Rants, Recipes, and Running

Tomorrow is a day in universities referred to as "Reading and Review Day". This is a day of no classes. Focusing. Preparing for a week of finals ahead. However, the reality and importance of this day doesn't always set in during the first years of college (unless you're realllly focused). It's a pretty cool concept. An entire day that you would NORMALLY be in class that is TOTALLY focused on studying? How amazing..... It never happened that way in my 1st years of college, however. This was an extended weekend of endless fun! It began Thursday at 3! -- Bust open the boxed wine! We get a long weekend! Oh.....how silly I was. This weekend has a special place in my heart. It was the weekend, 2 years ago, that I told Ryan "I think I'm falling in love with you......" When did I realize this? Was it a romantic date? Was it on a beautiful, magical, walk through a snowy winterhaven? No -- We were sipping coffee and Baileys in -40 degree temps , huddled over ...

This is a double-post Tuesday! It's time to vent. And it may get ugly. I don't like my neighbors. We have the nosiest (not noisy...NOSEY), most irritating, 50-something old next door. Oh, but it's not just the 50 year old, because the 50 year old has a 20 year old son. And they both live with the the 50-year-old's parents. Can you imagine being in your 50's, and still living with mom and dad??!! Not because you're taking care of THEM....but because they still pay your bills, wash your laundry, cook your meals!!!??? So sad. The 20 year old is the absolute image of the sin of Gluttony. He is overweight. He only wears shorts. And his shorts go down to his ankles. He doesn't shower. And he has probably not gotten a haircut since he was 12. And he wears all black with a lovely abundance of facial piercings. Every morning, I am out stretching in the driveway prior to my run. And father and son are outside smoking. (what nice bonding...ruin your lungs and harden yo...

Another Tuesday! Next week at this time...I will be officially on Christmas break! How incredible...:) 1) Cost aside, if you could go back to college for anything besides what you "do", what would you study? -I would say -- go back to get a degree in English. I've always wanted to be a journalist. But I have realized that I love the healthcare atmosphere way too much to move away from it. I'd either go back and go more towards research with microbiology. Or I would do Nutrition and be a Registered Dietician. 2) What do you do for a living? Do you love it/hate it? -At the moment, I am a student. But this is short lived. I will be an RN in about 8 months. I think I will love it. I really enjoy nursing. I seriously become a different person when I'm doing it, in a good way. 3) What is your favorite Christmas ornament? If you don't celebrate Christmas, what is your favorite holiday tradition? -Hm....I love glittery red Christmas balls. I'm all about red at Chr...

I have been at a huge loss. Didn't even want to be a nurse, anymore. Thought to myself, Nothing really draws me in. How can I be doing well in my classes, when I'm absolutely miserable. I was actualy getting pist off when teachers would give me positive feedback. But today, I got to be on the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). And it was amazing. Not so much the pediatric aspect of it all. But the ICU aspect, I loved. Which is perfect. Because my contracting hospital has no kids or babies. I felt like my education was finally being applied, I was thinking, I was being challenged . It was incredible. This is probably the shortest, most uninteresting blog I have written. But I had to update. I'm ecstatic. I have had this cloud over head lately that has suppressed my past dreams. I didn't think I had the ability to reach my goals. I originally was excited about my career. And that excitement is back! So.....my game plan = Continue to network with my teachers/mentors to...

Feels as though it as last Tuesday minutes ago! Wow the week flew! 1) What was the last concert you went to? Dashboard Confessional back in 2006 with my sister Lisa! It was a fun sister date before I headed off to college! We went running shoe shopping, out for sushi with our brother, and to the concert! Oh...and she took me to Starbucks. It was the first time I had ever drank coffee before! (I just realized that....) Thanks Lisa, you officially started my coffee addiction! :) I don't know where I'd be without it! 2) Is it easy to make you cry? That totally depends on who it is. I can be extremely talented at being very stoic with no emotion. And then there's days where I'm like a water hose of tears! But I rarely do the whole "happy cry" thing. 3) Do you ever feel like people underestimate you? Yes--I think. I don't know if " underestimate " is the correct word for this. But being I'm young, and I'm the youngest in my family, and I'm...

So I am stealing this idea of the "monthly recap" from my sister Lisa! I think it's a cool idea to get the latest news! It is just crazy to think that this month is gone. It was super busy and SUPER FAST! But I am ready for December to be here. I love the Christmas season. AND Ryan and I get to fly home to see the family for 10 days!!!!!!!! (*Pause...while Abby jumps up in down in cart-wheels-of-glory) So here it is! Current Book(s): Nursing Care of Children & Infants by Hockenberry & Wilson. Very exciting. But seriously, December 14 is my final. Then I get almost 3 weeks off!!!! (Allleluia!) So I am looking forward to doing some reading. So to you "Book Worms" out there, I am open to suggestions. Otherwise, I'm reading "Going Rogue". I dont care what you think, I think Sarah Palin is an amazing woman, and I would love to read her book! I am a proud fan! Current Music: Christmas, Christmas, and More Christmas! However, I shouldn't soun...

Ryan & I celebrated our first Thanksgiving as the "Nastase family" cooking our 1st feast! And looking back, I feel safe to say it was a success! We did take photos of some of the events, but being I purchased a new computer (thank you, Black Friday)...I don't have the energy to upload photos. I'm tired of "uploading" stuff! But I will recap on the great day! Let's start with the prep : Growing up my mom hosted Thanksgiving nearly every year. She has a giant family (8 kids) -- so Thanksgiving was very, very plentiful with lots of family, tons of food, and great memories! I remember she was always a little..... tense ....the days leading to this holiday. I always thought, "Gee, Mom. What's the big deal?! It's just Thanksgiving. You're family will love you no matter what!" Now I hosted my first thanksgiving, for a much smaller crowd. And let's just say I was also.... tense . This week I officially became My Mother's Daughte...