Hello? Is there anybody out there? Just nod if you can hear me…

You get it. It’s been a while. Or if you are just stumbling upon this blog in the universe somehow then hello! I am very consistent on here and you are in for a treat! Lying might not be the best way to start off this brand-new friendship between us but I say c’est la vie.

We have lived through a pandemic, I got engaged, I have been wedding planning, and I got a new job outside of the hotel industry. There is a lot of stuff going on here and not much down time. It is officially May of 2022 and I said time was slipping away back in September 2021. Wooof.

So, let’s get all caught up on what has been going on shall we?

Right now, I am two months in to a new job back in the “city” with a commute cut in half. This was a really exciting way to begin the year.

I have also been planning my wedding which is this September which has been really exciting but also just a littttle stressful. My fiancé and I are getting married at a beautiful air bnb that we booked for the weekend. We wanted it to be small, intimate, really relaxed, and most importantly fun. This also means that there are a lot of extra details and a lot of diy’ing on my part. I am totally relaxed! I will definitely share some more details with you.

I think that catches us up to spring of 2022. This next half of the year is going to be one of the best of my life, and I am just soaking it all in. I will try to document as much as possible while also not putting too much on my plate.

That’s all for now. I’m going to get back to my 55 page google slide wedding planning presentation I made for myself. I wish I was joking.

xx Casey

As I type this I realize that my last post on this page was a recap of my time during the year 2020. Since that day I feel like a whole lot and and absolutely nothing at all has happened. 2021 has been a strange year full of adjusting to a “new normal” while teetering on getting “back to normal”, whatever either of those things are. The past eight months feel like they have, in the words of Taylor Swift, slipped away like a bottle of wine. So fast and yet – January feels like a lifetime ago. In reality we are only four months away until it is a new year again. The four beautiful “ber” months that I wait for all year long.

I always seem to get a spark of inspiration when summer slowly drifts into fall. I have always felt most alive during this time of year. Hence the new header. I was looking for something with a little more warmth so cozy up this little corner of the internet. A place where no matter how long I am away, it always feels like coming back home. And I hope you – if anyone is there at all – feel the same way whenever you find yourself here.

There is going to be a lot to share in the next year. Our wedding is almost a year away, we are in the midst of our house hunt, and we are preparing for all of these big and exciting life milestones in our lives all while trying to stay in the moment. I think that’s where this blog will come in handy. A place where I can collect my thoughts and look back on how I was feeling during this exciting time in our lives. Something this blog has always been for me.

Hello there, Casey here coming to you from January 2021. It has taken me a bit of time to get on here and chat with you all. As we all know 2020 was… well, it happened. Then 2021 came and things felt different but the same. It felt like the awful things kept coming and that we were still trapped in what felt like the longest and quickest year of our lives. But I am not here to focus on the bad that happened, because we were all affected in some way by 2020. This isn’t that kind of year in review. But before I move on to other things, I thought I would do a quick run down of some of the good that I experienced this year.

This year I became passionate about reading again. Audible became such a wonderful way to escape in the pages of a book whether I was lounging around the house, cooking in the kitchen, or commuting once I started working again. I listened to a lot of books this year that I had read before to feel a sense of comfort and familiarity during such unfamiliar times (aka Harry Potter and Twilight). I also watched a lot of shows and movies. So many Friends episodes kept me company this year. I laughed through a rewatch of New Girl, was charmed by Emily in Paris, distracted by Love Island, and sucked into Criminal Minds. 

I was all of a sudden spending so much time at home, and for the first time since college I had nothing to do. I stayed in pjs all day some days. I had a glass of wine in the middle of the day on a Tuesday. Anything went in 2020… 

In 2020 I surpassed some goals, set aside others, and I re-assessed my life in ways I hadn’t in some time. I successfully stayed away from using hot tools on my hair all year. I created a completely clean and cruelty free beauty routine. I also reevaluated what was important to me in my life, and made decisions that will lead me to being a happier person. 

This year I spoke with family and friends more than ever. We’ve zoomed, facetimed, and communicated more than ever. I got engaged in October and ended this year the happiest I have ever been. Although we were all so far apart this year I felt so much love. 

I know we are all more than ready to say goodbye to 2020, but there are some moments that I am incredibly grateful for, and will always look back on with a smile.

Cue Monica Geller standing on her balcony yelling “I’m Engaged!”

Yes my friends, something big happened while I have been away from the blog. On Sunday October 18th my best friend asked me to marry him, and well.. I think you know what happened next. I am over the moon happy and excited, and I can not wait to share this new exciting chapter with you!

Looks like something good came out of 2020 after all.

Since I have been back to work I needed to get back into the routine of prepping my lunches for the week. It had been five months since I had to come up with lunch ideas that would not only satisfy me for the week but also be easy enough to fully prep on a Sunday and be ready to go each day. I thought I would share with you some of the delicious and easy lunches I have been packing for the past four weeks.

I use a mix of staple Trader Joe’s items as well as items from my local grocery store to make my lunches each week. Trader Joe’s really does make everything so convenient from their salad dressings and dips to the balsamic grilled chicken which is my go-to protein each week.

Salad Idea Number One: Mixed local greens, sliced apple, blue cheese crumbles, candied pecans, balsamic grilled chicken, garlic and rosemary dressing. I started off really simple my first week back to work, but I have to say just a little blue cheese takes it to another level.

Salad Idea Number Two: Caesar salad mix, mixed greens, chicken cutlet. For this salad I kept it super easy and mixed a Caesar salad kit with additional mixed greens, and bought a few already pre cooked chicken cutlets from my grocery store that I just chopped up and added on top.

Salad Idea Number Three: Arugula, roasted Brussel sprouts, roasted sweet potato, candied pecans, goat cheese, and balsamic dressing. I think if I swapped the goat cheese for blue cheese next time I would like this one better but it was still a really great fall salad option.

Salad Idea Number Four: Arugula, cucumber, cauliflower tabouli (from Trader Joe’s), feta cheese, balsamic grilled chicken, kalamata olives, and tzatiki. Trader Joe’s was the hero when making this salad because they just make it so easy with their pre made dip section.

Salad Idea Number Five: This week I will be doing a pasta salad featuring the walnut pesto that I got at Trader Joe’s I am super excited to try out. I will be adding in artichoke hearts, sun dried tomatoes, and arugula along with my go-to Trader Joe’s balsamic grilled chicken as well.

It has been fun to come up with new salad recipes to keep things interesting each week. I know that salads can sometimes feel less than satisfying, but adding a few fun ingredients (like a sprinkle of blue cheese!) always takes them to a new level. I will keep sharing new lunch ideas as I make them. Enjoy!

… like a bottle of wine.

So much can happen in a single month. And A LOT has happened the past couple weeks. As the summer winds down I thought it would be fitting to catch up over a glass of rose before we go into full fall mode.

Just as I was entering five months of being on furlough in my job, another opportunity came my way. I went into the interview not knowing what was going to happen, and the next week I was starting a new job in a new hotel in Newport. It was a crazy experience jumping back into work after being quarantined for such a long time. It was scary and exciting all at the same time. I have now been in the position for a month and am feeling a little more settled into my new routine. If I have learned anything about life the past couple of years it’s that things come to you when you least expect them.

This whole experience the past couple of months has been a catalyst of change for so many people, whether it be good or bad (in the moment) change. No matter what type of change this year has brought you just believe that there is a reason for it. I know that this experience is one that is going to shape the next couple of years of my life.

On another note, besides working again (and some other fun things that I will share soon!) the best thing that happened this past month or so was Taylor Swifts Folklore coming out. Her albums always come out at the perfect times in life and this new album is giving me all of the “Red album, fall, sweater weather” vibes. And it has been EVERYTHING. And is the perfect album to bring me into this next season of life.

The thing I love most about this little corner of the internet is that above all it is a chronicle of my life. I can look back and see what I was doing and feeling during different stages of my life, and is the reason that I continue to write. These past couple months will be an unforgettable time in my life in good ways and bad. Cheers to moving forward.

I have always been a fan of subscription box services. My first subscription box experience was years ago when I first subscribed to Birch Box. Although I do not receive Birch Boxes anymore (even though I think they are a great company, I was just being left with too many repeat products) there are many other subscription services that I have been loving so I thought I would compile a list of some of my recommendations. Now more than ever in a world of social distancing, subscription and delivery services are so convenient.

Butcher Box is a meat delivery service, and I could not recommend them enough. We have gotten three butcher boxes and tried many of the products they have to offer, and I have to admit that this is some of the best quality meat I have ever had. Obviously I am not a vegan or vegetarian, but I am very conscious of the quality of meat that I am buying. I love that all of their meat is free range and grass fed and grass finished (which is a big difference between just grass fed). I definitely suggest you do some research on these things and where your meat is coming from (what I learned about what “free range” means on some poultry farms made me sick). Each box is shipped quickly and everything arrives completely frozen and safe. They are always adding new products, and I am very excited to receive lobster in my next box. https://www.butcherbox.com

Billie is a razor subscription service geared towards women. I love that the company uses clean ingredients and supports many causes. I have received one subscription so far, but the razors and shaving cream are good quality so far and have not irritated my very sensitive skin. https://mybillie.com

Quip is a toothbrush subscription service (yes there really is a subscription service for everything!) I bought this little sleek electric toothbrush at Target and then registered it on their website. Every three months they send you a new brush head and batteries. I love that the brush vibrates at 30 second intervals letting you know when to move on to the next section of your mouth and ensures a full two minute brush. I really cant say enough about how much I love this toothbrush. https://www.getquip.com

MeUndies is a you guessed it… underwear subscription service. My boyfriend has subscribed to it for a long time and I finally caved and got my first pair. Now I have about four pairs, and even George our cat has a little MeUndies bandana. They are some of the softest underwear that I have ever tried and come in a bunch of different styles and patterns. They do not just have underwear however, they also have everything from sports bras to lounge wear. Highly recommend! https://www.meundies.com

Meow Box is a subscription for my cat George. We got our first box last month and he LOVED it. As soon as we opened the box he grabbed all of the toys right out of it and had the best time playing with all of them. We knew immediately it was a hit! They even sent him a little party hat because it was his birthday. The box has a different theme each month and comes with a variety of really high quality toys and treats. Last months theme was camping and it was ADORABLE. I can not wait for him to get his next box this month. https://meowbox.com

Those are all the boxes I am currently receiving. There are a few other things my boyfriend Jeff receives each month like his contacts. We also get two bags of coffee every two months from Black Rifle Coffee Company. We have used Stitch Fix in the past, which if you are looking to up your wardrobe is a great service. I paused it for a while since I was not working, however the pieces I do have I love. We have also done Hello Fresh and Blue Apron in the past. We enjoyed the variety of recipes in those boxes and loved the convenience, however the meat was not always the best quality in our opinion.

Lastly, although it is not a subscription service the Whole Foods/Amazon delivery service for groceries is amazing. We have been doing it for a couple of weeks and has been life changing. So simple, we have gotten great quality stuff, and delivery is really fast. This is something that we will definitely continue doing for a long time.

If you have any services you love or have been wanting to try let me know! I have been tempted to subscribe to Grove Collaborative for cleaning supplies for a long time and may take the plunge soon.

Good Morning friends. Today I wanted to share with you some of my favorite quotes and poems from authors, poets, musicians, and writers that I love. The wonderful thing about reading or listening to music is that you can always find a line that you can connect with and fits perfectly with a moment of time in your life.

“It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities” – Albus Dumbledore (J.K. Rowling)

“We do not need magic to transform the world. We carry all the power we need inside ourselves already” – J.K. Rowling

“There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind” – C.S. Lewis

“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I – I took the one less traveled by. And that has made all the difference” – Robert Frost

“For what it’s worth: It’s never too late to be whoever you want to be.” “I hope you live a life you’re proud of, and if you find that you’re not, I hope you have the strength to start over” – F. Scott Fitzgerald

“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us” – J.R.R. Tolkien

“What day is it? It’s today squeaked Piglet. My favorite day said Pooh” – A.A. Milne

“Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast” – Lewis Carroll

In many cultures taking time for tea is an essential daily ritual rooted in mindfulness. Everything from the act of making the tea to enjoying it is done in a slow and peaceful way.

Living simply is something that I have been working on in my life throughout the past couple months. I have learned that the simple things are the important things in life, and to take the time to enjoy them. One way I have been experiencing this is with a daily cup of afternoon tea. Slowing down in the middle of the day when our minds are racing with thoughts is incredibly beneficial to our mental health.

To be honest, I have never been a big tea drinker. But now there is something so comforting about a warm cup of tea to relax my mind and body. Recently I have been loving a cup of peppermint tea in the afternoon and a cup of chamomile tea before bed. Peppermint tea is known to relieve stress and anxiety, boost your immune system, and help with an upset stomach. Chamomile tea is also known to relieve stress, and promote sleep. It is also great to drink if you have a cold. I have been loving learning more about the health benefits of different types of tea.

My daily ritual of enjoying a cup of tea is simple. For me it is brewing a pot in my new tea kettle and cozying up on the couch with a blanket and book, and is always done in a slow and peaceful way. As should more things in life.

Happy Saturday! I thought it would be nice if we caught up a little bit today. Grab a cup of coffee, and lets chat.

This Monday will officially mark four months in quarantine. How surreal to think how much our lives have changed in such a short time. However, that short time somehow feels like an eternity and a blink of an eye all at once. We’ve all been through a lot, each in our own ways. We have all handled quarantine in our own ways as well. Some people have binge watched Netflix everyday and some people have taken these months and used them for self improvement (in whatever form that takes). It is important to know that whichever way you have spent your quarantine it is okay. There is no rule book here. There are no plans for this kind of thing. The important thing is that you are safe, happy, and healthy. Well, as happy as one can be during a global pandemic.

I have been spending a lot of my time in quarantine reading and writing, which have been great outlets for me. Hoping everyone is continuing to stay safe and healthy during this time, no matter how you are filling your days.