I graduated, but I haven't done much else since then

If you're not a fan of photo dumps or general life update type of posts, then I suggest you just come back tomorrow. Because that's exactly what this is. I hope you're ready.
In my (partial) absence from this blog I have done the following:
+ Graduated nursing school (for the second time)

Being overly emotional. The usual.

When you finish nursing school, you have a pinning ceremony in addition to traditional graduation. I almost didn't participate this year, but I'm so glad I did!

Me and my best nursing school friend! We have been through so much together. 

+ Completed the entire Harry Potter series beginning to end. And loved every minute of it. And maybe even contemplated starting over again once I finished reading Deathly Hallows.
+ Applied for countless jobs, and felt guilt and sadness over the fact that I will (probably) end up leaving (or only staying on a part time basis) my current job, because I love it and my co-workers oh so much. 
+ Layed out by the pool on any day the sun was shining and I didn't have to work.

+ Gone boating and fishing. And by fishing I mean: not catching anything, reading on the boat, and maybe a little snake hunting.

+ Cleaned my apartment, only to make it messy again. It's a never-ending cycle.
+ Practiced using my new camera lens. Derek hates it because it's a fixed lens. I love it because it's amazing. I'm still learning my camera but I'm a lot more interested in it now that I have a decent lens. 

Just to elaborate on "being messy," this is what my kitchen table currently looks like. 

Yay for manual lenses!

+ Spent endless hours in Starbucks and Panera Bread, because I refuse to get internet/cable at my apartment.
+ Worked. A lot. I finally have time to work and make money and I'm so thankful that I will get to see a real paycheck again.

I can't feel my butt... and other life updates

I feel like I haven't stepped in to blog land in quite some time. I mean, I haven't even thought about writing a post in at least a week and I'm barely making it around to reading even my most favorite blogs. But every day this week I've been attending an NCLEX (nursing licensure exam) test prep seminar type course. Eight hours a day, with my bum in a hard plastic chair with an attached desk, like the ones from high school. I don't know if my butt was a little more padded back then, or I've just gotten ornery in my old age, but sitting for long periods of time makes my fanny go numb and it makes me irritable. 
So after eight hours of test review, the only thing I want to do is come home, pop open a bottle of wine and relax (see below).

I've also started re-reading the Harry Potter series from beginning to end. I'm on the fourth book, which just so happens to be my favorite of all. I haven't read it in over six years because I either loaned it to someone who never returned it or lost it, but my wonderful mother got me a boxed set two Christmases ago and I'm christening it now. It really is surprising to me how much I've forgotten (from only watching the movies) but it's really refreshing to be reliving all of Harry (and Ron and Hermione's) adventures again. (If you weren't aware, I'm a HUGE HP fan. I even hosted a link up.)
I am still on the fence about what I would like to persue, career-wise, after graduation. I just don't think my brain has accepted the fact that I'll actually be done with school. And that I'll get to have a real full time job again. And free time. And friends (outside of nursing school). Not to say I don't love my nursing school friends, but I love my other friends too and I have missed them dearly. But I guess I should decide soon, being that I'll be graduated in less than week's time, don't ya think?
You would think that all of this time off from blogging I would have come up with hundreds (or at least a few) of things to blog about, but nope. Not a single great idea has popped in to my head over the last few months. Or, if it has, I've either already blogged about it or forgotten it. Most likely the latter, being that all I've been thinking about lately are arterial blood gasses and if a glucose reading can be delegated to an licensed assistive personnel. Woof. Sorry for the nursing tangent.
Even with all the excitement coming up in the next week, I have been giving a lot of thought to blogging recently, and how excited I am to be able to return full swing. I'm looking forward to opening up my blog to sponsorships, and sponsoring some of my favorite bloggers again. I'm looking forward to commenting, and responding to comments that all you wonderful readers leave for me. I'm looking forward to more design clients. I'm looking forward to being able to sit down and really pour my heart into my blog with a glass of wine without worrying if I really have the time for it.

The weekend before a Monday final...

....does not a good time make.

Well guys, I wish I had some fun things to report to you, but not counting a date night, the only thing this weekend consisted of was a lot of studying and almost as much complaining about said studying.

Friday night, Derek and I stayed in, he was quite tired from his second job and I worked rather late that nigh so we were both fine with it.

Saturday, I spent the majority of the day studying for my final (which is today) then Derek and I headed out to our favorite wing place for some wings and adult bevvies.

He's such an enthusiastic picture-taker.

 

My normal sized Miller Lite, and Derek's monstrous beer.

 

We ended the night watching RIPD pretty much because that was the only movie playing at a decent time that wouldn't keep us up past our bedtime. It was decently funny. I would have rather watched The Wolverine but apparently that is only for nerds.

 

Sunday, I spent literally the entire day studying my little patootie off. I have exactly an 80 in my class right now and I'd kill to keep a B. B's are hard to come by in nursing school, and I'm proud of mine. Also if I plan on going further (which I do) I need to have good grades.

 

I took to Starbucks for a change of scenery and surprisingly got a lot accomplished.

 

Toward the end of the night the constant studying was starting to get to me.

 

We'll end this post on a happy note. Happy Monday!

Letters on a Friday

Dear Friday Letters, you've saved my arse on several occasions now when I don't have much to write about/when my brain is basically mush. Thanks for always being there.

 

Dear Kev, yesterday you turned 18. I'm proud of you for buying lotto tickets instead of cigarettes. And now I know that you've got a better head on your shoulders than I did, because you aren't even going to Seville square tonight, like I did after I turned 18. Even though you're technically an "adult" now, you'll always be my baby brother.

 

Dear Erin, I am so so so excited about starting on my new blog design. I know its going to be great and I'm literally trying not to pee my pants from excitement right now.

 

Dear Derek, I just want you to know how much I appreciate everything you do. I would say I love that you work so hard to provide for me, but we're not quite there yet. But when that day comes, I know you'll be the best provider there ever was. I know I don't tell you enough how much you are appreciated, but you really are. I love you.

 

Dear Dosage Test, today is the day. The day I take you and determine whether or not I continue in this nursing program. I would have made a 90 on you last time if I wouldn't have put mL instead of mg for the answer. Today, I will be calm and collected. I will not second guess my answers and I will take my time and check my work. The fate of my nursing career rests on your hands test results.

(Wish me luck, y'all. I have to make a 90 on this test to continue the RN program I'm in. The last time I took it I made an 85 because of one little mistake and this is my last chance. If you're the prayin' type, now is when they would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.)
UPDATE: I passed! Took the test and made a 95! Thank you all so much for the prayers, finger crosses, and wishes on a star. You guys are seriously the best ever.
 

 

That one time my life couldn't get any better

I can't believe I'm 23. I know 23 isn't old, and I'm not trying to say it is. It's just hard for me to believe that it's already been a year since my last birthday, since it seems like yesterday. This time last year, Derek was taking me on our first date. We talked for hours, and I'm pretty sure that's when I fell in love with him. My favorite thing about birthdays is all of the love I feel. From family. From friends. From co-workers. From fellow bloggers. It truly melts my heart to know how many people love and care about me. Here's a few pictures from my second birthday celebration:

Out to eat at our favorite wing place! The staff sang "Happy Birthday, Haley." Close enough, right? And I just can't get over how ecstatic Derek looks. You would think it was his birthday with all that excitement.

 

After dinner we headed home for on of my favorite things. Cheesecake. Man was it good.

(Apologies for the cell phone quality)

 

Another angle.

 

"Okay babe that's enough pictures."

 

The last picture of the cheesecake alive. We pretty much demolished it.

 

I still can't believe I'm going back to school. I am so excited to be going back with most of my classmates from my LPN class, including Morgan. Between carpooling, studying, classes, and clinical, we were probably together more than her and her husband (not really). But we became very close and I can't wait to take this journey with her again. Even if we won't be carpooling this time. I am so glad and proud of myself for taking this opportunity to better myself and further my career. I just can't wait to see what kind of doors God will open for me along the way!

 

Linked up with Robin and Shanna. Cheers to hump day and being half way to the weekend!

Five Things

I'm going to tell you five things about myself that you probably didn't know. Or maybe you did, its cool, I hope you enjoy it anyway!

1. I have a terrible singing voice, but I LOVE singing karaoke. This can lead to some pretty amusing/unforgettable/entertaining nights out with friends. My love for karaoke began with receiving my VERY OWN karaoke machine when I was about 10 or 11. I would rock out in my parents living room singing "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" and "Hit Me Baby One More Time." So if you ever get the urge to make a complete fool of yourself, while also having the time of your life, try singing karaoke in front of a bunch of strangers. Or have a karaoke night with your friends and family at home. I promise, you'll love it.

2. I was the lead role in the senior play in high school, "Our Town." Even though I didn't so much like the story line of the play or the way it was supposed to be acted out, I had a blast with my classmates during rehearsals and performances and the play actually ended up being really good (according to audience members, I even brought tears to people's eyes). It wasn't my first play during high school, I was also in Beauty and the Beast, High School Musical (I know, right?), Kilroy Was Here, and many more small productions and shows. I absolutely loved it! I wish I would have continued to pursue stage acting during college, but once I started nursing school, it was completely out of the question. Maybe one day I'll get back into it and join a community theatre or something.

3. I went to Honduras last year on a medical mission trip and it absolutely changed my life. It really made me appreciate being able to afford some of the simpler things in life, like running water. Our team of 17 included plenty of nurses, one nursing student (me!), one general surgeon, one CRNA, and a handful of other volunteers. We had a blast growing closer to each other and growing closer to God by helping these patients that otherwise wouldn't have been able to get these surgeries they needed. I won't go into too much depth about the patients, because I'll probably get too emotional about a few of them, but this was an experience that I wouldn't trade for anything.

4. I have read the complete Harry Potter series all the way through more times than I can count (honestly probably somewhere between 5 and 7 times). You can call me a nerd, but I don't care. The adventures of Harry, Hermione, and Ron will never get old to me. One day I hope to read them to my children and hope they will get as much enjoyment and life lessons that I did from them.

5. I'm a car-singer. You know, one of those people you see banging their head, playing the drums on their steering wheel, holding an imaginary microphone, blaring Celine Dion, or Phil Collins. Yep, that's me. I've gotten so many double takes while going down the road, it's not even funny. But it makes me happy, and makes a trip go by a whole heck of a lot faster than just casually listening to the radio. I mean, come on, how could you possibly even listen to Jukebox Hero or Sir Mix-A-Lot at a reasonable volume? Impossible. The awesome thing is that my Mom and brother are the same way, so car rides with them are always tons of fun. Especially when my brother thinks he can do a better job than the lead singer of Journey singing Don't Stop Believin'.

The long road to LPN

As you’ve read, I am currently a Licensed Practical Nurse. I want to tell you about how this came to be. Becoming an LPN was not my original goal. When I was fresh out of high school, I started at Troy University, majoring in nursing… in just four and a half short years I would receive my Bachelors of Science in Nursing, how exciting! I made it through the first two years with an above average GPA, while still having fun and experiencing college. Then came the nursing program. Let me tell you, nothing can prepare you for nursing school, the hours you have to put in to studying, driving, clinicals, and classes can become a little overwhelming, but I made it through first semester fine (there are five semesters total). Second semester came and I started out on top, but I didn’t finish that way. During the end of the semester, my Great-Grandmother became very sick and long story short, I didn’t pass two classes by a grand total of 3 points. When you’re in nursing school, you only get two chances, and once those chances are gone, you have to revert to your back up plan…well I didn’t have one. I had never even made a D in my life, let alone failed a class. Needless to say, I was devastated. I felt like such a failure and a disappointment to myself and my family.

So after what seemed like the worst few weeks of my life (failing classes, the passing of my Great-Grandmother, and the disappointment from my family) I decided it was time to “nut up or shut up.” I started making phone calls to other nursing schools in the area, trying to see which programs would accept my credits and when their application deadlines were. Only one school wasn’t already past the deadline, and that was LBWCC. The only problem was, they offered an LPN program, not an RN program. I did a lot of thinking, and decided that I would do the LPN program (I only lacked two semesters) and get my RN shortly after, while I was working as an LPN.

So now here I am, a Nurse! I am so proud to say that, after all of the hard work and effort I’ve put in to my schooling. Some people would say that I’m a “failure” but I don’t think so…I never gave up on becoming a nurse. I plan on returning to school next year to become an RN, and even though it will take me a little longer than most to reach my original goal, I’m glad I decided to keep on keepin’ on. I’ve made so many friends, and discovered so much about myself as a person, that I wouldn’t change anything about my journey. As they say, everything happens for a reason!