2 years ago today...

This picture was taken. (I know you all just LOVE my costume, lol)

Its mine and Michaels 2 year dating anniversary today...its so crazy how fast time flies!! We are celebrating on Thursday since we are both working all day today (and he works all night so I will barely see him!), we are going out for a romantic dinner at a fondue restaraunt, I cant wait!! Yum!

Seriously, Michael has changed my life in so many ways it blows me away. He has taught me so much, and I will be thankful for him every day of my life. He has taught me to be thankful, he has taught me how to laugh at times when I didnt think anything was funny, he has taught me how to make the most of every day because you dont know what tomorrow holds, he has taught me to love more than I ever thought I possibly could, and most of all he has taught me to be patient because all things will happen when they are meant to happen...I am the most blessed girl in the world to have a man so wonderful in my life, and I cant wait to spend the rest of my life with him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fun Weekend

For the first time in a while I actually had a fun, enjoyable weekend. Michael and I both had Saturday off, so we went with my dad and sister to visit my grandma and great grandma (who is 97) up in Los Alamos. Michael has never met my dads side of the family, so it was nice to get to see him with them, he loved my grandma, and she fell in love with him because he is Italian, lol. My grandma had a stroke a year ago right before my grandpa passed away, and she is almost back to her pre-stroke self, which is so nice to see. She has her heart SET on me wearing her wedding dress she wore 58 years ago on MY wedding day, and I dont know how to break it to her that its not my style. Here is a pic of what it kinda looks like...its LOOOONG, and off white (I am wearing bright white), and long sleeved and has a high neck, the total opposite of what I plan to wear!!

I am so honored that she wants ME of all her granddaughters to wear it, but its not not the dress for me. I have a year and a half to break the news, I am sure I can come up with something good between now and then!

Nothing super exciting to report...somehow I managed to get some food poisoning or some bug last night, I was up at 2 am puking my guts out, NOT FUN!! I ate the same thing as everyone else, which is what makes it so weird. My stomach is still un-easy. Hate that feeling!

I hate the time change...it feels SO late and its barely 8:30. I think I am going to bed super early tonight!

I love catching up

With old friends.

Yesterday I talked to my girlfriend Rachel, that is in Idahoe right now. I havent talked to her in soooo long, but we used to be great friends. I love catching up and hearing about the happenings in peoples lives, its so nice. Here is a picture of her and her Fiance, Brennen. Wishing them a world of happiness!

Nothing too exciting in the world of Alex today, aside from a math exam in about an hour that I am sooo nervous about...if you dont pass it on the third try, your kicked out of the program. Yikes! And the worst part, there is a new exam every friggin 8 weeks! Thankfully I have always gotten 100% up until now, just pray for me that I will continue to do so. Math is a weakness for me, but thankfully I have 8 years experience working in a pharmacy under my belt, so I know a thing or two about calculating med dosages, thank GOD! As if nursing school isnt stressful enough, ya know?

Getting a knitting lesson tonight and super excited about it, I cant wait to LEARN and stop being so frustrated about it. I actually had a dream that I was knitting last night and I was sooo proud of me, lol. Pathetic! Thanks Colleen and Wendy for offering to help us out. And Araxi, thanks for coming so I dont feel so stupid!!!

Thats it for now, just a short one.

Time Flys!!

Holy Cow! So yesterday I volunteer for this "new student tea" for students who will be starting nursing school in January (which is when I started last year). It felt so weird being there, and totally remembering sitting in their exact seets like it was yesterday, but it was a YEAR ago!! I remember being sooo scared, not knowing what to expect, being overwhelmed, wondering if I could do it, etc etc...and here I am, almost halfway done with nursing school. Its so crazy how fast time has gone, I cant even believe it. And its been 5 months already since I have been engaged, that is just crazy. So that means exactly a year and a half until our wedding, I cant freaking wait! Gosh, it will be such a long time coming by the time it finally happens, but I am sure it will be here before I know it!!

Speaking of wedding stuff...I havent really had the "planning bug" quite as bad as I did, but its still fun to look at different things. The Knot is the most addicting website EVER.

I know this may seem like an odd idea to some, but I have been STUCK on the idea of having chandeliers hanging from the tree at the place we are getting married. The tree there is HUGE, exactly like the one in this picture, and I just love the way it looks. Funky, but fun and elegant at the same time. Love her dress too, minus the flower on the top.

Weekend Recap

Had a pretty laid back weekend, although I had school Friday all day and Saturday all day, at least it was just at school and not real "clinical" at the hospital, I didnt have to be up at 4 am on Saturday for the first time in a long time, yay for that!!! My sister came home to do my hair this weekend, still not sure how I feel about it. I will have to get a pic up so you know what I am talking about. For those who dont know, she is just starting cosmotology school and new to all of this, so when she does my hair, its more like "practicing" than anything...but hey it was free, plus it gave us 6 hours just to talk and catch up (yes, thats how long it took her to do a partial weave, no cut, just color, 6 hours.).

Next weekend I have no clinical on Saturday, so I am going with my dad and sister (and maybe Michael) to visit my Grandma, I am so excited I cant wait. Its been forever since I have seen her, and I know she looks so forward to seeing us ever since my Grandpa passed away last year, shes been lonely, so she loves for us to visit. Hopefully she will help me with this quilt that I have been dying to make...I have it all ready to go, I just gotta figure out how to sew it and she is the quilt master!

Shouts out to 2 girlfriends this weekend that got MARRIED!!! Nichole and Olivia. I am so happy for the both of them!!! Wishing them all the happiness in the world and hoping they enjoy their new hubbies!

Lately time spent with Michael has been scarce...it really makes me sad. Now that I have this new job, I am at school Monday, then tues-thurs I am working til 6 or 7 at night, which most of the time he is home all day and just going IN to work at 6, then Friday and Saturday I have clinicals...and Sunday was our one day to be together all day and he is going to be working Sundays now...I know its for the best, we will be able to save more money, but it just really makes me sad...at least now with us living together we are TOGETHER every day, even if it is when we are both snoring! lol

Saw this on someones blog and thought it was cute.

5 Weird things about me I bet you didnt know

1. I cant stand the smell of open food in the fridge. I dont know why this bothers me so much. I hate when people put left-over take out containers in their fridge and it makes the entire fridge smell like old, gross food. I actually hold my breath whenever I open any fridge because it makes me gag. (this is probably why I cant eat cold pizza like a lot of people I know, it reminds me of smelly food in the fridge.)

2. I got braids in my hair when I was 21. Yes, real braids with extensions like the kind black girls get. I thought it was cool. Looking back at the pictures, it wasnt so cool.

3. I brush my teeth in the shower. I dont happen to think that is weird, but when Michael moved in he informed me that it is.

4. I am the queen of lists, but I never seem to follow them. I make to do lists probably about every single day, and every week I make lists (various ones, school stuff, cooking, working out, etc).

5. My favorite favorite thing on earth to eat is toast with avocado smeared on it. If you havent tried it, please do. Buy a ripe avocado, cut into slices. Toast 2 pieces of fresh white bread til golden brown (not too brown). Spread a little low fat mayo on the bread, and layer the slices onto each piece of toast. sprinkle with salt and pepper, and use a fork to sorta mash the avocado into the bread. It is seriously the BEST snack ever and I would eat it every day if I would. (but since I am broke I only do when avocados are on sale).

Ok I have to add a 6th one just because I think it is funny. I used to stuff my bra with shoulder pads in Junior High. Please tell me that someone else reading this stuffed their bra too, because I am begining to think I am the only pathetic akward teenager that did.

Hope everyone has an awesome week!!

If you have ever read anything in my blog...

Please read this.

I know sometimes my posts are filled with complaining about school or this or that, or gossiping, or talking badly about others (which I tend to do a lot), and not that its bad that we do those things, but this is for sure not one of those posts.

Today, as I was avoiding doing the things I should have been doing, I stumbled across this womans blog, and was so drawn in I read it for hours. It isnt just some regular ole' blog about scrapping, or the weekend "to-do's" it is the most heartfelt journaling I have ever read in my life. I seriously think that after reading this blog, I am a changed person. All of the things that I complain about, and whine about, and bitch that "arent fair," are NOTHING compared to this womans story. She should write a book someday, that is how amazing she is. I could go into detail about what I learned about her and her family just by simply scrolling through pages of journaling, but if you want to know about it, I think you should read it, because I know I could never put into words what has taken place in her life. I am posting about Jody because I hope that in some teenie tiny way, she may inspire you, she may encourage you, she may motivate you to look at your life differently than you have been up until now. (and I can gurantee she will bring a tear or two, or ok maybe 1,000, to your eye).

Here is the link to her blog...my favorite entry is in her December 2005 Archieves...titled 'the barbie tree.' After reading that, the things she journals about daily make more sense, and have so much more meaning.

http://jodyferlaak.blogspot.com/

And for anyone who wants to read the story of the tragedy that happened to her family, here is an article

http://www.bethel.edu/alumni/Focus/Spring/03/teagan.html

Enjoy, she really is an amazing woman.

Funkdafied

I dont know why, but I am just in this weird funk right now. Cant really explain it. Maybe its school. Maybe its other things, not too sure, I just know I gotta kick it, and quick. I hate feeling this way, kinda un-motivated about everything, maybe I need to go shopping, new clothes always make me feel better (sad I know).

I am DONE with the wicked witch of the west. Took my final in her class yesterday and was thrilled to walk out the door and slam it behind me. I got an 87 on the final, and something like 89.44 in the class or something (why the hell cant they just round it to 90!?). Starting fresh with a new instructor (who was my clinical instructor last semester, LOVE her), and feeling good about it, so good I am actually going to bring my book and read AHEAD for next mondays lecture today when I babysit. Thats a first.

Michael and mines anniversary is coming up, Halloween, we are excited about it. I cant believe its been two years, seems so long, but feels so short. I seriously dont know where I would be without him in my life right now, he is the best thing that ever happened to me (besides flat irons, lol).

Off to school and then work, yuck.

Why oh why...

Does Starbucks have to have the yummiest drinks this time of year? I cant get enough, its horrible. Thankfully it doesnt rain or snow too often in California, otherwise I would be drinking these bad boys every single day. Pumpkin latte= LOVE.

So today I got in touch with someone I have been trying to get in touch with FOREVER. She was my best friend in Jr. High and High School, and we lost touch when she turned to drugs and a life of bad stuff...but I have always thought about her, every day almost, and she found me on myspace of all places. I know that website has a bad rap, but ya know, I have re-connected with so many friends because of it, and I will be forever greatful to Tom. We talked for an hour today, and it was the best feeling ever, I love re-connecting with people that were such a big part of your life. Its just such a great feeling to catch up with an old friend, she was more than a friend, she was a best friend at one point, almost like a sister, I know her entire family, she knows mine, we spent so much time together for years. I am hopefully going to visit her and her new baby, Ryan, in November. She just had Ryan on September 1st, and I cant wait to meet him. I am so thankful that she has turned her life around, and I am even more thankful that she was just as happy as I was to get back in touch. Makes me happy inside.

Not much exciting here, scrapping with Michelle tomorrow, thats always fun, love girl gossip/fun time, its the best. Last weekend at Childrens Hospital this weekend, happy to be done, but sad to leave, I love that place.

Life is Crazy

Long time no post. Life has just been crazy, I swear nursing school takes it out of me, I cant wait to be DONE. Speaking of done, I have a final on Monday and then I never have to deal with this STUPID instructor again. Ugh, cant stand the woman, she is EVIL.

Nothing really super exciting is going on...celebrated my sisters 19th birthday on Sunday, I cant believe shes 19, that means I am old. I dont know why, but 24 feels so old to me. The one thing I am thankful for, is as I have gotten older, I have become so much closer with both my mom and my sister, and thats awesome.

This is a shorty post because Im gonna go work out, woo hoo!

How pretty is this table set-up? These are the colors Michael and I chose (well, I chose) for our wedding, arent they bright and fun?? I love the look of the long table, still not sure if we will haev those or round ones. We shall see, Lord knows I have plenty of time to figure it out!

Leave it to me...

To make a complete idiot out of myself. So I have this new job, babysitting (she calls me the 'nanny' but I like babysitter better, makes me feel younger) and yesterday I worked late so they could go on a date together. There is only one little boy, Nathan, so just turned 1, and hes cute as ever. So last night, around 8, I put him to bed like usual. I walk down the stairs (which are hardwood), and thud thud thud thud thud thud...thats me, falling down the stairs on my butt. I thought I broke my back! I was laying there, crying (really I was) for like 10 minutes, and the worst part...Nathans mom and dad walked in from their date as I was laying there! LOL. I felt so stupid. They were so sweet about it of course, but I felt so dumb.

School is just crazy right now. I have an exam, a teaching plan, and a community project paper all due on Monday. I cant handle this crap, its just too much. Last night was supposed to be my study night when I got home from babysitting, but instead I crawled into bed and took a Soma and passed out! so, I guess that means tonight I am staying up late...because Friday I have a nursing convention that I have to go to in Aneheim all day, and then Saturday I am at Childrens Hospital again, for a 12 hour shift. So basically, I have Sunday to do everything that is due on Monday, lovely.

Lately I have been feeling really thankful for everything I have in my life. So today, I am thankful for my health (as much as I may complain about my weight), because I can walk, I can talk, I can see, and I can hear. What are you thankful for today?

Ok how CUTE is this wedding photo? Dont know these people, but its still super cute!