Love & Lavender

Rachel & Joshua's Wedding

2012-02-10T21:27:00.000-08:00

On February 4th Ty and I attended a dear friends wedding. The bridal party consisted of 10 bridesmaids and 10 groomsmen. There was what I hear around 400 people attending. Rachel wore a specially made replica of Kate Moss's wedding dress. She looked absolutely gorgeous and I think her dress was even prettier! The food was delicious. I had the baked salmon, mixed veggies and a roll as well as a few glasses of white wine of course. The table we sat at consisted of 3 other couples whom we attended high school with. It was so great being all together again to celebrate such a happy time. The dessert table was a buffet of various desserts. The evening consisted of wonderful speeches, drinking and dancing. What else could you want at a wedding?

It's so neat to be planning our own wedding and see what others come up with for decorations etc. I especially loved their guest book, which is what we have also been planning to do. A thumb print tree, where guests stamp their thumb and sign their name. Ty is going to sketch our tree since he is the artist between the two of us. With plans to frame and display in our home. A guest book would get lost and rarely looked at. Great mind think alike! Below are a couple detailed photographs I took through out the evening.

January snow

2012-02-10T21:10:00.000-08:00

Playing a quick little catch up... In January I turned 25! Spent lots of time with family. Went to a Bridal Expo. Did a large chunk of wedding planning. And it snowed finally! We had a beautiful week of that fluffy white stuff. Luckily my car has snow tires and I had no trouble getting around in the snow. There's something so peaceful when the first snow hits.

Our 10th Anniversary

2012-01-01T21:13:00.000-08:00

New years eve was our 10th anniversary! The first photo is of the last sunrise of 2011. It was breathtaking and reminded me how lucky I am to live in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. I took it right before I walked into work. I worked all day and finally left at 8:25pm.

I drove home to get dressed up for a surprise dinner with Ty. There was a lovely purple/white orchid sitting on the dining room table when I walked in the front door. We then went to D'Anna's on State Street and had some amazing fresh pasta and drinks. We brought some Tiramisu cake home with us for dessert and spent the rest of the evening at our home. The apartment was decorated with stars hanging from the ceiling, white lights throughout the living room and we drank endless amounts of bubbly. We rang in the new year watching fireworks on t.v. live from Seattle.

What an amazing 10 years it has been! We have been through so much together. It was fun going down memory lane about past moments and planning future events. 2011 will be a year to remember, but I'm looking forward to what 2012 will hold for both of us!

Happy New Year!!!

2012-01-01T16:25:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas 2011!

Comfort & Joy

2011-12-23T19:03:00.000-08:00

Wedding planning is currently on hold for the holidays. My dress is hanging in our closet and it feels amazing to have purchased the one. I have such a great feeling of comfort and joy! Christmas is here in 2 days and I have the next 3 days off from work. Tonight I'm super cleaning the apartment, wrapping gifts, making rum balls while possibly drinking some sparkling wine and just preparing for Christmas! Happy Holidays :)

5

2011-12-20T23:42:00.000-08:00

Just a little post to say 5 days until Christmas!!

Taffy

2011-12-16T20:17:00.000-08:00

This morning my cousin and I got together at our grandparent's house to make the traditional holiday treat, Taffy. It's a secret recipe in the family. We make it together every year right before Christmas. We made 2 batches which took about 4 hours total. We walk away with redden hands due to pulling the taffy. It's a job that takes 2-3 people, 3 is always better of course. Such a sweet treat and family bonding being made. Only 9 days until Christmas!

Our Photographer

2011-12-12T13:16:00.000-08:00

Our photographer is booked! For those of you who are following me here in the blogging world we have officially booked Josh Durias to shoot our wedding next summer! Check out his website for more details of his beautiful work!

Josh Durias Photography

The Dress

2011-12-11T11:43:00.000-08:00

Well it's official! I bought my dress and brought it home yesterday. It's hanging in our apartment covered up so Ty can't see it. It's absolutely perfect and let me tell you it was a steal! I can't stop looking at the photos we took before I took the dress off for the first time. I couldn't imagine anything better for a lake side wedding. Perfect for Ty and I. All it needs is to be hemmed at the bottom a couple of inches. I feel so beautiful in it. Our wedding is going to be so incredibly unique. We are having a blast planning all the details for next July!

I'm such a lucky girl to be marrying such a wonderful man!

Beautiful mornings

2011-12-11T11:28:00.000-08:00

I took these 2 photos from work the other morning. We live in such a beautiful place here in the PNW! With the temperature dropping into the high 20's at night, and warming up to mid 30's during the day I'm waiting for the snow to make it's first appearance here. Coffee always tastes better when it's cold outside too!

Coffee Date

2011-12-05T06:50:00.000-08:00

This is my wonderful friend Mandie. We went to high school together, cheered and played tennis together. She left for Thailand a couple weekends ago. We were lucky enough to stop by a local Cafe' and grab a little coffee before she set off on her journey once again. Miss you dearly sweet friend!

Thanksgiving

2011-11-28T20:53:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving came and went this year. I worked until noon on Thursday. We recently hired a new nurse and it was one of her last training days. After work I met up with Ty at my aunt's house in Ferndale where we had a wonderful meal complete with pumpkin pie and mimosas! Later that evening we headed over to Ty's mom's house for our second Thanksgiving dinner. This year we started a new tradition of having our Thanksgiving meal in Ferndale instead of Bellingham. We had amazing food and quality time spent with family that we treasure so much. I can't help but think about Ty and I hosting Thanksgiving someday. We both have so much to be thankful for! Loving family, wonderful friends, quality jobs, good health and most of all each other. Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Visiting my MOH

2011-11-28T19:57:00.000-08:00

Last weekend I drove to Gig Harbor to visit one of my best friends Michaela. She is also my MOH (matron of honor) for our wedding next July. The trip started with going to a bridal salon to try on more wedding dresses. My MOH wasn't able to come with me the first time I tried on dresses. Without my knowing she had brought my favorite champagne and glasses to celebrate the occasion. The salon also served us some fancy cupcakes too. Of course we couldn't resist, would you? We left empty handed, but later in the trip we ended up going to another salon where I showed her The Dress :) And yes, it is the one. The first one I had tired on when my mum, aunt & cousin went to try on dresses about 2 months ago. We stayed at her beautiful new home that her and her hubs bought recently. I met their new addition, Palmer (see photo below). Ella joined me for the trip and tired to put up with the puppy too. After going out to dinner, we went home and watch Bridesmaids. It was hysterical! It was a well needed trip. Thank you for pampering me dear friend. I am so blessed to have you in my life!

Tennessee

2011-11-20T10:57:00.000-08:00

About 2 weeks ago Ty and I left Bellingham and flew to Nashville, Tennessee to visit some good friends of ours who recently moved there in July. We both took 5 days off of work to play in the heart of county. Our time spent there was full of adventure. Here's a small list to name a few:

Attended a Tennessee Titian football game
Watched their practice one early morning
Went to a Beer & Bourbon fest
Ate lots of fried pickles
Consumed copious amounts of coffee
Did I mention ate way too much Southern food
Spent a day on Broadway exploring shops
Bought a new pair of red cowgirl boots
Went to a private night club called "The Spot"
Sang Karaoke and danced
Enjoyed the 75+ degree weather
shots, shots, shots

Sadly our trip had to come to an end. We absolutely cannot wait to go back someday!

TOMS

2011-11-17T11:44:00.000-08:00

New shoes from the hubby :) And they are So comfortable!

Today is my Friday

2011-11-16T07:20:00.000-08:00

Today is my Friday. Last week Ty and I went to Nashville for 5 days meaning 5 days off of work. Well the other nurse is on vacation this week so I have worked Saturday through today (Wednesday) and all shifts I've had to stay over because of charting (which took me forever the past few evenings)! We had a flu clinic the day before last that I pretty much ran myself. Yesterday we had a new admit. Today we have another new admit. I thought my hand might fall off from all the writing I had to do... I now have 12 residents. 13 by the end of the month. I made it though the day yesterday, but didn't leave until 9:30pm. My shift ends at 8pm... Here's to my Friday. The day will be great, very busy like yesterday and I will manage to get off tonight on time! I'm promising myself this! Looking forward to 2 full days off and some wedding planning!

October 2011

2011-11-11T09:30:00.000-08:00

This year it seems as if the month of October has come and gone in the blink of an eye. Here's a little recap:

I worked an excessive amount this month to complete and turn in my letter and RN application.
Ty and I ended up going to a Seahawks game with friends in Seattle.
My cousin and I went to a local pumpkin patch to find pumpkins for Halloween. We also went to visit Great Grandma Bonner.
Ty and I carved pumpkins one evening and baked pumpkin seeds.
I worked Halloween day and got to assist with the work Halloween party for all the residents. I dressed as a Jolly Joe Grape one day and a Lady Bug the second day.

I don't know where the month of October went but I'm excited for November and the start of the holidays!

We're Off!

2011-11-04T07:06:00.000-07:00

Well everyone Ty & I are off to Nashville, TN to visit a few friends who have recently moved there! I love traveling with Ty. We always have such an adventure! I can't wait for the photo opportunities, food, football game on Sunday and just spending time with good friends! 5 day's of vacations here we come!

Happy Halloween 2011!

2011-10-31T07:12:00.000-07:00

I work today and am dressing as a lady bug for the Garden House! Hope everyone has a spooky day!

Please Pull Cord

2011-10-22T16:33:00.000-07:00

{Med Room door sign}

{My stethoscope and chai latte'}

Today I finished my 44hr work week in 4 days. For my shift today I started at 6am working the assisted living side. The med techs that normally work are truly amazing. They see around 40 residents per shift. Morning shift runs 6am- 2pm, Evening shift is 2pm -10pm and then Noc is 10pm -6am. The nurses float to the "Big House" when shifts are needing coverage. Today was my day to float. There are always more residents to chart on, more pills to pass, more, BP's, P's, more doctors orders, more papers to file, just more more MORE. The focus seems to be get residents their pills so they can go on with their independent day. Much different from working on a Dementia unit. Today was a busy day for a Saturday. I worked through my lunch as well as stayed a half hour over. I never thought I would enjoy working with Geri's (Geriatrics) as much as I do. Today I was asked multiple times how old I was. One could swear that I was only 17, I was a little flattered to tell the truth. And the many residents who questioned my age noticed my beautiful ring, asking how long I have been married. It's these simple yet fun conversations that I get to have everyday at work. This job has truly been a blessing with great experience for my first job as a nurse. I would highly recommend anyone interested in nursing to give actually working as a caregiver or med tech a chance prior to nursing school. The job will prepare you so much as well as give you more confidence! I don't know where my nursing career will lead me in the future, but I do know that I love my job. I'm even more thrilled to have 2.5 days off :)

Phone photos of our day

2011-10-19T19:24:00.000-07:00

Sleeping in.
Coffee at Adagio.
Wedding planning.
Registering.
Griffith Furniture couch & nightstand shopping.
Discussing the Occupy movement.
Perogies for dinner.
Happy Day. Work tomorrow. Loving life.

Latte's & Friends

2011-10-16T15:14:00.000-07:00

This morning I got to spend 1.5 hours with two dear friends of mine. We met at a local cafe' and chatted about life. It has been over two years since misses Kelsey has been back home to Ferndale. And miss Mandie returned to Bellingham after working as a firefighter and exploring Thailand. These girls are part of the "Chelan" group, we all graduated the same year in high school, played on the tennis team as well as cheered together. The memories that we have spent together are times that I will forever remember. Getting together after so long was well needed. We are growing up, getting married, traveling the world, obtaining new careers etc. It's wonderful to know that my friends will forever have my back as do I with theirs. Thank you both for taking the time out of your busy day to come drink warm coffee on such a beautiful fall day with me. I love you both. I am so blessed to call you my friends. Until we meet up again! xoxo WWW forever <3

2011-10-11T17:05:00.000-07:00

I took this photo this morning before I headed out the door to drop off my application for the Registered Nursing Program. This letter is from my supervisor (who is absolutely awesome by the way) stating that I have in fact completed my 1,000 hours working as a LPN, a prerequisite required for the local RN program. My journey has been very long. School has always been important to me, but so has my family and relationship with my now fiance'. The thought of moving away to go to school to get my degree just a little faster wasn't worth my money or time. The adventures, work experience and people I have met while staying around in Whatcom County has helped me become the nurse I am today. Have I mentioned how much I love my residents?! And who would have thought I would be a Dementia Unit nurse? I love it. Not forever, but for right now its great. I work 12's. Have amazing caregivers. And it's a job that I am planning on keeping while back in school.

Now I wait. The RN program has a waiting list, which I'm okay with. Ideally I will be getting in next fall after our wedding and honeymoon. 9 months of school and then I'm done... well maybe :). Then I think we will might start thinking about the "B" word. Yes, babies. So here's for today, starting the next chapter in my life.

I am so incredibly blessed. I wake up every single morning next to my fiance'. It's something that money or gifts could never replace. I'm am so lucky and look forward to growing in my relationship with Ty, expanding my nursing knowledge and growing stronger with God.

Happy Tuesday!

One picture

2011-10-11T16:49:00.000-07:00

One picture of yourself:

Well there you have it! A 10 day challenge of myself. Now you know just a little bit more about me!

2 Songs

2011-10-11T15:20:00.000-07:00

My current 2 favorites:

3 Films

2011-10-09T11:38:00.000-07:00

3 films:

Up
Book of Eli
Inception

4 books

2011-10-08T11:52:00.000-07:00

4 non-nursing books:

All of the Twilight books by Stephanie Meyer. They are honestly great even if you don't want to admit it :)
The Shack by Paul Young
Spousonomics by Paula Szuchman & Jenny Anderson which I'm currently reading
For Women Only by Shaunti Feldhahn

5 Foods...

2011-10-07T08:54:00.000-07:00

5 foods:

I love fresh fruit with yogurt
Oatmeal with brown sugar and not that instant kind
Grilled vegetables mmmm
Waffles
Tortellini with a red sauce and a hint of parmesan with a garden salad

6 Places...

2011-10-05T23:00:00.000-07:00

6 places I love:

Our home <3
My parents house
My grandparent's beach property
Adagio Cafe' Downtown
Maui
Cancun :)

Seven wants...

2011-10-04T12:18:00.000-07:00

7 wants:

I want to be the best wife that I can be. I'm so incredibly excited to marry my best friend next July. We have grown so close this past year. Words cannot express how much I love this man.
I want to continue to grow as a nurse. There is so much to still know and learn. I can't wait to get back into nursing school to expand my knowledge.
I want to continue to grow in my faith and relationship with God.
I want to move into a place with a back yard and host a dinner party for friends and family.
I want to travel to Madagascar to visit my fellow nursing friend Jessica and volunteer along her side.
I want to have a similar schedule as Ty so we could spend more time together.
I want people to be more aware of Occupy Wall Street. If you follow my blog or Facebook please look it up and see what is REALLY going on. Example: Facebook is not allowing people to even post photos of the protests... it's fishy really fishy...

Happy Tuesday :)

Emergency Room, Work, & Football

2011-10-04T11:04:00.000-07:00

So for few who follow my blog I have to apologize about not following through on the 10 Day Challenge of Me, but I do have good reason! I worked Friday as my supervisors assistance which was full of assessments and paperwork. As soon as I got off work, Ty took me down to Seattle for a surprise date. We went to see Demetri Martin at the Neptune Theater. One of our favorite comedians! We got home around 1130 and as soon as we set foot in the doorway, Ty asked me to take him the the Emergency Room... Long story short he is doing much better thank goodness. We were at the ER from 12am to 430am and then to Walgreens to get some prescriptions. By the time we got home it was about 5am. So basically I got 2 hours of sleep before working a 12 hour shift. I woke up simply running on adrenaline. And it was a very long Saturday shift to say the least. Sunday we got up early, still not caught up on sleep, and headed back to Seattle for the Seahawks game against the Falcons. Seahawks lost by 3, but it was a great game. We finished the day with a family trip to the Olive Garden then headed home. Monday I worked another 12 hour shift which leads to today. My official day off to sit at home, clean the apartment, catch up on blogs I follow and just relax.

8 Fears

2011-09-28T21:34:00.000-07:00

8 Fears:

I fear Ty ever being in a horrible accident where he is left in a comatose state. If you've ever watched the first season of Everwood you would understand what I mean.
I fear that when we are ready to start a family that I wont be able to conceive any children.
I fear fines or late charges so I always make sure bills etc. are paid early.
I fear the dentist. Strongly dislike going...
I fear ever having a house fire and not being able to find Ella (our pup) before it's too late.
I fear of water contamination because people do not know how to recycle old/ expired medications. Come on people!
I fear heart attacks.
I fear that my grandparent's wont be around to meet their great-grandchildren someday.

Happy Wednesday! Today was a very VERY long 12 hour shift at work. 3 more days to go :)

9 Loves

2011-09-27T10:33:00.000-07:00

9 loves:

I love my fiance' Tyler James so much. He is the backbone in my life.
I love my family including the dog/cat and friends who give unconditional support.
I love being a nurse. I get to help those in need, it's such a rewarding job.
I love interior design, decorating, and any blog related to style in the home.
I love a good cup of coffee especially when the months begin to get cooler.
I love photography. It's makes such beautiful art and a great way to preserve memories.
I love a good organic red velvet cupcake with butter cream frosting.
I love our new Dyson vacuum. Enough said :)
Acupuncture & yoga <3

Happy Tuesday!

10 Day Challenge

2011-09-26T19:20:00.000-07:00

10 Secrets of mine:

I am 5' 0.5", currently weigh 107lbs & am a 32 C cup :)
I refuse to eat cereal in the morning for breakfast, but will eat cheerios for dinner if I'm working a 12 hour shift.
My parent's divorced when I was 8 years old. I was raised by my mum. I had every other weekend visits with my dad until I was 14 when I had enough of his anger issues.
I sleep with a mouth guard because I am a nightly "grinder," but I've never had to have braces due to straight teeth.
I love thrift shopping! Save, Recycle, Reuse!
I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism on my 24th birthday at my annual exam, but am almost back in tune with my pre-hypothyroid body.
Before I met Ty I wanted to be an flight attendant and travel the world.
I broke the bridge of my nose freshman year of high school playing basketball.
I love vacuuming and enjoy seeing the lines in the freshly vacuumed carpet.
Instrumental Christmas music is listened to throughout the year :)

Anyone else interested in joining this 10 Day Self Challenge with me?

Some Progress

2011-09-20T21:27:00.000-07:00

I had the luxury of having the past 3 day off of work. Sunday my mum, aunt, cousin and I drove south to try on wedding dresses. Little did I know that the first dress I put on would be the one I would come back to and love. After everyone having a tears in their eyes, I got to say "Yes, this is the dress!" It fits like a glove, just needing alteration in length. I also found my shoes online and they have been ordered. Progress is being made. I am so incredibly excited to marry Ty under the oath of God and celebrate with our family and close friends. Our wedding is going to be so unique and of course special.

On another note, I'm back to work for 4 days this week. Tomorrow I will be working as my supervisors assistant. It includes a lot more paperwork, assessments and write-ups. Looking forward to a new change for a day.

Photo via Flickr

My Monday

2011-09-19T20:18:00.000-07:00

My Monday: Today I slept in with my fiance', slowly woke up, made a coconut vanilla cream latte' and enjoyed figuring out a few more wedding details. Later in the afternoon I took Ella to the dog park and we walked around Lake Padden. The weather is changing, the air is crisper and it smells like fall. The view was beautiful per usual. Once home, I finished a painting I've been working on.

Another Possible Venue

2011-09-12T10:17:00.000-07:00

The other day Ty and I surprisingly had the same day off for once and we attended a few venue appointments scheduled through our amazing wedding planner Heather MacKay. We came across this little gem of a place on Lake Whatcom, Moon Dance Inn. Here are a few photos of our visit. This venue took both our breaths away, not only for the amazing view, but for the architecture and design as well. This site is fun, casual, lake house celebration style. I'm hoping that by this week we will have an official decision on venue and date!

Cinematography

2011-09-10T21:53:00.000-07:00

Casey + Brandon from Fancy Rhino on Vimeo.

Love

2011-09-08T17:23:00.000-07:00

Yup. I get to marry this handsome man next July!

Wedding Details

2011-09-06T19:01:00.000-07:00

Well tomorrow marks our 2 month engagement anniversary. To celebrate we are going to look at 3 more venues and hopefully finalize our official wedding date. Today I went to Paper Zone to pick our paper to make a mock invitation. The final product is complete and I love the design. We have our wedding party picked out, the officiant, flowers have been determined: blue hydrangeas and lavender along with bridesmaid dresses chosen! I won't be posting too many details because I don't wont to spoil our special day, but without a venue or date yet, I felt the need to post a little of what we do have figured out!

Dyson

2011-09-06T18:35:00.000-07:00

So it has happened... I finally purchased a Dyson Animal Ball vacuum and am in love :) Well as in much love as one could love an amazing vacuum! The power of this thing blows me away every time I use it. I vacuum even more now, it's addicting. I'm a little OCD and love seeing the lines in the freshly vacuumed carpet. Yes, I know some of you ladies have this OCD as well. I was asked why T and I don't just register for one for our wedding? Well because we desperately needed a "good" vacuum between me and T's hair and Ella's fur. The vacuum we had (which is now in the dumpster) could be used only for so long before you would begin to smell the burning of the belt... not the best smell and probably not very healthy. So hello new Dyson and welcome to our life. Ps I also love your purple color very much!

My Cousin's Wedding

2011-09-03T19:02:00.000-07:00

My cousin Ashley got married this past Friday. I was so honored to be a part of her special day. The ceremony was held at Evergreen Gardens which began at 3:15 in the afternoon and the day couldn't have been more beautiful for an outdoor wedding. Here are some photos of her big day!

Congratulations Ashley & Adam. Wishing you both the best of luck and love with your new journey in life together!

My New Thrift Store Gem

2011-08-10T15:54:00.000-07:00

This morning I slept in till 10, it was amazing. Had some coffee with Ty and got ready for the day. My cousin and I were on a mission to find a few things for her wedding which is exactly 3 weeks and 2 days away! At our first stop we found all the main things we needed, it worked out perfectly! Second stop to Joanne's Fabric to get paper & ribbon. Walking out to the parking lot we decided to stop by Goodwill for a second. My apartment living room wall is in need of a piece of art work, so I wanted to see if there were any neat old large frames that could be re-purposed. No luck in the frame department, BUT I came across this beauty! A aqua Eskimo fan and it actually worked, priced at $7.99, SCORE! I looked at my cousin saying, "Don't judge me, I know I'm weird and this is a little random."

We walked through the store and a woman cornered me and said, " Hey if you decide to put that down, come find me I'll be over here..." I smiled and replied, "Sorry I don't think I will set it down," and we went on our way. A few minutes later another woman came up us and said, " Oh my, can I hold that?!' I suspiciously looked at her and replied, "Umm sure for a second" She felt the weight and said," Do you know what this is?! Did you find this just now!? This is an old Eskimo fan, the value is around $300 dollars!!!" I reached my hand back out and retrieved my beautiful aqua colored fan. (While imagining her sprinting out the front doors with my pretty antique fan...) I said well we better get out of here and walked to the cash registers. Low and behold the guy at the register said," Oh wow this is neat and it works? I don't think I've ever seen one of these in here before. Looks like aluminum blades." "Yup, pretty sweet deal" I said. We left laughing and a little dumbfounded. Not sure if my new antique fan is really worth $300, but well worth the $8 dollars I paid! It works perfectly, cleaned it up and looks great in our apartment.

We then headed into Fairhaven to have a Katie's Cupcake. Red velvet for me and Chocolate with coconut for Ash. What a good day relaxing, spending time with family with a little adventure!

Work Hard, Play Harder

2011-08-08T19:58:00.000-07:00

After a long hard week at work, I got to spend 3 days in a row relaxing. I filled that time with a lunch/coffee date with my previous roommate Lori, went on a few dog walks with my cousin at Hovander & Lake Padden, baked some of Ty's favorite cookies, house/ horse sat for my parents, did a little gardening (check out the size of the spinach!) and went to Babe's for breakfast with my handsome fiance'!

Back to work tomorrow! Happy Monday

Mojitos, Chips & Salsa

2011-08-06T11:09:00.000-07:00

mojitos, chips, and salsa from rachelchew on Vimeo.

Our first trip together to Chelan

2011-07-31T12:42:00.000-07:00

Last Monday morning, Ty and I woke up super early and made our first journey together to Lake Chelan, WA. I have to say that this has been a tradition of mine since high school. But have always gone with 4 very good friends: Mandie, Kelsey, Kelsey & Rachel! This was the first year that Ty and I have gone together and we had a blast! We ended up tenting it at the campsite right on the lake, which was perfectly located right near town. We made many trips to Lake View Drive-In, relaxed at Campbell's, tanned on the boat and went tubing! We also played some miniature golf, stargazed at night and drank some delicious hard cider. On our way home we drove through Winthrop and ate some delicious ice cream and played some more miniature golf. This trip was such an nice and relaxing vacation that we both needed. We bonded even more and spent many hours talking about our future together.

Venues

2011-07-23T20:26:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Ty and I went to look at a venue and this is what caught our eyes. So we'll see if we end up choosing this beautiful location to have our celebration at!

A Night Out With Good Friends

2011-07-18T15:46:00.000-07:00

My good friend Michaela and her hubby Richard moved back to Washington this month. They drove up to Bellingham and spent an evening with us to celebrate our engagement. It has at least been 1 year since we've officially seen each other. It's such a good feeling to have friends whom you haven't seen in a long time and when you finally get together you pick right back up from where you left off.

We started the evening off with a trip to Poppe's Bistro Lounge complete with Lemon drop martini's and Gummibear's. (The boys had beer). We then we headed over to Pizza Pipeline, had some good cider, pizza, and chatted more about planning a wedding and getting some helpful advice. We stayed up till 3am and slept in late. The morning consisted of bagels from the Bagelry and coffee from Adagio. It was so wonderful and well needed time together. I love you both so much!

Summer BBQ

2011-07-13T18:20:00.000-07:00

Last night I had dinner with some wonderful friends of mine. We barbecued chicken, vegetables, had rice and a garden fresh salad. The evening was beautiful. We sat outside on the patio and finished up just in time once the raindrops started to fall. We then sat inside and had some more great conversations and finished the evening with homemade ice cream and rhubarb crisp. I love summer, good friends and good food!

4th of July 2011

2011-07-08T22:19:00.000-07:00

After recovering from Jake and Lauren's wedding the night before, Ty and I did our traditional Babe's breakfast with a few friends. We both had waffles :). Our day ended up with us being late to my families BBQ out at the Beach property, but the day was beautiful and we enjoyed every minute of it. Good food, family and a breathtaking view! We also walked the beach down to the point. This is my second home. The only thing missing was my cousins who are up working in Alaska right now. We later went to visit Ty's dad's house, ate some more delicious food and ended up out at Sandy Point. We got to watch the most spectacular firework show I've seen yet! By the end of the evening, AKA 1130pm I was very tired and was dreading getting up at 6 the next two mornings for my 12 hour shifts. Such a fun relaxing holiday -God Bless America the USA!

The Day T.O. Proposed

2011-07-08T21:47:00.000-07:00

7.7.11~
Tyler and I on a rare occasion had the same day off together. We slept in, drank coffee ate breakfast and lounged around. Thinking I had an eye appointment at 1230pm I left the house, only to find out that it was actually the following day. So I drove home... I then had a couple work meetings which started at 230pm, back into town I go. The meetings were informative. I won 2 free movie passes, some twizzlers and an old fashion popcorn container, sweet! I also was a foot model for about 20 minutes which won me a free pair of $27 size small, kneed high black compression stockings! Which is what ALL nurses who walk for 12 hours at a time need! And yes, I am going to wear them tomorrow at work!!

Anyways, because Ty and I NEVER get to cook dinner together we planned on staying in and making something from scratch. I got home, Ty had already started dinner. Mixed organic salad with poppy seed dressing, homemade pizza. Half double cheese with spinach and half pesto. It was amazing, I love cooking together. Ty had a drink and I didn't think much of it. He told me to save room for dessert, so I tried. After dinner I had about 5 loads of clean laundry to fold. This is one of Ty's habits that I've seemed to acquire since moving in together :). So tonight of course I HAD to re-heat and fold EVERYTHING. It was honestly driving me nuts at my sloppiness. Ty finally asked if he could help me cause I was seemingly taking forever. And then again asked if I was ready for dessert. I said sure, but just a little piece of whatever it was. He said "Okay sit down and I'll bring it to you." Once again nothing out of the ordinary here. I do remember him also saying "Geez they sure make desserts fancy these days!" Well I figured that since he bought dinner ingredients from Haggen, he had gone to the bakery there and bought a fancy cheesecake or a fancy mouse of some sort.

As Ty was walking out of the kitchen I turned slightly and instantly saw the ring set gently on top of my favorite- Red Velvet and Cream Cheese frosting cupcake (From the one and only Katie's Cupcakes!) I had a Grammy moment ( Mind you this is almost as close to the moment I had 2nd quarter of Nursing School, where I was 1/5 people out of the entire class to pass one of the hardest exam! If we were in school together you remember!) The comparison here is that I was in complete utterly shock. 100% caught off guard. This Grammy moment was such an emotional rush of tears, and no, I didn't really hear everything that he was saying. I noticed that he was down on one knee, saying he loved me and if I would marry him or so i assume. Not sure if this was a dream or real, I challenged him and asked if he was for real! I kissed him and said of course! Pretty much since then I haven't been able to take my eyes of this gorgeous, sparkly item of love and commitment. It's absolutely beautiful and I love it.

A few weeks ago we had gone to just look at ring styles and I was a complete nutcase with nerves. Little did I know he had already been looking multiple times and had already found "the one". The one he picked was one that I never tired on, but is EXACTLY what I've dreamed of. Thin band, cushion cut center stone with a cushion halo around it. He told me that there is a wedding band that goes with it, but I would rather not see it until the day we say our vows. He is amazing. After 9.5 years including one year living together, we have officially made the leap towards the next stage in our life as a couple.

I love you SO much Tyler James. Thank you for being ever so patient and kind. Who knew that a 13 and 14 year old would meet online through friends and fall in love as much as we have. You are my person, my soul mate, my best friend! I love you till the end of time.

Locker Wedding

2011-07-08T18:34:00.000-07:00

On July 3rd 2011 some dear friends of ours got married. The ceremony took place in Ferndale at a Catholic church. The groomsmen in their gray suits and the bridesmaids in their navy blue dresses. The groom wore his pressed black suit and the bride in her sweetheart strapless gown. The ceremony began at 4pm and the celebration didn't stop until 2am. Each person in the bridal party gave speeches and the country music played all night long. This wedding was better than any fairy tale that I've ever heard. A California girl and a small town boy meet in college and fall madly in love. She's a smart and absolutely gorgeous person inside and out while he's handsome and the latest drafted Tennessee Titans quarterback! I am so honored and blessed to have been a part of their magical day. Congratulations Jake and Lauren Locker! Wishing you both a lifetime full of love, laughter and happiness!

Happy Friday!

2011-07-08T11:47:00.000-07:00

Just a quick up-date on the past few days. Two good friends of ours got married this past weekend and it was such a beautiful wedding. We celebrated the 4th of July and watched beautiful fireworks over the bay. Oh yea and Ty got down on one knee and proposed to me last night! More in-depth posts with photos to come, I just couldn't wait to announce it :) Happy Friday!

A Little Touch of Heaven

2011-07-01T20:08:00.000-07:00

Last night I slept in a tent. My mum and I went camping at "The Beach." We had take-out Chinese for dinner, watched the sunset over the bay, walked along the shore and made Smores! It's our families little touch of heaven. This morning we had fresh fruit and french press coffee for breakfast. The only thing missing on this adventure was Ty. We will be spending the 4th of July out here, it's a family tradition.

Work Day at a Quick Glance...

2011-06-24T22:47:00.000-07:00

{via}
0600-0630 am: Wake-up next to boy who will be sleeping in at least until 10 I'm sure...

0630-0700: Feed dog, pee, take dog on walk to meadow to do her business.

0700-0730: Eat breakfast, get ready for day, lint roll black pants, watch, name badge and flair on of course :)

0800-1000: Clock into work, check Alert book & Calendar for appointments etc., Do Drsg. change, get blood sugars, check for any NO, proceed to do AM med pass, wts./ vitals and assist with breakfast if needed.

1015: Gather lunch/ dinner orders, gather residents to activity rm. for morning exercise, take breakfast cart over to main kitchen, and take first break. Break always consists of cottage cheese, fruit AND the most amazing muffins ever.

1100: One of my favorite parts of the day! Coffee and Newspaper Hour: hot chocolate and tea is also available and most go for the hot cocoa. I usually read the paper to the residents and work on getting a discussion going, it's a great time to interact with everyone.

1200-1230: Lunch normally arrives. Noon med passes, blood sugar checks and assisting with lunch.

1300: My lunch hour :)

1400: Clock back into work. Time for any other assessments, phone calls, or faxes needing to be done. And don't forget there is always ADL's to assist with!

1600: Beginning of my afternoon/ evening med pass.

1700-1715: Dinner arrives. Blood sugars taken, more med passes, and once everyone is in dining, take a 10 minute break. Usually this time equals my dinner, soup & salad.

1730-1945: Consists of the rest of my med pass, assisting residents to get ready for bed and maybe passing out an Ensure drink or two.

1945-2000: I try and give myself at least 15 minutes to chart, but this NEVER seems to happen or be the case. I promise to work on getting better on this!

2030: Home. Take dog out on walk to do business ( by the way my feet are honestly dying at this point)

2100: Shower and do other odds and ends around the house and then get ready for bed.

2245: Ty is usually home from work at this point I am already in bed wondering if I'll get enough sleep tonight to get me through my next 12 the following day

So that is a very quick glance at what my day looks like when I work a 12 hour shift. This does not include if somebody has a fall, is going OOF, or someone attempting to elope and "get out of here" Plus so much more. But I truly am enjoying my job as a nurse. I look forward to the growth I'll make in the next couple of months and see where this journey leads me.

First day of Summer 2011

2011-06-21T23:02:00.000-07:00

This morning I woke up earlier than I wanted... a sweet boy who of course was still sound asleep laid next to me. I got up and took Ella for a nice long walk in the early morning sunshine. Came back home to have breakfast, strawberries with yogurt (By the way this is day 3 without any coffee).

Today is the first day in what seems like forever that Ty and I have had the same day off together. And yes, we made the very best of it! We took a bike ride around our neighborhood, mind you there isn't much flat ground in our area... making this bike ride more of a quad burning, butt blasting, lung and heart pumping workout. Once home I took a well needed nap. Working 12's really seems to drain the energy out of me, especially when I work a few in a row.

We later had a late lunch/early dinner at Boomers and drove out to Marine park in Fairhaven to enjoy the summer sun. Such a beautiful first day of summer 2011! We later came home and Ty took a nap. Before long we soon realized that it was almost 9 so we drove to catch the sunset out at the bay, missing it by only a few minutes. To end the evening we decided to go to Mallards and get ice cream cones, the perfect way too cool off after such a beautiful warm day!

WWU Graduation!

2011-06-21T20:25:00.000-07:00

Ty graduated this spring with his Bachelor of Arts Business Administration- Management Information Systems and I couldn't be more proud! Congratulations babe you've worked so incredibly hard these past few years! All those late nights spent in lab on campus truly paid off. One chapter closed and another one just beginning! Love you

Seattle

2011-06-08T16:08:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday I made a trip down to Seattle to visit with 2 of my best girlfriends! It was a short, but well needed trip. We walked around Greenlake while catching up on life, visited a delicious cafe for lunch and then made our way over to Pikes Place. So glad we could finally get together. I love you both so much!!

Camping at the Beach

2011-06-01T18:32:00.000-07:00

Sunday night once I got off work at 8pm (after working a 12) I ran home, packed my bags, put the dog in the car and met up with my mom, aunt and cousin down at our family beach property. I made it just in time to watch the beautiful sunset! Ty was away at a bachelor party in Montana, so it was an all girl event. We all sat around the campfire catching up on life, eating watermelon and making smores. I love going to bed and waking up without having to set my alarm in the morning. Nature always wakes you up on its own when you're camping. We also had delicious french press coffee with breakfast. I'm looking forward to more camping this summer!

Together

2011-05-31T21:23:00.000-07:00

Together we can do anything. Via

Bellingham Snap shots

2011-05-27T10:08:00.000-07:00

Music

2011-05-23T22:53:00.001-07:00

A Cancer of the Brain.

2011-05-20T10:08:00.000-07:00

This past week was a very VERY busy one at work. My 3 12hr shifts just seemed to collide into each other making it feel like the longest days ever. We also had a full moon this week and you know what happens when there's a full moon out... I am finally comfortable with contacting emergency services when a resident is beyond our care at the facility along with all the paperwork that must be completed when these things happen. (I had to 3 times this week). Because of HIPPA and privacy laws I cannot go into detail, so posts like these are vague.

Working with residents who have some sort of dementia is challenging and yet very rewarding. My job is to be there for them, help them with needs, listen to them tell stories from the past, assist with resolving conflict. I had a resident tell me that dementia is a cancer of the brain. For this is true and sad. Every resident that I work with has a story. They were once young, homemakers or high end businessmen. Who raised families or traveled across the globe. Their bodies and brains have failed them, making it hard to remember simples things like daily tasks. Yet, I try not to pity them. Every now and then certain residents will have a sparkle in there eyes and you know that they understand you and are ever so thankful. That their once strong and unbreakable bodies are now turning on them.

It was a very busy week and I learned a lot. Each day is always different. My job makes me realize how important each and every day is, good or bad, rainy or sunny. Life is short.

New possibilities...

2011-05-19T18:23:00.000-07:00

Seattle may be in my future sooner than I think...

Thought of You

2011-05-14T20:41:00.001-07:00

Thought of You from Ryan J Woodward on Vimeo.

LeMay Family Photos

2011-05-14T13:33:00.000-07:00

Friday afternoon was spent at Hovander Park for a family photo shoot with my good friend from elementary school. Aren't they just the sweetest little family?!

Bridal Shower

2011-05-13T11:26:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I spent the day with my cousin Ashley who's getting married in September. The bridesmaids put on a fun bridal shower for her. Lots of games, sweet food and laughter.

May Day

2011-05-03T11:55:00.000-07:00

May 1st was a beautiful warm sunny day this year, despite all the rain we've bee having here in the PNW this spring. It was also my first Sunday off since I got my new job. I was outside for most of the day, which is wonderful since I work 12 hour day shifts inside. There is a beautiful flowering cherry tree right outside my apartment, photo taken with a fish eye lens. Today was also my kitty's 8th birthday. Sadly, I decided not to drive out to my parents on this day to see him, he did acquire another friend on his birthday though. Please see previous post here. Happy 8th Birthday Tucker James, meow!

My parents got a puppy!

2011-05-01T18:36:00.000-07:00

No official name decided yet, but he sure is a cutie!

Water for Elephants

2011-04-28T20:52:00.000-07:00

Circus animals, Robert Pattinson, Reece Witherspoon, romance... sounds splendid indeed. Seems almost like a fairytale to me...

via google image

First 4 days...

2011-04-27T14:00:00.000-07:00

Today I slept in until 10:30am, I can't believe it. I am normally such a morning person. I was obviously tired from working 4 days in a row as a LPN. 4 days on, 3 days off. I head back to work this next Saturday.

I am long due for some time to myself, getting outside with the dog, quality time with Ty and just relaxing.

I worked Easter this year, it was a very long 13 hour shift. It's one of my favorite holidays to spend with family, but this year was different. Instead of brunch with family and hunting for eggs I was administrating medications, getting blood sugars, redirecting residents to their rooms, charting and having some very interesting conversations related to Easter. But I enjoyed it. Working towards my 1,000 hours to get into the RN program is well worth working weekends and holidays. I have 102 hours complete, 898 hours to go before filling out my application. One day at a time. It's so exciting to be working in the career that I plan to have until I retire.

Here are some doodles that I did throughout my journey to become a nurse, of me and my dear classmate/ lab partner in crime Jessica... I obviously have a little too much time to myself at my evening job!

Happy Wednesday everyone :)

Happy Earth Day!

2011-04-22T18:01:00.000-07:00

Happy Earth Day!
It's Friday and I work the next 4 days in a row. Wish me luck!

Pretty new bicycle

2011-04-19T23:06:00.000-07:00

Just waiting to go pick it up!

Today at the dog park I had somebody ask me how I could live here and not have a bicycle (mind you he road his bike to the park and brought his 2 dogs who sat in the back of this wagon contraption). Well I do have one, except it's a wee bit too small for me believe it or not. This bike is the one I've been eying for some time now and I'm just waiting to go pick it up. Spring is here or almost here minus the freak snowfall we had last week and the tremendous amount of rain and hail we've had.

Living where I do makes perfect sense to have a bike. Not only is it healthy for me, but healthy for our environment. I know, I know... DUH of course it's healthy for the environment, but you know everyone seems to have an excuse for not walking, taking the bus, carpooling or riding there bicycle. It's raining, I'll have to get up earlier, there are creepy people on the bus, my legs hurt etc.. Now by no means am I an expert biker here, in fact I took a biking class in high school and was always the last person to make it back to school, I do blame the bike for some of it though (: But it is a start. And a pretty new bicycle with a lovely black basket on the back seems like a nice place to start.

Audi

2011-04-15T14:15:00.000-07:00

This is Audi, the sweet kitty that I am watching until the 25th! Audi and her mum are one of our neighbors in our apartment complex and I always jump at the opportunity to to watch her. She usually stays in her home, but I'll bring her over in the evening for a few hours. She's a very vocal and sweet girl who doesn't mind having Ella around! It's nice to have my cat fix once in a while.

A Garden

2011-04-05T19:00:00.000-07:00

This Spring I'm looking forward to planting herbs in plant boxes out on our patio. And even more excited to have a plot of garden space out at my parents. I love growing my own fruit, veggies and flowers. The reward of a little work here and there pays off. For example in the Fall the raspberry's are bursting with flavor and size. There are too many carrots to keep up with so the horses get some. The apple trees have to be picked because the branches are almost touching the ground. Zucchini is coming out of our ears and there isn't enough room to bag and freeze for zucchini bread. Various types and colors of lettuce which is always better than store bought. The green bean tepee is a childhood favorite. Ella loves to pick the sugar snap peas straight off the vine. The strawberries are so sweet and juicy. And then you have the potatoes that seem to take over every single year. For flowers we grow sunflowers, dahlia's (my favorite!) and sweet peas. Everything is organic.

My first job as a nurse...

2011-04-03T12:54:00.000-07:00

Well it's official. I have landed my first nursing job! I had my interview Thursday and received the phone call Friday morning. I have a meeting this upcoming Wednesday to discuss when I can start my training etc. It's a full time position 10 minutes away from my house. Shifts are 12 hour days and they mentioned that they don't like people going into overtime. So hello working 3 very long hard days and having the rest of the week off! It will be a challenging position, but they said that it's great for recent graduates.

I am so blessed and lucky that this happened when it did. I've been a little anxious, but good things happen to those who wait. Somebody had heard my prayers and answered.

It's Saturday...

2011-03-26T10:23:00.000-07:00

via

Today ...

2011-03-24T23:34:00.000-07:00

Today was my 2nd day off for the whole month of March. I've been so busy and finally get the chance to relax. Oh yes, and I'm dog sitting until Sunday.

Via

Spring

2011-03-20T12:01:00.000-07:00

Happy First day of Spring 2011! Looking forward to warmer, sunny days to come.

Vacation Needed...

2011-03-12T09:42:00.000-08:00

All this PNW rain is making me want to take a nice vacation somewhere sunny with a nice sandy beach... Happy Saturday! Don't forget to spring forward this evening!

Grandpa's 80th Birthday

2011-03-09T11:11:00.000-08:00

Sunday the family celebrated Grandpa's 80th Birthday. Birthday's are always very casual in our family. We had lunch and then chocolate cake (Grandpa's favorite!) for dessert. I had plans to take my camera out to his farm and get a photo enlarged + framed for his gift, but due to rainy weather and short of time, I decided to get out some canvas and attempt to paint a photo of the farm for him. The result was a piece I titled "Grandpa's Farm." If you know him, he's such a strong willed, dedicated and honorable man who spends so much of his time caring for his land and animals. Here's to another year! Happy Birthday Grandpa I love you!

23

2011-03-03T15:21:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we celebrated T's 23rd Birthday. The morning started out very windy with some blue sky. We made a trip to the Bagelry downtown and then had coffee at Avlino's. T had school and stayed on campus until 7pm. He ordered some Kyoto's for dinner and we ate it at home. Around 10, T opened his gift and we ate some homemade strawberry cheesecake :) Hope you had a wonderful 23rd birthday on such a busy school day, I love you T!

The Secret Life of Butterflies

2011-02-20T12:33:00.000-08:00

Yesterday while at work I got to go to the Seattle Science Center. The butterfly greenhouse had to have been my favorite part of the whole trip!

Just lovely...

2011-02-15T10:56:00.000-08:00

Just lovely...

Celebrating us!

2011-02-14T11:12:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day!

~A day to celebrate us as a couple because we celebrate each other every other day of the year!

(Photos via Flickr)

Words

2011-02-12T10:45:00.000-08:00

(Via Black*Eiffel)

Hello baby

2011-02-01T20:04:00.000-08:00

Nope not my baby just to clarify things here in the blogging world! My dear friend Tasha and I got together this afternoon to take a few photos of her beautiful son Liam. I believe he's 3 months tomorrow. Isn't he such a cutie pie?! And yes, that is the "Very Hungry Caterpillar" one of MY favorite childhood stories!

Overload of cuteness

2011-01-22T19:11:00.000-08:00

This is how I've been feeling lately, tired and never wanting to get out of bed in the morning. I've fallen into this trend of staying up at little too late with T.

On a more positive note, I've discovered the most delicious tea, Market Spice cinnamon orange. I highly recommend it if you're feeling a little adventurous!

While looking at blogs I stumbled across this photo... seriously one of the most adorable pictures I've come across. Someday after a wedding I guarantee that this will be one of the typical scenarios within our home.

Photos via Flickr

I passed...

2011-01-19T14:50:00.000-08:00

I passed. :) Tears of joy took place. Tyler held me. I had one of those Grammy moments again... The first was when I bursted into tears in front of the entire class after finding out that I was one of 5 people who passed one of the hardest exams... it was pure awesomeness! Might I add it had been a very VERY stressful roommate weekend... So it is official, I am a licensed nurse! Now to find a job and that's a whole new game in itself. Happy Wednesday!

The Pain Scale

2011-01-13T10:52:00.000-08:00

Being a nurse has many responsibilities... one of them including asking patient's what their pain level is. It's simple. On a scale of 0 - 10 with zero being no pain at all and ten being very severe pain what would you rate your pain as? Surprisingly enough many people find it hard to give a number because they don't want to be wrong. Well there is no wrong answer to this question. Pain is what the patient says it is. Well while still waiting for my results for the NCLEX (which I'm sure I passed because I passed nursing school with all A's) it's still painful to wait until I get the OFFICIAL results. Here is a little funny from Hyperbole and a Half to keep me smiling until I get my results... and maybe make you chuckle as well. What the REAL Pain Scale should look like.

NCLEX-PN

2011-01-11T14:27:00.000-08:00

This morning I took my state's licensing exam for nursing down in Seattle. The screen went blue at 85 questions. The minimum amount is 85, the max is 205. Now I just wait for my results. It's truly the most stressful, scary, emotional time in my life thus far...

This was one of the books I used to review... I'll keep you posted when I find out the official results!

I love...

2011-01-04T23:06:00.000-08:00

“ I love the ground under his feet, and the air over his head, and everything he touches, and every word he says. I love all his looks and all his actions and him entirely and altogether.

~Emily Bronte, Wuthering Heights

New Years 2010

2011-01-01T12:37:00.000-08:00

Tyler and I celebrated our 9 year Anniversary last night. We went to Boundary Bay for dinner, had Katie's Cupcakes for dessert, played UNO at home, had some sparkling apple cider and played with sparklers after watching the firework on TV live in Seattle. It was a wonderful relaxing evening together.

Happy 2011! I'm so excited to see what the new year will hold.

2010 Recap

2010-12-31T11:45:00.000-08:00

I cannot even believe that it's New Year's Eve already! Where did you go year and why did you fly by so fast? I wanted to give a little recap of some of the exciting things that went on in my life in 2010.

I transferred within my job (it was one of the scariest things I've ever dealt with) and it turned out for the best!
I finally started nursing school.
I turned 23 and got to spend it with some amazing friends at Poppe's.

I had the opportunity to live in the "Barn" downtown and live with 5 other girls.
My cousin Lindsey and I took a road trip around the Olympic Peninsula and road horses on the beach.
I got to take some maternity, wedding & family portraits for dear friends from High school.
My cousin Ashley got engaged and I got to see her try on her dream wedding dress.

I had the summer off and enjoyed working only night shifts while getting to play all day.
Malori came to visit and we got to spend time together, it's like she never left to Oklahoma :)
Tyler and I moved in together.<3
I went to Cancun, Mexico for the first time ever. It was such an AMAZING place!
Tyler and I had season tickets to home Husky games. GO Dawgs (ps, they won the Holiday Bowl last night)!
I graduated Nursing school with straight A's!!! All my hard work truly paid off.
My cousin Lindsey just got engaged!!

Whew what a year it has been! Tonight Tyler and I are celebrating our 9 year anniversary. Goodbye 2010 hello 2011 I'm so excited to see what the new year holds!!

Christmas 2010

2010-12-29T12:06:00.000-08:00

Christmas came and went this year and to be honest I am glad that it's finally over. I'm ready for the new year to begin and to see what's in store. Where my nursing degree will take me, how me and T's relationship will flourish, and just life in general.
We had a beautiful tree this year, presents and good family get togethers. The hustle and bustle of buying gifts, baking, decorating, driving around like madmen wore me out. Here are just a few photos (of many) of our Christmas this year!

3 sleeps...

2010-12-21T17:10:00.000-08:00

Only 3 sleeps until Christmas!
The presents are all wrapped and just a little more baking to do...

8 days until Christmas

2010-12-17T15:57:00.000-08:00

Ella already wants her stocking...

The tree is up and lit with white lights...

Snowflakes cut and decorations on the table...

Cookies to still bake and presents to wrap...

Today I Graduated

2010-12-09T18:32:00.000-08:00

It's official. I've graduated from nursing school!

Last day of being a student nurse- PN

2010-12-09T09:06:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I woke up at 5am (I've been staying at my parent's house in the dale), gulped down some coffee and took my avocado on toast with me in the car. It would be the last day that I would wear my teal scrub top with white pants... I got to the ECF just in time to walk in with 2 of my classmates. Today is the last day we all said. 8 hours, 58 minutes and 32 seconds one said. We ALL smiled :) I had the honor to be placed in the Rehab unit with one other classmate. After spending 10 days here I felt like I could do this, but was still waiting for my instructor to spend her morning watching ME! She said I did GREAT! My nerves were gone, poppin pills into cups, drawing up liquids, counting for narcs (narcotics), grabbing some blood sugars and administering insulin. A few dressing changes here and there, some staples removed and a PPD injection. The morning flew by and as my to do list made it's way down to 2 noon medications and some nurse charting left to do. Did I mention the power went out at 730am to 11:45 today? The facility was running on generators and the resident's rooms were dark. Let's just say taking blood pressures manually in the dark is easy for me now :)
I took my lunch and thought 3 hours and 24 minutes..... My instructor had a mini conference with me. I passed class with an A which includes exams etc and an A for clinical. I felt my heart rate rise with excitement, but tried to keep my professional cool... WOOHOO! I'm not gonna lie, its scary even when you feel like you're doing well, you never truly know because we are only student nurses. To hear those words and see my grade on paper with all the wonderful things my instructors had said about me made me think, yes I will be a nurse after all!
Towards the end of the shift I made my way room to room to all 6 patients that I've worked with. I told them goodbye and thanked them for allowing a student to work with them and how each one of them has touched my heart. A woman on hospice touched my heart the most, she brought happy tears to my eyes, I had to turn away for a minute, that made her smile. I will never forget her and the last look that she gave me with her bright blue eyes. (I know I will be watching the obituaries for her name sad to say, but will keep her in my prayers). At that moment I knew that this is what I'm meant to do. Be a nurse...

Change...

2010-12-05T11:27:00.000-08:00

This is the last photo I have of my long hair, taken yesterday before I went for a change. I have 2 clinical days left before I graduate from practical nursing school, Ty was in Pullman at Apple Cup (might I add the Dawg's kicked Cougar rear), Christmas is coming, and hopefully this new year will bring many new experiences.

11 inches cut off. I was debating between getting a trim with new layers and keeping it long. It was at the point of not getting any longer (or fuller) and a bagillion split ends, even if it didn't look like it. The ends were much lighter from last summer. My other thought was to chop it off to bob length with it being longer in the front, enough to get most of it into a pony tail. The Looking Glass Salon is where I went and loved the classy laid back atmosphere there. I love my new cut. It was time for a change. Hopefully it will be the start of many new good changes in my life!

Still waiting on a Christmas tree...

And I'm going to make this lovely marshmallow wreath, but with lime green ribbon.