Month: February 2025

Carrie’s Chitchats

~ Carrie ~ Leave a comment

I forgot I had this little chitchat series I created a while ago when I feel I have nothing in particular to write about but still want to chat so here I am.

We’re back into the swing of things after a week-long winter break from school. Our family, along with some family friends, headed up to the snow and did some tubing, hiking (see pic above), and lounging at a rented cabin. I oftentimes will dread a big break from school and the structure/routine of school but last week was surprisingly very enjoyable and I soaked up all of our together time. During the trip, my 2 girlfriends and I marveled at how well our children get along- they range in age from 3 to almost 10 and, despite the age gap, they play so beautifully together. We feel lucky to have that.

We’re gearing up for a busy spring over here with activities starting up (soccer & T-ball, in addition to dance), guests coming, and a social calendar that’s starting to fill up and I can feel my introverted-self start to get a bit grumpy. I know I’m doing what’s best for our family/kids but sometimes being an introverted parent is tough. You want to be social, plan activities & get togethers for your kids, and make solid connections in your community but I’d rather be hanging at home. Like everything else though, it’s a season and perhaps when the summertime comes and our schedule is less jam-packed, I may look back on this time and long for the craziness.

Have a great weekend!

Wear What’s In Your Closet: A Series

~ Carrie ~ Leave a comment

I recently saw an influencer post a reel about shopping her closet to come up with some cute looks and loved the idea. I’m on a saving spree right now- things like brewing your own coffee, ordering less takeout, and shopping your closet are great ways to save money & get creative. I love looking in my pantry to see what I can make with the ingredients I have on hand and applying this to your closet feels equally fun.

So I snapped this picture in a rush while I was getting ready for an annual favorite things party with my best girlfriends. The pic is blurry, there’s smudges on the mirror and the bedroom situation ain’t looking the best but you know what? In 2025, I’m doing the things I want to do even though they’re not perfect (and probably never will be). I’m not going to wait until I have the flawless picture or the room is immaculate because then this post will be sitting in my drafts and will never reach my 2 blog readers. So this year, (and this Valentine’s Day!), in addition to saving money, I’m encouraging you to stop waiting until things are perfect to do the things you want to do or accomplish those goals you’ve always dreamed of. Life is short but sweet for certain. XOXO

Going to link what I can from this shop my closet look:

J.Crew Factory sweater, similar Agolde jeans, Steve Madden Mary Jane flats, Madewell belt

 

My 5 Favorite Trader Joe’s Items

~ Carrie ~ Leave a comment

A few months ago, I went to Trader Joe’s with my friend in an attempt to delve outside my comfort zone and explore products I wouldn’t necessarily choose myself. I find that whenever I go grocery shopping, I always reach for the same products so I figured inviting a friend could help change that! I’ve done this with my sister too and it’s so fun to swap recipe ideas and get real-time reviews on food items. Perhaps in the future I’ll have said friend or sister do a guest post on their favored items but for now here are my go-tos:

  1. Mandarin Orange Chicken: I love having bags of this in my freezer for an easy weeknight dinner. The kids crush this chicken and I typically pair it with sticky rice, air-fried broccoli, and seaweed. Chef’s kiss!
  2. Rice Orzo Pilaf Mix: I believe my sister introduced me to this item and I’ve been a die-hard ever since. The flavor is so delightful using butter and water but you can also make it a little richer by subbing chicken broth for the water. This is also kid/toddler approved and I’ll make this with a veggie and a protein (typically chicken thighs) as another weeknight dinner win!
  3. Original Savory Thin Crackers: These crackers remind me of Nut-Thins- they’re light and delicious and I’ll often load them up with tuna or egg salad for an easy, high protein lunch. I add these to the kids’ lunches as well and they also come in a bagged version of mini crackers.
  4. Hold the Cone mini ice cream cones: I have at least one box of these in my freezer at all times. They’re a great little treat for kids and adults alike and you can’t go wrong with any of the flavors. I personally appreciate these for portion control as I tend to go off the rails if I have a pint/gallon of ice cream calling my name from the depths of my freezer. TJs recently came out with strawberry minis which are delightful!
  5. Cheese: I’m going broad here but the cheese at Trader Joe’s is top notch and I always love venturing into the cheese area to discover something new or new-to-me. I currently have a bag of Unexpected Cheddar in my fridge which I’ve been adding to my salad but others I’ve tried and loved include: burrata, triple cream brie, manchego, colby-jack sticks, chevre goat cheese…I mentioned the burrata right? Add it to your eggs, salads, pizza, skincare routine (jk?), etc. Ya just can’t go wrong with any of them in my book.

I’d love to hear what YOUR favorite Trader Joe’s products are!