I GRADUATED!!!

May 12th finally arrived and I graduated with my Masters in Nursing.  I am officially a Family Nurse Practitioner.  And if all goes according to plan I will pass by boards in the coming months and become board certified.  LORD help me if that doesn't happen...... :o))  I am taking a review course at the beginning of June which will be a big help.

Still unsure where I am going to be working, but I am trying to take it one day at a time.  I did have an interview today, so I hope to be sharing some good news soon.  The process of becoming credentialed and certified to bill for patients is a LONG process and this affects the job hunting, interviewing, and whether or not a job can be offered to me.  So I am in the middle of a waiting game and let me just tell you.... I am not good at having patience when it comes to stuff  like this.  But I am trying to breathe and just let it all happen as it should.

Wanted to share some of my pics from graduation.

Not a very good pic... but this is me getting hooded by the FNP program director.

These are my 3 school buddies.  We have all been together in school for 7 years.  I am so lucky to have had great friends with me along the journey.

Me and my littlest sister... Allie Rae

Me and the hubby!!

With mom and my sisters

Me and my sister-in-law

I am still trying to get caught up on Project Life.  There has just been so much going on and I can't seem to find the time to sit down and do it.  But hopefully this weekend I can catch myself up!!

Project Life Tuesday: 2012: Week 14

With this post you can see... I am a little behind!  Even though, it was 4 weeks ago I wanted to share my layouts from Week 14, because it was a great week in our life.  I didn't take many pics, but our Kentucky Wildacats won the Mens NCAA tournament and it was Easter week... so that is center of my layouts.

Enjoy!!!

Full layout....

Left side....

I am loving my new washi tape from Target and Martha Stewart labels from Staples. 

 

Right side....

So excited to use my first 6 1/2 x12 insert  this week.  Loved this picture in our local newspaper and it fit perfectly into the insert.  Black and white polka dot washi tape from Target!

 

Spring printable insert found on Pinterest that I just loved, because of the bright, fun colors!

Right side...

Used this page to show all my pics from Easter.  Loving this page protector, because you can show so many pics on way page and can coordinate when you have a big event with lots of pictures!

Linking up today with The Mom Creative for Project Life Tuesday!

Time is a FLYING....

I can't believe that May is almost here.... where is the time going these days?  I have been school-free for the past week now and BOY am I loving it!!  This week Patrick is on vacation, so it's going to be super nice having the week together.  We have decided not to take a vacation this year (TEAR) due to paying for school out of our pocket, needing a new car and about to lay new flooring in the house.  I am pretty sad about this... I have gone on vacation every year ever since I was a little girl!  So I guess it;s time to suck it up... but next  year is a must!!

It is Derby week here in the Bluegrass (KY)!!!  There are so many fun activities/race/parades/competitions/ and most importantly horse racing going on this week.  I have always wanted to go to Oaks and this year I am actually going.  I am pumped!! Tomorrow, I am heading out to find a new dress, and fascinator to wear!  I will post pics as soon as the outfit is complete. 

Im February I participated in the Photo-A-Day challenge by Fatmumslim on Instagram and loved it.  And March came and went and I only completed 5 photos for the month.  But I am planning to get back on track and for May.  I love completing this challenge, you find the most neat things to take pictures of and I love looking at all the FUN pics every one takes.  If you want to participate, here is the challenge!!  You will LOVE IT!!

Back to Blogging....

Yesterday chalked up to be another great Sunday.... Have I mentioned how much I love Sundays?! We didn't do much, but it was much needed after a long afternoon and night at Thunder over Louisville. Patrick's cousin invited us to go a private lot where people with motor homes and other campers set-up for the weekend! For all you non-KY readers.... thunder is the kick off to all derby festivities that lead up to the Kentucky Derby! We haven't been in a few years, so it was nice to go, be with family, and see the greatest firework display in America. Here is the only pic I took of the night!

Allie Rae came over to spend the afternoon with us yesterday. She comes almost every Sunday and I just love having time for just the two of us. She might be a lot younger than me, but we are glued to the hip!!! And lily just loves her....

Crazy that I didn't have school or clinical today.... I feel like I don't know what to do with myself. Super excited though about relaxing and doing some things that I've had to put off for so long! On the agenda for this week.... Gym, spring cleaning, starting the hunger games series on my mommas kindle (cant believe everyone has read them but me... I had my nose in other books :o), developing a study plan for boards, cooking dinner every night for my hubby (something I haven't done in weeks), and a WHOLE lot of me time!!!!  And I am excited to be back blogging regularly.  I have really missed documenting our lives and reading all of my favorite blogs.  Hoping to make this part of my daily routine. 

I have a feeling that Lily is just gonna be spoiled rotten with her momma home everyday with her for a month or two!!

Closed a chapter of my life today...

After 7 long years I am officially no longer a college student.  Wednesday was my last day of clinical at the Immedicate Care Center and today was my last class of the Family Nurse Practitioner program.  It was bittersweet and I really can't believe that I am done.  I was all smiles driving down to school this morning and I am still all smiles tonight.

Now.... starts the crunch time.  Long days and nights of studying, studying, and more studying for my certification exam.  But I am not going to be thinking about this for a couple weeks, because I plan to enjoy, relax, and have some much needed FUN time!!!

So as this chapter of my life closes I am excited, giddy, nervous, but ready to open a new chapter!!!  I am so anxious to see whats in store for my path ahead!!  I am ready for a new ride and fun journey!!!

Project Life Tuesday: 2012: Week 13

I thought I was 2 weeks behind on Project Life.... come to find out it was only one week.  For week 12, I didn't really have any pics or other memorabilia, so as much as I hate it I skipped that week.  And for this week I certainly didn't have a "pic a day"  but it was a great week so I included the pics I had, lots of journaling and newspaper clippings.  Turns out, my layouts weren't half bad!  I really just love this project, because I was able to show what  our week was all about with things I threw together last minute.  And I didn't get all caught up in my "pic a day" philiosophy that I started out with. 

This week was all about basketball for us.  Our UK Wildcats made it the Final Four!!! And we played our state rival UL Cardinals.  It was a great week for the state of KY and it was so fun to see all the "hoopla" going around town!!  Our CATS pulled out a victory and are headed to the champioship game!

On the layouts for last week.....

Full layout

Left page.  I used a newspaper clipping "civil war" to show the intensity of the rival between UK and UL!  I also took a picture of my bracket that I filled out and shrunk it down to fit the 4x6 slot.  I am in LOVE with the black and white polka dot washi tape that I found at Target.... I hope I don't over do it!

I included an insert this week.  I participated in the #Marchphotoaday challenge by fatmumslim over on Instagram.  I loved this challenge.  You take a certain photo each day accoring to the pre-planned template by fatmumslim.  I decided to make a 4x6 collage using 6 instagrams, then cut the pics down to fit in the page protector.  These protectors are coin collecting protectors which can be found on Amazon.  I then used paper from the Clementine collection to do my labeling for the date the pic was taken and what the category was.  I like the way this turned out, but have more ideas for April!  (front side)

(Back side of insert)

Right page.


Hoping that I can now stay caught up!!  Linking up today with Project Life Tueday over at The Mom Creative.

Final Four Weekend in the Bluegrass

As much as I love blogging...... I have been majorly M.I.A.  I just can't seem to find the time day in and day out like I was before.  Maybe it is because, I am 4 weeks away from GRADUATING!  Hoping that can get back in the routine of posting a couple times a week.  And my project life has suffered... I havent taken many pics the past 2 weeks so I have decided to accept that I will have 2 weeks missing.  But I am back on track, as of now!!

Did I mention, it was a HUGE weekend here in KY.  The states 2 biggest universities went head-to-head in the Final Four match-up last night.  UK vs. UL!  Being a huge UK fan I was hoping the CATS would pull out a victory, but I was just proud that our state was well represented in the Final Four and that one of these teams would be in the championship!! 

Here is a pic of us rooting on our teams last night.... We have watched every NCAA tournament game at Patrick's cousins house, so of course we have to keep the tradition going until the end! 

My hubby is soooo supersticious, that he has convinced me to wear the same clothes every game since the tournament has started.... washed of course :o)

And little miss Lily had a bath and haircut on Friday and they put the cutest blue/basketball ribbons in her hair.  She had pigtails... it was so precious!  But she is no girly girl, those bows only lasted a couple of hours.

Can't believe the weekend is almost over... just goes by way to fast!!

Looking forward to tomorrow night when the Kentucky WILDCATS take on the Kansas JAYHAWS in the Championship game!!!!!!!  Let's bring home #8 BBN

Project Life Tuesday: 2012: Week 11

Just a little late.....  AGAIN...... on my Project Life layout.  I love having my layouts complete on Tueday and ready to post at The Mom Creative, but I have learned over the past several weeks that life happens.  And I haven't had much free time on Sundays lately to do my layouts like I was before.  But my layout is done and that is all that matters.... 

Ohh and another damper to this past week in my PL is that I cracked my iphone on Saturday night (St. Patty's day) and I had to get a new one.  And I lost all my pics from the week.  So this week is mostly journaling of our week with a few pics my sister-in-law sent me from our fun St. Patty's day/night out in Louisville for the UK game.

Full layout

Left side

Insert (8 1/2 x11 clear protector) "A peek at our week."  I found this printable over at Iheart Organizing blog  and I loved that it puts our week at a glance in one SUPER cute spot.

Back of insert... beads we collected at the Pub for St. Patty's day

Right side...  My hubby, myself, brother and sister in-law, and Pat's cousin and his wife spent St. Patty's day in downtown Louisvlle, pregaming for the UK vs. Iowa State game.  We had so much!!!  We LOVE our CATS!!!!

 Hope you enjoyed our week.  Hoping for more time this week so I can get my done before the next week starts!!!

Busy, Busy, and more Busy

Life is CRAZY!! 

I have absolutely NO time to blog right now and I hate it.  And more importantly I have been missing out on reading my most favorite blogs. 

I am ready for clinicals/school to be over.  I am tired of putting in over 40 hours a week for FREE.  Yes, I said FREE!

Can you tell, I AM OVER IT! 

This past weekend I did make it out for St. Patty's day and to watch our UK wildcats beat Iowa State to make it to Sweet 16.  I will share pics soon!

Happy Friday

All smiles here....  Starting the weekend off right with a day off with my hubby!  These seem to be far and few between lately with me beginning my last month of Nurse Practitioner school.  And the weather is absolutely gorgeous, so it doesn't really get any better! 

I am super pumped about 2 things:

1.  Our Kentucky Wildcats won the 1st round of NCAA tournament and are playing tomorrow night here in our hometown, Louisville, KY for the 2nd round game.  And guess what, we have TICKETS!!!!!!!  I am so excited and it is St. Patty's day, so we plan to really CELEBRATE!!!!!  I will be wearing my blue of course with a little green so I don't get pinched :o))

2.  My blog re-design by 20 going on 80 is up on her blog design web page under portfolios.  I was really thrilled to see this.  I just can't stress enough that if you are looking for a new design of any sort you must check Melissa out.  I am so happy with the way my blog turned out.... it is a total reflection of me, my personality, and who I am!!!!

Happy Friday and weekend to everyone!

Be sure to grab a button

Project Life Tuesday: 2012: Week 10

Hard to believe it is already week 10 for Project Life 2012.  I can't stress enough how much I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this project.  Each week I find myself taking more and more pictures of everyday life that I was missing before.  I had no idea how much I was missing out on by not documenting our every day life.

Yes, my CRAZY, hectic schedule makes it very hard to do complete personal things and projects.  But I love how I am setting time aside for PL to compelte my layouts.  This is "my" time... And while I am completing the layouts I love to see what we did that week, where we went, what we ate, what we were wearing, and much more!  I can see this is going to become a life long project for me!!!

On to this weeks layout.....

Full page

Left side

Right side with  front of insert

This week I use my first insert with my full layout.  I used Design F Page Protector and cut it in half, so the slots would match the number of pictures I had.  I really liked the way it turned out.  But hopefully I can become a little more creative when it comes to the inserts!

Right side with back of insert

Right side

Linking up today with Project Life Tuesday over at The Mom Creative

Pinterest Inspired Dinner!!

Starting the new year I had a goal of completing one pinterest project a week. Well when that fell through I decided to try one project a month.... Needless to say I haven't held that goal either!!

But last night I had a surge of energy and I whipped up a great dinner- pinterest inspired! The recipe is Confetti Chicken Pasta, originally from BakeCakery.

I meant to take pics through the process, but I only have pics of the ending product.

Here's the recipe!!!!

CONFETTI CHICKEN PASTA RECIPE

16 oz. of Whole Wheat Penne Pasta (always cook al dente in salt water according to pkg directions)
2 tbsp. olive oil, divided
2 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts, cut in 1″ cubes
¼ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. pepper
½ c. Onion, diced
2 cloves Garlic, minced
1 Yellow Bell Pepper, long thin slices (mom uses red, yellow and orange…)
1 c. Broccoli florets
1 c. Asparagus, chopped in 1″ pieces
1 c. Grape tomatoes

Cook your pasta and let it drain. (tip: I always add a bit of olive oil to my pasta water during cooking so the noodles don’t stick together). Sprinkle the chicken breast with salt and pepper. Heat 1 tbsp. oil in a skillet over medium heat and cook chicken until done and golden on all sides. Remove and let rest in a large bowl.

Add the remaining olive oil and begin sauteing the onions for 2 min. Add in the garlic and bell pepper and saute another 2 mins. Then toss in any other woody veggies (broccoli, asparagus) saving the tomatoes until the very end.
When everything is cooked, combine the veggies with the chicken in your big bowl. (I’m all about reducing dishes here)

Now its time for the sauce!
Spicy Cream Sauce
2 tbsp. butter
2 tbsp. flour (I used whole wheat)
2 c. half & half
1/4 tsp. of red pepper flakes
1 c. Feta cheese (mom uses Parmesan)

In the same pan you cooked the chicken and veggies in, melt the butter over medium heat. Toss in the flour and stir, cooking 1-2 minutes. (We are making a roux)
Slowly add in the half and half while stirring to prevent any clumps from forming. Sprinkle in the red pepper flakes and allow to simmer until you see boiling action. Stir periodically.
When your sauce begins to thicken and bubble, turn off the heat and add in your cheese. Stir until melty (yes that’s a technical term).

To assemble everything I like to add the pasta first so it gets nice and coated with sauce and then pour the rest of the goodies in. (see photo above). This makes enough for 4 people (or two if you want lunch the next day!)

This is a must try..... I loved and my hubby loved it even more!