Gossip Girl Addiction

This past semester at CUW I decided to start watching a new series on Netflix. I wasn't sure at first which show to pick. But then found the perfect choice. Gossip Girl.
I'm sure with only six seasons really shouldn't take one that long to finish. However I'm still making my way through.
This last weekend I finally entered the 6th, and final season. The addiction has officially set in as I am realizing it's coming to an end.
I've grown to love, and hate, some of these main characters in the television show. I have personally grown into a love/hate relationship with Chuck Bass in particular. He is so sweet to Blair, sometimes, while other times he's absolutely awful to her. I can't imagine personally being in Blair's position and putting up with him. But that's why I love the show, it gives me insight on what taking some risks I would be too afraid to take my own life, would be like taking a risk like that.
Granted, the man in my life is no Chuck Bass. And I have found that to be a fantastic thing. While the socialites in Gossip Girl have all the money in the world at their fingertips, I will never have that. The show has shown me the perks and the downsides to having such large amounts of money in your life. One particular focus of the show is the influence of such, on your relationships. And that is one thing I would not want to put at the stake of the influence of money.
While I have only had a few, good relationships, even with just friends, I would not risk those for debate over money. My friends mean more to me than my comfort of luxury. But maybe that's just because I've grown up with not so much money.
Isn't that just life?
We absorb ourselves into television worlds that we will never experience in our own lives. That's what sells best. But hey, I can live vicariously through Serena and Blair.

Also I've always wanted to end a blog post like this,
Xoxo Gossip Girl.

Summerfest

Early last week a friend from Pizza Ranch posted on Facebook about having two tickets for Bruno Mars at Summerfest for $80. The tickets were originally priced at about $81 a piece, we got both for $80!
This was my first time at Summerfest, but luckily, Trevor knew his way around since he played there a few years ago with Tomorrow's Yesterday.
I left nannying around 1 and we finally got on the road at about 2. By the time we got parked and got through the gates it was about 4:30, not too bad for time.
We walked around and enjoyed the cold and brisk day together.
Around 7:15 we headed to the amphitheater and began making our way to our bleacher seats.
Aloe Blacc(known for The Man and vocals on Avicii's Don't Wake Me Up) opened for Bruno Mars.

As you can see we were pretty far back from the show. Sadly, for Aloe Blacc they didn't use cameras so we couldn't really see anything he was doing. 

Bruno Mars was beyond amazing. He has such an awesome band that does some rockin' choreography.
I was so lucky to be able to go see this concert with my honey.

We even both rocked our Converse, without any planning!

Healing & Prayers Needed

There are two very special ladies out there tonight that are hurting. Luckily they both have awesome support systems and families. But could still use plenty of prayer.

One, just got home from over a week and a half in the hospital. She had surgery a few days ago to have her colon removed. Rachel is only 16.

The other, will be in and out of the hospital for a while. They just found out she has a brain tumor, which is why she had been having severe migraines and wasn't able to walk straight as of recent. Hannah is only 12.

Send a few prayers up for these two ladies as they recover.

Young Adult Freedom..or Lack Of.

I'm 19.
I am not a child anymore.
I may not be able to drink alcohol legally yet, but I have obtained many other "adult" rights and freedoms over a year ago.

So why do my parents treat me like I am still in high school? Or even younger than that?

Last night I got home a little too late (I don't have a curfew, and never did). So this morning I had this conversation with my mom
Where were you last night?
Trevor's.
(She knows his mom and sisters are out of town.) Doesn't his dad work at night?
Yes.
So you were there alone?
For a bit.
Did you spend the whole time there?
No, we went to dinner at Applebee's for a while.
What did you do while you were at his house?
Watched a couple of movies.
Okay...well I don't want you two to put yourself in tempting situations.

I walked away.

I'm 19.
I have the ability to make my own decisions, whether they're bad or not.
My parents probably will treat me like this until I move out, which, if all goes as planned, will be early next summer.
I can't wait to be in Saint Paul for the school year and to have some time away from my parents.

Cookie Making Adventures with Trevor

My mom found this recipe on Pinterest (I think). She encouraged that I make them on my day off (yesterday). However, I decided to spend my day hanging out with Trevor and watching Gossip Girl.

So now, today, Trevor and I are making them together!
Here's the recipe if you want to check them out: {Flourless} Monster Cookies

I learned something today... Men shouldn't bake.
He followed me around the kitchen while I did it, making jokes the entire time.
Maybe women do belong in the kitchen, only because men shouldn't be there at all.
I love him anyway though.

How they were supposed to turn out according to the site

What they actually turned out to look like

We had to finish off the rest of the cookie dough of course!

Eating our finished creations

Growing Up

As the summer moves on, I can really tell I'm growing up.
It's crazy.
Trevor and I have been spending nearly all of our time together outside of work.
Seems adult-like.

Today, I had off, from both of my jobs. It's the oddest feeling ever. I've been working 45+ hours for the past two weeks. It's absolutely crazy.
Another adult-like attribute of the summer.

I can't wait to see what all of this summer leads to.
Even if it does mean growing up.

Nanny Shenanigans

Week one is done.
Week two is cut short due to a funeral and family obligations.

What have we done?
Oh so much!
Well Natalie is addicted to peanut butter, so naturally we have made peanut & butter sushi.
We've made popsicles & shakes, too!
Natalie is quite the arts and crafts girl... Since Father's Day was on this past Sunday, she made her dad a few presents: tape art on a canvas & the hands card. Natalie also told me she wanted to learn how to finger knit, so we've spent some time learning that.
For these first few weeks of summer, she has swimming lessons. Her dad insists on us biking the two miles to the pool and then back after. (It's made for some sore mornings on my part!) I've missed biking around like I used to all summer..however, driving is so much more convenient.

Today, it's been raining so we've been working on getting through her jobs this morning so we can watch a few movies later!

Here are a few pictures from the two weeks so far!

Duty calls, until next time! ♥

New Nanny Job

I officially have a new nanny job for this summer! Woohoo!
She's eight years old, an only child, and loves dance.
I think I have a challenge ahead of me.

The parents seem quite nice, but have some rather contradictory expectations for me to meet.
They want their daughter to be pushed, but to also feel comfortable.
They want her to be outside almost all summer, with little electronic use, but we are supposed to stay in the area.
We are supposed to bike 2 miles to her swimming lessons for 3 weeks straight, but I can occasionally drive her elsewhere if need be (e.g. Wildlife Sanctuary).

Off to the lovely land of Pinterest to get some good ideas of how what we can do outside all summer, cook, and so on.
To check out what I find... Hovie06's Pinterest Boards!