NANDA

Spent 10 hours on a care plan today.. hopefully the last one I ever have to do for school.
Got me feeling like:

Mouse Ears and Magic.

Hi there! :)
Sorry, same old usual stuff: busy, busy with SCHOOL!!
I had another successful quarter, kicking ped's butt this time with an A!

I had almost two weeks off for summer, and I spend 90% on a much needed vacation.
David and I headed down to St. George on Wednesday night [6.24.2015] to start our vacation a little early. When we got there we shopped, grubbed and headed to bed early for our drive to Cali in the morning. I had to show David the incredible Jazzy Java's before we hit the road Thursday morning, and he was definitely impressed.

We had one hot, [my AC doesn't like to work on road-trips] yet smooth drive to Anaheim. Once we checked into our hotel, we walked across the street so I could show David what Downtown Disney was all about. Guys, this man gets so excited-- just like me!! It makes everything so much more magical. While we were there, we bought our Disneyland tickets & some mouse ears of course; then grabbed some dinner at ESPN and headed back to our hotel for some quality zzzs.

The next day we experienced the magic of Disneyland! David had been there only once when he was a child, so it basically was his first time. I did my research and we managed to hit everything we wanted to by the afternoon! We met up with my friend Anna and her boyfriend Tim later in the day, and they said we couldn't miss the parade and the fireworks. I am so glad we listened, that alone was worth the trip by itself!!

When our feet could no longer handle it [just before closing-- almost a sixteen hour fun filled day], we drove to our Newport beach house for some much earned sleep.
The next two days we relaxed on the beach and even did some SUPing [stand up paddle-boarding] in the pier. Monday [6.29.2015] we took a boat to Catalina Island. Dave had never been on a boat in the open ocean, [let alone never even seen a real cruise ship!] so it was very special and so much fun. Gosh, I just love that man. While in Catalina we checked out the island, and did some more SUPing and fish seeing in Lover's Cove. It was an wonderful little adventure with the whole fam.

Tuesday [6.30.2015] was a marvelous day spend at California Adventure. We rode everything we wanted to [twice even], and indulged in some lobster nachos and ice cold fulfilling brews [and more brews]. The rest of the week we lived it up as much as we could at all our favorite local by-the-beach spots. Our last night at Newport, David made the whole family a spaghetti and homemade meatball dinner. It was a smashing hit, they all loved it-- and all seven pounds of meatballs were devoured.

Friday, the last morning of the beach [7.3.2015] David and I tried to sleep in, but it was too hard when everyone was leaving. We were the last ones to check out of the empty beach house. We decided on a last breakfast at Charlies Chili one of the local favorites. After breaky we drove to Vega$ for one last night of fun. My sweet Glen got us a room at the Downtown Grand, which was right across the street from the Fremont Street Experience. We didn't have a lot of money left by the end of this long adventure, but we managed to win some cash to pay for our adult beverages. :)

Now we are home, it is kind of depressing actually. I have finished the first week of school already, and I have to remind myself that I am going to school so I can have more magical vacations like that.

I want stuff!
I want to play!
I want to travel!!

So I must work hard and study harder. Hopefully only five months and two weeks until I can start my dream journey as a Registered Nurse.

wanderlust.

I have been lucky enough to have seen some pretty amazing places in my short time here on Earth.
I have adventured to the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, New York City, Niagara Falls. I've seen some Mayan ruins, the red light district in Amsterdam, the Grand Canal and Saint Mark's Basilica in Italy.
Santorini and Ancient Greece.
I feel so blessed, yet I want to see so much more.

I've found myself wanderlust lately.

I want to see the Great Pyramid of Giza, and maybe ride a camel.
I want to visit the Colosseum in Rome.
I want to back pack throughout Europe, spending extra time in London.
Stonehenge, Taj Mahal, the Great Barrier Reef, Rio de Janeiro, New Zealand, Fiji.
I want to kiss the blarney stone.
I want to see the Aurora Borealis and maybe stay in an igloo.

I want to see the world.

Where are you dying to go?

keep on growing.

You grow.

You can't not change. 

That's just the way it is. It's how things work. 

Therefore, in order to stay comfortable as you grow, you must flow with the changes and not attempt to remain the same--just as you buy a new pair of shoes for your son or daughter when their feet have outgrown the pair they've been wearing. 

It's not reasonable for them to continue wearing their favorite shoes when they no longer fit. You get rid of the old ones and buy a new pair. But the reason you need new ones is that their feet have grown. 

Growth has occurred. 

Their foot grew, the shoe became to small, their foot hurt. 

Pain is not an inherent part of being a foot.

 Nor is it an inherent part of growth. 

you go girl!

Have you guys read: "Dear New Girl at the Gym" ?

A friend of mine shared this letter on Facebook the other day, and I absolutely loved it.

I recently canceled my membership to the amazing Xcel facility. It was hard for me because I have been going there since I was 15, and I have been grandfathered in at a killer rate of $24 a month (and if I ever go back rates start at $79 a month--ouch). I decided to switch to Vasa fitness for the option of more locations, better hours, and to feel a little less out of place.

 I am a little uncomfortable in my own skin right now, but I gained enough courage on Tuesday night for my first yoga class there. I was pleasantly surprised how much I loved the atmosphere. I realized that there are always people more fit than you, and always people less fit than you. We are all in this journey together, and the only person you need to be better than, is the person you were yesterday.

Anyway, this letter says it better, enjoy:

"Dear New Girl at the Gym,

You stand across from me in boot camp or on the treadmill next to me or a few bikes over in spin. I have never seen you before, but here you are. I can tell by the look on your face you are embarrassed. Embarrassed that you can’t do a pushup or don’t know how to adjust your bike or that you walk on the treadmill when the girl on the other side of you runs for a full hour at the speed of a cheetah. You look around and wonder what on earth you are doing here. You glance at me and I smile, but you look away pretending you didn’t see, because that would mean I noticed you. Maybe you are discouraged. Maybe you tell yourself this was a huge mistake and you’re going to ask for your money back. Maybe you wonder if I’m judging you.

I am not.

I want you to know how proud I am of you. You see, even though it might not seem like it, none of us are judging you. Why? Because so many of us were just like you. We know what it is like. We know how hard it is, especially in the beginning. Really we do. Maybe you woke up one day weighing forty pounds more than you did five years ago. I have been there. Maybe you stepped on the scale at the doctor’s office, had the nurse cluck her tongue, and then had the doctor say something like, “Now let’s talk about your weight.” I have been there. Maybe you recently had a baby, and you wonder if there will ever be a time when you don’t have to tuck your stomach into your pants. I have been there. Maybe you get half way through the warm up in a group fitness class and wonder if you are this out of breath now, is a full hour going to kill you? I have been there. Maybe money and time are tight and the idea of spending $30-$70 a month and an hour a day on yourself feels awfully selfish. I have been there. So many of us have.

You see us running or biking or lifting weights, and may feel discouraged or that we are judging you. Please, please, PLEASE know that we are not, because so many of us have been in your same shoes. You see us for what we are now, but many of us started out just like you, on a journey to find our best selves.

Please come back. I know it is hard, but it will get better, I promise.

And then you will wake up one day and wonder when you became that person. You know that person who can jog a few miles or do a whole spin class or even do boot camp without being sore the next day. And you will be the one, standing across the room, smiling at the new girl hoping she knows how lovely and wonderful and brave she is. Hoping she knows she is worth all the work. Because you are. You are so worth it. You deserve to be your healthiest self.

Now there might come a time and a place where someone will judge you, even someone at the gym. Maybe they make rude comments or give you that look. Maybe they have never known what it feels like to struggle with their weight. Maybe they have low self-esteem. Maybe they have never eaten an entire pan of brownies by themselves (I have) or an entire bag of Halloween candy before a single trick or treater came to their door (I have). Maybe they forgot what it was like to be the new girl. Please, don’t waste your time on them. You are on a journey to be your best self, and they don’t belong on your journey. Find people and a place where you can begin where you are.

Come back. You are so worth it."

Daily law.

↬Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. While you walk, smile! It's the ultimate anti-depressant.
↬Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. #breathe.
↬When you wake up in the morning, complete the following statement:
"My purpose is to ____________ today."
↬Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
↬Drink green tea, and plenty of water.
↬Try to make at least three people smile today :)

↬Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts, or things you cannot control. Instead, invest your energy in the positive present moment.
↬Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out credit card.
↬Life isn't fair, but it is still good. #always.
↬Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
↬Don't take yourself so seriously-- no one else does.
↬You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
↬Make peace with your past so it wont spoil the present.
↬Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
↬No one is in charge of your happiness except you. Choose to be happy.
↬Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter?"
↬Forgive everyone for everything. #karma.
↬What other people think of you is none of your business.
↬However good or bad a situation is, it will change. #nostress.
↬Your job wont take care of you when you are sick, your friends will. Stay in touch.
↬Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
↬Each night before you go to bed, complete the following statement:
"I am thankful for _____________. Today I accomplished ________________."
↬Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

A bump in the road..

Uhhg. I've been "held back."
I'm so bummed.

I was looking forward to peds for so long, I freaking love kids!! I was even thinking about doing something pediatric related when I become a registered nurse.
I don't know what it is about it, but that class is one of the hardest classes I have ever taken-- even worse than pharmacology!!

I need a 78% to pass any class at Fortis, and I got a freaking 76.3%.
I missed it by 1.7%!!! [insert red face emoji here]

So instead of increasing my load this semester,
(I can't handle five 12 hour days in a row, and 0 days off).
It is with a heavy heart I am prolonging my graduation date. :(

Instead of being done this September, I will be graduating in December.
[8 months 2 weeks]

You know me, trying to see the positive of this situation:
+ At least I will still be a nurse by the end of this year!
+ I will have an easier load this quarter-- all to enjoy the summer with ;).
+ I will have an advantage this semester! [Peds & OB booooyah]
+ I will miss cohort 16, but I love cohort 17 as well!
+ It will be nice to have a break from all those clinicals and sims this quarter.

A few of my favorite things..

Today was complete with: 

♥ fresh iced tea.

♥ lots of h2o.

♥ margarita pizza.

♥ yoga class.

♥ sweat sesh.

♥ clean hair. 

♥ kombucha.

& cuddles.

Happy Tuesday! 

Hoppy Easter.

This Easter I spent this holy day with my incredible little family: My mom, Glen, David, Noah and his sweet girlfriend Lyndsey. 

Glen and my Mom made the best feast to celebrate, and after we played an unholy game of Cards Against Humanity. 

BEFORE: 

[Cheese plate, tossed salad, filet mignon, balsamic mushrooms, grilled asparagus, funeral potatoes (Noah's fave), roasted sweet potato, and deviled eggs.]

AFTER: 

David was beyond stoked to see the Easter bunny brought us a chocolate egg. He is so freaking adorable.

My beautiful Easter tulips from David's Mother: 

It was not our usual Easter spent with the extended fam (Grandma was out of town), and we didn't dye any eggs this year, but it was beyond perfect spending the day at home with the people I love most. 

rockstar status.

Among the many perks of dating a rockstar, one of my favorites is being on the top of the list:

& getting to go home with him after ;)

Check out A Lily Gray!

be still my soul.

I recently have been trying to get more involved with meditation, especially with all the stress from nursing school. I found this little meditation exercise for beginners I quite like, & I thought I would share it with you guys.

It is called "Counting Backward" from: Yoga The Spirit and Practice of Moving Into Stillness
by Erich Schiffmann.

"In this exercise you will be counting backward from fifty to zero, synchronizing the counting with your breathing. You'll count the even numbers as you exhale and the odd numbers as you inhale.
Sit with your back straight and your eyes closed. If you can sit comfortably on the floor, do so, Otherwise, use a chair. Be comfortable.
Begin by breathing in gently, fully. As you exhale mentally say "fifty." As you breathe in again, mentally say "forty-nine," exhale "forty-eight,"inhale "forty-seven," exhale "forty-six".. and so on.
Count backwards on both the in-breath and the out-breath until you reach "twenty," then count only on exhales. Silently count "twenty" as you exhale. Then, instead of counting "nineteen" on the in-breath, do nothing, just inhale. With the next exhalation count "nineteen" and so on until you reach zero.
When you reach zero, stop counting, but stay aware of the natural flow of breath in exactly the same way as when you were counting. Watch the breath as though you were going to count, but don't count. As you do this, practice sitting absolutely still. But don't hold yourself still. Simply be so relaxed that no movements occur.
Be very aware of how you feel as you do this-how peaceful, energized, calm. Notice how pleasantly alert you are, how serene, fearless, at ease. Familiarize yourself with this feeling, with the feeling-tone of being centered and at peace, and rest here another two or three minutes. Absorb the stillness. then prepare yourself, open your eyes, and return. This will take six or seven minutes.
As you do this exercise, breathe normally. Do not do deep breathing or control the breath in any way. This is important. You are learning not to be in control. You are learning to get out of the way. Therefore, rather than controlling the breath, allow it to flow freely in and out at its own natural pace. Yet, stay aware of the breath. Keep track of the numbers. As the breath comes in, count. As the breath goes out, count. And when you reach zero, stay aware of the breath nonverbally. There should be no strain in your breathing as you do this. Keep it soft and easy.
As you count backward, you may be more aware than usual of your mind darting rapidly from one object of attention to another. You may be unusually aware of sounds, physical sensations, or thoughts. You may lose count altogether. None of this matters. All of these things are evidence that the technique is working. You're becoming more aware.
The value of this technique lies in its ability to help you notice where your attention is moment to moment, what's in your mind, and the contents of your consciousness. The counting is not only a centering device and a way of developing concentration, of training your mind to focus, it also acts as a backdrop on which your thoughts become very apparent.
For now, however, do not do anything with the various thoughts or sensations that arise. Simply be aware of them and continue counting. Gradually become more aware, more quiet within yourself, and increasingly dynamically still. As you immerse yourself in your stillness-and this is something that improves with each attempt- you will experience an unexpected and immensly satisfying sense of contentment and ease."

Feel the peace.

Join our team!

In May 2012, my friend Lauren and I signed up to run the Race for the Cure for our freaking amazing boss Vikki. It has become our little tradition to run every year since... Last year in addition, I also ran for my sweet friend Gabrielle.
This year it is hitting a little closer to home. I am making my own team in support of my beautiful mommy Jami. Please join our team: "Boobs, Sweat and Tears" and RUN or WALK in honor of my beautiful mom, or anyone you know who has fought like a girl and isn't simply surviving, but THRIVING. (race is 5/9/15 @ 0800)
Because thanks to all the research, education and advanced medicine out there: "the breast is yet to come".

You need one of these!!

I found this amazing item on Pinterest, and bought the red edition here from amazon.


I finally tried it a few nights ago! I made a simple spaghetti dish with two small zucchini and a butternut squash. I sliced all three of them up, and let them sit for 10 minutes, soaking them with a paper towel once or twice.

I sauteed them until they were soft, and added this Amy's low sodium for the spaghetti sauce. This is also what I use for my favorite broccoli slaw "antipasta"

Holy freaking awesome. I cannot wait to use this more often with other veggies.
Plus, it has practically no carbs!

a little taste of heaven.

One of my most favorite breakfast snacks everrrr.
I put some of my favorite Greek yogurt in a jar,
[I currently use Greek God's honey vanilla, but I'm thinking of trying out Voskos].
Before I leave my house for the day, I add my favorite frozen fruit.
[I personally love raspberries].
& then I top it off with my favorite crunch-- granola & flax seeds for me. :)


I absolutely LOVE this, especially early when it is still a little frozen, yum YUM!

Try it & let me know what you think?

Quick thought.

I just saw something someone posted; they just got back from a week long vacation in California-- including a trip to Disneyland.. And the caption was: "What a great trip, how exhausting."

Funny thing is tho, your vacation you are looking forward to.. 

- it will be here and over before you know it..

As much as you are loving your first day, with that whole week off ahead of you..

- suddenly it's time to pack up & head home. 

#Enjoythenow. 

That moment you are in--right now. The one that you are wasting your time reading my silly little pointless blog...

I challange you to go outside and live.

Slow your breath down, and focus on this present moment... 

How does it feel to lie/sit down?

 How does your inhales & exhales feel? 

What is in the sky/on the ceiling?

 What can you do to push all your stressors away? 

#BREATHE.  

INNNNNNNNNN

& 

OUTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT.

Pause to take it all in.

2020

Our journal topic for this weeks clinical was:
"where do you see yourself in five years, and what steps do you need to do to get there?".

Have you stopped to think about that lately?

In five years, it will be freaking 2020!
In five years, I will be turning 31. :(
In five years I will no longer be living with my mommy.
In five years, I will be a wifey and a mommy too!
In five years, I will have an established nursing career.
In five years, I will be officially "grown up". #scary.

It got me thinking: today is the oldest you have ever been, and the youngest you'll ever be again. Soak up every last moment, because life keeps on going whether you are ready to live it or not.

California dreamin'

We've been planning our annual Newport Beach vacation this year, hoping I can go--I get only one week off during summer!
In honor of my California dreaming, here is a little healthy snack for you to try.
Inspired by Dough Boys, one of our favorite little breakfast spots by the beach. There's is not quite as healthy but it sure is oh so delish!

Toast your favorite bagel thin, apply a thin layer of your favorite cream cheese (I use either veggie or whipped plain), cover with avocado and tomato. Sprinkle some lemon pepper & enjoy!

To spice it up, instead of tomatoes, use your favorite salsa!

RN TO BE.

Here is half of my class, sorry about the lighting! We are HALF WAY done with clinicals this semester, thank goodness! I have had a pretty fun time at Salt Lake Regional. I've had some awesome patients that remind me that even though nursing school is a major struggle, it is absolutely what I want to do.

I have only seven months, two weeks, and five days. Not like I'm counting or anything ;).

Balance yourself.

I am in love with this:

☯Balance is the key. In everything you do.☯
Dance all night long and practice yoga the next day.
↬Drink wine but don't forget your green juice.
Eat chocolate when your heart wants it and kale salad when your body needs it.↫
Wear high heels on Saturday and walk barefoot Sunday.
Live high and low.
Move and stay still.
↬Embrace all sides of who you are.
Be brave, bold, spontaneous and loud and let that compliment your abilites to find silence, patience, modesty and peace.↫
☯Aim for balance.☯
Make your own rules and follow your own path and don't let anybody tell you how to live according to theirs.
#namaste.
☮♥☀