A note to my 16 year old self

I don't know how wise I am but I do feel as any person gets older and gains life experience they might just have something to say for it. That's the hope anyway. I recently got to thinking about some of the things that I wish I knew sooner..here are a few notes to my 16 year old self...

Don't care so much what others think of you..if you do the right thing you have nothing to worry about.

You really are what you eat and if you take care of your body, your body will take care of you.

Wear your sunscreen. Reapply. The years of sun worshiping are going to catch up all too soon.

Don't worry the awkward stage will end.

Smoking really is not cool.

When it feels like the end of the world it's really not. The sun is going to rise tomorrow and you are lucky to have so many people in your life that love you and will get you through anything.

You wont always get what you want but you will get what you need.

Highschool boys suck..you're not in love.

People are going to hurt you and let you down, it's part of life. The challenge is to forgive, learn and grow. Grudges only hurt you.

Don't speed, it's better to be late and get there in one piece.

Your eyebrows don't need to be twins, just sisters. Put the tweezer down!

Think before you act. Sounds simple enough but there will be so many times you just wont use your noggin.

Be nice to your mom, shes your biggest supporter and really will be your best friend one day even though you don't believe me now.

Make time to pursue your passions no matter how busy you think you are or how far out of reach they may seem.

Keep a journal, start a blog and take more pictures, your going to regret it if you don't.

Sweet sixteens are over rated.

Don't change for anyone, they aren't worth it if they don't like you the way you are.

If you want to argue bring up religion and politics, otherwise, don't.

Laugh at yourself.

Stop being in such a hurry to grow up, it happens so fast!

Be nice to everyone, everyone deserves respect. You don't always know where they are coming from.

Please, enjoy every second of high school and college.

Money can't buy happiness but it is important, as much as people pretend it isn't, it is. You need it to live. So, work hard so that you can have a career that makes you happy and will give you the life that you deserve.

With that said...you want to be a nurse...know this now so that you don't have to spend an extra year of tuition for switching majors.

Last, but not least..life is too short. Let things go, you take life to seriously at times. Try not to get caught up in the drama, focus on being happy because this is your one life to live..make it count.

Lizzy Baby

There is a patient on our unit that has been with us for about two weeks now. She is making big strides each day but sometimes she is still a tad confused. She reminds me of someone, an actress, but I can't put my finger on who..maybe Fran Drescher's mother on The Nanny with darker features. I've only had her two nights of her stay, both nights she happened to be sedated and intubated, but she somehow always remembers my name. Picture an italian woman from Brooklyn with a very fiesty personality.

Each night that I've worked three things happen without fail. First, she spots me.. usually yelling across the unit "Lizzzy Babyyy!!" I hear, it's her summons for me. I think she likes me because we share a love for the celeb gossip and dancing shows (she has posters of the male pros from 'dancing with the stars' all over her hospital room..true statement) "Lizzy my baby, I miss you," she says to me even if its only been ten minutes since the last time I saw her. Second, she usually asks me for a cigarette to which I say that A) I dont smoke and B) she shouldn't either and definitely can't while she is hooked up to oxygen in an ICU because she will blow us all to bits. She thinks this is just too funny.. Lastly, the night would not be complete if she didn't ask me if I was married or had any children. After saying no she proceeds to try to set me up with her 50 year old, married, balding son. "Lizzy Baby I love you..have you met my son?"

whew

Taadaaaaa......

It surpassed all my expectations..fit perfect..even more beautiful then in the pictures on the website and there was no angry bride or bridesmaids..success! whew

Fingers Crossed

Tomorrow's the big day..my dress will be arriving from rent the runway! I hope it lives up to all my expectations. Fingers crossed.

I was showing this dress to someone at work who knew I was looking for something to wear to the wedding. When I showed her my choice she says "your wearing THAT to a wedding?!" My heart sunk, "Yea, whats wrong?" She proceeded to tell me that it is cardinal rule number one that no one can wear white at the wedding except the bride. Okay, as a girl who has not been to all that many weddings this is a rule that I was not aware of. I mean, I wouldn't wear a white ball gown or anything but I'm going to say this one is ok. She joked that she will pick me up if I need to escape the bullying bridesmaids that will surely be out to kick my ass. In my defense it does say in the description that it is tinted gold. So, I plan to wear gold shoes, gold jewelry and carry a gold clutch to hopefully bring out the hue. I've asked around about this rule and got mixed answers on the subject. All in all it is unclear and at then end of the day depends on the bride (who I don't know). Perfect.

So, say a little prayer that I don't offend anyone this weekend all the while looking fabulous in my white, gold tinted, non bridal looking dress! :) pictures to follow.

My Happy Place

Im generally a happy person but if I'm ever down there are a few things that are sure to put a smile on my face. My cousins, my pups, tostitos cheese dip, sean hayes (jack from will and grace), and glee...

albeit corny at times, there is something wrong with you if you can deny that these quirky teens dont put you in your happy place

What's The Rush?

Generally when people find out that I've been dating my boyfriend for six years they ask "so when are you getting engaged?" To which I respond "not any time soon." Then I get the look, the 'what's wrong with you' look. I'm 24 people. I love my boyfriend and I probably will marry him one day but I am in no rush. I mean once your married your married forever, hopefully. That is a long time to live with a boy.

As young girls, most of us dream about our wedding day. Pretty dresses, fancy hair and make up, beautiful flowers, dancing, all eyes on us; we are the princess for a day. Once that party is over, however, there is a marriage and it is far from a game of house. It's a union that takes hard work, compromise and patience. I'm a very selfish person right now, as every twenty something year old should be. I want to do what I want to do.. I want to be with my girlfriends, stay out to the wee hours of the morning, go on shopping sprees for myself and travel the world. Not to say that marriage ends all of those things but I'm pretty sure something changes. So don't pressure me world and make me feel like a freak of nature for not wanting to even think about getting engaged yet, although the ring would be fun to have :) Things will happen when they are supposed to. So let go of the past, don't stress about the future and simply enjoy the present.

Home

Isn't it funny that no matter where we go, how much fun we have, who we are with or how long we are there that it is always nice to come home? It's our familiar, our safe place filled with the people and things we love. There is no one like your family, your pups, nothing like your own bed, a home cooked meal and your usual routine, even if we curse it every once in awhile. As nice as it is to break from reality, travel and change things up a bit, at the end of the day we find ourselves relieved to go back to that comfortable place we call home.