|| Life Update ||

So much has already happened this year.  Our first year as newlyweds has been a whirlwind of good and a lot of terrible.
I will use this blog to share my journey and today I will simply say my husband and I have tried to start our family, but I've had two consecutive early miscarriages.  The first was on February 29th and the second on Mother's Day.  I've struggled immensely, but have been fortunate enough to have the greatest support system in my husband, family, friends, and online support from my fellow online infertility warrior friends!
I've already shared my infertility journey and struggles with my Facebook and Instagram friends, but thought writing on my thoughts and experiences here would be helpful for both myself and other women and couples who've had their own infertility struggles.
Not sure who reads this, but thanks for taking the time to read a bit about my life and I hope my story helps you or someone you may know!
xo

Here I am!

Well hello there strangers!   This lady has had a crazy busy year!!  Last year, my hope was to chronicle my journey as I planned, organized, and crafted my way to my wedding day on October 17, 2015. Sadly, as you may have noticed...I was absent from the blog world!  I literally spent almost every weekend that I could either crafting a table setting, making lists, or just plain enjoying life and living the engaged life (which mostly consists of browsing wedding magazines, pinning mason jar Pinterest crafts and going crazy ordering cute Etsy cake toppers and wood Mr. + Mrs. seat signs). 2016 has got to be the year that I buckle down and focus on my passions...anything and everything creative.  I've been in a funk since getting married, mostly because the hype of preparing for the big day is finally over and I don't have a crazy huge list of to do's I must accomplish within a deadline. I'm sad the day came and went...definitely as people said it would!   The funk can also be contributed to work related stress.  I'm getting burnt out.  Advocacy in the domestic violence/sexual assault realm is very overwhelming/demanding/exhausting.  Every day my brain feels like exploding from emotional overload, which is why my preferred method of self-care is PJs, Netflix, food, and no social interaction.  Not the most fun life I'm living right now.  Hoping to take care of my mental state via surrounding myself with loved ones more often and tackling some of my craft projects I've been pinning to my Pinterest boards! Another project for 2016 that I've just began is my photography business: Karissa Lee Photography! I'm super excited about this, yet pretty scared and unsure at the same time.  I'm no pro by any means, but I know I have an eye for photography and absolutely love capturing the little details of life!  I also hope to be more present here at Little Turquoise House and share some of my fun adventures that I encounter this year! xo Mrs. Lee

12 ways you realize you have become an adult (aka your mother)

1| Shopping for home goods is exciting and way less disappointing than trying on clothes!

2| You enjoy having a bedtime at 9:00 pm...10:30 pm at the absolute latest!

3| You actually have a medicine cabinet with medications and vitamins you take each day.

4| Being an adult isn't totally boring...you can now afford to do fun things, like Green Bay Packer games {not the cheap-o nose bleed seats, either!}  - thanks to your organized budget!

5| Looking forward to coming home on a Friday and your big plans include one or more of the following: a bubble bath with candles, one glass of wine (or two...but not trying to get crazy drunk!) and/or still going to bed at a reasonable time (so you can get up early Saturday morning to clean).

6| Your Instagram posts consist of your babies and/or pets, DIY projects, pictures of food instead group party photos and #ootd pictures.  Realistically, my ideal #ootd would be sweaters, wool socks, and a baggy shirt.

7| Your weekend plans include one full day of cleaning the house top to bottom, or at least something that includes staying in like the homebody you have now become.

8| You realize that most of your plans now include more family gatherings.  You no longer die of embarrassment/boredom around your family.  You find that some nights you actually have more fun with them than going out with friends. {Thanks to going to college away from home, it actually made you want to be home and with family more than you ever had in the past.}

9| If you had to choose, you would pick Pier 1 over Forever 21.

10| You no longer crave social interaction like you did in high school or college.  After a 40 hour work week and constant interaction with others, your idea of a fun night is sitting in silence on the couch in your PJs with your new bff Netflix.

11| Your newest obsession is pinning ideas for your wedding reception and future baby's nursery on Pinterest.

12| In conversations with friends and family, you start sentences with, "When I was a kid..." or "I remember when...".  These conversations usually involve some kind of critique of the current generation's cartoons, music, and/or toys.  Then you silently shudder as you come to the realization you really are becoming your Mother! {Which isn't a bad thing, Mom!}

THEN:

NOW:

||| Do you feel like your priorities or interests have changed as you've matured?  Am I alone when I say I love staying home in comfy clothes?!  Share your thoughts on being an adult in the comments section below! |||

PUT YOUR POSITIVE PANTS ON

First, let me say thank you to Pinterest for this blog post title.  As I was browsing inspiration and motivating quotes to inspire a blog title, I saw this matter-of-fact-straight-to-the-point message that I need to keep telling myself.   Lately, I focus too much on the stresses and messes of life.  But I need to suck it up and keep my chin up.  There is more to life than worrying about being late, cleaning the house, and what bills I have to pay.  I'm trying - really, really trying - to stop and appreciate the little things. Just live in the moment. With that said...I have a bit of an announcement to make.............

//Photo cred to the awesome: Brian and Lindsey Cowen

Say hello to future Mrs. Lee!

YES!  I'm finally going to be marrying my high school sweetheart after being together for over 8 years!

I will share more on our engagement {including some of my favorite photos from the engagement sesh} and the other happenings of the past few months since I have been absent from my blog!

Here I am!

This isn't going to be a huge post with pretty pictures or anything like that because I'm currently working with my cell phone at just 22% charge..so this is just a mini update!

As my Professors say, "Life Happens" and as of recent...life has been happening A LOT! I'll break it down for you...

* Accepted to Graduate School for my Masters in Social Work (the VAC MSW@USC program with University of Southern California)... Started May 16th and its been quite challenging, but loving every minute of it!
*As of yet, still no clue what's going on with my blood pressure/scarred kidneys- they have no idea how or when they became scarred and I'll have a follow up appt in August.
*I went on vacation to sunny, beautiful, hot Hilton Head Island, South Carolina aka HHI and Savannah, Georgia...love love love. Will post pictures eventually.
*A lot of talk of engagement and ring shopping (yay!)
* Quit my job at the hospital and FINALLY found a job in my field...after two years of graduating....ahhhh yay! This is my first full week as the Legal Advocate at Women and Children's Horizons in my hometown....remind me to  do a post in the future!!!
*andddddd that's about it for now...just looking forward to my next vacation in August to California to see my sestra (*yes an Orphan Black reference!)

Sorry I've been such a stranger! Life has been totally hectic, stressful, and exciting!!!

Mucho love,
Karissa

Weekend Update

The weekends seem to fly by!  Especially when there is so much going on.  Never a dull moment.
Friday: - initially we were going to a fish fry w/ Andrew's mom; instead went to Soon's for sushi - i had the house salad with ginger dressing; veggie tempura; & shrimp tempura roll {also had a bite of a yellowfin tuna roll}...so stuffed!  eyes definitely bigger than my stomach! - stopped by Marshall's...looked at every inch of the store.  wanted everything!  try to avoid this place as much as I can...too much temptation!
Saturday:

This is me.

Just some random facts for you about yours truly,

1. I love  am obsessed with turquoise (obvi.)
2. Pecksniff's England Gardenia & White Peach - my new hand lotion love.  Thanks Marshalls!
3. I am old fashioned (relationship-wise) and when all the little girls were kissing boys in elementary, middle, and high school...I had a rule: I only could kiss a boy if he was my boyfriend (with the exception of Andrew...I must have known he would be my forever love ♥.)
4. I did shot put in middle school and was on the Varsity team starting in 6th grade.
5. I wish I enjoyed running and cardio, but I despise it.
6. I've driven several times from Wisconsin to South Carolina on vacation with my boyfriend and his family.
7. I've never broken a bone.
8. I am in love with dahlias and zinnias.  My favorites.
9. Speaking of driving, I hate it.  It makes me want to take a nap.  Even being a passenger, I'm bound to end up sleeping before we get to our destination.
10. Elvis and Elton were two of my first music loves (Presley and John, that is).
11. My mom took me to see Lisa Marie Presley when I was about 10 or 11 - what I took away from that: a rowdy woman in the crowd who took her shirt off and was dancing in her bra.  Strange. 
12. I can remember things all the back when I was 2 years old.
13. As #11 shows, I have a freakishly good memory.  It can be bothersome when I just want to forget.  Good for studying, though.
14. As a kid I didn't really enjoy sitting and playing with toys for hours, I'd rather play pretend and make up a game or play tag/baseball/hide & seek.
15. I've eaten raw eggs when I was a child (thanks Dad!) and a couple years ago - just to prove to Andrew that I would do it.
16. Also, when I was young my favorite snack was fried fish & Chicharrón (pig skin).  Again, thanks Dad and Filipino roots.
17. I'm half-filipino, yet I do not know my dad's native tongue.  I've tried, but it is difficult.
18. My grandma (maternal) died the year I was born; she never met me; my middle name is her name {elaine}; I still feel a connection with her despite never meeting - she's with me when I cook and bake. 
19. I cry like a baby when I watch The Notebook and PS I love you.
20. I want to move to Portland or Seattle.
21. Andrew and I make up songs about the most random of things and make up words; of course we do this in funny voices.
22. I was born in Long Beach, California and moved to Kenosha, Wisconsin when I was 2.
23. When I was in elementary school I bragged and bragged about being Filipino and being born in California.  Seriously, I wouldn't shut up about it.
24. I have scarring on my kidneys (recently discovered) and the doctors have no idea why, BUT they do think it is the cause of my high blood pressure!  One answer down, one more to go!
25. I can't french braid my hair.
26. I have hated hair for most of my life and in middle school I thought it would be a great idea to pluck my eyebrows to the point that one of my eyebrows was [almost] gone!
27. Belle was my favorite princess growing up and now my favorite is Snow White.
28. My favorite pastry is a tie between an apple turnover and blueberry scone.
29. I haven't finished the Harry Potter series because someone spoiled the 6th book for me, so I stopped reading.
30. I can be OCD - I count things or have to do something a certain way or certain number of times.
31. I'm pretty sure I might be tone deaf, despite being in choir from 6th grade till 10th.
32. I met Dana White (President of the UFC) after a weigh-in in Milwaukee a few years ago.
33. Hank Aaron was my commencement speaker at Marquette.
34. I'm a perfectionist | loud | outgoing | quiet | reserved | pensive | hesitant.  I'm a contradiction.
35. 5 & 6 are my favorite numbers (mostly because those were usually my numbers in elementary school - alphabetically I came 5th/6th in class - and it just stuck).
36. I've had a size 10 shoe since I was 10.
37. I have horrible motion sickness - in cars, planes, trains, boats, roller coasters, you name it.  The last time I was on a plane I almost got sick, so I took a 2nd dose of Dramamine and once we got off the plane I was so tired I slept through dinner (at a restaurant - literally head down on the table) and through a two hour car ride around town.

This was fun!  Not only was it a way to share a little bit about me, but it was also cool to go back and remember some things that I don't always think about.

What kind of weird | interesting | fun | exciting facts do you have to share?  

Share a post with random facts about yourself & let me know {via comments, email, twitter, facebook}.