Cruise to Mexico!!!

I have been in paradise for the past week with my parents, grandparents, and Lexi. My parents gave Lexi and I a cruise to Mexico for christmas and we had a blast. The day after finishing some stressful finals, I flew into San Diego and that is where the adventure and nonstop eating began. The ship was so fun, the service was top notch, and the food was amazing! We stopped at Puerto Vararta where we were able to enjoy laying out on the beach, parasailing, and jet skiing in the ocean. We were all used to jet skiing in lakes where you have to make your own waves, the ocean is a whole different experience. In Mazetlan we just shopped around down town and had a blast. Cabo San Lucas was also so fun. We took a boat out to a little island and went snorkling. We saw some pretty fish but it was the feeling of swimming in the ocean with dad and lexi that was the funnest part. After we got off the boat, we stayed in California an extra day where we went shopping and walked on the beach on Coronado Island. It will be a vacation I will never forget.

Thanksgiving!

I didn't go home for Thanksgiving this year so I went to my roommate Bonnie's house for the week break. Although nothing beats being with family, I had a great time. Our days mostly consisted of sleeping in and then laying around all day, it was so relaxing. We got snowed in the first day and so we bundled up in her dads snow gear and we had a blast in our size 15 boots and extra large snow pants. We ended up making a large mound resembling a snowman that was taller than all of us, it was sweet. Her mom put together an awesome Thanksgiving dinner and it was even comparable to a Peterson Thanksgiving (if that's even possible). I contributed the sausage stuffing and I must say that it was pretty delicious. Thanks mom for giving me very detailed instructions on how you make it, it just wouldn't have been the same if I would have tried to wing it. Bonnie made this frog eye salad and I've never liked it in the past but it might have been my favorite thing there. There were tons of leftovers so I think I had frog eye salad for most of the meals afterwards. I know I know, that sounds gross! Anyway, I'm back in Rexburg now just bracing myself for the last three weeks of school. It definately makes it easier to finish out a semester knowing that a super fun Christmas break is ahead of me. Well I love you all and I put together a little slide show of thanksgiving!

Super Yummy Chicken

So my roommate was making this chicken for herself tonight and when she gave me a bite I was like "Whoa, I need to make me some of that!", so I did, and it was delicious! The picture actually makes it look kind of gross so don't judge the taste by the picture. Also, I even took a picture of the ingredients and you'll notice there is only three (well plus the chicken), I LOVE EASY RECIPES! Oh and just know that the recipe below is an approximate, my roommate helped and we just eyeballed it so it's the measurements are somewhat of a guess!

Carly's Parmasan Ranch Chicken (yeah that's right, I'm making it mine!)
1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast
3/4 c ranch (I used low fat and it was great!)
1/3 c bread crumbs from the can
Grated Parmesan cheese

Make sure that the chicken is thaw and the outside is really dry. I put the thaw chicken between paper towels to make it dry because I guess if the chicken is at all wet the mixture won't stick to it really well. Mix the ranch and bread crumbs together. The ratio between the two should make it look like a thick ranch and not even close to the crumbly stage. Roll the chicken in the ranch/bread crumbs mixture and make sure there is a generous amount on the chicken and place it on a cookie sheet. After all the chicken is rolled, sprinkle the chicken with the Parmesan (don't go easy on the Parmesan). Then just bake it in the oven like any other chicken. When it comes out sprinkle a little more Parmesan on it and batta boom batta bing, you have a delicious meal!
Oh and I put tinfoil down on the cookie sheet because it can be a little messy, but do what you want. Enjoy!



Oh and the temple view was especially pretty tonight! I'm never moving apartments again, I've been too spoiled with the city/temple view!

Just an update!

Ok so I'm not that great at updating my blog frequently but I sure love to read everyone else's updated blogs so keep em coming! Well we're almost half way through the semester and let's just say I'm excited for Thanksgiving break! Nursing is becoming more intense and it is getting harder to keep up, maybe I need to stop playing so much.

My roommates are a blast though so it makes it really hard to not want to tag along. My roommate Bonnie and I are on a flag football and softball team so most of the weekday nights are taken up with games. This week is tournament so hopefully we can win so we can get the coveted championship t-shirt. Rexburg is sure getting cold! The temperature in the mornings and nights are cold enough to make your insides just shake, but luckily the days are still pretty mild. My calling in the ward is really teaching me a lot and I am humbled to be working with such great girls in the Relief Society. I never realized the thought and effort that goes into RS. It makes me grateful for the great Young Women leaders I had that always made every week a good experience. Well, that's about it for me, it's hard writing posts when you don't have cute kids to talk about like my family does!

Rexburg so far!

So I am a few weeks into a new semester but it feels like I have been here for a lot longer. My roommates are really fun and we always figure out something fun to do at nights which makes my working days a lot easier. I have met some way fun people so far and I am so excited to continue meeting such fun friends. Nursing is going great. Although it can be pretty busy and stressful at times, I love the students in the program and I'm psyched to be a nurse. We did IV's and blood draws on each other last friday and it really made me feel like a nurse. This semester we have moved to 12 hour clinicals on Saturdays so I'm getting the feel of how long a real nursing shift is. I love Rexburg and I love where I'm living. I really do have the prettiest view in town each morning on my walk to class...it starts my day off perfect! I've posted a little slideshow of pictures I've taken so far!

My life in Arizona and the Pioneer Trek at Martin's Cove

Here are the pictures I promised of both my stay in Arizona and the Pioneer trek I went on.
I really am going to miss being home. My parents were awesome because they let me just relax and play every day. I loved hanging out with old friends and I'm excited to maybe make a trip to Provo this semester to hang out with them for another weekend. It was so nice in high school to have such a strong group of friends who always made me want to better. I am forever grateful for them and the influence they've had in my life.
The pioneer trek was quite an adventure. My immediate family loves the idea of hotels and being able to shower everyday so having to live in a tent and not shower for three days was quite a new experience. Although there were moments when I was tired and gross, there were also moments when I have never felt closer to my Heavenly Father and the pioneers that sacrifised so much. I'm grateful I was able to get a small glimpse of what the faithful pioneers had to go through, they really were so amazing and strong. I loved to mingle with cousins, aunts, and uncles that I don't get to see very often. As always, I loved to be with my immediate family and I hated saying goodbye at the end. Right now I'm hanging out with Grandpa and Grandma Peterson for a few days before I move into my new apartment on Saturday, I'm excited to reunite with friends and get settled.

Some of my favorite songs!

Yeah so you probably already noticed but I added a little music player to my blog. I know that a lot of people are sick of the "Hey there Delilah" song (I, of course, am not) so feel free to change it to another one of the great songs I posted!

As for me everything is going just great! I'll be leaving Arizona on Thursday to go to Wyoming to embark on a pioneer trek with my family. After that it's off to Idaho. I am going to have a week and a half break from when I arrive in Idaho to when school starts so it will be a great time to continue to live the life of luxury and hang out with some awesome friends before the school work begins! I have a few pictures from my Arizona visit and I'm sure I'll have some sylish pictures of me dressed up as a pioneer so I'll be sure to share them when I can!

Back at home in AZ

BYU-Idaho has this crazy seven week break between summer and fall semesters now so I'm just living at home for a little while. Let's just say I'm loving it! I'm having so much fun hanging out with my family at fun Jimmy Eat World concerts, swimming, and frequent get togethers! Some of my best friends from high school are also just getting home off missions and living down here so I've been able to feel like I'm in high school all over again. Fall semester starts the middle of september so I figure I just have to enjoy relaxing here at home until then!

A favorite YouTube video!

Everything is going great up here in Rexburg. I'm really loving the nursing program and everything I am learning. I'm definately looking forward to the end of this semester because then I'll have about a six week break. I'm planning on moving back to the Arizona heat but hopefully I'll come back to Idaho looking nice and tan. My life is pretty low key right now so I figured I would post one of my favorite YouTube videos for all to enjoy. Just a warning, the little girl swares a bit so don't watch it if it would offend you!

Make an on-line slide show at onetruemedia.com