New year, new me, they say.

How about new year, same me, more growth.

Yeah I like that

This past year has been a crazy still 🎢

Pandemic. BLM. Election. & just everyday life.

I’m happy to say this past year has taught me a lot about people, places, things and myself.

Today I feel stronger than I’ve ever felt.

And it’s funny because I had written a blog post saying the exact thing two years ago after a personal incident. That incident could have changed everything but today I’m here and I’m grateful and surrounded by the people that love me most

It just shows me that everyday you can be the strongest version of yourself, even when you feel down, there’s always a way to look up.

I want to share some of my break with y’all.

I’m now a PE teacher and I got my first Christmas break this year.

TWO WEEKS!

Just like my fellow teachers in my fam.

First, my sister and brother in law came home from Hawaii, as well as my cousin Catey from Seattle.

Us “Six Chicks,” helped to make Mimi’s first baby shower

I couldn’t ask for more powerful sisters to be in my life!

Then we always celebrate my moms birthday! Dec. 23rd 1960, my beautiful mother was born!

We had crab cakes, Prime Rib, and Brussel sprouts…. YUM!

We had a small gathering..

Sarah & Sean left for Christmas to see Sean’s parents.

Christmas was a little different this year.

After Christmas, the cousins got together and just enjoyed the new homes my cousins are creating for themselves.

After New Years Eve, we went on our 3rd Annual New Years Day Walk around the good ol’ farm

Then it was time for Hot Hot Chocolate!

Sarah had left, Cate is leaving today and we go back to school tomorrow.

New year, new growth!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! 🥳

We made it!

Cabo San Lucas

Outside my Aunt and Uncles Resort

Before I get into more of the story, I just want to thank god for keeping us safe and to look over us as we continue to enjoy this trip.

Soooo J & I are staying in the Mar de Cortez in Downtown Cabo.

Sharing a two bedroom upstairs above the pool.

Our place is the second opening at the top

My phone was charging the first night we got in, so I decided to just chill and soak up everything without a device

But that ended shortly in the morning when I had breakfast with T (my future mother-in-law)

Bed fucking hair 😂 but T looks great

The Fruit Platter (my breakfast)

Met Mr. Dean “Martin”

Super sweet guy from Cali

Rocking the man purse & white goatee

Him and his friends were hanging out, starting their party

At 9am (hey babY it’s Cabo)

Then my cousin J came down, ate a green omelette at the baR

I noticed some hip and important amenitieS

1) Kids, start your 401-K ASAP 2) Paper straws 👍🏽 & didn’t anyone else know that Heinz made jam

Moving right along…

I met Brad here, sweetest, soft spoken gentlemeN

His mustache is what drew me in

After breakfast and chatting with #newpeople we lauded our by the pool for a split seconD

It was pretty colD

We ended up looking for a fishing boat & in Cabo, people are trying to sell you shit every place you go.

There are drugs stores galore

After no luck with the fishing boat, we headed back on home (Cabo home).

We stopped to see these love birds

Then went out to eat for lunch

I got a vegetarian dish while Jame got like 5 million different things

We chilled while our food bellies went down until we decided to check out this one bar

We were the only ones there and it was AWESOME!

I got to be a DJ, we got finger food, and our bartender/waiter was such a kind soul

Jose & Jame playing Foosball

We ended up leaving there around 10 and headed to Happy Endings

Dad aka Cris (he wanted me to stop calling him dad 😂) & I taking a quick pic before leaving Urban Bar

At Happy Endings, you get two beers and two shots for $5… Crazy cheap I know.

While we were there Jame got a lil shot and foreplay from the shooter girl

We were finally done, and were headed home

Deuces

First stop Atlanta G.A.

Leaving the Ronald Regan International Airport @ 6:59 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 15, 20

Traveling with my fav cousin Jame!

Like Erica said, “We Basic Bitches.” (Due to being called last onto the plane, “And all the rest of the passengers can board”)

Erica, traveling with her friends on a mission trip.

Here are some non basic bitches that I met at the airport:

Sasha FIERCE had on a animal print skirt, black sandals, and chic sunglasses, with her perfectly shinning hairdo.

Then a met #businesscasual Joe:

Joe works in the Restaurant business with several locations. He’s on his way to a meeting in Atlanta

Welp, our portal was blocked when we landed so we had to wait almost 30 mins to get off the plane.

J and I had to run to the next plane, all I got was a selfie with a geotag 😂

J & I couldn’t sit beside each other on this flight

Instead, I got to sit by these two lovely people

Mikah & Joe

Joe was meeting his wive in Cabo for a floor coverings conference.

Mikah was meeting her boyfriend about an hour away from Cabo to see him perform at a music festival.

We didn’t talk much after that, he was watching the screen, she was reading a book and I was trying not to hit my chin to my neck every time I dozed off.

WE FINALLY MADE IT!!!

I continued to meet some cool people as we were waiting in the line of customs…

Mr. Pilot Etienne, his mother not photographed

And this rockstar…

Rubina

Aka: @ruuubetube on Insta

Well my phone is about to die, so I’ll make sure to stay updated on my trip!

See y’all later!

Xoxo, Alexandra

#BeAWanderer

You know when your cousin calls four hours before a concert to ask if you want to go and you say Heck Yes!

Well that was me this Sunday.

Never listened to the band before but free concert… I’m down!

Turns out they were a young married couple from Chapel Hill, NC, going back and forth singing, playing guitar, mini banjo, and violin.

Their dynamic together was mesmerizing.

” She swears my youthful glow is only hiding just beyond the borders of my mind.”

Mandolin Orange started their set with Late September, leaving me with these lyrics to ponder on.

They were playing at Rams Head Live! in Baltimore, MD in the middle of the charm city.

“It was either take a shower or eat some oysters… that’s why I have a hat on today.”

Andrew Marlin said about visiting Maryland.

The band wasn’t the only couple there, the place was full of them.

I noticed a super cute couple speaking French to each other.

I later found out they met in France while the girl was studying abroad and now live in DC.

Besides the couples in the audience, the couple on stage were the ones to get to know.

Marlin talked about personal events like his mother dying when he was young.

He wrote a song about her and said

I felt so much lighter after I wrote it, I just kept on going.”

Mandolin Orange left us with an encore song of Amsterdam & that was the end of a spontaneous Sunday night.

Remember to be a Wanderer, talk to a stranger or go to a free concert.

You never know what or who you’ll find.

You might just fall in love with a new band 😉

 

 

Today was refreshing. Just what I needed to get rid of all the unnecessary mind clutter.

& the best part is it was simple.

All it took was watching a Redskin game with my amazing family, a beautiful walk with some best friends and a sweet Halloween cartoon love story to end the night

#thelittlethings

“Paradise isn’t a place, it’s a state of mind.”

Thanks for reading!

Sincerely, Alexandra

Before I tell you about my Thursday, I wanna throw it back 3 years ago today, when I got sing at one of my favorite gigs with some of awesome guys @ the Baltimore SoundStage!

This was truly one of my favorite nights in college. #memories

                        ANYWAYSSSS

I started my day off with this cutie 

                                               Ms. Gabby the Minnie Mouse

This is Gabby’s mom Audrey

They come into Herballife almost everyday.

Gabby gets her Mint Cookie shake and Audrey works hard on her homework.

After work, I got home, walked Rupert, and got ready to head off to D.C. with my Aunt and Uncle.

Tonight was the

                         Filipino Istorya

Istorya meaning history.

For the past 4 years, the Rita Cocas foundation has held a Filipino Istorya with different themes at the Filipino Embassy in Washington D.C.

This year’s theme was Filipino Americans in Theatre #LOVE

Before we could get to the embassy, we had to stop at Mary Cacas’s house to grab some filipino food

Mary is a family friend and the sweetest Lola, she gave me this dress, which I absolutely love.

Once we left the parking lot, we dung into some spring rolls (we couldn’t help it, they were delicious) 

                                                       Beautiful Aunt Nila

After stuffing our faces with one more roll, we arrived at the Filipino Embassy

Once we got in,

got our name tags,

and set the food down,

we found Rita:

This is Rita, the founder of the Foundation and writer of Filipinos in Washington, D.C.

After everyone ate food and enjoyed some music, the four guest stars sat down to answer some questions.

First, let me introduce the guests:

Regina Aquino is a D.C. native, mother of two, and beautiful inside and out. She has been in the business since 2002. She has performed at some amazing theaters such as The Kennedy Center and Woolly Mammoth Theater Company.

Jose Llana is just incredible. He was in Rent #oneofmyfavmusicals, he starred in Sex and the City, Hitch, and landed the role as the King and the King and I in the National Broadway Tour.

The gentleman on my left is Don Michael Mendoza, who is the creator, producer, Co-Founder, and Executive Producer of LA TI DO, the music and spoken word series turned production company in DC, New York, and LA.

Last but not least, Raphael Sebastian is the youngest actors on the panel. He has worked with theatre companies in the Bay Area and New York City communities. He latest role was Malcolm in Macbeth.

These were some of my favorite answers:

Q: What are the theatrical advantages in the DMV?

Regina Aquino: ” We are the largest theater company in the country.”

Q: What is the ideal role for a filipino american actor?

Don Michael: “In my dream world, my ideal role would to be a normal human being.”

Q:What advice would you give to an actor?

Aquino: “You should know yourself and love yourself. If you live your true authentic self and live your art passionately, the world will come to you. You don’t bend to the world, you give your light to the world.” #LIVEYOURTRUESELF

Thanks for reading!

Sincerely, Alexandra

Wednesday’s are one of my favorite days.

I start my day off in HerbalLife

This is my awesome boss Luanne, She owns the club with her hubby Ken.

Then I make my way to teach my fitness class at the Senior Center

 

Then its time for HITT

This is Keith..He is the trainer, coach and awesome friend.

He’s tough but caring.

If you want a good workout and possibly cry, go see Keith.

After we get our butts kicked, its therapy time. This is my therapist,

she is another awesome human being. I have learned so much from her, I couldn’t thank her enough for her guidance and listening ear.

I then make my way to the farm to see my Uncle Tony.

Today, I didn’t actually take a picture of him #slightlybummed, so I had him send me a selfie, and I took an old picture of him where he is wearing his rope belt #innovative

Uncle Tony does the same thing at the exact time I get there. He works hard outside on his tractor, eats, then takes a nap.

After I hang out a little, eat some leftovers, and say goodbye, I head home.

At night, I teach a Barre Class at Live Out Loud Yoga Studio in LaPlata right across from The Charles &

                                          TONIGHT

                              just happens to be the

                  LAST FREE CLASS OF THE MONTH!

 

               If you want to try some cardio ballet, pilates and yoga, come

                                    on down, Wednesday nights @ 630!

My ladies were killing it tonight! #oneofmybiggestclassessofar

Leggings are everything ❤ #Fitnessfashion

Thanks for reading!

Sincerely, Alexandra

 

 

Today was a special day, I went exploring in D.C. with my two cousins

Cousin 1: Zoe Malyn                                  Cousin 2: Her mother, Cristal Rae

Cristal is my first cousin, Zoe is my second. Yes I know what you’re thinking but it makes sense….

Anyway, I rarely see these guys, so it was nice to get together.

Our First Stop:

          In case you were wondering, the location is between 3rd and 9th street along Constitution Avenue NW D.C.

 

This was my first time here and it was absolutely beautiful

Each room had it’s own unique appeal to it.

Of course, we weren’t serious the whole time…

The thing about Zoe and I, is we are children

& she is my girl.

    It’s crazy because I was blessed with    such a big family full of free-spirited, inspirational, talented, grateful human beings who I get to experience life with and I couldn’t be more thankful #SIDENOTE

                                                 Another side note, I met Mr. Burley Harris, who is one of the security guards in the gallery and happen to have the same camera as me.  #BOSS 

                                      Instagram: Burlies_photography

Anyways, our stomachs finally started talking, so we said goodbye to the art inside, and starting moving our way to the outside art

After traveling to ChinaTown (cause where else would you go to eat), we made our venture to

The Out of Darkness Walk.

Which was the main reason we came to the city.

This walk is to help raise awareness and research funds to prevent suicide.

It’s also for people who have experienced loss because of suicide.

For anyone reading this and struggles with sucidual thoughts, know that you are not alone &

                  You are loved and you are special.

Thanks for reading!

Sincerely, Alexandra

 

 

 

And is life a journey?

Well fuck yeah it is.

And here’s mine!

This is me:

I’m a goofball, if you can’t tell…

Anyways, this blog is about my journey through life, what I do and don’t do, who I meet along the way, and how I feel about it.

My name is Alexandra, on insta and Snapchat, I go by BornAwanderer

That name came to me, after going to Firefly Festival in Dover, Delaware with a group of my friends.

I was so engrossed in the people, music, fashion and love… I couldn’t help myself but wander around.

I had deleted my old insta account at the time (you know boy probs) and this was the new me!

Well as time went on, I wasn’t consistent in uploading content.

I don’t get paid to travel, I live at home and I work two jobs.

But what I see is beauty, and that beauty is everywhere, even in my small town.

So yeah.

This is my experience through life, there will be dance videos, music videos, fashion, and silliness.

I just want to be honest and real with y’all.

So come take a look once and awhile.

Thanks love bugs

Xoxo, Born A Wanderer