Call Me Danni Danja!

At last night's She Creates Change gathering, we had the pleasure of having Leigh Van Swall of Duckies in a Row as our guest speaker. The topic of the evening was fear and Leigh encouraged us to think of a time when we were courageous to use as a reminder in the future when fear rears its ugly head. We also had an assignment to create our own superheros.

Some of you have already met my Superwoman alter ego Miss Journey, but she has since grown up and now goes by Danni Danja.

Her theme song of the moment is Katy Perry's Firework.

Reminiscent of Carmen Sandiego (minus the thievery) Danni Danja wears a wide brim hat cocked to the side and a trench coat that doubles as a cape.

Her Super Louboutins allow her to literally hop from one country to the next in a single step. She has the ability to stretch and hold hands with one person from two countries at once, connecting them and bringing the cultures together.

Her telepathy allows her to detect a person's needs and deliver whatever they without any conversation. Her super golden breast plate magnifies and radiates her love as soon as she enters the room.

Danni Danja rides through the New York City streets on a motorcycle like it's a video game and has the power to change her clothes simultaneously when duty calls.

It was a great exercise that left us all feeling empowered. My favorite part was that my superhero is much closer to who I already am than I thought. It was a great reminder that we all do have a little superhero in us, and we have to let her strut her stuff.

P.S. I am constantly amazed by the superwomen I call friends. Allow me to introduce you to my superhero friend Action Jackson who is running the NYC Half Marathon and has vowed to raise $1500 for Housing Works, who is dually dedicated to tackling HIV and homelessness. It would be great if you could support her and her mission. Click here for more information.

NYC Restaurant Week: Angelo & Maxie's

Determined to not let the snow ruin my plans again, I finally made it out for NYC Restaurant Week. With my gift card to Angelo & Maxie's it was perfect way to share the experience with my Her Journey team member and blogging buddy Desiree!

The mood was set with a Peach Fizz Up (Absolut, Champagne, peach schnapps and orange juice), a fruity and tasty concoction that put me in a relaxed, island state of mind. We got warmed up with the soup of the day: a black bean puree. The main event, the Filet Mignon au Poivre, packed way more punch than I expected. Even though our waitress sizzled it as a spicy dish, crusted in black pepper, my mouth watered in anticipation, but I honestly underestimated it. It was a hefty cut of meat that was full of flavor and spice. Accompanied by creamy mashed potatoes and the biggest stalks of asparagus that I've ever seen, the meal was more than I could handle. I had to throw in the towel prematurely. However, not before topping it all off with black and white cheesecake, which I usually don't eat, but drizzled with raspberry sauce, it was a tasty treat.

After such a satisfying meal, I would highly recommend Angelo & Maxie's, and I will definitely be back. I must go back for the Oreo Ice Cream Sandwich, which they say is for two people but I don't know yet if I plan to share.

The best part is that some of the participating restaurants have chosen to extend the Restaurant Week menu to February 28!

Your Uniqueness

Since starting Her Journey, I've discovered just how many other empowerment efforts are out there. There really is an endless supply of experts, companies, and groups dedicated to empower women. I am often excited about these other efforts, thinking that if we're on the same page to a common goal, we can somehow work together. I have grown to truly understand that "the whole is greater than the sum of it parts." I have seen how collaborating forces can lead to results even greater than each individual party planned.

However, what I have also discovered is that everyone else is not always as excited about these collaborations. Some are more driven by the idea of competition. Please be clear, I understand the idea of building a brand and completely support one wanting to be the best in her given industry. I am not criticizing anyone for that. What I am saying is that I don't find it necessary to slam others in order to build yours. Call me naive if you want, but I believe there is room for more than one of a similar type of business or idea within an industry.

This became clear to me during a conversation on this topic, when my mother asked me "do you go to McDonald's and Burger King and Wendy's?" Some people have a preference and choose to remain loyal to one over the other. I personally love McDonald's chicken biscuits and chicken selects but prefer Wendy's spicy chicken sandwich and could go for a Burger King whopper with cheese every once in a while too, depending on the given day. When it comes to music, I enjoy Alicia Keys and Beyonce and Jill Scott, depending on the mood I'm in. Each offers something unique that satisfies a specific need in a specific moment.

I believe that is what is important when building your personal brand. Maybe I have a similar mission to hundreds of other women. I may even have some of the same ideas as a handful of them. But my experience and what I bring to the table is unique and that will specifically resonate with someone. For example, someone may be able to relate to my experience of feeling like the odd man out because I was always the youngest of my friends. That same person may also be inspired by another woman's experience with overcoming an abusive relationship or disease.

It is my belief that we are each given a unique gift, and there is room for each of them to shine. I encourage you to bring your unique light to whatever it is that you do, and you will stand out among the rest because of it.

This makes me think of Katy Perry's "Firework":
"You just gotta ignite the light and let it shine..."

Photo credit: http://imagecache5.art.com/p/LRG/27/2741/AKPND00Z/woman-holding-light-bulb.jpg

Clarity

It's almost February, and I'm updating my plans for 2011. So far so good, but I want better. As I think about my goals for this new month, I am thankful for the clarity I now have compared to just months ago. Participating in the She Creates Change program has certainly challenged me to dedicate some serious thought to my desires, and I have achieved a whole new sense of clarity as a result.

I remember the summers from when I was younger. Whenever we heard the jingle of the Mister Softee truck, there were those few precious moments to scamper around the house for money (maybe grab some shoes) and run outside before the truck passed the house. I remember one time in particular, my aunt asked if I wanted anything. Unable to decide, I pondered the options available. By the time I decided, the truck had already passed, and I was disappointed because I had finally set my expectations for a chocolate cone with sprinkles.

My mom has always told me that if you don't know what you want, you don't get anything, and this memory reminds me of that. I share this story to encourage you to figure out exactly what it is you want out of life or it will pass you by like the ice cream truck. Don't be the kid on the block with the poo poo face.

I have to add that Gabrielle Bernstein's book Add More ~Ing to Your Life has been instrumental in helping me find this clarity as well. I would definitely recommend checking out the book as well as her lecture.

Massage Deals

To follow up on my last post about massages, here are some good deals I wanted to share:

A friend of mine from MomsLoveIt.com (a discount site for moms) shared this with me: Spa Sally offers spa deals for $25 every Tuesday. This week they're having a deal EVERY DAY!

Also, Just1Touch is having their annual "Have You Been Touched" Week Feb 7-13.

Fun Friday: 5 Cheap Treats under $5

Who says you have to break your pockets to have fun? I sure don't. Eating is one of my absolute favorite things to do, so I make it a priority and am willing to spend a few extra dollars for a great dining experience (instead of on a new pair of shoes or a weekly manicure, but I digress). However, you don't always have to spend a lot for a tasty treat. I've found some great food deals, all under $5:

2 Bros Pizza (Several locations)
I remember my elementary school days when I would go to the pizza shop after school for a slice that was $1.25. Now, especially in Manhattan, that is not a reality. EXCEPT at 2 Bros Pizza, where a slice is $1 (no tax!) ALL THE TIME. My first time seeing the sign, my thoughts went from "this can't be true!" to "this is a dream come true!" The best part about it is that the pizza is really good. Because of the high volume of traffic they get, they're popping pizzas out like a factory. Chances are that your slice will be hot and fresh. This is where I go for a quick pizza fix.

Gray's Papaya (Several locations)
This is no secret because Gray's Papaya has been around a while and has been featured on shows (like Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations) and even made appearances in movies (like The Back Up Plan). That doesn't make it any less exciting to get the Recession Special: two hot dogs and a drink for less than $5. How can it get any better? It's open 24 hours. That's how!

Croxley's (28 Avenue B; also in Long Island)
Imagine a place where wings are 10 cents and there are over 100 different beers to choose from. This place exists, and it is called Croxley's. I don't even drink beer, but at Croxley's you just have to. Who can resist a beer and wings for under $5?

Agozar Cuban Restaurant (324 Bowery)
Grab a buddy (or a stranger) and get 2 for 1 tapas. From Costillas (ribs) to the Cubaniche (Cuban sandwich), they offer some tasty treats. Happy hour is 5pm-7pm, and drinks are 2 for 1 too!

IHOP (Several locations)
Please forgive me. This is only available for a limited time, and with tax it is more than $5. However, all-you-can-eat pancakes at IHOP for $4.99 is one of my all-time favorite deals. I just had to include it.

There are countless deals throughout the New York City. Please believe that I will continue to share as I discover them.

What cheap treats do you indulge in?

P.S. NYC Restaurant Week is coming up (Jan 24-Feb 6)! It's the perfect opportunity to try a restaurant that may normally be outside of the normal budget at a discounted price.

Straw Bar

I finally did it. I went out in Long Island, and I enjoyed it.

I checked out a fairly new spot in Huntington Village: StrawBar

I tried a White Chocolate Strawberry martini, which I wasn't a huge fan of. It tasted a little bit like medicine. There were a few other ones that piqued my interest that I'll try next time.

Because there was a game on, we got 25 cent wings. You can't go wrong with that.

And the best part...the fried oreos. I also tried the red velvet cupcake, which was okay, but the fried oreos took the cake!