Charms...

If you're interested, I posted a bunch of pictures of my collection on my online photo album...including some charms I've been collecting for my cousins. (The link to my album is on the right. That's for you Mom, on the right, see the column on the right? Ha. And Ben, I know you want your own bracelet. It's okay if you want to admit it!)

Camping in AZ

I decided to take a quick camping trip this weekend to take advantage of this beautiful "not-summer" weather we are blessed with in Arizona. Just outside of Tucson is Mt. Lemmon, covered in camping grounds and vista views of Tucson, clearly the perfect place to go. This is a shot of the little camp site, pretty nice right? Car camping is the best for some nice chill-axing (yes, you read that right). You can throw all your gear in the car and within two hours be sitting around a nice roaring fire with your sweet tent, air mattress, and giant flannel sleeping bag waiting for you under the stars. Yeah, I like to rough it in style. That sweet tent is from REI and might be the coolest thing ever. It's over 6 feet tall, the top is completely mesh (to better view the stars) and it only has four poles so it pops up in about ten minutes. So cool.

Saturday night, Ben and I made some foil dinners that turned out delicious. We wrapped chicken breasts, potatoes, carrots, onion and garlic cloves up in some foil, put them on the coals and twenty minutes later everything was cooked perfectly! I think we lucked out actually. For desert we had s'mores Sarah style. I like to toast my mallows and put them between two cookies that already have the chocolate built in. It's a time saver really. They can be chocolate chip cookies or chocolate covered grahams, but this time I got these great little French shortbread cookies that have a milk chocolate piece on top. I probably could've eaten about 20 of those s'mores but we ran out of cookies. Ah yes, it was good.

So, some things I learned about camping in Arizona:
1. Apparently there are bears. At our beautiful little campsite there was a nice pergola and picnic table and there was a food locker to protect your food FROM BEARS. I thought Bears only lived near rivers where they could snatch up some tasty salmon. I guess I was wrong.
2. Just because its 75 degrees during the beautiful day, doesn't mean that you shouldn't pack your winter clothes. Because as soon as the sun goes down the temperature will drop to the low 40's. Nice and chilly. Thank goodness for super warm flannel sleeping bags!
3. Just because it's only 75 degrees and you're hanging out under your nice pergola all day, doesn't mean you won't get a nice lobster red sunburn. Note to self: never leave house without sunscreen EVER.

Where The Wild Things Are!

I just saw this on Ellen today and am sooooo excited to see it. I loved the book as a kid, and this looks amazing. Check it out!



P.S. The music is the AMAZING band The Arcade Fire. Check them out too!

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!