Real Life: Taking Your Vitamins

 

These past two years, I’ve gotten a lot more into homeopathy, organic products & food, vitamins, and essential oils. (It's so much more available than it used to be! But my mother always practiced some homeopathy growing up. She grew up in a homeopathic home.) I’ve been wearing essential oils and using them for random things, which I’ll write more about in the future. (I’ve seen a recent trend with lifestyle bloggers lately and have found it a little frustrating that all of a sudden everyone’s all up in arms about them like they just came in style yesterday. Interesting how these trends happen!) But this is post about vitamins and figuring out which ones you should take daily! (And here's the disclaimer that I ain’t no doctor, and that this is just what I’ve figured out on my own and with other folks that have a great knowledge of homeopathy and healthy-living.)

How did I figure out what vitamins to take?

Well, I talked to a lot of other women about it (like my ma and Rachel.) I’m surrounded by folks who are either deep into a life of just homeopathy or people that grew up in homeopathic homes, so I consulted them. I also have a very open relationship with my nurse-midwife (no, I’m not pregnant and yes, I have a nurse-midwife who does my yearly exams.) I took notice as to what are my daily issues on a physical level. I have pretty bad scoliosis for one, so I’m in back-pain on a daily basis. I also have a severe anxiety disorder and deal with seasonal depression, and I’m not a great eater. I don’t eat nearly as much as I should and am regularly dealing with weight-loss issues on and off throughout the years. My vitamin rotation changes every so often. After some more research, I'm going to look into what I should be taking for muscle pains & growth. Anyone got any ideas? I just don't want to become an old woman who takes 20 vitamins a day. That's just not right...

Where do I get these vitamins?

Places where you SHOULDN’T get your vitamins is at a place like “Vitamin World.” My dietician-friend told me that those have been stripped of a lot of the natural goodness and whatnot and have been sitting on the shelves for far too long. I get mine at Cambridge Naturals, which is basically my favorite place to go for anything related to my health. Find a local natural-health store that you know has a good reputation! 

Vitamin B-Complex and/or Stress Formula - B-Complex Vitamins with 500 mg Vitamin C

Vitamin B is awesome for some awesome reasons. It is awesome for getting your skin, hair, and nails healthy. It helps regulate a healthy digestive & nervous system, which will assist with issues like depression and stress. Vitamin B also helps with energy and is particularly good for women to take for it helps protect again breast cancer, as well as lung and prostate. I have pretty bad fibrocystic tissue in my breasts (i.e. they’re grainy, t.m.i.? sorry, this is a health-post) and have already had a large benign tumor removed almost eight years ago. So I'm already concerned about that issue because lumps already come and go with my cycle. It's definitely important for me to take this! 

An Herbal Wellness Formula

I started taking this one by Source Naturals when I started traveling a lot more. I’ve basically not gotten a flu or cold in almost a year now. Having a healthy immune system is crucial especially during this time of the year!

I also use a grapefruit extract nasal-spray when I'm about to get on a plane. It's another immune system booster! 

Style de Haviland: Winter Shorts & Madewell Denim

Where did this week go?! Jeez, I just can't believe it's already Wednesday! And here I am, home sick with a lovely stomach virus.

I was on my way home from work yesterday and stopped at CVS to get some toilet paper, because I knew that we had just finished our last roll and usually I'm more on top of those things. As I was walking down to get toilet paper I started feeling more and more nauseous. (I'd been feeling funky all day and hadn't been able to put my finger on it.) I quickly grabbed probably the most expensive one and self-checked out. As I hit the "approve" key on the keypad, I ripped the receipt out, grabbed the TP, and briskly walked (so no one would notice) to the side of the building where I knew the dumpsters were. And I just yacked. I yacked out everything that was NOT in my stomach out, and of course, decided not give a rat's ass because there was nothing I could do about it. 

And that's my story. 

Happy Thursday!

Blouse: Madewell

Shorts: Anthropologie

Socks: J.Crew

Oxfords: Sperry Top-Sider

Necklace: So Good Jewelry

Frames: c / o Victory Collections

Real Life: I Still Miss You

It's been two years since my best friend, Karina, died suddenly. 

Time heals, but it doesn't mean I still don't miss her daily...

---

I miss you, my darling Karina.

I miss your big eyes with your beautiful long eye lashes. 

I miss rubbing your head when you're snuggling up against me, and feeling your curly locks in my hand. 

I miss your laugh and your voice.

I miss you singing at the top of your lungs in the car. 

I miss your rough eyebrows that you didn't like but I thought they were awesome. 

I miss having sleepovers all. the. time. 

I miss falling asleep in the same bed, while talking to each other in our exhausted delirium talk. 

I miss it when you called me Emmy. I was only your Emmy and always will be; but I love it when people random call me it because it reminds me of you.

I miss watching scary movies with you. I go to the movies by myself to see horror flicks now, and I always say that I'm having a "Karina night."  

I miss telling you everything and you knowing everything about me.  

I will miss you till the day we are reunited in Heaven. 

---

Style Icon: Jessica Chastain

This woman is a bombshell. I'm a redhead wannabe sometimes, and she's truly my hair-envy. Wow. 

Gah! I love it when redheads wear red lipstick. And that hue is pretty perfect. Bravo to her make-up artist. 

This dress above, I died a little inside because I wanted it to be mine so badly. 

Rockin' the semi-casual look. 

Just flawless. Jessica Chastain, well done, girlfriend!

Real Life: Collective Creatures Art Gallery

I am privileged enough to know a pretty talented group in the Boston area. This past weekend was an art gallery opening that a dear friend of mine had work being displayed at. A lot of her friends were involved and when they all put their creative juices together (in a non-weird way) it it always pretty epic. 

And of course Rach and I had to go all out and have her co-worker, a pseudo make-up artist, come over and do our eye make up beforehand. 

The three amigas (minus the third blood-sister that's in Texas.) 

Real Life: Independence

Independence has become something that I strive for on a daily basis, and by that I don't just mean financially but also emotionally, physically, and mentally. My past has been a factor in molding me in this way, for when I was younger, even two or three years ago, I was finding myself depending on the current boyfriend or the current closest friend. I would sometimes make changes to my life-plans to somewhat parallel theirs. I wanted so desperately to not be abandoned or left behind, so I would change my standards. 

source

Moving out of my parent's house at a younger age than many traditional straight-out-of-high-school-to college kids, I started to learn what I was capable of on my own. God started teaching me pretty intense life changing lessons during the early years of my time first living on my own. And with those lessons, gave me confidence in myself as an individual and as a self-sufficient young woman. Then I started to become proud of who I was growing into, which is, to me, one of the most freeing experiences life has to offer. It's so liberating knowing that I can depend on just myself and the Lord and be confident in the fact that there is no one else that I have emotional/relational ties to. Yeah, it might get me down every so often, but I always get back up! 

Being single is not an unfortunate state to be in as a young woman in her mid-twenties. It is a blessing! And although I don't have someone to to text all the time and I don't have someone to constantly have my back, I have me! I have Jesus. I have a life that is all mine and no one else's. I get to do things, like pick up an move to a different city! (hint, wink) and not have to worry about kids or a boyfriend or husband. 

...

That has been sitting in my drafts for months, and thought it was time to share a little on my thoughts on random life experiences. 

Turtle Love Company: Thank You

First off, I'd really like to say that I always enjoy corresponding and working with this company: Turtle Love Company.  I've done an inspiration post on the TLC blog several months ago, and thoroughly enjoyed it. For realizes, guys, you have to check this jewelry site asap. 

There are some really wonderful aspects to this specific jewelry site though that is unlike any other that I know of. 

+ Their artisans only use recycled metals, fair-trade, conflict-free gemstones, and sustainably-harvested pearls

+ Their philosophy is "We know that jewelry is actually about personal connections, about physical reminders of the people we cherish and the stories that make up our lives." I'm mean that's rad, right?

I got an email a week or so ago from my contact there (Hi, Aubin!!) asking me for my address, because they were sending me a gift in the mail. I almost completely forgot about it, because I'm forgetful like that, until I got it in the mail earlier today. 

Um, hi. This is freakin' adorable. I was so excited when I opened the box with my roommate. Total nerd status, guys. 

And somehow these wonderful folks over at Turtle Love knew that I am seriously in love with my home, Massachusetts. 

Thank you so much, guys!!!!

Please make sure you check their site out. They have awesome pieces that I simply adore! 

Here are some of my favorite pieces:

Laurel Leaf Ring

Triceratops Dinosaur Necklace

Oh, and by the way, I wasn't asked to do this post. I did it out of pure excitement...

The Importance of Prayer, Meditation, & Meditation

If any of you know me in "real life," then you know that I am what we refer to as a "nester." I love nesting. It's my favorite thing to do after a long day at work and at the gym. What is nesting you ask? Well I'll tell you! 

Webster (a.k.a. Emily's) Dictionary Definition

Nesting /nest/ : 

< verb > 1. to spend time in one's home in a state of relaxation while doing various activities such as blogging, needlework, reading on the back porch, doing loads of laundry and ironing, cleaning & vacuuming, being quiet, praying/meditation

2. being quiet and spending some alone time while doing the above activities 

Used in a sentence - "Dennis, I need to do some nesting." 

"I am going to go nest." 

It is extremely important that I get this alone-time at least once a weekly basis. I used to do it several times a week, but after Dennis and I started dating, I didn't have as much time to do it. But when I do find time to nest, it usually involves several hours to myself. There will be a time for self-reflection, a time for activities such as the ones in my definition, and a time for prayer/meditation time. I do a lot of praying throughout the day, for like many Christians, I look at it as more of a constant conversation between me and God throughout the day. But this time is more designated. It is a time for just being quiet and being still. Before Karina died, I was a lot better at this. Before she would come over after work during the week, I would often have this time after I went to the gym while she was on her way over. Or I would just plan for it later in the evening. After she died, I had more trouble spending time by myself. I didn't like being alone anymore and had to constantly surround myself by other people. I'm just starting to get back into the swing of my old routine now, which is good, because it totally feeds my soul! 

photos by Michael E. Dennis

Skirt: J.Crew Factory

Shirt: Ralph Lauren

Belt: Thrifted at Boomerangs 

Earrings: Dinosaur Toes - Blog & Etsy Shop

Frames: Vintage

What do you do to relax and debrief? 

Style de Haviland: Green Birdies & Used Tampons

Okay, I'm about to talk about something that I don't think I've ever read a blog post on before…

Tampons. 

The other day, I received a very aggressive email from my roommate. (I live with two bros at the moment. Like "Bro, I was supah baked the othah day…" That kind of bro.) And let me also preface this story by telling you that I almost always wrap my used tampons in toilet paper, but this timeI had forgotten. So anyways, I guess I had screwed up big time. Apparently, that was rude and unacceptable. And he proceeded his email with a parallel between used condoms and used tampons. 

"I don't leave my used condoms in the bathroom trash…"

Uhhhhh, I don't even want to know that you're using condoms let alone throwing them away! And I'm pretty sure that you having sex in voluntary and me getting my period is because of human nature and I kind of have to get it every month. AND I'm not going to walk around the apartment that I'VE been living in for over three years with a bloody tampon in my hand just for your benefit. Am I wrong? 

And I can't tell you how many times I've left my room or walked around the apartment with him in his white silk boxers. (Yes, they're some sort of faux-silk material.) And falling down. I can see both his ass crack when he turns around and his junk flopping around. 

But do I say anything? No. 

And you want to know why? 

Because I have a month left there...

Thoughts anyone? 

And here's an outfit! Ar ar ar ar ar.

Shirt: Marshalls 

Shorts: J.Crew (My Ma's) 

Necklace: So Good Jewelry 

Earrings: Blog & Etsy Shop

Boat Shoes: Sperry Top-Sider