xx, Randie
October 4, 2019
New Adventures Abound!
Hi it's me, Randie! I opened a new business and I would love it if you checked us out. MilkMatters Lactation Consulting offers in-home lactation consulting and a variety of professional and corporate services as well! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram or better yet, visit our web page here and book your consult today!
xx, Randie
xx, Randie
May 15, 2019
Beginnings and Endings
I have been thinking about what to write for days. The experience of being in nursing school, of becoming a nurse, was more than I expected. I said recently that if I really knew how hard it would be- academically, personally and professionally, that I wouldn't have done it. I never thought I would. My career was going in a way I was happy with. And yet, as I lollygag around the house today procrastinating doing my hair (it's a process, people) all I can think is: thank goodness I didn't know. Because 2.5 years into this journey, as it comes to a close, I am so unbelievably grateful I did.
For me, the hardest thing about nursing school was coming to grips with mediocrity- or maybe I mean coming to grips with an A or a B or C not defining who I am, what I can do, or the kind of nurse I will be. There is such a variety in backgrounds- people newly out of high school, people with nutrition degrees, people with a ton of experience in health care and people with none at all. And yet all the disparities I may or may not have perceived were gone in a matter of weeks. It was a challenge for us all. I failed a test for the first time in nursing school. I cried tears of joy at an 83. I had a panic attack trying to change a tlc dressing. It wasn't even on a real human.
And yet, the feeling of success is overwhelming. I always say that there are never enough moments in life to discover and rediscover your strength. There have been a few moments in my life that changed me, that reminded me that there is nothing I can't do. Natural childbirth. Completing a marathon. Becoming a nurse.
People say raising children takes a village. Going to nursing school in your 40's with two teenagers, a job and a zillion things vying for your attention- that takes a village.
My village begins and ends with my husband. I was going to save the best for last, but I can't think of all this took without thinking of him. For two years Mr. Draper did all the laundry, the food shopping and cooking, the child schlepping and the dog caring, all while I was alternately (or all together) depressed/anxious/exhausted/busy/gone/an asshole. I am thankful to be loved by and cared for in the way only he can do.
Professionally, I owe a huge debt to my staff for keeping the ship afloat and for their extraordinary kindness and support. Jillian was my first friend in Albany and has been by my side the whole time, from our days sharing an office at Baby-Friendly USA to being the organized mind to my chaotic one at Albany Med. I could not have grown our department and hired all the wonderful women I have without her. If you are reading this Jilly-Bean, if you ever quit I will come to your house and mess up your tupperware drawer.
When I was first thinking about going back to school I had a conversation with my mother in which I was bemoaning being old and going to school and such. One day she said something along the lines of, "In three years you'll be 44 whether you're a nurse or not, so you might as well be a nurse." I think about that often. I know I scared my mom with my mental instability over this journey. But she always answered my calls and if she judged me she never did it to my face. I am so thankful to be loved and supported by her. I am also thankful she and my dad had other children after me BECAUSE SERIOUSLY MY SIBLINGS ARE MY ROCKS. Last year was shit for my family and many of our loved ones and holy cow they are my glue. They checked on me when I didn't want to be checked on, texted and called and pep-talked and listened. They also married some good people, as I think I cried to both my brothers-in law on a few occasions and they still let me come around.
Many years ago I remember being in a friend's house and her having pictures of her and her nursing school friends on the mantle. It struck me since she was a nurse for many years and I don't have that kind of relationship with my college friends. Now I get it. I am so relieved to be done, and yet the idea of not seeing these women on a daily basis is crushing. If you ever want to understand what a truly intimate friendship looks like, talk to a nurse. We have no secrets. We know when the others are cycling, when we are struggling, when we are happy. I must have did something really good in this life to get the group of women I spent 20+ hours a week with this last semester. You are all blessings. I wasn't sure what it would be like, being with people who are so much younger than I am, who are in different life stages than me. And it was amazing. I got to share some of what I have learned over the years and take part in group chats which although I despise have been a sort of lifeline. You guys are amazing and I love you the most and I always will. I look forward to seeing your lives and families and careers grow and I can't wait to see all you become.
If you didn't already know, my kids are the bomb. There are no smarter, stronger, passionate, talented and courageous young women on earth. They cheered me on the whole way. Told me how much they admire me. How much they love me. I won't say they are my best friends; that implies we are equals. And we aren't; my love for them is a love only a mother could feel for her daughters. I always joke I stopped at two because they are awesome and what if the next one was an asshole? The truth is, they are all I needed. I love having teenagers. The only part that sucks is that they are leaving for college sooner than I care to think about. They both still snuggle me and want to hang with me and I cherish our relationships to infinity and beyond. More than chocolate.
Tonight I get my pin and am officially a nurse (not a registered one- I have to wait to take my boards for that). I am proud to be among the many that walked before and will walk after. Everyone keeps asking me what's next; the truth is I love my job and am staying put. I still have a lot of work to do. I will probably take a second job at some point so I can use the skills I worked so hard for and save money for college (see the previous paragraph). If there is something next for me, it hasn't presented itself yet. In the meantime I plan on enjoying every moment.
My heart is so full.
xx, Randie
For me, the hardest thing about nursing school was coming to grips with mediocrity- or maybe I mean coming to grips with an A or a B or C not defining who I am, what I can do, or the kind of nurse I will be. There is such a variety in backgrounds- people newly out of high school, people with nutrition degrees, people with a ton of experience in health care and people with none at all. And yet all the disparities I may or may not have perceived were gone in a matter of weeks. It was a challenge for us all. I failed a test for the first time in nursing school. I cried tears of joy at an 83. I had a panic attack trying to change a tlc dressing. It wasn't even on a real human.
And yet, the feeling of success is overwhelming. I always say that there are never enough moments in life to discover and rediscover your strength. There have been a few moments in my life that changed me, that reminded me that there is nothing I can't do. Natural childbirth. Completing a marathon. Becoming a nurse.
People say raising children takes a village. Going to nursing school in your 40's with two teenagers, a job and a zillion things vying for your attention- that takes a village.
My village begins and ends with my husband. I was going to save the best for last, but I can't think of all this took without thinking of him. For two years Mr. Draper did all the laundry, the food shopping and cooking, the child schlepping and the dog caring, all while I was alternately (or all together) depressed/anxious/exhausted/busy/gone/an asshole. I am thankful to be loved by and cared for in the way only he can do.
Professionally, I owe a huge debt to my staff for keeping the ship afloat and for their extraordinary kindness and support. Jillian was my first friend in Albany and has been by my side the whole time, from our days sharing an office at Baby-Friendly USA to being the organized mind to my chaotic one at Albany Med. I could not have grown our department and hired all the wonderful women I have without her. If you are reading this Jilly-Bean, if you ever quit I will come to your house and mess up your tupperware drawer.
When I was first thinking about going back to school I had a conversation with my mother in which I was bemoaning being old and going to school and such. One day she said something along the lines of, "In three years you'll be 44 whether you're a nurse or not, so you might as well be a nurse." I think about that often. I know I scared my mom with my mental instability over this journey. But she always answered my calls and if she judged me she never did it to my face. I am so thankful to be loved and supported by her. I am also thankful she and my dad had other children after me BECAUSE SERIOUSLY MY SIBLINGS ARE MY ROCKS. Last year was shit for my family and many of our loved ones and holy cow they are my glue. They checked on me when I didn't want to be checked on, texted and called and pep-talked and listened. They also married some good people, as I think I cried to both my brothers-in law on a few occasions and they still let me come around.
Many years ago I remember being in a friend's house and her having pictures of her and her nursing school friends on the mantle. It struck me since she was a nurse for many years and I don't have that kind of relationship with my college friends. Now I get it. I am so relieved to be done, and yet the idea of not seeing these women on a daily basis is crushing. If you ever want to understand what a truly intimate friendship looks like, talk to a nurse. We have no secrets. We know when the others are cycling, when we are struggling, when we are happy. I must have did something really good in this life to get the group of women I spent 20+ hours a week with this last semester. You are all blessings. I wasn't sure what it would be like, being with people who are so much younger than I am, who are in different life stages than me. And it was amazing. I got to share some of what I have learned over the years and take part in group chats which although I despise have been a sort of lifeline. You guys are amazing and I love you the most and I always will. I look forward to seeing your lives and families and careers grow and I can't wait to see all you become.
If you didn't already know, my kids are the bomb. There are no smarter, stronger, passionate, talented and courageous young women on earth. They cheered me on the whole way. Told me how much they admire me. How much they love me. I won't say they are my best friends; that implies we are equals. And we aren't; my love for them is a love only a mother could feel for her daughters. I always joke I stopped at two because they are awesome and what if the next one was an asshole? The truth is, they are all I needed. I love having teenagers. The only part that sucks is that they are leaving for college sooner than I care to think about. They both still snuggle me and want to hang with me and I cherish our relationships to infinity and beyond. More than chocolate.
Tonight I get my pin and am officially a nurse (not a registered one- I have to wait to take my boards for that). I am proud to be among the many that walked before and will walk after. Everyone keeps asking me what's next; the truth is I love my job and am staying put. I still have a lot of work to do. I will probably take a second job at some point so I can use the skills I worked so hard for and save money for college (see the previous paragraph). If there is something next for me, it hasn't presented itself yet. In the meantime I plan on enjoying every moment.
My heart is so full.
xx, Randie
January 10, 2017
Cauliflower mashers
Cauliflower mash and other thoughts.
I am not a huge cauliflower fan. Of course it's Jon's favorite, and now the kids like it too. For whatever reason it never did it for me, regardless of the prep. In general I don't love anything in the cabbage family so that's probably why.
I have made a cauliflower mash before but it was texturally really unappealing for me. I decided to research a bit and it seems the key is making sure that you remove the outer layer from the stem (or chop it off as I did). I made this last night with a curried beef and it was so good I am eating it again for lunch today.
Cauliflower Mashed "Potatoes" Recipe
Servings: 4
Prep Time: 8 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients:
1 head of cauliflower
1 tablespoon butter (I used earth's balance, but you could use coconut oil or whatever fat you want)
2/3 cup shredded cheddar
salt and pepper to taste
snipped chives (optional. Seems like it would be good but it's not in season)
Directions:
1. Separate the cauliflower into florets and chop the core finely.
2. Bring about 1 cup of water to a simmer in a pot, then add the cauliflower. Cover and turn the heat to medium. Cook the cauliflower for 12-15 minutes or until very tender.
3. Drain and discard all of the water (the drier the cauliflower is, the better) and add the milk, butter, cheese, salt and pepper and mash with a masher until it looks like "mashed potatoes." ****I used my stick blender because A STICK BLENDER IS THE BEST THING EVER
Makes 4 servings, each is 1/2 blue, 1 green, 1 tsp
xx, Randie
December 4, 2016
Chocolate Pumpkin Protein Muffins...Grain/Gluten Free!
I make the following every weekend:
Time for a nap.
Time for DVR catch-up with my cute husband.
Soup (when it's butt-ass cold out, that is).
A plan to clean which never gets done.
And muffins. Always muffins.
I used to make oatmeal every weekend for the week but one day I took a bite and was like, nah, never again. So now I make muffins.
My older peanut is gluten free so I make them so she can eat them. She is a really healthy eater and likes to have things she can grab in the morning or after school while doing homework. These are our favorite these days. They taste like they are naughty but really they are good for you and super easy.
Makes 24.
Ingredients:
2 ripe bananas
4 eggs
1/2 cup pureed pumpkin
2 TBSP almond butter
4 scoops shakeology
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon
1 TBSP raw cacao powder
1 TBSP chia seeds
5 packets stevia (can use 1/4 c honey, but I don't love honey or the sugar)
1. Preheat oven to 375. Line 2 muffin tins with paper liners and spray with non-stick spray of your choosing (I use coconut oil spray)
2. Put first 4 ingredients in a bowl. Puree with an immersion blender (or a regular blender, or a nutribullet)
3. Add in the rest of the ingredients. Mix well.
4. Divide. Bake for 20 minutes. Call me to thank me.
xx, Randie
Time for a nap.
Time for DVR catch-up with my cute husband.
Soup (when it's butt-ass cold out, that is).
A plan to clean which never gets done.
And muffins. Always muffins.
I used to make oatmeal every weekend for the week but one day I took a bite and was like, nah, never again. So now I make muffins.
My older peanut is gluten free so I make them so she can eat them. She is a really healthy eater and likes to have things she can grab in the morning or after school while doing homework. These are our favorite these days. They taste like they are naughty but really they are good for you and super easy.
Makes 24.
Ingredients:
2 ripe bananas
4 eggs
1/2 cup pureed pumpkin
2 TBSP almond butter
4 scoops shakeology
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon
1 TBSP raw cacao powder
1 TBSP chia seeds
5 packets stevia (can use 1/4 c honey, but I don't love honey or the sugar)
1. Preheat oven to 375. Line 2 muffin tins with paper liners and spray with non-stick spray of your choosing (I use coconut oil spray)
2. Put first 4 ingredients in a bowl. Puree with an immersion blender (or a regular blender, or a nutribullet)
3. Add in the rest of the ingredients. Mix well.
4. Divide. Bake for 20 minutes. Call me to thank me.
xx, Randie