Author: Carrie

Up & Moving

~ Carrie ~ Leave a comment

We have 3 more nights left in our place before we move about 10 miles down the road and I’m not feeling very prepared. So naturally I’m hopping on here to chat about it while the sweat on my husband’s brow continues to accumulate. (You’re doing great sweetie!) Part of the reason I’m feeling ill-prepared is my lack of focus. Not too long ago, I had 9 months where I reminded people that I was a dingbat due to pregnancy brain. What is my excuse now? I’ll head to the kitchen intending to pack up some dishes and 20 minutes later I’m knuckles deep in a new cookie recipe I had to try at that very moment. I miss my old organized, on-top-of-things self but at least this version of me will be able to instruct my new neighbors on how to bake the perfect chocolate chip cookie, right? I must be going now as I have another box to pack up that my engineer husband will likely “audit”. And by that I mean, I’ll be packing up my box, minding my own business and I begin hearing some heavy breathing over my shoulder. I pause, see my husband eyeing my work and then he’ll give it the shake test, making sure the contents of said box are secure. This is the audit. Okay now I really need to go but below is a picture of the cutest moving helper in town!

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*Note: post not sponsored by U-haul but I wish it was cause I love me some freebies.

Beauty on a Budget

~ Carrie ~ 1 Comment

Beauty Staples (2)

Since I’m currently jobless and internship-less, mama ain’t got room in the budget to spend the big bucks on a quality skincare regime. However, I’ve made do with the products above and based on feedback from my clueless husband and the unintelligible babble coming from my 9-month old, I’d say the results are pretty stellar. Allow me to provide a little rundown of each product:

  1. I try to do this mask once a week to remove impurities from my skin and unclog my pores. You can quickly feel it start to work as your skin really pulsates. Your face will be red post-mask so be sure to use this at night (and make sure you use apple cider vinegar vs water- just feels more effective with ACV) Anyway, I call this thing a mini face lift because in the morning my skin is always noticeably tighter and smoother.
  2. Highly recommend buying a daily moisturizer with SPF so that your face doesn’t look like a road map by the time you’re 50. This is my first Kiehl’s product and I’d say I’m pretty happy with it. A small amount goes a long way and I was pleasantly surprised by the lack of sunscreen-y scent (smells like nothing). My only complaint is it is a bit oily so I’d advise those with oily skin against this product.
  3. When I heard Nivea Creme being compared to La Mer, I knew I had to try this stuff out. I’ve been using it for the past month and I love how rich and luxurious it feels as a night cream. I love slathering stuff on my face at night so that my skin has several hours to absorb it and my skin just feels more plump (in a good way) in the morning. I would love to say that I’ll eventually do a follow-up post comparing this cream to La Mer but ain’t nobody got $180 to spend on a measly 1 oz of product!
  4. I bought a jade roller when it was the popular thing to do cause I’m a follower like that and used it for like 2 days and then it sat for about a year. Now that I’m a mama and the under eye bags are real, I dusted that puppy off again and took it for another spin. I’ve noticed I’m less puffy (something about lymphatic drainage) and I look more awake post-use. Also, it just feels good doing it and I’ve gotten accustomed to viewing it as a little “me time” in the morning before everyone wants a piece of me.
  5. When my Clarisonic broke, I didn’t have the stomach to shell out another $200 for a new one so in my quest to find something similar, I stumbled upon this wizard brush. I typically use it with my everyday cleanser and I’ve noticed my pores are less clogged and my skin is softer. Just feels like a deeper clean when using it.
  6. I don’t what else to say about this stuff other than it’s magical. Although I don’t experience any major skin issues, I’ve heard of people using this cream as a sort of cure-all. Don’t be intimidated by the thick, oily consistency. It is magical.
  7. Saved the most basic for last. I’ve been a diehard Cetaphil user for years…maybe because it doubles as a makeup remover & a cleanser which gives ya more bang for your buck. Anyway, it’s gentle, non-irritating, and has yet to cross me so I’m keeping it around.

 

 

Big Magic

~ Carrie ~ 1 Comment

In order to get my creative juices flowing and maybe add some inspiration to my life, I started reading Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic. This is my second time reading it and I know it’s one of those staple books I’ll keep on hand forever because it has so much good info/advice/tips inside. I specifically wanted to start writing again because it brings me joy and I think blogs are fun, however there are SO many times I’ve set out to create a blog and commit to regular posts but end up writing about one post every 6 months to a year.

So this is typically my cycle: You know what? I’m going to start a blog › Tells friends about said future blog (like get ready to read it friends, it will be super interesting + engaging) › Start looking at other blogs for inspiration. Wow these blogs are good. Great content, visually pleasing. Umm why am I creating a blog again? › Creates blog that feels lackluster and plain but oh well it’s going to have incredible content › “Content” is composed of 2 posts over the span of 1 year (LOL!)

Anyway, to bring it back to the book, Gilbert makes some great points about creative living and discovering what hidden treasures lie within us. This entails following our curiosity which can result in Big Magic. Some of my favorite highlights:

  • Originality: yes everything has pretty much been done before but it hasn’t been done by YOU! You have a unique/authentic take/voice on whatever you’d like to share so add your hat to the game (is that the saying?)
  • Rejection: she is so candid about acquiring rejection letters from various publications yet she persisted in her writing because she loved it and couldn’t imagine not living a creative life. AKA let rejection be a learning process. Learn from it, grow from it.
  • Perfectionism: Gilbert mentions how many perfectionists think their end product is going to be crappy so they just scrap plans of even creating the product in the first place. Perfectionism is such a road block for many of us and it could really suck the fun out of the creative process.
  • Nobody cares: Possibly my favorite point, Gilbert talks about the fact that so many people are so consumed with their own lives, they don’t really care or think about you. So if you want to create, do so fearlessly because nobody is watching and nobody cares!

So what was my point again? Ah yes, going to try to take Gilbert’s advice and allow curiosity to be my guide in this little writing journey of mine instead of letting fear or perfectionism or comparison to get in the way. Nobody’s reading this anyway, right?

Start Here

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It’s been almost a year since I’ve written here and my life, along with the world, has changed quite a bit. Pre-COVID-19, I would have been on the verge of starting my first fieldwork II placement and most likely filled with lots of anxiety and a tiny bit of excitement. However, due to the circumstances, I, like many of my classmates have had a cancellation of my internship. Although I was initially pretty bummed, I’ve now realized that having a slow summer is exactly what I needed, especially after a grueling 2 years of graduate school (during which I also managed to have a baby- more on that later!)

I’ve been relishing the slowness and while I love spending my days watching my daughter grow, experimenting with new recipes, and organizing our home, I tend to feel rather listless at night. Perhaps it’s because the future is so unknown and I’m a control freak who is now left with lots of uncertainties. So, rather than continuing with my recent bad habit of aimlessly scrolling through my phone for hours at night, I thought I’d be a good (future) occupational therapist and revisit some of my long lost occupations.

I’ve always loved to write and be creative so I’m hoping this will serve as a creative outlet and overall fun space to retreat to. I’ll start here and see where it takes me…

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Back to School

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Last week I officially left my post as temporary housewife and resumed my graduate school studies. To be honest, going back to school was something I was dreading a bit but now that I’m here, I remember how much I enjoy learning and having structure in my life. This semester, we’re actually going to have clients which is both terrifying and exciting. Crossing my fingers that I don’t come off as weird/awkward/incompetent/a hot mess but we’ll see how it goes! This is the class I’m most excited about though- a chance to put our acquired knowledge, creativity, and therapeutic use of self into practice. There have been many times throughout school where I’ve doubted myself- questions like is this the field for me? Am I going to be a good OT? Will I make it to graduation?! are ever present but helping people, being creative, and having autonomy remain at the core of why I’m still here and why I landed here in the first place. I’m a firm believer in whatever is meant to be will find it’s way so here’s to hoping everything will work out the way it should. In the meantime, I’m hoping I can come here every so often and babble about the goings-on in life- the good, the bad, and everything in between. As always, thank you to my two readers for taking the time to read this post- hope you enjoyed it!

Random Musings

~ Carrie ~ 1 Comment

 

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Lately I believe:

  • Everyone should try this banana cake recipe. Moist. Flavorful. Crowd pleasing. The key is to bake at a low temperature and then place the pan in the freezer immediately after pulling out (that’s what she said).
  • That being pregnant and trying to get out of bed in the morning is what I imagine a rollie pollie must feel like while stuck on it’s back.
  • That it’s perfectly okay to check nothing off of your to-do list. Tomorrow’s another day.
  • Frozen yogurt should be classified as a health food. Gut health people!
  • That my time as a temporary housewife should be extended at least a month or two longer but you know, grad school awaits.
  • That I need to binge watch one more series before my life turns into a frenzied, exciting, stress-filled school/baby vortex. Now to my 2 blog readers: any suggestions?
  • That laughter is the best medicine!

Beachy Getaway

~ Carrie ~ 1 Comment

 

Beachy-Maternity

Last weekend we headed down to Pismo Beach to celebrate/cherish our dwindling days of complete independence. Otherwise known as a babymoon! Our friends with kids have highly recommended we take a vacation before baby arrives in October and I gladly obliged. It was a weekend full of great food, slow walks around town, poolside mocktails, and a bit of shopping. My current style is all things comfort so I’ve rounded up a few items that are currently in rotation. I’m loving anything that is roomy and easy to slip into- like slides, stretchy dresses, and purses that allow you to be hands-free:

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Current Reads…

~ Carrie ~ 1 Comment

Favorite-Book

Ahh the love of books. Being in the midst of reading a great book is, in my opinion, like having a little gift to look forward to at the end of the day. I love devouring books- sometimes I become so engrossed that I cancel social outings because I’d rather have a one-on-one with whatever novel has me raptured. And now that I have a little downtime away from my studies, I’ve been consuming them on a weekly basis. Here are a few of my recent favorites:

  1. The Tattooist of Auschwitz is a true story based on the lives of Lale and Gita, two prisoners enduring the concentration camps at Auschwitz during the Holocaust. As a tattooist of the incoming prisoners, Lale is afforded certain privileges that he utilizes to help those around him, often risking his life in the process. In the midst of so much death and destruction, Lale and Gita still manage to fall in love. Note: get your tissues ready- I finished this book while in an airplane and probably looked like I was having a mental breakdown.
  2. Where the Crawdads Sing chronicles the life of Kya, a young girl living in the swamps of North Carolina in the 1950s. Abandoned by her family, Kya learns to be self-sufficient, resourceful, and independent. Despite her reclusive lifestyle, her natural beauty catches the eyes of local boys, some of which don’t have the best intentions. When one of these boys goes missing, the community begins pointing the finger at Kya. Note: this book was beautifully written and I could not put it down. Easily in my top 3 favorite books and wishing I could erase my memory of it just so I could fall in love with the story all over again.
  3. The Silent Patient is a thriller about married artists Alicia and Gabriel. When Gabriel is murdered, allegedly by his wife, Alicia becomes mute and is sent to a mental institution instead of receiving jail time. When psychotherapist Theo begins working at the institution in hopes of getting Alicia to speak again, things get veryyyy interesting. Note: this book was hard for me to get into but worth pushing through in the end. The conclusion is shocking and one I won’t forget!
  4. Everything I Never Told You is about a Chinese-American family grappling with the death of their daughter, Lydia. On the surface, Lydia appears to be the perfect child- obedient, smart, plenty of friends, and a great student. However, this is merely a facade and the family is left to pick up the pieces and reflect on just what went wrong (so many things!). Note: this book was book was frustrating to read at times because you want so badly for the characters to just communicate with each other and be real. Although tragic, it was a reminder that sometimes things need to fall apart in order to come together again.

Heat Embossing

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I’ve always been a huge fan of snail mail. Whether I’m sending it or receiving it, I think now more than ever, cards are a special way to show someone you’re thinking of them. I could spend hours in the card aisles of Target and I’ve always wanted to try my hand at making my own cards. Enter: heat embossing! This craft requires a heat gun, slow-drying ink pad, embossing powder, and rubber stamps or embossing pens. To get started I bought this heat gun and this embossing kit. After some trial and error sessions on a scrap piece of cardstock, I ended up making baby shower thank you cards that I just love:

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feet card-2

The steps are simple: after wiping down the surface of the cardstock with your anti-static pad, use your favorite rubber stamp and place on the ink pad. Stamp the cardstock and then pour a generous amount of embossing powder over the ink. Tap the excess powder off onto a folded piece of paper and, using your heat gun, go back and forth over the stamped area. You will begin to see the powder turn into a shiny, raised surface and once this result is consistent, you will know you are finished. Let the ink cool for a few minutes and don’t forget to use your folded paper to put the excess powder back into its original container. And ta-da, your homemade card is now complete!

Valentine’s Day

~ Carrie ~ Leave a comment

In honor of tomorrow being Valentine’s Day, I thought I’d post a few of my favorite things. Please forward this post to my husband to give him some clues as to the perfect gift(s) to get me. For real though, we like to keep it low-key on v-day- I love staying at home and cooking a gourmet meal. Last year, we cooked Chrissy Teigen’s spicy clams & pasta recipe which was incredible. I also just love the process of picking out a cute card and writing a thoughtful message. Some of my favorite gifts have been cards….I guess I’m just old school like that. Whatever you do and whoever you’re with, I hope you have a day full of love! V-Day-Collage

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