Maybe I Can be a Nurse...and an "Anthropologist!"

Employed. That word sounds Oh SO Good. Since the new grad programs don't start until February, for the time being...I'll be working at Anthropologie :) Fun, huh? It's actually perfect. It's a seasonal position for now, and if I end up loving it, I can hopefully keep working there on my days off from nursing to earn a little extra and keep a pretty sweet discount. The only problem is, it's not in our budget to use the discount :) But, maybe someday... Anyways, I'm SO ready to work again...to feel productive...to feel like I'm accomplishing something...and most of all to feel like I'm supporting Mr. Matt. Good day. Good News.

There's Always Magic

Sometimes life isn't all that exciting, but that doesn't mean it isn't good. No white coats this week... No visitors from the East...Not even a tooth fairy visit (I think she's still peeved about the over priced dental crown Matt got)...But, there's still magic that happens. Sometimes the simple things bring more excitement then all the big things put together because you're on the look out for excitement and you notice them.


Excitement #1: A letter came all the way from Virginia this week. My cousins Lydia and Luke drew us pictures and Lexie made us a darling card. It was another little love note, reminding me that we not only have family that loves us, but our Father in Heaven too. Lydia had written "We'll miss you!" Yes. It made me cry and feel oh so loved. It was simple, yet it meant the world to us.


Excitement #2: There's something very special that happens every Wednesday: SPROUTS Run! Sprouts is a cross between a farmers market and a Grocery store and my all out favorite place to acquire produce. Wednesday is their double add day so it is officially my shopping day! You get the weekly specials from last week plus the upcoming specials too. I peruse the adds in advance, and make a grocery list. If you could get an avocado for 49cents or a Red Pepper for 49cents, you'd get excited too! The best part is I have two wonderful friends that accompany me on Sprouts Runs: Mary and Nicki. So Sprouts Runs have become synonymous with Girl Time. Mary helps me watch out for buses, and I lend her a re-usble bag so she saves 5cents. It's really beneficial both ways. Nicki and I cook together...She has SO many wonderful recipes and we're on a journey to find and perfect even more. We cook together at least twice a week. Another win:win relationship :) Plus, the laughter and conversation can't be beat. I love Sprouts Runs!

Excitement #3: We had another dental friend over for dinner! The funniest part is we found out that this was actually the second double date we'd been on with this guy....He had dated one of my friends in college and now he's in our ward and married to a darling wife! Funny. It was wonderful to get to know them. It's crazy how 4 of us can come married from BYU, but each have such unique circumstances, histories, and interests.

Excitement #4: I paid a visit to St. John's Hospital...one that I have been calling daily for a month now. The best part of the visit...I was under 15minutes, so I didn't have to pay for parking. How's that for excitement?

Excitement #5: And yes...we did speak in sacrament meeting...and yes...I found a way to introduce myself, although I did have to completely re-write it from the last talk. I'm not sure when Matt went to sleep Saturday night...but, I fell asleep on him as he was preparing his own talk. My favorite compliment came from a screen writer - she thought I should be one too! Well, that sounds good to me since nursing has gotten me so far up to this point...I'm mean, I'm in LA...isn't everyone a screen writer, producer, or something fancy?

Excitement #6: Matt started early Monday morning Institute! Off he goes at 6am! He says it reminds him of early morning seminary...I never experienced that...but given that I wake up with Matt, make him breakfast, and pack his lunch, I'm beginning to get an idea of what that might have been like :) Look how dark it is...It reminds me of clinical days!


Excitement #7: Lastly, yes, I still love BONES. Dr. Brennen and Agent Booth keep me company and are my reward for applying for jobs.

Peace out. Love the little things. Life is exciting because they exist. Nothing is mundane unless you let it be. There is always magic.

My life was perfect and I didn't know it...

So I'm sitting here, writing my talk for Sunday. Being that I get to introduce us, I decided to steal our introduction from a talk I gave last year in our old ward.

Direct Quote: "I am the oldest of three kids. Most of my time is spent in the hospital, reading text books and wishing they were Harry Potter, teaching nursing labs, and TAing an Ethics in Nursing course. I love to dance in the kitchen since I’m no longer at a studio, run when it’s NOT winter, dress up, make silly music videos, and an occasional paper machete piñata. I love anything that gives me an excuse to have a celebration, using Matt’s veins to practice IV’s, and helping Matt get RID of his lovely mustaches. I am currently in my last semester of Nursing at BYU, and working in Labor and Delivery."

Do you see how productive and successful I sounded? For Pete's sake...I don't even know what to write about myself these days. I'm still the oldest of three kids, but I now spend NO time in the hospital. I never run...I don't feel safe running alone here yet and I'm VERY out of shape. I have no job - period - when last time I introduced myself I had two. I haven't made anything out of paper machete in ages, let alone a pinate. I wish I could read a text book, and pretend it was Harry Potter, but I can't because I donated them all to a dang book collecting charity. We have no money to have a celebration. I watch the little Asians take ballet class in Chinese through a WINDOW. My dress-ups are at home, and Matt doesn't even have time to grow mustache anymore. Yes...I sound pretty pathetic...unaccomplished...and flat out boring. What the heck do I do all day? Let me tell you.

Make Matt breakfast, pack him a lunch, check Craig's list for job postings, write cover letters, tailor my resume, laundry, grocery shopping, make dinner, fold the laundry, clean the apartment, do the dishes, occasionally visit hospitals, call hospitals over and over again trying to get a hold of someone to talk to me, smile when Matt comes home, shower - personal hygiene is still a priority, watch an occasional episode of Bones, visit with Nicki while Matt and Christian study...Oh how life has changed. I'm fiercely fighting failure and bum-hood, trying to be positive, and looking forward to February when I can finally get my hands on a real live patient and an 18 gauge IV. Woe is me. Sometimes you just have to vent. Please no comments on this one :) I'm not trying to throw a pity party - just a phase of my life I must record. Thank you :)

East Meets West

The East coast LeChems decided to the pay the West coast LeChems a visit, but instead of the East side vs. West side gang fight this may sound like, it was an all out party. We -Are -Family! Matt's brother, Danny, and his wife, Lena, live it up in the Big Apple. Then came to spend Yom Kippur with Lena's family and Sunday and Monday with us. You see, Lena grew up in Santa Monica which is basically just a part of LA...Her house was really only like a 10 minute drive.
Anyway...We met up on Sunday. We toured Lena's house and acquired a vintage looking lamp (We're also acquiring a study desk for Matt on this upcoming Saturday). We spent some time walking on the beach and chatting.

We made taco soup and home-made ice cream for dinner. Danny turned out to be quite the ice cream chef! We played some games and just enjoyed being together.

Monday...Matt went to school and I got to see LA guided by an LA native, Mrs. Lena LeChem. Our tour began in "Travel Town." There were a whole bunch of cool, old, locomotives that you could go inside. Matt's brother Jacob would have loved it. We were thinking about him the whole time.

(Of course I had to put a penny of the tracks!)

Next we saw the Disney Concert Hall. I love anything Disney, so naturally, I loved it.

We attempted to take "slot canyon" photos commemorating our Grand Canyon Adventure admist Gehry's architectural master piece.


We found a rose sculpture...


And the concert hall of course...

Made a few wishes...

And enjoyed the big city...


Danny and Lena took me to lunch at Tito's Tacos - the salsa is delicious. Try it if you're ever in LA. Danny and Lena took very good care of me and spoiled me rotten - I wonder if their kids will get spoiled as much as me?

Apparently there's a Venice in LA... A Venice built on canals, mimicking Italy. It's pretty cool...The canals weave through the neighborhood and each house has a little dock.

(One of the Canal Houses...It reminded me of Snow White!)

Next stop: Temescal Canyon. We set off on a hike to find a waterfall, however, when we arrived, this is what we found.

It had dried up.

We me up with Matt and Lena's Dad for a Lebanese feast. Lena's dad treated us all! We tried all sorts of new dishes...I can't remember the names of most of them to be honest...but everything was very good. We also got to celebrate Matt's first REAL day of school. Good times. Good fam.

Let the Studying Begin!

Studying...It's a way of life for Mr. Matt. When he's not in class, he's studying, minus breakfast and dinner. Consequently, breakfast and dinner time have become my Matt time - My favorite parts of the day. Before coming out here, I had realized I would have to say "see you laters" to our family, but not my Matt. However, it's happened, and it's okay. We're still hopelessly in love. I always ask for 5 more minutes of his time, and he always gives it to me. He even made time to take me to pick up a job application the other day, and dress up with me in his doo-rags and play Gangster. Matt's been absolutely wonderful, and even though he's gone, he makes sure I never feel forgotten. I love him so. I'm just trying to learn how to play that supportive wife role, but also not feel neglected. I think I'm doing pretty good so far...just an adjustment. Luckily, we have friends.

Matt and Christian Study...

And Nicki and I explore LA farmer's markets, window shop for things we can not afford, watch dancing with the stars, try new recipes, have girl talk, etc. I love her company. She's becoming an adopted sister of mine!

(A cool display we found at Bloomingdales)

I call my dad a lot, and my mom too. It's that daily dose of home, I need - since I'm a bit of a weenie stink, whether it's Tara, Stacy, Dad, Brett, Jalyn, Mom, Kimbo, Grandma, or Grandpa on the phone, I just am SO thankful I have someone to talk too or email. Thank goodness for my little cell phone, Family, Friends, and my dear Mr. Matt!

Matt's Visit From the Tooth Fairy

The Toothfairy came to our house while Matt was at school and hid little surprises for him! Since Matt has chosen to pursue his dental career, the Toothfairy and I have become very close...almost the same person you could say. Matt found a little note waiting for him on the door and proceeded to have a hot and cold treasure hunt to find his surprises!


Snickers for the ice cream we were going to make with Danny and Lena for the upcoming weekend,

an avocado for the taco soup we were going to have with Danny and Lena
(Matt LOVES avocados!),

and tortilla chips...just because he'd wanted them for a couple weeks now!

Oh, and by the way...bad news...the dentist of the house chipped out a very large chunk of his tooth last week. Pray that it doesn't need a crown! I'm sure the toothfairy will be very disappointed and won't leave anything under his pillow.

Luxury Automobiles...All the rave in LA

This post is dedicated to my dear swister Tara Lynn, the person who actually knows the names of the sports cars I see daily driving on the freeway.


It takes driving only a few miles in LA to notice that there is an EXCESSIVE number of luxury automobiles taking over the roadways. At any point in time, you can always find at least 2 BMWs, a Lexus, an Audi, and usually a Porsche. I thought it was cool seeing fancy cars on James Bond, but now I see them every time I leave the house.


The funny thing is...These fancy smancy cars have found their way into our little subsidized student housing garages...It amazes me the expensive things people have while still in school...especially the amount of consumer debt. Anyways the cars are hot, they're sleek, they're fast, and they make a statement. Welcome to Autotopia Baby!