i made the top 15!

If you've been reading my blog, or you know me personally, you know how much I love writing. In my busy week that revolves mostly around my ever-changing work schedule, finding the time to write is my escape.

It takes a lot to put something so personal in writing, especially out there for the world to read, critique or even agree with. I submitted my blog entry into the contest feeling satisfied that I actually entered! Last Sunday, I cut my 'faux' Valentine's day plans short to spend all day in front of my MacBook, daydreaming of what Costa Rica must be like. Sweating, gritting my teeth and (like some writers) not completely satisfied with my finished product, I clicked "send" in the email to Nomadic Matt just before the midnight deadline.

Monday morning, I woke up at 6am, the time the winners were to be announced, and read his website. My heart sank as I read his intro, "I had planned to select the top 50 but I had planned to get more than 50 entries, so rather than voting on everyone, here are the top 15 applicants." I was happy to hear not many people entered- increasing my chances, but I surely didn't think I'd be considered for the top 15... I did my excited dance in my PJs.

Making the top 15 in a contest like this is SURREAL. Getting even this far has given me courage to believe in myself more. I look up to the guy running the contest and companies like Gap Adventures, along with all the other travel writers or bloggers out there who are making their passion more than a hobby.

Thank you all for supporting me and voting for me or just reading along!

xoxo

mmm, olive oil

Another contest! Here's the LINK to the site with all the info. Hope I'm the lucky, random winner... You know how I love my food, I think every dinner I make has olive oil in it.

From the site: "Monica is giving away one 250ml bottle of Davoli Extra Virgin Olive Oil to one lucky Facebook Fan *and* a $50 gift certificate to a random blogger.

Readers:
To be eligible to win the free 250ml bottle of Calabrian olive oil, all you need to do is become a Facebook fan of Monica’s Fine Foods before Friday, February 26 at 5:00 PM (Pacific Time). At that point, Monica will randomly select a winner from her Facebook Fans and the winner will be announced here on My Bella Vita on Monday, March 1.
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Update: March 1st: I won the Olive Oil! Yummy... I will let you know how it is when it gets here. :)

Costa Rica Giveaway!

The creators of this contest ask, “Why do I want this trip?” Well, after reading Nomadic Matt’s inspiring story and reasons for holding this contest, my answer is, “This journey was meant for me!”

I’m the oldest of five girls and live at home with my parents (I know, it does wonders for my personal life). The only thing more frustrating than searching for stolen shoes and ‘lost’ makeup, is contemplating my future and career goals. When I’m struggling with my next moves, my friends and family ask me, “What is your passion? What have you always wanted to do?” There have only been two things I was ever sure about and they are writing and traveling (and I’m a Libra, so I’m the most indecisive person I know!). As much as I have wrestled with my fervor for writing throughout the years, my answer always ends up being the same. Writing has been my hobby since I was able to put words together and English was the only subject I consistently excelled in from middle school to college.

I recently set up my first blog and it has given me the opportunity to strengthen my writing skills as well as practice documenting my life’s travels. Since vacationing and exploring new territory have been my healthy distractions from the real world, I use that passion as stimulation to write. The two compliment each other like dark chocolate and graham crackers. Yet, my blog continues to be embarrassingly bare in the travel department and needs some fluffing.

All signs have pointed to travel as being the way to enlightenment and encouragement. Like many post-graduates paying back loans, however, my bank account has only afforded me the short-but-sweet travels thus far. And although I’ve had a wonderful life, my past resources have just not quenched the thirst I have for discovery. There are only so many wine tastings and road trips this New Yorker and her blog can take!

As an aspiring, 26 year old writer, just thinking about the chance to capture my every move on this bold, two-week trip and share it with my readers is intoxicating! It exudes the creativity and inspiration I’ve been looking for. I would blog my travels with all the laughter, excitement and bumps that seem inevitable during my visit through this awe-inspiring country. To describe and portray all of those breathtaking views is another goal I can’t wait to achieve. As a New York native who has never traveled to Costa Rica, I'm sure I would bring a refreshing perspective with interesting twists to the travel documentaries and their Pura Vida.

I’m looking forward to the one experience that is going to pop my suburb bubble and completely change the direction of my life. That’s why this offer to solo into Costa Rica felt like a calling card with my name on it. The timing could not be more perfect.

With Nomadic Matt and Gap Adventures being who they are, I can only see this as an incredible jaunt through a legendary country. So hey… Not only am I ready, willing and able, but I also have fabulous new luggage and an unused passport waiting to be christened!

snowmageddon 2010

Five months I've neglected writing. And I've been sitting at my dining room table for almost an hour procrastinating. I spent half the time staring at the sun reflecting off the thick snow in my backyard and the other half staring at this blinking cursor. Why is is so hard for me to put my thoughts into words?

Anyway, yes, the sun is shining here on Long Island, a day after the 'snowmageddon' storm. I don't know how places north of here deal with this on a regular basis! My dad spent HOURS, even with a snowblower, trying to uncover our many vehicles. So much time is wasted! I made sure I woke up early to help dig the cars out and squeeze in some treadmill time, so I could make it to my computer before the sun and my energy level takes a plunge.

As the snow scraper chiseled the last of the ice off my trusty Grand Am and the snow on my pants chilled my thighs as it melted, I was suddenly reminded of the warm days that I miss so much. The sun is usually extremely bright during this time of year, especially after a snow fall, but it wasn't just the sun that brought my mind to a better place... The last of the ice defrosting off my car revealed my 2009 Town of Babylon red beach sticker. Each year they change the color, so it's easier for them to spot as you drive by their 'check-in' stand at the entrance of the beach parking lot. I wonder what color it'll be this year?

I smiled as I stood there wearing my brand new snowboard jacket I have yet to use, my three layers of pants and two layers of socks and briefly thought of how it felt to lie on the sand in a bikini. It's funny how we forget what that feels like because summer was sooo long ago... It's a little painful to say that it'll be another four to five months until I can be comfortable outside in a bathing suit, but counting down the days is all I have to look forward to!

Now, it's on to a blog submission that could win me a trip to Costa Rica...

upstate. (sept 09)

things i learned or was reminded of...

I really do love upstate, NY- but i'd only live up there if i had a cool lake house or i was rich and it was my second home...

I can't live without road trips. And my gf Caroline is a great partner in crime.

Avocado and pesto go great on an egg white wrap.

I decided I need to be more into the outdoors. The place I move to next will be more temperate weather, so I can be outside year-round. Or it'll have lots of parks or just be a city so I can walk everywhere...

Waterfalls, streams, mountains and lakes really are breathtaking.

BBQ ribs are one of my fav foods.

Never forget to text your mom and let her know you're 'alive and well'...

The Tappan Zee is my fav bridge- kinda wanna live up there.

NJ isn't that pretty and god help you if you miss your exit while driving through!

I am constantly reminded of how lucky I am to have my health- I really can't take that for granted and should be utilizing it way more...

travel writing

I recently signed up for a travel writing course through the Matador Network, the online mag that I mentioned a couple posts ago. I have another blog with them, and have submitted my first assignment, as well.

Here's a link.

I had to write a bit of evergreen content... I didn't know what that was, either, so click there if you'd like to know. I don't think it's exactly what they're looking for, but it's all I had in me. I'm currently waiting for some critique and feedback from them and other students, but please leave some of your own!

love,
g

self-ramblings.

It’s 4pm on my day off and all I’ve done was jog on the treadmill for 40 minutes and fail at trying to set up an extension for my wireless network so I can sit outside on my computer. Lucky me, I’ve been sitting on a hard-backed chair and become congested from the chilling AC.

I’ve also spent hours staring at my MacBook screen, yet haven’t finished reading or writing one thing. It’s more than writers block. I paid for an online travel-writing course that I felt fell onto my lap at the perfect time. It has to be for me, right? It was between that and an article-writing course and I thought that the niche of travel writing was more appealing and specific than the other. I’m struggling with the first assignment and of course, since my mind likes to go off on more tangents than a boring schoolteacher, I immediately compare this assignment with my future. I can’t figure it out and I feel utterly stuck!

Besides traveling one day, I honestly don’t have any passion other than being a writer of sorts, and I’m not even a good one. I’m 25-year-old BA degree-holder with no real writing experience, a short-lived magazine internship on my resume and a dedicated four and a half years at my current place of work.

At age five I started writing, always kept journals and loved English class. So why was I clueless when choosing a major for college? I started my college career taking music business classes (???). Five years later ended with an English degree (of which I tried all three concentrations- publishing, creative writing and literature).

I learned a lot about myself over the years. Lessons I am proud to say I’ve learned and experiences that have shaped me and made me realize a lot about people and life. Unfortunately, however, I’ve always been two things: boy crazy and confused. Safe to say I’ve got the boy situation under control, though growing up a hormonal little girl no doubt halted much progression with learning. I was an average student, but never pushed myself to accomplish more. The biggest risk I took was probably following through with the internship… crrraaazzyyy, right? You need to keep me on a leash!

Needless to say, upon graduation, I did not pursue a career in English or writing or anything of the sort, but instead took a fulltime position in the retail store I was employed at and currently still working. It’s been Four and a half years.

So, what now? I stare at my inbox and wait for the little red “1” to pop up telling me I have an email…from whom? My favorite magazine asking me to travel with them and help write articles on…what exactly? Not only will I not be receiving miraculous emails from companies asking to have me, I also have no idea what my dream writing material is. So here I am sifting through countless coupons and travel deals that clog my email, with little to no hope left. No dream job, no goals, no talents or hobbies (that I’m good at), and credit debt that disrupts my sleeping patterns.

Oh look, an email from MySpace. Fabulous.

I had great talks about setting goals, etc. with old friends last week and if they’re reading this, I hope they don’t think I haven’t listened to them or didn’t taken anything away from what they said. Every piece of advice I’ve ever been given floats around in my brain- where my college education should be- ultimately weighing my thoughts down and draining my body more than when I’m unable to get my daily protein consumption.

But, my problem still lies with this: I don’t know what I want to do, so how do I set my goals? Start small? I’ve started being thrifty and using my money more wisely, great. (I’m still going to be in debt with credit cards for a long time, which prevents any travel or internships or working for little-to-nothing to get ‘my foot in the door’ i.e. abroad or NYC- unless I want to work 80 hours/week). I also started that writing course (which is currently not going to work in my favor if I can’t even write).

My goal is to have a goal. One that involves moving in some fashion away from home. I’m too comfortable. And there’s not much for me here, on Long Island. As I’ve said, I have job, although not one that makes my heart go pit-a-pat, but one that enables me to pay for everything I need (which can work in my favor if I can only figure out my goals and passions). It’s my comfort level at home and work mixed with my nerves and inability to take risks that has kept me in one place my whole life. Some people are OK with that, but I know there is more out there for me.