Paul and Sheyla

Recently, I have seen some articles spring up that say.. “How to Save Big Money by Not Hiring a Professional Wedding Photographer”.. the article goes on to talk about buying a dSLR and all the gear that pros use, handing the camera to one of your friends, and having your friend take your wedding photos.

GRANTED out of the hundreds of photos that your friend will most likely take, there will probably be a few gems in there.. BUT I have to say that, that article really annoyed me! The pros.. are pros for a reason.. they have the training, experience, knowledge, and vision to do the jobs that they do! Photography is an art.. it is something that is thoughtful and can be magical and should totally be respected! You just can’t pick up an expensive camera one day and produce the same quality shots that a pro does.

With all that said.. my only knowledge of photography is what I have gained messing around taking “photo shoots” of friends in undergrad and capturing shots at bboy events. SO.. this weekend was my first try at this whole engagement photo shoot thing… I was happy to do this for a great couple and also great friends. but my very first statement to them was that I am by NO MEANS a professional.. and I have absolutely no experience doing anything like this (because YES there is a difference between what I will produce and what a pro will produce!!). They were such good sports and were super patient with my inexperience. I only hope that they had as good of a time as I did.

Here is just a few of my favorites from this past weekend…

Attempted Strong Arm

So… I was walking down –th street.. minding my own business.. listening to Forever Now by Ne-yo.. I was just thinking how it was such a beautiful night and that I could probably sneak in a late night run I wanted to…

Just then this guy with a gray hoodie walked passed me and rounded the corner to —- street.. I didn’t think anything if it.. but then a few seconds later.. he comes back around the corner and tries to grab my clutch out of my right hand..mind you.. my clutch looks like this…So my fingers were totally wrapped around that thing.. meanwhile.. I’m holding my heels in my other hand (my lovely girl friend was sweet enough to lend me sandals to walk home in).. and this dude comes up and tries to rip my purse out of my hands… that clutch fit like brass knuckles.. there was no way he was taking it from me..

In the five second struggle that ensued I managed to kick him in the thigh (though I was aiming for rounder areas)… and punched him in the shoulder (I would’ve really liked to punch him square in the jaw. )… Unfortunately, I had lost my balance in the struggle and fell to the ground as he let go of my purse and ran north up –th street…

You can imagine the course of words that were coming out of my mouth as all this was going on.. but the censored version goes something like, “What the ____ are you doing?! Get the _____ away from me!!!”

As I picked myself and my heels off the ground.. I noticed a young couple on the other side of the street looking in my direction.. I was pissed that they said and did nothing.. but I’m sure they hardly even realized what had just happened… In my panicked state.. I literally just jetted home at a good 6 min mile pace.

Once inside my apartment.. and once I stopped freaking out.. I called the police.. who were very kind and helpful. I give the Philadelphia PD mad props for their kindness and helpfulness tonight. They really did all they could to try and catch the sucker who did this.

Lesson learned… I know I shouldn’t have been walking around by myself so late at night.. but I also learned that all that karate training from 5 to 16 years of age really does give you the confidence and the knowledge to protect yourself.

Be safe Philly.

Dancing With The Stars Season 17

I have to say that after Apolo Ohno won Dancing With The Stars, I haven’t been watching the show as religiously.. But this year’s cast for Dancing With The Stars seems pretty awesome.. ranging from Bill Nye the Science Guy.. to Snooki.. to Jesse Spano… to Amber Riley.. I must say I was thoroughly amused with the first episode of the season.

There were a lot of great performances.. one of my favorites was.. Corbin Bleu and Karina’s contemporary performance. Enjoy!

Rock ‘N Roll Half Marathon Philadelphia

So my first half marathon has come and gone.. and I have to admit it wasn’t half bad..

I woke up that morning wondering.. “What the heck was I thinking when I signed up for this?!?!”

The past few months have been hectic.. having to adjust to a new work environment every 6 weeks is not my cup of tea (I am a creature of habit after all)… I’ve barely had enough time to run 12 miles in a week much less 13.1 miles all at once!

Nevertheless, Krystal and I woke up bright and early to get to the finish line by 8 am


We rushed to get there… but we really could’ve taken our time since we had to wait for the 20th corral to come around..

The weather was perfect for a run.. sunny and cool.. just enough chill to prevent sweating to death in the sun… The first 5 miles were a breeze.. and pretty entertaining.. it was nice to be running through the streets of Philadelphia again..

At mile 4.5 looping back towards the starting line.. I saw my parents! I was so happy to have found them and that they took time off their day to see me run my first half marathon..

At mile 5.. I found Reiner and Molly standing there with a sign.. cheers.. and a kiss from Reign to encourage me on.. I would like to think that I would’ve been golden.. but at around mile 6 I could feel this giant blister forming underneath my left foot…

Regardless of the pain.. I continued to push through.. the bands were great.. and the water stations.. though sometimes disorganized were frequently placed.. I tried my best to look for distractions in the crowd..

Dr. Dribble delivered.. this guy seriously dribbled two basketballs the whole 13.1 miles.

I think nothing sucked more than the last 3.1 miles.. my brain was thinking.. “Wow.. you just ran the equivalent of a Broad Street Run… now run another 5k!”.. YIKES.. I was seriously fatigued… and I could feel the blister on my left foot growing and another blister forming under my right foot… but I had to keep moving..

I think what killed me was the last puny hill right into mile 13… just enough incline to make my calves twitch and threaten to cramp.. all I could think was.. “Don’t cramp up.. keep going.. no one walks across a finish line.. don’t be a b*****… finish strong!” etc, etc…

Needless to say.. I was relieved when it was all over at 2 hours and 10 minutes.. But with that decent performance.. I have been inspired to run more.. I showed myself that I can do it.. even with improper training .. Now I’m determined to see what I can do when I actually train correctly…

With that said.. I plan to up my mileage within the next few weeks.. pile on some interval training. and simply… rise to the occasion!!!

Let Me Love You

I have been watching this guy’s YouTube channel for a couple years now. I am amazed at the talent that this kid has. His covers get me through all the work I have to get done. Check him out, Leroy Sanchez.

Zumanjaro Drop

Being a long time roller coaster lover.. I am totally looking for this monster of a ride.. with a drop of 415 feet (that is taller than the Statue of Liberty) at a speed of up to 90 mph Zumanjaro will be the tallest tower-drop coaster in the world!!!

Not only is it going to be a sick drop.. but how cool is it that you are going to be racing the King Da Ka trains down the drop as well?!

I think the only sad part of this is that Zumanjaro will be taking the place of Rolling Thunder…

Rolling Thunder was Six Flags Great Adventure’s first wooden coaster that first opened back in 1979.. What was unique about this coaster was that it had dual tracks so that the two trains could “race” around the track to the end.. The first drop is only about 85 ft and the coaster races around the track at average speed of 56 mph..

It’s pretty sad that after 34 years we are having to say good-bye to this little piece of history… It makes me wish I took the time to ride it one more time this season.. Although according to the Six Flags Great Adventure website.. it looks like the ride is already closed 😦 So long Rolling Thunder… it’s been a fun 34 years.

Happy Birthday to My Guy

Twenty-seven years ago today, quite possibly the sweetest woman I ever met, gave birth to a boy that would be my love.. my other gun.. my best friend.. and quite possible my soul mate.

I know we didn’t do anything too special for your birthday this year, my love.. But I hope that what I could offer you.. my time and my company.. was good enough. I wish you the happiest day.. and many more birthdays.. holidays.. ordinary days.. to come. I love you.

*NSync Reunion

It was short lived.. but it happened.. and I loved every second of it. Definitely the best part of the VMAs for me.

Beautiful Lengths

After three years of going to my hair dresser and saying, “Just a trim.” I finally decided to just say, “Cut it all off, Ron (my awesome hair dresser).”

I am not sure what prompted me to chop off my locks. Part of it had to do with the fact that on two separate occasions.. I would catch Reiner (my boyfriend) staring at me and he randomly would say, “You looked cute with short hair.” Mind you… this is the same guy who has ZERO opinion about anything that has to do with my hair, make-up, clothes, shoes, etc. So when he actually has something to say about the way I look, I really take it to heart.

On top of that.. I’ve honestly gotten tired of the maintenance of my horsetail of hair. Between it getting tangled in my seatbelt.. getting caught on my desk chair.. zipped into my zippers… blah blah blah.. I think the  real deciding factor was my realization that my hair is long enough to donate. After a quick half hour of research before bed last night, I was set in my decision to make the change this weekend.

I honestly was so excited about cutting my hair, that I drove directly from APPE.. to my hair dresser’s near my home in New Jersey. I swear sitting in the waiting area, I was seriously considering changing my mind.. even after the first snip.. I wanted to be like, “I change my mind!!” But in the end… I was really pleased with how my hair turned out.

Before


After

Pantene Beautiful Lengths will be benefitting from my donation.. I wish I could’ve donated more.. but the way my hair was cut, I could only offer the back layers of my hair. Overall, I’m happy… what do ya’ll think??

A Trip To Montreal

So much going on and I haven’t even had the chance to talk about my brother’s engagement..

A few months ago.. I asked my brother if he wanted to do the Color Run in Montreal this year… and he thought… why not take this opportunity to propose to my girlfriend??? My brother.. ever-so the romantic thought it would be great to secretly invite all of their closest friends to enjoy the moment with them… and seriously.. what a great idea!

Ren and Eda drove up a day earlier to Montreal.. and the rest of us drove up the following day.. while my brother kept Eda entertained for the day.. the rest of us checked into the hotel and found our way to the overlook at Parc du Mont Royal… we hid in the chalet for about an hour until we saw them wandering unto the overlook… I swear we were all about to pee ourselves when we spotted them..

The chalet where we hid

The whole experience was priceless.. and I was so happy that we could be there to share that moment with them.

“
The gorgeous ring

I swear Montreal has a little bit of magic in the air.. That city has such a special place in my heart. This most likely has to do with all the summer memories I had there with my Ate Gayle as a teenager…

Ate Valla. Me. Ate Gayle circa summer of 2003

Things are different coming to Montreal at 26 years of age versus 15… but still a wonderful time… Besides.. the beautiful architecture…

Nothing beats the food 😀

Poutine.. need I say more??

Needless to say.. my return trip to this magical city cannot come soon enough!