Jan22-Jan26 - Going home!

Sunday night my roomies and I had off from work so we ordered food to our place and ate and hung out. I was happy we could be together because I was going back home in a couple of days.

The next day was my last day at work before visiting home and that evening while working I got to meet Rachel Ray and her husband, as well as the Executive Producer of Project Runway Desiree Gruber! They each dined with us and both were beautiful and nice!

                              
On Tuesday I was flying home! My flight was not until later at night so Sarah and I went to Ristorante Asellina at the Gansevoort Park Hotel to eat. They were participating in Restaurant Week where there is a three-course prix-fixe deal during lunch service. We really enjoyed our meals and had fun trying the interesting desserts. There was a dragon fruit cheesecake with vanilla sorbet that was tasty and a basil-flavored flan with tomato sorbet which was very interesting!

Afterwards I got ready to go home! I took the subway to JFK airport and landed home at 10:30 at night. I had not been home for three weeks so it was nice to be able to visit. Mike picked me up from the airport and I made him play for me one of his new songs he produced! I had been waiting to hear it and it is going to be a #1 hit guaranteed!

The next day Mike had planned events for our Monthversary and it was such a nice day! For breakfast we went to IHop because we love their pancakes. Then we walked around the mall and looked at the cute puppies for sale just for fun. Mike told me we had something to go to at 1:00 and he drove me to an ice skating rink! I had not been ice skating in a while and at first I was shaky. Mike had not been in a while either but was really good at it and eventually I got pretty comfortable too. We got hot chocolate there and then went to Mike's house to see his family and get ready for our dinner reservation.

It was a surprise where we were going to dinner and it wound up being a really cute place called Osteria Rocco! We both started with delicious cauliflower soup and arancinis. All of the food was amazing and the dessert was unbelievable! We ate a frozen chocolate and hazelnut moose that I wish I could eat every day!

During dinner Mike told me that he got movie tickets for that night and when we got there I found out we were going to see We Bought A Zoo! I had been wanting to see that movie and while we were watching it we were saying how bad it was because it was sad at parts and I felt like I was always crying either because of something sad or happy, but really the movie was good! I love animals so much and I always have and after seeing this movie I told everyone that I want a zoo! haha

The next day while everyone was at work I met up with my Dad at Aladdin's restaurant that we love. My parents and I have eaten there since I can remember and the food is inexpensive but so good and healthy for you too! 

Later that night Mike and I met up with our friends Dave and Julie for a double date! We tried to go to Olive Garden but they were closed so we all went to TGI Friday's and had a really good time. Afterwards we wanted to see the opening night of the movie Man On A Ledge so we all went and it was really good! I like action movies with a good storyline and a little bit of humor too. Staying awake for the midnight showings of movies is usually hard for me and although I made it through the movie, afterwards I was ready for some sleep!

Jan15-Jan21 - Miss New York USA Pageant!

On Sunday morning I woke up and felt sick which was not good because I had been looking forward to this day for a while! I have not been sick in a while but then the day I was going to attend the Miss New York pageant I got a cold! The Miss New York pageant is under the new management of K2 Productions and I was very excited to see their new show. I am going to be competing in the pageant next year and I have attended the pageant every year since 2005! I couldn't let this year be the exception so I rested, bought medicine, and then Sarah and I got ready to go!

The process of getting to the pageant was not easy because Sarah and I do not have our cars in the city. Dennise has her car at her sister's house in the Bronx and offered to let us use it! That was so nice of her and that wound up making our trip so much easier. We took the subway for 80 mins and then got in her car and drove to The Performing Arts Center at Purchase College!

I was so happy that we got there okay and when we went inside there were many excited families, friends, and fans! The production was great and the contestants were beautiful!

It was difficult to determine who the winner would be because there were many who stood out! After being judged in the categories of evening gown, swimsuit and interview, Johanna Sambucini was crowned the new Miss New York USA for 2012!

After the production it was so good to see my friend Rosalie who I have known since participating in the Miss New York Teen USA pageant! She is so sweet and beautiful and I really had hoped that she would do well in the pageant. She told me that next year should be my year and that meant so much to me <3

The next day was Martin Luther King Jr. Day which I usually attend the annual celebration at St. John Fisher College where there are speeches and performances, but this year I was not in Rochester. The theme of the event was "Unconditional Love For All" which is perfect for his remembrance because he has said the beautiful quote:

I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. That is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant. Martin Luther King Jr.

For the rest of the week I worked at Maialino and one night I met Jimmy Fallon! It was funny because my Aunt Susan was just saying that she was going to get tickets for us to go to his show this summer. Jimmy came in and was very outgoing and sat at our bar and talked with all of the guests around him. He was very funny and very nice! 

That weekend I was done with training for my hostess/reservationist job and I was working shifts on my own! Everything went pretty well even though it is a challenge to be alone in the office answering the phones and taking care of the guests' needs. I am really enjoying working there but I was also looking forward to visiting home the next week! 

Jan9-Jan14 - Interviewing With Agencies!

January 9th I had the day off so I got prepared for my interviews the next day. On Tuesday I had two interviews with modeling agencies! My first interview was with NY Model Management where they had a booker meet with me in their conference room and I showed her my portfolio. We talked and she was very nice! They said that they would have a meeting and let my mother agent know their decision.

Afterwards I went back to the apartment and ate lunch and then headed to my second interview which was with Muse Model Management. When I walked in the booker who came to greet me looked familiar and he asked me if we had met before. It turns out that when I went to Canada for Chantale Nadeau's model presentation show he was there! We sat down and briefly talked and then he took some digital pictures. When I had met him in Canada he said that they would be interested in signing me to their Germany office but I knew that I would be moving to NYC soon so that would not work.

I enjoyed going to both agencies and I am thankful that I had the opportunity to interview with them!

The next day I started my first day of training at Maialino restaurant at Gramercy Park Hotel!

The first night I trained as a hostess and it was pretty busy but it went well! Danny Meyer who owns Maialino as well as other Union Square Hospitality Group restaurants happened to stop in and we met and he was very nice. The next morning I trained as a reservationist in the office and I was surprised by how much the phone rings! Up to nine guests can call at a time and they do! I enjoyed learning about Maialino and starting work there.

On January 14th the Miss America pageant was airing live on television and I was excited to watch because I know Kaitlin Monte who is Miss New York America. I usually only watch the Miss America pageant every other year but I made sure to be home to see Kaitlin compete! Kaitlin is from my hometown and we were part of the same modeling agency, Mary Therese Friel, LLC. She did so well placing 2nd runner-up and really could have won, but I am proud of her for making it so far!