Where My Words Are Hanging Out Today and Heloz Art & Photography Promo For Facebook Fans

Artist and Photographer Hector Lopez

Good day my buddies ole' pals! Just wanted to let you all know that today I'm at (well, my writing is at) Circle of Art Movement with an interview on body paint artist,  photographer, painter, artist (like, drawing homies), actor and dancer Hector Lopez (the pneumonia just made my mind run out of breath typing all of that, phew!). If you don't remember (I'm just saying that to say that, of course you do!), let me refresh your memory; he's the talent responsible for this:

If you missed the Kim Kardashian Inspired Body Paint article, just click on the pic!

And I'm responsible for the makeup (just had to throw that in there because I wanted to feel as cool as Hector for just a second). Please check out my interview with him here-->Hi, I'm Hector, Click Me!<--click that! Thanks :)

Also, in case you haven't heard, or aren't a fan of his Facebook Page yet (shame on you), Hector is running a special promotion for his Facebook Fans ONLY! So get on over there and "like" his page already my people!

Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy my interview on Hector! Comments would be LOVED and deeply appreciated at the end of the interview post :)

Besos, Beijos, Filakia, MUAH!

Lisa xo

Twitter Stalk Me

Facebook Love My Blog Feed

P.S. I know I promised to share my experience with prolactinoma with you all today, and my love for Derek Santiago Art, but there is a possibility that I will not have laptop/computer access for at least today, maybe more depending on my current health status. Thank you for reading guys and I look forward to being back sooner than later :) xo

I went to the ER and the verdict is...

Woe is Me

Hey all!

So, by now some of you already know that I have been at home sick for some time now. I don’t have health insurance and it seemed like I just had a common cold, so I didn’t go to the doctor’s. While I felt as if I were getting better (my voice came back much to the chagrin of others), I was still having sleepless nights and coughing up phlegm in a shade of green that doesn’t compliment my skin tone (tmi?). I consulted my dear friend Google, who’s a big fat “know it all”, and was informed that the shade of phlegm bestowed upon my tissues meant I had an infection. So, the next morning I hauled my bootie over to the emergency room hoping that I’d have a simple diagnosis of say, I don’t know, bronchitis, get given some antibiotics and be told that I’m clear to get my broke a$$ back to work the following day.

I had a great time at the ER I’ll admit, I didn’t want to leave. Aside from the constant coughing that had the 5 year old behind the curtain in the "room" next to me being more concerned about me dying as opposed to her mother’s car accident (so sweet,“Hey, are you okay in there Miss?”), I’d say I was all smiles, bursting with stars and sugarplums, and confident that I’d have medication and clearance to go back to normal living by the next day. I even thought I’d be better by 7:15 that evening to take a dance class I prepaid for (you know, because the magic cough medicine that I imagined they would give me would be that effective!). Well, the doctor’s attending me pissed in my cheerios when they came in with the news. They were so sweet, funny and smiley faced. So much, that when they told me I had pneumonia I laughed and said “Really, so even with that phlegm and coughing there’s nothing wrong with…wait, what?” So that’s why I felt like I ran a marathon each time I went down stairs to get something to eat and stock up on bedside fluids? 

Then the nurse came in, bearer of worse news. Discharge paper in hands, she says something about me (remember, broke and no health insurance) needing to go to a doctor in 5 days for a follow up and then I ask her: 

Me: “So, when can I go back to work?”

The nurse gives me a blank stare. 

Me: “Tomorrow? Day after? It takes like 24 hours for antibiotics to kick in, right?” 

Insert 5 seconds of silence that painstakingly feels like 5 minutes. 

Nurse: “Girl...you got pneumonia what do you mean when can you go back to work? People die from this, you got an infection in your lungs, you need to stay in bed for like 10 days.”

First of all, whoooooa mama. Second of all, 10 days?!?! I don’t get paid when I don’t go to work! I can’t stay in bed, who’s going to feed me?! Will I ever get better? 10 days?! Yes, 10 days. Maybe a little less, but still, what am I going to do, like, financially?

So, when can I go back to work again? Photo compliments of Zazzle.com

The stress over this little very big detail which looms over my head definitely isn’t conducive to the recovery process, so I need to try and let it go for now, but I can’t help but wonder why, at one of the few times in my life that I don’t have sick days or health insurance, would this happen? I’ve already made a few moves such as post a few easy things on Ebay and call my local Avon Representative to inquire about becoming a salesperson too. I mean, it's about all I can do for now to try and make money from bed and I’m even somewhat limited on the Ebay thing since I can’t walk around too much before I start having a cough attack.

I also need to find a way to keep productive and since I don’t have a TV in my room I’ve been wasting away online and I’m kind of bored of it. So, I thought, now is a better time than ever to focus on sharing with you all the issues I’ve had with my health and what I have learned about my conditions and ailments. I promised to do so in the past, but I get more excited about writing about the exciting people and food in my life. Since I am sick  and not at my best,  now is the time to write a little less about the totally awesome people and artists and food in my life since I most likely will not be writing at my best while my mind is all on my health. However, before I got really sick, I pulled together a photo album of some of my favorite works by one of my absolute favorite artists, Derek Santiago, and only haven’t posted because I promised to take a picture of an awesome book I bought from him to post on FB. Oh, yeah, and I have to write something too! The pics of me and the book will have to come later, but I can’t wait any longer to share my love of Derek Santiago’s work with you all! There will be plenty of time in the future for me to get all dolled up and look cute posing with Derek’s artwork, which will house the words I pen for my long lost love of writing poetry. Perhaps, I can do it for a Circle of Art Movement photo shoot and article.

Soooo, back on topic, now more than ever I realize how precious our health is, priceless actually. Our health is our wealth so take care of yourself! Pause. Ok, so I have prolactinoma. Prolactinowhat? Yup, prolactinoma. I’m not going to tell you all about it now, it will be the topic of conversation in tomorrow’s post so you’re not reading an essay today, but I’ll leave you with this: I at times easily overlook it. We should never overlook not one single detail of our health, no matter how mundane it seems, it can be linked to or contribute to greater issues with something else. When I checked into the hospital and they asked me if I had any health conditions I immediately said “no” and then followed by and “Oh yeah, I’m not sure if this is relevant but I have prolactinoma.” Prolactiwhat? Yeah, that’s usually the response I get. Anyway, I hope the information I type up while I’m home with pneumonia is of some interest to you and helpful for some and that I am able to be interesting enough to keep you engaged long enough to learn something new based on my experiences.

Well, for today, that’s all folks! Hope to see you here tomorrow!

Besos, Beijos, Filkia, MUAH!

Love,

Lisa xo

Got Time Management? Let's Start With Keeping Sane

Close to a month ago I put myself in the dunce cap, which I am still in by the way if anyone cares to know, because I was doing so horribly at balancing all the gajillion things I need to do. Well, one of my readers read my rant and has offered up some tips to share with me and the rest of you fab people who pay me some mind (thanks my love doves). I'm so excited, because I'm still a certified "Hot Mess" and could use all the help I can get (preferably a personal assistant, but that's not an option right now). I'm thrilled to introduce you to my first guest blogger EVER, Katia Suero, and her excellent article "Juggling Life".

Juggling Life
by Katia Suero

While scarfing down my lunch (this time, a very healthy salad and a not so healthy creamy chicken chowder), I pulled out my handy dandy notebook and jotted down all of the things I had “pending” for the weekend- YES! For the W.E.E.K.E.N.D! You may say, “but the weekend?” Long gone are the days when the weekends were used to relax, to watch movies, spend time with friends, SLEEP, get your nails did…and so on. The weekends have become (to most of us) the “catch up” series of our lives, where we try to fit in everything we couldn’t do during the week.  We squeeze in the laundry, the food shopping, the cleaning, the tedious bill payments, the rushed hour with our DVR’s, the time when we do our text catching up with mom or dad…yes TEXTING…we can no longer afford to call and hold a conversation as time is too scarce; it escapes from our hands and before we realize it Sunday night is before us and it is time to do it all over again.

I sat back and thought about my dear friend’s blog post about her journey back to wellness. I remembered how much those words resonated with me as I thought of the many challenges, I, she and the rest of us face when making an effort to live healthy lives; to eat the “right” things, to exercise, to simply live well. I can tell she struggles just as much as I do to maintain a balanced life style and if for me it means jotting down my pending businesses during my lunch hour on a Friday afternoon while to her it meant getting up every time after an injury and making sure she squeezed in the time to get moving and to remind herself how important it was to make the time for those fruit smoothies and 1 hour DVD’s.

It is an evident factor that in today’s society, we live in a constant rush to accomplish as much as we can in the shortest amount of time. If you, as I did, sit down and take one moment to think, you will realize your heart beats as if speeding in a race…a race against time. We want to make it all happen for ourselves and for others. We want to feel accomplished. We want to show our kids and spouse’s that YES WE CAN…but how much could we truly make happen in a day’s span that would truly make us feel good at the end of the day? Why, instead of feeling this huge sense of accomplishment, do I feel completely exhausted and without the energy to be able to think by the time my head hits the pillow? We are completely overly exerting ourselves and all we do about it is keep going just like the energizer bunny.  It’s like a vicious cycle we keep feeding and we keep hoping it will blossom into something someday soon. In the meantime, we down the java on the way to work, we carry around our daily planners, berries, nooks, and droids…we power up with energy drinks and we pretend to be unbeatable at the face of delayed LIRRS, PATHS and subway, grab a snickers bar on the way to the afternoon meeting, we try some green tea for sake of health, we overdose on vitamin C and Zinc at the sign of a sneeze…all we can do, to simply keep moving.

I am no expert.  I am another New Yorker trying to make it through the noise of the city that never sleeps. One that has often become one of its zombies. I try to remind myself to stop and breath. I use my writing as my time of meditation, as MY time to slow down and take a moment to look around me as life rapidly flashes before my eyes like lightening.

 I have gathered a few tips that I feel have helped me on some days, not ALWAYS, and want to share with the rest of you hardworking people trying to simply make it before the Friday night crash.


They are as follows:

• Take a moment to BREATH. Truly it works

• Disconnect your brain. As non-ethical as this sounds in the work place, it works wonders for me to think about that date on Saturday night or that take out I have waiting for me in the fridge while the CFO talks about revenue expectations (hehehe)

• If possible, disconnect from the net. We think of it as a tool always, but the web can very much be a source of tension and stress. Step away from the laptop. Practice this by 5 minute increments daily, you will see, it’s not as difficult as it seems.

• Give yourself something to look forward to. A yummy treat at the end of the day, a ½ hour with your favorite reality TV show, a Pinkaberry moment…anything that makes you smile!

These are simple enough, and you may say, “How can they help me balance my day?” BUT: The idea is that you have a moment to recharge, a moment to seize and re-program yourself, and an opportunity to prioritize… and for the sake of keeping your sanity, enjoy some of what the day can bring!

Stay well, smiling, and healthy,

Katia

Katia Suero is a Bilingual Freelance Online Content Writer. Originally from the Dominican Republic, Katia arrived in NYC at the age of 11 and has grown to become an energetic, multifaceted, and motivated professional who considers freelance writing one of her biggest outlets in life. In addition to writing, Katia has spent her professional career working for communities in need of support and help through organizations like The Partnership at DrugFree.org, Tiny Stars, American Red Cross, and others. Among many of her passions, writing and traveling are on the top of her list.

She enjoys staying active by practicing yoga and exercising.  Her inspirations include her family and desire to become an active participant in her community every day. She is strongly involved in spreading knowledge regarding Women’s Issues and Rights and educating the public about Human Trafficking campaigns. She has also used some of her time in between jobs to travel to places like England, Italy, France and The Czech Republic where she taught English and Spanish to children at the elementary level.

Before gaining all of her experience in the world of non-profits, Katia acquired a Master’s Degree from Pace University focusing on Public Administration for Non-Profits and a Bachelor’s Degree on Language Culture and World Trade also from Pace University. 

I'm baaaaaack, missed me? I'm sure you didn't with all this interesting info! I just want to close this off by thanking you all for reading and I hope this inspires you to take the steps necessary to lead a balanced life. Don't be hard on yourself, remember, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson wasn't built overnight, so neither will be rebuilding our lives into such a masterpiece. That baby took nine months to bake in the oven boys and girls, so maybe, juuuust maybe, you can try and set yourself up on a monthly goal plan for the next nine months and see what you got in the end! And let's be original, start now, NOT January 2, 2012!

Now that you all are hopefully inspired and on a time management kick, you'll need to read Listen to Your Body, on Fun.Fit.Chic.

Besos, Beijos, Filakia, MUAH!

Lisa xo

Twitter Me

Facebook Love Me

Contact Me: Adventures.of.a.NY.Gypsy@gmail.com 

And last but not least, PLEASE support artists featured on Circle of Art Movement by following the  site, retweeting the articles and checking out some phenomenal talent! 

I've Put Myself In A Dunce Cap

Okay, so I've been M.I.A in my position as Social Media Whore. Shoot me. Um, on second thought, don't...take that literally... The truth is, I've just been swamped taking care of things that I have either neglected and/or absolutely need to get done. So I owe all that have been so supportive in keeping up with me here and reading my rants and stuff a big fat apology. Here is the big fat apology: APOLOGY. I have been naughty.

The truth is, I have an issue with balancing and not the body coordination kind. Well, that too, but that's not what this is about. I have an issue with balancing all the things I need to do! So I'm putting myself in the dunce cap and putting myself to work on other things and balancing this into it in the meanwhile. I love so much to write about what's on my mind, share fun info with my friends and tell everyone what is going on, buuuuuut, I'm going to have to do it like once a week :/ I suffer from wanting to socialize daily (bring out the violins).

On the up note, it's for good reason! Here's the deal. Before I started this personal blog, I began a plan to start a website, which will now be a blog, called Circle of Art Movement. I will tell you more about that later, but now it is starting to materialize and there are other people involved who are counting on me to release certain material within a reasonable amount of time. In brief, Circle of Art Movement (CAM Project) follows my work on photo shoots and incorporates field work of various artists of the material culture (jewelry designers, hat designers, clothing, etc.) The initial inspiration came from the desire to help aspiring designers by incorporating their work into photo shoots which would in turn provide them with professional photos of their work and expand the amount of portfolios they'd be in (mine, photographers, make-up artists, etc.). In turn, they'd be walking portfolios of all involved as well, hence, Circle of Art Movement. You will be seeing the first article no later than Monday of next week, if not sooner. On October 28th, you'll see how this idea inspired by material culture has already expanded itself into other realms of art pretty quickly and I'm happy about that! It's in the foundation stages, but I will be learning, perfecting and evolving as we go along. Please follow Circle of Art Movement on Facebook, Twitter and Blogspot to watch this baby grow with me!

The second is, well, I've been enlisted as a stylist for photo shoots the past few years, been asked for years to start a blog with my outfits so people can get ideas, plus have always longed to have a shop and be a personal shopper of sorts. Also, I've had the opportunity to work with an accomplished stylist who often calls me in for accessorizing and second opinion, therefore, I need to pay some mind to this (it's a sign!). So, slowly but surely I am doing it, but this has been the most challenging of all! I have so many ideas and not enough time to write them down! I have so much crap flying across what used to be a comfy bedroom that I can't even concentrate! I get outfits together and then have no one to take a picture of me (and shush up, if you saw my room, you know tri-podding it in here is not an option among other obstacles beyond my control). To top it off, I know as much about starting a website shop as Shrek the ogre knows about deodorant, so I don't get as much as I'd like done in the time available to me. However, somehow, someway, I will make it happen and have already played around some with  posts and products and  you can check that out on the Nifty Thrifty Stylist Closet's Facebook Fan Page and Nifty Thrifty Stylist Closet on Blogspot. Please join so you can be kept up to date with my progress, the things I will be selling, whatever and whoever I will be writing about in the (mostly non-famous) fashion world and of course, if you know anyone who may need a stylist/image consultant or a personal shopper, ya got my number ;)

And last, but not least, I have been desperately looking for work, spending up to 3 hours daily applying. My main interest is in being a live in house manager or housekeeper, because then I can do all the things I love to do. Cook, clean, organize, shop, take care of people...and you can make a very decent living doing this. BUT NO ONE WANTS TO HIRE ME! Lol. Finding work where I am located has been very difficult. Finding work that fulfills me in general, has been even more difficult. But a change needs to be made, I am very unhappy with my current situation, the work that I do, and the fact that the pay forces me to stay living with family and even with a second job...no bueno. My move two years ago may have not been for the best, I kind of made myself stuck between a rock and a wall...or hard place...or...how the hell does that expression go?!?! Either way, I need to get myself up and out and making better with my life STAT!

So there you have it my peeps, some of the reasons why I'm putting my bootay in the dunce cap and in the corner. I'm working my toosh off until I get my crap in order and have myself in a healthier place in life.

Thank you so much to those of you who have been reading and don't forget me while I am writing less!!!

Besos, Beijos, Filakia, MUAH!

Love,

Lisa xo

Something good comes out of everything, just have a little faith, life will eventually connect the dots.

This past Thursday I had the most supercalafradulistically wonderful day that I have had in the longest time! After almost a month of applying for jobs (probably hundreds which took almost all of my free time) I finally got an interview. One of the reasons I haven't been able to take a job in the city is because it will be a long while before I will have saved enough to actually move close to the city to work. My commute from here is no joke and will without a doubt interfere with job performance and therefore advancement. However, this job would require me to live on the premises as I would need to manage a lot of the work in the house and assist in multiple businesses, so I didn't feel like I was trekking out for the interview for nothing. Similar to the dating mentality, 400 applicants, around 25 interviews and only one job available, I know my chances are slim but it was the best.interview. ever...EVER!!! The interview conversation was very inspiring and my potential employer seems like one of the most genuine, diverse, interesting and down to earth people I have ever met on a professional level. Even better, the type of work I'd be doing is all in areas of business I enjoy; domestic, art, antiques and cars. Yes, I love cars, I love driving, so those who know me, shut the jaw I know I don't know much about them but I'll learn if I get the job and am blessed with the opportunity to get educated on it while on the job!

Anyway, although I didn't have that "I got this!!!" type of feeling when I left, I felt great and extremely happy. It was an inspiring interview conversation and was one step towards the right direction. Well, I took those steps back to the subway skipping. On the return trip to Astoria I was smiling, enjoying all of the people around me and even laughing all by my daaaamn self...which had absolutely nothing to with the cocktail I sucked up at the end of the interview. I swear on a wad of chewed up gum. Yes, I even got a drink at the interview, SHUT UP!! 

To make this day even luckier, not one, but TWO of my acquaintances were available to grab a bite with me before my long drive home. I'll skip all the major introductions since I don't have pretty pictures to entertain, but my two victims of the evening were the lovely Cindy, cousin of a long time friend of mine, and the other lovely was Delyana. It was the first time I had seen Delyana since we met almost two years ago in December of 2009 at the grand opening of Staykova Boutique. We picked up as if we had seen each other regularly for the past two years, just the same as the night we met. As if we've known each other forever. Without a doubt, we agreed, we are soul sisters.

Spending time with Delyana and Cindy was so much fun and so refreshing. The conversation was great, we laughed a ton and for the first time in awhile I felt like myself; these ladies are just AMAZING company and we had a great connection. Often times, well most all of the time and only since moving back to Long Island, I feel more reserved and somewhat introverted. I hold  back a lot of myself. I know it's partially because I mainly meet people in a "professional" atmosphere and partially because I just can't relate to this lifestyle, and then there is just a whole bunch of other things. I'm not going to get into psychoanalyzing myself now, but simply, I'm uncomfortable here. Yes, I am myself, but I am not all of myself. I miss the rest of me...

Throughout the laughter and jokes, we sprinkled in some major philosophical and spiritual topics that led to how we got to where we are today, where we'd like to see ourselves and what kind of people we want to be around. Naturally, because this is soooooo Lisa, we got into the topic of how everything does happen for a reason. I truly believe that it does and that, as the popular Spanish proverb among many Cubans go, no hay mal que por bien no venga...there is nothing bad that happens in which something good does not come out of it. It just sucks Shweddy Balls that sometimes it takes a long time to figure out why, but we have to have faith that life will "connect the dots", or the analogy I normally use, that the pieces of the puzzle will eventually come together ...and you must try that ice cream by Ben and Jerry's if you haven't already, it's a life changing experience (Shweddy Balls meaning. What did you think I was talking about when I said that? Sucios!). Just pray that you are never asked to take a breathalyzer test after you eat it.

So back to "connecting the dots", everything happening for a reason, having faith and the blah blah blah talk. When that was mentioned, Delyana did the whole "Oh my God!" hands to head, big bright smile thing that we girls do when a coinky dink occurs. Her quote went something like this: "You have to watch the video I posted of Steve Jobs making a speech at a graduation years ago, just watch it, it will change your life and be the best 1o minutes spent." Well, it was 15 minutes, but yes, it was definitely a speech more than worth the time and that we should all hear. And if you haven't already, wouldn't ya know it it's conveniently located at the end of this post?! And honestly, the reason for the post.

So amidst the laughter, Cindy coincidentally knowing every person I brought up that night (yes, we too did that "Oh my Gawd!" thing we girls do too), and the yummy cocktails and food at Fatty's Cafe in Astoria, I am SO happy that our conversation turned to more serious and somewhat spiritual topics. Without a doubt, the interview and time spent with Cindy and Delyana enhanced and changed the course of my week; it was refreshing, inspiring, fun and it brought me back to me and a much needed reminder that I'm still here. It's just that life is a little bit different now and for a purpose that is much needed for a better future. Steve Jobs will clarify all that I'm talking about pretty much in the video below in one of the most inspiring stories I've ever heard.

Thank you for reading and much love to my wonderful friends and Steve Jobs and his family, may he rest in peace as his legacy lives on.

Besos, Beijos, Filakia, MUAH!

Love,

Lisa xo
Twitter: Fab_Chitating
                CAM_Project

Cluless in the Suburbs-Photo Editing Dramas...HELP!

So, last night I played around some with the header of my blog, and chose this picture from a photo shoot I did not too long ago. Of all my photos, it was most representative of my gypsy life; the big bag, me walking away (yes, in reality, it's more like 5 big bags and me sitting in the middle, legs half in air and flustered, but I don't have a photo of that yet and "flustered" is not the look I'm going for).

Anyway, to my annoyance, once up on the blog it looks blurry! And it's a professional photo :/ I did filter it with "Poprocket" on Instagram for iPhone, which may have altered it a bit and I don't like the black borders, and of course the blurriness. I am going to work on editing the photo again tonight, but in the meanwhile, does anyone have any suggestions? Did I do something wrong? What can I do to make it better? HELP! SAVE MY SHIP! DAMSEL IN DISTRESS!

Here are the pics, in original and edited format.

Love, 

Your overly dramatic friend Lisita (I'm utilizing my Cuban given name today in honor of Nicolita Swimwear and my Abuela bella) 

xo

 PHOTOS TAKEN BY ERIC MAYR OF EM PHOTO SERVICES, STATEN ISLAND, NEW YORK

Original Photo

After editing, filtering & cropping<--I imagine this may be why it looks less clear, but why such a huge difference?!?! 

What I want, but with a border that blends better with my current blog template and a pinkier and prettier font.

Photos edited on my iPhone with Instagram and captioned with Captions PM

"40 Seconds, 40 Pics" Video

 While an old dance friend and I were catching up at "La Lotería" Exhibit in the Brooklyn Observatory, we were kindly interrupted by another attendee who offered to take pictures of us. She said that she loved taking pictures, so we gave her the honor of catching our moment (reunions are always nice!). She was everything you'd imagine a fashion photographer to be! The only problem is that she took approximately 40 "snapshots" in video taking mode. However, where there's a will, there's a way, so why not share these shots in picture taking view?

 Thanks to La iPhone, here are some of my favorite screen shots I took to create a few stills

   

Hope you enjoyed my "pics", I have plenty more from the exhibit and my fun filled weekend

to share later this week once I finish editing.

Thanks for looking!

Besos, Beijos, Filakia, MUAH!

Love,

Lisa xo

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

My Reaction to the Earthquake Devastation

Photo of North East Coast Earthquake Devastation: When my friend Jon approached me with his phone saying, "Look, Photo of Earthquake Devastation in D.C.", my heart sank as I waited for the photo to load and I felt panic rush over me. When this photo loaded, I almost peed in my pants and died of laughter. What a way to be relieved, everything was okay, no one was hurt. To me, it was a reminder of how lucky we are. A knocked down chair? Yup. That's how lucky we are. Some of us didn't even feel the earthquake. And for those of us who did, eh hem->insert blush here<--, let's just say, I'm quite alright. I hope you enjoy my story.

Since I can't post a note (or at least have not discovered a way how) on this blog's FB fan page, I am forced to post my experience with yesterday's earthquake here in New York on my blog, for everyone under the sun to read.

Did I feel the earth rumble beneath me during yesterday's planet tantrum? Absolutely. Did it occur to me, for even one moment, that it was an earthquake? Absolutely not. First clear indication of how unscathed are we of natural disasters in these parts of the world and a reminder of how incredibly grateful we should be that "so far, so good". I pray it stays that way. Even if my prayers seem unrealistic, boy do I pray it stays that way, so that my reactions can always be what they were yesterday.

Here it goes, my Reaction to the Earthquake:

Lisa in car. Car starts shaking. Lisa starts cursing the world that her car is about to break down. Or maybe it's all the damn construction. Damn, for all the traffic this damn construction causes her ass should have just stayed in the Bronx. Lisa starts cursing construction and traffic. Oh, traffic? Maybe there IS something wrong with the car and it only happens when it's standing still...thank you effin traffic. Light turns green, no one moves. Lisa starts cursing out everyone because they are making her car shake by not effin moving. Next light 10 seconds later is red. Car is shaking. Lisa notices that gas is close to empty. Now, Lisa is cursing her inability to notice when her car is on E and the light, because BOTH are the reason that her car is about to break down. Pull into 7 Eleven, bumps into a friend she hasn't seen in 12 years. Forgets that her car is about to EXPLODE and she's about to be broke and car-less, because now she has an opportunity to talk all about herself in a 2 minute synopsis of the past 12 years of her life. Leaves 7 Eleven. Friend comes to her car window, "Did you feel the earthquake? My friend said that her whole office building was shaking." Lisa responds: "What?!?!? That was an effin' earthquake?!?! Well, that effin' earthquake made me think that my car was about to break down, that  scared the crap out of me!"
 
So, you know where my priorities are, right? Well, I'm grateful it's as simple as that.

I was running late for work, so I send a text to one of my managers saying, "Sorry, the earthquake has delayed me. At a light nearby." My adorable dose of sass and sarcasm is bound to keep me out of workplace trouble.


Non Comical Reaction to the Earthquake Devastation: My text message wasn't a lie, but comic relief aside, how lucky are we considering all that has been going on in other parts of the world with natural and not so natural disasters (as some "natural" disasters are a result of how we treat the earth). Our earthquake "devastation" is laughable, while elsewhere earthquakes have resulted in tears, death...the loss of everything. Nothing laughable about that. So laugh all you want, literally, because thus far, we are the luckiest people alive and have every reason to be laughing, smiling and appreciating that we have life. May we continue being blessed and keeping the less fortunate in our prayers and positive thoughts and helping others in all ways that we can.

Glad we all survived, keep being grateful!

Thank you for reading and much love to everyone!

Besos, Beijos, Filakia, MUAH!

Love,

Lisa xo

My Love of Thrift Stores and Giving Back with Coram Thrift

My Abuela, back in 19 I Don't Know What

Since way back, when I was an itty bitty sugarplum (59lbs ago to be exact), I've been deeply in love with thrift store shopping. It was my top favorite "Hey look I'm finally driving and can go where I want, DUECES!" past time, which was incredibly convenient considering shopping was about all I was able to do during the time frame I was allowed out...hey I said go where I want not when I want.  As a child I would explore my grandparents basements and attics getting lost in my fantasy travels back into time. I'd sit around playing with vintage typewriters, packing my things in old suitcases and organizing my grandmother's cosmetics in vintage make-up boxes and bags, all while wearing one of her fabulous wigs, adorned in vintage jewelry and swimming in stylish clothing from her youth, most of which she made. If only I knew then that those red pumps I hoped to one day own would be too damn small for my feet by the time I was old enough to wear them. Why did they make people so tiny back in the day? Sigh. If only they had at least one picture of mini me all decked out to post here, but clearly they weren't thinking of this blog of the future. Smh.

Anyhoo, yes anyhoo, those days are gone, though I still play dress up in my grandmother's closet when I visit, and my tears are dried up from the sacrifice of her antique bedroom set from the 60's that no one could move for me when she left for Florida. I must admit though, as I am writing this I am mourning that little piece of mine and my grandmother's history I thought would always be a part of my life. So, naturally, love of thrift shops would fill the void of the absence of attics and basements to explore in my hometown of Queens Village. In thrift shops you find a myriad of things from antique home goods, vintage clothing and accessories to some fabulous one of a kind treasures that someone else no longer finds need for. I love to fantasize about the life the person who owned it had, what adventures they went on while wearing the clothes, what conversations took place and in what room the furniture was in...I just wish that each item came with a picture of the previous owner enjoying their loved items to further enhance the creations of my imagination. I could just see myself now gazing down into the photo and watching it come to life (I assure you, my neurologist said I'm ok up there in the nogin, thanks). I especially love it when I find something that was handmade, like a clay sculpture with the signature on the bottom. I feel like I am rescuing an abandoned puppy (kinda sorta). Normally I start fantasizing up some tragic story *because who in their right mind would give up something so beautiful that they or their child made!* which usually results in a happy ending where somewhere out there they are comforted that I found it and show it the love and appreciation it deserves (yeah, I know, I'm soooo dramatic~remember, "ok in the nogin").

Handbags Galore at Coram Thrift!

So, all that said, it should be no surprise that when my friend Sevgi Turkish Warrior and I were feeling kind of 'eh' last week, I scooped her up and headed out to Coram Thrift Store to drop off some of my own orphaned goods and check out what they had in stock. I love this shop because it's small and an intimate shopping experience. I love chatting away with the owners and customers ...ya, I know, it's like Beauty Salon gossip in my world (I don't frequent beauty salons, so this is as close as I get). Most of all, I always walk out with some one of a kind items at great prices! This visit was probably the most interesting of all visits. Why? Because I got a bit of background info from the owner Daniel, and as always mega warmth and customer appreciation from his lovely wife Vianey who I see more often. Daniel informed me that half of the earnings of the purchase of selected items are donated to a local soup kitchen. We have a large homeless population out here in this part of the suburbs, not to mention that you can't complain about the items you'd be purchasing to help the less fortunate. There were a lot of really great things, many brand new! Then Daniel was so kind to listen to me while I went on and on and on, blah blah blah, about my studies in art management and non for profit work, my plans on starting the Nifty Thrifty Stylist Closet, my fieldwork for Circle of Art Movement Project/blog and how I wanted to live my passions and incorporate various ways of helping others through it and with it. Bless his poor ears, but I am grateful. And bless his heart more when he told me this in response to my rambling: if I or anyone I knew of, read: anyone in general,  needed space to hold a sale or car wash for charity, he was willing to allow the use of his huge parking lot on the side of his store. I don't love washing cars but I LOVE outdoor sales, and ones for charity...even better. I also can't fail to mention that this is a great way to build a positive community while having charities, not-for-profits and small businesses cross promote one another by working together. If you have a charitable cause and are interested in joining forces with Coram Thrift, you will find their information after the photos at the bottom of this post!

Clockwise from Left to Right: Pic I: Full view of everything old, nothing new! I saved that beautiful white necklace from getting thrown out in a thrift store in Astoria, NY. I put it back together in less than 3 minutes with crazy glue and it's one of my favorite pieces. Not bad for free!; Pic II: Clay Sculptures I made reference to in the blarticle. I fell in love with these years ago, and the mezeta y pilon (mortar and pistol)  is representative of my culture and youth! Pic III: That Vintage Victoria's Secret perfume bottle belonged to my aunt in the 80's, vintage photo is my mother in her dance recital costume and that's a vintage mirrored vanity tray. I love those kinds of trays and I saw several at Coram thrift, larger than the one above, for only around $15. Pic IV: A feel good feeling. "Grace, 1977". That's who made my beloved mezeta y pilon. Thank you Grace, whoever you are, wherever you are! As long as they are in my hands, your creation will be loved and appreciated!

I bought both the necklace and earrings during my last visit at Coram Thrift. The necklace was most definitely hand made in a crafts class or activity. I fell in love with the color and the fact that the ball centerpiece looks just like those glittery bounce balls that I used to get out of a coin machine when supermarkets used to have them. I even love the imperfection; there are 2 different kinds of gold beads on either side of the center ball. My imagination has decided that a child made this beauty. The earrings on the left were the first thing I spotted when I walked into Coram Thrift. Within seconds of entering the store I looked at them and knew I would not be leaving without them. The blue looks like shimmer nail polish which gives it such an amazing effect. The nail polish is only in the picture since that's what I've been wearing with the new earrings.

The left is a treasure from Abuela's Attic! My grandma had some neat stuff lying around her house. I've had this for 13 years and I haven't grown tired of this necklace which once adorned my grandmother's neck. On the right is a unique vintage fish necklace with turquiose and coral beads. I also bought this at Coram Thrift for only $3 or $4...DASS IT!

More vintage treasures from grandma's world! The cuff bracelet actually belonged to my cousin's grandmother. The 3 pairs of earrings once hung pretty on my grandmother's ears.

As promised, the contact info to Coram Thrift. Please contact Daniel if you are interested in joining forces in cross promoting and charitable efforts or if you simply just want to find treasures of your own! Remember, bring me with you! ;)

In closing, thank you to Vianey and Daniel Farrell for another great shopping and social experience. It's so great to see dreams of charitable and personal goals unfold together and be incorporated with life passions and hobbies. I also believe this was my young friend Turkish Warrior's first visit to a thrift shop and she walked out laughing and saying what a great time she had, "feeling down, go to the thrift store!". Just make sure you bring me.

Thanks for reading baby dolls and please check out my friends at Coram Thrift Store! And bring me (in case you already forgot).

Besos, Beijos, Filakia, Kissies!

Love,

Lisa xo

P.S. As a funny side note, coincidentally my grandmother called me after I finished the first paragraph of this post. See our conversation here--->Rrrright here<---there you have it, way to go!