I’m back on the blog for my annual post and boy have I missed writing. With 2 young kids, I’ve found it’s become quite challenging to put myself and my interests/hobbies/passions ahead of everything else. On my “days off” I find myself either running a bunch of errands that become such a time suck due to Bay Area traffic or I get pulled into household chores that gotta get done! Now that my kids are a little bit older though (4 and 2), I’ve begun to feel an itch/longing/call from the universe(?) to really try to set aside time for the things that spark joy in my life, which writing has always done for me. Very recently I had a health scare that made me more closely examine my life and what really matters and I guess I just want to work on living a bit more authentically & purposefully. I’ll spare you on going down the rabbit hole of existentialism but there’s nothing like the potential absence of good health to give you the kick in the ass you needed to remind you what’s important. On that note, here are some things, old and new, that I’m into right now.

• My friends are sick of me preaching about these jeans but I have them in 2 washes and they are a great everyday pair of denim you can dress up or down. True to size!
• Last year I wrote a post about my skincare routine and can proudly say I’m still following the same routine and feeling great about my skin. This is despite my derm not so subtly asking if I’d like to “take care of those forehead wrinkles?” Aging gracefully baby!
• It’s nearing the end of 2023 and I’ve recently purchased my first Vuori items. It’s giving you’ve been living under a rock the past several years isn’t it? Nonetheless, I’m very happy with my new jumper & joggers and I want to only wear shirts with a built-in bra for the rest of my life, mmmkay?
• My husband wanted to take advantage of a 100-day free trial of the Peloton bike around 2ish years ago. I was vehemently against it because I was already “committed” to a workout routine (maybe 2-3 workouts every couple weeks hehe). Welp I’ve been consistently completing three 20 minute workouts every week for the past 2ish years and my husband didn’t even last the trial period. Oh how the tables have turned.
• Colleen Hoover books. Need I say more? During the aforementioned health scare, I needed to keep my mind off of things and wanted to keep it light: enter CH. Her books really hook you and the storylines are all consuming. The last 3 I’ve read: Confess, Regretting You, and Reminders of Him. So good.

Well that’s all for now! Until next year. xoxo Blogger girl

I’ve officially upgraded my skincare routine and I’ve come here to tell all of my (one) follower(s) about it! I’ve really noticed a difference in my skin these last few weeks and even my husband has noticed a difference. Well- that’s after nagging him like a puppy about it…howdoesmyskinlook, howdoesmyskinlook, howdoesmyskinlook? Good, he says. I’ll take it. Here’s the scoop:

1. Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser: this is my OG facewash I’ve been using for the past 15+ years. I would classify my skin as “normal” but it works for all skin types (oily, dry, normal, etc). It’s basic, non-irritating, and I like that it easily removes my makeup. I use this twice daily, in the am & pm.
2. Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant: that was a mouthful, eh? I’ve only been using this gem of a product for the past month but I noticed a difference in my skin within days of using it. My skin just feels cleaner after one swipe of this stuff which is evidence that the salicylic acid is really working to unclog pores and remove dead skin cells. Bonus points for the glow and evenness my skin has benefitted from. Talk about a glow up! I use this every morning. On the nights I’m using Tretinoin, I will skip Paula’s as I believe both products would be too harsh on my skin.
3. Maelove: The Glowmaker Antioxidant Serum: about a year ago, I journeyed to Sephora in an attempt to upgrade my skincare routine and purchase some holy grail tried and true products. I left with an eyebrow pencil and feelings of defeat. One of my main goals was to buy a vitamin C serum as I’d heard this product is essential to any decent skincare lineup but after the salesperson tried selling me on a 1 oz bottle for $80+, I hightailed it out of there. After, I went on a mission to find a vitamin C serum that wouldn’t break the bank. *Maelove has entered the chat* Their products are clean, the packaging is sleek, and they’re actually affordable! Quite the unicorn product, am I right? After using the Glowmaker for some time, I noticed a decrease in fine lines, increase in my skin’s glow, and I like that the serum doesn’t have an oily texture. Vitamin C is said to help slow down the skin’s aging process and serves as a barrier to protect your skin from environmental factors like the sun. After washing my face with Cetaphil and exfoliating with Paula’s Choice, I apply my Glowmaker.
4. Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen: do I need to elaborate on this one? It’s lightweight, packs a 40 SPF punch, and the ingredients are clean. I feel like the sheeny texture provides a nice foundation for makeup application. Bonus points for how long the bottle lasts! I use this every morning after applying the Glowmaker.
5. Tretinoin: I’m not quite ready to take the plunge on Botox yet so instead I did the next best thing and called up the doc for some of the good stuff. I’m seeing a reduction of fine lines and my skin just seems more new and fresh. Maybe she’s born with it….maybe it’s the tretinoin. I apply a pea-sized amount every other night and while I noticed drying and flakiness initially, my skin has acclimated quite well in the month+ I’ve been using it. One caveat: my insurance didn’t cover this one so cranky Carol was up in arms at the pharmacy when the $70 price tag was announced. However, with the small size application and the fact that I don’t use it every single night, I believe the tube will last at least a good 6 months. If not, I’ll be asking for the manager…
6. Maelove: The Night Renewer Glycolic Acid Cream: after 1 night of using this cream, I woke up and said “woah” in the mirror. I noticed a big difference in my skin- it felt and looked tighter, more glowy, and extremely hydrated. Apparently glycolic acid is another one of those ingredients that works to shed old skin cells, uncovering those newer, cuter ones underneath. I did notice a slight burning sensation upon the first few uses and Maelove recommends easing your way into it by using it 3 x/week to let your skin acclimate.

I think about this blog from time to time, wanting to regularly contribute something- my thoughts, current obsessions/hobbies, and life updates. But truth be told, I don’t have a lot going on right now (insert yikes emoji here). What happens when you want to write but feel like you have nothing to say? I searched (or at least attempted to search) some old favorite blogs of mine to cultivate some inspiration and those sites are now either flooded with sponsored posts with links galore or defunct. I miss the days where I could just hop on a blog and read someone’s genuine thoughts without asking me to buy something or click the link. Or maybe these sites still do exist but I’m looking in all the wrong places? Orrr maybe I just need to be the blog I wish to see in the world LOL

Here I am, back on the ole blog for my annual entry. A lot has happened since I last hit publish almost a year ago, namely having another child, which brings me to the title of my post: I’m looking for some good mom jeans. This is what I have in mind: something that sucks me in, provides stretch, feels comfy, and makes me look like a cool mom. Basically, I’m looking for a unicorn. Below are the blues that have been catching my eye lately. Stay tuned for a try on to find out if unicorns do exist…

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!