Apple Cake!

The other day I was at the grocery store and wanted an apple, so I bought this great little bag of organic apples at the UN-Safeway for 2 bucks. It's rare to find such affordable organic produce here in Tucson, let alone the UN-Safeway (it's in the ghetto). After I had my one little apple, I had about 12 left, and not wanting to waste my 2 bucks I went on a recipe search. I found this recipe for Apple Cake on a great little blog called Smitten Kitchen. It turned out great and I think I'm going to make this at Thanksgiving time instead of Apple pie. It was very good! Check out the recipe!

Lionel Richie kinda looks like Smokey Robinson!

Alright I guess my little girl memory is not as good as I thought it was. Here is the exact clip that horrified me as a kid. Thanks for finding this Mom!

Good Song?

So I just stumbled across this video and can't decide if I like it. It's a cover of a Lionel Richie song that I have detested my whole life...mainly because of him singing it on Sesame Street and being chased and attacked by a giant letter M. I can still remember cringing every time I saw that giant letter M squishing Lionel Richie's head while he sang, "You really got a hold on me!" I think I'm traumatized. Anyways, Zooey Deschanel is singing and she is gorgeous and has a beautiful voice and I've loved her acting (she was the big sister in Almost Famous among other roles), but I don't know if I can handle this song. Is it a good song?

I'm going to get some more earrings.

I just got back from a three hour laser hair removal session. I had both my legs lasered and it hurt like hell. It's subjects like this one that I want to blog about, and why I have made my blog private. There are girls I know from high school that I really loved and admired for how smart and independent they were, how thrifty their style was and how confident they were-- not ever shaving their legs and wearing shorts. I just don't want them to think less of me because I'm paying a lot of money for torture to remove hair that naturally grows on my body. Is that bad, that I'm a closeted laser-hair-remover?

I also have a couple friends who have started blogs lately who talk about really interesting things they do and think about in their lives. Like my friend Marcella (she married one of my old school buddies Clint). Marcella has started this really great blog and posted some really healthy recipes--even including why the particular recipe is healthy. (Hey Marcella, great blog by the way!) And then there's my old buddy Kevin from school. He's already posted about walking the freedom trail in Boston, and the art of dumpster diving. I would enjoy reading both of those blogs even if I didn't know those two people. I also have a few of my friend's (those of you reading right now) blogs listed on the side here. And you all talk about your husbands, and careers, and travels and kids, and write all kinds of great stories...and I like to post pictures of my charm collection, and my new jewelry "box".

Basically, all I blog about is stuff I would want to talk to you about on a daily basis...not necessarily anything insightful or life changing, just "chit-chatty" subjects, not even anything funny really. Like how, today my laser hair removal really hurt bad and the session lasted so long that I was literally shaking for a good hour afterwards. And how I'm so excited about my new jewelry "box" because it's so functional! (You can get one here if you want!) I just don't know if my buddy Kevin, or some of the previously mentioned girls that never shave their legs, would want to read about the things that I blog about. I mean Ben doesn't even read my blog. But I guess since Kevin shared his blog with me, I'm gonna have to let him read mine. I'm still going to blog about Laser Hair Removal, and earrings though.

My Vintage Sterling Silver Charm Collection

This is a picture of a bunch of the Sterling Silver Charms I have been collecting over the past few months. Most of you know that I have been to 49 states and when I went on my giant road trip years ago, my sister and I collected a bunch of charms. Last summer I started looking on Ebay for charms and came across these sterling and enamel map charms and became obsessed with them. Like totally, totally obsessed (like couldn't study because Ebay auctions were ending obsessed). The other day I finally collected the last few states and am so pleased with my little collection. I haven't bought the bracelet I want to put them on yet, so I've been taping them on this map I printed out. When I get the bracelet I'll probably put up some more pictures because this one doesn't really do the little sparkly charms justice and my Mom is just as obsessed with charm bracelets as I am.

Happy Late Valentine's Day!

On Valentine's Day, my Valentine made me these amazing crepes and sauteed bananas with chocolate sauce. Ben totally surprised me, and they were soooo good. Check out the recipe!!!

Ta Da!

So, I haven't been keeping up with my blog for the past couple weeks because I've been busy studying for the NCLEX and starting my new job orientation. Yesterday I found out that I passed my boards and am officially a Registered Nurse!!! It's so crazy that I can hardly believe it, so I thought I'd show you guys proof!

If I could be anywhere right now...

I'd want to be there (Paris) doing that (kissing).

There are three things I want to talk about today...

Number ONE: Life with out cable is horrible. Ben canceled it and hooked up this monstrous contraption to my tv.


Number TWO: I watched WALL-E last night, and think that maybe, it's one of the best movies of ALL TIME. Ben called it geektastic, but I thought it was so sweet and sad and fantastic. I totally loved it.

Number THREE: Is it just me, or is Facebook totally ridiculous!? Total jerks from high school have tried adding me, and I'm just not going to do it. I mean Facebook is already a messed up version of high school...am I really going to add the losers to my friend list who made REAL high school a living hell? My solution to this problem, was to make three friend lists with different security parameters...my regular friends can see everything, acquaintances can see some stuff, and FRENEMIES get the bare minimum. For instance, Frenemies, feel free to see my fabulous profile picture and email me about how you were wrong to be such an asshole to me in school and that is IT.

Crazy Faces!

Poor Grandma, look at all these Looney Tunes she's related to!

Grandpa Chalmer's Memorial

My Grandpa Chalmer's Funeral and Memorial were on Saturday. It was really nice to be with my family. I only wish that everyone who was missing could've been there too, including Grandpa. Here are some pictures from the day of some cousin love.

These pics are missing two boy cousins- Marcus and Tyler of the San Diego Ponds, and then Brookie Cookie and my two sisters.

It's been a crazy few days...

• Grandpa Chalmer died on Saturday.
• Barack Obama was sworn in as President on Tuesday and I totally slept in and missed it.
• I interviewed for Med/Surg Oncology, canceled an interview for the ICU, and accepted the Med/Surg Oncology position.
• and today I fly to Portland for the weekend for Grandpa Chalmer's funeral and memorial.
  

I'm hoping the next few weeks will be less eventful.

Graham Cracker Cake

Sometimes you just want to feel like a kid again, like when your Grandpa wasn't dying. So, you make something to eat that you loved as a kid. Here is a picture of my Graham Cracker Cake...

If you'd like to feel like a kid again...

-In a bowl, mix one box of raspberry jello with a jar of applesauce
-Line a 9x13 dish with a layer of graham crackers
-Layer half of the raspberry/applesauce on the crackers
-Add a second layer of graham crackers
-Layer the second half of the applesauce on the crackers
-Top with a third and final layer of graham crackers
-Finish with a small tub of Cool Whip
-Refrigerate over night, covered with saran wrap

It's a silly, poor man's dessert, but I love it and it makes me feel like a kid again. And there's nothing wrong with that!

Today is Libby's Birthday

...and I sent her this. It's a necklace I made with two antique sterling silver charms. She's currently in these states on a mission. I hope she likes it!

Movie Review: STARDUST

Now that I'm done with school I'm trying to catch up on the Netflix queue (yeah, I should be studying for the NCLEX but I have priorities here people). I didn't let Ben watch any movies with out me this last year, and we never had time to go to the theater so the queue is loooong. This last week we got Stardust in the mail. I don't even remember adding it to the queue, or hearing that much about it. But it was a great movie! It's a fantasy/love story and had a few notable actors in it like Michelle Pfeiffer and Robert DeNiro. It's reminiscent of the Princess Bride, not as tame but definately a similar feel. It had some pretty hilarious moments and some unique elements, like the pirate ship. Both Ben and I really enjoyed it.

5 Things Tag

Janae tagged me which is awesome because I love writing lists!

5 Things I was doing 5 years ago:

• Unpacking at my brand new house in Seattle
• Starting a new job at Azteca
• Hanging out with Ben
• Fighting with Becky
• Starting school at Shoreline

5 Things on my to do list for today:

• Go to the post office
• Go to physical therapy
• Stop at the staffing office at the hospital
• Laundry
• Dishes

5 Things I would do with a million dollars:

• Invest it and turn it into more than a million
• Pay off debt
• Travel around the world
• Buy a piano
• Get a makeover

5 Places I have lived:

• Portland, OR
• Vancouver, WA
• Provo, UT
• Seattle, WA
• Tucson, AZ

5 Jobs I have held:

• Burgerville girl too
• Barista at Starbucks
• Gap Person/clothes folder
• Waitress at like a bazillion restaurants
• Patient Care Technician, aka Nurse's slave

5 Things I want to be doing in 5 Years:

• Traveling
• Working as an ER nurse
• Living in my own house
• Being a wife and mom
• Driving a fuel cell car

5 People I tag:

• Laura
• Brooke
• Kristi
• Aunt Lisa
• Rachelle

My New Year's Resolutions

I figure if I put these goals out there, that maybe I'll actually be able to achieve them, or at the very least get harassed by Ben until I do.

1. Get a job. This shouldn't be that hard since I've already got a contract, but we'll see.
2. Lose at least 15 pounds. I know that sounds like a lot but I have gained twice that in the last three years. I should be able to do this by getting off my butt for work, and with my physical therapy. My bras might not fit, but my pants will and that will be awesome.
3. Pay off my student loans, and the couple other debts I have. Sure I have a nice small minimum payment that would last me the next ten years, but I don't like bills, so I want to take care of that as soon as I can.
4. Catch up on my scrapbooks and photo albums. I've been putting them off through school and I can't wait to get them done.
5. Go Skydiving.
6. Go on a real vacation to Hawaii or Alaska, someplace relaxing without a ton of sightseeing to do, oh and camping.
7. Plan my next big trip either to South America, Australia and New Zealand or back to Europe.
8. Read books that have nothing to do with Nursing.
9. Give up ABC daytime. This will be hard because they are bringing back one of my favorite all time characters to GH...oh and Jason and Sam are getting back together. AHHH, this one is going to be almost impossible.
10. Stick to my budget. This will also be very difficult, with all the paying off debt, traveling, new clothes, and ebaying for antique sterling silver charms I will be doing!
11. Take my lunch to work everyday. The food at the hospital sucks so bad, and I really never want to eat it ever again.
12. Floss or use my new water pik every day.

Holy Crap, I am going to be busy this year, I mean the flossing alone is going to take a ton of time. If only I could pipe General Hospital into the bathroom!

Winter Wonderland

The day after my Pinning ceremony Ben and I flew into Seattle for the holidays. And there was snow, tons of snow. It totally messed up our plans to drive all over the state of Washington to spend an equal time with each family (each of Ben's parents families and his brother's family, and my parents and grandparents). But we managed to see everyone at least for a night, and got to see quite a few friends from high school and college...and got to get Burgerville THREE times. Mmm, Burgerville. I think I'd fly back just for that place. Some highlights of the vacation were: getting to hang out with my mom and play with our charm bracelets, seeing Grandpa and Grandma, catching up with Uncle Scott, walking through the snow with Ben, watching Ben shovel the snow (yeah, he's totally a babe), hanging out with Kevin, dinners with Katie and Steve, and spending a couple nights at the lake with Dave and Marifran (Ben's dad and stepmom). These are some great shots of Lake Cushman that they took during the snow storm. Isn't that an amazing shot that Marifran took of the eagle!?

The lowlights of the trip were: getting cabin fever in Seattle, not getting to go to the symphony, not having enough time to spend with everyone, feeling depressed because it was frrrreezing and dark, Ben and I both getting colds, oh and breaking my cellphone when I dropped it in a puddle, and having my laptop smashed by the airline on my way home. Happy New Year to me! Thank goodness I have Ben who got me a new phone and will be able to fix my laptop! I hope you all had a good Christmas break!

Merry Christmas!

The one tradition my family has always had at Christmas time is spending Christmas Eve at my grandparents house. Last year I opted out to go on a three week trip to Europe, but this year my Grandpa Chalmer had a couple strokes and I felt like I had to be there. Unfortunately the weather in Washington was going absolutely crazy...like snowing NON-STOP. Ben and I were stuck in Seattle and I was freaking out. Luckily after 5 days of hanging out at his brother's house, Ben decided we could brave the horrible driving conditions to head down to Vancouver. It turned out that the freeway was completely clear and the worst part was driving around town once we got into the Couve. So, we made it down to Grandma Caroline and Grandpa Chalmer's house for Christmas Eve.

Nursing Graduation

I finally graduated from college on December 17th. Yay! I'm so glad to be done. My friend Leah and her husband Ryan (who is Ben's stepbrother) and their two girls Rylee (on the left) and Gentry (on the right) drove down from Phoenix to come support me and take me and Ben out to dinner. It was really great that they came. The ceremony itself wasn't anything that special, the key note speaker was a snooze, and I shook the Dean's hand, when I totally hate her. But it was nice to celebrate being done with Ben and Leah and Ryan and their cutie pie girls.

P.S. I ordered a totally dorky white Nursing dress to wear and felt totally ridiculous...it'll make a great Halloween costume later!