Just My Journal

Tanning Salons As a 5 billion dollar industry, it's no wonder that tanning salons still exist. I've only ever gotten a spray tan (and a free one at that), but I could never imagine exposing my skin to a tanning bed knowing what I know. Tanning salons are everywhere and even my gym has tanning beds for people to use! According to the  American Academy of Dermatology , if used before the age of 35, indoor tanning bed increase the risk for melanoma by 59%. It also has a compound effect, putting you at higher risk each time you tan. The UV light from a tanning bed is a known carcinogen and therefore, it's the AADA stance that "no person or facility should advertise the use of any UVA or VB tanning device using working such as 'safe,' 'safe tanning,' 'no harmful rays,' 'no adverse effect,' or similar working or concepts." My promise to myself in 2020 is that I will never go into a tanning bed. Smoking Cigarettes I'm lucky enoug...

I recently read an article about how a 4-year-old died from the flu in Colorado. At the end of the article, the mom states, "... and it feels like we failed him because we did what we had to do." Worried, and searching for advice, this mom tried Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Elderberry, and Zinc. And despite these remedies recommended by fellow members of a Facebook group, her son didn't survive. But what if I told you, she had already took her son to the doctor? How the doctor already prescribed Tamiflu , but she didn't pick it up. How those recommendations for Vitamin C "until diarrhea," and peppermint oil didn't break her son's fever that caused a seizure. The fact is this Anti-Vax Facebook group and mother did fail her son. What's the point of going to the doctor if you aren't going to follow his recommendations and prescriptions? "I am a momma freaking out all alone in this, with a family who believes in [no] natural ways... they are m...

One YouTube, I watched Jenn Im's My Perfect Imperfections Tag.  The Imperfections My Uneven Eyelids - I'm Chinese American and I have monolids. And my monolids themselves, I've never had a problem with. I've never looked at my eyes and thought, "it'd be nice if I had a crease." Or, "I need eyelid surgery." But the fact that my eyelids were uneven got very apparent when I started to wear makeup in college. Specifically, it's easier to see the lash line on the _ eye, which means I need more eyeliner on my other eye to make them look even.  My Body (Calves and Arms) - I am not very tall. I like to say I'm 5'2" on a good day. Some people who are shorter are proportionally petite. I am not. I was actually supposed to be taller but once I got my first period that stunted my growth. I think if I grew to the height I was "supposed" to be, my arms and legs would look proportionate. My arms just don't look as toned as...

There are plenty of things in the world that piss me off, these are a couple of them. This article describes how Jessica's rapist still has visitation rights to her sons. She was raped multiple times when she was a teenager and now has two sons. In addition, she miscarried once and another son died due to "a disease common in cases of incest." Her rapist and step-uncle was never convicted, despite DNA evidence. How in the world is someone not convicted despite DNA evidence ! Especially if this is happening multiple times. And for her family to not only allow this to happen, but to encourage it, is disgusting. Apparently she was also forced to marry her step-uncle. In Alabama, rapists still have their rights, which is insane! So the judge told Jessica, with each visitation denied, she would have to spend 48 hours in jail. So you're telling me you want a pedophile rapist to have visitation rights to two young boys? Guess I'll never visit Alabama. Shall we m...

Thanks for coming in at 11 PM while we're trying to make your mother comfortable enough to sleep. Thank you for coming to see your mom for 30 minutes, I've just been here for hours. Making sure she gets pain pills without oversedating her. It's been a problem in the past, and I don't want to create another one for her now. She can't move that well on her own. So it's not a problem when a nurse or a nursing assistant use a gait belt and a Sara Steady just to get your mom from the bed to the chair and back again. Actually, two people are needed just for this one task to make sure she's safe. And sometimes two people are needed to reposition her every two hours - in reality even more frequently because she's so uncomfortable laying down or sitting.  She gets anxious. So anxiety meds have been ordered and changed for her. But it's not enough. So she asks me to hold her hand. She gets lonely, so we called the chaplain, volunteer services, and art ...

"Do you want to wait in the car? Or do you want to help start the fire?" Nic asked. It was a cool December night, and the prospect of starting a fire didn't enthuse me. "I'll stay here," I said. As he walked away, I grabbed my phone to update my roommates. It took him a couple of minutes before he came back. Enough to tell them how it was a weird date and how he's nice but I'm not sure yet. The fire was nice, warm. Two chairs were set up, side by side. Nic put a lantern on a tree branch to light our way back. It didn't take long for us to kiss under the stars. It was intense, the kind of kiss where explosions go off in the background. The scent of bonfire lingered long after we left his backyard, and as the fire died out ours didn't. He lead me from the fire pit back the house where we spent the night in the basement. Well, most of the night. I left at 3 AM because I had class the next day, not to mention my roommates were wondering where I...

When people ask how I met you, I like to answer with "online." Although that's the simplified answer, it's the truth. The long answer, we met through an app called Whisper . If you've never used Whisper it's a confession app. People post about anything and everything there. Me? I was posting about my relationship life, or lack of one probably. I don't remember what the confession was that got us talking, probably something along the lines of "just a nice girl looking for a nice guy." You say that you messaged first, although I beg to differ. That's something we still disagree about to this day. We didn't message long before you mentioned dinner. Applebee's for wings. But instead of meeting at the restaurant, you wanted to meet in a parking garage. I was skeptical, to say the least. You wanted to meet there because there were cameras so my car wouldn't get stolen or something like that. And while the cameras made me feel a littl...

Saving money is important. As if you needed this blog post to tell you that. But how do you save money? And while not all of the tips I'm going to share with you are feasible for everyone, hopefully, you'll read at least one thing that applies to you. Start looking for jobs before you graduate Yes, you do have a grace period after college before loan payments start. But trust me, those six months will fly by. Between the application process, interviews, and finding time between classes to travel for interviews, the earlier you start this process the better. I was lucky enough to find a nursing job before I graduated from college. It is in Milwaukee which is close to my hometown. Which leads me to my next tip... Consider moving back home after college I know, I know. Moving back home sounds like the worst thing ever. You've already been out of the house for a couple years and moving back home means sacrificing your independence. But if your home life isn't terrible...

That my choices should be knowledge-based, not fear based. Almost every mother says it (I know my mom does). That one phrase that makes you a little more wary as you walk on the street at night, "the worlds a dangerous place." These simple words stick with you and now you're suddenly hyper-aware of everything around you. But as dangerous as the world is, I knew myself. I listened to my gut and I was fine. I kept my head high, I knew where I was, and I made sure other people knew where I was as well. One of my friends even said they knew if they were with me, nothing was going to happen. It's not about avoiding situations because of potential dangers. That's no way to live your (college) life. But it's about knowing them and taking precautions. I probably wasn't as good with money as I thought. I never asked my parents for money. I was pretty aware of what my bank account was because my card didn't get declined. But I didn't stick to a budget....

Although a little late compared to others, I'm finally able to say #MeToo... I didn't want to because that guy on the street catcalling me didn't do me any harm, at least not physically. I kept my head high, brushed it off and kept walking towards my destination. Hell, it was even a bit of an ego boost. But I don't remember what he said and to me, and that was enough to convince me that he didn't matter. He wasn't anything more than a guy on the street. I didn't want to because when I started college, I hadn't had my first kiss yet, so when someone seemed interested in me I jumped. I met him in the science building. He was nice enough... but not really my type. But the prospect of finally having my first kiss pushed that thought to the back of my head. We went from one study date to watching movies in his small dorm room on campus. The kiss itself was underwhelming. But it wasn't the kiss that scared me. It was what he did next. How his hand wand...

Hello again! It's been a good two years since I last updated my skin care routine, and it's been a while since I told you about some of my empties - so why not combine the two. Let's start with empties. Age Perfect Cell Renewal Day Cream  by L'Oreal is a good day cream, but it doesn't absorb into my face as fast as I would like and left it feeling a little too oily than I would prefer. Probably wouldn't buy again... And now for (empty) skin care. During high school, I was one of the lucky ones who didn't have too much acne. Maybe it's partially thanks to birth control. But I was only acne prone during puberty, at which time I had bangs which I think contributed to my forehead breakouts. Once I got to college, my acne took a turn for the worse. I looked at facial mapping, watched beauty influencers on YouTube for the best products, and went to a couple dermatologists. What the dermatologists forgot to account for was my change in location. I rec...

(This will be continuously updated as I find mnemonics I like) Remember, the best mnemonics are the ones you actually remember!  If you aren't going to remember it, or can't remember it easily, then there's no reason you should be using brain space for it. Nursing Process (AD PIE) Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation Remember before administering something (like a pain medication), you have to assess ABCD's Airway, Breathing, Circulation (bleeding), disability (neuro check) Do not  delegate what you can EAT! Evaluate, Assess, Teach  + An unstable patient or medications  Airborne Precautions MTV on the AIR waves... measles, TB, varicella, VRSA  Private room, negative pressure, N95 mask Electrolyte Range Acronym Miss Piggy & Kermit Came Home on Cloud Nine Magnesium, phosphorus, potassium (K), calcium, bicarbonate (HCO3), chloride, sodium (Na) The electrolytes go in increasing ranges  Magnesium 1.5-2...

There are a lot of posts online about people's NCLEX experience... well here's mine. I graduated with a BSN at Edgewood College on May 21st and I took the exam on June 28th. This gave me a little more than a month to study for the exam of a lifetime. Not to mention, during this month I moved back home, my sister left for Navy boot camp, and we were packing up to move on July 1st... It was hectic to say the least. Materials I Used Saunder 2016-2017 Strategies for Test Success (4th edition). Because I had this book from a previous nursing class, I had access to the Evolve Elsevier  book online. On the website, there were over 1200 questions and while it was good to start with, the rationales weren't the best (definitely look at the other tips as well, not just the rationales). I usually used "study" mode so I could see the rationales and the correct answer right away. Like many, I learn best when I get a question wrong. I went through most of the questions. I ...

Use Summit Credit Union's Primary Savings Account I've only been a member of  Summit Credit Union  for a brief amount of time. However, I love their savings accounts. Their primary savings account doesn't have monthly fees or minimum balance charges, and it only took $5 to open! I can take my money out whenever I want, no questions asked. Plus I earn dividends ($) once my balance hits $25+. Compare that to my Chase savings where I earned 1 cent for $1000 dollars in savings... I will be closing that savings account to put money into Summit. I may also open a second savings account (GoSave Account) with Summit that allows me to earn higher interest compared to my primary savings account. The best time to save money is every time you get money. Pay yourself first. Use the same Computer since 2013 Honestly, I love my laptop. I don't have much on it because I don't need much. Right now, I'm using a VAIO  system which is perfect for watching videos ...

Moving sucks. Everyone knows it. There are boxes upon boxes upon boxes of stuff, stuff that you forgot even existed. You find old clothes that no longer fit and canned food in the pantry that's probably expired. You wonder how all that stuff even fit in your small 2 bedroom condo. And why do you have 50 scarves? A dozen jackets? Old computer monitors? What purpose does that stuff serve you? But what if moving is an opportunity? What exactly am I talking about? Donation! Tonight I was able to get rid of a table and chairs at my local +Goodwill  ... this set was just sitting in the basement taking up space.  One of these backrests that I bought my freshman year of college and rarely used. A giant dog bed my dog doesn't even use, a hanging organizer for the clothes I never put in it, and a giant stuffed tiger I haven't touched in years. Even just moving out of a dorm room or college apartment sucks! What am I going to do with this eco-shelf after college? And no,...

Never will I ever step into a tanning bed. According to the Melanoma Research Foundation , as much as 90% of melanomas are caused by UV exposure - this includes both the sun and tanning beds. The WHO's IARC classifies tanning beds as a carcinogen! If you are looking for Vitamin D, you won't find it in a tanning bed. If you have a good diet, your Vitamin D levels should be fine. UVB radiation is needed for Vitamin D production, UVA is the type found in tanning beds. I have friends who have a family history of skin cancer, yet they still use tanning beds - especially in the winter. However, this can triple your risk of skin cancer! In other countries (ex. Brazil) tanning is illegal, but it's still legal here in the US. So no thanks, but I'll stick to the sun if anything. However, I did just get my first spray tan at Sun Tan City. It was my birthday and their free spray tan week, so I decided to give it a try with some friends. I wanted a glowing look, not necessaril...

Sensodyne Full Protection +Whitening toothpaste According to it's active ingredients, this toothpaste has 5% potassium nitrate which gives it it's anti-hypersensitivity property. It helps protect your teeth from sensitivity from cold, heat, acids, and sweets. For me, my teeth were getting more and more sensitive to the cold especially. But after using this product my sensitivity level seems to be better! Would buy again Lush Beautiful Shower Gel Although I only bought a small bottle of this body wash, I absolutely loved it. The scent is wonderful and is the same as their fragrance 1000 Kisses Deep . It just makes me feel luxurious. One con is that it contains glitter particles, which I find unnecessary. But if you take your time to use up the bottle, the particles will settle at the bottom. Will buy again Maybelline Baby Lips Moisturizing Lip Balm in Quenched How many times have you actually finished a lip balm instead of losing it in the void? For me it was zero......

I'm not going to lie... Winter break is highly unproductive for me. I sit around at home and basically just veg out. I'm a self-proclaimed homebody and am perfectly comfortable just sitting around. But when that is the only thing I do every single day, even this girl gets restless. I could be checking out new places, but in the winter it's just so cold. Yeah, it's a lame excuse, I know. But this winter, my sister and I are completely revamping our living situation. She has enlisted in the navy , so over the course of the next 6 years or so, she's not going to be home much. This is part of her motivation to de-clutter. Selling (text)books , clothes , and other items around the house that don't mean that much anymore. This will also give her some extra cash before she flies off. For me, I'm embracing a more minimalist  lifestyle this year. What does minimalism mean to me? It means consuming deliberately. If you were to ask either of us, our mom is a ...

One of the products I've used up is the CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser for normal to oily skin types. Actually, I didn't completely use it up because my mother threw it out when I was home for school - but I had almost finished the whole bottle. It is extremely gentle, had no strong scent, and I felt like it didn't strip my skin. I would definitely buy it again in the future. But, for now, the next facial cleanser I'm going to try is the Apsara Neem Facial Cleanser recommended by Kassie AKA +CloudyApples . If you don't know her, I recommending looking her up on YouTube.   Another product I'd like to talk about is the Neutrogena Naturals Acne Foaming Scrub. It has the stamp from the Nature Conservatory. But, it has (natural) microbeads in it and had a pretty strong scent, which is why I didn't actually finish the bottle. Instead I threw it away. If you don't know what the hype about microbeads is about, let me tell you. Microbeads are small,...

Let's just put the fact out there: Donald Trump is the 2016 president-elect Am I thrilled? Not really, but here are my thought's after the past couple days #NotMyPresident - to me it's not about not accepting the results of the election. Instead, it's a sentiment that Donald Trump does not represent the people (and not just in the sense that he lost the popular vote). I would never wish for him to fail, in fact I hope for the opposite. I hope he proves me wrong But in response to the protests and the harsh sentiment towards each other... Peaceful protests are fine, great really! But don't turn into the people you were protesting against in the first place. I always thought the point of protests was to bring awareness. To tell people that being sexist, racist, homophobic, etc is wrong. If that's why you are protesting, great. But if you are protesting in order to diminish those who voted for him, stop You can't dismiss someone's fears about the...