What I Learned in 2016

Hey everyone!

Hope you all had a happy holiday and are enjoying the week leading up to the end of the year. I’ve been thinking a lot about this year and how its changed me, some things for the better and some for the worse. One thing I know for sure is that I learned a lot this year and I wouldn’t change anything about that. Here are some of the things I learned in 2016.

1. I’m a lot stronger than I ever thought I was. This year definitely tested me in many ways, with school and the breakup and starting a new job I was pushed to my limits and I was able to come out of every situation pretty well in my opinion. I’m stronger than I think and this year proved it to me.
2. I’m smarter than I give myself credit for. Never in my life did I think that I was going to graduate nursing school. Never in my life did I think I was going to pass the NCLEX on the first try, let alone in 75 questions. I proved to myself this year that I can do anything I give my all and that I’m going to someway, somehow come out on top.
3. Heartbreak SUCKS but love is amazing. I’m lucky enough to have known what it’s like to be loved. I’m also unlucky enough to have lost that love. This year showed me how much love and loss has changed my life. I’m a better person for it (at least I hope) but it was a bumpy road getting here.
4. Being a nurse isn’t like what it is on TV. It’s stressful, overwhelming, tiring, nerve wracking, but so so so rewarding when things go right. Nothing ever is going to go right but I learned (and I’m still learning) how to use my skills to make sure that those things that are starting to go wrong turn around for the better. It’s not all rainbows and butterflies like you see on TV and in the movies.
5. Sometimes being alone isn’t all that bad. It’s nice having your own space sometimes. Don’t get me wrong being around people is great but when you really need that quiet time don’t steer away from it, embrace it.
6. Your friends and family will always be your backbone. Keep your friends and family close, you never know when you’re really going to need them to keep you stable. When my life felt like everything was crumbling it was my best friends and family who picked up the pieces and helped me stay strong. I wouldn’t trade them for the world.

So there you have it, some of the many things that I learned in 2016. Fingers crossed that 2017 has a lot in store for me and that it’ll be my best year yet. I’m going to stay strong, keep my head held high, and hopefully ring in the new year with a special someone (here’s hoping!).

How I Use My Planner

As a young adult trying to figure out the world and paying her own bills and just trying to make it through each day, it’s completely understandable that sometimes disorganization and confusion occurs. Did I pay my phone bill this month? What were my plans supposed to be on this day? What time am I working? Trust me, it doesn’t get easier once you’re done with the homework and class schedules that college offers you which is why I’m here show you how I manage my planner and keep on track!

I don’t have anything fancy when it comes to planners. I use the Five Star 2016-2017 planner that I got at Target for around $15 bucks if that. I know there’s plenty of other options that are prettier and have all these other features but for someone who just graduated college and is on a budget those planners weren’t an option for me. I’m still able to decorate with washi (if I remember and have the desire) and the planner serves the same exact purpose as the other ones. Which ever planner you use just make sure it fits all your needs. If you have a family you’re keeping track of, you might want to spend a little more to keep everyone’s separate schedules under control. For me, I’m only worrying about myself with this planner so it’s the perfect size and has all the right features.

Let me start with the monthly spread. This is typically what it looks like for me. At the end of the previous month or the very beginning of the month I’ll go and write in all the due dates for my bills and highlight them in yellow (because I hate the color yellow and I hate paying bills..logic!) As I go through and pay the bills I make little check marks next to the bill when it’s paid off completely for the month. This lets me know exactly what I have left to pay for the month at a quick glance. Next I write in all my important work related things and highlight them in pink (just so they stand out). Things I highlight for work include when the scheduling block opens and closes, when my new grad residency program is, and payday. This helps me jog my memory for big things that will help make my job slightly easier. I write in my work schedule, appointments, and plans in whatever color ink I happen to be using. The dots you see towards the end of the month are tracking my period (because what girl doesn’t want to keep track of that?!) and the “xx” you see on some days are when I hung out with Pat (if you know what I mean…) because like with my period I like to know when these things happen. The sticky note at the top for my FedLoan payment is on every month because I make phone payments for that so I want to be able to keep track of how much I pay and when to stay on top of it. That’s it for the month. I’ve thought about color coding my work schedule, appointments, and plans but honestly things change so frequently that it’s just easier for me to keep it all in regular color ink.

Next is the weekly spread which is typically where I choose to have a little more fun with the decorating when I have the desire. I’ll put alternating washi across each day and a different color washi going down the middle on each side. I typically plan my week the Sunday before so I’m really making my weekly plan before I know 100% what’s going on for each day. On the bigger side of my split days I’ll make my daily to do list. This list includes everything that I think I’m going to get done for that day (doesn’t always happen). As I go through the day during the week I’ll put “x” when I complete something and “-” if it didn’t happen. I don’t tend to beat myself up if something doesn’t happen, I’ll just try and find another day during the week where I can fit it in. On the smaller side of the split page is where I put my work schedule and different appointments. I like to put these on post it flags so that they stand out more because they are a bigger deal than something like putting away my clothes. I also put in this space blog post ideas I want to do for that day so that I can kind of have a game plan (not to say it always works out that way…). I also include the TV shows that I watch and what days they’re available to watch on either Hulu or another app (we don’t have cable so I’m always at least a day behind on my shows). If I have big anticipated plans I’ll put them on a strip of washi to have them stand out (like on Saturday when I put hang out with Pat and Megan). I also tend to add stuff in if something big happens during the week (like on Sunday with wake up at Pat’s). It helps me remember some of the stuff that I’ve done and how it made me feel I guess.

That’s really it on how I keep myself organized and on top of things in my life. Remember that what works for me might not work for you at all. I know some people put everything in their phones and that’s great but I’m someone that needs to write it down for it to stick with me. I carry my planner around pretty much everywhere and I really do try to stick to my daily to do list.

Let me know how you keep yourself organized or any tips you think might work for me with my planner!

Why Hello There

Hey everyone!

It’s been a hot minute since I’ve written a blog post and I’m sorry about that. I kind of hit a funk and wasn’t really feeling all that creative in the writing department. But fear not, I’m back and more than ready to write more frequently. I figured I’d start with a quick recap so you guys know where I’ve been for the past month(ish).

I’m going to start with the topic that’s been on my mind most lately…guys! Remember that guy from my past that I said we hadn’t done anything but I wanted to see where things went? Well we finally hung out and it was great but after all was said and done I had a feeling that we were better off as friends for right now. He’s a great guy but we’ve both got crazy busy lives and trying to figure anything out didn’t seem really possible right now. I don’t have to wonder about what if anymore though. We still talk everyday and nothing has changed which I’m super thankful for. I haven’t been down and out in the guy department since this happened though. I’ve started talking to yet another guy from my past, only this one I didn’t see coming. We worked together when we were in high school and we were good friends but we went our separate ways once college started. I found him on Tinder (go figure) and we started talking. Next thing I knew we were going out for drinks and then hanging out with his friends and then…you get the picture. We’ve hung out a few times and I think I’m starting to like him more than I want to admit to myself (and I’ll never tell him haha). He makes me super happy when I didn’t think I’d be happy again. We’ll see where it goes and I’ll keep you posted.

Next on the agenda..dental work?! I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned it but I had a tooth pulled a few years ago because it was loose and I didn’t have an adult tooth under it (I’m missing 8 teeth total..this one just happened to be smack dab in the middle). I can finally afford to get the implant I’ve been wanting since the tooth came out but bad new struck when the dentist told me that I would need braces to move the roots so that he could fit the implant. Now you’re probably thinking, Brittney..you’re 24 why in the hell are you going to get braces??? That was my thought process too. I’m sitting here today with a mouth full of metal and I’m not 100% sure how to handle it. I know it’s for the best but at the same time I went through the braces process before and I never wanted to do it again. Hopefully the next 14-18 months goes by quickly and I can be done with them for good.

Work is work, there isn’t really much to update on here. It stresses me out some days, other days I leave feeling like I did so much for so many people. In January it’ll be 6 months since I started so I think I’ll do a full post dedicated to the things I’ve learned since becoming a nurse.

Final thing I want to talk about (since I know he doesn’t read or even know about my blog) is Tyler. I’ve been preaching to you guys since the beginning that I want to stay friends with him and he’s always going to be a part of my life, which he still is. Things have hit (in my opinion) a bumpy patch with that however. I went through my sad stage right from the beginning of the breakup and I do still get sad. He’s finally just hitting that part and even told me that he feels like he made the biggest mistake in letting me go. We’ve had a few conversations about this and it always gets me thinking..why couldn’t he have said something earlier or why didn’t he try harder in our relationship if this is something that he didn’t actually want? I hate to say it but I don’t regret our break up right now, I think it was honestly for the best based on where we were in life and our relationship. Sure it hurts like hell most days but I’m finally in a place where I can say I’m happy. I still want to be friends with him but I don’t want him thinking that he can just come and go out of my life like nothing is wrong with that. I’ll keep you updated on this too.

So there you have it. I promise to write more frequently again. Let me know what you guys want to read about!