No Shopping Campaign... Update

::hangs head in shame:: Hey guys!! So at the beginning of this month, I radically declared, "A No Shopping, August campaign." Everyone around me knew... lol. So tell me why on Friday night... I broke this promise and bought a handbag... ::gasp::

I know I know... I still can't believe it myself. So let me tell you how I got there. I went to Buffalo Wild Wings with a friend and she suggested we go to the mall because she wanted a new rug/comforter. I said sure. She already knew I was doing my no shopping campaign, and promised to not let me buy anything.

So we were shopping and I found this perfect winter coat... I tried on the small, it was a little too snug, then I tried on the large, of course there was no Medium. This makes me really sad, I even went to two subsequent stores looking for the coat. But why is that important? Especially since I didn't buy it.. But trying on that coat, opening the door of possibility that I could actually  buy something.

So when we went to look at handbags, I was sure I wouldn't find anything, because I am extra picky. In fact, I've been looking for a handbag for the longest.

So why did I cave... 4 simple letters... S-A-L-E. Yes a sale. smh. I found a Creme Steve Madden Satchel with a huge flower applique on the front. ::stone heart melts::

I debated for at least 15 minutes, it was so bad, that my friend even agreed to buy it for me and then I would just pay her back in September. lol. (she's a great friend). I decided to cut the nonsense and just buy it. I got it over 50% off it's original price. YES!

So..what did I learn?
If you are giving something up, ie shopping don't go to the store?
Once you concede to one thing, it is so much easier to accept something else.

So where does this leave me? Am I still doing my no shopping in August... maybe... it was a good run though. lol.

Until Next Time...

Movie Time

So the past 2 days has been a quasi-RedBox binge. Ok..not really, but I watched 3 movies. I enjoyed all 3 movies, but in a different way... ::spoiler alert::

1. The Adjustment Bureau
This movie was cool, I was kind of confused in the first 13 mins, but eventually it came together. I really like the idea that our lives are part of a plan and certain things are just supposed to happen to keep you on track, but then again, where does free will fit in? Hence this movie... I enjoyed it, more like a futuristic love story.

2. The Lincoln Lawyer
I rented this movie previously, but somehow ended up falling asleep. I gave it another shot and it was aight. I don't really like the whole lawyer thing much, in terms of this is why I never actually considered the profession. It did have some unique twists that I couldn't predict so I liked it in that aspect.

3. Limitless
This is my favorite movie of the bunch. I liked it mostly because it unpredictable. I had no idea what the movie was about going into it, it was getting dark outside and I essentially picked the first movie that I could select. lol. Even though it kind of semi-endorses drug use. It had several plot twists and turns, it also had a sufficient amount of action. The short version is it's about a guy who takes a performance enhancing drug and how his life is drastically affected from there. 2 thumbs up from me!




You guys should be proud of me...all this blogging that I'm doing. lol.

Until Next Time...

"The Boy Crisis"

I decided to check out the latest videos from TedTalk... The first video that I saw was quite intriguing it was only 4 minutes, and it was called, "The Demise of Guys." It addressed how men are lagging behind their women counterparts in educational arenas. In addition, he humorously addresses how men are being subjected to unlimited amounts of arousal and how they actually seem to be perferring that than the company of the opposite sex. Very interesting!





This second video is even more intriguing it is much longer, but it is truly eye opening. It is titled, "New Data on the Rise of Women." Hanna Rosin made a good point and said "Thousands of history don't reverse themselves without pain." She said "men are losing their identities and are having a hard time finding themselves"



Sometimes it makes me wonder is this why men for hundreds of years subconsciously and consciously "oppressed" and denied women true access to the work force?

I think this is definitely a phenomenon that is happening everywhere. I saw it at Emory, there were at least 3 times more women in the black community. I see it in Optometry school, there is more women in each class. Even with Optometry in general, it used to be a completely male dominated profession, but now it is mostly women that are graduating from optometry schools.

Just the other day I was talking to one of my friends about how I'm so proud of all my friends. Just this year, I have friends who started a PhD program, Med school, Pharm school, and Law school. And then we started discussing how our male counterparts don't seem to be as "motivated"... and I put motivated in quotes, just because I mean that on a surface level in terms of those seeking professional school degrees. And yes my opinion is biased of course... but it is something that I've been noticing..

How do I feel about it? Hmm... well I do think it is a backlash to many years in which women were put into a box and expected to do only, "XYZ."

 ::sidenote:: I dated this guy who was adamant that women should still "solely" fulfill traditional household duties, ie cooking and cleaning... as you can tell that didn't go over very well. I just didn't understand what is the point of me getting a doctoral degree, and my 'partner' expects me to still essentially be a housewife AND work a full job...umm no thanks.. ::sidenote over::

But the fact that Rosin says it is not just happening in the US, but countries all over the world, I wonder how this is going to pan out..hmm...

These two videos are in fact intriguing, check them out!

Until Next Time...

Articles I read today and my one sentence commentary..or not.

In my silent effort to rededicate myself to Reason to Believe, I wanted to share with you some articles that I read today...Just in case you were interested ...

The StayOver
This one discusses this "new" relationship, where couples stay over at each other's places 3 to 4 nights a week, even though they each have their own place... lol. This one made me laugh, because I thought this was normal. ::shrug::

Black Scientists Less Likely to Win Federal Research Grants
Surprise, surprise.. ok not really. But I hate to be pessimistic, but it's hard to see things as ever really changing

Is Natural Hair Dangerous...TSA seems to think so..
Aaah...ok, I read this article yesterday and I almost died at work. Thank you!! Finally someone has acknowledged this.. THis same thing happened to me, I always joke around, but its always something new when I go through security. But I remember this one particular time, I was going through TSA and even AFTER I went through the body scanners, this lady put on some gloves and "searched" my hair. I had some cute bobby pin do, and she completely messed it up. I was just ocnfused, b/c I was like if there was anything in my hair, they would have seen it in the body scanner. SMH.. (Ok that explanation was more than a sentence...eek)

::sidenote:: Yes I've been through the body scanners numerous times... do I feel violated? Umm the fact that they can see my nude body doesn't bother me..what bothers me is I have to spread my legs and put my hands up while all the other passengers watch for that thing to whirl around..lol. anyways.. :sidenote over::

Until Next Time...

Summer Recap: Pt. 3 Books I Read This Summer

So as the summer comes to a close, I can't help but reflect. This was a great summer in terms of reading, I was able to get a lot of reading done. Here are the list of books, that I read:

1. The Hunger Games*
2. Catching Fire *
3. MockingJay*
4. Diary of a SF by Abby Lee
5. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson*
6. SlumDog Millionaire by Vikas Swarup

*click for link to previous blog post mentioning these books

In all, I think my favorite book of the summer was .............drumroll please........ SlumDog Millionaire. Ok yes... I know what you are thinking, you probably saw the movie and thought it was a cool movie, but let me tell you why it was my favorite...

Earlier this summer I went to Borders, because as you know it is closing...womp womp, to buy The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.. I was perusing the aisles as I often do and saw SlumDog Millionaire book. It was a bargain book, and I figured I liked the movie why not buy the book (since the books are usually better anyway) and it was crazy on sale.

I started this book and I was immediately blown away. It was nothing at all like the movie, granted it had the same premise, a poor boy ends up winning a billion rupees, on a game show since he knows all the answers through life experiences... But boy was it different!

The writing style was amazing, each story was captivating and breathtaking and it was really "heavy" (in a good way though). So I say this was my favorite because no one told me to read it, I'm not sure I know anyone else who has even read it and you know its always amazing when you enter into a situation with little to no expectations and it blows you away. Well that is exactly what SlumDog Millionaire did for me. :)

Until Next Time...

It's Official... NY Times is my new home page...

So as you know, I'm a recovering CNN junkie.. CNN has been my homepage for as long as I can remember, 4+ years now, but as of late, their journalists just haven't been making the cut.

If you have ever had an extended conversation/debate with me, I'm sure to bring up some "article" that I read. Mostly it's because I am constantly reading articles on the internet, this was even before I didn't have cable. lol. So it's basically really important to me to keep abreast on news and pop culture. I will admit, I haven't been doing as well with all of the news this summer, ie debt ceiling crisis, stuff in Syria, famine in Somalia, etc.. Yes I know about it, but not as many details that I would have normally known.

I say all that to say, it was time for another news source. I haven't gotten rid of CNN altogether, but I've decided to make NY Times my new home page. A home page is just that... "a home".. When I log onto my itsy bitsy cute netbook, it's my gateway to connect with the rest of the world, before I do things like check my email and twitter.

I've been a long visitor of NY Times, so we will see how it pans out as a homepage. Yall wish me luck.

Until Next Time...

Summer Recap: Pt 2... Seeing Patients

So as most of you know I got my White Coat this past May... My classmates and I always joke around saying unlike other health profession schools Optometry hazes you first... basically makes you pass all these clinical courses and a privileging exam before they deam you "worthy" of a white coat. lol. They seriously do...

Anyways, along with this white coat comes the privilege of seeing patients (the reason I stayed in STL this summer).

So let's just say, on the first Tuesday morning in May, I was absolutely terrified to see my first patient. I really couldn't believe they thought I knew enough to leave me alone in the room with a patient for up to 2 hours. lol. Yes I said 2 hours, our exams are thorough, ie we do every single test!!

I have since come a LONG WAY from my first patient. I have gotten more comfortable with not only the tests, but just comfortable interacting with patients. I have seen a lot of cool stuff. I have gotten much better at presenting patients to my preceptors, basically I am just more at ease in every aspect. I'm so excited to continue my clinical experience. Well still at work, gotta run!!

Until Next Time...

Summer Recap: Pt 1

So... It's August 19th and I've officially done 19 days of no random shopping. Yay for me!!! It's Friday and I'm at work. bleh. But school starts on Monday. I'm not sure how I feel about that.

This summer was indeed much better than I expected. Honestly, I dreaded staying in St. Louis for the summer; The thought of it made me so sad during the school year. But it ended being much better than I thought.

I had a couple of cool trips, Miami for Memorial Day, Home (!!!), Chicago for the 4th of July, and San Diego at the end of July.

The biggest part of the summer has been working in the dispensary at my school's clinic and also seeing patients.
Seeing patients this summer has mostly been a rewarding experience. I am shocked at how much I learned, at how much I knew, and how much more I have to learn. I think I'm going to do a separate post on that too.

I have mostly enjoyed working in the dispensary. I basically help people pick out glasses and order and receive glasses. It is baffling to me how indecisive people actually are. I think it has made me a better decision maker, because after about 30 mins I basically coax and play mind games to make people decide. lol.

Working here has made me understand and appreciate another aspect of optometry. It has helped me see that it is indeed attainable to open my own practice and my dispensary is going to be phenomenal as well. Look out for Summer Recap, :Pt 2

Until Next Time...

No Shopping Campaign

Hello Happy August!!! So sometime in late July, I decided that I was going to spend the month of August, NOT shopping. So I'm not a shopaholic or anything, but I pick up little things here and there and overtime it adds up. I have been working a lot this summer and whenever I get off work, I somehow seem to go to the store. It's never a big shopping spree, but I've decided no more shopping.

So for the month of August, I will not buy any clothing, shoes, accessories, or random things for my apartment. It's only Day 3 and I'm already thinking I want to go pick up a candle or something. So since it's written on my blog, that means it's official. NO shopping!! (I hope I make it)


Until Next Time...