A New Chapter
At the start of the year, I wrote Looking Back At 2023 about my less-than-fun year. Well, I’m happy to report that in February, only two months into the new year, things took a turn with the job hunt. Back in December, I shifted my expectations and reset my job alerts with Indeed for case management positions instead of being so stubborn with only looking for writing jobs. I wanted to get my resume noticed with my twelve years of experience in that field and applied to any agency where I could do something different.
Gen V: Superheroes Becoming Humans
To appreciate the spin-off show, Gen V, you have to watch The Boys, Amazon’s original show, which has aired three seasons since 2019 and is based on a comic book series. I only started watching The Boys last year because when my husband first told me about the show years ago, I wasn’t interested in something called The Boys. I just didn’t think it was for me or that I would like it. I’m glad I gave it a chance, though, because I fell in love with the premise: What about the innocent casualties of the superheros’ powers?
Godzilla Minus One: A Timeless Masterpiece
Since December, my husband had insisted we watch the new Godzilla movie, Godzilla Minus One, a Japanese film written and directed by Takashi Yamazaki that was breaking records and now playing in America. Last month, we asked my mom to babysit, and we went to the theater. I was never really into GodzilIa and had only watched the 1998 version with Mathew Broderick. I didn’t even think about watching the newest addition to the franchise, mostly because I hadn’t heard about it before Albert mentioned it to me. “It’s getting great reviews,” he assured me. “It’s different from the other Godzilla movies because it’s character-driven. They’re calling it a masterpiece.” Well, I had to see about that.
Looking Back At 2023
If you saw people posting highlights of their 2023 on Instagram and cringed, you’re not alone. While last year wasn’t my favorite, and I’m glad it’s over, I’ll start this post with gratitude. You can’t do anything without good physical health, and you can’t be happy if you don’t have the ones you love close to you. I’m grateful to say that I was blessed with another year of health and still have my family and friends by my side. As I look back on 2023, I realize it was a year of learning for me that will flow into the growth I expect to see in 2024.
One Piece: The Great Pirate Era
One Piece, the Netflix live-action series based on the Japanese manga series created by Eiichiro Oda, aired its first season at the end of the summer. It’s set in a made-up world during a great pirate era where the seas are divided into four quadrants: East Blue, North Blue, West, and South. I had never heard of this massively popular manga until someone recommended it to my husband, and we decided to watch it. I fell in love right away with the story and the main character, Monkey D. Luffy, whose dream is to find the hidden treasure, the One Piece, and become King of the Pirates.
You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah: “Dear God, Stacy Friedman here. And what the hell?”
You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah is a Netflix film from Adam Sandler’s Happy Madison Productions based on the 2005 young adult novel of the same name by Fiona Rosenbloom. It’s directed by Sammi Cohen and stars Adam Sandler and his two daughters, Sunny Sandler, who plays the protagonist, 13-year-old Stacy Friedman, and Sadie Sandler, who plays Stacy’s older sister, Ronnie. Before you say Nepo Baby, they really do a great job and are so natural on camera—I guess that happens when you grow up on movie sets.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: How Mutant Mayhem Humanizes the Turtles
We saw the 2014 remake, where the Turtles were re-imagined as these monstrous-sized figures instead of the stealth ninjas they are. That’s why I really loved that the new movie Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem opened with the Turtles moving through the city of New York like ninjas as they swiped items they needed underground; they were in and out of the scene like a deadbeat dad. When it was announced Seth Rogen was behind a new Turtles, my husband was ecstatic. We love Seth Rogen’s comedies, so we knew this new iteration would be in good hands.
Our Summer
This summer has been one of change and growth. How appropriate during a new season, right? As I get older and the seasons on the East Coast dwindle to two–a long, cold winter with little to no snow and a short summer–I cling to those precious sunny, hot days where I can walk out in a t-shirt and shorts, carefree and happy, drinking in the sun rays while wearing my sunscreen, of course. Adulting is fun, isn’t it? Summer has become my favorite season because it only lasts a couple of months, so I miss it more. I also find myself drawn to the ocean. I don’t know how to swim, but now I see the beauty and power of the water. My childhood friend and I went to the beach for the weekend at the end of August, and I found such peace as the waves crashed over me. Even though summer can’t last forever, my family and I made the most of it, embracing the weekends and taking a week off from work in mid-July.
My First Runes Reading
Lately, I’ve been thinking about why things don’t happen when I want them to, so I scheduled my first runes reading in the same center where I got My First Tarot Reading. I had wanted to try a coffee reading for the first time, but that service wasn’t available. Before I booked the appointment, I had to ask the woman scheduling my session what a runes reading was. She provided me with the definition, and I was intrigued enough to make an appointment immediately
Workin’ Moms: Go To The Magic
When it was announced that the show's upcoming seventh season would be the series finale, it was hard to believe that one of my favorite shows was ending. How was it possible that we’d already received six seasons of this hilarious and honest show before that? I couldn’t believe how quickly it went. It was also hard to accept that I’d have to let go of this incredible show whose characters felt like friends in this wild journey through motherhood, balancing work and relationships. Even if you’re not a mom, the messages in the final season are relatable to everyone.
The Little Mermaid: Part of Your World
This past weekend I saw The Little Mermaid with the beautiful Halle Bailey in the leading role and was enchanted by her voice. There was no one better to play the iconic mermaid with the siren’s song, an element they added to the live-action version that I loved. Halle naturally embodied the sweetness, innocence, and curiosity of Ariel—she looked and sounded the part. I thought her impressive voice was the best part of the film, and Scuttle’s song, “The Scuttlebutt,” was a great new additional song. Lin-Manuel Miranda’s rap lyrics are irresistible, and it’s so exciting to see a Latino involved in these massive productions. I enjoyed the film, but it’s hard to recreate the magic found in animation; it’s what was lacking from the new Lion King.
I Interview My Esthetician
I wrote about my journey with my skin in Barbie World, correcting my acne scarring and redness after struggling with cystic acne from 17- to 21-years-old. For this month’s blog, I wanted to have a conversation with my current esthetician, Stephanie Tarn, to provide you with some tips and information on our skin and skincare.
Burnout
Without even realizing it, burnout crept up on me and smacked me in the face. It’s hard to see it when you’re just doing the same thing every day, but when you start to feel exhausted even after getting the recommended eight hours of sleep, something’s off. Everything lately feels like work, from the actual 9 to 5 to the routine of getting my son Sebastian ready in the morning for school while simultaneously getting myself ready for the day.
Growing Up Latina
If I had to rename my blog it would be Growing Up Latina. Scrolling through my YouTube feed one day, a video popped up of singer Jessie Reyez on a podcast called Growing Up Latina. It was only the second episode and I’m so glad I checked it out. It was a great match because I watch a lot of podcasts and I love all things Latina; I guess the algorithm is good for something. Hosted by Alyi V of Puerto Rican and Dominican descent, this new podcast provides space for Latinas to share their stories, struggles, and successes.
Our First ER Trip
I was in the kitchen washing dishes when I heard a loud crash followed by my son crying. It wasn’t the sort of cry that lasted only a moment meaning his injury was inconsequential; it was the kind of cry that meant he had hurt himself pretty good. For any parent your child getting hurt is a rational fear. After all you’ve been tenderly caring for them since they were an infant neurotically ensuring their safety and well-being. But when your child is non-verbal, which is the case for my 4-year-old son Sebastian, it’s a whole other level of worry.
What Would Wednesday Do?
Confession: I wasn’t sure if I would watch the new Netflix show Wednesday because I was completely devoted to Christina Ricci’s perfect portrayal of Wednesday Addams in the 1991 film, The Addams Family, and the 1993 film, Addams Family Values. There’s also just so little time to watch everything that comes out! But I was definitely intrigued by the new iteration because Tim Burton was directing the series and for the first time a Latina would wear Wednesday’s iconic pigtails and sullen demeanor. Fortunately, the show came out around Thanksgiving break and I had the time to binge.
Tony Hinchcliffe Live
Inside the Helium Comedy Club on a warm Wednesday night in Philadelphia, the great stand-up, grand roast master, Tony Hinchcliffe, performed to an excited crowd who had been waiting since April to see him after his show was pushed back twice, reminding us multiple times halfway through his show that we were living in crazy times.
Jessie Reyez: A Great One
I first heard of Canadian singer-songwriter Jessie Reyez, of Colombian descent, when her raspy voice, sometimes spitting savage Spanish lyrics, blazed through on Eminem’s 2018 album, Kamikaze, on songs she co-wrote, “Good Guy” and “Nice Guy” (pretty big flex to be selected by the iconic MC to write and sing on his album). In an interview promoting the album, Eminem praised her and told Sway Jessie Reyez would blow up—a well-deserved and meaningful compliment coming from a global superstar.
The Yonce Groove
On July 29 Beyoncé graced us all with her highly anticipated seventh solo studio album, act I Renaissance, influenced by the house and dance music of the 70’s through 90’s. The biggest surprise was that she didn’t drop a surprise album; this album received a traditional roll-out which we haven’t seen from Beyoncé since her fourth album, 4. With Renaissance we got the title, album cover, and release date more than a month beforehand. Shocking for an artist who stopped the world with her last two secret projects.
Independence Day
If you don’t know the Infamous Andrew Schulz by now, you should. He’s a 38-year-old stand-up comedian from New York with a wildly popular comedy podcast, Flagrant, co-hosted with stand-up comedian, Akaash Singh. He also co-hosts another successful podcast, Brilliant Idiots, with one of the most influential people in media today, Charlamagne tha God. I saw Schulz live before the pandemic and saw early versions of some of the jokes in his new special, Infamous.
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