Change - Evolve like a Pokemon

Earlier this year I wasn’t doing so well. I felt like life kept knocking me down repeatedly and not allowing me the time to recover. I fought it for months until I realized something: Everything will be ok if you allow it to be. Move into the change and Evolve like a Pokémon. This is the way the universe works. Nothing stays the same. Everything changes, including you.

There were good reasons that things needed to change and once I accepted that and saw the positive and understood why things were happening I was ok with it. Embrace the change and learn from it. Don’t fight it, go through it.

Health Update – Steps to Break my Cycle of Sickness

So in one of my 1^st blogs I wrote about my health issues I was having.  I was constantly sick with bronchitis, strep, etc. and had been put on allergy medicine, inhalers and acid reflux medicine.  I wasn’t improving and so I decided to take matters into my own hands and I’m happy to report, a few years later. I rarely get sick now!

Below are the steps I took in order to break my sickness cycle.

1. Monitor What You Eat - The first thing I did was I started monitoring what I was eating. I used the app My Fitness Pal and logged everything I ate.  This way I could spot a pattern in what I was eating vs when I’d get sick.  As it turns out I was eating WAY too much sugar every day.  This was bad because the bad bacteria in your gut feed off of sugar and I was giving them a feast.  It also didn’t help that all of the antibiotics I was on were killing off my god bacteria.  I cut out sodas, cookie cakes, etc and focused on eating more fruits and vegetables.  This helped a little but I was still getting sick.  I confirmed that I had acid reflux as well.  I had stopped taking my medicine for a week to see how I did and man could I feel it when it started up again.  That caused me stomach issues and for a bit I thought I was having heart trouble but it was just the acid I was feeling in my esophagus.  So I continued to take that medicine.  At some point I’ll find out the exact cause of it.
2. Workout - I started a new workout plan to get the blood moving and to increase my strength.  I did start to feel better and look better but I would still get sick, just not as often.  The annoying this too was when I’d get sick I couldn’t work out due to the nature of my illnesses so I was constantly starting and re-starting over and over again.
3. Sleep - Make sure to get enough sleep every night.  I have trouble sleeping and I noticed that when I only slept a few hours I’d get sick or feel like I was getting sick.  I tried to make my bed as comfy as possible and I used a lavender spray to help.  It doesn’t always work though and I think a big part of why I have trouble sleeping is due to my anxiety.  I’ve been working on this issue as well and will probably write about it in a separate blog.
4. Take a Probiotic - I was on so many antibiotics all the time that all of the good bacteria in my gut were dead.  I needed to replenish them so I started taking a probiotic.  I got mine from a company called Bio Trust but there are other brands that will work just as well.  The bacteria make you crave sugar and I craved it all the time.  It took a while the balance of bacteria straightened out over a few months.
5. Take a Multi Vitamin - No matter how well I was eating I wasn’t able to get 100% of all of the recommended vitamins I needed.  I tried a few brands of multi vitamins but they weren’t really doing the trick.  I ended up trying some products from a company called Yoli that really helped. I take the Passion and Truth packets 2 times a day in a bottle of water.  I mix them together to make a citrus/berry flavor.  I’m not sure if it’s the fact that I’m getting more water or if the vitamins are absorbed better in that form but I almost completed stopped getting sick once I added this step.  Yoli is pretty expensive but it worked for me. I’d recommend trying out a few types of multi-vitamins and depending on the dose you may have to take more than one or take extra doses of specific vitamins.
6. Up your Vitamin D Intake - As I said after taking the multi vitamins my sickness time decreased immensely.  I still got sick about twice a year though and the illnesses I got were no joke.  During my physical I found out that I was deficient in vitamin D so I started taking a supplement.  I took a brand I got from Trader Joe’s. Apparently most people are deficient in vitamin D.

It took a little while after implementing all of these things because I had to get my body back in balance.  It was so out of whack from being sick for so long that it took a few months.  But I haven’t gotten sick since.  I have noticed when I don’t sleep well or have too much sugar that my throat starts to feel scratchy.  I try to get a good night’s rest if that happens and cut the sugar out of my diet for a day or so.  This usually works but if I need a little boost I use a few spritzes of the Cold Ez spray.  Works like a charm every time.  J

This is just what worked for me but hopefully some of you find this helpful.  Especially if your doctor is having trouble putting together all of the pieces to what is making you sick. In my case it was numerous things.

Wizard World Philly and the Debut of Catwoman

So things have been crazy lately but in a good way. I had the pleasure of going to Wizard World Philly for the first time ever a few weeks ago.  Since it was a time for new firsts I thought it fitting to debute my Catwoman cosplay there.  I was pretty happy with the way it turned out.

I went with my good friend Jackie.  She does a lot of DC character cosplays like Harley Quinn and Nightwing.  You can see her stuff here at XaioyuCosplay.

Our hotel turned out to be right across the street from the con which was really convenient.  The first day we just scoped the place out and met with some of the vendors.  It was a good way to learn the layout of the convention.  The room was a suit too which made it even better.

Friday I did my Catwoman cosplay and Jackie did her Nightwing.  We had tons of fun running around the convention.  

One of the best things that happened that day was I got to meet James Marsters!!!!!!!!!

The coolest thing was he knew who we were!  That made me happy because most people know who Catwoman is but not as many know Nightwing unless you are into comics.  I had to get an extra copy of this picture for my mom.  When I told her she freaked out! lol!

There were lots of fun things to see at the convention.  They even had the old school Batmobile, Kit from Knight Ridder and the DeLorean from Back to the Future.

The people running the Batmobile booth liked us so much that they requested us to come back on Saturday to take more picture with the car.

I had a little freak out moment when I saw Kit.  I was so excited.  Luckily I was able to get lots of pictures with him. 

Saturday was the only day that conventions was super crowded.  I wasn't too bad though since the area was huge. 
I started off the day with my Bayonetta cosplay.  Surprisingly a lot of people knew who I was.  I wasn't sure if they would or not since Wizard World is primarily a comic convention.

I had fun running around.  The best quote of the day happened when I was walking past a group of con-goers.  One said "Awe snap! Bayonetta" and it made me laugh.

Later that day I changed back into Catwoman and Jackie and I went back to see the people at the Batmobile booth and got more pictures taken.  
There was another group of DC cosplayers there too and they looked amazing!  Turned out Jackie knew some of them.
We ended up hanging out with them for a good while.

Sunday was basically a get everything you didn't by before, pack up your stuff and go home kind of day.  

I didn't wan to leave because I had so much fun.  Wizard World had some of the nicest cosplayers I've ever met.  The vendors were awesome and there was so much to do!  I will definitely be going again next year!

Jake the Snake Roberts Meeting

This happened. My friend and I got called over to Jake the Snake's table at the ACW show.  He said he needed help with a necklace that was stuck.  We finally figured out how to unclasp it.  He gave us free t-shirts for helping and let us get pictures with him.  He told me I was beautiful! He was so awesome to meet in person!  I was completely star struck! lol

Spiderman Day

Hello!  Today was a Spiderman day!

I have a ton of updates I need to post but have not had the time.  Hopefully I will be able to get to it this week.  (Crosses fingers)

NipponCon 2014

Getting ready for Nipponcon 2014!  Come find me!  I'll be debuting my Hatsune Mike Cosplay as well as judging the cosplay contest at 7pm and helping out with the costuming panel right after. Will I see any of you there today?  :)

https://www.facebook.com/events/384849048285515/

Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale

What does a good father give his child for Christmas?  A shot gun of course!  It might sound like a terrible idea to most people, except for the fact that it will allow the child to defend himself from Santa Claus.  This is not you ordinary Santa though. This Santa is supernatural, likes ginger bread and punishes naughty children when he's not biting people's faces off.  He's also creepy as hell!   I did't want to post the trailer to this awesome movie because it honestly didn't do it justice.  It's one of those movies that draws you in and you can't stop watching it because you need to see what will happen next.  It's crazy and creepy, off the wall but all in all a great dark comedy with an interesting take on Christmas.  Thank you Netflix for the amazing suggestion of Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale!