The Rundown

      So, you can not say that I didn't warn you. I made it public knowledge that once school started, my postings would be few and far between. I suppose that I failed to mention that "few and far between" really means "see ya!" Needless to say, life has been crazy since August. But now that the craziness is over, I am a senior!! Only 7.5 years after high school graduation, I am in my final year of college. It is about time! However, I have had a lot of adventures in those 7.5 years, and would not trade them for graduating any earlier. It is nice to know that at least one portion of my education is quickly coming to a close.

      This semester was all consuming. Between classes, 180 hours of clinical, teaching guided study sessions, and tutoring, I spent little time at home. It is one more semester down though, and that feels so good to say. The upcoming semester will prove to be no easier. Next week starts orientation for the new students. How has my break gone by so quickly? I will be helping with orientation, tutoring, taking 17 hours and doing clinicals two days a week for three classes. Looks like the lack of blogging will continue.


      Here is a quick summary of our last 6 months or so in pictures....

Cath lab holding an old pacemaker that was taken out and replaced

So....one weekend, I refused to open a book or think about school work and took on the TV stand project! I was so sick of looking at this horrible thing that migrated from Italy with us. I am not sure how it made the trip! As it looked horrid! Instead of buying a new one, I thought that I would try a make-over first. This picture was during the sanding process. 

     

And it turned out pretty well if I do say so myself! A little paint and some new Anthropologie knobs made it as good as new.

We took a trip to the Maryland State Fair with some good friends that moved to the area!! So happy they moved, so sad that we never see them! 

The boys devoured some turkey legs for lunch!

Isaac turned 1!! And was just ready to eat his cupcake and treats.

We got a new foster dog...Klu. He is sweet and full of energy. As of now, he is still a part of our family, but we are looking for a good home for him.

Leale did another DockDogs event. Note to self: Do not enter her in any competition after summer as it is too cold and she will refuse to jump after 1 or 2 times in the water!

Somewhere in between was Thanksgiving. The in-laws came and took a trip up to Connecticut with Andrei while I stayed home with all the pups and wrote a paper.

We completed our 2nd semester in nursing school!! This of course called for a celebration! What says happy senior year more than wine and cheese fries???

Christmas came and went.....

And we rang in the new year with friends in downtown Annapolis

Some more festive than others!

And to complete our year, we found a new house! We are renting for another year so that I can finish up school, but are super excited to be moving. Okay, well maybe "super excited" is pushing it. Actually it is really pushing it. I will miss my daily run along the beach, but am sure I can find other trails at the new house.

So here it is!



So....Happy 2011 Everyone! May this be the best year yet!

Cheers!

Over The Hump!

    As I sat in day 2 of University of Maryland School of Nursing orientation, I was so glad it was "them" in those seats instead of me! I know, I know, that is horrible to say, but it is true. I remember those stomach-cherning feelings as everyone tells you the first semester as they remember it. Last year, as I sat in the breezy auditorium, I did not know if I should be excited for starting a new path or if I would have emotional breakdown and run screaming. While, I did not have a breakdown, plenty came as the semester went on. This year, I was similarly uncomfortable, but for other reasons. I was at the front, I was having to speak. Those of you who know me, know that I turn bright red and break out in hives at the drop of a hat. So, this is not something that I would typically do. However, it is time to step out of the box and push myself. I was actually quite proud of myself. It was not as bad as I thought it would be and I could definitely empathize with those feeling completely overwhelmed! I must say though, I was so happy to be over the first semester "hump" and on to a new, ridiculous, stressful semester ahead. I am ready to get back in the hospital. I say that now, I know, but wait for a blog in the coming months. There will be a much different sentiment attached to clinicals I am sure. But for now, I need to get back into the lab and practice for the upcoming "boothcamp" (a name given by the instructors, not me). So the terror of the semester has not set in quite yet, but give it time.

    Anyhow, I had a few projects this past week and have a few things that need to be tackled this weekend.  I realized after my 2nd coat of paint on a lamp that I should have taken a few photos before. I did paint a lamp and a calendar this week. The whiteboard calendar was black and got a coat of green to go in the navy blue room, and the lamp was painted white and boy, what a difference! So happy with the outcome! But, now I am itching for another project so I will probably paint the god-awful tv stand that we have had for years and considering painting the leaning bookshelves and desk that have found a new home. That is right, I am now tying this in my office! An office I share with 2 dog crates, but an office nonetheless. And now the hunt for living room projects ensues.  I would love to find a great console on craigslist to re-do! Granted, I want all these projects, but the reality is that school basically starts next week, and I will have NO time for all of this. But it is good in theory! So......to recover the couch???

Overcoming Fears....

We headed to Arlington, Va this weekend to try to catch some of Jenny from Little Green Notebook's amazing deals! However, it seems that we were too late! Once we got there, we found out that people were lined up before it even opened in order to get her great furniture! It must have been a madhouse. It seems that nobody was arrested and the morning ended on good terms! haha, it sounded brutal though. I am sorry we missed out, but so happy I didn't have to do any hair pulling. That would have been an unfortunate way to start my weekend!

So, it seems that I jumped the gun with my "after" of the picture frame. I did repaint the matting, and liked it, but there was still something missing! So, another run to home depot for more spray paint was just what I needed.  I must admit, it is sad that when I walk into Home Depot, I get, "You are back again!" and "Are you working here now?" I have started trying to alternate between the two home depots near us. Anyhow, here we go! With a little drama because of my impatience, the frame is now finished (well, i may have to do a little touch up, but it is okay for now).

Well, the reflection in this is not great, but you get the idea! Love the white with the green! Makes the picture!

And the chairs from before....Well, with much debate, I went with yellow for the 2nd chair. After seeing this yellow and brown from Blue Hydrangea, I decided it would be the perfect addition for our brown guest room! To make this happen, I must first overcome my fear of bright colors! The first few sprays were traumatic! However, it grew on me as I kept spraying, and I am happy with the end result!

So here we go! 

Before...not in very good shape! 

And AFTER! So happy with the yellow and brown! 

                                             

Now, I just need to find the perfect fabric for a pillow! This fits just perfectly in the corner of our guest room! I will post pictures of the finished room a little later!

So, I need another project.... I was thinking about painting this side table, but I think that I will hold off in hopes of getting new living room furniture soon!  But, to paint or not to paint....that is the question....

                                         

Break time....

While I am taking a quick break and letting my primer dry, I thought that I would just write a few notes. Since I am a self-proclaimed obsessive blog reader, I have realized that I am not alone. We should really have groups for this sickness. It has gotten out of control, and I feel like I will go through some serious withdraw when I start school back. Fortunately, I think that between studying, I must still make time for my daily reads. Anyway, another thing that I have realized is how much a little color changes things dramatically. For instance, I had a sketching that I picked up in Amsterdam a few years ago. I had it in a general black frame (which I still may paint white) and white matting. I read a blog somewhere recently that suggested spray painting matting in frames. I had never even thought about that! So, I tried it out on a picture I got in Paris that I HATED the white matting in. For my first venture, I started out safe. I spray painted the matting black, and what a difference!! So today, for my Amsterdam picture I got a little bit more adventurous....green. I am currently in LOVE with kelly green, and am now re-thinking my white chair. Maybe green was the way to go??? I don't have it in me to take poly off today, not after all I did to get it in every nook of that chair! So, all that to say I love the way the matting turned out. A great improvement if I do say so myself. Please excuse the lighting!

Before:

And After! 

Again, the lighting was not very good as every time the windows were open, all you could see was the reflection of light, but you get the general concept. Again, may even paint the frame white to make it pop a little more. 

A few other things I have fallen for at Ikea recently....

With fabric for $6.99/yard, how can you say no?? It would be a great pillow! Love the legs on the dressing table too. It would make a great desk in my office, however it may need a coat of paint or two!

Well, I suppose I should check on that chair outside drying....

Summer 2010 update

Just a few of our favorite moments from the summer....Not quite as impressive as the picture we took in Ireland that graces the background, but we are stateside for the moment.

Mom and I on the front porch

Emmie- our foster pup, we miss her so!

Memorial Day- Annapolis

Leale takes to the docks

Isaac's first beach trip

Trying to contain Leale's excitement

Pop-pop and I at World War II memorial in DC

Dad, Pop-pop and I in front of the White House

Andrei and I in Annapolis for the 4th!

Virgin Blogger

Well, I have never done this before, but I thought that I would give it a whirl. I suppose I should have done so when I was living a much more interesting life overseas; but, here it is anyway. 

Summer break for me is quickly coming to a close and as much as I am sad to see it go, it will be nice to have a routine back. I never thought that I would say that after last semester. So the emails have started to review and get ready for what they lovingly refer to as "boot camp." While this sounds absolutely delightful, I must sit down and force myself to get used to studying again. It has been a nice break having only one class for the summer. 

What have I done with my extra time? Lots of lounging, painting the house, a trip to Charlotte and Beaufort, a few tests and papers, Dock Dogs with Leale, and visiting with family. I have gotten sucked into the design blog world this summer also. I can't seem to make my way out. Upon this, I came down with a serious case of bamboo envy. So, what's a girl to do, but go to Craigslist?? I found some fabulous bamboo folding chairs for the wonderful bargain of $7 each! How could anyone resist that? Just a little paint and rub on poly and they are ready to go (well, one at least...working on the 2nd one this weekend). And here is one finished product! I am so excited and can not wait to put some hot pink houndstooth pillows on there!

One chair, pre-sanding, priming, painting, and poly.....

So, I debated for over a week on the color. It was white or an amazing kelly green.  I chickened out and went with white.

I love this from Little Green Notebook! Perfect for pillows for my chairs in my navy blue room!

Now I just need a new desk to re-do and to make some decisions on paint colors and decorating for the rest of the house..... I better get a move on as I will have no time once the hectic schedule of clinicals begins.