Appreciate What You Have

It has been SO hot in the city, although last summer felt much hotter so I can't complain too much. Because I was new to New York last summer I didn't know how to get "water access" you know, pools, lakes, river, beach.....

This summer I have been fortunate enough to find my own water/outside sanctuaries where I can appreciate NYC summers and not feel like I am dying.

The first is the Thompson Hotel pool. This place literally saved my life. On the 90+ degree days this place feels like heaven. It is a little pool on the 3rd floor of a hotel in the lower east side. I got my first sunburn of the summer here and gained a tan. Because I couldn't travel anywhere outside of the city this summer, this place was like a mini vacation. Laying out, taking a dip in the water, eating fresh fruit and having ice cold lemonade. HEAVEN

Thompson Hotel pool


Another place I love to go is the beach. So far this summer I have only had the chance to go to Coney Island, not very impressive but I can still appreciate a beach. There is something really beautiful about ocean waves that it doesn't matter where you are, still amazing.

Coney Island



There is a place called Dumbo, it is the spot right in between the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges. It is a beautiful, green area that has an amazing view of manhattan. I was fortunate enough to be taken there and had a quaint little picnic . Very peaceful



4th of July is always a fun holiday for us proud Americans. Last year I was in the city, brand new infact so I didn't know anyone. I still saw fireworks, but had to stand in the crazy crowds and was not very comfortable. It was still a fun experience but this year was a million times better. My friend rented a room at the Standard Hotel (I go to hotels a lot) which is right on the Hudson river which is where they show the fireworks. Our suit had floor to ceiling windows which gave us an AMAZING view. This picture was sunset before they showed the fireworks. The sky does beautiful things.

4th of July and the Standard Hotel


Finally my last favorite place in the city is Central Park, who would have thought? I just went there the other day and took paths I had never taken before. I found a fountain I had never seen, sitting areas, woods.... this place is so big I am always exploring new places. I could sit in there for hours. I took a cat nap on a rock there the other day, it was so peaceful. All you can hear are birds and nature. Normally I don't really like nature or camping, but sometimes when you are around so many buildings and people, its nice to get back to the natural world of how it was before we even had buildings. PLUS its not as hot because it is shaded by so many trees.

Central Park



On a final note, I have been very busy the last 2 months with work. I was filming on Project Runway as on of the models on the show. It was a great experience filled with excitement, stress and sadness. It opened my eyes even more to the modeling world and helped me get ready for fashion week in September with all the walking we had to do! Love all the designers, models, judges and crew that made the show! Please tune in every Thursday 9/8c, the premiere date is this Thursday, July 28.

MODELS ON DECK

Trying Something New

Cinco De Mayo

These last few months have really flown by, I can't believe it's already half way through May, which means we are almost half way through 2011 ALREADY... its crazy. Not much has changed. Still working at the Soho Grand, although our outdoor space, The Yard, is opening and I will be working out there, just as I started last year. The only difference is I will be serving 2 nights a week and hosting 1 night. It will be a good change, money wise and also a change of scenery and people. I'm not sure why, but I am always in a constant need of change. I used to hate change, but maybe since I have moved to New York it has changed my thinking. I am not in once place for long and there is always a change somewhere in my life. I have found it to be refreshing though, I'm not sure if it's the people or the city it's self, but every few months I feel like something should change drastically.

Sometimes this change isn't necessarily what I wanted though. For instance, I just got my hair cut... really short, like an inch below my chin. I was not too happy, but my agency thought I needed a "style". I guess they just didn't understand the concept of me wanting to grow my hair out. Oh well, it is after all only hair, and will eventually grow back. Looking on the optimistic side of things, it will be great for summer. It would always be up in a bun anyway from the disgusting summer heat.



Some fun things I have had the opportunity to do in the last month was see my first real concert/show. It was The Thermals, I went with a friend and we took a bus to New Jersey. Needless to say, it was pretty awesome. I also had my debut on TV on a recent episode of Law and Order - Criminal Intent, it was fun and interesting to see how that aspect of entertainment works.

The Thermals

Law and Order


For Easter, my friend and I painted easter eggs which was messy, but fun. I used to always do this with my family as a tradition. We would then have the eggs for breakfast over the next week. That's not quite how it happened this time around, but we definitely had fun dying them.



One last "new" thing I did recently was eat at a soul food restaurant. There are TONS in Harlem and I never really had interest in eating at one. But on mother's day some friends and I were hungry so we decided to go to one for brunch. It was the most disgusting yet delicious food I have ever experienced. Picture is self explanatory.



As far as modeling goes, it's been pretty slow. I have done a few test photo shoots and am a fit model for one designer right now. Work should pick back up next month though for showroom. And then once september hits, it's fashion week all over again. I will also be going home next week for my mom's wedding which should definitely be fun/interesting. Going home is always an interesting experience, but I love seeing my family. But I am mostly excited for what's to come when I get back to NY. This summer will be EPIC.

May Lin Goff

Sunshine Kisses

The other day it was 80 degrees for the first time. Spring is turning into summer. When I walk outside, especially in midtown it smells like hotdogs and anything else you can bbq. There are ice cream trucks EVERYWHERE and I bought my first one of the season on Sunday. I can actually wear shorts, or wear pants and a tank. The heater officially has not come on in at least a month. And in 3 days it will be May!!!

It's so crazy how fast time flies. I came to NY a year ago in 2 months. This time last year, I was finishing up my finals getting ready to quit my job and anticipating my bit trip to NYC not knowing what would happen once I left CA. I think about the life I have created since then. I came here with a suitcase and now as I look around my room I have a bed, dresser, night stand, chair, curtains a normal closet. I have 2 amazing jobs where I have made many incredible friends and met a lot of talented people. At this point, I couldn't imagine not living in NY.

I am traveling back to Sacramento in a little less then a month to see my mom get married after 14 years! I will get to see my best friend, my nephew, sisters and brother. I will get to see extended family which I have not seen in years. Every second that I spend in my old home is filled with exciting moments with the people I love because I can never stay more then a few days. Not to mention enjoy the amazing CA weather compared to the humid NY weather.

Once I get back to NY for the summer though, this time around it will be spent enjoying every min of it, unlike last summer when I was just trying to figure out the city. I want to go to the beach and amusement parks and the river and go to DC or Boston and not worry about the little things until Sept hits again. Freedom.

Cherry Blossoms

Wow, it has been 2 and a half months since I last wrote. A lot has changed since the new year rolled in. Another season of fashion week came and went. Many new relationships made and a few lost. I moved apartments the beginning of March and was very successful with modeling jobs in February.

I just got back from California to see my best friend since 5th grade get married. What a trip that was, talk about my life flashing before my eyes. The next time I will be back there is the end of May to go to my mom's wedding. It seems like a lot of change has been happening lately and it seems bitter sweet. I hate change, but at the same time it is necessary. Sometimes it is good to start from scratch again.

I really want spring to come. I miss the sunny days when I can feel the warmth on my face. It's already mid March though and it will come in time. I still work at the Soho Grand Hotel which is nice. My mom came to visit this weekend and we had lunch there. it was nice to show her my world.

I think what would make me happiest more then anything would be to travel right now. I love New York, but I want to see other big cities around the world. Unfortunately you have to have money for that. But now that I live in a cheaper place I can start saving more money. My birthday is in less then 2 weeks, I will officially not be a teenager anymore!

And one more thing - my life would be incomplete without music.

See You Later 2010

Recently I have been pretty busy. After fashion week, it was pretty dead for me, actually the whole month of October was sooo slow. November I managed to book one modeling job. It was for a reality TV show pilot. Basically, what the show entails is that 2 designers are up against each other and they have 24 hours to make five outfits. Then at the end of the show, they have a fashion show to show off their designs. I was one of the models, so that was pretty cool. If it airs, it won’t be until summer of 2011, so we’ll see. But now I have experience with TV, check.

Then the month of December has been great so far. I was able to do 2 modeling jobs, which were both in the same week. The first was last Tuesday. It was my very first PAID photo shoot ha ha. It was a look book shoot for a cashmere company called SOH. All I can say about the clothes are…. AMAZING. We shot in a warehouse in Brooklyn on one of the coldest days in NY so far this winter (20 deg) and the warehouse itself was probably about 30 deg. If it weren’t for that cashmere I probably would have gotten hypothermia. With that being said, I mustered through and we got some amazing shots. I also have a package from them to look forward to opening when I get back from California. Hmmmm maybe a nice sweater? : )

The second job I did was on Friday. It was just a mini fashion/trunk show for the designer’s friends. The designer was Yuna Yang, and I actually was in her s/s 2011 presentation so it was cool to take a closer look into her designs, which are also amazing. Hopefully I will be able to be in her fall/winter show in Feb.

Of course I still have my job at the Soho Grand Hotel, hosting for their restaurant. I really enjoy working there, it is almost like a family for me, I am so close to a lot of the people I work with. But I am currently in the LaGuardia airport waiting to fly to Dallas, to then fly home to Sacramento for Christmas!! Unfortunately I will only be there for the weekend because I have to be back in NYC for New Years Eve, but I’m just glad I can be there for the holiday.

Speaking of which…. I can’t believe a whole other year has flown by!! The year 2010 was interesting for me. The first half, I was miserable and had a lot going on with my personal life. And the last half has been amazing, crazy, fun, adventurous and just all around eye opening. I have realized there is so much to life. I am surrounded by people of different race, ethnicity and backgrounds. I love the life I live and am so happy that I am right where I am supposed to be. I am also extremely excited to see what the year 2011 will bring me. Hopefully extensive traveling? Yes!!

Stalkers?

Since I have started modeling (especially since I moved to NY) I have girls contacting me on FB inquiring about getting started with modeling, where to go, what to do... those types of questions. I have always thought it was flattering and try to answer questions as best to my ability, seeing as though it is different for every person and your situation depends on so many factors.

I was recently contacted by a young girl who claimed to know me and started talking to me about NY modeling like she just knew everything, but the convo started out with her asking me questions about agencies. She also was very excited to inform me about an old "top agency" that she had just signed with on the west coast. She asked me if I had thought about signing with certain agencies and I informed her that the agencies she listed as well as the one she was about to sign with are not great anymore (at least not in New York). Because of this, she got extremely defensive and started asking me why I thought these things.

THEN she had the audacity to ask me if I had even gotten any other contract offers, which clearly is an extremely rude thing to do. It's like a coworker asking you how much your raise was. So I told her how it is modeling in NY... cut throat, no one cares about you, you are just an object that your agencies make money off of. Which in my opinion, if you are strong enough to deal with it then fine, but a barely teenager shouldn't have to go through that. So once again, she just really wanted to make my day...

"While I agree with what you are saying, I really don't feel like you have enough knowledge, wisdom, or insight about the industry to really make that decision. You have only been modeling in New York for 4 months, and that now makes you a pro?"

No honey, I don't think I'm a pro, but it doesn't take very long living in NY to figure out how the modeling world works, especially after fashion week. I have been modeling since I was 16. When I was that young, I thought it was exciting and cool and glamorous too, but when I moved to NY, reality checked in and I saw it for what it really is. It's JOB and it's a lot of hard work and everybody in the industry (agencies, bookers, casting directors, photographers, designers, etc) all put you through hell before you can make your claim to fame.

If people like her don't want to believe me, that's totally fine, she'll see some day. In the mean time, from here on out, I most likely won't be answering FB messages from people I don't know to avoid such a situation again. Sorry, to any of the creepy stalkers who want to be models reading this right now.

Happy Thanksgiving :)

A Change of Season

It's November. 2010 is coming to an end. WOW.

I can't believe a whole other year has flown by. I have been in New York for 4 months now and am really starting to feel at home here. It is finally cold here. It has recently dropped down to the 40's....funny though, I don't remember EVER feeling this cold in Sacramento. I have no idea how I am going to cope with winter here, seeing as the weather will drop to the 20's or lower. It wouldn't be so bad if I didn't have to walk everywhere.

It is so interesting to me how when I first got to NY it was so hot and humid that I could barely stand doing anything during the day and had a hard time falling asleep at night, yet now, 4 months later I am freezing my hiney off. One thing I am excited for is the Christmas season here. All of the Christmas lights and decorations, it will be so beautiful!!

I get to go home in a week and a half so that will be a fun, must needed trip. I will be back to the city for Thanksgiving though, so hopefully I will see some of the parade.

As far as modeling goes, it has been pretty slow with castings here and there. But tomorrow I have my first to HUGE designer brand castings. One for Diane Von Furstenberg and the other for Louis Vuitton. I am pretty excited about those, it is not very likely that I will book them, but it is a start for getting in "the loop".

Long week ahead, but I'm sure it will be interesting as always.

XO