Living in a Pink Bubble~ School Supply Edition

The school year has finally started and I’m starting my third semester! I feel like I’ve finally gotten into the flow of things and feel comfortable enough to share my education staples. Of course, in typical ‘me’ fashion, I grew my collection to match my pastel lifestyle. I quite enjoy things that are visually appealing and yet still serve a valid function, deciding to invest in pieces I love makes studying a joy.

My main piece is a Samatha Vega, under Samatha Thavasa,  a4 tote bag. I struggled with backpacks the last 2 semesters and realized after ditching my backpack for my reusable canvas tote that sits in my car every other day, that I feel more comfortable carrying my school items in a tote bag. The standard ‘a4’ tote size (named such because it can fit a4 sized folios and binders within it) is perfect for my needs. Samantha Thavasa makes some beautiful a4 tote bags that also have wide bases which could comfortably hold as many school supplies as I needed. 

I also invested in a printer to save me the stress from my school’s computer lab, which is always packed! I bought a cute Bluetooth enabled pink printer, second hand, that syncs beautifully with my iPad and mobile device! (I know, I also have a pink Nintendo switch hiding out back there, but I’ll be devoting a full blog to that down the road!)

The cheaper books, if not available 2nd hand or for rental, tend to be available for purchase in loose leaf style. I lucked out this semester and needed to purchase 2 books that came with access codes to do my homework. So, I needed some sturdy binders to contain my text books. I found these cute binders by russel+hazel.

Now, onto the fun stuff! Folders, folios, and stationary!

For my classes this semester, I’m taking mathematics and science courses, so I need a notebook for working out my formulas. All my teachers recommended that keeping a ‘problem’ notebook would be advantageous in their courses so, I have 3, one for each class. Right now, I have an older Laduree notebook that I had laying around, that I use for math. For my other two courses, I use some basic bullet style notebooks which I find more convenient to write in. My math notebook is just more photogenic;; 

I also have an accordion style folder, that I’ve used every semester to keep all my loose leaf papers, hand outs, homework, scantrons, and anything of the like. I find the fan out style folders are so useful in keeping everything together and neatly filed! Also, mine is made of plastic so it’s quite durable. It’s hands down one of my most important items I keep on me and readily available. I bought mine [here]

A fun little fact is that my pencil case is actually a makeup brush holder! I bought this travel makeup brush organizer second hand since it’s an older piece from Liz Lisa’s retired line, Chambre a Coucher.  Shockingly it fits everything I need, keeps everything organized, and sits wonderfully flat which makes it fit nicely into my bag or on my desk.

As for my stationary supplies, I have three different collared highlighters, two 3 ink colored pens + ink refills, a mechanical pencil + lead refill (I should also have a #2 pencil, oops), two erasers that resemble macaroons from Laduree, and miscellaneous washi tape that I use in my planner or to bookmark pages. 

My most used items in my stationary station would be my Uni a-gel mechanical pencil, Uni Style + Fit multi chamber pen (which I actually have 4 of, 2 in my pencil holder, one in my planner, and one that I keep in my room~ I just adore them and how well they write!) I like to use the smallest pen refill size in them which would be the .28mm, and for my highlighter I like the Zebra midliner which is easily found locally and I can pick up a refill easily.

I also use my Ti-30 calculator for every class. It also came highly recommended by all my instructors as it works with log and sin functions as well as with exponents. It also don’t have memory storage, which is not allowed in any of my classes.

With me always, is my planner and my bkr water bottle. In my planner I write down everything; classes, what I need to do, upcoming assignments, due dates, etc. It contains my life and one of my other Style + Fit multi-ink pens. Without my planner, I think I would fall apart! 

My last big piece is my tech folio. I was lucky enough to come across this leather bound one on eBay [available here] It fits everything from my ‘problem’ notebooks, iPad Pro + keyboard case, and all my gadgets, neatly and securely.

Snugly in my folio I keep my Apple Pencil, my rose gold mophie powerstation, lightning port/usb/usb-c enabled flashdrive (which has been a lifesaver for PowerPoint presentations),  misc cables, and my student ID card.

I also replaced the zipper with a Samatha Thavasa x Disney’s Little Mermaid charm that I thought was too cute, and which gave my folio a little personal touch. 

My main tool for school is my iPad Pro + Apple Pencil. I write all my papers on it, take notes, access and turn in my homework from it, and get onto my school’s app on on small and portable device. 

The main apps I use are Canvas (which is where my teachers post the homework, lecture notes, and my grades), Word documents, PowerPoint, Quizlet (digital flash cards), Ginger (which is a proof reading app and how I was able to get the highest grade my english professor gave out last spring), and Notability (the note taking app that I rely on for everything).

I switched over to notability last semester, mainly because I had an intensive lecture class and needed to record what my professor was saying for review. At first glance notability looks like every other note taking app, but what won me over was the fact that I can also record audio while I write notes and it date/time stamps each recording. Also, it directly links with canvas and it’s pdf files and I can load up my professors’s lecture files straight into the app and write notes on top of the files. It just makes note taking so easy!

My last little bits in my bag are my personal items. I keep a reusable straw, tissues, a card holder, small wallet, SPF hand cream, the best Bluetooth headphones from TaoTronics (seriously), my phone [custom case from TheAmethyzt] , and my YSL tint-in-balm and a small vial of my Lolita Lempicka L perfume. 

I wanted to show off my cute pink glass boba straw from DrinkingStrawsGlass, and my protective casing from CashandDella. My city is making plastic straws unavailable so a good reusable straw is a necessity, especially for milk tea stops! I hate the taste of stainless steel, so glass was the best route for me and I love it!

Down the road I would love to be even more compact, but these are the items that work best for me! Maybe it’s good inspiration, or for a peek into how someone else lives their school life, maybe there’s something of interest that can inspire a modification to someone else’s school supply list? Regardless of the reason I hope that this entry was an enjoyable read!

<3CarisseIris

Reset & Refresh~ Prepping for a new semester!

So, I’m no expert in school prepping or being well organized. Probably, far from it. Three semesters in, I do feel slightly better prepared in what works for me! So, I would like to share how I jump into a new semester, resetting myself so that I come at any new chapter in my life feeling like I am prepared for a good time and in a way that reduces my stress and distractions.

I like to set aside some time if possible, minimum 2 days, to knock off any tasks that I’ve put aside (probably due to procrastination) and to prepare everything for what lies ahead.

I’ll make a list of what then needs to be done: 

The first tasks I like to tackle are the most daunting ones on my list. For me, those were cleaning out my old room, getting rid of the old furniture, and organizing my junk trunk.

Following those tasks, I then focus on cleaning everything! I love that step because cleaning helps calm me down and releases my stress. I deep clean everything and everything! Then I move on to doing all my laundry and making my drawers neat and tidy. (If I notice clothing or items I have had no use for or that don’t bring me any joy then I can also use this time to compile items for donation.)

I feel it’s especially important to have nice clean bedsheets, as it just feels so great waking up in a clean bed on the start of a new journey!

The feeling of having everything in its place and nothing to worry about really helps to feel like I have nothing holding me back, and clears my head so I can focus on what is most important, in my life that would be school.

On a more specific note, since I use my iPad for my schooling, I accumulate many files and use up a lot of my storage. I like to go though all my digital files and emails to clean out any clutter sitting in there! It may be a bit underrated but my future self always is thankful for this step when I don’t need to stress about running out of storage space!

Then, before classes start, the day before, I like to charge all my devices that require charging and replace any batteries that I fear might be running low on power. It helps to relinquish any anxiety that may sit within me that I could be left unprepared for any situation that might pop up in the following days.

During the time I reset, I like to build an outline for the routine I want to have, or strengthen/improve my current daily routine. So, during the few days prior I like to try waking up and sleeping at the times I want to have ingrained in my schedule. It takes a couple weeks for a habit to fully solidify so I like visualizing and concentrating as much as I can on the routine to try retaining as much of it as possible down the road. 

In regards to my routine, I’ve been consistently waking up at 5 am, making my bed and exercising well before 8 am, so I feel like I hav e a good head start on the routine I want to have come the start of my semester. So, It will be a test on my consistency and trusting the plans I laid out for myself.

Knowing that I have everything planned out, eases any apprehension or excuses that I may create for myself and refocuses my energy to be spent on what I deem as important!

I don’t think I get any extreme anxiety, but I know I am a ‘type A’ personality~ so if things don’t go perfectly I tend to get overly self deprecating. Planning things out and making sure that I create the best chance for myself to work to my full potential helps me wake up on the morning school starts feeling great and hopefulness that the coming months will work out just fine!

If anyone reading this post needs help with a jump start or might need any aid in releasing a bit of apprehension when starting something new, maybe this exercise might be just the thing to help guide the way! 

Please feel free to use the above outlines I created for your own use! 

School starts for me in a few days. I completed my reset a bit early, but I can still fine tune my routine!

I’m going to try up keeping my blogposts during this semester! So, there might be some more growing pains, but hopefully I can pursue this and grow a bit more as this year progresses!

<3CarisseIris

What's in my bag!

 I feel like this post has been a long time coming since my last one was 4 years ago! ~ 

What's in my bag, 2017!

So, to start off, my main bag is a Liz Lisa three-way bag which I just keep in backpack form. I get a lot of wear out of it as it fits SO much stuff and has lots of pockets for organizing too. It's really become one of my favourite purses I've had over the years.

My second bag I will go though is my 'tech' bag, which is a slightly older Liz Lisa clutch, that fits my tablet and can also fit into my purse if need be.

Sitting at the top of my bag is my 500 ml bkr water bottle, which is actually one of the staple items I take everywhere. I have a few of their bottles that I take out on rotation, but this week it's the Rose Gold Tutu from their 500 collection which has 500 Swarovski crystals n the cap of the bottle. It's super sparkly and looks quite cute. I like bringing along water bottles because it helps me drink water more often than I used too;;

I also always carry my wallets. One is Ted Baker and the other is a Liz Lisa pass holder that I use for convenience~ I have two so I can switch bags easily and be able to just grab my license and debit card without much fuss or thought when I need to.

The next section of items from my purse are items I find important but not really staple for everyday. Included in that would be; My key chain that holds my car keys, my bike lock and a mini tactical knife. A reusable tote bag as my city charges an extra cost per bag when shopping, so, I always carry my own to save money. I always have my favourite pen on hand that is customized to have cute colours, pink, magenta, and a dark purple. Then, so I can access my schedule and my to do lists, I always try to bring along my planner. I like to physically write out the things I need to do or to remember so having it on hand is extremely helpful to me. I also like to have tissues as I am prone to bad allergies and extremely teary eyes so if I'm without a tissue, I look like I'm miserable.

Something that was also in my bag was my Censi cat ear headphones. I don't always bring them in my purse, but when I know I will be studying , will go to the gym, or will be out alone, I have them with me. The headphones are not just cute and pink but they're Bluetooth enabled, waterproof, and has detachable cat ears~ I tend to never have the cat ears on unless it's for photos, but I appreciate the option.

I don't quite keep track of what other items I carry with me besides my staples, so the remaining clutter was a mixed bag of surprises. I don't even know why I have an 'L' wrench, a vacuum hose attachment or measuring tape in all honesty, oops!
Besides the oddities, I have a mirror compact that I bought when I saw the Anastasia musical, a fringe roller, EOS lip balm, hair tie and a spare hair bow.

A constant, but overlooked, bag companion I have are emergency supplies. I have feminine sanitary products, Benedryl, alcohol pads, band-aids and lash glue. Nothing super exciting but it's nice to have on hand just in case I or someone nearby may need something.

The last items in my purse are doubles of my favourite cosmetics; I have a travel size Tatcha facial spray for refreshing my skin or my makeup, it's actually my favourite setting spray and makes my makeup look beautifully dewy. I bring along a YSL tint-in-oil, I Rose You, that is a beautiful rosey tint/gloss and works quite lovely as a subtle blush in a pinch. I also bring my YSL tint-in-balm, Dream in Nude, because it is the the best 'my lips but better' shade on me and it's super moisturizing, and I like having it on hand if need be. Then I have a roll on version of my signature perfume which is Dolce&Gabbana's Pour Femme.

Funnily enough with all that's in my bag, it doesn't look stuffed. Though, I definitely took this opportunity to take out some clutter, haha;;  

Now onto my 'tech' bag! Which is something new for me to carry with me, but it's a necessity for being able to study on the go~

I do want to take a moment to show off my cute Little Mermaid charm on my bag. I love it so much.

I have a good assortment of stuff in my bag, and all of it fits comfortably in the clutch which was totaly a happy accident!

The main item I carry is my iPad Pro and Apple Pencil. My iPad is housed in a keyboard case which I think is 'ieGrow'? I bought it off ebay and it wasn't labeled... Either way it's Bluetooth enabled and works just fine at making my iPad more convenient to type on. Also, the keys glow pink, so I can't complain. 

The smaller items I carry in the bag are; A Mophie powerstation xxl which is a portable battery pack that can charge up to three device at once and lasts for hours! A spare wall charger if by luck I am by a wall outlet. Then I bring along a cables for my battery/headphones/tablet case, my iPad/Pencil and a cable to charge my phone. Basically, I'm ready for anything.

I like to keep my 'tech' bag as uncluttered as possible to keep it light and well organized so it's not a hassle to bring wherever I need to be.

I hope this was moderately interesting to read over, but it also leaves me curious to what my readers take along in their bags as an everyday staple?

-CarisseIris

Bedroom Tour, 2017 (Why I Took a Hiatus)

How many room tours can one blogger do in the span of 5 years? I guess I'll be pushing that unknown limit, haha! That aside, welcome to my room~

So, at the end of 2015 after a few months of multiple plumbing issues, the main pipe under my house ruptured and water came up and destroyed 2 main rooms of my house including my main bedroom, bathroom, hallway and den. As it ends up, my pipes were over 50 years old and were way past due for updating, so they had to dig up the flooring though half my house to fix it all up. During that time, I had to stay with my mum for over a year and lived in her living room. The construction and everything it entailed took longer than I anticipated, and had to largely work and time itself around my budget. I will have to say now that it is all over, it was highly worth all the stress and definitely turned the page on a new chapter to my life. 

Now I've updated you on the main reason behind my hiatus, it's now time to move forward to the more exciting parts and the main room tour!

The first area we'll look at is my bed, since it's the most requested area to speak of and piques the most interest of what I've shown of my room.

So, the bed itself a 'nook' bed, or so it's usually labeled online, the placement is what was previously my walk in closet (pictured above)

So, I measured to make sure my mattress would fit and by some act of fate, it was an exact fit lengthwise, and a good foot of space on the sides! So, I went forward with the plan and hired a contractor to build a custom bed to fit my specifications and help me to plan out what needed to be done and figure out what was possible or not, and to build it in a way that would be removable if need be.

The end result wasn't exactly as I planned out on paper (my original plan handed to my contractor pictured above) but it all worked out into a cohesive and workable design consisting of a comfortably elevated bed sitting on 4 extremely deep shelving units, side storage next to the mattress with 4 electrical plugs for charging a good few devices, and a chandelier with remote controlled dimming above. The main bed base, drawers and all, were fitted to easily side out of the nook and be efficiently disassembled.

Honesty though, the final product was better than anything I could imagine and looks beautiful, it's also cozier than any place I've slept before. 

Oh, I should probably touch on a few things, since I do get these questions;

 I don't have any air circulation issues inside my closet bed, it also doesn't get hot inside my nook (I actually have the problem of waking up too cold). I don't get claustrophobic inside, I actually love being in enclosed spaces. The only annoying issue overall is putting in my fitted sheets onto my bed really, I may have broken a nail once from it. 

The next part, attached to the nook, was originally intended to be a bench. It was designed to cover the massive patch of what was dug up for access to the water pipe, as I couldn't afford to replace all my flooring or find matching wood, so it was a good way to disguise the area. With input from the contractor, he recommended to add in shelving under the bench, which was a great idea! Later on, while I was in the decorating stage, the bench itself wasn't of use to me so I added on another small storage unit above it and used it as an area to display items, like my Shellie May bears and above it all, an area for my collection of 'Mini Mermies' by Liana Hee 

 (A closer look at my Mini Mermies)

Turning to the side, my vanity sits against the wall taking in all of the nice bright light. I have two little mounted bunny heads working as hooks for whatever needs quick access~

I also found a way to subtly display my Goofy Movie collection which doesn't fit in with my aesthetic but is one of my pride and joys.

The next little overlooked area is a secret storage inside an inconspicuous ottoman, I also hide all my soft lighting, tripods and other big camera pieces behind the mass of pillows~ It also serves as a great place for selfies!

I also have another Liana Hee piece that my mum gifted me when I finally moved back, she's one of my favorite pieces in my room actually but never gets shown off properly enough on my social media. She's also hooked up in a way that she moves aside and there's another 4 electrical plugs behind her.

The main space of my room as is the usual theme, for me, is a private sitting area. This time around I wanted to incorporate a small television, something to spoil myself with honestly and so I don't need to hang out in my living room if I didn't want to. 

The original plan had a bit more decoration to display it, but I was convinced by my contractor that it would overpower my room, and I listened to reason and am glad I did. I included the sketched out plan (above) just to show my way of planning, even if things don't work out I like sketching my plans out, even moreso over a photo of the actual space to help myself visualize.

Also, another gift from my mum were some, apparently antique, shot glasses? But I found them cute and have them out on display under my T.V.

Here is the comfiest couch in the world!

Against the window is my dressing area with my full body mirror and standing wardrobe. 

I also found the cutest crate for my pup! It may a bit tall but it was just too gorgeous to pass up!

The main centerpiece of my room is some new lighting that also ties in some cohesive themes to my updated bathroom.

So, I can't remember if I've ever brought up the attached master bathroom in any blog, but it was never something to really show off at least till now~ The original bath was bright green and yellow and before this issue there was no plans to ever update it. So, this was basically my chance to have my dream bathroom. I really wanted something simple and beautiful that would balance my ideal look with a design that wouldn't destroy the property value.

The basis of the layout and design was my overwhelming need for a clawfoot tub, and my preference of wanting marble and adding a little bling. I did actually work with a specialist when I realized I was absolutely clueless and she helped to find a marble design that fits what I wanted. The magic combination was finding a marble company that made a flower design and we were able to change the design to include shining mirror pieces. She really had all the connections and it was a worth it investment!

After that was picked out then came the layout design. Simple, clean and takes advantage of my half window in my bathroom~

Another highlight in my bathroom is my pillowed tiles that look like tufted fabric, I have to add that it has a beautiful pearlescent shimmer finish which absolutely doesn't like to show up in any photos, haha! The features overall were busy enough to not need much additional decor, but what I did pick to be in my bathroom were a few self indulgent pieces. I basically turned my bathroom into my own personal haven; my very own clawfoot tub to bathe in, candles on a candelabra, a pretty chandelier, and lots of shiny bits and bobbles that beautifully reflect candlelight in the evening!

I feel like I should end this blog post and tour with a comparison with how my taste has changed and evolved over the years on my blog.

 (how it looked when I first started blogging)

(the first remodeling)

(updated room decor)

The current~

I hope you enjoyed reading about my room, and going on little virtual tour of it!

<3CarisseIris