Food Allergies and Fabulousness.

  1. Sleep Well On average, adult women need between seven and nine hours of sleep each night. Establish a calming nighttime routine to help wind down. Try the following: Meditate Take a warm bath Read a book 2. Get Screened  Stay up to date on screenings:   Pap smears Mammograms Bone density screening Cholesterol check Blood pressure screening Colon cancer screening 3. Eat More Fruits and Veggies Only one in 10 adults get enough fruits and vegetables in their diet.  Aim for 1.5–2 cups of fruit and 2–3 cups of vegetables each day. Consider smoothies as an easy way to get your fruits and veggies in every day! 4. Get Active Incorporate at least 30 minutes of exercise into your daily routine. If you’re struggling, make it simple: Take the stairs instead of the elevator at work. Take the dog for a walk around your neighborhood. Do a quick home workout between commercials on TV. 5. Stay Connected Staying connected to friends and family can help you: Sharpen your memory an...

 Just a quick update today... Woke up this morning to a surprise bonus from my company. A hefty bonus too. My good vibes and happy thoughts are attracking good things. Got to help cut a giant mole out of an armpit at work today. It was messy, and gross. I loved every second of it. Life is good. 

My therapist says I can’t keep using dark humor as a coping mechanism and I have to work through my issues. **insert eye roll here** This week in therapy, I’m exploring the root cause of my abandonment issues. Apparently, normal people are needy and insecure. I don’t think normal people have been through the amount of trauma I have. Domestic abuse, divorce, death of a parent, death of a sibling, working in healthcare through a pandemic, chronic illness, eating disorders…the list just keeps going. I guess I should start unpacking all this… Divorce. Honestly, I am finally past this part of my life. I truly forgive him for everything and I finally feel like we’re at a good place. We get along. We’re able to coparent together. We’re on the same page when it comes to Odin. I get along with his wife and kids. I actually credit his middle child for healing our situation. The kid loves me. And I love him. I love both of their kids. But that middle one brought us all together, and I am so thank...

 So a few weeks ago, I saw this ad on Facebook for a boudoir photo shoot. This company out of Virginia Beach was giving away a session worth $650. I decided to step out of my comfort zone and enter the contest. Had to fill out a short survey and write a few paragraphs stating why I wanted to win. I just heard the news…I WON!! I’ll get a photo shoot with styling, hair, makeup, and a posing coach. I never win anything!!! I have a phone meeting set up next week, we’ll start planning my dream photo shoot. This is something I’ve always wanted to do, but never felt comfortable enough in my own skin to do it. Stepping out of my comfort zone these past few weeks has really paid off. I’m starting to feel like a whole new woman, and it’s amazing. 

 Life is weird. One day you think you need to drink hallucinogenic tea in the jungle with Amazonian shamans, then next think you know you’re suddenly getting your soul sucked out of your body in a random place with someone you met 5 days ago and the world suddenly looks different. It caused me to have a revelation. I was never the problem. My needs just weren’t being met. In any way, shape, or form. I am always the one to give and give and give. My happiness always comes second. It shouldn’t be that way. I believe God puts people in our paths as we need them, to help us navigate our journeys and teach us things. I feel so much different than I did a week ago. It’s amazing to have someone telling you to stop trying to be so perfect. Someone who encourages spontaneity and dance parties. Someone who shows up at my job with food and a diet Dr Pepper, just because they wanted to see me for five minutes and make me smile. I’m excited to see what the future brings. I’m not going to overth...

 With my 40th birthday rapidly approaching, I've talked about doing something epic. I wanted to do something beneficial, something I wouldn't normally do. I've been kicking around the idea of drinks and thongs on a beach. I hear St. Thomas is beautiful when it's cold here. I haven't ruled that out yet, but today I remembered a retreat in Costa Rica. A seven night stay that includes a luxury resort, yoga, a massage, and four glorious ayahuasca ceremonies.  For those who don't know, ayahuasca (which translates to "vine of the soul") is an Amazonian, plant-based psychedelic drug. It is usually brewed into a tea for drinking. It is used by many as a tool for psychological healing, personal growth, or exanding consciousness. Ayahuasca exposes the gap between who you think you are and who you actually are. Many people report feeling as if they purge something dark they've been carrying around for years. As someone who who suffers from mental health issue...

 This article has been sent to me so many times, and it thrills me every single time I receive it. My friends are the greatest. They constantly remind me that I am a bad bitch. They have offered to slash tires and burn down buildings for me. I've been through some hard times...abuse, divorce, death, working through a pandemic, being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, multiple surgeries, anxiety, depression, PTSD, heartbreak...but my friends have been there to pick me up every single time. Even when I push them away. Words cannot express how thankful I am for those who have not given up on me. I have been shown grace by so many people, and I didn't deserve any of it. I have been hateful, rude, petty, jealous, dishonest, selfish, arrogant, annoying, obnoxious, vain, impatient, lazy...you name it, I've been it...and my people still love me and stick beside me. No matter what.  Thank you all for constantly reminding me who I really am. 💗 41 Signs You’re A Sasshole A sasshol...

 I have a deep, dark secret. No one knows about it, and I am extremely embarrassed by it. I know my life isn’t going to get better until I take care of this problem. I know it put a strain on my last relationship. It's put a strain on all of my relationships. It's taken over my life. I know I am the only one who can fix this problem, but I don't know how to go about it. My therapist doesn't even know about it. I know my life will be so much better once I've taken care of this issue. I am struggling and no one knows it.  This is the first time I've ever even made it known that I have a problem. I know this is the only thing holding me back in life. I am hoping putting this out into the universe will help me figure it out, fix it, and heal. 

 After a great week, a fun filled weekend, lots of positive thoughts, and working so hard to better myself...I have hit a slump. It might have been caused by Father's Day. It might have been caused by feelings of lonliness. Or maybe it's caused by grieving the relationship I thought I had. I've been so strong, haven't cried, felt really good about myself. But to be honest, I am hurt. I thought I finally had the relationship I wanted. I was happy. I thought there could've been a future. I was never looking for marriage or a big commitment. I just wanted to not have to worry about whether someone truly wanted me or not. Then to have someone say it was all lies and basically leading me on, really sucks. I don't miss him, I miss who I thought he was. He was my best friend. I told him everything about me; the good, the bad, and the ugly. It's hard to grieve something you know wasn't real. I don't know why he led me on. We made plans for months a head of t...

 I owe myself a vacation do over. I think I’m going to take myself back to Gatlinburg for a long weekend away. Exchange the bad memories with good ones. Go back and do all the things I didn’t get to do last time. Ride the big Ferris wheel. Walk around the cute little shops. Ride the ski lift to the top of the mountain. Go to all the museums. Go see the goats. Or maybe I’d just relax. Lay by the pool all weekend, drinking Claws. I deserve better than what I got there last time. Last time was a nightmare. I had second guessed going, started to back out, but went anyway. Should’ve listened to my gut. I love Tennessee. I don’t want one terrible weekend, with someone who clearly didn’t care about me, to ruin such a beautiful place for me. He isn’t worth it. I feel stupid for ever letting him upset me. So I think I will take myself back down there, stay in the same place, and make a whole new set of memories. Happy ones this time. I owe this to myself. 

 I am doing good, I'm on some new shit. Been saying yes instead of no. Went on a lunch date. Went to a BBQ festival. Went out on a Friday night to have drink. Went to the gym. Closed the rings on my Apple watch everyday. Had therapy. Tried some new things. Had the best sleep of my life. Spent Father’s Day day drinking on a boat. It's been a great week. You know what's strange? I haven't cried over being dumped on vaction since it happened. I've actually laughed about it. Normally, I am a crier, as much as I don't want to admit it. But not a single tear has been shed in almost two weeks. I don't even feel sad. It's the weirdest thing. Normally, I wallow in my own self pity for as long as possible. Not this time. I've just felt so at peace. Maybe it's because I know whatever is supposed to happen in my life will happen. Stressing about it isn’t going to change anything. Or maybe it’s because every man I've ever went out with, in the last few ye...

Another riviting article from my therapist. Apparently he thinks I am in some kind of hurry, even thought I keep pushing the Jamie Glow Up Era and I am enjoying my alone time. But in all honesty, I wish I would've read this article sooner in life. I could've saved myself a lot of heartbreak...  15 Relationship Red Flags What is a red flag in a relationship? If you haven’t heard of this term before, we’re here to break it down.  So, what’s a red flag? According to Merriam-Webster, a red flag is:  ‍ [verb] to identify or draw attention to (a problem or issue to be dealt with) [noun] a warning signal or sign  In our own words, a red flag is the suggestion, or warning sign, of potentially dangerous behavior from someone.  ‍ Red flags often walk right up to the abusive behavior line and sometimes even dance all over it — and crossing the line can easily happen.  Red flags in dating aren’t always obvious. That’s why we’re here to break down early red flags in a r...

I got this from my therapist, and thought it would be a good thing to share. I'll reevaluate my answers every month or so. Posting it here with honest answers keeps me accountable, whether anyone reads it or not... To find yourself, lost and without purpose, wondering how you ended up where you are, is a scary thought. If you are not careful, not mindfully aware of where you are going, you could end up somewhere far from where you want to be. These are 10 helpful questions that we each ought to ask ourselves on a frequent basis. The power of self-reflection can serve to keep you in check, to keep you focused on self-improvement and ensure that you are as fulfilled as possible.  Through frequent self-reflection, we can make sure that we’re on the right path. Lack of self-reflection can cause us to seem lost or without a purpose. Time flies by and without consciously evaluating our circumstances, we can let so many aspects of our lives slip away: ou...

 Since I’m in this whole “I’m on some new shit” kind of phase, I popped a gummy and thought I’d try something else new. Online dating. I lasted about 45 minutes on there. Talk about overwhelming. First of all, you have to answer 800 questions about yourself. They want to know everything. Height. Weight. Religion. Blood type. If you’re left handed or right handed. What time you were born. All sorts of crazy stuff. Then they want you to write a witty paragraph about yourself to draw people in with your personality. Then you have to upload six very specific pictures of yourself. Trying to pick those out was a nightmare. They want you to post pictures of you smiling, close up shots, far always shots, shots with friends and family, shots with pets. I have like two friends (one of which is my sister) and my dog died. I don’t know what they want from me. Plus, I look homeless 78% of the time. I would be catfishing people if I uploaded my selfies. Then they suggest you post a full body pic...

 I have decided to cleanse my whole life. I am on this journey to make my life better and simpler. One small change can lead to another. I am ready to let go of things I no longer need, both physical items and emotional baggage. Here's what I am starting with: 10 condiments/spices I know longer use in my kitchen. - I know there are several things I've purchased for a recipe and only made once.  10 items of clothing that no longer fit or I never wear. - I am not going to wear those jeans that don't zip, those special occaison outfits I've only worn once, or that crop top I thought I needed when I felt skinny. No sense letting them take up space in my closet.  10 accessories/shoes I know longer wear. - No reason to hold on to earrings or wedges from 2008. I am never going to wear them again.  10 Facebook friends I don't know very well or don't speak to in real life. - I no longer have room in my life for people who don't add value to it.  10 books I've alr...

 Having food allergies tends to making snacking more difficult. You can’t just grab whatever savory snack you want, anytime you want. It takes a lot of reading good labels and researching. Ingredients you may allergic to could be called by a different name on a nutrition label. And not all allergies are listed at the bottom of an ingredients lists with the with “contains” in bold lettering. Here are a few things I’ve found that I really enjoy when I need something snacky:  Cotton Candy Grapes Hands down the most delicious thing I’ve ever eaten. All the cotton candy taste without all the cavities.  Gogo Squeez Comes in a ton of different flavors. Easy to travel with.  Kettle Cooked Jalapeño Chips Not too spicy, not too salty. Just delicious.  Gluten Free Oreos Tastes just like the real thing.  Good Thins Garden Veggie Crackers Strange texture, but amazing flavor. 

 In the past 24 hours, I have felt more like myself than I have in the last 4 years. It’s amazing how good it feels to get back in touch with yourself. I started with a new therapist, to get a male’s prospective. That’s going well. I’ve been physically active. Mentally active. Spiritually active. I’ve been dancing around my apartment again. I’ve made plans with friends. Odin and I are making a list of things we want to do one the weekends this summer. I’ve found new ways to relax my body and my mind. Had I not gotten my heart broken, my eyes never would’ve been opened. I don’t blame him for breaking up with me. I put him through a lot. I would’ve broken up with me long before that. I complained a lot. About everything. I was critical. I was mean. I was a shell of who I once was. I just wasn’t fun anymore. I wasn’t crying all the time, but I went to bed early. Never left the house. I wasn’t able to laugh at myself anymore. I stopped doing the things I loved. I had worked so hard on ...

It’s no secret that I’ve lost my sparkle in the past few years. Grief and loss are exhausting. To those who don’t know what that’s like, consider yourselves lucky. You literally turn into a shell of yourself. I was recently made to feel less than because I don’t go out. I used to go out all the time. I’d have drinks. I’d dance until 2 am. I’d socialize, talk to anyone. I’ve since lost that wild child who used to live inside of me. But I think it’s time to get her back, at least a little bit of her. I’m going to start putting myself back out there. Not in the romantic sense, but in the platonic sense. I need friends. I need fun. I need to surround myself with people who will spend my 40th birthday with me, on a beach, and hype me up while I drink pina coladas in a hot pink thong swimsuit.  Which was purchased today, along with a gym membership. 

 I have decided to decline the dinner invitation I recieved earlier in the week. Just doesn't seem right to go, even if it is for my favorite food at my favorite resturant. I'm not sure I'll ever be ready to date again. I've been single since September 2015. That's almost eight years of casual dating, with nothing to show for it. I'm exhausted. I don't want to do it anymore. I am tired of being lied to, let down, led on, put down, and ghosted. After my divorce, I never would've imagined I'd still be learning someone's favorite color or song. I will turn 40 in about six months. Forty and single. It's not as glamourous as Carrie Bradshaw made it out to be on Sex and the City. When is enough, enough? When do I throw in the towel and accept my fate as the old lady who will die alone and be eaten by her cats? Maybe God keeps me from anything serious because I have some more personal growth to do. I need to finish my degree, which I am making steps...

How it all started… I have been diagnosed with a disease called eosinophilic esophagitis.  EoE is a recognized chronic allergic/immune condition of the esophagus. With this disease, a large numbers of white blood cells called eosinophils are found in the inner lining of the esophagus. Eosinophils can release substances into surrounding tissues that cause inflammation. Normally there are no eosinophils in the esophagus. A person with EoE will have inflammation and increased numbers of eosinophils in the esophagus. The chronic inflammation of EoE leads to symptoms. In my case, the inflammation leads to narrowing of the esophagus, which leads to food impaction. I've currently had two surgeries to remove impacted food from my esophagus. After multiple scopes and biopsies, my doctors have determined my issues are caused by food allergies. Through blood and skin testing, we have discovered I am allergic to milk, wheat, fish/shellfish, nuts, carrots, and sweet potatoes. These foods not on...

​ Gaslighting- a form of psychological manipulation in which the abuser attempts to sow self-doubt and confusion in their victims mind.  I have spent the last year+ dating a man who made me feel beautiful, confident, and intelligent. He’d send flowers. He’d take me out. He’d learn to cook foods that accommodate my very needy diet. He even said we could take my special needs brother in if something were to happen to my mom. We talked about owning an alpaca farm and a food truck. For the first time in a very long time, I wasn’t worried about the future. I was certain he was going to be around for awhile. I was secure in our relationship. I trusted him.  Things started changing about a month before we were to take a vacation. He was acting weird. Things just seemed off. I’d ask him about things, he’d convince me I was just being insecure. Fast forward to our long weekend away. He took me six hours from home to tell me everything was all in my mind, that he never said we were excl...

 Hi! I'm Jamie. I am a 39 year old, single mom with food allergies, who just got dumped while on vaction with the man I've been dating for the past year. Talk about an awkward six hour car ride home. But sadly, this is not my most memorable dating story. I once flew to the beach with a pilot I just met, and ended up in emergency surgery. This was after my failed marriage, where he left me for the neighbor. It's all funny to think about now, but clearly I have some stuff to figure out about myself. My therapist suggested a journal, but I thought putting my business on the internet for strangers to read would be more fun.  I figured this would be a good way to review the crazy foods I try, and the crazy dates I go on. This is all in good fun, and just a way for me to stay accountable to myself. I am going to use the next 30 days to really work on myself. I am already down 20 lbs since the end of April. I hope to start back to the gym this week, and will use this blog to docum...