Will You Be Mine, Valentine? Valentine's Day 2014

This Valentine's Day was very sweet.  I had a 7 a.m. exam and clinic in the morning, but when I came home for lunch, the  smell of chocolate and peanut butter surrounded me…peanut butter brownies for lunch!  I was so excited to have lunch with my Valentine!  At lunch I gave him my Valentine gift (a soccer ball), and he showed me mine… tickets to Universal Studios, Orlando so that I can see HARRY POTTER WORLD AHHHHHH!  (I think he won with the better gift this year) I have been wanting to go to this since it has opened!  Too bad my fellow Harry Potter fan will not be able to go with me.

Daniel acted as chef that night and whipped up a gourmet spread of filet mignon, shrimp, mac-n-cheese, mashed potatoes, brown sugar glazed carrots, french bread, and wine!  We ate it on our little patio while watching the full moon reflect off of the lake.

On Saturday we had a fun time at Shelly's Valentine's Partay after I was a "runner" for the NERB examination from 6:45 until 5:30.  What a long day… thank goodness for sleeping in on Sundays.
Now back to studying for those finals!  Almost time for break!

Books Worth Reading

Have you ever been so caught up in a book that you have dreams about it?  Or want to chat with your favorite characters over a latte?  Or want to become best friends with your favorite author (I would really love to meet Jodi Picoult!)  Oh, wait is that just me?!  This Buzzfeed post is adorable, and describes my feelings about reading a good book...

http://www.buzzfeed.com/hnew92/16-quotes-that-will-make-you-want-to-cuddle-up-wit-9qja

On the other hand, have  you ever quit a book in the middle of reading it?   Or, do you stick it out until the end, waiting for a miracle to happen?  I felt like this happened to me recently while reading the hyped-up Divergent series by Veronica Roth.  I thought that the first book in the series "Divergent" was good…so I preceded to buy the second and third book on my Kindle (more on this nifty device later in the post).  I was disappointed in the second book… I couldn't connect with the characters like I could in the Hunger Games or Harry Potter series.  I proceeded to the third book, and about 100 pages in, could not bear it anymore.  I quit.  (I still would like to see the movie- I am very interested in how they will create the Dauntless headquarters)  

After that disappointment, I turned to goodreads.com and did a little creepin on some friends that have similar reading interests as me.  I downloaded "The Book Thief" (also a newly released movie) , "The Second Opinion," and "The Husband's Secret."  

This leads me to my next question… How do you feel about the Kindle vs Nook vs Book situation?

Although I love the feel of a good book (not to mention not having to worry about charging it or dropping it in the bathtub)  I love the accessibility of my Kindle.  I can download a book at a moments notice!  I have yet to figure out how to "share" books from one device to another, but I would love to be able to share books with my friends who have Nooks too.  I loved being able to lend my friends books, and I feel like it is so much easier to flip back and read from the beginning of an actual book than it is on a device.

I loved "The Husband's Secret"by Liane Moriarty.  I have suggested this book to all of my reading buddies, and can't wait to discuss the story with them!

I am currently reading "The Second Opinion."  I probably will not finish this one until I am on my plane ride to FLORIDA because of finals this week.  I will post my opinion on the book after I get back!

Come Fly with Me, Come Fly, Let's Fly Away

Well I think Dan's Birthday was a success this year.  We celebrated with friends and I got to surprise Dan with a flight to Sedona for breakfast.  One of my instructors owns a plane, and invited us to go with him.  The skies were blue and the day was perfect.  I don't think we stopped smiling all day!  Dan and I got to try our hand at actually flying the plane- Dan was a pro, but I was not so good at it!

I was better at taking pictures than I was at flying the plane

Sedona Red Rocks.  You can actually see the propellers in this picture

Our shadow

Dr. Haering and I next to the straight tail... I guess there is a "straight tail club" and it is rare to have one.  Who knew?

Lake Pleasant

A hot air balloon landing right below us

So suave

Dan and his ice cream cake from Cold Stone- so delicious. 

 We had a blast with our friends at Haus Murphy's- an amazing German restaurant in downtown Glendale.  This restaurant is very accommodating for large groups (we had a party of 18 and they split the check for us with no hassle) We had sauerbraten and chicken schnitzel, followed by sauerkraut chocolate cake for dessert.

                                            Dan was being serenaded in this picture

 Devin and Jackie enjoying some food

The Latest- A Mish Mash of Events

WHEW! A lot has been going on in the Saldivar household since the last post.  I have been slacking.

Well, I suppose I should update all of my readers (ahem, Daniel Saldivar) on the happenings of our lives :-) My New Year's Resolution is to keep up with this blog, as it will be fun to look back and remember what we have done over the years.  

~Wedding Bells~

Two of my dear friends are going to tie the knot this year and I am so lucky to be able to be a part of their weddings! 

On July 5th 2015 Janet and James will be getting married in Madison, WI.  I have never been to the city, but have heard wonderful things!  I am so excited to see this beautiful lady get married and be one of her bridesmaids.  She has been my friend since the beginning of dental school.  

On June 14th my lovely friend Michelle Perez (who helped my husband pick out my wedding ring) will be getting married to her sweetheart Luke in Boise, ID.  I am so honored to be her maid of honor!  

Michelle and I having a "moment" on my big day.  I am so happy I get to be beside this beautiful lady for her big day!

~Travels Abroad~

This November I was able to go to Tonga with some of my classmates and instructors to provide free dental care.  I had the amazing opportunity to work with a local dentist at a clinic in one of the villages. He was able to show me some amazing extraction techniques, and I was able to see how dentists in Tonga practice.   They don't do crowns there because there is no lab to fabricate them!  We were able to visit the blowholes and go to a luau, which was pretty amazing.  We also got stuck in Tonga for 7 hours longer than expected and missed our flight from Fiji to the U.S.  So we had to stay the night and spend an entire day at a resort in Fiji (what a rough life, right?).  Fiji Air paid for each of us to have our own rooms and for 3 meals at the resort.  We lounged by the pool and ate some good local food.  I was excited to be home though, because I had missed our 2 year anniversary! 

The clinic in one of the villages- Hafa, the local dentist is in the picture chatting on the phone

Waiting with the assistant for our bus.  This area beside this particular tree was the bus stop.

This chair was at the hospital in a locked, special room that only the royalty of Tonga could be seen in .

This is Dr. Johns and I in front of the hospital.  Dr. Johns is an endodontist at MWU.

This was in front of the dental clinic where we spent the majority of our time.

This is one of our patients that we delivered a "flipper" (transitional partial denture) to.  

A few important phrases that we learned

We called ourselves the sister wives

Giant lobster dinner at a local restaurant called Little Italy

This is where the girls stayed

The blow holes at sunset- what a beautiful, peaceful place

Nothing like a best friend!

We all "fit" into this red truck to go to see the blowholes

Underwater "selfie"

~Concerts~

When I got home from Tonga my darling and I were able to see one of our favorite singers, Michael Buble, for our second anniversary.  Wow! What an incredible performance, and talented man.  ~SWOON~

All of my married (and engaged ladies) went to the one and only BEYONCE.  I am currently listening to her new CD on repeat :-)

~Christmas~
Christmas was spent with my side of the family this year.  We had a wonderful time seeing everyone in Newport Beach and Arcadia.  We were even able to see Hunter, Aunt Michele, and Alex this year!  We filled up on dumplings, pho, limon chips, and lots of laughter!

Here's to a wonderful New Year!