What to Pack for the Happiest Place on Earth

And just where is the "happiest place on Earth?"

Why the Magic Kingdom of course!

Disney World is such an amazing place - it truly brings out the kid hiding in your heart.

As someone who is about to go on a trip to this most magical place, I thought I would share some tips on what to pack - and what not to pack - as a single girl who recently traveled on this adventure. 

First thing you need to do is remember that IT IS HOT.

Secondly, decide with your friends a most basic idea of where you plan on going and what you plan on doing. This will help determine the type of clothing you will be packing.

My friend and I decided that since I wasn't visiting her for long (a few days since she works at Disney and I have to prepare for boards), we'd spend most of our time in the parks, and maybe one night at Downtown Disney. This helped me determine exactly what clothing to pack:

two pairs of workout pants

running shorts

three loose fitting tanks

three t-shirts

countless pairs of socks and underwear

three sports bras

sneakers

sandals

two maxi dresses

bathing suit

Yes, this kind of sounds like a lot for my limited stay but if only y'all knew how much I took out to make it just this...

Something that is ALSO beyond necessary is a poncho. Florida is well known for afternoon pop up storms, so it ain't nothing but a thing for you to get on Haunted Mansion with the sun shining and get off in a torrential downpour.

(That's actually exactly what happened)

Other good ideas include:

small cross body purse

hat

sunscreen

umbrella

snacks

battery pack to charge your phone

money

bandaids

camera

sunglasses

extra hair tie

I can't wait to post more about my mini adventure at Disney World!

What would you include in your list of what to pack?

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Post Tonsillectomy: Final Days

Day 8

headache. headache headache.

Don't want to move but I'm only taking my pain meds at meals and at night now! I tried tylenol instead but then decided to switch to hycet almost instantly afterwards since I just wanted to eat and instantly regret that. Headache that lead to nausea that resulted in being bedridden all day. DON'T DO WHAT I DID TODAY.

Day 9

headache, headache headache.

Felt awful, headache all day and pain eating. Trying to stop the hycet, so I only took it at meals (today was at lunch) to help swallowing not hurt so much. What's awesome is, I DIDNT HAVE TO TAKE IT AT DINNER!

Granted it took me much longer to eat and was very uncomfortable, I didn't feel the need to take my pain meds. I'm so excited.

wellness score: 6

Day 10

The difference a day makes.

Today God really blessed me in so many ways.

Not only did my headache lessen, my throat hurt less and I only had to take hycet once overnight into today and NONE AT ALL today!

Day 11

Took tylenol at 9pm last night, nothing overnight and slept until 7am before my throat started aching!

Had to go to class today, meaning I saw a lot more people than usual so even though I tried not to, I did a lot of talking. My throat hurt a little more because of that but it's getting better.

Scabs are gone! 

In general it's more of a throat ache when I swallow than anything else, it's not a painful fiasco anymore. Water still hurts more to swallow than powerade but I know my body needs water (especially since thats all I usually drink) so I'm trying to drink some anyway.

..................

After day 11, I stopped writing about my experience because for the most part I was fine!

Aside from not being able to eat spicy foods and how painful yawning was, I was great. At a month later, I was about 95% back to normal. I still had some soreness when I yawned, but I could eat whatever and my throat didn't hurt. Now that I'm just over a month and a half out from surgery, I have some slight residual tenderness when yawning, but other than that, I feel great!

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National Women's Health Week

Woohoo!

It's National Women's Health Week, and what better way to celebrate than by empowering women to take control of their health.

And I'm not just saying that as a newly graduated nurse.... ;)

Though this is the week of awareness, it's important to take care of your health each and every day!

So although I'm posting this at the end of the week, the following are ways to take control of your health any week of the year:

Screenings 

including annual breast and pelvic exams

Get active 

heck, join me on this challenge! I just did day 1 yesterday!

Eat healthy

fruits, veggies and lean meats are ideal

Get enough sleep

aka try for at least 7-8 hours

Manage stress

avoid stressful people, learn relaxation techniques

Avoid smoking, drinking (at least not in excess people!) and texting & driving

Wear sunscreen 

seriously do it. you don't want skin cancer

Find out additional information on steps to take to care for your health based on your age here.

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How To: Survive Allergy Season

The end of allergy is upon us in Atlanta as pollen levels are dropping!

*insert wild hollering and cheering*

Which can only mean one of two things: you survived another year without sneezing your brains out (yay you!) or you didn't.

If you're like me, you were the latter and survived - until the end.

This weekend, and just this weekend alone, has wreaked enough havoc on me to the point where I'm ready to never see pollen again in life. Talkin about watery eyes, stuffed/runny nose and the most annoying tickle/sore throat. But if you're from where the players play, it's just something you have to deal with. 

So to get you through this allergy laden, yet beautiful first week of May, I present to you a survival guide:

                         

DO stock up on tissues.

These will become your best friend. By your side through thick and thin (literally). 

DON'T go outside. 

Ever.

Do I really need to explain this? Pollen = particles that attack the nose, throat and eyes. Just don't do it. Or do it and let me know how that goes. 

DO take allergy meds.

aka lifesavers!

DON'T roll down your windows to "enjoy the breeze."

You will regret this decision. As you're soaking up the sun and smells of almost summer, your nose is soaking up the pollen, and a sneeze attack will come. 

Driving and sneezing = dangerous.

DO appreciate the beauty of nature...

From the safety and comfort of the inside of your home.

DON'T rub your eyes. 

You're just making the grainy granules become one with your eyeball.

Not fun.

Not cute.

DON'T look into the face of a pollen storm. 

Wind + visible pollen particles = death by yellow wind.

So maybe these are from personal experience, maybe not... but you have been warned.

IF YOU CAN SEE THE POLLEN IN THE AIR, WHY ARE YOU OUTSIDE?!

Tell me, any of y'all have allergies? How have they affected your life this spring?

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Amazing.

I've got just one final standing in the way of me and the finish line.

That's right - graduation.

After 4 years in this beautiful, southern college town of mine, it's almost time for me to pack my things and move on to bigger and better things. But first, five things I'm thinking about this week by way of Darci, Natasha, April, and Christina.

(1)

Monday, I was supposed to go to my very first career interview ever (and I'm not counting the jobs I had in high school) but it got cancelled because The Joint Commission was there. Talk about being upset! I ended up going to HR anyway and meeting with my recruiter, but I wish I would have been able to meet with the unit directors and proceed with my interview.

However, God always has a plan.

(2)

My second interview ever was on Tuesday and I got lost. Like drove around campus 25 times and sat in the wrong parking deck. It was a 5 person panel interview with rapid fire questions, but the unit directors were all so sweet and thankfully they laughed at some of my comments so I didn't feel like I had a stiff crowd. I walked out of there feeling 50/50. It wasn't that I thought I did poorly, but I couldn't read them for the life of me, so I had no idea how I did. After my interview I hung around the campus for a little while to left traffic die down, soak up some sun and people watch.

(3)

After the aforementioned interview, my car broke down. Like just gave up. Driving along and my check engine light came on, but the car wasn't smoking and the temperature gauge was where it normally is. Then all of my dash lights came on and then flickered off and on. Then all of my gauges went haywire and pushing the gas pedal got me nowhere. So naturally, I freaked out while essentially coasting onto some random side street, parked and broke into tears. Thankfully I have such an amazing friend who drove down to hang out with me so I wasn't alone and drove me back home. Two hours later the tow truck showed up, but seeing my baby up on the bed of that truck... Poor Blu.

(4)

Wednesday I got a phone call that changed my life - I was offered a position at a nationally recognized hospital on the hematology/leukemia unit. What an amazing way to begin my nursing career. I am truly so thankful at the opportunity that God has given me!

It's so funny how God worked this week to make sure I was where I needed to be. Even with how crappy I felt the week started out, I did my best to remain positive but after my car broke down I honestly lost it. I didn't lose faith that God had a plan for me but I certainly thought it was a sign that today wasn't my day - interview included. 

How wrong I was. 

(5)

I graduate in 8 now 7 days y'all.
Praise Jesus for all He has brought me through during nursing school - from the countless breakdowns and career reconsiderations to passing exams, loving my patients more than I could imagine and creating friendships that I know will last forever. It's been a long two years, but I don't regret a single moment.

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