T-Minus 5 days

I hate the cold. I really really do. My body always takes a toll for the worse when I am stressed out, thank God we are leaving soon; even if it's only for a few days. I need to move back to a tropical place soon. Not too happy with how life is going right now, but I'm trying my best to make the best out of the situation I am in right now.

I got this application for my iPhone called application box and it is so handy. It has everything from battery life status, to ovulation calendar, to countdowns, translators, currency conversions all in one. I would be lost without my phone. 

Words to live by

On a trip to San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf back in 2003, I entered a magnet store and was quickly drawn to the inspiration quotes that lined the walls. You can browse and buy them on this site.

While I have grown immensely as a person, I am still far from whom I hoped to be at 25. I have yet to finish Nursing School and the thought of being behind my peers who are excelling in their careers makes me a tad bit green with envy. At the same time, it gives me inspiration and drive to finish what I started. I re-read this quote today and remembered why it stood out to me in the first place. I was at my peak of my life in 2006-2007 - I was going to school, working part time at the hospital and I took a chance and ventured into opening up my online boutique shop vintage-doll.com (which was a huge success). I felt accomplished. I was on top of my A-game with my fashion, dean's list at school, making great money, I took great care of myself - I looked/played the part of an entrepreneur and felt great.

I fell off. After moving back to NY from Hawaii, heartbreak and getting sick I questioned and doubted my motives and life. I sat back, got too comfortable in this uncomfortable situation and did nothing about it. I kinda rolled with the punches and didn't take control of my life like how I used to. So not my steeze.

NOTE TO SELF:  You forgot how it is to think of only the best and BE only the best. "Give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others." And so you should utilize your time more by being more positive, radiant and work on the things you need to work on and STOP BEING LAZY !!! 

• YOU will study for your test and get into the program.
  
• YOU will finish Nursing school.
  
• YOU will start being fit again.
  
• YOU will donate/sell your clothes to revamp your closet.
  
• YOU will take care of yourself more. (esp. health wise) 
  
• YOU will embrace your passion for vintage clothes and reopen your shop again.
  
• YOU will take control of your life again !!!

Enough with the excuses, this shit has to end now !

Sincerely,

The better (more productive) you

Oh baby !

I must be getting old. Seems like ALL my friends/acquaintances are pregnant, have babies, are engaged, married and/or getting divorce. In the past year alone, 13 people are pregnant or just had their babies. 13 ! And here's the kicker, 10 of them are boys.

One of the things that brought my boyfriend and I together was something he read that I wrote and me, seeing his photography. Kid has a good eye! I'd like to say we are a team he - the photographer, me - the creative director. Picture, Nigel Barker and Jay from America's next top model minus the fierceness. We have done a couple of "photoshoots" which I think turned out brilliant. For our one year anniversary, I bought him a professional studio-on-the-go-kit, complete with umbrellas and backdrops. I look forward to doing our side gigs together and growing in all aspects.

Here's the diaper/onesie cake I made for Michelle.

And some of my favorite photoshoot pics:

(click to see it full size)

Meaning

The last blog I have written was sometime in 2005 back when livejournal was the old myspace, which has now turned into facebook, to twitter and the 4429013 other socializing networks out there. There are a few reasons why I decided to make a new blog:

• I love to write -- Whether it be about nonsense or something profound, I find it therapeutic. 
• I am an avid blog reader myself (to a few who will remain anonymous) 
• I like to be able to look and read back on the posts that I've made to see how far I've come along as a person.
• To be able to share with family and friends who may live far away but is never far from my thoughts. 

La vita e bella, means Life is beautiful in Italian. During my last week in Hawaii before moving

back to New York (my hometown) I cried a lot because Hawaii was the place I grew to love and more importantly grew as a person, but that's for another post. Anyway, I got the tattoo on my right foot to remind me...no matter which step I take, backwards or forward that life is (still) beautiful. Right foot forward. Don't forget to stop and see the beauty in life. I'm blessed to be able to find joy in things (even the smallest most trivial things), people (especially old people) or places (architecture, smells, landscape). Savor life, you only have one. So do yourself a favor and live it 'til the fucking wheels fall off. Live it, love it and embrace; through the ups and downs it's true...Life is beautiful. My life is living proof of this.

I plan on documenting the new upcoming year on this site and hope that my readers can gain new insights, give me opinions and enjoy the ride -- I call LIFE.

PS - Happy 11th birthday in heaven to my beloved, beautiful and missed mother.