Weekend Recap

HAPPY MONDAY!!! 

How was your weekend?

I had a great fun packed weekend! It was exactly what I needed after a long week of studying for my 5th exam this month. Luckily, this week is our LAST exam for a couple weeks. October has been no joke. I need a break!

My classmates and I went out in Uptown Charlotte on Friday night to a piano bar called Howl at the Moon. It was a great opportunity to bond and get to know each other outside of the classroom. We all had a great time. We definitely need to do this again sometime soon!

The FSU vs Miami came was a tad bit stressful and ugly but somehow we pulled out a win. I hope that we play well against Duke at the Homecoming game this weekend. They had a big win against UNC and will be coming out with confidence to Doak. We better show up and fight! SCALP 'EM Seminoles!

On Sunday, my phi mu sister, Jackie, invited me to go to the Carolina Panthers game against the Dallas Cowboys. It was a perfect day in Charlotte, weather in the 70s and sunny. For a while there I thought we were going to pull ahead with the win against the cowboys. It was a close game!

I decided that Charlotte is probably where I will end up. The city, people, and environment is right in line with my personality. I love the southern hospitality meets city slickers. It is such a fun city and I am looking forward to the next four years exploring the city!

Have a great week! It's almost the weekend again :) 

{blog world} Fill In The Blank Friday!

CHEERS TO THE FREAKING WEEKEND!! 

I have been singing this song all day. The weekend is here. THANK GOODNESS. This week was definitely better than last week but I am just so ready to be done with exams. I can't wait for Tallahassee next weekend. It is the light at the end of the tunnel. 

My plans this weekend:

Friday: Howl at the Moon with some classmates to celebrate surviving our Calculations exam today.

Saturday: Habitat for Humanity deconstruction with NCAP (a club I am involved with) and the FSU vs. Miami game at 8:00pm! GO NOLES!!

Sunday: Church and a study dinner party at my friend Lili's apartment. Good food, friends, and BSI.

What are your plans this weekend?

1.  One thing I plan on doing to relax this weekend is  taking a bubble bath and painting my nails. I have had a rough couple weeks, I need a relaxing weekend. 

2.  A big pet peeve of mine is  when people say they will attend or do something and then don't follow through. I think this pet peeve started when I started taking leadership positions. If you say you are going to be there - then be there. 

3.  I am really loving  the weather in Charlotte. It is beautiful. I love being able to roll down the windows and put on the heat seaters. I LOVE FALL.

4. The rain is   is amazing when you don't have to leave your house and you can snuggle in bed watching movies all day. But, when you have to actually do something, it is pretty annoying. 

5. My favorite girly indulgence is  chunky necklaces. I may not be the most fashionable when it comes to clothing but I am a beast at adding chunky necklaces to outfits! 

6. A song I always get stuck in my head is  "Call Me Maybe". It is so catchy and always seems to get stuck in my head. 

7.  The best cure for stress is going for a drive, with the windows down, music blaring. Sometimes I sing, cry or scream. Either way it is a great way to release built up stress without anyone knowing. 

HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND :) 

{blog world} Fill In The Blank Friday

Thank goodness it is Friday. This week has been super tough for me. I have found myself so beat up and exhausted. We have had 3 exams in the past week. School is kicking my butt. There is just SO much information. You can never stop studying/preparing otherwise you will be very very behind.

This weekend I am:

Friday - giving a tour of WUSOP to applicants for the class of 2017, taking a very very long nap, getting Pho with a P2 friend, and hanging out with some guy friends.

Saturday - going to Charlotte Phi Mu Day, watching the FSU vs BC game at the Seminole Bar, going out in Uptown with some girlfriends from class.

Sunday - sleeping in!, going to church, catching up with friends, and getting caught up with BSI.

What are you doing this weekend?

1.  My favorite flower(s) are  sunflowers, daisies, gardenias and hydrangeas. They are each so beautiful in their own way. I am starting to fall in love with peonies thanks to pinterest and of course I have a love for the rose colored carnation (LIOB). 

2.  You should never talk about  getting wasted. I know that it may be funny stories but it really just makes you look bad. I also think that politics, specifically opinions and bashing other parties, should be talked about sparingly. I know that the election is coming up and it is a hot topic. But there is a difference in expressing yourself and being obnoxious. Please respect other people's views and opinions. There is no right or wrong answers in politics. Just be informed and respectful if you talk about it. 

3.  My favorite discovery as of late is Fago greek yogurt. It is so much thicker than the other yogurts and the non-fat plain is not tart. It is perfect for breakfast with pumpkin granola or for desert with carmel syrup. 

4. This fall you will probably find me wearing    anything mustard colored. I am currently obsessed with all things mustard yellow. I have a cardigan but I am in search of pants or a pencil skirt. 

5. I wish I were  sleeping/drinking/taking a bath/home in texas. 

6. My favorite TV show currently is   Revenge. I am obsessed with this tv series. I am so glad it is back! This season should be good. All of the actors look great this season! 

7.  This weekend I want to  relax, hang out with friends, and get caught up with school work and friends. 

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!!

{faith} Don't Give Up

"He is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; In God is my salvation and my glory; The rock of my strength. Trust in Him at all times, you people. Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us." 

Psalm 62 6 - 8

{Photo Credit: Rima Garsys}

I had pumpkin beer and ramen for dinner.

We made chocolate chips cookies to de-stress.

I am listening to the new Mumford and Sons album.

I am smiling and feel a lot better. 

One exam down and one to go. I can do this.

I thought I failed my exam today, it was probably one of the hardest application exams I have ever taken. I trusted myself and just went back through it because I still had time and told myself, "Amanda, just try your best and that's all that counts". I left the exam with the wind knocked out of me. I wanted to cry. I wanted to pack up my bags and and quit. I kept thinking, If I couldn't pass a drug class then I obviously wont be a good pharmacist. So, I cried. A lot. Questioning everything. 

That isn't the best mindset to have in a 4 year Doctoral program. I knew I needed a different approach. When I got home, I relaxed and took a deep breath. I started thinking about how I felt the first semester of high school and the first semester of college. THE SAME WAY I am feeling now. "Hard things are put in our way not to stop us but to call out our courage and strength." This is something I read every day. This is my quote. And I really thought about it. I have made it through all of the VERY hard things that have happened in my life. I am stronger because of them. I wanted to give up before and I didn't. Thank goodness I didn't because I wouldn't be where I am today - in a pharmacy doctoral program in North Carolina. I trusted my gut, left my friends and family, moved to a foreign city, and took a leap of faith. If it was all rainbows and butterflies then it probably wouldn't be that great of a ride. The rough times are just the chocolate chips in my cookie. They aren't as smooth as the batter but add to the wonderfully delicious taste. Hard times is what makes this experience worth it. 

So, I am going to try my hardest to believe in myself more and trust that I am here for a reason. That I can and will make it through this program and become a GREAT pharmacist. Making an impact in people's lives every day. 

Just a little Thursday thought. Today was hard but tomorrow will be better because of it.

TOMORROW IS FRIDAY! THANK GOODNESS.

{blog world} Fill In The Blank Friday

THANK GOODNESS IT IS FRIDAY!!!!! I just finished my second BSI exam. These exams take so much out of you. I am beyond exhausted. I can't wait to go home, take a nap, bake some brownies, and paint my nails. It's the little things.

 This weekend is the perfect reward for a tough week of studying!! I have a fun packed weekend planned- tonight I am going to the Grace Potter and the Nocturnals concert and tomorrow I am going to a wine festival called Great Grapes with some girlfriends from class. 

I can't wait to just relax and have fun. Not going to think about school at all this weekend. 

What are your plans for the weekend?

1.  The last thing I ate was  two slices of Papa Johns pepperoni pizza at a cram study session last night for my BSI exam.

2.  The last time I went to the beach was a really long time ago, maybe Spring Break? March 2012.

3.  My last vacation was   this summer my family went to Breckenridge Colorado for two weeks! I keep thinking about the beautiful scenery and adventures we had during our trip. 

4. The last place I drove was    to school to take my BSI exam!

5. The last song I listened to was "Stop the Bus" by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. I am actually seeing them in concert tonight!!

6. The last thing I watched on TV was   Real Housewives of Miami. I am addicted to trash tv.

7.  The last time I said "I love you" was  when I talked to my Dad last night on the phone.

{blog world} Fill In The Blank Friday!

1.  Something I am very proud of is   the fact that I am in grad school. It is definitely not easy and I am very proud of myself for getting a good grade on my first test!

2.  My favorite thing about myself is  the fact that I can talk to anyone and try to make everyone feel comfortable. I try to treat others better than I would want to be treated. I am a natural people person and think it is a great quality to have!

3.  My favorite color for fall is  mustard yellow. I just got a gorgeous mustard cardigan from Loft!

4. Something I've been learning lately is    take people for how they are. People are people and everyone is different. Not everyone has to think or act like you do.

5. A book I am reading now/have read recently is  "50 Shades Freed" I am addicted to this trilogy. SO. GOOD.

6. My favorite Pandora Station is  "Grace Potter and the Nocturnals" It is the perfect mix between chill and rock. Perfect for studying or just casual music to listen to while getting ready in the mornings. 

7.  This weekend I will  be catching up on my classes, going to a PDC rush event, watching the FSU vs Clemson game (GO NOLES!!!), and relaxing.

Have a great weekend!!

{knowledge} Top 5 Strengths

In leadership we took a strengths test called Strengths Finders. I definitely recommend anyone to take it. You just pay a small fee for a personalized code and you take a quick quiz that finds your top five strengths. My were actually spot on.

1. Woo

• By nature, you enjoy chance encounters with friends and strangers. You engage them in conversation. Rarely are you at a loss for words. You delight in all kinds of dialogues, discussions, and verbal exchanges. You are apt to move swiftly from person to person, taking time to briefly chat with each individual. Driven by your talents, you frequently throw newcomers or outsiders off balance by pressing them to talk with you. With some individuals, you intentionally do this. With others, you are unaware of how forceful you are. You are eager to get things moving and completed. Even so, you strive to temper your demanding style. You probably want people to like you as well as do what you tell them to do. It’s very likely that you often share your ideas, feelings, and experiences. Your openness makes it easy for people to figure out who you are. They can begin to understand what causes you to think and act the way you do. Instinctively, you are quite open and transparent with individuals or groups. The level of trust you have for a person dictates how much you reveal about your personal history, innermost thoughts, or deepest feelings. Because of your strengths, you get a thrill from encouraging newcomers or outsiders to join discussions or engage in small talk. You probably have a gift for finding things to talk about when you meet someone for the first time.

2. Communication

• Instinctively, you relish talking to others. Frequently you help people express their opinions, thoughts, or viewpoints with enthusiasm. Your words frequently energize individuals or groups. Because of your strengths, you genuinely enjoy chatting with all sorts of people. A fine day for you includes many opportunities to engage individuals in dialogue. You probably feel most enthused about life when your need to express yourself is appreciated rather than viewed as a shortcoming. Chances are good that you customarily facilitate the group’s conversation. You carry yourself with an air of distinction. You take charge quite naturally. Nevertheless you appreciate the willingness of people to openly exchange ideas. Driven by your talents, you have a facility — that is, an ease and readiness — for speaking. Under very few circumstances do you struggle to find just the right word to express a thought or feeling. Being able to put friends or strangers at ease quickly is one of your special gifts. By nature, you find something likeable in just about every person you meet. You intentionally surround yourself with a wide array of people. Usually they represent different backgrounds, interests, cultures, or economic levels. You contend there is always room for one more person at a meeting, in a group, on a trip, or at a meal. Your pleasant, friendly, and cordial disposition draws individuals to you.

3. Futuristic

• It’s very likely that you have a capacity for envisioning what the coming months, years, or decades could, should, or will be like. Frequently you are prompted to transform your ideas into things you can touch, taste, see, smell, or hear. Driven by your talents, you are eager to get started on a project once you realize what you can accomplish in the coming weeks, months, or years. You work very hard to breathe life into your big dreams. These often push and pull you into the future. By nature, you are innovative, inventive, original, and resourceful. Your mind allows you to venture beyond the commonplace, the familiar, or the obvious. You entertain ideas about the best ways to reach a goal, increase productivity, or solve a problem. First, you think of alternatives. Then you choose the best option. Chances are good that you frequently question how well you are doing at this point in your life. You probably aspire to higher levels of excellence. You sense your greatest accomplishments lie ahead. This explains why you spend so much time and energy addressing your shortcomings. You think you jeopardize your chances of future success when you ignore your deficiencies. Because of your strengths, you characteristically center your attention on what you want to accomplish in the coming months, years, or decades. Being free of annoying distractions contributes to your enthusiasm for life in general and the future in particular.

4. Activator

• It’s very likely that you strive to energize people. You are determined to generate a lot of enthusiasm around various projects, events, or activities. Driven by your talents, you routinely raise the spirits of people by putting aside what you are doing and giving them your undivided attention. You work diligently to repeat the key ideas or questions they voiced. Because of your strengths, you have a gift for raising a person’s self-esteem. You notice something special he or she said. Then you formally or informally acknowledge the individual’s most interesting ideas. Instinctively, you characteristically generate enthusiasm. You contend anything is possible. Your optimistic outlook helps people believe in their potential. You encourage individuals to forge ahead quickly. You challenge others to view major and minor assignments as opportunities to excel. By nature, you may influence some of your friends to make things happen quickly. Sometimes you create enthusiasm in others by championing a particular project, rule, process, activity, or idea.

5. Arranger

• Instinctively, you may convince certain people that a particular project or cause improves humankind’s quality of life. Occasionally you persuade them of the importance of protecting the planet’s resources for future generations. Perhaps you help people realize they can accomplish more good as a group than they can as individuals. Driven by your talents, you help keep the peace on your team by doing your share of each day’s assignments. You generally perform your tasks so no one in the group has to do chores you overlooked, ignored, or forgot. It’s very likely that you usually excel on teams whose members appreciate your ability to simultaneously think about multiple ideas, problems, or tasks. The more you have to juggle, the happier you probably are. Because of your strengths, you have a reputation for being the team member who does whatever it takes — within the bounds of propriety and ethics, of course — to live up to your commitments. By nature, you produce good results when you have to juggle many activities at the same time. You probably have more energy for your studies, job, or life in general when you are given a variety of assignments. Working on just one task day after day ordinarily leaves you feeling mentally and physically exhausted.

I found this to be very helpful in recognizing the things I was good at. Sometimes you find a strength that you had no idea you had and sometimes you expect to have a strength and it doesn't show up on your top 5. I think my strengths represent myself very well. I feel like I am a very well rounded person and my strengths seem to prove that as well. I also think that getting to know people/keeping in touch with people are one of the most important things to me in my life. I think it is very fitting that I have "Woo" and "Communication" at the top of my list. I hope to use these strengths to go far in pharmacy school and in my career. I hope to learn from this course how to work well with people who have other strengths. I can't wait to see how we will use our strengths in class!

What are your top 5 strengths? 

Do you think mine match me?

Hope you have a great Thursday! 

The Best Kind Of Medicine

So, there must be something going around. Everyone is getting sick. I am just now recovering from some sort of virus. Let me tell you...it was not fun. I had to take off school yesterday. I slept ALL day. I literally was up for maybe 3 hours. Today I feel about a million times better. I am not back to my happy healthy self yet but I am on my way to getting much better!

As you know, my best friend Rima is in London doing an internship at a local gallery. She is doing great things and they have their opening tonight! Cross your fingers for her!!

I was laying in bed and heard a "ding" on my blackberry. I look and see an email that says "a little surprise" from Rima. I open it up to find this:

I love that she shares her adventures with me. I have never been out of the country besides Mexico, Canada, Jamaica, and Bahamas. Europe fascinates me. I definitely live vicariously through Rima. It means so much to me that she thinks of me during this amazing trips. Atlantic Ocean? Lets make Sim a video! I just love her so much.

Photo Jen took while Skyping Rima at Stonehedge!!

Here is a little background story: Last winter break, I went over to Rima's house and we sat on her couches outside with mulled wine and comfy blankets. We sat all cuddled up and had some future talks. I had decided what grad school I was going to and she was waiting to hear back about her placement in London. We started talking about our 5 year plans. Everything felt so natural and easy when we were talking about them...like it was meant to be. Then, a shooting star flew over us. It was awesome. I feel that our 5 year plans are starting to become a reality. Rima is in London, I am in North Carolina. We know we are going to come together again sometime soon but our paths are surprisingly pretty close to how we imagined them. Now, Rim get that dream job and the Loft. I will meet you in London. I am so proud of you. Keep doing great things! I know it will all work out in the end.

Can't wait for the real deal. Big Ben here we come :) 

{blog world} Oh, How Pinteresting!

Since I have a big exam coming up this week, I thought I would share some inspirational pins that I found on pinterest this week.

Hope y'all have a great week! Its HUMP day!! Almost Friday :)

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This was actually a street that I passed driving from Tampa to Tallahassee during Undergrad!
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{blog world} Fill in the Blank Friday!

1.  My favorite grade in school was   senior year of undergrad. Senior year is the year where you get more into your major. I took classes that really interested me and got me excited to learn.

2.  My favorite teacher was  Mrs. Williams at Tampa Preparatory School  because,  she was so passionate about teaching and wanted her students to learn and be passionate about learning.

3.  The highest level of education I have completed is    a Bachelor's of science degree in Exercise Science at Florida State University. I am currently attending Wingate School of Pharmacy to get my Doctorate.

4. School lunches for me were usually    homemade and usually consisted of leftovers. When I was little my mom would write messages on my napkins or include post it with love sayings. 

5. The amount of money you'd have to pay me to go back to high school would be  any price. I really enjoyed my high school because it was a small private preparatory school. I didn't have the typical rebellious or hard high school that everyone talks about. However, I was a bit awkward. 

6. A few things that will always remind me of going back to school are:  cute lunch boxes and school supplies all over Walmart

7.  The first day of school was always  looked forward to! I would get so excited to meet all my new professors and see who was in my classes. It is also nice because the first day is all about going over the syllabus and talking about how the classes work. So no actual school work! 

Have a great weekend!

{blog world} What I'm Loving Wednesday!

Happy Wednesday everyone! Can you believe it is already September? Time is flying by. I am excited for Fall to get here!!

I'm loving that we had a three day weekend and only have four days of school this week!

I'm loving that fall pins are appearing on pinterest!

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I'm loving that Dunkin Donuts is serving Pumpkin Spice coffee!

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I'm loving that its football season again. I went to the bar sponsored by the Charlotte Seminole Club on Saturday to watch FSU play Murray State. I'm loving that I got to see my phi mu sister Jackie and friend Tim!

I'm loving this homemade crunch wrap supreme recipe. Cannot wait to make this.

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I'm loving that Jenna Weber's book White Jacket Required is finally out! I can't wait to read it and go to her book signing at the end of the month.

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I'm loving this morning yoga sequence from pinterest. It is the best way to stretch in the morning!

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I'm loving Skinny Taste's Buffalo Turkey Burgers. Made them for roomie dinner night - SO GOOD. Recipe coming soon :)

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I'm loving that I got to skype to my best friend Rima in London! She is having a lovely time in the posh city. She is the one on the right next to the Queen.

What are you loving this week?

{blog world} Fill in the Blank Friday

I have never linked up for blog trends before but I think it is a great way to let the blogger world know a little more about myself and it's really fun to participate in daily trends! Sometimes the questions make you really think about who you are and sometimes they just get you excited about upcoming events - like the weekend! So today I am linking up with Lauren at The Little Things We Do. 

Look out upcoming posts for an easy dinner recipe and a weekly wrap up of classes! Have a great weekend y'all!

1.  My favorite thing to do on Friday is go out with friends for dinner or drinks. Its my favorite day to celebrate a long week and unwind with friends.

2.   This Friday I am taking a nap when I get home from classes, catching up on some homework, going to Red Bull sushi (half off sushi rolls after 8pm!!) with my roommate and some of her friends!

3.  The best thing about a weekend is  not having to get out of your pajamas all day. You can wake up, lounge, drink tea on the couch, make delicious breakfasts, and get organized for the next week. 

4. Now that summer is almost over, I'm feeling  like a big girl. I completed my first week of pharmacy school and realizing that its going to be a lot of hard work for the next four years. Bye bye childhood hello real world. 

5. The best thing I did this summer was  live in Texas with my family. It's scary to think that I may not ever live at home again but this summer was a perfect way to spend quality time with my family, bond with my sisters (who are growing up WAY to fast!!), meet new people, and relax. 

6. The thing I'm looking forward to about fall is living in a state that actually has a fall! I can't wait to see all the leaves and weather change! Soups, stews, and chilis here I come!

7.  If I had to be stuck in one season for the rest of my life, I would choose  Fall of course. It is the best of the seasons. Best clothes, weather, entertainment (FOOTBALL), colors, and food. How can you not love Fall?