May Recap 2016

   Oh boy, May has definitely thrown me for a loop because it picked up speed like no other. The month started out strong, but as the beginning of SPP got closer, the month flew by. I spent most of the month enjoying my last moments of infinite free time and preparing to take on my classes. So, let's get into what I've been up to!

Week One

   

  The first week of May was pretty relaxed for me. The only major thing that I happened to do was  taking a Thursday hiking trip down to Matthiessen State Park. If you are familiar with the Starved Rock area, these trails are just down the street from Starved Rock. I have been to both, and I think Matthiessen might be my favorite. The main feature of the park is the "trail" in the park's central canyon. It's not fully a trail because most of getting through the canyon involves hopping over rocks and trying not to fall into the creek. The adrenaline of trying to figure out how to make it from one rock to another without getting wet was invigorating and just being able to "get lost in the woods" was such a great change from my everyday routine. If you haven't been able to tell, I really love being in nature, and I was so happy that I could spend the day taking all the natural beauty in. The rest of the weekend I just spent at home. I knew the next couple of weekends would be busy ones for me, so I wanted to spend some time enjoying being at home before heading off to the city. I went out to dinner with my family to celebrate an early mother's day. We had sushi at one of our favorite places, checked out this new dessert place that I've been dying to try, and also a new brewery. My parents are on the younger side, so it's actually not that weird to go out with them for drinks. Craft beer is kind of our thing and we are always testing new places in the Chicagoland area. 

The park map

The stairs down to the trail. These were a pain on the hike back

One of my favorite pics of the trip. These were the stairs to get into the canyon trail.

I had to hop over many rocks to get this pic. It was definitely worth it.

Adding our mark to the rock pile in the canyon.

The path on the upper portion of the trails. They were also breathtaking.

Dessert at Snow Dragon Shavery! I had milk tea shaved ice.

Celebrating Mother's Day with my gorgeous Mama.

Week Two

     Week two was my last week of work before starting my summer program, and it was very bittersweet. Of course, I was thrilled to be moving on to the next chapter in my life, but I was sad that I had to leave the wonderful group of people that have made work feel like home for the past year. We spent the weekend celebrating together. Friday, they threw me a "good-bye" dinner. It was so sweet and I was so happy to have so much support in pursuing my medical school dreams from this amazing group of people. They kept telling me how proud they were of me, and you better believe it was hard not to get teary-eyed. The next morning, I joined Crystal and our other friend/co-worker Shay for a hike at one of our favorite spots. Then later in the day, I went over to Crystal's for a party because she was celebrating her birthday. We all had a blast dancing and just being silly. Aside from work, I took an impromptu trip to Indianapolis at the beginning of the week with my Cousin. He's moving there and I went along to help him look for an apartment. I had never been to Indy, so it was nice to see what it was like.

Saw this and had to take a picture. "Do it for the blog" has become my motto.

We gave a shout out to the B-day girl at dinner.

With Shay and Crystal!

My home squad<3

We were dying. Our manager, Nora, is the one in front and she's a riot.

Week Three

     Week three was prep week. I spent most of the week relaxing at home and getting myself ready to move into my dorm on Saturday. I also spent my last couple days at home packing and spending time with my family. I had a sleepover on Thursday with Elida, so that we could watch the Grey's season finale (Who's excited about next season?!?) and also spend some quality time. Once I moved in Saturday, I spent the rest of the weekend hanging out with my roommate so that we could get to know one another. Saturday, we checked out the area around the school and were so glad that we found the best place to get milkshakes. Sunday, we walked around the touristy parts of Chicago. We grabbed brunch, checked out the Chicago Riverwalk (I hadn't had the chance to check it out, so I was happy to do that), and just enjoyed the beautiful weather. So far, we've been getting along wonderfully and I am so glad that I lucked out in the roomie department. Sadly, she's going to one of our other campuses, so I won't be able to room with her past the summer, but I can already tell we will be having a great time (or as much of a great time as we can have).

Loved this adorable mug from Elida's kitchen.

Elida's mom makes the best Mexican breakfast.

Brunch at Yolk in Chicago.

The view of the Chicago River from the riverwalk.

Week Four

     I think of week four as reality week, because it had me thinking, "What did I get myself into?". Coming into this program was definitely a drastic change compared to what I had been up to the previous year. Our days are pretty packed with classes and when we aren't in class, we try to get studying in at home. It's taking some getting used to, but reminding myself that this is what I wanted is what helps me get through it. It's crazy because I've been dreaming of becoming a doctor for a while and now it's here in my grasp. We keep hearing "When you're an M1"and I still can't believe that'll be me this fall. Our week was very school oriented, but we tried to have fun on the weekend. Friday, Emily and I went out for dinner before heading to study for a couple hours. Then Saturday, we met her sister for drinks, before I went off to attend the Beyonce concert with Megan. Beyonce was absolutely incredible and I had such a great time dancing and singing with my bestie. Sunday, I grabbed brunch with my family before coming home to grab a couple things that I was missing at the dorm as well as spend some time with them before things get very hectic. 

Emily and me looking less than enthused about our 7- hour orientation.

Our delicious BBQ dinner on Friday.

Before Beyonce, we grabbed dinner at this adorable nautical-themed restaurant. I was loving the decor. 

Before Beyonce!

So thankful I got to share this experience with this gorgeous human being. #girlswhowillruntheworld

Queen B. The show was incredible.

Honestly, one of the best brunch places I've tried. I had lemon poppyseed waffles topped with a blueberry compote. 

Looking Forward

     I know the month ahead is going to be a challenging one, but I am going to do my best to kick butt. We have an exam every Monday starting June 6th. I am so excited that I am getting a taste of medical school because it has only reaffirmed that I am doing what I should be doing, but it has also shown me that I'm going to work my butt off for this. Thankfully, I am up for the challenge. Also, each month I keep getting closer to officially becoming an M1 (two more months!!)! I am excited to share all the things I'll be doing during this program and I hope that I can keep up with it all. Also, If I happen to miss a post, I greatly apologize in advance. I will be trying to do my best to keep that from happening, but I am merely human:)

I hope you guys had a great month and I can't wait to share what I've been up to next month!

~Genesis<3

April Recap 2016

         April was such a fun month and I think that it was pretty balanced in the different areas of my life. We also had some really great weather, so I tried to spend as much time outside as possible. It was quite comical because we had snow one week and then 80-degree weather the next, and I think that was a perfect representation of Chicago's iconic mercurial weather. Regardless, it has been wonderful and semi-packed with great things. So, let's see what I've been up to!

Week One

     The first major event of the month was meeting the Chicago Squad up at my Alma Mater for a girl's morning. My best friend Gianna still attends there (She's graduating this upcoming month! Woo hoo!), so I met up with her and Meg for brunch and nails.  I didn't get to see much of G last month, so it felt really nice to just catch up with her and just have some time with the girls. I had gone dancing with some of the girls from work the night before, so I was a bit sleepy. But, nothing can keep me away from a good brunch and time with my girls.

It's not a StripesandStethoscope monthly recap without brunch. Right?

G and me! I brought out my stripes;)

My girls:) I'm sure the smiles say it all.

Week Two

     The highlight of week two was that I got to do something that I had been wanting to do for a while. One of the best parts of living in Chicago is that we have so many great museums. One of my favorites has to be the Art Institute. Back in February, they announced that they were going to have a special Van Gogh exhibit. I love Van Gogh ( I actually have framed prints of Sunflowers and The Starry Night hanging in my bedroom), so I had been super excited to go check it out. Elida and I had been trying to coordinate our days off in order to make a trip to the art institute, but It hadn't panned out until finally the stars aligned and we both had the day off. We spent the majority of the day roaming through the Art Institute and then followed up with a trip to Giordano's (One of the best places for deep dish. A must if you are in Chicago) for a late lunch/early dinner. It's safe to say I was stuffed with happiness and deep dish that day (haha). Otherwise, the weekend was rather tame. 

Us pretending that the weather wasn't terrible outside (lol)

A picture from the museum's miniatures room.  Also, me pretending I was in Paris. A girl can dream, right?

Advertisement for the exhibit. I'm pretty sure they thought I was creeping on them. Sorry peeps, you're not that special (lol)

A photo of the "Ancient Bae's". In all seriousness, I do love me some Greco-Roman Art.

A lovely painting by Georgia O'Keeffe. We share a birthday, so she's naturally one of  my faves.

Monet is another must-have. His work is so gorgeous. The Art Institute has a whole room of his work, and we spent quite a bit of time admiring it.

This was one of our attempts at getting a glamour shot on the museum's beautiful staircase. I caught her off guard.

This was pre-deep dish food coma. It was worth every cheesy, delicious bite.

Week Three

     The two major highlights of week three were going blonde and going back to my future medical school for second look day. I know I've talked about my hair before on this blog, so you know that up until last October, I had never dyed my hair. In October, I had my sister do a bit of highlighty balayage and I really liked that. Over the following months, it grew out a bit. We re-toned it, but I was feeling like I was ready for something new. I had seen some really beautiful pictures on Instagram of balayage, and for some reason, blonde was calling my name. For weeks, I was enamoured with the idea but scared that I would hate it. Until one day, I decided that I wanted to go for it. I must've sent Em a thousand different pictures because I had many different styles that I really liked. In the end, I told her to just do whatever. She knows me very well, so I trusted that I would love it no matter what. Well, I surely wasn't wrong. She went with a more ombre, rooted blonde, and I absolutely love it! The first few days, I was in utter shock. I had never changed my hair so drastically, and it felt so different. As the days went by, I fell more in love with it, and I have gotten soo many compliments. The whole concept went with my idea of being daring and going for things, so I am very happy that I went through with it.  Afterwards, we went out for dinner. We checked out this cute little sushi place in Wicker Park, and I have to say it was awesome.

Right after getting it done. The lighting made it look a little darker.

About a week and a half after. You can see it's much lighter than the picture above.

We were super stuffed after this. So worth it, though!

     A couple days later was second look day. My medical school invited back the admitted students, so the could get another look at the campus and they could also hear about all the great things the program has to offer before making final decisions. I brought my parents along because I wanted them to see where I would be attending and see what I am excited about. I am so glad that I did because they really liked the school. If it is even possible, I fell even more in love with the school. After walking around and hearing what will be coming, I cannot wait to be there and to finally say that I am a medical student. I feel like I'll fit in with the atmosphere of the school and my makes me really happy that I'll be attending there. Following the second look day program, the current MS1s hosted a mixer at a local bar for the potential MS1s to meet. It was a great opportunity to ask the current students questions as well as meet some of my future classmates. I connected with a couple girls that were super nice, and we added each other on Facebook. Overall, it was a really great day. Unfortunately, I didn't really get a chance to take pics as the day was super busy and I didn't want to be that girl.

Our breakfast spot! This place has always been a fave. We used to come here when I was little and we would visit my Dad at work.

The folders they handed out. I made a joke about this being a sign that I was meant to be the future Meredith Grey lol

     Sunday, we had really great weather, so my sister and I decided to go out for a hike. I absolutely love being outdoors, so it felt super relaxing to get outside. We hiked about 4.0 miles and then decided we were getting hungry and needed coffee. Which meant we followed up with a Starbucks trip. Em is usually pretty busy, so it was great to get to spend some time with her.

Em makes hiking look glamourous

The trail

Week Four

     This past week, not a lot was going on. I was rather content with that as the past couple weeks had been rather busy. I did meet my work friends for a hike both Saturday and Sunday morning. Both days we met up at 8 A.M. It was a bit of a struggle, but getting up early really helps me feel productive, and getting in my workout at the start of the day is always great. Besides that, I spent a lot of time at home and with my family. I've been trying to spend time with them as I know that I'll soon be in the city, and it'll be much easier to see my friends, but will take a little more effort to see my parents. Em works downtown, so I can easily catch up with her for lunch or dinner, so I'm not too worried there.

The hiking trail starts with some super steep stairs. Trust me, they'll prove whether you are in shape or not.

Looking Forward

     For me, it's crazy to think that as the weeks go by, I am getting closer to medical school. As I am typing this, I have about three weeks before my pre-mat program begins. Last week, I had to do some online training for working with formaldehyde, and I think that it's a sign that we will be doing some cadaver lab in our six-week program. Ah! For the next coming weeks, I am trying to get myself together to begin this next portion of my life but also, trying to enjoy all the free time that I have left. I am incredibly excited and slightly nervous about what is about to come, but I know that it'll be incredible. If anything, I am feeling a bit anxious to just get started and as the weeks go by, that feeling is building. I also can't wait to share the whole journey with you guys! I really want to get started, so that I have more to share with you guys, rather than being limited to the "thought" pieces that I've been doing lately. Alas, all of that will happen soon enough:)

I hope you guys had an incredible month. As always, I hope you guys enjoyed getting a peek into what I've been up to as I really love writing it. I'll talk to you guys soon!

~Genesis<3

February Recap 2016

     February has really flown by, but I'd say that it had a lot to do with how busy I've been for the month. February has definitely been the month of friends, as I've had the chance to catch up with many of my different friend groups. It has also been a month of changing routines, as I've become more of a morning person ( shocking I know). I think the latest I've gotten up all month has been 9:00 A.M. and that is pretty incredible for me. I also challenged myself to take way more pictures this month so that this post would be a bit more exciting than the last one (sorry!) and I think I did a pretty good job. Overall, I really enjoyed how February felt, as I felt incredibly loved and I couldn't have spent the month better than to have spent it with the people that I love<3

Highlights

     -The month began pretty chill and one of the first things that I did was have a paint night with some of the girls from work. We met at one of the girls' houses and then we just drank and painted. I have never really been an artist (although I do make some pretty sweet stick figures) but it was just fun to pursue my creative side and see what I could come up with. I found a quote that I loved on Pinterest and decided to paint that. I wanted to go for a Kate Spade inspired piece so naturally, the gold dots were a must have. I traced out the larger dots and I kind of regret doing that as I couldn't completely erase the pencil marks, but I still love how the piece turned out.

My masterpiece;)

     My friend Crystal really kicked butt, though. She painted a Blackhawks inspired piece and I absolutely loved it! 

- February also held quite a few trips to the fabric store with my mom. There's this one up in Evanston ( For my non-Chicagoans, It's a town slightly north of Chicago) that has a huge selection of fabrics, so on a few of my days off, we took a little road trip up there. I picked out a couple fabrics as well, and my mom is going to make me some skirts. I love spending time with my momma so of course, the trip was just great in itself. 

- My Best Friend, Elida, came back from her trip to Mexico at the end of January, so I had to see her. We met up for dinner and then just went exploring. We found a cute pet shop that we popped into. She's a big animal lover. so she was in heaven. Afterwards, we just roamed the mall. She's a spontaneous person, so she decided she wanted to get her ears double pierced. Of course, I was there for moral support, but when I snapped the pic below, the fear in her face was pretty priceless. She said it didn't hurt too much, but it was still pretty funny. 

- Then, on Superbowl Sunday, I got the chance to catch up with two of my really good friends from college. My friend Hannah (pictured in the center) threw a little party at her apartment so I got to catch up with her and my friend Alissa (also pictured) who is in medical school. There was so much food and it was really great to be able to see them both, as our busy scheduled had prevented us from seeing each other since I believe October.

- The first two weekends of the month were relatively tame, but then Valentine's weekend hit and that's where I got incredibly busy. On Thursday, I went to the Blackhawks vs. Dallas game with my friend, Allison. It had been quite some time since I had been to a game (the tickets have been crazy expensive since they won the past Stanley Cups), so it was so awesome to just go and support the boys. We had really great seats right behind the home goal, so it was super cool. One of our other friends was also at the game, so during intermission, we would head out and catch up with her. Unfortunately, the boys lost, but it was a great time nonetheless.

Me and Allison

Our friend Sarah and Allison holding the delicious Big Star nachos I had for dinner

- Friday, I went to a burlesque show with my friend Crystal. It was a really great time, but I didn't take any pictures, so I apologize for that.

- Saturday, we celebrated my bestie Gianna's 22nd birthday. We started out the afternoon with high tea at The Drake hotel downtown. The room, palm court, where they hold tea is absolutely stunning and the whole experience was pretty great. It felt very elegant and the environment was very relaxing, so it was a fantastic way to wind down before heading out for a night of drinks and dancing. I had such a great time that I definitely want to go back. If you've never had tea like this before, I highly recommend it.

SN: All of the food was incredible

The Birthday Girl

Chicago Squad plus two

- Sunday was my little cousin Valentine's 18th birthday. She was born on Valentine's day, so every year we hold a little get together for her. I headed back from the city and over to my Aunt's house. We had dinner and hung out. I was pretty happy about having a low-key day after an eventful couple of days. It also snowed like crazy that day, so it was pretty great to be inside.

Me and the Birthday girl

 - February also marked the third complete month that I've been blogging. I am super proud of the fact that I've stuck with it, and each time I see the number of views (made it past 1,000 views) or social media followers grow it warms my heart. I started this blog to share my journey to, through, and after medical school and to think people might actually be interested is super cool. If you take the time to read what I have to say, I greatly appreciate it. You don't know how much it means to me<3

Looking Forward

    For March, I already have a couple of things that I am planning to do. I also know I'll be hearing more about things for school, so that's pretty exciting. I'll be trying to enjoy my last couple months of freedom (May will definitely be here sooner than I will imagine), and working on getting healthier as I had quite a bit of fun in February. 

I hope you enjoyed the little glimpse into my life. I really enjoy sharing it with you! Have a fantastic rest of the week and an even better weekend. I'll talk to you soon!

~Genesis<3