i am a coconut.

counting my blessings.

This past weeekend has been a lovely reminder of my blessings: a four day weekend, family time, great food, and laughter. In the middle of the darkness of my physical recovery, are lots of light and love.

life happens when you are busy making plans.

And here it is almost a year later since I last blogged. It's not because I haven't been busy. It's because I HAVE been busy. My family and I were involved in a car accident and we have been recovering physically from that. We are all ok, except I had disc herniations in my back and neck that needed attention. I had surgery for my lower back and recovery has been slow. It's been scary and frustrating. I just want to get back to doing what I love to do- craft and bake and clean. Things I took for granted before. I have Physical Therapy twice a week and I attend religiously whether I want to or not. It has been helping but I will be having another neck surgery soon. The surgeon says this recovery will be much easier than the back surgery. But we all know he is a liar. Ha. Still, I am counting my blessings and cherishing the moments when I feel like myself again. 

 

Hey, at least my nails were on point. Literally.

 

crafty weekend.

Taking the time to create is something I want to do more often in the coming year. Even with a sinus infection, I cleaned off the craft table and created some little planner dolls. I love to color with Copic Markers and I find it relaxing. It makes me happy to make pretty things. Made me miss those days of three 12-hour work weeks.

 

100 things about me.

1. I can tie a cherry stem in my mouth.
2. I wet the bed my 1st grade year.
3. I was born in the Philippines and grew up in Las Vegas.
4. I've only lived in two places, the Philippines and Las Vegas.
5. I choked during a 6th grade singing competition.  I forgot the words to "Over the Rainbow" and the judges' comments were filled with "You look nice tonight."
6. My husband was my first.
7. I learned how to speak English in 4 months with Sesame Street.
8. I got a reading award in 1st grade not knowing what I was reading.
9. I've never done any drugs or smoked a cigarette or marijuana.
10. I'm allergic to every alcohol but vodka. Trial by error at the age of 21.
11. I have always excelled in school but have no common sense.
12. I knew all about sex before experiencing it myself.  The public library is a wealth of information on this subject.
13. Senior Ditch Day was spent playing cards with fellow nerds at a friend's house.
14. I can carry a tune. Just ask my karaoke machine.
15. I am a microphone hog.
16. I love freshly cleaned sheets.
17. I hate touching food with my hands.  I once ate a Snickers bar with a knife and a fork.
18. I spent lots of time teaching new moms how to breastfeed as a graduate nurse without doing this myself.
19. I pray before I start the car.
20. I know all the words to the Grease soundtrack.
21. I am short and stout. I'm pretty much a teapot.
22. I was the tallest girl in my 5th grade class. Five foot zero. Same height as I am now.
23. I won all the Field Day races in my 5th grade class, a feat that would never happen again.
24. I like my boobs.  So does my husband.
25. I'm a control freak.
26. I once let in a Jehovah Witness in my parents' home and spent the afternoon with them.  He came back the next day, knowing everyone's names.  My dad was furious.
27. My favorite food is sushi.
28. I almost sewed off my finger during home economics.
29. I once plastered my walls with Ricky Schroeder, Menudo, Rob Lowe, Ralph Macchio, and Duran Duran.
30. I cannot poop in public restrooms.  I will hold it for a week if I have to.
31. I prefer water over soda.
32. My heart skips a beat when I see my husband walk into a room.
33. My house is a mess but you can eat and drink off the toilets.  Really.  I'm serious.
34. My biggest pet peeve is not following through on your promises.
35. I used to stay up and watch Johnny Carson during elementary school.
36. My favorite subject in high school was calculus.
37. I failed my first calculus class in college.
38. My very first car cost $250 and was a Chevy Chevette. She was lovingly called "Rusty." 
39. I met my husband in my church choir.  He was the drummer.  Swoon.
40. I've had many nursing students practice starting IV's on my veins.
41. My first patient as a nursing student was a 70 year old man who constantly offered to show us his penile pump.
42. I threw up every morning on my way to school in the first grade.
43. My family never told me that we would be moving to the States to stay.  I thought it was just a big vacation.  They still have not told me when we are going back.
44. I am afraid of scissors, steak knives, my Fiskars cutter. I fear sharp things.
45. I once embarrassed myself in front of my future mother-in-law by loudly announcing I have a fear of big balls flying across my face.
46. I tell people that my father is good looking because I resemble him.
47. My full first name is Cynthia Margarita, after Margarita Moran, Miss Universe Philippines 1973.
48. In the Philippines, my mom insisted that the vaccinations that scarred babies on their upper arms be placed in my inner forearm. This way, when I walked down the runway as Miss Universe, my upper arm would be blemish free. Ha.
49. I hate onions.
50. My most embarrassing moment was when I walked out of the staff bathroom with toilet paper hanging out of my scrub pants.
51. I hate going to the vagina whisperer.
52. I pluck the one hair I have on my chin.
53. I used to use a can of Aqua Net hairspray a week in the 1980's.
54. My favorite candy bar is Hershey's with Almonds.
55. I can only say dirty words in my native tongue.
56. My sisters and I are forbidden to go to church together because we laugh uncontrollably for no apparent reason.  We are constantly separated by my mother during Mass.
57. Red is my favorite color.  Hooker red.
58. I took my mom to see the Thunder from Down Under when she was getting chemotherapy to make her happy.
59. I am deathly afraid of heights.
60. I've never had braces but I need them.
61. I love the smell of warm baby breath.
62. I thought that I had to wipe my dog's butt when he did his business outside.
63. I am superstitious.
64. I'm not a big fan of rap music.  I much prefer country.
65. I can eat rice for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
66. I was on local TV once for a local parade in which I was a cheerleader.  Ha!
67. I've worn glasses bigger than my whole face.
68. I've sung "The Star Spangled Banner" in front of a crowd of 500 people.
69. My mantra as a graduate nurse was, "Lord, let me not kill anyone tonight."
70. I was present when my sister gave birth. I remain traumatized.
71. I taught my mom how to drive a car right after I got my own license.
72. I never want to disappoint my parents.
73. If I could do my wedding day over again, I would elope.
74. I've seen every episode of the Brady Bunch.
75. I watch hockey only for the fights.
76. I love taking naps.
77. I hate to cry but I love crying at chick flicks.  I've been told to shut up at a movie theater.
78. I've owned 4 Volkswagens- 3 Jettas and 1 Beetle.
79. I vow never to go back to the Philippines unless I stay in a hotel.  Flushing the toilet by pouring water down the toilet is not what I call fun. 
80. I love to feel the pop when starting IVs.
81. My pantry is full of Spam and Vienna Sausages.
82. I'm a reality TV junkie. Anything Housewives is my guilty pleasure.
83. I hate confrontation.
84. I'd rather be happy than right.
85. I am a godmother to 3.
86. I am a stepmom to 2 very white children.
87. I am a mom to 2 furry creatures.
88. I'd rather spend time making gifts than buying them.
89. I jam on my planner.
90. I've never met stationery I didn't like. Office supplies are my friends.
91. I like to bake and share. No one is safe from being force fed.
92. I'd rather hear the painful truth than a lie.
93. I've sung at a few weddings and funerals.
94. I can't tolerate any artificial smells. No perfumes for me. My signature scent is clean.
95. I tell people that my father is good-looking because I resemble him.
96. Channing Tatum is my boyfriend.
97. I've never seen any Star Wars movies.
98. I have been a nurse for almost 20 years.
99. I've seen more penises than a prostitute. They don't tell you that in nursing school.
100. My husband says I am bossy. I call it having leadership skills.

happy new year 2016.

The new year makes me want to change everything about my life. My bad habits, my weight, my health, my blog. I am not a fan of resolutions. They don't work. They make me hate myself for failing and lose faith in the process. So. Even though I may hate it, I am changing up a few things. This year will be a time of self improvement and reflection. I hope to journal, list, write down my thoughts, create, read. Have experiences. Have gratitude for the little things.

2015 was a rough one. Lots of changes. Painful at times, but for the good. We moved to a different home. Abigail moved to Las Vegas with us and is now going to art school. I changed jobs. Working in a pediatric department has been part of my identity for 18 years. I am transitioning into my new position as a hospice nurse manager but often miss my old unit. Yes, this new job is less stressful, but my sense of purpose has changed. I have more time for myself. I just need to enjoy this. I am ready to move forward.

For 366 days (daily), I will be journaling every day. 2 sentences or 3 pages. Writing something down. I may use prompts. Or not. Whatever the mood may be. No rules. Just write. I will be writing them down here on this blog. I have closed my previous blog and started anew. Simple, clean design. Uncluttered.

For 52 weeks (weekly), I will create once a week. Color a stamped image with my Copic Markers, make a card, send a Thank You, jam on my planner. Yes, I jam on my planner. Just because I enjoy it. I am using what craft supplies I have and in doing so, hope to save more money.

For 12 months (monthly), I will read a book every month. I will use my e-reader and read the books I have previously purchased.