Five Things (11)

Posted in Thoughts by Shanella

This post is brought to you by the fading days of summer – and Back to School season.

Summer is over, and I’m completely swamped. Since a picture is worth a thousand words, I leave you five thousand words for September.

Broadway Week

In which I saw both Annie and Cinderella. Both were good!

Wedding the Third

A fun, and exhausting, but mostly spectacular wedding weekend.

That time I beat everyone at everything

Spent some cousin time, bowling and laser tag! (and beating them in both)

San Gennaro Festival

Ate so much while walking through the festival with friends and workmates.

Five months of cycling

I feel pretty good about myself right now.

**~*~**

31Aug2013

Five Things (10)

Posted in Thoughts by Shanella

These five things are brought to you by all that jazz!

The bee’s knees and the cat’s meow!

Twice a year, Governor’s Island takes a step back in time to the era of flappers, speakeasies and jazz. Michael Arenella & his Dreamland Orchestra throw a 1920s themed party where men and women dress up in their 1920s rags and picnic on Governor’s Island lawn. This year I got to partake in the celebration.

I didn’t go in costume even though I purchased a dress from Modcloth for the event. I decided that I didn’t like it and ended up sending it back the week before. I did buy a cloche hat from Modcloth, and I had my pearls, so I felt a bit in the spirit of things. To be quite honest, I felt a little underdressed for the event, so many people went all out, I was impressed!

I took a picnic – fruits, cheese and crackers – with me and my friend and I had a feast! We got a spot close to the dance floor and spent a few hours eating, chatting, people watching and having an all around good time. I’m so happy I went, I almost didn’t, ALMOST, but in the end I am so happy I did go! It was exciting, there was a contagious excitement in the air. I am looking forward to next year, I hope to attend both sessions.

Wedding, the first

The first wedding of the season happened on the first weekend in August and I caught the bouquet. It was a sweet ceremony, the food was delicious, the bride was gorgeous and the groom was dashingly handsome, and there was a lot of dancing with friends, overall it was a fun time!

I didn’t mean to catch the bouquet. I was hiding out in the back, minding my own business, when it came flying through the air at me. I stepped out of the way and it landed with a thud on the floor. I looked around and no one was picking it up so I did, unthinkingly, and tried to hand it off. No one would take it, so I was left with it.

Wedding, the second

The next wedding happened the following week, in Wyoming. To get to Cheyenne we flew into Denver and then drove to Cheyenne. The morning of the wedding we ran the 3K in support of breast cancer. I didn’t run the entire way, but when I was running I didn’t feel winded at all, which in itself is a success. The wedding happened that evening, and it was a great time. I enjoyed hanging out with old and new friends, we had some fun times in the city.

Cheyenne is really fun! There was a farmer’s market that day, so after the run a few of us ventured into the farmers market and I came away with some jam, tea and a taste of the best organic, grass fed, real cow meat I’ve tasted – ever.

Oh, did I mention that I got me some cowgirl boots?

632 on Hudson

I attended a networking event at 632 on Hudson, the food was catered by Gotham Bar and Grill – it was delicious – but the place was the best! The place was amazing. So beautifully laid out, each room had a different feel to it but it worked. I spent some time on the roof with my coworker, chatting and enjoying the view. It was a lovely time, I’m so glad I got the opportunity to attend.

Showers galore!

Along with all the weddings comes showers and I got the opportunity to plan and implement my friend, J’s, shower! It was supposed to happen outside, but with the threat of rain we moved it indoors.

I like event planning, I like coming up with ideas and seeing them come together so it was a lot of fun for me planning this event. But, at the same time I grew to appreciate event planners. It’s a lot of hard work! There are so many little things and details that you need to consider in order for things to go out without a hitch. If I’m being honest, I must have been running on adrenaline all day long because I’m not sure how I managed to pull it off! Everything came together, everyone had a good time and in the end that made me ridiculously happy!

The party was hosted by a friend of ours, who helped a TON in the setting up! When the guests arrived, we served them drinks – I found this great virgin mimosa concoction online, and I knew my bride loved OJ but not alcohol, so it was a great find. You mix 2 parts OJ, 1 part Seltzer water and 1/4 part Elderflower syrup. The elderflower syrup is what makes the drink. I discovered this wonderfully delicious drink/syrup only this month!

We played the wedding taboo game, but instead of clothes pins or hair clips we used bangles. We also played the he said/she said game and I got the idea to use mustaches and tiaras from a blog online. We gave away jewelry trees for the big prizes and necklaces for the smaller ones, and these gifts made the perfect – non floral – centerpieces (I have a thing about flowers off the plants).

The food was catered by a woman from the church and it was delicious. I’d recommend her to everyone! She doesn’t have a website but I can pass her information along if you want someone to cater for you.

Planning events are difficult, but seeing happy guests is rewarding. Hats off to all you party planners out there!

14Aug2013

50 Life Hacks to Simplify your World

Posted in Thoughts by Shanella

I might need to implement a few of these, like #12 with my books… My books always go missing! 😀

TwistedSifter

Life hacks are little ways to make our lives easier. These low-budget tips and trick can help you organize and de-clutter space; prolong and preserve your products; or teach you something (e.g., tie a full Windsor) that you simply did not know before.

Most of these came from a great post on tumblr. There is also a great subreddit ‘r/lifehacks‘ with some fantastic tips as well.

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Woohoo I’m 31!

I like looking back over the year and seeing the different things that I did 🙂 it makes me stop and be thankful for the life that I have. I really am grateful to the family and friends that I have in my life, and as I start my 32nd year I hope that I will remember these things and remember the awesome people in my life and remember to show them that I love them.

1. Last year around this time Manhattanhenge happened (oh, and I turned older). I spent it eating mussels at Petite Abeille (I love this restaurant!!) with two of my favourite people.

2. I attended a lot of bookish events, but the KGB Bar on stood out. KGB Bar is a little hole in the wall (up some stairs) in the Lower East Side that hosts literary events. Packed into a tight room, we listened to authors read and talk about their books. Plus side is you need to be over 21, so no teens at the events (even though the event we attended had a YA author). Sometimes I just want to have a literary experience with people my own age!

3. I made my own signature scent! I called it Fleur de Ciel because it’s heavy on the flowery scent and there is a touch of ambrosia in there which makes it the “scent of the gods”.

4. Went to Europe! Prague, London and Paris – with layovers in Dublin. It was 10 days of non-stop action and fun!

5. While in London I saw Les Miserables in a West End theater, on a stage with the turntable, and it was fantastic!

6. Also in London I visited the Harry Potter set – it was magical. Now thanks to Google you can visit Diagon Alley.

7. I saw a lot of BROADWAY! Jersey Boys, Chicago and Spider Man, Rock of Ages, Newsies, Phantom of the Opera … I love Broadway!

8. I also got the chance to meet Maggie Stiefveter and receive a signed final copy of The Raven Boys! It was a wonderful book and I am a fan of Maggie’s superb imagination! I’m so happy to be working at my job!

9. On the topic of authors, I saw JK Rowling (and got a signed copy of her book for grown-ups). If you haven’t read the book you should, and if you started it and put it down you should give it a second chance. I found myself up until 4am one morning finishing the story, I was so hooked!

10. Hung out at the Batonical Gardens in the Bronx. It was my first time there and I really enjoyed the grounds and the art on exhibit. It was a beautiful afternoon.

11. Attended a Libba Bray event at Symphony Space for her Diviners book release. It was a 1920s paranormal tale; this book really intrigued me and raised an interest in everything 1920s – what a fascinating era!

12. Hiked with some friends, enjoying the fall foliage before Sandy’s heavy hand was served!

13. Went on a tour of the LES during Christmas and witnessed the area post Sandy. I know everything isn’t opened still, but I recently visited the southern tip of Manhattan again and am happy to see the place is slowly getting back to normal.

14. Co-hosted an Ugly Sweater Christmas Party and absolutely loved it! I’ve always wanted to do one so I am really thankful for my friends who were game enough to come with their ugly sweaters 🙂 Now all I have to do is convince them to have a Mustache Party!

15. The New Year brought wonderful engagements and I was about to head home when I got a text saying that two of my friends just got engaged! It was a lot of fun rushing over just to say “aaaahhh!!!!” and jump around.

16. The aftermath of Sandy extended into 2013 and I spent a day at Grandma’s, cleaning up. I got to put on the final touches – swiffering the floor! ha

17. Swan Lake = Swell! It wasn’t the entire ballet, but just a part with a few other ballets. It was a lot of fun. I really love Lincoln Center!

18. I saw the inside of Carnegie Hall for the first time and experienced a Night of Awesome! John and Hank Green really know how to have a party!

19. The 3rd Annual Oscar party was the best one yet!

20. The 2nd Annual Easter Dinner with The Flaming Cake! I’ve never attempted to light so many candles before, it was a load of fun.

21. I was also a part of a Book Club, we were reading The Good and Beautiful God. I loved the sessions that we had! I want more book clubs!

22. My first football game – a Jets game, where the Jets lost!

23. I attended an exclusive Harlequin Teen event and it was wonderful! I love their imprint, they have a lot of great books!

24. The Sandy cleanup still continues! We planted a garden in Far Rockaway and this inspired me to start my own!

25. Giving blood for the first time!

26. Actually starting my own garden – I have tomatoes! I can’t wait until they start ripening more!

27. I attended a Spiritual formation retreat where we did manuscript study and it was a wonderful time! Not only was the campus that we stayed on amazing, but the sessions were so inspiring!

28. In the lines of all things 1920, I visited my first Speakeasy. You entered via a telephone booth!

29. Best.Brunch.Ever.

30. Saw Willy Wonka in Bryant Park – after braving a few minutes of rain! I love movies in the park, especially when you have big blankets!

31. Finally, all the tea outings and movie outings with friends and family! Not to mention the cupcake eatings 🙂

I can’t wait to see what this year will bring. 🙂

12Jun2013

From The Diary of the Mother of the Woman With the Issue of Blood

Posted in Stories, Thoughts by Shanella

Another exercise from the weekend. I really enjoyed this one, it was a stretch of the imagination. I will have to do it again!

My missing daughter came home today, she looked shell-shocked. She went to her room, took all her things down to the river and began to wash them. I didn’t know where she came from, she was gone before I got up – which in itself was very unusual.

I followed her down to the river, “Where have you been?” I asked, trying to keep the accusatory tone out of my voice.

Her head turned towards me and she blinked slowly, like she was waking from a dream. “I went to see the teacher, Ima. He…” she stopped here, looked down at her hands through the water, and finished in a whisper, “I am healed.”

I had watched my daughter go from village to village, seeking out anyone who could help her; this wasn’t a new thing. I had to bite down the frustration that threatened to come spilling out; the tears that wanted to choke me as I thought about the times she would return, her strength leached out of her, the sickness making her pale as a ghost.

Twelve years I watched her sink deeper and deeper into despair, branded as unclean by everyone – alone. Twelve years of pleading with her to stop wasting her money on phony healers. Yet there she stood, telling me that she was healed, and all I could think of was, here we go yet again.

I braced myself and asked the question, “When you say you were healed, what do you mean?” Continue reading →