Medicine & Manicures

“C” is for Celebration

Hi, friends!! I hope everyone had a fabulous weekend (how about them Panthers?!?). As far as Mondays go, this one’s not so bad. In case you missed my Instagram post or my snaps on Friday (khendley), I’m happy thrilled to report that… 


I PASSED MY BOARDS!!!

Yayyy!! You can imagine my relief… now I can finally B.R.E.A.T.H.E! I have been a stressed out mess this past week which honeslty felt like the longest week of my life. The small group of my class that took the exam in late December got their results after only 4 days so after knowing that bit of info, I was checking my email like a crazy person. The suspense!! I waited 8 days for my results and when I got that email – gulp – I felt my stomach drop. That is, until I saw this!

AHHHH!!!!!!

Just to give you a little background info, when you graduate from PA school you officially become a physician assistant. However, you cannot work until you pass the boards. That’s where the “C” in PA-C comes in. It stands for certified, meaning that you have passed the national certification exam. Three letters that I am so thrilled to write after my name. 

I have to tell you, the PANCE was THE hardest test I’ve ever taken. Yes, I knew it would be hard but yikes! I was definitely worried that I didn’t pass. I did well in school and got good scores on my practice tests but when I actually got in the test center, I freaked out a little bit. I couldn’t help but think, “If I fail this thing, I can’t work for 3 months.” Never have I had so much riding on one test, one 5-hour long, 300-question test. But that’s just how it goes with this kind of profession. 

Anyways… Moving on! All I can say is I passed and I’m glad it’s over. I won’t have to do this again until 10 years from now when I recertify. Last week that was ALL I thought about but now I can officially move on to this next chapter of my life. Of course Ryan & I had to celebrate- he made reservations at Aria, one of my favorite Italian restaurants and we had some delicious food along with live music. It was perfect!

Not only did I find out my test results on Friday, but also got a job offer in dermatology!! You may remember that this was my favorite rotation in school and has been my #1 choice of field to get into. I haven’t officially signed my contract yet but we’re in the negotiation stage. I just can’t believe how things are all coming together. All the studying, hard work, stress, anxiety, and prayers have finally payed off. Now, all I have to do is wait for my medical license to come in and I can finally start working (hopefully in the beginning of February). Sorry this post is super long BUT I just wanted to say that I have loved sharing my PA school experiences with you guys and thanks for always being there to support and encourage me. Cheers!!


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Featured In… Carolina Bride!


Hi friends, and hello Friday! I love a good bridal magazine, don’t you? Carolina Bride just hit the stands last week and I’m pretty excited about it. This is a local publication which features Charlotte weddings, engagements, local vendors, wedding tips, and styled shoots. 
















As you can imagine, I was thrilled when our photographer, Lori, told us that we were going to be featured in the engagement section!! Yayyyy!!! All the heart-eyed emojis for this one! If you haven’t already read our engagement story (part 1 & part 2), then you can get to know a little about how Ryan & I met and how he proposed through this article:







I met Ryan four years ago at Dandelion Market in uptown Charlotte, and he took me back there for our first date. A couple of years later, after visiting my family for Thanksgiving, Ryan surprised me with an extended trip at our of our favorite vacation spots, The Grove Park Inn in Asheville. He planned a spa day for the both of us and booked a massage for me that evening. After dinner, I headed to an outdoor pagoda overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains and had the best massage of my life. The masseuse then led me to another pagoda, where I was shocked to find Ryan inside. My first thought was, “Wait, are we getting another spa treatment?” 









But then I saw a fire crackling, rose petals on the table, and a bottle of champagne – perfectly cozy and intimate. Ryan said some sweet things, got down on his knee, and that day became the happiest of my life. We’re both from small towns – Ryan from Plattsburgh, NY and I’m from Marion, NC – but we’re city kids at heart. We’re so excited to get married at Foundation for the Carolinas in uptown Charlotte. As for our home: we now live in the building next door to Dandelion Market, where we made our first memories together. 




                                                                                                       – As told by Kristina





But wait… there’s more! This issue also happens to feature one of my besties, Katie. We both get to be featured in the same magazine, how cool is that?! I still can’t get over that “kissing in the street” photo of her & her hubby. We also happen to have the same photographer… it’s safe to say she’s pretty awesome!
I have always loved reading the Carolina Bride magazines, even before I got engaged. I enjoy reading the love stories of local couples and seeing what details they incorporate into their weddings. Plus, it’s always fun to see people you know in there! For all my local Charlotte girls, you can pick up your free issue from one of several stands in SouthPark Mall. Hope y’all have a happy Friday!




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Weekend in Naples

Hellooo, Monday! After finishing my dreadful test last Thursday, Ryan & I flew out to Naples, Florida for the weekend. It was a blissful 80 degrees and I was loving it. Not like it gets that cold here in Charlotte, but a little sun in the middle of January is always a good idea. Here’s a little look into my weekend! (And yes we’re extremely pale.. but y’all know how that first day at the beach is). 

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2016 Goals

Hi, friends and hellooo 2016!! I hope everyone had a super fun new year whether you partied all night long or curled up on the couch to watch the ball drop. My friend Katie cooked a delicious pasta dinner and then a bunch of us went bowling which was perfect- low key but still a great time!

With the new year comes change and excitement. There are new adventures, ideas, and things to look forward to. I have several goals both personal and blog-related that I’m determined to make happen in 2016. It was neat to look back at my goals for 2015 and writing them down each year is a great way to hold yourself accountable. 

PERSONAL
– Finish wedding planning and marry the love of my life!
– Pass the PANCE (PA board exam…  which is this week!)
– Get my first job and officially start my career as a PA.
– Work out 4 days a week.
– Move into our new townhouse.
– Continue to improve my cooking skills.
BLOG-RELATED
– Revamp my blog design (coming soon). 
– Find a new blog to follow every week. 
– Post consistently 3-4 times per week. 
– Attend a blog conference.
– Go to more Charlotte blogger meet-ups.
– Include more home decor posts (once we get our new house!).
A few snaps from our NYE 
If y’all have been following along, then you know this is going to be one busy year for me… as if last year wasn’t crazy enough. This year brings my transition from a student to a professional and from a fiancé to a wife. There are so many exciting things to look forward to and I’m so excited to share my experiences with y’all. Let’s make 2016 the best year yet!! 





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Top 15 in 2015

Happy New Year’s Eve everyone!! And just like that, another year has gone by. One of the very best things about blogging is being able to look back and reflect on all that has happened in the past year and I have to say, 2015 was a pretty great one. Today I’m sharing my top 15 memories of 2015!
1) NEW ORLEANS FOR KATIE’S BACHELORETTE: This was my first time to The Big Easy and it did not disappoint. This weekend was full of exploring, showering the bride with gifts, good food, and shenanigans on Bourbon Street. Just thinking about it gets me super pumped for my bachelorette party in Vegas!!

2) ASSISTING IN SURGERY: I loved my time in the OR during my PA school rotations whether it was helping deliver a baby, replacing a hip, or taking out a gallbladder. Getting to assist on surgeries and work on my suturing skills was pretty awesome and an experience I’ll never forget.

3) NYC SPRING TRIP: And by spring I mean snow. Yes, it snowed on the first day of spring… but I was okay with it since we were in New York! We met up with our friends from California and got to meet their new baby and finally got to visit the 9/11 Museum.
4) NIAGARA FALLS: Ryan & I visited Niagara Falls not once, but twice this year. The second time around we went on the Maid of the Mist which was quite the wet & windy ride, but still so much fun!

5) KATIE’S WEDDING: I was a bridesmaid in my friend Katie’s wedding, which was an absolute blast. She was the first of my closest girlfriends to get married so it was awesome to finally be at a wedding with all of my best friends. And how gorgeous is her dress?!

via CaptureMeCandid Photography

6) FOUR MORE WEDDINGS: This was probably the busiest wedding year to date- we’re definitely in the middle of the “wedding circuit.” We’ve traveled to Tampa, Wilmington, Buffalo, and Knoxville to see some of our best friends tie the knot! 

7) CELEBRATED TWO MORE ENGAGEMENTS: We’re dropping like flies, y’all! Two more of my best friends, Ashton & Logan, got engaged over the past few months and we’re all getting married in 2016. It’s going to be one crazy, busy year but bring on the showers and bachelorette parties! 

8) MOUNTAIN GETAWAY: The mountains in the fall are always a good idea so we decided to take a day trip to Blowing Rock & Linville Falls. We ate some delicious food, hiked, and took in some killer views of the falls. One of the best things about NC is being so close to the mountains and the beach.
9) HALLOWEEN ON A GIANT PIRATE SHIP: One of our friends likes to do everything big. This year, he put out all the stops and made a giant wooden pirate ship (on wheels!) that we rode on through the streets of uptown Charlotte on each stop of the bar crawl. Oh, and all of us pirates won the prize for best costume!

10) HORNETS GAMES: Ryan & I got full season tickets to the Charlotte Hornets games this year and I always look forward to our little dates to the stadium. Can’t hate these seats!

11) ST. MAARTEN VACATION: I absolutely love traveling to new places any chance I get. I had a week off from school in May so Ryan & I took advantage and jetted off to the islands! We called it our little “engagement-moon.” You can read about our trip here & here.

12) SAYING YES TO THE DRESS: Trying on wedding dresses was definitely a highlight of the planning process. They all make you feel beautiful and “bridal” and while I didn’t have that break-down-and-cry moment when I first put it on, I knew that I had found the one. It’s so fun & unique and I can’t wait to share it with y’all soon!

13) ENGAGMENT PHOTOS & SAVE-THE-DATES: Taking our engagement photos was SO much fun (check out part 1 & part 2) and sending out our save-the-dates definitely made the wedding feel real. Just over 4 months to go until our #sapelebration!

via CaptureMeCandid Photography

14) BUYING OUR FIRST TOWNHOUSE: This experience has been quite the whirlwind. From the time we thought we actually bought a townhouse, to the heartache that followed, to finding out about a similar development and being the first buyers, it has been a trip. I’m excited to say groundwork has started and I can’t wait to share little updates with you.

15) BECOMING A PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT!!!: Hands down the most exciting thing that has happened this year and my biggest accomplishment to date. 28 months of hard work has finally paid off and I’m so happy to finally call myself a PA. Next mission: pass my boards & secure a job!

There were so many happy memories made this year and I’m thankful that I have this blog to look back at those moments and really appreciate them. Thank you all for continuing to read and support Medicine & Manicures- it means the world! Blogging has been pretty difficult these last few months due to school, wedding planning, and just life in general, but I’m excited to take it up a notch in 2016 and see this blog grow even more. I hope everyone has a fun & safe NYE and I’ll leave you with some of my favorite style posts from this year. See you in 2016!! 
one // two // three
four // five // six
seven // eight // nine
ten // eleven // twelve



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