Real Talk: On Blogging

Blogging can feel fake to me sometimes so I wanted to borrow Kaelah Bee's idea and write some posts periodically without that stereotypical blogger filter. Real talk (anyone get the reference?) will be rambly and unfiltered and will completely reflect my feelings on various issues. Here it goes!

Thought 1: I admit to being a but indecisive about this blog. I have struggled to update it regularly because of my workload with school and have attempted to lure myself here with blog makeovers and changing the name (which worked temporarily). The thing is, I'm in love with the concept of a blog. I love instagram which is essentially a mini blog (much easier to update quickly and on the go) but the concept remains the same. I cherish the records of life and I know I will look back on these posts lovingly one day, but as of now I struggle to find the motivation to post. Recently I grappled with the idea on whether or not to stop writing here but a lovely reader (hey Veralynn!) sent me the sweetest email that reminded me why I love to document my time as a nursing student. Thank you Veralynn!

Thought 2: Regarding the name of this blog. Some of you may remember that I changed the name here from The Antique Pearl to Dotti Dee to match my IG name a few months ago. Everytime I post here though I think about that name and I realize that even though I love it on IG I still feel like it's not a good fit for this space. I may be changing things around here soon in terms of the name (or I may learn to love it) but to be honest (awesome readers) I'm afraid of being obnoxious with all these switches.

Thanks for reading this slightly neglected space week after week. You guys make my day with every comment ♥ 
x Sarah

question: what are your feelings on blogging? Let it all out!

Last Weekend 1/18 - 1/20

Last weekend was the kind that can't be replicated. I enjoyed every single thing; the light, the sounds, the moments. From walking downtown while running errands, to a super productive Saturday, pure joy in a thrift shop dressing room over a $4 silk vintage dress, to watching a movie with the man I love (while wearing said dress), it was a weekend to remember.
I hope you're making memories today.

x Sarah

Playing Dress Up: Believe in Spring

Believe in Spring by dottidee featuring leather flat shoes

Knit top / Salvatore Ferragamo leather flat shoes / 1940s1950s SILK classic day dress by croatiavintage on Etsy

I have never been a lover of winter. Something you will see archived in this blog quite a bit. I'm pretty vocal about that disdain and for good reasons 1. I know I will complain about it, so it's a fair warning and 2. I live in one of the coldest states in the U.S. with a very low tolerance for cold (I wear wool socks indoors during the summer for Pete's sake!). I preface this post with that fact so I can shout from the rooftops now, how excited I am for spring to come. I have been checking the weather daily and even though it was -15 on Monday I know next Monday it will be 32! That is enough reason for me to begin to daydream about silk dresses, Salvatore Ferragamo flats and tiny cardigans (be gone wool!). But until then I'll simply believe that Spring is on it's way.

x Sarah

On Med-Surg and Aspirations

My classes today snapped me back into the reality that I am no longer in OB. As much as my mind attempts to associate everything I learn with pregnancy and delivery, when we started reviewing EKG strips I knew it was really over, that another semester of Med-Surg has begun, and I need to set my adoration of the mother/baby units aside and focus on the task at hand. It's a unique perspective knowing what I want to do in this field while many of my classmates are still in that decision making process. I am fully aware that my mind could change once I get into practice, but all I know from my relatively short time on all the units I've visited is this: I felt right on the mother/baby floor. So in this time and place I'm going to hold onto those aspirations of midwifery as a goal but focus on getting through my last full semester of classes.

I hope all is well.
x Sarah

Playing Dress Up: Cozy Planning

Playing Dress Up: Cozy Planning by dottidee featuring mocassin shoes

Enza Costa / Mocassin shoes / diptyque / Gallery Leather: Family Planner: Soft Cover, Book Bound Leather...

I plan a lot of things. I plan my classes, my work, my homework, my work outs, my shop time, my blog time, and if I'm desperate sometimes I plan my sleep. Today is one of those days where my favorite planner comes out and I coordinate the next few weeks. If I could play pretend I would be wearing these amazing comfy (and I'm sure flattering) linen pants with cozy moccasins. And a few hours of planning wouldn't be complete without a pretty smelling candle to burn. But alas this is just pretend, yoga pants and my target slippers will have to suffice.

I hope your day is just as cozy as my make believe one.

x Sarah

1/12/13

Shortly after I wrote my last post I packed everything up and made the trip back to school. One nice thing about getting older is the fact that I appear to adjust to these changes a lot better than I did my freshman year (nary a tear to be seen although I did pout a lot). I spent the night unpacking and the whole day yesterday in CA (also known as RA) training. The rest of the night was devoted to playing pool, watching a movie with my staff, and finally I stayed up until 2 AM preparing my floor for move in. The doors are going to open in 50 minutes and everyone will flood in with the anticipation of the new semester filling them to the brim. Personally this is my favorite moment of the new semester. Right on the brink. Filled with hope, promise, anticipation and a tiny bit of trepidation for what's to come. 

note: when I began thinking about what I wanted to do with redesigning this space I knew it had to have at least one special touch. So I emailed Caitlin Shearer to ask her if she'd illustrate a piece for my blog! Fast forward a few weeks and here is my brand new banner! I could not be any more in love with the coffee cup and yarn words and I hope you love it too! Have a great day.

x Sarah

Didn't I say I was going to be optimistic?

Well, the time has finally come and my winter break has drawn to a close. I haven't gotten out of bed yet this  morning but the anticipation of packing and all the errands I have to run (textbooks etc.) is looming over my head. Breaks are good but sometimes I find myself getting too relaxed and too comfortable in the routine of "taking a break." And eventually, because it always happens, the overwhelming task of getting back into the rigorous routine of homework and little sleep seems just that, overwhelming  I hope wherever you are you are having a relaxing day and I'll leave you here today with some photos from a more relaxed day.

What do you usually do to shake yourself out of relaxation mode?
x Sarah

The Bearded Man

Birthday gift for my bearded man by dottidee on Polyvore

Jordan's beard began growing in red a few months after I started coloring my hair the same shade. It started one hair at a time; I would be lying on the pillow next to him and catch a speckling of red here and there on his face. Now it's completely red (my best friend affectionately refers to us as "the gingers") but just recently I happened to glimpse a few red strands weaving just above his temple. I've always wanted little red headed kids and now it's looking like that's a strong possibility (disclaimer: not pregnant!). So if I haven't made it plainly obvious, I have a love affair with my boyfriends facial hair (not as weird as it sounds). I was brainstorming about what to get him on his soon to be 21st birthday when I stumbled on Aubrey McCoy's IG post about Burroughs beard oil. After a quick google I found  Prospector Co. I love the apothecary style packaging and the fact that it is a line devoted to the bearded man. Long story short, I'm going to get Jordan a gift any man would appreciate. Something he would never buy for himself in a million years because it's "too much."

note: Jordan does not read my blog so don't fret that this will ruin any surprise  And Jordan if you are reading this. Seriously? You decide to start reading now?

Do you have a bearded man in your life or are you a bearded man? If so, what do you use?
x Sarah

Playing Dress Up: Sunday on a Tuesday

Sunday Night by dottidee featuring printed shirts
fair isle sweater // mug // scarf in progress // pride and prejudice

The last few days of break have been passing by in quick succession so I'm grabbing onto today like there is no Thursday (gulp). If I could play dress up right now I would be wearing this adorable sweater, with this cute mug of tea (going on a short coffee detox), knitting something red and pretty, and maybe ending the day with my favorite book. Luckily in this instance I don't need to pretend because I have all of these things just in slightly different variations. I hope your Tuesday is long and beautiful.

x Sarah

note: This new feature is inspired by reading my tea leaves's Make-Believe series. Her blog is my favorite read and you should definitely go give it a peek. Say Dotti Dee sent you!

On change and letting go

My break from school is beginning to draw to an end and my mind has been stuck on change. The end of a year and the beginning of another; the end of my obstetrics rotation and back to medical surgical. Although change isn't always the peachiest thing to deal with, I'm going to try my hardest to be optimistic and get through the next 122 days (until summer) on sheer positivity.

Another change I've been feeling has to do with aesthetics. I'm not sure if you noticed but I made-under the layout to this blog. So many areas of my life are cluttered, and I feel if I can strip some of that clutter to the bare bone I may be able to find a bit of piece of mind in the semester to come. So another thing I may be writing about is a journey of "letting go." Letting go of stuff - of emotional baggage, and hopefully a negative attitude. So cheers to 2013, med-surg, and the goodwill donation center!

x Sarah

note: Here is what my old profile looked like if you are new here! And also, WELCOME!

2013 - Resolutions

1. Graduate Nursing School- 349 days until I graduate with a Bachelors of Nursing Science. I am seriously counting the days.

2. Be a better friend- Give more gifts, show my love, make more time, set more coffee dates, send a text, make a phone call, write a letter. Anything to be a better friend.

3. Work out- It's as simple as that. Three times a week. Two days a week. Ten minutes a week. It doesn't matter as long as I do it!

4. Declutter my life- I feel like my life is cluttered in many ways. But the number one way clutter manifests itself is through stuff. I have been making more of an effort lately to stop buying so much and to simplify what I already have. 2013 feels like a year of cleansing. To declutter, destress, and just generally wipe the slate. Wish me luck

What are some resolutions you've made?

x Sarah