I'm trying to be a good blogger here.

Okay nothing has happened since yesterday, but I feel like this is a better way to spend my free time than facebook stalking(which I am actually bored of. I know, right??). So these are some things that just have been on my mind lately. I have been looking at a lot of random stuff lately, so yeahhhh:)

*Quilted black Marc Jacobs bag. Oh how I wish. I really would enjoy a nice black bag. Love.

*Disneyland. Easily one of my top 5 favorite places to be in the world. I went to Disneyworld in May(which was so cool), but Disneyland I just love! I'm sure that it is all festive and decorated right now, I want to be there!

*Eyelash extensions. Okay so Julie tells me I am silly for wanting these, and while I will admit my eyelashes are probably thicker than most, mine aren't that long. I love the way they look without any mascara on! Yes please.

*Sacramento Kings. Basketball season is just around the corner, yayyy! Even better, I'm moving home soon=cable=watching as many games as I can! So excited. I went to a few games last season, and I'm hoping that I will get to go to a few more this season. I'll be keeping my eye on the Oklahoma City Thunder this season also, they are a pretty young team, and I seem to like the coach. And I have to mention the Heat. I'm excited to see what happens with this team and their power 3. People seem to either hate them or love them, I am a D Wade fan for sure, and I do like LeBron. I just love basketball!

*Pink Macbook. My computer sucks, and I'd loooove to be able to iChat with the fam:) even though I do have a web cam and skype, it's just not the same lol.

*Nutella. K if you haven't ever had nutella, go to the store right now, and buy some. It is really popular here in Ireland, and I first fell in love with it when I was working at La Creperie in Long Beach a few years(??!?!) ago. It is fabulous on toast, crepes, marshmallows, basically anything.

* A girl can dream right?? :) I enjoy going on Mercedes website and creating my dream car.

*Hairs! Ignore that this is Paris lol, but can someone please tell me why my hair does not look like this??!

 *I want to go skydiving again! And below, was at Ryan Rules' wedding. Love our family friends:)

*This whole layout this is throwing me off, so I'm just going to type where it lets me haha. Underneath, Julie and I are ziplining in Cabo, take me there.

*Here is me and some cousins playing games, and the family at Jenni's wedding in April? May? JUNE? Shoot I have the worst memory ever! My point is I have been blessed with such an amazing family, I love them! Immediate and extended. All 3 of us girls will be living at home come January, for the first time in 2 and a half years. At first I was not so excited about this, but now I am very much looking forward to it. It will be fun to all be together again, especially now that we are older and all get along:) My Dad will be in for a rude awakening as to remember what it's like living with 4 girls! He loves it.

***I realized that most of the things that I posted today are just that, "things". Ha. I promise I think about more than things that I want slash possibly need:) I'm going to make an honest effort to blog a few times a week. I think I won't make the posts as long, maybe just one thing that has been on my mind, a funny youtube video I saw, a movie I saw, a book I'd like to read, things like that. Wish me luck, byedeebye!!

Updation:

So I'm really trying to be a good blogger, and during the weekdays I basically do nothing because Tommy sleeps, but I have a hard time getting myself to sit down and do this. It seems to take me a while to do an entry, but whatever.

I'm still in Dublin, I can't believe I have been here for almost a month. During the week I pretty much stay around our apartment thing, we are in the middle of 2 little towns, so I will take the kids out to the park, or just for a walk, we all get stir crazy if we don't get out for a little bit.

A few weekends ago we went to the west coast of Ireland, and we stayed in a little "cottage" out in the country. It was 3 bedrooms and 3 baths, we all LOVED the space(our apartment is like 800 sq. feet. It is verrry small). We went to the Cliffs of Moher, which is easily the most beautiful place on this Earth I have ever been(not that I have been somewhere more beautiful not on this Earth lol). Luckily we got there before it started raining, so it was perfect. That weekend we traveled to other random touristy places, it was really fun. This last weekend we stayed close, Steph and I went out shopping on Saturday, and were literally gone for like 8 hours, Dublin has such good shopping! And anyone that knows me, knows shopping is a weakness of mine:) We went to a mall in Dundrum, which we had to take a bus, walk down Grafton St.(which is a really really cool street, kind of reminds me of San Fran because it has street performers and stuff, just much much busier than San Francisco, if you could imagine), then take a train thing, then walk again, all to get to this mall. So basically public transportation in this city was not well planned. So this mall is fabulous. It reminds me of Union Square(I think that is that one in San Francisco that is like 8 stories and you can see all the different escalators right above one another), anyways it is like that, just longer, and not as many stories high. They have some similar stores, Zara, Aldo, Urban Outfitters, etc. They don't have Macy's, Target, American Eagle/Hollister, things like that. So that was a good day, got some cute stuff and presents. The only lame thing is things are more expensive, the euro to dollar ratio is like 1:$1.30, and having to travel not by car is difficult with lots of bags lol.

Sunday I found a church building and was able to go. I loved it. It was an older building, smaller very diverse ward, but exactly the same:) I love how our church is so constant around the entire world, what an incredible thing. What other religion is like that? Stephanie was nice enough to help me get there, we had to walk about a mile or so to a bus stop, and it was only about a 20 minute bus ride- not bad. People were very friendly, and this one older guy made a big scene about how nice my teeth were and if they were real haha. It was kind of embarrassing, but it is definitely true what you hear about Europeans and bad dental hygiene, yuck. I was waiting for the bus after church, and this guy only a few years older than me probably offered me a ride home. He was very nice and gave me some recommendations of things to do in London(yes, Troy and I are going to London in 3 weekends!) We went over to one of Stephanie's coworkers house for dinner that night, he lives right around the corner from us so that was nice. Him and his wife are the nicest people, and they have 3 young boys that Ramona had sooo much fun playing with. The food was great, she made the most amazing broccoli/cherry(sherry?) tomato salad with feta cheese and hazelnuts, I don't even like raw broccoli or tomatoes that much, but that salad was delish.

Oh also this last weekend, Michael Buble had a concert at Aviva Stadium, which is literally in our yard. Its huge and a really cool looking building. They have soccer games I'm assuming there, and concerts(obviously), Anyways, both shows were sold out, they blocked off the streets around it, and we got a free concert:) Well we couldn't hear it thaaaat well, but a few songs I could make out, it was pretty cool though. There was estimated to have been over 100,000 people in attendance between both shows! Crazy. That is like the whole population of Redding, plus some hahah.

This weekend we are going up north to Belfast, staying in another cottage thing in the country, yayyy for space!:) There is a natural wonder thing up there called Devils Causeway which we will go see, and apparently the Belfast was where the Titanic was made, and was last ported at, so there are some museums up there with Titanic stuff, so I think we are going to check some of those out.

Troy comes a week from today, he gets in next Wednesday morning. Yes Troy(my boyfriend) is coming to Ireland to see me! How lucky am I??? I am so so so excited. Jay and Steph are going to England the first weekend he is here, so we'll be with the kids doing whatever the first weekend, then the second weekend he is here we are going to go to London! So fun. It will be such a good time I'm sure. I'm so thankful and excited for this opportunity we have to travel together and for him taking time out of his life to come hang out with me:)

I can't believe it is almost October, seriously! Where did this year go???? I'm turning 22 soon, boo. I start nursing school soon, unreal! I can't believe "life" for me is actually going to begin in such a short amount of time. The last 2 years of my life have been so carefree and I've basically had little to no responsibilites, so it will be an adjustment getting back into my study habits and having to prioritze again, but I am so ready. 2 and a half years of waiting is long enough. I can't wait to start nursing school and be learning again.

Some fun facts about Irish people/culture I have noticed:
-they call strollers "prams and/or buggys"
-they don't know the word "ornery"
-I don't remember if I mentioned J-walking before, but it isn't illegal here, so people will run out in front of you left and right. It's kind of funny
-they don't really tip
-no tax
-they think that everything is "huge" or "bigger" in America
-they call car trunks the "boot".
-Cricket, rugby, and gaelic football are very popular
-ice cream isn't popular. Like they don't/wouldn't go out somewhere just to get ice cream. (lame)
-they don't have outlets in their bathrooms. What the heck?!
-Friends is on tv all the time lol
-they don't drive till they are 17 or 18. I think 17 you have a provisional license
-Everyone, I mean everyone(women), wear scarves, tights, and some sort of boots.
-They don't say excuse me or anything when they are trying to pass you or accidentally bump you.
-they say things are "gorgeous" a lot. They use it in terms of something being a good idea, not in the way of good looking like we use it
-they say "cheers" a lot.

That's all I can think of right now, and when I say "they", I'm not generalizing or stereotyping, I'm just basing it off of my experiences:)

Cliffs of Moher.

                                        West Ireland countryside

Shopping! I look tired:)

                                  Uhm hello, cutest kids everrr!











That is all I can think of for now, hope everyone is enjoying the heaaaat back in the States! <3, Robyn

Recently...

things have been changing and a lot of things have been happening!

First: I am living in Dublin, Ireland. I have been here for almost 2 weeks, it has been quite the change! As most know, I am a nanny, and the family that I work for decided to come here for 2 months to work, and I was fortunate enough to get to tag along:)

This is the family I work for, I love them:) We get along great, and the kids are super cute. Couldn't ask for a better family.










This is me on the beach in Bray, Ireland. It is south of Dublin. The water is actually the Irish Sea...it was so beauutiful there and the town was super cute. Not as fast paced and busy as Dublin.

Just some random shots of different parts of the city. I love all the ornate architecture, the connecting buildings, and just how different all the buildings look

*The weather here is so unpredictable. Keep in mind that Ireland is an island, so it gets different currents coming from the different bodies of water that surrounds it. Anyways, it is never really too cold, I wear sweaters and jeans when I go out and am fine. It tends to be a bit windy. The clouds here are like none I have seen before. It has rained everyday that I have been here, but it will be sunny for about an hour, then you literally can watch thunderheads coming in from every direction, it will rain for about 20 minutes, then clear up again. Repeat 5 times a day. Luckily the rain isn't a hard rain, for the most part it is just a drizzle. The clouds are so beautiful and they move sooo fast. It keeps everything green here. Everyone either has an umbrella or some sort of rain pancho/hood with them at all times because even if there isn't a cloud in sight, that can change in 10 mintues. It's wild.

**Dislikes: The different currency(1 euro is about $1.30 or so, so we lose money). Smoking everywhere. Crazy drivers! They drive on the opposite side of the road, and all the streets here are not marked well at all, luckily we don't have a car here so we rely on public transportation(which is big here). They don't really have big grocery stores here, they grocery shop multiple times a week. Sooo, we have a mini fridge in the place we are staying lol. I don't really dislike that, it's just semi hard to adjust to a different lifestyle(no dryer, dishwasher, or freezer either). And also, when you need a necessity(toothpaste, makeup, shampoo, etc...they don't sell those at the grocery stores like ours do. You go to a "pharmacy" and can but them there. Although the selection is verrry limited, and I did just spend about $6 on a tube of toothpaste. Rip off!

I have never been to a foreign country(other that Mexico lol, but that doesn't even count), so it is such an experience for people to be asking ME where I am from. Our cultures are very different, but luckily this is an English speaking country for the most part, so it hasn't been bad trying to get directions or help when needed. I am here until the end of October, I will try and be better about blogging what I am doing!

Second:

This pretty lady was in a horrific car accident. Sefiti is my grandma(married to my Dad's dad). She flipped her son-in-laws SUV a few times, luckily she was wearing her seatbelt. She literally scalped herself, almost lost an ear, broke her neck(no paralysis, thank goodness), broke her thumb, and lost the tips of a few of her fingers. Many stiches, staples, and surgeries later, Sefiti is finally home and recovering. Seeing Sefiti with no hair(as they had to shave her head to piece her scalp back together), hooked up to all these machines, and soo swollen she was almost unrecognizable, was surreal. You never think that these kind of things would happen to YOUR family; until they do. I am so thankful for the family that I have been blessed with, we all came together and supported each other. I am so grateful for this gospel and the power or prayer and the priesthood, to bring us comfort and strength in times of trial. Sefiti was in a medical induced coma for a few days after the surgery, but after she woke up she had and still has no memory of what happen. She says all the time "I'm just thankful to be alive." She was so strong through all of this, I admire her and love her and am so grateful we did not have to plan a funeral. She is so lucky that she only got the injuries she did. I know she had some people/angels looking out for her that day. She has a long road of recovery in front of her, but she survived! We are so grateful that the accident was not any worse than it was...WEAR YOUR SEAT BELT!

Third: This boy ----------------------------------------------> is Troy, and he is my boyfriend! He makes me more happy than anyone ever has. We have been friends for a few years, theeeen things just happened! It's great. I miss him terribly, but I am so excited that he is going to come to Ireland and visit me at the beginning of October...I'm sooo lucky:)

Last: As most know, I am finally starting nursing school in January(two and a half years later!!!)!!! I am so excited/ready/nervous. It will be interesting to go back to school and get back into the swing of things, since I haven't been in school in SO long! I've started getting shots, doing paperwork, etc, and when I get back from Ireland it is going to be crunch time with more shots, physicals, background checks, orientations, etc, so many things! I hope and pray that I get everything done in time and it comes together smoothly. I can not wait to get my life on the road again!!

Love you all, hugs from Dublin! --Robyn