Chimmy's Corner

Folks, this is Chimmy and I have a doggy dilemma. My fur. MY FUR. IT'S WAAAAY TOO SHORT!!! GrandPa took me to the groomer this week and Ms. Groomer butchered my beautiful fur. MY SEXY MANE! It felt like I lost my mojo. I don't look fierce at all, I feel naked.

I look like weird looking Deer, but I do feel super light! I probably lost 5 lbs!

See this was me before the evil haircut. I look very sexy here. Unlike Mum who dyes or cuts her hair when she is bored or depressed, I like my hair long because it brings out the sexiness in me. Getting a haircut makes me sad and depress :(

Yet I am thankful that my family still loves me the way I am. I still act the same, I still bark whenever I see a bird in the backyard and my fart smells the same *sniffs butt to confirm*. I am thankful that my family still gives me hugs and kisses despite me looking like a weird Fox. It's just fur, right? It will grow :)

Ok, Mum is gonna read me a story from this book.

Have a good weekend!

doggy kisses,
Chimmy

#blessed

Happy Thanksgiving!

This year I am grateful to be blessed by God and to be alive and well (!!!) and of course for my family, friends, Chimmy, my PillowMan, for a job, a roof under my head, my bed, a stocked kitchen, the ability to travel and enjoy what the World has out there... Just the opportunity to live.

We did our annual Thanksgiving Luncheon at a local hotel and of course it was good. It was great to spend time with my extended family.

And this was not all of them. One day we have to have ALL of them!

Be grateful. Be blessed.

Rima

Weekly Wishes

I decided to join a link-up created by the super cool Melyssa of The Nectar Collective. Super dig the idea of this. Pretty much the concept is to write your goals/wishes for the week with the intend of, of course, accomplishing them during the week. Hello, this girl here loves making to do lists. 

Wishes for this week:

To enjoy my family's company and eat like a cow and be thankful for what I have

This week is Thanksgiving week here in the States and I am one of those that DO NOT celebrate Black Friday. Seriously, just be thankful for what you have (job, shelter, food, water, air... you know, basic stuffs). I work in a hospital and at this time of the year there is always in influx in depressed & anxious middle age people who can't afford a good holiday celebration with their family. Some of these people lost their jobs and just can't provide anymore. It's sad. Really sad. Sometimes I really just want to give them a big hug (which I do sometimes). 

Situation like these always take me back and remember how grateful I am to still have a decent job, a house to stay in, food & drinks to consume and a family (and furry boy) to come home too. 

This week I just want to enjoy my extended families warmth and love during our annual Thanksgiving Luncheon, just enjoying each others company. Feasting and laughing. Hangout with GrandMa. Taking pictures with my cousins. Sharing funny Youtube videos. Just be thankful with what I have. 

And as for the picture above, it's part of the pictorial weekly theme: New Beginnings. I quoted one of my favorite Coldplay song, The Scientist. Why that certain picture? Because sometimes, when I have to think of like starting over (either a plan/goal/recipe/life in general), I tend to look down to my feet and think... and a new idea can pop up and a new beginning can start :) 

xoxo,
Rima

The List

Thanks to Setarra, she made me hop on to my blog and make a list. It's been awhile. 
feeling// hungry. girl, it's 10:16AM and I haven't had my cup of tea and toast! *on it* eating// nothing right now. On my way to the kitchen... drinking// will be drinking PG tea with cream and honey. Yum. It's pretty cold in SoCal aka 56F (it's cold for us, ok) so a cup of hot tea sounds so good right now. practicing// bikram yoga. honestly, I'm being reaaaaallllyyyyyy lazy. I purchased a 10-card class and only been to 1 class... and that was 3 weeks ago *shame* mastering// the art of getting organized with my life and the art of paying debt without spending like crazy. These tips from Michelle are really good. learning// how to do some mindless shopping. I was good until the past month or so. I need to get on the mindset of "Do You Need It or Do You WANT It? Buy it if you NEED it, not if you WANT it!" playing// candy crush. still on it. finishing// my handmade Christmas cards!

reading// Catching Fire (re-reading it), 1000 Places to See Before You Die (thanks Goodwill) enjoying// my days off!!! Since I moved back to the ER, I self schedule myself and have these awesome days off in between *win* listening// Rhythm of Love playlist on Pandora contemplating// on what to bake next... lusting// over these Le Creuset French ovens. I want one! Also this Nespresso machine. Or pretty much everything at Sur La Table! wearing// sweat pants and t-shirts. Perfect lazy day outfit :) baking// Probably Azuki Bean Sweet Bread wondering// when Rob & I can seriously talk about our impending wedding. Hahaha... #toolazytothink loving// this cuddle weather that Mother Nature is giving us in SoCal. YES. working// on my budget. It's like a never ending cycle travelling// to Cancun for New Years Eve! planning// well the Cancun trip! Also my sisterhood's reunion in May 2014 in Arizona.  wanting// saving dogs. I need to volunteer again. Oh and CINNAMON ROLLZZZZZ.
happy weekend, Rima

Life as a Nurse

If you didn't know, I'm actually a Registered Nurse by day. It's what I do for a living. My background is Emergency Medicine (my home) and Interventional Radiology (my second home). I did ER for 3 years and IR for 2 yrs & 7 months and now I am back to the ER again... Hustlin'... while still helping out IR too (the goal is to do half & half. Why? Because I like the variety of things).

Well yesterday, I took care of a patient with severe Parkinson's. He was there overnight (carried on from night shift) and pretty much needed a new placement for his on going care. His brother, who was his primary caretaker, was there too at bedside the whole time. After a little chit-chat, I found out that the brother isn't able to take care of the patient anymore due to his severe stage of the disease (if you are not familiar with Parkinson's, see Michael J. Fox... but this man right here was worse thatn MJ Fox). The brother was in the verge of losing his job & he even sacrificed his own medical conditions in order to take care of his brother *tears*. You can tell that he loves his brother so so much.

So Mr. Patient here has occasional delusions, he tends to get out of the bed no matter how we repositioned and staged his hospital gurney to prevent him of getting out and fall (he has history of falling due to his shakes). As I get to know him more during the day, it's not delusion. It's just his way of communicating is very difficult because of his Parkinson's. He has a hard time trying to blurt out words to express himself to the point he gets really frustrated. I felt really bad for him.

Meanwhile, my friend from Case Management took the time, out of her busy list of patients, to work on a new placement for this gentleman. She literally spent 1/2 of the day trying to get this man a new place. I owe her a beer, or two.

At one point during the day, the brother had to step out to make a phone call, so I decided to act as a sitter for Mr. Patient. As I try to reorient him and get him comfortable, the chitchatter in me decided to be friendly nosy. I started asking about his martial status (unmarried), his siblings (his brother & deceased sister), his ethnical background (South America), teasing about how his birthday is just 1 month away from mine ("But I am 30 years older than you, mija" he says) and where he used to live prior to being in California... You know, just trying to be personal with him. All the meantime, feeding him and giving him some Apple Juice and working our way together with our communication skills with his Parkinson's. I was being a ProActive listener.

So my Case Manager friend was able to find him a new place to stay and boy his brother was very delightful. They got him in right away as a direct admission. They were happy, we were happy, everyone was happy. The brother gave me a hug of joy.

After finishing their paperwork and discharging him out, I wheeled the patient to his car with his brother. Then Mr. Patient, with his shaky body, stood up & turned around slowly... And insisting to give me a hug, a big hug. With his Parkinson's talk, he said "Thank You for all of your help".

And that made me feel great for being a nurse.

Sometimes, you just have to stop and listen. Some of my coworkers who weren't in my area that day asked, "What's wrong with your patient? Is he drunk? Is he on drugs? Why does he shake a lot?" Us nurses, especially Emergency/ICU RNs, we have to desensitize ourselves from many difficult situation, so it's pretty common to see nurses being subjective with our own thinking, especially when it's based on a quick glance on a situation (we, nurses, are on the go). Sometimes, because of busy load of work, we tend to "forget" that we are dealing with humans who have emotions. AND, sometimes, patients & family members also FORGET that they too are dealing with humans. We are humans too, us nurses & doctors. We have emotions and feelings too.

Just like Ellen DeGeneres says all the time, "Be Kind to One Another"... If we only take some time to just listen wholeheartedly, not only you changed that other person's life, it changes yours too.

I hope Mr. Patient is doing okay today.

- Rima

linking up with Treasure Tromp :)

Wanderlust: Link Up

One reason why I love traveling is food. Trying out food from each area that I visit. As a foodie, I don't mind spending splurging on food. Mmm food. Casey from True Colours Wanderlust series for this month is about Culinary. FOOD! 

 Beer in Munich Airport's Brewery

Paella in Barcelona

Patatas Bravas & Sangria in Barcelona

Artichoke Pizza, NYC

Some traditional food in Honduras

Crepes in Paris

Red Velvet Cupcake, Magnolia Bakery, NYC

 Halal Food, NYC

Gray's Papaya Hot Dog, NYC

Sarabeth and The Filling Station Beer, Chelsea Market, NYC

Peterson Donuts, Escondido, CA

Kat'z Deli, NYC

Frozen Hot Chocolate, Serendipity, NYC

Fish & Chips, London, UK

Pad Thai, Bangkok, Thailand

Thai Chicken Porridge, Thailand

Tea & Coffee Tasting, Ubud, Bali

Deep Fried Duck, Bebek Bengil, Ubud, Bali

Tuna Fried Rice with Eggs, Bugis Road, Singapore

Spaghetti, Milan, Italy

Pizza, Milan, Italy

Gelato, Milan, Italy

Roast Beef, Neuchatel, Switzerland

Oh Man, I am hungry looking at these :) I really love trying out different foods while on vacation. It's a great way to explore other cultures. 

xoxo,

Rima

Let It Snow: DIY Mason Jar Snow Globe

 Who doesn't love snow globes? You know, growing up in the tropics, a girl can dream that she is having a White White Christmas with a snow globe, while it's super duper humid outside. A snow globe can sometimes be an escape from the real world, especially when things are kinda bad.

But, customizing your own snow globe ON A BUDGET is pretty bad ass. I'm pretty sure you've seen lots of tutorials out there on how to make your own snow globe, especially on Pinterest. But oh hay, I want to share one too. Why not? Join the club!

I love polar bears so for my little mason jar globe, I picked a snazzy white polar bear as my captive. Along with some Christmas Trees. 

Things you need:

Waterproof Glue - I opted for the insane Gorilla Glue

Mason Jar - any size would do, but I recommend Wide Mouth jars

Water

Glycerin - this would give that flowy affect for the glitters

Glitters

Plastic toys, trees, action heros, legos, whatever flows your boat

First, glue your toys to the lid of the jar. Let them dry completely. 

Fill your jar with water (leave a little room of space) and add several drops of glycerin. Not too much, though. You don't want your water to get all thick. Gross.

Add glitter. 

And watch the glitter goooooooooooooooooo...

Oh and add more glitter. I like two tone colors. I decided to get mermaid colors. Because they are pretty.

Once your toys are completely glued on to the lid, flip it over and place on top of the jar.

Now close the jar completely & tightly (option: you can glue the outer ring to the jar if you want to). Hi upside down bear!

Flip over and enjoy!

This bear is fierce.

oh and haaay I made a quick clip on instagram :)

I'm super excited to do more of these. I think it would be a fun gift for the holidays. And talk about affordable! I'm actually going to make on right now for the Pillow... with Iron Man in it :)

xoxo,

Rima

I know it's not Tis the Season yet...

but I just saw this commercial online and it made me super teary eyed (call me Ms. Sensitive? Plus, c'mon, it's Lily Allen singing a Keane song) and I seriously can not with for Christmas season to be here!

I love the gloominess that SoCal gets (even though I would love to experience Christmas in the snow), I love seeing the Christmas lights all up on houses (I'm a sucker for lights), listening to Christmas songs (but punk-rock covers) and just plain ol' giving.

I'm a sucker for giving out gifts. There is this sense of gratitude I get when I see my recipient's reaction when they receive my gift.

A little FYI, I do not celebrate Christmas in a religious way. For me, I see it as a Season of Giving. I'm already planning out what baked goods to give out for my friends and family. I'm thinking ways to give away some of my clothes for the victims of Typhoon Haiyan... They need it more than me. Just the simple selfless act of giving for me means more than the items that are given away. For me, if someone gives me something, it makes me happy to think that at one point, that person was thinking of me. Hence that infamous saying, "The Thought that Counts."

I'm even working on Christmas Eve and on-call for Christmas Day, because in away, I am giving away my nursing service to people who need them. I guess, one way for me to give back to the community (oh and a bonus of getting paid double for the holiday, tsk tsk).

End of the year festivities are my favorites...

Are you excited for this Holiday Season?

xoxo,
Rima

Happy Birthday, PillowMan

And we're the same age now :) Yes, the Pillow is a little bit younger than me by months and he is my first boyfriend to be younger than me. He may be younger yet he is very mature. 

Gosh I love you.

"You put your arms around me and I'm home" - Christina Perri

We couldn't celebrate on the day of the birthday (I was off but he had to work) so we decided to spend some time in Los Angeles over the weekend. It's nice to spend some quality time together with your other half in another place, out of each other's comfort zone. Being local tourists is a fun way to explore your city, and also a cool way to explore your love between each other. 

We had dinner at Water Grill on Grand St on DTLA. The vibe is chill yet classy. Mainly seafood, the food choices are brilliant (if you love seafood), from oysters to lobsters to fancy fishes. Oh and the wine list is exquisite. Crazy. The service was good and our waitress is so cute with her squeaky voice. 

The Pillow's appetizer. I hurled.

Meanwhile, I chowed down a nice bowl of Clam Chowder. Seriously, this thing was business. So good.

I ordered Fish & Chips and it was yummy, while Rob ordered Halibut.

We also had brunch at Pete's Cafe & Bar on Main St in DTLA. I really love the art deco of this place. Tall ceilings with black & white pictures of Los Angeles hanging on the walls. There is an outdoor patio too if you care to enjoy the street views of DTLA.

I ordered Santa Barbara Smoked Salmon Benedict that was AMAZING. The combo of the smokiness of the salmon with the creamy hollandaise sauce plus the melted egg yolk was phenomenal. PillowMan liked it a lot. 

The Pillow ordered Coconut French Toast. I didn't get to taste some (I was crying inside because I have been bad by eating bread the night before; going GF here...), he said it was delicious. It look delicious to me. Damn.

Then we decided to walk around downtown. Enjoying the nice fall breeze. It's pretty awesome to see the "quiet Sunday" side of Los Angeles. Seeing old buildings always fascinates me, making me think on the history of each building. 

Angel Knoll's/Angel Flights, home of that famous bench from (500) Days of Summer. It looked pretty dead because of the no leaves due to Autumn.

Pershing Square.

I'm glad that we were able to celebrate The Pillow's birthday. We were this close on not celebrating at all because he was supposed to be in Switzerland again for work. At least we celebrated one of us's birthday together this year (we didn't celebrated mine because he was overseas this past April).

Well, my Boo, thanks for being you. For being in my life. For being an amazing person. Happy Birthday.

xoxo,
Rima