2011 wrap up!

2011 was a great year! Here is a little peak into my life of 2011...and hopes for 2012!

I was accepted in GWU Family Nurse Practitioner program in early 2011

I started looking for apartments and was completely blown away by apartment prices!

I accepted a job so I could pay rent!

Getting a nursing license in DC about killed me! (both emotionally and financially!)

I officially moved in May. I cried my eyes out saying goodbyes to nursing friends of 4 years. It was a bittersweet time for me.

I was sick for the first month of so being in DC...after going through allergy testing and going on allergy shots I am alive and well again!

It turns out to be a really small world! Two girls I work with I went to college with! It's nice having familiar faces around!

The BF and I are enjoying dating in the same city vs across a few states!

I survived my first semester of grad school and came out with two A's!!!! It wasn't easy but do-able!

For 2012-

I hope to get my migraines under control...possibly by a vegan diet? This was defiantly be hard for me but I hope I can do it!

Continue doing well in school.

The BF and I are taking dance lessons!

I plan to continue using coupons when I go grocery shopping.

But, I also hope to save more money!

Go to some Washington Nationals games!

I want to get out more and experience this awesome city I live in!

I also want to make time to get back home to visit with family and friends.

Looking ahead-

It's been a few weeks since I've blogged (I do apologize!)...I finished up my first semester of graduate school and took a well deserved break from being attached to my computer daily!

As 2011 comes to a end I am excited to take on 2012! 2011 has been a great year but I am even more excited to see what 2012 has in store!

I'm blogged before about Vegan diets before- this is something I'm going to really try again for 2012. I don't really eat much meat to begin with but my real downfall will be cheese! Why am I doing this? In attempts to control my migraine headaches! I'm also cutting caffeine! (Kill me now) Vegan diets have been shown in research to help control symptoms! Dr. Barnard with PCRM here in Washington, DC actually has a research study being conducted on migraines and vegan diets!

For the vegan diet there are four food groups- fruits, grains, vegetables, and legumes! http://www.pcrm.org/health/diets/pplate/power-plate

Dr. Barnard suggest these be your grocery basics-

Fruits

Bananas Apples Berries (fresh or frozen) Raisins

Vegetables

Broccoli (fresh or frozen) Spinach (fresh or frozen) Lettuce Carrots

Cucumbers Canned tomatoes Marinara sauce

Grains

Rolled oats Loaf of bread (high-fiber or pumpernickel) Brown rice Quinoa Whole wheat pasta

Legumes

Soy, rice, almond, or plant-milk of choice Black beans (canned or dried) Garbanzo beans (canned or dried) Dried red lentils

Frozen edamame

Condiments

Apple butter Balsamic vinegar Cinnamon MustardSoy sauce

If you're scared you will not be able to get your calcium, iron, etc from this diet, I strongly encourage you to read Dr. Barnard or Dr. Fuhrman's books regarding these diets. You may discover that you'll be healthier eating vegan than your current diet.

While some vegan recipes contain a lot of scary and complex ingredients, I'm a girl on the go and I just don't have time for that. I'm going to play by the rules, but provide recipes via this blog that are easy vegan recipes! You may just decide for yourself that you like them too!!!

A few vegan blogs to check out:

http://www.thechubbyvegan.com/p/about-me.html

http://blog.fatfreevegan.com/

http://veganlunchbox.blogspot.com/

Stay tuned for next week's vegan recipe!!!

J

Wreaths Across America

Wreaths Across America

Earlier this year, I heard from a friend about this wreath laying project at Arlington National Cemetery. I got a group of friends together and we went out and helped out with the project this year! Below are some pictures!

Hopefully next year there will be enough sponsorship for every gravesite to have a wreath. This year they fell short of their goal. Wreaths are $15 and every wreath has to be sponsored!

There were soooo many volunteers, Peter and I were thrilled to finally find a truck that had wreaths!!!

Our group- my eyes will never be open for pictures!!!

Very touching link:

"Thousands of military and civilian volunteers laid 100,000 donated holiday wreaths on headstones at the cemetery. Donated by the Worcester Wreath Co. of Harrington, Maine, the wreaths are now part of a 20-year tradition of decorating and honoring the graves of soldiers, sailors, Marines and guard members who served their country."

http://www.newsobserver.com/2011/12/11/1703755/wreaths-across-america-121011.html

Stay tuned for next year!!!