How is the blogger world doing these days? I have been busy with work. I am so over night shift but for now, that's where I'm still at. I like parts of it, but there are other parts I'm not as fond of, such as not being on the same schedule as my kids. I miss just being home with them at night. I work 3 twelve hour shifts a week, which is not bad, but one day off is always about sleeping. It's hard to do with kids. I'd love to just get on days now. I am not sure about WHERE I work though. I still plan to go into the Oncology field. At this point I haven't yet. I still work with a lot of cancer patients though. I work with a bit of everything.


Other than that it's been a crazy time for me. This summer was insane. My life has been turned upside down really. So much as happened that I can't even write about. I could use prayers, well wishes, good vibes, thoughts, whatever it is you do. I need it. I have been having a hard time dealing with all that's going on. I struggle inside with what to DO. I only hope that whatever happens it's the right thing!

My life has been changing drastically these days. I needed a night out and I got it for my brother in law's birthday. It was a great time. I had a lot of fun. I was with my sister of course and got a great pic of us all together hanging out.

I have really loved a new artist named Karmin since she came onto the scene. The girl did a lot of cover videos for youtube when shew as discovered. She has some hits out there now, but is still working her way up to get noticed. I consider myself a long time fan simply because I was watching her youtube videos before she ever made her big break. So now I'd like to help her out a bit. She needs votes to make it on the cover of Rolling Stone! So I am going to post this here.  Vote for Karmin, once a day. If she ends up on the cover it will be so cool. She's a wonderful singer. I find I like her renditions of certain songs MORE than the originals. She has a really cool, different style.

Here's Karmin. Listen, and vote. :) Thanks!

I've become sort of obsessed lately with doing my nails. I got this giant box of nail polish. I can pretty much do any design my  heart desires and I have been experimenting lately. I have done a lot of different things. I occasionally post the pics to facebook but I'm sure some people are thinking "yawn". I like to show off what I've done so I'm just gonna do it here today!!!

Other than that I've been working a lot. I took the kids to Six Flags last weekend. It was a lot of fun. I have to work all weekend now. Ugh. 3 twelve hour shifts. I should be sleeping now. Oh well. We'll see how it goes!

This weekend has been a hard one. We have lost a dear friend. I have spoken of my brother in law's band frequently in the past. The band name is Short Lived Fun. My brother in law is the drummer. One of the band members passed away suddenly yesterday...leaving behind a wife and children. My friend Corey and his wife Wendy are absolutely amazing people. She is a nurse. They are giving, loving people. It's sad and honestly right now I am just in shock. Please send prayers to his family. His loss is felt deeply by anyone who ever met him because he was just that kind of guy. We love you Corey! You are missed. I can't even begin to imagine never seeing you again.

I really am. Well I want to be. I love shopping but mostly for very girly things like, makeup, hair products, finger nail polish. My collection of fingernail polish is utterly ridiculous. I do however have really great nails and super healthy hair. This makes up for it right? haha I did some online shopping over the weekend on Sephora.com. I love that website. It has all the name brand stuff I like to buy. If I'm not buying I like to window shop. Enough of that. It's just what I like to do when I have some $$ and some time.

I got a Kindle this past month. I had a Sony Reader and it took a crap a while back. So now I have a Kindle and I'm loving it. I need suggestions. What books should I download?? I need some ideas.

Mother's Day was great. I have a Starbucks Gift card I will be using soon. I got some other things too. It was a good day. How was your Mother's Day? Or what did you do for that special mom out there?? Fill me in. :)

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I can't really complain. I just got four days off in a row. That's not bad for working full time. I actually work 3 twelve hour shifts per week which is considered full time. I like it though. I work it so I have a lot of days off in between. We do self scheduling. I couldn't ask for better.

I didn't get to do a thing this weekend because of sick kids. Well, one sick kid that turned into two today. Gabbi can't stop coughing poor thing. Other than that things are good. I am working on making a blanket for my youngest sister who had a baby girl in February. I am also trying to think of good ways to reverse my sleep patterns. I am an insomniac as it is...and now I will be working nights. Not sure how easy this will be for me.

I had mine this weekend and it was amazing. I needed it. I have been having a great orientation as a nurse but some of my days have been stressful. It was nice to relax and unwind with friends. Tomorrow is the beginning of a long 4 day workweek. I have a couple of 12 hour days in there. But then I have 4 days off. I like the 12 hour shifts for that ONE reason. 


I have to see my Oncologist on Friday. I am almost down to only 2 checkups a year. I am almost 5 years in remission. I have actually led a busy, productive life. Sometimes when I sit back and think about it, it all seems unreal. 


I am LOVING this summer like weather we've been having in Illinois lately by the way. I only hate working through it. I love being OUT in it. I haven't had too much time out in it lately. Our bathroom kind of exploded this week. Well my toilet has been leaking so we replaced it. After we replaced it something was not quite right and it flooded the bathroom. When we bought this house the bathroom was carpeted. Yeah I know. We have talked about replacing it FOREVER. We finally did it. The flooded bathroom was a great excuse. So we ripped out the carpet and laid down linoleum. It's been a long hard job but it's about done. It looks good too! Now to replace the leaking fridge. :(

I entered a karaoke contest about a month ago. Each week they chose a new winner then this past weekend they had a grand finale with all those winners competing against each other. I won! Yes and I had a really great time doing it too. I love to sing. It's just another little detail about me. I draw, I sing, I am a nurse, I crochet, I am a mother, and more. I beat cancer. I have a long list of accomplishments. I try to remind myself of these things when I start feeling kind of down on my self. I do often by the way. Lately I have felt a little better and with this recent win I feel even better.

I start working at the hospital tomorrow. I have been in orientation. Tomorrow is my first official day on the floor. Wish me luck, send me prayers, whatever it is you do!

I am officially an RN. I passed the boards. It's been a stressful time waiting for those results. I was able access the quick results online after 48 hours. For 7.95 I got to see that sweet 4 letter word: PASS. Now I get to do what I love and have been dreaming of for a long time.


I've had a very long and stressful 6 years or so. Honestly longer than that. I went back to school in 2005. I found out I had cancer in 2007....and pregnant...at the same time. Long story short, went back to school AGAIN in 2009.....kept working towards that goal and here I am.

Other than that? I am enjoying the last bit of my time off until I start working. :)

Nicolas Cage: I’m not a vampire

Win a teeth whitening or a grand prize of a professional teeth whitening session in NYC for busy moms who need a get-away and a beauty pick-me-up. I entered Gabbi. Please go here and vote for her picture:http://www.topdentists.com/smile/entry/243427. 


While you are there enter your picture too! Who makes you smile?? Upload the picture and then just try to earn the votes. It's a lot of fun. I never seem to get a lot of votes in these things but I'm trying so share the link, spread the word and enter the contest too! We could all use a little beauty pick-me-up right? I know I can!

I made some homemade salsa. It was my first attempt and I really think it tasted awesome. I loved making it. It was quite a treat. I used the Superbowl as an excuse to snack. You HAVE to have snacks when you are watching the Superbowl, right??? I told myself this. I'm not a huge football fan but I do enjoy watching it on occasion. Today was such an occasion. I was cheering for the Giants (sorry Patriots fans). I am not a fan of either team so I picked one. That's how I roll.

I should probably stick to what I know however. I need to start drawing again! I miss it. It's been so long. So how does everyone feel about the halftime show? I say it was a TON better than last years failure of a half time show. Eeep.

                                 
               



I made lasagna tonight. I just looooove lasagna! I don't make it often since it's so fattening. I just remember why I love it so much when do. Yummo as Rachel Ray would say.

I do have an addiction to cooking shows, food network etc. I think it has gotten worse over time and my family is being driven insane. I usually just watch them at night but I never make the family watch them. I prefer much just do it while I'm in bed. The rest of the family would rather play Gears of War or something. I have to say I'm not a video game person. I used to be. Long ago, growing up in a family of 4 girls I ruled those video games. I could beat Mario in about 15 minutes. I knew all the secret pathways, etc. I started dating my hubby who plays a lot of games and it was not a turn taking thing. HE played the games. So I didn't play anymore. I got stuck watching them all the freaking time. lol So I got incredibly sick of them. I couldn't stand it anymore. Usually when the video games get turned on I run for the hills. :)

OK. Is this funny to you? My daughter Gabbi is four years old. I myself am a pale girl. I like to have a tan but you know I'm very white. haha I don't want skin cancer so I stick with a little bronzer (not orange stuff) but you know, to get a little pretty color. My husband however is a tan dude. He's got a naturally darker complexion. My daughter Gabbi is whiter than me. She's just a pale girl. She'll probably get freckles like me too. Well she was rubbing my hubby's arm the other night fondly and said out of the blue "I wish I had a white daddy."

OMG! This sounded so wrong. The innocence of a child you know? lol My husband asked her "What color am I?" She said "Brown." Very funny. But ooooh so wrong. Could be taken the wrong way and I have no idea why in the world she would say something like that other than that we are both lighter than the hubby. I found it hilarious and almost peed my pants. Kids say the most shocking things! But you know, you teach them and move on right? Yikes!

My daughter's name is Angelina. I love this song and found it because of her name a long time ago. Many may not even realize Billy Bob Thornton is a singer as well as an actor. I think his voice is pretty good. He made this song for Angelina Jolie while they were together. I love this tune even if their relationship didn't last. I am not fond of the camera zooming in so close on his face for 99% of the video. I think they could have done that better, but whatever. The song is good!

I lose my voice at least 6 times a year. That's a guestimate. I do lose it a lot though. This past weekend has been no exception to that rule. I lost it again. This time it has been worse than any other time. My daughter Lexi lost her voice first. She had a cold, etc. The whole thing. I told her to keep her germs away from me, but it didn't work. I got them. I of course have to endlessly tease her about this! You would think out of all the time I have spent in the hospital I would have an immune system made of steel but no. I have been sick and though today I do have somewhat more of a voice it's still laughable. I can't talk well and it hurts to cough. I guess it's that time of year folks.

I did enjoy my weekend however. Yesterday I was spoiled with chicken noodle soup and a day in bed. It cannot last forever though. Laundry is calling my name today. Boy how I wish it would forget my  name!

You know what I hate? I hate it when we're out at a really nice restaurant (or hell Burger King for that matter) and my hubby's phone rings and he answers the call. See, my husband works at a factory. It's loud there. I only assume it's why he's always really loud when he answers that phone. I think everyone in the restaurant knows the status of the plant any time he gets a call. I get embarrassed, but nothing I can do. He's the site manager and so the phone rings and I plead for him to NOT answer or leave and call back but no dice. He answers and it's LOUD and annoying.

I hate it when other people do this so it's only fair that I hate it when my hubby does this. Here's to hoping he doesn't read my blog today!!! :)

Pregnant with Cancer: What To Expect Giveaway

I made both of these two things in the past two days. I am happy to say the cake is pretty much gone thanks to having a few kids around the house. I had some and it was excellent. I really do not like having the temptation around.I love cooking but unfortunately with that food comes the temptation to eat it all and then of course gain a million pounds! I am still trying to figure out how to be the cook I want to be while at the same time not eating it all and gaining weight. I usually just end up resisting the urge to bake so the temptation is not there. I do love trying new recipes though.

The pumpkin "cake" recipe was actually for pumpkin bars. The bars were much more like a cake. They were not worthy of being called a bar because they most definitely were not. I had read the reviews on the recipe and was perfectly ok with this. I wanted more of a cake anyway. It was great. I got rave reviews on it. I made chicken Parmesan for the first time. It's crazy since pasta is my favorite food EVER and chicken Parmesan is a super fave of mine. It turned out great. I would still tweak the recipe a bit next time. Not enough sauce for my liking. I like a lot of it. Also the cooking time on the chicken was not nearly enough. I had to adjust that as well.

I wish I had taken pics but I did not. You'll have to use your imagination. As you can see I'm enjoying being free of school. I am still studying for NCLEX and will be taking the boards soon. Wish me luck!

Consumer Complaints for Ripside Interactive, LLC - Nebraska, South Dakota and Southwest Iowa BBB


I can only say that Village Photos has disappeared yet they keep charging my account each month. I am getting to my wits end here. I have lost over 1000 photos! I know I know. Keep them backed up. I did. My computer fried so they are gone forever. I thought I was backing them up. The website for village photos has claimed now for months that they are moving to a new location. This same message has been displayed for months! I have been paying monthly for a service I am not receiving. If anyone has any new information or updates on village photos and their LACK of communication with faithful paying customers, let me know. I linked to the Better Business Bureau. Their address is gone and their number is disconnected. I smell a crime. :(

I have been feeling better since I ranted about not feeling well. It seems perhaps the bug decided to leave that night. Whatever it was, it was unpleasant and I do not care to have it visit again! I am feeling good though and relaxing today. I had a great New Years Eve with my hubby and sister and brother in law. It was a fun night. I still haven't gone out for my birthday. I should be doing that this next weekend. I'm looking forward to that. We didn't do anything because my birthday is stuck smack dab in the middle between Christmas and New Years. It sucks but there is never enough cash to do it all. I have ALWAYS hated that.

I am glad I was able to go out and enjoy myself. Here are some pics for your viewing pleasure. Hope everyone had a wonderful New Years Day!


My Gold Skirt. I love it. -->