Page 365...........You Beauty!!!!

Being the last day of 2014, I thought it was only fitting that I write my final post of the year. 2014 has certainly thrown challenges my way - health playing a huge part. But all challenges do have a tendency to be overcome and that I did!!!!!

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Being diagnosed with Diabetes Type 2 over a year ago, I didn't take it too seriously. "I will be fine", I convinced myself. I got through Gestational Diabetes and was injecting insulin for the last two pregnancies - over 10 years ago now - I was going to see this disappear as well.

I recall the Doctor's recommendations:

* You must exercise Sandra - at least go for a half hour walk each day.  FAIL
* You need to monitor what you are eating Sandra.  FAIL.    Did someone say CAKE???
* Sandra, you need to lose weight. BLAH BLAH BLAH.  FAIL

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I was invincible. I will be fine. I will lose weight. One day. When Im ready. Arrrggghhhhh F%$K it.

So for the next year my health went spiralling out of control. If I could sleep all day - if anyone could only let me - I could sleep. Lethargy, no energy, depression, no emotions - recipe for disaster really.

So picture this, I'm doing bridal make up and I go to pop on some lashes. I can't see what the hell I'm doing. I blink a few times to get my vision back but it remained blurry. You would think this set alarm bells ringing.

I continued with life as best as I could. There was no such thing as a break from life. I had a family to keep together and a small business to run. I soldiered on. I sucked it up like a true princess. If only I could cry, perhaps I wouldn't feel so numb.

I turned to wearing my reading glasses full time as I needed to put those damn lashes on all of my clients.

Any normal person would have taken themselves to the Doctors by this stage. Well not Sandikay. Glutton for punishment I am.

Then it happened. I just wanted to sleep, sleep and more sleep. I wanted to run away to avoid conversation with anyone. It was way too difficult to keep a conversation going, even for me - Miss always talkative.

My eldest daughter, who works in a Pharmacy, suggested I go see the Nurse who was coming into the chemist to discuss Diabetes Management. It was $10 - what did I have to lose - except having to dress myself and make myself look half decent.

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I took myself off to the Nurse. Lovely lady but ironically a large lady herself. Go figure (no pun intended). We talked and she noted down my history. Then came the finger prick test for blood glucose.

BOOOM!!!!!!!!

Her facial expression said it all. "Let me do it again Sandra, as I think there may be an error" she whispered.

And there it was. The beginning of WAKE UP AND SMELL THE ROSES SANDIKAY. My blood glucose reading was 28. Normal is 7-8. See I told you all I wasn't normal!!!!! According to the medical team I was seeing, I should have been in a diabetic coma.

It was the wake up call I had been anticipating. I don't want to die young because of my diabetes. I don't want to go blind, lose a limb or more importantly, not be around. WHO WOULD DO EVERYONE'S MAKE UP???????

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From that moment, drastic action was taken and 6 months on I can happily say I'm feeling fabulous, I have energy (a little too much some days - hyper), I've lost 10kg and 10cm around my waist and my diabetes is under control. Oh and my eye sight improved only a couple of weeks later.

So why am I boring you peeps with this? It's about AWARENESS peeps. Some of you may be feeling what I experienced in the past - lethargy, depression, light headiness, weight gain & just feeling CRAP!

Get yourself to your GP. Don't wait till it gets better, because as I learnt, it doesn't get better. A simple blood test can help with diagnosis.

Don't think you are alone. Reach out for help. You aren't weak for wanting help. Do it!

So I bid 2014 farewell, and thank this year for opening my eyes and my heart to LIFE.

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Wishing you all a fabulous, healthy and peaceful 2015 and thank you all for your support in reading my blog.

Until next year..............8 hours away........... keep SMILING.........IT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU :-)

SK x

Hubby & I

HAVE A BIT OF SOLE .......take care of your feet.

FEET. There I said it. I don't necessary like feet, but I looooooovvveee someone massaging my feet and I loathe unruly toenails. You know the type I am talking about........nail polish only gracing the tiny pinkie.  Okay okay, I'm guilty of having feet look like that. But, in my defence, it is only during the winter months. Socks usually hide them.......socks and thongs. Yes a wonderful image I have just painted you.

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Don't laugh......I bet you have worn these too.

 

Why do so many neglect their feet. I mean, they carry us around all day long and then we don't care enough about them to give them a pampering.

In order to wear your strappy, open toe heels this holiday season, here are Sandikay's top tips to dress those babies up.

* Get a pedicure. Do one yourself if you must. Get those nail beds ready for some bling, or in foot language - a coat of nail varnish. Be sure to choose a Salon that adheres to State Regulations in regards to Hygiene and cleanliness. You don't want to get any nasty foot or nail disease. Any hard callouses or corns should be seen to by a professional. Go and see your Podiatrist - most are covered by Medicare here in Australia.

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* Clean under the free edge of each toenail. Get rid of the black fluff - left overs from the black socks you wore in winter no doubt.

* Use a cuticle softener to get rid of the skin excess around the nail groove.

* Be sure to cut / file straight across the nail so you avoid getting an ingrown toe nail.......ouch.

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* Buff your nail beds until you hear that squeaky sound - then you know you have buffed them up nicely and they appear very shiny. This also assists in the removal of yellowness left from nail varnish and smooths out any ridges you may have developed on the nail plate.

Pic courtesy of Google Images

* Use a base coat and let it dry before you paint on the varnish. Choose nice bright colours for summer - pinks, oranges and reds. Two coats of varnish is recommended  followed by a top coat. OR you can purchase my favourite brand of the moment - VINYLUX. No base coat is needed. You paint two coats of the varnish on and then finish off with the Top Coat in the range. Vinylux is the latest for the CND range - the same people who brought you SHELLAC. Unlike Shellac, which requires a UV light and then soaking the polish off with acetone; Vinylux dries instantly and removes just like normal nail varnish. I love it. I'm addicted.

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* Don't forget those heels either ladies. You can't wear a gorgeous pair of Jimmy Choo sling backs and then have heels dry as. No fashionista would approve of this. Get the foot bath out and soak those babies. Then, lightly use a pumice stone to exfoliate that dead skin away. Don't rub too hard as you don't want to remove too much skin or your feet will feel sensitive to touch. Moisturise your feet. Try using a Heel balm at bed time. Pop on a pair of socks and let them soak in overnight. You will thank me later.

Pic courtesy of Google Images.

You don't want your heels looking drab in a sexy pair of heels. 

So those footsies are ready to party. Be kind to your feet. They will carry you to higher grounds.

Pic Courtesy of Google Images

SK x

THE BEAUTY OF CHRISTMAS.

I just have to mention the word CHRISTMAS and the response I get is either, "Can't wait", or "Please shooosh".

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I used to be the 'shooosh' girl but as I have gotten older matured, I realise it doesn't matter if I don't grab the right presents or the best turkey (FYI - lets pretend I cook a turkey.......I don't), its the time of year we celebrate the birth of Jesus - religious or not - and gather with loved ones and celebrate.

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CELELBRATION on the other hand, means wine, champers and cocktails!!!!!!!!! With your besties of course. A time to reflect upon the year that was and a time to just chill and talk to one another and EAT.  Did I mention EAT?????? OMG......... that one day of the year and somehow we all gain weight. It's like our brain tells us, "okay its Christmas - stuff your faces and gain some weight and we will worry about losing the extra kilos in the next 12 months". Arrrgggghhhh........ vicious circle I say.

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Now, I'm a last minute type of gal. I shop better under pressure so its fair to say I leave everything till the week of Christmas. I've been doing this for years and I'm not about to change now. People don't realise that some of the sales actually begin before the big day. So when I can grab the gift I intended to buy all along and I pay less, its a win-win situation.

Now for the part that I want to discuss. The stress that Christmas can cause is really brought upon ourselves. There is no rule you have to have the best tree, or the most expensive gift under the tree, or house filled with mistletoe (unless the pool boy is invited to your Christmas dinner - then I suggest you cover your entire ceiling with mistletoe). 

Everyone is too busy trying to impress everyone else and the stress begins to show. And by 'show', I mean hair pulling, crease lines deepen on the face, excessive alcohol consumption to lessen the stress and the ANXIETY and HEART PALPITATIONS. Really people????? Is all that necessary for one day. The true meaning of Christmas regardless of the religion you follow, has certainly dispersed and is lost somewhere amongst the tinsel and baubles.

Christmas time should be about chill time, celebration, spending time with the kids that you haven't seen because you have been flat out working, sharing stories, eating heaps but knowing its okay to indulge for one day and drinking loads of champers.

This is the path I'm going down this year. I hate worrying about having no money to satisfy the wants of others. I don't want to wear the crease lines or have my hair falling out from stress. I want to be happy, healthy and give thanks that I am alive and my family is safe and healthy. If Santa doesn't bring me a good gift now that I have encouraged happiness at Christmas time, I'll be disappointed!!!!!! Hope hubby reads this......... just saying??

To finish up, here are some survival BEAUTY TIPS to get you through the month of December so that you SHINE on Christmas Day!!!!!

* SLIP SLOP SLAP - yes peeps. Continue to put on SPF before you head off outside. The sun produces the strongest UV rays from 11am to 3pm. And don't forget, you must reapply the sunscreen every 2 hours for maximum protection.

* Get a facial - come to me..... lol - and give your skin a glowing platform to prepare you for the party season.

* Drink loads of WATER. It's important to keep hydrated especially if you are stressed during this season. I like to add ice cubes, lemon and lime to refresh my palette. Try drinking a glass of chilled water in between alcohol too.

* Go for a walk either first thing in the morning or late in the evening when its cooler, to clear your thoughts from all the mumble jumble.

* Go check out Sephora in Pitt Street Sydney........ this is a cheeky one but hey it doesn't hurt to go and have a look, play and perhaps make a few purchases for yourself or for pressies. Sephora will open this week on the 5 December 2015. It's a fabulous beauty shop where you will feel like you are in BEAUTY HEAVEN.

* Next party you attend, add some sparkle to your eyes. Glitter means fun. Even if you only pop it on under your bottom lash line, it will spell, FUN!!!!

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So please try and enjoy this time people. It only comes around every 12 months. Don't stress but relax!!!! Don't worry about keeping up with the Joneses or the Kardashians. Make it YOUR Christmas and YOUR special day.

Stay safe.

SK x