Don’t Let a Bad Day Ruin Your Mindset

We’ve all been there before. We’ve all had a day when it seems as though the Universe is just testing our limits. This could present as numerous small things, or even as catastrophic appearing large crises. Maybe you even find yourself saying “this would only happen to me” a lot. It’s easy to just get frustrated and feel like giving up on those days. But you know what I’ve learned? Those days are THE BEST days for seeing how far you’ve come.

For me, this comes in the form of physical limitations. As someone who struggles with chronic illness, not every day is a “great” day. Some days, I go see friends and feel overall pretty normal. On other days, I end up in the ER getting pumped full of drugs and fluids. I’ve been dealing with health problems for years though, including everything that comes with that. But you wanna know something? On the days that I’m feeling “normal,” I am living my best damn life.

On days where my illness is at bay, you can find me absolutely thriving. It may not be obvious on the outside, however, to most people. It doesn’t mean that I’m traveling the globe or running a marathon, but rather that I’m enjoying absolutely every small detail of all of the “mundane” things that I’m doing. So what do I mean by that? I mean that when I’m feeling up to going to the grocery store, I’m enjoying every minute of it. I’m taking in all of the displays, I’m enjoying the smell of the coffee aisle, I’m having fun looking for the best deal, and I always have my headphones in playing my favorite songs of the moment. And why is that? Because on the days when I can’t get out of bed, or when I’m stuck in the hospital and can’t even speak, I think about how grateful I’m going to be when I’m back home just doing the “mundane” every day things that I’m not able to do everyday. I don’t take one minute of those days for granted.

What happens to us is not always going to be in our control, however, how we choose to perceive and respond to such things is ONLY in our control. That’s both fantastic news and a very scary reality to accept. The truth is, at the end of the day, we are the only person who can control our mindset and emotions. Sure, others may try to alter your thoughts, however, it will ALWAYS be up to you to let them or not. So with that said, choose to live life on the brighter side. Life changes the moment you change.

Until next time, xoxo Britt

Songs I Keep on Heavy Rotation

Hello again! So today, we’re gonna get real chill here. During this whole pandemic, I’ve been listening to music now more than ever. However, I have ALWAYS been a music lover. My music taste is best described as “everything except for the songs I don’t like.” So, with that in mind, these are just some of the songs I’ve currently had heavily on rotation.

Leave Me Alone – NF

This is ABSOLUTELY worth the listen. Not only are his rap abilities impressive as hell (to say the least), BUT, he’s also talking very openly about the realities of his mental health struggles. I have only recently discovered NF as an artist, however, I now have numerous of his songs on heavy rotation. So, another one worth the listen….

If you Want Love – NF

I low key still cry sometimes when this song plays. I do it to myself. The message of this song is so powerful for me! One of the lyrics I really love is “I’ve always tried to control things, but in the end that’s what controls me.” It’s just such a relatable song for anyone who has ever struggled in relationships. Now for something more fun and light hearted…

Cover Girl – BIA

Yeah I really switched it up with this one! I try not to spend all of my time in my feels, so, I still need some Bad Bitch Energy songs. This is my ultimate “feelin’ myself” song ATM. It is literally impossible not to dance alone in your room to this song at midnight. Play it in the car. Play it while you get ready. Play it while you’re cleaning. Bad Bitch Energy, all the time.

Smiling When I Die – Sasha Sloan

This song is such a good reminder TO MAKE THE MOST OUT OF LIFE. It’s so catchy, but the lyrics are so powerful and meaningful. Some of my favorites are “There’s been a couple times that I fell in love, but a couple times just ain’t enough.” Another favorite lyric is “Yesterday felt like my graduation, but now some of those kids have got their own. It’s been awhile since I took a vacation, it’s been awhile since I really let go.” It’s so worth putting on repeat for the Summer! And because I also really love this artist….

Older – Sasha Sloan

This song is for any child of divorce. This song is for anyone who had some less than perfect parents growing up. I have cried to this song numerous times. This is one of those songs that is just going to hit you right in the soul if you can relate to it. Some of my favorite lyrics are “The older I get the more that I see, my parents aren’t heroes, they’re just like me.” And “I used to be mad, but now I know, sometimes it’s better to let someone go.”

Blind – Jordyn Jones

This song is SO DAMN CATCHY! But on top of that, as always with me, I once again love the emotion behind the song. I think most people can relate to this song with at least one person in their lifetime. Some of my favorite lyrics are “I fall deep, take the pain ’til I can’t breathe. My heart is in your hands, you hurt me ’cause you can.” Just such a good overall song to have on the playlist.

Wave – Meghan Trainor Ft. Mike Sabath

I think Meghan Trainor is honestly so underrated right now! Her newest music is, in my opinion, by far her best! I liked some of her older stuff, but it was never something I heavily played on a playlist of mine. I have totally become a fan though, with her newer music (check out Nice to Meet Ya ft. Nicki Minaj too). This song is SO CATCHY and also just has amazing vocals and lyrics as always with Ms. Trainor. IDK how she balanced “catchy” and “moody” so well together! Some of the lyrics include “I want what I can’t have, still holding onto hope. Drowning in my tears, this love’s a sinking boat.” Honestly, just such a bop.

Good in Bed – Dua Lipa

Let me just start by saying, her entire new album, ‘Future Nostalgia,’ is so unique. The title of the album is absolutely fitting! It somehow feels both futuristic, and like something you’ve heard before. Anyway, well done Dua Lipa. This song IS A BOP! The beat is so catchy and it just makes you wanna dance. On another note, I think that again, this is pretty relatable for a lot of people. Some of my fav lyrics are “I dedicate this verse to all that good pipe in the moonlight and all the long nights where we did everything but talk it through, that’s what we do.” LOL sorry mom ❤

Sexual Assault, Victim Blaming, and the #MeToo Movement

***Trigger Warning: We’re going to be talking about Sexual Assault (SA).

As sad as it is, sexual assault is a very real problem around the World. I want to start this by encouraging anyone who feels like they may have been a victim of sexual assault to speak to proper authorities and file a report. That being said, I know that many victims do not feel comfortable or safe reporting their abuse. Whatever your feelings are, they are valid.

Here are some statistics about sexual assault:

The #MeToo movement has been sweeping the World by storm. It is absolutely amazing to see people (not just women) being empowered to speak out about their own experiences with SA. Seeing cases of SA (ex. Harvey Weinstein) getting more coverage and resulting in punishment brings a great deal of hope to victims and also brings some more comfort to them in choosing to come forward with their own stories. I am very grateful to see people shedding more light on the often unspoken subject of this abuse. I fully hope that this issue will not fall silent again.

Sexual Assault is a Trauma

Just like any other type of abuse, SA is traumatizing to the victim. So, with that being said, victim blaming is NOT FUCKING IT. Victim blaming, shaming or hating is absolutely a dick move. There is absolutely no reason to further traumatize an already traumatized human being. If someone feels safe enough to come to you about such a vulnerable topic, be there for them the way you hope someone would be there for you or your sister or your daughter.

To any Victims of SA:

Please do not feel like you need to rationalize whatever you experienced. Sexual assault is not a rational act. It does not matter if you knew the person, what you were wearing, if you were intoxicated, or whatever else you may try to tell yourself to somehow justify why this happened.

Everyday we are shaping society for the next generations to come. What we permit, we promote. Be an advocate for those who need one, and be the change we wish to see in the world. Do not let a cry for help fall on deaf ears.

Things to do While Quarantined Alone

How the hell are ya? It’s been awhile since I’ve updated the site. Let’s be real, everyone is going through it right now. So what can I do to make things just a *sprinkle* better?

A list of things you’ll actually want to do at home!

Listen, I’m doing my job to flatten the curve. For me, that means quarantining alone in my apartment. Well actually, I have my cat, Luna, here with me.

So I’ve decided to share a list of the things that I’ve been doing to pass the time while isolated from any real social interaction. Note, the list gets slightly more embarrassing the longer I go on….oh well, enjoy!

  • Text people that you haven’t talked to in awhile (because you actually have things to catch up on and talk about)
  • Watch Yoga With Adriene on YouTube and follow along
I suggest the 30 Days of Yoga with Adriene
  • Give your cat some catnip and simply observe for awhile, it’s always entertaining
  • Start wearing pieces from your wardrobe that you’re normally too uncomfortable to wear in public (ex. I call these my “cash money” sweats)
Ignore my awesome Phillips Hue lights
  • Order some Tarot cards on Amazon and learn how to start reading them (I have a great article for beginners)
  • Watch Tiger King on Netflix if you haven’t already
  • Pick a new recipe on Pinterest and finally try to make it (not to brag, but I’m personally killing this one)
  • Burn a different candle every day until you’ve finally picked your favorite (you can even make a bracket if you really need to kill some time)
  • Create a playlist full of “throwback” jams of yours (I have one made entirely of songs they played at middle school dances)
  • Create your own Zumba inspired routine to a song of your choosing (I made my own to “Boss Bitch” by Doja Cat, perfect beat)
  • Actually perfect your skin care routine (I have an article on some of my favorite skin care goodies)

If you like these ideas follow the site! I’ll be back with some more ideas soon. Stay safe everyone, xoxo, Britt

Human Trafficking and How to Protect Yourself

As women, we are warned so much about the dangers of being out alone from a young age. Many of us grow up to be cautious of our surroundings. Although we are doing better on spreading some awareness, human trafficking and sex trafficking are still WIDELY happening in the United States and throughout the World. Anyone can become a victim of human trafficking at any time, but through spreading awareness, we can better protect ourselves and our loved ones.

Who are the Victims of Human Trafficking?

Adult women make up the majority of trafficking victims. As you can see, however, no one is truly safe. They will take men, women, children, and all races. As sad as it is to say, there is a marketplace for each and every type of person. Men primarily end up being used for labor, while women primarily end up being used in the sex industry.

Some Statistics:

  • Human trafficking is estimated to be a $32 BILLION industry
  • Between 800,000 and 4 million people are trafficked every year around the world
  • An estimated 80% of the victims of trafficking are forced to enter the sex industry, while 20% are forced to join the manual labor industry
  • The homeless are more likely to be targeted
  • Women are trafficked approximately 5 times as much as men

How can you protect yourself?

Information is power. The more you know about this, the better equipped you will be to protect yourself from falling victim.

Tips to Protect Yourself:

  • When out in public alone, be aware of your surroundings (i.e. don’t be looking at your phone or seeming distracted, as this makes you an easier target)
  • If you’re going out alone, always let someone know where you’re going (because if, god forbid, something happens, this part is KEY in helping police)
  • If you get a bad “feeling” or “vibe” from someone, TRUST IT and remove yourself from their proximity
  • Always carry pepper spray and have it easily accessible (a rape whistle is a bonus)
  • Avoid poorly lit areas (no matter how “safe” they may seem)
  • DON’T BE TOO NICE, IT GETS PEOPLE KILLED

Not to scare you with that last part, but remember, numerous serial killers have lured women in by acting as though they just need some help and making you feel bad for them. This is ONE OF THE MOST COMMON METHODS FOR ABDUCTING SOMEONE. I know sometimes it’s hard to say no to someone who asks for help, but it’s better to appear rude for a moment to a stranger than it is to spend the rest of your life in captivity. They will live, but you may not.

Stay safe, xoxo, Britt

Mental Health Matters

Mental health is something we are FINALLY hearing more about! I personally have struggled with my mental health for YEARS. I also know so many people who struggle with their own mental health issues. This article is just to say YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

Here’s some statistics to think about…

Mental Health Looks Different to Everyone

One point I would like to make is that it is NOT SELFISH TO TAKE TIME TO FOCUS ON YOUR MENTAL HEALTH. No one and nothing can make you happy externally. Happiness truly comes from inside. One other note to make is that THERE’S NOTHING WRONG WITH YOU FOR HAVING MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS. You do not need to apologize to anyone for having your own struggles. Those who love you most should be the most understanding of this! If someone ever tries to shame you, I promise, you’re better off without them.

Mental health can be as “simple” as having negative thoughts, or even as serious as suicidal thoughts and self-harm. As you can see from the charts above, MANY people struggle with these problems on a daily basis.

I Personally Have Numerous Mental Health Challenges

So what do I personally experience? Well here’s my own diagnoses as of now (per a healthcare professional):

  • EXTREME anxiety/panic attacks
  • Depression
  • PTSD
  • Bipolar 2
  • ADHD

How do I Handle This?

For me, therapy is a fantastic start! I am a HUGE believer in therapy. I have been on and off of medications, although I have not had the best experience with numerous of them. Remember that there’s no shame in needing some medication while you work on your coping techniques. Now, medication should not be a forever solution, however, it can help until you do some of the work you need to on your own mental state.

Best Advice During a Difficult Time?

  • Listen to music
  • Hang out with friends/family
  • Write down your thoughts/feelings somewhere to reflect upon later
  • Talk to SOMEONE about how you feel (a therapist if you can, or even just friends and family)
  • Get out of your house and just go SOMEWHERE
  • Go to the gym
  • Immerse yourself in your hobbies/passions
  • Read books related to your mental health issues for guidance (many can be found on Amazon!)
  • Seek professional help if possible

And Remember….

XOXO, Britt

Holy Grail Skincare Products

It’s a catch 22 for most girls. The more you wear makeup, the more you breakout and need it. We all look for those skincare products that will actually help our skin without breaking the bank. This is where I come in! I’ve collected a few products that are absolute stand outs! This is for all of my lazy and cheap girls out there who still want to have beautiful skin!

Holy Grail Items for a Cheap/Lazy Girl

These are not only great makeup removing wipes, but, they also don’t irritate my skin the way other brands do! At the very least, remove your makeup at the end of the day. Lazy Girl Hack: keep them on your nightstand. I literally do this when I’m feeling extra lazy! Available at pretty much any drugstore as well as Target and Walmart.

From the Korean skin care brand Oh K we have the Chok Chok Cleansing Balm Stick. This item not only works really well, but you don’t even need water! It literally comes as a twist up stick. It begins as a sort of “solid oil” consistency and begins to actually foam up on your skin as you use it! All you have to do is wipe it off after using it. This is by far one of the greatest finds I’ve had in a long time! You can find this gem at your local Ulta location or on their website.

If you only get one of these last two products from Bliss, GO FOR THE BLISS “THAT’S INCREDI-PEEL.” The peel is actually a box of 15 spa-strength glycolic acid treatments. This is by far the best skin care product I have ever bought for myself! All you do is remove the pad from it’s package and rub it thoroughly on your face. This has literally managed to remove major breakouts for me OVERNIGHT! Photographed with it, we have the Bliss “ex-glow-sion” lotion. I’ll be honest, I’m not a fan of the scent, however, I love the actual lotion! As someone with dragon scale dry skin, this lotion is fantastic for moisturizing my skin! It really helps to keep my makeup from looking “cakey” throughout the day. You can purchase both of these at your local Target or on their website.

Let me know if you try any of these for yourself, and as always, stay beautiful!

xoxo, Britt

Thick Girl Approved

Peep my jeans from today’s highlighted brand

This is a new series that I’ve decided to start here on my site. It’s no secret that I’m a thick girl. My weight has fluctuated to basically every size over the years. I’ve been everywhere from a size 2-16. I’m currently in the process of losing weight, but nonetheless, I remain a thick girl. Through my journey as a fashion lover, I’ve accumulated a great list of brands that cater to us curvier women. So today, I’m going to share the first brand.

Wild Fable

By far my favorite brand at Target!

Wild Fable caters to a nice range of women in terms of body type. They have all items available from an XS-2XL as well as jeans ranging from 00-18. There are a nice amount of brands who now cater to thicker women, however, Wild Fable takes the cake for making ALL ITEMS available in ALL SIZES.

Most brands will offer some styles in the upper sizes, but Wild Fable allows a girl who is a 2XL to pick any item from the brand that she likes. And the best part in my opinion? It’s actually true to size fitting, JEANS INCLUDED. If you are a true thick girl, you know how hard that is to find. I’ve found true to size fit consistently with this brand across tops, bottoms, dresses, etc.

I currently have a solid percentage of my wardrobe made up of Wild Fable pieces. So, with that being said, here’s what I would pick up right now.

My top picks right now:

Pink velvet dress is $14 and perfect for holidays coming up!
I own this crop top in numerous colors and it’s only $5 girl
Black jeans are a staple piece in every fall wardrobe and these ones are only $20
This winter tie-dye puffer jacket is only $30 and a great piece for some Insta posts

Hopefully you all enjoyed this because I had to hold myself back from doing some damage to my bank account. I will be continuing this on my site as a series so make sure to watch for it in the future! Until next time, xoxo

How to Catfish like a Pro using FaceTune

I’ll be the first girl to admit it, I use FaceTune to edit my pictures. If you tell me you don’t use it, you are either 1.) lying, or 2.) playing the game wrong. I by no means am a FaceTune pro, however, I have managed to get down the basics. So can this one app really make much of a difference? Decide for yourself:

The before
The edited

Which image do you think looks better? The first which is the original? Or the second which was edited with FaceTune? Now, I’m not saying that we’re not all naturally beautiful, but that doesn’t mean that a few changes can’t make you feel better for yourself. I personally will FaceTune my photos for fun sometimes without ever even posting them. Remember that sometimes you have to be FEELIN YOURSELF!

So where to start? Smoothing!

I personally always start with the smoothing tool located on the bottom row. Once you click on that, it will let you begin dragging it over the image to smooth/blur an area. I personally love this feature for the skin on my face (because let’s be real, it’s just never smooth). If you have advanced options unlocked, you can go in with some Glow (highlight) or Matte (to reduce shine) in this section as well.

Face Shaping

The next feature that I use (although not always) is the face shaping section which is the first option on the bottom row of the app. This feature auto detects your face so you can change things like your jaw shape (to be more chiseled) or your eyebrow arch even! Sometimes I can’t get the best angle of my face in a photo when it’s not the main focus, so this tool comes in handy to remove the roundness of my chin.

Reshaping

The next step is the Reshaping tool. This is the third tool on the bottom tool bar. BE VERY AWARE OF THE ITEMS BEHIND YOU IN THE PHOTO. Depending on the background, you may not be able to really utilize this tool. If you want to use this tool, try choosing a blank wall or canvas behind you so that nothing in the background will appear distorted! I personally will use this tool when I take a picture without a bra on. We all want to look like we have those perfect and naturally perky tits, but most of us just aren’t that blessed. I will use this tool to raise my chest up a bit to look like my boobs sit higher or are a bit more rounded in shape. You can also apply this same concept to make your butt look more curved in a photo where it can be seen as well, although Tana Mongeau is probably more of the expert on that than I am.

Tones

Tones is also not really a tool for beginners. Use this tool once you feel more comfortable editing photos in the app. My favorite thing to use tones for is actually to ADD MAKEUP. That’s crazy, I know, but hear me out on this. You could take a picture with no eyeshadow, eyeliner, or lipstick on, and STILL make it look like you were wearing makeup using the tones section. Choose the color that you want and begin to (while very zoomed in) add the color to the area that you want. I usually add colors onto the lids as a shadow and the lips as a lipstick. The trick is to turn down the intensity of these tones and they will look more natural instead of drawn on. Here’s a look at what I mean:

Detailing

Finally, I end with the Details tool. This tool, in my opinion, is best used for accenting your eyes and your eye makeup. If you put a lot of work into your eyeshadow look, use the Details to brush over it and make it pop more in the photo! I do this with my actual eye as well to make the blue stand out a bit more in photos. You can even use this tool to accent a piece of jewelry or a logo on a clothing item that you want to stand out and be seen (such as the “C” logo on a Champion sweatshirt).

Final Results?

Start with this…

And end up with this….

I don’t use my FaceTune app to do anything drastic to my photos, but it does help to make me look a bit more naturally gorgeous. I also use the VSCO app for all filters used on my photos after a good “FaceTuning.” If you don’t roll out of bed a 10 every morning, consider downloading FaceTune.

If this helps be sure to let me know and make sure to check out my YouTube channel DetoxandTeaTalks for more!

https://www.youtube.com/user/britbit101