How to Stay "Sane" in & Survive Nursing School

Nursing school is difficult, there is no doubt about that. Once you get past all of the difficult pre-requisites and make it into the nursing program, a vast majority of your time is spent learning how to take care of others. Taking care of others is obviously a huge responsibility...and to do it for a living? It can require sacrificing a lot of self.

I am approaching my final semester of nursing school (after a long five years, I'll finally be graduating in December of this year!) and I've learned some tips and tricks along the way of how to keep your sanity in the very difficult process that is nursing school so I wanted to share a few of those with you today. A lot of them may seem obvious but they are truly what has helped me survive so far and can help you, too.

• Time management. This is a huge one. As a nursing student, you are balancing clinical and class time with completing assignments, papers, projects. Personally, I have gone to school full-time for the last five years but I have also worked part-time the entire time as well. So between doing everything I have to do for school with working, spending time with my boyfriend, family, and friends, and taking care of myself, it is a lot to handle. To better manage my time, I:

• Keep a planner and make to-do lists. I write down all of my deadlines/due dates and my work schedule. The planners I have been purchasing the last couple years also have built-in "to-do" lists each day which has really helped in prioritizing what needs to get done, and gosh does it feel nice to check off that box once I complete something!
• Prioritize. This is something that we discuss in regards to nursing (for example, ABC's, Airway, Breathing, Circulation, in relation to patient care) but we also need to prioritize things in our own lives as well. You will not have much free time to work with while you're in nursing school, so prioritizing is huge. I cannot tell you how to prioritize your time since we all have different values and priorities, but taking care of yourself should be your number one priority, always. In regards to assignments, I do the assignments that are due the soonest, usually starting with the most difficult just to get it out of the way, and then go from there.
• Ask for help when you need it. There is no shame in asking for help and delegating things to others, as appropriate, of course.

• Build a good support system. It would be difficult, but you can get through nursing school alone...but it so much better when you surround yourself with people who are there to support you.

• Nursing school friends. These are the people who you can study with but who will also understand what you are going through because they are going through it with you.
• Significant others. I am lucky to have a boyfriend who has been there for me for over the past three years, before I even started in the program. Maintaining a relationship while in nursing school is definitely difficult, especially in our situation where we live about 30 minutes away from each other and have completely different schedules, but we make time for each other. He may not understand exactly what I am going through with school but is always there to lend an ear when I need to vent, to give me time/space when I need it, and to give me nice foot massages after a long day of clinical!
• Family & friends. Again, they may not understand exactly what you are going through, but they are there to support you. Besides, having people in your life who are NOT in nursing school or the health care field is a nice balance. It can definitely take your mind off of the sometimes sad or heartbreaking things you see in clinical or at work.

• Exercise, eat well, and get enough sleep. This is one of the more obvious ones but it is more important than many people realize. I make time to exercise (I work out at home! You can also see if your University has a gym on campus). Getting bored of doing the same old workout? Change it up - try out different classes, work out with a friend, find a new workout routine on Pinterest, or try a different gym, if possible. I also meal prep and find healthy snacks for when I have long days of school/clinical. Meal prepping has helped me significantly in staying healthy and eating cleanly. And lastly, GET ENOUGH SLEEP! I need at least seven hours at night in order to feel alert and ready to learn/work. Figure out what your body and mind need. And do not, I repeat, DO NOT pull all-nighters! Trust me, getting a good night's sleep before a big exam is more important than the few more hours of late-night studying.

• Find healthy ways to relieve stress. No, binge drinking and fast food are not healthy ways to relieve stress 😂  Personally, I do yoga, spend time outside (weather permitting, of course!), watch Youtube videos, and hang out with people I love. This is what helps me relieve stress, on top of taking care of myself with exercising, eating well, and getting adequate sleep. What do you do to relieve stress?

• Talk to a therapist or counselor. There is no shame at all in talking with a professional. I, personally, sought therapy before I started in the program when I was going through relationship and stress issues and it helped me to find myself, set goals, and have more realistic and rational thought processes. Seeing her for an hour once per week or every two weeks really helped me to cope and manage my stress. I anticipate seeing my therapist again towards the end of this year because I know it will be a very stressful time for me.

• Remember why you started in the first place. Reflect on why you wanted to become a nurse. The main reason I and many other people that I've talked to wanted to go into nursing was to help others. Every once in a while there is that experience I have with a patient that at the end of the day/shift I think to myself, "THIS is why I wanted to go into nursing." You will have moments like that, too. As stressful as nursing school and nursing can be, try to take a step back and remember why you started in the first place. Hopefully, this should leave you feeling more refreshed and motivated to continue and to make it through.

Healthy eating bits & bobs

A couple of months ago I posted about two vegan recipes that I tried and really liked. I also briefly talked about my beginnings to becoming a more plant-based eater and a vegan. I resist saying that word (vegan) because of the stigmas that surround it. It's a personal choice and I will never give someone a hard time for what they decide to eat (except of course for urging my loved ones to *perhaps* eat a little healthier...I want them to be around for a while! :)

Since that post, I have very much enjoyed trying new foods and recipes. Below are a couple of my grocery 'hauls' from Whole Foods (aka Whole Paycheck because let's be honest, I spend way too much money on food sometimes!). I tend to spend most of my time in the produce department of Whole Foods and find some yummy fruits and veggies to eat throughout the week. Keep in mind these pictures below only include bits & bobs that I didn't already have stocked in the kitchen.

Also in this post are some recipes that i have tried (some multiple times) and have enjoyed throughout the past few weeks. I hope you enjoy this little look into my meals and find something that you might like to try yourself! :)

Yummmmmmm!

Mixed greens with blueberries and strawberries - I prepped these to take to work for 2 lunches, and I brought some balsamic vinaigrette as a dressing for when I was ready to eat these.

One of my new favorite things to make/eat - Thai green curry. Recipe here! I added zucchini to the recipe.

This is stuffed eggplant, I got the recipe from Kayla Itsines' BBG app on my phone (review/progress post here). Delish!

Apples with vegan butter sprinkled with cinnamon (microwaved for about 1 minute) - one of my favorite treats.
Portabella mushroom pizza - recipe here! I just made these for the first time today, they super good and definitely something i'd make again. They are super easy to make, and i like anything I can just toss all the extra veggies that are in the crisper drawer in my fridge into!

I recently bought a food processor and have put it to good use, especially for these "nice" creams. The one on top was made from 2 frozen bananas, oreos (I love that these are vegan), and peanut butter. The second one was made from 2 frozen bananas, dark cocoa powder, and peanut butter. Addicted to these!

My boyfriend surprised me with this water bottle after I had to throw out my Camelbak when going into a football stadium, and I actually love this more than my Camelbak. It is an infuser and I have tried putting lemons and also berries in here. So good!

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Reviewing this post over, I am so happy looking at how colorful all of these foods and meals are. I can genuinely tell a difference in my body when I eat healthily. My tummy is happy with me! I notice I have less energy crashes throughout the day and more stable mood swings/energy levels overall. I have been so happy with how i've been eating lately and i can tell my body is too! I am always updating my Instagram with what I'm eating so feel free to follow me there @lauraw0lf :)

Bloglovin' | Instagram: @lauraw0lf | Pinterest | Tumblr

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Vegan Cooking Successes: Black Bean Burgers & Quinoa Crust Pizza

As I briefly mentioned in my previous Kayla Itsines' BBG review post, I recently started to eat a more plant-based, vegan diet. I started this simply because I noticed my body feels lighter and I have more energy when I go without eating meat, eggs, cheese, and other animal byproducts. I also suffer from ezcema, and find that my skin flares up when I eat dairy products. When I tell people I'm eating a vegan diet, the reaction I mostly get is "wow, that must be so hard," and "how do you do it? There are animal byproducts in everything." And although this can feel all too true sometimes, thankfully Pinterest exists. There is a plethora of amazing tried-and-true vegan recipes that offer (often) healthier options than their non-vegan alternatives. For example, black bean burgers and quinoa crust pizza, which I have tried and will be reviewing below!

Pictured above is my rendition of a vegan black bean burger recipe, found on Hummusapien's blog.

This recipe was very quick and easy to throw together, which is great for someone like me with a busy schedule. It yielded 6 burgers, and I found myself quickly finishing them as leftovers throughout the rest of the week. I was surprised at how much these burgers taste like the "real deal".

The toppings I used were: avocado, lettuce, tomato, mustard, and ketchup.

An alternative to the whole grain bun that I used for the leftovers: romaine lettuce leaves (not pictured, equally delicious).

Recipe level: Easy

Time required: about 20-25 mins. total

Rating: 10/10

Would I make it again?: Yes, I already have!

This next recipe I tried may be hit-or-miss for people who do NOT like vegetables and LOVE cheese (e.g. my boyfriend - love you, honey!). And despite not being the most photogenic meal, I found this recipe satisfyingly, amazingly delicious. I found this quinoa crust pizza recipe on Simply Quinoa's blog, and just excluded the cheese and added my own choice of toppings. I was surprised at how easy this was to put together, and even more surprised at the fairly low overall calorie content and the amount of great nutrients you get since this recipe tastes. so. good.

Toppings I used: tomato sauce, zucchini, tomatoes, red & green bell peppers.

Alternatives: The only quinoa I had was a mix of red, black, and white quinoa and it still tasted great; sautéing the vegetables before adding them as pizza toppings if you mind your veggies being raw.

Recipe level: Easy

Time required: soaking the quinoa for 6-8 hrs. (I do this in the morning) and putting together/baking for about 40 mins.

Rating: 9/10

Would I eat again?: Yes, I already have!

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Pinterest is amazing for recipe ideas. I have found healthy, vegan alternatives for so many of my favorite foods, including these pizza and burger recipes. Although eating a more plant-based/vegan diet can be difficult sometimes, I find that when I discover recipes I like and I dedicate the time to make them, it doesn't seem so bad, expensive, or difficult!

What are your favorite healthy recipes? Do you have any kind of diet restrictions you have to work around?
Thanks for reading!

Kayla Itsines BBG Review and Progress - Week 22

Hi all!

This will be a quick review of Kayla Itsine's Bikini Body Guide. I started this workout program back in February after hearing about it from Nikki Limo and seeing progress photos from girls all over Instagram. Before starting the program, I worked out doing mostly cardio (HIIT and running) without much weight training, and it was pretty inconsistent. I was in search of something that would give put me into a routine and give me some structure... I then downloaded the Sweat with Kayla app onto my phone! (You can also just purchase the guide without the app! All info available here).

I am currently on week 22 of the program and plan to continue on. I feel strong and fit, and people in my life have noticed the positive changes. My boyfriend, my family, and my co-workers have noticed a change in my overall happiness and energy levels. Some things I always try to keep in mind as a sort of fitness/health philosophy is this: Do the work, keep at it, don't focus on the numbers or scale, don't obsess over "progress selfies", and don't beat yourself up if you have an "off" day; but focus on how good your body feels, how strong you feel, how much energy you have, and how much you are able to push your body each week. Do the work and you will see a difference. The progress will come. Another thing I read a lot on Instagram is "Enjoy the fitness journey." This motto is awesome. Fitness is not something you can do for a week, or a few months, or even a year, but it is an ongoing thing. It's changing the small things you do every day to improve your mental, physical, and emotional well-being. Enjoy the journey!

Personally, BBG helps me enjoy the "fitness journey" and for me, it is a sustainable, realistic workout program that I can see myself doing for months and months to come.

Here is my list of pros and cons of the program:

Pros:

-Combines both cardio (LISS or low interval sustained state) and resistance training (HIIT or high intensity interval training) to increase strength, burn fat, and tone muscles.

-The BBG community is inspiring and amazingly supportive. There is an entire community on Instagram (easily found using #BBG #SweatwithKayla) that consists of girls supporting and encouraging each other. Kayla Itsines also has an Instagram where she shares other girls journeys as well as inspiration posts. It is awesome to see so many girls supporting and uplifting each other no matter where they are in their fitness journeys.

-Provides me with the routine and structure I was looking for

-Simplistic style of the app

-Easy to follow workouts

-Costs about as much as a gym membership

-Each workout is only about 30 minutes each day. There are 3 HIIT/resistance workouts per week and 3-4 LISS/cardio workouts per week. This is awesome for people like me who have crazy busy schedules and find it hard to make time to workout.

Cons:

-Meal planning. I personally don't use this aspect of the program. It is nice that there are options for most types of diets (regular, vegan, vegetarian, etc.), but I stick to my own recipes that I find on Pinterest. I can see how this can be useful to other people using the program, but I am happy with my diet right now (plant-based/vegan).

-The workouts can become kind of boring after several weeks. It is true that the HIIT workouts can become somewhat monotonous after several weeks, but I really can't complain because they WORK. After I started to see the changes in my body, it was motivation to keep at it. The LISS workouts (long interval sustained state, aka cardio) I try to switch up (walking, running, hiking, other workout classes like Barre). So, this con can be improved by a change in mindset.

-Some of the moves can be hard on my back. I have some minor back problems (mild thoracic scoliosis, minor chronic pain from turning/lifting heavier patients at work) and some of the moves simply do not feel good for my back. The main one I have a problem with are snap jumps. Thankfully, Kayla has built in alternatives for almost every move that are similar but offer a variation.

-Cost. The program is about $20/month. On top of that, equipment is required for most of the moves. Space to do the workouts, as well as weights, medicine balls, dumbells, a bench etc. Thankfully, I have the space in my basement to do the workouts as well as most of the equipment I need. Otherwise, I try to make do with what I have. For instance, I don't have a bench but I have a chair that works instead. But I know this isn't everyone's case and some people might be required to get a gym membership so they have access to equipment, which is an even bigger cost per month.

Do I recommend the program? Yes! (See list of pros and cons). But first, try the free trial to see if it's something you'd like. It's not for everyone but I fully believe anyone who follows the program will see results.

I have to admit that I am REALLY bad at taking progress photos but here are a few.

Before BBG:

Week 22:

Have you guys tried Kayla Itsine's BBG? If so, what are your thoughts? If not, would you ever try it or what program do you use?

Thanks for listening, hope you're all having a great week!

Products I've Been Loving.

Sure it's too late for an "August Favorites", but there's always time for a "products i've been loving" post!  So yep, i'll just quickly run through products i've been reaching for a lot lately & have really stood out from the pack for me recently.

♥ Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in "Zero" ♥
Everyone must have at least heard of these eye pencils before, and with good reason.  I wouldn't normally spend $17 on an eyeliner, but i got this with the Alice in Wonderland Book of Shadows (post on that here), so of course i gave it a go.  This liner really impressed me - it's super pigmented & dark, glides on very easy, and stays put for quite a long time.  Definitely one of the best eyeliners in my collection.

♥ MAC 217 Blending Brush ♥
The 217 was the first MAC brush i ever purchased, and will always be a staple of mine.  It's perfect for applying color to the crease & blending out any harsh lines.  I also use it for applying & blending eyeshadow to the outer corners as well, as i don't have a brush for that purpose atm!  I've also heard of people using this for applying concealer & other cream products, but i personally use my finger or a stiffer brush for that purpose.

♥ Bare Minerals SPF 15 Matte Foundation ♥
I got a free sample of this foundation at Sephora, and i'm really glad i got to try it out!  I usually use the Original foundation, but with my oily skin, i can look a bit shiny as the finish of the Original formula is quite glowy.  With the Matte foundation, the staying power & all that is the same as the Original, but i notice that i'm not as shiny-looking by the end of the day.  When i run out of my Original foundation, i'll definitely be purchasing the Matte formula!
Review on the Bare Escentuals Starter Kit here :)

♥ Estee Lauder Idealist Pore Minimizing Skin Refinisher & Bare Escentuals Prime Time ♥

The reason i put these two together is that i use these two products together to create an amazing base for my foundation :).  After cleansing, toning, & moisturizing my face, i apply Estee Lauder's Pore Minimizing Skin Refinisher, wait for that to soak in for a bit, then apply my Bare Minerals Prime Time primer.  Together, these minimize my pores and control my oiliness from completely taking over my face as the day progresses.  During the summer, i can get away with just using the Estee Lauder Refinisher or BE's Prime Time, since dewy-skin is more of a summer thing for me, but during the school year & such, i feel i need a bit more control & together, these products work really well for that purpose.

♥ Triscuit Thin Crisps ♥
I just had to add this to the products i'm loving list!  They're little salty triangle cracker things, and i didn't like them so much at first, but they've really grown on me :).  For me, it's a step in the healthy direction (sure they still aren't the healthiest snack out there, but whatever haha).  Definitely give these a nom if you have sweet & salty cravings like i do!

What products have you been loving?

Formspring / Twitter / Tumblr

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June Faves :)

Another month has gone by my lovelies...2010 is more than half over now - weren't we just celebrating the new year a couple weeks ago?!  Goodness!

Here's another June Favorites post, i'm sure your dashboards are blowing up with them right now, but i thought i'd share with you all what i've been loving this month :)

Herbal Essences Hydralicious Reconditioning Shampoo for Dry/Damaged Hair ♥

I already did a post including this product with a bit of a rave (link here), but i have been totally loving this product this month!  It has a thick consistency and creates the most rich, luscious lather which leaves my hair feeling super soft.  It also doesn't leave my hair feeling dried out like other shampoos seem to do.  Love!

I'm pointing to the shadow i'm talking about - it's the brown matte one :)

Lancome Eyeshadow in "Mochaccino" ♥

I have loved this shadow for the longest time, long before i got my Urban Decay Alice in Wonderland Book of Shadows!  It's a very lovely light brown color that is quite buildable.  I usually do a light shimmery color (most likely Urban Decay's "Sin") all over, and then place this in the crease & build it up in the outer corner, with a black liquid liner, mascara, & a bit of black liner on the waterline - it's such a simple, but pretty look :)

Bare Minerals All-Over Face Color in "Warmth" ♥

Since it's summer, i've totally embraced the whole 'bronze-y' type of look :).  I use Warmth as a bronzer & a subtle contour and i love it!  It's really easy to work with and looks really natural - although it looks orangey in the pot.  You also need to smallest amount, so this sample-size container will last for a long, long time!

Maybelline Eyelash Curler ♥

I'll be the first to admit that i'm a lash fanatic.  I love my mascara, and i love my eyelash curlers!  Something as simple as curling your lashes can really help your lashes look longer and help you appear more awake - & i personally think it just looks really pretty :).  I curl my lashes before i put on mascara & in the middle of the day, i re-curl them as they can droop a bit :).

Up & Up Women's Daily Multivitamin Dietary Supplement ♥

My doctor suggested i go on a multivitamin, so of course i didddddd.  Up & Up is just Target's brand, and this bottle was only a couple of dollars & really has the same vitamins & minerals as the more popular & costly brands.  The only thing about these is that they smell kind of bad, but i just hold my breath :) - it also took a couple days to get used to swallowing that massive pill haha.

Boots Botanics Organic Face Rosewater Toner ♥

I bought this after i heard a lot of positive reviews on it, and i've had this for a couple weeks now.  I absolutely love this stuff!  I used it with a cotton ball after cleansing my face & it removes any makeup & soap that may still be on my face.  It's also gentle, unlike other toners i've used (*Clinique*...ahem).  I love that it's organic & as very few ingredients as well :).  I honestly noticed a difference in my skin just a few days after starting using this!  Lovelovelove.  (Boots brand is available at Target in the US if anyone was wondering :)

This was a blush-bronzer duo, hence the other pan :)

Clinique Powder Blush in "Iced Lotus" ♥

As you can all probably tell, this blush has been well-loved.  It's a very pretty light-medium pink (if that makes sense :), with a little bit of shimmer.  I don't usually like blushes with shimmer in them, as i have quite oily skin, but i feel in summer i can pull it off a bit more :).

What have you been loving this month? ♥

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