I know it sounds a little dramatic to say that I'm getting old when I only just turned 27. But as I watched the MTV Video Music Awards last night–all for Britney, all for Britney–it hit me like a freight train. This stuff isn't being marketed to me anymore. I didn't know who any of the hosts were–or if they were event hosts! Like, what happened to the days when we had a big name come out and roast the celebrities or an entertaining parody intro? Don't get me wrong, Rihanna was great, but I definitely wasn't wowed.

And, really, who were half of those performers?

It got me thinking, there are other signs of my imminent death everywhere I look. There are already technologies I don't understand! What does on fleek really mean? When people younger than me hear me say bae ironically, do they laugh and think I'm an old fogie who just killed the trend?

I was seriously offended by it all for a little bit. I mean, who is MTV to forget about the millennials, the last generation that can remember them actually playing music videos? But then, somewhere between Beyonce and Britney, I realized that it didn't matter. I haven't watched MTV for years, even when they were marketing towards my demographic. I haven't watched MTV since TRL and that crazy ass VJ who wore rags and never brushed his hair. And I'm actually kind of okay with being old and uncool–or, even better, old and somewhat slightly cool? Yeah, probably not.

Because the great part about getting older is that you stop caring so much about what other people think. You start to live for yourself and not others. You focus more on what you can do and not what people think you should do. And you finally get to be one of those old people who doesn't understand today's youth... But, hopefully, doesn't write 1200-word think pieces on how they are ruining everything.

I'm just going to back to listening to the new Britney album now, because it's amazing and I sort of miss the 90s and early 2000s.

Do you remember the video of a journalist supposedly having a stroke on air that went viral in 2011? It was frightening to watch Serene Branson begin to slur her words and struggle to form a coherent sentence. What was even more shocking was that she wasn't having a stroke at all. In fact, a few days after the incident, news outlets were reporting that it was just a migraine and the story faded from the headlines.

But is a migraine ever just a migraine? I thought so, until I started experiencing them for myself.

I began experiencing migraines in 2009, around the time I turned twenty. Before that, I had been under the false assumption that migraines were just really bad headaches. I didn't realize that the effects of a migraine went beyond the pain: slurred speech, trouble forming sentences, vision problems and vomiting were among the other effects I was dealing with. I would take aspirin to combat the pain, but eventually I was taking so much pain medicine that it was upsetting the lining of my stomach. I was burping up foam, y'all. Not good. The physical toll it took on me was so bad that I didn't think something as simple as a migraine could be causing it... But that is what I was experiencing.

Migraines are bad enough when you only experience them every once in a while, but I was suffering from migraines more often than not. I often found myself in too much pain to go to class, and my grades were reflecting that. I was cancelling plans with friends because I would wake up with a migraine that would last for days. Eventually friends stopped making plans with me – I would just bail later. It was a cycle of pain and depression that, along with other extenuating circumstances, caused me to take a year off from college.

During that year, my health took center stage. My family has a history of migraines, so I started talking to them about their experiences. My grandma talked about how the pain of the migraines made her temperature rise – another side effect I was experiencing – so much so that she would lie on the cold hardwood floor to cool off. I also learned that these hereditary migraines seem to start during our early adult years, as mine had, and fade the closer we get to 30.

With this information, I went to the doctor. I was diagnosed with Chronic Migraine, which meant that I was experiencing migraines more than 15 days a month. I was given a daily prescription for Topamax, a nerve pain medication that is used for treating migraines, and another prescription for a pill that I could only take when I was experiencing a particularly bad headache. My doctor warned me that Topamax wasn't always effective; it was only a first step. But I was incredibly lucky: within two months, I had gone from nearly 20 migraine days a month down to two.

I finally felt like I had my life back. I went back to college and made great grades, got a new job and started making new friends. I would still have a migraine every once in a while, but now I could take aspirin for it without upsetting my stomach. I learned what my triggers were – the smell of diesel and musky perfume, as well as loud, rattling bass – and avoided them when I could. I held my breath behind many a truck and school bus.

Last summer, I weaned myself off of my medication. There were many reasons for it, but I was afraid that the migraines would come back with a vengeance. They didn't. I am incredibly lucky that my migraines do seem to have faded as I've gotten older. I still experience them a few times a month – it is what inspired me to write this blog post – but I've learned how to soldier through when I can and when to stop and take care of the problem.

I wanted to write about my experience because it's something I don't see discussed often. So many illnesses are visible in one way or another, which causes society to forget about or ignore the illnesses they can't see. It makes it easy for those suffering from an invisible illness to ignore theirs, or feel as though it isn't important. But it is important and you need to take care of yourself. If you are experiencing symptoms of an invisible illness, talk to someone close to you or make an appointment with a doctor. You deserve to live the best life you can.
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Is it hot where you are? It's been pretty warm here all summer, with temperatures staying in the 90º range since mid-July. And the West Virginia humidity has always been the stuff of nightmares. Just walking outside for a minute can make a person start to sweat, and don't even get me started on my outdoor workouts.

One good thing has come out of this uncomfortable weather: I have perfected my sweat-proof makeup routine. And I didn't even do it on purpose. I'm pretty insecure about my skin–rosacea and acne will do that to you–and I always wear face makeup when I work out. I'm also an avid Snapchatter and selfie-taker, so of course I take the occasional snapshot of myself post-workout.

Last month, after a particularly grueling workout in 93º weather, I took a couple of pictures and realized my makeup had not budged. Not a bit. Underneath my makeup, I was sure I looked like a human tomato, but no one would have been able to tell that. My mom, who was my workout partner that day, even noticed. I was amazed.

So I'm sharing my routine with you.

I start out by applying the elf Face Primer with my fingers, patting it into place where my pores are particularly noticeable. Then I take one pump of the Too Faced Born This Way foundation and apply it with a Real Techniques buffing brush, pressing the product onto areas that need a bit more coverage. If I need a little extra coverage, like when my acne is flaring up, I will use another half of a pump on the areas that need it. I finish with MAC Studio Fix powder foundation, using a fluffy brush to press the powder on.

When I'm going somewhere after my workout, I will add some contour using the Kat Von D Shade & Light palette and line my eyes with the Flower Forever Wear eyeliner. Sometimes I will use MAC Fix+ to set the look, but it does just as well without it.

You want proof? Take a look.


This picture was taken at 1:29 PM on a 90º day. I had applied my makeup that morning at 7 AM. That is six and a half hours of wear during which I worked out, went shopping, and worked out again.

I also have a cheaper version of this look that I will be talking about soon, so stay tuned.

How do you make your makeup last all day in the heat? Let me know in the comments!

If you've been following this blog for a while, you probably know a little bit about my skincare journey. For any new readers, here is a quick rundown on the history of my skin:

I had acne once when I was in high school and cleared it up pretty quickly with ProActive. Beyond that, I never had any problems with my skin (aside from my hereditary rosacea), despite not taking very good care of it. When I went on birth control as a teenager, my skin dried out horribly. And now that I've moved away from hormonal birth control, my skin has gone crazy, leaving me with oily skin and the worst acne of my life.

Since last October, I have been trying anything and everything to keep my skin clear. Literally nothing was working and I was starting to think I would just have to deal with bad skin for the rest of my life. Dramatic, I know. At the same time, I was making a move towards minimalism: eating simple, clean foods and being careful about what I put in and on my body. So when I spotted S.W. Basics on the shelves of my local Target, I was thrilled.

S.W. Basics is a Brooklyn-based skincare company that lives by the motto less is more. They believe that "using fewer ingredients means more potent skincare." I would have to agree. I bought the cleanser and toner from this line a few months ago and, when I take the time to use it regularly, I see a massive improvement in my skin.

The cleanser has only three ingredients: organic rosewater, organic vegetable glycerin, and organic tea tree oil. I use it after I remove all of my makeup by putting some onto a cotton pad and rubbing it in circular motions on my face. It gets rid of any traces of makeup left behind and leaves my skin feeling clean, but not dry or stiff. You know the feeling I'm talking about.

I rinse the cleanser off and do the same thing with the toner, which has five ingredients: water, organic raw apple cider vinegar, organize witch hazel, and organic essential oils of clary sage and sandalwood. This product might scare some people; it has a slightly browny-yellow color from the apple cider vinegar, as well as a film that is from the 'mother' part of the vinegar (the most useful part) and a slight odor. But it honestly feels amazing on the skin and you get used to the smell.

In the few months I have been using this-- again, when I remember to use it regularly-- it has diminished my hormonal, cystic acne, faded old acne scars, and even lessened the appearance of my rosacea. I even notice a little bit of a glow to my skin when I use these products, plus I feel better knowing exactly what I am putting on my skin. These two products are $22 dollars each. It sounds a little pricey, but they do last a while and they come in reusable glass bottles. When I have finally finished using up the product, I plan on using them as little vases on my desk.

If you're interested in learning more about these products or S.W. Basics, visit their website here. And, by the way, this was not a sponsored post... But if they see this post and like it, I wouldn't mind a coupon or something. I got student loans to pay, y'all.

No, there isn't an actual video in this post, no matter what the episode moniker made you assume. There isn't even a quirky podcast. Just text and images, as usual. See, I used to do a post every Sunday where I would talk about what was going on in my life, share some thoughts and maybe link you to a few blog posts or articles that had caught my eye during the week.

The problem with that is... My life is quite boring. It's a delicate balance between work and creative pursuits with some old fashioned household chores thrown in. Sometimes I don't even know how to talk about the exciting stuff that happens, like that crush I had a while back or the lunch I had with my best friend from high school. And, more than that, I don't want to resign myself to some weekly blog post that may or may not be interesting. Because if it isn't interesting, what is the point?

So, as I'll be doing with a lot of things on this blog in the next six months, we're changing things up. Every so often, I'll pop up with a random Afternoon Tea post. Just whenever I get the inspiration to write or talk about something or lay out what has been going on in my life. And, of course, I'll throw in some blog posts or things I'm lusting after, too. But it will mainly be a space to just talk, to let things out and connect with whoever might come across my blog that day. And I'll be talking about anything and everything.

Like, for instance, my recent obsession with what I will call poetic music. (Initially, I was going to call it whiney music because all of these songs have made me feel like crying at one point.) For the first decade of my life, I was mostly into the pop songs I heard on the radio--I basically wanted to become Posh Spice. And for most of my teens it was all about pop-punk and emo; My Chemical Romance and Panic! at the Disco are still on rotation in my life.

In my mid-teens, though, this little show called The O.C. came out. As did a movie called Closer. And both featured some amazing music, like Jeff Buckley and Damien Rice. And so, behind closed doors, I was listening to these slow, soulful songs that you could just feel the artistry behind. It was like these songs were seeping into my veins somehow, inspiring me to explore who I really was. And more artists got added to the list as the years went on, such as Lou Reed and Leonard Cohen.

These are songs I turn to when I need a little bit of guidance, even now. Especially now. And I'm going to share my playlist with you, so that you can maybe discover some new music or get re-inspired. And I would love it if you would share some of your favorite songs with me: songs that get you pumped, that make you cry, that give you the courage to do something you've never done before.

'Til next time. :)

Not all makeup brands are created equal. And I'm not just talking about the quality of their products.

Recently I watched Amanda Faye's updated makeup routine video, where she talked about making the transition to cruelty-free beauty items. I'm currently trying to be more conscious about what I consume, both internally and externally, and her video made me realize that I have no idea what goes into the making of the products I use. It has inspired me to slowly transition my own beauty routine to be more animal-friendly, as well, and it's really not as difficult as you might think!

My first step was going through the beauty products I use on a daily basis. I use a mixture of drugstore and high-end products and I found that most of my high-end makeup was cruelty-free... I wasn't so lucky with my drugstore favorites, however. Rimmel, whose eyeliners and mascaras are always in my favorites posts, unfortunately had to go. So does my Maybelline Brow Drama kit but, full disclosure, I am using these products until they run out so that I am not being wasteful.

Luckily, my must haves such as the Too Faced Born This Way foundation and Urban Decay Naked concealer get to stay in my routine, as do my Real Techniques and ELF brushes. But my favorite powders, both by MAC, will eventually have to go.

While it would seem that the easiest way to go cruelty-free would be to buy high-end, it's not foolproof. According to CrueltyFreeKitty.com, brands such as Benefit, Bobbi Brown and Make Up For Ever do test on animals. And, surprisingly, there are a number of drugstore brands that do not test on animals, such as Milani, ELF and Wet N Wild. Some brands are cruelty-free such but are owned by companies who are not, such as NYX. This is where doing your research and using your own judgement are important.

Sometimes, though, we're ready to start making the switch but don't have time to do a lot of hardcore research. That's why I created this little cheat sheet for you, with some of my favorite cruelty-free brands from high-end to drugstore.

What are Soul Goals?

I sit down at the beginning of each month-- or, at least, I try to-- and write out three goals that I have for the month ahead that I think will enrich my life and make me a better, happier person. Interested in coming up with your own Soul Goals? They can be simple or crazy ambitious goals. The important part is assessing what needs to change in your own life and figuring out what direction you want to go in. We're just taking it month by month, day by day, minute by minute here.

My Previous Soul Goals Recap

My previous Soul Goals post was in June and it is safe to say I failed hard. My first goal was to journal daily, and while I did journal more than before, it wasn't daily and it certainly didn't become a part of my routine like I had hoped. My second goal was to keep up with my blog... And we see how that went, right? My third goal was to go out more, all by myself. This one wasn't a complete failure and, while I still get anxious going places solo, I'm working through it.

I'll say I accomplished one-and-a-half of my goals. It could have been worse.

My Soul Goals for August

August is my birthday month-- my version of the New Year-- which means I have to get started on the right foot. How will I do that? With these goals, hopefully.

1. (Re)Settle into an early morning routine. For most of spring, I had found the perfect morning routine for myself. I would wake up and have a glass of lemon water, go for a walk, do some yoga followed by a short meditation session, and then have another cup of water mixed with apple cider vinegar (which, by the way, isn't quite as disgusting as it sounds). I was happier and more productive and just felt better. But things got busy and I dropped the ball. Unbelievable, right? So I definitely want to get back into the routine and maybe add a few things to it, such as journaling.

2. Start working on my first novel. Joining a writing group in July has reignited my passion for writing. I've wanted to be a writer for nearly as long as I can remember, even since I read Resume by the late, great Dorothy Parker. I started off sort of slow, with creative nonfiction essays and poetry, but now I'm ready to get started on something bigger. I've had an idea floating in my head for a while, and I've started writing character profiles and a general outline of the story. Now it's time to get down to business and start writing.

3. Start a bullet journal. For the past four months-- or maybe even longer-- I have been running around like a chicken with it's head cut off. I usually use a planner (we have an on-and-off-again relationship) but I need something a little more... Me. I like to make lists, jot down ideas, make brain maps; there just isn't enough space in a traditional planner to do that. I have been witness to the rise of bullet journals this year and I think it's finally time that I give one a try.

This is all totally doable stuff. There is really no way I can fail with these three goals, because anything is an improvement over nothing.

Tell me what you hope to accomplish this month in the comments!