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Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Field Trips and Future Marathoners

Only at my primary care clinic site do I love Mondays.

Especially when we take field trips. My preceptor is awesome and treats us to lunch every day, so yesterday we decided to hit the road and eat out. After climbing into my coworker's souped-up Subaru, we enjoyed a nice leisurely ride to the restaurant (and by enjoyed, I mean that I may have been holding on to the seat for dear life).

Our Chauffer
Nice Parking Job...
While enjoying our delicious lunch, I joked that we should start taking walks after lunch to avoid the dreaded "post-lunch coma."  After being glared at by 6 eyes of horror and disgust, Dr. Watson said "You know, that's actually not a bad idea."  I was more than excited about the idea but I never thought they'd actually go for it.  So today, Operation Brittany Boot Camp commenced.  To prepare for the arduous event, there was carbo-loading, hydration, and stretching.  0.22 miles later (aka 2 blocks), we arrived at our destination.  It was a momentous occasion and I couldn't be more proud of my future marathoners.

Stretch those Hammys
Medical staff or marathoners?  No one knows!
It breaks my heart into tiny pieces that I have only 8 more work days in the next two months to spend at my favorite clinic in the whole world. Where else do you laugh as much as you work, have pinterest potlucks and themed outfit days, have a limitless supply of snacks at your disposal, get poked fun at from the moment you walk through the doors, and are required to eat lunch together at the dining table. Not to mention that I have the greatest and most supportive teacher in the world, Dr. Watson.
Field Trip to Home Depot 

Heart Heath Wednesday
(and apparently "stand-with-the-Tax-guy-on-the-corner" Wednesday!) 
Rainy Day Wednesday
Dress like Brittany Day
If there were ever one thing to keep me from moving back to Alaska, it would be CMDC. (Well, that and the beautiful beaches, constant sun, abundance of running races, and my awesome Californian friends....ha!). I am so grateful that I was placed at CMDC for the past YEAR and I can't thank Dr. Watson, Leyshla, and Frenchie enough for being so amazing.

I LOVE these three people.  

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Personal Stylist and Cookies and Cream

If I could open my closet and find one thing... It would be a personal fashion designer. Fashion is not my forte.  (Unless you consider matching my running outfits.  Then I could probably hold my own.)  I have always admired people who look like they walked out of Vogue magazine no matter what they are doing or where they are.  I can't remember the last time I wasn't wearing a hoodie and yoga pants when I went to the grocery store. On the rare occasion I do feel inspired, it is because of a little site called Pinterest. I usually find a great idea for an outfit and I falsely say to myself, "Oh, you could totally pull that off!" Somehow when I put on a comparable outfit... It just doesn't look the same.

Perfect Examples:


Why I could never pull off these outfits:
1.) I couldn't walk in the high heels if my life depended on it
2.) We all know that nail polish wouldn't last 5 minutes because I'm too impatient to let it dry completely
3.) I own 2 purses and neither would match any of the outfits
4.) There is far too much white clothing in those outfits.  Unless a bleach pen is included in the purchase of the outfits, those shirts stand no chance with me.
5.) The only girl in this planet that can pull off neon yellow shorts is the girl above.
6.) There are far too many accessories that are needed to complete these outfits and I would, without a doubt, lose all of them.

Since I've been feeling rather uninspired in the fashion department lately, I did something really irresponsible yesterday.  Some call it retail therapy, I call it spending money on things I really don't need and really really have no place buying since my fashion sense is that of a 12 year old girl.  Two hours and a lot of money later, I had a bag full of adorable new work shirts.  I immediately felt buyer's remorse and will be returning all of them tomorrow.  A grad student should not be buying new clothes.  Oh well, some day when I actually money I can go on a shopping spree!

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We had our Pinterest Potluck on Friday and it was a huge success.

Here were the goodies that the other girls brought:

Egg Baked Potatoes
Pizza Cresent Rolls
I was in charge of dessert and after wasting far too many hours on pinterest, I eventually came up with my own recipe.  Introducing... Heavenly Cookies and Cream Bars.  Aka, it's-hard-not-to-eat-the-whole-pan-in-one-sitting-Bars.

Yummy.

Heavenly Cookies and Cream Bars
1 1/2 cups Oreo crumbs (or other cookie of your choosing)
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 (14 oz) can of sweetened condensed milk
1 cup of coarsely chopped Oreos 
1/2 cup white chocolate chips
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup shredded coconut or other nut (optional)


Wow, my iPhone takes really great pictures. (or not)
Note:  The two missing bars were the victims of my roommate's midnight snack
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and prepare a 9×13″ baking pan with cooking spray.
- Combine Oreo crumbs with butter and then press mixture into the pan evenly
- Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over crumbs.
- Sprinkle Oreo cookie pieces, white chocolate chips and chocolate chips evenly over condensed milk. Press everything down lightly with a fork.
- Top with shredded coconut and try not to drool.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes until lightly brown and bubbly. Allow to cool completely before removing from pan.
Notes:
- Do not use fat-free sweetened condensed milk because a.) Clearly this is a low-sugar, low-fat recipe and you shouldn't waste your time trying to save calories and more importantly, b.) it will not set and you will end up with a pan of goo. 
- I never measure the chocolate chips because I figure: the more, the merrier.  I've also made this bar with variations such as: butterscotch/chocolate, cranberry/white chocolate/macadamia, and I'm sure all of you nut-friendly people would love peanut butter/chocolate. So play around with the proportions and flavors.  You won't be disappointed.
Bon Appetit!