I had a dream

Weirdest dream ever last night. I really need to lay off the late-night snacks. But alas, yesterday was our four-month anniversary (yay!), so we did our tradition of getting a milkshake! It was late because we had to wait for me to be back in town after my New Mexico trip and Brian had a test to take after his pre-dental class that doesn't get over until 6. So... milkshakes at 8:30! Yum!

Anyway, the only reason I'm telling you about the milkshake is because I think it must be the cause of my very strange dream. This is how it went...

Justin Bieber was Harry Potter

Voldemort was actually a woman

Harry Potter (aka Justin Bieber) and I were best friends

We were in some Latin American country in an antique store

Voldemort wanted a Picasso painting that my mom had.

She gave it to this little hispanic man and told him to go sell it for something good so Voldemort couldn't get it.

He came back with 6 chicken breasts and a container of mushrooms that he traded the painting for.

We were pretty disappointed that he didn't get something more for the valuable painting, but were happy to have some chicken anyway.

My mom was afraid her wallet was going to get stolen so she put it in an antique desk drawer at an antique furniture store.

I made her go get it out before the store sold the desk.

Harry (Justin) killed Voldemort with a shotgun because magic wasn't working this time.

Then I woke up.

Weird, or what?!!

Anyone know how to interpret dreams?

my *adorable* new nephew

Well, guess who got to go home for the weekend and meet her new baby nephew?! ME! Man, I'm lucky. I am also a slacker for the week when it comes to school and I will pay for that tomorrow :/. So, I drove the 9 hours on Friday, spent an amazing Saturday, Sunday, and Monday with the fam, and then drove back 9 hours today. Quick trip? Yes. Worth it? Definitely. Here are some of the adorable pictures! :D

This is the face that greeted me at the door - and look at that cute outfit!

precious. He is such a good baby!

After a swaddling lesson

look at those eyes! I hope they stay blue.

yes, he smiles - a lot!

:)

He liked his aunt (I hope!)

Beautiful momma (my sister, Jen) and Gage the frog.

He's in his Halloween outfit - you can't really see it, but it's a super cute skeleton onesie.

such a cuddlebug!

every girl should do this activity

I'm on day nine of this body-image dealio! This one, in my opinion, is one of the best things we've done! While I couldn't really come up with a favorite actress, I could definitely picture a lot of movie stars in my head that I wish I looked more like. I admire them for what they look like and I guess their acting skills? The first role model I thought of, however, was the dear Marjorie Hinckley! Love her!!

she's so beautiful! Not just outside, but inside where it really counts. Some great Marjorie Hinckley quotes:

“The only way to get through life is to laugh your way through it. You either have to laugh or cry. I prefer to laugh. Crying gives me a headache.” 


“I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully, tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails.
I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp.
I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbors children.
I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone's garden.
I want to be there with children's sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder.
I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived.” 


“Be kind. Everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” 


“I know it is hard for you young mothers to believe that almost before you can turn around the children will be gone and you will be alone with your husband. You had better be sure you are developing the kind of love and friendship that will be delightful and enduring. Let the children learn from your attitude that he is important. Encourage him. Be kind. It is a rough world, and he, like everyone else, is fighting to survive. Be cheerful. Don't be a whiner.” 


“Everything you are learning is preparing you for something else.” 


“Develop some intellectual curiosity. If you have it, you will never be bored. If you haven't, cultivate it, hold fast to it. Never let it go. To the intellectually curious, the world will always be full of magic, full of wonder. You will be interesting to your friends, to your spouse, and a joy to your children. You will be alive to all the wonderful possibilities of this world.” 




whew! and so many more! She is amazing. I do need to spend more time working on becoming more Hinckley-like. That is the beauty that really counts.

make-up free!

It's a make-up free day.... and, I must say, it's rather refreshing! I think I've put on make-up almost every single day of my life since I was at least 16 years old... that's kind of sick! Why am I so afraid to just be me? So, today I decided to wash my face reaalllly good (get all of the mascara off) and go all day without painting my face. So far so good. I like it. Granted, I don't have class today... so maybe I should try this on a day I have class. I know a girl who very bravely gave up make-up for Lent. Forty days make-up free! Now that is a feat. If only I had that much guts.

I think it's important to feel beautiful without all the extra "stuff." It's hard, but I think it's possible.

Ok, what else?

I taught my first full CTR 5 class yesterday! Those kids are ca-razy! I don't know what they eat for breakfast, but I'm 99% positive it is loaded with sugar. At least we had some girls this week to help calm the little dudes a bit. We learned about how to be righteous and pure and about the prophet Mormon. It went prettttty good. I just have to learn how to control a small room full of 5-year olds better. Any suggestions?!

Brian and I made the most adorable owl cupcakes yesterday! They have a surprise cream cheese/chocolate chip filling. Love! I just love Fall. Unfortunately Brian and I are also only eating desserts on Sundays, so now we have a whole bunch of cupcakes sitting around - I guess it's time to give them out!

These are the pictures that gave me the inspiration, not the picture of our actual cupcakes - but ours looked pretty much exactly the same! SO CUTE!

Oh, and I had a really great scripture study today in Alma 36 :)

Well, off to write a research paper! Have a great day!

Nowadays I feel guilty if I eat a chocolate chip. What the heck?!

The way it used to be....

It's just not like that anymore. I'm all about being healthy, but we all want to look "good" too, right? It's funny how "good" is such a subjective thing. Sometimes I want to move to Tonga so I can eat whatever I want and I'll still be considered attractive! But, like I said, I think it is definitely important to eat healthy... so too big is not good and neither is too small. Unfortunately, I feel like I am in a never-ending battle with food!

I am doing a awesome thing through BYU's Women's center... it's a 10-day body image challenge focused on helping us women feel good about ourselves no matter how we feel we look that day. Not to mention I get a free t-shirt at the end :). I know that I definitely have my "I feel fat and ugly" days and it is ridiculous because it influences me for the entire day! It changes my attitude, how I view life, how I view others, and how I view myself. 

I have been doing the challenge for three days now and have really enjoyed it. The first day was focused on just being kind to your body. The second day was focusing on what gifts we have (I read my Patriarchal blessing and wrote in my journal about what I found). The third day (yesterday) had the challenge of not saying anything negative to yourself about yourself all day... and if a negative thought did come up, to apologize, turn it around and compliment yourself. It was an interesting exercise, to say the least. Today's challenge is to compliment others... but not just compliment them on "oh, cute shoes!" or "I like your hair!" and more stuff like, "Wow, you are such a kind person!" or "you really know how to make others feel great." Things like that. So, that's what I'm going to try and do! Unfortunately, I don't have school today so I'm not surrounded by too many people. I am, however, going to be working at the Centro Hispano health fair tonight... so bring on the compliments in Spanish! Yeah! 

To all who read this, I hope you are having a great day - take the opportunity to give someone a meaningful compliment! 

laugh out loud

Thanks for the encouraging comments on my last post... and for sharing your own nursing fiascos! Being a nurse is really a riot - I'm sure I'll have good stories for the rest of my life :)

I've recently become a fan of Pinterest.... it's a bit addicting, but it has such good stuff! 

These made me laugh out loud. Seriously hilarious!

Halloween treat?

confessions of a nursing student.

I hate it when stuff like this happens. Luckily I have a very nice preceptor who laughs with me!

Nurse: Rachael, would you like to do the suction on this baby?
Me: Yessss!... sanitize hands, put on gloves, assess the baby, and start suctioning through her ET tube.

...
...

Nothing is suctioning!

Nurse: um. Did you hook up the suction?
Me: Look, cringe... "no :("
ooops.... hurriedly correct the stupid mistake and start suction again

success!

Just love being a nursing student! Not as bad as the time I was performing the "whoosh" test without hooking up the syringe to the NG tube. CRINGE.

On the up side, I am learning a lot and feel like I make a lot less mistakes. I love working in the NICU and have such a blast with my nurse - she rocks! I hope I can be a great nurse like her one day :)

watch out real world, I will be a nurse early next year!

Falling

Man oh man I'm glad FALL is back! For a few days I was really frightened that we were going to skip one of my favorite seasons and go right to cold cold winter! Luckily, the 30's degree weather left and today was a beautiful, crisp fall day. Nothing better than jeans and a hoodie. I really love Fall. I really love Spring and Summer too.... and we won't mention Winter :/.... let's just say I'm so grateful for Christmas!

Oh, and fun fact.... Brian and my 6-month anniversary will fall on Christmas Day! Glad it's so easy to remember :).

Why Fall is so fantastic!!!:

1. Crisp. I love that crisp yummy air!
2. Pumpkin and everything pumpkin! Most recently... pumpkin chocolate chip pancakes :).... true story: I had a dream last night that when I started carving my pumpkin it wasn't fully of the slimy seeds and gunk, it was full of pumpkin pie. Yes, pumpkin pie. Maybe it could happen?
3. Hayrides
4. Hoodies/jeans/cardigans/boots/scarves/mittens/comfy jammies/hats

***it is important to note that while I do also wear these in winter, in the Fall I wear them and they actually keep me warm. In the winter it seems nothing can help my freezing fingers, nose, & tosies.
5. Hot chocolate
6. General Conference (already did that one!)
7. Blankets
8. Hot chocolate + blankets + good book = great afternoon!
9. Getting the itch for Christmas music - I know! I know!... I can't help it.
10. Beautiful leaves
11. Drives through the canyon
12. Leaf fights
13. Cuddling and not wanting to get out of bed because it's so warm and cozy
14. Blow-drying my hair is no longer a pain, but a pleasure because it's warm!
15. Rosy cheeks
16. Decorations for the holidays
17. And I must mention the holidays... I love Halloween and Thanksgiving!

Ok, that's enough for now, I'm sure I can think of more, but I'll just have to count those blessings in my head.

CTR 5 kiddos

I'm a primary teacher! Yep, and I am excited about it.

Today was my first day and after a bit of confusion, my team teacher, Sister Kleinert (also new), and I found our class and had a hilariously good time. Who knew five year olds were so funny?! Our class today consisted of 5 very energetic boys. Our topic was serving others and we discussed the story of the Good Samaritan.

Quotes of the day (keep in mind, they are all boys):

• "My favorite food is spaghetti with pink meatballs"
• "I have to go to the bathroom..." (5 different times, 5 different boys)
• "What's my favorite color? Pink of course."
• "I don't want to be a robber, I want to be a skeleton!" (In the Good Samaritan skit we did)

Not to mention we did the skit 5 times so that they could all take turns being the man who got robbed and the Good Samaritan. 

The important thing is that they learn and I feel like they all left with an increased understanding of not only the story, but also of how to be more like Jesus Christ by serving others. 

p.s. Brian and I wrote some more mission stories on our mission blog - check them out if you want!

funny. though admittedly, I'm a nerd myself!

BEST website I've seen in a while

So, I came across a website and it is the BEST WEBSITE ever! Somebody made a list of a bunch of things that just make the average person smile... it's so happy! I put the complete list (490 items) on my other blog about tender mercies, but here is a small collection of some of my favorites! Check it out... it just talks about the little big things in life... I like to call them our little tender mercies. Isn't it amazing how many things we have that can brighten our days and make us feel grrrrreat? Just looking through this list made me feel more grateful and excited about the next time one of these things happens! The original website is listed at the bottom :)

http://justlittlethings.net/page/7 - thanks!

mission stories

Brian and are going to try and write a mission story a week! This week I wrote about why I chose to go on a mission and Brian wrote about a close-encounter with a very intoxicated individual :).

http://brianrachmissionstories.blogspot.com

funny shirt :)