Greetings Celerians,

This afternoon, I spent time reading all of the cards and letters I received from you during my difficult journey. Every time I read them, I am touched, and I cherish the beautiful gifts and flowers I received. As I pray over all the cards each week, I ask God to bless all of you, for blessing me.

Several of you asked me questions, wanting to know more about my life — so here is a little bit more about who I am.

God spared my life the first time on the day I was born, in 1947.

My father and grandfather were the most influential people in my life. Both were Evangelists, gifted writers, poets, and storytellers. I inherited their love and passion for writing and for reaching out to lost, hurting people. I hope that people who cross my path in life will see God’s love shine through me. You cannot help everyone, but everyone can help someone.

Last week at tutoring club, a young boy gave his heart to Jesus. When he came to us last fall he was very sad and failing in school. His father had just been deported and he was giving up on everything. Now he is able to read and learning how to spell. He has confidence and a great bond with his tutor. He had a huge smile on his face when he told Denny and I that he loves Jesus. It brought tears to my eyes, because I could see how much pain he was in for so long — it’s a beautiful thing.

And it’s a beautiful thing when a broken mom wipes away her tears after hearing that she is worthy to be loved no matter what she’s done.

My favorite quote:

“One hundred years from now, it will not matter what kind of car I drove, what kind of house I lived in, how much money I had, nor what my clothes looked like - but the world may be a little better because I was important in the life of a child.” — Margaret Powers

Growing up in the fifties

In 1953, I was 6 years old when we moved to the country. Orchard Lane was a winding road with 19 families surrounded by cornfields, meadows, and a woods. We had an acre of land with 40 apple trees. There were always homemade apple pies and containers of ice cream in the freezer. My father loved gardening and planted vegetables, grapes, peach and plum trees, raspberries, and strawberries — I was spoiled.

We all had clotheslines in the backyard, and I always looked forward to hanging clothes with my mother in the summertime. In May, we would make “may baskets” for the other neighborhood moms, which were paper baskets with spring flowers and treats, left anonymously.

Those early years were spent running through cornfields and meadows, breathing the fresh country air, filled with the sweet fragrance of apple blossoms in the springtime. I remember standing on a stump in our yard, holding binoculars, as I watched my grandma walk through the field to our house, where we would peel apples all day. I would often sit under the trees with my dog Duke and throw them for him to catch, while I imagined cloud pictures.

My childhood is peppered with many favorite memories like reading the love letters my grandpa wrote my grandma (he wrote her one every morning), listening to my mother playing the ukelele, climbing up old silos with my friends, and walking through the woods hoping to find hidden treasures. Making dandelion bracelets and hunting 4-leaf clovers.

I’ll never forget the smell of my grandmother’s blueberry pies baking, or staying over on hot summer nights — talking for hours while looking up at the stars. My father, a pastor and carpenter, baptized me in the little chapel he built— and I used to love listening to him play the harmonica and helping him stack wood for the winter. When it snowed, we would make forts and snowmen, then go inside to warm up by my dad’s fire with hot cocoa and peanut butter cookies.

It was amazing growing up without cellphones, tv, social media, or video games.

A meaningful moment

When I was 13 years old, I remember walking through a meadow with a sea of wildflowers blowing in the breeze. It was as if they were dancing to a symphony just for me. I touched them. I smelled them. I talked to them, and picked some for my hair. It was a magical moment and I knew one day — I would live amongst the flowers.

And I did.

Denny and I fell in love with a dilapidated fixer upper at the top of a hill in the country— all you could see was hilly farmland for miles. It was the most peaceful place to watch a sunset or the storms roll in. We raised our kids there and planted every kind of flower, fruit, and vegetable you could think of.

The Simple Things

I’ve always loved the simple things in life. My favorite sounds are the wind whistling through pine trees, the sound of rain, a mourning dove, a crackling fire, distant thunder, and the bittersweet signal of cicadas reminding me that summer is ending. My favorite things are children’s books, picket fences, a snowy Christmas Eve, afternoon drives with my husband, twilight, hummingbirds swirling around my flowers, memories with my children, flags blowing in the wind, and walking through a garden.

A garden is my happy place. Rainy days are mesmerizing. Broken people are beautiful. And God is the master artist.

No Regrets

My third grade teacher told me I could be a writer someday. But my dream was to be a teacher.

I did not become either a writer or a teacher.

However, I was content and blessed to be a stay at home mom and gardener. Both were fulfilling and I have no regrets.

Who am I?

I am patriotic. A realist. Detail orientated. I believe words matter. I’m not adventurous or spontaneous, but totally content. I hate dishwashers and the internet. Bad with directions — I’m always going north. I love words — serene and tranquil are my favorites. I also love ravine, but don’t know why. I read every label twice. I’m a commonsense creative — truthful, and a worrier. A gardener, thrift store shopper, and finder of beauty in imperfection.

Peace

It was also in third grade that I read the Hellen Keller story. I was traumatized at the thought of going blind. From that day forward, I always thanked Jesus for my eyesight and I would take the time to notice and admire the beauty all around us. I was especially aware of the details and colors of flowers. I recall picking up a bird nest on the ground and appreciating its intricate beauty – I kept it for years and looked at it often.

Over the past three years, as my world became more dim and the colors began to fade, I was convinced I was going blind. But throughout my 18 month journey to diagnosis, God was in control. He raised people up to pray for me — even the nurses at Northwestern.

And all of you.

My surgeon was incredible and once again, my life was spared and my eyesight is being restored. God gets all the glory and praise.

In the twilight hours on the morning of my surgery — I asked Jesus what he wanted me to be thinking about. I was reminded of a dream from years ago. In the dream, I saw what I believed to be the hands of Jesus hovering over me —but I never knew what it meant.

Suddenly, a feeling of peace washed over me. I felt Jesus drawing me close to Him, and I saw His hands embracing the hands of my surgeon.

That’s what it meant.

Thank you, again, for taking time from your busy lives to write to me, to pray for me, and also to support Britteny. You all will always have a special place in my heart.

Always remember to take time –

To notice the flowers

To find a happy place

To bless someone each day

To keep kindness in your heart

To say “I love you”

To be silent and hear God

To appreciate nature

To make your world a better place

Much love,

Sherri

The doctor said, “When it’s time to get the cataracts removed, you’ll know it.” And in July of 2022, she knew it. Her vision was compromised and she had her left cataract removed. She was terrified. Since my childhood, I’ve known my mom is paranoid of losing her eyesight. She would always tell me how she read Hellen Keller as a kid and thought, I’d rather die than be blind. “I never take it for granted, I thank God everyday I can see,” she told me over and over. And much to my ongoing frustration —the one and only doctor she was ever diligent about going to was in fact, the eye doctor.

Everyone sought to encourage her, my father in law saying, “Oh, it’ll be great. You’ll wake up the day after surgery and you’ll see crystal clear!”

Except, she didn’t.

A few weeks post-op, I had been researching and told her to ask about a POC (secondary cataract that can occur post surgery) and turns out, she had one. Problem solved! It was removed — but still no improvement with her vision. We all chalked it up to needing more time to heal and so she postponed having the right eye done.

Nine months later, going blind

Fast forward nine months to March of 2023, my mom sat me down and said, “I need to update you on my eyes.” Immediately, I felt that pit in my stomach where you know you’re about to hear horrible news. “My eyes never got any better, and now they’re actually quite bad. I have a white haze over both eyes, they’re blurry, I’ve lost peripheral vision completely on the left eye, and the right eye still has a cataract.”

My heart sank.

I had noticed my mom had been kind of strange. Distant. Sad. My husband saw her trip over something in plain sight after he had pointed it out to her, and we just thought it was the second cataract needing to be removed. “I didn’t want to tell you because you’ll just worry and I have no answers. I’ve seen three retina specialists who all say my retina is fine. It’s not the glaucoma or AMD causing it,” she added.

She has always been a silent sufferer. I was furious, of course, because had she told me earlier, I would have reached out to everyone I knew to get possible answers or avenues to pursue. Little did she know, two weeks later we would be hit by a tornado so stress was coming for us one way or another.

Turns out, my mom’s eye doctor had been telling her to come back every four months since surgery, only to say “everything looks fine” and I have no answers as to why you can’t see. After their last appointment, he walked up to her in the hall with a pitiful stare and just said, “I’m so sorry.”

Despite him having no clue what could be wrong, he sent her to three different retina specialists until finally, she was referred to a cornea specialist who told her she need to see Neuro-Opthalmology. Burnt out and discouraged, I could tell she wasn’t wanting to do this.

After digesting the information I said, “Mom, remember when our dog went blind? And it ended up being inflammation from an infection around her optic nerve? Well, we caught it before it did permanent damage… so maybe this is something that can be fixed and time is of the essence.”

I honestly had no clue what this could be, but I was just trying to push her to get that appointment. And for some reason, I just couldn’t stop thinking about my dog.

MOthers Day meltdown

I hosted everyone at my house for Mother’s Day, knowing my dad was getting hip surgery the following week. After everyone left, I was clearing dishes from the dining room and I fell to the floor. Watching my mom’s personality fade away, seeing her shuffle around and grab on to people for stability, holding a magnifying glass to her one eye just to read anything. Witnessing her worst fear becoming reality— it was devastating. I prayed for a long time, begging God that whatever was going on with her, there would be a solution. A way to regain eyesight? This seemed such a far-fetched request, knowing she had been losing vision for almost two years.

A blunt appointment

Her appt was two weeks after my dad’s surgery, and I went with. The Neuro-Opthalmologist did lots of tests that confirmed just how bad her sight had gotten. Almost no peripheral vision in left eye, and now some loss in the right. My mom still couldn’t explain the white haze, but described it like looking through cellophane on a foggy day. No depth perception. Colorblind. When she looked at her optic nerve, the doctor saw damage to both eyes.

“Well, with the extent of damage, I would assume possible brain tumor,” the doctor bluntly said, which I both appreciated and hated.

My eyes turned toward my mom, sitting in the exam chair with her short legs dangling, and it was as if all the blood had drained from her already hopeless body in an instant.

Brain tumor? We were thinking at the very worst: stroke.

Fighting back the tears, my mom just nodded and we were sent on our way with instructions for an MRI. All the way home, I was reassured her there’s just no way — it’s obviously a stroke. “We’ll do some rehab, I bet you can get your eyesight back,” I said, lying even to myself.

bad news

It took three weeks for my mom to get into an MRI. The day before my birthday, I got a call at 9am. “So, we got the results….and… your mom… has a brain tumor,” my dad said in his best trying-to-hold-it-together voice.

I responded wtih my best trying-to-hold-it-together pep talk, hung up, and cried in my car that was still idling in the driveway. I immediately went into research mode about Meningiomas compressing optic nerves. My mom is 76, I thought, there’s no way she can have her head cracked open.

But less than a month later, that’s exactly what happened.

After consulting with one of the best Neurosurgeons in the country, my mom had a full on, 10-hour craniotomy. Possible outcomes: immediate blindness, death, any number of other neurological complications…. or, if all went absolutely perfectly, she could eventually regain some eyesight.

Wait. Regain eyesight?

Although this seemed to be the worst possible scenario available, it was the only one involving… a solution. Exactly what I had prayed for. And what many of you prayed for as well. As I was unraveling this information on Instagram I had HUNDREDS of people asking for my parent’s address so they could send my mom well wishes and prayers. It was unbelievable. Before, during, and post op my mom was getting cards everyday from all over the country — and even world.

I’ll never forget that act of kindness and what it meant to us.

waiting game

I’m certain if they told you what to expect after brain surgery, no one would do it.

The night before surgery, we were all in my mom’s hotel room downtown Chicago. I washed her hair with the sanitizing soap, and she laid on the edge of the bed, while I dried her hair and her heart beat a thousand miles a minute. You can’t help but think this could be the last time I talk to my mom. You don’t want to act like that though because you want them to believe they’re absolutely making it.

But the truth is, it’s impossible not to have doubts when you’re sending a 76 year old into one of the most complicated surgeries that exists. To say my mom was scared out of her mind would be the understatement of the century. My mom hadn’t even had labs done for 35 years. She despises hospitals and doctors.

But the only thing she was more scared of: going blind. And without brain surgery, that was a certainty.

Over 10 hours, and my mom was finally out. The surgeon felt good about the way it went, but described her tumor as a 9 out of 10 in terms of difficulty. Sticky, fibrous and wrapped around all her blood vessels and nerves. He felt confident he got it all except a small piece in the nasal cavity that wasn’t worth the risk.

POST OP

You go immediately from relief that they survived the surgery to dread and worry that they will have complications or infection. That night, we did see her as she was still very groggy and in much pain — she was whispering very profound statements. “I just want to use my eyes for Jesus and help these kids (in their tutoring club).” “I kept praying for God to remove this storm… but then I realized he wanted to walk through it with me.” “I feel bad I wasn’t stronger… this really took me down mentally. Your dad has been through alot.” “I wonder if I’ll be able to see the Christmas lights this year.”

She had told me, a few months prior, that when my dad put up her favorite ultra blue Christmas lights that year, they looked gray. She tried hard to pull it together and host Christmas— and she did, but admitted it was very hard. “Every day I woke up and my world was a little bit dimmer and no one knew why. You can’t imagine the stress I’ve had the last two years.”

The next day was brutal.

I’ve never seen so many things hooked up to someone. A drain coming out of her skull. Compression on her legs. At least 10 wires and IVs. Blood pressure cuff going off every 5 minutes. Her entire head and neck wrapped with gauze. A catheter. A ventilator that stuck to her face like a magnet. And when that someone is claustrophobic, this is really not great. She was on the verge of a panic attack when I pulled back the hot, humid ventilator and rubbed her face down with a cold rag saying, “this is to give your eyes the best chance of recovery.”

After five days in the ICU, my mom was transferred to home with a list of medications. She had gone from irritated and strange (the post op detox is wild) to upbeat and optimistic.

aftercare disaster

They don’t tell you what to expect. Periodt.

When my parents called after being dischaged, my mom was talking a mile a minute. She was upbeat, positive, and ready to heal and take her life back. I remember breathing the biggest sigh of relief thinking I could finally sleep at night without anticipating an emergency call.

Five days later, we had to call 911 because she was incoherent and delirious. After eight hours in the ER, we discovered dangerously low sodium levels, in combination with a UTI (which apparently in the elderly can cause delirium).

I’d later discover that both the drugs she was put on increase chances of low sodium and UTI — plus she had a catheter in the ICU — and no one told us to watch for any warning signs. They didn’t tell us anything, in fact, other than to alert them to any “drastic mental changes.” My dad was in communication with Northwestern all week, telling them she was slowly declining, couldn’t eliminate her bowels (which causes drugs to accumulate), increasingly irritated, no appetite, and not herself. They kept saying, it was just normal post surgery stuff. But finally, on the fifth day of that, my mom didn’t know who a friend of 25 years was and my dad called 911. Thank God he did. She was basically unconscious by the time they got there.

She spent another 5 days in critical care, until it was determined she could maintain proper sodium levels and her blood culture revealed she didn’t have widespread infection.

But, when she was finally on the upswing, she started looking up at the ceiling saying, “Do you guys see that? It looks like little orange squares of wallpaper with designs.” My first thought was oh boy, now she’s hallucinating. But my next thought was wait, she can’t see colors? Is something happening? And sure enough, the surgeon said that was her optic nerve coming back to life.

This ordeal was unnecessary and honestly set her back more than her surgery. She was really unwell, unstable, and so weak she couldn’t even bathe. Very unfortunate.

6 months post op

The hope and prayer was that after removing the tumor compressing the optic nerves, they could heal and return to their normal shape, which would result in vision improvement. With these types of tumors, the less vision loss, the great chance of recovery. My mom’s loss was extensive given she was disregarded by doctors for so long. We weren’t expecting much other than to stop the progression.

After an MRI, a Neuro-Opthalmology follow up, and meeting with her surgeon, we learned the following:

my mom has made progress on her eye tests: she can see more color, her visual field has improved (but still much loss in left eye), and her acuity improved a bit. Her imaging showed all tumor was removed, and the minor spot in her nasal cavity isn’t growing. She can expect some improvement up to a year, although most happens in first three months. She can remove the other cataract in a few months, which will help alot.

Tips and Takeaways

• if you’re experiencing issues with your eyes that can’t be diagnosed, you ask for more and more specialists and if your doctor doesn’t cooperate, you fire them.

• realize that brain tumor, especially Meningiomas, can be the cause of many mysterious issues from hearing and vision loss to hormone disfunction (if impacting the pituitary) and the sooner you rule that out, the less damage you’ll incur.

• brain surgery is one of the most intense things one could experience and who you choose matters. Highly recommend Northwestern as they have some of the most skilled in the country. I don’t believe we would have had the same result with most other surgeons.

• if anyone you know is headed for brain surgery, they need help. they need people at the hospital 24/7 to keep track of whats happening and they need help afterwards. And likely, not their spouse as they will already be so frazzled. They will be weak, still under affects of anesthesia, at risk of falling, and needing help with managing medications. My mom couldn’t remember what I told her 30 seconds afterward.

• if you receive a catheter at the hospital, please have them test for UTI before leaving. If not, test at home daily for a few weeks so you can catch the infection immediately.

• read every single that that accompanies your medications and ask the nurses before you leave what to watch out for. Surgery in an of itself can deplete sodium, and in combination with certain meds can have detrimental effects.

• take the laxatives post op and daily for 1-2 weeks after discharge as its so important to detox the meds and anesthesia but the bowels will be stuck.

• take electrolytes daily, the body will be depleted and this might also prevent the sodium drop.

• call 911 immediately if something doesn’t seem right. By the time you get them to the car, they might fall or something worse. They could pass out on route to the hospital and you won’t know what to do.

• don’t get frustrated. It can take up to a YEAR for someone to recover fully from brain surgery. They are still detoxing, their brain is rewiring, and they have experienced a major trauma. Like, major. For awhile, I was truly concerned my mom developed dementia in the weeks after. She was constantly emotional. It was wild. Have grace. Don’t panic.

lastly

Prayer works, thank you. We truly felt all the love and support — and believe that my mom’s journey from a successful, highly complicated brain surgery at 76 with recovery of eyesight— is nothing short of miraculous.

Disclaimer: I’m not a Doctor. This post may contain affiliate links.

So as you might imagine: it was perfect timing for a new health problem to pop up.

Over winter, I had noticed this little zit-like bump, right under my collarbone, mid-chest. Of course, since I’ve learned nothing since the age of thirteen, I tried to pop it. I applied all the zit creams. I applied a detox mask. It seemed to go away.

Then, it sort of came back as a little red scab the size of a pin. It itched off and on. Seemed again to go away. Sweater weather, meh.

Fast forward to May, I’m wearing tank tops and working in the garden, when it starts to seem more obvious? Continues to itch. Seems to be getting a little more red. And eventually, a raised circle starts to form. Basically, it looked like a raised pink bump with a tiny darker red scab on the side.

So, of course, I started to panic.

Finally, all the years of tanning beds and first of the season burns had caught up to me. Perhaps going on that Royal Caribbean Cruise in the middle of my 6-month Accutane journey, when I wasn’t ever supposed to expose my skin to the sun, has proven to be a bad idea afterall? Maybe being raised in the renegade 80’s with no concern for seatbelts or SPF or red dye laden drinks is alas taking its toll? Either way, Google spirals took me down some dark paths, but do they ever take any of us down happy, winding little paths?

My takeaway: Melanoma can look really scary. Or not. It can be a mole. Or not. It can look scaly. Or not. And it can also look like a red or pink bump with a sore that doesn’t heal.

So that’s super helpful.

Knowing both my Aunt and Grandma had skin cancers, I called as soon as I realized it was growing. No one could get me in for a month, but I didn’t settle and found an appointment in a week.

In the meantime, I was sent all kinds of wild info on Instagram, including about Amazon Black Salve —which is really fascinating and I ordered it immediately. Apparently, you can put it on skin cancers, worts, all sorts of things and it selectively chooses cancerous or abnormal cells and they kill off and fall out. Alot of people have said it is far more effective than the conventional methods of burning, freezing, or cutting, which doesn’t usually get all the cells. Read all about it here.

Note: this picture is POST cryotherapy.

My appointment

They took a look, and said it appeared to be pre-cancer. She froze it 3x with the liquid nitrogen and wants to see me in a month. If it’s not gone by then, they want to biopsy for potential cancer.

Lessons Learned

• The minute you notice something changing on your skin — go get it checked. Don’t let this be one of those things you put off — because if caught in the pre-cancer stage, it is so easy to treat. Melanoma is very rare, but still a possibility, but also treatable if you get it fast. Basil and Squamous cell carcinomas are quite common, and rarely spread from the site, especially in early stages.

• Go yearly for a skin check from Dermatology especially if you’re fair skinned and tanned yourself orange from 2005-2015.

• Skin cancer isn’t just MOLES. Please be aware it can look like sores or various bumps.

• Many times, skin concerns can be harmless conditions of actinic keratosis — they can simply remove this before there’s a chance of anything turning dangerous.

So am I going to avoid the sun?

No. The sun isn’t the problem. Without the sun, we couldn’t survive. Vitamin D synthesis is made from direct contact with the sun to our bare skin, and that is one of the biggest protectors against all cancers. In fact, if you look at Melanoma stats, the states with lower quantities of sun, have much higher rates of skin cancers.

BUT—

We should respect the sun. Intense burns and cumulative UV damage are what cause issues. Be smart in the sun. Avoid burns, and take extra precaution if you have fair skin.

Non-toxic sun protection I like (doesn’t make me break out!):

Marie Veronique protective day oil and tinted sunscreen

Erin’s Faces peptide face SPF and mineral sunscreen

Bare zinc oxide SPF

I also take Astaxanthin, which is an internal sunscreen to protect eyes and skin from UV radiation.

Pay attention,

Brit

Wondering who's the mysterious wordy genius behind these posts? Follow this little rabbit trail to read more About Me! The use of the term genius is open to interpretation.

I became specifically passionate about clean skincare back in 2013, when I started having health issues and my eyes were opened about the lack of transparency and regulation in the cosmetic and skincare industries. Through investigation, trial and error, and LOTS of money wasted — I’ve acquired a pretty great list of effective, clean skincare that I feel truly works.

First let’s start off with a refresher on the ORDER in which you use various skincare products because otherwise you might not be getting the benefits. You might not use all these steps, but this is the proper order regardless.

If using retinol:

1. Oil cleanser (assuming you double cleanse)

2. Regular cleanser

3. Toner: helps to remove excess makeup/ dead skin

4. Retinol serum: if using, this needs to be on dry skin unless you are very sensitive then put after moisturizer

5. Serums: starting with clearest and ending with most opaque

6. Cream / lotion moisturizer

7. Oils

If not using retinol:

1. Oil cleanser (assuming you double cleanse)

2. Regular cleanser

3. Toner: helps to remove excess makeup/ dead skin

4. Hydration spray: if not using a hydrating toner, consider a mist. if skin is moist, it will absorb products better - think of a sponge

5. Serum: starting with clearest and ending with most opaque

6. Cream / lotion moisturizer

7. Oils

Oils are always the last step in any skincare routine because nothing else will be able to penetrate beneath them. They also seal everything in and provide a deeper level of moisture that creams cannot.

I’m going to list items of various price points for each category.

First let’s discuss double cleansing. This is a Korean method that starts by massaging oil into the skin to remove makeup and attract oils (chemistry!) and then gently steaming off with a hot rag and wiping clean. Then, you follow after with a traditional cleanser.

Cleansers

Oil Cleansers: if you are double cleansing, you can simply use a plain oil like jojoba. If you are not double cleansing but choose to use an oil only, it would be better to use an oil cleanser. Note: I do not recommend coconut oil for the face. The molecule size is too large and it can clog pores.

Organic Jojoba Oil (acne prone)

The Ordinary Cold Pressed Rosehip Oil (acne prone)

Green Envee Purify Botanic Cleansing Oil

First Aid Beauty 2 in 1 Cleansing Oil

Marie Veronique Essential Oil-Free Cleanser (if you have very sensitive skin, avoid essential oils!)

Agent Nateur Cleansing Face Oil (any type)

Regular Cleansers:

Clearstem Clean Cleanser (15% off w/ link)

First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Cleanser (sensitive skin, any type)

GOOP Cloudberry Exfoliating Cleanser (any, acne prone — it has very small non-irritation scrub beads if you love that kind of thing!)

Erin’s Faces Charcoal Purifying Cleanser (oily, acne prone)

First Aid Beauty Red Clay Deep Cleanser (acne prone, oily)

Glow Recipe Gentle Blueberry Cleanser (any, sensitive)

Green Envee Clarify Cleansing Gel (acne prone, any)

Erin’s Faces Soothing Aloe Cleanser (normal /combo / sensitive)

Drunk Elephant Jelly Cleanser (any, sensitive)

Agent Nateur Lactic Acid Face Wash (brightening, acne prone)

Green Envee Illuninate Enzyme CleansingPowder

Toners

Thayers Unscented Witch Hazel Toner (any skin type - I like to use after cleansing to get all extra residue off)

Thayer’s Milky Toner with Snow Mushroom Hyaluronic Toner (any skin type — I layer this on after the witch hazel to add moisture back in. I leave only this on before applying makeup, it just gives a great moisturized skin without feeling like any product)

Indie Lee CoQ10 Brightening Toner

Dr. Ceuracle BHA Tea Tree Toner (my all time favorite Korean beauty product — this completely removes all dead skin cells while not drying out the skin. Fantastic for acne prevention and smooth, radiant skin)

Farmacy Brighten Up TXA toner — this is great if you have rosacea as it’s gentle and contains azelaic acid and PHA only.

Serums

Hydration:

Clearstem Cellrenew Serum (15% off w/ link)

Drunk Elephant B Hydra Serum (hyalyronic + B5)

Reviva Labs Intercell Hyaluronic Acid Night Gel (a winter MUST. Just a tall drink of water for your skin)

The Ordinary Hyaluronic + B5

Summer Fridays Dream Oasis Deep Hydration

Agent Nateur Holi Water (more expensive, but ingredients sourced from Europe and lasted me about a year)

Marie Veronique Barrier Restore Serum (repairs compromised skin barriers from overuse of harsh acne products, or overly dried/ inflamed skin)

Odacite All Embracing Serum (any skin type, long lasting hydration)

Brightening / soothing / acne:

Clearstem CLEARITY / Blackhead Dissolver (15% off w/ link)

First Aid Beauty 10% Brightening Serum

Marie Veronique C + E + Ferulic

Drunk Elephant C-Firma Serum

Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum

Marie Veronique Soothing B3 Serum (redness, acne, hyperpigmentation)

The Ordinary Niacinamide + Zinc (acne prone / oil control / brightening)

Anti-aging:

Clearstem No Botox Serum (15% off w/ link)

First Aid Beauty Retinol Complex Serum

First Aid Beauty Bounce Boosting Serum

Marie Veronique Gentle Retinol Serum (great for anyone with sensitive skin who hasn’t tolerated retinols well)

Marie Veronique Multi-Retinol Night Emulsion (occular tested for sensitivity, microbiome friendly)

Drunk Elephant Polypeptide Cream

First Aid Beauty Firming Collagen Cream

Frownies facial patches (tried Botox, no thanks! these work great!)

Moisturizers

Clearstem Hydraglow Moisturizer (15% off w/ link)

Clearstem Hydraberry Moisturizer (15% off w/ link)

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Lotion (GREAT for eczema, skin irritations)

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Oil Control Moisturizer

Summer Fridays Oil Free Cloud Gel

Drunk Elephant Polypeptide Cream

FIrst Aid Beauty Coconut Water Gel

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream

OILS

Oils, I truly believe, are the fountain of youth. Don’t be scared if you have oily or acne prone skin — you will adjust and your skin will thank you!

Sky Organics Rosehip Oil

Now Solutions Marula Oil

The Ordinary Rosehip Oil

Desert Essence Jojoba Oil (jojoba is most similar to skin sebum, so start with this to adjust your skin to oils!)

The Ordinary Marula Oil

Eyes

Green Envee Renew Eye Complex

Green Envee Eye Gel (great for daytime, tightening and cooling)

Ursa Major Forest Alchemy Eye Cream

Erin’s Faces cooling eye gel

Thrive Causemetics Defying Gravity Eye Lifting Cream (the only eye cream I use under makeup!)

Glow Recipe Avocado Melt Retinol Sleeping Mask

Frownies under eye gel patches

Exfoliating / Treatments / Masks

Naturopathica Manuka Hydrating Gel Mask

First Aid Beauty Radiance Pads

GOOP Microderm Instant Exfoliator

Clearstem Hydraberry Mask (dry, rosacea, sensitive) (15% off w/ link)

Lerosette Spot Treatment and Mask (clears your zits overnight! only minerals and water)

Hydrating Korean Sheet Mask (the #1 sheet mask in Korea - it’s truly amazing!)

Origins Clear Improvements Clay Mask

First Aid Beauty Oatmeal Mask (dry, sensitive, irritated)

Lips

Ole Hendrickson Peptide Pout Preserve

Naturopathica Cherry Lip Butter

Ilia Overnight Lip Treatment

Lanolips Overnight Treatment

SPF

Erin’s Faces Peptide Face SPF

Erin’s Faces Mineral Body SPF

Marie Veronique Tinted SPF

Clearstem Broad Spectrum SPF (15% off w/ link)

Marie Veronique Protective Day Oil

Wondering who's the mysterious wordy genius behind these posts? Follow this little rabbit trail to read more About Me! The use of the term genius is open to interpretation.

Election season, remember that? Seems like a lifetime, yet it was only a year and a half ago we were all at each other’s throats and losing friends in the Facebook comments section over our beliefs. And I did — indeed — lose friends. Did you? One in particular was quite a loss, and I’m not sure when I’ll recover, but that day certainly hasn’t reached me yet. I can say that I never have cut someone out of my life for their beliefs — but all this has made me realize that I need someone equally as accepting of me. So was it really the friendship I thought it was, if I wasn’t allowed to be my true self? Probably not. But it was definitely something.

I read hundreds of messages on my Instagram from people saying they had also lost friends — and worse yet, family over this political season. And I just want you to know: I’m sorry. It’s such a senseless loss. We have to learn how to listen to and accept each other.

Quarantine was interesting. I basically shut myself in for two years for fear of passing Rona to my parents. Historically, I’m a very social person, thriving on human connection. However, I think something changed during these past two years — maybe in part due to the natural drifting of friends and the unfortunate loss of others. It has put me into a different mindset, like maybe life is easier when you’re less connected. Have you experienced the same?

Friendships are interesting and I sort of put them into two categories: soul connections and drifters. The problem with the former is they make life worth living, but they are nearly impossible to find. The drifters, on the other hand, are everywhere. They remind me of a summer fling— you fall hard and fast, spend all your time together, make a bunch of premature future plans until one day, something stupid happens and you never speak again. All that energy: wasted. All those amazing memories: instant sadness. All the cute pictures you took after 75 tries: delete. Is it worth it? I’m not sure.

The soul connections happen differently — evolving more slowly, over time. They navigate rough terrain and come out unharmed. Even better sometimes. They’re the people who see you, who get you, and who love you in spite of.

And it hurts like hell when you lose em.

Sometimes I see myself headed for a more isolated life and for the first time — I might be okay with that. Me, Cole, a greenhouse full of flowers, a laptop to write on. Throw in some snowbird action from January-March and we’re set.

Oh yeah, we moved. After a 3 year long search, we closed on a house in January 2021. This was actually a good time to move, given there was nothing else to do. Needless to say, we initially thought the house didn’t need much work and we were sorely mistaken. I knew this before— but living in chaos just isn’t my jam. I don’t thrive, in fact, I want to jump out the window at all times.

I couldn’t even list all the things we’ve done — from mold remediation, to rewiring the house, to replacing the insulation, to building upstairs laundry, and painting almost the entire exterior ourselves (literally couldn’t get anyone to call us back). We are just now completing the main level, and moving on to the upstairs.

So I quite my career. Yea, I think 11 years of wedding photography is probably enough for anyone. Cole and I had some great clients and experiences, but will be happy to have summer weekends back for good. During quarantine actually, I started getting some ideas about what my next venture will be. And although I can’t discuss it just yet — it does involve writing and I think you’re going to love it. In case I get kicked off social media (likely any day now) sign up for my newsletter and I’ll tell ya where I land.

And just as we thought Rona is letting up — there’s a war breaking out across the world.

What a crazy couple of years, and in a few months… I’ll be 40. Talk about crazy. I don’t feel a day over 63, what a blessing.

Of course I am joking — we have much to be thankful for, a few things to be sad for, and a lot to pray for. It was good to get some of those thoughts out of my head, thanks for listening.

xoxo,

Brit

My Sneaky Covid Story

In these “uncertain and unprecedented times” I think there’s one thing we can all agree on: every time we have a cough, we think it’s Rona coming for us.

Well, last week, all the paranoias of the last eight months came to fruition, and Covid finally came for me and my husband. It was a sneaky little wolf dressed up as a flu-like sheep and it fooled both of us.

On Monday night, I started getting body aches, fatigue, and chills — pretty intense — but no other symptoms besides a slight dry cough and feeling a big congested. The only thing that seemed odd was thigh pain that made it hard to walk up the stairs. Everyone makes such a big deal about fevers — but I never had one.

Cole’s symptoms were delayed and completely different. On Wednesday, he started getting a tickle in his throat, then had a little head congestion.

I didn’t want to throw myself into a panic, and after talking to some local friends — I attributed our symptoms to the Influenza A going around. My symptoms started getting better after 4 days, which is pretty consistent with the trajectory of flu. But THEN, I lost my sense of smell. Cue small panic where I frantically stuck my nose into every spice jar we had, and then some minced garlic. Nothing.

Finally, Saturday, a friend of ours tested positive for Covid, and Cole immediately got a rapid test, which was also positive.

OK, so then I ACTUALLY panicked.

It’s funny — I spent eight months being paranoid about this pandemic, and then when I actually got it — I didn’t even know it. And that’s exactly why I’m writing this for you today.

I’m happy to report, even though I thought I had the flu, I still started treating as if it were Covid. My symptoms were completely resolved by day 6, and full recovered by day 10, as were my husband’s. Days 7-10 are what you really want to look out for, when the body can create the cytokine storm if the virus is not under control.

Why Early Intervention is Key with Covid-19

The good news is — the mutation of the virus is leading to higher contagion levels, but less severe cases. The downside — is this, combined with flu season, could lead to a lot of people not even knowing they have it. *raises hand* Covid requires an early, aggressive treatment, even if not hospitalized. There’s many things this virus does behind the scenes to the heart and lungs specifically, long after symptoms are gone. A year later, studies now show the SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins cause vascular endothelial damage via downregulation of ACE2. That’s a fancy of way of saying: this is why people have so many heart related side effects with Covid. It’s really more of a vascular disease. This article breaks that down in a more easy to understand language.

After doing a deep dive into research, speaking with ICU nurses and doctors at research hospitals, and many recovered Covid patients this past week, I have truly seen the importance of early intervention. If this virus isn’t attacked within the first 5 days of infection and it is allowed to rapidly replicate, that is when you can end up with immune disregulation (we’ve all heard of the cytokine storm) and why they also say days 7-10 are the most precarious. This is when you see people needing steroids or ventilation.

We all know that the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions are high risk — but what research seems to be showing about “long haulers,” is it’s those with autoimmune issues (or chronic issues like Lyme, MS, etc) who are at very high risk for this immune disregulation to happen. There’s a great article by Time Magazine on Covid “long haulers” here.

UPDATE: additional article here on how to diagnose and get help for long haul covid.

Covid is an interesting virus, and the science shows that as viral load starts to decline, the inflammation rises. So again, whether a mild or severe case, days 1-5 are when you really need to target viral replication through anti-virals, zinc, etc. Days 6 and beyond are when the inflammation rises, especially if the viral load got out of hand.

Supplement + Dosing Protocol for Covid-19

This is a comprehensive list of interventions compiled from the latest research, doctors, and friends of mine working in Covid hospitals. This is what I am following, but again, this is just for informational purposes — please seek your doctor’s advice. If at any time your symptoms go from mild to more severe, or you get tightness or shortness of breath — please head to the ER.

I have several studies supporting this protocol, cited below in the RESOURCES section. I cannot express enough the importance of having these things on hand so you can treat IMMEDIATELY. A lot of these dosing recommendations have come from the EVMS Critical Care Covid Protocol.

1. CHELATED ZINC (15-30mg preventative / 75-100 daily in split doses if infected /never take on empty stomach to avoid nausea -wait hour after eating) Chelated simply means it’s bound to a mineral for better absorption. Zinc ideally should also have copper as the two go together.

   We’ve been hearing about zinc since day 1, why? Because it prevents viral replication and helps regulate immune function. The problem is — it’s very hard for zinc to penetrate into the fatty walls of the cells. Therefore, it needs a ionophore (zinc transport molecule) like quercetin, EGCG, or even Hydroxychloroquine.

2. QUERCETIN + EGCG (250mg preventative / if infected, 500-1000mg daily)

   The zinc is the freight and this is the train that will usher it into your cells. Quercetin not only helps prevent viral replication by transporting zinc into the cells, but it has several other jobs outlined in this article such as: reducing infected cells’ resistance to treatment with antiviral medication, inhibiting platelet aggregation — and many COVID-19 patients suffer abnormal blood clotting, promoting SIRT2, thereby inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasome assembly involved with COVID-19 infection. There are countless studies supporting the antiviral properties of quercetin, in both in vitro and in vivo experiments — many are listed in this study, which discusses the synergistic therapy of quercetin and vitamin C together.

3. ASCORBIC ACID (500-1000mg preventative daily / if infected, see Doris Loh protocol)

   There’s a whole body of research by independent medical researcher, Doris Loh, regarding ascorbic acid for Covid treatment: here, here, here, here. I first heard of Doris Loh by an ICU nurse who works at a Covid research hospital — she said many hospitals follow her protocols. There is also alot of research pointing to the synergistic relationship between quercetin and ascorbic acid.

   Not only is the ascorbic acid important for its anti-viral properties, but for protecting the heart. Covid causes many cardiac issues, some of which happen immediately and some many months down the road.

4. VITAMIN D3 (4,000IU preventative / if infected, 10,000 IU daily or more if low)

   Vitamin D3 has a whole host of benefits for the body from immunity to hormone function and regulating calcium/ phosphate. It should be taken daily with K2, which helps prevent calcification of arteries. A study recently showed that 80% of Covid patients were deficient in Vitamin D. Most doctors are now monitoring Vitamin D on labs and recommending it proactively for Covid, but if infected, many are recommending the “vitamin D hammer.” Per the influenza study, “this is a 1-time 50,000 IU dose of vitamin D3 or 10,000 IU 3 times daily for 2 to 3 days. The results are dramatic, with complete resolution of symptoms in 48 to 72 hours.” Clear with doctor beforehand if concerned.

5. PEPCID AC (20-40 preventative / if infected, 40mg daily —reduce if renal impairment)

   Possibly the weirdest of all the Covid treatment discoveries, Pepcid AC is show to help in quite a few new studies. I took note of all the things they gave the President, and this was one of them.

   While PPIs like Prilosec were associated with a 2-3x increase in death and complications, Famotidine (Pepcid AC) was shown in several studies to help improve outcomes. They are still studying this, but believe it partly has to do with antiviral properties, and also with its ability to block histamine, which aids in putting a hault to the cytokine storm the body creates to prevent the virus from further replicating.

6. MELATONIN (2mg preventative daily / 10mg mild / Doris Loh protocol if severe)

   Well, it’s not for sleep, but that’s a nice bonus. Doris Loh has dedicated her entire career to the research of Melatonin and it has a whole host of protective effects on the body — from phase separation to regulation of antioxidants. It also protects the heart from a whole host of issues including sarcomere fragmentation (fibers responsible for heart contractions). Myocarditis is another common complaint as is blood clots. Melatonin helps to not only reduce cytokine storms, but to protect those sarcomeres from fragmentation.

7. ANTIVIRALS (take on empty stomach per bottle instructions)

   Some good natural options are monolaurin, oregano oil, Biocidin (a blend), olive leaf, etc.

8. COQ10 (1 per day)

   Very important enzyme for general heart health, and we stop producing it after 30. This is good for repairing and strengthening the heart, especially after heart attacks and post--Covid.

9. B COMPLEX (1 per day)

   Needed for so many processes in the body, but especially when under stress. This is part of the EVMS Covid protocol as well.

10. BABY ASPIRIN (1 /day with meal, unless contraindicated or on blood thinners)

    Clotting is a very big concern for hospitalized Covid cases, but also post-Covid in all cases. A recent study published in Circulation Research shows that spike proteins from SARS Cov-2 cause endothelial damage via downregulation of ACE2. are now shown It has to do with how the virus attacks the heart and therefore, a baby aspirin is also included on the EVMS protocol for infected individuals, since clotting is a concern — even for young people. Many doctors are prescribing this, and in many countries they are taking it preventatively, but the problem is we don’t know for how long it needs to be take or how long effects of the virus last.

Additional measures for sinus and lung congestion:

Deep Lung Formula —I attribute this to helping me finally get over my 4-month bacterial bronchitis. It specifically targets bad bacteria in the lung, and I started taking it immediate when I got sick. Whether you breathed in a pathogen, or your illness travels from head > throat > chest, this is a great treatment and prevention.

Clear Lungs — This helps to balance mucous and keep airways open.

Ivy Calming Syrup (EPS 7630) — a calming bronchial syrup that has been the subject of over 20 clinical studies and is already a leading European medicine. Great for cough, congestion, sore throat — take at first sign of symptoms.

Xlear Sinus Rinse — Xylitol has been shown in studies to have a greater ability to reduce pathogens in the sinus cavity than saline alone. Do this at the first sign of congestion, or if you suspect exposure.

Xlear Nasal Spray — great for moisturizing and disinfecting nasal passages. Can use daily as prevention. There’s also a kids version.

**Another thing you should have on hand is a pulse oximeter. This measures blood oxygen levels so you will know when something might be taking a more serious turn.

Liquid + capsule options for Covid-19 supplements:

I have included a couple of options for each supplement, according to your preference.

Liposomal vitamin C (best absorbed) // Ascorbic Acid powder

Liquid zinc (this version is easiest on the stomach in high doses) // Zinc with copper // Zinc throat spray

Quercetin // EGCG

Vitamin D3 + K2 liquid // Vitamin D3 + K2 capsules // Vitamin D3 + K2 gummies // (for daily use, make sure vitamin D3 has K2 with it, if sick and need to up D3, then you can just take extra D3 liquid or spray) Liquid Vitamin D3 // Vitamin D3 spray

Pepcid AC

Melatonin lozenges

COQ10

Liquid B complex // B Complex

Chewable baby aspirin

RESOURCES + RESEARCH:

Circulation Research: Spike Protein Impairs Endothelial Function

What is Known About Covid19 Abnormal Clotting?

COQ10 What are the Heart Benefits?

Ancient Molecules for Healthy Hearts

Recognizing COVID-19–related myocarditis

Heartburn Drugs Linked with Covid-19 Outcomes

Famotidine Reduces Pulmonary Symptoms in Covid Patients

Study: Vitamin D Hammer for Influenza

EVMS Critical Care Covid Protocol

All Doris Loh Covid Research Papers

Doris Loh PDF for Melatonin and Ascorbic Acid Treatment to Protect Heart

Study: Quercetin and Vitamin C Therapy

Zinc Prevents Viral Replication

Study: Zinc and Ionophores inhibit Coronavirus

Quercetin and Vitamin C Synergistic Therapy For Covid

Why Zinc Is Key For Covid Prevention and Treatment

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Covid Long Haulers

80% of Covid Patients Were Vitamin D Deficient

Wondering who's the mysterious wordy genius behind these posts? Follow this little rabbit trail to read more About Me! The use of the term genius is open to interpretation.

I have to be sort of careful what I say here. I like a few of these people. A few.

I will never forget the look on his face — beet red, so full of fury it looked like you could pop it with a pin — when he turned to me and said bluntly, “either it goes, or you go.” And I — a confused, zit faced, 13-year old girl whose mother didn’t let her out of her sight — just stared back blankly and replied, “ok.”

I would find out later that day that he was referring to my participation in a gang. 

Yes, a gang.

You know, the groups of likeminded individuals who commit horrific crimes and shoot people. That kind of gang.

Looking back, it was an obvious conclusion I suppose. The night before this conversation, my girlfriend and I were stuck late at school and boredom got the best of us. We took out some paper and a Sharpie and made these signs with giant “W”s on them. We put them on various peoples lockers as a symbol that “we’ve been here” and we wanted to see if they could figure out it was us.

Can you imagine? This is the kind of shit we had to do to entertain ourselves as a freshman in a fundamental high school full of rules— and what’s even worse? We thought it was freaking hilarious. We laughed all night about it.

Until, of course, the morning came and the principal’s office sent our parents a letter warning them that the “W” gang symbol had come to our school. And their daughters …had brought it there. 

I guess you could say — there was always the assumption of guilty until proven innocent. Especially if you were not one of the chosen ones — meaning your parents didn’t teach at the school or you didn’t attend the church there. And you were always treated with an unhealthy dose of skepticism. 

As I went home that night, dumbfounded and fearful of expulsion, I crafted a three-page letter to plead my case to the principal that I was worthy of staying at the school. Never did it cross my mind that I hadn’t done anything wrong— that THEY should be apologizing to me for making an absurd assumption that wasn’t even in the realm of possibility of being true. 

And yet, I knew it was my job to apologize so I could stay. 

So after an hour of tearfully reading through my letter — my parents were allowed to continue paying $3k to keep their 4.0 GPA—perfect—attendance—no—detentions—ever—non—gang—member daughter in that House of Rules.

I didn’t realize it back then — but this set up a very harmful pattern in my life.

This is just one of the few examples of what it meant to be seen as an “outcast.” There was also a warning once given to my best friend’s mother — that she should probably break up our friendship because I was friends with a another girl, who happened to be raised Catholic, and Lord only knows what kind of bad influence that could be.

I could go on for days.

Rules, Rules, and More Rules

No matter HOW much you followed the rules — if you weren’t an official “fundamental baptist” you were never approved of. You weren’t good enough and certainly not good enough to date —- or even like — anyone who was. There was someone I liked very much, for many years, and he liked me too— but we didn’t even attempt a relationship because it just wasn’t acceptable.

The feelings of “not enough” took a very long time to overcome.

Speaking of rules, let’s go over a few of the school rules:

No attending movie theaters (they actually made you and your parents SIGN a form). No listening to non-Christian music — but not just any Christian music, only the Christian music without a “beat.” No open toed shoes without nylons. No shirts below the collarbone. No skirts above the knee. No sleeveless shirts. No pants for women. No shorts for anyone. Men couldn’t have their hair touching their ears. No facial hair. Women couldn’t have unnatural colors in their hair. No tattoos or piercings other than earlobes (for women). You can only possess the King James Version of the Bible. No swearing, or even “Christian cuss words.” No denim except for when attending sports games. No tennis shoes. No dancing.

I’ve yet to find any of this in the Bible. All of this to try to please a God who states with such clarity “all your good works are like dirty rags.” (Isaiah 64:6)

It never was and still isn’t about good works, or following rules — to assume so is to miss the entire point of Jesus. So it makes you wonder — did they really misunderstand the Bible this badly, or were they just trying to please a bunch of random men who made up these rules and called it a church? A church which called our neighbors out from the pulpit for being an interracial couple the first time they visited. A church which allowed a man who impregnated a teenager to relocate to our school and become our soccer coach because they “dealt with it internally.” A church whose leader was put on the highest pedestal, only for it to be discovered years later he was participating in some rather immoral activities.

You could cut the hypocrisy with a knife.

Speaking of the opposite sex, that was a whole other set of rules to abide by:

No sitting next to the opposite sex without a foot between you. No touching. Cannot walk up the same stairway (my husband got detention for walking up the girls’ stairway during class, when no one was using it. Then he crumpled up the detention and got another detention for that.) Cannot sit on the bus next to each other. Guys and girls’ lockers on opposite ends of the halls.

Looking back, I’ve watched this brainwashing lead to a whole host of destructive mindsets in adulthood — emotional detachment, lack of affection, pornography addiction.

Not only were the students expected to abide by the rules — so were their parents. My mother, a total savage who has never cared what anyone thought about her — was not so easily persuaded to change her way of life to please the overseers. As a middle schooler desperate to fit in and not draw any more negative attention, I found her confidence to be the bane of my existence. She marched her pants-wearing legs right into those parent-teacher conferences and it was utterly horrifying.

Years later, of course, I see how my mom’s actions taught me a tremendously valuable lesson.

So what did this 12 year experience leave me with?

It’s been 20 years since I graduated, and I’ve never really discussed how this experience affected me. I’ve only mentioned my school years in jest — yea, I went to this super strict school and was accused of being in a gang, haha. But I’ve never really grappled with what it did to me mentally. How it shaped my self esteem and overall world view. After all, I did spend the majority of my time there until 18.

The first and most superfluous observation is that I simply feel sad. I feel like I missed out on the normal high school experience. (I try to live it vicariously through movies) Everything that you think about in terms of school — we didn’t have. It felt like we were little robots walking around, getting detentions for our skirts being 1/4 an inch above our knees, and didn’t really get the luxury of being “kids.” There was no prom. There were no football games. There were no senior pranks. There was no dating. There were no awesome senior trip memories.

What’s truly bizarre, is that all of us were sharing this abnormal experience — that we didn’t even realize was abnormal at the time. Many of the students also went to the church associated with the school and they were never in a different environment. And somehow, despite the weird circumstances — we managed to forge great friendships. Although I will admit, the opposite sex friendships always felt “wrong.” But I do owe my very best, most lifelong friendship to this school — a girl I met the first day of 3rd grade when I borrowed her a pencil. (this is the same friend who was in the gang with me)

Oh yea, and I also owe my marriage to it as well.

On a deeper level — it left me constantly striving to please everyone because I never felt good enough. I felt shame for who I really was, for who my parents were. Shame about my body and that it was a “stumbling block” to men which was inherently my fault. It left me on a constant apology tour for anything and everything. It left me confused about relationships. All of the hypocrisy and rules caused many to reject God altogether, but it caused me to dig deeper and figure out the truth amid the confusion. I was fortunate enough to have balance in my life — my parents showed me the loving and less rigid side of Christianity. The most unconditional love that meets us where we are — no matter how imperfect, and accepts us anyway. The Jesus who welcomes everyone. Who knows we will never be good enough, and says, “that’s ok.”

But, I would be remiss not to say there weren’t some good people at the school. Many of the teachers — barely getting paid enough to survive, really did have good hearts. Most of them were just doing what they were taught was right, I suppose.

Were a lot of them on a self righteous-high-horse-power trip? Yep.

However, there were some who were not judgmental— but in fact, very genuine and truly cared for us — and I’ll never forget them.

Most of these take 30 minutes or less! Let me know if you make them and what your thoughts are!

xoxo, Brit

BEEF + PORK RECIPES

POULTRY RECIPES

Vegetarian RECipes

Wondering who's the mysterious wordy genius behind these posts? Follow this little rabbit trail to read more About Me! The use of the term genius is open to interpretation.

THESE. BROWNIES. ARE. INCREDIBLE.

I bring them to every single gathering and I always leave with zero. They aren’t too sweet, or too gooey or too dry. They’re perfect. My favorite brownies of all the brownies in the land.

The best part?

It’s a box mix and will take you about 5 mins to put together.

So why then, am I writing a whole blog post about a box mix?

Well, because the first 8574x I made them, they didn’t turn out. The taste was great, but they were either too gooey, too hard, or wouldn’t hold together.

I kept experimenting until I got everything JUST right and then I told everybody about it on social media.

Even still, I have friends who will try to make them and they say they never turn out right — but it’s almost ALWAYS because they didn’t follow these exact steps.

INGREDIENTS:

1 box King Arthur gluten free fudge brownie mix

3 large eggs

10 TB melted Earth Balance vegan butter NOTE: regular butter does not taste as good. Also, be careful when melting not to burn the butter or it’ll ruin the taste.

1 cup walnuts or mix ins

My personal recommendation is to use walnuts. They really make the brownies what they are and break up the sweetness / add texture. I bring them everywhere — I figure they’re already gluten and dairy free so you can deal with nuts. If you also need nut free, then you should have brought your own brownies, sister.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Preheat to 325

2. We are following the “cake like” instructions on the bottom of the box.

3. Whisk up the eggs

4. Melt the butter in the microwave and when it’s cooled, add to eggs

5. Once those are mixed, add in the brownie mix

6. Mix til free of lumps, then fold in nuts or mixers

The very important part:

How you bake them is extremely important to these turning out perfectly texture wise.

1. You need a cheap, thin metal pan. (I’ve used thicker nicer ones and NOPE)

2. Line with parchment paper.

3. Place on middle over rack and set timer for 45 mins.

4. Stick a knife in to check for doneness — then cook an additional 5 mins until done. THIS WILL BE DIFFERENT FOR EVERYONE — so please do not over cook. Mine takes 55 mins.

5. Cool in pan for about a half hour, then grab the parchment paper and remove the brownies from pan and place on counter. I do this to avoid bottom getting too wet from heat.

6. When TOTALLY cooled, then you can cut them. If you cut too early, they don’t hold together well especially if you’re using nuts.

7. I sprinkle on powdered sugar before cutting because that’s what my mom did and it makes the world a better place.

I HAVE A NEWSFLASH FOR YOU:

From this day forward, you’ll never love another brownie but this one.

It’s like— look—I’m here for the ingredients list, not to hear how your first relationship went and to see how good you are at taking iPhone pictures in portrait mode.

Speaking of portrait mode…

This smoothie, if done right, has the texture of a Wendy’s frosty (remember those) and tastes perfect — just enough sweetness with a hint of coffee. It TOTALLY curbs a sweets craving, which is handy during these quarantine times.

We use a Vitamix, which blends things into a creamy, wonderfully texture with no ice chunks… but you might not have the same results with other blenders. The Ninja Professional might work good too.

Cold Brew Smoothie

{Makes approximately 3 8oz cups}

INGREDIENTS:

• 3/4 c milk (coconut, almond, oat, cashew all fine but thicker the better)

• 3/4 c organic store bought cold brew coffee (if making your own concentrate, dilute to equal 3/4 c)

• 3-5 large frozen ripe bananas

• 2 TB grass fed collagen

• 1/2 tsp vanilla

• 1/4 -1/2 tsp cinnamon

• 3 TB peanut or almond butter

• 1-2 TB honey (optional) if the bananas are sweet enough you won’t need it) depending

• 8 large ice cubes (if you don’t have a Vitamix, leave the ice out because it won’t blend smoothly)

DIRECTIONS:

It’s actually very important you put everything in the blender in THIS ORDER to prevent the powder ingredients from flying all over the place and to get the right texture. YOU CAN’T ADD THE ICE LATER. You have to add it in before you blend the first time.

Blend until there’s no ice chunks (need to reach Vitamin 7) and give it a little taste test and tweak it to your liking!

NOTE: If you’re sensitive to caffeine, you can totally use decaf. Be sure to get organic as coffee is high in mycotoxins!

I had thought about making my own for awhile, but as per usual, I kept over thinking myself out of it.

What if I don’t get the right kind of bulb and burn my skin? What if I’m just blasting myself with EMF and it cancels out all the good? What if I don’t get the right kind of socket and it burns the house down?

So I talked myself out of it and said, ok, I’ll just buy one.

But then, I busted my shoulder in the middle of a global pandemic and the idea of spending a couple hundred bucks on one infrared light made me change my mind again.

It was so easy and cheap — wish I would have done it years ago!

Things to know before you DIY a near-infrared light

Here are the precautions you need to take:

• Make sure you have a porcelain socket to screw your bulb into since the bulb will get extremely hot, it will melt a plastic one. This is also a huge fire hazard.

• You need to have a clamp lamp capable of at least a 300 watts.

• Be sure to position yourself 12-24 inches away from the bulb, and rotate every 10 minutes to avoid burning. (you will definitely feel it get too hot so it would be hard to burn yourself) Although there is very low EMF emission with near-infrared, positioning yourself at least a foot away insures you will reduce any harmful effects.

• Although research is conflicted on this, it is not advised to stare directly into the light. Especially with a multiple light sauna, protective eyewear is advised.

• Do not point the light on your head area. Not good to heat that up!

What You’ll need to DIY a near-infrared light

This simple infrared light will consist of only two things: an infrared bulb and aluminum clamp lamp.

1. A clamp lamp with porcelain socket capable of at least 300 watts

2. A near-infrared 250-300 watt bulb. I like this one because it’s low EMF and emits optimal near infrared healing wavelengths at 700 nm - 1000 nanometers. (it is sold directly from manufacturer)

   If the Therabulb is out of stock, this one from GE works equally as well and is cheaper! It just isn’t marketed as low EMF…. I haven’t been able to measure the difference between the two.

   *as an Amazon affiliate, I may earn from qualifying purchases*

Clamp it anywhere that you will be able to space yourself 12-24 feet away. IT’S LITERALLY THAT SIMPLE.

I like to lay flat on the floor and point it toward my stomach when I have cramps and it works wonders. The heat penetrates on a much deeper level.

This is also great to do before bed as it relaxes the parasympathetic nervous system and makes you drowsy!

Stay tuned for the second half of this which will go over all the benefits and studies of near-infrared light therapy and why I chose that over far-infrared!

I made them soy free, gluten and dairy free — and they are just as delicious as the restaurant version. The only thing missing is those weird crunchy noodles on top — which you can totes add.

The best part: they take 20 minutes to make.

COPYCAT PF CHANGS LETTUCE WRAPS RECIPE

INGREDIENTS:
1 lb ground chicken (I use organic SmartChicken but could sub tofu)
2 celery stalks
1 diced white onion
2 cloves minced organic garlic
1/4 cup gf hoisin sauce (I use SAN-J)
2 TB Coconut Secret soy free coconut aminos
1 TB white rice vinegar
1 tsp grated ginger (love the jars from The Ginger People )
salt/pepper to taste
1 can drained, diced water chestnuts
2 sliced green onions
1 head butter lettuce (i like Phil’s living lettuce)
Optional: sriracha

DIRECTIONS:

1. Cook chicken in a large skillet on medium heat, crumbling into small pieces.

2. When about half cooked add the onion, celery, garlic. Cook until slightly soft and drain any excess juice.

3. Add the coconut aminos, hoisin sauce, ginger, vinegar, and water chestnuts.

4. Cook on low for a few minutes and then add green onions and sriracha if desired. Season with salt and pepper and serve in lettuce cups. 

5. I serve with some white rice, seasoned with salt and coconut aminos. Put it on the lettuce first, then top with chicken.

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Well, sort of. Depends on the kind of bacteria we’re talking about. And as per usual, I have tested a variety of studies, research, and various probiotic strains to see how they helped or made me worse.

***You should know that there are NO affiliate links, relationships, or sponsorships with anything I’m talking about in this post!***

I’ve written two other blog posts regarding SIBO here:

• Understanding SIBO: What It Is And How To Diagnose It

• How To Treat SIBO And Manage It Naturally

My SIBO Story

I was diagnosed with SIBO in 2014, when it was barely even recognized by GI doctors as a “condition” and Naturopathic doctors (who were at least testing) didn’t have a clue what to do with you. I fought for a Lactulose Breath Test, and I had a bad BAD case — my methane levels on the lactulose breath test were like 120 (abnormal is anything over 20).

My symptoms were off the charts: bloated belly— I looked 6 months pregnant most the time— intolerance to any kind of sugar, fiber, or carbs, slow digestion, discomfort, crippling fatigue.

Lots of holistic practitioners tried to treat me with: carb starvation diets, herbal killing agents, and mounds of probiotics.

But, I was just getting worse. So, as usual, I had to do my own digging and made alot of changes after learning the things I laid out in How To Treat SIBO Naturally.

Then, I tackled the issue of probiotics… and per usual, it wasn’t easy to sift through the mess of conflicting ideas.

PROBIOTICS AND SIBO: the controversy

Although probiotics are “good bacteria” it sounds counter productive to add more bacteria when you have bacterial overgrowth. Because both good + bad BACTERIA FERMENT and produce gas. So it’s no wonder that SIBO patients often get worse (or remain the same) on probiotics.

I experimented with so. many. probiotics, and as someone in the blogging space, I was always being sent the latest and greatest. Everything from the ones you can get at Walmart (Align, Culturelle) to the ones that come in a freezer pack and have to be shoved in the fridge immediately like Gutpro and Therulac. I tried Biohm, Prescript Assist (soil based), New Chapter, Silver Fern, Genestra, and the list goes on.

They just weren’t making any difference. Or, they made me worse.

But, there was one that didn’t.

Best Probiotics For Treating Sibo

Again, this IS NOT SPONSORED in any way. In my research, I had come across so many Naturopaths online saying they had the greatest success with SIBO patients using MegaSporeBiotic by Microbiome Labs. I couldn’t find a way to buy it in 2016, so I talked my Chiropractor into getting it for me.

Why is it different? First of all, this company has so many brilliant researchers involved, you need to just check out their website. MegaSporeBiotic is a spore based probiotic with five bacillus spores, including bacillus clausii, shown in studies to be beneficial for SIBO. It can survive up to 450 degrees with a 5 year shelf life, requiring no refrigeration and even survives when taking antibiotics.

From the website: “the bi-phasic life cycle of the Bacillus spores allows them to remain dormant in harsh environments until they reach more favorable environments like the human gastrointestinal tract. Once inside the large intestine, these dormant spores can change into their active, vegetative forms and begin colonizing in the gut. This unique probiotic blend aims to RECONDITION the gut instead of reseeding with probiotic strains that cannot survive digestion or colonize the gut. It helps “recondition the gut by promoting microbial diversity and maintaining key health-promoting, commensal gut bacteria.”

My advice: start very slowly… like 1/4 capsule in some water WITH FOOD (this is how they activate). Then after a week keep working your way up to 1 capsule and eventually 2. Doesn’t need to be spaced out with antibiotics as they will remain dormant until safe.

I took this for a few years, and although I didn’t notice anything get worse… I didn’t quite notice any major improvements either.

The Probiotic Trio that Finally Relieved my SIBO Symptoms

This happened by accident. I got this never ending bacterial bronchitis/sinus infection and had to go on my first antibiotic in 10 years.

I have avoided them for obvious reasons that they destroy gut bacteria, but there was no choice in this situation. I opted for a 10-day course of Amoxycillin over a Z-pack hoping it would be more kind to me.

I was looking for the best way to counteract the effects, and a friend who works in the probiotic world reached out and gave me the following protocol:

2 MegaSporeBiotic, 2 RestorFlora, and 2 HU58 daily during antibiotics and 6 weeks post. All from the same company, Microbiome Labs.

RestorFlora, which contains Saccharomyces Boulardii (major for keeping yeast overgrowth under control), Bacillus Subtilis HU58, and Bacillus Clausii, is a “combination of probiotic yeast and bacteria that offers comprehensive digestive flora support with an advanced, dual-action approach to maintain a healthy intestinal environment.”

And HU58 is a “high potency dose of Bacillus subtilis HU58 formulated to enhance the efficacy of MegaSporeBiotic™. HU58™ can produce over 12 targeted antibiotics in the intestines, which makes it particularly effective in balancing intestinal microflora.”

Well, it was worth a try.

Results

I religiously took the 6 probiotics (2 with each meal) during antibiotics and had zero stomach issues or bad side effects.… then continued on for 6 weeks.

One day, I was eating an orange and I thought…. why didn’t my stomach get upset? Then I realized I had been eating a lot of things normally on my “no list” like cheese, and gluten, alcohol, and desserts. (I was totally OFF THE RAILS over the holidays) Things I had barely eaten in 6 years were giving me zero issues. Normally, a piece of cheese, broccoli, or an orange would send me into a major stomach spiral and I’d be bloated for a whole day.

WHAT IN THE WORLD?

And then it occurred to me: the probiotics. I’d only thought of them in terms of protecting from antibiotics…. never in terms of fixing my other issues.

Fast forward a few months, and I literally cannot believe all the things I can eat now without issues. I barely have any bloating, gas, or pain. Granted, I still try to maintain a healthy diet and never want to return to my old ways, but just having the freedom to go out and eat like a normal person has changed my life.

My Current Probiotic Regiment

But I know enough to know that once you have SIBO, you will always struggle with it. Alot of the things that caused it (besides diet) are hard to fix — and so I now maintain with 2 MegaSporeBiotic, 1 HU58, 1 RestorFlora and have added 2 MegalgG2000, for added leaky gut and food intolerance support.

It’s not the cheapest, but I’m telling you it works. And not living with the constant misery and depression of knowing I can only eat a handful of foods without discomfort is WORTH IT.

If you share these struggles, or have other issues besides SIBO….this experiment is worth a try. And you KNOW I wouldn’t suggest it if I truly didn’t think it was worth the price.

HOW Do You Buy These Probiotics?

Right now, they are only available through practitioners. You can find them on most holistic practitioners websites where they have shop pages or dispensaries. Or places like Digestive Warrior. (DO NOT GET ON AMAZON!)

Have you found anything to help your SIBO symptoms? Leave it below so we can all learn!

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Little did I know Anna Maria Island is one of the best kept Florida secrets with seven miles of the most beautiful beaches you can find right on the Gulf of Mexico— it was also voted as #3 on Trip Advisors “Top 10 Islands in the US.”

Who knew? Certainly not me. Sidenote: Anna Maria Island would make a PERFECT girls trip as it is incredibly safe and you don’t even need to rent a car if you don’t want!

Traveling to Anna Maria Island:

The best place to fly into is Sarasota or St. Petes. Best thing to do is Uber to the island (about 40 mins)— we call a wonderful man named Michael (941)301-6045. Then you honestly don’t even need to rent a car for the rest of your trip.

Transportation around the island:

• There’s a free trolly that runs up and down the entire island from 6am - 10pm starting on the North side at Anna Maria City Pier. It travels up and down the island every 20 minutes.

• After 10pm, there’s a Monkey Bus which is also free (donations appreciated) and you can call them anywhere on the island to pick you up 1-941-565-6542. Runs from noon - 3am.

• Rather than renting a car, you might want to rent a GEM car or golf cart —which is the preferred mode of transportation around the island. Or, consider renting a bike!

What’s the vibe on Anna Maria Island?

There are no commercial restaurants or fast food on the island — only mom + pop shops with ONE Publix grocery store. Charm level 100! But there is certainly night life and live music, but this is not a “party” island. This is a laid back, non-rowdy island vibe.

Best spots for live music on Anna Maria Island:

Additional info on live music and events schedule here.

• Manatee Public Beach

• Harry’s Grill & Bistro (great food, plus Hallelujah brunch Sundays 10-11:30)

• Wicked Cantina (across from beach, mexican, large patio) their music schedule is found here.

• Island Time (cafe lights, cozy, open air atmosphere) also great food! Music starts at 7pm most nights.

• Freckled Fin (more of an irish pub feel) live music starting at 7 most nights and Karaoke mondays, trivia nights, etc.

• Blue Marlin (nautical theme, covered deck) lots of seafood

• Bridge Tender (casual dining with indoor/outdoor bars) music daily, bingo Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday 1-ish and Bar Poker Monday & Friday 4-ish. Across the street is the Drift Inn, their outside dockside bar which always has music!

• Ugly Grouper (games outside, good vibe) music daily 12-3, 5-8

• Swordfish Grill on Cortez

Things To Do ON Anna Maria:

Well, besides the multiple beaches, great restaurants and live music everywhere, here are some additional things:

• The best shopping is around Pine Ave or Bridge street with lots of restaurants, dessert shops, jewelry stores, boutiques, art galleries, and gift shops. It is located in close proximity to Anna Maria City Pier, Bayfront Park and the Rod and Reel Pier. Bridge street is another good spot for eclectic shops (also where to find the most nightlife)!

• Best fishing opportunities are at the historical Anna Maria City Pier and Rod and Reel Pier. BONUS: there is an old Florida style restaurant at the end of Rod and Reel Pier where you can eat literally over the water.

• Take a world famous dolphin tour — you can choose a kayak or canoe tour, paddle boat, or boat tour. All of these tours are family friendly, including the kayak tours where parents can bring young children along in 2 person tandem kayaks.

• For guided tours, kayak, bike, and beach rentals — check out Anna Maria Island Excursions.

Visiting the Beaches:

There are three main public beaches on Anna Maria Island with excellent facilities, rentals, and concessions able to accomodate families:

• Bayfront Park (northern tip)

• Manatee Public Beach (center of island in Holmes Beach)

• Coquina Beach (southern tip) also stop by the nearby Coquina Baywalk

• Bean Point (tip of the island) if you’re not traveling with kids or looking for a more relaxed, less busy vibe — head to Bean Point — the furthest north point on Anna Maria Island and you can enter it at a crossroads on North Bay Blvd. and North Shore Dr.

Where to stay

Nothing is allowed over two stories on the island, so you will not find skyscrapers and resorts. Mostly, you’ll be looking for Airbnbs or other home rentals. A great place to check inventory is here: annamaria.com. Another option is the newer Waterline Marina Resort… all rentals are beautiful two bedroom suits. Be sure to book a year in advance for winter months! Also, I’ve been watching the renovations for the Joie Inn and it looks fab!

WHERE TO EAT ON ANNA MARIA iSLAND

I’m including a few of the tourist spots but also a good amount of hidden spots that you will probably not find recommended in other guides but are MUST STOPS in my opinion! Also, if you’re into seafood, you need to make the trek to Cortez Cafe. I hear they catch the fish and cook it up for you right there, but EWW! Not my vibe.

North Shore Cafe

The North Shore Cafe is relatively new to the island — and it’s gained quick popularity. Offering coffee, espresso, matcha, and various tea based beverages, they also have quite a few bites on the healthier side such as: avocado toast, acai bowls, smoothies, and sandwiches.

After discovering it, we found ourselves there daily.

They also have the cutest area in back for sitting and often have live music! You can also order wine and beer if you’re in the mood!

North Shore also added a shop with the worlds best gourmet popsicles. Try the Key Lime, Blood Orange Cheesecake, and Peanut Butter Pie.

THE DONUT EXPERIment:

Donut Experiment is a fun place to take kids, for sure. Delicious, design your own old fashioned donuts— but I highly recommend getting the specialty Key Lime!

If you’re looking for more baked goods, including desserts — check out Hometown Desserts, also located on Pine Ave by The Donut Experiment.

Paradise Cafe:

Located right inside a strip mall off Holmes Beach, this unassuming little cafe will blow your mind with their bagel breakfast sammies. Paradise Bagels & Cafe has been around for 25 years, making everything from scratch and serving up breakfast + lunch all year around! Pop in for a “New York style water bagel” sandwich (gluten free available) that will change your life!

MY REC: get the turkey & swiss. It sounds weird, but I PROMISE you, you’ll regret it if you don’t. It’s not lunch meat, it’s fresh carved and insanely delicious.

Cheesecake Cutie

Cheesecake Cutie is a great stop for breakfast, lunch, coffee or dessert! They have the most fantastic homemade, fluffy cheesecakes (they are individually sized), truffles, and amazing sandwiches and flatbreads!

Ginny & Jane E’s Cafe + Bakery

Ginny & Jane' E’s is some of the best breakfast on the island. It is ALWAYS busy and expect to wait a bit. The vibe inside is mix-matched furniture and eclectic goods for sale in their coastal shop.

The baked goods are just as fabulous — their cinnamon rolls are pretty legendary — and you really need to grab some to go!

Harry’s Grill & Bistro

First, you need to understand that Harry’s Bistro hosts a Hallelujah Brunch on Sundays from 10-11:30 and it’s everything. You donate what you can, fill out the breakfast menu, and he gives a heartfelt message.

But, they also have fantastic live music and food with happy hour daily from 3-5. Cute patio!

Isola Bella:

At Isola Bella, a Sicilian Italian restaurant, everything is homemade and you’re welcome. Freshly made pasta, imported Italian cheeses and organic produce really set this place apart. My friend loved the cannolis!

Two Scoops:

Located on the northern end of the island is Two Scoops — although many of the locals don’t prefer this because it’s a chain.

Gelato-Go

There are a zillion ice cream and gelato shops on the island, but this has become my favorite — for it’s cleanliness and also the lemon sorbet is fire! Find it on Bridge street.

Ugly Grouper:

Ugly Grouper is kind of a fun little casual stop. It’s outdoor seating only and has a lively atmosphere with bands, games, and some of the best grouper on the island.

They are known for their tacos that come in a crispy cheese shell. Worth a try, even if you just pop in for a beer!

SLIM’S PLACE:

Go directly to Slim’s Place, do not pass Go, do not collect $200. But be sure to order a Philly cheesesteak and don’t forget the WIZ. This is a homemade cheese sauce that you can’t live without, ok. Get it on the side if you’re not sure but GET IT. I also loved the Italian version called Pizza Steak (without wiz).

Also worth noting — I HATE seafood, and my brother force fed me the lobster mac + cheese, and I’m telling you what — order it!

THE SANDBAR:

For great sunset views, head to The Sandbar for food or drinks. With indoor and outdoor seating, you can sip on the world’s best piña colada with your toes in the sand while you watch the sun slip away into the Gulf of Mexico.

Vinny’s Italian Kitchen:

Vinny’s Italian Kitchen is takeout only. It’s a restaurant located inside an Italian market.

Let me tell you: the food is incredible. The pizza is very “Neapolitan” style — thin, with a bubbly crust. The pasta was off the charts — and enough for 3 meals. They actually have quite a few gluten free items!

MY REC: the fetuccini carbonara, and the porchetta (one of their specialities).

Wicked Cantina:

Located on Bradenton Beach, Wicked Cantina is a must stop if you’re looking for margaritas and queso… and who the heck isn’t? Seriously, the BEST queso. Always have live music.

Margaritas? Get em. Trust me.

Scott’s Deli (beach delivery):

Fantastic, freshly made deli sandwiches, delivered right to your beach umbrella. Scott’s Deli is a perfect lunch for a day of relaxing in the sun — gluten free options also available!

Waterfront Restaurant

Waterfront is going to be in the higher price range, FYI. Great appetizers and drinks — highly suggest the baked brie, truffle fries and fried queso. All of the food we tried was great — try to sit on the front patio with the breeze from the water for the best experience!

Beach House:

With a wonderfully chic, modern vibe, Beach House not only has some of the best food on the island, but it’s also got the best views. Get a spot outside and order everything on the menu. No really — I hear the seafood is amazing but I loved my burger and street corn!

Doctor’s Office:

For the ABSOLUTE. BEST. CRAFT. COCKTAILS on the island, head to the Doctor’s Office — which actually is, an old doctor’s office (originally the only one on the island). It’s dark. It’s cozy. Everything is freaking fantastic and handmade — even the nutmeg is freshly shaved to top off your drink. Trust me on the pineapple martini.

Anchor Inn

Anchor Inn is the most divey, local bar you could ask for. First, there’s still a cigarette vending machine?! I was taken aback that smoking is still allowed in Florida bars. I’ll be honest, if you have a hard time in smokey environments, this place isn’t for you. But it’s the only place open super late, so if you’re looking for an after hours — this is it. Go in, play some darts, and you’ll probably see Brad behind the bar wearing jean shorts with a cig hanging out of his mouth.

Daiquiri Deck

Although not a spot local to AMI, Daiquiri Deck will provide you one of the highest views on the island. Definitely worth a visit for a sunset!

Island Time

I mentioned this above under the best places for live music, but they really do have great food as well. Perfect relaxed island vibe with a great atmosphere!

Let me know if you’ve been to Anna Maria and leave any suggestions I left off!

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If you’re looking for an excuse to go — just grab a girlfriend and take a staycation. That’s what I did and it was fabulous. If you’ve watch my Instagram stories, you know this lovely blonde next to me is Callie... and together, we are Brallie.

Everything from the black ceilings to the elevators — and even the key cards— just exude a sexy + edgy vibe. With a few vintage touches mixed with modern luxury, every last detail is branded to perfection and I cannot, I repeat, CANNOT get enough.

If I’m being real, I’m usually creeped out by hotel beds not to mention (except I am) they are extremely uncomfortable. But I was SO impressed with how clean and comfy everything was.

And yes to a record player in every room. Callie had a nice, long slow dance to Etta James.

The bathrooms. All I have to say is — you had me at good, non fluorescent lighting and lots of counter space. These are the two things that are ALWAYS issues wherever I stay.

This might have been a coincidence, but all the liquors on the mini bar just happened to be gluten free. So, ya know.

All of the photography and decor is perfection — I found myself wanting to take every single thing home. I mean, I didn’t… because I would be allowed back.

I will say — the way the light hits these rooms in the afternoon is just beyond dreamy. I wanted to lay there and soak it in, but your girl had to get up to the rooftop to catch the sunset!

One of the greatest bonuses to staying at Hotel Goodwin is Velvet Buffalo — a wine bar + restaurant on the main level with rooftop bar. Be sure to head up for some sangria and watch the sunset before heading down to dinner!

The brunch at Velvet Buffalo is one of my favorites in the area. You can’t go wrong with the avocado toast, caramel apple pancakes, and cuban hash! Menu changes frequently, but grab those if you can.

And any place that leaves out organic tea for you in the morning, gets 5 stars in my book.

Callie, the carrier of all our weird laptop cases, and I just had the BEST little staycation. Can’t say enough good things about Hotel Goodwin, the food at Velvet Buffalo, and the overall friendliness of all the staff. It gets the Brit stamp of approval whether you want a little romantic getaway or just some girl (or alone) time.

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It’s something I never imagined I’d deal with — but at this point in my health journey, nothing surprises me.

Me? And my perfectly pink, non-bleeding gums? DON’T THINK SO!

The good news is: it’s currently under control, thanks to all the things I’ve implemented below.

{this website may contain affiliate links to companies I use + love, which helps support what I do here}

But as much as it sucks, I’m glad I found out because it’s essential you deal with it if you want to save your teeth. Also, if you have chronic illness, leaving an unresolved infection in your mouth will continue to make it impossible to heal. It’s just as important to deal with Periodontal Disease as it is your root canals.

Not to mention, infections of the mouth are highly correlated to cardiac events. Bacteria travels, y’all.

What is Periodontal Disease?

Periodontal disease occurs when bacteria accumulates (plaque) on the teeth and causes inflammatory processes that occur in the tissues surrounding the teeth. This inflammation of the gingival tissue ultimately leads to a loss of collagen attachment, which leads to loose teeth.

If you deal with chronic health issues or a compromised immune system, you will be more susceptible and less able to fight off this infection. Once the particular bacteria that causes this disease is present, you will always have it — it’s a matter of managing it properly!

How Do You Test For It?

Your dentist needs to measure your pockets by placing a dental probe beside your tooth beneath your gum line, usually at several sites throughout your mouth. It’s a simple test that shouldn’t hurt — although mine did a bit because my gums were so inflamed.

It took my second biological dentist to actually have someone who brought this up. Periodontal Disease is defined by the presence of three or more teeth with pockets of ≥4 mm. If you just have inflamed gums with pockets no greater than 3, you have gingivitis.

I had a few 6s, along with bleeding gums during the test, which indicated gum disease.

Treating Periodontal Disease

1. First you’ll need a deep cleaning.

This involves using an ultrasonic device to bust up biofilms underneath the gum line (yes, the do topical numbing and it didn’t hurt). Then they do manual scraping of additional plaque.

Any dentist (make sure they are experienced with this) can do it, but I recommend you find a biological dentist (check registry here or here) who will inject ozone into the gums after the treatment as to completely sterilize the area

After the series of cleanings, you will need to have dental check ups every three months, until your pockets are looking better.

Don’t be like my mom. My mom found out she had deep pockets and then did not continue with her regular cleanings or do any of the things below – she eventually had to have gum surgery to save her teeth!

2. Use an Ultra Soft Nimbus Brush

These Nimbus toothbrushes came recommended by mom’s gum surgeon — he told her to use ONLY these. I have since ditched all my electric brushes and LOVE it! I realize just how harsh these other ones were on my gums (even the ones the dentist gave me) and these truly feel amazing and get all the plaque off!

3. Brush with Dentalcidin Toothpaste + use LS Liposomal Mouth Rinse

The studies have been shown that Dentalcidin by Bio-Botanical Research is able to bust biofilms that are present in Periodontal Disease, and drastically reduce bacteria.

The Dentalcidin LS Liposomal Mouth Rinse is great to use 1-2x / day and after any dental work.

It’s also a good idea to strengthen enamel by bushing with a re-mineralizing toothpaste once in a while. I like this Risewell one.

4. Use an Oral Probiotic

The problem with most probiotics is they bypass the mouth. With periodontal disease, you’ve got a plethora of bad bacteria in the mouth and it makes sense that you would need to fight that by adding good bacteria. My dentist started me on this one right away —I dissolve in my mouth after before bed. Dental Flora from Biobotanical Research is great too.

5. Alkalize + Remove Toxins with Oil pulling

Bacteria THRIVE in acidic environments (hello coffee breath!) — rebalancing the PH in the mouth is essential. Oil pulling goes all the way back to Ayurvedic medicine, as a way to alkalize the mouth and remove toxins. My biological dentist recommended oil pulling 1x/day.

6. Tongue Scraping

This is a great way to clear toxins from the mouth and let me tell you — your mouth will NEVER feel more clean. I love this Dr. Tungs stainless steal tongue scraper for $6. You want to do this before bed and first thing in the morning BEFORE drinking anything. All night long your body is detoxing and it pushes toxins out through your tongue too!

7. Flossing with the Right Kind of Floss

Sorry, I know you loveeeee that Glide stuff, but it’s going you more harm than good. Not only is it too slippery to actually grab the plaque, it’s also adding wax buildup between the teeth.

Coco Floss REVOLUTIONIZED my dental game. I used to despise flossing and now love it. I could not BELIEVE how much different this is than normal floss and it really cleans your teeth.

8. Xylitol Products

Xylitol is amazing for preventing and fighting tooth decay. It is a non sugar, zero calorie sweetener made from birch trees that actually tastes exactly like sugar — great for diabetics! Turns out, it’s also fabulous at preventing tooth decay.

You can brush with xylitol powder and use the xylitol gum after meals.

9. Fix Dry Mouth

Did you know that dry mouth contributes to cavities and the proliferation of bad bacteria? Saliva is what protects your gums and teeth, so those with sleeping issues or dry mouth are increasing their risk factors. Lumineux makes a great dry mouth oral rinse or you can try dry mouth lozenges.

With all of these interventions and the RIGHT dentist, you CAN manage periodontal disease and prevent it from progressing! After implementing all these things, my gum measurements were all 1-3 and my teeth were back on track!

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You’ll want to walk down every street, and alley, and peek behind all the gates into the courtyards. You will never put your phone down.

Also I’m sure there’s some kind of a flower box ordinance because you’ll be hard pressed to find a place that doesn’t have them.

You’ll want to take pictures in front of #alltheflowerboxes as I may or may not have done.

Visiting Charleston is like stepping back in time— remember The Notebook? Well much of it was filmed right in Charleston. You can drive by the theater where Noah and Ally have their first date, and the street they slow danced on. This was, of course, a major priority for me.

The city has gone to great lengths to preserve its history and architecture. They have strict ordinances around remodeling — even to the point of only allowing certain paint colors. They have a rule that anything older than 75 years can’t be removed by man, only God.

And get this: the city will hook up and pay for gas lamps on the front of your house to encourage people to use them. Can you EVEN?

Best Things To Do In Charleston

Truth be told, I had never seen Southern Charm when we visited Charleston, but after the influx of messages asking me to go find Patricia’s house — I realized I needed to check it out. Although there are SO MANY options of things to do on your visit, I’m just going to cover the ones I’ve done and can vouch for their awesomeness.

The Battery

A stroll along Battery is a MUST! Don’t even question it. So Charleston is essentially a peninsula. The Battery a stretch of seawall and adjoining walking paths that wrap along the peninsula. It is lined with the most obnoxiously beautiful, historical mansions Charleston has to offer.

If you want to see the famous giant pineapple fountain, you can start there in Waterfront Park, then take the paths all the way along The Battery until you reach White Pointe Gardens park, where you’ll find several civil war relics.

You can do this walk on your own or there are many guided tours. It is a quick bike ride/walk from downtown or you can drive there and find free or metered parking easily.

Carriage Ride Through Historic Districts

The best way to explore the history of Charleston is to take a carriage ride through the city. Several companies offer them and most of them draw random numbers to see which neighborhood you’ll be touring. Whichever one you get, it’ll be worth it.

Ours took us by some of the most amazing churches in Charleston, the oldest prison in the area, and some of the earliest homes that were built, as well as one of the most famous mansions (the Wentworth Mansion) — and as serendipity would have it — Patricia’s house from Southern Charm.

Shopping Along King Street

Charleston is known for it’s great shopping — particularly along King Street. I would say it’s a perfect blend of unique local boutiques and well known stores of all price ranges. It’s amazing how everything is so centrally located, so you can just park and walk the whole area.

The College of Charleston Campus

Hear me out. This sounds like a weird thing to do — wandering around a college campus — but first let me tell you: the College of Charleston is consistently voted as the most beautiful college campus in the country.

Secondly, you will walk around, in awe, with your jaw dropped, thinking about how much more you would have actually gone to class if this was the situation.

I mean, DID YOUR CAMPUS LOOK LIKE THIS?

Rainbow Row

Perhaps one of the most notable tourist areas of Charleston is Rainbow Row. This former slum, has transformed into one of the most colorful and beautiful blocks in the city.

You’ll spend a considerable amount of time there trying to get just the right photo with the right color combo with as few tourists as possible. Like I clearly did. Good luck.

Tour the Calhoun Mansion

There’s a lot of mansion tours to choose from in Charleston. We picked the Calhoun mansion because it was located conveniently to where we were and it did not disappoint! If you’re into history and enormously beautiful homes, this is it! They give tours every hour.

You can’t take pictures inside, but just trust me, it’s incredible.

Magnolia Plantation & Gardens

There are several plantations to choose from when visiting the Charleston area. I chose Magnolia because it was selected as one of “America’s Most Beautiful Gardens” by Travel & Leisure, among other awards. You can wander freely, or choose one of the various tours they offer.

We did one of the gardens tours and it was quite interesting! We went in the spring so things weren’t quite full bloom, but still beautiful! You can also tour the home, however, we did not.

This was why first time seeing a magnolia flower, and they did not disappoint. They grow on huge trees and the flowers are the size of a dinner plate. They smell amazing.

Folly Beach + Sullivan’s Island

There are all sorts of beaches to choose from within quick driving distance from Charleston. We chose Folly Beach and Sullivan’s Island. I’m not going to pretend like I wasn’t searching for Bill Murray’s home the entire time —he lives on Sullivan’s— and I can see why! It is the quintessential laid back beach vibe —surf shops and mom and pop shops with people cruising the island on bikes and golf carts.

Isle of Palms also has it’s own beach and if you’re a Southern Charm fan, that is where Shep has a home. It’s worth a quick drive to see some massively beautiful beach homes!

Angel Oak Tree

The Angel Oak Tree is a living oak located on John’s Island and it’s something you can’t understand until you see it. It is estimated to be one of the oldest living things in the country at 400-500 years old. It stands 66.5 ft (20 m) tall and measures 28 ft (8.5 m) in circumference.

No cost of admission.

If you have any questions or need recommendations, leave them below or feel free to email me through the contact form.

Stay tuned for part 2 on what to eat in Charleston!

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These are perfect to make for lunches all week, or a couple of dinner. 20 easy minutes of prep with 5 simple ingredients and you are DONE!

5 Ingredient Stuffed Peppers

serves 6

INGREDIENTS:
6 Bell peppers, green or colored, whatever your preference
1 lb grass fed organic beef
1 yellow onion, chopped
2 cups cooked Lundberg Family Farms white rice (less arsenic from CA grown)
1 large or 2 small cans chunky  Muir Glen Organic organic tomato sauce
2 TB Simply Organic garlic salt

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350.

1. Get rice cooking (takes 15 min)
2. Brown beef with chopped onion (drain)
3. Clean and cut tops off peppers, removing seeds
4. Once rice and beef are cooked, combine in a bowl with tomato sauce, garlic salt and mix
5. Place peppers in a glass baking dish and fill peppers with stuffing.

Cook for 1 hour. 
Optional: Shred pepper jack or monterey jack cheese on top during the last 5 mins of cooking. This goes really well with corn as a side!

I cannot explain how quick and easy these stuffed peppers are! Seriously, try it and report back :)

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Vitacost is basically the mecca of online health shopping — they have everything from home supplies, pet food, supplements, food items. They have saved me so much money throughout the years— always free shipping, up to 50% cheaper retail prices, no membership fees, and stackable promo codes. WHAT? YES.

I couldn’t be happier to share my favorite 25 Vitacost items! Whether you are new to Vitacost or a seasoned shopper, hopefully you’ll find some great new things to try!

Enzymedica enzymes are the best of all I’ve tried. Enzymes are so important for proper digestion if you have stomach issues or not. As we age, we start to produce less of these enzymes and therefore we absorb less nutrition and energy from our food. Check out my entire post on what enzymes to take and when.

Simple Mills products. For years, I tried and FAILED at making gluten free, grain free, low sugar baked items and it was disheartening and costly. I finally discovered Simple Mills and it has been a game changer. Their baking mixes, crackers, frostings, and prepackaged cookies are all low sugar and made with under ten ingredients. It’s BAFFLING how good they taste.

Spry xylitol gum and mints. I have used this for many years — it is free of all the nasties generally in gum and uses xylitol (great for preventing decay) instead of artificial sweeteners.

EO Essential Oil 3-in-1 body wash, shampoo, and conditioner. PERFECT for the men in your lives who only want one bottle but you want them to use non-toxic products! It comes in a HUGE bottle and is a great deal!

Desert Essence shampoos + conditioners. I have raved about the anti-breakage shampoo for years now and you can find my full review on Desert Essence here. Natural shampoos generally leave my hair greasy and I have the hardest time rinsing them out! This is on constant reorder!

Reviva Labs is one of my favorite skincare companies — so clean and EFFECTIVE. One of my unicorn products is the glycolic acid night cream, it literally helps with aging, hyperpigmentation, dullness, acne and will make you GLOW like crazy. I love the Hyaluronic Acid serum, the Peptide Facial Skin Prep are some of my other favorites!

Deep Steep lotions, hand soaps, conditioner, and body washes. First, I am OBSESSED with their Argan Oil Hydrating Conditioner — it smells incredible and is deeply hydrating. I haven’t tried any products I don’t like! I use their soaps in all my bathrooms (always get compliments on the Fig & Apricot scent) and the Honey Blossom body wash literally smells like you’re slathering raw honey on yourself.

Vitacost Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is the best deal out there. I’ve been using this for years and have my parents hooked on it too. You can’t find a better deal than 54 oz for $19!

Other Vitacost brand items I love are:

Sambucus Elderberry Juice Concentrate (again, best deal you’ll find) and I wrote about how this helps keep me healthy in this post. I also love the Synergy Lutein with Zeanxanthin supplements with all the blue light exposure and eye strain these days. The Vitacost brand Xylitol is what I use to coat my teeth after brushing and throughout the day to prevent decay. I also got my parents on it to reduce sugar as it’s completely natural, healthy, and tastes exactly like sugar!

They also have great organic almonds — so much glyphosate on almonds. You must buy organic :) What’s even better are the dark chocolate covered ones!

NutriGold Vitamins + Supplements. I love these because they are WHOLE FOOD based, which is most bioavailable and recognizable by your body. They also use FOLATE instead of folic acid, which is super important especially if you’re pregnant so I highly suggest their prenatal!

Lark Ellen Farms grain free granola is lifesaver for those who are trying to reduce gluten and grains. It is the best tasting granola ever and great for cereal or snacking. I love the vanilla cinnamon flavor because it doesn’t contain dried fruit!

Mad Hippie face products. I wrote about these in my blog post about curing acne and hyperpigmentation — I especially love the Vitamin C, A, and exfoliating serums! They are SO affordable for the quality and are a fraction of the retail price on Vitacost!

I have also tried the Hydrating Nutrient mist (very good for hyperpigmentation!) and the Antioxidant Facial Oil. I love the oil because it is not super greasy and light for daytime–also smells fab!

Jarrow Q-absorb CoQ10 — I love this because it is so highly absorbed in the body and has Ubiquinone, which is shown in studies to increase Co-Q10 levels up to 400% over baseline and is 3–4 times better absorbed than chewables.

Jovial gluten free pasta is the BEST tasting pasta out there — you will have no clue it’s gluten free! I especially love the tagliatelle (fettuccini basically)

Better Life home and cleaning products. They are super clean and toxin-free. I LOVE the clary + sage all purpose cleaner (they also have an unscented one if you’re sensitive), the dishwasher gel, the free + clear dryer sheets, and the sink scubber!

Jason’s Toothpaste is the most effective natural toothpaste I’ve found— and by effective, I mean, you actually feel like you brushed your teeth (eyeroll). They have both fluoride and non fluoride options and I love the vanilla peppermint flavor!

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Of course, every brand on this list meets my clean living standards of no nasties that will kill you. These are the things I tried throughout the year that continued to impress me. Unfortunately, if you follow my Instagram stories, you know that the hunt for natural mascara is MY EVEREST. So, I don’t have one of those yet.

BEST NATURAL FOUNDATION.

• 14e Cosmetics Aloe Nourish foundation stole my heart this year. It has even LESS ingredients and was formulated for acne prone skin (see my whole blog post on how I healed my acne naturally here).

TIP: I find this is best applied with a flat kabuki brush a few dots at a time and stipple into the skin QUICKLY as it is a thicker formula and dries quickly.! (clean every few days as this builds up easily) Also…order the samples first from the website to get your perfect color match!

Also, I must say I think this is a little better than Crunchi in preventing acne. When I wore it a few days in a row, it really seemed like my pores were clogging. Crunchi does contain dimethicone - a pore clogging ingredient I usually stay far away from. That being said, I still wear both! You can find my entire review of 14e Aloe Nourish foundation here.

Price point: $44 and one bottle has literally lasted me almost a year!

BEST NATURAL CREAM BLUSH.

• RMS lip2cheek really impressed me this year. You can make them as pigmented or sheer as you want and they have shimmer and non-shimmer shades. I have Demure (non-shimmer) and it is just the perfect way to add a natural pop of color. It is NOT GREASY. You can find my more thorough review of RMS lip2cheek here.

Price point: $36 I get this on Dermstore or Sephora. I haven’t even barely touched this pot and I’ve had it since last winter!

BEST NATURAL BRONZER:

• Jouer Sunswept Bronzer Duo in sun-kissed and sunset is something I just recently discovered on my quest for a non-shimmer bronzer. Upon receiving it, there IS a tiny bit of shimmer, but it’s not detectable. I really love the pigmentation and both the shades are just gorgeous! The blend-ability is fantastic — melts right into the skin!

Price point: $30 — I get this on Dermstore

BEST NATURAL POWDER BLUSH.

For powder, I really loved these two options:

• Honeybee Gardens and Gabriel Cosmetics blushes. They are both available on Vitacost, where you can stack promo codes and always get good sales. Amazing pigment and color payoff!

Price point: Gabriel blush $19 and Honeybee Gardens $13

BEST NATURAL BROW PENCIL.

• Eye of Horus — an Australian green beauty brand that has captured my heart. They have a TINY twist up brow pencil called Brow Define (I use color Dynasty), so it’s not super soft like a pencil and precise enough to make small strokes. I liken this to the Anastasia pencil. Good staying power and has a brush on the other end.

Price point: $25 — be sure to sign up for the newsletter to get a discount!

BEST NATURAL LIPSTICK.

• Nu Evolution lipsticks really stood out to me this year, and I found myself wearing them more than any others. They have GREAT pigmentation and staying power. The thing I love the most is that they don’t dry my lips out like almost every other lipstick, natural or conventional. I describe them as semi-matte.

Price point: $30

BEST LIPGLOSS.

• Nu Evolution wins again—these smell amazing, they feel so hydrating on the lips. I find that a lot of lip glosses (even the Fitglow serums) dry out my lips. I don’t find that with these at all!

Price point: $28

BEST LIQUID LIPSTICK

• Au Naturale su/Stain Matte Lip Stain is the best ever! They are so pigmented, taste and smell amazing and do NOT dry my lips out. This color in On Pointe is one of their best sellers, so I gave it a try and I would probably opt for a shade a bit lighter next time, but nonetheless I LOVE IT!

Price point: $25

BEST NATURAL EYESHADOW PALETTE

• Honeybee Gardens Nude Renaissance palette! Not only are the colors right in my wheelhouse (I love a copper/rose gold/merlot vibe) but the pigmentation and wear are so impressive! I love the even mix of matte and shimmer shadows. This has for sure been my go-to!

Price point: $40

It’s also super affordable—especially as far as natural makeup is concerned! I always pair all my shadows with the Erin’s Faces eye primer and it keeps everything in place ALL DAY.

BEST NATURAL PRESSED EYESHADOWS

• I absolutely am obsessed with the Crunchi single eyeshadows — pigment and intensity are amazing. This color Fearless is like a copper shade that has replaced many other toxic ones I was using. Looks great as a crease or all over color!

Price point: $24

Again, I pair this with the Erin’s Faces eye primer for all day wear!

BEST NATURAL HIGHLIGHTER

• Cover FX Custom Enhancer drops come in several shades (I have moonlight) and are unlike any highlighter I’ve ever used. You need the tiniest amount and you can put them anywhere, or mix with your foundation to give an overall glow.

Price point: $42 (however, Sephora has a Glam + Glow mini set for $12 with this exact color in it!)

Note: Cover FX is not the GREENEST brand out there but it is vegan and free of fragrance, paragons, gluten, mineral oil, and talc. Since this is merely used as a highlighter on top of foundation, I don’t worry about it being super crunchy.

Tell me what products stood out to you this year??? I’m always looking for new things to try!!

-Brit

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