luna de miel

Or at least that's how FreeTranslation.com translated "honeymoon."  It was fantastic.  Like, as in, I was already mentally on the beach 3 weeks prior to our wedding, so, needless to say Karl & I couldn't wait to get there!  We went to Playa Mujeres in Mexico and I would go back in a heartbeat- it was pure luxury, relaxation, gorgeous... I could go on & on!  Karl got us this incredible room- the second story consisted of two outdoor beds and our own pool overlooking the resort on one end and then the ocean and marina on the other.  The food was to die for with more restaurants than we could even get to in our 5 nights there.  We ordered room service for breakfast every single day and had coffee delivered promptly at 8 every morning before our breakfast arrived- like seriously, incredible.  Our days consisted of lying under a palapa, only getting up for lunch or a quick dip in the ocean, because we had all of our drinks and snacks brought to us... ha.  One day we took a half day snorkel trip- super fun, and one day we took a ferry across to Isla Mujeres and rented a moped and rode around the island all day!  We maybe stumbled across a semi-nude beach that day... OK so here are just a few of the like hundreds of pictures from the trip!

Here we are waiting for our flight out!  We stayed at the Hyatt at DFW the night before we left and it was perfect- so easy to be right there and not have to deal with traffic or anything!

The grounds were beautiful!  This is the courtyard in the center of the building we were in!

This was our view from our front door/the back of the second story!  So, so incredible!!

I spent so much time reading, reading, reading!  Maggie is my go-to book girl and she didn't steer me wrong!  Little Bee was great as was One Day- I couldn't put them down the whole week!

Ha.  K & I just think this picture is funny.  We were on our way back to our room after dinner one night... he looks so dramatic, as do I.  Just being silly...

Pre-beach one morning

K is going to kill me for this.  I couldn't resist posting this picture of the immaculate blue sky and my super hunky husband.  Go ahead and drool.  I am.

The beginning of our super fun adventure on Isla Mujeres! 

the more enjoyable scenery on the nude-ish beach we rode the moped to

we came across this completely deserted beach on the side of the road.  it was totally beautiful and perfect!  K played in the water for a while and I just enjoyed how perfect it all was!  completely priceless memory with my brand new husband!

here we are on our own little beach, moped parked up on the cliff!

dinner was always SO good!  it was fun to get dressed up each night with Karl and go have a nice dinner!

we drank A LOT of drinks all week... the funny thing is that they were all virgin drinks.  the staff looked at us like we were crazy when we ordered everything without alcohol but we both thought it just tasted so much better!  so, here we are with our virgin Miami Vices!

like I said, room service breakfast every.single.day.

here we are right before we left!  horrible leaving! we can't wait to go back!!

I know I skipped to after the wedding... I just had those pictures on hand.  Only on day 3 of my week-long oath to post each day.  Never thought I would make it this far, did ya?

Until tomorrow, Hannah BURTON

totally bride

It's no secret wedding planning wasn't really my thing.  I am so Type A- I want it all done now, done just right, done by me... that doesn't really work when planning a big wedding with lots of details.  So, wedding stuff was just really either totally hated or totally loved by me, not a whole lot of in between.  When it came to actually being a bride, I LOVED every second of it!  The showers, the luncheon, dress shopping- THAT was totally my thing!  So, here's my TOTALLY BRIDE post!  Well, here's one of probably a few!

A while ago I posted after my bridal portraits... the day itself was kind of a disaster, including but not limited to forgetting my shoes, bra, & jewelry and the Laura Mercier makeup artist claiming I had never made an appointment with her.  Despite all of that, I am really, really happy with how my pictures came out!  Never a fan of solo shots, I'll bite the bullet and share a few of my faves... Kelli & Brendan Ahern did not disappoint!  I can't wait to see wedding pics!

Dress shopping was nothing but wonderful!  I started looking when we first got engaged but didn't make the big purchase until November, I think.  I first tried THE ONE on at one of the first boutiques I went to but just couldn't make myself take the plunge plus not all my sisters were with me at the time so I knew I couldn't make a final decision then!  THEN one weekend when Karl came home to conquer a bunch of wedding stuff with me, my whole family + Karl & I went to Addison for some errands, including a trip to Circle Park Bridal.  Karl & my dad killed time at a man store across the street while the 5 girls ventured inside.  Well, I saw the dress I had loved at one of the first places I had been to, tried it on, and we all loved it!  So there you have it... I knew it was perfect- it had the feel for the exact wedding I wanted- a little glamorous with a touch of beading and sparkles but vintage and sweet with the lace and tiers.  Karl didn't see it until our wedding day but getting his guesses as to what he thought it looked like beforehand was hilarious.

So, I'm apparently good for my word.  Until tomorrow.  You thought you could escape our wedding.  Ha.

Hannah BURTON

I'm BAAACKKKKK

The wedding is over, wedded bliss has begun, and I am bound and determined to update my few and faithful readers on a) the last 3 months that I have failed to blog about and b) more frequently over the coming months.

(Correction, K & I aren't actually still home in Arlington... I'm so bad.)  So, Karl & I are still in Arlington- packing, purchasing, spending gift cards (cha ching)- preparing to live a life in exile where the Target and Crate & Barrel names have never been spoken. I seriously feel like I'm shopping for the last time in my life, my mom has to frequently remind me that I can choose to take a day trip to access what I consider modern-day commodities. Ridiculous. We'll roll out of the grand state of Texas on Sunday, UHaul in tow, to make the 18ish hour drive to South Carolina... only for me to hop back on a plane next Saturday to be here in Arlington for Callie's wedding week... wowza. Want to visit crazy town USA? Come to The Cuppett's house- 2 weddings, 4 weeks.

I want to post about our whole wedding week but I think I'll take it one event at a time... Karl got home the weekend before our wedding. It was so so so wonderful to have him home! We immediately had to kick it into gear since he hasn't been here since December and get him pleasantly acquainted with all things wedding. We rushed his suit to be altered and then had a fantastic time at the couples shower my Aunt Sally & Aunt Suzie hosted for us- it was INCREDIBLE and such a huge blessing. We ate delicious food with sweet friends and family, laughed so hard it was sort of embarrassing at Karl's & my attempt at the newlywed/dating game, and were blessed by dozens of gifts to help start our home and begin our lives together- it couldn't have been better and I am so so so thankful to Suzie & Sally for the shower!

The details were so, so perfect!

We died laughing at our desperate attempt at "The Dating/Newlywed Game"

And were blessed beyond measure by tons of sweet things to fill our home, including but not limited to the cookbook my Gammy wrote that I have finally earned!

We enjoyed the company of so many sweet, sweet friends!

You'll be hearing from me tomorrow... swear I'm posting daily for the next 5 days.  SWEAR!

Hannah BURTON

thoughts on a friday night

Well, yesterday ended a big year for me, the year of 21. So, in honor of turning 22 I think a list is in order. I believe I'll write the highlights of my 21st year of life...

In no particular order...
Had my first alcoholic beverage
I graduated college
Passed the NCLEX
Became an engaged woman
Gained alumni status as a Pi Phi
Went on my first no parents trip (ahem, SBX)
Had my first night out on Dickson Street
Went back to Africa
Moved all my belongings in with a boy
Have my name on the title of a car

I should also acknowledge that tomorrow marks one year of being engaged. Holy Crap. I never ever ever thought that I would ever be engaged for an entire year. Now, I should first say that Karl knows me better than I know myself and proposed in the perfect timing; there is no way I could've ever planned the entire wedding AND actually hand crafted details during school, i.e. I couldn't be getting married any sooner than 3 weeks from now. BUTTTT my cousin, Lincoln, appropriately told me 3 years ago that being engaged for a full year was a horrible horrible thing... and it is. I should've listened to Lincoln. I am SO ready to be married to Karl.

Well, enough of that. So, happy 22nd to me and happy 1st birthday to that thing on my left ring finger.

Well, maybe I have & maybe I haven't

Some may say I've turned a corner. My sisters would probably just say they've gotten lucky the past 4 days. It appears as though the cycle of stress is on a downward slope as wedded bliss is rapidly approaching. In my bout of venue-less panic last week, a dozen or so church friends dared to step up to the plate and take a swing at helping to conquer my ever-growing to-do list of crafts and crap. They have been immensely helpful and my pile is getting smaller as is my level of stress and panic and consequently, my temper. Ha. So, although I still have a million things to do and need a ton of help, the help has arrived and, I believe, is surely here to stay until August 22nd. Then, my parents are on their own to pick up the pieces. hahaha, just kidding. But seriously, I wouldn't stick around if I were them. I booked Karl's one-way ticket to DFW today so I guess that means this is all really happening... well, the plane ticket plus the fact that our ceremony programs were printed today equal for real wedding. Wowzers. 32 days and then I can get off the crazy person train; you can thank me later. As for Callie, she still gets to ride that train for an additional 28 days after I do at which time I will just watch in awe. Poor girl. As for the rest of my sisters... they're all in shambles too. Maddie can't keep liquid in her mouth at dinner time as it just bubbles out and onto her shirt because she is so torn up over all things wedding. Emma resorted to taking a self-defense class in case things start to get physical at The Cuppett house. All I'm saying is only come over if you can defend yourself... and if you know how to tie bows.

sidenote: you may be wondering why I haven't had any pictures up lately. that would be related to the fact that I have worn only pajamas and no makeup for over 30 days in a row.

The Hills

Well, I thought since I use this blog as sort of a journal for myself I couldn't pass up an opportunity to document this life milestone. This year is huge: college graduation, getting my RN license, and the ending of The Hills era. Let me repeat that, The Hills ending marks the ending of an era. I know this is ridiculous but between that show and Laguna Beach, those shows have run throughout my high school and college days. I seriously felt emotional watching the series finale... although, Kristen, you going to "find yourself" in Europe will probably be some spin-off show in which case this post is going to be completely obsolete. I was quickly brought back down to reality and reminded how psycho this show is when I saw the ensem that Spencer wore when he "crashed" the aftershow party. OK, it's fine. I'm over it. Bye Hills, bye LC, Lo, Kristen, Brody (gag, tool bag), Audrina, Ryan Cab, Stephanie, Holly, and all you other barbies. Welcome to the real world.

Problem Solver.

So I'm finalizing our wedding programs and have found myself in a small quandary... what's new? This one I can solve. As I'm listing our wedding party and their relationship to Karl or myself, I'm noticing that the one phrase, "college friend of the bride," or "high school friend of the groom" just seriously minimizes these men & women that we have asked to stand beside us as we make the biggest commitment of our lives. So, I think I'm going to make the executive decision to nix it. I mean, there is absolutely NOTHING wrong with listing the relationship of the bride or groom to each member of the wedding party, BUT, I don't think I'm allowed to put, "Charis Anderson- Lifelong friend of the Bride, high school friend of the groom, college roommate to the bride, confidant, nursing school peer, and belly-dancing partner" on the program.

Just a thought on this delightful Friday afternoon spent with a TV tray in front of me for the past 8 hours as I type my life away on Microsoft Word...

Quicksand.

I am sinking. I am taking the NCLEX (aka the most important test I have EVER taken) in 24 hours, I just found out that my venue won't hold the number of guests we are expecting, and have had more emotional breakdowns today than I have in the past year combined. I thought my church would be an appropriate place to study today- as I need Jesus- so I went and plopped myself down in our quiet foyer, strategically positioned under a cross- haha- anyways, I watched as our pastor changed the marquee to read, "Choose Joy Everyday." I'm trying. Like, I am really trying. It's hard to "Choose Joy" when you are having to search for a new venue 5 weeks before your wedding, after invitations have been printed, rehearsal dinner location has been chosen, hotels have been booked... I mean, really, am I starring in a reality TV show that I don't know about? I legitimately feel like things happen to me and only me, like, who else would this series of events happen to? Oh, probably the girl that sets herself up for them. Anyways, here I am, studying my brains out for the NCLEX, hoping I pass so that I can actually use the degree that I worked my tail off for over the past 4 years, desperately wanting August 21st to be here so that this journey to the altar will be OVER, and getting really tired of people telling me that, "in 10 years you won't even remember," and "it's all going to be OK." Yeah, I know it's all going to be OK because I have faith and salvation in the God that makes it all OK... BUT that doesn't mean that this doesn't suck MAJORLY 100% ANNNND guess what? I AM GOING TO REMEMBER IT IN 10 YEARS and it's super sad if you don't remember your wedding day details 10 years after you painstakingly planned them. Well, I'm trying to choose joy. Maybe it will be easier to choose joy after my venue has been chosen, you know, that venue that I'm inviting over 400 guests to join me at in 5 weeks.

What am I doing?

On a separate note: I have been a horrible friend lately and totally neglectful of my sweet friends that I have long-owed a phone call to. I am desperate to catch up on life and am just praising the Lord that NCLEX will be over in less than a day so I can get back to life. So, please forgive my absence as less important things have been overgrowing my time the past few weeks, such as Marlene Hurst and her 27 hours of review video lectures.

PS- You know who at you know which venue: you are a miserable, miserable lying & deceptive man. I hope you never book another event in your life.

Excuse me, what?

So, mine & K's wedding is in 51 days... excuse me, what? I literally have the hugest butterflies in my stomach over everything that's left to do. I recently told someone that I could've gotten engaged last week and already have planned what I have planned over the past 11 months. I am a super-control freak, major Type A personality, and am just all tore up that I still have so much to do. Ha. Seriously, though. Anyways, bottom line is that with or without the details, I am getting married in 51 days and am just thrilled about that- thrilled to be married, to finally be with Karl for more than a week at a time, thrilled that planning will be over, thrilled that a week long Mexico vacay will be a matter of hours away. Ahhhh, sounds sweet.

I feel like a bad blogger for taking such long hiatus' in between posts so I thought I would try and snap out of my wedding planning funk and come up with a list on why my life doesn't suck as much as I usually think it does and why I am so happy it's July 1st...
-As previously mentioned, I'm getting married in 51 days= cra cra & awesome
-I get to see Karl in 45 more days
-My birthday is in 28 days
-My sweet cousin is expecting Baby Valin pretty much any day now and I am just so excited for him to get here
-My fave holiday is July 4th. I wear red shoes with white stars on them every year, once a year. Can't wait to put them on in 3 days.
-Well, thats about it. I should try harder on the list next time.

In other news: my life is no longer consumed 100% by wedding planning... it now shares 50% of its time with studying for state boards aka NCLEX. woof. I never thought I would wake up and have to choose between sending harassing emails to sub-standard vendors and sitting at the computer watching Marlene Hurst lecture on body systems for 27 hours. There's a first time for everything, huh?

Lastly: A quick and hopefully non-spoiling review of Eclipse... BEST.MOVIE.I.HAVE.EVER.SEEN.

Not Right.

I know I have a few posts promised to catch up on regarding Sumter, Karl, and two and half weeks of South Carolina bliss but I just thought now would be a timely post for the following...

just got home from my bridal portraits. sounds fun right? Should've been. I woke up on the... wrong side of the bed, ahem, perfect way to start the day. Took a look in the kitchen and found the bridal bouquet that my mom picked up from a florist yesterday- heinous. I picked the florist randomly just to do the bouquet for today and specifically told her exactly what I wanted, I even told her what to not use! Naturally, she used a few of what I said, "please do not use" to and the flowers looked nothing like what I asked for. So, I spent the next few minutes getting deeper into my "wrong side of the bed" and cutting out all the wilted crappy parts.

Next, my mom gives me a talk on how nothing is going to go perfectly today. Great! Glad I have something to look forward to. A day full of imperfection. Ideal for my Type A personality.

Onto my disaster of a makeup appointment. I have confirmed this appintment with the obscure "Rachel" at Laura Mercier twice in the past week. I show up and am told that nobody there has a 2 o'clock appointment. Awesome. Obviously I have a bridezilla moment. My makeup gets done... 30 minutes late and dipping into my hair appointment.

Get to my hair appointment late. It goes OK although I've apparently chosen an extremely difficult look. Perfect choice, Hannah. Running late, again.

Mom + Sisters pick me up from the hair appointment to go straight to the bridals which are over an hour away in Anna, Texas... I'm going to have to change in the car... but wait, where are my shoes/bra/jewelry?? Oh. That's right. They are at home... now 30 minutes away.

Naturally I'm crying. And my behavior is so ridiculous that I "could be on TV" according to one unnamed member of my family. Great. Needless to say, we turned around as I can't go braless and shoeless to my bridal portraits. I made Callie call the photog and tell them we would be late... they were gracious, thank The Lord. I proceded to change, in the second row of a Surburban, into my wedding gown.

Rough. Day.

Home?

Well, the post is slightly overdue. I've been rather perplexed as to the most tactful way to write it...
I've been in Sumter now for 12 days and I have 4 days left here until I fly back to Texas for the remainder of the summer and time before K & I's wedding. This isn't my first time to visit Sumter but it is my first time to forcefully consider Sumter, "home." My dad and I rolled in two Sundays ago with a full UHaul full of my stuff, drove into the driveway of the home that K & I blindly signed a year-long lease to, nervously pushed a key into the lock of the house, turned it, and stepped into what will be our first home for the next 12 months. Home. Woof. I say "woof" not to the home itself, rather to this citytownvillage called Sumter that our home sits in. Back to our house... I was delighted to find it in perfect condition. K & I have been praying for a home that meets our needs AND wants for a long time. It is big enough so that all our friends and family can come visit us and stay for months at a time, comfortable :) It seems as though nobody has ever lived here. Karl took so much time and energy to help me make it as neat, tidy, organized, and homey as he could- carefully placing each book, plate, container, hanger, blanket, and pillow just as he knew I would. He has been great! If only everything outside the house were as great as it were inside... one of our bored days we ventured into the bustling town of Sumter. All this girl wanted was a stroll around some sibilance of a department store- a Target, Kohls, Old Navy, Dillards, ANYTHING... nope... Belk. That's it. Belk, KMart, & Big Lots. I never, ever, ever thought I would wish for a Kohls or have excitement over a Big Lots. Well, the time has come. More on two weeks with Karl, furniture shopping, & this grand ol town of Sumter later...

Here's to hoping I make it home without another emotional breakdown, which is unlikely considering Leah & Mike's wedding is tomorrow and I'm not there.

airports: the good, the bad, & the ugly.

I'm at the airport seeing my dad off from South Carolina and I just had to blog about this because I'm a little appalled... let me backtrack...

I've been to college. I was in a sorority. I went on a Spring Break cruise with 27 of my sorority sisters where we pretty much saw every ridiculous thing there was to see. I have heard every drink combination ordered, witnessed sinful amounts of alcohol consumed as an onlooker with jaw dropped... but here I am in the coffee cafe at the Columbia, South Carolina airport at 8:38 AM and girlfriend just ordered a Michelob Ultra and asked if she could "start a tab?" At 8:38, AM. I'm drinking coffee, eating a sausage egg croisant, and wiping sleep from my eyes and you are starting a tab??? I'm bewildered.

Letting the cat out of the bag.

photo by Maura Johnson


It's Friday night, May 21st, I'm currently home alone- well, unless you count my abnormally humanized dog, Billi. My parents left for the weekend in celebration of their like millionth-something anniversary so it's "anything goes" around here. I'm forced to play chauffeur, which I hate, so I just dropped baby sister Emma off at my high school alma mater for a play called, "Urinetown," ew. Well, that's all basically irrelevant. I just thought I needed some sort of segue into the following...

KARL & I WON 3RD PLACE IN THE CRATE & BARREL CONTEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Could I be more excited? No. I don't think so. Want to hear more about my dramatic week full of C&B surprises? Keep reading...

We found out that we were 1 of the 50 semi-finalists a while ago- thanks to all of you we were in the top 50 most voted for couples (#22 to be exact :) ) which was all we needed to move on. This got us in this sweet picture.
This heart is full of the pictures of the 50 semi-finalists! I think it's really cool; mine & K's is towards the top in the middle!

Last Tuesday I got home from running wedding errands to find a FedEx envelope here at home addressed to Karl & I from New York City... weird. I open it and scan the cover letter topping a stack of papers... It reads, "Dear Hannah & Karl: Important notice! You entered the Crate and Barrel Ultimate Wedding Contest... (blah blah blah) your entry was selected as a potential winner in our contest. Please read this letter carefully, and follow the directions exactly as stated, as your eligibility depends upon your adherence to its terms." The rest of the letter goes on the give super explicit instructions on the W9 & two affidavits that K & I each need to have filled out and NOTARIZED and overnighted back to NYC. OK, calm. This wouldn't be such a big deal if it weren't for the fact that KARL IS IN IRAQ! What the heck? Where do you find a notary in Iraq??? Obviously I send Karl a super bossy email and tell him that if he messes this up he blows all our chances of winning any sort of prize. AND at this point we don't even know if we have won a prize and if so, what prize we have won. Needless to say, Karl, after a 12 hour shift of manual labor, is able to find a notary and scans/emails his affidavit back to me. OK. First hoop jumped through successfully. FedEx picks up the packet on Wednesday and it's back in NYC just in time.

and there's me with the priceless (or should I say $2,500) envelope before I sent it off!!

So, Thursday I get an email from a Crate & Barrel exec...
"Dear Hannah and Karl,

Now that we’ve received your signed documents, I am pleased to present you with the official prize letter for 3rd Place. Congratulations!

Please be sure to read the letter carefully as there is confidentiality language we need you to adhere to.

The sooner you can sign and fax back – or scan and email back – to the numbers in the letter, the sooner we can announce your prize and the sooner you will receive your prize. If you can do this today, it would be greatly appreciated."

Great...now I get to have Karl rush around again to print/sign/scan/email all while he's in Iraq. ANNNNDDD we both have to keep our mouths shut because this time we are signing saying we won't tell a soul!! BOOOO!! I am THE WORST secret keeper and have had so many people asking about the contest, I hate lying and saying, "I still don't know." Woof. BUT WE WERE SO EXCITED AT THIS POINT! I had such an overwhelming feeling of joy, thankfulness, excitement... boy are we humbled by this recognition and acknowledgement of our story. So grateful for the votes of loved ones and strangers alike- I just can't even verbalize the excitement!!

Now back to today, Friday, I get an email from another contest sponsor in LA (no big deal, K&I are just an east coast & west coast known couple at this point...) who tells me that they will announce the 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place winners to the public on MONDAY, which is actually the day you will all read this.

K&I are overjoyed. After the Tuesday envelope arrived, I kept brainstorming with my family all the possible prizes that we may or may not have won. Part of the paperwork involved was K&I signing that we agreed to pay all taxes associated with the $100,00 wedding (aka grand prize) or any prize we may win... My dad & I started brainstorming that a little... I'll just say that after we realized what those taxes would look like on $100,000 winnings, I think 3rd place is PERFECT for Karl and I :)

Thank you, thank you, thank you sweet friends for your votes, for sending the link to vote to your friends and family, for encouraging K & I. Thank you C&B- #3 out of over 9,000 entries- such a fantastic & amazing treat. Thank you sweet Lord for this precious and fun blessing- we are so excited, feel so undeserving, humbled, blessed, and in awe.

Go check out the announcement at Crate & Barrel
Love,
Hannah & Karl

And if you never saw the actual entry, here it is :) click on the pictures to enlarge!

New Attitude, Sort of.

So, to recap the past week:
I celebrated with my friends our time at the U of A at a block party on one of my favorite blocks. It was fantastic- great weather, delicious food, the most incredible friends, and the best way to end the semester.




I babysat my favorite little Fayetteville toddler for the last time. Love little girl "N" that I'll miss so much!

I was pinned as an graduate of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at The University of Arkansas' Eleanor Mann School of Nursing. It was kind of a big deal. I addressed my class as Class Representative in a speech that forced me to fight back tears, a little anger, and a lot of happiness.


I had "brunch" (long story, for another post) at Pi Phi for the last time next to sweet friends, & I walked the stage alongside peers that have drug me thru the fire as my sweet, supportive family watched from the bleachers.



Then I packed up my entire life, drove it home in a UHaul going 55 miles per hour, and put it all in storage.

This week has been spent meeting with our wedding planner, caterer, DJ, stationary designer & printer... I have spent hours on TheKnot.com, flipping thru magazines, thinking about measurements, talking about hair & makeup... my life has made a complete turn around from 100% school to 100% wedding. Today marks 100 days until the wedding- can't wait to shift my focus to things beyond August 21st.

The Good 'Ol Days

My Genius 'mate thought to record the Oprah episode totally devoted to interviewing Laura Bush and her precious twin daughters. This morning I thought, eh, I have nothing else to watch, might as well. Best decision I have ever made. I can't help but review a few highs from the past hour, one of the best hours I've spent this past week...

-I have teared up multiple times, not really 100% why
- Round of applause to Oprah for leaving her extremely left-winged opinion out. Thanks for the pleasant surprise. Not shockingly, she obviously didn't stop herself from cutting off even Laura Bush mid-sentence. Sorry, Laura. I'll apologize for her.
- The Bush's rent puzzles to enjoy because they are expensive to buy, that's nice.
- Very interesting to hear how 9/11 was for The Bush Family- must have been terrifying to be in a bunker- literally- in the bowels of The White House
- George (first name basis) calls the swimming pool at their ranch, "The whining pool," because the twins whined for it so much he finally gave in and had one installed... sounds like my dad
- Makes me love and appreciate The Bush Dynasty so much more now that I've experienced, ahem, otherwise...
- Their love and devotion to The Lonestar State & mention of our state flower (Bluebonnets, duh) makes my heart swell with pride & joy

I cannot wait to read her book. The sweetest, classiest, most delightful woman.

153.

UPDATE: Sidenote- this is more for my own memory than reader entertainment... So, just got back from the aforementioned test. I passed. It took me 3 hours and 180 questions but I passed. I left the room (almost last) and immediately emailed Karl. Walked the sidewalk down Maple, checked my voicemail, and listened to "Beth" tell me that Karl and I got the house we have been pining for. I passed and we have a home. I passed, I am done with college, and we are adults. I passed, I am done with college, we are adults, and I am getting married. I am about 5,000 steps closer to being married to Karl. Literally walked to my car in tears. Audible, big, warm, tears. This nightmare of education, the wonderful phenomenon of collegiate life, the tests, papers, horrible & wonderful teachers, checklists, syllabi... it's over. I finally got to talk to Karl on the phone via Skype. I think I said "it's over" about 100 times. I am in awe, but not really, because I believe in The Lord, in His faithfulness and goodness. As Karl said to me this morning, "remember God is graceful & loving & He will help you." I hung to that all day, as I feel I have for nursing school, and will continue to do the rest of my life. Praise God for His fun blessings. Praise. God. It's. Over. Praise God it's just beginning (Karl- can't wait to move into OUR HOUSE and LIVE WITH YOU!!)

After I passed the last test I will ever take in college (in case anyone forgot), I went and picked up my complimentary one year free membership to the U of A Alumni Association because lets face it, I'M AN ALUMNI!! Secondly, I went and ordered my final transcripts to be sent to the Texas State Board of Nursing because I'M TAKING THE NCLEX THIS SUMMER! Lastly, I went and picked up my BSN pin for the pinning ceremony on Friday because...I'M DONE WITH COLLEGE AND BEING PINNED AS A NURSE ON FRIDAY!! L.I.G. baby.

153. Why is that number significant? Because it's the number of tests I will have taken in college at the University of Arkansas as an undergraduate student as of 3 hours from now... which also happens to be the time I will be done with my undergrad career, NBD (no big deal). Should I knock on wood, though? If you read my previous post, you read that I have to pass this test in order to pull away from this city on Sunday, bags packed, never looking back. OK, so I'll look back, and come back, and walk back on memory lane. I know you're all thinking, "Zuh, she'll pass. Stop being dramatic." But let me tell you, out of the 40-something people in my class, I can almost promise at least 10 of us won't pass. Just saying. Not to jinx myself or make what I'm about to do any less special, BUT, I'm nervous. I want to go out with a bang... not a "WOO HOO, last test!... I mean, whoops... guess I'll have to re-do in two weeks..." Anyways, wish me (and Allie, and the other 40-something of our closest peers) luck as we slap good 'ol Nursing School a swift one on our way in to knock this last one out to the ballpark. Sayonara Eleanor Mann School of Nursing. Have fun wherever soul-less academic programs go to rot.

Bedrest, Qualms, & ATI

I stalk peoples blogs that I don't know and will never meet. Suit me. I came across a blog this morning written by a woman that recently had twins and was on "strict bedrest with bathroom privileges" for about 3 weeks before she had her babies. She described her bedrest daily schedule as follows: wake up, move from the bed to the couch, stay on the couch all day, get up to pee, get up to eat lunch, go back to the couch, pee, back to the couch, and then eventually back to bed at night... now I'm not pregnant but this sounds VERY familiar...

For the past 7 days I have been studying for this standardized test called ATI. Now, I'll spare you the gory details but basically it's a practice NCLEX (the RN license exam I will take this summer) that the U of A nursing school requires us to take. Basically here are my thoughts on ATI, my apologies if you've heard this rant before: the administration up here makes us take these ATI's as a means of seeing whether or not we are capable of passing the NCLEX upon graduation, statistically speaking. Why is this important to them, you ask? Oh, because we as students who work our butts off have grown near and dear to their hearts and they want to ensure that they have done their job in adequately educating us and equipping us to pass the test that determines if we are minimally capable of providing patient care. EHHHHH WRONG ANSWER! They put us through these tests (which, I may add are in no way, shape, or form required by ANY state board of nursing for sitting to take the NCLEX) to cover their butts and as a way to hope and pray that we pass the NCLEX so that they can continue to get funding for their less than renown nursing school. Here's the ugly... normally, when we don't pass these standardized bad-boys each semester, we have to take weekly remediation each semester and retake the specific ATI that we failed at the end of the following semester. So, you would think that since this is my last semester as a student, if I don't pass this last, big, and final ATI I would just go on my merry little way and pray a nice big prayer before I take the real NCLEX... no, not according to EMSON administration... get this, THEY ARE TELLING US THAT WE WILL STAY UP HERE FOR 2 WEEKS OF REMEDIATION AND THEN RETAKE THE (insert expletive) ATI! OK? no.

This brings me back to my initial thought... you can find me, on my couch, simply breaking to pee or eat, studying literally EVERYTHING I HAVE EVER LEARNED IN NURSING SCHOOL. No, not for the NCLEX but for the ATI. You are not welcome nursing school. I hate you. I hate you. I hate you. I am parting with such vices.

NOT HAPPY TO BE ON STUDY BEDREST! You can also feel free to bring me TCBY like the pregnant girl had brought to her.