Great Green Gobs

I've been out of commission for the past few days due to Bronchitis. It had been coming on slowly for 3 days or so but started out with a horrendous sore throat, even though I had my tonsils out when I was 8 I thought or a moment that I finally was getting pay back for 17 strep free years. Thankfully this ended up not being the case. Being a medical professional I was staring into the back of my throat constantly looking for signs of strep, and at first it looked quite streppish. For you non medical people, there is usually white stuff or spots on the back on your mouth or on your tonsils. I won't get into any more detail. I started losing my voice tuesday and I have the first semblance of a voice today. There was a lot of rasping and deep voiced talking for the past days and numerous cracks mid sentence. I stayed in bed from wednesday til saturday, and saturday I got brave... more likely cabin fever, and went to run a few errands around town.

I ended up getting my PA diploma framed at Michaels and then I went to Lowes to get some paint. Why would this girl get paint when she's sick you may ask? I guess for me nothing makes me feel better than turning something ugly into something beautiful. I have been working on repurposing my grandmothers old dresser and I had it totally sanded down but since it was raining earlier last week I couldn't paint it and then I fell ill, so now as the perfect day to get things done. Plus dad was home and I could enlist his help for using the Wagner power sprayer for this project! Pictures to come, I have to add another coat of paint to the top of the dresser (since it will get the most wear and tear) and then give the dresser a clear coat of polyurethane for some extra durability and a shine. ;) I am also going to do a super sweet lace detail on the drawer fronts and I found some really awesome cabinet knobs online that I am waiting to come in so I can finish giving the dresser a makeover. I love being crafty. Ideas for this dresser were inspired by this lady on Pinterest.

So during all of this my dad is trying to paint all of the sliding leuvre doors to the closets as well. So we were both covered in paint by the evening. Dad finished up painting the doors today, its hard to paint in all the slats with a paint brush so my dad is getting a lot of use out of this past year's Christmas present. I was originally supposed to go to Alabama this weekend to visit two girl friends that I had met out in Reno/Tahoe. They have relocated to the South for the time being and were throwing a birthday/house warming party. Well I am very sorry I missed it but I was in no condition to go. Sometimes it sucks to do what is best for you, I will have to remember that when I am treating patients because I'll be telling them they have to do what is best for them in the long run.

I also learned how to use my mom's sewing machine last night... my mother and I completed a pillow but we sewed half of it by hand. I saw a cute idea on Pinterest for making a pillow from old cable knit sweaters. I had a sweater that I just didnt' wear anymore and if this lets you know how long I've had it, I wore it for my HS Senior portraits. Do the math. Since I am a petite person the size of clothing I have doesn't yield hardly enough material to make a pillow but I made it work. I'll post a picture when I've fully finished it. I know I'm promising so many pictures, guess my next few blogs will have lots of pictures instead of words. Anyways I leave for NYC in 2 days so there is lots to do before I leave. I guess there will be pictures to come for that entry as well upon my return. Buona notte!

+AMDG+

Shower time!

Well life has been going a mile a minute lately but hey, that's what I live for. I had the great honor of hosting my cousin, Clare's, first bridal shower this past weekend. Clare and I have been friends from the very start, we used to live on the same street as each other before we both were 2. Then our friendship continued as we started the same school together and we went kindergarten through 12th grade together and graduated from the same school. We went to different colleges where we met new friends, but no matter how much time elapsed it was always as if not a day had gone by. I am very honored to be a bridesmaid in her wedding on December 10, 2011. Clare is marrying a wonderful gentleman named Ben, for many of you who know me... Ben is not a name I want to have repeated often, but I love who they are individually and who they have become together. I admire their faith and trust in God's plan for them and how both Clare and Ben were open to the many changes God had in store for them.

Here is a lovely picture of Clare and Ben after he was received into the Catholic Church!

And after all the growing up together and now Clare is getting married! I knew this day would come but I didn't realize how much of a profound impact it would have on me. I am so excited for her and I'm probably going to cry my eyes out when I see her walk down the aisle. So anyways back to the shower I threw Clare. Well since I haven't started my job yet I have had ample amount of time to do some projects and to coordinate a shower, not that I haven't been busy but I have spare time. As many of you know I am somewhat of a Martha Stewart but I really have been more of a Paula Deen lately. I LOVE to cook and to feed other people. So I was excited to get to plan the menu for the shower, although it was a bit challenging because although it was a family shower, family along comprised over 50 people. I won't say thankfully that some family members couldn't make it but I was worried about how much seating we were going to have. We had about 40 people show up and the weather couldn't have been more beautiful! I wish I had gotten pictures of the back deck while it was decorated but I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off as it was. 

Here is a picture of the spread: top left: Red velvet cheesecake brownies, Carrot Cake, Sausage cheddar balls hiding next to the cake, then a basket of croissant rolls for putting chicken salad in. bottom left: veggie tray with chipotle ranch dressing, pickles, antipasta salad, fruit salad, and then chicken salad hiding in the corner.

The game I chose to play with the guests was called "Mustaches and Tiaras"... found this game off Pinterest (as soon as I find out how to tag Pinterest I'll do so!) Basically I asked each the bride and groom a set of the same questions, and they weren't about each other. So how the games works is that I read a question I asked the couple aloud and then I read one of their responses, then I had teams of two people who had to either hold up a mustache to their face to indicate it was a response that the groom had given or put the tiara up to their head to indicate the bride had said it. It was really funny to see all of these ladies with mustaches on. Since I was proctoring the game I didn't have time to take pictures but I know some of Clare's future in law's were snapping away. I did snag a picture or two after the game with my cousin.

 and now for a not so silly one

Clare had a mountain of gifts, and she will be even more excited once her and Ben find a place to live so she knows how much space she'll have and what colors she wants to decorate with. All in all I couldn't have had a better shower and I am so blessed to have such a wonderful friend and she truly is a pearl beyond price. Ben you are a very very blessed man, and I know she feels she the same way about you. Love ya'll!

+AMDG+

It's the little things

I just realized I haven't written in over a week; I have been busy and yet not busy. Hard to describe where I am at, but it involves a lot of waiting! I volunteered to help out with a Youth 2000 retreat 2 weekends ago and since then things have been going non stop. I accepted my first job last friday, it is just a PRN position but it will tide me over until I find a full time position. God has really blessed me because I wasn't too keen on interviewing for the position in the first place because it is for a Medical Weight Loss clinic but the Lord urged me to give the manager a call back and to set up an interview. I wanted a job working in a hospital or even a place that would be practicing more medicine than this job offered but I explained my situation to the manager and he understood completely how I felt but also said hey, here is your opportunity to get your foot in the door... get your license, get some experience, and get some connections. What did I have to lose? The staff has been more than helpful to me and surprisingly has guided me through the licensing process. I am glad some people know how this is supposed to go because the GA composite medical board hasn't been very helpful, besides telling me that all of the information is available online. I have signed all of my papers and they are sending in my stuff to get my PA license. SO EXCITED! So as soon as I have my temporary license I can start working!

I am still searching for a full time job in the area, but this doesn't put so much pressure on my search and allows me to pay some bills in the mean time. I am hosting my cousin/bestfriend's bridal shower this weekend at my house (aka the parents) and will have close to 50 ladies there! So I am going to have my hands full for the rest of the week getting things ready for that. I also have been busy with wedding plans for several of my brides, I will be in 3 weddings over the next 6 months. I am visiting my brother and sister in law in NYC Oct 19-24th. I am super excited as well because a friend of mine that lives in Israel will be the U.S. and in NYC during that time frame so I get to visit with her as well as my brother and sister in law! A little time away after studying for boards and all of this job hunting should do me some good.

There are so many things coming up that I'm looking forward to but I guess I will blog about them as they come along because you people could be reading for a very long time. I just know that I've really come to appreciate the little blessings I've received recently, sorry God for me being so prideful and no grateful for what I have. It is the little things that really have been keeping me going, little bits of light shed on my life allowing me to have hope and to stay positive about all the things God is doing in my life. Thank you Lord for the littlest things to the greatest, I don't deserve them but I am so glad you give them to me. Help me to have more grace to forgive, to heal and to love.

+AMDG+