Being Human (U.S.) Season Three Review

Warning: Spoilers below!

Before I saw season three, I remember wondering how our main characters could possibly get themselves out of the predicaments set up from season 2.  Sally went to limbo, Aidan was buried alive, and Josh and Nora were last seen fighting Ray.  The writing does an excellent job at solving these problems.

Right away, it's easy to tell this show is headed in a fresh direction.  Josh and Nora look and act more mature because of all they've been through.  It's nice to see their relationship thriving again.  They've been trying to find Sally and Aidan for the past eighteen months.  Interestingly, Josh, Aidan, and Sally have all defeated their makers.  Aidan killed Bishop at the end of season one, Sally shredded Danny in season two, and now we learn Josh has lifted his curse by killing Ray to protect Nora.

As a last resort, Josh and Nora get involved with a witch named Donna.  She's not very likable at first, but she helps bring Sally back. Not just her spirit, Sally comes back from the dead!  I was thrilled by this because I was really concerned about how her story could progress any further as a ghost.  I think she changes the most because just when you think there's nothing left, we get majorly surprised with where her character goes.

It turns out, Aidan was buried at the best possible time because the vampires are on the verge of extinction.  A flu broke out among humans and when vampires drink the blood of someone who had it, they get sick and slowly die.  Mother and most of the other vampires are dead, except for Henry.  When Aidan is finally reunited with Josh and Sally, it takes him a minute to realize Sally is alive and this scene is one of my favorites.

They go all out with Sally's different hair, makeup, and fashion choices and it's so much fun finally getting to see her live for real.  But as we know, magic always comes with a price.  At first, she seems totally normal.  Then we start to notice her eating...a lot.  It seems innocent and we're even led to believe it would make sense since she did come back from the dead.  But it gets to the point where she eats constantly and nothing satisfies her hunger.  After cleaning out the fridge one night, she munches on some raw meat, confirming something is really wrong.

Connor and Brynn's father, Liam, stirs up trouble throughout this season.  We find out Nora killed Brynn in self defense and Aidan takes the blame.  Josh is scratched again, this time by Liam, but he's not as emotionally affected by this as we would expect.  Liam uses another werewolf, named Erin, to try to kill Aidan and I didn't care for her story line.  However, it did contribute to the discovery that werewolf blood is a cure for the vampire virus.  When Aidan gets sick, we get flashbacks as he remembers his long dead wife.  When he recovers, they remember he drank from Josh and when Erin tried to poison him with her blood, it gave him a boost, causing him to beat the virus.

Sally's condition worsens and she learns the only way she's temporarily satisfied is to eat something living.  She eats a mouse and decides she doesn't want to go down the zombie path.  She gives up and gradually starts to decompose.

Aidan loses Henry to the virus before he knows about the cure and then he meets Kenny.  Kenny is called the bubble boy because he has an autoimmune disease and has to live in the hospital where  Aidan works.  Aidan is able to sneak Kenny's blood because he knows it's clean.  The bits where Kenny is trying to prove Aidan is a vampire are pretty funny.  After a lot of begging, Kenny convinces Aidan to turn him so he doesn't have to live in a bubble the rest of his life.  Aidan has been mourning Henry and feels like he can start over with Kenny and raise a "son" the right way.

Josh and Nora get engaged and we see them planning their future together amidst all the turmoil around them.  In episode 12, they quickly plan a wedding at the house because they want Sally to be there, but it's too late.  She's fading fast, but doesn't die before Nora helps her pick out a killer outfit for her second afterlife.

After Sally dies again, she goes through the door Donna has prepared for her.  Donna tricked everyone so she could eat Sally's soul to preserve her youth, but Sally is able to defeat her with the help of Aidan and Josh.  Sally attends the wedding in spirit and of course she gives some hilarious commentary that Josh is unable to hear since he hasn't turned yet.  Aidan marries Josh and Nora and I'll admit I cried a little during their ceremony.  They've gone through so much to get to that moment and it's obvious they're meant to be together.

Of course, there are consequences to the vampire virus cure and when Aidan turns Kenny, he becomes a werewolf-vampire hybrid.  In the season finale, Liam tries to kill Aidan and we get an awesome scene where the group unites to survive his attack.  Josh and Nora can't even enjoy their honeymoon without some sort of dark drama interrupting.  In the end, Sally is able to save them and we get hints that she's a different kind of ghost now.  We also see Aidan's wife step out of a cab in present day Boston, setting up her role for season four.

Towards the end of the finale, Donna shows up as a ghost and pulls Sally down a hole that appears in the spot where she died.  Josh and Nora turn together again but Nora wakes up to find Josh is still a wolf the next morning.

With all of this being said, season three is my second favorite.  I love the choices they made because our characters were able to go through intense growth and development.  My favorite part was seeing Sally alive, even if it was only temporary.  What's up with her new ghostly power and where did Donna take her?  What will Josh and Nora's married life be like, especially now that Josh is a wolf indefinitely?  And how is Aidan's wife alive?  These are all the cliffhangers we are left with leading to my favorite season of all.

Being Human (U.S.) Season Two Review

Warning: Spoilers below!

Season two of Being Human (U.S.) is my least favorite of the four because everything you don't want to happen to our four main characters happens.  Even so, it still has some great moments and intricate story telling.

Aidan is faced with the challenge of cooperating with "Mother", the oldest, most powerful vampire.  She comes to Boston to decide who will take Bishop's place as leader.  Mother has Aidan dig up her daughter, Suren, who was buried alive in the 30's.  They cleverly say she has been "grounded" for eighty years.  Mother wants Suren to lead Boston with Aidan's help and he reluctantly agrees. At first, Suren's character is a little annoying but if he helps her succeed, he can have his freedom.  We are shown flashbacks to the time before she was grounded and we're introduced to Aidan's only "vampire son", Henry.  Henry and Suren were briefly together and Aidan warns Henry about getting involved with a royal.  When Henry betrays Suren, she reveals herself as a vampire in front of an extravagant dinner party which is what lead to her grounding.  Henry shows back up in the present time and in order for him to be forgiven, Suren skins him.  Thankfully, nothing is shown, but this is one of the more gruesome aspects of the show.

Josh and Nora's relationship is rocky in this season.  Nora is now a werewolf and I love the scene the morning after her first turn where she finally meets Sally.  We're also introduced to the twins, Connor and Brynn, who are pure bread werewolves.  They definitely contribute to the growing rift between Josh and Nora.  The ex who gave Nora the burns on her stomach returns and Connor and Brynn encourage her to get revenge during a full moon.  She ends up killing him, leading her down a dark path.  The conversation Josh and Nora have about how they both hate the morning after a turn brilliantly reveals opposite perspectives about their wolves.  Nora enjoys the power while Josh hates himself.  They break up and after Aidan kills Connor, Nora runs off with Brynn.

Sally's story line is the most dull in my opinion because it's all about a mysterious reaper who is "shredding" other ghosts.  It gets better in episode 10, when Sally is trapped in an alternate reality where she's engaged to the reaper, Scott.  The scenes in this world are actually quite beautiful and I especially love the color scheme.  The apartment is redecorated and everything is black, white, and gray, with generous pops of purple.  This is the first time we see Sally with different hair, makeup, and clothes and she looks great.  In the real world, she is taken over by this reaper and the scenes where he talks through her are extremely creepy.  One of the reasons I thought this was one of the weakest plot points is because we find out Sally is actually the reaper and has been the one shredding ghosts all along.

In this same episode, something very significant happens between Josh and Aidan that will come up again in later seasons.  The "reaper" has sealed the house so Josh, Aidan, and Zoe, a ghost whisperer, are stuck there.  Aidan is starving and Josh will be turning soon, putting Zoe in danger.  It's always fun when they tell someone new about their secrets and we get that here with Zoe.  As a last resort, Aidan drinks from Josh and we see how a vampire's body handles werewolf blood.  At first Aidan feels super charged, but soon he's on the floor with blood coming out of his mouth, nose, and eyes.

We are also introduced to Julia in this season when Aidan starts dating her.  There is an incredibly awkward scene when Josh and Nora meet Aidan and Julia in the kitchen and we discover Julia is Josh's ex-fiancee.  It's previously hinted that Josh was supposed to get married and we get a lot more of that story.  After Nora is out of the picture and Aidan breaks up with Julia because of his loyalty to Josh, the sparks between Josh and Julia cannot be avoided.  I was very conflicted about this development because Josh and Nora's relationship always seemed right since he could be honest with her.  As a result of the pain from their past, it was hard to see Josh and Julia as right for each other.

Another aspect that gets better towards the end of the season is the romantic relationship between Aidan and Suren.  They end up falling in love after he breaks up with Julia.  In episode 11, Aidan and Suren have a double date with Julia and Josh in an attempt to resolve tension.  Sally watches the whole thing, making funny comments, and Julia is the only who can't see her.  We also learn more about Suren and Aidan's past and this scene really made me like her character and their relationship much more.

In episode 12, Josh almost turns in public because his transformation is triggered by an eclipse.  Unfortunately, Julia chases him in the street and is killed when she gets hit by a car right after seeing his fangs and claws mid-turn.  Josh doesn't realize he's talking to her ghost until her door appears.  Before she goes through it, she says she loved him enough, he just didn't believe it.  It's so sad, but I believe it had to happen for the sake of the story's progression.  Another result of the eclipse is all the ghosts Sally shredded make a brief reappearance and she learns how bad it is in limbo.

Nora comes back towards the end of the season and tells Josh she learned that if a werewolf kills their maker, they will be cured.  Josh is resistant at first, but they eventually make a plan to murder Ray.  I really hated this part because even though we aren't meant to like his character, it's still sad.

Once Aidan successfully helps Suren clean up Boston, he's cut off from the vampire world.  This is Mother's way of maintaining control because he does get his "freedom" but now he's forbidden to continue his relationship with Suren.  They briefly run away together but she's too weak and decides to go back.  Even though I did like their relationship, this demonstrates that Suren didn't love Aidan enough to stay with him.  Mother's cruelty is showcased when she tries to force Suren into killing Aidan.  This would prove to Mother Suren will be the leader she's always wanted her to be.  In the end she can't do it, and Mother kills her own daughter.  Interestingly, by the end of this season, Josh and Aidan both lose their love interests.

I can't deny the finale is great for this season.  Mother grounds Aidan and Sally shreds herself to try to find a way to help all the ghosts she shredded.  We hear a gun shot and it's unclear if Josh and Nora were successful at killing Ray.

This season is tragic, but if these events didn't happen, we wouldn't have the foundation for the next two seasons, which are my favorite.  These trials make them who we want them to be and their relationships become even stronger as a result.  Check out my Being Human (U.S.) Season Three Review now!

Being Human (U.S.) Season One Review

Warning: Spoilers below!

Being Human (U.S.) has got to be one of my all time favorite shows.  I just finished rewatching the entire series for the third time.  I first discovered the show several years ago and from the first episode I was hooked.  I've always loved supernatural shows and the idea of a vampire, werewolf, and ghost living together as roommates instantly intrigued me.  The quality stands out among many other shows and movies in this genre.  Overall, my favorite aspect is the lovable, complicated, damaged characters and the close relationships they form with each other.

Aidan, played by Sam Witwer, is a charismatic vampire struggling with his unquenchable thirst for human blood and the bond he's constantly trying to sever between himself and the secret world of vampires.  Josh, played by Sam Huntington, is a self loathing werewolf who ran away from his human life in an attempt to shield his loved ones from the monster he believes he's become.  The two become friends and the basis of the show is formed when they move in together in an attempt at "being human".  That's when Sally, played by Meghan Rath, comes in.  She's an outgoing, quick-witted ghost who died in the house Aidan and Josh have rented.  They are able to see and speak to her because they're all supernatural beings.  Kristen Hagar plays Nora, Josh's gorgeous love interest, and the four of them make up the main cast.

Season one is my third favorite of the series.  It lays the groundwork for the four characters to develop as individuals, and in their relationships with each other.  Not only are we introduced to dark themes such as addiction, self hatred, revenge, and loss, there are many comedic moments that let us know this isn't all about heartbreak and death.  Specifically, in the pilot episode, Josh delivers several hilariously awkward lines I always look forward to when revisiting the series.

Each character is faced with separate obstacles they must overcome.  Sally has been dead for six months when we meet her energetic spirit.  She doesn't remember how she died and is unable to leave the house.   The show cleverly and gradually reveals it's ghost mythology as Sally learns to navigate her afterlife.  She can appear and disappear, make objects move, possess other humans, and speak to people who are open to it.  All ghosts are waiting for their door, which is unique to each ghost and leads to a mysterious white light.  The problem is, she can't move on until she resolves all her earthly issues.  This aspect reminded me of the show Ghost Whisperer.  At first, she wants to talk to her fiance, Danny, and let him know it's okay to move on.  She even blesses his relationship with her best friend, Bridget.  But as the details of her death are slowly revealed, we learn that Danny has a temper and he was the one who killed her.  The clogged plumbing in the house represented the repressed memories of Sally's death and once the engagement ring she dropped down the drain is found, it all comes back to her as the pipes unclog.  Once Danny's true abusive nature is discovered, Sally is able to get through to Bridget, saving her from a similar fate of untimely death.  We see justice for Sally when Josh and Aidan help her force Danny to turn himself in for killing her.

In interviews about playing Aidan, Sam Witwer has often said what his character struggles with is a metaphor for being a drug addict.  Aidan's life as a vampire is, as one would expect, extremely bloody.  He tries to survive on the bagged blood he sneaks out of the hospital where he works as a nurse.  His career choice may seem strange for someone constantly fighting the urge to drink human blood, but he explains this is a way for him to help people and make up for the gruesome things he's done in the past (which we get awful glimpses of throughout the series).  The bagged blood only satiates him for so long until he slips up and drains a girl he's dating in the first episode.  The fact that he slips up sometimes really makes the show seem more realistic.  His maker/vampire father, Bishop, played by Mark Pellegrino, is eager to clean up the mess because it's a way for him to suck Aidan back into the underground world of "running" Boston.  I will say I didn't care for the Rebecca story line and the scenes with Bernie were heartbreaking.

Josh also works at the hospital as an orderly.  Since becoming a werewolf, he has given up on his aspiration of becoming a doctor and just focuses on getting through each full moon.  The werewolf mythology is pretty standard.  The transformation is extremely painful and happens every full moon.  At one point Sally tells Josh she would trade places with him if she could.  She'd rather be a werewolf once a month and have a life than be stuck as a ghost indefinitely.  Later, she sees him transform and apologizes for not realizing how bad he really has it.  Ray is another werewolf that comes onto the scene claiming to want to help Josh.  He seems okay at first and even teaches Josh tips about their shared condition.  Eventually, Josh is sickened to learn Ray is the one who turned him.

The romance between Josh and Nora begins with awkward, yet charming, pick up lines he learned from Ray.  They do end up dating and as the chemistry between them heats up, Josh finds it hard to let himself get intimate with her.  We learn about her past when she reveals burn scars on her stomach from an abusive ex, which is expanded upon further in future seasons.

  In episode 7, there is a hilarious scene where Josh is visiting his parents.  Aidan shows up and for appearances he eats dinner, which happens to have garlic in it.  In this world, garlic effects vampires by revealing their natural form, so Aidan has to hide his fangs and black eyes by hiding out in the bathroom.  I always laugh when Josh walks in and is surprised to find Aidan in the bathtub with herbs trying to get the garlic to wear off.

At the end of the season Aidan kills Bishop and the theme of "the son always kills the father" is introduced.  In a previous episode we learned Bishop chose power over love so it's a little surprising when he's almost proud of Aidan for succeeding in killing him.  Sally misses her door to help Aidan and it is unclear what this will mean for her future.  Nora finally discovers the truth about Josh and we're left with a cliffhanger when it's revealed Josh accidentally scratched her just before he turned.

I would recommend this series to anyone who likes the supernatural genre.  Currently, you can marathon them on Netflix.  This show goes deep into the struggles of being something other than a human and it's done in such a way that makes you fall in love with all the characters.  Check out my Being Human (U.S) Season Two Review next!

5 Easy Tips For Making Cleaning More Enjoyable

I readily admit I am a clean freak.  I get it from my mom who always kept our home immaculate.  The thing is, it's not just that I like having a clean living space.  I genuinely love to clean.  I look forward to my weekly cleaning day where I dust, scrub the bathrooms, mop, vacuum, do laundry, etc.  I understand many people do not feel this way, which is why I've created this list of ways to make cleaning more enjoyable.  Even if you're unable to devote an entire day to cleaning, you can incorporate these tips into whatever task you're working on.

Tip #1: Get in the Right Mindset
If you begin a cleaning session with an attitude of dread, you will not enjoy yourself.  Those negative thoughts will permeate the whole experience.  Instead, try to think positively about what you're doing.  You have a living space and the ability to get up and do something good for you and your family.  This is a necessary task, so instead of complaining about doing a little work, accept where you are and try to feel joy in the present moment.

Tip #2: Create a List
Instead of just starting a random task, make a list of everything you want to get done in a convenient sequence.  I always dust and wipe counters before I vacuum so dirt and crumbs that land on the floor will get picked up.  I don't have kids yet, but I plan to use the method my mom did with my sister and I where we would make a list of chores to help her check things off.  By making it into a game, it teaches them cleaning is fun and not a punishment.  This will benefit them later in life.

Tip #3:  Listen to Music or Podcasts
This is my favorite thing to do when I clean.  I love music and podcasts, so I always have something playing.  This is a great way to distract your mind and focus on what you're listening to.  It helps reduce negative thoughts and makes whatever you're doing go by much faster.  Most of the time, I carry my phone in my pocket and use headphones when I vacuum.  The headphones are great if you need block out noise or if you're trying to be quiet for others.  Some of my favorite podcasts are The BadChristian Podcast, You Hate Movies, Beauty Inside Out With Kimberly Snyder, and Lead Singer Syndrome.  You can subscribe and get new episodes regularly on your podcast app.  That way, you get new content every week.  There are podcasts on just about every topic so just search the app for whatever you're interested in and try a new show.

Tip #4: Use Cleaning as a Form of Exercise
When I'm scrubbing surfaces or vacuuming the floors, I can feel my muscles getting stronger.  Our bodies release endorphins when we exercise and it's important to stay active if you want to live a healthy lifestyle.  You're really killing two birds with one stone.

Tip #5:  Embrace Your Accomplishments
Once you've completed a task, take a deep breath and give yourself permission to be proud of what you've accomplished.  Take pride in keeping your home clean.  It's not always easy to get things done and when you're successful, that work should be acknowledged.  Once you are done, you can enjoy the rest of your day in a fresh, healthier living space.

I hope these tips help future cleaning experiences become something you can at least no longer dread.  I believe maintaining a clean home is a major aspect of creating the best possible environment for a healthy family.  You'll be surprised by how putting in a little effort and using these simple techniques to make the process go smoother will reap awesome rewards and benefits to many aspects of your life.  You'll be less stressed and improve family relationships, convenient living, and overall health.

The BadChristian Podcast Review

I didn't even know what a podcast was until October of 2014.  I was browsing Facebook and saw that one of my favorite bands, The Devil Wears Prada, shared an interview with their lead singer, Mike Hirancia.  This was the first episode of The BadChristian Podcast I listened to.  There was something about the humor and dynamic between the three hosts that intrigued me.  I ended up listening to all the past episodes and it didn't take long for me to realize this was something special.  I also realized two of the guys, Matt and Toby, are in the band Emery, which I used to listen to as a teenager.  I got back into their music and bought all the albums I had unfortunately missed out on.

Their perspective is great because they've toured all over the world with their band and met all types of different people.  The third guy of the group is their friend Joey, who is a pastor, and he brings a more conservative perspective to the show.  The premise of this podcast is about giving Jesus all the credit because we are "bad" Christians and He's our great savior.  They don't shy away from cussing and controversial topics.  This is refreshing because so much of Christian culture is very legalistic.  One of the things they often say is they fit into a very small niche because they're too Christian for some people, but not Christian enough for others.  I love that this is acknowledged because that's how I've felt most of my life.

Another great thing about this show is there is such a diversity in the guests.  My favorites are when they interview people from bands because most of the time I know the music.  They also interview, atheists, pastors, an ex-porn star, an ex-Muslim, gay people, a super bowl champion, a former bank robber, authors, and many more.  Their approach is not judgmental and they often have respectful conversations with people they don't agree with.  You are exposed to so many different viewpoints and this has been very enlightening for me.  I still love Jesus and I would actually say my faith has become stronger since listening to this podcast.  It's allowed me to view God as more than who I thought He was.  Because He's so powerful, we shouldn't be threatened by what non-believers say about Him.

One of my favorite parts are the funny personal stories.  Joey shares a hilarious condom story and how he kicked a dog in the face once to protect his son.  Those are linked to YouTube videos so you can preview them if you want.

BadChristian isn't just a podcast.  They have a record label, publishing company, podcast network, blogs, and merch.  I was introduced to one of my new favorite bands, Wolves at the Gate, and found other podcasts like Free Sex Podcast, Lead Singer Syndrome, Pastor With No Answers, Break It Down With Matt Carter, You Hate Movies, and Ask Science Mike, through this show.

Every episode is fresh and different.  They even record some live to change it up and there is definitely a unique energy for those shows.  They always start with a different freestyle beat box that never disappoints.  I have made it a routine to always listen while I clean my apartment and it's become something I look forward to every week.  If you can't tell yet, I absolutely love this podcast!  No matter who you are, I think everyone can learn something and be entertained by this show.

If you want to start listening from the beginning, click here.  That will take you to the backlog of episodes starting with the first one.  You can also subscribe on your podcast app and get new episodes automatically.  They are all worth listening to but below are a list of my favorite episodes:

4 Chris Dudley (Underoath), 18 Former Porn-Star Brittni Ruiz, 23 Ex-Muslim Naeem Fazal, 24 Kevin Max of DC Talk, 32 Lecrae, 39 Mike Hranica from The Devil Wears Prada, 40 JT from Hawthrone Heights, 42 Lacey Strum formerly of Flyleaf, 50, Jen Smith- The Unveiled Wife, 59 Aaron Gillespie - Underoath, The Almost, Paramore, 84 BC Live in Tampa feat. UNDEROATH, 87 Stephen Cobbuci-Lead Singer, Wolves at the Gate, 98 Josh Dies: Vocalist, Showbread, 109 Matt and Toby and Shane Claiborne, 113 Aaron Lunsford, As Cities Burn Drummer and Author, 118 Spencer, Tim and Aaron. Underoath is BACK!, 120 Matty Mullins of Memphis May Fire, 135 Zachary King former Satanist, and 160 John Burke Author of Imagine Heaven.

It Isn't Easy Being An Introvert

In my introduction post, I shared that people have criticized me my entire life for being an introvert.  As I've become more confident in my identity, I've learned to be comfortable with this aspect of myself.  I also realized the people who were making these critical remarks probably didn't mean to hurt me.  They genuinely didn't understand me.

Recently, my father shared a video with me called, The Power of Introverts.  He said it helped him better understand my personality.  This inspired me to share my own personal experiences growing up as an introvert, because we are so often misunderstood.

Many different people told me there was something wrong with me because I didn't express myself.  They'd ask "Why are you so quiet?".  My answer was simple.  I was very shy and would only speak when I had something important to say.

It's not that I don't enjoy the company of others.  I love spending time with family and close friends.  But being around people I don't know very well, especially in large groups, takes up a lot of mental energy, and after such gatherings introverts need alone time to recharge.  Like Susan Cain mentions in the video, I often become overstimulated in these chaotic social situations.

Because I was so different from my peers, in my interests, looks, and personality, it made me feel like an outcast.  This resulted in some intense bullying in middle school, which made my introversion even more extreme.  School was particularly difficult because the systems seem to cater toward the more outgoing students.  Any time I had to do an oral presentation or felt all eyes on me, my face would turn bright red.  This continued throughout high school and even some in college.
I'll never forget one specific time this happened because it's one of the most embarrassing moments of my life.

English was my best subject, so ever since 6th grade, I always took an advanced class.  The English teacher I had in my junior year of high school created a very stressful environment for me.  We would often have class discussions and everyone was expected to participate.  The problem is, when I'm put in this type of situation where I could be called on at any moment, I stop learning and start panicking.  My heart beat sped up and I felt sweaty and spacey.  We were being graded on how we contributed to a discussion with the entire class and this created an unfair advantage for the students who were comfortable with speaking out.  If I had time and space to expand my thoughts, I'd have just as much of a chance at succeeding as the extrovert sitting next to me.  But that's not how this class was set up.
The teacher began the discussion and started calling on random students.  I couldn't breathe as I sat in silence hoping to become invisible.  When the moment came and he called my name, I was unable to think of an intelligent response.  He said "What do you think about this?"  The topic was something I had no opinion on because I had never had to think about it before.  All I could say was the truth.  That I didn't know and I didn't have an opinion.  He asked me to try and I said "I don't want to be noticed".  He said "You are noticed.  We are all noticed" and went back to the discussion.  I thought the horror was over, until a girl looked at me with a confused look on her face.  She said "Why are you turning red? You're the color of your hair."  I was mortified.  Remember how I said this was an advanced class?  Yeah, I made my first C in English that year.

This is a stark contrast to how my senior year English class went.  I loved the teacher because she was respectful to her students and taught in a way that allowed me to succeed.  Every day there was a journal topic on the board and we would spend the first fifteen minutes of class writing about it.  We read interesting books and plays, wrote essays on fun topics, and I don't think I had to give any lone presentations that year.  She always gave my papers constructive criticism in a tactful way.  On one, she wrote something like "You have a natural talent for writing.  Never give it up."  That always stuck with me as an encouragement.  

Reflecting on these two completely different experiences has made me really angry.  I don't understand why some teachers play favorites based on personality.  In the 11th grade class, I felt I was being punished because I was shy, quiet, and reserved.  Like Susan Cain said, it's not that we should change the current systems to accommodate only introverted learning styles.  There has to be a balance.  I'm great at learning by listening and observing.  If that teacher had set up an optional participation discussion, I would have benefited from it much more.  I could actually try to learn and pay attention to what everyone was saying rather than having an internal panic attack at the thought of being called on.

Another aspect of my life that others made me feel inferior about because of my introversion was my love life.  I didn’t date much as a teenager.  Someone once told me I'd never meet anyone if I didn't go out and try.  Their suggestion was to go to a club or bar and try to meet guys there.  But that's not where I wanted to be.  Why would I want to meet someone where I'm not comfortable?  Shortly after that conversation, I met a boy, who is now my husband, in my own way.  You don't have to be super outgoing to get what you want out of life.

In recent years, I've become better at not letting other people's comments bother me.  It's not that I don't like people, it just takes me a little more time to get to know someone before I can fully be myself.  The bottom line is, we introverts need some grace.  We shouldn't be criticized for our innate personalities.  We shouldn't be made to feel guilty because most of the time we'd rather stay home than go out.  God made us all different for a reason and we should be motivating each other to be true to ourselves so we can reach our full potential in all aspects of life.

The Red Fox Strikes Again

At some point, all gingers have been called "Red".  Recently, my nickname has become "The Red Fox".  Before any assumptions are made about this, let me explain.  I'm a prankster.  I have been my whole life and it was inevitable for me to turn out this way.  Growing up, I was constantly teased by both sides of my family.  I had to adapt in order to survive.

The first prank I can remember was pretty intense.
At about the age of 3, I was terrified of "the paper-face lady".  She was a mannequin dressed in a bathrobe with a towel on her head and wore a mask decorated with floral magazine clippings.  She stood in the display window of a bath products store and every time I'd go to the mall with my mom, aunt, and cousins, they would tease me because I was so scared of her.   One day, my biggest fear came true when I saw her staring at me through the sliding glass door of my home.  I'll never forget the horror I felt in that moment.  A shiver of fear ran through my tiny body.  I was crying in my mother's arms when she let the paper-face lady inside.  It turns out, it was just my aunt dressed up.  She came in, took off the costume, and let me hold the mask she had made.  Once I calmed down, I felt better and my fear of her was cured.

As I got older, I discovered how much I enjoyed pranking others and actually got pretty good at it.  To some people, this might seem mean spirited, but to me, it was an expression of creativity.  Prank calling became a standard activity for family gatherings.  I used to booby trap my sister's room and couldn't wait for her to come home and be entangled in thread across the doorway as water would dump on her head.  Don't worry, she got me back.

A few years ago, my husband told me our friend was having some issues with his insurance company and encouraged me to send him a prank text.   It said something like "This is "so and so" insurance company.  You have requested too many claims on your policy and you now owe $500.  Please make your payment as soon as possible."  Since he didn't have my number in his phone, he believed it.  He spent a few hours looking over his policy trying to find something to fight the payment.  When his wife came home, she said an insurance company probably wouldn't send a text and they realized something weird was going on.  He texted me back and the prank was revealed.  He was a good sport about it and gave me the nickname "red fox" because of my red hair and ability to be cunning and tricky.  From now on, whenever I get away with pranking someone we always say "The red fox strikes again!".  

This past weekend my husband and I were hanging out with these friends and they asked how to find my blog.  I said it's under my name since I haven't been able to think of anything clever to call it for the time being.  The friend I had pranked suggested I use his nickname and that's why I have changed the name of this blog.  I am The Red Fox.

Signs Movie Review

Warning: Of course there are spoilers below.

Even though M. Night Shyamalan's 2002 release, Signs, is almost fifteen years old, I'm writing this review because it's had such an impact on my life.  It's one of my all time favorite movies, but that wasn't always the case.  Watching it for the first time as a 12 year old allowed me to experience it with fascination and intense fear.  I had always enjoyed scary movies in the comfort of daylight, but at night, the creepy images would replay in my head.  Signs is one of those films you continue to think about long after seeing it.  When the sun went down, I'd make a trail of lights, darting from one room to the next with shivers of terror running through my body because I couldn't shake the thought of one of the aliens appearing in front of me.  

The story is centered around Graham, his children, Bo and Morgan, and his brother, Merrill.  All the actors do a great job of convincing us there is an alien invasion occurring in their small town.  This was actually the first role I saw Mel Gibson in and I thought he was excellent at portraying a grieving man who is running away from God.  Some of the best scenes are between Graham and his brother, played by Joaquin Phoenix.  Upon first viewing, I thought the part when the brothers discuss fate versus coincidence was the most boring part of the movie.  Later in life, I felt a whole new appreciation for it because of course, fate and coincidence are major themes.  There are so many subtleties throughout that can only be noticed upon multiple viewings.

This movie is unique because the only perspective we get is from this one family.  It is able to weave suspense and humor together perfectly.  The humor is a significant component because it makes the characters extremely relatable.  One of my favorite scenes is when Graham and Merrill are doing a perimeter run around the house because they think Lionel Prichard and the Wolfington brothers, are up to something.  (On a side note, the names they chose for the neighborhood boys are great because they sound like what you might hear in a real small town.)  Since Graham's identity is still tied to being a reverend, he doesn't know how to curse in order to scare them off.  When his brother tries to teach him, it gets hilarious.  The next morning when they're describing a suspect to a policewoman, they can't quite make any specifications on what he looked like.  We as the audience know it was an alien, but the brothers insist it was a man.  The officer says based on their scant description, it could be anyone and we get this great line from Merrill: "Excluding the possibility that a female Scandinavian Olympian was running around outside our house last night, what else might be a possibility?".

The scariest parts of this movie are done so cleverly because they're shown in small glimpses.  The alien on the rooftop always makes me jump.  Bo's calm reaction to there being a "monster" outside gives this scene an eerie vibe. This is when we first see one of the creatures and Graham begins to suspect something really strange is happening.  When he's in the crop circle, we hear the aliens communicating and then see one of their legs for a split second.  In the pantry scene, only a hand is shown.  Then of course, we get the birthday party footage.  This has never left my mind and haunted me ever since.  The coal shoot scene prevented me from being able to go to the bathroom by myself for a week because I imagined a hand grabbing my shoulder while I was sitting on the toilet.   The aliens are revealed to us in such a gradual way that you remain on the edge of your seat until the end, when we get the best view of them.  It's so chilling when the pantry alien is first seen in the reflection of the TV.

Components that have been building during the entire movie all come together perfectly in the finale.  Each character has been experiencing something significant and we finally see why.  Graham has been struggling with the loss of his wife and her last words to him are "Tell Merrill to swing away".  This, as well as Merrill's baseball background, Morgan having asthma, and Bo's aversion to "old water", all work together to help them defeat the alien.  We realize all these things happened for this moment.  

Signs allowed me to experience film on a whole new level because of it's complexity.  After being terrified every night the week after seeing it, I decided I could no longer let fear control me.  I prayed for God to help me get over it.  As I got older, I was able to watch horror films and gradually got to where I wouldn't even think about being afraid at night.  In a way, Signs paved the way for me to become more desensitized to scary movies.  But it does so much more than that.  I discover things I missed every time I watch it.  As an adult, I still get chills when I see those iconic scenes.

Frozen Isn't the First to Use a Platonic Love Solution

Frozen was released in 2013, and I saw it a year later when I was a nanny for three toddlers who had the DVD.  I was excited to watch it with them for the first time, and then I saw it a few more times than I would have liked.  I can't deny it's an entertaining story, but after hearing "Let it Go" for the millionth time, I've become a little jaded to all things Frozen.  Back then, I noticed people on social media talking about how unique this movie is, because in the end, it wasn't a man, but sisterly love that saved Anna.  It strays from the predictable Disney ending of a prince saving the princess.  I thought  they had a point since it is a pretty unique ending.

Then, Disney's 2014 release, Maleficent, came out and some people criticized it for having a similar ending to Frozen.  I finally saw it this year and understood what they meant.  When the prince is unable to save Aurora from Maleficent's spell and the "evil" fairy's kiss of true love does the trick, it does seem like an echo of Anna and Elsa's story.

But I realized I had seen this platonic love solution done much earlier.  In 2006, a chick flick came out called Aquamarine.  It's the story of a beautiful mermaid named Aquamarine, whose father, Poseidon, wants her to marry a merman she's not in love with and he's like "What's love got to do with it?".  She comes to shore trying to prove to her father true love exists.  She befriends two human girls, Claire and Hailey, who try to help her make a lifeguard, named Raymond, fall in love with her.  If they succeed, the two friends get a wish for helping a mermaid.  They plan on using it to stop Hailey from moving away.  In the end, they are willing to sacrifice their wish to save Aquamarine because they love her, thus proving to Poseidon love exists.  Sounds pretty familiar, doesn't it?

The last piece of evidence comes in the form of a DCOM (Disney Channel original movie) from the year 2000.  If you're a 90's kid like me, I'm sure you heard about Disney Channel marathoning all the movies we grew up watching.  My sister and I were extremely excited about this so we recorded all our favorites.  Last weekend we watched Mom's Got a Date With a Vampire.  I had seen this movie many times before but hadn't really thought about it as an adult.  There was something very interesting about the resolution.  The movie opens with an evil vampire who has put an innocent woman into a trance so he can make her his vampire queen.  A man is able to save her because only true love can break a vampire's trance.  As the camera pans out, we see the main character, a kid named Adam, is actually watching this on TV because he's a monster movie fan.  The point is, we're set up from the beginning to believe romantic love is the key to saving the girl.  Adam and his sister encourage their divorced mother to go on a date with a guy who ends up being a real vampire.  The rest of the movie depicts the kids trying to save their mom from him.  But how will they do that if she isn't romantically in love with anyone?  When the vampire is about to feed on her children, the mother is able to break the trance because of her true love for them.  Everyone is saved by maternal love.
The goal of this was never to discredit Frozen.  It's definitely got modern humor and obviously kids fell in love with it.  But it's not the first to lead the audience to believe a man will save the damsel in distress only to surprise us when platonic love, whether it be friendship, maternal, or sisterly, is the real solution.  I'm sure there are many other examples of this I haven't realized yet and if you find them please let me know.  I'm always interested to discover how seemingly unrelated movies have common themes.

"Old West" Photo Shoot Haul

Today's post is just for fun.  I'm all about the memories and these photos always make me laugh and remember good times.  For someone who is shy, hates attention, and doesn't like having her picture taken, I've participated in a lot of vintage photo shoots.  Yes, I'm talking about the tourist shops where you dress up in period costumes with alcohol and gun props to get pictures made.  It sounds silly, but it's a lot of fun.  This might end up being pretty embarrassing, but I'm willing to risk it.  

This first one was taken in Gatlinburg, Tennessee when I was 11 years old.  It was our first real family vacation.  One night we were walking around downtown and when we saw the vintage photo shop my parents spontaneously decided to get a picture made.  Somehow, we all just knew to not smile.

All the rest were taken in Saint Augustine.  They have several of these shops in the downtown area.  I was with my friend and her mom and we decided to get this picture made.  I was about 13 and I look like I didn't quite know what I was doing, especially next to my friend who was definitely in character.

I believe I was 14 in this one.  My cousins were visiting from Ohio and everyone wanted to walk around Saint Augustine.  My sister and I are the two in the middle.  

These were taken in 2006, when I was 16, with my sister and our friends. I'm not sure why, but this one always makes me laugh.  Maybe it's my short haircut or that you can see my jeans under the costume.

The last and most recent one is from 2011 with my then boyfriend, now husband.  It's hard to choose, but this one might be my favorite.

If you've never participated in one of these before, I suggest you try it.  It's fun, fairly inexpensive, and you'll never forget the memories you make in the process.

5 Easy Tips For Organizing Your Closet

It doesn't take much for a closet to become overwhelmingly messy.  It's the home for clothes, shoes, and other miscellaneous items that can quickly build up.  I'm always trying to find new ways to make my closet more organized and after many years I think I've almost perfected it.  These are my easy tips to creating a convenient, well put together closet.

Tip #1: Declutter and Categorize

The key to an organized closet is to not overcrowd it.  Be realistic about what will fit.  Go through all your clothes and shoes and eliminate the items that no longer fit or you know you'll never wear again.  Next, order them based on type.  In my closet I have long sleeves, starting with heavy jackets and moving to light flannels, short sleeve shirts, tank tops, and dresses.  Place the pieces you wear regularly within reach and the less frequently used in the back.  You can also arrange them by color.  My previous post, 6 Easy Tips For Organizing and Decluttering Your Home, might be worth reviewing for this step.  

Tip #2: It's All About the Hangers

This is probably one of the easiest and most overlooked tips.  Hangers are a necessary component of a closet, but how do they function visually? Are they all the same color, shape, and size?  I asked myself these questions when I was trying to figure out what was bothering me about my closet.  All the hangers were different and it looked chaotic.  I decided to only use the clear plastic ones so they would all look uniform and it made a world of difference!

Tip #3: Storage Boxes and Baskets

The best way to make the shelves look neat is to invest in storage boxes and baskets.  I prefer them to clear bins because they hide all the contents.  My husband and I have stackable boxes which hold miscellaneous mementos and four large baskets to store books and photo albums.  You can find them in any size at most home goods stores.  We got ours from World Market at a great price.

Tip #4: Shoe Racks

I'm fine with admitting I don't have a large quantity of shoes.  My husband and I share a small shoe rack.  But even if your shoe collection is vast, this is a great way to keep them easily accessible.  Plus, the less you keep on the floor, the easier it will be to vacuum.

Tip #5 Adhesive Hooks

Speaking of keeping things off the floor, adhesive hooks are an awesome tool.  You can hang up backpacks, duffel bags, purses, belts, etc.  This was actually my husband's idea and he did a great job of placing them on the closet walls.

I hope these tips are applicable for your closet.  Please leave a comment if you were able to incorporate any of them.  If you do,  I guarantee you'll feel much better every time you walk into your clutter free, organized closet!

The Best Chemical Free Deodorant That Actually Works

When I was 8 years old, my mom asked the doctor why my body odor was so bad.  He assured my mom this was normal for girls my age on the brink of puberty.  As I got older I learned to use antiperspirant to prevent the pungent smell.  This became a normal part of my life and I never questioned it until some years later when a woman at our church shared her experience with breast cancer.  She was the first one to tell me about how dangerous commercial deodorants, especially antiperspirant types, can be.  It makes sense when you really think about it.  Our bodies are constantly working to detox the unavoidable chemicals and toxins we're exposed to.  The sweat from our underarms is one way it does that. By blocking that outlet with a chemical substance, we are keeping those poisons inside our bodies.  I was concerned about this, but I was more embarrassed by my natural stench that I didn't change my deodorant use for many years.  Finally, I discovered a home made deodorant recipe from certified nutritionist, Kimberly Snyder.  For me to be able to say it prevents me from stinking all day, means it will pretty much work on anyone!  The recipe is very simple.  You only need four ingredients. 

Just mix together:

3 TBS Coconut oil

2 TBS Arrowroot starch

2 TBS Baking Soda

15 drops essential oil

Store it in a small glass container.  It doesn't take much to keep you smelling fresh all day.   I've noticed my underarms are very sensitive if I apply it right after shaving so I'd recommend shaving the night before and then putting it on in the morning so your pores can close up before direct contact.  Try it for yourself and see how great you can smell without the use of unnatural products.

Here is Kimberly's video.  This is how I discovered this amazing recipe so I have to give her the credit! 

6 Easy Tips For Organizing and Decluttering Your Home

Organization is a skill.  You either have it or you don't.  I grew up with an extremely clean and organized mom.  I'd say the environment she created and genetics both played a role in making me the clean freak I am.  I look forward to my weekly cleaning day when everything is made fresh again.  Even though this is a priority for me, I understand that some people don't always have the time or ability to keep their homes clutter free. I want you to experience the same joy and peace I feel in my home, even if it doesn't come naturally to you.  That's why I've created this list of home organization tips.  I believe one of the most important ways to live a healthy lifestyle is to clean out old clutter because it allows you to create a more convenient, minimalistic living space.

Tip# 1: Go Room to Room
This is something I do on a daily basis.  I walk to every room of my apartment and straighten up anything that is out of place.  You can apply this technique if you have a lot of clutter in each room to go through.  Maybe you're only able to organize one room a day and that's okay.  Don't put too much pressure on yourself to get your whole house done all at once.  By taking it one room at a time, you can prevent feeling scattered and focus on one space, mentally checking off each room as you go.

Tip #2: Take Everything Out of Storage Spaces
Whether you're organizing kitchen cabinets, a night stand, or a media console, you need to remove all the items inside to see what you've got.  First, create a clear space to lay out all your items.  Once everything is out, you can take the time to really think about what to keep and what you can get rid of.  You should also consider whether these items should stay where you had them or be relocated.  Another great way to make things more convenient is by being conscious of where things are placed.  For example, if you're going through your kitchen cabinets, put the gadgets you rarely use up high.  Items you use regularly should be positioned in the front where they can be reached.

Tip #3: Eliminate Multiples
If you have a lot of the same items, ditch the multiples.  It's smart to keep things like pens or light bulbs that you'll eventually be able to use up, but do you really need fifty pairs of socks?  This tip can also be applied to sentimental items.  Say you've got five pieces of jewelry from your grandmother. Keep your favorite one or two and give the rest away.  You'll still have the memory from that person and it will be even more special.  You shouldn't feel guilty about getting rid of things other people gave you.  It's unlikely they will even remember it and if they do, be honest.  If these items no longer serve you or are holding you back in some way, it's time to move on.

Tip# 4: Create Categories
Once you start going through each room, create piles of things that go together.  When you're done with your piles, place everything that will remain back into the storage space neatly.  An easy example of a category I created is product directions.  These are the little booklets that come with kitchen gadgets, vacuums, hair straighteners, and so on.  I always throw away the boxes the products come in and save the directions in case I ever need them.  I keep all of them together in a storage box in my closet so I know exactly where to find them.  To make it even easier, I organized all the booklets by category within the storage box.  Alphabetical order is another extremely helpful tool.  I did this with my DVD collection so whenever my husband and I want to watch something, it's very easy to find.

Tip #5: Sell, Donate, or Throw Away Unnecessary Items
Not too long ago, if you wanted to sell something your only option was a garage sale.  This is still a good option if you have a lot of items to get rid of.  But another good way to make a little extra money is to use eBay, Craigslist, or consignment shops.  I have successfully used all of these options. Get together with family and friends and do a neighborhood garage sale.  If you have things like collectibles that aren't very large, post them on eBay because you can ship all over the world and the buyer pays for shipping.  For larger items like exercise equipment or furniture, Craigslist is great because you can sell to locals.  If you decide on this option, I'd suggest meeting the buyer at a public place to ensure safety.  Consignment shops buy gently used clothes, shoes, and accessories from you. If the items aren't worth selling, donating is the next best thing.  Finally, sometimes things aren't worth your time and need to be discarded.  If you're going through a junk drawer and find worn out rubber bands or random q-tips, just put them in the trash.  Once you've successfully eliminated unnecessary items and put everything in it's place, it's important that you don't go buy all new things. Make a habit of tossing out old things whenever there is a need for something new so it doesn't build back up again.

Tip #6: Less is More
 An easy way to make your home look neater is to keep your counters as clear as possible.  When it comes to kitchen/bathroom counters, nightstands, dressers, dinner tables, etc., only keep out a few items you use regularly.  Everything else can be stored in cabinets.  This principle can also be applied to refrigerator magnets and wall decor.  The goal is to create a minimal look that is still visually pleasing, but not chaotic.

I hope this inspires you to start working on your own home.  By disposing of excess items, you will not only make your home healthier, but your mind will become calm and clear and you'll feel less stressed.  The less you have, the less there is to clean up!

My Aspartame Horror Story

I'd like to start off by saying I understand many people will not agree with what I'm about to say.  The artificial sweetener industry wants you to believe their lies so you'll continue to buy their products.  As a victim of this industry I cannot stay quiet.

To properly tell my story, we have to talk about the reason artificial sweeteners exist in the first place, and that is sugar.  A popular example of this is soda and diet soda.  I believe they are one of the most detrimental things you can put in your body.  This isn't coming from a place of judgement.  My desire is to help you understand how harmful soda, diet soda, and artificial sweeteners can be by sharing the horrific things I've gone through.  These experiences led me to make the decision to never consume soda and artificial sweeteners ever again.

Growing up, my mother never kept soda in our home, so my sister and I rarely drank it.  I'll never forget going to a sleepover when I was 12 and drinking several sodas.  Since my body wasn't used to the foreign chemicals and high amounts of sugar, it freaked out.  I was jittery, anxious, and hyper.  After that wore off, I felt so sick I promised myself I'd never drink it again and I've kept that promise.

A few years later at a doctor's visit, I learned more about what soda does to our bodies.  The pediatrician told my mom the second leading cause of childhood obesity in America is soda.  Hearing that and remembering my past experience made my distaste for these drinks even stronger.  It breaks my heart to see people, especially children, consuming such a toxic substance regularly. Why are there not more people outraged by the horrific symptoms this product is causing?

We’ve all see the advertisements for these drinks showing healthy looking celebrities indulging in them.  This is deceiving because there is absolutely nothing healthy about soda.  This brings us back to sugar.  It’s something we know isn’t the best thing for our bodies.  In order to “correct” the problems it causes, substitutions have been created to supposedly provide a similar sugary taste without the negative effects.  These substitutions go by many names like sucralose (Splenda), saccharin (Sweet 'N Low), and aspartame (Equal and NutraSweet).  Many people believe they’re choosing the healthier option by drinking the diet versions of the sodas they like, but the diet varieties are worse than the originals.  Creating a chemical substitute for something that occurs in nature causes even worse problems to arise.  Diet soda companies claim that by drinking this sugar free version you will avoid health problems and lose weight.  On page 54 of her book, The Beauty Detox Foods, Kimberly Snyder, C.N. explains why the opposite is true.  "Despite the fact that it has zero calories, studies have shown that aspartame can actually induce weight".

This brings me to my personal horror story with the artificial sweetener called aspartame.  It wrecks me to know this stuff is allowed on the market because I ignorantly suffered as a result of consuming it.  Diet soda is not the only source of concern.  I had vowed to never drink any type of soda ever again, so I thought I was safe.  But the other main products containing these toxic sweeteners are gum and mints.  I grew up in the 90's so I remember when the gum and mints display in grocery stores had the real sugar versions.  Gradually, commercial brands switched to sugar free, and most people, including myself, believed this was the healthier choice.  We never stopped to wonder how the taste stayed sweet without the presence of sugar, and from what I've observed, most people don't care.

I don't know how long I was consuming aspartame before the side effects set in.  I was 13 when I had the first attack.  My mom, sister, and I were at the mall shopping for school clothes.  I was in a dressing room when I started to feel strange.  I was light headed, dizzy, and my vision was impaired.  At first, I thought it was the lights above the dressing room messing with my eyes.  I walked out of the store to try to calm myself down but the symptoms persisted.  There was a flashing spot moving over my vision that prevented me from seeing out of one of my eyes.  I described this to my mom and she called my doctor while we headed home. 

Thankfully, the pediatrician knew what was going on because she had the same experience before.  Her advice was for me to get into bed in a dark room, close my eyes, and take ibuprofen.  The flashing spot moved from one eye to the next before disappearing and then the migraine came.  My doctor said by taking ibuprofen right when the flashing starts you can get ahead of the migraine and prevent pain.  I had several attacks like this over the next two years.  I didn't know what else to do so I just dealt with them whenever they happened.  I had one on Thanksgiving when I was supposed to be spending time with family.  I remember closing my eyes as my mom and other family members surrounded me.  Their talking and praying was a comfort and distraction when my vision was impaired for the thirty minutes it took for the spot to go away.  I remember testing myself by looking at the digital clock on my nightstand, waiting to be able to see the full set of numbers.  But mostly, I remember the fear.  

Finally, my mom stumbled upon an article online about how artificial sweeteners have been known to cause these types of symptoms. We did some research and learned the different names these sweeteners go by. We checked my gum and mints and found aspartame in both.  Upon further research, we discovered aspartame has been linked to causing not only migraines, but neurological problems such as seizures.   "Aspartame is an excitotoxin, which is a toxic substance that in high concentrations may stimulate nerve cells so much that they are damaged or killed"(p. 54 of The Beauty Detox Foods by Kimberly Snyder, C.N.).  

I was so relieved to find an answer.  I immediately threw away the packs of gum and mints, never to consume them again.  Today I still chew gum and mints daily.  I use a brand called Spry that is sweetened with xylitol, a natural sugar alcohol.  I've learned to check the labels on everything I put in my body to make sure there is no chance I'll ingest aspartame or any other artificial sweetener.  I've had no other problems with visual migraines since I stopped consuming fake sugar.  Just because you're not experiencing side effects like I did doesn't mean your body isn't being poisoned.  My hope is that more people become aware of this danger so they can protect themselves from these health issues.  I'd ultimately like to see these products off the market so they can no longer cause the devastating afflictions proven to occur with regular consumption.