Hello World! So butterflies have become a new very important part of my life. This may sound strange but the universe seems to be sending me some sort of sign, I'm just not sure what it is yet.
It all started when I was traveling in the U.K. with my mom. We were at Blenheim Palace in the cafe and I could feel a panic attack coming on. I immediately tried to stop it by getting outside and doing deep breathing but soon the tears came streaming down my face and I was only able to take very shallow breaths. My mom and I found an empty butterfly garden and figured that would be a good place to sit and pull myself together. As we quietly wandered around, my mom saw a sign that said something to the effect of "Do not put butterflies in high stress situations. They will die." She then looked at me and very matter of factly said "you are a butterfly". From that moment on I began noticing butterflies everywhere.
Once I got back home I figured it was a sign, so I decided to incorporate more butterflies into my daily life. I set a date to go to the mall with a good friend and look for butterfly hair accessories and such. Strangely enough, the first store we walked into had an entire wall of butterfly accessories, so naturally I bought a few of them.
About a week later, I was at Starbucks with my sister and they had just put out a whole row of butterfly cookies. And yes maybe I am reading into it because it's spring and that's the season that butterflies are usually associated with, but maybe the universe is telling me something too.
Then I went to go and see the new Cinderella film with a good friend of mine. If you haven't seen the film, there is a very strong butterfly presence in the movie. Cinderella always has a butterfly on her whether in her hair or on her dress. The entire time we were in the movie theater, my friend kept tapping my arm and expressing her disbelief.
So, who knows what the universe is trying to say. But, I'm just saying that sometimes it's worth being open to listening, because you never know what might come up.
Stay Awesome Guys,
Kodi
Sunday, March 29, 2015
Sunday, March 22, 2015
The trials of the artist
Hello World,
Lewis Carrol once wrote, Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast. And lately, that has been me with art projects.
As I mentioned in an earlier post, I've been doing artsy things again. Lately I've been seeing the world as a story meant to be told or a photo needing to be captured. re-immersing myself in a way of living that I have missed.
But while this is happening I have discovered the top three problems with being a "behind-the-scenes artist":
1) Getting ideas while trying to start/finish another idea:
When I came up for the idea about this post, I was trying to finish another one so I could get started on writing a monologue for a home video I'm making. Not wanting to forget about it, I opened up a new tab, put everything else on hold and started writing. Sometimes, I get in these artistic moods where I find it hard to stay with one task. It's as though my brain has a billion little butterfly ideas fluttering around in my head and they won't settle down until I've given each of them their own individual attention.
2) Being artsy alone:
With a lot of the ideas I come up with they are the sorts that cannot be taken on alone. Making me search for someone to help with these little ventures. I have friends, just not too many in the arts I'm "good" at.
3) Looking lazy when you're creating worlds:
One of the most frustrating parts of writing is that you can spend the hour writing two chapters and creating a new language and it just looks like you're goofing off on the internet.
HKx
Lewis Carrol once wrote, Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast. And lately, that has been me with art projects.
As I mentioned in an earlier post, I've been doing artsy things again. Lately I've been seeing the world as a story meant to be told or a photo needing to be captured. re-immersing myself in a way of living that I have missed.
But while this is happening I have discovered the top three problems with being a "behind-the-scenes artist":
1) Getting ideas while trying to start/finish another idea:
When I came up for the idea about this post, I was trying to finish another one so I could get started on writing a monologue for a home video I'm making. Not wanting to forget about it, I opened up a new tab, put everything else on hold and started writing. Sometimes, I get in these artistic moods where I find it hard to stay with one task. It's as though my brain has a billion little butterfly ideas fluttering around in my head and they won't settle down until I've given each of them their own individual attention.
2) Being artsy alone:
With a lot of the ideas I come up with they are the sorts that cannot be taken on alone. Making me search for someone to help with these little ventures. I have friends, just not too many in the arts I'm "good" at.
3) Looking lazy when you're creating worlds:
One of the most frustrating parts of writing is that you can spend the hour writing two chapters and creating a new language and it just looks like you're goofing off on the internet.
HKx
Sunday, March 15, 2015
Dream Dots Review
Hello World!I may have mentioned in an earlier post that I was waiting for my order of Dream Dots to arrive. I have now used the entire package of them and am sad to say that I was a bit disappointed in them. I had decided to try them out after hearing quite a few beauty Youtubers rave about them. Granted, they weren't terrible and actually had some effect on my skin but did not work as well as I had expected them to.
Now, everyone has different skin and it could just be that they don't work well on my skin because there are tons of very positive reviews on the website. My main issue I believe was my skin doesn't have the kinds of spots that work really well with the Dream Dots. The spots that I usually get are the ones that are sitting just under the skin and are quite painful to the touch. I did use the Dream Dots on a few of these overnight and they did make a difference sometimes. There were times where I saw no difference, and there were times when the Dream Dot had cleared out some of the puss from under the skin. My main complaint with the Dream Dots was that when they did work even though no scarring appeared, a large red circle was left on my skin for a couple days after using them where they had been sitting on my skin. In the end this was actually harder to cover up with makeup than the original spot was.
I certainly wouldn't dissuade anyone from getting them but I would recommend that you really look at the website and make sure that your skin looks like the kind of skin that they show on the website. Again I definitely did see a difference in my skin and the Dream Dots prevented me from picking at them and leaving scars, but the red marks were hard to deal with. If you are considering getting them definitely check out some of the reviews on the website of women who had positive experiences with the Dream Dots.
In my ongoing quest to make my skin as healthy as possible, keep an eye out for future reviews of different products. I am currently using the Your Tea Skin Magic Tea which thus far seems to be making a positive difference.
Stay Awesome,
Kodi
Now, everyone has different skin and it could just be that they don't work well on my skin because there are tons of very positive reviews on the website. My main issue I believe was my skin doesn't have the kinds of spots that work really well with the Dream Dots. The spots that I usually get are the ones that are sitting just under the skin and are quite painful to the touch. I did use the Dream Dots on a few of these overnight and they did make a difference sometimes. There were times where I saw no difference, and there were times when the Dream Dot had cleared out some of the puss from under the skin. My main complaint with the Dream Dots was that when they did work even though no scarring appeared, a large red circle was left on my skin for a couple days after using them where they had been sitting on my skin. In the end this was actually harder to cover up with makeup than the original spot was.
I certainly wouldn't dissuade anyone from getting them but I would recommend that you really look at the website and make sure that your skin looks like the kind of skin that they show on the website. Again I definitely did see a difference in my skin and the Dream Dots prevented me from picking at them and leaving scars, but the red marks were hard to deal with. If you are considering getting them definitely check out some of the reviews on the website of women who had positive experiences with the Dream Dots.
In my ongoing quest to make my skin as healthy as possible, keep an eye out for future reviews of different products. I am currently using the Your Tea Skin Magic Tea which thus far seems to be making a positive difference.
Stay Awesome,
Kodi
Sunday, March 8, 2015
Erythema Nodosum
Hello World,
I know I haven't been very present as of late, and for that I apologize. I will not, however, fill this post with excuses, instead I will carry carry on as though my absence never happened.
Two Thursdays ago I was diagnosed with Erythema Nodosum. It's an odd "disease" that really has no explanation since it is very rare. My explanation to others has been, "My legs and arms are covered with ugly welts that bring with them excruciating pain. It kind of feels like I'm china doll and any tiny bit of pressure will cause my limbs to shatter into a hundred pieces. But don't worry, it's not contagious!"
Wikipedia on the other hand describes it a bit more scientifically:
Erythema nodosum (EN) (commonly known as cicada bites) is an inflammatory condition characterized by inflammation of the fat cells under the skin, resulting in tender red nodules or lumps that are usually seen on both shins. It can be caused by a variety of conditions, and typically resolves spontaneously within 3–6 weeks. It is most common in the ages of 20–30, and affects women 3–6 times more than men
So because of all of this, I've been forced into bed rest.
I don't like bed rest. I don't like not being busy. I don't like feeling lazy or as though I'm wasting away my life and bed rest makes me feel only that. I know that once this is over I'll miss all the free time I had and think up a list of productive things I should have done with my bedridden days. But as of this moment, I'm very bitter towards my present situation.
I wish I could say I have been spending my time writing novels and plotting scripts (which they have for a couple of hours in total). Regrettably, I must inform you that instead my days have been filled with faded old quilts, never ending cups of tea, Netflix, and very long baths.
Maybe it would be better if there was a reason why I had EN. Like I wasn't getting enough B12 or that this was actually contagious and I caught it from a friend. But according to the doctor I just have it and that there is no rhyme or reason to why.
Tell me, what you guys like to do during your sick days? Do you have any Netflix suggestions?
Sincerely,
Hudson x
I know I haven't been very present as of late, and for that I apologize. I will not, however, fill this post with excuses, instead I will carry carry on as though my absence never happened.
Two Thursdays ago I was diagnosed with Erythema Nodosum. It's an odd "disease" that really has no explanation since it is very rare. My explanation to others has been, "My legs and arms are covered with ugly welts that bring with them excruciating pain. It kind of feels like I'm china doll and any tiny bit of pressure will cause my limbs to shatter into a hundred pieces. But don't worry, it's not contagious!"
Wikipedia on the other hand describes it a bit more scientifically:
Erythema nodosum (EN) (commonly known as cicada bites) is an inflammatory condition characterized by inflammation of the fat cells under the skin, resulting in tender red nodules or lumps that are usually seen on both shins. It can be caused by a variety of conditions, and typically resolves spontaneously within 3–6 weeks. It is most common in the ages of 20–30, and affects women 3–6 times more than men
So because of all of this, I've been forced into bed rest.
I don't like bed rest. I don't like not being busy. I don't like feeling lazy or as though I'm wasting away my life and bed rest makes me feel only that. I know that once this is over I'll miss all the free time I had and think up a list of productive things I should have done with my bedridden days. But as of this moment, I'm very bitter towards my present situation.
I wish I could say I have been spending my time writing novels and plotting scripts (which they have for a couple of hours in total). Regrettably, I must inform you that instead my days have been filled with faded old quilts, never ending cups of tea, Netflix, and very long baths.
Maybe it would be better if there was a reason why I had EN. Like I wasn't getting enough B12 or that this was actually contagious and I caught it from a friend. But according to the doctor I just have it and that there is no rhyme or reason to why.
Tell me, what you guys like to do during your sick days? Do you have any Netflix suggestions?
Sincerely,
Hudson x
Saturday, February 28, 2015
Life Lessons Disney Has Taught Me
Hello World! So yesterday I was fortunate enough to spend the day at Disneyland. Some of the happiest moments of my life have been at a Disney park or involved Disney in some way. So I thought why not sit down and talk about some of the more important life lessons that I learned as a kid through watching Disney films.
I have had many arguments with people who felt that not only did Disney films not teach any lessons, certain films taught bad lessons. So I thought I would share my experience with Disney films and the wonderful lessons that they taught me. I think I have turned out okay and I certainly will be raising my kids on Disney films.
Below are the big 8. Lessons that I first experienced in Disney films and ones that I try to remember every single day. I have listed the Disney movies that I see the lesson in but I am sure that I have left some out. Feel free to add your own in the comments.
1. It is important to love who a person is on the inside. (Beauty and the Beast, Tangled, Sleeping Beauty)
2. Be curious. (Alice in Wonderland, Tangled, Aladdin, The Lion King, The Jungle Book)
3. Fight for what you believe in. (Brave, Aladdin, The Lion King, Frozen, Mulan)
4. Your family will always love you. (The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Brave, Tangled)
5. It is important to follow your dreams. (Tangled, The Little Mermaid, Cinderella, Mulan)
6. Be persistent with your goals. (Tangled, Brave, Cinderella, Frozen)
7. Be kind and gracious to everyone and good things will come to you. (Cinderella,
8. Have courage in being true to who you are. (Alice in Wonderland, Mulan, Beauty and the Beast)
I just thought I would send out a little Disney love to the internet as well as reminding you of some important lessons we should all carry through life.
Stay Awesome,
Kodi
I have had many arguments with people who felt that not only did Disney films not teach any lessons, certain films taught bad lessons. So I thought I would share my experience with Disney films and the wonderful lessons that they taught me. I think I have turned out okay and I certainly will be raising my kids on Disney films.
Below are the big 8. Lessons that I first experienced in Disney films and ones that I try to remember every single day. I have listed the Disney movies that I see the lesson in but I am sure that I have left some out. Feel free to add your own in the comments.
1. It is important to love who a person is on the inside. (Beauty and the Beast, Tangled, Sleeping Beauty)
2. Be curious. (Alice in Wonderland, Tangled, Aladdin, The Lion King, The Jungle Book)
3. Fight for what you believe in. (Brave, Aladdin, The Lion King, Frozen, Mulan)
4. Your family will always love you. (The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Brave, Tangled)
5. It is important to follow your dreams. (Tangled, The Little Mermaid, Cinderella, Mulan)
6. Be persistent with your goals. (Tangled, Brave, Cinderella, Frozen)
7. Be kind and gracious to everyone and good things will come to you. (Cinderella,
8. Have courage in being true to who you are. (Alice in Wonderland, Mulan, Beauty and the Beast)
I just thought I would send out a little Disney love to the internet as well as reminding you of some important lessons we should all carry through life.
Stay Awesome,
Kodi
Sunday, February 22, 2015
Love, Tanya Book Review
Hello World! So I just got back from a week long trip to the UK and the first purchase that I made after I landed was the lovely Tanya Burr's book Love, Tanya. I read the entire book cover to cover in under four hours and was left with intense feelings of positivity and confidence. I wasn't totally sure what to expect when I purchased the book, but really enjoy Tanya's blog and Youtube videos so I figured it would be a worthwhile purchase.
If you are looking for a new coffee or bedside table book this is definitely the one. From her best skincare tips to the ways that she stays happy and confident, there are so many great life lessons to learn from it. My personal favorite part of the layout of her book is the fill-in pages. They really made me think and get excited about my life. In each section of her book she has a section where she lists her top ten of something and then has a page for you to record your own thoughts on the subject.
When I began reading the book I was quite exhausted and not in the best mood, but by the time that I finished it I was beaming with happiness and hope for my future. She really shows how you can achieve anything that you put your mind to if you have the courage and work ethic to do what it takes to get there. On top of the fantastic chapter about confidence and happiness, she had a great chapter on anxiety. One thing that stuck with me in particular was an exercise that she talked about called "The Five Stages of the Sea"where you imagine the sea incredibly stormy, then slightly calmer, until the fifth is a completely calm sea. I have already used this calming technique and it certainly worked for me.
On top of generally boosting my confidence and positivity, the book contains some really great recipes as well as amazing make up and skin care tips. She also has a really interesting section on her Youtube career which is very inspiring both for blogging aspirations as well as inspiring a drive for other life goals.
All in all, I have been recommending this book to everyone that I possibly can. Definitely check it out if you are looking for a burst of beauty and positivity in your life.
If you are looking for a new coffee or bedside table book this is definitely the one. From her best skincare tips to the ways that she stays happy and confident, there are so many great life lessons to learn from it. My personal favorite part of the layout of her book is the fill-in pages. They really made me think and get excited about my life. In each section of her book she has a section where she lists her top ten of something and then has a page for you to record your own thoughts on the subject.
When I began reading the book I was quite exhausted and not in the best mood, but by the time that I finished it I was beaming with happiness and hope for my future. She really shows how you can achieve anything that you put your mind to if you have the courage and work ethic to do what it takes to get there. On top of the fantastic chapter about confidence and happiness, she had a great chapter on anxiety. One thing that stuck with me in particular was an exercise that she talked about called "The Five Stages of the Sea"where you imagine the sea incredibly stormy, then slightly calmer, until the fifth is a completely calm sea. I have already used this calming technique and it certainly worked for me.
On top of generally boosting my confidence and positivity, the book contains some really great recipes as well as amazing make up and skin care tips. She also has a really interesting section on her Youtube career which is very inspiring both for blogging aspirations as well as inspiring a drive for other life goals.
All in all, I have been recommending this book to everyone that I possibly can. Definitely check it out if you are looking for a burst of beauty and positivity in your life.
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
My Go-To Skin Products
Hello Universe! I hope that the lovely skies have smiled down on you today. So, the recent months of my life have been full of nerves and high levels of stress, which has resulted in a lot of craziness coming out on my skin. By using a few of my favorite skin care products I have managed to clean it up quite a bit, mind you I did not all of a sudden completely fix my skin, but it certainly is very improved after keeping to one routine for a few weeks.
Without further ado, here are the few products that I always reach for when I have a break out and why:
1. Origins Out of Trouble Mask
-This is literally a life saver, whenever my skin starts to break out or get splotchy I immediately reach for this. It is technically a ten minute mask but I will usually leave it on for as long as I can. When you take it off, your skin is incredibly soft and has a much more even tone. Usually I will put this on right after cleansing and follow it with my toner and moisturizer.
2. Origins Super Spot Remover
-This one is super helpful for the big painful spots that just don't seem to go away. I am pretty sure that this one has been in my monthly favorites before, but it is so worth the purchase. It doesn't make the spot go away, but it definitely kills whatever grossness is building up under the skin. In my experience it hasn't made the redness go away super quickly but it gets rid of the spot in a much better way than just picking at it.
3. First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser used with Foreo's Luna
-So I have been using these two products together for about a month now and they are my holy grail of skin care. I know the Luna is pretty pricy but it has completely changed my skin. I originally got it after having an allergic reaction to something, so my skin was covered in zits and rashes. It really gets the product that you are using deep into the skin to clear out any imperfections, my skin has become a million time softer and now after cleansing my skin truly feels incredibly clean. I have recently started using the First Aid Beauty brand and have become a huge fan. This cleanser is so gentle and soft and really makes my skin feel pampered.
4. Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Stress Control Triple-Action Toner
-So I never have been a huge person on toners, but recently my skin has seemed really dull, so I thought I would add them into my daily skin care routine to see what happens. I have fallen in love with this one in particular. I tend to have oily skin, so the fact that it is oil-free is perfect for my skin. I usually put it on after cleansing, or if I do a mask then after that. It just feels like all of the bacteria that is sitting on my skin from the day gets killed off. Over the past few weeks my skin has also become brighter from using it.
5. Bio-Oil and Tea Tree Oil
-So this was a tip that I read on Pinterest and decided to try since I happened to have both of these products lying around. My skin cannot thank me enough now. This combination is super hydrating as well as a huge help to balance out skin tone. It takes a while to sink into the skin so I usually finish off my nighttime skin routine by slathering this over my face, neck, and chest. The formula that I use is one large pump of Bio-Oil and then three drops of tea tree oil, and I absolutely love the smell of both products so falling asleep with it on is absolutely heavenly.
In my ongoing quest to permanently fix my skin, keep an eye out for product reviews (I will be reviewing Your Tea's Skin Magic Tea, and Dream Dots) and any other discoveries that I make!
Stay Awesome Guys,
Kodi
Without further ado, here are the few products that I always reach for when I have a break out and why:
1. Origins Out of Trouble Mask
-This is literally a life saver, whenever my skin starts to break out or get splotchy I immediately reach for this. It is technically a ten minute mask but I will usually leave it on for as long as I can. When you take it off, your skin is incredibly soft and has a much more even tone. Usually I will put this on right after cleansing and follow it with my toner and moisturizer.
2. Origins Super Spot Remover
-This one is super helpful for the big painful spots that just don't seem to go away. I am pretty sure that this one has been in my monthly favorites before, but it is so worth the purchase. It doesn't make the spot go away, but it definitely kills whatever grossness is building up under the skin. In my experience it hasn't made the redness go away super quickly but it gets rid of the spot in a much better way than just picking at it.
3. First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser used with Foreo's Luna
-So I have been using these two products together for about a month now and they are my holy grail of skin care. I know the Luna is pretty pricy but it has completely changed my skin. I originally got it after having an allergic reaction to something, so my skin was covered in zits and rashes. It really gets the product that you are using deep into the skin to clear out any imperfections, my skin has become a million time softer and now after cleansing my skin truly feels incredibly clean. I have recently started using the First Aid Beauty brand and have become a huge fan. This cleanser is so gentle and soft and really makes my skin feel pampered.
4. Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Stress Control Triple-Action Toner
-So I never have been a huge person on toners, but recently my skin has seemed really dull, so I thought I would add them into my daily skin care routine to see what happens. I have fallen in love with this one in particular. I tend to have oily skin, so the fact that it is oil-free is perfect for my skin. I usually put it on after cleansing, or if I do a mask then after that. It just feels like all of the bacteria that is sitting on my skin from the day gets killed off. Over the past few weeks my skin has also become brighter from using it.
5. Bio-Oil and Tea Tree Oil
-So this was a tip that I read on Pinterest and decided to try since I happened to have both of these products lying around. My skin cannot thank me enough now. This combination is super hydrating as well as a huge help to balance out skin tone. It takes a while to sink into the skin so I usually finish off my nighttime skin routine by slathering this over my face, neck, and chest. The formula that I use is one large pump of Bio-Oil and then three drops of tea tree oil, and I absolutely love the smell of both products so falling asleep with it on is absolutely heavenly.
In my ongoing quest to permanently fix my skin, keep an eye out for product reviews (I will be reviewing Your Tea's Skin Magic Tea, and Dream Dots) and any other discoveries that I make!
Stay Awesome Guys,
Kodi
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