Coney Island

This past weekend was my first experience at Coney Island. For some reason I just really wanted to go to a carnival. I don't even really like riding the rides or playing the games but the atmosphere of carnivals are so fun and the food is delicious! Carnivals scream summer to me, so it seemed fitting to go to one this past weekend. 

There isn't too much to tell about the weekend other than the five of us girls had a blast.We went to the beach, waited in the longest/slowest line to eat a Nathan's hot dog and walked around.  We are trying to experience New York the best way we can while living on an "intern"  budget. I am finding out there really is so much to do in New York even if you are on a limited budget. I mean just simply walking around the streets of New York, is, in itself really entertaining. The food here is what adds up. There are so many places to eat on every block. I have tried some of the best food in my life here in the city but it isn't all that cheap. 

I am having a great summer and it has only been three weeks. Time is flying by and I just want it to slow down a little. I feel like before I know it summer will be over. I mean it is already June! Graduation does not seem that long ago. I mostly don't want summer to end because I don't want it to hit me that I am a college graduate without a job! Life is going to become very real to me once fall hits. However, I am not going to get too ahead of myself and I am going to enjoy every minute of what is going on right now. There is something to be said by living in the moment but living  for the future. We don't know the future, all we have is right now so we have to enjoy it! 

So instead of worrying about what is going to happen to me three  months from now, I am just going to "Live and let live." It is true that no matter how little or insignificant your life may seem at a point in time there is something to learn from every opportunity. Significant opportunities don't always come in the most obvious ways. Opportunities come by living and we experience them everyday without even realizing it. You can't devalue any kind of experience. Like the famous Maya Angelou once said, "Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it."

This hot dog was worthy of a picture because I waited all evening for one and also because Nathan's hot dogs are famous in New York. Nathan's has been around since 1916 and served customers like Al Capone, Eddie Cantor, Jimmy Durante and Cary Grant. It gained international exposure when President Roosevelt served Nathan's Famous hot dogs to the Queen of England. I don't know if I will ever wait in line for one again but it was a fun experience and we all agreed that we wanted to be able to say we tried a Nathan's hot dog at least once.   

Memorial 2014

Rockaway Beach

My friends and I decided to end the beach day with a soft served cone from Big Gay ice cream.

I have never spent $7 on a soft served cone before but I have also never had a sugar cone lined with Nutella either. 

Although I  prefer McDonald's $0.99 cones, Big Gay's was delicious. Trying expensive foods and desserts at least one time is part of the New York experience.  

My ice cream of choice

Sugar Cone

Lined with Nutella

Coffee Ice Cream

A Weekend in DC

This weekend I visited some friends of mine in DC and it was the best.  I love New York but it is a crazy place and it was nice to get a way. As soon as I got to DC on Friday night my friend Lauren let me know she had a weekend of fun things planned. I am always grateful when I don't have to do any of the planning and I can just go along for the ride. Saturday afternoon we walked through George Town, ate macaroons, looked around the shops and then made our way over to the Eastern Market. We ate good food and made sure to take lots of pictures. 

Being back east for my internship has felt like I am on a never ending vacation.  The excitment of being in a new place hasn't worn off yet. This summer has already started off great and I am enjoying every minute of my new adventure and life in New York. Living in New York has been a dream of mine but I never thought it would actually happen. It's crazy where life takes you sometimes and great things most always happen when you least expect it. 

My sister Jen and I use to watch DC Cupcakes all the time. We love cooking shows and grew up watching the TLC and the Food Network. I was super excited when we passed George Town Cupcake but the line was way long and we didn't have time to stop in and try one. So I guess trying a DC Cupcake is on my "to do list" for sure next time. 

Eating fresh maple donuts with bacon sprinkled on top was one of the best treats I had all afternoon. 

Eastern Market 

These two love birds are getting married in October. I am so happy for them. They are great friends of mine and I had a blast hanging out with them all weekend. 

Finally Settled In

Well I have finally finished the moving process that seemed to last forever. I haven't felt at home for a really long time. New York still doesn't feel like home but I am getting more use to it each day. Last week was stressful and hard. I spent most of my days running around in circles trying to figure out the city and subway system. However, after a week of being here I am starting to get into my routine and it feels good. Even though the city is huge and I feel lost more than half the time, as long as I know how to get to Trader Joe's, my work, Starbucks and the gym, I am good! 

Getting older has made me realize that no matter where you are or who you are with, with the right attitude you can find happiness anywhere. Going out of your comfort zone is not always easy but in my experience it is always worth it.  

Most people are searching for happiness outside of themselves. That's a fundamental mistake. Happiness is something that you are, and it comes from the way you think. 

So I guess here's to the summer of 2014! It is going to be hard, weird, exciting, new, but hopefully the most worthwhile experience I have had yet. 

A New Place to Call Home

On the Steps of My New Home

This summer I accepted a public relations internship with the Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints. I work at The office of Public and International affairs in New York City. The office works on developing and maintaining positive relationships with key individuals, including diplomatic corps, local, state and national leaders as well leaders of other faiths. The idea is to establish a positive image for the church, in clarifying misunderstandings and to build bridges of friendship and understanding. Our office hosts events to strengthen relationships with ambassadors to the United Nations, Consuls General and other diplomats. So basically this is my version of serving a mission.

 I am super excited about my job because I will get the opportunity to meet some pretty amazing people. Growing up in Utah all my life has kept me sheltered because it is a predominantly Mormon culture. I love the church with all my heart but I have always wanted to experience and learn about other religions. I have also wanted to live in a place that I can be exposed to a variety of people. New York is perfect for this, it is the melting pot of the United States. I am finally stepping out of my Utah bubble and I am absolutely loving every minute of it. 

My parents were so wonderful because they offered to fly out to New York to help me get moved in. I was very appreciative of this because I was pretty nervous about moving out all by myself. They got to visit my apartment and the place I work. They attended church with me and while they were here we got to hang out and explore the city. We all had a blast. We attended a Broadway show, road bikes across the Brooklyn Bridge ate good food and went to the symphony. I was sad when they left and once they did the idea of living in New York for the whole some and possibly longer became very real to me. It is uncomfortable, awkward and scary being in an unfamiliar place but also it is also exciting. I feel weird and uncertain constantly but I can tell that this summer is going to help me grow into a wiser, better and more interesting person

Corner Bakery 

3rd Avenue

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to the best momma in the world. I guess everybody thinks they have the most amazing mother and it is probably true. Mother's are incrediable and to take on a role like is a sacrifice. I feel blessed to have been raised by a loving and dedicated one. Truly, my mom is notrious for being super mom. She did it all. Momma Thatch, as we like to call her around the Thatcher house, packed lunches for us kids all through highschool with gourmet sandwiches and fresh cut up fruit everyday. She has been primary president, young women's president and was there with me through all my young women outings and pioneer treks. 

My mom will seriously do anything for her children and it has been aparhent all my life. She would run over our forgotten homework to school, drive us to all of our dance and piano lessons and was there at all of our games and performances. She is my support system. The thing I value most about how my mother raised me, was that she let me be me. She has always been there to advise and help guide her children on the right path but allows us to make our own decisions. I guess the best way to put it, is that she let us and continues to let us self discover. I respect her for that. 

Our family spent Mother's Day this year in NYC, minus my brother James and my sister Jen who is currently serving her mission in Carlsbad, California. We began the day with breakfast at Starbucks and then headed over to church at my new singles ward in Harlem.  

After church we ate at my new favorite lunch spot in Lincoln Center, Le Pain Quotidien. I am a fan of this organic resturaunt and I ordered their Turkey Avacado Tartine. A Tartine is an open face sandwich, a must try especially at this cafe.