I think one of the most common questions I get is What are essential oils?  And how do I use them?  It's a foreign thing to a lot of people, or maybe you've heard of them but aren't sure exactly how they could be beneficial to you.  I know when I first looked into them I was not sure at all how to use them or what to use them for.  But aren't essential oils only for "hippies"?  Then I realized oh hey, they aren't just for the super crunchy natural people.  Yes, I was looking for a more natural way to support wellness in our family and to use around the house, but I also still will run through a drive thru for a kid's meal for my kids, because #momlife.  No shame.  Guess what, they are for everyone and the uses are pretty much limitless.

Have questions?  Still confused?  Think they just might benefit you or your family?!  Well I just may love talking oils, so let's talk!  

I know I am late to the game, but last month I finally took the plunge and ordered my first Stitch Fix.  For those of you not familiar with this subscription service, this is how it works...  You create an account and answer a bunch of questions all about what you like and don't like, your figure, etc.  Then you pick whether you want monthly boxes or can just have them sent when you need them.  The price of each item varies and you let them know the price point you would like to pay and they try to honor that.  The items are what I would consider department store prices.  You pay a $20 styling fee and a stylist will pick 5 items for you and send them out.  You have 3 days to decide what you want to keep or send back.  If you keep at least 1 item, you will be able to credit your styling fee towards the item.  If you keep all 5 items, you get a 25% discount!  Then you log in, let them know what you're keeping/sending back and put your items in the prepaid envelope provided and ship it back to them and then you will be charged for what you kept.

I had heard of the service quite a while ago and just never got around to trying it out.   Now that we are not located in San Diego anymore, shopping isn't as easy.   It's at least a 45 minute trek to Target and about an hour and a half to get to a decent mall up here so I figured now is a good time to give Stitch Fix a try.  Who wouldn't love having personally picked items show up at your door!

So like I said, this is my second.  My first Fix wasn't a big win.  The items were cute, but most weren't really me.  I only kept the pair of skinny jeans they sent me.  So after that Fix, I did what they suggested and made a Pinterest board and pinned clothing and outfits that were my style so my stylist could get a better idea of what I liked.  You can see my Style board HERE.

I was excited, but nervous to see what the stylist picked out for me this time, but I opened it up and I was pleasantly surprised.  The items were much more what I would consider "me".  They aren't something that I would run to first, but after trying them all on I could easily keep them all and add them to my wardrobe.  These pieces are great for summer, most are easy to layer, which I have asked for because we live in Washington and weather is hit or miss even in "summer".

Now I need your help to decide what to keep and what to return.  Like I said I could easily keep them all, but I'd love your opinion.

Here is what it looks like when you unbox your Stitch Fix:

You will receive a fold out info sheet with style cards for each item that they picked for you, along with a note from the stylist.  This time the stylist, mentioned she saw my board and liked my feedback from the last box.  She also noted that the jeans were above the price range I selected, but thought they might be something I would like. 

Apologies for the less than professional photos, I asked the 9 yr old to take them for me.

Item #1 and #2: 

                    

#1:  Alternative Apparel Greer Maxi Dress in black  Size: M  Price $68

Notes:  Super soft and comfy.  I have a hard time finding maxis that are actually long enough for me so big plus that this one actually touches the ground.  It has slits on both sides and I like the functionality of it.  It's super easy to dress up or down and I can pair it with a favorite accessory:  the jean jacket.   Only negative is that it is very sheer material that you can easily see undergarments.  I would have to wear a slip under.

Kept it or Returned it?  Kept it!

#2:  Street Level Juno Small Folded Clutch   Price $38

Notes:  It's cute and I love that there is plenty of room for essentials inside.  I also like the chain strap and that it comes off if you want to use it as a clutch.  I wouldn't normally grab a hot pink purse, but it's fun.  I'm unsure if I have enough I can pair it with.

Keep it or Returned it?  Kept it!

Item #3 and #4:

Item #3:  Wells Grace Emmy Embroidered Lattice Detail Blouse  Size: S  Price: $48

Notes:  I'm usually scared of tops with cut outs, but this is fun and I like the back detail.  A nude bra doesn't really show and again, it's a top I can easily dress up or down.

Kept it or Returned it?  Kept it!

Item #4:  DL1961 Hillary Skinny Jean in white  Size: 8  Price: $164

Notes:  I love the idea of a white pair of jeans and I think they are adorable on most.  These are so soft and comfy.  The zipper detail on the bottom is fun and I like the ankle crop.  As a mom of 3 white does scare me a little, especially with this price tag.  I have plenty of tops to pair it with though and being a tall girl good jeans aren't the easiest to come by and denim is where I will splurge if I find a good fit.  The tag also mentions that these are body sculpting/smoothing and feature 4 way stretch denim.  All of that sounds good for my mom bod.  

Kept it or Returned it?  Kept it!

Item #5:

Item #5:  Chambrai Wallen Mixed Material Top in light blue  Size: S  Price: $84

Notes:  This one I was slightly unsure of coming out of the box.  I like collared shirts, but most I don't think I look right in.  This one actually fit great and I like the look.  The mixed material works on this one with the front and tails being light and drapes well.  The sleeves and back are a super, comfy stretchy material.  And plus it goes well with the white jeans they sent.  The price again is a bit, okay, a lot more than I think I would normally spend on a shirt, but I do like it.

Kept it or Returned it?  Kept it!

Total for this box is $402.  If I keep the whole box, I get 25% off ($100.50), plus crediting back the styling fee I paid ($20) and I can walk away with all items for $281.50.  What should I do??!

Update:  I ended up keeping it all.  I couldn't resist.  The jeans are expensive and white, but they are sooo comfy and I have a lot that I can wear with them if I can keep them white.  They will be great for all my upcoming business trips and like I said jeans are where I will splurge for a good fit.  I still am not 100% sold on the mixed material top and the purse was cute but nothing I had to have, however it was silly not to keep them because the difference between keeping them or sending them back was about $20.  If I end up not wanting them I can easily sell them on a Stitch Fix B/S/T group on fb.  Yes, I discovered it exists! 

-Carrie

Want to try Stitch Fix out?!  SIGN UP HERE to use my referral link (I'll get a credit and then you can get your friends to sign up with your link!) and start answering your questionnaire.  Don't forget to make a Pinterest board to help your stylist out!  Then invite your friends to get a Fix too and earn a $25 credit!

Anyone else have chapstick/lip balm addicts in their house?   My husband is obsessed and has to have one on him at all times.  I usually have at least 3 tubes in my purse at all times because they like to hide.  I got tired of dropping $3 on a tube when we go through them so fast and after some trial and error, I found a recipe that we like.  It's super easy and stupid cheap.

If you like Burt's Bees, rosemary and peppermint is a good combo.  I usually end up with some type of mint and citrus combined, but grapefruit is one I keep going back to.

This batch filled at least 14 or 15 tubes and I had a bit left over, even after I spilled some all over the counter.

I bought a big supply of the empty tubes a while ago from I don't even know where, but Amazon is an easy way to get them.

Give it a try and let me know what you think!

So those who known me know I'm essential oil obsessed.  I just cannot help it.  There are many ways you can use essential oils and one of my favorite ways is to diffuse the oils.

Diffusing oils is usually done in a diffuser, which is awesome because it disperses the aroma and therapeutic qualities into the air by vapor.  Thus giving everyone in the room the benefits of the oils and makes the whole room smell amazing too.  Diffusers do not heat the oil at all, which makes sure the constituents of the oil is not damaged.

Our home is full of diffusers of all shapes and sizes in the kitchen, living room and bedrooms.

Now as a mom to 3 littles, between school pick ups/drop offs, appts, errands and running my own business, I am on the go a lot.  So my other favorite type of diffuser is jewelry.  I love it because not only is it a great accessory to your outfit, but with oils becoming more and more popular, there are all kinds of cute ones out there to suit your style.

Here are a few I've bought or been gifted.   The bracelet and locket necklace both have a piece of leather to drop the oil on and the middle necklace you drop it on the wood.  Both materials work well for jewelry diffusers and last all day or a couple of days.

Yesterday, I posted this image on my instagram account saying #craftingismyyoga, which is totally true.  I have put it aside for way too long and whether it's sewing or doing some sort of DIY project it's my favorite way to unwind or channel my frustrations or anxiety.   

So here it is, the product of yesterday's crafting was making up some of my own diffuser necklaces and a few of these may just be going out to a few special people.   I'm wearing the C stamped one right now with a drop of bergamot.  It smells amazing and it has mood lifting qualities, which I could always use.  

I may or may not have had this fabric for close to two years with promises to my son that I would make him Star Wars pillows for his bed.  I'm finally making good on that promise.  I had some Yo Gabba Gabba fabric I intended for a baby blanket that is now no longer needed for the youngest, so a pillow it is for her too!

Here is what you'll need:

- One yard of fabric for each pillowcase 

- Basic sewing supplies:  scissors, coordinating thread, ruler, etc.

INSTRUCTIONS

Prep your fabric.  Wash and iron the fabric so it is easier to work with.  I know, I know, extra work that keeps you from starting the project sooner.  I've skipped this step many a times because I'm impatient, but it truly does help.  Heck, you will rarely ever see me even get an iron out for my own clothes, but nicely pressed fabric is A LOT easier to work with.  

- Take your yard of fabric and square it up (even all the sides up).  Now take it and fold it in half so that you have 20 inches on one side (selvedges together).  Then make a cut at 27 inches on the other side. This will leave you with about a 9 inch piece, like the image above.  This will be your pillowcases fringe.

Now take that 9 inch piece and fold it in half making it about 4.5 inches by 40 inches.  Press the folded edge.  

Next, unfold that main piece and line up and pin the fringe to the right side of the main piece (one of the 40 inch sides).  Raw edges together.

Zigzag the raw edges together so that it won't unravel and get messy when washing.

Open and fold over the fringe to the right side and top stitch the seam allowance to the main fabric so it lays flat nicely.  

Next, fold the fabric right sides together, pin and then sew together the side and the bottom (or top if looking at my picture) with a 1/4 in seam.  This leaves the fringe side open for your pillow. 

Zig zag stitch or use pinking shears to cut the edges of the two sides you just sewed along the seam allowance so that it won't unravel during washes.  Then flip it inside out and you have your pillowcase!

As you can see it's Haddie approved.

This weekend I tried really hard to put work aside and focus on the family.   The past few Easters were usually spent at a potluck with friends in San Diego.  This year it was just us.  We got up early Saturday morning and headed over to Home Depot for the kids to do their monthly Kid Workshop.  Then we went over to base to their Easter egg hunt.  It was crowded, cold and the parents were a little crazy so the kids barely walked away with more than 3 eggs a piece.  After some errands we drove by another egg hunt and decided to stop.  It was run by a church with such sweet people who basically threw out eggs one last time for our kids before they ended.  Haddie had a whole hunt to herself and she took her time picking up each egg and one popped open so she popped a squat and chowed down on each jellybean and then left the egg.  Ha.

On Easter, the kids came down about 10x before we finally gave in and got up at 7 something.  We found cards left for each of the kids that gave a clue to where their basket was hidden.  Just like good 'ol EB used to do for my sisters and I.  We spent the afternoon outside, Barley and all, blowing bubbles and riding scooters and enjoying the sunshine and fresh air.  I even took the time to start a new project.

Over the last two years or so I have gotten sooo bad about using my "big girl camera" and instead just using my iPhone (those darn things are just sooo convenient!) so it was nice to get it out and get a few pics of the kids enjoying the day.

Last month, I was asked by Jill of Visions of Jill Hanna if I would mind answering a few questions for her series she does on military spouses, which you can check out HERE.  I have to admit it was a little harder than I thought to answer these questions and open up, but hopefully it will resonate with a spouse or two.  I think Jill is doing a great thing out there spotlighting military spouses from all over and in different phases of the military lifestyle.

1) How did you meet your service member, and how long have you been married?

My husband and I met when I was 15 and he was 17.  I went to his senior prom with one of his best friends and hung around his circle of friends.  A couple months later, after his graduation, we started spending time together and stayed up all hours into the night chatting online.  We made it “official” that summer and the rest is history.

That was almost 15 years ago.  He joined the military (U.S. Navy) a year later and we did the long distance thing for 2 years. Finally, we had enough.  He proposed, I finished the fall semester of my sophomore year of college, and we got married while he was home on Christmas leave.  I was just 19 and he was 21. We were babies and I think a lot of people thought we were crazy.  We just celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary.

2) Where have you lived in the time you’ve been married? Which place was your favorite, and why?   

Two days after we got married, we packed up my belongings and drove from our hometown in Illinois to Jacksonville, FL where he was stationed.  We were there for about 2.5 years.  We had our first baby there.  We met some great people there and I miss the beaches and the ability to “easily” drive home or have our family drive down to see us.  I guess some could argue 18 hours is not really an easy drive. Ha.

After Jacksonville, they sent us to San Diego. We were fortunate enough to spend 8 years there.  We had two more babies and met many more lifelong friends.  It’s a gorgeous city with pretty perfect weather and so many family-friendly things to do and see.  It’s also home to some of the best craft breweries.

Last summer we made the move to Whidbey Island, Washington.  It’s been quite the change from San Diego.  The Pacific Northwest is absolutely gorgeous.  It’s still taking some adjusting to go from a large city to a small town, but there are much worse places we could have been handed orders to.

Picking a favorite place is hard because each duty station has been a part of our story, and prepared us for the next.  I guess I would have to say San Diego.  I met some of my best friends there, did a lot of growing and it’s a great (although expensive!) place to raise a family.  I’ve learned that I definitely am a fan of the city/suburb life.  I like having a variety of restaurants, Targets and malls all within a close distance.  And I definitely appreciate it a lot more, now that I have to drive an hour to get to the nearest Costco or Target.

 “Each duty station has been a part of our story, and prepared us for the next.”

3) Where have you worked and/or gone to school in the time you’ve been married? 

When we were in Jacksonville, I worked on base for Morale, Welfare and Recreation.  I worked at the Youth Center there starting out as a camp counselor for their summer program, and then got hired on and worked there up until a few months before we left.  When we got to San Diego, I was at home with our daughter and looked into options for online schooling to finish my degree. I ended up going a different route and did online training for medical transcription.

After my training, I was hired by a company in Australia and did medical transcription for a large children’s hospital there.  It was ideal because I was still able to stay at home with my daughter and make some money. And it was good money when I was actually working, but once I had our son it got too difficult. I had to block out hours at a time to sit with headphones on, trying to decipher all those Australian accents over the noise of a demanding newborn and 3 year-old.

From there, things got chaotic.  Sea duty was demanding with lots of work-ups and deployments. Eric was also working nights for the majority of the time.  Once our oldest daughter started kindergarten, I started volunteering for her school.  By the following year, I was on the PTA board and spent the majority of my day at the school doing PTA stuff and helping the staff.  I loved being involved, and the change of pace.

4) Have you faced challenges to your career or education paths due to PCSing, and if so, what were these challenges?

Yes and no.  Yes, it made it more challenging and overwhelming when trying to plan ahead, and trying to figure out how to finish up my degree.  There is always the unknown, and there’s no such thing as a reliable schedule when your significant other is in the military.  So, it definitely made it tough.  I ended up switching focus when we had our first daughter. I decided to put my plans on hold and focus on staying at home raising our kids.  We are thankful that we’ve been able to make it work. It hasn’t always been pretty or easy, but in a lifestyle where there is so much change and uncertainty, I felt more at ease doing the stay- at-home mom thing.

5) What has been your favorite thing about being a military spouse?  

I think I would say the pride and opportunity.  As a military spouse, I don’t think there’s anything better than a homecoming!  Whether it’s waiting on a pier for the ship to pull in, or waiting on the flight line for the planes/”helos” to fly in, there is nothing like it.  You have so much pride in your significant other for the sacrifices they have made. And of course, you have it in yourself for making it through those long months of loneliness and uncertainty.  I love the opportunities we’ve been given to be able to live all over the US, and the experiences that have come with it.

6) Do you find that you get along well with other military spouses, or are most of your friends non-milspouses? 

I’m very much an introvert, but I am pretty good about being able to get along with just about anyone, if needed.  I would say I have a pretty good mix of friends.  I think having a few military spouses that you get along with well is important.  They can understand and relate to your situation and I think having someone who understands what you’re going through is crucial in those less than stellar moments.

We all have those times when everything seems to be going wrong, and you have no communication with your spouse while he or she is on the other side of the world.  I don’t know how I would have survived without my fellow spouses in some of those moments.  I also have a great group of friends who aren’t “military” and I love them to pieces—I would be lost without them.

7) What is the best/worst thing about living on base?  

We have never actually lived on base, but we have lived in military housing.  When we first moved to San Diego we moved into housing.  It was the best option for us at the time.  It was nearly impossible to find something in our BAH range out in town. Also, moving across the country “sight-unseen,” we had no clue about good vs bad areas, etc.  I think when you are of a lower rank, housing usually is a great option. Luckily, San Diego had a big enough need that there were quite a few very nice housing areas.

We got super lucky: our first house was brand new and we were the first tenants.  And it was definitely nicer than anything we could afford out in town.  I think at first it also gave me a sense of security moving into a neighborhood where everyone else was military.  I think it made it a lot easier for me to meet people, and for the kids to make friends. There were lots of parks throughout the neighborhood for the kids to go to and meet other children.

I also loved that some of my very best friends ended up being next door or just a few houses down.  It was really nice to have such good friends a few doors down so we could be there for each other easily. We had each other nearby through deployments, and we could help one another out watching each other’s kids, etc.

Housing definitely had its downsides though, too.  It’s a lot of people in close quarters.  There’s also a pretty quick turnaround, so new neighbors happened quite a bit.  We had some great ones and some not so great ones.  I was ever so lucky to be subpoenaed by the state of California once, thanks to some shady neighbors we had.

Being in housing off-base, we often saw that our neighborhood became a target.  We had both our truck and garage broken into in our few years there.  I am thankful we had the option for a while, but when we finally found a house that would fit our budget and family, we were definitely ready to move on.

“You have so much pride in your significant other for the sacrifices they have made. And of course, you have it in yourself for making it through those long months of loneliness and uncertainty.”

8) What would you like to do professionally, and is this something you’ve always wanted to do, or is it something that is more conducive to military spouse life?

I’ve always been intrigued by and interested in the medical field in some way or another.  I love the thought of having a career as a nurse practitioner or something similar, but like I said, when we started our family I decided to put all of that on the back burner.  I loved working as a medical transcriptionist those few years, creating reports for doctors and listening to appointment and surgery recordings. I learned a lot.  While the medical field is still something I have an interest in, I actually ended up switching gears and have pretty much landed my dream job as of late.

I ended up becoming a distributor for a company after falling in love with their product.  Multi-level marketing is something that I think a lot of people have a negative stigma towards.  Heck, even I wasn’t a fan of it, mostly because of the way companies train and how pushy their sales people are.   I am not a salesperson and never will be, it’s just not me.  I just am super fortunate to be a part of a group where we are changing the way things are done, and I am having the best time.  I was already obsessed with the product so now that I am making a paycheck along with it, all while still getting to stay at home everyday with my kids, well it doesn’t get much better than that.  I understand why it’s so popular among military wives.  It’s something that we can take wherever we go, it’s flexible and we have complete control of our schedule.   It’s also a great way for stay-at-home moms to get out and connect.  I am incredibly grateful for it.

9) If your kids want to join the military, will you recommend it to them, or encourage them to consider other options? Why? 

I would be supportive.  I think it would be kind of crazy not to support them when we’ve raised them in this lifestyle, especially since my husband is making this a career.  I hope we can support them in whatever avenue they choose or think will be best for them.  The military has lots of great opportunities.  But I also know that when that time comes, it would be on me as a mother to see my child off, not knowing where they will end up or when they will be home next.

10) If you could give one piece of advice to a brand new military spouse, what would it be? 

Learn to expect change and be flexible.  The one given thing about the military is there will always be change and there will be a lot of unknowns.  If you are prepared for it and can learn to roll with the punches, you have a good start.  I also think it’s important to find at least one other spouse that you connect with who can be there as your support when you need it. Another spouse will know exactly what you’re going through.  I seriously don’t know what I would have done at times without my support team of wives. They became my rock during deployments and such.