April 19th-April 30th Q Model Management, Mike Visiting Me, & The Kardashians!

On the 19th I woke up in the morning to an email from the agency I was with in Singapore saying that they were casting for a car commercial and wanted to submit me. I thought that would be a great opportunity so I told them that I would be available to fly there if I got the job and to go ahead and send my photos!

Later during the day I had work and then afterwards I got ready for my interview with Q Model Management the next day! All of a sudden when I was doing my hair that night my straightener stopped working so I had to run out and buy one so that my hair could be nice for the interview.

I woke up in the morning, got ready to go and took a cab downtown to Q! When I got there they took my portfolio from me and I waited in the lobby for a little while. Then they called me upstairs so I went up and met the team. They were all very nice and I was just asked a little bit about my modeling background and my height. They said that their owner was out of town and so they wanted my mother agent to send my digitals (pictures without makeup on) to them and they would make a decision when he got back into town!

Right when I left I walked down the street and out of nowhere a company van hit into a car and pieces of the car came flying towards me and other people on the sidewalk. I was so frightened for the people in the car because their car got totaled from the van behind them and hitting into the car in front of them. I stopped to see if they were okay and luckily a couple minutes later they got out and were not injured but obviously very shaken up. New York City is known to be a difficult city to drive in but I really wish that everyone would be more careful and cautious.

The next couple of days I worked and we had guests such as Pamela Baxter the President of LVMH (Louis Vuitton) Perfume and Cosmetics, and actor Christopher Plummer from many great movies including one of my favorites The Sound of Music.

Myself and many other employees were disappointed when Usher's assistant called to make a reservation and unfortunately we were so fully reserved that we could not get him a table in our main dining room.

On Monday Mike and his Dad arrived in the city for a meeting with Mike's music lawyer and they surprised me by meeting me at my work when I was getting done. We were going to eat at my work but I was not informed that there is a rule that if you just worked in front of the guests you cannot sit down and eat or drink afterwards. We had to been to Novita near by before and loved it so we decided to go there again. Their dishes of a baked eggplant and truffle pasta are incredible so Scott was so kind to treat us to those.

The next day Mike had a meeting with BMI which deals with music royalty, publishing, licensing and songwriting where he had a really good meeting! Afterwards we went to Pastis which is a really cute place to eat. It was my first time there and their food was delicious, I had the asparagus salad and olive pasta.

Afterwards our friend Tony who is a songwriter and Jay who is a singer and songwriter drove in to the city and arrived at the hotel. They got in touch with a famous singer named Stan from Greece who was in the city and we met up with him at Times Square. We went to a lobby of a hotel and they had a meeting together where they showed him the music they have been producing. I was so happy for the guys when Stan listened to the different songs and was blown away. He was really nice and invited us to go out and meet his manager. We went and met his manager at a place called Groove NYC and it was pretty fun. They had musicians performing and they were very soulful and very talented!

Wednesday was Mike and my Anniversary and I was so happy that he was in the city. Mike and Tony had a meeting in the morning with EMI music company and they said it was really cool. After they got done I met them at Balthazar for lunch. It was so cute there and we had a great lunch.

While we were at lunch Jay was in a session and after they were done Mike was going to join to work on a new song. While they were still working on the other song we hung out at Starbuck's and ran into some friends who are going to NYU for music. Then Mike had talked to the owner of Germano studios and he was going to be at the studio soon so we met him there.

We hung out in the waiting area and while they talked I was looking at all of the album plaques on the wall. Seeing Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, The Black-eyed Peas and Adele had worked on songs there was pretty impressive but when I noticed a picture of Mariah Carey from a distance my heart started pounding! Sure enough it was her and she had worked on part of her Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel album there! I wanted to get a picture with it but I did not know if it would be appropriate to ask so I just took a picture of it.

Jay stepped out of the session for a minute and said that it was taking longer than they expected on the other song so we just headed out and walked around. We stopped at a little cafe and then decided to go to the hotel so that Mike and I could exchange cards and gifts! I got him a pair of Diesel sunglasses which turned out to be perfect because he had been saying he wanted to go shopping for sunglasses. He gave me a purse from Guess that he had heard me say I loved before! That was so sweet of him and I was so happy he loved his gift too.

Then we decided to go to John's of Bleeker Street Pizza for dinner. Jay finished with the session and they just decided to get together in the near future to work on the new song so he came and met us and we all enjoyed salad and amazing pizza!

On Thursday I worked all day and when I got out I got dressed and met Mike at the hotel to go to dinner to celebrate together since we were busy the day before. Tony decided to go to the gym while we were going to dinner so he headed downstairs and a few minutes later he texted Mike saying that he was talking to Kim Kardashian! We went down to the gym but did not see him or Kim and then left to go to the restaurant and then he texted us that we just walked by them. Long story short Tony had gotten stuck right next to Chloe and Kim because they were walking through and they got blocked by paparazzi! Tony finally got out of the way and Kim walked over to him to apologize for what happened and they talked for several minutes. It was so funny Tony was telling us that he was in his pajamas and paparazzi were taking pictures of them together. Then Kim said bye to him because they had to go to dinner.

Mike and I arrived at Valbella for dinner and it was so beautiful! We had a nice table in the corner by the window and the dishes we ordered were beyond delicious. We had penne alla vodka pasta and another dish that we created with the server of truffled risotto. Both were amazing but the truffle risotto was something like you have never had before and it was one of the tastiest dishes I have ever had!

In between our entrees and ordering dessert all of a sudden Mike looked over my shoulder and said that Kim Kardashian was behind me. I turned around and a couple tables away I saw Chloe and Kim and a group of people all being filmed by a big camera. They got up and walked upstairs with the crew following them. It was a funny coincidence that Tony met Kim and she said she was heading to dinner and it turned out to be the same place that we were eating! Right when our desserts were brought out Chloe and Kim walked down and were waiting at the door for their ride to pick them up. They were a couple of tables away standing there so I went to take a picture and Chloe looked at me so I put my phone down and laughed and she smiled and then some people started taking their picture but I didn't want to be annoying so I didn't. Their ride pulled up and there were paparazzi waiting outside and the second that they walked out so many flashes went off.

After that we went back to enjoying our desserts of creme brulee and molten chocolate lava cake with ice cream! Everything was great and the interior decorating was so nice, we had such a great experience there!

On Saturday was my friend Lauren's birthday who I lived with in Singapore last summer and on Sunday it was my friend Julia's birthday from work. I wish I could have seen them but I wished them both a happy birthday! That weekend Mike, Tony and I went to a cute place for breakfast where I had delicious pancakes! Unfortunately the service was not good so I am not sure if we will go back but the pancakes were delicious enough that I might! haha

Later in the afternoon we picked up our friend Rick who is a music producer and he took us to the studio he works at called Pilot Creative. Artists such as Kesha, Mike Posner and Neon Hitch have worked there. The guys played music for each other and then started a new song together. We took a break to go get something to eat and the only place that did not have a wait was an Asian restaurant that had a B grade which means they did not pass their health inspection enough to get an A. I was hesitant but we wound up eating there anyway and luckily no one got sick. We did enjoy a nice fried ice cream dessert there that was very good.

The next morning Mike and I ate at Pastis again and then took a cab to The American Museum of Natural History. I wanted to take him there because I know that he loves elephants and I had found out they were showing an IMAX movie called Born to be Wild that is about elephants and orangutans. We did not make it in time for the showing that I wanted to go to because of traffic but when we got there we ate at the food court and went to the next showing. Mike loved the surprise and the movie was so beautiful and inspirational.

When we got done with the movie we walked outside to a sunny day and Mike told me he wanted us to sit down so he could play a song for me. He brought headphones and played a song from his phone that he had made for me. It is such an amazing song and so beautiful, of course I cried!

Afterwards Mike and Tony went back to the studio with Rick and I went out to dinner with Sarah and a couple of her friends from work. We ate at a Mexican restaurant and I had churros for the first time! I went to bed after dinner that night because I had to get up early for work the next day. While working we had a lot of interesting guests including Bernie Madoff’s son Andrew Madoff, as well as actor Ed Begley Jr. The most interesting was probably when a woman walked in and I had to look straight up to see her face. L’Wren Scott is Mick Jagger’s ex-girlfriend and is 6’5” plus she was wearing heels!

After work I headed to the hotel and when I was walking up to it there was a huge crowd surrounding the hotel and a line of paparazzi waiting for someone to come out. I got out a room key and the crowd let me through and I walked into the lobby and it was empty except for bellhops and security. I walked up to the elevators and pressed the button, the door opened and Kim and Kourtney Kardashian were standing there coming out! They walked to the right of me and I heard Kourtney telling Kim that they said their car was outside waiting for them. I had my phone on me so I took a picture of them walking outside and as soon as the doors opened I heard so many people screaming “Kim!” 

I went up to the room to meet up with Mike and Tony and Mike surprised me with flowers! Then Tony didn’t want to eat so Mike and I ate at Dos Caminos and had so much food including their amazing warm chocolate lava cake with banana ice cream! Afterwards we went to my apartment so that I could say bye to my roommates and pack for Rochester because the next day I was driving back home with Mike and Tony!

We went back to the hotel so that we could all finish packing and then we just relaxed our last night there after we all had a very busy and fun week!

April 9-April 18 Liz Visits NYC!

Monday morning I headed back to the city but I was very excited because my best friend Liz had off from student teaching so she came with me to visit! We took the train into Penn Station and went to my apartment before dinner. I showed her around and then we met Sarah at Novita where we had delicious pasta dishes. Of course we had to get dessert and due to celebrating Liz being in the city we weren't shy about indulging! We enjoyed a frozen hazelnut nougat, a slice of 20 crepes layered with custard, and vanilla gelato covered with hot espresso. 

We went back to the apartment to change and we walked to Beauty & Essex restaurant/lounge to go out for a little while!

It is cool because if you look in the window or walk in you just see cases of different items like a pawn shop but then you go up to the bouncers at a door on the back wall and you walk into a beautiful huge place. 

First we hung out at the bar on the first floor and we noticed that one of the cocktail waitresses looked like Brooke Hogan's friend Ashley from the Brooke Knows Best television show and it turned out to be her. She was super nice and we got a picture with her.

Then we ventured around including upstairs where there was a nice lounge and bar area. We hung out for a while and had a good time there!

The next morning we took a nice walk to Soho where we went through some parks and Union Square. We did a little bit of shopping there and then we got hungry and went to Max Brenner restaurant! They are known for their chocolate dishes so we got a pizza for our meal and then chocolate pizza for dessert! We got one slice with chocolate, peanut butter and bananas and the other with chocolate, bananas and hazelnut crumbs. They were very sweet and so indescribably delicious!

Afterwards Liz said that she could go for some coffee since she drinks multiple cups a day haha so we went to a neat little cafe called The Grey Dog. It was really cute there and we hung out and chatted for a while.

Later we went to dinner at La Esquina Mexican restaurant that Ritz had told me about. The interior was really cool and the food was really good, especially their corn on the cob which is covered with a mixture of mayonnaise, salt, and a certain cheese... it was incredible!

When we left, outside there was a huge film crew and we found out that they were filming an Adidas commercial. We kept walking and looking around to see what we should do next and then we saw two females and a male modeling the Adidas shoes on the meridian of the street. The models were about my height so it gave me hope! haha

Then we saw a place that looked interesting because it had pictures of pirates on the outside and had a sign that said karaoke so we decided to stop in. It was a really cool place and we hung out for a little while and watched people sing karaoke which was really amusing!

The next morning we got up and went to see Times Square and some stores in the area with Sarah! We had a lot of fun in Toys R Us walking through the huge Barbie house store and The Avengers exhibit!

Before Liz had to catch her train home we decided to get something quick to eat so we went to Friday's near Times Square. Even though we ordered soup and salad we were sitting there for 20 minutes and we really had to go so our server told the kitchen to make our order to-go and we paid and ran! We should have known that Times Square is the worst area to try to get food quickly because there are so many people. We literally ran to the subway station and then through Penn Station and Liz made it on the train three minutes before it left!

I was so happy that she made a trip to visit me and it was a lot of fun!

The next few days I worked a lot and some of the guests we had were Maya Thurman-Hawke who is Uma Thurman's daughter and that same night the actor Spencer Boldman.

April 15th was Tax Day so I made sure previously that I had everything turned in and I also opened up a Roth IRA to start saving for retirement. Later I went to the gym with Sarah because she gave me a free three day pass to see if I like it there. We signed up for a class called Chisel and it was so intense! About fifteen minutes into the class I had to walk out and breath for a minute. I am proud that we stayed for the whole class but I woke up the next morning extremely sore.

Since the pass had to be used for three consecutive days we went back to the gym the very next day and took a bike riding class. It was cool because the class is in a room with all black fluorescent lights and they play music with good beats. Again it was very intense and difficult to get through the whole class, but we did and the next morning I woke up and it hurt so badly to even walk or sit or do anything!

It was difficult going back to work being so sore but finally the pain went away and it felt good to have worked out!

Mar19-Apr8 - Birthdays Galore!

On Monday I went to yoga at Yoga to the People and it was a great class! It was challenging but really fun. Later, I made sure that I was home for the premiere of Dancing With The Stars! I love watching how great the dancers are and even the stars all did really well!

The next day I had an on-camera interview for ABS-CBN that the woman Ritz I met at Ford Models set me up with. It is a television channel and website based out of the Philippines and they were interested in interviewing me as a part Filipina American going after my dream of modeling in New York City.

I met Ritz at the park at Union Square and reporter Don Tagala came there with a video camera. It was a beautiful day out and the interview went well. Don asked me questions about what I have been doing in the city, what my passions are, and what my Filipina background is. Then Sam Milby, the entertainer from the Philippines, stopped by the interview. Afterwards I showed Ritz and Don my portfolio, we all talked and then they were so nice to walk me to work.

That night at work it was very exciting because I saw a couple walk in and the man had a very cool ora to him and I saw his face and it was Jon Bon Jovi! We were not expecting him but they were joining Kenneth Cole the designer's reservation. On their way out I wished them a good night and Jon Bon Jovi was very nice.

Later in the week Gary Ross the director of The Hunger Games came in for a breakfast meeting. I still have not seen that movie but I will probably rent it some day.

That weekend Mike was supposed to travel from Miami to Atlanta but he had to delay his flight because he woke up one morning and could not hear out of one of his ears. That would be scary for anyone but him being a music producer made it 100X worse. We were all so worried for him but we were so thankful that the doctor gave him medicine and now he can hear perfectly fine!

On the 27th it was Mariah Carey's Anniversary (what she calls her birthday, like anniversary of being born) and it was so nice that people thought of me that day because they know that I admire her.

The next day was another amazing woman's birthday, Mike's Mom Helen! I was sad that I could not be home for this day but we had plans to celebrate soon after! I was also wishing I could have made it home sooner to attend the St. John Fisher Dance recital. I miss being on the dance team and I had such a great experience being the president my senior year.

I could not make it home sooner because I had plans to go home April 2nd and making arrangements at work was difficult. Those couple of days at work though we had Lisa Diruocco from IMG Models come in with a group of people as well as Laura Cunningham who is the wife of Thomas Keller who is a chef and owns The French Laundry which is one of the top restaurants in the world.

On the 2nd I took a train to Rochester, NY and I spent most of the week just hanging out at home and then on Thursday I had a casting through my agency Mary Therese Friel, LLC for Jazz Fest advertisements. I was one of the first ones there and they were just taking shots smiling and being serious so it was quick and easy.

The next day it was Mike's Dad Scott's birthday and Passover so they were going to have a big celebration with the family that night. I wanted to be there but that same day we were driving to Connecticut to visit my family and we were actually throwing a surprise party for my Mom's 50th birthday!

We got to my Uncle's house in Connecticut to meet his new puppy and we passed time there while everyone was at my Aunt's house setting up for my Mom's party. My Mom thought we were just going to a pizza place but my Aunt told her to stop by her house before going. My Mom just wanted to go to the pizza place so my Aunt had to come up with excuses for her to stop by the house since that's where the surprise party was. Then my Mom asked if we were throwing a party, she's just too smart but I acted like I didn't know what she was talking about haha. When we were driving to my Aunt's I told her that my Mom pretty much knew we were throwing a party so I told her to not have everyone jump out and instead pretend like nothing was happening and act like we were getting ready to go to the pizza place haha she did it for a minute and then everyone jumped out...

It was so good to see a bunch of my family! It was so cute I helped my little cousin Cassie learn Happy Birthday on the piano and she gathered everyone around and played it for my Mom. It was a fun night of food, black jack, cake, and family love! I love when my family gets together and we actually all got together again the next day for my cousin Maria's birthday party that we stopped by at before heading back to Rochester. 

When I got home I went to dinner with Mike, his family, his Uncle and cousins including my roomie Dennise! We went to Sinbad's Mediterranean Restaurant and celebrated Scott and Helen's birthdays and Passover!

The next day was Easter!

I saw this and thought it was so cute and funny haha

In the morning Mike and his family and I had a breakfast at their house where Helen made her incredible pancakes! It was my Mom's actual birthday so I was home for the rest of the day celebrating Easter and her birthday :) My Mom's birthday is a special day to me and all who love her because we get to celebrate her life and her being in ours! It was so nice to be home and to celebrate these special occasions! 

Mar9-Mar18 -Second Interview with FORD Models!

The next couple of days I worked at Maialino and Sunday night we had a party in our private dining room that hosted guests such as Vanessa Williams and Terry O'Quinn who plays John Locke on the television series Lost. Terry was very nice to me but I did not know who he was until after he went back to the private dining room and my coworkers informed me. My Mom loves the show Lost so she thought that was exciting. Vanessa Williams looked just like she does on television and after the event she stayed in our bar area and dined with her daughter Jillian who was really cute.

     

The next day I spent getting ready for my second interview with FORD Models! The reason why I was going back for another interview is because the Lifestyle division booker left the agency and so they never got to make a decision about me. 

I went into the agency and the booker who I was supposed to meet with was in a meeting so I waited in the lobby. After waiting for a while I sat down next to a woman named Ritz and we talked until they called me in. Ritz was telling me how she is Filipina and was there to help represent Sam Milby who is an entertainer in the Philippines. I told her how I am a small part Filipina on my Father's side and she was very nice and gave me her card after talking.

I got called in to interview and I went to an office and met with a booker and another worker. They were very nice and we talked while they went through my portfolio. They already had taken my digitals last time so they said that they would look back at those and let us know what they decided!

After I got back to the apartment I went for a peaceful walk by the water. I really got a feeling that if Ford wanted me that would be amazing but if they did not then God knows that a different agency would represent me better at this time in my life.

The next few days I worked and then on Friday Mike came to the city to visit! I had to work a little bit that night but afterwards we ate at La Follia which I love!

Saturday was St. Patrick's Day!

I used to always go to the parade which was great memories but this year I made a reservation at Maialino to do a brunch. My roommate Dennise and her date went with Mike and I and we had a great meal together. Maialino was very generous sending us out amazing complimentary pastries and fried artichokes!

Later for dinner we went to Eleven B near my apartment because I had to go to work for a little bit after. When I got out we tried to go to see 21 Jump Street in the theatre but it was sold out so we went to T.G.I. Friday's for a snack and I was the most full I have ever felt from eating all day.

The next morning Mike had to leave for appointements in Atlanta and Miami and I went to work later. That night television host Ty Pennington came in the restaurant with his friend riding on their skateboards!...okay not literally skating in on them but they came in holding them and had me check them while they had dinner.

It was a very fun, exciting week! 

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!