Botanical Reflections 2.0

Married Monday: Count Your Blessings

2013-09-09T23:28:00.000-04:00

It has been a couple of weeks since I've posted. The normal deadlines have increased, along with my attempts to study for my second exam while balancing my mini family. Life has been the same up till August 29th.

That Thursday, I was running late coming home. I had a deadline and lost track of time. Brian had to go to choir rehearsal that night and I wanted to make it home in time to see him off. I made it home 5 minutes before he had to leave and I talked with him for a few before he kissed me and left. He decided to take my car since his car was already in the garage.

Hours later, I was on Google Hangout with my study group. I was expecting Brian to be home by 930pm but I knew the rehearsal usually runs late. At 945pm, I got a call from Brian saying that he was in an accident and was on the way to the hospital. Brian didn't know the severity of it at the time, so he told me not to worry and he will give me updates soon. Later, I found out he was T-boned by a guy who ran a stop sign. I couldn't do anything. I was shaking, crying and freaking out. I didn't know what hospital he was in and I was too emotional to drive his car. My uncle helped me out by finding out all the information I needed and picking Brian up. Brian had soreness on his left side and had to take off work for a day. I had two projects to turn in the next day. So I finished everything and left early to take care of him.

My car on the other hand:

With the damages shown, Brian should have been seriously injured and everyday I let him know that. I hug him all the time. I know he is probably tired of me by now, but I just think "what if."

This situation has been an inconvenience for us: missed work, half days and calling our Vehicle Tag Office and insurance non-stop. My in-laws even drove down to help us. With all of this happening, this situation has also given me a new prospective on life and learning to appreciate everything. I'm not saying that I didn't do this before, but it definitely reassured me to count my blessings. Cars can easily be replaced, but life can't.

Overall, this whole process has eaten up my motivation to study or post. With that said, posts will be a little slow for a while to focus more on my family and my studies. It's hard writing something when I'm feeling this way.

I will update BR 2.0's Facebook page in the meantime.

Cya Soon,

Tibby Tuesday: Study Time

2013-08-20T07:00:00.000-04:00

It's time to study again for the Architect Registration Exam! My Saturdays are starting to be filled again with study sessions. This time, T and I decided to incorporate homework into our sessions to encourage ourselves to study more at home. I think it's working so far, but I'll see when my exam date for Site Planning & Design gets closer.

Last Friday, I got a new study partner as I completed my homework:

I think he understands this stuff better than I do!

Recipe #20: Pineapple Whip

2013-08-19T07:00:00.000-04:00

Brian and I love finding recipes on Pinterest and added them to our snacks rotation. So far we have added Banana Ice cream, Muffin Pan Meatloaf, Crockpot Mac and Cheese (Yummm!), Fried Bananas and Apple Ice cream. After trying these recipes, we usually adapt them to our liking. Two weeks ago, we found Pineapple Whips on Pinterest!

Recipe from Detoxinista.

Also called "Dole Whip," this dairy-free pineapple sorbet can be found at Disneyland or the Dole Plantation in Hawaii. I've never had the opportunity to try this, so I thought this would be pretty cool to make the homemade version. The original homemade recipe calls for 3 ingredients; one being 1/4 cups of sugar. What I love about Detoxinista's recipe is that she substitutes the sugar with honey. Also, I already had almond milk and pineapples in my refrigerator, so it made me want to try it even more.

Here is her recipe:

Pineapple Whip

Author: Detoxinista.com

Serves: 4-6

A creamy, fruit-based soft serve dessert!

Ingredients

1 fresh pineapple, peeled, cored and chopped
1 cup almond milk
1 tablespoon honey (optional, for authentic sweetness)

Instructions

To get started, you’ll want to freeze the pineapple chunks. I chopped mine a day ahead of time, and froze the chunks overnight. You could also purchase frozen pineapple, if you prefer. As you can see from the picture below, the frozen pineapple reached the 6.5 – 7 cup mark on my blender pitcher.
This recipe works best in a high-speed blender, like the Vitamix, because you’ll need to be able to pulverize the frozen pineapple into an ice-cream-like consistency. A normal blender will most likely not work, but a food processor might.
Combine the frozen pineapple with the almond milk and honey, then blend until a frozen sorbet texture is achieved.
For an authentic Dole Whip presentation, transfer the frozen dessert to a large plastic bag, and cut off the tip to create a piping bag. Pipe the pineapple whip into 4-6 dishes, and serve immediately!
Any leftovers can be frozen in an ice cube tray, and used in smoothies later.

Annnnd here are my results:
When I originally tried this, I didn't have frozen pineapples. I tried it with chilled pineapples and froze the leftovers . Later, I actually brought frozen pineapples and tried it Detoxinista's way. The third try was way yummier.

First try: (with chilled, non-frozen pineapple)

This tasted like slushie.

Second try aka Brian's version: (with orange sherbet)
We tried it with orange creamsicle ice cream to try it frozen.

We over blended this one, but I love orange and pineapple together.

Third try: (with frozen pineapples)

This yummy treat was fun to make with Brian and I can't wait to try it again! Next time, I might add mango.

WIAW: What I Love About Architecture

2013-08-07T09:31:00.000-04:00

I'm keeping today's post short and sweet.

Our study group starts again after a month hiatus on Saturday and I'm actually looking forward to it. I know I will handle things better than I did for the Construction Documents exam.

In the meantime, School M is finally complete! Even though the school had minor HVAC and Electrical renovations, it felt pretty awesome getting experience in Project Management. Hopefully, the same experience I'm getting for Project C will help me when I retake CDS for the Architect Registration Exam.

Last week, my boss, our client and I toured School M to see the final updates and our next scope for the School. The tour lasted for an hour and I forgot how big the school was. My feet were killing me! On the way out, I found this little one on the canopy:

Other than seeing my finished product, I love knowing that the end user loves it too :-).

Tibby Tuesday: Did I do that?

2013-08-06T14:49:00.004-04:00

Long time no see!

Right now, I'm wrapping up Project C. Because of this, a lot of my posts have been limited. It sucks, but that is a consequence of Architecture! Anyway, Mr. Tibbs has been greeting me everyday after a busy workday. He has been wanting to be on my shoulder or my knee more than usual, so I've been taking advantage before his mood changes. The one thing I forget when he get affectionate is that he still isn't a fan of the guest room. It has a television, but he doesn't have his cage with all his toys. He has gotten better over the past year, but he still prefers our room when I have him with me. He let me know that again last week:

He loves landing on our bookcase.
Excuse the dust!

I'm still learning, lol. I can't wait to be greeted with kisses from my two favorite men!

If you don't see a post, check out our my updates on Facebook!

,

Texture Thursday: It's Hot

2013-07-25T07:00:00.000-04:00

Source: Google Images

Guys, it's hot. Like, "I made a mistake by pressing my hair in the hottest season" type of hot. I tried to hold on to my hairstyle as long as I could, but between the heat and the rain, I couldn't do it. Other than reapplying heat, I decided to try bantu knots again before I washed my hair. Here are the results:

It turned out pretty awesome! I wish I would have did that sooner, because I discovered this after I washed my hair:

Heat damage.

It's only located in two small spots in the front ends of my hair. I've NEVER had heat damage before and I think I can pinpoint when I made the fatal mistake. Well, I learned my lesson and I will be more careful next time by not passing the flat iron over my hair more than once. I wanted to see if my hair would possibly curl up, but I decided to just cut it off. My ends in those sections looked horrible in my twist outs and it wasn't worth waiting till my next trim.

I think I cut a little bit of the good pieces too. Oops.

My advice to everyone:
If you can't keep an old pressed hairstyle because of horrible weather, don't try to reapply heat. Because you will have to do it again and again; increasing the risk of heat damage. It's not worth it. Just stick to a twist out, bantu knot out or something safer.

How do you handle your hair in bad weather?

ARE Update: CDS Scores

2013-07-24T07:00:00.000-04:00

It has officially been a month since I took the Construction Documents and Services portion of the Architect Registration Exam. Last Wednesday, I talked about how I was waiting, waiting and waiting some more for my scores. Thursday morning, I got an email from my State Board with my scores. I just got to work and I was already having a rough morning. After seeing the email, I freaked out and told my co-workers and my bosses that my scores had came. I should have told them after I opened the email so I wouldn't have an audience, but after waiting for almost a month, I didn't care. My computer froze for a bit when I clicked on the attachment, but when it finally opened, I saw this:

FAIL

I failed my first exam. Guys, I had a feeling I didn't do so well. My nerves got the best of me and I did the one thing that everyone says don't do for these exams and that is "don't think practical." I applied everything I learned at work and that hurt me. As I stared at the sheet, I tried not to cry. I didn't want to be known as the "cry baby" at work, especially being the only female designer. I took a few seconds to let it soak in, then I told my boss. He told me don't let this exam break me and don't let it deter me from taking my future exams. He also told me about his personal experience with the exam and how he had to retake a portion a couple of times. My other boss had the same experience with his exams.

Then I had to let my study partner, T, know the scores were in and my results. He started to freak out. He was driving at the time, so he pulled over and checked his email.

FAIL

Once I saw that, I couldn't concentrate. I was hoping that both of us passed, but after I received my scores, I wanted him to pass even mroe. What did we do wrong?! We decided to go out for lunch to go over our results to see where we went wrong. Below are the areas that I either got moderate or major deficiencies* in and what I figured out went wrong for myself (I passed content area 2: Environmental issues):

I needed to get at least 75% correct in each content area.

Content Area Vignette No. 1 - Building Section Vignette (moderate deficiencies)
The vignette was a breeze. I had 3 minutes left and then I figured out I drew the wrong wall. I didn't have a chance to fix it.

Source: Google Images

Content Area 1 - Codes & Regulations (moderate deficiencies)
I got too confident and decided not to study this portion. Once I saw the questions, I knew I mess up. I'm surprised I didn't get major deficiencies.

Source: Google Images

* Content Area 3 - Construction Drawings & Project Manual (major deficiencies)
Content Area 4 - Project & Practice Management (moderate deficiencies)
I was too practical and chose the answer close to what I do on a day to day basis.

Source: Google Images

The scores don't tell me if I was below failing by one point or if I just sucked, but I know what to look for when I retest. After we figured out our mistakes, T and I pinky promised each other this will be the last time we cry about our exams. We are starting our study group up again next week, so that will be the time we revamp our study habits and stay strong.

Let see how Site Planning and Design goes in September! And I will fight CDS again in December (around the holidays).

Merry Christmas ARE.

Tibby Tuesday: A Picky Eater's Favorite Fruit

2013-07-23T07:00:00.000-04:00

Ever since I adopted Mr. Tibbs in 2008, his Vet has always told me that Mr. Tibbs needs to eat more fruits and vegetables. Brian and I have been trying for years to figure out what he likes and usually his Vet fusses me out when we come up empty handed. We had a couple of hit or misses, but we figured out earlier this year that he loves Fuji apples. Last week, we found out his favorite fruit of all time!

A couple of weeks ago, our church gave all the members free fruits, vegetables and snacks. We ate some of the food within the first week, but we ended up saving the fruit salad for Mr. Tibbs. I went on Cockatielcottage.net to see what foods were safe to eat, and we put them all on a plate and took them upstairs for Mr. Tibbs to try. As you know, Mr. Tibbs is a picky eater. If you want him to try something, you either have to bring his bell to the plate or taste it in front of him (monkey see, monkey do). Some food required a lot of convincing while others didn't.

Here are the results:
Tibby Yummy Meter: 1 (yuck) - 5 (yum)

Blueberry TYM - 1: Wouldn't get near it.

Pineapple TYM - 2: Licked it but didn't like the taste.

Honey Dew TYM - 3: Ran to it because it was green (he loves green food), but didn't like it.

Fuji Apple TYM - 4: Like it and took a few small bites.

Watermelon TYM - 4: Like it and took a few small bites.

Cantaloupe TYM - 5: FAVORITE FOOD OF ALL TIME (other than seeds). He took huge bites.

The start of his love for Cantaloupe.

If it wasn't his bed time, I think he would have eaten all the cantaloupe pieces.

Brian and I don't like cantaloupe, but I guess Mr. Tibbs gave us a reason to buy them. Go Mr. Tibbs!

ARE Update: Waiting Game

2013-07-17T10:36:00.003-04:00

Today, I am sitting here at my computer drawing on one screen and checking my email for my scores on the other. For the State of Georgia, I heard it usually takes an average of two weeks to receive scores out of the normal 4-6 weeks that NCARB has stated. When the Blackout first started on July 1st, I was excited that Prometric/NCARB was changing their system. Unfortunately, everyone decided to rush and take their exams in June before testing was shut down for two month. This caused a slow doing in receiving scores.

The first two weeks of waiting, I kept myself preoccupied. I stayed away from any study material and I enjoyed what I missed during my study time in May and June. Then week three happened. My study partner "T" started to text me if I had received my scores. I know the State Board for Georgia doesn't allow you to check your scores like other states, but I kept going on their website and checking my email. I even went on the AREForum to see if anyone heard anything. Then NCARB sent out a message:

"The last batch of score reports for Architect Registration Examination (ARE) divisions administered on or before 30 June 2013 is being graded by Prometric and will be sent to your jurisdiction or NCARB by July 31."

Then I started to notice people started to receive their scores. Something wasn't right, so I emailed my state board and found out this:

"I have not received your exam score for Construction Document & Services from NCARB. The last ARE scores reported from NCARB were taken 6/22/2013. "

Anyone who had taken their exam the week of June 24th had not received their scores. Yesterday on the forum, California received their scores online. I don't know if it's a good sign for other states, but that means I have a chance of receiving my scores before the 31st. I guess I have to make sure I don't let my mind wonder while I wait:

Source: AREForum

Especially #1:

Source: AREForum

Texture Thursday: July 2013 Length Check!

2013-07-11T07:00:00.000-04:00

Tuesday was my 3 month trim. During these trims, I get a press and trim and afterwards; I do a length check to make sure I'm on the right check for length retention. The Summer is usually when I have problems retaining length and I have to do a mini chop. For the first time in 4 1/2 years of being natural, I passed my length threshold!

Here are my April and July comparisons:

Click here for my past 3 length checks.

And here was my regimen for the past 3 months:
Red: Change from my usual regimen

Washing -

Once a week: co-wash, leave in conditioner, deep conditioner
End of the month: sulfate-free shampoo, conditioner, deep conditioner, leave in conditioner

Styling -

Wash night:

Put my hair in 4 twists and dry with a shirt on my head for 15-20 minutes (or when my hair is 80% dry).
Water + leave in conditioner + oil/butter (LOC Method).
Create 6-9 flat twists or Pineapple my hair.
Unravel in the morning with oil + style.

Every night or when my hair feels dry:

Spritz with water + oil/butter (LOC Method).
Create 6-9 twists or bantu knots or Pineapple my hair.
Unravel in the morning with oil + style.

Every 3 months: Press and trim.
Once every 3 months: Protective style for a month - Marley Twists

My products -

Co-wash Conditioner: Tresemme Professionals
Shampoo + Conditioner: Shea Moisture Coconut and Hibiscus
Deep Conditioner: Organics Hair Mayonnaise
Leave In: Shea Moisture Hair Milk Coconut and Hibiscus
Oil/Butter: Cantu Shea Butter Coconut Curling Creme or Taliah Waajid Protective Mist Bodifier

I think I love my new regimen. Hopefully, I can keep this up!

What do you do to retain length?

Tibby Tuesday: Molting Season is Over!

2013-07-09T10:00:00.000-04:00

Molting season is ovvvvvvvvvvver! Woooo!

Since my last post, Mr. Tibbs has been slowly getting back to his regular self. He spent the weekend whistling, squawking, playing, going to bed on time and keeping his feathers to himself. Our naps times are cut short again. I can't even leave the room anymore without letting him know that I will be back. Even though it's frustrating, I'm glad my little one is feeling so much better.

This is how he greeted me this morning:

(L) Mr. Tibbs: "Kiss me! Wait, you're taking pictures? Here's my pose!"
(R) Mid-whistle. I'm surprised he's excited to take a picture.

Gotta love Mr. Tibbs!

Architecture Random: Candy Crush

2013-07-03T07:00:00.000-04:00

~~Brian and I are~~ I'm very competitive. It has taken me years to admit it, but I am. Any video game that Brian has played, I've always found a way to "attempt" to beat his score. I can only beat him in two games, but other games, I lose horribly. Then Candy Crush came along.

Source: Google Images

First it started with me catching up to my sister's level, then I accidentally got Brian hooked.

Source: Google Images

Before I got serious about studying, Brian and my sister were trailing me. Once I got serious about the Architect Registration Exam, I only played Candy Crush in my free time, allowing Brian to catch up. Two weeks before the exam (during my weakest moments), Brian caught up. The day after the exam, I found out Brian was 20 levels ahead of me! Today, he is 40 levels ahead.

Me: Level 213

Brian: Level 253

Now that NCARB started the Black out period for the ARE yesterday, I started my mission to catch up!

Last week, I was 8 levels behind him till I got stuck on level 201. Brian has felt sorry for me and helped me figure it out. Today, I'm on level 213 and I'm trying to keep myself distracted while I wait for my Construction Document and Services scores. I think I can catch up before I start studying for the Site Planning and Design Exam in August.

Let's see how I do!

Tibby Tuesday: Molting Season

2013-07-02T10:52:00.000-04:00

Floor covered in feathers. Quiet time during naps. Hours worth of eating and preening. Staying up late. That can only mean one thing: it's molting season for Mr. Tibbs!

Here is Cockatielcottage.net's description of molting:

"Molting is the shedding (replacement) of old feathers with the simultaneous growth of new ones. ...After the first molt, healthy cockatiels have a normal molt 2-3 times each year. It takes 7 to 10 days for a new feather to begin emerging after one was shed then an additional 6 to 8 weeks for the feather to grow in completely. ...When molting, birds will be less active, napping more often, and they will be cranky."

While feathers in his cage and the floor were our only worries, this year, Mr. Tibbs has not been his normal self. Here are some differences:

Nap activities:
Off season - Playtime while Brian and I are trying to sleep.
Molting season - After spending the majority of the morning eating and preening, he takes a big ol' nap with us. We have had probably about 2 months worth of awesome naps because he takes one with us!

Playtime:
Off season - Will play anytime.
Molting season - Will only play if you bring his bell. Other times, he will hiss if you interrupt his preening time.

Welcome home:
Off season - Will whistle 5-10 minutes before I get home and rush out the cage to greet me with a kiss.
Molting season - Stays quiet and will stay in the cage when I get home from work.

Bedtime:
Off season - Goes to bed between 8 - 9pm.
Molting season - Goes to bed between 930 - 1130pm.

All this stuff came to mind after Sunday when he stayed up super late. On Sunday, Brian and I did our usual routines: church, nap and cook dinner. Mr. Tibbs took a nap with us, and while we cooked, he spend the majority of his time playing with his toys and preening. We talked with my sister on Skype and ate a little late. When we came upstairs, it was 10pm. By this time, Mr. Tibbs is usually in bed. Mr. Tibbs wasn't even yawning! He remained active and played some more while I finished cleaning the room. By1122pm, he finally was ready for bed:

Tibby: "I do what I want!"

Now that we know the reason behind his wanting to stay up late to play, eat and preen; we have to do the following to make his molting season a good one:

Tips by Cockatielcottage.net:

"Your bird will appreciate bathing or water misting baths to help soften and loosen the hard keratin coating on new feathers." Mr. Tibbs looooves these, so I will do this early in the day so he doesn't get sick.
"Birds will also appreciate some gentle scratches...because they are unable to reach these areas to preen off keratin." Mr. Tibbs only allows me to be his perch, not his back scratcher, so I can't use this tip.
"Molting is a stressful time for your bird and stress can impair the immune system, making it easier for your bird to get sick. Serve nutritious foods that are high in Vitamin A, calcium and protein." I may have to mix these items in his seeds since he is a picky eater.

I will try some of these tips tonight to see if it makes Mr. Tibbs feel better (and also making him go to bed early)!

Exam Day (CDS)

2013-06-26T10:19:00.001-04:00

My first exam is finally done! On Monday I took the Construction Documents and Services portion of the Architect Registration Exam. While I am glad I finally took it, the experience was interesting and I wonder if I should have taken it after the black out date (or at least later in the week).

On Monday, I woke up at 530am. My exam started at 8am and Prometric said to be there at 730. Atlanta traffic is horrible in the morning, so I rushed to make sure I was there 30 minutes early. On my way to the testing center, I put on one of my favorite songs from the CD I got from Brian from our anniversary on repeat so I could remain calm and get pumped:

I made it there at 715am and stayed in the parking lot to pray and take a deep breath. Afterwards, I walked in with this face:

Source: Google Images

I went inside the building, got on the elevator and went on the second floor to meet other test takers. The thing about Prometric is that they schedule various tests in the room, not just one. After Prometric got every one's information, I found out I was the only one taking the ARE.

An employee guided me to my seat, wished me well and I started my 4 hour exam. While I can't tell you the contents of the exam, I can show you my reactions. I studied every bit of study guides I had and expected something in those lines. While I did see that material on the exam, a couple of the questions made me do this:

Source: Google Images

I finished the 100 questions within an hour and was able to double and triple check my answers before 2 hours was up. Finally, I was able to take my first break. I bolted out of there to take a quick breath and figure out what in the world just happened. I came back to my computer 10 minutes early and started to figure out how am I going to do the next part. Then this started to happen:

Source: Google Images

Yes, I was quietly bawling my eyes out like a baby. That exam broke me. During the crying session, I caught a glimpse of a camera and also realized a Prometric employee was behind me! Was Prometric watching me cry the whole time!?! I wiped my tears and started the Building Section Vignette. My fear went away pretty quick when I saw the program and the floor plan and realized how super easy it was! I wrote down all my notes and proceeded to draw the section. I finished 2 minutes before time ran out. I didn't have time to check the other half of my calculations or if one of my walls were correct, so I prayed that my solution was correct and finished the exit survey questions.

Walking out of the building, I felt like this:

Yay, the exam is over but my head is about to explode.
Source: Google Images

Then I remembered this:

I have to wait ~2 weeks for my results.
Source: Google Images

I made it back to the office and my bosses were excited to hear what happened. While they told me they think I did well, I'm still 50/50 about the outcome. I was able to double check a couple of my questions and realized I got it right, but a couple didn't have the same outcome.

These are going to be a loooooooong 2 weeks.

Week Wrap Up With Photos

2013-06-21T12:00:00.000-04:00

This post will contain all the weekly themes, enjoy!

Guys, I'm tired. Not just physically, but mentally. Today is my first slow day in the past week and I finally get to sit down and post. The times I thought I could post, I just didn't have the energy to do so. This caused a semi-hiatus. My blog wasn't the only thing that suffered, but so has my studying. I know my exam is on Monday, but studying has not been first priority thanks to a couple of deadlines. Here was the schedule I thought I was going to have this week:

Monday - Friday:
830am - 1pm: Work (with a hint of studying)
1pm - 2pm: Study
2pm - 530pm: Work (with a hint of studying)

Saturday:
STUDY!!

Sunday:
Relax but lightly go over some the information I don't understand.

Here's what really happened:

Monday:
Travel to Savannah with my boss. If you don't know, it takes 4 hours to get from Atlanta to Savannah. Originally, I wasn't suppose to go, but my co-worker had a meeting and I had to step in for him. This was my first time going, and since this was a long trip, I used the 8 hours of travel to my advantage. The travel wasn't the part that was draining, it was the HEAT. While Atlanta got rain, Savannah was bright and sunny. Normally that would be awesome, but I had to climb a flat roof and walk around a site. My hair even suffered from all the heat and felt so dry (I had to do the LOC method when I got home). Gosh, 85 degrees feels more comfortable than what I felt. Here are some pictures:

Roof and site visit adventure.
(Lower right) I'm the one in the pink. By this time, my shirt was stuck to my skin.

Yummy food from The Pirate House

I finally got back in town at 10pm. I didn't see Mr. Tibbs all day and he was been semi-cranky all week because of missing me and molting. He finally started acting like his normal self last night.

Tuesday - Thursday:
Work on Marketing project. I love marketing projects. It reminds me of Architecture school; there are a couple of restrictions but you can be as creative as you want to be. No details, just conceptual designs.

The difference between Architectural school and marketing projects, there is a shorter deadline. We had to design everything in 4 days and present it. Thank God I'm not part of the presentation group. The design group produced everything from hand sketches to 3D models. The presentation group presents it today, so hopefully we get the project! I feel confident that we will. Because of this project, I couldn't study during lunch like I planned. I did study here and there once I got home.

Friday:
Studying. Remember I said some people from our firm will be presenting the project? Well because of that and other people taking vacation today, there are only four people working today. Do you know what that means? Study time! Right now I'm typing and reading. I guess the closer the exam date, the more I'm loving it. Last weekend, this was me:

Today this is me:

This week, I was able to fit in some study time, but not what I originally planned. I went over the material again and it's sticking but nerves are starting to kick in. I'm scared about Monday. When I feel like I'm "beastin' it" I find out I'm not there yet:

Oh well, Monday will let me know! Wish me luck!

ARE Update: Coffee Break

2013-06-12T07:00:00.000-04:00

I officially have 2 weeks to go before I take my first exam. I'm getting better at memorizing the contracts and specifications, but I'm still not fully prepared. Last Saturday, myself and T went over a couple of questions from our Kaplan study guide before taking a food break. Since we study at Starbucks, I decided to get my usual sandwich and Vanilla Bean Creme Frappuccino. Even though the Frappuccino has no coffee in it, it is still very yummy. I decided to do something different: try coffee again. Studying daily has been draining me and I wanted to get a little boost of energy. I haven't had coffee since 2008, so I wanted to get something where I didn't have to add extra ingredients. I was already getting the Frappuccino, so I decided to get their new Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino with coffee.

Source: Google Images

That drink was amazing. The chocolate and the cookies held my hand as I took my first to last sip. I think I am officially in love with coffee again. My coffee craving has only been during the Saturday study sessions, but now it is carrying over during the week. The closest Starbucks to my home is 15 minutes. I have this same dilemma at work. To solve that, I looked to Pinterest. Yesterday, I spent part of my lunch pinning a couple of copycat recipes. Here is what I found:

Source: Healthy Starbucks Frappuccinos

Copy Cat Starbucks Vanilla Bean Creme Frappuccino

Recipe - 2/3 C milk, 2/3 C crushed ice, 2 T vanilla flavored syrup, 2 scoops vanilla bean ice cream - blend till smooth, top with whipped cream.

Source: Pinterest.com

Source: Mocha Frappuccino (Sugar Free, Dairy Free)

I may try one of these recipes at work!

What is your go to coffee drink?

Tibby Tuesday: Things that go "QUACK"

2013-06-11T07:00:00.000-04:00

In my household, 2 out of 3 people...or birds...prefer to not hear the sound of ducks and geese. While I love them and think they are one of the cutest animals ever, Mr. Tibbs and Brian think differently. If Mr. Tibbs hears one in the Retention pond behind our house, he instantly hisses or squawks at them. Afterwards, Brian would give him praise with a "Go Tibby!"

Here are the many reasons Mr. Tibbs (and Brian) do not like ducks:

They wake Mr. Tibbs up early in the morning when he is trying to sleep:

Source: Google Images
Listen to Mr. Tibbs response here.

They are conceited/annoying and let you know they are a duck 24/7:

Source: Google Images
Quack from Peep and the Big Wide World. They follow they adventures of a chicken, a robin and a duck. Unfortunately, Mr. Tibbs hisses at this show when Quack talks. (I would too, especially since Quack is annoying lol)

More proof they are annoying. The duck song:

Source: Tumblr
Listen to the song here.
They are the reason "duck face" was invented:

Source: Pinterest.com

They always think about committing a crime:

Source: Poorlydrawnlines.com

And the final reason, they poop everywhere:

Source: Carolina Backyard Farm

Which team are you on? Team Tibbs or Team Duck?
How could you not like this feathery face!

Source: Pinterest.com

Funny Photo Friday: 6/7/13

2013-06-07T07:00:00.000-04:00

Welcome to another installment of Funny Photo Friday. Enjoy the photos that I have pinned that have entertained me with their craziness!

Source: Pinterest.com

ARE Update: Chela's Study Guide for the CDS

2013-06-05T07:00:00.000-04:00

My first portion out of seven for the Architect Registration Exam is officially in 3 weeks. To stay focus and not become overwelmed, I have come up with different ways to study for a month. It has worked for myself and my study group so far and and hopefully it shows on the Construction Document and Services exam.

Weekdays: Monday - Friday (Multiple choice questions)

Study two hours a day using a combination of study material.

This allows me to still function as a wife, friend and family member to others.

Listen to Schiff Hardin's lectures on the AIA contracts during work.
Study with the ARE study group on Wednesdays via Google Hangout.

Study Material for the multiple choice questions:

Ballast ARE Manual
Ballast Flashcards
AIA Contracts
Jenny's Notes (Great for specifications, Insurance, bonds, and fees)
Schiff Hardin Lectures (Great for AIA contracts)
FTP Sites:

AREForum FTP Site (Download EVERYTHING but here are a few that summarizes everything on the CDS)

Caroline Joseph's Notes
Rich's Notes

Breakdown of AREForum FTP Site (Codes and all sections of the ARE)
Second FTP Site
Third FTP Site

Weekends: Saturday and Sunday (Vignettes)

Study four hours a day using a combination of study material.
Study with the ARE study group on Saturdays.

Study Material for the vignettes:

NCARB practice programs
Ballast ARE Manual
Kaplan Practice Vignettes
AREForum FTP Site (Download EVERYTHING)

The AREForum! Post your answers of the Practice exam and they will let you know your errors.

Two weeks before the exam:

Practice both the multiple choice questions and the vignettes timed.
For the vignettes, use NALSA or the AREforum to receive comments.
Continue to study.

Study Material for the timed exams:

Kaplan practice questions
NCARB practice questions
Kaplan Practice Vignettes
NCARB practice programs

One day before the exam:

Stop studying, relax and get a good night's sleep. I didn't do this for the SATs and over studied. My Mom had to take my study material away from me.
Show up 30 minutes early to the testing site and pray. Standardized and timed exams make me nervous. I have to calm down a lot to focus.
In the words of my 5 year old cousin-in-law while playing a questions game: "GO WITH YOUR FIRST CHOICE!"

Thank you to Life of an Architect and the AREforum for the tips! Tonight, my study group is meeting on Google Hangout to study!

PSA: If you are currently studying for the Construction Document and Services portion of the ARE, join us on Google Hangout every Wednesday! Go to my Contact page and send me a message and we will invite you!

How do you study for exams? What methods work for you?

Tibby Tuesday: A Cabin for a Tibby

2013-06-04T07:00:00.000-04:00

When I was in Architecture school, during my second year, I had a project where we had to design a cabin for an Architect. The imaginary cabin's site was set on the horse stables on campus and the cabin had to lightly impact the site. Our cabin also had to use a connection mechanism in the design. I decided to use the hinge connection for the doors, windows and tables. This was a fun project and I got an A+ on it.

Eight years later, Mr. Tibbs reminded me that my professor was wrong when she came up with the program. It was actually a Cabin for Mr. Tibbs! On Thursday, I brought Mr. Tibbs in the computer room while Brian was at choir rehearsal. Mr. Tibbs hates being in the room alone, so I decided to bring him with me so he can help me study for my exam. Bad move. I didn't bring his bell with me and he didn't take that to well. After flying on my bookcase with my college diploma, he eventually flew on the floor by my cabin. He walked around the cabin and created the perfect picture moment:

This picture is now my desktop wallpaper for work.

I laid some paper on the floor and let him play and watch TV while I studied for my exams. Eventually, he climbed up my leg and he watched me study and sneak in a game of Candy Crush. It was a fun night and Mr. Tibbs let me know a couple of things:

It's all about Mr. Tibbs and he only approves photos that make him look awesome.
He loves my University and would major in "Bellology" if he could.
He would like to move into my Cabin. (The roof comes off so, he could play in it if I wasn't so attached to my model)
If you want him to go somewhere, always bring his bell or you will PAY!

Married Monday: Cotton Anniversary

2013-06-03T07:00:00.000-04:00

Last Tuesday was my 2nd Wedding Anniversary!

After last year's anniversary, we wanted to do something that was closer to home and where we didn't have to travel to multiple places. Also, because we got married on Memorial Day weekend, we automatically have a 3 day weekend! We decided to go to the movies on Monday. Before we prepared for Iron Man 3, we saw Thor and Avengers and rewatched Iron Man 1 and 2. With a recommendation from my boss, we went to CineBistro in Atlanta. CineBistro is a dinner and a movie theatre.

Source

The experience was amazing! When you walk in, they asked us what movie we wanted to see and where we wanted to sit. They had stadium seating with attached tables and cup holders. The leather seating was so comfortable too. If you come in 30 minutes in advance, you will be able to order from their menu. After you order, they serve you your meal during the previews. If you wanted refills or wanted another meal, you could order from the bar and bring it back into the theatre. Oh, and Iron Man 3 was awesome too! Afterward, we went to a friend's cookout.

Also this is our "Cotton Anniversary," I had to find something perfect for my husband. For my first anniversary (paper anniversary), I gave Brian love coupons and lyrics in a frame. For our second anniversary, I saved up more money and decided not to take the DIY route. Canvas People had a special on canvas photo where a 11x14 canvas was free. All you had to pay was the shipping that was $18.95. Their normal price would have been over $50. They have specials all the time, so I may come back to add on to our collection! Here are the results:

(L) Brian's gift: Card and Canvas of our wedding rings.
(R) My gift: Two cards (left card for the words and the right card for the 3D flowers) with the 25th Anniversary CD of Bad.

If I could paint, I would have tried it. But I was only blessed with drawing skills. Anyway, Brian enjoyed it! Next year, I will try the DIY route again (especially since I will be knee deep in my licensing exams and will be spending $$$)

Here are three DIY suggestions I came up with before I went the store brought route:

Make an anniversary t-shirt and write all the reasons you love him. To prevent it from smearing in the wash, frame it!
Instead of buying a ready made canvas photo, try this DIY Canvas Photo transfer!
Get creative and paint on a canvas!

Find out another blogger's take on their Cotton Anniversary!
Alex @ Good Girl Gone Wife: One | Two | Three

Find out other Traditional Anniversary gifts here.

What have you done for your anniversaries?

ARE Update: June 24, 2013

2013-05-29T07:00:00.000-04:00

I signed up to take the Construction Documents and Services portion of the Architect Registration Exam!!! Woooooo!!!

I dived right in and decided to sign up before NCARB's black out date. Yes, I could have waited till the black out date was over at the end of August, but I still wouldn't have been ready. Signing up now forces me to study, especially since I dropped $210 to pay for the exam.

For Saturday's study session, the group practiced the CDS using the flash cards I brought from Ballast. I also studied later that day during my cousin's graduation cookout. After going over the material, I realized I knew the majority of the information! That forced me to just sign up.

I'm happy and scared at the same time. The next couple of weeks are going to be tough but I can do it! I guess it's time to boost my confidence level even higher.

Tibby Tuesday: Dr. Tibbs

2013-05-28T07:00:00.000-04:00

Last week, I had a 24hr bug. I left work on early Monday and I didn't come back till Wednesday. I felt horrible! To make me feel better, Dr. Brian brought some chicken noodle soup and ginger ale, while Dr. Tibbs watched over me. When I'm sick, Mr. Tibbs stands outside his cage and watches me till I get out of bed. He won't eat or play with his toys till he knows I'm okay. Last Tuesday, he decided to show off his whistles and clicking sounds to make me feel better. Too bad he did it for an hour while I was trying to sleep.

Gotta love Mr. Tibbs!

Simple Marley Twists hairstyles for long trips

2013-05-23T07:00:00.000-04:00

From May 11th - 13th, Brian and I drove to Virginia to visit my family and watch my sister graduate from college! She was number 3 out of her class of 700! I was so proud of her and I was able to be close to the stage for her to see me and wave. Eventually, the trip took a toll on me, especially since we got up at 5am everyday to travel. On my last day in town, I missed dinner at my in-laws because I fell asleep on the couch. Overall, we had fun and the trip was worth it. Here are some pictures from the graduation:

And here is what I wore to the graduation:

Full Tilt Ruffle Belted Maxi Dress from Amazon.com
Mix No. 6 Bianca Wedge Pump from DSW.com

In the meantime, I did my third installment of my Marley Twists so I didn't have to worry about my hair as much. Here are my four go-to styles I had for the whole weekend. Each style took between 1-5 minutes and required only 1 bobby pin. 2 out of the 4 hairstyles were even done in my car! I will provide a tutorial on these styles soon!
10 hour drive as a passenger? Try this: Bun with Satin Scarf.

This style allowed me to keep my edges smooth while I slept during most of the drive.

Simple style to try after the drive? Try this: Half up do.

Graduation guest hair? Try this: Side Braided bun

After graduation hair? Try this: Side Braid

"Graduation guest hair" with the bobby pin removed.

Bonus:
College Graduate trying to fit your natural hair under your cap? Try these:

WIAW: Last week in my Architectural world

2013-05-22T07:00:00.000-04:00

I am thankful for last week's Hiatus!

When I came back in town last Monday afternoon, I got an email from an Architect I have been in contact with that has been assisting me with conducting the Architect Registration Exam study group. She forwarded me information on a scholarship given by AIA that would cover the costs of the 7 ARE exams and provide a complete collection of Kaplan's study guides for the exam! This sounded amazing. When I read a little further, I found out I only had one week to apply!!! My vision of possibly ending my Hiatus early went down the drain. Even writing a post for this past Monday was out of the question. I spent all week in my spare time revamping my resume, portfolio and biography and gathering all the recommendations I could for this scholarship. With the help of my awesome husband, he checked for errors and I was able to submit it on Monday before catching a 24hr bug. Now I'm crossing my fingers that I get the scholarship and get rid of the bug.

In the meantime, I still had to work. Below are little snippets of my adventures in Architecture:

Tuesday:
Project C had a site visit. I thought the site visit was for the civil engineer only and the Architects would visit the existing spaces. With that said, I wore a new pencil skirt and a button down blouse my sister gave to me with heels to match. Apparently I was wrong and the Architects had to go. I was glad that I drove my car, because my construction boots were in there. (The client's office is on the same street as my townhouse, so I didn't have to stop at work first, yay!) We got a lot done, and my boss and I went to Zaxby's before we headed back to work.

Thursday:
My bosses and I had a meeting with the end users for Project F. We laid of the new spaces in the existing building and wanted the end users to review it. The meeting went well, and we made more changes that accommodated the end users. After the meeting, we saw an event for the Urban Design Commission going on in the main lobby and they were giving out popcorn. My bosses and I decided to check out the event and view the historical districts that were up for awards. The popcorn was soooo yummy that I accidently dropped a popcorn down my blouse. I couldn't do anything about it because we bumped into past colleagues, UDC employees and a guy named DM. DM worked with our firm on a historical project out of the city and we even received an award for it. This was my first time meeting DM, and he said this to me:

"What's your field of study? Architecture? I just wanted to tell you that you have a face for historical Architecture. I just know these things and you will be a historical Architect. Soak every bit of information you can from your firm. {Insert websites here} are great websites to look for historical information. I know you will do great."

The weirdest thing is that he didn't know my Thesis was on historical Architecture and that I wanted to specialize in it. It was pretty awesome hearing that from someone who is a "big wig" in Georgia. Afterwards, I had a big smile on my face. Oh and I was able to get the popcorn when I went outside:

I found out I had another popcorn down my blouse when I changed clothes, lol. And yes I saved it for this post that I wrote on Sunday!

Saturday:
Saturday was our first meet up for the ARE study group. Myself and the co-founder had issues finding the Starbucks and parking but we made it. We had a total of 4 members that attended the meeting and all of us are planning to take the Construction Documents and Services of the ARE. Everyone shared their experience with the exam and how they are approaching to study. This was the BIGGEST motivation I needed. I know I'm been slacking but I'm going to sign up for my exam on June 22. I'm going to check my calendar and see if that is possible. It's no far being a leader to others and not taking my own advice. I got to stay motivated!

Our next meeting is next Saturday and I can't wait!