Side Effects of my Life: Thrush

Just when you thought you couldn't be having a more super-awesome life - you get thrush. You wanna WebMD that? Here you go!

Small amounts of the candida fungus are present in the mouth, digestive tract, and skin of most healthy people. They are normally kept in check by other bacteria and microorganisms in the body. However, certain illnesses, stress, or medications can disturb the delicate balance, causing the fungus candida to grow out of control and causing thrush.
Medications that upset the balance of microorganisms in the mouth and may cause thrush include:

• Corticosteroids

• Antibiotics

• Birth control pills

Corticosteroids - that's what I'm on. Hydrocortisone, to be exact, which I take for my adrenal insufficiency situation. When I get thrush, it means I have been taking my meds (mm, yays?) and I also probably have a full blown yeast overgrowth in my gut. Awesome-sauce!

This is kind of what it looks like in the mouth - I was on treatment for a little when I thought to snap this to show what life is like on this side of the adrenal glands.

Gross? Well, life is gross. Get over it.

Maddie Responds to: Virginia

Every now and then I like to go on Facebook, pick some meme or statement and fact-check it leaving my comments below.

It does wonders for my ego. Yet fills me with. . .what's the word. ..despair. . that we are so easily taken by graphics with bold text on them.

So, here's one I got up on my feed.

This is from the TRACE Facebook page. My comment was:

This claim that homelessness has been "ended" is based on federal standards and definitions and glosses over other federal residency and identification issues. Virginia is also not the first state to claim accomplishing this concept per the “Mayors Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness.” 

Being offered housing and ending homelessness are two separate issues that, again, gloss over the stigma around homelessness and the unique issues and needs surrounding transients - vets or not. Free or affordable housing is a step, but, in reality, it leaves most men, women and children struggling with mental and physical issues and unable to sustain or exist within the government approved parameters of success.  

It sure does sound like one of those politicians running for office is doing his/her best to keep this concept alive for votes. The ultimate responsibly still rests on people like us to protect, support and sustain those in our communities without prejudice while remaining suspicious of such claims that are merely an excuse for complacency.

Parenthood: Nope

There are many reasons I never want to be a parent. Number one is, I don't want to be a parent. Getting pregnant is a choice, not a duty. In the Bible, it's a punishment because of the Eve-devil-fruit situation.

It does seem like children can be fun for people. Dress them up in whatever clothes and pretend they have whatever personality. Then be amazed they are still alive as they hit "milestones."

Two people having a baby can offer a type of unity to two people. Like, you have a distraction - the baby - and something in common. If you don't have much in common to begin with, it is harder to keep a relationship together.

I just could care less.

I do fully support people making the choice to have children. Have those babies, people who want to have babies! I just don't want them myself. And I don't understand them. Or think they are cute. Or funny. Or. . .whatever.

I am so happy with my decisions.

Texts With Melissa: Emotional Intellgence

Another installment of TEXTS WITH MELISSA!!! YAAAAY!

I have been working hard on my "emotional intelligence" which is actually pretty good but my general apathy and low tolerance for people makes other people think I'm not. Oh, and I don't want to eat their food.

However, I have been trying to be supportive and follow the rules taught in the stuff we buy that tells us we are all leaders and dreamers and. . .how we need to be supportive and caring. If we were children, it would be like a teacher saying we're all speical and we have to sit down and shut up and look forward.

ANYHOW. .I'm trying.

Emotional intelligence in 5. . .4. . ..3 . .. 2. . .

Things I Eat: Cod Soup

Here fishy, fishy! So, this might not be the pretties thing I ever made, but, it was delicious.

I get these packs of frozen cod from Trader Joe’s. It’s a mild fish. Good in a pinch. I made some pasta with it before and it didn't seem like a lot. So, I thought maybe a soup. Since I was tied I. . .didn't do everything on the actual recipe I was going to follow.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups quinoa milk: Very earthy drink, wouldn’t put it on cereal but great for a savory boost!
• 1 Onion: Chopped up like you like
• 1 pack Brussel Sprouts: I didn't have potatoes
• Minced garlic: I have this big jar of it. I added like two tablespoons
• Tomato paste: I used like ¼ cup because I like it.
• 1 bunch fresh thyme: I had this left over, so I added it with the spices
• 1 can diced tomatoes: Chunky!
• 1 bunch kale: YEEEEAH. ..kale. It cooks down a lot. I chopped it.
• 1/2 pound (at least) cod: Cut it into chunks. 

Bring milk to a boil. I guess you could use normal milk. If you’re lame. Throw in your chopped onions and garlic and Brussels sprouts. Then put in your tomato paste, tomatoes, chopped kale and cod.

Simmer that until the cod is cooked. I used smaller pieces so this didn't take too long. Dump in any spices you like!

Normally people put in potatoes - I didn't 'cause I didn't have any. You can add those in and cook them in the milk and cook until they are tender. Then continue with everything else.

Fish cooks fast! So this is a quick meal. I was really happy with it. You could totally add other veggies like celery or carrot. If you can't do dairy, I really suggest using the quinoa milk for extra richness. Or a coconut milk.

Halloween Makeup: Explained

Check out my post This is Halloween: 2015 because this is a follow-up!

I did get some awesome compliments – and vodka – for my broken porcelain doll costume. Originally, I was sort of doubting it because I bought the costume. I don’t normally buy costumes in their entirety.

I don’t know why this upset me in my brainz.

The Clothes
What did I buy? Well, the dress which is the Leg Avenue Women's Pretty Porcelain Doll. I opted to rip off the lace overlay to keep it more simple and less. . .Halloween-ee? It’s a spiderweb type pattern. Whatever. I wanted a simple dress.

It did come with with the mask. But, whatever.

This is totally a “sexy” dress, by the way. Also worried me. I don’t like to be sexy for Halloween.

I decided to buy mismatched stockings – thigh-highs for some playfulness. I got a set of them rather than buying two - these are the Women's Harlequin Thigh Highs from Leg Avenue again. They were tight on my thigh, but, they sat lower. They were fine. The dress came with a petticoat, but, I bought a second one for extra flare from Be Wicked Costumes.

While I totally forget these gloves, I did get them. Once the whole look was together, wasn't as hot on them. They are the Mini Cropped Satin Gloves from Leg Avenue.

Finally – I bought the best wig I ever - the Baby Doll Curls with Bangs Costume from California Costumes. I think because it was short, it was easier to manage for me.

The Makeup
I totally waited until the last second to figure this out. I am in no way a professional when it comes to makeup, but, this look seems to look really complex but it's totally easy.

I used a lot of my own stuff for this – which you can learn about in my post called Makeup on my Faceup

• Black eye shadow: While I use cream eye shadow for my own makeup, I do have a pot of normal powder black. Awesome.
• Eye hadow: I used a little Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tattoo 24HR Cream Gel Shadows in Barely Branded
• Foundation: I used my own foundation which is Clinique Stay-Matte Oil-Free Makeup.
• Black eye pencil: I use L’Oreal Extra Intense Liquid Pencil Eyeliner
• Lips: I used the stickiest, reddest, glossiest thing I had. It by Revlon, but, I don't think they make it anymore.
• Eye lashes: Going need super-fake eyelashes. Just one, though. I got mine at the Halloween store. They are uber fake, possibly made of some type of paper.
• Blush: I went with the blush I have – because I don’t wear blush that often. No point in buying more. I just used a lot.
• White No Smear Cream Makeup: I got this at the Spirit Halloween store, as well. You just got to work fast with it. Any type of this makeup works fine. I like the stuff in the tube rather than the grease paint.
• Finishing powder: I use Revlon PhotoReady Translucent Finisher. Sometimes, but, it’s actually too white for me - I'm not into powder stuff and all that. Good for setting and making me look flawless for this look!

Start With Face
First, I mixed my Clinique foundation with the white makeup at about half-half. This gives you a more realistic "white" look. It wouldn't hurt to do it with wet hands because when the white makeup starts to dry, you got issues. Work fast! I'm sure buying a better quality white makeup would also help.

I applied it to half of my face and then up to my cheekbones on the other side of my face to give my skin that porcelain look. I did go over my lips and over my eyelid. I also drew it down my neck and applied some in a fade to my exposed chest. Just to give me a little porcelain glow.

There is no reason to put anything on the part of your face that will be "breaking" through the doll face.

I used a layer of the power to set the makeup and work out the imperfections in the white makeup. It also makes my face look better in photos. Some type of magic.

Make the Break
Next, I took my normal eye shadow brush and drew short lines from  for the cracks. You might think you want to start with the eyeliner, but, no. Start with the shading. You just draw where you want the face behind to be.

Like I did here really badly in yellow.

Then, go in with a nicely sharpened eyeliner pencil – or gel, whatever gives you a nice line. Go outside the eyeshadow and extend the cracks where you feel they should be. I did not do a fantastic job because I didn't have a lot of time or a sharpner. If I had done a practice run, this would have been sharper. You could also do a line of white eyeliner on the non-shade side of the black line to make it pop more. I did not.

Then use whatever smudge tool or brush you have to draw the shadow and shading into your face. My face looked enough like a disaster next to the flawless finish I didn't have to do anything else special. The more you shade and stuff the gritty and creepier it will look. Get some in your wrinkles or make wrinkles. It's awesome. Where it gets blacker it will look like pieces are missing - I wanted it to look like my face was behind the doll face, so, I didn't do anything in solid black.

I did add some fake blood under my eye with some black eye shadow smudged into it and on my temple to add some. . .yeah.

Back to the doll side! I used a little of the Barely Branded on my eye. It’s just a little shimmer. Nothing to dramatic – it didn't even really show up.

I lined my eyes with the black eyeliner and swept some black shadow into my eye. Nothing too dramatic, actually. Dolls don’t wear a ton of sexy eye makeup.

I lined my lower waterline and down into my under eye with white eyeliner. Just to really exaggerate it. Then I lined under it with the black eyeliner to make my eye look bigger – so they say – or more doll like. I also drew in my lower lashes with the black pencil.  I didn't want to put fake lashes on there.

I buffed in my blush – a lot for me and probably for anyone. Just really get that peaches look that a doll would have.

I also attempted to draw in my eyebrows JUST to make them different than the other side and make them black. I suck at this. Life goes on.

I glued on my eyelash. Make sure you know your right from your left. Just. .. so you know. You want to get the HUGEST ones you can find. I found these Zombie Doll eyelashes - but just one set.

I drew on my bow-lips with the super red glossy lipstick. Since I had makeup on the rest of my lip to dull them, it was a nice effect.

Then I sprayed my neck, dress and tights with the spray blood I got from Spirit Halloween. Fantastic. It does stain clothes and skin. But, it wears off of your skin after a day or two. I did use a little of the Vampire Blood tube I had - that stays wet looking and is good for wounds and stuff. I just didn't like it that much for this.

Apply wig. Done.

The Walk-By

It has been brought to my attention that some of you - I'll withhold names - have been abusing and misusing the office walk-by.

In a walk-by greeting, each participant has a total of 5 words normally used like this:

1: How are you?
2: I’m good, how’re you?
1: I’m good.

Don’t be the jackass who uses up 10 words and abuses the whole walk-by system. It’s the walk-by, not the sit-down, not the come-visit – WALK-BY. You duck it up if you don’t stick to the script and you make us ALL look bad.

Notices:
1: Hello, Amanda, it’s nice to see you how are doing?
2: . . .

No. No. Mmhmm.

This is Halloween: 2015

Well, at work, we do dress up for Halloween. As it had been brought o my attention that I am a tyrannical dictator when it comes to Halloween, I let the group take the led rather than. . .you  know. ..winning.

We were Star Wars and it was actually pretty fun. Not my cup of tea, but, everyone liked who they got to be - which is the point of Halloween.

I was Han Solo - or as the hubs said, Han Soloette. Haha. Funny. This was the first time I ever purchased skinny jeans and knee high boots for non-horse riding activities.

I guess this is a pretty simple outfit to pull off these days - I said I looked like a pumpkin spice girl - and the internet agrees.

I like to put some horror in Halloween - so I went as a broken porcelain doll to my LEGIT party where I like to win prizes for being awesome.

I really thought I did a good job with the makeup but I started later on the process and didn't do a good dry run on it. I needed to clean it up a bit. I also realized during a dry run that I didn't have a pencil sharper. Thanks Five Below!

If I could do this again, I would clean up the cracks - I did find my gel eyeliner had dried out so I didn't get a as sharp of lines as I wanted. And my white makeup wasn't obeying me as much. I liked the blood I got - which stains skins, by the way. But when I sprayed down the dress, it just defused which was not what I was going for.

ANYHOW. I did win "best costume" and I did have a blast. And I loved this look. I wish I had another party to go to to do this again.

Image Credits
Han Solo meme from duckduckgrayduck.co

Texts With Melissa: Love

What happened to Melissa? What happen to you STFU?

Oh wait. This is a blog. You can't hear me anymore than I can hear you. Also. . .let's talk about LOVE! Melissa recently had another baby. It's a. . .you know. . .baby. IDK. I'm not really into babies.

Let's break this down. . .

Melissa's sacrifice and pure love of her offspring in the cruel face of corporate america which deems her supporting of life shameful. And. . .how I am even worse for not wanting to be mother.

Women - we just can't do right anyway we go.