VIVA QUITO!

So I have been super busy and can´t figure out how to put my pics on this computer, so I just borrowed someone else´s picture (this is the computer that everyone uses). Anyways, I am in Quito, Ecuador right now, have been for 3 weeks and will be for another 3 weeks. I am working in about 6 different orphanages which I will blog about later once I can use my pics. In this picture I am the one second from the left and though you may be thinking that I am lame - after 14 other people had climbed up the sphere, it started shaking... so I played it safe!! More to come!!

The Million-Inch Chain

When asked what the most dreaded effect of cancer treatment was, nearly 60% of women say hair loss...
The Million- Inch Chain
8 inches at a time

http://www.beautifullengths.com/en_US/million_inch/million_inch_flash.jsp

Go to this website to see pictures and comments by those who have donated (yup - I'm in there), tips on how to grow out your hair, how to donate (hair and money), or just for more information.

I went to Alchemy Hair Salon today and chopped off 11 inches!!! My hair stylist was Daniel and he did an awesome job. He was really nice and I got 50% off my haircut since I was donating!! I keep reaching back and running my fingers through my hair and... its soo short!! I have made this a goal to do every two years. 2 years ago and 4 years ago I chopped off about 10 inches each time and donated it to Locks of Love, but I thought I would try Beautiful Lengths this time. Anyway, you can't tell from the pic, but my hair is shorter in the back and comes down at an angle toward my chin. I guess I won't be using as much shampoo tonight as I did last night :)

I know, I know - I am fired... But I have an excuse!!! Well two... so June was so boring that I had nothing to blog about, but then July came and went like a bolt of lightning, so I had no time to blog- but - here's to catch up....

I went to New York (this is a picture from the top of the Rockefeller Center), then North Carolina, then New York, then Philadelphia - and I am going back to New York this weekend. What can I say - New York is my favorite city in the world!!! Oh - and lets not forget about a quick trip to China. Just kidding!! This is the Chinese Pavilian entrance at the National Arboretum (yes - a tree museum!!) I actually just wanted to throw this picture in, cause my hair is getting so long!! I don't know if you can see it that well - but it is almost to my elbows!!!

Definitely the best part of this month was all the family!! Twice my family came and saw me and then I got to go to North Carolina for a long weekend! I have seen each of my siblings at least twice this summer - which with 7 siblings is a huge feat!! This is Kariana and I at Obryki's in Baltimore. JJ came down and took me and Kariana to dinner and then we stopped by Fort McHenry. I was so glad he got to come down and meet Kariana - just wished he could have come down the weekend everyone was here.
~Side note - for those tracking JJ's trek around the world. He started in Miami in April and moved to Boston for a month, then moved to Oklahoma City in May to start that office - then got moved to Plano, TX - then to Beaumont, TX - then to Los Angeles, CA - but lucky for me recently moved to Newark, NJ where his office is kicking trash!! ~~

And lets not forget the exciting adventures in DC!!! I have been to everything you can think of in DC (at least once) and now am exploring off the beaten track. My favorites include - the Museum of Natural History, the Library of Congress, and Eastern Market. This picture is actually at the Bureau of Engravings - where they print the money. I am standing next to $1,000,000!!! Two months and counting til I move away from DC. - I'll try to better my track record for blogging in the next two months ;)

Goodbye Miami... Hello DC

I just moved to DC last week. So far it has been a little cold - but I am loving it. DC is great!!! I have missed being around all these trees.
I think the Vietnam Memorial is my favorite memorial in DC. Even though none of the names are familiar to me - I think the memorial sends a very powerful message - Freedom is not Free.
I went sight seeing on Sunday afternoon. Saw a bunch of stuff that I have seen before... actually a couple times before, but hey - its what DC is... But I went to the National Archives for the first time and that was WAY AWESOME!!! Most of the archives are boring (I know some of you reading this would shoot me for saying that) but when I got to the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution I was awed. How awesome to see that stuff in real life. The actual paper that John Hancock signed... this city is pretty cool.

Skydiving and Alligators

Yeah - I know skydiving and alligators don't really go together, but that is what this weekends fun activities included. Dad, Mom, and Riley came down for Spring Break and we had a blast going to the Alligator Farm in the Everglades, Skydiving, and going to the Beach.
There were a ton of alligators that we saw on our airboat ride. And we got to hold a baby one too. Riley tried to eat the alligator because (say this with a Latin accent)"alligators are known to have the most succulent meat" - anybody, anybody, whats it from... Yeah - Transformers! But we decided to just wait and have some fried alligator afterwards. I don't know if it is the most succulent meat I have ever had, but it was pretty good.
The definite highlight of the weekend was skydiving. It was the coolest thing I have ever done. I would definitely say everyone needs to do it once in there life, if not more. I am hoping to do it quite a few more times.
And yes - stop rubbing your eyes... THAT'S MY MOM!!! Yup. She is now certified crazy. Jumping out of a perfectly good airplane - what was she thinking?

Miami Metro Zoo

I try to act my age, but the zoo just brings out the kid in me. I cannot even express how excited I was to go to the zoo here. It was pretty awesome!! I think I was embarrasing the guy I was with because when we would get to each of the animals, I would loudly express my excitement and run up as close as I could with all the kids.


There were tons of flamingos and they looked pretty cool with their necks all scrunched up while they were taking their afternoon nap.

The giraffes were my favorite part. I was going to feed the giraffes (they basically eat right out of your hand) but unfortunately the giraffes decided they were full before I could. I was a little disappointed to say the least, but hey, having a giraffe eat a giant leaf out of your hand isn't that cool anyways, right? (yeah - I am still trying to convince myself of that).

Doesn't going to the zoo just make you want to take a trip to Africa?

Prince Charming...

So I have been organizing my pictures and am currently on MesoAmerica (I know - I know - I'm a total slacker, but I like to look at it as I am ONLY a year behind) and I was labeling this picture of me trying to kiss a snake in Belize...

Then I remembered this picture that I just recently took at the Everglades down here in Florida, trying to kiss an alligator...
I think I am taking this "kissing a reptile to find a prince" thing a little far.

This weekend JJ and I decided to check out Vizcaya. It is an estate that was owned by an Industrialist in the 20s or 30s. When he died it was too expensive to sell, so the state had to buy it and now it is a museum. I would describe it as an american castle. The Gardens were the best part - absolutely gorgeous.

Later, we went to Little Havana in Miami. My favorite part was the park with all the old men playing dominos. I wanted to join in, but thought I should brush up on my skills first. Then, we went to a "Cuban" cigar store and saw cigars being hand rolled. I wanted to buy one for a souvenir. When I brought one up to the register to purchase, the owner asked who this was for and I told him that I was buying it for myself. I am sure he was chuckling on the inside, but kindly asked if he could help me choose one as I had chosen the strongest cigar in the store and he was pretty sure I wouldn't be able to smoke that particular cigar. I stick out as it is with my blonde hair, but I am sure my ignorance in cigar buying did not help at all. Above is a picture of our dinner that day. It was 4 different kinds of meat and so much of it that it fed both of us two meals each. One of those meals that make me grateful I am not a vegetarian!!

Latin Love

So I was walking to the UPS store and this cute (and by cute, I mean old man cute - he had to be at least 60 years old) latin guy was just staring at me and smiling and then started saying "Bella, Bella" - i think that means "cute girl" or something - and when I finally got to where he was standing he said "I love you". Well, needless to say, I was a little taken back... I thought we were moving a little too fast for my liking so I thought saying "I love you too" was not the right choice of words. "Thank you" ended up being my responce... haha - I love the latino culture.

Peer Pressure

I have succumb to the peer pressure and am now officially part of the blog squad!