Thursday, October 20, 2011

Holy Hair

For the entire 24 almost 25 years I have been alive I have always had frizzy, dry, oily, curly hair that I hated. I would try everything to make it work for me and I have finally found a routine that works for me. I owe almost all of this success to joining Sam's Club. My husband and I were in there a while back and I needed some new shampoo and conditioner so I went browsing. I came across Suave Professionals Sleek for dry or frizzy hair. (I will insert pics) and I figured "hey...why not". Oh my gosh....after the first wash it felt like someone elses hair completely. I was scared it was just that "first use" feeling but nope...after 2 or so weeks it still feels like that after every wash. So let me break down the routine for you...

All of the products I use...

So the first thing I do is wash my hair. Just the standard washing. I do let the conditioner sit in my hair a bit in a clip. Timing just depends on how long I have and if I have to shave my legs or not. Even if I don't have time to let it sit I still get the same effect. Here is a close up of the shampoo and conditioner.


Once I get out of the shower I put my hair up in a twirly towel aka towel turban. I let it sit while I brush my teeth and put on my toner and moisturizer. I then take my hair out of the towel and blot the excess from the ends. I then use the Infusion 23 #3 Leave-in treatment Repair and Renew. I don't know if this makes any difference whatsoever but I figure it can't hurt. I put it into a spray bottle and spray maybe 4-5 sprays on top and 1 on the ends specifically. I then use my got2b Guardian angel gloss finish blow-out lotion. This stuff is amazing as well. I spray about the same amount as I do the Infusion23. I then brush out my hair with a cricket brush like this one...
These are my absolute all time favorite brushes. I use this one to brush it out because it has wider teeth and I am FAR too lazy to use a comb. The infusion and blow-out lotion make it super easy to brush through your hair. I then blow dry my hair using that brush as well as a cricket paddle brush (thin one). As my hair starts to get dryer I use a round brush just because the closer together bristles help brush out the curls in my hair. My only blowdrying tip is to make sure your dryer points down the hair shaft to minimize frizz. Once my hair is completely dry I straighten it. I do 3 sections so ear to ear, temple to temple, and then the top. I use a Chi straightener that is decorated like fruit stripe gum...no joke. Sorry I don't have a picture. Before I straighten each section I spray on my got2b Guardian Angel Gloss finish flat iron balm. I spray 3 sprays on the bottom two sections and then 2 sprays on the top section. Sometimes I'll do another spray on just the ends. Then I just straighten my hair. This is absolutely the routine I will stick to as long as the products are made. Normally after 3-4 hours my hair gets frizzy or super oily and I put it up. My hair stays silky and straight for all 12 hours of work...pretty impressive. I hope this helps someone else :)



Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Ipod Shuffle Tag

I did this for fun and when I heard all of the songs I realized I had to write them all down. Too funny!


INSTRUCTIONS: 
1. Put your iPod or other music player on shuffle. 

2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer. 

3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS! 

4. Tag those who might enjoy doing this as well as the person you got this from. 


-IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY 


     Lean Wit It, Rock Wit It - Dem Franchize Boyz

-WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY? 


     In da Club - 50 Cent

-WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL? 

     Bad Day - Daniel Powter

-WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE? 



     You - Switchfoot (A Walk to Remember Soundtrack)
-WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO? 


     How Far - Martina McBride

-WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK of You? 


     What These Bitches Want - DMX (bahaha)

-WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN? 


     Imagine - John Lennon

-WHAT IS 2+2? 


     Play No Games - Lil Jon

-WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND? 



     Use Somebody - Kings Of Leon
-WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE? 


     Just Dance - Lady Gaga

-WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY? 


     If I Had A Million Dollars - Barenaked Ladies (ain't that the truth??)

-WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?? 


     Knockout - Lil Wayne ft. Nicki Minaj

-WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE? 


     XXX's and OOO's - Trisha Yearwood

-WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU? 

     Say I Yi Yi - Ying Yang Twins


-WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL? 

     U Got It Bad - Usher


-WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST? 



     One, Two Step - Ciara
-WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET? 

     Shiftwork - Kenny Chesney


-WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS? 



     Believe - Brooks & Dunn
-WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN? 


     Cupid Shuffle - Cupid (another bahahaha)

-HOW WILL YOU DIE? 


     Break Your Heart - Barenaked Ladies

-WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET? 


     Here Comes the Boom - Nelly

-WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?

     Bama Breeze - Jimmy Buffett


-WHAT MAKES YOU CRY? 

     Party Rock Anthem - LMFAO


-WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?

     Here Without You - 3 Doors Down


-WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?

     Crazy - K-Ci and JoJo


-DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?

     I Loved Her First - Heartland 


-IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE? 

     Money To Blow - Birdman


-WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?

     I Get Money - Birdman 


Hope you enjoyed and please message me if you try it :)

Monday, February 14, 2011

Nursing School

Hey Guys! So school makes it really hard to film a video. I rarely look nice enough to put up a video on the internet haha. I figured I can write a blog post and then as soon as I can film I will. This will be super long so if you aren't interested in nursing stuff then don't read it haha. If you are then I hope it helps a lot :)

Class
We currently have class two days a week. Monday from 9-12 and 1-3 and then Tuesday from 1-3. My teachers use power points and a few handouts for our classes. I sit in class and look at the power points and then anytime a teacher emphasizes something multiple times I change the font to red. That tells me that topic WILL be on the exam and that I really need to focus on it. I really don't read my textbook at all unless I can't grasp a topic from the powerpoint or if we are told to look at a figure. I have a bit of a photographic memory so reading too much actually hurts me more than it helps me. Now i'm not telling you to not read your textbook but you need to study in a way that helps you the most. Everyone is different so don't take my advice and then get mad if you fail. For my program we must get a a C to pass which is an 80.
The way that I study for exams is to use a 5 subject notebook. I re-write the power points in my own handwriting because I cannot study printed text.
You also absorb a lot by re-writing the power points because your brain organizes it so you have to make sense of it. Example of my study guide...
Sorry that it is blurry but it's a video still. I only highlight when the teacher stresses that something will be on the test for sure. That's the same info that I change to red font on my power points. 
I generally try to start my study guide one week before the test. This doesn't always happen but I try to make the effort so that I can take my time and not rush. In reality I'm doing it 2 days to 1 day before the exam. Once I finish the study guide I read thru it 3-6 times before the exam. If there is something to memorize then I'll do that  separately. Once again photographic memory means it doesn't take me long to memorize so some ppl have ways to help with that. Generally if I do my full study guide and read thru at least 3 times I can easily get an 80. 
For the final exam I sit down and read through my study guide as much as I can and then take the final. Another thing I am known for is making a grade distributor. I use my syllabus and make an excel document that I can put in grades I have received and see what I need to make to get an 80, 90, etc. It is super helpful when you are at the time of your final and you see that you can get a 50 and still pass the class. Do I shoot for a 50? No, but it makes you feel much more confident. As to making the grade distributor....you just have to be savvy with Microsoft Excel. Example of mine...
In the blue squares you type in your grade and it will formulate your class average. That way you can say "alright if I mess up and get a 50 what do I have to make to still pass the class??"

Clinical
We have clinical 2 days a week for 7.5 hours each. We used to do 12 hour days once a week but we are required to do 15 hours this semester so they made us separate it into two days. Not my favorite but oh well. Clinicals are on Wednesday and Thursday from 6:45 until 2:15ish. 
Breakdown of our days...
On tuesday our assignments are made at the hospital. Meaning after my 3 o'clock class ends I go to our assignment sheet and get the patient's room number and initials. I then go and see if the patient has been discharged (happens a lot sadly) and if not then I go into the computers and get their diagnosis, meds, labs, diagnostic tests, nurse and physician notes and any other information I can get my hands on. You then go home and research the information and learn about the meds. I have come up with a sheet that helps me organize everything for each patient that is easy to read and not a billion pages to shuffle through when my instructor asks a question. I will put a picture below, if you are interested in the sheet just email me callisonannee@gmail.com For some reason they are hard to find online but i'll gladly share mine. I have another version that has more pages if you are interested in that. I also have a sheet for assessments. *Note - some programs require specific papers so check this beforehand. 

Overall this has helped me a ton. The meds are not ALL the meds but just PRN (as needed) so pain meds, nausea meds, and what not. Anything that I need to keep the time for myself because the computer can't tell me that Room A is due for his pain med IF he wants it. The other sheet is basically the same thing but much bigger and more room. My assessment sheet is very basic and is mainly just to keep me from forgetting to check something. My sheet is one page but the one I document at the hospital is at least 6-7 pages. A lot of an assessment isn't measured so it's in your head but my sheet reminds me what to do especially with a chatty patient who distracts you often. This is my assessment sheet...

*Once again if you want any of these please just email me. 
Ok so back to clinical. You do all of your work the night before and then show up the next morning. I get there 6:15-6:20 so that if my patient went home (major bummer) I can start looking up my new patient. If not I get any new labs, meds, nurses notes, orders, and what not. I always check my chart incase the physician has visited and wrote new orders. Then we get report from the off going nurse and introduce ourselves to the new nurse. Tell them who I am, what patient I have, if i'm giving meds, and what I am allowed or not allowed to do. We also go in and introduce ourselves to the patient as the primary nurse and student nurse so they know what to expect and just incase they don't want a student we can talk to them and see what they say. Then we go get our assessment done, pass morning meds and then do whatever is needed for the day. If you only have one patient then you get relatively bored so we help out with other patients as we are allowed. When you have 3 patients and are giving meds your day feels like about 15 minutes for 7 hours haha. What you are allowed to do will start out very basic (basic needs) and then progress as you check off on your skills. We can do anything now except for PCAs and other things like that. Then at the end of the day you find out if you will have the same or different patients the next day. If you have different then you have to repeat the research that night....not fun at all. 

Whew that was long. If you have any more questions let me know and i'll add them at the bottom. Hope this helps a lot :)

Saturday, January 1, 2011

New Years Tag 2011

Questions:
What did you do in 2010 that you'd never done before? Got to spend time on a labor and delivery floor and newborn nursery. Most awesome experience of my life!


Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I didn't make any for last year. I always joke and say that I will quit smoking and doing crack/heroin but if you know me i'm a huge hater of smoking and drugs haha.

Did anyone close to you give birth? My sister in law :) I now have two adorable nephews.

Did anyone close to you die? No thankfully.

What countries did you visit? The good ole US of A

What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010? An associate degree in Nursing :)

What dates from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory? 2/11 (my birthday) and 5/24 (our one year wedding anniversary)

What was your biggest failure? Getting a C which sucks because it was really an 83 but we use that stupid grading scale.

Did you suffer illness or injury? Unfortunately I suffer illness a lot.

What was the best thing you bought? Lots of nail polish

Where did most of your money go? Makeup and food

What did you get really, really, really excited about? Hanging out in Wilmington with two of my best friends

What song will always remind you of 2010? Crazy Bitch - Buckcherry

Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Mostly Happier
b) thinner or fatter? Thinner
c) richer or poorer? Poorer just because Panera makes less than UPS at Christmas

What do you wish you'd done more of? Spent more time with family. I miss my family more than anything and school all week and work every weekend really sucks.

What do you wish you'd done less of? Procrastination

How will you be spending New Years? Um I got in bed at 11:45 and laid next to Clay watching the ball drop and then bed because I had to get up at 5:15

What was your favorite TV program? The Closer

What was the best book you read? I re-read Angels and Demons which is an amazing book

What was your greatest musical discovery? Lil Wayne rediscovery and Lady Gaga (Paparazzi in particular)

What did you want and get? The ability for my husband and I to get a degree in something we love

What did you want and not get? To have less illness

What was your favorite film of this year? Inception

What did you do on your birthday? Ate crab legs and just spent time with Husband, Mom and Dad

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Less illness

How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010? Same as always...comfortable

What kept you sane? Amazing friends

Who did you miss? Any family I didn't get to see

Who was the best new person you met? Although I met her in 2008 my friend from school and I got a lot closer.

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009: If you have anxiety at all. Keep your mind busy and you will feel much better. Anxiety is the enemy of a still mind.

Was 2010 a good year for you? Why? I feel like it really was a great year with school.

What was your favorite moment of the year? 3 straight nights of dancing with my best friends.

Where were you when 2010 began? Hanging out with my family and watching movies.

Where will you be when 2010 ends? Same as last year

Did you make any new friends in 2010? New work friends and some new school friends.

What was your favorite month of 2010? February for my birthday and any summer month.

How many different states / provinces did you travel to in 2010? Umm none

What was your favorite movie that you saw in 2010? Definitely Inception

What was your favorite record from 2010? Um by record i'm hoping you meant song and that would be Bottoms Up

How many concerts did you see in 2010? None

Did you drink a lot of alcohol in 2010? Yes :)

Did you do a lot of drugs in 2010? Not one. Well I did have my wisdom teeth out so that is probably it.

What was the worst lie someone told you in 2010? You probably won't get dry socket.

How much money did you spend in 2010? Wayyy too much

What was your proudest moment of 2010? Having 2 patients before any other nursing student :)

If you could go back in time to any moment of 2010 and change something, what would it be? Not taking off time this summer to visit family more.

What are your plans for 2011? Graduate nursing school, pass the NCLEX-RN, move back in with my husband and get a job.