New years eve

Today is New Years Eve. The day we stay up until midnight snd scream HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Kiss your loved one and hope for an awesome year.

Today was also Shelby and my second day of training. My feet are killing me!!!  Shelby kept saying "I recovered quick" and i kept telling her its because shes a kid.

Tomorrow I go back on day shift at my job. I'm looking forward to being home at night but I'm not looking forward to going to work in the morning. I don't like working day shift there because it's really difficult due to beng short staffed.
I know all nursing jobs and things are short staffed but this is different this is shorter than short staffed if we were short staffed we would be happy.

Goodnight Blog World see you next year!!!

Running with my 8 year old

Shelby has expressed that she would like to run in a 5k.  Not just any 5k, a Color Run 5K.  She saw the pictures from last years 5k at the Florida State Fairgrounds, and was immediately interested.  That was back in May.  Tonight we started "training" for the 5k Tampa Bay is having Feb 22, 2014.  (Which just happens to be my oldest daughter's 18th birthday.)  We are following a type of couch-to-5k process.  A mixture of walk/run rotations for so many minutes each for so many sets. 

Now, before you freak out and think "OMGosh! You're going to let your kid run that far?" I have already researched it.  In fact, I have a friend from one on the mom forums I belong to who ran in a 5k with her 8 year old, and I thought how cool is that?  I was like "I'm so ready!"  So, yes, we are doing this together.   I will be monitoring how she is doing and watching for her cues so she doesn't over due it. 
We just looked up running times for last years 10 and under crowd at Gasparilla, and if we did what we did tonight (run/walk) we would finish in about 52 minutes.  I showed Shelby that is about midway in all the names.  She told me "We've got this".

So happy to see her excited about running!  Now...lets get the Daddy better and he can run with us too!

Daybook+

Outside My Window...dark and rainy

I am thinking...I need to watch DS9

I am thankful for...My husband :D
 

From the kitchen...The cat is staring at me from  middle of the floor.

I am wearing...pajama pants and a tank top
 

I am creating...fat cells

I am going...grocery shopping tomorrow.

I am reading...Dexter

I am hearing...My older 2 girls wide awake in their room talking about YouTuber's and how many husbands/boyfriends they have. 

Around the house...Hubby's watching a movie, the older 2 are awake (I have no idea why WHY!), and I have DS9 paused on the big TV

Some of my favorite things...Dr. Pepper

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Study for the NCLEX, Begin training for a 5k with my 8 year old, Apply to take the NCLEX.



I decided last year (well, ok technically it's still this year) that I wanted to run in the gasperilla distance classic in 2014.  I've always wanted to run in a 5k, and running is something that I actually like to do (when I do it).  So, in mentioning this to my family, it seems there are more people who would like to do this than just me! :D 
Friday when I went to Publix, I found a "training schedule" put out by the Tampa Tribune, so I picked it up.  Yesterday (well, I guess I shoud say Saturday) Shelby picked it up and said "MOMMY! We need to start training, or we're not gonna make it!"

So...tomorrow we start training!

I go back to days first of the year (yes, I know that's Wednesday), so I'll be home at night so we can go out for our 'training sessions'. 

I hope this is the start of something extremely awesome!

The NCLEX

This is how the conversation is going in my head, as if I'm talking to my oldest daughter, or even if my 17 and 15 year old were talking to each other; about how I feel right now.

"You jelly bro?"
"Yeah, totes jelly"

On my lunch break at work, I checked my facebook, and had notifications for my nursing class.  A few people are already scheduled to take their NCLEX.  All of a sudden I felt a rush of emotions.  Something I have NEVER EVER really felt before, something so real, that now I know why it considered one of the 7 deadly sins.  I felt real honest to God jealousy.  Not some "OMGosh, I totally want that" kind of feeling, a real, deep seeded anger, hate, sad, mad, happy for my friends feeling of jealousy.  So much so that I started to rationalize what bills we don't HAVE to pay this month just so I can pay for my test.  This is some seriously scary crap!  I mean, I NEVER EVER want to feel this way again. 

EVER!

I began thinking about how horrible it is to be poor.  How tragic it is that the one thing holding me back from making more money is money itself.  How horrible that I can't afford to pay for the ONE THING that would almost triple my income.  How sadly tragic.  I am now a tragedy.  I couldn't think about it at work, because I would cry.  I texted my husband, vented to him.  I texted my mom, and had to tell her I couldn't talk about it any more because I didn't want to cry at work. 
Yet I wanted to read the thread more.
Why?
Because I was (am) still happy that my friends were being able to complete their schooling.  They are moving on to the next step.  I am deeply happy for them.  Seriously.  I truly am ecstatic that they are able to do this.  However, I am extremely angry I can't. 

So yeah, I'm freakin' jelly brah.

Totes

Procrastination

I keep telling myself "I'll blog about X later, or I'll blog about ___ tomorrow, or after Christmas I'll mention XYZ"  But, here I am, technically it's the day after Christmas and I have no idea what I was going to talk about.  Seriously, I procrastinate so much about just the littlest things, and even the most stupidest things that it's sometimes a big problem.

At work, I'm totally different. I am on things, I'm all over things that need to be done, and in fact, I may even do them before someone else thinks they need to be done.  At home?  FORGET IT.  Hubby has to pry me off the couch to do anything that remotely looks like something that I NEED to do for something important.  I have priorities.  I think I have them pretty straight.  Problem is, I just don't wanna do anything.  If I don't feel like doing anything, then I am going to find ANY excuse in the world to not do something; unless I'm sick or injured, then for some reason I need to prove to the world that I can do it. 

Like right now, I have a sprained wrist.  (that's a different post LOL)  I'm suppose to wear this stupid brace for 7 days.  SEVEN STINKIN' DAYS!  It is most difficult to do much of anything with it on.  However, I'm constantly taking it off so I can do things that I probably shouldn't be doing.  Turning my wrist in weird ways that actually hurts, and will probably hinder my healing.  At work?  OMGosh, I was thankful for the large gloves, because I threw a glove over this puppy and went on with life!  Now, I did remove it for the more...gross parts.

Anywho, I don't think I'm the only one with this problem, but as I sit here and type it out I feel pretty crappy about it.  I look like a giant couch potato, with an amazing husband who does everything!  (ok, so I'll admit my husband is totally amazing-he rocks.)    I guess if I look back on it here, and if it makes me feel that bad, I should change it.  They say change is good.  I just wanna know who 'they' are, so I can call 'them' out when it doesn't work.

Maybe that's what I'll do, I'll make some kind of comitment to myself to stop procrastinating, even if it's just one thing a day...ok, a week, seriously Amber, are you trying to kill yourself?  One thing a week that I'll stop procrastinating on.
My first item?  NCLEX questions. 

(what am I thinking)
This is a big deal.  I have finished nursing school (yay me), and now I need to sit for my boards.  I need to be practicing NCLEX questions.  (seriously, they give you 4 right answers and you have to pick the MOST right answer....dude, really-it sucks)  I've never been good at answering the questions, so today, this week, I'm going to stop putting off working on my NCLEX review.  25 questions a day! 

25 questions...that is my goal to stop the procrastination of my studying.  (I don't think that sentence makes sense-oh well)

alright, on that note....off to watch some DS9

Daybook

Outside My Window...dark-and cold

I am thinking...that I need to watch a few episodes of DS9

I am thankful for...My family

 

From the kitchen...my Dr. Pepper is calling my name.

I am wearing...pajama pants and a wife-beater. 

I am creating...a blog post.

I am going...to work tomorrow.

I am reading... Dexter.

I am hearing...the fan on my computer, and the waterfall in the fish tank.  I can hear all 3 of the different fans in the house, Coco is snoring, and Gator is begging.

Around the house...Christmas Tree lights on, cat's on the back of the couch.

Some of my favorite things...Quiet time, and Star Trek

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: go to work, maybe get my toes done-I have a gift certificate. 

"Day Book"

I never understood why it was called "Day Book".  In  a mom community I belong to they had a section, and these were the comments we would answer/finish.  I always thought they were interesting, so I brought it over here.  It had been a while (I know I did one a few days ago), so I decided to do it again.   

 

 

Outside My Window...dark-and cold

I am thinking...that I really need to go to bed

I am thankful for...Dr. Pepper

From the kitchen...darkness

I am wearing...pajama pants and a long sleeved t-shirt.  Probably a few scraps of yarn.

I am creating...bad habits, and Christmas Presents.  But mostly probably bad habits.

I am going...to bed, or crazy...either one, they are interchangable.

I am reading...nothing. I am not currently reading anything (other than what I type)  Oh wait!  I did read text messages from my friend at work.

I am hearing...the fan on my computer, and the waterfall in the fish tank

Around the house...Christmas Tree has lights on it, fish tank light is still on, cat's on the back of the couch, sicky kid in one room, and a sicky hubby in an other.  I hear various children in various stages of congestion.

Some of my favorite things...A finished project. :-)

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Get my family back to healthy, put a face on the camel, and start a Hello Kitty!

Guess what? Camel Butt!!

For this Christmas I decided to make all the girls something.  So far I have made Zsusanna a blanket and I have just finished a camel for Sabrina.  Sabrina is the one who introduced the hump day Geico commercial to our family.  Im not sure if that is a blessing or a curse.  It has brought *most of us joy most of the time.   But no matter what un-enjoyment it has brought some, to see my children get a good belly laugh is worth it. 

Im not completely done.  I still want to make it a fez and either a bow tie (cause The Doctor says 'bow ties are cool') or a scarf.  Peoblem is u want the scarf to say hump day. Im not sure I have time for that.  So fez and bow tie FTW! (Thats for the win for you none interwebz/gaming speaking people.)

This is the last hump day before Christmas.  So have a happy hump day people!!! 

"day book"

It's been a while since I've done one of these, so I'm gonna do a quick one here tonight.  (OOOOH! bonus post!)

Outside My Window...dark.

I am thinking...that my feet hurt really bad

I am thankful for...my family and friends

From the kitchen...darkness

I am wearing...pajama pants and a wife beater

I am creating...a blog entry

I am going...to bed

I am reading...nothing.  I am not currently reading anything

I am hearing...the fan in the girls room, and the one in my room.

Around the house...Christmas Tree has lights on it, and I'm in the darkness.

One of my favorite things...Sleep

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Enjoy my next 2 days off, go to work, work on my Christmas presents.

Doubles Suck

In my endeavor to finish nursing school, I had to change my work schedule a few times.  This last time I changed it to work 3-11 and doubles (7-3 3-11) on Sundays.  In order to maintain my full time status (which they keep trying to tell me I don't have.) and work 40 hours a week, I needed to work a double once a week.  So, I did it; and I hate it. 
I've been trying for a little over a month now to get back on a regular schedule because I'm done with school (WOO HOO!) and I need to be home.   For some reason they don't seem to understand the concept.  Truth be told, I'm kinda just riding out the wave of stupidity, to see where it ends. 

Hopefully there will be unicorns farting bubbles, and lots of rainbows.

 

 

However, I believe that there will just be me, working the floor, 8 hours at a time.  The possibility of working a regular shift on the weekend is awesome.  What would I do with that free time?  Maybe I could spend time with my kids?  Maybe I could crochet a little more?  Maybe I could watch more Star Trek!!  Yes, definately Star Trek! :D

 

But, until that happens, I'll be here, winding down at 1am, playing bejeweled until I fall asleep, wishing I could be back on a normal schedule.  Ahhh, the life.

 

I do have to say, that being on 3-11 shift has brought 1 extremely awesome thing that I really don't want to lose.  It has brought "cuddle time" with my 8 year old.  Every morning for 15 minutes we cuddle and talk about the day, what is going to happen, if she has a test, is it early release day, what's for lunch, things like that.  I look forward to cuddle time every morning; and I hate the prospect of losing it. 

Well, hello there!

It's been a while.  Seriously, nursing school does that to people.  Makes them disappear off the face of the Earth, makes them forget the date, the day of the week and maybe even the year.  It causes caffiene addiction, and loss of sleep.  Most of all, it creates awesome friendships.  But...it has taken me away from here. 

So, here I am....  A graduate nurse.   (I'm the one wearing glasses.)

Me and my Nursing School Bestie Melissa!

 

There aren't too many pictures of myself that I like, and this is one of the few.  It's an awesome feeling completing something that takes so much out of you.  The feeling that you are done, and can reconnect with the important things in life, like family.  Seriously, when did I get a 17 year old?  When did I get a 7th grader, and why does she have boobs?  (how much crap am I gonna get in trouble for saying my kid has boobs? When the NSA lets me know, I'll let you guys know.)

 

So, today I attempted another frugality item.  (Because now I actually have the time too!)  Homemade granola bars.  They are kinda like no bake cookies in bar form.  (Hmmmm.)  I needed to find a recipe for my oldest with peanut allergies.  She's not to the point where we can't have it in the house, but if she touches it, she blows up like a balloon.  My 15 year old has an oatmeal allergy, but I havn't figured a way around that yet. (It's my first day people-sheesh.) She's vegetarian, and a picky eater.  Not a great combo for a house of flesh consumers.  (Sounds kinda gross if I put it that way).  So, I'm still on the lookout on how to make a granola bar without oatmeal.  (I've read about puffed rice.)  Right now, my concoction is in the fridge 'harding' up.   They tasted pretty yummy before I put them in, but I'm curious as to what they are going to taste like when they are done.  I made small batches, just to make sure if they completely sucked, I could throw them out without feeling horrible about wasting food.  I made a small batch of peanut butter, and then a small batch of (off brand) chocolate hazelnut spread.  I thought I had honey, but when I came home from the store, I found that we were out, (very odd) so I used some of my homemade pancake syrup to sweeten it.  So, I made a very basic mixture of oatmeal, almonds, peanut butter (or hazelnut stuff), and sweetener.  Mixed it together, pressed it down, and now we wait.

 

Now that I have so much time on my hands, I begin planning my garden!  Oh, how I have missed gardening.  But that is a different post.  I just wanted to get my feet wet again with my blog.  Let you know that I have not forgotten about here.  Just had to be pushed to the wayside.

'till next time....

Does this still work?

Dinner experiments

Last time I said I was going to do something food-wise I didn't. But tonight I made green bean bundles. So yummy!!

Last night I made pulp crackers. I like them and a.couple of the.girls like them. Tonight I'm making oatmeal in the crock pot for the morning. My mom said something about it a few years ago and then I thought of it again today at work. If it fails oh well. I tried. If its awesome SWEET!  I guess we'll find out in the morning.