Behind the Scenes in Angie’s World

New Products:

This week I received a care package from Jan at Benjabelle. She’s a friend of Michelle’s at MakeupMLC and her company makes makeup brush trees for drying makeup brushes after washing. She sent me the Daisy Brush Tree, and a tin of their Cleansing Balm and I’m so excited to use it! It’s their compact model which is perfect for my space-challenged vanity. I’ve been meaning to do an “All About Brushes” video, and this will be perfect for it.

Benjabelle Daisy Brush Tree

And, speaking of brushes, HauteLook had Crown Brushes last week so I bought a couple to see how they are. I got the Kabuki Fan Brush and the C456 Pointed Blender Brush.

Crown Kabuki Fan Brush

Crown C456 Pointed Blender Brush

With my 20% off coupon from Ulta, I bought the IT Cosmetics Naturally Pretty palette, Alterna Caviar CC Cream, an Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliner Pencil in Oil Slick, a Marc Anthony Bye-Bye Frizz Shampoo & Conditioner, Marc Anthony Macadamia Oil Shampoo, Cover Girl Bombshell Mascara, Cover Girl Outlast 3-in-1 Foundation, and NYX Hi Definition Concealer. The eyeliner and foundation are for new “Testing” videos!

Hormonal Acne/Spironolactone Update

I went back to my dermatologist last week for my 3 month check-in on Spironolactone so she could check my blood pressure and assess whether it’s working or not. My blood pressure was 111/61 (bottom end of normal range), and I had yet another raging zit on my cheek. After describing how I hadn’t had a pimple-free week the entire 3 months, how parched I felt 24/7, how tired and short of breath I was, and how often I was running to the bathroom, I (we) decided to stop taking it. She prescribed a course of antibiotics, but I’m not sure I want to do that either. I told the pharmacy to put it on hold, and I’ll wait to see how it goes. If the acne gets bad, I’ll probably try it, but for now, I’ll suffer with the breakouts.

Healthy Eating

I made a few really good dinners this week! I often get into a food funk mid-winter and just can’t standcooking, but I was inspired this week. I made a grilled chicken breast on a bed of greens with black rice and black beans that had an avocado and grapefruit dressing… it was so tropical and summery!

Grilled Chicken Breast with Avocado/Grapefruit dressing over Greens with Black Rice/Black Bean Salad

I also made a ground turkey, kale and chick pea pizza that was delish, and turned the left over topping into a crockpot soup for another dinner!

Ground Turkey, Chorizo, Kale, & Chick Pea Pizza

Exercise:

Now that I’ve been off Spironolactone for a week, I feel much less out of breath and more motivated to work out, it was great to feel strong again!! I got a new to me (although it’s an oldie) workout DVD from Kelly Coffey-Meyers that’s called 30-Minutes to Fitness – Muscle Definition. It has 2, 30-minute workouts that concentrate on upper body, but it also has longer mixes included. I did the 58 minute Chest, Biceps, Triceps mix with 5, 8, and 10 lb. weights. I also did my Tracie Long Fitness Focus Series DVD for lower body and my old fave, The Firm Time Crunch Video for a total body workout.