I spilled the beans....

I have been running around all morning getting us organized and ready to go on our San Francisco/Napa Valley/Lake Tahoe trip. We leave this evening. I have been all over town and am juggling a million thoughts in my head. I came home and met Blake for lunch and was excited to make myself black bean nachos until.....

I spilled the beans.....

They went EVERYWHERE! You may not be able to see, but they are splattered down door and wall which were approx. 8 feet away.

Yes that is them even on the ceiling! For true appreciation, click on the picture to make it bigger.

I didn't know whether I should cry or laugh, so I started doing both at the same time. Pretty hysterically I might add. But I pulled myself together and called Finn in to help with the initial clean up.

Then worked on getting it off the ceiling...

Then I added mopping the floor to my list of things to get done before we leave.

Blake's comments: "I am so glad I was home to see that" and "I am just waiting to somehow get blamed for this"

An ode to William and Kate (mostly William)

Oh William, how I loved thee, let me count the ways....

From the moment I first saw you when I was but a pre-teen I formed a deep infatuation for you. I always preferred you, with your olive complexion and sturdy frame, to your smaller, ginger brother. I cried for you when you lost your mother and when I was 13, I put your poster up on the wall of my bedroom - if I recall correctly, you were not wearing a shirt.

I oft dreamt we would somehow meet from across the oceans and I would become Princess of Whales.

But alas, your poster came off the wall a decade ago and I am now happily married, as you will be on Friday. I will be busy Friday sipping wine in Napa Valley and I will lay my head down at the end of the day on a pillow in Lake Tahoe. But I hope you have a great day and I send you wishes for many years of happiness.

Thanks for being beautiful and letting a young girl dream.

The House!

Blake just got back from Rome. He met with the inspector and they discussed his report. He only found minor problems so we are going to move forward! Here are some better pictures.

And from the back, big yard!

The view

Love the fireplace

Love the kitchen

Love the wrought iron

LOVE my Closet!

What a Wonderful Birthday!

Today is my 26th birthday, and I have to admit, I wasn't very excited about it. There's nothing special about 26, and I felt like I'm getting on the old side of young (sorry to those of you older than 26, just being honest). But it's turned out to be a great day and I'm changing my outlook. 26 is going to be an awesome year for me - I'm going to become a doctor this year!

On top of that, we got great news yesterday - our offer was accepted on a house in Rome, and we have an awesome place to live! This was our second time looking and I didn't expect to have such great luck. The first time we left feeling very under-whelmed. We saw some poopy and over-priced houses. The second look was a different story - we had far fewer houses to look at (we started the day planning to look at only 3, ended up seeing 5), but they all felt like viable options. When we chose the house we put an offer on, we knew we were bidding with 2 other people, so I really didn't expect us to get it. Our realtor called a day before we expected and I was sure she had bad news. I was trying to keep my hopes down, but I really wanted the house. It's awesome, huge, beautiful, in a great area, etc. The only bad thing I can say about it is that the back yard needs help. Unfortunately I didn't take a good picture of the front. We will probably be going back soon and I'll get some better ones. Closing is set for May 24!


After our realtor called, Blake thought it was a good time to give me my birthday present. He had told me I wasn't getting anything for my birthday, instead I was getting a graduation present, so it was a surprise. He did really good! I got a pair of Mikimoto pearl earrings!

I should be honest and say that this is the second pair of pearl earrings he's given me. I treasured the others, and searched on my hands and knees with a flashlight in the dark in the Mercer parking lot for one that had fallen out. That time I miraculously found it, but after all that, I think Finn ate one of them. I will keep a better eye on these.

We have a lot to do before we are ready to move to Rome, but it is getting very exciting! Gotta give God praise for all my blessings!

" You have done many good things for me, Lord, just as you promised.
I believe in your commands; now teach me good judgment and knowledge."
Psalm 119:65&66

Recent Reads

I really love to read and now that I am DONE with Medical School I have more time to read for pleasure. I am always asking around for a good book, so if you are looking for one here are some options:

"The Girl Who...." series by Stieg Larson ***** (five stars)
- My aunt passed these on to me and they are awesome - they will literally make you clap and fist pump the air while you read them alone in your living room. I'm reading the third and final one now. The main character is majorly quirky - but you can't help but love her. Follow the characters as they solve mysteries in each book. These books are long, several hundred pages, and in the first book it takes him about 100 pages to lay the foundation, but it is definitely worth getting through.


"The Last Precinct" by Patricia Cornwell ****
- This was my first Cornwell read and I want to read lots more. She also writes books in series so you can follow Kay Scarpetta, a medical examiner, as she solves murders by examining the dead bodies. These are great for anyone with legal and/or medical interest.


"Redeeming Love" by Francine Rivers ****
- This book has a Christian theme and is about a man who falls in love with a prostitute and leads her to God by showing her true love and forgiveness.



"Same Kind of Different as Me" by Ron Hall and Denver Moore ***
- This books authors are the main characters; one is a rich man and one is a homeless man. It also has a Christian theme and is a true story about how God can form a life-long friendship between people from opposite background.


"Playing for Pizza" by John Grisham ***
- This is an older Grisham novel but it was a fun and easy read. It's about a professional football player who has been cut from every NFL team and faces the choice of giving up football forever or playing for the Italian league. Grisham paints the Italian culture and makes you fall in love without even going there.


"Killer Dreams" by Iris Johansen ***
- This is a science fiction book and is far-fetched like most science fictions are. It is about a scientist who has developed a method to tap into dreams and implant knowledge. In the book she is on the hunt to stop an evil person who has stolen her method and is using it to produce trained killers.


If you have any good books you have read lately, please pass them along. If you would like to borrow any of these, I would be happy to loan them out!