The Worst Lab Partner. Ever.

Ok, maybe not ever, but he was pretty bad. 

Today we got to use a really cool microscope and look at some really neat cells.(these are onion cells.) We get to work in teams so when we need help, we can brainstorm with the partner. Usually, it is a great thing. I have never had a problem with any of my partners in the past. Today was different. My instructor designated this guy, who we will call Slacker, to me. 

I got all the materials together. I looked through all 20 slides by myself. (oh, wait. I GOT Slacker to look at the first three with me and then I said forget it.) Let me tell you, today's lab was HARD. I really could have used the help. We were learning about Mitosis and Meiosis. 

As Slacker was leaving, I said "Why don't you put the microscope away!" I promise, I wasn't nice. I talked to him like I would talk to one of the kids when they are giving me problems. 

After Slacker left, I went to my professor and asked him not to ever give Slacker to me as a partner again. I told him that the guy didn't do squat! Slacker will probably lose points, but you know what? I don't think I really care. 

C.N.A. Certification Suspense

Umm.

I think I did well. 

The testing lady said that they aren't aloud to tell us the results anymore. We get to wait approximately 5 to 7 days for the results to come in the mail. 

I will tell you: I was SO nervous. I almost had to stop somewhere to go poop (more info here, if you really want to know). 

I had to do the test with one other student who was also testing. This way we could use each other as needed. For example, we had to take all the vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate, respiration, and temperature) on each other while the tester listened with an extension stethoscope. If we screwed any of those up, it was an automatic FAIL. Luckily, I slightly knew the other person who was testing. She took the C.N.A. class the same time I did, just on a different day. So, we talked a few times when we crossed paths.  

I was given a list of 5 things to do. Each of these things had one or two points to them that I was not aloud to screw up, no matter what, or I automatically failed. 

I think I did them right. The testing lady didn't give us any clue as to how we did. The big meanie. 

So, I guess we get to wait until the anticipated envelope comes in the mail...

I will let you know!

C.N.A. Certification

Tomorrow I have to take my hands on test for my license. I am quite nervous. I have found out that 50% of the students who had the same teacher I had failed.

I can NOT afford to fail because she is a crappy teacher! I could lose my job and that, my friends, would be very, very bad.

So, wish me luck! I will let you know how it goes the minute I find out.

Freaking Out

Just like I do the weekend before any test, I freak out. Usually because I am  not prepared enough. 

I have 2 tests next week and I am NOT prepared! I can be caught up with Chemistry in no time. I am pretty comfortable with it. 

Biology is a whole different story. The information just does not want to stick in my brain. I read the book, take notes, go to every class and still don't remember ANY of it. I am also 2 chapters behind on my studying! Remember the scary book? That's the one I am behind in.

So, this weekend I have to spend about 120 hours studying, 20 hours working, 5 hours cleaning, and let's not forget to hang out with the kids, cook, and sleep. 

Unfortunately, there are only 48 hours in a weekend. 

Where can I get some more hours? 

My New Look

Thanks to my wonderful sister, Stephanie, I now have a really cool looking blog. It may change a little more before she is done, because that's what she does. :) 

I think she made it beautiful. 

Thank you Steph!

My own personal BIG FOOT.

He's tall, but not too tall. Only about 5'9" so far. 

He wears a size 13 shoe! 

Did I mention he is only 13 Years Old?!

We went to Walmart today to get him a pair of hiking boots for his camping trip this weekend. The last pair of shoes I bought him were a size 11 1/2. So, naturally, we had to buy him 2 pairs of shoes. Because I didn't believe him when he said his tennis shoes didn't fit anymore. I mean, we only got them 5 months ago. 

I hope for his sake that he starts growing so he can catch up with his feet. 

Look how big they are:

and that is a legal sized envelope. 

Weight Watchers Garden Vegetable Soup

One of my favorite soups is this one from Weight Watchers. I have never "done" Weight Watchers. I would like to try it someday soon if I can't lose the remaining twenty pounds on my ass by my self. Now, my sister lost a lot of weight on Weight Watchers. 

Anyway, this is such an easy go to soup recipe that I like to serve as a side. I have been thinking about adding some small noodles to it and making it more a meal. It is super low in calories as is and so very healthy.

Weight Watchers Garden Vegetable Soup

Makes 9 Cups

6 Cups Broth (use whatever kind you like)

2 Carrots, peeled and dice

4 tsp. Garlic or 4 Cloves Garlic, minced

1/2 a Head of Cabbage (the green stuff, don't skip this because it makes the soup. Also, it tastes much better cooked then raw.)

1/2 lb. Green Beans, cut small (frozen work well)

2 Tbsp. Tomato Paste

1 tsp. Dried Basil

1 tsp. Dried Oregano

1 tsp. Salt

1 Large Zucchini, diced

Cooking Spray

1. Spray a big pot with cooking spray over Meduim-High heat. 

2. Saute the carrots, onion, and garlic for about 5 minutes or until the onion is translucent. 

3. Add all the remaining ingredients, except the zucchini, and bring to a boil. 

4. Cover, reduce heat to Medium-Low and simmer for about 15 minutes or until the carrots are cooked through. 

5. Add the zucchini and let cook about 5 more minutes.

6. Enjoy 

For more recipe ideas and for ways to save on your grocery bill, check out Grocery Cart Challenge. 

Granola Bars

I have a friend that can make anything wonderful, or at least the stuff she brings us. Recently, she posted a granola bar recipe on her blog, A Spot to Reminisce and Discourse. The recipe she has gives you the basic guidelines for granola bars and is super easy to follow. 

I made some granola bars today and they are so good, I had to post them on here. I will give the recipe I used, but remember, the other recipe let's you make them what you want. 

Granola Bar Recipe

Makes as many bars as you cut them into.

2 Cups Oats

3/4 Cups Chopped Pecans

3/4 Cups Chopped Walnuts

1/2 Cup Flax Seed

1/2 Cup Honey

1/4 Cup Brown Sugar

1 Tbsp. Butter

1 tsp. Vanilla (I actually forgot the vanilla, but they were still good. Next time I will add it.)

1/2 Cup Craisins

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  

2. Mix oats, nuts, and flax seed together in 8X8 baking dish and put in oven for 15 minutes, stirring once at about 7 1/2 minutes. 

3. In a large bowl put honey, sugar and butter together and put in microwave for 1 minute. Stir. Put back in microwave for another minute. Stir. Repeat until really hot. 

4. Add vanilla. Stir. 

5. When oat mixture is done, dump all the oats, nuts, and seeds into big bowl and stir until every is well coated with sugar mixture. Turn oven down to 300 degrees F. 

6. Add in Craisins and mix well. 

7. Grease same 8x8 baking dish and put oat mixture back into it. 

8. Using wax paper or parchment paper (I bet foil would work), push firmly on the oat mixture until it is flat and uniform in pan.

9. Bake for 25 minutes. 

10. Let cool in pan. 

11. When cool, dump out (you may need to take a knife around the edge of pan like I did) and cut. 

*Side note: Make sure they are COMPLETELY cool or they will crumble. 

The photo above is how thick I cut them (as you can see, mine are bigger than yours will be. I doubled the recipe).

and then I put them in little snack baggies. This way the kids can just grab one and go.

I hope you enjoy them. 

Goals

I was thinking I should make some goals and see if it will help me follow through with the things I really want done. Even though the month has already started, I am going to use the month of February to complete these. 

These goals are going to be short term, under one month.

1. Clean one room a day, thoroughly. The weekends are off. (The kids can help)

2. Do 2 loads of laundry a day.
3. Finish the backyard so I can start our garden.

4. Stay caught up on school work, mine and the kids.
5. Don't fall apart.

Ok, let's see how we do, shall we?

Cranberry Baked Oatmeal

I went looking for this recipe because I was getting really tired of the same old oatmeal. The kids and I really like this one. I made a few changes from the original, like cutting down the amount of sugar, no one needs to eat a 1/4 cup of sugar in the morning by themselves, and I cut the amount of butter. I like the taste of butter, but I think the taste can be there with a little bit of it.

Baked Oatmeal

6 Cups Rolled Oats

1 Cup Brown Sugar
4 tsp. Cinnamon
4 tsp. Baking Powder
2 tsp. Salt
2 Cup Milk
4 Eggs
1/2 Cup Melted Butter
1/2 Cup Applesauce
4 tsp. Vanilla Extract
1 1/2 Cup Dried Cranberries

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9X13 inch pan.
2. In a large bowl, mix together all the dry ingredients. Mix in all the wet ingredients. Stir in the cranberries.
3. Spread into pan.
4. Bake for 40 minutes.

Linked to Grocery Cart Challenge's recipe swap.