHT:Again, really excited to try this out, because pumpkin. I have never used a facial mask before, I don’t know why, I have always wanted to try them out! So I thought “Oh, hey cool! I can finally try a mask!” I honestly don’t know how I feel about this product. I definitely want to try it again, but I wasn’t overly impressed with it. The scent was a little bit to get over, it smells like medicated pumpkin. Plain and simple. Now, it says right on the bottle “do not use on sensitive skin” or something to that effect. My facial epidermis is not sensitive… Just oily and gross, so I didn’t think I’d have an issue. I applied the mask and noticed a bit of a stinging sensation, not a tingle, on the sides of my nose, and only there. It went away after a few seconds and was not unbearable so that didn’t really bother me. Rinsing it off was a bit of a pain. If you’ve ever carved a pumpkin you know how difficult it is to make your hands feel right after you’ve had them soaked in pumpkin guts for any length of time. This is similar to that but not as bad. I did have to lightly scrub it off with my hands and even after that there were bits that stuck to my face that I had to scrub off with a towel. I didn’t notice my skin feeling (to the touch), or looking any different afterwards and I’d assumed that I would notice at least a tiny difference. I did enjoy the nice clean feeling on my face after rinsing.

RATING: ♡ ♡ ♡ 

NAILS INC. VICTORIA POLISH - 9.50 $ / 0.33 fl oz.Nails inc nail polishes are professionally formulated for a long lasting, ultra glossy finish. Victoria is a top selling shade that will go with any outfit, day or night.

WHAT I THOUGHT:Ok. This color. Stunning! The constancy of the polish was great, it took the normal two coats to get the desired look. I REALLY love this polish. The color is reminiscent of a nice merlot when you get the two coats, and a bit blood colored with one coat. Like most nail polishes, it is self leveling, for me that’s a huge deal! I feel like this color would really look great on all skin tones and go with most outfits. It’s just a very versatile and lovely.

RATING: ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

DR HUNTER'S ORIGINAL REMEDIES ROSEWATER AND GLYCERINE HAND CRÈME - 14.00 $ / 2.5 oz.Dr Hunter's Original Remedies by Caswell Massey use formulas from our archives to bring you products that get back to basics. Rosewater and Glycerine Hand Crème contains Natural Rosewater, Glycerine, Sweet Almond Oil, and Shea Butter and is easily absorbed to soften and condition hands. Packaged in a metal tube.

WHAT I THOUGHT:This is a great little hand cream to keep in your bag. It’s really silky feeling and not greasy at all. The only thing I have against this little product is the scent. I love rose scents, but I feel that this is a bit strong. I applied some in the car and my Mum and Grandmother both complained of the “old lady smell” afterward. So, while I do love the cream, especially in the winter when my hands are super dry, I’m not a fan of how strong the scent is. But if you really love rose scents, you’ll love this!

RATING: ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

NAOBAY OXYGENATING CREAM MOISTURIZING - 45.00 $ / 1.7 fl oz.Oxygenating Cream moisturizes, protects and softens: this universal cream meets, in a single product, the essential needs of hydration for all skin types. Its special composition based on high-quality plant extracts and organic vegetable oils, such as Rosehip oil and Sweet Almond oil, helps ideally balance the skin’s hydrolipidic film. Rapidly absorbed after application, it provides a makeup base for prolonged wear.

WHAT I THOUGHT:I’m always really weary of moisturizers, mainly because of how oily my skin is, so when I saw this in the box I was not overly thrilled. My non-fondness continued when I took a little sniff of the product. What? It’s going on my face, I want to know what it’s going to smell like! My first reaction to the scent of this was something along the lines of “omg. It smells like poison.” Not really sure why that is what popped into my inter cranial tissue, but hey! It was kind of accurate. It’s NOT pleasant smelling AT ALL. As put off as I was by the smell, I decided to try anyway. Twice. For the price of the full sized product, I was expecting fireworks to go off on my face. Nope. It left my skiing feeling even more greasy, I didn’t think that was possible, and I didn’t feel like it was moisturizing, more like coating. Honestly, I use the seaweed line from The Body Shop and I’m 100% more impressed with that than I was with the Naobay moisturizer. I suppose if you have INCREDIBLY dry skin this would probably do wonders for you… But if you’re like me, and have oily skin… STAY AWAY!! 

RATING: ♡