Jogging and Feathered "Frenemies"

This morning I went jogging. The sun was just coming up and it was quite cold but being out there alone watching the sun rise over the water was so awesome. I really enjoyed myself! The pond was frozen and there were all these geese walking on top of the frozen pond...and then a couple of rascals decided it would be cool to jog with me...did I ever tell you I'm scared of geese? I had one chase me once and it has traumatized me for life. Needless to say a few geese is just not cool with me. I got out of there pronto before my goose got cooked (ha pun intended)....hope you have a great day today! I'm off to bed before I work tonight! Peace out!

Quirky

I was recently asked my someone I know that favorite question...
"What is something about yourself that not many people know?"
I always have a hard time coming up with an answer to this because I am a pretty much open book. But here is a quirk of mine that not many people know (my own Mother didn't even know this about me until recently)
I love putting milk on my ice cream. Take some Neapolitan ice cream and pour some regular old milk over the top and it is pure heaven. (it's good on pretty much any ice cream flavor though)
My mom asked "Why do you do that?"
Well...because it's good.
The milk makes the ice cream kind of icy and creamy at the same time. Don't knock it till you've tried it.
But there ya go...a quirk about me. Now I'll have to come up with another one for the next time I am asked...

+ =

Paging Dr. Carter (SPOILER ALERT!!!)

For those of you who know me...(heaven help you...JK) You know that I have seen EVERY episode of ER. EVERY SINGLE ONE since the first season. I love this show. The people, the emotion, the medicine...the drama....I love it all. I have had my favorites over the last 15 seasons...
Dr. Greene (died of a brain tumor)

Lucy (was brutally stabbed to death)

and of course
Dr. Carter


I just love Dr. Carter...not only his he totally dreamy BUT he is also a great character. Has gone through a lot...has grown a lot. He was on for 10 seasons...the longest a regular cast member stayed on the show.


So imagine my excitement when Dr. Carter RETURNED to County General Hospital this past week. I was ecstatic! He will be on for pretty much the rest of the season throughout the series finale. Now in the past my favorite characters lives have not ended well (see above) so I shouldn't really be surprised but none the less my mouth dropped open and my heart skipped a beat when in the last shot of the episode you see a room of people all hooked up to dialysis machines....and one of them is none other than
Dr. John Carter.

WHAT???

I guess I'll have to wait and see how it pans out...I already know this last season is going to make me cry...I don't need Dr. Carter dying to top it all off. I'll keep you updated!

One Wedding and a case of the Flu

Last week was VERY eventful! First of all I had my very LAST day at the salon. Weird I know. It is really strange but...that's life I guess! Hopefully I won't be such a crabby pants now. Then on Thursday I went over and saw my friend JEN and her baby boy LOGAN who is a DOLL! I'm serious...I don't think there is a cuter kid. We watched Another Cinderella Story and it was fabulous! Thursday night I worked at the hospital and then...
Friday I went to my very good friend Katie's open house.

She got married Feb. 13th in SLC and then had their open house here. I was so excited to see her because we haven't seen each other in awhile. She is now officially Katie Nelson (so weird we have the same last name by the way...) It was so beautiful! Katie looked gorgeous and Patty really out did herself on the decor
Patty and Lily

Katie's new husband obviously doesn't believe in normal socks...

It was great.
Now this little guy

has got a bad case of the flu (103.2 temp last night)

and this little lady

has got a bad case of being in HEAT. Yuck (and might I say annoying).

I can't wait to see what the next week brings to my wild and crazy life! :)

Here Have a Snuggie

So the day finally arrived...the day I got my

Snuggie

Words can not express how happy I am. My BFF Becky told me that she had a surprise for me and that I would be so happy and excited. A plethora of possibilities came to mind. Little did I know what was in store for me. I could not believe my eyes...a snuggie of my very own! Apparently Becky had seen it in Walgreens, thought of me (I have no idea why lol), and bought it on the spot...kind of a going away present for me. Oh yeah which reminds me...I put in my 2 weeks notice at the salon! I thought that would never happen but it just really needed to. Switching back and forth from nights to days is just too hard and it doesn't make me a happy person. So anyway...big news and a fabulous day. I have a snuggie...ah life doesn't get any better than this...unless you have a Sham Wow too....
Here are some pictures to commemorate the day!
Kian was in LOVE with the Snuggie! I can't belive all our Snuggie dreams came true! :)

Jeopardy

While I'm enjoying my day of complaining I thought I would add one more thought to the pile. You know those quizzes that people pass around "25 facts about you"? Here is one about me...
Fact: I hate when people play Jeopardy OUT LOUD in public.

Seriously are you so insecure with your intelligence that you have to PROVE you know all the answers? Some of us can answer the questions in our heads while silently giving ourselves a small fist bump in the air when we get it right.

What would Alex say?

I think this picture pretty much sums it up.

Having an Olivia Day

I've decided to coin this term. For any of you who watch "The City" (or don't) I am referring to Olivia Palermo from the show. She is a "social" (yes she refers to herself this way) and by social we obviously mean socialite. One of those New York girls. I don't know if Olivia is aware that those types of girls have a reputation (refer to the show "Gossip Girls") but she is NOT helping them at all. She is rude and catty and just a SNOB. She talks down to everyone she comes in contact with. When the main girl Whitney told her old boss that Olivia was one of the new girls she was working with the woman said "Olivia Palermo? She actually has a job now?" Yeah exactly. She also refers to champagne as "champy" which is just so annoying.

Here is a recap from one of the recent shows that shows how Olivia is...(just so you can get a clear picture)

"Back at Hotel Gansevoort, Nevan (Olivia's obnoxious cousin) begins making jokes about the band to Olivia and Teresa, the event planner. Gesturing in the direction of the band, he says that it's a "glossy high end place" but it's like the "beach boys" over there. The jokes continue even as Jay (Whitney's- Olivia's supposed friend- boyfriend) gets off stage to find Whitney. Jay wants to leave immediately and asks that Whitney keep "Bevan" away from him. Olivia notices the hasty departure and comments to Teresa that it was disrespectful of Jay to leave without saying goodbye. Nevan remarks, "What do you expect from the plaid mafia?

The following day at DVF, Olivia asks Whitney what she thought about last night. Whitney thoughtfully repeats the question and tells Olivia that it was kind of like a stab in the back to have Nevan making fun of the band the whole night. Olivia says that Nevan is an adult and she has no control him, all that Olivia asked for was a thank you. Whitney explains that Jay didn't feel like he owed anyone anything when it seemed like Olivia could have cared less. Olivia points the blame on Jay's insecurities and cuts the conversation short by telling Whitney that this is nor the time nor the place for this discussion. In the future, Olivia notes, they should leave their work environment separate from their private"

Rolling her eyes the entire time no doubt...she's very good at that (almost as good as me)
So today I was just having a really bad day when it came to dealing with people. I think it is all part of my grandpa being cursed by a gyspy (more on that later). So anyway I called the bank who I was having trouble with and pretty much acted like a word that rhymes with witch. We'll leave it at that. When I hung up the phone I was like "Wow...where have I heard that type of tone before?" Oh yeah...

Olivia

So I have now coined the term "Having an Olivia day" for when you just act like one of those girls. This can also be used in the form of "Having an Olivia moment" because sometimes it is fleeting before you realize how horrible you are being. Mine is a day though because I don't see this feeling as fleeting today. So sorry if you have to come in contact with me. It's just too bad that when I am having one of these days there can't be theme music to go along with it...just like the real Olivia gets. Some girls have all the luck.

Will You Be My Valentine?

A summary of my Valentines Day...I went to work all day and came home exausted. I hung out with my family, hung out with my friend Rhiannon and converted her to the "Another Cinderella Story" phenomena. I fell asleep for the first hour of the movie (sorry Rhi) but I had only had 2 hours of sleep the night before so give me a break!
Anyway I thought I would share with you a conversation I had with my brother. It goes like this...
I was joking around with Kian telling him that we picked him out of a cabbage patch and that is how we got him (I hope I'm not giving him a life long insecurity complex...) and this is how the convo progressed from there...
Me: "Are you a cabbage patch baby or my brother?"
K: "I'm your brother, I love you, I want to marry you!"
Me: "There are 3 reasons why you can't marry me, 1. You're too short, 2. You're too young and 3. You aren't wearing any pants"
K: "No 4 reasons 1. I love you 2. I want to marry you 3. I love you and 4. I love you're beautiful eyes" (he really knows how to work it doesn't he?)
Me: "Well thank you but you still can't marry me because I am your sister...but you can be my Valentine?"
K: "Well sure!"
Me: "Well if you are my Valentine did you get me a present?"
K: "Uh yeah"
Me: "Well where is it?"
K: "Uh....I'll show ya in a minute"
Then he proceeded to pick up the very first thing he saw and gave it to me for a gift...typical guy.

Hope you all had a good V-Day! xoxo

My Perfect Valentine's Day

I don't know if any of you have noticed but I'm not the "lovey-dovey" type. Shocked? Yeah...didn't think so. In my deepest heart of hearts though I am a secret romantic and I do have that fearless belief in happily ever after. So instead of being a "love hater" (remember...I'm working on that)- I decided to take this special day...which is devoted completely to love (although in reality it might just be an excuse for retailers to jack up prices- sorry no more cynicism I promise)...I am going to share with you my recipe for the perfect Valentines Day.

1. No flowers

Do not buy your love muffin flowers on this day. I promise most girls would rather have flowers on a random Tuesday then know you only bought them because you felt like you had to- plus take the exorbitant amount of money you would spend on flowers and buy something that they can enjoy long after flowers have died.

You know someone who I really admire named Holly Golightly once said "You can always tell what kind of a person a man really thinks you are by the earrings he gives you"....I'm just sayin.

2. Stay home

Or don't go to a restaurant. EVERYONE goes to a restaurant. They charge you more, everywhere is packed, they speed you in and out so fast you can hardly enjoy each other AND it's boring and cliche. Wouldn't it be so much more fun to cook a meal together? The answer is yes. It's less expensive, more fun, and BONUS you can eat in your pajamas if you want. As an added twist you could each prepare a dish that you feel "describes" the other person. It's more creative and you'll probably end up laughing.

3. The right movie

There are 2 different kinds of Valentines Day movies out there- the ones you watch when you have someone to watch with and the one you watch when you are by yourself. Valentines day is NOT an excuse to feel sorry for yourself ladies! And please leave Ben and Jerry alone- they are two guys who will only make you feel bad about yourself later.

Top 5 movies when you are in L-O-V-E

5. Ever After

Such a great movie. Romantic without being mushy and I love Drew Barrymore in this movie AND the great wardrobe.

4. Romeo + Juliet

Oh Leonardo how I love you. I really love this movie. If you've never seen it- all the dialogue is actual language and words of the original play but they put a modern twist on it. The colors, the scenery, the acting....amazing movie. They also have this brilliant remix of the song "When Doves Cry" by Prince in it...which that alone is worth watching it...and did I mention Leonardo DiCaprio is in it?

3. The Princess Bride

I love this movie. So sweet and funny and wonderful. "As you wish"...oh if all guys could just take up that motto.

2. Love Actually

This movie always plays at Christmas but I love it all year round. Different people on different walks of life all falling in love. The part where Hugh Grant is dancing to "Jump for My Love" is one those scenes I rewind and play back because I envy his dance moves so much.

and number 1 goes to....

1. The Notebook

Probably one of my favorite movies ever. Such an epic love story. The acting is brilliant and those old people never fail to reduce me to tears. A beautiful story and movie.

And for my single ladies (or anyone really...)

5. The Wedding Date

Yes this movie is romantic but it is also just so great. I will watch and immediately re-watch this movie. It also proves that love isn't perfect. The bride to be had a secret relationship with the groom's best friend aka her sister's ex fiance....talk about complicated and if you are feeling lonely for a relationship just comfort yourself with the thought that the hot guy in the movie is a male prostitute and you might feel better about yourself.

4. Sixteen Candles

One of the greatest movies of all time hands down. So hilarious and will make you happy you are not in high school anymore.

3. 27 Dresses

Will remind you not to be like Tess in the movie...pining after some guy who only uses you. Be strong and if you want to believe in true love then do it! But believe in yourself too (and that right guy will come along eventually....)

2. Another Cinderella Story

I recently saw this movie and seriously fell in love with it. Selena Gomez is like a totally better version of Miley Cyrus and the story line is actually really cute. The guy in the movie is actually really cute too. There is some awesome dancing in the movie and singing as well- the dialogue is cute...not cheesy like other "teen movies" and the girl is strong and believes in her dreams and knows she doesn't need the hot guy to be what she wants...but having him around doesn't hurt. The songs in this movie are so catchy. Please if you have not seen this movie...do...and invite me over because I want to watch it again.

and 1 is.....

Breakfast at Tiffanys.

My favorite movie of ALL time. The lead character (Holly Golightly...my idol) is so heartbreakingly sad and lonely and afraid but pretends not to be. The guy is the same way and they find each other and teach each other how to love. The fashion and acting of Audrey Hepburn are timeless. It will teach you that even if you are afraid to love you have to anyway. And if all else fails....there is always Tiffanys. Nothing bad could ever happen to you in a place like that.

Now back to the list....

4. The right music

Music is one of my favorite things. I thought I would share with you some of my favorite love songs. Some may be unconventional but they are all wonderful.

Let It Be Me: Ray LaMontagne

After Tonight: Justin Nozuka

Halo: Beyonce

Hazy: Rosi Golan

I'd Rather Be With You: Joshua Radin

The Guy That Says Goodbye to You (Is Out of His Mind): Griffin House

How Deep is Your Love: The Bird and the Bee

1,2,3,4: Plain White T's

My Life Woud Suck Without You: Kelly Clarkson (seriously such a cute song...a little edgier way to say you love someone....)

You Make It Real: James Morrison

Love is Hard: James Morrison- ok I need to defend this choice...at first listen it may sound a little negative it says "Love takes hostages- gives them pain Gives someone the power to hurt you again and again and it kicks so hard, it breaks your bones, cuts so deep, it hits your soul, tears your skin and makes your blood flow- it's better that you know...love is hard"...but at the end it says "if it was easy it wouldn't mean nothing"- what a great love song.

and last but not least you need the perfect date. It could be anyone. A friend, a lover, a sibling, your kids even...but someone you care about to share your love with.

My choices this year include...

Brandon Barash

Matt Cassel

One plays a bad boy/mobster on General Hospital and the other plays professional football...

I can't choose between the two of them? Votes???

But in all reality I really do have a great Valentine. He is sweet- always asking me how my day went, he always tells me how beautiful I look- he even loves my shoes. He is so funny he can make me laugh until I cry. He's an amazing artist, a pro at Mario Kart and a fabulous dancer. He is also quite the heartbreaker.

Who needs a man when you have this?

Whether you are in love or not...I hope you all have a great Valentines Day...just remember that you shouldn't need a day to tell people how you feel- but in this crazy life it's nice to have a day to remind us.

A Moment Like This

Have you ever had that moment where you know you are exactly where you were meant to be and doing exactly what you were meant to do?
This morning at 7 am I had that moment.
I was standing at the nurses station waiting to give report. The only noises where nurses on the computer looking up labs and the hum of an IV pump in a nearby room. I just stood there looking around me amazed that I was there knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that it is where I belong.
Eventually everyone showed up and it turned into mass chaos as report started and 3 call lights went off and such but in that rare quiet moment- I felt complete.

Ode to Jenny

Or just Happy Birthday may suffice. Today is the day of the birth of one of my best and truest friends...

Jennifer Laura (Dearth) Chaput

I still vividly remember the first time I met Jenny. We were both doing costumes for the musical in the fall of junior year (before we both realized just how insane we were for doing that). We discovered we had the same ridiculous sense of humor and the rest as they say is history. Jen and I were recently talking about those adventures we used to have backstage, involved in all the school productions for 2 (seriously???) whole years- wondering why on Earth we decided to get "involved" (couldn't we have just been anti-social instead?) and Jen came to the conclusion

"Oh well, we were still the coolest ones there"

And that pretty much sums up our friendship. There is no better shopping buddy than Jen (even though I seem to spend an exorbitant amount of money when we are together). I am a little crazier, a little braver, a little funnier and a whole lot more fabulous when we are together.

.

We went through a lot together and I think we only had one real fight in all our years of friendship. Jen- I've seen you graduate, go off to college, get married, and now be a Mom- Logan is so lucky to have you as his mom.

It's hard to believe we've grown up so much but so amazing and exciting as well. It's also amazing that we have still been able to keep our incredibly childish and immature sense of humor. I'm glad I can say that I made the cut from high school as someone you would want to stay in contact with (ha ha). And when and IF we EVER become crazy enough to actually go to our high school reunion...we will still be the coolest ones there.
I love you JEN!
In honor of my friend I went digging through boxes and boxes to find some notes that my friend Jenny wrote me in high school- by some wonderful twist of fate these notes are right before her birthday- senior year 2004. Yes ladies and gentlemen- all the things you are about to read are real and don't resist the urge to understand why Jen is one of the most amazing people ever. But she's my friend so don't even think about trying to hang with her.

#1: my favorite part about this one is probably the notes all along the sides that say "mmm muffins" all the way down the paper. Pretty much sums up Jen.

#2 my favorite part of this note is also what is written down the side. It reads "I heart surfer dudes" there was even a rad picture of a little surfer on the front that said "I'm so beautimous I have great hair even when I'm SURFIN'!" Brilliant.

#3 was a 2 pager so you know it's good. Besides the amazing pictures my favorite parts include:
In the middle of a sentence Jen randomly writes "why don't you fill me up buttercup baby but you let me down and mess me around" and then writes "I'm too tall today- the altitude is making me nauseous"... *which just makes me laugh considering how tall Jen is normally*
A little later- also while in the middle of a sentence Jen writes "Eczema Eczema how is that spelled ITCHY! Woah altitude"
And last but not least she writes towards the end "Rachel is baking me a FUNFETTI cake for my birthday...punk what now. I can't wait! MMM Funfetti!"

Like I said Jen- you just make my whole life better.

Happy 23rd Jen!
I hope it's as awesome as you are!!!