VIDEO: Project Pan Update - Half Way

Hi Everyone!

I've been working on a Project Pan with 5 items, with a view to have used them up by the end of 2014. As I've come to my 1/2 way point, I thought I'd share my progress with you all!

Have you ever done a project pan? If you have, do you have any tips for success?

Would you do a project pan or similar?

Tania Xx

What I'm Thankful For - October 2014

Hi Everyone!

So I thought I’d start a couple of series on my blog focussing on things I’m thankful for & proud of. Today we’ll be rounding off October with one thing I’m thankful for from this month - my GP.

I hear of so many people with chronic pain conditions who come up against medical professionals that think/accuse them of ‘drug-seeking’. They do this without comprehending or appreciating just how much chronic pain can affect someone’s life. This type of pain can be crippling, stopping people from working, socialising & doing even the simplest of tasks.

People who are in chronic pain of this magnitude, may also at times be unfairly accused by those around them of being lazy. I am lucky to have never been in this situation. I have been sat in front of a Dr that has told me he doesn’t think opioids are the way to manage chronic pain. He bases this opinion on his work with addiction in the homeless. These two issues are not, in my opinion, comparable. He was also the Dr that told me I shouldn’t be on the FODMAP diet for my IBS & that my reaction to dairy isn’t allergy, because previously I haven’t had a reaction to dairy. You can become allergic to anything at any point. As you can probably imagine, I changed GPs after the appointment that the conversation I’ve just touched upon took place!

So onto the point of this post - my GP. I went to see my GP today (Tuesday), having injured my shoulder at my pole fitness class. I had been to the surgery the day after I’d hurt my shoulder & seen one of the Drs just to get checked out. Since this time my shoulder has impacted on a number of my other joints, mainly my wrists & fingers, hips, left ankle & right side of my jaw. My right side also began to hurt when I breathed while trying to sleep. It all came to a head last night when I woke up as a result of my pain 4 times & struggled to get back to sleep each time.

My GP checked my shoulder for more permanent damage, which we are both happy that there is not. I explained about my poor sleep & concern that this will ultimately impact my chronic migraine. My GP is great as she works with me. I didn’t have to ask for pain relief, the GP asked me what I was taking with regard to pain medication & looked at the options available to us. I am allergic to opioids, so even the medications that are on the lower end of this scale, such as Codine are a no-go for me. Working together, we decided to up the amount of Amatryptaline I am taking as a short term measure to aid my sleep. The GP also gave me some exercises to do to strengthen my shoulder & wrote me a ‘fit-note’, extending my previous one to allow me to work with ‘workplace adaptations’. The ‘fit-note’ states that I should have access to a chair to sit as needed, for a further two-month period.

To have access to this kind of support & understanding, despite not yet having a diagnosis, is extremely reassuring & I am very grateful for the support I receive from my GP.

What are you grateful for this month?

Tania Xx


You can check out my most recent health post 'Getting The Most Out Of Your Appointment - Preparation' on Tania Talks Health.

Getting The Most From Your Appointment - Preparation

Hi Everyone!

SO this coming Monday I've FINALLY got my second opinion rheumatology appointment. During my initial appointment I didn't remember a lot of the answers to questions I was being asked. I also didn't have some of the related diagnosis I now have - IBS springs to mind. I also gave some incorrect answers to questions as I was asked as I was seen during a 'good' period & had forgotten things like the difficulties I have sleeping when I'm in a lot of pain.

I really want to make sure I get the most out of this appointment, so I've compiled some notes, in bullet point form, to take with me in order to jog my memory! I thought it might be helpful for some of you to see how I've organised my notes.

I've compiled these from my symptoms, but also researched about Hypermobility/Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome to make sure I haven't overlooked any symptoms I experience like I did in my original appointment. When you've a lot of symptoms going on at once, it's tough to remember them all! This list has been compiled over a number of months - I could never just sit down & write it all in one go!

Rheumatology Appointment

History

• Family history -  Sister diagnosed with EDS, Reynards & Scoliosis. Whole of Father’s side of the family symptomatic
• Growing pains & high energy levels as a child
• Migraine
• Allergies, including Asthma, Eczema & Hayfever
• PMS
• PTSD
• Lichen Sclerosis

Joints

• Chronic joint pain (widespread & localised)
• Hip & jaw subluxation
• TMJ dysfunction
• Insides catching on rib
• Clicky joints & stiffness
• Shoulder ‘injury’ & subsequent sprain(?) of one of the trapezius muscles, though possibly a sublaxation

Digestive

• IBS, including bloating
• Toilet issues – a change in sensation, not feeling normal ‘need to poo’ but experiencing pain & tingling of my bottom. When doing a wee, experiencing a feeling of not being connected to my body & the sensation of urination

Skin & Sensation

• Bruise easily
• Low platelet count
• Pins & needles & numbness
• Cold extremities
• Feeling of cold rushing down the inside of my lower legs on standing

Stamina

• Fatigue
• Paralysis of face (& body) during some periods of fatigue
• Difficulty sleeping
• Clumsy, difficulties with proprioception & coordination
• Poor core stability
• Brain fog
• Concentration difficulties
• Dizziness
• Quick & emphasised heart beat
• Sudden intense sweating

I'm going to take this list, along with my repeat prescription. I find this helps medical professionals as they can see spellings of drug names & doses.

I really hope this was helpful! Have you any tips for preparing for  medical appointment?

Tania Xx

Urban Decay Ltd Palette - Review

Hi Everyone!

I picked up the Urban Decay Ltd. Palette from Selfridges (an exclusive to Selfridges & Sephora) & wanted to show it to you, with swatches & info on the colours.

The palette comes with 20 eyeshadows, 18 of which Urban Decay say are exclusives with 5 of these being new & 2 bestsellers. I have included pictures of the individual eyeshadows a row at a time followed by their swatches. I have also included information, where known, as to which palettes shades have previously featured in.

The main casing of the palette is a yellow toned lime colour. It's not as green as this picture shows it to be, nor as bright. I'd seen some YouTube videos of it in hauls & didn't like the packaging because of the colour, but in person it's much nicer than it looks on film! I really like the jewelled 'UD' that has featured on each of the Vice palettes so far, as well as the 15th Anniversary palette.

Here is the layout of the palette. I have to say, this is by far my favourite of the Vice palettes. I wasn't originally going to purchase this palette, but the mix of light pastel shades, along with the more natural colours convinced me when I saw it!

So now to the shades - I've included close up pictures of the shades in each of the four rows, followed by their swatches. Where duplicates have existed, I've tried my best to state which palettes the colours have previously been seen in.

Backdoor is found in the Smoked palette 

L-R: Nameless, Backdoor, Deeper, Disco & Heat

Crystal is found in the Book of Shadows IV palette

Goddess is found in the Book of Shadows I palette

Perversion is found in the Book of Shadows I, II & III palettes

L-R: Crystal, Goddess, Vaporize, Floss & Perversion

Provocateur is found in the original Vice palette 

Junkshow is found in the 15th Anniversary palette 

Blitz is found in the original Vice palette

L-R: Provocateur, Hoodoo, Freakshow, Junkshow & Blitz

Chase is permanent & is found in the 15th Anniversary palette

Anonymous is found in the original Vice palette 

Laced is found in the permanent line & original Vice palette

L-R: Chase, Last Sin, Roadstrip, Anonymous & Laced

I am really pleased with this palette. As with all Urban Decay eyeshadows, the quality is fantastic! There were two shadows that gave me just a little fall out when swatching, with Disco being the only one that showed up when photographed! I like the range of shades that are included & think it has something to offer everyone - there are enough colours for the more extravagant to create looks with, but not too many that those liking a more natural eye look would be scared of.

You can check out my first eye look using this palette in my Makeup Roulette TAG here.

Will you be picking up this palette?

Which are your favourite shades?

Tania Xx

VIDEO: The Makeup Roulette TAG

Hi Everyone!

I really enjoyed filming this video for you all, so I really hope you enjoy it!

This was such a fun TAG to film - thank you to Lucy from Dinosaur Dances for creating this excellent TAG & Beth from Beauty In Beta for TAGging me!

I've TAGged 5 people as you will see in the video, but if want to do this & share on either YouTube or Instagram, please do & let me know so I can have a look at what you've created!

Tania Xx

How Will I Be Celebrating Halloween?

Hi Everyone!

So for today’s post I thought I’d do something a little different & tell you why I won’t be celebrating Halloween this year or any other. This is not meant to be a post preaching my beliefs & I would never want to tell anyone what they should or shouldn’t do. I just thought that, with all the Halloween tutorials & DIY posts & YouTube videos, it might be interesting to share a different side to this festival with you all.

I’ve been brought up without Halloween traditions. My Mum felt Halloween in very bad taste. She was also against knocking on people’s doors to ask for sweets & always maintained that knocking on strangers’ doors Trick-or-Treating was a dangerous thing for children to do un-supervised. Mum felt concern for the elderly people who could be easily frightened in their own homes by the threat of ‘pranks’. I don’t know whether in the back of her mind Mum was also concerned that my sister or I would be given something we were allergic to & then be upset because we couldn’t eat them! Mum has never been one for commercialisation & believes Halloween has become a product of this.

I am a Christian, another reason I have not experienced Halloween traditions. Mum encouraged our awareness of All Souls Day, two days after Halloween, a day in the Christian calendar aimed at the remembrance of those that have died. My local place of worship also discourages the celebration of Halloween, hosting a celebration on All Souls Day for the young people of the parish to come dress up in themed costumes (white cats & angels – that type of thing!), play games & eat party food & light candles.

I’ve been doing some research though, & it would appear (at least from Wikipedia) that Halloween is thought by some scholars to be a Christianized festival, possibly with Pagn origin!

The only Halloween party I’ve ever experienced, was a Brownie meeting. We dressed up – my sister & I were witches, with costumes made by our Mum. We bobbed for apples, which was fun & there were party games & food.

I don’t feel I’ve missed out by not having celebrated Halloween. While I wouldn’t actively look to go to a Halloween party, if I were invited to one I wouldn’t dismiss it outright. I’ve seen some amazing ‘Halloween’ tutorials, including Elsa from Frozen & if I were to dress up for a Halloween event, it would be as something that isn’t directly linked to Halloween.

How will you be celebrating Halloween?

Tania Xx