This is 26 | Today is My Birthday!

I am 26! Made it to my second half of my twenties… weird.

I feel like I was just writing my golden birthday blog post last year! It’s hard to believe that it’s already been that long but I am ready for a fresh slate.

25 was good to me – I celebrated my birthday with Gordon Ramsay on the F Word FOX and ended the year doing a holiday segment on FOX 5 San Diego!

As this new year begins, many things have been put into perspective for me. My main focus (as it has been, but now more than ever) is certainly my career, my health and surrounding myself with genuine people at all times.  I have tunnel vision for my goals and have really weeded out all the stuff that doesn’t help me grow. I consider my career and my well-being top priorities in everything that I do.

The Gilded Bellini has been a major focus in my life that not only has kept me motivated, but also has helped me navigate where I am meant to be in life.

Lots of great things happened at 25 and I can only hope that 26 is as special.

This year's birthday post is super short and sweet - my birthday is just another day, but it's simply a nice day to reflect on life, opportunities and accomplishments that have happened over the last 365 days.

A very big thank you to everyone who has continued to support me and The Gilded Bellini and not think I’m completely crazy for ditching a traditional twenty-something lifestyle.

Here's to a new year!

The Gilded Bellini Turns Two! | Reflecting on 2 Years

It's The Gilded Bellini's 2nd birthday! Wow, I can't believe it has been two years already. 

For the last two years, I've produced content each week for this blog. It's kind of crazy to think about! What started out as a hobby in the very beginning has blossomed into something a whole lot more: a business, a media outlet and my passion. 

In last year's reflection on one year, I said that The Gilded Bellini was therapeutic to me and I still feel that way. Don't get me wrong, running a website and maintaining a brand is a TON of work and you can never really ever take a break. But when it's something you love, it never feels like you're really working. 

The last year has definitely been a different kind of learning process than with year one. I have a better grasp on developing and maintaining my brand. Opportunities that have come my way have paved routes for me that are helping to shape my career and expand The Gilded Bellini. It's for sure no longer a hobby, but probably one of my biggest accomplishments and what I am most proud of. I am honored to be a part of the entrepreneurial space within the digital world. Even the TV world now, too! I feel most like "me" when I am delved into all things content creating and feel really grateful to have a creative outlet that plain and simply, gives me a better quality of life. 

The Gilded Bellini has been something that I take more seriously now more than ever. I don't really remember what life was like without having this outlet and the freedom to constantly create and execute any visions I have, meet new people and get to do things I have always dreamed of doing... To this day I still can't believe I was on a show with Gordon Ramsay and hosted my own segment on FOX 5!!! If you told me a few years ago back in college that any of this was going to happen, I definitely wouldn't have believed it. But, it didn't just happen out of luck. It was extreme hard work and dedication, and I say that wholeheartedly. Any opportunity that has come to fruition has been a direct result of that.

It is a great feeling being able to combine everything I love into one entity that people can connect to. I am so grateful for all of the people that have come into my life that I've made a connection with. It wouldn't have been possible without having The Gilded Bellini as the liaison!

I wanted to give a huge thank you to everyone who has supported my vision and work, and a thank you for all the people that have followed along and been interested in The Gilded Bellini's content over the past two years. It means the world to me and I couldn't imagine The Gilded Bellini without your continued love and support! 

HIGHLIGHTS

Some of my favorite highlights of the second year of The Gilded Bellini have been:

- Being featured on The F Word FOX with Gordon Ramsay

- Hosting a holiday segment on FOX 5 San Diego

- Being in a commercial for Skin It

- Being chosen to speak at the BevNet Live Panel as a Food & Cocktail Expert 

- Interviewing Shay Mitchell of Pretty Little Liars 

- Interviewing Amanda Palomino from FOX's Hell's Kitchen with Gordon Ramsay

- Attending the 2017 VMAs 

- Brunched with Maggiano's in honor of their partnership with Make-A-Wish Greater Los Angeles and campaign, Eat-A-Dish for Make-A-Wish

- Traveling home to NYC (for the first time in 2 years!) and making it a complete first time business trip, connecting with brands and restaurants on my own out there for a whole week

- Creating solid friendships with other people that I crossed passed with through the world of blogging

- Being able to connect with the talented people behind LA and San Diego's best restaurants

A BIG THANK YOU...

The Gilded Bellini's success would have never come this far without the support of my close friends, family and new friends I have made along the way. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who has read any of my posts, watched my videos, engaged with any content I have put out into the world..  If we've met this past year in person, exchanged a few words on social media, or even just said an "Oh, I think I know you!" to one another in passing, I am grateful to have connected with you. I started this blog to be able to have a platform to bring people together that goes beyond just brunch. But hey, brunch is a great way to start! And the fact that it has been the foundation for so many new relationships, collaborations and growth within blogging community/entertainment industry/hospitality realm has been such a blessing. Brunch is part of our culture, and I am so happy to be able to honor this fun lifestyle in a way most of us can relate to... at least I try my best to! My goal of all The Gilded Bellini content is for you to have a true experience and an escape, whether it's through writing, video or imagery.  Thank you for all of your support since day one. I hope that you continue to join me on this gilded journey... and I look forward to another incredible year with you! Cheers! 

Photography by: Rebecca Gnasso

This is 25 | It's My Golden Birthday!

It's my golden birthday! I'm 25! Wow, weird to say. Now I am a quarter of a century old! It's kind of crazy.

It feels like just yesterday I was running around my backyard as a kid, and now I'm still running around but in a completely different way. I am busy working, managing and keeping up with The Gilded Bellini, writing, on-air hosting and a whole lot more. It has been a long journey to get to where I am now and I know there is a long road still ahead. 

Looking back on the last few years, a lot has happened that I realize needed to happen to bring me where I am today. I left my childhood in New Jersey behind when I went to college and worked in New York City which was a dream of mine since I was little. Then, I relocated to LA to continue a more creatively-focused career that's allowed me to become more than just my job title. It's given me the chance to explore what I am good at, what I like and what I am passionate about.

I think it's the evolution of my twenties.

While it has certainly gotten overwhelming at times, I think it is a blessing that I've lived in 3 different states my whole life - I've put myself into unknown territory first when I was 18 and moved to the city, and then at 23 when I moved to the West Coast. It takes a lot of strength and bravery to break out of your comfort zone that is always there waiting for you to come back.

That's exactly what I've done over the span of the last 7 years, and it's allowed me to continue to thrive on independence. I've learned the only way to grow is to often times let go and take on the world... often without knowing who or what lies ahead. 

If you told me even 15 years ago if I would have lived in NYC and created a life for myself there, I would have never believed you. If you told me 8 years ago if I'd leave the city and eventually live in a new one (LA, nonetheless) in such a short matter of time, I probably would've thought you were lying even more. But what I've learned is that you need to hop on board for every good opportunity that comes your way, no matter how intimidating. And if there's no opportunity waiting, make one for yourself. 

Another is to stay focused and concentrate on the good things. I am a firm believer that every obstacle (regardless of whether it's work related, relationship related, etc.)  that comes your way is meant for you to learn how to handle it and push through. Not one good opportunity has come my way without me working extraordinarily hard towards it. 

Some highlights of the last few years: 

- Hosting for Nickelodeon

- Being featured on The Huffington Post 

- Graduating from college

- Working good jobs in both NYC and LA

- Being recognized as a host, expert, influencer & media outlet all together

- On-air modeling for Good Day NY, PIX 11, CBS/WLNY

- Being cast in a skit for Cosmopolitan

- Getting my writing published

- Being able to closely work with brands I love and believe in 

- Being cast in a commercial

and more! 

I am forever grateful for my true friends and supportive family members that have stuck beside me over the last several years, despite where we're located on the map. We all have our ups and downs and I am thankful that I have you in my life. I love you all!

Wait can I say it again?? 25!!! 24 was a great year and I am hoping 25 will be a million times better! Time to do as The Gilded Bellini would... throw some gilded confetti and pop the bubbly!

The Gilded Bellini Turns One! | Reflecting on One Year

March 11th, 2016 was the day The Gilded Bellini first launched and it's so hard to believe that it has already been a year! It's The Gilded Bellini's first birthday! 

It's amazing all that's happened in such a short amount of time. When I first launched, I had a picture in my head of how I wanted everything to unfold, but of course life happens and things just happen the way they're supposed to. It really did start out as a hobby, and I was proud that I had finally executed my long-term desire to start a blog. On brunch, no less! I have always been a huge brunch-er, and this needed to be my niche. It just brings people together, and what's not to love about brunch? 

It's kind of crazy to think that I've put out original content EVERY single week since March 11th 2016. Sometimes it was once, sometimes three times and others it was five. I don't think I realized how much of a huge responsibility a blog is when I first started. It's literally your baby. You start from the bottom, learn as you go and keep building and growing from each step and mistake you make along the way. It's certainly not easy. It's stressful. There is ALWAYS more work to be done. To have a blog, you need to be fully in it. You need to want to go above and beyond and have that quality in you. Luckily, it never feels like homework to me. It feels like I am building a brand based on what I am passionate about. 

Since launching The Gilded Bellini, it has opened up so much light and positivity in my life. It's therapeutic that I have such a cool creative outlet that I can share with the world, but still know that it is both a responsibility and a business at the same time. I sit back sometimes and think: wow, I'm my own creative director. I am my own boss. This is my vision and the only person who could make it come to life is me... and I have.

I've been able to combine my love for writing and video to create just more than a brand, but an experience for my viewers and readers that unites us.

I love being able to connect with so many people that I would have never been able to connect with if it weren't for this platform. I've found really great friends just by being immersed in this world and it's refreshing that the community is so uplifting. Regardless of whatever industry you're in, there will always be competition especially if you're looking for it. But I've found the way you and your blog will succeed is if you embrace the differences around you and collaborate.

Highlights

Brands and companies recognize you when you genuinely put the work in, develop your brand and aesthetic and know the quality in you and your work. Lots has happened in the past year that looking back, I am extremely grateful for some opportunities that have come my way. Some of my favorite highlights of the first year of The Gilded Bellini have been:

- Being featured on The Huffington Post as an Inspirational Influencer

- Attending the Vanity Fair Social Club Emmy's Edition Party & Influencer/Young Hollywood Panel

- Having the opportunity to work with fashion brands, beauty brands, lifestyle brands, wine & spirits, and authors of award-winning books

- Being able to connect with the talented people behind LA's best restaurants

- Covering Serafina Sunset's grand opening party & media tasting event

- Being cast for a brunch sketch for Cosmopolitan.com

- Creating solid friendships with other people that I crossed passed with through the world of blogging

- Attending & covering La Nuit en Rosé festival

- Getting to know the Los Angeles hospitality & nightlife scene on a much deeper level

- Attending & covering the 2017 GRAMMYs Gifting Lounge

A Big Thank You...

The Gilded Bellini's success would have never come this far without the support of my close friends, family and new friends I have made along the way. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who has read any of my posts, watched my videos, engaged with any content I have put out into the world..  If we've met this past year in person, exchanged a few words on social media, or even just said an "Oh, I think I know you!" to one another in passing, I am grateful to have connected with you. I started this blog to be able to have a platform to bring people together that goes beyond just brunch. But hey, brunch is a great way to start! And the fact that it has been the foundation for so many new relationships, collaborations and growth within blogging community/entertainment industry/hospitality realm has been such a blessing. Brunch is part of our culture, and I am so happy to be able to honor this fun lifestyle in a way most of us can relate to... at least I try my best to! My goal of all The Gilded Bellini content is for you to have a true experience and an escape, whether it's through writing, video or imagery.  I am so grateful for all of your support since day one. I hope that you continue to join me on this gilded journey... and I look forward to another incredible year with you! Cheers! 

Photography by Marisa Trujillo