Last MPPR 850 Post: Channeling My Inner Carrie

What a great semester it’s been! I have learned so much in a short amount of time. I am so glad we had the opportunity to blog. I always contemplated actually starting one and was secretly eager and excited that it was a requirement for the Social Media course. As a devoted Sex and The City fan, I always thought of how fun it would be to be Carrie for the day and write about my adventures, highs and lows and  random inspirations. This class has allowed me to channel my inner Carrie and has encouraged me to be expressive, creative and adventurous.

I enjoyed that we were given the freedom to choose our topics and to write about things that we were truly passionate about. In my Communication Planning class, one our guest speakers Eric, Creative Director of Mad Genius, said that one way to channel your creativity is to get closer to something that interests you and that you're passionate about. I enjoy being able to share my personal interests with others, especially in an academic setting, where this can otherwise be limited. 

My biggest challenge was finding time. I found that I really couldn’t plan my posts as many experienced bloggers do. The ideas just sort of came to me randomly. I did find that once I started writing, even if it was at 12 midnight, I was on a roll and couldn’t stop until I got everything out.  The same goes for anything though, the more you do it, the better you become at it. 

I would definitely like to continue blogging after the semester is done. My goal is to write more frequently and allot some time every couple of days to write and get my thoughts out. How my blog develops will be interesting, especially without having guidance on a given topic or answering a particular question. I believe this newfound hobby will help me grow both personally and professionally. It will also force me to be aware and stay on top of social media trends which are key, especially working in the Communications field. 

Thank you MPPR 850 for a great class! I hope you’ll continue to part of the Gold Rush ;) 

Response Post #6: Royal Wedding

It's hard not to be drawn into the Royal Madness circulating around next week's wedding extravaganza. Millions of people around the world are anxiously awaiting for William & Kate to tie the knot. People.com has devoted a whole page to the Royals and there has been so much chatter about Kate's wedding dress. On All About The Wow Factor's Royal Wedding post, Gina poses a number of interesting questions: 

Gina: My question(s) to you all is: Would you want your wedding to be like the royal wedding? Are you not interested in the wedding because their budget is endless and not realistic for the average person?  Do you think their is too much hype on the wedding and takes away from the importance of a wedding? (Not true.)

For the beloved prince and princess to be, a lavish affair is more than appropriate. Personally, I would want my wedding to be more intimate. Whenever I think of an elaborate wedding, I always remember the scene from the Sex and The City movie when Big tells Carrie that their wedding was becoming a circus. Though he was a jerk in the movie, it showed how a union of two people ended up being a production or spectacle for others. I don't think this is the case for every elaborate wedding but I do feel that sometimes people can be over-the-top and get caught up in the frenzy. Their endless budget makes me more interested just because it's a rarity. I can't lie, I am a fan of Kate-- I love her elegance. And, as Celebrity Wedding Planner David Tutera says, even though they will be following tradition, it'll be exciting to see how her style is incorporated into the wedding. One more week!

Response Post #5: RTR- When It's Smarter To Rent Than Buy

In Feliz Is Her Name's recent blog post, she talks about her love of weddings and how exciting but daunting it can be to find the perfect ensemble. I was just recently a bridesmaid in a winter wedding and thought it was incredibly smart for the bride to have us all wear black dresses. Why? Because it was practical and unlike a lot of my other dresses, I will most likely wear it again. Sad but true, a bad habit that I've been slowly trying to break-- buying intricate, printed pieces instead of classic staples that can be worn any kind of way.

Last week, my boyfriend and I celebrated our 3 year anniversary. In January, we made the Final Four of George Mason University Sweetheart 16 Contest and won a night's stay at the Mason Inn. We decided to take advantage and have a mini- staycation. I started searching for a dress 3 weeks before! I knew it had to be special but didn't want to splurge on something I would only wear once. My friend Emily suggested Rent The Runway a couple months back. I loved the idea of being able to wear top notch, high fashion dresses from Dolce & Gabbana, Herve Leger and Vera Wang all for an affordable price, however, I feared that they would arrive and look horrible on me. I had been eyeing a blue Herve dress and a black and white Tibi dress for a good couple of weeks until finally, I got in contact with a fit specialist. I was surprised yet impressed at how helpful and responsive they were as I asked question after question.

Four days later, my dresses (you can pick 2 sizes at no additional cost!) had arrived. I ended up choosing the High Tea Tibi dress  and was delightfully pleased! It felt like Christmas came early. I paired it with RJ Graziano's Dress Me Up necklace, which I also rented. I enjoyed the evening in this lovely dress without any worries, especially purchasing the $5 insurance. The return process was incredibly easy especially because they provide you a pre-paid envelope to slip the dress in. No need to dry clean, just drop it in the mail box and you're done!

After such a great first experience, I am excited to use RTR for future special events. The brilliant concept coupled with high quality pieces and great customer service make RTR a must for fashionistas.

Kudos to Mason Inn for being pet friendly!

Response Post #4: Sick Days

I could definitely relate to Danielle Benjamin's blog post on sick days. She poses the question "Sick days- love 'em or hate 'em?" and brings up a good point: Are sick days truly used for recovery or a way to catch up on the miscellaneous things we've been putting off or just haven't had time to get to? I would honestly prefer to save these days for out of town vacations or when I have solid plans. 

I mentioned in a previous post that I've been trying to master the "art of doing nothing." While I think this is necessary to maintain one's wellbeing and let's face it- sanity, it is difficult for me to do. A couple weeks ago, I was debating on whether or not to take a couple days off before starting my new job. I questioned if I needed only a couple days or a full week. As much as a full week would have excited me back in high school or even as an undergrad, for some reason, I couldn't imagine not working for that long. Even though I knew finals were approaching and could use the time to catch up on schoolwork and to "relax," I opted for only a couple days off. It's nice to do nothing but I feel my best when I'm on the go. This reminded me of the time when I was told to go home and "recover" when fighting an awful cold. I guess the meds weren't working and I found myself wide awake, bored out of my mind, trying to find something good on TV. After only a day, I was eager to get back to work.

In her post, Danielle says "Lazy days don’t frequent my life very often because I’ve just got too much on my plate for that. So I think in the back of my mind, I’m always secretly hoping that I’ll feel better right away so that I can go do laundry or run an errand or clean my room… something productive!"

That's exactly how I am. Kind of weird. Maybe it's part of growing up? I still want to be able to master "the art of doing nothing" but on most days I find myself being more like "I'll sleep when I'm dead." I guess for now, I'll settle for being in between.

Response Post #3: Be Jeweled

After reading Miss Major Substance's blog post about jewelry, I felt compelled to respond to it since I am a jewelry-lover myself. My theory is, the gaudier, the better! I know tons of women go nuts over diamonds and carats but I've always preferred more fun, funky jewelry that you can mix and match. This is probably because every time I've gotten something fairly expensive as a gift, I always end up losing them (terrible, I know). Do you all remember that episode of the Housewives of Beverly Hills when Taylor Armstrong dropped $60K on her daughter's 4th birthday and bought Hello Kitty diamond necklaces for all her friends? Insane! I honestly couldn't imagine spending that kind of loot even if I had it. 

In college, I went through a Juicy Couture phase and was obsessed with collecting their charms. I hardly ever wear them anymore but still love their cutesy studs. 

Speaking of studs, Kate Spade also has a few on my wish list like these Sea Glass earrings.  I like the glamourous but simplistic feel of these studs and how they could compliment any outfit, whether it's for work or going out (plus, turtles are good luck!). 

Although I love perusing Juicy and Kate Spade, my favorite, favorite, favorite place to buy jewelry is Forever 21. Their jewelry is versatile, fun and best of all, inexpensive. You can find the coolest pieces for $3-$15. I have gotten tons of compliments on pieces from Forever 21 and love seeing people's reactions when I tell them where it's from and how much I paid for them. My fashion philosophy is: it's not about how much it is or where you got it from, it's how you wear it! I'm a fan of mixing designer pieces with bargains. 

2010 14th Annual Prism Awards: 

Dress- Forever 21 $40 

Earrings- Forever 21 $6 (!!!)

Bracelet- Forever 21 $10 (!!!) 

Shoes- Jessica Simpson $60

Funny story about this night. The event was held at The Beverly Hills Hotel. I walked into the bathroom to fix my makeup and a girl said to me "I love your dress! Where is it from?" I told her it was from Forever 21. She then gasped (I'm serious, she gasped) and said to me "Oh my god, don't say that out loud! Tell people you got it from Saks or something!" I shook my head and told her to have a good night.

Week #12: Confessions of a Restaurant Junkie

I've always had an appreciation for good food. Growing up in a Filipino home, I was always used to having elaborate dinners full of traditional dishes such as adobo (stew made with pork or chicken), lechon (a roasted full pig), lumpia (vegetable or meat eggrolls) and pancit (noodle dish). Meals were always served with white rice whether it was breakfast, lunch or dinner. My diet has changed a bit since living with my family but luckily, they live nearby so I still have access to this delicious food (since I am still trying to perfect these recipes!)

As I mentioned in a previous post, it would be wise to plan your meals for the week to avoid overspending at restaurants. I have tried to be a little more strategic, for example, making two dishes on Sunday and eating that for dinner throughout the week or buying a bulk of greens and making my own salads for lunch. Along with this strategy comes the best part, eating out on the weekend! This can be a dangerous habit but it just gives you more incentive to hit the gym the next day.

My favorite food has always been sushi but I tend to stick to my favorite place, Sushi Jin, just because I'd rather not waste money trying to find a place to top it! A couple months ago, I went through an Italian phase especially after eating at Acqua al 2 in Capitol Hill. Lately, I've been in a French phase and have been dying to go back to Lyon Hall in Clarendon. My friend Samantha and I tried it a few weeks ago and the food was absolutely delicious. I ordered the Diver Scallops (see below) with saffron couscous, fennel, lemon puree and Taggiasca Olives. Absolutely to die for!


Back to my notion of things being exciting when you can spread the word, Shirky says not only do we consume media but we also like to produce it ("Look at what I made!") and share it ("Look at what I found!"). I decided to create a "Food Diaries" album on my Facebook page. I'll be adding it to the Gold Rushed Facebook page soon, in hopes of attracting fellow foodies. Similar to the concept of "homophily," which Shirky also discusses, if I am able to engage my friends (who share the same interests and love to eat), I will have a better chance of engaging their friends as well. "Like with like."

Here are a couple pictures I have added so far:

Diver Scallops- Lyon Hall, Clarendon 

Grilled Branzino- Ozzie's, Fairfax

Hot Stone Bowl- Hama Sushi, Herndon 

Slow Roasted Prime Rib Queen Cut- Boxwoods at the Mason Inn 

Fellow foodies, what are your recommendations for good restaurants? Leave a comment below!

Week #10: Lady With a Mean Punch

One of the things I like to do in my free time is work out. I don’t do it so much to “lose weight” but more as a stress release. Just as Allison Gittings mentioned in her Chameleon blog, I will feel completely unproductive if I don’t get a work out in and will be in a funky mood all day. As many people would experience, the gym can become boring after a while especially after going on the same machines over and over. Working out was especially easy when I lived on campus at Mason because the fitness/acquatic center was literally across from my dorm. I would take pilates classes, run around the circle and then do some cardio at the gym.


Now, my workout routine is a little different. Last January, I signed up for LA Boxing. Boxing was definitely outside of my comfort zone but I wanted to challenge myself and do something completely unexpected. Growing up, I wasn’t involved in sports. Instead, I danced and competed in pageants. So you can imagine how surprised people were when I told them I joined this new gym.

If you’re local to DC, then you’ve heard the commercial with Sarah from Hot 99.5 about “handling your bizz-nass” LOL. It sounded like fun and games at first but not even midway into my first class, I felt like I wanted to die. There were about 30 people, ages 10-40 with a surprising large number of females. Strong, fierce females! The workout lasts an hour and consist of a rigorous warm up, ab and leg exercises, high-energy combination punches and kicks (if you’re in the kickboxing class) and then a cool down session. The next day, I literally (literally!) couldn’t walk. But, even though this workout had caused me so much pain (but a good pain), I became hooked. No pain, no gain, right? It’s an awesome workout for anyone but especially women who like to burn calories and also learn to defend themselves. 

Pro Boxer/Instructor Jennifer Salinas Training Session 

I admit that I’ve been a slacker and haven’t been going as much as I should, especially during the winter months. But, with the sun peaking in, I know it’s time to step it up. Aside from being a great stress relief, one of the things that keep me going when working out, especially in class, is the music. Here are a couple songs from my “Get Ready for Summer” playlist:

**Some songs NSFW**

Response Post #2: Fashion and Friends for Japan

Reading Nicki Anderson’s blog post "A Shake Felt Around The World,"reminded me of how fortunate we are, especially as we reflect on the tragedy in Japan last month. I felt so foolish as I remember, a couple days prior to the first earthquake being so upset about dropping my IPhone and a couple weeks before then, accidentally putting my IPod in the washing machine. Yes, my careless mistakes annoyed me to no end but they were so incredibly trivial after putting things into perspective. Since then, I’ve learned “not to sweat the small stuff” and be appreciative of what I have, no matter how small or large.

Last week, while browsing ITunes, I came across Songs for Japan. The compilation album consists of 38 popular artists including Lady Gaga, U2, Bruno Mars and Madonna and is available for $9.99. Proceeds will benefit the Japanese Red Cross Society. Even though people can still donate traditionally through websites like the American Red Cross, it’s interesting to see how retailers are using their resources and creativity to encourage donations.

Online auction Fashion and Friends for Japan kicks off today until the 28^th of April. Organized by the Council of Fashion Designers of America and it’s fashionable friends, fashionistas can bid on one of kind experiences and over the top fashions.

Items include:

• A made to measure Tom Ford suit
• One week stay at Parrot Cay
• Invitation to the Elton John Oscars Party
• Ticket to the Victoria Secret fashion show
• Seats at Vera Wang’s fashion show (and a chance to meet her!)
• A stay at Diane Von Furstenberg’s Bahamas Home
• Lunch and style consultation with Fashion Extraordinaire Rachel Zoe
• A $3000 shopping spree, lunch with Tory Burch and backstage tickets to a Kanye/Jay Z concert
• A chance to meet Michael Kors backstage at his Spring 2012 fashion show and a $5,000 shopping spree

As if this wasn’t fabulous enough, visit CharityBuzz for the complete list! All proceeds will go to the Japan Society and their relief fund to aid victims of the earthquake.

Say It With Me

Whether he's got issues or not, homeboy is talented. I will definitely be downloading the rest of Chris Brown's new album FAME. This song and others on this album remind me of Michael J. :(

Do you all remember his tearful yet amazing (don't hate) tribute to the King of Pop? 

 

Week #9: Are you engaged?

I have to admit I was a little late in joining Facebook. I remember freshmen year at Mason, everyone going nuts over it, asking people to “friend” them. This was around the time that Myspace was still cool. I finally gave in my junior year and have been hooked ever since. It’s a super force of it’s own as it’s transformed from a network of college students to a worldwide phenomenon. Everyone is on FB.

When I think of FB, a couple words come to mind. Share, connect, networks, Mark Zuckerberg. But, going back to the idea sharing, the reason why FB is my favorite social network is because it’s the easiest and fastest way for me to keep in touch with my family and friends. I love being able to share photos of my adventures and post updates on my daily happenings (only if exciting) to people I may not have a chance to see and interact with everyday. I’m a firm believer in things being more fun when you can share them!

I also love being able to reach a large number of people in an instant. What used to take light years can now be done in a click of a button. Clay Shirky touches on this notion in “Here Comes Everybody” as he discusses how difficult it used to be to publish something and then have it reach various populations outside of your geographic area. He says, “Now, once a user connects to the Internet, he has access to a platform that is at once global and free. It isn’t just that our communications tools are cheaper; they are better.” So now that we are able to share more efficiently, we have to take it a step further and engage.

One of my favorite bloggers, Emily from Cupcakes and Cashmere does this very well and has created a strong following on her blog. She uses FB and Twitter as a supplement to her blog and shares photos of her outfits, travels, interior design and food. Emily has the ability to make everyday ordinary and otherwise mundane objects look like art. 

Photo from C&C  

When I first created the Gold Rushed page on FB, my intention initially was to build my presence by posting statuses of new posts and urging my family and friends to “like” the page. Now, my goal is to dive deeper and make it more interactive and focus on engaging, instead of just announcing. I could treat the Gold Rushed page as a semi-personal FB account, allowing followers to get to know me (if they don’t already). Here a couple things I have considered doing that may attract new followers and drive like-minded people to my blog.

1. Posting some of my personal photos to Gold Rushed
2. Posting inspirational quotes  (I’ve started to but need to more often, perhaps as a “Monday motivation” or “Mid week motivation”)
3. Posting random YouTube findings or new songs I’m into
4. Posting video blogs
5. Posting relevant and current news and happenings

The only minor problem I see in this approach is the slight redundancy of posting to my personal page and then to Gold Rushed, as a good number of my friends are followers on my blog. But, maybe the double exposure isn’t so much a bad thing—maybe, the more the better especially since it’s so easy to get lost in the sea of updates.

I’ll leave you with a song that’s been stuck in my head for the past week.

Week #7: Blessing in Disguise

The weather in DC has been anything but normal this winter. One week the weather man is calling for a snow storm and the next, we've got 70 degree weather. It seems pretty inevitable that with these crazy weather changes, we are more prone to getting sick. I can't blame 100% of my sickness on global warming though. For the last month or so, I've been spreading myself thin. As I mentioned in my previous post, I always get into a little funk in the late winter months. Working full time and being a grad student is most definitely rewarding but to stay on top of things, one must be persistent, have good time management and self care. Many people become so consumed with their work, projects and events, that they forget and find very little time to take care of themselves. As a result, they become stressed, feel drained, lethargic and unmotivated which make them more susceptible to colds.

I am in no way a health or time management expert but I am guilty of being one of those people that forget a little self TLC. I definitely can't say that I'm surprised that I've been fighting a week long cold right now. Here are some tips from personal experience that may help you stay on top of things, including your health. 

Do write yourself a daily to-do list. Some people use their phones and there are those that just have excellent memory. I find writing it down much easier. 

Don't wait until the last minute. Yes, I know-- easy to say, hard to do. My Mom always says "If you have something to do, do it now." No matter how big or small it is, whether it's a project or grocery shopping, you'll be happy that you got it out of the way. 

Do spend some time outdoors. Instead of getting on the treadmill, take a brisk walk outdoors. Studies have shown that 30 minutes outdoors can greatly improve your mood. This is especially easier to do with your furry friend! 

Don't over exert yourself when it comes to exercise. Studies have also shown that 30 minutes of cardio a day is all you need. 

Do indulge in some quality sleep. If you can't get the recommended 8 hours, aim for 7. You'll be happier during the day and you'll be able to think more clearly. 

Don't think negatively. Worrying or complaining about something will not make the situation better. Negativity is like a disease and it can be incredibly draining. Never let someone steal your joy. Resist feeding into the negativity of others.  Instead, try to find the solution or an opportunity in the situation and move on.  

Do occasionally treat yourself. Reward yourself after a long week or after you've tackled your page long to-do list. 

Don't deprive yourself of the foods you love. Like they say, everything is good in moderation. But if you fully deprive yourself of having Starbucks or cupcakes, you'll find yourself craving it more than ever and eventually over indulging. 

Do spend some time in the kitchen. For the past couple of weeks, I've found myself grabbing food on the go or eating out at restaurants 2-3 times a week for the sake of saving time. Though it saves a couple hours away from the kitchen right after work, it ends up being very costly. So, plan your meals and hit the store ahead of time. Even if you're not the best cook, it can be fun experimenting and learning! 

Lastly, Don't over plan. I am especially guilty of this as I love, love, love to plan. I would have a panic attack if I ever lost my planner. But, over-planning can lead you to become over-stressed. Allow yourself a couple of nights out of the week (if possible) or a full weekend of no plans. Stay in and hibernate-- sleep, relax and make Netflix your best friend. Remember that Italian saying from Eat Pray Love? "Bel far niente"- the beauty of doing nothing. Yes, still trying to master this.

Many of these tidbits are things I've learned from my family, friends and through surfing the net. Thank goodness for Google which makes questions like "How do I de-stress?" or "How do I get over a cold quickly?" seem normal when it shoots back a million answers. To make my blog more relevant to Google, I've been linking to rich text and also utilizing tags. Because the topics I blog about tend to be pretty random, I am hoping it will drive a diverse audience and will allow me to connect with a larger group of people. I'm sure this post will resonate with a lot of my peers, especially those who are busy bees and love to be on the go. Who knows, maybe even you could use a little more "me" time :) 

Someone else is ready for spring too...

Ching and his fresh new haircut.

Week #6: Spring Fever

Spring is fast approaching and I couldn't be happier. I love living on the East Coast and having four seasons but it's those last weeks in winter when I always find myself in a rut. I always look at the beginning of a season as a fresh start and I'm always inquiring about new things I can try and get myself into. 

In our Social Media class, we've just begun reading "The Search." John Battelle discusses the phenomenon that is Google and it's extraordinary ability to give us the answers to what we're looking for. No matter who the searcher is or what you're typing in the search field, Google has had a profound impact on our society and has enabled us to acquire new information with just one click. Battelle says "The search all starts with you: your query, your intent-- the desire to get an answer, find a site, or learn something new." 

So what have I been googling for the past week? Spring fashion! It's fun to mix it up once in a while and put pieces together but I always find myself wearing my favorite clothing staples which mostly consist of black. And no, contrary to what so many people think (trust me, I get asked every other day), black does not mean you are goth or depressed! I know the color black is usually worn for sad occasions but I believe you can wear all black no matter what they occasion! It's chic, easy and let's face it, slimming! And, it can be a lot of fun playing around with different textures. It's also perfect for transitioning from daytime attire to night. Look at how fabulously elegant Victoria Beckham looks in all black. 

Photo taken from Zimbio.com

Though I'll continue to wear all black, I do want to add more color into my wardrobe for Spring and Summer. I find inspirations all over the net especially on blogs I mentioned here but I've also discovered that some of my favorite stores and retail websites have started blogs! These blogs aren't hugely advertised and I probably wouldn't have found them if it weren't for my online shopping hobby. I stumbled upon the Kate Spade blog after following their Twitter page. Their latest post features an office display that reads "The Year of Color," with a caption "Live colorfully!" Ha! Rent The Runway also has a cool blog that includes photos of their new pieces as well as their staff's favorite places and things. It's interesting to see what other fashion lovers are into! Here are a few things I'll be adding to my closet this Spring. 

White Lace

Love the structure of this top. Crisp and clean. 

Anthropologie $98

Feminine Blouses 

Love the bow and this color! 

Lulus $33

Nude Heel

Lengthens legs and great for in/out of the office. 

  Nordstrom $89.95

Orange

Photo taken from People Style Watch. Amazing pop of color! Unexpectedly polished.

So fashion lovers, what are you most excited about this Spring?

Once a Patriot...

...always a Patriot! Tonight's win against Northeastern (67-61) marks the 14th consecutive win for Mason, making them the #1 seed in next week's CAA Tournament. So sad to miss such an epic game but so very proud of my Alma mater! It would be the last home game of the season and also last for seniors Isaiah Tate and Cam Long. 

Patriots- if you haven't already, check out this video of Doc Nix and The Green Machine rockin' out to Rage Against The Machine!! 

Week #5: Un grande Sabato

In our last class, we discussed how brands such as Red Bull and Dunkin Donuts have capitalized on social media platforms to connect with their customers. Many companies have taken to Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to interact with their fan base and create a sense of community. Just as Chris Anderson says in The Long Tail "We are turning from a mass market back into a niche nation, defined now not by our geography but by our interests." The most successful brands are those that have stepped outside of the box. Take for instance, the Louis Vuitton Facebook Page which has 1,888.829 "likes." The page is equipped with a "Mon Monogram" app allowing fans to design their own handbag, share it with friends and even have it produced! How cool is that?! Though this app and similar ones exist on the internet, even on company websites (LV's website included), these platforms have provided a way for people to engage and distribute as well as receive quick, real time information.

I must admit that the majority of the time, I find my news and information on Twitter and Facebook. This includes everything from hard news, entertainment, fashion, etc. One of my hobbies is trying out new restaurants. Though I could spend hours googling "cool restaurants" or checking out reviews on Yelp, I often get ideas from friends that post food pictures and statuses about where they're eating. Last week, my friend Samantha posted a picture of a dish she had ordered at an Italian restaurant called Acqua al 2 in Capitol Hill, with a caption "Blueberry and Balsamic Steak sampler. Just as good as Firenze." Blueberry and steak?? Being a foodie, I was immediately intruiged by this odd combination. I later asked her about it and she said she couldn't explain it and that it was just utterly amazing. I browsed their website and found out they were awarded "Restaurant of The Year" in 2010 and only had locations in DC, San Diego and Firenze, Italy. So with all these exciting tidbits, I booked a reservation for my boyfriend and I for our Valentine's Dinner, 3 days later. 

 

Assaggio di Secondi- Balsamic Steak, Steak topped with Parmesan, Blueberry Steak

The verdict? Ah-mazing. Great food, generous portions, good service and a laid back atmosphere. This past weekend was the first plan-free weekend in a while, so this place was ideal for a comfortable, chill but nice dinner. I've definitely added it to my list of favorites.

That's the power of social media. If it weren't for Sam posting the pic, I probably wouldn't have known about Acqua. Anderson also says "We are gregarious species, highly influenced by what others do." I'm definitely influenced by my friends and their opinions and are more inclined to trust them than random Yelpers. Through my blog, I'm able to capture and share my experiences and use multimedia as icing on the cake. Though I'm still finding ways to leverage the various tools, I have started a Gold Rushed Facebook page to engage with my family and friends. I could easily pick up the phone and tell them about my new blog but encouraging them to visit the page and see it for themselves makes it better. Visuals are more fun! Once they "like" the page, updates will appear in their Newsfeed as it becomes available. I have also used my personal Twitter account to update my followers whenever I have a new post.

The earlier part of last Saturday was spent perusing the Natural History Museum. I've been a couple times before but it's one of those places that you can't really get tired of, especially when you haven't gone in a while and there's plenty of new exhibits to see. Who knows, maybe after reading this, you'll be dieing to try some Blueberry steak or even inspired to take advantage of these random 70 degree February days and venture out to the Smithsonian... ;)

 

Pretty cool. 

 

 Butterflies and Plants- Partners in Evolution Exhibit

 
Butterfly hatching!

 Meet me at "The Elephant"

Orchids: A View From The East Exhibit- now until April 24th

Perusing.