Sep 26-Oct 3- Finding An Apartment in NYC!

After getting home from Toronto I had a fitting the next day for Fashion Week of Rochester. I never went to the casting for it but I know one of the designers and she asked me to walk in her segment. Meki Couture makes beautiful bridal dresses and the designer Marleen is so nice so of course I was happy to walk for her!


The next day I went to the park and we spotted a really big turtle that was swimming right under the boardwalk.

Just when I thought that was the biggest wild turtle I have ever seen all of a sudden my Dad spotted a head and tail sticking out of the water and under us swam a gigantic turtle! I could not get a picture of it because of the reflections on the water but it was some snapping turtle with spikes on it's back.


Later for dinner we went to Salena's Mexican Restaurant that my neighbor growing up owns with her husband. We ate with Mike and Johnny Cummings the singer and the food was very good.


The next morning I did a modeling job for Kodak which I always love doing. I wish I could work for Kodak even more than I do but I am fortunate to get any work from them!


The next day Mike and I hung out with a family friend's sons because their Father was ill with ALS. We wanted them to be out of the house for a little while and to try to take their mind off of what was going on so I played hide-and-go-seek with them in the house and we played a bunch of wii games with them. Later at night they stayed for our huge dinner celebration for Rosh Hashanah. There were 16 of us and we had a very nice dinner where I tried Matzo ball soup which I liked!


The weekend of September 30th Sarah, Mike and I went to New York City!

Sarah and I wanted to look for apartments so we planned some appointments for the weekend to look at some that were available. We made most of our appointments in Brooklyn so that we could try to save some money. We went to our first appointment and the landlord was running late. While we were waiting a tenant came out and we asked him about the neighborhood and the building. The man told us that he has lived there for three years and it is not a bad place but then he said "I feel obligated to tell you that a man was murdered in this building last month."Needless to say we were not going to live there and we decided it was not worth going to the other apartments nearby in Brooklyn.


We quickly started looking up postings for apartments in Manhattan and made some appointments to go to. That night Sarah went to meet up with one of her friends and Mike and I went to our friend's place and hung out with people there. We grabbed a bite to eat and then headed to Webster Hall to listen to a group that got signed to the music company that our friend works for called Pilot Creative. The group performed very well and we had a fun night!

The next morning we went to a place that we really liked and we were considering to go for it but we wanted to look at some places that were in lower Manhattan. We went to some other appointments and then stopped for dinner. We ate Giano and it was a nice atmosphere and good food. 

The next day we went to more apartments and we liked a lot of them. We could not decide if we should apply for any of them so we went to dinner at Yuca Bar to think about it. The food was very good there too and we decided that we would stay one more day in the city and look around and decide which apartment we wanted to apply for. We went back to see our friend Rick who goes to NYU and him and his roommates and us headed out to Fat Cat to play some ping pong. It was really neat inside, they had a bunch of different games to play and we had fun. 

The next morning we went to a couple more appointments and found an apartment that we wanted to apply for! We went to John's Pizza mmmm and then drove Sarah to the Newark airport and drove back home to Rochester!

Sep 22-Sep 25 - Toronto!

On the 22nd in the morning I had a fitting for Antoinette's Bridal Show that my agent Mary Therese Friel in Mendon, NY set up for me.

The fitting was in Canandaigua, NY so I drove there and tried on a few dresses until we found two for me to wear and then I drove back to Pittsford to pick up Mike to go to Toronto!

We got to Toronto later after dinner and drove around in the city on our way to Miranda's house to stay with her.

I was so excited to see Miranda post Singapore! We got to her place and got a tour and talked and then we headed out to a rooftop bar called Hemingway's to hang out for the night. We had a lot of fun and went back and went to bed at her place.

The next morning I got up early to get ready for a photo shoot with photographer Erwin Loewen. I brought coffee to the makeup artist Emily Dempster and then we got on the road to go to Erwin's house.  He lives in London, Ontario which is a little over two hours out of Toronto. It was raining out so we decided to find a place inside to shoot. I brought a bunch of dresses along so we went to a location that he sometimes uses and we had a really good shoot!

I should be getting some of the photos back soon but I have one that Erwin photoshopped while I was there which came out really cool!

I was going to try to do a shoot with another photographer but the shoot went longer with Erwin which was fine so we drove back and went to Miranda's house to get her and go eat dinner. We ate at Hey Lucy Cafe and I had a delicious olive wood fired pizza. 

After our nice dinner we went to get frozen custard for dessert and then went to Miranda's where Mike taught her some guitar chords that she played while he played the keyboard!

The next morning I had a meeting with my mother agent Chantale Nadeau at her house. I was so happy to see her since it had been a long time! She took some digitals of me and we talked about how Singapore went as well as what my next goal is for modeling. She invited me to be a part of a showcase in Toronto in October that some New York agencies would be attending. We decided that after the showcase and moving to NYC then I would interview with agencies there! 

Afterwards Mike and I went to a restaurant that had very tasty dishes. We got an appetizer of melted cheeses and toasted bread that was one of the best things I have ever tasted!

It was a day of nice eating out because later for dinner Miranda, Mike and I went to Lee Restaurant. Miranda and I met Susur Lee when we were in Singapore and he has told us that we should dine at his Toronto restaurant. Susur came out and thanked us for coming and we ordered some delicious tapas. The Singaporean style slaw was truly amazing as well as a vegetable tapa I had and Mike and Miranda enjoyed a ginger chicken plate.

Afterwards we went to a place that had a wide variety of cakes and cheesecakes for dessert. We ordered three different kinds and they were all scrumptious!

Later at night we got ready and went out to one of Miranda's friend's house to meet up with people she knows. We hung out on a deck outside and it was a lot of fun. Mike started craving pizza so we walked down the road and ate and when we got back everyone was getting ready to go out to a club. We took a cab to a club but when we got there we decided to look around at other places. We walked around the streets and realized we were tired so we went back to the apartment to hang out. 

The next morning we went to an Irish pub down the street for breakfast. We sat outside and had blueberry pancakes...mmm! Then Mike and I got ready to go shopping downtown. We walked around the streets near the Eaten Center and went into a bunch of stores. Then we got hungry and I was craving Pickle Barrel where I used to eat when I modeled in Toronto last year. We got fried rice balls and an order of lettuce wraps that I love! 

We went back to Miranda's house and rested and then I got ready for a celebration dinner that Mike wanted to take me out for our monthversary! I got on a Marciano dress and Mike dressed up and we walked down the road to Ristorante Sotto Sotto. 

It was beautiful inside and the service was some of the best that I have experienced. They brought out brushetta to start and we ordered minestrone soup to share. I love minestrone and this was different from any I have had but it was delicious. For our meal we shared a plate of eggplant parmesan and a plate of four cheese rigatoni. Mike and I were in awe every bite that we took! Lastly we had molten chocolate cake that was a nice ending to our celebration dinner. Dining at Sotto Sotto was one of the best meals we have ever had.  

We went back to Miranda's and said our goodbyes to her and her awesome roommate Helenaz! Miranda is so cute, she made me a virgin strawberry daiquiri for the road! It was sad saying goodbye but it was a great trip and I knew that I would see her again soon. During the car ride back to Rochester I practiced singing with chest voice and I broke through! I sang a couple of songs where I was belting and Mike was so proud. Finally, when I got home it felt good to be back :-)

Sep 16-Sep 21

I finally decided to do a vocal lesson with Mike's vocal coach Richard Fink IV. Richard has worked with some great artists including Carrie Underwood. We drove out to his house which is a castle and I did a one hour lesson where we did different exercises to practice pitch and using chest voice. I was kind of shy but at the end I got louder and overall it was pretty successful. 

Another night Mike, his Dad Scott and I went to the Rock Allegiance tour to see the band Red play. They had a short set but it was worth going and we had fun!

After the concert Mike's family and I went out to eat at Max which is an amazing restaurant in Rochester. The next day Mike and I met up with Liz to go to St. John Fisher College's Courage Bowl football game against the University of Rochester. The sky was beautiful as the sun was setting that night.

At night Liz, Mike and I went to A-Pub Live bar downtown to watch the artist Johnny Cummings who Mike works with play cover songs. The band was really good and we had so much fun singing along with the songs. At one point they started playing Mariah Carey "Hero" because they knew I love her and they handed the mic to me and I "sang" some of the song in front of everyone! 

The next day we went to Mendon Ponds Park because my Dad wanted to go on a trail there. Growing up I have gone there to feed the Chickadee birds because they actually land on your hand there! I had not been on the whole trail in a while and it was very peaceful. 

The next day I had another modeling job with Kodak which I was thankful for because that is the only work I am doing while home in Rochester right now.

Throughout this week Mike and I also did a marathon of the Harry Potter movies because I had not seen them all. So far we have watched number one through five and we will watch the rest soon!

On the 21st I had to get ready for my trip to Toronto the next day!

Aug 30-Sep 15 - Home!

The rest of the way home I flew from Los Angeles to Detroit and then finally to Rochester, NY! When the plane landed my heart was pounding so fast, I was so excited to be home to see my friends and family!

The first day I felt out of it because I was not used to the time change and being home, but all day I hung out with a few close loved ones and we went to dinner together at night!

The next day it was my best friend Sarah's birthday so we went out to dinner with her and friends and I had a very tasty truffled macaroni and cheese and asparagus.

Soon after being home I went to the park near my house that we always go to and we spotted some turtles.

Another day we had a celebration at Mike's grandparents because it was their 66th anniversary! A bunch of us went to their retirement home and had dinner there.

A little while after being home we found a night that the people closest to me at home could go out and eat at Olive Garden since I had missed eating there so much. I treated everyone to dinner even though they did not want me to but I wanted to spend some of my earnings on them and it made me so happy to be with everyone again.

A week and a half after being home I got booked for a Kodak modeling job who I usually model for pretty frequently. I was excited to work with them again since being back home and it is nice of them to keep hiring me.

On September 12th I was so excited to watch the Miss Universe pageant! I was a little bit surprised that Leila Lopes won but I am happy that she did because she seems sweet and she is beautiful. I love the Miss Universe Organization and I hope that someday that will be me!

The next day I had a casting for a Team Cheer catalogue. I have never done cheerleading but I am a dancer so I thought I would go for fun even though I am probably too old for the job.

Also since being home I have spent a lot of time doing music stuff with Mike in and out of his recording studio. He was asked to mix a show for a band called Endyga so I helped out at the sound board too! Another night Mike played guitar for a performance by the band Joywave which was a really fun time. After the show Mike, my best friend Liz and I stopped by our friend's apartment to see Dan, Rocco, and Morgan who are our friends from college. 

In the studio there are a bunch of different songs Mike is working on and I like to listen to the sessions as well as have some input. One day him and an artist he is working with named Johnny Cummings came to Cobbs Hill to jam with my Dad on the guitar. I have loved going to Cobbs Hill all my life where I can relax and look out over Rochester.

Aug 29 - Going home!

I woke up Monday and was excited because I knew I was going home!!

Lauren's Dad came to the apartment and the three of us went to McDonalds to get hotcakes for my last time in Singapore! It was so yummy and I am going to miss getting hotcakes with my roomies!
Afterwards Lauren's Dad helped me carry my suitcases down the stairs that were 54 pounds each. Then the moment came that I knew was coming but it did not hit me that it was actually that time...to say goodbye to Lauren and Singapore!

It was so sad saying bye to Lauren because she has become one of my best friends just like Nadezhda and Miranda have. I wish I could have said goodbye to Amanda but it was nice meeting her and hanging out with her. Lauren is such a beautiful girl and I am proud of her for doing this trip at 17 years old and I hope it has been a growing experience as well as an amazing time for her. I know part of the reason my trip was so fun was because of Lauren. I have so many memories of us laughing uncontrollably together and I am going to miss that! I am so fortunate to have lived with Miranda, Lauren, and Nadezhda and I really want to see them again! I love you girls!

The taxi drove away from the apartment and I could not believe I was actually leaving! I was excited to go home but sad to leave. During the car ride to the airport I snapped some pictures <3

I got to the airport and was trying to contact everyone at home to let them know that I made it to the airport but there was no wifi and my Singapore cell phone ran out of credit! I checked my bags and got the tax money back from the dress that I purchased. Then I went to my gate and tried to get Internet but there was not any so I went to buy more phone credit even though I did not want to. On my way to get credit I saw desk-top computers and one was open so I got on and e-mailed my parents to let them know I was going to get on the plane soon. Mike and I chatted on Facebook for a while which was good. Then I boarded the plane and said goodbye to Singapore!

I flew from Singapore to Taipei, Tawan but I was very nervous because there had been a big typhoon happening there. We landed smoothly and when I got off of the plane the connecting flight was on time. I got on a desk-top computer in Taipei to let everyone know I was safe. Then I walked around the airport and it was very nice. There were art museums and cultural displays and things looked more foreign everywhere. 

I enjoyed walking around and looking at all of the displays. Also there were colorings on a wall that were done by children saying Welcome to Tawan. They were so precious!

Then I found a food area where I bought bread and bubble tea. Right next to where I got food there was a lounge with wifi so I sat there and Facetimed Mike until it was time to get ready to go to my gate. 

I boarded the plane and was on my way to the United States!!

Aug 28 - My Last Day In Singapore!

I had not slept very well throughout the night...there were a couple of people that asked our roommate to stay there for the night and I could hear them talking at 5am. Lauren went to a shoot in the morning with a photographer that I had worked with before and so I hun out at the apartment and made sure I had everything ready to leave Singapore the next day!

When Lauren got back from her shoot her and her Dad and I went to Harbour Front to get some local food at the Food Republic. I got a bunch of vegetables and rice but I had a stomach ache before eating so I was not feeling too well. I was debating going back to the apartment but I wanted to see some people at the beach so Lauren and her Dad went site-seeing around Sentosa while I headed straight to the beach.

When I got there I saw Natalie and Dave and sat and talked to Natalie for a while. Lauren and her Dad came after and we ordered food and drinks. I relaxed and talked with my friends and I got my famous berry bowl that I love but had not gotten in a while!

It was delicious and it was nice to see everyone there on my last day. I met so many people from all over the world and I will not forget them! It was sad saying bye and leaving Sentosa.

When we got back we stopped at the plaza and I got McDonalds ice cream for my last time before going home! Lauren and I just relaxed and hung out, then I just skyped before I went to bed.

Aug 27

On Saturday Lauren and her Dad were at the apartment hanging out. I spent the day hanging out in the apartment because it was raining out and I had to make sure everything was packed to go home!

At night we had a going-away dinner for me at Bella Pasta!

Andrew from the agency, Lauren, Natalie and her boyfriend Dave attended my dinner :-)...Amanda was supposed to attend but she was at a shoot that was far away. 

I had a four cheese gnocchi that was very rich but enjoyable. Of course I had to get dessert and their tiramisu was delicious! 

After dinner everyone wanted me to go out since it would be my last time there but I was tired and wanted to have a relaxing night. Lauren and I headed back and saw that there was a concert outside by our apartment so we walked over and listened for a minute.

We went to the grocery store to pick up some of my friend Kate's magazines and look around and then Lauren and I relaxed and tried to go to bed. The concert was really loud so we played music and then watched some of ratatouille until the concert stopped and I skyped and went to bed.

Aug 25/26

I know I am behind...sorry!

Thursday I woke up early in the morning to say good bye to Miranda and help her bring her luggage downstairs to a taxi :-( It was so sad but I know it is not goodbye for good!

I tried to go back to sleep but I just was on the computer and rested. Lauren was out at castings but said we should do lunch so we went to Modesto's because I had a coupon. We went to the one at Harbour Front since we usual go to a different one. This Modesto's was right on the water and we each ate a whole margherita pizza..mmm!

After we ate I tried to get back to the apartment by bus and wound up having to walk a few miles and wait a long time for the right bus to come. I finally made it back to the apartment and I saw that Lauren had moved in her stuff into my room because Miranda had moved out.

Lauren was at the airport picking up her Dad who had just landed to visit her! I packed some more of my suitcases and hung out at the apartment. Later Lauren came back and we got ready to go out to Soul one last time just for a little bit. We got there and some of our friends were all singing along with the band playing and it was fun. We hung out with Natalie there which was good to talk to her and catch up :-) It was nice to see a bunch of people for a little since it was one of my last times going out.

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Friday morning Lauren came back to the apartment with her Dad and we hung out while each of us skyped. Then I wanted to go to Chinatown to get a few last souvenirs and Lauren and her Dad wanted to go too. Before going we stopped at the plaza to get some local food. Lauren and I got our usual noodles and I also got vegetables which were delicious. Afterwards Lauren and I were so excited because she spotted a Sweet Talk in the plaza which we usual travel 25 minutes away to get! We got that and drank our bubble shakes while we waited for the bus.

Then we all walked around Chinatown and I bought the last few souvenirs I needed while we showed Lauren's Dad around. 

Unfortunately I had to say good bye to my agency, Phantom, since I was leaving on Monday and they would not be there over the weekend. I brought the agency a little thank you gift and returned my portfolio. They wanted me to extend my stay but I wanted to be back home for things I want to do. I was sad to say goodbye but I had a good experience with them!

I headed back to the apartment and ate until Lauren came and we hung out. Andrew told us that there was a new club lounge opening up and so he wanted us to go to it. Amanda, Andrew, Lauren and I got into a van and stopped at a couple other places to pick up other models and we went to Royal Room. It was nice in there, pretty small but it had red velvet furniture and a nice atmosphere. 

We were tired so Lauren and I left early and I went back to skype and go to bed.

Aug 24 - My Last Day With Nadezhda & Miranda :-(

Wednesday was Miranda's last day in Singapore :-( We officially titled it Miranda's Day! :-)

Unfortunately the morning was very sad for me because Nadezhda found out that she had to leave the country for two weeks because Singapore would not renew her a visa. After Miranda and I got ready for the day we had to say goodbye to Nadezhda :'-(. I was literally holding back tears because Nadezhda has become such a good friend of mine. Nadezhda is so cute and sweet and I will miss listening to Rock N Roll Queen together! She has done amazing things as a model and even though we do different kinds of modeling, I look up to her. Nadezhda was holding in tears too and Miranda and I didn't want to leave even though we had to. I know it is not goodbye forever, we will be in touch and hopefully see each other some day! I will always be here for her and love her <3

Miranda and I headed to Chinatown because we had to get souvenirs for her friends and family before she went home. We walked all around there for a while and I finished my souvenir shopping as well. Some things there are neat and you can find good deals but somethings are funny like this watch Miranda found that says "Happy Happy Better" that we wanted to buy as a joke.

After we got all of our souvenirs we were leaving Chinatown and we saw an ice cream stand that they have on the streets here where you can get a block of ice cream with rainbow bread or slices of waffle bread. We wanted to try it before we left Asia so we got some with waffle bread but I was not the biggest fan of it because the ice cream was not really sweet and it had a funky taste to it. Miranda's was a little better than mine so we swapped because she did not mind mine :-)

We went back to the apartment to relax for a little and then Miranda, Lauren and I left to do shopping on Orchard. On our way to one of the malls there were two little kids sitting in front of us on the bus and they were adorable! The little boy was saying hi and talking to us and laughing to his sister. When they were getting off of the bus they said goodbye to us and then stood on the sidewalk and waved through the window at us! It was so precious I wanted to take a picture but I did not get one until the bus had driven away and they were walking home. 

We arrived at the Pacific Plaza off of Orchard where were wanted to look for a dress that Miranda wore in the Wedding & Lifestyle shoot we did together. We looked in some stores and then we went to Avana where the dress was and they only had one left. I tried it on and it was beautiful but it was about $1000 so we decided it was not worth it. Lauren looked around for a prom dress but did not find anything. 

Lauren and I were craving Sweet Talk drinks that we get and we wanted Miranda to try them so we went across the street and got drinks and went into Far East Plaza to look around. We were not seriously shopping we were just killing time until we were going to dinner for Miranda's last night. 

After a little while we decided to head down to Clarke Quay area and hang out there until dinner time. There were a lot of decorations set up because there was a festival going on and they looked really neat. 

Miranda was going to have some friends join us for dinner but when some could not come she decided not to have an official going away dinner and rather just get food she was craving at Clarke Quay with Lauren and me. For days Miranda was talking about Mexican food so we went to Cafe Iguana for her last dinner in Singapore!

I had not had Mexican food in a long time but I was looking forward to it. I ordered a cheese enchilada with rice and beans and it tasted amazing. Since it was Miranda's last night I bought her a margarita and the three of us sat outside by the water. It was so nice and relaxing even though it was sad thinking about Miranda leaving the following day. In celebration I wanted to order a dessert for us and I was excited when I saw something similar to bananas foster on the menu. Lauren had never had bananas foster before so I had to get it for her to try! Lauren said it looked like banana slugs which we looked up later and there really is such a thing. Besides having that gross image in mind the dessert was pretty yummy. I have had better but no matter what, caramelized bananas and ice cream is always going to be good! 

Then Miranda wanted to go to a shisha place that was by the restaurant so we sat outside at a table and Miranda ordered strawberry shisha. I wanted no part in this and I had no part in it other then observing Miranda smoking and Lauren trying it. Then Miranda's friend met up with us to say bye to her and give her a CD of music. We went back to the apartment and started playing music and Miranda, Lauren and I were singing and dancing which was a lot of fun. Then our friend Dave stopped by quickly to say goodbye to Miranda and when we left we got ready for bed. When Miranda went to bed I wrote her a little goodbye note since she was leaving early the next morning. 

When I was arriving in Singapore I had no clue what to expect I just knew I wanted to do as much modeling as I could while I was here. I never would have guessed that I would have become so close, so quickly with Miranda and end up having a new best friend. That goes for my roommates Nadezhda and Lauren as well which I will write about when I leave Singapore. Miranda really helped me when I first got to Singapore and she is such a sweet person, beautiful on the inside and out. I am proud of her getting signed with FORD Toronto and I know she will do big things in the modeling industry! I am so happy we did many jobs together in Singapore and we had a lot of fun over the past two months. We both had our ups and our downs either from being ill or just being away from home and I think we helped each other a lot. Miranda only lives a few hours away from me so I know this is not goodbye….I have actually already planned a trip to see her in a month! I am so blessed to have a great new friendship that will always last, I love you Miranda!