It's my life ....

October, November, December 2011

2012-01-03T20:30:00.003-07:00

October: Little trip to Apple Hill. This is how it's done. I'm not ashamed. :)

My sister and niece looking way cooler than me.

Who doesn't love Luke?

November: You never know when a little drive on your day off is going to result in one of the sweetest memories and photos of your life. Ruthie's first experience with snow. She kept saying it was bubbles. :)

December:

Christmas is always better with a baby and a grandpa. Everyone came over to our house to open presents. It was a sweet time.

That sums up my first year being in California and loving life with all this crazy family!

Ready to go stay up until 3am at my brother's house to ring in the new year.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I can't imagine 2012 being better than 2011 but I guess I'll give it a try.

July, August, September 2011

2012-01-03T20:03:00.004-07:00

July: She still will not say my name but has been saying "uncle" for months.

Ruth is walking and running FREE!

August: I took the girls to the Jelly Belly Factory. It was so fun! I LOVE hanging out with these girls!

September: Ruthie comes over to play one day a week on my day off. She loves her Uncle Brian and Aunt Faith. She keeps us busy. I find taking her shopping and letting her play in the bathtub are less aerobic activites for me.

For my birthday we went to the Redwoods near Eureka, Ca. It's 300 miles away from home but so worth the trip. It was beyond my expectations. There's so much to explore. Can't wait to go back.

April, May, June 2011

2012-01-03T19:43:00.004-07:00

April: Took my sister to the beach for the first time in her life.

May: Enjoyed beautiful weather and my beautiful family. Sister-in-law, Liliya and my nieces Anna and Ruth.

Celebrating my brother's birthday. We are getting OLD. This is a blurry cell phone pic but I love it because it expresses everything....how cute and busy Ruth is and how much I adore her.

June: Was a big month with Ruth's 1st birthday and my sister's 22nd birthday.

We went to the most beautiful beach for Faith's bday. Bodega Bay. Camped in our 18ft camper for a couple nights. Very special few days. Brian came home with near 3rd degree sunburn on this legs and feet. No one else burned. I didn't even get a tan! It was so weird. And sad. He was pretty sick.

My mom gave me an awesome super short hair cut when she came out for Ruth's 1st birthday. They grow so much in a year! She was loads of fun at her party. This one is feisty!

January, February, March 2011

2012-01-03T18:44:00.005-07:00

We moved to California December 2010 and moved into our new home February 2011.
Here's a few pics to highlight some of my favorite moments.

January: Was an exciting month as new California residents we had two reasons to visit San Francisco. Dressed up for a holiday party with my dad's work. In a great dress I got at Macy's for about $11 with a purple flower that I made. I love how Brian looks all in black.

Here we are after roaming around the streets of downtown. Feeling very hip :)

My sister moved in with us as we now had a home with some extra room.

February: photo of us on our 3rd anniversary. We went to Napa for the day. So nice being an hour away from wine country. Below photo is baby Ruth, being cute and practicing the art of
standing.

March: My favorite flowers given by my favorite man.

And we got a new dog. Samson. Got him off craigslist. Never did that before. He's super-duper sweet but has obviously not been treated kindly. I've wanted to give him away so many times but have learned patience and time can work out alot of issues. We love him, but not his nervous energy.

My laptop background photo right now

2011-01-02T23:13:00.001-07:00

Seriously, how pretty are these girls!?

Sweetness came over today...

2011-01-02T23:05:00.002-07:00

Delilah and Ruthie became fast friends. Almost too close. We had to keep them apart for awhile. Delilah just wants to be in Ruthie's lap....she has no clue what damage can be done by 6month old baby hands. I'm sure she will experience it soon enough, but for today anyway, she was safe.
Uncle Brian got on the floor to play. It must have been Ruthie's irresistible smile.
She is way too cute.

Let's review

2011-01-01T13:38:00.016-07:00

I've been MIA on my blog for quite awhile.
So much has been going on. Sometimes it's hard to write about stuff in the midst of the whirlwind when you don't have much perspective on it.
But it's January 1 and I feel the need to review the recent past events before I can move on the blog about the present and the future. I know in 5 or 10 yrs, I'll be so tickled to have this blog to jog my memory.

Nancy passed on to her new life and body. It's been 2 months and it still feels unreal that she's not here with us.

I got to see all my dad's siblings together.

October 2010 was a bittersweet month.

Brian and Ruthie finally got to meet. We can tell she really likes him. :)

I returned to Sacramento for job interviews in November.

I got a job with Sutter Hospice in Roseville. And 3 weeks later I loaded my car with my clothes and moved to California!

It's a 12 hr drive with some interesting scenery.

Fall is wonderful in Sacramento! I don't have pictures of the rain, but there has been PLENTY of it. My new wiper blades have been used and the old tires are hanging in there. Can't wait to get rid of this Corolla for something more fun. But we are in the middle of buying a house so that is on hold for now.

If you don't live in Cali, you might find this a bit odd. You can't eat in peace anywhere. I guess they don't believe in "ignorance is bliss".

While Brian finished some things in Phoenix, I was hanging out with these guys.

I started learning Ukranian from Liliya, my sister-in-law and Anna, my niece.
I can say potato, i love you, slipper, beautiful little thing (that's for the baby), that's good, sour cream. But Liliya requests I speak Spanish to the baby. :)

Christmas brought us all together. Mom made a tasty Christmas breakfast feast of amazing bacon, a potato dish that was SO good, and a baked apple toast sweet thing AND fresh fruit/yogurt parfait. Wish I got a picture of it all.

It was a Christmas of FIRSTS. Ruth's first Christmas and for me, the first time I've shared it all together with my dad, brother and husband. I will always cherish this memory. The guys get along so easily. I look forward to making many more memories with us all together like this.

We had lots of presents. It was a joy for me to be able to spoil my family this year. Thank you, God for this new job!

Liliya surprised Luke with a new Droid. She's such a good wife. I gave my husband a warm hat to protect his shiney shaved head from the California cold and rain. Don't feel bad for him, he already had a Droid. :) He also got his first piece of clothing from Aeropostal from the Parks family. He's all kinds of California cool now!

Ruthie LOVES to have you pretend you are sneezing. Dad got some great video of her laughing her head off on Christmas at the Dwyre's house. Sue cooked us an amazing filet mignon roast. Dinner was amazing and we laughed so much. Kay, Leanna and Noah were there to enjoy what Noah called his "smallest Christmas gathering". To which Brian and I countered that it was our "biggest family Christmas gathering". The contrast amuses me.

Thank you for sweet memories.

My job has been going well. I started Dec. 6. I've been in training mode. Learning their computer charting, meeting new people everyday. Learning the ropes of admitting people on to hospice service and caring for them in their homes. I love the 8 hr work days and wearing "real" clothes. Presently we chart on smart phones so when I'm off work and go to text on my phone, I realize how much I'm on the phone! All the time! It's kind of fun. I love technology.

Brian and I have been staying with my dad during the housing wait. It's been really great. I had to wait to be 35 yrs old before ever living with my dad, but the wait has been worth it. We get along so great and it's been a huge positive bonding experience for us all. He even enjoys Delilah and she REALLY enjoys him.

Sometimes on Monday night we go to Luke & Liliya's for dinner since that's the night Luke has off work. I try to visit them every couple of days. The baby grows so fast! In December she has started rolling, sitting up like a pro, and got 2 bottom teeth. She loves to yell and stand and bang. She's super active and cute and fun!

As of today, January 1, we have not officially closed on the Stroud Ct. house. We are not sure if the sale will still go through since the deadline for our special Homepath deal was Dec.31. We love that house but don't mind giving it up and starting over. Brian and I love to plan and dream and research so house hunting is fun for us. The loan and technical part is not fun! This was my first time going through that and now I know what people are talking about! And in this complex economic time we are in, buying a home is even more complicated.

That about sums it up! What a year!

New RN, new baby, new friends, new job, new city, new home....new amazing life!

Same husband!

Happy New Year, Everyone !

4 in 1

2010-10-11T19:06:00.007-07:00

Four days in Tucson in one blog post.

Here's a few of my favorite shots from our trip to Tucson where we were pleasantly surprised with cooler weather and a FREE 4 night stay at the RV resort. Turns out the resort was closing on the day we left so they let us stay for free. It was a relaxing and beautiful trip. We enjoyed exploring Tucson as we drove to the zoo, a garden park, RV dealerships, a transportation museum, the mall. Basically, enjoyed spending every minute together. :)

"Where are we now, Mommy?"

Morning coffee and blue skies.

My happy campers!

Peaceful artistic gardens at Tohono Chul Park.

Striking yet simple pink wall and blue skies

Tucson is a great place if you can't get enough cactus and stone and blue skies

A lot of relaxing and coffee drinking.

Some train watching

Panther watching

Rhino relaxing

Beautiful

GREAT mexican food

AND......

four sunsets in a row just like this

Not just any baby....

2010-10-06T17:18:00.002-07:00

She is beautiful and perfect in every way.

I love her and every funny face she makes.

God knew what He was doing when He made babies.
My heart explodes for love for her and the amazing people who made her.

Yes, I'm crying now, thank you.

Thirty-Five

2010-10-01T13:56:00.007-07:00

How interesting is this!?
A conjoined Gerber Daisy! This was in the bouquet of flowers that Brian got me for my birthday.
Have you ever seen anything like this before? Pretty wild, huh?

So, I had yet ANOTHER birthday.

That's okay. I'm happy with life and if this is how it goes when you get older, then, bring on the years!

I was a bit sick with sinus junk so I look blah in the picture even with the candle light. Oh, well.

We enjoyed birthday dinner at BJ's. My brother and sis-in-law gave me a gift card. I had the California Club Flatbread Pizza. It was soooooo good! Thank you, Luke and Liliya!

A few days before my birthday, I was in California and celebrated my birthday along with Liliya's birthday at my dad's house. We took lots of baby pics and enjoyed chocolate cake and red wine. It was nice. Thank you, Dad and Nancy!

Since my birthday last year I have (in no particular order): gone to nursing school, done more school work than I ever thought possible, said goodbye to my mom and sister as they moved out of state, bought a travel trailer, felt pretty darn proud of myself, got my RN license, celebrated birth and life of my neice, celebrated our second wedding anniversary, listened to lots of talk radio, became Certified as a Hospice and Palliative nurse, been moved to tears more times than I can count, graduated with my Associates Degree in Nursing, 2 trips to California, and lots and lots of dreaming and planning for our future.

Life is MORE than Good!

Baby fun

2010-10-01T13:38:00.003-07:00

Ruthie is 3 months old now.

Isn't she cute!?

She's so fun!

We love to love on her.

That's big sister, Anna, giving Ruthie a kiss.

Ruthie is learning how to grasp now. Isn't that fun, Anna?!

Retro Camera

2010-09-09T09:56:00.002-07:00

I love this app on my Droid. Coolest pics ever.

Keeping busy

2010-09-07T19:41:00.010-07:00

Since school is now a distant memory, I have moved on to new and fun things!

Don't ask me where I got the idea to start making headbands and clips, but I did. And boy, did I!

I will slip into my "office/craft room" and easily make 5 clips in less than an hour. It's been fun to wear them and give a few away.

I did this with beading jewelry a few years ago and made TONS of earrings and bracelets. I tried to sell some but after the obsession came to an end, I just donated most of what I made to Goodwill. Then I ended up going to total opposite direction and decided I would no longer wear any bead jewelry and only wear pearl stud or real (fake) diamond stud earrings. I have been wearing the same 5 pair of earrings for over a year now. I just love the simplicity and sophistication of it.

I can't say how or when this current obsession will end. I'm just enjoying the ride.

I've been doing a little cooking and not as much picture taking.

Frustrating how life sucks up most of your energy and your day.

We want to get out and play more but we have to .....work.

You, too?! So, you know how I feel.

We really need a vacation but I have this little distraction that takes me away for a week at a time.....

I got a nice visit with her when she was 3 weeks old and now I'm returning to see her at the end of September. She will be 3 months. My husband understands this obsession and the fact that THIS ONE will never end. Love her :)

So, one day, my husband and I will take a vacay together....soon, we hope. I still haven't been to the beach but having a new niece kind makes up for that. :)

I sort of lied earlier.

School isn't a distant memory. I have sorta been getting more education.

I took ACLS and am certified now! That's Advanced Cardiac Life Support. Means I now know what's going on during a code and (gulp) may help out! I am starting a class on Identifying Cardiac Dysrhythmias. It's just a few hours a week for a month. I can't help it. I love learning about the medical field. Someday I will work in the hospital setting again, I just know it. Once this darn economy bummer thing gets better and hospitals decide to start hiring us "new" Registered Nurses. Since I've been working full time now, I've been getting alot of great feedback from people. I feel like I'm pretty darn special and I have alot to give as an employee. I am becoming more and more motivated in my thoughts on where this career can take me. Only UP! I do not want to stay in the same place in life or in my career. I don't mean place as in location. I mean, as in hierarchy. Is that bad? I have big ideas about what I can become. And now that I have my RN, I can achieve those goals. Bring it on!

I will be 35 this month. I love it. I have so much energy and excitement and confidence right now. I think all that was tempered in my 20's by fear. Fear of what I knew or didn't know. Fear of what people thought. Fear that I didn't know what I thought. Fear of being single the rest of my life.

But now, life is full and complete. And where it isn't, I know how to make it that way.

I was watching the movie "Yes!" Man today. I LOVE it! I totally feel like that right now. Bring it on! Korean lessons, guitar lessons, flying lessons, bunji jumping.....I want it all.

Patience. My husband has it. I am learning it. I'm still pretty spontaneous but he is helping me be more level-headed. We research and think through alot of my big ideas or my big "I want this now!" moments. We are perfect together. We are so very different. He catches my enthusiasm and is up for my many ideas and plans. But he is a very slow rolling rock. I think that's what I need though. (although, sometimes when he is at work, I suddenly decide to paint the bathroom and buy new bathroom fixtures!)

I also keep busy by watching my friends lives and kids via Facebook. What would I do without it? (I'd have to get out and make new friends! Yikes!)

And then, of course, there is Delilah. She is a year old now. She's still barely 5 lbs despite all the soft food we feed her. That's fine though. She's perfect. Here she is wearing (tolerating) a teal duct tape bow I made for her.

This is just too funny. It's a mirror image app on my cell phone. She's holding her fluffy green frog in her mouth.

This is getting long. I should blog more often. I just have to add one ironic part to it all.

Despite all the energy that I write about having.....I have dust on my shelves and clothes that have been waiting weeks to be hung up!

There ya have it! Now you know how I've been keeping busy.

Why I love Skype

2010-08-23T20:49:00.001-07:00

Flower power

2010-08-23T20:35:00.005-07:00

I saw how to make these on a blog but I guess I didn't save the blog so I can't link back to it. Bummer. But I am so happy about how they turned out. So easy and so cute. I wear headbands all the time and have WAY, WAY too many of them. I consciously stopped buying earrings and other jewlery about a year ago and seemed to have (unconsciously) replaced my obsession with headbands.

The pink one is really red felt. The others are satin. I utilized some ribbon and beads I had around the house.

These were made on my first attempt. I only allowed myself to buy 3 different fabrics at the store but now, of course, I want to go back and get ten more!

Canyon Lake

2010-08-08T18:37:00.012-07:00

Arizona is beautiful.
We went to Canyon Lake.
This is Canyon Lake. Just 2 hour drive from our home.

This is Delilah. She didn't want to pose for this picture until I said the magic words..."Are you hungry?" Little stinker.

Isn't she cute?

Look, Mom! I can swim!

It was his birthday so I took him camping and gave him a kiss. Happy Birthday, Honey!

Just what he wanted...to hang out with his cute wife and wet dog at the lake.

Here's the lake again.

Here's his cute wife and wet dog.

It was a great setting. Enough people but still pretty quiet. People actually spoke to us! That's a change from our previous trips where we have been in pretty isolated areas.

The water was nice and refreshing. Well, it was dirty lake water, but it was refreshing.

I just loved being so close to the water. I did alot of reading. We didn't have cell service so no wasting time online. We ate well. Spaghetti. Chicken & rice. Hamburgers with mac & cheese. Swimming....er, floating in the lake makes you hungry!

We tried hard to remember when our last camping trip was when we realized our holding tank was full on the second night. (it was just the grey tank (dirty water). not the black tank, thank goodness!)

It was a nice trip. The weather was fun. Clouds the first day. Lots of hot sunshine the next day and even rained that night. It was our first time using electric hook-ups and we ran the A/C the entire time. It was 90-100 degrees so it was great to be able to sleep comfortably. Even if the sound of the a/c unit was so loud we had to speak loudly while inside the camper. Price we paid for comfort.

I can't wait to go back with a canoe and some lifevests so we can explore the lake. Delilah does well with the water. She actually walked out into the lake and swam to me a few times. She quickly figured out which way was the shore when I put her back down in the water. She's not crazy about being wet and chilly but she doesn't hate it. We need to get her a life vest too. Of course she will come with us on the canoe! I can't wait.

We had a fairly easy time emptying the tanks before arriving home. It was only 103 outside so we weren't so irritable like we were back when it was 113 degrees. Actually knowing what we are doing helps alot, too. :)

High School Poem

2010-08-02T09:57:00.002-07:00

I was looking for a story I wrote back in high school that has always been special to me. Unfortunately, I can't find it. I will keep looking in my stuff. Until then, I found a high school book of poems that we published in 1992. My poem was selected and is found on page 65-66.

My Life and Me

I was conceived and the journey that is my life began
Inside the womb we swam
Together as one, waiting, waiting....

On my birthday I let out a wail announcing our arrival
The world revolved around my new life and me

My life stayed close to me in those early years,
Keeping me content,
Although I never realized it was there

Through childhood I controlled my life
The only way I knew how,
Moment by moment

Then one day, years later,
The hours in a day didn't seem so long,
And summers passed before my eyes....
I knew my life was passing me by

Now, at the age where I know it all,
All I know is that fiver years in time isn't that long anymore
The events of my life are now in control,
Pressing on, leaving me behind
Where are we going? I don't understand.
What about ME, I cry out.

I look forward to another year
I can't wait to see what is in store for me
If I close my eyes and turn around,
It will be gone

Oh, Life!
Why do you run ahead?
Let's go back to where we first began
Remember all the fun we had?
The memories that were made and kept are what keep me going

Yes, I accept that onward is the only way for my life to go
Yet, I find no peace in this understanding.

I was one serious little kid. Don't worry, I'm alot more lighthearted as an adult.
I distinctly remember thinking as a little 7yr old child that I did NOT enjoy being a child. I could not wait to be an adult so people would stop treating me like a kid and let me make up my own mind! Apparently, my control issues began at birth? The thing is, I was right, being an adult is great! I sometimes will have ice cream for dinner just because I can! I'm starting to talk my husband over to my side, too. He still follows certain rules so deeply instilled in him as a child.
Life is too short! Did you read the poem?! Hello!

Now, go eat ice cream for dinner. Or breakfast!

To Colorado and back

2010-07-30T12:58:00.005-07:00

I drove my mom back to Pagosa Springs, Colorado last weekend. It's a long, nine hour drive but the beauty of it makes it go by fast. I love getting home and looking at beautiful photos that I've managed to snap along the way.

Don't the colors just take your breath away?

I guess that's enough pictures. I took a ton more, but these should give you a good idea. I highly recommend taking Hwy 160 from Flagstaff to Pagosa Springs anytime you have a spare 9 hours.

Getting stuff done

2010-07-30T12:44:00.002-07:00

I am. Yes, I am!
Remember when I "exposed" myself on this blog post?

Well, despite life keeping me VERY occupied outside the home, I've still managed to get somethings done.

SEE!

Things are looking better. Still so much to be done but at least this little bit helps.

Back in June....

2010-07-22T15:35:00.004-07:00

I just realized my posts went from camping to baby and I totally left out stuff that happened in June.
I got the matching wedding band to my ring. I love it and wear them all the time now.

Delilah got her hair cut (by me) and that saved money for her to get a new dress. :)

I wanted to capture my feelings of utter panic and apprehension before I went to take my nursing board exam on June 14. SO glad that is over!

Here I am, 30 hours later, calling my family to tell them I AM A RN FINALLY!

I was at work when I found out I passed the boards. I had been checking the website for results about every half hour since I finished my exam. Yes, very ridiculous, but I couldn't help it!

It was the end of the shift and I was exhausted with anxiety. Then the results popped up on my screen (love the droid internet access!). Immediately the room began to spin and I lost all the air in my body. My coworkers cheered me on as I gasped, "Oh, MY GOD! It's over! I'm a RN!" When the feeling came back to my legs, I walked outside to call my husband and cry. You'd think I was waiting to find out if I had cancer or not. I am NOT a fan of anticipation. I can't even watch t.v. or movies that have suspense. It physically hurts me.

In perfect timing, my shift was over and I raced home so we could go out and celebrate! Shrimp lettuce wraps and a martini! It was an awesome moment in time. I couldn't stop smiling.

Here I am at the Cheesecake Factory after taking the exam. I put on my pearls and I tried to drown my anxiety in cheesecake and a martini. I had a horrible feeling that I had failed. It was not a fun time but I tried to think positive.

It has been so fun at work, signing RN after my name. Coworkers have been so great, supportive and excited for me.

At the end of this exciting week, my neice was born. I became a RN and my brother became a DAD on the same week. Long-awaited dreams come true for both of us. His dream will cost him money, my dream makes me money. But we can share, like good siblings do!

Just had to mention what happened...back in June.

exposing myself....

2010-07-22T10:48:00.013-07:00

Clutter.

Some may feel ashamed of such exposure but I do not!

We all have dirty little areas like these (I think, I hope!).

I'm not afraid to show it.

My desire to have these areas of my home to be purged and organized rises above any feelings of shame that these areas actually exist.

Don't get me wrong, my house is mostly CLEAN, but organized and tidy....not so much.
I am just not that kind of person who is overly motivated to keep the perfect house. Couple that with my addiction to shopping and surfing the internet....thus the following evidence.

BUT!

My desire to feel proud and accomplished is deep and needy. I want to feel peace and order when I gaze about my home. And now that : 1)I am out of nursing school (automatic more time, less stress) 2)it's too hot outside to go do anything 3)we want to simplify our lifes so we can travel more....I have more than enough motivation to get some things done!

Halfway through my cup of coffee this morning, I grabbed my camera and took pics of the areas in my house that need purging and returned to their originally intended purposes.

This is what has become of my lovely office table. I don't even really use my "office". I used it some during nursing school. We spend all of our time in the living room. I have "my" chair and my laptop fits nicely on the arm of the big stuffed chair. That's all I need as an "office" these days. What do people do in their offices? Please, tell me. Maybe I'm missing out on some pertinent "office" activities.

Can you tell this cool basket was ment to hold remote controls ? Sort of ?? Shoot, you can't even tell the basket is really cool! :(

This is a shelf in my closet. It's not the most usable space but it's where I stuff items I just don't want to deal with at the moment. If it was clear, the closet would look alot better. I enjoy an organized closet. I've always separated clothes ....long sleeve from short sleeve....dresses from skirts....scrubs have their own section...ect. I MUST have an organized closet! So this shelf is an eyesore.

This is on top of the dresser next to my side of the bed. It's actually out of my view since the dresser is really high. I had to take this pic to really see what was going on up there. It's the closest thing I have to a bedside table so it collects stuff...earplugs, sleep mask, water bottles. It's the only clutter in the room (besides the baskets of clothes awaiting to be hung up in the closet).

This is in my office. Most of this stuff I need to store in the closet or give away. Most of it is stuff from nursing school.

Before you get all excited...this is INSIDE the green cabinet in the dining room. Can you say "catch-all"? There's some really good, important stuff in there. Just don't know where else to put it. This is a project for sure.

This IS sad. This shelf sits right in the entry way of the front door. It's been like this for a long time. Another catch-all area. I can't blame this on anyone but myself. Brian never uses the front door. I'm starting to think we need to have company over more often so I can keep on top of this stuff! Sunscreen, alcohol swabs, dog dress and CD's??? Those are all my hats. I have no idea where else to put them. I love my hats and use them all the time. They may just have to stay there.

Under the living room table. I never touch this stuff except Delilah gets a Cheerio treat sometimes.

I am motivated even more now. I will post new pics after I clean up these areas. Actually, I had one area, the electronics area, cluttered with CD's (even though we have a lovely wood CD cabinet for that!) that I was going to photograph but I ended up cleaning it right away! Dusted, CD's put away. Looks great now. See, I've already started! It feels good already.

Should I have a goal for when this all should be done? Oh, that's asking a bit too much for me right now. I'm not THAT intense! (I wanted to write anal but that's such a rude word).

I'm not too worried. I know myself and that I will get this done ASAP.

Come back in a few days and see my results!

More about Ruthie

2010-07-13T19:08:00.002-07:00

This face just cracks me up. July 5th we went for a stroll at the capitol in Sacramento. Luke and Liliya looking so cute.

I got the honor of going to Ruthie's 2 week doctor's appointment. She looks so much like Luke in this photo. She gained 2 pounds in 2 weeks! That's alot of milk and diapers, let me tell ya! Liliya and I got to spend lots of time together and I will forever cherish that opportunity. I get tears in my eyes just writing this. Liliya is a precious and tender person. Plus, she let me hold Ruthie as much as I wanted....and that was ALOT. Thank you, Liliya! You are my sister!

This is our very first photo together. Taken about 5 minutes after I walked in their house. I am so blessed to have a job and an understanding husband that I can just take a week off from and go be with my brother during this special time. Liliya took this photo on the first try. Isn't it perfect? And I'm very particular about how pictures should look. Looks like we could be at a portrait studio. I thought I was going to miss my husband terribly while I was gone for 5 days but this little baby filled that void. It's great to be home but now I miss the baby terribly! Baby fills husband void but apparently, husband cannot fill baby void. :(

And, one for the grandparents....

2010-07-13T18:29:00.003-07:00

I am so pleased with how these pictures turned out!

This is my dad, Pat, and his wife of 30 years, Nancy.

Awww, sweet grey-haired grandpa, kissing on his grandaughter. :)

Love how he is holding her so tenderly. She is VERY well loved.

They picked me up for breakfast during my week stay at my brother's house.

We had a short but great visit that day.

Happy and Sweet

2010-07-13T17:21:00.004-07:00

Here I am....so happy!

Here is my brother....so sweet!

Here I am again....still happy!

I can't get enough of this kid!

New little love

2010-07-13T16:26:00.002-07:00

My new niece, Ruth Kennedy. She is 2 1/2 weeks old in these pictures. She's PERFECT.

Baby faces are the best!

3 weeks makes a lifetime

2010-06-24T10:51:00.003-07:00

I can't believe it's only been 3 weeks since I last posted.

It feels like a lifetime. Since then, I have: gotten a Droid (don't underestimate how much it rocks my world!), taken the nursing exam, thought I failed the exam, celebrated, found out I passed and was officially a RN, celebrated again, and became an aunt to my beloved brother's firstborn child!

Ruth Kennedy. I can't wait to hold her in just 11 days. Be prepared to see more of her on my blog! Move over, Delilah! Mommy's got a new baby!

I have lots of pics to share from the last few weeks but dont' have them loaded on my laptop right now. More to come. Life has been full and interesting and exciting and disturbing and complicated. I just keep trying to bake and cook and sort through this new season in my life right now. One thing I know for sure, my husband is the BEST.

28 months of marriage and we are still just totally crazy for each other.

More later....

Camping Trip #2 How it went....

2010-06-03T20:25:00.004-07:00

We drove up north to Prescott, AZ. It was at about 5,000 feet.

This is the narrow, steep, dusty, bouncy road we took.

It was hold-your-breath-grip-the-door scary for me.

We had read something online about this road and potential for free dispersed campsites but we knew nothing else. SO GLAD we took the risk because it was the most amazing weekend. And the camping was FREE. We stayed two nights. Here's my view from the hammock. If you listen hard, you can hear the wind blow through the trees.

We took a walk and came upon some little ones who were more than delighted to play with Delilah for 10 minutes. Delilah was awesome with all these little girls! It was just adorable. She ran from one to the other, just as excited as they were.

She also got VERY, VERY dirty. It was a pretty dusty campsite and the wind didn't help things.

But she also got to run through the grass. We let her loose since we had so much space. She did great keeping near us on our walks and it was fun watching her figure out how to navigate water puddles and rocks as we hiked.

We had a HUGE and super private site. We had our first campfire too! It was truely perfect.

Another view looking out from our site. There is a little creek (thus the grass) but it's pretty low. We would love to go back here again but only at this site (#13). We scouted out the rest of the sites and think we got the BEST one. Some good things about this trip: no bugs! and the weather was great (not too cold at night. great breeze during the day. perfect.) And since we have found that most campsites cost around $20/night....FREE was pretty great.

Camping Trip #3 and Things learned

2010-06-03T19:36:00.003-07:00

Two things we have been needing to tackle with the camper...figure out how to get some A/C and empty the tanks.

After having the camper for over a month....I'm trying to not remember how long it's been because that's exactly how long it has been since we've emptied the black tank (think toilet). Last week we finally found a free and convenient place to empty the tanks! And we bought a generator. So we headed up the street about 10 miles to a county park called White Tank Mountain Park. We got there around 3pm and it was so hot, perfect for trying out the generator and testing the A/C. I reclined comfortably in the bed with a book and the puppy while Brian trouble shooted the generator issues. Good news is the A/C works awesome! Bad news is we need some sort of delay switch in the A/C so the generator doesn't shut off (the A/C cycles off for only 10 seconds...not long enough). Yes, I've learned alot about electricity but don't quiz me, okay?

The view was awesome and it was so quiet (besides our generator running, which couldn't be heard by me due to the roar of the A/C inside). There were only 4 other campers in the 40 campsites on Memorial Day weekend. We are now sure this has to do with the BUGS and the HEAT. Just guessing.

This picture does not do it justice. It was beautiful to overlook the city and you could see for about 30 miles. This would be a great place to camp in the winter but just too hot for me right now. There's alot of easy hiking to do in this park and tons of saguaro cactus.

Eventually the bugs went away and the sun went down so we got out of the camper and enjoyed the sights. We stayed up late waiting for the moon to rise. It came up around 9:40pm. I practiced taking night time pics (adjusting my shutter speed, ect). If you don't know, the desert cools off once the sun goes down and it is just awesome outside.

We woke up to .....guess.....BUGS and HEAT!

We packed it up and were home before 10am.

It wasn't a "fun" trip but we learned alot and since it was so close to home, it was easy. I think the highlight was the great hamburgers I cooked. Well, and we were together, that always makes things good. (except when emptying the poop tank for the first time....in 90 degree heat. There isn't alot of love to be had in moments like that! Don't ask. Maybe we will laugh about it one day.)

First thing I did this week was go buy bug spray for "flying insects". We have a spreadsheet going of lists of things we need to take or buy. There's alot of stuff to get started! We like things to be as comfortable as possible so that takes lots of stuff, apparently.

We are taking a couple weekends off since I have limited time to study for my nursing exam. That happens June 14. Once that is behind us, we will off looking for our next adventure.

I am DYING to go to the beach.

Talking pictures

2010-05-24T14:32:00.001-07:00

Delilah talking

The wind talking

Camping Trip #2 How it ended...

2010-05-24T10:52:00.003-07:00

We travelled to Prescott, Arizona last weekend. It's a short drive up north...less than 2 hours, even pulling a travel trailer at below posted speed limits due to strong winds. We decided we wanted to be home around 2pm, to avoid heavy traffic that is known to build up on the only direct northbound freeway out of Phoenix. Well, instead of missing it, we got right in the middle of it.

I think we went about a mile an hour. I don't know, I was busy snapping pictures.

We were so proud of ourselves that we had 1)full tank of gas 2)our own toilet 3)snacks 4) left as early as we did.....and I even relished the idea that we could pull over and I could whip us up a fresh pot of coffee if we needed! All, in all, not a bad way to be stuck in our first official traffic back-up. I'm sure there will be more to come since we plan on travelling alot.

That's how our trip ended....which is way better than how the trip ended for some others. Yikes! It was very windy but I am sure this would never happen to us because Brian is such a safe driver....especially after I told him "DO NOT scare me again like you did that last time!" I think he got the point and we are happily ever after....love on the road.

Delilah Goes Camping

2010-05-11T16:35:00.007-07:00

Well, they took me camping last weekend. I lived to tell about it. Barely.
I don't even weigh 5 pounds yet. Isn't there a minimum weight restriction for this kind of event? There should be.
I mean, I know I'm cute and quiet and adorable, so why'd they have to drag me out of my comfortable home and take me CAMPING?
OMG! I even got sick and threw up before we got settle to our first campsite.

Mom thought it would be great to document my adventure.
Here goes.....

Tied up to my crate, stuck under a picnic table. Is THIS what they call camping?

What is she smiling about? Can you see my ears and tail are down? I'm NOT in the mood for pictures.

I said I didn't want to pose for a pic!

I think I hear something! Stop taking pictures. I may need to go attack. Or hide. Not sure.

I'm mmmeeelllllllting out here! And seem to blend right into the surroundings. I'm the color of dirt and pine needles. Oh, joy.

Here I am at the end of the 3 day/2 night trip. Sometimes I get thrown to the floor of the truck and told to take a nap. It's hard to sleep with all the noise. Plus, I like to check up on mom and dad pretty often. I'm REALLY tired here, my hair is a mess, and you can't imagine all the debris stuck in my paws.

They keep telling my "You'll get used to this, Delilah". Yeah, yeah...we'll see.

Oh, I forgot to mention the kicker....when we got home, mom gave me a BATH!

First Camping Trip Part 1

2010-05-10T10:38:00.003-07:00

We've started something that we definately don't want to......

From my.....

It's a beautiful thing....

But for him, it's alot of.....

My Martha Stewart Moment

2010-04-27T08:07:00.004-07:00

We had family over for a little get-together. I decided to make it a pretty little event.
This is a pretty rose from my MIL's plant.

I used my grandma's dishes that she's had since the 1960's .

I can't believe I didn't get any pictures of all of us together! Well, just imagine chocolate cake, fresh strawberries, coffee, and 6 people sitting at this table. I was wearing purple, if that helps.

I know, I know, the table cloth isn't ironed. But, it wasn't clean either, so.....

Randomness on the Home Front

2010-04-27T07:41:00.002-07:00

Sometimes we need cheese. Yum. I am very proud of my newly organized shoe closet. I'm glad I didn't think to take a before photo, or I would have been obliged to post it and feel the shame. Instead, I just have this wonderful photo of shoe-organization perfection. All is well with my soul.

This is what I call a "close call". This is HOT cream of celery soup and a not quite tight enough blender lid. Could have been ugly. Whew!

The point to this post is just to present evidence that I'm back to my old self!!!

No more school projects, papers, tests. I'm back to enjoying my life and picking up my camera several times a day. Blogging. And a not so rare trip to a store or two. ;)

Egocentric much?

2010-04-21T19:27:00.004-07:00

I want to attend the Minnesota State Fair one day.

I am constantly concerned when the last time was that my dog pooped and if she is about to go again....constantly.

I want to take voice and guitar lessons, just for fun.

I know I have too many shoes and purses but...I don't think I'll ever feel like I have enough purses and shoes.

I lost 7 pounds last year.

I love sweet potatoes and cottage cheese.

I laugh out loud very easily.

I am moved to tears by something almost every day, usually while I'm in my car.

I want to see Hawaii, not just a short visit, but live there for awhile.

I get motion sick super easy. I can feel it by just thinking about it. It's a total bummer.

I love the hospital and being around blood. It excites me!

I wanted to be a social worker or a children's book writer when I was a kid.

I've dyed my hair many colors but never blonde. Maybe someday.

I love mac and cheese.

I like gangsta and mob movies like The Godfather and The Departed.

Ok, enough about me....for now.
Well, it is my life and I'll blog if I want to!

FYI: my dog pooped while I was writing this post.

BABIES! BABIES! BABIES!

2010-04-19T18:07:00.003-07:00

This is where I was last weekend. Well, this isn't EXACTLY where I was but it looks pretty much the same. I found the following photos online since I don't think it's allowed for me to take pictures in the hospital.

Saying I went to the NICU is one thing but actually SHOWING you what the NICU is like, is what I really want to relay.

So when I tell you how completely amazing it is....you can kinda get an idea of what I mean by....AMAZING.

I am finally doing my LONG awaited 90 hour preceptorship at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at St. Joseph's Hospital. I was there last Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (for a total of 36 hours). Getting up at 5am was a bit rough but the thought of being with these babies kept me going.

I got to do and see so much. I started feeling like a real RN.

What did you get to do, Olivia?

I'm glad you asked!

These little guys get a full assessment every 4 or 6 hours. That means writing down 4 different temps, listening to lung and bowel sounds, suctioning their mouths and down their tube if they are on a ventilator, measuring their head, belly and whatever extremity their IV line is on. They get turned to prevent the pancake head that premies are known for, and a diaper change (don't forget to weigh it!). I did lots of medication calculations and gave lots of IV meds and fluids. I put down a feeding tube (orally) and hooked up the breast milk or formula they get via a pump system. Some babies can only tolerate 1/2 cc over an hour! Tiny. Everything is tiny. I did computer charting (very, very detailed assessment of everything a baby does and looks like). I monitored their heart and breathing monitors (especially the babies on ventilators) and reviewed their labs to find out how well their lungs were functioning.

These babies are so sick that there is not alot of holding and feeding going on. I did get the sweet opportunity to feed and hold 2 different babies so that was a treat!

Did I mention staring at tiny fingers and toes and sweet baby expressions all day long?

I know, best job in the world, right!?

I only thought I was obsessed with the NICU before I started, now I know I am.

Unfortunately, there are not many job openings in this area since the economy has really affected all areas of healthcare. Fortunately, I already have a job that I love so I'm in a good place to just keep working and waiting for that perfect opportunity to show itself....in due time...or, as in the premie world...maybe sooner than expected!

Love on the Road Becomes Reality

2010-03-22T14:34:00.004-07:00

We have something to show you.....

We went on a little road trip over the weekend. Delilah's first experience in the car that was longer than 5 minutes. There was panting and shaking until the point of exhaustion. Luckily, she survived, although a bit worse for the wear...can you tell?

She cracks us up. Here she patiently (or reluctantly, not sure which) poses for a photo.

Here she is cursing the bright desert sunshine and dust....longing for her cool house with her cozy blanket.

But that's not what we wanted to show you...THIS IS!

We went away for a relaxing weekend and came home owners of this cute little trailer.

We have been researching like crazy, for months, what will meet our needs and travel goals. So when we wondered into a RV dealership, because that's our new hobby, we couldn't pass up this opportunity. The old owners just moved out of it the same day we were in town. We think we couldn't have gotten a better deal and are super pleased with how everything went. I have 3 more weeks of school and then we can go back to Tucson and pick it up.

It's only 18 feet and that's all we need to make Love on the Road a reality!

That's what I'm calling our adventure.

Love on the Road, because what we have is more than just life...we have LOVE.

Sappy, I know, but it's true! What is life without love?

One of the RV salesman said we have "gypsy blood". SO true! We don't care where we go or when, just as long as we GO. KOA and National Forests, here we come!

Life just got alot more fun!

Thoughts and stuff

2010-03-19T10:21:00.006-07:00

Prepare to be amazed as 4lb puppy leaps with large toy in her mouth!

She's so fun!

Now, on to other things...

Until now, I haven't had the motivation to take time to put into words all that has been going on over the last month. So much going on in my head. I need time to process things. I'm learning so much about myself and the world around me. I will be 35 this year and finally feel like I really am getting "it". Life is something to be learned and lived well. That's what this past year has been about. The upcoming year will be about having fun and enjoying the fruits of our labor...CAN'T WAIT for that part to start.

First let me say that I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. It is only dimmed a bit by the 2 tests, 1 final exam, 4 clinical days, 2 group projects, 2 case studies, and 3 written papers that are all due within the next 3 weeks. Whew! Then I'm home free!

Between now and then, we are getting away for a much needed weekend away from it all. Two nights at a nice hotel, a drive into the mountains, and more RV shopping. We are taking Delilah with us for her first road trip and hotel stay. I told her to not get used to hotel living because soon enough we will be doing all our traveling in this....

We are 95% sure this is the one we want. Alot has to happen (like finish school and get a RN job)before we get it but it sure is fun to look forward to it. Time to start planning our many road trips!! We both just love this little thing. We always like the same stuff, we are just "that couple".

I got my first choice to do my 96 hour preceptorship at St. Joe's Hospital NICU! I start that sometime mid-April. I am SO EXCITED!! I'm already dreaming of babies.

I've been doing ICU clinicals for the last 4 Saturdays. It hasn't been near as exhausting as I expected. It HAS been just as amazing and exciting as I expected. The technology is facinating. I love the intensive care environment. The nurses have been really, really great to work with. I don't really do alot as a student but just being there is better than any lecture or book.

I can't believe I'm almost done with school. It makes my heart race with anticipation.

Life is GREAT. It's Spring time again. The air is warm and the sky is bright blue. My brother and his wife are having a little girl in June. Soon I'll be out of school and free to travel again. My husband says he loves me more and more everyday. My house is a mess and I don't care.

And then there's this little thing that loves to sit in my lap and gaze into my eyes...

That's all for now.

2nd Year of Wedded Bliss

2010-02-11T07:54:00.003-07:00

He did good.
When he went out on Tuesday evening to go buy me a card, I wanted so badly to ask him to not wait until Wednesday to buy me flowers. Since I knew I would be home all day Wednesday, I thought how lovely it would be to have flowers to enjoy all day long. But like a good wife, I held my tongue and let him do it his way, however he felt led. Imagine my joy when he returned home with these!! Turns out that he had the same thought. Just one of the many examples of how easy our marriage is. Things like this happen all the time.

Roses & eukalyptus smell sooooo good!

Here's a little snap-shot of our dinner at P.F. Changs

She's happy. He's happy.

We happy!!!

Two years down, a lifetime more to go.

Not about "Climate Change"

2010-02-11T06:55:00.004-07:00

I'm listening to talk radio as I type up this blog. There's a record breaking blizzard in the northeast and of course, "global warming" is a hot topic right now.
Well, this blog is NOT about global war....er...climate change(?).
And aren't YOU glad about that!?

Now, on to more enjoyable things......
So, I did some cooking the other day.
Just a simple little recipe with just a few simple ingredients......

Ok, ok. I know it looks complicated but it's fun, creative and yummy! Since I first made these a few weeks ago, we eat them every single day. It's great with the morning coffee or as an afternoon snack (with the afternoon coffee). You can't beat these ingredients. Don't forget to keep them stored in the fridge or freezer. I will carry one in my bag all day long when I'm at school so I don't think they are too perishable.

Based on Jo-Ann's Power Bars recipe
on allrecipes.com.

Ingredients
1 cup quick-cooking rolled oats
1/2 cup whole wheat flour-
you could use 1/2 protein powder if you have some.
1/2 cup wheat and barley nugget cereal (e.g. Grape-Nuts™)-
I've also added ground flax seed.
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon-
I always add more and it's still never too much.
1 beaten egg-
I might leave out the yolk next time.
1/4 cup applesauce
1/4 cup honey
3 tablespoons brown sugar -
I use less, depends on the sweetness of the other mix-ins I add.
2 tablespoons vegetable oil-
I don't use oil. I just up the applesauce amount.
1/4 cup unsalted sunflower seeds-
I've also added buckwheat-it's crunchy and high fiber!
1/4 cup chopped walnuts-
or whole almonds is great!
1 (7 ounce) bag chopped dried mixed fruit-
I used fresh shredded coconut, chocolate chips, & chopped dates in the batch pictured below. I've made a batch with big, plump golden raisins, dried pineapple, dried dates and white chocolate chips (and a touch of almond extract)! That batch was so moist! I cut these into bars and freeze them in quart sized bags. We LOVE these! You can't go wrong with this recipe. I've added peanut butter or almond butter and jelly (used less applesauce). Chocolate is a must for us. If you like coconut, it adds wonderful flavor.

Directions
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Line a 9 inch square baking pan with aluminum foil. Spray the foil with cooking spray.
In a large bowl, stir together the oats, flour, cereal, and cinnamon. Add the egg, applesauce, honey, brown sugar, and oil. Mix well. Stir in the sunflower seeds, walnuts, and dried fruit. Spread mixture evenly in the prepared pan.
Bake 30 minutes, or until firm and lightly browned around the edges. Let cool. Use the foil to lift from the pan. Cut into bars or squares, and store in the refrigerator.

I guess I could show them cut up into bars, but I just don't have a picture of that.

Ginger, I hope you make these! :)

Another recipe I'm excited about is
Herbed Butter Crackers.
I never, ever, ever imagined I could make my own crackers!
Then I discovered this wonderful blog, Finding Joy in my Kitchen, that continues to thrill me with each recipe. She even has a recipe to make English Muffins! Hello!

Can you tell I love my breads?

So, I made the recipe and of course had to add stuff because that's just how I cook. Variety is truely the spice of life! Here you can see the ground flax seeds and maybe some sunflower seeds.

They are so yummy! She also has recipes for plain wheat crackers and cheese crackers.
How cool is that?!

Okay, now that I'm full of power bars and crackers, I think I'll go to the gym.

Menu Planning: Take Five

2010-02-08T07:55:00.004-07:00

I post a link to Menu Planning Monday where lots of other bloggers link their blog menu plans. I've found it a great source of menu ideas and started following a few new foodie blogs just on my first visit. Monday: Carmelized chicken, baked zucchini, quinoa. Recipes from allrecipes.com
Tuesday: canned soup or chili, tortilla chips & salsa
Wednesday: Out to dinner for our 2nd Anniversary!!! I'm thinking P.F.Chang's. Lately we've only been going out to dinner to IHOP so this is quite a step up!
Thursday: Crockpot Beef for stir-fry. I think I was gonna make this last week but we had too many leftovers to eat instead.
Friday: Pizza
Saturday: I found these new ravioli at Costco....you want to know what flavor? You are gonna be jealous....Brie and Roasted Garlic Ravioli. I can't wait! Doesn't that sound amazing?

I don't have anything to say about last week's menu. The week just flew by. This week I only have to buy zucchini. Another easy week. Whew!

About something other than food....

2010-02-03T07:56:00.004-07:00

Current coffee table reading material.

Nursing school.
It's not as relaxing to talk about as my cooking adventures.
But I want to tell you all alittle about it.
I'll start with the most important detail.
April 12.
That's when my final is.
Ahhh...I just have to sit and savor that detail. Seriously, I'm sitting here, staring at that sentence and I feel so warm and relaxed when I focus on that one little detail.
Until that date I have about 50 test and assignments to complete. I constantly tell myself,

"One day at a time. One assignment at a time.

You can do this. Just get things done, one thing at a time."

Here's a little excerpt of something I had to do this week. Guess what we are studying?

Disturbed sensory perception: auditory
r/t
auditory hallucinations as evidenced by
pt states “the medicine never makes the voices go away completely.”

Goal:Pt will contract to seek staff assistance at any point the hallucinations become distressing / intrusive to her functioning .

Intervention:
Assess for changes in pt affect, behavior, anxiety or agitation. Maintain an open, supportive and safe nurse-patient relationship to foster pt seeking help. Daily ask the pt directly if she has had or is hearing voices and what she is specifically hearing.

Goal
Pt will daily give a 1-10 scale rating to the level of intensity the voices are to her.

Intervention:Teach how to use the 1-10 scale and allow pt frequent opportunities to use the scale. Teach pt to recognize when medications and interventions are effective in controlling the intensity of intrusive thoughts.

Goal:Pt will verbalize 3 triggers to the hallucinations and 3 ways to avoid those triggers by 2/1.

Intervention:Provide nonthreatening conversation and group process time to assist pt in discovering stressors and needs that may underlie the cause of the hallucinations. Help pt identify ways to decrease stressors that trigger the voices. Help pt define past effective coping mechanisms or discover new ways/activities that are effective in distracting from the voices. Encourage participation in games, music, religious services and craft times.

Goal:Pt will verbalize voices are not distressing or intrusive to her daily functioning by 2/1.

Intervention:Encourage pt’s taking daily antipsychotics and group therapy classes. Monitor pt for possible need to titrate meds or needs for prn’s. Help pt identify when the voices are distressing to her by offering feedback on assessed nonverbal s/sx agitation.
.
Goal:
Pt will verbalize 2 community activities or resources that she can turn to after d/c that will help minimize or avoid triggers to her hallucinations by 2/1.

Intervention:Assist pt with creating a list of the activities/events/resources she has used in the past that have helped reduce/avoid her triggers. Provide 3 community resources/events that pt can utilize after d/c that she has identified as ways to reduce/avoid triggers.

Yeah, I know, it's long. But it's only a fraction of the entire assignment. And, I'm kinda proud. I think I did a good job.

We are studying Critical Care and Psych this semester. Going really in-depth about the heart and the mind. Facinating. I feel challenged and competent and professional. A far cry from how I felt last semester....that would be, um, bored, underminded, powerless, ineffective.

I wish I could put into words the specifics of what I am enjoying learning about right now but I'm still processing the new information so I'd just sound unintelligent if I tried to summarize anything right now. Pretty much, I'm learning how to be a nurse in the ICU and that's pretty cool. I start ICU clinicals at the end of February and will do 12hr shifts every Saturday for 7 weeks. After April 12 I will start a 90 hr preceptorship at a hospital (hopefully in the area I selected-NICU). I will complete that rotation by mid-May and then I'M DONE!

Well, almost.....

I will have to take the RN licensing exam after I graduate. It must be important because it costs $500 to take it!

So much work to be done in just a few short months. I am learning so much about myself through this. Just how strong mentally, emotionally, intellectually am I? What expectations do I have for myself and how do I feel about myself when I don't meet those expectations? I don't have many answers except for one....YES! I'm gonna be SO glad when I am done!

One day at a time.

(now you know why I like to talk about cooking so much)

Menu Planning: Take Four

2010-02-01T06:26:00.005-07:00

Monday: Frozen Ravioli (that's been in the freezer taking up valuable space for months!) with fresh broccoli (that I bought last week so it's really "not so fresh broccoli")

Tuesday: Salsa Meatloaf and instant potatoes

Wednesday: Salmon Patties, boxed mac & cheese, frozen veggies (I get the normandy style mix from Costco. VERY good.)

Thursday: Crockpot beef made into a stir-fry. Costco also has a frozen veggie stir-fry mix that we like.

Friday: Leftovers

Two great things about this week: Brian really helped with coming up with ideas and best of all, I don't need to do any grocery shopping! How lucky was that?

Last week menu went well. We were pleased with the recipes.

Polenta Veggie Bake

Doesn't he look pleased? He even volunteered for the photo.

Okay, he didn't suggest to BE in the photo with the food. That was my idea. He likes my ideas. Right sweetie? Like cutting his hair short like this. My idea. He likes it. We just click like that. Our 2 yr anniversary is this month. Seriously, it's been a piece of cake, being married to this sweet man.

I recommend....

2010-01-27T11:50:00.002-07:00

on those days that you find yourself crawling out of bed at 10:30 am because your husband encouraged you to sleep in because he saw how exhausted you were the night before.....
and then you find yourself lost in 300 news feed updates on Facebook.....only to look up and see that it is almost noon....Well, for those days, I highly recommend having pumpkin chocolate chip pancakes in your freezer......and some of this.

I'm not saying you have to blog about it so that everyone knows how lucky you are to have such a sweet husband that does his very best to not wake you at 5:45am....even though he always depends on you to get his smoothie and sandwich ready for work....but if that did happened to you and you felt so lovingly taken care of because you and your sweet husband had such a blessed life together and you wanted people to know how happy you were with your man...well, I'd recommend you blog about it, too.

Love you, Sweetie!

Getting to know me

2010-01-25T07:52:00.005-07:00

olivia,
Your personality is Choleric Melancholy
Melancholy Strength:5 Weakness:2
18%
Strengths of a MelancholyThe Introvert The Thinker The Pessimist
The Melancholy's Emotions
Deep and thoughtful I hope so!
Analytical
Serious and purposeful oh, yes.
Genius prone
Talented and creative
Artistic or musical
Philosophical and poetic Maybe more than the "average" person. I need to work on this.
appreciative of beauty who isn't?
Sensitive to others yes.
Self-sacrificing to a point.
Conscientious
Idealistic not too much.
The Melancholy At Work
Schedule oriented
Perfectionist, high standards
Detail conscious YES!
Persistent and thorough oh, yes.
Orderly and organized
Neat and tidy
Economical
Sees the problems all the time.
Finds creative solutions absolutely.
Needs to finish what he starts
Likes charts, graphs, figures, lists oh, that's why. I never realized this was related to personality.
The Melancholy As a Friend
Makes friends cautiously
Content to stay in background
Avoids causing attention
Faithful and devoted i like to think so.
Will listen to complaints
Can solve other's problems oh, yes.
Deep concern for other people
Moved to tears with compassion seriously, almost every day.
Seeks ideal mate Description of Personality/Temperament Traits

Weakness of a MelancholyThe Introvert The Thinker The Pessimist
The Melancholy's Emotions
Remembers the negatives
Moody and depressed
Enjoys being hurt huh? no way.
Has false humility nope. i have no humility. :)
Off in another world
Low self-image
Has selective hearing
Self-centered
Too introspective
Guilt feelings
Persecution complex
Tends to hypochondria
The Melancholy At Work
Not people oriented
depressed over imperfections
Chooses difficult work maybe that's why i want to work in the NICU? it suits me.
Hesitant to start projects
Spends too much time planning 100% true!
Prefers analysis to work yep.
Self-deprecating
Hard to please not really.
Standards often to high they are high but i understand if you can't meet them.
Deep need for approval I need it and appreciate it, ALOT. but i can survive without it.
The Melancholy As a Friend
Lives through others that's why I enjoy Facebook so much!
Insecure socially
Withdrawn and remote
critical of others
Holds back affections
Dislikes those in opposition um, yeah, kinda..cause if i can't convince you of my way, what's wrong with you?
Suspicious of people maybe just skeptical...but isn't that being wise?
Antagonistic and vengeful
Unforgiving
Full of contradictions
Skeptical of compliments oh, no. I believe you!

Choleric Strength:10 Weakness:16

65%

Strengths of a CholericThe Extrovert The Doer The Optimist
The Choleric's Emotions
Born leader
Dynamic and active yes but alway room for improvement.
Compulsive need for change not too intense but it's there.
Must correct wrongs yes
Strong-willed and decisive yes!
Unemotional I can be.
Not easily discouraged Discouragement? What is that?
Independent and self sufficient Is there any other way to be?
Exudes confidence see above :)
Can run anything yes, please!
The Choleric As A Parent...or wife, in my case
Exerts sound leadership
Establishes Goals 100%!
Motivates family to action yes, and he is glad about that.
Knows the right answer :) um, usually.
Organizes household 100% word documents, excel documents, calendars, chore lists. that's me.

The Choleric As a Friend
Has little need for friends little need doesn't mean no need.
Will work for group activity
Will lead and organize
Is usually right
Excels in emergencies
The Choleric At Work
Goal oriented
Sees the whole picture 100%! that came up in my personal evals!
Organizes well of course.
Seeks practical solutions
Moves quickly to action yep!
Delegates work yep!
Insists on production and I help in making things happen too.
Makes the goal
Stimulates activity
Thrives on opposition

Weaknesses of a CholericThe Extrovert The Doer The Optimist
The Choleric's Emotions
Bossy I may have heard that before...starting from when I was 8 yrs old.
Impatient
Quick-tempered
Can't Relax nope. I can relax. I just need to be doing something while I'm relaxing.
Too impetuous
Enjoys controversy and arguments not really.
Won't give up when loosing
Comes on too strong
Inflexible
Is not complimentary I try to work on this one.
Dislikes tears and emotions depends....can I help fix the problem?
Is unsympathetic
The Choleric As A Parent ...or wife and puppy parent, in my case.
Tends to over dominate
Too busy for family
Gives answers too quickly
Impatient with poor performance
Won't let children relax
May send them into depression
The Choleric At Work
Little tolerance for mistakes yes! i have to bite my tongue!
Doesn't analyze details
Bored by trivia YES!! Just the FACTS, please.
May make rash decisions
May be rude or tactless some people are so sensitive.
Manipulates people
Demanding of others
End justifies the means
Demands loyalty in the ranks
The Choleric As a Friend
Tends to use people
Dominates others
Knows everything
Decides for others
Can do everything better
Is too independent
Possessive of friends and mate
Can't say, "I'm Sorry"
May be right, but unpopular

I think being a nurse and being in school has really brought out certain coping skills? I really wish I was less of the above and more of the below

Phlegmatic Strength:3 Weakness:1 10%

Sanguine Strength:2 Weakness:1 8%

These are barely worth mentioning since it makes up so little part of my personality but I used to be way more Phlegmatic and Sanguine. I guess I've lost some of that nice, easygoing, low-key, balanced element.

But I guess I am what I am. I just REALLY need to work on being NICE. Great goal, huh?

"Let's try to be nice today, Olivia. Ok? Can you do that?"

My personality type tends to rub people the wrong way. I know it. I regret it and it hurts sometimes. But it seems my inner confidence and self-assurance keeps it from hurting too much for too long. And, apparently, I "thrive on opposition". Yikes. That can't be good.

Any Cholerics out there that can relate?

If you'd like to get to know yourself a bit better, go to this website.

Menu Planning: Take Three

2010-01-24T19:22:00.002-07:00

A little update on the past week...because it's important to know that things don't always go as planned but they work out. (I'm talking to myself here. But you can listen.)

Crockpot Broccoli Beef was amazing. YOU MUST get this woman's cookbook!

I didn't make the Salmon soup on Tuesday but there was extra spaghetti sauce that I cooked up to freeze. So Brian had spaghetti and salad. He passed on the strawberries with the honey-basalmic dressing. More for me! I had tons of amazing salad with avocado, strawberries and red bell pepper. That helped me resist the temptation to order Indian Fry Bread at work with everyone else. Well, they were nice enough to give me a bite to taste since I couldn't stop exclaiming HOW GOOD their food smelled. But I ate all my salad. Go me.

The coconut beef wasn't so great. Great ingredients but I think maybe because I used lite coconut milk? Curried red potatoes? Let's just say there's lots leftover in the fridge....4 days later. I like the idea of Indian food more than I like the actual flavors. Oh, well.

Here's the plan this week:
Sunday: Salmon stew. Roasted brussel sprouts.
Monday: Polenta veggie bake from allrecipes.com
Tuesday: Chicken and yellow rice casserole from allrecipies.com I will make this on Monday since I work on Tuesday.
Wednesday: Frozen Salmon patties, boxed mac & cheese, frozen veggies. This is a stand-by meal. I'm trying to make myself take it easy some nights. I may end up working so Brian will undoubtedly have something out of a can. :)
Thursday: I don't know how to explain this recipe...I'm making something out of something that I made that didn't really make anything at that time. The ingredients are in my freezer. Rice, hamburger, diced tomatoes, & black beans. I will configure that with flour tortillas, enchilada sauce, cheese...ect. Honestly, I have bags of this stuff in my freezer that I need to use. And I need to learn my lesson to not just cook for the sake of cooking! That seems to only complicate things and fill up my freezer and leave me in a quandry.
Friday: PIZZA Friday!
Saturday: We shall see because there's just some days you cannot anticipate how things are gonna go down.

Of course, I bought some broccoli today since it was on sale. I already had the menu plan done sans broccoli. Why did I do that? I guess I'll fit some in our meals somewhere. Stay tuned to find out how!
(how long is broccoli good for?)

Now that I've done this menu planning thing for just a few weeks, I'm starting to think...how did I ever manage before?

Now I'm going to give all my attention to the football game...in overtime! Go Vikings!

Menu Planning: Take two

2010-01-18T07:16:00.002-07:00

Last week went very well.

We ate well and I had good meals to take to work with me on Tuesday and Wednesday. Usually I just grab some cottage cheese, protein bar, and whatever I spy in the pantry and then supplement that with extra trays at work. Needless to say, I ate like a normal person this week and it was good. I'm especially pleased that almost NO food went to waste. (Just a half of potato. And I made extra on purpose.)
I didn't make the scheduled Thursday chicken dish. Mostly because I wasn't sold on what chicken breast recipe to use and I know Brian prefers Mexican dishes. So I made Crockpot Tamale Pie. We ate it all weekend. It was good.

I started to work on week two during the past week. I had everything planned out and got groceries on Sunday. Then I up and did what I always do and now I'm left with a mess to clean up. Yes, the kitchen is a mess. I dare say, there's not a clean spoon or tupperware available. I made several batches of a granola power bar concoction and a huge batch of black beans. I will freeze the beans in 2 cup baggies to use instead of canned beans. I thought since I have them ready, I should make a black bean based meal. Despite my well planned out menu (which nowhere includes black beans) and specifically chosen and purchased produce...I just had to make something off the menu. Now I'm stuck with this black bean and rice and tomato dish. Sounds good but I was planning on using up the not so fresh broccoli on Monday and then the just ripe and ready strawberries and avocado on Tuesday...you see? This dish throws off everything I've worked so hard for. I guess I'm allowed to make a mistake. I've tried to fit it into the menu but it's just not working. So I'm gonna cook up some hamburger (that I took out of the freezer yesterday....I don't know why...cause bell peppers where a great price? Ugg! I'm making more problems than I'm fixing.)....anyway, I'll cook up the hamburger, mix it with the beans and rice and then throw it back into the freezer. I know, you aren't supposed to freeze things multiple times. Sometimes I can't help it. I rest assured that Brian will gladly eat it when I'm not home to cook something. He's good like that.

Okay, now that problem is resolved, I can go on to my gorgeous menu plan for this week.
(I will add pictures as they come available. Haha...that sounds so formal...you know what I mean...I've gotta cook the stuff first! Duh.)

Monday: Crockpot Broccoli beef with brown rice
Tuesday: (I will cook on Monday since I work on Tuesday and I think the flavors will be even better the next day) Salmon soup and strawberry-avocado salad (with dill! yum!)
I'm really excited about this meal. The salad has some special honey type dressing. I can't wait to make it. And I've heard avocado and strawberries go great together but I've never experienced that before! So excited!
Wednesday: Crockpot Coconut beef with crockpot tomato curried red potatoes (with fresh ginger! yum, again!)
Thursday: Crockpot Chicken and brown rice casserole. This will make good leftovers for Friday or Saturday.
Friday: Free-for-all. I have my first day of all day lectures at school so I may just feel like I deserve to go out to dinner. Don't you think I deserve that? ;)
Saturday: leftovers in the freezer. There's meatloaf or broccoli cheese soup. He's not gonna starve and I'll be at the hospital for 12 hrs. Some hospitals have great and cheap salad bars. Is it lame that I'm looking forward to that?

It's almost 8 am and still dark outside.
Oh, it's called cloudy. This week the weather is supposed to be ....what's it called...rainy? The ground is moist right now and there is something dripping from the roof but I wouldn't say it's raining just yet. I told myself at 7 am that I couldn't start studying until it got brighter outside. I guess I can't use that excuse this week or I won't get anything done. I need to start reading my Critical Care and Psych books and lectures like, NOW.

If you were thinking that I'd really rather go cook, you'd be right!
Alas, cooking may make my husband happy but it don't pay the bills.

Menu Planning: Take one

2010-01-10T13:40:00.005-07:00

Since life is about to get hectic again (school starting this week), I feel the need to get ahead of the game.

I have seen many people blog that they do menu planning and I just never 'got it'.
How do you know what you will feel like eating next Thursday?

That's pretty much a symptom of how I do things. Or better said, it's a symptom of how I let my emotions rule things in my life.

With the building stress and anxiety of the craziness of school upon me, I am in survival mode and that means I need to get CONTROL of whatever I can right now. Lord knows that I can't control ANYTHING related to nursing school. But I can control what happens at home.

That being said, I am SO feeling this menu planning thing this week!

We sat down on Saturday and tossed around some meal ideas (he just agreed with me. Good job, husband!). Then I picked up the things I needed for the recipes. Then I had to strategize what to make and when because I work on Tuesday and Wednesday so I am not home for dinner. I get home around 8pm those nights. I will prepare those meals on Monday as Brian assures me he can boil the noodles. :)

According to the football on the tv...it's Sunday now. I have the crockpot going with Creamy Beef over noodles. And I'm loving this feeling of planning ahead and have started an Excel spreadsheet of ingredients I have on hand and potential meal ideas. And I'm browsing blogs I follow and my recipe box on allrecipes.com for ideas. Getting a bit OCD about it all but I'm glad I have the time right now to get things in order.

Here's my plan for the week. I am using lots of recipes from my new favorite cookbook...Make if fast, cook it slow. I bought it after enjoying her blog.

Sunday- Creamy beef over noodles with fresh green beans.

Monday-Buffalo chicken tenders (frozen item, thank you very much!), crockpot garlic baked potatoes, crockpot broccoli with toasted garlic and hazelnuts.

How good does this look? Can't go wrong with lots of garlic and melted butter and olive oil. Right?

Tuesday-crockpot basalmic chicken thighs with spring veggies (squash, zucchini, red onion) and quinoa. (edited: didn't care for this straight out of the crockpot but it was really good the second day. I'm keeping that in mind for more recipes in the future.)
Wednesday - spaghetti (I already made the meat sauce and it's in the freezer). I'll add some yellow squash to the sauce since I have some in the house to use.

Thursday-chicken breast (haven't decided how I will cook these), instant mashed potatoes (don't judge. these are great! only ingredients are potatoes and butter..nothing artificial.) and crockpot sweet and sour caramelized onions (with raisins and pine nuts. sounds interesting. I can't wait to try it.)

Friday- Brian's favorite day, we order pizza. I like this day too. No cooking or cleaning. Oh, I like pizza too, don't get me wrong. I just really like the no cooking/cleaning part. Especially since I have school all day long on Fridays.

Saturday-he's on his own. That probably means it's mac & cheese day in our house. I have clinicals all day and am totally worthless. I could use this as a day to go out to dinner but I'm usually even too tired to go out. Unless it's to IHOP. We could go to IHOP.

Another thing I'm excited about is that I'm buying produce with an actual plan to use it. That's a novel idea for me. Usually I just grab veggies and hope I feel like cooking it ....eventually.

I can't get enough of this....

2010-01-03T11:24:00.004-07:00

Can you blame me?

Winter Wonderland...Phoenix style

2010-01-03T09:50:00.003-07:00

2009 in review brought to you by my Facebook status updates

2010-01-02T11:19:00.002-07:00

This is really long. I don't expect anyone to read it but I do expect I'll get a kick out of this in a few years.

january
is going to get the house back in order and upload the holiday pics.
is watching 2 football games in a row. Goes great with pizza and merlot.
is rearranging the living room on a rainy Sunday.
is wondering if everyone is ready to get back to life, back to reality?
is trying to start good habits.
likes it when my fb friends comment on their fb friends pics, then i can go look at pics of people i don't know. i love that. keep it up.
just unloaded hundreds of pounds of grocery goods from Costco, all by my wee self!
is planning our 1yr anniversary trip...so fun!
has the hiccups while trying to leave a voice mail...not funny.
is coming up for a breath after being lost in the land of "Very cool married women with adorable children & artsy blogs"
can be found at http://omgigotablog09.blogspot.com/
can't find receipts so I can get reimbursed...alot of money. Yikes!
is not thrilled it's already 77degrees outside.
is facinated with the blogging world. Let me know if YOU have one. i'm at www.omgigotablog09.blogspot.com
made steak, eggs, potatoes with lots of garlic and cilantro for Sunday breakfast. Where's the maid to clean-up the mess?
watching the Cardinal's in the PLAYOFFS!
excited we are going to the SUPERBOWL! WOW!
is the only person on FB that didn't watch Lost and probably never will.
needs to get organized. Seriously!
is wondering what the heck happened to all my wall posts?!
is enjoying this gorgeous day!!!
is still in my pj's, playing on the computer while hubby is hard at work outside. Nice.
is beyond tired from yard work!
is busy this week.
is appaulled at what's going on in politics right now!! (too much talk radio for me today)
is sooooo excited about the Super Bowl today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
is still proud. It was a close game. But all the penalties! Come on!
is going to have a wonderful day.
is puzzled. We can clone animals and organs, created the internet, but not a hairspray bottle that doesn't clog?
is going "camping" and it might "snow"! Yikes!
is long day. Hot shower. Lavender lotion. Red Wine. ZZzzzzzz.
is not camping in the snow. Got a cabin w/fireplace! Bring on the snow!
is smiling. It's our anniversary today.
needs to get busy.
is lovin a clean house.
is smiling. Vodka-pineapple cranberry juice-smiling. Heehee.
is doing a whole lot of NOTHING today.
is smelling roses, tasting chocolate. Went to see "Just not that into you" and glad he IS into me. :)
is enjoying hot 6-grain rolled oats w/cranberries & brown sugar.
is listening to Obama on the radio, he's in town. I feel physical pain but morally obliged.
is Top Ramen & oranges for lunch.
is relaxing today. Still getting stuff done, but not stressing. It's FRIDAY.

is addicted to conservative talk radio!!!!
doesn't want to go to school today!! BooHoo! But I skipped last week already. Grr!
is stuffed on Tempura Shrimp. Too much of a good thing.
is wondering if I have time in my life for twittering and texting.
March
ate chicken noodle casserole for breakfast. No room for coffee now!
anxious to see the lemon blossoms blossom!
made chocolate muffins and got 2 cuts on my left hand?? I'm not even left-handed!
not liking the heavy feeling in my lungs...I will not get sick. I will not get sick!
is happy the clouds are finally gone. Was feeling like Houston around here. Blue skies are back!
is an auburn/red-head again.
is enjoying a homemade martini & my husband on this Wednesday night.
enjoying having a DVR
is getting proficient at reading the many blogs and FB updates. Now, back to MY life.
all mom's must see this:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESe-AysF9mw
needs to get some work done but loving this VERY warm weather!
tempura shrimp and a snakebite (guinness & pear cider). YUM!
loves Friday with the weekend OFF.
loves cleaning the kitchen before breakfast AND after breakfast. whipee!
Another beautiful day in paradise!
got a twitter account. now what? @aivilo75 (that's my name backwards)
April
i know, i know...we are all WAY excited about the stimulus money coming to our paychecks. what are you going to spend it on?
those who have cell phone plans w/internet access...love it? hate it? worth the $$? i'm looking for some input here.
can't wait for it to warm up just a bit more so i can start wearing all my summer dresses. bring it on! turn on the oven, phoenix!
looking forward to a lovely 3 day weekend with my sweet husband.
new posts on my blog: http://www.omgigotablog09.blogspot.com/
taking road trip in may. any tips re: Mason City, IA or N. Platte, NE. we are driving north thru Colorado. looking for places to stay, something to see or do along the way.
has COLD hands and feet right now. It better warm up today! Going to the County Fair w/my sister. Not expecting much..but it's free.
can only smile and laugh to myself about the weather you Texans are having. It's 76degrees. Blue skies & cool breeze here. You could be here in 3 hrs...if you could get a flight or a boat out of there. Hahahaha!
Another perfect day. Time to tackle household chores & bake zucchini bread.
is researching smartphones and cell/data plans. t-8 days till i get hooked up!
you wanna know what's on my mind right now? http://omgigotablog09.blogspot.com/
sipping almond breeze w/instant coffee. i'm officially weird.
join me on twitter. @aivilo75
dang! so many people on FB are sick. bummer status day today.
hey, H-town people, it's scary weather here in Az too! there's these huge things darkening the sky...clouds..so nervous. oh, wait, they are gone now. hehe!
is gonna have a great day, despite my sinuses!
feel like crap but off to upgrade my cell phone, that should help!
hooked up with the web&touch screen LG Vu...love it!
surfin the web while hangin @ the hospital w/grandma. this is livin!
in bed & surfing the web. would b perfect if i wasn't also sick. :(
May
after a week of not feeling well...so much to do! i might get a whole lot of nothing done today.
researching what to do in Chicago in 2 weeks. any suggestions? i've never been there.
black bean, sweet potato, chicken curry? cross your fingers.
4 words: grapefruit juice and vodka! ok, i'm a girl, i need more words...yummy, beautiful, fresh squeezed ruby red grapefruit juice and vodka with frozen grapefruit juice ice cubes. beautiful & delicious. enough said. need i say more?
I'm not going to remind you that it's Monday.
should be cooking dinner but to distracted by commenting on FB!
homemade cashew chicken success!
so freakin excited about my 2 week road trip!
road trip so far: rain, nebraska, rain, iowa, rain, chicago, blue skies, rain...
had such a tasty dinner tonite! great, new restaurants rock!
college graduation ceremonies are sooooo.....you know.
why am i so excited to see wisconsin & minneapolis & mt. rushmore? i feel like i'm in 8th grade or something!
another night in a hotel & another night of hotel HGTV! loving South Dakota, finally able to do laundry. whew!
denver is a mile high? for reals? since i can barely breathe, i believe it.
i'm up way too early. at least my french press & honey make it worth being awake.
glad to be back to the normal routine of life and read blogs, fb, & twitter to catch up on everyone else!
going out with the girls tonite! it's been years. that's sad. so looking forward to it!
figured out how to update my status by sending text msg from my phone. way easier!
enjoying the most crisp (or is it crispest?) red seedless grapes ever!
still smiling from the fun time i had last night w/coworkers...shoot, i should just call it...my girlfriends!
whew! how did it become that there is SO much housework to do?
stuffed from a damn good taco salad that i made. if i do say so myself!
might actually get around to watching the 24 season finale...finally!
June
ok, maybe we'll watch 24 tonight! cross my fingers.
husband is making me watch this farce of a show Earth 2100...torture! pure torture!
anyone have advice on what kind of budget works for them and how to jump into the whole budget lifestyle? kicking and screaming.
got my first gym workout with the new membership. there's flatscreens on every eliptical (my cardio machine of choice) but too high for me to see it! :( boooo!
i gave up twitter today. it was like volunteering to be ignored by alot of people you don't know. at least on FB, i am ignored by people i actually know.
going to a movie on a friday nite! yahoo! it's star trek so i can't get too excited. i'm definately getting popcorn...AND a coke!
star trek is a GREAT movie! and i don't even like star trek. very well done. smart & funny.
so much on my mind. so much up in the air. so much barely holding together. so much for my sanity.
up early. comment on FB photos. work out. paint nails bright orange. visit Grandma in hospital. go to Costco for lunchmeat. life of the underemployed housewife. (notice there is no cleaning on the agenda. i make my own schedule)
surely i'm not the only person to let the rice boil over while distracted by FB?
flat screen t.v. with TLC & HGTV on every eliptical machine. the only thing motivating enough to get me to the gym some days.
is turning on talk radio again. (the depression abated and now i'm back for more, i guess)
robert mondavi chardonnay....this weekend just got better.
pizza.
sitting around just conversing w/the husband. can't beat it.
plans for the day keep changing as hours pass and nothing gets done. that ever happen to you?
listened to dr. laura today. wow. she can call it!
i have a 25# bag of rice in my living room. curse you, costco!
getting the hang of routine gym workouts. yay me! (honestly, i go just so i can watch TLC & HGTV for 1/2 hr...wish i had the stamina for an entire hour of tv...er, i mean, exercise.
went to the eye dr. then came home and dusted my house. coincidence?
has things to do...i should really get moving...right about now...any moment now....
dang, FB peeps, you did alot of status updates over the last 24hrs. i'm kinda jealous of all those going to or at the beach. i guess it's summer! rock on!!
my baby sister turned 20 today. she's like a total freakin adult now. i can't believe it.
i got in the nursing program!! i'll be a RN by next May! Halleluia!
Just worked 50hrs in 4 days. whew! this is no way to live. glad to see i still have my sanity & glad to see the weekend! ~olivia
108 degrees...I welcome you, with tank top & sunscreen, I welcome you.
hope i am more productive today than yesterday...or not...whatever.
boring day at work. imagine that! still, i luv my job.
coffee & left over pizza...mmmm, good!
saw the use of "pete's sake" twice on FB status/comments today so far. weird.
July
finally got my nursing program info and ready, set....GO! school starts this wednesday!! yipee!
freaking out. i want to make dinner and allrecipes.com is lost in the web of the web. seriously. how can that be?!
taking my CPR class on the 4th of July because saving someone's life is very patriotic.
my future starts this week. already dreaming of my future job, future new car, future new house....SO EXCITED!
sunday menu: turkey chili & pineapple upside down cake. yes, the house smells amaaaaazing!
must finish all the brie cheese so i will stop eating it!
went to work out then came home so ravenous that i probably ate 3x's amount of calories that i burned.
listening to Dennis Prager. i love him.
love leftover chinese. not loving MJ tribute on every tv at work. puleeze!
going to nursing school orientation today...finally. this has been 8 yrs in the making!
whew! that wasn't orientation...that was full on SCHOOL! wasn't planning on using the brain today. got a lecture on fetal monitoring and a headache...oh, and a 50lb textbook (actually only 10 but feels like 50 when walking in 110 degree heat).
going shopping for school supplies. fun!
watch the last DVD of John Adams (2hrs) or read the TEN chapters assigned...hmmmm...decisions, decisions...
iced coffee & smoked turkey fatfree hotdog in a multigrain tortilla...breakfast of champions.
tired and still so much to do...things are starting to look blurry but that's no excuse to stop.
Up early on a Saturday morning to start studying because this is my life now.
watchin' TMZ. don't judge. you know you do it too.
Sunday 10:45am:breakfast done, kitchen cleaned & mopped, weeds pulled, dressed & ready to go do something...wow, i almost don't recognize my life these days!
apple, soft ginger cookie, & peanut butter filled pretzel bites. YUM!
loves summer fruit! current faves crisp, sweet blueberries & juicy nectarines!
making spice cake muffins with sauteed cinnamon & ginger apples.
watched a most socially demoralizing show on Bravo "NYC Prep". rich teens living in NYC pretending to live adult lives. sick & sad. worst i've ever seen...and i've watched plenty of "real world".
got warm fuzzies from finally seeing a picture of Kim Symms and her baby bump! i love pregnant people.
it was 115 degrees here this week. cools off in the evening to about 100 so we can sit outside with the misters on. i vacillate between "i'm gonna die of heat stroke right now" to "i love it here & wouldn't trade this for anything"
friday night is costco pizza night. they have the best cheeeeeesiest pizza! it's a good night.
while i enjoy nursing school, i do not enjoy learning all the risks & leading causes of maternal & fetal death considering all the dear friends i know who are pregnant. not fun.
watching cooking show after cooking show after cooking show after cooking show after cooking show. very content.
it's sunday and we actually have plans & commitments. we usually avoid those at all cost. feeling neutral about i all right now. time will tell if we enjoy the land of adult plans & commitments.
locked my keys in my car today. oh, joy.
it's monday. sent the big man off to work while the little wife stays home to do laundry and wait for his return.
why does almost every single freakin headband give me a headache?!
memories of the rain last night are dancing in my head.
hanging out in the ICU with grandma. sucks.
not a good day. beyond tired & stressed. glad this isn't my norm!
So happy for my two friends getting married tomorrow. Congrats to Heather and Donna! I wish you both an amazing time tomorrow (night)!!!! ;) May your marriages be all the love and happiness that you deserve.
watching youtube labor and delivery videos to prepare for my first test tomorrow. sleep would help too.
6am Saturday. coffee is on cause i got to get my study on!
looking for L&D stories to enhance my learning. message me with your labor story, especially if there were any complications. i'm not being nosey, just really need to learn this stuff and i know LOTs of you have had babies and lived to tell about it. :)
gonna make crock pot yogurt. don't be jealous!
writing a blog update. i know you can't wait!
bought 4 different kinds of chocolate today. totally not premeditated. i swear! first discovery..Riesen. yum!
dammit! the sugar ants are back! don't they know it's 110 degrees outside and they should stay underground? oh, maybe that's why they are coming inside.
discovered southern comfort last night. great! woke up vomitting this morning. not great! all things in moderation!!!!!
actually going to work today! see ya in 13 hours.
making more homemade yogurt. also a spinach, peach, grape, banana smoothie. i'm getting weirder and weirder every day.
much as i love babies, i am SO not into studying newborn assessment & complications. why don't i care? so weird.
had a great nights sleep! thanks for asking.
Goodbye July! (don't let the door hit you in the a** on the way out!)
August
up at 6:15am on Saturday because i'm just so very....behind on my studying. french press coffee, here i come.
i heart havarti cheese.
made the most amazing mac&cheese. with monterey jack & havarti cheese. way too good. made a ton of it too. now, off to work out!
going to whole foods...praying i don't spend too much!
being a hospice nurse at home for the cat who looks like today might be the day. :(
i am not going to complain about how HOT it is here. i am NOT going to complain about HOW FREAKING HOT it is here.
making a homemade chocolate birthday cake for my husband!
still miserable from a glutaneous birthday dinner at the yardhouse last night. thanks for the bday wishes to my husband!
housework on sunday!? how did i get started? this is supposed to be my day off!
my brother is officially engaged to be married! yeah!
we are having a girl! ......puppy, that is!
another week, another kitty dying in our house. bummer.
had an awesome work out and felt great! now i have a headache and nauseated. guess i over-did it! blah!
another weekend, another chance to go to school and learn more. loving my life! (my nursing program is friday & saturday).
recession is coming to an end but forclosures increased, consumer spending decreased, & unemployment increased? interesting calculations people. btw, i have some ocean front property here in arizona to sell ya.
drank hemp milk today...no munchies. it was good!
want a treat? try Raw Honey. it's amazing!
spinach & peach smoothie. intense work out. fresh avocado, tomato and cilantro. all by 9:30am. it's gonna be a GREAT day!
mom is coming over...got to clean the kitchen and bathroom floors!
ending the day with fat free frozen yogurt and dark chocolate hershey's syrup. yummy!
is back to my natural mocha hair color...would be natural if it wasn't actually hair color in a bottle...if i was patient enough to let it grow out on its own. like i said, i'm a brunette again!
i drive 50 miles, roundtrip, in 105 degrees, to shop at Whole Foods because...i have a food fetish (thanks mischawn!)
it rained...it POURED last night! we watched the storm from inside the garage. it was awesome but very short lasting. in houston, it would pour like that all night long, here, it's about 20 min. was so exciting, i didn't even get pics!
is getting a new SUPER DUPER blender today! bring on the green smoothies! oh, to finally have a blender that can actually blend a banana thoroughly!
veggies (red bell pepper, tomato, hummus) for dinner, ice cream (really it's ff frozen yogurt) and chocolate sauce w/whip cream for dessert. that sounds about right!
woke up bright and shiney and energetic at 5am today! now it's 1pm, not so much. :(
if you don't listen to Dennis Prager, you are missing out on one of the most wonderful, life-enhancing, endearing men alive. www.dennisprager.com
it's soooo hot outside! 112 today. 10 degrees above normal. yuck. i'm so ready for the coolness of 103 again, like we had last week.
going to meet my puppy today!
lost another diamond from my ring!! that makes 4 in less than 2 yrs. having serious issues w/the quality. white gold constantly needs redipped, they just had it for 3 months! the shop says i can only trade UP and they don't replace. i don't want a bigger ring! anyone know how i can deal w/this?
apparently the ring need to go to one last place where they decide if it totally needs to be "remade" or if it's not fixable and should be replaced. "we are going to fix this situation for you" is what i was told. along with "fine jewlery is high maintenance". yeah, whatever.
September
bought a cute pale blue dog carrier/kennel and a super cute green polka dot dog bed. adorable!
listening to Dr. Laura makes it so hard to concentrate on studying! but i'll try my hardest.
my brother is getting married sept. 25 at lake tahoe, NV. he is bringing his soon to be family to town this weekend to meet us. so happy!
loves my new sister and niece!
going to bed. the weekend is over. goodnight. see ya's later!
long, boring, slow day at work. TGFI...thank goodness for internet!
time to get serious. right about now.
my blogger dashboard says i'm not following any blogs!!! omg! where are the 30 blogs i follow???
whew! it's ok. calm down everyone. my blogs are showing now. i almost had a meltdown within about 15 seconds. it's all good now.
it is so lovely outside this morning!
studying child growth and development. so sweet. i kinda like this subject!
i have to get a new wedding ring. i think we've picked one out. i'm out of love with my original ring after all the issues over the last 1.5yrs, so i'm okay and i'm ready to move on with a new one. the store is being great about it!
i got a VitaMix! i feel like the luckiest girl alive!!! yipee!
oh, i ment to say, i got a new wedding ring that is FABULOUS and a VitaMix. it's been a GREAT day for me! i love my husband!
worked 2 days in a row. i'm done with that for the week! now on to school and house work. hmm...it never ends.
is blogging. should be studying. nope, not a bit of self-control, thank you, very much!
just watched a little program about Mother Theresa. wow.
raspberry, peach, lime, kale Smoothie!!
just made some avocado, cucumber, yellow pepper seaweed rolls. (can't call it sushi or california rolls since there's no fish in it) yum!
is FOOTBALL. all.day.long.
puppy is freaked out a bit by our morning routine. i thought we were quiet, i don't like noise in the morning. she feels otherwise and raises the decibel level a bit.
after an hour of off and on puppy screaming and my patient positive reassurance...she's finally asleep in the crate! whew!
my house is a mess! i blame it on having a new puppy. i only have so much energy and attention.
87 outside at 8pm....windows down for the first time in forever. the greatest weather in the world is BACK!
my brother gets married tomorrow. i get another sister! i love all these sisters in my life now. love you, Faith, Lynn, and Liliya!
today:phoenix, salt lake city, reno then finally sacramento...in the next 18hrs. should be fun.
today is no different than yesterday, yet it's better. how is that?
off to school then off to california! see ya later!
is back home after a sweet weekend with the family for my brother's wedding. great trip, great to be home.
Birthday Sushi Day!!!
just saw Julie & Julia....LOVE that movie! even Brian liked it. what a great, clean, adult movie.
thanks for all the birthday love. it felt like a saturday with my husband hanging out all day with me...going to lunch and a movie. very sweet start to a great year ahead.
studying....opithotomos, macewen sign, ptosis, tonic neck, basilar fracture, pyramidal tract, osmotic diuretic ....zzzzzzzzzzzz.... need COFFEE!
making lemon cupcakes w/vanilla frosting...got to get rid of the boxed stuff in the pantry before i start using my Martha Stewart CUPCAKES! (emphasis mine) book that i got for my birthday.
floods in the philipines, tsunami in the somoas, earthquake in indonesia....wow.
does it always take forever to upload youtube video? my first time...taking about 10 min for a 1min video.
October
good morning 6:30am cup-o-coffee!
dear government, don't you dare make flu shots mandatory for healthcare workers. i don't like needles and i never get the flu so leave me alone!
my puppy is biting her tail and makes herself scream in pain. wonder when she's gonna figure that one out!
has cream cheese, eggs, molasses, 2 types brown sugar, 2 types flour, butter, sour cream, buttermilk, vanilla extract, peppermint extract, semisweet chocolate chips, food color, sprinkles, Martha Stewart Cupcake book....now all i need is some TIME! the one thing i couldn't pick up at walmart.
loves dreaming about the future....(i try to avoid thoughts of the government and war and healthcare, obviously!)
coffee at 6pm = still awake at 10:45pm
just another WINDY Sunday!
enjoyed the amazing, huge, awesome full moon tonight!
up late, again. yes, 10:20pm is LATE for me. too much nursing mumbo-jumbo floating through my head! aaaahhh!!!
when i see "nom nom" it makes me want to gag. yeah, it's kinda cute but still ...gag.
great day so far...puppy barely whined and i finally get time to get my hair cut & colored, and make cupcakes!
hello wednesday. hello 83 degrees. hello blue skies. my friends, if you don't live here, you should!
costco dollar exchange system: $200=1,127lbs
why is it so freakin hard to find where to change your password on yahoo??????
being a proper fur-baby parent is so hard sometimes. i know this will pay off in a well-adjusted, well-behaved dog....but GOSH...so hard to be the strict parents! don't know how human-baby parents do it!
i agree with you, mr. president, you don't deserve it.
i'm studying. go, me!
going to take my final right now. pray for me!!!!!
trying to watch the cards/texan game but the signal keeps dropping. come on!!!
cards won. exiting ending. now, on to the next game.
football, nursing school final, football, football, subway, football. i wish this day would never end.
good morning. do u know where your husband is? off to work, i hope. do u know where he'd rather be? still snuggling with you, i hope.
is 3pm too late for a nap?
ok. 15 min nap and now up for a challenge....risotto!
less and less puppy whining every day. praise jesus! the hard work is paying off.
can't help it, i like the miley cyrus song, the climb.
watching biggest loser. it's getting wicked! yeah!
goodmorning. my puppy is constipated. have a good day.
anyone know what keys to push to type an up arrow?
good morning 4:30am. it's sooooo quiet. i have a looooooong day ahead of me at the hospital. clinicals in the newborn nursery! see ya later.
first day of clinicals was ...mmm...well, second day has got to be better! let's see some babies be born! only ONE was born yesterday. we need more action.
football. that's what's on my mind. nothing else. feels good!
made amazing spaghetti tonight. if i do say so myself!
time to make up for all the house cleaning that has been patiently waiting for me. aww, how nice.
slaving over stuffed bell peppers but most excited for the bread sticks.
used 3 knives and a fork to prepare and eat my english muffin breakfast. (topped w/avocado, cottage cheese & tomato)
what do you call cheese that isn't yours?
just totally burned my last cup of sushi rice. now the house smells...not so nice...and no sushi rolls for me. :(
puppy is being so calm and good now....AFTER having pooped in the living room when i turned my back for 2 seconds (again!).
ok, second round of OB clinicals start. definately can't get any worse/boring/stupid than last week. wish me luck.
ok, i had a great day! we had a baby! i mean, my patient had a baby. and the weekend isn't over yet!
day full of newborns! sweetness!
yesterday, newborns. today, football. how's that for ying-yang?
MIN & PIT game....wow! anyone watching this?!
ATL & DAL game after eating crockpot tamale pie = afternoon coma
my puppy looks so cute lately....not that that's much of a change. but she looks different cute now.
just got barnes & noble coupons now that i joined their member club...actually contemplating buying a christmas cd because it's chilly out today. neil diamond or barry manilow??
wow, i didn't know flying a plane was such a cake job. i wonder if they had their pj's on too?
is starving! alfredo chicken pizza is on its way! hope i don't faint before it gets here.
fed and dressed itty-bitty babies today in the NICU. i think i've found my calling.... :)
November
football and teaching my dog "down" and "speak".
is it weird that i wish i was out there giving the flu vaccine to kids? it's a fun job & easy money. need to check into that next year. flu = job security
why i don't watch the news....just learned about 4 different people who killed about a dozen people. is that news? did i need to know that?
crockpot chicken parmesan tonight. soooooo good!
my puppy only whined ONCE yesterday. amazingly peaceful day. i think she loves learning tricks and earning Cherios. yay!
had to work yesterday. FB, i missed you all.
cornish hens in the crockpot today. wish me luck.
anyone lose any luggage in phoenix? they caught the couple who stole over 1,000 pieces. hope yours had your name tag on it, you may get it back!
anyone ever cut into an acorn squash? OMG! lucky to still have all my fingers intact. it better be worth the risk involved.
would like to thank my puppy for not letting me sleep through my 4:30am alarm, by waking me at 4:10am. franks alot.
i'm just really, really sad about all the soldiers killed and injured at the Army base. killed by one of our own...just before they were going out to serve our country. so tragic. :(
is off to the Veteran's Hospital for clinicals!
made steel cut irish oats for the first time. is it supposed to be sort of firm yet tender? did i cook it long enough? very different texture!
getting my fill of football, pizza, allergy/sinus meds...taking the good with the bad today.
am awake from my benadryl coma now. move slowly, speak softly, please.
used the neti pot!
loving the clove essential oil simmering on the stove. smells like fall. it's even cloudy outside! if only it felt like fall. :(
watching the country music awards...and i'm NOT an award show person...but i do heart country music...or maybe it's just men in tight jeans and boots?
today has not been the most fun day for us but we know it is definately setting the stage for better days to come. today we are just doing the hard things so that we can REALLY enjoy the fruit of our labor...eventually...
is tired. 4 of 6 med/surg clinical days down. whew!
is listening to Christmas music. this is not normal for me. i almost don't recognize myself.
trainer at the gym told me i need to eat more....well, ALRIGHT!
i don't know who enjoys the laser pointer more...me or the puppy. endlessly entertaining. must post some video.
spending WAY too much time working on this poster presentation about knee arthroplasy...sounds boring but i'm a sucker for learning all about something new. any knee stories out there?
went shopping w/the puppy at Petsmart for the first time. why haven't i done that before now? she had lots of fun trying on clothes and socializing. she's already asking when we can go again.
glad i actually looked at the pistachio before i put it in my mouth....looked like dirt chunks inside the shell...YUCK. yes, i needed to share this.
it's getting WAY hard to climb out of bed now that it's cool out and i have my big fluffy down comforter. WAY hard.
ringtone for husband:all i want for christmas is you. ringtone for unknown people:phantom of the opera theme. ringtone for mom:i was country when country wasn't cool. what are YOUR ringtones?
made the most amazing tuna casserole tonite...i don't know how it turned out so great but WOW!
up and at 'em at 4:45am. it's gonna be a loooooooong day.
loves that my puppy enjoys just hanging out on my lap when i surf facebook...well, and occasionally lick my keyboard....that reminds me, that popcorn was good last night.
has survived the infamous VA clinicals. lots of drama. SO glad it's over. now for some fun...Pediatrics!
can't decide. nap or coffee????
NAPPED! then coffee...Lisa Kay wins! got to love sunday.
So, what are YOU doing for Thanksgiving??
surprised at how NOT busy the grocery store is today. hmm...weird.
oh, if you could smell the pizza cooking in my oven right now....MMMMMMmmmm!
"Happy Thanksgiving. I'm thankful I have you in my life." those were the first words i heard today. guess who said that.
finally saw slumdog millionaire. wow.
apparently i don't have clinicals this weekend! who knew!? not me, until now. my first free weekend since JULY! yipee!
is back on twitter. not sure why. follow me and give me a reason. pleeeeze! @aivilo75
it's Monday after a holiday weekend and I don't have to head out to school or work this morning and i'm not even a SAHM! love my life!
i am thinking...i repeat...thinking....about going to work out. #fb
hmmm...i thought the #fb was supposed to disappear
trying that again....don't fail me now, twitter!
December
what to do today??
i made this baked apple-sweet potato dish. YUM! i'm in love.
anyone have good info source on eating sprouts? #sprouts
#biggestloser sometimes u annoy me with all ur fake interactions & commercialization but then u go and INSPIRE me. love-hate.
orange peel & cinnamon sticks simmering on the stove
My brother is gonna have a BABY!
i just emailed @pragerradio holding my breath that he replies!!!
"thank you for holding. we appreciate your patience. a representative will be with you shortly." i'm DONE being patient!!
my puppy is 4 months old and knows her name, sit, down, roll, shake, NO!, and how to fetch, find a toy & pee on command. smart, right?
there's mayb 2 decent flics out right now. time to break out the collection of holiday favs. elf, bridgetjonesdiary, & love actually
loves dreaming, talking, planning for the future. just have to block out ALL thoughts of obama care and the economy. that's why it's called "dreaming".
done nothing for school in the last several weeks but i have a "major" exit exam today. i just may have forgotten EVERYTHING i need to know. yikes.
Cards 27 Min 10...we are treating Farve very badly! go Cards!
we are thanking God for His mercy...lost half of a tree last night in the storm...totally missed the house when it broke into 2 pieces. it SO could have been bad. pics later.
brrrrr! it's cold and windy. goes great with the warm sun and blue skies!
if u r looking for me today, i'll be doing clinicals at the county hospital ....for 14 hours! hope i make it out alive...or at least my mind intact.
is officially OBSESSED with NICU. i love it! i love it! i love it! got to see a 29wk old baby yesterday. wow. going back again today. babies! babies! babies!! :)
Sunday....aaaaahhhh......
please, anyone, a cure for cold toes? besides wool socks and a hairdryer...i already tried that. help.
got a 98.7% on my HESI. for those who know what that is...i'm already patting myself on my back! (it's ok to brag, just for a sec, right?)
anyone know how to "unfan" a page? believe it or not, i'm no longer a fan of jon&katplus8.
it's 68 outside and just lovely. air force jets flying over. the sun is warm on my face. i need to blog about this...
sometimes i just really crave canned corn. is that odd?
puppy alert: i think she is potty trained!!!! she ran to the front door and kept looking at me, when i asked "do u need to potty?" she ran down the hall to her puppy pad and made a poopoo! what a great day!!! oh, and her new joy is running around with my ponytail holder and nibbling on it. pretty cute.
my husband at quinoa, chickpeas & spinach!!! yay!
going to clinicals today. crossing fingers for the pediatric ICU. only 2 days left!
long day. i'm tired. ate mexican food and just got more tired. something tells me that bedtime is coming early tonight.
the semester is OVER. just one more semester standing in the way of me and my RN license. Yahoo!
no school, no work...wed, thurs, fri....that's living!
gift cards, check. christmas shopping, done.

December Photo Project #9

2009-12-20T13:56:00.003-07:00

Ruby Red Grapefruit

I am endlessly facinated by our fruit trees.

Look!

Fruit!

Growing!

In my backyard!!!

I'm such a city girl.

I played with the tint and saturation to get such vivid pics. I kinda like the look. And I figured out how to make my photos larger on the blog. Baby steps...it's only taken me a year!

December Photo Project #8

2009-12-20T13:40:00.000-07:00

I call this picture...

2009-12-20T13:36:00.001-07:00

Fire Hazard?

December Photo Project #7

2009-12-17T13:42:00.002-07:00

Big day for my little sister, Faith....going to Houston to meet her birth family!

Bye-bye, Sissy...

Bye-bye, Mom...

Anything for a Cheerio

2009-12-15T10:26:00.005-07:00

December Photo Project #6

2009-12-15T08:11:00.002-07:00

What do you see?
I love to put cumin in my coffee....I mean, I love to put cinnamon in my coffee.
SEE how amazingly easy that is to mix up!
What to know something else amazing?
Cumin can sort of even smell like cinnamon when you think it is cinnamon.
But, it's not.

No, silly, I did not mix and drink cumin laced coffee. (it was my second cup so I was actually awake enough to catch myself. lucky.)

I just came so darn close to it that I immediately thought "Oh, my! I should warn others. This could really happen! I need to take a photo and blog about this!"

Consider yourself warned.
Your welcome.

footnote: no tastebuds or fresh cups of coffee were injured during the making of this blog.

December Photo Project #5

2009-12-10T09:27:00.003-07:00

My sister and my puppy.

LOVE

December Photo Project #4

2009-12-08T08:39:00.005-07:00

BEFORE

AFTER

and the aftermath

We can't complain. The storm took out this Eucalyptus tree that we've been cursing about.

(it makes a mess)

AND it gave us a start on cleaning out the side yard to put in our RV

(more about that in the future).

And there was no damage at all to the house

eventhough the tree is just feet from the house.

Whew!

What a night!

December Photo Project #3

2009-12-06T15:58:00.002-07:00

I get more and more behind on this project every day but it's a fun challenge.
Today I discovered that the citrus is ready!
Beautiful, juicy & free grapefruits a la the backyard tree.
I miss peaches and blueberries in the winter but at least we get wonderful citrus in the winter.
Don't worry mom, I'll give you some next time I see you. ;)

December Photo Project #2

2009-12-03T21:24:00.003-07:00

I bought this in Caracas, Venezuela. Sooooooo long ago. I can hardly believe I even went there. I was an adult so why can't I barely remember?

I thought it deserved a more romantic setting

(that way you can't see the dust on it!).

O, Holy Night.

December Photo Project #1

2009-12-01T21:21:00.002-07:00

These cuties were handmade by a family member. I need to ask my mom who exactly. Aren't they too cute!? I have a few decorations out. Mostly candles and cinnamon sticks in mason jars...but it's something! Come back and maybe you'll see what else I've managed to do to the house. I will try to make my photos Christmas & Holiday related...I'll try.

Come back every day in December for a new photo!

It's the December Photo Project.

Sweet Potato & Apple Bake

2009-12-01T20:08:00.002-07:00

I am not a recipe blog but I don’t mind telling you what I like to eat, right?
This is what I’m liking right now.

Sweet Potato & Apple Bake
2 sweet potatoes, peeled & cut into 1in cubes
1 ½ c. apple juice (I used pineapple juice and it was great)
1 tsp vanilla
½ tsp each cinnamon, nutmeg, ground ginger (I used pumpkin pie spice)
4 apples peeled & cut into 1in cubes
1/3 cup raisins (I also added dried cranberries…as much as I wanted. No need to measure)

Preheat oven to 400.

Lightly grease 13x9 baking pan and add potatoes.

In a small bowl, combine juice, vanilla, and spices.
Pour mixture over potatoes, cover and bake for 50min. (until tender)

Add apples and raisins, mix, cover and bake for 30 min (until apples are tender)

Uncover and bake for 5 min to brown the top.

What I like about this recipe is
NO SUGAR!
NO BUTTER!
And it still tastes AMAZING!

Got this recipe from a health magazine. I know, you can't believe I don't have a picture of it!
(Next time I make it, I'll take some pics. I was too busy drooling while making it this time.)

ENJOY!

Here's the picture as promised. Smells so good, doesn't it?

The amazing Mason Jar

2009-11-30T09:58:00.003-07:00

It's about the simple things.

Well, either that or this post has no meaning.

Did you know the mason jar was so useful?

Candle Holder

Tea Cup

(for the biggest, warmest cup of tea you've ever had)

Storage

Smoothie Holder

It is about the simple things.

What simple things bring you joy?

Cuter than Cute

2009-11-28T19:07:00.003-07:00

Tell me she's not just the cutest thing you've ever seen!

Good thing she's so cute because...well, afterall....she is still a PUPPY.

Now, I'm off to clean up poop.

Just a little drive from my house....

2009-11-28T18:08:00.007-07:00

This and
this

and

this

is why

we LOVE

ARIZONA !!!

Oh, and this too...

Wordless Wednesday

2009-11-18T13:43:00.001-07:00

Dr. Laura Speaks....

2009-11-02T07:35:00.008-07:00

I've been listening to the radio talk show of Dr. Laura Schlessinger since this past summer.

Her clarity and advice have rocked my world.

After growing up on Oprah, I was not prepared for such realistic and logical information.

I bought her books.

I just read this and thought it was profound and worth sharing on my blog.

Dr. Laura writes

"Your thoughts and feelings are immediately accessible to you-you can know the thoughts and feelings of your spouse only if they tell you. But if they tell you and you refuse to listen, denounce their truths and perspectives, deny any culpability for their feelings, or excuse yourself from having to respond lovingly to their needs because you have hurts too-then , simply, you lose them-even if they are still under the same roof."

I guess this just hits me because it contains the very things I know we can so easily do yet that which I SO DON'T want to do.

It's something that I have experienced in life and have had done to others.

It's a warning and a motivator at the same time.

Can I just ask you a question?
Is there anything more important than a having a great marriage?

The Difference a Year Makes

2009-10-25T15:46:00.010-07:00

Last year, I thought this was evidence of my attempts at healthy eating.....

This year, things have gotten alittle more serious in the fruit & veggie department.

Last year, I was most concerned about getting a great hair cut & color....

This year, I'm more concerned about making a great grade on my final....(I still realize my bangs look horrible!)

Last year, I was saying good-bye to my sweet brother as he moved to California....

This year, I'm saying hello to my new sister-in-law!

Last year, I ate tons of cake on my 33rd B-day.

This year, I made better choices for my 34th B-day.....

Last year, we took my healthy Grandma out for steak on her 80th B-day....

This year, we are just glad to be home & able to celebrate another year with her on her 81st B-day.

Last year, I was given these wee little leaves transplanted by my mother-in-law....

This year, I am in awe...

I am in awe by it all.

What a difference a year makes.

Oh, what wonders are in store for the following year!

Oh, what wonders are in store for the following year??

BBC Animal Funnies

2009-10-20T08:24:00.004-07:00

This is just too funny! Have a great day.

Not me! Monday

2009-10-12T10:50:00.005-07:00

Early this morning I didn't think proudly to myself "I don't have anything to write a "not me" Monday post". Nothing embarassing has happened. I haven't done some silly or stupid little thing all week.

So, I read some blogs and went to the gym. On the way home I stopped at the store to get some seeweed wraps so I can make some more sushi rolls. I saw a gallon of organic milk on clearance for only $2.99. What a steal! Now I can make more homemade yogurt! This site gives a great how-to. Hey, I'm off today and have the time. Why not?

I also bought some noodle soup and since I was STARVING from reading about a ham and swiss sandwich on this blog and then working out....I cooked the noodles instead of finishing my green smoothie (my first mistake).

I put the cold milk in a huge pot, turned on the burner, sat down in the living room to enjoy my noodles and review the how-to and make sure I had all the supplies. Hey, it's a huge gallon of cold milk, I had time to kill.

Here's my noodles to prove this is a real story.

Suddenly, without warning (hello! could I at least get a warning?!)

I heard a weird sound from the kitchen.

Took me 2 seconds to realize I had something to blog about today.......

Ummm, er.... Not me?

That's not gonna be fun to clean.

I think milk products are out to get me!

You see, I sort of lied.

Something silly/stupid DID happened to me earlier this week.

I confess.......

I was so excited to finally have some time to use my Martha Stewart Cupcake book so I took the plunge and bought tons of supplies, including buttermilk.

Now, I've never tasted, bought or smelled buttermilk ever before.

I surely did not spill an entire cup of stinky, thick buttermilk all over my counter. YUCK!

Of course, I didn't spill it during my efforts to move some stuff out of the way so no "accidents" would happen!

Milk products must have heard about my stash of almond and hemp milk in my pantry.

It's noticed I haven't bought it in over 6 months. It's out to get me. Making me pay!

Apparently it doesn't matter that I buy tons of cheese, cottage cheese & cream cheese....it's the MILK QUEEN herself that is taking my change in dietary habits personally.

Guess who's not making yogurt today. Yep, NOT ME!

What they don't know....

2009-10-08T22:24:00.002-07:00

...those currently pregnant ladies who are due within the next month....they have no idea that my little eager eyes will be there to watch them give birth.

They are so looking forward to that day...what they don't know is...so am I!

Ladies, my dear sisters, currently strangers, I thank you in advance for letting me see you in all your laboring glory.

I am studying hard so I know as much as possible about what is normal, what is "nonreassuring" and all those complications.

I will be facinated and excited but above all, I will be professional and kind. I look forward to meeting you soon.

Labor and Delivery clinicals, here I come!

The Good, the Bad, and the Beautiful....

2009-10-03T18:01:00.003-07:00

Here's the reason that we are now CONVINCED we aren't up to having kids....
8 week old puppy. Need I say more?

I can't decide if she's the Good or the Bad. Depends on the moment!

Her competition is Nursing School!

I can't decide if it's the Good or the Bad, either!
These last few weeks have been crunch time in school. Right when I was getting used to the pace of quizzes every day and tests every other weekend....it's time for skills check off, medication and IV calculation test, last lecture test, skills hours due AND the final exam! Wow!

When did all that happen and how did I not see it coming?? Don't get me wrong, I enjoy learning and am still totally excited to be working on getting my RN...but the "S" word is not fun.

STRESS.

Stress is something I've been really good at avoiding in my life.
Well, here's where I have placed myself now...ST(me)RESS.
Right in the middle!!

Oh, well. Like I tell myself when I see others freaking out about their crazy situations....
"you picked your poison".

I definitely chose this...I just didn't quite anticipate it. Does that make sense?
I guess I thought it would be easier.
I didn't even fathom this would entail studying 10 chapters in two weeks or chapter that are 20-50 pages each! My grades are pretty much what I expected and hoped for, I just didn't think I'd have to try this hard to get mediocre grades.

On a positive note, I start clinical rotations mid-October.
SO VERY MUCH looking forward to that!
I will spend 10 hour days, every Friday and Saturday, in the hospital setting.
First few weeks are Labor and Delivery. Then I do some weeks of Medical/Surgical at the VA Hospital and then Pediatrics.
We should be done mid-December. I should post a pic of me in my school scrubs!
I'll be sure to do that.

So, you be the judge. Good or Bad? I still can't decide.

I'll end with the Beautiful......

My new wedding ring. We upgraded and I'm in love again.
I think it's just fabulous. It was love at first sight. That always feels good. :)

Thanks for stopping by. Leave me a comment! It's easy, I promise. Just give it a try.
Now....off to study!

Delilah Brownie

2009-09-30T17:45:00.003-07:00

She's so fun.

Thirty-Four

2009-09-29T08:56:00.004-07:00

September 29th. It's my birthday.

I wish I had a baby picture scanned so I could post it today. These will have to do. They're pretty cute, aren't they?

Today I am enjoying my new puppy, Delilah (my birthday present) and we are going to a sushi place for lunch. Brian took off work to be with me and also agreed to going to the doctor for a long overdue physical. Can't say "no" to your wife on her birthday, right? I might even push it and ask to go see a chick-flick at the movies!

I can't deny that I'm appreciating this "getting older" stuff. My life is so full and wonderful. I finally feel like I am a more rounded person and have something to offer in conversations, relationships, and work. That feels good.

Thank you to my mom and dad for their honesty, love, and encouragement. I wouldn't be all I am without all that we have been through....these last thirty-four years. :)

I just love this photo of me and my brother.We aren't this cute anymore but we still have this close relationship. That's a sweet thing!

Gosh, I could live another lifetime and still only be 68! That's a cool thought!

Well, here's to another 34 years, with this man!

Don't worry, sweetie, you will only be a young 79 by then! We can do it!

Avocado rolls....it's the new bread!

2009-09-18T10:30:00.006-07:00

It ain't pretty, but it's pretty tasty!

I LOVE bread.

Seriously, my favorite memory of my first cruise is of the awesome rolls I got to eat at every meal.

But we all know how it's not the most nutritional food item (bummer!) and then to be addicted to it...yikes!

So I've slowly weaned myself off of it. My body feels better without it and I totally notice a difference when I have some (which is rare). But I can't deny that I STILL LOVE it!

The passion that my taste buds have and the chemical response...oh, the ecstasy!

Well, I think I realized a healthy alternative.

When I dip these little babies in some soy sauce and shove it in my mouth....I'm instantly happy. No kidding.

I had to stop eating to take this pic. I could hardly stand the few seconds it took.

I just made, and have now devoured, pretty much all of this yumminess.

These have cucumber & yellow pepper. Some of them I managed to squeeze in some cream cheese. I can't help that whenever I make these, I gobble them up! You may even see me pushing the cart at the grocery store while chomping on a tray of the store made ones...but my homemade ones are so fresh and much better. If you like these but don't know how to make them, just ask. I'll be glad to let you learn from my mistakes. I'm not an expert (yet!). But I did buy a bamboo mat that is supposed to make it easier to roll them up nice and tight, I have chopsticks and a few Asian vinegars and cooking wines. And we do have an Asian market close by.

It's about making healthy choices. We only have one body. It's pretty amazing and pretty darn special. I hope you are taking care of yours.

Anyway, I just wanted to share the joy!

Brussel Sprouts and all things changing....

2009-09-16T09:40:00.009-07:00

Weird way to start a blog, huh?

The thing is, two months ago I would never have bought these pretty little things.
And I never would have thought to put them in my smoothie like I did this morning.
So much has changed in two months and it's about time I filled you all in on
"all things changing" in my life.

I've been meaning to write about what's going on for bit now. But I got a miserable test grade on my last test so I've been too bummed to focus on all the goodness I had to write about. I just found out that my grade was adjusted and all the sudden my writers block lifted! Phew! I ended up with the grade that I FELT I would earn when I was taking the test. The initial grade pretty much shocked me and Brian had to experience my post-test rant and raving. He's proving over and over what a great husband he is!

Enough about that. Here's what I'm drinking now...vanilla hemp milk, instant coffee, mocha mix, ice and a secret ingredient that I will tell you about if you keep reading. Oh, and when I snapped this picture, the numbers on the clock just happened to be my date of birth! How crazy is that?! :)

How did I make such a beautiful, delicious, highly caffeinated drink?
Enter "New things in my life #1"

She just had a bath.

Yes, my blender deserves 3 photos in one blog entry.

You would too, if you had 37,000 rpm and 2hp !

You all know, from reading my previous posts, of my love (obsession) with making fresh, raw smoothies. Well, I've been drinking them every.single.day....for almost a month. I can't tell you how amazing it has been for our diet and overall health (well, I could tell you if you asked). We tried another blender but had to upgrade to a machine that could pulverize all the frozen fruit I shove into it to make our 8 cups of smoothies every morning. This thing rocks my world and be assured, you will hear much more about her in the future. She kinda needs a name, doesn't she? I mean, she costs more than my new puppy, and the puppy has a name! Oops! I wasn't supposed to mention that yet. Hang in there...more things coming.

In case you aren't already jealous of my homemade, practically free, better than Starbucks frappucino drink...I put about 6 of these babies in it. I would totally make one for you if you were here and we would be yacking about as fast as my fingers are flying across the keyboard typing this right now!!!! (whew! Take a breath, Olivia.)

"New things in my life #2" This beautiful chair was refinished and made especially for me by my talented mom. Isn't it gorgeous? This is just one of the many items I now have in my furniture stuffed home because my mom's life is in transition. We aren't exactly where this journey will take her but my favorite mom and hair stylist may be moving away from me. Things are a-changing...

"New things in my life #3, 4, 5, 6, 7"

What is making me the most happy and tearful (good tears) is the addition of a new sister and niece. My brother has found his life partner (they live in California so I thought that was the most appropriate term ). Hehe. Luke and Liliya will be married Sept. 25. Anna is the sweet and beautiful little girl that Luke will now call his daughter. (See, I just teared up writing that sentence!) They came out over Labor Day weekend so we could all meet. They are sweet and warm and I am beyond happy for them. Luke has been the most awesome, understanding, insightful, loving brother. These ladies are blessed! (tear just tricked down my face) I look forward to celebrating with them next weekend!!!!

Speaking of wedding rings. Well, sort of.

Um, I had to trade in my precious for a new ring due to it losing 5 diamonds in less than 2 yrs. All my frustration and disappointment has dissolved away because we found the most beautiful ring! It's getting resized and I should have it in a week. Brian was a huge help in the number crunching part of buying the ring...and he still said I could get it! What can I say? He loves me. :) No photo yet of this beauty. Just another reason to check back!

Our own little family is changing. too. We lost 2 of Brian's cats in August to sickness. :(

The house is so quiet now (not really, how much noise do cats make anyways?) Well, we need some to adore us and cuddle on our laps. So we are getting one of these little critters! I call it my birthday present. I get to pick her up the day before my birthday. You'll have to come back to my blog in a couple weeks to see which one I got. There are so adorable, aren't they? Like I need another distraction from studying!

Yes, I already have hair bows for her. Thanks for asking.

Gosh, I think that about tells it all!

There are some things that aren't so wonderful in life but those things work themselves out and it's way more fun to tell about all the blessings. School is a bigger project than I had expected but having a supportive husband makes the journey so more meaningful. Work is steady enough. Our jobs are stable for the most part but not without some concerns at times. I absolutely love going to work and I think I work for the best company, with the best coworkers a person could ever have. I don't think I will stay in hospice forever but I will always cherish my experiences that I've had with families and patients over the last 6 yrs. I am nervous about how health care and my role will change with the impending health care reforms. Holding my breath.

So glad you stopped by. I really enjoy hearing back from friends and family when you tell me you read my blog. It's a small but great way to connect with each other.

The making of a Pretty Green (Pink) Smoothie

2009-09-11T09:39:00.006-07:00

First I started off with a couple leaves of romaine lettuce, a leaf of some left over bach choy that I had in the freezer, and a cup of spinach that was frozen then crushed down...I'm not sure how much that equals in fresh spinach. I stuff freezer ziplock bags with lettuce, kale, spinach and then once it freezes, I crush it in the bag and it really packs down. It's a space saving way I've discovered and now I never waste any greens! That is a 4 up container holding my greens right here. For fruit I just grab a misc mix of stuff that sounds good. A cup of frozen mixed raspberries, blueberries, marionberries (from Costco). Cup of frozen grapes. Cup of frozen peaches. Half a frozen apple. Banana. Few pieces of pineapple left in the fridge. 2 frozen wedges of a lime (I love lime). I'm sure it would taste just fine without so many different items but I LOVE variety! It's like my own fruit and greens salad bar.

Don't forget the good fats. 1 Tablespoon.

Here's the sweetness in my awesome 1horsepower blender! There's a cup of cold water in there too.

4 cups of Pretty Green (pink) Smoothie! In just 30 seconds!

Here's the kicker...I was curious so I weighed it. My jar.

WOW! No wonder it takes me 4-6 hrs to finish this thing off! 2 pounds of fruits & veggies! There is 8 oz of water in there so it's really about 1.5 pounds. And soooooo yummy and soooooo healthy.

I hope you will make your own. It doesn't have to be this big (but I promise, you will want more!)

Now, back to studying!

Green Smoothies!!!!

2009-08-25T14:11:00.007-07:00

This is what I've been up to recently....besides listening to talk radio.

Making and Drinking GREEN SMOOTHIES!

It all started with this great blog. Then I made one and this was the result....

Then I made another which resulted in this....

Then I found this site and ordered her Green Smoothies Diet Book.

Then we did some research and got this...

Then I got serious when I saw the recent prices of fruits & veggies right now....

I like to plan ahead. Most of this is getting cut up and going into the freezer. Oh, the varieties of green smoothies I have in store!!! I also made ice cubes with mint and some with ginger. Oh, and carrot juice and fresh squeezed orange juice...I think that's it.

Well, I'm sure none of you are surprised.

Confession and Food

2009-08-14T18:56:00.012-07:00

I was gonna call my mom the other day and ask her if there was any better way to store my corn starch other than in that weak little box with the annoying paper bag inside of it. Seriously, that's how it comes! I was down to the last inch of the box and it's a mess to try to scoop it out. I was gonna call my mom about this! Apparently someone felt the cries of my soul and this is what I found on my recent trip to the store. How cool and smart is this? Small things matter, but this is no small thing.

Okay, the real point of this post.....I may be obsessed with food.

Only my closest family members know this. And they'd probably even say I should remove the "may be" from that statement. I'm not so sure but...I will confess a few things and you tell me what you think.

For starters, the size of my boyfriend's walk-in pantry may had some influence over him becoming my husband. I'm just sayin.

When I was single and only weighed 105 pounds, I had a membership to Costco.

I have vivid memories of being a kid and the enjoyment I had from putting away the groceries. I had to climb the counters to reach. I was quite the little monkey. What must have my mom been thinking as I did that?!

Maybe it's not an obsession.

I like to think of it as a best friend relationship.

Is that wrong?

Not even one bestest friend but more like every item I find is a new bestfriend. Yes, some friends come back time and time again. Some I toss to the curb after the initial infatuation wears off.

Again, I ask you, is this all THAT wrong?

I can see I need to give you more evidence so you might see things my way.

I need to introduce you to my friends.

There's the 4 small cans of sliced black olives that I already had and then the 3 medium cans that I just bought today. There's the 2lbs of spaghetti noodles I bought today right next to the other piles of spaghetti noodles I already had. Meet 20lb bag of rice. (side note: just found out that husband prefers potatoes more and rice less) There's my 3 Costco sized bags of Craisins. There's Thai Peanut sauce, Mequite marinade, Rosemary & Oil marinade, Buffalo Wing sauce, can of apple pie filling, can of cherry pie filling and a case of pineapple chunks.........all patiently awaiting their turn in the menu and spot in the fridge. Of course there's the always a dependable companion the family of condensed soups...they multiply like the Duggar family. ( I know that's a weird connection, but that's the first thing that came to mind)

Packets of sauce, dip, jello, pudding...they are the strong, silent ones. Sometimes waiting years to be noticed and appreciated. Lovely jar of capers that I have a feeling will be well loved on the next salad. (Did you know capers are flower buds? How cool is that?) Not to mention jar of kalamata olives waiting to join garbanzo beans in my next batch of humus. I love those guys.

I'm not racist either. Meet oyster sauce, teriyaki sauce, asian white cooking wine, asian salad vinegar, sesame oil, jasmine rice, sushi rice, and nori (that's seaweed wrap for my california rolls. she's shy because alot of people don't like her. she sits quietly in her thin little zip-lock pouch at the top of the shelf, not taking up any room at all. she knows I love her though!)

Some things I had to kick out recently because well, I don't know what I was thinking when I bought them. (wicked advertising I suppose.) Diet Dr Pepper, Diet Sprite, Diet Lipton Tea, Diet Lemonade, Diet Cherry Pepsi (ok, I kept Cherry Pepsi cause she's actually good!). Instant oatmeal got the boot and replaced by steel cut Irish Oats. Still haven't opened the oats but I like having the ole Irish boy looking down on me when I open the pantry. I feel safer somehow.

Oh, I've saved the best for last! Reisen, Toblerone, dark chocolate chips, and several kinds of chocolate bars (one has orange flavoring, yum!).

Now, to share some pics of my friends. You know I've got to have pictures.

Discovered this BEAUTY today. Definately love at first site. We will be fast and true friends, I'm sure. (even if my husband points out "but we don't drink chocolate milk".)

They don't come in pairs. That's just how I buy stuff.

I'm sort of a collector. Aren't you? I mean, who wouldn't want all this lovely variety?

Some people collect knick-knacks. I collect food related stuff.

Need I remind you of my spice drawer?

I have a freaky foody inside of me and these new guys really make me feel welcomed. They "get" me and I "get" them.

While I'm not liking 112 degree summer days, I am liking my summer fruits. We are bestest friends and I'm not ashamed to admit it. We've been having a party this summer! Do you see their little party hats?

So, what do you think? I'm normal, right? Right?!

Rain

2009-08-13T10:46:00.002-07:00

We don't see it often

or...

in much quantity

so...

it's pretty beautiful...

when it happens.

The Simple Woman's Daybook

2009-08-03T07:36:00.005-07:00

For Today... Monday, August 3rd

Outside my window...clear blue sky, vibrant green citrus trees. it looks lovely but i'm sure it's about 95degrees out, which is not lovely.

I am thinking...too many things today. didn't sleep well due to all that is on my mind. nothing serious, just adjusting and growing as a person and a wife.

I am thankful for...air-conditioning.

From the kitchen...memories of the mac & cheese i made yesterday...havarti & monterey jack cheese. lots of leftovers!

I am wearing...the softest baby blue night shirt.

I am creating...a personalized cookbook of sorts...a collection of recipes that i've tried and want to keep.

I am going...to Whole Foods today to look for Chia! A superfood I heard of on this blog

I am reading...natural health magazines and tons of blogs that inspire me to be the person i really want to be.

I am hoping...to meet meet my brother's girlfriend, one day. soon, i hope.

I am hearing...the gurgle of the washing machine.

Around the house...i cleaned the bathtub with oxyclean today! huge victory for me.

One of my favorite things...is knowing my husband loves me when i don't feel or act so loveable.

A few plans for the rest of the week: complete a Renal Pharmacology presentation and work on Drug Calculations packet. make a tastey meal for my hard working man.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...i miss the company of a sweet doggie.

For more on The Simple Woman's Daybook.

To My Husband

2009-07-30T07:30:00.002-07:00

Here are some little characters that express how I feel for you.

I just can't stop....

2009-07-28T11:00:00.006-07:00

...adding new PLANT members to our family...

Isn't she pretty? Thank you Walmart clearance.

Love this one. So lovely. Trader Joe's is my newest favorite place to get great plants.

My first hanging, viney succulent. Very cool.

And COOKING...I just can't stop cooking. Especially when I should be doing school work.

I made homemade yogurt in a crockpot from this website. No picture because it's just a bowl of white stuff. Not very photogenic but tasted great and seems to be digesting well!

Making yogurt resulted in 2 cups of whey that I drained off to thicken the yogurt. Of course I had to do something with the whey so I made...this whey biscuit recipe .

Ooops! First batch ended up you-know-where. Must add baking soda & baking powder!

These tasted yummy. Very light. Not beautiful looking due to all the flour they were rolled in but tastey!

I added some dill from my abundant spice selection.

I really need to get back to work (school stuff) but I couldn't help but share. Thanks for stopping by the house. :)

Not me! Monday

2009-07-27T06:27:00.012-07:00

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

Hi, it's me. I know it's been awhile but I've been busy NOT doing alot of things.

What? You MUST know. Well, okay. But considered yourself warned.

I did not get my husband to smile big in this picture by telling him his head was right in a "certain spot" on the man in the mural behind him. Shame! I'm not cheeky like that!

I did not spend $1,259.72 in just two days. I was not thrilled beyond belief to start nursing school that I have to tell everyone at work...twice.

I did not spend half my day making this instead of studying. Hello! I'm in school. I have hours & hours of important studying to do!

I did not buy a bulk package of 50 (1oz packs) of cream cheese from Costco. I wouldn't ever need that much because I'm the only person in the house who eats cream cheese. I would not do that because that would mean I would be the only one to consume 50 servings of cream cheese over the next few months. I definately have not already eaten about 8.

I also did not make a lovely Sunday dinner in the crockpot and slave over homemade asparagus soup, only to eat leftover chinese wontons with aforementioned cream cheese. Standing at the kitchen counter. Eating. Dinner. Cream cheese. Not me!

I did not get a natural high while visiting my grandma in the ER & ICU this week. I would be focused on my dear grandma, not all the cool procedures I got to watch! I did not spend more time chatting up her nurses, ultrasound tech, phlebotomist & listening to the doctors talk in the hallway than actually with my dear sick grandma. Not me! I am first a granddaughter, then a nurse, right?! Well, apparently, not me!

I did not take this picture of myself before leaving for class on Saturday morning. I did not document my "first nursing school test" day like I'm somebody's little child.

I did not lock my keys in my car and leave my cell phone at home when my husband and I went to the gym. I did not have to call my brother-in-law to come pick us up and come over for dinner 3 hours earlier than planned. I surely did not still have the house a wreck and madly vaccuumed & cleaned while he took my husband to go pick up my car. I did not learn my lesson!

I did not take dozens and dozens of pictures of these things.

I have much better ways to spend my time.

That about sums things up. Thanks for stopping by. This did not take 1 1/2 hrs to complete. I'll try to not use it as an excuse to not go to the gym this morning!

My miscellaneous life

2009-07-06T11:09:00.007-07:00

Did I tell you about the 10 state road trip we took last May? I know, Arizona is missing. I regret that now. Our newest addition to the family. Isn't she cute?

Pretty bottle. Pretty tasty. Pretty picture. Pretty buzzed. Pretending to put my foot down on the cement when it's 110 degrees outside...NOT!

Best creation known to man...or at least, to me. Iced coffee!

(yes, i used manual focus! can you tell? of course!)

Last but not least, what has brought me hours & hours of enjoyment lately is only the BEST website I've ever seen. The Pioneer Woman.

This pretty much sums up the frivolities of my life right now...

plants, tequila, coffee, travel, photography, blogs & HEAT (not the heat part but I like the cute- little -summer- dress part).

I promise I can be serious but a girl has to enjoy her life, right?

My weirdness & updates

2009-06-27T12:15:00.008-07:00

First we will start with updates. Plenty of weirdness to come.
Here's my pretty new plant. Some sort of succulent, rubber leaf plant. Isn't she pretty? Glistening in the sun after a cool spray of water. Stay tuned to find out if she survives the summer. We are taking care of my mother-in-law's rose bush. The heat got to it while we were on our vacation so we cut it back and have been giving it lots of TLC and it is looking great! Just thought she'd like the update. I know nothing about roses and keep hoping it will flower but now I'm thinking...maybe it's past season? We shall see. You know I will post pics if it flowers!

I have a plant experiment going on. I recently was informed of the beauty of a sweet potato plant. So I've stuck a few in some water and watched them grow.

June 14:

fascinating little creature, isn't it!?

June 27:

June 14 :

June 27:

it's getting tropical up in here! i can't believe how fast these things grow.

why can't cilantro do this??!!

Here's what I had to convince my husband to eat on Saturday morning. Yum, right?

Yes, I said convince him! Sadly, he does not appreciate the pancake like I do.

I felt like baking and made this.

I looks awesome but I found it inedible. (Made it with applesauce instead of using butter, to cut the fat out. I'd rather have the fat.)

Funny how my husband, who resists fabulous pancakes, thinks this Chocolate Banana Bread is just fine and happily eats it with his coffee every morning. Confused? Me, too. (Notice how I put chocolate in everything? It's because that's his love language. I love you, sweetie.)

Am I weird for taking pictures of everything?

I can't help it if I see beauty in everything around me, can I?

I think it's something about looking at life through the lens of a camera.

It focuses my attention on the beauty of details and lighting.

I have to admit, I can't help it anymore... and I'm trying to not be embarrassed about it.

I tell myself that I'm just a bit eccentric and artistic. I know it's not normal.

I mean, what normal person takes a half dozen pictures of this....

I guess I'll end with an update to round things out...

I GOT ACCEPTED INTO THE RN PROGRAM!

I start classes in 2 weeks. Will attend every Friday & Saturday until next May.

I have been a LPN since 2001 and have been chipping away at the requirements to get into school to become a RN. This has been quite a journey and I am BEYOND READY for this opportunity. It's my own fault it has taken me this long because I would often get off track with my goals & motivation. My husband has been so supportive and helped figure out a way for me to finally DO THIS. Thank you, Brian.

Even in this current job market & economy, I know things can only get better for us as I reach this goal.

I'M SO EXCITED!