Seattle Space Needle

Hello friends and family...
This post is going to be short and sweet, but you will never guess where I am?? I'm am writing this at the top of the Seattle Space Needle. It is a sunny, clear sky, 55 degree weather, and I can see as far as the eye can see. It is one of the most gorgeous views I think I have ever seen. It doesn't help that I am enjoying a Pinot Gris glass of wine that you can only get at the top of the Space Needle!! I would say my first 3 hours in Seattle have been well spent!!!




Brought to you with love,
Nicole

Location:Space needle

New Job, New Location, New Adventures

Well friends and family, it's official!
I have accepted a position as a Clinical Fellow-Speech Language Pathologist!!!! The position is in a skilled nursing facility located in Aberdeen, Washington. If you don't know much about Aberdeen (as I don't really), the first thing I will tell you is that's it is famous for being the hometown of none-other-than the famous Kurt Cobain and Krist Novoselic, both from Nirvana. Yes, that's right, Nirvana members...maybe I'll fall in love with the next famous rock stars.

It's a town located in Grey's Harbor located on the Olympic Peninsula roughly 2 hours outside Seattle and only 20-25 minutes away from the pacific ocean!! It's going to be a change living that close to the beach. Though I don't think you'll ever hear me complain.

The weather has beautiful so far. Tuesday= raining & 50, wednesday= 50 & partly cloud, and today was sunny, windy & 50. Yes, I know that Washington is known for rain, but even with the rain, it can be 50 degrees outside. It will take getting use to but all in all I don't think the weather is going to bother me.

Aberdeen is pretty much a lumber industry location, but recently, it's became the home to the Pontoon Project (as people here refer to it as). Basically, people moved to town to help rebuild the pontoon boats that hold up the floating freeway in Seattle. It's only temporary but I've been told its good for the town.

One of my favorite aspects of this location (besides the ocean) is the fact that's it's so outdoors-y. Everyone goes fishing, hiking, clam digging, kayaking, and hunting. I'm looking forward to having so much open land around me and so much unknown surrounds. Between the Washington coast, Olympic National Park, Mt. Saint Helen, Mt. Rainer, plus more, my weekends are going to be packed full with adventure. I'm already starting a list of things I need to see/do while living here. Don't worry though, I will make sure to keep you updated on all my adventures.

Today, was especially exciting for me because I have found a place to live. I guess the move is official now because theres no going back on signing the contract and a lease (haven't really done either yet but I pretty much am going to).

I know I have bombarded everyone with a ton of information, but I'm extremely happy about my future here in the beautiful evergreen state. Here are some pictures thus far of Aberdeen and the surrounding areas.







Vampire country!!!!!


Grey's Harbor.


Downtown Aberdeen.


The pacific ocean (about 40 minutes outside Aberdeen

Brought to you with love,
Nicole

Location:Aberdeen, Washington

My Good News (okay well half of the good news...)

For roughly a week, I have been posting comments to my Facebook about all this good news that has been coming my way. Well I'm here to spill the beans (sort of). It's not official official yet, but...

Nicole Marie has found a JOB!!

I have not signed any paperwork nor visited the site (which is where I am going on my vacation to), but I have been given a verbal offer for the position. I am so very excited that I can say within a few short weeks, okay, more like 6-8 weeks, I will be a working girl (hopefully).

This opportunity is one of the best oopportunity that has been offered my way, and although it means I will have to be moving out of the state of AZ (CLUE #1), I am so freaking ecstatic, but yet so extremely nervous. I know it will take time to actually start working, since licenses in states take forever, but after 6.5 years of college, it's well worth the wait. 

Stay tuned to find out where I will be moving too...

P.S. I seriously can't believe this is happening. No more waiting tables, no more stressing about finances, no more countless hours searching for jobs. I mean I actually might have found my career...SCARY!

Bad Nicole...

Why would I yell at myself you might be asking?

Well, did you see the date of my last post??? Just horrible. I missed writing about Christmas, New Years (though not much to write about for the holiday) and pretty much the update on me!

Let's take it back a little...say, Thanksgiving.


For as long as I can remember, okay more like the past 10 years (I think that is what we determined), my family and I have spent Thanksgiving with our good friends The Zeners (we call them LanZen Celebrations). We have about 15, some times more, people, all friends and family, who gather together and give thanks to everything (both good and bad) that happened in the past year. The pictures hardly explain the shenanigans that occur.










On to Christmas...Another LanZen Celebration!!


Twas the first LanZen Christmas Eve dinner in the new condo. 
Although fondue was not able to occur, a new tradition was started. 
Soup Soup Soup.
Cheesy Potato (my favorite) and Chicken Enchilada.
We also include a new competition- Minute to Win It.
Lang's + Ashley vs. Zener's + Michelle (they dominated)
Look what happens when 2 competitive families battle...

Top: Joel standing one minute....down the next.
Bottom: (Me) Focus and determination; (boys) Shoes are flying

Concentration was key!

Don't worry, we still played LRC (left right center) but exhaustion kicked in (I worked all day) and no images were gathered!

All in All...Xmas Eve was another eventful LanZen Celebration.

Jacob did join us but at 1 years old, did not compete. 

Stay tuned for Chirstmas Morning and New Years...

Little Jacob Turns 1

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT...

1 year ago, I was blessed with a BEAUTIFUL baby nephew. This past year has been a year of 1st for my family and I can say it's been the best year of my life. I've watched him learn to talk (well babble), giggle, crawl, walk, climb stairs, open doors, and most of all, I've watched him learn how to get into mischief.

I am beyond proud to have gotten the privileged to be apart of my little nephew's daily life and cannot wait to watch him grow up to be someone amazing.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LITTLE BUGGER BUTT!

"I am thankful" day 9, 10, & 11

11.9.11 Today, I am thankful for family! Aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, friends who've became family, anyone who I feel like is family...I am thankful to you! They made me who I am and who I want to be and without them my life would not be full of adventure! Love you all!!

11.10.11- I am thankful for amazing clients, who make going to work everyday worth it and to amazing supervisors, who are allowing me to take next week off to go to San Diego!!!

11.11.11 (I'm doing this one early)...I am thankful for J.K. Rowling, who wrote the amazing series Harry Potter!!! I know most of the movies by heart and can watch them over and over and over agin!!! Final movie comes out @ MIDNIGHT! 

Laugh all you want...but I love this series!!!
picture courtesy of Warner Bros

"I am thankful" day 7/8

Blogging everyday is not very easy when working two jobs but I'm not going to let that factor get in the way of showing my thanks!

11.7.11-If you know me, I never wear my glasses but I am thankful for my glasses because I put the wrong contact solution in my eye which burned my eye, and could not wear my contacts. 

11.8.11- I am thankful for chai tea and sugar free flavored syrup! I don't think I would have survived the day without either!

What can I say...it's the small things in life!

"I am thankful"- day 6

11.6.11- I am thankful for my healthy and adorable little nephew, who wakes me up with a smile (most days) at 7:30 in the morning EVERYDAY! I may not be happy about it on the days I get to sleep in, but every day he wakes me up is another day I get to see him grow!!!!

Did I mention he turns '1' at the end of the month. 


Holy Moly where did this past year go?

Thankful November

I have decided that I'm going to posted daily what I'm thankful for and try to post a photograph to correspond with it!! I know we are already 5 days into November and meaning I am 5 days behind...but better late than never! Here goes...

• 11.1.11- I'm thankful for being alive, healthy, and happy!
• 11.2.11- I am thankful for my brother-in-law and sister, who have opened their home to me for the past few months and have allowed me to live with them!

• 11.3.11- I am thankful for my parents, who stick by me, support me, and love me for everything I do and everything I am! I don't think I could survive with out them!

• 114.11- I am thankful for making it through graduate school with the knowledge of a field I love and with lifelong friends!

• 11.5.11- I am thankful for my new(ish) car, that provides me with chances to come and hang out with my parents, see my friends, and get to places like work and clients!

 

Stay tuned for more "I am thankful"

 

BOO...HALLOWEEN

Okay, okay. I get it, I'm a tad bit late on updating my halloween extravaganza (well only 3 days, but late is late). For starters, I actually had a Saturday night off, which might not mean anything to anyone, but for me, it meant I actually got to see my friends. We all work crazy @$$ schedules and Saturday nights are the only nights free for us to get together! And yes, this past Saturday was all about rocking the costumes. 

Now if you know anything about me, I don't really spend too much time or money on costumes, because honestly how many people actually wear them more than once. On the same note, I normally don't get Sat. nights off, so I didn't have a costume to wear as of 3pm Sat. afternoon. Luckily, I have been living with my 11 month old nephew and had some simple, cheap and easy to assemble costumes in mind. I ended up going with Blue from Blue's Clue (of course...it's blue, DUH). I did have a little help from my amazing sister! I would say I look pretty dang cute for only having ~3 hours to assemble the costume. What do you think?

Oh yeah, I should probably explain the blue paw print for those of you who have no idea who Blue is. Well, she is a Nick Jr. cartoon who leaves paw print/clues around the house and Joe, her owner, must figure out what she is thinking about. Get it. Well, thanks to my sister, we decided to make my very own clues to place around the house randomly to see if people could figure out the clues! Nifty huh?


Actual halloween day is another story. For started, I had some type of stomach ache/flu/pain where I had to cancel all my clients and call out of work. I hate being sick and having to do the previous statement, but I could not keep anything down (I know TMI, but it's my blog :-P). On the positive side of being ill, I did get to take some goofy pictures of my adorable nephew in his cute Koala bear costume. If you know my sister, this might not come as a big shock (she's only slightly past obsessed with the animal). Lucky for Matt, Michelle said he gets to choose the costume next year! You cannot tell me that he is not the cutest koala bear EVER!!!

Turning Point

Have you ever been lying in bed and realized you don't like what you've been doing to yourself?

That was me last night. I finally told myself, enough is enough. I'm eating like crap, not exercising and feel tired and exhausted all the time, and to make matters worse I feel like a beached whale. Who's fault is this? MY OWN. I was doing so well over the summer and now have been making excuses for the past few months saying "I just don't have time. I'm working two jobs and am so tired."

Well guess what, I'm tired because I don't workout. Because I don't eat healthy. Because I make excuses that don't really exist and pretend it's the truth. People have woken up to run in the early mornings for ever and here I am saying that I'm going to turn into one of them.

I hate that I've been feeling so down in the dumps with everything that has happened with my family the past week. I need an escape. A mind easer activity. A new goal. And most importantly a new outlook on life.

Here I am saying to the world (AGAIN- because I failed to finish my last goal):

1. I will lose 20 pounds by Xmas.
2. I will be in good enough shape to run a half marathon.
3. Most Important- I will stop making excuses that don't exist.

Well everyone...wish me luck! Today starts my new journey!

My Brand New Car!!!

As a graduate school graduation present, my AMAZING and wonderful parents, told me they will help me out on purchasing my first, brand new car (as my Mazda Tribute was past down to my little brother)!!! For the entire month of July I test drove roughly 12 different cars, ranging from mid-size sedans to small SUVs, all from different dealers. Let's just say it made my head hurt and I am happy I won't have to do this again for at least 10 years!

My final selection, you might add....2012 Chevy Cruze Eco in Metallic Ice Blue, 6-speed manual transmission!!!!

I am so grateful for all my parents have done for me and for all the support they provided me with to complete my master's degree. This car is amazing...now I just got to find a nickname...any suggestions?

The Lang's Tragic Day

For the past 15 1/2 years, my family has been blessed with the most wonderful dog in the world, Macy Jane (a rat terrier), and yesterday our family had to say goodbye as our baby girl joined our Grandmas and Grandpa in Heaven. It has been very hard on my whole family as we thinking back to all the amazing memories we shared with our lovely puppy, and I know she will be waiting at the gate for us one day. 

I have shed many tears the past two days and I never will stop thinking about her and no dog will ever compare to my precious Macy Jane, who I named thank you very much (still much debate on this matter). I love you so much, Macy!!!

Macy Jane Lang

5/24/1996-10/11/2011

Forever in my heart

 "What we have once enjoyed and deeply loved we can never lose, for all that we love deeply becomes a part of us. 

-Helen Keller

Second Half of Iowa...only 2 months late :-)

WOW...it's been over 2 months since my last post and so much has happened, I don't know where to start. Let's started with the second half of my August Iowa Vacation.

 When I left the cabin with my mother, father, and brother, we headed down south-ish to Des Monies to attend the IOWA STATE FAIR. It's the greatest fair in America and if you've never been I highly suggest it. We spend the day eating and wandering all the amazing booths and showing they have their and ended the night watching my cousin, Kelly, compete for the Miss Iowa State Fair Queen. She earned this chance because she won her county fair, and although she did not win Fair Queen, but looked BEAUTIFUL! While in Des Monies, we stayed at my dad's buddy's house and had a great time. 

From Des Monies we head east to Walcott, IA to visit my dad's mother...AKA my grandmother! It was so good to see her and I loved spending a few days with her. One night, our way home from grandma's, we stopped to see my grandfather's grave for the first time, I might add.  No one in my family has seen my grandfather's grave as he past away before my parent's were married!

You could say that my Iowa trip was filled with family, friends, love and happiness. I love being back home in Iowa, but I diffidently do not miss the icy cold winter weather :-)

My Weekend in Iowa

Friday

The day started out assisting my grandfather in cleaning out cabin, as his girlfriend and him were throwing a little party that evening. It wasn't very exciting so my mother and I decided we would head to my aunt's house in Algona. It was actually perfect for me because one of my good friends from college was getting married the next day!!! That night was spent hanging out with my family and meeting up with my lovely friends, who I haven't seen in a year, at a local bar. I almost started crying I was so happy!!!

Saturday
Wedding Day for my lovely friend, Ashley, who I met about 6 years ago through another friend. Her and her husband are perfect for each other and not to mention an adorable couple! I felt so honored to be invited to share their special day with them!!!

Sunday

This day marked the first of many visits to the Cabin for my adorable little nephew, Jacob. The cabin is very important to my family and has been apart our family for almost 40 years, and now we have introduced another generation to this amazing place. The cabin is our home away from home and is the place where we gather as a family for some boating/tubing, eating, jet skiing and mostly just hanging out! Look at how much Jacob loves being here :)

This Sunday also was the first time in YEARS that the majority of our cousin clan (minus Holly, the oldest) was able to gather and capture a photo, or two, with grandpa! Words cannot express how happy I am to have this photo of ALL OF US because with everyone's schedule beginning to get more and more busy, who knows when it will happen again.

Monday/Tuesday
Nothing really exciting to report for these days. We really just hung around the cabin being entertained by mister Jacob, who went in the tube and the lake for the first time. He also got to see his very first train that flies by the cabin and let's just say...not his favorite.

Wasn't a fan of the trains.

Overall, the past few days have been pretty amazing! I can't believe I only have 7 days left in Iowa :(

Sweet Home Iowa

Words cannot express how ecstatic I am to be back home once again in the lovely state of Iowa. It has been over a year since I was here last and since I've seen my Iowa friends and some of my family. Luckily for myself, some of my family  comes to AZ to visit us during the winter; my grandpa, aunt and uncle (own a winter house in AZ) and my two cousins (their parents own the house). I have been so blessed to be able to spend more time with those I love since moving away from my extended family was very difficult for me.

The best part about visiting Iowa this year is the newest addition to my life, well, I guess I should really say two additions; one, My new amazing camera and second, my little nephew's first Iowa cabin experience (though he doesn't get here until Saturday late night, so right now I'm just enjoying using my camera!)

See what I mean...WAY TOO MUCH FUN!

On a sadder note: this will be the second summer my family has spent at the cabin without my wonderfully amazing grandmother, who passed away Sept 2009 from cancer. What she brought to my family is indescribable an unmeasurable. She truly was a gift from god. Not a day goes by that I don't miss her brightening smile and warming hugs and I know she will be with me and my the rest of our lives as our guarding angel. It is a little strange without her here at the cabin, but my family stays in high spirits because deep down we all know that is what my grandmother would want.

If you can't tell, I'm looking forward to the next 12 days! It's packed full with fun-filled activities: a wedding, family cabin craziness, the Iowa State Fair, and much more. Stay tuned!!!