Crazy casinos, a somber Elvis Presley walking down the strip at 11 a.m., busy lights and tequila shots offered at every corner. This is exactly what comes to mind whenever Las Vegas is mentioned. Children, slime, laundry and cooking endless chicken nuggets is not what came to my mind whenever I envisioned Vegas. Yet this was how I got to experience the beauty behind the famous Las Vegas. On a sunny June afternoon in Florida, my mom and I were talking on the phone. She mentioned that my aunt, who recently moved from Puerto Rico to Las Vegas, was in need of a babysitter for part of the summer while she was away on a business trip. If you know me at all, you know I always jump on the first opportunity to travel. But even better is when I get to travel and see my family. So I talked to my aunt right away and told her I would be her official babysitter! I was excited and nervous. My aunt was living with family that I did not know very well, her aunt, daughter and two kids. A few days after I finished up my internship for the summer, I packed my bags and left for Vegas. It was late when my aunt came to pick me up from the airport. I imagined everyone was sleeping, however when I opened the door, two (taller than I remembered) girls came and greeted me with warm hugs. I was ready for this new adventure--I mean, how difficult could babysitting have been, I had done it plenty of times. The first week I was there, my aunt was still home. She showed me around Vegas, I got to experience the famous Vegas Strip, took a picture with the staple sign and tried In-n-Out Burger along with Dutch Bros. (The food was hands down the best part.) At times, I noticed the challenges of parenting, the kids didn't want to listen or didn't like what was being cooked for dinner. I started to get nervous at the thought of my aunt leaving. I did not want to be the bad guy who had to lay down the law. Dolores, my aunt's aunt, and Yvonne, her daughter, were such fearless leaders in this house. The kids in the house knew with just a look that they were in trouble. It was the perfect mix of respect and love. I admired it, but I was so used to being the cool and fun babysitter--this was a whole new ball-court. A few days into my aunt leaving, I empathized more than ever with the victims in the Sour Patch Kids ads. No became the favorite word of the house. "It's time for dinner" "No", "Go take a shower" "No" "Do your summer homework" "NOOO!" I started to internally panic. I also got to experience for a moment what being a soccer mom looks like. I went to the store with my cousin to buy her soccer gear and take her to her first practice. When we finally made it to the practice, I had a little lawn chair set up beside all the other moms. It really was a sight. I became a whiz at cooking some frozen dino nuggets and french fries for the kids. However, Dolores cooked some authentic Puerto Rican dishes that inspired me to add more flavor to my own personal cooking back home. My key take-away being adding sofrito (a mix of seasoning) to beans and meat I now make. By the end of this trip I realized how important it was to be a parent. There is so much responsibility and sacrifice that goes into it that I had never realized before. Especially after experiencing what the first week of elementary and middle school looked like for these kids. Getting up early, making sure they have their uniforms and things in place. I'm glad I made it back home before the dreaded nights of math & science homework appeared. I did get to experience a taste of the Vegas night life with Yvonne. She took me out to a piano bar at the New York-New York Hotel & Casino. It felt like the ultimate-neighborhood bar! It featured two talented pianists playing 80's tunes the whole time. Then after we shared some sweet talks over Vega's New York Style pizza. I loved every bit of it! I got to experience so many new things and come out of my comfort zone from this trip in ways I would have never imagined. I formed new family bonds, gained a new appreciation for my heritage and realized I love being twenty-one and not having kids. What can I say...what happens in Vegas. To write authentically, to share joy, -L
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Summer is in full force, especially here in the Florida heat. I have a passion for making playlists on Spotify for everything, whatever I’m going through in life – seasons, events, moods – you name it. If I could add this to my special skills or make this something I get paid for, I would do it in a heartbeat. I’m always on the hunt for new music, but the free time that comes with the summer is really giving me a chance to learn new artists and express my summer vibes through music. I love the way Spotify lets you personalize your playlists on the desktop and give them a catchy name, fun picture and short bio. It makes the whole experience so unique, in my opinion.
Discover Weekly, Release Radar, and New Music Friday are some awesome outlets that Spotify offers based on the music you like. This mixed with Shazam whenever I hear a good song are how I build my playlists. If I’m being honest, I don’t even listen to the car radio anymore. It’s also great because as a student, Spotify offers half-off on premium. Anyways, what even is Apple Music? So if you haven’t hopped on the Spotify train, I highly recommend it. If you’re looking for some good music to listen to this summer, check out some of my summer playlists below. It features some songs by artists like Hippo Campus, A R I Z O N A, LANY and more. Let me know what you guys think. To Write Authentically – To Share Joy, L
Check out my Spotify profile!
https://open.spotify.com/user/1272136299?si=3Wq9sPkIRdWi3Pfa8j6YPA
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