live.laugh.love.: 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:)