Everyday Guesses

I am the first to admit that there's only a short list of things in my life that get me really excited. My husband always says I am just too content with life.  One exception to that is planners. A little background on my planner obsession.  I'm one of those people that used a planner as far back as middle school to help keep track of school assignments, birthdays, events, and things to remember. It was always part of my back-to-school shopping to pick out a planner for the school year and at the end of the year I loved looking back through it to see how the year progressed.  Sometime during my college years I made the switch from the academic year planner to the annual planner, and in 2016 I got my first personalized Erin Condren Life Planner.  I got the colorful, horizontal layout and used it to document my work, school, and personal calendar. It held up well over the year, but my one complaint was that by the end of the year the interchangeable cov...

Today is this little man's 8 month birthday! :) David and I said this morning that we never thought we'd make it this far, and in response Ollie just smiled and laughed at us. I keep thinking back to this time last year and how I couldn't even wrap my head around what it was going to mean to have a child.  And now that he's here I just can't imagine life without him. Age : 8 months Height: 26" + Weight: 20 pounds Clothes: 6-12 months, depending on the brands.  For the most part he's in 12 month onesies and 9 month pants (if he's even wearing pants). Milestones: Army crawl, Sitting up unassisted, Saying "mama" and "dada", Finally growing hair on his bald spot Food: Breast feeding 5-6 times a day with solids at least once and usually 2 times throughout the day. Squash, Bananas, Peanut Butter Sleep: Waking up 1-2 times at night and still nursing back to sleep at the first wake up.

Here is something I've really struggled with since returning to work as a Renal Dietitian after the birth of my son: work resentment. I've found that a lot of articles I've come across use the term "mom guilt," but I don't think that term adequately describes what I'm struggling with. Mom guilt is feeling like you're failing to love and nurture your family because you're giving that time and energy to your career instead. I think I'd be feeling more of this if I loved the work I was doing.  Work resentment, on the other hand, is feeling like you're giving time and energy to your career that you'd rather be giving to your family.  See the difference? I feel like I'm constantly fighting a losing battle.  I should be doing my work--rounding on patients, doing assessments, charting progress notes-- but instead I'm thinking about my baby. It's not because I'm worried about h...

Welcome back! I clearly lost track of this over the past couple years, and since that time David and I moved from Florence to Darlington, where we rented a 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom duplex on a quiet street near downtown.  It got us out of the apartment complex, and was a welcome change.  Shortly after moving, we ended up getting a second cat and the house immediately became too small.  With two high energy cats running under foot and less than 1000 sq. feet of living space, we felt extremely cramped. Next, David went back to school to pursue a professional writing degree from Francis Marion University and I went back to school for a Masters of Public Health degree from University of South Carolina.  The school work added another chaotic layer to the small space in Darlington, and then to make it even crazier David proposed! I had just started a new job at Fresenius Medical Care, and now we began planning a wedding on top of all our school work.  Again the house...

Completing this year What was your biggest triumph in 2012? Settling into South Carolina and actually having it feel like home. What was the smartest decision you made in 2012? Joining match.com What one word best sums up and describes your 2012 experiences? Amazing What was the greatest lesson you learned in 2012? It's ok to let go of the past and accept that there's something better in your future What is your biggest piece of unfinished business in 2012? Ummm...I haven't made the dentist appointment I've been meaning to make. What are you most happy about completing in 2012? Finding the love of my life. :) Who were the three people that had the greatest impact on your life in 2012? David, Creepy manager Jeff, and Carolyn What was the biggest risk you took in 2012? Joining match.com What was the biggest surprise in 2012? That I met an amazing guy from a dating website What important relationship improved the m...

Reason being: My new boyfriend.  His name is David Alan. We met at the end of March and ever since he came into my life I just can't help but smile. He is amazing and I'm pretty much in love with him. (!!!!) That is all. <3

So today went from excellent to crappy in about 15 minutes flat. This is the first day in a while that I truly walked away from work feeling absolutely zero job satisfaction and it's all thanks to the STUPID lactation specialist at the hospital. I spent 90 minutes in a meeting with her and about 10 other people...NINETY MINUTES...sitting across the table from her, and then we happened to be on the same floor about 30 minutes later. I go to her asking a question and she looks at me like I have two heads.  Here's the scenario: Me: "Hey, have you seen the nurse covering room 405?" Her: Stares at me blankly... "I'm the lactation specialist." Me: Uh, and I'm the dietitian...so what does that have to do with anything?  "Yes, I know who you are and was just asking if you had seen her nurse." SOOO frustrating.

Completing this year What was your biggest triumph in 2011? Passing my RD exam (and getting a REAL job with the credential!) What was the smartest decision you made in 2011? I'd love to tell you it was moving to South Carolina...but obviously I don't truly believe that (see above #3). So lets say the smartest decision was moving out of Grand Blanc, because not everyone I know has been able to do that. However, the whole jumping head first into becoming an independent adult thing is EXTREMELY difficult this far away from home. What one word best sums up and describes your 2011 experiences? 'Enlightening' was the first word that came to mind...so I'll go with it. What was the greatest lesson you learned in 2011? Just when you think you have it all figured out...it changes! What is your biggest piece of unfinished business in 2011? 1 word, proper noun, 5 letters, starts with K. I realized it was unfinished in February and then in June it ...

Well, here it is, just past the middle of August and I have two updates. 1st update:  I got the job in South Carolina!! They flew me down for an in-person interview at the end of July and I met with all the dietitians and the manager.  They offered me the job the following week, contingent on me passing my RD exam...so right now my start date is set to be September 6th. :) :) My mom and I flew down there last weekend/early this week to go apartment hunting and found a 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom place that I will be moving into a week from tomorrow!  It's crazy how fast it's all happened, I'm still not sure it's real yet.  I'm so excited to be moving closer to Rachel and Kyle (and their new baby girl coming at the end of the year!!!). Them being so close with definitely help me keep my sanity following my move away from my family.  2nd update: I'm taking my RD exam on Wednesday! After I got offered the job, I immediately scheduled the test and no...

Completing and remembering 2010 What was your biggest triumph in 2010? Being matched with Cornell for my dietetic internship What was the smartest decision you made in 2010? I think it was probably deciding to choose a site in Rochester for my community rotation so I didn't have to move half way through the internship. :) What one word best sums up and describes your 2010 experience? Stressful....or Fantastic...but probably Stressful What was the greatest lesson you learned in 2010? That sometimes you just have to take some down time for yourself in order to keep your sanity. What is your biggest piece of unfinished business in 2010? I don't think anything is left unfinished...pretty sure I've followed through on everything I had to. What are you most happy about completing in 2010? My community nutrition rotation....most importantly my research project! Who were the three people that had the greatest impact on your life in 2010? I'm interpreting t...

Alright, so I'm in the home stretch of my community nutrition rotation and I'm stressed beyond belief with all this research stuff (which I should be working on as I write this...), but I've had some realizations. (1) I made it! Regardless of how much I felt like I struggled along the way, this is it! After next Friday I will no longer have to be worrying about my research or analyzing data or drawing conclusions...it will all be over. As for my community site, that's already over! I never have to go back again and in all reality got very positive feedback on my performance while I was there. It wasn't my favorite place to be, but I definitely learned a lot and worked with some great people. I think they're great at what they do, I just know I'd never be able to do it. It is not my forte and therefore I will leave it to someone else. (2) I learned that I really enjoy nutrition policy. Like getting involved with Child Nutrition Reauthorization and ...

AHHH! 2 weeks until I find out about internships and 5 weeks until I'm completely finished with classes!!! Everything has kind of come in to perspective as graduation and internships get closer and I'm just trying to appreciate everything I have and everything I've worked for. I think in the past couple months I was getting a little too caught up in the things I wasn't doing and the things I didn't have and it was making me feel like I was losing control. Now, I feel better and am just really anxious and excited to find out what my future's going to be. These 5 weeks cannot go fast enough!

Everything seems to be going very smoothly for the time being. I'm feeling a little on edge, but I think that's just because of the number of things I have to keep straight all at once. I got a call from Cornell yesterday and set up a phone interview for Monday, which is the last step in applying to their internship. Then all my other applications are due Wednesday, so I'm going to spend this Saturday working on them---and probably some of Sunday too, even though it is the Super Bowl. After that my future is out of my hands until April 5th. I'm super excited for the days, weeks, and months ahead of me. I've seen such a change in myself this year compared to years past. These days it seems that even when everything is hectic it's never too much. The only thing I'm responsible for is myself, and lets face it, that's a pretty easy thing to be responsible for. My decisions effect my future, and mine alone and that makes it much easier to be comfort...

I graduate at the end of this semester!!!! That's crazy! I'm really excited for it, but at the same time a little nervous. I know I will breathe a sigh of relief once April roles around and I find out if I have an internship to go to after graduation, but for the most part I'm totally excited to be finished with undergrad! 4 years totally flew! Thus far the semester is off to a good start. No terrible class work so far, and the classes seem like they'll stay pretty manageable. Work is really good too...it was a pretty hectic week cause not everyone was showing up, but it's so nice to have my caf family back! They're fantastic support and I love being back with everyone. In other news, my boy is still around for another month or so, which I'm really happy about. Christine and I hung out today, and we were talking about what was going on in our lives and she's convinced that I like him more than I'm letting on. She's probably right, but I think...

Will you be looking for a new job? Yep Will you be looking for a new relationship? Maybe New house? Yep, I'll be leaving Kalamazoo!!! What will you do different in 2010? I think I'll go out more... New Years resolution? Finish my internship applications...haha What will you not be doing in 2010? Ummm...hopefully I won't be living in Michigan. Any trips planned? Not at the moment Wedding plans? Nope...:) What's on your calendar? Classes starting, day my intern apps are due, day I find out if I get an internship, my graduation from college... What can't you wait for? Graduation!!! What would you like to see happen different? I don't know, honestly What about yourself will you be changing? Hopefully I'll continue to mature...maybe What happened in '09 that you didn't think would ever happen? Meeting my new boy! Will you be nicer to the people you care about? I would like to be Will you dress differently this year than you did...

Today I have a 3-5 page paper to write...I have about 1/4 of a page written and a pretty solid direction , but I can't bring myself to write it. Instead I'm watching Gilmore Girls and surfing the internet. Haha. Lately, life has been pretty interesting. Classes started, work started, all the roommates have moved in, and as usual drama surrounds it all--but it's nothing too unbearable. I'm just looking forward to getting through this year and seeing where my life takes me. Now I suppose I should try and get atleast one page of this paper written before I go an procrastinate more by taking a shower and then watching One Tree Hill. :)

I finally feel like I'm at a stable point right now in life. It's spring break and I am about to go to California for the very first time to see a friend I haven't seen in over a year! I could not be more excited about it...and on top of it, this will be my first plane ride since about 2006. I love plane rides--take offs and landings are my favorite--and just that freedom you have when you're in the airport getting ready to go on an adventure, not completely knowing where it's going to take you, but knowing that your destination is where you want to be. I love it and can't wait to be in the airport, boarding my plane, taking off, being in the air, and landing...and then doing the whole thing all over again 5 days later!! I'm really starting to like my independence a lot. I was in a relationship for so long that I didn't know what independence even was. I like being able to do what I want, when I want, how I want without having to worry about how som...

Where​ did you begin​ 2008?​​my house with my family and kenny and the bomeli's What was your statu​s by Valen​tine'​​ s Day?in a relationship and very happy Were you in schoo​l ( anyti​me this year)​​?yup...the only time i wasn't was july and august Did you have to go to the hospi​tal?​​nope Did you have any encou​nters​ with the polic​e?​​nope...i was good this year Where​ did you go on vacat​ion?​​maplehurst...kinda...it was still work What did you purch​ase that was over $​​500?​​no single purchase...but lots of small ones Did you know anybo​dy who got marri​ed?​​actually i did Did you know anybo​dy who passe​d away?​​sadly Did you move anywh​ere?​​not this year! yay! What sport​ing event​s did you atten​d?​​i went to an MLS game in NY, and a couple Michigan football games ​What conce​rts/shows​ did you go to?i saw the BACKSTREET BOYS!!!! Where​ do you live now?mostly kalamazoo...but still permanently in GB Descr​ibe your birth​day?​​kenny came to visit me ...

Classes start in less than 24 hours!!!  I'm definitely starting to have some anxiety about it too. I'm so not ready to get back into the studying, homework, and test parts of classes...but I'm really excited to get back to work and see friends from last year and make new ones. Unfortunately, I'm on of those people that has a hard time coming out of my shell, so I've been a bit anti-social with the people on my floor (new dorm and all). My roommate still has yet to move in. First, she was coming last Friday, then it changed to Sunday...and now it has to be today considering classes start tomorrow. I'm just ready for her to get here so we can figure out where we're putting all our stuff; the last thing I want to do is put all my stuff where I want it and end up not leaving her enough space. I also want to figure out how our personalities mesh. I met her last year, so I know that we get along as friends...but that could change with us living together and ...

Ugh! I have a organic chemistry test tomorrow, and I have all day to study for it. The problem is that I don't want to. I want to do well on it, so I'm really worried about WHAT to study, but I have really bad problems when it comes to focusing. Luckily my lab partner and I met up at 9am to study a little in the library, and did that for about an hour and a half...but now I'm back in my room and there are too many distractions. YUCK!  What really sucks is that the test is supposed to be on Monday, but since I won't be there Monday I have to take it tomorrow. Once I get it over with I'll be fine...it's just getting from this point to that point. Eventually I'll either go back to the library to study, or get on a study kick and not get distracted (which does happen every so often). Maybe I'll start by working on the lab stuff that's due for tomorrow and from there I'll do some really good studying. Anyway, I know this was a pointless ...