Five on Friday v9

[one] Our boys are becoming the best of little friends and it is seriously magical! They can sometimes be found playing kitchen and making each other food or running wild through the house pretending to be race cars. Basically anything Mark says we hear repeated a few seconds later by Pat. And then of course there are a fair number of brother fights over wanting the same toy or being hit in the head by something with wheels. All in the name of siblings I suppose. 

[two] I have a much needed three day weekend coming up, no call shift Saturday or Sunday and took a personal day on Monday, and I seriously can. not. wait! I have been saving up my personal days since I have two littles at home who could need me to be home at any time but as the year is nearing the end, I wanted to make sure I didn't lose them in the process. So we will be celebrating all weekend long!

[three] And speaking of celebration, J's birthday is on Monday and we're hosting a little get together after a round of golf on Sunday. Two foursomes for 18 holes while the boys and I party prep at home for more celebration afterwards. On the menu is a delicious Taco Bar complete with queso and guac. And margaritas, obviously! Now to get all the details together! 

[four] J and I have recently spruced up our basement with workout equipment. We have had our weight set/bench for a while that is mostly J's arena but I occasionally use the weights too. Recently however we added a dip/pull up rack and a new treadmill with a whole new area of mats and a TV set up.  To hold myself accountable, I'm trying to run 30 miles during the month of May in an effort of being healthier and losing some weight. Meals are hard for me as I'm often running through the hospital and grabbing whatever I can get ahold of so figured increasing my exercise, specifically my cardio, was a reasonable change I could implement. Wish me luck! 

[five] J and I have a vacation planned for this summer to the Windy City of Chicago. And by planned I mean we have flights and a hotel room and zero plans otherwise. I'm pretty Type-A and usually have our trips booked to the minute but I'm actually thinking I don't want any specific plans for this trip. Just a fly by the seat of our pants, do whatever feels right and sporadic type of trip. Especially since the boys aren't coming with us. Must haves are views of the lake, pizza and tasty drinks and a museum or two. Any thing we definitely can't miss? 

Five on Friday v8

Today I'm linking up with Christina from Carolina Charm for "Five on Friday" 

Check out the link up below.

[one] We officially found out that we will be staying put for the next two years of school. Years 3 & 4 involve clinical rotations and our school has many different "regions" where students rotate. Majority of the spots are located where we want to be but there just aren't enough for everyone in the class. The selection process is purely lottery based and I am so relieved that we don't have to move, don't have to find childcare or that I don't have a ridiculous commute. Three cheers for Denver rotations!

[two] Mark is getting baptized this coming Sunday and I'm really looking forward to the day. J's mom has the baptism gown J, his sister and their cousin's were all baptized in and brought it over a few weeks ago for us to try on. Unfortunately it doesn't quite fit (they were all baptized at younger ages) so he won't be wearing it on the big day but I was able to snap a few pictures when we played dress up and have to say he's a pretty cute baby. Even if he does look like a girl!

[three] I'm thinking about doing Whole30 sometime in the next few months because I just want to start feeling "better". I'm not all that interested in losing weight because of it but that would be a major plus. I simply don't have the time to get too involved in working out right now between the end of school and studying for boards and so I figured this was a good option. I have to eat so why not try something like this. I'm just trying to figure out when because I know it'll take a bit more prep and thought than my current diet and I don't want all that responsibility to fall on J to cook for me. He's awesome about dinners but I know I'll have to more diligently plan breakfasts and lunches instead of grabbing a quest bar or a frozen burrito before I head out the door. Has anyone done it with good success?

[four] My baby has a tooth! After what has seemed like months of endless drool, constant chewing and lots of wondering when it would actually show up, his bottom left tooth finally popped through on Tuesday. I knew they were making some serious movement the week or so leading up to it as he was extra fussy, waking more than usual in the night and his gums were changing daily. And there it was just poking through with all it's little ridges and sharpness. Ha! I have a feeling it's pair isn't far behind.

[five] From the beginning we've been pretty structured with raising Mark. We follow Baby Wise for his eat/wake/sleep cycles, he eats and naps at specific times during the day, we put him in his crib drowsy but awake and did some sleep training with him a few months ago. Overall it's worked wonderfully for our family and little boy but every now and then I get sad that I don't get very much "cuddle time" with him because of it. Well a week or so ago I ended up holding him for the last 30 min of his nap thanks to extra fussiness from shots/teeth and it was heavenly. While I do love that we're all able to put him down throughout the day, I cherish the rare moments of his breath on my chest too.

Five on Friday v7

Today I'm linking up with Christina from Carolina Charm for "Five on Friday" 

Check out the link up below.

[one] We're expecting anywhere from 9 to 18 inches of snow between now and Monday which will make this weekend an adventure. Hopefully it's less than that because blizzards are never fun but it wouldn't be too bad to have a good excuse to say in for at least a little while. I'm thankful that this storm is happening on the weekend when we don't have anywhere we HAVE to be but it would be nice to have some fun this weekend too. Let's see what mother nature has up her sleeve I guess. 

[two] I may or may not chop my hair some time soon. Thanks to breastfeeding my hair is thinner and falling out in clumps and I'm thinking it's in need of a change. Not that I actually take the time to fix it that often but when I do it makes me sad that my pregnant, thick, awesome hair is no longer. The reason I haven't bit the bullet yet is because I'm not sure if a new style/shorter do will actually help anyways. 

[three] Last night we took Mark and Ollie on a walk and for the first time ever we didn't take the car seat! On a whim we wondered if he was big enough to just sit in the stroller and low-and-behold he was. So we bundled him up in his bear suit (that he's normally too hot-bodied to wear), strapped him in and he loved it. He's always been wide-eyed and curious so being able to see everything was a great thing for him. I can't wait to do it again.

[four] Wednesday I got the chance to have some girl time and it was much, much needed. My group of med school ladies and I went out for wine and apps at a little wine bar in town followed by an afternoon showing of 50 Shades. It definitely wasn't my type of movie but it was my type of activity. Good friends, tasty treats and a few hours of relaxation was exactly what I needed. We said we would try to do it more often and I sure hope that happens. 

[five] Mark is in the "everything goes in my mouth stage" and it's quite funny sometimes. He's been chewing on his fingers and toys for a little while but now it's absolutely everything. The list of things to chew now includes his feet when he's sitting up, book pages while we're reading before bed and phones when we're taking selfies. He's growing and changing in rapid speed lately and it's so much fun.

Five on Friday v6

Today I'm linking up with Christina from Carolina Charm for "Five on Friday" 

Check out the link up below.

This week I've picked 5 "material" things I've really been loving lately. In no particular order...

[one] These Danskin workout tanks have been a favorite clothing item the last week or so. I've had a lot of time to spend studying at home as opposed to going into class so me and lounge wear have been besties. (let's be honest, we're besties all the time) But now that I have a growing belly I'm more particular about what I put on and these never disappoint. They're comfortable without being as sloppy as one of J's old t-shirts plus from Walmart, you can't beat the price.

[two] I posted a while ago about yummy breakfasts in green smoothies. Well first trimester and said-smoothies did not mesh well and just the thought of one had me gagging a few times. Now that my stomach has settled into fewer aversions, smoothies have been making a comeback! These aren't so green anymore but I'm working on adding the spinach back in. For now I'm happy that my fruit intake has gone up and these are such an easy way to accomplish that. Today's mix: 8oz strawberry greek yogurt, 1 banana, 2/3 c frozen raspberries, 1/2 c fresh blueberries and a splash of milk. 

[three] I'm definitely not a nail polish connoisseur but I do have my fair share of bottles stashed in the cabinet in the bathroom. I'm typically an Essie girl with a handful of OPI and cheap $1 bottles thrown in but usually can't allow myself to spend more than OPI-pricing on polish. However, I picked up two Butter shades a year or so ago during a sale and Tart with a Heart has been getting a lot of use lately. I've been sporting the oh-so-trendy ring finger with glitter look the last few weeks and this is my go-to glitter, hands down.

[four] Starbucks Frappy Hour is back starting yesterday and I will definitely be taking advantage of it when I can. I went through a stage where I didn't order fraps because I didn't think they had enough caffeine and I preferred "to spend money on the good stuff". Yikes! Well now that I've seriously cut back my coffee/caffeine addiction (the first step is admitting you have a problem, ha) these are sounding quite delicious. I'm usually a carmel kinda gal and I rarely stray from it but I would love to try something new. Anyone have a customized favorite they love? Any new ones I have to try?

[five] My mom and I have been doing dinners together this week since J has been out of town and we made this salad last night and it did not disappoint! I always love a good spinach base with lots of fresh, springy toppings. (not to mention my love for fruit and avocados over the last few weeks!) Plus the homemade dressing was the perfect addition, not too overwhelming but with enough flavor that complemented the whole thing. We grilled up some chicken breast on the side to give us some extra protein and were left stuffed and happy! I'll definitely be making this salad many times in the coming months.

Happy Friday and happy weekend, friends!

Five on Friday v5

Today I'm linking up with Christina from Carolina Charm for "Five on Friday" 

Check out the link up below.

[one] It's only two weeks and two days away until we find out the gender of the little babe growing in my belly and I can't believe how time is passing so quickly. It seemed like forever ago that we originally scheduled our anatomy scan and now the day is fast approaching. J and I both have our opinions about who this little one is going to be and we've gotten guesses from a handful of our friends too and as it stands right now, we're basically split equally for team pink and team blue. Anyone else want to take a guess?

[two] Spring weather has definitely made it's presence known the last week or so and even though the evenings still get quite cool, I'm happy the seasons are starting to change. We've been working in the yard prepping for the summer and I hope that our efforts will pay off. Last year the previous homeowners stopped taking care of the yard once the house went under contract so we were left scrambling trying to revive brown grass with basically no landscaping. We made some major improvements last year putting in lots of new shrubs and perennials as well as a flag stone patio so this year is already off to a better start. Now if only we can get the grass growing so we have a beautiful, lush lawn then we'll be all set!

[three] Believe it or not, there was nothing on my schedule on Tuesday related to school so a few of my favorite med ladies and I took the opportunity along with the gorgeous weather to spend some time outside being "normal people" for a day. We headed west, back towards where I grew up, and went for a hike at Red Rocks. In all the years I've lived here I've actually never hiked there which surprises me. I've been for concerts, it's where we did our engagement pictures and we've taken guests just to look around but I didn't realize there were such great trails throughout too. After our hike (where I only asked for a break for my growing belly once!) we headed into the little town of Morrison and enjoyed Mexican food on the rooftop patio of The Morrison Inn. It was a fabulous day indeed!

[four] J is taking his first business trip back to San Diego since we moved almost a year ago. He's going to be gone for a whole week and I'll definitely miss him like crazy. Thankfully my mom lives so close and has offered to feed me while he's away. Somehow medical school has made everyone think I can't cook anymore and I'll starve without him here but hey, I can't complain. We have a whole slew of meals lined up that J never wants to eat/make and I'm looking forward to spending some time with my momma in the evenings.

[five] I've started brainstorming nursery ideas for a little while now and I think J and I are officially on the same page. We both believe so strongly in education and want the baby's room to be a place that's not only fun but also a place we can teach numbers, sit down to read and enrich our first born's life as much as possible. We're still working on all the details but I'm envisioning a big map on the wall (possibly as the centerpiece behind the crib), shelves and shelves of books that little hands can reach, science themed art prints, an adorable numbers mobile or a big abacus on the wall and lots of bright colors.

Happy Friday!

Five on Friday v4

Today I'm linking up with Christina from Carolina Charm for "Five on Friday" 

Check out the link up below.

[one] I still can't believe how different our little babe was at our 12-week ultrasound compared to our first at 8-weeks. We choose to do the optional u/s at 12w to do chromosomal testing and I'm so glad we did for no other reason than a chance to peak. Our next u/s won't be until the 20-week full anatomy scan and I couldn't imagine going four months between ultrasounds. It's amazing what technology can do and makes me love this little one that much more.

[two] J is headed to the mountains this afternoon for a mini bachelor party with some of his guy friends. They're headed to happy hour and then for an evening of gambling and as much as I'll miss him tonight I'm happy he has a night out to have some fun. I'm sure life with a pregnant, medical student as your wife can get pretty lonely and I'm grateful he has some fun ahead of him this weekend.

[three] There's another student in my class who's pregnant right now too. She's a bit older than I am and this pregnancy isn't her first which means she brought me some fabulous maternity tops that she no longer fits in. She came up to me after class one day with a goodie bag and said "I was your size with my first and can't wear these anymore" and I am so thankful for her generosity. The tops are nice and flowy and I know they'll be perfect with my new linen pants for cooler evenings this summer. 

[four] Our silly O-dog has a horribly bad habit and I don't know how to break it. He's been going into the yard in the evenings and eating his own poo. Seriously, gag me! We both hate that he does it but aren't sure how to break him of it. We want him to be able to enjoy spending time in the yard just being a dog without us having to watch him all the time. But if we aren't watching him and catching him in the act I don't know how he'll learn not to do it. Has anyone else's dogs done this before? Help?!

[five] This week at school was a nightmare. Super long days filled with lectures, labs that don't always go so well and are just stressful, an exam I didn't have much time to study for, standardized patient encounters with unknown cases and so much neuro I need to catch up on before the exam on Monday. I knew this part of the year was going to be the toughest but man, maybe it's because I'm always tired thanks to growing a human but this is rough man. 3 more weeks until neuro and labs are done and 11 more weeks until summer vacation. It can't come soon enough. 

Happy Friday everyone. Here's to a weekend filled with studying and naps to stay alive. 

Finish This v6

Thanks to Jen for the throw-back engagement picture idea!

1. I celebrate Valentine's day by... loving on my husband and spending some quality time together. Sometimes that means going out for a nice dinner. Last year that meant making a multi-course dinner complete with dessert at home together. This year we're celebrating a day late to eat at a reasonable time (one restaurant only had 2:45pm available for reservations) and avoid all the crowds (not to mention I might be a zombie on Friday night). It doesn't have to be big, as long as it's filled with love. 

2. My heart goes pitter-patter for... sweet notes, kisses on my forehead, dessert of any kind, a free night from school, my husband...

3. When looking for romance, my best advice is... take leaps! When I first met J, I assumed our "relationship" was just going to pan out into a summer fling. I was 18 and moving to San Diego at the end of the summer. He was 21 and already on a path through life. Not to mention we'd only spent 2 months together before facing quite a distance. But at the end of that summer I told him I loved him and that I wanted this to work. And here we are! 7 years, 3 apartments, 2 houses, 2 states, 1 silly dog and 1 marriage later. 

4. My favorite love story (real or fiction) is... besides my own, right?! Ha! Let's see... Dr. Mark Green and Dr. Elizabeth Corday from the TV show ER. Maybe it's because I'm still obsessed with that show or maybe it's because I'm in the medical field but their relationship and love story are my favorite. A great balance of power, real life struggles (thanks drama-tv writers) and filled with fake, TV love! Now excuse me while I try and find time to watch all the seasons again. 

5. The best relationship/love/dating advice I ever received was... make your significant other your number one priority. Granted, I'm not the best at actually following through with this as being a full time medical student definitely demands the top spot on the totem pole a good amount of the time. But it's something that I'm always conscious of and do my best to achieve. Hmm, maybe I'm finally finding my word (over a month late) for the year 2014... priority... 

Previous posts here: 

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Linking up with these ladies (Nicole @ Three 31, Lisa @ The Coastal Chicster, and Becky @ The Java Mama, Jen @ The Arizona Russums) for Finish This. 

Finish This v5

1. I will never outgrow... my love for candy and fluffy, furry socks. I have a pretty bad sweet tooth at times and love all types of sweet treats, especially in candy form. I also always have cold feet so if I'm home in the winter I love pulling on a pair of warm socks that would never fit inside my shoes.

2. I splurge on... good food and that's about it. Ha. I don't wear expensive make-up, I try to find my clothes on the clearance rack and I search for coupons for every day necessities. I'm sure there will come a day where there's something I spend more money on but for now I think it's better this way.

3. My worst habit is... feeling like I need to control everything. I've always been an A-type personality and sometimes it's really hard for me to let someone else handle something or to just roll with the punches when things go awry. It's definitely something I know about myself and I try and make a conscious effort to quench it when the thoughts of "no, you're doing it the wrong way!!!" start popping into my head.

4. My passport represents... vacations to beaches with my family and our fantastic Ireland Honeymoon. I've been out of the country approximately half a dozen times and I love each and every trip and all the memories. I can't wait to add another stamp to the book at the end of the month!

5. My most ridiculous fear is... horses. And for absolutely no reason at all. J thinks it's hilarious (and probably annoying too) but I won't walk near them, I hate the noises they make and have no intention of ever riding one. I was never bucked off one or had any similar trauma related to them, I just do not like them.

6. My favorite thing to give is... homemade desserts. Whether it's a random treat for no reason or homemade cakes on birthdays I love being in the kitchen with someone specific in mind. This might have something to do with having a husband who is pleased through his stomach and/or my love of sweet things too but regardless. I love being able to say, "here, I made these [cookies/brownies/etc] for you".

Previous posts here: 

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Linking up with these ladies (Nicole @ Three 31, Lisa @ The Coastal Chicster, and Becky @ The Java Mama, Jen @ The Arizona Russums) for Finish This. 

Five on Friday v3

Today I'm linking up with Christina from Carolina Charm for "Five on Friday" 

Check out the link up below.

[one] I literally haven't taken a picture on my phone or big girl camera in over two weeks. Which I definitely do not like. Granted it might be because there's nothing fantastic going on around these parts lately but I still love looking back at silly moments of our day-to-day so I need to change this anti-photo streak!

[two] Even though January isn't quite over yet, February is shaping up to be a fantastic month. My birthday is in twelve short days which means a handful of celebrations with all the special people in my life. The day after that is the start of the Winter Olympics and I'm a huge sucker for Opening Ceremonies. And then at the end of the month we'll be headed on vacay for a week at the beach. Come on February! Bring me your awesomeness!

[three] Speaking of birthdays and our Mexico vacation, my mom got me a new swim suit from VS for the trip as a birthday present and I love it. It's been quite some time since I've gotten a good quality suit that wasn't just a random purchase from Target or Walmart and I'm loving the bright colors in this one. I might have to make a stop somewhere for some metallic sandals to go with before we hop on the plane.

[four] A few weeks (months? I'm losing track of time these days) I won an awesome giveaway hosted by Meg @ Life of Meg for an 8x10 photo canvas from Easy Canvas Prints. At first I didn't know what picture to use, wasn't sure if I wanted to wait until I got a better picture of J and I or something and basically, just wasn't really sure what I wanted to do with it. So I mentioned it to J and he said "why don't you have it printed with a picture of Ollie?" What a fantastic idea, I thought, and I LOVE how it turned out. The canvas is great quality and I love this pic of our silly pup with his fur blowing in the wind and can't wait to get it hung somewhere special. 

[five] Tonight my mom and I are headed to a surprise 60th birthday party for a family friend we've basically known my entire life. Their family used to live across the street from us and I have tons of memories being around their family growing up, especially those NYE nights where our parents tricked us into thinking it was midnight at 10pm! I haven't seen them since our wedding and before that it was long time too so it'll be great to catch up while spending some time with my mom too. 

Happy Friday and happy weekend everyone!

Finish This v3

1. A typical day in my life… usually includes a full day on campus filling my brain to the max, sometimes accompanied by some lab time in the afternoons and always with hours of studying in the evenings. Also thrown in are occasional walks with the pup, catching up with J over dinner and hopefully showering before crashing in bed. All of this is typical for a weekday, weekends are just full of studying. Ahh the joys of being a first year medical student, right?

2. You'll never see me… without my iPhone, water bottle and some form of chap-stick. Otherwise I'll try anything once, go anywhere once, etc. I'd like to say I'm open to most things. 

3. It's really unattractive when a guy… picks fights, is controlling and/or thinks too highly of himself. 

4. If I could buy one thing right now, it would be… a new wardrobe which would hopefully include some new jeans, a handful of adult-style tops (I'm trying to get rid of all the shirts I still have from high school) and some new fashionable pieces to wear on the beach in Mexico next month. 

5. I have high expectations for… the coming year. I feel like things are finally rolling for me in every aspect of my life and can't wait to kick butt in 2014!

Previous posts here: 

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Linking up with these ladies (Nicole @ Three 31, Lisa @ The Coastal Chicster, and Becky @ The Java Mama, Jen @ The Arizona Russums) for Finish This. 

Finish This v2

1. If I could make anything grown on trees, it would be… time, definitely. I realize that this is a pretty standard answer (between this and money) but with the stress and consuming nature of medical school there are often times I could use extra hours. Sometimes it's too long between dates with my husband, between times seeing friends, between catch-up coffee breaks with my mom. Oh and what I wouldn't give to be able to take a nap without feeling guilty about the hours it wastes that could should be used studying!

2. I can't stop smiling… if I have a cup of coffee in my hand, quality time with great friends, success on a test, and/or acting goofy with my husband.

3. I get back to nature by… walks with the pup at a nearby park, walls of windows to watch the sun come up (and then go back down) from school, summer BBQs and yard games. Ahh, I'm ready for summer now.

4. I dread washing… the dog. Ha. Okay so it's not actually the washing part thats difficult considering it usually consists of standing on the driveway with a bucket and the hose. Not to mention that he just stands there and lets you do whatever you need to. It's the post-wash that's a pain. Wet dog for hours, all the loose hair, etc etc. But he always smells so fresh I wonder why it takes me so long to do it again.

To see last weeks answers, visit Finish This v1

Linking up with these ladies (Nicole @ Three 31, Lisa @ The Coastal Chicster, and Becky @ The Java Mama, Jen @ The Arizona Russums) for Finish This. 

Finish This v1

recent pictures of O-dog that haven't made an appearance yet just incase you needed a golden fix

1. I first felt like a grown up… once I was married. All through college I was fortunate enough to have my mom's help on a lot of things like finances, insurance coverage, etc etc and once I got married all of that was different. I was on my husbands insurance, my bills were my own, I was 100% responsible for myself without the underlying "mom's always there" aspect anymore. Not to mention I was part of a new "family" between J and I that was uniquely ours which definitely makes one feel grown up I think.

2. I am one of a kind because… of nothing in particular but everything all together. No one's lived my life exactly as I have, no one has the set of talents and pitfalls that I do, no ones seen vacations and new cities through my eyes, no one knows the effects of my emotions quite like I do.

3. Spanx… never worn them, don't have any intention of ever wearing them but haven't been through a lot of "life" yet so we'll see what my body feels like doing in the coming decade. 

4. My favorite family tradition… Mother's Day trips on educational adventures like the museum, the zoo, etc with my mom and sister. We're definitely nerds. The homemade gift tradition on Christmas with J's mom's side of the family especially since it spurred our fabulous engagement 2 years ago. And the idea of creating new traditions with J and a someday family in the future.

5. The last thing I do before bed is… smooch my husband, definitely. But this sometimes also includes turning off the TV (yep, we're one of those couples that watches TV in bed, oops), setting my alarm way too early, slathering on some chapstick and/or telling the dog to stop snoring.

6. Happiness is… a free weekend, extra hot Starbucks drinks, freshly painted toes, A's in medical school and life with my hubs.

I'm linking up to the first addition of the "Finish This" link up. 

This Weekend I...

 This weekend I….

+ Had dinner with my momma and sister before she heads back to school

+ Watched the snow fall, and then more snow fall

+ Thought we might be snowed in since neither of us have very "snow-friendly" cars

+ Played tricks on Ollie while he snoozed on the couch

+ Watched him sprawl out on our freshly made bed

+ Finished taking down Christmas decorations

+ Watched football, ate mac n cheese & ice cream and didn't go to the gym

+ Painted my toes and touched up my 4 week old shellac manicure

+ Tried new recipes for dinner

+ And of course, studied, but what else is new!

 

#DecemberPhotoADay

It's been quite sometime since I've taken part in Fat Mum Slim's Photo-A-Day Challenge. 

And for some reason I thought December would be a good month to pick. 

Maybe because I'm getting sick of school. Maybe it's because I love the holiday season. Maybe because I'll actually have some free time this month. 

But regardless of the reason, I've been happily snapping a picture each day. 

Here's the first half of December and seriously, how is December already half over!

red // where i stood // silver

tiny // in the cupboard // shadow

6 o'clock // i shop here // this is the weather today

r is for // green // joy is…

composition // drink // lights

I always try to instagram my photos but sometimes that just doesn't happen the same day. 

In case you're curious though, and to see all other pics, follow me on Instagram here!

Five on Friday v2

Today I'm linking up with Christina from Carolina Charm for "Five on Friday" 

Check out the link up below.

[one] I've been obsessed with drinking tea at night for the last few weeks. I think it all started when the state of CO was absolutely frozen (as in -15 degrees) recently and I was thirsty but wasn't about to drink anything cold. I've always liked lemon and mint teas but my newest favorite is Bigelow Orange Spice. Wrap me up in a blanket, give me a toasty mug of tea and I'm much more content spending my evenings in the cold office studying.

[two] With my first semester of medical school so close to being done it just seems fitting that this morning's exam was the worst one yet, doesn't it? And even worse is that I studied my bum off for this one. I would be much less worried about it if I knew I didn't put in the work that I should have but that's not the case today. Fingers crossed that scores are released soon and it's not as bad as I'm thinking. 

[three] At the last minute Christmas cards seemed to be a good idea. After receiving our first few from friends I was feeling a bit bummed that we weren't sending them this year. So instead of just chalking it up to being busier this year, I quickly make a custom design with a year-in-review update on my computer. I had them printed through Walgreens since I didn't have time to wait for them to be shipped and I'm very happy with how they turned out given the last minute nature of them. Here's a sneak peak!

[four] We are hosing a White Elephant party tomorrow night for some of my favorite med school ladies and their significant others. Only the girls are participating in the gift exchange since we knew we wanted decent gifts and shopping for gender neutral items is hard. There will be spiked apple cider, possibly some holiday themed games and lots of tasty treats. 

[five] Speaking of tasty treats, my contribution for tomorrow's party are these Red Velvet Shortbread Cookies. They're perfect for a holiday party, covered with festive sprinkles and dipped in white chocolate. Can you get much better than that?! Hopefully everyone enjoys them!

 Happy Friday and happy weekend!

Five on Friday v1

Today I'm linking up with Christina from Carolina Charm for "Five on Friday" 

Check out the link up below.

  

[one] Our new carpet got installed today and I looove it! Between ripping out the old stuff and DIYing the hardwood, it's seemed like the downstairs was a constant work in progress since we moved. The flooring adventure deserves a post for itself which I'll be sure to do soon but for now I'll be laying on the super soft floor for the rest of the day making carpet-angels.

 [two] J was out of town on his first business trip since we moved at the beginning of the week and I am a proud wife. We were lucky enough that his job in San Diego has let him work remotely from home so it made the transition much easier around the move. It turns out the trip this week went really well and he's all set up with tons to do over the next few months. I'm thankful for him and his motivation to support me financially as I can't work for the next while.

[three] This weekend I am headed downtown for a bachelorette weekend for a great friend. Jenna was in our wedding this winter and I'm honored to be in her's in two short weeks. We are going to have a blast celebrating her and her soon-to-be marriage and I can't wait for a bit of girl time!

[four] Being back in Colorado has been such a blessing already. Tonight we are headed to J's mom's house for dinner since his step-brother is in town and Sunday we're hosting dinner for my family since my sister is in town from college for the week. I love that we are involved in these types of things now that we're here instead of just hearing about them via Facebook and wishing we could join. 

[five] I start school in 17 short days and I cannot believe how the time this summer has flown by. Whether it's because of our disaster of a move or life just moving too quickly, I'm not sure if I'm ready to jump into school quite yet. I'm sure that a full week of orientation before classes actually start will help me mentally prepare for what's to come but as of right now I want to find a pool to lay by with a cold drink in my hand and a good chick-flick to read instead of thinking about med school yet.  

Happy Friday and happy weekend everyone!

This Weekend I

This weekend I....

+ Spent 2 hot & fun days at the lake

+ Played with puppies and our friends' cute little boy

+ Laughed too hard at my goofy husband on a mini motorcycle

+ Played drinking games, floated in the lake and officially started my summer tan

+ Cried when J cut open his head walking under the trailer because it breaks my heart to see him hurt

+ Broke my favorite pair of sunglasses which dictates a trip to Charming Charlie's sometime soon

+ Finished reading The Language of Flowers and started on Handle with Care

+ Enjoyed a yummy dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings with my momma

+ Repainted my nails and had a relaxing Sunday at home

+ Loved being back in Colorado

Linking up with Syndal & Sar

This Weekend I

This weekend I...

+ Painted my nails with Red Lights Ahead...Where? from the OPI Holland Collection

+ Made another camera strap cover for my D5100 (tutorial coming soon)

+ Played many games of cribbage with my handsome husband over glasses of sparkling wine

+ Went on a journey through Costco on a Saturday which is always an adventure

+ Dined at The Habit and went on a Starbucks run

+ Snuggled with my pup and gave him some much needed attention

+ Made a new fob for my keys since the latest one was getting pretty worn

+ Did some gardening in hopes that our sad dirt will soon have lots of growth

+ Made homemade pizza for dinner

+ Finished reading Cinder and started on The Sun Also Rises

Linking up with Syndal and Sar