My Aha Moment

I'll be honest. I haven't always been the most supportive dental school wife-to-be. I think I can fake it pretty well, but I have had many moments of bitterness and frustration throughout this process. 

Bitter that we have to delay having children. Frustrated with the mounting debt. Bitter that I have to financially support us 100%. Frustrated that Joe has 4 more years of school. Bitter that I had to move across the country and away from my family and friends. Frustrated that I don't know what our immediate and distant future is going to look like. 

Etc.

When these feelings come, I try so hard to suppress them because this is the path we are on and a path I agreed to. I also know that my mood hugely impacts Joe's mood, so it's selfish for me to stew in bitterness and frustration. Once Joe starts school, I can't allow him to catch onto my negativity, as he will need to feel 100% happy and secure at home in order to focus on school the best he can.

I can't control much about our lives in dental school- but I CAN control the environment I create at home. For that reason, I am so grateful for an experience  we had on Saturday. As cheesy as it sounds, it was a real "aha moment" (Oprah would be proud) and one that I know I will look back on over the next four years when the negativity starts creeping in.

Saturday morning we decided it was high time to get my car registered in Pennsylvania. For some reason, this is privatized in PA, and so we couldn't do it at the DMV when we got our drivers' licenses.

***Side Note*** Hey PA - I'd much prefer alcohol sales be privatized than car registrations. Having to go to state run liquor stores for wine/liquor and beer stores for beer (because God forbid beer is sold in the same place as wine and liquor) is a serious pain in the butt ***End of Side Note***

Joe found the place on Yelp, and apparently the guy who owns(?) it is very helpful and friendly. He absolutely was! Just a super pleasant, friendly guy who knew every car registration question you threw at him. Since the process is a bit lengthy, as he was filling out the paperwork he asked what brought us to Philly and what we did in California. Joe explained that he was starting dental school and that in California he worked with people with developmental disabilities before he went back to school.

***Side Note*** For those of you new to the blog or who have memories like mine ;) as his job in college, Joe taught people with developmental disabilities life and vocational skills so they could be as independent as possible. When he moved to California after graduation, he worked as a case worker for people with developmental disabilities, making sure they were receiving the right benefits and connecting them with services. It was actually the realization that it was so difficult for this population to find dental care that motivated him to pursue dentistry (a career path he had considered throughout high school and early college) ***End of Side Note***

As soon as Joe mentioned his work with people with developmental disabilities, the man's face lit up and he told us about his son who is 26 and developmentally disabled. He has always struggled with doctors and dentists, and explained that some medical professionals won't even work with him. Those who ARE willing aren't always equipped with the skills (or patience). The man told Joe how great it was that he would be able to work with this population, and seemed so excited that wherever we wind up parents of developmentally disabled children and adults will have a dentist with Joe's experience.

I can't really do justice to this story, because the power was in the man's tone and expressions (the communications major in me requires me to remind you that up to 90% of all communication is non-verbal). When we got in the car, Joe started driving off and I started bawling.

I was so touched by this man's story and seeing how excited he was with Joe's background and career choice. I explained this to Joe, since he didn't seem phased, and he told me that this is exactly why he went back to school. That he has heard countless parents with the same stories and concerns, most brought to tears because they cannot find adequate dental care for their children. 

This, of course, made me cry harder and I realized I had an "aha moment" while talking with this man.

I always knew that dentistry is important and that what Joe is pursuing will help him make a difference in the world, but it felt very abstract. On Saturday, I was able to put a face to Joe's mission and now I feel so different about it. I am so proud of him, inspired by him, and want to do whatever I can to help him succeed.

I know that in the tough times that will undoubtedly come over the next several years, my mind will flash back to last Saturday and I will use it as fuel.

How blessed I feel to have had that experience :)

Back in Philly

Our quick trip to Atlantic City is over. Sad to come back to reality, but happy to be back with Buster :) Who, by the way, is sleeping on the bed between us and snoring. Loud. It's adorable.

Atlantic City was really fun. As planned, we went to our free buffet at 5 pm on Monday. While in line, Joe realized we only got one free buffet each instead of two like we originally thought, so that just motivated me to stuff my face even more.

Also, as planned, I had an atrocious stomach ache the rest of the night. So much for a romantic getaway haha. Instead, we watched Sister Act (which I've never seen) and went to sleep.

The next day, we headed down to the pool in the morning. I was ready to kick back and read a bit:

It was a good thing we picked the hotel with the indoor pool, because there was a lightning storm and flash flood alert all morning. It was a blast watching from under the dome of the pool area:

See those gray skies!

After the pool we got ready and went to lunch at a seafood place at the casino. I'm not a big seafood person, but after gorging on cheese, bacon, and carbs for dinner the night before, my body could definitely use something healthy like fish (well, healthy-ish, the fish was covered in butter and deep fried. Oops!)

On our way back to our room, we decided to use our free slot play vouchers and had good luck at machine we've never seen before:

That image quality stinks. But that's beside the point. It's called Leprechaun's Gold: Gettin' Lucky and we kept hitting bonuses. We gamble on penny slots and were only betting $0.20 at a time, so we didn't make much, but since it was free slot play any winnings at all were ours - a total of about $45!!! 

We went back to the room to relax a bit. We watched The Simpsons and started to get our drink on :)

After a couple hours we decided to venture back downstairs and put some of our own money into the leprechaun game. I had the best luck EVER and had bonuses where I won $17, $7, and $8. I was pretty much hyperventilating. Joe was getting free beers from the casino waitress, so he was happy even though he wasn't as lucky as me :) We walked away with me ahead $10 and him down $25. But considering the free beers and the couple of hours of entertainment, it was worth it :)

Now that we are back home, the vacation is over in more than one way. The Atlantic City trip is over, and we are both about to start the next chapter of our lives. Dental school orientation starts on Monday and my nanny job starts TOMORROW. After 5 months of not working, tomorrow should be interesting :) 

Hello Again Atlantic City!

Joe and I dropped off Buster at the boarders this morning (a tough moment for this new mamma- there were tears), and have officially arrived in Atlantic City.

So far we've taken a quick nap (gotta have energy for fist pumping all night.... Not. Haha.) and are now just waiting in anticipation for the buffet to open at 5. We both had a super small breakfast in anticipation and nothing since, so we are ready to plow down anyone who gets in our way on route to the buffet line ;) 

Just 44 minutes to go...

Joe is especially pumped because he's never been to a "fancy" buffet. Just Golden Corral and Sizzler. I'm pumped because I'm a pig, and unlimited food sounds like the stuff heaven is made of ;)

(And the stomach ache afterwards will be the stuff hell is made of... but I digress).

We are staying at Harrah's because the last time we were in Atlantic City we signed up for the Total Rewards program and got two free nights and 4 free buffets (2 each). Being the cautious people we are, we couldn't believe such a great deal. But, so far so good :)

Oh, except the smell of the room. In appropriate Jersey Shore fashion, it smells like the maid used Axe body spray to clean the room.

It's Been A While

So, with all the enjoying of the last couple weeks before dental school starts, I've been pretty neglectful with my blog. Which is crazy, since I actually have some big news to share:

I officially took the full 6 weeks of the nanny job

Believe it or not, I actually had a phone interview this week for an office job. It went well, and I was really struggling between pursuing this new job or doing the 6 week temporary nanny job. In my heart, I wanted to do the nanny job. I was just concerned about turning down something full-time for something that has a clear expiration date.

After some thought and a talk with Joe, I decided to go forward with the nanny position. While the office job would be full-time, the specifics of the role didn't seem like something I'd enjoy. And when I think about working in an office again versus working as a nanny, nanny wins every single time...

It may seem like a crazy gamble, but I feel like it's one I have to take. I have a feeling that if I didn't give the nanny job a shot, I'd always wonder what it would have been like (I certainly already know what an office job and dealing with clients is like...). Plus, the dad told me that he and his wife would try to help me something full-time (whether another nanny job or a job where they work) after the 6 weeks. Creating connections is HUGELY important in looking for work - so I feel deep down that this is the right choice and really, not nearly as much of a gamble as it might seem.

Non-Weigh In Wednesday

So this Wednesday I am not weighing in. I won't be next Wednesday either.

Am I giving up trying to lose weight? No. But I AM putting it on hold. Lemme explain why:

Last week, Joe found out who his Penn Dental Big Sib was and we had dinner with him and his wife. Big Sibs are dental students who are one year ahead of you and their job is to be a mentor and answer any questions you might have. Meeting them was great, and I hope to spend more time with them in the future (they also recently got a dog, so we want to have some doggy play dates).

While Joe walked away from dinner feeling more excited about school and getting a lot of his concerns alleviated, I walked away more nervous then ever about what our lives will be like when he is a dental student. It became abundantly clear just how busy Joe is going to be and just how little I am going to see him.

For that reason, I want to take advantage of the next 11 days. Taking advantage means that I drank two nights this week and have stopped counting calories (though I am still making wise food choices, which is big for me as an all-or-nothing person).

Taking advantage also means that we will be going to Atlantic City next Monday and Tuesday. The last time we were there we signed up for the Total Rewards program and received 2 free nights. The nights have to be during the week, so there's no way we'd be able to use them once school started. We will be boarding Buster for the first time, which I am nervous about, but getting away one last time before school will be really good for us.

Obviously, I'll be eating AWFUL in Atlantic City since we also got vouchers for two free buffets. Each.

Now all that's left is to decide whether or not we should wear our Jersey Shore costumes from Halloween a couple years ago ;)

A Week Without Job-Hunting

I can officially suspend my job hunt because I will be employed soon!

(Well, at least until October 1)

That's right, starting August 15 I am going to be a nanny! It's the temporary position I planned to cancel the interview with (since it seemed like I might be getting a full-time job), but they wanted me to interview anyway. They said that if that other job does want me, I can work until that one starts and then babysit some nights/weekends. It's really an ideal situation, because no matter what I'll be working for 6 weeks. Plus, babysitting opportunities will give me supplemental income no matter what job I have. Supplemental income is important, since I'll be making half of what I made in San Francisco.

***Side Note*** I'm really excited because this family seems great. They have two girls ages 4 & 5 who are awesome, love crafts, and love Disney princesses. As you can see, we have a lot in common. I am going to get paid to play, how sweet is that? ***End of Side Note*** 

This all means that instead of another Monday trolling Craigslist and job-boards, I can take a break. Best case scenario is I get the full time position and don't need to look for any more jobs (yay!), worst case scenario is I have a job for 6 weeks and can start looking again in September for jobs that would start after 10/1.

Whatever the case, I am excited to finally have some $$$ come in and something productive to do with my day.

You know, more productive than sleeping in and watching TV.

Six weeks of Disney princesses, tea parties, crafts, dress-up, Barbies, etc.? I can totes handle that :)

Krafty Kate - Love and Chevron

Joe and I still need cute decorations for our apartment, so I wanted to make some framed art for the wall. I love the Philly LOVE sculpture and, of course, chevron...

So I combined the two into a very easy wall art creation:

Here's how you can make it yourself!

What you need:
Picture frame
Fabric
Paper mache letters
Paint
Yarn
Iron
Staple gun
Hot glue gun


Step 1:
Iron your fabric so it's wrinkle-free. Then, staple the fabric to the picture frame's cardboard back. Put the frame back together (sans glass).

Step 2:
Make your letters. I hit up 2 craft stores looking for either wooden or paper mache letters to spell out L O V E and couldn't find all the letters I needed in the right size/type/etc. So I had to settle with turning an H into an E...

Which actually wasn't very difficult. I just used an X-Acto knife and masking tape.

The original plan was to just paint the letters. But, because of the masking tape on the E, it didn't look right.

So I decided to wrap the letters in yarn. Which was INCREDIBLY time consuming, but probably took less time than it would have to hunt down all the letters I needed since stores apparently can't keep the complete alphabet in stock (can you tell I am still annoyed? haha).

All I had to do once the letters were covered in yarn was super glue their backs and press them onto the framed fabric.

Ta da! All done!