Day 3 Nicaragua

Hola!!! Day 3…Nicaragua….today we went to a small village outside of Nicaragua and ran a health clinic. We took vitals and gave out medications to help the local residents. We also gave all the children stuffed animals and candy!!

Seriously…how cute!!!!!

We made a home visit to a gentleman that has recently become a widow and has been feeling sick. This is the gated entrance to his home. Almost everyone that has a home has barbed wire and a large gate around it. 

This is just a view looking down the street in his neighborhood.

This is a view looking up the street.



As a thank you for the home visit; the gentleman’s daughter made everyone an amazing fruit salad cup using the fruits from their yard. You can see my mom holding hers in the picture below. It was delicious!

We stopped at the store again and replenished our supply of candy, toys and medicine!

Then we returned to Seeds of Hope and each one of us took a turn and talked to the kids about why we wanted to be a nurse and how they should work hard in life and they can be whatever they choose to be. This is how we found the kids when we arrived…lol!!!

As you can see here, my mom went first…

Here’s a closer view…

And then I went ( don’t have a picture of me) and then Jeremy … he is in my nursing class.

And then Mr. Collins went. And the Shawne went.

We also demonstrated basic first aid and what to to help if you ever see an accident or injury in public. The kids enjoyed listening to Shawne’s heart with the stethoscope.

Afterwards we returned to the hotel and realized that the babies had left the pot nest…here is Jeremy sitting next to one of the newly fledged babies (see him on the window ledge)?

Closer view…


In the evening we went for a nightcap at Q’tal. The others, mom included, wanted to try the local rum called Flor de Cana. They all had a shot and beer…I had tea!! Lol

Here’s the cheers…

We watched as this dog waited patiently for any scraps. Animals without owners are ALL over Nicaragua. It is heartbreaking…very hungry dogs and cats. Also cows and horses are tied to the roadside and sometimes just left wandering to survive on their own. Some children too.

She slipped him a little something when she was finished…melted my heart!!

For dinner we ate at Pan De Vita in Granada. The restaurant was just a few blocks down from our hotel and we heard they had filtered water so it was safe for Americans to drink. The food was delicious!! When we first arrived we saw a couple at a table next to us getting their food. It looked delicious so we politely asked what they were eating. We ended up chatting with them and found out they were from McKeesport, PA which is a suburb of Pittsburgh! Turns out they were neighbors with us all until they retired and they now live full time in Nicaragua. Meet Barb and Ralph!!! Such a small world!! This picture around the table starting in the front…my teacher in the brown shirt, mom, me, Ralph, Barb, Jeremy, and Shawne.

I hope you all are shaving a phenomenal week! Sending so many hugs and so much love!!

Northpark Lounge

In Pittsburgh, we have a restaurant chain called Northpark Lounge. They have really good bar food and big salads and soups. It’s a chain so there are five locations around Pittsburgh. 

This location near McKnight Road did something really neat when Covid started! They created a whole outdoor, socially distant dining experience!! So you know we had to go check it out!!!

Last week I met up with two girlfriends of mine. We used to do all kinds of volunteer work together for CysticFibrosis but alas, due to Covid, we haven’t had any fundraisers to volunteer at this year. We have a meeting about once a month for dinners just to keep in touch. Here is the view of the greenhouses from the parking lot. Sooo cute!

There is between 8 and 10 of these little green houses outside of the building. There’s a picnic table inside each greenhouse so your little group is socially distance from everyone else. They’re cleaned every time someone new moves into them. They also have a 90 minute time limit to keep people from sitting in them for excessive length of time and not allowing others a chance to dine there. Along with the houses, They have also set up a ton of other picnic tables and chairs outside of the restaurants there are many options to eat outside there.

I should have taken a picture of our food because it looked and tasted amazing!  We all got very different things but they were all delicious!

And here we are!!! As you can see my weight has skyrocketed during Covid but I am working on getting it under control ASAP. At least it is headed in the right direction now. Ugh-I think it is officially a lifelong battle! Ha! Ha!

If you’re in the Pittsburgh area you should definitely check this out. It’s a lot of fun and a great way stay safe while eating out!

So, I am trying to stay positive and also trying to stay busy and keep up with friends. I have a few interviews scheduled and I will definitely keep you guys up-to-date on what happens.

I’m so happy to be back with you all in blogging again! Hugs to each and everyone of you and stay safe out there!

Home Work

Today I am joining in with Tuesday 4 Meme...

Hosted by Ann! No, not me...a different Ann! HA!

Welcome to another Tuesday 4 invented by Toni Taddeo and kept in memory of her. Keeping a home is what this week's topic is all about.

If you want to join in...copy and answer the questions in a post of your own and jump over to Ann's blog and link up! Hope to see you there!!!

Here we go...

1. Are you an impulse buyer or do you weigh the value/cost/ necessity before you buy?

I never used to be an impulse buyer but Amazon has totally spoiled me! Since you can return anything you purchase there; I find myself buying daily! I need to get a check on this soon. I am not spending a lot but the free shipping and quick delivery reels me in! I get everything from batteries to piggy bank plugs there! HA! Amazon has everything - plus two day delivery and free shipping! WOW! Again, I don't spend a lot but I spend often! I love coming home to those smiling faces on my porch!!! HA HA!

2. What do you really resent having to pay for? 

I get frustrated every year when I pay to get my car inspected. I live in PA and we HAVE to have our cars inspected yearly. The rest of my family loves in Ohio and they do not. I hate paying it every year but I just keep telling myself "At least I know my car is safe for the road".  Also, Pennsylvania has a lot of taxes on gas. When I visit my family, their gas is always at least 50 cents cheaper per gallon. This frustrates me to no end!!! Oh well, I love my state and don't plan to move so it must not be that bad, right??





 3. Do you have favorite brands of household cleaners, detergents, soaps? Can you tell us why you like them? 

My sister and sister-in-law turned me onto Norwex. And no, I do not make any money when you click links on this page and no one I know sells this! HA HA!  I just love them! They are cleaning cloths that don't require any chemicals...just water! I love mine!  I save a lot of money not having to buy cleaning products although I do use Mr. Clean erasers for anything that is tough to remove! I swear those things clean ANYTHING!!!  

4. What is a typical day of housekeeping for you?
I love my Shark robot vacuum!!! I tell it to start vacuuming everyday when I get home from work. Well, actually, I tell Alexa to start it! HA HA!  I do most of my cleaning on weekends though. I vacuum and remove cat hair daily and everything else happens on the weekends. I use Norwex cloths for all my cleaning so I do not use any products except on the toilet. In my toilet I use those wands to clean it. You can read about Norwex here if you are interested. It works out well because I only have a two bedroom condo so cleaning is pretty quick and easy!!! Yay!

Now I am off to read about your cleaning habits!!!! Have a great Tuesday and thanks Ann for hosting!!!

HUGS to everyone!

Just a random Tuesday

Good morning everyone and happy Tuesday!

I am traveling for work this week and so far, nothing exciting to post! Fingers crossed something exciting happens ONE DAY this week!

I am definitely hitting a meeting tonight after work so if nothing else, I will make some new friends!! YAY!

So, today I will leave you with my inspirational posts so far this week from my Instagram...I try to keep it positive and happy there! HA HA!

Always remember...

Perfection!!! 

Words to live by...

And the inspiration that this too will pass... 

A newscaster in the Pittsburgh area posted this picture yesterday.  If you are not from Pittsburgh you probably will not think this costume is funny or cute. We love our chipped chopped ham in Pittsburgh and Isaly's is a Pittsburgh original!!! Sooo cute...lunch meat for Halloween! This just might be my costume for next year I love it so much!! Although, I will definitely LIE about my weight! HA HA!

I hope you are all having a fantastic week! I am off to catch up on your posts!

HUGS TO YOU ALL!

What are you for Halloween this year? If not you, what are your kids dressing up as? Do you like Halloween parties? Do you go to Halloween parties? Have you ever heard of chipped chopped ham? What is a food you have in your town that we should know about and taste?!?!

A Visit to Phipps Conservancy and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh

Good morning and happy Monday to everyone!

I hope everyone had a great weekend!

Mine consisted of hanging out at home and snuggling with my cats and then a few visits with friends!!!

There is nothing better than that!!!!

On Friday night I met up with of my very favorite friends to visit a Pittsburgh attraction!! In all the years I have lived here in Pittsburgh, there are a bunch of attractions that my friends or myself have never been to. We have made a plan to get to all of these places over the next few months and I am so excited!!! 

The first place on our list is Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens!  My friends have been there but I had not. We learned that it was the annual orchid display so we made a date for Friday night!

When I arrived, I parked in the middle island outside the venue (the parking is free there and very convenient).  This is Phipps from the outside. We met in the lobby and ate at the restaurant there in Phipps. It is all very delicious food. I had the salmon salad and it was amazing!

Then we walked through the venue! There were soooo many beautiful orchids!!!

We loved these little hanging globes!!! As we were discussing how we could recreate these; a woman that worked there came up to us and explained how to make our own (I am going to try it and use it as a future post). She also offered to walk with us as a "tour guide". It was great! She was soooo knowledgeable about every plant and orchid! She was lovely!!! 

A super cool plant that looks like a turtle - what?!?!

This photo is a photo of the oldest plant at Phipps!!! It was brought in 1893!!! It is a type of palm tree that was purchased at the World's Fair that year and was the first plant at Phipps!!! So cool!!!!

And this is that same plant looking upwards!!! Such amazing history!!!

This is a tiny replica (with a train running around it) of the original Phipps

I can not live with this tree in my life!!! Ahhhhhh...

Bananas!!!! I saw one of the in the wild in Hawaii!!! Our "tour guide" explained that it only takes 18 months for a shoot to turn into this size banana tree!!! If you live in warm climate- get yourself a banana tree - they grow fruit quickly!!!

I had to take a picture of this!!! I want a clipping from this tree and I want to try to grow it indoors at home! We ate these in Hawaii right off of a tree when we were ziplining and they are so yummy!!!  The "tour guide" sadi I should call and ask for one...I am going to give it a shot!!! PS - I keep saying "tour guide" because I unfortunately can not remember her name!!

This is jasmine...it smelled awesome!!!

More orchids...I loved these striped ones!!!

Such cute displays everywhere - even hanging above all over!!!

This is the main lobby after you enter the gardens...this is our little group (L to R...Me, Carol, our new friend and tour guide and Kathy) ...Please excuse this awful picture of me!! Goodness I need to lose this extra weight!! UGH!

Beautiful...

This gentleman donated and dedicated an entire room to his daughter that is there  all year round and they just happen the make the best chocolate in the world - Sarris Candies!!!!

 Nature is so cool...

 A cute little bonsai tree that grows oranges!!!

As we were leaving I got this shot of the building at night - cool, hugh?

It was a great night with such good friends!! I cannot wait for our next adventure!!!

Have a great day!

What is your favorite flower? How was your weekend? What is your favorite candy?