Kira Carney

Reading "Ariel- The Restored Edition by Sylvia Plath", I discovered that The Bella Jar is not Plath’s only exceptional piece of writing. This edition of the collection has all of Sylvia Plath’s edits and marked up poems in the back of the book. I loved seeing her editing process and the notes she wrote and crossed out.

Maggie Nelson, a writer who is enticed by most things blue, creates a numerical and poetic story called Bluets. Within her thoughts, Nelson shares stories of women, God, and intimacy all through a blue lens.

Claudia Rankine showcases a world full of micro-aggressions that marginalized groups face in their day-to-day lifestyle. These tidbits enter us into a world of stigmatization and hostile behavior that people of color have faced time and time again in their everyday life. Citizen is eye opening, no matter how progressive or liberal one might say they are. I was left disheartened with the world we live in, incredulous of how people find hope in this hostile atmosphere that has been deemed okay by society.

Margaret Atwood is a phenomenal poet. Atwood’s writing in Dearly is very different from one of my favorite novels “The Handmaid’s Tale.” Many themes are found in this work of poetry. She writes about nature, growing old, women in society, and supernatural oddities.

Anne Carson’s “The Glass Essay”, is a personal reflection as well as a walk through a day in her life as someone who has recently split with someone that she loved. Carson draws parallels between her own life and Emily Brontës’ throughout the poem.

I read this book in one sitting. The connections of people, emotions, and hardships carried me through every story within this book. Jennifer Militello is so talented.

Bernadette Mayer is a creative individual who took one day out of the year and wrote a six parted book using poetry and prose to describe it via dreams and observations.

I was able to disconnect from the author and make her work my own, or at least in my perspective. Milk and Honey reminded me of a lot of internal battles that I want to write about.

Sandra Cisneros is a feminist Chicana author. I have only read one other book of hers before this collection of poetry: My Wicked Wicked Ways, and it was a collection of short stories called Woman Hollering Creek. Of course prose and poetry have their differences so reading this book was a different experience for me. This perspective of storytelling allowed for a deeper connection to be made between me and Cisneros.

Ocean Vuong’s writing style was something so unexpected. The different uses of space in each poem is intentional and makes each stanza powerful by itself.

Piece of Cake by Bernadette Mayer and Lewis Warsh take turns writing this book as if it were a shared journal. Letters are also found in this piece. There’s something so simple about a journal, but when it’s not your own, it’s craved for attention—something pulls you into another person’s life.

Eula Bliss’ style of writing interests me the most. I love the tiny paragraphs, grouped off by a little line in between the other ones.

This is by far my favorite book of poems that I’ve ever read. The Gold Cell by Sharon Olds is nothing like anything I’ve ever read.

Ellen Hopkins uses similar craft to what I’ve been leaning towards: prose poetry. This style of writing is perfect for assigning voices to different characters. The spaces between lines, the italicization, and more are used as character’s growth.

This novel follows a girl named Cleo through a friendship break-up that she had with one of her close friends Layla.

ABCmouse is a great resource for children at all ages (including pre-k!!) I nanny and the kids love going through their activities. There are also educational games and animals that they have to "take care of". 10/10 recommend.

I'm deaf in one ear so bone conducting headphones are my go-to choice rather than earphones. My boyfriend bought me these about 3-4 years ago and they still work perfectly! I use them for walks, working out, yoga, and just listening to podcasts.

The "All in Motion" sports bras from Target are my favorite! Just bought a new one :)

This hand lotion is the best! It leaves your hands feeling smooth and you don't have to apply more than twice a day.

I have really thick/long hair so straightening it usually takes a long time, but this straightener works so well! My CHI has lasted over 4 years so far. My cousin has had hers for almost 8 years and it's still in great condition.

Davines Love Curl Cleansing Cream is my favorite shampoo. Even if your hair isn't curly, it refreshes your hair. For about 6-8 months I was using shampoo bars and while that was great for no plastic use, sometimes I felt needed extra nourishment. This shampoo is one that I highly recommend. I also use Davines hair oils/serums and one of their spray hair conditioners. It all has a light beautiful scent too.

My favorite moisturizer is Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream. It's a little more expensive than less known brands but keeps my face very moisturized!!

We have two of these cordless vacuums, one for upstairs and one for downstairs. They are the best and have great add on attachments to reach hard to get places.

Margarita Engle tells the story of her upbringing as a Cuban-American. Her mother from Cuba and her father from the United States. This story is told through poetic verses and the POV of Engle as a child. Highly recommend if you like poetry and creative nonfiction.

This cookbook is beautiful to look at, has so many great vegetarian recipes, and makes you feel fancy in the kitchen.

Flonase is a lifesaver! I also switch every 6 months or so between Zyrtec and Allegra.

These stuffed animals are the best dog toys ever! This brand makes sure their toys last longer than regular plush toys for dogs. We have about 9 of these at the moment, (our dog is spoiled).

I use Kiehl's Daily Reviving Concentrate every morning along with my daily moisturizer and it's so light and smells like flowers. It makes my skin glow and keeps my face smooth. I also use the Midnight Recovery Concentrate face oil every night after washing my face, the small hints of lavender allow me to relax into a deep sleep.

Adding peanut butter or treats to this makes my dog go crazy! She will lie down with it for hours.

I'm usually a La Croix person, but my Uncle buys these and y'all - it's so good!!

If you're not looking to spend big money, I highly recommend L'Oreal's "AGE PERFECT" Hydra-Nutrition Facial Oil. My whole family has been using this product for a couple of years. It's literally something we put in stockings for Christmas. You can buy it at CVS.

I posted this on someone's post about La Croix. But I want to share on my page the chart I've created for all of the flavors I have tried so far and what my thoughts were: LimonCello 9.5/10 Tastes like lemon yogurt sweet but Creamy? Tangerine 0/10 Gross aftertaste Orange 9.5/10 Keeps orange flavor throughout day Watermelon 10/10 delicious and refreshing Lemon 5/10 fake flavor Lime 8/10 good, boring Curate Cherry Lime 9.5/10 Hi-Biscus 8/10 Peach Pear 9.5/10 Blackberry Cucumber 9/10 tastes like how I would think cucumber soap tastes like. Really good. Small hint of blackberry in beginning. Cantaloupe Pink Grapefruit 8/10 good flavor. Kiwi Watermelon 2/10 tastes like sandpaper Passionfruit 6/10 tastes summery with a faint taste of refreshing but bitter grapefruit

I love organizing my planners and taking notes with these markers. They have two sides, one side is a pen and the other is a regular marker. They last a long time too!

Loving Tan is my favorite product, there's no orange tint- it gives my skin tone a natural bronze. I'm quite pale with olive/yellow undertones and it's perfect. Island of Paradise dries my skin out 100%, it makes me so itchy I had to stop using it.

These are the best hiking shoes I've ever had.

I LOVE this vegetarian cook book! They have substitutions to easily make recipes vegan and the author shares her journey of becoming a plant based eater. I love to read and learn about food and health so this is a real winner in my kitchen.

These pens are perfect for bullet journaling and writing nice and orderly notes in class or meetings. This brand has many different colors to choose from, as well as different tip sizes. 05 is my personal favorite.

These are by far my favorite pens to take notes with. They write easily and rarely smear on the page. The blue ink is my favorite, but I settle for the black ink too.

I love bringing reusable straws to restaurants (pre-Covid of course) but sometimes the metal straws hit my teeth and I hate that feeling! I bought these on Amazon and I'm really glad I did. They are so easy to put on the straws as well as take them off.

Y'all! I love this candle, it's 100% Christmas/Winter Holiday filled. Mine was gifted to me but I will definitely buy more when I burn through the one I have.

I've always loved bullet journals, but I've found with grad school and all activities I'm juggling (yes- even during Covid), that I don't have enough time to draw out every month. I'm now using The Simplified Planner and highly recommend it. It's straight to the point and every day except the weekend has to-do lists.

We have a SodaStream! Our OG one had plastic bottles but we’ve since upgraded (a few times) and now use the glass bottles as well as the plastic. Definitely get it, I’m a huge La Croix fan and still love this.

We use Sonos System!! Works great and can easily be taken outside.

I love this candle so much! It's supposed to enhance your dreams- and while I've always had vivid dreams, it's so relaxing and smells wonderful. If you're into Tarot Cards, crystals, and incense these candles are for you.

These duster earrings are so elegant and beautiful. I love wearing them and love that it comes from a small business.

This is a grill that is a ceramic charcoal/BBQ cooker. It can be used as an oven and smoker as well. We've had ours for almost 20 years and it never disappoints. Highly recommend.

The family I nanny for uses this for their kids and I highly recommend it.

Y'all!! I have 6 pairs/varieties of Thinx period underwear and they work so great!! I no longer have to feel bad about the amount of plastic going to waste when I'm on my period. I love using a sustainable item to help save the Earth.

I love the recipes in this vegetarian cookbook. The descriptions curse at you and it's not a fancy cookbook. These recipes are easy and messy, and that's totally okay. The food always comes out amazing. 10/10 recommend.

This has to be one of my favorite TJ finds! I use it on everything!! (Sweet potatoes, bagels, pasta, I'm kind of obsessed). We always make sure to buy two

Great vegan diner!

I have three pairs of earrings from this business and absolutely love them! Kristi takes the time to nicely wrap her creations and is so easy to communicate with via Instagram. I have so many of her necklaces saved on my wishlist.

Ash & Elm Cider is my favorite cider brand of cider. I buy the cans at my local Whole Foods and when there's no pandemic it's a great place to hang out with friends.

Great place to eat dinner, they have a cute outside area with picnic tables and lights.

Bluebeard has the best mojitos ever. The chef, Abbi Merriss, is a family friend and I'm so proud to be able to recommend this place to others. The food is delicious and the atmosphere is very hipster chic.

Condado's (as I call it) is so good! They have really great Margaritas, the best chips and salsa, and really vegetarian and vegan friendly menus. Such a fun spot to eat inside or outside!

This place on Mass Ave. has always been a family favorite! All of their stuff is made from around the world and make wonderful and thoughtful gifts. They have everything from Worry Dolls to jewelry, to beautifully made chess boards. Highly recommend.

These are the best milkshakes ever! Plus, it's a black owned business so I'm always happy supporting them. They have vegan options as well as the option to add alcohol to your milkshakes if you're feeling wild.

Sarah's earrings are the best! They are homemade with polymer clay and come in all sorts of unique designs!

This place is so great! Perfect location on Mass Ave.

This is one of my favorite restaurants in Fountain Square. They have outdoor seating or take out during Covid-19. For colder nights they provide a bonfire and seats plus heaters near tables. La Margarita has amazing margaritas (I get the Top Shelf tequila) as well as tacos!! I'm vegan and have loved every vegan dish that they offer.

These donuts are famous in Indiana. If you ever find yourself visiting this is a must visit place. Their donuts are very nicely priced and a little secret is waking up early morning and getting their early!!

If you haven't been to Love Handle, stop what you're doing and order food from them right now! Their biscuits and gravy are delicious, especially their vegetarian ones with their beets gravy.

Just went here this morning with my mom! They have amazing lattes and great vegan food options! You can sit outside and it looks like they were starting to bring tables inside.

I worked at Silver in the City for 2 years and loved every minute of it. I still go into the store whenever I'm on Mass Ave. They have beautiful jewelry and hilarious gifts. They have everything from candles to t-shirts. Highly recommend.

Words can't even express how much I love The Garden Table. I haven't been there since New Years Eve 2019, but every time I pass it on Mass Ave I cross my fingers that I'll soon be inside eating their food again. My favorite brunch item is the garden toast, which may seem simple but you can add vegan yam bacon which is so so good. Their cold-pressed juices are amazing and if you can't choose which one to order you can ask for taste testers to find the one for you! They used to have a lavender latte, and while I will always miss that, their coffees are all so good.

Best cajun food in Indiana! B&B was my go to order before becoming vegan, now my go to is the white bean chili! Their bread is vegan and delicious.

My mom and I are obsessed with Amelia's. They are being super cautious during Covid-19 and are only allowing 2 customers in at a time. Their bread is always fresh and always amazing. They also sell cheeses, granola, sauces, and pastries! 10/10

This play is conveniently in downtown Indy near the grocery store Needler's. They have everything hardware related and during holidays have extra outdoor decorations!

A cute little grocery store right in the middle of the city! Used to be O'malia's, then it was Marsh, and now it's Needler's. I'm so glad that we have a grocery store right here with nice prices and a variety of items. They also have a coffee shop inside which is nice to hang out at when it's not a pandemic.

Whole Foods is such a great place! The have everything from skincare, essential oils, organic foods, vegan foods, snacks, and La Croix. It is more expensive than a regular store but worth it to go once a month.

My friend Maggie got a tattoo here and it's absolutely beautiful!! Her tattoo artist's name was Alyssa.

Witch Hazel is more than just a hair salon, they provide waxing, tanning, and makeup services! Before Covid-19 they would offer lemon water or tea the moment you walked in and always make sure you're comfortable and have what you need. Everyone is so talented and the prices are very reasonable. Plus, Witch Hazel is in the middle of Fountain Square so when you're done with your appointment you can walk out, get coffee, and do some shopping (Covid safe, of course)!

Zen Nail Lounge is the only nail place I've ever stuck with after the first appointment. The workers are so kind and even though the space is small, it never feels crowded. They've also started serving drinks.

Dr. Stump has literally known me since I was born. Best doctor ever, so kind and attentive.

Best dentist! I've been coming here since I was a little kid. My parents also go here. Dr. Snyder is so kind and the staff is always friendly and remembers you!!

I've been going to Invoke since I was 10 years old, I'd join my mom during her classes. All of the yoga instructors are mindful and ask if anyone has injuries that they should know about. I love that they truly care about everyone. The community is warm and welcoming and it's in the perfect location of downtown indy!

In February I did the 30 day Challenge (yes, it went into March). And it was amazing. It's been over a year since I've been in a yoga class due to the pandemic and this eased me back into the practice. Adriene is funny and lighthearted and recommend anyone looking for a way back to the mat go on her channel.

This is my favorite coffee shop in Indianapolis! After trying all of their lattes (with oat milk), Pistachio is my go-to. They also have a seasonal latte that's Key Lime and it tastes like fruit loops and is amazing. The recently started selling breakfast: Biscuits and Gravy, Egg Biscuit Sandwiches, and always have Vegan options for their dishes.

This coffee shop is my mom's favorite coffee shop in Indianapolis! They have great bagels, really good coffee, and the owner is so kind. I recommend this place if you want a community of regulars at a coffee shop.

Rabble Coffee is such a cute coffee shop! It's a short walk from Woodruff Place and downtown Indy. They offer vegan options and have really good vegan pot pies.