My last day in the City - at the Botanical Gardens and the Art Musem of NSW

On our last day in the city, my friend Andy and I decided to take a long walk (and when I say walk I mean mostly a bus ride ;) We looked around the Botanical Gardens that just so happen to be next to the Harbour Bridge and Opera House. Needless to say...it turned out to be the most beautiful day! We enjoyed the sun and the interesting greenhouses, trees, birds, ponds, and Sydney skylines - we were silly in documenting jumping off a stone in what was called a "stone haven" (don't ask me why - I'm not the most graceful, as you can tell).

We ended the day by visiting the the Art Gallery of NSW. All of the artists on display at the museum are Australian born or lived a majority of their lives in Australia. Their work was so fantastic I just had to sneak taking pictures of a couple pieces to show you! And these are just a fraction of the ones that I loved.

I've really relished my time here in Sydney, but I feel it might be time to move on and explore new places different than the ones I've already known. However, I've started my new job today and it seems that I'll be quite busy doing "family" things for the next couple of weeks. In my heart I can't wait to start traveling South towards Melbourne and then towards Perth, Western Australia at the end of August...might even be sooner :) xoxo

Do you like my new hair? LOL

In all honestly, I was being silly for the moment when I tried these extentions on but I liked it so much that I've decided to keep my lovely new locks!  haha :)

Good news - I got an au pair position! Yay :)

Hello again! Just wanted all of you to know that I got a live-in au pair job! Yesterday I had my interview with an Australian family who actually live in China but are out here on "holidays" (that's what they call vacation down under) for eight weeks! Perfect for me yay!

This family has three children, ages 2, 4, and 6. The dad is going back to China soon and the mum needs a bit of help. They have a lovely house in a very plush exclusive suburb called Mosman - it's about 10minutes North of Sydney City...I have to admit that I just might miss living in the big, ugly, smelly, noisy city for a bit but I will get over it! At least I can say that I have had the pleasure of living in the middle of a big, ugly, smelly, noisy city for once in my life - hey it's all about having different experiences right??? That's why I am here! :)

Anywho, I've included a couple of pics to show you how beautiful it is in Mosman, their house faces out over Neutral Bay. I will have the weekends to myself to take day-trips aka holidays ;) to go wherever I'd like! I feel very blessed to have found this ideal position with a lovely family. For the first time since I've been out here, I'm thinking that maybe everything could fall into place for me...?

At my Mom's request, I have included some close up pictures to show all of you that I really am alive and doing well! Steff and Kim pictured above (these are my two German, sweet as pie roomies for the last week) were traveling on. So Andy, Steff, Kim and myself all had our last breakfast together - yum pancakes! Let me tell you, these girls were VERY excited about the whole thing...apparently they do not serve pancakes there?!? But regardless of the Bisquick shortage in Cologne, Germany - I have tentative plans to visit them sometime in the future :)

Sydney University, Rozelle Bay, Anzac Bridge, and Darling Harbour with my new friend!

Hi to ALL! Sorry it's been a while since I've wrote - been busy trying to find a job!

Last Sunday I met a new friend, with whom I can travel a bit with. His name is Andy (no need to worry Mom - he plays for the er "other" team ;), he's from London, and I often speak with an English accent with him haha it's quite fun, we have good time talking!

So we took a looong walk around Glebe Point (South of George Street) checked out Sydney "Uni" as they call it here, and down to Roselle Bay and to the Anzac Bridge. We sat by the water and ate a little snack. It was a nice day - very relaxed and enjoyed the good weather! On our way back we stopped at Darling Harbour, it wasn't very interesting - except for the cool anatomically correct whales hanging from the ceiling! It was worth the trip just to see the whales!!! What can I say? The small things in life amuse me...sad but true! :)

Cupcakes everywhere and More City/Harbour Pics

(BTW - you can click any of the pictures to make them bigger)

As promised, I'm reporting back - I've now had them two mornings in a row, $5 for a cake and gourmet coffee! Don't worry about me gaining any weight though, these glorious cakes have taken up all of my calorie intake for the good long day but are entirely and thoroughly worth it :)

Red Velvet Heart on Thursday and Molten Chocolate with vanilla buttercream & choc shavings on Friday.

I'm aware of what a big dork I am writing about cupcakes (and taking these pictures to prove it)...but for now I am stuck in the city and unable to travel anywhere else - so I hope you can deal with my silly blogs :) Besides if you could taste these little buggers for yourself, you would completely understand my addiction...

Additionally, I've thrown some more pictures of the city sights - Sydney Tower, Town Hall, Australian Regiment Memorial, the famous George Street, Aboriginal art, and more Sydney City/Harbour beautiful pictures...enjoy! xoxo

ANZ Stadium - Australian Football

Since I last blogged, I've seemed to run into a bit of bad luck...not everything always goes as planned right? Thank God I have the support from my friends and family back home, thank you for being there for me always and without fail - I Love you all so much!

Things are looking up more than ever, and last night I had the opportunity to take the City Rail - which is an entire experience all in itself, I'm not sure I want to repeat haha.

You guessed it, the the biggest venue in Australia holds 80,000 people sold out last night- Sydney Olympic Park for Rugby League the most popular sport hands down here...New South Whales vs. Queensland All Star Game. It was a really good time for me to taste this part of Australian culture. Enough said - the atmosphere was electric with sights, sounds and smells to say the least!!! And let me tell you these boys love this game! I got to serve beers and cocktails to these rugby boys and gals...I had so much fun working this event, unfortunately this will be the first and last game held in NSW for this season. NSW 14 - QLD 18

Out and about in the city today...

5th day - Today I got up at 6am on a Sunday, and yes it did help that I went to bed last night at 9pm! I thought I would save some money and use all of the Starbucks gift cards that my students gave me at the end of the school year (Thanks :) and slowly sipped on my chai tea latte, ate my gorgeous lemon tart, and people watched. Perrrfect morning to say the least!

I wanted to explore the city today and explore I did. Came upon some lovely art pieces titled "Walking in Time" - they look funny turned on their side, but I'm not sure how to straighten them out really. Then I came upon The Queen Victoria Building where there is an underground shopping mall which is fantastic! Shopping, shopping, shopping.

I was trying to stay focused and not to shop....so then I turned my attention to these beautiful ginormous disproportional cupcakes & store called http://www.thecupcakebakery.com.au/ ...and as you can imagine I am now cursing the beautiful lemon tart I had earlier because now I want a cupcake. Don't worry I will definitely return and report back :)

After I pull myself away from the sugar high I got off of the air around the cupcakes...my next stop was at St. Andrews Cathedral for Sunday mass, I promised my Irish Catholic father if I see a church I will go in but ironically I feel too guilty to leave once I step inside the church. Needless to say, my days at Saint Paul Catholic High School come screaming back to me, reminding me of why I am not Catholic! Haha just kidding Dad! No, really very nice service and St. Andrews had the most amazing choir I have ever heard! Stunning. Brought tears to my eyes.

I ended my day at Paddy's Market, which is like a swap meet/farmers market all rolled into and indoor version, three stories high. I selected some yummy dried bananas, figs, and honey roasted mac nuts. Now mind you that this day was great, but at two points in the day, two different people on the famous George St. (oldest street in Australia) asked me for directions, thinking that I knew where I was going! That's pretty cool, but as soon as i accepted my free Paddy's Market green recyclable bag nobody could EVER mistake me for a native Aussie AGAIN (or at least someone who can give good directions :) Oh and it didn't rain today either, well at least not while I was walking about in the city...good news yay!