I recently signed up for a website to get some side jobs baby/pet sitting. I met a family in Cambridge area last week and babysat for them on Friday night. They have 3 great kids, ages 6,
5, & 4. They have never had a babysitter before either, so they were excited to have me there I think. :) It was fun. While I was babysitting, Brian went to check out this Organic/Vegan place she told us about not too far away called Life Alive in Cambridge (pic on the left). Downstairs they have a lounge so he hung out there and worked on his last paper. Around midnight, once most places were closed, Brian came back to the house and kept me company. At 12:30am I texted the mom telling her that our last bus left at 1, and she said they would just pay for our cab home since it would be more like 1:30. I told her no, but when they got home their was a cab already waiting for us outside and they had already paid & tipped the driver!! Because of that we tried to give them some of the money back and they looked at us like we were crazy for not taking it. We are very thankful for this opportunity and that they are such kind people. She went to BC and was studying nursing, but changed to English. She said she might be able to help find me a nursing job through some of her friends, which would be great, but I am planning on babysitting for her a few times a week until a nursing job comes along.
We also met a couple for dog walking last week and did a "trial walk" with the dogs over the weekend. They have 2 beagles, but the 1 yr old pup doesn't really know how to walk on a leash and she just pulls herself the whole time, while howling (or beagle barking). It's actually sad to watch her - it would be so much more comfortable for her if she could just walk normal on the leash. Brian and I are determined to train her! haha. Their names are Baxter & Millie :) I'm sure I will take pictures at some point. The guy came home last week to a huge mess in the house so he wanted to have someone come and let them out/walk them during the day, so that's me now. They're a really nice couple and I will probably be walking their dogs 3x a week for now.
After our trial walk, we waited for a bus in the freezing cold for almost an hour! We started to get inpatient and called people to help us determine if that bus was in fact running - it was. But we were getting cold and I was really inpatient so we walked toward a different bus stop, but on our way we saw the bus that we had been waiting for. So, we ran on it and sure enough it stopped right where we had been standing! Go figure. At least we made it on the bus though. We were heading to Somerville to meet someone for cat sitting during Christmastime - they live about an 8 min walk from the babysitting house. We will be taking care of their cat Loki for 4 days - she needs medication in her ear 2x/day so we will probably just be hanging out in the area during the day. They live in a super nice/new apartment (looks like Irvine or something), but they are preparing to move out because they're expecting a baby soon and need a bigger place. Too bad we can't move in there- haha. Although, we really like our cozy apartment. After seeing some other houses/apartments in the area, we have come to really appreciate ours and how well kept it is here. If only it were a little bigger...
From meeting Loki, we walked about a mile to the Orange subway and headed up to Melrose for game night at Dan & Angel's. They live in a really cute apartment - another complex just like one we would see back home. I almost forgot I was in Boston with the moderness of it, carpeting, spaciousness, etc. We learned how to play BANG, where Brian was the Sheriff (and I was an Outlaw
trying to kill him, among others. Angel was the Deputy who was trying not to kill him...although everyone's character is unknown except the Sheriff). It was fun and the outlaws won. Then we played Cranium, my favorite game. The brainiac guys won against us girls, twice!!! Then we played Apples to Apples. Fun night!!
On Sunday, I babysat again and helped build (or should I say
the kids help me build) a gingerbread train (from a kit, thankfully). I took some pictures to show their parents what the finished train looked like, since all the kids wanted to do the whole time was eat it...and it was quite demolished by the time they got home.
While I was babysitting, Brian went and got a haircut and had lunch at Life Alive. Then he came to pick me up and we walked back over to Life Alive for dinner. So, Brian ate there 3 times in the past 3 days - that's pretty much against our rules of eating on Boston (we don't like to eat at the same place twice because there are so many great places!). Here's what we had for dinner:
I got the "Goddess" - brown rice, tofu, carrots, beets, kale and some awesome sauce. Brian got
the "Lover", which was almost the same but with mushrooms I think. So good and super healthy! This is such a cool place and there should be more of them around. The upstairs is where you order and there are some tables/chairs, a counter with healthy eating/lifestyle books, and some plant life. Then downstairs is a lounge with more tables/chairs and more comfortable/spacious seating, plus a little play area for kids. It's really neat! This is us in the lounge:
Afterward we left Harvard square and headed to St. Clement Shrine for mass. I snapped this picture of the Harvard area street lights before we got on the Subway.
I guess they are dancers or something...I'm not too sure really. Any ideas?
So that was our weekend! It was pretty busy and also somewhat stressful getting around within our time constraints, but it was really nice to be able to get out and explore some more, make some money, and do things I love!
I would say it took about 2 hours to look like this and it is still coming down. Now the trees are starting to turn white! So much fun! So those pictures were outside our front window, and these are from the kitchen window:
Now the fun snowy winter pictures begin! Stay tuned! :)
5, & 4. They have never had a babysitter before either, so they were excited to have me there I think. :) It was fun. While I was babysitting, Brian went to check out this Organic/Vegan place she told us about not too far away called Life Alive in Cambridge (pic on the left). Downstairs they have a lounge so he hung out there and worked on his last paper. Around midnight, once most places were closed, Brian came back to the house and kept me company. At 12:30am I texted the mom telling her that our last bus left at 1, and she said they would just pay for our cab home since it would be more like 1:30. I told her no, but when they got home their was a cab already waiting for us outside and they had already paid & tipped the driver!! Because of that we tried to give them some of the money back and they looked at us like we were crazy for not taking it. We are very thankful for this opportunity and that they are such kind people. She went to BC and was studying nursing, but changed to English. She said she might be able to help find me a nursing job through some of her friends, which would be great, but I am planning on babysitting for her a few times a week until a nursing job comes along.
From meeting Loki, we walked about a mile to the Orange subway and headed up to Melrose for game night at Dan & Angel's. They live in a really cute apartment - another complex just like one we would see back home. I almost forgot I was in Boston with the moderness of it, carpeting, spaciousness, etc. We learned how to play BANG, where Brian was the Sheriff (and I was an Outlaw 
trying to kill him, among others. Angel was the Deputy who was trying not to kill him...although everyone's character is unknown except the Sheriff). It was fun and the outlaws won. Then we played Cranium, my favorite game. The brainiac guys won against us girls, twice!!! Then we played Apples to Apples. Fun night!!
the kids help me build) a gingerbread train (from a kit, thankfully). I took some pictures to show their parents what the finished train looked like, since all the kids wanted to do the whole time was eat it...and it was quite demolished by the time they got home.
I got the "Goddess" - brown rice, tofu, carrots, beets, kale and some awesome sauce. Brian got 
the "Lover", which was almost the same but with mushrooms I think. So good and super healthy! This is such a cool place and there should be more of them around. The upstairs is where you order and there are some tables/chairs, a counter with healthy eating/lifestyle books, and some plant life. Then downstairs is a lounge with more tables/chairs and more comfortable/spacious seating, plus a little play area for kids. It's really neat! This is us in the lounge:
Afterward we left Harvard square and headed to St. Clement Shrine for mass. I snapped this picture of the Harvard area street lights before we got on the Subway.
I guess they are dancers or something...I'm not too sure really. Any ideas?
I am working on a little class project for St. Norbert School for my flower girls' class. They read a story about Flat Stanley, so I 
colored him and put him in his winter clothes and have been taking him with me places. This is us going down the giant escalator.
On November 20, Faneuil Hall had their 26th annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony, so we went to check it out. All the trees were lit, there were street performers, and live music. The Christmas Tree was huge!! We just walked around the shops and then ate dinner in the North End at La Galleria 33 - yum!
We have a huge pile of leaves on the ground outside our bedroom window from all these trees over the past month. Pretty much all the trees (and bushes) around here are bare now - its sort of sad, yet interesting to think that they are still "alive". Loving the seasons here, as we approach winter. On the news today they said today is the coldest day of the season (fall, since winter starts in a couple weeks). It was 23 this morning, but "felt like" 10 degrees (which is all that really matters!). The wind sure does make a difference, but we are enjoying it & having fun, especially now that we have all our gear (long underwear, beanies, gloves, scarves, ear muffs, jackets, boots, etc.). Next post will hopefully include some snow, which is coming soon!!! :)
We had such a wonderful thanksgiving with our new friends here in Boston. We woke up and began baking pumpkin spice cookies and we also made a green bean casserole (pic on right) to bring to our 
thanksgiving potluck. Around 2:30, Angel & Dan came and picked us up and we headed to Ashland to have dinner at Josh & Amanda's super cute condo! Angel & Dan brought a pumpkin cheesecake that was delicious and also mac n' cheese, and our lovely hosts took care of the turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, and cranberry sauce - all homemade! I think this was the first time we had homemade stuffing and it was very good!
Corner/Brookline. Deb is dating Kevin, who is a colleague of Brian's and is in his 4th year of the program (this is them on the right). There was another couple there (John & Suzanna) who have been married almost 15 years. She is from Finland and he is from Seattle and is his 5th year of Brian's program. Also at the table was Deb's roommate Yvonne, who is from Germany. We had a lot of fun just sitting and talking with them all evening, and the food was awesome - Deb did most of it. We brought some of our cookies as well as dinner rolls from Trader Joe's. John also made some awesome butternut squash soup.
It has been a while since my last post, so I will do my best in recapping the last month. We started November by going back to California for 2 weddings and to visit family and friends. We were very busy during our stay there, but it was so great seeing everyone!! And both of the weddings were absolutely gorgeous! 
My bridesmaid, Kate, a friend from nursing school, was the first wedding and I was a bridesmaid in her wedding. It was such a fun day!! I had never met some of the other bridesmaids and the groomsmen, but they are a great bunch. Kate's wedding was very elegant and the setting couldn't have been more perfect - at San Juan Capistrano Mission and then to the Laguna Cliffs resort in Dana Point for the reception! Congrats to Mr. & Mrs. Bullock - and thank you for letting us share in your special day!
Our second wedding was for one of our groomsmen, Evan, a high school buddy of Brian's. This 
may have been the most extravagant wedding I have ever been to (and probably ever will). The ceremony was at our church, San Antonio, and Brian and I did the Prayers of the Faithful (petitions), which I was so nervous to do (I hate microphones!!). However, I think we did a great job!! The reception was at the beautiful Nixon Library, where there were 3 bars during cocktail hour, not to mention a live musician as well as a painter!! Also, the table centerpieces were out of this world!
We tried to spend as much time as we could with our families
while we were home. We met my grandma, aunt and mom for breakfast one morning (left). My dad's side of the family had a thanksgiving dinner for us while we were home, which was so nice! Somehow I forgot to take pictures though! We also had lunch with Brian's family too. The picture on the right is of balloons outside Pam's house - she always decorates for her guests! She and her family had a lovely dinner for us!! Also during our time in CA I was able to visit with some of my lovely nursing buddies!!!
Sari, Caroline & Me
Krystin (& Noah), Katie, Pami, Erin, Me, & Tiffany
enjoyed the weather! We left Boston at 6:00 am at 34 degrees and arrived in Los Angeles around lunch time where it was about 100 degrees!!! It was great! We were peeling off all our layers. :) We were happy to be there for some record breaking November temps, but it was only for the first couple days. We also got to drive again! We were so excited for that - we thought we were going to forget how to drive, but of course we didn't! It was nice having the freedom you get with a car, but we spent so much on gas and that we do not miss. :) Lastly, our time catching up with friends was wonderful and we were able to see our pregnant friends "showing" their baby bellies now!! This is me with the beautiful mommy-to-be, Emily!
