Spring Break Get-Away

I mentioned that I would be traveling with my hubby (no kids) to a cottage overlooking the Mississippi for a get-away spring break weekend/15th anniversary and here are a few pictures from the website to give you an idea of what the inside of our cottage looked like.

 This was the absolutely THE best thing that I needed for a break from school, work, kids etc.  I completely enjoyed myself and my husband.

 After we got to our cottage, our first look out of the windows showed this amazing view.

 And this one too, that is the Mississippi River and our cottage is nestled HIGH up on the bluffs.  Some called our cottage a birds nest for being so high up.

 The owners of the cottage included in our price a welcome breakfast of sausage, eggs, and homemade bread.  YUM, we had quite the appetite.

 I know this angle is kind of sideways, but it shows the parking lot below our cottage and the rest of the way up we had to go by foot. 

 My hubby caught a few eagles through his binoculars so I tried to get him and the eagles in my shot, but cell phone cameras are only so good.

 We stopped to go shopping at a few shops that were open for the season and I scored this lovely skirt and shoes *bonus*!

Here we are on our last day waving goodbye to the cottage that helped us to relax and connect better during our vacation.

This is the view as we were driving out of town.  Looks too good to leave.

Curling Iron Cord/Muck Update

So after all your guys' exciting and helpful comments from my last post, I decided to take apart my curling iron in hopes of cleaning the crud off the barrel. 

I unscrewed the clamp, and scraped the top layer of gunk from the barrel.

I couldn't find my oven cleaner so I tried spraying Kaboom. I tried spraying bleach and 70% isopropyl alcohol and still no avail.

I couldn't get much of anything off the barrel, and from all the hard work I ended up breaking the handle.

So in the garbage I threw it!  *wipes hands back and forth on jeans* I'm glad to be done with that curling iron.

I thought that while I tried my hand at fixing my curling iron, I would work on cleaning the dreaded embarrassing hair catcher from the family shower, but I couldn't help but give it a try.

Back side looks even worse with all the mold and mildew build-up. Yuckoo!

After, doesn't look 100% clean but much, much, much better!

Bye, bye yuck!

After scouring the internet for a suitable replacement curling iron, I came across this beauty.

Remington Ceramic Pearl-Infused Professional Curling Wand

(I'm not getting paid for this by Remington, but I'm just impressed)

Because this iron is considered a curling wand (no clamp) it comes with a glove so you don't burn your fingers.  I have to say I was very intimidated by trying this beauty tool, so my beautiful daughter with long flowing locks offered her hair as my practice model, which I happily accepted. 

I didn't curl every section of her hair because c-mon she has some wicked long and thick flowing hair.  So I just curled sections and layers until I was done with the whole thing.  Do you like?

I'm glad it worked well on her hair, but tomorrow morning will be the test if I can handle the curling wand on my own hair.  Yikes!

Twisted Curling Iron Cord Troubles

As embarrassing as it is to admit this, does anyone out there know how to untwist a curling iron cord? 

I thought I would post it on Abbie's 5 Days 5 Ways Friday-Free-For-All blog.

I totally love my curling iron as old and cruddy as it is and I'm not yet in the market to buy a new one. 

However, every time I use the darn thing I get all tangled up.  Sometimes it even comes unplugged from the wall when I use it.

My question is does anyone know a way of untwisting the cord itself?

Also would anyone have a way of cleaning/scraping the build-up of hair products off from the barrel?

Next Stop, Spring Break

Hello all, today I took my second exam in one of my foundational classes and scored the lowest yet 66.5%.  To say that I’m devastated doesn’t even come close.  The content included renal, liver, stroke, traumatic brain injury, and epilepsy.  I totally rocked the stroke, tbi, and epilepsy, but the renal and liver overtook me.  It goes back to my struggles with intercellular processes; I just don’t understand that stuff as well as I should.  I wanted to become a nurse to help people but slowly I keep realizing that the help comes in the form of knowing my cellular levels and lab values more than my desire to empathize with my patients...or so it seems.  I’ve made an appointment with one of my instructors for advice and maybe some helpful study tips.

Looking forward my spring break is next week and I’m super thrilled!  

We’re leaving the kids with grandma and grandpa so the hubs and I can escape to a cottage in northern Wisconsin.  No TV.  No kids.  No snow, just beautiful weather.  There’s a sauna and whirlpool for relaxing, and walking trails overlooking a river.  I’ll be taking lovely nature pictures so you all can see our views.  What are we to do with ourselves…I’ll update you all when I get back. 

My Baby Girl is Growing Up

My daughter is an amazing and wonderful 15 year old, who two weeks ago passed her written permit driving test.  She is so very excited and happy to be able to have a little freedom especially since she has been talking about driving for the past couple years.  The time has finally come and since she’s a little older than her peers having the ability to drive seems pretty awesome to her.

However after she passed the written test, we went down to the DMV and unfortunately we didn’t have the official copy of her birth certificate so we couldn’t get her permit.

Upset and concerned my daughter suggested we get a copy of her birth certificate as soon as possible so we wouldn’t lose precious time of behind-the-wheel training.  We filled out the proper paperwork and expect to see something in the mail in the next few weeks or possibly sooner depending on the office’s turn-around time.

Either way LOOK OUT WORLD because my daughter’s planning on getting her license by the time school starts up again in the fall and she is thrilledJ…so are we.

Fish Fry at the Bowling Alley

Love the carpeting

Today is the end of my first six weeks for the current semester and we don’t have any more clinical to attend until next semester. I’m excited to have my Tuesday and Wednesday’s open to study more for the remainder of the semester.  These first six weeks have been difficult not in the way that they’ve been too hard, but just time consuming with a lot of busy work.

What better way to end the week than to go eat fish fry at the bowling alley with one of my hubby’s besties.  This dinner date was exactly what I needed to let my hair down and relax, and although I didn’t eat fish fry I had a great Caesar salad wrap with fries.  Here we are before we left.

We decided to come back to the house because the bowling alley was having some kind of Leprechaun party and the volume level was getting too loud.  Here we are at home and I was able to get a little more comfortable for the night.  Just one more week until Spring Break woo hoo!!!

A Change of Mind

I have an OR nurse friend that was pretty influential to me before I started nursing school.  She would tell me her opinions of what area of specialty she likes and dislikes (among much other advice).  I would absorb just about anything and everything she had to say because she’s been a nurse for over 20 years so she must be highly wise. 

She would ask me what areas I’d like to focus on after I graduate and I would tell her I didn’t know.  She would ask what areas other ladies in my class are interested in and a few of them would talk about OB, while others talked about different areas.  My friend would interrupt saying things like, “Don’t go into OB nursing, it’s for the prissy girls.” Or “All women students want to be OB nurses, don’t be like them.” 

After hearing this from my most wise nursing friend before I even started nursing classes I began to develop a stigma towards OB nursing.  I began to avoid that area like it was the plague.  Every time my OB interested friends would talk about babies and women I would turn up my nose at them.  I was determined to love any other area of interest than OB.

However little did anyone know that deep down in my heart I had a sliver of interest in OB nursing.  Of course it all started around the same time as when I was having children of my own and watching episodes of The Baby Story and tearing up like a babbling fool, but I wasn’t going to admit that to anyone.

Last Tuesday I had a clinical day in the OB department and I prayed the Lord would make a way for me to witness a birth, and guess what??  I got to see a c-section, that took entirely too long because of complications from the mama but after the final cut was made and the splurge of bag of waters came out the little baby that emerged was so incredibly amazing I could stop what happened next.

I felt like the Grinch on Christmas morning when his heart began to grow a few sizes larger, I wondered what was happening to me.  The baby was brought to the warmer and Apgar tests were beginning and I was just looking in awe.  A few moments later as I motioned the dad to come hold his newborn child, I grabbed his camera from his breast pocket and I started snapping pictures for him(he was fine with this).  Low and behold my cheeks were dripping with fresh fallen tears.  I think in the flash of a moment my mind changed from being against OB to being for OB. 

There is just something so very wonderful and amazing when a beautiful, perfect, innocent, lovely brand new baby is born.  I could not deny this was one of the most amazing miracles to witness. 

Now I can talk to my wise OR nurse friend and let her know that for once in my three semesters of nursing school, I think I’ve found my specialty.

Creating a Nursing Portfolio

 

Information found from http://www.registerednursern.com/nursing-portfolio-how-to-create-examples-and-what-is-it/

Most nursing students and nurses create a nursing portfolio to help them keep track of their professional goals, accomplishments, competencies, and skills. For example, an artist creates a portfolio to show their work and accomplishments to future clients.

Nurses in a sense keep a portfolio to show future employers who they are and what they have done. A nursing portfolio is a tool used by nurses to help them secure a nursing job.

When trying to wrap your mind around a nursing portfolio, think of it as a scrapbook that contains everything you have done up to that current moment in your nursing career.

A nursing portfolio does not need to be confused with a resume. A resume is a piece of paper that shows the employer a summary of the nurse’s education, other job experiences, references, and certifications. The portfolio is the supporting documentation of that information.

How to Create a Nursing Portfolio?

Most nursing schools require nursing students to create a nursing portfolio. This is a great way to help the new nurse get started with creating their portfolio. However, some nurses have never created one. Remember that if you are a new nurse your portfolio will not be as in depth when compared to a nurse who has been in the field for several years.
Before you start creating your nursing portfolio you need to compile supporting documents. There is no right or wrong way to compile your supporting documents. Also, keep in mind that you need to include information that highlights your competencies, educational achievements, and skills. Below are suggested documents to include in your portfolio.

What type of information is included in a Nurse Portfolio?

• Resume
• College Transcripts
• 1 page essay on what your personal values and beliefs are on the nursing profession
• An outline of your plan for professional development with supporting documentation of activities and learning outcomes.
• Health records which includes immunizations and current physical
• List of Volunteer Positions with Supporting Documentation
• List of Professional Organization you are in with Supporting Documentation
• Your Job Description
• Performance Evaluations
• Competency Checklists
• Copy of your Nursing License
• Certifications with renewal dates
• Samples of Academic Work such as research
• Professional Conferences Attended with Supporting Documentation
• In-services Attended with Supporting Documentation
• References and Recommendation Letters
• Peer/Manager Evaluations
• Lists of Committees you are on and type of work you have contributed to it
• Educational Projects you have done such as in-services
• Awards you have received

Tips on How to Organize a Nursing Portfolio

Once you have compiled all of the proper paperwork you need for your nursing portfolio you need to place it into a three ring binder. It is good practice to place the resume at the beginning of the portfolio because this has your name and contact information on it.

Try to organize your documentation in chronological order, if possible. For example, organize in-services based on the date they were completed and so on. However, there is no correct way on how to organize your documentation. Try to organize it in a way that will make sense to the reader.

To help your portfolio look professional be sure to label each section with binder tabs that can be purchased at Walmart. In addition, a table of contents needs to be created and placed in the front of the portfolio.

Your nursing portfolio is yours and should reflect who you are so have fun with it!

Picture found from

http://thepioneerwoman.com/homeschooling/2011/12/college-preparation-the-well-planned-day-high-school-4-year-plan/