About

Hey y'all. My name is Nicole, and I was born and raised in the great Garden State (New Jersey). I spent a year living in Manhattan, and the better part of the past six years living in Philadelphia, only to return to my home state two years ago.

Though only in my mid-twenties (with 30 growing closer day by day), I have gone through some pretty crazy events, illnesses and experiences which has helped to shape the person I am today.

I have lived through a traumatic brain injury (see my TBI page for more info), been diagnosed with Crohn's Disease, and enough broken bones to last a lifetime. I recently had my gallbladder removed, and have also been diagnosed with Autoimmune Hepatitis. Besides ensuring that I will have a lifetime of doctor's visits, and the bane of my mother's existence, I have also managed to accomplish a few positive things along the way.

Within the past year, I have graduated with my Master's degree in Public Health, am in the midst of starting my PhD, and have found my calling in life as an epidemiologist. I have found a career that I love, and a job that is actually fulfilling.

I love, in no particular order, sushi, running, food, Philly, beer, wine, hippos, exploring, museums, reading, tea, farming/gardening, history, my family/heritage, Philadelphia Sports, the Florida Gators, March Madness, collecting old books, naps and cooking.

About nine years ago, a year or so after my TBI, I started to keep journals. Part of the reason was due to memory loss, and memory issues. I have both long term and short term memory issues, and have found that writing has helped significantly. I finally decided to start blogging a year or so ago, though I do keep a few written journals on hand.