Sept 25th-Sept 30th - Rochester Fashion Week!

Tuesday morning I flew home to Rochester for Fashion Week! My Mom picked me up from the airport and we went to Pelican's Nest for a nice lunch on the water.

Then I had to run around to fittings because I tried to schedule as many as I could in one day. My first fitting was at Panache where the owner Joan who I have worked with for a photo shoot before had set aside a cool dress and boots with a fun vintage hat and coat for me.

My next fitting was at Suzanne's where I tried on a tight grey silk dress and a black belted dress with a shawl. Afterwards I went to Joeval's Formalwear where I fell in love with the Sherri Hill dress they had me try on. I put it on and felt amazing!

Then I went to 2 Chic Boutique and tried on a high fashion outfit that I did not end up wearing in the show but I wore a pretty dress with a long coat. The next fitting was for Andrea Geer who makes interesting knitted pieces and I really liked my outfit. Last but not least I drove 40 minutes to my last fitting for Sojo Fashion. I tried on a beautiful handmade top and was all done with my fittings for the day!

It was dark and I was heading home when all of a sudden two deer ran in front of me! I tried to step on the brake but it was too late. I pulled over and was crying and really upset. I got out of the car and there were no deer in sight. A neighbor who heard the accident (and probably me crying too) came out to help and tried to make me feel better by telling me that deer are very strong and from the looks of it he might not have gotten hurt.. I hope this is true! The man also checked to make sure that the car was okay to drive since it was dented which I didn't even think about. My parents and everyone were just glad that I was okay and they made me feel better.

The next day I had a fitting at Paislee Boutique that our friend Fatima owns so I was really excited to be modeling for her in the show! I tired on some cute things and we went with a coat that had a really cool hood. Then Mike and I headed to Eastview mall for my last fitting with Free People. The stylists there were so cool and had such cute ideas for outfits. I tried on the final outfit and loved it and wore it in the show. 

Thursday we had a great relaxing day at Mike's house with our friend Jorge from Peru. Friday was the first day of Rochester Fashion Week and I went to Scott Miller salon to get hair and makeup done. The look was a deep side-part with a teased low ponytail and simple makeup with red lips which was really cool. At the salon I saw my pictures for ads in the program for Scott Miller Salon & Spa and Mary Therese Friel, LLC modeling agency!

With makeup artist Sylvana

Mike and I ate lunch at Plum Garden Japanese restaurant and then I headed to the Armory to get ready for the first show! When I walked in I was shocked because I saw a big backdrop that had my picture on it for an ad for Scott Miller Salon & Spa!

My best friend Liz came to the show and came backstage beforehand and then met up with Mike to watch the show. Mike's parents gave my Mom and her friend Karen a couple of tickets that they had so they got to come too! For the show they had well-known DJ Cassidy and eight-year-old DJ Fulano playing the music, I did four looks and it went really well!

Photo Credit: Kris Murante

After the show I talked with my agent Mary Therese Friel and then Mike, his family, Liz and I went to Applebee's where I treated everyone to a late night dinner (against their will) as a thanks for everything they did for me.

The next morning I got up and went to the salon for hair and makeup for day two of Fashion Week! For this show I did four different looks again and the hair was down pin straight with a smokey eye.

With hair stylist Maria

I opened the show with this look

Backstage with Mike

After the show I went home and got to see my kitty Cookie Dough which was so nice. Sunday was the last show and the hair was wavy with eyeliner and blush for makeup. Rapper Lil Wes performed and it was an outdoor show but luckily I got to model a coat!

Rochester Fashion Week was a lot of fun, I was glad to be a part of this great event in my community and for a great cause! The shows raised over $100,000 for Center For Youth which provides shelter and counseling for teens in need. 

Afterwards I spent time at home and got ready to go back to the city! 

Sept 17th-Sept 24th - Mike Visiting & Girls Night!

Monday morning Mike, his family and I headed to Manhattan from Nyack, NY. We went with his parents for them to check into The NoMad and then we went to Soho to look around. A little later Mike and I went to meet my friend Lindsay at my apartment since she was going to be staying with me for a few weeks to model for Trump Model Management. It was good to see Lindsay again since I had not seen her in a while because she lives in Quebec.

Lindsay was tired from traveling and wanted to get settled in so Mike planned a dinner for him and I at Asellina in the Park Avenue Gansevoort Hotel. We had a delicious dinner and could not help but finish with chocolate cake! Afterwards we headed to The NoMad where Mike's parents were having dinner with their friends Victoria and Larry who own Whittemore House Salon. When we got there they were just finishing up and we all went into the library to hang out and catch up, it was a fun night!

The next day we all went shopping around 60th street and then got lunch before I had to head to a meeting for work. Since it was right next door Mike and I stopped into Dylan's candy shop quick because I had never been in there before! Surprisingly I did not get anything but I was in a hurry to go to Union Square Hospitality Group for an inspiring presentation and talk from owner Danny Meyer.

Afterwards, I talked to a woman named Stephanie at the office who I had met before to ask her if there was any way for me to shadow an accountant in the company and see what their daily activities are. She thought that was a great idea and gave me her card to try to figure something out which was nice of her. Then I headed to Maialino to work that night and when I got out Mike and I went to Hard Rock Cafe to get dessert together before he left the city.

The next day after I got out of work I took Lindsay to La Follia to catch up and have a light dinner and she enjoyed it! On Friday at work Tyra Banks came in, this time with makeup on and looking beautiful again. On her way out I was on the phone but she smiled and said bye to me. Business man Josh Kushner, brother of Jared Kushner who is married to Ivanka Trump, came in as well as television host and interior designer Genevieve Gorder and Tom Brady's manager Will McDonough.

After work we had a girls night where Sarah, Dennise, her sister Casta and I went out to eat at a Mexican restaurant. It was a lot of fun to go out together and catch up! Then Lindsay met us back at the apartment and we all did our nails together and finished the night watching PS I Love You!

Over the weekend I worked and on Sunday celebrity chef Mario Batali dined with us. Later at night Lindsay and I watched the television show that she is on called Le Banquier which is like Deal or No Deal. While we were watching the show we also saw her in commercials that she did for Ford Fusion. She is a star in Quebec and I am proud of her!

On Monday I set up fittings for Rochester Fashion Week and then took Ernie to get a haircut. When I picked him up he came out with a mohawk! I started to laugh but the groomers thought it looked good so I didn't want to make them cut it off.

That night I packed a bunch of shoes and anything I needed to go home and walk in Rochester Fashion Week!

Sep 10th-Sep 16th - Meeting Dayana & Miss USA, FORD Models, and Celebrations!

Monday night Maialino was the place to be for Fashion Week! First Bryanboy and Rumi Neely, two popular fashion bloggers, came in and Eva Chen the Beauty Editor of Teen Vogue joined them. Also fashion designers Wes Gordon and Jason Wu each came in for dinner. Former Victoria's Secret model Stephanie Seymour was looking beautiful in a classy black dress and it was great to see Rachael Ray join us again that evening.

My favorite part of the evening though was meeting Dayana Mendoza (Miss Universe 2008, model and Celebrity Apprentice contestant) and Olivia Culpo the reigning Miss USA! As soon as Dayana walked in I was pretty sure it was her so I asked if she was Dayana and she said yes!

(Photo: Miss Universe Organization)

I told her how I am a former Miss New York Teen USA titleholder and that I admire her. She was one of the sweetest people I have ever met and after we talked for a minute she went to the bar with Jonathon Martin who is a movie producer in Los Angeles. When she was leaving it was so nice of her to go out of her way to say good bye to me. Dayana is a beautiful person inside and out and I hope to follow in her footsteps!

(Photo: Miss Universe Organization)

Later at night when Olivia came in I walked her to her table and I told her how it is my dream to be Miss USA and she thought that was great. When we got to the table Jonathon wanted me to ask her questions since I had the chance to but I didn't want to interrupt their meeting so I just asked how her reign has been and how her recent trip back to Rhode Island was. Later they asked me what dessert to get and I treated them to the chocolate torte cake :) Olivia is gorgeous and I am glad that we got to meet! I will be rooting for her at Miss Universe in December!

Sarah and I were there in Las Vegas when she won :)

(Photo: Miss Universe Organization)

Tuesday was September 11th, eleven years since the tragedy occurred. We remember those who lost their lives and we pray for their families. We are thankful for those who serve to protect our country and together we unite... we will never forget.

That day at work Tyra Banks came in with her Mom and she was not wearing makeup but she still looked great and her skin is flawless!

After work I headed straight to Crema, a Mexican restaurant, where Chantale my mother agent was having a get-together of her girls in the city during Fashion Week! It was nice to catch up with her and the girls and have a little fiesta!

A few of her friends from a couple agencies stopped by and it was fun! I met with Natalie from FORD Los Angeles and she was so cool and nice. Chantale asked her what she thought of me for LA and she said that she thinks I can do great there and she would like me to go there for six weeks and give it a shot! I was in a little bit of shock when she said that and I left the restaurant thinking did that really just happen?!

Sure enough Chantale emailed me saying that Natalie would like me to go to LA at the beginning of the year! Hearing that news was incredible and my loved ones and I are so ecstatic! I am so thankful to be presented this great opportunity that I have been working towards but I do have a couple of events to attend in January so I am planning on going at the beginning of February! I am so excited that one of my dreams is coming true!

Thursday after work I went shopping for a portable clothing rack since my friend Lindsay from Canada was going to be staying with me on Monday for a few weeks to model for Trump Model Management! While I was shopping I found out that my friend Vince and his friend Eva were visiting the city! They invited Sarah and I to go to a comedy club show that night and it was hilarious! Each act was different and still very funny and there was also a couple in the audience that made quite a scene! I am so glad we got to go and that we all had a great time.

On Saturday I met up with Vince and Eva quickly at Central Park because I was not sure if I would see them before they left. We caught up and then I had to head to work but I invited them to come in to dine there later. They came in and I had a table all ready for them! I tried to talk to them for a few moments here and there while I was working and then I had a server put a candle in Vince's dessert because it was his birthday the next day! I am glad they had a great dinner and a nice trip to the city :)

On Sunday I took the train to the Bronx and went to Mike's cousins house so that Dennise, Casta, David and I could all drive together to a family party for Rosh Hashanah! When I got there they were making Kreplach to bring to the party which I had never heard of but it is a sort of dumpling. David was working on the meat ones and Dennise and I made vegetarian ones!

Before we left they asked me if I had seen this Gangnam Style video and I had not so they played it for me and it was so funny we were all doing the dance together! Then we packed up the car and started to head to Nyack, NY. Dennise was showing me gifts that David and Casta got her for her PhD and one of them was these puppets and Casta and Dennise started doing a little show with them. I could not stop laughing it was hilarious, they were really good at it!

We got to Nyack and Mike and his family met us there and we had a great dinner together! Everyone was so stuffed but we still had the energy to watch the Gangnam Style video and do the dance! We were doing it full-out and it was so funny! Then we enjoyed chocolate cake in honor of Dennise getting her PhD and later got ready to go back to the city the next day. 

Sep 4th-Sep 9th - Interview With Abrams Artists Agency, Fashion's Night Out and Susan G. Komen Race!

Tuesday was my cousin Amanda's first day at St. John Fisher College as well as my best friend Liz's first day starting graduate school there! I am proud of them and I hope they enjoy it!

My interview with Abrams Artists Agency was the next day so I did my hair and got my portfolio and everything ready! Wednesday morning I woke up and was very excited to finally have the opportunity to interview with Abrams! I finished straightening my hair, put on the cute outfit I put together and hopped in a cab.

Anxiously I waited in the lobby and then was shown into Joe Thompson's office who is in charge of on-camera beauty and commercial print. I gave him my resume and told him a little bit about my background and what experience I have. He was nice and said that he recommends that I take a commercial acting class just to get a feel of what auditions would be like as well as to be able to meet people in the industry.

I was not sure if he was going to tell me to take a class and come back and they would consider representing me then so I was feeling a little nervous, but I was still hopeful because I knew that Abrams and I would be a good fit for each other. He looked through my portfolio and said they would tell me specific classes they suggest and that they would start letting me know when castings come up!

*So Thankful*

As soon as I left I called my loved ones and we were all so happy that I was going to be represented by such a great agency! It is truly a great feeling to be given a chance and get a step closer to doing what you love. Thank you to everyone who I have worked with in the past who helped me and my portfolio grow and to my family and friends for supporting me on this journey!

That night I worked a buyout at Maialino where a company paid to have the restaurant to themselves. The people were really nice and my job was just to greet everyone and inform anyone who came in that we were not open for the evening. It was fun and I am glad I had the opportunity to work that event! When I got home there was a card that said congrats and a huge chocolate peanut butter cupcake from Dennise which was so sweet!

Thursday morning Sarah and I went for a run together along the East River. It was a fun but challenging workout and it was good training for the Susan G. Komen 5K Race for the Cure on Sunday. That was the first day of Fashion Week and so the city was having the Fashion's Night Out event where stores were having parties and celebrities were making appearances.

Sarah heard that Alessandra Ambrosio would be at Victoria's Secret in Soho so we headed there first. We got there early and after walking around for a little while we thought it was strange that there were not that many people there. It turned out that we were at the wrong Victoria's Secret as there was another one a street away! We went outside and there was line down the road waiting to get in. I asked a security guard if we were in the right line and they said that if you bought $65 worth of merchandise then you get to go into a shorter line and would be guaranteed to meet her... so I did and they also gave me a free shirt with my purchase.

We still had to wait in line but while we were outside Whitney Port and Kelly Cutrone from The City and Rob Evans the model and and America's Next Top Model judge walked by us to go into another store. Finally we met Alessandra and she looked beautiful in a pink dress and cute silver shoes, obviously she was gorgeous!

Afterwards we headed to the meat packing district to go to the new Alice & Olivia store where we heard that there was a bracelet making station and a movie playing but when we got there it was not open. My friend Ritz was down the street so we met up for a minute and I got to meet her son and daughters which was nice! Then Sarah and I were so tired we decided to head back to the apartment. We had an interesting but fun first time experiencing Fashion's Night Out!

The next morning I volunteered to help with registration for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure that was coming up that weekend. Me and another woman shared a station where we worked together to check people's registration, give them their bib for their race number and a ticket to pick up their t-shirt. It was fun and I am glad I was able to help out!

I worked later that night and the maitre d Roger introduced me to Tony Vavroch who works at Elite Model Management and he was very nice! The next night at work actor George Lazenby came in and I found out after that he was James Bond in 1969.

On Sunday I woke up early and headed to Central Park where there was a huge group of people in the road waiting for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure to start. I headed towards the front because I knew I was going to run and I wanted to run the whole way! About halfway through I was really having trouble and wanted to rest but I just slowed my speed for a minute and then pushed on. Towards the end I was getting thirsty and I saw people on the sides handing out cups so I went to take one and try to drink what I thought was water while running and ended up splashing gatorade all over me! I just laughed and kept going until I finished the race in 29 minutes!

It felt good to accomplish something that I do not normally do in order to raise money for a great cause, thank you to my parents and Aunt MaryAnn for making donations! Afterwards I listened to a group that was singing and I walked around the tents of the different sponsors where I got a Modell's Sporting Goods towel and a Ford Warriors in Pink scarf which was really nice. I also went down by the water where there was an artist feeding turtles and he gave me some food to feed them and I looked through his work and got a picture. Then I headed back to the apartment, showered and took a nice long nap! 

Aug 23rd-Sep 3rd - Dennise's PhD, Sarah's Birthday & Mike's Visit!

I flew back to to the city Thursday so that I could work that night and the next day at work I saw Matthew Morrison from Glee because he was staying in the hotel. Also on Friday Dennise was in South Dakota defending her dissertation and she got her PhD!!!!! She has worked so hard and I am very proud of her!

On Saturday I worked at night and afterwards headed to Little Branch speakeasy for Dennise's Doctoral party! The place was really cool how it was hidden underground but there was a line outside and Dennise came out and brought me in. Her and her friends had a booth where they were hanging out and it was fun celebrating her success together!

Afterwards we decided to go to a pizza place for a late-night snack and the place was bumping club music. We were having fun when all of a sudden Dennise's friend lost her iPhone! We made the place turn their music off to call her phone and had almost the whole place looking because we could hear it but didn't know where it was coming from! I blocked the door and said that no one could leave until we found it ;p It wound up being on the floor under the soda machine, we don't know how but it was good that we found it!

I worked Sunday during the day and then my Dad picked me up to go visit my Grandma in Connecticut since I had the next couple of days off. On the way there we were hungry and stopped at a cool place for dinner. We visited with my Grandma that night and she had some visitors on the back porch eating the bird food!

The next day we took her to the doctor's office for a checkup. They said that she should get some X-rays done because her neck and her knee have been bothering her. We took her to another place to get them done and then went to the Painted Pony and had a nice dinner together. When we got home my Dad played guitar while we sat on the back porch and he retaught me some chords!

Tuesday I went back to the city and Mike was there because he had a meeting the next day! We went to La Follia for dinner where I had a pasta dish that I love. Mike was craving a very sweet dessert so we went to Max Brenner at Union Square and had banana tempura with chocolate and caramel fondue which was scrumptious.

The next day while I was at work Mike and Tony had a meeting at Atlantic which went really well! In celebration of his meeting and my interview coming up with Abrams Artists Agency we had a great dinner at Tao! I loved having edamame, mixed vegetables and vegetable fried rice! We went back to the apartment and had chocolate lava cake that I bought and it was really good.

On Thursday I worked during the day and then later we met up with Mike's cousin David at Olive Garden because he doesn't remember ever eating there! It was not the best Olive Garden experience we've had and David claims the food was disgusting even though he ate it haha but we had fun going together.

Later at night I stayed up until midnight to wish Sarah a Happy Birthday!! In the morning we both had to work and the jewelry designer Pamela Love came in who my friend Julia recognized. After work Sarah opened up presents and we got ready to go to dinner.

Then Sarah, Mike and I met up with our friends Ryan and Nick at Yurba Buena for Sarah's celebration dinner! Sarah loves it there and I thought it was really good. The service, food and desserts were all great and Sarah's birthday candle was so cool! We had a lot of fun and I hope my Bestie had a great day!

Saturday morning Mike and I went to Petite Abeille for breakfast and had deliscious waffles, one that was sweet with fruit and one that was a banana split sundae!

Then Mike was flying out and I went shopping for an outfit to wear to my Abams Artists Agency interview before I had to go to work. I did not have to work on Labor Day so I finished putting together my outfit and I went for a run to practice for a 5K race that I had coming up that weekend!

That night Dennise, Sarah and I went out to eat at a Indian restaurant called Banjara to celebrate Dennise earning her PhD and Sarah's birthday, as well as the girls were sweet to include my upcoming interview into the celebration! The place was really cute and the food was very good! It was so nice that we all had exciting things going on and were able to get together for a great dinner!