I kicked my 14 year addiction...

Let me preface this by saying this post is long. It contains a bit TMI and there are no pictures. I still hope you read it though because it's good information!

For people who have been living in a cave, or for those who just haven't visited my blog before, my name is Brittan and I used to be addicted to diet coke. I started drinking diet coke in high school. Ninth grade would be my guess. I drank it regularly for about 14 years. For the past three years, I drank at least three diet cokes a day. Some days I'm sure I drank 5-7.

About two months ago I decided to stop drinking diet coke. I was having a lot of health issues and a lot of people were pointing fingers at my DC habit. My intention was to stop drinking it so I could prove to them that wasn't the problem. I was wrong. They won.

3 reasons I'm glad I stopped drinking diet coke:

1. I no longer look like a middle school girl who just went through puberty.
I have had terrible acne since middle school. I'm 29 and yes, I still had horrible acne every single day. I used to laugh at my friends who would point out their one tiny pimple that would be gone in a day. I had acne on my face, chest, and back.

Now, I only break out a little bit when I'm PMSing OR if I drink a soda. (more on that at the end)

2. I have energy!!!
I don't know if my body had just had enough but about a month before I stopped drinking diet coke, I was absolutely exhausted. I slept for 15 hours one Saturday and like 12 two Saturdays later. I was dragging every day at work and just felt bad. It got worse, like I said, about a month before I stopped drinking it; but, I didn't have a "normal" level of energy until I quit.

3. The mystery symptoms are gone!
Those of you who know me, know that I have had stomach problems for years. Again, getting increasingly worse with time. Due to my family history of stomach problems (my dad & cousin had ulcerative colitis) I assumed it was related to genetics. My symptoms were all over the place: stomach pains especially at night, stomach pains worse when hungry, bloated, weight loss (oh darn!), constipation frequently & diarrhea occasionally (keeping it real!), fatigue, and acid reflux.

Over a period of two years, I had a colonoscopy to rule out ulcerative colitis and other intestinal diseases. I was tested for Celiac Disease, Hyperthyroidism, anemia and who knows what else. I had blood drawn frequently and went to the doctor at least once a month. I was prescribed all kinds of medicines to "see if this would help." I don't even want to think about how much money I spent.

And now...almost all of the symptoms that I had for years - gone. Adios. Sayonara. One downfall - the weight loss is gone too. Boooooo.


So - yes, I stopped drinking diet coke (and all sodas). I stopped cold turkey despite the advice to wean myself off of it. To me, that would have been harder. I didn't have any soda for two weeks. After that, I felt like I was no longer addicted to it and now I drink one when I want to - no more than one every 2 weeks. I find though, that when I do drink soda, I break out about two days later and I have stomach pains that same day. I also typically get constipated again for a few days. Needless to say, I really only drink a soda now if I'm desperate for a pick me up.

I have definitely increased my water intake. The first few weeks of just drinking water and cranberry juice I felt very bloated. I guess my body just wasn't used to being hydrated. I stopped drinking cranberry juice regularly because I realized that is very acidic, which irritates my stomach. I then started drinking sweet tea. I know -it's bad. BUT, I like my tea watered down with not much sugar so it's still better than soda.

Since I've kicked my DC habit though, I have gained weight. I'd say around 5 lbs. :( I think if I were to just drink water, I'd lose it but I'm a realistic person & I can't deprive myself of everything!

I never wanted to believe everyone who harped on me about how bad diet coke was, but I will say it - they were right. BUT if you're one of those people who say that diet sodas are bad and you drink regular soda - stop it! I have had regular sodas and diet sodas and they both make me feel like crap. Artificial sugar is bad, and so is tons of natural sugar!

Maybe I just gave you a New Year's Resolution idea...

Have you experienced something similar with sodas? Other foods that make you feel awful?

Are you an avid diet coke drinker like I used to be? What are your thoughts now?

I am not usually a moron...

It's not often that I get in organization mode, but when I do, I go all out. 

I've been meaning to pick up some laminating sheets for a while now. I saw a coupon for them on Cartwheel today and just had to buy them already! I'm so glad I did. (They were only $8.50 after the discount!!)

I am not usually a moron, but these had me feeling like a complete idiot. Each pouch has detailed instructions, complete with pictures; yet, I still could not figure it out.

Enter exhibit 1, my first attempt:

Oy vey. That's embarrassing. Now, in my defense (sort of) I was trying to do this sitting on my bed. That's not the smartest idea. You definitely need a hard surface and a ruler for this. So anyway, I'm not going to give you a step-by-step because chances are, the instructions will make perfect sense to you.

After watching a "how-to" video that I googled, still not getting it, staring at the instructions a few more times...I finally figured it out. I didn't do it the way that was outlined, but it worked. 

So the whole point of these lovely laminating pouches is that I wanted to have a reusable chore chart and clothing calendar for Madi. 

The chore chart for obvious reasons - she generally has the same things she is responsible for each day and if she does them she gets an allowance on Fridays. I printed out two - one for my house and one for her dad's house. 

Please disregard the horrible drawings. I do not claim to be even half an artist.

The free printable can be found here.

The clothes calendar is as much for me as it is for Madi. The plan is to write out what she will wear each week, at the beginning of the week. This should help mornings run smoothly. The other perk is that it will help me keep track of what she's worn. I tend to pick out the same things over and over again. She has a ton of clothes so I want to make sure she's wearing all of them!

Of course I absolutely love that it's chevron. 

The free printable can be found here.

Can y'all see the laminated pouch? All ends are completely sealed. It really looks like a heated lamination! It took all of 2 minutes, once I figured out what I was doing, and now we have reusable print-outs. I love them!! I can't wait to pick up some dry erase markers so I can get started!

**This is not a sponsored post. I just really liked the laminated pouches. 3M, if you're reading this - I'll gladly accept accolades. 

Also - my friend Carrie just started a blog, Huggies and Heels. Stop by and welcome her to the blogging community! :) 

Picky-Eaters Represented

I haven't updated y'all on Madi's first day of school. I have been busy and just lazy! I will get to it, eventually.

I was treated to a fancy schmancy dinner this evening. I, along with a few of my fellow co-workers, were invited to dinner as a thank you through work. It was only six of us at dinner so we were able to enjoy each other's company and have great conversation. 

image via

We ate at a fairly new restaurant in Columbia, The Oak Table. The Oak Table serves "modern American cuisine," in their words. In my words, they serve southern food with an elegant twist. For real, not even kidding. That's how I would put it.

So, I'm not even going to pretend to be a food critic. I probably have the least sophisticated palate of any adult. Now, five year olds I can take the cake, without a doubt. I know my happy meals and ice cream sundaes. But, what I can bring to this review of sorts, is to give some insight to my fellow picky eaters. I know I'm not the only one. I can't be. Not possible.

Our table ordered an appetizer, the Ricotta Gnudi - pulled from their menu, "Beaufort shrimp, Edisto Island chanterelles, cherry tomatoes, shiitake mushrooms, City Roots long beans, lemon extra virgin olive oil."

To my surprise, I tried this and I liked it. Yes, I meant to put that sentence together in that order. I was very surprised that I tried it. It was very good, but I couldn't have eaten more than a spoonful. The texture was incredibly soft and smooth and would have just made me shiver after more than one tablespoon or so. Keeping it real here y'all.

Now, had I been eating with my best friend, I would have ordered a bunch of sides - french fries (aka duck fat truffled frites), mac and cheese, and potatoes. But, I was not with my bff. 

I had to branch out. I ordered the Carolina Heritage Farms Pork Chop.

 The pork chop is served with "sweet corn dinner grits, Rawl Family Farms collard greens, cherry tomatoes, Granny Smith apple gastrique." The Granny Smith apple gastrique is totally what pulled me in. I love some granny smith apples. Now of course I didn't get the collards because, those are green, and I don't eat green things. I ordered the Oak Table Baked Mac because it sounded heavenly - "gorganzola, sharp cheddar, fontina, mascarpone, smoked gouda, goat cheese, Taleggio, and fresh cavatelli."

First the pork chop - the presentation was gorgeous. The pork chop was very good. It was very tender and cooked a perfect medium. But, the sweet corn from the grits over-powered the gastrique. I really didn't care for the grits at all. The sweet corn added to the grits (hello, that's already corn!) was just too much. [I prefer Paul's insanely amazing secret recipe grits. Just sayin.]

The baked mac & cheese was, how do I say this, a let down. I am a mac & cheese expert. (remember? five year old palate) The first bite had me. I even said "this is amazing," but after the first bite I wasn't impressed. You know how sometimes you are anticipating something to be so good that you just say it is before evaluating?? Yeah, that's what happened. I've had better mac & cheese before. It wasn't bad. It just wasn't great.

Overall, I had a lovely evening and really enjoyed the company. I love where I work and the people I work with. I especially love that we said a blessing, amongst colleagues. 

This was my pleasedonttakethistooseriously review of The Oak Table. 

Everyone at the table loved their food and it is all extremely well presented. Also! I almost forgot - the service was wonderful. Our server knew the menu very well and fit right in with our group. The atmosphere was great too. It felt very comfortable with the Southern charm I'd expect from a sister restaurant in Charleston.

If you're a foodie, I'd say go check out The Oak Table. As for me, I will stick with Chick-Fil-A.

Spontaneous Monday Date Night

image via

Tonight Madi & I made a spontaneous decision to go see the new movie, Planes. I suggested we go to the pool, but Madi had her heart set on the movie. Before the movie we grabbed dinner at Tropical Smoothie. This has quickly become one of our preferred places to eat. Finding food M will eat is a rare occasion so when we find somewhere, I stick with it! (However, I must say it's really annoying/strange that they no longer sell sweet tea, or unsweetened for that matter. It can't be a health-conscious reason because they still sell soft drinks.)

After dinner, we stopped by the gas station to get some snacks for the movie. Madi picked out candy corn and I got junior mints. 

We saw Planes in 3D - the glasses are always a hit! 

I was trying not to be too obvious with the flash...

So, about the movie - Madi & I were not very well entertained. Thirty minutes in Madi said she was bored. Granted, she wasn't feeling great and was tired but I was pretty bored too. We both laughed a few times, but ultimately it was just a copycat plot from Cars. I mean, yes, it's a kids movie and the plot isn't typically the reason kids go to movies, but we were both disappointed. I didn't see the end because we left about 15 minutes before it was over - Madi's throat was hurting & she was too tired to stay. 

I would definitely save your $20 and rent this one on redbox. The younger kids may enjoy the planes and bright colors, but I don't think this one will hold older kids' attention.

Seen any good family movies lately? Have you seen Planes? What did you think? 

One of my obsessions...

There are only a few select things I'm obsessed with. One of those things are flat irons (I call them hair straighteners but I think flat iron is the "proper" term). I have had tons of flat irons, expensive and inexpensive, skinny & thick plates, temperature variation and all one setting, etc.

Lucky me, Misikko sent me a Hana professional flat iron to review! I was super excited! My husband even laughed because this only adds to my growing collection. I apologize for not having a picture of the iron and package I received. I backed up my iphone and well, that never goes well for me.

Misikko sent me the 1" flat iron, along with some make-up, a new brush, and some other fun beauty items. The flat iron came with a hot pad, and two different travel cases. This was a plus. I've never received a case with the flat irons I've had in the past.

At first glance the Hana has everything I want - a temperature option, long cord, and good/smooth plates. As for the performance...

Before:

y'all - i'm being real here. this is me after a blow dry! I have naturally barely-wavy hair. Just annoying enough to not be able to blow dry and go.

And after:

Ahhh, that's better.

I'm going to be honest with y'all, because that's how I roll. After the first use of the iron, I wasn't impressed. The plate kind of pinched my hair and it just wasn't very hot. I decided to give it a second go and my opinion changed. I think maybe it just needed to "warm" up (like that pun, don't ya?). The second use it got much hotter and although my hair still gets caught in the plate a little, it's not a big deal. I have SUPER thick hair and am very impatient and with those two things I'm never going to get perfectly straight hair unless someone else does it. For my impatient self, this iron works really well. I can run it through my hair a few times and go. It's not perfect, but it's straight and I do use this one now instead of the other three in my cabinet. I like it and am super happy I have it, but I wouldn't spend $200 on it. 

Misikko really does make quality hair products. They wouldn't have such great reviews if that wasn't true. Check out their hair dryers and curling irons too! 

If you have thin hair and/or are more patient than I am then I really think you'd love this flat iron. Like I said, I like it and use it every day but I'm not in love with it. I have yet to find a flat iron I'm in love with. I'm on a mission.

Gone Girl

I finished this book in about 5 days. I don't know if I read it quickly because I was intrigued or because I was so disturbed that I wanted it to be over.

The synopsis of this book pulled me in right away:

Just how well can you ever know the person you love? This is the question that Nick Dunne must ask himself on the morning of his fifth wedding anniversary, when his wife Amy suddenly disappears. The police immediately suspect Nick. Amy's friends reveal that she was afraid of him, that she kept secrets from him. He swears it isn't true. (cont.)


Here's my take on the book -- The storyline was great, truly suspenseful and totally unlike anything I'd ever read. I could however, guess at a few of the "twists and turns," but was still curious to find out what really did happen to Amy.


What I didn't like about this book was the language. I understand some characters need to cuss to really show their personalities; however, this author took that to a whole other level. Every other word (no really) was f this, f that. It was ridiculous and completely unnecessary. The other problem I had was the, um, disturbing nature of the characters. I honestly just felt uncomfortable reading the last few chapters. It was odd and creepy and just not something I'd normally read. I know I'm being vague for a review but if I say anything else, I'll give away the ending.


If you don't mind cussing and super psychological thriller-ish characters, you'll like this book. I won't be reading anything else by this author, though. I gave it three stars because it didn't bore me, and was good, just not my typical preference.


I'm about to start The Good Father by Diane Chamberlain next. She is still my favorite author! 


Have you read anything good lately? I need more in my goodreads line-up!

Review for you!

You know, I've always thought that eyeglasses should be free, or at least super cheap. It's not my fault I have poor eyesight. Until just this month, I've been wayyyyy overpaying for my eyeglasses. I'm talking hundreds of dollars out of my pocket for eyeglasses. Well, let me tell you - not anymore!

Firmoo recently contacted me to tell me about their inexpensive (start at $8!!), fashionable eyewear. Inexpensive? Fashionable? Yes, please! I immediately went to their website, firmoo.com, and started looking at eyeglasses. They have this awesome virtual try on option available, which made it super fun and easy to pick out the glasses that would best compliment my face shape.

Not even a week after selecting my eyeglasses, I received them in the mail. They came with a dust case and a hard case. I seriously love them and love having multiple choices of eyeglasses to wear when I'm not feeling like contacts. Nobody said wearing glasses had to be boring!

Firmoo is so awesome that they have a first-time buyer program where YOU can get your first pair of eyeglasses for FREE!* Can't beat free y'all! Try them out, I promise you'll love them!

Send me a picture of you in your new eyeglasses. I'd love to see! 

*Standard configuration eyeglasses only for first-time buyers of Firmoo.com.

**I was given a pair of eyeglasses to review. These are my own thoughts and opinions.