Shopping For Spring Because I'm Tired of Snow - Enter eShakti

First, an explanation for my long absence...

Nope - I can't even fully explain it. I guess, too much, so many big things I could have written about that happened, but they felt too personal to trivialize with a blog post. I guess I could have written about fashion or makeup or something - I mean, I have a billion product reviews waiting in the wings (just wait! I joined Ipsy and have been binging on lip products) - but writing about those things seemed stupid when I had these huge life milestones that were going on.

So, life has calmed down somewhat. While my life has slowed, the weather has become crazier than it's ever been.

Well, that's hyperbole, actually. But damn! It's cold, for reals. Here in MI, wind chills have been in the negative double-digits, and the snow is piled higher than my dog's head (which is why, my neighbors, I'm cool with her peeing on the sidewalk). This winter has been so nasty, it's convinced my husband that this will be his last one in Michigan, even if he has to walk south.

I'm totally over the stupid cold weather. I've never begun longing for spring so early in the year in my life! I mean, I love spring so much, but I know it's just a harbinger of horribledisgustingsweaty summer. But here I am, planning my summer wardrobe already.

And this is where my product review comes in (like how I did that?). I've been perusing my typical plus-size options: Roamans, SimplyBe, Lane Bryant, Avenue, and Torrid. I just haven't been impressed. Roamans and Avenue have reverted back to old lady clothes (mostly - though Roamans tights are still awesome!), Lane Bryant and Torrid speak to the big girls who wish they could shop at Forever 21 or Aeropostale.

I've heard of eShakti for a few years. eShakti is an online retailer based in India that offers admittedly retro styles in sizes 0 - 36. They allow you to customize your order to some extent (change the sleeves, neckline, length, etc.), as well as making your clothing to your specific measurements for just an additional $7.50.

However, the reviews online were extremely mixed - great product, bad customer service, scary billing practices, not meeting deadlines. Also, their options were a little limited.

I'm not sure if my tastes are simply leaning more toward the Zooey Deschanel or eShakti is offering more options (little from column A, little from column B?), but I was starting to dig some of their dresses. Plus, they have nearly constant sales and offer a $30 gift coupon for your first order.

A couple of weeks ago, I placed my order. I chose to customize the sleeves and necklines of the two dresses I purchased, but went by straight sizes after using my measurements to determine the right one.

They told me to expect my dresses by 2/4/14.

This morning, DHL left the package outside my door - about five days early!

The dresses are flawless. They are very well-made, with touches of hand-stitching. It's a perfect fit - like, seriously! No pinching or bunching or anything. Perfect length (they ask for your height), and there's side-zippers to ensure it's form-fitting. And the fabric weight is sort of heavy but breathable. It will be perfect for spring into summer, and even be wearable in the winter with tights and a cardigan.
The dresses are average price for the plus-size consumer, though someone who is used to buying from normal retailers might see it as high. However, you're looking at high-quality, customizable, made-to-fit garments. No matter what size I wore, I'd find it a good value.
One thing to note: I ordered knit material, but most of their dresses are a structured poplin or cotton. If I order a non-knit in the future, I'll be sending in my measurements to ensure proper fit.
Oh - and I'll definitely be ordering from them again. This has been the most positive clothing experience of my life.

Edited to Add:
eShakti sent me a $25 gift card (that's right - after the $30 gift card for being a new customer!) after my item arrived. They are really working on their customer relations, and I'm completely overjoyed!

Also, I tried my dresses on for Jon when he got home from work and he thought they were the cutest things ever! Total win.

Argh! Diabetes and Thanksgiving

I fell of the wagon, y'all.

Like, I totally had good intentions for the longest time. I freaked out over carbs and checked my sugar a billion times a day to get it as low as possible.

But somewhere, bit by bit, my desire to control it slipped. Then, it stopped mattering what I ate. I mean, the food I ate was good food - unprocessed, home made, tasty and healthy - but I wasn't counting carbs anymore.

My sugar, however, didn't react. As long as I remembered my medicines in the morning and night, I was completely fine.

This wasn't my goal, when I found out I had diabetes. I wanted to get off the medication. Unless I get back into control, that's not going to happen.

Making this decision around the holidays is not the easiest decision. Of course, yesterday was a lost cause (because it was Thanksgiving, fools!).

However, today I woke up and took my meds, weighed myself (ugh), and at 1 cup of fat free Greek yogurt (10 grams of carbs), 1/8 cup of dry barley flakes (7 grams of carbs) and 1 tsp of organic peach jam (5 grams of carbs).

We'll try this again. My name is Trudy. I'm a diabetic.

Milk of Magnesia is Gross and Also Awesome

So, if you have oily skin and wear makeup, you've probably had to deal with foundation just melting off your face throughout the day (unless you stopped wearing foundation, like I did - outlined here) and feeling as gross as it looked.

 

While I still feel like I'm happy to go foundationless (and makeupless! I work at home, fools), there are times where I've wanted to even up my tone and be able to experiment with contouring and different colors of blush - which really do require a foundation. Not only that, but what about Halloween makeup? I don't want to worry about whether it's staying on my face in the middle of a party, yo.

 

So, a few internet searches on the best primers and foundations for oily skin turned up something really interesting.

 

Milk of Magnesia - that gross, thin, white liquid you may have had to gulp if you couldn't poop (not me. I can't take liquid medicines because they make me vomit) supposedly keeps greasy skin matte when used as a primer.

 

On multiple sites - Makeup Alley alone being a source of hundreds of testimonials - reported this, and there's real science to back it up.

 

"A medical journal was published in which the authors performed tests with different forms of magnesium on their ability to separate wax esters and steryl esters (basically oil) and they found that magnesium hydroxide (the form found in MOM) performed best.  They furthered their study and tested it on wax esters and steryl esters (again oil)  from the skin surface lipids of humans, rats and monkeys and they found the oils were separated completely. Also the other ingredient, le bleach, is a strong oxidizer and can cause chemical dissolution of surface lipids resulting in less oil on the skin."

 

However, there were also a few people out there who began suffering from cystic acne and dermatitis after integrating it into their makeup routine. Here's the science behind that.

 

"Because it was originally intended to neutralize the pH of our gastric environment, Milk of Magnesia is quite basic with an overall pH of 10.5.  Furthermore, the bleach found in MOM produces Sodium Hydroxide when it reacts with water.  And Sodium Hydroxide has a pH of 14 making it even more basic. The estimated natural skin pH is below 5 making it acidic.  When this pH is followed, the normal flora (resident bacteria) on our skin stays attached to the skin.  Now don't go "eewww" and "yucky" on me.  We actually need these resident bacteria on our skin.  They're not freeloaders on your face, they actually serve a purpose.  First off, the normal flora on our skin are good bacteria much like the lactobacillus shirota strain in your yakult.  They don't cause pimples or harm your skin, that's why they're called NORMAL flora.  Also, they serve as guardians and protectors of our skin.  When the normal flora on your skin is present it fights off other forms of bacteria that can be potentially harmful.  It competes for space on your face.  Now when the pH levels of our skin rise (above 5) we actually disperse the normal flora on our skin lighting up the "vacancy" sign and making it a playground for other harmful bacteria.  In using MOM, which is a very basic product, we actually increase our pH level making our skin more basic and warding off our friendly, protector bacteria."

 

So - my dilemma (really? This is my life's dilemma?) was whether I wanted to risk skin problems where I'd always had pretty healthy skin with just the greasiness factor or deal with never being able to wear foundation for longer than an hour or so.

 

However, let's go back to science (or what my pinky-gray mass behind my face says it science).

 

As you all know because you read every stupid word I write on here, I use apple cider vinegar as a toner. Acids cancel out bases - right?

 

Also, I work at home. How often am I going to realistically going to wear foundation just to talk on the phone with my agents?

 

This week? Apparently, every damn day.

 

That's right - I have been making up my face every day in an attempt to see the result of Milk of Magnesia. So that makeup doesn't go to waste, I've been forcing all of my employees to look at my mug on webcam instead of just talking to me like a normal person over the phone.

 

Saturday was the first day, and it didn't really work. I still got greasy after a couple of hours. I think I didn't wait long enough between toner/moisture/MoM/foundation.

 

Sunday was less greasy.

 

Monday and today have been AH-mazing! Like, really. You'd never know I was a greasy gal! I don't know if it's continued use or what, but my skin has been like someone else's. If I wanted a truly matte finish, I could probably maintain it with a little powder or blotting papers (or Starbuck's napkins).

 

Here's my face with MoM, foundation, sans any form of powder, 8 hours after applying makeup.

 

Compare that to my face about two hours after washing it, without foundation, a couple of weeks ago.

 

 

Using it is sort of self-explanatory. Clean face (baby shampoo is a super gentle cleanser!), use apple cider diluted with water as a toner (1/2 and 1/2), and moisturize (seriously, anything - I use Jergens). Let your moisturizer sink in while you do your hair or something.

 

Basically, wet a cotton ball or cosmetic sponge with the MoM and put it on your face, making sure to hit everywhere - even the crevices next to your nostrils. Let it dry completely. If there are white spots, just rub them out with your finger or a dry cotton ball. Then, apply foundation. I've been using E.L.F Studio Flawless Finish Foundation, so it's not like it has to be amazing or high-end (though this product is great, considering the price point!).

 

Then, just do your thing. That's it. For reals.

 

Alright - so will I be using it daily? Nah bra. However, when I want to wear makeup, fersher. I don't think I'm risking my skin health because of my apple cider routine, and I haven't found anything nearly as effective in controlling my oil as this $6 bottle of Milk of Magnesia.

 

Also, is anyone tired of my big ole hipster glasses? Ready for a new look? I'm really digging on a pair of brow-liners.

Rededication to Health

I have been a bad, bad girl.

I have diabetes, and I have only been paying minimal attention to my eating in the last month or so.

My sugar has been fine, which is almost worse because it's like my body is giving me permission to eat whatever I want. Don't get me wrong - I don't eat junk. I haven't been counting carbs, though.

The problem is, that this is under medication. My goal was to reduce and eliminate what I needed to take. I've learned from some accidental missed dosages that I can't eat what I want and not take my medication. It doesn't work. My sugar shoots up to diabetic and near-diabetic ranges (way better than when I was hospitalized earlier this year - over 300 when I checked into the ER).

I didn't fall off the food wagon all at once. It was little stuff that I excused. Once the little stuff was excused, things like mashed potatoes and ice cream became OK.

This was worse than when I was in the midst of my bottom-of-the-barrel drug days. Then, it was fully recognized that I was out of control. Anyone looking at me could have detected it. Now, it's food - and good food! I use unprocessed ingredients and everything is homemade. I not only know everything that's going into my mouth, but I can figure out the carb count per serving.

Patton Oswalt did a bit about how he couldn't end up in the cool rehab with the rock stars. Instead, he's in over-eater's anonymous with stories about waking up in a hotel room where the underage chubby prostitute took off with your Ritz crackers and how he needed to, "...Swim away from pie," (seriously, YouTube this - it's hilarious, and I totally ruined it).

It's not one decision, though; it's a million decisions throughout the day. This morning, there were cookies on the counter (homemade with all natural ingredients, y'all). I actually thought, "I should just eat these today and work on my food tomorrow. Just call today a wash." Then, I realized it sounded like me back when I'd have a baggie full of Adderall at midnight and work the next day. I could sleep, or I could just power through the night and tomorrow and sleep after that - knowing full well that I'd be calling in sick, but lying to myself about what would actually happen. If I'd eaten the cookies, I probably would have eaten more tomorrow.

But damn if that's now how it feels. I need to swim away from pie. I got my life under control once without having to resort to 12 steps - I'll do it again.

I didn't eat the cookies, by the way. Instead, one cup of fat free Greek yogurt (10 grams of carbs) and 1 tablespoon of homemade apple butter (8 grams of carbs) with two packets of stevia. That puts my breakfast total at 18 carbs. I could have had more (I'm allowing myself 30 per meal), but Greek yogurt is incredibly filling and the tartness curbs my appetite.

It would be so much easier if I was still trying to control my drug use.