30 for 30 Countdown #24 - ReLIT

Browsing around for NYC volunteer opportunities, I ran across this wanted description: "We welcome anyone who shares our passion for reading, recycling and helping their community. And yes, having a loud voice and being outgoing helps, since much of what we do is interact with the public"

I like reading!  I like recycling!  I like helping my community!  ReLIT is a non profit that really just wants to help people get more books.

There are book drop centers at whole foods around manhattan and ReLIT picks them up and once a month gives them away for free at busy street corners. There is no catch. The books are free an they are all different genres. I have to admit I was a little nervous that I would show up and it would be a group handing out fundamentalist literature. Instead we handed out books on philosophy, Moby Dick, Dostoyevsky in Swedish, and David Sedaris...it was awesome.

You're probably surprised that given my rose experience I was again willing to subject myself to passing out free things on the streets of new York.

It seems like free books would get a different reaction and attract a different audience than free roses. Unfortunately, yelling free books still makes people suspicious and angry. Once a crowd of people gathered around the books and started getting excited, it was much easier to pull people in.

Apparently telling someone you will give them something nice for free doesn't excite them as much as seeing other people crowded around an area. What if there was a dead baby people were crowded around? Would you rather see that than read a novel?  I'm not sure how many of these people would answer that question.

The organization does have non profit status so all donations are tax deductible. Right now, the woman who started the organization pays for everything out of pocket. I would definitely like to help fundraise. They need money for storage units to store the books and for renting cars to transport the books to the street hubs. 


Anyone have any ideas?

30 for 30 Countdown #25 - Seeing Red

30 is bold.

30 is sexy.

If 30 were a color, it would be red.

Many traditions in groups around the world commemorate occasions by restricting food intake - either completely or by type of food.  One of my favorite holiday examples is Passover.  There is so much symbolism in the Passover meal including dipping bitter herbs in salt water to remember the tears of our ancestors.  In addition, no leaven bread is eaten to remember that the ancient Jews had to flee so quickly, they did not have time to let their bread rise.  By forcing restrictions on one's diet, we can help remember the significance of events.

That's why, for my challenge today, I decided to only eat red foods - all day long.  Every time I look at the "power color" of what I am eating, I will remember that my 30's are going to be fierce.

I told a few people about this challenge and got the reply: you're just going to eat strawberries and tomatoes all day.  So, friends, I have decided to complete this challenge without fresh strawberries or tomatoes.  (But tomato products just cannot be avoided completely)!

Breakfast:

 Raspberry Yogurt.  (Yes, I'm also wearing red)!

Lunch:

Wrap: Sundried tomato wrap with roasted red pepper hummus and red bell peppers

Soup: Ok, it's tomato soup, but it's REALLY red

Snacks:

Red grapes, red raspberries, and a red apple

I even turned water red

Dinner:

Red Meat, red pepper, red onion (OK, it looks purple but it's symbolic, people), and ketchup

Cooked together over

Inca red quinoa!

Think this idea is rediculous?

Shhh... that was a reddorkical question.

What do you call a country where everyone drives a red car?  A red carnation.
...

30 for 30 Countdown #26 - A Real Review

In 26 days I'm turning 30 and I've never really been reviewed.

Sure, I've gotten formal feedback on how I did at internships.  But, I've never sat down in a room with my bosses and received feedback on how I'm performing in a permanent position.  I've never really gotten a raise.  And, I've never gotten a bonus.

Although I had no choice but to get reviewed today, there's really nothing I could have planned that would have had as big an effect on me as this.

It should not have been scary, but my stomach has been knotted up for weeks.

Like many of you, I've always been a self doubter.  I can know something is right, but if someone tells me with extreme confidence that 2 + 2 = 5, I take a long moment to really think about whether I'm wrong.

At school and at work, I never feel confident about how others perceive me and my work product without immediately getting a paper handed back with an "A" written on it.  I am a typical Echo Boomer.  (The name given to the generation born to baby boomers - also known as Gen Y or Millenials).  I have received this type of feedback my whole life, and as CTS Consulting writes, "This unique form of attention has had a profound effect on the Echo Boomers in two significant areas. One is their level of confidence. These are a group of people pleasers. Their whole lives have been centered around pleasing adults: their parents, their teachers and their coaches. They have grown up being continually watched, graded, ranked, and evaluated. They are an externally defined generation and many of them have typical little idea of how to listen to their own voices."  http://go2ctsonline.com/tag/echo-boomers


So, how does this affect us Echo Boomers at work?  "With this as a background, what should you expect when [Echo Boomers] come to work? Not surprisingly, typical Echo Boomers will expect to have an impact right away. They want lots of positive feedback and think keeping lines of communication open is very important."


So, now that I have spent 1 1/3 years at my job without receiving a paper with a grade on it, I'm expected to sit in a room and have people tell me how they think I've done.  For someone who likes immediate feedback, particularly when it comes as praise, I've been horrified just thinking about it.


Now that I've survived, I have a better understanding of a new goal to work on in my 30's: be confident.


My 30's should be the best time of my life.  Confidence in myself when I use my best judgment will let me be a happier person.  Today I've learned that it's ok that nobody pats me on the back every time I hand in work...they actually like me anyway!

30 for 30 Countdown #27 - Staten Island Girl

Staten Island.  A place made of mystery and the world's largest landfill, which can be seen from space.  (Not kidding).

Although technically part of New York City, I've managed to never ever go there.  This means I have also never taken the famous Staten Island ferry.  I figured this all was a must so I put a plan together to grab some friends, take the ferry, and eat at the #1 restaurant on Staten Island!

What's the catch?  Well, if we're going to Staten Island, I figured we may as well look like we belong.  (Idea courtesy of Kelly Gold).  So, everyone's assignment was to dress as if you were from Staten Island.  

I realize stereotypes are not only bad, but they are also not true.  Most people from Staten Island do not dress and act similarly to the cast of Jersey Shore.  Most people from Staten Island do not wear too much makeup or fist bump.  Most people from Staten Island are not worth dressing up as.

However, others are.  I decided to take inspiration from the "Staten Island Girls" spinoff of Katy Perry's "California Girls":

Staten Island girls
We’re recognizable
Orange skin
With black hair on top
Never leave the house without our bronzer
Oooooh

Steps to pulling off my Staten Island Girl look:

1. Put on more makeup than you are comfortable with.  Then add extra bronzer.

2. Put on a North Face jacket.

3. Put on a hair accessory that bumps your hair.

4. Put on as many accessories as you can from brand names such as Burberry, Coach, Gucci, LV.

It's quite simple, and I learned all of it from the internet!

Once you have the look, you gotta get the look.  Apparently, Staten Island girls are HARD.

 Being HARD

"So, Shaina, how was the ferry?!"

I'm glad you asked.  The ferry was absolutely awesome.  It's totally free, huge, and you get to boat right next to the Statue of Liberty!

There's actually a lot to see from the ferry!  Some German tourists next to us pointed to a giant white slope and asked, "Is that Aspen?"  Hmmmmm....  "Aspen, Colorado?" we asked.  (Then a hippie wearing a parka popped out of nowhere to ask who was from Aspen, Colorado.  Weird).  "That?" The hippie asked, "That's Jersey!"  "NEW JERSEY?!"  The German asked, quite excited.  "Ain't no other Jerz." The hippie stated.

And that's the truth.

"So, Shaina, how was the food?!"

I'm glad you asked.  The food was fantastic!  We went to Beso - The #1 restaurant on Staten Island according to Trip Advisor.  http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g48682-d1125099-Reviews-Beso-Staten_Island_New_York.html

It was delicious Spanish Tapas, Sangria, and a great androgynous Spanish guitar player.  Seriously, if you are visiting New York, or live here and have guests - it is completely worth taking the ferry and having lunch at this restaurant.

I'm gonna say it.

I ♥ Staten Island

"The Band"

30 for 30 Countdown #28 - Sugar Ray Shaina

I still remember getting the email about the creation of an Emory boxing club.  It seemed hysterical, but of course I wanted to join.  After the first workout, I was hooked.

By the way, that TOTALLY was not a quote from me.  The actual Emory club fizzled rather quickly, but I was not about to give up.  I began training at the women's classes instead of the co-ed Emory class.  I LOVE both my trainers, Terri and Biggs!

Mike and I even got to be in a photo shoot for the Atlanta Corporate Fight Night event!

Apparently Mike's picture has even been stolen and used on some Venezuelan boxing site!

How does this all relate to my 30th birthday?  Well, I've lived in New York now for a year and a half and still haven't found a boxing gym.  This was the perfect opportunity to force myself to put on the gloves and get ready to hit some bags.

Church Street Boxing Gym it was!

It was a good thing I had some boxing experience because I could hardly understand a word our trainer said.  I just smiled and he giggled and somehow my jabs connected to his pads.  Now I'm quite happy and ready to add boxing back in to my regularly scheduled activities!

30 for 30 Countdown #29 - Brunettes Have More....

When I was growing up my siblings used to tell me I looked like I used to be blonde but someone pushed me in the mud.

Though the color changes with time and sun exposure, I have been a blonde since I have been wearing lipstick.  (With the small two month exception of dying it "deep plum").

For the past 10 years, since starting college... wait, that's 12 years now, yikes!...I have even had the exact same haircut.  Today, that changed.

Yippee!  I've now spent the entire day as a brunette!  I planned on recording some of the responses to my new 'do.

• Mike walked right past me in the subway looking for me.  "Haha!" he said, "I was looking for a blonde."
• "Oh," a senior partner exclaimed, "how long has this been going on?" (drawing a circle around his face with his finger).
• "I don't know what I'm supposed to do with this," an associate dryly said.
• "It goes great with your complexion!"
• "It's terrible with your complexion!"
• "It looks good...what happened?" someone sincerely asked.
• "OH. MY. GOD. AHHHHHHHH!"
• I was handed a print out of a web page titled "Choosing the Right Hair Color and Product."
• "Your face needs warm tones.  This look is too cool."
• "You look so much better with dark hair."
• "Mike can pretend you're a new person!  Not in a skeezy w... well, yeah, skeezy, but not bad."
• "Did you have to do the bangs and the color at the same time?"

Coming in from the cold.

Just a brunette doing some law.

I'm just gonna say it.  Blondes have more fun!

.

30 for 30 Countdown #30 - A few of my favorite things

It's funny how people get pleasure out of small things.  For me, relaxation and happiness come from hearing the ocean, smelling a baking pie, and looking at colorful flowers.  Growing up I always knew my favorite color (pink), I always knew my favorite skittle (red), I always knew my favorite food (Spaghetti O's.. I know, gross), but my favorite flower changed every time I saw a flower.

I loved plumerias for their smell, variety, and simplicity.  I loved the hibiscus because it was so bold and beautiful.  I loved pikake and puakinikini for the smell - if I got my hands on one of these rare flowers, I would smell it until the smell ran out.  Ginger, gardenia, and jasmine made me giddy.  Colorful roses and lillys and lilacs make me jump up and down.  Some girls are picky, but I've never met a flower I didn't like.

So to begin the countdown to my 30's, today I planned to hand out 30 flowers to strangers on the street.

This turned out to be a much more difficult task than I expected.

I bought my 30 roses and was ready to go.  Then I realized the first issue.

I have become incredibly shy.  I have gone from a person who would sing in the streets and play pranks on any random stranger to someone who is scared to give a flower to someone for free.

The second issue may have contributed to my heightened shyness.  New Yorkers don't trust people who are handing out free things.  People looked at me like I was going to scam them, make them pay, or that the rose was a secret grenade that was going to blow up in their face.

I decided to suck it up and keep going.  I went to Grand Central thinking people would be happier there.  I was definitely refused many times, but also got a bunch of smiles!

Once I got in the swing of things, everyone wished me happy birthday and to have a great day!!