coffee-table books.

there are many things that i enjoy that could be considered quite weird for a 23-year-old.

one of those things is great, photographic books.

i like to call them 'coffee-table books'.

you know those ones that have some wording but mostly incredibly pictures with extra large stiff paper, simple design, and hard covers. they usually have to do with food, lifestyle, travel, art, or a very specific random thing that you didn't even know they made books about.

yea, i'm a sucker for those.

i have a secret stash at my home.

an old medical atlas, some super fancy cookbooks, and a few travel ones from places i've visited.

(23 going on 83)

none-the-less, i can't wait to have my own real coffee-table and reading room one day that i can display them out and shuffle through them from time to time.

here are a few that i am loving recently.

(they can all be found at chronicle books- one of the best bookstores in san francisco)

a particular mention to that top-left hand-side book called 'the power of the invisible sun',

i saw it in the store the other day and being the child-lover that i am, i fell in love.

watch the book trailer here.

can you say 'dear santa, i have been very good this year...'

happy coffee-table booking!

p.s. while i love these four, there is an extra special 'coffee-table book' on my christmas list. oh the suspense (stay tuned this week for a sneak peek)!

on the agenda.

hallelujah, it's friday y'all!

and i'm headed southbound as of 2 o'clock today to see a bunch of the loved ones in my life.

the family, the boy, the girlfriends, and my sweet slo.

looking forward to...

relaxing by the fireplace and drinking coffee.

eating home-cooked meals.

snuggling and dates with the boy.

drinks and dinner party with the girls.

visiting a few of my most missed slo spots.

picking veggies in the garden and making goodies from them.

catching up with everyone.

going to be a great getaway from the city.

hello slo!

see you on the flip side, sf!

upon reflection.

on monday, i finished my last clinical day on the floor of the 4B unit at san francisco general hospital. this semester, i have been completing my medical surgical clinical units in the 'progressive care and traumatic brain injury unit' working as a student nurse. this is a 30-bed critical care unit serving the san francisco uninsured population with an acuity level ranking between intensive care and step-down. to many, the 4B unit would be considered an intensive care unit, yet the population demands and resources provided at this hospital cause the unit to be labeled progressive care. patients coming to this unit arrive in the emergency department and intensive care unit before being admitted to 4B with approximately half of the beds being filled with traumatic brain injuries and half filling with acute medical conditions.

the patients that i cared for in this unit come with a variety of diagnoses including: 

congestive heart failure, respiratory failure, alcohol withdrawal, poly-substance abuse, end stage renal and liver disease, hepatitis c, end stage aids, meningiomeningitis, internal abdominal bleeding, lung and bone cancer, gun shots and stab wounds, pedestrian verses automobile accidents, suicide attempts, and various other medical and trauma concerns. 

some of my favorite skills that i have performed:
IV insertion, blood draws, tracheostomy suctioning,  catheters, nasogastric insertion, physical assessments, and psychosocial care (you grossed out yet?)

the patient population that i worked with came from a variety of backgrounds and lifestyles including:
homeless, drug addicts and alcoholics, undocumented immigrants, gay and straight individuals , cantonese, english, spanish, and russian speaking, those living in single resident occupancies, international travelers, business men and women, and those young and old.

if you can imagine, i learned a lot, grew a lot, and have been touched by many of the individuals that i have been fortunate enough to work with on my days in 4B. many would think that this is an interesting and somewhat undesirable population to care for,  but i can ensure you that there is much to be learned from everyone you meet and an incredible level of human dignity that each person deserves despite their past, present, or potential future.

(readers, meet saw francisco general hospital- an incredible place)

can't wait to see you again next semester, 4B!

opportunity.

"he believes that when you've worked hard, and done well, and walked through that doorway of opportunity, 

you do not slam it shut behind you, 

you reach back, and you give other folks the same chances that helped you succeed."

(michelle obama on her husband)

(via my pinterest)

today i am thankful for my abundant opportunity, good health, life in the usa, and right to vote!

just a personal opinion- but quite frankly, why don't we put all of those millions of campaigning dollars towards medical research to find out more about diseases and cures rather than complaining about each other... 
just throwing it out there.

diy: butternut squash soup

a quick recipe for butternut squash soup that is sure to delight.

this recipe is from my mom and it's delicious.

made it this past weekend to bring to a 'fall themed pot-luck' with nursing girlfriends

it was a hit- mmm yum.

(via pinterest)

ingredients:

1 yellow onion

1 large butternut squash

1 box vegetable broth

1/4 cup olive oil + butter

3 chopped garlic cloves

1teaspoon thyme

(cream, parmesan, and croutons- optional, but great adds)

salt and pepper to taste

directions:

1. microwave the squash for 5-7 minutes

2. peel squash and cut in half

3. microwave squash again for 3-5 minutes or until soft

4. sautee onion, garlic, butter, olive oil, and thyme until onions are clear and slightly browned

5. remove the seeds and cube butternut squash 

6. add squash and vegetable broth to sautéed onions

7. cook on low heat for 40 minutes

8. blend soup or add a dash of cream if desired

9. serve with parmesan and homemade croutons for the best bowl of soup ever

enjoy!

happy autumn!

winter reading.

it's one of my new goals to read books more consistently.

i have a tendency to only read things that are assigned to me

and since i'm in the peak of school,

pleasure reading is few and far between.

here are a few that are on my list for my 6 week (yippee!!!) winter break!

if you have to cry, go outside- kelly cutrone (guilty pleasure)

the language of flowers- vanessa diffenbaugh (so many friends have suggested this one)

the immortal life of henrietta lacks- rebecca skloot (mom and classmate recommendation)

the spirit catches you and you fall down- ann faidman (top seller and professor recommended)

i want to start my personal 'library' just like my moms.
top five of all time?

do you have any suggestions?

please, do tell.

on the agenda.

this weekend's plans...

(via my pinterest)

making butternut squash soup and homemade parmesan croutons.

fall pot-lucking with girlfriends.

bundling up and sleeping in.

painting my nails fun fall colors.

cafe studying and paper writing.

finding and listing holiday crafts and recipes for my breaks.
long bayside walk.

reading my guilty pleasure magazines.

and catching up on laundry, cleaning, and life.

whatcha doing this weekend?

happy weekend to you!

quotable.

i challenge you to find some inspiration

daily,

weekly,

or monthly.

focus on a quote or two that hits home and go from there.

it really helps me.

a few that i'm liking these days.

oh happy day!

enjoy your crisp fall thursday:)

happy november 1st!