Sometimes a headache hits you like a ton of bricks. Other times you feel it coming on for hours before it’s a full blown migraine. A few years ago, I would randomly suffer from migraines. It was over a few months, but I seemingly got them pretty often. They would knock me out of commission. Luckily, they’ve stopped (my last one was early Spring 2020 — knock on wood). But I still get those lingering tension headaches. WHICH ARE BEYOND ANNOYING. Here are 5 easy ways to beat a headache! 5 easy ways to beat a headache Blue light protection Seriously wearing blue light glasses has SAVED me. I think this is my number 1 cause of headaches. I stare at computer and phone screens ALL day long…like many of you. I don’t mind wearing glasses either because I’ve always wanted to wear them. I get them from literally everywhere: Amazon, Nordstrom, you name it…they probably come in blue light. Stay hydrated Ok this is probably the second reason why I get headaches. When I feel dehydrated, I think my symptoms are amplified x10000. And naturally, sometimes being dehydrated causes my headaches to begin with. Drinking lots of water throughout the day usually keeps my tension headaches at bay. All the aromas I know, sometimes people think that smells induce a headache, but there are two specific ones I’m talking about. Peppermint and lavender are great ways to ease the effects of a tension headache. I use the Equilibria dynamic roller duo . They are SO good. Use code “danamannarino” for 15% off your order! Heat and ice I’ve found that cold compresses help alleviate some of the pain. This typically goes right on my forehead and temples. And if my muscles are feeling tight due to tension, I also feel like heat packs help too — I put those directly on my neck and shoulders. Get some sleep I think we all know how important sleep is. I’ve really been trying to stay off my phone 30 min before I fall asleep — I try reading instead! I also sleep with my air conditioning on at around 70-72 degrees. There is nothing worse than poor quality sleep, and I think that really contributes to my tension headaches!

I’m still trying to figure out why there’s such a stigma around going to therapy. I’ve been in therapy for almost three months now, and it’s definitely one of the best things I can do for myself. I think we all know that therapy has a negative stigma around it, but honestly, that’s the furthest thing from the truth. First off, I know how lucky I am to be able to realize that I have anxiety, and not letting it truly overcome my life. I started therapy because I didn’t want to ever get to a bad place, and I think I’ve become so self aware over the last few years. I know my anxious thoughts are quite literally JUST thoughts — so why wouldn’t I try working through them with someone who is trained to help people with anxiety? Therapy doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with you. Sure, people probably feel most inclined to find a therapist when they’re in crisis or during a specific stressful life event. But everyone is so different. We all have our triggers — some more severe than others. I came to realize it’s okay to start therapy just because you think you need a little extra help. It’s also okay to not fully understand why you need a little extra help. So, why did I start therapy? Well, there were actually a few reasons. because my ex said i needed it While that sounds really bad, it’s very true. Although I didn’t have the best relationship with my ex, I will say he is the reason how I started understanding my behavior. My anxious behavior. I started recognizing that my feelings and thoughts weren’t totally normal — they were all signs of anxiety. I would think about my behavior was when I was younger…and they all pointed towards anxiety as well. So yes, I really do think I’ve been living with anxiety my entire life. I just didn’t realize it. And when I did, that’s when I realized I needed some help. because i was experiencing a different type of anxiety I’ve always been a very anxious person in my relationships. While I’m very secure with myself, I was often not very secure in most of my relationships. This was due to a variety of factors. I attributed my behavior to being “the crazy girlfriend”, and just played into that sort of role. And I was that way until I met Rob. I was very much just kind of thrown into our relationship (and I mean that in the best way possible). I was very content with being single, and when I wanted to stay single…that’s when I met Rob. From the beginning, Rob has always been very aware and respectful of my anxiety. I’ve always felt very myself around him, so I had no problem opening up to him. I quickly began to realize that I was getting all of this anxiety from things that were not and should not be part of our relationship. I was anxious from things I’ve experienced in the past. I was anxious over screwing up a really great relationship. I was anxious over “the worst case scenario”. And that’s when I actively started looking for a therapist. because i wanted to work on myself When I started therapy, I realized I also wanted to understand myself better. I wanted to be able to cope with my anxiety on my own and in a healthy way… instead of how I always dealt with it in the past. I used to just let anxiety overcome me. Not in a way that was debilitating, but it certainly affected my mood, my days, and my relationships/friendships. I also wanted to prepare myself to manage all difficulties in my life that will inevitably happen in the future. I’ve learned a lot about myself, and right now I still think I’m in that period. I’m not quite ready to make any severe changes, and I know it won’t happen overnight. That’s why I’m not rushing it. I’m actually enjoying working through different areas of my life, my personality, etc. I’m kinda just going with the flow. Going through each session and kind of word vomiting whatever I’m thinking (or going through specific instances that came up throughout the week). when i found a therapist and why it took so long So there were a couple of months between the time of my break up to when I actually started therapy. It was mainly due to fear over going to therapy. Not because I was afraid of the idea of therapy. I was more nervous to have to deal with my fears and anxieties head on. I felt like I would always feel like this, so why would I constantly talk about it. I started searching for therapists in May, and it took me quite some time to find a practice. When I found one I thought I’d like, I reached out to them and started the insurance conversation. When I hit my deductible, my weekly sessions will be around ~$30. I’m very thankful that my insurance covered a decent portion of weekly sessions. I know getting access to healthcare and the cost of healthcare is usually the reason why people DON’T go to therapy. If you can, I recommend it. If you are struggling, I would exhaust ALL options. Putting yourself first (not just physically) is the most important. why i recommend therapy I’m very much enjoying seeing and FEELING the progress. I’ve realized that my anxiety will never go away, but I’ve already learned how to use different tactics and methods for different situations. I probably could stop going to therapy, but I really don’t want to. I enjoy talking to someone, feeling like they’re listening, and learning new things about myself. Oh and of course learning about different ways to deal and manage with anxiety. My biggest piece of advice is to remind yourself that getting help is probably the bravest and smartest thing to do. I promise that you’ll feel better after connecting with a therapist. I sure did. While it seems so scary at first, it’s SO important. Even on the days where I haven’t been anxious, I STILL go to my weekly session. It allows me to think about my problems and my anxieties while I’m in a good headspace.

I think more often than not, being content is lumped in with being stagnant or a reason to be avoidant. For no reason in particular, I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. I think it’s because I’m feeling super at peace in my life. But because I’m so at peace with where I’m at, it makes me think, “am I now being complacent?” I guess I’ve realized that just because I say I’m content, doesn’t mean I’m without wanting to better myself or my life. I think being content ultimately means that you’re just ok with or without getting what you desire. I think society tells us we HAVE to fall into this trap of happiness…in all aspects of our life…at all times. I’m definitely realizing that happiness trap just sets you up for failure. Being content involves appreciating what you have and where you are in life, instead of wishing things were different. Once you get past the notion that if you’re content, you’re settling, you can start setting goals for yourself that are REALISTIC, and work smarter to reach them. And in the process, you’ll enjoy the process. I guess it’s a weird concept to think that when you’re content, it’s definitely possible to feel fulfilled yet struggle at the same time. So yeah, you see and celebrate the good in your life all while working through whatever bad hand life throws at you. Here are some ways I found contentment in my life. Take care of yourself Are we sick of hearing about how important it is to take care of yourself? There’s really no other place to start than yourself. Sometimes we stay focused on the future because we imagine ourselves healthier, slimmer, happier, etc., but the only way to achieve those things is to take action. Here are a few things that work for me: 5 minute desk yoga (I did this last week and it INSTANTLY helped shift my focus) Head to an actual yoga class (hot vinyasa is my favorite) Start a self-care routine and stick to it (if you’re stuck, try using the power hour method — 20 minutes mind, 20 minutes body, 20 minutes soul) Express gratitude often Often when we think about expressing gratitude, we think about people and things we’re grateful for. Friends, family, food, etc. — and yes, that really does help put things into perspective. Imagine life WITHOUT those people or things? No thank you. At the end of May (and as part of my morning self care routine), I started writing down something I’m grateful for in that very moment. There’s nothing like starting your day off with something you’re very thankful for. For me, it could be someone in my life or it could be just a friendly exchange I had with a local barista that morning. It’s also important to give gratitude TO YOURSELF. Think about your accomplishments, something you handled well, a strength you’re grateful for, what you’re excited about, etc. Remember…SELF LOVE IS SO IMPORTANT! Embrace curiosity I’ll be honest: I’m a VERY curious person, and that definitely comes off as nosey. I just like knowing things — but I usually shy away from asking questions because I don’t want to seem intrusive. I don’t think you should downplay the power of curiosity. Asking questions and learning new things can provide SO many answers. For example, I really wanted to try a new hot yoga studio and I was curious about one in particular. But I was nervous because I didn’t know anyone, the layout of the studio, etc. (but that’s the anxiety in me for sure). Instead of just forgetting about it and not going to a class, I sucked it up, signed up for the class, and now it’s my new go-to yoga studio! Be mindful It’s very hard to be mindful in a society that is always go, go, go. Most of us spend our days half aware of what we’re doing and thinking. We’re basically on autopilot and then all of a sudden will be like, “Where did the day go?” When I remind myself to be mindful of the present moment, it’s very clear that I’ll find contentment. Being mindful is all about appreciating where you’re at in that exact moment and/or situation. Practicing mindfulness for even just 5 minutes a day can make a difference in your life (and your stress levels).

Smooth lips are something we all strive for, right? Maybe just me? Well anyway, over the last few weeks, I’ve been testing out a lot of lip balms for “research purposes”. And yes, I love using my blog for these types of purchases, because they’re obviously V. IMPORTANT. It’s our lips we’re talking about people!!! Not only are chapped lips annoying, but I’m also super prone to cold sores. If my lips are chapped for more than a couple of hours, I know I’m going to get a cold sore. Let’s keep going so we can see which lip balm is my favorite. ( Do I even have a favorite?! ) MY HONEST REVIEWS OF TRENDY LIP BALMS Summer Friday Lip Butter Balm I didn’t think I was going to love this lip balm if we’re being honest. When I originally went to Sephora to buy it, it was sold out at the location, so I knew it must be at least DECENT. I didn’t actually know too much about the balm, so when I did some online research, I was a little skeptical of it because it was pigmented – I was really just looking for something to make my lips nice ‘n smooth. The Vanilla wasn’t available, so I went with the next best option – Vanilla Beige. Definitely a glossy finish, but I do like that it doesn’t appear as a color on my lips. While I like this one (I do love the applicator though),I find myself grabbing other lip balms. Rating: 3/5 Rhode Peptide Lip Treatment I remember when Rhode Beauty first came out and everyone went nutty. I had heard good things about the peptide lip treatment , so I kept an eye on it to order when it was back in stock. The only flavor that was available at the time was the Watermelon Slice. When I tell you IT SMELLS AND TASTES EXACTLY like a watermelon, I mean it. At first, I thought it was a bit too sticky, but now I’m thinking it’s because my lips were just dry and icky. Now I find myself reaching for it – mainly because I keep this by my nightstand. It definitely has a high gloss finish, so keep that in mind. Rating: 4/5 Drunk Elephant Lippe Balm This is actuallywhat started my lip balm craze. Once I tried the Drunk Elephant Lippe Balm , I wanted to see what other brands had to offer. I had picked this up during a random trip to Sephora. I loved the packaging, and for whatever odd reason, I was into the larger swivel stick ( spoiler alert: look at the next lip balm ). This balm is definitely more of a traditional balm. No noticeable sheen on your lips, so that was a plus for me. And it DEFINITELY keeps your lips hydrated. I usually keep it on my entry table so I can throw it into whatever bag I’m using for the day. Rating: 4/5 Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Lip Balm I think I was watching Summer House and saw someone using the Palmer’s Cocoa Butter lip balm . I’m 99.9% sure I immediately ordered a 3-pack from Amazon . This brought me back to my younger days. I’ve always loved Palmer products – I’m not sure why. Maybe my mom kept the cocoa butter in our bathroom? But I for sure remember using their lip balm as well. Although they look like a straight up glue stick, the delicious smelling cocoa butter product feels like a velvety kiss on my lips. AND I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT. I’m giving it a 4/5 because I do feel like I need to reapply constantly – but I think that’s because I just love the smell so much. Rating: 4/5 Laneige Lip Glowy Balm When I saw the Summer Friday balm was sold out, I looked for a brand alternative and spotted this one from Laneige. I’ve raved about some other products by Laneige before on the blog, and I’m pretty sure I was an OG user of the infamous lip sleeping mask . This lip balm was another one I heard great things about. But again, I was skeptical about the pigmented options. I picked what I thought would tint my lips the least — the peach flavor . (As I did more research, I realized I probably would have been okay with any of the options.) I keep this one in my bag for the office. I will say I don’t feel like it lasts very long, so I do need to keep it around in order to continue to apply. Rating: 3/5 Fenty Plush Puddin’ Wow. Just wow. That’s really all I can say. My friend, Ailsa , and I were talking about lip balms and she told me I NEEDED to pick up the Fenty Plush Puddin’ balm . It was sold out when I originally went to purchase it, but man am I happy I snagged this. So if you’re reading this and it’s still sold out – keep an eye on it ( Fenty’s website has re-stock notifications ). My first impression was “eh I don’t love the applicator”, but once I put it on, I was sold. I still don’t LOVE the small hole and the large tube, BUT it’s a small peeve because this stuff is good. Really good. I will say it is THICCCCCCCCCCCK. So a little goes a long way. A really long way. This is strictly my night time lip balm: I keep it on my nightstand, apply as needed before bed, and in the morning I STILL wake up with product on my lips. Rating: 5/5 PHEW, you still with me? Do any of my reviews shock you? Are there any products you’re excited to try?!