Arizona Cont....

This is the front of house #2 (my favorite). The one on the left that is the craftsman style home. This doesnt co-inside (sp?) with the layout of the inside as the door will be on the right side. I am in love with this house. LMK what you think!


This is right when you walk in the front door. I would put a table right where that inlet is where the stairs are as a place to put your keys and stuff when you come home. To the left would be where the living room is and you can see the indentation where there is a place for the entertainment center. The living room has a lot of windows which I love, its a small room, but cozy :o)


This is if you keep walking, and this would be the dining room. To the left is a sliding glass door. I like how the kitchen is open to the dining room so its not like its own space. There is no island here :o( but I still love it

Here is the kitchen. I wouldnt choose these colors or floor, but it gives you an idea of the layout

This is taken from standing inside the kitchen looking out. I love the archways in the house. That white door to the left is the pantry

I love those two pillars to the right and left and how they have an inlet for something like a picture or some wall decor, I would light them up with a candle or something too, I just love the way they look.

This is walking up the stairs (duh), there is no loft :o( but there is this inlet in the wall if you keep walking straight right here where you could put a small desk if you wanted to.

This is in the master, again I love the arches.

another view of the master, no balcony :o(

This is a view from the top of the stairs, I like how there are windows in the stairwell and that little shelf where I can put something as well.

Pros: I love the outside of the house, I think its much nicer than the one Michael has picked out, I love the feel of the house when you first walk in, I love that its CHEAPER so we have more room for upgrades to work into our loan, I like that its small but still roomy which means less money on furnishing, I like the seperation of the living room and dining room, I like that the master bathroom has the closet attached

Cons: Its smaller, its only 3 bedroom with no loft, the master bedroom, bathroom, and closet is smaller than the other one, the yard is smaller.

What do ya'll think??

Arizona...

Michael and I got back late Monday night from a much needed trip away to Arizona. We spent the weekend looking at houses for the most part....and we came down to 2 that we really love...I will upload the pictures of each...let me know what you think!!

These are house #1 (Michaels favorite). This is the larger of the 2 homes that we are deciding between.

Photo #1- exterior- this is the best of the 3 exterior choices that you have on this model (I am not very fond of it to be honest)

Photo #2- view from walking in the front door (love the floor they chose in this model, its this really neat black hardwood flooring, I love it!). I dislike how your dining room table would have to go under that hanging lamp, I dont like the idea of walking in and seeing your dining room.

Photo #3- A little to the left of where the dining room table would go, I like the french like doors that look outside, but I am still not sold on the layout of the downstairs of this home

Photo #4- this was taken as if my back was to those french doors in the previous picture. I like the living room area, it feels cozy, but it just feels too "connected" to the dining room.

Photo #5- the kitchen. I LOVE this kitchen...love the island, love that there is a huge pantry, just love everything about it, but its kinda in its own place, and I feel like I would be like in a corner in here cooking. I do love the space of it and the island though.

Photo #6- This is up the stairs which brings you into the loft..its a pretty big room, and if we ever wanted we could convert it into a 4th bedroom. Michael said we could use it as a second living room type area/office/scrap space but I am not sure if I love the idea of that...I know me and I know my scrap area is usually a mess and I wouldnt want that for company to see.

Photo #7- The bedrooms that are down the hall if you go right coming up the stairs. There is also a laundry room there, a bathroom, and a linen closet.

Photo #8- The master bathroom, it has a double sink, a tub, a shower, and a little seperate room with the toilet.

Photo #9- The master bedroom. I love that there is a balcony, I think its so super cute, I dont like that the closet is seperate from the bathroom, it would be off to the left from where I stood taking this picture. Its a big walk-in closet, I just dont like where it is.

Pro's to house #1: it is the larger of the 2, it has a loft that is an optional 4th bedroom, the kitchen has an island and a much larger pantry, the master bedroom is huge and the bathroom is really big.

Cons: it is more expensive, I dislike the look of the outside of the home, it reminds me of being in like George Washington times or something, I dont like the feel when you first walk into the home of the dining area being right there, because its a bigger house and because of the loft we would have to spend more money on furnishing the home AND it will cost more to put in the upgrades like hard wood floors, paint, etc.

Dont you hate it...

When your making something in the toaster, and its so small that you cant get it out, no matter how hard you try? Ugh. I made an english muffin this morning and couldnt get the thing out. By the time I did, there were sparks in the toaster from shoving a knife in there, and the muffin was botched. lol.

Something odd I came across last night. A while ago Michael had drank some Tequilla when we made Margaritas one night, and about 20 seconds after he had taken one drink, he broke out in like hives all over his face and neck! It was horrible. So I thought maybe it was just the mix or something. So last night, he makes this really nice romantic cute dinner and buys a bottle of white wine to go with it. He drinks about half a glass, and I look over and the same thing happened!! I think he is allergic to alcohol! How sad is that?!

I think I broke my back. Well not really, obviously I wouldnt be up and typing this if i did, but its really messed up. Yesterday I woke up and couldnt even stand up straight, it was like a million pounds of pressure on my lower back! So of course, I worked all day yesterday carrying around a huge 17 month old baby, and have to do it again today. It feels better today, but I think its from tripling up on motrin. I cant think of what it could be from, possibly from when I fell down the stairs a few months ago, maybe just flaring up again...I dont know but its terrible :o(

Hope everyone has awesome plans for the weekend, I am studying for my final, woo hoo!!

Poor neglected blog

So I noticed the other day that I dont update this as much as I should, I swear I have good reason!! things have just been kinda crazy with school and working! Lets see whats new in the life of Alex (and no I am not full of myself, if your reading my blog then I am assuming you want to know)

-Finished up this part of clinicals this semester, I made it through with no UPA's (write ups), thanks god!! We lost 5 students from the program in like 3 weeks time, it was crazy! Now we are moving on to Psychiatric nursing and home health, I hear its pretty interesting to say the least. I'm excited about it, it will be nice to have a break from the regular ole bed baths and bed making!

-Wedding planning...nothing really new here. I have decided to have my dress custom made, nothing that I have found is exactly what I am looking for, so a good friend from school knows someone that makes custom wedding dresses, so I am excited about that! We havent put the downpayment on the place yet, my mother is a procrastinator so it doesnt suprise me!

-We are going to Arizona the weekend of St. Pattys Day to look at houses, we fly in on Thursday morning early and leave late Monday night. We are planning on getting together with a couple realtors to just look at houses the entire time, and I have to sneak in some time with Erin and Shanna too of course :o)

-Living with my parents is starting to wear on Michael and I. We are SO grateful to be able to have this opportunity to save money, we really are, but it just wears on certain parts of a relationship if you know what I mean...we know its for the best, and its only a short time, but its just hard, especially on top of nursing school.

-Sent in my taxes this week, I am praying for a return!!! I didnt make all that much, but I am still praying for one! even just 50 bucks, SOMETHING!!

-Studying today for an exam I have tomorrow...I think I have gotten to the point in school where I am just burned out! I just have no real motivation to study or to do much of anything really...I am just OVER it and so looking forward to the summer!

-Missing my sister like crazy lately...our lives are just so different than they used to be...we used to spend every day together, shopping, going out to eat, having fun, etc etc...since she has moved away we never have time with just US anymore, and I so miss that. I am so proud of her though, she will be finishing up her degree before me, and shes only 19! AND she moved away from home, I am still here! I think our relationship has matured a lot in the sense that we have become much closer since she hasnt been here, which is nice. I am hoping that she wants to move with me to Arizona at the end of the year!!

-Wow, I cant believe its going to be the end of THIS year that I will be in Arizona...that is just so crazy to me. After 24 years of the life I have here in Cali, all of it will be changing. I know it will be for the best, there is just SO much about Cali that I will miss...the weather, my family, my friends, my dogs, being FAMILIAR with the area, etc etc...its a weird transition, but a good one. Michael and I are planning on starting a family soon after our wedding, I am going to be working come this time next year doing what I have dreamed about for so long (being an RN), we will OWN a home!, and we will be able to have the life that we want but just cant have in California. We wont be alone in Arizona either, thats the awesome thing. Michaels parents are there, he has an aunt and uncle and cousin there, and another uncle and aunt and 2 cousins, and then there is Erin and Kyle, and Shanna (until she moves), and Michaels sister and her boyfriend...so its not like we are just up and moving where we dont know anyone, I dont think I could handle that, but this I think I can handle...it will just be an adjustment!

-I applied for a new job that I am excited about in the ER, hopefully I will hear this week, I cant wait. I need some extra money to save for the wedding and to pay off my credit card that just keeps going up and up and up...I am applying for several scholarships too that I am hoping I get for that very reason!

well, enough rambling from me, that was a long update!!

(no subject)

Got this quiz from Amber...kinda silly but I had to update this with SOMETHING!! I tag Nichole!

1. Where is your cell phone? Desk
2. Your boyfriend/girlfriend? Michael
3. Your hair? bad
4. Your mother? yelling
5. Your father? sleeping
6. Your favorite Item? food
7. Your dream last night? dunno
8.Your Favorite Drink? diet coke
9. Your dream car? denali
10. The room you're in? office
12. Your fears? fire
13. What do you want to be in 10 years? mommy
14. Who did you hang out with yesterday? Erin
15. What you're not good at? reading
16. Muffins? good
17. One of your wish list items? dress
18. Where you grew up? simi
19. The last thing you did? eat
20. What are you wearing? jammies
21. what aren't you wearing? socks
22. Your pet? annoying
23. Your computer? top
24. Your life? crazy
25. Your mood? tired
26. Missing? Michael
27. What are you thinking about right now? School
28. Your car? OLD
29. Your work? bugs
30. Your summer? cant wait
31. Your relationship status? happily engaged
32. Your current favorite color? pink
33. When is the last time you laughed? right now
34. Last time you cried? last week
35. School? tomorrow

Ive been a bad, bad blogger

I swear...school has been CRAZY!! I miss my blog :o(

Literally thats been what I have been doing all day every day it seems...school. Either a paper to write, a test to study for, a fundraiser to work on, etc etc...thats all I do. I am so so SO happy that I have sat-tues off of both school and work, yippie!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so happy to just relax, even though I have to study, spend time with Michael (who is off work tonight for the first time in FOREVER), and with my sister who is here to visit for the weekend. Yay.

Have been doing a lot of wedding planning lately...our official date is now June 28, 2008. We decided since May might mean rain and our venue is outdoors, we pushed it to the end of June which works better anyways since I am starting an RN residency program in Arizona in February of 2008 that wont be finished until May. So many exciting things happening for us this year...next year at this time we will be living in a house in Arizona, I will be an RN :o), we will be closer to being married, and closer to starting a family...so excited about that.

Arizona is a weird thing to think about...it means so much opportunity that we wouldnt otherwise have in California, but it also means leaving everything I have ever known in my life, which is so unlike me. Thankfully Michaels parents live there, as well as my long lost friend Erin, and Shanna (who may be in Mississippi by then), and my sister has hinted that she may move out there to start her career, and Michaels sister and her boyfriend are there too...but everyone that is important in my life (aside from Michael of course and those that I just named in Arizona) is here. My parents, my dogs, my friends, my co-workers, my school friends, etc etc...so it will be really hard to go. I guess I shouldnt think about it until the time comes...but its getting closer. We are going to Arizona St. Pattys weekend to look at homes, I cant wait.

Wedding planning is going good...its so fun to pick out the little details! I made a couple of mock-ups of invitations that I will be making, they came out really cute actually. I will have to get around to posting a picture of them one of these days.

Shouts to KAT who delivered a beautiful baby GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So happy for you, cant wait to see more pictures of that precious baby!!

Off to study, hope everyone has a great holiday weekend!!!

VEGAS BABY!

Yup...you guessed it. I am going to Vegas this weekend, I cant wait! Leaving early tomorrow morning and staying through Sunday evening, I am soo so excited!!!!

I will have a drink for all of you! :oP

Mi vida loca part duece

So apparently I thought my life would slow down, no luck in that department. I am not sure if I am working too much and need to cut back, but it just seems like every day its SOMETHING. Here is a run down of this week:

Mon: up at 6, school from 8-5 (stayed late for a meeting)
Tue: up at 6, got to work at 8, so that means leaving at 7:15 to drive 16 miles because of all the F'ing traffic! worked all day watching a 1 year old
Wed: up at 4, left at 5:45 to get to clinical, was there until about 7pm, came home and did paperwork until 10:15
Thur: up at 6, left the house at 7:15 again to be at work at 8, worked until 6 again watching a 1 year old
Fri: up at 6, again worked at 8 and watched a 1 year old all day

Dont get me wrong, I love my job, I LOVE Nathan, but 5 days packed back to back like that just make me a little looney. I guess I just need to get the hang of waking up early almost every dang day huh?? lol. I got a treat today and slept til NINE!!!!!!!!! Yippie!

Its my best girlfriend in nursing school, Katie's, Birthday today!! Happy Birthday friend, hope you have a great day!!

Have some pics from Arizona that are taking FOREVER to upload, so I will try to post those later today. While I know Michael and I will be in Arizona in less than a year, I am just not sure exactly how it will pan out. We just arent sure how much we will qualify for, how we will get the money if we DONT qualify for the full amount of the home, etc etc...we are new to all of this, so we are learning as we go. Hopefully we can plan a trip for early March and meet with his Uncle who is a mortgage broker out there and we can discuss our options, we shall see.

I have been studying about the renal system (kidneys) the past 3 weeks...and I dont know if this is self induced, but I seriously feel like I have a kidney stone (again!). I have had several in the last 5 years or so, and they are SO painful. The weird thing is, I have been drinking more water in the last couple of weeks than I ever have, so it doesnt match up. I am praying that I dont, because its seriously the worst pain EVER!

anyway, thats about it for me this week, wish I had more exciting things to report!!

Shouts to baby post...please come out already, we are anxiously awaiting your mommy to post your pictures so we can see who shes been bloging about!! :o)

Bla Bla Bla

Is what I feel like today, nothing to talk about, nothing to say, but tired of studying already and its only 10:45 am. Hence the reason I am blogging, gets my eyes away from the books!

Had a great day yesterday, my aunt and sister came for the day to go shopping and have lunch with me, we had so much fun. We went to the new mall in simi, and were there from like 11 until 7, thats a crap load of shopping! I always enjoy visiting with my aunt, she is the person I am closest to family-wise aside from my mom, and I know I can always ask her advice and talk to her about anything and everything. Got some new kicks with my giftcard from Christmas, some yummy smellies from bath and body works, and some workout clothes. Since my schedule has been crazy with school and working, I have been working out at home with my turbo kick tapes, although I would MUCH rather go to the gym with my long lost gym friend :o), I never seem to be home when the classes are! So this will do for now, until my schedule slows down.

Have been doing some more wedding-schtuff, and have completely changed the style/type of wedding dress I am going to wear. I change things all the time actually, so it will be interesting to see what happens when I do finally get married in terms of what I thought I wanted when I got engaged, and what it ends up being :o)

I did decide on my boquet a long time ago though, that hasnt changed. Here is a pic of 2 that I like, I think I like the all pink peonies the best, but I also like the other colors thrown in. The first pic matches better with my wedding party colors (fuschia and tangerine).

Hope everyone had a fab weekend!

MIA

This week has been crazy! I guess I better start realizing that from here on out LIFE is just going to be crazy, but I miss my old, boring life, where I didnt have anything to do half the time...I guess times are a changin and I better get my butt used to it!

Nothing exciting going on really...had a busy school week, 13 and a half hour clinical, and then a dialysis clinic day the following morning that was pretty sad actually...some of the patients had to go every single day for dialysis, I could not even imagine how difficult that would be!

My aunt is coming to visit tomorrow for a fun girls day, shopping and lunch, I cant wait! I havent had a Saturday free in a while, so I am excited to spend it with her and just relax.

off to work out, its FREEZING here right now, I figure that'll warm me up for sure!

Hope everyone has a fab weekend :o)

Crazy Week!!

So school started on Monday, blah. Seriously, I think I just might die. It just gets harder and harder...I feel like sometimes they push us to the point of just wanting to quit and call it a day! I had lecture on Monday from 8 am until 2 pm...then Tuesday was a math exam and hospital orientation, 12 hours worth of that (we did get out a little early)...then Wednesday was 13 hours worth of clinical!! To top if off, I had to work (babysit) Thursday, Friday, and today as well. I am so tired and I just want to spend tomorrow sleeping, but I need to start my studying as well as my care plan, ugh. Gee can you tell how happy I am about school right now?

Had family pictures taken last weekend by Michelle, they came out so great. We went to this park that is literally 30 seconds from my house, and you would never know. Here is one of my favorites. You can see her new photography website at www.thinkpinkincphotography.com! I went back to brown with my hair...just got tired of keeping the blond up, altough now I am already whinning to my sister for highlights, so I am sure it will change soon!

I found out that Childrens Hospital in Phoenix offers the same program that I wanted to get into here in California...and it starts sooner and isnt quite as long, so I am super stoked! It is a 14 week program, and it starts in February, and I can apply this summer, which is AWESOME. This means I may be pushing the wedding back until June, but we wanted to do that anyway for fear that the grounds at the outdoor place we chose may be too muddy in May. Although May is a great month for us, becuase its both of our parents anniversaries as well as when we got engaged, I am ok with pushing it to June, and the best part is that I would be done with the RN program at Childrens.

Planning a trip to Vegas in Feb to visit the friend I talked about a while back that I re-connected with. I am SO excited I cant even explain it. I just cant wait to give her the hugest hug, and to snuggle her sweet baby boy. Ryan is 4 months old now, and will be 5 when I get there, so still small enough to snuggle!!

Hoping I make it to a crop today after babysitting...I am SO tired right now, and its like 45 minute drive from where I work, but I may just say what the hay to have some girl time...I have NOTHING ready to take with me, so no scrapping for me, just chatting and shopping!

Peace out!

Just a quickie

Just a quickie post...its back to reality...school is starting on Monday, and I am dedicating my weekend to reading ahead so I know what they are talking about in lecture for once. Today I have a math practice, and for some reason I am nervous about the math this semester, I am nervous about everything this semester, its supposed to be really tough, so cross your fingers for me that I make it out alive!!

Got a scary call from Michaels mom this morning...her husband took her into the ER after her Doctors office called to let her know that her Hemoglobin was 5...for non-medical people, thats really low. Hemoglobin is a measurment of the oxygen/iron carrying capacity of our red blood cells...and the normal value for a woman is 12-16. So when its low, basically you dont have adequate amounts of red blood cells that are properly carrying oxygen and iron to the areas of your body that need them...and you can be at risk for heart problems especially since the heart is a muscle and it needs oxygen to survive. Say a little prayer for Val if you get a chance, hopefully she gets this all worked out and is back on her feet again!

Enough nurse talk...nothing super exciting to talk about, still havent uploaded the pictures from the snow, I will beg Michael to do it today!!! (there is pics of the house I am in love with too!). Will post more later, on my way out the door :o)

p.s. Kat, if your reading this, did you fall of a cliff?? Update your blog!

2007

Dang, time flies! Its so weird to say 2007, it feels like I was just in Vegas ringing in 2000. Now I am an old fart that celebrated the New Year in bed, falling asleep. Michael thankfully got here when there was a MINUTE left til the New Year, it was so sweet, he sped home from work and didnt call me because he wanted to suprise me. I think I was fast asleep by 1:20, lol.

So our time in Arizona was too much fun, and went by way too quick! We flew in on Christmas Day and suprised Michaels mom, it was so sweet, she was SO excited to see us. We went to Sedona and Flagstaff on a mini-trip, both of those places are so beautiful, if you havent gone you have to go sometime! I am trying to post some snow pictures but cant find them on the computer, so I will make sure to do that sometime this week. It was sooooo cold!! Michael and I are seriously thinking about putting a downpayment on a home in April of this year, it takes 8 months for it to be built, so it would be done just in time for when I graduate nursing school. We have the money now that is required to put down, which is exciting, so we have to put a lot of thought into it in the next couple of months. This house that I fell in love with is seriously so gorgeous, I love it. It couldnt be more perfect. As hard as it will be to move out of California, Michael and I want so badly to own a home, and to have a big family, and there is just no way we can do it here, so Arizona it is, even if its just for a couple of years to get on our feet. I will keep ya'll updated, I am just so excited about it!

I was bummed that I didnt end up meeting up with my girlfriends Erin and Shanna when I was in Arizona, maybe next time!! I know for sure I will be out there in April for Erins WEDDING!

Santa was good to me this year...I got a Zune (like an IPOD, except Microsoft makes it!), cookbooks, an herb garden, pajamas, a cute jacket, lots of cute scarves, cash, gift cards, smelly bath stuff, a Coach bag (from Michaels mom and sister, sooo was not expecting that!!), a new PINK blow dryer, a ceramic flat iron, hair products, more gift cards, and lots of socks!! I wasnt expecting to be so spoiled!

I am so loving this Chicken Tortilla Soup, its soooo super yum I cant stand it! I have to share the recipe, its that good (I think so anyway), and you dont feel too guilty eating it!

1 large can tomato juice
2 cans of low sodium beef broth
2 cups of water
1 medium onion, diced
1 clove of garlic, minced
2 tablespoons of butter or olive oil
1 rotisserie chicken (cooked), bones removed and shredded (we just use the breast, but you could use leg meat too if you wanted)
1 can of corn
2 cans of black beans
1 small can of diced green chilis
1 teaspoon of cumin
1 packet of chicken taco seasoning

Heat a large pot on medium-high heat. Add butter or oil, and saute the onion and the garlic for 3-5 minutes. Dump everything else into the pot, bring it to a gentle boil for about 10 minutes, and then let it all simmer on medium-low heat for about 45 minutes-1 hour. My favorite toppings are non-fat sour cream, shredded cheese, tortilla strips, and avocado! You can also add different things to the soup, I have had it with carrots, celery, potatos, and bell pepper. The ingredients I posted are just my personal favorite!!

Enjoy!!

Oh I wanted to add another goal for 2007...pay off my credit card!

Last Post of 2006

So its 10:48 and I am sitting here waiting for my hunnie to get home from work, we are so bummed out that he had to work late tonight and we may not be able to ring in the new year together...but such is life, right? :o(

I cant believe 2006 will be over in an hour...the year has just flown by, and I wanted to reflect on it a little before I crawl into bed and pass out

In 2006 I...

-Started Nursing School

-Went on a fabulous Caribbean vacation with Michael and his family

-GOT ENGAGED :o)

-Got a new job that I love watching the cutest baby ever

-Got a $1,000 scholarship, yay for free money!

-Re-connected with a life-long friend that I am so happy about

-Gained 10 pounds

Ok so I am not so happy about the last one, but late nights of studying, fast food, and no time for the gym will do that to ya I suppose, I have gotten my butt back in gear and I think Michaels as well, so it will come off in no time. 2006 was a great year for me, my favorite year yet...I feel like right now my life is filled with so much happiness and love, as well as a sense of accomplishment with all I have done in nursing school, its been a really rewarding year and I hope 2007 will be even better.

Here is what I predict and hope for 2007...

-I will graduate Nursing School

-Michael and I will save up as much money as possible

-I will pay off my credit cards

-Michael and I will purchase our first home

-I will use my endless supply of scrapbook stuff!!

So how do you feel as you reflect on 2006 and what do ya'll hope for 2007??

Wishing all of you a safe and happy New Year!!!!

Arizona here we come

What a crazy couple of weeks!!!

I am in Arizona right now, spending the week with Michaels parents, and its soooooo nice! I havent thought about school ONCE, its been so long since I have been able to do that!!! I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas, I know we did. We spent Christmas Eve with my moms side of the family like always, about 60 people, all family and friends that we call family, all go to my aunts house and we eat dinner and open gifts, its really fun and my favorite time to get together. Christmas morning we spent with my parents and my sister, and then hopped on a plane and flew to Arizona and have been here since. We went house hunting yesterday and saw the most BEAUTIFUL homes that I wanted to buy right there...all under $300,000....in California, we cant find anything under $500,000, and what we are looking for would be well over that...so its nice to dream while we are here, and look at what we like and dont like. Its just amazing what you can get for your money, I am so so so excited to seriously start looking in June of next year, since we will be here in December 2007!!!

Something super exciting (and kinda sad), I saw snow for the first time this weekend!! We took a road trip for the night to Sedona and Flagstaff and it was snowing, it was soooo beautiful, I will post pics when I get home!!

Just a quickie post, hope everyone has recooperated from the holidays!!!!!

FINAL-ly

So today is my final for this semester, woo hoo!!! I admit I didnt study all that much, but I justified it by getting really good grades on the previous exams, so I am not losing sleep over it. Hopefully after the final I can get some Christmas shopping done, I havent really done all that much, so hopefully I can put a big dent in it today.

The ugly sweater party this weekend was a blast! I only have a couple of pictures, I am waiting for my cousin to e-mail me better ones and I will post them, there were some pretty funny sweaters! I drank a little too much wine, but other than that it was fun! I think we will make it a family tradition, its another excuse for us all to get together around the holidays, which is always so much fun, I just love a house filled with family and friends, and good food too!!

This week is going to be kinda crazy, and then the following week we will be in Arizona! My parents bought us plane tickets for Christmas to go out to Arizona, we were planning on driving, so it will be SO nice to not have to be in the car for 7 hours, the flight is just about an hour long, and the airport is only 30 min from our house. I cant wait. Michaels mom thinks we are driving in the day after Christmas, we are totally going to suprise her by flying there ON Christmas...and we are going to play an evil trick and call her on Christmas day and say the car wont start and we wont be able to make it...when she sees us she will be so happy, I cant wait!

Hope everyones having fun with last minute Christmas shopping, I know thats what I am doing this week!!

From the fabulous Nichole W...

A-Available or single: neither!
B - Best Friend: Michael, Sara, and Michelle
C - Cake or Pie: Cupcakes!
D - Drink of choice: Diet coke
E - Essential item you use everyday: cell phone, lip gloss, flat iron
F - Favorite color: pink
G - Gummy Bears or worms: regular gummy bears and sour gummy worms
H - Hometown: Simi Valley, Ca
I - Indulgence: hhmmmm....at the moment truffles from costco!
J - January or February: Feb because of Valentines Day :o)
K - Kids & Names: We would like 3-4 kids, and the names...First born child will be Mathew or Madelynn (depending on the sex), and I love too many other names!
L - Life is Incomplete Without? The love of my life and my family
M - Marriage Date: May 17, 2008...sooooo long away!
N - Number of Siblings: 1 sister
O - Oranges or Apples: apples with peanut butter please
P - Phobias or Fears: Car accidents, a fire in my house, and losing someone I love
Q - Fave Quote: "I'm in love I'm in love and I dont care who knows!!!!!"- buddy the elf
R - Reason to Smile: its the holidays!
S - Season: I have to agree with Nichole...summer!! I love sandals, cute pedicures, blonde hair, a TAN, shorts, etc etc...
T - Tag 3 or 4 people: Michelle, Kat, Jody, and Araxi
U - Unknown Fact about Me: I ratted out my best friend in 5th grade for lighting a match in class. who does that?
V- Vegetable You Don't Like: brussel sprouts
W - Worst Habit: biting my nails, cutting people off when they are talking
X - Xrays: never broken a bone
Y - Your Fave Food: everything :o)
Z - Zodiac Sign: Libra

I just like to smile, smilings my favorite

Ok if you have never seen the movie Elf, you should be shot. I just love that movie, and I think I quote it at least once a day!!

So basically there is like less than 2 weeks left until Christmas, and the list just keeps on growing. I work today and tomorrow, and Thursday is a girls day out that I am super excited about and could care less about working on my "to-do" list, and then I have clinical Friday and Saturday, and a final on Monday that I will be studying for. That leaves me less than a week to do all my shopping, gotta love waiting til the last minute!

We picked up our Christmas Cards last night at Costco, I would post it but some people that read this will be getting one in the mail and I dont want to spoil it, it came out super cute!!

My poor little Nathan (the little guy I babysit for) had surgery yesterday and has his arm in a full cast, he had a ganglion cyst on his wrist and so they removed it, hes only 14 months old, so babysitting him today should be interesting to say the least!

I had the healthiest breakfast today...chocolate truffles from Costco, they are soooo good!! You get 2 huge boxes for like $10 or something, and they are really really yummy!

I know you all want to run out and buy this lovely holiday sweater, so sorry to break the bad news, but I won it on ebay and will not be selling it as it is so beautiful. This is the sweater I am wearing this weekend to the bad sweater party, what do you think???

Weekend Woes

This week was such an odd week in clinical. First, I had a patient who was only 27, which is really rare for a medical-surgical unit like the one I was on, its almost always people over 60. The weirdest part...he was SO CUTE!!!!!! I have never ran into something like that, but I almost felt like I was blushing everytime I was in his room. Now dont get me wrong, I love Michael more than anything in this whole world, and would NEVER do anything like that, nor would I ever be un-professional as a nurse, but it was just so odd. The whole 2 days I took care of him he had his shirt off, and he had abs of like steel and arms that were to die for!! My other guy was such a sad story, he had Alzheimers so bad that he didnt even remember his own childrens names, I just felt so sad. He didnt know where he was, who he was, or what he was doing there. It just broke my heart into a million pieces to see his kids come in and he had no recollection of who they were. I really feel that when that happens to people, their spirit is already in Heaven, and that is why their memories are gone. Ugh it was just so hard. I also had a patient whose wife recently passed away, on the day of their 60th wedding anniversary, and he was crying the whole day, it made me so so sad. Ok enough nurse talk.

Spent the day today making Pumpkin Butter, and its sooo good. Especially on a slice of hot toast, YUM! We are sending goodies to Michaels family back east this year (like we did last year), and we gotta get them out this week, so its crunch time. I have half the pumpkin butter done, and then we will be making Bannana Walnut bread as well, yum!

Sooooo much Christmas shopping to do! I dont even want to think about it thats how behind I am.

Hope everyone had a great weekend, happy thoughts to Arleena who may be having her baby boy this weekend, so happy for her and her hubby!!

Last one.

I promise.

If you have not tried these cookies, please leave your house immediatly and run and buy 5 boxes. They are seriously SO good...a mix between a thin mint girlscout cookie and an oreo, but even BETTER!!!!!! (in case you cant see they are Trader Joes brand)