A Camping Trip

Hello all.  Last weekend, we went on our first camping trip of the year.  We met up with some friends and their two very well behaved, very sweet boxers in Cumberland, Kentucky.  The initial point of the trip was a photography contest. (As some of you know, Jason is a photography buff.  He has quite an eye...you can see some of his pictures here.  Feel free to contact him if you have any photography needs of your own)  The trip included lots of photography and hiking and of course, campfires and pie-irons. (Mmmmm....)

We had beautiful weather until it rained on Sunday, of course in time for us to start packing up.  It was quite fun though before then getting out and enjoying the weather.  It was about 60 degrees at night which was absolutely perfect for sleeping.

The coolest part of the whole trip though was our camping "trunk"  This wooden box was originally used by my grandparents when my dad was much younger.  My Grandma packed everything they ever needed for camping in it and each trip it was just ready to go.  Once they were done with it, it got passed to my parents and I do not remember a camping trip without it while growing up.  It still even has these awesome metal cups in it from when my Dad was just in the first grade!  So, once my parents quit the regular camping trips, the trunk was passed to my aunt and uncle, who very much to my excitement, decided they were done with it, so it is now ours!!  It brings back so many memories and it makes packing for camping so much easier!  We are excited for the next camping trip.  

We planned on taking lots of trips last summer and only ended up going once.  We received lots of great camping gear for our wedding including a great 7-person tent and double high queen-sized air mattress and we were so excited to use them.  We are definitely planning on going more this year.  We even got an early start. :)  If anyone is interested in joining us...please let us know!  We love camping buddies.  And, we are starting to get better at it too!  :):)

Speaking of wedding gifts...this weekend is our one year anniversary!  Wow!!  Fastest year ever!!  We are going to Niagara Falls to celebrate.  It should be a fun time.  Jason already gave me gifts too!  A beautiful multi-colored sapphire necklace and an engraved Citizen watch!!  Man, he really spoils me.  I am a lucky girl.  The watch says "My Life, My Love, Happy First Anniversary"

I really love that man.

A vacation

So, I have mentioned that Jason and I are going to Seattle in June!! Yay!  It's definitely a city I have always wanted to visit and it's a perfect time to go since Melissa is living there! 

 

To be completely honest, I am not much of a traveler.  I don't mind weekends away that are driveable, but I get some anxiety about leaving for much longer or going much further away.  I just think that Melissa (and probably Nick) got all of the travel genes in the family. :)  I am okay with being a homebody, it's part of who I am.  (Being a Cancer doesn't help)  Anyway, I know it will be tons of fun and totally worth it. I am completely excited.

Now, I have to give a round of applause to Orbitz.  

The other day, I got an email saying our return flight had been changed - one stop and 3 hours added to the flight!  This is unacceptable!  So, I called the Customer Care line and after about 20 minutes, we got our flight changed to a better flight, with less travel time involved and no extra fees!  Yay Orbitz!  I am so impressed.  I was honestly pretty worried that it was going to be a huge hassle.  As a bonus, our flight leaves 6 hours later (no more red-eye) and we stop in Memphis, which is where we stopped on our honeymoon, so that will be fun.  Plus, the BBQ was delicious!  My mouth is watering already.

A Dental Hygienist?

Some of you may wonder how in the world I ever became a dental hygienist.  (Somedays, I even wonder myself.)  Here is my story...

If you told me 10 years ago that I would be working in a dental office, I would have never believed you.  I never once remember even considering it.  To be honest, I barely remember going to the dentist as a kid - that's how impressed I was with the whole thing.  So, in 1999, I graduated from high school and off to college I went as a communications major.  (I really wanted to get into broadcasting, perhaps radio or be a weather girl!)  My first semester, I took my first speech class.  And I HATED it!  I cannot for the life of me even start to imagine that getting up in front of a room of people to give a speech could be fun.  Or even remotely easy.  I can't do it.  So...there went my major.  Now what??  I considered business (boring-no offense all you business minded people) teaching was out (that whole being in front of a room thing) and then, Hospitality Management.  Sounds fun!  

A sidenote - When I was a kid, I remember going on family vacations and "designing" my very own hotel.  I laid out a floor plan and everything.  Each room was going to have a theme.  Whether it be a Red Room, Blue, Western Room, 50's, 60's and so on.  People would have to keep coming back just to stay in the other various rooms.   Doesn't that sound so cool??!??!!  (I haven't completely given up on it - if I ever come into an extraordinary amount of money, this is my dream)

So, anyway.  Hospitality Management was my new major.  Then I realized I would have to work nights and weekends and probably crazy hours for most of my life.  That did not sound fun.  Now what was I going to do??  By this time, I had decided to transfer schools.  What better for an undecided transfer student than the school that has everything... The Ohio State University.

I lived on South Campus and had to take what's called a survey class for undecided transfer students. (Real winners in that bunch.) ;)  We had to take all kinds of personality tests to help determine what career or at least major most suited us.  One night, I seriously sat down with a list of every major offered at Ohio State.  I crossed nearly every single one off for one reason or another.  While all of this was going on, I also had to walk past the Dental building nearly every day (good old Postle Hall.)  It might be the ugliest, most boring building on campus.  But, it made me think.  And, I had not crossed Dental Hygiene off my list.  Hmmmm.....

Once I started really looking into it, there wasn't anything I didn't like.  Even the thought of sticking my hands in people's mouths never really bothered me.  So, here I am.  Now, just to be straight here, I don't love everything about it.  Some mouths are just plain gross.  I did actually have to ask a grown man once if he brushed his teeth....ever.  He said no.  I also can't stand teeth extractions and actually had to leave my oral surgery rotation in school so that I didn't pass out in front of everyone.  I think most of it is a "mind over matter" issue, which I seem to do pretty well with.  What I love most about my job is the number of people I get to meet and talk to every day.  Overall, I do love people. (just as long as I don't have to give any speeches in front of them) Oh - and the hours.  Full-time benefits at 28 hours a week.  I don't complain much.

So, that's my story on how I found my career.  Any questions??

A Cupcake Store!

Good Morning!

Althought, it's not such a great one.  It's rainy and cold. :(  Boo.  It was my first day to sleep in for what seems like forever.  And I woke up at 9.  Of course, I went to bed at 11, so I guess it's only fair.  Now I can be productive.  Although I will say it's a good day to stay in bed.

So, at some point in the last year or so, I found this website of a cupcake shop in Portland, Oregon.  I actually might have seen it on Food Network or something.  The cupcakes look amazing!  So, I saved the link (in case we ever went to Portland??) I also got on their mailing list somehow and now...they have taken flight and are now shipping anywhere in the US!!  Check it out here So fun!!  I just got so excited designing my very own gift box! I'm definitely going with pumpkin spice, vanilla toffee with coconut cream icing and the vanilla chocolate chip.  Yummy.

Melissa (my beautiful sister) is living in Seattle for the next 3-6 months.  I know Portland is not far off, maybe she'll go.  Jason and I are visiting in June!  Super exciting!  We got amazing rates and I can hardly resist any opportunity to hang out with her.

We also once saw on the Food Network an amazing looking donut shop.  They made the craziest donuts.  I cannot remember the name, and it was in Seattle or Portland.  But, if I find it, and it's in Seattle, we are without a doubt going.  There is  a donut shop up in Jason's neck of Ohio (Geneva-on-the-lake) called Madsen's.  Freshly made, still a little warm and oh so delicious.  I get a sugar coated, jelly-filled and Jason loves the creme sticks.  Mmmm...I can hardly wait for summer.

 Guess, I should get on with being productive...

TTFN 

A Wednesday

Hello again.  Today is Wednesday.  It feels wierd to be home because I have been working for the past I don't know how many weeks at my second "fun" job at Hallmark on Wednesday nights.  I have a pretty sweet schedule for my so-called "full-time" job that is only 29 hours per week on average.  Mon 8-5, Tues 11-7, Wed 8-4, and Thurs 8-2.  That's right, my weekend typically would start at 2pm on Thursdays!  Awesome!!  So, while I know what possessed me getting the second job, now I am starting to wonder if it's worth it.  Jason works every other weekend and I was bored, so I thought what better way to spend the time than by making a little extra cash?  And it has been pretty good...but, now it's getting nicer out and I want to get out and do stuff...not be stuck working and missing out on life when I don't have to be.  I have this built in sense of commitment though that right now is making me stick it out.  We'll see how it goes.

Right now, my honey is cleaning his fish tank and listening to the Rolling Stones downstairs.  It's quite a relaxing atmosphere in our apartment at the moment.  

Jason got this fish (a spotted puffer) basically when he moved to Columbus, or the year after. Which would  make this fish 10 years old!  The poor little guy didn't even have a name until I came around...now his name is Nugget.  It comes from Jason once telling me that he felt like he found a golden nugget when he found me. :)  I know...too cute.

The Rolling Stones (while of course, classic) now also has special meaning to us.  We went to the Mayan Riviera, Mexico for our honeymoon.  (See pictures here) We made friends with a pool bartender on the first day and pretty much spent the week having his pool to ourselves.  All he played the entire week was The Stones and (one of my personal favorites) Jack Johnson.  So, we like to pretend we are laying by Abel's pool every time we hear The Rolling Stones. Like right now.......

Next, we are supposed to go to the gym. :(