Drum roll please...

Well it is finally official. I AM MOVING TO CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA!!!!! I got an offer from MUSC's Renal Transplant program and I accepted it on Thursday. I will be moving to Charleston sometime in the beginning of February. Praise God! Thank you to everyone who has been praying for me and my job situation. Your prayers and moral support have meant so much and I know that this is where God wants me to be. I hated the waiting but it was so worth it.

 +AMDG+

Finally a recipe!

I seriously feel like sometimes I am allergic to blogging or at least I am a sprinter not a marathon runner. I guess that is how the roller coaster of life goes, one day you have plenty of time to write things and the next you are scrambling to write two lines. I still haven't heard from the job yet, it is really starting to weigh on me. I think Jesus is really trying to pull me close to him during this season of Advent, since advent means the arrival of a notable person, thing, or event. I have no doubt God is trying to teach me a lesson of patience and awaiting the arrival of the gifts He longs to give me. But I will say waiting is so hard! I want to start planning where I'll be living, starting to do SC state paperwork, hospital credentialing and so much more! God is allowing me time to anticipate His arrival on Christmas and not to get caught up in the worldly things. 

I do have some very EXCITING news to tell everyone though! My sister and bro-in-law and my niece and nephew will be moving back to Georgia next month! Not Augusta, but Athens... 1.5 hours away from us! I am beyond shocked but it has been an intention of the Novena to St. Andrew so I should not be surprised that God has answered my prayers. My brother in law, Christopher, got a post doctorate position at UGA for at least a year, up to three if funding continues. He just defended his thesis and finished his dissertation this past Wednesday out at the University of Utah and has been looking for a post doc position for many months now. All of his most promising options never came to fruition, and on a whim he emailed a gentleman he met at a conference who Christ knew was taking a job at UGA. Little did he know a chance email would turn in to them moving back to GA and Chris with a job. Praise God! The crazy thing is that my brother in law will be starting Feb 1, 2012! So they have to pack everything up and drive across the country in a little over a month. My sister says that she and the kids will come early and stay with our parents so that they can look for a house in the mean time. My sister still has to find a job as an RN there so she won't need to be working. Can't wait to see my super cute niece and nephew again, and on a more regular basis.

I recently tried a recipe that I found on Pinterest. I know this has become the new craze but I love finding new recipes because I am sometimes a very picky eater so I would never have looked up some of these recipes on my own. 

So here is my latest creation... Strawberry Balsamic Pizza with Chicken, sweet onion and apple wood smoked bacon . Might I add that this was DELICIOUS!!! I normally don't like to mix tastes but this was heavenly. I even made a believe out of my skeptical mother. =)

(pardon the very poor camera quality, took this from my phone and I think I had something on my lens when I took it)

Recipe: from The Cafe' Farine

Balsamic Strawberry Pizza with Chicken, Sweet Onion and Applewood Smoked Bacon 

Ingredients:
½ cup strawberry jam or preserves, use your favorite
¼ cup balsamic vinegar ( white balsamic can be used too)
1 teaspoon Sriracha Chili Sauce
1 ball pizza dough (I used pillsbury's thin pizza crust in a can but you can get premade pizza dough from many grocery stores, like Publix or Trader Joe's)
1 cup diced or shredded chicken breast, from rotisserie chicken or left over chicken of any kind
½ cup applewood smoked bacon, cut in 1 inch pieces, cooked and drained
½ cup thin sliced sweet onion
12 ounces shredded Italian blend cheese 
¼ cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped
¼ cup fresh strawberries, diced small

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

2. Place balsamic vinegar in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 4 to 5 minutes or until reduced to half of the original volume and mixture is thick and syrupy. Add strawberry preserves and Sriracha and mix well. Set aside to cool.

3. Pat or roll out pizza dough on a lightly floured surface to approximately a 14 inch circle. Shape does not have to be perfect, this is a rustic pizza. I placed dough directly onto the baking sheet/pizza pan. The original recipes is a bit more involved than I thought it needed to be.

4. Combine chicken with 2 tablespoons of the balsamic-strawberry mixture and mix to coat all chicken with sauce. Pour rest of sauce onto pizza dough and spread to cover. Leave a 1 inch border all around the edge. Scatter chicken evenly over the sauce.

5. Place about 3/4 of the cheese on top of dough and spread to cover sauce evenly. Scatter  bacon and sweet onion over cheese to distribute evenly. Scatter remaining cheese over this layer.

6. Bake for approximately 8-10 minutes or until cheese is bubbly and crust is golden brown. Watch carefully, at this temperature it is easy to burn the pizza!

7. Remove from oven and let cool slightly, 1-2 minutes. Sprinkle with chopped cilantro and fresh diced strawberries. Serve and enjoy! 

Try it, you won't be disappointed! 

+AMDG+

More Waiting

As if Advent season wasn't already a time of preparation and waiting for the birth of Jesus Christ, which I am constantly reminded that most people have forgotten, I am awaiting news about a job that I interviewed for last week. I went and interviewed at MUSC in Charleston, SC for a Physician Assistant position in Kidney Transplant. This would be a non surgical position, dealing mostly with preoperative evaluation and post operative care of kidney transplant recipients. I really enjoyed my interview there, I could tell that the Nephrology department there was a well oiled machine and I was happy to see good working relationships. Obviously as this is said, no department is ever perfect but I think I got a good impression from everyone I interviewed with. I had a long interview, from 10am-3pm. I did choose to go on rounds with one of the physicians, not just because it would show them that I am very interested in the position but because I did want to see potentially what the job would entail. From what I was told I had very positive reviews from everyone that I interviewed with and I hope there will be an offer soon! I miss being in medicine, my current PRN position only allows me to treat "weight loss" so I feel like I am missing out on the diagnostic factor of being a PA. I am constantly reminded at how intrigued I am by medicine and that when I don't know something I am eager to find out the answer or as to what a certain condition is. Being in medicine you never stop learning; there is always some new medicine, treatment, or disease out there, maybe that's why I like it so much.

So right now I am trying to focus on several different things: a potential job, preparing for Christmas, STARTING Christmas shopping, and my cousin's wedding this weekend! I am so excited for Clare and Ben. I have plenty of things going on this week and thankfully I am not working. I am able to help my cousin and aunt with random tasks to make sure there is less stress on everyone. No one wants a stressed bride or mother of the bride. As I am typing this a funny green bug just pelted across my room and flew into my dresser. I was wondering what was making that buzzing noise earlier today, I figured there was a bug in the window but after lifting up the blinds I couldn't locate the darn thing. It's dead now, so no more buzzing. I am also excited to have my brother Fr. Aaron coming into town on Friday. He will be doing the wedding vows for my cousin's wedding. I was hoping I'd be the first family member for him to do marriage vows for but I will gladly step down for my cousin. After all it makes it even more special that one day he'll get to celebrate the wedding mass for me and the man I am going to get married to. Fun stuff to think about for the future.

During this period of waiting I hope to have patience and joy just as we all should for the advent season, awaiting the birth of Christ our Savior. Me being a woman I want to plan and plan and plan some more. I really want to know if I will be moving to Charleston for a job there and start all the preparations to do so. Instead Christ is asking me to grow in patience and to enjoy the waiting time I am in now for the preparation of the Joy he has set for me... in the gift of himself by becoming human and by having me waiting for the revelation of his plan for me as a Physician Assistant. Here's to patience and joy!

+AMDG+

December... already?!

So I realize I've done a bit of slacking in the blogging world... not like most of you care but I can't believe I hadn't written anything in almost a month. Life has been pretty busy I can't lie but I have no idea where to begin on what has happened in the past month.

Went on a girl's weekend trip to Atlanta to visit Erin and Drew ... Drew graciously allowed 10 girls to invade his home. I don't think he had much choice because Erin moved to Drew's hometown after they got married and knew there would be some disgruntled girls if they weren't allowed to visit. Little did he know we would all come at once. Erin and Drew are expecting baby Blake at the end of January so we were all exciting to see Erin's baby bump and to have some girl time with our friend Lindsey who flew in from Tampa for the weekend as well.

Picture of all of us girl's at Atlantic Station in Atlanta

My friend Erin also had her baby shower this month, my camera has actually bitten the dust so I didn't get any pictures after the girl's weekend. But there was tons of good food and baby Blake got lots of things and will be such a well dressed little man. All of us can't wait for him to arrive.

I've been crafting some lately and I invited my friend Joy Beth over to make some ornaments with me, got this idea from Pinterest. I absolutely love vintage/aged looking things. I saw these DIY ornaments from old book paper and I fell in love. Here is the finished product.

Old pages from a book, mod podge, glitter and twine bow

Also this time of year allows me to have one of my favorite all time drinks- Eggnog. Even though I don't drink coffee I do imbibe occasionally on Starbuck's Eggnog Frapaccinos because they are so delicious and don't taste like coffee. They started making them mid November and I was so excited that they were finally out... I got a venti! 

I am ready for the holidays and I am starting to bring down all of the Christmas decorations in my parent's house. Christmas music is now a staple and is almost constantly on in the background. I am enjoying the start of this Advent season and I can't wait to celebrate the birth of Christ in a few weeks. 

+AMDG+

A Bacheloretting we will go!

So I've definitely been slacking in the blogging department but I am trying to catch up while I have the motivation. Last weekend of October we traveled to Helen, GA to celebrate Clare's last few weeks of being a Miss. This also happened to be the last weekend of Helen's Oktoberfest celebration. Helen is a quaint German town or atleast the town's architecture is reminiscent of German gingerbread looking buildings. Well the "we" as mentioned above includes Clare's bridesmaids and a friend or two. Altogether though we had a brigade of 11 girls. All of us pitched in and rented a cabin up in Helen, GA, which had a hot tub. I was all ears when I heard hot tub. After living in Lake Tahoe, I was spoiled because my ex, Ben, had a hot tub at his place and I would be in it all the time because the weather out there was always perfect for it.

So I'm writing this almost a month later and I'm somewhat forgetting the details but I drove up from Atlanta because I had a job interview earlier in the day and on my way up I decided to stop by a grocery store to pick up some beer... well after wandering around the grocery store in circles, it suddenly dawned on me that there were still "dry" counties in Georgia. So I asked a person who worked there and they confirmed my suspicion... they did not sell alcohol in that county and the next county that did sell it was my destination city and the prices are always jacked up in that town. So no beer for me. Only a few of the girls had made to Helen because several had to work on Friday and were driving up later. I arrived to a few of the girls having started drinking quite early and attempting to make dinner. The house was somewhat lacking in certain utensils so I ended up helping make pizza dough and rolling it out with a cucumber.
There was a house next door that was being rented as well and the girls told me that there was a bunch of guys throwing a halloween party and they said they were going to invite us over to later. Little did I know when I heard a knock on the door what I was going to see. i figured it was some of the girls arriving and when i said come in and then nothing happened i came to the door to find a very large baby outside the door... a man dressed as a baby. Since the girls had told me they had seen a guy dressed like a baby earlier I thought they were expecting him so I yelled to the girls that there was a big baby here, and the girls thought it was our friend who was pregnant at the door. I think they died out laughing after they heard me say that and then found a young man dressed as a baby at the door. That was the joke of the weekend.

We had a wonderful night once all the girls got in. I had made breakfast that morning... I saved some of the orange marmalade rolls I had made earlier in the month for this occasion and brought them up and reheated them and served mimosas for breakfast. Nothing like waking up on a crisp morning in the mountains to Mimosas... or atleast I think so.

It took a bit for 11 girls to get ready but we packed sack lunches and then headed into downtown Helen, GA for some shopping. One of the girls spotted an old timey photo place and we all decided to have our pictures taken in saloon girl and cowboy outfits. It was so much fun getting dressed up and the pictures turned out great. Such good memories. I think most of us were worn out by the end of this and we all came back to the cabin to take a nap and to freshen up before going out for Clare's night on the town. We had a fun time at the Troll Tavern in Helen and crashed not too long after getting back to the cabin. We all ended up going to mass in Cleveland, GA on Sunday morning and then I started my drive back home. The rest of the girls ended up going to the Cabbage Patch doll museum/hospital which was not far down the road from the church. So that pretty much concluded the weekend, I am so excited for Clare to be getting married and I can't believe now it's only 1.5 weeks away.

Out shopping in Helen, GA

Me rolling out some dough with a cucumber, the beer is mine too

All of the girls outside the Troll Tavern, complete with tiaras

Amy and I with her prize for winning the bachelorette game... clue is that I'm wearing it and it does have feet!

Pumpkin Eaters

Fall is really my favorite season of all time! What is there not to love about bonfires, college football, crisp cool air, leaves changing colors, scarves, chunky sweaters, boots, spiced drinks, and of course pumpkin carving! After coming back from visiting my brother and sister-in-law in NYC I had a girls night with Joy and Melissa. We made caramel apples, girly drinks, and carved pumpkins! I can't believe I hadn't carved a pumpkin until I was in college and now I feel so deprived if I don't get to do one every year. Each of our pumpkins really captured our personalities, even when none of them were faces!

Joy Beth doing some carving

Melissa with her Pumpkin- "Look at my horse, its amazingggg!" 

(sorry for poor quality picture my camera is about to bite the dust)

Me and my Pumpkin- no greater love with lower case "l" than for Dr. Pepper

Awesomeness that is my Pumpkin... be jealous at my mad skills

Our pumpkins all lit for the night!

(From right to left: Joy's, mine, and Melissa's)

Enjoy Fall before it starts getting too cold! +AMDG+

Back from an Empire state of mind

I had gone to visit my brother, sister in law, and my niece for 5 days starting last Wednesday. They live in Brooklyn, NY and as much as people would like to say you went to NYC... I really didn't go into the city at all until I was on my way back to the airport. I have been to NYC quite a few times and the nostalgia has somewhat worn off, also when you're broke it keeps you from traveling anywhere with lots of clothing stores! I stayed in Brooklyn for the majority of the trip, and still there is plenty to do. It is also harder for my brother and sister in law to tote their 14 month old daughter around NYC, especially when it starts to coincide with her nap times. We went to the park, a few times actually, went out to brunch, hung around the house and made some delicious dishes. I also had the opportunity to meet up with my friend, Gali, who was in the US visiting from Israel. I met her on study abroad in Italy during my undergraduate degree at GCSU. We went and ate at a wonderful French restaurant, Moutarde, that is featured in Julie & Julia.

no I didn't take this picture but I only brought a card home from the restaurant, I

was enjoying the place too much to take pictures.

And then we went and walked around Prospect park in Brooklyn before parting ways, I really need to go visit her in Israel. I love having friends from other countries! It means I always have places to go visit!

Picture of us in front of Columbus circle in Brooklyn

We opted for the old camera timer instead of finding a person

Never know when someone will run off with your camera!

I had a great time spending time with my brother and sister in law, we cooked a lot of different things- potato skins, my aunt nogc ahn's infamous egg rolls, and an awesome blossom. Don't worry pictures will follow after I'm done writing. I really do love the area they live in, Brooklyn is a great neighborhood and a nice alternative to Manhattan. I considered looking for jobs there but I don't know if this southern girl is ready for the big city yet. What I do know is that I love going to visit and it makes it so much more enjoyable since I have family there. My brother and sister-in-law are actually moving to a new apartment 2 blocks from where they are living now which will give them more, much needed, space with their growing family. So blessed to be able to visit them while I am still job searching, until next time... I'll be having my Georgia State of Mind.

Emma and I sharing lunch at the park in their Neighborhood

Playing at the park

Having a great time on the carousel in Prospect park

My sister in law, Maddy, Emma and I at the wigwam replica

My brother Joel, his wife Maddy, and Emma- beautiful family

Me frying up some eggrolls! Before I burned myself with the hot grease...

AND NOW ONTO THE FOOD!!!! (sorry these are not "light" foods)

Potato Skins with Bacon and Onion

My Aunt Nogc Ahn's Eggrolls

Awesome Blossom

Hope you enjoyed all the pictures! +AMDG+