This is not a blog award...

So Miss Salti... I will play along with your wily games because I like ya! But no one else! teeheehee...
The name of the game here is to post 7 things that make you happy. I figure that's a worthwhile cause.
1. Getting to go grocery shopping alone with my hubby
(if you are without children then you won't truly understand the gravity of this statement until you have some of your own). I always hate excluding people who don't have kids... but let me say that grocery shopping can be kind of fun when you have time to just mosey through the isles. There's the occasional ass grab as a member of the shopping party bends over to grab something off the bottom shelf. You can make dirty gestures with the veggies... stuff like that=)
2. An empty sink AND an empty dishwasher
translation: someone other than myself has been putting dishes away and that is just too fabulous for words. Not that I mind it all that much... but it's a tasty treat.
3. Dark chocolate
There's this really hot, very sweet, kind of dorky, guy that works for a certain Italian deli here in SLC. He does classes for random things like cheese, chocolate, olive oil... well I've taken his cheese and chocolate classes and I love him, oops I mean them. Anyway... he helped me strengthen my love and appreciation for dark chocolate. Thanks Troy.
4. Getting lost in a good book
I absolutely love discovering new worlds in books. I get so lost in my head imagining what I'm reading. I sometimes refer to books as my version of Prozac. Who's with me?!
5. A good orgasm
(you ask what's the difference between an 'o' and a 'good o'? well... there's a difference. And for the nominal fee of $50 a month I'll tell ya all about it.
6. Erica (aka Miss Salti)
aww shucks... I know. What's left to say? I don't know. She's my other 'other' half. I get cranky when she's not around. And I probably don't appreciate her enough when she is around. She's the only person I feel like talking to regardless of my mood. (and that doesn't mean I love the rest of you any less). She makes me happy. Oh ya, and she makes my toes beautiful... so what's not to love?
7. My hubby
As much as he drives me crazy he also drives me wild. I can't imagine a world without him in it. He makes me happy in such subtle ways that I don't realize why I'm unhappy until he is. That makes no sense... but that's alright. I can totally be myself with him. He's helped me become the person I am today.

We want our movie!

Okay... so obviously it didn't come out in November of last year... but apparently it really is coming out the 17th of July. We are now reading Harry Potter for the second time around in our house. Since Tristan started school last year reading is not only a part of bedtime but a homework requirement nightly. I decided last year that if we 'had' to read for 20 minutes a night I was going to have to find something a little more interesting than "The Very Hungry Caterpillar." Not that I don't love that book! Anyway... that's how I began reading these books. Tristan and I are reading "The Half-Blood Prince" and loving it! It's always surprising to me how much more you catch reading a book through for the second time.
Hopefully they'll stop putting off the release date of the movie! We're all anxious to see it!

He's hairy and he can sing... I'm in love!

Don't judge... it's still the same ole me...

I've never considered blogging anonymously but I understand the appeal now. I realize some of you may be reading this that I work with or have worked with and are probably having a heart attack. Please just know that it's the same ole me. I haven't changed. I just choose to have a private life and a work life usually... that's all. As I told one friend at work... I don't have a journal so this is my outlet. I'm not going to edit it. I don't like redundancies at work and that goes for personal life too... so I don't want to have to retell a story just so it's okay for some people to read and not others.
I hope you all understand.
A.

I can't wait to plan my garden!!

There you have it. If uncle sam says I must start a garden... then I must...

And this wise little garden gnome says veggie gardens are good for you too. I swear I'm not on drugs. I'm just tired and I really can't wait to get started on my vegetable garden! I'll keep you guys updated (if anyone cares... and if not... oh well I'm writing about it anyway).

Some Sex Advice For the First Time Lovers Out There

In honor of my dear friends who got married yesterday I've decided to dedicate this post to them. A list of musts for your 'first time' or your first time in a while...
1. Good tunes...
always sets the mood to have some good music playing in the background. Make sure the music works for both of you.
2. Lots of foreplay!
You know the old saying "you've got to warm up to oven before you can bake the buns"... well the same goes for sex. Try a date first where you actually have a chance to talk and flirt. Make a point to gently touch the person on occasion. Kissing is the key to foreplay and too much tongue can turn anyone off. There's more to a woman's body than boobs, crotch, and ass... so try out the rest before you go in for the kill!
3. For those of you who drink...
don't get shitfaced! Just use a drink at dinner for a little social lubrication. I love the Italian saying "en vino veritas" (in wine is truth)... Relaxation is so helpful when it comes to love making... who can enjoy sex when you're all uptight and cranky? (well... I can't)
4. Lots of lube.
Hey... I don't make the rules... I just follow them. Now... if the foreplay was successful nature tells us that most people will make enough lube of their own. However... sometimes the body works in weird ways. So don't be shy about finding a lube that's right for you! It'll be a turn on!
5. Know ahead of time what you like and what you don't...
and don't be afraid to communicate or try new things. Just because you've never tried something before doesn't mean that it's weird or un-enjoyable! You can also find sexy ways to encourage your lover to do things that you like. No need to be a drill sergeant in bed! Find that inner sexy temptress (tempter) and lure them to the right spot(s).
6. Love the one you're with...
I'm not saying that you have to be 'in love' to have sex. I'm a reasonable girl. But after having done it both ways I know I prefer to love the one I'm with. Here's another way to look at it: If you're not with the one you love... love what you're doing. Love the uniqueness of their body. Love the newness they bring to the experience. It's just like the song says "If you can't be with the one you love, baby, love the one you're with."
To my dear friends Paul and Brittany, thank you so much for allowing me to be part of your lives. You are two of the most genuine and wonderful people that I know. I hope you have a lifetime of beautiful memories and love making ahead of you=)

Porn 'n Partners

I've lost count over the years of the number of friends and acquaintances who I've overheard tell stories of their husbands or boyfriends having a 'problem' with porn. I feel bad that they're not able to somehow find a way to incorporate it into the relationship. Okay... so I've had one friend out of all of them who figured out how to have fun with it... but that's a really small fraction! Don't get me wrong... if Trent could find nothing better to do with his days than sit around watching other people I'd get annoyed. Especially if the dishes were piling up and the kids weren't getting fed. But seriously... if couples could just find a way to make it part of 'playtime' I think they'd find a lot of their issues with porn would go away. Maybe that's a bit naive of me... but I hope there's at least a little truth to it.
I guess we sort of have to divide up 'porn' as well. I'm not talking about anything underage (OBVIOUSLY!) and sorry... but animals are out of the question too. Yes, I have morals!

I would venture a guess that many things in life that are considered taboo would be a lot less frowned upon if people could just talk about them in the open...
Well, give it a shot (pun intended). Start out simple and see where it goes.
And hey... if it's not for you... well at least you can say you tried it first.
Good luck in your adventures!
Mistress A.

Happy St. Patty's!

Okay... so 'technically' I'm not Irish (I don't think), but I have some in me often.

I'm shameless and you love it!

I think it's a little funny that I've become one of 'those girls' that blogs about actors. Hmmm... I never really thought that would be me. After all, I grew up in Hollywood and acting was just another way to make a living. No big. Well. I'm proud to say that I'm on the bandwagon. Rob's bandwagon that is. I might just consider taking him on as a second husband... teeheehee.

I read his interview online with GQ and actually enjoyed it. I wish they would have put in a bit more of him and a little less of them... but what do you do? The pictures are stunning, of course=) I wonder if he'll continue to be one of those aloof actor/singer types or whether the void that is Hollywood will eventually suck him in.

Like I said... I'm a little jaded with the whole 'look at me... I'm famous' thing. Which is why I enjoy this lovely lad so much. I don't get that from him at all. It's refreshing. I know none of you are actually reading my blog right now (can't say I blame you)... you're just looking at the lovely pictures of our boy crush. Okay... he is a man... but still.

The picture above is probably in my top 3. I love close-ups. Especially when there seems to be so much emotion involved. Rob, if you wander my way in the blogging world... drop me a line k. (silently giggling to myself like a 12 year old)

I don't even know what to write... I have goosebumps.

Is it getting hot in here?! I seem to be losing my ability to form letters into words. Whew...

So... just a little advice to RP... from the daughter of a gay man. The lovely gay men of this world will rally behind anyone if the said person knows how to properly answer questions concerning all things gay. For instance:
example #1
reporter: "how did you enjoy doing that guy from behind in that scene?"
RP: "it was bloody brilliant! never been into men much in real life but I loved the chance to explore that side of myself!"
example #2
reporter: "masturbating in the corner while watching two men making love must have been a difficult moment for you to capture"
RP: "no, not at all! it was lovely watching those two beautiful creatures making love so passionately. it brought tears to my eyes."
I dare you to tell me I'm wrong.
Go ahead... I'm waiting. Just a little advice for your future interviews=) (laughing on the inside)

There are very few people in this world that I think make smoking look remotely sexy. #1 Brad Pitt... #2 Rob Pattinson.
Sorry... but I really just want to rip his clothes off there and be naughty. (ok, not really... I am married... but yah... kind of!)

Wow... wow... oh my... mmmmm... yikes... aaaah... ooooh....
Ok... I'm done=)

Naughty Nurse...

I bet there might be a few of you out there in TV land (presumably men) who think this is what I look like while working... AND YOU'RE RIGHT!! (no, not really)
Sorry to burst the bubble... I know! I'm not trying to be cruel.

As a nurse I'm constantly working on continuing education to keep my skills up to date and my knowledge fresh. We've been trying to cut back at work lately so they've asked that all the nurses take the 'scrub' class. These days most nurses don't have the chance to assist as a scrub nurse in surgery. We do what's called 'circulating' which consists of a lot of paperwork and helping do everything that those people who can't touch anything do. (gross understatement, my apologies). Anywho... I spent today re-learning the 'how's and why's' of sterile technique. I know you're jealous... don't be=)

Hopefully I'll actually get the chance to use this more than once a year... I'm a little OCD when it comes to my nursing practice. I love feeling competent at what I do... sooo... if I only get the chance to scrub once in a great while... yah, you guessed it... I'll look like an ass.
Oh well. Guess I'll just have to suck it up.
And yes... I love this cartoon. We've had family practice residents up at the hospital and I love them! Always so willing to help and learn. It's lovely! Honestly, most of the Doctors I work with are great. Not at all the ego maniacal crazies that you see on TV all the time. But there's something nice about having the resident ask you what you think.

So, not that I wouldn't love, love, love to wear that outfit in the first picture EVERYDAY at work... but hey... it might be better than wearing a cap! (shudder) Sure Kate Beckinsale looked killer as a nurse in Pearl Harbor... but guaranteed if you were anything over a size 2 those dresses would not be the most flattering things on earth. I love scrubs! Yep, I said it. They forgive a lot... even if there's not much to forgive... we all have those days.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to my new ventures in nursing. Wish me luck;)

First Love

Do you remember your first love? I do... The first time I saw him was in church. There I was with my waist length hair, no makeup (of course), and a burning curiosity as to whose eyes were boring a hole into the back of my head. I turned around slowly and noticed not one... but two... very gorgeous teenage boys staring back at me. One being my first love and the other his older brother. So much of my life has been shaped by my experiences with him, his family, and the people that have been brought into my life because of him. The music I listen to... my preferences in weather... I guess I'm just lucky that he was a good guy. Well... 'good' in that 'oh-so-bad' kind of way. He was the first person I ever felt that overwhelming, all-encompassing need to be around. When we were together there was no one else. I don't regret that it didn't 'work out'... in the traditional (marriage, kids) sort of way. I am who I am today because of the adventures we had together. I was lucky enough to experience that so young in life because it set the bar high and eventually led me to my amazing hubby.
Mmmm... here's to first loves...

My Random Tuesday... (It's Tuesday, right?!)

I'll just get straight to the nitty gritty...Man... Rob... Whew. Now that I'm done with the Twilight series I just have to appreciate him for what he is... a good actor, singer, and boy toy. Nothing wrong with that...Of course I'll be a little upset when he doesn't show up on my doorstep tomorrow to fulfill his fantasies... but somehow I'll get over it.

Sometimes I feel a bit like a mad scientist in the kitchen. My sweet kids just put up with it... and it's a good thing otherwise they'd probably starve... (no not really) I love just opening up the cupboards and fridge and seeing what happens. I feel bad when people ask me for recipes for the random shit I make... because honestly... I have no idea how things turn out half the time. If it smells like it needs some rosemary... I throw it in. I don't know how much! Okay... to be fair... I use recipes sometimes. But only the first time I make something... and then I usually tweak it a bit the next time. Tonight was particularly delish... Penne pasta with fresh tomato, asparagus, rosemary, and basil tossed in. mmmmm... yummy

I dig this bra. If only I had the boobies to match it =( That's what I get for being a mean little shit when I was in high school and teasing my mom about having bigger boobs than she did. Now, three kids later, she has bigger, perkier boobs than me. Oh well. Karma's a bitch.

I've finally found a migraine med that seems to work for me... only problem is I feel a bit like this cute kitty here after I've taken in (note the unusually large pupils). I'm having to practice at being productive while taking it. For some reason my family seems adverse to the idea of me lounging around on the couch all day!?
Go figure.
Dear Diary,
When did I turn into a teenage girl and start dreaming about being abducted by and incredibly sexy vampire? I think my skin is getting more translucent by the day and I have the strange urge to bite my husband every now and then.
Sigh...
I've always wanted to live in the Pacific NW... I don't think that will ever happen now... but you never know. For those of you wondering... this is a picture of the forest in Forks, WA... and for those of you wondering what the significance is of that (sigh), let's just say it has something to do with a small obsession I seem to be dealing with these days. I'll explain to you in person if you're lost.

Happy Tuesday!

Now what?!

I apologize that this isn't the best image... but what else am I supposed to do? It's not actually a published book! So... being restricted by hubby from buying Breaking Dawn until Friday... I've had to fill my void with reading the online copy of Midnight Sun on Stephenie Meyer's site. I finished that this morning and am now left (once again) with a void. Hmph! I read the post she left on the site about her feelings regarding finishing the book and I'm torn... as I'm sure most of her fans are... Although as an artiste I can understand that her work must be very personal and vulnerable to her, I also feel a bit jaded by our current "entertainment" climate, if you will. Let me explain. How many times a day do you hear stories of stars going into rehab, or flashing their 'sharon stone' at the camera? Ooops, I did it again? I doubt it. Seems to be that any publicity is good publicity these days. So there is part of me that feels like this is an attempt at some hardcore publicity. Just the jaded side of me speaking... keep that in mind. Either way... I really enjoyed reading the draft from Edward's point of view. I love when she writes as him... I just flows so effortlessly. If you haven't read it yet... and you consider yourself a fan of the series... I suggest you do. You'll find yourself as sad as I did when it comes to an abrupt end at page 264. Oh well. That's life.
My faithful kitty, Jack, is perched above me on the arm of the love seat. He just sighed at the end of that sentence, leaving me to believe... once and for all... that he truly does understand what I'm saying. He's a good kitty. He understands my need... my void... haha!
Well, off I go. Have a lovely morning=)

Okay... I'm finally hooked

I can't tell you how long my friends and patients have been trying to get me to read these books. I think the first time I saw one was at the hospital. Our security receptionist was reading it and I remember giggling to myself thinking "Anne Rice's vampires are the only ones for me." Well... now two years later I've finally given in... and man am I glad. Erica's been reading them for a while and finally we decided to go to the movie together one Sunday evening. After the movie I had to go pick up the first two books... yes, 'had' to. She warned me that it might take 60 pages or so to get into Twilight... not the case. As soon as I started reading I fell in love with the characters and writing style. It flowed so beautifully and was so easy to read. Stirring up all of those memorable teenage emotions of first love and lust that I've stopped thinking about constantly over the years.

As soon as I was done with Twilight (maybe a couple of days because I had to work...) I picked up New Moon and began reading that. I'm a little embarassed to say that I finished it that day. What! I didn't have to work... and the kids were being surprisingly good. Made it easier. I enjoyed the story. I love all of the history in this book. Feels like everyone is telling you their background. Yes... like the rest... I missed Edward's presence throughout... but I feel like it just made you crave his character even more.
Apparently after the book was done I was moping around the house because I wasn't "allowed" to buy the next til payday. My dad went out to run a few errands... because he's living with us now... and lo and behold came back with the third book...

Eclipse... I enjoyed this as well... but I have to admit there were times I found myself rolling my eyes at Bella's character. Just little immature things that she was doing that I couldn't necessarily relate with but for the sake of the story... I understood why they were there. I tried to read a little slower (given my monetary restrictions!) but that didn't work out so well. So... here I am... no book to read=( Don't cry for me... a friend at work is bringing me my next crack installment tonight at work. Whew! I'm looking forward to it. They've been a nice escape. Maybe I'll go catch up and read the draft of Midnight Sun on her website? I love when she writes as Edward... it just flows better=) Okay... and I love being inside his mind;)
Consider me bitten...