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Aaron

Acutane – My Experience

Cosmetics , Health , Personal , Reviews • Nov 16, 2014

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I have had acne for about as long as I can remember, or so i thought. I felt at times like i ‘struggled’ a lot through my teen years but looking back I don’t know that I truly did. When I think of acne I think of the worse case scenario. Those that struggle are those that have horrible acne scarring and a continuous onslaught of pimples popping up on their face. That truly wasn’t me.

I always had something popping up on my face but rarely had more than a couple pimples. My true struggle was just the hyper pigmentation that was left behind after each breakout. My pimples would be gone but the red mark left behind would stay at times for months. Even years. It was more than frustrating.

I got to a point about a year ago that I just couldn’t take it anymore. I’m sure that the majority of you know by now that I wear makeup. I’m not embarrassed by it and i’ve never been afraid to tell people about it. Those that wear foundation can attribute the fact of how frustrating it is to have breakouts when your wearing makeup. My skin was always combination/oily and I had to purchase specific products to accommodate. Half way through the day I might as well have been wearing nothing.

I went to Walgreens minute clinic to see what they could offer (they now offer solutions for acne). That was a horrible experience. I was offered the solution of buying a random face wash and mask to use on a nightly/weekly basis. Waste of money and time. I finally had enough and made an appointment with a dermatologist that a few of my other family members have seen on a regular basis for years.

This was truly the best decision that I ever made. We tried a combination of medicated washes and pills but nothing worked the way that I hoped. Progress was just to slow. Once you are on antibiotics for so long their is only so much that the dermatologist can do so they stop the pills. Antibiotics stop working after so long so it was time to move on.

That was when the dermatologist suggested Acutane. I was shocked. Acutane was for people that had severe cystic acne. That I knew I didn’t have. My problem wasn’t numerous pimples on my face it was again, the hyper pigmentation that was left behind from the pimples that I did get. Why would my dermatologist want me on something so severe?

Simply put, because it will work! Acutane isn’t just for those that suffer from severe acne, it’s also for those that suffer from more mild forms of acne that will just simply not go away. My dermatologist seemed to feel that if antibiotics don’t work then acutane will!

My treatment wasn’t horrible. My skin dried out slightly and i had quite a bit of nausea that first few weeks (the nausea went away after a short period). The only complaints I had where the severity of how dry my lips got and the annoyance of the packing it came in. I swear.. you got these big boxes that included about 2 weeks worth of medicine. Inside that box was about 4 smaller boxes. You had to then unfold the boxes, discard some security warnings, and then every day (twice a day) you had to rip through the packaging below.

Acutane Packaging

My results were worth it! I’ve been off the  medication since the very end of September and I haven’t had a breakout since stopping the treatment. The dryness that I had was never out of control and after about a month completely went away. My lips were an absolute nightmare (i couldn’t do enough to keep them moisturized) but that too cleaned up in about a month.

My concerns after the treatment were the length of time I would be clear from acne. The dermatologist said that i could be clear for anywhere from a few days, a few weeks, a few months, to the rest of my life. They can’t determine how long the medicine’s affects will remain. I’ve stock with the same basic face wash I used during treatment, used a lighter moisturizer, and then  started to occasionally use a Retin-A that my dermatologist prescribed (wrinkle benefits in that bad boy too!).

I’ve been asked a few ties if I would/would not recommend it for someone else. I can’t make that decision for anyone. I can tell you that the side effects for me were minimal and the results were fantastic. Some people don’t have that great of luck though. You can read various reviews across the internet of people who have had horrible affects from the medicine and some that have even died. Pregnancy is of course never an option on the medication so if you are planning on being pregnant or could be don’t even consider it (I believe that women have to take pregnancy tests on their monthly visits to confirm that they are indeed still not pregnant).

  • Cetaphil Face Wash  – twice daily.
  • CeraVe Moisturizing Cream – twice daily.
  • Aquaphor Healing Ointment – numerous times every day for lips.
    • Don’t waste your money on the lip version. the original Aquaphor is a better deal and the same product.
    • EOS balms, regular Vasoline, Berts Bees, Medicated Blistex and Carmex did not work for me.

2014 Video Music Awards

Music , Reviews • Aug 25, 2014

Ariana Grande opened the show with Break Free, the anthem from her upcoming album, My Everything. She looked great but had some major pitch problems. It went over to Nicki Minaj performing Anaconda. Although extremely raunchy it was much more tastefully done compared to last years twerking. The song passed to Jessie J who led right into Bank Bang. Passing from Jessie back to Ariana. Ariana had the chance to redeem herself and picked up exactly where her vocals left off and she was stunning. AMAZING performance! Nicki even made it through the entire performance with a wardrobe malfunction (notice her clutching her dress closed above).

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BEST FEMALE VIDEO – Katy Perry – Dark Horse

Taylor Swift took the stage after. Again, like the pre show, she was looking drop dead gorgeous. I have to admit that I’m not a big fan of this new song but WOW did she kill it with her performance. Absolutely killed it. The best part? The ending. Taylor was set to jump off  (or fall backwards) the stage but, pre-planned I’m sure, stopped the show and pretended to talk to herself while coming to the front of the stage. Mumbling about people falling off the stage and getting bitten by snakes. Taylor always has amazing energy levels that make you want the fun to continue all night!

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BEST MALE VIDEO – ED Sheeran – Sing

VIDEO OF THE YEAR – Miley Cyrus – Wrecking Ball

I’m not surprised that Miley Cyrus took home the win on this one. Although she was up against some very tough competition i would have to say that not only was this song great (i did truly love it) but the video was award-winning cinematography. What? It was! The odd part about the win was the acceptance speech by the homeless young man she brought as her date. That in itself wasn’t odd, it was watching Miley as the young man read his speech. Her emotions seemed a bit too much over the top at times. Good message .. awkward presentation.

BEST POP VIDEO – Ariana Grande – Problem

Oh hey – Kim Kardashian showed up. Surprise.. Sam Smith had an absolutely amazing performance of stay with me. I mean, honestly, It was absolutely amazing. Gave me goosebumps. Using as much falsetto as he does i always expect the live version to be a bit awkward. A bit squeaky?  But it was spot on. Oh hey – Kylie and Kendall Jenner were spotted dancing in the crowd while Sam performed. Surprise..

BEST HIP HOP VIDEO – Drake – Hold On

At some point there was a great skit between dumb and dumber. Yes, THE dumb and dumber! Side note.. have you seen the preview for the new movie? I just was not feeling it. They did a great skit that was actually quite humorous to watch. Not to mention the fact that Jim Carey fell flat on his face, lol. The shows host Jay Pharaoh, The MTV VMAs host that wasn’t, did a great job! I was dying while he was doing his skits. I love when a host can make fun of celebrities that are literally sitting two rows in front of them.

BEST ROCK VIDEO – Lorde – Royals

5 Seconds of Summer did a good job but i felt like it was the wrong song for the show. I have to preface my comments by saying i haven’t really followed this band that much. They weren’t that bad on the show i just felt a bit like the song that they chose was a bit of a mood killer. Shortly after Maroon 5 hit the stage for the very first time in VMA history! Ya.. I’m still surprised. It was a bit odd that they had their own stage setup (although the M was sweet). I will give them credit though and say it was nice that the stage was outside of the arena as opposed to being in a different state, country, etc. I don’t know why but that always bothers me.

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“If there’s love, dear… those are the ties that bind, and you’ll have a family in your heart, forever. All my love to you, poppet. You’re going to be all right. Bye bye.” – Mrs. Doubtfire

Mid-show there was a beautiful tribute to Robin Williams. Nothing fancy but i feel it was done well enough to make the statement that it should. I’m surprised by how many critics are giving the tribute a bad review. I read somewhere that someone actually considered it offensive? How?! Robin may not have had a huge presence in the world of MTV but does that really matter? I read the other day that Time Warner Cable no longer classifies MTV as a music station. They themselves dropped the Music Television from their own logo years ago.

ARTIST TO WATCH – Fifth Harmony

So proud of this one! I was a big fan of 5h while they were on The X-Factor! I’m still bummed they didn’t win, bitter actually. I love that they have spent the last year putting out quality music as opposed to rushing out the first song they record in the studio (though of this while i heard Barenaked by Jennifer Love Hewit at Starbucks).  Their music has been fun and releasing different versions of the same songs (aside from remixes) i’ve always been a fan of. Shania Twain did it! So excited that they were able to take this home. Even more excited to see them open next year at the VMA’s … it could happen!

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BEYONCE. She truly is an entertainment icon. I need to be honest and say that i don’t really know her latest ‘surprise’ album all that well. I have it but i’ve not taken the time to listen to it all. It’s very R&B and different than anything that she has ever down before. I know that her albums (And DC’s) all featured a lot of similar tunes but they had those mainstream hits to carry the album and leave you coming back for more. The performance itself was perfect! The songs on the other hand are just not her best. She looked great, vocals were on point, and the visual affects carried through all 15 minutes of her performance. And don’t forget BLU IVY and JAY Z coming on stage and congratulating B on her Michael Jackson Vanguard Award!

This years VMA show was a beast of a show. It brought together top talent, true winners, and stunning performances (i didn’t even mention Usher)! This is the type of show that MTV should go back to each and every year (with the addition of Britney Spears of course). I think that having the show 2 hours as opposed to 3 kept things running smooth. I wasn’t bored, lost, or wishing we could just move on to something else. You can view the full list of our 2014 MTV Video Music Award winners HERE.

2014 Video Music Awards – Red Carpet Show – LIVE!

Reviews • Aug 25, 2014

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Let me just start by saying where is BRITNEY SPEARS?

The Teen Wolf stars kicked off the show with a quick snippet of their upcoming epside. Jason Derulo followed with an intro that made everyone think he was going to perform, but, instead he decided to host a first-time occurrence at the VMA’s of the wave. Ya, the wave.

Niki Minaj, wearing Anaconda print, appeared here and there but no interview. No interview all night long actually. A bit dissapointing.

Following that Sway brought in the hghly anticipated break out star, Ariana Grande. There truly was not much of an interview and she wasn’t wearing anything all that exciting. I think she is a beautiful girl but she is truly always wearing the same outfit. There was a quick chat about being on the small stage last year and opening on the big stage this year. Excited for her opening performance.

After Ariana came Taylor Swift with an interview by both Sway and Lucky Hale. I found this interview to be a bit akward. It was all about how much Lucy and Taylor were in love with each other and how they were going to be new best friends. Taylor looked absolutely stunning though!

Sway dismissed the ladys and brought out Iggy Azalea. Their was a lot of technical issues and the interview did not go anywhere. Fans asked questions but Iggy would answer something completely unrelated. How excited was she to be on a stage this big? Well, she was wearing a Versace dress. Flew in with a person and busted apart. Awesome.

Gwen Stefani was wearing her own designs, Lamb Cotoure. She isn’t excited for anyone? just excited for the vibe and the venue. Ya… who invited her?

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“If I can make it…ANYONE can! #votedemilovato”

Miley Cyrus came out to an introduction by Lucy Hale who she mentioned that she has known for 10 years. Miley said that Lucy was her first friend when she moved from Atlanta to Hollywood. Lucky went on to say that Miley’s performance was the most talked about performance last year (agreed). She had the audacity to continue on and say that it was the most talked about performance ever. EVER? Ya, no. Have you heard of Britney Spears girlfriend? #JustSayin

Adam Levine and James Valentine from Maroon 5 came out next. Who knew that this would be their first performance EVER at the Video Music Awards. Had no idea.. never really noticed i guess. Sway mentioned that the new album was coming soon. What’s going to be different he asked? They didn’t know.

Back to Sway with Usher but instead it was Jennifer Lopez! She announced a remix to BOOTY featuring Iggy. After a brief exit Usher finalnly appeared standing in the crowd. What did he say about his performance tonight?

An experience you will never forget.

After the commerical break Fifth Harmony did a performance of their new single BO$$. Nothing bad I can say about this performance. It’s a cute poppy song that anybody can get in to. Honestly… have you read the lyrics, ya, then you agree. The perks for them are the fact that it would be impossible to not be able to perform this song live.

Charli XCX followed 5H with a performance of her single. BOOM CLAP? She looked great but her vocals were a hot mess. I give her credit for trying. She gave a lucky fan in the crowd a ticket into the show.

Austin Mahone and Katy Perry both arrived on the red carpet in fancy rides followed by good outfits and quick interviews. Can i just mention Katys dress?! I guess that Britney Spears did make it afterall.

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Review: Ariana Grande – My Everything

Reviews • Aug 24, 2014

08.23.2013

Maybe i’m the sinner and your the saint… Your the best mistake i’ve ever made.

I’ve gotten the chance to listen to Ariana Grande‘s new album a couple of days early (shh…) and i have to say that this album is a huge improvement over her first but leaves a bit to the imagination. Ariana’s freshman release was just mediocre. Not bad but it wasn’t the greatest. The best thing she got from the album was the comparison of her and Mariah Carey (not a bad thing). I would actually rate this album similar to Mariah’s I am Mariah released earlier this year.

The album overall is a healthy mix of upbeat pop, smooth R&B, and a little bit of old school to keep things moving. She has some of the top producers in the industry going head-to-head on this album. Max Martin (hello Baby One More Time), David Guetta, and Rodney Jenkins all make appearances on the album as writers. The lyrics are on point at all times. Truly i think this is the album’s saving grace. Vocals are great but leaving you wanting more.

I’m shocked to find that critics are giving this album a low review. The New York Daily News had the following to say

The distance between the talent of the singer and the quality of the song becomes most obvious in the title track, a heavily larded piano ballad which offers a true vocal show-stopper from Grande. Hopefully, next time her vehicles will have the drive her voice deserves.

I have to admit, a bit, that i agree but i don’t agree enough to rate anything lower than a 3. Yes, a 3 out of 5. I still feel this album is AMAZING. I just also feel like i wanted more the entire time. The writes were great and the melodies are beautiful. She split from Mariah’s shadow (is that really a bad thing to be in Mariah’s shadow?) but this album unfortunately did nothing to SURPASS the elusive chanteuse.

The guardian had the following to say.

Despite a cast list that includes Childish Gambino and The Weeknd , there’s often a facelessness that defeats even Grande’s lush vocal performances. Global hit Problem is by a long way the most distinctive thing on the record. A runner-up is Hands on Me, a hazy, Britneyish electro-meander featuring jovial hoots from A$AP Ferg. The Styles-penned ballad (yes, Harry Styles) A Little Bit of Your Heart is perhaps best left to aficionados.

In case you didn’t noticed BANG BANG featuring Niki Minaj and Jessi J is not an album hit. In fact, has anyone listened to this song at all? Niki’s Anaconda far surpassed this song and well… that songs kind of dumb to (although i’m listening to it on repeat). The lyrics just aren’t there and it’s being released amongst a lot of other big hitters. The song itself, although a bit cray, could have been a chart topper given a different release.

The album is set to release on August 25th, 2014 but you can pre-order the album HERE. I do recommend picking up the album but i wouldn’t rush out. This is no BRITNEY release party but it’s worth of a spot upon your shelves.

Weight Watchers – Round 3!

Good Eating , Health , Personal , Weight Watchers • Aug 15, 2014

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I have been a LONG TIME fan of Weight Watchers. Long before Jessica Simpson or Jennifer Hudson became representatives for the organization. In fact, I think i was joining Weight Watchers for the first time when Jessica Simpson was at her peak filming The Dukes of Hazard. I was at my fattest when she was at her best, ironic!

Anyway, I’ve been a fan. I’ve done two successful ’rounds’ of the program and i’m excited to say i’ve basically battled through round 3! I haven’t gained any of the 150lbs back that i lost 10 years ago (thankfully). I’ve just never fully completed the program. I’ve never gotten down to my ideal goal weight. To be honest.. i don’t even know what that number is! I don’t have a desire to look down and see a six-pack (although i wouldn’t complain) i just don’t want to feel unhappy with my body.

Body image is something that i’ve struggled with my entire life. Entire. Life. I was always the fat kid in school. I had amazing friends and went to a great school that wasn’t concerned with cliques, groups, and social circles. I was never made fun of and i’m grateful for that. I just never had a confidence to not feel self-conscious in the my own skin. I’ve always felt like the fat kid when i’m truly not anymore. I’m not proud of where i started but i’m proud of the fact that i’ve come so SO far!

In a nutshell the Weight Watchers system is pretty simple. Based upon sex, age, and average daily activity you are given a set number of ‘points’ that you can eat each day. Each point value has (or in the case of fruits/vegetables do not have) a set point value. Every time you eat something you must subtract the points consume from your overall daily limit. Nobody is perfect so there is a catch for that! You are also given a weekly point limit. Personally, i save these points for Adult Beverages and Junk Food! I can’t live without either.. lets be honest!

There have been good weeks and there have of course been VERY BAD weeks. I own it. Not everyday or every week for that matter will be a success. Sometimes that Krispy Kreme donut is just calling my name. Donuts do have a tendency to seduce their victims. I’m hungry just thinking about the damn things. When i’ve had a bad week i simply pick up the pieces and keep moving. I know they say in the program that you should still weight in but… i don’t. If i have a bad week i don’t even want to look at the scale. I’m going to just move on the next week and start over again!