My birthday came a little early!!!

I'm so excited!!!  My birthday came a bit early....20 days early to be exact!  The Hubs got everyone (aka my parents and brothers/girlfriends, his parents and grandparents) to go in together on the camera I've had my eye on!  They wanted to make sure that I had it for our big trip this week!  All I can say is LOVE.  Like tons of hearts love!  Now I just have to figure out how to use it!  I've mastered a few of the settings (my favorite being the fisheye lens) but I need to be a pro for my NYC pics!!!

Here's the little beauty:

Canon PowerShot SX30IS
SWOON!!!!
via

I can now perfect the self portrait!!!
via

I'll be happily snapping pictures all week!!!

When is enough enough?

So is it a bad thing that I'm only going away for 4 days and have packed 5 dresses, 3 shirts, 7 tanks, 5 pairs of shorts, 6 pairs of shoes, 4 camis, and a few other articles of clothing??? 

Ironically enough, all of it started like this (although I added a couple more outfits after I took this pic):

Just some of our things (notice the Hubs's nice small pile in the back corner)

and somehow ended up fitting nicely into these (and I have a TON of empty space in my suitcase):

I have tons of room and yes, that's the ticket from our honeymoon...the last time we used our luggage :(

A girl's got to have options!!!

PS: Don't forget about the Tampa Bay CureSearch Walk!!!  Here's my page!!!

And the countdown begins.....

I'm apologizing now for how excited I am!!! 

We will be in NYC in 7 days!!!!!

Now if I only could decide what to pack....

WILW!!!

I'm linking up again with Jamie for What I'm Loving Wednesday. 

I'm loving these girls:

My Chi O sisters

I'm loving that a week from tomorrow I'll be on an airplane headed to NYC with this guy:

The Hubs

And I'm loving that we had dinner with the Hettingers!!!  I just love them and we had such a good time at dinner

Also, don't forget to check out my fundraising page for the Tampa Bay CureSearch Walk being held in September.  Please donate and spread the word so we can put an end to childhood cancer!

Hot Damn!!!

Ok, I'm almost recovered....aka not really but I'm ready to post about my amazing weekend!!!  Let me first back track and fill you in on my past.  I did not have the typical sorority experience.  I joined Chi Omega as a junior.  I did not go through formal recruitment.  I was talked out of it the 2 years prior by my friends.  I lucked out and was friends with a bunch of the sisters and knew in my heart that Chi Omega is where I belonged.  I joined the night of Bid Day and I can remember every detail about that day.  My favorite friend asked me to come with her to the Bid Day festivities.  My future Big Sister asked for all my information.  My friend Connie officially handed me my pledge card. From that moment on, my life was forever changed.  Now many people say that sororities are for people who can't find friends or that you buy your friends.  Yes it does cost money but it definitely does not mean you bought your friends.  Chi Omega opened so many doors for me and helped me realize who the woman was that I was supposed to be.  8 years later, Chi Omega means just as much.  My relationships didn't turn out the way I'd envisioned.  I'm friends with sisters that I wasn't too close to during my collegiate years and sisters that I was very close to during that time, I'm not as close with.  But all of that is ok.  Things have played out the way they were meant to be I guess.  But that has never changed the way I feel about Chi Omega and the sisterhood that I'm a part of.

History lesson complete........Now on to the weekend!!!

One of my sisters decided to get the girls back together.  We all gathered together, caught up over yummy food and drinks, remembered the good (and bad) times, and created new memories together.  It was so nice to be able to pick up right where we left off.  You wouldn't have known that 8 years had passed since I saw some of those women.  We all fell into stride like the years hadn't gone by.  What it also did was rekindle my love of Chi Omega.  Being surrounded by these women reminded me of why I am a Chi Omega. It was exactly what my life has been missing.  I am so thankful to have had the time with my sisters and can't wait for our next adventure!!!

And what kind of post would this be if I didn't have a picture overload?!?  Just a few of my favorite moments caught on film!

Elise and I....lived together as silly freshman and have been sisters ever since

Chi O Mommies

My Rosie...she was one of the first people I met when I set foot on the USF campus. She was my RA, my coworker, and more than anything, she's my sister!

Just some of my sisters!!!



Me and Lizzie...we lived together too (I'm seeing a theme).  I just love this girl!

Higgs and Trow Show!!!  Danielle was the most amazing host and the mastermind behind the best sleepover ever!!!

I treasure every memory I have of my time as an active but I'm looking forward to really finding myself as an Alumna.  I can't wait for more opportunities to be surrounded by my sisters!!!
    

Girl Time Overload!!

This weekend was an absolutely blast!!!  One of my sisters planned a Chi O slumber party which, to say the least, was AMAZING!!!  I'm in full on Girl Time Overload!!!  You can only imagine what it was like to have 25 sorority girls in a house together who haven't seen each other in years.  Needless to say, I left the slumber party at 430 am (we hadn't gone to bed yet and I was wide awake so I drove home to sleep in my own bed) and got home only to get a few hours of sleep so now I'm EXHAUSTED!!!!  I'll recap everything tomorrow, after I've had a few more hours of sleep.  But I'll leave you with my favorite picture of the night, one of all my favorite girls!

I just adore my sisters!!!

Happy Sleeping!!!
 

Let's put an end to pediatric cancer!

As I've stated before, I am a pediatric hematology/oncology/bone marrow transplant nurse.  What this means is I take care of kids with all types of cancer, blood disorders, and children who have bone marrow transplants.  It is the most emotionally draining work I've ever done but it is the most rewarding work I will ever do.  Every day I am reminded how lucky I am because I am fortunate enough to have healthy children. 

I have held the hands of parents who have been told their child has cancer.  I have celebrated with patients for their last chemotherapy treatments.  I have cried with them when they find out their cancer is back.  I have held the bucket for sick kids as they go through preparation for their bone marrow transplants.  I have been there when they are told they are a Survivor.  I have been in the conference when the doctors tell parents there's nothing else we can do.  I have been at the bedside, holding a child's hand, as they take their last breath.  I have done all of this with the hope that one day we will find a cure for this horrible monster that is taking the most amazing people from this earth. 

I know I ask for prayers a lot and I thank each and every one of you for the prayers said for my patients and their families.  I'm asking for help one more time. 

On September 24th, I will be participating in the Tampa Bay Area CureSearch Walk.  The CureSearch Walk celebrates and honors children whose lives have been affected by children’s cancer, while raising funds for the lifesaving research of the Children’s Oncology Group. This group of medical professionals treats more than 90% of children with cancer at over 175 hospitals in the United States.  These experts provide world-class care in communities across the country. All Children's Hospital (where I work) is one of these hospitals.


Every day, 35 children are diagnosed with pediatric cancer–7 of those children will not survive. Cancer is the #1 cause of death by disease in children. Although the cure rate is now 78%–up by 30% in the last 20 years–it is not good enough. Our goal is a 100% cure rate. 

You can help us reach our goal of a 100% cure rate.  Please consider donating to this cause.  We never dream of hearing the words "Your child has cancer" but, unfortunately, it can happen to any of us. 

I am a part of the team, HOTTIES of the OCC.  My personal page can be found here.  You can donate through my page or make a general donation to CureSearch.  And if you're not interested in donating to our walk, please consider donating to your local CureSearch fundraisers, local children's hospital, or local Ronald McDonald House.   


Again, I thank you all so much for the prayers said for my patients.  I pray that one day we will put an end to all pediatric cancers so our kids can be exactly that, kids.

Well I'll just jump on the bandwagon

I have been secretly obsessed with Jamie's What I'm Loving Wednesdays so I thought I'd take the plunge and jump right in.  You can call me a bandwagon fan...go ahead...I don't mind...it's true!  So here goes:

I'm loving that our NYC trip is almost here!!!!

We will be boarding our airplane at the wee hours of the morning on the 5th to enjoy 4 days of nonstop excitement!!! I just know that I'm going to fall in love with this city and never want to come home.  We'll have to have our kiddos FedEx'd to the city.

I'm loving that I will be sitting 12th row, center stage, for my absolute favorite musical of all time, in 16 days. 

I can't believe I'm getting a second chance to see it in NYC.  If you didn't know, RENT closed it's Broadway run in 2008 and I was just devastated.  It has been the #1 item on my Bucket List to see RENT in NYC.  Now I'm getting my chance!!!

I'm loving that I will be spending Saturday night with my amazing Chi Omega sisters!!!  I can't wait for our sleepover.  It's going to be like college all over again!!!

And as always, I'm loving these people, because without them, I would be lost in this world:

What are you loving???

Trying something new

I thought the blog needed a makeover.  Let me know what you think.  I really wanted to do a different font (more of a handwriting font) but the Hubs thought it was too "busy."  I'm still leaning towards that font but I don't know.

Are crazy fonts obnoxious to read???

So sad to see it end....

I can't believe there will be no more Harry Potter to look forward to.  Yes, I'm a Harry Potter fan and not afraid to say so!  I have been captivated ever since I read the first book, which I finished 5 minutes before seeing the first movie.  A guy that I dated in college (yes I was a sophomore in college when the first movie came out....man I'm old) loved the books and couldn't wait to see the movie.  He insisted that I read the book before the movie.  I'm glad he did.  While almost every book is better than the movie versions, I have never been disappointed by the movie representation of this series.  And even with the director changes throughout the process, the story and magic of Harry Potter has never been lost. 

Part One of the last movie left me wanting more.  I know the first half of the book was a little boring (aka lacking the action that the second half has) but I am sad to say that while I loved it, it kinda bored me.  I left feeling like I needed more (like I needed Part 2 to come out ASAP).  Part 2 was nothing short of amazing!  It had the action, the story, the romance, the guts, and the emotion that I was expecting.  I will not lie....there were a few times I cried.  Cried because it was so good, cried because it was so sad, cried because it had come to an end.  I just hope that my children will have a chance to fall in love with 3 characters the way I have. 

So without further adeu......Picture overload from our visit last year to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter!  I'm so lucky to live 2 hours away from this magical place.  My brother's girlfriend and I were like kids in a candy store.  It was the most magical place ever!!!

Isn't it breathtaking?!?!?

Of course the Chi Omega girl would find the Owl Post!!!

I'm finally here!!!

Hogwarts

Snogging in the castle

Frozen Butterbeer is the way to go!

Sharon and I at Hogwarts

Cheers for a great day!!! 

Hogwarts at night

Just looking at all of these pics make me want to go back to Islands of Adventure and maybe even re-read all the Harry Potter books again.

 

My Style Monday...sicky edition

I just despise being sick.  It takes a lot for me to stay home from work if I'm sick (if they kids are sick, I'm home without question) but home is where I am today.  It kinda snuck up on me this time, no warning at all.  So it's been me in bed (I slept til 1130!!!) or on the couch or on the computer. 

With that being said, I have been so bad about linking up with Linds on her My Style Monday (ok lets be honest....I've been HORRIBLE about taking pics of my outfits therefore preventing me from linking up) so here is a catch up edition to what I've been wearing lately (I promise I've been wearing cute clothes...I just don't have anyone to take my picture)

Top and Shorts: Ann Taylor Loft

Dress: Ann Taylor Loft

Shirt, Shorts, Shoes: New York and Company

Dress: New York and Company
Shoes: Alex Marie (Dillards)

See a trend of where I shop????

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

I just adore baseball.  I don't know if I've shared this before but I live for baseball season.  I don't really know when it started.  Opening Day is one of my favorite days of the year.  Knowing that there will be homeruns, strike outs, and boys in baseball pants on my TV every night makes my day!  (yes I'm a sucker for a man in uniform...military or baseball...doesn't matter to me either way). I even impressed the Hubs (and his dad) when we first met because I could hold my own in their baseball talk and I can read a box score.  It's one of his favorite things about me!

We are fortunate enough to have a team right here in our own backyard.  I was lucky enough to go the the second game ever...the first win in Rays history (but I wasn't lucky enough to go to the inagural game...the Hubs was though).  The Hubs and I love the Rays!  We even loved them when they were the Devil Rays and when they were HORRIBLE.  Yes, we watched them every night and got frustrated every night.  But then came the uniform change and it sparked a whole new life into the team.  We started to win, made it to the playoffs and eventually made it to the World Series.  And every year, we're actually contenders in the American League East.  Who would have thought?!!?

Last night, I was lucky enough to go to the game with my boss.  She's got season tix and took me.  It was a great time and a great game...minus it being a LONG game. Plus we beat the Red Sox!  It's always a great feeling beating them!  Just being in the Trop reminded me of how much I love baseball and being there in the stands.  There's nothing like it. My new bucket list items are to go to every MLB stadium for a game and to be able to have season tix to the Rays and actually go to every game.  Yes, I want to spend  my retirement days in a stadium, cheering for the team! 

Here is photo overload from our days at the Trop:

Opening Day 2008

American League Division Series Game 1...John's sporting the RayHawk

American League Championship Series Game 1

World Series 2008 Game 1...Can't believe we were there!!!!

The American League Champion trophy

Opening Day 2009 with Nicole (and I'm not fat...I'm preggers with Emmy)

Opening Day 2010

I finally got a pic with Raymond!!!

Random game in 2010

Noah's first Rays game

My future slugger

He was a serious fan and took his cowbell seriously

It was a great game!!!

American League Division Series 2010 Game 2

Rays game with Tori and Nicole 2011

I just can't get enough!!!