Get to Know the Author of BusyGalTips!

I thought it might be nice for you all to have a little peek at who it is you're getting all these tips from, so this blog is about moi! Here's an inside look at the original Busygal...

 That's me! 

My name is Carly. I'm a Southern California girl, born and raised, and I don't think I'll ever leave...the beach, the weather...it really is a wonderful place to live! I have a brother and am blessed with an incredible family and amazing friends.

My brother and I at my MSW graduation

   Professionally speaking, I earned my Bachelor of Social Work from San Diego State University in 2004, and my Master of Social Work from California State University, Long Beach & my Pupil Personnel Services Credential from University of California, Los Angeles, both in 2010. I am also a member of the National Association of Social Workers, and a registered Associate Clinical Social Worker, working toward my license to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.

   I am a school-based therapist, providing therapeutic services to elementary-aged children and their families. I am passionate about working in early intervention, increasing graduation rates, and increasing protective factors among at-risk youth. I love being the voice for those who have no voice, and being a listening ear for youth who don't often have anyone who regularly supports them. 

   "How are you?" You'd be amazed how many kids I've asked that simple question to and in return, they look at me through narrowed eyes, and say, "You want to know how I am? Why? Nobody's ever asked me that before." Wow. What an honor to be there for them! 

   Many of the children I've worked with have experienced more tragic events in their short years than most of us will ever experience in our entire lives. It breaks my heart how casually they mention witnessing shootings, deaths, abuses, drugs, suicides, etc...to some of them, it's their daily reality. I am determined to provide these children with the best and most professional support through the difficult times they experience, and in the process, encourage them to pursue a different way of life...one that includes graduating high school, attending college, and pursuing their passions.

   Prior to working with youth, I was a substance abuse counselor at an intensive outpatient treatment center for pregnant and parenting women ages 18 and up. This was also an incredible experience, and my life was impacted in a lasting way by each woman I worked with. Many of these women have completed treatment and gone on to earn their diploma or GED, have reunited with their children, and some have even gone on to attend college and begin careers. Incredible women. Each one of them. They all had heartbreaking stories, and it was an honor to help them write a new ending to the one they believed had already been written for them.

 

             Photo by Michael Spengler Photography            Paris...the only other placed we'd consider moving to

   Personally speaking, my husband and I (my high school sweetheart!) married in 2005, and I am blessed to say it truly has been wedded bliss ever since! No kids yet...those are still a couple of years away. In the meantime, we love to travel, stay up way too late, sleep in, go to concerts, go out to dinner, entertain friends, spend time with family, and act like kids whenever possible.

 
   My motivation for writing this blog is simple. As you can probably tell by now, I LOVE helping people...in whatever way possible. Obviously, in a professional sense, that entails providing therapeutic services to individuals. 

   However, there are many ways to help people in an informal manner. I love sharing information with others and helping to make their lives less complicated. Most of the tips on here are about products that I've found that make my life easier. I love to save money and find a good deal (who doesn't?!), and I get an incredible feeling of satisfaction when I tell friends about something I've found that they say, "Wow, that would really help me out!" 

   While I was job searching (a grueling 7-month process), I started thinking of ways I could help people in a fun way using technology. I could have done e-therapy, but I wanted a fun, simple outlet that had to do with providing a free service to people that would boost their physical and emotional health through providing simple ideas, tips, and tricks. And then I realized...why limit my fun finds to just my friends? Why not share them with whoever wants to listen? And the result...BusyGalTips was born.

   I hope you continue to enjoy these blogs and that the tips truly do help to make your life a bit easier and less stressful...that's my goal! From one Busygal to another...enjoy!

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Thankful Busygals

Happy Thanksgiving, Busygals!

As Busygals, it's easy to get caught up in our non-stop, "go, go, go" lives...but I think today is a reminder to slow down, be grateful, and remember what's truly important in our lives.

Busygals, think how different our lives might be if we stop and take a moment daily to reflect on what we have to be thankful for. One way to do this, as Oprah says, "Keep a grateful journal. Every night, list five things that you are grateful for. What it will begin to do is change our perspective of your day and your life."

In honor of today, I've compiled a list of quotes below about thankfulness to encourage you (thanks to quotelady.com...one of my favorite quote sites!)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough.

--Oprah Winfrey

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.

--William Arthur Ward

If one could only learn to appreciate the little things... A song that takes you away, for there are those who cannot hear. The beauty of a sunset, for there are those who cannot see. The warmth and safety of your home, for there are those who are homeless. Time spent with good friends for there are those who are lonely. A walk along the beach for there are those who cannot walk. The little things are what life is all about. Search your soul and learn to appreciate.

--Shadi Souferian

Somebody saw something in you once -and that is partly why you're where you are today. Find a way to thank them.

--Don Ward

Talent is God given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful.

--John Wooden

When eating fruit, think of the person who planted the tree.

--Vietnamese Proverb

When we are grateful for the good we already have, we attract more good into our life. On the other hand, when we are ungrateful, we tend to shut ourselves off from the good we might otherwise experience.

--Margaret Stortz

When we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that's present--love, health, family, friends, work, the joys of nature, and personal pursuits that bring us pleasure--the wasteland of illusion falls away and we experience heaven on earth.

--Sarah Ban Brethnach

P.S. I wrote this entire blog on my phone, in true Busygal style! I have to say, in addition to being beyond thankful for an amazingly supportive and loving husband, parents, family, and friends, I'm also thankful for some of the incredible technology we have access to :)

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Great Face Wash Towelettes for Busygals on the Go!

 

Image courtesy of fashionpulsedaily.com

I grabbed these little face wash towelettes from...where else...Trader Joe's (that place feels like my second home as of late!). 

Make-Up Remover for Sensitive & Dry Skin With Oats are PERFECT for traveling or taking to the gym. Very compact, no messy liquid to spill all over your bag, resealable, and really effective! They are moisturizing, soft, and simple to use. 

For a more in-depth review, here is a great blog about them. I couldn't say it any better! When perusing this blog, I found that there is a link to all products Comodynes makes...check it out! Uh oh...I might have a new addiction... ;) Comodynes product link

Stay Warm and Fashionable, Busygals!

I don't know how the weather is where you live, but here in Southern California, the weather can't seem to make up it's mind if it's Summer, Winter, or Fall! One day it's 90 degrees F, the next day it's pouring rain...sigh...

Anyway...here's a suggestion, thanks to my friend Ashley, for those cold-weather Fall or Winter days when you want to wear a fashionable scarf.

Sometimes I want to wear a scarf, but feel stumped as to how to wear it so that it looks fashionable and not like it's big mess on my neck. In a search for ideas, I found two videos that I think are pretty helpful and have some good ideas and suggestions (yes, I realize the first video is a little odd, but she has some cool techniques). 

Image courtesy of guiltfreeshopping.com

Click on the links below to view the video tutorials.

Video Link #1 

 Video Link #2


Stay warm and fashionable, Busygals!

Swimming Busygals, Save Your Hair and Skin!

If you read my post about fitness, and specifically swimming, and were inspired...YAY! Good work, Busygal! I'm sure by now you've noticed the health and fitness benefits of swimming, but you've probably also noticed that residual chlorine smell remaining on your skin and hair that is less than pleasant. But would this Busygal leave you hanging like that? Of course not!

TriSwim makes chlorine-eradicating shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion, and other products. They're a bit on the pricey side, but all in all, swimming is a relatively cheap sport equipment-wise, so I think these products are well-worth the investment. 

Image courtesy of triswim.com

But, if you know anything about me by now, you know I love to save a buck whenever possible. So far, I've been using just the shampoo, and it seems to do the trick. For my skin, I've read that citrus-based body products (with lots of moisturizer to help with the dry skin that chlorine causes) can be great for getting rid of that pesky chlorine smell. 

I love using Trader Joe's Refresh Citrus Body Wash with Vitamin C (added bonus - it's Cruelty-Free!). I've tried their Refresh Citrus Conditioner, and I can tell you right now...save your money. It does not moisturize my hair enough to comb through afterward.

Image courtesy of amazon.com

So you go, Busygal! Keep up the good work with getting in shape, and save your hair and skin in the process!

Busygals Get Lacie!

I often find a lot of good products that make my life easier, and I love sharing this information with friends and family, and anyone else who's willing to listen...hence, the Busygaltips blog and Busygaltips twitter were born. 

But I also rely on friends for ideas and products that they've discovered. My friend Sandy, who has shared other great ideas, such as the idea for pet hair removal and an easy earring backing fix (click on the links to see these blog entries), is also responsible for this fantastic find. 

Some panties can be pretty uncomfortable, and seriously, what can make your day worse than being uncomfortable all day (uncomfy panties rank up there with too-tight pants and blister-causing shoes - for a tip to prevent blisters, click here)? 

Image courtesy of victoriassecret.com

Victoria's Secret has invented maybe the most comfortable panties in existence to save you from a ruined, unpleasant day. The Lacie Thong is one size fits all, and you can get 3 pairs for $30!

Freshen up those feet, busygals!

As a Busygal, running around all day from one event to the next, flats can be a great way to go to save your feet. But...wearing flats barefoot can cause some unwanted foot issues, if ya know what I mean. 

I made an amazing discovery that has saved my feet, and will save yours too!

Image courtesy of kiwifreshins.com

Kiwi makes some amazing shoe inserts called Fresh'ins that will make wearing flats much more pleasant. For some odd reason, you will not find these shoe inserts where all of the other shoe inserts are located. At every Rite Aid I've visited, Kiwi products have been in their own special little section. So when you head to your local Rite Aid, save yourself some time by asking the salesperson where they carry their Kiwi products. 

Save your feet, Busygals!

Auto Repair in Los Angeles for Busygals

I can't say enough good things about Ed Little Auto Repair (for their Yelp page, go here).

Bob is who I have mainly interacted with there. He is professional, helpful, patient, and great at explaining step by step all needed repairs.




Image courtesy of yelp.com
As a woman, sometimes auto repair can seem overwhelming and you feel like you're being taken advantage of, or ripped off. This has never been the case at Ed Little. I feel they are honest and they're not just trying to make a buck, they really want to help me and my car, and save me as much money as possible. What more could you want from an auto repair shop?

The only drawback about this place is that sometimes it can take a week or two to get in, but if you have a serious emergency, they'll work with you. I believe the reason the wait can be so long is due to the overwhelmingly positive rating they have on Yelp, so it's a good thing! Out of 170 reviews, they have 5 stars. That is hard to come by on Yelp. They truly deserve the rating and all of the business they are getting.

Hopefully you don't experience any car troubles, Busygals, but if you do, Ed Little Auto Repair is the place to go if you live in Los Angeles!

For Champagne-Loving Busygals

I dont know about you, but I love a glass of bubbly once in awhile...thanks mainly to a few classy friends, my appreciation for it has grown.

One of my absolute faves is Martini & Rossi's Asti champagne. It's crisp, sweet, and refreshing, but it can also cost a bit more than I'd like to spend sometimes (I will say, though, for a special occasion, it's well-worth the price...it's not really that
expensive...maybe $10-$15, depending on where you purchase it).

Image courtesy of istockphoto.com

As usual, Trader Joe's comes to your wallet's and tastebuds' rescue.

For just $5 a bottle, TJ's offers an Asti champagne (maybe it's more appropriate to call it sparkling wine). This is a wonderful alternative to Martini & Rossi, and the price enables you to bring a bottle of bubbly to the next party (and every party) you attend without causing too much damage to your credit card bill.

Plus, let's be honest...when you show up with champagne, people are thrilled and impressed with your classiness...the fact it was only $5 will be our little secret...I won't tell if you won't!