Category: personal

around here // recovery weekend

David was out of town most of last week, arriving home late Thursday night. Friday night I already had plans with a friend to see The Great Gatsby (loved it btw), then Saturday morning I had to work for a few hours. By that time we were both exhausted, but it was all better when I arrived home after work and Meredith yelled “Mommy!” then ran to me with her arms open for a hug. She’s never done that before and after this weekend I feel like she’s at the pinnacle of cuteness and she cannot possibly get any better.

The rest of the weekend was devoted to family time and low key fun, once the chores were done. I got exciting mail (more on the Popsugar box tomorrow), hung up a plant, made a couple of cards, worked on Project Life, and wrote a note to a friend. Meredith will finally sit in a chair at the table on her own instead of in my lap (bittersweet) and two cushions does the trick. We had a lot of great family meals that way and I was so proud of myself for remembering I had just the right ingredients leftover for throwing together an alfredo sauce.

We wore our maxi dresses to church and then my parents watched Meredith while I went to book club. On my own right now I’m reading Happier at Home and taking notes so as to plan my own home happiness project starting this fall. Plenty of time to prepare.

Good stuff.

May 20, 2013
currently

Time // 5:30 a.m.

Place // my desk at home.

Eating // refrigerator oatmeal.

Drinking // coffee.

Watching // nothing at all lately.

Reading // Happier at Home by Gretchen Rubin.

Wanting // to build up a stash of note cards and be more diligent about sending them for birthdays, anniversaries, and just for fun.

Thinking // about how glad I am that David is home from his trip. Single parenting is exhausting!

Creating // cards for Mother’s Day, a cross stitch about a quarter of the way finished that I’ve kind of stalled out on, and am ready to start sewing my quilt.

Hoping // to make a trip to the garden center over the weekend and bring home a bunch of house plants.

Needing // to figure out my next Bible study method since I just finished one (Beth Moore’s It’s Tough Being A Woman) and maybe find a partner (virtual or otherwise) for it. Also, more stripes in my wardrobe. And more pairs of scrubs.

Anticipating // seeing The Great Gatsby tonight with a good friend who I haven’t seen in awhile, and the arrival of my first PopSugar Must Have box that should be here today or tomorrow.

Happy Friday!

May 17, 2013
obsessed with refrigerator oatmeal.

I feel kind of like an impostor posting something about food because everyone should know by now that I am not a foodie or a cook by any means. BUT maybe that gives me cred in a weird sort of way? Like, if this works for ME then it could easily work for you? Regardless, here goes.

I used to be obsessed with cereal. I’d eat it for breakfast, dinner, snack, anytime I could get it. Then something happened when I got pregnant and I don’t like the feeling of that much milk on my stomach anymore. And I realized that cereal is basically just sugar; even the healthy kinds are not that healthy.

In the hospital when I gave birth to Meredith I ordered the oatmeal. It was thick and chewy and delicious. Ever since then, almost every single day, I have had oatmeal for breakfast. Not the instant kind, either. I couldn’t get enough!

Then I saw a link to this post. Refrigerator oatmeal! I tried it once and it was kind of watery; I made adjustments, tried it again, and my life was changed. So I wanted to share with y’all my version of this because I live for it. I actually look forward to it every night before I go to bed. Every Sunday I make a batch for the week ahead and then on my way out the door I grab one.

The ingredients I use are:

>1/2 cup rolled oats (not quick or steel cut)
>almost 1/2 cup of milk (I use skim, you can use whatever)
>1 teaspoon chia seeds (you can buy them in a bag, as above, or get them from the bulk bin, which is what I normally do)
>2 teaspoons maple syrup (I’ve only tried it with the real stuff)
>2 big spoonfuls/globs of Greek yogurt (full fat or 0%, it tastes good both ways)
>blueberries

You don’t have to be super precise with the measurements, as you can see. You can also substitute or adjust for your choice of sweetener or yogurt. I have also made this without the chia seeds and it is still really good, but I like having them in there because they turn into this gel-like texture that I enjoy and they add extra nutrition.

So basically I just add all the ingredients together (except the blueberries, in the order that I listed them) into a half-pint mason jar and mix them together with a spoon.

Once they’re mixed I add in enough blueberries at the top to fill the jar, then gently mix them in. I screw the top on (these are so much easier than the ones that come with the jar) and put it all in the fridge overnight. Then in the morning I have to hold myself back from eating several jars at once. :)

May 16, 2013
my mother’s day wish list

So this really isn’t a gift guide or anything, unless you are looking to get me a gift. Then by all means! But my husband asked me what I wanted for Mother’s Day and other than time with my family (and some time to myself, let’s be real) I was thinking that even though I keep a running wish list, there are types of things that I never seem to buy for myself but that I always want. So this is what I mentioned to him:

House plants – specifically, ones that can stand neglect like succulents. I am actually fairly attentive to my plants but since I’m just learning about them I need hardy ones. I have six small indoor plants at the moment and want way more.

Art Prints – Most of the walls in our house are bare. I recently pulled out some old art I had and tried to start a gallery wall but I realized none of it is my style anymore. I need lots more art to display that I actually love. The print pictured is one of my current favorites.

Monthly subscription box – Recently I have become kind of obsessed with these. So far I haven’t actually gotten any in the mail (although I will, and I will report back!) but I have been researching them all like whoa. I got to choose one for my gift, and after much deliberating I went with OliveBox which is all things pretty paper. A close second was UmbaBox which features different handmade items. I had also previously subscribed to PopSugar’s Must Have box which I’m super excited about (that’s my referral link there), and I’m considering something like Birchbox for my mom and mother-in-law.

Earrings – I am constantly losing one earring. Currently I have no complete pairs that are suitable for everyday wear. I like simple studs best and these are some that I’m loving.

Spa gift card – I love basically every treatment at the spa. I wish I could go every week, but instead I go maaaybe a few times a year. A gift card here is always appreciated.

So I’m curious, what kinds of things do you always love receiving as gifts but never think to buy for yourself or even ask for? What are you doing for your mother-figure for Mother’s Day, or how do you celebrate?

May 9, 2013
day in the life // april 2013

This is part of Ali Edwards’ monthly day in the life project. In 2013 I am documenting a day at the end of each month and including it as an insert in my Project Life album. This month was done on Tuesday, April 30.

***

4:30am – My alarm goes off. Meredith nurses for awhile and I hit snooze three times.

5:00am – Out of bed! I let the dogs out and tidy up in the kitchen. I hear Meredith wailing from down the hall so I go nurse her again but she is awake. This means I won’t be able to do my morning Bible study, so I go ahead and get us dressed, put on makeup, stuff some diapers, make coffee, and wake up David.

6:09am – We are out the door. I drop Meredith at daycare at 6:17am and it goes well as usual. She is quiet and tolerates my excessive hugging and kissing, but hardly looks at me as I leave.

6:20am – I drive to work, drink coffee, and eat breakfast (refrigerator oatmeal and a banana) on the way. Today I am actually in between audiobooks and have no podcasts on deck so I listen to nothing and just think.

7:10am – I park and get on the shuttle. I pull out a new book I’m just starting for book club – The Accidental Tourist by Anne Tyler. I read while I ride, then as I’m walking to my floor since it’s several buildings and elevator rides away.

7:27am – Clock in. Write down my patient assignment for the day and set up.

7:35am – My first patient is here so I get his IV started. I begin texting with my friend Lauren about the book Matched by Ally Condie which I just finished.

8:00am – I work on the computer (charting for work but also updating Goodreads, writing a Yelp review, sending an Evite, and checking email). Our pharmacy is running slow and I’m waiting on meds to be delivered. During this time I also text with my husband to check in and we discuss our financial situation.

9:20am – I finally get patient #1’s infusion begun. It’s only 15 minutes long and then I discharge him. I work on and place a large Amazon order.

10:00am – My second patient arrives. It’s her first chemo so I spend awhile talking with her. I access her port and draw labs. Again I’m waiting on meds to arrive so I do computer work – charting and start an email to a friend.

11:00am – Finish a couple long emails to friends. Still waiting on meds!! They are so slow today.

12:00pm – Lunchtime! Today a drug rep brought us salad from Gringo’s along with chips & queso. Yum.

12:45pm – I can finally start the premeds on patient #2.

1:05pm – Chemo is up and running on patient #2. I do a little blog reading.

1:53pm – My third patient arrives. I start her IV and wait on meds.

2:45pm – I start the infusion on patient #3 and catch up on all my charting.

3:00pm – I discharge patient #3 and discharge a patient for my coworker. Then I finish reading all the posts in my Feedly reader.

4:10pm – I get patient #2’s second infusion started then give report to a coworker. I forgot to chart some meds so I do that real quick and then clock out at 4:17pm and head to the shuttle.

4:37pm – I’m in my car and headed home! Starbucks stop, oops.

5:30pm – I stop off at a friend’s house to pick up a bunch of cloth diapers she’s no longer using.

6:05pm – I get to my in-laws’ house where David and Meredith await me. We talk about our days and I nurse Meredith, we eat dinner (hot dogs, fruit salad, carrots & dip), play outside with our nephew and niece, I talk books with my brother-in-law Scott.

7:17pm – We leave. I take Meredith by Famous Footwear and Target to look for sandals for her, but no luck. (Spoiler: we ended up buying these for her the next day.)

7:40pm – At home again and I feed the dogs and tidy up. I pull out the huge pile of diapers we just added to our stash. Super excited about them. Soon Meredith starts tantruming. We take a shower and afterwards she gets very attached to her towel and won’t let it go. We dress and get ready for bed.

8:50pm – I nurse Meredith in bed and she falls asleep. David comes home from a quick trip to the bookstore and we talk for awhile.

9:50pm – Sleep time for me!

Notes:

>This took place on the 30th which was a normal Tuesday. It was much harder to document when I had to work (and I failed to get many pictures during the day because of patient privacy issues) but I did my best.

>This was an extremely slow work day! I usually don’t have time to do so much personal stuff on the computer, and normally I wouldn’t even have been able to detail what I did with my patients. Unfortunately even though it was slow I still left late because of one patient.

>I didn’t get any photos of David and that makes me sad! He doesn’t really like having his picture taken but I still want to. I actually didn’t see him as much as usual this day so I hope next month it’s a normal family evening at home.

>My favorite moment of the day was pulling up at my in-laws’ house and seeing David and Meredith outside waiting for me.

>Loving this project! I’ve gotten away from taking everyday photos so it gets me back in gear.

May 7, 2013