This post used to contain pictures, but due to new storage limitations from WordPress, I had to fix the problem and decided to create a new blog that works as an archive for all the posts from my two years in California. This full post can be found here.

My cold hasn’t gone away yet, even though I’m taking it easy and drinking tea and keeping myself warm. Or at least trying. It’s horribly cold here and my frostbite injury popped up again today when I picked up the kids from school. And it got four new friends. Great, that five of my ten fingers now get white and hurts when it’s cold… It was just 50 F (10C) and it has been raining almost all day. The info I got with 10 days of rain per year proved itself to be bullpoop.

I spent all of my freetime today at the Social Security Administration to get my social security number. It took me almost three hours just to leave a piece of paper and answering some questions. I will get my number, eventually. There were some complications because of my long name, Hanna Alexandra Camilla Bemm. The name box in the form allowed only 16 characters and that name must be exactly the same as the one on my visa. So they have to talk with the immigration so I don’t think I will get my number for a while. But that means I have plenty of time to study for my driver license!

Another thing about my middle names and the order of them, is that everyone here (who have all of my names) calls me Hanna. When I was at the au pair training school my teacher called me Hanna, because that’s what it said on the class list. My name is complicated here… Maybe I’ll just start to introduce myself as Hanna. That would have been fun and confusing, haha!

In the afternoon the boy had a playdate with the crazy boy next door. They were at our house, and he wasn’t as crazy as he usually is! But I learned something funny about him from my host mum today. It happens that he clogs the toilet when he is here so she told me to keep an eye on him, haha! Crazy boy!

The girl was preparing herself for the father/daughter dance. She had this cute dress on and were posing like crazy when her mum took photos of here before they went to the dance. The only thing she’s been talking about these last few days are the table of sweets that’s gonna be there. I’m jealous of her. I too want to eat as many cupcakes as I can…

The boy and my host mum went out tonight so I’m in this big house all by myself. I took the car to Bressi Village and ordered takeout at Rubios. First time ever I tried a Fish Taco, it was pretty good! I was thinking of buying some ice cream and watch a movie tonight. But then I remembered why that wasn’t a good idea, beacause my room is freezing and I’ve been cold all day. Another day!

I both hate and love pancake Friday. It’s sooo yummie and I’m on a good way of becoming a master at making them. But oh so unhealthy…. I can’t understand how a six-year-old boy can eat 10 when I’m full after 7…
I also found out today why I didn’t get twice as many pancakes when I realized that ~15 wasn’t enough. I just doubled some ingredients, like the eggs and sugar. Haha! Not the important ones like flour and milk. But now I’m aware of it and the next time there will be leftovers for the rest of the family!

Fish Tacos from Rubios. It was pretty good.

It’s tough to work with kids when you are not feeling okay. My head has felt like a very heavy and swollen ball of snot all day. I’m sneezing like all the time and I think I have a fever that comes and goes during the day… I’ve tried to tell the kids that I’m not feeling well and really want them to cooperate. The girl understands and feel sorry for me. But the boy is stubborn as usual. Today he got mad at me after school when he asked for a playdate with the crazy kid next door. I knew we only had 30min until we had to get back to school again to pick up the girl after play practice. I said that to him and he said that we sat in the sofa watching Disneychannel for two hours. When I said it was 30min, he said no and refused to come with me and buried his face in the pillows instead.

When we got home again he stopped being mad at me. That’s kind of a good thing about six year olds, their mood can change very fast.

In my freetime today I went to Stater Bros and bought some Ben & Jerry’s. I just bought a small package. But I think it will be a big one next time. I don’t think the kids open the freezer in the garage that often so I think it’s safe to put it in there. Haha! Anyway, I was amazed by the prize. In Sweden one of those big packages are $8. Here it’s $3. That’s sick!

I’ve gained a little weight I noticed today. But that can either be new muscle mass or just this day. I’ve learner that your weight can shift from day to day.

I said to myself that I would go to bed early tonight, but I’m still sitting here. I suck! But know I’ve planned my Saturday with Lizzie and Anna Maria. I really need to do some shopping, my jeans are kinda falling apart…

Today it’s a month ago I left home. Now it’s just 12 more months and then I’ll be home in Sweden again. Eleven in this family and one out traveling!

Today was really amazing. The kids were so cute and treated me like their best friend. The girl was so talkative and sweet all day (except in the morning, she hates mornings and going to school…). We talked about everything between heaven and earth and she explained a little about how it feels to get a new nanny every year. She said it wasn’t easy and that she didn’t mean anything yesterday. I am glad both of them are becoming so attached to me so fast and not talking about their old au pair. I think that when you have been through this your whole life, you know how to handle the situation, even though you’re just ten and six years old.

In my freetime today I was thinking about trying to find the mall here in Carlsbad. But I felt too bad and went home instead. Bought some candy on the way, watched TV series on the computer and talked with my mum. I have caught a cold (as everyone else in this house). I’ve felt feverish, been soo tired and been sneezing all day. I hope it doesn’t get worse because then it’s gonna be hard working with the energetic kids all day. Especially in the morning when they don’t want to go to school and you have to tell them like 15 times to put their shoes on.

But in the afternoon I felt a little better. Maybe because we went to Starbucks. I tried a White Chocolate Mocha. It was good but didn’t taste white chocolate. The boy wanted a Vanilla Bean frappuccino as usual. I waited a long time and when I asked for it the guy helping we were so embarrased and apologized like he did something horrible and gave me a piece of paper that said that I could have a free beverage whenever I wanted because of the inconvenience. I like Americans!

Dinner was kind of a success! I made pork chops (that’s what it said on the package, but according to my dictionary it’s smoke-cured loin of pork) with mashed potatoes. Since I discovered that you can add broccoli and cauliflower I’ve never had regular mashed potatoes. Today I added broccoli and the kids ate it all withouth almost any nagging. Success!

The Proactiv experiment is going well so far. My skin is already so soft! I have no idea how long it will take until you can see a difference, but I will give it time.

This post used to contain pictures, but due to new storage limitations from WordPress, I had to fix the problem and decided to create a new blog that works as an archive for all the posts from my two years in California. This full post can be found here.

Today was like an emotianl rollercoaster. The day began horribly when I woke up after way too few hours of sleep. Everything went very smoothyl though and I really enjoyed my work out. Tuesdays are the best because I know how to do those exercises and it feels right and hurt in the right places. Tuesday means chest and triceps. I love the back exercises to, but I don’t get the same feeling so I think I’m doing something wrong, or maybe it’s just that I’m much stronger in the back than in my chest. After one and a half week I already recognize some faces at the gym.

When I picked up the girl from school (she ends 15min earlier than the boy) my rollercoaster went downwards (that’s the most fun part of the rollercoaster, so I’m not sure if I understand that metaphor… anyway). She compared me to the old au pair and it was pretty clear that she prefered her. I got pretty sad but got myself together and acted nice as nothing happened. I know that the kids just lost their big sister and a new girl just moved into their home, taking her place. They need some time. And in a year they will probably think the same about me and the new au pair :).

The girl had her dance practise after school and after that she was like transformed. She had like endless of energy and couldn’t stop talking or moving/dancing. She got super excited and curious when I started talking about my cousins. And she really wants to meet Malin so she can teach her gymnastics.

After that she tried to teach me how to dance, but she just laughed at me. Then we had a pillow fight and the boy soon joined us. For the first time I really felt like their big sister and it was an amazing feeling.

Other things that happened today was that I got a package from UPS (it’s so weird that everything you order online is being delivered to your door and left there, even though you are home and it’s valuable, instead of at a post office where you pick it up). I have tried everything for acne except for Proactiv. If this doesn’t work I just have to live with it I guess. But I am crossing my fingers!

This post used to contain pictures, but due to new storage limitations from WordPress, I had to fix the problem and decided to create a new blog that works as an archive for all the posts from my two years in California. This full post can be found here.

My fourth Monday as an au pair, and nothing special happened. It was a normal working day. Breakfast with the kids, dropping them off at school, working out, picking them up from school, doing homeworks, playdate with the crazy kid next door and a delicous dinner, fish soup. I love the food here. Too bad I can’t cook. I think the family hates Wednesdays when it’s my turn to make dinner… (soon that day is here again.. feels like Wednesdays all the time!!)

The funniest thing today, was that it was surprisingly many dads dropping off the kids at school. I overheard a bunch of them talking about the big game yesterday. One of them said: ”Haha, I never work the day after Super Bowl!”. I don’t think he was the only one, haha!

The weather was really strange today. Cold (60F) and one side of the town was all pretty with its blue sky and everything. But the other side had this horrible, dark grey clouds hanging low…. Luckily it didn’t rain on me :). It’s super unnice when it’s raining here…

This post used to contain pictures, but due to new storage limitations from WordPress, I had to fix the problem and decided to create a new blog that works as an archive for all the posts from my two years in California. This full post can be found here.

I get new life experiences every day even though most of them nowadays are kinda small. But today I had a major one, Super Bowl in an american bar! It was amazing and I had so much fun! Sure, we missed the first quarter because of me who didn’w know we were two hours before central time, but it didn’t matter. We got seats and sat next to this nice elder Canadian couple. We went to San Diego downtown and a bar called Gaslamp Tavern. They had many flatscreens so you wouldn’t miss anything. I didn’t understand a thing more than that Baltimore won. Bad I guess because the 49ers are a Californian team. It was really nice talking English all day and the Canadian couple said they couldn’t hear an accent and that I spoke very well. I always get so glad when someone tells me that! And a Mexican lady sitting next to me said that I was skinny as a supermodel (or that I just looked like one, I don’t know).

While watching the game I had a coke and buffalo chicken wings. The chicken wings were way too spicy for me.

Right after the game we went home and now I think it’s time for me to go to bed. I saw two Volvos today that wasn’t my car!

To San Diego downtown!

Gaslamp Tavern on Fifth Avenue.

Jenny and Lizzie!

This post used to contain pictures, but due to new storage limitations from WordPress, I had to fix the problem and decided to create a new blog that works as an archive for all the posts from my two years in California. This full post can be found here.

My first week of work outs are done and I can feel it in my whole body. It feels good and I have switched some exercises that I think fits me more for next week. I will write down all my weights when I have decided exactly what exercises I’m going to do and I will do a kind of regular update on how’s it going.

I got up pretty late today, around 11 am. But I was still very tired. At the gym I ran for 10 minutes withouth a break, that equals 1,1 miles  when I ran 6,5 mph. My calves didn’t hurt! And my fitness didn’t stop me. I don’t just want to add muscle mass, I want to increase my fitness by running before every work out at the gym and maybe once a week outside in the neighbourhood. At the gym I think I’m going to take it slow and add like half a mile, or even a quarter of (I don’t want to spend all my time at the gym on the treadmill in the end of this year) a mile evey week until I feel like my fitness level is okay, now it’s kinda horrible…

6:30 pm Lizzie picked me up and we went with another au pair, Jenny, to Oceanside just to check it out. We went to Subway, my first time here in the US! I got a 6 inch meal for $7, 45kr. In Sweden I think that meal is like 60-70kr. We sat there for a long time and about 9:30pm two guys came and sat next to us. They were so drunk! But kind of funny to talk with. We asked them to guess where we were from and they though I was from Germany. That actually happend to me at the gym yesterday when and old man came up to me an asked me if I was from Germany because of my accent… When I said I was from Sweden they said it was sexy. Lizzie is from Mexico and Jenny is from Colombia and the guys had so much prejucides about them. They were kind of rude. Nothing on me though. Weird, I thought Americans thought all Swedish were blonde and blue-eyed and ride polar bears to work.

We didn’t stay much longer, just took a quick walk in downtown. Went to the pier, and then went home. We decided to go to San Diego tomorrow and hopefully we will get some seats in a bar where we can watch Superbowl. And next Sunday we are going to LA for the day! That is gonna be so awesome! And I think I also planned another trip to LA the weekend of the Oscars, Feb 24th.
Now it’s finally starting to happen some things, it’s nice :).

Oceanside downtown.

Below the pier in Oceanside. At the end of the Pier is a 50’s cafe/restaurant. I will definitely go there someday!

This post used to contain pictures, but due to new storage limitations from WordPress, I had to fix the problem and decided to create a new blog that works as an archive for all the posts from my two years in California. This full post can be found here.

Time just flies by, I’ve already been here three weeks, it’s crazy! I really love it here in southern California, but I’ll have to admit, it is kinda lonely at the moment. It’s not easy when all the au pairs have different schedules. I have things to do, for example study for my California Driver License. I think I’m gonna start that tomorrow. And since I got my Sony eReader today I want to read. The girl is sick when it comes to reading. The last Harry Potter book she read in like 4 hours. Maybe she can teach me how to read fast. That would be awesome, because I have 600 ebooks on my eReader already.

I celebrated my three-week day at the gym. Today I killed my legs. I didn’t do exactly as it said in my gym program, I was too much of a coward to try the full squat! I think it is a good exercise, so maybe next week… Rigjt now, ten hours later, my legs hurt like hell. I still have a lot of muscle soreness all over my body, like the chest and actually still the back. I think I’m just gonna have to get used to it. Tomorrow will be my last day of my first week of hardcore work outs. I will do core. I’ve already changed the two crunch exercises to machines. Much easier! Afterward I am going to reward myself with a jacuzi bath and/or some time in the sauna. I will probably need it!

Right now I am waiting for my uncle and his kids to login on Skype. Ella really wants to talk with me :).

And after that I think it’s time to get some sleep. It’s been a long day with stubborn children…

My Sony eReader! It weighs like nothing, the screen looks exactly like paper and is so much smoother than a big fat book. It has WiFi, a dictionary (unfortunately not a SV-EN), Facebook, a web browser, you can add normal pictures, make notes (both with a keyboard and handwriting (a pen was included)). I love it! Wonder what book I will start with… yes, of course I will simultaneously read two books at the same time, I can’t wait 1000 pages until I can use it!

This post used to contain pictures, but due to new storage limitations from WordPress, I had to fix the problem and decided to create a new blog that works as an archive for all the posts from my two years in California. This full post can be found here.

This was a normal day. Making the kids’ breakfast and lunch boxes, leaving the kids at school, picking them up, doing homework and playing with them until dinner. We had fun playing. Before lunch me and the boy built a pillow fortress in my bed. It was almost as big as my whole bed which is really big! He was in there like the whole afternoon and even did his homework in there.

When they both were ar school I drove to the gym. I am already behind me schedule, but I’m not doing anything this weekend, so I might as well hit the gym and maybe take a closer look at the jacuzzi! So instead of leg, I did chest and triceps. My thighs are better after todays work out and 15 minutes of running on the treadmill (withouth my calves hurting!) but my arms are like spaghetti and I think my chest is really going to hurt tomorrow. But I love it! No pain no gain. I just have to keep my hands off of candies and sweets…

The weather is nicer. A little cloudy, but around 75 and I walked around in shorts all day! Maybe I should go to the beach on Saturday and see if there are any beachvolleyball players already.

Now it’s time for my big bed and a chapter in A Dance with Dragons!

The big fortress in my bed!

This post used to contain pictures, but due to new storage limitations from WordPress, I had to fix the problem and decided to create a new blog that works as an archive for all the posts from my two years in California. This full post can be found here.

I was really afraid that today would be horrible. Malin went home to Sweden this morning and the kids were crying a lot! First time I’ve seen them cry in almost three weeks (except for the girl this Sunday when she accidently broke a lamp in a store and was so upset). I was prepared to be kind to them and let them be sad if they wanted to. But after breakfast everything was back to normal! Such a relief for me, because it would have been really hard with two crying kids, telling me they hate me and want their old nanny back (yeah, I am called a nanny here – don’t know the difference, so it doesn’t matter).

Before lunch the boy was at a playdate and when I picked him up when I was going to drive him to school I saw two peacocks sitting on a stone wall across the street. There is a peacock farm nearby and I was told they wandered around in the neighborhood, but I haven’t seen any before this week. Saw two three days ago in another yard just sitting there, looking cool.

And while I’m on the animal topic, I saw another tropical animal today, a lizard!! When I got home from dropping off the boy at school I went to the front door to see if my Sony eReader had been delivered yet. It hadn’t, but according to FedEx it will be here on Friday. When I turned around I saw something on the wall, in the corner of my eye. It was a lizard! Don’t know what kind. But it was kind of big, like 1dm from head to tail. I was so excited. But when I told the kids later in the afternoon they just looked at me like I was crazy and said that it was nothing. They have much bigger ones in their backyard sometimes. I am still very excited when I see a hummingbird in the garden. Animals are fun!

Directly after school we went to Jamba Juice in Encinitas. I had a Caribbean something. It was really good; pineapple, mango, strawberry, and more that I don’t remember.

When we got home we did homework and I did the laundry. Thought that I would only get two machines, but now I think I’ve done like six! I had some stains on two of my pants that I saw after the machine was done, so I put on some stain remover . One pair got clean. But my white jeans were still dirty. So I washed them in chlorine and now they are all white again! Finally after four months. It is fun to party with Hanna, our trips to the woods and all of our crazy ideas, but it has its price (this is not the first clothes I get muddy while being drunk). I miss it! I am longing for the second pubcrawl in 2014.

When all the homework was done the girl and I started baking. My host mun told me this morning that we should do some baking today. So we made Chocolate chip cookies and chocolate cupcakes. The kitchen was a total mess when I was supposed to start with dinner. But she was kind and helped me clean up (even though she did most of the baking).

I was multitasking like never before. Laundry, cooking, cleaning the surfaces, clearing away things, vacuum, making the table and putting away all the cookies we made. I guess that is what it feels like to be a mum…

For dinner I made a shrimp wok with carrots, broccoli and egg. Served with pasta in lack of noodles.
I thought it was good. But the kids didn’t… once again… They hate my cooking :(.

This morning I called European Wax Center and made an appointment for my free afternoon. The girl who took care of me was so nice. The wax was some imported beads from France that was blue. It hardened on the skin and she just tore the wax of. Not putting a strip on it. That was cool.
It didn’t hurt and all of the hair on my lower legs disappeared. I could get used to this.

When I walked out of there I felt like a new person, newly made nails and silky smooth legs. It’s fun to try new things and feel pretty at the same time!

I’m sorry for the long post today, but I like to write and I feel more comfortable every day writing in English. Now I just want to talk more!

Now I really need to sleep, I am so exhausted and tired. I cross my fingers that the alarm clock in my room will leave me alone tomorrow. 6:15 is way to early to get up. And even though I muted it yesterday, it still woke me up with a pounding heart this morning! I hate it!!

The 1 dm lizard on the wall.

When the girl poured the batter in the forms she thought something was missing because the batter was very thin. She had way too little flour in. So she sprinkled flour over each cupcake and stirred. We haven’t tried them yet, but they look good!

It’s not fun when my cooking isn’t appreaciated… Maybe it will be better when I’m used to cook in another kitchen, with other ingredients. If not, I am gonna hate Wednesdays…