It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Balancing a blog and a professional life has been interesting…can you take a guess who holds precedence? Anyways, “hey” to anyone who might have stuck around to hear about my life & music.

So...brief update on life in Charleston:

1.       I am in my 3^rd month of working in the professional world. Not saving too much but living comfortably & feeling happy about the care I provide to my inspiring patients.

2.       I now have two dogs. Harper is the new addition. A lab/german shepard mix. She is an angel and a tad of a snot all in one. But truly, an angel, because Nelson believes she’s a gift from God.

3.       I went to the Flaming Lips concert back in October. It was I.N.T.E.R.E.S.T.I.N.G. And as long as it took for me to type that out, letter by letter, that is all I have to say about that...except for...check out my lumbar jack! :)

4.       Recently purchased my first, REAL Christmas tree. Pine needles and all (!) A combination of Dollar Tree ornaments and “sea shells turned ornaments” adorn our tree. It’s simply breath taking!

5.       Finally found Pumpkin Spice creamer for my morning coffee. ½ gallon. Enough said. That stuff will make any morning worth waking up for. Thanks, Cam & Kelly!

6.       Went to my first “Continuing Ed” course last week in Columbia. It was a Cross Country Education Session on Vestibular Rehabilitation…I loved it! Learned so much! Can you say, “Nerd Alert”!…

7.       Andres has managed to bring Christmas to Charleston this year…Christmas as in Amy Grant’s Christmas Album :) If you are a “Martinez,” you totally understand why this is an essential piece for the holidays. Brownie points to the boy. He’s sure racking those up.

8.       The last few months have been filled with a few DIY projects: a tribute to the future“34,” a twist on wall décor, an ice cold bucket of fun, and a bit of Charleston accents on our first Christmas tree :) check them out below!

9.       Ran a 5k last weekend: the Reindeer Run! Dre was dressed as Santa and Adge and I were his faithful reindeer :) A great way to start a Saturday morning…and we even came home with our very own Rudolph. We feed him celery on the regular.

10.   I will be headed to Puerto Rico in 16 days and it looks like it might be a “couples retreat”. We will all be bringing our significant others & we’ll be hitting the beach in the great company of my family!

      I love having lists of ten, so I'm tempted to stop my update here. But I will tell you that my family came in for Thanksgiving this year and it was a great time! We had a joint Thanksgiving with the Rodriguez family and it was so much fun! Rounded the weekend off with my first fire-roasted S'more and a kiss under the mistletoe :) Hope your holiday season has been just as fun-filled! Sending my love to all of you as always. XOXO!

Music Mondays

Hello my dearest friends,

The last few weeks have been extremely busy, but I have nothing but good things to say about the time that has passed. I started work September 12^th and have been working like a busy bee ever since. I work Monday through Friday and one Saturday out of every month. My days start at 7:30AM and tend to run until 6:00PM. In addition to those hours, I have an hour commute each way from Charleston to Walterboro. The drive is not ideal, but I love working for Colleton Medical Center! I work between all three units in the hospital: Rehab, Inpatient (Acute) and Outpatient…talk about variety and a workout running from place to place, but it truly is a great learning environment for a new grad. I’m pretty tired when I walk through the door after work, but my patients and their families are totally worth it :)

That being said, I don’t have a lot of extra time on my hands to update my blog; however, I decided that I needed some good “R and R” tonight after a long Monday at work. So, what’s my agenda for this evening’s post? Update my readers (hope you are still out there) on some new music finds!

You can imagine that I am avidly searching for some new tunes to keep me motivated on my long drive to work, so I’ve done some digging...Here are some killer artists that I think you would love.

Robert Plant

Where you might know him from: Most recently, from the Band of Joy or maybe from his collaboration with Alison Kraus OR maybe as the front man for Led Zeppelin :) Yes, one of the most infamous “Gods of Rock and Roll” to have ever lived...Robert Plant! From his first days with Led Zeppelin in 1968 to the Band of Joy in 2010, this artist is still actively producing music and inspiring generation after generation. Want to give him a listen? Of course you do! Click on the video below to experience “Fortune Teller” with accompanist, Alison Krauss…brace yourself :)

Wilco

New to me but maybe not to you! Wilco has seen band members come and go since its start in 1994, but lead singer, Jeff Tweedy and bassist, John Stirratt still remain. I am still learning about the band but wanted to share a song that caught my attention the other day. If you have any feedback about Wilco, I would love to hear it! Not sure which album to start with but looking forward to further discovering their music. Click on the video below to listen to one of their newer songs, “I Might.” Please and thank you!!

 Ray LaMontagne

Another recent and personal find :) Though new to me, Ray LaMontagne seems to have been around for a good while now. Beginning his on-the-side tour in 1999, LaMontage has become ever more present in the last few years. As with Wilco, if you have any insight to Mr. LaMontagne, I’d love to listen. I find his raspy voice to be absurdly velvet-like and can’t seem to get enough. Check on the video below to see what I mean: “Beg, Steal or Borrow.”

That’s it for my latest music finds. Imagine me driving through the windy roads to the small town of Walterboro as you listen to them and take time to enjoy each as your evening comes to a close tonight. Sending you blessings and love as always. Good night.

Hello World!

Today, In "Big Girl" News...
I purposely postponed this post for quite some time...since graduation to be exact, because I wanted to share only good news & I now have the very chance to do so :) It's official, my friends! You are reading the blog of a registered and licensed occupational therapist! 


I studied my heart out for a month following graduation and scheduled my NBCOT exam for August 10th in North Carolina. There were no available exam dates in Charleston, so this is why I had to schedule my test 3.5 hours away. BUT this worked out perfectly, because Andres' parents live in Davidson, which is right outside Charlotte. I was welcomed with hugs and home cooked meals as Mrs. Kim (Dre's momma) lifted my spirits with chocolate, great conversations and a trip to IKEA during my stay, making me almost forget why I was actually there :) 


I took the exam that Wednesday afternoon from 3:30PM - 7:05PM. The majority of that time frame is now a blur, but true to my personality, I thought I failed miserably and felt so flustered from the exam that I forgot my driver's license and debit card at the testing center. I did not realize this minor detail until I attempted to order a celebratory drink at dinner. Again, true to form, I began to lose my waffles as I received a call from ProMetric informing me that they had both my ID and debit card in their possession. Still, I was a mess, but leave it to Mrs. Kim to save the day. 


Testing candidates were to have several forms of identification in order to take the test, so I also had my passport with me...which of course, had totally slipped my mind at this point in time. This, however, did not escape Mrs. Kim's memory :) She ran after me as I fled to the girls' room and quickly asked if I had my passport. I said, "Yes," and she replied, "Well, looks like you can still drink!" And drink we did!


The next day I drove back to Charleston...where I waited a whole week to find out whether I passed the exam. Sure, I live in the best city ever where there are tons of amazing things to do, but knowing that my future was up in the air (dramatic, I know), I was not able to celebrate like I wanted to...until yesterday!!


Yes!! I found out just yesterday that I passed my exam! This was the one news that I was waiting to hear and the one thing that I have been dying to share with all of you! I am so happy to have passed, but more importantly, so ready to begin my career as an occupational therapist! I truly live for this profession and cannot wait to start working September 12th at Colleton Medical Center in Walterboro, SC! The next few weeks are going to fly by as I make my move from my small, downtown apartment back to West Ashley to be closer to work! My mom will be coming to help with the move along with Andres (THANKS GUYS!). I've already made several "big girl" purchases and cannot wait to get setup in my new home :)


So, I've passed my test, landed a full-time position as an OT and found a new place to call home! God is great! Thank you to all of you who supported me while I had my nose in a book for a solid month. I would have gone insane without your texts, calls and emails!

Tonight's Music Selection & My Current Mood :)

Kings of Leon: Taper Jean Girl

Looking forward to sharing this next chapter in my life with all of you. I will upload pictures of my new place soon. Sending love your way as always! Xoxo.

Updated Status: MUSC Alum :)

Monday Afternoon
I am proud to say that I graduated with my Master's in Occupational Therapy from MUSC this weekend & was absolutely humbled by the love I received from my family & friends. It was a wonderful weekend spent with those I love and cherish most :) Now that you know that I have my Master's, you might be wondering what is next on my list...well, here it is.

A Start To A Graduate's To-Do List

1. Study over the next month & pass the NBCOT exam in August. Claim that OTR/L status!

2. Secure a job. Any job really. In the state of South Carolina. Charleston would be nice.

3. Become a true "South Carolinian" & say good-bye to my TN tags & driver's license. 

4. Move out of my downtown apartment & into something with washer/dryer connections.

5. Put my new racket to use & take up tennis. Be ready to challenge Nandito in 12 months. 

6. Commit to studying Spanish & practice it daily. But really this time. Really.

That's a hefty list. Numbers 1 and 2 terrify me, but I know things will work out on their own if I put forth the effort and ask for help along the way. I have no idea what my life is going to look like in the next few months or even in a year, but I plan to stay positive, dance to Stealers Wheel when I am stressed, keep chocolate nearby & trust the Big Man Upstairs :) 

That said, cheers to the next chapter! Thanks again for all your support. Would not have survived the last two years without you all in my life. Love you all & enjoy the pictures!

"Faith is not about everything turning out okay; faith is about being okay no matter how things turn out." 

We Vibe

Wednesday News

1. I have a love for posting on Wednesdays. Probably because it's known as "Hump Day".

2. Had an amazing 4th of July in Hilton Head. Riding on handle bars & catching blue crabs.

3. Heading to TN in 2 hours. Couldn't be happier. Love seeing my best friends & family. 

4. Currently on the hunt for a new apartment in Charleston. Definitely staying in SC :)

5. Still in search of a job. Waiting to hear back from a few. Positive thoughts & prayers. 

6. Graduating in 10 days. Wild. Welcoming change, an income and a career I can live for!

7. Found and retrieved my first sand dollar on the 4th :) Hoping it brings goooood luck. 

8. Haven't had the best luck with movie rentals lately. Ready for a movie to stir my soul. 

9. Lulu Marie experienced a minor bump & lost a pedal. In the shop until further notice. 

10. Finished my last rotation EVER last Friday. I'm going to love the status of an OTR/L. 

Featured Music

This song has been making its round through emails, You Tube, Vimeo & blogs since dropping July 1st. With 400+ views in just a matter of days, this video is sure to make its way to 1000 in no time. You might think I am partial to this artist, and maybe I am, but you'll thank me later for introducing you two. If you like his sound, show him some love and "like" his video. His upcoming "We Vibe" EP will counter your thirst for more after listening to his first single, "I Don't Fear." 

Cheers to an indelible beginning, Marco Mar. May the world hear your music and vibe to the music of your life. Friends & family, as always, you are my reason for being. Love you all. Wishing you a great Wednesday.

Mid-Week Updates :)

All Smiles on Wednesday 

1. Woke up to "Good Life" this morning. Wonderful start to my day.

2. Received a call at 7:30AM with some great news! Interview (Part 2) on Thursday at 3PM!

3. After a rough hour at work today, a patient surprised me with dessert. Spirits lifted!

4. Left work at 5PM today. An early day in my book. No traffic & home 10 minutes later.

5. Happy to be greeted by such an excited pup when I got home. I'm such a mom.

6. So You Think You Can Dance comes on tonight at 8PM. Need I say more? Ps. Go Melanie!

Things I Learned Today...or Were Reminded Of :)

1. Every morning is a fresh start; a new day to grow beyond who we were the day before. 

2. God is my bus driver! If I take the steps to get to that bus stop, He will lead the way!

3. As much as I support them, my patients also support me. Love that about my career!

4. Nelson is such a great companion & keeps me entertained. Audience at the Fountain :)

5. I LOVE "smiley" emoticons.I find them to really convey my happiness in techy-mediums. 

6. Blessed with the most wonderful friends, family and boyfriend a girl could ever ask for.

WEDNESDAY JAMS

Jammed to Phoenix all the way to work this morning. Found it to be the perfect CD to dance to in celebration after receiving that AM phone call (really tempted to insert a smiley emoticon here...withholding). Want some entertainment? Pull up to my car when I am listening to their Wolfgang Amadeus CD. I can't control myself. Thanks to my kid brother, I was able to see them LIVE at Lollapalooza last year (most of you know this, but I am still in awe and have to remind myself of its phenomenal occurrence). I cried happy tears and danced uncontrollably through their entire show. Check them out if you've yet to experience them! Personal fave...1901!

Love you friends & Happy Hump Day!!

Paloma

The Weekend of Spoleto

Week's Recap

1. Great run on Tuesday afternoon...which was followed by dessert before dinner. Classic.

2. Made my first static progressive splint on Friday. No pattern & engineered a pulley :)

3. Had my first job interview this week. Great experience! Peer interview next week.

4. Trombone Shorty (!!) tonight at the Cistern Yard & Circa tomorrow at 2pm for Spoleto.

5. One week closer to being done! 22 days until Hilton Head & 36 days until Graduation!   

BIG Thanks

1. To all of my friends who prayed for me this week. Your support was felt miles away!

2. To Andres for making me laugh & conducting a mock interview w/ dinner last night. XO.

3. To my mom for her continuous support. Such a stellar lady! You inspire me.

Empowering Music

Nose job or not (who cares anyways...!), Beyonce is an inspiration to women world wide. Being a fan of hers since Destiny's Child, I have thoroughly enjoyed watching her develop as an artist and woman. Her music is edgy, innovative and more than anything, empowering. I love her new song, "Run The World (Girls)". I would expect nothing less from an artist such as her. It's eerie and risky. It's sexily swanky and makes me feel like I can accomplish anything I put my mind to. Ugh. Divaaaaaa! :)

   

Prayer Requests For...

1. Dre & our other friends who are taking the Step One board exam next week.

2. Strength and composure as I proceed to my Peer Interview next week. 

3. Emily & Marshall who get married next Saturday, June 18th! I love LOVE!

4. Marco as he prepares to release his first solo EP and share his music video :)

5. Those experiencing Bonnaroo. It's going to be a hot one this year.
6. Those awaiting surgery in the next few weeks: patients and family members. 

Quotes To Note

"In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps." 

 Proverbs 16:9

"Whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all."

 Galatians 6:10 

A Lulu Marie Summer

A Tuesday for a Monday...Don't Mind If I Do!
1. Eventful weekend with the girls.  High heels & educational dinners.
2. The start of a Lulu Marie Summer. A sea-foam "Popsicle" cruiser from Dre & Adge :)
3. Beach-driven days, J.LO featured playlists, and Blonde Bombshells in hand. 
4. Local adventures, lemonade for a $1.00 and carefree naps with Nelson. 
5. Open hearts, steps forward and lessons learned. Growing in love, faith & happiness.

Surprise/Early Graduation Gift from Andres & Adriana

To-Do's That Have Been Done in My Little, Wonderful Life
1. 3 weeks worth of laundry has been washed/dried/returned to its rightful place.
2. Survived my first bike ride downtown (in line with traffic!) by myself this afternoon. 


Prayer Requests
1. Those who have nothing nice to say. Being mean is not hip.
2. For continual growth & patience during the process of searching for a job. 
3. Open eyes & ears for help to listen & respond when I am being called. 


Tuesday Night Jams (a repeat this month)
1. KOL's New Album. Extremely therapeutic after a long weekend.  

My Monday

Lovely weekend & solid Monday :)
1. Went off-roading through an apartment complex Friday evening. Brief, yet exhilarating.
2. Made my first Farmer's Market purchase Saturday morning. A knotted bracelet & a pickle.
3. Purchased Spoleto tickets with Andres! Trombone Shorty & Circa the 2nd week of June!
4. Came across a plank of wood on our run Sunday morning! For our next project :)
5. Read Water for Elephants at WaterFront Park all Sunday afternoon. Loved the sun. 
6. Painted an "ode" to Jimmy Buffett last night. A Parrothead life is the way to go. 
7. Was approved for medical insurance today! Great, great news. Ollooo (MegaMind) Aetna!
8. Had a 1/2 day at work today! What's not to love about that. 6 more weeks to go!
9. Delicious shrimp pasta dinner tonight! 3 cheers for honey mustard and italian dressing.
10. Spotted a perfect window pane on Rose Lane today. For our next, next project :)


To-Do's That Have Been Done in My Little, Wonderful Life
1. Letters stuffed & stamped. Sending out 4 out with my resume tomorrow! J.O.B please!


Prayer Requests
1. Those in Missouri for relief, rest and shelter. 
2. My younger brother & his budding music career. 
3. Emily & Marshall as their wedding day approaches :)
4. Those studying for Step One in June. 
5. My classmates as we begin the job search. 


Monday Jams: Pitbull Craze
1. Pitbull & NeYo: Give Me Everything
2. Jennifer Lopez & Pitbull: On The Floor

Love you studs!! Have a great night. Check back for updates regarding my art projects! Can't wait to share :) XOXO.

The Immortals

With hopes that there is at least one faithful follower out there, I am back and deeply apologetic for my 24 day-hiatus. I have no excuse for my absence, no adventures on the other side of the world to speak of or a Picasso-inspired painting to display. 

What I would like to share with you is that I am one day closer to graduation (July 16th!) and find myself in a mad-pursuit to land a job here in Charleston (prayers deeply appreciated). I am still madly in love one year later and still break out in a sweat any time someone mentions his name. I am still enjoying my downtown apartment, though I curse the occasional “Palmetto Bug” that insists that he lives here too. I recently made a trip to Nashville to visit my girlfriends and find it comforting that some things never change. I still aspire to run everyday but find my comfy chair & Ellen DeGeneres more appealing after getting home from an 8 to 5 workday. I still snooze my alarm clock 3 times (maybe more depending on the weekday) before crawling out of bed but still manage to get to work with 2 minutes to spare. And lastly, I am still trying to perfect the art known as "cooking," but have developed a new love for whole grain spiral mac & cheese...by Velveeta. So, in a nut shell, my life is ever so blessed and I am most happy with my current situation. 

With this blog, I still intend to share music with you as it enters my life. I have had wonderful music experiences since my last posting, specifically with The Movement at Patriot's Point in Charleston. Wish you could have been present. However, it was not their show that instigated tonight's post. 

I was driving home from work today and found myself talking in circles. Not literally talking to myself, but most definitely in a cloud of thoughts that refused to give way no matter how hard I tried...that is until "The Immortals" started playing. I was not a fan of the new Kings of Leon CD when it first released, but their album has grown on me and their sound has not changed. For once, I will not share too much of my opinion with you regarding a song, but I do encourage you to take the time to listen to the lyrics and see how it might apply to your life at this point in time. 

This song personally lifted my spirits and saved me from crushing those I love most. Consider it a swift slap, a kind reminder, a best friend telling you to hang in there, to never settle, to live, to love and most importantly laugh at yourself...to find out who you are and who you want to be, to realize that there is more to life than you may allow yourself to see, and to never lose sight of your hopes & dreams. 

Give "The Immortals" a listen tonight. Know that I miss our careless ways and the times we took for granted when we lived together in the same space. Time to step into the light. Good night, my friends. Remember to always "Jump into the waters even when they're raging..."

40 Days of Blessings

Lovely time in Miami this weekend. Was able to see my dad and younger brother and just relax. AND I was able to dive into some chocolate come Sunday morning, which was much needed after 40 days of "abstinence" :) I was nowhere near a computer during my travels, so here is the last of 40 Days of Blessings.


40 Days of Blessings


Day 39 (Saturday): Family & Roots of a Rebellion

• A soulful reggae band from a city that is renowned for country music? Believe it. From Nashville, TN comes a band known as "Roots of a Rebellion" or also known as "ROAR." Their sound is comprised of honest & humble lyrics accompanied by wicked vibes. Feel-good music sets the pace for this band as they begin their Louisiana/Texas Tour in the upcoming months. Give them a listen. You'll find them easily contagious.  Personal favorite: "The Giving Tree" and "Charleston" 

Day 40 (Sunday): Chocolate & Matisyahu

• Came home to a surprise Easter Egg Hunt in my apartment: 19 eggs to find in 5 minutes. I was the happiest 24 year old ever as the majority of the eggs were filled with 3 Musketeers...my favorite :) Closed the night watching movies late into the evening & spending time with "that someone special"...Great end to a relaxing weekend with the family. It was great to catch up with my kid brother & pick his brain for new music. Nothing too new was revealed, but some true gems resurfaced during our little vacation in Doral: O.A.R, Phoenix, SOJA and Matisyahu. A fresh take on beat-boxing, Matisyahu will set you straight and ignite your soul. Check out "King Without a Crown" in the video below. Hmmmm! 

• Love you all. Hope you had a wonderful Easter weekend and were able to spend time with family and friends. Miss you dearly and sending you my love. Take care.

40 Days of Blessings

Friday. Good Friday, that is :) It has been a busy week at Carolina Hand Therapy, but things are starting to look up. Working with hands is completely different from inpatient. It is a greater challenge than I could have imagined, but the therapists that work there are on top of their game and are wonderful educators. 


I have seen traumatic injuries, amputations, tendon ruptures, hypersensitivity following carpal tunnel release, wrist fractures, guyon's canal, joint contractures, cubital tunnel, lateral epicondylitis, elbow contractures and wrist drop. My primary CI was out this week vacationing in the Keys, so "the boss" of Carolina Hand Therapy was my supervisor in her place. I was intimidated at first, her being the owner of CHT and all, but what a great person and hand therapist! I have learned so much from her this week and really look forward with working with her in the future. That said, this week was again, busy, but a great learning experience! Now that my work day is done, it's off to Miami for the Easter weekend!


I will be spending the weekend with my dad, brother, Tatiana, Karina and Sebi in Miami. Beach tomorrow and Easter Egg Hunt on Sunday :) Looking forward to some sun,  some relaxation AND of course, celebrating Jesus and His resurrection! I will be celebrating with some much needed chocolate and attending church with my family. Just have to board that plane first...


I will be leaving later this evening and couldn't be happier to get away from the rain that has bombarded Charleston the last few days. We got hail yesterday afternoon, which I was not prepared for. It was a slight disaster, especially since I had to dig out my keys from it's hiding spot before I could even frantically run to the apartment door to take refuge from microchip ice balls. Truly don't mind trading in some hail for some sand between my toes :) But, in jamming out to Pandora, I would like to give you a "Rainy Day" Playlist for those of you who might be in the same bad-weather boat. Miss you all...as always. Check out 40 Days of Blessings right below! Happy Easter Weekend! 


Rainy Day Playlist

• A Fine Frenzy: Near to You
• Jack Johnson: Cupid
• Colbie Caillat: Midnight Bottle
• Parachute: She is Love
• Jack Johnson: Angel/Better Together LIVE
• Anna Nalick: Breathe
• John Mayer: Perfectly Lonely

40 Days of Blessings

• Day 35 (Tuesday) My New Glasses...darn pink eye symptoms!
• Day 36 (Wednesday) Teachers...absolutely love learning about hands!
• Day 37 (Thursday) Dog Walker...rescued me after I locked myself out of the apt!
• Day 38 (Friday) Cold Milk...thank goodness my fridge is working again!

Can't wait to share my first Miami experience with you next week :) I'm sure I will be typing away leaving chocolate smudges all over my keys...Ahhh! Hugs & Kisses, my friends.

40 Days of Blessings

Wonderful weekend "Wastin' Away Again In Margaritaville" :) Indescribable fun with a rowdy group of parrotheads down in Tampa, Florida. Went into work today and no lie, the first song that came on our facility's radio was "Cheeseburger in Paradise." Honeeeeey!!

Such a great "mini-vacation" to take right at the beginning for fieldwork #2 :) Wish you all could have been there. Met some awesome people on the trip and ended the night walking hand-in-hand with my honey humming "Brown Eyed Girl." 

Since I was not near a computer to blog my blessings this weekend, I will do so now to maintain speed as Easter approaches :) For Day 32, Friday: praise God for Alma Maters!! Got the chance to see Dre's old stomping grounds and finally visit Stetson. Did a walk-through the frat house, bar hopped to his favorite places and closed the night sharing taquitos and corndogs during a walk back home. Loved meeting all his friends and getting a feel for his college days :)

For Day 33, Saturday: Jimmy Buffett and um...JIMMY BUFFETT! What a groovy "old timer" this man is and forever will be! Just spreading good vibes and living the life. Spent the day being a wild parrot and a loyal pledge. For Day 34, Monday: Laughter...or should I say "Reir." As I expected, I was a tad tired come Monday morning; however, my spanish-speaking patients really got me through the day and kept me laughing. Laughter can cure any slump :) Thanks to them for keeping me going!

40 Days of Blessings

Happy Thursday. Hope everyone is doing well and looking forward to the weekend. I will be headed down to Tampa, Florida this weekend for the Jimmy Buffett concert, so I am most definitely looking forward to the next few days and sharing my first JB experience with all of you :)


In honor of my upcoming trip to Margaritaville, here is a little JB-inspired playlist for you all to kick back and enjoy! Miss you all! Little blessings this week listed below :)

• Margaritaville: Jimmy Buffett
• Three Little Birds: Bob Marley
• Kokomo: The Beach Boys

The Little Blessings
Day 30: Strawberry Cream Cheese
Such a great comfort food for breakfast! Spread it on Oatmeal bread accompanied by a glass of milk! Perfect breakfast to start my morning off right!


Day 31: Love, love, love!!
This blessing has surfaced various times during the Lenten season, but my goodness! You can't live without it and it has been most present in my life the past few days :) Blessed with love all around! So thankful!

40 Days of Blessings

Day 29: Technology & Friends...Swing Life Away to Blue Skies!


Busy, busy evening, so I will keep this short :) Totally forgot to apply for financial aid this "academic year" until I received an email informing me oh-so-kindly that my MUSC financial aid account went inactive. Not the happiest of news, but at least I was "informed." No worries. Made a few calls and found out what to do and crossed that headache off my list so I could enjoy the late evening with my pup and Trombley book...Yes, cranking out some work on my first day back. Not the worst thing, but this last rotation seems like it will be packed with assignments, and while on the topic of fieldwork, thank goodness for friends!! I would have been super late to work if it weren't for Ankur Patel (i.e. "Papa")!! Definitely got lost on my way to work this morning. And Lindsay Rowland! Honey! Without your financial knowledge, I'd only be getting $5 for living expenses. Thanks to these two, I survived my first day at Carolina Hand Therapy and managed to complete my FAFSA and loan application for my LAST SEMESTER OF GRADUATE SCHOOL :) Many thanks!!

Couldn't choose between these two songs tonight...somewhat morose/"emo", but still solid tunes on various levels. Enjoy and Happy Monday, my friends! "Swing Life Away" from Rise Against and "Blue Skies" from Noah & The Whale. 

40 Days of Blessings

Day 28: Charleston & "Many The Miles"
What a great day in Charleston! Had a refreshing lunch at Saffron with my friends, Katie and Christie, then spent the afternoon in Water Front Park laying out catching up. Spent the evening having dinner at Fleet Landing with Andres, followed by drinks at Pearlz and Squeeze to watch the Masters. Later met friends at Brick for darts and good times :) 

If you haven't been to Squeeze, give it a shot. I always overlooked it due to its size and location, but it's unique and worth a visit. Grrrrreat play-list too! The bar was filled with music from Jack Johnson and Sara Bareilles. Delicious picks :)




Day 27: Mac&Cheese and "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa"
Had Mac & Cheese around 9AM this morning for breakfast. It was delightful and much needed. Definitely the best comfort food. Listened to Vampire Weekend until I spooned the last bit of cheesy-goodness into my mouth :) Went straight back to bed after breakfast and didn't wake up until 1 or so. Such a lazy day, but I wouldn't change a thing. 

I've been singing only one line from this song all day. Here is "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa" from Vampire Weekend. One more day of vacation...miss you as always!

40 Days of Blessings

Day 25: The Act of Listening & Joshua Radin
I wish you all could feel my heart in writing this blog post this evening. I am filled with love and understanding and find myself extremely grateful for where I find myself in my life at this specific moment. I am not perfect by any means, but it is nice to see that I have come to develop an increase in listening skills since my college days. I have not always been a "good listener." Actually, I found it infrequent, on my behalf, when it came to listening to that "significant someone" whether we were talking about the weather or discussing the roots of an unforeseen quarrel. I hate to admit that, but it is true. However, good news stands this evening; I am a changed woman, my friends :)


Maturity is natural, but I feel that such maturation is dependent on meeting someone who makes you want to change for the better. You find yourself wanting to listen, to learn, to grow with that person. You want to hear their concerns, their fears and their dreams, and you want to do anything in the world to erase their troubles that they may come across in life. In discovering these exact emotions in another, I have unveiled this desire to listen, to hear another's voice other than my own. This in no way has been a Cinderella-transformation, but I have been enjoying its progression in my relationship. We talk to one another and listen in return. AND I mean we actually listen to each other. There is no walking away in anger with mornings of regret or days without contact. We actively love, listen and learn. I am who I am, because of learning to listen and learning to love. My ears have perked up and I couldn't be happier :)


With this post, I am not blaming my past relationships for my erratic outbursts, as if they were not worth listening to or as if I did not care for them; however, I was not ready to completely give myself in this way to someone else in that point in time. I was immature, young and careless with my words; my college-self would disagree with this statement, but in looking back, it is undoubtedly true. With that, I still have a lot of listening to do and learning to go with it. I imagine there will be times that I will want to hear my voice over that someone else's a time or two, but "make love not war," people. I am most ready to listen and keep on listening. 

"I'd Rather Be With You" is tonight's song-pick for this evening. I hope you enjoy it. I find Mr. Radin's voice so creamy. Makes for a lovely dessert after a long day of "big girl" decisions and such :)




Day 26: Naps & Sara Haze
Only a few more days of "vacation" before starting my second level II at Carolina Hand Therapy. Spent the day with Nelson in the park and taking some much needed personal time to walk/run throughout Downtown Charleston. I was out for an hour and covered East Bay, Waterfront Park, Rainbow Row and The Battery. The weather was remarkable; the day was sun-kissed and cooled with a light breeze. It gave me some time to think about the decisions I made yesterday in declining my first job offer. No regrets and positive thoughts for a bright future :) I came back home to snuggle with Nelson in my quaint apartment and passed out for an hour. Woke up refreshed and thankful for the rest. 


Closed the evening making apple & bell-pepper salad with pasta. Called my family in Puerto Rico to see how my grandmother was doing and now, you find me here, writing to you fine people :)


I heard the next song while I was in my apartment this evening. I love how this song strikes a personal meaning with me. Truly an empowering song. Gives me hope for the future. 

Tomorrow is Friday, loves. Hope you have had a wonderful week and that good weather graces your spirit this weekend. Take care.