-Changes-

So getting married and all has brought on some new changes, and I've decided to just start a new blog instead of converting this one-if you are interested in checking it out...here is the address!

www.cami-zane.blogspot.com

-Engaged. Stressed. Excited!-

After waiting for what seemed like FOREVER....He finally did it.

On our way home from Layton, after stopping by the jeweler to "yell at them to get your ring finished"- fireworks went off in downtown Ogden, Zane jumped at the opportunity, and popped the question during the Finale! It was incredibly romantic and very spontaneous...exactly how I hoped it would be.

As for engagements...they were one of the many things that were accomplished before the "official" engagement, so here are just a few.

I can't even begin to describe the amount of excitement, stress, and anticipation that has been following me wherever I go. I cannot wait until I take my final on Monday and my complete focus will be on preparations for our Day.

I must give a shout out to my incredible Mother who has been planning everything while I've been finishing the semester. She also did a pretty good job at keeping things a secret before he actually proposed. So Thank you Mom-for all you do!

As for the fiance-He's handsome, determined, and will massage my feet/neck whenever I want-what more could I ask for? I love my Zane Michael.

-Mmm-

One of my favorite foods is French Onion Soup-luckily, I have an amazing cook for a mother and this past Sunday when I went home for the weekend, this was the fab dinner my mom whipped up. Wow I'm blessed-it was the best meal ever! Thanks Mom!

-The Joy of Weekends-

Over the past few months, the weekends haven't come quick enough. Unfortunately, they fly by and before I know it, I'm back in clinic stressing about what requirements I haven't accomplished. Thank heavens for an AWESOME family and FABULOUS friends to make the weekends worth the wait.

Uncle Ron and Aunt Nancy own the greatest corn maze in Logan. Every year when October rolls around, I look forward to our weekend of eating at Angie's Restaurant, readjusting to the northern-cold-air, and making our way through the challenging corn field.

Weekends when Zane visits the Dixie Land are always something I look forward to...they seriously are NEVER long enough.

This moment was a definite picture-taking-must. Chelz asked Zane if he wanted some eggs for breakfast. He mumbled "yeah" through his sleep so she made them up and set them next to him thinking he would eventually get up and eat. This is what I came out to a few minutes later...completely asleep.

This last weekend was a quick trip for Zane, but definitely appreciated and enjoyed by me! After studying all day/night Friday, waking up at 7am Saturday to be to the homecoming parade, and spending the rest of my Saturday morning/afternoon doing sealants in the hygiene clinic, Zane arrived and my "weekend" began.

First on the agenda: Doll up Ms. Chelsea Gould and send her off on her Homecoming Date. She looked stunning in her sassy red heels.

Second: Take Zane to experience In 'N' Out for the FIRST time. His opinion? He compared it to McDonalds...I was so offended! His cheeseburger was a little pinkish and greasy looking, but the rest of the meal was superb-I don't know what he was thinking.

Final event of the night-TRUE REBEL! Zane had no idea what he was getting himself into, but I figured that in my last year here at Dixie-it is about time that I become a true rebel...at least we got free chapstick out of it.

-Gratified-

So now that I am back in the slum of school work and stressing over patients, I decided that I needed a little encouragement to get me going. The first thing that came to my mind was memories of my incredible summer and that is when it hit me- I have absolutely nothing to complain about. I am completely gratified with my life right now and this is why....

I was able to spend time with my family and enjoy the beauty of this awesome earth!

I took an amazing journey across the Pacific ocean to the Philippines where family and friends greeted us and allowed us to enjoy and fall in love with what they call Home.

I took on new challenges and my feet experienced the largest blisters they will probably ever experience...but wow-what a journey! :)

I reunited with family from all over the world as we held the FIRST Anopol Family Reunion

I spent every last second available with this incredibly handsome guy!

As for now...? I am lucky enough to be healthy and to have the opportunity to finish my studies in something that I have been working for since I was 16 years old.

Like I said....I am completely gratified!

-Injections-

From the day we started our journey on becoming a dental hygienist...we knew the moment would come when we would hear the words, "It is now time for you to practice injections on each other."


In most instances in this program, whenever we practiced a new skill, we were all fairly confident when it came to practicing on each other, or if we weren't confident-there wasn't much we could do to really hurt each other. But when you put needles in the picture...it's a different story.


Don't worry...we were all very prepared from practicing on grapes before we went for human flesh.

Emily ready to inject into the "patient"


Megan preparing the needle!


We all took the grape patient/practice run VERY serious...

Grapes...Humans...same thing


Emily did a WONDERFUL job!

Kayla handling that needle like a champ!

I must say that I am extremely proud of myself and my fellow SDHs....we DID it! We all successfully completed our first three injections of our hygiene career. There were quite a few worried faces, sweaty pits, and shaky hands....but in the end-we are all alive.

Mom

I realize that it is a few days late, but I would still like to make a tribute to my great Mom. I don't think I could ever fully show how wonderful this mother of mine is, but if you know her...then I don't have to say much because you already know (as much as I do) how extremely talented and amazing this woman is.

I have never met a woman who can take on so much and accomplish everything she sets out for with such perfection.

• If she is ever asked to plan an event, it is executed above and beyond expectations. Ward parties when we were younger seemed more like a trip into a new world.


• When mothers put together an activity for their kids to do each week during the summer, she did an activity EVERY day to make sure we were enjoying every moment.


• Birthday parties done by Mom were the BEST! She would plan everything around a theme of your choice, made whatever dessert that happened to be your favorite, and she came up with new and creative activities/games for each one.


• I will never forget the many vacations and camping trips that mom would plan for the family. She found ways for even the ride in the ol' suburban to be enjoyable...which can be very challenging with 3 crazy boys and one whiny girl.


• I don't think I can count the many special trips into Brigham mom would make to pick me up after a practice or from a friends house.


• Every saturday was filled with soccer games between Nate and I, but there are very few games that I recall her missing...if she did, she made sure we knew she wished she could have been there.


• She never pressured us into doing anything. She was so good at helping us develop talents in our own specific areas of interest. Whenever we came up with a new hobby, she was supportive from the start.


• I will forever be grateful for the confidence my mom built in each of us kids. She was always so positive and made sure we knew we were important and loved.


• She is so fun to talk to. I would come home from being with friends or dates and mom was always willing to stay up/or wake back up and listen to how my night was. Even if she could care less, she sure fooled me.


• Most of all, I am amazed at the relationship she has kept with each of her children. I love and respect that woman more than I can describe. Even though we have disageements once and awhile, she will always be my very best friend.

So Mom...I hope you know how much I love you! If you ever feel frustrated or down, please remember that to me (and MANY others) you are absolutely incredible. I hope I can grow up and handle motherhood as well as you have. You amaze me:)

Here are just a few pics from Mother's Day: The M-Day's breakfast, the Mother herself, and some "flowers" picked for Mom from the neighbor kids:) Dad did get mom a beautiful boquet of roses too-good job Dad!

-Inspired-

If you know me very well, you know that I am not what most would call "domestic". I would sure like to learn and gain these skills, but so far I haven't been very successful. Well as I was shopping the other day, I came across some of the greatest fabric I've ever seen. I sat for a good ten minutes staring at it until I finally decided that I woud attempt at making myself a little satchell. I've always heard how easy it is, and why not make one with fabric that I love right? While my mother insisted that I spend $2.99 on a pattern, I decided to save that $2.99 and go off of inspiration...which I did. I must admit, I am quite pleased with the end product! There are plenty of flaws, but it has more character thanks to my lack of skills. I can't tell you how wonderful it is to finally have a little bit of free time to actually have a creative/inspired moment like this!

I have been 21 years of age for 12 days now and I couldn't go another day without making a little tribute to my wonderful roommates and friends! This birthday was very wonderful and surprising! I was treated to a pedicure, I had messages and flowers sent througout the day, the hygiene gals treated me with singing and homemade ho-ho's, I enjoyed a delightful coconut cake (or should I call it heaven?) and I had a surprise party thrown for me-which I was NOT expecting at all! It was fabulous. Thank you, THANK YOU, thank you to my great friends and family for the unforgettable 21st birthday!
My Obama birthday card :)

Go Green

Considering that today is Earth Day, I can't help myself but blog about this wonderful concept of "Going Green". Some may say that it takes too much effort, but to me, it is a way that we can respect this wonderful place we have been given and give back a little bit of the beauty for others to enjoy.

In honor of Earth Day (and the fact my car is being tempermental), I decided to walk with my Go Green bag to my favorite grocery store, Harmon's. I'm all about going to local grocery store's-they not only treat you so much better, but their products are so much better in quality!

So as I have been enjoying the sun and my day off of school, I decided to write just a few things we can do to "Go Green"....they are all simple, but if everyone were to pick up on them, we would be saving so much more!

1st: As I have shown in my picture above, get reusable bags for your groceries. So much paper and plastic are wasted everyday from customers throwing away their bags.

2nd: Stop buying bottled water. Buy yourself a reusable plastic, or even better an aluminum, water bottle and fill it with water from the tap. If you don't like the tap water-purchase a water filter that can attach to your tap and you will be eliminating all of the container waste that comes when we all go through 5+ water bottles a week.

3rd: Use household items to make your own cleaners for around the house. This reduces the amount of toxins in your home and the number of containers that you buy and throw away.
-Drain Cleaner: 1/4 c. baking soda followed by 1/2 c. vinegar. Close drain until it stops fizzing and rinse with boiling water.
-Glass Cleaner: mixture of half white vinegar and half water.
-Mold/Mildew Cleaner: lemon juice or white vinegar and salt.

4th: Buy food from locally grown farmers. It not only tastes better, but this will keep our local farmers in business.

I won't keep going on, but these are just some VERY simple things that will help our environment...hopefully we can all do a little better at recycling/reusing what we have and respect this beautiful place we call home. Everyone doing one thing will make a difference!

GO GREEN!

Family

This past weekend was great. My family came to Nate and I for Easter this year and it was a blast. I definitely should have spent more time studying for my tests and finals that I had this week, but I must say that this was one of the most enjoyable weekends....just enjoying and relaxing with the fam. Thanks family for driving the 350 miles down here, taking us out for every meal, and enjoying the great things the Dixie land has to offer!

Snow Canyon State Park

Me showing my excitement about my new Chacos!

The wonderful Mom and Dad: Mom does such a good job at making sure we do things as a family. She is always looking for new things for us to enjoy and we always do! Thanks Mom for being so much fun! Dad has such a way of showing me how much you can appreciate everything around you. He always has such great insights and views on life and I just love our conversations. He helps me remember to enjoy life and not to take anything for granted. I love you both!

Getting some of that "Red Sand in our Shoes!"

Rocking out to some guitar hero...Nate doesn't seem to enjoy it as much as I do...

It rained the entire hike, but WOW it was gorgeous!

We didn't go out along the ridge due to rain, wind, and Mom's fear of heights, but the view after the switchbacks was just as enjoyable!

Playing around in the park on Easter Sunday

Nate: Tackling Miles to get to the easter egg.
Miles: Trying to fight through Nate's arm hold.
Dad: Trying to get out of the way of the two crazies!

Yes...this is me ruining what could have been a nice, normal photo...but its definitely more fun! Thanks fam for one of the best Easter weekends ever.

A little Slice of Paradise

I have to admit, I have been completely spoiled and blessed this spring break. I had the opportunity to travel to Hawaii with some great friends and it was AMAZING. It all reminded me so much of the Philippines and made me that much more excited to get back there. Hawaii is such a beautiful place and it was so wonderful to completely forget the worries of school and just relax. Here is a little bit of all the fun I was able to experience...

The waves were incredible!

Meeting the Famous "Wally" Amos

Diamond Head

Waikiki Beach with Lia and Kiko

China Man's Hat

Punchbowl Memorial

Once again, a perfect spring break! Thanks again to the Bank's family for letting me tag along. MAHALO!