Graduation and my amazing grad cap tutorial!

I have noticed I have a very bad habit of going MIA from my blog but I am hoping that will change now because I HAVE GRADUATED from NURSING SCHOOL! I graduated last weekend on May 11th and I could not be more thrilled, needless to say it was one of the proudest days of my life. Graduating from high school is no where near the same as college graduation, your parents, teachers, and guidance counselors have a large part in your high school graduation, you have to come to school and do your homework, your parents made sure of that. In college and especially nursing school its all up to you, no one is responsible for you going to class or doing you assignments. Your teachers don't always care if your in class or sleeping off the hangover from the weekend. Nursing school is a little different, your teachers care but they are not going to hold your hand and walk you through nursing school, its more like the throw you out in the water and hope you learn to swim to shore as they stand watching and waiting with a life vest just in case you start drowning. So knowing that I completed nursing school and college earning my bachelor's degree is a pretty proud feeling. I unfortunately got sick three days before graduation with a not for forgiving cold that left me feverish, congested, and a horse voice, which was only made worse by the temperature and the fact that I was the speaker representing my class at pinning ceremony.

Even with feeling very under the weather is was so nice to enjoy the ceremonies and spend time with my family. I was so proud to sport my NMSU nursing pin at graduation and walk the stage with my amazing cap that I decided to share my cap decorating experience with you guys, hopefully it will give you guys some ideas for decorating your cap! I used pinterest a ton to plan out graduation from the pictures I took for my announcements to the way my cap looked. I created my own graduation board that you can check out for some of the ideas I used (http://pinterest.com/elliemay2/graduation-may-11th-2013/).

I started out by making a template, I just used some large sheets of paper and made an 8X8 square to fit the top of my cap, I also just made a small X cut where the button is on the top of my cap for reference. I used baby, markers, and some left over ribbon I had to make a rough idea template so I knew the direction I wanted to go in. I also made a list of things I would need including: ribbon, paper, ABC stickers, glue on rhinestones, and glitter. Luckily we have a hobby lobby here and they had all the things on my list on sale!

This is the template I made, it wasn't perfect but it gave me a direction to go in. I knew I needed to make the letters smaller on the boarder, I want the RN to be bigger along with the bow and I changed the heart between the 2013 to a lucky elephant. I did my gap in sections so it took me several weeks to complete. I started by putting down my 8X8 square of pearl print paper (found at hobby lobby) and outlined it in 1/2inch maroon ribbon. I used 1 inch bright pink ribbon to make a bow, black glitter paper (hobby lobby) to make an elephant, black stickers for the "Nurse Ellie" accented with clear glued on rhinestones, and the same rhinestones to make the "2013"

 Next I used leopard print paper (hobby lobby) to make the "RN"then I used some black and red glue on Rhinestones to outline the letters, this step took a really long time but I loved the end result.
I knew I wanted to add my quote along the boarder like in my template but I could not figure out how to do it, I tried stickers covered in glitter, printed out and then covered with glitter letters, printed letters using glitter paper, but nothing was working and I wans't getting the result I wanted. Sadly graduation got near before I could figure out what to do.

Eventually I ended up just using the same black stickers I used for the "Nurse Ellie" part an accenting them with rhinestones, I wanted glittery black letters but the rhinestones added just the right touch of sparkle. In the end I really loved my gap and was so proud to wear it, it is now preserved in a shadow box along with my pins and SNA cord that will go on my wall next to my diploma in my new apartment when I move. The quote I used was inspired by the song "Hurricane" by Dustin Lynch, had to have a little country touch in there some where, Im also in love with my mint green shoes I wore!

 I still have to wait for my diploma to come in the mail (mid June or so) but I was notified that my degree has already been awarded, I made strait As this past semester and also made the dean's list. All my paper work has been received by the board of nursing in my state and I am just waiting for my ATT (authorization to test) number so I can schedule a day to take my state board exam (NCLEX). Until then I just finished the Kaplan review course and have nearly 1500 questions in their Qbank to practice with as well as my Saunders NCLEX review book with questions. I will let you know my thoughts on Kaplan as my test day gets closer!

Sunday Funday Routine

I know I haven't gotten a new post up in a very long time but I did not expect my senior precepting placement to over take my life so much! I was placed in a level three neonatal intensive care unit for my senior placement and it is what I wanted to do all along so I was thrilled! It has been a big adjustment trying to learn how to live without having a regular schedule and by regular schedule I mean working M-F and having Saturday Sunday to do errands, clean house, wash clothes and relax. For me sometimes I work Saturday, Sunday, Monday or Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or any combination of days during the week. For me I used to use Sundays to clean my apartment, wash my laundry, and do my weekly beauty ritual for the week. So now I no longer go off a normal week I just make my Sundays the day before I go back to the hospital.

So here is what I normally do on Sunday, and no I'm not going to walk you through the steps to wash laundry or clean you apartment. I have my weekly beauty routine for my face and body, it helps me relax and center for the week and I just feel better when I start the week off! So I'm going to share what I usually do in my beauty routine and hopefully you will get a few tips or tricks that will help you!

I always redo my nails once a week, since I can't paint my nails because of nursing school I usually just use a strengthening base coat to keep my nails healthy with a light shine. I love OPI's Nail Envy Original, it helps your nails grow and tightens the edges so your nails don't break as easy. I apply two to three coats on Sunday and then a single coat every other day during the week, then I take it off and start over the next week. I also use a 60 second sugar hand scrub from True Blue Spa found at Bath & Body works, it leaves my hands super soft and revives them after a week of hand washing at the hospital.
 I love pedicures but lets be honest nursing school does not allow me to budget those in, so I usually try and do an at home pedicure at least every other week. I have a pumis stone I use to really exfoliate my feet and I use CO Bigelow Mentha Foot Cream also from Bath & Body Works. I use this too after a rough day at the hospital when my feet are hurting. It provides a nice tingle after you rub it in. I recommend this to any one who's feet hurt! I try and paint my toes at least one a month or so as well, right now I am wearing refresh mint from China Glaze (found at Sally's Beauty) and its the perfect shade of mint!
I have a skin condition called keratosis pilaris, it leaves those little red bumps on the back of your arms, legs, back and sometimes face. I only have it on the back of my arms but Ive had it for as long as I can remember and growing up I used to HATE it. I eventually learned that if I exfoliated a lot I was usually able to keep it under control. So I exfoliate with a sugar scrub every other day, I use the Margarita Sugar Scrub by True Blue Spa from Bath & Body Works, it smells so good and it leaves my skin really soft. If I don't exfoliate with that I use a regular body wash and a shower poof to scrub my arms.
For my face I spend a little more time on it because I have some what bad skin and if i skip taking care of it for a day I pay for it. I wash my face daily with my Clarisonic Mia 2 (I got it for Christmas and it is the best thing ever), if you can afford it I highly recommend it, my skin has changed drastically since owning it! I use the neutrogena pore minimizing face wash with my clarisonic. I use the deep pore cleaning head with it because I have fairly large pores. after cleaning my face I will use a Biore Pore Strip to really help pull any of the build up from my week out. I also have this mud musk from Glam Glow (Sephora had a small travel jar at their store), I use it only on my nose to help clear out my pores. I don't use a moisturizer or night cream or anything because I have naturally oily skin and I try to avoid putting anything on my skin.

My whole little routine doesn't take very long, unless I paint my toes, but it helps me recenter before I start a new week. I hope some of this information was helpful, remember I'm not a doctor and any products I recommend here I simply use and love! For medical questions please consult your doctor.

Nurse Residency Programs for new grads: my journey

I am done (in 6 weeks) however I am done with all in classroom time, lectures, labs, and exams. I only have 6 weeks of senior placement/precepting in the hospital, which by the way I will be going to a level 3 NICU, and I will be graduating in May!! I've known since before I started nursing school I wanted to work with children especially babies and toddlers so when I got into nursing school I knew I had to be a NICU nurse no questions. Well its incredibly difficult for new graduates to get hired on a high level NICU or any pediatric unit, however my dreams are bigger than just a unit, I want to work in the NICU at a children's hospital (not exactly the place most new graduates start out). Even for experienced nurses it's not easy getting into a children's hospital but once your there most don't leave.

So how do you beat the odds and give yourself a fighting chance at working in a children's hospital? I started my very first semester in nursing school by discovering nurse residency programs for new graduate nurses. Most children's hospitals offer them as do most hospitals in general (not all though) and the trick to this is research. I know I groaned myself when I wrote that but it is true, I can't tell you how many hours I've spent on my computer researching programs. Twitter has become my best friend in this process and all the programs I've selected to apply to have a twitter page, I even discovered some programs through twitter. I knew from the beginning that these programs only have your nursing school history to go off of and your work experience so I knew I needed to keep working with children as long as possible and make the most out of my 4 semesters in nursing school.

Now the work part wasn't that hard for me, I have been working with children for years and I was currently working with children when I started nursing school. As for making the most of nursing school well keeping my grades up was one thing, don't get me wrong I by no means got strait A's but I never failed a course and I worked hard to keep my grades high which isn't easy when you are involved as much as I was. I ran for vice president of my local Student Nurses Association chapter at my university my second semester in the program, I become the unofficially elected class representative for my class, I am a volunteer teaching assistant for the first semester labs, and I worked for Americorps for the first year of school. The teachers knew me very well and have all been very willing to write me letters of recommendation for these programs. I did some other volunteer work over the past few years that relates to children and health care. I pretty much did everything possible to make me appealing to the hiring department.

So my tips for any student who wants to apply for a nurse residency program regardless if it's an ICU position at a regional medical center or a NICU position at a children's hospital.
~Research, research, research: Find out where appeals to you (both which unit/specialty you enjoy and what region of the country) and research the hospitals that appeal to you, what type of program do they offer if they offer one, do they have an application process or is is a program for all new nurses, what are their requirements to apply, when are their important dates.
~Talk to your instructors early if you need a letter of recommendation. I asked my instructors in late January and provided them with the same list I made for myself so that they were able to see exactly what I was looking at and planning. Pick instructors that will benefit you, I asked my pediatric clinical instructor and then everyone else were instructors who have worked with me in some way and know what I am capable of.
~Start early, I had my lists ready in January and I still missed about 3 deadlines for hospitals I found in late January/early February. I made so many phone calls, sent so many emails, and spent hours online. It takes time to find these programs.

~Create an amazing outstanding resume and cover letter, every hospital is going to ask for these two things and if they are good and sell you well it makes all the difference. Include whatever you think helps you, for me it was all my work with children, my involvement in school, my senior placement, my HESI Exit scores, ect. 

~Create a list with all the information you can gather from each hospital. This keeps you organized with important dates, requirements, contact people, ect. This is especially helpful if you are like me and applying to 12 or more programs. 

Here is an example of what mine looks like: -->

*Children’s Hospital Los Angeles*

-Position is open: March 11^th-14^th online application, packet due March 29^th 4pm in the HR department.

-Contact Person: Nurse recruiter, call (323) 361-2193

-Website: http://www.chla.org

-Requirements: California State License, CPR certification, Application submitted online, Packet to include: Resume, cover letter, current (official or unofficial) transcripts, 2 letters of recommendation, and letter of intent.
(packets received following submission of on application)

A lot of these programs have packets you submit which usually include letters of recommendation usually 2, letters of intent or essays, supplemental information forms, and preference letters. Each hospital is different but all of them have a fairly lengthy application process that takes more than a day to complete, so give yourself enough time to complete everything. Don't rush through your essays or letters of intent (I spent 2 weeks writing one), ask instructors or family to read it and see where you can improve. I always try and submit everything at least 24 hours before the deadline (I'm not a last minute type of person). Remember to be open to new possibilities, I was dead set on staying around the 4 corner states and now I'll have an application going all the way to Tennessee, keep in mind that you will more than likely need to travel for interviews and you need to be willing to just go if your given the opportunity. I hope these tips help someone out there with their search for a job after graduation. 

Here is my list of hospitals I will have applications in at (in no order):

~ Children's Hospital of Los Angeles

~Children's Hospital of Orange County

~Rady Childrens in San Diego

~Phoenix Children's Hospital

~Colorado Children's Hospital

~University of Colorado Hospital 

~University of New Mexico Hospitals

~Dallas Children's Hospital

~Cook Children's Hospital in Ft. Worth

~University of Tennessee Hospitals

~University of Kentucky Hospitals

~St. Jude's Hospital in Tennessee

~I am still debating on a few hospitals in Ohio (it is so cold there in the winter brrr)         

One can never go wrong with cookies and coffee

I know I have gone status MIA for a month if not longer, this was not my intention but senior semester kept me way busier than I expected. It wasn't even being over whelmed with homework but all this random busy work that kept me occupied. But I am 3 class days away from being done with in class work and will only be spending time in the hospital in precepting and working on my evidence based practice project (we won't go into that).

Any way I have been a pretty busy bee today between cleaning, crafting, and group meeting but i did manage to get some time in to make some AMAZING cookies and your getting the recipe. Now I did not come up with these cookies in fact I found them on pinterest (go figures right). I pinned the recipe a really long time ago and never got around to actually making them. But while searching through pinterest and my cookbooks for a yummy new cookie recipe & in a sense re-discovered this recipe in my own board.

There is a story behind my reason for baking I needed to give my instructor something nice for helping me to get the preceptor placement I really wanted and needed! Needless to say I haven't the easiest student in the past 4-6 weeks, mostly because I have been in her office weekly and emailing her daily trying to get my placement. I originally has requested to be in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at a hospital about 45 minutes away and I had spoken with her a week before classes started to let me know that my preceptor placement was very important because I was applying to a nurse residency program in a Children's Hospital for after graduation. It ended up becoming this huge bundle of insanity as I was bounced from ER, L&D, Peds, Research/baby friendly initiative before finally receiving the good news they had officially gotten me into the NICU at the hospital I requested. Probably the happiest moment in my life and a huge relief to know I was getting exactly what I wanted and needed.

So after my teacher had been so nice to me and put up with my craziness I needed to do something nice for her. Hence these wonderful amazing soft chewy cookies!!! Everyone ready (drum roll please) Cookies & Cream pudding cookies!!! Simply amazing! I used the recipe posted here:
 http://www.the-girl-who-ate-everything.com/2011/05/oreo-pudding-cookies.html

However I didn't have semi-sweet chocolate chips so I used a 4 oz cookie and cream candy bar and omitted the chocolate chips, they still taste amazing! Also I had to bake my cookies for about 10-12 minutes roatating the pan half way through, I think 8 minutes just wasn't long enough for my oven. I started with 8 and after 8 minutes I added 2 minutes till they were ready (I watched them very closely).

So for my teacher I found this adorable purple coffee much at Target on clearance for $0.98 (remember I'm still a broke college nursing student) and I had these little sample coffee packs from starbucks laying around. so I stacked some cookies in a bag, added my coffee, tied it with a bow, and a little homemade thank you note to top it off. One can never go wrong with cookies and coffee!

Valentine's Day with Dustin Lynch

Oh how I wish I actually spent Valentine's Day with Dustin Lynch but I did spend the night at his concert at our local Grahms' Central Station and let me tell you it was amazing!!! I hope many of you know who Dustin Lynch is but a lot don't especially since he is a fairly new artist with two singles currently out: "Cowboy's And Angels" and "She cranks my tractor". He is quickly rising in fame with plenty of girls swooning over this 28 year old heart throb with baby blue eyes, killer smile, deep serenading voice, and talent that a girl can't help but bat her eyes at. Dustin also write majority of his songs which just adds to the sex appeal of this man. If you haven't guessed it yet he is my celebrity crush, haven't had one of those since I was in high school, but goodness this country girl sure does like that country boy.

Any way back to the concert since you guys don't need to listen to me swoon, it was a great concert, not as packed as I was expecting and I actually ended up right at the stage by mid way through. Since he is a newer artist he did a lot of cover songs along with a few of his phone from his upcoming album, releasing this August. I would have appreciated a few more songs from this album especially since most of them aren;t out on the radio yet. I love his fan interaction, he is a great performer and is really about his fans and not just about being on stage. He brought several girls on stage to dance sadly I was not one of them :'( he was very interactive with his band and the audience, he band mates were also very interactive, they actually hung out around the club mingling after the concert. I really like seeing artists who are just getting started perform because you can see their true love for their fans, now artists who have been doing this for a while have a huge love for their fans but I can imagine showing love to a sold out crowd of thousands isn't easy. I also love that he stayed and met all of his fans after the show, signed pictured, and took photos with all of them. Let me tell you when he smiles at you and ask for your name even the smartest girl looses her words. I hope he would come back and perform in this area again sadly I probably won't be around when he does so I hope he continues to stop around the nation and do some great shows. Don't forget to look for his debut album out in August of this year!!!!

As far as what I wore I had this really great dress in my closet that I never wore (never had the proper event). It is this great plaid collared shirt dress, with scrunched sleeves and half button up with a brown braided belt (very country-ish) and since I don't own very many boots my non fuzzy tan American Eagle Ugg look-a-likes worked very well, kept my feet cozy and kept me comfy. Granted I was still like the shortest person there but I ended up in the front so it worked out fine. I got the Lorac Pro Pallet for Christmas so I created a great taupe and bronze smoking eye for the night.

 Now I had class at 8am the following morning, a test at noon, and a project meeting at 2 the following day. I was so exhausted the next day and all I wanted to do was take a nap but oh it was so very worth it.  It was such a great time and I'm really glad I went. Eli Young Band is coming at the end of march and you can bet this nursing student will be there (I am slowly on the road to getting my life back).

                                         

                     All photos were taken by me and are property of myself. Please do not steal =)

2 1/2 weeks in a nut shell

Sorry I have been MIA for a while (close to three weeks I believe), going back to school had kept me busier than I thought it would. Between the start of my senior classes, studying for my HESI retake, getting the SNA mentoring Big Nurse Little Nurse program up and running and just having some what of a life has kept me so busy my blog took some what of a back seat =(

As of February 1st  I have had quite an eventful and joyous 2 weeks so below is a recap of my nursing life since you last heard from me!!!

~ On Jan. 22nd I had my first class of the semester and it was a 4 hour snooze fest!!! Sadly my teacher is also the adviser for SNA so I have to show up.
~ On Jan. 24th I finally filed my degree application to graduate in May!!!! I was so nervous to do this since graduation wasn't a guarantee because I hadn't passed my HESI so it was kinda like I was submitting the application without actually knowing if I would be allowed to graduate.
~ On Jan. 28th my very good friend and recent nursing school graduate sat for his NCLEX and PASSED!!!! He is officially a registered nurse!!! Very proud of him!!!
~ On Jan. 29th I finally sat for my second attempt at HESI and oh boy was I so nervous!!!! After spending every waking hour studying for probably three weeks strait and putting everything school on the back burner (not like me at all) I PASSED with a 920, the minimum we require is a 850 and my previous score was a 793, so I made a 127 point jump in my score. I was so very excited, relieved, and happy!!! I'm pretty sure I floated on cloud nine the rest of the week and every one of my friends/classmates/teachers were so happy to hear I finally passed. I spent the next two or three days on and off of campus continuously seeing all my teachers so they could hear the good news.
~ On Feb 1st I had class and I registered to take the Kaplan NCLEX review to help me pass my NCLEX license exam the first time over the summer. I also finally got to have the Big/Little Reveal Day at our first SNA meeting. The big nurse little nurse program has become like my baby and I am so excited for this semester, we had 25 pairs (pretty good for our first semester) and we are still getting more requests for bigs and littles!!! I finally got to meet my little and she is just the cutest! I already adore her and can't wait to help her out. Me and a few other board members also spent the majority of the week crafting for this event and boy was there lots of glitter and bows!!!
~ Throughout the past two weeks or so (don't remember the exact days) I have baked a TON, mostly for stress relief and a break from HESI practice exams, I also got a tentative idea of where I will be placed for precepting, heard that if all goes well with the hospital I will placed in the NICU at my first choice hospital but I won't officially hear anything for a few more weeks. I also finally got out and spent some time with my very good friend at the movies before my exam, might I say Movie 43 is quite a funny movie.

As far as the next few weeks I need to get caught up at the least in all my homework and reading I put off while I was studying for my HESI. There is lots of reading I'm behind in but as far as actual homework I'm not terribly behind but I am one of those people who is always on top of her stuff and knows everything that is going on so going two plus weeks without knowing what was going on was really hard. I also am continuing to work on our big little program  and SNA stuff getting ready to hand over my position on March 1st. I am also getting ready to get my applications together for all the nurse residency programs I'm applying to next month.

My goal is now that I am done with HESI and can focus on my last semester I will have more time to get more blog posts up and actually get some fun stuff like recipes, study tips, or craft project posts up!!!
Until next time my readers <3

Back To School.........Already?

Well I have been some what absent from my blog these past 10 days or so, but I was busier than I thought I was going to be. I was on Christmas Vacation and spent it visiting my mom back home, I came back to where I attend school around the 4th or so and I don't remember slowing down since then, like I was expecting. Between studying for my second chance at my HESI Exit Exam (January 29th is the big day), preparing for the senior portion of the welcome back assembly, meetings, and preparing 75 survival kits for incoming first semester nursing students I hardly had time to eat (it's a really bad habit of mine).

But as of 230 pm yesterday I am free from all of my pre-school projects and just have to focus on HESI studying and getting back into being in school mode. Then starting in late February/early March I will get back into planning our pinning ceremony for graduation. I am also adopting a little (or 2) for our new SNA program Big Nurse Little Nurse (another post will go more in depth with that).

This semester as far as school goes I have 3 classes, 2 of which only meet every other week and we are only in school till March 25th so about 10 weeks or so. I have a total of about 5 exams (much less than the 15 from last semester), we have some community health based clinicals (once a week for about 2 hours), and we have one large semester long evidence based practice project. Starting around March 25th we will be leaving the classroom for precepting in our prospective fields, from that point on we have 6 weeks to complete 180 hours of clinicial work. We no longer attend classes or have homework, we simply work in the hospital and write a journal each week about it.

As far as extra curricula work goes I will hold my position of SNA VP until around the beginning of March, I will also be taking on the 2 littles in our new program like I said earlier, I will continue to be the class representative for whatever class things may come up. I'm also looking into volunteering with the younger semesters to help them with skills lab. I'd like to find a job but that isn't a huge priority right now.

So my earlier post was all about being unforgettable in 2013 and I really feel after yesterday I am on my way to that. I received so many compliments on my senior assembly projects as well as with my SNA work, my teachers are more than willing to write me recommendation letters for job applications, and many of our faculty has already said they will miss me dearly come May and they will have to find a new leader some where. Even though I am so very tired from all the work I am so glad I stepped up and took on the role.

My advice to any nursing students senior or freshman, be a leader, make yourself well known in school and step up into a role. Hospitals will recognize that and will fight for you, teachers will remember you and write amazing letters of recommendation, and your dean will know you so well you will be handed the responsibility of representing your class in their presence.

A theme for 2013

With a new year comes new beginnings, we hear it every year and I feel like our resolutions or our thoughts of a new beginning vanish before we even end February. School, work, kids, family, whatever may keep us busy slowly distracts us and before we know it the great plans we had for a new beginning are buried under a pile of grocery lists, homework assignments, bills, and whatever else may cover the buys desks of our daily lives. Now some people are the exception to the rule and conquer all the goals the set forth on the first of the year, me well I am no exception the that rule I very very rarely conquer my goals let alone even set them. I tried last year writing them on a very well decorated picture collage and taped it to my bathroom mirror so I would remember daily what I was working towards, needless to say it didn't work, while it stayed up for the entire year I don't even think I met one of the 6 goals I set for 2012. I read some where else, couldn't tell you where, about a theme for the new year. I don't remember reading anything in depth about it but about a week or so later I came across a quote on Pinterest about being unforgettable. Then all the pieces fell into place, instead of saying "My goal is to loose weight and get healthy. Or to learn spanish" (a failed one from last year). Why not just have a theme for the year, not a single goal you fight all year to meet then feel a slight pinch of disappointment on new year's eve when you notice those goals weren't met.

So my theme for 2013 is to be unforgettable. I am entering my final semester of school and then starting my first few months as a nurse, in hopefully the NICU or an ER in a children's hospital. I want to unforgettable in what I do, I want the people in my nursing program to remember me after I leave, I want faculty to refer to me in stories, students to remember the impact I had, inspire new students with my accomplishments. I want my fellow students in my class to remember me after we have all graduated and dispersed throughout the country.  I want the staff at my new job to be impressed with me, the patients and families to remember me as their nurse and the impact I left on their lives. I want to be remembered for whatever I do. So that is my theme for the year, I want to be remembered over the next year. I want to leave a legacy, not in the form of kids or a family but in my work and my dedication to what I love. So with that I say: "She who leaves a trail of glitter is never forgotten." Let me hear your plans, your theme, or what you want to do in 2013.

Happy New Year

It is new year's eve, which is usually really exciting but with a storm that just came through my home town the roads are pretty much ice and I'm not able to go any where, not even to dinner with my mom. So while I would love to ring in 2013 the way most 22 year old girls would I am home updating you all on my life and studying for my second try on the exit exam. School starts in just about 2 weeks, seemed like my vacation went way too fast, and my list of "tasks" are already building up. Senior semester comes with preceptorship, boards, 10 weeks of classes (only 10!!), and many senior activities like the welcome back assembly and pinning ceremony. My first big senior even is the welcome back assembly, filled with lots of fun activities and information for the younger semester, plus we get class tshirts. SNA also keeps me busy with welcome activities for the freshman like goody bags and introducing our new big/little program. Not to mention trying to study for my second shot at my HESI RN Exit exam.

Any way with it being new year's eve and the start of a new year that will hold so many new adventures and paths I was trying to find a really good post for this year/next year. Maybe a recap of my year since I started this blog so late in the year, or maybe how I am going to really attempt some resolutions this year. Well both seemed kinda silly but I couldn't think of anything else so here is a quick recap of my 2012 as well as some things/goal I hope to accomplish in 2013.

My 2012 in a nut shell:
* I went through 6th and 7th semester in nursing school, two of the most challenging and time consuming semesters.
* Saw my first code and dead body (most exhausting day ever)
* Had my faith and love for neonatal nursing restored
* Stopped working for the first time in probably about 4 years (I couldn't work for my final year)
* Spent some great time at my job before I left
* Grew closer with my classmates
* Realized that there are still a few good men out there that were raised right by their mamas
*Had some amazing clinical rotation, OR, peds, L&D, NICU, ER.
* Discovered I have a love for the ER.
*2012 wasn't all that exciting =)

2013 Goals:
* Get healthy not skinny, yes I do want to loose weight but more importantly I want to be healthy, I feel like I'm only 22 and I'm too young to feel so old.
* Enjoy my senior semester, I never really have time to just enjoy being in my 20's, it has always been work and school, or all school but with course work slowing down, and the end of my college years coming up quickly, I want to enjoy being in my 20's, going out more, spending weekends dancing not nose deep in textbooks.
* Pass my exit and board exams, I know sounds simple or silly but passing my exit exam means graduation and passing my boards means I can practice as a nurse
* I'm sure I will think of plenty more but right now those are my three top "goals" right now.

What are your guys highlights from 2012 and/or goals for 2013? Have a safe and happy New Year's Eve!!

Lee Brice Review

As promised here is my summery/review of the Lee Brice concert I attended on December 13th. Overall it was amazing especially since it was held at a fairly small club in my town. The club was packed to the max it was like hip to hip with everyone there. The doors opened around 7 and he came onto perform around 11, I showed up around 830 and the line was already so long (but moving quickly). For those of you who remember I had a final that morning and all kinds of other things to do so it was really nice to go out, enjoy some drinks and some good music with some of my classmates and friends. The concert itself lasted around an hour to maybe an hour and a half but I "missed" the first like 3 songs because I was being pushed, shoved, and hip bumped by everyone around me, I'm only 5 feet tall and I didn't wear heels (poor choice). My friend switched me so I had a small window to look through but I was pretty much put next to an older couple who were pretty much having sex with their clothes on while dancing next to me. It was pretty disturbing considering none of the drunk college kids were doing this, just the 50 something year old couple. Finally these really sweet guys noticed I couldn't see and was in a very awkward situation and moved me in front of them and created a semicircle around me to help me see and keep me from getting dry humped. It was really nice of them and came just in time, I got to enjoy the majority of the concert and got what would be considered like 5th row seat for my favorite songs. The concert ended around 1230-ish and the club closed at 2 am, that is when we all left. I enjoyed plenty of good drinks, great company, and a great concert. Nursing school sucks your social life from you so it's been a while since I have had a social life and gone out so it was so nice to remember what being in college feels like. Below are some of my favorite pictures from the show.
My overall favorite songs by Lee Brice:
- A women like you
- Love like crazy
- She ain't right
- I drive your truck
And lucky for me he played all of them! Thanks for checking out my summery guys!!!

                                                These are my personal pictures that I took.