[Unofficial] beginning of summer.

I always look forward to this time of year, as Memorial Day weekend to me symbolizes the beginning to the [second] best time of year (fall takes the cake for me). Everyone in my family is either finishing up with the school year or planning summer trips and it just brings such joy and positive outlook on life. I am super thankful to those who have served and are continuing to serve our country so that I can have the freedom I love.

I kicked the weekend off Friday night with a much-needed reunion with one of my oldest, kind-hearted and best friends, Katie! She and I have shared almost 12 years of friendship together and I am so very thankful to have her in my life. When we get together, it's like nothing has changed and we can pick up right where we left off. I am lucky to have someone in my life who I can connect with like we do. Our birthdays are six days apart, so we usually try and get together for our annual celebration of life.

We ended up eating at a lovely, quaint little spot in Demorest, Ga that is located right across from Piedmont College. Sweet Breads has super awesome food with great views of the scenic campus and an easy-going atmosphere where you can sit on the back patio and just relax (and perfect for catching up!). 

I have to brag on my sweet friend for just a second. She is probably the most thoughtful person I know. We don't usually get gifts (as the dinner itself is enough), but she couldn't resist and got me a small bonsai tree for graduation. The symbolic meaning of taking care of the plant and also taking care of patients was just so meaningful to me and made my heart smile. She is truly the best. It'll be placed in my (future) office one day. :)

Saturday, I ended up trekking over the mountain to Hiawassee, Ga to celebrate on Lake Chatuge with family. I always get a little nostalgic as I spent my childhood summers up there. I miss my Papa Vaughn and being back up there made me feel happy and at peace. 

Mama spent most of the day cleaning up the place and making it a 'home away from home'. She only stopped once to eat and once to get in the lake to cool off. My sister and I just relaxed all day and enjoyed each others' company. My dad, brother and his girlfriend came up later in the evening and we had a nice barbecue dinner complements of North Ga Barbecue in Helen. That place is divine and has some of the best barbecue around. Memorial Day itself is being spent lounging around the house and watching an unhealthy amount of Fixer Upper. Joanna Gaines must be my soul sister because her style is on-point. This show has inspired me to decorate the entire house. Sorry for overloading my Pinterest page with 'farmhouse' everything. :) 

I hope everyone is having a great Memorial Day weekend!

xoxo, ab

All wrapped up.

I wanted to try something new for breakfast this morning, so I made these little goodies. Super easy and wow, so delish! I mean look at that melted cheese... Pinterest for the win! You can find the recipe here. (I substituted the fake sandwich cheese for Sargento colby-jack.)

Happy hump day!

xoxo, ab

Friday Five.

It's FRI-YAY! and I needed a distraction from studying, so I thought I would blog about what I am loving now. (I have literally only left the house ONCE this entire week. Talk about cabin fever! It's the final stretch, however... One week left until my boards. EEK.)

1. Tassel love.

My version here | Designer version here 

Tassel me everything! This clutch bag is adorbs. I am loving all of this summer's trends (tassels, fringe and off-the-shoulder tops), and this is my #1 favorite. And can we just talk about that monogram?! The saying goes, "if it isn't moving, monogram it"... and may be taken somewhat literal. :) Marley Lilly is having a super awesome sale on these and I snagged this for less than $15! It looks VERY similar to Gigi New York's version "Chelsea cross body".

2. Lush Cosmetics.

Magic in a pot here

Let me just tell you about my best friend. This stuff is AH-mazing! I have been using it for the past few months and my skin has never felt more smooth and less oily (ironically, since the product is basically a pot of oils) than ever before. It also doubles as a makeup primer. My skin trends towards being more dry than oily, so this stuff is great. As soon as you rub it in, it magically absorbs and leaves your face feeling soft as a baby's bottom. GO get. 

3. Home decor.

My mother knows me Oh-so-well. She picked this up for me at her local Kirkland's and it matches the rest of the house so perfectly! I have been looking to spruce things up around the house lately, and this does the trick. Burlap anything is welcome here. Thank you beautiful mommy! You're beauty radiates from within! 

4. Peep-toe stacked heels.

Open-toe booties here

I had been eyeing these lovelies for about three months now. Every time I went online, they were either sold out, or backordered until the middle of summer! Finally, I stopped in to our local Old Navy and snagged this pair. Can't wait to style them! They also come in black. FYI, they are currently having a 40% off EVERYTHING sale.

5. Lady Liberty is back!

Finally reunited with Red Ruby and it feels so GOOD! We thought the AC had tanked on us again and possibly looking at another $600 fix... THANKFULLY all that needed fixing was a $10 electronic relay and reset and she's now back to her full glory (and keeping cool at that). A few months without AC has been pretty miserable here in the Georgia heat, although lately the temperature has been pretty mild. 

Happy Friday lovelies!

xoxo, ab

Hand-picked.

I just can't get over how beautiful these peonies are. Mama hand-picked these from her own garden just for me. :) A special Happy Birthday to my love, 33 today! Hope y'all are having a great Monday!

xoxo, ab

Blissful, bittersweet weekend.

Well, this was a weekend I had been looking forward to since the beginning of PA school: graduating! 28 (short) months ago, I embarked on a journey that would change my life forever. The end was never in sight or evident until just the past few weeks; so they say that's the nature of the game [PA school]. As I sit here and type this blog post, I am reminiscing on the past two and a half years and all of the great, and not so great,  moments that PA school brought me. I befriended some of the most wonderful people, challenged myself in ways I never thought were possible and found in myself who I am supposed to be and what my true calling really is. I have never been more proud to say that I am officially a PA and that I cannot wait to pursue my dreams and put my accomplishments to work! I love making a difference in someone's life, no matter how big or small. 

We kicked things off this weekend with our hooding ceremony on Friday, the 13th. Kind of spooky with all the superstitions.. full moon and all. A Physician Assistant's hood represents their level of academic achievement and is donned in kelly green to represent the field of medicine. Here are a few pictures from the more intimate ceremony. Afterwards, we headed to Cheesecake Factory for lunch. Ironically, we also ate there after my white coat ceremony at the beginning of the program! So bittersweet.

   

         
          

Saturday was graduation day with the entire University's Atlanta Campus. There were almost 2000 graduates (not all of them walked thankfully!). The president of the university was there to confer our degrees, Master of Medical Science. It was a very special day for us and made it more real! It still hasn't hit me that we are done. I'm sure I will have one of those ugly cry moments soon. I still have to study for boards that I am scheduled to take on May 27th, so it kind of feels like i'm still in school for now.

      

After the ceremony, we had a LOVELY lunch celebration at Pappadeaux Seafood restaurant. It was d-i-v-i-n-e. Seafood is my favorite. I got the coconut shrimp and they were as big as my hand!

   
         

Today we had a barbecue graduation celebration up on the Chattahoochee River in Sautee for some of my closest friends and family. It was a gorgeous day (a little chilly though at 67 degrees.. in May?!) and everyone who came out had full bellies and a great time. Cornhole was definitely a hit. Thanks to my great-uncle who made them himself! The gator story just topped it all off.. had to have been there. Anyhow, thank you all for making it so special! And a special thank you to family who let us enjoy the property.



| Good form Mama! |

                                                    

I cannot thank my family, friends and my wonderfully amazing boyfriend (who has earned his honorary degree for putting up with my crazy shenanigans for the past [almost] 4 years!) who have supported me and pushed me to be my very best. I am so blessed to have all of you in my life and couldn't have made it to this stage of life without you all!



xoxo, ab