Lazy Day

Monday, July 8. Day Twenty
Welp. I didn't really do a whole lot today. The biggest achievement of my day was this beautiful creation.

Well... Not this EXACT salad. But I copied the recipe and made one just like it for dinner and good grief, it was heavenly(: Really, they loved it! They liked the salad more than the main dish (Salmon) and I was super stoked about it!
Also, I was surfing the web earlier today and happened to find my sister Allison's new website. I was pretty psyched about it. Its a site for her to show off all her cool talents(: Check it out! Anyway... as I was scrolling through, I found this.



I was so touched! She is so talented! It made me really happy to see. I really have the most amazing family out there and I miss them terribly. But, they are my family and they are stuck with me so I know that they will still be there when I get home, and that is really comforting.
I've noticed that it is easier for me to be happy and have fun here when I take more time to notice the little things. Like being grateful for stuff like fireflies! They are so gorgeous! And the amount of green here is breathtaking. I really love the family that I get to work for, the kids are awesome and we have a lot of fun together, even if it is just lazying around the house. And I'm making so many new friends! I have been truly blessed! It was hard for me at first and it still is really hard sometimes, but I know that I'm here for a reason. I have all ready learned so much and I know that I won't stop learning. It's incredible. I've been given the experience of a lifetime. And I'm so glad I'm here

It's Been a While...

Days 15-19
Wednesday, July 3. Day Fifteen
It was a beautiful day and I awoke to the news that the neighbors were gone and we were free to use their brand new pool. YES! After I did a few errands to prepare for the Fourth, Julia and I went over to relax in this beauty.

Julia didn't know I was taking a picture(: It was nice and relaxing and I loved it. Later that night, Ed said he was going to grill some fillet mignon. I was like... Cool! Never had it! So it was kind of a big deal cause it was my first time eating it. So Ed made the main dish, Jules made some really yummy mushrooms and I threw together a salad. It was SUPER delicious! And of course, we had to document the moment!

I know, your mouth is watering(: It was super delish. It was quite a long and exhausting day. I had eaten WAY too much food (I also made a crumb cake that night) and so by the time I went to bed my body had had enough. First anxiety attack since I've been out here. It was really scary, really hard. My family was camping and didn't have service so I couldn't talk to my dad (Which normally is what helps most) Lucky for me, my best friend, Trent, was there for me. He skyped me and helped me calm down till I could fall asleep. First anxiety attack=CONQUERED(:

Thurdsay, July 4. Day Sixteen
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAYYYY! I was lucky enough to get to spend my fourth of July with one of my best friends, Scott, who was on vacation in NYC. I woke up really early to be able to catch a train out to Hoboken, NJ to meet him and some of his family at Carlos Bake Shop! Cool, yeah?

It was a really cool little bakery with sooo many treat and cake and mmmm(: I got this divine little thing.

Red Velvet is my favorite(: It was heavenly, let me just tell you. Anyway, after that we took another train into the city. The first thing we did was walk to Brooklyn Bridge. Which was pretty cool! There was a really nice view of the city from there and it was a fun place to take a few pictures. Even if we all look disgusting because it was 100 degrees and 100% humidity. (Probably not, but that's what it felt like.)

You can sorta see the skyline? Whoops(: Anyway... I was there. Afterward we took a walk down Canal Street. Super duper sketch. Never go there alone. It was kinda cool though. And I got a new bag which i really needed! Then we walked down to little Italy to this little pizza place called Lombardi's. HOLY COW. BEST PIZZA OF MY LIFE (Sorry Daddy, yours is good too!)

It was huge and the toppings were delish and I ate way too much and was sooo full but holy goodness, it was worth it(: We also stopped in Central Park. That place is huge! It was fun to walk everywhere and see everything! So many street performers and so much music, I loved it!

Darling, yes?(; Then we stopped at this cute little fountain thing.

Ignore that I look awful and just look at the fountain(: Then we decided that we were hungry again. So we went to this cute little traveling food car thing called Waffles and Dinges. They serve waffles with all kinds of delicious things on them. And they are Belgian waffles so somehow that makes them 100% better. Seriously, it was so good. Seriously delicious. Just look at it.

Mine had strawberries and ice cream on it. My mouth is watering just looking at it. AH. If you are ever in New York, go get one. After we sort of got to see some fireworks (It was PACKED) And then I headed back home to get some rest. It was a pretty spectacular day.

Friday, July 5. Day Seventeen
I slept in till like.... eleven. It was heavenly. I was pretty exhausted. Around 3:30, me and some nannies decided to head into the city. When we first got there, we decided that we were hungry. We stopped at some cute little Irish Pub and I got what I thought was pot pie, cause that's what the menu said it was, but it looked like this.

What? It was SO good though. The bread stuff on top was light and fluffy and flaky and yummy(: Then, we went to go get manicures and pedicures cause they are cheaper in the city.

Cute, yes?(: We also did a little shopping, went back to the waffle places (YUM) and I had my very first taxi ride!

Nothing too special, but I was excited(: By the time we were ready to go back home, everyone was getting out of the shows. It was SOO CROWDED. We had to run to catch the train and didn't get home till way super late. But it was fun. I love the cityyyy(:

Saturday, July 6. Day Eighteen
What a long day! First thing I did was head to a water park called Lake Tomahawk.Its really cool because it is right on the lake. Like, the slides go into the lake! It was crazy! It was really really crowded. But it was pretty fun! Didn't take and pictures... My bad...
Anyway, after i came home and showered and such Chandler asked if I wanted to head to the state fair. I had never been to one, so I thought it would be fun! When I got there, a circus was about to start! HOLY COOL! I've never been to one before and, other than the awful heat, it was actually super cool. I only got a few pictures and none of them were good... Here is the best one.

I realize that no one is performing.... Haha(: Once the lights were out it was kinda hard to get a real picture. But it was way cool! Then, we went and watched a bike show. Where they jumped these ramps and did a bunch of crazy cool tricks! It was awesome! And finally we went on a ferris wheel ride! It was great(:

Sunday, July 7. Day Nineteen
Really, not much to say about Sunday. Church was good. Led the music... Of course(; And I got a lot of rest. I mean, that is what it's called yes?(:

It was a crazy busy week, but it was awesome and I loved it! I am starting toget the hang on things here and I think that its starting to look up(:

SUMMER IS HERE!

Tuesday, July 2. Day Fourteen
It has officially been two weeks, kids. Half a month. Holy cow. Where does the time go? Its been insane! Here's the deal, I normally have a HUGE problem with touching raw meat... I mean it's just gross and squishy.. Ew. And today I was proud of myself because I marinated some chicken and it was sick but i pushed through it and it tasted AWESOME(: Cooking can be very rewarding, once you learn how to actually do it. We grilled it and had corn on the cob and ate outside and enjoyed the weather and basked in the joy of living and GOOD GRIEF ITS SUMMER(: And we are psyched about it!

Tommy had a championship game tonight and I wanted to get him excited so I told him I would make him a victory treat! He said "What if i don't win?" I laughed(: He's a funny kid(: Soo... I made these(:

Yeah, its fine. I know your mouth is watering. Mine is too but I actually got to eat them. HAH(; They are caramel pretzel brownies and they are heaven. AH. So good. 

Yeah, we're hot. It's fine. Anyway, Tommy won! Whooo! And we all had a beautiful summer day. Guys, i love my job(:

Catch Up

Days 9-13
Thursday, June 27. Day Nine
One thing that I have really loved about this house is this.

Terrible picture, I know(: But this is the treadmill. They have an exercise room in the basement and I really love it! Weird, right? But it has been really nice to get downstairs and just run. It helps me feel better when I am down. I never really liked to run, but out here its becoming something I love! And here is a good reason why I love it so much.

I know, I know. I'm doing the total girl thing and flaunting the fact that i'm exercising or whatever, but really I just want to show my mom that i'm loving it. Anyway, these shoes are brilliant. It like running on clouds. My feet never hurt. And i think they are stinking cute too, so that helps(: 

Later that day, I went to institute. I really am loving that too. The teacher is really sweet and she really knows how to teach. I am making new friends and I am beginning to look forward to going each week. It is really a blessing to go to things the the ward and to be able to feel the spirit. That  is something that I really miss from being at a home where the spirit is constantly present because of the priesthood. Not that I am not living in a good house with a good family, because I am! It is just a very different feeling.

Friday, June 28. Day Ten
Really, I just don't have a lot to say about this day because I was sick all day. I didn't do much of anything with the kids or after work. I felt bad because its my job to keep them happy and entertained, but really I just felt like crap all day. But I guess that's all just a part of the job, yes?

Saturday, June 29. Day Eleven
Since I was feeling much better when I woke up, I decided I would go to the beach for the regional YSA beach party with a couple of my nanny friends. I didn't take pictures and I know you are all hating me for it right now. But let me just say: It was a beautiful beach and very fun... But nothing compared to West Coast beaches... Haha. But still I had a blast. I met new people and saw new things... It was good! The beach was out in Queens so we had to take a pretty long subway ride to get there. For part of the ride all we could see out either window was this.

OCEAN! It was pretty cool(: However, I don't really love the subway... It's kind of gross and full of lots and lots of people... But is a cheap and easy way to get around New York, so thats pretty cool. Anyway, after the beach me, some nannies and a few new friends I had made there decided to go to a place called Shake Shack to get some dinner. Its really really popular and normally the wait is crazy insane and you can never get a seat. But we only waited about ten minutes to order and got seats too! I ordered a burger, fries, and a shake... it was 18 dollars! WHAA? Everything in the city is crazy expensive... But it was super good. Just look a this place!

Not a very good pic, sorry(: But it was pretty fun! And its always great to be in the city too! Anyway, after that we went over to a friends apartment and just hung out. I learned how to dislocate an arm.. So watch out, kids. I'm dangerous(; One of the nannies I got to hang out with is Jazmin. She real fun and she is really helping me to get to know more people. Here is a picture of us.

 Cute, I know(: It turned out to be a really fun day and I had a blast!

Sunday, June 30. Day Twelve

Welp, my second week of church and I all ready have a calling. I was asked to lead the music in sacrament (the same calling I had at home) Crazy, yes? It was pretty weird for me. I'm beginning to get to know my ward a little bit better. I was really hoping that church could be my safe haven because that's how it was for me at home. I think it's getting there. After church, I got to go have dinner with a family out here. The mother is my Dads coworkers sister. (Did ya follow that?) Anyway, it was really nice to go to a house where the spirit is present, say a prayer over my food and talk about things. They were all very nice, we played some games and then just chatted. The mother asked me what I like to do. I mentioned that I love sewing but am going a little crazy because I do not have a sewing machine out here. Well, she said she had one I could borrow for the time being. Imagine my surprise when I see that this is the machine that she is letting me borrow.

AHHH! Isn't is gorgeous! It was built somewhere around 1917 and now has a motor on it so I can use a foot pedal. It took us about 45 minutes to figure out how to tread it and wind the bobbin and such but it sews sooo well! Its a gem and I can't wait to show you all the many things that I am going to make with it! I'm super excited(:

Monday, July 1. Day Thirteen

The weather here is crazy! I woke up to some rain and a crazy text from Julia telling me to check out the storm. It was insane wind and heavy rains. Later that day I was informed that a tornado had touched down in the city I live in and that it went through two other cities. It didn't come over to the part of Berkeley Heights that I live in and we only lost power for a little bit (We have a generator that will always keep us with  power) But the rest of the town was pretty scary. Trees were down everywhere and power was out throughout most of the city. It was kind of exciting! Because of the storm we didn't really do much. But it sure was a crazy day.

Sorry I have been slacking so much.. I promise I will try to do better. Love you all(: