Happy Monday everyone! I hope you all had amazing weekends. If you read my post from Friday, you know that this was a pretty big weekend for me. I graduated from college! I am beyond excited (and exhausted) from this weekend and I am thrilled to be typing this from home. For anyone who might not know, I graduated (ah!) from James Madison University with a major in nursing and a minor in chronic illness, both of which I absolutely loved.  This will be a quick-ish post today, because I have so much sleep to catch up on unpacking/cleaning to do, but I wanted to share a few pictures from this weekend!

Friday 
I had my nursing pinning ceremony in the afternoon which is a tradition for nursing graduates across the country. I honestly liked this ceremony better than the university commencement because it felt so much more personal and it had more sentimental meaning for me. We recite a pledge and get to be pinned by a favorite professor. There were so many times during the ceremony where I wanted to cry, but as silly as it sounds, I didn't want to wreck my makeup because I knew I wanted to take pictures! After snapping a few pictures afterwards, we went out to dinner (@ Texas Roadhouse... I am embarrassingly in love with their food!) and went to the movies to, of course, see Star Wars...which was incredible and completely surpassed my expectations! Did anyone else see it this weekend?

Saturday

I had my university commencement ceremony in the morning at the convocation center, and it was a fairly simple ceremony, except for the fact that the fire alarm went off in the middle of the commencement speaker's speech! Everyone had to file out of the convocation center and wait outside while the building was checked...it was crazy. The ceremony was started back up pretty quickly, and I eventually had my name called to walk across the stage. It was amazing and scary at the same time! If you were wondering, I didn't trip going across the stage at either event...like I thought I was going to! After the ceremony, we went to lunch and then quickly packed up the rest of my apartment. Once we had packed everything in my car, we hit the road to get a few hours closer to home so that we wouldn't have to drive the whole 12 hours on Sunday.

Sunday

We drove the rest of the way home and I was finally reunited with my babies (the cats). 

I was so happy with how this weekend turned out. Sometimes I let stress get the best of me, and I really tried to relax and keep the stress in check. Fortunately, the only hiccup of the weekend was the fire alarm going off during the ceremony and if that was the worst thing, then I think that means I was pretty lucky! It is weird to think that now I am official an alumni of JMU and that one chapter of my life has closed to let another one start. I am so excited to be moved home and be in one place for a while, and to continue this blog as a post-grad! 

What did you get up to this weekend?

Linking up here today! 

5 Exciting Things

Happy Friday people! I hope this week was a breeze for you and that you have exciting plans for the weekend. My weekend plans are a part of the five exciting things that I have to tell you about so lets get on with this five on Friday!

1. My visit home
A few weeks ago, I was able to rearrange my schedule a bit to be able to fly home for a long weekend...actually a really long weekend (Wednesday- Monday). Since it has been hard for me in the past to get home during September/October, it had been a few years since I had seen Maine in the fall. However it was just as beautiful as I remembered. I was even excited when the weather was a bit chilly, because it made the visit just a perfect fall weekend. We went apple picking as a family (but really, the best part was the warm donuts we bought there!) John and I were able to have a date night out at one of our favorite restaurants, and I was able to visit with friends who I hadn't seen since I left to go back to school in August. But most importantly, I saw my cats and dog! Obviously, the weekend went by so fast...Since I was able to do so much though, I was satisfied when I was leaving and just reminded myself that in order to come back, I had to leave first!

John looks so #fall in this picture and I love it! 

My little brothers aren't so little anymore! 

2. Senior Capstone
Last week was my last week of my senior capstone for nursing! At JMU, for eight weeks, we get to to a nurse preceptor one-on-one and we get to follow their schedule and learn from/work with them. I worked 3p-3a (hence my trouble keeping up with writing) in an emergency department, and to say I learned a lot is an understatement. I love the pace and the turn over of patients, and I love that I can see a whole range of issues in just one shift. What I found difficult was patients who weren't pleased with waiting and also getting myself acclimated to working a partial night shift. However, towards the end of my eight weeks, I really found myself enjoying the night aspect and I was able to get used to the schedule. I started to feel like a real nurse and I was loving it!

3. Rocking my practice exam
On my days off for the past eight weeks, I was studying because in order to actually become a registered nurse, I have to pass a licensure exam (the NCLEX) after I graduate. In the past few weeks, I really amped up my studying as I had a special practice exam this week that is designed to predict whether or not we will pass the NCLEX. Although I was super nervous and felt like all the studying I had done hadn't stuck in my brain, I did a great job on the exam and according to this test, I have a really good chance of passing the NCLEX....Will that stop me from continuing to study like crazy and stress about having to take a licensure exam? No. But was it nice to know that my study habits must be effective and that I can continue doing my thing? You bet!

Just a few of my review books...

4. Homecoming weekend 
This weekend at JMU is homecoming! We have a bunch of people coming to stay at our apartment and plans to tailgate the game tomorrow. But what is different about this homecoming weekend, compared to past years, is that the ESPN College GameDay show is being filmed live on our campus on tomorrow! Its a big deal for us, because we aren't a big SEC school or one that gets a lot of attention so this is definitely JMU's chance to shine and maybe get more notice for the future. So if you are bored Saturday morning between 9-12...turn on ESPN and watch to see my beautiful campus!

Throwback to homecoming last year!

5. Future exciting plans
I love this time of year because there is so much happening all in a short span of time. We have Halloween coming up, and then a few weeks after, my family is coming to visit. Next, I have a good chunk of time off for Thanksgiving. After, I come back to school for just a few weeks and then I GRADUATE! I am so ready and so incredibly excited to finally be done with school and get on into the working world. I can't wait to get started as a nurse once I pass my exam and finally put to use, all the things I have learned!

Obviously Liz Lemon is the only one who can depict my emotions most accurately. via

I just realized that I basically wrote a novel for today's post, and I understand that since it's Friday you might be too tired to read it all. So if you're skipping to the end, I will do a TL;DR for you...many exciting things have happened, and many exciting things are coming up. You're welcome! Also, I promise to be back next week to talk about TV and my mascara. Are you excited because I am!

Currently...(Finals Week Edition)

Ugh, I have been the worst blogger the past few weeks and I have finals to blame. However, I am forcing myself to take a break from my critical care nursing studies to catch up on my bloglovin' feed and read some weekend wrap up posts. Did you know those are one of my favorite kinds of posts? I am just so nosy and like to know what everyone else has done over the weekend! I spent most of my weekend studying, but it has paid off so far with a 96 on my pediatric nursing final. WOO! One down, two to go. My hardest is tomorrow, so I am only giving myself a half hour to write this post. Since I have been away from my beloved space here on the internet for a while, I thought I would do a little catch up piece! 

Working on: Aside from exams, I am mentally working on two things...1) What to get my mom for Mother's Day, and 2) What to get John for graduation. Both are on Sunday and I am completely clueless about what to do. 

Thankful for: JMU!

I can't complain about studying and finals because I am so fortunate to go to the best school in the world! 💜💛

A photo posted by Meghan Farrell (@mfarrelll14) on May 4, 2015 at 5:05pm PDT

Listening to: My spring playlist. I have been jamming to it every morning on my way to campus and I am sure everyone who drives past me likes my karaoke show. 

Watching: As a study break, I watch old episodes of Game of Thrones...It's better the second time around!

Anticipating: GOING HOME! Its starting to get a little humid here in Virginia so I look a bit like Monica in Barbados...

via

Eating: Honey-wheat pretzels. What was I thinking buying them? The bag is nearly gone. 

Wearing: Yoga pants and a sweatshirt has become my studying uniform...The library keeps the AC at what feels like 55 degrees so even when its 80 degrees out, I am inside shivering!

One week until I start posting from home! I am beyond ready to get summer started. I hope you all have an amazing week!

Also, a huge thank you to Brittany @ Life Like a Twenty Something  and Lauren @ The Arizona Prepster for nominating me for the Liebster Award!

10 Ways to Procrastinate Studying for Finals

Since I have seen a lot of posts recently on surviving finals week... I thought I would give you some of my personal favorite procrastination tips just in case you aren't ready to spend endless hours in the library staring at a study guide with highlighter all over your hands and coffee spilled down your favorite sweatshirt. For those of you who are fortunate enough to be passed the college phase of your life, I want to know what your tips are for surviving finals week, especially when the forecast says its going to be 80 degrees and gorgeously sunny outside. 

1. Watch Game of Thrones

and wonder how many times a month the actress who plays Daenerys Targaryen needs to dye her hair to keep it that blonde. 

via

2. Scroll through your own Instagram

and reminisce about better times (like when you weren't in the library). Loved this pic from this past weekend at Foxfield!

Sunny state of mind #foxfield2015

A photo posted by Meghan Farrell (@mfarrelll14) on Apr 25, 2015 at 7:12pm PDT

3. Bake cookies

because calories don't count during finals. 

4. Learn how to make a killer paper airplane

so your friend can literally send a guy her number from across the room. 

5. Rearrange your Pinterest board 

shameless plug here. 

6. Watch the Bruce Jenner interview

and be amazed by some people's bravery to show their true selves to the world. 

7. Try on your summer clothes

to just get you excited for summer...anyone else do this?

8. Flood your BFFs snapchat with very unflattering pics

does this need more explanation?

9. Take a nap

the answer for everything

10. Schedule out every hour of your day 

and then ignore it because you are not yet at the panicking stage of finals week. 

I hope this gave you some inspiration to go get procrastinating!

**disclaimer...I swear I'm a very good student and I will do fine on my finals! I love my classes and already have study guides for all of my exams next week and have started studying for them!** 

Halloween/Homecoming Recap!

I am a little nervous this post won't make any sense as I am still half asleep after having all my energy completely zapped from the weekend! From 5:30 Friday morning when my alarm went off to wake up for clinical, to 4pm last night when our last guest left, it has been nonstop. 

FRIDAY

Halloween! I spent most of the day at my nursing clinical, and was soo excited the entire day because my best friend (who graduated in the spring) was coming to visit for Homecoming weekend here at JMU! I rushed home to lots of big hugs and very girly screams as it has been two months since our last visit. After meeting up with some other alumni for dinner, we went back to our apartment to get ready. 

As I have written before, I love makeup...so this Halloween I wanted to do something cool with it! 

FINAL PRODUCT 

Everyone said I looked so creepy and I was just happy that it stayed on the whole night even though I was dancing like a fool! I had my phone out the whole night taking pictures with every intention of posting them here today, but as I look back on them, they are blurry and embarrassing with unflattering angles so just be grateful I am not subjecting you to the horror. 

SATURDAY

Homecoming! While we are not known much for our football team, JMU likes to tailgate like we are. So even though it was 44 degrees and raining, we bravely left our apartment to partake in the activities. We hopped around and visited with friends who were having tailgates, and unfortunately chickened out when it finally came time to head into the stadium for the game because my fingers were too cold to even open my purse to get the tickets... BUT we did manage to take this pic before we headed home! 

JMU's mascot is the Duke Dog!

After getting home, we crawled into beds and hopped on couches to nap, with every intention of getting up and dressing up again...but instead we woke up and were too lazy and tired to get off said couches. So a Bridesmaids viewing and freshly baked cookies ended up being more our speed. 

SUNDAY

We woke up feeling completely well rested and refreshed (thanks Daylight Savings Time)! After a yummy brunch, we decided to be more lazy and watch more TV until our guests unfortunately had to leave to go back to the real world. To console ourselves, my roommate and I had leftover pizza and watched movies until the sudden realization hit us that we had lots of homework...

Overall, I couldn't have asked for a better weekend! Now onto a challenging week with probably the hardest test I am going to take this semester on Thursday! I hope you all have a great week! 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Guys, I am so sad that its the last day of October. I mean, I am happy because it's Halloween and I love Halloween, but I am sad to see #Blogtober14 go. I had so much fun linking up with Helene and Tay! However, I am excited to take my newly learned blogging skills and really run with them!

I thought I would share my plan for my costume for tonight and tomorrow...yes I live in a college town so Halloween started last night and will continue onto Saturday. Tonight, I plan on being half of a skeleton with one side of my body painted with bones and half of a skeleton face. The other half will be just very girly makeup and I will probably curl my hair!
On Saturday, I know I will be tired from tailgating (because its Homecoming weekend too!!) so I have just decided to be a simple vampire...so black on black clothing with scary (ish) makeup.

I am sorry that this is short post today, but I didn't have a lot of time to write as I need to prepare for my apartment to be inundated with alumni who want to pretend like they are still in college for the weekend! I am beyond excited to see them and can't wait to give them the weekend they have been looking forward to!

If you want to see pictures of my costumes, I will most definitely be taking pictures and uploading them to Instagram tonight and tomorrow so click here for my Instagram profile! There will most definitely be a more detailed post about my costumes going up at the beginning of next week so stay tuned for that as well! I can't wait to read about everyone else's Halloween!

HAVE A GREAT HALLOWEEKEND!

What are you dressing up as for Halloween? 

Lilly Pulitzer 2014-2015 Agendas

"Hot Spot"

Yesterday while eating my breakfast, I received a very exciting email...It was from Lilly Pulitzer saying we could now preorder their new agendas for the 2014-2015 school year! For the past couple years, I have bought myself a Lilly Pulitzer agenda and loved their whimsical patterns and fun stickers on the inside! As a busy nursing student, I absolutely live by my planner as it is essential to my time management. If it doesn't get written down, it doesn't get done! Since I bring it with me everywhere, I like that its a good size (I like the large size) and its cute! 

If the large is too big or too small for your needs, they also have small, medium and jumbo sizes as well. I've included some pictures and print names of the agendas that I like the best this year...I hope you like them too!

"Tripping and Slipping"

        

    

"Biggest Fan"

                                                                                 

What is your #1 organization tool?