Hello Pumpkins!  After my deliciously disasterous weekend of less than perfect eating, I knew it was time to hit the reset button and recommit to clean eating.  

I started getting interested in clean-eating a little over a year ago when I found Tosca Reno’s book The Eat Clean Diet Recharged.  I highly recommend picking this book up!  The basic principles are simple - eat whole, natural, unprocessed foods as much as possible.  The great thing is the plan can be tailored to any of your diet needs - vegetarian, gluten-free, food allergies, etc.  Tosca stresses the importance of getting LOTS of water, eating smaller, more frequent meals, and combining lean protein and complex carbs in every meal (along with a little healthy fat).  Read her books for more details! 

The biggest problem with the plan is you MUST plan ahead...at least I have to.  “A failure to plan is a plan for failure.” I need to have things ready to grab-and-go or I will get lazy (like I have been lately).  It’s a lot easier to be tempted by what others are eating if you don’t have proper meals and snacks planned. 

In addition to Tosca’s book, I also purchased the Tone It Up plan a little bit again which pretty much follows all the same principles while being a little more specific about when and what you should be eating at certain points of your weight loss; obviously there will be a slight difference in what you eating when trying to lose weight vs. maintain.  Please go check out the TIU girls!  They are so inspirational and amazing. They put out new weekly workout calendars, new workouts, and always have challenges and contests going on.

Today I went to the grocery store and loaded up on yummy foods!  I hard-boiled some eggs and made grilled chicken for the next few days - see, I’m planning!  

Here is my haul (I already had some of the items - just showing some examples of what I would get):

I obviously picked up more than this...these are just some examples!  As far as protein goes, I love almond butter, eggs, turkey, greek yogurt, and chicken.  The salmon will probably not be eaten by me but I might try it :) 

In my freezer there are also frozen vegetables, berries, bananas, and other smoothie items.  There might  be a frozen dinner or two but I actually am not a big fan of them.  We also have fruit bars which are loaded with sugar but are still probably better than my ice cream that I love.

For produce, I'm a biiiig fruit fan!  I love it all so I have mango, all sorts of berries, lots of apples, and peaches.  I got a veggie tray because I'm too lazy to cut everything up (at least I'm honest) and some romaine lettuce & spinach for salads and green monsters.  

You'll see I managed to sneak some treats in there too - chocolate milk for post-workouts, protein & fruit/nut bars, and I have some cheeses in my fridge as well.  I plan on doing a whole post about protein bars in the future!  I'm trying some new ones.

So that's my grocery store trip!  It's not perfect, but I'm taking it one step at a time.  I REALLY wanted to add some not so good options to my cart today but I resisted!  NOM NOM NOM

Tonight was an 80 degree boot camp - I was dripping sweat!  It felt soooo good to grab a cold shower when I got home and enjoy the AC.  Now it's off to bed early!  I love when I actually get to sleep at home in my bed.

Another weekend has come and gone...way too fast, as usual!  After a few pretty laid back weekends, I’m happy to report the next three months are going to be filled with tons of excitement and things to look forward to.  As I’ve expressed about a million and one times, I’m super burnt out on my work schedule so I NEED these fun times to get through my long weeks.

As usual, I drove to Nick’s house after work Saturday morning and took a quick nap.  I am so thankful that Nick’s parents like me enough to let me crash there most weekends :). (Yes we both still live at home...give me a break, it’s only been a year since we graduated! Plus he's saving money for an ornate sparkling object).

After I caught up on sleep, we got a quick bite to eat at City BBQ.  I felt bad for Nicky because he hurt his ankle (for the umpteenth time) the night before so I offered to drive his new car :P I’m all about sacrifices.

Lunch led to a quick trip to the grocery to pick up some healthy options for Nick’s lunch at work.  I introduced him to greek yogurt and I think he likes it!  After I started eating it, I could never go back to the regular stuff.  After shopping, it was time to relax until it was time to head downtown.  I hung out with this guy, Harley!

Now for the real fun!  As a family Christmas present, my aunt signed my mom, my grandma, and myself up for a painting class at Cheers to Art which basically combines two of my favorite pass times - crafting and drinking. We liked it so much that I decided to sign Nick and I up for a “Guy’s Night” where the guys get to paint for FREE.  Who doesn’t like free?  

Before our attempt at being crafty, we decided to check out a new restaurant everyone and their grandma have been talking about lately - Senate. Check them out: here.  First, let me just say that Over-the-Rhein in Cincinnati has made a dramatic transformation since the last time I was down there.  Without getting into too much detail, it’s typically considered a pretty rough area and not somewhere we would have ever gone before last night.  Now there are tons of cute shops, restaurants, bars, and more now and it has really cleaned up!  So wonderful for the city...I hope it is just as great for those in the neighborhood.

So the Senate.  Holy moly!  First of all, the place has an amazing atmosphere.  The hosts and bartenders are fabulous and super friendly.  While the space isn’t huge - definitely a tight squeeze - the exposed brick walls and ample bar space give the place a unique charm.  It’s considered a gastropub so most of the beers are microbrews and some are even brewed here in Cincy!  

Now for the food.  I can’t say it enough - we WILL be going back.  I don’t really consider myself a “foodie” or someone who is super adventurous. I’m actually pretty picky but I do appreciate good quality food (and drinks for that matter).  I’m not a big fan of places like Applebees - I’d rather hit up a hole in the wall that specializes in just a few things but does it really, really well.  Senate is that place!  They are best known for their gourmet hot dogs.  

So the cocktail is a Kitten Fizz (st germain, tito's handmade vodka, simple syrup, raspberries & soda.) Very refreshing and tasty!  The hot dog at the top is what I got - the Lindsey Lohan.  It had arugula, caramelized onions, bacon, balsamic vinegar, goat cheese, and an all-beef hot dog.  Nick had the hot dog of the day - a Jay Leno.  I'm not quite sure what all was on it but it was pretty darn tasty.  We shared an order of truffle fries which were also delicious. Finally, the best part was dessert!  Nick and I have an inside joke about bread pudding and he's never actually had it so the chocolate & bourbon bread pudding was a natural choice.  Words can't even describe the decadence. 

We had some time to kill before Cheers to Art so we walked around the area and checked out Taste of Belgium for a quick drink.  Both of us tried different Belgian beers, no clue what they were called.  Mine was similar to Stella and his was similar to Summer Shandy.  We will definitely have to check that place out again for dinner or brunch.

Crafting time! We walked down to the studio and got set-up with smocks and our paints. We were painting "Beer Taps" which is perfect for us!  Too bad neither one of us is very artistic! 

The instructor guides you through every step and keeps it very lighthearted and fun.  People dance, chat, and have a good time while music plays.  It's more about the process than the outcome.

 Overall, I think it was a lot of fun!  It wasn't a typical date for us and I would totally do it again but I'm running out of wall space!  

My finished product

Nick's painting

Neither one of us is going to win any painting awards, to say the least!  That was my weekend.  Sunday is always completely useless.  I try to catch up on sleep, watch too many movies or TV, and plan for the week ahead.

Speaking of the week ahead, I'm going to hit the clean eating HARD for the next few months.  With the exception of our planned trips, I'm committing to eating clean and laying off the liquid calories.  Tomorrow will probably be a grocery store haul/eating makeover post.  After this weekend, I'm in severe need of a diet detox.

You wouldn’t know it sometimes by my vast wardrobe of Norts and yoga pants, but I really love fashion and everything it entails.  One of the reasons I find fashion so interesting is that our clothing portrays a lot about us to other people - it’s basically a walking advertisement for our personality and style. Therefore, I wasn’t too surprised when I found these articles on Medscape today about doctors and their clothing: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/803808 and http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/779588

Via

Medicine may be one of the most conservative professions left in existence. (Not necessarily from a political perspective, more so socially and culturally.)  While many businesses are allowing employees to adopt casual wear more frequently and extreme fashions become more common, the medical profession's ideal attire has remained steadfast.

According to the two articles, when doctors dress in traditional garb (i.e. white coat, scrubs, shirt and tie) patients felt more confident in the doctor’s abilities as compared to more casual attire like jeans.  Other notable features of their uniform were a visible, easy-to-read name tag and a well-kempt appearance.

So far this all makes sense.  A professional appearance in almost any field is considered important. What struck me was this: "Traditional attire was associated with perceptions of knowledge, honesty, and providing best overall care."  I find it thought provoking that doctors spend 8+ years honing their skills but such a large part of their performance and perceived competence is based on their tie choice.  An over simplification but none-the-less...

A physician’s clothing choice may impact the way in which they interact with their patients and may even influence the patient’s overall quality of care. The articles also discussed doctors tailoring their dress to the population with which they are working; in this case, the homeless. In order to seem more approachable and relatable, doctors ditch the white coat and opt for casual dress.  In the same vein, those working in pediatrics might gravitate to more colorful and whimsical colored scrubs or outfit combinations to appeal to their patients.  Plastic surgeons, as in the popular show Dr. 90210, choice high-end suits, spray tans, and expensive accessories.

Love Dr. 90210 (Via)

The articles made me realize that my daily uniform of yoga pants and old college t-shirts are numbered. It certainly supported the importance of a good first impression and of being mindful of your ability to relate to your patient population.  This makes me wonder if there are differences based on appearance in other categories.  How do patients feel about skinny vs. overweight or male vs. female (dare I ask, perceived race or country of origin?)  

&

Get ready for this...I JUST RAN AN ENTIRE MILE!!!!!!  No walking. No stopping. No dropping to a fetal position. I did it! (and I totally got emotional at the end like a big ole baby...sorry I’m not sorry.)

So...I realize for a lot of people, this is no big deal.  But guess what?  I have never intentionally run a mile.  Even in gym class, I would ALWAYS walk a good portion of it. Conditioning for cheer, ALWAYS walked and I was slow.  I didn’t think I could do it, so I never pushed myself. “I’m just not a runner.”

Not a bad pace either! 

What a perfect way to end a less than perfect day!  It’s Weigh-In Wednesday...and I only lost 1 lb...bringing the total to about 9 lbs lost. Whomp Whomp.

Now I can justify this to myself by saying I gained muscle, lost fat but in all honesty, I’ve been just plain stupid with my diet lately. You don’t lose weight by failing to plan meals ahead of time or snacking on goldfish crackers and fruit snacks (Did I mention I also babysit on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons?  Four kids...that’s enough to send anyone reaching for the oreos.)

In addition to my mini-run tonight (I just ran the mile...I wanted to see if I could), it was boot camp night  It’s was about 85 degree here tonight so I was sweating like crazy...except I don’t sweat, I glisten.

If you still look pretty at the end, you aren't doing it right. 

I’m going to share with you our workout courtesy of my aunt, the lady who kicks my butt twice a week! I’m also going to figure out this graphics business so don't laugh at my first attempt. (or laugh and then tell me how to do better!)

As in my handy dandy graphic, you add on an exercise each time (or you should do all of them and subtract each time...).  This took about 30 minutes and then we went backwards starting with a 30 second plank and taking off an exercise at the end until 45 minutes was up.  It was a super good workout.  You should do it fast enough to keep good form while maintaining a fast heart rate.  I’M POOPED.

That was my Wednesday.  Now I’m stretching and watching The Breakfast Club.  Some classics just never get old :)  

Happy Monday!
I just wanted to make a real quick post for the Weekly Goals link up over at Operation Skinny Jeans.  I'm still going strong on the 10 Week Challenge and I'm actually *gasp* excited to weigh-in on Wednesday.  I think it will be a good week! Without further delay...my goals for this week!

1. Stick to my workout schedule...like really.

I have yet to get all three runs in for the week.  No more excuses!  Three weeks until race day!

2. Plan my meals better
My day to day schedule is never consistent so it's really hard to get into a routine of eating on a certain schedule because one night I'm sleeping at 3 am and the next night I'm stay awake at work...3 am is usually when I get hungry.  Instead of being caught off guard, I need to do a better job of keeping healthy snacks with me at all times and having stuff ready to go in the fridge so I don't have time to think about how easy it would be to go get a sandwich elsewhere.

3. Sign up for yoga classes
Last week I signed up for a hot yoga class and I balked when it came time to go...partly due to being tired and partly because I'm scared.  The last time I went to a regular (non-heated) yoga class was last May and I really struggled.  I'm not sure if I wanted to struggle in front of people that are already pretty experienced yogis but I also won't know what I'm capable of until I give it another try.  My fitness level is much higher than it was when I graduated last May so hopefully I can keep up... I'm so adamant about yoga because I really want to get my flexibility and strength back! I follow some crazy amazing chicks on Instagram that post these wild inversion poses and I want to do that!

So that's it for the week...I'm getting ready to head to boot camp here any moment!  I'm in a sleep haze and can't seem to wake up so hopefully getting my blood pumping will get my brain working!

Questions:
What are your goals for the week?
What are your favorite workouts?
How do you deal with late night cravings?

90 Days Left...

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Over the weekend, this little gem popped up on my phone screen:

90 days left!

And then in our class Facebook group, someone posted a countdown.  90 Days until my white coat ceremony.  That means 91 days until I start my first day of medical school. 

After a year living at home, I am in the final stretch!  What a bittersweet feeling. 

Three months to enjoy unlimited Netflix and quality "Heather time" doing pretty much whatever I want.  Three months to enjoy all that Cincinnati has to offer - the food, the sports, the shopping, the fun events, and of course, my family and friends.

I can’t decide whether I am happy or sad and whether I want the time to fly by or stand still.  

I think the best that I can do is take it all one day at a time, relishing each great moment while reflecting and anticipating the next moment when things are getting rough here. 

Now for some link-up fun!

What a whirlwind weekend...it’s amazing to think so much excitement can fit into just 48 hours!  

First off, a very Happy Mother’s Day to all the momma’s out there!  I’m biased but I certainly hit the jackpot when it comes to having am awesome mom. 

I usually have blonde hair...but we look nothing alike, right? 

Where to begin?  My weekend routine usually begins with getting off work on Saturday morning at 7am and then driving to Nick’s to wake him up at 7:30 (he’s always thrilled...) because I’m already halfway to his house after work.  Much to my dismay, I was only able to grab a 2 hours of sleep that morning before we went off to the car dealership to look at a car for Nick (for more of why I don't sleep, check here).  I’m so proud of his first big purchase! Hopefully the next one will have a bit more sparkle to it...

Nick is nice enough to carry my bag in...even at 7:30 am

After car shopping, we went off in search of lunch and last minute Mother’s Day gifts.  I went with a classic gift of flowers and a card while Nick was much more thoughtful - Mrs. Nick’s Mom ended up with two hot pepper plants and some kitchen accessories.  Much more fun than my gift!

I can't believe they named a bell pepper plant after me!

After dinner at Nick’s house with his family, we decided to meet up with one of my best friends from school (M) who was visiting home (she had to move for work last year).  We ended up getting drinks at one of our favorite bars and then going to see The Great Gatsby.

I didn't even realize that was Isla Fisher...whoops! Source

As I remember it, I actually enjoyed reading The Great Gatsby in high school so I was really looking forward to the movie.  I wish I would’ve put in the time to reread the book over again before seeing the movie, though.  I had a hard time following what exactly was going on for the first half of it and then events, characters, and plot points started to ring a bell - I definitely don’t think it’s a movie you can truly enjoy without having read the book.  I think what I loved most about the film - other than Leo, of course - were the costumes and vivid settings.  Everything seemed so colorful and vibrant - very beautiful to watch!

After the movie, I was ready to crash.  The next morning, we had an early brunch with Nick’s family including both sets of grandparents.  As much as I wanted to enjoy this time, I had had far too little sleep and was feeling pretty cranky.  I did my best to conceal it but I was certainly ready to get home and take a little nap before dinner with my family.  

At 5 pm we had dinner reservations at a nice restaurant close to downtown Cincinnati for my mom, my aunt, my grandma, and myself.  It was nice to get all dolled up and spend some time with my family for once!  Right after dinner, I had to be back at work at 7pm which is where I find myself writing this post.  I’m counting down the hours until I can climb back in my tiny twin bed and take a good long sleep...

I want this pink light!  Pretty Mother's Day flowers...

My beautiful peppercorn crusted filet

I loved this  chandelier!

So as you can probably tell...there was a lot of eating out this weekend.  Like I’ve said in the past, weekends are hard but I think I’m doing much better.  I definitely sorta cut my alcohol intake and aside from the bag of buttered (read: delicious) popcorn I shared with Nick and M at the movies, I didn’t really snack or get too carried away.  At dinner tonight I ate about half of my meal and boxed up the rest (can't wait to put that steak on a salad!).  As a family, we shared a dessert four ways so that everyone was able to get a few delicious bites.  I definitely didn’t leave feeling stuffed or uncomfortable - just well satiated.  I think I’m learning that I tend to way overestimate the amount that I need or even want - I’m making it a goal to always leave something on my plate and it seems to be working well.

The problem with the weekend was that I didn’t get any running in and no workout besides the squat and pushup challenges (you can find the challenges on my Instagram!).  With all the other activities going on, I really didn’t have time to set aside for a run/walk and the subsequent shower/redoing hair and makeup - especially since I was not at my house.  This weekend was a bit of an anomaly since we had so much more going on than usual - next weekend will be better!

Tired and ready to go home!

So that’s my weekend in review!  The next few weeks are going to be fun and I can’t wait to write about them!  Nick and I have a new fun date in store this Saturday, the Tim McGraw concert on May 25th, and we’re running our first official timed 5K on June 1st.  Having things to look forward to definitely make my work days go quicker!

Hope you all had wonderful weekends! Don't forget to follow me on Instagram (hwhita), Twitter (@prettystrongmed), and Bloglovin' (prettystrongmed).  All the links are on the right hand side!

Questions:

Have you seen/read The Great Gatsby?  Thoughts?

How do you schedule activity into your weekends?

During this past year as a nursing assistant, I have seen and done things I NEVER would have experienced had I not taken the year off after college.  Last March I knew I needed to formulate a plan when I realized all of my medical school applications were languishing away in the purgatory known as waitlist/hold land.  A year off seemed inevitable at that point. I knew I needed to do something that would help my application for next cycle and that would also give me valuable patient care experience while not requiring too much additional study - insert nursing assistant certification (CNA).  

In a hurry and with the help of a generous family member, I was able to scrape together all the necessary documentation and hefty tuition fee to take the CNA course.  Two days after graduation, I began the two weeks of classes and lamented the fact that I didn’t just decide to take a victory lap at IU and get a masters in underwater basket weaving.

Source

As a nursing assistant, I am responsible for assisting patients/clients/residents (I prefer patients) with their activities of daily living.  It’s exactly what you think it is - bathing, grooming, eating, toileting, ambulating, transferring, and most importantly - companionship.  I am a counselor, a friend, a liasion between other medical professionals, and sometimes a cook, housekeeper, and personal assistant. In the nursing facility arena, this translates to nurse slave. 

I’ve been pooped and peed on. I’ve had someone puke on my shoes. I’ve been hit, kicked, slapped, and scratched.  I’ve been cursed at and been called horrible names but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

I have had the unique experience of working one-on-one with patients privately in their homes and also working in a busy, less-than-fancy skilled nursing and rehabilitation center. I worked with patients far richer than I and also far poorer.  I’ve worked with patients black, white, yellow, blue, and pink from all walks of life.  Thanks to the rehabilitation area of my work, I haven’t just interacted with the elderly - I’ve seen people of all ages, including a quadriplegic only three years older than me.

I’ve also taken care of multiple hospice patients and helped grieving families through the end of life of a loved one.  I’ve watched people come into our nursing facility broken and injured, go through rehab, and get to go home.  I’ve made meaningful relationships with patients and their families.  I’ve laughed and cried, listened and shared, comforted and supported, but I can guarantee those patients did more for me than I ever did for them. 

I want to share just some of the lessons I’ve learned in the past year.  It’s been a wild ride - I’ve wanted to quit and get a job folding t-shirts at the Gap more times than I can count. Regardless, the connections I’ve made with others along the way have been invaluable and I know I will be a stronger person and a better doctor because of them.

Source

1. Death is not something to be feared.

This year was the first time since my dad died my freshman year of college that I had to deal with death on a personal level.  The very first person I took care of fresh out of CNA class was a terminally ill cancer patient.  I worked with this patient for only two months but I developed a pretty profound relationship with her and her family. Her death  really shook me but it made me realize how natural and necessary death is even if it is painful for those of us still here on Earth.  Death brings peace to the ill and God takes away all their suffering.  Death should not be feared but used as a chance to celebrate their life and what is beyond.

2. Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.
This is a given.  You would think.  And yet time and time again, people are neglected, abused, and mistreated in our health care system.  It may come in the form of a nurse that disrespects an aide, an aide that is too rough with a patient, or a patient that is never visited by family.  We can sit and hypothesize why all of these things happen - the nurse is overworked and underpaid (truth), the aide is entirely too busy (truth), the family member has a job and a family (usually true) but it doesn’t excuse the fact that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect for their life. 

As a physician, I want to make this the core of my practice.  Even when I’m busy, even when there are a million things I need to do, even when I’m being paid a pittance in residency and barely get to see my family, I must always remember to treat my patients like they are the only people I am going to see that day.  I realize I have no idea what’s its like in real life yet, but this is something I will strive for.

3. The power of touch is amazing.
It is amazing how powerful connecting with others through touch can be.  You can bring so much comfort and calm to a person just by giving their hand a gentle squeeze, placing your hand on their shoulder when you speak, or giving out a kind hug. Every night that I am with my current client, we always squeeze each other’s hand and say “good-night” once I have gotten him settled in bed.  It is reassuring and lets him know I am there if he needs anything.

Humans are meant to be tactile - all you have to do is look at the example of the practice of co sleeping premies when one baby is struggling to survive.  We long to connect with others - to reach out and touch, hold, nuzzle, etc.  While you obviously need to maintain a respectful and professional relationship, never underestimate the power of touch.  It is definitely something I will take with me in the future.

Source

4. We are nothing without each other.

No one can exist entirely by themselves.  We NEED each other.  How can we possibly accomplish all we need to do in our work, family lives, personal goals, etc. if we try to do it all ourselves?  We can’t!  

This year I learned that health care is a team sport - everyone has a role to play and everyone needs to work together in order to provide the highest quality care.  There needs to be an open line of communication between all the areas of care or something is bound to fail (analogy time: just like in the body!).  To take it further, working with others in a productive, positive, uplifting way is paramount.  I can’t even explain the difference in how my nights went based on who I would be working with.  Some people want to get by doing as little work as possible - all while complaining and being rude.  Guess what?  Not only are you making this a bad day for me, you are making it harder on yourself AND the patients you are trying to help.  Bottom line, we need each other to succeed and we need to project the best version of ourselves while doing it. (Also, make friends with the nurses and other HCPs...they rock!)

Source

5. I am an official bodily fluid specialist.

Stepping away from the heavy life lessons on this one...I can handle any bodily fluid you throw at me (literally).  Poop, pee, pus, blood, vomit, mucus, bile, and any other ungodly secretions - I’m good.  I’m not going out of my way to step in it but after your shoes have been puked on and you’ve slipped in a puddle of pee, eventually you just get used to it.

It is with these lessons and dozens more that I will enter medical school a little more prepared and a lot wiser than if I had gone straight from college.  I’m not going to pretend that all these wonderful life lessons were at the forefront of my mind when I was elbow deep in fecal matter but a little hindsight yields excellent insights.  I’m confident that once I am out of the classroom working with patients, I will recall my experiences and be glad chose this road.

Two posts in one night?  Whoa!  I'm currently at work and as it is 4:00 am and I have nothing better to do, I thought I would try out another link-up!  This reminds me of the surveys I used to do on Myspace and Xanga (oh goodness...blogging for teenagers) so how perfect!  I love a good survey :)

My best friend says... things in a language only the two of us understand.  awww haiiii.  whot pewrr...huthuthuthuthuthut.  

People call me... maybe. Hopefully doctor one of these days.  

The best part of my day... is getting to sleep after a long night at work.  Maybe I'm only saying this because that's all I want to do right now.

I really don't understand... why time suddenly slows down as soon as you have a lot of great things to look forward to and speeds up when you are in the middle of enjoying those things.

I get really annoyed... when I can't find my Lavender Vanilla sleep spray from Bath and Body Works.  It's lost and the Lavender Chamomile isn't good. 

There's nothing like a... glass of ice cold milk & peanut butter with grape jelly.

Lately, I can't get enough... money.  Too many expenses in the near future!

One thing I am NOT is... a runner.  But I'm trying and I'm starting to enjoy it :)

I spent too much money on... makeup, hair, and beauty products.  Ulta and Sephora are the mothership.

I want to learn.... medical Spanish, how to blog, and how to tap dance.

If I ever met Jake in real life , I would... probably not know it because I haven't been following many bloggers for long.  Sorry :(

I can't stop... listening to Can't Hold Us by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis.  Thanks Nick!

Never have I ever... been very good of thinking up witty answers to these things. WOOF.

Reese Witherspoon... is one of my beauty and fashion idols and the star of my favorite movie, Legally Blonde.  Reese Witherspoon fangirl right here!

Circa 2010

Circa 1993

In honor of Mother's Day, Throwback Thursday will be dedicated to my momma!  Careful...it may be hard to tell we are related.

Diagnosis: "Post-Grad Blues"

Alright.  We all knew it was coming sooner or later. Sad post...and it's loooong. I apologize in advance!

I.want.this.year.to.be.over.with.  Well, by this year I actually mean this year off...gap year...non-traditional year...whatever you wish to call it.  (Althought I am SUPER excited for this summer...like by the end of May, I’ll be happy again.)

I graduated from college last May - exactly ONE year ago.  Lemme tell ya...it brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it.  I miss college. I hate being an adult. I miss living with my best friends. I think they call this the “post-grad blues” - psychologists might call it depression (half kidding).

For the past few months, I have been bombarded with Facebook updates, Instagrams, and Twitter posts from my younger friends about their impending graduation, their celebratory bar crawls, their last days of classes, and their fun nights out with friends.  There is nothing worse than these constant reminders that “the best years of my life” are behind me.  

I think my “elderliness” started to sink in when I realized most of the people on The Real World are younger than me.  I don’t usually gauge the quality of my life against MTV productions but it’s just something that struck a chord with me.

One of the worst parts about moving home after college was coming back to a town that I don’t belong in anymore.  By the start of my senior year of high school, I already had one foot out the door.  I was so ready to get out of my little suburban bubble and meet new people that I only applied to one college in-state.  I WANTED OUT.  

Unfortunately this is still the case.  As of tomorrow, almost every person that I have maintained some form of contact with from high school will have moved away or has not even bothered coming back after college.  So really all I have left here is my family, my boyfriend, and work.

Notice: I am very close with my family (...technically only the maternal side) and my boyfriend and I have been dating for over 6 years so I am also very close with his family.  It is going to absolutely KILL me to leave them behind. Really it’s just this town I want to leave, not my family.  They are HOME to me...but I work all the time so I don’t even get to spend that much time with them.

Anywho, here I am.  Twiddling my thumbs and living day to day with this inane work schedule. For now I tend to find myself focusing on all the things I miss about college which subsequently leads to complaints and tears. WAH.  Without further delay:

Top 10 Things I Miss About College:

1. I miss my friends.

I could never, ever replace the friends I made in college.  They were the girls I procrastinated studying with - watching endless Sex and the City marathons, making unnecessary Target runs, taking frat laps after dinner, getting Polar Pops for the heck of it, sharing clothes, makeup, and more, and wiping every tear that ever came our way.  It's cheesy, but get over it.  I wouldn't be where I am today without these beautiful, smart, talented women (plus many, many others not shown above.)

2. I miss Nick.

We are both completely nuts. In a good way, of course.  6 years together will do that though!  We've been together since junior year of high school but in Cincinnati, we live about an hour apart on completely opposite sides of the city.  At school Nick lived right down the hall on my dorm floor freshman year and the rest of our years at IU he was only a 5 minutes walk or drive down the street.  We saw each other pretty much every day which makes me miss him like crazy...absence makes the heart grow fonder, right?  

3. I miss the beautiful Indiana University campus.

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If you say IU's campus isn't one of the prettiest campuses in the world,  I say you are either blind or just plain wrong.  GORGEOUS!  Especially during the spring and fall. The campus is so lush and green - just another reason why you would never want to leave.

4. I miss my sorority.

My experience at IU would not have been the same without my sorority sisters.  These women are some of my best friends, my future bridesmaids, and the reason I was finally able to get out of my introverted shell!  I had the opportunity to meet so many diverse individuals within my chapter and in the Greek system - some of which will even be my classmates in August.  I can't talk enough about how positive my experience was and how proud I am to be an alum of my chapter.  

5. I miss basketball (and football tailgates)

Indiana Basketball - You haven't experienced college basketball until you've been to Assembly Hall.  As for football, it's all about the tailgate.  We've never lost a tailgate...

6. I miss going to class.

Dissecting a porcine heart in Physiology

Holding a live Blue Jay in Biology of Birds

I actually love school.  I love learning so I guess it's a good thing I'm going back to school for some more fun.  Honestly though, I had some amazing classes and professors at IU.  I took everything from my required science courses to political science classes to Hip Hop dance.

7. I miss celebrations for any reason at all (including Little 5).

There is always a reason to celebrate at IU.  Welcome Week, Homecoming, and Little 5 are the three big weeks but every moment in between there were paired parties, themes, formals, day parties, birthdays, free movies, speakers, events, and more.  No one could ever say they were bored (like I am now!)

8. I miss walking everywhere.

This isn't IU but I don't have a picture walking around campus...

IU is such a walking friendly campus.  You can get just about anywhere you need to be by walking, biking, or taking a bus - no need for cars unless you go off campus. This is especially handy when planning a night out - walk there and walk home (obviously never alone).  You really take for granted the logistical nightmare this presents when you rely on a car to get everywhere at home.  

9. I miss Kirkwood.

Kirkwood Ave. is where many of  the shops, bars, and eating places are centered around - it's the heart of Bloomington and also the home of some of my favorite places: Nick's English Hut (home of Sink the Biz and amazing food - including Biz fries), Village Deli, Kilroy's, and more!

10. I miss FUN!

Most of all, I just miss the spontaneous fun we had each and every day!  Whether we were sitting outside on a sunny day studying or staying in for a movie and wine night, I always had a blast.  It wasn't until after I graduated that I realized how much I took for granted having 100 sisters to hang out with at all hours of the day.  4 years goes by so fast but I definitely made memories to last me a lifetime.

Here's to you IU! Miss you, boo.