I will talk about the tradition I started with the wedding dress. Every anniversary, no matter what, I wear the dress! How did I come up with this idea? I read an article online about another bride that did the same thing. So I thought why not? It’s been fun! When I wore it out in the public, people thought we were newly married.
Read MoreLast year I blogged about meeting “Mr. Kelly”. We got married 5 years ago this month, so we just celebrated our anniversary! I still relive my wedding day over and over through beautiful photos, my dress tradition and memories. When we got engaged, we immediately started hunting for venues around my hometown. Seneca Lake is full of venues, which some wineries/breweries host weddings. Naturally Seneca Lake was first place we looked.
Read MoreI previously wrote about Watkins Glen, NY. The village is situated on the mouth of Seneca Lake, the largest lake of the Finger Lakes region. It takes 120 minutes to drive around the entire lake (not that I have tried that). Seneca Lake is full of wineries and breweries. The best part about FLX region is that it’s REALLY dog friendly! I’m able to take my pup to most of them. There are SO many wineries/breweries that I haven’t been to all of them. It’s my goal to visit them all at least once in my lifetime!
Read MoreFor those who are new to the blog, I grew up in the Elmira/Corning region near the Finger Lakes. I spent some time up at Seneca Lake, which is one of the 11 that make up the Finger Lakes. The Finger Lakes (FLX) is also known for many, many vineyards and breweries. Watkins Glen State Park often comes highly recommended. I can concur with that! Hiking through the gorges is absolutely stunning.
Read MoreSail on board Tall Tales in New London, CT.
Read MoreOver the last month and a half, I published a 6 part series focusing on my experience with employment. Many had asked me to share these experiences, such as what it is like to go on interviews or what it is like to work in a hearing dominated environment. I was asked to share this a few years ago. Why did it take so long for me to share? I had a lot of hesitancy to publish any of those posts. I felt like each post was so negative. I’m not typically the kind of person to be excessive and pessimistic.
Read MoreYesterday marked the end of Deaf History month, so to wrap up the series about challenges I faced with employment, I will talk about the recent and last job I had. Over the last 4 years, I worked as a special education paraprofessional at an elementary school. I interviewed for a position at the high school level and had accepted the offer, until the Special Education director convinced me to interview for the elementary school position. He thought that the student was in need of someone like me more than the high school student. I went to the interview at the elementary school and requested an interpreter.
Read MoreThe search for a job after American School for the Deaf took a long time again. I faced many rejections as I mentioned in Part 2. This time, I contacted the vocational rehabilitation counselor to help me with the search. She assigned me a headhunter, which is an individual who helps me find opportunities. I spent a lot of time with the head hunter applying to jobs, fixing up my resume and following up with the businesses. I saw a huge difference in the search process with a headhunter.
Read MoreUpon my resignation from American School for the Deaf, I was still reeling from the loss of the new plans I had made to be a teacher. I decided to go back to searching for a job in the criminal justice field as I originally planned. This is when I signed up for a 4 year long commitment with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). It should be listed on my resume because you totally can see the dedication right there. All joking aside, it was my biggest fight in trying to get the job.
Read MoreThe summer of 2012, I applied to a residential counselor position at American School for the Deaf (ASD) in West Hartford, CT. ASD is an institute for deaf students from K-12. Some students commuted daily to the school on the school buses. Some students stayed at ASD in the residential dorms since they lived in NYC, New Jersey, all over Connecticut, or Massachusetts. The job I applied for was to supervise these kids who stayed in the residence halls. It was definitely the easiest interview I had.
Read MorePART TWO: When I moved to Connecticut, I reminisced about the days of the Probation department. Naturally, that was the first place I went to to seek a job. I interviewed for the probation officer position in my county. It turned out to be one of the worst interviews I’ve been to.
Read MoreNational Deaf History month kicked off on Friday the 13th. It marked the anniversary of ‘Deaf President Now’ movement at Gallaudet University. Located in Washington D.C., Gallaudet University is a liberal arts college for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing. The movement succeeded in persuading Gallaudet University to have a deaf president. I. King Jordan became the first Deaf president in 1988. This reflects the determination of those who fought for what was best for our deaf community.
Read MoreHappy March! It’s one of my favorite months because we celebrate the Irish heritage with St. Patrick’s Day coming up on March 17th. Last year, I read about the Ireland’s Great Hunger Museum in Hamden, Connecticut. Hamden is a suburban town outside of New Haven. The museum is a part of Quinnipiac University. I learned of it when Quinnipiac University’s new President pulled the funding for the museum. I never knew there was a museum dedicated to Irish history right here in the Nutmeg State!
Read MoreOlde Mistick Village is a large outdoor colonial 19th century New England shopping village. Opened year-round!
Read MoreIt’s the day after Groundhog Day. Punxsutawney Phil predicted an early spring. Let’s hope that comes true! It can be difficult to find things to do during those cold winter months. One really cold weekend, I found myself in Westerly, Rhode Island. Westerly is known for the beaches (Misquamicut in particular) and Watch Hill. It’s probably not a place one would think to go during winter, but I realized that there’s plenty to do! Westerly is on the border of Connecticut/Rhode Island neighboring with Pawcatuck, CT. There’s a river splitting the towns. I first came across Westerly-Pawcatuck when they hosted their River Glow event during the summer time. The downtown Pawcatuck is within walking distance of Westerly’s main street. There are many stores, restaurants and local businesses. While you do have to be outdoors to walk the downtown, the stores are close in proxy!
Read MoreThis weekend gave us an unusual spring-like weather in the mid of January! I explored a new town in New Haven County - Madison, Connecticut. Located 20 minutes outside of New Haven, it is centered between New York City and Boston. The infamous bookstore, R.J. Julia Booksellers is located in Madison, that’s what brought me to the town! I learned that Madison used to be a part of Guilford, CT (another town to see on my list!). Madison was incorporated in 1826 and named after President James Madison.
Read MoreWOW, how is it 2020 already?! Happy New Year everyone. Looking back at 2019, it was a year of ups and downs. I had a word to describe each year but I couldn’t come up with one for 2019. I explored more of Connecticut in 2019. I hope to visit more this year as I have a long list that I’m still adding to! My goal for 2020 is to expand beyond Connecticut too, I hope to see more of Rhode Island and Massachusetts. There’s so much to see in New England!
Read MoreDecember is my favorite winter month filled with holidays events to do and to see. Maine, especially, is a favorite! There’s the Christmas Prelude in Kennebunkport and L.L. Bean’s Northern Lights Celebration in Freeport. I went to Northern Lights Celebration for the first time last year. I had to see what it was all about! It takes place at the L.L. Bean flagship store in Freeport, ME.
Read MoreTomorrow starts the Mystic Restaurant Week in the beautiful coastal town of Mystic, Connecticut! A bi-annual event that happens every March and November and is a favorite of mine to attend. Mystic is a foodie destination with so many good restaurants. It’s hard to pick sometimes where to go dine. This week is a good opportunity to visit a restaurant you haven’t been to, so you can sample more food for affordable prices. Most restaurants offer 3-courses from appetizer, the main entree and dessert. Sometimes wine/beer is included. The prices are fixated with average of $15 for lunch and $25 for dinner. Can’t beat that!
Read MoreThere’s nothing that I love more than fall in New England. It’s the most amazing time of the year with crunchy leaves under your boots, leaves changing colors, everything apple and pumpkin (I’m team apples!), and many more. I had an eventful fall exploring some of what New England had to offer!
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