my medical nightstand.

let's talk about books that have impacted the way i want to practice nursing.

now, i'm not a huge reader. i've always been slow and my reading comprehension is a work in progress, but get me going on a medical, human connection, nursing kinda book and its off to the horse races. the books that i have listed below have shaped the way in which i have and plan on praticing nursing throughout my career.

becoming dr. q

critical care

the anatomy of hope

phantoms in the brain

the spirit catches you and you fall down

gifted hands

if you want to join me on my next medicalish book adventure, pick up a copy of
my own country by abraham verghese (the author of 'cutting for stone'- another one ofr my faves).

happy reading friends!

wednesdays mindset.

(via)

"A beautiful day begins with a beautiful mindset. When you wake up, take a second to think about what a privilege it is to simply be alive and healthy. The moment you start acting like life is a blessing, 

I assure you it will start to feel like one."

everygirl.

the everygirl blog has remained a staple in my blogroll reads.

everything from cooking to travel to politics to careers.

it's a realistic and informative site with a fun amount of bloggy flair.

i love this most recent post on shopping and eating healthy.

if you are like me and cooking is for one or two people, you know how hard it is to pick up groceries frugally, yet super fresh and always a bummer when you have to toss something or you have to make a trip back early. this little article and recipes were a great snapshot of practicality and wholesome goodness.

(full article here)

anyone still holding on tight to their new years resolutions for healthy eating or working out?

my juicer is still getting is go around about once a week at least and my yoga regiment is steadily improving. not to say that i haven't had my bouts with pizza, nachos and all day lounging... but still. 

happy healthy eating loveys!

centered.

i'll be honest, as much as i have tried to embrace this in-between time while i wait for a job to come around and after all of the constant stimulation of twenty-something straight years of school culminating in the craziness of masters projects, i am quite far from relaxed. 

while i am firm in my desire to pursue the best possible position for me, i remain restless in the everyday.

if it weren't for my little friend yoga, i don't think i would be sane.

(via)

the past few months have given me the blessing of time.

time in which i have used to explore several different types of yoga and made it a conscious practice to set aside time to practice mindfulness in the midst of my always-thinking-little-mind. 

my inner contentment has never been more centered than in the little hours of the day on my mat. 

and to that i say,

om.

so long from the usa.

my favorite 18 days of every other year have come to a close.

so long olympics.

you rocked it usa.

can't wait for 2016- rio baby!

milling around.

a somewhat spontaneous little friday morning trip lead the roomie and i over to mill valley, 20 miles north of sf for a little cafe breakfast, latte ('for here'- such a guilty pleasure) and a trip up dipsea steps to the look out over mill valley.

shocked and amazed at how beautiful and quaint the redwood covered hills are just minutes away from my favorite bustling city.

 along the redwoods paths and along the creek.

so incredibly beautiful.

dipsea steps... sore calves.

yea, i'll take that house.

what a view to accompany your daily cup of jo.

hope you are able to get out and enjoy the sunny skies this weekend!

treasure hunting.

a few weeks back we had a little family girl outing (aunts, mom and me)

to the alameda flea market.

holy cow, that place if full of treasure.

talk about having a hay-day decorating a room or home,

finding a special antique something,

or gathering up a ton of beautiful linens or kitchen goodies for crafts and gifts.

it was a little out of control huge.

26-rows of stands with food trucks and small garden pop-up shops 

down the sides of the market.

i highly suggests hitting up this the first sunday of every month.

we may just run into each other...

over it.

wanna know something?

feeling over this whole blog thing.

gonna try a push thru for you folks out there.

that's love. 

so to start... happy valentines day!

spent the morning sipping coffee and enjoying delicious food at my favorite cafe

and finishing the day with a night-in for a cooking and movie date.

homemade pizzas and fancy drinks on the sofa with the one and only, B.

we go big.

mondays.

my affinity for after-hours taco bell may have just been halted.

homemade vegetarian crunch wrap supremes.

woah-is-me.

if a bite of this doesn't get you thru the week, i don't know what will.

(via)

can you say game night din-din with margs?!

happy monday!

more.

a great piece.

please go great it.

NY Times Article- How long have I got left?

"i am writing more, seeing more, feeling more."

happy friday my friends.

many things to be grateful for on this bright, sunny day in the bay.

city by the bay.

forever and always,

san francisco you will be my city.

the space between.

school and job.

You’ll be fine. You’re 25. Feeling unsure and lost is part of your path. Don’t avoid it. See what those feelings are showing you and use it. Take a breath. You’ll be okay. Even if you don’t feel okay all the time.

...Louis CK...

decking the halls.

first things first, i love christmas with all of my heart.

it is without a doubt the most wonderful time of year for me.

nothing makes be happier than the smell of pine, bing crosby, christmas trees, hot cocoa, fireplace snuggles and millions of family get-together. 

this week, to ring in christmas time in the city, mewy and i went and picked out our very first tree at our neighborhood tree lot. city christmas is way too perfect.she's the cutest little tree ever and our festive apartment makes the anticipation of christmas day even more real. we are giddy with holiday cheer here at 104 filbert. 

happy first week of december loves.

i hope all is merry and bright in your sweet homes.

have a great weekend!

disability.

disability(n): a concept that i am fascinated with;

a driving force instilling passion in my nursing work;
the reason for individualism. 

aren't we all disabled in someway or another?

too good not to share.

be thankful for yourself and your body my friends.

in all forms and in all ways, we are pretty darn incredible.

humanity.

there is something incredibly humanizing about my past year.

i think that i have come a lot closer to understanding humanity and life and meaning.

my time in nursing clinical at a particularly incredible hospital and unit, has brought a whole new meaning to the word 'purpose.'

opportunity, is an understatement.

(via)

i think it is particularly pertinent during this time.

thanksgiving and the festive holiday season.

do you have a home?

someone to put as your emergency contact?

a mailing address?

income?

clothes?

family and friends?

belongings to call your own?
shoes?

my sweet, sweet patients may not have any of the above but they have an incredible amount of humanity.

poor in possession, rich in life.

a true lesson on daily gratitude. i am so very thankful for the life lessons that my patients have taught me in the most subtle of ways. never take a day for granted.  

giving thanks.

your cup of jo monday moment.

(via)

Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer.

And let faith be the bridge you build to overcome evil and welcome good.

Maya Angelou

that one time.

hey remember that one time when i went on a multi-month hiatus from blogging?

oh wait, that's every few months.

sorry friends.

it has been a little crazy over here. 

school is busy, busy, busy with projects on papers on meetings but none-the-less, finally feeling like i am making a difference in the healthcare system and the sfgh patient's lives. 

a great but often overwhelming feeling.

thanksgiving, masters exam, graduation, b's graduation, holiday parties, christmas, all things job related, and much more coming up in the next bit. lots of fabulous things to look forward too.

can't wait to have you along for the ride!

(via)

so that's whats up around these parts.

no promises, but i hope that i can be a little better over my favorite season of them all. 

too many fun things to celebrate over the coming holiday season.

oh and in my time away, i became an RN- wahoo!

landmark.

sometimes i forget how crazy it is that i live less than a mile away from this beauty.

and i see it everyday.

(via)

sf, i will never be over you.

(check this out, sf lovers.)

summers' last hoorah.

hope you hone in on this last little bit of summer on the long weekend.

i am headed home to celebrate my parents 30th anniversary with an outdoor fresh-picked brunch.

no better way to celebrate, then around a table.

a few summer bash party menu ideas.

roasted corn caesar salad. 

grilled shrimp tacos.

blood orange sangria.

outdoor grilled pizza party.

buttermilk waffles.

mimosa bar.

cheers to watermelon, nights on the porch, and crisp finger foods with friends!

suffering your kinder.

so happy to be back in the sweet and crazy san francisco general hospital for my final masters rotation.

oh how i have missed the special patients of sfgh.

here's to a busy, challenging, and inspirational semester back in the 4B unit.

love this place.