Farewell

My time in New York City has come to an end. It is a very bitter sweet for me. After living here 3 months I will admit that it is quite an addiction. The energy, how the city never sleeps, miles and miles of unique stores, parks, restaurants, and so much more. This city is unlike any other. I'm glad I got to know it on a personal level, not just as a tourist. If I was a tour guide I wouldn't bring people to popular landmarks (except the Brooklyn Bridge), I would bring them to things only natives know; hole in the wall restaurants, the high line, outdoor movies, the secret-door cocktail lounges, etc.

My summer didn't just consist of New York City, but also many other destinations. Maine will always be to me the most serene, calming, and beautiful state. Yes there are a lot of mosquitoes, but the view I had overlooking the ocean made it all worth it. My trip to Aspen, Colorado was something I will probably never experience again. I was treated to $300 bottles of wine, many taste testings, hiking in the mountains, and a luxury vacation only millionaires can afford. Vermont gave me an inside view of life on a horse ranch. Vermont's rolling mountains are beautiful, and the villages so quaint. South Hampton was also a wonderful vacation. I can see why New Yorkers rush off to long island for a weekend getaway. Its a quick way to get away from the business of the city.

Wow, recapping my summer made me realize how amazing it was! I am so blessed to have been given this opportunity! I'm glad I have a "go getter" personality, because this wouldn't have happened without persistent searching of profiles, calling, emailing, and more researching. Thanks, Leah for the website! I got this job through greataupair.com. Most importantly I can see how God worked to get me here, and how I've learned so much this summer about him, and his plan for me!

The highlight of my summer was being able to reconnect with Leah. Leah is one of my best friends, so it was great to be able to hang out with her again. Leah is living her life here in New York, and plans to attend Adelphi University. She also has a waitressing job. I will miss her so, so very much. Love you, Leah!

The hardest thing about leaving New York City will not be the skyline, nor H&M, Urban Outfitters, Times Square, the Brooklyn Bridge, etc. I will miss Gabriel and Sabine. I wish all of you could get to know these two kids. They are the most special kids you will ever know. Sabine is so talented, so kind, passionate, grateful, polite, silly, and beautiful. I've never seen a 5 year old quite as flexible as her, and she is always wanting to learn new things. Gabriel is the funniest child I will ever meet (other than Noah), and he is nothing you've ever seen before. Strangers literally take pictures of him because he is so cute. Everyone says "oh I want to take him home with me!! Awww what a cute kid!" I've never seen so many passerby's smile. These kids make others happy. Gabriel may have his outburts, and he may be very hard to handle at times, but his smiles, his hug, and his want for me to hold him makes it all worth it. I will miss these two kids so very much. I am scared to say goodbye to them. I hate goodbyes.

I'm already trying to plan a time I can see them in October, so hopefully that works out! Everyone tells me NY is absolutely beautiful in the fall, so how could I miss it?

Again, overall I'm amazed at what a great summer I've had. The Bieler's treated me so well, and I got to see and do so many different things. I've also seen how my faith in God has been quite the roller coaster ride. I've been tested time and time again, and I've seen the totally different way people live here. New York City is nothing like Sioux Center, IA. Absolutely nothing. There was not one person I met that was Christian Reformed, and quite honestly I don't even know if I knew of a Republican!? Things are so different here, so trying to stay intact with what I've grown up to believe was tough, I must admit. Overall I've gained a lot of knowledge, and I feel like I'm ready for any challenge that comes my way.

Kristen treated me to a farewell dinner tonight at a really nice restaurant, so that was fun! Also, I'm going to see Rihanna in concert Friday morning!

I'm sad to leave, but so very excited to come home. I've missed my family and friends so much! I cannot wait to catch up where we left off. I've come to really appreciate those close to me, and I'm thrilled for the school year to begin! Thanks for reading my blog everyone! I love you all.

Brittany Sue

Time is winding down....

Hello my lovely blog followers!

I'm sorry its been so long since I've written! After we spent 4 days in Maine we drove down to Vermont so spend more time with Charles' family. We spent the week there just hanging out, going to parks, hiking, riding horses, and eating very lovely meals! After our week there we returned home.

Last Sunday was my birthday, so Kristen was nice enough to give me money to go out for a nice dinner with Leah! We went to Otto, a restaurant owned by the famous chef, Mario Batali. It was hard to understand the menu since everything was written in French, but once we had the food we were overly impressed! In honor of Iowa, Leah and I ordered a sweetcorn gelato for dessert. It was fabulous!

The rest of this week I've been busy taking care of the kids from 8am-3pm. We've done really fun activities! We went to a dino festival that had arts, crafts, inflatable rides, and face painting. Yesterday we went to a Children's museum that had really fun toys and other activities for the kids. NYC has endless activities for kids!

Last night I went to an outdoor movie on the Riverwalk with my friends Laura and Michelle. It was so fun! We were front row and enjoyed a picnic of cheese and wine. This weekend I plan on hanging out with Leah one last time before I leave on the 20th!

It will be a bittersweet once I have to leave. I finally felt like a New Yorker, and I'm just starting to really appreciate what it has to offer. This city truly has everything, so I understand why people flock here. I've never been so amazed at all the different people on this small island. NYC is so cultural, and it really gave me a better worldview. If it weren't for great family and friends, I think coming back to Sioux Center would be really hard. I might be in shock, and it'll be hard to get used to driving an hour to eat at a decent restaurant and shop at just an "ok" store. I need to keep reminding myself though that those things are not what life is about. Life isn't about having the best restaurants, clothes, stores, or access to what YOU WANT. Its about accepting and appreciating what you have. In small town Sioux Center I have wonderful family, friends, community, church, and college to look forward to. That is all I need!

Maine

Hello Followers!

I am blogging from the great state of Maine! I was sad to see a post on my fb wall from a friend stating that 2nd to Iowa, Maine is the most uneventful state. Well, I guess I can agree that it is "uneventful", but people don't vacation in Maine for thrills, excitement, and a fast paced environment. People come to Maine to relax, think, and to absorb God's beautiful earth.

Our first night here we stayed in Kennebunkport, the famous location of the Bush's summer home. I jogged past it one morning. The place we stayed was very quaint. We had a great pool and great food!

Now we are in Small Point staying at an elite "club". It is a house that holds 15 rooms, and is a "members only" place to stay. Men wear suits to dinner, women wear dresses, shoes are always worn in the house, screaming is not permitted, children are not allowed in the dining hall after 7pm, and there is no internet or cell phone use in the building (ok, I've been cheating a little). Even with all the rules it is a great place to stay. We have a private beach to walk on, and during the low tide (around 9am), you can run for miles! My morning run is my favorite part of the day. I can get away, listen to some good music, and absorb how wonderful my summer has been. This experience is truly the best I've ever had.

The past few days we typically hang out on the beach, check out some light houses, play tennis, run, and eat good food. I take care of the kids for a few hours in the morning, and then every night from 6pm-9pm. The parents eat dinner with the other adults, while I eat with the kids table and take them upstairs to watch a movie, read books, and put them to bed.

We're in Maine until Sunday, then we stay in Vermont for a week at Charles' mom's horse ranch.

Aunt Katie and Dorinda come to visit!

The last few days of my time in South Hampton was long and tiring, but fun at the same time. I experienced what its like to be a full time stay at home mom, and boy was it hard! The family went into the city to show their cousins around while I took care of Gabriel for 3 days by myself at the beach house. Gabriel and I became very close and he likes me a lot, but there were a few times I felt a little overwhelmed!

After two weeks we drove back to the city. That night my Aunt Katie and cousin Dorinda came and stayed for 5 days! I was so glad they visited-I really needed my own family and someone familiar to be with. We had so much fun walking to all different places in the city! They were such troopers and we saw so much: Times Square, Brooklyn Bridge, Ground Zero, Madison Ave, Columbus circle, central park, Statue of Liberty, south Seaport, and so much more! Dorinda really liked the city, and it was great she got to see the house I live in and to meet the family I'm staying with. Gabriel and Sabine really liked them, and Sabine got Dorinda and I mixed up a few times because we look so much alike!

Dorinda and Katie left on Tuesday morning, and afterwards I took Sabine and Gabriel to the Metropolitan Museum of Art for Sabine's art lessons. She is doing it for 1 full week. Pushing 2 kids in a stroller for 40 blocks can get very tiring for my legs, but its a great workout! Afterwards we play in a really cool park that has fountains for them to splash in. Luckily I've been able to catch up with some friends on the phone while they play! Then the 40 block walk back. The heat in NYC is sometimes unbearable, but I'm starting to get used to it.

I'm tempted to take a train to Washington DC this weekend, but I don't have a place to stay and I can't do the trip in a day....boo. Hopefully Leah is home so we can hang out again.

A week from today we leave for yet ANOTHER vacation! We are driving to Maine and staying there for 4 days, then driving back to Vermont for the remaining week! Maine is one of my favorite vacation spots, so I'm very excited to stay there!

I love and miss you all, and I'm already counting down the days till I'm back in NW Iowa- 30!

I could vacation here every year!

Hello friends!

It's been a long time since I've posted, sorry! I have really bad internet connection here, as well as no phone service.

Right now I'm staying for 2 weeks in a tiny town in South Hampton called Bellport. It is very cute and perfect for a long vacation! Kristen's grandparents own a really nice beach home that is right on the water! We spend hours on the beach: boogie boarding, laying out, reading, making castles, finding sea shells, etc. We also do a lot of swimming in their pool, bike rides into town, and consuming a lot of ice cream at the local parlor called Carla Marla's. One day we drove all the way to Montauk point: the most eastern point of the United States. There was a beautiful lighthouse there. We also spent a day going to Wineries and doing some wine tasting. I have to add that my palette for wine tasting is getting so much better!

This family has been such a blessing to me! I couldn't have asked for a family so kind, loving, and welcoming. Kristen's extended family is really cool. She has two sister's that came along who are also married and have kids, which means my nannying responsibilities quadrupled over this trip! I do a lot of nannying at night when the adults go to dinner parties or out to a restaurant.

When I get time off I do a lot of reading, running, and swimming. Yesterday I ran in the Clipper Classic 5k! All the kids cheered me on so it was really fun. I also was able to visit my friend Leah, who is only a short train ride away!

I'm leaving to go back to the city on Thursday. I'm looking forward to that because my bff cousin Dorinda and Aunt Katie are visiting for 5 days! I am so excited to spend time with them and to explore the city. Dorinda is going to love it!

Anyways, hope everyone is doing well. I felt super homesick yesterday because it was my sister's birthday and everyone was together hanging out. I miss my family so much! Even though I love the city I feel like I'm ready to go home. I'm ready to be with family, friends, and most importantly Todd!

hiking, kid concerts, the yankees

Hi Friends and Family!

The rest of my time in Aspen was amazing! We spent a lot of time at the pool, library, playground, and eating at fancy restaurants. We went to a Rodeo and Sabine entered in the cattle scramble-where you try to grab a ribbon off a running cattle's tail! It was fun. My last day there Kristen gave me the day off to do a long hike, and long it was! Myself and two other nannies hiked from the bottom of the Aspen mountain all the way to the top! I was very proud of myself. It took about 3 1/2 hours. The view was spectacular, so it made having a sore bum and calves totally worth it!

We went home earlier than planned, but I was ready to be back in the city. The city impressed me this week. I had so much fun with the kids and really experienced a lot of the culture. Sabine, Gabriel, and I went to the museum, a children's rock concert in Madison Square park, central park zoo, seeing Toy Story 3, a beautiful walk through Central park, and playing a lot with water balloons.

I don't consider my time here "work" anymore. I absolutely love these kids, and the time I spend with them is fun and enjoyable. I tend to hang out with the kids even when its my day off!

On my day off I saw "Eclipse: Twilight Saga". I have been looking forward to seeing this movie for months! It was fun to watch it in an IMAX theater. Also, I went to a Yankees game with Kristen's sister Laura. She is my age so we had a lot of fun together! I found a $3 yankee shirt from TJ Maxx so I looked like I was a fan! The Green's would be proud (or at least I think Lisa and Todd are fans?)

So whats planned for this 4th of July weekend? THE HAMPTONS! We're spending TEN days in the Hamptons at Kristen's grandparents house. They live right on the beach! I can't wait to soak in the sun and run on the beach.

I'll post more once I'm at their beach house. I love you and miss you all!

The Aspen Food and Wine Classic

Aspen: home of the rich and famous! Aspen is a very small town, but full of charm and class. But the only similarity Aspen has to small town Sioux Center is that you might see someone more than once or twice in a day! People know each other here, but your neighbors aren't the Vander Veen's or Van Strubleheinen's (fake examples)...instead your neighbors are Kate Hudson, Lance Armstrong, and many other celebrities.

So far my time in Aspen has been fun, but very tiring. I've had full days of nannying (10am-12am) since Charles and Kristen are busy with the Food and Wine festival going on. There are thousands of people here for this festival, and its known to be the most elite wine festival in the world! Kristen was nice enough to let me use her pass to go to a wine tasting. I tried wines that are over $200 a bottle! I felt very out of place since so many people here are experts in where wine is from, how it smells, tastes, etc. Over time I'm learning more and more about wine, and I'm starting to have more of an appreciation for it. I met Mario Batali and Giada De Laurentiis, but I wasn't as excited as I thought I would be. In the end all those famous people look just like any other person!

Gabriel, Sabine, and I spend our mornings at the playground, afternoons at the pool, then our nights at the playground again or watching a movie. I've gotten really close to the kids now, and I'm starting to really love and care for them. They are great kids! Sabine and I share the same weird humor, so we laugh a lot with each other.

Tonight Kristen's sister, brother in law, and kids are joining us in Aspen for 4 days. I hope I don't get overloaded with more kids to take care of! The Bieler's treat me well though, I must say! I've had some delicious food from the festival, and playing in the pool and getting sun every afternoon isn't so bad :)

I met a few other nannies at the park, so hopefully tomorrow I will be hanging out with them! We are going to go to church in the morning, then on a long hike in the mountains in the afternoon. Its really nice to hang out with other women my age!

That's all for now! I love all of you and miss you very much!

Mom comes to NYC

This week was a fun one, and I realize there will always be a never ending check list of things to see here!

My mom came to visit on Wednesday, and she stayed till Sunday. We did a lot of walking, and by the end of the trip she had a few blisters and sore feet. I remember when I first got here my legs were really sore as well. If there's another thing I'll get out of this summer, its the appreciation of walking. I hope I'll walk a lot more once I'm back home, because there is no reason not to! I can easily put in 5 miles of walking a day here, so why not walk the small 3 miles across town? :)

Anyways, the first morning my mom was here we decided to take a sight seeing bus tour through Manhattan. We also saw the statue of liberty! I had my first celebrity spotting and saw Matt Damon filming for one of his new movies. That night we had dinner with the Bieler's, delicious as always. Late that night we went to the observation deck of the Empire State building, and was that a view! NYC looked so pretty at night.

Friday my mom and I took Gabriel on a horse carriage ride through central park! It was very pretty. We then took him to FAO Schwarz to look at toys and to buy some delicious candy. Later that day we saw Ground Zero and also walked the Brooklyn Bridge. Walking Brooklyn Bridge has probably been my favorite thing to do thus far!

Saturday we walked to St. John the Divine and also went to eat at a fabulous Mexican Restaurant. Later we saw the Lion King on Broadway! The costumes were fantastic, and the acting and singing were phenomenal. I hope to do one more broadway show before I leave!

Thankfully mom wasn't shocked to see where I lived (in Harlem), and overall I think she had a great time! It's interesting to point out all the differences New Yorkers have in the way they live with the way we do back home. You can't buy a full week's worth of groceries because you can't fit it in your cart, an "easy" walk is at least 20 blocks, produce at groceries would blow our fareway and hyvee out of the water, doors are locked even if you're home, no driving, no walmarts, and the list goes on. I think the thing that is hardest for me to get used to isn't the long walking, but that there isn't a wal-mart! At least it keeps me from spending more money than I need to.

What's up for this week? We're flying to ASPEN, COLORADO! We will be staying there 3 weeks! Charles and Kristen are in the wine business, and there is a food and wine festival that goes on there. Supposedly this is the biggest and most important wine festival in the world, so top chefs and wine makers will be there. I hope to have a run in with all the food network stars: Giada, Mario Batali, Bobby Flay, and Rachael Ray! The first week we're there the festival is going on, so Charles and Kristen will be very busy with their work. Thankfully Kristen's parents are going to be staying with us, so I'll have help with the kids. Also, Kristen's mom is bringing her dog along, so that will give me comfort for being away from Wrigley:) The last week of our time there is vacation time.

I hope everyone is doing well! I miss you dearly. Next time I post I'll be writing about my experiences in Aspen! (Aspen always reminds me of the movie Dumb and Dumber, haha)

So much to do, so much to see

Hello followers! I'm sorry it has been a while since I've posted. I had quite the busy week!

I decided to go to the beach on Memorial Day, and boy was that a bad decision! I had literally only 2 feet of space between myself and other beach goers. Let's just say that the people at this beach weren't the type I would normally hang around either!

This week I expanded my cultural knowledge and went to the museums. I took Gabriel to the Museum of Natural History to see the dinosaurs, animals, and other interesting artifacts. I also went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. All the paintings and artifacts there were so beautiful! I now have a better appreciation for art. The only thing I don't understand is modern art. I feel like half the paintings look like the work of a 2 year old, yet people pay thousands of dollars for it!? I will never understand it. I also took Gabriel to the Central Park zoo, along with 10 other 2 year olds. It was so hysterical seeing them ride the public bus all the way to the zoo.

I finally got to reunite with my friend Leah, who lives on Long Island. Leah is also a nanny.I took the train to her house and spent the weekend there! It was so great to catch up and hang out. I'm so glad I get to see her more this summer!

This week my mom is visiting! I'm so excited for her to come. I love having someone in the city with me so I can experience more things that aren't as acceptable to do by yourself (restaurants, broadway shows, etc). She comes on Wednesday and will stay till Sunday. I think she'll be shocked to see where I live and how I've already gained so much knowledge in transportation and where things are in NYC.

I can still say 3 week in that I am loving it here! The Bieler's are a blessing, and I couldn't have asked to live with a better family! The kids are great, and I feel so comfortable around Kristen and Charles.

I hope all of you are doing well and enjoying your summer! I miss everyone very much.

Ponies galore

I'm back from Vermont, and what a wonderful weekend it was! I've been in the Midwest a long time, so I forget that there are places in the country that actually have hills or mountains. Vermont is absolutely beautiful!

The first day I was there I was given a tour of the horse ranch that Charles' mother and sister live on. Charles' sister owns 20 horses and gives private riding lessons to children. She used to ride competitively. Charles' father bought the land in the 60's, but they've moved here and there since then(Europe, Canada, etc). I took a refreshing run/hike to see the beautiful view. Did you know that the Von Trapp family (from the Sound of Music) moved to Vermont? I hiked at the "Trapp Lodge", which was started by the family years ago!

Most of the weekend I helped take care of the kids by playing and entertaining them. I taught Sabine and her cousins how to play softball, and Sabine looks like a natural! Its fun to remember all the childhood games I played and re-learn them, and the same with nursury rhymes. My mind has definitely gotten a lot more creative and imaginary in the past two weeks!



The Bieler's are nice about giving me Sunday off to attend church, so I did just that. Even though I've only been here two weeks, I've already noticed how much explaining I've been doing about my faith, the church I attend, and I what we believe: hence the importance of my Christian education (thanks Mom and Dad). I think it's healthy for every person to go outside their safe zone and experience what it's like to be around non believers. I want to be a witness to the family and others, so I've been a lot more aware of things I say and do. Being that there are so many different denominations and religions in NYC, I've realized to not take being a specific denomination so seriously. I'm not saying I'm losing my reformed beliefs at all, just that I'm more open to what other churches have to offer! There's only one truth, but just a lot of pathways to that truth!

Update from the grill burn: My lips resemble Angelina Jolie's, but in a bad way. Now my nose and lips have started to peel tremendously as well. I hope it stops soon.

I'm not really sure what's up for the rest of the week, so stay tune! Love you and Miss you all.

Hello Vermont!

The past few days have been great as well! St. John the Divine was a beautiful church, and I really enjoyed walking around that day downtown. Since I'm on a budget I do a lot of walking and seeing, instead of seeing things that cost money. Kristen and Charles gave me a metro card for the subway, and I can successfully say I understand the system now!

Two days ago I spent my day on Coney Island and did a lot of sun bathing on the beach. Coney Island is very cute, but a little run down. It was nice to see the ocean! I've noticed that NYC wears me down pretty easily with all the walking and sun. Usually I try to get home from my exploring around 7 to have dinner, then spend the rest of my night skyping with family and Todd.

Yesterday I had quite the scare. I was going to grill chicken for the kids' supper, and when I turned the gas on and pressed the ignition a fire blew up in my face! My eyebrows and eyelashes were singed, so now they're super super short. I spent the night in a lot of pain and sat in my bed with an icepack on my face. Thankfully this morning I have minimal pain, and there's only a little blistering on my lips. It made me realize how scary Hell could be like, considering my face felt like it was on fire for a few hours!

Anyways, you're probably wondering why my Title is "Hello Vermont!" Well, today we leave for Stowe, Vermont for 5 days. Charles' mother and sister live on a beautiful horse ranch up in the hills, so we'll be spending a lot of time horse riding, hiking, swimming, and hanging out with family. I'm so excited to get out of the busy city and take in the beautiful scenery. I won't be able to post for a while, so have a great Memorial weekend and I'll be posting later!

outside my bubble

New York City is indescribable. We all know I'm in a bubble in Sioux Center, IA. I've never seen so many gays, transvestites, different races, poor, wealthy, emo, gothic, chic, gangster, and anything you can think of in all my life...and i've seen it all in just 5 days. Well, maybe I haven't seen it all quite yet.

I know it's creepy for me to say, but I've done a lot of people observing. In New York City its unacceptable to make eye contact, but luckily it's been sunny and I've been able to wear sunglasses haha! New York City has made me truly realize how big the world really is, and how many unique people are in it. God has SO many people under his watch, its insane!? It blows my mind how each person in this world is individually and wonderfully made. God is amazing! Anyways, after that deep thought, here is what I've been doing the past few days.

I've had two days full of nannying. 7am-7pm. Sabine and Gabriel are absolutely wonderful kids. Yes, Gabriel has his outrages and cries, but overall he is happy, outgoing, and insanely crazy. Sabine reminds me of Anika and Marissa Driesen, because she's so good and kind at heart. She's patient with Gabriel, and I never have to worry about what she's doing. The past two days I've played a million different games, and walked over 10 miles to different playgrounds in central park. Sabine and Gabriel's school had a picnic there that was catered by Kristen herself! I've realized she is supermom. She bought and made food for over 300 people, with only 1 other person to help! It was held at the beautiful great lawn.

This morning I went downtown and checked out ground zero, the Brooklyn Bridge, South Seaport, Wall Street, and a few historic churches. I also looked through some stores and spent 45 minutes waiting in a tkts line for discount Broadway tickets to find out that I still couldn't afford it! I'll have to wait till my mom visits to see a Broadway show. :)

Later tonight I explored Soho, which is full of expensive boutiques, the cheap and trashy, and other popular stores. I'm proud to say I only spent $20. I've been pretty tight with my budget so far, and hopefully I stay that way this summer. I wish I had someone else here with me so I could eat at all these cool places I've seen! The food in Little Italy looked delicious. I hope exploring on my own doesn't get old, because I'll be doing a lot of it!

Tomorrow I have another day off, so I plan to go to church at the famous St. John the Divine, which is one of the largest churches in the world. I heard it has the 2nd largest organ too. In that direction is the Seinfeld "Restaurant", and also a few other spots I'd like to see. At night I'm invited by the Bieler's to a dinner party they're hosting. It is with four of their close friends, two of which are an event planner and a marketer; my two job interests! Maybe they'll like me and hire me for a job after graduation.

So far I love New York City, but don't worry folks; I don't think this is somewhere I could live forever. Stay tuned!

Exploring

I was glad to wake up refreshed and excited for the day! I took Sabine and Gabriel to a playground in central park this morning, and later Kristen gave me the afternoon to "explore" NYC. I decided to do the touristy thing and head to Times Square! I also walked up the famous 5th Ave.

So far so good!

My entrance into New York City wasn't exactly like I had pictured it. It was very cloudy and rainy, so I didn't get to see much like I had hoped. But I wasn't going to let a little rain dampen my spirits! I successfully made it to my destination with no problems. Friends, you'll get a kick out of this: I was giving the cab driver detailed directions to the house and he said "wow, how do you know all of this information!?" I laughed. Mark my words everyone: I will not get lost in this city, and by the end of this I will look like a local!

When I arrived at the house Kristen and Charles greeted me with open arms. They live in a 4 story brownstone. It is very nicely decorated, and unlike most cramped New York houses, they have a backyard! We had a wonderful dinner of Chicken kabobs, couscous, and an absolutely delicious brussel sprout salad! I tried explaining to her the type of food Midwestern people eat, and she got quite a laugh when I mentioned Tator Tot casserole, cheesy potatoes, and snicker salad. I have a feeling I'll be eating a lot of very different, but very delicious food this summer!

I already admire Kristen. We've been able to talk very easily with each other, and she seems to have a good balance between work and her kids, so that makes me happy. Tomorrow she is going to show me around the neighborhood, and also show me Sabine and Gabriel's school and their favorite parks within Central Park (which is only two blocks away from our home). Sabine is 5 years old, with big brown eyes and pretty hair. She is very shy, so I'm hoping after a while she'll open up. Gabriel is 2 years old, and he reminds me so much of Noah. He is a very big, and very full of energy!

I've already unpacked and am laying in my very comfortable bed. My room is very spacious so I'm grateful I have my own space in the house. Stay tuned for more info! I'm already so happy and excited for the rest of this week!

I'm officially a "blogger"

Yes, I have once again caved in to yet another popular social media: blogging. I keep myself busy (sometimes too busy) with facebook and twitter, so why not add another, right?

My expectations for this blog are nothing more than to inform my family and friends what's up with my summer in New York City, and to also become a better writer. No, I don't expect to become famous like Julie Powell, the woman who aspired to blog cooking all 524 recipes from Julia Child's cookbook! I aspire to be Brittany Haan, a small town girl from Iowa, embarking on a 3 month nanny adventure in New York City! I guess that could make a good movie, right? Sadly the movie "The Nanny Diaries" has already been created, shucks.

My blog will be a lot of writing about my life, but I care about your life too! Call or email me what's going on with you. I know I'll be homesick, and maybe also sick of New York accents, so hearing your Midwest or Southern voice will always be cherished!

Departure date is May 18th!