Late July 4th Fireworks

A huge storm hit the east coast this weekend that put a damper to most peoples' 4th of July plans. I've been stressed and mostly busy this past week which kind of put me down a little because I wanted to spend time with friends and just kind of hangout this long weekend.

Thankfully, since the storm delayed some fireworks shows, I was able to enjoy some fireworks last night with a couple of friends. Since July just started, it kind of put me in that reality check that summer is halfway over and now I have to buckle down and start preparing stuff for school and moving in.

Some summer goals I have for the rest of the summer:

1. Go hiking.
2. Go to a "pick your own" farm.
3. Read at least two books.
4. Go to the high line.
5. Make more time for friends.
6. Study for one hour every other day
7. Keep up with a gym schedule
8. Beach
9. Collect enough unique decorative pieces for my new room.
10. Go to a couple yoga classes.

Another Soho trip

This past Friday, Mark and I headed to Soho to spend time together and shop around. Around this time of summer, a lot of stores mark down most of their clothes. So we visited stores like Zara, Topshop, Aritzia, and a couple of boutiques in hopes of scoring some really good deals. Surprisingly, I couldn't find anything I really loved in the sales this year. I ended up just making a couple purchases at the new Brandy Melville on Broadway.

The highlight of our trip ended up being the food we ate. We had some pizza covered in vodka sauce which was good but nothing too extraordinary. Then we headed to the infamous Rice to Riches and Mark had some mascarpone flavored rice pudding with some cherries. It was an interesting flavor but I'm not sure if rice pudding is really my dessert of choice. I opted for some delicious cupcakes from baked by melissa instead!

My Wisdom Teeth Extraction Experience (TMI)

This past Friday, I had my four impacted wisdom teeth removed.

Now, I'm the type of person who wants to know exactly what they're getting into. So leading up to the operation, I had watched several wisdom teeth experience videos, read on mayoclinic what the surgeon does, and read up on things to watch out for after my operation. This didn't necessarily put my mind at complete ease but I felt very prepared and knew exactly what to expect.

I fasted for about six hours and had my operation scheduled for the early morning. I hooked up to a heart rate monitor and had laughing gas to put me at ease. Although I didn't find the gas to make me laugh, I did feel the effects of the gas which made my extremities extremely heavy. I took the general anesthetic intravenously and within a few seconds I guess I passed out.

I only remember dreaming a short dream where I had to follow my dentist around a forest. We kept walking towards the sun but there were these leaves and branches in the way. So I would get glimpses of the light every time I pushed away the leaves but the leaves would just keep blocking my view. Later, I figured that was just the illusion of hands moving across my face blocking the light they shine on your mouth. I don't know how I woke up and I don't remember anyone shaking me or calling my name.

However, when I did wake up I wasn't delirious or in some kind of trance. I was pretty much aware of what was going to happen next. I remember opening my eyes and the first thing I asked was how long did it take. Then I asked for a mirror so I could see what I looked like and I asked to see my teeth that were removed. I was briefly taught how to take care of myself for the next several days. Then before I knew it, I was escorted out into my car and driven home.

I was told that I would have a pretty easy recovery since my dentist was able to remove my teeth in whole pieces rather than cutting up my teeth and removing it that way. Which I agree with. My worst days in terms of pain was probably the day of the surgery and the day after. However, I never resorted to any pain killers that were prescribed to me except for some motrin for my inflamed jaw.

Now that it is Day 3, I can say that I'm just dying to eat a decent and filling meal and that the only pain I can feel is just pain from my cheeks rubbing up against the wounds on my gums which isn't too bad as it sounds.

To anyone who is afraid of removing their wisdom teeth, I recommend that you remove them as early as possible before they grow too large. If you're worried about the pain afterwards, it's not that bad if you know what to expect. I would say the worst thing about this whole thing is that you just can't eat whatever you want because I have been hungry the past 3 days. If you just find a surgeon you trust and some time that you can take off, then go for it!

UsTheDuo's First NYC Concert

I was fortunate enough to attend UsTheDuo's first ever NYC concert last night. If you haven't heard of UsTheDuo, they are a singing married couple that first started posting videos on Youtube, then Vine, and from there were featured on GMA and was recently signed by Republic records. I first heard of UsTheDuo when the married couple were still single. I first found Carrissa Rae featured in cover videos by other Youtube artists such as AJ Rafael. From there, I've been following her and her now husband Michael through their romantic love journey and musical career.

Watching them last night truly humbled me. At first, I was in some kind of daze that after all these years of only seeing their faces on social media and Youtube videos that they were finally right in front of me! But then as the show went on, you could truly see how genuine and how kindhearted this couple was. They were interactive with the audience, they were charismatic and humorous, and they looked like they were incredibly happy to be there. Which made me, incredibly happy to see them too. It was a small, intimate setting so I was able to see the couple up pretty close. Luckily, I was able to catch them after their show for a mini Meet and Greet and that was when I was just in awe with how nice they were. Talking to them they had their full attention on you and they truly wanted to hear everything you had to say. It was a little intimidating because of how receptive they are. I'm not sure what I expected them to be like personality wise, but they're better than anything that I could have imagined them to be.

UsTheDuo are about to embark their FIRST ever North American Tour very soon after just releasing their second album recently. I wish them all the best and I hope they get everything they ever want because they truly deserve it. Carissa Rae and Michael Alvarado were super inspiring as a couple, as individuals, and as professionals and I was so glad to have met them.

Check them out here:
http://www.ustheduo.com/

My reflection on my sophomore year of college

I just took a look at my old post on my freshman year and it's really remarkable to look back on what I was thinking exactly a year ago today. My freshman year was difficult for me and it was a true test of my character and friendships. However, for my sophomore year, I went into the fall semester with a better sense of confidence. I found myself more at ease and more sure of things.

Fall semester I began to become more open to new experiences. I began to re-acquaint myself with dancing and throwing myself out there in front of people who I've never met to judge me for how I expressed myself with movement. I found new friends and kept some old ones. But I also started to feel misplaced and out of tune with what I thought I was an integral part of. However, I threw those thoughts in an unkempt part of my brain not ready to process just yet.

Winter break was a roller coaster for me. I was still fighting with my parents' strongly held idea of me being protected and controlled little girl when in reality I felt like they were holding me back from every potential I had. I felt muted and chastised for rights that I thought every 20 year old woman should have. I resented them even more because of their stubborn ideals that embedded into their heads before the 21st century. I also found myself hungry for opportunities that I felt like I was cheated out of. Suddenly, I found people making plans to go abroad, being accepted into internships and research positions and living life. They were going to big concerts, going on trips, and partying away like every youthful individual should. My parents and I were at a standstill for a long time. It wasn't until I found myself in a stressful and sadistic state did they even consider my opinions.

By spring semester, I was determined to make amazing summer goals. I applied to places that I hoped would bring me to happier place. I found myself constantly comparing myself to people that I knew was counterproductive and also unhealthy. But continuing on, my spring semester was probably the easiest semester I will ever experience in my entire secondary school. And for that, I can only say I am grateful because of what awaits me next year. Spring brought out mixed feelings from me. Those misplaced feelings all started to surge back. I was left out and it got me down. I continued to ignore it for some time until it erupted out of me. I still find myself in those spots today, although, not as often.

I also found how much I gossiped. While gossiping may "secure" friendships. I mean what is a friendship if you don't hate and love the same people right? But I found comfort in knowing that I had friends that I could talk ideas with. Within the past few weeks I learned ideas rather than rumors from people that I spoke to. After out conversations it would almost feel relieving rather than burdening. I found out how paranoid I have become. From past secrets that I forced to make in my childhood, I've built up this undeniable paranoia that comes whenever something comes across me as uncertain. In truth, I've always know this existed but it wasn't until recently that I've tried to combat it with less worrisome thoughts. It's simply unhealthy and all it does is waste time. Which comes back to my previous fear of living an unlived life.

As always, I look forward to the summer in hopes of it being better than the last.

Thanks for reading. :)