January 5th: Ms. Faux's Fave New Candy... Gin Gins & Ms. Faux's Stomach Battle

Disclaimer:  Ms. Faux ain't not doctor and should you be suffering from any chronic pain or questionable anything... GO SEE A DOCTOR.  This is only my story and things I have found that helped.

So for several years Ms. Faux has suffered with serious stomach issues.  I have been put on no gluten diets, FODMAP diets, and anything and everything in between.  I have undergone allergy testing, thyroid testing, endoscopies, etc..., etc...  People have questioned what it could be... this includes doctors and finally my general physician (Dr. Mc) I will call him, finally figured it out and diagnosed me with GERD (gastroesophogeal reflux disease) and Gastritis (an inflamed stomach).  The cause... most likely stress.  This has also caused an adrenal gland issue that we will get into at another time.

So what is this?  Well for GERD, think of near puking all the time.  That acidic material pretty much seeps out of my stomach and up my esophagus.  Sometimes it comes up to my throat, but most time it lives in the esophagus.  Pretty much like having really bad heartburn most of the time.

The other is gastritis, which just means my stomach is inflamed because it on a pH balance level is more acidic.  See the picture below.  I look like the one on the bottom.

So how did Ms. Faux come to be so lucky that she developed this lovely little condition in her stomach that can alter the way she lives???

That's right.  Stress.  It is a killer.  I know what you are saying to yourself, "it's just your gut."  That was what I thought until my doc asked, "is it going to take cancer to get you wake up."  Mention the big C and well, now my crusade to take better care of my stomach.

Seriously this issue is not a small thing.  At its worst I was throwing up on a daily basis.  That however was during one of the most stressful times of my life.  Many elements of that stress have since been abolished in my life.

While I will likely get into my favorite foods and things I'm doing successfully and such in a latter post the one thing that I thought I would mention today is my new favorite candy.

Gin Gin's $10.72 for a 1 lb. bulk bag at amazon.com.

What are they?

According to their makers, GingerPeople.com...

Gin Gins® Double Strength Hard Ginger Candy are made with all natural ingredients. Enjoy as an after dinner digestive or a throat lozenge to both warm and soothe.

What does Ms. Faux think?

Well although they do have sugar in them, which is an inflammatory that I have to be careful with, I can say that I partook of 1... or 2... o.k. 5 of them last night after I ate.  Usually that is when I feel the most acidic.  It is almost like a burning in my gut.  I ate the candy and... nothing.  My stomach felt great.

Now I'm on a ginger kick and it has so many healing benefits such as anti-inflammatory benefits, aids in digestion, helps with nausea, clearing sinuses and even gas to name a few.

Seriously though The Ginger People have a hit on their hands with my gut and these candies.  They come in a variety of types (hard and chewy) as well as flavors (coffee, spicy apple, peanut and crystallized ginger).

They also have drinks, spreads, and other types of ginger related products that I cannot wait to try given how much my stomach is responding.  So go to www.gingerpeople.com and give them a whirl.  It is Ms. Faux Stomach Approved.

January 4th: Ms. Faux's Favorite Trip Planner - Sygic Travel

This is a FAUX FAVE...

So Ms. Faux is planning another trip with her best friend Ms. MJ.  This year's destination, Ireland, Scotland and England (London to be specific).  

So when I started looking for things to do for this trip, you know that I went to my previous favorite planning site TripOMatic.  Except one thing was different... it is now Sygic Travel.  I'm assuming they were bought by Sygic, but not really sure, however it is the same type of interface that TripOMatic offered when I went to Auckland, New Zealand and Sydney and Melbourne, Australia.

So what is it?

It is an interactive website that helps you to plan your trip to wherever you are going.  Though I probably am only speaking to a very small area of this website's capabilities, here is what I like about it.  Also known as... What does Ms. Faux think?

Well I took a lot of this from their website and added what I think (in bold).

1.  To start simply type in a city.  Fill out the time of your travel (optional) and your hotel (also optional).

2.  You then can go to their recommended itineraries or list of places that you want to visit or simply start looking at the map of your city.

3. You can see all the places you might want to visit on the map. They are also visible in the sidebar. As you move the map or zoom in, the list automatically updates. If you zoom out enough, you will see destinations instead of places. Click them to view the attractions.  This app or website plans days in 12 hour intervals.

4.  If you’re looking for a particular place, you can use the search field above the map to find it. You can search for attractions, hotels, tours or addresses.

You can also filter places by their categories above the map. If you wish, you can filter the places further by tags after you select a category.

5.  You can add a place straight from the map, or you can click on it to read more about it, then click the plus button to add it to your trip plan. This will add the place to the current day you are working with. You can change the day above the map.  I love this option because you can learn about things in the area you are visiting that you may not know about.  Know however that Ms. Faux has usually done her research with Rick Steves YouTube channel and TripAvisor.com, amongst many other books and searches.

6.  If you want to save a place for later, click the heart icon instead to add it to your Favorites.

If you want to add more destinations to your trip plan, use the search field. Type in the name of your next destination and hit Enter. The map will be moved to your next destination and you can start adding places from it to your trip plan.

The favorites tab is my favorite and generally what I do.  I mark everything I want to see and then filter it and start planning my trip.  This way I can see what sights are closest together so that I can plan my individual days.  I have found it is best to have this planned before you visit somewhere so you don't waste time.  Another good way to look at this is through GoogleMaps.com.

7.  For your itinerary... You can switch between days in your itinerary in the menu above the map. When adding places to your itinerary, you always add them to the day that is currently set as active.

You can open each day to see its detail and also see the route between those places. Once you open the day, you can easily add more places to it from the map.

When you add a place, Sygic Travel automatically reroutes your itinerary and recalculates the travel estimate for the day. On the top you can see that the day starts to fill up.

8.  Save your trip by creating an account, or by logging in if you already have one. You will be able to access your trip later and also, each change you make to your trip automatically syncs across all your devices and the web.

After you're done with adding activities to your trip, you can download a neat PDF guide of your trip. Click on the Trip Overview button in the right corner above the map, then switch yourself to the Print / Download / App tab to find the option.

If you have a smartphone, don’t forget to download Sygic Travel mobile app before you go. Once you sign in, it will automatically sync your trip and allow you to follow and edit your itinerary on the go. With Sygic Travel Premium, the app will work even without Internet connection.

9.  The greatest thing, if you are planning with other parties is that you can share this itinerary between parties.

I know it is hard to really explain the brilliance and ease of this app/website, but seriously it has streamlined the way I travel.  Having been to most of Europe, many islands in the Carribean, New Zealand, Australia, Across the USA, etc..., etc... I have found many of my favorite ways to do things and this website is brilliant.

January 3rd: Suck Less: Where There's a William, There's a Way by William Belli

If you are in the market for a ridiculous and hilarious book to read and love drag queens as much as I do, then look no further.  It is William Belli's new book, "Suck Less: Where There's a Willam, There's a Way."  $12.99 for Kindle or $12.98 for Paperback at Amazon.com.  You can also find it on iTunes for $12.99 for the Book or $17.95 for the Audiobook.

What is it?

Well according to Amazon.com, but based on how it is written, I'm guessing this came straight from William herself...

The only lie told more often than "No, that looks totally cute on you" and "I got AIDS through oral" is "It gets better." Well, a lotta times it don't. Sometimes it just sucks less. But I promise you: where there's a Willam, there's a way.

But this isn't all about me (for once). It's about you and how you can SUCK LESS at a variety of things drag queens are so much better at than the average person. I've got clap backs and life hacks and tips on classing up a simple grab-and-run lifting spree to the much more dignified act of larceny. Super-important life stuff with my own special, secret fag- swag sauce. So welcome to Willam's School of Bitchcraft and Wiggotry. Class is in session.

With a foreword from Neil Patrick Harris.

Who is William Belli?

Well according to wikipedia.com...: 

Willam Belli (born June 30, 1982) often referred to as simply Willam, is an American actor, drag queen, model, reality television personality, recording artist and author, who is known for his recurring role as transgender woman Cherry Peck in Ryan Murphy's medicial drama Nip/Tuck and for being a contestant on the fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race, for which he remains the only contestant ever disqualified from the series. In addition to acting, Belli found viral success with his music video parodies "Chow Down" and "Boy Is a Bottom" with his Los Angeles drag queen pop trio, DWV. However, the group split in June 2014, because of a personal conflict among the groupmates.

So how did he get booted from Drag Race... from William's own mouth, his boyfriend found him and came by to bang him out.  The show itself apparently forbids contestants from outside contact.

It is sad really because though I didn't quite get him completely on the show, William is without a doubt one of my favorite drag queens to come from there.  He is hilarious, irreverent and always up for a good time.  If you are however slightly squeamish or up for a laugh, he is probably not your cup of tea.

What did Ms. Faux think?

Well as I mentioned, I love William.  Her twisted sense of humor and silliness just appeals to me, but I do understand it is not for everyone.  But if you have ever wanted a drag queen to help tell you how to be a woman (Ms. Faux is raising her hand) then this is the book for you.

However if you find the statement below funny...

Then GET THIS BOOK.  Get it now.  Also.... this is one of the tamer quotes that I'm willing to put in.  Gentlemen you to.  William even teaches you how to tuck.

Seriously... hers is the best in the business.  Well maybe also Carmen Carrera.  But for real, this is a book that I could not put down.  It his funny and you get some tips along the way.  And keeping it 100%... William is gorgeous.  One of the prettiest ladies in the business, but more than that she is hella funny and can laugh at herself as much as anyone else.

Get this book now.

January 2: Egyptian Magic

Egyptian Magic

So today is another day of living fabulously and for us Chicagoans that means treating ourselves to either a facial or some really good moisturizer.  If water is the life source, this weather is sucking it right out of us.

So tonight I treated myself to an at home facial with Egyptian Magic.  

  

Egyptian Magic All Purpose Skin Cream $31.90 for 4 oz. at amazon.com

I first heard of this product after reading an interview with Kate Hudson who swears by it.  Turns out a lot of other celebrities do to.  Check out their webpage at egyptianmagic.com.  But there is no denying Ms. Hudson's skin, though I think she can thank her blessings for the good genes she inherited as well.

So what is it?

According to egyptianmagic.com Egyptian Magic is, "an all natural skin cream made from six of nature's most powerful moisturizing and healing ingredients."

"Our unique process combines six of nature’s most powerful moisturizing and healing ingredients to create a balm unlike any other.  That’s it. No additives, preservatives, fragrances, chemicals or parabens." 

Hydrates and repairs skin from head to toe! Use as a moisturizer, lipbalm, eye cream, hair mask and also works wonders on eczema and skin irritations.

Legendary among celebrities, cult among the fashion press and beauty industry. The must-have beauty tool for professional make-up artists.

So what does Ms. Faux think?

I agree with everything they say, though... disclaimer:  I have never put it in my hair.  I would look like a greased rat and I don't have eczema so can't answer to that.  What I have done is push my hair back with a head band and slather it all over my face, allowing it to soak in while I do something mundane like watch tv or read a book.  When I'm ready for bed, I take one of my favorite microfiber washcloths ($7.49 for a pack of 5 at amazon.com) and wipe off the excess.  You can either then put on your favorite overnight moisturizer or you likely won't even need that.  

You wake up the next day with your skin feeling like heaven.

January 1: Faux's Year of Living Out Loud/Tubshroom Recommendation

Well I'm back.  I'm hoping to post daily for the next year.  We will see.  Life gets to you some times, but this is my greatest intent, because through all my growth and learning I realize you do the best you can do.  Of course I'm already behind.

The idea of my blog will shift.  I will still recommend stuff, but also I will just give my ideas on living this thing called life and things that help me to do that.  I'm sure I will falter, but my goal for the year is just to be present.  Whatever that is.  Be here.  Be in a moment.  Let fear go because that is generally what holds me back.

I don't much believe in resolutions because I think they are setting yourself up for failure or at least perceiving it to be failure, so I thought I would be kind to myself and simply state what I want out of this year.

A few ideas of been swirling in my mind and that is that I'm tired of waiting.  I'm tired of waiting to live my life and for those people to do so with me to do so.  I've spent most of my life taking care of others so this year I plan to be a little more selfish or a better way of saying that is taking care of myself.  So I'm making plans and going ahead with them.

There is a quote that speaks volumes to me and has for years.  It encompasses this idea because I think truly not living your life to it's fullest is a form of self pity.  It is ugly.  It isn't sexy at all and in generally is old crap that holds us back.  In order to be you have to just sit with yourself in the moment.  Not yesterday.  Not tomorrow.  Right now.  So here is the quote.

No apologies.  I am going to live this life as fabulously as I possibly can.  That simple idea allows for lulls, but ultimately just sets a realistic goal that you do your best to do what is best for you.  So there it is.  To live my most fabulous life and to do so by not waiting for anyone else to do it.  This is about me.

So as you can tell the direction of this blog is going to change a bit.  I will still give tips of things I've tried and stuff I've done, but it is going to be focused more on just living, because to quote a very intelligent man...

So how did I start off day one of my most fabulous life...

With friends, a bag of Chinese Food that weighed the same amount as a cinder block and cuddling with my temporary puppy and long term cat Simba.

So Happy New Year!  Also I promise this will have recommendations of things that I feel are pretty great so don't give up on old FauxPrah.  Oh and here is one...

One of my best friends Ms. Lisa gifted her Favorite Thing to me today (since she had to miss my party).  Here it is....

The Tubshroom

$12.99 at Amazon.com

I've also seen them at Target and Bed, Bath and Beyond

What is it?

A revolutionary hair catch that fits into your drain to catch all of your hair from going down the drain thus causing all sorts of clogs.

What does Ms Faux think?

Well when I'm not writing this blog I am a property manager.  One of the most expensive things you can do in your home is call a plumber for clogs.  Also one of the worst things you can do is pour corrosive materials like draino down your pipes as they cause major damage to not only the pipes but imagine what they are doing to the earth.

Ms. Lisa swears by it.  Ms. Faux has used hers and loves it. 

Alright, that is it for today ya'll but I have to power through 12 more of these but they should be coming out quickly.