Did I mention my pit-stop in Fiji?

The smartest thing I did in this whole process of moving out of the country to nanny was to get in touch with the nanny the family had before me. Here I go talking about fate again, but she lives in the same town I do. Explain that one! So we went to lunch.

I almost feel like I cheated; I don't expect to come across many problems with my travels because of all the advice I got beforehand. I didn't have to figure out things like cell phones, visas, or that tampons apparently suck over there and I should try to bring as many of my precious tampax pearls as I can.

The best piece of advice my awesome mentor gave me, though, was the fact that you can make a layover last days instead of hours. My flight goes to Nadi, Fiji, and then on to Auckland so I was going to have to chill in Fiji for a few hours. I had a random obsession with Fiji a couple years ago so it was killing me that I was going to be there and not able to do or see anything. Well, not anymore! My layover now lasts three days and I'm going to get to do some amazing things while I'm there. I'm staying at the dorms in a pretty nice resort so that's going to be awesome, but the coolest part is all the day adventures, and day cruises that they are associated with.

Walk around town checking out temples like this? Yes, please.

Hike to these highlands and visit the village? I think so.  

Day cruise out to these white sand beaches? Yes, please.

Get a nice bronzing by this pool? Don't mind if I do.

Hike out to this waterfall and go for a dip? Yep.

Eat amazing food like this and pay like hardly anything for it in American dollars? My favorite part :D

I can't wait for this adventure. Along with all these cool places to see and things to do I get to sleep in a dorm with 19 other people! It doesn't get more interesting than that!

To-Do.

I was so relieved this week when I finished my final final (I hope there are not as many f's on my final grades then there are in this sentence).

I was so ready to take a NAP.

And I did.

I gave myself 3 glorious hours of sleep in the middle of the day. I love love love sleep in the middle of the day.

When I woke up I started thinking of all the things I have to do to get ready to depart the country for a very extended period of time. Luckily I will be home for about a week in April for Chance's homecoming so if I forget my favorite pants or lucky socks or anything I won't be without them for too long.

Who am I kidding. I don't have lucky socks, or favorite jeans, and if I did, why exactly would I care when I'm in New Zealand for goodness sakes!


So here are the places I need to visit before I leave:
1. Zions National Park-hike Emerald Pools (my favorite hike there; the end pool is paradise).
2. Red Cliffs Reserve. This is a such a fun hiking place. I'll never forget laughing hysterically as Ember, Franny, and I were trying to hoist ourselves up this 3ish foot waterfall that was all slippery with wet moss.
3. The Red Mountain. Growing up a block away I have logged endless hours running around on that unique red dirt. It was the best playground a kid could have.
4. Up north. My three bestest pals will all be living up there come January. Be ready for the most fun, epic sleepover ever, girls.
5. Benja's. I love sushi.
6. Mongolian BBq. I love that ghetto fabulous place.
7. Rickshaw's. Lettuce wraps, please.
Well, everywhere involves hiking and food. I'm ok with that.



Boring To-Do List
1. Work as much as possible so I can have mulah as I travel.
2. Print off my insurance records.
3. Take family photos (Ok, this one is not boring for me, but I'm sure to hear a few groans from the men in my family).
4. Sew my dress that I have invested $20 in so far.
5. Pack. It's going to take. so. long.
6. Figure out boring school stuff. Yes, I am taking online classes through Dixie while I'm there. It might be kinda crazy, but I'm excited to have my associates when I get back.

Well this list was a lot longer when I started this post a week ago. I have a hard time finishing a post in one sitting. I've had a very productive week! Included in this productive week was finally purchasing my ticket. That might sound like a simple task to accomplish, but let me assure you it was not.
I sold my car so I could go and that meant I was not able to just punch in my departure dates and buy a ticket. No, no, I spent hours searching multiple dates; it's crazy the difference in price one day can make.

So the other morning I got on Orbitz like I do every day, and I punched in the dates. It was $1,612 which was $11 more than it was the day before. I was a little sad because hey $11 is enough to pay for my gas for the rest of my time here. Or it could be a meal. Or it could pay for internet on my 12 hour plane ride from L.A to Fiji. Anyway, I'm not even sure why I clicked on the ticket because I had to donate my plasma one more time to have enough to pay for it (oh, the things I do to get out of here). But call it fate, I did click on it, and I got great news. Orbitz had a message waiting for me, it said:, "Great news! (see, I told you it was great news) We found your itinerary for cheaper!"
The ticket was only $1,535! So I scooted on over to Chase bank and took money off my Biolife card and hurried over to my bank and deposited the money. I quickly scooted home because Orbitz threatened that this special price was for a limited time only so I had to "Act Fast!".
Act fast, I did, and the special price was waiting for me when I got home.
I fully believe in things being meant to be and all that so call me crazy but when I literally had barely enough money to buy a ticket that's on a 'special price' the days I wanted to leave, I take that as a sign that I am meant to be in New Zealand. And be in New Zealand, I will.
19 days!!!

New hobby: couponing

I've always been a bargain shopper, and always will be, but I just started learning how to "coupon shop". It's quite the process, but totally worth it. 

I've saved a ton of money, and I'm not even doing it totally "right" yet, meaning I could be saving more (I have a friend's mom teaching my mom who is teaching me). Here are my first two adventures.

1. Crest 3-D white strips, 5 minutes a day, month supply.

                                                              Regular price: $37.99
                                                  Manufacturer coupon: -$7.00

                                                                  Store sale: -$10.00

                                                                          I paid: $21.00ish

Score!

I could have gotten another $5 dollars off but I couldn't find the online coupon I needed so I just bucked up and paid the extra because hey I just spent $3500 on braces last year so I can pay a fraction of that to whiten them :)

2. Crest 3-D white toothpaste & mouthwash.

Together they were supposed to be about $7, and I got them for about $3. I can't remember exactly what went down with these, but it involved a store sale, coupon, and I did two transactions because after the first one I got a dollar store credit that I used on the second one.

Overall savings: $20ish

boo-yah. 

 (Yes, I did feel the need to share my underwear purchase with the cyber world.)

Alright so the last two pictures were today's adventure. 

The dress and undies were just bargains I happened upon. 

Dress: $5.98 

(and this picture does it no justice! It's bangin.)

Undies: $1.98

Ok, so the razors and mascara were my coupon purchases. Target was having a special where if you bought two razors you would get a $5 target giftcard, and they were on sale for $7.99 each. I had two $2 off coupons for the razors so I got to use those. 

Total: $12.00

Then I used the giftcard and a $1 off coupon for the mascara so it cost me a buck and some change. 

Overall savings: $25ish

So basically, I would recommend this to anyone and everyone. It's fun to see the negative symbol before the numbers on the little screen as the saving rack up :)

Funny Story

My last post I said that I was going to forget about all of society's expectations and go to Australia. (I will add in here that I posted that like 6 weeks after I actually wrote it.)

Turns out that a few days after I wrote those words, I got an email from a family in New Zealand. They were looking for a nanny to start in January 2011. (I have a profile on a nanny-finder website)

So guess what?!

I get to drop society's expectations and go to New Zealand, which is super close to Australia. And that totally works for me :]



It's one of those crazy moments in life where you are like, "holy (cow, moly, s***), this is totally meant to be. I've never been able to shake the feeling of just wanting to go somewhere and live, and experience something new. And I've always wanted to do it by myself, not when i'm married. Now I have the chance, and I'm running with it!

Can't wait to see this in person!

Twenty Years...Young.

I recently turned twenty years..old? young? Twenty is a strange age. I mean, you've been an 'adult' for two years now but you don't have the letters T-E-E-N in your age anymore.

The last couple months of being nineteen my friends and I had a couple conversations about turning twenty. It was during these talks that we realized that the "twenty's" is when most people accomplish major life tasks.

 

For example:

1. Obtaining a college degree.

2. Successfully finding and marrying a person.

3. Successfully becoming pregnant and bearing a child. (female)

4. Successfully impregnating your female companion. (male)

5. Major purchases such as a home, car, and even furniture.

6. Paying bills in a timely manner so that you may enjoy hot showers and cable television.

7. Raising aforementioned child in a way as to avoid him/her becoming a murderer, rapist, or stuffy businessman.

As much as this list scares me, I am sure that there are many more surprises just waiting to pop up in my face, and scream, "Here I am! Now you have to deal with me like the adult that you are!"

Don't get me wrong, it's not that I deem myself incapable of accomplishing these tasks (although I have come to terms with the fact that actually finding someone willing to spend forever with me is going to be quite daunting). It's just kind of like when your parents told you as a child that you couldn't have a cookie and instantly all you want with your entire existence is an oatmeal butterscotch cookie.

You would tackle a nun for that cookie.

You would kick the easter bunny in the shin for that cookie.

(I realize that comparison is sort of backwards but that's what I thought of as I pondered what to compare this to, but then I also thought of another comparison that's totally better so here it goes.)

It's like when your teacher gives you homework that's due the next day and suddenly you think of 17 extremely important, life-changing things you would rather do instead like:

1. Collect slugs.

2. Learn to knit.

3. Facebook stalk your 2nd grade crush.

4. Learn how to Jerk.

5. YouTube different ways to use your tongue for when you make your move on the hottie from chemistry class.

6. Stare at a wall.

7. Facebook stalk that slut/manwhore that totally checked out your boyfriend/girlfriend.

8. Text 6 people at once. Accidentally send a text to the wrong person. This causes drama. Spend night either fixing or participating in caused drama.

9. Photoshoot! This takes a while. It's all about the angle.

10. Do some cartwheels.

11. YouTube Michael Jackson videos. Attempt to copy his epic moves. Fail.

12. Google cute quotes to post on Facebook!

Let your love be like the misty rains, coming softly, but flooding the river. ~MalagasyProverb

13. Google song lyrics to post on Facebook!

"If I lay here, If I just lay here, would you lie with me and just forget the world?

" -Snow Patrol

14. Text your crush for 4 hours about absolutely nothing.

15. Blow stuff up and/or set things on fire.

16. Read MLIA.

17. Update your Facebook to make yourself appear more appealing to members of the opposite sex.

So my point is that I feel like society is telling me to buckle down and start accomplishing tasks and my response is, "Screw that, I'm going to Australia!"