Author Archives: patierdos

Aug29

The “In-Between”

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The “In-Between”

There is such apprehension in the “in-between.” Think about it. Sitting in the middle row in-between strangers in a packed flight, nestled in-between cars in gridlock, teenage years in-between childhood and adulthood, in-between graduation and entering the complex work environment, or an insomniac episode wrestling in-between the vanishing night and the rising new day. It is a period where you are neither here nor there, what served you well before somehow doesn’t seem to work anymore and vice versa. Your thoughts, perceptions, ideologies, all shifting and evolving into something that is still unknown. Yes, behold the great In-Between, where life is a pool of potentiality and you are the swimmer moving in various directions with different strokes, hoping that eventually you find something that fits, that feels right, that resonates within. You have not yet arrived at the full manifestation of the sequence of events that are about to unfold propelling you to new heights. It’s uncomfortable; it’s at times confusing and dubious.

Yet, what I have discovered is that it is precisely at these moments that the most glorious self-awareness and transformations take place. Where you are forced to sit with your thoughts and values and filter them into what you believe fit the current life schema. Ironically though, it seems, that it is exactly in this mode that the universe throws you the most curveballs, testing you, your choices, your beliefs and everything “in-between” to see exactly where you are and where you are prepared to go. If there are further lessons to be learned, the in-between is where you will learn them. If there are doors left opened that do not suit you anymore, the in-between is where you will choose to close them. And if there is wonder and inquisition within you, the in-between is where your passions will be ignited.

So, next time you are struggling with any point of in-between in your life, whether big or small, slow-moving or fast, consider this: where you are is exactly where you need to be, where you are is perfect, and surely enough the next step is just peeking around the corner. Then sit back, relax, fix yourself a nice tall glass of milk, some Oreo cookies and think: in life there are various ways of going about things, likewise there are numerous ways of going about eating an Oreo, but the best part is navigating through and conquering that sweet spot, that’s right, the in-between.

Aug19

Detox: Day 3

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Detox: Day 3

Weight: 108 lbs

Total glasses of H20: 5

Mood: Feeling pretty awesome

Hallelujah hallelujah, Day 3 is complete! No more shakes, no more eggs and spinach for dinner, let’s just bring back the wholesome goodness of…well, food! I feel amazing to have completed this 3-day detox and I must say the benefits are pretty great. For starters I lost 2 pounds. How much of that is just water weight I’m not sure, I’ll have to wait out the next few days and see. Regardless, my appetite has shrunk a bit, my skin looks great, and most importantly this jumpstart made me determined to keep a healthy diet. Ok, ok, so I do have an engagement party to go to this weekend, which I am sure promises to be an eventful evening, but I’ll try to keep it in check. (Hey now, before you snicker away, at least I put my willpower to the test these 3 days and succeeded, what have you done lately? Yeah…didn’t think so.) All mockery aside, I highly recommend this plan, so if you are interested please email me or leave me a comment.

I have to say, it didn’t do much for my sleeping other than make me have these wacky absurd dreams. Last night was no exception although this time it wasn’t food related. I wonder just how much the lack of caffeine contributed to this bizarre dream pattern. Doubtful it has any relation, what I think happened was my LOST marathon last night before going to bed (totally engulfed in Season One, only five more to go…damn you LOST fanatics for making me Netflix this crap) got my mind doing cartwheels.

Aug18

Detox: Day 2

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Detox: Day 2

Weight: 109.5 lbs

Total glasses of H20: I lost count

Mood: Content mixed with a little bit of frustration and a dash of edginess

I’m so glad Day 2 is over and that there is only one more day left for this (damn) detox. Don’t get me wrong, the day in itself is not the hard part, for me, it’s at night that it is the most challenging. Eating only protein at night really makes it hard for me to fall asleep since I’m used to having carbs that are known to help you fall asleep faster. So here I am thinking that cutting caffeine might do the trick and instead, not only am I having trouble falling asleep, when I do, I am dreaming over and over again of all the different occurrences that I’m breaking this Detox. Dream #1: My friend Michele is offering me Chicken McNuggets (yes, random, I don’t even know the last time I had those…but they sound pretty good right about now) and I’m salivating over them and trying to find the proper words to be polite and tell her I can’t because of this detox (ugh). Dream #2: I’m the world’s biggest loser for saying no to a dinner invitation that all my friends are attending. So there you have it. You can imagine my relief of waking up today knowing it will be the last day of this detox-dreaming-madness.

The other challenge that I have been facing is the lack of caffeine and the annoying headache I had to put up with all day. But I must say I was a trooper. I went out last night for my lovely friend Lina’s birthday and had an amazing time without eating/drinking and jamming to The Big Bounce at the Florida Room, even with that nagging headache which seemed to stomp its feet to the beat better than I.

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s post – the wrap up of the final day!

Aug17

Detox: Day 1

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Detox: Day 1

Starting weight: 110 lbs

Total glasses of H20: 8

Mood: Irritable

Wrapping up Day 1 of my 3-to-5 day Detox program and I must admit it wasn’t bad at all (yes I realize this is only Day 1). I didn’t feel hungry and I even enjoyed a mid-afternoon nap (funny enough I dreamt I was eating pretzels and totally ruined my detox plan…woke up feeling relieved it was only a dream). The sheer fact that I even got some napping in is a big deal for me since I am notorious for always being active, constantly moving and doing things, so this was a pleasant surprise. I also became a big fan of toast with almond butter and bananas (breakfast routine in this program)…delicious! Moving on to my mood. Definitely irritable today, but not because of the food, just your usual case of the Monday blues and maybe some of that irritation is due to the lack of caffeine. Apologies to the Miami drivers I honked at today.

Let’s see what tomorrow will bring… It will pose a bit of a challenge since I have a birthday gathering at night, so the mighty forces of restriction will have to come into play when saying no to alcohol.

(Hmmm I wonder what I will treat myself when this detox is over…Cheesecake, key lime pie or crème brulee come to mind. Pati, get a hold of yourself!).

Aug16

Adieu impurities, it’s detox time!

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Adieu impurities, it’s detox time!

I’ve always been a pretty healthy eater but I’m not going to lie, I’m also a caffeine junkie with a huge sweet tooth and love for bread and wine. So undergoing a short detox program doesn’t seem like a bad idea considering all the health benefits I’ll achieve by eliminating my body of accumulated toxins and jumpstart myself to a healthier body, mind and soul.

I came across an easy-to-follow program that my friend Davina had once sent me a while ago which consists of a sensible but tailored breakfast, protein shakes throughout the day and more protein and veggies for dinner. Of course lots and lots of H20 and needless to say, sans alcohol. It doesn’t prohibit the intake of caffeine, however, in order to get the most I can out of this, I will eliminate caffeine as well. And since I’m a pretty picky sleeper, with occasional bouts of insomnia, I’m hoping this will improve my sleeping patterns dramatically. (I’m not sure if I can remove caffeine entirely after this program is over, but I will make an effort to not have it everyday). This is a 3-5 day detox program, and while I’m shooting for 5 days, starting tomorrow, I’ll be pleased with completing the minimum 3 days.

Alright, now for the stats. Each day I will be documenting my weight (first thing in the AM), how many glasses of water I drink, my overall mood/energy level, and any improvements in my sleeping habits.

This calls for a little farewell treat before I begin (now where was that chocolate I brought back from my trip to Brazil…).

Aug12

Lolla Part Trois était magnifique!

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Lolla Part Trois était magnifique!

Attending my third consecutive Lollapalooza in Chicago, I had very high expectations considering the talented and diverse lineup offered in 2010 with up-and-coming Indie bands and more established artists that I have been passionately following. I am happy to report that I certainly was not disappointed.

The trip started out on quite an unexpected stressful note with our hotel room reservation being canceled due to the booking engine’s sudden bankruptcy (Dear 1800hotels, thanks for only a 3-day warning after the room being booked since April. P.S. you suck). Luckily we have such amazing friends in Chicago that we were able to collectively camp out at the MWH residence, which could not have worked out more perfectly.

Alright, off to Day One. First observation was the added side entrance to Grant Park, which was such an improvement to the circa-95000 people festival, allowing for easier and speedier access. First performance we camped out for was The Black Keys. I do not know much about this band based in Akron, Ohio other than the lead singer Dan Auerbach sexy vocals, a mixture of deep and high-pitched amazing goodness with the awesome tracks “Next Girl” and “Tighten Up.” To my lovely surprise, standing right behind me was this dirty blond, blue-eyed gorgeous individual wearing a Barcelona jersey and straw hat. (Nice to meet you Daniel and thank you for being so sharing.) Usually you don’t get this kind of sight at Lolla (sigh, really).

After rocking out to The Black Keyes, we opted for a more mellow sound and enjoyed the good vibes of the infamous Jimmy Cliff, spreading his joy and love in his feel good lyrics and jammin’ beats. Closing off Day One was the show’s ultimate dilemma: to watch or not to watch Lady Gaga. The buzz around the Fame Monster mega-superstar was intoxicating and it seemed almost sinful not to see the anticipated spectacle worth over $250,000. Wah.Wah.Wah. What a disappointment. Gaga, seriously, with your “misunderstood” persona and deep though whining voice, it only took half of your awful Telephone song and zero originality with your Madonna-wannabe outfit, for us to turn right back around and walk back to The Strokes. Now that was a performance! Thank you Julian Casablancas. The rockin’ get-up-and-dance “Last night” was all it took. Wow.

Now for the real deal: Day Two’s scrumptious lineup, a mixture of extreme musicality with contagious beats and more mind-blowing sexy vocals. I’m talking about the long awaited The XX. As soon as I heard the first track of their first self-titled album, I was immediately hooked. Underneath the glaring sun and surrounded by a sea of people we witnessed the exhilarating performance of all their songs with a special hats-off to the dreamlike “Night Time” and “Basic Space.” (Can’t wait for the next album). Moving on to the upbeat and glorious Metric who rocked out to “Gold Gun Girls,” “Help I’m Alive” and the awesome “Stadium Love.” Lead vocalist Emily Haines stole the show. What a treat this was and it’s hard to imagine they have been around since 1998 and still producing electrifying tracks. Thank you Canada for bringing Lolla such amazing talent. After that was the ultra-cool Spoon, which I know little about but thoroughly enjoyed the known tracks “I Summon You” and “I Turn My Camera On.” Cut Copy was next opening up with the oh-so-cool pulsating beats of “Lights & Music”(and yes lights and music were on my mind) followed by “Hearts on Fire” which made everyone get up and dance.

Finally, we arrive at the most awaited show of all (literally an out of body experience), seeing live one of the most amazing concerts in my life: Phoenix. Opening up with “Lizstomania” Phoenix did not disappoint their fans, what a great way to open their grandiose display of sheer music genius. But what really put us on a whole other level, was the delicious “Fences,” with its sexy vocals and beats, Thomas Mars we salute you! I was so engulfed in this performance that rather than attempting to document it with my camera, I couldn’t help just wanting to dance it out and feel the moment. Other knockout hits were “Girlfriend,” “If I ever feel better,” “Lasso” and finally closing out with “1901.” The only downfall of this epic show was that it was cut 10 minutes short while Green Day fans thoroughly enjoyed an extra 30-minute jam session, compliments of lead singer Billie Joe. But, we take what we get, and what we got was none other than sheer bliss, closing out this year’s perfect music festival with my dearest most awesome friends.

Can’t wait to see what’s in store for next year, I’m officially a Lolla fanatic.

Aug2

It’s that time of the year again…

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It’s that time of the year again…

And no, I’m not talking about Christmas, New Years, or my birthday. I’m talking about the greatest spectacle of live music ever – Lollapalooza! That’s right, this year marks my third anniversary of the indie festival in Grant Park and it proves to be bigger and badder than ever. In anticipation of my trip this Friday, I decided to blog a bit about my previous experiences and the bands I am looking forward to at this year’s music mecca.

2008 – flew in from Miami meeting up with my lovely ladies Andrea, Michele and Sarah Walker (who live in Chicago), having absolutely no idea of the sheer musical genius of this event. I was in for a mighty mighty treat. Highlights were unquestionably the magical sounds of Radiohead, the amazing display of orchestration from Broken Social Scene, the fun and sassy Brazilian-group CSS, The Ting Tings, Lupe Fiasco and of course Rage Against the Machine, having to stop their set a couple of times from the extremity of the crowd. Thousands of adrenaline-filled pumping bodies jumping and crunching against each other towards the stage. From far away we could feel the ground vibrating from underneath our feet.

Our little Lolla group grew in 2009, with a welcome surprise by Sara, Meli and Fran, also from Miami. Extraordinary performances by the quirky Vampire Weekend, TV on the Radio, Santigold, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Cold War Kids, Jane’s Addiction, and the infamous Snoop Dogg. Perhaps THE most amazing experience that year. And let’s just say rap is not my favorite genre, but that day I let my inner badness out. 100 degrees. Hands flying in the air. Cloud of smoke above us. And a sea of people behind us. The rest… is nuthin’ but a G thang.

And so we arrive at this year’s Lolla, all jam-packed with goodies – the best lineup I have seen thus far. I’m talking about Phoenix, The XX, The Temper Trap, Green Day, MGMT, The Strokes, Soundgarden, and much more. This year we are joined by 3 more awesome friends: Agustina, Paolo and Gaston. The Lolla craze keeps on growing! Wondering what shenanigans will cross our paths. Stay tuned.

Until then, here’s a little graphic representation I made of memorable moments from 08/09. Enjoy!

Jul31

Getting Inked

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Getting Inked
Getting Inked

Today I accompanied my best friend Sara to get her very first tattoo – a process that took no more than 5 minutes to complete, yet months to plan choosing the right representation of something that will forever be imprinted in her body. Sara chose the anahata symbol – the Heart Chakra – the centre from which feelings of love emanate. For all of us who know Sara, a person who by definition lives for love, grows from love, and is touched deeply by love, this could not have been a more perfect choice. A constant reminder that love is everywhere and it is the source of joy, empathy, compassion and peace. To be open to love, to find love, and to fully surrender to love – to its beauty and grace.

This event got me thinking about the two groups of people who exist in this world: those who get inked and those who don’t. Before witnessing this experience, I could categorically say that I fit into the ones who don’t, viewing tattooing as tainting the already beautiful human body. My mantra has always been to leave the human body as is, sacred and divine in its purest form. But after going through this experience, my views have shifted. Once something I had never even imagined doing (or for brief spurts when I was 16) is now somewhat percolating in my mind. I am now seeing that body art can truly touch your heart and soul, exuding your inner voice and inner self. It is something to be celebrated – a representation of the soul’s connection to the body – a constant reminder of the light within shining through.

So thank you dear Sara for showing me that a carefully chosen beautiful tattoo can truly grow one’s sense of self, identity, and connection to the soul.