Fall Update: A much needed break

Have you ever specifically put aside time to do absolutely nothing? No? That's probably because you've never had to.

I think it's very easy to get caught up in your every day life. . .before you know it days, weeks, months, and years have past and you look back with no idea how it all happened so fast. This weekend in particular I decided that I was going to  make myself so busy with doing nothing just to get caught up. Instead of going out or traveling to visit people I spent most of my time indoors with J. . .

Aside from a quick brunch bite outside, we stayed in and that was exactly what I needed. It's cuffing season, after all.

PS - For a picture-by-picture view of what goes on in my life, follow me on Instagram (Carrymel). It's like my 3rd social media love. Pinterest is obviously my first.

March Madness

March has only just begun and I was already preparing myself for the inevitable malarkey coming my way since February 29th. It's not all bad though - February was the shortest yet most annoying month for me. Packages stolen, debit card fraud, missed opportunities . . if I were any other kind of person I'd be seriously depressed right now but what's the point?

One thing has helped lift my spirits: The Hunger Games. The book was suggested to me not because of the movie (which, btw, I have already made plans to pre-order tickets for), but because someone else who isn't to read thought I would like it. Oh, and do I ever.

Is it bad that I contemplated calling out of work this week so I could try to finish a book in one day? I don't think I've ever hated working more. If I were in college I'd just skip my class or call in sick. For some reason money isn't as important as finding out how a book ends to me. Someone needs to get her priorities in order.

Other weekday pick-me-uppers:

• Nice weather! It was nearly 70 degrees on Wednesday! You know what that means. . . I can wear my whore-ish clothes again :) Or not. Since it's still technically winter. But a girl can dream.

• A couple of friends who I haven't spoken to in a while actually reached out to me. Shout out to you if you know who you are ;)

• A new layout! Do ya like it? I'm going to go ahead and thank Courtney for doing it for me! I still have some small tweaks I want to make, that I'm too lazy to do right now but by Sunday we'll be good to go.

• Oh, and this: 

How has your week been going? Did this cupcake photo help?

Ways to keep busy when sick

When I get sick, my body has very predictable stages. It's been this way for as long as I can remember. It starts off with a scratchy through one morning when I wake up. I always think that immediately downing Emergen-C will help fight off anything more serious coming my way and without fail, I always don't have Emergen-C.

Because of consistent fail, the full-blown cold that follows usually lasts for two weeks (yes, TWO weeks) and I find ways to keep my mind off it. Such as, but not limited to...

• Purposeless online shopping. This weekend I bought a slave bracelet (why? Because I saw Vanessa Hudgen's wore it. Obviously.), a bedazzled iPhone case meant for someone 10 years my junior, as well as various things from Forever 21 and Urban Outfitters that I'm ashamed to go into detail on because they found the perfect time to prey on me. I was weak.

• Go outside and spread your illness. I was that person on the train who everyone looks at like they have the plague (sorry). Somehow Bath and Body Works convinced me to buy 6 lotions, sprays, and body washes! What is it about President's Day that makes people think sales are appropriate?

• Clean. I thought to myself, "How can I make my life easier for when I finally get better? Clean the entire apartment!" Am I the only one who makes epic plans for after they recover from a cold? In a way, a cold is your body's way of telling you to chill the f*ck out and stop messing with it.

• Work out. You'd be surprised how motivated you can get when you have a cold. I was trying to sweat out the cold (does that work?), and also tell myself that since my body was trying to get rid of germs, it certainly could get rid of a couple of those pesky calories. What, like it's hard?

• Make your significant other feel like their sole purpose is to nurse you back to health. J was out of the country or on some school-related trip in New York (same difference) so every chance I got I reminded him that it was his responsibility to take care of me and he was failing as a boyfriend. Dramatic? Yes, considering I was shopping, cleaning and going out like nobody's business.

• Read that book that's been sitting on your nightstand. This was part of me "bettering myself" so that once I felt better, I'd feel like I accomplished something.

I'm backwards. I get motivated to do more when I don't feel well and now that I'm 96% back to normal, I just want to lay on the couch and eat mini cupcakes.

Sometimes I get a feeling

American Horror Story is now on the top of my list of TV shows I need to come back for another season asap. Right up there with True Blood. I haven't been able to sleep at a decent hour for the past week because of a combination of fear and over-analyzing, but I do love the show.

And just as I start liking a worthy show. . . I'm sad to say that I'm excited for Bad Girls: Las Vegas. Did I mention I haven't had cable for months? Having it now is a big deal for me!

I'd like to blame my being MIA on reality TV (kind of like how we blame violence, stereotypes, sub-par reading comprehension, etc. on reality TV), but TV this time isn't the culprit. I can't with good conscious ever blame the media for my problems. Too easy.

What has really been happening is lots of work and me juggling my time between all of the people who are important to me. Of course, one of those people is my boyfriend who took me to see The Vow (and it wasn't incredibly sad. Just unfortunate) and is finishing his final semester of college. Wish him luck! I feel like it's been ages since I even sat in a classroom. How does that happen?

I keep feeling like everything's happening so fast, yet nothing's really happening. Or maybe I mean nothing's really happening to me? Not at the rate I want it to, anyway.

Which is why it's time to shake things up.

I work in baby steps, so don't expect a new tattoo or wild hair color or me jetting off to another country. But do expect me to enjoy my 20's a little more...For me to find the same joy in the things I found fun pre-graduation. Expect me to start taking better care of myself so I look the same way on the outside that I feel on the inside. Why should I wait until Spring for those good vibes to come?

And as for things YOU can actually see - keep a look out for a whole new blog makeover for Carrymel.blogspot.com ;)

PS - Follow me on Instagram: Carrymel

Would you or wouldn't you?

While out with some friends last week for dinner and drinks the conversation started off the way most female conversations do: from fashion to feelings to, inevitably, men and relationships. One girl brought up the topic of proposing to a man instead of waiting for him to propose to you. She gave the example of a friend she knew who did it recently, which completely caught her boyfriend off-guard. I'm all for being pro-active and speaking your mind, but for me a proposal from the person I love is step 1 towards us getting married. Maybe I'm old fashion or I've seen too many Disney movies (or both, actually), but if I have to propose to you I'll feel like I'm robbing myself of the beginning stages of my fairy tale wedding.

But that's neither here nor there, lol.

Those who agreed with the girl proposing - which was basically the same as a man's proposal, only you give him a nice watch *rolls eyes* - said that it wasn't about "giving in". It was about knowing what you want and taking it upon yourself to get it. When it was put that way, I understood where the girl was coming from. I still personally wouldn't do it, but if she knew that was the man she wanted, and that he felt the same - more power to her! From the sound of things, however, it didn't seem like the boyfriend was too fond of her taking his moment away, it's also possible that he didn't want to get married to begin with. . .

. . . See, this is why you wait for him to be ready. Ha!

Would you propose to your man? And guys, how would you feel about your girlfriend proposing to you? 

You can thank Martin Luther King Jr. for this post

Well, you can. You can thank him for a lot of other things like being a major influence on the civil rights movement but for right now, as you're reading this, you can thank him for this update.

This long weekend I've been making great use of my time. Since I now have cable (moving on up in the world), I can now watch shows other than The Office and Charmed re-runs on Netflix, which I've been doing since about August. As it turns out, TV still sucks even after you give yourself a 5 month break from it.

Along with watching cable, I've been forcing my homebody boyfriend to explore the city. When I say "force", I mean gently but persistently encourage him. He's not a fan of crowds or public transportation, but I could really care less about that. If I'm living in a city, it's just something we've both got to get use to and so far he's been a good sport.

And another New Years resolution that I've been starting to work on is spending more time with my dad - who I don't talk about much on here. You hear about La Madre, which she loves because in her mind that makes her a celebrity, but my dad deserves shine too. This weekend J and I went on a "double date" with him and his womanfriend. You would think it would be awkward but it wasn't. . .just 4 adults talking and enjoying good food. Gahd, am I getting old? That statement sounded old.

I feel like  I spent so much of my life trying to get older and now that I'm in my 20's. . .I'd gladly give back like 2-3 years. There are obvious pros to being over 21 though. Still trying to figure those out.

Vlog: Dancing my boyfriend wouldn't approve of

Sometimes you've just got to cut loose.

T!G!I!F!

The best is yet to come

In my last entry I wrote about a little bit about all of the f*ckery happening in my life. Let's be honest, people love to read about f*ckery. People love to laugh at other's misfortune or offer advice, and I respect that and hell, even feed into it. But today? Today Nhya's f*ckery will take a little rest. It'll be back soon though. Promise.

I've always thought that life after college would be a new adventure and that it has been. I wasn't sure if the adventure would be good or bad though, since my post graduate mind put myself in a sink or swim situation. It was all good though - I'm the kind of person who can test myself and be okay with it. Lately I've had a lot of time (shocker, right?) to think about what has gotten me to where I am today. I've done a little reflecting and thought about the people and life occurrences that have helped shape me into, well, me. Carrymel, Nhya, whatever you'd like to call me. I am so grateful for every single one of those things. The doubters, the haters, but most importantly, my appreciators. I have gotten to meet so many people that have added to my life or taught me a lesson of some sort - even the seasonal people, I'm happy they were here for the time they were.

And the best part about this life journey I'm still on? The best is yet to come.

I know I owe you a Halloween-esque Post, and it's on its way! I will say that my Halloween ended up not going according to plan though. . .

J gets Boyfriend of the Week.

So, I'm still alive.

This picture was added because my boobs look incredible. Although my hair does not

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I feel like it's been ages since I've updated, so I apologize for that. Things have been reaaally hectic for a bunch of reasons I've probably already mentioned in here. I'm trying to figure out if you can donate organs for money beforehand, because that's how I'm living right now. But alas, this too shall pass.

*sigh*

I think this week has been a stressful week for a lot of people, judging from some of you guys' (spelling?) blogs that I've been ghost stalking.

Shoutout to the things this week that have successfully turned my frown upside down:

• An ever-patient boyfriend that can deal with my sporadic emotionally outburst. J get's the Boyfriend Of The Week award again. He's currently the only candidate and competitor, but that's besides the point.

• A lot of people around me have been getting good news so I'm hoping that some of that karmic goodness rubs off on me if I keep hanging around them. I'm ready to bathe in some good news.

• According to some girl who came into my (temporary) job with serious wrist issues, Red Mango has rainbow sprinkles. If you don't already know, I love all things colorful and particularly love sprinkles. 'Nuff said.

Photocredit

• Yet another small thing that made my day. . .

IT'S BACK IN STOCK! & I own it.

And I'm making a big deal about it because I need to hold tightly to the small flecks of happiness that I have in my life. Phew.

I'll be moving over officially to Astoria this Saturday.

Holla. It's my birthday!

*Busts a Dougie*

Yes, you've heard (read?) correctly. The day has arrived.

I know I've talked about celebrating here and here, way beforehand, and I've confused a lot of you but THIS IS LEGIT. July 27th, 2011 is here and I'm 22 years old!

To commemorate this new year in my life and start my countdown to 30 (wahhh! :(), aside from chronicling the f.cktivities I partake in (which will be outlined in further detail after this weekend), I'd like to share my 22nd year of wisdom with all of you. Some of you might have already realized these things at a younger age or still haven't realized it yourself, but I'm sharing it anyway.

Life has a way of re-routing your plans and to enjoy it to the fullest, you just have to go with it. Everything will work itself out. Don't be afraid of new experiences and new people and certainly don't dwell on old things. Those things happen to make you a better person today.

So there ya have it. Gotta take my own advice!

Also, I wanted to shout out all of you guys for being such awesome followers once again. I'm like, 5 followers away from 100 and I've only been actively updating this blog for like a month. I love that you guys care enough to read what I write or even to comment on anything. Loves it. *throws glitter everywhere*

Ohh, and special shout out to Rose and Miss Sassy Pants for sharing this birthday with me! I don't want to toot my own horn, but I'm inclined to believe that Leos born on July 27th are made from some of the best stuff on earth because everyone I met with my birthday is so awesome, it's almost not fair.

Tell 'em how you feel Tuesdays: True Blood is back!

Photo Credit

I don't know if any of you guys follow True Blood (and if you don't, lo siento, but you really need to). . . I'm a huge fan. I missed Sunday's new episode and had to catch it online but since I've been behind 2 seasons, I now have absolutely no idea what's going on.

I've decided to start something called 'Tell em how you feel Tuesdays' (similar to What's all the hype about), which will pretty much be my time to do just that - tell people how I feel. Obviously no names will be used, but it'll be general shout-outs.

Me and my linesister/roomie. . .pondering our forehead sizes.

• I need to get to a dentist, like yesterday.

• I am not the favorite person of a few people today but I'm learning that apologizing isn't going to get me anywhere and I've never been one to grovel.

• My birthday is coming up (July 27th!) and I have no clue what to do for it. I'm thinking that it needs to be something grown up, since I'm turning 22 and all. . .

• Once my birthday does come that means the summer is over and Nhya either needs to move into an apartment or move back home. Yikes.

•Urban Outfitters is having a sale and I need to get there immediately. Am I late?

• Speaking of sales and shopping in general - I just found out about Urbanog.com (don't judge!) and I know where I'm getting my bday shoes from. Found the below romper there too.

• My whole "summer dieting" thing has been really lax and I need to pick it up if I want to get to my goal weight.

Sidenote: Thanks for all those comments on the Iced Tea Post, lmao. I'm glad y'all get my sense of humor!

Hiding from the sun

This particular post was inspired by Shani's blog, where she posted the following video entitled 'Dark Girls':

Dark Girls: Preview from Bradinn French on Vimeo.

After watching it was I surprised by the way I was reacting. I didn't burst out in tears, but I was identifying some of those insecurities within myself that I thought I had conquered and I hated that. I wouldn't consider myself dark-skinned - I actually prefer caramel, hence my nickname - but I felt wrong for ever thinking that by Black standards, I'm better off being lighter, and by Dominican standards, I'm a bit too dark (both of my backgrounds). I think that at this point in my life I have grown a lot more comfortable with myself, skin color, body type, hair and all, but I seriously wish that myself and other young women didn't need to "get comfortable." Why are we the ones who have to do the adjusting? We're just expected to learn to love ourselves when we have ignorance hissing in our ears?

But listen, I'm not making excuses.

This past Spring semester I wrote my thesis on the changing portrayal of African American women's body image in magazines, so I covered everything from Aunt Jemima to Michelle Obama. Obviously, one of the big things I talked about was skin color and it's significance in both black and white society. It was the first time that I was seeing this written in books by scholars. Through my own research I discovered how there were brief stints of time when being dark skinned was en vogue (like during the 70s and around the Black Power Movement) and there were also times when being light skinned with more white features were in. Yet, light skin has historically been associated with a higher status and thus, more positive qualities. What hurt me the most was that it was black people who were judging one another the harshest. One thing I did discover is that even if darker-skinned models were being featured in magazines, there were still magazines that lightened well-known celebrities - celebrities that weren't even that dark to begin with. As much as we'd like to think we're growing as a society overall, we shouldn't be concerned about accepting dark-skinned women. We should have a natural inclination to love and tell people that they are beautiful no matter what their shade.

Watching that video also got me to start thinking about what my siblings and children, if I ever have any, are going to grow up with. People tell me now that they anticipate my boyfriend and I will have beautiful mixed kids because he's white and I'm black, but I always tell them that my kids will be beautiful no matter what race J and I was. I know I can't change the way people think as a whole, but I can always start with myself and I think my thesis helped me understand that. It's still a growing process though, because I do catch myself having my moments where I'm like, "Oh no! I don't wanna stay in the sun because I'll get darker." Like, it baffles me when my white friends ask me to "lay out."

But it's the summer. I should just enjoy it even if my skin goes from a Soft Sable to a Toasted Almond by L'Oreal standards.

Sidenote: "Toasted" almond! Why is that that?

Double Sidenote: If I hear, "she's pretty for a dark-skinned girl" one mo' 'gain. Okay, I'm done.

The last of my challenge

I told y'all I would finish my challenge so that's what I'm gunna do. Bam, bam, bam!

Seven wants.

1.) A car (probably a new Honda. Y'know, for safety reasons). And a license to drive it.

2.) An entry-level paid j-o-b, in my field. Editorial assistant of some kind maybe.

3.) These shoes. Poppin'. I can't, however, in good conscience spend 1/3 of my college tuition on them.

4.) A nice set-up for me and my boyfriend. Starter apartment and what have you.

5.) Financial security for the fam.

6.) Lazer corrective vision surgery. Why not?

7.) Err, world peace?

Eight fears.

1.) Cats

2.) Drowning

3.) Failure

4.) Death/Disease

5.) Losing a loved one

6.) Going blind

7.) Lack of physical fitness/health

8.) Dreams cut short

Nine loves.

1.) J-Money

2.) My family and friends

3.) Cupcakes and other great food

4.) Fashion/shopping - particularly lace, leopard and florals

5.) Good times, lots of laughter and good company

6.) Things pertaining to women's empowerment and African American history

7.) Standing for something I believe in. A good debate

8.) Reading, and learning more about. . .whatever. I love to learn

9.) Writing

Ten Secrets.

1.) I have a tendency to impulsively shop when I'm stressed. Or bored.

2.) I love having a plan.

3.) I really want to make my mama and grandma proud, even if I say I do things for me.

4.) I can be self-conscience or critical of myself. I never really seek out the approval of others, but I can judge me harshly.

5.) It's real hard for me to forgive and forget.

6.) Loyalty is a huge deal to me.

7.) I really hate being called "quiet". Like, legit.

8.) My full name is Nhyasa but I go by 'Nhya' because people are too lazy to pronounce it right.

9.) I really want to get more in touch with my roots/heritage, what have you.

10.) Even though I consider myself mature, I have a LOT of growing up to do.

I'M DONE!!

*happy dance*

To read my other posts about this, click heeeere.

If I could go anywhere. . .

Six Places!

Just six? :\

Spain

OMG, this would be my number one. My ace of all vacations. I have a real sick obsession with Spain and all things Spanish. Beautiful language (real Spanish, not the Spanglish I know), culture, lifestyle, architecture. . .*drools*.

Disney World

Would you believe I've never been there? My bf claims he's taking me one day and I'm patiently waiting. I don't care if I'm well into my 30s when it happens. It's happening.

Pembroke Pines, Florida

I chose this place because that's where my best friend and grandmother live, and I miss them terribly. This place is always a great vacation.

The Ville

This might be bending the rules but if I could time warp to a place/time, I'd like to go back to when my grandparents lived in the above house. I had such insignificant concerns in life. Life was gooood.

Jamaica

The above picture of me lookin' real country is when I went there when I was a little one, and I went again when I was like 12. And again at 17. I obviously wanna go again because it's been a while.

Australia

Just 'cuz.

Honorable Mentions:

Dominican Republic

California - On a roadtrip!

Aruba

Tough Love

I tweeted something today that kind of inspired this post and I wanted to clarify it. My belief is that if you love someone - you really love them and believe in them - then you'll be their worst critic because you're their biggest fan.

It sounds a bit harsh, but the more I thought about it, the more I believed it. This applies to friends and lovers - anyone you really care about. For example, with Mr. JC (my boyfriend) I've learned to take any advice he gives me as it being a way of him showing me he cares. In past relationships I was never really criticized, leading me to think that I was this above-and-beyond amazing girlfriend that anyone would bend over backwards to have. Now don't get me wrong - I still think I'm a great catch (c'monnnn), but I'm human, and humans make mistakes and need to improve upon them. As much as I might think I know about writing or anything for that matter, I want people to tell me how I can get better. How can I be a better writer or a better person? Tell me about myself.

A couple of people who have consistently kept it real with me are obviously the ones who I know love me unconditionally, like my mother. But I've also been fortunate enough to meet others in life who I trust to give me the kind of tough love that I need, and so I return the favor. With my friends, when I tell them they deserve swift kicks to their ovaries for doing something stupid like butchering an interview or stumbling over their words with a hot guy, I say it full of love. There's a fine line between verbal abuse, and good advice and I don't mind flirting with it for their well being.

I do it because I think that they're a great person and I see potential for even more improvement. I can only hope that I get back the same tough love. Don't tell me my outfit looks cute when you know my colors clash in an unholy way. If something I said leaves a bad taste in your mouth - please tell me. Because I'd tell you.

People in general need to give useful criticism to people they care about. And remember, when you're on the receiving end, what you're being told is almost always tied to someone's personal opinion and those are subject to change. In the end, do what you think is best but don't dismiss what you're being told. Sometimes even your thoughts on what is best for you can change.

PS - In regards to my 10-day-you-challenge, lol. . .I'll do that post later. Tomorrow maybe? Eh.

I f'd up. . .

& didn't blog at all yesterday because I spent the day at the mall *valley girl shrug*, but guess what? I'm going to do back-to-back blog posts for my challenge. A day late, but twice the fun.

Three Movies

(Do you have any idea how hard it is to narrow this down to just three movies?)

1. Pulp Fiction (1994)

I'm a big Quentin Tarantino film head, and while I wouldn't venture to say that this is one of the best films ever made, it's definitely one of his best. This is a movie I could watch over and over again, right up there with Forrest Gump and Cast Away (I'm also partial to Tom Hanks movies). I have a thing for chick flicks but I do appreciate quality movies.

2. Now and Then (1995)

This is my favorite movie on the low (well, not so much since I'm blogging about it now). I use to watch this with my cousin like it was the only movie in the world. Even though I'm not 12 anymore and can't really relate to the pre-teen issues the girls faced in this movie, that doesn't change my opinion of it being one of my favs. I'm comfortable with it and it goes right up there with my fav chick flicks like Mean Girls and Clueless (movies that I feel everyone with a vag needs to watch once in their life).

3. The Time Traveler's Wife (2009)

I'm gunna add this one because I like movies that make me cry and I can't really think of other tear-jerkers at the moment. Love stories, or overtly dramatic movies hold a special place in my heart so if you're into that, you'll be into this. Also - this movie will make you be grateful for the relationship that you have because it could always be a lot worse.

My Theme Music

As part of my 10 Day Challenge, I need to post two songs but since I didn't know if they really need to have meaning I'm posting some ish you can bump to. Or as my boyfriend likes to call it, chick music.

I was torn between my two loves of Whitney and Mariah, but the true diva prevailed. . .

Fantasy - Mariah Carey

This song first got on my radar whenever Rush Hour came out and there was that opening scene with the little Asian girl, Soo-Yung, singing (poorly) along to this in her limo. I thought, I wanna be her. Then I saw the actual video with MC looking happy and in love and I decided that I wanted my first relationship to be just like that. I wanted it to be natural, exciting, over-the-top, sensual and most of all - void of any and all concepts of reality. Real deep in love. I wanted to be on Cloud 9. Now, when I listen to that song I think of first loves and loving in general.

Caramel - City High

This song is partial inspiration to my nickname. The beat of this song is relaxing, slow, and it also evokes a feeling of happiness for me. I like it because (like many songs and totally not in a narcissistic way) I like to think this was written about me. I decided to latch onto to these lyrics, just because:

Anywhere I go, I'm spotted

And anything I want, I got it

5'5 5'7 with brown eyes,

Smile like the sunrise

Say what you want, but listening to this will make you feel like you're modestly the sh-t. And I'm all about subtlety.

PS - I'ma need y'all to not judge the songs based on the videos, thanks. I just put them on there because I know how this society is with visuals and whatnot. God forbid y'all take my word for it.

I'ma Hustler (Well, I'd like to be)

This summer it has become painfully obvious that the modest income I'm generating on a daily basis is not suitable for the lifestyle I'd like to become accustomed to. In my mind, I want to live like a young Carrie Bradshaw (surprised?) but since that may be aiming too high for a recent grad I'm willing to economize. A little.

I actually want to take on an additional job of some sort to add to the two I've already got. If I do this, I can stop only ordering glasses of water with lemon to drink when I go out. My only problem is that I'm hella picky, with no special skills besides maybe being a personal shopper. Let's look at some options, shall we? Maybe you'll get inspired.

Top 5 College Student Legal Carrymel-Approved Side Hustles

1.) Babysitting - It's pretty easy, assuming the kids you're watching aren't medicated and you've got more common sense than they do. If you get enough referrals or a family that really likes you, you can have a steady amount of cash flowing every week which means new shoes, a paid phone bill, possibly money towards a tattoo - the works. You sit in a house, eat up all their food (and blame the kids, obviously) and play a couple of board games or watch a show to keep the little ones occupied. If you're lucky, you might get a kid who's too young to ask questions about why you paint your nails so often or if you and your boyfriend will ever get married.Serious about it? Visit a site like Sitter City and register or just tell people through word of mouth.

My con - I love kids. I do. I especially love them when they're at that age where they believe everything you tell them. What I've realized about myself is that I love kids a lot more when they're not my responsibility. Something about me having their life in my hands is a turn-off.

2.) Tutoring - If there's anything, and I mean anything, that you are remotely good at, try to teach someone and get paid for it. This is another one that might involve kids so if you're good with them and patient, give it a go.

My con - I'm normally really good at highlighting my accomplishments but to be honest - besides writing - there is nothing I feel qualified to teach America's youth about. I can't play any instruments, I am horrible at math, and I toyed with the idea of playing sports in HS - none of which I mastered. Unless maybe a semester of Color Guard in marching band is considered useful experience. I think I did too much of everything and not enough of one thing.

3.) Senior Citizen Assistance - I feel like you probably need to be spot-checked like crazy so it may not be the easiest thing to get into but people will pay you generously for taking care of their parents. You'd be surprised. You'll have to cook a little, clean (a lot), do laundry, talk to them and such. Basically, keep them alive by making them feel alive.

My con - Everyone who knows me knows that the elderly make me more nervous than the children. Any cough, randomly shouted obscenity. . .pretty much anything unscheduled will freak me out and lead me to think they might die on me and I couldn't live with that. I'm also not the biggest fan of giving baths to people I'm not related to, or people period.

4.) Ebay or other selling sites - Everyone collects something, even if it's dust. If you have a collector's item that would be lucrative to sell or if you can make something that others would buy (ie: baked goods, clothes) why not get paid for it?

My con - The only thing I can sell that I own are all of my Sims 2 expansion packs or Hello Kitty memorabilia. None of which, at age 21, I'm ready to part with.

5.) Bartending! - If you have money to spare to pay for some classes, bartending can be a very respectable side hustle, and it comes with tips. I have a few friends who are helping make ends meet by doing this. Get certified and apply everywhere, even if you need to embellish on your experience to land some gigs.

My con - I don't have a big con for this one, actually :) My only fear is that my personality will be over-shadowed by the skimpy outfits I'll be forced to wear (or force myself to wear) to get big tips. Oh, and I'm not a night person.

I don't know, folks. I'm thinking of being a professional scrap-booker. People pay for that, right?

Abuse & Neglect

I solemnly swore to update this blog on a (semi) regular basis and I'm totally failing in that respect.

*fake sigh*

I'm actually on vacation in Florida and I'm trying this new thing where I don't bring the work of NY with me wherever I go.

So this is a post to say that even better posts will follow. Scout's honor. Whoever Scout is. .

In the meantime, here's a belated Happy Independence Day! And a rundown of reasons for why I can only visit Florida, and not actually live here.

• NYers have no kind of patience. Neither do 20-something's. We feel we're entitled to a lot just because we've mastered useless technologies. Seeing as how I am both a NYer and a 20-something, the Floridian's lackadaisical way of operating baffles me.

• NYers can drive, and unless a Floridian was originally from another state they truly cannot.

• I can't with things that are far away

being described as "right around the corner." On what planet?

• This month is actually considered part of the rainy season down here. F-ck me, right?

• The fashion in any place that's NOT Miami? Ehh. . .

• Along with rain. . .comes humidity. Humidity begets sweating, sweating begets frizzing of the already confused hair I've got.

Aside from those minor things I need to adjust to, I'm having a blast and enjoying this much-needed vacation. I'm being shamelessly lazy, eating anything that I find myself staring at for too long, and purchasing whatever I see that's made of lace and floral-print. In short - just doing what I'm good at.

Meet Karma: She's rubber, and you're glue

I’ve always been a firm believer in documenting important life events, because even if no one else would care to read it, later it’ll be there for you. Just in case you forget how something felt at the time or what someone said (and how they said it). Sometimes it’s good to have that reference.

I’m grateful to have a lot of things written down and archived for future reference. It’s helped me realize how much I’ve grown, and in some ways, stayed the same since certain events happened in my life. It’s really been a beautiful journey, all in all. The good and the bad things that I’ve done as well as the good and bad things that have happened to me were somehow cosmically intertwined and ended up meaning something. They’ve all happened for some greater reason than what I could recognize at the time, and now I'm understanding it a little more. Everyday is a lesson.

There was a time when I felt that I had done something so karmically wrong (that I still feel guilty for to this day, fyi) in my past that something I was going through at the time had to be a result of a that. I convinced myself that this was the Universe’s/God’s way of saying “You done f-cked up now.”

Looking back on that now, I see it wasn’t that serious, and that what happened to me was nowhere near equivalent to what I had done. I saw that it had happened to a lot of people. I saw that it could have been a lot worse. The Boomerang Theory to me has some truth to it, and somehow I was going to get what was coming to me, and it’d only be fair. Everyone is, if they haven’t already.

Just always remember to give out what you want in return. You may not get it right away, but somehow it will always come back around to you. Even if you’re experiencing something painful – some betrayal or some loss – keep in mind that retaliating is your way of getting back at that situation, but not the way of the greater good. You don’t have to believe in God to see where I’m coming from – just believe that there is something omnipotent and far bigger than you. Good things happen to good people, eventually, and that’s the stuff worth waiting for.

Right now I feel as if the years of good I’ve done have come back to me because this place.

Right now.

This ish right here? This is a good feeling. Happiest I’ve been in a while, I’d say.

I hope you all are getting what’s coming to you :) Whether it’s good or bad - it will pass, and the cycle will continue. For the future, learn from this and give out what you want to get back.

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