Diet

Hey everyone—

I realize I haven’t blogged at all in the last couple weeks. I have been crazy busy running around doing errands with my mom, shopping, and generally spending much needed girl time with my mom. I’ve been in a sort of rut where I go to bed SO late, and then get up in the afternoon, and then there isn’t a whole lot of time left to do anything else. It’s been nice to get up and out.

Today I’d like to address something that’s been going on for me lately. Dietary issues. It’s something most women fuss over at one point or other. I’ve come to realize I really should be eating differently. Right now, my whole family is having dietary issues, so we decided it was a good time to make a switch. We’re going gluten free, mostly dairy free, and going with organic meats whenever possible (gotta empty that freezer first!). We have a couple of family friends who are holistic healers, which I know sounds crazy to a lot of people, and one of them deals with homeopathic remedies and can diagnose better than a physician. She explained to me that I haven’t been feeling/looking my best because of the way I’ve been eating, and gave me a list of foods my body doesn’t react well with. I’ve tried out parts of the list before, and felt noticeably better, so now’s the time to jump in full-swing! I’m “allergic” to wheat flour (gluten), dairy (cow, and cow byproducts- mostly because of the chemicals fed to the cows), processed meats (and food in general), artificial colorings and flavorings, and aspartame (a preservative usually found in diet soda/crystal light/etc.).  So far it’s been going great! My favorite snack is now eating a banana with rice chex cereal. The cereal is just munchy enough to satisfy the munchies without being too sugary or salty. There’s not a whole lot of ingredients and they taste great when dry. Also, around passover you can get great cake mixes and other gluten free products for great prices!!

Recent studies have shown that eating a gluten free diet makes people feel better in general. Some doctors are recommending it to parents of children with autism, as it helps clear away some mental fog. I haven’t really read up on the subject, but what I do know is that it gives me more energy and motivation to get things done!! It isn’t much of a big change for me, as I don’t generally eat bread, or sandwiches on a daily basis. It’s those little extras, such as when I’m out in a restaurant with friends that is the rough part. And as with any diet, when you cheat once, there’s greater temptation to keep cheating. But who knows, I might actually be able to stick with it this time! Wish me luck!

Nail Time, Baby!

Alright… Here’s my tutorial for a perfect LONG-LASTING manicure!

Every time I do someone’s nails, or they see my own, everyone always asks “How does your polish stay on that long?!” I have a few tips and tricks for those who want to know.

First off: Polish brand! A lot of the more expensive brands out there advertise long-lasting color, bright color, etc. Don’t fall for it! The main colors I use in my awesome mani’s are from two brands: Spoiled! And Confetti, both I can pick up at my local CVS for under 3$ a bottle. Not to mention their amazing color selection! Girl’s dream!

My collection of Spoiled and Confetti polishes!

Second: Top coat and BASE coat! Get yourself a good quality top/base coat. I use Nailtiques strengthener base coat (I think it’s step 2) because with so many manicures, my nails were starting to look pretty terrible from all the polish remover. I also use it as a top coat because it provides a nice shine.

Nailtiques Formula 2

Third: The way you polish! Use thin layers. Don’t use old goopy polishes, as they clump up and get sticky. Make sure you have a nice set of tools to work with. Even something as simple as orange sticks and a nail file will work! I have a starter kit from Christmas. I’ll post pics of what I have within a day or two. Here is what I have:

My nail must-haves. Bobby pins work great for dotting tools!

Alright- here’s my step-by-step tutorial.

1.     Nail polish remover. Take off any old polish you may have on, and if you don’t have any on, it will take off any excess oils you have on your nails. Just a gentle swipe will be good. Also take a moment to clean out the underside of your nails.

2.     Wash your hands. Well. With warm water. Make sure to get the soap on your nail beds. I know I often forget to do this, so when I’m doing my nails, I like to gather some soap in the palm of one hand, and rub my nails form the other hand back and forth in it. Repeat on the opposite hand.

3.     While your hands are nice and soft, you can now clean up your cuticles and the skin around your nails. I use a cuticle cream on mine, but it’s not necessary. Just use an orange stick to gently push back the cuticle (not another nail or a metal object as they may damage the nail bed below).

4.     File your nails to the desired shape. I use different types of files and buffers, going from coarse to fine to get a nice clean edge on my nails. Also, don’t just go from the sides, shape the nail as a whole. Remember to only stroke in one direction, as going both ways (in a sawing motion) could cause your nails to split.

5.     Brush off any access nail dust and then apply a hand lotion. Take a little time to relax as you give yourself a little massage. Make sure to lotion your nails as they CAN dry out if you do your nails too often.

6.     Now you are ready to begin with polish! Start with your base coat. Get a nice thin, but covered layer on your nail. Let it dry a moment before doing your polish. Not a complete dry, just a few seconds to solidify.

7.     Start your color. I typically do 2-3 coats depending on the color. Don’t glob it on! Nice and thing layers give the best results. Let it dry a few moments to solidify (it should be ready almost as soon as you finish your other hand, so no worries). After your first coat, I choose to do a light swipe on the edge of the nail to seal the edge.

8.     Once your color is on how you like it, feel free to do any glitter or what ever you choose.

9.     Top coat. Do another layer of your base coat (or top coat if you have it) to give the colors a nice shine.

10.  LET IT DRY COMPLETELY before doing anything. ANYTHING! I like to have a movie going while I’m doing my nails, or something cued up beforehand so I won’t move an inch until it’s over. Old polishes will sometimes take longer to dry so I’d say about an hour before doing any SERIOUS nail motions. Like typing, opening something, scratching your head… yeah… be careful when scratching your head~

Pictures coming soon!

So, that’s it! If you have any questions or blog ideas for me, feel free to comment below!

Body Image and Approval

Why do I feel like I need his approval to think I’m hot? 

I know I’m beautiful on the inside. Or I like to think I am. Even if other people don’t see it. People always say “It’s the personality that matters” but no one ever judges someone SOLELY on personality. Well… maybe occasionally if they’re a real pain in the ass… But what about normal people? I’m a “fluffy” girl. I’m cool with that. But a lot of people aren’t and I don’t like it. Sure, they’ll get to know me, and want to be my friend, but they’ll never see me as a romantic interest or a booty call or a hookup. Big girls want action too! I know there ARE some guys out there that prefer girls with meat on their bones, but those guys seem to be lessening in numbers. What happened to a time when guys went after the more voluptuous women because it was a sign of health? Now all a guy wants is an anorexic size 0 as his arm candy while he wears his jeans down around his knees. Where’s the class?! It just seems like the odds are against me. I was on a college campus for about two months. Guys wouldn’t even give me a second look! It’s not like I’m overweight and look it. I’m just heavier and proportioned so that I carry it evenly, though I have a bit of a tummy. I know I don’t wear the right clothes for my body shape, but I’ve been working on it. It’s SO frustrating to shop when you’re over size 12 because apparently anything bigger than that is “plus sized” and “specialty” and no one really carries it. And when you go to a store for plus sized girls, the pants are shaped for the “butt in the front” and “junk in the trunk” and all with elastic waistband. Shirts are designed for overly-busty girls who are heavy around the middle as well. I’m not all that busty! I don’t have “butt in the front”! I want regular people clothes!! I just feel like a skinny girl stuck in a big girl’s body. I want to flirt with all the guys shamelessly and not have to think that the look in their eyes is “Is that chubby girl trying to make a move on me?” I had a person who told me a was beautiful… He said I was beautiful, that I had gorgeous eyes, that he loved my body… and then he goes and starts seeing this other girl. Why doesn’t he think of me as dating material?! I’m at an age where I really want to just be having the time of my life, dating guys, partying, trying all different things… and yet I feel I’m stuck in between a high school-er and an adult. I’ll be the first to say I’m not independent. But then again, I am thrust into an adult world because I’m not in school anymore. I want to go to beauty school so I can get a vocational education and get out in the world. I just hope my early twenties improve in these terms. I just want my life to get exciting before I get tethered down for years and years. I want to live!

Please- Compliment the “fluffy” girl in your life. Tell her you like her hair, her eyes, her shirt, her shoes… just something to make her feel good. Don’t we all need a mood boost once in a while? I know I sure could use a morale boost at this point.

Do you babysit?

I get this question a lot. I don’t mean just once in a while. I’m talking probably once a week, if not more frequently. Most of the time it’s in a joking manner, which I get, because having someone watching the kids can get expensive in today’s economy. When people are serious, it’s a blessing. I don’t work a full-time job and babysitting is currently my only income. I am so relieved that I recently landed a babysitting job four days a week. It gets me enough cash to put in my gas tank and occasionally get ice cream after dinner. I have another family that occasionally calls me to sit for them, and I love those boys dearly. They are my sweethearts! I just wish I could spend more time doing what I love. Maybe as a nanny or something? But a lot of people don’t see a nanny as a steady, life-long job. Especially with the economy. The next conclusion would be to teach at a daycare, or preschool, right? Wrong. The state has so many mandates and regulations and rulings that it takes all of the fun out of watching the kids. Not that it isn’t rewarding, but I just don’t want to if I’m to be so tethered to such rules.  My decision would be to totally change my direction and head off to beauty school when I get the chance, as to try nail design, which it one of my favorite things to do in my spare time. I’d really just like to babysit more. It allows me the flexibility to still have a life while giving me life experience and an opportunity to spend time with some wonderful young children.

Welcome!

Hello and Welcome to Confessions of a Girl.

I'm Jess. I've tried blogging in the past and it didn't have a chance to stick before I lost track of the internet. But I'm here to try again. Confessions of a Girl is going to be dedicated to getting thoughts out and addressing some concerns about society that have been bothering me as of late. I might add in some beauty, hair, or nail tips, and possibly some thoughts on the books I read. Come along on this journey with me and we'll see where it takes us!

-Jess, A Girl