Mar 23rd-Mar 31st - Going Home!

My cousin Wes and I got up early and headed to the Dallas airport because I was flying home to see my family and friends! While we were driving we saw lightening and thunder and I got a call that my flight was delayed a little bit so we went to an IHOP nearby! I had pancakes which were delicious and I was glad we got to go before my flight!

At the airport I ran into a lot of difficulties like security not letting me through with a nice pen that my Dad gave me so I paid $15 to send it home. My flight was delayed even more so I was going to miss my connecting flight and the American Airlines representative said he had to leave and another one was too busy to help me. Finally it all worked out and on my flight home I got to see the Washington Monument from the airport!

When I got home I cuddled with Cookie Dough, it felt so good to see her! 

My Mom had gone on a trip to Arizona for work and while being there she went to the Gem and Mineral Show so she showed me the cool pieces she got!

Then my Dad had never been to PF Changs before and he wanted to try it so we went there and enjoyed it! Later at home my cousin Amanda was stopping at her house down the street so I got to see her for a few minutes which was nice. On Wednesday we went to the park by my house and walked on the trail and started to go on the boardwalk but it was too windy. 

Later my Mom and I went shopping to get gifts for upcoming birthdays! For dinner we went to Napa and it was good! Then Thursday was Mike's Mom Helen's birthday! For lunch Helen, Scott, Alex, Mike, Liz from Scott Miller and I went to eat at 2 Vine and it was incredible like always. They brought out desserts for her birthday which was really nice!

That was a great time and then we went to Scott Miller in Webster and the staff surprised her with a cake!

For dinner Helen, Scott, Alex, Jon, Mike, his Aunt Arlene, his Uncle Harold, Michelle from Scott Miller and I all went to Rocco and words can't describe how good it was, like always! First I started with ricotta cheese and charred toast which was amazing and then Mike and I shared truffle oil pizza... dream dinner! 

We had desserts after so altogether I officially ate the most unhealthiest anyone can eat but I enjoyed every second of it haha It was nice that we could all be together to celebrate with Helen!

The next night Jon's band Starlight Cities had a show at The Montage Music Hall so a bunch of us went to see them and Mike mixed their show! 

Saturday I woke up to really sad news that my Great Uncle Jim passed away. He lived in Maine so I did not get to see him a lot but I have great memories of our family trips there to visit my him, my Great Aunt Helen and my Grandpa Joe. It is hard physically losing someone you love but I know they are all with me and my family in spirit. I will always love you Uncle Jim.

During the day I got a call from my Dad saying that he was opening a new knife and he cut his finger badly! He was on his way to the emergency room and Mike and I headed there right away. We walked into the area he was being operated on and the first thing I saw were his white shoes with blood on them. As we got closer I saw the nurse holding towels that were soaked and she asked us to wait in the lobby so that no one would faint. 

He got nine stitches and he was really worried because he needs mobility and feeling in his finger in order to play guitar. We went home to clean up and tried to stay positive. Later at night we had another celebration for Helen's birthday. We took her to Pomodoro and had the staff from Scott Miller surprise her there! Afterwards a bunch of us went to Taylor's Disco Night Club and had a blast! 

Sunday was Easter and I had such a nice time being with my family! My Mom made food at home for lunch which was really yummy and later my Dad chose an Italian restaurant for dinner!

I hope everyone had a happy holiday whether you celebrated Easter or Passover!

Mar 16th-Mar 22nd - Leaving LA & Visiting Texas!

Saturday I had a shoot with photographer Anouk Morgan! She is from Holland and I'm part Dutch so that was cool. It was a really natural shoot and she found different plain walls of buildings for the backgrounds.

Credit: Anouk Morgan

Hair: Erica Stoy

The next day was St. Patrick's Day! I miss going to the parade in my hometown in Rochester but I tried to find something to do. Isabella and I planned to go to the Melrose Trading Post and I waited until she was ready to go in the afternoon. After we ate at Spoon by H for lunch and I had a yummy caprese sandwich!

Then we went to Shore Bar in Santa Monica where there was a DJ and we went upstairs to see the VIP area that had a cottage feel to it. 

On Monday I went to Erica's house for lunch and it was amazing! She made a salad with apple slices and pomegranate seeds in it that was so good. There were also onion knots and a main course of this cheese-filled bread that thinking about makes me drool a little right now haha

That was so nice and then I headed to a casting in the next town over for Stila Styles cosmetics and they were really nice. Afterwards I went to Ford to say bye for now because I was going to visit family and go back home for a few weeks.

At night I started to pack a little because I had so many things and only one day left. My last day I woke up and there was someone there to clean the apartment and I told her I was moving out the next day and I did not want my room cleaned. Then I headed to Spoon by H where I got banana milk bubble tea and they gave me a complimentary iced apple green tea that was so good!

Erica's salon Studio DNA moved into a new location that was nearby and she told me to come check it out. It was very modern with white walls and mirrors, it was really nice! She was available then so she blow-dried my hair which was sweet of her! 

When I got back to the apartment my stuff was all moved around, the maid had cleaned even though I told her not to. I told Isabella and she said that she pays the maid to clean the whole apartment so she told her to clean everything. Then she told me to help her cook because her boss was coming over for dinner. It was nice of her to get me cheese raviolis because she remembered I am a vegetarian. I was helping her cook and trying to work on packing at the same time. 

Isabella left for work and I did laundry and finished packing. When I was done I realized I did not remember packing a wrap bracelet that Mike gave to me that I left in my bathroom that morning. I looked in my purse where I usually put it and could not find it. I tried not to panic because it could have been elsewhere in my luggage. Then I cuddled with Skittles and was sad that I had to say goodbye. 

I got up early and flew from LA to Texas to visit my family there! I flew Virgin Airlines which was interesting but cool.

My cousin Wes and his girlfriend Hana picked me up from the airport and brought me to my Uncle Roscoe and Aunt Karen's house! It was so nice seeing them because it had been a while! Then the five of us went out to dinner at a Chinese buffet that was really good! Of course I had to try a little bit of every dessert lol

At night we watched American Idol together and the contestants were really talented! The next morning I looked around and it reminded me of great times in the past when I went there to visit and it felt good to be back! :)

Later we watched American Idol and then Wes took me to my cousin Joseph and his wife Kristen's house! We hung out and talked for hours which was so nice catching up and sharing stories. Their doggie Ity Bity was cute as always and I met their new pup named Major Chandler. 

Ity Bity

Major Chandler

Friday morning I looked through my luggage and knew that something happened to my bracelet. My roommate said that her nor the maid took it but I had it at the apartment and then it was gone. I am very sad that someone has it and will not give it back because not only was it a really cool bracelet but it was very sentimental to me. 

Even though it hurts I know that it is the love behind the gift that really counts, not the item itself and I am not going to let anyone make my life miserable because of something they did wrong. Sorry for the tangent but I know everyone experiences losing something that is valuable to them.

Anyway, that day my Uncle left work early to spend more time with me which was really nice of him and we had a great time looking through photo albums of old pictures of my family. When everyone else came home we went to dinner at a place called David's that my family knows the owner. The food was delicious and we got got some yummy desserts! 

Then I had to get ready to leave the next morning. I didn't get to see my cousin Blake who was away at college but I am so glad that I made the trip to Texas! It was so nice to see my family there and their generosity meant so much to me. Thanks again fam, I love ya'll! 

Mar 10th-Mar 15th - Magazine, Test and Website Photo Shoots!

March 10th was National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. "Today, women represent a larger share of new HIV infections than they did earlier in the epidemic, with nearly 280,000 women living with HIV/AIDS in the United States (womenshealth.gov)." Here is a site with information about prevention, testing and treatment: http://www.womenshealth.gov/hiv-aids/

It was  Sunday so I decided to lay out by the pool at the apartment which was nice!

In the afternoon I went to the Melrose Trading Post with my roommate Isabella and her friend which was a cool outdoor market. After we stopped quick at a clothing store that Isabella knew the owner and then we went to a place called Fatty's Public House.

The next day we went to Target and Skittles the doggie came in with us too. Then I went with Isabella and her Mom to Joan's on Third which was a nice deli and cafe. 

It was Gloria's last night in town so we went to Mel's Diner for a late night snack and she played the jukebox which was fun.

The next day I had a photo shoot for Weddings by The Ritz-Carlton magazine July-December 2013 issue! I am not going to say too much since it is not released yet but the location was absolutely beautiful, the photographer was from Milan and so talented and I met a really nice model named Lara! It was a great team, a glamourous day and I am thankful I had the opportunity!

March 13th was Jon's (Mike's sister's fiance) birthday! I wish we could have been home but I hope he had a great day! That morning I had a go-see for Kill City and then one right after for VM Print. Then I headed to a studio where I had a shoot with photographer Tracy Kahn! I was going to try to make it to another casting afterwards but the shoot was going longer so Ford said it was ok to stay. 

Credit: Tracy Kahn

Hair/Makeup: Giovanna Avila

Ford said that the pictures are too commercial for my book but Tracy said that we could shoot again and I would like to! 

The next day was Pi Day, 3.14! My Mom is a scientist so I had to mention it haha That afternoon I had a casting for a Target commercial and there were a lot of people trying out because it was a big job. At night I went with Isabella to Black Banditz for her to get a tattoo. 

The next morning I worked for Modnique.com which is always so much fun! I modeled clothing lines Christian Audigier and 555. 

Credit: Sean

Hair/Makeup: Emily Dawn

Later I went to Studio DNA where my friend Erica works to see the salon. Her and her friend Natalie have a company Hairs How We Do It and they did these cool expanded fishtail braids in my hair for their Instagram. Then she gave my hair an awesome blowout so that it would be all set for a shoot I had the next day! 

Afterwards she introduced me to a place called Spoon by H which was delicious and the family who works there was so nice! Then I headed to bed to rest for a shoot the next day.

Mar 1st-Mar 9th - Venice Beach & Friends

Friday morning I went to a casting for ShopLaStyle.com and then Mike and I headed to Venice Beach for the day! We found a place that you could rent bicycles and ride on a path along the beach so we did that and it was so much fun!

After we went to eat at a restaurant in the Westfield shopping center that was indoors but without walls which was nice. Then I went to Ford for a casting for La Isla swimwear. For dinner we met up with our friends Erica and Jason at Granville Cafe in Burbank, California. It was cool to hear what Erica has been doing as a hair stylist and Jason as a movie trailer creator. Great food, great company, and of course we had to get dessert! 

That weekend we went to Coffee Bean with our friend Jason and next door there was a house having a garage sale and Jennifer Gimenez from Rehab with Dr. Drew was one of the people hosting the sale. Later we all headed to the Sunset Marquis and the guys smoked cigars and while we were hanging out Steven Tyler and Billy Bob Thorton walked by us. 

(Photo credit: Oyster.com)

On Sunday Mike and I decided to go to Malibu because we had never been there. We ate at a restaurant called The Sunset right by the beach and the food was amazing! While we were eating we saw a couple of dolphins jump out of the water which was incredible to see! Afterwards we drove into the hills and looked at the houses and the beautiful view. 

For dinner we went to visit Jason while he was working at Katana. We sat on the patio and I had the incredible soy paper avocado sushi again!

At night Mike and Tony worked like usual and I went to bed. The next day I had a casting for Evette & K and then one right after for Ark & Co. Mike was leaving the next day to work in Atlanta so we we went bowling at Lucky Strike and ate at Hard Rock Cafe afterwards which was really fun!

Since Mike was going to Atlanta I couldn't afford the apartment by myself so I moved into an empty bedroom in a two bedroom apartment at The Palazzo with a girl who I never met before. The area and the apartment itself was really nice.

I was just going to be there for two weeks and the room was not furnished so I borrowed an air mattress from Jason and used that the whole time. When moving in I met Skittles the dog and later at night I met Isabella who lives there. 

Thursday I worked for Modnique.com again which I really love! I modeled Blaque Market clothing that had cute pieces for going out. At the end of the shoot I also did some pictures outside for their Facebook that were casual like Pinterest pins. 

My friend Gloria who is a former Miss New York Teen USA and Miss New York USA titleholder was in town so we went to dinner together at Cafe Med which was nice because we had not seen each other in a while!

Friday morning I drove to Irvine, California for a go-see for Tilly's clothing. Everyone was really nice and I like their clothes. At night Gloria and I went to a concert at The Roxy because she knows 2 AM Club who was performing. Outasight and The Ready Set also performed but we left before it ended and headed to iHop for a late night meal.

The next night I went to her hotel and we watched a rerun of Kevin Hart on Saturday Night Live and the new one with Justin Timberlake which was funny. 

Bring It On Down To Veganville! haha

Then I headed back to the apartment to get some sleep.