Carrie Talbott Carrie Talbott

Jesus Follower | Word Stringer | Avocado Eater

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  • Health & Wellness,  Parenting

    Chronic Disappointment: 5 Ways Our Family Has Dealt with a Year of Long Covid Pain

    February 4, 2023 / 36 Comments

    This week marked one year.  Also known as Long Haulers, this title is for people who still experience symptoms more than 4-12 weeks after being diagnosed with Covid-19. If we’d known our teenage son would go this far past three months of being sick, I’m pretty sure we would’ve bought stock in heat packs, ice packs, melatonin, back scratchers, electrolytes, muscle rub, and baby aspirin.  Here are the five things we’ve done in order to deal with the never-ending pain and frustration. 1. Tests, Drugs, Pain Killers I gave western medicine a chance at the beginning for two reasons. One, to make sure our son Brock didn’t have anything life-threatening…

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    Carrie Talbott

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    Not Your Typical Pediatrician (Weight While You Wait)

    February 6, 2016

    Reclaiming Minutes & Health: 5 Things I Stopped Doing & 5 Things I Started

    April 27, 2019

    Heart Attack vs. Acid Reflux: How Our Trip to the ER Taught Us the Difference and How To Be Prepared

    January 14, 2023
  • Health & Wellness,  Stress

    Heart Attack vs. Acid Reflux: How Our Trip to the ER Taught Us the Difference and How To Be Prepared

    January 14, 2023 / 58 Comments

    After an hour and a half of sleep last Tuesday, I awoke to a gnarly feeling across my whole chest that grabbed both shoulders, clenched my ticker and wouldn’t let go.  If that’s too manly of a description for ya, here’s a more feminine version: I felt a smidge of pressure around my décolleté with a petit side of warm fuzzies gently pushing on my heart. Any-way… the point is I couldn’t sleep. Back, side, front, other side—didn’t matter. I couldn’t get comfortable and the pain intensified so I finally got up. Within minutes I stood in our family room staring at my phone arguing with myself about whether or…

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    Carrie Talbott

    You May Also Like

    Chronic Disappointment: 5 Ways Our Family Has Dealt with a Year of Long Covid Pain

    February 4, 2023

    Reclaiming Minutes & Health: 5 Things I Stopped Doing & 5 Things I Started

    April 27, 2019

    Cooking Tips & Tricks from My Classically-Trained Le Cordon Bleu Neighbor Chef

    September 15, 2018
  • Christmas,  Friends,  Gifts

    5 Ways to Untangle Your Tinsel: Tackling Christmas Without Tackling Your Family

    December 3, 2022 / 6 Comments

    Ever found yourself stressed and annoyed at just the thought of getting ready for Christmas? I know—it can happen to anyone. Our culture tells us we can do it all but fails to equip us with the tools to get there. So when I catch myself thinking, “This year is going to be so much better than last!” I know high expectations are looming. Here are a few things I’ve started doing that help make this season a tad less hectic. Disclaimer: The way I created this list was by struggling with all five of these things. So don’t you dare think I have these mastered or even managed. I…

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    Carrie Talbott

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    The Secret Society of Christmas Anxiety: How to Calm the Expectations

    December 4, 2017

    All I Want for Christmas This Year is a Book. And Star Wars Baby Yoda.

    December 12, 2020

    Carols In The Closet

    February 20, 2016
  • Stress,  Technology

    My 4-Day Frustrating Forced Phone Fast: What I Learned in the Silence of Being Unplugged

    November 5, 2022 / 14 Comments

    Day: Saturday morning Location: Apple store Issue: Stripes on screen I stood on the curb at the quaint mall, 20 minutes before they opened, fifth in line. I hid my irritation around the nearby strangers, but inside I felt my nerves starting to get on each other. It’s fine. I’m sure it’ll be fine. It’s just stripes. A few stripes are fine. It’ll be fine, right? Oh my gosh—what if it’s not fine? “Hi. How can I help you?” I turned my phone in the man’s direction. “I have an issue.” “Ohhh, yes.” He tried to hide his best-guess diagnosis, but I knew he knew. My issue consisted of irregular…

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    Carrie Talbott

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    Mexican Manna: Do You Know What You Need?

    April 11, 2020

    Christmas Card Burnout: Why I Chose to Stop Sending the Iconic Greeting

    November 27, 2016

    Navigating Conflicting Advice When Experts Disagree: Sifting Through Multiple Options to Find What God Wants

    April 7, 2023
  • Organizing,  Recipes

    Leaves Turning 80: New Season, Old Skin, and an Organized Dental Office

    October 14, 2022 / 6 Comments

    My before-and-after title works better if you’re a Wheel of Fortune fan, I know. Lucky for me, my dad is a lifer.  I grew up with the sound of an audience clapping and the tick, tick, ticking wheel coming from my parents’ room… Every. Single. Week night. The memory sits permanently nestled in my hippocampus with no plans of vacating the premises.  Like, ever.  Faithful as a sunset, the 7:00 show always caused a tug in my soul. Do homework or solve a puzzle with my dad? I didn’t love the show, per se, but the before-and-after category always sucked me in. See what I’m doing here? Turning leaves, Vanna…

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    Carrie Talbott

    You May Also Like

    Quickly Saving Drowning Memories, One Wet Photo at a Time

    April 30, 2021

    7 of My Favorite Amazon Products to Organize Your Home, Car, and Backyard

    April 28, 2023

    Spring Decluttering with an Organizing Pro: 20 Items You Can Quickly Donate or Toss This Weekend

    May 13, 2022
  • Courage,  Honesty,  Stress,  Thanksgiving

    Baby Steps, Bob: How to Replace the Overwhelming Thing with the Next Thing

    September 23, 2022 / 16 Comments

    If you’ve seen one of my favorite movies, What About Bob, you know taking baby steps (literally) is what got Bob Wiley out of his own head.  Repeating the words “baby steps” also got him on a bus, through a sliding door, and on a boat… all things that previously terrified him. Similarly, if you’ve read Bob Goff’s books or listened to his podcast, you know he loves the word ambition. Always challenging people, he does a great job of encouraging his audience to figure out what they want and go for it.  Sounds effortless coming from a man who already possesses ambition… and a bank account to back up…

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    Carrie Talbott

    You May Also Like

    When You Stand to Teach & Sit Back Down Taught: Unexpected Lessons in the Trees

    April 1, 2022
    Perfect Piano Practice Perfection

    When Daily Practice Doesn’t Make Perfect

    March 19, 2021

    When it’s Finally Time to Launch Your Business Idea. Small Starts are Better Than No Starts, Right?

    February 27, 2021
  • Attitude,  Honesty,  Stress,  Vacation

    Dealing with Disappointment: 5 Things I Learned from a Rough Family Vacation Last Week

    August 5, 2022 / 16 Comments

    I know, I know. Simply being on vacation should be reason enough to not complain, right? Having money to pay for gas, a cabin, and fun activities should override any thoughts of disappointment if it didn’t go as you planned. Aaaaand there’s the issue: it didn’t go as I planned.  Before you roll your eyes and label me “entitled,” hear me out. I realize none of us actually deserve to go on vacations. The majority of the world has probably never come close to even having such thoughts.  But since I live in middle-class America and my husband and I both work hard to be able to play, here we…

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    Carrie Talbott

    You May Also Like

    The Circus Next Door

    March 5, 2016

    8 Things I’m Teaching My American Pre-Adults in Mexico

    November 12, 2016

    Lord of the Flaws

    October 6, 2018
  • Recommendations,  Road trip,  Vacation

    Summer Road Trip Time: Fun Games & Helpful Gadgets You Need in Your Car for Your Vacation This Month

    June 17, 2022 / 8 Comments

    Love ‘em or hate ‘em, chances are you’ve been on a few road trips. Mine have morphed over the years, as I’m sure yours have too. I love my friends’ stories too! One switched driving duties with his dad while flying down the freeway in a motorhome, and another friend made an entire taco salad while she rode in the passenger seat.  I also took a trip with a friend who surprised me with a charcuterie board on the middle console. Even if you’re only driving a couple hours this summer (#gas), here are a few items that could take your trip from boring to fun. Or at least inconvenient…

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    Carrie Talbott

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    Three Summer Vacation Hacks to be More Organized: How to Pack Smart, Move In, & Return Happy

    June 30, 2023

    A Unique Mother’s Day Gift Guide for all the Young Moms, Busy Ladies, and Older Women

    May 3, 2022

    7 of My Favorite Amazon Products to Organize Your Home, Car, and Backyard

    April 28, 2023
  • Books,  Clutter,  Organizing,  Spring Cleaning

    Spring Decluttering with an Organizing Pro: 20 Items You Can Quickly Donate or Toss This Weekend

    May 13, 2022 / 14 Comments

    It’s no secret—I looove me some organized spaces. That doesn’t mean every square inch of my house is organized, but I’m working on it.  Disaster areas usually elevate stress and organized spaces usually usher in peace. But sometimes getting started is so overwhelming some people don’t even know where to begin.  Been there? After decluttering and organizing different spaces for years, a friend and I decided to turn our love for order into a business. What we’ve learned after being in our clients’ closets, kids’ rooms, pantries, garages, offices, laundry rooms, and linen closets could fill a book. But here are the top declutterable things we consistently see. You’re sitting…

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    Carrie Talbott

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    A Unique Mother’s Day Gift Guide for all the Young Moms, Busy Ladies, and Older Women

    May 3, 2022

    New Media to Buy for Yourself and Give Away: 4 Books and 2 Songs by My Talented Author Friends

    March 17, 2023

    Father’s Day Gift Guide for the Young & Old: Cool, Trendy, & Fun Ideas Your Dads & Grandpas Will Love

    May 20, 2023
  • Books,  Gifts,  Mother's Day,  Recommendations

    A Unique Mother’s Day Gift Guide for all the Young Moms, Busy Ladies, and Older Women

    May 3, 2022 / No Comments

    Let’s be clear from the beginning—not many women want cooking or cleaning gifts for Mother’s Day. Nothing says, “Now you have a better tool to clean up after us!” like an upright dirt sucker. Bleh. Unless of course she’s been drooling over the latest Dyson…. Between wanting to be sensitive and thoughtful, gifts can get tricky. Not too old-fashioned, not too freaky modern, not too impersonal. So what in the world do you get moms these days, especially the ones who already seem to have it all? Here’s a list to help, divided into three categories:  They’re all from Amazon, have free shipping with Prime, and have fantabulous ratings. Because…

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    Carrie Talbott

    You May Also Like

    All I Want for Christmas This Year is a Book. And Star Wars Baby Yoda.

    December 12, 2020

    Spring Decluttering with an Organizing Pro: 20 Items You Can Quickly Donate or Toss This Weekend

    May 13, 2022

    Fun Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

    May 1, 2020
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Welcome!

You’re here! And I’m Carrie. From full-time camp kid to unconventional missionary for 12 años in a 3rd-world country, I’m now a profesh organizer and writer who loves plants and guac. Life is short, so I’m smiling while I have all my teeth, but I still have issues. Always remember… when life hands you lemons, give them back. You deserve avocados.

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