I had a wonderful going away surprise – lemon drop cupcakes!! Had to have one after lunch. They were topped with lemon cool whip icing and might have been the best cupcake I’ve had all year!! Thanks to Emily, RD for making them 
At 3:00 I was seeing my final patients
at 3:45 I was writing my last notes
At 4:00 I was packing up my bags
And then it just ….ended!!
WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!
I felt like a ba-jillion pounds had been lifted off my shoulders.
And guess what!? I can breathe again 
Silly me decided to go on a 6-month stress relief run in my new neighborhood. For some reason running is SO relieving to me. I think because I can challenge my self to run FAST.
Too fast!!
Mile 1 = 8:02
Mile 2 = 7:47 (!!)
and then I ran out of hydration. Never again will I run in the summer without my camelbak!! I felt hydrated enough to head out but 4.5 miles later…and some walking…I was totally zonked.
Mile 3 = 8:45
Mile 4 = 10-something
Still was a great, stress relieving run!!
More frolicking ensued
I couldn’t stop smiling!!!
My personal sommelier brought out some wine – a special one – Franciscan – the first winery we went to on our honeymoon!!
My, my was it delicious!
Karen got me a present!!!!!! I told her how much I love Quaker Oatmeal Squares the other day and she went and got a box from the grocery store as a ‘graduation’ present (even though I don’t really have a graduation). Thanks Karen!!
My special dinner request was Bison Burgers!! On Great Harvest Dakota Buns!
Karen made sun-dried tomato pesto to go on top. (2 jars of sun-dried tomatoes in oil, undrained, 4 big cloves garlic, 2 big handfuls basil, ~1/4 cup parmesan cheese, 1/2 cup walnuts – all whirred together in a food processor)
Matt poured me more wine at dinner, but I didn’t finish it – needed water!
Karen’s other present? A Blackberry + Peach Cobbler!!
Served with vanilla bean gelato – the real deal!
Nothin’ like hot cobbler with vanilla bean…
Off to CHILLAX!!
Busy day tomorrow. In a totally fun way. Filled with pedicures, haircuts, Target trips, yoga and friends!!
{ 120 comments… read them below or add one }
What a great day! Congrats! I love the celebratory pictures. That is exactly how I looked when I passed my my thesis defense!
Congratulations, Kath!
Congrats Kath! You have worked so hard and deserve to celebrate!
Congratulations keep breathing. So happy for you and what a great day you have planned tomorrow. Enjoy the holiday weekend.
That is such an awesome and simple pesto that Karen made. So jealous of the peach cobbler, maybe you should never move. She seems to know you perfectly and takes such good care of you guys.
How great you must feel. I love that elated feeling that comes with such a great accomplishment. Congratulations! You definitely deserve a relaxing vacatoon now
enjoy it!!
Congratulations!!! It’s over!! Have fun on the beach!
Woohoo! Congratulations. I’m glad you got to celebrate with a great run and eats.
Congratulations!! You deserve to celebrate!
CONGRATSSSSSSSSSS, Kath, RD!!!!!!! Oatmeal squares are the bomb. They don’t stand a in this house–gobbled down in minutes
Have a great relaxing day tomorrow.
Congrast girl! I can’t even imagine how great you must feel! I can’t think of a better way to celebrate than with a run!
EEEE!!! Congrats! Loved all of the frolicking photos
The beach is not too far away now!
Congrats! That is so awesome!!
Kath – Congratulations on finishing your internship! Awesome!!! I’m the same way – happy or sad a run is the way I let go. You rocked it! Have fun at the beach next week!
Yay! So happy for you – what a relief to be finished and not feel like you always have school hanging over you. Have a fun day tomorrow.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!
:D We’re all so proud of you!
What a great day! Congrats on being done!!!!! Wish I could be there to celebrate with you!
P.S. I heart lemon cupcakes
Y O U d i d i t ! ! ! C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S ! ! ! Enjoy the BEACH ! ! !
Congratulations!! I can imagine how light you must feel with all of that stress lifted off of your shoulders!
Congratulations, Kath! Enjoy your fun day tomorrow.
Wow!
What an achievement!
You deserve this celebration and many more.
Way to go
So glad to hear you love Franciscan! I work for Constellation wines, which owns Franciscan, among others… If you ever head back to Napa, shoot me an email, I’d be happy to set you and Matt up with a private tour of the vineyards and winery.
Congrats!
Definitely!!!! We loved it there!
Ah, the joy of completing such a monumental task! I am living vicariously through you and not just because you get a pedicure and trip to Target tomorrow
Congratulations Kath! I am so happy for you! What a relief!!! Enjoy your time now…I know you will.
Woohoo, congrats, girl!!! Looks like you had a great time celebrating after
Whohoo!!! Congrats to you…time to live it up!
You reminded me of how I felt after graduating. Best feeling in the world.
PS- I will never leave my camelbak at home either…even for short runs I bring it and it makes a huge difference…even on just 2-3 milers. It’s amazinghow much you drink when it is THERE vs. not thinking you need to bring any.
Congrats, Kath! You rock!
yay yay yay!
Sending you lots and lots of CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!
Congrats!!!!!! I love the quaker oatmeal present, that’s so cute! I love that cereal..I think it’s best without milk!
WOOOOOOOT Major congrats! Keep smilin with those pearly whites!
Congrats on being done! Glad you’ll get to relax!
Sorry, but your degree has been “revoked” because that first picture was taken on the job.
Just kidding! 
Congratulations!
Don’t scare me like that!!
Congrats!!!!!!!!!!
You should be so happy.
congrats! i need to accomplish something major… then maybe i can run as fast as you!
GO YOU!!! That brand of Gelato looks REALLY great. I recently made a blueberry-peach cobbler from Cooking Light. It’s on my site. Maybe it’s the same recipe?
Yay Kath! You look absolutely THRILLED to be done. What a relief, eh? Congrats to you!
Tahitian Vanilla Bean…..yummmm!
Congratulations, Kath!! You are AWESOME!! Now you can definitely enjoy your holiday, fun-filled weekend.
Congrats! Why aren’t you getting a graduation ceremony? My internship had a nice one, that’s such a bummer–after all that hard work you deserve one!
Not sure why. Perhaps because I didn’t get a degree – just a certificate of sorts?
Yeah we finished ours with a 3 week staff experience, then a week of exit interviews, portfolio displays and a nice graduation. And ours wasn’t a degree program. But it certainly wasn’t 6 months either – can’t imagine squeezing it all into such a short amount of time!
CONGRATULATIONS!
And what a nice family. Your celebratory dinner looks delicious!
Ahh – happy you’re happy!!
Congratulations!! Your day tomorrow sounds like my own personal Heaven!! Enjoy yourself
Congrats, girl!
CONGRATS, KATH!!!
Congrats, girl!!! This post makes me feel relaxed and happy. As a law student, I know that relieved feeling all too well after every semester is over. Soooo happy for you!!
Congrats Kath!
You are such an inspiration!
Congrats!! So happy for you.
Congrats Kath=)
congrats!
I had a run like that earlier this week. Nothin’ like it to make you feel like a superhero AND remind you that you’re totally human all at once
So glad to see you moving on to the next phase! It’s an inspiration for me <3
Congratulations! Enjoy your day off tomorrow. I have never had gelato, but I think that is going to have to be on my list for this weekend. It looks really creamy.
CONGRATULATIONS!!! And what better way to celebrate than with ice cream and cobbler and yoru own sommelier? Brilliant fun times!
Gosh, I’ve been reading your blog forever – even I can’t believe you’re done! Congratulations – your are definitely a testament to hard work!
Yippee! Congrats.
Oh and the Talenti stuff is AWESOME. I love the coconut gelato and raspberry sorbet.
Chillax your heart out Kath! I am so incredibly HAPPY FOR YOU!!
You are such strong, motivated, BEAUTIFUL woman inside and out. You encourage and inspire me every single day. Thank you so much! You deserve everything that life gives you and more! Enjoy your evening and your FREEEEEDOM!
yay kath! smile away!
now…can we get that cobbler recipe?!?
Congratulations!!! Enjoy your chillaxin’
I’ve only been reading your blog for a few months now but I am so proud of you!! Enjoy some relaxation now. I always talk to my boyfriend about you like we’re great friends. I really enjoy your blog. : )
Congrats again! Sounds like you have a FAB Friday planned! Another pedi – fun!
Congratulations Kath, you did it! Enjoy your day of fun tomorrow with no lunch boxes to pack yippee!
Congratulations! Hope you have a spectacular day tomorrow!
Congrats Kath!!!
so.happy.for.YOU.
Congrats!! Yay – enjoy summer now
Can you post the recipe for that cobbler?? It looks SO YUMMY!! Lucky you.
Yayyy! Congratulations! Awesome job on finishing!!
Enjoy the freedom that you definitely deserve!
And lastly, thanks for always being such an amazing inspiration to all of us
so Happy!
G o o oo o o o Kathhhhh! (imagine this shouted by a cheerleading squad – pom pom’s & all!)
You worked so hard for this – CONGRATS!
Congratulations! That is so awesome – you’re an RD now! XDDD Your pictures make me smile and so happy inside – it’s a great, warm, fuzzy feeling to see someone else succeed. You’ve worked hard! You deserve all of it
Wei-Wei
i hope you’re enjoying today
Congratulations!!! It’s so wonderful to see you happy like this!
That cobbler looks amazing. What a celebration. Love the smiles.
Awwh CONGRATULATIONS!! I totally know the relief you feel – I felt it this yearwhen my exams were finished, after the most stressful, horrible 3months of my life!
HOORAY for freedom
THANK YOU EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!
Too worn out and busy to type up cobbler recipe. It was good, but it was just a standard one. You could go to Better Homes + Gardens or Real Simple and probably find one just as good! We all agreed it would have been better with oats in the topping
Congratulations Kath! I’ve been following your blog for almost a year now and I’m glad to see you so happy and relaxed after all that hard work! Enjoy your vacation, you deserve it!
Congratulations! Franciscan wine…LOVE…perfect way to toast a major accomplishment!
Congrats, Kath!!!
Have fun this weekend, you certainly deserve it!!
Jenn
congratulations on all of your accomplishments!!! You have an exciting road ahead of you!
You have worked so hard, you should be proud!! and you are an inspiration with your meals…it’s hard to do!
from one RD to a soon to be ‘nother RD!!
Congratulations on finishing your internship!
Congrats, Kath!!!!!
YAY!!! CONGRATS!!!
I LOVE THE JOY and the HAPPINESS in your posts. they just lift my own heart and spirit. thank you for sharing; your blog is a must-read. I love your honesty, and the wine server isn’t bad looking himself
Katherine
Way to go! I’ve been following along the whole way.
Congrats Kath!
That cobbler with ice cream is making my mouth water at 8AM!
These are such joyful pictures! I want that cupcake, too!
Congratulations, Kath! I LOVE your pictures – they had me cracking me!
And aren’t those Quaker Oatmeal Squares the BEST?!? I swear I could eat them every day, possibly at every meal!
Have a GREAT day today!
Congrats Kath! So happy for you
Great job on the speedy run too!
Great job on finishing that internship! Five years ago I finished mine. It was the most grueling 9 months ever w/full time hours and grad courses on top of it. Good luck on the exam! Your celebration dinner looks so good. Have a great day off you deserve it!
Congratulations on finishing!!
AHHHH!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!
I’m just *beginning* my internship in August, and I can just imagine how wonderful it must feel for you to be completely FINISHED. Live it up and enjoy it, Kath!
YEAHHHHHH FOR KATH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am sending you 26 congratulations wishes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CONGRATS! Bison burgers sounds like an ideal way to celebrate! Can’t wait to read about your adventures moving forward from here.
Enjoy your celebratory 4th of July weekend!
Congratulations!!!
There is no better dessert than ice cream with peach cobbler! Congrats on being done!! Such a relief!
Congrats!!!
congrats, kath! i’m so happy for you, you’ve clearly worked so hard for this and it’s great to see you smile so big!
Congrats!!!!
Congratulations!! Have a great week at the beach – you deserve it!
Congrats!! Love your smile.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!
I am SO jealous. And so proud of you! Can’t wait til that’s me in 2.5 years
xoxo
You’re speaking to my heart there, Kath. Bison burgers, blackberry-peach cobbler, and talenti gelato. I heart gelato with the fiery passion of a thousand suns.
The sundried tomato pesto sounds pretty good! Going to have to try that!
and CONGRATS!!!
YAY!!!!!! Way to go, stunner!
So proud. I’ve just decided to start back to school and am looking forward to a similar feeling when finished! It’ll be tough, but I’ve finally worked up enough nerve to register for classes again! Hehe.
Congrats lady! That’s awesome! I love your celebratory pictures and how you went for a run to relieve stress!
Congratulations Kath!! Nice work and I know you’re happy to be done
That sun dried tomato pesto looks awesome! I have a huge jar of sun dried tomatoes and will be trying that soon!
SO HAPPY FOR YOU, KATH! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!
You look so happy – congrats!!
Congratulations! Enjoy your day of relaxation and pampering today. You deserve it!
Congrats! Going-back-to-school stories are so inspiring. I gave up on the RD thing when I found out how much time it would add to my MPH, but I often wonder if that was a mistake. We’ll see — I guess it’s never too later to make a change!
Congrats on completing your internship! Even though mine was 3 or 4 years ago, I will never forget the feeling of that last day either! Now all that’s left is the exam which I’m sure you will pass with flying colors! Congrats again, and let the celebrations continue
Congratulations! This is so exciting!! Keep smiling!
Congratulations, I am so happy for you. Enjoy your day of relaxation!!
I LOVE Quaker Oatmeal Squares!! soo yummy!
PS – Congrats!!!! FEEL PROUD!
Congrats! I remember feeling EXACTLY the same when I finally graduated in 2008
it’s definitely worth the work if in the end you have your dreamjob!
That is just wonderful! Very happy for you and looking forward to watching and hearing about your future adventures!
This is just great to hear and I am glad for u…Congrats. Way to celebrate lady !