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So I let it slip earlier in February that I'd been working for Starbucks, which I dubbed "interesting" and left it at that. For me, working at Starbucks was more of an experiment in the coffee world and a way to make ends meet. A lot of people are all about it, but the further I got into that particular store the more I realized that I did not want to work for a bunch of 30-40 year olds who still think they just turned 21 and can act like children whenever they please. 

Like I said, this particular store was not my favorite.. Starbucks coffee used to be my go-to, until I had real coffee and discovered that coffee beans shouldn't taste burnt 100% of the time, plus I would rather support local businesses in the Midwest like Dun Bros, Caribou, Urban Stampede and The Coffee Co. these are all local and built in MN or ND and it's better to put your money back into the community you love.

Now I am still nannying, but for two families which will be new to me. I used to only want to work for one family at a time, but with that whole grownup rent thing I really need the additional income and kids are the bees knees to work with! Now my new job for family #2 - I'll think of a cool name later - starts tomorrow and while it might only be temporary, I hope to bring as much love, guidance and awesomeness to this family as have the S family! Plus, I get to wear leggings and leggings are 100% my go-to pants. I just want the rest of the world to agree with this and allow EVERYONE to wear leggings to work. You can dress it up, dress it down, whatever you want.. just cover your bum and it'll be good ;) 

So prayers with my new job  would be appreciated. 

-Acacia 

Currently | July

Hooray for a linkup! I've been fairly absent from link ups recently, and blogging. The last week my bosses were in Amsterdam without the kids and I've been, you guessed it! With the kids. For starters, kudos to all moms everywhere and second.. I think I can be a mom now. This experience has been challenging and amazing, but more on that later. 

Currently I'm...

CRAVING | Sleeping in and a nice dinner out. These kids get up between 5 and 630 in the morning and I am the kind of person who gets to bed around 12am. A nice dinner to my favorite Mexican place would suffice as nice, and grownup time.. I miss grownups. 

GRILLING | So we don't have a grill, but I would love Sunday breakfast on our cast iron skillet if it's over a campfire ;) 

LISTENING | I've been rocking to late 90's early 2000's music, bring on the Britney! But also turning on Rend Collective and Bethel music for the kids and myself during breakfast, lunch and dinner. 

PLANNING | A maternity session and engagement session. I have a session for a lovely girl that's having twins on Wednesday and Monday is an engagement/pre-deployment session for a couple referred to me. I'll be bringing the bug spray this time, since my last session I was eaten alive! 

DECORATING | There isn't a lot to decorate, but I recently acquired a night stand that needs to be refinished so that will be my project next week. I'm thinking of going with grey or mint color, but not completely sold. 

Thank you to Jenna and Anne for an awesome linkup! 

Nanny Life | The Adventure Begins

To be completely honest, I was really nervous to start nannying again. After my last nanny job ended back in 2012 I decided that it was time to stop, and I did. That was 3 years ago, almost, and I hadn't considered going back to nannying until this last winter. 

See I had never really seen a need for nannying in the Northern Plains, unless we were in a bigger city. I see a lot of women are stay-at-home types and that's awesome, but it leaves a little to be desired for being a nanny since moms are home or are using the smaller in-home daycares. So after a little searching and finding families who want the one-on-one care of a nanny, but are unwilling to pay for that type of care, I stumbled upon the S's. 

They were like a breath of fresh air after being in the city for too long. Southern, wonderful and all sorts of committed to their kids, family and jobs. My kind of people! In the last two weeks since my job started I have found about a billion more reasons to love them and their kids. I took this job knowing it'd be FT throughout the summer and I could focus back on studies in the fall and maybe get that darn AA in ECE. 

Now because this is a big part of my life,  I will be sharing more and more, but please know that I will protect these kids and family. No names, pictures of faces or details about their work or lives -aside from my nannying projects- so I'll "introduce" you to the "S's". 

Red - Youngest and a spit fire. 

Dubs - Oldest, a thoughtful kiddo. 

Broski - Middle, crazy. 

Obviously the parents who will be referred to as my bosses or "S's". 

Since starting two weeks ago I've realized 2 things. 

1. Time moves fast when you like your job. 

2. I love finding people who are older than myself and hold to the same values. It's refreshing, even if my inner self is 40. 

But it has been exciting. I'm motivated and impressed and just all over happy to go to work everyday. It's no longer a chore for me to get out of bed everyday and get ready. I'm up, hanging out with my man before he heads out and just relishing the fact that I will go somewhere that I am actually making a difference. I hope you guys enjoy the adventure as it unfolds! 

Nanny Life | Spray Paint Art!

Spray Paint Art - A super fun, slightly messy, activity for kids of all ages!! 

This last week the kids and I did a newer art form and it was a HIT! I was wandering around Target when I hopped into the dollar section and found some dopplers and hair spray bottles full of paint and figured “why not” because nothing in life is more fun than spending all of your money at Target. 

Since I have a recently turned 3 and 4 year old the difference in learning is unique. B-boy and Red are so much the same, and yet different. Where as B-boy can spell, trace and follow directions 80% of the time, Red still needs a little help and I figured that this activity was one that both could do/enjoy. 

What you’ll need: 

Hair spray bottle (you can buy the ones filled with paint or fill them yourself) 

Paint - I go for Hobby Lobby’s pain in the kid section. It’s watered down enough to do these types of projects. 

Stencil! We made our “A” but you can really do anything, I do recommend card stock or something similar. 

Tape, paint brushes and smocks/old clothes. 

--keep in mind I'll take pictures of supplies in the future, but this craft was a little on the fly--

I will recommend that you put down plastic or do this project outside because it can get a little messy. 

First, grab your stencil and either place it freely on your paper or tape it. Then have the kiddo either spray the paint from the bottles or help them to do so. I’m a fan of having people try first, then help second. 

After they’ve sprayed the colors they like you can either remove the stencil or let them keep it there to use paint brushes/rollers or stamps and make their creation even more unique. 

When all is said and done you get a pretty unique piece of art and kids who are covered in paint and full of laughter. You can also save the stencil if you want, or keep it in your art bin! 

Have you tried this project? If you have, tag me on instagram: @acaciaduh and #nannyprojectsbyacacia 

Inspiration

Since I left my job with Amazon I've had this abundance of inspiration and insane thankfulness. Even during the temper tantrums and poopy diapers I can't help but be overcome with this incredible sense of having made the right choice. 

I left my job for something that will be part time come August/September, but I fully trust God in this situation. 

Now with my inspiration I've been dragging friends out to do little sessions here and there, but when people aren't available I actually have to get this stuff out either writing -ha- or doing art. Thankfully I have a plethora of art supplies and this past weekend was a creative weekend. It all started with needing to get Red's (the little girl I nanny, post coming soon) second birthday gift together and nothing at Target really screamed "RED!" aside from a super cute jumper and some crayons, cause who doesn't love mermaid inspired crayola crayons?! But this little girl is a spit fire. She seriously has this look that absolutely kills me, you know the wheels are turning, but you don't know why. It's killer. 

So I figured something that was a little more personalized would be a better alternative than the Melissa & Doug toys or the crazy amount of princess themed toys -she's never seen/read anything princess and I love it! So I free handed a pin-spired board. 

All the pictures below are free-hand. 

Red's little painting. She definitely lived up to this on Saturday when she gave mom and dad a run for  their money. Little girls are the bee's knees.  Since her brother Dubya's birthday is coming up shortly I figured to make him something that really makes me smile. He's the coolest kiddo I've met in a long time, as far as 5-year olds go, and definitely a leader in the making. 

After that I was sitting at the table that I've taken over and thought to try my hand at drawing "people" I'm terrible at faces, so I made the images below... definitely inspired by God and His unfailing love.

This one was inspired by Kari Jobe's song "I am not alone" one of my friends said it looks like a pregnant ladies stomach, which is so cool to see someone else's view! I'm still working as I'm not sure exactly how to put the words from her song on there. 

Above is a little something that I love. I saw it on pinterest, and I've wanted to paint it for my own kid's nursery, but that's a few more years out, so I have decided to gift this locally. 

It's a little crazy how one thing so totally changed my heart for the better. I was never a "painter" and most of my drawings were mostly stick figures/dinosaurs. I hope you all find some inspiration for your week, I know I sure will! 

Bad Blogger//Big Changes

I know we all have moments where we are incredibly busy, or just feel so blah that blogging seems like a constant uphill battle. I've found that during this time it's best to just walk away until you feel better. 

The last four months have been incredibly hard on me. I've gone from loving my job to completely despising getting up in the morning.. I was just basically on auto pilot for the majority of Jan-April.. I complained and I had my amazing, supportive and loving boyfriend point out the obvious: Get a new job. 

So I started applying to office jobs around the Grand Forks/Fargo area.. each time coming back with a response "you have a great cover letter, but you're experience is lacking a little" which only discouraged me.. Insert Eric again to encourage the discouraged. If I didn't have him, I might have resigned to staying with Amazon.

So I took a leap... 

I'm going to be a nanny, again! 

I was a little nervous, especially after interviewing with two people who were not willing to pay a full time wage for full time work! Seriously, I was a little miffed. I walked into my third interview with the S's and before I left my car I was all "Hey God.. please?" I was blown away. For starters a 30 minute interview turned into an hour and a half! They have the sweetest children and I was so blown away that A and J were so open with me.. I felt immediately at home, immediately! God was sitting there going "Ya buddy!" and I felt silly for doubting my heart being called back into serving a family as their nanny. 

So... now I'm going to start a new, old, adventure.. I hope to have you all along for the journey. I plan to write a lot more now that I don't have this sinking feeling of sadness in my soul.