the next adventure

I'm so excited to announce that my newest adventure will commence June 1st!

I will be an ELCA World Hunger intern this summer! 

This means that I will be moving to Chicago to live for the summer (and get a quick trip to Detroit for the National Youth Gathering in there too). The work I will be doing is with networking and evaluation with the fearless and fabulous constituent engagement team. I am so excited to start working with everyone and get a taste for city living again (sorry Omaha, you just don't cut it).

In other news, I've whined and pleaded enough that Mr. Justin has finally agreed to go to Memphis for a few days next month. I'm SO excited to show him all of the wonderful things in Memphis and to eat BBQ nachos. Yes, I know I'm a vegetarian. But pulled pork is a gift from God. And a special treat once a year. After Central, I'm sure we will head directly to Muddy's Bakeshop. This trip is going to be so wonderful.

get in my belly, pulled pork nachos

Oh how I wish Muddy's were closer to Omaha...

Memphis....a photo blog

So I went to Memphis this weekend. It was fabulous. I don't have much time to write about how fabulous it was (it's test week!), so instead I'll just post some pictures instead. Yes, there are lots of pictures of food. Yes, I basically ate my way through the city. No, I don't want to hear your judgements about my poor eating habits!

Enjoy, my Memphis photo journey!

**Actually this is from Omaha Restaurant Week...
blackened catfish from Plank**

**Also from ORW at Plank...fruit cobbler in this cute little individualized cast iron**

**Megan's desert from Plank..chocolate squares, yum!**

My first rental car!

Central BBQ. Pulled Pork Nachos.
A gift from God.
Yes, I'm a vegetarian. And yes, I ate them.
And yes, they were absolutely delicious!

MUDDY'S!!!

BEST CUPCAKES EVER!

One of my favorite places to study!
Good food, good coffee. 

Breakfast of Champions!
Lil Momma's Special from Brother
Juniper's with cheesy grits.
AND a cupcake from Muddy's. 

Soul Fish got new cups!

Fish Tacos and Slaw. Soul Fish.

Pink lemonade in pretty "P" glasses for the Pippin wedding!

Appetizers:
Chicken skewers. Bruschetta. Cheese and fruit skewers.

Beautiful centerpieces!

Me likely this one!

Look who I found in Memphis!
Thanks for being my date, Lassie.
(Oh, and a BEAUTIFUL golf course behind us)

The cake!

Cake close-up.

The incredibly gorgeous bride.
So thankful to have been part of your day, Mrs. Pippin!

A few others that I got in there, but don't have photographic proof of:

• Huey's Midtown for burgers.
• Tour of the Southern College of Optometry.
• Hanging out with my good friend Ginny and her beautiful kids. 
• Yolo (frozen yogurt) with Jimmy!
• 6:30 am Panera run with Rachel. 1.5 hours is not long enough to catch up with that one...
• Watching The White Queen with Stacy. And bonding with her corgi Samantha.
• Wedding Day brunch at Owen Brennan's with the ladies of the wedding party. 

I loved every second of my trip and already miss my second home. Thanks everyone for the quick visits to catch up. I wish school wasn't so darn time consuming so I could have stayed longer!

Exam Friday...back to the real world. 

finals...blech!

Well, it's that time of year again...Christmas break is approaching and so are finals for most students. The time of year where you're tired of being in school and all you want to do is curl up and watch movies or go celebrate the season with your friends and family, but the looming exams (or papers!) prevent you from fully enjoying the greatness of Christmas. I'm counting down the days until I head to Memphis for a quick visit (T minus 7 days!) and home to Hastings after that. Unfortunately I still have a biochem exam separating me from my Southern vacation!

My exams sometimes feel like a fight-to-the-death match...
The Hunger Games don't have anything on medical school!

Yesterday we took our final ICE exam of this semester. It was over the stages of development from birth-death, mood disorders, death/dying/grieving. I didn't think it was too bad since I've covered much of the information before in my psych and Christian ed classes in undergrad. It's nice to have it out of the way though so that I can fully focus solely on biochem.

This biochemistry test will include genetics, bone/cartilage, blood, lymphatics, lipid & fatty acid metabolism, nucleotide metabolism, cell signaling & transport, and biochemical nutrition. Doesn't that just sound like the most fun a person could have?!

The countdown begins: 7 days and 30 minutes until our exam!

....and just because my main main Willie Smith is in this one! :) 

Happy Holidays!