Hello and happy Wednesday! So this is the time of year where life gets crazy with exams and graduations. I know that I have quite a few readers who are in college/grad school so I wanted to wish all of you good luck! I know how stressful the end of the semester can be but I just want to remind you to take care of yourself despite everything you have going on. Now, more than ever, it’s important to eat healthy, get as much sleep as you can and exercise…even if it’s just for 20 minutes. You need it!
Why did this topic come up, you may ask? Reader Emily is in her first year of law school at the University of Georgia and had her first exam today…ON HER BIRTHDAY! She’s been stressing about finals and her sweet boyfriend e-mailed me asking if I could send her some words of encouragement. Let’s ALL wish Emily a happy birthday and good luck on finals! Emily, thank you for reading! Believe in all the work and preparation you’ve done up to this point. You’ve got this! And how cute is Emily’s goldendoodle, Milly? That face.
I made a salad for dinner last night and paused to think to myself that it was the first salad I’d prepared at home in a long time. Then on Facebook today reader Kristin asked if anyone else finds it hard to be in the mood for salads when it’s 40 degrees outside. I definitely find myself craving less overnight oats/salads/smoothies and more oatmeal/soup/comfort food when the temperatures drop. What about you?
Case in point…check out what I ate for lunch today. I met an old co-worker and friend for lunch at Roasting Company. I was so excited when he suggested it because I love their veggies. I had a veggie plate with squash casserole, white bean stew, collards and a cornbread muffin. Why is squash casserole so delicious…especially paired with bites of collards? This was ridiculously good.
I stopped by Polka Dot Bake Shop after lunch and picked up a Strawberry Shortcake cupcake. I have been really craving a cupcake and I usually LOVE their cupcakes and love anything strawberry flavored. I didn’t like this cupcake. It was a whipped cream icing and vanilla cake with a little bit of strawberry puree in the center. I needed some real frosting in my life today. Oh well…
I washed it down with a kombucha which was sadly more satisfying than the cupcake. You will most likely never see me write those words again. Ever. 😉
And I’ll leave you with a video that a friend shared with me as a pick me up. I’m having a little bit of a hard time rebounding from Thanksgiving/gearing up for the holidays. This is a great reminder to be grateful for the beauty that each day holds. If you don’t want to watch the whole 9-minute video, skip to 3:35 and watch from there.
Have a wonderful afternoon. Love to everyone. xo
Now that it’s getting colder, I’m definitely craving more soup and warm foods. I’m still eating salad, but it’s not quite as satisfying. Sorry to hear about the cupcake disappointment–what are the chances?! 🙁
Good luck Emily!!! And thanks Jen for the encouragement for us college students 🙂
Good luck and happy birthday to Emily! Those finals are super early..
Mine are in 2 weeks! Thanks for thinking about all of us college kids 🙂
Good luck, Emily! Law school exams…ugh. Been there, done that, still have strange anxiety dreams even though I graduated over four years ago. Thanksgiving is just starting to feel normal (and by normal, I only mean that I don’t feel weird inclinations to study). You can do it!! Remember to sleep, exercise, eat semi-decent food, and take some time to go outside – even if it’s just in five minute spurts with flashcards.
I’ve definitely been enjoying more warm foods lately, with the exception of overnight oats…Thanks to you and several other bloggers, I’m officially obsessed! I keep experimenting with different combos and have yet to find one I don’t like. Plus, it’s SO nice to have breakfast already made so I can sneak a few more minutes of sleep on mornings when I have early classes. 🙂
I’m a total “frosting snob,” so I completely hear you on the cupcake fiasco…Whipped icing cannot replace buttercream!
Finally, thanks for the good luck wishes…The formula sheet alone for my math exam is supposedly going to be 4 pages, so I’m more than a little terrified. I’ll need all the luck I can get!
I am also a grad student named Emily with a final presentation today – so this post really spoke to me! Thanks for posting 🙂 I’ve been reading your blog for quite a while and find it very inspring. Thanks for sharing everything you do.
Thanks for the encouragement for finals! I could definitely use it! Maybe you can drive up to Chapel Hill and teach a yoga class for some of us students? 😉
I know you like your sweets but I would agree on the drink being better than the cupcake. For me most of the time I will choose a glass of wine, or a coffee or a special tea over a dessert!
Good luck Emily! I’m a 2L law student in Charlotte and I’m prepping for exams so I feel yor pain. Yoga and running are the only things that have gotten me this far! Also, the excitement of reading PBR every night has helped a bunch (it is my not so guilty pleasure :-))! Stay calm!
It’s never too cold for salad!
Matt, I miss your blog
Good luck to Emily! I’m at UGA as well and with the overwhelming last exams PLUS final projects and actual finals I was beginning to feel pretty overwhelmed. Thanks for this post, loved the video, definitely the encouragement I just needed.
And it is NEVER too cold for salad 🙂
Happy Birthday Emily & good luck with exams! You will do awesome!!
I’m all about the icing too! The more icing on cupcakes and cake and I am one happy woman. I actually had a craving for a big cheeseburger and fries tonight, so Mom and I grabbed them and they were FABULOUS. I love when cravings are fulfilled. Have a wonderful night! 🙂
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY AWESOME, AMAZING FRIEND EMILY! (It’s the other Atlanta native 1L at UGA law named Emily, but I bet you guessed that already!) I am so proud of you and so, so blessed to have gotten to know you this year and call you one of my best friends! Woohoo for surviving our first exam! We are one for four!
Jen, while this is my first post, I have been a reader for over a year now and I just have to tell you how much I love your blog. In fact, one of the first things Emily and I bonded over was our shared love of PBR! I look forward to reading it every day and am always inspired. Thank you, thank you! 🙂
Thanks Emily! Whoo hoo 1 down 3 to go! Law school isn’t always fun but it has definitely been a lot better having great friends like you to go through it with me! 🙂 Especially since we are both Emily haha! Can’t wait to celebrate when all the craziness is over!
Happy Birthday, Emily! You have a beautiful dog and a sweet boyfriend! You are going to do great on the exams!
I love southern comfort food-ie: greens, squash, cornbread! Yum!
Finally, thank you, Jen, for being open, honest and real about what your feeling. Your healing has begun. I loved the video and will share it with a friend who’s going through life’s valley right now.
Love, hugs and this moment…
I’ve been on an extreme Koombucha kick, maybe becuse it’s on sale 🙂 Loved the TED talk–I used some of the dialogue in today’s blog post!
It’s about this time of year that I am so thankful I am done with school (for now, at least!) Good luck Emily and everybody, and happy birthday!
PS, I briefly contemplated a salad yesterday, but even the prep work seemed too cold. Soup it is 🙂
Thanks for all the birthday wishes and good luck, everyone! And Jen, thanks to you again for this sweet blog post. I know you are going through a lot right now so it is really special to me that you took time out of your day and busy schedule to send encouragement to someone you don’t even know- it lifted my spirits and definitely changed my week! Even though exams aren’t the worst thing I could be going through, they’ve definitely thrown me for a loop so I hope you know how much it means to me that you reached out. You clearly have a kind spirit and warm heart (plus some good karma!) which I know will carry you through whatever life throws your way. Either way you have definitely found a reader for life! Milly and I say thanks again! 🙂