I'm spilling the beans...

Well friends, I'm spilling the beans! My lovely Thia Karen tagged me with the Honest Scrap Award Challenge - to come up with ten HONEST things about myself that you may not know. Little scraps of information that I normally wouldn't share in everyday conversation. So here they are...

* Disclaimer: If you have to stop halfway through, take a breather, and come back to it I won't be offended. After all, one can only handle so much crazy in one sitting. *

1) I often watch Maury. Yes, you read that right... Maury Povich. Why is it so enjoyable to watch crazy people on tv? "You ARE the father!" You just can't make this stuff up.

2) I drink way too much Diet Coke for my own good.

3) I can never pick out a greeting card in less than 10 minutes. No matter what the occasion, I like to try and select the perfect card. I LOVE perusing the aisles to find something funny, or heartwarming.

4) I enjoy driving - I actually enjoy time in the car... it's built in alone time, to drink some coffee, listen to some good tunes, or enjoy the solace. I find that whatever is bothering me from a day at work usually resolves by the time I get home because I've had time to clear my head a little bit.

5) I usually change into my pajamas within 20 minutes of being home. My former room mates can attest to this! If I'm in for the night, the pj's are on right away!!!

6) I check people.com religiously, and am way too fascinated with the lives of celebrities.

7) I really don't like the season of summer, and find myself in an all around better mood when it's the second half of the year in fall and winter. I love cool, crisp, and overcast days!

8) As this past week was "Premiere Week" on TV, and all of the networks are starting their new fall seasons, I have found myself very excited, yet sadly overwhelmed. You know, it's exhausting. There's this internal struggle of "to tivo - or not to tivo?" I mean, there are so many shows that look interesting, but do I really want to invest? Can my heart and mind take any more? Plus, there's this stress involved in making sure that Tivo is catching all of the shows, both old and new. I mean, seriously... it takes a village. It's all about priorities... :)

9) I never throw away shoes. I wouldn't consider myself a huge pack rat, but for some reason, shoes are something that I just can't seem to get rid of easily. I have random shoes and flip flops that I never wear... but can't seem to part with. There has to be a name for this? Help Dr. Phil!

10) I still have my blanket from childhood... but that's not the worst part. I still sleep with it. Forget the crazy shoe problem... I need Dr. Phil on speed dial!

It feels good to air out some dirty laundry! Give it a try! :)

Choosing Civility

With all of the recent hullabaloo surrounding the horrifying outbursts of celebrities and the like, it leaves us wondering what's the deal!? The LA Times wrote a fascinating article on this very subject on the cover of today's paper, and it really got me thinking about what we have become. Why is there suddenly this outpouring of rude behavior by the very people that we are supposed to look up to? And is this really sudden at all, or has it been a slippery slope for some time now?

It seems as though almost everyone has been caught up in this viral infection of rudeness. In the wake of athletes losing their cool over a bad call on the court, politicians yelling out during the president's address to the nation, and of course the widely publicized Kanye West and Taylor Swift drama...

Of course these are celebrities, but it did get me thinking... If celebrities, athletes, and politicians are saying things like this to one another, think of the thousands of others who are treating one another this way that aren't being publicized on the evening news.

I'm not ranting about this subject just to rehash the hash --- my whole purpose in commenting about these crazy things is to offer a small ray of hope! In the wake of all of this, I was reminded this week of the goodness of people, and in the celebrities that some of us look up to. This week was the annual KIIS FM event at CHOC and we were so fortunate to have people donate their time to visit the kids and their families, and bring a smile to their faces. I just have to share one of the stories!

I had the complete privilege to tour a certain british soccer player :) around the hospital to see the kids in their rooms, and let me tell you, it was a complete joy. Yes ladies, for obvious reasons, but even more than that I was in complete awe of his humility, grace and class. He was a complete gentleman for starters... he refused to get in the elevator before me, held open every door, and had all the time in the world for the patients and their families. He was completely unaffected by the media surrounding him, and placed every emphasis on the strength of those kids. Seeing the joy on the kid's faces was heartwarming, and hearing him say that he was forever changed by the experience was priceless. His facial expressions said it all! We were fortunate to have so many celebrities and average joes alike share in the day and I was utterly impressed by all of them. I had been looking forward to this day in preparation for a while now, but I was expecting at least a few out of the bunch to be a little "hollywood." I was pleasantly surprised by their humility and sincerity.

This whole day gave me hope. It helped me realize that yes, these are people just like the rest of us, and they are gracious, classy and sincere at the core. Choose civility and hopefully it will start a new viral strain of kindness...

CHOC Children's

Well, friends, I have some news! I am now officially a Child Life Specialist at CHOC Children's Hospital!

This is such a dream job for me, and it feels like it's been forever since I've been training for this, and yesterday all at the same time. Thank you so much for your prayers and support, because this is truly an answer to prayer.

I'll be working in the Emergency Department at night during the week (till midnight to be exact - when the ER is abuzz) and then I'll be working on the hospital units - mostly Oncology and ICU on the weekends. I have two days of formal hospital orientation under my belt, and tomorrow is my first official day of training on the units! I am so very excited, and would very much appreciate your thoughts and prayers! Of course I am nervous to start a new chapter, but confident that this is where I'm supposed to be.

Here's to a brand new chapter, and the beginning to an exciting adventure!

Smile...

Just some thoughts and a few highlights that have made me smile this week!

1.) Rice Krispy Treats:

OK, I know what you're thinking - "Chloe, what are you, 12?" But I had to share my new found love for these delightful treats. I've been making them a lot lately, and thanks to my wonderful Mom's recipe, they are sooo yummy. So what's the secret? Add peanut butter. Just add it to the marshmallow before you add the rice krispy cereal. Oooo, and put a square into the microwave for about 20 seconds right before you eat it, to make it extra warm and gooey! Who knew that something so simple could taste so amazing? Try it and let me know what you think!

2.) SHARK TANK:

One of my new favorite shows! It's on Sunday nights, and it's delightfully entertaining. Five self-made millionaire tycoons invest their own money into people's ideas/companies. These people have 90 seconds to make their pitch to "the sharks" and you should see what these people come up with! Some of them are really great businesses in which the sharks fight over to invest in, and others are just plain entertaining! :)

3.) Legally Blonde - The Musical:

The movie was so great, and the musical is now in LA! Yesterday, my Mom and I made our pilgrimage up to the Pantages theatre in Hollywood to see it, and it was very, very good! Incredibly entertaining, great music, and really witty and genuinely funny while successfully sticking to the story line of the movie. And a special hint for students: you can get them for $25 with a student ID! It was a great deal for a fun night!

4.) Sweepstakes:

I already know that I'm going to catch a lot of flack for this one, but it's actually kind of fun! I've been entering into some fun sweepstakes (everything from big to small prizes like vacations etc.) Who knows if I'll ever win anything, but it sure is fun to try with some spare time!

Etsy

I just love ebay. I love the whole concept, and I love the deals and treasures that one can find on that glorious site!

I just have to share my new (well, new to me!) find... www.etsy.com!

This site is so fun... it works like an ebay, but ALL of the items on this site are either handmade or vintage. It's such a blast to comb people's stores and know that everything you see is one of a kind.

Two of my best buds have created an Etsy Shop called J Emporium with the NEATEST stuff!!! They were just handpicked and featured on the homepage! Here's the link....

www.jemporium.etsy.com

J Emporium has really neat vintage stuff like this one....

Jessi also has her own Etsy Shop... Here's the link...

www.spectacleworks.etsy.com

Spectacle Works has really neat photos, and Jessi makes her own journals like this one!

You've just got to check out this site! It's so fun to poke around!

Start your Etsy journey with the links above! :)

Bon Voyage!

Well, we're off! For the next 8 days, I will be happily laying on the beach on Oahu! We're going to Hawaii and I could not be more thrilled! There are few places that are more beautiful and serene. My parents have included me on this wonderful trip for a fabulous graduation gift - I think I have the best parents in the entire world! :) I'm fully prepared for a week of relaxation: sundresses, sunscreen, snorkeling equipment, and some good books!

See you soon friends... Aloha!

Tales from the Recycling Center

Well, it was about that time... today I made the trek to the Recycling Center to cash in my cans and bottles. I present to you this issue of Tales from the Recycling Center. Now friends, I learned something today --- a little nugget that might make your trips to the Recycling Center more convenient and perhaps more fruitful... I present to you the SHOPPING CART. 

I chose to share this nugget of wisdom with you today, because the gentleman above in this photo was one of THREE people there utilizing this method. Who knew that this method of transportation could be so effective? Perhaps there is something to it. 

Now friends, this post is not only meant to educate, but to warn. I come to you with a contrite heart to share with you the dangers of this means of can and bottle transportation. I was standing in line, minding my own business, day dreaming of anywhere but here, and I suddenly must jump out of the way to avoid a catastrophe... a burst of wind had caught one of the shopping carts and was uncontrollable. Heading into traffic on the other side, I leave my bags (which is of course a huge theft risk at the Recycling Center) and proceed to chase down the cart. I catch it before it hits oncoming traffic and return it to the rightful owner - no, not Ralph's but the man who was borrowing it for the aforementioned means of transportation. We both have a laugh at the "runaway cart" and I did my good deed for the day. There is a true sense of camaraderie amongst those at the Recycling Center - the "Can Code" if you will. 

Well, friends, this concludes this issue of Tales from the Recycling Center. I came away enlightened and $10.15 richer. Recycle, Reduce, Reuse... and be truly entertained. 

Until next time! 

Such Joy...

Don't kids just bring you such joy???

I just get the biggest kick out of kids, and the things that they do and say...

Just this past weekend I was at Olive Garden with my mom and my Aunt Carla - ( I just love Olive Garden - you just can't beat the Pasta Fagioli soup and salad - yummy!!) So we were eating dinner, and we look over and this little boy who couldn't have been older than 4 was chomping away at his spaghetti and meatballs and trying every which way to eat it! It was so adorable because you could tell that he wasn't trying to make a mess, but he was genuinely trying to figure out the best possible way to manage his dinner... we just couldn't take our eyes off of him!

And every day, around 2:30 there are these two little boys that I see walking across the street on their way home from school. They look like brothers: they both have round glasses and belted jean shorts pulled up 6 inches too high. The older one (about 10) always has his arm around the younger one (about 6) in an effort to protect him and look both ways before they cross the street. They are always smiling, and look like they are having so much fun together. The other day they were laughing so hard and cracking themselves up on the way home from school... just another Thursday!!

So sweet... I think we forget sometimes that kids are not just miniature adults, but they are their own little individuals, and bring us such joy if we take the time to notice and invest in them.

Life as a Musical - At least in Central Station

Have you ever dreamt of your life as a musical? I sure have.

Ever since I was little I have had this dream that one day I would be walking down the street and everyone would burst out into song and dance, and I would of course join along in perfect harmony (I guess some things will always remain a dream.) For those of you who have always dreamt of your lives as a musical too - take a look at this!

I just couldn't stop watching this and had to share - over 200 dancers of all ages dressed in street clothes made this possible in Central Station in Antwerp, Belgium. It was a promotional piece for a new television show in Belgium to find the next Maria to star in a theatre production of the Sound of Music. With only two rehearsals they pulled this off and really caught Central Station by surprise! If you have had a rough day... these 4 minutes will pull you out of it and make you smile...

There's No Place Like Home

I'm home!!! It has been almost 6 months since I left for Nashville to pursue an internship at Vanderbilt - and now I'm back. It feels so good to be home, although I miss TN a lot! I really grew to love that city - I loved being near close family and friends that I had been away from for so long. I owe them all so much - they were so instrumental in getting me through. It was such a difficult time in so many ways, and I thank the Lord for the support I had from my friends and family from home and in TN. I miss Grace Chapel - my church for 5 months! What an absolute blessing that church was to me. It was such a great church that helped me grow in some difficult times, and I loved going with the TN Krikacs! And of course I miss the hospital where I lived, I mean, worked! :)  I had so many great experiences there and learned a TON! So many children and families are forever written on my heart. 

It is so great to be home! I missed so much about CA - the beach, the traffic, (just kidding), and most importantly my friends and family back home. I've seriously lived under a rock these past 6 months. It feels so good to be home and surrounded with family and friends that I have missed terribly. My internship required a lot of hours and emotion, and I have felt depleted in many ways. It feels so good to slowly start to feel fueled up again and recharged. I am so blessed with supportive people in my life no matter what geographic location I'm in...

So Toto, although we are not in Nashville anymore, we are back home! And in the words of dear Dorothy ~ 

"Toto, we're home. Home! And this is my room, and you're all here. And I'm not gonna leave here ever, ever again, because I love you all, and - oh, Auntie Em - there's no place like home!" 

My New Home

Hello Blog Buddies!!! It feels so good to be back after a much too long hiatus... First let me say how much I miss all of you back home! Life in Nashville is amazing, but it is just not the same without you. 

So this is my new home...Nashville TN. I still can't believe that I have been living here for about 3 1/2 weeks now. My little apartment is so cute, I will post pictures of it soon, so ya'll (yeah you like that?) can see it. I really like where I live, and it's not too far away from work. Which brings me to my second home...Vanderbilt Children's Hospital. One of my patients (4 years old) asked me the other day, "Do you live here?" And I said, "You know, sometimes it feels like I do!" 

The internship is going really well, although it is extremely challenging at times. I've never had to learn so much in such a short amount of time, and although the learning curve is pretty steep, it's been such a great experience so far. I'm working in Surgery right now which is my first rotation, and let me tell you... the hours have been the biggest adjustment! :) If you know me at all, early mornings are not typically my forte... but I've been adjusting. When my alarm goes off at 3:30 every morning, I now finally understand how my Aunt Karen feels when she gets up so early for work every day. 

More info, stories and pictures to come soon, but I really miss you all! Especially you Mom and Dad and miss you tons... big hugs coming your way.