Momma I'm comin' home

So finals have come to and end, and this can only mean one thing!  I'm heading home!  Can't wait to see friends and family for the holidays.  I really need it since in less than a month I'll be seeing patients.  Whoa.

Tipsy is flying with me, and so far she's been such a good travel companion. I would show you a picture but the horrid "free"wifi at the airport isn't free. yay! Xoxo

So hard to study..

When this is laying next to you.
 

 

Christmas spirit

It's Christmas time, and normally I would have already decorated a Christmas tree during Thanksgiving, but because of school/exams/winter break, I haven't done it, and won't.  So, to add some Christmas charm to our apartment (and procrastinate a little bit longer), we put up some Christmas lights last night.  It adds just the perfect amount of Christmas spirit to tide me over until December 25th.  Enjoy!

xoxo

Supplementation

I've just recently become interested in skincare, and more particularly, my skin. Right now, I could pass for a 16 year old with my child-like skin, and I figured if everyone thinks I look so young now, if I don't take care of my skin, I will look 16 one day, and 37 the next. Blech. I figured I should be milking this genetic gift for everything it's worth, right? So I began reading up on the topic. 

I thought I was pretty well off since I wash, moisturize, and exfoliate on a regular basis.  Plus, I already do a service to my skin for disregarding the need to be tan during the summer months.  Instead I relish in my ability to stay completely pasty white, and blind people on the beach.  However, I've learned it takes more than an ability to become transparent and some face wash.  

Every single article I've read about having good skin emphasizes the fact that you should be taking at least one multivitamin a day, and because I pride myself on my skin, I decided now was probably the time to start supplements.  

Here is the holy grail of my vitamin situation.  I take a daily multivitamin (yes, it's chewable because I'm a baby), fiber gummies because the multivitamin doesn't include fiber (I thought it was called "multi" for a reason, Super tip: the gummy actually helps get the chewable multivitamin bits out of my teeth, a-thankyou), and omega-3 fish oil capsules.  You'd think if I could swallow a monstrous fish oil capsule, I'd be able to swallow a vitamin. Guess not.  I haven't really noticed a difference yet, but I'm sure the inside of my body is thanking me...or at least that's what they better be saying.  

I'm also primarily taking the fish oil for my dry eye situation, and my doctor suggested "Nordic Naturals" because they are the purest and best fish oil capsules on the market.  Supposedly they don't make you burp up "fish burps" which sounds extremely nauseating, and I had no idea they existed until I started researching fish oil.  I'm happy to say I have yet to experience one, so I would recommend Nordic Naturals if they prevent one from the nastiness that is a "fish burp".  They also have liquid fish oil which also seems unbearable, but if you can't take the gigando capsule, then it's an option.  Only draw-back, they aren't cheap.  Looking back, I probably shouldn't have bought them at a Whole Foods since everything there is marked up 200%.  Next time, I'm ordering from Amazon.

Remember when I said I had dry eye?  Here's that situation:

Gel drops galore, Pataday, ointments, oh and I had to buy a humidifier because my eyes were so dry in the morning that my lids were basically glued to my corneas.  Sweet.  No one at the clinic can figure out the cause, but they think it's something with the air here because at home, I don't have dry eye.  Oh and I tried punctal plugs, which is where they stick a piece of plastic into the tear drainage system to block it and keep the tears on your eyes longer.  That didn't work.  I'm a medical mystery!  

xoxo

New Girl Style

Like most people in the US, on Wednesday nights I watch "New Girl".  It's such a hilarious show, and Zooey Deschanel is a great actress.  I love her quirkiness! It's probably one of my favorite shows on T.V. right now, and that's saying a lot considering the fact that I don't normally watch television.  (Not a big TV fan here.)

The other night I'm just casually watching the show, and out walks Zooey (or Jess, I guess we should call her) wearing the same purse I have!  I freaked out and told Hubby, and he was like "Well now you can say you and Zooey have the same style!...actually it's not really her, it's her stylist from the show, but still." Okay, well thanks for ruining it, but I still say she would totally wear a purse like that in real life anyways.

And here's the photographic evidence:

 EEEEEeee! 

xoxo

Open minds

"Minds are like parachutes - they only function when open."  

Here's some inspiration.  I feel that it's appropriate for the current political climate in our country right now. If only everyone could understand this.  

{Drawing by Carly Hougen}

The Kitty and the Wardrobe?

Yesterday I hear a funny noise coming from the dresser while studying.  Go to investigate, and I find........!

Lily was in the dresser. 

xoxo

Happy Holi-dazzze

What a daze it has been.  I've been so busy lately, and I'm very sorry for ignoring my blog family.  I have had exam after exam, and practical after practical.  Good thing is, I've done well on all of the above.  Now I can take a short break before I start the last of my finals.  And what am I doing during that break?, well, writing to you all of course!

I've made a photo mash up of all of the things I've done in these busy weeks.  And after looking it through, I definitely don't look like I've been too busy...hah.  I guess it is possible to have a life while trying to become a doctor.

In order of appearance:
Lily helping me study.  Thanksgiving #1, Pilgrims and Indians.  Medieval Times.  Thanksgiving #2.

Thanksgiving was definitely a week of thanks.  Two dinners = lots of good food!  Plus at Thanksgiving #2, we sang karaoke and danced for almost four whole hours!  Who says turkey makes you tired?  The kitties even got turkey for Thanksgiving.  We are insane. 

Hope everyone had a good holiday, and I can't wait for Christmas!  I'm going to NYC Saturday.  I just know that will get me in the holiday spirit! :)

xoxo

The Sounds ♫ ♪

This last week, Hubs and I went to a concert.  It wasn't just any concert though, it was The Sounds!  They have been my favorite band since forever ago, and they never get old.  I could listen to their CD in my car for hours on end, and I would never get sick of it...in fact, I have done just that.  I never got tired of it!  When I found out they were coming here, I freaked out, and made sure we bought tickets the second we could.  The opening acts were Kids at the Bar (DJ's), The Limousines, and Natalia Kills.  It was at this cute little venue that was recently redone, and it was so chill.  It was refreshing to go to a smaller venue for once, there were probably 200 people there max.  It was also refreshing that the food wasn't $500 for a hot dog.  I got a pretzel for a buck! 

Overall, great concert and great night.

Trick or Treat!

Happy Halloween blog family!  Sorry I have been MIA lately.  Been very busy with school.  Passing practicals and taking exams.  I've finally gotten a bit of a break, so I figured I could update you all with our Halloween!  Remember when I said I would never buy any stupid cat thing again...I lied.

Hubs went as Patrick Bateman from "American Psycho", I was Max from "Where The Wild Things Are", Tip was a tiger, and Lil' was a pumpkin.

Enjoy Halloween!  Don't forget to x-ray your candy!  

P.S. Phillip, father-in-law, coolest dude on Earth, and best winter driver, can you pick us up from the airport? Pweety pweese?

xoxo

sun-DAY at the museum.

This past weekend I went to the art museum with some friends.  You might be wondering why we went on the first Sunday of the month, well the first Sunday of every month is free, cha-ching!  Surprisingly this was the first time I've actually entered the building.  I've run up the steps before and posed a thousand times by Rocky, obviously.  I think posing by the Rockster is required once you enter the city. 

Anywho, Sunday was the first real fall day here on the East, and I was not prepared at all.  I decided I was from Wisconsin, so I was tough enough to not wear a jacket (mistake).  Thankfully the museum had wonderful climate control.  We saw Renoir, Picasso, Eakins, Monet, and Van Gogh, just to name a few of the big dogs.  It was pretty chill, and we very much needed relaxation. 

We ended the trip with brunch at this lovely little place called Sabrina's.  One word: Stuffed french toast.  It was basically two huge pieces of french toast with cheesecake in the middle.  Mmmmm....delectable.  I still feel full.  Overall, a good Sunday with the girls!  Here are some photographs of the day.  Enjoy!
 

1. Art Museum pillars 2. First Fall Sunrise. 3. Fountain 4. Eakin's Gross Clinic painting 5.  Us planking on the art museum statues 6. Art museum 7. The four of us.

kitty meow meows.

So today I made a few purchases from the sale rack at Urban Outfitters.  I got a new lomography camera (can't wait to use it by the way), a couple belts, shoes, and some extras from their apartment section. {Read: It might sound like I spent a fortune, but I'm always one for a deal, and they had a killer sale on their already sale items.  Yippee!}  Let me just say right now, that I cannot wait to use the camera.  However, I'm still trying to find a store that has 120 film and can process 120 film.  (If you have suggestions, please let me know!) You will be the first to see the pictures when I can actually figure out the logistics of getting them developed!

And now onto those "extras".  Oh wait, side note: Remember when I took pictures of everything Hubs (Chef) cooked?  Well, he has continued cooking, but I haven't continued taking pictures.  Why?  Mostly because he cooks a lot, and I'm usually so starved from being at school for 12 hours, that I just stuff my face the instant I walk through the door.  So, don't fret, he's still a master chef, and his food is still amazing.  I'm just slack-a-lackin'....;) 

Okay, for real now, about those "extras".  I got a super deal on three books.  Two were cookbooks for Hubs, one about food trucks (love them), and the other about fearless baking (I supposed I can try and conquer this one).  The third was....wellll...I'll just show you the picture.

 Yes, I bought a cat coffee table book.  And here's another purchase.  Mind you, each of these was $2.50.  I told you this sale was goooood.  


The second purchase has infinitely improved my key situation.  Take a look.

 

On top of the "I thought it was a cat sweater", and these new purchases, I think I'm really starting to embrace this cat parent persona.  That just sounds weird.  After today, I made a decision that these will be the last of my cat inspired purchases.  Unless an amazing sale comes along again. 

peaches for me!

I almost forgot!  I made peach pie last weekend.  I know....I can't really believe I baked anything either.  It turned out surprisingly scrumptious.  It was even better warm with some vanilla bean ice cream over the top.  Mmmmmm...

  

Recipe

Necessities:

10 fresh peaches, pitted and sliced

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup white sugar

1/4 cup butter

1 recipe pastry for a 9 inch double crust pie

Instructions

1. Mix flour, sugar and butter into crumb stage.
2. Place one crust in the bottom of a 9 inch pie plate. Line the shell with some sliced peaches. Sprinkle some of the butter mixture on top of the peaches, then put more peaches on top of the the crumb mixture. Continue layering until both the peaches and crumbs are gone.
3. Top with lattice strips of pie crust.
4. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 45 minutes, or until crust is golden. Allow pie to cool before slicing. Best when eaten fresh.

...okay okay...I have a confession to make.  I didn't make the crust from scratch.  Something to work on for next time I guess.  Not having a ton of time = not enough time to make the crust from scratch!  And there ya' have it!  Not everyone can be perfect...except Martha. 

Popped!

Hubs and I went to the Popped! Music Festival last night.  It was amazing and entertaining!  There were over 30 bands.  It was originally scheduled to be outside, but the rain ruined that, so they moved it inside to a university's major event center.  It definitely had less of a festival feel, but what can you do when the original location gets flooded?  Since the tickets were all the same, you could pick where you sat, so Hubs and I got there when some of the lesser known bands were playing (READ: not very many people were there yet) and we ended up getting amazing seats.  We didn't really want to mess around with sitting/standing on the floor/pit, so we figured the upper level seating was the way to go.  Our seats were perfect.  No one in front of us because we got the lowest upper level row, and no one to the side because we were next to the aisle.  It was also a super view of the stage!  Much better than what you could see on the floor, and we were a lot closer to the stage than most on the floor as well.  And since we got there earlier, we listened to some amazing bands/artists that we would have never heard otherwise!

Here's a wrap-up:

The Budos Band: which described themselves as "Staten Island instrumental afro-soul".  These guys were amazing.  Music I would have never chosen to listen to on my own, but now I want to buy all of their albums.

Charles Bradley: He was a throw back to the 70's that's for sure, but he was so fun to watch and listen to.  He can dance like no other, and his outfit was to die for!  He was introduced as the "screaming eagle of soul" and he was just that..(no seriously, he screamed/sang (in tune) and made wing arm movements).  Super funkadelic.

Titus Andronicus: This band was a very punk-influenced band.  Their lead singer was hilarious!  He kept making us laugh.  Good show.

Rakim: He was an amazing rapper, and I think he should have gone after Kreayshawn because he is definitely a bigger name.  Simple set up, just to show off his skills.  I really enjoyed him.  I'm glad they had rap at this festival.  It was welcomed :)

Kreayshawn:  She was okay.  Honestly, she just sounded like any girl rapping.  I don't think she should be as famous as she is for crappy rap.  She also wasn't very fun to watch. All she did was walk back and forth on the stage.

Foster The People:  These guys are super famous for their song "Pumped Up Kicks" that is all over the radio these days, but I linked a newer song by them which is just starting to hit the airwaves on the east coast.  Love it.  These guys put on a show.  They were so entertaining.  I would pay a lot to see them live again.  Awesome band, and the talent shows on stage and live.  They have talent.

Girl Talk: Ohhhh Girl Talk.  I LOVE HIM.  I have been a fan ever since Hubs showed me his music over three years ago, and it's actually most of what I run to.  Girl Talk's a one man show, and his real name is Gregg Gillis.  He samples and mixes music, so his show is basically him on top of his table, mixing and sampling on his laptop while dancing around like a crazy person.  Super high energy + super fun to dance to + super talented guy = best performance of the night...by far. 

Pretty Lights:  This is also a one man show, with a laptop.  I personally think Girl Talk is miles above this guy, but he was good, he just didn't mix on stage (didn't really show what talent he had).  The music is a bit more mellow than Girl Talk, but it was a nice end to the night.  Huge light/stage set up.

Here's some photos of the event to end this seriously long blog post.  I have to study!! 

restaurant week.

Hubs and I (and about 30 other friends) went out to The Prime Rib last night for restaurant week.  Restaurant week is one week where a lot of restaurants get together and for $35 you can get a three course meal.  These restaurants are normally wayyy out of a students price range.  So of course we always jump at this offer.  We went last year as well.

I got crab imperial which was fantastic, and Hubs got prime rib obviously.  He said it was the best prime rib he's ever eaten.  I thought it looked raw...still not a fan.  Naturally the only course that mattered (dessert) was the best.  I got chocolate mousse cake, and Hubs got creme brulee.  We also had this amazing waiter that probably told us a bit too much about his month in Bangkok, but it was interesting to say the least.  Overall a successful night. 

We looked pretty spiffy too (hello dress code!).  Here are a couple shots from the night, plus the look.

red fox?

I went shopping with my friends this past weekend, and one of them came upon this super cute sweater. She basically told me I had to get it because it had a cat on it.  I was sold.  However, after looking at these pictures...I'm starting to think the animal gracing my chest is no cat.  It's a fox.  Look at that bushy tail, and pointy nose.  I've made a grave mistake.  Now people won't think I'm a crazy cat lady, they'll think I'm a weird fox enthusiast.  Great.

sleeping beauty.

Hubs and I got a new bed yesterday.  It's a sultan hultsvig from Ikea.  I can rarely enter Ikea without buying an entire roomscape.  This time, we went with the intention of buying a bed, nothing more, and we left with just a bed.  It's a pretty good feeling to dodge their marketing campaign that can make you feel like you just have to have everything in the store. 

Tip already loves her new beauty rest location of choice. 

laundry day.

The newest look from lookbook. 

The worst thing about laundry day at our apartment, is that we don't have machines in our apartment (we were led to believe that our unit had them..).  Butttt...it's fun to take $40 worth of quarters and throw them into the air :)  Make it rain.

Speaking of rain, it's quite gloomy in the city today.  Hope everyone is staying dry!

cat stroller.

Yes folks, you read that right!  They now have cat strollers.  Like baby strollers....but for cats.  And yes, they are just as ridiculous amazing as they sound!

I'm assuming their commercial goes something like this "Do you love taking your cat for walks on a leash (even though they aren't dogs), but your cat only walks ten steps and then stops moving, never to move again (and then you drag them all the way home)? Never fear!  Cat Stroller is here!"

This ones called the "Kittywalk Royale". Oooo, Fancy!

Now if they only had one for runners....  Oh wait...They do.  I'm sold.

Special thanks to Amber for showing me the best invention since cat butt covers. 

Photos courtesy of

{Just Pet Strollers}

{Rear Gear}

chocolate frosting

Leave it to me to bake a cake...(hubs actually did most of the work), but just eat the frosting.  Mmmmmm dark chocolate.  The best!

Here's the look inspired by delicious chocolate cake :)

sparkle city

I started a new lookbook account.  Here's the first one!  My look for the party last night. Enjoy, fashionistas!

come on, Irene

No.......seriously?

This lovely lady is about to give the U.S. east coast a big hug.  Hello Irene.  

You're eye-s, it's so biggggg.

I think I'm like everyone.  I wasn't really worried until I saw this map of the threat level, and heard our mayor say "evacuate, don't wait".  I'm still a bit skeptical that we really need to evacuate.  Tomorrow we are going to get hurricane supplies....I never thought I'd say that.  Food and water.  Probably some batteries for flash lights too since the power is supposedly going to go out.

We're EXTREME.

Maybe this means they'll cancel our exam that's on Tuesday...!  Positive thinking!

Photo Credits

{Johnson Space Center}

{Weather Channel}

quakin' earth

I thought I'd write the obligatory blog post about our safety for those of you that might have been concerned.  We are okay. 

For those who have been living under a rock for the past 24 hours, the east coast got rocked by a 5.9 earthquake.  Hubs and I were in the mall when everything started shaking including us.  We were joking about how it was an earthquake, and very quickly we discovered it wasn't a joke.

I have a friend from California here, and she said it best, "for once, a natural disaster where the Californians are less freaked out than the East Coast people".  You can add Midwest people to the end of that as well. 

Another first for us.  First earthquake.  Let's hope we aren't adding "first aftershock" to that list anytime soon. 

honeymoonin'

We have safely arrived back from our week long honeymoon in Maine!  I can't say enough how much we enjoyed the beautiful state that is Maine.  It is absolutely breathtaking there, particularly in Bar Harbor. 

We arrived late on a Sunday, so we ate dinner and settled into our lovely little cottage.  We stayed at Eden Village which was so cute.  We highly recommend it!  They even had a pond with paddle boats and ducks!  It was seriously so cute.

OH, side note, we rented a car, and it ended up being a 2012 version of my little car, with all the bells and whistles.  I so wanted to buy it, but Hubs had to remind me that wouldn't be a smart economic decision right now.  Boo.

The next day we went to Acadia National Park which was amazing.  We checked out Sand Beach, and did a bit of hiking.  Sand beach was where I went into the ocean for the first time.  It was also the first time I've ever seen an ocean up close.  (The only other was flying to China, and seeing them out the plane window.)  The water was frigid.  64 degrees.  But it was nice once my feet were so numb I couldn't feel the pain anymore.

The following day it rained.  End of story for that day.  Well...we did eat.  The food was good.

The day after rainy day was one of the best days.  We started the day off by getting up early to hike The Beehive.  The Beehive trail is considered "strenuous" on Acadia's trail maps.  It is considered strenuous because it has ladder rungs and ladders to help you climb it.  If it didn't, you would die.  (Side note:  The ladders on the trail were just metal bars drilled into the cliff rocks that made what looked like a ladder on the side of the cliff, there were also actual ladders that were laid down over spaces that had gaps you couldn't jump, so that you could walk across the ladder and not fall to your death.) So we started climbing, and we get to our first ladder and I basically have a panic attack, but I go across.  After that it was pretty smooth sailing, and we made it to the top in about 45 minutes.  Scaling a mountain cliff in 45 minutes....not bad.  Here's the view from the top.


After we hiked, we went sea kayaking.  Now this was an amazing experience.  Not to mention a salty one.  We started at one side of the island, and kayaked about six miles to the other side.  We saw tons of seal, birds, eagles, and seaweed.  I asked about sharks being around since there were so many seals (I watch Shark week, I know what they eat.) but our guide said she never saw one in the harbor but that doesn't mean they aren't around....riigghhtt, and by around you mean lurking below my very close to the ocean kayak right?  If I was making my money doing kayak tours, I probably wouldn't tell my clients that I saw a shark even if one bit my leg off.  Good news is, we never saw one.  Dodged a bullet there.

                               


After kayaking we ate dinner at this fabulous little restaurant called Cafe This Way.  Super gourmet, and super delicious.  










The last and final day we were in Maine, we woke up at 4:45AM to see the sunrise over the ocean.  It was incredibly foggy the entire day, and especially in the morning, but it was beautiful.  I'll let the pictures do the talking for this one. 

After we watched the sunrise for a while, we decided to go for another early morning hike.  This time we started at around 6AM.  We had this idea to reach the top of Cadillac Mountain (the highest mountain in the park), but we couldn't find a trail to save our lives.  So we did what any young couple would do, we got lost, blamed it on each other, and decided on a trail that we just randomly found by chance that had the words "Cadillac Mountain" on it.  We looked on the trail map and it was labeled "difficult" which was less than "strenuous" so we figured it would be cake.  I mean it had to be easier than Beehive if it was less than strenuous....right?  Wrong.  Very wrong.

From the second we had to scale a small cliff, I knew we were in for it.  Sheer rock faces to scale, gigantic boulders to climb over, openings over the edges of the mountain that led, you guessed it, straight down, overall this was probably the worst choice we could have made to make it to the top.  And to make it even better, all of the rocks were wet with running water coming from the top.  Translated: Super slippery.  I honestly thought that one of us was going to get hurt, or fall off the entire mountain at some point, but just like the Beehive, you reach a point where you can't go back.  It was too dangerous to turn around and go down those slippery rock faces.

Overall it was the most scared I've ever been climbing in my life, and we probably wouldn't do it again without ropes or something.  However, there is one beautiful thing that came out of it.  The view. 

 

We also became infinitely more buff from climbing it.  Added bonus.  

This was also the day that we went whale watching and sailing.  Whale watching was indescribable.  It was so surreal to see these gigantic creatures right next to you.   The fog made it hard to find them, but when we did, oh my, was it breathtaking.  We saw four Humpback whales in total.  So worth the trip.  {Side note: Hubs and I now know we could handle a cruise because the waves were so big they made the boat move every which way, and we were not a part of the 50 or so people getting seasick off the back of the boat.}  

 

Sailing was the last thing we did in Bar Harbor.  We went on a sunset cruise on a six person sailboat called "The Chrissy".  It was owned by Captain Ed, and it was a very relaxing end to our lovely vacation.

 

Best honeymoon ever. 

and we're off!

So Hubs and I are off on our honeymoon!  We are really excited and can't wait to see everything there is to see on the lovely Maine coast!  In our absence, I will leave you with some photos of what the hubs has been cooking up for me, and what I've made for us.  I also finished finals.  So far, so good.  Still rockin' the first letter of the alphabet.

spinach, roma tomato, broccoli, and mozzarella pizza.

Rice pudding, made by moi!

portobello mushroom and spinach pasta.

stir fried leftovers. yum.

the most delicious zesty turkey with cous cous.  my fave.

you'll never guess.  banana ice cream, made with one ingredient.  sliced, frozen bananas.  best ever!

{All photo credit: Moi}

We'll see you in a week!