I'm no Martha Stewart

I love cakes. Wedding cakes, birthday cakes, six-figure Bar Mitzvah/Sweet-16/Quinceanera cakes. I can sit and watch Ace of Cakes and Cake Boss for hours. When Sandra Lee creates a cake that serves as the center piece for her tablescape I am on cloud 9. I love to read blogs about cakes and day dream about the cakes I'll make for my children - while I'm serving their 4 layer Lego themed masterpiece and another mom asks me where I bought it, I will casually say "Oh, I made it."

Now to the point of my blog post (and it has nothing to do in medical school). Yesterday was L's birthday. And naturally, I was beyond excited to create a masterpiece.

I went to 3 different stores to get the appropriate supplies. Icing, tubes of decorative icing, sprinkles, candles, etc. L's favorite is the "white" cakes mix and it really does make a nice cake - it looks very clean. You use 1 1/4 cups water, 1/2 cup vegetable oil, and 3 egg whites. After 30 minutes and 6 broken eggs, I had my egg whites ready to go. Add the water, plug in the electric mixer and my two 8 inch round cakes were in the oven.

Fast forward an hour to allow for appropriate cooling time. After stacking the cakes (the top of the bottom cake sliced to create an even surface - the hours I've spent watching Food Network finally paid off), it was my time to shine. I had the "white confetti icing" and I took my time creating the perfect lines and swirls in the icing. Only to get half way done and run out of icing. Crap. Had to go to Harris Teeter and of course they didn't have the same icing. I purchased the "white, whipped and fluffy HT Traders special." Back at home I discover I have white and off-white icing. Crap. Now my cake is two-toned. Nothing decorations can't hide, right? So I go to use my decorative icing in a tube much like tooth paste for "easy decorating." As I'm reading the decorations I discover you need to purchase the decorative tips. Of course I didn't buy them. So now I am forced to decorate with a cylinder tube of hot pink icing. It resembles a turd. So I throw on copious amount of confetti and sprinkles and take a step back. I have been working on this cake for 4 hrs now.

Instead of looking like a masterpiece it looks like a clown threw up on it. The Gosselin kids could have done better. It might as well have been decorated by Helen Keller (too far?). Tears are welling up in my eyes

But, the party must go on. I transport the disaster over to L's, blasting the AC on high to prevent melting. Like it would have mattered. I walk into L's only to discover her friends have purchased a HT red velvet cake. Great. Now my disaster has to sit next to a professional cake for the evening. I'm sure my cake felt like it was being judged Mean Girls style. I tried to create a birthday cake throw down Bobby Flay style, but no one was interested. I think they didn't want to hurt my feelings.

I came home holding on to the fact that at least L had a good time. As I walked in the kitchen my mom asked my why 1/2 cup of vegetable oil was sitting on the counter. Oh, that's easy - I forgot one of the 3 ingredients. I thought it tasted different. FML.

So I will apologize to my kids now. You will be eating Shitty Kitty (that's Food Lion) sheet cakes for every birthday.

What's Hot and What's Not

What's Hotttt (sizzle sizzle)
- the amount of time I get to spend with L this month
- the average high temp of my current location
- thunderstorms
- my Pocahontas skin tone
- Real Housewives of NJ unseen footage airing tonight
- Texts from Last Night and Awkward Family Photos
- power walks
- my new apt
- spending time with peeps I don't get to see often
- Hoda and Kathie Lee
- recession gardens

What's Not (Brrr it's cold in here)
- that I can't find a headboard for my new apt
- my current state of insomnia
- the average high temp of the state I'm moving to
- cloudy weather preventing me from tanning
- preparing to move 800 miles away
- our society's obsession with MJ's death...can't we just limit playing his greatest hits on repeat to a late night dance party?
- orientation events that include a 2 day overnight camping and white water rafting trip
- squirrels that remove 20 green & growing tomatoes from one's recession garden, eat out the insides, and leave the skin

Thank you for being a friend

I came home last Friday to this...

An amazing arrangement of irises from two of my bf's from high school (B and B!) congratulating me on my med school decision. It was the sweetest thing and I honestly would not be where I am today without them. I have the best group of friends....friends from home, college, and post-college life. I treasure my friends and I can't imagine my life without them. And I will miss them terribly. Thank God for cell phones, email, text messages, and snail mail...and of course girlfriend weekends!

Now it's time to reward myself...

The last thing I need to be doing is shopping. I have a huge move coming up (800 miles if you failed to read below), no income for the next four years, and textbooks/stethoscopes/a computer/etc to buy. Not to mention paying the tuition for med school for the next four years. But of course, all I can think about is shopping. I need to reward myself, right?

Here are some items I've been eyeing:


I have been in the market for a huge cocktail ring and I think this would be perfect. And it will add some flare and compliment my basically all-black wardrobe.


L, I know you have them, but I honestly start to drool every time I see them. Probably not the most practical shoe purchase for school, but they are so me. And they go with the ring above! (side note - you know I'm going to wear driving mocs with my scrubs!)

After watching J copy and paste this morning, I'm pretty much sold. And I do love saying "I got an app for that."

Now that I think about it, all 3 look great together! Maybe I should get one last splurge in....

My new Alma Mater

You may find it odd that for a blog about my journey in medical school I have yet to mention the actual school I am attending. Well, the wait is over. Sorta. Actually, I'm not going to tell you. Since I am blogging on the interwire for anyone and everyone to read, I thought it would be best to keep that a secret. Of course, for the 4 people that actually read this blog, you know me and you know where I am going to school. Let's call it our dirty little secret.

What I can tell you is that I didn't know until this past Monday that I was attending said school. I was on the waitlist. I had been accepted and sent a deposit (which I now think of as a very generous donation) to another school, that lets just say, wasn't ideal. I know I shouldn't complain about being waitlisted, it is better than getting rejected, but its pretty terrible. It's amazing how many times you can refresh your email and check your phone in a day. You want to look for a roommate or a place to live? Well you can't, because your plans could change at any moment. It's also fun to explain to everyone, "well, I've been accepted at school X, but I'm waitlisted at school Y."

What I can tell you about my future Alma mater is that it's 800 miles from where I currently live. It's a 13 hour and 40 minute drive. The difference in the high temperature for today between where I currently live and where I'm going is 30 degrees. It's gonna be a bit of change, to say the least. It will be the farthest I have ever lived from home.

But, I am thrilled. And beyond excited. And kinda nervous. A little anxious. And sad to be so far from friends and family. But a new adventure awaits!

Sunday Funday

I hated Sundays in college. The alcohol, lack-of-sleep, and moral hangover from going out Thursday through Saturday would lure me into my bed or the tv room to watch endless hours of the food network or Love Actually. But instead, I forced myself to spend the day in the library. Quick break for dinner and on a good day I'd be home by 9pm for Desperate Housewives. There was always stress, sorority exec meetings, and planning the week ahead.

Fast forward to today. I've been out of college for 2 years and Sunday is now my second favorite day of the week (sorry Sunday, you're never touching Friday). I no longer have 10+ hours of school work, meetings, etc. On Sundays, I can do anything. Shopping, brunching, laying out, reading, napping. And this may sound odd, but I love Sunday laundry and grocery shopping. I would much rather plan out dinners and lunches than study schedules and meetings with professors. Today, was an ideal Sunday.

11:00am - woke up refreshed and well-rested
11:30am - short run
12:00pm - grocery store trip
12:30 - 3:00pm - Pool time
3:00 - 4:30pm - Saks Off Fifth Outlet with my aunt and cousin, S (sadly unsuccessful, but my bank account considered it a success)
4:30 - 6:00pm - Pool time II
6:00 - now - cooking curry and artichoke chicken salad, laundry (I love sleeping in fresh sheets!), catchin' up on blogs, watching tv, and an early evening to get my beauty rest for my 2nd to last week of work!

Sadly, I know its only a matter of time (try weeks) until I return to college style Sundays. I think as I typed this a part of me died on the inside.

Goodbye Sunday Funday, I'll miss you!

Is having a sweet tooth a medical condition?

I have the biggest sweet tooth. Cupcakes, brownies, cake, pie, cookies, chocolate, vanilla, crunchy, chewy - you name it, I LOVE it. And crave it. Everyday. I don't consider it a problem, everything in moderation, right? Of course there was that one time at Young Life Camp (don't ask) that C and I hid in the corner binging on chocolate chip cookies that my mom had sent with me.

But that's not the point. Tonight my boss is having a "going-away dinner" for me and the graduate student that is leaving this month. Normally, I would dread such an awkward social situation, but instead I am anxiously counting down the minutes until partay time. My boss asked everyone to bring a dessert. Some quick math - 10 people X 1 dessert = 10 desserts. That's right, tonight I will be binging on key lime pie, peanut butter cookies, tiramisu, and these delicious Brookies (that's brownie + cookie) that I whipped up last night.



Who cares what the actual dinner is - I am simply going for the dessert. Because really, it's my party and I'll binge on dessert if I want to!

You don't need to go to med school to save a life

I saved my first life today.

It all started when I made J leave work at 2 today to enjoy an afternoon at the pool, basking in the sun. (why is it I feel less guilt playing hookie from work when I have a partner in crime?) A few minutes after settling into our lounge chairs J noticed a tick burrowing into the side of her stomach. (Don't get the wrong idea, she's not dirty, J has an adorable golden retriever and took him to the park yesterday). Within seconds we were in my bathroom and with tweezers in hand, I carefully removed the tick, ensuring that the burrowed head was properly removed. After flushing the intruder down the drain, we promptly returned to the pool. The whole operation took approximately ninety seconds.

Who knows what that tick could have been carrying. Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever? Nausea, muscle cramps, and fatigue, OH MY!

As we returned to our lounge chairs, J apologized for the "incident." No worries, I replied, I love this kinda stuff. J replied, "Oh, I was sorry that I made you miss prime tanning time."

And with that my first medical emergency was over.

Habits to Break before Medical School

1. Checking all of my blogs every hour.
2. Napping on Sundays.
3. Saying "that's what she said" and "that's racist" in the middle of conversation.
4. Catching up on a week's worth of DVR in one sitting.


I'm sure the list will continue...suggestions are welcome

Tabula Rasa

As I've mentioned before, I am starting medical school this fall. Word on the street is that it can be mentally challenging and very demanding. Medical schools try to explain the work load as comparable to taking 35-40 graduate credit hours per semester. Or to put it bluntly, "it's like drinking out of a fire hose." With this adventure starting very soon, I've decided to dedicate the month of July to mindless activities. I'm going to channel Locke and let my brain become a blank slate, so it can absorb all this new information like a sponge. So here's what I have lined up for July (I'm refraining from making a schedule or plan because there won't be one - class schedules, study schedules, workout plans, etc will resume in August)

TV Shows:
1. NYC Prep - a reality version of Gossip Girl? Don't mind if I do.
2. The Real Housewives of New Jersey - as soon as Dina said, "I don't know if she wants to be me or skin me and wear me like last year's Versace" I was hooked. And lets be serious, I'll watch reruns of NYC (team Jill), OC, and Atlanta even though I've already seen them all...

3. Tori and Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood - She'll always be Donna Martin to me. See below -I will be reading her 2nd book this summer

4. Jon and Kate + 8 - I know, I know....I don't want them to exploit their children and make more money either, but who doesn't love watching a train wreck?

Literature:
1. Us Weekly, People, InStyle, Glamour, etc....the adult picture book

2. One Fifth Avenue - I know it came out last summer, but I've been saving it for now!

3. Mating Rituals of the North American Wasp - medical school is for more than just becoming a doctor...

4. Social Climbers - seems to be on everyone's list this summer

5. Twenties Girl - same author as the Shopaholic Series, which I loved, so I have high hopes for this one!

6. Mommywood - an automatic best seller



Activities:
1. Laying out - with one of the above mentioned books and discussing one of the above mentioned shows with L

2. Wining and Dining - because lets be serious, I won't have the time or money next year

3. Shopping - for myself and for my home

4. Spending time with friends and family - I want everyone to remember me while I disappear for the next 4 years!

GroomsWOman

My brother got engaged last night. I'm still working through the "OMFG we're getting old" and the "I can't believe my brother is getting married" thoughts. But seriously, I could not be happier for the kid. He's my only sibling and we've gone through things together that no one else will ever understand. We have an amazingly unique relationship and although we are very different, I wouldn't change a thing about him. Its only natural that I want to be there for him during this exciting time and on his wedding day.

Literally, I want to be standing on his side of the alter showing my full support. I want to be a groomswoman. I'm not asking to be the Best Man, I don't want that title. I don't want a different outfit. And I know what everyone is thinking...I'm not trying to make the wedding about me or steal by sister-in-law's thunder. Let me break it down for you.

• Groomsmen are close friends or relatives of the groom that are there for support and have been a huge part of the groom's life. I've been there for the past 24 years. I put my time in watching 4 years of high school golf matches, buying ever article of clothing he owns, and watching the OC's Christmakuh every holiday season
• Groomsmen spend time together helping the groom with wedding preparations, keeping him cool, calm, and collected before the big day, and doing other groomsmen things. I know my brother's best man and other groomsmen, but I don't know the bridesmaids. Why would I not want to spend all this time with people I don't know when I can be spending this special time with my brother and his fellow groomsmen who I'm also very close to?
• The groom's family sits on the groom's side of the church and the bride's family sit on her side. I don't want to stand on the alter during the ceremony and look at strangers. I want to look at all the people there to support my brother.
• Most importantly, as my brother stands there on the alter during the most important moment of his life, I want him to look over his shoulder and see me standing there. I want to be there to show my love, support, and let him know how proud I am of him.

I know in the end, it's not my decision and this idea is a little outside the box. If you like it, take it, if you don't, send it right back.

Bloggy McBloggerson

I’ve been a dedicated blog reader for the past two years now. (Take note that this corresponds to the duration of my first 9-5 job) I don’t think its’ become an unhealthy habit, but I will admit that I do reference certain bloggers in conversation, see things that remind of the people I’ve met through their blogs, and check my daily list of blogs more frequently than facebook. So I find it natural that I start my own blog. I don’t expect people to care about my life nor do I think I’m funny or that my life is “different” from anyone else’s and therefore worth writing about. These are just my thoughts and adventures as I start medical school this fall. Which medical school, I don’t know yet, but that’s the topic of another post.

* The title of this post is a shoutout to my friend J (and yes I will be referring to people by their first initial because I've been doing this way longer than Gossip Girl has been roaming the Upper East Side, just ask my bf B!)