Oz

This is what I saw... as I took shelter in a vet clinic on my way to work. One of the scariest moments ever! I thought for sure I was going to die. This picture definitely does not show how dark the clouds were... or how fast they were moving.... holy cow I can't even describe how freaked out I was. It's one thing to be at home - with a basement just below you - and another to be in your car pretty much in the middle of nowhere.

It wasn't just dark clouds that I saw... the reason I ran into this vet clinic was because I saw stuff blowing everywhere... and people RUNNING. So... I figured I had a pretty valid reason to start panicking. And so I panicked.

Thank goodness nothing happened... the worst part of the storm was north of us. And for that I am thankful.

I got to end my day on a really nice note -

Hanging out with this little guy and momma Al :) Wyatt is 6 months old - and he has successfully completed his training in sitting up on his own! woot! And from what I am told... he is quite the rolliepollie. It was definitely a good way to close a crazy long day.

10 more days....

and I'll be on my way to Idaho :)

... and out of this Wizard of Oz weather :

If I won the lottery

I would fill my future apartment with....

leaves

my favorite city

more leaves

a cool catchall

a place to sit; not as comfy as a couch, but stinkin cute

this, and other pillows/throw blankets that match/work with those colors

actually, scratch that. these colors are better.

something along these lines

oooh dhalias = love

paired with a liner, maybe this could be used as a shower curtain?

oh to drink out of these - i'm sold

ooohlala - but not dishwasher safe :(

in my dreams

.... to be continued :)

manic monday

I would just like to state that I am totally insecure about my body right now.... the thought of getting into a bathing suit in a month or so makes me want to ________. Just fill in the blank. I can't even explain. I've been thinking....maybe I'll get a tankini and wear shorts with that and call that a bathing suit? What kind of tan line would that produce?? ;) I've never been this distraught about bathing suit season.

As of this morning.... I've decided that I am wasting time and emotional energy on stressing about this 'problem'. I am going to do something about it. In fact...I already have. I picked up a Self magazine the other day and decided to commit to doing the workout they suggest. And... I felt like such a weakling fatty that I am slightly inspired to do it again tomorrow morning.

However, I think half my problem is what I eat. I eat junk 75% of the time. Cupcakes... and yadadadada. I could go on for a while. It shouldn't be this hard b/c I love healthy food too... a lot. I guess I just don't crave it like I crave sweets.

Therefore....I will be writing down everything I eat from breakfast to those late night snacks.... so that I can really see what I eat in one day (maybe I'll even total up caloric intake).

There are two reasons that I am posting this: (1) so that YOU can keep me acountable (2) Now it's on 'paper' and I have to follow through with what I said.

We'll see how this goes. And don't worry.... I do know that Jesus loves me no matter what physical state I'm in. lol.

Happy Monday!

Kicking it in gear

Ok... once I get out of my pajamas... I am going to:

>finish cleaning my room
>sulk about the gloomy weather
>applique some more onesies...maybe like this one?
>continue drinking coffee
>plan decorations/food/activities for Nicole's baby shower. FUN!
>get excited about the amazing week ahead (Nicole coming on Wednesday, my b-day on Friday, Lindsey's Graduation on Sunday... and more!)
>and of course keep searching for apartments online
>go to the church movie night?

times are uhchangin

I spent the last several days with Mark, Nicole, little Timothy and Gidget in Mountain Home, Idaho :) I had so much fun hanging out with them. We spent a lot of time in Boise and the surrounding towns.

I set up an interview with a lady named Melissa through the nanny site called care.com - the interview was on Friday. From the moment I recieved a reply from Melissa, I felt really good about my chances of getting an interview with her to be her family's nanny. I was confident because I have the experience to support my desire to be a nanny and a very open schedule (theoretically). When it comes down to it... I'm going to be swamped with school work... but I am 'free' anytime other than Monday and Thursday evenings.

Nicole and I drove to my interview together... and we were expecting a very nice neighborhood... and weren't surprised to find ourselves in an amaaaazing neighborhood. The houses were crazy beautiful. The town of Eagle is sooo nice and clean... and pretty unique in my opinion. Once I got to the house, I was greeted by quite a few members of the family. I got to meet the kids... and of course they are so stinkin cute! They have an 8 mo. old boy and a 3 year old boy... and a family friend - a 2.5 year old girl :) The interview was so relaxed - I felt like we hit it off right away. It was the funnest interview I have ever had.... they helped me in the way of picking areas in Boise to look for apartments and so on and so forth. I don't really think that I was expecting to meet a bunch of weirdos... but I guess since we only talked through care.com, a little part of me feared that they might be odd or something... ??

Anyway, I was confident when I left the interview.... and I knew that if she offered me the job that I would take it - no doubt. I'm usually such a worrier... and I don't think I really worried about getting the job. Well... I got a call from Melissa on Monday... and she offered me the job :) Of course I took it....I had chills/butterflies/whatever else you get when you're freaking excited. I still can't believe that I landed an amazing job (or what I predict to be an amazing job) so early on! I start July 15 --- who hires that early? I'm so stoked that my plans for Boise are working out so smoothly. This job will be paying more than I budgeted for. I'm also really glad that this family understands that I will be commited to school as well.

I went to an orientation for BSU and got to meet most of the people in my cohort - and a few people in the cohort ahead of me. I have a mentor from that cohort-- which is super comforting.

I got to meet some of Nicole and Marks friends and church family. Mark invited me to play raquetball and wallyball on the base with him. I had such a good time! I had never played either of those sports before....and holy cow raquetball is intense! Wallyball is awesome too... it's basically volleyball but you can hit the ball of the walls and ceilings. Pretty darn sweet.

I'm still continuing the search for an apartment. There are a few that we visited that I really liked - so I'll have to keep those in mind. It was nice to have Nicole and Mark along. Without them I would have been so overwhelmed and freaked out.

Currently I'm debating about where exactly I should live -- closer to school or closer to work? Either way I'll be driving a little bit. Lots of big decisions to make.

That's a whole lot of detail that I just typed... but all that to say... I'm so excited to move to Idaho. It's so beautiful there... I could go on and on. But most of all...it's going to be sooo amazing being only 45 min. away from Mark and Nicole and the munchkin on the way :)

A spoon full of sugar

I leave tomorrow before the crack of dawn for Boise.... and I can't wait. I don't think I'll be getting much sleep tonight. I still need to pack... maybe even finish some laundry *hopefully not!*

Poor Mark and Nicole are sick though... hopefully it's just a 24 hour thing. Or maybe I'll get lucky... catch it...and bring it here to share!! I'm all about sharing.

Tomorrow at 3:30 I have an interview with a lady that I can't wait to meet. She and her husband have an 8 month old baby boy, a 3 yr. old boy, and a 2 1/2 yr. old girl (friend of the family) that I might be the nanny for a couple days a week. They sound like such a fun family... and I have a really good feeling about this interview. I'm not nervous yet. I would really love to be hired by her because it sounds like a very promising, long-term commitment.

I'm still waiting to hear back from another lady about when to meet. If I land two part-time nanny positions... I'll have it made! I'll have nice hours (not a strict M-F 9-5 sort of thing) and a good paycheck and not too many hours. I plan on only taking 9 units at BSU so I can acclimate to being back in school and working full time.

And there's another lady that wants me to call her a couple weeks before I move out there. *Please don't hire anybody else!*

I'm so excited and I hope this all works out... but who knows... maybe God has something else for me.

I haven't even mentioned how excited I am to see Mark and Nicole.... and Gidget ;) Nicole is 24.5 weeks now and I can't wait to see the belly!! :) And I can't wait to see their new home! Hopefully they get over the flu quick :(

Anyway... time to get ready for work and maybe think about what I should wear for the interview? I never know what to wear... it's a nanny position... should I dress like Mary Poppins or something?

...oh and hopefully I find a good apartment this weekend too. Maybe I'll find a place that only charges $100/month... with a pool, washer/dryer in unit, room service, you know... the standard requirements.

So excited!!

wutaweekend

This weekend has been slightly busy, and in a good way. Lindsey had prom yesterday... so I helped 'turn the beast into a beauty' ;) I did her hair and makeup... not hard to do since she's a showstoppahh! Here's the frumpy/beasty before picture ;)

And after:

BAM!

Here's some more pics...

So anywho, it was fun getting her all dressed up :)

Lately I've been applying to every job that I come accross online. Last night I spend 1.5 hours on an application for a receptionist position at a Lithia car dealership. Maybe I just wasted an hour and a half of my life... but I'm in no position where I can be picky. I'm really hoping that I'll at least get a call/ email from someone. I don't necessarily see myself thriving as a receptionist... but it's generally a decent paying job with benefits. I've been applying for nanny and childcare positions as well. I would prefer a job in one of those areas... but usually those sort of jobs don't provide the best pay/benefits. Thank goodness all of this is NOT up to me. God knows where I'll be working and I just need to realize that he'll take care of it.

Before I started working at the daycare where I currently work, I was so stressed and mad because the right kind of jobs in the right locations weren't readily available... and that's because I was supposed to work at this daycare. I just need to remember that God took care of my needs then, and will continue to do so. Even if it doesn't fit MY description of what's right for me or my idea of the right time.

Meanwhile... I get pretty darn bummed thinking that I have to leave those little munchkins soon. They are such a big part of my life! I'm with most of them close to 40 hours a week and it's going to be a tearful day when I have to leave 'em.

*Sigh*

Agenda for this week:

*call advisor & register for classes

*create a 'things to get' list

*check U-haul rates

*keep hunting for a good Dell laptop

*breathe

*keep job hunting

*keep apartment hunting

*keep on keepin on