Monday, December 15, 2014

coffee + sunsets... aka the only thing on my camera roll worth posting (besides cute pics of the littles)

I take waaaay too many pictures of sunsets here, so I started up a hashtag on instagram: #tonightssunsetinaz
I'm not loyal to just one coffee shop. :)
 kids corner at an adorable coffee shop about 10 mins away.
"A shadow proves the sun."
 Dutch Bros Coffee: this drive-thru & outdoor coffee shop is growing on me.
Actually, it's amazing
 mountains!
 Running weather has been everyday, basically. 
I just wish I had the motivation to do it  e v e r y d a y
 When the barista says, "The drink's on me," my day is made.
 The medium coffee drinks are 24 ounces here (well, 2 shops... not Starbucks), which blew me away because I've always known them as being 16 ounces. Also, a day made.
 Besides studying & job shadowing non-stop, I discovered Gilmore Girls and haven't stopped watching it. 
 french press + caramel gelato
stoplight moments




the panoramic pics on my iphone for the 2 and a half years.


I've been so blessed to be able to see all this in such a short amount of time, and so much has happened since the road trip/move to North Dakota. :)






Monday, November 10, 2014

Coconut oil


**Disclaimer: I'm not a doctor or coconut professional. I'm just giving you some insight on how I use this magical white stuff. **

I know that more than enough people have written about it (this one is really good at explaining health benefits!), so I'll keep this post short. :)

Over this summer, I started using coconut oil more regularly, but I recently started using it 2-3 times a day for random things: 

Cooking- the most obvious one, FOOD. All I do is replace oil in a recipe with this wonderful stuff, or even just use it to sauté some onions. I haven't tried baking with it- sounds a little more complicating. Its melting point is about 76* F (vs butter, 95* F), so it melts at a cooler temp!

Facial Scrub- Pictured above is a super simple mixture of coconut oil, some sugar, old coffee grounds & a pinch of salt. It leaves my face soft and smooth. Just apply to your face, leave it on for 10 or so minutes (I think I had it on for an hour one time, it doesn't really matter!), then rinse it off.

Face Wash- sounds crazy, but it works. Yes, I wash my face with coconut oil. I only do it once at night. And guess what, I've been having less breakouts, so it's a keeper. And here's the science behind it: around 50% of coconut oil is made up of the fatty acid, Lauric Acid. When Lauric Acid is broken down, it kills bacteria (which is the cause of breakouts. It also won't dry out my skin like other cleansers do. :) 

Hair- I massage it into my hair and leave it in over night in a braid. Make sure to wash it out in the morning (or leave it if you want to look like a crazy caveman at school/work/etc.) I do it about 3 times a week. To keep the oil from getting everywhere, I wrap a small fleece blanket around my pillow- works perfectly.

In the words of Weird Al,
Just Eat It- eat a spoonful every once in a while. It takes some getting use to, but it's delicious and so good for the body and supposedly give an energy boost like caffeine, but yes, it's still an oil, so don't go crazy.


I haven't gotten to the use-it-as-tooth-paste or blend-it-in-my-coffee stage yet. Picture a girl with her jar of coconut oil in the bathroom. Swishing it in her mouth, putting it on her face and brushing it through her hair, and then eating some while she's at it. Haha, I hope it never comes down to that.

If you want to learn more ways on how to use coconut oil, just google it. The "101 Ways to use Coconut Oil" article is so repetitive (use it as lotion, make it into lotion bars, use it as a massage oil, make it into homemade lotion, use it as sunscreen, use it as chapstick, use it as a facial moisturizer... you get the point?), so just read one with 10-20 uses. But it honestly boils down to just 2 uses: topical and oral...

Anyways, go buy yourself a jar and start using it!



Monday, October 20, 2014

awk+awe 10/20/14

I finally have enough quotes & events to give you yet another awkward and awesome post ;) enjoy.


^^for my mom's birthday

Awkward stuff:

When my textbook's index only goes to the I's. Noooo, I needed the other 17 letters. :(

"One time I tried to crochet and run at the same time." -my 14 year old brother

When I find the French coffee press in the sink, and one of Elias' cars is drowning inside it. so.many.questions.

If you drink some coffee right after some cherry coke, your mouth will taste like rotting dirt for a few minutes. fyi It's disgusting. 


"How old are you?" -medic
"21."
"Oh, I thought you were younger, but that's a good thing."

"Are you a minor?" -police 
"I'm 21."

Next day:
"So are you a freshman?" 
"Senior."


Couple of weeks later:
"It's an early graduation present." -me
"From high school?" -sale's associate
"College"


People can't really guess my age very well, but that's ok, I forgive them. ;)


If you haven't gotten into an accident yet, don't. The amount of hours on the phone with the towing company, rental place, body shop and mine/her insurance company is NOT worth it.


Working night's means, working twice on Tuesday, twice on Wednesday, twice on Thursday and twice on Friday. 
 

Awesome stuff:

People ask, "Why Arizona?" My response, which is 90% true, is, "Why not? I haven't lived in that state yet." The other 10% I haven't figured out yet.

The nice rental car I got to drive while my car was in the shop... and the even nicer car my parents bought me for an early graduation present! :) (the crashed car was totaled so I needed a new one)

Driving to work with a beautiful sun setting behind a mountain in my rearview mirror... And it's a different mix of colors every single night. LOVE it.

Co-worker was humming "Deck the Halls". yeaaaaaah! :D

I have never experienced such a diverse amount of versions of my name until coming here. When I said you can call me whatever you want, people at the lab took it literally, and I'm fine with that. I'm called Rose, Rosa, Rosie, Rositta, Rosalla, Rosella, and sometimes rarely Rosala. I basically just answer to anything starting with a 'ros' (except Ross).

Having enough patience to let my painted nails dry before touching or doing anything. 



Gotta have that rainbow order, always.


Phoenix's sunsets are about as great as North Dakota's. 


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What's been awkward or awesome about your week?

For more A&A posts, click here.

Until next time! :)








Sunday, October 5, 2014

the crash

How did the SUV not push my car door in and squish me?
How did I stay out of the way of the car right beside me?
How did I not hit anyone else? Or a tree?
How did I not get hit by on-coming traffic?
How did the police, ambulance and fire truck get there so quickly?
How did I leave the scene without a scratch or bruise?
How did I wake up the next day without any stiffness or soreness?
Why was I not afraid to die?

(pictures were not taken the day of the crash... but a post without pictures, isn't really a post- in my opinion. ;) )


I was on my way to Starbucks to do some studying, but God had a different plan for me that afternoon when a teenage girl driving a big white SUV turned into my lane.


It was a three lane (each direction) road with a speed limit of 45 mi/hr. I was in the middle lane, and she pulled out of a side street and made too wide of a left turn. She hit the right side of my car and that angled my car just enough to have me drive over the elevated median with shrubs and trees, then to the middle lane of on-coming traffic. I swerved and finally stopped with my car halfway on the median and half still in the street. The girl quickly came over to see if I was okay. I got out of the car on the passenger side and called 911. As I was doing that, the couple that was beside/behind me, saw it all happen and said they had called 911 too. Within what seemed like less than three minutes, EM's and police were on the scene asking me questions, takings my vials and getting information. I was in complete shock up until calling, and then I sobbed like a baby the rest of the "event". The sweet couple let me stay in their AC'ed car and gave me some water as the paperwork (which is now ipadwork) was happening. (Let me quickly remind you it's really hot here in Phoenix.)

The car was towed because the side was smashed and front wheels were flat and bent up Surprisingly, the windows weren't shattered and the airbags didn't go off. 

Everyone involved or almost involved was okay and that's what matters. Praise the Lord. 


I'm not mad or angry at the girl who hit me, even if I had ended up in the hospital or worse, I don't think I could be. I empathize with her; it could have happened to me when I was her age or even now. She was shaking as she came over to see if I was ok. She was scared and now (probably) embarrassed and feeling guilty. I'm happy she was able to learn from a minor accident then from one of more serious outcomes. 


So again, I ask these questions:
How did the SUV not push my car door in and squish me?
How did I stay out of the way of the car right beside me?
How did I not hit anyone else? Or a tree?
How did I not get hit by on-coming traffic?
How did the police, ambulance and fire truck get there so quickly?
How did I leave the scene without a scratch or bruise?
How did I wake up the next day without any stiffness or soreness?
Why was I not afraid to die?


God was protecting me, Jesus had the wheel, and angels were around me.

He must still have a purpose for me here on earth.
:)





Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Awkward & Awesome 8/13/14

Hi, people! Long time no post, huh? Sorry, I've been busy ;) Yay, intense summer school... you. are. over. 
*happy dance*

Now on to the awkward and awesome post... aka the only stuff I type up anymore.   
Enjoy.


//the awkward

Using the vending machine's reflection to do my hair because the bathroom was being cleaned. 


A customer comes in (I don't think he's ever made a cup of coffee before. I'm not talking about a white chocolate mocha or carmel macchiato. I talking a cup of jo with cream & sugar.) anyways, it goes like this: first of all, he needed help pulling the lever to get the coffee out, (ok, maybe he's never seen one like ours before- understandable), but then he proceeds to put skim milk, half and half, a pump of hazelnut, vanilla and original creamer, honey, and a packet of every sugar (real and artificial. We have regular, raw, Splenda, equal, etc etc) in the little 12 oz cup. It's like the Dr. Pepper of coffees. 

Speaking of Dr. Pepper or coke or soda or whatever you call it: I overheard the funniest conversation, but first I have the explain to non-midwesterners that here people call this sugary carbonated drink 'pop'. I remember always making fun of my parents for calling it pop, but that's what they grew up with. Personally, I still think it's a little funny to hear. Pop. Haha :) Anyways, back to the conversation... this guy was trying to explain to his girlfriend(?) that people in other parts of the US call it 'soda' or in Texas it's 'coke' (even if you want a Sprite or Pepsi; it's still called a Coke.) Her reply was priceless! "At my work, if someone asks for a soda, I'm going to give them a soda water. I'm not going to ask what pop they want." 


When it's so windy (while you're biking) that you get an earache and then a little nauseous. I didn't know that was possible. 

Seagulls in North Dakota; I'm confused, they're confused, we're both confused. 

Spreading natural (refrigerated) peanut butter on extremely soft white bread. #doesntwork

San Antonio ads on Pandora Radio. I lived there 8 years ago; get with the times, Pandora. 

When you're in line for Redbox and the family in front of you takes FOREVER. Like go-through-every-single-movie-and-read-the-bios forever. And, yes, they do see you waiting. 

Struggles of a particular Wednesday evening: I need to finish my lecture... but I'm so hungry... but I'm tired and this floor is so comfortable.



//the awesome


Dining service employee says, "my pleasure". Love it! Prior Chickfila employee, maybe? 


By the end of the week, I will have biked a little over 300 miles (starting July 1st), which means I only spent 10 bucks on gas. Oh yeah! I heart biking. 

Finishing 5 semester credits in 3 weeks. and then 12 credits in about 12 weeks. 


The way God provides for a place for me to live in AZ. It's pretty amazing-- ask me about it sometime! 



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And here are some pictures, because what's a blog post without pictures? 


 ^^ I'm seriously going to miss these sunsets. God is really amazing!
^^Late night facial mask concoction.
^^old tshirt's new identity. headband. 
^^my summer in a nutshell portable file. 
 ^^a random afternoon snack because I didn't eat lunch.
 ^^ laundry day. 
^^ after laundry day. packing! 
piles staying here, piles going to AZ, piles going to HI, 
piles going to Plato's Closet, and piles going to Goodwill. 
Piles, piles, piles.


If you've missed old awk&awe posts, they're here.


Wednesday, April 2, 2014

update + just awkward

Yikes! 
It's been over two months since I blogged last. I gotta say, I kinda miss it. 

Life update: This semester is flying by. In a short month & a half it'll be done & gone, then I'll have super intense summer school. It's called the Summer Practicum, and it consists of a test everyday at 8 am, 4 hours of lecture, 4 hours of lab, go home at 5-6pm, cry, study, maybe eat, sleep, and repeat for about 11 weeks.  If I survive that, then I'm assigned a hospital lab for a year (my senior year) of clinicals. I'm excited, nervous, happy, and sad all at the same time. Big things are changing this fall. I know I won't be in North Dakota, and there's a 95% chance I know where I'm going, but I don't want to post it here in case it changes.  If you message me, I'll probably tell you! :)

But probably the biggest news is that I finally have a sweet little baby sister! After 4 brothers, she's here. :) She's absolutely beautiful, and I'm heart broken that I can't hold her until the end of the month. 


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And here's the awkward stuff I've done, seen, felt or heard in the past weeks. Enjoy ;D

First of all, it's still cold here. What a surprise. ;) haha I'm not complaining; I know I'll miss it in 3 months... ok, maybe 4.

*in ballroom dancing*
Me: I was homeschooled.
New partner: Really?! You seem pretty normal.
Me: gee thanks, buddy.


Biking on a frozen lake during Spring Break.... haha because biking on a frozen lake not during Spring Break is normal...? :-}

My lip started bleeding during a test. That either means I was nervous & bit it, or it shows you how dry it is here. Or both.

The one day I decide to not wear long underwear, the fire alarm goes off in the union. It was only -2 outside. Why...

Skiing down a hill and almost running over a squirrel. He was so close that his fur probably touched my ski. Stupid squirrel.

A ballroom TA (teacher's assistant) thought I was a TA. Either he's not very observant or I'm not a bad dancer. I'd like to think the second option. ;)

When a police woman drove by while talking on her cell phone (it wasn't hands free). Isn't that... Illegal? 


The guy in front of me at Subway was wearing Hawaiian swim shorts OVER his jeans. 



 The three littlest <3



 
On Sunday it was relatively warm and sunny. On Monday, a blizzard came through and canceled school for two days!! Happy first day of April from North Dakota. :D








Saturday, January 25, 2014

Awkward & Awesome [airport and vaycay style]

Over Christmas break, I was in Hawaii & Denver. I would have to say it was one of the best Christmases ever. :)

The first 2.5 weeks were in Hawaii visiting my family, and the last week was spent in Denver (half doing a mission trip + ski trip with my church in ND, and the other half visiting old friends.) I would like to talk more about these mini trips (especially the mission trip), but I don't know if I'll be able to find the time.

Moving on.

So throughout my trip I documented some of the awkward & awesome that happened, plus there are pictures at the end. ENJOY!



--Awkward Stuff--

+The guy sitting next to me on a plane thanked me for not being a liner backer... "Ummm, You're welcome..?" I said.

+I got so many bug bites in Hawaii. Even bug bites on my bruise. D: 

+Putting on damp clothes because it's so humid. Hawaii isn't all amazing, but for the most part, the pros outweigh the cons. :)

+Awkward Aeropostale changing rooms where the door is see through, but after going in and shutting the door, they become tinted. Yikes. They took a little faith to use. 


+Crying at security (because I was sad to leave HI), and then an Australian lady asked if I was ok. Her accent was so thick and couldn't understand what she was asking so she had to repeat herself. twice. "Are you akai?"

+*While in Seattle* "If you're wearing a number 3 Russell Wilson jersey, you can now board the plane." Wow, someone's showing favoritism... Haha (I also had to look him up to find out who he was... Please don't kill me Seahawk fans.)

+"Wake up at 5:40am (on a Sunday morning)... Welcome to the life of a catholic." -one of my sweet friends

+I'm about to go on a kayaking trip, like, lifejacket is on and I'm in the water... And then my alarm goes off. Sad day... I couldn't even go kayaking in my dream D: 



--Awesome Stuff--


+If doing yoga in the airport wasn't considered weird.

+Going to the beach (and being hot) on Christmas DAY! 

+Obama golfing at our church on Dec 26th.

+Girl at a coffee shop complementing on my polished nails..."I wish we could paint our nails here." ...I feel your pain, lady. I can't paint mine while working either.

+Climbing up the side of a waterfall (3x) with Mark and two of my brothers.

+Praying with and serving homeless people of intercity Denver.

+New year resolutions are in full swing. aka, Gym=packed.

+The movie Frozen and everything about it. I cannot wait to see it as a live musical!


A few pictures from Hawaii.


A few pictures from Denver.
First day of skiing was beautiful!
Second day was a blizzard.
Both days were great. :)
The last few days in CO were spent with these amazing people!!

Now I'm back in school, back to the books, back to the studying and back to routine! 
Next week will be the third week of classes, but the FIRST week with 5 days in a row of classes. Our first week had a three days of school, and this past week had 4. I guess we're slowly easing our way into the semester, and I'm okay with that. :)







Friday, January 17, 2014

living


Usually people are excited to start their first day of classes, am I right? New classes, empty binders, seeing old friends, a clean slate and just the excitement of starting over.

My first day back was this past Tuesday, and that morning was not one of those happy first days.

I woke up dreading the things to come. My stomach felt sick, and I was miserable. I dragged my heavy body out of bed, did my morning routine, ate breakfast & started making my pb&j sandwich for lunch. 

By this time the pain was almost unbearable. I honestly think it was God trying to get my attention. "Rosala, you need to give this day to Me.... Let ME handle it." This verse was running through my head: 

"Seek Me and you will find Me when you seek me with all your heart."

With ALL your heart.

I left my half made sandwich (who does that?!) and ran to my room & read my devotional. It was perfect. I love when God does that.

From Psalm 4:

"Answer me when I call to You.
O my righteous God.
Give me relief from my distress.
Be merciful to me & hear my prayer."

It goes on, & I encourage you to read it. So beautiful.
I prayed and asked Him for relief from my distress. Almost immediately my body felt better, my stomach didn't feel like puking, and I felt God's comfort. Truly amazing. 

I encourage you, if God is pulling or knocking, answer Him. Drop what you're doing (homework, laundry... sandwich-making) and talk to Him. Read His Word. Yes, those other things are important, but something else is more important. 

Give each morning & day to Him.