The Secret Is Out: The Man Can Cook!!

Jack and I will celebrate our 1yr anniversary soon (May 18th)! In the past year we've had an amazing time falling in love, sharing lots of laughs, and learning new things about each other. One established fact in our relationship is that I'm "the cook". I love to cook and enjoy it thoroughly; I'm always trying out new recipes and making Jack sample them (he loves that!). Until this week though, I never knew he could cook (aside from making boxed mac & cheese). Friday night was a sweet surprise! I finished up my first week of clinicals on Friday and left the hospital around 10:30 absolutely starving for dinner! When I stopped by the condo to visit Jack for a while, he had a full dinner ready for us! How sweet is that?? He made some delicious chicken parmesan and homemade garlic/basil toast. It was very good too!

                             Proof he can cook a great meal!

Chicken Parmesean

Yummy garlic basil toast!

Clinicals!!

Today (well, technically yesterday since it's now after midnight) was officially my first day of clinicals (Respiratory Therapy)! If today was any indication of my future career, I couldn't be happier with my choice! I love it; I love the people I'm working with and the kind staff at the hospital where I'm at! :)

So far, I think that the evening shift gets a good bit of action too! Although we had a little down time tonight at certain points, we were on the go for the most part. Today (under the watchful eye of my sweet preceptors) I got to: preform 13 breathing treatments, observe a bronchoscopy on a post-op patient, assist one of my preceptors with an arteral blood gas draw, and learned how to check the charts & run the ABG machine. It was soo fun!! I am excited to see what happens during the rest of my clinical time and can't wait to learn more with each new shift! I'm also hoping that I learn my way around the hospital quickly; it's easy to get lost there!

My nephew's growing up!!

Today was my handsome nephew, Isaac's 14th birthday! We celebrated it at my sister Kimmy's house, complete with icecream cake. Here are a few pictures from todays festivities! :) I can't believe he's already turning 14! I still remember the day he was born! :) He's growing up into quite the handsome little guy!

                                                            
                               Happy 14th Birthday Issac!
             (he was modeling his new shirt from me & Jack)

Mac, the sexy Chinese Crested!

Isaac's Birthday Cake

Me & my sister Kimmy

Two of my beautiful nieces, Taylor & Leedora

My nephew Cooper and I

Isaac, Jack, and Me

Isaac & Me

My two goofy nieces, Barbie & Leedora

My mom sampling some of Isaac's birthday cake while everyone waited in line for a slice

Belated Valentine Pictures!

I'm a little late posting these as it's been a bit of a long week. Valentines this year was a little bittersweet. Bitter in the sense that we had my Nannie's viewing on Valentine's night and her funeral on Monday. Sweet in the sense that I know she is happy and at rest, and also that my amazing boyfriend Jack went out of his way to make sure I had a good Valentines. He is soo wonderful to me and always knows how to make me smile! Nannie always taught us how important love was. I think it's fitting her viewing was on Valentines to remind us all about how important love and family truely are! I defintiely cherished this week.

                Here are some pictures from Valentines this year!


                             Sweet Card From Jack

"The front says, "Love You" and the Inside says "Fur-ever! Happy Valentines Day"

Then Jack wrote," On their first Valentines Day, my grandfather gave my grandmother one red rose. He now gives her 54. You're going to need a big vase too! Love, Jack.
P.S. Bob has your new GSP. We can get him Wednesday."  - How sweet is he??? Ahh I love him! :)

My beautiful rose from Jack

Another view of my rose and some of my Valentine's goodies!

Rose & card from Jack, chocolate from Jack's sweet family, and candy hearts from my mom. :)

Jack's family gave me chocolate for Valentines. They're soo sweet!

"Fluffy" My handsome new Green Spotted Puffer (front). This was in the tank at Bob's Tropicals before I brought him home to his new tank!

Better is one day in your courts than 1000 elsewhere....

That is a line from a song that has been running through my head all evening. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Drebw_nVzZ8

Today my beautiful grandmother, Nannie, passed away around 10:30pm. She had been ill for quite a while and God saw fit to call her home tonight. Never have I known a more radiant, strong, or inspirational woman like my grandmother. She was the true definition of strength and perseverance. In her life she knew struggles and joys. She was blessed with 2 children and more grandchildren and great grandchildren than she could keep track of! She considered all of her family members precious treasures and always had a big hug and a funny joke for all of us. She taught me what it means to have faith and to stay strong. I could confide in her things that I couldn't tell to anyone else. She always knew how to make me laugh and smile.

As saddened as I am that she has passed on, I take comfort knowing that she is no longer in pain or suffering. She is at peace. I want to celebrate her life and her new home in heaven. She now has a new heavenly body (and a new arm/hand!) and she gets to see her precious Savior, her mother that she never had a chance to know (my great grandmother passed away when Nannie was little), brothers and sisters, her husband, and countless other friends and family members that she has longed to see for a long time. It brings a smile to my face to know that she is reunited with them and looking down on all of us right now.

Here are a few of my favorite pictures of my precious grandmother:

               Nannie, Mom, and I at Christmas 2009

My mom and Nannie at Christmas 2009

Nannie and her great grandson, Isaac, dancing away the night

Like Mother, Like Daughter (both had their eyes closed)

Nannie being silly and closing her eyes again

 

Mom, Kimmy, Nannie

Nannie and Me

Beautiful Nannie!

Wordless Wednesday!

Hagan!

Snowflakes, Snowfall!!

In Memphis snow is an occassional treat. Today we got see a beautiful snow! Here are a few pictures from today's lovely snowfall! :) (The pictures may be a little fuzzy since I resized them)
                                        

                                        Snow Covered Trees!

The snow looks soo lovely on the trees!

One of the snow covered bushes!

Our side of the duplex and my car coverd in snow!

Pull Up Your Pants People!!

I'm not typically the type to complaine about clothing. However, there is one "trend" that drives me crazy: saggy pants down past the butt! What the hell?? Is it really necessary to have your pants down to your knees people? I understand not wanting to wear tight pants or uncomfortable clothing, but if you have to reach down every five seconds to pull up your pants, there is a good chance that you may need to reconsider your clothing size. It's time to find proper fitting clothes if your butt is not covered when you're in public Are we really turning into a society full of individuals who enjoy going around showing off their thongs, muffin tops, tighty-whities, boxers, and cracks to everyone??? Why even bother putting pants on if they're not going to cover the parts they were intended for when you're away from home?


Take the other day for instance, I went to buy gas for my car. As I was standing in line, there was a man in the front of the line checking out. As far as I know, he could be the most kind person in the world so I'm not knocking him for his personality, however, I would just like it if he covered his bare a$$ in public!  His pants were already exceptionally baggy and low, and then he leaned over to pay for his purchases, and down the pants went! Did he pick them up??? NOPE! He continued his conversation with the clerk, unphased that his a$$ was exposed to EVERYONE  behind him. He was clearly not wearing anything under his pants eithor! I saw much more than I needed to that early in the morning! Oh yeah people, we're talking a full early morning peep show at the Shell station! You would think that the guy needed a belt right? Here is the kicker, he was wearing a belt! I would like to point out that belts do nothing for your pants if your pants and your belt do not fit right! I'm not advocating spending unholy amounts of money on clothing or dressing like Steve Urkel; I'm just saying, pull up your pants and dress appropriately when you go out in public! If you want to be a nudist in your own home, that's awesome. Go home and be the most happy naked person on the face of the earth, or dress however you would like. If you plan to go out in public though, please pull up your pants people! Plumbers crack is NEVER sexy!

~ Ok, I'm stepping off of my soapbox now! ~

Ranger Cookie Recipe!

I thought I would post one of my favorite cookie recipes for everyone to try today! I've made these for quite a while now and they're very tasty! They're called "Ranger Cookies". I first saw a recipe for Ranger Cookies several years ago in my Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook....I have since changed it around a lot and altared it to make my own recipe. :) (Aside from a few minor details, the cooking directions are from the book.)


It's a pretty easy recipe to make, and you can altar it depending on what you prefer to use! I like chocolate chips, rasins, flaked coconut, crushed almonds, rolled oats, and rice cereal in mine - but you can be as creative as you want. They are also really good with a half cup of granola cereal (or a whole cup if you're out of rice krispy's), dried cherries or blueberries in them! ( If you are a diabetic or insulin resistant individual, you can use 1/2 cup of applesauce and a pinch of natural honey instead of sugar. They turn out just as good! )


Ingredients:


1/2 cup REAL butter (softened) - For the love of all things holy, don't even think about using margarin!!


1/2 cup granulated sugar (I prefer the natural raw unrefined sugar, but the white refined sugar works too)


1 egg (I use large brown ones)


1/2 cup packed brown sugar


1/2 tsp baking powder (Optional, you can use 1/4tsp baking soda instead You just need one of the two.)


1 tsp vanilla


1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (Not self-rising flour!!) You can add more flour if the dough is too thin.


2 cups rice krispy cereal


1 cup rolled oats

A small pinch (or for my non baking friends...about 1/8th tsp) of cinnamon or nutmeg (or both if you prefer)

2 cups semi-sweet milk chocolate chips or chunks (dark chocolate works too)


1 cup rasins (you can also use dried cherries or dried blueberries!)


1 1/3 cup flaked coconut (thaw it out first if you use frozen)


Directions:
-Preheat overn to 375 degrees-


1. In a medium bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking powder or baking soda. Beat until combined, scraping the sides of the bowl occasionally. Beat in egg and vanilla until combined.




2. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Using a wooden spoon, stir in any remaining flour. Stir in cereal, coconut, rasins, choclate chips,etc (you can add nuts if you want to! Sometimes i crush almonds and put them in mine when i have them!!)

***If the dough is a little loose, roll it into a log shape and wrap it in cellophane. Put the dough into the refridgerator for 15 minutes or longer until the dough firms up and is easier to work with!***


3. Drop dough by a rounded teaspoon 2 inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet or a silpat baking mat. (If you have a small ice cream scoop- use that to scoop your dough with and the cookies will all come out the same size). Bake in a 375 degree oven about 8 minute or until edges are golden brown. When you take the cookie sheet out of the oven, carefully smack the underside of the sheet on thetop of the oven (or island) and it will make the cookies easier to take off the cookie sheet when they cool! :)


4. Cool on cookie sheet for 1 minutes. Transfer the cookies to wire rack; cool. Makes about two dozen cookies.




ENJOY!!

A Classic...

When I first started college back in the autumn of 2004, I was a Music Industry major (Recording Technology). I have grown up around music my entire life. It is one of the most amazing forces known to man. It has the power to move, the power to bring joy, inspiration, tears, and healing. Although I have a varied appetite for the music I enjoy, there are several poignant songs that stand out in my mind as classics.

In life, there are many songs: songs for happy days; songs for sad days. There are songs for heartbreak, and songs for love. Some songs are written to express anger and rage. Other songs inspire change, hope, and  healing. In my opinion, "Annie's Song" is a classic that describes how life and love should be. John Denver hit the nail on the head with this one. I think it is one of the most amazing love songs ever written. It moves, it makes you think, it inspires, and it describes how a loving relationship should be. It's not a one-hit wonder. It is not a frivolous song without substance that will be forgotten tomorrow. It is a song for all ages and all people.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C21G2OkHEYo





(Yes, I admit it people; I too can be cheesy!)

Comforts...

Most of my friends and family know I have a few issues with my heart. My cardiologist recently decided to try me out on a new medicine to see if it would help in addition to what I am already taking. (Long story short, I had a horrible internal reaction to it and have been incredably sick ever since.) I was not any better today, so they had me come in for another check on my heart/etc. After a few tests, they decided I was becomming too dehydrated and my potassium was also too low, so I spent a few hours there while they gave me several IV's full of fluids and one of potassium. The nurse told me to go home and take it easy after that- no school, no more driving, no work around the house; just rest and let my heart rate relax today. Thankfully though, the doctor did say that if I rested up today that I should be ok to attend our friends' farewell dinner tonight though so that's good (no worries, Jack's driving). Our friends are moving out of state tomorrow, so I'm at least glad we will get to see them tonight! The doctor said it should be ok since I have to eat/drink anyways! After that though, I'm banished to resting again for the rest of the evening. ;)





Anyways, while I was sitting there in the doctors officer earlier, needle in arm, I started to wonder what makes other people feel better when they feel sick? You know, the little comforts that make life better!





Here's my list of comforts that always make me feel a little better!:





Jack - he always knows how to cheer me up and make everything better





A hot cup of tea





Hagan, my snuggly German Shepherd puppy





My mom's vegetable soup & buttermilk cornbread (humm...I should request this!)





A good movie on tv ("You've Got Mail" is what I'm currently watching)





Anything from Lush Cosmetics... www.lush.com





Mascara (no matter how bad I feel, if I put some on, I automatically feel better!)




A warm blanket





Good music : Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Evanessence, etc....





Whole wheat toast with homemade jam on it (One of my mom's older customers makes his own jams/jellys and always sends me some (especially strawberry!). They're amazing; I have a cabinent full of them!)





A good magazine or book





Comfortable clothes (especially pj's!)





Laughter - my funny moment of the day was driving myself all the way out to my cardiologist's office and not realizing until I got ready to leave that I was still in my pajamas! (That's how bad I felt!)





What are your favorite comforts???

Officially Joining The Blogging World!

Well, I finally decided to cave and join in on the infamous world of blogging! I couldn't think of a better time to start than the present! I have enjoyed reading through the wonderful blogs of my friends for quite a while now, so I thought it would be fun to start one of my own! My life is constantly changing and taking new directions, so I'm looking foward to accentuating my life's journey through blogging. Happy reading everyone!