• About
  • Contact
  • Services
  • Photography
  • Podcast

Charismatic Concepts

Living every day with a healthy dose of Charisma.

Thoughts While Getting a CT Scan

November 4, 2016

img_8273I’ll never forget the way the ceiling looked that day. Tiled, white, clinical. There was nothing imaginative about it. I could find no escape getting lost in it. The drugs being pushed into my veins felt warm, just like the nurse said they would. I tasted copper come up from the back of my throat and rest on the tip of my tongue. I knew the next side effect would be the “false sense of peeing”. The nurse assured me that I would only feel as if I was peeing through my pants but it wouldn’t actually be happening. She was correct, it did feel that way. It also felt hot, like I was straddling a warm furnace.

My skin itched under the hospital gown that I had put on fifteen minutes before. The act of putting it on made me feel more sick than I actually was. I held my breath for the seventh time as the machine moved my body up and down. “Breathe.” I heard the automated voice say again. Air released from my lungs and I wondered how many more times the machine would ask me to do that.

“Charisma?” the nurse called from the next room where the radiation wouldn’t effect her, “I see that your doctor only ordered a scan of the abdomen but we can only see the top of the mass from this scan. We need to scan your pelvis to see the full mass. I am going to call your doctor now to see if we can scan the abdomen as well. Will you be alright waiting in there?” “Sure”, I lied.

As tears silently ran down my face, I felt thankful that I was alone in the room. While the nurse called my doctor, my mind wandered back to my doctor visit. What I thought was a yearly check up and routine blood work ended up being me laying on a cold table while the nurse practitioner pressed hard against my lower abdomen with various worried expressions on her face while continually asking questions like, “You haven’t felt this?”

The nurse practitioner ordered an immediate CT scan which is how I found myself in this cold room inside of a machine that detects cancer. Somehow, I was holding on to a small glimmer of hope that the nurse practitioner was  mistaken and there wasn’t an unknown mass inside of me. As soon as the nurse confirmed that the scan did indeed show a mass, panic sunk in.

When the doctor called with the results later that day, John was at work. The doctor quickly told me that I had a uterine fibroid, I would need surgery, and to contact a surgeon who’s information she then gave me. All I heard was YOU DON’T HAVE CANCER. As soon as I hung up the phone, I cried harder than I have in years. Relief flooded out of me even faster than the tears.

Confusion, anxiety, and gratitude still filled my head. I had no idea what a fibroid was, I was incredibly afraid of surgery, and I still felt somewhat betrayed by my body. However, I knew that whatever was happening, it was something that I could actually handle.

Share This Post:
Filed Under:
Health + Wellness, Personal

Coffee at Luke’s

October 10, 2016

When I think of fall I think of warm sweaters, hot cider, vivid leaves, and Gilmore Girls. The first episode of Gilmore Girls aired October 5, 2000, when I was only 13 years old. From the first episode I saw so much of myself in both bookish Rory and ambitious Lorelai. They were the perfect combination of witty, quirky, and coffee obsessed. I’ve seen every single episode more times than I can count and have even helped John fall in love with the show. I’ve always loved the complex mother daughter-dynamics that are explored in the show as well as the female-led cast. I’ve learned countless lessons from the Gilmore Girls and grew up watching them navigate their way through adolescence and motherhood.

Early rumors of the Gilmore Girls revival on Netflix had me doing cartwheels and I was even more excited when I realized that I will actually be watching it in Connecticut. When I found out about Luke’s Diner’s popping up all over America, I was in line to buy some supplies for Hurricane Matthew. John and I had just moved and I hadn’t been on the internet as often as I usually am so I missed the memo that Netflix had decided to celebrate the anniversary of the pilot with fans. Upon realizing that there was a location close to me at Holy Grain Coffee, I quickly checked out, jumped in my car, and headed to Luke’s.

The line at Luke’s was long but everyone in it was as friendly as your regular Stars Hollow resident. I’m usually a bit shy about meeting a lot of people at once but the excitement of the event coupled with other Gilmore Girls obsessed people led to easy conversation, laughs, and a line that felt faster than it was.

The coffee shop was set up with cute little Gilmore Girls signs and free Luke’s cups with a secret snapchat filter were given out with free coffee to the first 500 people in line. My favorite detail though, was the staff dressed in plaid shirts, Luke’s aprons, and backwards baseball caps that said Luke’s. I also loved the Gilmore Girls themed soundtrack playing through the speakers.

I can only hope that Netflix continues to do awesome events like this for fans in the future and that I can find my own version of Luke’s Diner one day.

lukes_diner_gilmore_girls_1 lukes_diner_gilmore_girls_2 lukes_diner_gilmore_girls_3 lukes_diner_gilmore_girls_4 lukes_diner_gilmore_girls_5 lukes_diner_gilmore_girls_6 lukes_diner_gilmore_girls_7 lukes_diner_gilmore_girls_8 lukes_diner_gilmore_girls_9 lukes_diner_gilmore_girls_10

Share This Post:
Filed Under:
Personal

Fall Bucket List

September 22, 2016

fallbucketlistpumpkin

It’s that time of year again! The most wonderful time of the year is here and I don’t want to waste a second of it. I’m excited for crisp, cool nights, leggings and sweaters, and stories around the bonfire. To make sure I maximize my time this fall, I put together a fall bucket list of activities I want to get done before the Christmas season arrives.

⚡  Introduce my Goddaughter to Harry Potter.

We are planning for a movie night where we will watch Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, followed by a trip to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter!

⚡  Eat apples in Central Park.

I can’t wait for November in NYC. Warm sweaters, hot drinks, and amazing holiday decor. I’m counting down the days!

⚡  A Halloween movie marathon. 

Of course Hocus Pocus and Halloween Town are at the top of my list!

⚡  “BOO!” someone.

This happened to my friend last year and I have been looking forward to starting it in my neighborhood!

⚡  Have a picnic.

I’ll attempt this in Orlando if the weather cooperates but if not, it’s a great plan for NYC or North Carolina.

⚡  Make healthy vegan pumpkin muffins.

So far I have done an impressive job at avoiding all things pumpkin spice, including everything at Starbucks. I am really trying to eat as clean as possible and now that holiday seasons are longer than they used to be, that means more time for temptation. To get in the spirit while still making healthy choices, I am going to try some healthier versions of my old favorites.

⚡  Carve a pumpkin.

My favorite one to date is the Iron Man pumpkin I carved a few years ago. Let’s see if I can top it this year!

⚡  Paint a pumpkin.

I’m thinking this would be a fun activity to do with my Goddaughter and it would require less clean up!

⚡  Attend a fall festival.

Every year we attend Celebration’s Fall Festival and that is definitely on my list again! I hope to add a few new festivals to our plans this year.

⚡  Make Jack ‘O Lantern themed food.

I’m going to challenge myself to make it both creative and healthy.

⚡  Hang out in a pumpkin patch.

Being surrounded by pumpkins just makes me happy.

⚡  Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival.

We go every year and I never tire of it!

⚡  Eat roasted corn.

I’m not a huge corn fanatic but roasted corn is another story.

⚡  Attend lots of softball games.

My Goddaughter is currently playing her second year of softball and I want to attend as many games as possible!

⚡  Enjoy Magic Kingdom in the fall as often as possible.

Fall truely is the most wonderful time of the year at Disney World. The air is less humid, the crowds are thinner, and the decor makes it impossible not to smile.

⚡  Go to the Macy’s Day Parade.

Last year John and I had such an amazing experience at the Macy’s Day Parade and we can’t wait to do it again. It was honestly one of the best days of my life and it wasn’t at all stressful like everyone predicted and warned me it would be.

⚡  Participate in 3o Days of Gratitude.

Sharing all the amazing reasons I am thankful throughout the month of November is one of my favorite things about fall. This year has had a lot of ups and downs but the valleys make the peaks much more enjoyable and I can’t wait to share and celebrate those peaks.

Share This Post:
Filed Under:
Holidays, Personal

Operation Declutter: Goals

August 29, 2016

There is something very beautiful and calming to me about minimalism. I love it in art, design, decor, and clothing. As much as I admire minimalism, I still haven’t learned the art of mastering it. Growing up without a lot of extra money has made me a bit more materialistic than I care to admit. Even if I don’t often wear a certain dress or purse, or use a particular kitchen item, the act of buying it makes me feel secure in my finances. In actuality, keeping that money in my savings account would make my finances more secure and enable me to live a life where I am not bogged down by large amounts of stuff.

To be fair, John and I most likely do not have as much stuff as the average American couple. We live in a two bedroom/two bath apartment with a decent kitchen but a tiny living room so there is only so much that we can actually fit into our space. When it comes to furniture I think we have an appropriate amount for our home. When it comes to books, we can never have enough. But when it comes to stuff we don’t need, we have an abundance. Our stuff runeth over.

I’ve finally reached the point in my life where I have had enough and I am ready to conquer this mountain of stuff. I’ll never be quite on Joshua Field’s level but by the end of 2016 (or hopefully earlier) I plan to be completely organized and somewhat of a minimalist. I can’t promise to be a perfect minimalist but I will try my best.

Major changes don’t happen overnight (and stick) so I am writing out my minimalist goals and planning to accomplish one a week over the next six weeks.

minimalist-closet

Closet envy

 

minimalist living roomLiving room inspiration

 

minimalist desks

Office goals

___________________________________________

My Goals:

  1. Clothing Purge
  2. Accessories Purge
  3. Reorganize Closet
  4. Stuff Purge
  5. Reorganize Office and Guest Closet
  6. Kitchen Purge and Reorganization

___________________________________________

I’ll update you next Monday on how my first task goes. If you have any advice you want to share on minimalism and/or decluttering, tweet me!

 

 

Share This Post:
Filed Under:
Health + Wellness, Personal

Currently

August 22, 2016

Currently-notebook-creativityWelcome to the fresh start of a brand new week! My weekend was a perfect balance of all the things that I love. I spent Friday getting organized for the week ahead because I knew my Sunday would be too busy to spend anytime thinking about organization. Saturday morning we headed to Winter Park to celebrate my Goddaughter’s birthday with all of her family and friends. After the party, John and I headed to The Market on South for an incredibly delicious and completely vegan dinner. Sunday we woke up early, read for a few hours, and then hosted a brunch for one of my best friends and his new boyfriend. Our brunch turned into a Cards Against Humanity tournament which led to deep talks on the dock by the lake which led to a visit to a local coffee shop for delectable drinks and baked goods. It was a Sunday Funday, indeed! I’m feeling rejuvenated and ready to conquer new challenges this week!

It’s been a few months since I have shared a Currently with you so let’s go ahead and dive into my little corner of the world.

 

READING

The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg. John has been waiting patiently for me to pick this up for the past two months. I finally made some space in my reading list and I am excited to see what all the hype is about!

WATCHING

Gilmore Girls even though I have seen it EleventyMillionTimes. Heading back to Stars Hollow just feels like going home!

LISTENING TO

The Minimalist Podcast, as suggested by Amber Burns.

EATING

The BBQ Pulled Jackfruit sandwich from Dixie Dharma at The Market on South.

DRINKING

Peach Tranquility. It’s a perfect medley of taste for late summer.

PRACTICING

Getting back into the habit of cooking my own lunch every day since summer is over and John is back to teaching full time.

MASTERING

Eating clean and only having sugar once or twice a week. After a recent health scare, I ended up being scared into really clean eating. Luckily, I’m alright and now I’m eating cleaner and more balanced than I ever have before.

WORKING ON

Being brave enough to take a spin class again. It’s been years since my last one and I really think it’s time to get back on the bike.

LOOKING FORWARD TO

Fall! I’m over sweating everywhere I go. I want to break out all of my fall clothing (which is honestly 85% of my closet), drink warm tea, sit outside and read, and travel to beautiful areas where the leaves turn drastically vivid colors before they fall from their trees.

EXCITED ABOUT

My consulting clients store front opening at the end of this month! This will be the first time one of my clients has opened an brick and mortar store and I’m so honored to have played a roll in the design aspects of the store front.

LOVING

All the #BlackGirlMagic happening at the Olympics. #TeamSimones

Share This Post:
Filed Under:
Personal

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique

August 14, 2016

It’s been almost five years since my favorite girl in the world was born. My Goddaughter’s birthday is this week and we started celebrating at Walt Disney World this past weekend. Adalyn’s parents (John and I’s best friends) booked an 8am appointment for Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique on Saturday. We arrived at Magic Kingdom before it opened to watch Addie get her princess makeover inside of Cinderella’s castle.

Anyone who has ever had the pleasure of meeting Adalyn knows that she has a never ending supply of smiles, giggles, and complete happiness. Even though she goes to Disney often, every single trip seems like the first and every character meet and greet is filled with awe and wonder. She’s the most cheerful child in the world when doing mundane things so the amount of glee on her face when she sat in the chair at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique was overwhelming in the best way possible.

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique did an outstanding job of making Addie feel as special as she (obviously) is. They took their time to make sure they were gentle with her hair, they let her have input on her make up choices, and made the presentation of her crown extra exciting. It was a wonderful experience and I’m so happy that John and I were able to be a part of it.

2016-08-14_0001 2016-08-14_0002 2016-08-14_0003 2016-08-14_0004 2016-08-14_0005 2016-08-14_0006 2016-08-14_0007 2016-08-14_0008 2016-08-14_0009 2016-08-14_0010 2016-08-14_0011 2016-08-14_0012 2016-08-14_0013 2016-08-14_0014 2016-08-14_0015

Share This Post:
Filed Under:
Orlando, Personal

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • …
  • 10
  • Next Page »

Hi! I'm Charisma.

I’m the CEO and Creative Director at 725 Creative. I help passionate small business owners build an impactful online presence with a focused brand and proven social media strategies. I'm also a freelance writer and photographer. At Charismatic Concepts, I share a behind the scenes view of life as an entrepreneur, as well as daily inspiration, travel, design, recipes, books and tips on living a balanced and happy life.

Categories

  • Women In Business
  • Small Business
  • Photography
  • Health + Wellness
  • Well Read
  • Wanderlust
  • Personal
  • Friday I’m In Love

Blast from the Past

© 2019 • Charismatic Concepts