Beach Date

Finally it worked out for me to get together with Jill. Who's wedding I am going to be in this fall!

We met up at the beach, soaked up the sun, ate popsicles, and did some shopping.

Is there anything better then going to the beach with your best friend? Such a simple fun thing to do.. i definitely don't do it often enough.

Thanks for a fun, relaxing, girly day Jill. Hope we can do it again soon! xo

Wedding Season

It's that time of the year again....

Wedding Season!

We have 7 weddings to attend this year- we love weddings!

Food, dancing, friends, love. . . whats not to love about weddings. Sure they take up some Saturday's of my summer/fall, but what an honor to be able to watch 2 people commit their lives to one another. I am such a sap.

Plus you can't wear the same dress to different weddings, so i think some shopping is in order ;)

The Circus is in town!

The circus has come to my city!

I have NEVER been to a circus... needless to say I was over the moon when I found out i would be able to attend.

Especially since I saw the movie Water for Elephants my desire to go to a circus was only heightened.

My good friend Paige attended with me... What we thought was going to be a wonderful night at the Circus kind of turned into something different.

Tiger trainer

Camel Act

Acrobatics

Let's just say that when they were doing the acts with the animals, I about lost it. I felt so sad for these animals. There was one camel that kept going rogue and did not want to participate... and they kept whipping it.

It was one of the most horrible things I have ever been too. Was it entertaining, yes. But I will not support circus's or ever go to one again.

Paige and I the entire show had discussions about using animal's for entertainment which led us to talk about Blackfish.  The documentary on captivity of whales... How is a circus any different?

I guess I didn't realize all these feelings the circus would provoke in me.

Animals are not are play things, they are not our slaves.

After a chidhood of wanting to go to the circus and not having the opportunity, what a disappointment to go as an adult and have it be such a heart wrenching experience for me.

Dungeons & Dragons: The journey continues

Nothing like rolling some D20's on a Monday night with some good friends.

Vet Appointments

At least every month, if not every other week we have been taking Mac to the vet.

Weather its for vaccine's, puppy check up, etc.

The first few times he was very scared and shy and sat there quietly.

I honestly think the Vet is worse for me than it is for him.. I just want to comfort him the whole time, he has thee cutest, softest whimper when he is scared and just wants his mama.

He only weighed 9 pounds on his first visit there.

First time at the Vet

Since then he has gotten a lot more comfortable with getting examined. He still hates when we touch his paws.. but with time I think that will improve too.

Brave boy

Still needs papa sometimes

I hope with time it will get easier for me to see him going to the vet. I am not looking forward to the day when he has "his surgery" and has to wear the cone of shame. Poor guy, he doesn't know what's coming.

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.