Welcome to my chaotic yet wonderful life...

I am a chaotic and unique combination of characteristics, interests, and dreams who somehow, through the mess, usually has good taste.  A Maine native I moved to San Francisco in the fall of 2007 to pursue my dreams.  As a single 27 year old pediatric oncology nurse I search for and try to create a life of beauty, adventure, love and friendship.  This blog is an attempt to express my creative side while also giving me an outlet for the very meaningful but often devastating career I have chosen.  I am honored and humbled to have the chance to care for children and their families while they go through treatment, cure, and if the time comes their passing. These children are brave beyond their years, determined, fighters, and most amazing of all, forgiving...

I hope that you enjoy my blog as it is a peak into both shifts in my life. 

Love,

A xoxo

A Brief look into my life prior to the blog...

                                                                          Family

My family in San Francisco to celebrate my parents 30th wedding anniversary

Me to the left and my sister Carlyn on the Right

                                                                            Friends

My friends and fellow nurses on a camping trip.

Travel

An impromptu trip to Bali, biking around Ubud. 

Weekend Trips...

Tahoe in the Summer... Denim party 

Tahoe in the Winter

                                                 Dinner Parties turn Dance Parties...

The First Gourmet Club.

A Maine Lobster Bake on a San Francisco Rooftop...

I am a Maine native who has lived in San Francisco for the past 4ish years.  I love San Fran but I am a Mainer at heart and have been dying to throw a lobster bake.  My friends and I have a "Gourmet Club" where one apartment hosts, picks a main dish and theme and then the others bring a side, desert, appetizer, and a cocktail.  In prep for my 27th (ugh) birthday I decided that the perfect way to celebrate my birthday with my closest friends, would be by hosting Gourmet Club.  Growing up I would request lobster as my birthday dinner every year and so in keeping with tradition I decided to host a Lobster Bake Gourmet Club.  I invited the usual members along with my roommate and neighbor who were fantastic helpers! To keep with authenticity I ordered the lobsters from Taylor Lobster Company in Kittery, Maine which is where my family always goes.

I have always wanted to host a dinner party on the roof but I usually got scared that the windy and foggy San Francisco weather would make it too uncomfortable.  With the lobsters though I decided we would have to suck it up not wanting the rest of the building to have to deal with the smell of lobsters. Through some miracle I got one of the five nice nights of the year.  Seriously it was the perfect evening and night.  With the decision to use the roof I began designing a look in my head including the large bulb lights, red and white strip runner, candle lights, etc.  Luckily my very creative and helpful Aunt Kristin and Uncle Don were out visiting and helped me develop and execute my ideas.  Uncle Don was the mastermind behind the lights while Aunt Krissy helped me mold my fantasy into this... 

I got flowers from the Farmers Market and other details from Fredericksen Hardware, Cost Plus, and a few of my own pieces from Maine. 

One of my favorite touches was the "how to eat a lobster" I had at each table setting

As is tradition, when having a lobster bake one must have a race as well...`

A few more pictures of decor...

Our littlest guest dressed for the occasion in her nantucket reds and sparkly Sperrys! 

Dinner and the after party

All pictures are courtesy of my very wonderful and very talented friend, Mara Bailey-Olson