"'Cause I can laugh it off"

So with the Rangers only one win away from making it into the playoffs, I figured today would be a good day to feature my Rangers mug. I never really was into hockey when I was younger. My house always had the football or baseball game on instead. My boyfriend, however, is a huge fan. My first game was…an experience to say the least. The Rangers play at Madison Square Garden, one of my favorite places in the city and I was really excited to go to my first ranger game and get all decked out for the occasion. I had heard all the wonderful traditions from my boyfriend and his family for weeks before hand. About the main guy who sings the national anthem, about “Dancing Larry” who sits in section 407, about the amazing prime rib sandwich and of course how beautiful the goal horn sounds when we’re winning. I was nothing short of excited. However, the game involved a bet. In one of our discussions on how awesome Ranger games are, my boyfriend Nick’s dad told me that I’d NEVER be able to finish the sandwich they offered at the garden. I never turn down a challenge and with my competitive streak and appetite; I told him that he was wrong. (Rookie mistake). When the day finally came, I felt the anticipation rising. We hoped on the train to the city with the hopes of a great night. Boy, were we wrong. Everything went wrong. Dancing Larry was gone from his normal section. The singer was home with laryngitis. And the Rangers lost 6-0, so I was never able to heard the goal horn. However, I DID finish the prime sandwich regardless of the stomach pains I felt afterwards. I refused to go home defeated, that I forced myself to finish the WHOLE huge hoagie…pickle and all. And BOY, did I let my pride get in the way. The whole train ride home, I was stuffed to the core, feeling that at any moment, the sandwich would seek revenge. When I look back on the night, I can’t help but crack up at how comical the series of events were. Even though, nothing really went as planned, we were still able to have a good time and laugh about the turn of events. Whenever I feel like things aren’t going my way, I drink out of this mug to remember to laugh it off and keep moving forward. (And to admit defeat when you know you can’t finish a sandwich….)

"Your body is a wonderland"

Straying away from my Europe mugs, I will now feature mugs from various locations in the United States. When I was younger my Aunt would always take me to cool and interesting places around where we lived. One of my favorite exhibits we saw was the BODIES exhibit in NYC. For those of you who don’t know that it is, it is a compilation of REAL human bodies preserved through the latest technology and put on display for viewers to gain an “intimate” view of the human body. They dissected the cadavers down to muscles, bones and vital organs. It so intriguing to see the body presented in a completely different light. The fact that these organs are presented in front of you rather than in a textbook is fascinating and creepy at the same time. All of the bodies are unclaimed bodies donated to research. Research that is now being viewer for those who are not faint hearted at the idea of seeing a real heart. The museum covers all of the biological systems from nervous to the circulatory and every thing in-between. It really changes your outlook on how you view your own body. The systems of our body are so intricate and complex that you truly to appreciate it until you take an inside look at how it works. They even had samples of organs from those who didn’t take care of their bodies by partaking in smoking and excess eating. Under the real damaged black lungs there was a trash a through away cigarettes. I remember looking in the trash and seeing everyone discarded vices buried and thinking how motivating the human body is. I’ve been back to the exhibit a few other times after that, and still find myself reading all the slides and examining all the parts. I even got to hold a real brain!! The exhibit is not only featured in NYC but have taken home in various other locations in the US and I suggest to anyone to go out and go see the museum, to truly understand how lucky we are to be in control of our bodies. Whenever I drink out of this mug, I remember the beauty of the human body!

"The world is so big and I am so small"

For my last mug of my Europe installment, I figured I’d end with my favorite landmark we visited. The Pont Du Gard in Nimes, France! It is one of the oldest Romano aqueduct bridges. It used to carry gallons of water a day to be filed in fountains, baths and homes of the citizens in Nimes. The aqueduct is huge and it is so amazing to know that the Roman’s built this years and years ago using only simple technology. The river below it was all dried up, so we were able to walk across it as well as below it. It was such an incredible feeling to stand below something of such great height.  In 1985, it was added to UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites and is ranked 5^th on France’s top tourist attractions. The prestige of the attraction comes through whole-heartily when you see it in person. The next sight we went to in Nimes was another famous tourist site, the Roman amphitheatre. We visited Nimes before we visited Rome, so this was the first Roman amphitheatre I saw, and it was awesome! (It made me so excited to actually see the Coliseum). This Roman theater is one of the best-preserved Roman arenas in France. It is actually still used today for bulling fighting and concerts. We got to climb to the top and sit in the stands! It was so cool to look down and imagine all the entertainment that when on below. I was never surrounded by so much history. The city of Nimes was just filled with such rich and interesting facts. It’s where, in fact, the fabric of jeans, denim, got their name (Serge de Nimes). Pretty neat huh? These historical sits reminded me that nothing is what it seems in a postcard or a photograph, but it’s important to see life through your lens than someone else’s.  So next time you come across a photo of a place you’d love to visit, whether it be locally or abroad, go out there and see the beauty for your own eyes! It’s completely worth it. So I use this mug to remember the colors and beauty the world holds and do go out and see for yourself!

 

 

 

Can you spot me?

"I'm singing in the rain..."

During my Europe trip, we visited the two smallest countries in the world, Vatican City and Monaco. Both I did not realize were their own countries but part of Italy and France respectively. Monaco was probably one of the most interesting countries I’ve been too! They were so unique with so much culture. They have everything from Monte Carlo, to the Grand Prix, to Princess Grace Kelly. The country itself embodies everything they have. It’s classy, gorgeous and full of life and wealth. The view from the harbor was breathtaking. 

 

 

I remember looking down at the adorable houses on the shore thinking that I would not mind living here for the rest of my life. Not the mention that there is no income tax. Monaco gain most their money from tourist attractions. It is home of one the most famous casinos and one of the most prestigious automobile races. It’s hard to walk around the streets of Monaco without feeling the class it exudes, even if it was torrential down pouring. We were blessed with such great weather over in Europe besides the 3 hours we visited Monaco, but it still didn’t stop us! We trekked through the city and shops against the heavy wind and rain. By the time we got back to the bus, EVERYTHING was soaked. The bus ride home wasn’t too enjoyable as we sat in our pool of water. Nothing is worse than wet jeans and socks. But the visit had made everything worth it. The water had even gotten through to my journal where the ink is still smudged it certain spots from the Monaco rain. The shocker was how much fun we had walking in the rain. Instead of being disheartened by the weather, we laughed and joked and had a ball. Even though the pictures don’t do justice, I promise the look of horror on our faces were all pretend. So when the weather gets me down, I take a sip from my Monaco mug to remind me that it is possible to enjoy a day of rain! 

So next time it rains, get out there and dance and run and smile, I promise the water won’t make you melt. So bring it on! (But maybe not for another week, I’m enjoying this sunny 60 degree weather as well).

(Something tells me my Italian teacher was not pretending like the rest of us)

Until next time...

"Keep Calm and Carry On"

Jo(anna)

"Paint myself in blue and red and black and gray"

As promised my next blog is about the Pablo Picasso museum in Barcelona! For as far back as I could remember, art has always been a big part of life. Whereas all the little girls in my preschool were playing with dolls, I was always found at the arts and crafts table. At home, my most cherished items were those of which I could create. Markers, crayons, blow-pens (remember those?!) You name it, I had it! When people would ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up I would say how I wanted to become an artist! And up until last year, I was convinced my profession would have something to do with art (Art Therapy). It senior year that I had the epiphany that Art as a profession was not for me. Senior Year I decided to take an AP Art class where I had to create 24 works for my portfolio. As a perfectionist, I stayed up tossing and turning, trying to figure out what the perfect “focus” would be! I went back and forth between concentrations only to end up empty handed at the end of the day. Art became a chore for me. Never once have I dreaded any art class I have taken but senior year I found myself always anxious for 5th period. The reason I loved art so much was because of the therapeutic feeling it gave me, last year I lost that passion. What do you do when the one thing that helps you “un-stress” gives you stress? This question haunted me last year and after various breakdowns I discovered why. A hobby is a hobby. You are motivated internally to perform with not pressure but desire. When your hobby than becomes your job, you lose sight of the “reason” why you are performing. No longer is it solely for enjoyment but all these extrinsic motivations come in the play, stripping you of your inner motivation. When art became filled with perfection, deadlines and critiques, it lost its expression form of nature for me! That’s when I decided to give up my dream of putting art in my profession, but I did not give up on my dream of keeping it in my future. Sadly, I haven’t rediscovered my passion to create. A slow and steady process of healing that I hope I do gain back. But in this struggle I did however discover a different area of art. The history behind it. Of course, I knew of artists but I began to really look into their lives. Although I do love a good realistic painting like those of Hopper and Rockwell. I find myself intrigued most often by those artists who underwent some form of mental breakthrough. Picasso, Van Gogh and Dali are among my main men. These artists became one with their work and struggled, like I had, with their focus. Which is why, in my senior Europe trip, when we were given the choice between shopping or the Picasso museum, I chose Picasso. He grew up in Barcelona and it was so cool to be walking around a city that influenced him so much. We passed the café where he got most of his inspiration from “Les Quatre Gats“! 

Walking through the museum I became filled with emotion. His early works at first were completely normal. He painted realistic paintings of landscape and scenery and his talent was unreal. He wasn’t always the crazy artist who painted ears where eyes should be. He started out normal, like all of us had. The pressure of success however broke him. And this is when he broke away from traditional paintings and began painting his expressions, ones filled with confusion and disorder. I admire Picasso for his passion and will to rise above the pressure of perfection. Whereas he may not have developed into the most “mentally stable” artist, his works were nothing short of revolutionary and an inspiration to understand that perfection is sometimes imperfect. This mug is has one of Picasso’s paintings after his breakdown. You can still make out that the picture is of a cup, but the lines are skewed and the painting is littered with unnecessary color and lines. 

Whenever I feel like my anxiety is creeping up on me, I use this mug to channel Picasso’s motto that something extraordinary can be reached without perfection. I hope one day I gain my will back to begin painting again, maybe over the summer when I have the time to stare into the white cruel eyes of the blank canvas, I will face that demon and overcome my fear and take back my passion.


But until then…
“Keep Calm and Carry On”
Jo(anna)

"livin' la vida loca"

It’s not Barcelona, it’s Barthelona. At least, that’s what the locals call it. Barcelona was one of the various cities on my senior Europe trip and it might be one of my favorites. The city itself was gorgeous! The buildings and architecture were beautiful and the clear blue ocean port surrounded it.  We spent most of the day walking around the city, admiring the landmarks (like the Christopher Columbus statue) and hung our legs over the port and basked in the sun. Everything about the place was fantastic. We ate tapas (Spanish appetizers) and even got to visit a real Spanish food market. Raw meat and vegetables were strung from the kiosks and my group went around test tasting the free samples. I got a delicious fresh fruit mango smoothie. The streets were packed with locals buying their food for the day. That’s one of the reasons why Europeans are healthier because all their home-cooked meals are made out of fresh products, instead of on-shelf preserved ingredients that we use. It was so cool to see women and men alike, buying the ingredients for their dinner tonight. Our stay at Barcelona was where we had the most down time, which was exciting to explore on our own.  We even went to the Pablo Picasso museum but next blog you’ll hear more about that! Wandering through the little shops, and taking the metro train to the various cities, I tried to find the perfect mug that embodies my fascination with Barcelona. There were so many wonderful things to see, whether it was the bikes, the flowers and even their water fountains. 

This mug is one of my favorites because it is so different. Instead of being circle, the mug is comprised of 3 different walls coming together as a triangle. Whenever I drink out of this cup, I remember to just enjoy life and make sure to observe everything. When you’re abroad, you pay attention to every little detail, but why not do that here, after all, we are one of the biggest tourist attractions. So stop and smell the cup of coffee and enjoy the flowers.

Until next time…

“Keep Calm and Carry On”

Jo(anna)

"when the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that's amore"

And here starts my Europe installment!

Almost a year ago, my World Language Honor Society provided me with the greatest opportunity: the chance to travel to Spain, Italy and France with 15 of my closest friends from high school. My high school offers three languages, Spanish, Italian and French. Since I took Italian since 7^th grade and having both my maternal side and paternal side being from the Italian ancestry, I was especially excited to visit Italy.

It was a miracle that my luggage made it back into the States after my trip, because I got a mug everywhere I went! One of my favorites, for visual and meaningful reasons, is Pisa mug.

When the tour guide was prepping us on the bus ride over, I thought he was being really corny. He told us that the response to seeing the Leaning Tower of Pisa was always the same…”It really does lean.” I remember thinking to myself that that was the silliest thing I’ve ever heard. Obviously it leans; it’s in its name. I swore to myself I wouldn’t think such a silly thought but to my shock I couldn’t help but be surprised when I first saw the tower and think to myself that it ACTUALLY does lean (and so does my mug).

 I remember that day like it was yesterday. It was extremely windy and after we took countless cliché images of holding up the tower, we found the most authentic restaurant and had real Italian pizza.  The mozzarella cheese was fresh and the crust was crispy. I was in heaven! But besides all the fun I had at Pisa, I learned some interesting things too. One architect found a way to fix the tower and return it to its upright position. They represented their project to the Pisa officials, who actually declined the offer. However, the tower was in danger of falling, so the architects agreed to fix it only enough to ensure stability but not enough to straighten it out. The leaning power provides Pisa with all the revenue it needs to keep the city running.

Hey, don’t fix what isn’t broken right? A lesson, I learned at very young age, based on my Italian heritage. Every year from as far back as when my great great grandma Beatrice game over from Italy, the tradition of making our famous Cucciddati cookies (fig cookies) from scratch has came over as well. Every second Sunday of December my big family comes together from all parts of the country, although majority of us are from Long Island, to participate in this tradition I love the best.  Each person is assigned a job on the day of Cookie Day and even before. My family is in charge of grinding the figs with an old-fashioned meat grinder the night before and adding our secret spices to the mix (and yes, I promise it’s not garlic). Each year, when my arms have been sore from churning, I’d complain with all the new technology there must be an easier way, but my father was adamant on doing it the exact same way they did over in Italy. A lesson I learned early in life not to fix what isn’t broken.

So when I’m down on my luck, I use this mug to remind me of the elation I felt being overseas and the importance of both travel and heritage. 

So until next time...

Keep Calm and Carry On

Jo(anna)