There’s been a little more laughter in our home There’s been a little more laughter in our home lately. Snuggles and kisses and staying up way too late watching Netflix. It’s like the worst is behind us and we’re on the other side of what we’ve been dreading and the darkness that has covered us for so long is starting to lift. It doesn’t mean we’re 100% okay, but we can feel the light and the hope for the future and we’re choosing to face it hand-in-hand, together. And every night, you whisper to me: “This isn’t your fault. You’re my best friend. I love you more today than ever before. We’re going to live a beautiful life together.” And every night, we grow a little bit closer and our hearts mend a little more, and I know deep in my bones, that we’re going to be okay. I love you, Dustin. #ttccommunity #ttcjourney #hysterectomy #childfreenotbychoice #childfreeafterinfertility #infertilityawareness #infertilitysucks #healingafterinfertility
Between the sun and the sea and in this peaceful p Between the sun and the sea and in this peaceful piece of paradise, we have started to turn our wounds into wisdom. We have started to dream again. We have started to make plans to rebuild. We have started to heal. Even here, we are growing. Together. I love you, Dustin. We’re going to be okay. #cabosanlucasmexico #villadelmar #cabomexico #infertilityawareness #childlessnotbychoice #childfreeafterinfertility #childfreenotbychoice #ttccommunity #ttcjourney #healingafterinfertility
After a year of cancer scares, two CT scans, one M After a year of cancer scares, two CT scans, one MRI, countless blood draws, and devastating news regarding our journey to have kids, it’s feels damn good to have good news to share today. I am 15 years cancer free. I have officially lived half my life as a cancer survivor. That’s a win I will happily take and happily celebrate. WBC has come back within normal ranges. I’m still severely anemic (to be expected right now with everything going on) so I’ll be going back for an Iron IV Transfusion on Friday to try to help my body catch back up after a hard few months of periods. Lymph nodes feel normal. Lungs sound good. Leg looks solid. For 15 years, this body has fought to keep my cancer away. And despite all that we’re going though now, all’s I feel is an immense sense of love and gratitude for it. She has worked hard to keep me alive and as healthy as possible. We’re on the same team, my body and I. And now it’s my turn to fight for her and get this toxic organ out and get healthy again. On to the next year. #cancersurvivor #pediatriccancer #childhoodcancer #osteosarcoma #utahcancerspecialists #cancerfree #cancerremission #childhoodcancerawareness #childhoodcancersurvivor #cancerfighter
Today, we met with the kindest, most knowledgeable Today, we met with the kindest, most knowledgeable doctor to discuss my MRI scans and my upcoming surgery. He spent over 50 minutes showing us my scans, answering our questions, and making sure we had all the information and options to make the best decision for us. Leading up to this appointment, I was nervous and so so sad. Going to see this doctor made the news of my MRI real and scheduling a hysterectomy creates a finality to our journey to get pregnant ourselves. I kept wondering if I was jumping the gun too soon - and that maybe I was giving up too easily on getting pregnant. But then we saw the images from my MRI today - and saw just how large the adenomyoma is. We heard a second doctor tell us that it was in operable. We talked about how I have been bed ridden almost every day for a month due to severe pain and how this has completely wrecked my health and my quality of life. We validated my experiences and discussed my wish for a life that doesn’t revolve around my uterus. And so we have decided to move forward with a hysterectomy so that I can focus on getting healthy again. So I can live my life again. And even though this was an impossibly hard decision to make and even though this isn’t where we thought our infertility journey would lead us - I feel a sense of peace that this is the right step towards healing the wounds the last four years of infertility has left us with. There is still so much to grieve. Still so much process. But I still have so much to live for - and my uterus may have stolen my fertility but I will not let it steal my life. #infertility #infertilityawareness #infertilitysucks #adenomyosis #hysterectomy #miscarriage #ttccommunity #ttcjourney #ttcsisters #ttcsupport
Last night, @halecentretheatre treated me and my b Last night, @halecentretheatre treated me and my brother and sister to a showing of Guys and Dolls. Not only was the show fantastic and the cast extremely talented, but I had the best time with my siblings and loved being able to escape the stress and heaviness that I’ve been feeling over the last few weeks. I do not take my relationships with my three younger siblings for granted. I’m so extremely lucky to be so close to them and grateful to have them to lean on. We laughed until we cried, we sang along, and we recounted the memories of our middle school doing this play years ago. Moments of joy. I’m clinging to them and they carry me through. 10/10 recommend checking out Guys and Dolls if you need an escape from life for a few hours. It’s seriously so well done. #gifted #heytherechelsie #myvibrantlife #halecentretheatre #guysanddolls #utahtheatre #momentsofjoy #thingstodoinutah #utahunique
Sometimes you gotta bleed to know That you’re a Sometimes you gotta bleed to know That you’re alive and have a soul ❤️‍🩹 #heytherechelsie #ttccommunity #ttcjourney #ttcaftermiscarriage #infertilityawareness #infertilitywarrior #twentyonepilotslyrics #miscarriageawareness #infertilityjourney

Hey There, Chelsie

Lifestyle + Personal

The Carr’s Move Out West

We did it. We made it. We are finally out of the Deep South. And I know the way I've been talking about this move makes it sound like I really despised my time in Louisiana and I should probably alter that because I didn't totally hate it down there. I actually have very complicated feelings about our time spent there and I'm still trying to sort through all of them. When Dustin decided that he wanted to leave his full-time job with benefits in Arizona to go back to summer sales with ADT, I really struggled. I knew that Dustin was miserable at his job, that he was way overqualified for the kind of work he was doing and not getting paid nearly enough, but wasn't . . .

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Style

Stitch Fix March 2016

I'm really behind in sharing this post, but I'm excited to finally be getting it up today! Stitch Fix and I have a love/hate relationship. I love getting mail and I love having someone pick out new clothes and styles for me to try, but minus a few select pieces, I've never gotten a box that blew my socks off. I actually took a few months off from Stitch Fix because my last box had been a pretty big disappointment. Back at the end of March, however, I decided to give it another go because it was my birthday and I hoped to get something special to spend my birthday money on. In case you haven't heard of Stitch Fix, it's a pretty fun clothing subscription service. . . .

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Lifestyle + Personal

A Newlyweds Guide to Cold Season

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #MeAndMyTea #CollectiveBias I am not a medical professional and am not giving out medical advice. If you or your spouse are experiencing a serious illness, seek medical help immediately! I remember the first cold Dustin got after we got married so vividly, I could make a movie out of it. He got hit with some sniffles one evening and woke up the next morning barely able to move. He was rolling around, moaning and groaning and saying that everything hurt. As a new wife, I completely panicked. My morning was spent flapping around like a headless chicken, . . .

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Blogging & Business

The 2015 Blog Report: What Worked, What Didn’t and What’s Changing

A few weeks ago, I read this post from Paige at An Uncomplicated Life about the importance of doing a year-end blog review. Then earlier this week, I poured over Jaelen's blog report for the year (Jaelen is KILLING it over there at Making Mrs. M. She's inspired two of my posts this week!) I had been chewing on the idea of doing a blog report for a few weeks now, but was a little hesitant to sit down and actually dig in. I think was afraid of what I was going to find! However, I'm really glad I decided to put together a 2015 blog report; I discovered some pretty surprising things about my traffic and stats and have been able to see what to focus on in the new year! . . .

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Lifestyle + Personal

My Word of the Year (2016)

When I first saw the whole "word for your year" trend start a couple years ago, I honestly thought it was pretty dumb. I have always been a resolutions type of girl and simply picking a word seemed to brush off the importance of a new year and the fresh start that came with it. Today, the first Monday of 2016, I'm sitting down to apologize to everyone who I directed a snarky thought towards when I saw they were picking a word for their year. I'm sorry I thought snarky things about you and your word. I have thought about your way of approaching the new year and am ready to accept I was wrong. For someone who was all about resolutions, I sure stunk at keeping them . . .

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Marriage & Relationships

To my Husband who let me follow my Blog Dreams

I know it's been quiet around here for the last week and I appreciate you being patient with me (if you love reading LWR, that is). These last couple weeks of the year have been filled with spending time with friends and family, making big plans for this space in the new year and unplugging and reconnecting with my husband. Today, I want to dedicate this post to him and his support of this little blog of mine. You may also like: 5 Ways to Reconnect with Your Spouse A little backstory: Dustin and I met at college, the summer semester I decided to stay instead of going home to New Hampshire and Dustin's first semester out there (our school operated on a . . .

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Beauty + Health

Sephora VIB, Black Friday + Cyber Monday Haul & Reviews

Affiliate Links are used in this post which may result in a small commission for me at no cost to you and go to help to run this site. As you may have guessed, my wallet may have had some significant damage done to it over these last few weeks with all of the crazy sales in the beauty world. It first started with the Sephora VIB sale, which was then quickly followed by Black Friday and Cyber Monday and other holiday promotions. The list goes on and since I love high-end makeup (but try hard to never pay full price for it) I decided to take full advantage of all the deals and haul a ton of new makeup to play with and try out. I've had most of these items for . . .

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Lifestyle + Personal

What to Read, Watch and Listen to this Christmas Season

affiliate links - clicking on some of these links may result in a small commission at no additional cost to you. These funds continue to help me run LWR. Thanks for your support! With only two weeks left until Christmas Day, you can bet I am squeezing as much Christmas cheer into my life as possible before I have to tuck it all away for another year. I'm already depressed thinking about it. Wahhh, why does Christmas only come once a year? If you're looking for some Christmas themed books, movies or music to enjoy these next two weeks and Christmas season, I've rounded up my favorites in each category to share. You can bet that my home is going to be non-stop . . .

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Lifestyle + Personal

Festive Holiday Date Night + Tasty Homemade Hot Cocoa Recipe

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SendHallmark #CollectiveBias As much as I love Christmas and everything that goes with the holiday season, as Christmas approaches this year, I've been feeling some mixed emotions. This will be my first Christmas away from all of my family (minus Dustin & Roo, of course). Dustin couldn't take any time off during his first 3 months of his new job, so we'll be celebrating Christmas together in Arizona while the rest of my siblings fly home to Boston to spend it with my parents. Part of me is excited to have my first Christmas just with my little family and . . .

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Beauty + Health

Gift Guide for the Makeup Lover (Drugstore Edition)

affiliate links may be used in this post, which will result in a small commission for me at no additional cost to you. thanks for helping me run Life with Rosie! I LOVE CHRISTMAS TIME SO MUCH! And, if it was socially acceptable, my tree would be up for at least 3 months and Christmas music would be played year round. Alas, it is not, so my Christmas-loving soul must squeeze in all the Christmas themed things in two months. I've had a couple people ask me what I would recommend in the makeup world for gifts, so I decided this would be the perfect time to put together a gift guide for the makeup lover. And, because we all love making our money stretch during . . .

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Lifestyle + Personal

December Goals

HELLO DECEMBER! I've been waiting for you all year. Please take your sweet time in passing; I can't get enough of your holiday cheer! I can't believe I've been doing these goals posts since February! Since writing them down and specifically laying out what I want to achieve both personally and blog wise- I've been able to accomplish way more than ever before! Writing these posts help me have something concrete to refer to and it helps me hold myself accountable because I'm publishing them for the rest of the world to see! November Goal Report: Blog/Maintain page views-In October, I hit 14K page views and I was really nervous I wouldn't be able to maintain them . . .

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Blogging & Business

What’s In My Blog Bucket

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #TryALittleGoodness #CollectiveBias A Full-Time Blogger Who Is Still Figuring it out During the summer, after I made the choice to pursue blogging full time while living with my in-laws in California, I put together a blog bag to keep all my blogging gear organized and to encourage myself to get out of the house and work every day! It was really helpful to have all of my stuff in one place so I could just grab it and go to a local coffee shop or internet cafe to work. Now that we're in our own space again in Arizona, I now have a home office that I work . . .

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There’s been a little more laughter in our home There’s been a little more laughter in our home lately. Snuggles and kisses and staying up way too late watching Netflix. It’s like the worst is behind us and we’re on the other side of what we’ve been dreading and the darkness that has covered us for so long is starting to lift. It doesn’t mean we’re 100% okay, but we can feel the light and the hope for the future and we’re choosing to face it hand-in-hand, together. And every night, you whisper to me: “This isn’t your fault. You’re my best friend. I love you more today than ever before. We’re going to live a beautiful life together.” And every night, we grow a little bit closer and our hearts mend a little more, and I know deep in my bones, that we’re going to be okay. I love you, Dustin. #ttccommunity #ttcjourney #hysterectomy #childfreenotbychoice #childfreeafterinfertility #infertilityawareness #infertilitysucks #healingafterinfertility
Between the sun and the sea and in this peaceful p Between the sun and the sea and in this peaceful piece of paradise, we have started to turn our wounds into wisdom. We have started to dream again. We have started to make plans to rebuild. We have started to heal. Even here, we are growing. Together. I love you, Dustin. We’re going to be okay. #cabosanlucasmexico #villadelmar #cabomexico #infertilityawareness #childlessnotbychoice #childfreeafterinfertility #childfreenotbychoice #ttccommunity #ttcjourney #healingafterinfertility
After a year of cancer scares, two CT scans, one M After a year of cancer scares, two CT scans, one MRI, countless blood draws, and devastating news regarding our journey to have kids, it’s feels damn good to have good news to share today. I am 15 years cancer free. I have officially lived half my life as a cancer survivor. That’s a win I will happily take and happily celebrate. WBC has come back within normal ranges. I’m still severely anemic (to be expected right now with everything going on) so I’ll be going back for an Iron IV Transfusion on Friday to try to help my body catch back up after a hard few months of periods. Lymph nodes feel normal. Lungs sound good. Leg looks solid. For 15 years, this body has fought to keep my cancer away. And despite all that we’re going though now, all’s I feel is an immense sense of love and gratitude for it. She has worked hard to keep me alive and as healthy as possible. We’re on the same team, my body and I. And now it’s my turn to fight for her and get this toxic organ out and get healthy again. On to the next year. #cancersurvivor #pediatriccancer #childhoodcancer #osteosarcoma #utahcancerspecialists #cancerfree #cancerremission #childhoodcancerawareness #childhoodcancersurvivor #cancerfighter
Today, we met with the kindest, most knowledgeable Today, we met with the kindest, most knowledgeable doctor to discuss my MRI scans and my upcoming surgery. He spent over 50 minutes showing us my scans, answering our questions, and making sure we had all the information and options to make the best decision for us. Leading up to this appointment, I was nervous and so so sad. Going to see this doctor made the news of my MRI real and scheduling a hysterectomy creates a finality to our journey to get pregnant ourselves. I kept wondering if I was jumping the gun too soon - and that maybe I was giving up too easily on getting pregnant. But then we saw the images from my MRI today - and saw just how large the adenomyoma is. We heard a second doctor tell us that it was in operable. We talked about how I have been bed ridden almost every day for a month due to severe pain and how this has completely wrecked my health and my quality of life. We validated my experiences and discussed my wish for a life that doesn’t revolve around my uterus. And so we have decided to move forward with a hysterectomy so that I can focus on getting healthy again. So I can live my life again. And even though this was an impossibly hard decision to make and even though this isn’t where we thought our infertility journey would lead us - I feel a sense of peace that this is the right step towards healing the wounds the last four years of infertility has left us with. There is still so much to grieve. Still so much process. But I still have so much to live for - and my uterus may have stolen my fertility but I will not let it steal my life. #infertility #infertilityawareness #infertilitysucks #adenomyosis #hysterectomy #miscarriage #ttccommunity #ttcjourney #ttcsisters #ttcsupport
Last night, @halecentretheatre treated me and my b Last night, @halecentretheatre treated me and my brother and sister to a showing of Guys and Dolls. Not only was the show fantastic and the cast extremely talented, but I had the best time with my siblings and loved being able to escape the stress and heaviness that I’ve been feeling over the last few weeks. I do not take my relationships with my three younger siblings for granted. I’m so extremely lucky to be so close to them and grateful to have them to lean on. We laughed until we cried, we sang along, and we recounted the memories of our middle school doing this play years ago. Moments of joy. I’m clinging to them and they carry me through. 10/10 recommend checking out Guys and Dolls if you need an escape from life for a few hours. It’s seriously so well done. #gifted #heytherechelsie #myvibrantlife #halecentretheatre #guysanddolls #utahtheatre #momentsofjoy #thingstodoinutah #utahunique
Sometimes you gotta bleed to know That you’re a Sometimes you gotta bleed to know That you’re alive and have a soul ❤️‍🩹 #heytherechelsie #ttccommunity #ttcjourney #ttcaftermiscarriage #infertilityawareness #infertilitywarrior #twentyonepilotslyrics #miscarriageawareness #infertilityjourney