Salt Lake City.

A few weeks ago I went out to visit my friend who moved to Salt Lake City, UT back in January.

Nick wasn't able to go with me due to work. .  so this was my first time traveling via planes and taxis solo.

When I arrived Megan took us out for smoothies and to get manicures & pedicures :)

We had plenty of time to catch up as the nail salon took over 3 hours. But we didn't care.

We went to her place, where I was reunited with Piper (her dog), I missed that puppy so much! We went out to dinner with her boyfriend.

I had my first Nitro beer. . . I can't say I was a fan. But the dinner was amazing!

The next morning we grabbed brunch at a local bakery.

Went shopping... I bought a little bit too much that later on when i went to pack my suitcase, I had quite the time trying to get it closed. (oops)

 

We had a sushi lunch.

I took some selfies. (trying to get the mountains in the background) but i failed.

She doesn't have red hair.... it is an optical illusion.

We spent a night out on the town. Went to a dualing piano bar.

 

The next day we went up to Park City. That area was beautiful. Despite the storm we drove in to get there...

Saw my first Bansky in real life. I was so excited! My brother first introduced me to his work a few years ago and I have always been intrigued by him and his art work. I can't believe I saw one in person!

Grabbed some pizza at a local shop in Park City

This is Kevin- Megan's boyfriend

And then they took me to the airport. . . 40 minutes before my plane was suppose to leave. It all worked out though :)

I had such a wonderful trip! I can't wait to go back. Thanks Megan and Kevin for having me and being such wonderful hosts'. Miss you guys already!

Autographs, Concerts, & Lunch Dates.

The last two days have been so much fun.

On Friday I had a lunch date with my dad, because the following night I was going to a concert with my mom.

While at the mall, Ingrid Michaelson was there signing autographs and doing a mini concert as well.

My mom was in Vegas at the time so for a Mother's Day gift my Dad and I got her Ingrid's new album and had it autographed for her.

Ingrid Michaelson

We had an awesome day. We had sushi, went shopping, and got to see a concert.

The following night I went to her concert with my mom. We had a blast!

so hard to get a good picture :/

I have the best parents, I am so glad I was able to have one on one time with each of them this weekend.

Easter Sunday.

Hoppy Easter everybunny!

For Easter we always go to my grandparents and spend the afternoon there eating lunch, having an easter egg hunt and playing outside.

This year Easter fell on the day after my birthday.. So i was up a little too late the night before. And having an almost 3 hour drive with a 4 month old puppy at 9am was an adventure in itself ;)

We brought Mac along so my extended family could meet him. I think they all really liked him (i mean whats not to like?)

Mac says "Woof"- translation "Happy Easter!"

Nick and I haven't really established any Easter traditions of our own yet...

What traditions to you guys have?

What beautiful weather we had for Easter.

He is risen!

"A Day Off"

A day off just doesn't really feel like a "day off" anymore.

-Getting up at 5:30 to let out the dog
-Start the laundry
-Make Nick breakfast while he gets ready to leave for work
-Do the dishes that I didn't do last night after work because i was so exhausted
-Swifer and mop the floor from my puppies muddy footprints he tracks in each time he goes outside
-I sit down to watch the news.... then remember to...
-Pay the bills, then I realize oh its Wednesday (aka garbage day).....
-Wheel the trash down the slushy driveway
-make the bed
- see my slipper torn up with fluff all over my floor which leads to...
-vaccuuming
-emptying the vaccuum cannister. . . the trash is full so i can barely get all the dust and dirt in there..
- take the the trash, run it down the driveway in hopes the truck hasn't come yet
- check emails

- go to make lunch. . see the cantaloupe is lying sideways in the Tupperware and leaking..
- wipe out the entire sticky fridge
- time to change over the laundry and fold and put away the dry stuff...
- muddy puppy footprints appear once again
- review my NICU orientation study materials for  work
- get a call from grandma and before I know it an hour's gone by.
- i probably should go buy groceries as I see I have nothing to make for dinner
- get the mail
- drag in the garbage bins
- see piles of dirt/slush in my garage that have fallen off my car, shovel it out so i don't have to walk through it
- my puppy during the 15 minutes I was in the garage managed to tear apart part of a pillow.
- clean up more fluff and stuffing
- let him outside
- clean up poop
-wipe up muddy footprints AGAIN
- put him in his kennel
- go to get groceries, the gas tank is empty in my car.

In utter frustration I decide to forget it and walk back into my house.

etc.
etc.
etc.

It is just never ending. Its no more laying on the couch watching 8 hours of netflix.

Sure I may stay in my pajamas, but that doesn't mean its relaxing.

I truly am blessed, I have a house to clean, a puppy to love and look after. But that doesn't mean a girl can't get a little stressed out.

I work friday/saturday/sunday 7p-7a, so i know i won't get much done in the next few days.

There is still so much I need to do.
-renew my RN license
-register our dog with the city
- print off pictures from last october thru now
- book a flight
- study guides x3 for work
- unpack my spring clothes from storage



Ahhh it felt good to vent. Sometimes I just need to write (type) out my frustration with my "day off".

Happy Wednesday.

New Job

Well today was my first day in my new position in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

I have been an RN for almost 2 years, but this is going to be a whole different type of nursing.

Since I was 5 years old I have always wanted to work with babies. I was the little girl who carried a doll with her every where. All my assignments that my mom saved where it said "What do you want to be when you grow up?" my awful handwriting always wrote out "a baby doctor"

I have my dream job.

I have so much hope for my future in this new population, yet fear as well. It's the fear of the unknown.

Leaving something else I love, somewhere where I was content, happy, and comfortable. It probably was one of the hardest decisions I've made, but also the easiest.

The fear I felt of the possibility of regret for not taking the opportunity to work in the NICU, greatly outweighed the sadness and nervousness I felt about leaving my current unit.

So even though today was mostly observation and paperwork, I can already tell I am going to love my job.

I feel like the luckiest girl in the world.

Bringing home Puppy

Yesterday we traveled 5 hours to pick up our bundle of joy, a 8 week old airedale terrier.

Yes it was Valentines Day. I was treated to a romantic dinner in a small town in Wisconsin at an A&W that was connected to a gas station. So we were able to fill up the car as well.

It was magical ;)

We grabbed a hotel Friday night, so we would only have a 40 minute drive on Saturday morning to get our boy.

There were 4 boy pups to pick from. We narrowed it down to two. . . one wearing a blue collar, and one wearing a red collar.

The biggest two of the litter.

We went with Red Collar. . . who we now call Mac!

:)

We were very nervous for how the drive home would go. . .

It went perfect!

He slept the entire 5 hours on my lap. Didn't cry. Didn't pee on me.

We did let him stretch his legs in McDonald's parking lot. This was his first time outside and first time seeing snow.

This was also the first time we heard him cry/whimper. ( I  could sympthaize as I cry when its cold and snowy out too)

I couldn't be more in love with him.

He is such a sweet boy.

When we got home my parents were waiting at my house to meet him!

They had some car trouble, but everything worked out ok.

Welcome to MN Mac and to our family, I think he's going to like it here. :)

Like it was Yesterday

I met up with my college roommates.

I hadn't seen 2 of them in over a year.

I was now married

One girl is engaged

One girl going on 4 years with her boyfriend

The other living in Arizona


How much changes is incomprehensible. Yet how when we got together nothing had changed. We laughed until we cried, we talked about the crazy college days, and talked of what was to come in each of our lives.

I remember when all 4 of us were single, went out 3-4 days a week, un-sure of where we would end up in life.


Meeting up with these girls just reassured me, no matter the length of time, everytime we get together it will feel like "it was just yesterday" we were roommates and each others closest friends.

Cheers!

Novice Juicer

I recently borrowed a juicer and a juicing cookbook.

I hear about all the amazing health benefits of juicing and wanting to get in on the fun.

One thing about me is I despise eating raw/cooked vegetables. I would eat them if they taste good and someone made them for me. Making them myself. . . . ha ha ha ya right.

Sad. I know.


I tried my first juice tonight. 2 ingredients. Keep it simple. I was already very intimidated walking through the vegetable section of the grocery store.

Apples + Carrots.

I was all excited and ready to drink it up, until i started juicing the carrots. Bright orange frothy carrots smelling juice comes pouring out of the spout.

I stared at it for awhile. . . in the mean time the sediment separated from the juice so all the color from the apples and carrots rose to the top.

I stirred it with my straw and closed my eyes to avoid the foamy frothy top . . .

GULP.

Tasted like straight up apple juice. The texture wasn't bad at all. I know it was only one glass of juice, but let me tell you i feel great!


Like my body has been just starving and craving the nutrients that I have deprived myself of for so long.


It was an overall good first experience. (but lets not talk about cleaning that damn juicer, holy hassle!)

Any tips? Good recipes? Let me know!

ps- thank gosh for spell check, i was spelling "carrots" with 2 tt's  "carrotts" this entire blog post. oops that would have been embarrassing ;)

▲▲▲ January 2014 Vogue Italia

Here you go... this months Vogue Italia by Steven Meisel.

Once again, unique and unlike any of his past projects.

Just Two Humans

We are just two humans.

We are not famous, we are not rich, we are not poor.

We are not always happy, we have bad days & good.

We don't have any unique talents, we aren't a diverse pair.

 

   

We are always trying to find joy.

We never have a day without laughter.

We always are in-content.

We have so much to learn.

We are just two humans.