time warp!

halloween is upon us once again. this year mark and i have been a bit lazy. i don't know if its being busy with school (mark) or procrastinating on papers (moi) or it could even be the sugar coma we fell into the past week eating little candy bars but we didn't do anything (well i guess we did buy some candy!)

regardless we have had our fair share of halloween fun in the years we have been together. whether it was dressing up in disco costumes and going rollerskating, attending parties (as a ninga and hippie...guess which one) or having a pumpkin carving contest (i still say i won).

i was even looking back at old blog posts made on this blog. it made me laugh at some of the things we were doing for halloween like this and of course rocky horror with a pregnant christine and very random outfits by all of us....he he he.

next year we will have to make a concentrated effort not to be halloween grinches. he he he

until next time i will give you this little video in honor of halloween. someone posted it on facebook and brought back so many good memories from halloween and not! :) happy halloween!

good friends

good friends are there when you need a to laugh
good friends are there when you need to vent
they ask questions
and they listen
in return you do the same for those good friends

good friends go out for dinner with you
let you "try" their ceaser salad and dessert
laugh at you when you try to order something that you hadn't ever before
and talk about topics that you NEVER though you would be discussing

good friends are there for after dinner
willing to do anything from bowling, board games or a movie
yet good friend are understanding when you cannot
because you (the other friend)
urgently need to go home due to an unforseen circumstance...
related to food not sitting well in you stomach
lol

thanks jeff for the wonderful evening and the understanding!

love

i am feeling it...

so i know halloween has yet to come, but i am starting to feel a little christmas like!! yes, i know, much to early for these feelings BUT:

• i am officially half way done the semester as of today. the hard part has yet to come but after all that is christmas joy so how can i not look forward to that???
• i will be visiting my family on said holidays. my mom already has our rooms ready. i had to laugh when she told me that, but after i started to get excited...even though it was on october 19th
• it is getting that slight chill in the air. the chill i love during the holidays but absolutely hate during the january, february, march, april, may (???) months
• i am starting to think of christmas presents....eeekkkk!!!!

i know its a little crazy but i just can't help myself. to focus i probably should buy some pumpkins and have a carving contest to concentrate on the actual holiday in front of us. or eat three boxes of chocolates (oh wait....).

have a good night!
love

lovely date night

you know what i love?
cheesecake. love cheesecake. so bad for you, yet so good.
indian food. mattar paneer, beef vindaloo, naan bread. can you really go wrong here?
bowling. so fun! gutter balls, strikes, spares, near misses, hitting the spot! so fun, silly, and competitive.

you know what i love more?
doing all this in one day!
lucky girl!

love

what i do in the mornings when i work in the evenings...

• eat eggs: because i love eggs for breakfast and he doesn't. because i have the time to do it in the mornings. because it seems like a sunday breakfast but during the weekday.
• glee marathon: because i love listening to singing. because i love watching dancing. because it makes me happy.
• write notes to mark: because i haven't seen him all week. because it is nice to be thought of. because i am thought of in return
• workout: because there really is no excuse why not. because i feel good after. because it is good for me!
• start the slow cooker: because i get tons of leftovers for more night shifts. because it is fall and i love fall comfort food. because it is just so darn easy to make!
• cuddle with a kitty: because suprisingly he is way more up for cuddles during the day. because he is needy. because he is kind of cute!

love

what do you think?

check out this link right here. do you think you could live in such tight quarters with your partner.

i know i could do it alone...but with another person??? it would so not work for me. i like retreating into my room to scrapbook, blog, do homework or just be alone.

but i am impressed with the people that do it....wonder what they do if they have visitors???
love

a new rotation and a new night!

ahhh. the new rotation has started. back to shift work, mornings and nights. this week is nights, something i am looking forward to having as sleeping in seems so very nice at the moment!

so far i have been in awe of the ever so experienced nurses and doctors on my unit. so much knowledge, skills, compassion and SO SMART. yet i know know know that labour and delivery is not for me! it is quite amazing to see a baby enter this world, probably one of the coolest things i have seen. BUT if i stay in this field for the long term i think i will be scared away from ever having children (as it is i have pushed it even farther into the future after being in this rotation for one week) !! ha ha. i don't know how to explain it but i just feel too much of their pain. there may be a reward in the end but i think i will hold a grudge on that reward as it just went to war on my body (p.s. sorry mom, never meant to do that too you)! i know all you mom's out there say you forget the pain, but let's face it, (you can ask mark) i don't forget. lol

in other news....tried out the enjoy center with a nursing friend today. very cool place. organic grocery store, organic food (i recommend the carrot cake, very tasty), and cool little shops through out (although a little expensive). definitely a place my mom would enjoy as it has a similar feel as salisbury greenhouse :)

AND speaking of organic, mark just "harvested" his feast this year. potatoes, garlic, carrots and many many herbs. so very lovely. i may have been slightly annoyed with him when he initially started "cleaning" his veggies as i had just finished "cleaning" the kitchen. but a mess is no longer lingering on the counter tops so my annoyance has faded. and better than that i am happy to have veggies. it is a fantastic experience to bypass the veggies aisle in the supermarket because you have your own grown goods at home! :)

i have been reading lots too. i am loving this library card. it is kind of like homework to finish these books before they are due back but so many good ones to read! i just finished one book "those who save us" by jenna blum. a little graphic in some chapters but i found it interesting (even though it was fictional). AND right now i am reading "little princes" by conor grennan, a non-fiction book about orphans in nepal. so far i like...

hoping to find time to scrapbook again. the assignments are taking over my life, and when they are not, i am just tired and want to veg out. we will see what this weekend brings!

love you all!

yummers

what a wonderful thanksgiving weekend!
full of:

1. turkey
2. stuffing
3. veggies
4. buns
5. salad
6. more turkey
7. pumpkin pie
8. chocolate pie
9. apple pie
10. more pumpkin pie

yum! plus family events such as card games, walks, joking around, and even fit in a football game! i heart long weekends! they are too good to me!

i think i am going to go make a pumpkin pie now ;)

love

randomness and thanks

one rotation is officially finished. sad to leave it as i had quite a few opportunities that i really enjoyed. i got to do a presentation to an elementary class and to seniors. this would normally not be my favourite thing in the world but getting feedback that (maybe) it would make a small difference was quite an amazing feeling. my new motto, "primary prevention is key!"

not only that but to go to people's homes and assist them was a privilege and something that i really loved. this was definitely something that i could see myself doing...i know i have said that already. but it is nice to really love something.

but alas, i must move on to more experiences...who knows...maybe another love??? he he he

in other news. a new arrival has come! jeaninne and dj's baby girl has arrived! she is a beauty. so excited for her toddlers and tiaras debut (he he he, joke). brought them lasagna on friday as that was something i also learned at my clinical: new parents need food! what a horrible friend i have been to my other friends that had new babies...BUT GUYS: I NOW KNOW! lol

lastly, thanksgiving is tomorrow so i must give thanks to:
mark: for everything but recently the flowers and chocolate doughnuts that came to my door while i was at work. you are pretty awesome in all ways!
my family: you are so far, but yet so close. i love you!
my lovely friends: such good listeners all of you. especially during my trials regarding never-ending assignments!
really i am just so grateful to everyone in my life. thanks for being there for me! :)

love

the last day of september

craziness to know how fast time flies. yet when you are in the beginning of something, starting it brand new, you just wish time would fly by faster...

almost done my first rotation of clinical this year. that means that the assignments are complete and just need to be presented! feels good. this clinical has been pretty spectacular. it really excites me to see where i could go with this. but i am also happy to see it end. the commute was an hour each way, and the much needed sleep and extra time will be appreciated in the upcoming ones. :)

because the assignments are pretty much wrapped up that means a weekend (pretty much) off! so excited. yoga and breakfast with my brother tomorrow, dinner with a friend on sunday and general lazing around the rest of the weekend. i am actually reading a pretty good book from the library called the "those who save us" by jenna blum. maybe i will actually finish it!

that is pretty much it folks. hope you have an amazing last day in september!
love

this is my life...

i must apologize from the lack of posts. i am in "stress" mode at the moment with two presentations that need to get done by the end of the week. so the anxiety i feel for this workload is reserved for the people in my life, rather than the web (they are so lucky, he he he and have been soooo ever amazing).

but i do have to say, with the stress that i have been feeling, i do LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my rotation. that definitely excites me for the future! so at least i am able to see the bright lining even if it does seem so far away right now.

been trying a bit to running but stumbled upon an injured knee. not quite sure at all what happened but it hurt quite a bit yesterday while i attempted to run. kind of frustrating considering we are having a most beautiful fall this year. it will have to be one of my photoblog photos for sure.

other than plugging away writing papers on the computer, i have been perusing youtube watching music videos. these are my favs this time around. kind of on a beyonce love fest. the amazing power in her voice.love it.

AND of course my glee is back!!! their music just makes me so happy. i'd have loved to put a video on here but they prevented it so....you will just have to watch the show!

till next time have a good one! i am on baby watch for a very good friend having her first one (hopefully soon) so their is some exciting things to look forward to!





love ya!

love

in love with running

yesterday was one of those perfect days for running.
the air was crisp.
the leaves were coloured.
the sun was out.
the clouds were different shades of white to dark blue.
no wind.
just my me and my ipod.

and my memories.
jr. high memories of doing worlds
and beating the boys (wink, wink) 
going to track meets
 
high school memories of running in the hallways.
doing cross country.
running in cities not far off from where i run now.
going to meets in airdrie.
training in the 500km club
having fun with friends.

more memories.
15 years later i am still running.
even longer distances.
that is still hard to believe.
i truly love running.

its nice to have some friends

school has begun and let's just say i am slightly overwhelmed. the assignments, the extra work, not to mention the actual clinical and the extra job that one hangs on to to make money. sigh. sometimes being a student kind of sucks...

but then you talk to your friends. the one's that are in the same boat as you. AND the one's that listen with an outside perspective and tell you everything will be okay. AND it will. i know this. deep down inside. but sometimes it gets a little buried.

so thanks to all my lovely friends this week. you have calmed my nerves for another week. (but keep your phones on standby...he he he, jk).

i love you all!
xoxoxo

summer winddown

with school fastly approaching (tomorrow) the summer has officially ended for me. sigh. it is sad to see it go, but overall, i have had a pretty fantastic summer. just the right amount of rest and relaxation, fun and adventure, escapism and hilarity that i cannot complain at all. the last month i have:

• conquered a trail and come out feeling good about hiking again. who would have thought it?? thanks west coast trail, you were grand!
• read some pretty good books...for leisure! that is always the best part about reading!
• saw some more movies with some pretty fantastic people i.e. mark, jimi, anita, jeaninne, christine and a.s. (a co-worker of mine)
• gone out for dinner, snacked on brownies, or celebrated with the last days of work with even more fantastic friends from my high school days to my present university days to my (now) former co-workers. i love you girls and guys! :)
• gone to a place that i love on a day that celebrates just that place: b.c. day AND getting to explore with the person that i love.
• had my fill of seafood from mussels to crab to just yesterday with lobster. who says i need to be in the east to eat that stuff!!
• continued in our festival attendance by dancing away at the cariwest festival
• going to the market, buying fresh flowers, fresh fruit and seeing a special little lady with her special mom (aka hailey and casey)
• ran a marathon and scored a personal goal and personal best for myself.
• finally organizing and putting final deposits on the rest of the major aspects of our wedding for next year.

it's been fantastic. hopefully next summer can live up to it (wink, wink).

love

new girl

okay this is seriously my new favourite show even though it hasn't started yet. i swear this girl is me...besides the whole horrible breakout thing...BUT seriously she lives her life like a musical....LIKE ME!! :) so pumped! love

i have an obsession....

an obsession with meatloaf. 

not the food

the singer

you see i have borrowed my dad's car this semester to get me around the city and some of the city's far limits (seriously!). mark, on the other hand, will use the other one to get back and forth from school. it will most likely be late nights for both of us so it is extremely useful to have this. thank you parent's as you are helping both of us this year!!

but what about meatloaf. well dad left some of his prized cd's in there (maybe to make it on the drive back to n.b.). i came across bat out of hell. there is just something about his music, while driving. memories of suicide ski trips or driving lessons come to mind. BUT overall, meatloaf is the perfect driving cd. i find myself singing (aka yelling) along with his musicality. wonderful! don't you wish you were in the car with me??

love

a sunday with jimi

two weekends ago, mark and i hung out with jimi
after a million ideas
or what seemed to me that amount
we figured out what to do.
remember jimi, you drive me crazy!

the fringe we went
jimi got root beer
mark got green onion cakes
jimi got a waffle
i got pizza
jimi got ice cream
mark got ice cream

after the eats, we decided to go to a movie.
BUT before,
we had a mini waterfight
courtesy of jimi-jam
in the car...
...while mark was driving...
...i was amused!

at the movie we laughed hysterically at the film
or atleast jimi laughed.
then i laughed because his laugh was so darn infectious
then we both started re-enacting the scenes that just happened...
...while the movie continued to play...
...in the theatre
mark looked slightly embarassed

ahhh, i just love the good times with my brother.
and mark, you are pretty awesome for putting up with us!
love

the half marathon continues

as i look back at this post i laugh a little because i was right. i did do it again. but this time around i felt fantastic. i used the same training program as last year but instead of running four times a week (something i felt i was overdoing and causing unnecessary soreness and potential injuries) i ran three times a week with hills on one day and progressive distances the second and third days. in between i rode my bike to work and did some weight training (plus a monstrous hike) so the strength and cardio were there...

....and guess what!

i felt great. wonderful morning of sun, slight breeze and zero cold. did my warm-up and off i went. this time around i ran solo as jeff was in training for a marathon. so my strategy was to stick to the back in the beginning and do the passing. it seemed to work! PLUS it was flatter than the hillier one i had done previously.

best of all was my friendly supporting team. RIGHT when i was about to walk (seriously) within the last kilometer jeff spotted me. shouting my name he ran right with me leaving me no excuse to stop until he left during the last portion  (and really who walks that part). jeaninne and dj caught the finish this time and cheered me on and mark rode his bike effortlessly to find me (unfortunately to no avail) but he was there for me in the end and that is really all i can ask for! :) thanks guys, you make a girl feel so special, so glad you could spend your sunday morning with me! :)

overall i got my goal time sort of. i had wanted to get under two hours. well my total time was two hours and one minute. ooooo one minute i will love you for ever as i enjoyed my water breaks and small walks in that time! i am actually really excited to do it again....we will see if i can make it happen! ;)

here is a little photo slideshow of the ending with my lovely friends. note jeaninne posing as a pregnant marathon runner! yes she is that amazing! :) lol

have a good night,
love

awesome

so i came across this book at the library and started to read it last night. it contains "daily" excerpts of little things that this person (or others) consider AWESOME. overall it is a little pick me up to look at the little things in the day that are actually pretty good and make you smile.

this book came from a website where you can also get daily update or even go to their facebook page. this was a post that i particularly enjoyed about napping. napping is one of those things that i never thought of as AWESOME and sleep lines...well. but i do nap and reading his perspective is pretty AWESOME! :)

enjoy your saturday!