5 Zoom Interview Tips

Greeting to everyone in the self induced hostage situation aka lock down aka quarantine. Days have no rhyme or reason... I even thought today was Saturday so there's that. People are either working or looking for work and everyone has either lost their minds or are in the process of losing it. People are also learning new things like Zoom which is similar to Skype, FB video call, Snapchat video call, Google Duo, and other services of the like but lets be honest...Zoom is killing the game at the moment. Hopefully they're continuing to fix their bugs and back doors security issues but that's a different story told by my cyber security friends. Just do yourself a favor and make strong passwords that don't match any other passwords....also two step authentication...it's worth it.

Anyways along with zoom chats and zoom doctor appointments, comes zoom job interviews. It's been brought to my attention that it's just as weird and awkward as in person interviews, but with a few tweaks, you'll be more comfortable and nail that interview on your own turf rather than theirs.

So the biggest thing that needs to be decided is whether you're taking that interview on your phone or your computer. Now if you're like me and haven't really used your laptop since college, chances are that your phone is newer than your laptop. Sometimes when you go to use your laptop, it has to do hours of updates because it hasn't been turned on in more than a month...and still take five minutes just to get to the desktop that feels like a million years. For that reason, I prefer to use my phone and the Zoom app, so on that note:

1. Mind your background - with you being on your own turf interviewing for a new job, your environment is important. It sounds like common sense to not have your dirty laundry in view but there's also people ingesting disinfectant so I'm going to say it anyway. Pick a spot in front of your wall. Avoid windows especially if the light it coming in through the curtains.

2. Snag a tripod from somewhere - With it being a job interview, you want to make a good impression and that doesn't include a visible selfie stick or a selfie stance or the constant moving or repositioning. Use a coffee table, tv table, stack of books to prop it up at eye level. Or use one of your essential trips to an open store for a small tripod. I have one from amazon and it came in handy for much more than outfit shots.

Mine is unavailable but this is similar

3. Mind your angles - Selfie connoisseurs know their proper photo angles but that's not what I mean. If you want to get away with a nice top and sweats or pj bottoms, you have to angle them correctly. If you are like me and have a significantly size bust, you probably don't want the camera angled down too much to show 11 miles of cleavage. So before your interview, figure out your set up and angle to feel your best up top and down below the camera.

4. Notebook and pen - The nice part of doing online interviews is that you have more resources at your disposal. Sometimes the interviewer will send you questions beforehand or I'm sure you can research typical interview questions as YouTube is your friend. Write down your answers and have them within your eye sight or other notes or questions to ask during the interview. The interviewer will appreciate the effort and initiative.

5. Water - What I've noticed with online conversations is that regardless if it's work or play, when we are talking, we talk a frigging lot. So have a little water near you in case you need it because you'll want your voice to be clear and not end of coughing because you're super dry from answering questions back to back.

Now I want to make note that if you choose your phone rather than a computer for zoom. Please keep in mind that if you get a phone call during this, your mic and sound will get cut off. I found that out the hard way but it's not the end of the world. Just tap ignore on the call and move on.

So while we adjust to the new normal for the time being, we might as well adapt and manage. For those on the job hunt, I hope this helps because I have a feeling that even after this is all over, some of these new aspects of the job market are going to stick. More is going to be digital rather than in person. Call it a  hunch but that's what I think...Stay healthy and get the job.



In the meantime, here's some of my other posts:

Tales of the Tank - Quarantine Essentials - https://bit.ly/TOTTQessent



or some non-pandemic posts:

Torrid Trip - http://bit.ly/2020TCoat

Medical Guide Part 1 - http://bit.ly/DrRxtips1
     Medical Guide Part 2 - http://bit.ly/Med2appt

Good Reads and the Like - http://bit.ly/Yareads22




Like? Give a girl a follow on Bloglovin
http://bit.ly/MyBloglovinPg

Or Instagram
http://bit.ly/MyIgJazz

Medical Guide Part 2 - Making the Appointment

If you're new to me, Hi and welcome to the new roaring twenties. Not going to bombard you with new year new you shiz, the algorithm will do that for you. Instead I'm here with another entry into my medical guide to hopefully help someone out there to go to the d@mn doctor be it, medical, eye, teeth, etc. What I do when I go the doctor is in Part 1 but then it also occurred to me that not everyone is comfortable talking to people in phone or in person and by some, I mean a lot.

Social anxiety is a thing for tons of people to varying degrees and if you're like me living in a rural area where you're lucky if you can find your doctor's office online let alone book an appointment. Sometimes it's inevitable that you have to talk to a person and I understand that is uncomfortable, but it must be done so I hope this lays some details out for you in order to get it done in the least amount of time/ slash conversation possible.

1. Preparation is key. Why are you calling? What symptoms do you have or do you recognize a sinus infection that you get every season that you know you'll need antibiotics? This is why part one is up first. The more you know and have written (or typed) the better you can spout it off when you're on the spot.

2. When do you have time to go? Everyone is busy with life and work but strep throat doesn't care if you have a final or a business meeting. So find out how soon you need to make an appointment. If you're already home sick, you want to get in asap. If you're not home yet maybe you need to plan on your lunch break. I know with my general 9 to 5, it was easier to set it for the morning then go to work late and stay if necessary than try to get off at a certain time to not be late. But that depends on your schedule.

3. What insurance are you using and is this office in your network to hopefully get a smaller copay and overall a smaller bill. There's 2 ways for this to go. You can do the research, beforehand, in your prep to talk to your insurance and they will find an office in your network or for lack of better words, someone they prefer to work with. Or you can talk to the doctor's office you're wanting to go to and they will run the info from your insurance card to let you know the details so keep it on hand.


4.This brings us to the moment of truth and the best thing you can do is to be nice to the receptionist and everything will be smooth. They will ask you questions and chances are you'll have the answers because you wrote them down in step 1. If this is your very first appointment to this office or doctor, you can say something like this:

"Hi. My name is ____. I'm needing to set up an appointment as a new patient." or if you already go to that office just drop the "as a new patient" and add " with Dr. _______."

There will be questions they HAVE to ask you and 98% of the time are also handling people in person as well as stuff going on behind the scenes on their end, so be nice and they'll move you right along and get you in a good spot. I've rarely run into a rude receptionist or nurse but it may happen, just get the information you need and be done as quick as possible. And remember to say thank you no matter what.

QUICK NOTE: ALWAYS GET THEIR NAME. It's always good to get a name so if you talked with them and clicked, had chemistry, made a good connection, etc. It means that you have a point of contact to ask for in the future. On the other hand if, they aren't for you or you just don't like them, you know who to avoid. Write It Down! That's the same for the office staff and especially the nurses.


This helped me get into the swing of things when making appointments especially in the beginning of my spoonie journey. Take the new year into a new decade to be your best self and that includes your health so please cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough, wash your hands, and go to the doctor.


In the meantime, here's some other posts that aren't medically related...

Good Reads and the Like - http://bit.ly/Yareads22

Planners Gonna Plan - http://bit.ly/HLPlanner

Adulting Win - http://bit.ly/Adultwin



And follow me if you please...

Instagram...  http://bit.ly/MyIgJazz

Bloglovin...  http://bit.ly/MyBloglovinPg

Medical Guide Part 1

Appointments in general are a thing, but doctor’s appointments can easily be the toughest to get through. I’m no stranger to the doctor, even before being thrown headfirst into the spoonie life, there’s been talking my friends to go to the doctor in college because swine flu was thing and so was quarantine. Talking my friend and co-worker to go to the doctor because she’s planning to go on a trip and that includes a plane with all the limited and communal air and a baby who’s young enough to have an immune system like mine naturally.

I get it, no one likes the doctor, or the dentist, or the optometrist nor does anyone like paying for it. But the alternative could be worse and you’ll spend a hella lot more guaranteed… so I’m put together a few of my best tips when dealing with those of the medical variety for your adulting accomplishments and with strep season upon us and flu season on the way, please take care of yourselves. 

It’s easy to feel intimidated and sometimes powerless when you’re going to the doctor. It’s normal and it happens, but it doesn’t mean that you have to go through the motions. It’s important to take control of your health for whatever may come your way, spoonie or not. It’s easy to hear and say “be your own advocate”, but how do you do that? Well here’s what I do, so check it out and try what you like and if it works for you too, great and if not, well you have a starting point and can make it work for you. Afterwards, if you don’t mind, report back!

Part 1: Notes
Whether you use an app on your phone or a physical notebook to write on, do it because I can just about guarantee that you will not remember by the time you leave that office. Now I will say that doctors don’t generally like seeing phones out and may ask you to put them away. I prefer to write things down because you can develop your own shorthand without the threat of autocorrect.


Now let me break this down:

Date/Time/Doctor – standard information especially if you have multiple doctors or if you’re a caregiver to someone else. Do you have a hard time setting up the appointment? Well stay tuned because that's coming up soon because I know that for a lot of people, that's not easy.

Reason – is it a follow up? Do you have symptoms? Describe them. If it’s pain, does it throb or is it stabbing or just sharp? On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the worst pain you’ve ever experienced, where are you currently or when it was at its worst? How many times have you felt it, whatever ‘it’ may be?

List of Medications – It’s important to know what you’re taking and how much you’re taking between Rx Prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines, and even vitamins or holistic practices. They all are chemical reactions happening in your gut and body, so it’s important for the doctor and the pharmacist to know so you don’t make yourself worse.

Vitals – every place does it so write them down, even the weight because unexplained weight gain or loss can be a symptom. Especially for us in the plus sized community, we know that a lot of attention gets directed at this number. So do yourself a favor and write it down because you know your habits and what has changed vs what hasn’t. Writing it down gives you evidence and backup to your case that there is a problem even if your clue is weight loss.

The rest is for your notes, what is the doctor’s plan? Is he giving you a prescription? What is it and what is the dosage? How long do you have to take it?

What is your diagnosis? If you don’t have one, what tests are being ordered and what is the procedure for that test or what is it supposed to show?

If you come up with questions after the appointment, write them down to either call the doctor back or to save for the next appointment.


So here’s part one. Take what you will and I hope it helps you get that annual physical or handle multiple visits for yourself or someone else. Stick around for the next tip because as much as we don’t want to do or would rather have mom do it, we need it.


In the meantime, here are other posts that are not medically related so stick around a while...


Good Reads and the Like ~ http://bit.ly/Yareads22

Planning ~ http://bit.ly/HLPlanner

Streaming FOMO ~ http://bit.ly/streamingFOMO


And while you're here, follow a girl on

Bloglovin' ~ http://bit.ly/MyBloglovinPg


Instagram ~ http://bit.ly/MyIgJazz

Adult Win - Planning

Here we are in the tunnel of April that tripped into May without me looking, I am holding strong into a trend that hasn’t gotten old and that is planning. Now I may even teeter on the crazy side because I have a planner for my day to day, aka, regular life and I also have one for work.

Sounds kinda crazy but it’s actually quite nifty because with my work, I handle a certain amount of info that is confidential and it’s definitely not something you want to run around town having it scrawled in an unsecured day planner.

I have no choice but to blame my mom for starting me on this. We have a thing and it’s called Hobby Lobby. It’s a treacherous place of pretty things that give you a hopeful feeling that everything can work. I have yet to leave empty handed. Well last year, my mom bestowed upon me this beauty... which now have the following stickers on the stripes.

This quickly became used and has grown with some new additions for the New Year. The pack it came with was pre-printed and therefore, needed to be adjusted. So I’ve added these little folders and
bookmarks to help things move along.

I honestly didn’t think I would be able to keep up with stickers because who uses stickers at my twenty something age? The answer is... the same twenty something who also uses adult coloring books….who is also me. They are so much fun and even on my down days, my slow days at work, my time where mental capacity is not an option, I can still be productive and plan.

The trick is for all of this, is never pay full price. The good Lord knows this is not a sponsored post, but if down the line when I have my shiz together they want to look in that direction, I will gladly sacrifice. But back to the obvious is never pay full price. Hobby Lobby is notorious for having sales and especially the Paper Studio brand that does everything for my planner, it will go on sale 40% or 50% off in most cases.

If by some reason you don’t go in when they are on sale, then follow these instructions:

1. Pull out your smart phone.
2. Go to the Hobby Lobby website.
3. Get 40% off coupon.

I lived under a rock for a long time not knowing this neon sign of a secret. Yes, Hobby Lobby always has a 40% off coupon for any 1 regular priced item. It’s always there. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve used it for stickers, other planner things, gifts, Christmas décor, etc. So use it, love it, plan it, all the things.





Check out some of my other ramblings...

Streaming FOMO - http://bit.ly/streamingFOMO
Hello I'm Shrill Too - http://bit.ly/ShrillToo
Successful Adult Win - http://bit.ly/Adultwin

and while you're at it, give a girl a follow on:

Bloglovin - http://bit.ly/MyBloglovinPg
Instagram - http://bit.ly/MyIgJazz

6 Tips When Your An Incubus of Viral Plague

First off, major kudos to you if you caught the reference in the title. But in case you haven't heard or experienced there's two strains of the flu going around among other annoying infections of the sort. As I'm writing, I've called into work because my compromised immune system is now battling an actual disease. Thankfully, don't think it's the flu, but I won't go into the gross details but I figured, since we're here. Let's make it not gloomy and depressing as possible.

I know this is easier said than done. 

So here's some nice pick me ups that have worked for me and that I even need to work on to get through this round of viral plague.

1. Soup - first and foremost you need something in your system to help it along and if you can't keep it down at least it's there to keep you from dry heaving. I don't care what anyone says, dry heaving when you have nothing to vomit is the worst bodily experience. So if you don't have a recipe or roommates or someone to make you any, always keep a few in the pantry.

2. Water - room temp is the best - I'll admit that I'm bad at this normally but I'm trying to pick it up today while I'm constantly losing moisture. Don't go ham because it's heavy and it'll definitely revolt but keep sipping.

3. Tea - now if you've read back a ways to my remedies - there's no tea shortage at my house. Chamomile is my go-to but I'm currently babying a lemon ginger tea. It's definitely different but it's hopefully doing it's thing.

4. Feel good movies - When I'm sick, I tend to abandon my strong independent senses and become a whiny mess. I hate sitting in miserable silence so on goes the movies. Personal favorites: The Holiday, Phat Girlz, and Disney movies of course...right now of course it the live action Beauty and the Beast on the Netflix. Because who doesn't need the Beast singing in their life? I can't tell you how many times I've listened to Evermore. (also if you need a good cry during said movies, just let it out)

5. Rest - I'm terrible about napping but it's really not good to be stuck on the phone all day or in this case on the computer and it's definitely something to work on because let me tell you I. AM. DRAINED.

6. Pj's - Being sick is already uncomfortable and you aren't going anywhere. So whether it's your old college sweats and a t-shirt or some actual pj's do what feels right and add some fuzzy socks to the feet that you've already lathered some Vicks on.

What I forget, still, is to listen to my body and I'm sure others do the same. I've already felt guilty this past weekend because I didn't do much of anything. But my body has. So in the name of the better you this year (yes I'm also kinda saying this to myself), let your body heal! I've already made a deal so that if my symptoms don't get better I'll call the Dr asap. ***update - I went to the doctor and definitely not the flu, bad stomach bug***


How are you feeling? What do you do when you're sick?



Need a little something something else to read?

Best of 2017 - http://bit.ly/17BestYa
Blue Mascaras - http://bit.ly/2wnrtRc
Bra Talk - http://bit.ly/2ezvzOM

(Lol I promise - I didn't plan on all of those starting with a B)

Secret Santa Gift Guide

Whether it's a familia decisions since life is more and more expensive or work life has everyone in the office filling out a form about likes and dislikes. Secret Santas are awesome. I love me some Christmas and I enjoy gift giving even if all I can afford is a candy bar.

So some peeps have one day to give a Secret Santa gift. I know for many families it's just the Christmas day or celebration, but I love the situation I have at work. We usually do 4 or 5 days or what ever days lead up to our Christmas party dinner.

Day 1. Drink
Day 2. Candy
Day 3. Random thing (if we don't have our party)
Day 4. Actual gift at the party

Typical Secret Santa rules are:
* of course, no sharing of giftee - takes the fun out of it
* no need to be extravagant - there's usually a price limit decided for the final gift.
* have fun with it

I understand that not everyone does Christmas.... whether its for different religions or preference, etc. This season regardless of the technicalities is about good intentions. We should be kind throughout the year but think about it. It's the end of the year and the end of everything that the year has thrown at us.

I like to do a little extra when I can at work to let my Secret Santa know that there's at least one person who sees them as a person and not just a coworker. When you work full time, you end up spending more time at work than at home or with others, so it helps when you get along and why not say hey, you're a cool peep and I appreciate you. Sounds corny but I mean it.

SO for actual gifts, most work circles revolve around $20 which gives you plenty of stuff to work with whether the giftee is male or female. Now I don't mind gift cards but they're too easy. I understand having someone who is hell to buy for. I'm looking the guys in my life, dad, brother and my wonderful but difficult boyfriend. I have an old post on some gifts if you wanna check those out but here's some ideas in general via my love for Amazon under $20. (but it's sooooo not sponsored because duh)

Can you say practical!?!? 

Phone Selfie Ringlight por favor

Even a few for sharing

Who doesn't need hydration in a glass bottle??? 

Samsung specific sorry Apple peeps

I've be an Amazon Prime member for a long time and have no problems going page after page into the depths of the lists of stuff because that two day shipping pays for itself throughout the year.

What do you usually look for for your Secret Santas?

In the mean time, check out some of my other posts....

Office Decor Must Haves - http://bit.ly/OfficeDe

This or That Tag - http://bit.ly/ThisorThat17

The Blues of My Life - http://bit.ly/2wnrtRc

Travel Reality - the Straight Up UGLY

One of the highlights of my 2016 year was being able to visit my sista over on the east coast. We'd been planning it for over a year, so despite the beginning of my illnesses, I was bound and determined to go even if it killed me.

So what had happened was...

The airline we took was one my sister, my bff who also came, and myself had never heard of. Spirit. Now I know that some of you are thinking, wellll there ya go. We had no idea and I've been on a plane maybe 4 times in my life. But my bff and I had things planned. We'd pay for checked luggage and have our personal items. We were planning on taking post wedding pictures in Philly, so I had my Maid of Honor dress and my good makeup and hair necessities all for it to never show up when we landed.

You always hear about things happening to luggage or see how airlines in general handle luggage behind the scenes, but when your airline gives your luggage to a different airline at an international airport and they can't find it, you may start to panic. The customer service rep in the claims department even said there was a possibility that it could have gone out of the country.

We arrived Sunday, called everyday, bought everything we needed with kept receipts which was about 1500 between my bff and I because everyone knows plus size, big and tall anything is not cheap. They finally found my luggage in Atlanta, Georgia on Wednesday of our stay. Flew it out to the airport but had to Fedex to my sister's house. But!! It rained and the FedEx sticker came apart from the wet luggage and was found in New Jersey. We finally have it returned on Friday and we were leaving again on Sunday.

Now with needing to purchase a week's worth of life from underwear to hair and makeup for the wedding pictures, my bff and I were ready for a fight if we had to pay for another 2 carry-ons on top of what we already paid the first go around. Thankfully it wasn't necessary but the bruises from carrying that bag through security and having that bag checked literally 6 times at security was brutal. AND guess who missed her flight home on the last flight of the day to Dallas? Mind you, it was 4 in the morning on top of it.

Time passes and we have been working on our claim for reimbursement. If I can tell you anything about any sort of claims, it's these main points:

1. Keep your receipts and make copies of said receipts. My bff handled this like a pro because both of us had copies of the receipts for EVERYTHING, even the paperwork and email correspondence.

2. Read the instructions carefully. Everything has a timeline and in our case, it also needed to be notarized.

3. If you need to mail it out, spend a few bucks to get it registered or certified mail. Someone on the receiving end has to sign for it and that was our saving grace because le bff sent it certified and had proof that Spirit claims received when they tried to deny our claim saying they didn't get it in time.


Needless to say, though my luggage is trashed from how it was handled and then being left out in the rain, I've learned a very valuable lesson. Pack smarter and learn to pack tighter to fit things in my carry on.



For happier posts, check these out!

Monthly Favorites - http://bit.ly/LApril17F

Tales of the Tank - http://bit.ly/TOTTBackpack



Follow me on Bloglovin - http://bit.ly/MyBloglovinPg

Tales of the Tank - My Backpack

Ok so these backpack purses I've been seeing had really made me want one. If you've read the other Tales in this series, you'd know that I basically carry a tank for a purse. Looking at all these teeny tiny backpacks while adorable as all get out, just can't work for me. Instead, I've found this one and it's a life saver. With that's been going on with my health, having a regular purse constantly falling on one hand while using my walker or cane was just not working.

I wanted one that wasn't a huge academic tank but I needed some space for the things I have to carry, like stuff for dr's appointments, so the cute teeny bags are a no go. After Christmas, against some better judgement, I clicked into the depths of Amazon and found this simple little gem.

I'd post pictures of my bag in real life but lighting say noooooope

No regrets at all.

I had to check the measurements to make sure it wasn't too small because I've been using a regular spiral to keep my notes and appointments together as well as my planner so as long as it doesn't fold, we Gucci. It's not very wide which is ok because it forces me to not carry too much. Yes, it'll be on my back but I still have to haul it on my shoulders, which on some mornings is a big friggin' deal.

I didn't want black just because I'm trying really, really, REALLY hard to push out some negative thoughts, and this charcoal gray is just gorgeous and the fabric is stiffer than typical canvas so it's been holding it's shape fairly well and the two front pockets as just big enough for some easy access.

What do I got in bag tho?

It's got an inside pocket for 14 inch laptop so I've been using that for my Dr. Spiral, my planner and a general notebook for little things. My doctor is a couple hundred miles away so I also have my Nintendo 3DS XL for some gaming if I'm not driving. Chargers are a must as well as my trusty external batteries. Thanks to Ulta for this little pill organizer for my afternoon meds and last but not least my wallet.

This is nothing compared to what I would normally carry. Like seriously. But desperate times call for desperate measures but it can still be cute, practical, and save what ever strength I have.



Check out the other Tales of the Tank

My Eye Panda - http://bit.ly/TOTTPanda
The Clutch - http://bit.ly/TOTT50Cal

Or maybe a different avenue for you
Fall Transition - http://bit.ly/FallTFaves16


Follow me on Bloglovin
http://bit.ly/MyBloglovinPg

Life Said I'm Sick

Ok, I can't say that I've been just spastic with posting or even my social media presence and I've gone back and forth on whether to go into this topic. When it comes to my health, I tend to be a lot more reserved and it tends to make me a bit of a hermit. But with a bit of debating, here I am putting myself out there on the interwebs where nothing is ever really deleted.

Now that my dramatic moment has passed, here's the sitch. My last couple posts were vague about what is going with my health. There's been a lot of pain, a lot of medications, and a two week stay in the hospital to get some answers about what has been going on. My diagnosises: lupus and blood clots. Neither of these run in my family on either side, and definitely can't be cured with my typical remedies, so this was a big surprise but after looking for answers for a couple months with no real path, getting this information was a huge relief.

Sadly these aren't all of my meds

I've still been out of work because I've lost so much strength and the side effects of my meds aren't exactly a walk in the park either. I've got a couple specialists that I'm working with to get me back to as normal as possible but it's a hard pill to swallow (pun intended) knowing that my previous normal will never happen again. I know lupus is more manageable now than it used to be, but it's still a lot that needs to be watched and researched. The blood clots just suck. Thankfully they haven't moved to my lungs or heart, but from what I was told, my legs are "covered" in clots which doesn't help my swelling or pain and was more than likely caused from my birth control that I was taking for my PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) for the last ten years.

To say that my life is changing is understatement. The great thing, and I'm super proud of myself to see this, is that I have an actual diagnosis and something to research. I'm that person that has to know what I'm into and it turns out that I know people who know people who have experience especially since I can't turn to family. And maybe through writing and adding this to my blog life, I can help someone else who is just finding out as well and is starting the journey too. So if anyone has any ideas, or tips, or resources in handling and managing lupus, please please please let me know.






Follow me on Bloglovin
http://bit.ly/MyBloglovinPg


Check out some of my other posts that are not medically related
Tag! You're It - http://bit.ly/ThisorThat17

Fall Faves - http://bit.ly/FallTFaves16

Tales of the Tank aka my purse - http://bit.ly/TOTT50Cal

10 Pokemon Go Hunting Essentials

Alrighty then, so if you've been literally under a rock in the deepest depth of the ocean, welcome back to surface and sorry about your lost voice. What you need to know is readily available on the internet but be careful what you read because the world is scary and the only thing that seems to be keeping some sanity and/or faith in humanity, lately, is Pokemon Go.

Now there are those of us, like myself, who've been waiting impatiently for this game to become a reality since the Blue version and there's a lot who've picked it up to see what the hype is that has literally been around the world and thankfully there's more positive than negative.

Long story that-has-a-million-tutorials-around-YouTube-short, is that you physically have to get outside to enjoy the mesh or the real world and the Pokemon world. Since the game's release, I have walked well over 7 miles or according to my eggs, at least 15km. I can honestly say that I don't know how relative those numbers are, I just know what my pedometer says and how many eggs I've hatched while actually walking.

And I'm not a small nor athletic person. I am Big, Bad, and Beautiful yes, but getting me outside after work is not easy. Yet, my first day playing, despite server issues, I walked for 2 and a half hours around town picking up items at Pokestops and catching Pokemon in places I see just about everyday and it's FANTASTIC. I've met many a people who I'd normally never outwardly speak to and we've shared tips and trades and battled gyms. I can honestly say that this has been a great habit to start and pick up with. A few friends chat and meet up in the evening when it's the coolest and walk about the hot spots in town and this is where our post has more meaning because we are out for a long time and our phones are on a long time. So here's some essentials to keep you going while Pokemon hunting or as I like to say, going on a PokeWalk.



1. A Good Bag - backpack, messenger, crossbody bag whatever works for you to keep these essentials in while keeping your hands free is a must. If you've been reading my Tales of the Tank, as you totally should, I'll have one up for these particular types once it's written.

2. External Battery - if you've read my posts or been on my Twitter feeds or just on social media, the word is getting around about external batteries. I'm a huge fan of these, in general, so call me hipster when I say that I was all about these before Pokemon Go. I'm ok with that, but read up here and learn you some before throwing money at these sources of power.

***6000 mAh Battery at Big Lots for $8***

3. Wall/ Car Outlet - Seems weird coming after the external battery talk, but if you've read my other old post about electronics, you'll see that I tend to be prepared. Besides one of our hot spots on campus does have outlets as do many a restaurants.

4. Charging Cord - I've noticed more recently with my Galaxy S7 that the quality of the charging cord is really starting to matter. My trusty 10 ft cheapo is seriously slacking so I've been searching and finding some great nylon/cordy/thicker/labeled as actual fast charging thanks to my amazing BFF. So thanks to my great relationship with Amazon Prime, those should be here soon for my house, for work, and for my electronics bag that I'll throw in here.
***Cord and wall outlet are my original S7 gear***

5. Bottle of Water - Regardless if you live in the desert or not, this is key if you plan on being out for a while. There's enough trouble out in the world without people falling over with a heat stroke. So have some bottles whether they store bought, or reusable, and take you some H2O.
***Kuzi was gifted***

6. Sunblock - Again another key especially if you are out during the day. For people like me, I don't get out much outside of work during the day. And one of the things that my stylist said when she gave me my super awesome cut, was that sunblock is essential period for my newly released scalp that hasn't seen the light of day in some time. Aaaand let's be honest, most of us are adults, so act grown and put some spf on.

7. Wallet - You've already got a bag and a ton of Pokestops and restaurants are restaurants so go out and support the local economy either by yourself or with your PokeCrew.

8. Headphones - For the times that you are by yourself, a good set of headphones will keep your shields up with great musica and with an added mic, still have actual phone call making skills, you know...if you use your cell phone for actually speaking... (ba dum tss)
***Music Headphones were from Hot Topic for $8.25***

9. Chapstick/Lip Balm - it goes along with the sunblock thing. Our lips get neglected and being outside...in the elements...and the sun, nobody has time for chapped lips.
***Lip Balm from Sephora approx $8 when I bought it***

10. Google Rewards (Android) - Sorry apple users, haven't used an iPhone in a hot damn minute and I doubt it's available for you.... But anyways, check out my May Favorites for the full details on this app that lets me buy PokeCoins without really needing to spend any of my actual money.


So gather it up and pop it in your bag and go catch them all....safely of course. Because that's what this screen is for...

Some other posts that aren't game related...

Lancome Juicy Shaker review - http://bit.ly/JJuicy
My June Favorites - http://bit.ly/June16Faves
One of the Tales of the Tank aka my purse - http://bit.ly/TOTT50Cal

My Pissed AF Playlist

****Reader discretion advised. There may or may not be language that would not be considered lady-like and by that I mean... get over it PDQ before you continue****

My Bff sent me this on FB and I was like RIGHT?!

There are days and then there are days where you are glad that you can't blow things up with your mind. And then even worse when you question if you'd feel bad. I've had my fair share of days where people try to say that it's just one day, not your life. There's times that I can listen to my awesome boyfriend and look at the bigger picture like I did in this post. And then.....then there are times where I just need to be mad as Hell. Call me petty, an Aries, a girl and no I'm not on my damn period either so don't even try to pull that shit. I'm just fucking pissed... for whatever assortment of reasons.

It was Arnold in Terminator 3 who said that anger is more useful than despair. And yes it can be. Look at feelings and plans carried out due to vendettas and plots for revenge and sometimes you can even use it to come out victorious on top of the world when you apply angry to productivity and sh!t....

This was not one of those days. And for days like those, I turn to music, especially. I'm sure everyone does because it, literally, can be the only thing that meshes with what your feeling. So to share this notion, I've found a list of some of my fave mad-at-the-world songs that I have and continue to blast at home, in my car, etc. And yes, a lot of these songs are older but does matter? No bitch it does not but it does tend to make me feel better after a bit.


I'm Not Ok, I Promise - My Chemical Romance.

Crawling - Linkin Park.

So Sick - Flyleaf

Call Me When You're Sober - Evanescence

The Sharpest Lives - MCR

Go To Church - Ice Cube/Snoop Dogg (when he was still D-O-Double G)/ Lil Jon

Rollin' in the Deep - Adele

Lil Homies - 2Pac

Knives and Pens - Black Veil Brides

Move - Ludacris

Disturbed - Down with the Sickness

In the End - Linkin Park

Let the Bodies Hit the Floor - Drowning Pool

Everybody's Fool - Evanescence

Nightmare - A7X

Runaway - Linkin Park

The Change - Evanescence

The Unforgiven - Metallica



Now don't get me wrong, I am all for positive thinking and reinforcement. I am on the road to becoming a more positive person. HOWEVER COMMA, I am also a person who has had that tendency to bottle things up until it blows like Mt. St. Helens. I do believe it's important to acknowledge that anger is a feeling to be dealt with. Regardless of the reasons for being super f*ckin pissed, it is not something that has to stay with you. So I am a firm believer in the power of music.

More often than not, in extreme negative emotions, mad-as-sh!t or sad AF, we are isolated and alone. In the back of our minds, we know that it's not true but the feelings suck. So build that playlist and blast it because it's easier to feel better when you hear someone going through that same emotion. Genre doesn't matter and this isn't the end of my playlist either but it helps. So get your YouTube on, or Spotify, whatever your poison is and look some of these up if you haven't heard it.

Now that I have that off my chest, here's what else has been going on in life.

Beauty 
Life Lessons
Finances

And I'm new to Bloglovin' so let's keep in touch

Tales of the Tank - Eye Panda

The journey continues in this crazy thing we call life and with that another tale of my tank. If you don't know, I don't carry a purse. I carry a tank. It's a special vessel in my life that provides when life happens. Mary Poppins had the right idea is all I'm saying. Guys don't understand the struggle when it comes to jeans with pockets the size of a pencil eraser. Or the fact that slacks don't have pockets at all so what are we to do??

So what had happened was that life kind of exploded and I put a lot of miles on my car. And I'm not talking about my mini getaway with my bff, even though that was fun times. There's been a few times and a few trips where I've been driving into the wee hours of the night/morning. Now for some people, that is no problem. However comma, I am at a time in my life where I'm crawling into bed around 10:30-11pm. So making it home after midnight or taking off on a four hour drive at 2 am can really take a toll on your girl. So again I ask, what are we to do?

I reach over to my passenger seat to my tank and it does indeed provide me with more relief than I was expecting to be perfectly honest. I pulled out this little guy that I bought from Ulta on a whim because of the adorable packaging.

If you follow me on Instagram, you would have seen him and since then, I have repurchased him for me and bought my mom one.

It's the Panda's Dream So Cool Eye Stick from TonyMoly. You just glide him on the under eye and I did the eye lid and the under brow. I expected the cooling sensation since I've had cooling eye gels, the lotions, etc but I didn't expect it to penetrate the skin and wake up my eyes. It sits for a second and just soaks right in. It's not greasy nor does it leave a residue or mess up my concealer. I was able to make it from point A to point B without worrying about dozing off.

It just goes to show that even though my mom says that I carry everything including the kitchen sink, the tank holds and provides. And when it provides in the moment, it's almost like fireworks...or a really good and fun filter.

What else does the tank hold?
External Batteries
Makeup
Other Electronics

What I've Learned in 25 Years

It’s been quite the eventful week. I’ve just turned 26 and it hit me, in a dramatic fashion of course, that I’ve completed a quarter century of life. Granted, I don’t remember the beginning ones but, the fact remains that there is a lot I’ve learned in this time up to now. Now that I’ve, technically, entered the later 20’s, there’s still a lot to learn but there’s also a ton that I have learned that I think everyone should at least consider. We brag about being in our twenties and being adulty, but it’s still a process for sure.

So take what I’ve learned and see if it works with you too.

1.       Life’s not fair. It’s not just a cliché of a phrase. It’s really not, things will get rough and then there’ll be good times. But you have to roll with the punches and go. The world will not cuddle you forever. You’ll more than likely get dropped like a new born giraffe. The trick is to get up and walk no matter how wobbly you start.

2.       Don’t be afraid to ask for help. I’ve definitely had my proud moments that I’m not exactly proud of. There’s a difference in having someone help you and having someone do everything for you. For example, if you don’t know how to change a tire by now? Call someone and have them show you step by step because if you are on the side of the road, someone may stop and help or they may keep driving.

3.       Go to the damn doctor! Since I’ve turned 26, I’ve officially aged out of my parents’ insurance plan. So now, that’s coming out of my pocket. If you are on the insurance of your parentals, take advantage of that because it’s better to nip something in the bud now than wait til you have to pay for everything yourself and by then what may have been a small issue could become a bigger one really quick. Trust me, surgery is scary in person and on the bill.

4.       Things won’t go to plan, but plan anyway. I’m pretty sure that every specific plan I plan out never goes the way it’s supposed to. I could take a Saturday and plan out work, laundry, washing my car and writing and end up doing two loads of laundry and forgetting/leaving one in the dryer til Tuesday. But plan it out anyway. Planners are the trend but it’s better to actually use it. Even if they don’t go on schedule, you still know what you have to get done eventually.

5.       Have an emergency plan – Speaking of planning, read my post on what I do and pack when an emergency hits. Some people plan in the event of the zombie apocalypse, I tend to plan trips to the hospital or emergency sick trips home. When you’re in a bind for time, you feel better knowing you’ve brought more practical things instead of losing your head.

6.       Communication is key – Even I tend to slack on this one but it’s one that will only become more important. You have to talk to the people in your life. Whether it be your family, especially those you don't see all the time and even the ones you do. They are all you have in the world, like it or not. You have to communicate with the people at work. You don’t have to be best buddies but often times, you see them more than anyone else. In my work, I talk to a ton of college students and I tell them all to talk to their teachers, professors, etc. The more of a relationship you make with those who could help you move forward, the better off you’ll be. Remember it’s not always what you know, it’s who you know.

7.       Take a chance.  We always hear about our twenties being exciting and using this time to make mistakes and find out who we are and the person we want to be. Something make seem small but once you do it, then it’s huge. As I’m writing, a couple good friends are getting tattooed. One for the first time. That’s a chance I want to take more than anything and that plan will hopefully take place in the near future. Instead I’m rediscovering my love for the arts like I did here.

8.       Say “NO” more often. I don’t say this enough for sure and I’ve had my fair share of consequences for it. Do I want to go to a midnight release of a movie? I say yes but I really mean God-NO! I'll never get up in the morning. I do think I find myself using this more and I'm so ok with that.

9. Save your money and start your retirement. Sometime in your twenties, you've might've been working somewhere for a year and while living in the here and now is great, but chances are my generation may not get Social Security. So you need a back up plan to save you 30-40 years later. Unless you're married and/or with kids, your priority should be taking care of yourself. It adds up quicker than you think if you check out these scenarios.

10. And last but not least and this one is also a bit reaffirming for me, you are not going to be 100% ready. I like my comfort zone and have a guilty conscience from time, so you could call me a worrier. Really, I worry about everything, money, people, life, relationships, etc. It's all part of getting older and attempting to understand how the world works but honestly, if you have to wait until you're ready for it, I'm pretty sure you can count on it Not happening. I don't want to pull the YOLO or the Carpe Diem out but really think about it, fifteen years from now, what would you tell someone else about how to handle life? 

And now that I've turned the page on to a new chapter of life, I'm really wondering about where my life will take me and where I want it to go, but at least I have some of these locked down. :)

It's Ok to Getaway

Bad skyline of El Paso, Tx

Life gets ya down sometimes. I don’t have to tell you that because Lord knows it can be draining. And sometimes when you suck it up and endure it day after day until weeks become months, you feel like you don’t have much less to give. That’s where I’d been and it had really taken its toll. I was sick with different things at the same time before I had enough and said that I needed a break from life and some home remedies, read about that here. And it came at a perfect time because my bff had an escape route of sorts.

On the road back home

He had a cousin who was getting married and it was going to be good times. And for some unknown reason I hadn’t met this part of the family before but with him being a professional photographer, there was some requests made for a few photos. I’ve also been wanting to improve my photography in general, and especially for the blog, so we had a whole 4 days set to have fun with his family, unofficially shoot a wedding in parts and the area to get me reacquainted with my Nikon and run around the city of El Paso, TX. This needed me to get a couple days off work and normally I’m a bit leery when it comes to taking days because my official vacation isn’t until October, and you’ll see that later later, but I needed a break from life and so did le bff.

Yup I fed that one and I was more stoked that the kids

A total of four days without phones ringing and professionalism and I only needed time off for two. It was great! We literally drove around the city because I know that I also have some family down in the area but they are a bit more distant and I haven’t seen them in roughly ten years so I couldn’t even tell you their names. But I got to see a lot of the parts that most people don’t think of when you think of Old El Paso and it was gorgeous. The dynamics in the city are great. We ate at restaurants and bistros we’d never heard of as well as some amazing home cooking from his aunt. And went to the zoo where I got to feed the giraffes and it was AMAZING! Sadly I still need some work on the dslr settings to get some decent photos so you have to suffer with the not greatest in-the-moment cell pictures. Sorry, but yea.

Beautiful Mocha from Dlox 

So I’ve decided that mini vacations are a definite need in my life. You can only go and go and go for so long before you really get burned out. So I wanna say to the workaholics and to myself that it’s ok to need a day or two off for your physical and mental sanity. I applaud the people who have their routines set for everything. I wish and want to be that structured in my life but right now, there are days where I’m hanging by a thread. Now I’m thinking about doing some planning and see how I can fit in maybe a stay-cation. 

Fairy Garden at a nursery we went to just because

My Hispanic Remedies Explained

0k, I’m alive!!

It’s definitely been a trip. I’m not sure what is worse: being sick enough to have to miss work and just hate life or not being technically sick enough to have to go to work because you already have time off planned the next week. This past week has been a mess of everything. I’ve gone through so much stuff to keep me functioning as a human and more so as a human with a job in customer service. It’s not that I was contagious or anything, just felt like an incubus of viral plague.

Now, as a Hispanic woman, there are a few stereotypes that flow with being sick that society tends to mock but to be perfectly honest, there are a few reasons that they are home staples besides the fact that it works. Allow me to elaborate a tad:

Vicks vaporub, it’s creamy/gelly/absorbing and yes it has to be Vicks brand (and no, of course it's not sponsored, it's just brand loyalty). I don’t misplace this jar of amazingness. Sinuses backed up and now your throat is screaming from the dry air. Some people will go and buy a humidifier. Don't get me wrong, they are great, and even Vicks has their own line of humidifiers from cheap to people-spend-that-much-on-that? But when you’re at home and not wanting to encounter people in general, you do what you can.

Pop the biggest soup pot on the stove full of water and pop a spoonful of Vicks in it and let it simmer. Remember to check it every now and then so that it doesn’t end badly but the dry throat and nose will thank you no matter which room you are in. I have a relatively small place so it gives moisture to the air and even after I turn off the stove at night, because duh, I'm still able to save my throat and my voice. I've also been that person that's had it all over my chest, on the bottom of my feet with socks, and around my nostrils to one sooth my nose from the boxes of tissues and two, to smell it allll in. I had it a lot as a kid and it just reminds me of home. I'm not at home anymore and it sucks a lot when you have no choice but to take care of yourself, but it's stuff like this that helps you physically as well as mentally.

Manzanilla/Yerba Buena – Hot tea is a hot trend but it’s never been a fad when you consider the benefits of herbal tea. Now myself, I prefer Manzanilla (chamomile). Any stomach issue on down can be soothed with a steamy cup of tea. My bf prefers the good herb, mint. He is also the type who is not a fan of medicines, doctors, chemical compounds that are not included in car parts, etc. He’d rather drink some tea and tough it out. A lot of our culture is like that. If you aren’t holding your intestines inside your body then you’ll be ok. I don’t have that kind of patience but again, it works.

Sprite and/or 7up. The two are interchangeable really. Not saying that they taste the same but whichever you can get first, go for it. Anytime you get sick, you know to keep the fluids going but who likes being sick and waterlogged? Sometimes the bubbly goodness of Sprite doesn’t feel as heavy after a while and it gives your taste buds a break. And as a woman who’s had countless UTIs, mixing the Sprite to tone down the super tartness of straight cranberry juice helps keep the goodness going. You get some flavor and have the fluids to move things along

Caldito aka soup – it goes back to the keeping the fluids going but it also makes sense that especially if something is making you feel bleh, you have to eat something that is easy on the stomach and will be homey especially when you’re in an empty house taking care of yourself. Some people use chicken noodle soup. My family has a secret family chicken soup recipe that is easy to make and to eat. I’ve never not felt better after eating a bowl because then I’m warm, I’m full and I’ve given my body something that can help it fight whatever is keeping me down.  And if you make a big pot, then it lasts for days. 

Now I would have had pictures of my wonderful soup and Sprite, however comma, I ate and drank it all. But trust me, it goes back to the home feeling. I may not be at home or have someone to take care of me all day, but when you have a better attitude when you're sick, I think it helps so that way you won't be as miserable. So call your parents, aunts and uncles, grandparents who may have some home remedies but of course, be smart and go to the doctor too.




Read my previos post?
Operation Ducks in a row - Savings

My New Best Lash Friend

7 Perks to Living Alone

I’ve always been pretty independent, even according to my mom as a kid, and a lot of that helps me now that I’m working out this adulting part of life. I’ve lived by myself for a long time. Even with roommates in college, my dorm life went from roomy to no roomy for different reasons and my RA just never gave me a new one. Even when I lived off campus with other roomies, we had such different schedules that we weren’t at the apartment at the same time most of the time. And now with no school and no roommates, there’s definitely a lot of upsides to living by yourself.

1.       The ability to walk and be around the house in PJs or less. There’s no one around to be decent or sexy or modest for. If you want to walk around without pants as soon as you get home, then let the trail of clothes begin

Google is on point in the search area

2.       Have it your way. No, seriously. Even in a rental, there are a million things to make your place your own. There’s a living room, bathroom, bedroom, kitchen that can all be decorated differently with your own taste with no arguments other than yourself(because yes, that will happen). But double check the ability to paint, because big changes are usually a no with landlords. I’ve been toying with the idea of temporary wall paper. Hang it up and work it out and if and when I move, it is supposed to come off but there’s more research to be done on that end.

Yes this is on my board, follow me there too in the side bar

3.       Have one bathroom schedule to keep or not. Unless you have guests staying over, there’s no Dr. Sheldon Cooper telling you that it’s not your turn or where to keep your toiletries

Ultimate roommate situation - thank you Google Search

4.       There’s no roommates to blame for the dirty dishes in the sink or dishwasher. There’s no one else to complain for leaving clothes in the washer and dryer. Everything is up to you and if you want to leave it, that is at your own risk. You can really test your own limits with chores and I feel that it helps get you in gear because if it bothered you with roommates, it will bother you more without them. And if it didn’t bother you, it will now, guaranteed or I have no sanity.

And the internet provides

5.       You literally have your own space. One issue that I had with living on campus was that yes I got my own half of the room but the times where I needed to just be alone and handle my thoughts or life in general, I couldn’t be alone. When you do, yes you have to deal with yourself but you can do that in peace. So if it’s Netflix and ice cream or blaring your stereo to get some energy out, you can just do you boo boo.

It really provides so much truth in life

6.       Sprawl out all over your bed or couch or floor, wherever your little heart desires!!! It’s one thing if you live with roommates or a significant other, but being able to leave the trail of clothes at the door or falling asleep in a starfish fashion on your bed is a great feeling. With roommates, you have to respect each other’s boundaries, but when it’s all yours then there are none. So lay across the couch or paint your toes in the living room with a sheet mask on.

I know I've slept all these ways and maybe a few more lol

7.       Be as quiet or as loud as you want. Trust me both extremes will come into play. Going thru life with roomies, there’s usually something going on. Living on campus, my friends usually had a tv show going on when I came ‘home’ or some sort of music. My older brother is a wonderful musician as is my younger brother, so classical music, big band, Dixieland, and other band arrangements of popular songs were being made at all times of the day and night for a majority of my life. That was the biggest change when I started living alone so the quietness got on my nerves, so I will always have access to movies being played in the background, or music or videos on Youtube to keep my mind from wandering. (Also I’ve gotten to a point where I can measure how much time I’ve spent by how long a song or movie was. Works wonders in the mornings.) But then there are times like me writing this post, where I’m a bit sick from stomach and headache issues, sound is the enemy and it can be quiet for however long I need it to be. No one to remind that I feel like crap and appropriately hiss when they turn on the light, or the tv, or the xbox. 

Yasss, Fave feel better movie

Now that you've read 7 perks, check out

5 Lifesavers When Late

10 Beauty Products For the Grown