"The key is balance."

"The key is balance," is what I recalled earlier this morning while reading my horoscope in elle magazine. I had realized my sign was a scale, symbolic of finding balance toward every aspect of life, which is what I have been trying to achieve at the moment.

i get so emotional

i get so emotional overtime i think about when i was a little kid... bad memories and good memories just fill my head all the way. shopping wit my mom in the mall in the stroller. her asking me what to buy and what not. i love you ma. i luv u pop. sally obi i lug u too. this is how i get overtime i sleep away from home believe it or not. (last night i stayed over my aunt daniela's house last night)

Time

Time is constant, it never stops. hence, why should we? The beauty of time, I believe, is how it allows more to happen, which creates more opportunities or for some, second chances, to achieve.

One day at a time...

(this is me having a ball) I walk in... (phone off the hook) release all inhibitions... (phone off the hook) love myself... (more and more) and the phone is still off the dam hook. I'm hanging up.

Walking into Macy's last Saturday.

Its impossible to configure how many people enter through them gold revolving doors that practically pulll you inside the megapolis of everything you can imagine; another world within manhattan. Especially at "the most wonderful time of the year".

war of the worlds

One of the million things I did today was sit next to someone at war. What I mean by "at war" refers to internal conflict. You know, when your stuck between two worlds and one seems better than the other but if you go in that direction you risk sacrifcing something that may not be important at the moment yet still means a lot. But I guess that brings you to that well-known piece of advice to not think about anything and just do. I like that concept.

what is inevitable

Pain is always there, no matter where one resides. For the shortest while, it could feel as if it had never hit you; thus once it does it hurts excruciatingly... However, the most fulfilling aspect derived from what is painful is hope. You obtain this by reminding yourself what you haven't seen yet or done. That's my way of doing it at least.

For lunch, i had a turkey sandwhich with prunes. Delicious.

Prunes are dried plums and are packed with health benefits, not only are they good for your health but they are so versatile in cooking too as you can see from my recipe.

I found Charlotte Rouge's blog!!! http://charlotte-rouge.blogspot.com/

It's been a while since I've been to charlotte rouge, which many would agree is similar to Forever 21. Many would also agree that one could find extraordinary pieces that look good for practically nothing. Why does one act the way he or she does? Because of whatever they're going through... therefore do not judge.

I found Charlotte

Where I want to be.

I'm craving that thick air, those roasted peanuts, the constant worry your pocket is picked at, scarves for 5$, and a cab for a walk in the walk to feel Johnny boy Lennon's footsteps under mine. God how I miss Manhattan.

story of my life

When I was about 8, I began to worry that I'd forget about what I enjoyed as a child (even though I was a child.) So I guess you could say I developed a Peter Pan complex. The best thing about being a Beatle fan has got to be how no matter what phase I go through and how long it lasts, I am always thrown back to that cool mentality expressed through every lyric and tune. Whether it be a song on the radio, a movie, or just a plain memory from my childhood. I will forever have the fab four in the back of my head singing Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.

Channel 4 Tree Lighting at Rockefeller Center

I light up each year the tree in the city does. I imagine what it would be like to be there every year. Mariah's album from the 90's doesn't bleed Holiday cheer like any other Christmas album, but that's just me.

Beauty School Dropout

- Looney Tunes exists in Paris as well. Remember watching them on Sundays? I'm trying to figureout how I can apply for cosmetology at my school, but I cannot seem to find information online about it. I'm pretty sure they offer it, the administrators, that is. I feel like all is rushed during the holiday season...the gifts, the decorating, dinner, etc. In my opinion, it conquers the purpose of the holidays. I don't mean to sound repetitive, but I will say once again that this is why Lena G walks her own path now as her own chica. Well, I'm going to make more Holiday cards... Bye.

Embrace what is in front of you before moving from point A to point B.

-This picture was the night Alessandra, my cousin, and I went to Veronica Kole's sweet sixteen. Danced the night away literally. Shout out to Tori Festa and Brenda K who shared that night out with us. Tonight my mother and I took a ride down to Manasquan New Jersey to see The Nutcracker ballet in a charming old theater begging for donations. I didn't want the show to end from the moment it began, for it fascinated me the way theses performers painted a picture on stage, how they were costumed. I absolutely had a ball...Mommy got us lost for a bit but it was cool we got to talk. Who better to talk to? What better company?

Every moment counts. Happy Thanksgiving to all.

It touched us all, Paris, that is.

My brother says he hated Paris. Obviously he is full of a four letter word I say frequently, however try very hard not to say in front of males. I'd like to consider myself a lady, if you will.

TODAY IS SUNDAY.

(This is my darling, Darnesha, aka Nazsha. She is beautiful inside and out.) I remember us in the fifth grade... fighting, makin up, the love was always there and still is. Happy Birthday Sarah. This morning I had the pleasure of making my brother and his friends breakfast...and the rest of today will remain in my head; for all I want it to do is depart through my ear as I sleep tonight.

Hi there!

Last night Sal's buddy Andrew slept over and my mother is out picking him up from religion class, to (I think) return, drop Andrew off here at our home, then pick me up to hit Target. Oh Target (Tarjay,), with its abundance of unnecessary items one goes nuts...CASHEWS! Speaking of Cashews, last night Mommy and me hit our signature Starbucks/Barnes and Noble last night. Those who live in Freehold know what I'm talkin about. Anyhow I had some of these cashews that were seasoned (all natural) with a "pomegranate twist" in which made the tree nut taste ALMOST as good as the NUTS FOR NUTS my Pop and I pick up on the streets of Manhattan, minus the grease and excessive sugar.

oh lee...

(<---my cards I make to advertise my blog) After a long night of making Christmas and birthday cards for friends and family members while watching Guys and Dolls, I took a hot shower and went to sleep; only to wake up at 2 AM thinking was 6...another reoccuring theme of my life:wrong timing, teehee. But atleast I did my make-up and dresses, thus had time to enjoy my breakfast this morning, rather than rush like I typically do on a Thursday morning.

Sitting with Mommy on a rainy Monday night...

She wants to look at the pictures I took in Paris. I took so many-I captured every nook and cranny, leaving me no reason to purchase any "souvenirs", for nothing beats (in my opinion) the organic developed photo absorbed and taken by the traveler... Soon I will make a slideshow... with music and everything.

Work my my bella'mica, Melissa Maninno.

What today brought me.

Earlier today, my mother and I cried together. Brutally painful as it always is, we did it. However, though it took a few hours, she did what I've been waiting on her to do for herself-moved on. She called up her good friend and family, and had them over for dinner... it seemed she enjoyed herself...and that made me proud that instead of dwelling, she took my advice and took that first step toward cleanin the slate. I LOVE YOU MOM EVERYTHING WILL BE OK I PROMISE YOU.

You think there are people out there who don't encourage finding a cure for cancer?

(havent had one of these in years) When you consider how much money goes into cancer treatments, doctor visits, and all the rest, it makes you wonder (Maroon 5-it makes me wonder)whether or not these doctors and specialists hope for a cure, which would lead to an end to their practices.

Dr. P you are brilliant.

This is how Marc Podwal sees Israel. It is important for an artist to create things in the way he sees them. I believe how u truly see something is unlike how anyone else does.

"They just shived."

What does this mean, exactly... all the kids in my area use this word. I'm assuming, by who I've seen it used toward in specific situations... to shive means to lie, or act in a crooked way. For example, one who claims he's going to a nine am showing of Toy Story 3 and doesn't show up, is considered a shive, or has shived. A shive can also be a hypocrite. For instance, someone who advocates against dope, yet falls asleep with a blunt in hand, is a shive. If I'm inaccurate with my info, I apologize... please correct me if so. LOL. You see i don't see the sense/mentality in saying such a phrase.... but then again why is it that I use words such as "nonsense", "fool", or "stupid". Therefore, rather than judge those who use language that is different than mine, I like to explore. DONT CRITISCIZE ANALYZE.

I wave my hair back and fourth...and hit u in da face!

oh my GOODNESS I HAVE SO MUCH TO DO I LUV IT!!!! TODAY I WILL START UPLOADING PICTURES FROM PARIS, MAKING XMAS CARDS, ON TOP OF READING MY NOVEL. THEREFORE, LENA WILL PROBABLY BE WORKING OUT AT HOME... GUESS WHAT? I PASSED THE DRIVER'S PRE-TEST FOR THE FIRST TIME TODAY! MY DOCTOR NEEDS ME (I NEED ME) TO TAKE MULTI VITAMINS UNTIL MY BLOOD REPAIRS...I THINK THEY ARE MAKING ME RETAIN WATER... I PEED GREEN ALL DAY .... THAT REMINDS ME: REMEMEBER "GREEN EGGS AND HAM"?????

Sorry. You failed the test. Better luck next time.

(Safir, my good friend, made me drop my sandwhich at lunch by accident today. I was so mad. I had to buy a bag of sunchips... I really wanted that turkey on rye.) I'm in driver;s ed class right now and I just took a pre-test to practice for the big test on Wednesday.... By accident, I hit the submit button too early and got the wrong answers WHICH CAUSED ME TO FAIL. http://edisondriving.com/test/online.shtml Louis Rizzo is sitting next to me in the media center... He says hi.

Nonna made caponatina!!!!

...it was delicious. Eggplant, onions, tomato sauce. Era buonissima! I ate so many sunflower seeds, almonds and raisins... its obnoxious!

Getting ready for a sweet sixteen for Victoria....

Betty Davis describes her Brooklyn nostalgia: "Most women had the one thing in common:they had great pain when they gave birth to their children. This should make a bond that held all together; it should make them love and protect each other against the man-world." So why do people stab others in the back, when really we all came from the same place, in other words?

Stomach Aches are horrible!

I haven't had a cup of chamomile tea in soo long. My Nonna Josie would always give me some whenever I had a stomach ache. Today is my good friend Amanda's birthday... her family and a bunch of girls are accompanying her to La Piazza restaurant tonight for dinner. So now I must run to the mall to get a black under shirt to wear with my dress. My mother is bitter with me for using the washer machine after she told me not to. Another case where I just wasn't thinking. I am sorry.

One of my favorite breakfasts is....

....Banana and one tbs of peanut butter.

My parents are both working in the city today...typical Thursday... I strolled through the mall last night just to get out of the house last night... forever 21 wasn't overwhelming with its usual messy crowds and obnoxious line, the dollar stores were abundant in what every girl could need, convincing her she can do without the $60 eyeshadow set at Sephora, where every make-up product seems like a Booby trap;attempting to lure a person to spending... and that is my definition of a weeknight at an American mall...oh! I almost forgot the 5 dollar latte at the Nordstrom's Cafe/Starbucks I did not purchase!

I <3>

Right now I am sitting in Web Media class at school.

Okay so I need to remember to turn my clothes the right side out when I change today... It makes laundry easier for Ma. She told me not to do anymore last night cuz she's afraid I'll break the lavatrice (washer machine-Italian) e l'asciugatrice (the dryer). I miss Dana so much. Dana does my eyebrows at Avanti Salon in Manalapan. Everytime I see her she makes me feel so special, like so many other people I am so lucky to have in my life. Today in my Italian class I had my first chocolate chip cookie in mabye a year. Chips Ahoy it was.... WILL IT GO TO MY ASS? I'm done with my Guyana Project! I have to present it on Monday. I also miss Alessandra, Bianca and Vincent. Last night I watched the Yellow Submarine. Gee I remember being a little one and watching it at my Aunt Mariann's with my cousin Al before he got married!

http://www.markpodwal.com/works.html

My dermotologist is an artist, like me. His name is Mark Podwall (aka in my family, Dr. P). He's a friend of my father's... has been for years. I think his work is rather extraordinary, and I enjoy interpreting it. A couple years back, I visited him at his office in Manhattan (great area) for a check-up on an issue I was having with my skin at the time. He presented me with his book, Jerusalem Sky. Vivid in its illustrations of how Dr. P sees a world in which his Jewish heritage hails from, the storybook is happily (yes, it is happy to be, like me!) in my collection of books.

tHIS IS THE EXACT COPY I OWN AND READ EVERYDAY...ATLEAST I TRY TO ANYWAY.

I am currently reading A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (like I've been for the past 3 years, after my girl Amanda Lomagno told me I had to read it.) It's just that I cannot stick to one project at a time. THATS WHY i CANNOT gET ANYTHING DONE!!!! i NEED LIMITS TO EVERYTHING I DO. UNBELIEVABLE. THE SHIT I PUT MYSELF THROUGH.

-ONE OF MARK'S WORKS.

Do it wit Love.

ughh .... 18 pages of "aging" for Pops... God Bless this printer!

Buts it like the old man Lenny told me last nite,"Do whatever you do with love...You Bake a Cake... Bake it with love."

Good morning! just did my nails... i added a 2nd coat to the previous i slabbed on before going to the mall yesterday.... Maybelling Express Finish gets it done.

I feel good this morning, relatively. i'm really nervous for my mother though.... we have a sweet 16 for a young lady (our families are good friends) and Ma dont know what to wear. Shes always like this-last minute... and then gets overwhelmed and stressed out. shes good for now... but then watch as soon as i get out the gym it'll be all over!

Tomorow is Halloween... last weekend I was spontaneously invited to a newly made acquaintance's halloween party. I dressed as Fran Drescher did in THE NANNY.

walking through a crowded jersey gardens today made me appreciate Paris' minimalism. no confusing superstores with overpowering air conditioner (however good trial mix and candy) and rude sales people (Meg Ryan-You've Got Mail-"ignorant sales people")....

Instead what I found in Paris were little shops each specialized in one item whether it be scarves, shirts, belts, pots, forks... anything. It's as if the streets of the romantic capital is designed purposely to enable you to use your own mind to make a valuable decision such as picking the perfect hat you make keep for the season, two days, or forever... What matters is that you put thought into it-creatively. Anyone can be creative in every activity life offers. Yes, Paris is famous for college kids attending the oh-so-famous Sarbonne... But there is no necessity to attend a fancy school to learn how to think creatively... In fact I think it is impossible; for thinking creatively revolves around one's individual perspective-no one else's. Thus, I refused to take Honors English... for I don't want someone to tell me how to write a paper. I want to do it my way, and perhaps collaborate with others to get inspired... there should not be any "right"way of performing such tasks that require unique mentality in order to have any value, I think. AND THATS WHY TEACHERS HATE READING ESSAY AFTER ESSAY, CUZ THEY ALL SOUND THE SAME!

So emotional.

i just dont get it ... lately i've been so sensitive! i just started crying cuz my nonna asked me whether ive been applying the cream i have for the rash on my mouth.

Ive had this nasty rash since before i left Paris. It came the day before I left.

Alessandra Castronovo

La vie en rose

PARIS WAS AMAZING. the streets evoked my imagination's rebirth; it brought me back to when i was a lil girl wearing a baret hat, coloring and telling my mother i wanted to become an artist-the culture that is, inspired me to return to new York to do what i love-art. Art is everywhere and incorporated in every aspect that surrounds us besides canvases and to die for sculptures i could spend hours and hours gazing in wonder at in all the museums i almost got lost in with my family-including the Pantheon ... The 5-day trip to the city of lights for my 16th birthday was impeccable in every way solely based on the fact that i experienced a totally brand new perspective of life with the people that mean the most to me. I have the utmost gratitude toward my parents and younger brother sal for being who they are which entails their importance in my life...

I will be posting pics asap little by little tho... dont kill me now . lol. I took so many its insane...

tomoroi do sal's make-up for halloween in school... although tomorrow is not the glorious holiday, his school is allowing kids to dress up-which is fun. "punker" (Pete Wentz punker; the eyeliner and smokey eye) is what Salli Boi requests. tomorro morning first thing after he washes his face!

Oct 17, 2010 Alessandra, DJ Frankie P and Icon Dancers @ Six Flags

my cousin. aint she somethin.... i cant believe i missed this while i was in paris. i got back today. the trip was amazing... got so much to put together (pictures and such) to share with the world... it will also be a fab opportunity to re-live the overwhelming culture and swag my family and i saw these past few days.

shout out to my cousins alessandra and vincent and everyone else who performed at her amazing shindig. i know shes disappointed i couldnt be there and im sorry. but the thing is babi girl theres so much more to come so lets not sweat it. u did amazing i love u.

well for i gotts mad shiyitt still to do and its almost 830.. shit gia waitin for me to call!

Keyshia Cole - Let It Go

just before i ran out to home depot and shoprite wit POPS, i jammed out to this vid. Ran into an old friend at the home depot... says her girl is feelin down... what she needs to do is care for herself... put herself first. i hope she knows i got her back.

truth is i am not perfect.. sometimes i feel like people expect a lot from me. but thats a normal and good thing. whats not good is taking that the wrong way. I can do anything, I do have the energy... thats what I have to believe, and that is the equivalent of hope.

Like how i spit not what ill call facts but philosophies of life. If they were facts, id be saying i kno im right, but i dont. no one knows who is right... im not saying anyones wrong either. cuz who knows? who cares as well ...

10/11 Columbus Day.... any parades ?

My lips are all swollen-another rash. Nonna Josie's comin over today. She made baked apples yesterday. I used to think my life wasn't interesting enough to put online. What the hell was I thinking with all the nonsense on Facebook and everything else. Well now I could care less who reads this, because I'm doing this for me and whoever feels me say I lol. I love Ghostface Killah. Aunt Mariann (might've caught her meatballs on the "jersey shore") made potatoes with string-beans the way i love them yesterday-w little oil and black pepper....

I mean who cares if what I write on hear aint organized? I just gotta let it out; u know? what does it matter how I used semi-colons.... I'm writing no? This blog represents my mind that goes in a million directions at once from when I wake up, to when I keel over at 10:30 Pm which was considered unheard for me 2 years back... u know back when I used to binge (i see u going "there it is...the reformed addict shit lol.) now u see a reason for my crazy mentality... at least that's what u think. But the truth is, I just opened my eyes is all. I see the world for myself and no one else...well sometimes I screw up and try hard to please others. But don't we all? cuz we love the people we love a lot.

Sometimes I feel like running away, which always feels wrong during or afterward the feeling comes along. Of course I couldn't do it... I just thought of the bag i packed when I was maybe 5 with the kids guide to NYC my mother bought for me which I still got and carry along. It's just something your overcoming emotions bring u to sometimes. But my weakness is love...and what happens is my head to starts to spin and I start to become hysterical. I cant help it, and still i try to maintain my emotions ...its a process... aha Billy Crystal, Analyze That : I'm grieving, it's a process." Christopher Columbus... u know they got no official portraits of him. "Disgrazziate gente americane.." Quote my father/Uncle Joe/Me.

Yes, this part of my life is currently in session:salmon, and my mind torturing itself. i kinda like it ... teeeheeeee !

Lina Chic is currently (temporarily) gonna be posting at bunshy529.blogspot.com...Thanks, my apologies for the inconvenience.

Speakin for the independent Women!!!!!

A woman being independent, confident, and willing to fight on her own is what a friend of mine and I dicussed last night until 1:30 in the morning. It took a lot for me to become confident:weight loss, mental stability, and willpower within me. Suffice to say I'm proud I did it on my own. Am I ready for a relationship? I don't think anyone truly knows what they want when they want it; and it don't matter cuz life does not always work out as planned. However, I know that by staying true to myself and not letting myself go (i.e. one bad day extending to a week, month,year), I'll be down and prepared for anything. So bring it on, love/friendship/disaster, and keep the signs comin!

A woman with confidence and respect for herself walks with her head high and back straight, even when she is feeling at her worst...Advice: sometimes looking good and well put-together has potential to bring up ya mood a few...

For all the good women and mothers out there I know...

Feelin under the weather...

I'm a little tired today... why? Good News! my aunt Cathy is all better from her stomach procedure! I Love my Aunt/Zia Cathy. She's a tall, thin, real tan ball of laughs with great dark hair my mother has. Always smiling, even when she's the saddest person I know at the moment, me and Aunt Cathy are very much alike. However, I think I am the evolved version of her that would have developed if she would have taken the time to discover herself further. But it's all good, cuz we all love her for who is she is. She is beautiful, inside and out, and everyone who knows her is lucky as hell to have her in their lives. I'll forever hold her down.

On this raini dai...

On this raini day what's Lina Chic (Lena G aka in Freehold, NJ) up to ? at 10:55 I've already been awake approximately six hours, fed my brain with 3 different magazines including New York, Vogue, and Lucky. I've completed my workout... and now to scrub the two upstairs bathrooms while the little bro is in his twentieth dream.

I hate spending a very long time on one activity/project/subject... Don't get me wrong, I do believe in focusing on one project in order to give it your all. However, as a woman wanting to taste all the world has to offer, I would rather read a number of pages of a novel daily instead of reading it all at once, this way I have enough time to engage in other meaningful activities such as experimenting new make-up products at the mall for free (pretending to have the intentions of buying), or making birthday cards out of magazines and pieces of cardboard during the day. I've been dipping my feet in designing women's wear on and off throughout the past couple years. One New Year's resolution for this year was to create a collection of my own. Over the past few days, I've been content creating one sketch a day in between helping out around the house, trying on clothes, and basically answering the constant ring of the house phone. I plan on creating 4 to six sketches in total (mabye more) and setting them on individual backgrunds I will design myself, with acrylic paint (I am also an occaisonal painter with my own aisle) .