Schools Out For Summer!!

Hi everyone! I’m crawling my way out of a bit of a blogging funk. I try so hard to only post positive things and it was a pretty crazy, stressful, sad beginning to 2022. 

It was a pretty stressful semester in nursing school and my last post here in blog land was when I had to put my precious Nermal to sleep. I have to say both have been pretty rough. I think of Nermal daily and miss him daily. He was that cat that was on top of me snuggling every waking hour I was home. But I know he’s in a better place now and I definitely did the right thing for him.  Now no cat snuggles me… my remaining cats are more standoffish …I keep hoping that one day one of them is going to step up and start snuggling me… Ha ha! Fingers crossed!! Below is my sweet Nermie…

My clinical group the past semester was awesome! I had a great instructor and the best clinical classmates ever!!!! Here they are leaving our final clinical of the semester … me in the front, teacher in the fuzzy white jacket, Mable and Katie students like me!!! 

Missing from the Picture above is Caitlyn. She was my clinical bestie!!!  She found out she was pregnant prior to the start of the semester and went into labor two weeks before the end of the semester. Talk about a crazy semester of nursing school. Needless to say, she missed the final clinical week and has to finish up in the summer but here’s a picture of her, her husband and her new baby boy Maverick!!! Yay!!! 

As you can see below I finished with a 3.6 GPA for this semester so I will be on the Dean’s list! Yippee! I was hoping for straight A’s but I’m also very happy with my 3.6! If you look at my grades below; at least I’m trending upwards… Ha ha!

So the great news is I’m off school for summer! My final semester will be fall 2022 and then I will officially graduate from nursing school with my degree. Next step after that is to pass the NCLEX and get a real job again!

I will be working as a CNA at a local hospital in my area for the summer in the Med-Surg area. I am planning to work a few days a week and have my weekends off for lake visits with my parents.

One really awesome bit of news is that I will be heading to Nicaragua in the next few days. My mother and I will be going with my professor and a few other students on a nursing trip. We will be staying in Granada Nicaragua and traveling to remote villages each day to distribute medical supplies and to perform  standard first aid for the villagers. I am so excited as we’ve been planning this for so many months… It’s truly going to be a life experience. This made me realize I need to get back into blogging again! I’ve got to share this amazing experience with as many people as possible.

If you’re on my Instagram, then you know that I set up Venmo for people to donate. If you are looking for a great cause you can donate using my Venmo below and we will use ALL the monies to go directly toward medicine and medical supplies for the villagers. I will be blogging everything that we purchase so that you will be able to see everything that your donation went toward.  Apparently they are in dire need for prenatal vitamins and basic medicinal supplies.

So, that’s my update! I will be posting every night, if possible, from the hotel. I would love it if you follow my journey!! 

Sending so much love and so many hugs to everyone out there!!

Again, sorry for the long blogging break I think I am finally ready to come out of my shell again. It won’t be long and you will be begging me to take another break!!! Haha!!!

Have a spectacular day!!!

Hugs to everyone!!!

Sugarcreek Ohio Trip

A few weeks ago my friend and myself rented a house on VRBO in Sugarcreek, Ohio for the weekend. My friend Laura had never been there and is intrigued by the Amish lifestyle. 

 

This is a picture of the road trip there. It is only about two hours from my house.  Laura had to work Friday so she worked while I drove! LOL!

 

 

Here is the kitchen of the cabin we stayed at. It was called "Slice of Heaven" in Sugarcreek, Ohio if anyone is looking for a place to rent. We got one side of the cabin for ourselves and there was another couple in the other side. It was clean and comfy for the weekend. 

 

Here is a look through the main area of the cabin back through the bathroom and bedroom. The couch pulled out so we took turns - each had one night on the bed and then one night on the couch. LOL!  

 

This is Day one of shopping in town... 

 

This was a cute little shop-things you will never find anywhere else!!!

 

This was in the museum we toured...it is a sewing chair!!! They should still make these - how handy is this!?!??!?!

 

This is a town near where my parents grew up!!!

 

Here is a plate from the museum.  I love this town because this is my heritage. I am Swiss and my Great grandmother came here from Switzerland and settled a few towns away from Sugarcreek.

 

A goofy picture...

 

This is the world's largest cuckoo clock!!! 

 

Here we are at dinner! This is why I always take pictures of the menu. I can not remember the name of this restaurant to save my life! The girl at the museum recommended it and it was GREAT!  

 

Fried cheese curds - there is NOTHING better! 

 

My dinner - fish and sweet potato fries - also a side of cauliflower!!! 

 

We got to dine with Amish families!  Outside of the restaurant there were so many horse buggies. A lot of Amish people eat in the town and it was really cool to see them out to dinner as a family. 

 

 

This is the view in the back of the cabin. It was early in the morning and the sun rise looked so pretty!!!

 

 

Shopping, shopping and more shopping! We bought soo much stuff!! We bought cheeses, meats, chocolate and antiques galore!

 

 

On Saturday night Laura did not feel well so she took some medicine and went to bed at 6PM. I booked a ticket online for the Amish theater. It was hilarious!! Since I was only one person; I got the best seat last minute. It was the last seat in the third row! SCORE! 

 

This was the moon when I got back home to the cabin Saturday night! So beautiful out there with no street lights...just God and us!

Here is a shot of the cabin at night from our car. Very cozy and quaint!!!

 

We spent the next day shopping some more in the morning and then headed for home.

 

I highly recommend this cozy cabin "Slice of Heaven" if you are looking to stay somewhere in Sugarcreek Ohio. It is far enough away from Sugarcreek to not be in the middle of crowds and  close enough that it is very convenient for going back and forth!

 

Hugs to you all!

 

What trips have you taken lately? Ever been to Amish country? Do you enjoy a weekend away shopping (NYC, etc.) or no?  Ever ridden in horse and buggy? HUGS!!!

Crusin' Anyone?

I am finally getting prepared for Fall...I was hanging onto Summer with all my might but it is time so I am now embracing fall.

I am heading out tonight to get my fall cereal (I LOVE Pumpkin Spice Cheerios) and that is it. Nothing else pumpkin - not even candles! HA!

I got my new fall hair yesterday after work.

Here is the new shorter cut and color...I love it! In the Fall my stylist adds a darker base color and two different reds and a purple.  I was so ready to lose the light blond hair this year.

I honestly think I am always bummed at the end of summer since vacations are over then.

But then I thought to myself...they don't have to be, right??? I called my mother and asked to if she wanted to go on a vacation in December (when everyone with kid's is busy shopping and planning for Christmas). SHE SAID YES!!! My father is a home body and just wants to be home so it is me and Mom for the trip!

We are going on Royal Caribbean in December to Mexico and Grand Cayman. Our ship is Adventure of the Seas. Here is a video tour of the ship...




The only thing I knew I wanted was a balcony so we splurged and got one. I want to be able to sit in my room and see the wide open ocean!

And the booking said that all of our on-board gratuities are already included in what we paid.

I have something to look forward to at the end of the year so I am officially ready for fall!

Has anyone else ever been on a Royal Caribbean cruise or any cruise for that matter? 

I would love any and all tips you have for us!!!

I hope you all have an amazing day!!!!! HUGS to you all!