2 Months Gluten Free - My Experience

It has been two months since going Gluten and Dairy free, and boy has it been a roller coaster. For those of you that don't follow my youtube channel, I decided to go GF/DF after 6 months of struggling with Seborrheic Dermatitis and seeing it get increasingly worse. No skincare product I was using was helping, so I decided to take drastic action.

I love cupcakes. They are one of my favorite things in the entire world. And bagels. Oh my goodness. If you had asked me in June if I would go GF, I would have said 'No way, I love cake too much!' But that was before my skin got so bad I couldn't take it anymore. Deciding to give up my love for traditional sweets was challenging, and the first month of being GF was even more challenging with how emotional it was for me. My diet did a 360 in the first month and I not only went from not eating gluten or dairy products, but went to eating mostly vegetables and little to no sugar at all. 

I was fine the first two weeks, but after that, things went downhill. I still hadn't seen an improvement in my skin, and I thought for sure I would have. I started getting incredibly discouraged and decided to cut out all sugar for a few days. For those of you that don't know, Seborrheic Dermatitis can occur randomly because of a yeast overgrowth. To help eliminate the yeast, it's recommended to follow the Candida Cleanse, which cuts out gluten, dairy, and all sugar. I know when you eat healthier foods, you feel better, but I was miserable. I cried almost every day and I just wasn't happy. Part of this I definitely think was from the sugar withdrawal. I decided to introduce a little fruit back into my diet, and immediately I felt better. So, I definitely don't avoid it now. My body is fine with natural sugars, but my SD goes CRAZY with artificial sugars. (After Halloween, my skin was a nightmare for a few days after).

Along with being GF/DF, I introduced some supplements into my diet. I'm someone that doesn't like taking unnecessary pills unless I really should. I stopped taking a multivitamin earlier this year in order to find one that was had vitamins derived from whole foods. I found one and took it for a little but, but gradually stopped. 

On September 24th, I started taking Caprylic Acid (about 14 days after starting the GF diet). Caprylic Acid is a natural acid found in coconut oil. It is supposed to clear out the bad bacteria in your gut, and has notoriously helped SD sufferers. I read about the Yeast Die-Off side effects, but decided to try taking it anyway. The first week of taking the CA was awful. I experienced all of the symptoms of Yeast Die-Off - I was so tired, bloated, got hungry incredibly fast, got a fever on the 3rd day, and more. After a week the symptoms started to subside, and I haven't had any die-off symptoms since.

On October 8th I started taking probiotics, to introduce good bacteria back into my body and help balance my flora. I then started taking my Calcium pills again, with vitamin D3. If someone has low Vitamin D3 levels, it can make SD worse. To be honest, I'm not sure if taking these pills is making a difference in my face. A combination of everything I've been doing has been making it better, but not as well as I hoped it would look at this point.

I will admit I ate incredibly clean my first month of being GF. I still do eat clean compared to what I've eaten in the past 2 years, but I do let myself have more grains than I did the first month. I hardly eat anything from a box, and my body seriously loves me for it. I haven't had any stomach problems or stomach aches, and I used to get them frequently (I was already lactose intolerant). I don't feel sluggish during the day, or guilty after I eat. My diet consists of mostly eggs, arugula, homemade minestrone soap, homemade vegetable pizza, fruits, vegetables, and a decent amount of grains. I limit my caffeine now, and drink coffee only 1-2 times a week, and all my tea is caffeine free. And, only natural sugars. (Have you seen my favorite coconut flour cupcake recipe?!)

I have broken my diet and eaten gluten two times since going GF. I ate fried rice, totally forgetting that most soy sauce has wheat (Aaron and I get the GF one), and my SD swelled up for the following two days. My stomach also felt like a balloon was being blown up inside me. Then, in the beginning of October, I was at my Nana's house and decided to try my tolerance with some pasta she made. I ate 6 pieces, and the following week my SD was AWFUL. I used to think 'Oh, a little won't make a difference', but it really does. It introduces the gluten back into my body and it makes the process of fighting off the yeast gradually harder. My skin was incredibly itchy and red for days after.

Overall, although my SD is starting to spread because it's getting colder, it has definitely gotten better than before I went GF 2 months ago. It's been challenging, but I am also very lucky that my mom is GF and has been very supportive. We're making some great GF recipes for Thanksgiving!

Regarding skincare (hence why almost none of my videos lately have been on skincare), it's because I've been constantly changing my routine. The next post coming will be everything I've tried!

Are any of you GF/DF? Why did you decide to go GF/DF? Share some of your favorite recipes!

Makeup Highlights of 2012 TAG!

Thank you to the lovely WheatenBeauty1 for tagging me! I decided to do this via a blog post since I wanted to include both makeup and skincare for my video version of 'Best of 2012'!

I tag:

InspiredMom824 (Jen)

BeautybyBritanie (Britanie)

TheFlaxenOwl (Hayley)

Pemberley Jones (Pemberley)

TheGreenBeautyBunny (Alex)

Pure_Makeup (Mary)

NaturallaBeauty (Caitie)

EcoBeautySecret (Vivi)

Starshine (Shoudra) 

BaileyBlush (Bailey)

TrueBeautybyNature

The 12 Questions of 2012:

1. Which makeup brand stood out to you most in 2012? Drugstore and High End

For "drugstore", I would say The All Natural Face. It's probably my favorite brand of the year - I love how affordable it is and all the choices! I was lucky enough to be able to take a tour of the physical store in MA in December and it was so much fun to see everything in person! I rarely try "high end" makeup, so I have no idea!


2. Best new discovery of 2012?


Hmm probably cream products. The All Natural Face cream blush, which is amazing for the winter, and cream eyeshadows from a bunch of different brands I've been testing. Look out for my 'Cream Shadow Showdown' series! A separate video reviewing each brand's cream eye shadows and a final video with my rankings and thoughts. Using cream eye shadow has made me LOVE doing my eye makeup every day!

3. Best re-discovery -- A product that you fall in love with over and over again?

Zuzu Luxe mascara in Navy - I used it in the beginning and end of the year and I think I will be using it for a LONG while yet. I love how natural it is, the color is perfect for every day, and making my lashes look amazing.


4. Best seasonal product 2012? Winter / Spring / Summer / Fall

I honestly don't switch up my makeup for the seasons, but for the winter and cold weather I will say the cream blushes from the ANF again. They make your skin look dewy and fresh without any powder/dry look! For summer (and all year round) I would say my Sobe Botanicals Oil Control Powder. Holy grail makeup product! 


5. Best and worst Limited Edition Collections in 2012? Drugstore and High End

Hmm I don't follow LE collections either, but I really am LOVING the color of the Ice Dance cream shadow by Pumpkin and Poppy for her winter collection called Ice Dance. It is the most amazing purple/blue/white shimmer cream shadow.


6. Most regretted purchase of 2012?


I really didn't buy much makeup in 2012 in general that was a toss-up, usually I just repurchase from companies I know I love. Most regretted purchase would probably be my Jane Iredale Active Light Concealer (my review link)

7. Youtube and beauty highlights 2012?


Youtube highlights would definitely be making and getting to know more amazing girls this year. Jen and ALL the amazing beauty bloggers I've met later in the year have made what I do SO much more fun. 

Beauty highlights would be that I started using (and LOVING) bronzer. I love that I can slim my face down with it. I think it really took just finding the right shade that wasn't too orange for me.

8. What is your favorite / best video on your own channel?


I am very proud of my 'Going Natural Doesn't Have to be Expensive' video and all of the helpful information in that video. All of my piercing updates this year have been quite eventful as well. Another one of my favorites was my Holiday Giveaway video for this year because I absolutely LOVED the responses I got.

9. Best recommendation of 2012 from someone else?


Jane Iredale Magic Mitt from Britanie. First impression video. Definitely a revolutionary 'tool' in terms of removing makeup. I'm obsessed!

10. Best makeup tool 2012?


Hmm. Probably the Sedona Lace thicker angled brush for bronzer!

11. What are the products you are excited to try in 2013?


MORE CREAM SHADOWS!! I'm very excited. Also more deodorants, different bronzer shades, and more mineral eye shadow!

12. Will you do a Makeup Collection in 2013, or an updated version?

I just did one about 2 weeks ago! Here is is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ej4dVZBkGA0

What I Want To Do When I Grow Up (Aka MY JOB)

 "Good writing is supposed to evoke sensation in the reader -- 

not the fact that it is raining, but the feeling of being rained upon."

E.L. Doctorow 

This is one of my favorite writing quotes - and I had a vinyl decal of it that I had directly in front of my desk that year during my first year of college. It's a quote that almost makes me lose my breath because of some of the experiences I've had while writing. I also have another writing quote on my rib cage - "No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader." To me, reading and writing are all about feeling. Taken from my One Tree Hill blog post, I described my writing tattoo:

"I was writing the finale scene in DEFTILY (one of my fanfic books I published) one day; an exchange between Peyton and her father. While writing the scene I broke down in tears and cried my heart out while writing and finishing the scene. I felt so connected to Peyton and to my story. It is to this day the most memorable writing experience I’ve ever had.

While finishing the formatting for the book, I decided to add a quote to the third page. The one I found fit perfectly.

“No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader. No surprise in the writer, no surprise in the reader” Robert Frost.

To this day it resonates so strongly with me and I think about it every time I write a creative piece. I have the first 2 lines tattooed on my ribs, and they’ll never leave my side or my mind."

For as long as I can remember, I've wanted to have a job in the creative field. For a long time I wanted to be an actor, but when I started writing FanFiction for my favorite shows and realized just how much feeling I put into it, I immediately knew that was the career path I was going to follow.

I have some great stories in my head - one in particular that I've outlined. Unfortunately for me, college and being busy with school work all the time leaves less than desired free time. And with the little amount of free time that I have, I don't like the feeling of being pressured to write something. That's why I haven't written a story in quite a long, long time.

NOW - let's move to the point of the post. Just wanted to give some backstory. I have a friend Nat who I met online about 2 years ago. She has been working diligently and passionately working on getting her first (BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN) novel manuscript published. I expressed interest in wanting to be a Beta-reader for her book - basically somewhat of an editor and someone to generally look it over and make comments. Through working with Nat, I fell in love with editing. 

I still want to be and author and write books, but in order to make money and be financially stable, I know I have to have a stable job. I have fallen in love and discovered a passion for reading the manuscripts of people that I know have as much passion for writing as I do, even though I don't seem to express it by writing frequently. Currently my career path idea is to be an Acquisitions Editor; an editor that reads manuscripts and decides which ones move on to the next stage of the publishing process. My family and friends have been incredibly supportive with this (now that they know if I land a job in editing, I'll actually have a stable income).

I was just in the mood to express something personal to you guys about my life and where I'm going with my schooling. I'm currently studying English with a concentration in Creative Writing (4 Literature classes this semester!).

I hope that you all, if you're in college, or are going to be soon, will study something that you're passionate about (if you happen to know already). Seriously, find something you love and go from there. :D

My Journey with 'One Tree Hill'

One Tree Hill was “the little show that could”. It always had promise, yet the views during the first season were so low, we weren’t sure if we would get a second season or not. We did, and we go a third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth. Wow. 187 episodes.

I never thought I would love a TV show as much as I had loved Charmed. Those witches stole my heart, Piper being my favorite, and I can’t even tell you how broken I was when the show ended in 2006. That is, until One Tree Hill came on.

I remember seeing the previews for it on what used to be the WB back then. I was 10 years old at the time and I remember asking my mom if I could watch it. Even from the previews it looked like an “adult” show, and my mom said no. The night of the premiere I remember sneaking down to watch it on our little mini couch (for my brothers) in our family room in my old house in Pennsylvania. I was hooked from the first episode.

Naley, or Nathan and Haley, became my favorite couple from the beginning. I shipped them and loved them so much. I watched every single episode live, and eventually my mom found out I was watching it, but didn’t stop me.

In Season 2 before my move to Massachusetts, I slowly and steadily became a Lucas and Peyton fan. Although they weren’t dating, I had loved their connection in Season 1 when they liked each other. I slowly transitioned from liking Naley to being in love with Leyton.

Watching OTH was different when I moved to Massachusetts. I now watched it on our HUGE big screen TV in the basement. Shortly after, I joined othforums.com and loved the interaction with fans about the show. I started a fan-fiction on the forums called ‘The Journey is the Destination” with Lucas and Peyton being the main characters.

When I realized just how much inspiration I got from One Tree Hill and the characters, I decided to write more One Tree Hill stories and self-publish them into books. In the first few months of 2008, I self-published two Leyton-based books, “Because His Writing is a Metaphor” and “Don’t Ever Forget That I Love You”. I don’t remember ever working or being as determined with anything as I was with those books.

I was writing the finale scene in DEFTILY one day; an exchange between Peyton and her father. While writing the scene I broke down in tears and cried my heart out while writing and finishing the scene. I felt so connected to Peyton and to my story. It is to this day the most memorable writing experience I’ve ever had.

While finishing the formatting for the book, I decided to add a quote to the third page. The one I found fit perfectly.

“No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader. No surprise in the writer, no surprise in the reader” Robert Frost.

To this day it resonates so strongly with me and I think about it every time I write a creative piece. I have the first 2 lines tattooed on my ribs, and they’ll never leave my side or my mind.

Writing my books to this day is one of my biggest accomplishments. Despite them technically being “fan fiction”, I got so much praise from friends and family and the feelings I was reminded why I want to be an author when I’m older. They were sold online, could be bought as hard-cover books, and eventually became ebooks sold on Itunes and Barnes N Noble.

This January, my books were removed from the site for being “fan fiction” – something that wasn’t allowed on that site that I missed when reading the agreement. I was devastated. Everything I worked so hard for was gone, everything, all of it. But knowing that I worked so hard, and having copies of my book around me, reminds me that it wasn’t for nothing.

In June of 2008 I bought my first LP engraved ring. It says LP on the outside and “True Love Always” on the inside. I wore it every day, on my thumb, even to bed. I loved having my love for LP so close to me, and with me always.

A year later I lost the ring at the outlet mall at my beach house. I had another one overnighted to me because I couldn’t be without it.

When Lucas and Peyton left in Season 6, I can’t even describe how miserable I was. I debated not watching the show anymore, but I knew I couldn’t. Starting in Season 7, something was different about the show because my favorite characters of all time were GONE. It was still my favorite show, but there was something missing. And something wrong. Seasons seven, eight, and nine were fairly disappointing and overall just sad because every episode I would wish Lucas and Peyton were there and I knew that if they were, the episodes would have been better.

Last night in the finale, all I wanted was for Lucas and Peyton to be there. I was hoping there would be montages of them, anything, but all we got was mention of Lucas. When I watched the last few minutes of the show, with the characters that had only been on for a few seasons, I wished SO BADLY that it were Lucas and Peyton there. They were part of the core 5, and the show should have ended with the core 5. I’ll never forget that Lucas and Peyton weren’t there.

This show, this wonderful show, has given me more inspiration and insight to life and love, more than anything else I’ve ever known. A part of my heart feels like it’s dying now that it’s over, and I don’t think you’ll truly understand that unless you’ve felt this way about characters or a TV show. I would do anything to see Lucas and Peyton in a new episode again, but I know that I have the freedom as a creative writer to write one myself, and maybe I will when this heartache goes away.

One Tree Hill will always be my favorite show, and how it has affected me will stay with me every day of my life.

My First Tattoo

(I wrote this the night I got my tattoo, January 9th)

I thought I would write a blog post about this because everyone has been asking how my first tattoo went and it’ll be great to have to look back on!

Well. I guess since it’s my first one I should start out with how I wanted it.

Until about 3 months ago, I never considered myself to be a tattoo person. No one in my immediate family has one, and unfortunately from growing up I sort of got the message that getting a tattoo wouldn’t be a good choice.

My friend Cassie was getting quite a few tattoos and that sparked my interest. I never knew what I would get until one night in early December it came to me that I would get the word natural. I debated about placement, going from my wrist, to my left shoulderblade, to my left side ribs.

When I told Aaron that I wanted to get a tattoo, he was pretty shocked, because as I said, people don’t usually see me as the tattoo type. I was so scared to tell my parents because I thought they would freak out, but they actually were very okay with it, and my mom went with Aaron and I to get it. I went through a lot to get this tattoo. Everyone was thrusting their opinions on me and I was very overwhelmed, but I knew I wanted it, and I made the appointment a few days before my Disney Cruise.

I had to change the appointment date a few times. Finally, after changing it 3 times, I scheduled the appointment for today, Monday the 9^th at 7:30pm. Originally I wanted the font to be size 72, but I ultimately decided on size 55 and the size looks perfect to me. My font is called "Pavane" and it's from dafont.com (SO many font choices!)

When we got there, the guy at the front desk informed us that my tattoo artist was running about 20 minutes behind.

An hour and 15 minutes later, I was back in the tattoo part of the shop. Everything was happening pretty fast so I didn’t really have time to get too nervous about it.

As for the pain, I’m not exactly sure if it’s what I was expecting. It definitely felt like a sharp needle. Aaron and my mom thought I was going to start crying and freaking out, but I kept telling them over and over again that I knew I wasn’t going to cry or back out, and I didn’t. When he was doing the ‘N’ which is the closest letter to my chest, it hurt REALLY bad. I think I said ‘This hurts like a bitch’ many times. When he was shading the letters it hurt much more than when he did strokes. I didn’t feel like I was going to pass out, which I was a worried about due to my past ear piercing experience in July.

I tried to redirect the pain signals from the tattoo pain by digging my nail into behind my ear and having my mom dig her nails into my hand. It actually works, so all the pain receptors (I think?) don’t go straight from the tattoo to your brain, but there are other points of pain that the brain has to account for as well.

UPDATE: As for healing, it healed very well and it's still incredibly black and bright. The redness went away within hours on the night I got it done. For the first 3 days, I hardly knew it was there. On the 3rd day, the ITCHING started, and OH MAN, it itched so bad. (I slapped the skin with my nails as to not peel the flaking ink off).

Until the ink settled into my skin, I washed with Unscented Dr. Bronner's Castile soap twice a day (morning and night), and followed with Rainwater Botanicals' Healing Salve. I constantly kept it moisturized so I didn't notice a ton of flaking at once. After the ink settled, I switched to Burt's Bees Miracle Salve. I currently still wash it once at night and use the salve on it once in the morning and then after I wash it at night.

Every time I look at it (although backwards in mirror), it makes me SO excited and I can't even explain how happy I am that I got it done. Although it's in a spot that no one can see when I have even a tank top and shorts on, I love to show it off and I love to look at it.

I'm currently planning on a 2nd one which I'll get before the summer (since summer time isn't the best for healing tattoos), but I'm sure you guys will know well before the time comes for my 2nd one (via twitter! :P)

For those of you that think you who are thinking about getting one done and are worried about what your family might say, do what YOU want. After you get it and months go by, it'll be like old news. The shock to your friends/family of getting another one will go away after you get your first :P

If you're worried about jobs/locations on your body to get one done (although a job shouldn't determine what you do to express yourself, I personally couldn't get that out of my head while I was thinking of locations), go for a more conservative place that you can only see while wearing a bikini. I love knowing mine's there, even though I can't see it all the time.

I'd LOVE to see pictures of your tattoos or thoughts about if you guys are considering getting any! Hope you enjoyed :D