Monday, April 29, 2013
My nail obsession
Last year, I decided to try doing my own nails because I saw some cool designs on Pinterest. Since then, when I have the time, I've been painting my own nail designs by hand. Some people may find it frustrating and too time consuming, but for me, it's time for myself. It's actually a very calming thing for me to do. I usually do it late at night. I scroll down Pinterest to find something I like, then I try my best to paint the same design on my nails. I'm so critical of my own work but others seem to think that I'm talented so I figured I'd share some of my nail art!
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Cake Boss
My Elmo Cakes were the best ones I've ever done!
Finally tried fondant to create my son's LEGO cake!
This one was fun to make! My cousin's boyfriend's 21st birthday!
Added: May 2013
Monday, April 22, 2013
Anaphylactic shock and allergic reactions
So, I had a really bad allergic reaction to a gummy vitamin back in January of this year. As stupid as it sounds, yes, it was a gummy multivitamin that put me into anaphylactic shock. Needless to say, that was the most embarrassing and scary experience of my life! So, here's exactly what happened:
10:30am- I decided that I was going to start taking vitamins again to boost my health because that was my New Year's resolution, to have a healthier lifestyle. I took two berry shaped gummy multivitamins because that was what the directions said to do.
10:45am- I drive to Pearlridge Macy's to give my cousin some boxes for her birthday party. She then convinces me to go shopping with her and my aunts at Pearlridge.
10:50am- I walk around Macy's and start feeling itchy on my chest and stomach so I ask my cousin if we can go to the bathroom at the food court. My skin was blotchy and then my face felt hot. I looked in the mirror and my face was as red as a tomato! Then I started getting worried because I had no Benadryl on me for the possible hives. Next thing you know, I feel lightheaded. We grabbed a water at Starbucks and head over to Macy's to meet up with my aunts. We took the escalator up to the second floor and I sit down on a chair because I felt like I wanted to faint. My heart was pounding so fast. Nothing like this has ever happened to me before. I felt like I wanted to cry because I thought I was dying or something. My aunts freak out and offer to bring me to the hospital. As I was going down the escalator to the first floor, I barely made it to the bottom. I had to sit down at the MAC counter because I could barely stand up. Last I remember, I was holding onto my cousin and then blacked out.
My cousin said I fainted and turned white as a ghost. She couldn't hold on to me because I fell off the chair and on top of her. I was told that I was lying on the ground unconscious for almost 20 minutes. My aunts were freaking out so the Macy's employees had to call an ambulance for me. It was such a surreal experience once I gained consciousness. I could hear everyone around me, talking to me. I wanted to answer back but I felt like I was outside of my own body. My eyes were open but I couldn't see anything. All I could hear was the beating of my heart. Two nice ladies that were nurses were helping me when I fainted. I wish I knew their names because I am thankful that they were trying to help me before the ambulance arrived.
When the paramedics arrived, they put so much things on me: oxygen tubes, heart monitor, something to check my blood pressure, and probably more. They were asking me questions and I could barely speak. All I could do was cry because I didn't know what was happening to me. All I could think about was my little boy. I prayed that I would be okay because I was the only parent that actually cared about him.
When I was in the ambulance, they gave me Benadryl, an Epipen, and fluids. Or, that's what I think they gave me. Everything was a blur. The Epipen made me all cold and jittery. The paramedic said that was normal. After a few hours at the hospital, my breathing was fine, my skin was normal again, and I was able to talk. I was definitely weak because of the anaphylactic shock that my body went through.
That was the first allergic reaction that caused me to go into shock. Normally, I've eaten or drank certain things that make me break out into hives. This time, it was more serious! I went to the doctor and had several blood tests done. I tested negative on everything. I even saw an allergist and had blood work done. I was scheduled to have a skin test done but I guess I didn't get to do it early enough.
Just when I thought that I was good trying to avoid whatever could have possibly given me that allergic reaction, I had another allergic reaction this month in April, but this time from a Lemon Zest Luna Bar! Really? I took Benadryl but my asthma acted up so I had to go to the emergency room. It wasn't as bad as the last reaction but I needed oxygen. At this point, I'm beyond frustrated about whatever it is that I'm allergic to and I decided that anything in the "healthy vitamins and supplements" aisle would give me an bad allergic reaction.
I finally did the skin testing last week. I was pricked 53 times with several things that people are most likely to be allergic to. I was left with what looked like chickenpox organized in lines. After all that testing, I found out that I wasn't allergic to anything that they tested on me!
It's the most frustrating thing knowing that I have a bad surprise waiting to happen and I don't know what to avoid. I guess I'm just one of those people that have allergic reactions to something uncommon and I'll never find out until I react to it. I hope that none of you go through what I went through. It seriously felt like I was dying.
10:30am- I decided that I was going to start taking vitamins again to boost my health because that was my New Year's resolution, to have a healthier lifestyle. I took two berry shaped gummy multivitamins because that was what the directions said to do.
10:45am- I drive to Pearlridge Macy's to give my cousin some boxes for her birthday party. She then convinces me to go shopping with her and my aunts at Pearlridge.
10:50am- I walk around Macy's and start feeling itchy on my chest and stomach so I ask my cousin if we can go to the bathroom at the food court. My skin was blotchy and then my face felt hot. I looked in the mirror and my face was as red as a tomato! Then I started getting worried because I had no Benadryl on me for the possible hives. Next thing you know, I feel lightheaded. We grabbed a water at Starbucks and head over to Macy's to meet up with my aunts. We took the escalator up to the second floor and I sit down on a chair because I felt like I wanted to faint. My heart was pounding so fast. Nothing like this has ever happened to me before. I felt like I wanted to cry because I thought I was dying or something. My aunts freak out and offer to bring me to the hospital. As I was going down the escalator to the first floor, I barely made it to the bottom. I had to sit down at the MAC counter because I could barely stand up. Last I remember, I was holding onto my cousin and then blacked out.
My cousin said I fainted and turned white as a ghost. She couldn't hold on to me because I fell off the chair and on top of her. I was told that I was lying on the ground unconscious for almost 20 minutes. My aunts were freaking out so the Macy's employees had to call an ambulance for me. It was such a surreal experience once I gained consciousness. I could hear everyone around me, talking to me. I wanted to answer back but I felt like I was outside of my own body. My eyes were open but I couldn't see anything. All I could hear was the beating of my heart. Two nice ladies that were nurses were helping me when I fainted. I wish I knew their names because I am thankful that they were trying to help me before the ambulance arrived.
When the paramedics arrived, they put so much things on me: oxygen tubes, heart monitor, something to check my blood pressure, and probably more. They were asking me questions and I could barely speak. All I could do was cry because I didn't know what was happening to me. All I could think about was my little boy. I prayed that I would be okay because I was the only parent that actually cared about him.
When I was in the ambulance, they gave me Benadryl, an Epipen, and fluids. Or, that's what I think they gave me. Everything was a blur. The Epipen made me all cold and jittery. The paramedic said that was normal. After a few hours at the hospital, my breathing was fine, my skin was normal again, and I was able to talk. I was definitely weak because of the anaphylactic shock that my body went through.
That was the first allergic reaction that caused me to go into shock. Normally, I've eaten or drank certain things that make me break out into hives. This time, it was more serious! I went to the doctor and had several blood tests done. I tested negative on everything. I even saw an allergist and had blood work done. I was scheduled to have a skin test done but I guess I didn't get to do it early enough.
Just when I thought that I was good trying to avoid whatever could have possibly given me that allergic reaction, I had another allergic reaction this month in April, but this time from a Lemon Zest Luna Bar! Really? I took Benadryl but my asthma acted up so I had to go to the emergency room. It wasn't as bad as the last reaction but I needed oxygen. At this point, I'm beyond frustrated about whatever it is that I'm allergic to and I decided that anything in the "healthy vitamins and supplements" aisle would give me an bad allergic reaction.
I finally did the skin testing last week. I was pricked 53 times with several things that people are most likely to be allergic to. I was left with what looked like chickenpox organized in lines. After all that testing, I found out that I wasn't allergic to anything that they tested on me!
It's the most frustrating thing knowing that I have a bad surprise waiting to happen and I don't know what to avoid. I guess I'm just one of those people that have allergic reactions to something uncommon and I'll never find out until I react to it. I hope that none of you go through what I went through. It seriously felt like I was dying.
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Breastfeeding vs. formula
Have you seen this commercial? It's a diaper commercial but most people might look at it as a commercial about breastfeeding in public. I would consider myself the first time mom because I did not become comfortable feeding in public, but every mom is different. There has always been the debate about whether breastfeeding in public is appropriate or not, but one day, I came across a friend's Facebook post of someone else's opinion about breastfeeding vs. formula feeding. Here is what was written, word for word:
"I am so sick of self righteous parents who go on about breast is best. Personally I think its just being cheap. My 14mth old dd receives the BEST formula out there regardless of the cost. Scientists have taken years to perfect baby formulas. There is clearly more nutritional value to formula than breast milk I mean just look at the ingredients on the tin. You can't guarantee that all breastfeeding mothers are eating healthy. if they go and have a junk food binge are the required nutrients going through to the baby. I think not!!! My child is receiving the best regardless of what I eat."
Honestly, I completely disagree with this person's opinion. What I don't like about this person's comments about breastfeeding is that they try to write as if they are writing facts instead of opinions by bringing up how scientists have tried to perfect baby formulas. Today, formula is not exactly cheap, but that does NOT mean that mothers that choose to breastfeed are cheap for not giving their babies formula. I believe that the reason scientists are trying to perfect baby formulas are to make it as similar to the nutrients that breast milk has to offer. I don't have anything against mothers that give formula to their babies. Some mothers aren't able to breastfeed and some mothers have to give their babies specific types of milk. I think that what this woman wrote is just unbelievable and obnoxious. Mothers don't breastfeed because they are cheap, and I also believe that mothers that feed their babies formula aren't giving their children a better nutritional value. I think every mom has her preference and is entitled to her own choices and opinions. I think there is no wrong answer but the only thing that I worry about formulas is that there have been recent recalls on certain baby formulas. Nothing is more natural that breast milk but if a mother is unable to give her child that, then there should be nothing against her choice. I actually had to give my son both breast milk AND formula because I wasn't producing milk fast enough and my son was always hungry! So, my opinions come from experience and I don't judge another person's choice, but today, I decided to judge this woman's choice of words and how she acts like breastfeeding is when mothers are just cheap and selfish when in reality, breastfeeding is more work and more time for a mother because she is the direct source of the milk. So, whether you decide to give your children breast milk or formula, do what YOU feel is right for YOU AND YOUR BABY, but don't try to put down someone else's decision.
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