Review: Skinny Fox Detox Whey Protein

Skinny Fox Detox is a brand that I saw all over Instagram, so I figured I would check them out. I ended up getting their whey protein shake because I have been looking for one that I actually like, won't make me sick, and one that actually is a good source for healthy needs in my body. Granted, I am not the healthiest person ever, nor do I know a lot about it. However, I do what I can for the basics at least. I also have a cruise coming up that I wanted to try and slim down a bit before since I know that I am going to splurge on the actual trip itself! So, I bought this.


'Whey to Our Heart' is a low calorie non-GMO protein powder, made with whey protein and their signature blend of Super-8 VitaComplex to enhance the shakes nutritional value! It comes in a delicious birthday cake flavor, and there are 14 packets in a box. Plus each box comes with a bright pink Blender Bottle printed with the Skinny Fox Detox label.

My Review

Well, I have had two packets. One was yesterday morning, and I had one this morning. I'm going to have one this evening, and I'll have two tomorrow. As for the birthday cake flavor, this is one of the best tasting protein shakes I have had. Yesterday, I just had it mixed with crushed ice and water. This morning, I mixed it in a caramel coffee. The aftertaste with water was a little weird, but I tend to brush my teeth after eating or drinking anything besides water anyways. It was by no means gross. It was just a different aftertaste than I expected. However, mixed with this caramel coffee, it is phenomenal!

The other thing I really like is that it is SO filling. I drank it yesterday morning at about 6.30 AM, and I really didn't get hungry until around 2 or 3 PM, which is awesome considering I didn't eat anything really. I bought two salads to have today and tomorrow in between my shakes, and I think that will make my day a lot smoother than yesterday.

Please keep in mind, I only eat once, maybe twice a day anyways. I also don't eat a lot of protein unless I am making my crab cakes or seafood based meals. I work out almost regularly at home, doing the WWE Women's Fit DVD because it's simple enough for me to do at home during the hectic life between work and school and the child. I plan on drinking the rest after I get back from my cruise, and I'll provide a completion review then!

I'm hoping to post more often on here. I want to make this a regular, weekly occurrence, however life happens. Who knows? Maybe some future changes will get this ball rolling! Feel free to reach out with any questions or comments! Let me know if you have any favorite health products I should check out in my journey to be healthier!
Live long, and prosper!

Beauty and the Sick

It seems whatever is going around has finally reached me. It had to be this weekend of all weekends to do so. I managed to force myself out of bed this morning, get myself somewhat presentable, and I got to cross something off of my bucket list. I went to a UFC event here in Phoenix today! While I have been to numerous wrestling events, I have not ever gone to see UFC live. It was different in some pretty interesting ways, however it was a ton of fun with the group of people I went with.

You see, I have a hard time being with a group of people because of my own experiences, and I tend to clam up when I am out and about with people. It has nothing to do with judgment, more to do with worth. Will I see these people again, and is it worth my time to make an effort with them? I do not believe in putting so much effort into everyone out there because it is impossible to have everyone out there be your friend. It is impossible to make everyone like you. So, I am picky in most things, including people I spend my time with.

Either way, I had a good time today even though by the end, I really wanted NyQuil and my bed. So, that is where I am headed now. Luckily, I took tomorrow off due to the late night outing, so I can take most of the day to rest and feel better. Although, I do have a phone interview tomorrow, and I start this new semester off. Hopefully, I can manage all of this plus more considering I wanted to start getting ready to do videos.

Another day for that. NyQuil kicking in, Anya tapping out.

They Know Not What They Do...Or Do They?

It's incredibly selfish to want people to recognize the pain and damage they can cause with words. It is incredibly silly to think that they would care either way. People do what they do for a number of reasons, and sometimes you just need to realize that they do not realize what they are doing or the consequences of such.

I work for Facebook, and I worked hard to get to the position I am in. Using past experience and a thirst for constant education, I moved up within a matter of a few months. I have had this hard work ridiculed and down sighted so much that I hardly paid attention to it at first. I laughed it off, and I ignored everyone involved. I am very closed off and do not like to involve myself with other people. I am not at work to make friends. I am there to work and do my job and help with the Facebook platform. I help other people remain connected while I continuously pull away. Because of this, I am perceived as a wretched bitch. I get work done, and I am one of the best at what I do.


I was shown some chats today that made it clear others were not only belittling me and all I have worked for, but they also threatened me. Their attempts at such are ridiculous and childish, and in all reality, they should mean nothing to me. There are always rumors that I slept my way to getting to where I am, which is ridiculous seeing as I am asexual. I have no interest in such endeavors. They will think what they will, and they will make their claims to know about me when they haven't the slightest idea.

It did hurt, though. Reading these messages which were blatantly made about me by people that I have never even talked to in person. Others that I work directly with regularly taking what I do to help and turning it into criticism on their own person rather than their work ethic. Considering this all happened on a work chat shows how ethical they really are. Why does it bother me, though? Why am I letting the most ridiculous comments get to me when in all reality I could not care less about what they think of me?

I'll tell you. I hate that people go behind others backs to say these things. If you are such a big person, have so much resentment for me, then just say so. Tell me about it, and I will likely acknowledge that you have declared these thoughts against me, move on with my life without care. I am perfectly accepting of the fact that I do not need everyone to like me. I do not need to have thousands of friends or people that know me. I do not need to try to force anyone to like me. If you have a problem, cool. You can have that problem to my face as well as when my back is turned. Maybe then, I would have a little more respect for your opinion.

The other issue is that if you have a problem with someone or talk about them, why do you have to lie about everything? Can't you have an issue with me because of something I actually did or actually said? If you can't get your facts straight, then you just make yourself look like an unreliable idiot. It's amazing how much people think I do or have done. I mean, the fact that this imaginary side of me has time for all of it alongside being a full-time employee and full-time law student is amazingly talented. The things that I have supposedly done even are fascinating considering how little I actually do anything. If only there were things said that had validity, then I could provide myself a valid reason to be upset or annoyed.

I have manic bi-polar disorder. I have severe anxiety disorder. I have been raped numerous times. I am a cry-baby. I am lonely. I hate most people. These are things that I actually deal with. These are the places my mind wanders that actually hold significance to me and how I live.


To the people that run their mouth, have fun. In the end, you really don't get anywhere with saying these things. If your goal was to bother me momentarily, there you have it. That was the extent of my being bothered. I hope you enjoy it.

I Wanted To Write

I really have been wanting to keep writing and keep posting entries, and I want to share my story to anyone who will listen. It may not be an amazing tale of adventures or exciting journeys, but it will always be one of perseverance and encouragement. It will be real, and it will be filled of days of happiness and joy, others of sadness and anger that gets the best of me. When I hear about someone who looks up to me for whatever reason, I feel at a loss for words because I am truly a wreck. I am the last person that anyone should look to, but it is humbling to know it happens. It's an awakening to keep pushing through the bad days, to "cover up for the rain" as the band Lydia sings. Waking up today, I like a lot of the world found out about the death of a musical icon, a theatrical genius, and a truly unique mind. David Bowie has gotten me through so many days of feeling just lost, feeling so down on myself for being so different from the rest of the world. Those days were long before I grew into loving myself for my differences. This man put all of himself out there to be criticized and hated by some, but the ones who loved him loved him with everything. There is no middle ground when it comes to him. It's either you loved him or you just didn't understand. I loved hearing the bits of his music I did throughout the years, but my first time of really experiencing all of him was in high school when we watch Labyrinth in the auditorium for theater. Watching him dance around with these puppets, singing so gracefully to a song that was truly just silly, how could the young me not fall in love with all that he was?! I remember diving into his music and loving every bit of it. Seeing him play one of my favorite scientists throughout history in The Prestige, I almost didn't recognize Bowie as Nikola Tesla. It was such a different role to see him as this sophisticated, normal looking man. I admired him for all that he was and all that he could do and bring out with even just a small role in this random movie. It became a favorite, and I am watching it now. He will always be a man of extremes that stood against the world, and damn it, I love him for it. "Heroes" being in The Perks of Being A Wallflower is one of the reasons I love that movie and book. Hearing it play through the tunnel... "And in that moment, I swear we were infinite." RIP David Bowie. Dance among the stars as we continue to gaze upon your infinite beauty, infinite genius.

Pale Lady Alert - Product List

Product List:

Eyes:
Too Faced Shadow Insurance Eye Shadow Primer
Kat Von D Interstellar Eyeshadow Palette
Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper
Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara
Too Faced Bulletproof Brows in Universal Taupe
Sephora Collection Single Eyeshadow in Red
Nars Highlighter in Albatross


Face:
Too Faced Hangover Primer
Make Up For Ever Mat Velvet + in 15
Urban Decay 24/7 Concealer Pencil in FBI
Besame Cosmetics Face Powder in Ivory
Too Faced Bronzer in Pink Leopard
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Ethereal Light


Lips:
Too Faced Lip Insurance Primer
Kat Von D Liquid Lipstick in Vampira

Media Monday: Grand Romantic by Nate Ruess

Can I just start with the fact that I adore Nate Ruess, and I have loved him since long ago, back when he led The Format straight to my heart?! His music will always hold a special place in my heart as it got me through so many years of teenage angst and sadness turning to a hopeful lust for love. When I heard his work with Fun, I knew the voice and immediately bought everything I could find from them. Both of their albums were played on repeat for months, and I just stopped listening to anything else. This album from Nate has been nothing less.

This man is so incredibly talented vocally and lyrically. His falsetto always amazes me, and his voice always sends chills down my back. His music is so different from anyone else's in this theatrical and emotional manner that I will never grow tired of. Every song, every word is sung with this power that reaches the deepest parts of my heart and soul. His voice is so unique and has these little imperfections, details really that make it that much better to listen to.

I love that he ties certain songs back to other songs that he has written. I love that the music makes me smile while listening, but my heart just wants to cry out. I remember hearing him say that he was excited to roll out some songs that provided this hopefulness instead of the sad songs he has written in the past. This album definitely shows his romanticism. While I still can hear the sadness, there is hope.

Lyrically speaking, "Grand Romantic" is definitely the song that resonates with me. But, "It Only Gets Much Worse" is the song that I can't stop thinking about and could play over and over and over.


"All your love may fade away
All you'll become may all go to waste
So I can't stand to hear you say it hurts
When it only gets much worse
It only gets much worse"

I guess I just think about how much I go through with my depression, how much I know it can hurt and how it always feels like it will always continue down the spiral of pain and bitterness. Even with such lyrics, singing them still brings hope in some strange way.


All in all, I love this album. I am impressed with his ability to do all that he does. He is someone I look to for inspiration in my own music and vocals. Nate Ruess is someone that I want to tell everyone about, but I still want to keep him all to myself. He truly never ceases to amaze me. Check out his album, Grand Romantic, and please tell me what you think! Nate Ruess' Website

Review: Arctic Fox Hair Color

One of the features I am most known for (like most of my kind) is my bright red hair. It is a major upkeep, but I love my color, and I refuse to really change it at this point. I've done different varieties for the red that I typically do, and I have my set routine or method to keep it fresh. It is a hassle, I will admit. So, I am always looking for better options or easier ways to go about it. After being a redhead for about 3 years straight now, my hair is much better at holding the dye through the ends. However, my hair grows way too fast to keep up, so I end up needing to dye my roots every 2-3 weeks. (If only you could see the cringe on my face right now.)


I am a licensed esthetician and not by any means a hair stylist! My last roommate, who was my best friend for a very long time, is a hair stylist, and when she did my hair, she clued me in as to what products we were using and how much of what. I also kind of gave my suggestions of things I wanted to try and what mixes to do. When I became licensed, I was then able to go pick up my own dye and have her do it for me whenever. It made it a lot cheaper and easier for me to grasp what to do for myself when I ended up moving out and cutting that relationship off. I won't give away exactly what I used, but I used Redken on my roots and Pravana Color Vivids through the ends. This gave a very subtle ombre that always looked fresh and got me plenty of compliments! I've used this method for years now, and I probably will continue to use it for the most part. I've gotten tips on refreshing from the Pravana stylists online, and although I miss someone else doing my hair, I can't afford to have someone else do it every 2-3 weeks.



On Instagram, I was scrolling through and saw a comment on one of the gorgeous ladies I follow referring to this dye used by Kristen Leanne.





Arctic Fox Hair Color is a vegan, cruelty free brand that donates a certain amount from your purchase to an organization fighting animal cruelty. After seeing this one comment, I kept seeing this brand pop up everywhere and hearing great things. So, I ended up following them on Instagram, checking out their website, and I felt like this would be a great product to try out. I'm pretty used to only using high end professional products from beauty supplies where only licensed professionals can shop to be completely honest, so I was a little nervous about this. I bought the small bottle (4.0oz) of their red color called Poison, so I could at least try it out. Turns out, Hot Topic is now selling them. Had no idea! So, anyways, I dyed my hair today. I used about half the bottle I purchased, which is about the same amount I use with the other dye to complete my head. Typically, you would want to pre-lighten your hair, but I just wanted to see it put on top of what was already there first. Like I said before, I have a routine with my hair, and it isn't quite time to use lightener before dying yet. I will be lightening my hair the next time I dye it, and that is when I plan on using the remaining product from the bottle of color on top of it. Now, for this dye, it says to shampoo your hair first, and then apply to damp hair. I believe this is the same with Pravana, but I have never done this on wet hair before. I have always had my hair dry when dying. Trying this whole new world out! As for the coloring process, it was the same as any other time. I poured a little less than half the bottle into my mixing bowl, and I used a hair dye brush on my hair in sections. I ended up leaving the dye in my hair for about an hour. There is conditioning in it, so I figured why not. Usually, I would only leave it for a half hour or so. I ended up just throwing my hair into a bun for the evening as I don't like to use too many heated tools on it, and I will wait for my hair to dry overnight. From what I can tell so far, the dye comes off your skin and counters super easy. I've become pretty well with not leaving too much a mess when dying my hair lately, but I also have a Color Stain Remover that works pretty well, I suppose. The color looks refreshed and vibrant again, not too different from the color it was before. Without lightening, it really is only meant to work as a tint anyways though.

After drying and curling my hair, it looks like it took pretty well to the color. It is super bright and gorgeous red again. I will have to wait some time to see how it holds up as far as washing and all that goes. I typically only wash my hair 1 or 2 times a week because I don't need to do so more than that really and also because I don't need my color washing out even quicker. My only complaint about this dye is that it has rubbed off on my hands all day as I touched or moved my hair. It happens with the other dyes as well, only on the first day after. I will give it some time and update on how well the color stays, and I will also have to review how it goes when I lighten my hair as well. All in all so far, I like it!