Month: August 2019

Maryhill Wine Tasting

Posted in Travel1 Comment

I went wine tasking for the first time last night! A little treat for working for six nights. 


Side note before I talk about wine tasting… I think it is so important to celebrate little things like getting done with a stretch of work. It makes the little things seem bigger, and it’s really fun to celebrate things! So why not do it more often?

Anyway… wine tasting.

I’ve been extremely nervous to do this for a long time due to the fact that I don’t particularly love red wine. I’m a “cheap pink wine because it tastes like juice with a kick” kinda girl. 

However, I have dreams of going to Spain and Italy one day, so I think I’d better start!

So I decided to try Maryhill Winery. They have a tasting room location right down the road in Spokane, WA. It’s cute. It’s classy. It’s lower profile on a Wednesday night for newbies like me. It was perfect. 

Here’s how it works:

You start by going up to the wine bar and asking for their “flight.” Newbie me thought only beer tasting had flights. I was very wrong. 

The flights are in a specific order. They start you off with a lighter white wine, then ease you into the sweeter reds, followed by darker reds, and ending the experience with a lighter white or rose. I received a piece of paper with the list of wines, and a small description of flavors that was to be expected with each wine.
 


Going up to get each taste of wine, I learned about the different areas of the tongue to focus the taste on. 

For example, some of the more sour/bitter wines, it is helpful to push the wine to the sides of your mouth when drinking it because you’ll taste the initial sweetness at the tip of your tongue, then skip some of the bitterness that would normally come as the wine hits the back of your tongue. I also learned that with Merlot’s, it is best to pair them with a steak. This is because they intentionally dry out your mouth to reset your pallate. Because what is the best bite of a steak? The first bite— so they attempt to recreate that first bite after each sip of wine. 

I knew that wine tasting was an art, but I had no idea that this much thought went into each and every wine!
To get into my thoughts on the wine…..

I loved the initial white wines (and I’ll be honest, I remember absolutely none of their names, and I apologize). The first was sweeter and smooth. The second was slightly more sour, but still smooth and light. 
Into the reds I went blindly. I was surprised, but I liked two of the four reds that I tried!

The dry, bitter ones (like the Merlot) I did not care for as much, but I would be interested to try them with the food that they are meant to be paired with. 

The two that I did like were sweeter with a slightly bitter kick at the end. They didn’t dry your mouth out, so they were more pleasant to drink by themselves. 

The final wine was a rose. This one was my favorite, naturally. Sweet, light, and the perfect way to end the night. 

Now, let me paint you a picture…

You’re sitting on a patio, the sun is setting on a warm, but not hot day, the patio chairs are soft and comfortable, you have a couple sips of wine in your hand, people watching as they bike/run/walk past on the sidewalk, a slight breeze. 

Sounds magical, doesn’t it? 

That was my night.

It was the PERFECT way to celebrate six nights at work: relax, sip some wine, have a slice of pizza, watch the sunset. 



It’s the little things.

If you’re in Spokane, head to Maryhill Winery to try their wine flight! Or find a local winery near you to explore. 

Some tips for this adventure: 

  • Ask questions if you have them! People that are into wine love to talk and educate those who aren’t yet. Even if you know wine well, ask about the specific winery or wines that you’re tasting.
  • Be open minded. It’s ok to not love every wine that you try, but still give it a chance. They say, at least three sips to determine if you like it or not. 
  • Relax into the atmosphere. Being in a new place and trying a new thing can be stressful, but be mindful of your stress and try to dial it down and enjoy the place you’re in and the things you’re doing. You’ll be able to remember it more like that.

Good luck, and cheers (literally)!

Rachel




the breakfast club

Posted in Lifestyle2 Comments

Ok, not the traditional breakfast club…

I’m talking about the power of breakfast with friends. 

I didn’t realize the power of this simple act until this very morning. 
 
I love going out to breakfast with friends! But there was something about spending the last five nights with these beautiful people, maybe being a little crazy from that fact, and having mimosas and a delicious breakfast that made me cherish a good friend breakfast. 
 
Needless to say, it was needed. And amazing. 
 
 
The ICU I work on utilizes travel nurses. These are nurses who travel from place to place in the country and sign short-term contracts with a hospital. Three of these travel nurses are about to head out on another adventure, so we wanted to celebrate with a fun breakfast!
 
We went to the Garnet Cafe, which is a local breakfast joint here in Coeur d’Alene. I have heard nothing but good reviews, so I was anxious to try it!
 
It did not disappoint!
 
I got a scramble with all types of veggies, potatoes, and rosemary toast. 

Oh my gosh. 

Probably one of the best breakfast foods I have ever had.

But that wasn’t even the best part!

The best part was laughing until our stomachs hurt.
 
After working a twelve-hour night shift (especially after five of them), you get a little silly. 
 
We had the best time laughing and joking. 
 
To be completely honest, it gets pretty lonely up here. 
 
This breakfast was exactly what I needed to remind myself of the good people and good times that can be had in a new place! And the little nudge I needed as I go into night 6 of 6 tonight.
 
The power of friends, laughter, and good food is unfathomable. 
 
It has the power to make you feel loved, light, happy, joyful, and those feelings are needed!
 
Take some friends, go out to breakfast, add a fun mimosa on top, and have a beautiful day! Today is a short post, as I woke up late… sorry!
 
Cheers,
 
Rachel 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

5 Reasons Why You Should Learn a New Language

Posted in Travel2 Comments

I was fortunate enough to have my mom know Spanish and begin teaching me at a young age. That, along with taking classes in high school and college, I can now speak Spanish conversationally.

I also just signed up for a Sign Language course at the community college in my town. This one has been on the bucket list for years!

Languages are a beautiful thing. They are artistic, they bring us closer together, they allow us to open our eyes new new worlds.

However, learning new languages can be daunting. I hear often:

“I’m not good at learning languages,”

“It’s too hard,”

“I’m not very creative,”

“I can’t remember all the words.”

These are common misconceptions about learning languages.

The truth is: ANYONE can learn a new language! It just takes a little time, patience, and excitement.

I’m here to help with the excitement aspect. So, here are 5 reasons why you SHOULD (and can) learn a new language!

  • #1 It will connect you to your creative side.

  • Everyone has a creative side! Sometimes it just takes a little time to expose itself.
  • Giving yourself the opportunity for that side of you to show is one of the kindest things you can do for yourself. It will open up a whole new world and new opportunities.

  • #2 It will allow you to communicate with a wider variety of people.

  • Languages bring people closer together.
  • They allow you to share emotion: happiness, sadness, frustration, joy, thanks.
  • Millions of people (depending on the language you choose) speak this language, and you now have the opportunity to learn from them!

  • #3 It will CHALLENGE you.

  • Challenges are so good for you! They give your brain a boost and wake it up.
  • Once you’ve started to learn the language, you will feel so accomplished in the midst of this challenge.
  • Challenges give people motivation and excitement for life. Let that fuel you!

  • #4 It will give you a wider perspective on your own and others’ cultures.

  • Language and culture are deeply linked. Learning another language will give you insight to that culture. It will allow you to see life through different eyes.
  • It will also have you looking at your own culture differently. Understanding another person’s perspective on our culture will give you growth, confidence, and a new outlook on life. It is truly life-altering.

  • #5 It will open up more job opportunities.

  • There, I said it. Everybody knows it, and it’s true. Employers LOVE employees who speak another language.
  • This goes back to that communication piece. Being able to communicate with more people means that you are a huge asset to a company. You will be invaluable to them.
  • The world is moving so fast, and in order for companies to keep up, they need to expand and be open to a broader population. This means globally. Learning another language will open doors for you to travel for work, communicate to help a business, and make you an irreplaceable team member.

    • What are you waiting for?!

    Head to the library, a local community college, or find a tutor online to help you begin.

    Remember to stay patient with the process; good things take time.

    Best of luck!

    Rachel

  • little things

    Posted in Lifestyle3 Comments

    “Watch the sunrise at least once a year, put a lot of marshmallows in your hot chocolate, lie on your back and look at the stars, never buy a coffee table you can’t put your feet on, never pass up a chance to jump on a trampoline, don’t overlook life’s small joys while searching for the big ones.”

    ~H. Jackson Brown Jr.

    This is a quote on a magnet that I have on my fridge. 

    It is such a good reminder to love the little things. 

    As I go into my work night 4 of 6, I’m needing a little reminder of little things that have brought me joy over the past few days. 

     

    Joy list:

    • It’s getting cooler and cloudier here in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. That means it’s easier to sleep during the day!
    • I made that chocolate chip banana bread earlier in the week, which has been a lovely treat in the middle of my shifts.
    • I’ve been given an admission every shift during this stretch (admissions from the ER are a lot of work, usually extremely busy), but I am starting to get faster/more efficient at them!
    • My patient last night wrote how thankful she was for the care I was giving her 💛
    • My coworkers have all been rockstars. Helpful to me and to one another, silly when we can be, able to talk things out when needed.
    • My new coffee I bought tastes AMAZING.

    • My succulents are still alive!
    • I got a letter from a long time friend from Colorado State University.
    • I got a wedding invitation from some friends back home (by the way, it’s the cutest invite ever).
    • I’ve gotten to write on this blog every day!

     

     Feeling like you can’t see the sun for so many days in a row can be tough, but finding the happiness in little things can help you realize how lucky you are, and that this life is actually pretty amazing.

     
    Short post today, happy day!
     
    Rachel

    Never have I ever traveled to…

    Posted in Travel1 Comment

    My official list of the top 6 places I’d love to travel to (because I couldn’t narrow it down to 5). 

     

    #6 SPAIN

    • To hike El Camino de Santiago. This is a pilgrimage from France to Spain that bypasses beautiful Spanish countryside, magnificent architecture, and incorporates old Catholic traditions. I love learning about religions and cultures, and this would be a great way to get immersed.
    • They speak Spanish. I speak enough conversational Spanish to help me travel, so this aspect is extremely inviting.
    • Wine and dine. I have never been to Europe, but am fascinated by their food and drink culture. Spain would be a great taste of that. (See what I did there?)

    #5 ICELAND

    • I would love to rent a camper van to drive around Iceland. I have a few friends who have shared their experiences in Iceland with me while doing this, and it sounds absolutely breathtaking.
    • This country would be about hiking, waking up to see the sunrise, and astonishing beauty.

     

    #4 THAILAND

    • This country is self-explanatory for a backpacker’s dream destination: beautiful ocean, wildly different culture, eclectic foods.
    • Not to bring in finances, but it is incredibly CHEAP to travel around Thailand! Getting there you have to be crafty about your plane tickets; however, once you’re there, you can survive and thrive on very little money.
    • Again, religious practices intrigue me. Seeing temples and the practices of the many different religions in this one country would be incredible.

     

    #3 NEPAL

    • My purpose and desire to go to Nepal is to do a relatively famous trek: the Annapurna Circuit.
    • This is an 11+ day trek in the Himalayas that begins and ends in the capital of Nepal, Kathmandu. 
    • The tallest point is Thorong La Pass (17,769ft). You can make a side trip to Everest Base Camp if you would like to.
    • This trek would be the ultimate physical and mental challenge that I could ask for. It also is lined with opportunities to converse with locals, as well as discovering local food and culture.

    #2 COLOMBIA

    • The rich culture and history draws me to this country. Also, the fact that they speak Spanish.
    • My research on this country, as well as speaking with friends who have traveled here has shown me that this is a must-travel. That is because it is relatively isolated due to it’s history with violence due to drugs. Travelers and backpackers have found the safe places of the country to explore, and they are magnificent. Colors, wildlife, culture, food, people, the list goes on. 
    • My love for hispanic culture stems from their values for family. Family is the core value for hispanic culture, with family members of all generations commonly living in the same house, and all work is performed with the good of the family in mind. I love and cherish these values.

    #1 INDIA

    • India is usually a highlight for most backpackers. This is because there is usually a cultural and spiritual transformation that occurs while traveling and experiencing the country. 
    • Covered with temples and other spiritual architecture, India has ample opportunities to get fully immersed in their culture.
    • Similar to the other countries I desire to visit, India has flavorful and exotic dishes that I am dying to taste.
    • India makes me excited to travel, and also extremely nervous! The language, hustle of the cities, and vastly different culture are something I have never experienced before!
     
     
    As my savings rise because I’d rather eat salads everyday and travel than do anything else, I hope to buy my plane ticket to one of these destinations soon. 
     
    Having a desire to travel fuels me. It drives all of my actions and gets me truly excited for the future!
     
    I hope this list sparks you to build your own list of travel dreams, and that you have the courage to go!
     
    Rachel
     
     
     

    vulnerability.

    Posted in Lifestyle1 Comment

    “Vulnerability is not winning or losing: it’s having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome.”

    ~Brene Brown

     

    Of course I had to open a post about vulnerability with Brene Brown. She is the queen of vulnerability discussions, so I probably won’t do her justice, but these are my thoughts on the matter. 

    Vulnerability is HARD. 

    There. I said it. 
     

    Since living on my own through college, and now really alone in Idaho, I have shared my personal fears, regrets, longings with almost no one. No one really knows what’s going on up here [points to head]. And I think that frustrates some people! Especially my close friends: either those who have been or who I’m trying to make. So, I’m sorry.
     
    So, this afternoon, I am delving into what vulnerability is, and why it is so difficult for me personally in the attempt to motivate myself to be more vulnerable, and to motivate you all as well. 
     

    What it is:

    Vulnerability is: writing this blog.
    Vulnerability is: being open when you’re afraid.
    Vulnerability is: being okay with being silly and goofy with those you love.
    Vulnerability is: doing something you’ve never done before.*
    Vulnerability is: adventuring in new places with new people
    Vulnerability is: being brave.
    Vulnerability is: celebrating the little things.
    Vulnerability is: acknowledging your fears and telling others about them.
    Vulnerability is: being ok with not knowing something.
    Vulnerability is: asking for help.
    Vulnerability is: being open and honest with yourself.
     

    Why it’s hard:

    I don’t feel in control.

    This was a big one for me to realize, and Brene Brown hit it right on the nose. As an ICU nurse, I am always in control. I have complete control over my patients, their lives, labs, daily happenings. All of it.
     
    And I transfer that to my everyday life.

    (P.S. I am making these realizations as I am writing this.)
     
    I am so used to feeling in control of every situation, that is so extremely uncomfortable to feel out of control, feel vulnerable.
     
    I think this has affected my friendships: both the old and the new. I think that by not being vulnerable in order to stay in control, I have put everyone I love at arms length. Which isn’t fair to them or to me!
     

    What I’m going to do about it:

    I’m going to be vulnerable.
    I’m going to open up to my friends.
    I’m going to lose control.
    I’m going to write this blog
    I’m going to tell people when I’m afraid.
    I’m going to be silly and goofy.
    I’m going to do something I’ve never done before.*
    I’m going to adventure in new places with new people.
    I’m going to be brave.
    I’m going to celebrate the little things. 
    I’m going to acknowledge my fears.
    I’m going to be ok if I don’t know something.
    I’m going to ask for help.
    I’m going to be open and honest with myself.
     
    These are a lot of *new things that I am going to do, and to be honest, I’m a little nervous!
     
    Friends: help me. Help me be vulnerable with you so that we can grow our friendship.
     
    And finally, to you: I hope this brings you hope, joy, and even a little fear. Fear that maybe you could be being more vulnerable with those you love. Fear that this might be the start of something new and challenging for you. 
     
    Best of luck, and feel free to reach out.
     
    Rachel
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

    love

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    Love is probably the topic that I ponder most in my day-to-day life (aside from travel/adventure).

    Trying to organize and assemble my messy thoughts on love has proven to be much harder than I anticipated, so bear with me: here are my unassembled thoughts on love.

     

     

    • Love can be given to and received from anyone: boy, girl, friend, lover, husband, wife, sibling, parent, yourself. It has no rules or boundaries. Many people think it does; however, nowhere are there rules for love!
    • Love is difficult to receive for most. I haven’t quite worked this out yet, except that I think it has to do with thoughts of whether or not the love is deserved. My thoughts on this are that everyone is deserving of love, and it is important that we accept it in whichever way it is presented to us (whether that be physical, emotional, thoughtful gesture, gifts, or service). I think that when we don’t accept love that is given to us, it halts the cycle. It is emotionally harmful to both the giver and receiver when this happens. Something to work on…
    • Love is relatively easy to give for most. The problem comes when we think that the love we are giving is received in the same way that we receive it. This is an idea I am promoting from the book The Five Love Languages. This book illustrated for me, that people do not feel love as strongly in some areas as in others. It is so important to figure out how your loved one feels love the best, then cater to that! For instance, I feel love most in words of encouragement. Whether that be in cheers, pep talks, or letters (I love letters, have a whole box of them), that is how I receive love the best. Were someone to give me a gift, it would be lovely, but I wouldn’t feel as encouraged and loved as words make me feel.
    • Love has to be felt extremely deeply, and that has to be where all actions originate from. I realized this when I visited my Colorado home recently, which was accompanied by a long drive and chat with my mom (love those). Hearing about my parents’ relationship has opened up many viewpoints for me. They have such a powerful relationship. What I have learned, is that it stems from a friendship kind of love. This love has obviously blossomed over many years, to be more of the romantic love that it is now. Chatting with my mom, I was told that this love took time, patience, and work. Not exactly what I envisioned my fairytale love life to be like! But I have more respect for that kind of love. The love that is so true and deep and powerful.

    Side note: they are now officially empty nesters now that my brother is off to college, and they are crushing it!! Trading off making dinners, picking new and fun activities every week, having quality conversations, and still the fun-loving couple I always remember.


     

    So that’s what I do [think I] know about love… minimal at best.

    What I don’t know, is how to love so much that this loneliness feeling I have being up here on my own goes away.

    I THINK that it’s a time thing. Time will help me make solid relationships that are no longer surface level, and that I can really be vulnerable with.

    I THINK that loving others on my end, the giving end, is a key component to grow in love in the best way possible, and to be open to creating those connections.

    I THINK that love has all the answers, and that it takes sitting back and letting it do it’s thing to show that.

    If any of you have the answers, or even thoughts on the topic, feel free to comment! I’d love the insight.

    And yes, I’m still single. Yes, I go on the occasional date. No, I haven’t found my person up here in Northern Idaho.

    So to finish with a quote from the woman that inspired this blog:

    “The giving of love is an education in itself.”

     

    ~Eleanor Roosevelt


    the daily grind

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    So, I’ve been doing ample amounts of research regarding successful blogs, successful writers, and ways to enhance writing. One of the most common tips?

    Daily writing

    I’ve made that my goal for this week… or until next Wednesday… And here’s why this goal will really test me: I work almost everyday from now until then.

    Anyone who knows me, knows that when I go into a stretch of nights at work, I lose complete contact with the outside world. I basically sleep, work, and eat until my stretch is up and I can return to being a normal person, instead of a vampire. Writing a blog post will usually be the LAST thing on my mind.

    HOWEVER, I am excited about this blog! About documenting my thoughts and pushing forward and doing new and exciting things. So, it will be my goal to post every day. I’m not saying they will be particularly long or interesting, but there will be a post!

    Now for my one thing.

    I baked some chocolate chip banana bread.

    Yes it does taste as good as it sounds!

    It took a lot of mental manipulation of myself to convince me to turn the oven on when it was 90 degrees out and my apartment doesn’t have air conditioning.

    BUT I DID IT.

    Simple ingredients from a little Pinterest article I found here.

    And it turned out amazing!!!

    With this one new thing, I am able to have a sweet breakfast every morning for my shifts at work.

    Baking is such a fun and relaxing way to center myself. I blast some tunes and allow for my mind to be fully immersed in what I am making.

    It’s kind of like crafting for some people.

    Anyway, allowing myself to center on that one task of baking made me feel incredibly peaceful. I feel more grounded and present in my day. It was truly a gift. And all of the over-heating was entirely worth it.

    ten days

    Posted in Lifestyle, TravelLeave a comment

    A lot happens in ten days! My apologies for not writing sooner.

    At the start of these past ten days, I was working. I am an ICU nurse working night shift. I work 7pm to 7am, I have two patients, and it’s usually pretty busy for most of the night. My patients need constant checks on vitals, medications, safety, etc.

    And I love it.

    It is interesting, fun, scary, exciting, all at the same time, and my shoulders sit uncomfortably in my ears from stress for most of the night. Having people’s lives in my hands is no picnic, especially for a newbie. It has only been six months, so I am still learning every single day. Not that I ever plan to stop.

    So, a quick overview of new work experiences:

    • I gave blood by myself (no preceptor) for the first time to a patient who was bleeding internally.
    • I got a patient on a medication that I had never cared for by myself (no preceptor) before.

    I know these are silly things, but being a new graduate nurse, I still get excited over the little things. I’m going to hold onto that for as long as I can, with burnout and compassion fatigue being so prevalent in my profession (I’ll get to my thoughts on those in a later post).

    After my four days of work, I flew to Colorado! So, here we go.

    August 14th: I got a new haircut! I got about eight inches cut off! It seems like a lot, but my hair was super long. With the cut, it’s still below my shoulder blades.

    August 15th: I went to Fiddler’s Green Amphitheater for the first time! I got to see Mumford and Sons (for the second time; the first time was a week prior at the Gorge Amphitheater in Washington). It was a super cool venue! The front section are all seats, and the back is grass. We sat on the grass- just brought a blanket. Once the show started, everybody stood up. They were absolutely phenomenal.

    August 16th: I got to have lunch with my best friend from nursing school! We went to this adorable restaurant in Louisville, CO called The Huckleberry. She got crepes, and I got eggs Benedict, and they were both unbelievably delicious! I hadn’t seen her in six months, so it was wonderful to catch up. Just to toot her horn a bit… she is an amazing float nurse (meaning she floats to most of the floors in the hospital) at Children’s Hospital in Denver, CO. This hospital is incredibly competitive to get into, and she got in right after nursing school!

    August 18th: I did a beautiful hike to Lake Isabelle with my mom this day! I’ve hiked to this lake before, but it was a notable day to get to be unplugged for a while and relish in the beauty of an alpine lake.

    Lake Isabelle– CO

    The other occurrence of note on this day, was that my plane home got turned around just prior to take-off due to a person having heart palpitations. They had to turn around and go back to the gate for the paramedics to help the person off of the plane! It was quite the lengthy journey back to Idaho.

    August 19th (today): Wow. Today hurt my heart more than it’s been hurt in a long time. Today, my friend took me to a house north of Coeur d’Alene where she was watching the house and animals of a woman she met. The woman was in the hospital, and had three horses and three dogs that needed to be cared for on her property. What I did not know, was that these animals were not well cared for due to financial reasons (though they were getting excellent care from my friend). I was fortunate enough to never have seen a neglected animal before, so the sights today were haunting. It hurts my heart that animals even have the potential of being neglected, and I hope that better homes can be found for them soon.

    • Waterfall to Lake Isabelle
    • Long Lake– CO
    • Elephant head flowers
    • “…I- I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference” Robert Frost

    Quite the eventful ten days.

    I will try to be more regular about posting, sometimes life gets away from me, but at least it’s being filled with fun, new things! I’ll leave you with a quote that spoke to me after my Colorado time.

    “In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.”

    John Muir