CH2 Story #4: Stop Saying, Start Doing...

It's about time I  stopped saying "I wish" and started saying "I will."

"A real decision is measured by the fact that you've taken new action. If there's no action than you haven't truly decided." ~ Tony Robbins

Have you ever felt like your list was continually growing longer...and...longer with no end in sight? You have all these ideas of how to accomplish each item, great plans laid out to not even just check them off but to execute them well; but, every time you try to finish one task, more items keep adding on. With the list reaching neck high you gasp for air, trying to find a little bit of room to move. And every time you try to pause to de-stress, anxiety builds inside you like a ticking bomb. So...you take a deep breath and lay out on a field of green, gaze up into the sky watching fluffy white clouds swim across the ocean of blue while the bright sun beaming warm rays upon your skin. It feels as if the earth is moving but time has stopped. And slowly you fall into a place of rest.

Red lights flash to warn you: "An object that is at rest will [tend] to remain at rest, and an object in [uniform] motion will stay in [uniform] motion." ~ Isaac Newton.

That is where I am right now. Holidays approaching. A list of things to do that reaches sky high. I'm at a standstill of trying to knock one thing down but then another thing interrupts. But it's time to prioritize and to decide, am I looking for excuses to procrastinate? Am I afraid to start because I don't know where this path may lead? Am I really as overwhelmed as I think I am, or am I wasting time finding ways to de-stress when I haven't even done anything to deserve that time to relax? Right now, someone more busy, someone more stressed, someone with more on the line is accomplishing more than me right now. It's time to stop thinking/procrastinating/saying and start doing. Period.

Motivation. Discipline. Courage. Action. Passion. Dedication. Commitment. Focus.

Alright, time to make words into actions. :)

On a lighter note: As I mentioned in my previous post earlier this week, I was going to help out with a series: Finding Me the Series. And shooting the scene was so much fun! I got to catch up with an old friend, meet new people, make new friends and enjoy a new experience. We did the whole shebang of rehearsals, retakes, bloopers, different angles, touch-ups, eating and laughing. It was shot in an apartment. It had a gorgeous view that overlooked the city, definitely pricey, and was owned by a very intelligent and generous couple.

There will be more picture on facebook :)


ONLINE HOLIDAY SHOPPING??:

If you're ever shopping online with Ace Hardawre, Barnes & Nobles, Best Buy, Dell, Disneyshopping.com, Kmart, Office Depot, Pacsun, Petco, Sears, Things Remember, 1-800-Flowers, 1-800- Contacts (and many more), then please check out my site. For these partner stores, sign up and click here. For health, beauty, home, oral care, energy drinks/supplements, and weight management, it can be found on my homepage. Hey, if you're going to buy anything, might as well help a friend and a sista out :P My site will basically take you to their site which will have all their products and services. When things start going, I will be having promotions!

And one last final note...HAPPY TURKEY DAY!!! hope your tummies are full of scrumptious food! If you're going out into the wilderness of Black Friday shopping, I wish you the best of luck, a good time, and safe travels :)

More updates to come!
Mucho <3

CH2 Story #3: Character Development

"Encourage literally came from "in courage." The courage is put "into" you from outside. Our character and abilities grow through internalizing from others what we do not possess in ourselves."
Author: Henry Cloud
~ Thanks to goodreads

Life is about taking risks and venturing down paths of curiosity, hope, opportunity, courage and even fear. Through each stage of life, with every trial and error, I have grown into new forms. The way I dress, how I think, my likes and dislikes all mold to adapt to the ever-changing world around me.

The dawn is breaking, new life awakens
Morning dew addresses the blade of grass.
Calling of all animals livens the world
Slowly coming into consciousness, I open my eyes.

Breathing deeply, my mind ventures the world.
The possibilities, opportunities and dreams all gather 'round
High hopes for the new dawn breaking
An open mind for the new life that awakens

I've walked down numerous paths,
Bridged many together creating highways and interstates.
Never saying goodbye, or they may cross further down the road
An unmarked path or marked path, just follow your dreams

Today, I begin a new journey, with new fears and new obstacles.
A path of uncertainty strung with self-conscious worries.
With the encouragement of others around me
I find the courage to take this risk

I don't consider acting and modeling a past time, instead I look at it as a possible second ending. But before fully moving on, I will be taking part in the Finding Me the Series. Although it will be for a split second, I'm pretty excited to be in front of the cameras again, working with actors/actresses, stage crew, camera crew and directors.

As for this new journey I'm on, psychology has won my interest. I won't bore you with the whole spiel but long story short, I will be focusing on what's to come next year. Jobs, volunteer work, going abroad, and/or grad school...these are my current unknowns.

For the sake of interest, there will most likely be less "story #'s" since this new path will not be as interesting in comparison to previous happenings. Instead, I will be taking the time to share some insight, shopping hauls, reviews, news, highlights and things to waste your time with :)

Yesterday, I got Lasik done by my dad! The recovery was a little rough on me, plus I was sick and dying of cold chills and fever sweats. Things are still a little fuzzy, but for the most part I can see without glasses or contacts. In less than 24 hours I was headache and pain free :)

Oh, almost forgot! (sorry if you're hearing this for the 100th time) I've made an online retail site. So if you're ever shopping online with Ace Hardawre, Barnes & Nobles, Best Buy, Dell, Disneyshopping.com, Kmart, Office Depot, Pacsun, Petco, Sears, Things Remember, 1-800-Flowers, 1-800- Contacts (and many more), then please check out my site. For these partner stores, sign up and click here. For health, beauty, home, oral care, energy drinks/supplements, and weight management, it can be found on my homepage. Hey, if you're going to buy anything, might as well help a friend and a sista out :P When things start going, I will be having promotions!


More updates to come!
Mucho <3

CH2 Story #2: Getting My Cheese On :)

"The early bird might get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese. " ~ unknown

I may not have my life all figured out (...who does??), I certainly do not know where my professional life will progress to by next year and I am still wondering around the park of "what do I want to do when I grow up?". But what I do know is that I am on some path leading me to a place where it will all eventually piece together. I am that second mouse who gets the cheese :)

For the past year I've faced the ups and the downs, the slumps and the turn arounds leaving me with little continuity in any one direction. Roller-coaster ride aside,  I still acknowledge all my blessings.  I have a loving family and caring friends that give me space to breathe when needed, that gentle nudge to keep me moving and a cold slap in the face when I need to wake up. I have met many interesting strangers who are eager to share their stories and just as interested in hearing mine. We begin our conversation with a sincere smile and hello ending in a hug and a reluctant goodbye. We part ways only hoping to one day cross paths again to hear how our lives have grown. As I count my blessings I have decided to beat the groggy get out of bed feeling and to just jump out of bed in one jolt.

*drum roll please!!* I will now put all your questions to rest about the entertainment biz and the role it played in my life over the past couple of years. Ever since planning my trip to South Korea towards the end of 2011 and despite the rejuvenating experience and strong motivations I came back with, I did not continue with acting or modeling. In the start of 2012, I took a month of dance classes in various genres leaving me four months out of the entertainment scene. The aftereffect left me in a state where a mix of laziness and the practicality of it all held me back from pursuing it any further. As the new 2013 year started I have been fondling with the ideas of going back to work, going to grad school for education or psychology, OR doing both at the same time! I have looked into the Big Brothers Big Sisters program where I will hopefully get my little soon, I am currently finishing a course to get my 21E teaching certificate which will help me teach students how to read, I am searching and applying for jobs, sprinkle some Facebook time and Email reading with an Emeril's sized dash of Korean Dramas ("let's kick it up a notch...BAM!") and to throw in a little surprise...I started doing auditions again!

Today I auditioned for a Merk & Company's photoshoot. It was a standard audition, stand, turn, smile, pose, 3-4 shots and done. But tomorrow...is a whole new realm in auditioning for me. It's for a part in a Nike ad/commercial (they don't tell me the details) where I will be going through a few drills lead by a trainer! I found out about this on Tuesday when they asked if I had a six-pack...I emailed back saying yes...so that gave me two days to reverse all my late night chips, reese's, pringles, doritos, ramen binges. Let's see if that left me enough time to impress them!! ;p

More updates to come!
Mucho <3

CH2 Story #1: Saving the Best for Last

Note: Sorry if it's a little choppy, I didn't have time to proof read much. This is a long post...feel free to skip down to the end for quick updates on my life :)

Counting My Blessings:
It wasn’t until recently when I finally realized what a blessed year this has been for me. Through all the ups and downs; the battles and wars I fought; the tears, anger, frustrations; the slim chances of a good time being sprinkled precariously throughout the previous months [and only to have them stepped on making them seem like a figment of my imagination - yea...bitter-sweet memories]…I found the secret to putting life on "hold".

Before Tuesday, there have not been 5 consecutive days where the struggle to find peace and relaxation didn’t exist. Heading towards a downward cycle where negative energy kept eating itself and one bad thing leading to another, it prevented me from focusing on just me and living in a way I could be proud of. It was hard to be grateful for the gift of life, to fully appreciate the small blessings I ran into on the rare occasions, and to allow myself to catch a breath when needed. Sparing you all from the nitty gritty details and all the sad stories of my life [I will continue without them] haha…After spending the past year treading water and trying to keep my head aloft I have experienced 3 days of complete serenity.

Whether if it’s the ice cold winds, the chances of a white Christmas, the holiday cheer or the thought of sharing a little box of happiness with another person, it’s during this time of year where I find time freezes…even when the body is moving and feet still walking, the mind gets a chance to breathe naturally as we once did.

Although short, there has been enough time for me to let go of a lot of past resentment, the whole “why me” factor and to acknowledge and really cherish all the blessings I have encountered throughout 2012. I have been graced with new friends and mentors; I made peace with past friends where the elephant in the room never seemed to go away; through all the trials and difficult times, there has been so much to learn and take away from, and even more to be grateful for. And one of the greatest are my brothers who showed me a side of them that I knew always existed but never to been able see until now - the love and care they have for me and my happiness is something that is so precious, that you can’t even begin to express in words.

Focusing On Me:
As we grasped our first breath of air as a newborn, to others it was a miraculous sight but for us, it was life independent of anyone else streaming through our veins. As I was confronted with new obstacles, it was as if I was living a tale in a Korean Drama. I was so out of sync with my own life that living for myself and aiming my attention on defining who I am in this world was brought to a halt. When I was full of heartache and resentment, I could only see what a waste this year has been...I did not accomplish anything or progress any further in establishing myself in society -- career-wise. During these past three days I began to embrace the idea that although getting a job and figuring out what I want to do in the future, there is more to life than that. Through heartaches, lesons were learned, relationships grew closer and a lot of self-realization went around. Taking this new outlook on 2012, focusing on me has been a much easier task.

Repair:
Although there are times when you feel your mind, heart and physical being are working as three separate departments, they all exist under one head. And when one suffers, it takes a toll on the rest. As the heart sinks, the mind will grow heavy and the body will weaken. Being subdued to that one state for a prolonged amount of time, it’s like being bedridden with no desire to fight any longer. But not to worry, as you lie bedridden, family and friends will come to visit reminding you of the love and happiness that surrounds you and they will be the heart, mind and body for you until you get back on your feet. And for me, the days leading to Christmas day are the days I cherish the most throughout the year because that is when I come to accept this fact the most. And as the cold winds freeze the holiday spirit at it's peak, and with the life outside of the physical world at a stand still…the heart, spirit, soul or whatever you want to call it, gives us a time to recharge.

As this year is nearing its end, God saved the best for last and has shown me once again how I have more than just Him watching me, I have a loving family and the most amazing friends walking beside me through life.

---------

So, that’s enough serious talk, right? Time for some updates and HOLIDAY CHEER!

I am currently in that place where I’m ready to make a decision between working, volunteering and going to graduate school. Though it’s not set in stone yet, I am leaning towards volunteering at a non-profit while studying for my GRE’s and if all goes well and I can imagine myself as a student again, I will be off to school again. If it’s not a great fit or different door opens itself to me, I will seize the opportunity!

Last month or so I bought myself a few small gifts. Two from Stella & Dot (there was a sale, where the colbalt bracelet was discounted for about 10 or so dollars!) And these two really cool watches. I bought a white watch which will help feed 16 children and a black watch which will aid in giving support to 8 cancer patients! :) Changing the world 1:Face at a time. (The shade of the white watch is best represented in the pictures where I am wearing it)

Happy Holidays and I hope that as 2013 approaches, you will be able to have the chance to find some peace and happiness of your own. J

Mucho <3

Chapter 2: Struggles we share

So the entertainment path of my life has been at a halt for quite some time. For one reason or another, 2012 has been difficult to document career-wise. But I realized that these waves of hard times hitting me left and right keeping me down are part of the journey of When life meets reality... I will try to stay away from making this an emo blog and a venting space and focus more on making this something for everyone to relate to...or at least something for people to enjoy reading? So here it is...(warning: this was a quick splurge of words without much revision. Please excuse the lack of proper English formality and any grammatical errors)

You wouldn't believe the struggles in another person's life, even if they recorded their life and we watched from start to finish, the internal feelings that someone else has is untouchable. I just finished watching Haeundae Lovers...and to see someone with such a big heart deal with people going through such lengths to bring her down, to see her really struggle through these trials and even witnessing her break down...not to say it was good to see someone go through hardships, but it was refreshing to see her story. It was not like other stories where someone meets an obstacle and has to fight through it with full strength and eventually succeeds with no times of wanting to give up...she was human, she fought, she fell, she broke down with little hope left, and found a way to get back up to fight some more. It brings comfort and more clarity to the idea that we all go through times where we think that it could not possibly get any worse than this...where we ache in pain so much that we don't think we can fight our way through it. But it boils down to this...we all struggle, we all fall, and we all go through times where feel like that we are at a dead end and now way out...the key word is "we". No one is doing this alone.

We ask...who will be there at the end of the tunnel waiting? Who will be there to go through all this with me...will there be someone with me at all? When I get to the end, will something happen to make the tunnel collapse? Will I be stronger then...than now? Those questions and more...

All these thoughts, all these struggles, and all these bumps and bruises...they will subside, there will always be new ones, and things will come back around again. Through all this it's important to realize that at the end of the day the person you can count on the most is yourself. Give yourself a break, pat yourself on the back from time to time. Allow yourself to come up for air and breath. Whether if it's with family, your love life, your career or inner turmoil...maybe everything...if take a step back to look at the big picture and search hard enough, you'll find the thing that will help you get through your tough time. You have one life to live, you will always have new monsters to face, new risks to take, and new good memories to make, so you might as well make the most of everything...the good and the bad.

If it's your career, take a look at yourself and ask, is this job it? Can I use this job experience to my advantage and succeed in this line of path or should I jump on the next train and use this experience to help me down another path?

If it's your family, you have friends to love you, hobbies and/or career to distract you and you have your own strength to count on. You have the heart of kindness and forgiveness. You have a bright mind and unconditional love on your side. Even if you can't see it now, somewhere down the road where pride has diminished and pain has subsided, there will always be that love. Especially with family, time is on your side.

If it's your love life, you will always have family and friends to help heal that void in your heart. So, take some time and focus on yourself. Focus on your life. Be selfish and just think about your own happiness.

Control the controllable, amend the amendable...let go of the incomprehensible, have faith in the unpredictable and imagine the unimaginable. Live your life to the fullest and learn to appreciate each experience for all that it offers.

Whatever you go through now will be part of you forever. So deal with it well, do everything in good spirits and a full heart. Use these difficult times to mold yourself into a stronger, wiser and more brilliant person.

Although we still have a month left of 2012, I've never been so excited to see the new year come. To see how things will unfold, how 2012 has shaped me and what new adventures await for me. Until then, I ask myself, is it really as the saying goes - everything will be okay in the end, so if things are not okay now, then you're not at the end yet? If that's the case, I will play the role as the anxious child in the backseat of a car with only one question at heart...Are we there yet?

Each struggle is unique to each individual

Everyone handles their problems differently

And it's okay to lean on others

In the end, everything will be okay :)

Mucho <3

Story #77: New Beginnings

New year • New resolutions • New outlooks • New motivations

I got back Saturday night, had our annual belated family Christmas dinner Sunday and now it's time to get back on track.

As you might have guessed, as stressful as it may have been, I absolutely loved my time in Korea and I am still looking for a reason for me to live there for a few years ;p.

I can't even express how blessed I was on this trip. I did not see a miracle, I did not meet my true love, or catch a break there. But, I was challenged in many different ways. I questioned myself, I sought advice under new rocks and renewed my faith. I believe that everything has a reason and purpose, whether it be good or bad. And despite each experience, there is always an optimistic side where you can look back on the situation and see with 20/20 hindsight. 20/20 hindsight does not just show you the outcome of an event, but it allows you to analyze, wish, think about the what ifs, stir up feelings of joy or guilt and ultimately, it gives you relate-able history to learn from. My past is my present and what I make of it is my future. And I can honestly say my past was enriched with well-rounded experiences, including my recent trip to Korea. Reconnecting with old friends and making new ones with truly inspirational people has lit up an old bulb. This isn't a new finding, it's common sense knowledge that I never truly grasped. I believed it, I said it, I motivated others with it but it wasn't until a few days ago where I really felt it. As I constantly re-analyze my past, I am continually confronted with fears that I understand and acknowledge; but, the problem with that is...I never take the chance to embrace it. Knowing what the outcome is before even taking the first step to reach the finish line never allows a person to experience the process of healing. I may not be able to say I conquered all my fears within the past month I spent in Korea but what I can say is that I left Korea with a courageous outlook on my short term goals and new motivations that will allow me to hold myself more accountable.

With that said, (with perfect timing) I have walked into the new year with new resolutions, new outlooks and new motivations. A little off track, but I was actually questioning myself whether or not it was good to be this transparent with each step of my life, I don't have a definite answer but I guess I'll worry about it when I get there. On that note, I do have new plans. I am looking to live in New York for a month (for now) to take classes in dance, vocal development and acting. Anyone want to help me find a place to live for a month?? :)

I know you are all interested in pictures and details of Korea, so hopefully within the next few posts I'll find a way to transition into them. Meanwhile, stay warm and safe during the winter weather. (I feel like it is finally coming) ☃ ◆ ❄

More updates are sure to come!
Mucho <3

Food for Thought
Less = More

Story #76: 'Tis the Season of Giving

'Tis the Season of Giving -- A Hopeful Sign

Sasha Dichter: The Generosity Experiment from TED Blog on Vimeo.

Sasha Dichter's Blog on generosity
Acumen Fund
Husk Power Systems

The holiday of gratitude where we are able to emphasize thankfulness passes and enters into our last month of the year where our journey through a wintry wonderland begins. It's like a new realm, where another sector of feelings are to be emphasized. And we begin:

Generosity...kindness...happiness...and...warmth, a few of the most powerful and uplifting feelings we are reminded of when, ironically, the cold winter season comes around. A state of nostalgia reminds us of past events that overwhelm our insides with strong emotions and our spirit with hope and enlightenment. The secret ingredient needed to keep brewing warm tidings during the holiday season is the celestial magic. It's the boost of optimism that keeps us sane and strayers away from depression. Positive reinforcements of thinking about others, doing good deeds through generosity and kindness, and individual improvements through reflection has a wondrously calming effect that composes the ultimate holiday masterpiece: happiness and warmth. Not to be a complete saint during these times, being placed on the other side...on the reciprocating end of these ordeals, it may seem selfish or even greedy. OR, to follow the route of optimism and the celestial ride through the holiday magic, maybe it's that we are just humans that want to be loved. It's feeling that we are needed, appreciated and wanted. And it's through these actions and words that all the yearned feelings above may be confirmed.

Anyways, the act of giving has always been an important aspect of my life and fosters the same emotional stimulation as helping someone would. I love seeing others smile. I love seeing them happy. I love seeing them want to be the best person they can be. Being a witness to them in their best physical, emotional and psychological state is...amazing. This act of helping and giving goes beyond the satisfaction of making a difference in someone else's life. It's solely about the other person. About being their shoes, and as them, being in the state of relative perfection.

SO, what's new in my life? The New Year's Eve movie was released in theaters this past Friday, and if you remember, NYE was one of the first productions that I worked on when I started down the modeling and acting path. And to my excitement, I did get some face time! Maybe I should and maybe I shouldn't be so excited since it's only background work, but what can I say...I'm pretty happy :)

After a nap and several movies, I arrive in Korea to find myself, in a not so surprising area...a restaurant, where I scarf down food as if I haven't eaten in a month. Being in a different country with such delicious food, who would be able to resist the temptations of food? Let's just hope this pattern does not keep up for every meal, three times a day for three weeks. Pictures and more details will be in the next post!

More updates to come....FROM KOREA!!!
Mucho <3

Story #75: Winter Days

Dear Santa,

I have tried my best to be a good girl all year. I don't know if you can deliver non-material things, but all I want for Christmas is to get a hold on life and to have a happy ending to my seemingly never ending journey to finding the right career for me. If not, I'll take a Visa gift card $xxx.

Thank you! Good luck with getting all the presents out in time to all the good children!

Stay Jolly!
Yours Truly,
j-wo

Note: This post is long due to the amount of pictures in it

So where did I leave off last? Ahh, all the pictures that I did not post in October! I still cannot post the Nike pictures since they still have not come out with their material, but I have pictures from the Gala held in Boston and GCC's anniversary service where I learned baking in mass is better done in smaller batches than in fewer large ones.

Silk Road Gala 2011

These pictures do not do justice to how beautiful the room was

GCC's Anniversary Service!
Half the batch: Pumpkin Bars, Carrot Cake, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Sugar Cookies, Oatmeal Cookies

2nd Half: Chocolate Fudge Cake, Pumpkin Bars, Carrot Cake, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Sugar Cookies, Oatmeal Cookies

November:
Continuing from the last post, Blue Bloods was fun, as usual, and I believe I got as much face time as you could get on that show. I guess we'll just have to see when they air it. I got my hair done, met old friends, and made a few new ones. As for the pictures, don't judge, I know I haven't been keeping up with my exercising, eating healthy and sleeping at a reasonable hour, but I DID just recently start fixing my bad habits. It's been a little shaky, but hopefully it will keep getting better.

The next worthy-to-mention November event was my reunion with my pledge sisters in the Big Apple! Having a girls night out with dinner, a movie, and chit chatting is a mandatory thing in a girl's life in order to stay sane. Boys/Men...you may want to respect that. We're crazy as it is, could you imagine what life would be like for yourself if you didn't encourage us to have our Girl's Night Out??

Dinner!

The Birthday Cake Aftermath. Thank you for making my birthday extra special!! <3<3<3

Vegging out on the couch (watching a movie)

Next stop, Maryland! Not only did I actually exercise a lot (which was exciting for me :P ) but I had an AMAZING time with one of my closest friends. There were many laughs, many talks and MANY hilarious moments that I wish you were all there for...but then again, it might have just been hilarious to us.

Getting ready for our night out in DC

More cropped pictures are on my Facebook (the outfits we tried on before heading out were a little ridiculous) :)

Onward to Thanksgiving. Since my oldest brother couldn't make it to our annual family dinner with the extended family, we had two Thanksgivings! nomnomnom Unfortunately, I only have pictures from my Uncle's house (I don't think it would be appropriate to post my mom in her non-sober state)

The Women :)

The original Wong's

I also baked cakes and cookies for my mom's good friend's surprise birthday. I baked a Carrot Cake, Chocolate Chip Cookies and a Green Tea Cake. Here's the Green Tea Cake...thankfully it turned out well and was a hit!

The final piece was much more decorated.

Now for some updated news. Recently, I did a gig on an MTV Prank Show pilot. I was portrayed as a Japanese School girl.

The star of the show is being camera shy :p

Me and my "Japanese" classmates. We're off to Go go's festival...the most famous dog in Japan!! We even had a theme song for Go go

And finally, the most exciting news of all!!! This Sunday I will be on the plane to Korea for 3 weeks! I am so so excited. Not to worry, I will have updates and new posts for all of you on a timely basis. Get ready so see scrumpdillyumptious food!

Stay tuned for my adventures in Korea!
Mucho <3

Story #74: Recap

re·cap/rēˈkap/

Verb:	State again as a summary; recapitulate.
Noun:	A summary of what has been said; a recapitulation.
Synonyms:	verb.  summarize noun.  resume

~ Thanks to google.com

So to recap my past couple weeks:
To start, I know I'm a little late in the game, but how was everyone's halloween?? I was planning to celebrate it on the 29th at the Maxim masquerade costume party, but the snow was a definite fun-stopper. And it didn't help that I was sick. I had the BEST costume every, with the help of a beautiful, talented girl...a professional salsa performer! It was sexy with a purpose...makes me feel a little less...provocative (??).

So this past Monday was my birthday!! Thanks for all the thoughtful birthday wishes!! :)
I know you guys are all wondering. How did I spend this monumental day that would not be possible without my parents? Skyline of New york, elegant dinner, crazy party scene dancing the night away...what an amazing night. Although that does sound amazing, I spent my day a little bit differently. I started my day with a doctors appointment, then I went shopping with my umma. Bought lots of clothes and a really cute purse! For dinner, it was just me and my parents. We ate sam gyup sal, miyuk gook (birthday soup) and to top it all off, mint chocolate ice cream cake. It might not have been a night out in the city but, it sure was a good birthday celebration. :D

For upcoming news...tomorrow I'll be working on Blue Bloods as a restaurant patron. It'll be nice to be back on set and getting into the groove again. Maybe I'll see that director again! The downside to all of this? I called in about an hour ago and I cringed when I heard my call time. I forgot how early they could get. I have a 6am call time with two train options, it takes about 20 minutes to get there from the Penn station plus an hour and 25 minutes to get there from Princeton Junction, so I will be taking the 3:59am train!! This means I have to leave my house at 3:35am. Seriously, I'm going to call into the office, get on top of my game, start working a lot more and find a way to live in NY.

And, next Tuesday I'll be leaving for Maryland!! I'll be visiting my really good friend for a week. CanNOT wait! (personal message: lovelovelove youzzzz) :) :)

More updates to come!
Mucho <3

Story #73: Secrecy

se·cre·cy /ˈsikrəsi/ Show Spelled[see-kruh-see] - noun

1. the state or condition of being secret, hidden, or concealed: a meeting held in secrecy.

2. privacy; retirement; seclusion.

3. ability to keep a secret.
~ Thanks to Dictionary.com

By contract I can't actually share any details from the Nike shoot yesterday. But I will tell you that it was a lot of fun and they were great to work with. If I ever see it up, you guys will be the first one's to know about it! :) A few perks, I got to keep the shoes I used throughout the day and a really nice guy lent me his Nike jacket to keep me warm and ended up letting me keep it. 

This weekend is going to be crazy fun. Tomorrow I will be attending the Philadelphia Salsa Fest where Hot Salsa Hot will be performing (woot woot!!), Saturday is a Maxim Masquerade Costume party and Sunday I have golf with the family and a friend. And, if I'm up for it, I might go back to the Salsa Fest.


I hope all of your weekends will be just as fun as mine! Let me know what you guys are up to!


More updates to come.
Mucho <3

Story #72: Endless opportunities

So there are two things that are going on right now. When life meets reality, it hits it hard and it moves fast.

First I'll get to the news that many of you have been asking about and waiting for. Tomorrow I have been booked for an interview to potentially work with Nike. It will probably be a smaller end part, but regardless, it will be a fantastic experience. I have to be there at 10am with my changes of clothes. I will be posting what happens in tomorrows blog entry! :)

Now the second topic to address. After talking with the Blue Bloods director, I have actually been thinking about how I could do two things at once with my life. How I could possibly explore other possibilities of career choices while doing acting and modeling. I've always said that if I were to go in a different direction, I would want to do something in the education field, or the medical field, such as doctor, PA, or something in psychology. And after a really good talk with my dad, I have decided to shadow a few PA's and doctors, and look into taking classes at a nearby college. I heard about a class that is offered at a nearby community college where I will have a two week in-class experience in an elementary, middle school and high school classroom. I guess we'll just have to see how things turn out!

More updates to come!
Mucho <3

Story #71: Blessing in Disguise

Have you ever felt so lethargic that it goes beyond just how you physically feel and begins to affect how you think and perceive things? I was so tired today that it felt as if I was walking on a tight rope. You know, that feeling where everything is tense and with a little push you could tip over towards irritability or towards sadness and loneliness. When this happens I just want to sleep or do something to prevent me from over thinking things too much. In this sensitive state, the best things is to find comfort in something...right? What do you do, any tips?

So my busy weekend technically started on Wednesday with the shopping and prepping of my dry ingredients, but the actual baking didn't start until Thursday. So I went to bed at the usual time, 3:30am, got up at 9:30am and started baking at 10am. I started on my Chocolate Chip Cookie dough, tested one out and...um...not pretty. Add more of this, a little bit of that and still no good. So, even more of this and that, soon 10 am became 1pm with no progress in sight. In the end, 5 quarts of cookie dough went down the drain. So much sadness. But the frustration temporarily ended there. I moved on to Sugar cookies and Oatmeal. Success!! Next were the Pumpkin Bars and Chocolate Fudge cake. Unfortunately, more problems came up...the middle would never bake! I have never had so much pent up frustration in the kitchen while baking. So, long story short, from 10am on Thursday until 2:30am on Saturday with a 1 hour nap and some tweaks to my baking techniques, I made Chocolate Chip cookies, Sugar cookies, Oatmeal Raisin cookies, Pumpkin Bars, Chocolate Fudge cake, Carrot cake and homemade icing for an estimate of 350 people. I definitely came away from this experience much more knowledgeable...never bake cookies for that many people when you only have one oven. Being limited to baking 20-28 cookies at a time when you need to bake over 750 of them takes an incredible amount of time.

On Thursday, I got a call around 2pm to do background work on the 2-2 and to stand-in for someone. I was a little upset and frustrated seeing how this was a great opportunity, baking wasn't going well at the time and I haven't been working as much as I would like; but, you gotta do what you gotta do, right? So, why would it have been a great opportunity? Pay would have been relatively good since I was going to stand-in for one of the principal actors and for the obvious reason, it would be nice to get back on set.

Saturday, I was planning to nap from 2:30am to 5am to drive to Boston but that was a fail. I didn't end leaving until 11:45am. Upside to things, I made it there in less than 4 hours! The Silk Road Gala 2011 was beautiful. For more information on the gala, the prestigious Chefs that were there and the cause it promoted, you can click here. With some centerpieces in my trunk, I left Boston at 11:30pm for a pitch black drive home. Serene, scary, tense and tired all wrapped into one.

After getting home at 8am (don't ask), I finished baking the last two servings of Chocolate Chip cookies, cleaned up, napped for an hour, got changed and headed to Grace Community Church's 5th or 6th year anniversary service. At the end of the day, the night was a hit, the set up, food and my baked goods were amazing.

Life is full of endless opportunities, the important thing is to grab a hold of one of them or there won't be any progression in life. And at the end of the day, if you work hard, put all my effort into everything you did, even the small things, you'll end up on top. The stress and aggravations definitely turned into a blessing. I learned how so much from this past weekend.

Tomorrow I'll be heading to NY for an audition (no idea what about, so it'll be a surprise for you and me!).

To end on a final note: Listening to music you find a few that you will surprisingly like, considering the mood that you're in, you'll find ones that you love and ones that you can't stand, one's that will soothe you and bring comfort, and then, you'll find one that just makes you smile and even laugh. This is mine: Fuck You by Lily Allen. Enjoy!

As always, more updates to come! --> I'm late already, so pictures will be up in the next couple of days! :)

Mucho <3

Story #70: Pre-post

My original plan was to take you guys through my day by day hectic schedule with pictures, stories and life lessons. Unfortunately, like today, my busy schedule preoccupied all my time leaving me sleepy and without a blog entry to post.

An overview of my upcoming post: day-to-day happenings such as what I did, work I missed out on (*sadness*), and all the good and bad nitty gritties; pictures from my baking marathon, and the itinerary I followed since Thursday. Short blog, but lots to look forward to! :)

Updates tomorrow!
Mucho <3

Story #69: Been called out...

Called out

1: When an inappropriate or embarrassing question is asked in front of a large group of people that can include friends or family.

2: When you have been owned in front of your piers.

person 1: Hey can I ask you something?
person 2: Sure
person 1: ARE YOU GAY?
person 2: ...
random bystander: you just got called out!

~ Thanks to Urban Dictionary

Call out

To challenge someone in some way. Or to put someone on blast.

I don't think you've really lost 300 pounds - you just say you have. Produce some Before & After photos. I'm calling you out!

~Thanks to Urban Dictionary

 So I've been called out on my lack of updates quite a few times, but now...it's gone public...it's official "When you have been owned in front of your piers." haha. When posting on a public site, it's best to ask a friend to check. And if you still come out with spelling like this...then you need new friends. Just kidding!! I am 100% sure that I've made worse spelling and grammar mistakes than this on every single public site I've been a part of.

(Note: don't judge, I know you've been lazy before...possibly, about something...) 

Anyways, here is my update. In all honesty, I have still yet to start eating healthier, exercising and sleeping on time [consistently]. But, it's coming, I feel it. And in honor of this post, I will be working out right after it is sent out. In terms of acting and modeling, I have also been slacking in that area due to the fact that I didn't renew everything for this month. The most recent works on Blue Bloods and Law and Order: SVU, I don't know how I got, they just called me. No worries, I did fix that last night, I signed up, even signed up for the unlimited photos (maybe I'll work on Gossip Girl now -- nah, I'm not sure if I want to work on it, but the reason why will be another post) and you will hear many more updates on more work from here on out!

I know they were posted up on facebook, but they were still requested, so here they are (I will be looking for new ones asap, but I don't think other ones will come out until next season):

S03E06

S03E01

I promise, more updates to come

Mucho <3

Story #68: Mafia Maid

With every friendship you develop and network you create, you build a new bridge that leads you down to new paths of possibilities. This past Saturday I had the opportunity to work in a comical independent film. I played a maid to the mafia that had a little bit of a kick; I had a bit of an accent and an attitude. Although it was a small part, I am grateful to have been able to be a part of the cast. This film will be submitted to the Garden State Film Festival on the first of December. When it is done and finished, I will let you all know how it looks, and I may even share a clip with you ;p

Next week is going to be a hectic week. I will be baking all Wednesday, Thursday and Friday for Grace Community Church's 5th Annual service. I have to drive to Boston Saturday morning for the Silk Road Gala 2011 and drive back home right after. This will be the 18th annual benefit for the Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence (the poster invite and more information on the Asian Task Force). And then, I will probably be pulling an all nighter to finish baking. Stressful, busy and most certainly exciting...I can't wait!! I've already started planning the menu and doing preparations for the desserts. :)

There will be pictures, and there will be updates!
Mucho <3

Story #67: Law and Order: SVU

So two days ago I was a victim on Law and Order: SVU. Let's just say out of the 14 hours being there, I worked maybe 45 minutes. Here are a few of the pictures I took, the rest will be posted on my Facebook album: Friends on Set. I now know that it's better to be one of those many detectives or cops than a victim, you definitely work more.

My 5:15am walk to the train station (gotta work a little for my free parking)

It's here! ...and it's still dark out :(