Happy New Year! {Resolutions}

Could've had a V8!

Look at how bold I am, making resolutions and putting them on the internet for everyone to hold me accountable for! I noticed a lot of people on my FB feed and on IG saying that they're not making resolutions this year. I'm wondering why? Is it because making a resolution means that we have resolved to stop doing this one not-so-good thing that we kept doing last year? Is it because it makes us feel like we need to improve and if don't we've failed? Well what's wrong with improving? I improve every year and even when I feel at my best, there's still way more I can do. So I say, I SURELY have some resolutions and I'm going to tell you all right now.

5 Things I'm vowing to do (more of) this year

At our first spot, pretending to have missed the train

1. More Gym Dates/Active Outings

A couple weeks ago, I went on a Scavenger Hunt throughout NYC. It was on a Sunday and it lasted 3 hours. Do you know what I normally do for 3 hours on Sundays? Bottomless Boozy Brunches. Which, don't get me wrong, are AMAZING and perfect.  If you enjoy Mimosas, Pancakes and/or Steak and Eggs at the same time, please go do this this year. But the amount of fun I had running around the city doing this Scavenger Hunt reminded me that I don't need to be lazy AND turn my brain off just because it's the weekend. I actually really love using the ole noggin. And I enjoy being active. I'm also part of a really great gym (Crunch Fitness) that offers really fun classes (Zumba, hip hop dance, etc) and there's no reason that I can't round up a few friends to take these classes with me. It translates better to me than "I'm going to be hitting the gym like crazy in 2014". Sure I will, but I'd prefer an active lifestyle to become something I do forever, not just because it's January 1st. 

2. Cooking at home

My first attempt at ribs = flavor explosion

After all my tour life excitement and social butterflying, I got into the habit of dining out and ordering take out PERHAPS too often. Some people started asking me when exactly do I cook. Beside how I'm eating being, really none of anyone's business, I did have to ask myself the same question. Along the years, I've become quite the chef and most of the time I can cook up something real nice for myself. And you, if you're lucky! 

3. More gratitude

Gratitude comes in all forms. I started practicing gratitude two years ago and it changed my life. Just being thankful for the smallest things, the train arriving minutes after I get into the station, a warm breeze on a Spring evening, picking a really sweet apple...I mean you NAME IT. And when you're grateful for the little things, oh the grand things you shall receive. That would explain why every single amazing thing that happened to me on tour was a brain explosion.

4. Saying YES

And being on faculty with Tony Danza is also awesome

I'm an introverted extrovert who doesn't like spontaneity. I'm also a product of a "well, are they paying?" mindset and I'm not entirely sure where I got that from. In 2013, I said yes to so many things that didn't necessarily pay me but left me feeling richer than I could imagine. Last year, I sang National Anthems at events that led to further networking opportunities. I volunteered to be the Social Media manager with a company and the work I've done with them will end up helping me move forward in my own career. I even said yes to singing in a musical that is being considered to head to Broadway (!!!!) The most rewarding of all these just-say-YES opportunities is my position at the All Stars Inc. in Manhattan. I got to teach inner city children how to sing and expose them to opera. Working with them helped me remember why I sing and how incredibly brave I am to do it as often as I do. 

5. Doing what I love more

Includes: Read more books, Travel and explore more places, Blog more (done and done!), See more Live Shows, and Sing more! MOAR.

Bonus: Being unapologetically myself

And this goes hand in hand with the previous point. I'm a nerd, I love to read, I'm SUPER GIRLY, I want to go to tea parties. I'm still a kid at heart, video games are awesome...I'm not afraid to stand in the Nintendo World store and play the newest video games out. And who cares if that's quirky, that's who I am. And when I'm unapologetically ME, that's when I'm truly the happiest.

I wish you all the most successful year yet. 

Happy New Year!

What a Tremendous Year! {Favorite things Part I}

There's no way I'm going to be able to talk about all my very favorite things of 2013 in one post, so maybe I'll spend the next week or so looking back on it. For now, here are my favorite albums, nails swatches, and vacations of this year.

Albums I listened to in their entirety for days at a time:

20/20 Experience by Justin Timberlake (because I mean, who didn't)

When JT had this on iTunes for the preview, I was so surprised at how non-Justin Timberlake-y it sounded. It was like this complete work of art that he made with no pressure or expectations for a radio single. I couldn't get enough of the album and felt like if he extended each song 10 minutes longer, I would've been okay with that. 

On repeat: Blue Ocean Floor

Three Kings by TGT 

Makes me think of this sultry summer. Finally a bunch of low voices on an album together. And what amazing writing. Tank KILLED every entrance, background vocal, solo line, hook on this album. I also want to add that I never even noticed that the album was called something beside TGT.

On repeat: Explode

Random Access Memories by Daft Punk 

What a dope album, reminds me of my mini-vacay to Virginia Beach in May. Daft Punk aficionados say this isn't their best though. Upon further investigation of their catalog, I discovered that they are right. But this was still an album I listened to for days and days.

On repeat: Doin' it Right

Honorable Mention: Beyoncé's self titled album, Dreamboat Annie by Heart, Rhythm and Repose by Glen Hansard

Favorite nail designs

I like to keep it simple in most situations but I always add an accent nail (or Party Nail as some people inexplicably call it) or two to express my style. I'm generally a bit of a Plain Jane fashion wise so I use my nails as the chance to be bold. These are a few of my favorites this year because of the textures and the blend with my skin color. I've always been a fan of anything that is includes glitter and sparkles, and I love metallic effects.

As the year progressed, I became slightly obsessed with Holographic effects and will probably bring that into the new year. 

Can't get enough of: Flying Monkeys by OPI and Beyond Cozy by Essie

Favorite Destinations

Miami (this deserves a separate  post)

VA Beach

New Orleans (This is definitely getting a separate post)

I was going to include food in this post, but I could just go on and on. Maybe later in the week. But here are a few favorite food things in NYC worth mentioning: 

The Poblano Ranch Dressing at Just Salad specifically the one on 7th ave in Park Slope

The Grand Avenue Latte at Outpost in Brooklyn

Artichoke Pizza from Two Boots on the UWS

Braised Short Rib Pasta from Atrio Wine Bar at The Conrad

Stay tuned for part two!

Did any of your favorites make this list?