The Most Magical Place on Earth

Break time Get-a-Way: Disneyland Bound

I started to tell you how excited I was to be going on vacation to Disneyland during my last post.

Day 1: No Beach Time

Road Trip- we departed Arizona at 6am sharp. I had packed the night before (more like weeks before) including clothes, snack bags and other odds and ends. The ride was full of conversation between Jordon and me. It was fun pointing out the different features along the road that reminded us of our past. Both of us had early childhoods in California. Martin was listening to music, reading his guitar magazine or fast asleep most of the ride. I was so excited, I may have annoyed Jordon a little by my constant chitter chatter. I was just so excited to be free for a couple of days. We took Jordon's car so Jordon held the rules of a road and where it led us. He liked to go straight through- only stopping for gas. Therefore, our road trip wasn't like many other was had taken consisting of stopping at every casino and attraction that caught our eye. I took joy in seeing what I like to call the "windmills". I think they are more like energy producing fields though. They are huge and fascinating. Everything about them makes you notice all their details- how big or small they are and what their shapes consist of. The scenery was breathtaking- parts of the desert was green due to all the rain we have received.  

We arrived in Anaheim, CA at 11:30am. The weather was perfect sitting in its 80's. We rolled the windows down and rolled through downtown- right next to the Anaheim Angels Stadium and the famous Honda entertainment center. We were delighted to see all the nice upgrades Motel 6 made. They were very accommodating when they let us check in early and placed us in side-by-side rooms, facing the Disneyland Park so that we had a nice view of the Disneyland firework spectacular.

Once we were settled, we headed to Hooters for lunch. We shared an order of fried pickles, I had the chicken strips and Jordon and Martin ordered the buffalo shrimp. The food was good. Since it was lunch hour, they advertised a special of $1 martinis! I don't usually drink, so I figured... why not, I'm on vacation! I ordered the Key Lime Pie Martini. The picture was very attractive. It was rimmed with graham cracker and complete with a lime slice. Needless to say, what I received tasted like milk with vodka in it with NO rimmed graham cracker and NO lime slice. When I asked the waitress about it, she said that was how they came and she didn't even think they had graham crackers. I could see her talking with her manager and could tell they were talking about us. The manager never came to the table, the drink was never drank, and we paid for it. FAIL. Don't ever go to the Hooters in Anaheim by Disneyland! One positive is we played and won a fun game of trivia while we awaited our food.

Did I mention that I forgot my debit card?! What a ding-dong I was. That didn't slow me down though. We found the nearest branch and I took out what I needed.

Any who, after lunch and the bank, we went to the motel to freshen up before heading to Jordon's aunt's home for dinner. We were set to arrive about 4p and we did just so. We were fortunate in not encountering traffic. Surprisingly, I learned she lives in old town Ontario and we exited the very street I grew up on as a child. Memories of my childhood flooded my mind as Martin and I watched Jordon and his cousin play a few matches of ping pong. His aunt was well kept and very nice to talk to. She was down-to-earth and extremely welcoming. Jordon introduced me to her in her newly remodeled kitchen and we talked about my childhood in Ontario, the school I had attended and what I did for a living. The dinner she made accommodated Jordon's newly found Vegan diet. She made him black bean burgers and the rest of us had hamburgers with all the fixings along with pasta salad and homemade brownies. The salad consisted of leafy lettuce, bow tie pasta, pepperchini peppers, cut up cheese sticks and Italian meats. So yummy! The brownies were homemade complete with icing. After dinner, we sat and visited in the living room as we watched Ridiculousness and other local TV. I would be serving memory a great disservice if I failed to mention her beautiful home. It was the perfect idea of a historic home that has maintained its luster through modern upgrades and fantastic decorating skills. Everything indoors had a perfect spot. As for the outdoors, there were well kept flower beds, a fountain, and a pool. We were there for a total of 5.5 hours. Since we were there for a lengthy visit, it was dark and we couldn't see the sights of my childhood I had intended to share with Martin and Jordon. I settled in knowing I would have to re-visit here on a future trip. Therefore, we proceeded to the motel. On the way in, the Disneyland fireworks could be seen. This excited me the next day- we were going to see them in person!!!

Even though we arrived early enough, there was No Beach Time.

Day 2: Disneyland & No Pool Time

The park opened at 9am and there happened to be a shuttle that drove us to and from the motel. Therefore, we were in route early. Martin and I woke, showered and rushed to catch the shuttle with Jordon. The shuttle was $5 and so convenient. We reached the Ticket Counter. The sparkle of Disneyland made its way into my heart. Everything was perfectly landscape, the staff never frowned and were always dressed to part in their cartoonist fashion. We farted around Downtown Disney, in search of shopping a grubbage. After a quick stop to Starbucks, we found ourselves in one of the many souvenir shops where Jordon bought a most appropriate goofy hat. I sprayed Martin and me down with sunblock and we were ready for our trek into the wonderful land of Disney.

Main Street

 A TT R A C T I O N S

1 Disneyland® Railroad was a neat experience- we rode it from Main Street to Tomorrowland to begin our journey. The conductors led us onto to the train just like in Polar Express.

Main Street Vehicles* presented by National Car Rental. (One-way transportation only)

2 Horseless Carriage Clydesdale horses at their best! I felt sorry for them in knowing how much weight they had to bear by carting around a trainful of people.

3 Fire Engine- a classic look of a fire truck, pretty vintage

4 Horse-Drawn Streetcars- Clydesdale horses at their best! I felt sorry for them in knowing how much weight they had to bear by carting around a trainful of people.

5 Omnibus- I don't remember this part

6 The Disney Gallery 7 The Disneyland® Story presenting Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln- Historic and informational, but kind of boring if you ask me! The cinema style presentation was impressive, but the creativity of the story was so-so.

8 Main Street Cinema- fabulous would be an understatement! Anyone who knows me, know I have a soft spot for the silver screen and being able to see all those old cartoons made my heart melt.

D I S N E Y D I N I N G

Carnation Café Table-service— Breakfast, fried pickles, burgers, salads, entrées, specialty cakes and pies. - didn't visit

Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor hosted by Dreyer’s™. - didn't visit

Refreshment Corner Hot dogs, chili and cold Coke. Hosted by Coca-Cola®. - didn't visit

Plaza Inn “Minnie & Friends— Breakfast in the Park,” hosted by Kellogg’s. Lunch and dinner featuring home-style favorites.

**a little pricey, but we ate more than out monies worth! A buffet- style eatery made it easy to overload on breakfast. This stuffed us all day long! The food was ordinary and nothing special. However, they had the best mickey waffles with banana fosters topping I had ever tasted and an omelet station that was out of this world. Not to mention, we didn't have to wait in lines to take pictures with any of the characters because they all visited us as we ate and took pictures with us. It's was truly the best way to start out the day!

Jolly Holiday Bakery Café Baked goods, sandwiches, salads and specialty drinks. - didn't visit

Tomorrowland

 Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage (Alternate experience) - was closed

53 Disneyland® Monorail looked amazing, yet a tad down trod

55 Disneyland® Railroad was a neat experience- we rode it from Main Street to Tomorrowland to begin our journey. The conductors led us onto to the train just like in Polar Express.

56 Innovations* with experiences presented by Honda, HP, Microsoft, SCE, Siemens, Taylor Morrison, Xbox and Yamaha Music. - didn't see

57 Space Mountain (Minimum height 40”/102 cm) - the first ride we rode. We were primarily in the dark with loads of whips, turns and drops that made my tummy fuzzy after such a large breakfast. I wasn't a fan of not being able to see and preparing myself for what was ahead. (My least favorite ride).

58 “Captain EO”- didn't see

59 Starcade- didn’t see

60 Star Tours—The Adventures Continue (Minimum height 40”/102 cm) - didn’t see

61 Astro Orbitor- didn’t see

62 Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters- didn’t see

D I S N E Y D I N I N G- We did not do any dining here

Tomorrowland Terrace Breakfast, sandwiches, burgers, salads, desserts and drinks.

The Spirit of Refreshment hosted by Coca-Cola®. - skipped

Redd Rockett’s Pizza Port Pizza, pasta and salads. - skipped

Mickey's Toontown

DISNEY DINING

Toontown Dining Hot dogs, salads, sandwiches, pizza and ice cream treats.

**We stopped here to wet out whistles- cold fountain soda drinks and bottled water** 

ATTRACTIONS

44 Disneyland® Railroad- was a neat experience- we rode it from Main Street to Tomorrowland to begin our journey. The conductors led us onto to the train just like in Polar Express.

45 Goofy’s Playhouse- didn't go inside, but saw from outside

46 Donald’s Boat- didn't go inside, but saw from outside

47 Gadget’s Go Coaster presented by Sparkle®. (Minimum height 35”/89 cm; - didn't ride

48 Chip ‘n Dale Treehouse- didn't see

49 Mickey’s House and Meet Mickey- Amazing!!! The attention to detail with every aspect of a home was adorable and mostly classic. I really enjoyed this- the only hold up was all the people in a small space

50 Minnie’s House- didn't go inside, but saw the outside

51 Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin- One of my Favorites! I loved this movie and being about to see the props was a delightful memory. Jordon and I got in one Lenny Cab, while Martin got in the other as we spun in circles and bumped into one another.

Mickey’s Toontown and select Fantasyland attractions may close early due to fireworks. Please visit an Information Center for operating hours. 

Fantasyland

A T T R A C T I O N S

Fantasy Faire

26 Royal Hall- didn't see

27 Royal Theatre (See Times Guide for show times)- skipped, but the theatre was huge and looked like it would be a wonderful place to sit and enjoy a show

28 Pinocchio’s Daring Journey- A slow motion picture ride through the dark was cute. It showed the dark side of Disney could be favored. 

29 Snow White’s Scary Adventures- didn't see

30 Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique- didn't see

31 Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough- didn't see

(Alternate experience)- didn't see

32 King Arthur Carrousel- this was HUGE! Probably the biggest carrousel I've ever seen.

33 Casey Jr. Circus Train- skipped, mostly for the little kiddies

34 Dumbo the Flying Elephant- skipped, mostly for the little kiddies

35 Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride- skipped, mostly for the little kiddies

36 Peter Pan’s Flight- skipped, mostly for the little kiddies

37 Mad Tea Party- skipped, those tea cups were darling to look at, but looking at them made my nausea go in overdrive!

38 Alice in Wonderland- didn't see

39 Pixie Hollow- didn't see

40 Matterhorn Bobsleds (Minimum height 42”/107 cm) - very fun ride! There was a mountain with "icy slopes" and it looked German themed.

41 Storybook Land Canal Boats (Closed during parades)

42 “it’s a small world “presented by SYLVANIA. - Small floating boat ride through a colorful view of the cultures of the world! They were adorable! One of the most memorable parts of the park and a must-see!

43 Fantasyland Theatre Opening Summer 2013 - skipped, but the theatre was huge and looked like it would be a wonderful place to sit and enjoy a show

D I S N E Y D I N I N G

Maurice’s Treats Sweet and savory twists, and Boysen Apple Freeze- skipped

Village Haus Restaurant hosted by Minute Maid®. Hamburgers, pizza and salads. - skipped

Troubador Tavern hosted by Dreyer’s™ Opening Summer 2013 . - skipped

Adventureland

A T R A C T I O N S

9 Enchanted Tiki Room presented by Dole®. (Continuous shows)

10 Jungle Cruise- The guides were a bit cheesey, the animals were fake, but the scenery was beautiful

11 Indiana Jones™ Adventure (Minimum height 46"/117 cm) - this ride reminded me of going 4-wheelin' or "muddin'". We climbed into a Jeep looking vehicle where it jerks and tugged us around an adventure. Very fun!

12 Tarzan’s Treehouse™*- by the time we got to this, we were at the end of our rope and had just finished riding Splash Mountain. We were wet and didn't feel like climbing up to this attraction.

D I S N E Y D I N I N G

Tiki Juice Bar hosted by Dole®. - This was a great snack shop. We all fueled up on water and fruit.

Bengal Barbecue Barbecue kabobs and coffee drinks. - skipped

Frontierland

A T T R A C T I O N S

19 Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island* - I think we briefly saw this from afar from the Mark Twain Riverboat cruise

20 The Golden Horseshoe Stage (See Times Guide for show times) - skipped, looked boring

21 Frontierland Shootin’ Exposition- Martin took his turn at the shootin' and

22 Mark Twain Riverboat* purely breathtaking! I had seen things like this from afar when I overlooked the Dolly Steamboat on Canyon Lake. However, this one was huge! So white and skinny, it led us on a guided cruise around the scenes of olden days on the river.

23 Sailing Ship Columbia* (Operates weekends and select seasons only) - since we went on a Tuesday, this was not open

24 Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Reopening Fall 2013 (Minimum height 40”/102 cm) - Jordon and I rode this solo; short but sweet

25 Big Thunder Ranch* hosted by Brawny®. - skipped

D I S N E Y D I N I N G

River Belle Terrace Entrée salads and carved-to-order sandwiches. - skipped

Stage Door Café Chicken, fish and mozzarella strips. - skipped

The Golden Horseshoe Chicken, fish, mozzarella strips, chili and tasty ice cream specialties. - skipped

Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante Mexican favorites and Costeña Grill specialties, soft drinks and desserts. - skipped

Big Thunder Ranch Barbecue Table-service— All-you-care-to-enjoy barbecue chicken and ribs with all the fixin’s-served family style - skipped

New Orleans Square

A T T R A C T I O N S

13 Pirates of the Caribbean- we have the opportunity the stroll on a lazy river sorts of ride through the adventures of a pirate lair; with a drop thrill once or twice

14 Disneyland® Railroad- was a neat experience- we rode it from Main Street to Tomorrowland to begin our journey. The conductors led us onto to the train just like in Polar Express.

15 Haunted Mansion- this attraction was sadly closed

D I S N E Y D I N I N G

Royal Street Veranda Chowder and gumbo in bread boules, New Orleans-style fritters, plus specialty coffees. - skipped

Blue Bayou Restaurant Table-service—Seafood, chicken and beef dinners, plus the famous Monte Cristo sandwich at lunch. - skipped

Café Orléans Table-service—Lunch and dinner, soups, salads, gourmet sandwiches and crepes. - skipped

French Market Restaurant French quarter chicken, jambalaya, Cajun meat­loaf, French dip, seasonal fish, shrimp pasta, hand tossed salads and desserts. - skipped

Critter Country

A TT R A C T I O N S

16 Splash Mountain (Minimum height 40"/102 cm) - known to be the biggest trill and attraction of the park. Of course, we took our ride on the 50ft. drop and had our picture taken- what a rush! And yes, we were soaked. Might I add, Martin's face was priceless.

17 Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes* (Operates weekends and select seasons only)- Who goes to Disneyland to work out?! Jordon convinced us to go on this and come to find out, it really wasn't that bad. I barely paddled, but maintained to tap my ore on the water to keep up an appearance. haha.

18 The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh- didn't go inside, but saw from outside

D I S N E Y D I N I N G

Harbour Galley Chowder, soup and chili in bread boules; entrée salads and drinks.- skipped

Hungry Bear Restaurant hosted by Dixie®. Burgers, chicken and salads.- skipped

Stink Tude- you can't win them all (enough said)

After leaving the park about 4pm, we went to the motel to freshen up for dinner. We ate at Bubba Gump Co. The service was horrible, the food took forever to meet us and my shrimp scampi was so enriched with lemon- it made my head ache and my stomach turn. Not to mention the bad vibes. By that time, we settled for an early retirement. Jordon and I discussed the possibility of going to the beach the next day. Martin and I were a bit disappointed that we didn't return to the park for the firework spectacular. I heard that part of the experience was the best thing one could see at Disneyland. The castle lights up and Mickey Mouse fights as in Fantasia. Since all of us didn't want to return, we watched the fireworks from the room again. Though disappointed, Martin was sweet enough to buy me some medication for my headache and nausea. Shortly after, I fell asleep.

I had originally planned to come back after the fireworks show and enjoy some nice, relaxing pool time.

Day 3: The no-so-happening Beach Day

We woke about 8am the next morning and decided catching breakfast and going home was the best option. Jordon mentioned he wasn't a beach guy the night before and we could sense he wasn't exactly looking forward to going so we caught breakfast at IHOP and proceeded home. I was so exhausted, I slept half the way home, waking every now and then. We made it home about 3:30p- straight through. 

The puppies were excited to see us! We missed them, but they enjoyed hanging out with Kristie and Ernest during our trip.

We ended the night with casino time at Fort McDowell Casino with Kristie and Ernest! We treated them to an All-You-Can-Eat Crab Buffet and I happened to have a Birthday Free Play credit of $5. I won $30, but dispersed it among Ernest, Kristie and I so we could all have some fun. I was hopeful. All in all- it was a great night and we drove them home to Tucson the next day.

So that was the events of my first Disneyland experience. Martin and I have already starting plotting our next trip to experience more of what we missed.

That is all for now! Peace <3

Road Trippin' n' Changes

I realize my lack of visits lately and it has brought me back in time to my last school break! Shhesh... talk about neglect~ quite honestly, the last of time (not motivation) is sadly due to what consumes my life these days: SCHOOL! However, now that I find myself on break again, I am happy to get right back to it and update you all on my adventures!

Tombstone and Tucson mini-trip

Like most breaks, we had the itch to run away but lacked the fundage to venture off into another state. Therefore, we sat down and planned out a few in-state road trip options of places to explore. Where to go? North or South? We decided on the Tombstone and Tucson weekender mini-trip. The first day, we took the peaceful stretch from Tempe to Tucson to our first destination- Casino Del Sol. We gassed up, ate breakfast, set my feet on the dash and we were off into the sunrise. The desert seemed to go on what seemed like forever. Unfortunately, so did the pollution. So much that even the surrounding mountains were invisible. Casino Del Sol was unlike any I had ever been to. The huge casino invited us in with free play, a complementary trip to the buffet and indoor scenery that was just amazing. The scenery reminded me of a casino I had been to in Las Vegas. The roof was that of a sky and the surrounding resembled a European Village. So gorgeous. The food was a 6/10. Next destination: Desert Diamond Casino. On the way, I noticed the road signs converting from miles to kilometers. Boy said it was because we were getting closer to the Mexican border the further South we went. Kind of interesting. We arrived at the casino and while they offered a free play amount for new members, the casino was small and not nearly impressive as Casino Del Sol. Once we burned off our free play, we checked into our motel for the night. It was a bit chilly, but that didn't stop us from taking a dip into the motel pool. It was my idea and I bravely trudged through the frigid waters, while Boy took his sweet time. After much convincing, he jumped in and shock set in. Furthermore, we began to feel awkward as unattended children were staring at us and invited themselves to come into the pool area parentless. All the while, their parent carelessly propped their room door open and could be visually seen from the pool area. That pretty much concluded our 10 minute swim. It was just enough to relax us and let us slip away into a sound night’s sleep. The next morning, we woke up and decided on Waffle House for breakfast. I had a memorable childhood experience at one as a child. When nursing my mother back to health from an illness she had as a truck driver, I fed her by walking to a nearby Waffle House and buying her soup. I must've been about 8 or 9 at the time. At any rate, it was Boy's first time. We gorded out on a decently priced and very filling breakfast. Not to mention, their pecan waffles were AMAZING! We continued our journey onto Tombstone, AZ. The drive was serene. We stopped at a random gun shop and herbalist shop along the way. Tombstone was nothing short of breathtaking. I always have had an appreciation for history and a fascination with ghost towns in Arizona. Naturally, we had to visit the Bird Cage Theatre, Big Nose Kate's Saloon, the old courthouse, O.K. Corral, and various other attractions to include a fudge shop with a woman who shared stories of her journey to Arizona, an old-fashioned photo shop where we had our picture taken and another gun shop but this was run by a gossiping veteran who let cats overrun his shop, leaving it to smell of urine and feces. By that time, we were more than ready to return to the valley. My car was in the shop and we were expected to retrieve it by the days end. Loads of moola later, the shark was back on the road after a cigarette butt lodges the carb and make her sleep on the freeway. A positive of her being in the shop- she got a whole bunch of other nooks n crannies worked out that would make her more reliable.

Tragic Semester

This semester was anything but sweet- more like sour! It was the first semester I took on 5 classes and most of them were nursing graded (77% or above to pass). We lost one of our members by class failures in semester 3, he had to be held back and the other was held back mid-semester by other personal reasons. The group divided. There was a big, drawn out event that happened in the beginning that led to a lot of feelings hurt and hard feelings. You find out who your friends are when it seems like everyone deserts you. The whole situation makes me very sad because I started the "group" with the best of intentions, being that it was a great support system and it got turned into a terrible situation. Needless to say, all the group but 5 people stopped talking to me and isolated me along with anyone who had any association with me. It made for a very uncomfortable semester. It felt like a huge elephant in the room no one cared to address. The people that stuck by me formed a nice study group. We met twice a week (sometimes more) at a local coffee shop known by the Extreme Bean or my casa and studied, studied, studied. We always managed to have a good time and I found it to be very beneficial. Extreme Bean is a local spot filled with local art work- such a fun lil place! In the end, we laughed and stressed together until the very end. I am sad to report that I failed the class I struggled with the most- Pathophysiology (as did more than 50% of the class). A few fully passed all their classes. I completed the semester with 2A's, 1B, 1C, and 1D. A "D" is not acceptable for nursing classes and therefore, I failed and must repeat the course. Fortunately, the class is not part of the "fail 2 and you're out" deal. However, it will just cost me more out of pocket now, possibly land me into a part time gig for the next semester and I'll graduate in the spring of 2016 now. Shit happens, what can I say? At least I'm not alone.

Yayyyyy officially 1/2 way through!

Changes in the Home

Our roommates decided they needed to move shortly after I re-signed the new lease for the year. Martin and I talked about it and decided on staying in our beloved townhome. This meant manning all bills on our own and coming up with $500 extra a month to make ends meet. We have managed nicely so far. Much better than expected. The first thing we did was cash in on our free carpet cleaning reward from the rental company for re-upping the contract. The place transformed. Martin set up his "man-cave" in the vacated bedroom and I decorated both bathrooms. We kept everything as it was upstairs and we resurrected the "home" through our cleaning extravaganza. The vibe is quieter... too quiet at times, but I'm adjusting. The puppies are always here so I don't get lonely.

Eat Clean, Feel Better

We have actively continued on our farmer’s market journey in eating healthier and helping us lead better lives. Noted, we aren't perfect, but we are trying. I feel a lot better since we have started making these changes. I just need to kick the soda! On another note, I terribly miss yoga! Yoga was a brief, but most effective release from the stress that challenged me daily. After a session, I felt rejuvenated and was in the very best of thoughts about starting my day and facing challenges in a new light. My body felt challenged, but it felt gooood. I look forward to the day when I can enjoy this activity again.

Documentaries & TV:

Television has become sorts of a luxury since starting school. There is often no time for anything but reading, assignments, writing papers, studying for exams&quizzes, and all other reasons for school. So when I get a chance to watch something on television, it tends to serve a purpose. I managed to watch a couple documentaries and complete two seasons of a series I've come to be fond of. The first documentary is titled, Forks over Knives. It was recommended by the check-out girl at the farmers market. It talks about the benefits of living through a plant-based diet. A+. The second documentary regards the tiny house movement. It was fun to learn about many of people across America who have come to live simply and build or purchase a home within their means, even if it is under 500 sq. ft. There is something to be admired about their determination and quest for a simple life. Living simply is something that has been a work in progress over the last three years and a personal goal of mine to achieve greater heights in. Since discovering tips and developing new habits in achieving this goal, I have felt the most inner happiness and peace within myself that I have ever felt.

Last, I started and completes two whole seasons of the PBS series "Call the Midwife" during the beginning of my break from school this time around. It was a wonderful series following a young nurse midwife during her experiences through an English nun establishment in the late 50's and early 60's. Those of you who know me, know I love the WW2/post WW2 era and also have a passion for a future in being a nurse midwife. Needless to say, this series was completely up my alley and extremely addicting for me. Simple pleasures for a girl who makes television her least priority. Hints why I have no cable television.

Happy 29th/first day of vacation!!

Did I mention this small detail- I'M OLD! I turned 29 years young on Friday, August 15th! This was also the first day of my vacation- which was a plus. I purchased cupcakes from my favorite local cupcake spot in town the night prior and was greeted at midnight by my Boy. He had to work. Therefore, at 10AM, my mother, Mike and Jordon met me at the house and we headed out for brunch at Liberty Market in Gilbert, AZ. I was free- they give you a $10 credit toward any item of your choice on your birthday. We enjoyed each other’s company as we talked about health. It was so hot outdoors, we settled on playing a few games of pool at what was formerly named Lazy Q. I used to practically live at this pool hall as a teenager and we had many memories there. I felt good to cut loose with the jukebox and shoot a few games. We played in teams. My sister and the baby came and we proceeded to have lunch at Joes BBQ (a sister company to Liberty Market and also offered a free birthday $10 credit toward any meal). Once we ate and caught up with my sister, I packed up half for the Boy and rolled out stuffed. By that time, Martin was home and my mom and Mike headed home. Jordon, Martin and I headed out to a movie at Tempe Marketplace: Expendables 3. Jordon surprised me with buying me Converse for my present. Honestly, the presence of those closest to me was gift enough and all I really wanted for my birthday this year. The shoes were very kind and thoughtful though- I wore my old ones down to the sole, so I needed them. I was truly grateful. Jordon left after that and Martin and I enjoyed the cupcakes I bought the night prior before finishing the movie, Transcendence. I took the weekend off, which was a nice break. Martin worked, Friday and Saturday, but we were able to enjoy a Lazy Sunday as we watched the movie, Divergent and I tried out some new recipes.

Jordon

The best part about being on break, aside from time with Boy, is time with my bestie! Since putting in his notice with his current job, he is on a 2 week vacation! He spent allll day with me on my birthday, had lunch with me on Monday and spent the day with me today too! It's nice to spend time with him. I am so happy he chose to buy a home so close to us. He and Martin get along perfectly, which is also very important to me. We are all set to go on vacation next week- can't wait!

Break time Get-a-Way: Disneyland Bound

I have NEVER been to Disneyland and can I even begin to tell you how ecstatic I am to be going?! Here are our plans. I'll write when we return!

Day 1: Road Trip & BBQ; Day 2: Disneyland & Pool Time; Day 3: Beach

Babies: The Best for Last

There are plans for our future. There aren't many beans to spill as of yet. However, it is in the works. We aren't getting any younger and we simply cannot see our future without a child (or children) in it. There were concerns we had that needed to be addressed by a specialist, so we decided to see an OB/GYN to begin the family planning process! Yes, you read right! We are planning on going through the testing needed to possibly receive some answers to the questions we have. A couple imaging tests for me and a swimmers test for him. This has to wait until the beginning of my next cycle (next month). That'll give us time to save as the procedures are not cheap by any means. In the meantime, I was instructed to begin taking vitamins with folic acid to reduce the chances of neural tube defects in the chances that we conceive. I have already been adjusting my diet for other reasons, so that isn't so much a challenge at this time. We have also been counting ovulation cycles and all the jazz that goes along with the typical planning shenanigans. It is all very nerve racking. We decided when the time comes, we will carry out the pregnancy until I need to possibly take a semester off. Either way, life is happening. We are excited and looking forward to the next step in our journey together.

That's all for now. Peace <3

NYC Vacation, School, Life Goals and Easter at a Glance

February 2014 NYC Trip

Friday: Day 1 Mom and Mike dropped us off to the airport in plenty of time to get through security and the first flight jitters to set in for Martin. A co-worker gave him bracelets to reduce changes of nausea along with the Dramamine I had given him for the same reasons. Since we were early and had boarded within the first group, were lucky to have seats together. Southwest Airlines does not have fixed seating so it's a gamble if you get to sit with your loved ones and I was concerned for first. Once the flight took off and we were in the air, Martins fears subsided and he began looking out the windows and looking down at the sights below. Colorado was covered in snow and it was quite cold when we landed. We had a layover there, but never departed the aircraft. It felt nice to stretch our legs and go potty without bumping into elbows. For the second half of the flight, we distracted ourselves with iPod movies: Knocked Up and Transformers. Once we landed in LaGuardia, the sensation came over me and memory served me as if I had just left New York. I navigated us through the airport and onto the taxi line. We were Brooklyn Bound... a half hour drive. The transition was easy. The drive on the way to our place in Brooklyn was scenic and reminded me of all the reason of why I left. It was run-down, dirty and COLD. We had our jackets and snow boots on with our sweats to save packing space and good thing too- we needed it. I used Air BnB to book a room with a host during our stay. We arrived to the stoop where a blue haired, young lady greeted us and welcomed us into her home. The room was 3 flights upstairs with no elevator. Once we got up stairs, she showed us to our room and gave us a tour of the detached apartment where we would have bathroom and kitchen privileges. She had kitties that weren't very friendly and a peculiar smell about her apartment. She was an artist and enjoyed a naturalistic vegan lifestyle. In her apartment were house plants and various musical instruments. I found her eccentric and interesting. We stayed to ourselves mostly and only asked her questions if necessary. The room we stayed in was put together with the best of her ability and not very upgraded. Our bedspread was homemade and the steam (heater) was very finicky. The bed was very comfortable though and she thoughtfully left us a guitar for entertainment. Once we got settled, we walked to the subway station on Dekalb, bought our weekly unlimited passes and away we went to experience the town. Martin was amazed on the very thought of being in the subway- he looked like a ninja turtle in his big puffer jacket, so wild eyed and full of excitement. I took him through Chinatown onto Little Italy where we ate a mixed pasta dinner with pasta figol at La Mela's. We proceeded to Fererra for dessert and we were stuffed! Afterward, we went to see the night sights of Times Square. There was a Polish protest in regards to the Olympics. We sat on the stairwell below the TV screens smack dab in the middle and gazed for a while; reading the billboards and viewing the bright lights of the tall buildings. Pretty amazing. He couldn't get enough so we ventured slightly uptown to visit the Time Magazine and NBC buildings along with the famed Radio City Music Hall in Rockefeller Center including the ice ring where the Christmas Tree Lighting usually takes place around Christmas time. By that time, we were pretty tired so we went back to our room. With a pit stop to White Castle on the way, of course. We slept horribly, the pilot blew out in the steam (heater) in our room leaving it to be frigid all night long.

Saturday: Day 2 We woke up bright in early, today was our sightseeing day! We set out to the Empire State Building to meet our Groupon bus tour, only to discover the company went out of business and our passes were no good. Plan B- Starbucks to warm our souls and a few minutes to map out where he wanted to go... Trini the tour guide was on the go! We headed to Central Park where we experienced the Dutch Cottage, Strawberry Fields and the John Lennon memorial (alot smaller than 'imagined'), the famous tree-lined walkway outlined by snow covered benches, the Dutch visiting center, carousel, running paths, horse drawn carriages and little friendly squirrels to accompany us along our long walk through the park. Second, we mozied around Grand Central Station. I couldn't help but imagine where people might go and who had been standing in the same room at any given point in history. Next, Battery Park, Ellis island and the Statue of Liberty- the ferry was freezing! There were even chunks of ice floating in the water below. Martin experienced Nathans Hot dogs here. Then, we walked a couple blocks to bull statue near Wall Street in the financial district and onto the 9/11 Memorial Site. To tie off the day, we ended up in Times Square. Martin enjoyed the lights so much the night before, we had to go back for a second lookzie. We walked into Ellen's Starlight Diner and regretfully wound up eating a meal at Applebee's in Time Square (doubled the price from home). By that time, we had pretty much checked off all the places Martin had on the sightseeing to-do list and was left with no other ideas of things to keep us entertained. The dinner experience at Applebees ruined Martins good spirits and he was getting homesick and ready to go home to Arizona. We settled on a movie- we paid $18 each to see a 3D movie of Frankenstein in Time Square! It was outrageously priced. Afterward, we headed back to Brooklyn to catch some sleep. The steam (heater) was acting up again- only this time it was up so high, we were miserably sweating.

Sunday: Day 3 After such a busy sightseeing day on Day 2, we indulgently slept in. It felt so refreshing to take our time. I had pre-planned a theatre day today. We jumped on the subway (which was mostly navigated by Martin at this point) and we were theatre district bound, blocks from Times Square. Famished was the word- NYC style pizza to the rescue and might I add- it was the best $10 I spent! YUM!!! Fast and right around the corner from the theatre. The Broadway production we chose to see was Wicked. The seating we had was fabulous- 9 rows from the stage in orchestra seating and off to the right. We saw everything so clearly and heard everything perfectly. It was a absolute amazing experience. The actors were talented and had great stage presence. The theatre looked on the small side, but the lobby was tastefully decorated. Martin bought us souvenir cups to remember the day. I made dinner plans with my dear friend, Lois, and she showed us this interesting Cuban/ Puerto Rican eatery in Uptown that looked like a club environment- it was very loud and dark and resembled a party atmosphere. We had appetizers there and decided to finish our dinner out at a Mexican restaurant across the street. Mind you- East Coast version of Mexican food is very different than the West Coast. However, the conversation was priceless as we enjoyed fresh made guacamole made right in front of us. The walk to the train was pretty- it started snowing. This was the only snow downfall we experienced the whole trip. After the dinner date, it was late and we went back to the room for the last night. We (when I say 'we' I mean 'I') packed and went to bed early because we had to be up so early for the car I reserved to take us to the airport. We happily found a happy medium with the steam (heater) and left the window open while we slept. The heat and the cool air made for a perfect combo.

Monday: Day 4 The next morning, there was no mystery. Everything had been packed and prepared the night before, clothes were laid out and nothing was left behind. I left my unlimited MTA card along with the room keys for the host to use as I did not have anymore use for it and she was extremely grateful. We departed early that morning and arrive at the airport in a timely manner to enjoy breakfast at a cafe and get through security safely. Homeward Bound! We sat next to each other and swapped movies for the return flight. Once we landed, a feeling to excitement filled our hearts as we looked at each others and said, "home, sweet home". We couldn't find a ride, so we took a cab due to lack of energy to ride transit. The pups and roomies were happy to see us and we were happy to be HOME. All in all- it was a great trip and an unforgettable experience we had the opportunity to share together.

End of Semester Three!

This semester was unlike to first two by far. I felt myself, not giving up, but a little less motivated. As bad as that sounds, I wasn't alone. My group of classmates seemed to have the same welcome back blues after the glorious 3-week break we had for the holidays. Something about it- I just couldn't get "it" together. Although I was never failing or at risk of failing, I felt my personal study goals lack and procrastination set in. I stopped taking the lightrail and driving or carpooling, leading to less reading time and more personal time to slack off. Reasons? Perhaps my class load increase, mid semester instructor switch in human growth & development, disorganization via school, generalized stress. This semester, the courses I had were statistics, human growth & development, nutrition and decision making. Nutrition and human growth & development were nursing graded courses, meaning I needed a 77% or above to pass the course. It helped to have a study group every Wednesday with my Keep Calm school fam bam. I am truly grateful and blessed to have such a great group for support throughout this experience. I have learned so much through them and have enjoyed knowing them more this semester. Chere' was our new addition this semester :) The teachers I had for nutrition and human growth & development will not be back next semester as they are leaving Brookline College for other opportunities. Additionally, I will not have two of the other teachers that have followed me since the beginning of the program next semester. I ended to semester earning three A's and a single B. This was the first B I have received since the beginning of this journey. It made me sad to break my A streak, but satisfying nonetheless. At the end of semester one, Emily got the group together and had dinner at Kabuki in Tempe Marketplace- minus a few people. The end of semester 2 get-together fizzled out. However, Emily rounded us all together once again (same place/location) and I am happy to say, it was our biggest turnout yet- minus about 3 people. This time some of us brought our other halves and it was a night to remember. Chere' got burned, Sarah got drunk and chewed out the management, we all ate, drank, toasted, snapped photos and got to know our counterparts. After dinner, a few went home and the rest of us went to Dave n Busters to have a few celebration drinks and dance. When we got there, they were selling jell-o shots in syringes (how appropriate, right!?)! Martin also bought a couple beer towers. It was perfect... there was music and everyone had a good time. Pictures were pretty epic too.

Martin Going to School

Martin has decided to take the plunge and go to nursing school! Not only has he decided to go back to school, he wishes to take the same nursing program I am in right now! Although we can't afford for him to go to a private college at the same time, he will take one class per semester until I graduate. This will not only cut down tuition costs, but it will also give him time to re-develop his study habits and get his feet wet before he takes on the big challenge of an accelerated Bachelors of Nursing program. I hope he can get together and form similar experiences as I have. This will be positive for our personal life and his career as well. Options will be his for the taking and opportunities will be knocking on his door. I am so proud and excited for him. His estimated time of admission will be January 2016.

Budget

Budgeting relieves alot of anxiety for me. Having a plan and knowing what to plan for and how I am going to do it not only makes me work harder to achieve it, but makes me have a better outlook on life. Knowing I have goals, dreams and aspirations makes me a better person. I started to really freak myself out earlier in the semester when I looked at the future schedule and realized I won't be able to work full-time throughout the nursing program. I started to ask myself worrying questions- what am I going to do? How am I going to pay for everything? How is everything going to be kept afloat? -Martin is only one person. So here's what I did- I made a budgeting plan to pull us out of debt completely by the time we are 35. Debt to income ratio. I looked at the credit report and any/all debt we had to include loans: personal, car and school, credit cards, line of credit, etc. Then, I looked at the income is being made and what would have to made to achieve payoff dates and deadlines. This allowed me to have a better understanding of how much work is needed to accomplish the grand plan. Our budget also goes hand-in-hand with some of the other life goals we previously set for ourselves. It helps us to eat healthier by shopping the farmer market and basing our diet off of that with limited meat additions. Being debt-free means alot to me and knowing I can provide a better future for my loved ones by doing so fills my heart with a kind of joy no one could take away.

Plans

  Once the debt is paid off, I plan on having a hefty down payment for a home in Globe-Miami, Arizona. Maybe even have enough to buy in cash- no mortgage. As mentioned in previous posts, I have a desire to own a home in this small, antique, mining town. It's Martin's hometown and we can easily retire there. Once Martin graduates nursing school and has a year worth of experience, we plan to be travel nurses in the Valley with occasional travel assignments out-of-state. If all goes well, our apartment will be paid for with our travel assignment and we will be able to pay on our home if we have a mortgage. Plus side, I can do this all while working on my MSN online!

Easter at Home

I unexpectedly had to take Easter off due to illness the night before. However, Martin's family was over and we enjoyed some family time with his side of the family. The kids colored and hunted for eggs, made & ate a family BBQ dinner, kicked back poolside and enjoyed home movies with everyone. While I couldn't be with my side of the family, I messaged them and let them know I was thinking of them and they were loved and cared about. I bought my mom her Robin Eggs (our tradition). It was truly the best relaxing day I had in a long time. Just what I needed. Peace