It's been quite a journey…

By my lack of posts, one may think that there has not been anything too blog worthy going on in my life, and to that I would have to say,”You have been sadly mistaken.” It has been just the opposite. If anything, it has been “life overload”…in the best way possible of course. Since the last time I last blogged, Easter, dare I say that it has been the most exciting, gut-wrenching and fulfilling time that has sky rocketed me on the next chapter of my life.

So what could have possibly have happened in that short amount of time- basically opportunity came knocking, everything went right in the universe, I utilized my mouth (I have been told, "my gift is my gab"), crossed my fingers and put my trust in other people. Basically, I forced everything to "fall" into place. It was one heck of a journey where I experienced every emotion possible, but in the end, it was worth it in every way possible.

Here are some things that I believe even more now:

1.       Luck is when preparation meets opportunity. Nothing, and I mean nothing, ever comes easy for me, and I would guess for many others either. For those that have stuff fall on their lap...meet me in the parking lot :P For those liek me who fight tooth and nail you must: keep your eyes on the prize, work hard and then fight like a possessed-being when opportunity shows its face!

2.       Whatever relationships you have attracted in your life at this moment, are precisely the ones you need in your life at this moment. There is a hidden meaning behind all events, and this hidden meaning is serving your own evolution. - Deepak Chopra

·         Surround yourself with people that believe in you and inspire you.

·         You just gotta roll with what you got at that moment and make the best of it; something more will come along

3.       Hard work and perseverance are important but also having some balls (wait can i say that) is pretty much the answer to getting what you want...which leads me to #4

4.       Advocate for yourself. I have heard it time and time again from professionals with the rationale of...if you don’t speak up how is anyone gonna read your mind and know what you want!

5.       Be bold and take chances…and come crawling back when things don’t work out… It makes you stronger. Plus you will have wicked awesome stories to tell!

6.       Have hoop…will jump. Sometimes it is just part of the deal.

7.       Sometimes, when people hold you in high regards those high expectations are hard to continue to live up to

8.       Never stop thinking about your next step…set new goals after one has been met. Must keep moving forward.

Oh and you may be wondering what I am referring to...I got a new job :P I wish I would say In the end it is really quite simple, but it wasn't...I earned it- probably the best way to get things in life.

Surprise!! American Idiot!

When I got the “awesome” idea to start blogging, I kinda knew that I would be bad at it. “A” writing is not my forte, so this is something that I have to force myself to do. “B” I really do not have enough hours in the day to get the things that I need to get done never mind blogging. I probably should scrap it, but…since I am a stickler to my word (and it is a monsoon outside), and I have no desire to grade a massive stack of papers that have been marinating on my desk, I think I will catch-up and relive some of my antics from April. The cross my fingers that I can stay caught up from this point forward. Where to begin…let’s go back… NYC birthday weekend 2011!!!

I spent a wiiiiiinnnnnndddddddyyyyyyy April weekend in the city. It was a fabulous, fast-paced day filled with a little shopping, a show, and a whole lot of food!!! Just how I like it! Oh! And how could I forget- a run in with Corey Montieth from Glee! He strangely mirrors his character, Finn, in real life- plaid shirt and all.

We zoomed into NYC early and hit the ground running. I was so excited and not paying attention to what could possibly be under my feet, and I almost tripped over a man that was sewing up a festering leg wound while sitting on the steps of Grand Central Station. Prob not the best, most appropriate place to be doing a surgery, but nothing says, “Welcome to NYC” better!

The main reason for the trip was to see the show American Idiot; I got tickets to this gem as a birthday gift.

American Idiot is “rock opera” based off of the Green Day Album of the same name. It is about three guys “trying” to live life and trying to figure things out after 9/11. America Idiot blew my mind along with my ear drums. While I am not a hardcore Green Day fan, it was sort of awesome that Billy Joe Armstrong was in the cast for the last two weeks of the show. The show was phenomenal! I would have recommended that everyone see it, but it closed on April 24…bummer. 

 

One can always Youtube it!

Well a show is only two hours long, what do you do with the rest of the time? Shop and EAT!

Onto the Food Tour! So maybe I like to eat food off of the streets. Sue me if that is a crime… well apparently it is only to my health and well-being.  A little Nuts 4 nuts, a churro here, a chicken kabo there… I am limitless. People are usually disgusted by my street eating antics, but I think that they are just jealous that I have stomach made of armor; not so much, but I like to think so!  The street food just supplemented my dinner at Bella Vida, Pinoberry fro-yo, and a cupcake from Magnolia!   

One qualm, it makes me nuts that there is no logical line or serving order when street eating. I have been known commit the occasional hip check, but when the people were swinging elbows over food that is going to most likely send them searching for Pepto, I want to yell, “Everyone will get their dirty water dog! Just be patient!” Yeah you...lady from Louisiana! Acting like you are all nice and proper- smh. 

The weekend was wicked awesome and there is so much other stuff that I could have included, unfortunaltey, I cannot remember everything that happened a month ago! Here's to hoping that I can stay on top of things- summer is coming! Which means...free time!  

Enjoying the little things...

Best parts of birthdays...

Well, besides the (cup)cakes of course!

The legend of the birthday month….

In a time not too long ago, there was a crazy, lady who celebrated her birthday like it was her job, but with a reckless abandonment and a twinkle in her eye that does not get sparked from grading papers and reminding students to stay in their seats while flashing the evil “are you kidding me” teacher’s eye. In her early adult years, April has always been a month full of hope and promise in a   ”just give me a reason to celebrate” kind of time. With hair carelessly blowing in the early spring night air and a new pair of shinny, expensive shoes, she had late night-after-nights out on the town with those that enthusiastically embraced her very same "just give me a reason to go out and celebrate mentality" without the worry of fiancés and husbands/wives, early work mornings, new homes and way more bills and babies. duh, duh, duh …adult life has pulled up and everyone has seemed to jump on the train…a trained filled with real responsibilities which means less time for those, shall I admit it- overly frequent- birthday celebratory kind of nights. Now those nights during the birthday month are more few and far between, but they still exist...they are just a little different (and yes...I know different isn't a bad thing...it is just different- thank you for the reminder twin cousin). Maybe now, they mean more... It is April 9, and while the birthday month of 2011 is not the nonstop, crazy time it once was, it has been nice...it has been just enough.

Updates will follow…

Heellllllloooooo there!

This is me...

"Oh what big teeth you have..."

 (circa 1986)

Me again...



I still have not grown into them...

And again...just being Kendra


1 little... 2 little... 3 margaritas!!!

If you are reading this, you most likely already know me…but it may have been a while since our paths have crossed...which translates to "chatted over a drink and an app." Let’s get reacquainted.

1. I love the beach and everything that comes with it: the warm sunshine, sun dresses, sun glasses, sun screen….the feeling of chilled jugo de vida being slathered on a 2.5 degree burns (that was a shout out, but I don’t know if the intended person is out there reading)

2. I only like to eat the ends of brownies; the corners are my favorite (crispy and burned please)! I do not understand why people cut then off and throw them out. Total waste! Word on the street is that some genius made a pan that bakes only "end" brownies; I need to get my hands on one of those!

3. I have a twin cousin who means the world to me (more about that conundrum later)

4. My remedy to get myself through a poor slump; spending time at Barnes and Nobel reading mags while sipping a skinny latte with whipped cream and a dash of cocoa powder and a sprinkle of vanilla. (I probably should not be indulging in Starbucks if I am poor...but I am an addict)

5. I am inspired by those who have truly overcome obstacles to live an authentic life or people who do amazing things and are kind and true to others…not really into ulterior motives.

6. I firmly believe that I can hide behind a pair of oversized sun glasses and be invisible. It is by no means feasible, but there are days that I would like to think so.

7. I have been told that I am too loud…I can’t disagree with that. I have one volume and it is “loud.” What do you expect? I am Italian; that is how we communicate best.

8. If I could have one superpower, I would want the ability to read people’s minds. Others have told me that this would be the worst superpower to have, but there is probably no better way to get to the truth.

9. I think the DVR is a master invention, as well as the Keurig Single Cup coffee brewer

10. I wear fat pants when necessary, and I am not ashamed to admit it. Desperate times call for desperate measures...

11. Piperlime, Overstock, Zappos and BlueFly were all created to test my genes for addiction as well as my self-restraint

12. I utilize my library card...often

13. Sports, of any kind, make me happy especially if I am smack-dab in the middle of the action. Being a fan at a spectator sport…exhilarating!

14. Even though I am open minded and tolerant, I hate glitter and clowns with a passion!!! There is not room in my life for either.

15. I have been described as a "guy's girl;" I can hang with the guys, throw down at "all you can eat wings" night, and also play a mean game of touch football, but I have to have my gfs to do fun stuff like shop, pedis, talk BFrankel, etc.

Finally, "I feel my greatest work is yet to come."





Wholey Bahama Mamas…

My guide to the Bahamas; thoughts, insights and lessons learned from the shamorgus board of experiences I had (with my friend, Emily) during the “Break from Reality…We Need to Save our Sanity” Bahamas Trip

**First, I have to give big props to Em; hours before we were scheduled to fly off to paradise, she fell, hit her head…well her face (but that does not sound too graceful) and broke a tooth, BUT like the trooper that she is, she rebounded from the concussion and dominated the Bahamas including a free style dance competition.

In no particular order…

1. In the dramatic fashion that is so representative of my life…I truthfully can say that I almost lost my life in paradise. I would have hoped that I would have gone to straight to heaven, BUT, I only blacked out momentarily- nbd. While my friend Emily did not save my life, a lovely middle aged couple from Michigan did by providing me with a half drunken bottle of 90 degree spring water; I love Michigan. I think that they only gave me the water because I told them I was a teacher; I am not ashamed to use that bit of knowledge in emergency situations.

2. Buy a wooden flute (I think they really mean “recorder”) on the beach from a native islander and you will get to take home a free boyfriend. But, I opted out of the free boyfriend offer. Once this gem touched my hands, I was immediately shot back to 2^nd grade and the wonderment that comes from over blowing into this genius instrument.… I took my “flute” and ran back to the hotel playing hot-crossed-buns all the way.

3. While in the Bahamas, you will meet a wide range of folk ranging from the obvious native islanders- who really all seem to look like Taye Diggs, foreign visitors and lots of people from Canada eh…? There was Blaze and Ninja, a professional soccer player from Toronto, a crazy white woman from Rhode Island (I referred to her as Misquamicut) that out danced a “hired professional” native at her own dance, and a guy that forced you to drink tea by calling you pretty eyes. They all made my stay a colorful one, Brace yourself!

4. Opps…watch your step!

5. I have been told that when I visit water parks, I lose my mind. And I did, time and time again at Atlantis Aquaventure. “Leap of Faith,” I love you, but not the massive wedgies you have provided me; memorable enough to last me a life time- 88 degree 70 foot free fall through a shark tank. Be still my beating heart I was in heaven except when I skidded through, or should I say on top of, shallow water at 40 mph hence the bathing suit annihilation.  

6. While in the Bahamas, it was proposed that I am directionally challenged. I would like to think that my inability to decipher right from left was because people drive on the wrong, or should I say opposite, side of the road in the Bahamas. I blamed my lack of direction on a case of temporary “directional vertigo;” I think that others Em disagrees! My “made-up syndrome” and the fact that it was temporary and isolated to just the Bahamas is apparently wishful thinking on my part! During the trip, in a midst of frustration (I got us lost…again) Em exclaimed, “I would not trust you to find your way out of a paper bag.” So to her and all of the others, I say...take me to Europe and try to refute my hypothesis. 

7. I only spent $10 dollars ($10 too much If you ask me) at the casino before we were kindly asked to leave when we were caught taking a group picture. What these casino honchos do not know is that we won; we quietly snapped a couple when no one was looking. But when escorting ourselves out, we found a wicked big chair chiseled from a hunk of solid gold…a nice man took our picture and serenaded us with a tune from Lady Gaga. When I named that tune, me and the islander “hi-fived, low fived.”

8. Em got hit in the face at least 17 time during the trip; the straw that broke the camel’s back…when two teenage boys, obviously engaged in an episode of pseudo-jackass, were ultimate fighting on a water ride and wacked her in her newly repaired broken tooth. Watch out! It was over! It reaffirmed her hatred of teenagers and made her reevaluate her career as a teacher.

9. If you have an Italian last name, BEWARE when visiting the island. Apparently, Bahamians have a fascination with the mafia, and they do not hold back the questions. They are on a mission to quiet their curiosity on your behalf.

10. All inclusive translates to= you better bring your fat pants to wear on the trip home.

11. FYI: When you give me no choice and basically force me to be a part of a free style dance contest and ask me what dance move I want to throw in, do not deny me the running man, especially, so you can “try” to do a back flip and under rotate and break your skull. My running man would have led us to victory. Oh no, it probably wouldn’t because Em shimmied and booty popped like J-Lo for double the amount of time allotted. Cheaters!

12. Remember: The creepers come out at night no matter where you are.

13. I rather get a $180 COACH wristlet than pay to get my hair braided…no matter how much of a rats nest it is and no matter how long I can go without washing it, it just isn’t worth it.

14. Bucket List Cross-Out: Swimming with dolphins. After, I massaged, danced with, fed, kissed and hugged a dolphin to sleep, I allowed him and his friend to plow me 35 mph across the lagoon the length of a football field. It was absolutely amazing. I wanna be a dolphin trainer when I grow up!!!

15. When a man in native dress, which included face and body paint, approached me, well more like invaded my personal space, I screamed, ”AAAHHHHH, get the hell away, you clown!” I then watched him set himself ablaze and limbo under a stick about a foot off the ground. He was no clown… he's awesome, but did he really need the face paint!!! I should have apologized to him and explained that I have the same reaction to anyone who dresses in costume and paints/hides their face, even the super nice guidance counselor that dresses up as Santa at EHHS; he now knows to just avoid me when he has the urge to dress up at work because I go bazerko when I see him in full on Santa attire.

16. MAYBE MOST IMPORTANT! If you need to get anywhere, and anywhere fast, call a driver from Majestic Tours. I want to hire one of these Bahamian NASCAR-esque street drivers to drive me everywhere. I would never be late and always be jacked up on adrenaline from my commute. I ask where were you people during my year long commute to New Haven? I-91/95 interchange has nothing on Bahamian Shuttle Drivers.

FINAL THOUGHTS...
Like Stella ran away to Jamaica to “get her groove back,” I floored it to the Bahamas to get a break from my own busy, pressure filled reality. Did I get my groove back…? Well, I do not exactly know what that means…to get your “groove back.” I have a pretty good idea, but I will not comment. However, I did come back feeling lighter- less stressed, more relaxed and generally happier (that lasted until Wednesday when a disgruntled student threw a marker at my face- another story for another time). I think that this vacation was a necessity not just for novelty. Not only did I have a ton of fun doing things that I have never done and going on fun adventures, but the whole experience was amazing because it was done with a friend. So just as awesome as all of those experiences were, I have a ton of new memories and some inside jokes, too. Starting NOW, I want to make more time for friends because when life gets busy it seems like they tend to get pushed aside. It always seems too late when you realize how much you have missed them or how many potential fun time missed and memories you could have made. This trip reaffirmed the importance of friends in my life.

To blog or not to blog….

I do not even know how the idea to start blogging came about, but I am pretty sure that it had something to do with the madness that has come with the umpteenth inches of snow that we have been bombarded with this winter…ugh!  

I knew, if I werer to blog, I would need a premise, a muse (word choice! That sounds creepy…), or something semi- interesting to document and/or share. I wanted something with “substance” that would actually intrigue people to want to keep reading especially since I am by no means a writer. I did not think featuring all the ways that I try to trick the lunch lady by rigging the food scale, so I do not have to pay $1.63 an ounce for salad would be enough. Even though the ventures are pretty awesome, but I will spare the deets. But there was this one time when someone almost lost a finger... Oops.

I finally found an inspiration of sorts… I accidently stumbled upon a book, “The Happiness Project,” by Gretchin Rubin. Well the truth is…I was actually searching bn.com for a book that was profiled in the February issue of Shape Magazine called “The Official Booty Parlor Mojo Makeover: Four Weeks to a Sexier You” by Dana B. Myers.  From just that little tid-bit of truth…I will defend my actions by saying: I believe that there is always room from improvement, and I stress being a life, long learner in all aspects of life. Well anyway, “The Happiness Project,” caught my eye because what are we all searching for in life- happiness (right?).  Why not learn how we can get more of it?!? The book documents the author's 12 month journey into learning how to better enjoy the life that she already has. She focused on embracing the pleasures in life and ultimately reminds herself how to have fun. Honestly, the book is not a piece of stellar literature, and the author acknowledges that, but it got me thinking… is it possible to enhance your own happiness?

What has lead me to this point… The past year and a half, or so, has been full of ups and downs. Difficult in a bad way? No, but I do feel as if I suffer some type of slow social death, and I feel like I lost valuable time. Yes, I did get a master’s degree and met some amazingly fabulous people that I love, but during this time, relationships and friendships were strained, all while I spent a huge amount of time commuting, doing work and stressing. NOW that it is finished and behind me, I am at a point, where I am starting fresh; I feel like it is a “Now or Never” sort of time. I want to work on making the best out the next year of my life which I will refer to the __9^th year.

 My master plan…. Beginning in April 2011 (my birthday month; something I take very seriously), I will blog about my  __9^th year in a sort of “Happiness Project” mash-up with a ”BUCKET LIST” documentary as I ease, or hopefully, fly into the next decade of my life (something I am finding a little hard to grasp right now). Too many years have gone by without having some of the most awesome things in my life documented, especially before the age of scrapbooking. I will not let this one pass because I have high hopes that this year is going to be fabulous! Through my wOrDs and through pictures, I will document/share my 29^th year as life unfolds with all of the things that I do…new adventures, fun stuff with old friends (and new friends…there is always room for new), and crazy stories of just everyday life. It will most likely be comical, probably somewhat embarrassing and to some, stupid, but who are we to judge.

Here is where you come in… If you have any ideas about what I can do to celebrate my __9^th year or want to join me on any adventures (only if I know you please!!!) let me know and you too can be featured in my blog. Well, if not, I can block out faces in pictures (like glamour don’ts), and I can give you a fabu name that will protect your anonymity.

Stay tuned, and I hope you follow me on my journey through my __9^Th year.