A smattering...

Apologies for the lack of posting! This semester actually has really been keeping me busy with so much going on ....whiiiiich is probably even more reason why I should be regularly updating...aaaand therefore you can disregard my previous post where I mentioned having time to breathe (it's barely there, I swear!)...

So, a short updated post in photo-form:

Twilight hairbrushes.
Found in the Best Buy sale section when we went to pick out our new flat screen television earlier in February.
...because every girl wants to style her hair after Rob Pattinson...

This is how our dog regularly sleeps.
In front of the front door, head shoved up against the shoe crate.
Comfy, eh?
(and she looks really happy to see me, too)

Valentine's Day!
I had to work but Justin surprised me by giving me an hour-long massage on our rose-petal-covered bed. He also fed me chocolates during the massage and gave me more roses (see above photo) afterward. 
What a guy!

So I went to go visit my best friend who's a teacher and lives smack dab in the middle of the state. She and her boyfriend (pictured) took me to this somewhat-janky local restaurant that is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. He ordered this nasty thing called a "hot beef" or something vague like that. 
His expression says it all.
This is the only picture I got of my weekend visit.
That is sad. 

Aaaand finally, our nearly five year old dog has stopped caring about being obedient while we're away and has chosen to rifle through the trash TWICE now in search of leftovers and various scraps. 
Ugh.

This week I start my first round of clinicals for nursing. I'm scared and nervous and excited and apprehensive and feeling so not prepared to start this all at the same time... Wish me luck!

NPR

...mmm....doughnuts....

I just finished eating dinner about a half hour ago and turned to Justin and said, "Ooooh, I want a doughnut right now. That sounds sooo good, doesn't it?"

So what does the man do? 

Gets up from the table, heads toward the shoe rack, and states, "I am going to go get you a doughnut."

What.

Best. husband. EVER.

This whole readily-willing-to-get-up-to-fetch-me-the-foods-of-my-hankerings thing makes for at least one good thing to look forward to one day when I have a little bun in the oven...

Update: He brought home EIGHT of 'em so we "can have a nice breakfast tomorrow."

Observe:

Yes.

NPR

Slow Cooker Spectacular!

So as I previously mentioned, I've been hoping to add a bit more variety to the blog...hence, I've decided to add a new theme: slow cooker recipes! Due to Justin's and my more than slightly abnormal schedules, eating dinner together has become a luxury for which we have become very grateful when we get the chance. During our first year of marriage (...when I didn't have a job...), I had lots of time to experiment with food and ease into the job of preparing meals for us. I look back fondly on those times when I would spend literally HOURS preparing and experimenting with various elaborate recipes. Sadly, since returning to school, I haven't had as much time to dedicate to making meals, so things have gotten more basic around here (think sandwiches, casseroles, and oh so many Crockpot creations).

However, I when I stumbled upon this recipe, I jumped at the chance to attempt making such an elegant main course, Crockpot-style. For the heck of it (and with the excuse of sort-of-not-really-but-really-yeah celebrate Valentine's Day), I also threw this creation on the menu with the intention of healthifying (yup, that's a word) the entree up with some easy steamed green beans and plain baked potatoes. 

This seriously was not at all difficult.

It took probably 20 minutes max, and that was only because Justin came home from running errands right in the middle of me mixing stuff....and was talking to me....and I have great difficulty multi-tasking in the kitchen so I there were many pauses and re-thinking what I had just done throughout the process.

Thus was my attempt at creating a nearly-completely-slow-cooker-prepared meal...

Why, hello there.

Much to the behest of my husband, here I am writing a blog post. 

Confession: I am a terrible keeper of memories. 

Justin and I have had at least 9874525374 conversations in the past few months regarding this here little blog o' mine - mostly him reminding me that many years from now, when I want to remember what was going on at this point in my life, I will smack myself in the rear for not documenting things. 

And he's right.

Right now I'm married. 

Have been for nearly three years (!). 

My husband went back to college for pre-requisites for medical school.

He already has been accepted into the incoming class of a particular school for fall 2012 (yay!). 

I'm also in college. 

Again.

However, I've traded my Spanish literature textbooks for stethoscopes and scrubs in pursuit of a future in nursing.

I also worked for nearly two years at the local hospital as a receptionist, navigating my way into the world of healthcare and all that it involves, only to end up back at my alma mater in search of earning a BSN. 

That job ended this past January, when I literally could not fit in enough hours of the day to keep working that job along with a full-time academic schedule.

So, I started working at a retail store downtown...and I love it.

We also happen to live downtown in a loft - and it. is. AWESOME (I share this feeling with Justin on a nearly daily basis).

Justin and I have weekly "donut dates," during which we walk to a local coffee shop / bakery / restaurant, order coffee and a baked good / breakfast food, do a little devotions, and catch up with each other. 

Sometimes we also walk our dog down the streets of downtown late at night when nobody else is around.

Due to my schedule and lack of extra time to cook, my beloved 6qt Crockpot has become one of my greatest material possessions. 

That's just the general idea of life these days. Sadly, I've really missed out on documenting the little memories that are too soon forgotten because I haven't been keeping up on this blog. I know I've written several times about making theme posts, writing on a more regular basis, etc. but I haven't followed through. 

Final exams

However, the music of this lady, this guy and this movie have been keeping me company as I chug along. 


Freedom = Thursday


Bring it, finals. 


NPR

another good reminder

"Do not spoil what you have today by desiring what you have not. Remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for."
- Epicurus


NPR

sympathetic nervous system series....or not

Remember when I said I would do a post each month about things that make me happy? You know, right before I went on a two-month sabbatical to re-configure my whole life because nursing school stuff was setting up camp in all the boxes and lines of my planner?

Yeah, so much for that...

Well, here is the second installment of what I've now dubbed the sympathetic nervous system series!

Just kidding.

Did you get it?

It was a joke, okay?

Sympathetic nervous system = fight or flight = adrenaline rush....anyone?

Gimme-a-break-'cause-I'm-in-school-right-now-and-all-I-can-focus-on-is-physiology-stuff-because-it's-kicking-me. in. the. rear.

10 things that put a smile on my face

1. Living close enough to campus that I can ride my bike to class and get to the science center in two minutes flat

2. My 6 qt CrockPot

3. Justin's and my weekly doughnut dates that involve some devotional time along with a good cup o' joe, a baked good of some sort and/or a mammoth-sized breakfast entree

4. The $0.41 pumpkin spice lattes at work

5. Going on runs without obligation nor any pressure to look at my Nike watch every five minutes

6. The fact that the appropriate time to start listening to Christmas music and decorating for the holiday season (AND CHRISTMAS BREAK) is getting closer...and closer...and closer...

7. Re-reading Justin's account of his near death experience - SO funny! To clarify, no harm was done to Justin or the deer.

8. The 20-minute dance party that Justin and I had last night (this morning?) at 1:30am to the Tron and Fight Club soundtracks

9. Getting to know some pretty incredible and amazing fellow student nurses so far this semester

10. Having all of my weekends free from work once again!

What's bringing you joy and smiles these days?

 

NPR