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...