Feb25-Mar8 - Visiting home!

On Saturday Sarah and I went to a Barney's warehouse sale that I saw advertised in a magazine. There were some cute pieces and I was tempted to buy a couple of purses but the sale wasn't really enough for me to buy anything. However since we were in a shopping mood we decided to go to some other stores on the way home :)

The next day Dennise and I went to lunch at a place called Piccolo Cafe for lunch and it was so cute. They had really good food and it was inexpensive. Later I had to work so I missed the Oscar's that night.

Tuesday I worked during the day and found people to cover shifts for me to make a trip home. Last minute I decided to catch a train to go to my Grandma's house in Connecticut to visit before I went to Rochester, New York! I ran to the apartment and packed then ran to Penn Station and hopped on the train! It was so good to see my Grandma and my Dad was there helping her so it was good to spend time with them!

My first day being back home Mike showed me the new awesome music he has been working on in the studio. Then we went to Plum Garden where they have the best Japanese food. Later at night we ate at Friday's and then I hung out in the studio with Mike and our friend Tony while they worked together on a session.

On the 3rd we met up with my Mom to eat at Olive Garden for lunch. Afterwards my Mom and I went to Eastview mall to make an appearance at the Lollypop Farm Humane Society Telethon Fundraiser. Every year I volunteer and help out but this year I did not know beforehand if I would be able to make it home. It was nice to go and make a donation as well as see some of my friends from modeling volunteering and I got to meet some animal friends!

After I left I found out that Mike's Grandma got admitted to the hospital. She was feeling a little short of breath and disoriented so they took her vitals and kept her for a couple of days. I was glad that we could go and be there for her and she was happy to have us there. 

The next day I spent more time at home with my kitty Cookie Dough and I visited with my cousin Amanda. I miss Cookie Dough so much but I know that she would not be happy at the apartment so when I am home I take tons of pictures of her to bring back to the city! 

Later at night Mike and I ate at P.F. Changs and got lettuce wraps mmm We were those people who are the last ones to walk in before close but we couldn't find any other place that was open and we made sure to eat quick. 

The next day I went shopping at the mall with my Mom and got a few cute dresses at Forever 21. All night I spent getting all of my receipts and documents together to meet with my accountant the next day to do my taxes. This year I made more than I ever have from modeling and I had some tricky situations to figure out in terms of claiming foreign income and expenses so I decided to get help from the accountant who does the taxes for the company my Mom owns.

The meeting went well and afterwards I went to Scott Miller Salon to get a manicure :) I had not gotten one in a long time and I wanted to be prepared for if I had another interview coming up. Later we had a nice dinner at Mike's house and we all got together and watched some of Downton Abbey that we have heard people talking about. It was a little slow at parts and we were laughing because the DVD was freezing for some reason but from what we saw it was okay.

The next morning the amazing photographer Carrie Mateosian came over with her equipement to do a photo shoot of Mike's studio The 360.

At the same time that the shoot was going on his Mom had a stylist, Carin Lilja, at the house to go through her closet and create outfits as well as get rid of some clothes and make a list of things to buy. It was so fun watching the ideas that she came up with and I helped take notes of what pieces she was putting together. Helen had a BCBG dress that she was not going to wear anymore and they had me try it on and put a belt with it and I love it!

I did not want to leave the exciting stuff going on at the house but I had an appointment at the salon to get a spray tan since I found out that the booker at FORD had left and there was a chance that they would have me go into the agency again! From the spray tan I went straight to Applebee's to meet Liz for dinner. Liz is one of my best friends and I don't get to see her a lot being in the city so it was so nice to catch up.

Afterwards Mike and Tony were looking to eat so they decided to go to Applebee's haha but a different location than the one I met Liz at so I went and hung out with them and we were amused by people singing karaoke in the restaurant. That night I packed up to get ready to go back to the city the next morning.

On the 8th I flew into JFK and took the subway back to the apartment!

Feb15-Feb24 - Interviewing with FORD!

Wednesday morning Mike left really early in the morning and then later in the day my Dad came to visit me since he was a couple of hours away in Connecticut helping my Grandma. I had not known it before but when he arrived he told me my Grandma had fallen the day before and they did not tell me because they did not want me to worry. She went to the hospital and miraculously did not break anything! The doctors were also very surprised that she is 84-years-old and is not on any medications. They did recommend physical therapy though so she went to a place to do different exercises.

Anyway my Dad, Sarah and I went to eat at L'express and had a very nice afternoon meal! Then on the way back to the apartment we showed him Maialino where were work and the Gramercy Park Hotel that it is in with Jade Bar and Rose Bar. He really liked the restaurant and the area that we are in!

The next day I worked breakfast and lunch and we had a couple of interesting guests. One was Dhani Jones who is a former NFL linebacker. He came in on a really cool bicycle that folded in half and he told me what it was called but I cannot remember what he said, it was some weird word haha.

The other guest was Milton Glaser who is famous for creating the I <3 NY logo. He has done other big graphic design jobs throughout the years and I thought that was pretty neat. 

Sunday morning I worked during brunch and the beauty editor of Teen Vogue, Eva Chen, came in and later tweeted "best brunch in NYC: @MaialonoNYC" :)

Another guest we had for brunch was Mike Nichols, the famous director and producer who is now married to ABC World News anchor Diane Sawyer. My Dad had actually been to a big party that Mr. Nichols had in the 70's to sell Arabian horses. I told him that my Dad attended that event and he thought that was neat.

Later at night I watched the premiere of this season's Celebrity Apprentice! Donald Trump is the co-owner of the Miss Universe Organization and one of the contestants on this season's show is Dayana Mendoza who was Miss Universe 2008! Dayana is beautiful and she did well in this episode, she called up a lot of people to come help support her team in the challenge of selling sandwiches.

Monday was Presidents Day and my roommates and I had the day off from work so we went out and spent the day together. We had heard about a restaurant called Dos Caminos so we decided to try the meat-packing location. It was pretty good, especially the dessert, but unfortunately our server was rude to us and we were a little disappointed because of that.

Afterwards we went across the street and shopped around in the Chelsea Market. There were a lot of little stores and bakeries that made such cute cookies and cupcakes. The interior was a cool feel inside and we had fun looking around. 

The next day I had off too and it was beautiful out so I went for a jog!

The rest of the day I was getting prepared for my interview with FORD Models the next morning! I had already gotten a light spray tan so then I did my hair, charged my iPad that my portfolio is on and picked out a cool outfit.

On the 22nd I got up in the morning and got ready for my interview. I got really nervous because I woke up with a little rash on the lower-half of my face which I have not had ever before! Luckily it did not show too much and I put on moisturizer and it pretty much went away. Then I listened to inspirational music and headed to FORD on Fifth Avenue!

I got called in and interviewed with a young lady who I had actually interviewed with a year-and-a-half ago! She was very nice and we talked about my history of modeling in terms of where I have modeled before. Afterwards I interviewed with another women who just asked me what clients I have worked for and what type of jobs I am interested in doing. Lastly, they took digitals of me posing and showing my hair down and up. Then they said that they would talk to the team and let Chantale, my mother agent, know what they decided!

The next night I had work and model Christy Turlington and actor Ed Burns dined with us that evening. Christy was very tall and pretty, of course, and Ed was really nice!

On Friday Mike had a concert in Rochester with the band he is in for fun called Pretty in Pink. I wanted to be there so badly but it did not work out. While the concert was going on I had his Mom hold the phone up for me to hear, as well as his sister send videos to me. They did awesome and it looked like so much fun!