don't keep checking the mail...

I haven't been able to get it together (yet again this year) and put together any Christmas cheer...and by that I mean a Christmas card! I have been busy finishing up school, studying for the boards looking for a job etc. I fully intend to get my life together by next year.

I read a blog about people taking you off their mailing list if they don't get a card from you, PLEASE DON'T. I really do love getting all of them (which sounds really selfish). Maybe I could send out some 4th of July cards surely I can get a cute picture, choose a card, and get something out in 6 months. But then what picture would I use for the 2012 Christmas card...because we all know finding 2pictures is impossible! Especially when you have a verticle picture but want a horizontal card etc.

Yes I realize many of you probably pick out the card, color cordinate your outfits to the font, and get a professional portrait done. I don't think I will ever get it together enough to pull that off...but just know your effort doesn't go unnoticed!

So basically I am sorry! I hope that this doesn't spoil your holiday or take away from the joy of getting the mail this time of year. Look on the brightside Facebook has a whole new layout and you can just look at my timeline for the past 4 years instead.

goals for 2012

Get a job

Be a better friend

Loose 6 pounds

AND get a new fridge...this one if by chance Lowes wants to send it to me for free:



http://www.lowes.com/SearchCatalog?identifier=Dual&storeId=10151&N=4294857963+5003720+4294765678&Ne=121&langId=-1&Ns=p_product_prd_lis_ord_nbr%7C0%7C%7Cp_product_qty_sales_dollar%7C1&catalogId=10051

officially a nurse

Finally I graduated December 3rd, 2011. It was a Looooong road to get to this place. Over the past month or so I have been overwhelmed by thanksgiving for friends and family that have been such a huge support in this journey.

The day of graduation I felt a huge sense of accomplishment and also a huge sense of relief. I still have go get a job and pass the boards but the weight of daily assignments and projects and tests has been lifted.

I think I look rejuvenated?


Giles on the other hand got a horrible virus the afternoon of graduation and was therefore my first patient...hence why he looks not so hot.




Now it is time to get back to the books as I take the boards Thursday and lets just admit I have been a total slacker for the past week.

sorry?

I know I promise to post and then don't. Please forgive me I have been a little busy. Not that I haven't had about a milion thoughts to share I just never seem to have the time to do it. OR I am afraid to start because I know I have no self control and will get sucked in for hours. I am working on some updates and in the mean time please accept my apology.

PS I did just join pintrest so I haven't been a complete slacker?

More time for me...

So after a long summer pause I find myself in a frantic race to the finish of school. Going from semi-relaxed to semi-nervous brackdown only took about 3 weeks. Today I decided to live it up and get a pedicure...


MORE TIME FOR ME!

Thats the name of the color and it really looks nothing like the picture. It is like a salmony purple color, and fabulous!

I also read a book while getting a pedicure. I really enjoy reading but since school started have done no leisure reading...until today.



I am only about 30 pages in but I have already been enjoying it! I love books about life as a southern woman, and I especially love reading while getting a pedicure...with annie on my lap of course.

Kitchen Addition:

An idea I stole from a few design blogs with "rainbow cookbook" shelves...I have more cookbooks somewhere but am still rearranging after our summer house guests:



And my birthday reward for myself...or to celebrate graduation...or getting a job!:

My "new dining room"

This time last year I had just put my house on the realestate market. Starting school was not free, and I had hopes to get the equity out of my house in order to pay for it. Against Dave Ramsey's advise I took out student loans. Against the schools advise I worked while in school. The past year has flown by and I cannot believe that Graduation is almost here!

So my house didn't sell, which I am actually very glad it didn't. I love my house even more eachday and cannot imagine the heartache I would have had selling and moving. Leaving the memories of parties, and roomates, and now the Branch boys, and dogs, and cooking.

The love I felt for my house though was definately not being reflected in the decor. It was the same cream white in all but 1 room, pictures were still not hung, and my style was definately not showing. The majority of my furniture was free so I am not complaining in the least about it not reflecting my style especially since many of the pieces came from professionally decorated model homes (benefit of my dad being a realestate developer) or were family pieces given to me...and many have sentimental value.

if you are still with me here are some photos to reflect my point:


note the bare wall
Now for the "After" :

More Bitter than Sweet

Today marks the end of summer...
I have had the past 3 weeks off (almost)from school! I have still been working 3 shifts a week but I got a taste of working 3 : 12 hour shifts and it was sweet. On the other days that I had off I did nothing, went to the beach, almost completed my todo list, caught up with friends etc. The first week back at school has already taken its toll on me with exhaustion and a severe sinus cold. I have confidence though that my 3 weeks off charged my batteries enough to make it through one more semesterand that I will pass the boards, get a job after graduation, and once again have the sweet life of only working 3 days a week.

Why today did I feel such an emptiness after the summer? Deep breath and try not to cry (afterall you are sitting in lecture!).

Today Giles and his sister in law, Carrie, flew to Loisianna to get her stuff to move into her new house. So why does that make me sad. Well as most of you know Carrie and her two precious boys have been living with Giles and I this summer, making my townhouse a home.


This is a classic photo of Tyler!


Brotherly Love!

Yes it was a small place that was busting at the seams all summer, afternoon naps were rarely had, I watched wonderpets about 1000 times (if you don't know what I am talking about consider yourself lucky), had art work all over the walls, toys all over the floor, and the dishwasher and or washer/dryer were always running. Wouldn't I be celebrating peace and quite??

I dropped Carrie and Giles off at the airport (at 5 am!) for their long journey in the u-haul when I got home it was sooo quite! With 3 hours to fill before class I went for a run, changed the sheets on the beds, cleaned the bathroom, and then sat in the muteness. Then I decided I would go ahead and go to school 45 minutes early what else was I going to do?

So in class I have been looking at new throw pillows, a new coffee table, and e-readers. Unfortunately I don't think that any of these things things can take away the huge void that I feel trying to think about what I am going to do to fill the time, memories and love that I have felt over the summer.

Rainy weekend

now that the fear of a huge hurricane hitting Charleston bas been reduced I am thinking now of an awesome rainy weekend

Then I started craving chili...then I started wondering will Charleston ever get a crate and barrel so I could buy these bowls, have them today, and not pay for shipping?

Butt Camp

I'm not afraid of swim suit season, and that is because sadly I rarely make it out to the beach during the summer because of work and school obligations. When I do go it is most of the time with my bestest and closest friends. Since most of them have seen me naked at some point in our friendship (through living together, trips, and well to put it bluntly I'm not that modest) I figure me in a swim suit is probably easier on the eyes!

What does scare me is Fall. That day sometime between Sept. 1st and Oct. 31st when it gets cold enough to break out last years jeans...WILL THEY FIT? Especially being back in school I appreciate it more because... I am too broke to go buy new jeans and therefore have to pray my jeans can make it through til graduation. Then maybe I can get a new pair once I start a job! Maybe even buy a pair of James Jeans like these:



So my plan to do this is to actually train for the Race for The Cure in October:

http://running.about.com/od/racetraining/a/intermediate5K.htm

So the training started today. I did my 3 Interval 400 meter runs (I did this last week too but this is the beginning of the 8 week training plan) and I did all 3 in less than 2 minuites...therfore an 8min mile pace...if I could sustain the same pace for more than 1 consecutive lap...which I have hopes to do but don't see that becomeing my reality...but it did feel pretty good lapping a few people at the track this morning!

Maybe I can finish the race at my goal time and also fit into my jeans!

Break up & Make up

The Breakup:
I have been going to the same hair stylist since I graduated college, over 5 years ago! She has been there with me through lifes ups and downs and the chaos of my mid twenties. Last time I went to her I told her I was ready to spice it up...more highlights a fun cut... my hair was her canvas. Her response, "your not ready for that". Shouldn't I be the one deciding this?! It is my head and I have to look at it all the time! So after another boring highlight and haircut (which by the way continued to get more expensive with every visit) I came home sad and same old girl next door. After several months of being plan jane I made the switch. I was refered by some nurses to this girl, downtown, all of the nurses that go there have the cutest hair! I know this sounds silly but as I was driving to the new salon I passed the old salon and felt a little guilty. It really did feel like a breakup! If I run into my old hairdresser on the street she will know that I cheated on her with someone else. OH the stresses of being a girl.

So I love my new stylest Nicole. When I walked in and saw her I knew she was the one! I sat down and she asked me what I was wanting to which I replied, "I want my hair to look just like yours!" She really is that fabulous too. While she was doing my hair we talked about low maintenance styling options like how to make my hair wavy without having to blow dry and therefore damage my hair. She did suggest two products one I got at Sally's for 1.79 and the other from Ulta 3.99. This girl really knows how to help you make the most of your hair without maxing out your credit card! I attempted it today for the first time and I think that after a few tries it will look very beach babe, but actually the first attempt looks pretty good.

The Make-up:
Special thanks to Welles Bricker for my newest obsession:

http://www.youtube.com/emilynoel83

In my lack of tom boyness theme I have enjoyed watching lots of her videos. I went to CVS and ULTA and got a few of the things she recomended and have really liked all of them.

Though I don't think I will ever have a "collection" of makeup it is fun to get ideas on how to spice up my routine...since after all it has been the same since I first started wearing makeup.

Who knows maybe next time you see me you will mistake me for Kim Kardashian...I think I am a long way from this...though I did get a Cover Girl smokey eye shadow palate!

so pretty!

So I was looking to order some flowers for a friend of mine and was trying to get some inspiration. I really know nothing about flowers but thought that maybe if I looked over the web I would find some inspiration. First place that I called the lady was so rude and was obviously frustrated with my lack of knowledge. Then I called Stems where Lulie (Martin) Wallace had her gorgeous art show, but they didn't answer and I need the immediate gradification of ordering something at that very moment. And the I called Out of Hand!

The lady was so nice and said that she could make something gorgeous with my budget. She asked me what the event was for, and what colors I was looking for. I referenced their blog and one of the photos and she said it could be done and reassured me they had some gorgeous blues and purples in the shop!



I cannot wait to go pick them up tomorrow, I hope they are as pretty as I am excited!

Race for the Cure

Please support me and this great cause that will benefit all of us girls (and the men too)!

http://lowcountry.info-komen.org/site/TR/Events?px=10464209&pg=personal&fr_id=2260&s_subsrc=bfgetwordout&s_src=boundlessfundraising

Read on to see why this means so much to me...or you can skip that and just go straight to the website and donate! Or you can go to the website and sign up to run October 15th, 2011, Daniel Island, SC.




Many of you may not know this because it was a personal experience that wasn't so light and funny and therefore didn't really make it to the blog but here it is... also I am going into a few details only because since this experience several people have contacted me about their breast lumps and so maybe it will help someone else??

Again...Read on to see why this means so much to me...or you can skip that and just go straight to the website and donate!

April 2011 I found a hard lump in my right breast. It was about the size of a peanut and very sore (which is probably because I became obsessed with it and kept feeling it). I contacted my OBGYN to get a clinical breast exam, ok lets be honest I called my OBGYN hysterical and demanded to be seen that week!
When I went to the exam she attempted to aspirate the lump and got nothing out, she said since it was very symmetrical that she didn't worry as much about it but that since it was not fluid filled I should go to a specialist to confirm it was not cancer. CANCER! You have got to be kidding me I am 28 and healthy and this can't be happening. I waited 2 long weeks to be seen by the specialist all the while ending the semester which included final exams...I was stressed to say the least!
So the day of the exam I am confident that it is nothing and my dad and I make our way over to the doctor. We pull into the parking lot and I see the sign...



I look up and see the pink ribbon in the sign and realize it is going to be a long day. So they do an ultrasound, which by the way they told me that that is better for younger women because our breasts are more muscular vs mammograms for older women because they are more fatty. The doctor came in to discuss our options...watchfully wait to see if it grows or take a core biopsy.

Core biopsy the way it was explained to me "oh we put a small probe into your breast and take a small sample of tissue out and you are numbed before and really feel no pain just pressure, and you can get your results back by the end of the week!" That option sounded good to me I could get results back with little discomfort and have piece of mind and get good results and move on with my life. I am still glad I did it but lets be honest it hurt like a biotch!


and this is not my breast, I love my readers and am not that modest but sorry google images will have to do!

And did I mention to take this "small sample" they take 3 and it is literally a gun that makes this loud shooting noise to chew its way through your tissue? It feels like you are getting punched in the chest and the swelling and bruising for about the week after looked like it too.

So if you are still reading and not totally grossed out by now the conclusion of the story is : Yes I have a tumor in my breast, no it is not cancer, and I have to follow up at the beginning of the year with another ultra sound as long as it isn't getting bigger (which it isn't!). I will most likely have to get it removed in the future and alot of that again is weather it grows over time, we shall see. In the mean time I still feel the lump, I have a scar where they took the sample, and I am reminded everyday how close I was to cancer (and yes I am at greater risk now for getting it in the future).

All of that being said I would love for you to support the cause that will raise money to continue to fight for womens tatas everywhere! Donate $ or run it with me I would love to have your support.

Yummy!

In an attempt to save money and eat healthy I have been looking for some new inspirational food blogs (you know like one for real people that can't spend all day cooking, no offense pioneer woman).

I just found this site it looks awesome! I definately want to find a delicious meal off of this site...

http://www.ourbestbites.com/

And I still cannot figure out how to directly like to things...sorry hopefully yall can be old school and copy and paste?!

Sunday = Selfreflection =

Since starting school I have learned a tremendous amount of knowledge. I can teach patients how to prevent diabetes, how to clean a trach, and techniques to reduce pain (this is just a few things that I have learned!). The biggest thing I have learned in nursing school though is that alot of illnesses and injuries can be prevented. I mean come on people buckle up, wear a helmet, get up off your behind and go for a walk, eating 5 bags of potatoe chips in a day is not good for you etc. etc. I don't understand what is so hard about this...why don't you get it?
Then I look at my own life and realize I too have lots of self control issues. The other night I ate a burger and fries at Triangle...which by the way was amazing!...I mean come on Bee it cannot be good for you to eat that late! I go for a run and when Pandora stops working decide to cut my run a mile short...come on running before the invention of headphones is unheard of! I let annie pretty much do whatever she wants and even make excuses for her when she misbehaves. I am often messy and can let clean laundry go days before I fold it and put it away. I eat unhealthy food out becuase I would rather ______________ than go to the grocery store.
So the question is how am I supposed to teach patients how to change their behaviors when I myself have little self control? So that is going to be what I am going to work on for the next day, week, month, forever. Is being more intentional and discipined about pretty much every area of my life.

Titus 1:8 ESV
But hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.

2 Timothy 1:7 ESV
For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

I am starting at this very moment...putting down the blog and trying to go to sleep before 10pm so I can wake up at 5:45 am for work.

Dreaming of Hawaii...

After I graduate I want to get a job. I want to get a job to save sick little children and help them get better. I also want to make money so that I can go on a fabulous trip. Here are a few pictures I have in my mind on what that trip would include:

So apparently I am not a Tom Boy?!

I always thought of myself as a bit of a tomboy. Maybe of the spice girls sporty spice. Well I have come to realize that I am a bit of a girly girl. Yesterday I was at Dick's with the boys getting some new running shorts. Giles took the opportunity to inform me that everyday I either wear something with pink or purple at least once a day...so the choice of my teal shorts suprised him. Really?! When I got home and looked in my closet sure enough he is pretty right.

Later on he rented a movie and told me that it was a love story...as is every other movie. Now there are some war movies with a grain of romance in them, but this was not at all! There was a girl in the movie about 5 minuites total. Why couldn't he have rented Bridesmaids (which I still haven't seen!).

So I thought that I would take this day to post about all things girly...

I got a new candle at Target yesterday which Parker informed me this morning smells sweet and pretty...YES!

I got the Traget brand called sugar blossom and it is amazing! $4.99 makes it extra enjoyable!

The shorts that I got were grey and pink but I figured they would be perfect for the Race for the Cure in October! Maybe I could time myself with this watch..hint hint if someone wants to buy it off amazon for me :)


Finally I have to get my nursing school picture taken at the end of September these are some of the looks I am debating between....

I love reesey cup!

So fun and girly!

Where to start...?

When I haven't blogged in forever I never know how to start again. So I recap the past 6 months or do I just start back with my usual randomness??? I thought I would start with randomness.

A couple weeks agon it rained for two days straight. I trudged to class getting my shoes soaked the whole time wondering why I had been so cheap not to get rain boots. So I bought rain boots, on sale, free shipping they are so cute! But of course since getting them in the mail 10 days ago (but who is counting?)it hasn't rained one drop. I have suddenly become fascinated by the weather wondering when the next down pour will be so that I can debut their cuteness. Until then...

My Perfect Home Style

I like Crate and Barrel, Pottery Barn, Ikea, Restoration Hardware, Target...I could go on and on.

But I just found my all time favoritest!

http://www.roomandboard.com/rnb/

And I am loving this new magezine I found...it inspires me to study hard so I can buy half of the things in it!

http://www.adoremagazine.com/

Lessons Learned

So this year I am trying to only be positive on the blog. I have many very positive things that I would like to share, however today on this dreary rainy Tuesday I would also like to share some less pleasant thoughts as well. So if you are waiting on this post (coworkers) scroll down.

Pleasant Thoughts:

1. I am loving my new school schedule especially since now I can go to the gym after class. One of the greatest things about this is that I have alot of the little trial sized toiletries in my gym bag, this makes me happy! For example yesterday I didn't put on any body lotion in the morning...any of my huge family sized lotion that will take me a year to finish! The travel sized lotion was a great change, I love it! It's St. Ives and I highly suggest it. It was just the little happiness I needed for my afternoon workout!

2. I am also loving my resolution to brown bag it to school. I have a really cute lunch bag (it's not brown but you get the idea).

3. I am so thankful for my sweet neighbor that is watching Annie two days a week. It is a huge help! She will not let me pay her, but I did get her a cute card and a manicure giftcard as a thanks and she called me crying...SO SWEET!

4. I got a job at the hospital and finish orientation on Thursday. I haven't gotten to work on the actual floor yet but I am so excited already to be getting closer to being an actual nurse!

5. I am hoping to finish my taxes within the next few weeks (just waiting on one form). I realized that one of the benefits of being a BROKE college student is that I don't have to pay taxes! Well I paid taxes but I am getting a large refund (at least that is how it is looking like now). Thankyou Obama! Finally I can take advantage of the tax reforms!

And now for the not as pleasant thoughts:

1. So after I turned in my 2 weeks notice a my old job (I am not going to name the place but most of you know anyways)...the next night i worked I was fired! I really do not care at all especially considering I will be working at the hospital now, but it did sting a little to be fired. One of my friends Nicole told me to quit before they could fire me...but I thought it would be a nice experience since I have NEVER been fired before. I think that I also may have said "I want to get fired so I can write about it on my blog". So her it is...

2. I have worked since I was 13, I have had many jobs, ALL OF WHICH WERE FAR SUPERIOR TO MY LATEST JOB! Some highlights would be my manager at Ann Taylor Loft (Sally) she was by far the best manager ever! Probably why she is the regional manager now and has a beautiful family too. Josh and Sonia the owners of Chick-fil-A. I could go on and on about how great they are, but lets just say it was the best "fast food" job I could have ever wanted...and lets not forget Mr. Norman I love him! The vision and energy at Chick-fil-A is so great and definitely a major blessing in my life! I also worked from Half-Moon Outfitters in college. They have the most amazing owner, staff, and corporate culture! I also have worked for my dad which was a great experience and allowed me many opportunities like meeting very successful executives and working with family is an interesting experience but one I would not have done differently. Through all of these experiences I have learned a ton, and now I would like to share what I have learned for my former employer, not that they will read it but maybe it will help some of my readers.

DON'T start every staff meeting with "Don't screw up because the owner is looking to fire someone" followed by lets be a good team and be positive because negativity is a cancer that kills the entire staff...so wait should we be positive and help each other or should we be scared to death that we will loose our jobs and not be able to pay our bills?

***EDITED*** People read my blog for a sweet escape therefore I have deleted some content.

BE humble, thankful, respectful, positive, and therefore successful!

I would like to give a little plug for waitstaff everywhere as well as the people that work in the kitchen...The staff at my previous job were the nicest, most caring, supportive people I have ever worked with! They are all highly educated, great parents, and great employees. Some work 60 plus hours with little thanks and little pay. Even though we were all very different and at different points in our lives I really did feel like it was a family! I really will miss them all!

Happy Birthday to ME!

As most of you already know I am not one for celebrating my birthday. I'm not going to lie though I am so excited to be going to Bottles and Brushes tonight with some great friends! I am sure there will be lots of pictures taken...I am so excited about this...maybe the most excited I have been about a birthday in a long time....LET THE PAINTING BEGIN!

Chore Chart Confessions

So it is no secret I am a huge dork! So since I have embraced my inner geek I thought I would share some of it with you.
When I was younger I used to want a chore chart. Many of my friends had them...or a chore wheel...or something of the sort. When I went to summer camp we had a chore wheel and everyone had a clothes pin attatched to the chore that they were to do that day. Everyone used to complain about having to do the chore but I loved it! So in my attempt to get organized and establish a routine in my life I googled chore charts. I ended up just making my own which is on the fridge laminated so that I can mark things off each say. It is not the poster size with the smiley faced stickers and stars I longed for as a child but there is always my childeren to force it on?!

While I was trying to see what other people's cleaning routine's included I found this little cleaning schedule. I loved it but was too cheap to pay to download it...and my list has a few different (and fewer items). Paying for a chore chart right now is a little intimidating...maybe in a few months I will be ready!

Stolen Ideas and Inspiration!

So I have been looking all over the internet for help on this whole organizing and and simplifing lifestyle. I have added the links to my favorites but here goes for some that I have found over the past few days...

http://organizing.yourway.net/6-containerizing-rules-to-consider
http://www.arealhousewifeofnyc.com
simplemom.net
theinspiredroom.net
http://www.remodelingthislife.com

new year....and new age

So I find that new year is a particularly good time for me to reflect on where I want to go in the coming year. Since it is also my Birthday in January I find that my resolutions are even more reinforced. So after much reflection I have thought about how I can better myself for the new year (since I am perfect I had to think a long time!). I have decided that this year I am going to try to be a domestic diva. I know some people may not understand what that means but basically I am realizing that my tom-boyish, semi-unorganized, excuse making self has some work to do! People my age have houses, husbands, pets, and multiple children...I think that I can step it up to take care of myself and annie!

I have to confess that I think that one reason that I have not blogged was because I find the other bloggers out there so intimidating! They have these inspirations and find time to be super women and I really feel like I am lacking in that area. Enough though about my weaknesses...I am vowing this year to become a modern woman that makes time for things that are important. I am going to check out library books about being organized, cooking, being feminine, cleaning, and anything else girly! I hope to inspire others the way that blogs inspire me and hope to post at least weekly of my progress...I would say more often but I don't want to let anyone down!

So this week I am going to try to get on a set schedule and with school starting this should be pretty easy! Not just a schedule of my time but also exercising and cleaning (I think that I have a Martha Stewart book with a cleaning schedule). Here's to a new year and a new B!

Also if anyone has any little tricks to staying on a schedule please let me know. I would love tips from the women that do it so well!