Surrounded

It might be the lack of sunshine and vitamin D.

It might be the snow and ice surrounding me, making my hands and feet cold and numb.

It might be the fact that we are only halfway through winter.

Whatever it is, this time of year almost always sends me searching for "beach photos" on Google.

Dream with me:

warm sand...

soft waves lapping at our toes...

hot rays of sun bronzing our skin...

well, it makes me feel a little bit better, at least.

How about you?

The only good thing about these dreary winter days is how much they make you appreciate the sun and warmth when they finally return!

RWOP: Camera strap cover

Since getting my new baby, er...camera, for Christmas, I have been wanting a strap cover.  However, spending another $40 or $50 just wasn't feasible, so I decided I would have to wait.

Then along comes Pinterest.  With a tutorial of how to make your own.  Add that to a wonderful mother-in-law with sewing prowess and a love of her daughter-in-law (that's me) and you have a recipe for a Real Women of Pinterest post and a happy girl with a fancy camera strap cover!

http://www.priddycreations.com/blog/2011/06/01/camera-strap-slipcover-padded-lined-tutorial/

Notice the details of the added Initial charms..."H" for Heather, and "M" for Michelle.  Yep, she even made one for my big sis.  Told you she was awesome.

I can't wait to get out and do some mad photo-taking sessions...once this bear of a class is over, that is.

That's my mother-in-law, Kay, in the white shirt.  She went shopping for the fabric with me, told me how much to get (although I got WAY too much of the fusable fleece despite her guidance), then went home and whipped them up in less than three hours.  Seriously, she rocks.

Visit the tutorial in the caption of the first pic if you want to make your own.  As much as I love you all, I'm not willing to share my mother-in-law.  She's one in a million.

Beauty

It's everywhere, if only we open our eyes and truly see.

Beauty.

Although winter is my least favorite season, I can still see the stark beauty in the bare trees...

And the wonder of the first good snow of the season...

And the way you can almost taste the bitter cold just looking at this picture...

And the beauty of your "baby" boy, growing up before your very eyes?  Leaves me speechless...

Where are you finding beauty these days?

Resolution: Part One

Every year, my employer (The Christ Hospital) takes part in the American Heart Association's Mini-Marathon.  I ran in this race two years ago, and this year I decided to be the team leader for Nursing Administration.  I am busily recruiting my fellow administrators to step away from their desks and run with me...I already have one other nursing supervisor who has encouraged me to do the 15K with her. Our goal is to get twenty members on our team and raise $1000 for the AHA...we're on our way!

Running this race not only helps me in my 2012 resolution to get fit; it pays tribute to the doctors, nurses and therapists who helped my father-in-law get through a terrible year of heart disease, congestive heart failure and subsequent open heart surgery.  

If you are inspired to grab your running shoes and join me in this race, I'd love to see you there!  If running or walking isn't possible, please consider visiting our team page and helping with a donation:  

http://cincinnati.kintera.org/heartmini/wearensgadmin

There have been so many advances in the medical treatment of the heart patient in the past decade...races like this one help ensure that more advances will be made in the future.  I'm looking forward to seeing you there!

Scared.

My sister, Michelle, posted this picture of my niece on her Facebook page the other day.  Danielle starts her first nursing clinicals this Thursday.  Per Danielle, she is "scared sh*&less".  (She may be scared, but oh my word, she is adorable!)

Thinking about how she was feeling made me remember my own first day of clinicals, at the ripe old age of eighteen.  Having to give someone a bedbath and learn how to make a bed with a patient still in it were the first tasks I learned.  A kind touch, an attentive ear and a gentle spirit when caring for a hurting soul were skills that took a bit longer to master.  I was very worried about learning the technical aspects of nursing.  It was later that I realized that anyone can give a bath or change a bed, but it takes a special kind of nurse to connect with a patient and show them that they are cared for.  You don't make that connection with every patient you meet, but the ones you do, you remember forever.

Danielle already has these traits.  She is kind and gentle, and especially loves caring for the elderly population.  She is incredibly smart (can you say 4.0?!) but also knows that she has a lot to learn to become a great nurse.  I told her I would be worried if she wasn't scared; as nurses, our patients' lives are in our hands.  We need to take that responsibility seriously if we are to make a difference.

I'm so stinkin' proud of this girl.  I can't wait to see the kind of nurse she grows up to be!

A Wedding

A good friend of mine was married last night.  I have helped her with some of the planning along the way, making her invitations and offering money-saving advice here and there.  Since my own wedding was fifteen years ago, I had such fun tagging along on her journey to the aisle.

Boots to a wedding?  Apparently it's okay when said wedding is in January!

Tiffany was a beautiful bride.

I love Caleb's expression here :)

While waiting for the bridal party to finish up their group photo shoot, a co-worker played around with my new camera's "action mode", making Joe and me strike a pose or two or ten :)

After a dinner of the best wedding food I've ever tasted, we headed to the dance floor to burn off those calories.  I haven't danced like that in years!  It was so much fun!

Joe had worked all day, then had to meet me at the wedding/reception, then work again in the morning.  He never complained, not once, just had a good time right alongside of me.  It wasn't our wedding, but it was certainly a night to remember.  Thanks for sharing your special day with us, Tiff and Caleb.  Although, I have to say that I would've liked to tag along on the honeymoon, too...so jealous of the fact that I'm sitting here freezing and you're soaking up the sun on a Jamaican beach...sigh :)

Just sweat it.

Since I started back to school two years ago, I have packed on 15 pounds.

15 pounds may not sound like a lot, but when you're trying to squeeze it into the same size pants because you refuse to buy the next size up, it is.  Believe me.

January always marks the start of weight-loss programs across the country, it seems.  My goal isn't just weight loss, though.  It's to get fit and be healthy.  Yes, I do want to lose those college-pounds, but mostly I want to feel good in my own skin.

And while I wish my skin looked more like this:

I have to be grateful that at least it doesn't look like this:

Seriously?  All I can say is ouch.

Thankfully, I have a husband and two good friends to help inspire me to get back into an exercise routine, not to mention a daughter who wants to get back into running after a long break.

Who knows, Victoria's Secret might just change their minds about the sex appeal of varicose veins, spider veins and stretch marks...then I could have a chance at that cover model spot ;)