I'm alive. but barely.

School is really taking it out of me.  I have lots to update on.  Clearly.  But. Here's how it's going in a nutshell.

last legs of physiology and histology.  4 exams for 2 classes in 2 weeks.  med school kills me.  sleep is overrated.  I guess.

love y'all.

Exam week.

Busted.  3 exams back to back from Wed-Fri.  This is my life.  Holler at y'all when it's overrr.

Powder Puff Football 2010.

We played the T2s (2nd years) in powder puff football on Sunday.. and it was as ridiculous as it looks.  Of course we won, and Coops was our mascot.. and what was even more impressive were our cheerleaders!  It was a little chilly, but a great way to spend the day outdoors!  Love my class.

It's 10:30 am.

And currently, I'm watching the newest episode of Dexter (this season is crazyyy y'all!), poured a glass of wine, and eating leftover pizza.

Which can mean only one thing.  ANATOMY IS OFFICIALLY OVER!!

Done. done.  I won't be looking at anatomy again until I start studying for the boards.  It feels. amazing.

Cannot wait to go home.

Cheers, y'all!

Quick and Dirty.

I know it's been wayyy too long since I've posted.  Life's been a hectic whirlwind.  One exam after another.  Early morning lab, after another, after many all-nighters.. after distractions after distraction.. barely time to breathe.

So. Here's the quick and dirty.  and some pics of the post-block parties that help us keep our sanity.

My days in numbers:
Typical time I wake up in the morning? 6.
Daily cups of coffee:  8.
Hours of the day I spend at home, not counting sleep?  2.
Meals I eat out? All of them.
Friday night cocktails I have after class?  4.
Classes we're taking?  3. 1 of which is BS touchy feely.

 

IBD one of my favs, and I pre-80s night block party.  Just finished our Biochem + Anatomy 2nd block!

HelloitsP -- clearly a soulmate of mine.  As Tom Cruise Risky Business.

Times I've been to the gym?  0

Runs with Coops since school started?  6.

Dates I've been on?  1 -- with Lui!

Lui (our VP) and I!  Love of my life.  We both are lost when it comes to boys... but that's ok.

Concerts I've been to? 3:  Shwayze, Juvie, and Magnetic Zeros -- Built to Spill tomorrow night!
New friends I've made?  Countless.  and our class seems to only be getting bigger.
Coffee shops I've become a local at?  3.
Emails that I desperately want/need to respond to from my fav hometown friends?  At least 4. (love y'all).
Times I've been hit by a car on my bike?  1.
Times I've hit something with my car here?  2.
Unopened mail by my entrance?  At least 40.
Times I've cooked a real meal that doesn't include eggs and/or cereal (or chef boyardee. or lean pockets)?  2.

Boxes of lean pockets I've consumed?  Easily 12. in the past 2 months.

And that's me as Jem.  Google it if you don't know this (classic?) 80s cartoon.

Last but not least.  Go Saints!  I'm a bandwagon fan -- but you reallyyy can't help it down here.  It's contagious.  Who Dat?!!

Potluck!

my loves.  potluck dinner.  which thanks to Pav's margaritas.. the night turned out to be a little bananas.  Somehow, one of my classmates brought his roommates dog to the French Quarter, where I took it upon myself to be it's chaperone.. and crying randomly on the street when anyone suggested we leave him behind to go into a bar (hello drunk ladyyy).  But thankfully, we found a good bar that let the pup in and all was well in the world.

..and this was all before everything got nuts with studying.  my life has been taken over by gross anatomy.  and this mini-break to post is about all I'll be getting until Friday. 

Class time with Lui.

My Love.  Med school is hard, y'all.

White Linen Night!

White Linen Night is one of those must-see events around here -- walking around the Warehous District with a cocktail, in white, and looking at artwork (alive, or in the gallery).  It was an absolutely ridiculously fun night with my classmates -- they are just as wild as I am haha.  Luckily, school isn't too much in swing yet to really overwhelm us all on the weekend.


yet.

The Flyest Future Docs.

This meant a lot more than y'all know.  With the parents.

 With CS -- my wingman

My love LC -- looking sharp in his bowtie!

love love my classmates.  It's going to be a fun 4 years.

Week One Down.

We have officially been in medical school for one whole week.  And although I'm not completely overwhelmed.. it's getting a little stressful already.  I'm determined not to procrastinate, and thankfully neither are any of my friends -- who have kept me on track.

And then I saw one of my classmates write this on facebook as her status.  I don't really know her, but what I do know.. is she's in for a heap of trouble.

Dead.

After seeing this post by S$, I figs, no need to preserve her anonymity either.. b/c let's face it.  You played yourself on facebook.

Already in anatomy lab, we've become quite intimate with our cadaver -- skinned, gotten all the way down to the deep back muscles, touched the spinal cord, and bone sawed our way through the vertebrae.  It. is. awesome. 

And judging from how all my friends study -- Jax getting on her grind early, LC and LP getting stellar study guides done, and CT having stacks of flashcards bigger than my head.. this girl is in trouble.  But one less person to compete with in the long run.

First Day of School Complete!

So officially my first day of classes are behind me.  Short day.. done before noon (which happens every other day or so).. and I'm already feeling a little overwhelmed.  I haven't been on my school grind in about 2 years!  But I guess it's just like riding a bike.

Classes up to bat:  anatomy and biochemistry.  I'm sure it doesn't sound like too much fun, but I've been antsy to start!  I absolutely love science, and it's so fascinating to me.  But, I still can't really get used to this schedule.. so lots of coffee ahead!

..and we get to open our cadaver on Friday!  Heyohhh!

Birthday in NOLA

It's a New Orleans tradition, where if it's your birthday, locals pin dollar bills to your dress.  And I can't say I didn't hate it.  The turnout was amazing (too many new classmates to count) and we took over every bar we hopped to.  I am so thankful for all the wonderful bday wishes and love from my friends and family.

Sidebar -- my classmates are absolutely bananas.  In the best way possible.  I've only met 60 or so of the 200, and they are so normal (haha) and incredibly fun.  It's going to be a whirlwind next 4 years.

Hope everyone is doing well!  I feel like since I'm still not on any kind of real schedule, I'm completely out of the blogging world.. but am looking forward to getting back on the grind of life and school!

Back to School?

[apartment therapy]

[ethanollie] via for me, for you

[crate and barrel]

I'm getting anxious to back to school -- but looking at these images is getting me a little excited.  Especially the last image.  That is the desk I need.  Back in undergrad, I spend a lot of time in the lib (DH Hill, what up??) and they had these tables covered in glass in which I would spend hours with a dry erase marker going over (and over and over) what I was studying.. so this desk is like a grown-up version of that (and will be CRUCIAL) for med school.

These kind of girls.

Now. I don't like a whole lot of types of girls. The girls that become "my girls" are a special breed of woman and once you make it to that point, I'm ride or die for you.

Things I don't like?
-laziness
-trashy girls
-drama girls
-girls who always need to have a guys attention. always.
-girls who get engaged at a young ass age (can you wait til graduation?)
-people who can't live alone. or be alone.
-needy girls
-girls who cling to their sig other

..well you get the picture. that being said. I need to keep an open mind. Case in point.. there's this girl who goes to school where I work, she's young. and of course, engaged. from what I can see she seems to be a really fun girl, but may be attached at the hip to her fiancee. And, well, we're going to be classmates.

I know I need to start keeping an open mind about people, b/c you never know who you'll be friends with.. and I get that. But there are some things that inately bother me, such as the aforementioned list. And I also know, I will be practically eating, breathing, sleeping around these people for 4 years, so we better figure out a way to be friends. I can get along with everyone -- but only a handful make it to "my girls" status.

And I think I'm ok with that.

But at the same time, I need to learn not to write people off immediately just because one thing about them really bothers me.

..and then I think.. should I really compromise..?

It's a tough call.

Happy New Year!

I went up to see S$ for New Year's and although it was freezing, we looked killer and had an amazing time:



..and the night in a nutshell:



And it wouldn't be a NYE post without some new year's resolutions, and hopefully I can stick with them:

1. Get in shape
2. Eat better
3. Spend less and save money
4. Cook more, and eat out less
5. Be more organized and neat (esp around the apartment)

I mean, really, these are all life goals that I need to do before heading to med school -- any habits I get now will follow me on for life (maybe?!) and I can be the successful, organized, and fly adult I need to be in my mid-late 20s and beyond.

What are your resolutions??

My New Home!

So, I recently got accepted to Tulane University's School of Medicine for the class of 2014 -- and I could not be more excited!! When I got the email at work, I started screaming, and immediately called everyone I knew. It was less than a week after my interview there -- and now all I can do is daydream about when I return to New Orleans.

Here's some things I'm looking forward to exploring:
Magazine Street -- full of vintage shops, such as LiliVintage

And since it is the birthplace of jazz... wandering the French Quarter (known for many things, including numerous jazz clubs) and finding some great music is something I'm really looking forward to. Below is Cafe Beignet.



The great thing about NoLa is that you can wander the streets with a drink in your hand and find all different kinds of music on every corner. I've never heard much jazz music, but when in Rome, right?

And I'm falling in love with Tulane in general. I found the med students' blog which is hilarious and endearing. Check it.

There's even a top 10 list of "fears" from the first years (named T1s). My favorites:
"10. Let me tell you about a thing called med prom. Remember prom back in high school (this might be reaching way back for some of you)? Now add a cash bar and the faculty. That’s med prom. Maybe a professor removes their wedding ring and terrorizes anything with a heartbeat (heartbeat optional). That could be you…Are you with me?"

"2. We’ve seen some sick things. And let’s be real: we’re at risk every time we get our grind on at the Boot. Imagine waking up the morning after a real rager. You’ve pissed in the bed, the thing lying next to you wants breakfast and a relationship, and you just realized that you left your car in the neighbor’s back yard. Now for the worst part: the same purple lump you saw in lecture on Friday is growing on your forehead on Monday. (What were you doing, you sick bastard) Next thing you know, your whole body? Yeah, it’s a giant purple lump. Are you scared? Because you should be?"

I really could not be more excited to actually start doing what I will be doing for the rest of my life. Dudes.. I'm going to be a doctor. How weird is that?!

So much for the city..

..tell me that you'll dance til the end.
[the thrills]




I know I've been MIA for a while -- and mainly because I've been traveling and visiting friends. RSJ came to Raleigh, and I was so excited to see her! She's one of my dearest friends, and I'm always psyched to see her. All that was missing was S$!

..and the crew I spent numerous late nights with senior year of college came out! I missed these kids so much, and was super psyched for the reunion. Love them dearly.


Then it was off to New Orleans. I had an interview at Tulane (keep your fingers crossed!) and fell in love with their program, their people, and New Orleans in general. The food is delicious, the drinks are legendary, and everyone there is ridiculously friendly. I find out in about 3 weeks if that will be my new home -- and it cannot come soon enough.

Plus, I got to see my dearest friend from my time in Brazil -- LS! She's doing Teach for America down there and after my interview showed me what NoLa is all about. I adore her friends, and had the best time.

It ended up being a definite "sorry for partying" kind of night -- missed my 6:15am flight, but made it home in one piece. Tulane's attitude is "Work Hard, Play Hard" and it is something I can definitely get in line with.

This was also my first "adult" trip. I'm 23, and all my traveling has been done with someone. Friends, family, or new acquaintances. I hadn't seen LS in years, and we picked up right where we left off. In high school especially, I was the super shy kinda girl, and had a handful of close friends -- very few fringe friends. For the most part, that's how it'd been in college too. I'm def more confident, and I think this trip is part of my coming of age into my full independence. I'm doing things on my own, and picking up close friends along the way. If I go to Tulane, I know these new friends will be part of my close knit NoLa clique, besides that of the medical school community I'll be in as well (which from what I can see is pretty fun and tight as well).

..and now it's back to the real world. I'm afraid once I get into school, I'll start to check out of my job, but my boss knows this is just an interim place for me anyways. and I'll get back to blogging on the reg.

Deep Breath.

Tomorrow I have my first interview of the year to medical school. Case Western -- which is one of my dream schools. I can't even believe I have been given this opportunity, and am so excited to show them exactly why I want to be a physician.. etc etc.

Then, today, I received an invitation to Tulane. That interview is exactly one month and a day from my Case interview. Great program as well -- and living in New Orleans wouldn't be so bad either.

In preparation for my interview tomorrow, I need a little playlist to chill me out, then pump me up.

Here's what I've got so far:
chill out mix
Don't Panic -- Coldplay
Grow Up and Blow Away -- Metric
Blue Ridge Mountains -- Fleet Foxes
In Our Talons -- Bowerbirds
Shoot Me Down -- Lil' Wayne
Successful -- Drake
For Emma -- Bon Iver
Walking -- The Dodos

get hype
The Cool -- Lupe Fiasco
A Millie -- Lil' Wayne
Everyday I'm Hustlin' -- Rick Ross
Creator -- Santogold
So Ambitious -- Jay Z ft. Pharell


..and the list is still in the works. Suggestions? Wish me luck!!

Welcome to My Neuroses.

As some of you may know, I'm in the process of applying to medical school. It's a year long debacle, and is beginning to stress me out to put it lightly.

Here's an update as far as my apps go:
Interview to Case Western in Sept.
Interview Invite to UNC, but no word yet as to when it will be.

..and according to my spreadsheet(s), stalking the application forums, and obsessively checking my statuses at least 3 times a day (joking? I wish.) here's what I've gathered:

The schools that I've applied to that have not opened "interview season":
Columbia
Emory
Medical College of Georgia (for regular applicants, a la me)
Meharry
Mount Sinai
New York Medical College
NYU
Rush
Tufts
University of Alabama
University of Vermont
University of Wisconsin

The schools that have opened interview season, but according to when everyone on the forums applications were complete, I shouldn't expect an interview/on hold notice just yet:
Albert Einstein
Eastern Virginia
Georgetown
Medical College of Wisconsin
Penn State
SUNY Downstate
Temple
Tulane
UVA
Wake Forest

And the schools that other people who have completed their app after me have received an interview invite:
Dartmouth
Duke
ECU
GW -- currently on hold for re-review for them
Ohio State
VCU

and yes, my spreadsheet is color-coded. enjoy this little tidbit into the anxiety that is becoming my year.

Mother Goose's HoneyBun Cupcakes

The medical students in the basement labs are leaving for the year -- and to send them off right, we are having a mini-dessert party... and I've decided to bring RSJ's wonderful mother's (Mother Goose) honeybun cake to the party. I've adjusted it a bit.. and made them into cupcakes so their friendlier for a larger crowd. It's delicious and super easy.

Here's how it goes:

Materials --
1 box yellow cake mix
8 oz sour cream (small tub)
1/2 cup water
4 eggs
3/4 cup oil
1 cup brown sugar
3TBSP cinnamon

Method --
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Mix the cake mix, sour cream, water, eggs, and oil all together.. blend well.
The easiest way to fill cupcake cups is to pour all the batter in a large ziploc bag.. then cut off one of the corners (very small incision) and slowly squeeze out the batter into each cup.

The best part of this recipe comes from combining the brown sugar and cinnamon.. mix with a fork for easiest results.

Then add the mixture to the tops of all the cupcakes.. and put a dollop more of batter on top of the cinnamon/sugar.. mix around in each cup.

Bake at 350 for about 17 minutes for cupcakes (30-40 min for cakes). Once they're cool.. I iced them with either strawberry or chocolate frosting with some chunky crystal sprinkles.


Results? They taste as good as they look. Trust. Some of them did seem a tad less fluffy for cupcakes than I would have hoped.. perhaps it was all the oil. Next time I'll def cut down on the oil.. or add some applesauce instead. It's bound to be a hit tomorrow for sure.

In other exciting news.. I got an interview for one of my dream medical schools! Case Western! Its in about a month and a week.. so I have a little amount of time to prepare. Very excited!