FaceTime

Never have I ever been so grateful for technology in my life. I know I'm only here for a summer but I also know what a home body I am. For some, moving to London, nannying for the cutest family ever, and do some traveling around Europe for the summer sounds like a no brainer. For me it wasn't so easy. It meant leaving my boyfriend, missing my only brother leave on his mission, moving out of my house for the first time, leaving my little sister resulting in her becoming an only child (probably kinda weird since just 4 years ago there were 6 kids home), being away my adorable nieces and nephews for 3 months, missing multiple weddings of good friends, and missing out on some family trips.

It turned out the decision I made I come was one of the best I've ever made. But it is still hard at times being away at times. I'm so grateful that all I have I do is pick up my phone! Through wifi I can do it for free! Whether it's iMessage, HeyTell, social networks, or even FaceTime where I can actually see them. It's incredible if you think about it. I even got to watch Kyle give his farewell talk with the best seat in the house... The podium! It's been so fun and it makes being away from home much easier! Plus I get to see cute Corbin everyday! Here are some of the (appropriate) pictures from FaceTime!

LONDON> (anywhere)

I have been to London before I came here this summer. I came here about 6 years ago with my whole family and loved it then. It was an unforgettable trip and we were so fortunate to come to Europe with all 8 of us! However I come to gain a wholeeee new love and respect for London after living here. It has been completely different experiencing this city not as a tourist. And I'm come to the conclusion there is no better city in the world! It makes me have the desire to experience every city as a local and not as a tourist. I have had the realization there is so much more to life than Gilbert AZ and I feel bad for people who think otherwise. I just want to travel the world see everything! (But don't get me wrong... I love Arizona and always will!)

Here is a list of things I LOVE about London so far:
-Everyone here is over all more healthy.. I've seen about 2 over weight people.
-People walk everywhere
-Everyone takes advantages of the BEAUTIFUL parks and playgrounds
-Starting at a young age they teach the kids how to communicate and be respectful. I pick up/drop off Mason from school and he looks the teacher in the eye at the beginning and end of everyday, shakes their hand, and says good afternoon. It's the cutest thing!
-You have less options making life more simple
-Everyone is so nice! Before I even get to a door or stairs with the stroller someone OFFERS to help. It's unbelieveable! They are all so willing whether it's helping with directions, taking pictures, giving recommendations on things to do/see/eat, and are so patient while I struggle with their confusing money.
-Most things seem to be better quality (cheese, chocolate, quick sandwiches etc.)
-They have the mentality that instead of buying lots of cheap things, you should save and buy something you'll cherish and value. I love this and will remember this my whole life! I think it is smart.
-You can use public transportation and not be fearing for your life the whole time.
-Crime rates are so low.
-Everyone on the road are really good drivers
-I love that they have markets on the weekend

And that's just to name a few. If you can't tell... I love London! The only thing that could make it better is having my family, my boy, and my QT with me! This experience has already opened my eyes to so many new things and changed my outlook on even more. So grateful for life changing experiences!

Mum's Day

Happy Mother's Day (or should I say Mum's Day?) from across the Pond! I have always been so fortunate to be surrounded by such amazing women who have, in some way or another, influenced me, touched my life, taught me valuable lessons, helped me through the easiest and most difficult times, strengthened my testimony, encouraged me, loved me, and quite simply have helped shape me into the woman I have become and the woman I hope one day to be. So thank you to all of you... grandmas, aunts, sisters, my "second/third/fourth" moms, church leaders, teachers, friend's moms, friends, coaches, and most importantly... my own mom.

It sounds cliche, trust me I'm aware, but I honestly have an incredible mom that, in my eyes, no one can even compare to. My mom has a remarkable ability to love. Anyone who knows just one thing about her, knows that Carie Allen loves her family. Plain and simple. She loves us unconditionally. She has an individual relationship with each of her children and I can speak for all of us when I say it will be one of thee most cherished relationships we will ever have. What more can you ask for in a mom? It's the best quality a mother can have.

I have always been so proud my mom is who she is. Can you blame me? Here is why:

-I tell anyone that will listen how she graduated from ASU law school. With 3 kids. In the top 10 percent in her class.
-I brag about her sense of adventure and her being the life of the party. Whether it's the countless midnight showings, vacations, bachelorette parties, fake campouts with her grandkids (smores, tents, hot dogs, a packed cooler, and sleeping bags all included), graduation parties that are held from 2am-5am that entail her cooking crepes for literally hundreds of high school students the whole time, making parties out of finales/premieres t.v. shows, having a tea party celebrating the royal wedding, going to Disneyland at least 12 times a year, hanging her bra out the window on the way to get "Mamma Mia" went it came out on DVD at midnight, going 25 minutes out of the way when Sprinkles sounds good, spray painting her hair black and wearing Harry Potter glasses for all 8 Harry Potter Midnight showings, being infamous at girl's camp for putting both legs behind her head and transforming herself into a turkey, starting "when I say oompa you say loompa" chant at the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory premiere, being the first to do Dance Central, Just Dance... or anything that has to do with dancing really, driving to out of state ASU football games, Black Friday shopping from 10pm-5am. Basically... all you have to do is say adventure and my mom is in with no questions asked.
-You don't need to hear my mom's testimony to know she has one. All you have to do is be around her for a solid 2 minutes.
-My mom has never sat me down and taught me a lesson. She teaches me through example.
-My mom is an amazing cook. Corbin says he loves her more and more each Sunday. She gives me a lot to live up to... aka... a lot of room for failure and disappointment in that category. She tries to make dinner every night but without fail has a full course amazing dinner every Sunday.
-I am proud that if my Mom could live her perfect day... it would involve being with her whole family. Not a lot of people can say that. She loves being with us, knowing about our lives, helping us, supporting us, and creating new memories with her family.
-She goes ABOVE AND BEYOND when it comes to special events... Actually in any event.
-Creating and keeping up with traditions that have made my life exciting, fun, interesting, close with my family, meaningful, and memorable.
-She has a contagious and genuine smile and laugh.
-What matters to her family matters to her.
-The only thing better than having her as my mom is having her be the grandma to my future kids someday.
-She ALWAYS supports us. Ice skating, volleyball, soccer, softball, track, academic decathlon, tennis, dance, yearbook... basically you name it and one of her six kids has done it. But whatever it is, I'd bet my whole life earnings that she would be there. With a smile on her face.
-Don't even get me started about the AMAZING "G" my mom is. (Yes... Being called grandma wouldn't cut it for her. She is now referred to by all the grandkids as "G"...  and yes. I warned her that "G" stands for gangster.)

Sorry to go off but it's hard to put into the right words how you feel about the most incredible person you know. It is hard to comprehend how amazing my mom really is. I love you mom. Thanks for your patience, your love, your support, your sense of adventure, your ability to forgive, having a heart of pure gold, supporting me, teaching me, caring for everyone, looking for ways to serve, having a strong testimony, pushing me, believing in me, and making me so proud and so blessed to call you my ultimate best friend and mother. Happy Mother's Day!

Hyde Park

Anyone one that knows me knows my favorite things are my favorite things. I'm obsessed with my obsessions. (Yes I realize what I just said... But it's true. THIS IS MY BLOG. I do what I want.) I have a long list of favorites and if you know me well you know my favorites can instantly make me the happiest person in the world (cough Corbin cough).

Anyway I have a new favorite to add to my list. It's Hyde Park. I have a weird obsession with parks to begin with but living in Arizona only allows me to go to parks about 4 months out of the year. Hyde Park was unreal. Its huge, green, beautiful, open, has bike paths, running trails, a pond, gardens, and everything was perfection. I have a feeling Hyde Park will be seeing lots of me.

It'd also be a perfect engagement if someoneee wanted to come get down on one knee in London.... (I'm really really sly and so good at dropping subtle hints)

My First Adventures!

It's starting to hit me that my stay in London is 3 MONTHS! It's a crazy feeling. Good thing this incredible city never runs out of things to do and see! I've gone out into the city twice now and I am in awe. It's amazing!

My first adventure I decided to go see London's best shopping and what it had to offer. Ummm probably a mistake. I am officially coming back with no money. But that's okay cause I'll have the cutest stuff. Just kiddddding... But really. But anywayyy I rode the Tube to Picadilly Circus which is the Time Square of London. It was cool to just to soak in all the action and everything going on around me. After about a hour of walking around Picadilly Circus I made my way to Oxford Circus. I was excited for this because Oxford Circus was one of my favorite adventures during my family vacation here a while back. Julie Shaner (the lady I woke for) suggested I walk there on Regent St. BEST DECISION EVER! Best shopping. Guys. I'm talking a 6 story Anthropology, every designer store, Top Shop, a 4 level Forever 21, tons of adorable antique shops, boutiques, and lots of new stores that instantly became some of my new favorites. I loved walking in and out of store and just looking at everything. I have a feeling Regent St will be a weekly visit and lots of retail therapy will occur on that Street.

The next day I woke up at 7 to watch the boys I nanny. I worked for about 2 hours and went to bed again. Next thing I knew I woke up at 2:30pm. I thought my jet lag was gone. Nope. Defiantly not. But I felt like a new person after my nap. Haha okay you guys don't care about my nap. But anyway when I woke up from my nap that you guys don't care I took, I went with the Shaner's to an arcade.

The arcade was right across from Big Ben. Like BOOM! There he was. Can we talk about Big Ben for 2 seconds?! K awesome. So Big Ben right. He symbolizes London or whatever. Why?!?! It's cool yeah. But THATTT cool?! No. You know on Peter Pan at Disneyland? Yeah well it's huge on the ride. Like stands way taller than anything else around it. K. No it doesn't. Don't get me wrong.. I love the guy. He's just over-rated. Sorry I had to rant. Anywayyy it was a fun day out and we went to the cutest Dutch pancake place after.

I'm loving this experience! I miss my boy, my family, my nieces and nephews, my giiiirls, my own room, and cold sodas from QT. But whateverrrr I'M IN LONDON. I keep telling myself I'm going home and not moving her.

I'm an Illegal

Within a hour of stepping off the plane in England I was already finding myself in an adventure. An unforgettable/ scary/adrenaline rushing/traumatic/ tears flowing adventure.

Julie (the lady I'm working for) had warned me on multiple occasions that getting in the UK can be hard without a visa. They don't like the idea of Americans coming over here and taking British jobs. She told me to tell customs I was doing some light traveling around Europe and my plan for London was to stay at Maden-Powell Hostel House and gave me the address to that. I thought it would a piece of cake.

I stood in line at customs/ immigrations for over a hour before it was my turn. I went up the lady who I thought would take one look at me and my passport and send me on my way. Nope. Our conversation went like this...(SBIO= Stupid British Immigration Officer)

SBIO- Why are you here?
Me- Pleasure.
SBIO- How long will you be in London?
Me- 5 days
SBIO- Can I see your plane ticket home?
Me- I don't have one. I'm going to Paris after London.
SBIO- How are you getting there? Can I see your ticket to Paris?
Me- The Chunnel. And I don't have one yet.
SBIO- Do you really think I'm going to let you go through? How do I know you're not coming here to work? How do I know if you're ever going to leave? How do I know you're know getting married?
Me- I don't know but I'm not.
SBIO- I'm getting this reviewed.Go sit over there.

To make a 7 HOUR story short... Next thing I know.. I'm getting interrogated TWICE, having my bags searched, getting my finger prints taken, GETTING HOOKED UP TO A LYING DETECTOR, and sitting in a white room for 2 hours feeling like a terrorist. They thought I would crack... HA. JOKES ON THEM!

They let me come. Guys I can't explain to you how scary this was. Thanks Mom for wishing adventures upon me...

If You Need Me... I'm Across The Pond! Cheers!

Cheers! From across the pond. I'm here! All of you that had bets I wouldn't come... take that. Although I don't blame you... There were points I was thinking about betting against myself as well. (For those of you who don't know this is a big deal for me. I am sheltered, spoiled, easily homesick, and in love.... the odds were not in my favor on whether or not I'd get on the plane.) But I'm here and love it already. The boys are adorable, I love Julie, the city is dreamy, the flat is quaint, the weather is perfect, and my bed is so comfy. I am in heaven.

I'm so glad I have the opportunity to experience this and made the decision to follow through with it. I know I'm going to learn a ton, grow a lot, and truly have an experience of a life time. I'm so grateful that my parents and Corbin encouraged me to go. My parents always want their kids to experience life, different cultures, and have adventures. I will forever be thankful for that! They are the best. And Corbin has been amazing through the whole thing! Way above and beyond the call of duty. Seriously, he's incredible and I am head over heels for that cute boy! I wouldn't have come if it wasn't for him and the support he gave me everyday since I booked my ticket. This is something I have always wanted to do and Corbin understands that and is completely behind me through it all!

I promised my sisters and mom I would blog a lot while I am over here so get ready! Here's a picture of my view. I will never get sick of it. I'm a lucky girl.

Up next: My first adventure (evolves being held hostage in immigration/customs for 8 hours) and going through the hardest thing I've ever had to do (say goodbye to my brother Kyle for 2 years.)