Merry Christmas to all!

Merry Christmas to all of my family and friends! I had the pleasure of celebrating Christmas with my family the weekend prior to Christmas. We had such an amazing time together! We have had some rough times in the past, but we were able to put that all aside and truly appreciate the time we spent together. I am so blessed to have such wonderful parents, great older brothers, and amazing sisters-in-law! I absolutely love spending time with them and miss them dearly... I cried twice the day we had to leave Sioux Falls to come back to Rapid City. Matt and I had yet another serious talk about moving to Sioux Falls or not... I just really love and miss my family.

Then we got back to Rapid City and I was reminded of why I love this town and the friends/family I have here! Plus, I truly enjoy my RCRH family too! I had to work Christmas Eve night shift and I was supposed to work tonight but they decided to move around my schedule so I didn't have to! It is hard to work any holiday, but the people you work with can really make the difference. Thank you to such a great crew that I had the opportunity to work with the last shifts. I also want to send thoughts and prayers to all the patients who have to be in the hospital over the holidays... It is hard to be away from family for the holidays, so I try to spread the Christmas joy while I work.

I was grateful for the opportunity to be able to go to Christmas mass this morning too! It was so nice to be able to really join in on the celebration! It was so great, but I ended up in tears during the mass. I kept looking around and seeing everyone so happy to be with their family that I ended up having crocodile tears running down my cheeks... I think it had a lot to do with being so tired from having worked the night shift prior to going to church. It is hard to know that my extended family is having a joyous celebration and I am missing out on it... I love you all and I hope you had a wonderful Christmas together!

Please remember the real reason we celebrate Christmas:
Luke 2:9-11 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. (10) And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. (11) For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Merry Christmas! Peace and love to you all!

15 lbs gone!

Yep, I hit the 15 lb mark! Super excited! This weekend is going to be a "free weekend" for me because I am going to Deadwood with some friends and we plan on having a killer good time! So I am not sure if I still will be down 15 lbs next week but I hope so!

Thanks to everyone for you amazing support! It sure helps!

moving on down...

Down 13.4 lbs as of yesterday! Yay me! It might be a little less after eating Texas Roadhouse last night ;) Yum!

Hiking with my love

Matt and I got to go hiking on Oct. 4 to the Devil's Bathtub. It was great. I had been there before with my friends when they were out here for the 1/2 marathon... That is when I was dumb and only had my flip flops to go hiking in. Ouch! This time I had my wonderful Keens and I rocked it out! I only fell twice. LOL.

Matt and I had a nice bonding time and it was so nice for us to just get away from all the stress going on in our lives right now with work and trying to save for a house. We had a picnic and then we ventured on with our hike. Many laughs were shared and even a few kisses! It was so great. I truly love that man! I am so blessed to be his wife and to share memories like that with him!

Going down

After my first week of WeightWatchers, I lost 2.8 lbs. :) Pretty excited about that! I had to weigh in the day after my birthday (where I went and had supper at Olive Garden)! I just thought I would post my progress to help me stay more accountable! Make sure I am staying on track!

I've decided that if I reach my goal of 145 lb, I am going to go to AZ and show off the new me! I hope I get there soon! I could use a dose of sunshine and a dose of Amy! LOL. Love ya girl!

Getting back on track

Here we go again... The rumors are true- I've started Weight Watchers again. I have been holding this in, haven't even really explained it to anyone how troubled I am about me. I'm not happy with me. Yep, I said it. Okay, I wrote it... Writing it is easier than saying it. Lately, I just hate the person I see in the mirror. I don't feel attractive at all. I feel sorry for my husband because I know this does a number on our relationship too. I'm not trying to sound so "whoa is me" but I'm just trying to finally get this off my chest.

I've started making other changes too, other than the Weight Watchers. I'm trying to work out more and think more positive about myself. I've told myself that when my husband tells me I'm beautiful that I thank him and take it as a compliment instead of thinking what I used to think- that he is my husband and he is just saying that... I know, I am silly. What can I say- I am very hard on myself and I know it.

I just ask that you all will please continue to provide your loving support during this journey to a better, improved version of me!

Am I missing something?!

As I sit here at Bully Blends, enjoying an amazing peppermint mocha, I feel like something is missing in my life. And no, it is not the dessert, because I had a delicious bar to go with it!

Don't get me wrong, I love my life with Matt and all is well with my friends and family. Sometimes I just feel lost, like I'm searching for something but I don't know what it even is. A couple people at work have been asking me lately if everything is okay with me because I just don't seem like my perky self... I think everything is okay but yet sometimes I do feel like I am missing something. Crazy huh?!

Perhaps when I go home next week, I will come back feeling refreshed? Like my old self? I guess we will see!

Updates

Well, things have kind of been crazy lately.... but here are some updates in my life:

1- We went camping with some friends, and I am really looking forward to our next camping trip...
2- I read a couple of good books - "PS I Love You" and "House Rules". SO GOOD!
3- Jen's trip here was super fun! I can't wait to see her again!
4- I have been training for my 1/2 marathon coming up... my right foot is so sore though... ugh.
5- The weather has been crappy, so I have only been to our pool once :(
6- My trip home was amazing as always. I love my family and friends.
7- Matt and I celebrated our 2 year anniversary at a bed and breakfast :) It was amazing :)
8- Matt's parents have moved in with us until the end of the month when they will move into their new place...
9- My student that I had this past semester, passed her boards :D so proud of her! She will be my coworker soon :)
10- I got to meet baby Mason and baby Lucas :D Love them...

That is the major things that have happened lately... I need to be better about updating this blog. I will work on that.

Peace and Love!

Things are looking up

I have some exciting things happening in my near future...

Jen is hopefully coming this next weekend :D I think we will have a crazy good time. I look forward to hanging out with the bestie... I also get pretty hair on Friday :D

The weekend after Jen is here, I will be heading home! :D Can't wait!

Rising Star

I have had such a wonderful morning this morning! I went and got the mail this morning to read while I had my morning cup of coffee and I found an envelope from RCRH. This envelope contained a letter congratulating me on being nominated for the Rising Star Award for nursing at RCRH. :) Criteria for this award include:

• Must be a newly graduated nurse entering the nursing profession within the last 2 years


• Must be employed by RCRH and currently practicing nursing


• Shows promise as an exceptional member of the nursing profession


• Has exceeded the expectations for a newly graduated nurse


• Demonstrates awareness of the importance of meeting the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of patients


• Provides nursing care that is caring, respectful, and sensitive to each patient, family member, and coworker


• Demonstrates a positive team attitude


• Has a passion for nursing,


• Demonstrates developing leadership skills

This just made my day! I can't explain how proud I am for receiving this nomination from one of my coworkers. What an honor! This means so much to me! More than any of you know!

Nursing is such a challenging career. I know I complain often about how difficult my job is, but I must say that I do love caring for my patients and I truly enjoy working with my coworkers. My career is very demanding and can be physically and emotionally draining at times, but I can't see myself doing anything else. I love what I do and the people/families I help care for.

In this envelope, I also received a print off of the nomination. I wish I knew who nominated me... I would like to thank them. This nomination just gives me more passion and drive to do a good job at what I do and to help guide others! The kind words on this nomination will never be forgotten and this print off will go into my work scrapbook. Thank you.

I'm just blown away by this if you can't tell!!!

PS- Nurse's Day is May 6. Please let any nurse you know that you appreciate what they do. Thank you.

Updates

Sorry it has been forever since I have blogged! Fail.

Updates:
I am still training for my 1/2 marathon and I am up to running for an hour straight :) I'm pretty proud of myself. My family still thinks I am crazy for doing this, but I am gonna show them that I can and will do this! My friends that I am running this marathon with are super supportive and have been an inspiration for me!

Matt and I have put our house hunting on hold while we really try to save up for a down payment.... I just really want a house. I guess I will soak up the pool for one more summer!

My student, Danielle, just finished her preceptorship with me! I believe we both learned so much from the experience and I wish her all the best! I put in a good word for her to my boss and I would be honored if I got to work with her on ONS.

I'm super excited for my friends- Mary, Kelli, and Heather- all mothers to be! I'm so excited for them! It kind of makes me want to have a little one of my own... not yet though! I gotta marathon to run ;)

I'm just loving life :) Peace and love to all! I hope you all have a great Easter!

Blessed

I am blessed with such an amazing family and group of friends :) Just thought I would brag a bit! LOVE YOU ALL! Thanks for making my trip to Sioux Falls such an amazing one!

I'm an animal!

Yep, I agreed to run a half marathon with my crazy friends! Do you believe it?!?!?!? I have been training since the end of February and right now I am up to running 4 miles at a time. I still can't believe that I am doing it... I sometimes wonder if I will be able to do it... All I know is that I will be doing it with an awesome group of people and I can't wait!

Life is full of choices....

My hubby decided to put me back in reality last night... Reality is- I can't have it all. :(

We have fallen in love with this house in Rapid and we actually got pre-approved for a loan to cover it. Somehow we need to come up with $4,400 though... Matt basically told me that if we were to get this house we would not be able to ever go home or do the things that we want because we won't have the money to do it... I know he is right, I just don't like to admit it. I really just want to have a house that I actually like coming home to.

Right now we are trying to save up for a down payment and all these things pop up that we need money for. We have to pay in this year for our taxes! What?!?!?! Matt decides to take off his bumper... I know it was an accident, but it still sucks. I really want to go home in March when Amy is back- which always ends up costing more money than I think it will.

I am really trying to lay down the hammer on stupid spending. I really wish I would have done this a long time ago. I really wish I didn't have so much stupid credit card and student loan debt... I'm working on things but it is hard! One bill at a time....

Sorry for the vent- I just had to get this off my chest!

House Hunting!

Matt and I have truly started house hunting! We looked at 5 houses now and we have fallen in love with one of them... It is a "four" bedroom, 1 bath, 1 stall garage very cute house! We are still looking at other houses but I can't help but be excited about this one! It is a great house for entertaining which is always a plus! No worries- I will keep everyone updated!

Bonding between miles...

Over the weekend, I had the pleasure of having Emily and Melissa stay with us! It was so nice to have my friends here and to catch up on all the things I feel that I miss out on. I learned so much about what is going on in both of their lives. We had such great bonding time that was well needed. I was super sad that Jen wasn't able to come, but hopefully I get to see her soon.

I must say that my friends are awesome! They came all the way out here to visit and then got me a coffee gift card from one of my favorite coffee shops in town! I was excited about the coffee card, but I don't think that my friends realized that they were best gift!

It is always such a pleasure having visitors... We played games, went out to eat, got Coldstone, got coffee, went downtown shopping, watched movies, and talked like girls do ;) AWESOME. Emily convinced me and some of my other friends to run a half marathon in July. Yep, training started today! Ouch.

The great thing about this half marathon is the fact that I am doing it with my friends and my husband! This is going to be a great way to make some awesome memories and bond even closer to my great friends that I have kind of drifted from since I moved out to Rapid. I love all of the crew, including the cheerleaders :)

Happy Birthday to my BEAUTIFUL BESTIE!

Today is Jen's birthday :D She is now officially old like me...

I truly wish I could celebrate her birthday with her but I can't. So I just want to send a shout out to her and let her know that I'm thinking about her!

Jen and I have had so many great memories... She had to live with me for 2.5 years in college. Poor thing. I must say that we had a great time though! I still miss the good old times of going to get Starbucks for a break from homework or dancing the electric slide in Jen's bedroom :D

I don't think I will ever forget the time we took this photo here... We decided to dress up in similar outfits, crimp our hair, get Starbucks, and take many random pictures! So much fun!

Thanks for all the great times Jen! I hope to make some more fun memories soon! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Making a difference....

I'm feeling really good about my goals and my progress so far. I have been doing great about drinking more water and saying a compliment daily to someone (and I always mean them). I just got off the phone with Angie from work who asked me again to be a preceptor for 5th semester nursing students because she thinks I would "do a great job". Earlier this year, I had declined the offer because I didn't feel I was ready. After talking with Angie, I agreed this time.... I am nervous but she reinforced the fact that she doesn't expect me to know everything and that the student is going to be in "good hands". I am excited but super nervous! I just hope I can live up to the expectation and have the student feel good about having me as a preceptor. Students have so much to learn, I just hope I can guide them and help them with their journey. It seems like just yesterday I was a student, I can't believe I will now be a preceptor! Oh how the time flies! I just hope that I can make a positive impact on the student that works with me! Wish me luck! Soon I will be able to cross that goal off the list!

Update...

I just want everyone to know that I ran 2 miles today without stopping... which will help me towards a few of my goals :)

I purchased a new water bottle to help me drink more water :)

I purchased a planner to help me keep track of all of this and what I get accomplished! Also, it will help me keep track of the goals I need to do monthly....

Plus, I also got a new shower curtain for my bathroom :)

Ladies and gentlemen... I AM ON MY WAY!

101 goals in 1001 days

I have been inspired by my friends (especially Jen) to make my own list of 101 goals in 1001 days (2.75 years). I also convinced my husband to do the same... I'm going to start my goals officially today Jan. 6, 2011 which means my end date will be Oct. 5, 2013. My goals are not in any particular order... but here they are! Enjoy! Your support of my goals is greatly appreciated.

1. Get a house with Matt
2. Have a baby/be pregnant
3. Weigh 145 lbs or less
4. Read the Bible
5. Visit Amy at least one time a year
6. Finish our wedding scrapbook
7. Have a girls weekend with Jen
8. Read one book a month
9. Get ACLS certified
10. Become a preceptor at work
11. Make a surprise trip home to visit my parents
12. Take a random trip with my husband
13. Try snowboarding
14. Buy/wear more dresses/skirts
15. Run a 5K with my husband
16. Run a 1/2 marathon
17. Hike to Harney Peak
18. Go horseback riding
19. Find a friend in Rapid to meet with monthly for a coffee date
20. Fill at photo album of random pictures of Matt and I from different adventures
21. Have a game night with my husband at least once a month
22. Finish my shadow box
23. Go rollerblading on Rapid's bike trail
24. Make a pie
25. Go camping at least 6 times
26. Write a gratitude journal
27. Write a random letter of thanks to my parents
28. Help Matt become more understand of the Catholic religion
29. Send someone flowers for no reason
30. Go to the dentist (HUGE fear of mine)
31. Go to a hockey game
32. Go to a concert
33. Volunteer at the humane society
34. take a leadership coarse at work
35. Write at least 3 poems
36. Call one of my HS/college friends once a month
37. Officially join a church
38. Make a list A-Z of baby names and put it away until I am pregnant
39. Do one class at my gym
40. Finish my Tae Bo video in one workout without stopping (1.5 hours long and intense)
41. Try a new kind of wine/a new drink once a month
42. get my eyebrows waxed
43. Drink more water- at least two large glasses per day
44. Finish a puzzle
45. Color all the pages in a coloring book
46. Read about 1 disease (I don't know much about) per month
47. Plant flowers
48. Wear a size 10 or less
49. Hold a poker night with friends
50. Pay for a random person's coffee/meal for no reason
51. get a pedicure by myself- because I deserve it
52. Confront someone's negative attitude at work
53. Combine with Matt to make our main bank accounts a joint bank account
54. Learn to French braid my own hair
55. Bring my cats home to mom and dad's
56. Learn to drink beer
57. Try a coffee from each coffee shop in Rapid City (Matt wasn't excited about that one)
58. Go to Denver
59. Give blood at least 3 times
60. Pay off one of my credit card bills
61. Take a family photo with All of my boys
62. Go swimming at Pickerel Lake
63. Make my husband breakfast in bed
64. Host a holiday meal for my family
65. Make cookies for a neighbor
66. Have a murder mystery party
67. Go out with people from work
68. Redo my bathroom
69. Watch at least 10 Disney movies
70. Beat Matt in a game of Mexican Train game
71. Have a weekend get together with Adam and Cassidy
72. Read a devotions book
73. Write a prayer
74. Buy a new stethoscope
75. Go dancing with my husband
76. Go fishing
77. Take pictures with all the statues (of the presidents) in downtown Rapid City
78. Go to a play
79. Compliment 1 person a day (unless I don't see anyone else in a day)
80. Play cards/board games all day with my family
81. Dress up and go out for a very fancy dinner
82. Teach Matt how to play Wist
83. Dust more than once a month (I hate dusting)
84. get a massage
85. Earn at least 5 "wow" cards at work
86. Have a weekend get together with Wade and Mandy
87. Have over $5000 in my savings account
88. Borrow books out to my friends and family
89. Go on a boat ride
90. Send out a Christmas letter with our Christmas cards
91. Create a budget and live by it
92. Blog at least twice a month (this counts as once this month...)
93. Put up a collage of black and white photos in black picture frames
94. Get a new camera
95. Play volleyball with a group of friends
96. Play tennis at least 3 times
97. Bake cookies to bring to work
98. Tone up my arms
99. Make a handmade card
100. Have a picnic in a park, blanket and all
101. Become an auntie (hopefully)

I know some are silly and some are going to be very difficult... but BRING IT! Here I go!