Updates

Life has been moving lately for me (in a great way):  finishing summer school and preparing for fall semester, transitioning from my old job to a new one (better, yay!) celebratin' and decoratin' lol. Here's the scoop:

School- Not sure if I ever made it super clear, but I enrolled back into to school shortly after finishing my nursing program. Where I live, most of the hospital systems are wanting to go "magnet status" and that basically means that they aren't looking to hire the ADN (which is my degree) they want the BSN so it's extremely hard to get a job in the hospital right now as an ADN. It wasn't my original plan to jump right back into school, but God has a funny way of doing things..... He made it too simple for me to get in, the course load isn't as bad as I imagined and the program length is incredibly short! So here I am, about to finish my first of 2 semesters.

Job- The last time I talked about my job, I was on a serious soap box about having to work so much! I was not used to working 40hrs 5 days a week (and I still hate it btw) but there were other elements of that job that I subconsciously didn't agree with as well that led me to continue to look for other jobs elsewhere- ANYWHERE. Again I feel like God stepped in and placed me exactly where it was time for me to be, He opened a door for me that got closed on two separate occasions by man. And when He opened that door, He had management begging on my behalf for me to get that spot! PRAISE HIM! I am truly thankful for the opportunity that was created for me and I do not plan to take it lightly! I am in this position to better mold my knowledge as a nurse..... you can call me a sponge cause I plan to soak it ALL in lol

Celebrating- Hubby and I recently celebrated our 1 year wedding anniversary! Gosh I can't believe its already been that long..... Thankfully it's been a wonderful first year full of blessings and triumphs for us! My continual prayer is that the Lord helps us build on the foundation we have laid together. I can't wait to see what the following years have in store for us, I know it will be  nothing less than great :)

Decorating- We've been in our house for 6 months and it still looks like a blank slate. Blame it on my inability to make a hasty decision but I feel like if it's something that we are going to look at everyday for the next 3-5 years, I need to make sure I don't make a terrible choice. So for that reason (and lack of downtime) we are just now really starting to decorate the space. Finally bought and brought home our new couch, a dining room table and put down some hardwood floors. Still got a long ways to go but at least our home is starting to take form. Pics and posts coming soon!

Now that everyone is pretty much caught up with what's going on with me, it's time to revamp my blog!

But first let me finish this schoolwork..... see ya later ;)

Schools out...... for at least a little bit.

My one and only final was on this past Monday and I am glad about it! Let the winter break begin!! Uhm, I honestly really don't have much planned lol. Will probably get a few more of the big list items of the wedding knocked out while I have this time. School isn't back in session until Jan 22 so that gives me a little over a month to do some damage in wedding planning!

2 of my bridesmaids have bought their dresses ::yeas!:: and the other one will buy hers before the end of the month which will give me a chance to mark that off the list. I'm still not entirely sure if I will have a fourth bridesmaid......... still up in the air. I also need to get my hands on some really good, decently priced photographers cause we really need to take engagement photos soon- like real soon. I do not know what a good price is for a session in our area so I need to do MORE research on it.

I plan to work as much as my job will allow me to show up over the break..... I am only scheduled certain days on my particular floor but the hospital has a staffing office that you can call to pick up shifts that are available. I don't really have a need to work, but I like having my own money! Lewis doesn't mind one bit that I spend his money (and I love you for that baby) but sometimes I feel restricted in what I buy or how much I spend..... for the simple fact that it's still his money and he can question it, track it or restrict it whenever the mood strikes him. That's why I like having my own cash flow...... Independence, a habit that DIES HARD. 

We I have started Christmas shopping for everyone and still only need to buy for a few more on the list and then we will done! Feels good to beat the rush! The only person I need to personally worry about still is Lewis.... What do you get somebody who can buy whatever they want? This is always my dilemma with him. 

Are any of you guys internet shoppers? Well if you are really hardcore (like I can be sometimes when I get in one of those grooves) then you should definitely check out a site called Ebates.com. They give you cash back on your internet purchases from the stores that they have listed! Trust me, they have all the stores you can think of... and then some! If you use my link right above and sign up, they throw me a few coins so uh, don't be shy :) I love this website...... I never knew I could get paid to shop! Finally!

Guess I'm chilling for the rest of the evening....... Hope you guys have a great one!

Randomness....and updates.

This flex in nursing school I'm taking mental health theory and clinical. I'm not really interested in going into the field but it is interesting to read  about all the different types of mental illness that are out there..... and even cooler to actually see it in real life. But I swear by the end of this class, I will have diagnosed myself and everybody around me!! Have you ever read about something and think to yaself "OMGoodness, that is SO me" or had a feeling that somebody you know matched the sign and symptoms to a "T"? Lol...... man, this class is going to be very informative.....

I got 2, wait scratch that, 3 exams lined up for this week so I've been a nervous lately. Not really sure how to study since it's the first exam, don't know what to expect in the questions..... especially pharmacology. All that class is is drugs, drugs, their class, adverse effects and more drugs! I've been studying most of the day for that one. Pray for me!

Really been preoccupied with school lately so in an attempted to not deal with my hair last week I ended up doing my entire head in straw curls...*Will do a separate post on this*.... they lasted exactly a week until I got tired of looking at them; just washed my hair last night. Dreading that I have to wake up and figure out what to to with it every morning. I'm sure I'll find something. Currently 8 wks post... but looking more like 12 because of the under processed hair.

The wedding planning is basically at a stand still for now until I get my school work more under control and balanced with my home life. I got the call that my dress came in yesterday so I'm super excited to pick it uuuuuupppppp!! Ugh, I can't wait to lay eyes on it and try it on again :) Prolly do that later this week after all my test are through and Lewis leaves for work, can't have him eye-spying on it..... yea, he can be nosy like that. We are still really just saving the funds ::and still playing the savings game:: for the whole sha-bang and will prolly start purchasing things come the beginning of the year.

 Next on our planning list is catering, reception hall, and engagement pictures....... 9 months to go!

Since my incident with that coworker at my job, I have been a bit leery about being put with her patients cause I don't want to go through what I went through the first time-again. But so far, so good. We did have to work together again but thankfully I was on the opposite unit. It's only a matter of time before we cross paths again though and I hope it goes better. I ain't no killer but don't push me..... Other than, my job has been plenty pleasant. Just trying to manage my time the best I can, I can't be everywhere at once.

That pretty much sums up what I've been up to lately...... What about you? Whatcha been up to?

I know what I don't want to be like when I grow up.....

Have you ever had the feeling that you might be getting manipulated because you're the "new guy?" That's how I felt at work yesterday. It was only by one person though, and she irritated the FIRE out of me. A nurse kept trying to make me tend to her patients exclusively all shift yesterday but I worked with her and 3 other nurses and their patients too......and that was nearly impossible for me to do, so you can imagine how the day went *cough* shitty! *cough* SN: I'm a nurses assistant so I deal with most, if not all of a patients care needs (except medications and things an RN is licensed to do) for a nurse. The issue I kept having with one nurse was that I felt like she expected me to make all of her patients a priority just because. One time she literally told me "that other nurses patient can wait, my patient needs your attention NOW" while I was in the middle of doing something else!!! SMH. She kept riding my back about doing different things and acting impatient if I couldn't handle it right when she wanted me to. During the day I even had to stop what I was doing completely and go attend to her patient because she decided to get a lil loud with me. I ONLY did it because I felt my blood boiling and I didn't want to lose my professionalism by getting rowdy with that lazy ass bi-.... Oops, my bad. Did I call her lazy out loud? Welp, it's already out now.......

Yes this was an extremely lazy nurse! She wanted me to do EVERYTHING for her patients. Hell, if I could pass their medications she would've prolly been making me do that too. She sat behind the desk most of the day blowing my phone up about one thing or another; but always threw in that she was always "too busy" to help in any shape, form, or fashion! I had 3 other nurses to answer to and they were 10x more helpful than she was! Me and her actually ended up having words because I just couldn't take it anymore. I felt bullied, and I've never ever had that feeling. I also notified the charge nurse about how she was behaving; I'm assuming she said something to her cause she stop blowing my phone up. I vented to Lewis last night and I told him that I NEVER WANTED TO BE A NURSE LIKE THAT. She has terrible work ethic! From what I hear she's a really nice person..... But my impression of her is already made, she's to prove otherwise to me. Then again, I'll just try not to encounter her anymore. I digress.

Rant over.

Have you ever felt like somebody was trying to hit you with "the okie doke" just because you were new? How did you deal with it?

Feel free to comment below and as always thanks for reading!

Cheers to the freakin' weekend!!

"I'll drink to that, yeeeeh-eeeeyeeaaa!"

I am WORN.OUT. I got off around 3-ish made it home before 4 and have been lounging on the couch in a sports bra and some yoga pants since then! Tired. Between the oh-so-boring orientation most of the week and then the hands-on training I did yesterday and today.....I am beat! I am a patient care assistant/ CNA on the busiest floor of a hospital (surgery)..... and if you know anything about that position, the title should be ENOUGH SAID. But for those that don't know I am the assistant that answers the call lights when patients have any kind of concern i.e. fetching water, assisting to the bathroom, cleaning/bathing those that can't help themselves AULLADAT lol...... except pain. That part is the RN's job ::It will be my job in about a year tho!!:: I got a few things to get used to... ya'll pray for me lol. But tomorrow I have the day off, and I will definitely milk it. I have a few errands to run but it's all good for the majority of the day.

I am thankful to be back on the workforce, and doubly thankful that I will be gaining so much experience AND making a paycheck and the same time! 

God works in mysterious ways :)

Things are starting to look up

After searching and applying to many MANY jobs, I finally landed an interview about 2 weeks ago at a place that I was really hoping for! The crazy thing about the interview was it done panel style..... and I've NEVER been interviewed by a panel before.... Needless to say I was thrown off and scared sh*tless the entire time. Lol. I just knew the interview went horribly wrong when I kept doing these long pauses creating awkward silence and repeating the last word in some of my sentences :: like " one of my strengths I would have to say is.... is...... is......."::  Ugh, I just wanted to be shot in the face after that!!!

When they finished the grilling, I got to take a tour around the place where I would "potentially' be working and then they told me that HR would be in touch to let me know if I had gotten the position. Fast forward to last week: When I hadn't heard ANYthing from them in all this time, I just chalked it up  to bombing the interview and began looking for more jobs and but really giving up hope that I would find the job I wanted. I was sitting in bed on Wed morning watching my HGTV when my phone rang.

"May I speak to Brittany?"

-"Tis she...."

"Hi this is ____ from ____. I was calling to let you know that after doing all the interviews for the position, we have decided to make you an offer for it."

- "REALLY??!?!?!?!?"

"Yes ma'am........"

BOOM! I got the job! Even after I just KNEW they were going to throw my resume away based on my panel interview...... I was over the moon about this news! I have nobody to thank but GOD for blessing me with this opportunity..... and I made sure I gave him his honor and praise for it! 

Now if I can just get them to call me back for a start date....... Hopefully they give me another call soon, Lewis and I are scheduled to be out of town Thursday and out of state for the weekend; don't want that to affect my starting date! Whoop! Ready to get started!

When I get more details, I'll be sure and share them with you guys :)

Lately.....

I've been trying really hard to keep myself busy/sane. Reading, cleaning, daydreaming and applying for jobs. The reality is.... there is only so much one can do, without going MAD. I need a damn job! Don't get me wrong I have grown very used to not working; going to school and not having to stress about work related issues but I think I'm going stir crazy by sitting in this house ALL day...... Hopefully something turns up soon.

Guess I'll get back on the job hunting grind...... *BIG OVERLY EXAGGERATED SIGH*

Might need a job......

So since school is out, I basically don't have much to do but plan my wedding.......  but this problem is already beginning to be a good AND bad thing.

 Good thing: I have all day and night to pick, prod, fantasize, and put together the most important parts of my special day without much interruption.

Bad thing: Remember when I mentioned before that while I was in school I had a work-study job on campus? It was a convenient little job in the student writing center where I worked about 10hrs a week and we got paid twice a month. On top of that I could still file for unemployment compensation 2x month as well...... So I'm good, right?  NOPE. Sadly, because I won't be taking at least 6hrs of summer school I can't work at the writing center this summer AND I just realized that my unemployment benefits are about to be dried up come next month.......

Which is about to leave me in a tight crunch money-wise. My fiance` is bringing home most of the bacon so I don't technically HAVE to work, but I do feel the need to contribute to the wedding savings. I don't want him to be the only saving, ya know?  I would set aside money every pay period to put in the savings acct. just to feel like I was doing my part. Pretty soon I won't be able to so easily and that don't sit right with me! I'm thinking maybe I can get a little part-time job for the summer or maybe do little temp jobs here and there to make a little change and just put it all towards the wedding? Or cross my fingers that I receive a call back soon from one of the hospitals I interviewed for to start a on-call position. Until then, I'm going to be even more conscientious about what I'm doing with my little money :(

Dang, there goes my new shoes.........

Bored.

I'm sitting up here at my WS job on a Saturday morning, bored to pieces. We opened at 9- it's only 9:35 and I already wish I was somewhere else. But I guess it's a good thing that I came in cause the poor shift supervisor is running around like she's on the verge of a panic attack. Lol. People showing up late, others calling in and students filing in  left and right for their tutoring sessions.......I feel for her. If it gets too crazy, I'm sure she'll be pulling me away from my lovely front desk position to help out; I won't mind..... this time.

Nothing too eventful happened to me this week, hence the lack of posts. Class, class, studying, clinicals, and work in between. Gearing up for this last exam next Tuesday and finals that follows right behind it first week in March, then it SPRING BREAK!

Don't worry though, I WON'T be doing anything eventful :(
I still don't have many friends out here, and the two girls that I kinda hang out with (when scheduling works out) will probably work all that week so I can almost count them out for hooking up with. Lewis will be back at work before the break kicks in..... So I'll be home, alone, by myself , ONCE.AGAIN. To be honest, I don't really know if am sure that I'm not feeling Lewis going out of town for work all the time. He's home for 6 days so our time is always limited, and just when I adjust he's getting ready to go..... Sucks to say the least. I'm goin to keep a straight face though cause there is not much I can do about it, for now.

On to lighter news: I am so in love with my Kindle fire! I'm always on that bad boy; reading, playing games, downloading more books or playing more games Lol. Amazon has this feature for some of their books for prime members where you can "check them out" like at a library? For FREE!! It's an okay feature, the only thing I don't like is that you can only check out one book a month.... at a regular library you can check like 12 books at a time and return them when you want for more; they need to do a collabo with the public libraries about their current policy! Despite that, they have a ton of good books for $.99 or less so I don't really mind.

I mentioned above that I'll doing finals in about 2 wks.... well that's because in my nursing program our classes only last 8wks. So this class will end and a brand new one will begin after spring break..... And I'll be a level 2 student! Can't wait for that title.......

Job ish

I recently started a work-study job on campus in the writing center as a tutor. (Work study for those that don't know, are the jobs students get based off of their financial aid) Well it's not exactly what I imagined it to be. The training that they require for the position is kinda unnecessary if you ask me! Like critical thinking power points and writing a response to everything you read during training....I just want information and tips on being a tutor please!! I mean I feel like it's a work-study job, not an English class! I'm only on campus for class two days a week (Mon, Tues) so I should only come in when I'm actually on campus already, right? That part is my bad, see I scheduled my hrs to where I came in like 4 days/wk...... 2 of the days I'm in class and the 2 non-class days I'm circling parking lots tryna find a spot for like 15-20 at a time...No bueno. And plus I'm not at the job long enough to want to drive 15-20 to get there on my non-school days. I just can't keep doing that to myself.

So as I'm doing my daily internet surfing thang over the weekend, I see that I have a email from a healthcare jobsource website that signed up for. They had a PRN patient care attendant  position open in a hospital not too far from me. They want you to be a CNA (I'm not) but they would consider you if you are currently enrolled in nursing school (And I am!). I applied ::of course:: and I hoped that they would call me in for an interview.....

Guess what? They did! Well really they sent me an email telling me to come in next week for a group interview. I quickly RSVP'd my spot cause I will be in the hause for that one! I'm excited!! I mean it's not one on one but if they like me then I get to come back for a separate interview, and that's what I'm hoping for. The hours of the interview are during my scheduled time at the writing center..... debating whether I should try and slip out early or come in late. Hhhmmmmm........


In other news: I get a relaxer Friday!! I'm extra stoked cause I want to see if I've made any progress..... I'll make sure and post pictures too!

STUDY TIME. 
Adios!

Got Goals??

As yet another year winds down, it's time for me to crank out some goals to achieve. I started doing this about 3 yrs ago when I was in a situation that I didn't care to stay in much longer....I made a few long-term goals and then created a lot of short-term goals to help me get to my long-term ones. I've stayed pretty consistent and I've achieved a lot by doing it.... so why stop now?? Here goes:

Long-term goals:

• Get my credit card balance under $100 (or really close; probably like $300...that balance is sky HIGH!!) 
• Make nothing less than a B in my nursing courses
• Save over $1000 for the yr
• Grow my hair out to BSL (bra strap length)

Now to make my long-term goals happen I have to create little goals to stick to.... these are actually the hardest ones because if you don't achieve them, there is no way you can win the big race!!

Short-term goals:

• Put about $140 towards my credit card every month
• Look over/ study about 1-2hrs everyday... read assignment BEFORE class
• Deposit at least $50/mth into savings
• Moisturize and seal 3x wk and protect ends

My goals seem doable huh? You would be surprised at hard I find it to actually stick to these things!! Especially the studying goal... I am such a procrastinator :/ and if it bores me, there is NO WAY I can stay focused on it! I have to try super hard though cause I barely made it through my first 8wks of nursing school and that scared me and my fiance'.....it's go hard or get kicked out! 

With the whole putting money on this and that it's all good....I just have one teeny roadblock: I DON'T HAVE A JOB. I've been unemployed and getting unemployment for the past 6 months...and that ish is coming to an end REAL quick. Matter of fact, I just received my full benefit payment today so come the first of the year I'll be ALL out. I've been applying for positions but only in the nursing assistant area.....I feel like goin outside of healthcare work they won't be considerate of my schooling. I was offered a work-study job on campus that I will look into once the school opens back up.... and I know they will work with my school schedule, it was designed for that very reason!!  Eh, doesn't hurt to stay optimistic right?