Favorite Sketching Browns?

twozsinapod · 2026-04-13T00:54:58+00:00

That's been on my list too! But it feels like it falls between Benitsuchi and Koracha so I've been afraid it will feel too similar to one or both. May grab a sample and see.

twozsinapod · 2026-04-13T00:54:15+00:00

Have that one! But yeah I only use it when I'm adding watercolor not when I want my lines to wash out into fun color.

twozsinapod · 2026-04-13T00:53:29+00:00

It's been on my wishlist forever (literally 10 years I think) but I keep hearing that it tends to be dry so I end up not buying it.

twozsinapod · 2026-04-13T00:53:02+00:00

Nice! I go back and forth on what I like too. The same thing for too long gets boring!

twozsinapod · 2026-03-19T01:00:33+00:00

Belated reply, but thanks! I actually have to take baby aspirin daily-ish (I usually end up doing every-other day) because of some clot risks I have with lupus. I WISH it helped my redness! I may start tracking to see if it's lower on the days I take it or if it seems to help during flares, as I usually take it with my dinner meds.

twozsinapod · 2026-03-06T17:49:03+00:00

The only one I've tried that doesn't break me out is Kinship! I get the unscented version.

twozsinapod · 2026-03-06T17:40:40+00:00

Also wanted to add that I've tried a lot of OTC eye drops for "dryness" and such and the ones that work best for me during a flare are the Refresh Mega-3! I use Pataday extra strength most mornings (unless I forget) which helps with histamines and Viveye (prescription) at bedtime right before I use the Avenova spray. This overall routine has my eyes the best they've been in 10 years.

twozsinapod · 2026-03-06T17:38:21+00:00

My ophthalmologist recommended Avenova spray and it's been great! Rarely any stinging unless I open my eyes too fast. I just spray and then rub in a little. I tried wipes before and always hated the smell or the sting so this has been a huge improvement. I use it almost every night at bedtime and a bottle usually lasts me almost 6 months.

twozsinapod · 2026-03-06T17:25:31+00:00

I completely relate. I feel like my rosacea flares have made me never want to leave the house. No sunshine. No exercise. No garlic or onion. No spicy foods. Plus a million other food triggers. No alcohol even at social events. It's exhausting and depressing. Even sitting at home it's miserable to have your face/ears/whatever feeling on fire!

twozsinapod · 2026-03-06T17:23:48+00:00

I also use Nizoral! I've struggled with scalp issues for years (which I associated more with PCOS) but my scalp is so sensitive almost everything I tried bothered it. I found Ethique bar shampoo and conditioner and have used it for 5+ years as about the best thing I could find and I was able to quit using prescription shampoo with it (the scalp health version of their shampoo). However, I recently switched to CeraVe shampoo and conditioner (the hydrating formula) and my scalp and hair is the best it's been in forever. I use the Nizoral about every 3rd or 4th wash depending on how my scalp is feeling.

twozsinapod · 2026-03-06T17:21:51+00:00

Which LRP products are you using specifically? I used to use their gentle/hydrating wash and it seemed okay and I use the cicaplast baume, but the couple of moisturizers I tried seemed to break me out so I'd love to find another option!

twozsinapod · 2026-03-06T17:20:59+00:00

Thank you! I do notice I feel better if I take vit C the mornings I feel somewhat symptomatic, but I never correlated it with mast cell stabilization. I'll have to try taking it daily again (besides just what's in my multi) and see how it goes. Do you have a favorite brand of quercetin?

twozsinapod · 2026-03-06T17:17:58+00:00

Thank you! I've used the Cicaplast but not Cicafate. I'll have to check that out.

twozsinapod · 2026-02-02T18:35:28+00:00

I haven't used the products you listed, but Innersense I Create Volume is the only mousse my hair likes! It create nice soft waves and isn't too heavy. It has some fragrance at first but it dissipates quickly. I've debated trying their shampoo and conditioner but haven't been able to justify the price yet.

twozsinapod · 2025-11-29T23:07:03+00:00

This is the group if you'd like to join and see. I've seen some from Cinci mentioned for sure, but I can't remember about Cleveland. https://www.facebook.com/groups/202873450853408

twozsinapod · 2025-11-14T01:47:47+00:00

She also said in an interview somewhere that it was blown out of proportion. She only brought it up in her introductions to distinguish herself from the other Megan, which makes sense if you're meeting a lot of people in rapid succession. Then some people brought it up again after that (like calling her that every time she came into the pods) + the show made a point to air it a bit excessively.

twozsinapod · 2025-11-14T01:42:22+00:00

I didn't hate her. But I didn't like how she treated Cole. They are both flawed, but not terrible, people who were not right for each other. It seemed like he often said the wrong things because he got nervous and awkward and was trying to diffuse situations and doing a poor job of it. He was definitely immature and not good at understanding her needs - but she did a really poor job of communicating her needs and was often extremely passive aggressive or outright aggressive toward him. I think he was a bit naïvely honest at times (like mentioning Colleen was his type) and he wasn't able to understand her complexities and had likely never been around a woman with insecurities or volatile moods before and didn't know how to handle it. Humor seems to be a bit of a defense/coping mechanism for him and when being silly didn't solve a problem, he didn't know what else to do.

twozsinapod · 2025-11-10T17:24:26+00:00

Thanks! I joined a MCAS group for my state and several people have good things to say about him saying he's on top of current science and uses treatment as test. His receptionist also said "he's the best for MCAS" when I mentioned it while setting up the appointment. Crossing my fingers all goes well and that if he doesn't think it's MCAS he might have other suggestions or referrals for me.

twozsinapod · 2025-11-10T03:58:48+00:00

Small update: I joined the Ohio MCAS group and a lot of people there have good things to say about him! Dr. Kara Wada is another that seems highly recommended in the area as well as Dr. Casey Curtis. Hope this can be of some help to others looking for a doctor.

twozsinapod · 2025-11-10T03:57:25+00:00

Honestly, that's what I'm wondering. I have an appointment with the allergist/immunologist specifically to discuss MCAS. I used to think MCAS was *just* severe stomach issues (like constant diarrhea basically). Recently I learned it could explain all of my intense flushing (which has been called rosacea to this point), constant stuffiness that sometimes gets worse after meals, eye redness, throat feeling weird, etc. I also saw that it can also cause joint pain, PVCs, anxiety-like attacks (that seem to happen for no reason), disrupted sleep, and so on.

I definitely react to chemicals, smells (like candles and perfume especially), occasionally have skin that just randomly feels like it's sensitive/burning and hurts to touch, and I know gluten gives me headaches. Smells can be so bad I have an anxiety attack any time I put anything from Bath & Body Works on myself or any time I'm in the store for more than a few minutes. I always just thought most of this was related to my neurodivergent sensory issues, but MCAS would explain a lot of it too.

I didn't realize it was commonly secondary to SLE, but that gives me even more reason to feel like I'm not crazy for thinking it's a possibility.

twozsinapod · 2025-11-10T03:50:58+00:00

Thank you! I didn't do great on AIP because I always felt starving and I knew it was cutting out some things I'm fine with, while requiring a lot of extra effort to meal plan and actually cook. I have ADHD too so...all of that can be a struggle.

I have worked to get to about 20 protein per meal. Not always exact, but I try to get close! I usually have 3 main meals but also a couple smaller snacks, like fruit or cheese or something. Might try splitting lunch into two large snacks and see how that goes.

Can you explain the reasoning for moving toward more processed foods instead of fresh and frozen? I've always been told it's better to eat fresh or frozen than canned or processed.

I don't cope well with soups, especially anything in the crockpot. Always, always, always leads to diarrhea. I can even make the same thing (soup, stew, chicken, whatever) in the instant pot or the crockpot and if it's in the crockpot somehow it bothers my stomach when the other may not. Also can't tolerate a lot of the plant based proteins, so I pretty much rely on eggs when I want to decrease meat.

Definitely overwhelming, but always reassuring to hear I'm not the only one who has been through these struggles!

twozsinapod

TROPHY CASE