Weight Loss Confidential: The Egg Fast

Hey guys,
     As usual, I'm on my dieting grind and hoping to shed a few pounds. I've gained about 12lbs since the beginning of the year, mostly due to not having the time or energy to eat healthy. I had forgotten how hard it is to get back on the wagon after a long sugar filled hiatus. To jump start my weight loss, I tried a short term diet that has been coined as "The Egg Fast." I did five full days on this fast and lost around 7lbs. Sure, most of it was water weight, but what is my favorite thing about a low carb diet? How fast my belly goes flat. See the pic above if you want to admire my bloated gut in all of it's glory the night before I started the fast, along with the after pic.

What is The Egg Fast?
     The Egg Fast isn't exactly what it sounds like. It isn't fasting from eggs, but rather fasting from all foods EXCEPT eggs, cheese, and real butter. I would not recommend anyone to do this for longer than a week, as it gets pretty hard to stick to after about 4 full days, and you will only become frustrated, hangry, and will end up at the nearest soft serve ice cream machine. The diet requires that you eat at least six eggs a day, a tablespoon of real butter for each egg consumed, and a ration of cheese, up to 6oz a day. I would NOT recommend eating that much cheese, though. Dairy is known to stall weight loss, but a small amount is fine. I would recommend no more than 3oz a day.

The Science Behind The Egg Fast
Y'all know I'm a scientific gal, so I had to look up the facts behind this diet and why it works. Eggs are, and always have been, a staple food for all low carb dieters. If you follow this diet correctly, you'll consume around 10 total carbs in a day. If you're a new reader, please know that I think the idea of net carbs is bologna and it's just a way to market processed high carb snacks as "healthy." Always count your TOTAL carbs if you want to see faster results on the scale. Anyway, 10 carbs a day is an extremely low carb diet. You probably won't feel great on the first day and may even exhibit some signs of induction flu. These included, at least for me, joint pain, headaches, and bad breath. Just think of it as sugar rehab and you're having withdraw symptoms. The good news is that it goes away in a couple of days. You know what else happens in a couple of days? Your body starts running on its storage of glycogen since you are not giving it any sugar to run off of. What molecule binds to glycogen? That would be good old H2O. You got it, water is bound to glycogen. As your body starts to burn glycogen, you begin to lose water weight and start seeing the scale move pretty fast. I know that I have written multiple posts on what happens to your body when you are on a strict low carb diet, so I won't go into too much additional detail here. Just trust me when I say that your water weight has to come off first before the fat rolls start disappearin'.

In addition to being a low carb food, eggs are a great source of protein. When paired with the cheese and fat, you are ingesting a moderate protein, high fat, low carb meal. Do you know what moderate protein, high fat, and low carb equal? A process  called ketosis, aka FAT BURNING!

When your body goes into ketosis, the ketones in your blood stream act as an appetite suppressant, which will only aid in your weight loss. If you're new to low carb dieting and are unsure of how to get into ketosis, you can buy some testing strips on amazon for about ten bucks. When I was fat, I didn't know such a thing existed and I still lost 50lbs, so they are not required.

Would I Do The Egg Fast Again?
     Honestly, I think it is a good way to get back into the swing of dieting. If anything, I would recommend it as a stepping stone to drop a few pounds quickly and to give you the motivation and determination to continue with a healthy lifestyle and long term weight loss. I would also recommend this diet if you have hit a plateau and have not lost any additional weight despite maintaining a healthy diet. I don't recommend this diet as a way to lose a ton of weight. It is far too restrictive and far too bland for my taste. I read online that some people did an egg fast for 30 days and did lose a substantial amount of weight. That is just insane to me, but perhaps they had an unrefined palate and didn't miss delicious food. I just know that I am not about to find out if 30 days of eggs would make me a size 2.

I hope this post has been informative and provided some insight into my experiences with The Egg Fast. Should you have any questions, feel free to shoot me an email. Until next time.

Xoxo,
Bridget

Current Obsession: Homemade Salad Dressing

Guess who's back, back again...
Long time no post! Today is the day that I change your life completely. Okay perhaps that is a bit dramatic, but I am about to change the way you eat salads forever. I have been experimenting with homemade salad dressings for a while now. Some have proven to be delicious, while others would make a great drain cleaner.

Since I started making my own dressings, I cannot stand to eat anything out of a bottle. Every dressing, even ranch, tastes terrible. It's almost like I can taste the preservatives in it. Yuck! Thus far, this recipe is the best one I have came up with. It's equal parts tasty and easy, as well as a healthier alternative to bottled dressings. As always, this recipe is low carb. C'mon, would you expect any less from me?

Homemade Red Wine Vinaigrette 
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 tbsp red wine vinegar
1 tsp garlic powder
Feta cheese
Salt-n-peppa to taste

I prefer this dressing on a salad made of baby spinach, but it tastes good on iceburg or romaine as well. I add the first three ingredients to a bowl and whisk them together, then I throw in a few crumbles of the feta cheese. The acid in the vinegar breaks down the cheese and adds a bit of creaminess to the salad. I usually will  add in red onions, green olives, and banana peppers with my spinach when I make this.. Of course, you could add more or less of the vinegar depending on your palate. Personally, I love dressings that have a bite to them, so if I'm feeling froggy in the kitchen, I may even do equal parts of oil and vinegar.

Let me know some of your favorite homemade salad dressing recipes. I would love to try out some new flavor combinations.

Xoxo,
B

Popcorn Shrimp Tacos Recipe

Hey guys,
I was getting freaky in the kitchen a couple of weeks ago and came up with this delicious recipe. Don't ask me how I whipped this up because I don't know. I guess after binge watching several seasons Kitchen Nightmares of Netflix, Gordon Ramsay taught me a thing or two.

Of course you can customize any recipe to tickle your fancy. I topped off my shrimp with some cole slaw and corn salsa. Y'all know that I'm a spicy mamacita, so I added ample sriracha and jalapenos. Also, if you want to make this dish low carb, ditch the tortilla and use some naked shrimp in place of the popcorn shrimp. I have also substituted fish for the shrimp and it is equally delicious. If you try this out, let me know how it turns out and if you discover some flavor combinations that I need to try out.

Popcorn Shrimp Tacos
-1 box of popcorn shrimp
-Tortillas
- Jalapenos
-Avocados or guacamole
-Cheese
-Salt/pepper, to taste

 Cole Slaw Ingredients
-1 bag of cole slaw
-1 tub of sour cream
-1 packet of ranch dressing mix
-1 packet of taco seasoning
-1 tsp lemon juice
-Sriracha, optional

 Corn Salsa Ingredients
-1 can mixed yellow and white corn
-1 bunch of green onions
-1 bell pepper, diced
-1 tbsp olive oil
-1 tbsp red wine vinegar
-1 tbsp lemon juice
-1 tsp cumin
-1 tsp garlic paste (or you could use garlic powder if you wanted to)
-Crushed red pepper, optional
-Parsley, optional

*You could add cilantro and/or tomato if that's your thing. I think both of those things are repulsive, but you do you, boo.

I fried my popcorn shrimp in my air fryer for about 15 minutes at 360 degrees.

While that was cooking, I mixed you my cole slaw. I mixed up the sauce first, then I poured it over the cabbage mixed and refrigerated it until dinner time. I find that I like the sauce separate from the cabbage, so when I made these the second time, I just spooned the sauce over the cabbage in my taco rather than making an entire bowl of cole slaw.

For the corn salsa, I put all of the veggies in a bowl together, then I mixed up the sauce in the separate bowl. I put the garlic paste in the bowl first, then I whisked the wet ingredients into it so it would dissolve. I then poured that into the veggies and seasoned with the cumin/salt/pepper. This is what mine looked like:

Lookin' like a fiesta in a bowl. I let the corn salsa refrigerate for a little while too before we ate it. The longer this sits, the more flavorful it gets. If your house is anything like mine, it won't last for long.

Thanks for reading! You can follow me on Pinterest here, on Twitter here, on Instagram here, or email me by clicking here. See you soon!

Xoxo,
Bridget

My Triumphant Return to Blogging: Life Update

Hey guys,
     Remember me? It's been over a year since my last post here on my blog. My hiatus wasn't due to a lack of desire to blog, but as it so often does, life happened. If you have followed along with me from the beginning, you will remember that my mom was diagnosed with stage 2B breast cancer a couple of months after I started blogging and I used this blog as an outlet to help me keep my sanity during that ordeal. She was declared cancer free in June 2015. In the last year I have gotten married, moved in with my husband, moved to a new town, gained a nephew, gained a sister in law, and most unfortunately, my mom has cancer once again. This time, the diagnosis is stage 4 breast cancer.
     The time has come that I must once again find a way to channel my thoughts to help deal with all of the emotions that one feels when they feel helpless in a situation that they cannot control. Helpless is the only way to describe how you feel when your parent is sick and you can do nothing to ease their pain or make them well again. The good news is that the doctors are telling us that the treatment is working on my mom. The bad news is that the side effects are very rough on her and she does not feel well most days. If y'all don't mind, please keep keep her in your thoughts and/or prayers, and send many good vibes our way.
     With that being said, I find myself questioning what direction this blog will take now? The answer in short is... well... Who knows! At the moment, it's pretty much just a smorgasbord of information regarding weight loss, beauty tips, couponing, and at times, my online diary anyway, so it probably won't be much different in terms of content. Although I have not posted any new entries here, I still get a couple of emails a month from people who have come across some of my entries on StumbleUpon or Pinterest and ask me to start blogging again and to help them along their weight loss journey.  As always, I am happy to help in any way that I can, but this time, I'm also asking you for help. I love the friendships that I have made with people I have met online through this blog, and I ask that if you all have any positive stories that you would like to share with me to keep my spirits up, please do so. Blogging seems to be what my heart, and mind, is telling me to do to keep me from bursting at the seams, so here I am. If anyone has any requests for entries that they would like me to tackle, just slide in my DMs. As always, you can contact me directly through my email at bridget.buttery@gmail.com, on twitter @butterybiscuit7, and on instagram @bridgetc2015. <3

Xoxo,
Bridget

Bride on a Budget: Searching for the Perfect Wedding Day Perfume

Hey guys,
I'm sorry it has been a few weeks since I last posted. It's prom season, wedding season, and most importantly, GAME OF THRONES SEASON 5 IS AIRING!! Needless to say, I have been busy doing makeup, planning my own wedding, preparing for the wedding of others, and hoping that no weddings I attend are hosted by Walder Frey (The Lannisters send their regards).

Exciting news! My own wedding is only a little over four months away and I have finally started planning, which means I can finally start my new series that I have aptly titled "Bride on a Budget." I am doing a lot of DIY projects and I plan I sharing how to make some of the things that I will have at my wedding, as well as posting budget friendly tips for others who are on a tight wedding budget and may find my tips useful.

May has been the month of perfume for me. I am on a search for a perfect wedding day/honeymoon perfume. I find that scents are great to tie to memories. One whiff of a certain scent, and it's like you have hopped into a time machine and went back to a certain time in your life. Kind of like when you walk by Abercrombie in the mall and once their signature smell hits your olfactory gland, you instantly remember popping your collar in 2006 and thinking you looked damn good doing it.

On a less embarrassing note, I can smell Pumpkin Pecan Waffles scented candles from Bath and Body and it instantly takes me back to when my fiance proposed to me and the exciting time in our lives that followed that fall. I want to find a scent that I can fall in love with and start wearing so that it will take me back to this time in our lives. Even though wedding planning is hella stressful, I still want to have something to bring me back to this time in my life. I'm not saying that Elizabeth and James Nirvana White will be my wedding day perfume because I'll probably try a hundred different perfumes, but right now it is the front runner.

Elizabeth and James Nirvana White Perfume 
For those of you who don't know, Elizabeth and James is owned by the Olsen Twins. I loved their stuff they used to carry at Walmart as a kid and apparently my tastes have not matured much over the years as I am still throwing my dollar bills at the Olsen's. I received  a roller ball of this fragrance and of the sister perfume to this, Nirvana Black, when I cashed in my VIB points at Sephora. I prefer the Nirvana White to the Nirvana Black because it is a lighter, more feminine scent. The notes listed on the Nirvana White are Peony, Muguet, Tender Musk with the style listed as "Sophisticated. Feminine. Captivating." I am not one to go for a floral scent, but I don't find that this fragrance is overly floral. If you have 100 points in your VIB bank, I suggest you cash them in for this rollerball while they last! I didn't pay anything out of pocket for mine because I used my points, but a full sized rollerball retails for $22, a 1oz bottle retails for $55, and a 1.7oz bottle retails for $75. I personally never buy the biggest bottle of perfume because by the time I get half way through it, I'm bored and want to try something else, hence wasting my hard earned cash. I don't think that 50 bucks is too much to spend on a luxury fragrance, especially for such a special occasion if I end up choosing it for my wedding day scent.

While I'm at it, I'll tell you exactly why I prefer the Nirvana White when compared with its sister fragrance. Nirvana Black has that same strong masculine and almost sickly undertone that you find in Tom Ford's Black Orchid. I actually thought I would enjoy the Nirvana Black more than the White because the notes listed are Violet, Sandalwood, and Vanilla, while the style is listed as "Sensual, Mysterious, and Warm." I love any kind of warm, almost spicy fragrance, so I was really surprised that this scent was not my thing. In the end, it was just too manly for me to wear. I might give it to my fiance and see how he likes it instead!

Less than spectacular mentions on the fragrance front for this month: Loveswept by Philosophy (very light and summery scent, but lacks the staying power I want), Tainted Love by TokyoMilk Dark (warm vanilla scent, but a little too heavy for summer time), and Fresh's Sugar Lychee (fruity fragrance but it is so light that the scent dissipates almost immediately after applying). I'll keep you all posted as I continue the search for the perfect wedding day perfume. What's your favorite perfume? Do you have any recommendations I should try? Let a girl know! Tweet me, Facebook me, or email me. All of my contact info is on the side bar. Talk to you soon!

Xoxo,
--B

Weight Loss Confidential: Tips for Discreet Dieting

Sup Ladies,

I haven't done a weight loss post in ages and this one is quite different from any other weight loss post I have written. Have you ever been in the situation in which you want to drop a few pounds, but you don't really want everyone to know about it? Sometimes if you mention to someone that you are cutting back on calories/carbs, then you may receive negative remarks from people who just want to be hateful a-holes. This is annoying not only for people who are larger, but also for the thinner population as well. "But you're skinny enough", "You look like you need to go eat a cheeseburger as it is" or the ever popular remark of "You're just going to lose water weight anyway" is not anything that I want to hear. How about you tell a sister good luck?! When I first started dieting, I didn't want anyone to know because I was afraid I would fail and then they would be sarcastic and ask me how my diet was going as I waddled to the kitchen for more cheesecake. That's when I came up with the idea of "discreet dieting." No one has to know that you are cutting back and then one day every notices that you are looking rather lean and wants to know what you did to get looking so bomb ass. That's when you tell them that you just lost a little "water weight" and moonwalk out of the room. 

1.) Never skip breakfast

Back when I was chunky and didn't really know how to effectively lose weight, I would skip meals all the time, then wonder why I had gained 5lbs even though I was staying hungry. You have to eat in order to lose weight. Now this doesn't mean that you need to go down to the local Waffle House and order a stack of butter pecan waffles. If you eat something high in protein early in the morning, you are not only going to give your metabolism the message of "Wake up biyotch and get to burning some calories," but you're also going to stay fuller and this may keep you from binge eating at lunch. I recommend eating something along the lines of a couple of hard boiled eggs, a grilled chicken breast, or a greek yogurt (check the carbs on these. They can hide a lot of sugar within them if you're not careful). If you're super busy, or you get out of bed about thirty minutes before work like I do, then you can always eat a protein bar on the way to work or even have a protein shake. Something is better than nothing... Unless that something is from Dunkin Donuts. 

2.) Pack your lunch

If you typically go out for lunch with friends and you go from ordering a Big Mac and Fries to ordering a side salad with no dressing, then not only is everyone going to notice and call you out on your actions, but you're also going to be extremely unsatisfied and more likely to cheat for dinner. What is easiest in this situation is to just go ahead and pack something at home and take it with you to work or school. If someone asks why you packed your lunch, just tell them you're trying to save money. Every time I have ever said that to anyone then they are like "Man, I need to be doing that too" and never question me again. But what should you pack for lunch? Well there are a few options here. Of course, you want something that is not only high in protein, but that is going to satisfy you until you get home for dinner. Some of my go-to meals for when I pack my lunch include homemade low-carb turkey meatballs (click the recipe tab at the top of the page to see how to make these), grilled chicken with sriracha (because I live for spicy food), a bag of cocktail shrimp, or a small salad with a ton of smoked ham and turkey. Anything that is not battered, glazed, fried, rolled, or breaded will be appropriate for lunch.

3.) Start an at home fitness routine

When I was about 50lbs heavier, I would always say "I want to work out but I don't want to go to a gym and look like the fat girl." I was pretty down on myself at the time and I was not confident enough to go let my fat jiggle where other people might see it. I was also scared I would see someone I know and then see them out somewhere else and then have them say "Oh, I saw you once at the gym. You should come back more often!" When you are not happy with yourself and feel fat, it is very, VERY hard to be confident enough to let anyone know that you are trying to get to a point in which you are happy with yourself. Whether it be the fear of failure, or the fear that someone is going to see that your ass sweat has soaked your yoga pants right down the seam, it is hard to deal with. Before I started going to Zumba classes, I started doing some easy workouts to help build my stamina. I did not want to be the fat girl in the back row panting for air and diet coke. I just went to Youtube and looked up some simple workouts that were slow paced enough for me to keep up. I did this for a few weeks before I gained the courage to finally go workout where other women were. One I finally went to Zumba, I was surprised to find that I was not the largest girl in the class. I was far from the smallest girl there, but most of the attendees were just about my size. This was very comforting to me and I was able to go through the entire one hour class without having to stop and take a break. I honestly believe if I hadn't already tried doing some of the workouts at home and built my stamina up, that I would not have been able to complete the class and I would have been too embarrassed to ever return. There is nothing wrong with starting to do a few workouts at home in private. I highly recommend this if you are thinking about joining any kind of fitness class and feel the way I felt before going to my first session. 

I hope these tips have helped anyone out who is hoping to drop a few pounds, but wants to do so in private and inconspicuously. Just remember that no one can make you feel bad about trying to get healthy and about trying to get to a point in your life in which you are happy with not only how you look, but how you feel. Don't let anyone judge you on your efforts or make you feel like you aren't doing the right thing. I had so many people telling me that I was doing a fad diet when I was low-carbing and that I wouldn't lose any real weight. A couple months later I walked in 20lbs lighter and everyone wanted to know how I was doing it because to them, it didn't look like I was doing much. Having a strong support system also helps. If you don't have anyone you feel comfortable enough to lean on with your weight loss journey, lean on me! I'm always so happy to hear from my readers and to give them the encouraging and supportive words they need to keep going forward. Follow me on Twitter @butterybiscuit7, on Instagram @Bridgetb2011, or send me an email at bridget.buttery@gmail.com. I would love to hear from you! 

Xoxo,

Bridget

How to Conceal Your Dark Under-Eye Circles

I think I was born with eye bags. No matter how much I sleep, I still look like I could score the role of "Lead Zombie" in the Thriller video. It has always been something that I have hated about myself and that I have struggled trying to mask. After years of trying, I think I have finally figured out how to cover up my dark circles. Lucky for you, I am going to share some really unflattering photos of myself and tell you how you can also make yourself appear more rested and less like you've been awake on a three day coke bender. Here we go!

And here I am in my natural state. 

Most people go for a very light concealer when trying to hide their dark circles, even I used to think that was the key. Think about this, your eye bags are dark and what is going to happen when you put ivory colored concealer over them? Gray. You are going to have nice GRAY eye bags now. How cute.

Instead of reaching for a light concealer first off, you need to grad something that is darker and preferably with a warm or orange base. In order to cover something dark, you're going to need something dark. The warm or orange tone is going to cancel out that blue color and keep you from turning your under eye area into a literal gray area.

The more jaundiced you look, the better.

I put the darker concealer on first and blend it out with my finger. Here I am using Coastal Scents Camo Quad. This concealer is very thick so you will need to warm it up a little bit on your finger or let it sit on your face for a minute or two so it will blend easily. This concealer is cheap and covers really well. You can buy it for like 7 or 8 bucks on Coastal Scents' website.

After I apply my dark concealer, I go in and cover that up with a Beauty Blender and my foundation. Right now I am using L'Oreal's Pro Matte Foundation. I highly recommend this foundation to everyone.

After I apply my foundation, I then go in with a lighter concealer. Now that we have masked the blue tone of our under eye area, we can go in and lighten it up a little bit. I am using Maybelline's Fit Me Concealer in shade 15. I recommend using any kind of concealer that is packaged with a wand for this step. These concealers tend to be thinner and will blend out well and not leave you looking cakey.

After I have applied these three layers, I set it all using a yellow based powder. I am currently using the Anastasia of Beverly Hills Banana powder from her contour kit. You can buy the single powder on her website if you are not interested in the full kit. I believe it is around 14 dollars. Any kind of yellow based powder will do. The yellow will provide a brightening effect to the under eye area.

After I set my under eye area, I'm ready to do the rest of my face. I finished powdering my T zone with the L'Oreal Pro Matte Powder, mixed two Makeup Geek blushes together for my cheeks (shades Spellbound and Bliss), highlighted my cheeks with Hourglass' Ambient Lighting Powder (shade- Radiant Light), threw on a little mascara, and added Maybelline's Lip Elixir in Hibiscus on my lips.

I hope this helps those of you who have the same problems with dark circles that I do. Let me know if you have any additional tips I should try out, and as always, thank you for reading.

Xoxo,
--Bridget

Product Review: Rimmel Show Offs Lip Lacquer and Lip Velvet

Remember last spring when chubby stick lip products were the cool thing to own and wear? I'm glad that fad has passed. I found all chubby sticks, no matter what brand, to be greasy on my lips and they would smear on my face while I was wearing them. No one wants to be looking like Courtney Love at noon on a Tuesday. As things tend to come and go, the popularity of the chubby stick and seen a dramatic decline and the popularity of the liquid lipstick is on the rise. Anastasia launched a new line of liquid lipsticks a couple of months ago, Lime Crime release their Velvetines last year (btw, do NOT buy from them. Google Lime Crime Scam and see why. Don't even get me started on how awful that company is), even Lush has jumped on the band wagon and brought out their own line of liquid lipsticks. 

In case you didn't know, Walgreens has all Rimmel Products on sale for 50% off (ends tomorrow). Rimmel is one of those brands that rarely goes on sale, so you know that I had to go stock up. I am a huge fan of their Lash Accelerator mascara, as well as their Stay Matte powders and Kate Moss lipsticks. As no surprise, Rimmel also has their own version of liquid lipsticks. The market these under their "Show Offs" line.

I have owned a couple of the Show Offs Lip Lacquers for about 6 months now and I was very impressed with their staying power and moisturizing qualities. When I went to Walgreens on Monday evening, I noticed that in addition to the Provocalips (a long wear version of the Show Offs), Rimmel had also launched a matte version of the Lip Lacquer, aptly named "Lip Velvet." Just the name makes me want to wear it. Lip Velvet. Yassss, make my kisser look and feel like velvet! I don't even know what that means but I feel like I need it in my life. 

My Walgreens sucks and is always out of stock, but I did purchase every shade of both the Lip Lacquer and Lip Velvet that had not already had the safety seal broken on it *insert gag here. I opted against purchasing the Provocalips because I am not a fan of long wear lip products. I find that they are very drying and often flake off and leave little bald patches on your lips, which could be misconstrued as HSV-1 and that could cost you a date or two.

Pros:  First of all, I love the names of these! Each shade has a fun space related name. Nova, Big Bang, and Meteoric Matte are just a few of the shades included in this line. I know that the name of shades is not a big deal to some people, but my inner science nerd could not help but giggle with delight as I was reading these. The formula of both the Lip Lacquer and Lip Velvet is on point. It is not drying on the lips and has good staying power. The lip lacquer stays shiny for the duration of the wear. Both formulas are very pigmented and one coat will completely cover your lips. I noticed that after I had eaten lunch, I had only lost a a little bit of the color. I touched up  The price is also very affordable. These retail at $5.48 each at Walgreens, but I got them on sale for only $2.74 each. I justify buying every shade of a line whenever it is on sale. Yes I know, I have a problem and I probably need an intervention. Sorry not sorry.

Cons: I would like to see a wider color range. They offer a couple of nudes, one which I did not purchase because it was literally the color of concealer, a couple really bright pinks, a bright red, and an orange. I would like to have seen a bright purple, because purple lips are my jam, a deep wine color, or even coral. I am pretty bold with my lip color choices, so I may be one of the few who thinks they could have offered a wider range of color. My only other complaint is that the matte Lip Velvets do take a little while to dry. It is not a long time, maybe 3 or 4 minutes, but I am a girl on the go and I don't want to have to worry about messing up my lips when I'm trying to get to work in the mornings. 

In order from left to right, these shades are as follows: 102 Nova (bright baby doll pink), 502 Stellar (bright pink), 201 Solstice (tawny pink-nude), 400 Big Bang (bright red), Burning Lava (matte true red), Meteoric Matte (matte berry red), and Orange-ology (matte orange). 

In closing, I think that these lip products are well worth the money, especially if you're like me and you find them on sale or use a coupon. I highly recommend these to anyone who wants to try out some inexpensive liquid lipsticks before investing in high end liquid lipsticks and risk not liking the way they wear. Let me know if you try these out and what your thoughts on them are.

Xoxo,

Bridget

Favorite Products of February 2015

It's been so long since I have written a monthly favorites post. The reason for this is I generally find it a little forced to have a ton of different products each month that you allegedly "love." With that being said, the products I have chosen to write about are not just my favorites of this month, but rather, some products I have been using over the last few months and are good quality for the price. Without further adieu, here are some bomb ass products I am sure you will love!

L'Oreal Infallible Pro Matte Foundation and Powder
I have used nothing but Revlon Color Stay foundation for years. I am a complete L'Oreal junkie so I decided to throw my Color Stay to the side and try the new Infallible Pro Matte line that L'Oreal came out with a couple of months ago. This foundation and powder has changed my life!! I am so much happier with the way my skin looks (and I thought I looked pretty good before, KIDDING) since I started using this line. The foundation is a very matte liquid formula that comes in a squeeze tube. I love the squeeze tube because you don't have to worry about bacteria getting into the product and causing breakouts. Personally, I like matte foundation. This is because I like to highlight areas of my face with a little shimmer. (Side note- my favorite highlighter of the moment is Too Faced Candlelight Powder, $30 at Sephora).

I have combination to dry skin but this foundation will work for all skin types. The matte finish set with powder will absorb any oil on your face, which used to be a problem for me back when I was a teenager. As I have gotten older (I'm 25 now, aka an old hag), my skin has dried out quite a bit and some brands of matte foundation accentuates my dry patches. Don't worry, I have the remedy for this! If I am looking particularly dry, I will mix a little of the L'Oreal Magic Lumi Primer in with the foundation on the back of my hand and apply the combo to my face. This adds a little glow and hydration back to my face and helps to mask my dry patches. Did I mention the price is freaking right?! The foundation retails for $12.99 and the powder retails for $10.99. Don't pay full price! Wait until Rite Aid has their sale on L'Oreal, which is often, and stack it with some coupons you can find on L'Oreal's website and get it for next to nothing.

Nest Indigo Perfume
I originally purchased Nest's Midnight Fleur scent, which is a good one, but then I went to Sephora and came across Indigo, I packaged up my Midnight Fleur and returned it to get this scent instead. It is hard for me to describe a scent as anything other than the cliche adjectives like "amazing, love, and YAASSS!" The only thing I can compare this scent to is smelling like an expensive cup of tea. I know that does not sound like something you would want in a perfume. Trust me, you never knew how good tea could smell until you come across this perfume. I will be in the grocery store and people will walk by and ask me what I am wearing. The lasting power of this scent is pretty good. I will put it on before work and by 4:30pm I will still be able to smell it on myself. I am the type of girl that I want to do something once a day and I want it to last until the night. I expect my makeup, deodorant, and perfume to last all day. I am excited to try other scents from Nest when I use up all of my Indigo. Also, the packaging on the bottle is gorgeous. I bought the jumbo bottle at Sephora for $65, but they do have a rollerball version for $25 if you want to try it out before investing that much money in a scent you may not like.

Here is the description of the perfume since I can't really describe it accurately:

Notes: Moroccan Tea, Kashmir Wood, Cardamom, Wild Fig.
Style: Warm. Aromatic. Mysterious.

 

Covergirl Lip Lava
I think this is the first Covergirl product I have purchased since 2003. I came across these babies while I was at Walgreen's about a month ago. They were on sale for buy one get on 50% off (Regular retail price is $7.99). I'm not going to lie, I am a complete makeup hoe for red lips and purple lips. Those are pretty much the only two colors I wear. I purchased the shades Lava-Nder, which is a bright metallic purple, and Live Love Lava, which is a bright metallic red. Now, I am not a girl who normally goes for any kind of lip products that have shimmer in them. I normally go for matte liquid lipstick or a satin finish, but these two lip lavas may change my mind. Every time I wear the red, I get compliments all day. It is the perfect red without being too dramatic. My favorite thing about the red is that is does not stain your lips. I have worn a lot of red lipstick in my day, and from my experience, you have to be very meticulous with your application, otherwise you will have pink stains on your face where your lipstick has smeared. The purple shade is not going to be for everyone, but I wear what I want, so I love it! These lip lavas are very pigmented, have quite a bit of lasting power, and the price is right. I highly recommend these!

Clarisonic Acne Prone Head
Everyone already knows that I love my Clarisonic. I recently ventured away from the sensitive head and went with the Acne Prone head ($27 at Ulta). I don't have acne as much as I used to before I started using tea tree oil on my pillow cases and to spot treat my makeup brushes, but I do suffer from the occasional breakout. Thus far, I am very satisfied with  my results. I have not had a breakout since I started using it. I would not recommend this brush to anyone who has not used sensitive head first. I do feel that you need to work your way up to the rougher brush heads, but I use my Clarisonic every night, so I could pretty much take sand paper to my face and it would be like "I'm okay, boo. I love to exfoliate the first five layers of my skin off." I would describe this head of having the texture of hair that needs some conditioner (LOL). Seriously though. The sensitive brush head has pretty soft bristles, so this one will be very intense for anyone who is not used to it. The next level of brush head is the deep pore cleaning one, which I have heard nothing but horror stories about, so I'm going to skip out on that fine experience.

What products have you been enjoying? Do you know of anything I should try? Be sure and let me know. Follow me on twitter @Butterybiscuit7 and on Instagram at @Bridgetb2011. Thanks for reading!

Xoxo,
--B

Whiten Your Teeth At Home-- The Product I Swear By

Hey boos,

It feels like forever since I did a product review for you all. Today's review is all about whitening your teeth at home. I'm always self conscious about my teeth being yellow. I don't smoke or anything, but I do shotgun Coke Zero like it's my job and eat lemons on the daily, which not so great for my pearly whites.

I used Twilight Teeth about a year and a half ago and I really liked it. As most things do, it got pushed to the back of one of my makeup drawers and I forgot about it. Last weekend, I was packing up my freelance kit to prepare for a day of hair and makeup and I came across it and started using it again. Let me just say that I only used my Twilight Teeth twice before I was like YAAASSSSS!!

How does Twilight Teeth work? The whitening solution is activated by UV light, which in turn whitens your teeth. The starter kit comes with whitening solution, a UV light, and a weird mouth piece that fits on the UV light so you can just pop it in your mouth and start your whitening whenever the mood strikes you. The whitening solution comes in a tube with a brush applicator. All you have to do is paint the solution onto your teeth, then put in the mouth piece and slide your UV light into it. You can also use the mouth piece and solution while you're in the tanning bed, which I think yields better results that the mini UV light. You also don't have to spit or rinse out your mouth when you use this. The solution is absorbed and leaves your teeth with a minty flavor. My biggest complaint with whitening products like Crest White Strips is the nauseating bleach foam that accumulates in your mouth while you're trying to bleach your teeth. I prefer to NOT look like I am a rabid dog with foaming at the mouth, but hey, that's just me.

The best part about Twilight Teeth is that it doesn't make my teeth sensitive at all. I have used other whitening products that have made my teeth so sore that I couldn't even breathe without pain, some have made my gums peel (which is the stuff nightmares are made of), and some that don't do anything all.

I bought my Twilight Teeth set on Amazon for $15! It's super cheap too. After you buy the kit, you just have to repurchase the whitening solution when you run out. Needless to say, I am so glad I found my whitening kit again. This girl is going to have a smile white enough to rival Ryan Seacrest on her wedding day. I high recommend this product to anyone who wants to improve their smile without spending hundreds of dollars at the dentist.

Click HERE to go to the Amazon page I purchased my kit from.

Here's a pic of me after using Twilight Teeth for a week.

Hashtag no filter.

Let me know if any of your try this product out and how you feel about it! Also, let me know if you know of any other affordable at home teeth whitening systems. I love trying new things. Talk to you soon!

Xoxo,

Bridget

New Year, New You: Easing Your Way Into a New Lifestyle

With the start of new year, most people make a few resolutions with the intent to keep them as long as possible. Resolutions I have made in the past include swearing off soda, swearing off swearing, and the ever popular weight loss resolution. If anyone out there is like me, you do great with your resolutions for a couple of months, then slowly you slip back into your old ways. The good news is with weight loss, you can hit any reasonable goal that you set within a few months and that is usually enough motivation to keep people from backsliding into a delicious vat of caramel. 

January is halfway over, but that doesn't mean that you can't change your lifestyle now. You don't have to have a new year, a new month, or a new week to start making a difference in the way that you live and the way that you treat your body. Remember, you only get one body so you better take care of it... Or get the number to a really good plastic surgeon. (I'm kidding, of course). 

Want to know the first steps you should take to start making a difference? I can help you with that. Coming from a girl who was once nearly 180lbs (don't believe me? Look at the photo above), I know a thing or two about getting healthy, slimming down, and getting back comfortable in my own skin. My biggest piece of advice would be to gradually slide into a healthy lifestyle. What exactly do I mean by that? Let me give you an example. Most of the time, people get in the mood to diet and they go overboard. They get a gym membership, they limit their food intake to a lettuce leaf and bark off of a tree at meal times, then after about a week of this routine, they find themselves ordering the Grand Slam at the nearest Denny's before they end up in the psych ward begging for a pack of donuts. 

As you can see, too much change at once can drive a person crazy. Rather than diving way in over your head, try switching out one thing in your diet for a healthier alternative. Do you drink regular soda? Try switching to diet. Once you think you're ready to let go of soda all together, switch to tea sweetened with stevia, and eventually you will be able to switch to water. A gradual change will be less noticeable and won't drive you half as crazy. 

I work an office job and I get a very short lunch break, so a lot of the time, I am forced to eat something from a fast food restaurant. Now, I have already written a very detailed post over how to eat healthy when you're dining out at a restaurant, but let me give you a couple of examples on how you can ease into healthier eating choices. Instead of ordering a combo complete with french fries, start out by substituting the fries with a side salad. When you feel you're ready to make another switch, ditch anything with a bun and go for a grilled chicken breast fillet. Once you've done that, you can ditch the dressing on your salad and go for something like salsa as a healthy topping. Before you know it, you're eating healthy, nutrient rich food and you don't even notice it. 

Losing weight and becoming a healthier version of yourself is something that does take time, but with a little effort and giving yourself A LOT of room for error, you can achieve the goals that you set for yourself. This year, instead of setting a goal like "I want to lose 30lbs," try an alternative way of thinking. Let's take those weight loss resolutions and turn them into "This year I want to master healthy eating habits." I promise you will thank yourself for taking the first step towards a healthy lifestyle once you start losing weight and feeling better about yourself! Taking the first step is the hardest, but just remember, no one is perfect and every single day is a learning experience for yourself. Don't beat yourself up when you do have a bad day. Bad days happen, just don't give up on yourself.     

I'm looking forward to hearing from you all! Please let me know how you're doing. I love hearing from my readers and the progress they have made. Talk to you soon!

Xoxo,

--Bridget

My personal resolutions this year are as follows:

-Focus more on my own health 

-Find happiness in the small things in life

-Spread more happiness to the people around me 

-Post more frequently on my blog

-Post more videos on my Youtube page 

Christmas Leftovers: Ham and Avocado Sandwich

Hey guys,
I hope you had a very merry Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa,  and all other holidays that come this time of year. In the last few weeks I have had quite a few new changes happen in my life. I bought a new car, my health is steadily improving, but most importantly, I bought my wedding dress! I had been waiting for a sample of the dress I wanted to wear to come in at a local bridal shop and luckily, it was as amazing in person as it was in photos. The only problem with the sample was that is was too small in the bust, so they had to order a size up and I'm now waiting for it to come in. I'm really nervous that my wedding dress won't fit when it comes in, so I've really been trying hard to stick to clean eating. It was hard to make it through the holidays and say no to mashed potatoes and all things smothered in gravy, but I weighed myself today and I didn't gain anything, so my deprivation was worth it in the end! With that being said, I discovered my new favorite sandwich using some leftover Christmas ham. Not only is it tasty, it's relatively healthy. Here is a recipe for how I have been making my Ham and Avocado sandwiches. Let me know if you try this out or if you put your own twist on it. I love getting feedback from my readers.

Ham and Avocado Sandwich
-2 slices of 35 calorie wheat bread, toasted
-Ham (or turkey if that is your thaaang)
-1/2 of an avocado, mashed
-1 slice of fat free pepper jack cheese (or colby jack if you prefer)
-Crushed red pepper (optional, but I'm obsessed with spicy food)
-Salt (optional)

Toast your bread, then spread the mashed avocado on one slice your warm bread. Sprinkle the avocado mash with the crushed red pepper and salt. Layer the meat of your choice over the avocado mash. On the other piece of bread, melt the cheese of your choice and assemble the sandwich. For a side, you could do a side salad with salsa for dressing to go with it. If you find yourself craving something crunchy to go with a sandwich, you could try a palm full of almonds as a side instead.

And there you have it, my new favorite snack. Also, I plan on starting a new series aptly named "Bride on a Budget" and show you all some photos of the dresses I tried on and information on them. Thanks for reading. Talk to you soon!

Xoxo,
--B

Christmas Giveaway Sponsored by Adorabelles!

It's the season of giving and it's time again for Beauty on a Budget to give back to it's readers! Adorabelles has so graciously sponsored this giveaway and has agreed to send one lucky reader one of the gorgeous blanket scarfs pictured above. I know what you're thinking? HOW DO I ENTER?! Here are the rules:

Facebook Entry

To enter on Facebook, all you have to do is like both my fan page for Beauty on a Budget and the fan page for Adorabelles, then share the original post with the photo above.

Instagram Entry

To enter on Instagram, you must first follow me @Bridgetb2011 and also follow the Adorabelles page @ShopAdorabelles, then post the photo above with the tag #BeautyOnABudgetScarfGiveaway. You can also tag my personal account if your account is private so I will be able to see that you shared.

Twitter Entry

To enter on Twitter, you must follow me @Butterybiscuit7 and also follow Adorabelles @ShopAdorabelles, then tweet the above photo with the tag #BeautyOnABudgetScarfGiveaway

Blog Entry

The last way to enter is to comment on this post and tell me what your favorite thing about the holiday season is. 

Did I mention that you can enter once on each social media site, meaning that you can increase your chances of winning by sharing all four ways! Want to see more looks from Adorabelles but you don't live in Kentucky? Don't let distance hinder you from wearing some of the hottest styles this season. Head on over to their online shop at http://www.shopadorabelles.com where shipping is always free! Now that's something every girl on a budget can afford. The winner will be announced on December 19, 2014! 

Thank you all for reading and good luck! 

Xoxo,

--Bridget

Christmas on a Budget: Gift Ideas for the Chronically Broke

It's Christmas time again and you know what this time of year brings. The smell of cinnamon and pine trees in the air, beautifully decorated Christmas trees, delicious foods and fun parties, while the tired crooning of Mariah Carey and her version of "All I Want for Christmas Is You" plays on repeat for the rest of the year. I think it's high time you retired, you old hag. 

This time of year is very stressful for many reasons. Most people are trying to sort out their affairs before the end of the year, so everyone is rushing around in the hustle and bustle of the world, all while trying to purchase Christmas gifts, plan time with family, and plan out their Christmas dinners. In addition to allotting funds for your roast beast and Hoo Hash, winter time also brings higher  utility bills due to the colder weather. Money is often tight around my house in the month of December, so I'm a professional when it comes to planning Christmas on a Budget. Lucky for you, I'm not going to keep my tips a secret! To help those of you who are strapped for cash or strapped for time, I have found some great gifts that are not only useful, but are also very affordable. Let's get started!

Rite Aid- Many gifts for the price of one!
My love for Rite Aid has been well documented over the last six months here on my blog. There is a reason for this. They have sales all the time, accept coupons, and usually have more of a selection than other stores in my area, like Wal-Mart.

This week, Rite Aid is running a 50% off sale on NYC beauty products. This is such a great deal because there is nothing in the NYC line that is over $4.99. If you have any pre-teen girls that are starting to dabble in make up, go grab one of everything from the line and use it as stocking stuffers. Now, that is not to say that more mature chicks would not like to get things from the NYC. They have a few hits and misses within the line, like stay away from the eye shadow but their nail polish is legit, but for what you pay, they do very well. I highly recommend their bronzer and eyeliner!

In addition to this sale, Rite Aid is also offering $10 off of any fragrance set over $30. I know what you're thinking --"Drug store fragrance sets are so tacky!" Okay, I agree that they are very tacky, and for the love of God, don't buy anyone under the age of eighty a White Diamonds gift set. What I have done in the past is to go buy a gift set, then break it up and pair it with another item or two. You can also get a few presents out of one fragrance set. For example, if you get a set and it has three different perfumes in it, ditch the box it came with, grab a bottle of perfume, some of that NYC makeup, put it all together in a cute bag with a bow and you have yourself a present that is quality, but won't break the bank.

Walgreens- Gifts for around $10
I generally think Walgreens sucks in terms of the sales that they run, but they do take coupons and every now and then you will find something on sale that makes up for the sheer amount of suckage they force upon us all.  In this week's sale paper, they have fleece lined leggings on sale at 2 pairs for $10. Fleece lined leggings are great because they are thicker... and I wear them as pants. Don't judge me, I look damn good doing it. Walgreens also has their scarves on sale with the same deal, 2/$10. To wrap up the $10 deals at Walgreens, they also have their Sherpa throws on sale for $9.99. These blankets are pretty large and measure at 50x60in, so one of these babies would be perfect for snuggling up on the couch with while watching Fireplace For Your Home on Netflix.

Bath and Body Works- Stacking up the savings!
I love BBW... That would stand for Bath and Body Works, not Big Beautiful Women, just in case you were wondering. There are some great deals at BBW, but you better hurry because the coupon code I am about to give you expires on December 11, 2014. If you're shopping online, use the code WHYNOT10 (in store code: 4761) to get $10 off of a $30 purchase. You can stack this coupon with the sales that the store is already having to maximize your savings. Let's take a look at the deals they are running right now:
-3 wick candles-- 2 candles for $22
-Hand soaps-- 5 hand soaps for $18 or 7 hand soaps for $24
-Wallflower refills-- 4 refills for $20 or 6 refills for $24
-Signature body care items- buy 3 items, get 2 free
Not only are these items already discounted, but the coupon code really takes a chunk off of the overall price. Dare I say that you may even want to keep some of these products for yourself? It's okay, I won't tell anyone that you did.

Ulta- High end gifts for less
Do you have a lady in your life that is worth a little more than the NYC makeup that you can get for 99 cents down at the local Rite Aid? I got your back, boo. Head on over to Ulta's website and pick her up the Lorac Royal Pro Eye Collection for only $28. Included in this collection is a palette with three neutral eyeshadow shades, eyeliner, and mascara. If you order this collection online from Ulta, you also get a free mini Lip Lustre Lipgloss. A combined total on this set with the lipgloss is a whopping $113. Talk about a bargain!

Until December 13, Ulta has their Chi straighteners on sale for only $99.95... but wait, there's more. On the back page of their weekly ad (available on their website) there is a 20% off coupon on Chi, knocking the final price down to only $79.95! Keep in mind that these straighteners retail for $160.

The Body Shop- Half priced body butters

The Body Shop is offering their seasonal body butters for 50% off on their website. The scents included in this sale include Vanilla Brulee, Glazed Apple, and Frosted Cranberry. These retail for $20 each, but are on sale for only $10. These body butters would make great stocking stuffers, or you could even pair one of these up with some fuzzy socks for a gift exchange or Chinese Christmas. The Body Shop also has gift cubes (pictured above) that include two mini sizes items for $9 and $10 each, or two for $15, if you would prefer to give something in a gift set form. The packaging on these sets are much nicer than those you see at Wal-Mart.

Sephora- Sampler sets for the girl (or guy) who has everything

Sephora does these great sampler sets they call "Sephora Favorites." They have several varieties of these sampler sets available, like ones specifically for skin care or specifically for lips, etc. Most of the sets include travel size versions of products, but usually one or two of the items included are full sized, which makes these gift sets worth the price. There are 21 of these sets and they range in price from $20 to $99. My personal favorite of these sets is the Fragrance Sampler for Her. For only $65, you get fourteen samples, each of a different fragrance, and a voucher is included to redeem a full sized bottle of the fragrance you liked best. They also offer a men's version of this gift set with cologne for only $60!

And there you have it, a few gift ideas for the those of us who need some advising this holiday season. Just because you're on a budget does not mean that you can't do it in style. From my family to yours, lots of hugs and love as you celebrate with your loved ones.

Xoxo,
Bridget

Side Dish Ideas for A Healthy Thanksgiving Dinner

The holidays. Lots of joy, cheer, happiness, and my personal favorite-- domestic disputes among the family members. With all the calories you will be consuming in the form of alcohol to make time with family a little more bearable, you're going to want to cut a few calories in other places. In this post, I am going to help you along with a couple tips for low carb dieting and a few of my favorite recipes for low carb side dishes that you could take to family gatherings throughout the holiday season. Grab those flasks full of eggnog and let's get started!

When you think of Thanksgiving, you usually think of a big juicy bird (that's what she said). The great thing about high protein diets is that you can eat virtually as much turkey as you want. When loading up your plate, try and fill your plate with protein first, then you'll only have a little room left for things like mashed potatoes and peanut butter pie. I'm not saying to restrict yourself from these things on Thanksgiving, I'm just saying to put them on your plate last. Chances are by the time you get to them, you won't have much room for them on your plate, then you won't have near as much room for them in your belly.

What are some other things you can eat on Thanksgiving and not feel too bad about? How about deviled eggs? Now I know most people load those disgusting little stink bombs up with condiments like mayo, but they do have protein in them and although they may have a higher fat content than a plain egg, they are still a better choice than some other classic Thanksgiving foods. You can also hit up all of the meat and cheese trays if you're needing a snack to hold you over until dinner time. Shrimp trays? Great, no carb! Scallops wrapped in bacon? Great, no carbs, but you're in the wrong place because this is a budgeting blog for the broke ass 20-something.

Now I am a slave to my love for finger foods, so do try and stay away from olives. Ahh olives how I love thee. These little babies pack a punch. Often featured on meat trays or snack tables at holiday parties, you can rack up your total daily allowance of fat in no time with just a handful or two of these. Think "Can oil be mad from these?" And if the answer is yes, you should run the other way.

Those are a few a tips I have to help you all out with your holiday eating. Remember, you don't want to restrict yourself from anything, you just want to control yourself and keep from going overboard. Enjoy your holiday and be thankful for all of your blessings! Now on to a few recipes---


Low Carb Broccoli and Cheese
Fresh broccoli florets (you could use frozen, but I think they got too soggy)
1 block of soften fat free cream cheese
Splash of skim milk
Packet of ranch salad dressing mix
About a cup of fat free shredded cheddar cheese (or as much as you want)

Steam the broccoli florets (you can do this in the microwave or on the stove), then combine the cream cheese, milk and ranch dressing mix in a bowl. Top the broccoli with the cream cheese mixture and sprinkle with cheese, then microwave until the cheese is melted. ---Boom! Your side dish is made. This recipe is super fast, super easy, and a great alternative to traditional broccoli casserole.

Lemon Pepper Zucchini
Zucchini cut into 1/2 inch rounds
Lemon pepper
Olive oil

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Drizzle the olive oil on a cookie sheet and toss your zucchini in the oil. Sprinkle the zucchini rounds generously with lemon pepper on both sides. Bake until tender. ---You can also do this on your stove top if you are short on time, or on a grill if it is above twenty degrees outside where you live. Don't like lemon pepper? Try Greek seasoning or Mrs. Dash. Zucchini tastes great with whatever you put on it!

Low Carb Sweet Potato Casserole
Sweet potatoes (I used canned because I'm lazy)
1½ cups pecan chips
2 teaspoons cinnamon
½ teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon salt
5 Tablespoons butter
1 egg
1/2 cup Splenda

Add about 1/4 cup worth sugar substitute, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, a pinch of salt, and 2 tablespoons of the butter, pecans and mix until blended. Put that mixture into a bowl and sit it to the side. Put the sweet potatoes into a food processor or blender and process with 3 tablespoons of butter. Add the rest of the seasonings, the egg and the remaining 1/4 cup of Splenda. If you think your sweet potatoes are sweet enough, leave out the last 1/4 cup of Splenda. Put sweet potatoes in a buttered baking dish and sprinkle pecan topping over the top. Bake at 375 degrees until the topping is browned.


And those are a few recipes for you guys to try out this holiday season, or at any time that you feel like have a yummy low carb side dish. I also want to address why I have not posted on here in almost a month and kind of let you all know what I have went through so you can avoid making my mistake.--

As most of you may know, my mom has been diagnosed with breast cancer and I have moved back home to help take care of her and help out with paying bills and all of that jazz. She's in chemo right now and she is doing absolutely phenomenal (Thank you, God) but it is still scary. She is expected to return to work after the new year.

Last Saturday I was hospitalized with severe abdominal pain and spent 2 days in CCU and 3 more in the general hospital for what turned out to be a bleeding ulcer. I ended up with this because I get headaches almost every single day (which I think are stress induced from my job and the aforementioned issue with my mom) and I have taken so much ibuprofen that it has literally eaten a hole in my stomach. I passed out three times from the blood loss and ended up having to have two blood transfusions, so if you get headaches everyday like I do, go to the freaking doctor and stop trying to doctor yourself, unless you want to end up in my old hospital bed.

Xoxo,
--B

Tips From a Former Fat Girl: Tips for Jump Starting Your Weight Loss

Hey guys,
It's been a while since I posted something weight loss related... Okay, maybe it hasn't been that long but it sure feels like it. You may remember when I did a post a few weeks ago in which I gave my Top 3 Tips to know before starting a diet. To follow up on that post, I'm going to give you a few tips to get your diet off on the right foot. It's fall time and although we might be bundling up to stay warm, there's no reason there can't be a hot body under all of those scarves and leg warmers!

1.) Don't Skip Breakfast
I never understood how I was fat. I only ate twice a day, I'm not big on sweets, and I didn't buy junk food. Where could I be going wrong? Where is this fat coming from? How did I end up wearing jeans with elastic around the band? The more I researched my attack plan for my big phat ass, the more and more I kept reading about how breakfast was essential. Yeah yeah, I remember my teacher in 6th grade telling me to eat before school so my thinking cap would be in TURNT UP mode, but I never thought much more about it. I never ate breakfast. I don't even like breakfast food. Could my disdain for all things pancake flavored actually be my downfall? Apparently yes. Now I'm not saying to head out to Cracker Barrel, or The Crack House as I affectionately call it, for Uncle Herschel's breakfast extravaganza 6 times a week, but perhaps a couple of boiled eggs would do your body good. If you're like me and you're a breakfast skipper and you want to embark on a healthier lifestyle, I would start here. You don't have to do anything amazing, but like I said, a couple of boiled eggs, maybe a chicken breast, or even an omelette if you're feeling like you're the next contestant on Master Chef. You will be surprised by how much less you eat at lunch and by how much better you feel throughout the day.

2.) Am I Even Hungry?
Is it food you're hungry for, or do you just need something to do while you binge watch seven seasons of Supernatural on Netflix? Learn the difference. Are you feeling a legit hunger pain? If you aren't sure, then maybe you should drink some fluids and see if it goes away. Sometimes drinking something will help ease off that empty feeling. More times than not, I used to feel what I thought was the pain of hunger, but it just turned out I was really bored. My bad. When this happens, go get a hobby. Read a book. Work on your weight loss blog (oh wait, that's just for me). Do anything that will distract you and keep you from getting bored, which will keep you from being the sole source of income to the Ben and Jerry's ice cream empire.

3.) Catch a Few Zzzz's
Or you can be like me. My hobby is napping! What? Are you judging me? I work hard through the week and this chick has to get her beauty rest. My Snapple cap I got the other day told me that you burn more calories sleeping than you do when watching TV (citation needed). Even if it's not true, stay well rested will keep you from getting grumpy, meaning you will be more motivated to stick to your healthy lifestyle and less likely to drive to the nearest Chipotle for a burrito the size of a small infant.

4.) But I'm Craving Something Terrible
It happens. You're craving something that you just cannot get out of your mind. Rather than try to fill the void with things you don't want, have a small portion of what your heart desires. This is also accurate advice for your love life. Wait, what? You're better off to have a small serving of frozen yogurt than to eat half of a head of lettuce, a block of Velveeta, then drive to the Dairy Queen and cry into an entire ice cream cake. Save yourself the calories and the regret and learn portion control, especially when it comes to something that isn't necessarily diet friendly.

5.) Show the World What You're Made Of!
Everyone always wants to know what you did to lose weight once you hit your goal and start looking hella fine, but no one is really there for you during the journey. There is nothing worse than people telling you that you can't do it, or making fun of your food when you are trying to better yourself. I have dealt with this many times and it is quite annoying. It always goes something like this-- Yes, I am going to eat this avocado. Yes, I realize this avocado is green. Yes, I realize up in the hollar they don't know what an avocado is, so how about you get out me face and let me eat in peace? *Rolls eyes.

Don't worry about the people who try to get under your skin. You're already better than them because you're taking a step in the right direction and you aren't hurting anyone's feelings while doing it. In the words of my homeboy Jay-Z, go on brush your shoulders off. Someone is always going to have something rude to say, but that's okay. They're the ones with the problem, not you. Eat your diet food, do your squats, put on some lipstick, and be happy with yourself and with each mini-goal you hit. Each day you work your butt off is one day closer to being who you want to be.

Twerk it out,
--B