Winter? Break

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J-chillin in my backyard

Hi, hello, Shalom, Bonjour, it’s been a while, hasn’t it? My apologies for ghosting you all, but I finally finished all of my work for the semester and am officially one semester away from my Bachelor’s degree. You read that correctly.

One. More. Semester.

This semester, like all others before it, brimmed with ups and downs equivalent to those of The Old Man and the Sea. Except, the big fish I follow is my diploma. El oh el. How is that for deep (sea fishing, jk ok I’ll stop).

While I sit in Florida in the 80-degree weather, pondering what the future holds, I am forced to take a break from my constant over-thinking and acknowledge the amazing last four months. I made new friends, saw old ones, and continued to love each and every one of you amazing readers.

Because, like… how I have 1500+ readers is beyond me. #blessed

(But really still don’t know how that is even possible.)

I hope that my words have been a few things for all of you readers. I want to be helpful, entertain, show a new perspective, among other things. I write for my own gain, in that i find it therapeutic and it’s one of the only things I know how to do. (The jury is still out on whether I write well. Clearly I am nervously awaiting my final grades).

This post is basically a testament to how scatter-brained I am post-semester. I can barely focus on the current CNN info session on how wrong Trump is–I won’t even broach that subject here, so don’t you worry.

Anyways, I hope all is well with you beautiful people. Expect another post in the next week.

Stay Classy, sassy and beautiful!

xoxo

 

A 2nd Diabetic Thanksgiving

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IMG_6228.JPGHappy belated Thanksgiving to all of you and your loved ones! This year, my second Thanksgiving with a diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) proved another difficult feat, with another year of carbohydrate filled goodness that is a Goldman holiday.

I’m not complaining, just wishing for a working pancreas, or even a bionic one (hint hint wink wink). Anyways, I digress. Like every other year my amazing chef of a mom made a scrumptious sweet potato concoction,  brussels sprouts, stuffing, roasted veggies and of course my dad made the turkey. Not to mention my grandma’s infamous stuffed mushrooms and baked brie. When I say baked brie, I meant hat she literally baked a brie inside of a pastry lined with some kind of sweet and savory filling. I still am not entirely sure what was in that dish, but it was so amazing it doesn’t matter. Thanks grandma!

So, naturally I’ve been coasting on high blood sugar the last three days, coming down every five or so hours only to have a smidge of pumpkin or chocolate pecan pie. Yes, you read that right, my mom’s chocolate pecan pie is so good that one of my cousins wrote a college essay about the dessert. el oh el, classic Greg.

Having a one track food mind, I naturally forgot to take a picture of the table with all of the food, but managed to get a shot in before we destroyed the various pies.

After what I believe is my fourth meal concerning Thanksgiving leftovers, and the continuous highs associated with said diet, I can honestly say that I am missing the old days where I only felt bad about my growing waistline, and not the two arrows pointing up on my glucose monitor showing that my blood sugar is rising faster than Kanye’s ego. I’m reminded of silly worries like what to purchase for my friends for secret santa this year or getting solid grades at the end of the term. Don’t get me wrong, this things still worry me, but now everything pales in comparison to the constant struggle of a day-to-day life with this disease. I am well aware of the plethora of diseases and medical issues out there that are far worse than mine. I know thousands, probably millions also struggle with T1D, but all of these factors do not make me feel better. It drives me into a sort of frenzy thinking of all that can go wrong with the human body. I feel for those worse off than I, not glory in the fact that I was dealt a better hand.

So, this holiday season I am grateful for the family and friends that make me laugh through the highs and lows, and make me remember what it’s like to just not worry for a few hours. Not worry about myself, my health, others, my friends, the world, and just sit back and watch countless hours of What Not To Wear. Because if there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s that Clinton and Stacey are singlehandedly made the world a prettier place.

Falling into Fashion

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I want to take a minute to say that I hope every reader is safe and sound reading from their homes right now, surrounded by the ones you love, and for those who have lost so much, I hope you find peace.

In the wake of all that is happening out there in the big bad world, I thought i’d lighten things up with a post on fall fashion- specifically my favorite pieces this season. I know what you’re thinking: winter is coming, why is this chick talking about fall? Answer: because many of this season’s key pieces can transition into the next season. Also, better late than never, amiright?

As usual, my paparazzi aka the amazing Cara Difabio took all of these pictures pro bono so throwing some major love her way.

If you’ve seen me around campus during the oddly warm Boston weather these past few weeks, odds are that I was wearing the below vest, courtesy of Nordstrom Rack. It’s soft, warm and definitely worth the purchase. Don’t worry haters, it’s faux.

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It’s magic

I’m really into neutrals this season, because I tend to go for a bold lip and texture-patterned sweater to spice things up a bit. The pattern derives form the different textures of the sweater, so it’s not overpowering with the vest.

The jeans are dark wash from Joe Fresh, beanie Forever 21, sweater H&M (i think?) Hair: magic. This photo is either evidence of my powers to levitate, or Cara’s latest use of a new high-powered lens. You decide.

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The look goes from day to night with this Forever 21 leather jacket.

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This sweater may give me no shape, but lately I’m super into shopping in the Men’s section for the whole sweater life. This particular snugg sweater can be found at Urban Outfitters.

No shame, this is real this is me. It’s soft, extra large and completely warm. In the colder days I’ll throw this sweater on over my fleece-lined leggings and snow boots with my snow jacket. Boom, just made that a winter outfit! Take that. These boots are actually from an impromptu stop at Kohl’s during a road-trip to visit the twin.

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Throw a leather jacket over it to give it a little shape and ‘tude. Sometimes I like to pretend I’m badass. El oh el.

These pieces themselves might not be too fall, but with the addition of the maroon beanie and lipstick, these outfits constitute some of my fall essential looks.

Anywho, hope you enjoyed this fall fashion update. Special thanks again to Cara for being an awesome photog and an even better friend.

Check out more pics below.

Stay warm classy and sassy beautiful people and have a Happy Thanksgiving for those Americans reading!

XOXO

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#Diabetethis: Part 2

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PC: Cara Difabio Click on the photo to check out her website.

PC: Cara Difabio
Click on the photo to check out her website.

Here it is guys…. the moment you’ve all been waiting for… Part 2 and the final installment of Diabetethis. Well, tbh, I might continue this diatribe because it’s fun and therapeutic. So, this might not actually be the last installment, but just the second installment. I digress. I hope you enjoy this part, and again hope that no one party is affected by any of my words below.

When I turned 20, after my initial diagnosis, I did not get a birthday cake. I got smiles tinged with sympathy and pity. I’ve never been one to enjoy people’s pity. I prefer to make my bed and lay in it, so to speak. But this, this disease that hit me at such a late age compared to my T1D (Type 1 Diabetic) counterparts, this thing that has come to be such a large and overwhelming part of my life, changed me. I am no longer the giggling girl with no care in the world (not that I ever was, but it’s nice to see some options!). Now I am constantly thinking of the consequences of what I eat, drink and even do physically. I can no longer go for a long walk when I feel like it, I have to eat an hour before and hope my blood sugar doesn’t get too low.

Shit, that reminds me. Dang it. UGH. Okay so after walking that mile to class and giving myself insulin for that high blood sugar from an hour ago my blood sugar is now 100, dropping like it’s hotter than Snoop diggity-dawg. Great. Now I look like an idiot eating my squeezable applesauce.

Oh wait, I don’t care.

Yeah, that’s right group of tall man-child basketball players walking by staring at my snack of choice. What? You’ve never seen a 21-year-old woman eating squeezable applesauce on the go? Yeah, look away, that’s right. Mhm. Okay. Good.

I sit down in a quiet area of the GSU, close my eyes and hope that this feeling like the world is going to open under my feet will go away soon. Come on applesauce, do your magic. I hear those two familiar, loud, obnoxiously terrifying beeps coming from my glucose monitor, telling me that my blood sugar is low and basically for me to get my shit together.

I get it. I am trying here, work with me pancreas. I know you’re kind of done and all, but maybe you could do me a solid and just make my life a tad easier?

I open my eyes to see the girl across from me eating what can only be described as a plate of diabetes. We’re talking curly fries, fried chicken and a large milkshake. Jesus, I can feel my pancreas laughing at me from within. Life is so unfair. I can’t stop staring. I want that milkshake. I want that meal. I want that carefree life that, alright, let’s admit it, could potentially lead to the other less dangerous, more common cousin of T1D, type 2. Type 2 sucks, because it’s somewhat preventable and reversible. So if you get type 2, you know it’s partially….maybe….your fault. With type 1 at least I know that my pancreas quit on me, taking the guilt of this major health problem out of my hands. I let out a small laugh, towards the girl’s ironic food choice, the situation, and who knows, maybe even the big guy upstairs. Thank you Lord for giving me a sense of humor and irony.

All I seem to think about these days is this disease. Comparatively, it’s not even that bad. But the real question is: when will it become such an integral part of my life that I won’t have to think about it anymore? At what point will I be able to sit down for a meal and not worry. I worry so damn much. I am tired of worrying, but at the same time, it’s the worry that keeps me sane. I need the worry to let me know that there was a before. It gives me hope that there might be an after. I hope for that cure.

Woah ok where did the time go? Time to get started on my Comparative European Politics homework. Oh, yay, glad that this week’s reading only consists of 150 pages, as opposed to last week’s 180. Things are looking up.

I sigh, I go get a salad from loose leafs and am actually content with my spinach, health-filled meal. Yeah, I can be healthy. I don’t even want a milkshake anymore. Keep telling yourself that, Em. You got this. One meal at a time.

Hope you enjoyed this part 🙂

Stay beautiful and warm peeps!

XOXO