Hi everyone! I am so sorry for the disappearance….again. Between school, moving into my new home and working I have had zero time to come here and write about my adventures and what has been going on in my life! We’re already almost finished with December and into the year 2023! It’s amazing and crazy to see how fast time flies sometimes. I hope everyone has been enjoying the festive holidays and keeping safe and being healthy. I just wanted to stop by and hopefully write more in the next upcoming weeks! Until next time (:
Word(s) of the Day
Nursing School Edition #7
Pathophysiology
Some terms from my Week 5 class in Patho:
Leukemia:
is a malignant disease of the bone marrow that causes an increase in white blood cell production.
The term tumor as related to neoplasm means:
new growth.
Neoplasms that are confined to a local area and do not spread are called:
benign.
Metastasis
is the spread of the neoplasm to distant sites.
Next Up: Microbiology
Week 5 Micro:
What are the two major categories of cells?
a. Bacteria and viruses
b. Prokaryotes and eukaryotes
c. Pathogens and non-pathogens
d. Plants and animals
What are the primary functions of the innate immune response?
A. Produce antibodies in response to the pathogen
B. Create memory cells to prepare the body for future attacks
C. Attack the pathogen and alert the adaptive immune response
D. Signal T cells to produce cytokines in response to the pathogen
What type of transmission occurs when a pathogen is spread though sneezing or coughing?
A. Common vehicle
B. Indirect contact
C. Airborne
D. Direct contact
Inflammation:
is caused by the dilatation of blood vessels which allows the passage of fluid, antibodies, and WBCs into the infected body area.
Word(s) of the Day
Nursing School Edition #6
I just started my 3rd semester of nursing school and do you know what that means? More info about nursing school and the classes I’m in. It also means more “Word of the Day,” POP Quizzes and other beneficial educational and fun information. I hope you’re excited to learn new things or maybe just to refresh your memory. I know I am more than ready for this semester and couldn’t be more excited to bring you along. I would say, sit back and relax but instead: Let’s open our mind and learn!
Pathophysiology
1. Pathology is:
a. a disease
b. the bacteria that causes the disease
c. the study of disease
d. the complication of diseases
2. Etiology of a disease means the:
a. study of cause
b. predicted outcome of the disease or condition
c. cause is unknown
d. disease was caused by a hospital environment
3. A chronic disease usually has which of the following elements?
a. It is related to the respiratory system.
b. It happens suddenly but lasts only a short while.
c. It persists for a long period of time, often for the individual’s entire lifetime.
d. It has a sudden onset.
4. Diseases caused by an abnormality of an individual’s genetic makeup can be classified in which of the following categories?
a. Trauma
b. Hereditary
c. Nutritional imbalance
d. Inflammation
5. Adenomas, carcinomas, and sarcomas are examples of:
a. malnutrition
b. hyperplasia and neoplasms
c. trauma
d. impaired immunity
6. When a cell adapts to irritants or damage by changing to another type of cell, it is called:
a. hypertrophy
b. hyperplasia
c. metaplasia
d. Dysplasia
These were questions I picked out of study material that we learned in WEEK 1 for my Pathophysiology class. The correct answers are displayed in bold green text. If you have any questions please feel free to ask. Happy Studying!
Word of the Day, POP Quiz!
Nursing School Edition #5
What is a heart murmur? A heart murmur is is an abnormal noise between heartbeats. It can be a blowing, whooshing, or swishing sound. A heart murmur is when the blood makes an extra sound as it moves through.
The atrioventricular valve between the left atrium and the left ventricle is known as the ____ valve. Bicuspid / mitral valve
What is an angioplasty? An angioplasty is a surgical repair or unblocking of a blood vessel.
The ____ arteries supply muscles of the thorax. Intercostal
An average cardiac cycle takes ____ seconds. 0.8
Lymphatic ____ are spaces between groups of lymphatic tissue. Sinuses
Liver macrophages are called ____ cells. Kupffer
Hydrochloric acid is secreted into the stomach by ____ cells. Parietal
The taste of ____ detects monosodium glutamate. Umami
The collapsible, muscular tube that is situated behind the trachea is called the: Esophagus
During the ____ phase of the menstrual cycle, the zona pellucida develops around each egg. Menstrual
The anterior portions of the nasal cavities just inside the nostrils are known as the: Vestibules
Sickle-cell anemia is a hereditary disease in which leukocytes have an abnormal sickle shape due to abnormal hemoglobin. FALSE
Hyperparathyroidism results in the softening and deformation of the: BONES
A quote my Anatomy and Physiology Professor gave to my class:
“Just because you watch ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ doesn’t mean you can do the operation.”
Charles Barkley
Word of the Day
Nursing School Edition #4
Abdomen:
The abdomen contains many of our vital organs. The stomach, small intestine, large intestine, the liver, spleen, gallbladder, he pancreas, the uterus, the fallopian tubes, the ovaries, the kidneys, the ureters, the bladder, and many blood vessels.
Happy August!
Starting off August PROACTIVE
This month I am starting off August strong. I have a lot of things happening this month and I need to stay organized and on top of things.
First: I will be finishing my second semester of nursing school in a couple of weeks. Once this semester finished I need to compile ALL my notes and organize the coursework in case I need it for later.
Second: I will be moving to Arizona OFFIICIALLY in about 3 or so weeks. I am stressed but, it’s manageable. I am packing up the rest of my stuff that I’m bringing and cleaning and organizing along the way.
Thirdly: Finding a job! It’s weird to look for a job in a whole other state. It’s proving to be difficult but I am trying to stay positive. I wish I was able to telework with my Fire Inspecting job but at the moment it doesn’t seem plausible.
Lastly: I’m slowly trying to get back into streaming videogames. I always have loved playing and I used to stream little bit before but got super busy. While I’m still busy I’m starting to manage and organize my time better and actually learn how to stream. I think it will be a fun pastime to pursue and a nice way to relax.
I’ll keep this short and simple because I know this month will go by quick! Goodluck out there! 💚
“Action is the foundational key for all success.”
― Pablo Picasso
Hello and goodbye July
July has been a CRAZY month filled with school, military training and partially moving! It always seems like my summers are extra busy. This time though, it really was.
What did I do?
At the beginning of the month I had extra training for the military. This involved a nice trip to San Diego and training on TCCC (tactical combat casualty course). I absolutely loved this recertification process. After my military trip I came back home, packed up my storage the next day and then got my tattoo the day after. I have been itching for a new tattoo for almost a year now and finally was able to do it. I got the rooster and pig tattoo on my feet! It is an old Navy tradition story and I love it. After my tattoo, the next day I packed up some things around the house, loaded the trailer onto my truck and headed towards ARIZONA! In a few weeks I will be moving to Arizona to attend my nursing school in person now. Since I am finished with the online pre-requisite portion it is now time for the in-person lab portions. I am both excited and stressed, to say the least. Once we got to Arizona, we unloaded the trailer and started to slowly clean, decorate and upgrade the house. With July coming to a close I find myself catching up on a lot of paperwork and errands. Can’t wait to see what is in store for me in the next couple weeks.
“You can get excited and feel unstoppable, but every week presents a new challenge. Each week, you have to work and get better.”
-Antonio Brown
Word of the Day
Nursing School Edition #3
Aortic Regurgitation
This is a condition where the hearts aortic valve doesn’t close tightly enough. Due to this, some of the blood pumped out of the heart leaks backward.
This can have many complications, the most extreme is heart failure.
Q: What can cause this?
A: Congenital heart valve disease, other genetic heart diseases.
Q: What are some of the symptoms?
- heart palpitations
- chest pain
- shortness of breath
- fatigue
- weakness
- fainting
- swollen ankles and feet
Q: Can this be treated?
A: Yes! This will typically require a surgery to fix the valve. Sometimes it can be treated with medications.
Word of the Day –
Nursing School Edition #2
Hypercarbia
Hypercarbia is defined as the increase of carbon dioxide within the bloodstream. Another name that might be used instead is Hypercapnia. This can be caused due to hyperventilation or not being able to breathe properly.
Some of the symptoms that might be seen are:
- Drowsiness or the inability to focus
- Flushed looking skin
- Headaches and feeling disoriented
- Feeling short of breath or fatigued
If feeling abnormal seek medical treatment or consult your physician.
Reference
- Abdo, W. F., & Heunks, L. M. A. (2012). Oxygen-induced hypercapnia in COPD: myths and facts. Critical Care, 16(5), 323
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3682248/
Word of the Day:
Nursing School edition #1
This week we have been focusing on the circulatory system of the body. One thing that was talked about multiple times was the MAP. What is the MAP you might ask? It is an acronym that stand for Mean Arterial Pressure. Now what does that exactly mean? Its the average arterial pressure through one cardiac cycle, systole, and diastole.
This Youtube video is a great example of how to calculate the MAP.
Resource:
DeMers D, Wachs D. Physiology, Mean Arterial Pressure. [Updated 2022 Apr 14]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan
Nursing School
Second Semester is kicking my butt
In April I started my second semester of nursing school and let me tell you, it’s kicking my butt. Having a 5 class course load, two part time jobs and doing my military duty is A LOT. Not to mention finding time to actually sleep, eat, workout and blog! While these classes take up most of my time, I know it will benefit me in the end. To keep track of all my assignments in my classes I use my planner religiously. So far it hasn’t failed me and I’m staying on top of all my assignments. In addition to nursing school I updated my blog a little bit. I decided to give it a makeover and make it look a little nicer and user friendly. June always seems to be a busy month for me, and it’s even busier now with school.
Do you have any summer plans? If so let me know in the comments below! Thanks for stopping by!
My tea always has the nicest and heartwarming quotes. 💚
“Your greatest strength is Love.”
– Yogi Tea
Lets Move in May
Hi everyone! These past few months I have been trying to move more by hiking, going to the gym, getting back into yoga and overall, trying to add more active minutes in my daily life. I love sharing my journey with you and showing you all the things that I come across. Whether it is pictures and hiking trails to new yoga equipment and videos. It gives you new knowledge and thoughts but, also keeps me on my toes and you engaged.
2 fitness influencers I enjoy
I have a gym membership to Orange theory that I use as much as I can but, I also like to workout on my own time as well. Sometimes I just don’t feel like leaving the house or I got off work too late and had to cancel my workout time slot at Orange theory. When I decide to work out at home, I normally browse around YouTube for some videos to watch. I always go back to Yoga with Adrienne because I have been following her for years and love her videos. They are easy to follow, have a great variety for all levels and she explains things simply. This month I wanted to revisit and really stick to doing Yoga. I know I sound like a broken record sometime, but this helps with my accountability. While looking for a yoga video to do, I came across a new set of videos she made: MOVE – A 30 Day Yoga Journey.
I am currently on day 5 and I can feel myself getting back into the flow of things. The weather is getting to be a little warmer, so I am able to go outside and do it in my backyard. Doing yoga outside rather than inside feels so much better to me personally. I think it is because it feels like my own little space, nobody bothers me out there and if the weather is nice, it’s peaceful.
Lets get a MOVE on and start finding our journey within. I look forward to finding my little bits of peace doing yoga outside and under the sunshine.
“Yoga begins with listening. When we listen, we are giving space to what is.” — Richard Freeman
Off with April and onto May
I feel like April came and went in such a hurry. What did you do for the month? Here is how I spent my April.
First semester down and onto my second for nursing school.
Halfway through April, I finished my first semester and I started my second semester of nursing school. I had a week’s break and then it was back to studying. This time around I has an even fuller schedule since I’m in five classes! Having five classes means I have to stay organized and on top of my game. I wanted to try out a different digital planner than the one I already use. I shopped around Etsy and decided to try out a new one that had room for multiple classes. So far it is working out great and really keeping things in check.
Working out even more!
In March I was starting to work out again, and I’m happy to say I stayed on top of that in April as well. I decided on not setting any hardcore goals and instead stayed with easier ones. Some goals were: workout a few times in April, go on a walk every day that you can, and try to go hiking. I managed to achieve every one of those goals and I can’t wait to do even more in May.
Hiking in Muir Woods
I was really excited when one of my friends and I found time to go hiking. We originally planned on a Mt. Tamalpais trail that traveled in a 5.2 mile loop into Muir Woods here in California. While we did make it down to Muir Woods we accidentally got turned around and instead hikes a 10 mile loop!! We were exhausted, a little nervous but overall we managed to do it! That’s a story for later 😅
I can’t wait to see what May has in store for me. What were some of the things you did in April? Any plans for May? Let me know in the comments below, can’t wait to hear them! Stay safe 💚 Kat
“After a day’s walk, everything has twice its usual value.”
G.M. Trevelyan
3 Healthy Benefits of Avocado Toast
What is Avocado Toast?
Hi everyone! I recently decided to try avocado toast for the first time. I know, I ‘m a little late to the game but I am glad I finally gave it a try. Avocado toast is a more rich way to enjoy an easy go-to snack on the run. I personally used avocado toast as an upgrade for my breakfast game. While looking at many pinterest recipes and health benefits for eating this, these are the three I think stood out the most.
1. It’s a great snack for weight management
One of the reasons why it’s great for weight management is because it is considered a healthy fat. They help keep you full for longer periods of time and actually feel satisfied after eating. That means less snacking around just to do it. I know because I am terrible at snacking for no reason.
2. Helps with maintaining a healthy heart ❤
It is important to try to maintain a healthy heart to stay healthy. Avocado toast can help due to its healthy fats. It is filled with vitamin K, vitamin C, vitamin C, potassium and folate which is great for lowering blood pressure. Having lower blood pressures can result in a stronger healthier life.
3. They are delicious!
Sometimes eating healthy can be boring. Having avo toast is simple yet so creative. For example, you can have it plain on sourdough toast with some butter. You can also slice it up and put it over sourdough toast with light cheese and add some ”Everything on it” seasoning. Whatever you think of, you can do with this.
This was simple to make, took less than 10 minutes and tasted great!
RECIPES! 🥑
I love to shop for recipes by pictures! I’m a visual person so seeing it will make me want to make it more.
For the avo toast I made:
1 avocado
1 slice of smoked salmon
Handful of cucumbers
Salt, Pepper, Paprika, Everything on it seasoning
2 wedges of lemon
Sourdough toast
I like to mash up my avocado to a nice consistency which is a little chunky and add it to bowl. There I do a pinch of salt, pepper, paprika. Squeeze in the two lemon wedges and stir it up a little more. Then I cut a slice of sourdough and toast the two pieces to where its slightly more crunchy. Once those are done I spread a nice even layer of avocado on the toast, top it with cucumber, then place the smoked salmon on top. After that for the final touch I add the ”everything on it” seasoning. I like to pair it with a coffee or some tea and then I get to enjoy breakfast.
I hope you all enjoy this recipe and some healthy benefits of avocado toast! Give it a try, you might be surprised. 😊
If you keep good food in your fridge, you will eat good food.”
– Errick McAdams
Reference:
School Update:
Semester 1 Complete!
Semester one of nursing school was completed. It was a nice and tough semester, especially with my math class. I managed to struggle through and pass with all A’s and a B in math. I surprised myself, to say the least and I’m glad I pushed myself. Thinking back to how my learning styles have changed, I definitely see a pattern on some things. I definitely am a crash course student. What that means to me is that if I cram semi last minute I tend to retain information more and score higher on tests. I think that is a TERRIBLE habit to have, but for some reason it works for me. These last couple months I have tried to curb that habit and I actually did a little better with it. These classes were asynchronous which worked out great with my work schedules. My next semester (which starts in a week) is also asynchronous, so that kind of eases some stress. Are you wondering what asynchronous means, just like I was before taking these? Asynchronous basically means that students are given a time frame, usually a one-week window. During that time frame they need to connect to their class at least once or twice a day. Doing it on your own with a timeline guidance is great for non hands-on classes.
I wanted to keep tabs on how my classes are going and what grades I earn because this is a big journey for me. This also keeps me motivated in a sense to share how nursing school is and what happens throughout it. I’m excited to start my next set of classes and a little nervous as well. I’m taking a full semester with not four, but five classes! So this should be interesting.
“Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier.”
—Mother Teresa
Three Big Things I Did In March
March Madness is over
March is officially over and we are now into April. It was a busy, stressful and healthy month for myself. I started eating avocado toast more regularly due to its health benefits. I’ve been going back to the gym during the week more and also staying busy with school. The three big things were: eating more home made meals, staying within 90% for my grades and working out more…again.
Avocado Toast: Homemade
Homemade avocado toast and vanilla cold brew with foam.
I’ll usually have this as an after work snack before I start my studies for the day. I was able to make it in less than 10 minutes and go about homework that needed to be completed.
Staying Within 90% for Grades:
With my first semester of nursing school almost complete, I have been striving to stay within 90% or higher with my grades. I’m taking 4 classes and staying above the 90% percentile except for one. My math class grade is a little lower than I wanted, but I’m happy where it’s at because I am not the greatest at math. All I can do is keep doing my best and putting all I have into class.
Working Out More…Again:
I had a little break from working out, which always turns into a longer break and this is what exactly happened. I would work out sporadically or do the bare minimum knowing well that I needed to do more. So far for the month of March I used all my allotted days from Orange Theory Fitness and walked more than I have consistently. It also made me feel better as well.
“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”
– Hippocrates
Fresh February
New Adventures and New Learning Experiences
February was a month of learning and expanding my brain. Part of this month I went on my Navy annual training at Camp Pendletons Hospital. I’m rated as a general Corpsman (medic) which means I don’t have a specialty and I can float around where they need me. This time they needed me in the anesthesia department. Needless to say, I was a little nervous because I had no idea what they would want me to do. Not to mention I have basically zero experience in that department. Fast forward to day one of training and besides being nervous, I am ecstatic. I’ve never set foot in an operating room before! It was super clean, shiny, bright and had a level of organized collective chaos. I dove headfirst and learned everything I could as fast as I could since it was a little understaffed. I was allowed to prep patients in pre op for surgery, learned the restocking methods and was even able to watch a handful of the surgeries that were performed. The days flew by and when I wasn’t working at the hospital, I was out exploring sunny San Diego.
Exploring the tide pools and enjoying the ocean.
Tide pools at Shell Beach in La Jolla.
San Diego was a breathe of fresh air. I was able to explore and adventure around with one of my good friends that actually was training with me. She had some friends that knew cool food places to eat at and beaches to visit. I even managed to spend a few days hanging out with my brother. We tried to eat somewhere different everyday and to keep it local. Down in Encinitas we came across a delicious bakery and an amazing gelato shop.
This was delicious and the staff was so friendly! She gave us a loaf of bread for free! Add them to your list!
Go visit at night! Has amazing flavors of gelato. Fun, cozy atmosphere and only a few blocks from an ocean view.
Instead we found ourselves at dessert and snack shops than actual lunch or dinner places. It kind of kept the surprises of food on a working ”vacation.” I mean we had as much fresh seafood we possibly could have had, we had old school Italian food, amazing pizza and beer too. I also had to try ”the best coffee” that the San Diego area boasted. The coffee shops are called Better Buzz Coffee and they are scattered around SoCal. Since I’m a caffeine fiend, I of course had to stop in. I wanted to try their Horchata Iced Latte, but sadly they were sold out. I opted for their Mint Infused Iced Coffee instead and let me tell you…It was delicious! Not overly sweet, just the right amount of mint and the coffee was strong. It was great. If you ever find yourself in SoCal, give them a try. Here’s a glimpse at their MENU.
Such a fun atmosphere. Kick back and enjoy a nice coffee.
Now I think my favorite dessert place we found which ended up being on our second to last day was called Parlor Doughnuts. These are fancy home made big croissant/doughnut delicacies. I tried the Caramel Turtle and Chocolate Covered Strawberry Shortcake. They were decadent, and not overly sweet. I wish I had more time to bring them back home with me from the trip.
This annual training with the Navy actually turned out to extremely insightful to my job and fun. I managed to learn a lot of new information that made me curious enough to do my own research. I was able to spend time with new friends and went exploring out and about in a newish city! The best part of all though I think was being able to try all the new delicious foods and spend time at the beach to really enjoy it. I hope you enjoy reading about this as much as I enjoyed writing about it. 💚 Kat
“I have seafoam in my veins, I understand the language of waves.”
– Le Testament d’Orphée
January: Just Read
Blogging is a way to escape. A place where you can write what you’re feeling or think the world should know. When I first started this, I was still finding out what I liked, and what worked best for me. Over that time, things have definitely changed. Im constantly learning new things. How to improve what I read, write and live about. For example, I used to goal orientate my months to the EXTREME. This caused me to panic and stress out when I couldn’t meet those goals. This year I decided against that and to just live and learn through the year.
Just Read
For the month of January I decided to go with the theme of “Just Read.” I chose this theme because I haven’t been reading as much as I’ve wanted to. With Nursing school starting, I’m bombarded with textbooks instead. While I am learning from them, I’m not relaxing with them. This month I picked up my book of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and started to read. It’s almost the end of January and the book is more than halfway read. One way I kept up on my reading so far was to try something new and kind of fun. Everyday of the month I would read the amount of pages pertaining to the date. For example, today for January 28th I read 28 pages. It’s a nice and straightforward way of keeping up with something.
What was the last book you read for fun? Any books you would suggest to read?
“The library is inhabited by spirits that come out of the pages at night.”
Isabel Allende
New Things in Store for Me…
Nursing School
I have some big and exciting news to start off 2022. I was accepted into Nursing School and am starting my first semester. This has been a long time coming and it has definitely been a journey along the way. I first started looking into Nursing programs when I graduated high school in 2011. Due to the budget crisis in California way back in the day, the program I was looking at was cut and almost all nursing programs were turned into lottery based systems. So now fast forward about 10 years and I am officially in Nursing school. I am beyond excited, nervous and definitely stressed. Sometimes I think that it isn’t real, but it is. There is so much to learn and I am excited to learn and soak in all this knowledge.
Goals:
Some goals that I will be continuing to work on are my studying techniques and organizational skills. This semester I am doing a big personal change with how I organize. When I was going to school for my Associates in Fire Technology I wrote EVERY single down in a notebook or a planner. I also had assignments and due dates randomly tacked up to my board or laying on a counter top. I decided this time I can’t do that because that was so hectic, even though it worked. I bought a few new items for studying and organizing, one of them being the new Ipad Pro. This thing is amazing so far, I’m still learning as I go because it is a steep learning curve for me. One of the things that I love about it is the Digital Planner aspect. Instead of carrying around a paper planner (which I kind of miss because I love them), the digital planner is much more efficient and accessible. When I go to work I only have to carry around a small notebook, my Ipad and my Apple Pencil. It’s convenient, not bulky and works great off of wifi.
Another goal that I gave myself is: not to set myself up with too many goals. Everybody is different and I know how I work. If I give myself too many goals I will stress myself out and over worry. That is something I don’t want. Lastly my end goal is I want to pass school. Easier said than done.
“You treat a disease: you win, you lose. You treat a person, I guarantee you win—no matter the outcome.”
—Robin Williams in Patch Adams
More Tea for Me!
This is the perfect time for a cup of tea. It’s cold and raining and this perks you right up.
- Day 10 – Elderberry & Echinacea – A blend to keep winter at bay. Feel your power with every sip.
- Day 11 – Revitalize – Herbs together that smell of Christmas. Warming, uplifting- a cup to make your spirits festive.
- Day 12 – Ginseng Matcha Green – When your morning needs an extra skip. These are the herbs to light up your cup.
Days of Tea
More teas I was able to try!
- Day 5 Supreme Matcha Green Tea – Here is the cup to make you feel supreme. Organic Matcha and tea- the purest green.
- Day 6 Three Ginger – Three wise herbal kings are here. Majestic heat to feel the cheer.
- Day 7 Three Fennel – Leaves and seeds of a powerful plant. Gentle but essential to help food go down.
- Day 8 Turmeric Gold – This is the queen of all herbs. Each sip a draught of golden power.
- Day 9 Blackcurrant Beauty – Nature’s berries bold and deep. A cup of purple fruit and dark delight.
The little sayings behind each packet of tea are cute and they give a little insight on that specific tea.
“Some people will tell you there is a great deal of poetry and fine sentiment in a chest of tea.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson
Happy Holidays!
Let the festive Spirit…Begin!
I hope everyone has been having a fun, safe and happy year. This is my favorite season to celebrate. The festivities of Halloween leading into Thanksgiving, celebrating Christmas and then ringing out the New Year. So many events packed into just a few months. Celebrating Christmas has always been a festive and cheerful time for my family. My family has always liked to give small gifts or tokens through the month of December. This year I was gifted an advent calendar but with a twist: Tea. I love tea, and my mom actually found an advent calendar that has a different tea every day. Now, I can try out different flavors of tea and buy them if I like it. Each day of tea also gives a small saying behind it, which is cute. I was also gifted some comfy socks and a sloth ornament!
What are some of your Christmas Holiday traditions?
- Herbs to help you feel like new for mornings after or nights before. Day 1
- Cool mint and delicate rose. Perfect partners for a winter’s day. Day 2
- This is the cup that’s the carol singer’s friend. Sing loud with herbs that ease and tend. Day 3
“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.”
― Edith Sitwell
Happy Veterans Day 2021
“This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.”
– Elmer Davis
September 11th 2021
Never Forget
On this day 20 years ago America was forever changed. May we always remember the courage and bravery shown by the men and women lost in these attacks. Take a moment of silence out of your day to reflect and remember what happened. 💚 Kat
“Even the smallest act of service, the simplest act of kindness, is a way to honor those we lost, a way to reclaim that spirit of unity that followed 9/11.” — Barack Obama
“Time is passing. Yet, for the United States of America, there will be no forgetting September the 11th. We will remember every rescuer who died in honor. We will remember every family that lives in grief. We will remember the fire and ash, the last phone calls, the funerals of the children.”
— George W. Bush
“You can be sure that the American spirit will prevail over this tragedy.”
— General Colin Powell
July 19th 2021
I hope everyone is having a fantastic summer so far. I know I have been kind of quiet these last few weeks. A lot of things started happening at once, so I had to take care of those items. Hopefully soon I will post a little bit about what has been going on with me this summer. I hope you keep enjoying these summer months and keep on staying safe.
💚 Kat
“It was June, and the world smelled of roses. The sunshine was like powdered gold over the grassy hillside.” —Maud Hart Lovelace, Betsy-Tacy and Tib
June 21st 2021
Happy first day of Summer.
Not quite the weather we were expecting today. Earlier it was hot out and then once the evening rolled around so did the fog. It almost feels like it should be fall. None the less, Happy first day of Summer! Enjoy everything and keep staying safe. 💚
“Each solstice is a domain of experience unto itself. At the summer solstice, all is green and growing, potential coming into being, the miracle of manifestation painted large on the canvas of awareness.”
— Gary Zukav
American Gods: Loved It.
American Gods by Neil Gaiman was definitely an interesting book. It was recommended to me by my boyfriend Chris and I’m glad he told me about it. Without spoiling anything, this book follows a man named Mr. Wednesday and a man named Shadow. Their paths intertwine and Shadow finds himself questioning certain things about the world. There is mystery, thrills and craziness. The book is categorized as a fantasy/horror fiction, more fantasy than horror.
I had received this book from Chris as a gift and it took me forever to pick it up and read it. Mainly due to the fact of not making time for myself to read and being busy with work and life. I finally was able to finish it in May of 2021 and I just wanted to read more. While reading, what I like to do is take note of words that I don’t know. This makes me diversify my vocabulary and just educate myself a little more on my own.
If you are looking for an interesting book to read, than look no further this is the one. You can find it HERE.
Words that I didn’t know, and their meanings. This is the order that I came across them as I was reading the book:
- Oubliettes – a dungeon with an opening only at the top.
- Recidivism – a tendency to relapse into a previous condition or behavior.
- Archetypal – the original pattern or model of which things of the type are copies.
- Ornithologist – a branch of zoology dealing with birds.
- Perforce – by force of circumstances or of necessity.
- Impecunious – having very little or no money usually habitually.
- Avarice – excessive or insatiable desire for wealth or gain.
- Prestidigitation – sleight of hand. A cleverly executed trick or deception.
- Gesticulating – to make gestures when speaking.
- Omertà – code of silence, usually about criminal activity.
- Kobold – a gnome in German folklore inhabits underground places.
These definitions come from Merriam-Webster Dictionary. If you enjoyed what I had to say about this book, you should give it a read. Neil Gaiman is a fantastic author. What book are you reading now? Any book recommendations, leave them below in the comments. 😃
“What I say is, a town isn’t a town without a bookstore. It may call itself a town, but unless it’s got a bookstore, it knows it’s not foolin’ a soul.”
― Neil Gaiman, American Gods
Happy Dad Day
“A father is a son’s first hero and a daughter’s first love.”
-Unknown
May 28th 2021
“It is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult task which, more than anything else, will affect its successful outcome.”
– William James
May 25th 2021
“Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you; spend a lot of time with them, and it will change your life.”
— Amy Poehler
May 19th 2021
“Families are the compass that guides us. They are the inspiration to reach great heights, and our comfort when we occasionally falter.”
– Brad Henry
May 10th 2021
“I had the epiphany that laughter was light, and light was laughter, and that this was the secret of the universe.” —Donna Tartt, The Goldfinch
Bullet Journal
Progress:
Writing in a journal and keeping up with it is no easy task. I tried out the Bullet Journal idea last year in 2020 and made it about halfway through the year. This year for 2021 I decided that I wanted to prove to myself that I can in fact keep up with a project. This isn’t just any kind of project either. You have to stay determined to keep up with it and want to continue with it. I love how I am able to be creative and find another way to express myself and decompress. It’s also fun to look back through the year to see what you have done, what you’ve read, watched and completed.
Below are the first four months of figuring out how to actually create a “bullet journal.” I definitely don’t think I am very creative but this led me to tap into that unknown territory. If you look at January, it is very basic, very beginner. Over the months of doing this, I’ve noticed that I am more comfortable around art and trying to express my art on paper. It has been frustrating but it also has been rewarding too. My penmanship has gotten slightly better, my drawing skills have increased and I am more free with how I write and draw.
I chose to only show the first quarter of this ( 4 months) because, we just finished the second quarter and I am still finishing up some of the pages. I hope you enjoy these, I know they are a little new and basic but, it’s ok. If you have a creative thought or want, put it down on paper and see what it manifests into. Happy writing, and happy reading 💚
“You should write because you love the shape of stories and sentences and the creation of different words on a page. Writing comes from reading, and reading is the finest teacher of how to write.”
— Annie Proulx
May 7th 2021
“Follow your passion, be prepared to work hard and sacrifice, and, above all, don’t let anyone limit your dreams.”
– Donovan Bailey
That’s a Wrap
We’re a third of the way through the year 🌼
April is on its way out and were ready to bring in May. This year is definitely breezing by and, I can’t decide if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. While in some ways I do enjoy seeing the months pass, I also realize that the year is ending and I need to keep getting my life in order. May is the month to take care of your mental health and its Military Appreciation Month too. This year and last year has been an extreme rollercoaster of emotions that has in some way, affected all of us. We have fought through everything that has been thrown our way and we have to try to take care of ourselves. Mind, body and soul.
May is where I will be taking care of my mental well being. These past couple of months I have put it on the backburner. I am learning to find things that reignite my soul and mind. A few ideas are hiking, gardening and learning more about crystals, rocks and plants. I’m drawn to these things and when I learn about them it sends peace through my body. I am also being more diligent on what I eat and working out more with no excuses. Making it through April to May and actually keeping up to date on my Bullet Journal was an achievement. Around month 4, I always seem to give up and get into a rut, and stay in that rut. This time though, I was able to get out of the rut, with some help and stick to my goals.
How do feel so far through this year? Have you taken up any new hobbies or had any new ideas? Keep staying strong, being smart and being safe. If you have any new things you think I should try, leave them below in the comments. I would love to read them. 💚 Kat
“If you are losing your leisure, look out! — It may be you are losing your soul.”
― Virginia Woolf
May 1st 2021
“The flower that follows the sun does so even in cloudy days.”
– Robert Leighton
Photos from the Sky
One of my favorite places to take photos is on the plane. Everything is so surreal and calm. It also helps when you have a pretty majestic playlist to listen to. I hope you all enjoy these as much as I enjoyed taking them.
It’s amazing what you can see when you’re in the sky.
“Great photography is about depth of feeling, not depth of field.”
-Peter Adams
Halfway Through April
It’s already more than halfway through April, and were a third of the way through the year. Time has flown by for me it seems. I know this year is still trying to become better after 2020. I hope 2021 is going a little better for you than last year.
April I said I would do 2 push-ups every day as a challenge for the American Cancer Society. Since I have done 25 push-ups every day so far, my total amount is at 450 push-ups! That is insane to comprehend in a sense. I’m going to finish out strong and continue this challenge. It pushes myself, and it brings awareness for this cause.
Is there anything you decided to do for April? Check out my blog at the start of April below:
“There are no great people in this world, only great challenges which ordinary people rise to meet.”
~William Frederick Halsey, Jr.
April 12th 2021
“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”
– Anne Frank
April 7th 2021
“Sometimes I think of myself as a little bee. I go from one area of the studio to another and gather pollen and sort of stimulate everybody. I guess that’s the job I do.”
― Walt Disney
April 6th 2021
“Venture outside your comfort zone. The rewards are worth it.”
–Rapunzel (Tangled)
March 31st 2021
“You never get tired unless you stop and take time for it.”
-Bob Hope
A little TLC Can Go a Long way
My poor face has been needing a little extra love from me lately. Wearing N95 masks with another mask over it just doesn’t help. Plus, the weather has been changing back and forth from hot to cold and my working environment (EMS) can get sweaty at times.
I always love when I can find enough time to pamper myself, especially my face. I noticed that my face was starting to break out more than usual. I have large pores and I started to see excess oil and my face looking a little dull and tired. My problem areas for oil are especially on my nose, chin and forehead. So this skincare routine I was more focused on that and just making sure that my skin was clean and fresh, and free of pollution that it collected.
To start off this pampering routine I threw my hair into a bun and put on my Alien Teddy Headband. I wanted to add a little fun into my night. For an overall wash I used Kate Somerville’s wash. Then to fix the oil problem on my nose I decided to use pore strips to take care of it. Next I let my face relax a little bit and used the Matcha Tea Mask all over. The mask is used to pull the pollution from your face. After I washed my face, I saw that my pores were clean, my face felt more smooth and it definitely felt better overall. After that, (what’s not shown) I spray my face down with Strawberry Face Mist from The Body Shop. This takes about 30-45 minutes to complete.
Have fun with pampering yourself! Light your favorite smelling candle, put some music on and wear comfy clothes. I would say make a snack but it’s a little hard to eat while you’re wearing a mask. I hope you enjoy a pampering day. Down below are the items I used and where to find them.
- Cala duel action brush
- Tea Tree Purifying Pore Strips
- Kate Somerville Exfoliating Treatment
- Japanese Matcha Tea Mask – The Body Shop
- Facial Mask Brush – The Body Shop
- Teddy Headband
Looking for a Self Care Sunday? Here are what a few of my Sunday’s have looked like.
“Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure.”
– Oprah
March 24th 2021
“Put your hair up in a bun, drink some coffee and handle it.”
– New Girl
March 14th 2021
“Optimism is essential to achievement and it is also the foundation of courage and true progress.”– Nicholas M. Butler
February 21st 2021
Sunday
Today was a day to relax and recoup after the last day of military drill. It wasn’t too bad of a drill, a lot of trainings and meetings, but nothing to bad. Afterwards I ran errands and started getting ready for the work week. Usually I’m working at my EMT job but that changes on drill days. It’s nice to have a little change of pace and enjoy my Sunday and get everything ready today instead. After drill and errands I did my plank, did a quick Yoga session, filled out my journal, ordered myself some food (which is a treat now) and sat down to watch WandaVision with Chris.
I hope everyone has a wonderful start of the week. Be safe, be happy and enjoy yourself!
💚
If you are looking for a nice quick energized boost.
“Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths.”
– Etty Hittlesum
February 13th 2021
Thank you for your support!
I can not believe that I have made it to 250 followers! This has definitely been an adventure for sure. A journey for my thoughts, ideas and writing. From the bottom of my heart, I wanted to say thank you! I’m excited to keep on writing and sharing my stories with all of you. I hope you all have an amazing weekend!
“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” – John F. Kennedy
February 11th 2021
“Don’t grieve. Anything you lose comes round in another form.”
― Rumi
February 10th 2021
“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.”
– Albert Einstein
Happy Saturday!
I hope everyone has had a great first week of February. My week started off how it usually does, work early in the morning. After work I normally would just relax and do a little bit here and there, but I have been changing that habit. After work I try to get a one mile walk in with Rex, which will benefit both me and him. Then after dinner and little odds and ends I can finally settle down into the new routine I’ve started for myself. I set my uniform and lunch up for the next day, get comfy in bed, turn on my calming music playlist talk with Chris and then start my journaling. After I journaled my thoughts of the day and my habit tracker I either play on my Switch or read my current book which is: American Gods. I’ve been doing this for a few weeks and so far I like the change. I hope that I can keep it up.
What my Saturday looked like today:
Started off with an early grocery shopping trip. The earlier the better. After that, I cleaned up the house, had my breakfast which was just a bowl of oatmeal. Took Rex for his walk and we were lucky to have enjoyed the nice weather. Made a nice cup of coffee and then sat down to take care of some work. Planned out homework that is due for next week, wrote a quick “quote of the day,” finished up some paperwork then sat back and started working more on my blog. Also couldn’t forget, that I had to fill up my vitamins for the next week. While working on my blog Chris thought it would be a good time to catch up on a few movies that I’ve been missing out on. We decided on Avengers: Age of Ultron and Captain Marvel, then decided on a snack and more coffee. After watching the movies and writing my blog I will be doing a self care Saturday night with a nice face mask.
I hope everyone had a lovely week and a relaxing Saturday. Let’s try and do great things in the upcoming week. Here is to positivity, fun, relaxing and amazing thoughts. 💚 Kat
“You never know. You hope for the best and make do with what you get.”
– Nick Fury Avengers: Age of Ultron
Happy October 🎃
May We Never Forget
Summer’s end in September
I can’t believe summer has come to a close already. Just starting out in September and the first weekend is spent relaxing, looking at fall decorations and putting away those summer ones. Time can not be flying by any faster!
Some news from me: I am now set up in Arizona at my condo. I am still adjusting to just how HOT it is here! Every day is over 100 degrees! It’s wild to say the least. I’m also having a lot of fun trying to find what my style is for decorating the house. Sometimes I want a dark/rustic farmhouse look and sometimes I want to go full on industrial! So it’s been fun adventuring around the city checking into all the craft, furniture and design stores. I brought along my cat Solo and needless to say he cozied right on in. Loves to bathe in the sun, attack all the cat toys and basically made himself right at home.
I started my third semester and half of the classes are in person at the school. It was weird going back to in-person classes again. However, it was nice because I met some people who are equally confused and stressed out about school and even wore my scrubs! So exciting…and nerve-wracking.
Goals:
Some goals that I have for September is to get all my nursing school notes organized. Come up with a better financial plan for saving. Study and get the highest possible grades on my assignments and to adventure around Arizona a little more. Maybe find a nice local coffee shops and some hiking trails.
What are some goals that you have for September?
“A goal without a plan is only a dream.”
-Brian Tracy
Katie Writes 