Raw 144

Can I be completely honest? I don't know if the doctor's office scale is off but I weighed in at 154 about two weeks ago. My doctor asked me if I wanted to get the Lapband - not sure if I spelled that right. WOW! Is that all it takes? Was he just suggesting it because he wants the refferal money or am I just that fat?

Is this possible? Today I weighed in at 144, nearly two weeks after RAW. I'm not the Raw police. I just want to feel better. I cheat sometimes. I had ramen for lunch yesterday. I loose self control when I drink. Is drinking agaist RAW law?

Two weeks in, my eczema is almost all gone on my body but my face is still extremely dry, flakey, and tight. The ithching has subsided quite a bit but not completely gone.

I feel lighter and more energized. I am less sleepy during the day and sleep better at night. I have to find a way to eat more Omega 3 because my eyes are super dry.

I need to get more exercise.

I'm on a role today.

Smoothie made with my Bullet.
Blueberries
Pinapple
Papaya

Snackin'
Dried sea weed
Nectarine
Raw pimpkin seeds

Lunch
Mixed green salad
Baby spinach
Tomato
Seaweed salad
Alfalfa sprouts
Bell pepper
Ginger vinegarette dressing

More papaya

Green tea.

So far . . .

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Raw

For the first time in my life I feel a tinge of hope. I have been eating 70% Raw for almost two weeks now. I feel the awesomeness creeping in. I feel, dare I say the word? No . . . It's too soon. Screw it! I feel G double O D GOOD!

I have been asked, "WTF? WHY?" about seventeen bagillion, million times. The answer is because my skin makes me want to crawl into a dark and deep hole in the earth, take some jumbo sized sandpaper and scratch it all off. Not to mention, I am 29 with super crazy high blood pressure. So high in fact, I need to take medication. This year alone I have been sick with the flu twice, stomach flu once and the constant allergies or colds and, . . . . And . . . I cannot breathe! I am sucking on my fucken inhalor like that kid from Goonies! Then there is the hypothyroidism I have been dealing with for more than a decade. I am so exhausted all the time, I am convinced I am suffering from narcolepsy. My body just aches and before now I had just accepted this as part of my life. But most importantly, I have this empty ache in my heart. I so deperately want to have a baby. I haven't been able to carry a pregnancy to term. We have been trying for almost 4 years now.

So, here I am. Not dieting but putting my foot down and deciding to take a different path, to worship my body and tell these "issues" to fuck off! Hopefully the rest will follow.

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Redding Your Lips

I love wearing this look. Red lips are a quick classic look that is actually really easy to pull off. Just a swipe of a neutral eyeshadow like MAC All That Glitters and Soft Brown, a few coats of extra black mascara and the lightest hint of NARS Orgasm Blush and you have a look that is simple and Classic. There are a couple of things to keep in mind when wearing red lips.


#1 Color. There are many types of reds. There are reds that have a more orange tone, true reds, blue- reds, and reds that have a warmer hue to them. You really have to actually TRY them on your lips and experiment with the colors to find what looks great on you.


#2 Finishes. For a really classic look, I wear a red lipstick with a little shine to it like MAC Red (satin finish/ bluish-red tone.) When I want to go for a more modern Pin Up look I wear something that has a Matte finish like MAC Ruby Woo or MAC Russian Red (both bluish-red tones as well.) If you aren't comfortable with wearing a look that is really bold, or you're just looking to add a little touch of color to your lips you can always do a red lip gloss instead.


#3 Base. Smooth, even toned lips are really one of the most important things to consider when wearing any bold, matte shade. I will usually slather some lip balm on, let in set in and then rub my lips with a towel or tooth brush until they are nice and smooth. I then rub a little more lip balm and then some concealer on to my lips and just to my lip line and slightly outwards (some people wear a lipstick base) to wash out the natural color of my lips making the color applied truer and more intense. It also helps to creates a nice smooth surface for the lipstick to glide on to and help with bleeding or feathering. This leads us to the other most important point.


#4 Application and Neatness. Line those lips!!! I cannot stress this enough! When wearing reds, definition and neatness is really important. You don't want to look like Courtney Love now (unless you like looking like trash.) I like to line my lips on my natural lip line and fill in my entire lip. This will help further the intensity of your lipstick color as well as give it some serious staying power. I find that with red or bold colors, it is not a good idea to line outside your natural lip line (some people do this to create a fuller looking mouth.) Doing this causes the lip color to bleed out into the little lines around your lips.


Here is the trick I learned from my cousin Carmelyn. She literally wears red lipstick and Retro Waves in her hair ever single day. So glamorous! After making sure my lips are smooth, washing out the color and applying a good base, I line my lips. Then, I apply the lip color straight from the tube all over my lips. I carefully blot my lips on to a tissue. To prevent bleeding, I sometimes do a reverse lip liner with a small lip brush and concealer. Then, I take one layer of tissue to my lips (usually there are two) and dust some loose powder on to it over my lips as well as the outer areas surrounding my lips. Last, I take a lip brush and reapply the color. I concentrate the majority of the color on the inner parts of my lips, working my way out, thinning out the amount of product as I get closer I get to my lip line. Do not over load your lips with product!! Keep the layers thin and minimal. Also, you want to keep your general lip line area on the matte side with out to much of the actual lipstick there, too much product in that area will cause bleeding. You really just want to deposit just enough color in that area. If you lined your lips properly with a shade that matches your lipstick, you shouldn't really see a difference. That's it!


#5 Check Up and Retouch! My red lips usually stay in tact for about 4 hours without touch ups and if I eat carefully LOL! Beware: When wearing red lipstick, any bleeding of color or smudge will be really obvious and take you from classy to trashy really quick. So, keep a cute little mirror compact handy and check on your lips ever now and then. Don't obsess, just check up. What you may need to retouch: Q-tips, concealer, powder, lip brush and lip stick. The best thing to do is to not over load your lips with even more product. depending on your needs, you may just need a light touch up to the inner or midsection of your lips. If your red look starts to feather, do not redo your lips. Just take your q-tip and clean up just the area outside of your natural lip line that has the color bleeding out. In that area take your CLEAN lip brush and apply just a little concealer to keep your lips looking neat, reline your lips and then use your lip brush to apply your lip color only where you need to and blot. I usually don't have to go through all this but every once in a while . . .

#6 Own it! You really have to own it and know that you look great. Confidence is the key to pulling any look off.


Red lipsticks that I wear daily : All MAC Lipsticks: Russian Red (Matte) Bright Bluish-Red tone, Ruby Woo (Matte) Bright Bluish-Red tone, Mac Red (Satin) Classic Bluish-Red tone, Diva (Matte) Intense reddish-burgundy (This color is DRAMA.)

Thanks for Reading!

I Went Swimming Yesterday in a Purple Sun Block Skin Suit

Devan (age 2): Auntie, why does you skin look like that?

Makayla (age 8): Auntie, why is your skin purple? and neon . . . .

Husband (age 29 and mean): Ugh! What up with your skin? Isn't there a sun block that won't make you look like a neon barney? (not really what he said but something mean like that)

Auntie T (age 28 years of super hyper sensitive skin) :
Okay, okay! My skin is purple because I fear the sun and it burning powers! Sure, the sun is bright. It's fun, and warm and soothing. When it's nice to you, you can play outside all day, go to the beach or pool and hang out all day. But then you turn your back and go inside or the day is over and you have to leave. All of a sudden the sun is still on your back - your face, your neck and chest and its saying, " HA HA HA I got you!!!! mwa ha ha!" You are burned, red and ITCHY! The sun got you alright and the pain it causes will last for days and days.

I am purple because I don't care what it takes, how many layers of natural sunblock I have to put on, I am not getting a sun burn this summer!!!

DDF Organic Sun Protection SPF 30

3 layers of this all over my face, even around my eyes, neck and chest. No allergies. No Sunburn. Not so white or crazy purple when topped with some good old tinted moisturizer. YAY!


California Baby Water Resistant, Hypo-Allergenic Sunscreen, SPF 30+
Heavy, white, purple neon when it gets wet sunscreen. I can put this on my face and all over my body and not worry about breaking out, allergies to the actual product or getting a sunburn. I look ridiculous but at least my skin is protected. Ha Ha Ha!

Derma E Eyebright Eye Makeup Remover Sensitive Review

Derma E Eyebright Eye Makeup Remover

A light, oil-free formula that works quickly to safely remove eye makeup, leaving your skin fresh and ready for your favorite eye crème or moisturizer. Chamomile and Cucumber extracts soothe, refresh, and tighten skin while Eyebright extract protects against inflammation and irritation. Bilberry extract promotes healthy circulation, and Green Tea extract delivers important antioxidants to the delicate skin around the eyes. Suitable for all skin types and for those who wear contact lenses.

Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Decyl Glucoside, Glycerin, Organic Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract (Certified Organic By Quality Assurance International, Usda or Guaranteed Organic Certification Agency), Organic Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract (Certified Organic By Quality Assurance International, Usda or Guaranteed Organic Certification Agency), Euphrasia Officinalis (Eyebright Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus (Bilberry) Extract, Allantoin, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Panthenol, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin.

Derma E has some great products for sensitive skin. This is really, really good stuff! I have been using this eye makeup remover for about 2 years now.I have tried many different brands and either they didn't do the job or they are too strong and I am allergic to them. This one is super gentle on my eyes and it really does the job. The product itself is oil-free which is great because I tend to get little whiteheads around my eyes if the product is too greasy. This eye make up remover has a gel consistency to it which does not run when you are trying to apply it, keeping it on your targeted areas. I just take a couple of drops in my fingers and gently rub it onto my eyes just like I do with facial cleanser and rinse. I tend to wear a lot of eye make up, water proof liquid eyeliner and loads of mascara but this takes care of it all.

The Allergy Factor: I have not had any allergic reactions to this product! Big Big WOHOO! Even on my most sensitized day, in the middle of a bad eczema breakout, this product delivers great results without irritating my delicate eye area.

The Scent: If it even has one, it is so light that I don't notice it at all.

Bottom Line: No Allergies. No complaints. I really love and recommend this product. It's gentle enough for me to use on a daily basis but works hard to take off all of my eye makeup no matter how heavy. Boom!

Boots Expert Sensitive Gentle Smoothing Scrub Sensitive Review

Boots Expert Sensitive Gentle Smoothing Scrub

Sensitive skin needs extra care especially when exfoliating. This hypoallergenic scrub is formulated with smoothing beads, mineral water and aloe vera. It gently polishes to reveal smoother, softer and revitalized skin. Fragrance-free. Lanolin-free. Soap-free. Dermatologically tested.

Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Butylene Glycol, Polyethylene, Polysorbate 20, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Aqua Mineralis (Mineral Water), Methylparaben, Propylene Glycol, Tetrasodium EDTA, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract

Okay so, I picked this up at Target because the sales consultant at Sephora recommended this brand to me after a long conversation about whose skin was more sensitive (I won LOL!) I really need a good scrub because of my dry skin and eczema, my skin gets really flaky. If you know of a great one for sensitive skin let me know because sadly, I am still on the hunt for one.

This Sensitive Gentle Smoothing Scrub is sensitive, not so gentle, and not the most smoothing scrub. The consistency is like a clear thin gel base that is a little too runny for my taste. It has "gentle smoothing beads." The beads themselves are actually pretty big and rough. It's not the finest milled scrub that you would think "gentle" would consist of which is really disappointing. I have used this scrub 2 to 3 times a week for about three weeks and I really have to make sure that I do not put too much pressure on my face when I use this. It's just to rough of a scrub for my delicate skin. Honestly for sensitive skin, my Esthetician (who I rarely ever see) really does not recommend a scrub all together but who can afford a facial every 2 to 3 weeks just to exfoliate? Not me, so I scrub. Two and a half weeks and my just doesn't have the "glow" that I am looking for. My flaky patches are still flaky and my skin is actually a little more red than what we started off with.

The Allergy Factor: Aside from the mediocre and pretty disappointing results, I was really pleased with the fact that I am not allergic to this product. That was one thing that Boots really delivered with this scrub. I can probably use this every night just based on the non-allergy part. Alas, the too rough scrubbing beads just kind of scratch my skin which has made it red - not in a glowy, rosy kind of way but in a irritated, scratchy way :( BOO!

The Smell: There is none! Another great thing about this scrub's sensitive factor in this product that Boots gets points for.

Bottom Line: No allergies. No scent. No gentle. I like the fact that this scrub is really gentle as far as it's minimal, sensitive ingredients and the fact that it is fragrance-free, but the scrubbing beads are way too rough for my liking. For a drugstore product at more than $5, I just expected more. I just didn't get any real results from this product to recommend it, so I'm gonna say scrub at your own risk. On second thought, a simple scrub with organic Aloe Gel or Cetaphil and Sugar or Salt will probably do you better.

Boots Expert Sensitive Gentle Eye Make-up Removal Lotion Sensitive Review

Sensitive skin needs extra care especially around the eyes, that's why this hypoallergenic lotion with aloe vera softens as it works. Free from fragrance and lanolin, it has a blend of light oils to gently sweep away even waterproof make-up.

Dermatologically tested.

Ingredients: Paraffinum Liquidum (Mineral Oil), Isopropyl Palmitate, Cocos Nucifera Oil (Coconut), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf

Normally, I would use Cetaphil during my more sensitized days or the Derma E Eyebright Make Up Remover but I came across this brand at Target. The entire line was pretty cheap even by Target standards (about $5 a bottle) so I decided to give this Boots Expert Sensitive Gentle Eye Make-up Removal Lotion a try. Um . . . I was really disappointed by the product to say the least. A lot of other oil based eye make up removers that I have tried in the past actually aren't as greasy as this product is. It really didn't do much for removing anything. It really just smeared the makeup all over around my eyes and when I tries to rinse it off it just felt like a greasy mess. Now, I have been noticing little white heads around my eyes from too much oil build up. YUCK!!!!

The Allergy Factor: Aside from the product not delivering any great results, I have to say that I have not had any allergic reactions to it.
***UPDATE***8-2-09 I actually am allergic to this product after using this product for four days, my eyes are now red itchy and swollen. The reaction was a slow build up. For the first couple of days, no reaction. Then, yesterday I noticed a little itching after I used this product and today the allergies are full blown. Itchy swollen eye lids!!!!! ahhhh!!! I am so mad! On my way to take a Benadryl. F'ing Boots you're not sensitive or gentle!

The Smell: There is none which is great. Too bad that is about the only thing I like about it.

The Bottom Line: No allergies. ***UPDATE: Allergic reaction development. See above update***No scent. No recommendation. No good. I really didn't have much to say about this product because I really didn't like it at all. It just didn't do its job - period, end of discussion. In fact, I may try to return it tomorrow and get my $5 worth of something good. BOO!