If you need to kill a few minutes............

.............I found this great app on my phone. Picsart. You can upload pictures and edit them, add effects, etc. I have been having a lot of fun with it. It is a good way to waste a few minutes. I have always liked photography and wanted to get better at it. This is an easy way to alter simple cell phone pictures. I am truly enjoying myself, way better than Angry Birds!

First Post of 2012

Well, so far it has been interesting. There may be a change here at the Mack house, but more on that as it develops--it's one of those things that could go a million different ways, you will know more when I do. Otherwise, we are recovered from the holidays and I am getting ready for my second semester at MCC. Dave has been digging Smallville lately. He keeps telling me I need to watch it with him, and keeps watching it without me. Well, someday I'll check it out, it's on my evergrowing list.

I got a lot of reading done. The problem is that I read 2 books that begin a series. And the sequels are available. So, I will track them down and try to read them after school starts. The first one was Matched, by Allie Condie. It was good, meant for young adult readers. It was a lot like Hunger Games, but not as violent. It was a great escape for a few days. I just need to go buy the next one (hopefully this weekend). The other book was called Tiger's Curse which is the first of 4 books. 3 are available, I read the first one so I have 2 more to beg, borrow and steal. Maybe it's time to get a nook so I can just download them.

Dave warned me not to start a series until all the books are done.....he says waiting and then looking for the new book (and begging Angie to let you buy it) is torture. I guess now I will be able to show some empathy for his cause. The problem is that Dave is constantly begging for more book where I only look for a book once in a while. I try to tell Dave about the magical place that lets you borrow books with a magical card, for free. He just grumbles about small town libraries. The beast is never satisfied............

Year in Review

There were so many changes this year. But, it has been a good one.

We moved
I got into nursing school
Dave got tattoos ( Heather and Theresa did, too)
Drew got his driver's license
We got 2 black cats
We got a new(er) car, a 2009 Pontiac Vibe
Dave and I celebrated out 10 year anniversary in Vegas
Dave quit his job at the boys home
Theresa graduated
Heather and Theresa moved out
I turned 36, Dave is now 41. Heather is twenty, Theresa is 18 and Drew is 17
Dave got a job with the Detention center in St George
I finally got an ipod
I commute to Colorado City at least once a week for school
We emptied our storage unit

We have so much to be thankful for. I know more good things are coming. Have a great 2012!

The Most Important Thing

Family

Time together, swapping stories, practicing traditions, sharing meals, hugs and laughter. It always great to get together with my family--in laws, aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents. It's my favorite part of Christmas

Mack Family Christmas 2011

String Addiction

Roger and Allen

Roger-and his bunny tail fluff butt




We need to have a string intervention with Roger. It starts in the morning when I put on my robe....attack the tie. Then I do my hair...........attack the cord to the curling iron. When I get dressed....attack the tie on my scrubs AND my shoelaces as I tie my shoe. I try to wait until he's distracted to put them on, it's a good day when I can tie my shoes without his "help". Anything even remotely string like (hair, clothing, cords, dental floss) gets attacked if it moves. He also loves to steal Q-tips and contact lens case lids. He can't get through 10 mins without a string fix. I'd kill him, but he's so darn cute. As I type this, he is curled up and (thankfully) sleeping at the computer where the fan blows out hot air. We had to nix the Christmas tree this year and put all the presents well out of reach, lest they enable his addiction. Maybe it's his lack of tail that fuels his need to have long, tail-like things.









Dave just had to have him...........ugh!

29 and still holding.........

At the beginning of the school year, one of the kids in my class was shocked to hear my real age. " I thought you were 29 or 30, tops." he told me. I told him he just made my year! But, I got good genes, I guess.

Anyway, I am older and wiser. I know the satisfaction of realizing a life-long dream. My life is good. I have some things to work on, more goals to accomplish, but I'm on my way.

New for me this year:
Nursing School
Thai food ( I am mad that I have missed out on it for so long)
Pretty purple car
meticulously written patient care plans

My constants:
"polyanna" out look on life
reading--not as much fiction as I would like, however
anything orange
un-ruly curly hair

Ways to de-stress

I may have become something of an expert in this subject :)

• Break big tasks up into little steps


• Organize and plan out as much as possible. I am a list maker and I like to cross things off as I complete them


• Take a 10 min break when stress levels rise if you can, if not take 5 deep breaths and regroup- I have found this really helpful when I'm taking a test


• Learn to laugh--at yourself, at the situation, have a good sense of humor in general


• Take a night off-- you deserve it. Go out to dinner, watch a movie, don't even think about work/school


• Do something physical- I like to clean the house after I have studied so that I can think about the material and allow it to absorb. Going for a walk helps, too


• Take a long, hot bath to relax. This is another place where I think about things I have studied and make connections


• Prioritize and let small things go. I have learned that I don't have to vacuum every week, school is more important right now


• Play with your pet-I have learned that a purring kitty in my lap does wonders.


• Take a break every hour or 2 to get a drink or snack, let things sink in. It helps to go back to the material/job with a fresh mind