Holly Jolly

Christmas flew by and now we're in that lull before New Year's. Nothing seems crowded - even Target. There's no presents to get, but you do have to decide plans for New Year's Eve. Resolutions haven't set in, if that's your thing, so people eat cakes and stuff, I guess.

We had a terrific Christmas and I'm enjoying my break with many great bits of life:

• B made sugar cookies for Christmas Eve. He makes amazing sugar cookies! I helped ice them -- orange for the Illinois cookies, white with colorful sugar for the Capitol buildings, stars, hearts. Yum!
• I did some gross-cleaning -- and now it's done!
• My BFF Julie flew into town for the big holiday weekend. She was in town for the holidays and I'm going to visit her in Los Angeles in January. We picked up Julie on the way to a suburban Christmas Eve party on the way to Christmas at my parent's house. Julie enjoyed the babies, food, silliness and joy of Christmas in Illinois.
  
• We attended a stellar Christmas party on Christmas Eve -- pulled pork, family galore, lots of love, a book exchange and candy bags to take home. Yum. We got to spend time with some awesome family members -- including our new nephew who thinks Christmas is a bit of a doze. We got a memory foam bathmat from B's mom -- no matter how that sounds to you, let me assure you -- it's awesome. As the party winded down we headed west to my parent's house and we got there in excellent time.
  
• When we arrived at my parent's house on the Eve, Christmas was in full-swing. My dad was jolly'd out in a reindeer tie, a vest and a santa hat. My mom wore a santa hat too! My brother is too cool for santa hats. We enjoyed Tom & Jerry's and the Christmas ambiance of my parent's home: a 12-foot tree all lit up, Dickens villages, candles and even lit-up wine bottles (a Criner craft! Want one?). A cocktail with family after shopping busy-ness, driving and partying is just perfect.
• We did the holidays up in the traditional Criner manner this year. Mimosas & cinnamon rolls, opening presents, then an afternoon dinner. My mom really knows how to make a meal! The holidays winded down with football, reading and gift-enjoying.
• After celebrations aplenty we are home and settled back into life. Julie and I visited with friends. I took a terrific run in the abnormally warm weather today. Mostly I've been taking it easy with Netflix, cleaning, organizing and reading. Tomorrow we have a pizza party with some family.

Phew! Just enough time to get ready for 2012!

This is from the big February 2011 blizzard -- we haven't had more than a dusting of snow so far. But I like the doors in this photo anyway.

So far, so lazy

I've taken several naps since my semester ended, but I've also accomplished quite a bit. B comes home from work and doesn't notice all these accomplishments but whatever to him. Among my accomplishments:

• I've started watching Bones Season 6 on Netflix Watch Instantly. Bones is my guilty pleasure -- I love it more than any other crime show. It's sometimes gross, with lots of medical talk, and it's hilarious. I stumbled upon Bones while packing last spring, and I love it dearly. I realize it's a dumb show to some, but I love it.
• I've laundered a lot of stuff. And cleaned! Oh, have I cleaned! The bathroom, the floors, the bits of dust that float about our home, the closets, the heaps of stuff, the fridge, the couch, the stack of magazines I've been paging through, the extra room and some other stuff too.
  
• I recycled my shoes at the Nike Store -- this has been on my to-do list for ages.
• I've done some stealthy Christmas shopping using coupons, deals and other promotions to save some money.
  
• We used some of the longtime residents of our pantry for meals. I've also been looking in my cookbooks for ideas for more winter meals. We also enjoyed B's favorite veggie: Brussels Sprouts! Yum!
  

There's more on my agenda, but first we've got the holidays! Have a merry one!

And done!

I'm all done with school -- one semester of nursing school finished! Three semesters to go!

And, if you need an even scarier measurement: about 364 days until I'm done with nursing school and graduating.

Bonus: If you attend my graduation you can see the Loyola University nativity scene (which I haven't exactly located yet) which is being approached by enormous wise men (which I've walked by -- they're totally taller than me) riding faux camels! Oh Holy Night!

During my no-school month I shall do some serious relaxing, use a massage gift certificate for a backrub, watch the new season of Bones on Netflix, clean, organize and celebrate. Hooray! Watch out closets, cupboards, shelves, old notebooks (which I had intended to refer back to... but who does that?), mis-fitting clothes, and strange array of bathroom items -- I'm after you!

Sorry to ruin the surprise -- here is your Christmas present! A cat.

And a Holly Jolly Home

B and I have spiffed up our home into a holiday happy place.

This is terrific because I need a little something to cheer me up during my holiday studies. We've got our new tree, some beautiful ornaments (Barbie and her Storm Trooper boyfriend!), lights, a little village on top of our cupboards, and some garland near the stairs.

I've been up to my elbows in studies lately. But with four classes done, three A's in the bag (yes!), and two tests to go, I'm psyched and proud.

This first semester of nursing school has been rough. (Not nursing school's fault.) And as happy as I am to fight through sadness to work toward becoming a nurse, there's still plenty that can knock me down.

But every day I feel stronger. Every day I feel happier to become a nurse, a little less heartbroken to not be a mommy-to-be yet, and ready to conquer what's in front of me.

Even when I'm studying kidney dysfunction or infant respiratory distress, I can take a deep breath and do it. I might still cry a bit. I might still cry a lot. But I'm stronger. And when becoming a mom is in front of me again, I'll be stronger and ready to do that.

Holly Jolly Finals!?!

Did you know that in the midst of the fun of holidays -- tree-decorating, cookie-baking, village-setting-up -- college students have tons of exams and studying to do? I think this happened when I was an undergrad, too. What mis-scheduling, right?
Anyway, I'm keeping my head up as finals attempt to knock me on my butt (B says I shouldn't be wearing sneakers in the snow, anyway). I've got some nice plans for our long break, and I've already got a few accomplishments to feel good about:

• A terrific time at B's work holiday party. Fantastic appetizers, including little corndogs, tiny tomato soups with grilled cheese and bacon-wrapped somethings. Fantastic drinks. Fantastic people to talk to -- I chatted with a librarian pal, someone with a doctorate in pharmacology who takes care of mice at her job, one of B's handsome colleagues and other nice folks. I also got to rock a 10-year-old awesome dress, bare legs (in December? Yes!), fancy shoes, a little fur scarf-type-thing, and lots of jewelery. We had a delightful time -- and here's a photo of me waiting for the CTA Holiday Train to pick us up.
  
  
• A huge victory in my foundations class! For our lab final we had to handle a scenario -- mine including a abdominal assessment, a skin assessment, giving my "patient" insulin, and inserting a urinary catheter (in a mannequin). This skill is sterile and requires a dexterous hand as well as a fair amount of setup. I did it all almost perfectly, explained my challenges and got a "wonderful job" from my surly lab instructor. My biggest lesson from the whole exam was to speak my mind. I had questions that my instructor couldn't answer -- he was just an observer -- but I still vocalized them, and I explained every challenge I came upon calmly and like I knew what I was doing. Victory!

• Two tests down -- Wellness and Research! Plus an 'A' locked up in Intro (which doesn't have a final). Pardon my blog-absence -- I've been in test-mode, but I'm a tiny-test break right now.

• Three tests to go -- Nutrition, Pathophysiology and Foundations. I've got lots of studying to do but I'm feeling pretty good about my performance so far. My last test is on Saturday morning and some classmates have already planned for a bar crawl starting at 11 a.m. Whoa!
  

My closet - for the win!

Oh friends, I did some shopping today. Some serious, ridiculous shopping.

I went to Water Tower Place and cruised through The Body Shop, Sephora, Forever 21, The Limited and stopped in Macy's. Phew. Then I headed south on Michigan Avenue to The Gap and another Forever 21.

What did I buy? Earrings. And a necklace. Spending a grand total of $11.

I tried on dresses and tops. I considered jeans. I seriously thought about a sherbet-colored t-shirt and a colorful plaid scarf -- both sunny as can be for gray winter days. I waited 15 minutes to try on sparkly shoes, which looked pretty terrific but hurt my toes.

Defeated, I shuffled back home and started trying on some items from way back in my closet. Success!

My pre-wedding dress -- total possibility. My favorite black dress -- still fits like a dream. A dress I bought in Las Vegas in 2001 -- a complete holiday party contender! And reversible! (Red or black?!?!) A simple swingy navy blue dress I've worn to weddings and to the beach -- still lovable.

Turns out I do know where to shop!

Here's me with B before we were official. Tomorrow he's my date to a swanky holiday party!

Dressing Up

B's work has a raucous, swanky holiday party every year. I'm psyched for Saturday -- cocktails, appetizers, dinner, a bag you pick a giftcard out of, more cocktails and dessert!

Plus it's a chance to dress up. This is big news for me -- I wear maroon scrubs once a week and the dressiest I get is jeans. I carry a backpack almost everyday.

So makeup, lipstick, a purse, heels, a dress and fancied up hair!?! Fantastic fun!

I'll post photos!