Essentials

Lotion, as my husband knows all too well, is definitely one of my essentials. I can not sit down to watch a movie with dry hands. I cannot go to bed with a dry face. When stepping out of the shower there is a small window of time in which to properly lock-in the moisture. I can even tell when my finger nails are getting too long because it creates an unquenchable thirst in my hands. Fascinatingly odd wouldn't you say?

Being a chronic user, I have undoubtedly developed a hypersensitivity to dryness. Not only can I detect the sensation but I become obsessed focusing on the discomfort! My brain cannot process homework, music, video, or anything really. It's quite debilitating and can lead to acts of desperation in times of need.

Today I was without said "elixir of the God's". After washing my hands about 3 times this morning one may imagine the severity of the circumstances. Luckily I always carry with me an almost equal essential...lip balm. That's right, I smeared medicated Blistex all over my hands working it into the crevices between my fingers. Complete disregard for anyone who may be watching me in the midst of the library. Not ideal but my world is at peace once again.

Frazzle McDazzle

So one of my close girl friends from college just shared a totally romantic picture of her boyfriend without his shirt on kissing her in front of a waterfall. The caption over the photo was "Is this real life?". Uh, yeah, that's exactly what I'm thinking right about now but on the opposite side of the spectrum.

Is THIS real life?

Uh, yes, yes it is, you have mutated into Mrs. Frazzle

I graduated with all my friends back in 2005. SIX years later I am now the only one of my friends STILL in college and living in my parents house. Hmmm, not quite how I envisioned my future. I realize I've turned into the ultimate Debby Downer over the past two years with my introduction into responsible adulthood. It's been rough...growing up that is. Probably why I put it off so long.

Ha, ha, have to share a quick funny experience. So I was asked to speak in church a couple weeks ago and of course ended up writing my talk on Sunday morning. I started with the classic tradition of sharing some of my personal background in order to kill a few minutes. I briefly disclosed my dark educational past and tried to make a joke by cautioning the youth not to follow in my footsteps. Well a couple days later at a ward BBQ a lady came up to me and told me she enjoyed my talk.

Lady: "You know I really enjoyed your talk on Sunday."

Me: "Thank you. It really was a fun oppor..."

Lady: "Yeah, I was really hoping that my daughter was listening."

Me: "Well that's really kind of..."

Lady: "Yeah, my daughter just loves school and keeps taking all these classes but just doesn't really know what she's planning to do with her education when she graduates."

Me: "Oh...", awkward pause of shock, "...yeah you know everyone tells you college is so important but I guess you really need to have some direction and goals in mind."

Lady: "Yeah, I mean classes are just so expensive. Her father and I don't really want to keep paying for them."

Me: courtesy laugh, "Ha...yep school can really rack up a bill."

Yeah, I was a bit taken back by her comments. Apparently she didn't catch on that I was trying to make a JOKE! In my defense I payed my own way through college! Yes I occasionally went shopping in my mother's fridge and received a few generous charitable donations from loving grandparents and a good aunt. But I pretty much paid every last dime for books, tuition, housing, food, health care, etc. myself! Additionally I admit I've taken the long road, okay the LONGEST road, but I have also learned quite a bit and had some great experiences along the way. Okay, enough wasting time...I've got to get back to Ms. Frazzle-land and study for my pharmacology quiz.

Satisfaction!

Upon getting married I have felt the responsibility to actually prepare meals instead of just eating a few gold fish and throwing a smoothie in the blender for dinner. Why wasn't I thinner throughout college?? Well of course that meager meal was always followed up by post meal rummaging through the pantry and fridge, a string cheese, yogurt, a few grapes. Then I would usually go out dancing for the evening and upon arrival home at 1 am follow up with a steaming glass of Pero, a few Triscuit's with cottage cheese, and some form of chocolate perhaps smothered in peanut butter. Ah yes, now the calories are adding up.

This "on the go" lifestyle was both time efficient and hassle free. However like I said, there is a twinge of guilt experienced when I expect Chris to fend for himself. So now I engage in the never ending quest for recipes. Not only must I account for the time it takes to prepare the meal but the post meal clean up, menu planning, and grocery shopping. Since I have less time now than I have had previously in my entire life I have three criteria for the perfect recipe:

1. Must be FAST to throw together

2. Must be DELICIOUS or why bother eating it

3. Must be NUTRITIOUS according to my own standards which ideally would be higher but are not. I shall outline them for you below:

• Typically steer clear of red meat especially ground beef but do eat it occasionally
• Typically don't make heavy pasta dishes
• Preferably lots of greens, veges, and fruit
• Love finding a raw recipe but I have found few that meet the DELICIOUS standard
• Try to cook 50% of dinners that are meatless every week if not more
• Avoid cooking with many processed foods

So there you go, my current food standards, judge them as you will it is beside the point of this blog post. I find it hard enough to find recipes meeting my current criteria, but when I do... SUCCESS!!! Oh the joy and satisfaction! Delicious, ridiculously fast and easy, and relatively guil

t free! I don't want my blog to turn into some type of food blog but I experienced this exact joy tonight and I feel obligated to share what may be a gem of a website. We made maple mustard dressing and threw it on a bed of mixed greens topped with sliced bosc pears, fresh blueberries, sliced almonds, and a sprinkle of feta cheese. It was BOMB! And it only took about 5 minutes to throw together with a piece of crusty bread toasted on the side. I only made a half recipe of the dressing if anyone decides to give it a try it was beyond plenty.

I have briefly glanced over the blog I stole this recipe from and it looks very promising! Ah, so satisfied. On top of that great find today I also got a 100% on my evidence based practice exam today! Considering 67% of the class got an A or A- it's not all that impressive but I was 1 out of 5 that got the perfect 100%. Again so satisfying right? All the torturous reading of scientific journal articles, pain staking thesis writing, research classes, and statistics work from grad school finally paid off :) Okay, guess it's not the first time it's paid off but lets just say it was overall a very satisfying day.

PS- Wasn't trying to make Chris look helpless and lazy. Chris always does the dishes, plans the meals, does the grocery shopping, bakes the banana bread, scrubs the floor, darns the socks, etc. Okay minus the last two but he would if I asked :)

The Results Are In!

It is official...

I will be going to nursing school at the University of Utah starting May16th. Which also means no chance of having my first child until I'm 30. I'm nervous, excited, unsure, happy...not really sure which emotion is winning out? But I will say it feels awesome to have been accepted!

Upon my 29th birthday next year I will have complete my 8th year of college...is there something wrong with me? And I've been having fantasy's lately about getting my PhD someday in Ex Phys...yes something is definitely wrong with me.