Procrastination

If only it were easy...to look like this that is. Personally I find tone and strength to be more attractive than just thin. I know I can achiveive the look that I am wanting, but the question is rather more of do I want to look like that bad enough to endure the actions that it will require?The answer??? Yes and No! 

The thought of looking like this (see pic above) outweighs the thoughts of indulging in yummy cheese enchiladas or random slices of pie or cake. Getting there is the issue. Working out to achieve a rockin' bod is super time consuming! Not to mention the effort involved. At the end of the day, after my nursing school and studies and the house duties of being a wife, the last thing I want to do is strap on my tennis and go for a jog around the block or hit the gym.  I am an instant gratification type of girl and when I eat food daily with the flavor integrity of cardboard and am killing myself for hours in the gym and see no results it is too easy to just say WTF and climb onto the couch with a tub of Blue Bell and say, "I'm ok with being fat". With that said, I have lost the weight before and am determined to do it again! 3 years ago I was 30 pounds lighter and freshly married.  I had the wedding as my ultimatum as my wedding dress did not fit as of 5 weeks prior to the wedding so I jumped on the diet and exercise bandwagon and stayed on it for quite a while. I lost the weight I wanted and then some, but there was a point in time where my healthy eating habits stopped and my religious gym times became less strict and soon the scale seemed to be in the back of my mind which led me right to where I am at now. 

SO now that I am accepted into a BIG university and I get to achieve my bachelor's degree(something that quite honestly I had almost lost hope of getting since I am now creeping up on the prime age of 27) I figure it is time for a change. I promised myself that if I get accepted, I would lose the weight, buy a new car (as long as financial aid/loan amounts allow) AND book a cruise for my post-first semester break.  The weight loss definitely goes hand in hand with the cruise as it gives me about 6 months from now to get in tip top shape for 7 days of boat bliss. There is nothing worse than being on vacation and feeling overweight while trying to enjoy yourself on a white sand beach...NOTHING!

So as of November 1st, my adventure embarks. I will be hitting the local apartment complex gyms, because, YES I am THAT cheap! (Being a nursing student isn't free ya know!) I plan on walking at least 3 days a week and changing my eating habits drastically for about a month. Then, from there, I plan to add in 2 days of strength training to the cardio. If I make it past the first month, especially considering that Thanksgiving and Christmas are literally upon us, I know I will be able to continue and meet my goal of 30 pounds gone. 

Here goes nothing! Hoping to kiss my ass (as well as many other parts) goodbye....

Accepted

As I stood there in the Walmart aisle, I heard the tweeter of my email alert coming from my phone. I scrambled to find it in the abyss of what I call a purse and was finally able to grab a hold of it. I wondered who the email could be from... maybe another sale on my etsy store or maybe another post to the allnurses forum I had been folowing...

And there it was.... an email from the Assistant Dean of the School of Nursing! "CONGRATULATIONS…and WELCOME to our School of Nursing! You have been accepted into the Spring 2012 BSN Traditional Track nursing program and we can’t wait to help you grow, not only as a student but eventually as a nurse." I could not believe my eyes! It had only been a  meer 2 days since my interview and I was not expecting to hear anything for at least a week or two about whether or not I was accepted!  As I finished reading the email, I realized that the people of Walmart had begun to stare at me due to the giant smile plastered across my face combined with the gentle stream of tears that had briefly commenced due to the wonderful news.  As I tried to colect myself I realized that it was taking every ounce of control I had in me to not cartwheel down the aisle screaming "I GOT IN! I GOT IN!".

I had purchased a University flag on clearance 2 months ago, in the event that I get in.... (I figured if I didn't get accepted I would have burnt it in rebellion and called it a good $3 spent). I scrambled to locate it as I had left in the car somewhere. I walked through the front door, hiding the flag in the pile of mail in my hands, and told Nick, " We are going to have to go to Home Depot tonight.", "Why?" he asked, "Because I have to find a flag pole to hang my flag!".  As I pulled the flag out of the pile of mail and tossed it into his lap, he instantly knew that I had gotten my acceptance and rushed over to hug and congratulate me. 

It was a great day!

Lesson of the day...

"If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all."
                                           -Thumper

Out of my hands....

I had my interview this morning...
I do not know exactly how to feel about it. I began my morning before the sun was even up. I wanted to have plenty of time to get ready and get to my destination so that I could focus on keeping calm and not worry about making it on time. Everything was going great...until about halfway to the university, I realized that I had no cash. I had completely forgotten to grap a twenty out of my jar! The email I recieved stated specifically to bring $4 cash to be able to buy a token to get out of the parking garage. (Since all other parking areas are for students, the only available option is a paid parking garage spot...go figure) So I eat up ALL my spare time I allowed myself trying to find a gas station that had an ATM machine. I finally get the cash I need and head back to campus. After getting caught at EVERY red light possible, I made it to the parking garage. I find a spot and head to the stair case since the elevator is out of order...(would it be any other way?) I then realize I have left my paper in the car that states where I am supposed to go. Mind you it is hot outside with a very high humidity level with NO breeze. I am wearing black slacks, a purple satin top and 4 inch heels.  I run back to the car, grab the paper, down 2 flights of stairs and head towards the doors of the School of Nursing the next block over. Once in the doors I see nothing relevant.... No elevators like the paper said I would see. I find the staircase and cringe slightly when I realize where I need to be is on the THIRD FLOOR! No time to search for the elevator because at this point I have about 15 miunutes until interview time...UGH
I hoof it up what seemed like never ending concrete steps and finally see the harsh yellow 3 posted on the double doors leading to airconditioned salvation. I wander around looking desperately for room 3.216 and find a person who directs me to the hallway I am looking for. Oh look! There are those damned elevators I needed....
I sign in and sit in the waiting room they have set up. As I look around, there is no on in the room but myself and can't help but realize that the AC seems to be nonexistent in this tiny little sweat box.
A few miniutes later my interviewer comes to get me. By this time I have at least caught my breath and have collected myself so I do not appear like the crazy mess that I was. He was incredibly nice and tried to put my nerves at ease. I wasn't nearly as nervous as I thought I would be. Questions were typical and didn't catch me off guard. I didn't elborate on some subjects that I had planned on, but he seemed like he was on a pretty tight timne frame. He wrote on my paper a bit, which made me wonder if it were 'good' or 'bad' notes.... I snuck a peak at some numbered evaluations and saw all 4's and 5s circled. It was a 1-5 choice) He stated that I was a strong candidate and that I have a good shot, but was unable to tell me when I might hear anything about whether or not I get in.
Once again the waiting game begins. I know of some that have already waited well over a month from their interview and REALLY hope it won't be that long.  I am normally a pretty impatient person and this is truly testing my limits. I can't do anything about it now. I have done all that I can do so I am trying to just not think about it.....but I sure do wish I already knew.

Interview Nerves....

I have been invited to interview for a spot in the traditional BSN program that I have been waiting to hear from. I applied back in May! Here we are 5 months later and I have just received word that I am to be there in the morning for an interview that will ultimately determine the next 1 1/2 years of my life!!!


"But Rachel," you ask, "aren't you already part of a great nursing program at your local community college?"
Why yes I am, but as many of you may not know, I am in a program that awards an Associates in Nursing and will complete in May of 2013. This opportunity, while being more expensive and further away, will award me a Bachelors degree and a graduation date of April 2013. This will give me a leg up on all other nursing graduates in the area who will be graduating a good 3 weeks behind me to have first pick at the local entry job openings, give me a better chance of being hired at one of the 'on campus' hospitals, as they prefer to hire from within (which will ultimately lead to a free, Yes I said FREE, Masters Degree, through a work study program there) AND a better starting pay rate due to the higher degree. While I have always been a die hard fan of community colleges, as they give students an opportunity to get a quality "starter" college education for a fraction of the big box university cost, there is no denying the prestige of a higher degree that a community college simply does not offer. 


I am so nervous. My stomach is in knots. I have a feeling it won't be near as stressful as I am making it out to be as I have heard it is a really laid back interview.  I cannot wait to have it done. Then the real test of time and patience comes with waiting to see if I actually got in or not!  Some people have already waited well over a month with no post-interview response yet.... I just want to know. If I get accepted I "should" know within 2-4 weeks of my interview. However, if I am not accepted, the 'you suck' letters aren't scheduled to be sent out until December.


Wish me luck!!!

For my sister....

My first blog...

First and foremost I have to thank a recently discovered classmate and friend, Victor, for being the inspiration for this soon to be compilation of the crazy things that fill my life and brain. (see his blog *aka my inspiration* here)

 I have never done this before and I am not sure of all the unwritten rules of blogging…if such exists… so please bear with me! I am 26, married and am a full time student currently in an ADN Nursing program at a local community college and am jonesing for admission to a HUGE university which could potentially give my unborn career unlimited opportunites and an advancement that words cannot begin to describe. 

In the midst of my nursing school adventures, I also have started my own online store : The Twisted Sticker. Talk about not having enough on my plate as it is!!! Guess I just need to see how much I can take before my head falls below the surface and stays there. 

Here’s to staying afloat….