The Days When I'm Not a Nurse

Blog direction.

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I have been blogging for 4 years, and it hasn’t gotten really serious until the last 2, I’d say. I have amazing readers who inspire me and who I hope are inspired when they come here. Or at least entertained for a moment. :) As ironic as it is (because of the name), my blog really has become more of a nursing blog than anything. And I’m okay with that. 
It’s not the sort of nursing blog where you’ll find articles with the newest evidence-based practices. It’s not a blog about technology in nursing, wellness tips, or about the humorous parts of the job. If I had to define it, I’d say it’s a nurses’s personal blog about life inside and outside the hospital. 
So. For 2014 you can expect more stuff for nurses. More nursing product reviews. More linkups with Paige and you nurse-bloggers. Another awesome week of blogging in May for Nurses Week (here’s 2012 and 2013 if you want a look). As I write, the part I look forward to the most is hearing what my readers have to say. I love the sense of community having a blog gives you!
And so, as my blog is settling into it’s own little niche, I hope you’ll stick around. Please let me know if there is something more you’d like to see here! And follow on instagram (@anna_the_nurse) where I post more non-nursing stuff than anything. :) 
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A little bit about the nurse link-ups if you’re new:
Each month Paige and I pick a theme for nurse-bloggers to write about. We post on the last Wednesday of every month. Linkups are open to nurses, student nurses, aspiring nurses, retired nurses…we’re flexible. :) We follow HIPAA guidelines and do not post any identifying information about patients in our posts. We LOVE when people link up with us! 
Our January linkup is all about the essentials. What does a new nurse need when they’re first starting out? What do you wish you’d had in the beginning? What did you get and realize you never used? 

WhoopTee Giveaway! (with 3 winners!)

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See the shirt I’m wearing? 
I made it!
well, sort of. 
I doodled the design and then WhoopTee made it. 
WhoopTee is an online business that helps you create custom shirts.
They contacted me about creating my very own shirt and then offered to give a shirt to THREE loyal readers! :) 
I’m wearing their Bella Ladies short sleeve v-neck, size small. When I first got it, I was a little nervous that it might be too big… but after a run through the wash, it turned out to be just fine. :) 
side note: my shirt design was inspired by Molly’s artwork in her Urban Nester Shop. Just giving credit where credit is due. 
another side note: I took these pictures on a very windy day. forgive the unruly hair. 

Enter the giveaway below and 3 winners will be chosen next Monday. I’ll e-mail those winners with a coupon code and a link to this shirt template and then we will ALL have matching tree shirts!
It’s like a friendship bracelet or something… only better. :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Nursing Tuesday: sitting can kill you.

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Lately, the only nursing posts I’ve done have been link ups… that’s all fine and dandy, but I’d like to continue sharing little tid bits from the field of medicine, if that’s okay. :)

*This one goes out to all my fellow bloggers.
According to this study, excessive sitting is linked to an increased risk of certain cancers, heart disease, diabetes, and other health conditions. Basically, the people who sit the most, die the soonest. They say that even if you exercise, the risk of death still rises in the active people who sat longer. 
Maybe that’s why the chair model in The Office died… 
watch The Office s4 e10 - Chair Model online
To put it into perspective, the study says that people who sat more than 11 hours a day had a 40% higher risk of dying in the next three years than people who sat less than four hours a day. Yes, there are tons of other factors that could play into this study, but the message I take away is that I need to get up and MOVE.
Maybe this seems obvious to you.
But when I think about the years I’ve shaved off my life by working night shift and now the hours I’ve spent at the computer writing up posts, reading other’s blogs, responding to e-mails…it makes me want to make some changes. 
The Challenge: 
Take frequent breaks from sitting. Get up every 20 minutes or so for a short walk, even as short as 2 minutes. And no, walking to the kitchen to get yourself another bowl of ice cream doesn’t count. #guilty.

stamping out business cards.

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I love business cards. 
A lot. 
This post didn’t help the fascination one bit. 
And when I started seeing blogger-specific cards, I knew it was only a matter of time.
While Mo and I were in Portland, we went to a craft show. (If you want to see some really incredible business cards, go to a craft show!) That’s where I discovered the idea of using a stamp. 
I did a little online research and found MaeMae Paperie and their wonderful business card stamps. 
Then, for Christmas, I bought myself a little gift.  
Well, I told Mo I’d bought something for him to give to me for Christmas. This is what married people do sometimes. 
So next time you see me you can ask for my card! :) I’m pretty pleased with they way they turned out! 
(anatomically correct heart stamp from Skull and Cross Buns etsy shop)
Here’s one for you. :)
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I ALSO wanted to make a quick mention of an awesome little giveaway going on by Becca, one of my blog friends! She has the sweetest little blog about her family’s life in Italy and she recently had her second child and named him Gil. Cute, huh? Anyway, if you want a chance to win some REAL Italian food, Click here (or the picture) and check it out! :)

becca garber italian giveaway1 1024x1022 a very tasty little giveaway

Nurse linkups for 2013.

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To whom it may concern: 
Here is what you need to know about the 2013 nurse link-ups:
Who: for all nurse/nursing student bloggers
What: monthly linkup (observing HIPAA laws, of course)
When: on the last Wednesday of every month
Why: to create an online community of nurses where we can support each other, make friends, and share experiences.
Co-hosts: Paige @ A Dose of Paige and myself (HUGE thanks to Renee for co-hosting in 2012!) 
January 30th, we’ll all link up to talk about one of the most dreaded of days in nursing school: test day. 
Tell us what it was like to take a test at your school: how you studied, what your best/worst nursing subject was, what your very first test was like, any test-taking strategies/tips? 
OR even better, tell us what your skills lab tests were like! (example: I had a professor who was a sterile-field nazi and she totally called you out if you contaminated anything!) There’s nothing quite as scary as a skills lab test, am I right? 
Looking forward to sharing many, many stories with you all this year!

News!

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Friends! There is light at the end of the tunnel! 

The long, dark, energy-sucking tunnel called ‘night shift.’ 
This is my LAST week of nights before I move onto days and I’m pretty thrilled about it!!! 
no more 2am lunches. 
no more trying to sleep during the day. 
no more feeling like a zombie on my days off. 
on the other hand…
no more night shift differential. 
no more decent parking. 
no more being the nice nurse and letting patients get as much rest as possible during my shift. 
Ultimately though, days will be be good for my husband, for my health, for my social life, and for my blog. :)

Speaking of blogs, I’m very happy and excited and nervous to announce that I’m going to be teaching a blog class!
The City of Boise organizes community education courses (anything from improving your posture, to backyard beekeeping, to clock collecting. Something for everyone!) and they asked if I’d be willing to share what I know about starting a blog.
So I said yes. :)
and appropriately named my class: So You Wanna Start a Blog.
There are still some openings if you are interested or if you have any friends in Idaho, please let them know!

gift guide: for the blogger

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I don’t know about you, but I love reading other bloggers’ ideas for gifts.
I’m compiling a few ideas of my own and I’ll share them with you during the month! This week is all about gifts to give the blogger in your life.

Gift Guide: blogger edition

1. wooden wick candles– makes a cozy crackling noise while it’s burning! (I just recently discovered that these existed and I think they’re brilliant!)
2. business cards– the ones here are MiniCards, perfect for networking and for tucking inside envelopes when sending out the holiday cards this year.
3. beverage warmer– the perfect solution to the ‘drink-gets-cold-before-it’s-finished’ problem. This would fit so perfectly in the corner of my computer desk…just saying.
4. Blogger pillow– for the people who are lucky enough to blog in their pjs under the covers (this etsy shop carries pillows with other forms of social media too!)
5. ipad/ipad mini– so they can stay connected while traveling! Bonus: this is a perfect way for them to keep up on reading their favorite blogs too!
6. desk calendar– Make 2013 their most organized year ever with a calendar they can use to keep track of all the important dates in their blogging world.
7. Just tell them thank you. A little love note and you’ll make their day. :)
8. This blog print– visually appealing and perfect to hang in whatever space they write in.
9. Hedgehog foot warmer– keep their feet warm while blogging! (it even hooks up with a USB port, how cool is that?)

Bloggers for Christmas

I’m hoping to have a couple other gift guides before the month is over: one for nurses, one for cyclists, one for bakers. :) (then my husband will have all SORTS of ideas for gifts this year!)

ps. In case you didn’t know, I’m in Portland this week! Feel free to follow me on facebook and instagram, although I WILL be trying to post as well. Have a great week!

13 & 14 & 15, plus some extra bits.

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Number 13. 
The bed was beautifully made when I came home from work this morning. that guy…
Number 14. 
The reason we’re going to Portland is so Mo can attend a 2-week mechanic course at United Bicycle Institute. And it makes me so very proud of him. He’s finally finding that thing that sparks his interest, that thing that he is passionate about, that thing he’s really good at. and it makes me happy. :) 
Go be a sponge and soak up all that bicycle knowledge out there. 
Number 15. 
He goes day-after-thanksgiving-early-morning-shopping with me. not many men are willing to do that. 
ALSO. 
This week, I guest posted for Sheila over at The FailteHouse. 
You can read about my top 5 fall traditions HERE! :) 

And don’t forget to enter the Usborne Books giveaway! A winner will be chosen at the end of the week.

from stalker to blogger.

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Did you start off as a blog stalker? 
Pinned Image

… I did.

I can trace my beginnings to Ree, Joy, and Angie.
(I like to pretend I’m on a first name basis with these women. ha which of course, if I ever met them, I’d be too star-struck to even speak, let alone call them by their first name)
I started reading these lovely ladies’ blogs on a regular basis LONG before I was inspired to start a blog. Because of them, I even had the wild idea that I would try and do a FOOD themed blog! Well, we all know that didn’t work out.

of course, Joanna and Sydney followed close behind.
I discovered how great lifestyle blogging could be, right when I was in the middle my great hobby quest. When tennis and roller derby didn’t make the cut, blogging did. It’s one of the few things that has stuck around in my life and one that I plan to keep.

Some other bloggers who helped push me to go from stalker to blogger:
Lindsey at Hello Hue, Molly at A Few of My Favorite Things, Melanie at You Are My Fav, Molly at Urban Nester, and Erin at Apartment 34 (just to name a few).

Every. single. day. I find more and more people out there who I connect with. Blogworld has been so friendly and inviting, more than I could have anticipated. There are so many talented and amazing bloggers who inspire and challenge and entertain and make me think (I’m looking at you Megan, Tiffany, Alyx, and Renee).

So, I embrace all you blog stalkers! 
Especially since that’s where I began. I believe, given enough time, you stalkers will branch out and start reading more blogs. Then you’ll start leaving comments. And before you know it, you’ll have started your very own blog. :)

And speaking of stalking…

We were sitting at the longest red light in LA, when off to our right, a couple appeared to be greeting each other.

it was a minute of this, at least.
Long enough for us all to glance over…double-take…giggle awkwardly…realize they weren’t stopping…grab our cameras… take creepy stalker pictures…then drive away.
they were still going at it when the light turned green.

LA, I don’t get you.

Guest Post w/ Sheila- Bacon Wrapped Tomato and Chicken

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The lovely Sheila is my guest for today! She was kind enough to respond to my plea for guest bloggers while I’m down in California. :) and I can’t thank her enough because a) she included these gorgeous pictures of food and b) I have a new recipe to try when I get home. :) 
You can meet her properly on her blog. :) and you should, she’s a doll. 
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Excited to be over at the lovely Anna’s blog! And since she is away on a well deserved trip, I thought I would do something a little different then what I usually post about and share a recipe!

If you ask anyone who knows me, they will kindly tell you, “Keep Sheila out of the kitchen.”  It’s true.  I have done my fair share of oven fires, exploding food (yes, it’s possible), and creating gooey messes that were supposed to be stacks of goodness. So I made it a mission this year to learn how to cook.

This revelation only happened after I tried to impress a friend with my cooking “skills”- bad idea.  Something as simple as bacon pancakes turned into a goo fest.  I thought I was being sneaky and hiding the messed up pancakes in the trash every time they turned their back, but after a kind suggestion that we eat out instead – I later learned they saw it all.

So today I will share a little recipe that is impossible to mess up on (I should know).

Bacon Wrapped Tomato and Chicken
(serves 2)

2 chicken breasts
6 slices of Bacon
2 Tomatoes
Rosemary
Vegetable of choice
2 Sweet potatos
Salt and Pepper to taste

1. Preheat oven to 400
2. Cut sweet potatoes into horizontal thin slices and place on pan with coconut oil – season as desired. Place in oven. (Usually 20 minutes before you put the chicken in).
3. Take thawed chicken breasts and cut almost in 1/2 horizontally.  (You can see it in the photo below)
3. Cut tomatoes into thin slices and place on the bottom 1/2 of the open chicken breast
4. Sprinkle with Rosemary and seasoning of choice
5. Put the top 1/2 of the chicken back on top of the tomatoes
6. Wrap each chicken breast in three pieces of raw bacon
7. Place in oven (until chicken is no longer pink inside)
8. When the chicken is almost done, steam or pan fry your vegetables on low heat using a drizzle of coconut oil and seasoning of choice.

And if you are an amazing cook – everything will be finished at the same time!  There you have an easy, healthy meal that even I can’t mess up. Enjoy!

(If you are wondering why the fries are not in this photo, because I am not yet an amazing cook and they were not done in time) 😉

Thanks for having me Anna and I sure hope I am not poisoning your readers with my cooking knowledge 😉

I hope you stop by the blog and photography page to say hello!