perfume bottle watercolor

I've been wanting to try my hand one of these watercolor prints for a while now, and after two attempts I came out with a product I'm satisfied with. The professional ones are still better but it was a fun process.

I copied my sketch off of a perfume ad from a magazine.

My first painting I smudged the letters when I attempted to erase some pencil marks and I couldn't live with it so I whipped up another one. However, I liked everything else about the one I "ruined," I especially liked the purfume lid better on the ruined one! They didn't take too long to make though.

It's by no means perfect, but it hangs in our bathroom and looks pretty nice.

april and may favorites

1. Benefit Fake Up Concealer

I bought this concealer in the fall and use it everyday. I found that the concealer I was using before, Benefit Erase Paste, would cover dark circles really well but would reveal my flaky skin under my eyes too much. Erase Paste is a thick product and worked well when my skin wasn't so dry and thin, now I use my erase paste just for acne spots. 

Fake Up Concealer has a chapstick-like, oily rim around the tinted product so when you apply it you are moisturizing that undereye skin too. I've been using it for 5-6 months and it's not even half gone yet. I definitely highly recommend this the next time you run out of concealer. 

2. Fresh Sugar Lip Treatments and Tinted Lip Color

These are my favorite lip color products. I got this set with a gift card in Minneapolis when I went this past winter, and it includes the samples shown below. The Rose and Tulip colors are a light and dark pink  that are wonderful because they don't look like lipstick and they aren't as shiny as lipgloss, but they add a good color to your lips and moisturize better than any chapstick I've ever used. 

The products are made of oils and even include hyaluronic filling spheres that supposedly plump a little too. No parabens, sulfates, etc. The lip polish is a sugar scrub for exfoliation and has oil for moisture ...you could potentially home make this, but probably not as well. It's good to use before applying any lip color to keep it lasting longer.

3. Three Happiness Express

This place is amazing, and it's my second favorite Chinese restaurant in Omaha (behind Five Spice). Three Happiness Express is located on 50th and Leavenworth and I had to list it as a April/May favorite because there was one week that I ate it for four meals in a week (one entree can get you at least 2 meals). It's priced $3-7 lower than competitors, it's delicious, and it's right by UNMC. 

They definitely deserve their  "2015 Best of Omaha" win. I took Jake there and we agree their flavors and seasonings in the crab rangoon filling are the best we've had anywhere, so order extra of those if you go. The Crunchy Chicken or the General are our favs.

4. Mrs. Renfro's Peach Salsa

Jake and I love salsa, and Mrs. Renfro's does salsa right. Our Hy-Vee recently expanded their Mrs. Renfro's Salsa flavor collection and now it even takes up an entire row! We've tried the Pomegranate Salsa but this Peach one tops my list so far. 

P.S. Jake and I aren't fan's of Mrs. R's nacho cheese collection, we now avoid those.

5. Midnight Fleur by Nest

This was another purchase from months ago in Minneapolis. It's been my favorite scent the past few months. Check out the scent the next time you are in a department store or Sephora and I'm curious to see what you think. It's a woodsy, dark, romantic, floral scent, and is might be too strong for the summer months but oh well.  

I'm working on my summer reading list and some crafty projects, stay tuned.

neurology core reflection

To continue with my tradition of posting a reflection after each core, I'll share a few things about the short neurology core that we ended the year with. In this core we covered the functions and anatomy of the parts of the brain and spinal cord.  This was my favorite core so far because it incorporated some lab dissections, plenty of cross sections, enthusiastic professors, and I genuinely enjoyed learning the material. 

During the last six weeks of school, I got a little stir crazy and wished I was outside instead of stuck inside most of my days. As with each of the other cores, I used a different study tactic. I spent most of my time this core reviewing the notes and looking up online tutorials, videos, and resources. 

crockpot pork tacos

For Cinco de Mayo I used our slow cooker and this recipe from Skinnymom.com to make these pork tacos in our crock pot. The pork loin cooked great in the slow cooker, but the seasonings were way to spicy for my tastes. If you like spicy foods, then you'll want to try these out! 

(For once my photos turned out like the original recipe's!)

march and april glossybox review

MARCH BOX

1. Orogold Cosmetics 24K Multi-vitamin daily moisturizer (full size 1.7 oz is $180):

They included two samples of this, and I'm sure everyone fell in love with it. It's everything you love in a moisturizer, I would purchase a full size....but the full size is $180 for 1.7 oz and so I'll have to pass. In addition to the antioxidants in this product, Gold is also an ingredient.

2. Modelco Eyebrow Thickening Gel (full size included in the box)

I've never used this type of product, but I will continue to use an eyebrow mouse from this point on. This specific brand of product can be kind of clumpy, but most of the time it works well to really accent the eyebrows and frame your entire face. I've read great reviews from other blogs and magazines about products to get the same effects from this , this , this  , and this. Maybe I'll try one of those sometime this year when this one runs out. (Let me know if you try any of those out!)

3.  Bellapierre Cosmetics Cheek and Lip Stain (full size included the box)

This product is bad. It's dry, it doesn't blend,  the color is super bright pink, and it's weakly pigmented. 

To show you what I mean here's a comparison to a very good product that works so much better.

• The product on the top of the image is Stilla's Convertible Color lip and cheek cream in Lillium (there are many other colors though). You can see in the first image how much more moisture Stilla's has in it, after I rubbed my finger in both of them...the other one didn't budge much.

• Although they aren't the same color, the second image shows how much more pigment is in the Stilla product and how the other is hard to blend in the crevices of a person's skin. It might seem weird to want the more pigmented product for a blush, but it's easier to blend out along the cheek if it's creamy and isn't "stuck" on your skin. 

• BTW the Stilla cheek and lip stain is so good for summer! 

4. So Susan Concealer Quad (full size)

This product is awful too. Very, very, dry (so it's hard to blend in), and I can't use all four of those colors even if it was possible to apply it decently.

5. Nexus Color Assure shampoo (full size)

Haven't used this yet because I'm very picky with shampoos, but I'm sure I'll use it eventually. It's a new product from Nexxus.

APRIL BOX

1. Julep Gel Eye Glider (full size - in plum)

Like this eye liner a lot. It goes on smoothly and lasts a long time without smudging. I don't have a dark purple eyeliner (you can't really tell it's purple) so it's a fun addition.

2. Estee Lauder Dark Spot Correcting Night Serum (we got 1/4 of the full size in the sample)

All of the serums I use a few times a week are from sample sizes that I've acquired, and this is a nice addition. 

3. Aerin Waterlily Sun Fragrance

I didn't realize this product was as expensive as it is until I linked it up for the blog. It's not my favorite scent but it seems like it should be for laundry or for a pillow? I don't know, it's very light and floral and fresh, but if you use too much it's incredibly strong. I wouldn't recommend this as a favorite perfume, but it's ok. 

4. Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Stained Gloss (full size in box)

Very pigmented, "tar" consistency (extremely sticky), but it is hard to rub off so it would last a long time. Supposedly it's all natural oils, and vitamins with no parabens etc. I wouldn't recommend this, there are better lip glosses that exist.

5. Marrakesh Split End Mender

I'm glad they put this product in this box. It's argan and hemp oils for your hair, and although it doesn't smell as great as Morrocan oil, it has a fresh scent to it and works good. 

There was also a giftcard to an online store included in this box.

If you made it to the end of this looooooong post, then you are great, thanks for reading! Check out February's Glossybox review here.

my first year in medical school

What a year it has been! It was full of ups and downs. Here's a look back at my first year in school. 

My school year began with the completion of one of my proudest accomplishment at that time, climbing higher than 14,000 feet. I still can't believe I made it, and thanks to Jake's kind words of encouragement, "Al, med school will be harder than this," I kept climbing.  Check out more of this climb here.

During orientation week we were informed on how to manage stress and the workload to come. 

The very last day of orientation they presented us with our white coats. We certainly didn't feel like doctors, and I definitely didn't feel like I needed a white coat, but at the pace this school runs, it wasn't long before we were out in clinics and hospitals.

The first few weeks of school I was more nervous and anxious than I had ever felt in my entire life. I mean, my family and friends assured me I'd be fine, but that's hard to believe when none of us knew what it would be like. I was so excited on the first day of school.

It wasn't long before that ^ turned into this.

My snapchat friends, husband, and classmates (unfortunately) definitely saw me looking my roughest this year...and those greasy, messy moments were not captured. 

It also wasn't long before my spotless and organized office ( seen here and here ) turned into this:

That ^^ horrifies me, but you have to do what you have to do. 

(Clean up days were Saturdays after exams) 

Time flew when it was spent studying.

Below is a lecture where we learned to draw the locations of heart landmarks on our anatomy partners.

Yes, we were required to undress, do this for the exams on our partners, and in only 60 seconds.

Yes, I practiced timed drawings of anatomical landmarks on Jake. 

Another class had us tested by using patients they hired in a simulated clinic room with cameras and microphones. Jake had CPA exams to study for, but he let me practice when he could.  

And when no people were there to practice on...

And then came exam days, which were some of my favorite days because that meant I would have an entire afternoon off, and usually the day after the exam I only had a few things to do! In the fall Jake was even home to make me a good breakfast before I left.

And in the fall when he was home, we always celebrated after exams!

Then winter came, and I was alone every week except a couple. Luckily Jake came home from traveling on the weekends, and so I tried to get most of my work done working longer hours during the weekdays to have more time "off" when he was home. I won't lie, adjusting to being alone day and night each week was very hard, and studying wasn't much fun anymore. 

Part of the loneliness was my fault, I studied in my office and watched almost all lectures online. I did attend campus a few times a week for required activities, but I saved so much time (a couple hours a day since I also had a longer commute) watching the lectures online and speeding up the lecturer's voice. So, I just couldn't justify attending class each day.

When he did come back, we made a new weekly tradition trying out restaurants.

To keep sane, I worked out regularly, went on walks when it was nice, did some light reading, started watching Keeping up with the Kardashians and Friends, indulged on fast food, and enjoyed meeting up with friends. 

School required a lot of sacrifices that weren't clear right away. The dishes and laundry had to wait, my workouts were shortened, and most heartbreaking, time with my family and friends was dramatically cut down. There would be times where months would pass by until I even make a phone call or scheduled a coffee date with a friend. On multiple occasions I had to tell my family they couldn't stay with me on the weekend while I was studying for an exam, or that I just couldn't come home. Everyone understood, it was worse on me because I felt like I was missing out on the fun they were having. I am so grateful for the times I did have with family and friends this year, I certainly took as many breaks as I could to see the people I love.

My family was wonderful for support and encouragement when I needed it this year, but this guy was there whenever I needed him no matter what else he was doing. In the fall he was up late quizzing me, and in the winter and spring he would stay up late to talk to me on the phone. At one point I was having a complete breakdown, and although he was hundreds of miles away, he left dinner to call me and made sure that I could pull it together and study a few more hours for the exam I was worried about. I know he'll be there for what's to come, I'm so thankful for him. 

Other support came in the form of beautiful flowers to brighten my study space:

We ended the year with Med Prom.

Overall I loved this first year of school. I never knew that I was capable of learning this much information in such a short time, and I've met so many great people. I'm so happy with what I'm working for, and I know it's all worth it to be able to help my patients in the future.

This summer I am working on a small research project, volunteering, relaxing, going on a vacation, a little reviewing, and I'll be in Fairbury at the clinic learning from the physicians there during what UNMC calls our Rural Care Block. I'm so excited to be back home for a few weeks, and learn from the people who first exposed me to this career. 

To those interested in staying in touch from Jake's perspective, lately he's been pretty good at putting together weekend MyStorys on SnapChat. Add bakejell33 if you'd like to check those out.

If you haven't already, subscribe by e-mail on the right column of this screen to keep up with summer activities. If you are on a mobile device you'll have to click "view web version" and then find it. Otherwise, explore the links at the top to see if there's any posts you've missed - I've updated them.