I can’t explain how stressful this week has been. I have had multiple midterms and a mountain of homework to conquer – I guess I didn’t fully realize just how stressful college can get, since I haven’t been this overwhelmed yet. On Wednesday, I had to just sit down and force myself to take a break from homework and studying because I was driving myself insane. I know that I push myself too hard sometimes, and it’s so difficult for me to take a moment and realize that it’s okay if I need to take a break in order to continue doing my best. I am a perfectionist to the core, so doing something with only half of my effort is never an option. While that isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it can be unhealthy when I literally force myself to power through homework and studying to the point where I am in tears.
I have never dealt with anxiety and stress well, and being at college, it is only intensified. I worry about the littlest things, and when I’m stressed I am just a ball of nerves that gets worse and worse until I inevitably break down. I envy people who don’t have anxiety; to go a day without worrying about every little thing would be a dream. Sometimes it’s difficult for my friends to understand how I fixate on little things and have trouble making decisions because I worry about every single outcome possible. What if I make the wrong decision? Or what if this happens, or that, or even something I didn’t even account for? I think about it all, and it makes me so angry with myself because I wish I could just easily make a decision and just be done with it.
All my life, my dad has always told me “It ain’t nothin’ but a thing” when I’m really worried about something, which helps put everything into perspective. Like the quote above, the way you deal with stress and anxiety is more important than the actual thing that is stressful. I know that I don’t deal with stress and anxiety in the best way; I just try and focus on other people and never talk about my own stress with others because I don’t want to be a bother to anyone. I love helping people and listening to their problems, but I just don’t like to draw attention to myself since I’m a very shy person. I’ve slowly been realizing, though, that it’s really important to talk about your troubles. Loved ones are the people you should be able to talk about anything with, and for me, that is my parents most of the time. It helps me when I get other opinions and advice, and to also put things into perspective. A big thing to me could be something small to others, which helps me realize that my worry just might be magnified in my eyes, or that I’m making something way bigger than it needs to be
I don’t want this post to be just totally depressing, haha. Writing this is just a sort of therapy for myself after the week I’ve had. My blog is a creative outlet in which I can write about anything, and that sometimes includes things that are troubling me, or struggling with. I want the majority of my blog to be about all of the things that make me happy, but sometimes I need to talk about the hard things in life. I don’t think it would be fair to myself or anyone else if I didn’t share my own struggles, because we all have them and need to talk about them sometimes. So while I had a brutal week, I also know that it’s finally the weekend and I can do nothing and just wind down from all of this stress!
How was your week?
Thank you so much for reading, and as always have a wonderful day 🙂
I’m not sure if I’ve ever mentioned that I have to eat gluten free because of an allergy, but lately I’ve really been wanting to spread the word about living gluten free! I found out I was allergic to wheat about three years ago, and man was it rough cutting out all gluten! Just think of the best foods (bread, pasta, and for me, my mom’s dumplings), and imagine never eating them again! Okay, okay, it isn’t that bleak, but it was definitely a challenge! Today, there are so many gluten free options available so it really isn’t even that hard, you really just have to readjust your taste buds! I thought it would be cool, though, to start sharing my gluten free tips with you guys, and just break down exactly what gluten and gluten free eating is!
So, what is gluten anyway?
Funny you ask! Many people have heard the term “gluten” or “gluten free,” but have never actually looked it up before. The more science-y definition is a mixture of two proteins that are present in wheat, rye, and barley that can cause anywhere from mild allergic reactions (things like skin rashes), to more severe ones (like Celiacs disease, in which a person can’t even have food that is processed in the same factory as wheat). Basically, gluten is in wheat flour, so anything with flour in it is a no-go. Personally, gluten gives me really bad headaches, stomachaches, and oftentimes a very unhappy tummy. Gluten allergies can be determined with a simple allergy test from your doctor, so make sure to get one done if you are having any food allergy like symptoms (skin rashes, upset stomach, itching in the mouth or throat, etc.).
I found out I have to go gluten free…now what?
So begins your journey with rice flours, coconut flours, xanthan gum, and all of the other flour alternatives! The most difficult part of eating gluten free is starting out. You have to find substitutes for all of your favorite gluten filled foods, and learn how to cook and bake with gluten free ingredients (trust me, it can be difficult at times!). Rice will become your best friend (it’s one of my favorite foods!), as will veggies and fruit!
When you first find out you have to eat gluten free, start by making a list of all of the foods you eat that contain gluten. Now, start to look for gluten free alternatives to those foods. Breakfast can be difficult since a lot of cereals have wheat in them, as do pancakes and waffles, but with a little research, you can find some really great gluten free brands! Personally, I have the gluten free waffles from the brand Vans every morning topped with peanut butter, and honestly, I like them so much better than I ever did regular wheat waffles! Gluten Free Works is also a great website to get started with gluten free recipes and foods. Pinterest is also a wonderful resource to find all of the gluten free recipes you could ever need or want! I would also recommend simply going to the gluten free section of your local grocery store, and start trying out the alternatives they have. Annie’s has some great gluten free products (their mac ‘n cheese is the best!), as does KIND for things like granola and power bars.
Okay, I tried some gluten free food, and I think the cardboard box it came in was better. Is this how all gluten free food tastes?
No! It does take some trial and error to find your favorite gluten free brands (my family can definitely testify to this…we have tried some horrible gluten free brands in the past), but eventually you find some really great food! After a couple of months you will easily fall into a gluten free routine and find which foods work and which ones don’t. Some of my favorite gluten free brands that haven’t let me down yet are Annie’s, Bob’s Red Mill, Vans, and KIND. They have really wonderful substitutes (Bob’s Red Mill has great gluten free flour, and gluten free mixes), and recently Krusteaz has come out with a really great pancake mix; it is amazing and smells like vanilla cake!
What do I do when I go out to eat?
This can be really difficult at first, because gluten can be hidden in the craziest of places! Be weary of soy sauce, because it contains flour, and make sure to ask if they have a gluten free version! To be safe at first, always ask the waiter or waitress if the dish you would like to eat contains gluten. That way, you can be 100% sure that what you are about to eat won’t put you in the bathroom all night throwing up! Personally, I always go for rice dishes, salads, or roasted veggies! Restaurants often have gluten free menus, so make sure to ask! You can usually request that your dish be made with gluten free pasta instead, and you can’t even tell the difference. Season salt also usually contains wheat, so if you have a really bad allergy and order fries, make sure you let the waiter know to tell the chef to not put seasoning salt on them.
What about when I go over to a friend’s house?
This can be a little tricky, because you don’t want to seem rude and refuse to eat anything they cook you, but you also don’t want to end up with an allergic reaction. The safest way to avoid an awkward situation is to simply tell them ahead of time that you have a gluten allergy, and won’t be able to eat anything like pasta or bread. People are usually totally fine with the heads up, and really appreciate it so they know what to cook! I sometimes offer to bring my own food to fix if a lot of people will be there, or if it’s an event where you can bring a dish, make sure it’s gluten free, and something that you wouldn’t mind making a whole meal out of!
My tips
-When it gets really hard and all you want to do is go to the first grocery store you find and eat a giant loaf of bread, just remember what happens when you eat gluten! Also try and remember that what you’re doing is so good for your body, and it will pay off to not make yourself sick for the small satisfaction of eating gluten.
-Think ahead and always have gluten free snacks available. You don’t want to be stuck anywhere starving, with the only option being your long lost favorite lemon pound cake from Starbucks.
-Try out as many gluten free recipes as possible, and make a go-to list! That way when you have no idea what to eat, you have a whole pile waiting in the wings.
-Try and start with naturally gluten free foods. Foods like fresh veggies and fruit will be your best friends at first, because you know for a fact they are gluten free!
-Get in the habit of always reading the ingredient lists on food! There can be hidden wheat in the smallest of places, so just to be safe, always always always read the ingredients.
-If you are at a restaurant and you aren’t sure whether or not a food is gluten free, just ask. It can be tedious at times, but it will be worth it in the long run.
-Try and find other glutards (people who are allergic to gluten), and compare recipes/strategies/motivations/anything else that is helpful, because you will learn a lot from them!
That’s all I have for now, and this will get you off to a good start! Just make sure to do as much research as possible so you can find the right resources for yourself. Don’t be afraid of the phrase gluten free – it is something that can be well adjusted to with a little bit of time, and I promise it will get a lot easier! If you put in a lot of work in the beginning, it will really pay off in the long run. Good luck, fellow glutards! 🙂
I am now officially nineteen. What?! When I woke up yesterday it actually hit me that I’ll now reply “nineteen” to the question “How old are you?” Twenty will most likely be much more scary, but I think nineteen is significant because it means I have been an adult (okay, legally) for a whole year. It was also my very first birthday away from home, which was really strange! I ended up having a wonderful birthday, and got to go out with my two best friends during spring break a couple of weeks ago to celebrate with them as well.
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| My outfit that I wore! |
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| Good company meant lots of smiles! |
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| Look at how beautiful my risotto was. It tasted as good as it looked! |
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| They even put a candle on my creme brûlée! |
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| I would just like to point out the man in the top left corner… |
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| And again…. |
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| The exact moment my candle went out before I blew it out! |
I had such a wonderful evening with my two best friends, and I’m so glad I got to celebrate early with them. As you get older, you start to realize who is truly important in your life, and who really cares for you! And even though it gets more difficult, spending time with them is really the best thing in the world.
On my actual birthday, one of my best friends and my floor mates in my dorm threw me a little surprise birthday party! I was so surprised, and super happy! Unfortunately, I didn’t get to take any pictures but it was caught on camera! If I end up putting it into a vlog I will definitely post it here. My parents also surprised me (and brought my dogs!) so that was so great as well.
Thank you as well to all of you who have wished me a happy birthday! I had a wonderful day overall, and I also got the CANON T5I!!!!! I cannot contain my excitement, so expect lots of pictures soon.
Also, if you would like to see it, I filmed a ‘Get Ready With Me’ for my birthday!
Thanks for reading, and have a wonderful day! 🙂
Today was a record high so far this year! I mean, the temperature that set that record was 70 degrees fahrenheit (about 21 degrees celsius for those of you on a different scale), so it’s not like today was a fantastically hot day…But it was still nice to have some sunshine and a warm day! My mom and I actually went shopping yesterday, and I got to wear one of the rompers I bought since it was so nice!
Romper: Pacsun
Bracelet: Forever 21
My necklace was actually a gift, so I’m not sure where it’s from 🙁
Shoes: These are actually a DIY I did the other day. Post to come soon hehe.
Sneak peak of these watercolor shoes! I’m so excited to share how I did this with you guys! 🙂
I’m so glad the weather is finally warming up! It’s already almost the end of spring break, though, so that’s really sad! This quarter should be fun so it shouldn’t be too bad jumping back into classes, and it also helps that my birthday is coming up, as well as Easter! Spring is probably my favorite season because there are so many exciting things going on, and everything feels so new and fresh. Hopefully this spring will be a good one!
What is your favorite thing about spring?
Thank you so much for reading, and have a wonderful day! 🙂
Finals week officially kicks off tomorrow for me, and I don’t know about you, but I always struggle to decide what to wear during the whole week! I never know if I should go for a more put together look, or just all out sweats and sweatshirt and not care at all. That usually ends badly, though, because after the test is done I usually feel super self-conscious that I look like I just rolled out of bed (even though I probably did)! To avoid all of those situations, I put together a couple of comfy-chic outfits that are perfect for finals week!
(Notice the “coffee addict” mug…that is what I am, especially during finals week!)
Surprise Back
I’m calling this outfit the “Surprise Back,” because it looks like a normal, comfortable outfit, but the back of the sweater has this really cool rib-cage inspired cut!
I put on a pretty rose patterned crop top underneath the sweater so it would show through and look really gorgeous!
My crop top matches my laptop cover, so that’s always a plus! I also braided my hair around my whole head to keep it out of the way.
Sweater: Nordstrom
Yoga Pants: Lululemon
Shoes: Macy’s
Crop Top: Forever 21
I think this outfit is so cute, and you can definitely get away with wearing yoga pants! They are just as comfortable as sweatpants, and this pair is especially great because they’re high-wasted so it looks better with the crop top!
Graphic Tee
Another way to dress up yoga pants is to wear a super cute graphic tee!
(Looking at that picture of ice cream on my friend’s wall…so much better than studying!)
Graphic Tee’s are such a fun way to make a boring outfit pop, and they are usually oversized and comfy! I love this one so much since Sunday’s are my favorite days, and I love the saying “Sunday Funday!”
It also helps to do a cute hairstyle as well, since it shows you put in a little extra effort! I also like to have my hair out of the way during tests because when I get stressed I tend to mess with it and lose focus! I don’t know if that’s just me, but either way it’s just so much easier to deal with hair when it’s up and out of the way.
Shirt: Nordstrom
Yoga Pants: Lululemons
Low-key Jeans and Flannel
Ok, flannels are the best. They are so comfortable, and look so cute and casual!
This outfit is perfect if you want to look just a little bit more put together, or if you are going to be going anywhere after your final (celebratory frozen yogurt?!)!
Flannel: Garage
Jeans: American Eagle
Shoes: Converse
Comfiest Put-Together Outfit
This outfit may look put-together, but do not be fooled! It is just as comfortable as – if not more than – the first outfit!
This outfit is perfect if you have a last minute study date with that cute boy in your class, or if you absolutely have to look nice for something, like a presentation! It is still super comfortable since it’s a shift dress and oversized sweater, but looks really nice.
Pairing cute jewelry with this look makes it look even more put-together!
Again, I also like having my hair up just to keep it out of the way. This hairstyle is super easy to do, and looks really cute!
Honestly, I would wear this outfit all throughout finals if it was socially acceptable!
Sweater: Nordstrom
Dress: Nordstrom
Necklace: Forever 21
Ring: Tilly’s
Shoes: Macy’s
This is also a really great option for those of you who live in warmer places and yoga pants and sweaters are way too much to wear! You could just wear the dress if the sweater would be too warm, or pair it with a thinner one!
Alright, those are the options I thought of for comfy chic finals outfits! You can mix and match any of these to create your own unique variation, and they would all be so cute! If you guys try out any of these outfits, make sure to show me on Twitter (@stnkrbug) and Instagram (@stnkrbug)! Good luck to those of you who have finals – we can do this!
Thank you so much for reading, and have a wonderful day! 🙂
My Spring Dress Lust List seemed to go over really well, so I thought I would do a Bikini Lust List for spring break! I’m not traveling anywhere like Mexico or Florida, but I am going to California (FOR VIDCON!!!) this summer, and want to get some cute bikinis when they’re on sale! So, since I’ve been looking at some, I thought I would just do a whole post about them!
Even though I’m not going on a vacation over Spring Break, I’m still super excited! It’ll be nice just to stay at home and relax for a week and a half, and see my friends from high school. And I have Vidcon and LA to look forward to this summer! I seriously cannot wait.
Which is your favorite bikini? Do you have any Spring Break plans?
Thank you so much for reading, and have a wonderful day! 🙂
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.
This past weekend actually turned out to be really nice; consequently, now I really want to go out and buy all of the spring dresses I can find. As soon as it starts to get sunny, I can’t help but wear all of the dresses and skirts I possible can! I have since made the mistake at looking at all of the spring collections from some of my favorite stores, so I thought I might as well make use of my searches, and share what I have really liked!
How pretty are all of these dresses?! I think the very first and last are my favorites, but it’s hard to choose because I love all of them so much!
Which ones are your favorites?
Thank you so much for reading, and have a wonderful day! 🙂
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.
Ok, so the sun is teasing me. Earlier this week, it was sunny and (kind of) warm, so I had the chance to wear a couple of my summer dresses – with jackets of course. But now it’s back to rain and clouds! I did, however, take a couple of snaps of my outfits I wore!
Dress: Forever 21
Jacket: Nordstrom
Shoes: Converse
My necklace was actually a gift – it’s a little letter and actually opens! Haha it’s one of my favorites 🙂
I was seriously so excited to wear this dress finally after so many cold months! It’s supposed to be sunny again this coming weekend, so we’ll see how that turns out!
How is the weather where you live? Are you excited for spring?!
Thanks for reading, and have a great day! 🙂
I came across a company called WeWork, a coworking company, which basically provides space and a community for creators! They have a really cool concept, so that inspired me to do a post about my own work space! I also recently did a dorm room tour on my YouTube channel, so I’ll link that at the end, too! 🙂
So this is what my desk looks like as a whole! I do my homework here, and a lot of my writing for blog posts here as well!
Here’s a closer view of underneath the shelf.
Here’s my little fox plant holder! Sadly, there is no plant in it anymore because it died…
I absolutely adore my little pencil and pen holder!
Another closer look underneath the shelf!
My little desk shelf is also home to my beta fish, Khaleesi! She is a “dragon scale beta,” so for all of you Game of Throne fans out there, you get the reference!
This calendar is on the wall adjacent to my desk, so I can keep track of important dates!
This is a quote that’s also on the wall next to my desk! I got it as a graduation present from my parents, and I love it so much! It’s a great reminder to keep working hard at the things I love 🙂
This quote is on the wall as well! Haha it was actually a graduation from my gift from my parents as well…
This little cozy corner is my bed! I actually end up doing a lot of my homework on my bed when it’s been a long day, and I just need to curl up with my Pooh Bear pillow pet 🙂 I also edit a lot of my YouTube videos on my bed!
Here’s a closer look at “the wall,” as my friends call it haha.
My little cozy corner 🙂
Alright, there you have it – my work space and dorm room tour! 🙂 I’m really proud of how my dorm room turned out this year, so I hope you guys like it too!
What’s your favorite part of your room?
Thank you so much for reading, and I hope you have a great day! 🙂
I’m back again today with my Healthy Snack series!
I don’t know about you guys, but chocolate pudding is definitely one of my weaknesses! Ever since I was little I have loved those little pudding cups that my mom would put in my lunch, but being gluten free these past couple of years, I’ve had to avoid pudding! There isn’t any wheat on the ingredients list of most puddings, but some people who are allergic to gluten – like myself – have said that it sometimes causes a reaction when they eat it. So, in order to avoid all of that, I just haven’t really eaten pudding!
However, since starting this healthy snacks series, I actually found a chocolate pudding recipe that uses avocados as the base! I was kind of skeptical at first because I really don’t like avocados, but the end result was super yummy!
All of the ingredients you will need, minus the milk because I forgot to put it in this picture…
Recipe
2 ripe avocados
1/3 cup cocoa powder (I ended up putting in about a tablespoon extra at the end)
1/4 cup honey
1/2 cup milk (almond or soy works too!)
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
The whole process is super easy – just peal the avocados and cut them into chunks, put them in the blender, add everything else, and blend! As you can see, I used my magic bullet for this, and everything barely fit! I don’t really have the luxury of having a full sized blender at college, though, so I use my magic bullet a lot!
Funny story – I could not get the cup open after I blended it! I needed to simply open it real quick in order to stir the last bits of avocado around, but the lid would not budge. I had to go and get one of the guys on my floor to open it for me! Apparently magic bullets double as vacuums now.
The end result! When I first tried the pudding, it had a very different flavor, but I got used to it after the third or fourth bite! I absolutely hate avocados, so I was extremely weary of trying this, but oh my gosh it is super yummy! It doesn’t taste exactly like classic chocolate pudding, but it is still just as great. I was super satisfied with the results, and I could have a quick little dessert each night this week without feeling guilty!
Well that is it for this recipe – you guys should really try this one out if you love chocolate! Also, I’m going to try and do a more “savory” snack for the next one since the first two in the series have been sweet.
What are your guilty pleasures when it comes to dessert?
Thank you so much for reading, and I hope you have a great day! 🙂