Dear Friday

Dear Friday, today is the day that my new "life" begins. For the next 54 weeks I will EatSleepStudyRepeat nursing school. Today I am meeting 29 other brave souls who will be completing this program too. I'm nervous {why?! I'm a social person!} and scared that I'm going to fail.

Dear 2N family, thank you for the wonderful going away party on Tuesday. Your words were kind and exactly what I needed to hear to give me closure. I wasn't ready to leave behind such wonderful nurses but after a few things you said, I know I'm going down the right path. God willing, I will be back working with you all again in just over a year - this time as an RN!

Dear Trevor, this week has been full of work for you and not so full of time spent together. You do your thing, I'll do mine, and at the end of this crazy busy weekend we will make time to reconnect. It's pretty darn frustrating when you don't even have time to talk to your bed mate!

Dear friends, a few of you have exciting news which makes me want to just wrap you up in a huge hug and shout from the rooftops. And not tell anyone, of course.

Dear duplex, I'm totally not sad that we only have a week left living in you. Not sad one single bit!

Dear paperwork, we've been waiting for you to show up so we could get the final closing date on the house. Looks like you're not available today even though we were told you would be. You better hurry up and get to where you need to be because if you don't get your act together, this house deal could fall through. And that would mean we will be homeless come September 30th. Get it together!

Dear weather, please try to stay warmish for a while still. Trevor and I need the temperatures to be high enough that we can do a bunch of landscaping work at the new house. And with all of these delays, the ground better not be frozen by the time we get the keys to the house!

Dear YOU!, have a fantabulous weekend! I'll be hanging with my new pals at nursing school orientation. If you want a sneak peek as to what I'll be up to {new friends, good food, late nights, new technologies!} follow me on Twitter and IG @YouAndMeAreWe - catch ya on the flip side!

Hello, hello!

Oh, life.

I have so much to tell you all yet so little that can be shared!

First things first, right?

School: holy moly, I have less than a month until I'm done with work which means it's less than a month until I'm officially on campus with 29 other lucky souls who are abandoning their lives for a year as well. We were assigned three classes to complete before September 20 - and I've only finished one so far... the other two aren't keeping my attention and it's hard to make yourself study when it's beautiful outside! So far, I've bought most of my books - there are only eight left to buy - and I've spent just under a thousand dollars which is pretty darn good, if I say so!

The house situation: Here's where I'm torn.. nothing's for sure yet, but it's such a big thing and I'd like to share some of it with you! Trevor and I put an offer on a home about three weeks ago and after some back and forth, our offer was accepted. As expected, we were thrilled and over the moon about buying our first home. Then, because of a weather delay, we had the home inspection about a week ago which revealed A LOT more "wrong" with the house than previously thought. And of course, it was hard enough to get the seller to agree on a price after our initial offer, so we've been worried sick about what's going to come of this. After a lot of discussion, Trevor and I decided we'd still like to buy the house if four specific things were fixed by the seller. We submitted that amendment yesterday afternoon and now we're playing the waiting game - again. Here's to hoping that the seller agrees to fix the things we asked and that we can still meet our closing date of September 12th. If all goes well, we'll be homeowners in three weeks!

Free time: There hasn't been much of this lately. I've been working extra hours and doing homework or packing up our house when I'm able. Some may say I'm packing too soon, but Trevor and I had to give our 60 day notice to vacate our current rental so whether we move to the house or into an apartment is yet to be decided... but we know we have to move!

Fun stuff: Whitney and I are spending this weekend in Chicago! I'm pretty darn excited to be in my favorite place in the world with a good friend - and for the photoshoots Whit's bound to have. She's got talent, let me tell you! The fact that we're staying at The James doesn't hurt much either. Plus, I may come back 10 pounds heavier, but at least I'll be stuffed with delicious food!

I'm sorry it's been so quiet around here lately! I'm working on a handful more posts for you - now that the news about the house has been shared, more of my posts can go from 'draft' to published!

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Project: Do You #17

Today's Project: Do You post is going to be the last one. I don't know if I should be sad it's over or if I should be excited that everything's checked off!

Let's do a quick run down on how things went:

#1 - Read one book per month. Pretty darn self explanatory, right?

#2 - Work out on a regular basis. I was doing much better at this before my wisdom teeth surgery at the end of June, but since then I've stayed active at home rather than going to the YMCA 3-4 days a week.

#3 - Run a 5K. I ran/walked The Color Run on Sunday with 5 other teammates. We did incredibly well - seriously, I'm so impressed! - and I'm ready to sign up for another one already! It was so.much.fun!!

#4 - Add another 2K to the vacation fund. This one went out the window when a house came into the picture. It would be silly to put money in a fund that we won't use until late 2014 at the earliest, especially because more money that we can put towards a house, the less money we'll be in debt to our mortgage lender!

#5 - Plan a date night ahead of time for each month. This doesn't take a lot of explanation.

#6 - Enjoy a weekend away with Trevor. And it was a relaxing one at that!

#7 - Shape eyebrows. I finally was happy with the shape a few months back... and I've been pretty happy since then, too!

#8 - Finish our wedding scrapbook. I know it didn't say this on the list, but this was a summer goal. Now that summer's over for me, this is done and over with as well. It's not close to being done, but there's just simply much bigger and better fish to fry. I still have everything I need and I may have a scrapbooking weekend with my mom sometime in the future, but it's just not high priority right now.

#9 - Travel more. I had checked this off a while ago and I've since planned another trip to Chicago with Whitney in a couple weeks. I'm excited!

#10 - Learn to say no more often. I put this on the list because I felt that I was kind of getting walked all over at work. I'm still sticking to my guns and saying no when I don't want to pick up extra shifts at the drop of a hat.

#11 - Make more time for crafting. I finished a table, a bookcase, and a dresser within the past week and they look fantastic. I'm also in the middle of finding stuff for a gallery wall {leave links to your favorite free printables in the comments below!!} Crafting is a nice relaxer for me and I'm loving it in my life right now!

#12 - Get out of my comfort zone more often. Rule number one: Nothing about starting an accelerated nursing program with 29 strangers or buying a house is within your comfort zone.

#13 - Share our wedding on the blog. So glad I did this!!

#14 - Attend a concert. Checkity, check. And, Trevor and I are thinking about going to Chicago for another concert the first weekend of October!

#15 - See a Broadway show. BOM was amazing!

#16 - Get hearing tested again/look into surgery. It's good to know where my hearing stands and what my surgical options are. I'm not planning on going under the knife quite yet, but I'm glad I had the appointment.

#17 - Bake someone a birthday cake. I totally didn't skimp on this one! The chocolate cake I baked for Trevor was pretty yummy!

#18 - Go to the beach. What's summer without a little time with your toes in the sand?!

#19 - Forgive. I honestly feel like I've become a better person and that this comes a lot more naturally to me now.

So that's that! The list is done! Are you sad to see it go?

How are your goals coming along?

You can recap my journey by reading all of my Project: Do You posts here.

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Friday Letters

Dear Trevor, this week has been pretty great - we're being super stealthy and not sharing too many details, but I really hope this all pans out like we're hoping! Dear work, thanks for the extra hours and the extra money. And an even bigger thanks for having a fantastic air conditioning system during this past week of 100+ degree days. Dear Bonnie, your Twitter seminar last night was fabulous - thank you! Dear readers, if you want to learn how to conquer Twitter, you've gotta watch the webinar! Dear John Green, thanks for writing The Fault in Our Stars. Not only is it a great love story, it's the perfect length for a quick summer read!

Dear nursing school, things are starting to get real. I'm wrapping things up at work (my last day is two months from today!), I've been working on the two classes that need to be done before orientation, I've been slowing trudging through the emails and long to-do lists, and I've started getting things settled for a new study area in our house. Dear readers {again}, be on the lookout for a home tour post of said new study area. An entire room for $130?! I know you want to see it! And on the same note, thanks for your feedback about what color scheme I should use for the new design. Get pumped to see which one wins in the coming days! Dear Summer, you're going by way too quickly! Slow down a little, please! Dear weekend, please be kind to me. I'll be at the hospital for at least 12.5 hours both Saturday and Sunday... can you please make it bearable?

What are you doing this weekend? Heading on vacation? Sticking close to home? Do you have any fun projects planned?

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Friday Letters

Dear Keith and Holly, we miss you, we miss your friendship, and we miss Valpo. Our next visit can't come soon enough! Dear Lake Michigan, you're pretty darn fantastic, you know that?! I'm pretty sure we could visit you every weekend during summer and we'd be happy as clams. Dear work, it feels so weird to know that I only have two months of you left. I sure am going to miss my coworkers... Dear Nursing School, you're coming up way too quickly! I've got the vaccines and health history under control, but can you maybe finish my calculations course and order my med term book for me please? I just want to enjoy my last summer as an under-employed lady! Dear family, Trevor and I are looking forward to seeing you all for Christmas in July this weekend! We don't have our white elephant gifts ready yet but you better believe we're going to rock it! Dear household cars, I don't appreciate both of you breaking within mere hours of each other yesterday. Not funny. So glad Trevor could quickly fix mine and too bad the door handle had to break on Trevor's - I don't want to be that girl who has to open car doors from the outside! Dear Future, you have a lot of fun, exciting, and scary things for us in store. Please be kind and gentle!

Happy Friday! What do you have planned for this weekend?!

Linking up with Ashley

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Love List

After a long holiday weekend spent on vacation in Indiana followed by two LONG days at work {seriously, so many patients, so little time!} I finally have a day off to get stuff checked off my to-do list.

Maybe it's the looming tasks or the fact that I should be at the gym right now but instead I am sitting on my butt being lazy, but either way my blogging inspiration is nowhere to be found. With that said, I still want to be in the groove of posting often enough and I still want you to find new content when you visit You and Me are We so today's post is going to be lighthearted.

Here's my current Love List - what I'm crushing on, what I'm looking forward to, etc.

1) Next month, Whit and I are spending some time in Chicago. We're staying at The James and I can't wait! We'll explore the city and meet up with our mutual friend Maya!

2) Essie's Bachelorette Bash may have a permanent home on my toes - it's the perfect bright and cheery summer color!

3) It's officially raspberry season! Tomorrow, I'm heading to the same place I picked strawberries and I'm loading up on one of my favorite fruits.

4) This dress from LOFT is one of the most comfortable dresses I've ever owned. Plus, it's pretty darn lovely looking. Win!

5) BareMinerals to-go brush is making summer travel so much easier!

6) I submitted my resignation for my position at work in the Emergency Room because I can't keep it during school. I'm only freaking out a little inside because school is SO CLOSE! But don't worry - I'm not completely unemployed, I was working in the ER only as needed, I'm still working on the floor until the very possible last day I can before school.

7) Recently, I've become re-obsessed with this scent from Bath & Body Works - eucalyptus spearmint. I have multiple eucalyptus spearmint candles in our bedroom, a eucalyptus spearmint car freshener, eucalyptus spearmint oil for the oil warmer, eucalyptus spearmint lotion, and the list goes on and on. It really does help me relax and unwind, plus it just smells so fantastic!

8) Last weekend, Trevor and I visited the same friends as last year around this same time. It's so refreshing to have friends who are a perfect match for us as a couple. We don't have any couple friends near home, so it's a treat when we get to see these two.

What have you been loving lately? I'm always looking for fantastic new things to try!

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Friday Letters

Dear Friday, thanks for finally showing up. What took you so long? Dear holiday weekend, please feel free to take your time once you get here - you could stand to take a note from Friday, please. Dear Trevor, I'm so happy you're loving your new job and we'll both be even happier when you get your first paycheck next Friday! Dear blogging, you've been pretty darn enjoyable this week so thanks for reminding me why I started this chapter of my life. Plus, the friends I've made along the way aren't half bad either. Dear work, that 8 day stretch of being off was amazing. Now, let's see if we can make that happen again a few more times this summer - but this time with less funeral leave, please. Dear Mom, I hope you're ready to take Chicago by storm. Ready or not, here we come! And also, on a more serious note, I'm so glad we're able to take these mother-daughter trips. I always come away from them with a deeper love and greater appreciation for you.

Happy Memorial Day weekend! What are you doing to celebrate?

Friday Letters

Dear work, please stop calling me and asking me to pick up shifts. I get that you're understaffed but it's finals week and I'd love to pass biochemistry - your guilt-tripping isn't helping! Dear Trevor, thank you for being such a wonderful husband. I'm so excited for you to return to the working world in a week but I sure am going to miss coming home to clean dishes every day. Dear Mom, I'm blessed that I can spend Mother's Day weekend with you walking an American Cancer Society 5K in honor of our loved ones. You are truly my hero and you've set such a great example. I love you to the moon and back and can only strive to one day be an amazing mother to my little ones like you have been to our family. Dear weather, these 40-degree days suck. Bring back the 70s. I won't even say please and thank you because it's almost the middle of May and I'm sick of your antics. My manners have run out, just like my patience. Dear nursing school, I'm not going to have any fingernails left at the rate we're going here. I'm so ready to find out what my future holds! Dear readers, thanks for being patient as I've only been able to post a couple times this week. School will be over soon and I hope to be re-inspired and full of things to share with you!

Happy weekend! What do you have planned?

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Another Nursing School Update

It's been months since I've last updated you on the progress of getting into nursing school.
So far, I've gotten to the point where they tell me "yes" or "no"... and while I was hoping I'd have news to share with you by now, I don't...

Last December, applications opened. I filled out the 15 pages, made copies, tracked down college transcripts, and sent in everything. It reached the College of Nursing the first week of January.

First, they looked through everyone's applications to make sure we were qualified. They checked GPAs, verified that we had prior Bachelor's degrees, read through our novels applications, and then finally decided who would be asked for an online interview.

I believe I was notified that I made it to the online interview step the second or third week of February. I spent 30 minutes frantically typing up answers to their interview questions, sent it back to them, and waited... until they got everyone's responses back, made their next round of cuts, and notified those of us who were invited to a phone interview.

Sometime in the middle of March, I got the email that asked for my interview availability. I had a great conversation with two men from the program and was able to ask a few questions I had about the program itself.

If you remember, this program is a 12 month long accelerated format. I applied for October admission, which means I would finish the program about 18 months from now. Graduates leave the program with another Bachelor's - this time in Nursing.

You aren't able to work during the 12 month program because you are too busy - with online classes, conferences with instructors, and clinical placements. I've already signed a document that said I was willing to forgo employment to focus on school.

In order to apply to their program, you have to have a previous Bachelor's degree and experience working as a CNA - preferably in a hospital. They ask for specific classes as prerequisites that aren't required for a traditional nursing program which meant I've been taking supplementary classes for the past two years to get my transcript to the point that I met requirements. I have been working my butt off to make this dream come true!

And so here I sit. I'm just waiting for an email telling me that I've been accepted or that I've not been chosen - though the best outcome would be an acceptance email. I have finally found a career that makes my heart sing, and don't know yet if I'll be heading down that path this fall or not. It sounds cliche, but when I am at work, taking care of patients, I feel like I have found my calling. I finally feel like I was put on this Earth to do something - and that something is nursing.

And the best part? Five hundred people applied for entry into this program this fall. There are thirty spots to fill.

I know that I'm a prime candidate. I know that I would succeed in this program. I know that gaining admission would be a life changing thing. I know that I'm ready to finally get a degree in something I love doing. I know that this program is the best way for me to follow my dreams.

So that's what's been on my mind and on my heart recently. My co-workers are fully aware of the program and have been asking for updates everyday. I'm anxiously waiting for an email and hoping I don't have to tell everyone that I didn't get in.

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Project: Do You #6

Please note that this is a link up that focuses on individual self discovery goals. The goals you see below were set by me and for me only. If you choose to link up with us, please create your own goals to work toward and to update us on. If you are unfamiliar with Project: Do You, check out this post that introduces it before proceeding.

#2 - Work out on a regular basis. Check. Again. Still.

#16 Get hearing tested again/look into surgery. I had a hearing test and met with my ENT surgeon on Thursday. Things haven't gotten better but they also haven't gotten worse.  I consider that a win! We decided we'd start the chain of surgeries with my left ear, but Trevor and I decided we could hold off on the actual surgery for a little while longer (until we're more financially stable, and I can afford to take weeks upon weeks off of work).

QUESTIONS 

How do I feel today after my experiences this past week?
Overwhelmed and ready for a break! This week was Spring Break so I picked up as many hours as I could at work. I accomplished absolutely nothing for school, but I did manage to feel like I was living at the hospital. Yay? I am officially declaring this week a fail for the "learn to say no more often" goal!

Happy St. Patrick's Day! What are you doing to celebrate?

take a moment and visit Samantha!

Travel Friendly Work Wear

A few years ago, I spent a summer traveling for work. It was a job where I trained pharmacy and hospital staff in a new drug administration technology that I was very familiar with before the summer even started. {Nurses out there: does Pyxis ring a bell? ;)} I traveled for the entire summer and it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. I was able to basically set my own hours, go out for lunch every day, and got paid for my travel time - not a bad set-up!

I love easy packing - especially for work trips, and especially if you're flying and only taking a carry on. I put together a week's worth of business casual outfits using the same shoes, blazer, and trouser pants. Now that the weather's getting nicer, you could throw in a pencil skirt and mix it up a little!

Travel Friendly Business Casual by youandmearewe featuring colorful blazers

Do you now or have you ever traveled for work?

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