Krafting Out Another Year

A shout out to everyone that made the big-ol-bowl of mac-and-cheese anniversary, otherwise known as my Birthday celebration, complete!   I added a digit this weekend as, you guessed it, a Newlymed.  I am now a twenty something +1.  I wanted to scoop out a moment of the day and take off my chef's hat to the many great chef's from many birthdays past who always make it a day/night to remember/forget.  

2005-Sophmore year jean jacket, headed to a frat party (not ironic at all)

2006-Junior year at 834

2007-Senior year, the last mac bowl in Nola

2008-Freshman year (of life) in NYC

2009-Sophmore year of life, the iconic towel wrap makes a return

2010-Birthday/Wedding Shower in Houston

Portion for one?

You might have called it-I have a slight obsession with Kraft macaroni & cheese, but I have an even bigger obsession for the friends who made all of this possible.  A heartfelt mac and cheesy thank you-chefs you know who you are.

One night wonder-all gone by the end of the night!

"Every box of Kraft Mac & Cheese Spirals opens up to a world of thrills, prizes and the cheesiest taste you can imagine"
Kraft Dinosaur 

Lululemon(pie)

*Photo credit Lululemon

Why is it that the best workout store makes you feel the worst about yourself?

Flash Back. It is a typical Sunday Funday filled with food and friends, a plentiful amount of both. You find yourself walking around the city after a large brunch, enjoying some fresh air and trying to feel slightly less full. You are sauntering around, and by now you have probably picked up another snack, bagel number 2, street nuts, Levain? You then pass a Lululemon store and notice a full fledged spinning class happening in the window. On a Sunday...how dare they!

You ignore the cyclers and walk in, after you spot a cute top that catches your eye. As you are browsing the racks, a peppy girl decked in her Lulu workout gear asks you if would you like to sign up for yoga in the park tonight at 7pm? You remind yourself to keep your eye on prize; get your top and get out! You omit to tell her of your evening plans to watch football and eat greasy foods. The Lulu lady then says "wow, you've got really great calves" Thank you? In actuality, they are nothing compared to hers! Does she know this or is it store policy to give everyone who walks in, an athletic based compliment?

You finally try on top and go to the register to check out. The person behind the register asks you about your favorite workout class. You say, I do yoga, some spinning from time to time as you think, could they bag it up any slower? That New York mentality is really getting to you.

Finally your bag is handed to you, you let out a huge sigh and think hmm what am I going to eat next!

Yall Come Back Now, You Hear

Estate sales are a great place to find hidden treasures.  Here are some glasses my Mom bought at an estate sale, for my sister T, who lives in New York.  

Now T will never forget her southern roots.  These glasses can be used at parties to show some good ol' southern hospitality.  Festive glasses are a great way to spice up a party.  Time to retire those Solo red cups!

Happy Trails, to You, until we meet again!

Go shorty, it's your birthday

Doctor J happens to be a really good planner, but sometimes residency gets in the way.

He wanted to take me out for my upcoming birthday, but has been too busy lately to do the advanced planning.    He asked me to call the restaurant and our conversation went a little something like this.

Me: Hi, I would like to make a dinner reservation
Hostess: Ok, what time?
Me: 8:00 please
Hostess:  I am sorry, at this time we only have 6:30 or 9:30 available.

Newlymed Note #1:  If I was still in NYC I would have jumped all over the 9:30 reservation, I may have even asked if I could push it to 10:00pm.  But, this is Texas and people do NOT eat that late here.  Bars close and Doctor J has a bedtime.

Newlymed Note #2:  After spending my college years in New Orleans and my post college years in New York, the idea of bars closing is still a foreign one to me.

So, back to our phone conversation...
Me: I guess I will take the 6:30
Hostess:  Great, what is your name?
Me: K
Hostess:  Are you celebrating anything special
Me: Yes, a birthday
Hostess: Ok great, whose birthday?
Me:  Umm...K's birthday (I say this and hope she forgot my name in our three minute conversation)
Hostess: (giggles) We can't wait to see you at 6:30 for YOUR birthday celebration!

DIY Birthday Cards

In my family, handmade birthday cards have always been a tradition.  It started when we were younger with some scribbling and has evolved into full fledged "works of art."

One random week night when Doctor J was on call, I decided to get creative.  It started with a trip to Michael's to gather all of my supplies.  Newlymed tip: look online before you go because they are always running different promotions and have weekly coupons.  Print them out before you go or email them to your smart phone and be GREEN.

Below are the supplies I purchased.  They cost around $15; the average greeting card costs $4.99.  I have have already made three cards, so DIY birthday cards is definitely an economical choice

These are two of the cards I created.

I love using bright colored paper to make the card pop.  Sticker lettering is always fun, especially when you don't have the best handwriting.  They give your card a polished look.  I also love stickers!  There are so many different directions you can go in with stickers.  There are birthday stickers, graduation stickers, wedding stickers and baby stickers just to name a few themes.

I know it might seem easier just to buy a card, but creating can be quite fun!  If nothing else, it's a therapeutic activity after a stressful day at the office.

Making the time count

The Newlymeds have returned from Austin where we were able to celebrate the wedding of two of our new friends.  We are at the beginning of the wedding circuit and always look forward to sharing in others' specials days.  (and hopefully weekends, if Doctor J can squeeze in two days off in a row)  Our wedding was such a magical time for us, and now it is fun to watch our friends experience the same special moment!

Doctor J hopped on a plane after an overnight shift and arrived in Austin on Saturday morning.  After a little flag football and a long nap, he was all geared up for the evening's festivities.  I spent the day brunching with a dear childhood friend at South Congress Cafe and enjoying the town.  I also took a lovely walk around Town Lake, one of my favorite Austin activities.

We then got ready for the wedding and enjoyed a fun evening TOGETHER!

Here is a picture of one of the flower girls dancing the night away.  Don't you just love the innocence.

Being a wedding planner and also having the experience of just planning my own wedding, I always love to take in all of the little details.  Two of my favorite details from the wedding were:

1) These creative bride & groom tissues that were placed on a tray before you walked into the ceremony

2) This beautiful chuppah was silk screened with family pictures from all generations.

We then road tripped it back to the big D with our friends C & L who also happened to be in Austin for the weekend.  We chatted about our weekends, celebrities and even found a truck stop with both Wendy's and McDonalds!  Wendy's for the frosty + McDonalds for the mighty kids meal + Doctor J = one happy girl.

DIY-Wedding Hats

Nahn Photography

Often at rehearsal dinners, the bride and groom are given some type of fun hat to wear.  Whether it be a crown or in my case a cowboy hat, this is a great time to get creative.

I wanted to share the beautiful hats my mom and sister created for my rehearsal dinner.

They took two basic straw cowboy hats and customized them with trinkets representing different parts of Doctor J and my life.  All of the items were glued on with a hot glue gun.

Is that a REAL bagel you may ask?  Yes it is!  It is an essa-a-bagel from my favorite bagel place in New York.  The bagel was shellacked before being glued it on.  This was done with a product called shellac that you can buy at at craft store, such as Michael's.  All other items were treasures from the past including mardi gras beads and masks, toys from happy meals, buttons, and even a surf board shaped nail file.

Nahn photography

Hats off to the wedding hat designers!

(Couple) Dating 101

Out on the town looking for "dates"

Is she sweet?
Does he like sports?
Is she a good person to talk to?
Does he enjoy a night out on the town?

Does this sound like some of the questions you ask yourself after a first date?

Meeting new couple friends is just like dating, but for two.  Not only do you have to get along with the person, but your significant other must get along with their significant other.  Or else...it's a doomed relationship.

Moving to a new city, my husband and I are trying to put ourselves out there to make new couple friends.  We go to places where other couples may be like a frozen yogurt shop or the movies.  If we see a cute couple we may smile at them and wave.  But doctor J tells me not to wave.  He says I may scare them away!

We have even been set up on blind-couple-dates.  Sometimes our couple friends may suggest some new people to be friends with. "There is this great couple you have to meet, I think y'all would really get along" and then we go out with each other, same nerves and concerns as a date! Will we get along? Will we have anything to talk about, or will we just stare at our respective significant others all night and try to make small-talk until the misery ends?

Sometimes it's a good idea to go out to drinks instead of dinner, so if the "date" is not going well, at least it's not a night ruiner!

Just when you think the world of dating and all its stresses and excitement are behind you, it begins all over again!

T visits the big D

My fabulous fashonista sister T, got snowed out of New York and spent two glorious days and nights with the Newlymeds.  Since it's not often she gets a home cooked meal out of her New York sized kitchen, the sisters decided to get to cooking.

We were off to Central Market, recipes in hand.  We were going to surprise Doctor J after a hard days work.

Dinner was served at 10:00pm, but all in all it was a success!

What we made:
Truffled Mushroom Polenta
Sauteed Brussel Sprouts
Seared Sea scallops
We finally topped it off with the Barefoot Contessa's fruit cobbler with vanilla ice cream

Here is a snapshot of our night.

{Plating our Meal}

{Learning how to zest}

{Pears, Apples & Blueberries}

{The crumble for the top of our cobbler}

{Taking our masterpiece out of the oven}

{Ready to dig in}

VIP-very important patient

{Speedy Recovery Cookies, yum!}

Last month I had the opportunity to be a VIP-a Very Important Patient.

I had a herniated disk and was going to need back surgery.  Although, I was not thrilled with the prognosis, I have to say the process (minus the surgery part) was quite lovely.

I found that being a resident's wife does have with some perks, if you ever find yourself on the receiving end of medical treatment.  My surgeon said to me "I remember what being a resident was like" and "I like to do what I can to help them out"  After these golden words, the red carpet was rolled out and I was ready to make my hospital gown clad debut.

This meant squeezing me in to his full schedule and being treated like royalty by the nurse, the anesthesiologist and anyone else I came in contact with.  What is being treated like royalty in a hospital you may ask?  I was given a lovely pale blue gown  with matching stockings and my pillows were EXTRA fluffy.  On a serious note, everyone could not have been kinder and Doctor J got to go back with me and hold my hand in the patient and doctors only area.  I know there must be some kind of official name for this area.

I am not saying I want a repeat of this experience, but it was nice to go, as they famously sang in Cheers, where everybody knows your name.

Guest Blogger V's Voice: My 9 minute rollercoaster

V's Voice:  Our guest blogger   


       Every now and then Dr JM has work dinners – drug reps, interview dinners…Dr JM has now gone to about a dozen really nice, expensive restaurants. Without me. 

            So the other night, in the midst of a hectic 90-hour work-week, Dr JM comes home at 8pm like a speed demon; late for the interview dinner downtown. He runs into the apartment, runs to the bathroom and starts brushing his teeth while mumbling through foaming toothpaste “hey babe how was your day” to me. I offered to help by picking out a shirt for him to wear (he’s finally changing out of his scrubs!) and I hold his coat open for him to run into it and run to the elevator. Mind you, all of this happened within about 4 minutes – he would have put a fireman to shame.

            So there I am, back on the couch, watching tv and relaxing. I get a BBM from him: “wanna come down to dinner?” What? I think, I am invited to the interview dinner?! Then I respond by asking if his co-resident brought his girlfriend and does he feel guilty not bringing me, lol. No, not the case – there are open seats and he thought to ask me, yay! So I jump up from the couch and run to get dressed and fix my makeup. It is not common for me to change out of my PJs and plan on going somewhere at 8:30 on a cold Wednesday night; but I am excited to hang out with his co-residents. While I am running around like a crazy person to get ready and leave as soon as possible, I am asking for the restaurant address and to ask if it is absolutely okay that I join the dinner.

That’s when it happened – the pause in his BBM responses. I should say “thank you BBM, for showing the little “d” and “r” so that I can stalk my prey easily.

As I am ready to leave, Dr JM writes back saying how it might actually be awkward if I am there because no one else has his or her significant other there, he’s really sorry, and loves me. I sit down on my bed and laugh. I check the clock. All of this happened in 9 minutes. I wished I were on a reality show at that moment so people can see the ridiculousness of my life sometimes and how Dr JM and I try to make things work out when they just cant. I obviously was not upset with Dr JM, I think it was adorable that he tried to get me to the dinner and understand the work atmosphere, but ohhh boy did I have fun with it for a few days!

No I don't want no scrubs

V's post inspired me to write about what TLC sang about in the 90's...(no) Scrubs.

My apartment is too filled with scrubs.  I have questioned why these dirty scrubs can't go back in the nice scrub machine, but Doctor J also likes HIS scrubs.  He says when I wash them I make them smell nice.

Until two days ago, I was washing them with all my other darks, but I am now thinking I may need to reconsider!  If I notice blood drenched scrubs, I insist that they go back to the hospital, but usually in the washing machine they go.

Those who know me, know I can barely stand the sight of blood, much less talk about it.  (I am working on this)  I fainted when I had stitches removed from my back and I couldn't even see anything!

But now that I am thinking about it, Hospital germs mixing with my unmentionables is a little too much to bear.  Now our laundry will not only be separated into lights and darks but a third category has been officially instituted for scrubs.

Guest Blogger V's Voice: Scrubs, Scrubs everywhere!

V's Voice: Our Guest Blogger

There is a machine in the hospital for doctors to switch out their dirty scrubs for new ones. This helps them out because they don’t have time to do laundry (or socialize, sleep, eat full meals…). But does Dr JM use this grand machine? Nope! He likes his scrubs. (I looked at them the other day – they are just as boxy and monotonous as the next pair). So instead of clean scrubs in the apartment, we have worn scrubs in every crevice you can think of. And mind you, it’s a New York City apartment, so it’s not a very big one – these green scrubs are in every peripheral shot. 

I went to Bed Bath & Beyond and bought this cute canvas box for Dr. JM to keep his scrubs in because there is no way his staph-infected scrubs are going near my clothes – whether or not they are on their way to the washing machine is moot! But the canvas box is APPARENTLY TOO far from the front door so the scrubs find themselves crumpled next to the couch, dining table, desk, and glass shelves.
And keep in mind, asking a doctor to be organized at home means they have to be awake AND at home at the same time. And I am just not offered such a thing. Dr JM is either awake at the hospital or comatose the second he walks into the apartment – and you can only imagine what happens when he hits the couch! So I have now taken on the extra responsibility of washing, organizing, and folding his scrubs. It might not sound like a huge deal to the untrained reader, but bear in mind the details it involves. Such a detail being when you’re folding something and you see a darkened red spot that you KNOW is not an old ketchup stain, is 99% blood, and is 100% not your fiancé’s. Folding laundry has become similar to working for the CDC.

I will leave you with this scrub story. Dr JM comes home from work all excited to tell me a story about a patient he himself took care of, very early in his residency days. As he is telling the story, the excitement growing in his eyes, he stops and says “and I have a prop for you!” A prop? I’m thinking…what could he have brought home?? Dr JM runs into the bedroom, I follow him, and he lifts up a pair of scrub pants…with the patient’s blood ALL OVER. I screamed, obviously. He looks at me saddened that I didn’t appreciate the rest of his story. And the most ridiculous part of this story is he still doesn’t see why I got so upset. Ohh Dr JM, you have a lot to learn ABOUT LIFE outside those hospital walls :)

Newlymeds hearts the environment

Newlymeds supports any and all enviromental initiatives. A passion for the environment runs in the newlymed family.

Here is a link to a blog written by my brother on No Impact Week.

"Guest Blogger V's Voice" Introducing V and Doctor JM!

Here is a little introduction from V, fiance of Doctor JM, our first guest blogger!

I’m getting married to a doctor…not an established, private-practice doctor. No, no, no, that would be too easy. Where’s the challenge in that? Please – I have been dating JM (said doctor) since college and was there by his side when he took the MCAT, awaited school admission, became a hermit for 5 weeks studying for the boards…and then awaited residency admission.

And now, here we are, living in NYC, his first choice (and mine!) suffering, I mean, going through residency.

It’s a lonely job being a resident’s significant other. I am one of the lucky ones too, who didn’t have to move away for the residency spot. But I am not a 27 yr old girl that wants to third-wheel her friends and family on a Saturday night…I am a 27 yr old girl engaged to marry a ghost. I call JM my ghost because there are days that I never see him but know he was in the apartment because there is a cereal bowl in the sink and an old pair of scrubs on the floor. And so is the life I shall keep you posted on throughout this blog. I will quote my all-time favorite movie, Pretty Woman – “People's reactions to opera the first time they see it is very dramatic; they either love it or they hate it. If they love it, they will always love it. If they don't, they may learn to appreciate it, but it will never become part of their soul.” If you are not dating, engaged, or married to a resident, you will appreciate my stories, but it will never become part of your soul. Enjoy!

We will laugh about this one day

Today Doctor J is on call.  This month he is on Trauma which is a Q3 rotation.  On a Q3 rotation one is on call every third day.  On these days he starts at about 5:30 am, works a full day at the hospital, sleeps  (or sometimes doesn't sleep) at the hospital and comes home the next morning between 9:00am and and 12:00pm. 

When Doctor J gets a break from the action, I try to stop by for a visit and bring him dinner.  Tonight I was almost there, dinner in hand, when Doctor J got a page.  There was a trauma coming in and he was not going to be able to step out and meet me.  I felt a rush of emotions, but let me break it down simply for you and explain my three reaction phases.

Reaction one: Frustration and maybe even a tear or two. I can't believe this is happening!  I put together a lovely dinner and all I wanted was a few precious minutes with J.

Reaction two: PERSPECTIVE.  Someone is suffering from a trauma and that person is not me.  PERSPECTIVE.

Reaction three: Refer back to my post on expectations.  Set realistic ones!  It is important to keep in mind in future situations of the sort, that being on call means exactly what is says.  One could be called in at any moment.  So I need to keep in mind that if I do want to try and visit Doctor J, I am doing so at my own risk.

So, back at our apartment I was feeling a little disappointed and then I got a text.  "I am so sorry, I love you and remember we will laugh about this one day."  I now sit here with a smile on my face knowing we WILL laugh about this one day

Happy New Year from the Newlymeds!