Always believe . .: My 1st Blog Award

My fellow blogger, sister and best friend has become quite the savvy blogger and she has given me a blog award in which I have to work for it.

Honorees are to list 10 honest things about themselves - and make it interesting, even if we have to dig deep! Second, we are to pass the award on to 7 bloggers we feel embody the spirit of the Honest Scrap.

10. Even though I am an animal lover, I really have a hate for squirrels. I do not find these rodents to be cute at all. I do not find them charming. Rather, I find them to be a bother, and a pest. Such a pest which invaded an outdoor brunch one afternoon and left me since then accellerating towards them whenever they cross the road in front of my car. I have even called the city on these rodents. Hoping they would be able to lower the population of squirrels in my 'hood. I have even searched the web for squirrel traps and such.. Don't worry - I have never hit one, my good side always hits the breaks before the hit and I have not bought a trap - yet.

9. I have become addicted to Children's clothing. Long has passed the days of shopping for myself, rather I am determined to have the nicest, and best clothes for our fashion model - Lyla. However, I do search out the sales and clearance, which then make up for the excess of clothing that I purchase.

8. This leads to me the next point. I am addicted to checking the websites of Gymboree, Children's Place, Crazy 8 and such to see what is on clearance.

7. I failed 2 courses in my first year of University. At the time this was the worst thing that could have happened to me. In retrospect, it was the best thing ever. It kicked my butt into gear to become determined and focused in school. I ended up graduating from Queen's with 2 degrees, holding a position on the Nursing Student Council, and graduated on the Dean's List (we don't have GPA's in Canada but the Dean's List is the highest honor).

6. Upon graduating from school, I never thought that I would ACTUALLY nurse. I figured I would work as a bedside, clinical nurse for MAYBE a year and then go back to do my Masters of Nursing in Research. My two degrees where Nursing Science and Geography - I wanted to do research in Environmental Health. This all changed once I started working as a clinical bedside nurse. I love my job. I wouldn't change it for the world. I actually help people. I have saved lives. I have been there when a person goes into cardiac arrest and I know how to respond. I have been there when a patient takes their last breath and I have been that shoulder whom family members cry on. These are the things that make my job worthwhile. These are the reasons I get up and go to work in the morning.

5. I met my husband during the fall of my first year of University. I think it was in October. He was the 'wing man' to his friend who thought my roommate was cute. They came to our room at the ungodly hour of midnight or later. Vanessa, my roommate, and I had just turned out the lights to go to sleep for the night. I had taken out my contacts and was in flannel plaid red pjs when they arrived in our room. To save myself from looking like a complete dork, I didn't put my glasses on. The next day Vanessa and I walked past Ryan (my husband) on the street and I had to ask Vanessa if that was the guy who I spent time talking with the night before! This leads to me my next point...

4. I have really bad eyesight.

3. I have become a bit of a breastfeeding fanatic. Last night I even found myself checking out how to become a lactation consultant. My original goal was to nurse Lyla until she was 6 months. Then it became 8 months - for like a week, and then I changed it until 1 year. Now that we are past 8 months and heading towards a year, I am considering keeping the night feeding before bedtime. I know ultimately it may be Lyla's decision when we stop nursing, but right now I am so glad that I persevered through the early months because it is such a special bond that only a mother and child can share.. And you feel so wonderful doing it for her. The one thing that bothers me is people's perspective on breastfeeding. I find in Canada it is considered the norm to nurse for the first year. Here, I find people are like "You are STILL nursing your daughter?!?" Maybe it is because in Ontario you get a year maternity leave, whereas in MI you get 6 to 12 weeks.

2. Even though I am harkening on the doorstep of my 30's, I still find myself wrapped up in Teeny Bopper television shows, namely 90210 .I love both the old and new series. I love watching shows like the Bachelor as well.

1. I live by the thought that you have to say your "I love you's" every time your loved one walks out the door, because you never know if it will be the last time you see them. Working in ICU, I have heard many a times " I was just talking to her yesterday..." So maybe I am a bit afraid of what can happen out in the world.. Not so much that I am scared to live my life, but I always make sure I tell Ryan I love him before we leave in the morning - every day.

So there you have it, my 1st blog award. Now I am going to pass this on to the following chickitas:

Thanks to my presenter:

Pam