I'm MARRIED!

Oh goodness, I'm MARRIED!!!!!

4/13/13 I became a Mrs!

AAAHHHHHH!!!!

It was such a wonderful day, seeing my family, my friends, and enjoying being with the love of my life!! We had such a wonderful day! 

The day started at 6:30 a.m., getting everyone at my house awake and ready to leave by 8, to be at a friends to get ready! Getting ready took longer than I thought it would, but we were on time! 

(And Grandpa Joe finally got his bananas!)

The wedding itself was beautiful and very laid back! I couldn't have asked for a better priest or bridal party! 

All the after parties were fun, catching up, seeing our friend's new baby, listening to some live jazz and my harp teacher play, and having an all round good time!

A {HUGE} thank you goes to my friend Bobby! Knowing my father passed away, and knowing I wasn't having a father daughter dance, he organized me to dance with all the men there that I grew up with, looking up to them like a father in some way, shape, or form.  I couldn't have asked for anything better, asides from my own father! THANK YOU!!!

After all the partying, Alex and I stayed at Salvatore's Grand Hotel, with a free dinner! Can you say {AWESOME}? The meal was fantastic, and the room breathtaking.  There was a jacuzzi in the room, a fireplace, champagne, chocolate covered strawberries, oh it was gorgeous!!! We were sad to check out the next day, we didn't want to leave, it was so relaxing after such a long day!

The morning after, we had breakfast with my mother, Grandparents and Uncle at Cracker Barrel, and having to say our goodbyes to my Grandparents afterwards.  I've missed them so much, I didn't want to let them go back home! 

Now that I'm married, I can keep working on the to do list around the house, for myself, and have time for planning what will be a {very} fun honeymoon this fall/winter! 

Just married!!

The ones we {can't} live without!

{Other than our families!}

{So Happy!} 

Stay tuned for some very fun posts coming up!!! 

xoxoxo

Comments and questions always welcomed! 

Barbershop Music

Something very dear to my heart is Barbershop Singing.  I grew up listening to my Grandfather sing with his chorus, "Friends of Harmony" every year for their shows with special quartets and guest singers.  Growing up with this has given me a greater appreciation for music, in all genres.  Not many people go around talking about how great that Barbershop Quartet was, or when the next one is going to be. It's something only those really raised with it know when something is coming up.  Barbershop singers are a dying breed from what they once were. 

After my Grandfather passed, I found that there was a Sweet Adelines group near me, and I joined them.  (Sweet Adelines is Barbershop singing for women!) This was a wonderful choice on my part.  Singing is something I love, and have done since I can remember.  When I was in Elementary School, I remember getting into Select Chorus and County Chorus a year earlier in 3rd Grade, when you had to be in 4th.  And onward I went, singing in school chorus, county chorus, church choir, private lessons, choir all throughout middle and high school.  High School was the height of singing, my sophomore year my school went down to NYC to sing in Lincoln Center! That was quite the event, we got to see STOMP on Broadway, too! College brought me to the Sweet Adelines.  The year I joined, it was before Christmas, so I was learning all the holiday music, and then afterwards, got to learn our Competition music! We went to Competition in Syracuse that year, and for the first time in a long while, our choir placed! We came in second for small choirs! Seeing each choir perform was like learning a little about each of them, their style of music, how they sang, each one's talents.  It was such a fun event! I'm not singing with them now, goodness knows I'm way too busy even to have a day to myself, but I'd love to sing again! (And not just to my steering wheel or shower head!)

To everyone out there, I highly recommend seeing your local groups perform.  It might be "old style" music, but its such a fun show, the harmony the music has gives you a warm and fuzzy feeling inside, and lets you know just how wonderful this style of music really is.

 

 

Below are some of my favorite videos:

 

 

 

 

 

Hope you all like this!

Let me know what you all think!

 

XOXOXO



Confidence (A little Racy!)

Something I've always been into, but never really talked about was the art of Burlesque.  Last year, I had a professional budoir photo shoot at a place near me called Spoil Me Silly.   Looking at the pictures afterwards really had me in awe.  It was like looking at myself in another light, seeing myself as more than just an average person, but also a gorgeous, confident woman. 

Even this picture is without the retouching services they offer, and this isn't even one of the more revealing ones! I've learned that there is a huge need for women to have more confidence in today's world.  This is an absolutely fantastic way to get there! It's in such a comfortable environment, the entire staff is female, and you get pictures of a gorgeous, beautiful you! Even if it's for your eyes only, you have something to be very proud of! No matter your body size, type, or shape, you will feel fabulous and sexy! 

Recently, I've been looking at some vintage things, and came across (for the thousandth time) Dita Von Teese! That is one very confident woman! She is a Professional Burlesque dancer with her own clothing and perfume line who is very down to earth.  She does her own makeup and hair, and seems very personable.  I tried my own hand at "professional makeup application" after a trip to Ulta.  (Where I had to learn what brush goes for what makeup!)

Granted, I could've done more, or dressed up for the part, but I'll get to that maybe tomorrow! Another day off, so maybe I'll dress up! I have a few things I have to do, so maybe after lunchtime! Ulta ladies say practice makes perfect! 

What is everyone else's thoughts on the subject? It's a tad controversial, but a fun topic! It's a wonderful way to gain confidence, have some fun, and be thankful for being a woman!

Who is Dita? Maybe you've seen her before on TV! She's only 40, but still looks as good as ever, and has the confidence of a fabulous woman! 

Some good Dita links:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lpdWutBQ6g

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dypDm6lxzAo

Also, there's this fun movie out there called Burlesque! A little corny, but has very good dancing and singing in it.  It stars Cher and Christina Aguilera. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJdfbUkbYAU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsso6fyvxcE

That's a good start to captivate someone for an entire show! 

Let me know what you all think! 

xoxoxo

Picture Night!

More of a picture mood! Will write more soon, promise!

Hoping to be back real soon! Take care! 

xoxoxo

The Start of some GOALS!

Some days, I can't believe I've made it to 21, that I'm a homeowner, getting married, with a growing zoo at the house, and still manage to work a full time job! But sometimes, I have a day where I sit back and just thing about where I want to be, what I want to do in both life and as a project around the house, and when I think they need to be complete.  So, to be Simply Jennifered, this is a start to the GOALS for 2013: {In no specific order}

1.  Update the HOUSE: Drywall bedrooms, paint, chalkboard paint in the kitchen, get rid of the carpet in our bedroom, new front door & screen door. 

2.  Become more ORGANIZED!  Make some sort of filing system for the bills, sort through closets, piles of old bills and paperwork, and especially make a cleaning schedule! What needs to be done certain days of the week! & get rid of all the Moving Boxes!!!

3.  MORE HOME COOKED MEALS, AT THE TABLE! {Even if it's the picnic table outside for grilling days!}

Not in front of the TV, standing in the kitchen, putting it in tupperware and eating in the car.  To get quality time with the ones I care about without the distractions.  

4.  Plan a REALLY awesome vacation:  After last year's trip to New Hampshire, I realized how long it's been since I had some sort of vacation where I could forget about all the "adult things" I have to worry about on a daily basis. {That's a really awesome feeling to not worry about anything other than what's for dinner!} 

5.  More time for ME:  There's always time for the zoo, the house, work, errands, etc., but not ME.  Even if it's sitting on the couch with Alex, do my nails, homemade facemask, and watch a movie together, that still would be fantastic.  Learn how to take care of MYSELF, in a more "girly" way, as some of my friends put it! But I'll always be me. 

We're already off to a good start! {Thank you, Pinterest, for all the wonderful ideas! Now I wish I had all the time and money for all those creations!} All in good time, though! Can't wait for summer: Garage Sales! Until then, hopefully a few good antique stores :)

Something nice and thoughtful to leave you with tonight:

From one household to another, have a WONDERFUL night!

xoxoxo

Comments and questions are always welcomed :) 

EMS

Working EMS makes you realize that it is a thankless, hurtful, yet empowering job.  It makes you realize human nature, the ups and downs of society, and has you very thankful for stupid people for providing you with job security.  Not many people can handle a job like this.  Most people base their opinions about what we do based off of TV shows and what they hear.  We don’t just drive an ambulance and bring sick people into the hospital.  We do a lot more than that.  We have to make people understand the term, “sick”. 

The average EMT/Paramedic working in the field is statistically only supposed to last 3-5 years on the job.  And nearly 80% of those leave the field with some sort of PTSD.  Normally, people leave because of moving on to bigger and better things or back injuries.  But there is a huge emotional side of the job as well.  There are so many things that you can’t un-see, can’t stop hearing things before you fall asleep every night.  Coming into the job, you think things will be like what you see on TV and what you learned in class.  But once you get in that ambulance at the start of your shift, you throw most of the training out of the window and put some practicality into what you were taught.  There is absolutely no such thing as a textbook case.  Working the streets puts us in non-isolated, possibly dangerous situations.  We are out in the heat, rain, snow, blizzards, floods, everything.  Not only do we find our patients in conditions like that, but we also have to drive through it.  We also go to HazMat scenes, structure fires, Carbon Monoxide calls, etc.  Weather aside, we respond to shootings, assaults, stabbings, child abuse, etc.  Because we want to.  No, we need to help.  24/7, 365.

I’ve been working both volunteer and paid EMS services since 2009 and even in t his short time, I’ve both seen and done a lot.  I’ve done CPR multiple times, have had people die, have people live from it.  There is nothing more unnerving than performing CPR on a child.  Respond to confirm deaths.  Respond to a three year old with multiple injuries resulting in a broken arm and multiple bruises from Mom and Dad.  I’ve back boarded a 5 year old who got pushed out of a 3^rd story window.  Car accidents with fatalities.  Rape and sexual assault victims for both adults and minors.  Overdoses.  Suicide attempts, assaults, shootings, stabbings, domestic violence.   Prison transfers out of Maximum Security Prisons.  Severe medical emergencies including strokes, STEMI’s, heart attacks, respiratory arrest, anaphylaxis, etc.  The Dead on Arrival (DOA’s) that are so obvious you can smell it before you walk inside.  And then we have the good calls, the saves.  The old ladies telling us how sweet we are and to call them “Grandmammy”, the little kids who are crying and feel better when you hold their hands and make turkeys out of gloves by inflating them to have something to play with, or play doctor with the stethoscope.  We’ve delivered babies, experiencing the miracle of life in a very confined space on the side of the street.  These are all things we respond to, treat, and transport on a daily basis.  We are the ones who deal with scenes and situations that the Fire Department and Police Department can’t handle.  We are the ones who deal with it and treat it, not only dealing with and treating the patients, but for ourselves as well.   There are doctors out there that have tried working the streets and cannot handle the pressure of being the first line of treatment, seeing the scene of a bloody car accident or bad trauma even though they treat it at the hospital in a safe environment out of the elements.  What we do 9 times out of 10 on a legit bad call determines life or death for the patient.  We have to know our stuff, and we can’t afford to mess up. (No pressure!) We really do save lives, even if it’s just helping someone through stopping another suicide attempt, or responding to a call for someone who just wants company and to have her new medication explained to her because she’s lonely.  EMS is normally not recognized as a rewarding job.  It definitely comes with negatives, but the positive ones are so good and rewarding that it gets you through the tough times.  I had a really… really bad call yesterday.  But today, one lady we picked up had a silly joke that made me smile for the rest of the day, “What did one strawberry say to the other strawberry?  ….”How’d we get into this jam?” J The silly small things, taking the time out of the transport to not only get to the patient on a professional, medical level, but to be able to make them smile when they’re in severe pain, be patient for the psych patients, but mostly, to just listen and have compassion for the situation they are in. 

Rant about taking ambulances to get triaged faster instead of driving yourself at a later date, along with Medicaid taxis and calls that make you just go, “huh??” (Like calling because you have a stubbed toe from the day before, when you live TWO houses away from the ER entrance of the trauma center.  Or tell us that they pay our salary because they have Medicaid.) Oh, all for another day.

*Note: Going by ambulance does not mean you’ll be seen or treated faster!

XOXOXO

Excuses, Excuses!

Well, it definitely has been a while since I last posted.  But SO many things have happened! Lets see... Back at work, trying for a normal 40 hour week but somehow that hasn't been working out too well for me.  Monday, the 17th, my Fiance''s Grandmother got taken out of the nursing home and was intubated and put on life support at the hospital, that night Alex was in the ER until 5:30 a.m. (he's okay!) Wednesday, Alex's mom went into the ER, Thursday night Alex's 2 Aunts came into town to say goodbye to their mother, early Friday morning Babcia passed away.  Saturday was Funeral and Wake preparations, and Alex's 2 cousins stayed with us the night, Sunday was the wake, Monday Alex's Mom got out of the hospital and the Funeral/Burial/Luncheon happened.  Phew! Over yet? I think not! Tuesday was Christmas Day, and spent with family and watching all the new movies we got for Christmas! Then, Weds-Fri was work! Holy Cow, that's a lot! And now due to some Dr/Scheduling mess, I don't go back to work until the 2nd! It's leaving me time to finally catch up on the housework, go through all my magazines, take pictures of the snowfall, (which is gorgeous!) and go sledding!

Today my friend Katie and I went sledding at the Ridge!  We felt like little kids again! We made sure to take a lot of pictures, and bundle up! 

Wednesday was a super bad snowstorm that somehow my partner and I managed to work through! We were going barely 20 mph trying to get back to punch out! On my way home that night I saw 12 people spin out, and countless people losing traction while trying to make a turn.  But, after all that snowfall, the scene turned peaceful for a little while.  Pristine, cool, and beautiful.  White everywhere, on tree branches, icicles hanging on almost all the houses, fresh powdered snow untouched by animals or humans.  It really was gorgeous! Thursday was fairly clear, but Friday it started to snow again in the late evening and into today! This morning on the way to the bank, I didn't even bother taking my car out of four wheel drive.  By the time I started coming home, there were plows on the road, and by afternoon the roads were completely cleared off... at least in my town! Not in some of the neighboring towns, where side streets were untouched almost all day, slush everywhere, just blah! 

Today, I figured out one of my goals for 2013:

To go snowmobiling! 

Well, off to bed! Lots of catching up tomorrow with everything, especially those cuddles with my puppy! 

A fun picture to leave you with today! :)

Comments and questions are always welcomed!

xoxoxo