Let's Get Personal : Alzheimer's

Alzheimer's disease has been in the news a lot recently, partly due to Seth Rogen's speech to the U.S. Senate this week and because a lot of states are passing new bills aimed towards Alzheimer's. Alzheimer's hits close to home for me because my grandfather has been struggling with Alzheimer's since I was around 10 (I'm now 23). Alzheimer's is a terrifying disease for many reasons; it's the most costly disease in the United States, deaths from Alzheimer's has increased almost 70%, and by 2050 it is estimated that more than 16 million people will be affected by the disease. Alzheimer's isn't talked about because, as Seth Rogen recently pointed out, our government isn't talking about it. But they should because an American develops Alzheimer's disease every 68 seconds. That means that every minute I spend writing this post, another family is having to deal with the heart wrenching reality that their loved one has a disease that will not only overcome them physically, but also destroy them mentally.

I'm writing this post today to ask for your help. I'm not asking for you to feel sorry for me because my grandfather was my best friend and now I've essentially lost  him. I'm asking you to raise awareness and get involved. Alzheimer's is the only cause of death among the top 10 in America without a way to prevent, cure, or even slow its progression. If that doesn't terrify you and make you ache for change and research of this disease, then I don't know what will. This isn't a rare disease that no one is affected by - in fact, it's the 6th leading cause of death in the United States.

There are a couple of ways you can help. I'm walking to end Alzheimer's in Columbia, SC on October 25th, and I'm raising money for the effort. You can donate to my Walk to End Alzheimer's, or any Walk to End Alzheimer's. You can also sign up to walk yourself, or get more information. Seth Rogen has founded a truly amazing charity called Hilarity for Charity. You can write your senators and representatives,  both on the state and national level and demand that they take action on funding research for the prevention and cure of Alzheimer's. You should also check into your state's laws on providing adequate care for Alzheimer's patients, because Alzheimer's patients face a lot of medical bills.

A small effort of doing research and reaching out could change millions of lives. We just have to start trying.

How I Did It: Long Distance Relationships

I apologize for there being no post yesterday, school snuck up on me and I lost track of time. Today's post is about how I survived a long distance relationship. Tucker and I haven't always lived together. In fact, until last year we were long distance and it was horrible. Here are my tips for maintaining a successful relationship while being long distance.

Skype

Tucker and I spent many nights Skyping one another. After a long day, or an exciting and happy day, it would always be nice to not only talk to Tucker, but also see his face. It makes you value talking to one another more because you can see the other, and it also avoids a lot of fights because facial expressions aren't lost over the phone.

Surprise Packages

My favorite thing that Tucker and I did for each other while we were long distance were sending each other surprises in the mail. Even if it was just a card, it was still nice to know that each other went through the effort of putting something together and putting it in the mail.

Weekend Visits

Every weekend we had free, we spent together. It's important to alternate weekends so that one of you doesn't feel like they're always traveling. Plus, getting to visit them is like mini-vacation from the city you're living in! 

Compromise

Compromise was key in our relationship surviving long distance. You have to be understanding one of you can't call or text or visit. Agree to meet half way or maybe instead of a 2 hour phone call try for an hour. 

Trust

If you don't trust each other, it isn't going to work. I struggled with this, but eventually I realized that whatever was going to happen was going to happen so I might as well not stress about it or not trust Tucker until I had a legitimate reason not to. 

Have you been in a long distance relationship? I'd love to hear your story!

Review: True Blue Spa Cracked Heel Treatment

I have dry skin year round, but in the winter it gets a lot worse. My feet have always been a huge problem, and my heels definitely get dry and cracked. In the past, I've used everything from lotion to neosporin to try and heal them but nothing really did an outstanding job. Finally, I found a product that helped heal and protect my heels.

True Blue Spa Cracked Heel Treatment from Bath and Body Works has been a life saver for my feet. After one use, I could tell a difference in the condition of my feet. My heels and feet are smooth and the cracks in my heel are completely gone. This stuff is a bit pricey, but it is definitely worth it. The glycolic acid gets rid of the dry, dead skin and leaves your feet feeling smooth and new. I seriously don't think I could survive the rest of the winter without this stuff. There isn't much of a smell to the product either, which is  huge plus. I'm curious to try out the rest of the Tru Blue Spa line, and I think my next purchase may be one of their body scrubs. I highly recommend this product if your feet suffer from dry skin.

How I Spend My Down Time

Being a law school student, down time is something I rarely have. When I do have some time to spare, I like to spend it with friends, T and our pets, and blogging. However, there are times when I like to spend my down time alone. Here is what I enjoy doing when I have some free moments:

Read a book

I love to read, and as I have mentioned before, if I'm not reading a casebook then I'm probably reading something that is light or entertaining. One of my guilty literature pleasures are the Pretty Little Liars series. I've read all of them and the newest one, Toxic, is set to come out on June 3rd. I've already ordered my copy!

Pretty Little Liars #15: Toxic

Write in my journal

As much as I love blogging, I still enjoy putting pen to paper and writing in a journal. It's relaxing and it allows me to keep track of my memories. I've always imagined growing old and my grandchildren reading my diaries and learning about my life through the words I wrote when I was younger. I love the Moleskine notebooks because they're durable.

Moleskine Classic Notebook, Large, Ruled, Black, Hard Cover (5 x 8.25) (Classic Notebooks)

Play a video game

Yeah, this is kind of an unexpected fact about me but I enjoy playing video games. It all started when T left me alone one day and I started playing Fallout 3. While Fallout 3 and Fallout New Vegas remain some of my favorites, right now I'm enjoying Skyrim. There is something relaxing about just losing yourself in a fantasy world for a little bit. Plus, I've noticed my creativity increases, as well as my hand coordination, after playing. Bethesda, hurry up and release Fallout 4 already!

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

What do you like to do when you have some free time? 

Snow Day Essentials

When T and I moved to South Carolina, people told us it never snowed here. I was pretty bummed because it snows pretty often in North Carolina and I loved it. T has been away for work, etc for a couple of weeks and since he's been gone we have had 2 snow/ice storms! Here are my essentials for an amazing snow day.

Land Lakes Warm Oatmeal Cookie Hot Cocoa Mix

O.M.G. I love this hot cocoa so much. When I was at home during Christmas with my family, my mom and I picked up a huge box of assorted hot cocoa mixes from Costco, and this flavor and S'mores were my favorites! 

 J.Crew Signature Leggings

These are my favorite leggings because they're opaque, comfortable, and they last. 

Movies & TV

Hopefully you won't be snowed in, but if you are, I recommend Netflix for not going stir crazy. There are a lot of great movies and TV shows on Netflix! I recommend House of Cards and Greys Anatomy. 

Hunter Rain Boots

I have a pair in green and black, and I'm hoping to add red to my collection soon! These rain boots are amazing and they truly are worth the price. 

Patagonia Nano Puff Jacket

This jacket is super warm and super comfortable. Everything you need for a snow day! I love to wear mine with leggings and my Hunters when I'm outside playing with our dogs.

What are your snow day essentials?

Valentine Day's Outfits

Happy Valentines Day! I've always loved Valentines Day, and this year is no exception. Even though T is out of town, I still plan on celebrating with some great friends of mine. Here are some cute outfits for Valentines Day or Galentines Day ;)

Throw a blazer over this dress for dinner and drinks with the girls and you have a great Valentines Day outfit.

Going somewhere nice? This dress would be perfect and it doesn't break the bank.

Sweet and simple, this would be perfect for a fun date.

Love, love, love the heart cut out on this dress.

These flats would be cute any day of the year, but especially with a pink or red dress.

Nighttime Routine

My nighttime routine is pretty simple in the winter, but I've found some amazing products that keep dry skin and break outs at bay during the winter!

Crest 3D White Luxe
I have super sensitive teeth and usually whitening tooth pastes make them hurt, but this Crest 3D White Luxe doesn't irritate my teeth and it makes them super white and removes the Diet Coke stains.
Sensodyne Pronamel Fluoride Rinse
Since I do have sensitive teeth, I rinse every night with this fluoride rinse to help prevent cavities and to help restore my teeth.
Boots No. 7 Beautiful Skin Oil Free Eye Make Up Remover
This eye make up remover is a bit pricy, but it's the only eye make up remover I have found that doesn't make my eyes feel oily and doesn't sting them. Plus, it doesn't require water to wash it off after using, which is a huge plus!
Formula 10.0.6. So Totally Clean Sensitive Formula
Like my teeth, my skin is extremely sensitive, so I have to be careful with what I use or else I'll end up breaking out and red. This toner from Formula 10.0.6 is my absolute favorite because it doesn't dry my skin out and it's calming. Plus it gets all of my make up off with one swipe!
Boots No. 7 Beautiful Skin Cleansing Balm
If my skin has been feeling particularly dry, I will use this cleansing balm instead of my toner. The balm leaves my skin not only clean, but also moisturized and soft. The formula is also gentle enough for sensitive skin.
Simple Replenishing Moisturizer
Simple makes amazing products for sensitive skin, and this product does not disappoint. I like using this at night time if I want a light moisturizer.
Jergens Shea Butter Lotion
This lotion smells amazing and feels amazing. I hate lotions that leave you feeling sticky and that feel  heavy on your skin, and this lotion does neither. It is perfect for night or day use.

Review: The Body Shop Shea Body Mist

Confession: I am a perfumaholic/body mistaholic. I love a good fragrance and I love discovering new ones, from high end perfumes to low end body mists, if it smells good then I'm buying it. When a friend recommended I check out The Body Shop for a new body mist, I was hesitant. The Body Shop was where my friends and I would buy lip glosses and body butters that were far too fruity and sweet smelling in middle school. However, after hearing Youtubers and bloggers rave about Satsuma, I decided to give The Body Shop a try and I'm glad I did.

This is the Shea Body Mist and I am absolutely obsessed. I tried Satsuma, and while it is a nice scent, it is too citrusy for my taste. Shea, however, is right up my alley. Don't let the description fool you, Shea is not just a "nutty scent", but instead it's clean and fresh, yet still cozy somehow. This scent has been my go to fragrance as of late, and I've gotten a lot of compliments wearing it. I'm definitely going to pick up so more Body Shop products, to see if I find anymore new obsessions. 

What are your favorite fragrances?