Sanaz Blog

WIshing My Sister a Safe, Fun & Educational Journey

2010-09-06T08:56:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow morning, my youngest sister will be taking off to Spain to pursue her education for the next five months. This has been a dream of hers since she was 16 years old and she is very excited to be attending the University of Huelva, located in the south west of Spain.

Here is what I know she will be doing:

Def. attending school, and classes
Partying like a rock star
Learning Spanish
Making new friends
And partying some more
Traveling to see other friends or have friends come and visit her

Here is what I hope she will get out of it:

She will be fluent in Spanish
She will take in the culture and experience Spain as a Spaniard
Travel and be able to differentiate the cities and parts of Spain
Expand her food knowledge
Go on a trip to Portugal

I wish her a safe trip, and I hope she enjoys her time in Huelva!

You can follow her Spanish experience on her blog @ Lillz Espana!

Gothenburg Road Trip

2010-07-05T14:42:00.000-07:00

Yesterday my family and I drove all the way to Gotheburg. It was my little sister Lilly who was the our designated driver. We started our trip around 10 am and got to Gothenburg four hours later. It was overcast as we arrived and all we hoped for was that it wouldn't rain. We parked the car and started walking towards Liseberg amusement park. We didn't want to ride any rides, we just wanted to see the sites. We walked around for a few, admiring the landscaping. My sister Sara wanted to play the wheel of fortune, in order to win a gigantic box of chocolate. To her disappointment, she played at different slots yet managed to leave empty handed. After walking through the park for a few hours we got hungry and started scouting around for a restaurant, which we all would like to eat in. To our disappointment we managed to drive around the city only to find our selves at Burger King. But that didn't matter. What mattered the most was that me, my sisters and my mom went on our own road trip together without anyone else there. Just the four of us.

The city of Gothenburg was very quiet on this Sunday and we got to see the Opera house and the Eye of Gothenburg besides Liseberg amusement park. It was a very relaxing day and we headed back to Malmo around 6.30 pm. My sister Lilly managed to get us back in just 2hrs and 40 mins, a new set record.

We all had a blast and can't wait to see what we will be doing on our next trip.

Sanaz

Fashion Week 2010 Schedule NYC & Fashion's Night Out

2010-08-17T07:57:00.000-07:00

Mercedes-Benz Fashion week is a couple of weeks away. On September 9th-16th, the best fashion designers are show-stopping their 2011 Spring Collection at Bryant Park, NYC . I have enlisted the schedule for the events here below and make sure to keep an eye out for "Fashion's Night Out" on September 10th, where stores around the world dedicate a couple of hours of discounts, cocktails, in-store fashion shows, DJ's and much much more.

Thursday September 9, 2010

Friday September 10, 2010

Saturday September 11, 2010

Sunday September 12, 2010

Monday September 13, 2010

Tuesday September 14, 2010

Wednesday September 15, 2010

Thursday September 16, 2010

*Designer Presentation

14 years and it is coming to an end....

2010-08-13T11:54:00.000-07:00

I remember my first day, at the first restaurant I applied for a job as waitress without any experience. I worked for free for a couple of weeks, started getting paid shifts and then as time progressed I was a full time waitress. That was back in 1996 and my first job was at a French restaurant called Le Concert in Malmo, Sweden. Throughout the years I worked my way up the latter experiencing with different type of cuisines, from cooking at a fast food joint to managing Italian and Turkish restaurants. This experience has thought me a great deal about food and hospitality management. I have learned how to work in team, not crash under severe stress and appreciate guest relations, regardless of how stubborn and rude some can be. In two weeks it will come to an end as I am forced to leave due to tendinitis in my arms, which causes a lot of pain and little flexibility. The only way to recover is to get cortisone shots and do physical therapy, which still doesn't guarantee a full recovery. Have said that it is time to depart after 14 long years. I will miss it very much, however I am excited to start a new chapter in my life.

My Trip to Paris....

2010-06-28T13:46:00.000-07:00

It has been 5 awesome days of pure French culture for me. My friends have taken more than well care of me, spoiling me with their Parisian love. I got a taste of Paris in more ways than anyone can ask for. Besides the typical sights seeing I got to be a part of their family and see sights one tourist tends to miss. My French Connection made me feel right at home.

The first night I arrived was the Music Day in Paris, where every corner of every street played a tune of it's own. People were dancing in the streets and blocking the traffic for drivers. The athmosphere was incredible and the heart of the city was very vibrant. Walking around for a couple of hours we managed to visit Notre Dame and take a few pictures amongst the thousands of visitors that were going for the same shot as us. The surrounding sites were amazing as the Seine river separated the two parts of the city. People were standing around admiring the night light of the city. Lovers were passionately kissing and embracing each other to the 11p.m sunset. The city showed right away how romantic it is. On my first night here we ate at a French Restaurant where I had my favorite appetizers, escargot eu pesto (Snails in pesto sauce), broiled trout and Profiteroles with chocolate sauce and whip cream. Before heading to my friend Vanessa's apartment we managed to get a glimpse of the Eiffel Tower at night as we drove past it.

The second day we went to see the Eiffel Tower and climbed up the step all the way to the 2nd floor. Afterwards we went have to my friend Gili's house and I cooked some persian food for the family. Once done with Dinner we went to Champs Elysee at night and took some great shots and as we were there we made sure to take some our famous jumping picture, as we had done on a previous trip to Philadelphia, which all of us had went, by the famous Rocky steps. On our way home we drove by the Moulin Rouge.

On the third day we went to Chateu the Versaille for sightseeing and headed back to Paris as we went to see the Louvre at night. The Louvre was very relaxing as it wasn't to crowded with tourists. There were several couples in the area who weren't shy sharing the passionate love towards eachother in public, which to me was very romantic. Before heading home we stopped for some crepe suzette and cafe eu lait at Cafe Musset close to the Louvre and then headed back home.

On the forth day my friends got tickets to Les Halles Du Luvre which is the Louvre museum. It was a day of manifestation and only two floors of the museum were open. I was more than happy to see the French, Egyptian, Greek and Italian exhibitions which included of Leonardo Da Vinci's famous Mona Lisa's Smile. After the Louvre we went to urban part of paris where there were more people of various ethnic backgrounds and there was a more eclectic feel to the city. I bought some souveniers and we headed back home.

On the fifth and last day of my stay we woke up early and my friends had planned an early day trip to the beautiful Mont Marte. The views from the hill top were amazing as it revealed the city horizon. We walked through the street market as several artist were exhibiting their picture paintings and other hand made craft. As this was the last stop of my trip we walked down the very steep hill back to the car and found ourselves stuck in rush hour traffic. Luckily for me I had a late evening flight and being stuck in rush hour for two hours was nothing more than just frustrating. Once at Vanessa's house and I packed my suitcase and we headed to the airport.

The hightlight of my trip was probably the Louvre at night and the Eiffel Tower, besides seeing my friends. Their hospitality was impeccible and i consider myself very lucky to have friends like them. Other than that my favorite cafe in Paris is Cafe Musset and my favorite breakfast place is Cafe Paul which has a delicious assortment of fresh backed french bread, pastries and sandwiches.

Ja'dore Paris... I will be back!

Till next time,

Xoxo

Sanaz

30s so far....Greetings from Sweden

2010-06-14T14:29:00.000-07:00

A couple of days ago I turned 30 years old. I celebrated it with friends and family in Sweden and we had a wonderful time. I come to realize that my age is nothing but a number. It is only I who can make myself feel as old as I turn. And therefor as my dear friend Patrick Cupid would say, "Cheers to me self"! I feel as good as I felt ten years ago when I turned 20.

This will be a very exciting summer as I have started my European journey with an unexpected stay in Keflavik, Iceland and will continue to Paris, which was my birthday gift from my wonderful man, Randy. I will keep my blog updated with my European experience as I am heading to Copenhagen, Denmark tomorrow! It will be a very relaxing summer with a lot of new experiences and new memories to treasure.

Will keep you posted,

xxx

Sanaz

Hectic NYC, offers a piece of mind...

2010-05-25T19:18:00.000-07:00

Living in New York City, sometimes I feel like life flies right before my eyes and I don't get to enjoy the ride. It s a roller coaster that never ends. You take the city for granted and don't get to enjoy the simple things. So today friend and I went for a three hour walk in Central Park. The weather was beautiful and we walked through the park and enjoyed the scenic view. I brought my iPhone with me and took some pictures.

Simple Restaurant Etiquette

2010-04-25T20:57:00.000-07:00

After working in the restaurant industry for over a decade, it has come to my attention how many guests lack simple etiquette while eating out. These simple steps applies both to domestic as well as international guests visiting any eatery, specially in NYC. So to make things a little easier here is the LIST!

As a guest, please
- Don't dissect the menu or create your own, it is disrespectful towards the head chef and his creations. After all there is a reason why you go to certain eateries, specially the ones serving ethnic food.

- Please tell your server, manager, Maitre d of any food allergies you might be suffering from or any diet restrictions you have. It is not your servers duty to ask you, and they don't have a sixth sense.

- DO NOT seat your self upon entering a restaurant, unless instructed otherwise. If you don't see anyone at the door, chances are that they are busy seating someone else. Please just wait your turn. You don't want to be called a "self seater".

- Please do not request larger tables for minor parties. If the house is not fully booked, you will most likely get a better table. It is all based on availability.

- Do not walk in a restaurant with any food or beverages from other locations. A manager has the right to tell you to throw it away before entering the premises. So save yourself the embarrassment, and just enter without one.

- Don't be needy of attention, Your server is aware that you are there, there is no need for hollering, snapping fingers, chasing your server around just because you need something. They will be with you as soon as they have time.

- Please update the restaurant upon added number of guests to your party, specially if you are a larger group. Restaurants always want to accommodate all their guests, and in order to better serve you don't tell them about the changes last minute. There might not be room for the added number of guests.

- It is unfortunate if you come across a bad meal and upon telling the management they will be more than happy to replace it for you. However if you order something, and after eating half of your dish, decide that you don't like it you might still get fully charged for the food. The menu clearly states the ingredients that are in every dish, so please pay attention.

- As we all try to accommodate our guest, certain restaurants are a bit louder than others. It might be hard for the hostess to get you a "quiet area", specially in NYC. If you feel that the environment you are dining in is loud you have the right to cancel your reservation or leave.

- It is important to tip for service received. Common gratuity appreciation is 15-20% in the USA. NOTHING LESS. Unless you have had the worse service ever, it is the courtesy to leave that amount for your server. Please pay attention to that, specially if you decide to go back to the same restaurant in the future.

- We are more than happy to provide you with a taste of our wine selection. Don't be greedy and try all available bottles. If you are a wine drinker, you most likely know what you like.

Loosing it and feeling great.

2010-04-16T12:37:00.000-07:00

Since I started working out about two months ago I have been gradually loosing weight, which is exactly how I want it. I have been working out 3--4 times a week, mostly doing cardio. I am a healthy eater during the weeks and usually cheat a little in the during the weekends. My goal is 15-20 lbs (7-10 kg). And my deadline is by June 5th. So far I have lost 5 pounds in 7 weeks. I try to eat a large breakfast that way the I don't have to refuel to much on the carbs towards the end of my day. Lunch is a smaller portion carb with vegetables and protein. For dinner I try to have a protein with salad or vegetables. Snacking can be hard at times and I do crave chocolate a lot of times but I try to not over do it. A small piece of chocolate last me all day and then I snack on fruits and veggies. I am not starving my self at any time during the day and I eat less than 2000 calories a day. I drink a lot of fluids (tea and water). No soda or juice is in my weight loss regime unless the juice is fresh squeezed. I am determined to look good for the rest of the year and for the rest of my life. I would love to hear about your routine or diet on how you keep your self in shape so please share it with me. Great advice goes a long way.

Lots to be celebrating about

2010-04-13T21:28:00.000-07:00

Well I never thought I would see the day where I would write a positive blog post about my apartment considering all the malfunctions during the last three months. But I have some awesome news.

DRUMB ROLL PLEASE!!!!!!!!!

They finally came to fix my bathroom wall!!!!! I am so excited that I can finally take a shower without feeling a draft from the whole in the wall. They also said that they would come and fix the water damage from a previous leak this Friday! So I am holding my fingers....

Stieg Larsson Trilogy: The Best Thrillers Ever

2010-03-16T14:20:00.000-07:00

I received this trilogy as a graduation gift about a year ago from my sister and her boyfriend, sent to me from Sweden. The last thing I wanted, was to start reading right after graduating. Four long years of reading was more than enough. So I did what any recent graduate would do, put the books away and spend the next couple of months just relaxing and enjoying my time out of college. My focus was my free time, me time and as much vacation as I could enjoy. As spring came around I finally picked up the first book, "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo". As I started reading it, I found myself drawn to every aspect of the story. The suspense, the thrill and the excitement was just unbelievable and I could not put the book down. The first book was amazing, however it was so intense that I couldn't see myself reading the second one right after. After a couple of months I was so excited to find the first book "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" on Barnes & Noble's best seller. First Swedish author in a very long time to make it to the best seller's list. I have listed all three below, I hope you enjoy it. Happy reading!

Row boat in Central Park

2010-03-22T21:28:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday we went to Central Park and rented a row boat for an hour, as a part of Randy's Birthday celebration. Randy ended up rowing and I got to enjoy the park and the sites for an hour. I was so happy that the weather was so beautiful. It was a perfect day to celebrate Persian New Year and Randy's Birthday.

Bathroom wall was supposed to be checked off the list today...BUT...

2010-03-16T22:16:00.000-07:00

It is sad to say that I have dedicated my last few posts on my current living situations. As many of you probably have read on my Facebook and Twitter posts, I haven't really been to happy with a lot of malfunctioning that are occurring in my apartment as we speak. During the last couple of weeks I have been without hot water and heat for more than two weeks straight. Before that there was a flood that was caused by a neighbor living over our apartment, on the 3rd floor which was the cause of all the following disasters. Then there was the leak in the bathroom faucet which they fixed but had to come and patch up the wall they broke in order to fix the pipes. Well the super came yesterday and wanted me to ensure him that I would be home today so that he could come and put up new tiles, instead of the plastic bag which is patched over a 2x2 feet whole in the wall. WELL THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN. I stayed home all day long waiting for these people to show up and no-one came. No-one called to cancel or reschedule with me. I ruined a whole day waiting for them to come and in return I lost a beautiful sunny day that I could be outside enjoying the first signs of spring. Right now I am furious, tired and can't understand why it is so hard for people to follow trough the fifth time they say they will do something. Just running out of patience.... ugh....!

The Plan For This Year....

2010-03-16T10:09:00.000-07:00

As I finished my Bachelor's degree December of 2008, I didn't think that after graduation I would face the economic hardship of the century. It has been a hard year and the employment opportunities has yet to surface for young graduates and professionals. But one stays part of the game, looking and applying for jobs hoping that one day it will say: "YES, We Want You!"

Till that day comes I keep writing about it till someone sees this posts, checks out my resume and gives me a job, NOT really!

I am going to go for my Masters in Professional Studies and Media Management this fall and I am really excited. This summer it will be my 30th birthday and I am celebrating it in Europe and with family, friends and a trip around Europe. Till then I will be working as hard as possible and take the classes I need to prep my self better for my future.

Some People Got Some Nerve!

2010-03-10T05:27:00.000-08:00

I woke up this morning not by choice but by the loud noise our super was making in the basement. At 5 o'clock in the morning he was dragging around chairs, tables and other furniture in our. Upon confronting him about the time and loud noise, he replied back that he didn't know that he was making the loud noise or that it was bothering us. However he did not apologize. Usually in a situation like this people stop what they are doing, and continue to do it later. As I went back in to try to continue to sleep, he continued to make the loud noise. I could not go back to sleep, so I went to Dunkin Donuts to get a cup of coffee since I had to work a 14 hour shift, after just getting 4 hours of sleep. Once I got home, he was standing in the hallway and I ignored him because I was upset and really sleepy. He tells me "Excuse me, why did you curse at me, I did not know that noise at this time in the morning would be bothering you. You were disrespectful!" I told him, that he should know that usually people are sleeping at 5 am and that he was the one being disrespectful, and that he continued to do what he was doing after someone told him that he was being loud.
The part that is so amusing to me is that he recognizes the time of the morning he was making the loud noise, and yet he doesn't see anything wrong with it? As I am writing this blog he is still making loud noise. Some people have some nerve, and lack common sense and will never understand.

Goodmorning New York! :0(!

Things you should ask your dentist on your next visit.

2010-02-26T12:43:00.000-08:00

Going to the dentist is not cheap and something some of us might avoid. However when the day comes and you have an appointment you have the right to know what is going on. After all it is your teeth. To avoid hassle and insurance fraud on your next visit to the dentist, ask your dentist these following questions:

Can you work on one tooth at a time?

Which tooth is it that you will be working on and what needs to be done to it?

How much is the charge for the procedure that is being done?

How much does my insurance cover?

Ask them to provide you with a dental chart of the work that has been done to your teeth and compare it to the bill you will receive. By doing so you are aware of all the procedures and you can easily see if you are being charged extra or have procedures on your billing that you are not familiar with. This way you can dispute it with your dentist as well as your insurance company for additional charges that are being made.

An insane couple of weeks!

2010-02-22T09:54:00.001-08:00

After being without heat and hot water in the cold winter of New York, I am pleased to be able to take showers in my own apartment and not at the gym across the street from my house. When you go thru such an insane 10 days you really appreciate the minor things in life.

As my week progressed, I went to the doctor's only to find out that I need a needle stuck in my elbow to able to use my arm. My appointment is next week on Tuesday, March 2nd.

On a much more relaxing note, last night Randy cooked a fabulous Taco Dinner for both of us since I am unable to work my magic in the kitchen, he became my chef boyardee for the evening. I finished my night watching the season finale of the Kardashians and season premiere of Spindustry, as I enjoyed my Valentine's day gift, a hearty box of Godiva chocolate with my earl grey tea.

Have a wonderful week everyone!

Sanaz

92 Reasons for why I will stop drinking Diet Coke!

2010-01-26T16:32:00.000-08:00

Over the last couple of years, after moving from Sweden to NYC, I developed a so called passion for Diet Coke. I drink it at least once a day, preferably with lunch or dinner, sometimes even in the morning. Well, I was having dinner with Randy as he decided to Google one of the ingredients in my Diet Coke. The ingredient was Aspartame. What he found out was just shocking. To be exact he found 92 reasons for me to never touch it again. So long Diet Coke and other "Sugar Free" products!

Aspartame Side Effects

" The components of aspartame can lead to a number of health problems, as you have read. Side effects can occur gradually, can be immediate, or can be acute reactions.

According to Lendon Smith, M.D. there is an enormous population suffering from side effects associated with aspartame, yet have no idea why drugs, supplements and herbs don’t relieve their symptoms. Then, there are users who don’t ‘appear’ to suffer immediate reactions at all. Even these individuals are susceptible to the long-term damage caused by excitatory amino acids, phenylalanine, methanol, and DKP.

Adverse reactions and side effects of aspartame include:

Eye
blindness in one or both eyes
decreased vision and/or other eye problems such as: blurring, bright flashes, squiggly lines, tunnel vision, decreased night vision
pain in one or both eyes
decreased tears
trouble with contact lenses
bulging eyes

Ear
tinnitus - ringing or buzzing sound
severe intolerance of noise
marked hearing impairment

Neurologic
epileptic seizures
headaches, migraines and (some severe)
dizziness, unsteadiness, both
confusion, memory loss, both
severe drowsiness and sleepiness
paresthesia or numbness of the limbs
severe slurring of speech
severe hyperactivity and restless legs
atypical facial pain
severe tremors

Psychological/Psychiatric
severe depression
irritability
aggression
anxiety
personality changes
insomnia
phobias

Chest
palpitations, tachycardia
shortness of breath
recent high blood pressure

Gastrointestinal
nausea
diarrhea, sometimes with blood in stools
abdominal pain
pain when swallowing

Skin and Allergies
itching without a rash
lip and mouth reactions
hives
aggravated respiratory allergies such as asthma

Endocrine and Metabolic
loss of control of diabetes
menstrual changes
marked thinning or loss of hair
marked weight loss
gradual weight gain
aggravated low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
severe PMS

Other
frequency of voiding and burning during urination
excessive thirst, fluid retention, leg swelling, and bloating
increased susceptibility to infection

Additional Symptoms of Aspartame Toxicity include the most critical symptoms of all
death
irreversible brain damage
birth defects, including mental retardation
peptic ulcers
aspartame addiction and increased craving for sweets
hyperactivity in children
severe depression
aggressive behavior
suicidal tendencies

Aspartame may trigger, mimic, or cause the following illnesses:
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Epstein-Barr
Post-Polio Syndrome
Lyme Disease
Grave’s Disease
Meniere’s Disease
Alzheimer’s Disease
ALS
Epilepsy
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
EMS
Hypothyroidism
Mercury sensitivity from Amalgam fillings
Fibromyalgia
Lupus
non-Hodgkins
Lymphoma
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)"

Courtesy of Sweetpoison.com

Where are all the hooks?

2010-01-21T14:30:00.001-08:00

During the last couple of weeks while I using different public restrooms, it has come to my attention that more and more public/department store restrooms are lacking hooks, so you can hang your coat. Now why did they remove them? Do they seriously think that people like to leave their coats and bags on the dirty floors, while taking a leak? Or was it a mutual corporate decision to remove all hooks so people hurry up and not take their time while using the facilities to avoid longer lines in the stores. And what about all the furniture supply stores such as IKEA? Aren't you embarrassed that you can't add hooks in your bathroom, and you are the biggest and most popular home good supplier? Bottom line is it sucks, and your facilities are not clean enough for me to put my bag nor my coat on the floor. So a hook would be appreciated very much.

Europe Trip 2010...

2010-01-18T11:00:00.000-08:00

This summer I have decided to spend my summer in Europe, starting off in Sweden with my family and friends. I have divided my trip in segments, and I will be traveling in Europe with Easy Jet. My departure is right before my birthday and I will spend six weeks there visiting family, friends and traveling all around Europe. At first I was considering to get a train pass or Euro-Pass, but I will end up saving more time and money traveling with Easy Jet. There are six countries that are on my list, UK, Spain, France, Germany, Italy and Holland. Although we (Randy and I) still need to plan and detail our trip a little more, we are super excited and can't wait for the summer to arrive. I am sooo happy that we decided to go with Easy Jet.

Bucket List 2010

2010-01-08T23:12:00.000-08:00

Though it's been only 9 days since this new year has started, it has been very eventful. I finished 2009 with a cruise to the Carribean, visit and holiday celebration in DC, and New Years Eve in Harlem with close friends. I plan on celebrating this new decade as often as possible, especially since it is the year that I turn 30.

On the 2010 Bucket list is the following:

Enjoying my family more.

Pull out my wisdom teeth...(not so pleasant but a must)

CAPM (Certification In Associate Project Management)

PMP (Certification in Project Management Professional)

Going on a Cruise to celebrate Persian New Year and Randy's Birthday

Going to Sweden for my birthday

Euro-railing all through out Europe and visiting my French Connection

Going to the gym regularly

Cutting back on Diet Coke

Cutting back on smoking

Loose a couple of pounds

Start a new project (still debating on what)

Find a better job

I think this adds up most of the things I want done this year. I hope that it doesn't get any shorter, but I hope that I can always add on more.

Golden Globe Awards January 15th, 2010: Who do you think will win?

2010-01-03T19:49:00.000-08:00

Golden Globes are just a few days away and I have enlisted all the categories together with the nominees. The ones that are highlighted in red, are the nominees I think will be the winners. Who do you think will win?

Best Motion Picture -- Drama
Avatar
The Hurt Locker
Inglorious Basterds
Precious
Up in the Air

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture -- Drama
Emily Blunt, The Young Victoria
Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side
Helen Mirren, The Last Station
Carey Mulligan, An Education
Gabourey Sadibe, Precious

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture -- Drama
Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart
George Clooney, Up in the Air
Colin Firth, A Single Man
Morgan Freeman, Invictus
Tobey Maguire, Brothers

Best Motion Picture -- Musical or Comedy
(500) Days of Summer
The Hangover
It's Complicated
Julie & Julia
Nine

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture -- Musical or Comedy
Sandra Bullock, The Proposal
Marion Cotillard, Nine
Meryl Streep, It's Complicated
Meryl Streep, Julie and Julia
Julia Roberts, Duplicity

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture -- Musical or Comedy
Matt Damon, The Informant
Daniel Day Lewis, Nine
Robert Downey Jr., Sherlock Holmes
Joseph Gordon Levitt, (500) Days of Summer
Michael Stuhlbarg, A Serious Man

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Mo-Nique, Precious
Julianne Moore, A Single Man
Anna Kendrick, Up in the Air
Vera Farmiga, Up in the Air
Penelope Cruz, Nine

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Matt Damon, Invictus
Stanley Tucci, The Lovely Bones
Christopher Plummer, The Last Station
Christopher Waltz, Inglorious Basterds
Woody Harrelson, The Messenger

Best Animated Feature Film
Coraline
The Fantastic Mr. Fox
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
The Princess and the Frog
Up

Best Foreign Language Film
Barria
Broken Embraces
A Prophet
The White Ribbon
The Maid

Best Director -- Motion Picture
Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker
James Cameron, Avatar
Clint Eastwood, Invictus
Jason Reitman, Up in the Air
Quentin Tarantino, Inglorious Basterds

Best Screenplay -- Motion Picture
Up in the Air
It's Complicated
District 9
The Hurt Locker
Inglorious Basterds

Best Original Score -- Motion Picture
Michael Giacchino, Up
Marvin Hamlisch, The Informant
James Horner, Avatar
Abel Krozeniowski, A Single Man
Karen O. and Carter Burwell, Where the Wild Things Are

Best Original Song -- Motion Picture
"I Will See You," Avatar
"The Weary Kind," The Crazy Heart
"Winter," Brothers
"Cinema Italiano," Nine
"I Want to Come Home," Everybody's Fine

Christmas Gifts This Year...

2009-12-27T17:11:00.000-08:00

Although Randy and I had already given each other a nice cruise to the Caribbean this year, we still gave each other gifts for Christmas. We went to DC to celebrate Christmas with friends and family. On the 22nd of December we hopped on the Bolt Bus and away we went. This Christmas was cozy, entertaining and we had lots of fun celebrating it. Our tree was purchased literary hours before Christmas Eve, as we drove through all parts of DC. and Virginia to find one that was to our liking. Once it was filled with about 300 lights and all the tinsels and ornaments were in place, we put all our gifts under it. We had the most amount of gifts any six people could have under the tree on Christmas Eve. Although all of us were adults, none of us had enough patience to wait until actual Christmas Day to open our gifts. After dinner we watched a movie and played Scattegories, and at 2 am we started unwrapping gifts one by one, person by person. It was as exciting to watch others open theirs as it was for me opening mine. After two hours of unwrapping gifts and a whole of lot gift bags and wrapping paper, I took home a soup book, a pink robe with my name on it, four week seminar for a blog writing class, several books, perfume, gift cards and my all time favorite, a GUESS WATCH!

VACATION WITH ROYAL CARIBBEAN, BEST EVER...

2009-12-15T22:14:00.000-08:00

My vacation to the Caribbean was wonderful. I got to experience things which I haven't in the past. Our first stop was Labadee, Haiti. The weather was perfect and the beaches were beautiful. Our excursion was snorkeling and it was just breathtaking to see the sea life and it's beauty. We rented waterproof camera and took pictures under water during our excursion. Once our excursion was over and we got back onboard, our marine biologist offered all of us some rum spiked fruit punch as we sailed back to land. During our last couple of hours on the island we managed to squeeze in some more beach time and tanning. Our last stop in Labadee was a trip to the Artisan Market where we got to see some of Haiti's hand made crafts. We bought some souvenirs and went back to the ship.

Labadee, Haiti

The next day as we arrived to Ocho Rios, Jamaica, the weather was not on our side. It was cloudy and as we departed the ship it started raining. We rented a tour bus with our own personal guide. By then the weather started slowly clearing up and as we were driving through the rain forrest we had complete sunshine again. We made a stop by a local street market, where we purchase fresh, cold coconut. I have never tasted such a good coconut that I did in Jamaica. It was so good that I treated myself to two. We had heard so much about Dunn River Falls and what an adrenalin kick it is to climb the 1000 feet fall, that we decided to do it as our excursion. The water pressure was insane and we managed to fall a couple of times because it was slippery. It took us about one 45 minutes to climb the fall. It was exciting while at the same time intimidating of falling on one of these humongous rocks. However we managed to climb all the way to the top. I felt brave and I felt i accomplished something that wasn't the average thing. We went back to our tour guide and drove back to the dock where we got to go shopping around for some gifts. Before we got back onboard the ship, we walked by an ice cream parlor that fresh made ice cream cones. The smell was amazing and appetizing. We bought a scoop each and enjoyed in the hot weather.

Ocho Rios, Jamaica

The trip was amazing, relaxing and very much needed. The Royal Caribbean crew took well care of us. The food was good and there was a lot of it. Our state room attendant made sure we had everything we needed at all times. We had so many activities to do on the boat that we didn't even know where to start. I loved it and I know everyone else enjoyed themselves too. A trip you should definitely treat yourself to when given the opportunity.

Sanaz

MY MUCH MUCH NEEDED VACATION...

2009-11-30T21:42:00.000-08:00

On Saturday I will be going on a much needed, long over due vacation together with my baby, his brother and his brother's girlfriend. We will be cruising from Miami to Labadee Haiti and after that to Ocho Rios, Jamaica for five long beautiful days. We decided to go with the Royal Caribbean. Our ship is the "Navigator of the Sea" and it is absolutely beautiful. It has some great features, such as out doors swiming pool, rock-climbing wall, ice-skating rink, restaurants, golf course, basket ball court, bars, lounges, casino, nightclub, Days Spa, fitness center and more. The weather forecast has already predicted sunshine and close to the 80's so I have packed all bikinis and other beachwear. I am sooo sooo excited over this trip and can't believe it will the first time in 4 years that I will go overseas! I will try to write while I am away but most likely you will get full report when I get back! Bon Voyage! :D