Promoted!

It's official - I've been promoted at work. And under 6 months I might add! Love this. I love that I'm working or a company that acknowledges my abilities and is willing to actually PAY me (in title and in dinero) for those abilities. Go figure right?

The move to Portland has been really great for me! I'm loving the "city" life and walking a bunch of places. I'm way more laid back here - even when I'm driving! - which is just crazy to think about. We've officially had our 5th wettest March on record and honestly I barely even noticed. I'm dying for the weather to get better though so I can start biking to work.

I'm looking for a new place to live right now - although trying to figure out how to stay here as well because my house is okay, would just love cleaner roommates, but it's just so CHEAP and CLOSE to my work. SIGH - what to do...what to do...

Viva Portland!
PS - if you've never heard of the show Portlandia, (seriously what is wrong with you?!) you should at least check out this link to get a feel for the fun times I'm living in. I know they're trying to be funny/mocking Portland - but it's actually REALLY accurate.
ENJOY!

Reflection

Working for a Catholic hospital, we start each meeting with a "reflection" or a prayer. It's actually really different to pray or talk about God at work. But when you're talking to a nursing supervisor at a hospital called Mary Mother of the Angels (and you have to actually call her Mother) I suppose there's really no getting around it.

Tomorrow for my morning staff meeting, I'm in charge of the reflection. I found this Inspirational Quote/thought which seems a fitting reminder to lead by example. Thought I'd share it with you all as well in case you don't get to have reflections where you work haha.

(as shared by http://www.wow4u.com/yourexample/index.html)
Your Example
By Catherine Pulsifer (c) 1998

The personal example you set will do more to convince someone than all the eloquent speeches in the world. When you expect others to demonstrate a certain type of behaviour, ask yourself if your behaviour exemplifies what you expect of others.

As Oliver Goldsmith once said, "You can preach a better sermon with your life than with your lips."

If you take a piece of string and push it, it will not go in the direction you want. But if you take that same piece of string and pull it along, the string will move in the same direction. That principle applies to people. Don't push them along; pull them along by your own actions, your behaviour, your enthusiasm, and your determination. Reflect on the words of Albert Schweitzer, "Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing."

What you do, and how you act,
has more influence on people than what you say!

***

I heart Joshua Radin

Just so we're clear - I'm in LOVE with this man. Seriously.
I've officially now seen him in concert 4 times and every time the show just gets better. His music gets better. This was my first show seeing him in Portland. He was incredible. His opening act was Cary Brothers as well and he was also REALLY really great. Cary did a cover of Peter Gabriel "Don't Give Up" that literally almost made me cry. AMAZING STUFF.

At the end of the concert Joshua Radin's last song, he sang as he walked through the crowd (barricaded off) and off the floor. We were kind of standing in the back for the show because we had gotten there a little late. Where he turned to walk off stage he basically walked RIGHT next to us. ...oh you need proof?



















....ya...THAT CLOSE! He's a sexy man. I'm pretty sure he looked at me and was like "hey wait, don't I know you from the shows in Salt Lake City usually - great seeing you in this cool town of Portland now!" I'm pretty sure.

Anyway, fantastic show! Had tons of fun with my friend Amber who came with. *SIGH*
Can't wait until next time!

Salt Lake Weekend!

This weekend I had some time off work - so I arranged it with Melissa to hang out with her for a few days! I needed some BFF time! It was so much fun!

We dropped Paige at the babysitter on Friday so we could shop without baby. We did some okay damage (I think we could've done better haha). We went to see the Adjustment Bureau (LOVED IT!!!) and ate nachos - which you know always makes me a happy girl! And on Saturday we got Mani-Pedis. *SIGH* It was heaven rolled into 2 days. I got to hang out with Paige - who really took over 24 hours to warm up to me. In my defense she was teething some major molars...at least that's what I'm telling myself and Melissa is being kind enough to go along with the story! Preston was dropped off Saturday afternoon so I got to watch both of the kiddos Saturday night. They're SO FUN! Preston taught me how to play Gran Turismo 5. I won a roll-over trophy right away, not because I know all the tricks, because I seriously can't play video games. Whatever. He thought I was SUPER cool because I rolled the car - apparently never been done before haha.

Seriously it was a great time to hang out with my friend and just be our "normal" selves! It was great. Was giggling to myself on the drive home at things that we talked about or something that happened.

Numero 34!

I'm officially the world's worst blogger. I mostly, lately feel like I don't really have a ton to say.
I'm 34 today! How crazy is that? You know how when you look back on your life and say...wow - I would've thought my life would look SOOO different at 34?! I can honestly say that is 100% true for me! Not really for the better or the worse, just really different.

I'm loving the change in my life and being in Oregon though. I feel more myself here. More mellow, less "wound". Which, I wasn't really all that wound ever - but just a little more go-with-the-flow about things. I like that.

So for my birthday (I have a 3day weekend this weekend!) I went to lunch with Matt and Blake. Then drove to Jake's house and had cupcakes and opened my presents from them (so nice!) and then went to Eric's house to watch movies and hang out. It was a great day! I felt so much love today - as it should be on a day that was only basically important because you were born (haha). Okay so Martin Luther King Jr put us on the map...but man I'm a close 2nd.

Thank you to everyone who remembered my birthday and made me feel special. And who make me feel special everyday really - not just on my birthday. I'm lucky to have such amazing friends and family in my life.

ps- now that my birthday is behind me - I can get back on the working out bandwagon. I always start diets on the 1st..and they get blown out of the water with junk food on my birthday a mere 15 days later. Yes it's only taken 34 years to figure out I should just start my diet AFTER said birthday...don't judge me. :)

Mid-December Madness

Where has December gone to! I seriously laughed at this woman the other day at work that said "December is nearly over!" (it was the 7th of the month). Haha...I don't know why that made me laugh SOOO hard. But now that it's the 15th I'm on the same page. Apparently 8 more days was all I needed to be a believer. I've been working a ton lately, nothing new. Lots of hours and lots of weird shifts. Most of the time - I don't even know what day of the week it is.

This weekend, my friend from Seattle Will and I are going to Leavenworth, WA and I'm so excited! It's this German town that gets all crazed out for Christmas! Seriously just what I needed. Mostly I'm excited to relax and not do a whole lot around this small village but drink hot chocolate and walk around. 3 days off in a row will be heaven. Will and I have never traveled together - so fingers crossed he's also a laid back traveler. I'll take lots of pictures.

Then I come back and work for 8 days in a row (BLEH) and then get 6 days off! No vacation days required...just how my schedule worked out! I'm going to California from Dec 30-Jan 4 and I can't wait! I need some sunshine! Although really the weather here has not been too bad (except for that pesky tornado the other day - I don't know..my mom told me about it. haha). And some face time with my pals Josie and Thor who just moved to San Diego. I'm hoping we can hang out at least one day while I'm there.

I can already feel that 2011 is going to be amazing! This is like the warm-up to it.

The 16 hour day

Today is my 3rd 16 hour shift day at work since I've started. PHEW! It's brutal.
Although at least this time - I knew about it before hand...so I was mentally prepared.

Work is going well - I think I'm getting the hang of it alright, always a good sign.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving!!! YAY! Blake and I are headed to Matt's house to have the festivities. I'm making Matt grill out steaks - so that will be tasty. None of us are really all that big of fans of turkey. For nibble food before the feast we'll have crackers and cheese and meat. The boys love their "wheel" which is what they call the meat & cheese tray. Plus this chips and salsa thing that I will make. It's delicious. For actual dinner we'll be having Steak (duh), twice baked potatoes, salad, rolls, and green bean casserole. YUM!

My Gratitude to all the people in my life I love and consider my friends and "family" - even if we're not blood related. And of course those that are. I'm grateful for the freedom in our country. All the best to you and your families on this special day! xoxo