You only grow by coming to the end of something and by beginning something else.

Sunday I moved back to Iowa City, and that day marked a day of a lot of things. It marked beginnings and endings alike.

It marked the end of a great summer.

This summer was such a great one. I spent every day with awesome kiddos. It was my third summer nannying for the Nigg family, so at this point, it didn't even really feel like work. It felt like hanging out with friends or even siblings. And we did some fun stuff! We went to movies and Living History Farms, swimming and hiking, and just hung out. This was most likely my last summer with the Niggs, and it was a great last one to have with them.

I also went on an amazing trip to NYC this summer in case you didn't know! It was full of fun sightseeing, an amazing conference, and quality time with new friends. I couldn't have asked for a better trip. Fingers crossed I can attend the conference next summer!

I love New York, even though it isn’t mine, the way something has to be, a tree or a street or a house, something, anyway, that belongs to me because I belong to it.

The Back Story

One of my favorite movies of all time is The Devil Wears Prada. I love the fashion and the magazine and, of course, New York City.

Honestly, a lot of my favorite movies take place in New York, and that might be why they're on my list of favorites. It always just looks so exciting, and growing up, I dreamed of living there one day.

Four years ago I visited New York for the first time. My sister was out there doing an internship at House Beautiful magazine because she's totally awesome and smart and talented. My mom and I went out there for a weekend over spring break to visit, making one of my biggest dreams come true.