#60 Meet My Pen Pal

May 14, 2011

At the age of 9 in the 4th grade at St. Mary of the Assumption School in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, I was introduced to a concept called “pen pals” by my teacher Sr. Myra.  Since then, I have carried on having pen pals for many years, but in 4th grade, I had my very first pen pal, Angela.  Sr. Myra had a teacher friend in Tucson, Arizona, and our entire class wrote letters to their class.  I couldn’t have gotten luckier with getting Angela as my pen pal.  She had the same name as my sister, she also had sisters, she was sweet, funny, easy to talk to, and I think if we grew up in the same area we would definitely have been in-person friends as well as paper writing friends.

Throughout the years, we constantly wrote each other letters updating each other on school, family, friends, vacations, and eventually boyfriends, living on our own, etc.  Most kids in our class stopped writing their pen pals after they got to the 5th or 6th grade, but Angela and I continued on for years.  Eventually a little thing called the internet was invented, and we started e-mailing more than writing, but we still kept in touch with holiday cards, pictures, e-mails, and more. 

It’s crazy to believe that we have been keeping in touch now for almost 18 years!  It’s always been a goal of ours to meet in person, but when we were younger, that was quite difficult being on opposite sides of the country.  We always said we would probably meet at one of our weddings one day, so when Zack proposed, I knew I just had to invite Angela to our wedding! 

It worked out to our advantage that Angela’s sister recently moved to DC, and she was able to stay with her on their trip to Maryland.  I have to say I am still shocked that Angela and her boyfriend, Leon, actually made it out!  I was so happy and excited that we were finally able to meet in person after 18 years.  She is just as sweet in person as on paper, and I’m so happy to have had that opportunity.  Many people who I tell this story think it’s amazing, and while I agree, to me I think “Why WOULDN’T we have kept in touch all these years?”  You know a good friend when you meet one, no matter how you meet them, and there would be no good reason to let that go!  My only regret is that we didn’t get to spend enough time together since we first met at the wedding, and we were running around like crazy people.  I hope she had a good time, and got to meet a lot of our friends and family that she has heard about in letters for years.

Next steps are to take a trip out to Tucson so we can spend more time and she can show us her stomping grounds!  


First time meeting each other!
Chatting it up
Mom & Angela
Zack, Me, Angela, & Leon

#56 Get Married

May 14, 2011

I’m sure many little girls imagine what it will be like to grow up and get married.  They dream of who their husbands will be, what their wedding will be like, who will be there.  Some have planned out everything about their wedding day—where it will be, what their dress will look like, their colors, bouquets, food, etc.  Some picture the man of their dreams—tall, dark, and handsome, or the blonde laid back surfer type.  Most little girls have thought about it at one point or another growing up.  Of course, this notion also crossed my mind.  However, I was not one of those little girls who knew exactly what I wanted when it came to getting married and finding a husband.

I had boyfriends growing up, broke some hearts, got my heart broken, had a little college fun, and then right when I was sick of it all—the drama, the heartache, the games—is when I met Zack.  Of course, it happened right when I WASN’T looking for a relationship.  I had gotten burned pretty badly and just wanted to have lighthearted fun, but something kept drawing me back to the short, Jewish, ex-Beta fraternity, working man that he was.  Maybe it was his persistence in hanging out with me.  Maybe it was his hilarious letters that he wrote me while he was away on business trips to Nevada, but I just could not get him out of my mind.  We ended up dating for 2 1/2 years before deciding to move from Maryland to the Big Apple in New York City together.  Basically, we were going to make it or break it in the big city.  I am happy to say that 3 years after moving in together we were just as smitten with each other, if not more so.  

                         

He popped the question with my sister, her boyfriend, and my cousin in town in front of a restaurant of gawkers.  I was completely and utterly shocked, because I was getting ready to sing “Happy Birthday” to my cousin, Marisa, when the waiter plopped a shiny ring on the table and Zack was on one knee!  I could barely speak; I just kept looking to my sister for confirmation that this was actually happening.  Of course, I said yes, called every single one of my family members and friends, and continued celebrating all night NY style.

When first beginning to plan our wedding, I had NO idea where to begin.  There are a million things to do!  We ended up choosing to do our ceremony at the University of Maryland Chapel since we both went there, and it was a special place for us.  It was also a non-denominational chapel that allowed you to bring any religious ceremonies in, which was perfect for our Catholic-Jewish hybrid ceremony.  After searching high and low for reception venues, we ended up choosing the Greenbelt Marriott for their exquisite ballroom and outdoor cocktail hour patio.  We settled on classic black and white, modern yet vintage theme with bright pops of color from pink and orange flowers.  I designed the cake myself inspired by a combination of many photos online, doused myself in bridal magazines for the latest trends, and splurged on one of most unique wedding dresses I had ever seen from Cymbeline.

 

All the details and stress of planning aside, I could not wait to walk down that aisle and marry the love of my life and my best friend for the past 6 years.  We are so lucky to have a very large family and many friends that were there to celebrate our special day.  Not only did they throw us an awesome Hawaiian luau engagement party, my bridesmaids also threw an amazing bridal shower, and kick-ass bachelorette weekend in Wrightsville Beach, NC.  Zack’s equivalent was a near-death white water rafting experience in West Virginia, which only solidified their friendships when they pulled through to safety.

 

Our wedding day on May 14, 2011 was more than I could have imagined.  I was fairly calm for most of the day and excited rather than nervous.  The weather forecast didn’t look good, but the rain held off at just the perfect times for photos and cocktail hour.  The ceremony was beautiful, and our reception was truly rockin’!  The room looked stunning, it was an ultimate dance party, and my dad and I pulled off a Father-Daughter dance that could go down in history.  I am so lucky to have so many family and friends, and such a wonderful husband who cares so much about me.  I am truly blessed!


I am very much looking forward to spending many more years with Zack exploring the world, loving life, and creating a wonderful family together!

 

The photos below were taken by Joe Brier of The Happy Couple Photography in Northern Virginia, and we are thankful he was there to document our special day 🙂


***Blog update: Our wedding videography was done by Stephen Gradin of Dockside Video Productions, and the highlights can be seen here.  Enjoy! 

http://vimeo.com/27795391

#88 Go See a NY Ballet Performance

February 17, 2011

When I started my list of 100 Things back in June 2010, the closest thing I had seen to a ballet was a VHS tape of Save the Last Dance circa 2001 when I thought Julia Stiles was a ballerina goddess and Sean Patrick Thomas was her super cool boyfriend who brought her out of her shell with a little hip hop vibe.  Unless of course, you count my ballet/tap stint at the age of 4 at the Upper Marlboro Community Center.  My partner ditched me out of stage fright, and left me to pointe my little toes all on my own.  Somehow, I had made it to 26 years old without seeing a single live ballet performance.


Living in New York City, I added this item to my list, figuring that if I were going to make an effort to finally see a ballet, then it better be a good one!


Since the creation of my list, I actually ended up being invited to see Casse Noisette aka The Nutcracker on my recent New Year’s trip to Montreal.  Of course, I couldn’t resist, and had a blast at the show with my friend, Jordan.  The dancing was magnificent, the costumes bright and cheery for the holiday season, and I didn’t realize how many of the songs from the score I actually knew and could hum along to!  Amongst the many fun adventures we had in Montreal (attempting to speak French, drag show, eating crepes and fondue, after hours clubs, making new friends, and cooking “family” breakfasts/dinners), this definitely heightened my overall experience.

While I was tempted to count this as my ballet experience, I did specify NEW YORK BALLET on my bucket list, so as amazing as the Montreal ballet was, I still had a mission to see one in NY.  In addition, I had promised my friend, Agueda, that she could be there to accompany me in ticking this item off my list!  So, when I returned to NY after the holidays, I went online to purchase tickets for the New York Ballet.

I was just in luck as Swan Lake was playing for a 2 week stint!  Perfect timing with the release of Oscar nominee, Black Swan, which I still need to see.  I’m a huge Natalie Portman fan, and although the film looks quite creepy, it’s a must in my eyes!  Agueda and I chose a Thursday night showing at the David H. Koch Hall at Lincoln Center to see the show.  This also happened to be during NY Fall Fashion Week, so Lincoln Center was packed!


The theatre was gorgeous, and our seats, although a bit high, were centered, and you could see the stage very well.  I had no idea what to expect of the show, and I must say I was very impressed!  The live orchestra was phenomenal, the dancers were extremely entertaining, and the costumes beautiful.  The lead, who played Odette, was ridiculously flexible and while she had the grace of a swan, she was as flexible as a flamingo!  At one point, I think she had one leg on the ground, one in the air at a 180 degree angle, and her head surpassing the ground leg.  It was insane.  The amount of time the dancers spent on pointe was just astonishing.  I don’t know how their toes aren’t killing them performing day in and day out!  And if they are, they hide their pain well.  While, I really enjoyed the lead, I think my favorite part of the show was the Dance of the Four Little Swans.  I recognized the music, and was really impressed with how well they danced together while holding hands almost the whole time.  It was really great.


Overall, I had a fantastic time seeing both The Nutcracker & Swan Lake, and had wonderful company seeing the shows with Jordan and Agueda.  I feel all the more cultured and happy that I have taken advantage of such a wonderful arts opportunity in the city.  I now need to get to the movie theatre to see Black Swan!

#73 Do a Tough Mudder Race

Saturday November 21, 2010

Picture this: New Jersey in November, a freezing cold lake, 12 miles of running, 10 foot walls, glops of mud, a raging fire, and let me reiterate…NEW JERSEY.  This just might have been one of the most challenging items completed on my bucket list!  To say it was tough is an understatement…it was grueling.  But it was totally freakin’ awesome, and I now qualify as a hardcore bad ass.  I guess I am my father’s daughter haha.

I must first thank a few people for allowing me the opportunity to participate in this event, thus checking the item off my list.  First, Mike Cerrone, for pressuring me multiple times to join the “Tough Mudder Tinkerbells” until I finally caved in.  Second, Allan Damkilde, for without your car, I would have had no transportation to Englishtown, NJ.

We embarked on our journey early Saturday morning, driving out to Dirty Jerz as a team.  To give a little backstory on Tough Mudder, it’s basically a 12 mile race filled with 18 different military/boot camp style obstacles and a ton of mud.  I have a lot of respect for those in the military, but I would never want to join myself.  However, I have always wanted to do the military obstacle courses, and figured this would be a great place to get a similar experience (minus all the red-faced screaming military officers harassing me).  The race was designed by the British army, and is not designed to be an every-man-for-himself-let’s-see-how-fast-I-can-go kinda race.  Instead it is supposed to be a team effort–you help people through and make sure that everyone crosses the finish line.  Upon arrival, it was exciting to drive up and see people already completing the course, and totally caked in mud!  They staggered the start times so people wouldn’t get too backed up at each obstacle.  We were surprised to find that not many other teams dressed up for this race, (I guess they were insistent about looking super tough) but the ones who did dress up were pretty funny.  There were tons of HUGE dudes standing around either already finished or about to start the race, and some bad ass chicks (including the three on our team) were sprinkled in as well.


Our adrenaline was pumping when we heard the horn at the starting line, and we took off to see what would await us!  While we had an idea of the course map beforehand, we really had no idea what to really expect out of this race.  The first part was the “Monster Chase” where we started off running after a monster truck to get warmed up.  The second obstacle was called the “Ball Shrinker” and our first foray into the water.  Basically, it was a tightrope to walk across with your feet, but you had a rope up top to hold onto with your hands.  The problem for me was that there were a bunch of huge guys weighing down the bottom rope, so while walking, all the sudden the rope disappeared from under my feet!  I ended up having to monkey my way across the top rope using only my arms!  After I successfully completed the obstacle, I thought “Damn, that was the first real thing we had to do, and already my arms are shot!”  But there was no time for crying, it was time to press on…

Obstacle 3 was “Walk the Plank”, which was the HARDEST part of the day.  Prior to the race, I was extremely nervous about the temperature of the water, and turns out I had every right to be!  Mom, you should stop reading and skip to the next paragraph now…Okay, for the rest of you, we jumped off a 15 foot plank into the freezing cold lake, and HOLY SHIT was it ever cold!  After plunging in, I swam to the top gasping for air.  It was so frigid that my heart was pounding a mile a minute, and I couldn’t seem to catch my breath.  Some might say my body went into shock.  My teammate, Paul W., jumped in after me, and he looked excited until he saw my gasping self.   His look then turned to horror!  I was immediately thankful that I decided to wear my swim cap, and I flipped over on my back to get my face and chest out of the water.  Paul thought I was drowning and grabbed me, and helped to pull me while I swam backwards toward the shore.  Luckily, it wasn’t that long of a swim to where I could stand, but we then came to Obstacle 4, which was the “Underwater Tunnels.”  Three times we bobbed up and down into the water until we were finally out.  My entire body was numb when I got out.  I was running, but couldn’t feel my feet, and just when I was starting to feel good again….we had to swim back across the lake.  NOOOO!!!!!  Luckily, I made it through this time with minimal shock.  I just swam on my back the whole way and was so happy to be finished with this part of the race!

I thought I would be shivering the rest of the race, but I was too numb to feel most things, and kept running happily along.  Although the race was extremely tough, I thought our team kept a really good pace, and we pretty much had smiles going the entire time.  The next few obstacles consisted of the “Mud Mile” of which we had to trudge through the muddiest and stickiest of water, “Cargo Nets” (which conveniently fell down right before we had to climb them–although I would have happily climbed them!), “Kiss of Mud” which was crawling on our bellies under the cargo nets through the mud, and a bunch of motorcross hills that had been sprayed with sprinklers for three days straight including a huge hill called, “Cliffhanger.”

We crawled through the “Boa Contrictor” which was a long skinny tube.  Being small actually worked to my advantage in this one!  The “Berlin Walls” were nice and high, so most of us used our team help to get over them.  Although I do remember my teammate Warren superhero-ing himself over a wall or two on his own.  I had done enough high knees in my soccer and basketball career throughout my entire life, so “Tired Yet” was actually pretty fun for me!  Tons of tires were laid out football style and we had to step through them to get to the end.  “Rubbernecking” was a little bit more difficult, because each person had to CARRY a tire around, and they were NOT light!!!  My teammate, Dave, unfortunately chose the tire that happened to be full of water, making his even heavier!  Whoops.

The “Fire Walker” was pretty intense, and Mom, you might want to skip this paragraph too!  I was definitely really nervous for this one, and I told Dave “I’m grabbing onto  you for this one!”  Smoke was everywhere, firefighters were on deck, and 4 foot flames surrounded the path we had to run through.  I covered my eyes/face, put my head down, and grabbed onto Dave while we ran through this mess.  It was so hot and hard to breathe.  At one point, I thought I might pass out from inhaling too much smoke, and it was at that point when we were through!  Whew!  Thank God!  The second hardest part was now behind me.

The “Log Bog” wasn’t too bad, jumping over a bunch of fallen trees, although we did take a big spill in the swampy muddy mess!  “Funky Monkey” was near impossible, as most of our hands were completely caked in mud at this point.  On top of that, some of the monkey bars were greased up with butter (plus leftover mud) to help us fall more quickly.  I did see a few tough guys make it across, but most people were falling after the second or third bar.  I on the other hand, couldn’t even reach the FIRST bar!!!  I stepped on the wooden bar, and reached up, realizing that I was too short to reach the first bar.  I figured “I guess I have to jump,” so I jumped once–slipped off.  Jumped twice–slipped off again.  I decided to jump ONE more time, and gave it all I had.  Third jump–BOOM!!!  Slipped off and came crashing down on my right butt cheek.  Holy cow.  At the time, it hurt, but my body was pretty numb, so I shook it off and kept going.  Later that  night though, I realized there was a bruise as black as night and the size a grapefruit on my bottom!  It stayed there for over a week, and it was so ridiculous that I just had to show it off to my friends and family so they could see how tough I am.

The last three obstacles were “Twinkle Toes”–walking across the wooden log that was on the water, the “Mystery” obstacle which ended up being that we had to run through live wire…yes electrically charged wire…and “Insane Bolt” which was a sprint to the finish line!!!

The entire event lasted about 2-2.5 hours, and the firefighters were there at the finish line to spray us down with a fire hose.  Once I stopped running, I started shivering, and don’t think I got warm until I got back to Manhattan!  Unfortunately, I couldn’t stay for the after party, as I had 35 Italiano family members waiting for me back in the city for dinner.  They had all come to town for Grandma Guaragna’s 80th Birthday!  So they got to see me in Zombie mode pretty much after this race haha.

Before Tough Mudder, the coolest thing I ever did was the St. Anthony’s Triathlon, but I definitely think Tough Mudder takes the cake on this one!  I am so proud to have completed this challenge, and I also congratulate my teammates, Paul Macknis, Paul Warner, Warner Hardwick Siebert, Mike Cerrone, Lori Dooley, Jim Yellion, Dave Ford, and Nadia Schwartz for taking on this endeavor!  Special thanks to my fiance, Zack Notes, for being an excellent photographer and camera man.  He must have ran about 2 miles tracking us down on the course!

I have taken the time to edit together some footage of our experience into a 2 minute video, so please take a look and let me know what you think!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hO68efDnULg

#42 Sit front row at Bryant Park during Fashion Week

September 10-12, 2010

Well, I may not have sat front row.  And they may have moved NY Fashion Week to Lincoln Center instead of Bryant Park, but I’m going to go ahead and say that my first three fashion shows in life is good enough to tick this item off my list!

I was super lucky and owe my friend, Christine, SO much for giving me this opportunity.  She saw my blog, and reached out to help me achieve this goal on my list.  She receives tickets to Fashion Week through her work, and she was out of town all weekend.  Therefore, she forwarded all her tickets to me!  I am extremely grateful and thankful, for this was truly an amazing experience.

To preface Fashion Week, I must say, I was also extremely lucky to run into two fashion geniuses on the streets of NYC the week before the festivities.  First, was on my way to catch a bus, I saw Project Runway Season 4 Winner, Christian Siriano, who is completely and utterly fierce (and he also used to be the shampoo boy at my hair salon, Bubbles, in Annapolis, MD before he became a famous designer).  His designs are just divine, and definitely show-stopping.  I wish I had the guts to say hello, but it’s SO not a NY thing to stop celebrities on the street.  Plus, he had his headphones in, and paid me no mind!  Secondly, on a run back from Central Park, I saw none other but the fascinating, Betsey Johnson!!!  Known for her rocker-feminine chic looks, she is just absolutely amazing, and I cannot even believe I saw her!  I didn’t think I was seeing correctly at first, but who else can rock platinum hair with blunt bangs at the age of 68?  No one.  And to confirm my suspicions, she was holding the hand of a little girl whom she called Layla.  Not being able to contain my curiosity, I looked Betsey up on Wikipedia to find that she does, indeed, have a granddaughter named Layla.  So this was just the beginning to an amazing Fashion Week!


I had solo tickets to three events, but being on my lonesome did not stop me at all from going!  My first show was on Friday night for the Academy of Art.  I stressed about what to wear, but I settled on an all black ensemble complete with faux leather pants, booties, short sleeved top, with sequined vest.  Hair was up with side bangs and a black jeweled and feathered headband.  Walking toward Lincoln Center, I’m not sure why, but I was a little bit nervous!  Clearly, I’m not cool enough or fashionable enough, right?  But once I got there, I realized that most people in attendance seemed just as “normal” as me, and most of them were just dying to see what celebrities they could run into, or who’s awesome seat they could steal.  It was a long wait before they let people in the doors, but once they dimmed the house lights, and the stage lights and music came on, it was just stunning!  My only regret is that the show was over too soon!

For the Academy of Art (San Fran) Show, they give recent graduates the opportunity to break into the business and showcase their talent during NYFW, and this was definitely an interesting show!  The runway was set up so that the models actually walked down one runway, turned a corner, and walked down another.  My seat was 2nd row (AWESOME!) right as the models turned the corner, so I got unbelievable views of the different looks.  This show was particularly interesting because there were about six different designers all with very distinct designs and styles.  It ranged from faux suede/leather, bohemian, relaxing menswear, cage style dresses, and there were even 2 child models who walked in the show.  In the front row was Kevin Christiana, Project Runway Season 4 contestant, and Leanne Marshall, Project Runway Season 5 winner.  (She actually sat right across from me).


I returned to Lincoln Center on Sunday dressed in a floral print dress with brown belt, calf high caramel boots, and green blazer/jacket.  Definitely less nervous the second time around.  This time, I was more excited because I was getting geared up to see Lela Rose and Catherine Malandrino!

Lela Rose had just a stunning, stunning show.  In the words of Rachel Zoe, “I die.”  Christian Siriano was also in attendance in the front row, as well as some other famous people, who I could not recognize (but you could just tell they were “somebody”).  I had to stand for this show, so I didn’t get the fresh baked lemon-almond biscotti treats that were left on the seats by Lela Rose herself, but I still had a pretty great view of the show.  The best part about the Lela Rose show was just how wearable everything was coming down the runway.  Although seeing a showstopper would have been cool, it was great to say that I could honestly have worn any single thing that came down her runway.  I love love loved all of it!  Her looks ranged from business casual chic, to bright cocktail dresses, a silver beaded floor length gown, and even a gorgeous wedding gown!  Definitely my favorite show that I attended!


Catherine Malandrino came next, and this was quite an interesting show, because it did not actually take place on the runway.  They set up the pool/fountain in Lincoln Center with 28 pedestals, and the models all walked out to take their places, standing around the pool.  It was just a beautiful sight to see all the looks in such a way.  They then opened the gates, and allowed everyone with tickets to walk around to each model and take photos of all the looks.  Catherine Malandrino’s show seemed very resort-like to me, with huge floppy hats, giant gladiator sandals up to the thigh, light and airy sheer pants, crocheted knits, and beautifully draped print dresses.  Overall, a very cool presentation.

I’m still in shock that I was fortunate enough to attend New York Fashion Week, and I’m so thankful to Christine for giving me her tickets!  What an amazing time!

#93 Survive a Week in NYC Spending Only $20

August 10, 2010-August 16, 2010

This week, I have decided to embark on one of the most challenging items on my bucket list of 100 Things: #93 Survive a Week in NYC Spending Only $20.  I honestly don’t know if this will be possible.  My good friend, Ailie, has decided to take on this challenge for her bucket list as well, so at least I will have some company to make it a bit easier.  Because of my insane schedule, I have not had any FULL weeks in the city lately.  I have been traveling every single weekend, making it difficult to even attempt this challenge.  I originally wanted to start this challenge on a Sunday or Monday and go the full week, but a week is a week, and because of my traveling circumstances, I am starting on a Tuesday (Tuesday August 10) and will go for 7 full days, meaning my challenge will end after going to sleep on Monday night August 16th.

I have set some guidelines or rules for myself and this challenge which I will explain to you.

1.  I am not including rent or utilities.  Quite honestly, rent is way above $20 a week in NYC, and would just be impossible.  I also do not plan on sleeping in the street for 7 days…I have to pay rent regardless.  So this challenge will purely be about food, drink, transportation, entertainment, and life expenses OTHER than shelter.

2.  For hygiene materials, I can use what I already have.  (i.e. soap, deoderant, face wash, makeup, etc.)  If I already have it, I can use it–I do have to be presentable at work afterall.  However…I cannot purchase any more of that stuff unless I include it with my $20 budget.  Guess that sucks my eyeliner ran out over the weekend…

3.  For food, I cannot use what I already have if I have purchased it prior.  This is to ensure, that I did not go to the grocery store on Monday and stock up with $200 worth of groceries to last me the week.  I would feel as if that was cheating.  So I cannot eat what I already have in the fridge or cabinets.  Instead I must purchase all my food for the week using no more than the $20.

4.  I have one exception to rule #3, and that is:  I am able to eat or drink something if it was given to me as a gift or I got it for free and did not purchase it prior.  For example…that bottle of champagne that was given to me an an engagement present?  I can totally take advantage of that.  That chocolate bar I won last week a that bridal shower?  Come to Mama.  But that 6 pack of Miller Light in the fridge that I bought last week?  Sorry, that’s a no no.

5.  I can take charity from others.  HOWEVER, they cannot have any knowledge that I am doing this $20 challenge.  For example…if my boss decides the office is going out to lunch tomorrow and the tab is on him?  I can take advantage of that and get a lunch that does not apply toward my $20 since I’m not paying.  BUT…I cannot beg or plead to someone saying “I only have $20 this week, can you cover my dinner?”  That’s considered cheating in my book.

6.  Subway transportation and taxis are included in my $20 tab…so I must be very selective about my traveling choices this week.  I will be walking a lot or riding my bike more than usual to make up for this.

At the end of the day, I have a little bit more than $2.85 to spend per day.  With so little money, and difficult transportation, I’m thinking my meals will be few and my exercise will be high…so who knows, I may lose a little weight this week?  Although, this is certainly not the healthiest way to do so, and I don’t recommend!  Regardless, I’m going to try and find creative ways to keep my tummy full and my brain from going bonkers with boredom.

So I’m off to start the challenge!

Day 1:

Tuesday August 10, 2010

10:15 am: Got to sleep in today, and had to be at work by 11:00 instead of 9:00.  Sweet!  Walked 2 miles to work this morning.

11:30 am: Tea is free at my office, so I drank a cup of Green Tea.  Green tea is said to help curb some hunger, so it might be very helpful this week with my small budget!

3:30 pm: A busy day at work had me wait until now to get a slice of pizza for lunch.  There is a new place right near my office called 99 cent Fresh Slice, so this seemed perfect for today’s lunch.  All in all, the slice ends up being $1.00.  My first purchase this week.

5:00 pm: Already hungry for a snack, I snapped off a piece of that chocolate bar I won at a bridal shower 2 weeks ago.  It’s been in the freezer at work untouched, and since it was a prize I won for free, it’s fair game!  Milk chocolate with almonds.  I only took a small couple pieces, but hopefully the bit of protein will help me last until I can get to the grocery store/market later tonight.  Already I’m feeling this challenge is going to be rough!

7:30pm: Starving, I finally make it to the market.  Zack came along, and we went to the market on 82nd Street owned by our favorite Asian disco dude.  We put three items into the basket, and decided it was all too expensive.  Zack suggested a cheap market in the 90s, and we hurried to put everything back before leaving the store.

7:45 pm: This was the best suggestion Zack has ever made.  This Turkish market has some of the cheapest options I’ve seen in the city!  Score!  Here is what I was able to come away with:

$.50 2 bananas

$.99 box of mac and cheese

$.99 vegetable spread (aka fake butter)

$.99 bag of pasta

$1.00 bag of carrots

$1.00 carton of milk

$1.00 dozen medium eggs

$2.99 loaf of sourdough bread

$2.99 block of havarti cheese

Total with Tax Came to $12.53

9:30pm: Ate 1/2 box of mac and cheese with a side of carrots for dinner.

Total for Day 1:  $13.53

Remaining Budget:  $6.47

Not a lot of money left over for the week, but I’m thinking that this amount of food can get me through at least until the last couple days.  Definitely don’t think I’ll be taking the subway at all this week.  Hope it doesn’t rain.

Stay tuned.

Day 2:

Wednesday August 11, 2010

9:00 am:  Got to sleep in one hour longer today, then made the 2 mile trek down to the office.

10:30 am:  Made myself a cup of that green tea.

12:00 pm:  Enjoyed a banana from my purchase at the market yesterday.

3:00 pm:  Made a grilled cheese sandwich at work out of the bread, butter, and havarti cheese I bought yesterday.  Also munched on a handful of carrots.

5:00 pm:  Got out of work a little early today, and started the 2 mile trek back home.  Chatted on the phone to Mom and Dad to make it go by quicker.  Called Zack when I was halfway home, and he was only a few blocks away, so he met up with me and walked me the rest of the way home, which made it nicer.

7:00 pm:  Decided to stay in this evening so as to avoid temptation.  Did some core exercises while watching TV, painted my nails and toes, and read a book.  Also ate the other half of my mac and cheese from yesterday.

8:30 pm:  Cooked myself 2 eggs with 2 small pieces of toast.  Hey, maybe this challenge won’t be so bad afterall 🙂

Total for Day 2:$0.00

Remaining Budget: $6.47

Day 3:

Thursday August 12, 2010

9:30 am:  This challenge sucks.  It’s raining outside, and I have to walk to work.  I made sure to dress comfortably for the rainy walk, and of course, carried an umbrella.  I’m praying that the rain does not continue for the rest of the day because I was planning on walking home from work and then biking to and from my soccer game tonight.  Go figure…it rains the day I have to be outside the most.

10:30 am:  Enjoying hot tea in my dry office.

12:30 pm:  Having a banana for a snack.

3:00 pm:  Enjoyed a grilled cheese sandwich, since it was so yummy and filling yesterday.  Also some carrots, and another green tea.

6:00 pm:  Walked home from work.  Luckily it didn’t rain this time.

7:30 pm:  Made some yummy pasta noodles for din din, and saved half for lunch tomorrow.

8:45 pm:  Ok…my most feared moment of the day.  Riding my bike to my soccer game.  I live all the way on the Upper East Side on 80th and 2nd.  My game was at Pier 40, which is located on Houston Street all the way at the West Side Highway near the Hudson River.  Normally it takes me at least 45 minutes to subway there…so this was a LONG bike ride!  Thank God, Zack came with me, because I was terrified.  I hate driving through the traffic.  Once we got to the bike path on the West Side Hwy, it wasn’t so bad…until the rain hit.  It was pretty awful riding there in the rain…I couldn’t wait to just get there!

10:00 pm:  Played my soccer game also in the rain…seems to be the theme of the day.

11:00 pm:  Time to make the bike trek back to my apartment.  Still raining.

11:45 pm:  Finally home.  It stopped raining during the ride, and was actually quite nice to ride in the peace and quiet of the city at night time.  However, I am SO glad to finally be home.



Total for Day 3:$0.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remaining Budget: $6.47

Day 4:

Friday August 13, 2010

9:30 am:  Friday the 13th!  It’s actually a gorgeous day outside, so I’m headed off on my 2 mile trek once again.  I’m getting kinda used to this.

10:30 am:  Get to the office, and stop at the fruit stand outside to grab a banana for $.30.

1:30 pm:  Ate the banana and some leftover pasta noodles for lunch with some chocolate bar pieces.

2:30 pm:  Got out of work early today and walked home.

3:30 pm:  Stopped at the library and got 2 movies for free.

7:00 pm:  Made 2 eggs with toast for dinner.

10:00 pm:  Hung out with the gang for a game night.  Some ladies brought wine to share, so I had a glass or 2.

12:00 am:  Headed out to the bar with the group.  The bartender made a mistake on making someone’s drink, so I got a freebie!  Score!

2:30 am:  Came home tipsy and made myself a late night snack (grilled cheese sandwich) before going to sleep.

Total for Day 4:$0.30

Remaining Budget:$6.17

Day 5

Saturday August 14, 2010

11:00 am:  Slept in and then woke up and watched a movie, Dear John.

2:00 pm:  Ate some carrots, 2 eggs, and toast.  My rations are still going strong.  Wondering where the hell my money goes during normal weeks when I’m not doing a $20 challenge.

3:00 pm:  Spent a lovely day in Central Park with my fiance–laying out, reading, playing cards.  Great day.

6:00 pm:  Was treated to a burger, fries, and shake at the new Shake Shack on the Upper East Side.  Felt amazing to eat something other than grilled cheese, eggs, or pasta.

10:00 pm:  Rooftop party for Maria’s birthday celebration!  I contributed that bottle of champagne I had been given as a gift at our engagement party.

12:00 am:  Bar hopped with the gang, and managed not to spend a penny.

3:30 am:  Late night grilled cheese sandwich before bedtime.

Total for Day 5:$0.00

Remaining Budget:$6.17

Day 6

Sunday August 15, 2010

2:00 pm:  Had a pretty late night, so managed to sleep a lot today!  The rain outside helped, since I didn’t feel as if I were missing too much outside.

3:00 pm:  Cooked 2 eggs and watched Mamma Mia in bed.  Also chatted on the phone to Teri (who was checking in about my challenge), and my friend Whitney (trying to coordinate transportation to her Labor Day Weekend wedding in Maine).  Unpacked all my clothes from last weekend and straightened up the apartment a bit.  Had a pretty lazy day today.

6:00 pm:  Made pasta for dinner and saved the 2nd half for lunch tomorrow.

10:30 pm:  Watched Entourage and read my magazine before bed.

1:00 am:  Bed time.

Today for Day 6:$0.00

Remaining Budget:$6.17

Day 7

Monday August 16, 2010

9:30 am:  Woke up.  Last day of the challenge!!  Thank God!  Left far too late to make the walk to work in time, so I ended up taking the subway which knocks off $2.25 from my remaining budget.  Kinda bummed because I wanted to use the last $6 to get something yummy.  Oh well.

11:00 am:  Drinking hot tea at the office.

2:00 pm:  Ate the last of my pasta and the last of my carrots!

5:00 pm:  Ate the last of that chocolate bar!  Impressed with myself that I was able to keep it going this long.

6:00 pm:  Started my trek home–it’s raining lightly.

6:15 pm:  Ok now it’s pouring!!!  There is no way I can walk 40 blocks in this.  Thank God, I saved some emergency money.  Bus ride = $2.25.

7:00 pm:  It’s gross outside.  Decided to spend the evening in tonight.  Read my book, watched TV, hung out with Zack.

8:30 pm:  Cooked the last of my eggs, cheese, and bread.  All my food is gone just in time!

12:00 am:  CHALLENGE COMPLETE!!!  Time for sleep 🙂

Total for Day 7: $4.50

Total for Entire Week:  $18.33

Remaining Budget:$1.67

I’m completely astonished that I was able to make it through 7 days in New York City with only $20, and I still had money leftover!  It just goes to show you that maybe it isn’t always necessary to spend so much money.  Granted I have a stack of laundry that needs to be done, bus tickets to purchase for future travels, toilettries to replenish, etc that I have been waiting a week to be able to complete…but at the end of the day, maybe I should start walking a bit more or riding my bike.  It’s healthy, and it saves money.  I am definitely glad to add meat and vegetables to my diet this week, but I honestly didn’t starve at all this challenge besides the very first day before I made it to the market.  So it is doable to cut back and make things work even while living in this expensive city.  I’m pleased to say that my friend, Ailie, also completed this challenge successfully.  The best part is that we were both still able to have a great time, and we figured out ways to have fun with a very small budget.  I don’t think I will be anxious to do this challenge again, but I have definitely learned ways to save money in the city while still maintaining a fun life and my sanity!



#69 Take a Weekend Trip to the Hamptons

July 2-5, 2010

After spending 3 summers in New York City, I have been out to Long Beach, Jones Beach, Robert Moses Beach, (all in Long Island) and of course down to my favorite 1.2 miles Dewey Beach, DE and favorite family vacation spot, the Outer Banks, NC.  But never had I ventured out to what Manhattanites call the Manhattan summer extension…The Hamptons.  I had heard stories of luxurious houses, pools, beaches, clubs, and parties, but never had I the time nor the money to make it out there myself.  Not that I ever got that money…but I did get the opportunity to check out the Hamptons this summer…finally…on 4th of July weekend.


I was invited out by my good friend Ailie.  Her family was generous enough to have a whole boatload of us stay out at their July rental in Sag Harbor.  We headed out in what I would like to call “The Pimp Van” owned by my friend Jimmy’s family.  Jimmy drove, I navigated, and the rest of the crew watched “Cinderella” (typical) on the two hour drive out to the Hamptons.


If I’m being honest, I have to say that the Hamptons trip did not turn out the way I imagined that it would.  But I will say that it was definitely a learning experience!  I realized that sleeping in a room with 8 people and 3 dogs results in little to no sleep.  I realized that unless you own a house in the Hamptons or know who to call, there is no beach parking on the weekends resulting in a $100 ticket.  I realized that in order to go out to a cool bar or club in the Hamptons you must call a cab days ahead of time instead of hours.  I realized that most Hampton regulars do not enjoy wandering Manhattanites resulting in loud “Go back to the city!” chants from their cars while laughing at us walking the streets.  And lastly, I realized that you should read signs BEFORE getting into the bay in Sag Harbor, or else you may dive into toxic waters unknowingly.  Whoops.


Despite having to figure out the Hamptons the hard way, we had an amazing crew of people, and you couldn’t help but have a great time!  Ailie had all her Aussie family there including some cousins from London, and two other friends (Roz and Sharms) visiting from down under.  We had Jimmy who was kind enough to drive us back to Manhattan at the end of the trip.  From NYC we had Zack, Nicole, Karina, Adrienne, Steve, and his friend Mark (maybe Matt? sorry I can’t recall).  And representing CT we had Sarah and Melissa.


The trip was made complete with champagne mimosas on the beach, lots of sun, pool parties, multiple BBQs, tennis/volleyball/made up pool games, pool diving photos, fireworks, flip cup, great conversations, relaxation, walks through the cute town of Sag Harbor, an amazing drive viewing the ridiculous and luxurious houses in Southampton (complete with tennis courts and sky high hedges), and chatting until the wee hours of the morning.


All in all, it turned out to be a wonderful trip, and I owe a huge thank you to the Jenkins clan for their hospitality in their summer home.  Next time I am able to venture out to the Hamptons I will now know the ropes!

#55 Row Boat in Central Park

 

 

Saturday June 26, 2010


This July marks my 3rd year and the start of my 4th summer here in New York City.  I honestly can’t believe the time has gone by so fast!  While I have done a lot of truly amazing things while living in the Big Apple, there has always been something I have been longing to do, and it takes place in my most favorite part of the city–Central Park!


So Saturday morning, I set out to complete the first item on my bucket list–row boating in Central Park!  Hand in hand with my fantastic fiance, Zack, we stopped at Agata and Valentina (our favorite grocery store) for fresh sandwiches–prosciutto & mozzarella for me, ham & cheese for Zack–and fruit to enjoy on our boat ride.


I have to say, the row boat ride was awesome!  We couldn’t have had a more gorgeous day.  Luckily, there was no line, so we got right out there and enjoyed the sunshine.  We didn’t actually realize how big the lake by the boat house was!  We rowed around until finding the perfect lunch spot in the shade.  About 5 minutes later, a tourist couple started creeping on our spot.  We were wondering why in a lake this big did they need to creep on a spot right next to us!  We quickly realized their plan which was to make us their photographers haha.  I guess we looked nice enough.  So we took their photos and figured we might as well have them take ours too since they were already there!


After eating our lunch, we continued exploring the lake–going under the bridges, seeing turtles and an adorable family of mallard ducks.  Lucky for me, Zack did all the rowing work and he let me just sit back and enjoy the scenery.  It was a blast, and they even let us stay out on the boat for 15 extra minutes, no charge!  Hey, that’s great for NYC!


So happy I was able to knock off my first item on my list of 100 things, and I can’t wait for the next adventure!


Stay tuned!


XOXO,


Gina

100 Great Freakin’ Adventures of Gina

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams”  –Eleanor Roosevelt

My good friend Ailie Jenkins told me about her fellow Aussie friend Seb’s 100 Things website and charity. I was truly inspired, and wanted to make my own “bucket list” of things I want to do in my life. Our time on the earth is precious and short, so we should be making the most of it, no doubt! I also love that Seb is doing this for such a wonderful charity.  He is trying to raise $100 for each item he checks off his bucket list.  The proceeds will go to Camp Quality, which is an organization that brings optimism and happiness to the lives of children and families affected with cancer through fun therapy.  If you would like to donate, please click here:http://www.campquality.org.au/public/home.aspx.  You can also view Seb’s website here: www.100things.com.au.

I plan to blog each time I complete an item on my bucket list!  So get excited for some great freakin’ adventures!  And maybe you will be inspired to create a list of your own!

Love,

Gina

100 Great Freakin’ Adventures of Gina

1. Backpack through Europe

2. Take guitar lessons

3. Go to Carnival in Rio

4. Be a contestant in a game show

5. Go to the Olympics

6. Skydive

7. Take piano lessons

8. See a koala in Australia

9. Learn to ballroom dance

10. Travel to Costa Rica

11. Learn Italian

12. Write a book

13. Get cast in a show/play/musical in NYC

14. Take a photography class

15. Go to Japan

16. Go to Hawaii

17. See the holy land in Jerusalem

18. Half Iron Man

19. Coach a team to the championship

20. Have children

21. Own a dog

22. Drive across the country

23. Go to Mardi Gras in New Orleans

24. Fly in a hot air balloon

25. Go hangliding (100ft+)

26. Go to China

27. Go to Thailand

28. Go to India

29. Ride a camel in Egypt by the pyramids

30. Own a Mercedes Benz

31. Go to Nashville for the Country Music Festival

32. Go to a club in Miami

33. Go to the beach in Cabo San Luca, Mexico

34. Visit San Diego

35. Visit LA

36. Write a feature length screenplay and direct the film

37. Join a band

38. Knit a scarf

39. Climb a tall mountain

40. Go to a rodeo

41. Go cliff jumping

42. Sit front row at Bryant Park during Fashion Week

43. Go snorkeling in the Carribbean

44. Eat a mangostein

45. Save a life

46. Swim with dolphins

47. Learn to sew

48. Perform in a live comedy sketch with a group

49. Sit in a hot spring

50. Read “Gone With the Wind” from beginning to end

51. Host my own show

52. Write a song

53. Make homemade pasta from scratch

54. Go for a romantic horseback ride on a trail

55. Row boat in Central Park

56. Get married

57. See the Northern Lights

58. See the Grand Canyon

59. Visit Niagra Falls

60. Meet my penpal

61. Go on a zip cord

62. Helicopter ride

63. Ride a tandem bike

64. Have my dream house built

65. Go to the driving range

66. Play a full game of golf

67. Ride a mechanical bull

68. Go on an African safari

69. Take a weekend trip to the Hamptons

70. Go to a World Cup game

71. Try acupuncture

72. Go on a cruise

73. Do a tough mudder race

74. Do a ropes course

75. Go on a yoga retreat

76. Drive a Vespa around the city

77. Learn to drive a stick shift

78. Go rock climbing & repel

79. Visit the White House

80. Make a documentary of my travels somewhere

81. Start my own company doing something I love

82. Do the P90X Workout

83. Go deep sea fishing & eat my catch

84. Ski a double black diamond run

85. Take a Ferrari for a test drive

86. Turn off my cell phone for a week

87. Host a proper classy cocktail party

88. Go see a NY Ballet performance

89. Visit my Grandmother’s homeland in Ireland

90. Put a little monkey on my shoulder

91. Attend Burning Man

92. Host a 4 course dinner party (and cook it myself)

93. Survive a week in NYC spending no more than $20

94. Throw a dart at a map and then go there

95. Get hypnotized

96. See Phantom of the Opera on Broadway

97. Attract a crowd for a street performance

98. Cut my hair super short

99. Ride the tallest roller coaster in the world

100. Be silent for a full 24 hours