Vacation Dreaming link up!

 

I meant to do this a few days ago, unfortunately, my favorite vacation was back in 2001 (aka the days before digital cameras) so I had to go digging for the pictures to take pictures with my phone to get them on here. Oh, how far technology has come!

My favorite vacation was when I was 17, in the summer of 2001. I went with my family (dad, stepmom, brother, sister, and stepbrother) to Cozumel and Playa del Carmen in Mexico! Hard to believe I was so close to not even going on this trip. I originally told my dad I was going to stay behind to work, in all actuality I think I didn't want to leave my boyfriend for a whole week. At the last minute I changed my mind. My dad had to call the airlines because they had already booked tickets. 

So, we took off mid-July of 2001. I believe that we flew to Chicago first, to connect, or we may have just flown out of Chicago ... that I can't remember. I believe the flight to Mexico was around 5 hours. We got to Mexico (we landed in Cozumel), and I remember the airport being TINY. There was some mix up with our rental van, and I just remember my sibs and I being SO crabby, sitting on the floor of the airport next to the rental desk. I literally think they didn't have chairs ... or at least enough chairs. And I found the picture to prove it! This picture always makes me laugh, we were SO crabby.

We finally got our van, and drove to Playa del Carmen, where we were staying. My dad and stepmom rented this gorgeous house right on the beach. The house was pretty big. There was a living room, a kitchen, a dining room, another small family room downstairs and 3 bedrooms upstairs. There were 2 bathrooms. This is a picture of the house.

There were a few places like next to each other so I guess they weren't houses, more like huge condos.

This was us eating lunch in the dining room, you can see the beach and the water behind us.

This is a picture of our house from a boat on the water (we went deep sea fishing).

View from the upstairs balcony.

We went to a lot of different places while we were in Mexico. The first day we went to Tulum, which is a site of Mayan ruins, and then afterward we went to a beach near there.

At the beach they had these little huts with a hammock and table and there was a restaurant behind us where you could get drinks and stuff.

We also went into Playa del Carmen one day and went out to a restaurant for lunch and then just walked around the city and looked at all the buildings and culture.

My sister and I apparently didn't like pictures haha.

We also went to Chichen Itza, another site of Mayan ruins. My dad, stepmom, and brothers climbed to the top of it but my sister and I didn't. I wish I would have now.

One day we went to this cave, and at the bottom of it was this huge freshwater pool. We all swam in it ... it was superrrr cold but it was so cool!

We also went deep sea fishing. My dad and brothers all caught barracudas, which was exciting, but we all ended up catching something! Another funny happening ... my dad had on this like straw hat with a brim that blew off of his head and into the water during our fishing trip. Luckily, he was able to get it back.

On the last night, we ate at a restaurant close to where we were staying, called The Pelicans, but I think it was the Spanish translation. We had eaten there for lunch once before and we loved it. You could sit outside and look at the water.

My dad is wearing the hat that fell off his head there ;) 

Another thing we did frequently while we were there was play Pitch. Pitch is a card game, and we actually still play it today when we get together for Christmas and other holidays. Here we are, sitting on the floor in the airport again, waiting to board our flight home.

It was such a fun vacation! I was too young at the time to fully appreciate the ruins, architecture, and culture, but I had a wonderful time anyway and I now look back on it as one of my favorite vacations ever. I remember just our rental house alone was so much fun. We'd watch Meet the Parents (it had just come out) every night on our TV in the family room (I'm sure we drove my parents nuts with that), and we could lounge in the house and then just walk out the patio and onto the beach when we wanted. 

I really want to go back to Mexico again someday, for many different reasons. My husband is from there, so I'd like to go visit where he is from. I'd also like to do kind of a trip like we did, historical and sight seeing again, and then I really really want to go somewhere touristy and do an all inclusive trip at a resort! Hope you enjoyed reading about my favorite vacation!

 

Five on Friday

Happy Friday to all! Hope that everyone has had a fabulous day!

One. I had a wonderful first week on the floor at my new job! It went better than I expected, and I can't wait to get paid next Friday, I'm so broke!! Also, I work every other weekend and this happens to be my weekend off. LOVE IT.

Two. One month until Classics! I'm certifiably obsessed with WAG and the best part of the season begins in a month! Usually I actually attend this event live, however, I will be out of town so I won't be able to this year. I'm super excited for all of the new first year seniors and also to see my current favorite, Kyla Ross, dominate! McKayla Maroney may also be there too, which would be exciting! I've been watching all of everyones' upgrades to their routines, and they are awesome! 

Three. I've decided to start reading for an hour every night before I go to bed. I love love to read but I always say I don't have enough time for it. I'm forcing myself to read at least an hour a day, no excuses! It will be a nice wind down for bed time too. I want to re-read so many of my favorite series, so I'm starting with Harry Potter :)

Four. I'm excited that July is almost here! Summer is flying by so fast, but in July I'm doing some fun things and not just school and working all the time. 4th of July should be fun as always, Wicked next Sunday, my dad and stepmom's surprise birthday party, and PKU camp! 

Five. I love love my newest addition to my Coach collection! I went to the outlet last weekend and couldn't resist buying this since everything in the store was 50% off!

Everyone have a wonderful weekend!

Project 365

I just started a Project 365 ! 

This is something I've wanted to do for a long time. Hope you all check it out. 

# 1 Rule on nursing tests ...

NEVER CHANGE YOUR ANSWERS!

It seems that once a semester, I always screw up with this. Last semester it was my Immunology exam, today it was Trauma/PE. Today we had an exam on Chest Trauma and Pulmonary Emboli. It is our shortest exam of the semester, only 10 questions long. Meaning if you get two wrong you fail. Well, what do I do? I would have had a 90%, but then my idiot self had to change two answers and turns out I had the right answers in the first place. There is honest to God not a more frustrating feeling in the ENTIRE world. 

So, no 90%, instead my first failed CHA exam and my first failed exam since 1st semester. To be honest, it's not devastating to my grade. I had a 91% in the class before this, and since the exam was only 10 questions, my grade only went down to a 90%, with my participation points added a 92%. I texted one of my former teachers immediately after because not changing your answers is like her MOTTO, and she sent me in return: Don't change your answers!! Don't doubt yourself!!! This is exactly what I did, and I think this reminder will last me the rest of the semester at least. Very happy it didn't hurt my grade!

New Look

Happy Weekend!

I hope that everyone is enjoying their weekend so far!

So, my friend Caitlin made me a new blog layout which I absolutely love! Along with this, I have updated my About Me and also have begun a new Mission 101 which you can find in the links above. 

Thanks again Caitlin! Have a good Saturday blogger friends!

First Five on Friday!

I decided to join some of my blogging friends for 5 on Friday!

1. My new job!

This week I started my new job! I am a Student Nurse Intern at a hospital on a medical floor. This has been a goal that I've been working on for quite some time. I've wanted to get experience in my field since beginning nursing clinicals and I think this came at the perfect time. I have 3 semesters of clinical under my belt and I honestly am learning so much in school that I know I will be able to apply to this job. I had orientation Monday all day, then some training Tuesday, and Thursday was my first day actually following someone on my unit! It was great :)

2. Chris Tomlin in October!

I have been wanting to go to a Christian music concert for years now. Especially Matthew West, Tobymac, Newsboys, Chris August, or Chris Tomlin. They seriously like NEVER come near me though. But FINALLY, Chris Tomlin is coming like a half hour away from me on the day after my birthday :) I'm going with my friend Holly, and we are sooo excited we can't wait. I bought our tickets yesterday. He has several amazing albums, but I'm in absolute LOVE with Burning Lights, his most recent. Super excited!

My husband's birthday!

My husband's birthday was Tuesday and we had such a fun time celebrating. He had to work all day Tuesday, but my mom and I put up balloons and signs and crepe paper while he was gone and he came home to it that night. Then yesterday our neighbors, my sister, mom, and us all had drinks here and then went out to dinner to a delicious Mexican restaurant, then came back here and had ice cream cake and he opened our gifts to him. It was a great time!

4. New Music July!!

I'm so exited for Selena Gomez's and Mariah Carey's new albums, which both come out on July 23! The title of Selena's album is Stars Dance and the title of Mariah's is The Art of Letting Go, and I looove both titles! 

5. My puppy!

To be honest, I NEVER ever wanted a dog before. I thought they were too much work and too expensive for me at this point in my life. But now that I have one, I can't imagine not having one!! It's so nice having someone always so happy to see you (obviously, other than your family), and someone to cuddle with and go for walks with when Donaldo isn't home! Plus he's the cutest doggie ever!

Everyone have a fabulous Friday!

Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to my Daddy and all the other fathers!

My dad means so much to me. I am so grateful that he is with me today and fully recovered from his accident last year that honestly could have been so much worse and even taken his life. My dad has above all always pushed me to believe in myself and realize that I can do anything I set my mind to. He has taught me that you need to work hard in life in order to enjoy the rewards. I love him so much and I'm so thankful for him.

Today we all went over to my dad's and had a pool party and cook out. My dad made margaritas and he had so much fun, I am so happy that he enjoyed his day.

This Father's Day, I played one of my favorite Christian songs, Hello My Name Is, by Matthew West. This song is so true and I am not only grateful to have my own wonderful dad in my life but to also have God the Father always watching over me and at my side all the time. I feel so lucky to be one of His children. 

Hello my name is child of the one true King.

I've been saved, I've been changed, I have been set free.

Amazing grace is the song I sing.

Hello my name is child of the one true King.

What love the Father has lavished upon us, that we should be called his children.

I am a child of the one true King.

Well, going to attempt to make a dent in my CHA midterm study guide now. Hope you all had wonderful days with your fathers and families!

Things I'm looking forward to during Summer 2013

So far, my summer has consisted of my Med/Surg book, attending Tuesday and Wednesday classes, Saturday and Tuesday study groups, weekly exams, and studying pretty much every day in between. I honestly understand why I have never taken a summer class before this, and why I never will again! It feels unnatural to be studying and focused on school during the summertime. My midterm for CHA is coming up this week, however, it's not really the halfway point of the semester, more like 1/3 of the semester is over. Luckily, I have a few bright spots to look forward to!

Wicked on July 7th

Wicked is my favorite musical in the whole wide world! I have been lucky enough to see it twice: on tour in Milwaukee in 2010 and also at the Gershwin in New York in 2010. In NYC I won front row lottery seats with my husband and it was literally in the Top 5 of best nights of my life.

Usually when my friend Holly and I go to musicals in Milwaukee we get front row balcony seats because they're cheaper and it's a great view, but this time we decided to spring for orchestra and we got third row seats. Also, the person who played Elphaba when I saw it in New York (Jennifer DiNoia) is on tour, I'm so excited to see her again!

Surprise Party: July 20th

My siblings and I are having a surprise 50th and 60th birthday party for my stepmom and my dad who are turning 50 and 60 this July and August! Their siblings are coming in from out of town and also my brother is coming from Arizona! We're going to have it at their house (we already have a plan to get them out of the house) and it is going to be so much fun!

PKU Camp: July 25th-28th

This is a camp run by the hospital I go to for treatment of my genetic disorder. I used to go from the time I was 12 until 18 but then they set an age limit, so I stopped going. A few years ago they took away the age limit, but I was always working or had plans during the weekend it was, so this is the first year I am going back. It's not actual camping, we stay at dorms on the UW-Madison campus and just hang out with other women that have PKU and also do fun things around Madison. It's always a good time and I'm excited to see some of the girls I haven't seen in awhile but have kept in touch with. Unfortunately, I will have to bring my school stuff since CHA won't be over yet.

New York City: August 22nd-August 27th

My mom has never been to New York, and ever since my husband and I got back from our trip there in 2010, we've said that we were going to go with my mom sometime. I feel very lucky to have been to the city as many times as I have (3 trips) since I live in Wisconsin, and I can't wait to go back again! It will be my husband, my mom, my aunt (my mom's older sister), and I going together. We are driving because last time my husband and I drove and it honestly wasn't a bad drive and also because plane tickets are just ridiculous. We're going to stay in New Jersey and take the train into the city. 

CHA ends Wednesday, August 21st and we are leaving at like 3:00am the 22nd! We will have 4 full days in the city. I am working on putting together a Go Pass sort of thing for all of us, where you can combine all the attractions you'd visit for a discount. Plus, that way you don't have to buy tickets when you get there. We aren't planning to buy tickets for a show, but I think we're going to try for lottery seats for Wicked. It will feel so great to get done with CHA and then be able to go on a vacation the next day! 

In addition to these fun plans, I'm also looking forward to starting my new job! I have orientation on Monday from 7:30-4:30 and then some kind of training on Tuesday at 12:30 and again Friday from 8:00-2:00. They have one other SNI that they hired that will be going through training with me so that will be nice. At the end of the training Friday, I meet with my supervisor to go over scheduling. I can't wait to start. 

Returning Soon!

I've been a complete FAIL as a blogger for most of this year. This ends now!

My friend Caitlin, from Letters and Lattes is so amazingly sweet and revamping my blog layout, so stay tuned for the new look!

 Since we just passed the halfway point of 2013, I decided to go over some of my goals for 2013 that I have accomplished already this year, as well as make some adjustments to my goals for the rest of the year based on happenings in the first half of 2013.

1. Volunteer at HALO

I did not end up volunteering with this organization. I wanted to originally because of my community service hours needed for NSLS. However, I actually ended up doing something that was much more rewarding for me - I tutored some 1st semester nursing students for their Pharmacology midterm and final. I was scared to death when my former instructor, Paula, asked me, but I'd honestly do anything for her and it ended up being a wonderful experience!! I would actually consider teaching someday far in the future, after I've worked as an RN for a long time.

2. Spend as much time with my parents and grandparents as possible.

I think I've done pretty good with this. I see my mom everyday and my dad and stepmom as much as I can. I also see my grandparents about once a week. I'm so thankful for my wonderful family.

3. Go to the gym at least 4 times a week.

I was great about this up until about May, when finals rolled around. Now we have a dog (more later), so I walk him about 3-4 times a day so I still get exercise, just not at the gym. I have also started using myFitnessPal to eat healthier and keep track of what I eat daily. I have lost 7 pounds in the 3 weeks since I've begun using it!

4. Pass the NCLEX-PN exam this summer. 

I decided not to take the NCLEX-PN because of the fact that I'm taking summer classes and that I'm going full time for 3rd and 4th semester.

5. Graduate and get a job as an LPN SNI by the end of the summer.

The fact that my stole is crooked drives me nuts, LOL.

I graduated as an LPN on May 14th, 2013. I applied for a job as an SNI (Student Nurse Intern) at the beginning of May. I had my first interview on May 13, and then my second interview this past Tuesday. Yesterday I got the official news that I got the job! I'm so excited about this. A SNI is like a CNA but they have additional learning opportunities on procedures and also are allowed to do skills if they have performed them in clinicals. It also works perfectly because they have an option where you can work only 32 hours a month. Since I'm going to school this summer and full time classes in fall and spring, I won't have a lot of time to be working, so 8 hours a week is perfect. My orientation is on June 17. I'm so grateful because I really want to get some nursing experience in before graduation, I really think that will help me in looking for a job.

6. Pass every clinical class in 2013.

So far, so good! Passed both of my spring semester classes, and my summer classes are going great so far. Then I have 4 more classes to pass in the fall. I know that I can do it! Hard work pays off!

Other accomplishments/happenings so far this year ...

Leaving my job at Olive Garden

This was a long time coming and it has been on my list of goals for a few years. I had a great chapter of my life there, and I miss my co-workers like crazy, but I am glad that everyone there understood that it was just time for me to move on to bigger things in my life.

Induction into the National Society of Leadership and Success

I began working towards my induction in August of 2012. I enjoyed everything that we did leading up to my induction, I learned so much and am so happy that I made time for this in my busy schedule.

We got a dog!

This is our dog Beau. He is a 6 and a half year old Bichon Frise. We got him from a friend of our neighbors. My dad and stepmom have owned 2 Bichons, I've grown up with them since I was 12 years old, and I love these kind of dogs. We love him so much!

Here are a few goals for myself for the remainder of 2013:

1. Work as hard as I can at my new job to learn everything possible.

2. Pass CHA this summer and all of my fall classes.

3. Continue to eat healthy, exercise, and lose more weight.

4. Keep up with both my personal and gymnastics blogs.

Hope everyone is having a great summer! Look for a new post and blog design soon!