Ten on Tuesday (9)

Joining in with ToT again! Go here to Roots and Rings to join in on the fun!

1. What are your thoughts on Valentine’s Day. Do you love it? Hate it? I'm rather impartial actually. I'm definitely one who thinks that special dates, "I love you"s, and generally appreciation for those you love should be a year-round thing. But if Valentine's day happens to be one of those days, then cool. Just don't limit it to that day.

2. What is your favorite romantic comedy? Um...huh...that's a good question. I really enjoy Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. I don't know if that counts but let's pretend it does. =)

3. Meg Ryan & John Mellencamp: what’s your first reaction? "What?" No really, what is there to react to. I'm so out of the celebrity gossip loop it's not even funny.

4. All time favorite poem or quote?  "To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket- safe, dark, motionless, airless--it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable.” ~CS Lewis


5. What’s the longest amount of time you’ve gone without sleep? (like consecutive hours). I'm not sure but I would guess it's right around 24 hours. I don't do well without sleep. I love sleep.

6. What color ink do you prefer to use? I usually use black but if I happen to grab a blue pen it doesn't bother me. But for some classes I like to color code my notes so I have a pack of 9 different colors.

7. Share with us a blog that you recently found and fell in love with (and link us!) It's not so recent but my all time favorite blog is the Livesay family

8. If you could be on a reality TV show which one would you choose? None. They all suck.

9. Mountains or Beach? BOTH!! If I had to choose I think I'd go with beach (I am a Florida girl after all). But ideally I'd like to be in an area with both. You know, like Hawaii, Costa Rica, or um Haiti.

10. With the Oscars around the corner, what’s your pick for best picture? I don't have an answer for this. Unless Despicable Me is a contender. I think that's the only movie I've seen recently and truly LOVED. I mean Harry Potter 7 would be my pick hands down if it were completed.

Ten on Tuesday (8)

I'm trying to be regular about joining in on ToT. So go to Chelsea's blog to join in on the fun!


1. Any vacations you are looking forward to this summer? Going to Vancouver, Canada to visit my brother and then also going to Seattle, also!
2. What is your favorite article of summer clothing (shoes are included)? My Chacos? Does that count even though I wear them year-round? Other than that...a swimsuit (I own way too many to count)! I live in Florida, people!
3. What is your favorite summer drink (alcoholic or non)? Lemonade, hands down!
4. Do you tan or burn? It depends. If I'm good about my sunscreen, I'll get a gradual tan throughout the summer. But slip up on the sunscreen and its lobster red and peely for a week. =(
5. Any goals you are working toward this summer? Haha...deiciding the rest of my life... See my previous post. Ha!
6. What is your favorite summertime food? Watermelon! And corn on the cob!
7. What song most says “summer” to you? Any and all cheesy songs by Jimmy Buffet. =D
8. Any home improvement goals planned for this summer? Negatory. Well, moving out of my apartment if that counts. Though it won't be an improvement if I'm homeless living in a box. Ha! Dearly hope that doesn't happen!
9. What is one thing you hate to see at the beach? Speedos. Especially on old men. There are some images that get burned into your retinas for life. Ouch.
10. Did you ever go to a summer camp? No. I volunteered for a summer camp back in high school though. That was fun!

Ten on Tuesday (# Who Knows...?)

Second week in a row! Go here for the original post!


1. What is your favorite childhood memory?
Oh gosh. Playing until the sun goes down. Building forts. Riding bikes. Playing pretend

2. What is your favorite quality about yourself?
The love that God has given me for the poor, less fortunate, and downtrodden.

3. What is your favorite thing that your child does?
I am sans kids.

4. What is your favorite thing to do to relax?
Honestly? Sleep! Nothing beats a great nap or a full nights sleep!

5. What is your favorite restaurant? And what is your favorite thing on the menu?
Oh wow. Hard to choose! I'm going to have to go with Satchels and quite possibly BJ's Brewhouse. Yum yum yum!!!

6. What is your favorite piece of jewelry (besides your wedding ring)?
I wear my cross daily so that. And I adore my ring that my grandma gave me as a baby. It still fits my pinky finger so I'll wear it on occasion.

7. What is your favorite night of the week M-TH? And why?
My favorite day of the week has always been Thursday (even when Friday/the weekend is included in the poll). I don't know why, though. I decided once as I walked home from the bus stop in middle school.

8. What is your favorite dessert?
I LOVE ice cream.

9. What is your favorite item in your make-up bag?
Lip stain. It's a miracle worker for pale lips (which mine sometimes are) 

10. What is your favorite smell?
Honestly, I don't know! Not to say I don't have a favorite smell. I do, I just don't know what it is. I smelled it first last year in Savannah, Georgia. Every once and a while I get a whiff of it and it makes me smile and reminds me of the road trip I took with my Momma. I'm still trying to figure it out. =)

Ten on Tuesday

It has been a while since I've participated in Ten on Tuesday. Figured I'd join in this week. Go here for the original post.

1. Do you decorate for Valentine’s day?
Negatory Ghostrider.

2. Does your desktop have a picture or computer graphic? Is it organized?
Currently my desktop picture is the same as my blog header. I change it once every few months. It's usually a picture of my friends or family. It has to be really awesome to just be a mere computer graphic. As for organization...eh... It's so-so.

3. Do you use a paper planner, electric planner or no planner at all?
I use both paper and electric! I use a paper planner to organize school assignments and things like that. I use Google Calendar for events, work, classes, etc. It syncs to my phone so it's super handy and gives me pop up reminders for things!

4. Do you change purses or bags often or stick with a good thing?
I am either using my backpack (for school/just came from school) or my over the shoulder satchel purse thing for everything else. I transfer my wallet, keys, and phone back and forth sometimes multiple times a day.

5. What’s your favorite YouTube Video?
Definitely Marcel the Shell. Go here to watch

6. Do you use Turbo Tax or a real person to pay your taxes?
Um. I use my mom. She still does my taxes. Yay for being a "dependent"!


7. How many states have you set foot (or tire) in? Which ones?
Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and Washington DC. That's 18 if you include DC.

8. How many countries have you been in? Which ones?
Two - USA and Haiti

9. How many pillows are in your house? (Sleeping or decorative)
Oh wow. In my room and the living room there are 9. I have no clue how many my roommates have.

10. How cold is too cold for flip flops?
Snow. Everything else is fair game for flip flop weather. As a rule of thumb, I do generally put on sneakers or boots below 50 but not always. =)

Ten on Tuesday (5)

I know I"m not always consistent in doing this but I really do enjoy joining in on it. Hope you, my readers, don't mind!

1. What are your plans for the holidays? Do you travel at Thanksgiving? If you celebrate Christmas, do you travel then, too?
As of the past handful of years both Thanksgiving and Christmas are celebrated in Florida with some of my dad's extended family (2nd, 3rd, 4th cousins...). When I was a little younger we'd usually do Christmas up north where both of my parents are from. It was fun to be with my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and first cousins for the holidays. Unfortunately, we ALWAYS got sick. We Floridians can't handle their northern germs. So now we visit every summer instead. No snow (which I LOVE) but at least we see family!

2. How do you make the plans for the holiday? If you have a significant other, how do you decide which family to visit?
I figure out when I can escape from school and head to my parent's house for holiday breaks. Simple as that. No hubby to make decisions with, yet.

3. Do you have your Thanksgiving meal at lunch or later in the day?
We usually plan for 3ish but it usually doesn't happen until 5ish.

4. Do you have a favorite Thanksgiving tradition?
Does food count? Haha, actually, RUF has started a great tradition for me. At our pre-thanksgiving thanksgiving dinner we pass a microphone around the room and say what we're thankful for. I know a lot of people do this but a lot of what is said goes beyond material possessions. People share how God has been working, struggles they've overcome, hope that they've found, how they've been loved well. It's just a wonderful time of sharing. I look forward to it every year!

5. After a big meal do you lounge around or get up and take a walk?
Oh gosh, people walk after eating thanksgiving dinner? Are they crazy? I definitely settle into a comfy chair and chat with my family until we all doze off into a food coma.

6. Do you shop on “Black Friday” or do you avoid it?
Not really. My mom occasionally will go out shopping if she sees a super awesome deal on something we need. I've gone with her just a couple times. It's not the wake up at 2am and wait in line before the store opens sort of thing. We're much lazier than that. From the few times that I've gone, its just a quick in and out of a few stores and then head home to spend time with family.

7. When do you usually finish your Christmas shopping?
Hahahahahahaha. I'm in college. I don't even start Christmas shopping until I'm finished with finals for the semester. By that point it's usually the week before Christmas. But it's ok because I mainly get gifts for a handful of close friends and my immediate family. It's not like I'm shopping for a billion people. But I must mention that I did get one special little girl a gift and I shopped super early to put it together. Can you guess why? Operation Christmas Child

8. Do you and your significant other exchange gifts? Is there a budget?
I don't have a husband, yet. When I (hopefully) do, I fully intend to get him something every year.

9. When do you decorate for the holidays?
At my parents house we usually pull out the boxes the day after Thanksgiving. Most of the time it gets done that day but sometimes it doesn't. At school, my roommates and I put up a few things (including our orange and blue gator tree) when we come back from Thanksgiving break.

10. Do you go “all out” with the decor or do you keep it simple?
It's usually pretty simple. Inside we do a real tree, decorations and lights around the mantel of the fireplace, stockings (of course!!) and a few candy dishes. OH and a little wooden manger set. I used to play with it like it was a doll house when I was a kid. =)  Outside we do lights on the house, lights on the fence by the road, and two blow up things (you know what I'm talking about) that were gifted to us by an old neighbor who moved away.

Ten on Tuesday (4)

I'm doing Ten on Tuesday again from this blog.

1. Do you color? If you do, is it with markers, crayons, colored pencils, etc.?
The last time I colored was in spring semester. I colored Ariel from the Little Mermaid. =) I'm pretty sure I used colored pencils. On a more regular basis, however, I use colored pens to color code my notes and draw anatomy structures (comes in handy!).

2. What’s the most organized part (or system) in your house?
My roommates rooms. =)

3. What’s the most unorganized part (or system) in your house?
My room. =(

4. If you had unlimited amounts of time and money, what museum would you want to see and why?
Like Chelsea (the wonderful woman who hosts ToT), this would not be the first thing I do if I had unlimited resources. I'd probably just travel the world, eat lots of food, sit in coffee shops and bakeries. And then eventually (after every country has been visited) I'll settle down in Haiti and pour out my love and unlimited resources to the people there. But if you were really wondering about a museum...yuck...I'd probably go to the Louvre to see Mona Lisa. Or I'd go to a non-museum museum like the air and space center at the Smithsonian. Or the zoo. That's a museum of sorts, right?

5. What is your favorite part of the fall season?
"Cooler" weather. Pumpkin flavored things. Unlimited amounts of candy and food (Halloween and then Thanksgiving). And then the fact that Christmas is right around the corner. Yay!

6. Did you dress up for Halloween?
Negatory. This is the second year in a row that I haven't dressed up. Sad day! But it's ok because I was in Jacksonville with friends for the Florida/Georgia game (GO GATORS!!!).

7. Have you started Christmas shopping?
NO! I'm in college. Christmas shopping doesn't start until after finals. The majority of my shopping gets done the week before Christmas.

8. Do you crack your knuckles?
Yes! Knuckles, wrists, shoulder, neck, back, knees, ankles, toes. I'm crackley.

9. If you had to live in another city for a year (all expenses paid), which city would you choose?
This is a funny question to me because I might just be doing that soon! My friend A and I have been talking about moving somewhere awesome together for our year off before we adventure into grad school (PA school for me). So...we have a list. In the states: San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago, Boston, NYC, or St. Louis. I would also love to spend my year in...drumroll...Haiti! Probably in Port au Prince or Les Cayes.

10. Do you have any reoccurring dreams?
I used to when I was a kid. It involved water somehow. I've blocked the rest from my memory.

Sorry for the lapse in blog posts. I will be returning to my regularly scheduled programing shortly. Actually, when has this blog ever been regularly scheduled? Hmmm... But now that I'm home from Jax and have two more exams under my belt (one yesterday, one earlier this morning) I'll have a bit of time to write more substantial things.

Ten on Tuesday (3)

This week's Ten on Tuesday is going to be interesting considering I don't really "work out" all that much. Hmm...


1. What does your work out schedule look like?
Lazy, that's what it looks like! I mean really, I only "work out" seriously every once in a blue moon. There is no schedule per say. That's not to say I don't get exercise. I ride my bike 3 miles to school and then 3 miles back. I also speed walk around my huge campus going from class to class. 

2. What is your favorite machine to use at the gym?
Gym equipment is not something that I get excited about. I don't want a favorite because I really just want to hate them all. That being said, when I actually go to the gym, I usually use the elliptical because it doesn't hurt my knees like running can. I'll also hop on a stationary bike if I haven't ridden my actual bike in a bit.

3. What is your favorite class to take at the gym?
Stretch Yoga or Zumba!

4. Where do you shop for work out gear and clothing?
Uh...Target? I'm in college and thus I am cheap. However, I've got my eye set on those Nike running shorts everyone wears. If anyone knows where to get them for cheap, let me know!

5. If you can’t go to the gym, do you have a favorite outdoor activity?
Cycling!! I love riding my bike. Or going on a Sunday afternoon walk with friends.

6. What about a favorite work out DVD? If so, please share!
Hahaha! Back in high school my friend L and I used to do an 80's yoga video. Most of the time we just laughed at ourselves and each other. I think I got more of a work out laughing my head off than I did following Mr. Yoga-Man-In-Leggings!

7. Are you more active now or when you were in high school?
I'm active in a different way now than I was back then. I used to be in marching band. It definitely had me toned and in-shape. Marching is hard work, anyone who says otherwise is WRONG! I no longer march but I have picked up cycling and generally do more of a variety of activities.

8. How has your dieting/working out philosophy changed since high school?
Dieting for me has always been the opposite for me than it is to mainstream USA. I usually am the one trying to gain weight, not lose it. While I've accepted that I'm built the way I am, I've become more aware of the health beyond the number. "Working out" just never crossed my mind in high school. While I still don't actively "work out" often, I'm more conscious of staying healthy - taking the stairs instead of the elevator, eating moderately healthy (for a college kid), taking my vitamins, etc. 


9. What do you do while working out– (i.e., day dream, read, listen to music, gab with a friend)?
Day dream, for sure! I usually have my iPod on but it's more just background noise for my wandering mind. 

10. What working out resolution would you like to make for yourself this year?
I guess just to become less anti-gym. 

Ten on Tuesday (2)

I know everyone is waiting for a real blog post. I will get to it sometime soon...and by soon I mean probably Thursday evening. I've just been ridiculously busy as of late. I have priorities. Sadly, this blog isn't one of them - studying for 3 exams and writing lab reports are. As is Jesus...most of the time. Sometimes I forget and He has to remind me.

Anyway. To hold you over, I'm doing Ten on Tuesday as a break from studying. This week is all about figurative vs. literal. Enjoy!

Go here for the original post.

1. What keeps you up at night? (figuratively)
Worrying about exams. Worrying about friends and family. Worrying about the future. Worrying about worrying about worrying. You get the picture. It's really hard for me to take Matthew 6:25-27 into my head AND my heart. Saying it is easy, doing it is not.

2. What keeps you up at night? (literally)
Studying! If need be, I stay up 'til 1am studying. Now I know that this is nothing compared to the normal college kids who pull all-nighters to study. I like sleep. Too much, sometimes. I've actually never pulled a real all-nighter; though I have gotten a mere two hours before. It was rough.

3. Where do you want to go in life? (figuratively)
This one is perfect for my blog. I want to go wherever Jesus leads me! That being said, I do have a rough idea of what my life would look like if I were the one in control of it (thank goodness I'm not, though!). It would include: PA school in the near future, marriage to a wonderful and Godly man, part time PA job in a hospital (pediatric neurology maybe?), and 4 bueatiful and God fearing children. Now, given that this is my plan, not God's, my life is probably not going to look exactly like this. But I know whatever He chooses for me will be PERFECT for me - though I may still screw things up from time to time.

4. Where do you want to go in life? (literally)
Oh boy. The world? Every country? Does that count? Within the US: Seattle, Chicago (have already been as a small child), Boston (have already been as a small child), NYC, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Denver, Boulder, Augusta, Portland (Oregon, not Maine). Internationally: Haiti again and again and again!, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Italy, Greece, Australia, New Zealand, India, and many more!

5. Have you ever bit off more than you could chew? (figuratively)
Um, yes and no. I have over-committed myself a couple times - one of them being this semester. I can get burnt out and tired. It's part of the fall - wanting to do everything and control everything on our own. However, God is working for our good and for His Kingdom. So if we do all things for the glory of God, He will bring you through it. Cliche, but "He won't give you more than you can handle."

6. Have you ever bit off more than you could chew? (literally)
I love food. I eat food. I eat lots of food. Yes, it happens occasionally.

7. Is the grass really greener on the other side of the fence? (figuratively)
This is something I struggle with a good bit. I see things (physical, physiological, or personality) that I think I want and would be good for me. They're not. I set my sights on these worldly things to satisfy me when I should be gazing upon the cross and being satisfied completely in the One who died for me, fought for me, and saved me.

8. Is the grass really greener on the other side of the fence? (literally)
Eh. At my parents house we live in the middle of no where so no one has "nice" lawns. The weeds are sometimes green but they are sometimes brown, too. 

9. If you can’t stand the heat, do you get out of the kitchen? (figuratively)
Depends on what we're talking about. There are some things I would more readily give up on than others. I think I know myself fairly well. If I'm trying something new and I'm terrible at it but I also know I'm not gifted in that area then I might give up sooner rather than later. But if I'm trying something new and I'm terrible at it because I'm a beginner but I know that I'm usually pretty talented in that area, I'll work on it longer before I call it quits. Does that make sense?

10. If you can’t stand the heat, do you get out of the kitchen? (literally)
Um, no. Who else would make me delicious food? Haha, actually, I've always been afraid of the oven. I'm just not a fan of burning myself - seems logical, right? I've gotten over it enough to, well, cook and bake. My use of the oven can look like a silly dance sometimes. Open the door, jump back so the door doesn't hit and singe legs. Grab 3-5 potholders. Use multiple potholders to pull out rack while leaning over carefully so as to not singe legs again. Tentatively place yummy food on tray while maintaining ridiculous pose. Push food and rack back into oven carefully with multiple pot holders so as to not burn fingers (or legs - I'm still in said ridiculous pose). Step back and tenderly close oven door. Take a big sigh of relief - the oven part is over, that is until it's time to take the food OUT! Oy!

Ten on Tuesday

Today I'm doing Ten on Tuesday from Roots and Rings. This week is all about favorites.

1. Growing up, what was one favorite item that you had to have with you at all times?
I never had an "item" per say. I did have a favorite stuffed animal but that was only for sleeping (except the one time I snuck him to kindergarten with me). But I must admit that I was a total Momma's girl - I couldn't go anywhere without her. I was a nervous child so I always had my Momma there to keep me secure.

2. Being an adult, what is one favorite item that you have to have with you at all times, and what happens if you do not have it with you? Do you lose your sanity or just go back home to get it?
I never had this problem until just recently...but I always need my cell phone on me. I think it may be the fact that I have an iPhone now that makes me carry it everywhere I go. I used to forget my old phones at home all the time - not so anymore. This baby is beside me, in my pocket, or in my backpack. I think part of it is because I depend on it so much for my calendar, entertainment, contact to the world. But the other part of it is probably just that I spent so darn much on it (I don't shell $200 out easily) that I NEVER want to lose it. Ever.

3. Where is your favorite place to be to just hide away from everything and breathe for a moment?
My room. More specifically me bed. Sleeping. I love to sleep. Anyone who knows me knows that.

4. What is your favorite thing about your partner? (If you don’t have a partner, then someone who is very close and will always be in your life)
I don't have a partner so I'm going to write about my Momma (see #1). My favorite thing? I can't choose just one - she's awesome! But I guess I'll be cliche and say her love. She has a huge heart and loves me and my brothers (and my dad) so much!

5. What is your favorite thing about your job? (If you don’t have a job, then what is your favorite thing that you do during your day?)
Sigh...I don't just have one job...I have TWO!
My favorite thing about Work#1 would be the people I work with. My coworkers are great. We all have a good time in the office. I knew one person before I got hired and our friendship has grown tremendously. And everyone else is fabulous. I've made so many friends working there!
My favorite thing about Work#2 would be the patients I see. Yes, my coworkers are great there too but I truly just LOVE all of the kids that come into the clinic. Sure sometimes you get the fussy babies or the tantrum throwing toddlers but how can you blame a sick kid for being grumpy? I love kids, sick or not.

6. What is your favorite lesson that your parents taught you growing up? Looking back, is it something that you want to use to teach your children when they reach that age?
Oh boy. I feel like my parents raised me so well that I can't distinguish "lessons" from normal life. I guess I could say I was raised knowing that family was important. No matter what happened we were always family. If and when I have kids in the future I definitely want them to grow up knowing that family is safe, fun, and loving - immediate family and extended family. I love big, crazy, happy, families.

7. What is your favorite song, that will always bring a smile to your face and make you think of something happy?
This is hard. I love music. And my taste in music is ever changing. My favorite song, though, for the past couple years would be "I hear the bells" by Mike Doughty. It's just so full of emotion. Heck, it was played on Grey's Anatomy once!

8. What is your favorite things about being an American? (If you not American, what are you proud of in regards to your country)
This is a hard one. I don't think many other Americans say this...but my favorite thing about being an American is that it has given me the opportunity to love others and serve others in Christ. I'm privileged to live in a "wealthy" country with material possessions out the wazoo. But I love giving and sharing and visiting my sisters and brothers in Haiti.

9. What is your favorite meal that reminds you of being a child?
This is kind of a faulty answer - Mac N Cheese! It's faulty because I still eat it all the time. It's part of being in college.

10. Name 3 things that other people would say are their favorite thing about you.
Oh boy. I always wonder how other people would really answer this question. I would hope they would say I'm loving, trustworthy, and fun.