Parson's you are looking FINE!

I can't believe it has already been TWO YEARS! Since I have left the creative media world and pursued a career in Real Estate.

Eventhough I am very happy with my current business.  Being in real estate gives you the flexibility to work whenever you want! But, this concept is a double-edged sword.  Meaning, you hussel? You make $$$! You slack? You make NADA! While trying to get accustomed to the laws, lingo and personalities you come across the negotiating table in real estate, something has been tugging at me to go back to school.  Maybe it's the four-eyed nerd in me, or the right side of my brain that has been whispering into my concious.  Real Estate is something I would always love to be active in but, I do want the best of both worlds (don't you?!)  I would love to find in a career that nurtures that creative side of my brain and continue in real estate that nurtures the business side of my brain.

The stamp I created as part of my Parson's Graphic Design Application

After flirting with this idea for months I applied to Parson's University for their Graphic Design program.  I figured what the heck, let's see if I even get accepted. 

Part of the application required me to create a stamp using my favorite fruit or vegetable.  The picture you see on top is the final product, TA DA!  I love guacamole hence, the avocado.

I created this stamp using Photoshop and made the background full of tortilla chips, and if you look closey at the 42 cents, it's made out of guacamole. A few weeks after I kissed my avocado goodbye and sent it over to Parson's, I got a congratulatory letter in the mail saying my application has been accepted!!!

Now, I just need to come up with the tuition.  Looks like I am just going to have to close a few more deals.

Just what I needed to hear :)

Since college graduation in '07 my career life has been jabbed, round-house kicked and given an all out ass whooping by reality. I never really knew what I wanted to be when I grew up and now that I am grown up, I still don't really know. I like to cook, I like to follow fashion, I love playing with makeup and I'm also obsessed with CNBC. My variety of interests has predictably led me to a variety of jobs. From TV production to web design to P.R, to bar tending, modeling and now... Real Estate. Phew, I'm exhausted with searching for my golden egg within one of these careers. I just moved over to a new real estate company and am learning SO much and loving it! So... am I coming closer to finding my golden goose? I guess I'll have to wait a little more and see.

I follow the inspirational blog yes and yes and was relieved and inspired when I saw this photo on her blog!

For those of you who feel like reality might be giving you a beating too, just keep moving forward and don't stop. That's the difference between those who succeed and those who fail. You just have to keep on moving.

Domesticated Diva...

Out of all of my friends I was the LAST one to ever get into a relationship.  I went through high school and college always busy doing my own thing and now... my boy and I are going to be celebrating our 4th Christmas together! Or, our 2nd Christmas living together.

So, you can say within the last 2 years I have become a little domesticated. I went from never using a pot to making home made pasta and from not knowing how to use a washing machine to doing laundry for 2 on a weekly basis.  I must admit, I am enjoying it! Well, the cooking part more than the laundry part at least.

After taking a cooking class I learned how to make homemade pasta and bought all of the machines to process a variety of pasta.  Ravioli, Rigatoni, Bucatini.... you name it! Eggs and flour have become my new best friends :)

Recently, I decided to cook a Pre-Thanksgiving dinner.  My mom bought me a ravioli cutter and I couldn't wait to use it so I decided to make homemade braised



beef ravioli. It took me 3 hours but after braising the beef with carmelized onions, garlic, beef stock and red wine I had my ravioli filling. Then I got my little pasta machine out and rolled and rolled and rolled my pasta dough until it flattened out to about 3 feet long.  They looked pretty good... but they tasted even better.  (Thumbs up to becoming a Domesticaed Diva!)

The BEST cake I've ever seen!

I'm officially 25! December 2nd marked my 25th birthday and December 3rd marks my sister's 21st birthday (4 years and one day a part... weird right?) I can't believe how quickly I've gone from turning 21 to turning 25, what happened to 22, 23 and 24? I waitress a couple nights per week and a table I was waiting on was celebrating a 25th birthday too. And just look at this cake!!!

The red sole, the beige box! All out of sugar! Amazing! I wish I could say this cake was mine but... no no it wasn't. Turns out the birthday girl at this table has a sister who is a pastry chef.  SO creative! Too pretty to eat!

My Digital Beauty School

How did I do it before You Tube?! Lately my guilty pleasure has been to watch those You Tube makeup tutorials.  I only wish I had You Tube when I was 16 years old, instead of spending hours trying to figure out how to do a smokey eye without looking like a tranny.

Call it therapeutic or just fun, but I love being able to mix colors and paint an illusion over my face for a night out.  And, I have to say my FAVORITE makeup artist out there right now is Kandee Johnson! If you haven't heard of her google her she is SOO awesome! Her videos are so detailed and she can do almost any look from Bollywood to the Queen of Hearts from Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland!

Now, I'm using all kinds of colors for my makeup looks.  Hot pinks, purples, greens OH MY! Here is a recent look I did with a bright cobalt blue eyeshadow and a lime green shadow from MAC.

Grad School?!?!

To go to grad school or not to go to grad school...

Hmmm… You know… when I look back on it, everything I’ve done so far I did them because they just HAD to be done.  Like getting a Bachelor’s degree. For me, it was just something that I HAD to do.  Just like brushing your teeth in the morning… if I didn’t want gingivitis and bad breath then I have to brush my teeth everyday.  The same with college if I didn’t want to become an unemployed loser then, I had to go to college.  

From the time we are little young in’s we are taught, ”you have to go to school, you have to get good grades, and you have to pass your test… “If you want to get into high school you need to pass this exam, and once you start high school you already have your parents and teachers drilling you with college prep, and SAT’s.  “You need to pass your SAT’s if you want to get into a good college.” Then once you get into college it turns out all that high school college “prep” talk was bullshit, and before you know it you went from being an A student in high school to a college freshman with a 2.8 GPA suffering from freshman 15.  Hmm… did I miss the seminar where they mention you might turn into a dumb fatty the first year? Or was that a chapter I accidentally on purpose “forgot” to read? 

 Luckily, your sophomore and junior years are a little easier and the 15lbs. have rolled off and this college thing doesn’t seem too bad after all.  Then when you get into your senior year, you are so ready to get the hell out of that intellectual shit hole and “conquer the world” with your newfound geniuses. You find yourself so eager to land that amazing career opportunity doing exactly what it is you spent four, sometimes five years preparing for.  Only to see yourself 6 months later cringing at your desk and wanting to cry every time you are given a new tedious task.  

I graduated from school with a major in Communications and a double minor in business and journalism.    And, just like I was supposed to do… I landed a great job in my field.  Even though I really liked the concept of what I was doing I was never really interested in the topic, which was entertainment. It was my first year out of college and I felt like that dumb fatty freshman all over again. (I’m beginning to think that this is perhaps a cycle.) A fish out of water that went from writing stories about a high school volleyball team to interviewing celebrities on the red carpet. 

I haven’t worked in my field for almost 2 years now.  And after trying on different hats in different fields like public relations for tech companies, hospitality, fashion to real estate.  I’m starting to feel the college girl, I thought I lost, poke me and is telling me to consider grad school.  I didn’t realize it until now and especially after working in real estate, I am becoming more and more interested in business and how markets work…how money works. But this time it’s not because it’s something I have to do but because I think it is something I want to do.  

The Little Things That Matter...

Wow! It has been awhile since I actually put pen to paper, or in this case fingertip to keyboard but... I'm Baaack!

I took an unintentional writing hiatus due to a serious case of writers block. The last few months have been a roller coaster ride! I moved back to Brooklyn, while starting a brand new career and a brand new part time job so, things have been a little bit HECTIC.  Now I'm beginning to get situated with a routine and better sense of my priorities. Now, I can make time for writing sessions again.

Real Estate and apartment rentals have become my new forte, and I love it! Instead of sitting behind a desk all day I get to run around all over the city.  Well, this morning my new career brought me into the cutest little cafe in Park Slope (they have red velvet twinkies! OMG!) And, it made me think... it has been awhile since I could remember the last time that I got to sit down and actually enjoy a cup of  coffee without having to rush or not while multitasking 2 or 3 other errands at the same time.  When was the last time you stopped to smell the roses?

I spent $5 on a large ice coffee and a croissant and I'm happier than a pig in shit! =)  I guess it really is the little things that could make your day... if we only took the time to acknowledge and indulge in them more often. 

Hi De Ho Cowboy!!

From drinking a martini while playing Jenga in an underground playground, to shooting guns in Vegas, to scoping out bull riding cowboys in the middle of NYC, this lifestyle reporter has already had some pretty interesting and new experiences. So... check out the article I wrote for BeChicMag.com, that's all about this little Professional Bull Riding experience.

For you other city girls out there, it's time to get out of your comfort zone and see what all the commotion is about in good ol' down south! 

You can read my article right here, BeChicMag.com!

Embracing Style in the "Working World"

I happen to care about fashion, I care about makeup, I care about new hair conditioning treatments, and  how to get that sun-kissed skin glow... I might sound ditzy but these topics are my hobbies, as they are for MANY of you out there! So, what's a girly girl to do when she enters the work force, or the corporate world and pink is considered an optional color for a highlighter and nothing more? Are trends of black nail polish and hobo bags suppose to fly out the window so you can fit in with your new atmosphere? In my few years of post-graduate work experience, I find myself encountering these  little quams.

What I don't understand is why do some women feel that while they are crossing that bridge into "adulthood" they must throw cute skirts, fun eyeshadow, and sexy high heels overboard?! I'm half peruvian and maybe this suits the stereotype that latin women tend to be vain.  I can hear my mom saying "where's your makeup?" Everytime I would attempt to leave the house, in a rush to make class on time.  But, if this vanity does fit the stereotype... Well, then I don't consider this to be a bad thing :)

So, I did a little experiment. After having a small inner conflict with what my "look and style" is  versus what my "look and style" should be in a corporate atmosphere, I realized... When I'm not dressed in some kind of fashion that suits my style... I don't work as well.  I feel lazy, tired and not my bubbly self. And, who would want to bother with a lazy and tired girl?! But, when I've got my heels on, nails and hair done. And a cute but, appropriate, work outfit on I feel ready to conquer my day...scratch that! The world!

So my conclusion to this little experiment...All because you've entered a new phase of your life, doesn't mean you have to sacrifice what makes you feel good, just because you feel the need to fit in! If you're that eager to fit into a new clique try going back to high school.  The working world should be a place where you are learning new things all the time and building that foundation for what your passion will eventually lead you to.   Bottom line is when you look good you feel GREAT! When you feel great, anything is possible. So throw away the chunky heels, and the stiff navy blue pant suits and embrace your style.  It's a nice feeling to over hear co-workers talk about how you always look good. Besides, you never know who you might see that day.

My First Shoot Out

AK47's, Baretta's, Desert Eagle's, caliber size... these were all terms I had never been familiar with until I had the chance to go to Las Vegas. Not only did I learn about these weapons but, I got to shoot them too!

I hate to sound violent here because I really am not, but if you've never shot a gun before you do not know what you are missing!! The adrenaline rush is insane and the feeling of POWER is just out of control.  My last trip to Vegas, my boyfriend and I had the chance to visit "The Gun Store" on Tropicana Avenue.  The both of us had our gear on, we locked and loaded our weapons and off we went picking out targets like zombies and Osama Bin Laden to shoot. 

Recently I became a contributing writer to BeCHicMag.com and you can read my whole article on this AWESOME experience right here http://bechicmag.com/magazine/lifestyle/point-and-shoot/.

Oh New Years How I Heart Thee

2010 is here! The holiday craze is over, the Christmas trees have come down, the menorah's blown out and everyone's new year hangover has surpassed. So... now what? Oh, thats right RESOLUTIONS hmm... now does that mean I actually have to work on those resolutions? Well here it goes...

This new years for me didn't start off on the best note personally or mentally but instead of boring you with those details i'm just going to say hey, it could've been much, much worst.  And, that doesn't mean the rest of my 2010 has to reflect its negative beginning.  So here is a corny little poem to my 2010...please be good to me :)

Oh Mr. 2010
I hope you become my best friend
we started off this year kinda rough
but now im hoping we could make it up.
Because after all is said and through
I'll only have a shitty year without you.

The recession of '09
has left us in a bind
but...im hoping your prescence will eliminate this glitch
because this year I really need to get rich!

And as for relationships, my most prized possessions
please allow this year to bring even more associations
And if my friend we make this true, I promise to give a kiss or two!

;-*

The Wrapping High

Mmmm...your nose really knows its Christmas when you start to smell that frost in the air, the pine from the pine trees, and in my house the glue from the wrapping paper... err... I mean wall paper.

While, I started wrapping some of my Christmas presents last night it started to remind me of the Christmas morning's me and my sister had as kids. Nobody's family is normal, but thats what makes it fun.  And, I guess I never realized how abnormal my dad's wrapping procedure is until I told other people about it.  My dad is a typical breed from the 1940's and doesn't throw anything away, nor would he ever waste anything. And I mean ANYTHING. Even if he has no purpose for it, and if he found out somebody else was going to throw something out that seemed perfectly fine, well my dad was the one who would rescue that item from the sanitation department. 

Anyway, one way or another my dad came across some UGLY red and green wallpaper, definately too ugly to fit in anyones decorating plans so my dad decided it would be just perfect for our Christmas presents.  From the time I can remember every Christmas morning my sister and I would be there covered in shredded paper, intensly focused on our new toys and now that I think about it, I can't figure out if it was because the toys really kept our attention for that long, or because we were in a glue high from all the wall paper that was posing as wrapping paper.

Now, that I think about it I laugh! Because who does that?! LOL Hmm... how can you not cherish Christmas memories like these?!

How does ego affect your entrepreneurial spirit?

It's funny how one day you can go from feeling like Clark Kent in Superman (you can kick ass and have your feature article proofread and handed in on time) one day, and then the next it's as if someone slipped Cryptonite in your cereal.

Have you ever felt your mood shift from an A+ to a D- in only a 24 hour time span?

This week I had signed up for New York's Entrepreneur Week, held at Columbia University.  Entrepreneur week is a series of panel discussions and seminars in which, successful entrepreneurs come to discuss their experience before and after the success of their company.  These are people who are generating millions of dollars a year in revenue, and I was surprised (and even relieved)to find out that even they had times where they woke up feeling more like Eeyore instead of Tigger.

The hardest part for me is trying to find my focus.  I have SO many interests and goals, that sometimes I get weighed down and overwhelmed by the thoughts running around in my mind.  I've decided that I don't want to be just specialized in one field when "I grow up."  Through my work experience I've learned a lot about what I don't want in my life.  And, now I feel that during my unemployment and thanks to learning opportunities like entrepreneur week, I am beginning to find a clearer sense of what I do want.

So here is what I've come up with so far: I want to be a media mogul who develops what I like to call "boutique restaurants" as a hobby.  What are boutique restaurants you ask? They are chic, gourmet, restaurants that serve as a comfort spot for comfort food.

What do you think? Does anyone share the same series of interests? of mood swings?

"The 10 Women You'll Be Before You're 35"

by Alison James

It's so true how everyday and every experience transforms your thoughts and ideas into the kind of person you want to be.  Like watching a movie with Angelina Jolie might make you want to be a bad ass one day, or maybe after dating a country boy you all of a sudden want to be the next Faith Hill.   I recently read "The 10 Women You'll Be Before You're 35" by Alison James, and I found myself reflecting on many of her mentioned experiences as well as nervously anticipating the ones I couldn't relate to yet.

Although, it was a little fluffy and extreme at times James outlines the 10 different phases a woman must go through in order to achieve the confidence and moxie every girl is envious of in those women who just seem to "have it all."

In phases ranging from the New Graduate to the True You, James lays out the foundation of experience that every girl should and will go through. I found myself laughing through the chapter about the "Party Girl" phase as I could vividly remember wanting and having to go out EVERY night! What a difference now, now I look forward to Friday nights so I can happily lay on the couch and watch a movie with my blanket LoL!

But, what I could totally relate to in this present moment is the  Dollarless Diva stage and the Crisis Chick.  The dollarless diva is a girl who, as the title pretty much sums up, is dollarless.  With the funds running low, the dollarless diva tends to obsess over all kinds of money-making ideas (drug dealing anyone? lol)  And, the crisis chick a.k.a. the QUEEN of confusion... yeah... that pretty much sums me up in a nutshell right about now. But, according to James both phases are there to be conducive in preparing yourself for the next world of opportunity that awaits.  James, does a great job in telling you that you don't HAVE to get married just because it seems like your entire graduating class did and you don't HAVE to keep your job if you hate it.  The beauty of living is that we always have CHOICES and our way of thinking has more to do with what opportunities come our way, than what doesn't.

Either way, "The 10 Women You'll Be Before You're 35" is a fast, easy and entertaining read.  Especially if you happen to find yourself in a "Quarterlife Crisis."

Bar Etiquette

We all go to school from the time we are tots to learn how to share with others, how to socialize and eventually how to portray ourselves in a professional manner when it comes to entering the "real world." Pretty much elementary through high school is a period in time where along with history and math we also learn how to avoid acting like complete assholes in society.

But, as most of you know I have been bartending for almost six years and I have met some unbelievable characters in the bar/club scene (as I'm sure you can imagine.) You've got the snob, the pervert, the obnoxious one, etc. etc. And over the years I have developed some bar scene pet peeves. For my fellow friends who also bartend I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it!

(FYI: I am relating my pet peeves with my experience in the nightlife atmosphere not the restaurant industry.)

WINE: Look, I enjoy a nice glass of Chianti or Pinot Noir to go along with my braised short ribs just as much as Luciano Pavarotti enjoyed the Opera. But, when you enter a club or a lounge they are not serving short ribs or homemade Pappardelle or any kind of veal so don't expect the bartender to pull out a nice bottle of Ruffino for you. Just know that if you do have to order wine, you will most likely get what's better know as the "shit" wine (you know the stuff chef's cook with but would never serve by the glass.) And, it will most likely be served in plastic cup (so classy!) But, before you protest and shout that you could never drink wine from a plastic cup, just remember where you are. Mario Batali is not in the kitchen, there aren't any white linen table cloths to be seen. You are in a bar/lounge/club (BLC.) You want to know why most BLC owners do not permit glassware?

We all know how people get when they've had a little too much to drink. Either they are too touchy, feely telling you how much they love you or... they are ready to throw punches @ the first guy who accidentally bumps into him. Before you know it, that nice glass of shit wine you're drinking turns into a weapon. So, the bottom line is if you all you can handle to drink is wine, then if you're going to a BLC try and order it as a spritzer and salute to your plastic cup.

OPEN BAR: This is my favorite. Hey, especially in a recession I enjoy happy hours and open bars as much as the next guy. I mean a cheap buzz is just as much fun as a pricey one. But... oh how I especially love the people who think nothing of starting their night out super early to take advantage of the free liquor... they drink for free all night (or at least get as many shots as they can into their system before the open bar times out) and then they don't even leave a tip.

(PAUSE) ARE YOU F@*#%&! KIDDING ME?!

All because you don't need to dig into your pockets to pay for your drink doesn't mean that frees you from tipping. Granted, tipping is supposedly "optional." Granted, if the bartender is nasty then why should you leave a tip. But, it's those people who refuse to tip simply because they wanna have a night out without spending a dime.

Think about it, if you are going to be really taking advantage of an open bar then tip the bartender $20 for the whole open bar session. It only cost you 20 bucks for a few hours of drinking, and the bartender will make sure to take care you since you took care of them. Maybe even pour a little more vodka in that drink.

However, if you're not the heavy drinking type then leave a 5 for your first and last round of drinks. $5 is usually cheaper than one drink in New York and $5 is more than appreciated for a round of 2-3 drinks. So, come on! Don't be the cheap bastard who drinks all night for free and then can't even layout $5 as a token of appreciation. After all...most bartenders work off tips and only make $4.25 an hour from their boss.

BOTTLED H2O: I think this is something that needs to get cleared up.

I know, I know... you go to a nightclub and order a bottle of water and they charge you anywhere between 4 and 8 bucks for it. I agree it is expensive. Restaurants and most bars have no problem giving you a drink of water for free. But, in a nightclub it is a different story. Bartender's are simply not allowed to give anyone water (unless of course the person is completely annihilated, then they'll give you anything to prevent you from vomitng on their bar.) Anything that goes over the bar most be paid for, and they are being watched ALL night.

Most nightclubs, especially the big ones are paying up to $30,000 that night for the DJ alone! Not to mention promoters, security, etc. So, they need to make a profit anyway and anywhere they can and this includes water. So, please don't fight the bartender about the injustice of the price or, for denying you your tap H2O and try to be a little more understanding or you will just be ignored.

PAPARAZZI: It seems as though ever since the evolution of camera phones, it's like every Tom, Dick and Harry think they're a photographer. I can't tell you how many times I'll be in the middle of concocting 4 or 5 drinks at a time and I see the little white flash in my peripheral vision from some jerk off's camera phone on the other side of the bar. WTF?!?!

I didn't realize I was such a celebrity with paparazzi in my presence. If that's the case then what the hell am I doing behind a bar and not chilling by my pool on some remote island? I can see how someone trying to take my picture could be considered a compliment but, I think it's just rude and obnoxious. So cut the shit, order your drink and save your pictures for people who you actually know, and not complete strangers behind the bar.

=)