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Blank Slate

Haha I feel like this blog has been full of “new” things. Forgive me, I’m always like this during January. Well my family got the keys to our new house today, and my brother took this panorama of my room. I, unfortunately, spent my 8-5 at work and missed out. My gramma took my place instead. I am still trying to figure out how to decorate my room, but since I haven’t picked out new furniture, nor…

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What is happiness?

I’m afraid you won’t like my answer. Happiness is fleeting. It’s dependent on your external circumstances. It is a temporary feeling that can be taken away when the happy moment is over or you come down from that high. Many look at their lives and think, “all I want in life is to be happy.” Well, that approach is definitely something I’ve personally gone through. The trouble with that is…nothing…

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Finding Joy in a Pandemic as an Introvert

Hello friends! Long time no update. I’ve been feeling uninspired to write because of fatigue and just overall busyness of life. I was just reflecting on the past year of this COVID pandemic (one year so crazy) and I thought it’d be nice to look back on how I’ve grown. To start, I had major realizations about how blessed I am and how grateful I am for what I have: my family, my home, my…

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To my dearest readers,

2020 was supposed to be my year. Optometrists have been looking forward to the #YearoftheEyeExam and promoting 20/20 vision. Unfortunately, the world had other plans. We all have been affected by coronavirus or COVID-19 in one way or another.

For myself, I was mostly affected emotionally and financially. Thankfully, my family and I are healthy, despite half my household working directly with COVID patients in the hospital. Per our governor’s order, our state was ordered to close all non-essential businesses and to stay at home as much as we can. Although optometrists were classified as essential healthcare workers, our offices decided to cancel all routine exams (while still available for emergency cases) and close to the public until further notice. As a result, I’ve been out of patient care and have been sheltering in place for 6 weeks now.

I’ve labeled my day to day waves of emotions as “quarantine mood swings,” and I wanted to share ways I’ve managed them.

Acknowledge your feelings. IT’S OK. Everything you are feeling during this time is OKAY. Whether you are happy to spend more time at home, sad from losing your job, worried about friends and family’s health, frustrated by other people’s decisions, motivated, unmotivated. Whatever they are, acknowledge them and don’t feel guilty.

Redirect that energy. Next step is to take all those emotions, channel them as energy, and then you redirect them to something else. This is where all those quarantine activities and hobbies come in. Personally, I’ve been writing, decluttering, reorganizing, baking, cooking, gardening, doing yoga, going on walks, and reading. Do ANYTHING else besides just sitting on your thoughts and feelings. Get your body moving to relax your mind and release those endorphins!

Choose to be grateful. Each time I feel like nothing is going right, I list things I am grateful for. Sometimes, I write them on a sheet of paper, on my notes app, or I just list them out in my head and smile. Cultivate an attitude of gratitude and your whole way of thinking will change too. From simply being grateful, your actions change too. You will be less likely to victimize yourself and your positivity will radiate and spread quicker than any virus.

Create a “new” routine. Losing work and not being able to go to your favorite restaurants and enjoy the same activities can be really tough. A lot of anxious people find calm in their routine. So what do you do when you can’t go to all those places? You start over and create a routine and schedule with the places you can go to! You can still utilize your planner and create a week-by-week schedule. I like to schedule in virtual meetings and lectures, workouts, check ins with friends, chores, and personal projects. I also found it helpful to allow myself to naturally wake up in the morning and enjoy the freedom from alarm clocks, but still starting my day with a routine. I’ll get up, fix my bed, use the restroom, change out of my PJs into fresh clothes, fix my hair, and put on a bit of makeup.

Write it down. A tried and true method to handle stress due to overthinking and worry is to journal it out. Prior to stay-at-home orders, I used to journal when I felt like I had too many thoughts and when I had time for it. However, since my first day of quarantine, I’ve been writing almost daily! I write everything from what I accomplished that day, how I am feeling in that exact moment, TILFT (things I look forward to), gratitudes, notes from books I’m reading, goals, and prayers.

Pick your battles. You can either spend your time debating with keyboard warriors online or put your phone down and create memories with your family. I’ve learned that my time and energy is precious. So even when I have so many opinions about stuff going on in the world, I pick and choose which ones to respond to. Try it, and you will experience less fatigue and more joy.

Reflect & relax. I’ve been using this time to reflect on my day to day life before everything changed. I realized much of my anxiety was due to being busy and burning out. Being forced to slow down, I’m able to filter through all of the noise in my life and re-prioritize. Now that I’ve found what’s important to me, I can better plan for how I want to live post-pandemic. This is also the only time I’ve had since my last high school summer vacation where I can just relax and not worry about school or work. So enjoy it! Find a quiet space, meditate, and reflect.

Pray and seek God. When you hear and see news that vary between sources, it’s very easy to become confused. This is why it is important to ground yourself in the truth. The truth and promises of God will never fail you and they will help you weather this storm. The best way to find peace and joy is to know Him more and seek Him through prayer. I pray for the health and safety of people I love, wisdom for our leaders, give thanks for all my blessings, and that God gives me peace through this difficult time and uncertain situation.

I will always think back to this strange time in my life where my life was put on pause, where I learned that everything is temporary in this world, where I learned the importance of being prepared, and when I saw the fruits of trusting and obeying God.

I will also remember all the fun things I got to try and relationships I was able to nurture. Hopefully the curve will flatten soon and that we all can hug our loved ones that we’ve missed. Until then, I will continue to make the most of each day and hope this post helps you in some way.

first time making cheesecake and shared with family and friends

I have been learning how to cut mens hair

Enjoying learning how to garden and spending QT with parents

Cooking more asian dishes during quarantine

Our rose garden signaling spring time

Hopping on trend for dalgona coffee! So good!

Finding cacti on a

Satisfying cravings of soft tofu soup

Made the perfect banana bread after 5 attempts!

Stay safe, stay healthy, stay home. Love you all.

Coping with Anxiety during COVID-19 To my dearest readers, 2020 was supposed to be my year. Optometrists have been looking forward to the…

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2019: A Reflection

Hey friends, 2019 was a year of challenges. I say this because it was my first full year as an actual adult (meaning I’m done being a student, have a full-time job, and have to learn all the adulting things). I did not enter 2019 with a plan, but I’m glad to say I’m leaving this year feeling proud and grateful.

I’d like to recap this year by breaking down my areas of growth. I believe that my…

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Hello hello!

A couple weeks ago, my best friend from optometry school got married! You may have seen her in some previous posts. The wedding was beautiful and I was soo ‘honored’ to be the maid of honor! I’ve been a bridesmaid about 5 times already lol and this was my first time being a MOH. This was peak bridesmaid.

The wedding was in Southern California, and I decided to get there 5 days early just in case the bride needed anything (and also it was a much needed getaway after working so much this year). My boyfriend and I did a day trip to San Diego and I’ll share photos from that day in case any of you are crazy and want to do SD in a day lol

Left OC around 8am and started our day in Little Italy where we had tasters at Ballast Point and visited my friend’s optical shop (SPECS) nearby, then we took the Lyme scooters to brunch at Queenstown Public House and got ice cream at Salt&Straw. We scootered down to check out the USS Midway. After, we went shopping for socks and necklaces at Seaport Village and then drove to Coronado beach to check out the hotel and to nap on the beach (lol I was already so tired). Then we headed over to Balboa Park to walk and scooter around and got a cake from Extraordinary Desserts. After we met up with friends for dinner on Convoy Street at a korean fried chicken restaurant called Cross Street Chicken. We went back to OC after because I was exhausted from walking, but the whole day was fun and action-packed and I can’t wait to go back to explore some more!

I didn’t realize how much I missed living in the OC until this trip. I got to spend time with my friends, cousin who now lives in my old apartment building, my godsister and her family, and just go to all the places I frequented during my time in optometry school. I even got to visit campus to say hi to two of the students I helped during application!

Anaheim Packing district with my high school friend

Students I helped during application season, now a 1st and 2nd year at SCCO!

Beignets at Downtown Disney

My cousin and I waited in line for 2+ hours for a K-Beauty Warehouse sale

Ok back to wedding stuff. Prior to the actual wedding day, we had fun getting to know the wedding party at rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. The bridesmaids decorated the venue and I think it looked great! And I also planned an LA day with the bridal party the day before the wedding! We went to Museum of Dream Space and took lots of fun photos. One of the workers there offered to go around the museum with us one more time to take photos of us and turns out he’s a real photographer! We got lucky. After the museum, we got lunch at a very WeHo restaurant called Nic’s on Beverly. Their menu is soooo good and everything was vegan!

Bride and groom introducing the guests

bridal party and SOs

one of the cute flower girls

MODS

MODS

MODS

MODS

Nic’s on Beverly

The wedding itself was beautiful. It was a long day with hair and makeup starting before 8AM and having multiple photoshoots at the house and park even before the ceremony. The ceremony was touching with the couple reading their own vows, a short communion, and a time where they honored their mothers with flowers.

After that, it was party time! It was so great seeing friends from school and just celebrating the union of my best friend and her husband. I was so nervous about my speech, but it was well-received and I was so relieved after!

my new best friends!

Love this traditional dress during table greetings

OD friends!

We were just very proud of these balloons we brought lol

TACO CART!! (5 love languages of Tacos)

OD friends!

Thank you for reading! 🙂

Bridesmaid Upgrade Hello hello! A couple weeks ago, my best friend from optometry school got married! You may have seen her in some previous posts.

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Manila, I’m coming Home.

Hi guys!

In an effort to be more consistent with blogging, I decided to write this post. I am currently in Manila for 11 days visiting family and friends. The last time I came here was in summer of 2017 as a weekend trip coming from Tokyo. I definitely did not get to enjoy the city and the people thoroughly because it was so short and rushed. This time around, I get to be lazy and really…

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The charm of Red Mesa

The charm of Red Mesa

This winter, as I’m living day to day in the city, I can’t help but reminisce about my time in Red Mesa, Arizona.

Last winter, I spent three months in the most isolated little town. It actually feels more like a dream now. Red Mesa was so small and insignificant in this big busy world that it never even showed up on the map. I never thought it would be such a large part of my life.

Prior to…

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Hello everyone! Japan is THE travel destination of the year. Literally everyone I know on social media has been visiting, and for good reason! Japan definitely causes wanderlust with it’s unique culture, delicious food, and there is just always something to do or see!

I shopped a lot during my last trip, and I’d like to share some of my faves! Prepare yourself for all the ~kawaii~

Korean skin care

Korean beauty products

OKAY, let’s start with the Korean beauty products lol. If you know me well, you know I am a big Kbeauty/K-skincare junkie. I love Korean products because they usually don’t cause an allergic reaction to my sensitive skin and they’re always packaged nicely. I purchased most of these at the K-Town of Tokyo at the Shin-Okubo station, just one stop from Shinjuku. Buying in Japan is still cheaper than buying online through sellers on Amazon or online stores, plus no shipping fees!

The Tony Moly masks came in a pack of 10 for $10!

One of my favorite lip products is LaBiotte’s wine lip tint. They’re long lasting and look very natural…plus they are packaged like a wine bottle…who wouldn’t buy this?! I have a few, but fave shade is CR01 Rose Coral.

Three staple products in my skincare routine include the Banila Co. Clean it Zero cleansing balm, Tony Moly’s Chok-chok watery lotion, and Innisfree’s orchid eye cream. These are products that I am always repurchasing! There are actually a few standalone Etude House stores in Tokyo. I’ve been to the one in Shibuya 109 mall on the 2nd floor and in Harajuku Takeshita-dori. The products cost more than what I saw in Seoul, but it’s still a very affordable brand. I loveeee their nail polishes.

When shopping around Shin-Okubo though, I suggest comparing prices because one store might sell for more than the store next door.

Matsumoto Kiyoshi essentials

Matsumoto Kiyoshi essentials

Next, I’ll be sharing some of my essentials/products I hoarded from my favorite drugstore, Matsumoto Kiyoshi. These drugstores are everywhere and I wish I had 2 extra luggages so I could buy more stuff. I’m gonna have to list them one by one:

Pantene Micellar shampoo: My mistake, I thought this wasn’t available yet in the States, but it is…still good though!

Shiseido Hair treatment: It was smoothing and revived my dead hair.

Pantene Pro-V VitaFusion Rescue cream: ****HIGHLY RECOMMEND*** I bought all the boxes in the store. Each box has 5 tubes for 5 treatments. I can’t find this in any stores here and online it costs about $13-15 when it’s only 500yen in stores!

Kao Megrhythm steaming eye masks: These are amazing for travel. I used them in the hotels, on planes, on shinkansen, everywhere! They are individually-packaged and heat up once opened. They have a nice scent to them as well, so you can sleep peacefully and wake up without puffy eyes lol. Each box has 14 masks and I purchased 6 boxes lol.

LION foot and leg cooling patches: Also perfect for travel if you are walking a lot! Use it before you sleep to relieve tired legs and feet.

Shiseido eyelash curler: 800yen only! These retail about $20 in the states, so I bought 3 as gifts and one for me. It’s perfect for Asian eyes because it is flatter, catches all my lashes, and doesn’t squeeze my lids.

Avene Thermal spring water (travel size): One of my favorite youtubers uses this as a beauty blender spray and for makeup setting, and I was so excited to find it there at such an affordable price!

CanMake blush and contour powders: I love these because they are so small and easy to pack and the colors really compliment my skin tone. Also very affordable at less than 1,000yen!

Lastly, Kanebo Suisai beauty clear powder: Another must-buy! This is an enzyme cleansing powder that lathers once water is applied. They are individually packaged, so it’s perfect for traveling! Just toss 1-2 in your bag. I can use one pack for about 3 washes because it’s too harsh on my skin if I use it all at once. The one I got also have different Disney characters on each pack! These cost 1,700-2,000 yen.

Gudetama and Pochacco goodies from Hello Kitty Japan and Can-Do 100 yen shop

Some Sanrio goodies. Gudetama is obviously my spirit sanrio character. I’m excited to use the luggage bag straps (500yen each) and I already use the gudetama tote bag from Miyajima Island for groceries *no shame*. I recommend checking out Hello Kitty Japan and KiddyLand, if you are looking for a big selection of sanrio products.

MUJI is one of my favorite stores and I have a ridiculous amount of pens and notebooks from there, but on my last trip, I just purchased a few travel-sized goodies like cleansing oil, all-in-one essence, glasses cleaning wipes, and nail polish removers. Not pictured, but I really recommend the sensitive skin light moisturizing toning water. A 200ml bottle for less than 500yen and it really tones without causing any irritation or sensitivity.

Also, I bought these Midliner double-sided highlighters for 300yen at Tokyu Hands in Tokyu Plaza at Omotesando. Definitely visit this mall for the building design and Starbucks cafe with a beautiful terrace full of trees and lights. One of my favorite places to hang out. Anyways, these are perfect for bullet-journaling because they have a thick and thin side and the colors are so pretty.

Of course, this eye doctor couldn’t leave without purchasing a pair of frames. This is from my favorite clothing store niko and… x JINS. It was fate, JINS is an awesome optical shop with Asian-fit frames for us without a high nose bridge and niko and… is a popular streetwear and lifestyle brand. I can’t wait to get the lenses made into these! I also picked up this cute necklace from Tokyu Hands. “MEGANE” means glasses in Japanese btw, one of the few words I picked up working in an eye clinic in Japan haha.

I am so excited to finally have a Zojirushi stainless steel vacuum insulated thermos!!! I’ve been wanting one forever and I was too cheap to buy it in the Mitsuwa plaza in California or online. I got this at one of the stores along Shinsaibashi which is a longgggg street full of shopping next to Dotonbori, Osaka. I use it everyday for work and since it is still summer, it keeps my drinks cold the entire day!

This matte-black UNIQLO mug was a freebie for spending more than 10000yen. I’m so impressed by the quality though and it’s so sleek and lightweight, I’m also using this as my cup at work. Quick tip for UNIQLO. Definitely purchase all their bra-tanks, undergarments, and HeatTech clothes in Japan because they are like twice the price here in the states!!

Lastly, Here are all my socks + Eevee from Pokemon Center Mega Tokyo in Sunshine City, Ikebukuro. Aren’t the no-face socks just sooo adorable?! I love them, they are my fave. I’m giving away a lot of these, but I can’t seem to let the no-face socks go hehe.

I also made this almost 10-minute video about what to pack in your purse/backpack when traveling in Japan! I hope this blog was helpful and please let me know if you have any questions by commenting! Thanks for reading! x

Japan Haul and Packing Tips! Hello everyone! Japan is THE travel destination of the year. Literally everyone I know on social media has been visiting, and for good reason!

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Disclaimer: I wrote this probably sometime in November 2017 and it was left as a draft. It’s kind of nice looking back and remembering special moments and emotions. If you continue reading, you’ll see I was very emotional during fall quarter last year lol.

OK HERE WE GO.

After returning from Japan in August, I was feeling really bummed. I was so sad to be leaving Asia and wasn’t really looking forward to returning to Southern California for my second rotation. Rotation 2 was at my university’s eye center so it was familiar, comfortable, and just felt like home. Little did I know that my 3 months back in California would be so eventful and fly by! Now I miss it too. Here are the highlights of fall quarter:

Reuniting with family and eating yummy food I couldn’t easily find in Japan

moving into my godmother’s house and having roommates for the first time ever

Witnessing my first solar eclipse and California brushfire…both at clinic

Celebrating Ate Nikki’s birthday

celebrating my birthday

cramming for NBEO part 3 with friends

flying to North Carolina for the first time to take my clinical board exam with Tiff in the middle of Hurricane Irma

flying to San Francisco for the annual VCF charity dinner and saw an air show by the pier too!

flying to Texas for the first time for Alcon Academy

flying to Chicago for the first time for American Academy of Optometry conference

Trying new things and picking up new hobbies! Rock climbing and reformer pilates

Changing my hairstyle

Wedding venue hunting and food tasting with my ate/roommate

Watching Bruno Mars 24K Magic tour on my last night as a California resident!

My last day of clinic was really emotional. A lot happened that day. I was feeling sad during my commute thinking it’d be my last time working with faculty that has been teaching/precepting me for the past 3 years. I was excited too that it was my last day. I got sad again writing and giving my thank you cards to my staff doctors. I was happy it was only a half day, but I ended up staying an extra couple hours after my last patient because I have really bad separation anxiety. My friend and I started crying in an exam room because we were going to miss each other, then we checked our board scores together and WE PASSED! We started jumping around and cried some more. I cleaned out my locker in the student lounge and joined my classmates for lunch and then had more good byes and more hugs. Then my friend and I walked to the parking lot and cried some more, then I went back home (crying). Ate Kaye was doing her makeup for the concert and I got excited again because we were going to watch Bruno Mars live, but I talked to her as she was doing her face and then bawled again. UGH WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME. I couldn’t believe that after spending nearly every weekend with them since I moved to Fullerton and living in their house for 3 months, I was going to leave and only see them maybe a couple times a year. I was a mess, but I got myself together and got ready for the Bruno Mars concert which was AMAZING!

Ok it is 2018 and looking back, I’m happy I was able to make so many memories and visit lots of new places in a span of 3 months. I will let this be a reminder to never stop traveling and to always cherish the friendships I’ve made.

FALL ROTATION: KETCHUM Disclaimer: I wrote this probably sometime in November 2017 and it was left as a draft. It's kind of nice looking back and remembering special moments and emotions.

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I am still in disbelief that my year of clinical rotations has come to a close…

It was definitely a year of growth, full of unique experiences. I think I totally lucked out with all my clinical sites this year. Each one had their own strengths and allowed me to grow so much as a student doctor. I was blessed to have met some of the nicest and most attentive doctors as my preceptors. I was reviewing some of my student evaluations by them this morning and it’s interesting how most of their comments were very similar. They all fall along the lines of “Anne has great interpersonal skills with staff and patients, I’ve heard many compliments from patients about her.” or “Anne is a self-motivated clinician that continually shows improvement in her clinical skills.” or “Anne has a solid knowledge base and confidence in decision making skills with complicated cases.” I am happy that I’ve had great relationships and built lasting friendships with these doctors and now colleagues. Their praises and confidence in my abilities have really helped me overcome my own insecurities.

Over the year, I was able to travel all over the country and even other parts of the world! I can’t believe optometry school gave me such an awesome opportunity to both learn and travel at the same time. At times, it was definitely challenging. I was trying to manage exploring my surroundings while also maintaining a full-time clinical schedule, studying and taking board exams, and preparing presentations at each site. It required a lot of energy on my part and I used most weekends to explore rather than unwind and study. No regrets though! All of those long days and weekend road trips with all the new friends I’ve made will be my most precious memories 🙂

  This final quarter was a little bit different than the rest. I moved back home to Las Vegas and worked for a local ophthalmology group. Everything seemed to fall into place. For the past month or two, I’ve been interviewing for several practices and have received some great offers. I am in the process of deciding and negotiating with employers right now. I could not have gone on those interviews if I wasn’t home and if it wasn’t for all my mentors/preceptors. The main surgeon at my last clinical site basically spread the word that I was looking for a job and recommended me to so many great practices! I also appreciate that 2 of my preceptors this quarter are young ODs and have been helping me with my student-doctor transition. I will keep you guys updated with my final decision!

As for now, I am just trying to get over the fact that I am in a good place. I am graduating in a few days, passed all my licensing board examinations in one shot, and have work waiting for me when I get back home. I am also heading back to my favorite country, Japan, in less than a week. Life is good, God is good, and I feel so thankful. I did it!

I will get back to writing more detailed recaps of each quarter after my vacation.

Thanks for reading!

Dr. Anne Valdez, OD

A Year of Externships I am still in disbelief that my year of clinical rotations has come to a close...

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Hello friends!

Sorry for the long hiatus. I’ve been really busy this quarter with travelling and board exams and clinic (but what’s new). Currently, I’m in the San Francisco Airport waiting to board to head back to SoCal. I finally got around to editing my first summer vlog! It’s been up for about a week, but the shooting back home in Vegas also happened that same night and I had a difficult time coping. Now I think I can share this and hopefully I’ll find time to edit the Japan vlogs as well.

I flew to Seoul on my first weekend of my externship in Japan. It’s always been a goal of mine to visit ever since I started watching Kdramas lol and since it’s only a couple-hour plane ride from Tokyo, I said why not!

I met up with my friends Nathan and Libby whom I haven’t seen since high school! They were wonderful guides to the city and made my short trip there so memorable.

Some of the places I toured included Gangnam, Myeongdong, Hanok village, Dongdaemun plaza, Namsan tower, and Han river. I went to more locations, but I honestly can’t think of them at the top of my head. You can see the rest from my vlog, which is just an extended insta-story 😛

Enjoy!

  KOREA VLOG Hello friends! Sorry for the long hiatus. I've been really busy this quarter with travelling and board exams and clinic (but what's new).

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Mid-Week Weekend

Hello, friends! It’s been a while. I’m sorry I’ve been lagging on posts…been so busy with my first rotation and exploring Japan and other parts of Asia during the weekends. I plan on posting about each place I’ve visited once I return to the states. I have A LOT of photos and vlog footage so I’m sure I’ll be posting late into the year haha. Just an update with Rotation 1…it’s going great! It was…

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Mansion Weddings and A Taco Truck

Mansion Weddings and A Taco Truck

As promised, I vlogged about my weekend in NorCal with the #ValdezClan! Two days full of aunties laughing and yelling, staying in one huge house in Elk Grove with a bunch of my relatives, 900 senorita breads, karaoke, a taco truck, and just a bunch of memories that will get me smiling in an instant. Feeling so lucky to have been a…

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Hello, it's May.

Hello, it’s May.

So much to look forward to this month! While many things are coming to an end, many adventures are also waiting for me. Week 1: I find out my board exam scores on May 5th (may the fifth be with me). Also, skipping clinic that day to fly up to Sacramento for my uncle’s wedding! He’s having a taco truck that night during rehearsal dinner lol ~happy Cinco de Mayo~. Stay tuned for my blog/vlog of…

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It’s only been a day since I took Part 1 of my board exams, but I feel back to normal again! I’ve been pushing off so many things (and people) in my life to focus on studying. Now, I feel relieved and proud of myself for staying disciplined! I woke up at 1AM the night before the test, so I basically took it without any rest and almost crashed around hour 5 lol. It was scheduled to be 8 hours, but I finished a little earlier! I’ll find out results early May, so *fingers crossed* I passed and don’t have to study for it ever again! My friend and I celebrated with What’s Up Men (the best ramen place in Fullerton) because rainy days call for noodles! 🍜

Today, I slept in til 8am (yes, that’s sleeping in for me). I finally caught up on the beauty rest my under eyes have been begging for. Since Thursdays are my only days off from clinic and classes don’t start til next week, I had a full day to do whatever I wanted!

I worked out at my apartment gym, enjoyed the sunshine and perfect California weather, showered and did a clay face mask. I’m obsessed with this Nature Republic mask I got from Brea mall 😭

Then I started feeling anxious……it’s been so long since I’ve done ~nothing~ that my brain started freaking out 😣 and so, I packed my day with more activities lol

I called 3 pharmacies to find one that was still giving flu shots, and thankfully one did! The pharmacist was like “flu season is over, why do you need this?” 🙈 because I’m going to a military site and they made me. I also shopped a bit at Marshall’s and only bought ONE item! Not the item I went there for, but still.

I visited campus to meet with the financial aid lady who was super confused by my situation, but eventually took care of it lol yay for scholarships tho 💸. After that appointment, I worked on some paperwork for Japan in the library. It looks super nice now after they remodeled! 👌🏼

Tonight, I volunteered with 2 other OD students at this “Science Night” event at the local library. It was so cool! They had booths set up in this large multipurpose room and the kids got to make science crafts and learn about different fields. Our booth had optical illusions and tablet games testing hand-eye coordination. It was really busy and crazy for 2 hours straight, but worth it! I love working with kids and they were just so fascinated by everything haha.

350 people showed up!

playing hand-eye coordination games

learning about stereo

even the littlest ones played!

only 3 volunteers, but still managed!

LOL my filter did not want to go on his face

OH YEAH, and today’s biggest accomplishment was actually downloading Snapchat!!!! The filters are so fun, I’m OBSESSED. Add me @heymissanne.

Well, I’m really excited to just enjoy life again! The end is definitely in sight. 8 weeks left til rotations, bye!x

Post-Boards Life It's only been a day since I took Part 1 of my board exams, but I feel back to normal again!

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Happy holidays! I love winter break because I get to see all my cousins and family and continue our traditions.

Merry Christmas from my family!

Cute little vlog made by my cousin :)

Of course we can’t not visit gramma on her birthday!

Thanks for stopping by!x

CHRISTMAS 2016 Happy holidays! I love winter break because I get to see all my cousins and family and continue our traditions.