2013

It's sad how almost no one updates their blogs anymore. ("Hi, my name is KaRynn, and I'm a blog neglector too.") So, to the brave few who continue to check blogs and update their own, props to you.

So I spent several months at the beginning of the year updating my resume, applying for jobs all over Los Angeles County (and, when I came up empty, Ventura County), and interviewing. I was SO out of practice with my interview skills. Not that they were fantastic skills in the first place. The only "interviews" I've ever had in the past were when I was at BYU. At the Morris Center Cafeteria: "Hi. Your name is KaRynn? You're a freshman? Ok. You start tomorrow." And at Prosper, Inc (three years of torture that put me through school): "Hi. Your name is KaRynn? You know Lisa? You can answer phones in a professional manner? Awesome. Can you start this week?"

You see? No interview skills. So this was my first experience post-undergraduate degree that I seriously needed interview skills to succeed in life. I tried to practice in the mirror a few times (that was an awkward experience), so I ended up honing my skills by making mistakes in REAL interviews. I have banished the specifics of those interviews from my memory as they were excrutiatingly embarrassing, but I have vague memories of saying things during the interviews and mentally cringing. And then beating myself up driving home, thinking, "Oh, KaRynn, did you really say that?"

I thought one particular interview was bad when it lasted two hours long because the interviewer wouldn't stop talking. He seemed to want to hire me on the spot, which was promising, except that there were too many red flags and I wanted to do more research before accepting the position. But I had to end the interview myself because he just. wouldn't. stop. talking. It was ridiculous. Biggest headache ever. Didn't take that job.

But then I had my interview with LAUSD. Sooo was not prepared for that intense of an interview. There was a written portion first, with a prompt and a time limit. No joke. Felt like taking the GRE all over again. And then a panel of SLPs for the district went through my answer before they called me in. They basically had me defend what I had written before we got into the nitty-gritty questions.

After I answered all of their questions, they walked me out. But instead of walking me to the elevators with a "goodbye, you'll hear from us by Friday," they asked me to sit and wait for a few minutes. My immediate reaction was, "What did I do wrong? Oh no!" But a few minutes later, one of the SLPs who interviewed me walked down the hallway and took me aside to offer me the job. On the spot. I accepted, of course.

I am now an employee of the Los Angeles Unified School District, working fulltime as a Speech Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA). I work on the west side of the city. My caseload of school is spanned across three elementary schools, although the majority of the kids are preschool-aged. I am having so much fun.

Not long after the start of the 2013-2014 school year began, I was offered a position to be an assistant to the specialists in the district who work with Augmentative and Alternative Communication. I jumped at the chance and it's been quite the learning curve. I basically train teachers, SLPs, aides and parents how to use special devices that will aid the communication skills of students who need the extra support to communicate on a daily basis.

In addition to the overload at work, I decided to apply to graduate school for Fall 2014! And the application process, for the most part is complete. (I have one more stupid essay to write. Yuck!) But I have 6 applications complete and am now waiting....and waiting. Hopefully I'll know more in a few months!

So excited for this year. It's going to be quite the adventure.

underwood farms

So I went to Underwood Farms on Saturday with Samantha and her mom to pick blueberries. I think we picked about 30 lbs of blueberries. I'm not kidding. I have the cuts and bites to show for it. ;D But it was so much fun and it was the perfect day because it was slightly overcast.

Ever wondered what a blueberry plant looks like? They are a lot  like grapes, growing in bunches. But only sometimes. And they are weird in that some of the bunch is ripe and the other half isn't. But they are delicious!!

This container holds about 2 lbs.... so you can imagine how much we picked....

It was fun! I'd do it again! They also have raspberries and strawberries. And they will have blackberries next month. We didn't pick any raspberries though, because they were still a little tart AND they were covered in bees. No thank you! ;D

{ladies who lunch}

I have discovered another little gem in Santa Monica. It actually wasn't really a discovery. I've driven by it a million times and I've always thought to myself, "That looks yummy. I should go there." And then it never happens!

But a couple of months ago, when my family went bike riding on the beach, 

we ended up going to lunch here:

It is delicious Caribbean Cuisine with a Latin flair. Jerk chicken enchiladas, coconut fried chicken, mango guava agua. And it is a very appropriately colorful restaurant. Very fun atmosphere, great music, and delicious food.

Needless to say, I've been back a few times. Once with my friend Samantha, and another time with a friend who was visiting LA for the week. And I plan to go back. So if you're in the mood for Caribbean food, just let me know! I'll tag along!

the bench

My Grandma Sheranian was part of a book club for years and years. And these wonderful women decided to do something as a memorial to Grandma. They designed a bench and installed it (with approval) in the baseball field behind the Los Angeles Temple. The design is very similar to the LA Temple's fence. The plaque reads, "In Loving Memory of Jean Sheranian From Her Friends at Book Club."

We had a little ceremony in May when it was installed.

These are some of her dear friends in the Book Club. Not everyone was able to make it, but they all were a part of making it happen. Thank you! We know that the bench will be put to good use!

silly sightseeing

I got to sightsee with my wonderful jet-setters, Jess & Kiyo.
They came to visit me from the exotic country of Provo.

They crashed my family outing on the beach.... ;D

The Sheranian biker gang...

Gotta have big sunglasses and hats when you're as white as we are....

"Beverly Hills... that's where I want to be! Living in Beverly Hills..."

Buca di Beppos. YUM. We were hungry. It was 9pm.

Kiyo has a new boyfriend...

The Avengers premiere in Hollywood.

We became cupcake connoisseur's this week. Sprinkles is definitely better than Crumbs.

Jessica took to thieving...

And then she decided to climb the temple...

...and... run through a fountain...

...and run a marathon.

Never a dull moment with Jess and Kiyo. 

We had lots of silly fun while they were here 

and I miss them immensely. Come back soon!!

the chubness

monkey

chunk-a-monk

sweet cheeks

roly-poly

thunder thighs

pumpkin

baby buddha

Isaac

If you can't tell...

 I'm seriously in love with my nephew.

{ladies who lunch}

So, as I previously mentioned, I have been enjoying mini adventures exploring LA with my good friend Samantha. Well, for lunch yesterday, we explored Downtown and went to lunch at Bottega Louie. First, and foremost, I have to praise my Dad--who's company built the building and this restaurant. With the vaulted ceilings, waxed floors, and beautifully detailed moldings-- I loved it. It was very grand-looking. Good job, Dad!






They are famous for their pizzas, so Sam and I ordered their Bianco pizza--ricotta, garlic and arugula. It was DELICIOUS.. (For our appetizer, we chose prosciutto and fresh fruit, also delicious).


But they are also famous for their patisserie--especially their colorful, flavorful macarons. YUM. We actually went with the chocolate eclair. Soooooo good.


It's interesting. I grew up in a family I feel was typically American--as in, we ate family meals around the table every night. And if we went out, we enjoyed fast food or inexpensive sit-down food like Souplantation... Which means that I was never exposed to some tastes that I guess are considered more posh(?). I've always been eager to try new foods, yet I never tried arugula until high school. I'd never tried a gooseberry, dates, prosciutto or persimmons. Are these things posh? I don't know. I feel like they are. I never experienced restaurants like this... where the food was of such high quality, with so many new tastes (at least to me) that I felt like raving about it. I enjoy my fast food and inexpensive sit-down restaurants just as much as the next person--but that's because it's what I'm used to. If I ate at someplace like Bottega Louie often, I feel like I would become the biggest food snob ever.

Needless to say, I feel quite cultured from eating at this restaurant because it seemed very European. And the food was delicious and the service excellent. Just beware that because of the vaulted ceilings and waxed floors, sound tends to amplify so it was quite loud.

"california (come back to texas)"

For those of you who don't know, the post title is a spin-off of the Bowling for Soup song "Ohio (Come Back to Texas)." Funny? I think so.

My trip to the great state of Texas was amazing! And although I'm a Californian through and through, and it was my first time to step foot in that humongous state, I loved it. Why? Well...

First, I have family that lives in Houston (which surprisingly was very reminiscent of Los Angeles, albeit flatter). My new (and first) nephew, Isaac, is absolutely adorable. So adorable, in fact, that he is getting his own post.

Second, NASA is stationed near Houston! So we got to go to the Space Center and tour the grounds! Holy mackerel! Let's just say that I'm now positive that I will never be an astronaut. (Not that I wasn't positive before). haha

Third? Rodeo Houston was going strong! Lots of livestock, carnival rides, deep fried foods and Enrique Iglesias!

Fourth? the food. Sigh. I will never escape being a foodie. There was only yummy food to be found in Houston.

1. FAMILY

Aunt Georgia and Isaac.

Sarah and Marie waiting in line for a tour at the Space Center.

Marie and Brent waiting in line for some yummy Texas BBQ.

Me and my favorite little boy! Look at those cheeks!

Momma and Isaac.

2. NASA

"Houston, we have a problem..."

This is Marie's face right before we walked up the 87 steps to Mission Control. 

She was just a little bit excited.

Mission Control room from the 1960s. Cool, right? We sat in the viewing room behind a wall of glass. The same room that the families of the astronauts sat in when we landed on the moon.

Marie in front of an engine.

Saturn V. Like woah. It is massive. And a lot longer than it looks in this picture.

Marie planning to dreaming about actually flying in the cockpit of this space shuttle.

Isaac tolerating the museum. ;D

The cute little Monson Family at the Space Center.

3. RODEO

Football-stadium-turned-rodeo. By the way--aren't the clouds gorgeous?

Walking amongst cattle. There were babies and everything!

Yikes! Texas Longhorns!

Wee little piglets! Try and find the runt of the litter! Oh, Wilbur...

Georgia in her spankin' new cowboy hat.

Marie salivating over the selection of cowboy boots.

Marie: "She He thinks my tractor's sexy..."

The carnival from the top of Reliant Stadium. 

Oh, and to the left is the Astrodome--where victims of Hurricane Katrina stayed.

Rodeo events! Basically, this is a chariot race. One of my favorites! 

Not bad for nose-bleed seats, eh?

Getting ready for the concert!!

Marie: *scream* "Enrique! You are so hot!!"

This is what he looked like at our concert. T-shirt, jeans, baseball cap and a scruffy beard. 

Whew! (Fanning face). 

[Deveny--doesn't he look like Anthony Harper? I kept thinking that during the entire concert. LOL.]

4. FOOD

Texas Bar-BQ-- Goode Co. And it is seriously good. I had a beef brisket po' boy. Yowzah. It was delish.

And the pecan pie was the best pecan pie I have ever tasted. And I'm not just saying that.

Rodeo food: Onion blossom and pork kabob. Can't go wrong with fried and bbq'd food.

Now for my very first deep fried Oreo.

Georgia got the deep fried nutter butters. That's five pounds of way more powdered sugar than I needed.

You might think that's a corn dog. Well, you'd be wrong. It's deep fried cookie dough on a stick. Say what? Yes. I said, "It's deep fried cookie dough on a stick." It was so sickeningly sweet, I gagged. I have no idea how Marie ate it and is still living.

What I don't show (food-wise), is delicious food from a restaurant called Barnaby's. Classic American meals. Five stars. We ate there twice. Also, Sarah made the BEST brisket sandwiches on Sunday night with homemade bread. I'm waiting for the recipe so I can make it again. I'm craving it. No joke.

Anyways... that was my Houston trip! I had so much fun! Thanks Sarah & Brent for letting Georgia and I crash your busy schedules and disrupt Isaac's days!