Playing catch up....

I know it would appear as though I have given up on my blog but I promise everyone that I am STILL without a laptop! It has been so hard not having my laptop but I have been so busy with christmas, spending time with my family, and catching up with old friends! I am hoping to get my laptop fixed in the next couple days and will be back to my old blog posting self.

I hope everyone had a great christmas!

Why I have the best job ever

The day is finally here! I have been waiting for this day for a very long time and I proud to say I survived my internship! It was a hard unpaid 5 months but I am finally finished! To say I am excited is a complete understatement... I am ecstatic! My internship experience was absolutely great and I can even begin to describe how much I was able to learn. 

A little background on my internship and actual degree- I have a degree in Child Life and completed my internship with a Child Life team at a Children's Hospital. If you have never heard of Child Life- be prepared to be extremely jealous of what I will be doing one day! Child Life works with children in the hospital to try and normalize the experience and help with coping and understanding. This could mean anything from explaining an IV and providing distraction to 10 year old or explaining what leukemia is to 5 year old who's sibling has just been diagnosed. I get to work with amazing families and children on a daily basis and am truly blessed to interact and learn from them and their experiences and also help them in any way I can!

Some people might call what I do depressing and might wonder why I would want to work in that environment but I honestly feel so honored to work with these children and am so thankful for the life lessons they teach me!

After today I will be heading home to MD to spend the holidays with my wonderful families and friends and I honestly can't wait!

I hope everyone has a great Friday and safe travels if you are traveling somewhere!

Side note- I reached 50 followers today! So exciting! Thank you to everyone that follows me!

What I'm Looking Forward to...

Being that I will be going home in 2 days, I definitely have a few things that I am looking forward to! I hate that I am leaving Charlotte and have absolutely loved my time here and hope to come back but a little home sweet home action is just what the doctor ordered!

Here's a couple things I am looking forward to most...

1. Spending time with my family! I am extremely close to my family and being away from them for this long has been very hard. It was amazing to be out on my own and supporting myself but I can't wait to be back in MD!

(not my actual bathroom but you get the idea)

2. RELAXING! A few nights ago I decided I was going to treat myself and try to have an extremely relaxing night- I made a great dinner, had a glass of wine, took a bath with candles all around the bathroom while listening to Adele Pandora, read a magazine, and went to bed early. IT WAS AMAZING! After feeling so relaxed the next morning I decided its important for me to work these nights into my schedule more often. 

3. Running! Although I have been OK lately about going to the gym, I'm really looking forward to having more time to dedicate to working out and running!

4. Being a book nerd again! To say I love to read is an understatement- I'm obsessed with it! Give me a good book and you wont see me until it is finished! Here's a few that have been on my list that I can't wait to start!

Let me know if you have read any of them and what you thought!

5. Spending time with friends from home! Going to school not too close to home and then taking an internship even further from home, I do not get to see my friends from home as much as I would like to. I am really looking forward to catch up with them doing all the things we used to do before we all went our separate ways for school!

Sorry for the lengthy post! Hope everyone has a great day!

Playing Catch up

Hello dolls! I am so so sorry that posting has been at an all time low but I promise if I had a computer to use regularly I would most definitely be posting as usual.  

Here are a few updates as to what I have been up to!

1. Finishing up my internship! I can't even begin to put into words how thrilled I am to only have 2 more days left! I absolutely love the hospital I intern for and those I work with but after 5 months... I am ready to move on! 

2. Hot Yoga- The other day I decided I was going to get back into a passion of mine that I have neglected since moving to Charlotte- hot yoga! My roommate and I found a great place that offers a class once or twice a day for only $5! The studio is beautiful and the teachers are amazing, and added bonus- at the end of the class you get an ice cold wet washcloth scented with lavender to cool off with. SOLD. I'm going again this afternoon and can not wait!

3. Christmas Shopping! I officially started my Christmas shopping today, a little late I know but better than never! Having worked as an unpaid intern for the past 5 months, to say my budget is rather tight would be an understatement. 

This one of the items I got my mom- its a case covered in rolled up magazine pieces. It's really funky but so is my mom and I think she'll love it!

I hope everyone has a fabulous day!

Laptop killer strikes again...

Hey guys, just wanted to give you a quick update- remember about a month ago when my roommates cat knocked a glass of water over on my macbook and it died? Well... unfortunately the same thing happened yesterday only a little different. I was sitting on the couch with my laptop on my lap and the cat jumped up, bit my arm, I flinched...causing my laptop to go crashing on our hardwood floor. The screen is completely broken. Due to this event I'm not sure how regular my posting will be until it gets fixed but I will try!

I hope everyone has a great week!

What I'm Wanting to serve over the Holidays!

Even though I do not get home until Christmas Eve, I still have plenty of recipes I can't wait to try once I get home and am with my family! Here are a few that I have collected and am so excited about making!

Twice baked red bliss potatoes with feta and rosemary

Puff pastry wrapped Brie

Pear and gruyere panini

Artichoke Dip Bread

None of these look even remotely healthy but I cant wait to try them out none the less. I did want to share an amazing dinner I made last night...

Seared scallops with spinach and garlic over brown rice. This was absolutely AMAZING and so easy to make! This meal was just what I needed after a tough day at work!

Today I'm working a 6-11 shift and will most definitely be picking up a Starbucks on the way.

I hope everyone had a great day!

"Shoe Style Christmas"

If I could have all shoes for Christmas... I would be one happy girl. As all girls love shoes, I am no different and wish I could fill my closet with a variety of shoes, even some I know I would only wear once (that one time though-they would look darn good!). Below is a list I have compiled of shoes I would ask for if I were having a "Shoe Style Christmas"

A good pair of black pumps is a necessity

Absolutely love these, because of the nude color they could be worn with so much

A classic that I'm pretty sure I'm going to give in and buy myself

I have been dying for a pair of red cowboy boots for as long as I can remember! They will be mine one day...

Michael Kors Tan wedge... sold

Perfect black bootie.

Cant wait to get my first pair of TOMS in a few weeks!

I hope everyone had a great day!



Starting today until Christmas...

Being that this semester I have been completing an internship off campus my schedule differs from those on campus. Rather then ending my semester with exams and being done the end of this week, I complete a final project and my last day of my internship is Dec. 23 (yes that's right, the day before Christmas Eve). Unfortunately I will not be home until Christmas Eve but, once I am home I am home for good! Over the next 12 days I am working 9... meaning I have a total of 3 days off... stressed would be an understatement. I am going to try my hardest to keep up with posting but please forgive me if a couple days go by. I am honestly just trying to survive the next 2 weeks and give my internship my all.

This past weekend I traveled to Greenville to see friends and attend Christmas Cocktail! I will most definitely be posting pictures at some point this week.

I would like to start this week off on a positive note and am sticking with the theme of Motivating Monday! Hope everyone had a great weekend!



Hey It's Ok...

What a week it has been. Anyone else totally counting down the hours until Friday?! My work schedule has been a little crazy this week and if there was a condition for being chronically tired I think I would have it. This week I have been frantically working on my final project for my internship as well as all the other work I complete during the week. I also finished this book!

This book is definitely not something I would normally read... but you know what they say, never judge a book by its cover! This was a great book that if I didn't have so much work I would not have put it down. I can't wait to start the second one!

Also another update- I always post products I newly become obsessed with from Trader Joes and I have found yet another...

If you have a Trader Joes near you, I highly suggest trying this amazing dish out! It was delicious!

Now time for the It's OKs of the week...

- To calculate from the time your gas light comes on and know exactly how many miles you have before you run out. (completely not smart but I'm so guilty)

- The only Christmas music I can bring myself to listen to is Michael Buble and I'm totally OK with it

- From being so busy this week, I have seriously neglected pinterest and it saddens me

- To write things you left off your To Do list just you can cross them off ( I do this constantly)

- Due to all the stress I've been feeling the past week my nail biting habit is out of control :/

- I may or may not be getting a spray tan before I go to Greenville this weekend

That's it for today but I hope everyone has a great day! Almost Friday!

Why I loved today...

If I could make everyday like today... I'm pretty sure I would. My day started with a site visit to a program in Charlotte that works with parents and children who have lost loved ones. Although it sounds quite depressing, it was actually amazing to hear how this program helps families with the grieving process. Next I headed to Barnes and Noble to do a little of this...

One of my favorite things to do is pick up a starbucks and a stack of magazines. It was great to just sit and relax and catch up on some of my favorite magazines that I have not had time to read.

Next I headed to Ikea! I absolutely had no reason for going there other than just to walk around and get lost in the great displays of different rooms. Heres a few of my favorites...

I also had no idea that Ikea sold fabrics! They had a great selection to choose from and they were all great colors and patterns!

Like I said... a pretty good day in my book.

Hope everyone had a great day!



Case of the Mondays

Starting the week with a 12 hour shift is certainly not a great idea in my book. However what is great in my book is having an extremely light schedule the rest of the week and then heading to Greenville for Christmas cocktail this weekend! Everyone say it with me... we just have to get through Monday!

This past weekend my dad was in town visiting and we had a great time! It was so nice showing him around the city and all the areas I have come to love in Charlotte!

For today's post and being that I'm working a 12 hour shift... what better way to get through it then a few words of inspiration!

 

Hope everyone had a great Monday!

A much better day and my confession..

First off, thank you to everyone for the sweet comments and concerns about my car being broken into! It meant so much to me and I apologize for my grumpy post yesterday!

Today has been much better for the following reasons:

- got in an early morning gym session and was able to watch Live with Kelly while running on the treadmill

- headed to starbucks after my workout

- finally got my eye brows done ( it was getting ugly)

- my dad came in town to visit me for the weekend!

All in all that sounds like a much better day then the one before and the weekend is only going to get better! Tomorrow I plan to show my dad more around Charlotte and maybe catch a movie. Anyone have any recommendations on good movies out right now?

Also in the second portion of today's post title you will notice it says my confession. I noticed a lot of other blogs posting about Christmas and the Holidays but my confession ::drumroll please:: is that I am just not even ready to think about the Holidays! Call me a scrooge but I am drowning in work for my internship and counting the days till its over that even listening to Christmas music stresses me out more! I am so happy to read other's post about Christmas and their celebrations of the Holidays but please please dont think less of me if I'm just not there yet! I will try to knock some Christmas sense into me over the weekend so I'm not such a Grinch!

I hope everyone has a fabulous weekend!

Why today was just not my day...

While one would think having the day off would be wonderful and relaxing... mine was quite the opposite. This morning I woke up at normal early time, 5:30 in order to drive 2 hours for traffic court for a speeding ticket I got a few months ago. As I approached my car I noticed that my driver side door was not closed all the way... yep you guessed it, my car was broken into! Everything in my car was strewn around and my GPS was taken. I am majorly bummed about this, especially because I use my GPS to get around everywhere! However it could have been worse and life goes on. Not in much of a posting mood, which I apologize for but hoping for a better day tomorrow!

Rantings of Wednesday and What I'm Loving

Happy Wednesday everybody! Halfway through the week and tomorrow is the first of December... crazy! I started my new rotation on Monday and so far these 10-12 hour shifts have been kicking my butt! I am working in the NICU though and thoroughly enjoying seeing all the babies! Luckily I have tomorrow off!... Unluckily I am headed to court for a speeding ticket I got about 2 months ago... not fun. The rest of my day tomorrow will include running errands getting ready for my dads visit and possibly a few friends in town. Here is a few things I am loving this week!

If you have never tried this- please do now! It is absolutely amazing, I made it for dinner last night and also had the leftovers for dinner tonight and it still tasted just as great!

About a month ago I bought myself a Starbucks gift card, registered it online, and have been adding money to the card when it runs out, why you ask? Well when you register a card with Starbucks and accumulate enough stars aka buy enough drinks you get free customizations, in other words free milk and syrup upgrades. Being that I order all my drinks with soy milk, this is a great deal! I have officially reached the green level which means I officially am at the free customization level. Only 23 more drinks until I'm a gold member! I'm pretty sure with a month left of my internship this will not be hard to achieve.

I've been to the gym everyday day this week! I realize it is only Wednesday but hey that's better then nothing! By the time I get off work I don't have that much time before I have to start charting and working on assignments for the next day but I have been able to have enough time to go to the gym, hop on the treadmill and run for at least 45 minutes!

(Side note: After the gym tonight I stopped by Rite Aid and the woman asked if I had a sunburn or had recently gone tanning... I had to tell her no and that's just the way I look after I go for run... embarrassing.)

This past weekend I was finally able to sit down and watch the New Girl! I still have a few more episodes to watch before I am completely caught up but I absolutely loved this show! I found myself laughing out loud by myself throughout the entire thing!

Favorite pinterest pin of the week:

How absolutely brilliant is this idea! Using a doily and rolling pin you can imprint the pattern into cookie dough before you bake it, I will most definitely be trying this for the holidays!

Hope everyone had a great day!

Lets Get Real...about hangovers

A friend of mine recently posted this link through her twitter and I could not help but chuckle and want to pass it along.

Nonscientific Ways to Prevent/Cure Hangover

 The article goes on to talk about the holidays approaching and how to avoid hangovers the nonscientific method. Now is it just me or are hangovers pretty much inevitable when you've had a bit too much to drink? The article takes a few opinions from readers and their tips and tricks such as drinking water before you go bed, eating burnt toast, and downing packets of EmergenC. I don't know about anyone else but when I've had too drunk or enough that a hangover will occur the next day...I'm not even thinking about drinking at least 4 glasses of water before I go to bed... let alone making and eating burnt toast.

My conclusion: Having a hangover is absolutely not fun and can be quite painful. However if your going to put yourself in the position to have them... you have to deal with them. As my mom always says to me when I'm hungover... "I have no sympathy for you, you did the crime and now your doing the time."

Hope everyone had a great day!

What a Thanksgiving Break!

I can not believe that it is already Saturday and that tomorrow I will be heading back to Charlotte! This break has gone by so fast and I am not at all looking forward to leaving my family and friends. It has been an absolute great break and exactly what I needed. While at home I have gotten to spend time with my family and friends and even completed a couple of pinterest crafts!

These glasses were super easy to make and affordable! I made them for my best friend, who's apartment I have not been able to see until this break!

I also made her this decorative lantern! I took a regular lantern and hot glued cupcake liners all around the outside. It turned about pretty cute!

Being that I have been completing an unpaid internship for 5 months now I am thinking a lot of my Christmas gifts to my family and friends will be ideas off of pinterest! In the next couple of days I will be sharing my gift/craft ideas!

I hope everyone had a great and relaxing weekend!

The startings of my Christmas List...

I've always been someone who feels Thanksgiving deserves its celebration before even thinking about Christmas. Well being that Thanksgiving has passed, I have decided it is time to start thinking about my Christmas list! Here are a couple items I will be asking for..

Burberry Classic

New running shoes

An iPhone

I have had my eyes on these boots for quite some time now

I'm sure I'll have a few more items to add to the list as the weeks go on but this is a good start for now! I hope everyone had a great Friday!

Also congratulations to Megan over at Style Me Swanky who got engaged to her long time love! If you have not read the post yet, I suggest you check it out!