Wedding Blog
Hi hive! I’m now T-minus seven days until the first day of the bar exam. You probably won’t hear a lot from me over the next few days, but I don’t want you guys to forget about me!
While the majority of my time these last couple of weeks has been spent reading over volumes of notes, taking practice multiple choice tests, and writing practice essays, I’ve also taken a little time out to continue working on the wedding plans. In fact, I hand-canceled and sent out the invitations this morning! I’ll be unveiling them after the RSVPs start rolling in.
Meanwhile, I thought I’d share with you a teeny glimpse into my life while studying for what may possibly be the hardest exam I ever take. My study group and I have been dividing our time evenly between a local coffee shop and my house. Here I am at the coffee shop. That’s supposed to be a look of disgust on my face, but I don’t know if you can tell.
One thing that has fallen by the wayside during the last week or so is my regular workout routine. Normally I try to exercise about five times a week, alternating between fun cardio (The Shred or Billy’s Boot Camp) and Pilates or yoga. I had to put these workouts on hold for a couple of weeks in order to cram in more study time. Luckily my friend and fellow bar examinee, “Ace”, let me in on a little trick known as “muscle farming.” We do this from time to time when studying starts to get us down.
Yes, in fact, that is what my hair looks like while I’m studying.
Don’t have time to work out? Simply take a 3-pound dumbbell (or 5-pound if you are so inclined) and do a few reps while you study! You can muscle farm while you work! You can muscle farm while you talk on the phone with your mom! You can even muscle farm while you watch TV!
OK, so maybe it’s not a substitute for actually getting some exercise, but it makes me feel like less of a slug to pump a little iron every once in awhile while I’m reading through some Constitutional law. It’s great for releasing tension as well (and boy, do I have a lot of that these days!).
How do you deal with stress in your life, wedding-related, or otherwise?
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Kick ass on the bar, Mousie! I’m terrified of it for next summer…!
I’m in the exact same boat as you. In the beginning of bar prep I was at the gym every day, sit ups/push ups at home during study sessions, etc. But it all magically stopped about 4 weeks ago. Ugh, cannot wait until the bar is over and done with so I can concentrate on more “important” things like DIY centerpiece mock-ups. hahaha. Good luck!
good luck lady! i’ll be taking the bar in CA next week and sharing in the misery. just a word of wisdom having passed a bar in another state… don’t drive yourself crazy this last week. relax and get some sleep. i ended up with the same scores on essays where i felt i knew the answers as on those where i had no idea. make an argument and back it up. you’ll do great!
oops, I meant during study breaks. haha imagine me doing sit ups and push ups while studying.
Good luck on the Bar exam! You’re going to do great! I remember studying for both Massachusetts and then New York, you’re going to feel so amazing once it is over! Make sure to treat yourself to some relaxation in the days after the exam!
good luck! FI is taking the bar exam too. He studies all the time. But after the exam, he is going to be the chief wedding planner. woo hoo.
Good luck! I work at a law school so I’m seeing everyone’s frazzled faces around here. You will get through this. And you will celebrate like nobody’s business when it’s done. (Or we sure did!)
good luck on the bar exam!!!
Ugh! I’m in the exact same position - I’m taking NY and CT next week and my workout has become nonexistent in the past 3 weeks. However I did manage to cram some wedding stuff in too! I needed it, for mental sanity purposes! hehe
that’s so rockin, miss mouse!
I totally thought you were going to talk about how you’re farming out your brain-muscles to the exam 
Good luck on the Bar exam. My sister is an attorney and I remember how stressed she was when it was Bar-taking time. I think you’re smart to try to multi-task your studying AND working out!
Good luck!! I still remember those dark days, but also remember such a wonderful sense of relief after the Bar was over!
great idea! I should do that while I’m reading journal articles.
I had my written and oral qualifying exams this past year. I failed the oral qualifier the first time, so I’m no stranger to stress. It was the worst year of my life, studying and taking all those exams while trying to plan a wedding, go to school, and work. I’m just glad I passed the second time! I found it relaxing to take a day off from studying to do something fun, go out of town for a few hours, or get a massage. I also ate a lot while I was stressed!
Good luck with your Bar! You’ll feel great when it’s over! 
Good luck on the bar! You will do great AND be well toned… how perfect!
muscle farming! love that — it will make me feel slightly more productive when i’m lazing on the couch.
Good luck!
Good luck on the bar!!! You’ll do great. I took the NY Bar two years ago and I remember how horrible these days were. Just remember to relax, especially the day before the exam. Cramming up until the exam is always a bad idea because it never fails that you end up confusing yourself. One trick that helped me is to go over some stuff you already know, it helps build confidence!
hahaha that’s funny.
No worries Mousie, we won’t forget about you! We’ll all be keeping our fingers crossed for you while you’re taking the bar!
I’m taking the MCAT (for medical school). Allow me to say - I feel your pain! : ) Life sucks, but it’s only a phase. Or at least I keep telling myself that!
Good Luck Miss Mouse! You are going to kick that Bar Exam’s butt!
It was a nightmare studying for the NY Bar, but worth it in the end!!! You Go Girl, and don’t stress you do know it!!
I definitely need to get on the ball with this, no excuse for being lazy anymore…
Good luck on the bar! I think I’ll try that muscle farming while reading weddingbee!
Love the muscle farming! And it’ll come in handy bar time, too. My most serious impediment taking the bar was not knowledge, but arm strength. I was writing with my left hand (I’m right handed) by day two.
Lol, I just might try that muscle farming. And best of luck to you on the bar!
Good luck!!! I love the muscle farming…I’m going to have to implement that this year, as I’m starting my Ph.D. and I hear the first year is the worst…go figure I have to plan a wedding on top of that!
Good luck to you! I’ll be taking the bar at the same time as you.
Ugh, just the sight of that overly tall book gives me the shakes! Good luck, it will all be a distant memory soon
My roommate, a pre-med major- taught me that exercising while you study helps you remember things better. So, good job! And good luck on the bar! =D
Good luck on the bar!! Studying for that exam was definitely the most stressful time in my career. It’s almost over…you’ll do great!!
Good Luck! We all know you are a smarty though so you will do great!!
On a side note did you catch the bridezilla episode where the girl wasn’t going to get married if she didnt pass the bar? She got the results the day of her wedding, and girl if that dummy could do it I know you can!!:)
Good luck!!! And congrats on still fitting in some muscle farming.
@Miss Cloud: That is insane! Gotta love Bridezilla and all their crazy antics!
Good luck! I’m studying for the bar too, and I generally have just been trying to squeeze in some quick 30 minute strength training sessions, but also been going for some runs outside so I can take a break and get some fresh air, but also feel productive
Good luck Ms. Mouse! The other folks sitting for the exam won’t be able to concentrate because they’ll be looking at your sculpted guns!
I love this “muscle farming.” I’ve totally been known to knock out squats, lunges or pushups when falling asleep doing school reading or at work. It’s wonderful!
Good Luck!!! I am going into my 2L year and I had trouble finding time to work out during regular exams… it must be even worse when studying for the bar! I love your muscle farming idea - it has to be burning some calories and getting blood flowing, right?
Miss Mouse, I wish I was still in Austin so I could muscle farm with you! All I do is sit at my desk and eat frozen pizzas. I feel so gross and let’s just say my clothes aren’t fitting like they used to (a.k.a. not at all)! 8 days from now I will be on a treadmill–never thought I would be looking forward to that!
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Mrs. Mouse, Austin
Age and Occupation: 25, Attorney
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 31, Civil Engineer
Engagement Date: December 19, 2007
Wedding Date: September 2009
Venue: Barr Mansion
About Me: I just graduated from law school and will be taking the bar, getting married, going on a honeymoon with my guy, and then trying to figure out what I'm going to do with the rest of my life. I was born and raised in a small East Texas town, but I'm no country girl! I'm obsessed with British accents, fantasy (including Harry Potter, of course), and classic rock. My fiance and I consider ourselves both music and beer snobs--but every once in awhile we love to hear a crappy band and drink a cheap brew or two. We're planning an eco-friendly, casual, English garden affair for the end of summer, and we can't wait for it to get here!
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