Cooking Challenge Twenty14 #1

I was inspired by others' 2014 resolutions to make a cooking one of my own. Hence the Cooking Challenge Twenty14 was born. Firstly, I just want to experiment more regarding recipes I've never tried before. Second, I received Julia Child's cookbooks for Christmas {not this past year but two years ago} and have not done those books justice! Therefore, I want to draw some recipes from that. So here is what the experiment has brought so far.

\\ First off the chart was Julia Child's famous "Beef Bourguignon". There are no words. It was so rich and rewarding and delicious and worth the hours of time spent in the kitchen. Here's an online version of the recipe. //

\\ Again a Julia Child recipe. I really wanted to try hollandaise sauce. The texture is tough to get right, and I did not quite master it. Still, it was deliciously buttery and yummy with asparagus. Try your luck here. //

\\ Lastly, I tried the increasingly popular kale chips. First batch, YUCK. I added WAY too much salt. Second batch, mmmmm, much better. The recipe is just kale, salt, and olive oil for 10-12 minutes at 350 degrees. So simple! //

Share a recipe below if it's one I simply must try!

Happy Monday!

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{Thoughts} The Significance of February 14th & 15th

 Earrings: Gifted // Scarf: Forgot // Sweater: Forgot
Shirt: Fields // Jeggings: Garage // Boots: Payless

Two very important days are coming up this weekend. February 14th & February 15th. 

February 14th: As you may have already guessed, February 14th is significant because it is Valentines Day. The day of love. But rather than discuss the lack of my romantic life regarding this day, I would rather discuss a little something I made up called Valentines Day Resolutions. If you remember from my New Years post, I boycott New Years resolutions posing the question why we can't make yearly resolutions any other day of the year. Well, I am proposing we can, and that Valentines Day is the day to do it. 

Why?

A couple of days ago I found myself slipping on some personal goals I had made for myself. And let's be honest with the amount of chocolate surrounding us this time of year, goals aren't easy to maintain. So I wallowed in my mental weakness and failures for about a day and half. But then I kinda just called it quits on the wallowing. I literally jumped off my bed and began to be more proactive with my life. I resolved that I wouldn't let my identity and goals fall to the wayside due to circumstantial surroundings. That is not who I am meant to be. So tomorrow on Valentines Day, I challenge you to make a couple of resolutions yourself. They can be anything. But it is a good day for reflection.

February 15th: This one is a little less challenging but no less meaningful. This date marks the four year anniversary to my beautiful hometown of Fort McMurray. And what an amazing four years it has been. I have experienced way too much to recap, but I wouldn't trade any of it. These four years brings the completion of my nursing program, but also so much more. Happy Anniversary to me!

So what about you?

What things and challenges are happening this weekend?

Happy Thursday, Valentines Day, and Anniversary!

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moments & details #9

\\ close-up on a pineapple //

\\ a little blog planning in bed //

\\ local college girls' basketball team {Sister plays on it} //

\\ hitting the slopes //

What are some of the tiny details in your life lately?

Happy Monday!

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{Thoughts} My Nursing Practicum

Today marks the first day of my nursing practicum, or as we call it around here - preceptorship. 10 weeks. One unit. Last course. First of all, who can believe it? I remember standing on the other end of this journey thinking how far away this day was. How would I ever learn all that I need to know? Haha, of course the running joke is that the farther I make it in nursing school, the less I feel I know. 

I feel a combination of nervous and excited to start today. I am nervous because there is still so much I don't know or haven't experienced yet. But that is where the excitement kicks in. I am excited because this is the time where I will learn and grow and experience and expand. This is the time to take the all the bookwork and theory and apply it. This is the time to transition from student to nurse. This is the time to begin doing what I am meant to do. 

So even though I have no idea what to expect, I am ready. Ready for this next journey on this crazy train called nursing school. Bring it on!

Happy Thursday!

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Valentine's Day Decor

Let's kick off the month of love with some romantic decor. Rumor has it that there may be a girls-chic-flick night planned for the actual 14th, but until then, let's redo my bedroom shelves and my mood boards. 

Happy Monday!

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Currently {January Twenty14}

~ thinking // a lot about my upcoming nursing practicum.

~ enjoying // the low-stress nursing course I am currently in. Last class before graduation!

~ feeling // excited for this year. I'm gonna be in such a different place next year.

~ wearing // new variations of items already in my closet. Don't spend anymore money on clothes. Don't spend anymore money on clothes. Don't spend anymore . . . oh look, new clothes.

~ needing // to register for my nursing licensing exam and to buy my grad dress. Oh man, real world responsibilities.

~ wanting // toss-up between a new Canon camera or snowboarding gear. Although I have a feeling both of those purchases will have to wait until the pay-checks start coming in.

~ listening // to the new Disney Frozen soundtrack. Hence the lyrics on the picture above. 

~ eating // healthy. I'm back on my no sugar kick like the one of summer 2011.

~ drinking // wine. I decided that I want to expand my knowledge and expertise. Really hope I can go wine tasting in the Okanagan this summer.

~ cooking // from my Julia Child cookbook. French cooking and butter. Mmmmmm.

~ reading // I am starting the Cinder book by Marissa Meyer and also The Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Waller. I'll keep you updated.

~ watching // obsessed with the new CW show Reign. Please tell me you've gotten hooked too. Are you Team Bash or Team Francis?

Just a little of what happened in January.

Happy Thursday!

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{Outfit} Maxi Dress in Winter

Earrings: Ardene // Necklace: Stella & Dot // Maxi: Handmade

Sweater: Drop Dead Darlings // Belt: Rikki's // Booties: The Bay

Alright, it's decided. I am not a fashion blogger. I never have been, and I never will be {never say never}. I follow a lot of fashion blogs and have nothing but the highest admiration for these beautiful women who take pictures of their inspiring outfits day in and day out! But that isn't me. All that being said, I do like to do fashion posts and am going to try to do one outfit post per month in 2014. What do you think? Doable? 

This month's outfit is brought to you after many months of thinking about it, much Pinterest research, and four winters of this cold weather. I knew I wanted to attempt the maxi trend in the middle of winter, but I hadn't put pen to paper yet, so to speak. But now that I did it, I LOVED IT! I had so much fun digging out my summer maxi {which I sewed by the by} and wearing it in -25 weather. So until next time! 

Happy Monday!

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