Apparently...

I need to go back to drivers ed and learn how to parallel park.

I attempted to do it the other day and conviniently smashed the front end of a really nice, brand new Infinity. I left a note (like a good, moral person should) and found out it was a guy I work with at this new job, even worse. I decided to pay out of pocket for the expenses and it is going to be around $1200...plus $60/day for a rental car for him, AND it will take EIGHT flippin days to fix!!! Ugh, how could it take EIGHT days to fix a dang dent??? (well its a pretty deep dent, but still!). Lovely. The whole reason I got this summer job was to pay off my existing debt, not to create more! The worst part about it...the reason I was there the morning I hit his car was for a class that ended up being cancelled!!! I wish someone would have called me to let me know, I wouldnt be in this stupid mess!!

And the frosting on the cupcake (I like cupcakes better than cake), I got a parking ticket today because I didnt think I needed a new parking pass for summer session. I am just a genious huh?

Needless to say, I am not buying a lotto ticket today!

I <3 this girl

Ok so I admit, this is not the most flattering picture of myself, in fact its really quite horrible, but this picture really captures the relationship me and my sister have...I just wished we didnt live so far apart and were able to be together more often. In all her crazy, loud, hilarious, randomness...I just love this girl.

Its getting hot in here....

Dang it was like 100 yesterday I think!! Today it has cooled some and we are heading to the BEACH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :o) I feel like I havent been to the beach in forever and Michael and I want to take advantage of it before we move away from it all when we go to Arizona. We are going to Ventura, our favorite place next to Santa Monica, and renting bikes to ride around for the day and having lunch on this pier. I cant wait! :o)

A few random things going on with me...

*School is over for the semester as of MONDAY and I cant wait! Aside from a 6 week class I am taking in the summer, I am so stoked to have some 'me' time and not dedicating all my time to others.

*I won another scholarship, $1000 and I get it in a couple of weeks, yippie for putting it towards my credit card bill!!!

*I started a new job and am no longer babysitting. I am working in the ICU at the hospital as a monitor tech and unit secretary, just in 1 day I have seen so much and I am so excited about it. They are also floating me to the ER which will be exciting too!

*We decided to push the house buying date to July, that way it will be done around January/March and I dont have to worry about having an offer letter before I even finish nursing school

*Michael is in the managment training program at Claim Jumper restaraunt and I couldnt be happier for him, he loves it and is such a hard worker! I owe him so much for all he has done for me since being in school, really you have no idea, its crazy!

*Michaels step dad is having surgery on the 18th of this month for his back, if you could just say a little prayer for him, he is really nervous about it! (boys are such babies at times!)

Thats all for now! Off to the beach :o)

I love Conan!

awwwwwwwww

Erins wedding :o)

quickie house update: so they didnt accept our offer, but after thinking about it long and hard, we realized it is for the best. We could get the house, but we would have to move in December 30th, which means we have to work our loan 60 days prior to then and we just dont think we will be in a situation that will get us a decent loan with an affordable intrest rate. So while I am sorta bummed (I was sooo looking forward to picking out all the fun stuff for the house!!) we are fine with it because we are going back in June and we know they will have the same houses (they have 350 left to build) for the same prices, and it will give us more of a cushion as far as the move in date...so while I am sorta sad, I am ok with it too :o)

So...

We put in an offer, yippie!!

We asked for a lot that faces a green belt, we asked for a years paid HOA, and we asked for the company to cover all closing costs. We find out on Monday or Tuesday of this week. We are SO excited, nevous, anxious, scared, etc etc...

Cross your fingers for us!!

Tomorrow is the big day!

So Michael and I are leaving for Arizona tonight after I finish with clinical to :::hopefully::: put the money down to start the build for our new house!! I say hopefully because we want to take a good look at all the models again to make sure we are making the right decision, and then we also need to take a really good look at the lots that are available and pick the one that works best for us. The model that we are most likely going with (the largest one) has a lot open right now on a greenbelt (so rather than facing other houses it overlooks this grassy park like area, which would be so nice because there isnt much green in arizona, especially in summer!) and we really love the idea of the greenbelt, plus this lot is about 20 feet away from a 'tot lot' which is an area for kids to play and I think it will be great for when we have kids in the next couple of years. It is all so sureal to me, that we are going to have our own home, be living together, be married in a little over a year, I will be an RN...this year is going to fly by it seems!! I am just so thankful to have Michael in my life and so blessed that we have this opportunity!! (even if it does mean moving away from the beach!).

Erins WEDDING is tomorrow, yippie!!!!!! This wedding is going to be a blast...her family is a crack up and I am so excited for her.

School is stupid right now. Thats the only word I can use. I have never seen such disorganization and lack of communication, EVER! I cant wait for the summer to get here, and more importantly for December to get here so I can graduate and be done!

Hope everyone has a rockin weekend planned!! I will update with pics and the house info when I get back!

Finally!!

Its about dang time that this freako got voted off American Idol. I am sorry, I have always been a fan in this show and I do believe that people can improve...however him being around this long was just a plain joke in my book! Now the competition can begin...the next 6 weeks should be really interesting, I cant wait!!

On a different note...Michael and I got all of our paperwork faxed in today for our house...it was SO weird to sign some of the papers. Its not official until next Saturday, but its still so weird to me that we are going through the motions of having our own HOME! Its so exciting :o)

School is dragging right now...I cant wait for summer! Every day it seems like its something, and most of the time I feel like I am wasting my brain! I cant wait for next semester to start in August...it will be my final semester there and I will have my degree in December!

Nothing exciting going on, nothing new, I miss my sister, I miss my friends, I miss my LIFE...but other than that nothing exciting to report!

Long week!!

Ok so I am SSSOOOOOOO glad that this week has officially come to an end!! I had something going on every single day of the week, between school, clinicals, a nursing convention, and more clinicals...I was soooo excited to get home tonight and be able to take my shoes off for the long haul. I have tomorrow off, and then next week is just as crazy, so I plan on enjoying every second of tomorrow!

Going to Arizona in TWO weeks!!!!!!! Shyza! (love that new word). I cant believe Erins wedding is so soon...and even more so I cant believe Michael and I are putting money down on a home!!! Its soo crazy to me, so overwhelming, so scary, but so exciting at the same time. I cannot wait to have a home of my own to share with my soon-to-be-hubby!!

School is going pretty good, I am finally done with Psych and am seriously psyched about it, lol. I couldnt handle it there anymore, it really was a real life looney bin!! Not my cup of tea, thats for sure. I finish this semester May 14th...have 3 whole months off...go back in August and graduate in December!!! I cant believe I am almost done with my 3rd semester and will just have one more to go, time has flown by so fast, its amazing to me.

Last but not least...if you havent tried this makeup (bare essentuals), run out and get it!! Its such a nice makeup, I LOVE it. I have been using it for a week and have been really pleased with it, its so easy to use, really light on your skin, and doesnt make you break out!! I am so happy I finally bought it, I dont think I will ever use anything else again!

Thats all for now...off to watch a movie and wait for my hunnie to get home!! :o)

hhmmmm.....

So Michael and I have been doing a lot of thinking...and we (think) we have decided to go with a larger home. We want our first home to feel like a home...and if we went with the smaller models, we would be moving in 5 years when we have kids anyways, and if I knew I was moving in 5 years, I wouldnt really feel like it was "home," because I know myself and I wont get attached to something if we are just going to move out. SO...here are some pictures of the larger model, this home is 2600 sq feet...3 car garage...and just "bigger" (this isnt the one of the larger models that I love, but I will be grateful for any house we live in, and I do like this one a lot, just dont love)

This is right when you walk in the house to the left, its a living room and its pretty big when your standing inside (note how flattering this picture is of me, lol)


This is to theright when you walk in, that archway is to the kitchen, so this would be a formal dining area

This is looking dead on down the hall from when you walk in, the kitchen has an opening right here to the left and then when you keep walking there is a dining area to the right and an area you could use as a living room to the left

This is standing in the kitchen looking out, the area in front right there would be the dining area (so directly behind where we are standing taking this would be the walk way to the formal dining area)

This is from standing in the dining room looking into the kitchen, on the right there is a pantry and the entry to the garage and a bathroom.

This is on the other side of the dining room, like I said it could be another living room-ish area, or we could just make it a bigger dining room, who knows...I love the fireplace...

This is upstairs...the den. I love that there is a den, and then a little nook that you can use for an office (scrapbook room for me please!!). You can have shelves built into it, or do whatever you want, I think its fun and I love that its in its own corner! Down the hall are the regular bedrooms, a laundry room, and a bathroom with a double sink and a tub.

This is inside the master, its huge! (another great shot of me!)

Master bathroom...the walk in closet is to the right (I think, I forget we looked at so many homes!)

Another view from the other part of the den..its really big and I love it! (love the floor too!)

So thats the bigger house...all this for $242,000 (base price). We have alot to think about...who knows what we will end up with, what we will qualify for, etc etc...but its so exciting to think we could have this as our first home!

Randomness.

Ok so I am horrible at updating this blog, but I think its a trend for most bloggers so I dont feel so bad. Nothing super exciting in my neck of the woods...just a few random tidbits/updates/boring info about my life :o)

*spring break this week, yippie!! Although it really isnt a spring break at all. I am working 4 of the days, and in clinical on Friday and Saturday, and Sunday I am spending studying for an exam on Monday, fun.

*Got to see Erin and Abby on Saturday night for a little girls get together, laughed too hard and ate too much, always a good thing!!

*Going to AZ in April for Erins wedding and going to put the money down on our house...I am beside myself I am so excited!

*Summer starts in May and I cant wait...I so am needing a break right now!

*hopefully starting a new job this week or next, I am stoked because we are in money saving mode big time around here

*Doing my Psych rotation in nursing school right now...pretty crazy. Literally.

*thats all folks.

Told you it was boring!

Happy Monday Everyone!

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)