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!!!

Nursing Advisory! Nonoxynol-9

NURSING ADVISORY!!!

The topic of Nonoxynol-9 came up in my nursing discussion tonight and this chemical is scary!!! It is a spermicide found in condoms and lubricants. I know many of you are monogamous and condom-free but many of your friends may be using these condoms not knowing they are being exposed to this scary chemical.

After all, what the heck is nonoxynol-9 anyway?

Nonoxynol -9 supporters love it because it helps prevent pregnancy if a condom fails. But, some women and men have an allergy to this chemical causing itching, rash, infections, blistering, and sometimes as severe as anaphylactic shock!

If you choose to use these condoms, you can only use them once a day and you should know the risk! Consider your self educated! Read up!

Trojan has four different ones on the market now as do other brands...so be careful!!!

Spread the word to your friends!!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonoxynol-9

Almost a month since!?!?!

Geez, I just realized it's been almost a month since my last post!!! September 8th was my last blog entry and that one was not even a good one! Man I need to step it up!

Just wanted to touch base with let you know what I've been up to!

This is my first semester of my FNP program (Family Nurse Practitioner) and it's kicking my tail. It's a lot to juggle with working 12 hr days at the hospital too. I'm sure in a semester or two it'll be old hat...but for now it's taking awhile to get use to! So on my days off, you can find me with my head in the books or typing away on Blackboard!

I also have started RCIA- Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults. It's a education program for the Catholic church. My program meets weekly on Tuesday nights until Easter.

Through all this craziness I still find time to cook, hang with the BF, clean (well that's not entirely true), and enjoy all DC has to offer! I love this Fall weather we have right now! I bought a pumpkin and a mum that has made my apartment a little more homey.

Happy Fall!!!

Jancie

Not a food blog

While I love food and love to cook, my intentions were to not make this blog solely about food or recipes...

So, what in the world is up with this rain?!?!

Hurricanes...yeah I get it, but I'm tired of it! I need cool crisp transition to fall weather...not cool damp dreary weather!

Whole Foods!

Not only am I in heaven with the new Whole Foods in Foggy Bottom, but this also means my bank account also has a good chance to be much smaller!!

Whole Foods is really catering their efforts to the GW community- students, staff, hospital employees and neighbors! I happen to work nearby so this is super convenient for me!

GW Cheerleaders and ole George even stopped by for the GRAND OPENING!!! I was in the area and surprisingly not working when I saw the grand opening activities, so I decided to partake!

I thought it was interesting instead of a traditional ribbon cutting, Whole Foods breaks bread...

They had free samples....including a delicious Avocado Nutty Salad (recipe below) lots of employees around to help you find what you need, overall a great experience! There were a ton of people there, so I grabbed a bagel and coffee...looked around a bit and dashed! I will be returning in the near future though!!!

A visit to the bakery is on the list....

Nutty Avocado Salad-

Jessica Cornell- Whole Foods, Plymouth Meeting, PA

1 (15 oz) can 365 Everyday Value Cannellini Beans

2-3 Avocados, sliced

1/2 sweet onion, chopped in large pieces

3 Tbsp 365 Organic Everyday Value Sesame Tahini

1 Zucchini, thinly sliced

Salt and Pepper, to taste

Drain 1/2 of the liquid from the cannellini beans. Mix together beans (with remaining 1/2 can of liquid), avocados, onion, tahini, and zucchini in a bowl. Salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate covered for one hour before serving.

OMG, YUM!