obsessed

the "wendy" dress

semester 2 complete

my instructor pam (she's a dream), mel, and me

my buddies

semester 2 clinical group med/surg

we were obviously caught off guard

mel and me

(no lie, the person that i've had the most crazy nursing experiences with. she's always there when i'm in need of a helper and trust me, it's always the most unpleasant of experiences! )

i think our last day of clinical for this semester was the most eventful because of how busy we were with our patients. what a way to end the last day let me tell you! i think we were all looking forward to going out to an early dinner by then.

here's to next semester in the ER/ICU and hoping for more crazy experiences!!

ketchup!

i'm so glad that i was able to go to Ketchup in LA. the weather was so gorgeous! going for lunch was the best idea for sure. we ended up getting to sit right on sunset and enjoy the loud construction going on down the street. we were all so hoping to run into audrina or lc while we were there, but to no avail :)

the interior was so unique and there was not a soul in the restaurant

me and mel

right above sunset (rin, me, mel, and jami)

these are the parmesan, cajun, and sweet potato fries that they serve (the sweet potato fries were covered in cinnamon sugar!) you can try the different kinds of ketchups they have such as chipotle, bbq, ranch, banana, and wasabi ketchups. it was so good! i'm totally going back.

yard house

sharin' some laughs, and eating some din din with the nursing girls.

BookBook

how cool is this?! it's a macbook hardcover that protects your computer, yet looks like a 18th century novel. So pretty.

http://www.twelvesouth.com/products/bookbook/

ina soltani

anyone watch molly's and jason's wedding on tv? the only part i cared about was seeing what dress jillian chose and in my opinion she was the prettiest girl there. she wore the little green number, but i'm also lovin' the yellow one!

taking a trip down memory lane

thought about this lady tonight and how my roommates and i were convinced that she knew how to speak english yet told us she didn't. i was reminded of how she had a bee culture (apicultura) in her large backyard. i remember her feeding us a brioche filled with apricot jam every morning for breakfast. italians love apricots. i got sick of them pretty fast. she loved that i loved her cooking. my roommates used to say i was her favorite. they told me once rita always said "rachele" this, "rachele" that. haha. i swear it's just because i was the italian one in the house. i remember her love for her cats. not my finest memory. she used to make my bed while i was at work, and when i would come home her cat would be sleeping on my pillow. i'm getting grossed out just thinking about it.

this was the street we lived on. strada di pian del lago. we used to have to walk up a beautifully long hill to make it to the bus stop where we would wave our hands for the nice man to pick us up. he loved us. i wanted so bad to blend in with the rest of the group on the bus, and by the end of my trip i was chatting it up with neighborhood ladies that were going to pick up some groceries. we became good friends.

don't you hate how your mind fails you sometimes? i was just thinking about how many things i am beginning to forget about my trip. i've got to start writing my thoughts down when they come to me.

-photos by rique stone-

nyt chocolate chip cookies

photo by 'to paris and back'

this is by far the best chocolate chip cookie recipe i have ever tried. the key is using the best chocolate. no not nestle tollhouse, i'm saying like 75% bittersweet chocolate. the real bitter stuff that i love. i used to be a fan of milk chocolate, but due to certain circumstances i can't eat it anymore and i actually don't mind because i think dark chocolate is way better. plus it's even better for you.

this is now the only recipe i will use. it requires the use of cake flour and bread flour which makes for a crunchier outer crust, yet a chewier inside. so you basically get the best of both worlds. the other thing that i love about this recipe? the salt content is more than normal. i was a little hesitant about adding more salt than normal, but the salt brings out the stronger almost berry-like flavor of the dark chocolate. i'm craving a batch right now!

you want to know a funny/weird thing i love to do when i make cookies? i love making a huge batch yet only cooking 6 at a time. i can't stand dry, old cookies. they are only good warm. so i will only make them if i am going to eat them immediately! my family can't stand it. i love it.

i really want to buy the bittersweet disks that you can find at whole foods, but i haven't made it over there yet. i think the disks would be much better than chips because you have more chocolate surface area. plus, chocolate chips have a stabilizer in them which gives them their shape even after baking.

NEW YORK TIMES

July 9, 2008

RECIPE

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Adapted from Jacques Torres

Time: 45 minutes (for 1 6-cookie batch), plus at least 24 hours’ chilling

2 cups minus 2 tablespoons

(8 1/2 ounces) cake flour

1 2/3 cups (8 1/2 ounces) bread flour

1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt

2 1/2 sticks (1 1/4 cups) unsalted butter

1 1/4 cups (10 ounces) light brown sugar

1 cup plus 2 tablespoons (8 ounces) granulated sugar

2 large eggs

2 teaspoons natural vanilla extract

1 1/4 pounds bittersweet chocolate disks or fèves, at least 60 percent cacao content (see note)

Sea salt.

1. Sift flours, baking soda, baking powder and salt into a bowl. Set aside.

2. Using a mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream butter and sugars together until very light, about 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla. Reduce speed to low, add dry ingredients and mix until just combined, 5 to 10 seconds. Drop chocolate pieces in and incorporate them without breaking them. Press plastic wrap against dough and refrigerate for 24 to 36 hours. Dough may be used in batches, and can be refrigerated for up to 72 hours.

3. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a nonstick baking mat. Set aside.

4. Scoop 6 3 1/2-ounce mounds of dough (the size of generous golf balls) onto baking sheet, making sure to turn horizontally any chocolate pieces that are poking up; it will make for a more attractive cookie. Sprinkle lightly with sea salt and bake until golden brown but still soft, 18 to 20 minutes. Transfer sheet to a wire rack for 10 minutes, then slip cookies onto another rack to cool a bit more. Repeat with remaining dough, or reserve dough, refrigerated, for baking remaining batches the next day. Eat warm, with a big napkin.

Yield: 1 1/2 dozen 5-inch cookies.

Note: Disks are sold at Jacques Torres Chocolate; Valrhona fèves, oval-shaped chocolate pieces, are at Whole Foods.

canoodling in the christmas castle

this is the home of a family in our stake that they turned into a b and b. it's 12,000 square feet and goes on for miles.

the dinner table. seated 24.

this mural was hand painted and went up the stairs as you walked in.

are these not the coolest locks you've ever seen? they were on each one of the doors and everyone had an antique key.

this was the venetian room. my favorite.

two pattys.

we did a little gift exchange. patty's white elephant gift was a mini personal flash light. my gift was a little star alarm clock.

good company and good cinnamon rolls!

ugly sweater party

some of the ugly sweaters

patty's playhouse.

when the patty's throw a party...we do it right.

1st semester as a student nurse

i can't believe i just finished my first semester of clinicals as a student nurse. it was filled with everything from tests and care plans to taking care of sick and dying patients. i met some really cool people at the skilled nursing facility. i learned a lot about life and how important it is to take care of your body. this was my instructor Barb. she was with us from the start. she was there on our first day at the hospital when we were so apprehensive and nervous to get out on the unit. she was there when i passed meds for the first time frightened that i was going to give the patients meds that would affect their health drastically. or the time when i gave my first insulin shot, another scary day. however, overall i learned so much from her. she taught us what to really expect in the acute care setting and to that i am grateful.

i spent everyday with these girls and we all became so close. there were times where we would all die laughing during post conference discussing our experiences, and there were times where some would cry. if there was one thing we learned together it was that we could count on one another. after all, we are a team.

adi's one year

sweet adi celebrated her one year with some good friends, definitely good food (thanks kehoes), and some good stories. it was such a wonderful evening. i know i'll always remember it. she was so sweet and got everyone some cozy socks. congrats to adi for making it this far.

the lion king musical

last week i saw the lion king with some friends in san diego.

this is to show you our amazing seats. yes, we were the 2nd to last row from the very top. take my advice and don't buy the cheapest tickets.

overall i think i've decided that i'm not a musical person. i've seen other musicals before, but i don't enjoy sitting in one spot for three hours watching people sing and dance. i feel i may be the only one who feels like this. it could have been because i was just at the hospital the entire day and my feet were aching, or the fact that i could barely see anything because we were in the nosebleeds. it is a good show though so if you haven't seen it i recommend it.

it's all about the baby part II

there's still time.

get your copy here.

http://vixmusic.ecrater.com/product.php?pid=5719802

halloween bash

some of the gang

patty's plethora and my sweet candle holders

true or false the best pumpkin you have ever seen?

san diego boat party

funniest kid to watch dance

pechanga pirate party

the invites to this party were adorable. we received a box and inside was a bottle filled with sand and sea shells....just like what you would find floating in the ocean (message in a bottle).

me. bree. emily.

prez and sis arnold

seriously by far the coolest costume i have ever seen on the left. he looked like he was pulled out of the pirates movie. and that's no mask he's wearing....miss pinson did his make up!

the pinson family that threw the bash.

patty. bree. brig. me.

patty looked so cute in her costume AND she won best female costume (mainly because of my loud voice)

isn't the cake adorable? patty said it was the best cake she had ever eaten.

the souvenir. the mug says "pinson tavern." too cute.