Orange, Mint, and Blueberry Infused Water

Some exciting news – I’ve officially moved into my new apartment, and this is the first recipe from my new kitchen! My kitchen is disproportionately large (it’s literally the same size as my entire living room), but I can live with that.

Moving was not easy – it was towards the end of my q4 28 hour call month (which means 28 hours straight in the hospital every 4 days), so I was already fatigued at baseline, but with the help of many wonderful friends and, of course B, we did it!

B had a golden weekend thank goodness, so he could come up to Connecticut and move things while I was at work. Fortunately, I married a very tall, strong man to make up for my rather petite size (and also my equally, if not even more petite friends whom I had recruited, as B pointed out with a facepalm).

B wanted to pay for packers/movers 100% but I’m more of a DIY person, especially since we’re moving my studio just a few blocks over, so we compromised with paying for movers only for the heavy furniture.

B and I had started moving a few smaller items during the week, but we really moved everything over the weekend. Unfortunately, the elevators in the new apartment broke the day before we started the heavy moving (and of course got fixed the day after we moved), so we were forced to carry everything up 4 flights of stairs.

My friends, despite being on equally difficult rotations ranging from VA, medical ICU, cardiac ICU and despite working 80+ hours, came after work to help out (that’s the Yale family, indeed). We drove back and forth, dropping off boxes, and carrying everything over many trips up and down 4 flights of stairs for hours and hours. It wasn’t fun, but they definitely made it waaay more enjoyable, and we celebrated with buying everyone dinner and hanging out afterwards.

The next day we had movers; despite their best effort, we had to go over time because one can carry beds and tables and sofas up the stairs only so quickly. Importantly, I had a bed to sleep on, since I had a 28 hr call the very next day >_<

We probably spent >40 hours packing, moving, and cleaning, unpacking, so we were super exhausted at the end. B and I each went up and down >100 flights of stairs, which is crazy. I’m happy to not have to move for at least a few more years.

B says thank goodness it’s over, because if I move again while we’re working residency hours, he’s going to look for a new wife lol!

Even typing about my move is making me hot and tired again, so I’m sharing my infused water recipe, with oranges, fresh mint, and blueberries. The summer heat is coming and this is a great way to stay cool!

Orange, Mint, and Blueberry Infused Water

Ingredients
6 cups water
2 oranges, sliced into circles
1/2 cup blueberries
handful of mint
tray of ice
Directions
Combine orange, blueberries, and mint in a pitcher of water and put in the fridge for at least an hour to allow the water to infuse. When ready to serve, add ice. Serve cold and enjoy!