30 Random Facts About Me

Some you might know and some might surprise you.

1. I attended Catholic school for most of my life.
2. I once had ambitions of being a rapper ...lol
3. Spent most of my childhood in a hospital, doctor's office or home sick.
4. I say and do random things.
5. I am a writer and I love to read!!!!
6. I am a dancer!!!!!!!!
7. I have been a vegetarian for three years and no it's not a phase.
8. I am a free spirit and flower child.
9. Loves to walk on trails and view nature.
10. Allergic to nature...lol. Name it and I'm probably allergic to it.
11. Has an old soul.
12. I am a very private person.
13. I often blast my music and that's partially why I have hearing issues now.
14. I love music!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
15. I used to play the trumpet and once forgot to clean my spit valve during a lesson.
16.  I am goofy!!!!!
17. I will always tell you how it is. I rarely sugar coat things.
18. I meditate and practice yoga to get in a good head space along with the aromatherapy and chimes.
19. I have been known to be accident prone.
20. Loves change! Whether its my hair, place or state of mind I can't sit in the same spot for too long so I love to travel.
21. I have had an obsession with tea ever since I was eight.
22. Very adventurous and will try just about anything once.
23. I get overly enthusiastic about things!
24. Obsessed with juiceries!
25. I love to volunteer in the pediatric cancer unit in the hospital, just because I know what is like to be a child and be sick all the time. You just really want some company.
26. My brother and I are so close people use to mistake us for twins.
27. Very curious person!
28. I am obsessed with dreams. I often look up the meaning of my dreams.
29. I am an extremely spiritual person.
30. I love the feeling of being in love.

Hope you enjoyed!
Peace and Love,
Mel

Musical Obsession: JT

Justin!!! No not Bieber, but Timberlake! His new song Suit & Tie has me feeling like the smiling teenager I was when "Cry Me a River" was released in 2002. After the N'Sync era had faded and all the boy band and girl group days of the 90s were over, a mature Justin Timberlake emerged and I fell in love with his music and fashion style. His voice has so much soul it makes my heart melt into a puddle. This is a much needed comeback to the music industry. We missed you and your music, JT!

Check out his new song: Suit & Tie feat. Jay-Z

JT has done it again! Hmmmm... he can act, dance and sing.

Culture: The Ballet and Dances of the Heart

Yes!!! I said the ballet! The perfect pointed toes on all the ballerinas give little girls something beautiful and graceful to look up to. I once wanted to be one of those perfect ballerinas in fifth position knees bent into the perfect plié. After I read an article recently about the upcoming 2013 season of San Francisco Ballet I then remember why I fell in love with dance. The techniques the dancers display are mesmerizing and beautiful. The ballet and dance for that matter is a must see! It's a bucket list item that many people overlook, but dance is a way of communicating through ones body.

 

San Francisco Ballet- Coppélia

                                                      Center Stage movie finale

The fluidity of the dancer's movements creates an indescribable experience for the audience and dancer. Partnering in dance could be more intimate than sex believe it or not. The Rumba, one of my favorite ballroom dances, is a very sexually driven dance. Bachata is my all-time favorite dance! The chemistry and emotion between the two dancers evolve when you dance the Rumba and Bachata, it can't be forced. It should be natural!

Tanja La Alemana and Ataca Jorgie perform a Bachata routine- "Te Extraño" by Xtreme 

 

One of my favorite scenes from the movie Dance with Me. This club scene reminds me of the reason why I love to dance in the first place, the excitement and fun. Leave the technique behind its all about the fun you have. This makes me miss dancing in salsa clubs and at my friend's house parties. Be sure to put dancing in a salsa club on your bucket list it's an incredible and fun dance experience!

Enjoy and Dance, Dance , Dance, Dance...Dance! 

People + Differences = The World

Just a great humorous meme I found on a friend's facebook page.

Normally, I don't post about politics but tonight I felt compelled to do so. The great thing about the world is that there lies differences amongst people. It's all in the way we handle those differences that makes the situation. The world is a huge melting pot of people from a plethora of different ethnicities, religions, beliefs, political parties and creeds. If we were all the same then the world would be quite boring and mundane. Frankly, I love myself but I wouldn't want to have 5 other billion Melissa's walking around. I enjoy holding intelligent conversations with people about life and what their beliefs are, it's quite interesting. That being said, I find it humorous that a "facebook friend" defriended me and all the other people posting about the election after Obama was declared to be re-elected. She obviously didn't care for Obama by what she was posting during the entire 2012 campaign. It didn't bother me because everybody has the right to have their own opinions about what they believe. Who am I to judge? Nobody!

What's so baffling about this is that throughout the campaign she is posting demeaning, childlike and negative posts about Obama, but not once has she made an intelligent thought, conversation or post about why she feels that Romney is the better candidate. I am open to hearing and being apart of an intelligent debate. This just shows you that some people no matter how much education a person may have they still need to learn how to converse with people who have different views on life. I am proud that in 2008 I voted during my first presidential election and now in 2012 I have been apart of re-electing Obama for 2 terms. There is absolutely nothing wrong with stating how you feel but do the world a favor and learn to back your opinions with facts and learn how to hold insightful conversations about life and whatever subject you choose to speak upon.

New York to San Francisco

I have officially started a new chapter 1. moving to San Francisco and 2. pursuing my masters in Fashion Journalism. The process of moving is not something that only happens over the course of a few days, but I started my preparation over the past several months. I am a very impulsive person and lives life every day as if it were my last. Life is too short to have regrets on the shoulda, coulda woulda's. That is why I was so set on moving to San Francisco. It was something that spoke to me in a dream and ever since then I couldn't get the idea of moving there out of my mind. I would have sincerely regretted not even trying to move to San Francisco.

As I started to pack my life away I started thinking about what I needed as I tend to really over pack. This of course took me forever to decipher what I wanted to bring from what I really needed. I then took several trips up to my alma mater Syracuse University and sat there for a couple of hours and watched the sunset. I guess over the years of growing up on SU and SUNY ESF's campus I took the beauty for granted. I really appreciate each and every building, dorm and setting that holds history, memories and stories. It sort of became a routine this summer every Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday I would head up to campus around 7 pm and leave around 9 pm. As I watched the sunset I was left alone with my thoughts. My last trip was definitely the one I reminisced the most. I walked over by the College of Law and watched the sunset as I overlooked Lawrinson dormitory standing 20 stories tall. I should know because I once inhabited Lawrinson's 20th floor along with the rest of the 20th floor chicas of Summer College 2004.

Crouse College: VPA Administration building.
Had many chats with Martha Sutter in there as well as my
first photo shoot on those steps with some fabulous friends.

This really gave me all the more reason to reminisce on what an unforgettable summer it was really was. I can truly say I met some of the most amazing people ever that summer and had a great time with them. As I reflected back on some of these memories I couldn't help but smile to myself. Those memories were only the beginning of all of the great ones to follow. I have so many stories ready to be unfolded that was staged on Syracuse's campus. Some involve the ER, wigs and stitches others have an irate roommate, spiked bubble tea, red cups and reggaetone while lots include a blue house on Madison.  I appreciate each and every memory and friend I have ever made on this campus. Many of you not only know the stories but were with me and that makes it all the better.

As the summer started to come to a close I wanted to leave 'Cuse the best way I knew how with a bang. I did just that over the course of a weekend at Chuck's and Lava I had an amazing time with some crazy people who helped my celebrate this new chapter. Believe me I have plenty more stories and could and probably should write a book of these crazy adventures I have.

Portrait of my family the way I want to remember them.
As my brother bites me I scream in agony and my dad sticks
out his tongue as my mom is laughing hysterically.

My last night had approached and my family was finally in the same room so it was time for some family bonding with my photobooth. Although leaving them and Syracuse was hard I do not regret a single thing. As 4:30 am approached I arrived at the airport and the very thing I tried to avoid happened. Last thing I wanted, was to be the person at the airport having to unpack their luggage because it weighed too much. That is exactly what happened not only did one weigh too much, but I had to furiously take out clothes and items in both bags. My farewell was short and sweet as the only thing on my mind was catching my flight. Needless to say I almost missed it.

The weird thing is I haven't once felt sad about leaving. The reason being is in some weird way this is where I was meant to be. I have already learned a couple things about myself on this journey and look forward to learning more. My motto: Embrace change and be open to new adventures. More adventures in San Francisco to follow!

Summer Bliss

Last summer- 2011 in South Beach Miami!

I love summertime and everything that comes with it the sun, beach, relaxing, beautiful sunsets, being lazy, tanning, weddings and more. Being that this is one of my last summers in my hometown I will be definitely be making classic memories.  I live in a college town so usually in the summer there is not a lot to do. So I have to make these memories...crazy, enjoyable and most importantly unforgettable.

1. Travel, travel and travel - it's going to be really hard with my schedule but even small days trips will be good. At least one trip to the Adirondacks!
2. Walks- I have a favorite trail I love to walk around to clear my head and take in the summer weather.
3. painting outside-I love to just lay canvas down on the pavement and paint with my hearts desire.
4. Snap pictures-a picture retains more than people or a place it holds memories

Onondagan Tribe-dancing earlier this month. I learned how to do the Cherokee circle dance... Yeahhhh  Native pride :)

5. Festivals and fairs- the summer means culture and art fests downtown. Time to be artsy
6. Dance, dance- I want to dance in the middle of the street.
7. Love- there's nothing like a summer romance ;)

Let the festivities begin!

Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty

During Spring 2011 The Costume Institute of Metropolitan Museum of Art exhibited Alexander McQueen Savage Beauty; an amazing archive exhibit featuring some of McQueen's earliest work from 1994-2010. Creative Director Sarah Burton unmasked Savage Beauty showing Lee Alexander McQueen life's work in such a meaningful exhibition never failing to keep his style and signature in mind. The depth and innovativeness of his ingeniousness cannot be taught nor compared. This exhibit shows his interests with polar opposites life and death, dark and light, angel and demon and his extreme fascination with art historic era of the Gothic Period. Curated by Andrew Bolton the house of McQueen showcased seven chapters: The Romantic Mind, Romantic Gothic, Romantic Nationalism, Romantic Exoticism, Romantic Primitivism, Romantic Naturalism and Cabinet of Curiosities. Throughout each section of the exhibit the natural expression, romanticism,culture and juxtaposed opposites remain. The Metropolitan Museum of Art published the ultimate exhibit archival book of Alexander McQueen's Savage Beauty. After viewing this book in a store I knew immediately that I had to purchase this glorious book of such an innovative designer.

Below is a synopsis of Savage Beauty Exhibit:

Combining the methodologies of art history, fashion and form is what makes someone great. Alexander McQueen was not only great but he is a true and rare genius. Turning fashion into wearable art through Alexander McQueen's expression of the Romantic Gothic period. McQueen's fascination with the Romantic Gothic period of art and fashion could be acquired by his perception of love itself. The act of simply falling in love makes his heart skip a beat as he stated in an interview. I took very keenly to his style and being a lover and artist myself I favorite the Gothic Period. When I fall in love its with the person's mind and soul. The feeling I get when starring in their eyes; it feels like I can see their soul. True love lies within the story of two minds connecting. Love is rare; almost magical in it's rawest form. As I'm writing about love I feel the passion flowing through me and it takes me away. Love is the most powerful emotion and that is probably why Alexander McQueen used it so much.

 McQueen's work makes the audience evoke emotion and that creates a rare and unique experience through fashion. His fashion shows are more like performance art and live exhibitions than any other runway show and this excites me. Throughout Alexander McQueen's runway shows the storyline concept is so detailed it brings the audience to another era. The house of McQueen is inspired by eras in art history; Alexander McQueen always made each collection modern and innovative. A storyteller in its true form by way of bringing fashion to life. Known as the rebel of the fashion industry he truly made a mark on this industry. The level of Alexander McQueen's free expression and creative imagination is something I can only strive to meet. 

Below is a narration from curator Andrew Bolton of the Savage Beauty exhibit:

Unfortunately I was unable to attend the Savage Beauty exhibit and the book and synopsis and narration is as close I could come. I am determined to see a show from the infamous house of Alexander McQueen.