Just Another Clarisonic Review

Who in the bloggity world hasn't talked about the great Clarisonic?  Not I, no longer!

So since dancing into my early midish twenties I have good skin.  By no means great skin but I know how bad it can be.  I have larger than wanted pores and I still get breakouts, especially with the feminine stuff but by and large blemishes don't haunt me everyday.  I wash my face in the shower, if I wore makeup that day before I go to bed and am r.e.l.i.g.o.u.s. about morning moisturizer because no one wants wrinkle sooner than necessary.

Anywho, my mother had bought a Clarisonic a few years ago and when I was visiting or lived at home I would use it every few days.  And then I moved to Pittsburgh and jumped on the whole independent adult living train without my mommy's Clarisonic and my skin suffered.  It looked blah and breakouts where too common for comfort.  I knew something had to change and I knew just the man to do it-Santa Clause.  For Christmas, I was gifted with a Clarisonic and all the skin angels rejoiced.  I haven't looked back since.  The Clarisonic really does help with breakouts and evens and brightens your skin tone.  I have actually had people comment on how great my complexion is--hold the phone!!

Now I won't deny that the Clarisonic is not cheap however if you do already spend alot of money on different products and treatments might I suggest investing in something that will work.  Also, personally I see taking care of my skin at my age as a long term investment in my skin.

So I wish I was a cool enough blogger to announce that I was giving one away now but alas I am not.  All I can say is if you don't already have one, you should totally save your pennies and buy one.  I really don't think you will regret it.  

NAS: Spiritual Writings

What are some of your favorite or go-to books, devotionals or even blogs that help encourage you in your spiritual life?

Once again linking up with the lovely ladies of the Not Alone Series with Jen and Morgan.

So this week we are talking about spiritual writing that inspires, enriches and encourages us.  So now that college is far enough behind me that required reading assignments don't make me sigh so audibly I am trying to find my stride when it comes to spiritual reading.  I actually had a friend recently remind me how important spiritual reading is as Catholics and it isn't an optional devotion.  That hit me and really inspired me to step up my game when it comes to spiritual reading.  

Over the years I have read a variety of spiritual readings, along with fiction.  You can find my book lists here, here, and here from 2013, 2014, and the running list for 2015 respectively.

However, if I had to pick from all these books the book that has most enriched and changed my spiritual life it would have to be Consoling the Heart of Jesus.  In this book Fr. Gaitley posed how thirsty Christ crucified is for us and by how praying, sacrificing, the sacraments, loving, serving, trusting and being His we are able to care for his wounds.  In particular, he emphasizes how much lack of trusting pains the Lord and how trusting in Him and His will can console His aching heart.  Something that has always in particular stood out from his book was his discussion of sacrifice.  Too often we only sacrifice big things forgetting about the small daily consequences not recognizing their worth.  However, compared to the sacrifice of the cross all of our sacrifices are small and insignificant so how much more important the small sacrifices.  Please, read my original review and more importantly pick this book up.  In particular this Lent, and this soon to come Holy Week read this book and comfort His heart. 

Consoling the Heart of Jesus is a great book but it isn't one I read everyday.  For my daily reading I first and foremost read the bible and a Mary devotional each morning.  I hope to read whatever spiritual reading I am reading at the moment, currently a Mother Theresa book and rereading Rediscovering Catholicism for a book club of sorts.  However, what is most often the most manageable is YOUR blogs and the articles YOU recommend.  All you ladies are so inspiration and steer me towards other writers who write real, honest, raw, and passionate words that make me want to be better.  Please don't doubt that what you write isn't read and isn't taken to heart.

I look forward to getting some recommendations from all of your posts and don't forget to check out the book lists to get other spiritual reading recommendations.  

reads 2015: Ordinary Lives Extraordinary Mission

Some books just inspire you so much that they are worth a detailed blog post.  This is one of those books.  I got it from Dynamic Catholic as one of those books that you only pay shipping.  If you aren't familiar with Matthew Kelly or Dynamic Catholic you should be so I highly suggest reading his book, checking out his website, going to his talk.  You will be inspired.

So Ordinary Lives Extraordinary Mission could be summed up as "just become a saint."  John Wood outlines his book reminding readers that we must know there is a war, know our enemy, free ourselves and have a shield and sword.  He says,

"As a nation and as a Church, we've forgotten our story and forgotten our mission.  Central to knowing that you are in a war is knowing what you are fighting for and what you are defending."

In his book, he inspires you to fight and imprints on your just how important it is to fight however reminding that it isn't force, but love that wins the war.

"The battle can't be won by force.  We can't win by changing people's minds; we can only win by changing hearts.  We must begin to live our beliefs.  We must offer an example of truth if we expect others to find it."

I could go on and on adding quote after quote.  Get this book.  Be re-inspired for the mission and fight the good fight of faith passionately.  

----------------------------------------------------------

This book along with others has been added to my 2015 reads lists.  Be sure to check it out!

 

Expectations v. Reality Four Months In

So someone, and I greatly apologize for not remembering who, suggested I do a post on if my job is what I expected.  So just a refresher my job for the first three months was rotating between high risk Antepartum, Labor and Delivery (including OB OR, triage, OB ICU, and prenatal monitoring unit), and postpartum.  In the past month, I have been working in my permanent job of Labor and Delivery.

So what is my job compared to what I expected.  It is really hard to say because I don't really remember what I expected but I will give you what I've got.

I didn't expect to be so scared of "what could go wrong."  Ideally labor and delivery is an experience that is healthy for mom and baby and requires few interventions.  Unfortunately I work at a high risk hospital and this isn't always the case.  Alot of the mom's come to my hospital because of how sick they are and they require alot of interventions from Magnesium to prevent seizures and C-sections because their placenta covers their cervix.  In addition, sometimes things just go south in ways that we didn't expect which can be scary but we are used to it and can handle it. It is great when labor and birth are beautiful experiences with good outcomes all around but that isn't always the case.

I didn't expect to get along so well with my coworkers and to actually make friends with the people I work with.  A couple of the girls I actually see outside of work and many others I love being with when we are working.

I didn't expect how much we would work in a team.  Not only do I know my team leader has my back but also the other nurses on my team will help me out as much as they are able.

It is sometimes the most unexpected patients that I really hit it off with.  I will get patients that I expect to just tolerate taking care of for one first impression or another and before you know it we really hit it off.  The opposite is also true.

Some days I am over or underwhelmed of the whole labor and delivery process. There are days when I come home and I marvel at what happened during my day.  Amazed that the baby I had been monitoring all day is now opening her eyes and staring at her mamma.  Other days I forget to stop and marvel at the lives taking their first breath all around us and just stumble through the monotony that is a high volume maternity hospital.

I don't feel like this post really portrays everything I want it to say but maybe when I am a few more months in I will be able to flesh out a little bit better my expectations versus the reality of a labor and delivery nurse.  In addition I wanted to put some sort of funny meme in hear about labor and delivery but I will save you from the "v" word and other such things. Your welcome.

NAS: Qualities in Your Husband

What are the qualities and characteristics that you are looking for in your future husband? We have talked about what we don't want, but it's good to have an idea of those things that are important to us. Discerning religious life? This applies to communities, as well!

Linking up with Jen and Morgan for another week of the not alone series.  

So when we wrote about Deal Breakers, a very similar topic, back in March I think I basically answered this question instead of that one.  And honestly I still agree with (almost) everything I said.  I think I hit the nail on the head when it comes to spiritual things.   I still want my husband's actions to reflect an authentic sacramental love and a man who will lead me to heaven.  I don't see any that changing anytime soon.  No need to rewrite something that is already well written so please go back, read that post.

However, since I was a little bit more serious in that post I want to turn this one a wee bit more fun and superficial.  While those deal breakers are what it really boils down to I also know that the Lord has this way of answering our quirky desires.  So without further ado I present to you my top ten list of (a bit quirky and not so serious) qualities I look for in a husband.

1. The ability to not snore, because who wants to not sleep for the rest of their life.

2. The perfect height.  I have for a long time had this idea that I need to "fit" next to him when he has his arm around me.  I am guessing around 6 foot. 

3. Who am I kidding I also want him to be gooood looking.  No one else has to think he is cute but I know I want to think he is the cat's meow. 

4.  Please, please be able to change a diaper.  I change alot of diapers and I just really want a guy who knows how to do some basic child care because I do not want to teach you everything.  

5.  Likes to grill because I like me a smokey hamburger. 

6. Be silly.  There is something so fun and romantic about laughing and being silly with a guy.

7.  Like to drive because I hate to and am counting down the days until I have a handsome man to do some of the driving for me. 

8.  Please for the love of all that is good be a man and put the toilet seat down. 

9.  Be passionate in everything you do.  This one is a bit more serious but I just want my husband to be intentional about his job, his vocation, his life.  I want him to enjoy what he does for a living so that he never works a day in his life.   

10.  Don't love cats.  You can like them but don't love them.  That is just weird and I do not find it attractive.  (And yes I have had a bad experience with this.)

Well there you go.  10 Qualities that I seek in a husband.  The Lord does say ask and you say receive ;).