Sunday, November 17, 2013

My First Youtube Video!

Hey pretties!

I FINALLY uploaded my first video on Youtube this morning! :)

I decided to do the Sweater Weather Tag. :)

Please bear with me if I seem a bit awkward, talking to a camera takes some getting used to!


I would really appreciate if you would take the time to check it out and let me know what you think, as well as any ideas for future videos that you may have!


You can watch my video Here :)


Thank you for watching, and I hope you all have a wonderful Sunday! :)
X's and O"s,
Amanda

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Cabbage Soup Diet Diary- Days 6&7, and My Review of the Diet

Day 6:
Beef and Vegetables: Eat to your heart’s content of beef and vegetables this day. You can even have 2 or 3 steaks if you like, with leafy green vegetables. No Baked Potato. Eat your soup at least once.

I am not going to lie, this day was excruciating. I was feeling totally run-down and lousy. Despite my severe hunger, I could hardly stomach the food today. The mere thought of food was making me sick to my stomach. I did manage to eat 1 bowl of soup, and 2 very tiny steak filets. I also drank my water and lots of tea. I attempted to exercise, but nearly fainted, so I tried sleeping.  I was desperate for that brown rice on day 7....


Day 7:
Brown rice, unsweetened fruit juices and vegetables: Again stuff, stuff, stuff yourself. Be sure to eat your soup at least once this day.

A little background :

The evening of day 6, I had the hardest time falling asleep. I did eventually get to sleep at about midnight or so. Unfortunately, I was awaken at 3:30 by cold sweats and a fever. My body was shaking and I felt like vomiting. It was the lack of food taking it's toll, I knew, but I didn't want to give up. I attempted to drink water and relax. My efforts were of no help. At about 6 , I got up to make myself some brown rice and juice. I figured that this would help me feel better. My symptoms were worse, and my blood pressure had dropped enormously. I normally have low blood pressure ( the top number s usually 80), and the number had gone to 60. I drank juice, and managed a few bites of rice. My symptoms continued to worsen, and I was on the verge of having to go to hospital.

Because of the circumstances, I had to give up on the diet. I ate a few nutrition bars, and fresh fruit. I am feeling a bit better. I will still drink the juices and eat rice today, but I need a few other healthy additives to sustain me. I feel incredibly guilty for giving up on the 7th day, however, it was not worth being in the hospital over.


My Final Thoughts:

My final results- I lost 5 pounds. I can't complain, that is good for 6 days! My stomach is flatter, and my system is clean. Although I could not complete the program, I did benefit from it.

Would I recommend it?

It depends.

I went into the diet with a very positive mindset. I figured "hey, it's only a week!". I have a very strong will-power, and I struggled immensely.

If you decide to give it a try, here are some things to keep in mind:

1. If you have health issues, you need to consider how this diet will effect you. This diet is extremely low calorie, low carb, low sugar, and sodium/fat free. A week doesn't seem too long, but it can take a serious toll on the body if you aren't careful.

2. The program is not designed for long term weight loss. Healthy weight loss is the loss of fat, this diet causes you to lose water weight. If you return to unhealthy habits afterwards, you will gain it all back. If you eat a healthy, balanced diet afterwards, you will likely keep the majority of the weight off.

Although I didn't make it the last day, I still feel like the diet was a success. The diet inspired me to eat better. Even in the last few days of starvation, I wasn't craving junk. I was craving fruits, and egg whites. I was craving healthy foods. I do feel like the diet is a great way to jump-start a healthier lifestyle.

All in all, I am pleased with my experience, despite the hard times. If you think you can do it, go for it! I just ask that if you start feeling extremely ill, or experience other symptoms, to stop the diet immediately. No diet is worth extreme health risks!

Have you tried this diet? What were your experiences with it?
X's and O's,
Amanda

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Cabbage Soup Diet Diary- Days 4 & 5

Day 4 :
Today, You are allowed up to eight bananas, skim milk, and soup.


Today was a good day for me! I love bananas, and I was glad to have my almond milk!! I only managed to eat 4 bananas, I have no idea how someone could eat 8! Also had lots of soup. For my workout, I did 30 minutes of yoga. Today was all in all a good  one!


Day 5:
Beef And Tomatoes: Ten to twenty ounces of beef and up to six fresh tomatoes. Drink at least 6 to 8 glasses of water this day to wash the uric acid from your body. Eat your soup at least once this day. You may eat broiled or baked chicken instead of beef (but absolutely no skin-on chicken). If you prefer, you can substitute broiled fish for beef on one of the beef days (but not both).


Today was the hardest day so far. I was so excited for some protein ( I chose chicken today), and didn't manage to eat much. I only consumed 4 tomatoes. I could not stomach more. I ate a lot of soup today! I had boneless, skinless chicken breast. I ate one whole, and a bit of a second. Although today has been tough, I feel much better. I feel cleansed, my system is more regular, and I am craving healthy foods! This diet has really inspired me to eat better, and I created a healthy meal plan for the days following the end of the diet. I hope that I can keep whatever weight I manage to loose off. I am honestly not too stoked for tomorrow, but I keep telling myself that I am almost there!!!!


Which day did you find the hardest on the diet?

Sunday, August 18, 2013

Cabbage Soup Diet Diary- Days 2 & 3

Day Two:

Vegetables: Eat until you are stuffed will all fresh, raw or cooked vegetables of your choice. Try to eat leafy green vegetables and stay away from dry beans, peas and corn. Eat all the vegetables you want along with your soup. At dinner, reward yourself with a big baked potato with butter. Do not eat fruit today.

Day Three:

Mix Days One and Two: Eat all the soup, fruits and vegetables you want. No Baked Potato.


Day 2 Diary :
Today was sort of hard for me. I don't really enjoy eating vegetables for breakfast, but I ate a tomato with oregano and pepper for breakfast. I ate 4 bowls of soup today, as well as a pack of baby carrots, a serving of spinach, and of course, that glorious baked potato. The baked potato was amazing, and I slept much better. I also completed 30 minutes on the stationary bike. I hope that my efforts to exercise are not causing water retention.

Day 3 Diary:
Today is much, much better. My favorite day so far out of all 3. I was glad to eat fruit for breakfast, and ended up eating an apple, a plum, and a nectarine. I also had a bowl of soup as a snack. I plan on having at least 2 more bowls full, as well as some spinach and broccoli. I have been doing really well drinking at least 2 liters of water per day. In fact, I have been drinking more. Was a bit disappointed to step on the scale and see that I had gained about a half of a pound since yesterday, but I figure my intense workout and the fact that I am menstruating are probably causing water retention. I plan on waiting to step on the scale until the cleanse is over. I am about to take a nice, detoxifying bath. I am looking forward to tomorrow, as bananas are more filling, and I can finally drink my almond milk!

What are your experiences with the Cabbage Soup Diet?

Friday, August 16, 2013

Cabbage Soup Diet Diary- Day 1

Hey Lovlies!

So, awhile back, my mom told me that she was trying something called the Cabbage Soup Diet. I asked her what is was, and she explained to me that it was a week-long diet/cleanse that consisted of eating Cabbage Soup and specific foods on specific days. At the end of the week, she was down 7 pounds, and felt a lot better. I was interested, but after a while, forgot about the diet and life carried on.

Although I do lead quite a healthy lifestyle, I would like to lose a few more pounds, and clean out my body. So I have decided to give it a try. I know that this is short term weight loss. I know that if I eat crazy amounts and eat junk afterwards that I will gain it all back. I am just curious to see how the diet works. Plus, our big trip is in 11 days, and let's face it, I want to look good!

I thought that I would take you all on this week-long journey with me. I will write a diary entry about the diet every day, and possibly make a review video at the end of the diet! Stay tuned to see if it works! That being said, today was day 1!


Day 1:

Today's menu:
Fruit: Eat all of the fruit you want (except bananas). Eat only your soup and the fruit for the first day. For drinks- unsweetened teas, cranberry juice and water.


I have done really well with this today, seeings that I love fruit! I consumed a Nectarine, Apple, Kiwi, bowl of Grapes, and 3 bowls of the soup before mid afternoon. Like the diet instructs, whenever I am hungry, I reach for soup, then a piece of fresh fruit.

I have a good feeling about this diet. I have high hopes for good results, as I have heard nothing but positive things. I am looking forward to dinner tomorrow, I get to have a baked potato for dinner! Yum!

Thursday, August 8, 2013

I need your help!

Hey Beauties,

I hope you are all enjoying your summer!

After months of debating, and procrastination, I finally did it.

I purchased a nice, full HD Camcorder, and invested in Video software! The past few days, I have been doing some test filming, and getting to know the software, but I feel like I am ready to film my first Beauty Video!

I need your help! What should my first Video be about? Please leave your suggestions in the comments below!!

Do any of you have YouTube channels? Leave the links below!!

X's and O's,
Amanda

Saturday, July 20, 2013

Celiac Diaries- People's Reactions

If you are one of the 1:133 Americans with Celiac Disease ( I am one of them), you are probably all too famliar with the reactions you get from others.

" So it's a Food allergy, right?"

"Oh my gosh, I am so glad I am not you!"

" You can just have a little bite, right?"

" Wow you're so high maitinence!"


Blah, blah, blah.

I have had Celiac for a while now, and although I am used to these types of statements, they still irritate me from time to time.

Lately, I have been more annoyed than usual.

A little background :

I first experienced the symptoms of Celiac disease at the age of 4. Throughout my childhood, I got sick really easily, and always had mystery stomach pains. Because no doctor ever even considered that I may have Celiac Disease, I was often dismissed as having "emotional problems". As the years progressed, and I continued to eat Gluten, more severe, yet seemingly unexplainable things started happening. Unexplained seizures, anemia, and even distressed internal organs. You could say I spent a lot of time in the clinics and hospitals. Because a lot of these doctors could not provide any clear answers at the time, whenever I would be sick or end up in the Hospital, people would assume I was doing it for Attention and being dramatic.

Sadly, my Celiac diagnosis, which places the pieces of the puzzle together, hasn't changed people's minds.

I have been getting more comments from people saying things like :

"You're so young to be having all of these health problems"

and
" Wow, you are like, impossible to go anywhere with"

Yes, I am 21, and unfortunately, I have a fair share of health problems. But, really?

Nobody in the world picked this disease, and I can safely say, I doubt anyone enjoys having it.
I miss eating all of my old favorite foods that I ate as a child, and going out to Restaurants care-free with friends. I miss not having to read the Labels on absolutely everything I put in my mouth.  It sucks to go out with your friends and watch everyone else eat. But let's get this straight, NOBODY asked for this, and it's hard enough to deal with without the ridiculous remarks that others make.

Do any of you Celiacs out there get similar remarks?

X's and O's,
Amanda

Thursday, January 31, 2013

My Lipstick of the Moment!

Hey pretties :)

Today I  just wanted to update everyone on my current favorite lipstick. I have been using the Revlon Color Burst Lip Butter in Red Velvet to death! I absolutely love it, and it is my first Revlon Lip Butter. It is very hydrating, and the color is gorgeous on my skin tone.







What is your current favorite lip product?

X's and O's,
Amanda

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

New Year's Resolutions 2013!

Hello my loves!

It's that time  of year again... time to wipe the slate clean and start fresh! A chance to improve yourself. Time for some new resolutions!!

A side note, I did really well on my 2012 resolutions. There were  a few things I could have done better on, but hey. I give myself a B+ :p  I have been thinking long and hard, so here are my 2013 Resolutions!!!!!! :

1. To be a more positive person. As I mentioned in my Perfect Imperfections post, I am a very overly sensitive person. While this is a good trait in some aspects, it is also annoying because I can be very negative at times. I take things to heart and think everyone is  judging me or doesn't like me, or my instant reaction to many situations is often the negative side of things. I want to really focus on being more positive, and not taking every little comment or action of others to heart!

2.  To be more creative, and experiment with fashion. I know this was a resolution last year, and it was the area I lacked in the most. Partially because I didn't have much inspiration, and partially because I had next to zero budget. But I have a steady stream of disposable income now, and loads and loads of inspiration! I want to make 2013 my most fashionable year yet!


3. To start a Youtube channel. This has been on my mind for over a year now, but I just haven't gotten around to doing it. No excuses this year! I am going to give it an honest go, and put all of my effort forth!

4. To exercise more regularly. Yep, the most generic resolution of all! I am really bad with making fitness a part of my lifestyle though. I will go through phases where I workout faithfully for weeks or even months, then phases where I do absolutely nothing. This year, I would like to make an honest effort to truly make fitness apart of my life

5.  To save more money. Again, such a generic resolution, but one I am horrible with. I have made a goal to save a set amount each month. I find this easier to accomplish with an end goal- and this year, we are headed back to America, so there's the motivation! I will need spending cash ;)

6. To have more patience. I have almost no patience. This is a virtue that I would very much like to have.

7. To set aside one night per week for a date night with my husband. I have always loved the idea of a set date night, but sometimes it can be hard. We would really like to make this a priority!

There you have it, my New Year's resolutions for 2013!

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

2012 : A Year in Review

Hello Beauties!!

So, wildly enough, there's only 1 day left of 2012! I absolutely adore New Years (hello fresh start!), and I wanted to take some time and make a post reviewing 2012 ; the ups, the downs, the lessons, and all of the amazing things that happened to me this year. I would absolutely love to see others do this post, so be sure to link your blogs below!!!!!

I think I will first go through every month and lists the highlights of that month, then talk a little more about the year as a whole.

2012 Highlights by Month :

January -
I was blessed enough to spend some quality time with my family before making my big move.
I moved to Germany from the United States to be with my now husband.
My husband and I started the process of making our apartment a home.

February-
I begin my German language course.
My husband and I remodel our living room.
My husband and I go on several memorable dates.

March-
My husband receives his permanent license.
My husband celebrates his birthday with a big party.
My husband receives a contract for a job he had been hoping for!
We get engaged!!!!

April-
I celebrate my first Easter in a foreign country.
I purchase my wedding dress, and a lot of wedding planning happens this month.

May-
My husband and I celebrate 1 year of being together! :)
I am able to start making investments in my wardrobe ;)

June-
My husband receives his diploma from school.
We attend several fun events including concerts and family functions.
I complete my German Course.

July-
After months of preparation,  we finally get married on July 27, 2012 :)
I learn I have a job offer!

August-
I begin my new job.
My new husband and I spend a lot of quality time together during his vacation.

September-
My husband begins his new job.
My husband and I attend a few formal events! :)

October-
We welcome our first furry edition to the family - Nugget the bunny :)
We both receive raises :)
I turn 21 , and am very spoiled!
I receive my diagnosis of Celiac Disease. This is hardly a highlight, but I finally found out what was wrong, and am able to get my health on track.

November-
I reach a milestone at work- I train 2 new employees.
I complete the 30 Day Shred, and meet a weight loss goal.

December-
I prepare for my first Christmas that I am physically with my husband!
My husband and I attend many holiday parties and events.
I spend my very first Christmas physically with my husband, and experience the new traditions of German Christmas.


As you can see, 2012 was VERY good to me. I have truly had a wonderful year! A few downs included being homesick, a few injuries, and a nasty lung infection, but all in all, 2012 was the time of my life, and I couldn't be more pleased with how it went.

I feel like I became a better person in 2012. I learned to be non judgmental. I learned to accept all opportunities that came my way. I tried a lot of new things, and stepped out of my comfort zone. I learned to forgive and forget, and gained so much confidence within myself. I have loved harder than ever this year. I am so proud of myself that I took such a giant leap to move to a foreign country, learn (and become fluent in) a totally new language, and become part of a whole new culture. It was a brave move on my end, and I can't believe I did it!
Lastly, I have had such an amazing time with my blog. It has become a hobby and passion of mine. I may not have many followers,  but I do have quite a few views, so I know that someone, somewhere is listening. Thanks to anyone and everyone who has taken the time to be apart of my blog. It means the world to me!

Stay tuned for my 2013 Resolutions post!
How was 2012 for YOU?

X's and O's,
Amanda