March Madness...

Alright, let's get you all updated on the happenings of this month, starting from about 2 1/2 weeks ago...

I finally got to spend some time with my friend (and future bridesmaid) Jocelyn and her daughter (and future flower girl) Abby. And I guess we should count Baby #2 too! We headed up to the Santa Barbara Zoo for the day, with some of the most beautiful weather. I'm pretty sure the last time I went to this zoo I was in elementary school. I had forgotten how close it is to the beach, and how hilly it is! Although in comparison to the zoos I'm more familiar with (LA, San Diego and Phoenix) it's pretty small, it's really the perfect size when you have little kids. Just when they're getting tired, you've gone through the whole zoo. After the zoo, we had lunch in downtown SB and walked around State Street just enjoying the sunshine. It was such a wonderful day, and I'm so glad I finally got together with these two ladies. I hadn't seen them since Abby's birthday back in October. Much too long for my liking! Here are some pictures of our adventures...







Then my wedding dress came in. If you're like me, you're thinking to yourself...hmm, that seems really fast. When they first called me I was scared that they had ordered the wrong dress because they originally told me that it would be at least 4-6 months. And there's beading on it, so surely it couldn't be done already. It's only been 2 1/2 months! But it was, and I went with my mom and Jocelyn to try it on. Good news...it's the right one and it fits! I'm in love with it even more than I was when I bought it. And it doesn't need any alterations, only the bustle put in. They store it for you if you use their seamstress, so my next appointment won't be until 10 weeks out from the wedding. HA! I'll miss you dress!

I also made a trip to the Topanga Mall with Jocelyn and Abby (and Baby #2) to go window shopping. Apparently we're making up for lost time, but who cares! I love getting to see them this often! :) I hadn't been to that mall since they remodeled it. Someday it'll be nice to go back when I have an income.

Jeff came down last weekend from SLO for a little hang-out time. We didn't do too much since his knee is still on the mend (darn joints!), but we did book our hotel for our extra day in Hawaii and looked at stuff to do on the island. And we watched the NCAA basketball games...and our brackets getting flushed down the toilet. Thanks a lot Kansas! I love having him around, even if just for the weekend. And soon I'll be heading up there for Spring Break! Woohoo!

School-wise, I've been busy working on group projects. These include working on complex patient case studies, looking up the latest research on various topics, designing our own clinic (from floorplans and budgets, to marketing and policies), assessing wellness and nutrition information, etc. We've also gone through CPR re-certification, getting our physicals and labwork done (yay, I'm immune!), and trying to wrap everything up for the end of the term.

Today on my way home from Glendora (working on projects mentioned above), I stopped in Pasadena to pick up some cupcakes from Dots. I had gotten cupcake envy from Betty and decided I needed some end-of-term celebration sweets. I love this place, and wish there was one closer. Any place that has polka dots on their to-go boxes is alright by me! Not to mention how cute and delicious they are! Thanks for the great idea Betty!


So we're heading into finals' week now, as I mentioned. So I might disappear for a little bit. Jeff and I will be heading up to Kernville for Easter to spend time with his family. Then on deck for my break is meeting with lots of wedding vendors, and hopefully getting some of them booked! And perhaps a visit up to the Bay Area...we shall see!

I'm not dead...

...I promise! I only feel like it...

I'm just trying to crank all our projects out right now. Next week is finals, so a whole bunch of things are due between now and next Wednesday. 5 projects, and group ones at that. Sometimes I swear it's easier to do it all myself. At least my groups have been my carpool mates (plus Harmony), and we've stayed on top of things. Only 2 1/2 more things to finish up.

It's pretty scary just how fast this term went by. I know it was only 6 weeks instead of the usual 9, but it's still scares me that I can get so caught up in school that I have absolutely no concept of how quickly the weeks are flying past. Yikes!

And soon it will be April, then it'll be my graduation, and then poof...the wedding! Juuuuust kidding! It won't go quite that fast, but I know things are definitely going to kick into gear.

Anyway, I promise to write a real post soon. Maybe as a study break?

Life as a 3rd Year...

...isn't all it's cracked up to be. Well, it is but it isn't at the same time. I'll start off by saying that our schedule is pretty amazing compared to terms in the past.

Monday: Administration 1:00-3:00
Tuesday: Wellness & Nutrition: 1:30-6:30
Wednesday: We only have to meet if we're working on our research projects
Thursday: Administration 1:00-3:00, Clinical Case Studies 3:00-8:00

So Thursdays are pretty long, but other than that, we really only have class 3 days a week and it never starts before 1:00, which for us commuters means we don't sit in morning traffic. Although the schedule may be nice, they are making up for it by piling on the busy work. I'm talking projects galore! We don't have any tests, which is nice, but at least I know about how long studying will take me. Projects are always a complete unknown as far as time management. At least we're already into week 3, and it's a short term, so it's only 6 weeks!

Last week we took our class pictures. Each year we have taken new pictures that get sent out with our paperwork to whatever clinics we're going to. 1st year they take it during orientation, 2nd year you wear your scrubs, and 3rd year you wear professional attire. They also take a picture of the entire class together the 3rd year that will later hang in the hall after we graduate. Meet the APU DPT Class of 2010!


Hard to believe that we're getting so close to being finished. We all thought this day would never come! We keep telling the 1st and 2nd years that there really is a light at the end of the tunnel. They don't quite believe us, but hey...we were there too!

This past weekend I headed up to SLO to hang out with Jeff. We went out Friday night with some of his work friends to Black Sheep, which is a bar downtown with amazing mac & cheese. I'm salivating just writing about it. Saturday night we had dinner with his aunt and cousin, D and Angela, who were in town wedding dress shopping for Angela and Mike's upcoming wedding in November. It was great to see them, since I really can't remember the last time I've seen them both. We exchanged wedding updates and vendor names. Oh wedding talk!

Speaking of weddings, I know I have whined about how far away the wedding is, but right now I am very thankful for it. (I can hear Jeff saying "SEE! I told you so!" as I write this) There are 4 girls in my class who are engaged and getting married by the end of this year, 3 of whom got engaged while we were out on our rotations. Let me tell you, they are freaking out about planning everything and meeting with vendors all while trying to get everything finished for school. Meanwhile, I have more planned than a couple of them and I don't have to worry about getting wedding things done right now. In fact, one girl is getting married Sept. 4th and just bought her dress this past weekend. And the only other thing she has booked is the location. Yikes. No thanks.

Guess that's it. Happy March everybody! Lots of b-day's this month, so happy birthday to all you special people! Stay dry, warm, and healthy!