Cvt2dvm - CVT To DVM

All of you talking about how republicans are literal Nazis sure have been quiet as a literal pogrom is happening in Amsterdam just hours after the commemoration of Kristallnacht

A Typical Work Day:

I work Tuesday through Friday, averaging 38-42 hours per week, and I'm on call Saturdays and Sundays, My Mondays are very similar outside of my working hours, with seeing patients being replaced by studying, the occasional personal medical appointment, and my 2 standing appointments for my vocal therapist and my psychological therapist.

Mornings Before Work

05:00 First Alarm, Morning Stretches, Review of Daily Agenda

05:15 Dream Journaling, Self-Love/Positive Self-Talk Affirmations, & Morning Devotional Prompt

05:30 A Morning At The Office Podcast / Morning prayer

06:00 Wake up critters, and take the dogs out for a potty break

06:10 Feed Critters

06:15 Morning Cardio - Fasted 2-4 mile walk-jog with Phobos

06:45 Morning Hygiene

07:00 Medicate Chewbacca & Scoop Cat Boxes

07:15 Breakfast & revise notes over coffee with the news in the background.

07:45 Get the cats into their respective rooms, get Phobos ready to go to work, and Chewbacca set up for the day

Work Morning

08:00 Clock In, Return calls, and Check in Surgical Patients Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri

09:00-12:00 See Patients (GP, Rehab, & Surgical) Tue Wed Thu Fri

Afternoon

12:00 Lunch, feed Hannibal, Olive, and Chewbacca their lunches, and Noonday Prayer (BCP + Forward Day by Day Reading & Meditation)

13:00-17:00 See More Patients (GP & Rehab)

15:00 Clock Out Fridays

15:00-17:00 Sports Conditioning Phobos (Fridays)

17:00 Dinner & Vespers Prayer, Clock Out on Wednesdays

Evenings

17:00-19:00 Course work Wednesdays & Fridays, See Patients Tuesdays & Thursdays

19:00 Medicate Chewbacca + Feed All Critters plus Clock Out Tuesdays & Thursdays

19:15 Strength Training Workout

20:00 Shower, Evening Hygiene & Supplements (Melatonin & Magnesium

20:30 A TV Episode, knitting, blogging, checking social media & my personal emails.

21:30 Screens off for the night and Compline via smart speaker followed by fireplace sounds

22:00 Bed Time

That's a typical work day for me! Okay, Bye! 🩷

All of this! I love natural materials; they last beautifully, are easy to mend on your own, and don't look dingy after 3 washes. The only real problem is you must learn how to do laundry properly rather than dump all of your clothes together into the washer with 2 tide pods and then blast them with the dryer 1-3 times. Like... A waxed cotton canvas barn coat is significantly warmer than my polyester polyfill jackets on drippy dark hikes, wool & cotton socks don't give me blisters, silk (actual silk, not nylon and elastane) stockings don't give me rashes on the backs of my thighs. Natural materials are your friends!

Idk exactly how to explain this but the softness of real wool and real linen is very different from the artificial softness of polyester “sherpa”, fuzzy faux-fur, spongey acrylic knits and people have gotten too used to the soft plastics and now associate wool with “itchy” and linen with rough and cotton with “too heavy” and then go and wear 100% polyester fleecy sweatshirts and say it’s so warm and cozy but actually they’re just staticky cooking in their sweat locked inside a plastic membrane and you are paying too much to be wearing filaments of petroleum products and the money isn’t going to the people sewing them either. I’m saying you all need to touch grass and the grass in this situation is good quality textiles made of natural fibres.

Additional Notes on this: I carry 2 sidearms, a primary and a secondary, as well as additional magazines for a total of about 32 rounds on my person at any given time. I aim to have a minimum of about 19 rounds (2 6 round spare mags + a 6 round magazine in my primary, and 1 round chambered), particularly if I am only able to carry my primary side arm given the outfit I'm wearing. Ensure all holsters have trigger guards idgaf what safety features your firearm has, safeties are mechanical devices capable of failure. My secondary I carry in condition 3, whereas my primary is carried in condition 0. I will also post photos later and reviews on both of my sidearms and why they are what they are.

I'm seeing a ton of Feminists urging eachother to get a gun due to the election results, which is fantastic news imo American women please please please assert your 2nd amendment rights and get a gun if you're able to <3

You can start by looking into the gun laws in your state: https://everytownresearch.org/rankings/compare/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_laws_in_the_United_States_by_state Gun safety: https://www.agirlandagun.org/how-to-shoot/4-rules-of-gun-safety/ Youtube has thousands of gun related videos, it's a male dominated culture but there are absolutely a ton of resources for female shooters and beginners. Reddit has a handful of firearm related subs, included r/firearms(skews conservative/rightwing) and r/liberalgunowners and r/concealedcarrywomen Facebook has women's gun groups also, many of them skew conservative but can still be a valuable resource for beginners Check out your local area for self defense firearm classes, some will have classes geared specifically to women. Check out your local gun stores, or sporting goods stores, some will have a range in which you can rent a firearm before purchasing but many don't have this feature, so it's important to do product research before buying. https://www.pewpewtactical.com/best-handguns-women/ https://tombstonetactical.com/blog/best-guns-for-women (Most guns range from $400 to $700 btw) Gun store employees are overwhelmingly male (and in my experience, old) and might try to steer you towards the tiny pink pistol, or a .22, or something else equally impractical for self defense. It's important to be assertive and clear in what you're looking for!

It's Tech Week and Doc's Dog got into the tech week brownies so I'm stuck on Clevor Baby Sitting Duties

It's Tech Week! Feed your veterinary support staff, send them a nice little note, and as always, be kind to your vet staff.

How to Romanticize Every School Moment Like a True It Girl

Here’s the secret: school isn’t just about textbooks and deadlines. It's your runway, your story, your stepping stone to greatness. Here’s how to turn even the most mundane school day into something magical, stylish, and *completely* iconic.

Morning Goddess Energy ✨

Waking up early isn't punishment—it's the moment the world is yours before anyone else wakes up. Prep the night before, set your favorite playlist, and let the morning sun kiss your skin. A silk robe, a cappuccino in hand, and a moment to journal or meditate? That’s *main character* energy. 🌅

Look Good, Feel Good 💅🏼

The "I just rolled out of bed" look is cute, but nothing beats stepping into class looking polished. Lay out your outfit the night before—think blazers, structured skirts, or those high-waisted jeans that make you feel *unstoppable*. Own the hallways like they’re your runway. 💃🏼

Coffee Dates... With Yourself ☕️

Instead of rushing through that study session, make it an experience. Light a candle, pour yourself a fancy latte, and treat studying like a cozy coffee shop moment. Bonus: add your *fave* playlist in the background and find a cute study spot with a view. 🪴

Take Class Like a Boss 💼

Classes aren’t just for sitting there—they’re your stage. Be the person who raises their hand with that killer question or insightful comment. Sit at the front, stay organized with your sleek planner, and use the cutest stationery. Confidence is everything. ✏️📓

Study Smart, Not Hard 🧠

Make studying enjoyable with timed sessions (hello, Pomodoro Technique) and aesthetic notes. Find your vibe—whether it’s a window seat or your favorite cozy corner. Hydrate, treat yourself to a little snack, and romanticize every highlight and flashcard. 🍓📖

Romanticize Routine 🌸

Turning small habits into rituals is *everything*. Treat yourself to a calming skincare routine after a long day, keep your desk tidy with flowers or decor that makes you happy, and wind down with a good book before bed. Make everyday routines feel like luxurious rituals. 🕯️✨

Celebrate the Small Wins 🥂

Finished an assignment? Nailed that test? Celebrate *every* win. Take yourself out for a little treat, order in something indulgent, or enjoy a relaxing evening with a bubble bath. You *deserve* it. Life’s too short not to savor every victory. 🎉💖

✨ Own your day, romanticize the moments, and make even the toughest school days feel like a dream. ✨ You’ve got this, babe.

by elliothawkey

I'll be doing a video version of this soon! Stay tuned! February! Next week's post will be about pantry staples and stable shelf goods for paleo diets & dirty paleo diets (includes fermented dairy, oats, wild rice, and ancient grains, this is my personal diet)

Primal Chic Beauty: Making The Switch To A Less Intensive, More Earth Based Hygiene and Beauty Ritual

Before we begin, let's talk about the basic tennants before I explain the swaps I made and the products I love:

Less is More: The biggest part of the Primal Chic beauty routine is it's simplicity and minimalism. I don't want you to read this post, dump all of your current skincare and makeup into the garbage just to go out and buy the things I talk about here. Use up what you already have and make the switch gradual.

Clean Clean Clean: We want to be utilizing products without harsh chemicals & unethically sourced components. The easiest way to tell if something is on or off the list is their ingredient transparency. Especially with cosmetics. Avoid unneccessary fragrances, dyes, colorants, and preservatives, and aim for things like Cruelty Free, Paraben Free, Sulfate Free, and Triclosan free. Aim for companies that are transparent about their supply chains, both for the labor in creating them, and in their ingredient sourcing. I also prefer women owned and family owned brands rather than the "clean" lines of bigger companies.

Be Smart About Animal Products: Personally, as someone with a soy allergy, I'm a big fan of certain animal products in my skin and beauty rituals, Goat's Milk Soaps, Beef Tallow hair masks, Honey & Yogurt face masks, etc. However, while I am a proponent of using the entire animal, make sure you're checking the sourcing of these products as some companies are more ethical than others. I'm lucky in that I live fairly close to the Amish and therefore have access to a certain amount of local agriculture that others may not have access to. If you're buying from an unknown company or farm, drop them a line to see where they're sourcing their animal products from. The more ethical companies rarely have an issue explaining (and bragging) about the welfare of their source animals. Things we definately want to avoid though are things like Shark Liver Oil (certain Squalene), Ambergis (whale stomach lining), and Castoreum (artificial vanilla flavor/scent produced from the castor sacs of beavers located near the anal glands). If you want to save yourself the hassle, Vegan skincare is an option, just be sure to keep an eye out for allergens like Soy or Mushroom Enzymes.

Now, let's talk about some of the Primal Chic changes in my own beauty routine:

Old Face Routine:

Oil Cleanser

Regular Cleanser

Scrub

Toner

Oil

Eye Cream

Targeted Treatments

retnoids

Moisturizer

Neck and Chest Cream

Sunscreen

Foundation

Concealer

Blush

Highlight

Contour

Bronzer

Eyeshadow

Eyebrow Gel

Eyeliner Pen & Pencil

Mascara

finishing powder

finishing spray

New Face Routine:

Castile Soap

Miracle Balm

Almond Oil as needed for dry-flaky patches

Sunscreen

Pink Color Balm/ Multistick (Eyes, Cheeks, Lips)

Mascara

Eyeliner Pencil if I'm feeling fancy

That's it. The really crazy thing about it too? I had more acne, dryness, irritation, and inflamation with the old routine. I did have about 2 weeks of acne after making the switch as my skin adjusted but I haven't struggled with major skin issues since. Part of it was cutting back on the amount of makeup I was wearing, as a full beat vs a little blush and eyemakeup with a lip is a lot less product on the skin. Part of it was not creating new issues for myself by trying to treat the old issues with harsh chemicals. I also cut out a lot of fragrances from my skincare, with my only scented skincare product left being my sunscreen since I don't seem to have any reactions to Sun Bum's products. My used up makeup containers I take to my local health foods store to be recycled by Terracycle.

Old Shower Routine:

Pre-wash oil

Shampoo

Scalp Scrub

Conditioning Mask

Conditioner

Soap on the body

Body Gel

Body Scrub

Body Oil

Shaving cream

Lotion

Body Mist

Perfume

Deoderant

New Shower Routine:

Castile Soap for hair, body, & shaving

Occassional Home Made Sugar Scrub

Almond Oil (2 drops worked through the ends of my hair, then worked across the body)

Occassional use of cocoa butter on knees, hands, feet, & ankles

Deoderant (I still use a conventional Dove deoderant)

I save so much time, my showers are maybe 10 minutes long if I'm not shaving that day, and 20 minutes tops when I do a little trimming. I also switched from disposable heads to an old-school single blade safety razor. Also, rather than investing in chemical exfoliants I switched to dry brushing and body scrapers/ gua shas to exfoliate and massage.

Most of the products I use I can buy in bulk from my local low/zero waste store and simply store in mason jars rather than continually add to plastic production and disposal which is hard on the environment. Dr Bronner's soaps come in paper refill cartons as well for your original plastic bottle, or, if you have a dry shelf in your shower, you can simply buy the paper carton and skip most of the plastic all together.

We're also in an era where there are more resources than ever on creating your own, at home, grooming and hygiene products where you have complete control over the ingredients that go into them. I used to be super into soap making however as I went back into school and started my full time job, I found I didn't have time for all of my hobbies and it became one of the ones on the chopping block. You could also use shampoo & conditioner bars packaged in paper. A growing number of regular grocery stores such as Giant, Wegmans, or Shoprite have a natural hygiene care section near their pharmacies or other hygiene sections, and there's usually atleast one soap maker at arts fairs and farmers markets in more metropolitian areas.

I think, as part of our respect for Earth & our environment it's worth asking what we can do to limit our harm to the planet in pursuit of vanity.

There's also dietary changes, supplements & vitamins, and psychotherapy options for treating PMDD. I'd recommend going to a female D.O. + OBGYN who generally will present you with a more well-rounded and wholistic (not holistic) treatment plan. My original PMDD team consisted of a psychologist, a psychiatrist, a dietician, an endocrinologist, and a D.O. gynecologist.

We figured out hormonal birth controls aren't an option for me due to both lifestyle factors and the exacerbation of my PMDD symptoms. We also restricted/eliminated soy from my diet as my intolerance of it went beyond bloating, and it also influenced my mood and psyche due to hormone levels being thrown off when I'd eat soy products as part of my inflammatory response to it. We added in psychotherapy with a focus on DBT and regulation skills to help me better adapt to psychological stressors. For about 3 years, while I was gaining those skills, I was on antidepressants.

My current treatment plan addresses both my seasonal affective disorder, birth control needs, and my PMDD through vitamin D & magnesium supplementation, a paragard IUD (non-hormonal copper IUD), dietary changes to a more whole foods high protien diet, and exercise. I haven't had a true PMDD episode in almost 4 years with this plan. Treating the underlying psychological disorder, getting my hormones balanced, and controlling the inflammatory response has done incredible things for me.

Talking to your primary care doctor or gynecologist about PMDD is an important step, and if you feel your needs are being ignored or aren't being addressed by your medical team, you can and should change providers. Your doctors also can't help you if you don't ask them to help and advocate for yourself. I've gone through a lot of good doctors and bad doctors and now have a fully female medical team whom I trust and who trust me.

Pre-menstrual depression is always depicted as like "He He! I had a box of icecream bars and cried while watching the Titanic!" But in reality, it's more like, "I'm standing the edge of an abyss. There is nothing good inside of me, I'm filled with rage and desperation."

It's crazy that being told how to deal with that is never a part of anyone's menstrual sex education.

Bag Tour 2024: Daily Bag Edition Feat. Hannibal Lector

All images have alt text descriptions with items listed, bag tour, and the reasons for each item below the cut

The Bag Itself:

This bag is a Coach Turnlock Tote bag in the pebbled leather color Blossom. This bag, the belt bag I now use as a bag organizer, and the wallet were all gifted to me in 2019 by a family member. The belt is too large for me at this point in life, so the pouch has been repurposed as a Toolkit of sorts. While it is a hair small fully packed, I enjoy the color of it and the balance of it as well as the functionality of the pockets it has.

The Straps:

My straps on this bag usually aren't this cluttered. However, Hannibal has been coming with me to work on a daily basis to get him used to the idea of traveling, and I needed a place to put his harness.

On my straps there is a malachite pendant necklace attached to the charm loop at the bottom of the right side of the outer strap, and my keys are also usually attached here with a carabiner unless I'm going somewhere that I'd want my keys a little bit more secured. I just like malachite. It looks cool. It's the right shades of green, and it's fairly easy to get ahold of.

I also have my stethoscope looped here if it's not around my neck or on my desk at home. I have a neonate size littman stethoscope since I primarily work in companion animal medicine, and I find that it focuses a bit better on my patients who are less than 15 pounds. I do have a regular litmann as well, but that one stays at the office. Most of my after-hours calls are on cats and small geriatric dogs who have standing orders for as needed injections of certain medications whose owners are either unwilling or unable to administer those medications.

Then, the big thing on the straps today is Hannibal's harness. Little dude is 17 weeks, and a whopping 7 lbs already. I could gush about him literally all day, though. His harness was only on the bag while he was allowed to have free roam over the back of the reception area and wrestle with Chewbacca (my terrier).

Turnlock Pocket:

This is where I keep my human med kit for myself, plus treats for my pets, or snacks for myself. Image 8 is the corresponding image.

Human Med Kit:

Glucometer: I have struggled with Non-diabetic hypoglycemia, POTS, and hemiplegic migraines for about 7 years now due to a moderate traumatic brain injury in my teens. So I tend to take 2-5 glucose readings per day. The rubber gloves in my glucometer bag aren't for me to use on me so much as they are to be ready if I need to assist someone in a first aid setting or administer narcan to someone.

Excedrine Migraine: A tried and true beloved OTC medication, both my terrier, Chewbacca, and my malinois, Phobos, are trained for migraine alert and POTS electrolyte imbalance alert work, although Chewbacca is retired at this point. At the first migraine alert from my dogs, I take one tablet of Excedrine and then wait an hour. If the migraine continues to worsen, I then take the second half of the regular dose. This is what works for me, and you should talk to your doctor about treatment options if you have migraines. Currently, I'm down to only 2-4 migraines a month and only experiencing breakthrough hemiplegic migraine symptoms about once every 3 months with this routine.

Narcan: I carry it everywhere. I was never an opioid addict. However, after my TBI, I did struggle with perscription amphetamine addiction, and as a result of having been through that, and having gotten clean, I've become a really big proponent of harm reduction and narcan access programs. There's a few charities I'm involved with that give away narcan locally, and I'd be happy to put anyone interested in carrying narcan some national resources. I also live fairly close to Philadelphia and have unfortunately had to utilize narcan to assist strangers in bars in the past from tainted supplies.

Menstrual cup: I have PCOS, so my cycle isn't super regular and I'd rather have it and not need it then need it and not have it.

Not Pictured: My supply of both instant iced coffee, instant electrolytes, and protein bars that I keep in my glove box, office desk, and at home. Both the caffiene (increases blood pressure) and the electrolytes (increases sodium and potassium) are important in managing my POTS symptoms. The protein bars are for when my glucose drops a bit too far.

Chicken Churu: This was Hannibal's treat for today, we worked on saying hello to strangers and walking nicely on a leash.

Tech:

Corresponding Photos: 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, & 9

Samsung Galaxybook Go: This is my laptop for work and personal use, it has an LTE data chip so I can use it on the go without sucking up my Hotspot data, and it's got fantastic battery life. I bought this refurbished off of Amazon at the beginning of the year. It also charges with a USB-C cable which is super convenient since the rest of my tech with the exception of my smart watch also utilizes USB-C charging so I can just pack a fast charge block and 2 USB-C cables rather than lug around 5 different chargers.

Samsung Galaxytab S6 Lite: It was on special at costco and has an S-Pen which is great as someone who's memory for reading/typing isn't nearly as effective as my memory for things I've written down. I mostly use this for notes on patients and my studies.

Samsung Galaxy23 Ultra: It has a stylus and is of a similar design, feel, and functionality to my Note9 I just replaced last fall.

Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro: The active noise cancelling is fantastic for working in busy coffee shops on Mondays, and the Ambient sound is great for getting a Podcast in during charting or longer monitoring stints.

Samsung Galaxy Watch5: LTE enabled watch helps when I'm away from my phone during the day, it allows me to still get calls, texts, notifications, and keep track of active time and calories burned.

Charging Bundle: One 8" USB-C -> USB-C cord for charging my tablet, phone, or earbuds off of my laptop, one 4' USB-C -> USB-C cord to charge my laptop or other devices if my laptop is sufficently charged, a USB-A -> hard drive cord for my 1TB portable drive, and a USB-A Smart watch charging cord.

Data storage: 8GB flash drive that is mostly used for ultrasound capture transfers and X-Ray Diacom transfers, although occasionally it also gets used for in-house lab data transfers when the WiFi link is acting up. 1 TB portable hard drive, this contains textbook PDFs, a large music library, archived notes, and lesser used reference tables and software. It also has copies of my more important documents.

Vlogging/Content Creation Supplies: Light bar, microphone, mini tripod, comfort grip, and microphone stand. Basically just stuff to enhance recording quality for tiktoks, reels, and YouTube videos (coming soon).

Books & Stationery:

Pocket Edition Book of Common Prayer: No, I am not carrying a Bible around, I have an app for that. This is a Book of Common Prayer (1979 edition) for The Episcopal Church. While I'm laity, I do still try and take time for Morning Prayer/Matin, Noonday Prayer/Diurnum, Evening Prayer/Evensong, and End of Day Prayer/Compline. These are quiet moments for me to break away from the stressors of the day. I also utilize 2 additional devotionals for quiet time upon rising and before bed that supplement my regular journaling, however these stay on my bedside table with my primary journal.

Martha Stewart For Staples Discbound Junior Notebook, this is my planner, quick notebook, and lazy journal, I basically dump my brain out right here throughout the day.

Paper clips: From marking off the current month and week in my planner to organizing papers from drug reps, to getting a client printed copies of their records, there's lots of paperclip usage.

Correction tape: I don't often use pencils and sometimes my brain goes faster than my hand and mistakes happen.

Erasers and pencil leads: If I'm out and about I don't want to lose my ability to sketch and use pencils if they're needed

Pens: Pink, Red, and Black ink, my standard for personal notes is Pink ink, while business notes are done in black, the red is for corrections on both

Pencil: it's the same grip as my favorite pens that I can write for hours with, super beneficial for long study sessions.

S Note App: My longer rough notes and revised notes are done in SNote with a SPen/stylus and handwritten out. I also tend to keep spare nibs on hand, however I am currently out of spare nibs.

Sticky notes/flags: great for passing off notes to coworkers, flagging charts, or marking messages.

Snack Attack:

Travel Cutlery set with a fork, spoon, and knife so that I don't have to get utensils when I grab breakfast or lunch at Wawa or the local BBQ joint

Travel straw: Save the turtles while still enjoying my Starbucks

Bandana/neckerchief: No single use napkins here

Coozie: Perfect for NA Seltzers, Sodas, or a beer at the bar after work. Plus it holds all my other eating supplies.

Beauty/Hygiene:

Hand lotion: washing hands between every patient can leave my hands feeling pretty gnarly, so I always pack lotion

Perfume: Anal Glands happen, and sometimes you just... need to freshen up a bit.

Dry Shampoo: my hair always looks super greasy after taking my scrub cap off after surgeries, this buys me enough time to get through my shift

Hand sanitizer: ideal for housecall visits or visits to elder care facilities where you may not be able to properly wash your hands between patients.

Lip gloss: I'm not a huge fan of lip balms and the waxy feeling they leave on my lips vs the glide of a lipgloss or oil.

Sewing kit: Because if your shirt rips in vet med, it's probably going to be in a place you really don't want it to rip

Manicure kit: wrestling with animals can cause nail breakage and hang nails, and I'd rather not have to chew one off. It also has tweezers that come in handy for splinters or thorns picked up from animal coats.

Blotting sponge: again, I tend to start looking greasy after surgery because I sweat. And I'd rather be able to take care of it quickly and discreetly

Condoms: These don't need to be in my work bag, but they're in the tool kit along with my most basic essentials because the Toolkit is in every bag I use, including bags I use when I go out for girls night or linedancing. Also another have and not need vs need and not have item.

Hair tie, bobby pins, barette: just little extra bits and bobs as needed for hair issues, sometimes the dry shampoo isn't enough and the only solution is to throw my hair up into a slicked back ponytail instead of having it down.

Cooling wet wipe: again, surgical sweating

Other Essentials:

Wallet: Obvious Reasons

Nicotine Pouches: I've quit vaping but I haven't quite kicked the habit entirely yet

Unpictured: Glock 43. I uber and doordash after work, I also deliver controlled substances for patients in some not-so-great areas being ravaged by the opioid epidemic. I'm also a 5'5" disabled female who lives alone and has had a stalker. Sorry not sorry, it's insured, I'm licensed, and I take courses for it routinely.

If you have any questions, comments, or thoughts, feel free to DM me, comment here, comment in the tags, or reblog. Also, I'm aware this is Tumblr and that the Jesus stuff can be frightening to see, just want to make note that I do fall somewhere between a pluralist and a universalist. As long as you aren't using your religious views to oppress, marginalize, or harm people, we're good as far as I'm concerned.