Day 281

This past weekend was special. Being away due to school as unfortunately led to missing way too many birthday celebrations. I am happy to announce that I was able to spend a wonderful day with my Nann for her birthday. Lots of family attended, however some were missed. We will have to get together again for another birthday (Pops...your turn is next)! Here are some pictures of our beautiful weekend in the burg: 

 A trip to the peanut shop for some free samples and gifts...

 A quick stop at a new bakery in downtown Williamsburg...it smelled so good!

 A walk downtown...

 Visiting Bruton Parish... My grandparent's church and where my parents were married. 

I can honestly state that it hasn't changed one bit!

 The ladies with the birthday girl!

 After an afternoon of previewing old Foley home videos, we learned that every good photograph needs a diva pose...

 The chicas....

 Mother and Daughters...(minus one!)

 Downtown is so beautiful this time of year!

A special walk with a special lady. :)

Happy Birthday Nann!!!

ALSO: Another announcement...

I GOT A JOB!!!!!!!! As of Friday, I am officially employed. More excitement to come in the upcoming week... details to follow. :)

Day 274

SO...

After passing by boards...and receiving my license.... and being depressed about being unemployed... I was invited to go away for the weekend to Little Switzerland with one of my BFF's E. We have been best friends since 2005 and I am so blessed to have her in my life. She has had to work so hard this past year, and finally is employed at a GREAT job with GREAT benefits. I am so proud of her and am blessed to have the weekend away.

 E at Linville Falls - Upper Falls....

 And I thought this was a beautiful view...wait until we hiked up to....

 This view! We were JUST DOWN THERE! 

 and then we thought we couldn't get a prettier view until....

 We hiked up to THIS VIEW! SO BREATHTAKINGLY beautiful. 

 Sweaty and Happy at the top of our hike. :)

 Time to light a fire...

 This time, with a lighter that actually works...

 Such a warm and cozy fire...

 Fire + Footie PJs + Wine = RELAX

 The view from the Fox and Hen Den...

 Before breakfast, on the porch...

180 degrees of beautiful. 

I am blessed. <3

Day 269

BIG NEWS:

I passed my board exam!!!!!!!!

So, after attending a continuing education course on making foot orthotics, I got an excited text message from a classmate saying that the scores were up. I then had to drive 45 minutes home in anxiety, to check my scores. Lucky for me, they were in my favor. It feels monumental and I have such a relief to know that I have passed. I cannot wait to start this new chapter of my life, as a licensed PT. I graduated high school in 2007. Did I ever think that my journey would entail all that it has? No. Did I ever think I would have lived outside of NC? No. Am I glad I did? Yes.

Cheers to this new part of life! Cheers to a career! Cheers to a lifestyle!

:)

Day 267

So, today I can say that I have done something I never thought I would do: A Half Marathon. 13.1 miles. I was inspired by my lovely mother, who was walking with team in training for Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The Durham Dashing Divas raised so much for LLS and were rewarded in a successful race. I was honored to walk/jog beside them. It was a good way to start off a Sunday morning. I loved having my mom there to motivate me to reach a little farther and run just a little bit through the soreness. One of the most rewarding parts was running into a man on the way home. He stopped us and said "Thank You" for raising money for LLS. He said that the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society had saved his life by financially contributing to his treatment. He ran the half marathon and said that he wouldn't have been alive today, had they not helped. So, to everyone who donated in my mother's campaign, this is where your donation went. Helping people who truly appreciate the assistance, and saving lives because of it.

Here are some pictures!

 It was a chilly start, but with this much body heat around you, you were warm! We welcomed the sunrise and literally ran right in it's direction. 

 Mile 4...uphill....The first half was actually the easiest part of the race?

 Mom and I in front of the finish line. Wearing some new "Bling Bling" that was rightfully earned. We ran/walked 12-12.5 min miles. It was a great way to feel accomplished. 

The Durham Dashing Divas. 

Crushing personal goals. 

Raising money to save lives. 

Day 263

I'm DONE! Today I finished my national board exam and I feel hopefully free. I will find out in 10 business days whether or not I really passed, but for now it's ignorance is bliss.

Here are the pictures I have promised from the past few weeks!

 Zero-Dark-Thursday! The UNC on ESPN game! It was so much fun to be back in Chapel Hill and attend the game. Sadly, we lost, but we were winning until the last 30 seconds of the game!

Still, it was a good time.

 Bull City Race Fest. Over 5,000 people showed up to run and even more showed up to eat at food trucks. This race wasn't our personal best, or our personal worst. It as actually pretty cold and had a 2 mile walk back to the car, so needless to say the grits I got from Fowler's on the Fly was well worth the wait. 

 Pumpkin Carvings! Mine is the middle...it is a minon from Despicable Me. I love those minions. Braxton carved his pumpkin as homage to Campbell University. What day is it? Hump Day! Brittney carved herself a cute ghost. Overall, I learned my friends are OCD and carving a pumpkin is a lot harder than I remember. 

 Finally, Braxton and I went to the State fair! It was full of fun, food (gluten free, now!), and rides. What a fun way to end October and spend Braxton's fall break. 

 45 minute wait for the dog show...but it was worth it to see high flying dogs play with frisbees, high jump, and dock jump. 

 Gluten free cookies at the fair! Yum!

 No minion for us this year, but it was still a fun day. 

Here's to you, NC.

Day 260

WOW.
First off, I apologize for the lack of updating. I will say, I have been busy the past week, and before that I was studying my bottom off - which lead to nothing interesting going on - which lead to no pictures.

SO. With that being said. This is how this upcoming week is going to go:

Monday - STUDY
Tuesday - STUDY
Wednesday - LICENSE EXAM
Thursday  - INTERVIEW
Friday - INTERVIEW X 2

Wow, it's going to be a busy week and I am ready! This upcoming month is going to FLY by and I am excited to see what it has in store for me. I have prepared, I have studied, I feel ready to take this exam and give it my all. I will update photos, because I have a BUNCH, maybe on Halloween.

Again, my sincerest apologies for keeping you on the edge of your seat this month. My life just hasn't been that eventful or interesting.

Here's to November!

Day 239

Wowza! I am one lucky girl to have the weekends that I get to experience. After a fabulous Friday night with Braxton' PA school friends relaxing by the pool, and an even more awesome Saturday eating a pumpkin flavored "family dinner" at A^2 apartment, mom and I completed the Ramblin' Rose Triathlon today. It was an event focused on women's empowerment. Even though we got up at 4:55am, got to CH at 6am and were all set up and marked by 6:30am, we had a great time sitting around and just hanging out before the race. My start time was round 8:30 am and I finished around 9:36 am. Needless to say, when they announced my name, which the pronounced correctly for once, mom was in line for the swim and hadn't even started yet! That turned out for the best though, because it was so fun to cheer on mom throughout her first race. Margie showed up to cheer on mom, too, and it was an emotional and happy surprise for her. Here are some pics Braxton took with his fancy shmancy camera.Enjoy.

 Swim is done!

 Here goes the bike!

 Crossing the finish line happy and strong!!

 Hey! They pronounced my name right! That always deserves a celebration!

 Found mom in line for the swim at the end of my race! I was glad that I finished so I could cheer her on for the whole race!

 Races with Bling-Bling really help with the motivation. 

 There she goes! Done with the swim!

 Starting the bike!

 Going strong finishing the bike leg!

 Uphill the last .5 miles? Not fair..but good thing Margie was there to give you some support!

 What an awesome surprise and a great friend!

 My mom ROCKS! End of story. 

 So lucky to have the opportunity to race with her!

 The skillful photographer and his photography subjects. :) Thanks for the pictures, Braxton!

 Margie and Mom . What a great sign!

 Forced Family Fun? More like just FAMILY FUN!

Ready to go home! Now, time to relax. 

Two weeks until the Bull City Racefest with Braxton!