Let's Catch Up!

Whoa! It's been awhile. I thought I'd drop in to give you an update. A lot has happened these past couple of months. I've changed my major, set new goals, helped start a charity, taken a few trips, started and ended a romance. There's too much to catch up on, but I do have to say that I finally visited Los Angeles! I loved it! I want to move there now! But unfortunately, at this time, my finances won't allow it. It's all good, no worries. Bob and I have a plan. I'm not ready to share it just yet, but know, that we have a plan. I had so many amazing experiences that I wish I could sit here and describe it to you in detail. I'll just share a few stories with you here and there.

For now, let's talk about how my Bob left me in the U.S. of A. while she is off exploring Paris! I'm so happy for her cause I know she has been wanting to make this trip for the longest. I had to stay behind cause of my good ol' job and education. Blah! I hate being responsible. Well most of the time. But I'm not getting any younger so it's time to buckle down. Back to the topic at hand, Bob, I'm glad to announce that she will be returning back to the Lone Star State! We shall be reunited Summer 2014. Let me warn you guys now-we're about to take Dallas by a storm.

Well that is it for tonight, I wish you all the best! Remember, we're open to comments and ideas!

Love,
-Jenn

P.S. Don't forget to follow me on Twitter, IG, and just recently added Tumblr! My username is the same for all three- @J3NNYMAR

I Was Here by Beyonce covered by Alexa Rock!

Everyone knows I'm a big dreamer, therefore I like to encourage others to follow their dreams! My baby cousin, who is now 14, is an aspiring singer. Check out her latest video and let me know what you think!


-Jen

http://youtu.be/ns8SkN21y7g

BEYOND! BEYOND!

I've said it time and time again, I am God's favorite.  Just when I think something is going sour he does something to remind me that he is always by my side.  This semester I registered for two Fashion courses hoping that I would receive a boost of interest for school again. Boy, did I get way more than what I asked for! Not only did I realize I was exactly where I needed to be--but I also met some wonderful people with amazing networks.  Just this past Saturday I was able to work a local fashion show called "The Pin Show" and I have to say that it was one of the most memorable days of my life.  Being surrounded by awesome clothing and VERY attractive male models was a dream! LOL I enjoyed every second of it. Not only that, but the same person that got me the opportunity to work that show has invited me along with her to help her during LA Fashion Week and to work the BET Awards! I'm not going to lie--when I got the call about the BET Awards I was THIS close to tears. I just felt beyond blessed! I mean, I knew that this is what I've always wanted and I knew it would happen one day but for it to happen so soon  was just amazing! I couldn't do anything else but thank God. Everything that has happened to me in this short month and a half has left me feeling so blessed and underserving. Now more than ever I know I've made the right decision and can't wait until I'm an official resident of LA! Comadre and I will be taking our first trip out there Memorial Day weekend and we are beyond stoked! That is the only thing we have been talking about for the past couple of months! I wish I could post all the pictures from The Pin Show on here but unfortunately I can't. You can always check them out on my Instagram or Twitter! =] I have the same username for both. I'm debating whether I should create a Tumblr account, any thoughts? I know this is somewhat unorganized and I rambled but I'm at work trying to get this done, I just couldn't wait to share it. My apologies. Have a blessed week!!

Follow me! @J3NNYMAR

2013, I'm coming for you!

M'kay, I'm making this a quick one.  HAPPY 2013!  Jen and I are late, but we are celebrating nonetheless.  As I was choking on the 12 grapes the last 12 seconds of 2012 (which is a Latin tradition (that's a lot of 12s)), I made the resolution that I was going to make 2013 the best year ever.

However, 2013 is a transition year for Jen and I.  As the title of this blog states, in 2014 we are moving to LA.  No ifs, ands, or buts.  But, while I'm still in NYC, I am making the best use of 2013 as possible.  Some of you may or may not know, but I am an aspiring novelist and I am working on my first YA novel.  I'm getting it published this year.  You hear that 2013, I'm getting published this year.  I am most motivated by thinking that way.  If I say I'm doing something, I'm doing something.  It's the power of positive thinking.

Jen and I are taking some big steps.  We're growing up.  We are independent women as it is, but we look around and there is so much opportunity in the world.  Both of our parents are immigrants and we have the luxury of establishing success in the U.S. of A.  Of course we are going to try to do it.  There's no harm in trying.  

We are young and single, without kids to hold us back.  So why not move to LA?  It sounds fun.  And if we hate it, there are thousands of other cities to choose from.  YOLO!  

So for transition year 2013, we have plans set to solidify our move to LA and being to establish our marks on the world.  We are a force not to be reckoned with!

2013, we got this!

-Mariela

@themarielao

Visit my personal blog

New Year, New Goals

I know it's late but Happy New Year!! 2013 started off awesome! I hope that all of you can say the same. So where did we leave off? Last time I posted I believe I was having a breakdown due to not being able to decide on a major. Well, I have made a decision and am about to start my Major specific classes this week. After great thought and analysis I have decided to finish what I started and get my degree in Fashon Merchandising. I realized that if I am going to spend money, time and energy on a degree, it might as well be my first choice. After being at my job for about 2 months now, I realized that everyone I work with has a Bachelors--some in business and others in arts. None the less, they're all random and have nothing to do with the job that we do. So I thought to myself, these people did not go to college and say "Oh, I'm going to work at a call center when I get done." They all had hopes for a bigger career opportunity but somehow ended up here, where I am, without a degree. So I say again, if I am going to work on a degree, I want it to be something that I'm passionate about so that if the end result isn't what I want it to be, then at least I can say I tried. I really don't want to think like that because I want to make this happen, I want to be successful, but I'm just being real with myself. Either way, I'm going to make something happen. Mariela and I have many projects that we are working on that I can't wait to share with you guys, but for right now we're keeping it on the hush, hush! Hope you guys have a great day!

@J3NNYMAR

Ay, Dios mio!

Estimados Amgios,

My Comadre is the best.  

What is a "comadre"?  According to the Merriam-Webster's English translation, it is defined as:  1) godmother of one's child; 2) mother of one's godchild; 3) neighbor, female friend.  When I refer to my Comadre, I use it as a term of endearment for my BFFL, better known as Jennifer to the rest of the world.  

Her and I are basically long lost twin souls from two different mothers.  I love my family and hers, so I'm lucky to say I am blessed with two loving families, one in the east coast (mine) and another in the south (hers).  We met in high school on the second day of the 2002-2003 academic year.  I was a sophomore and she a freshman.  Since then we have been really close, even when I moved to Houston for 4.5 years.  During my time in Houston, we didn't communicate at all, but as soon as I touched-down in Dallas, it was like I never left.  

Jennifer gave you her introduction for the purpose of this blog but I would like to share my side of the story.  I left Houston back in 2010 because I was done with college and was working, but I felt like my life was beginning to be sucked into this blackhole of nothingness.  I felt that I need to get out of that situation and see the world, so I moved back to Dallas. Immediately, Jen & I reconnected and became as inseparable as ever.  We had many experiences during our time apart and in some sense were different people, but at the same time, we realized how similar we were.  We bonded into a team of starry-eyed idealizers, beginning to see our life with a newfound grandiose perspective.    We began to plan our move to LA for 2011, but then we settled on NYC because the schools in NYC were more recognized.  Long story short, I got accepted to NYU as a graduate student and moved to the Big Apple.  My Comadre stayed in Dallas, not because she wanted to.  

It's been almost two years since I made the big move, but my Comadre and I make an effort to see each other at least every six months.  Most recently, we met up in Vegas and when we returned to our respective homes, I told her I was ready for LA as she told me the same.  I told you we are too alike.  

I'll share an excerpt from an email I sent her a few weeks ago regarding our move to LA:

"Subconsciously, I always knew NYC was temporary but that has not been the case in regards to LA.  I think that is the place we are supposed to end up but to make it worth it, we had to be ready.  And, the Lord has prepared us. It is such a coincidence that yesterday I came across a quote:  "The two most important days in your life are the day you were born and the day you find out why" - Mark Twain.  I think that we have both discovered, finally, our whys...we both came to the realization that we are ready to take the next step and finally succeed in LA."

To give you some background, my Comadre was utterly distressed and I had to remind her of all the things we have gone through in the last year and a half.  Basically, I gave her the whole everything-happens-for-a-reason spiel.  Then I gave her the idea to set up this blog (which she did, THANK YOU COMADRE!) so we could have a concrete account of our plan and journey.  Most importantly, it would give us another form to communicate despite the 2K+ miles between us.

She already posted three post and this is only my first one.  Ay, Dios mio!  But, it's all good.  

You may wonder why LA?  Well, why not?  #LA2014!

-Mariela

marielaochoa.com
@TheMarielaO

Decisions, decisions.

Math class was as sucky as usual, so I walked out today. I decided to take my confused ass to the library and print out my degree plan instead. Although I thought I had it figured out, after today, I'll probably go crazy. I noticed that I'm pretty much ready to start on my upper classman courses but to do that, I must decide what it is I want to major in. If you would of asked me a couple of years ago I wouldn't of thought twice before shouting out "Fashion Merchandising/Marketing". If you would of asked me last week, I would of said "Public Relations/Advertising". The thing is they are both very much alike. I have a true love for fashion and will forever be obssessed, however, the practical side of my brain keeps reminding me that the economy is to shits right now, PR is the way to go. But then I wondered maybe the reason for my recent disinterest in school is the result of a major that is my 2nd choice rather than my 1st. Fashion has always been my first choice, I have always dreamed of being a stylist. Ever since I was young and playing with Barbies you would hear me say, "I'm accessorizing!". Thanks to the last hour I spent researching several careers and what not, I am more confused today than I was years ago. Should I follow my heart? Should I play it safe? After my post yesterday, I think playing it safe is out of the question. I think I'm going back to Fashion. If it fails, oh well! At least I tried. I won't have to wonder "what if?". I can say that I tried and I failed. However, the only way to fail, is to give up. I don't plan on giving up. I'm going to make this happen. Just like I've made plenty of other things happen, this too shall happen for me. My final conclusion came to being that if I enroll in a couple of Fashion courses, my interest level will rise again, I will stay focused and be steadily reminded of what I'm working for. Not just a degree to have a secure future. But a degree to have the dream career that I've always wanted. With that said, Fashion Marketing/Merchandising it is! And if I don't finish by the time I move to LA, then you guys might just hear from me as a student of FIDM. Tootles!

-Jen
@J3NNYMAR