And my long term goals for this month/semester/season/year are:
Wish me luck on making major progress before the Bean arrives!!
In-Training
Showing posts with label grad school. Show all posts
Showing posts with label grad school. Show all posts
Monday, April 15, 2013
Weekly Goals
As I sit here thinking about all of the things I need to get done this week, my head has begun to feel like it's going to explode! So, to keep things manageable, I'm going to narrow the list down to my Top 10 goals for the week.
Friday, April 12, 2013
30-Day Housecleaning Challenge - Slacking on Day 12
Today for the 30-Day Housecleaning Challenge hosted by Money Saving Mom, the task was to clean out closets. For me, however, today was focused on a term paper for one of my last PhD classes ever, so I only got one closet cleaned.
The closet below is in the nursery, but since we live in such an old house with weird closets, it is currently used for my husband's small dresser, a few clothes I don't wear often, and new baby clothes we have received. It's definitely a multipurpose closet. The goal is to move all of my clothes elsewhere to make room for baby stuff! I was able to put a few items in my donate/sell pile and otherwise reorganized the remaining items. It's not perfect, but better than before, and it took less than 10 minutes!
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| Before |
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| After |
On Day 8, I mentioned a new experiment for dealing with dog-related carpet odors. I tested the vinegar and water method on a few areas then, and overall, I think it was a success. I can smell the vinegar once in awhile, but not the puppy smells, so I call that effective. Today I rolled out the method in the hallways and office where we've seemed to have the most issues. I feel like there's a good chance my spot cleaning missed a few areas, thus the mass carpet cleaning. I used my usual carpet shampoo with a bit of Nature's Miracle and a bit of vinegar in the detergent container and then a mixture of half very hot water and half vinegar in the water container of our carpet shampooer. Shampooing and rinsing using the shampooer took much less time than getting down on my hands and knees trying to do spot cleaning. The carpets are still drying, but I'm interested to see if the vinegar worked as a long-term solution to the odor problem. I will likely sprinkle some baking soda and Glade Carpet Power (which smells fantastic) after everything has dried completely.
Yesterday for Day 11, I only had to do minimal cleaning in the bathroom as they still looked great from a few days ago! I was so excited!
With the end of the semester coming up and my in-laws coming over for Sunday dinner, I'm planning to continue the challenge through the weekend.
If you missed any of my previous adventures during this 30-Day Challenge, you can check them out here:
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Rebranding . . .
In lieu of an update I'm simply going to start again.
Rebranding and reintroducing my blog as . . .
Mommy (Wife and Grad Student)-in-Training
As the spring starts to roll around, I continue to juggle the roles of wife, grad student, and mommy-to-be. This blog will become not just my journal or my place to share my life with friends and family, but also a place to share and interact with other new moms and others that juggle similar life roles.
Look for more updates from me soon as I strive to become (drum roll, please) -
Monday, February 7, 2011
Did I really last post in November??
Wow! Where has the time gone? I can't believe my last post was November!!
I had a wonderful holiday season with my family back home in Kansas! It's so exciting to look forward to more than 2 days off for Christmas!
School started mid-January. I thought I was in for a treat because the first 2 days were canceled due to snow, however when we received even more snow recently and school was not canceled, I was pretty disappointed. The road crews here are nearly non-existent, which seems unreal for a state that gets a lot of snow. Give me those KS road crews anyday!
My big news is that I was accepted into the PhD program for next year; it was really just a formality, but it was definitely nice to get the 'official' news! The second big news is that I am only a few days away from getting internet at my house...no more hanging out at Panera for hours on end working!
My family is coming to visit this weekend for the big basketball game! We will be wearing ORANGE!
Go Pokes!
I had a wonderful holiday season with my family back home in Kansas! It's so exciting to look forward to more than 2 days off for Christmas!
School started mid-January. I thought I was in for a treat because the first 2 days were canceled due to snow, however when we received even more snow recently and school was not canceled, I was pretty disappointed. The road crews here are nearly non-existent, which seems unreal for a state that gets a lot of snow. Give me those KS road crews anyday!
My big news is that I was accepted into the PhD program for next year; it was really just a formality, but it was definitely nice to get the 'official' news! The second big news is that I am only a few days away from getting internet at my house...no more hanging out at Panera for hours on end working!
My family is coming to visit this weekend for the big basketball game! We will be wearing ORANGE!
Go Pokes!
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
StRaNgE DaY
It's been a strange day for me today. Overwhelmed with so many different feelings. This morning, I was taking role for a lecture section, and Koch people were there to talk about Koch and the internship program. I felt so strange to be there, but not as a Koch employee. I had to resist the urge to jump in and add facts or answer questions! For a few minutes, I desperately missed Koch, the people there, my job, recruiting, my boss, my interns...even my cubicle. Because I did not come back to school because I hated my job; I loved my job. I came back to school because I was and am certain that I did not want to work in a corporate job forever. But I sure do miss it sometimes.
Later I went to lunch with some of the other grad students in the department, my colleagues if you will. I love the people here too. And during lunch I was overwhelmed with feelings of belonging and humility, I guess. Let me explain. I was describing a project that is due for one of my classes on Thursday. (In fact, I should be working on it instead of writing this post, but alas, I'm not.) The criteria for the project are ambiguous at best. My professor mentioned on Friday that he would like me to write about interviewing and had I heard from a different professor in Wyoming with interviewing information. No, I have not! I emailed her to ask about it and to see if perhaps my professor had talked with her already. But it seems unlikely that I will get a response back from her in time to complete the paper. So, I can instead work on a project about commercials aimed at adults vs. children. I'm sure that I can complete a 5 page paper by Thursday with this topic, but I'm concerned that my professor will be expecting the other topic. So I was telling my colleagues about this...complaining is probably more like it, and what do you know, one of them chimes in that he has a couple of books about/that have chapters about interviewing! I'm so blessed to have such amazing people as colleagues here!
Wowsers. Confusing day. And now it is time to go give my students their 1st exam. Good luck to them!
Later I went to lunch with some of the other grad students in the department, my colleagues if you will. I love the people here too. And during lunch I was overwhelmed with feelings of belonging and humility, I guess. Let me explain. I was describing a project that is due for one of my classes on Thursday. (In fact, I should be working on it instead of writing this post, but alas, I'm not.) The criteria for the project are ambiguous at best. My professor mentioned on Friday that he would like me to write about interviewing and had I heard from a different professor in Wyoming with interviewing information. No, I have not! I emailed her to ask about it and to see if perhaps my professor had talked with her already. But it seems unlikely that I will get a response back from her in time to complete the paper. So, I can instead work on a project about commercials aimed at adults vs. children. I'm sure that I can complete a 5 page paper by Thursday with this topic, but I'm concerned that my professor will be expecting the other topic. So I was telling my colleagues about this...complaining is probably more like it, and what do you know, one of them chimes in that he has a couple of books about/that have chapters about interviewing! I'm so blessed to have such amazing people as colleagues here!
Wowsers. Confusing day. And now it is time to go give my students their 1st exam. Good luck to them!
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Just a quick post!
As requested, I will try to update more...but that also means that I need to see more posts from others. :-)
Taking a quick break between teaching classes! My students are doing case study presentations and papers, so my grading is piling up quickly, but teaching is good so far and I enjoy most of my students!
As for classes, last week was utter and complete chaos! Two papers and two tests within one week! I turned in papers on Monday and Thursday, but I was afraid that I would not be able to complete the Thursday paper on time. It was an article review (peer review is part of the process for an article to be published in a journal) and since I've never done one before, it was a challenge! Done though! The exams were Friday and yesterday...Human Memory and Psychometric Methods, respectively. The first one was relatively easy; it's an undergrad class that requires a term paper for graduate credit. The second, however, was my first PhD level test...yikes! After two full days of studying, I took it and was pleasantly surprised at how well I felt like it went. I've gotten grades back on the first three things, but not on this exam, so we'll see!
Well time to get back to teaching! Then class and hopefully sleep!
Taking a quick break between teaching classes! My students are doing case study presentations and papers, so my grading is piling up quickly, but teaching is good so far and I enjoy most of my students!
As for classes, last week was utter and complete chaos! Two papers and two tests within one week! I turned in papers on Monday and Thursday, but I was afraid that I would not be able to complete the Thursday paper on time. It was an article review (peer review is part of the process for an article to be published in a journal) and since I've never done one before, it was a challenge! Done though! The exams were Friday and yesterday...Human Memory and Psychometric Methods, respectively. The first one was relatively easy; it's an undergrad class that requires a term paper for graduate credit. The second, however, was my first PhD level test...yikes! After two full days of studying, I took it and was pleasantly surprised at how well I felt like it went. I've gotten grades back on the first three things, but not on this exam, so we'll see!
Well time to get back to teaching! Then class and hopefully sleep!
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
1st Post from Lincon
This is my first official post since moving! Needless to say, I've been a busy girl! My house is nearly organized, though I have a few boxes that have not been opened. Office and decorative stuff mostly. It turns out that I don't really mind that I have no decorations in my house. Haha. I'm sure one of these days I'll pull everything out and find a place for everything!
Monday was my first day of class. Wow, how odd to be a student again. It seems like so long ago that I sat in a classroom and yet it seems like yesterday. UNL is nice, but I have to admit that I miss Stillwater! So far though, I have a couple of great professors and I'm actually enjoying most of my classes! Statistics, psychology, and 2 marketing classes round out my schedule.
Then there's teaching. Yesterday was my first day of teaching. Yikes! I had 2 sections yesterday and will have 2 more tomorrow...about 160 students total. I can already tell that one of my classes is going to be full of troublemakers. Little do they know that I may be making a seating chart for them! I was incredibly nervous before teaching, but it was definitely not as difficult as I was trying to make it in my head!
I've also been something of a social butterfly, much to my dislike, actually! Friday was department orientation, happy hour, and Indian food. (The Indian food was a new experience, but I really like it, especially the appetizers!) Saturday was the department back-to-school party, bowling with my fellow grad students, and Rock Band with Koch friends! Getting home at 3AM is not something I plan to repeat, but it was a fabulous evening! And finally, Sunday was free food at the Big Red Welcome (just like Lights on Stillwater) and swing dancing at a ballroom's country night! I was exhausted after the weekend was over, and since the week just started, that's not a good thing!
No photos to share this time; I need to remember to take some to share with you!
Monday was my first day of class. Wow, how odd to be a student again. It seems like so long ago that I sat in a classroom and yet it seems like yesterday. UNL is nice, but I have to admit that I miss Stillwater! So far though, I have a couple of great professors and I'm actually enjoying most of my classes! Statistics, psychology, and 2 marketing classes round out my schedule.
Then there's teaching. Yesterday was my first day of teaching. Yikes! I had 2 sections yesterday and will have 2 more tomorrow...about 160 students total. I can already tell that one of my classes is going to be full of troublemakers. Little do they know that I may be making a seating chart for them! I was incredibly nervous before teaching, but it was definitely not as difficult as I was trying to make it in my head!
I've also been something of a social butterfly, much to my dislike, actually! Friday was department orientation, happy hour, and Indian food. (The Indian food was a new experience, but I really like it, especially the appetizers!) Saturday was the department back-to-school party, bowling with my fellow grad students, and Rock Band with Koch friends! Getting home at 3AM is not something I plan to repeat, but it was a fabulous evening! And finally, Sunday was free food at the Big Red Welcome (just like Lights on Stillwater) and swing dancing at a ballroom's country night! I was exhausted after the weekend was over, and since the week just started, that's not a good thing!
No photos to share this time; I need to remember to take some to share with you!
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Teaching...oh my!
Just about a month until I will be in Lincoln full time, so I decided to crack open my books today! No, not my books for the classes I'm taking, but the books for the class that I'm teaching discussion sections for. The teaching manual is much less exciting than the student's textbook...no pictures, charts, or anything. I took this class at OSU my freshman years, I guess it's time to start studying!
Furniture comes tomorrow, so I will at last be able to finalize paint colors! This morning I had to search through my storage unit for my living room curtains because I'm thinking about an accent wall in the living room and I want to make sure the paint doesn't clash with the drapes. The only other thing to consider is the carpet color, but I will hopefully narrow the choices down before we get there to see the carpet. I'm still leaning towards "Trenchcoat Khaki", which I used my senior year in Stillwater. It's not a current color, but I confirmed with Walmart today that they can still make it!
Almost time to start dinner! I'm using a recipe from my friend Sarah's blog for enchiladas! I can't wait to see how they turn out!
Monday, July 12, 2010
New Chapter of Life
I'm officially starting a new chapter of my life. For the past two years, I've lived and worked in Wichita at an amazing company - Koch Industries. Now, I've resigned and will begin graduate school at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in August. I will first be studying to earn my Masters in Marketing and then my PhD in Marketing! Yes, I know I'm going into the family business. :-) Throughout the next 4-5 years, I will be in school and teaching basically year round. But I will get more than 2 days off for Christmas!
The break between working and going to school has been relaxing, and I've loved spending time with family. I've been sleeping in, reading, golfing, vacationing, and just hanging out.
A couple of weeks ago, my dad and I went apartment hunting in Lincoln. I ended up with a 2 bedroom duplex that includes the washer/dryer and a garage! I'm definitely looking forward to that garage when the snow comes this winter. The bus stop is less than a block away, so I plan on taking advantage of public transportation too.
Here are some pictures of the neighborhood...my duplex is one of only two rentals in the entire neighborhood!
I have a few inside photos of the duplex, but they are from the Craigs list ad and are on a different computer right now. I will try to add them soon, but here are a couple of my new place!
And finally one picture of the business building where I will be spending much of my time soon!
The break between working and going to school has been relaxing, and I've loved spending time with family. I've been sleeping in, reading, golfing, vacationing, and just hanging out.
A couple of weeks ago, my dad and I went apartment hunting in Lincoln. I ended up with a 2 bedroom duplex that includes the washer/dryer and a garage! I'm definitely looking forward to that garage when the snow comes this winter. The bus stop is less than a block away, so I plan on taking advantage of public transportation too.
Here are some pictures of the neighborhood...my duplex is one of only two rentals in the entire neighborhood!
There are a lot of limestone houses in Lincoln...they are so cute!
And finally one picture of the business building where I will be spending much of my time soon!
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