My kids are watching Masha and the Bear and enjoying a fruit plate while soup simmers on our stovetop, so it felt like the right time for another (what feels like) yearly update here. Here is where I'm going to talk about missing the blogging glory days of 2011-2014... I really do miss it. There were so many people that I was able to connect with, build a sense of community with, and share ideas with. And of course, the writing itself was always cathartic, renewing. In the last few years, my writing practice has waxed and waned, existing mostly in the ink and paper universe. But, there is something in writing here, in sharing the kind of words that only seem to come when I am typing into this little box on the internet. Every time I write here, I feel a kind of resolve, a kind of contract with myself... "I will write on my blog more. I will share. I will just open the browser and type something as often as I can." A quick check of the dates will expose my lack of dedication to this idea. But who knows... maybe this time will be different?
A lot has been going on since I last wrote here. I opened a business, which is so fun. I have forever searched for a creative outlet like this, and it feels so good to be here. Soon, I will have a website, and eventually, an Etsy store. I also have plans to soon return to work as an occupational therapist. During the early stages of the pandemic, the hospital I was doing PRN for had a drop in census to prepare for the surge (as many hospitals did), and I was no longer needed in the capacity I used to be. Additionally, Justin needed more flexibility in his schedule in case he had to work more hours to cover an increased patient load. Now that the bulk of that is - blessedly, thankfully - behind us, I am really excited to return to work. I am still in the very early beginning stages of that process, but I am happy that it is in motion.
Other than that, we have just been growing and changing as a family, in all of the expected ways. Activities, learning, outings, and travel have slowly started happening more frequently as the world opens up a bit, and we have more such things on the horizon.
I also started reading the Outlander series, and though I am reading at a snail's pace, I am loving it so very much. A trip to Scotland is hopefully in my very distant future. I am currently about 2/3 of the way through the second novel, Dragonfly in Amber. I watched the show with Justin last year, and was deeply moved. It's so great to get to experience it all over again through the written word.
As usual, there is a lot more I could say, but in the spirit of brevity, I will end this here. I sincerely hope to return sooner than months from now, but I suppose only time will tell..
- As you can see in the photo, I actually went through two tubes of this body cream. This is my favorite moisturizer formulation from Bath & Body Works - it is thick, creamy, & rich. I applied it every time I got out of the shower, & the scent often lingered through the night & into the next day. I don't think this scent family is available at Bath & Body Works anymore [they always discontinue my favorite scents], but it can be found on Amazon.
- I discovered this scent family when my sister was in town in mid-May, & it has quickly become one of my all-time favorite Bath & Body Works scents! I picked up a travel-size fine fragrance mist, & it was empty by the beginning of June. It's such a fresh, sweet, comforting scent, & I found myself pulled to choose it out of my large body spray collection every time. I plan to pick up a regular-sized fragrance mist, as well as the eau de parfum - that's how much I love it! 
- Out of all the Pink fragrances, this is my all-time favorite, though I also enjoy Fresh & Clean. I started using this lotion at the end of Winter, & I finished it up in mid-Spring. I would suggest it as a wonderful, cozy - ha! - Winter scent. I will be revisiting it - & probably repurchasing it - when the cooler months are upon us again.
- This is my Summer shampoo/conditioner scent of choice right now. It's quite coconut-y, but it could also pass for a delicious caramel corn scent, while I love. Since I color my hair, I like that this formula is sulfate-free, allowing my color to remain vibrant longer. As usual, due to my thick, dry hair, I have gone through the conditioner component before the shampoo component, so I'm still working through the shampoo. I like these, & I plan to repurchase through the Summer months, before I transition over to my Fall picks. 
- I've gotten these in a pinch before, which is exactly what happened this time around. I really do not like these - I do not find them to be moist enough. I'm going to try to stick with my tried & true favorites, the 
, so I do not plan to repurchase these. 
- I went into Bath & Body Works hoping to score a shower gel in the Sensual Amber scent, & that is when I discovered that the scent family had been discontinued. Frustrated, I grabbed the Amber Blush scent, thinking it may be similar. It's not, really. It's a lot more fruity-smelling, & it's not my favorite. Therefore, I would not repurchase this.
- These are great basics to have on hand for removing nail polish, as well as applying toner. I will definitely repurchase these!
