Blonde, Sweat & Wine

Oh Florida summers... Goodness, is it hot?! Growing up in Fort Myers, you lived for Disney Original Movie marathons, ice cream, pool day and that rainy 3pm nap. That was life for us! After living in Central Florida for a little bit, I will say there is no better cure my Summer woes except for being in Fort Myers. Don't get me wrong, Mt Dora was beautiful but there is just something about my hometown! This week was the second at the new dermatology job, I'm slowly but surely learning the lingo. I have been in the medical field 10 years, but this specialty has a language all it's own! It's hard to keep your confidence, this position is more hands on involving anesthesia and sutures, but I'll get there! I will say though, I truly despise being the "new girl". Everyone asks the same question, patients and peers are a tad nervous since you're a stranger and all they have to go off of for your experience is your word. It's intimidating but adds to ...

This time last week I was huddled up in bed with a bottle of red watching Friends through tear filled, red rimmed eyes and praying that 4:30am Monday June 5th didn't happen.... On Thursday, my little maniac of a fur baby was fine. Happy-go-lucky, driving me up the wall as per his usual. Michael and I took his sweet 9 year-old son Jaden to play video games and to watch a movie. We came home and crashed to waken up to a little sleepy puppy. Thinking Trigger stayed up all night inhaling a new, HUGE bone, we went on to the library. We spent the day with him in the pool, he seemed like his little rambunctious self again. Then Saturday came, he was a cuddler, which he has not been since he was about 2 months old. What was wrong with my little one? Thinking that his little tummy was upset from eating a massive bone in sitting, I spoke with my friends stepmom who is a vet. She reassured me that prilosec should help with the upset tummy and clear em right up. Then Saturday night, the ...

One thing I have a learned in my first 20-something years is that I have no control over the timing of my life events. At 25, I was carefree, in nursing school, single and having the time of my life with my best friends. Two weeks later on the night of my mom's birthday, I was hit with the reality mack truck. I was diagnosed with type one diabetes, 4 months after my younger brother had the same diagnosis. I was determined to jump back into life despite a terminal but manageable life sentence. After a week long hospitalization and a total life change, I tried to fall back into the routine and failed miserably. After a kidney infection and more bad news, I failed and withdrew from nursing school. I was heartbroken. I was angry, I just wanted a "normal" life. I saw my sister marry her high school sweetheart and have the most beautiful family. I saw my best friends get engaged and blissfully fall into matrimony. Friends graduate and have successful careers. I was enviou...

As you may or may have not noticed, I have been MIA for the last few months. Starting the new year, events happened that have drastically changed my life. There were lots of tears, tests, and challenges but all resulted in Brad and I ending our relationship. No I don't need a shoulder to cry on, I am doing well. The hardest part was deciding on whether or not to move back to Fort Myers, granted, this decision has been decided and I will continue on once everything has been solidified. The best and worst part of ending any kind of relationship, is that it forces you to re-evaluate you as a person, the you that you want to be in the future, and that can be really painful. You will learn who to trust, who you know you won't ever see again, and who really is just in it for the juicy details. I am lucky to say that, even though no break up is easy, I'm a strong Southern woman who will trudge on! I realized quickly in the midst of moving on that I have always put myself last ...

So it has been one hot minute since I have posted! Life has gotten a tad more hectic by 4 paws! Well, to catch ya up! I have been permanently working in a beautifully chaotic internal medicine office for about 2 weeks now! I love it! I am exhausted but the day flies and I am learning so much! I love my work family and the doctor that I work for is quirky like me so it's a great fit! My partner and I! If you know me, then you know I've been dying to become a dog mom! I had tried when we were renting but pet deposits were ridiculous! Well, a few weeks ago, Brad spotted a pup during Mount Dora art fest. He was a guide dog for his owner, super mellow and a very beautiful puppy. He was a Boykin Spaniel, Brad was hooked and I was taking full advantage of him actually deciding on a breed! After researching, we found a breeder and before Brad knew it, I was putting down a deposit on our new fur baby! Brad tried to say he wasn't excited, but since little one has joined our f...

There is just something about my mama's cooking that made a normal Wednesday feel like a special occasion. Growing up, Spring was signified by a surprise of two strawberry pies in the fridge after school. One for us, one for a family member, sometimes three or four more just because my mom loves gifting with desserts! Lately, I have been dying for my mom's strawberry pie. Mainly because she flaunted that she made some the other day and it's all I can think about. I haven't had it since my diagnosis and I really hated the fact that the recipe contains 1 cup of sugar AND strawberry jello. Definitely a no-go for me! So I made it low-carb! Unfortunately, Brad was not a fan, but that just means more for me! I will acknowledge that the change the "diet" products was tough but now that I'm used to it, most things are just too sweet. I am looking forward to devouring this pie all week long!! Right outta mama's notebook! I substituted Stevia for the suga...

This morning, like every Saturday morning, I get up with coffee-induced strength and make my sweetheart breakfast. He's a lover of pancakes and sausage but ever since we moved in together, I have been slowly expanding his palette. I probably have one of the pickiest men in the South! I think I've complained about this before, I'm sure some other ladies can agree! Well, our house has been quite a whirlwind and so this morning I wanted to make a hearty breakfast, with the cold front coming in, today definitely called for it! Bradley recently joined the Eustis Gun Club so he wanted to be up bright and early to get down there. The things I will do for this man! I tell ya! However, there is always time for a Saturday afternoon nap so I got up after morning snuggles and him obviously turning the heat on (let's face it, I wasn't getting up when it was 64° in the house, he's a smart man!). I decided to make homemade biscuits and sausage gravy! Now, I know most Sout...