Birthday Week Celebrations!

Birthday Girl!

What a great week full of birthday celebrations, expected and unexpected celebrations!

At our holiday team lunch at Locanda Verde, my very sweet boss celebrated my birthday early with yummy chocolate cake and a birthday candle for dessert!

I was shocked!

At work the following week, my team surprised me with a birthday party in the office - they really got me! My colleague Joe and I were going to get coffee to catch up on some topics, but he had forgot his phone in one of the rooms. There were some of our teammates in the room, so I did not want to go and interrupt their meeting, eventually he got me to go in and it turns out it was for me! They really had me surprised - well played team!

Lunch at Tim Ho Wan

As for the actual day - I started off the day with lunch at Tim Ho Wan with my friend Michelle, it was nice to catch up and celebrate with some yummy dim sum! Michelle was one of the first people and friends I made on the Kabbage team!

I was taking it easy and decided to pamper myself and got my nails done at local nail salon a few blocks over. I decided to do glittery pink nails for the occasion! When I went to pay they gave me a holiday gift card for $10 off my next visit, what a nice surprise!

I also arrived home to find the rose quartz I ordered, hoping it brings me some love this year!

Every year I stress over what to do for my birthday and end up planning something last minute. Surprise, surprise, this year was no different.

This year I planned a at Salinas in Chelsea with a few friends. The food at Salinas was delicious (mmm steak!) and the cheesecake at the end was a perfect way to end the meal!

For those of you who know me, you MUST have some form of cake or something for your birthday!

Afterward we headed to Jungle Bird, where a few more friends met up with us for drinks, including some from holiday cocktails!

I feel truly loved and grateful for all the amazing people in my life and can’t wait to see what this year will bring.

Thanks for everyone who came out to celebrate with me!

Career Day at UAGateway

Career Day at United Assembly Gateway

Career Day at UAGateway

Today was career day at United Assembly Gateway School of Technology (UAG). I was invited to speak on a panel to a class of 9th graders. As a native New Yorker, I especially love speaking to students from NYC. I am a product NYC public schools and want the students know all of the opportunities that are available to them right at their fingertips! Coming from NYC, I think sometimes we take it for granted, but there truly is no place like NYC and encouraged them to take advantage of everything NY has to offer! Hopefully I was able to provide them with some guidance and helpful information as they start to think about colleges and potential careers.

Big Brothers Big Sisters Match - Big and Little

Me & my Little Eleena!

While I loved speaking to the 9th grade students, the most exciting part of the day was I finally meeting my Big Brothers Big Sisters little Eleena!!!

I have been volunteering with BBBS for 3.5 years, it will be 4 years at the end of this school year. My little Eleena and I were matched last year, but we were never able to meet due to the pandemic. However, when we were invited to speak at career day at UAG, I knew I had to go! It was so great to finally meet her after 1.5 years of virtual meetings! I know I get excited pretty easily, but we were both equally super excited to finally meet each other!

When I finally made my way there, Eleena came to meet me at the elevator and took me around the floor - she even took me to the Principal’s office… eek! 😲 As the COVID-19 restrictions begin to lighten up, I hope we get to see each other in person more and that the other matches who haven’t met yet get to do so!

Thank you UAG and BBBS for a wonderful day!