I Passed!!

Today I feel fantastic since I took the DTR exam this morning and passed it!!! Woo Hoo!!

I went into the exam this morning calm, cool, and collected. I was halfway drowsy from the early morning and I didn't have any coffee, which is dangerous territory for me. I was a little afraid it would upset my stomach so I decided against it. I have to say that the only thing that made me nervous was actually finding the place, and then my gas light came on which was a bit nerve wracking when your going to a place you've never been before. Once I got there I went inside and sat down waiting for my turn to get checked in. It is crazy the things that go through your head while you're waiting. "OMG was I supposed to bring two I.D.s or one?" "People are bringing their own calculators, was I supposed to bring one??"  Everything worked out though. 
110 questions later and I was done. I think it took me about an hour and a half. 

Oh man, when I had to wait for the proctor to find my results page that was when the nerves really kicked in. Then she just turned to me and said "Congratulations!!" and I was so relieved!
 I am so happy that all the studying I did the past 2 months was finally worth it. I now  have this certification which will hopefully aid in my getting accepted into a DI.

Now that its over, here are some of my thoughts on the exam:
1) When researching on the internet (linkedIn, and blogs mostly) everyone emphasizes the importance of food service equations. So I studied the heck out of some food cost percentages, minutes/meal, and FTEs. I was so worried that this would be the worst part about the exam. I maybe had 3 or 4 food service math equation questions and thats it. So out of 110 questions that was not main focus of my exam but for others it may have been.

2) I focused on nutrition care a lot. Maybe because that is what interests me the most out of nutrition but I really didn't have a lot of questions on this either. That may change if I get to take the RD exam in the future.

3) The majority of my questions for exam were focused on management. This was to be expected but I feel like in my studying I had a hard time finding questions that I could really practice my application of management skills too. Plus I have no management experience so its kind of hard to really know what to do in management situations. If I had to go back and take the exam I would focus more on this. 

4) The LinkedIn DTR group was right about the test being mainly about management and food service. This group helped me out so much and I was able to get a good idea of what to expect for today's exam. The exam is never the same for everybody depending on how well you answer questions of a certain domain so maybe I knew my equations really well and thats why I didn't have many? I don't know.

For anyone planning to take this exam, it is still important to study everything because there will be random questions that pop up!

So what's next?
For right now, I am relaxing and catching up on some tv (Revenge, Teen mom (don't judge)). And I'm going to start reading 

I can have a life now!

DTR Exam in 2 more days!

My DTR exam is in 2 days and I am feeling so rushed and anxious to look at every note and do every exam at least once more. Part of me feels like I know this stuff but part of me wants to make sure I do understand the Diabetic exchange lists, management practices and food service equations backwards and forwards.

I know, Doctor. I know.

I have the day off so that was my plan was to just go over everything I can get my hands on because I work tomorrow and good quality studying cannot be achieved there so today is pretty much it. 
My mom wants me to go have lunch with her but I feel obligated to stay home. AHH but I want to see my mom. I have felt like a bum for 2 months and have barely seen anyone lately.

All. the. time.

Guess I'll go have lunch and rush back to more studying fun. 

I wish.

6 months later....

Time to update my blog. It's been a while, I know. I have been a very busy bee lately. Or at least the last 6 months. Things are not getting any less busy but I want to attempt (for the 100th time) to blog during it because I would like some sort of documentation of the things that have and will be going on in this next year. 

So my last post was in April and I was posting love songs up until my wedding day. Well that didn't work out but I did get married in June. It was amazing! I was stressed, excited, and so happy in June. 

First things first though. In May I GRADUATED!!

 I have my Master's now in Nutrition! All my hard work paid off and I graduated with a 3.7 GPA. I am still so happy that I went ahead and got my Master's because now the only thing standing in my way from a) becoming a RD and b) being done with school completely is my dietetic internship. 

Once the graduation festivities were over I was heading to Washington DC for Share Our Strength's Conference of Leaders in early June, where one day was committed to Cooking Matters and two days were dedicated to the No Kid Hungry campaign. It was so interesting and I was so lucky and appreciative for the opportunity to go. 

Jefferson Memorial

Made it to a Baltimore Orioles game while I was there too!

Once I returned from DC it was wedding preparation full force! But honestly it wasn't too bad. I had gotten so much done beforehand (thanks year and a half engagement) I didn't have too much to prepare for. I just wanted it to be here! Needless to say it was a perfect day. Well the night before was pretty great too. Lots of tears, laughs, and smiles both days. 
I am now Mrs. Baker! :)

One of the best days of my life. *sigh* Plus, it was such a relief to finally enjoy the day that you spent a year and a half planning for. My wedding day and experience was perfect I wouldn't change a thing.
Then came the other fun part of the wedding experience... THE HONEYMOON!
We went to Asheville and it was fantastic. We had great weather and toured downtown and Biltmore. 

One day we randomly decided to drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway and see where it would take us... that might have been the best thing we did.

Amazing trip but way too short. We only stayed for 3 days and I was not ready to come back to real life and start looking for a job /post-wedding life.

Once the wedding was over, I was in full job search mode.  And I have to admit it was a little bit of a daunting task. I actually scored an interview with a food bank similar to the one I was volunteering at in Raleigh. That, however, did not work out but it was great experience as far as interviewing goes. After that, I was in a desperate search to find something that would give me an opportunity to use the nutritional knowledge I have gained after 7 years of schooling. Unfortunately, WIC jobs were hard to find and the only things I could find were things like "nutrition ambassadors" "patient nutrition representative" which are just fancy job names for diet clerks or hosting in a hospital. 
Honestly, at first I was feeling  a little selfish and thinking since I have a master's degree I shouldn't have to settle for working at these entry level positions. Eventually I stopped thinking this way because first off I remember a girl (I won't use names) but this girl who used to work at Barnes & Noble with me, once refused to take out the trash in the cafe because she had a master's degree in music performance and "she shouldn't have to". I remember thinking of how awful that made everyone feel because she thought she was better than us just because she had a master's degree. Needless to say she didn't work there very long after that (she was fired) and I can't help but think about that and how that made me feel when she said that. Just for the record I am not afraid to take out trash, wash dishes by hand, or handle nasty gunk because of my barista job. Thanks Barnes & Noble!

So I decided to apply for any position I thought could give me some good experience. One position was called a "nutrition clerk" and it was a full time position at a local hospital only 5 minutes down the road from our townhouse. It sounded very promising. As it turned out they were the only ones to call me in for an interview. Guess it was meant to be!
I started my new job as "Nutrition Clerk" or "Diet Clerk" as it's really called at the end of August. It's going well so far. As a dietetic hopeful, I was very concerned where I was going to get my clinical experience and now everyday I am learning about specific diets, tube feeding formulas, diabetic exchanges, plus just the experience of working with the dietitians and nurses is great! I see patients every now and again, as well. I am so grateful for this job even if some days I feel overwhelmed by the busyness of the hospital. Even though some people ask me why I am there, I tell them that this is a stepping stone to bigger and better things for me. However, for the time being I am fine working and learning all that I can.

Also, I am currently studying for the DTR exam. I'm scheduled to take it in 4 days. DTR stands for Dietetic Technician, Registered. There are not a lot of DTR positions left in North Carolina but I was advised by one of my professors from Meredith to take it to increase my competitiveness for the upcoming DI application process.  The reason being that the DTR exam is similar to the RD exam so if I could pass this exam, it shows directors that I have potential to pass the RD exam. 

It's crazy to think of how far I have come from changing my major to nutrition in 2008 and now having two degrees in nutrition, and how I am currently working as a diet clerk until I can finally finish my goal of being a RD once I get into an internship. There's really no other option for me. I want and need to be a RD. There's nothing else I want or would rather be. I am so close to my goal and only have a couple more months to find out where the future will take me. 
I can do this.

87 to 77

87. Yellow - Coldplay

Look at the starsLook how they shine for you

86. Now and Always - David Gray

You're in my mind baby, now and always

85. Thank You - Led Zeppelin

And so today, my world it smiles

Your hand in mine, we walk the miles

Thanks to you it will be done

For you to me are the only one

84. Open Arms - Journey

So now I come to you with open arms

Nothing to hide, believe what I say

83. Stellar - Incubus

How do you do it?

You make me feel like I do

How do you do it?

It's better than I ever knew

82. Sonnet 29 - Rufus Wainwright

Haply I think on thee,--and then my state 

(Like to the lark at break of day arising 

From sullen earth) sings hymns at heaven's gate;

 81. Your Song - Elton John

Anyway the thing is what I really mean

Yours are the sweetest eyes I've ever seen

 80. Where are you going?- Dave Matthews Band

But I do know one thing

Where you are is where I belong

I do know, where you go, is where I wanna be

79. A Lover Like You - The Avett Brothers

I haven't eyes for anyone else

I'm thinking of you and nobody else

I haven't eyes for anyone else but you

 

78. There is a Light that never goes out - The Smiths

To die by your side is such a heavenly way to die

 77. 18th Floor Balcony - Blue October

I can't believe this is happening to me and,

I raised my hand as if to show you that I was yours

That I was so yours for the taking

I'm so yours for the taking and

That's when I felt the wind pick up

I grabbed the rail while choking up

These words to say and then you kissed me

 

91-88

#91 God Only Knows- The Beach Boys

God only knows what I'd be without you

#90 Love Song- Adele (311 cover)

However far away I will always love you

However long I stay I will always love you

#89 Dream a Little Dream - Dean Martin

Stars fading but I linger on dear

Still craving your kiss

I'm longing to linger til dawn dear

#88 Love they say- Tegan & Sara

First time you held my hand I knew I was meant for you
First time you kissed my lips I knew I was meant for you.
 

92 and Bridal luncheon

#92 Here, There, and Everywhere - The Beatles

To lead a better life

I need my love to be here

This past weekend my grandmother and her lifelong best friend threw me a bridal luncheon at Old Salem where I'm getting married. It was so nice. Everyone was there except a few people but I had a great time with those who were able to make it. The food was amazing. It was from Salem Tavern. We had tomato bisque, a warm pear salad and then gingerbread with lemon ice cream for dessert. YUM.
Just the beginning of things to come before the big day!
Just a few pics with my lovely ladies

Holding my recipes that I got from everyone.

The one picture where my eyes aren't squinty.

Bridesmaids (minus 2)

Bridesmaids plus 2 :)

I've got to improve my squinty eyes before portraits!

Almost 3 months!! Love songs marathon!

Without realizing it the other day, we have hit the less than 100 days mark for the wedding! I'm so excited! Double digits! And in two days, the 22nd, it will be 3 months. 
So sensing the big days arrival I have been on love song overload. I am feeling the love lately and I have been noticing songs so much more. Especially the romantic ones that make me think of Thomas. So I think from now on until the big day I am going to post videos of songs that I love and are about just that LOVE. My personal favorites.
I have some catching up to do because today is # 93.

#100 Bend and Not Break - Dashboard Confessional

For you I rise, for you I fall

#99 Living of Love - The Avett Brothers

Say love, say for me love

#98 Home- Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

Laugh until we think we'll die

Barefoot on a summer night

Never could be sweeter than with you

#97 Cosmic Love- Florence and the Machine

A falling star fell from your heart and landed in my eyes

#96 One and Only - Adele

You've been on my mind,

I grow fonder every day,

Lose myself in time,

Just thinking of your face

#95 Incredible Love - Ingrid Michaelson

Incredible love--you fill me

#94 Northern Sky - Nick Drake

But now you're here

 Brighten my northern sky

 #93 I was made for you- She & Him

When I saw you smile

I saw a dream come true