I'm Movin on Up!

It's official guys, my blog is officially up! After all the hard work and designing, I've finally got it to a place where I feel comfortable sharing it with all of you! Check out blog.carissasolomon.com.

Very excited! Now, off to my website and what's to come. Stay tuned. :)

Blog Cheating

It feels wrong. Doing something similar with another party. I'm not the victim, I'm the one that acted upon it. I've never been the victim in a case like this and I'm very thankful it's never happened to me. This must be what the mop in the Swiffer commercial feels like.

Yes, I've decided to pack up my bags and move to a new blog. *sigh* I'm working on it as we speak and I'm very excited for it! It's something much more custom and something I feel will scream my personality which is very important to me. When it's ready I'll start posting up there and probably take my favorite posts with me.

But like I said, I feel like a cheater. One window has my new blog open and in edit mode all the while here I am in another window typing in an entry. But I've got to keep blogging! I can't help but do it. Sorry, blog, I hope one day you'll forgive me. It's not you, it's me. :P

Thanks Blogger! You've truly been good to me. You'll move on, I'll move on. We both know it's for the best.

Chito Solomon: My Dad

As I've said in the past, I'm a daddy's girl. I know it all too well. Every one says I'm a spitting image of both my parents. I don't know if it's just me, but I didn't appreciate hearing this from people in the past because I wanted to be me, not a person that resembles other people. But I have to admit I'm starting to see it. The more time passes, the more I see them in me.

I get my wisdom (what wisdom I have) from my Mom. Many people go to her for advice and somehow, she just knows what to say. She's a wonderful listener and a great friend to many. She's an accomplished business woman and a hard worker.

I get my passion from my Dad. He's the type of guy that puts everything on the table. When he commits to something, it's always 110%. If something isn't done properly, he'll roll up his sleeves and do it himself. He's always been that way. He wants the best, to live life to its fullest, work hard, and reap the rewards. I've written about my Dad in numerous posts, mainly "Happy Birthday Daddy!" He's someone I look up to very much and last week, he has proven once again to me that he's a force to be reckoned with.

This week he was, once again, published in a magazine for his amazing car collection but this time was different. I remember this shoot. My whole family went to Las Vegas for the weekend of Thanksgiving 2009 and he stayed behind. He's not much of a Vegas kind of guy but he stuck around LA mostly because he told us someone was doing a photo shoot for his cars at our house. We've heard it before as his cars have been in different print magazines, online magazines, blogs and forums before. We didn't think much of it, until now. It turns out, my dad has been waiting for an opportunity like this for a long time. This is the first time a magazine has covered ALL (okay not all, there's actually more if you can believe it lol) his cars in one article. Not just his Euro cars, not just his Japanese cars, not just his go karts...all of 'em. Even the rare parts he's got in our 2-car garage at home that aren't attached to any moving vehicle.

UK based Retro Cars Magazine published a 7-page article about my Dad in their March 2010 issue. Reading about my Dad couldn't be more strange to me. Knowing that he's made a name for himself in his community is surreal and definitely a goal I have for myself. Reading the article made me so proud of him. Proud to know that his passion for cars has brought him places, proud to know that he's well-respected, proud to just be his daughter.

Congratulations Dad!! I'm lucky to know you and be your daughter. I couldn't be more proud. :)

Valentine's Day: Love me or Love me not

Love me or hate me for this post, but I'm not a big fan of Valentine's Day. Don't get me wrong, I live for romance and I'm lucky to be in love. I love Charlie more and more every day and I hope that he knows just as I know that we love each other more than anything. He's an amazing person, fiance, son, brother, and friend. Charlie, my love, thank you for everything you do. I love you.

But I'm just not big on Valentine's Day, anymore at least. I used to be like everyone else. I counted down the days until the 14th would roll by. I'd plan months in advance and put outrageously tacky thought into my gifts. And I'll admit, I loved every minute of it! But then something happened, a realization I guess you can call it. I don't need anyone to tell me what day to show someone I love them. I don't need a special day to give them a gift, surprise them with something special, or send them flowers. I should be showing everyone I love with my appreciation for them being in my life all the time, or at least, more often than 1 time a year.

So I did a little research on Valentine's Day and no one even has any concrete history of the date. The Catholic Church recognizes multiple martyrs named "Valentine" and have some idea of what had happened, but isn't sure about what really happened. One says that Valentine used to marry couples secretly when marriage was banned for young men with the intent to recruit them as soldiers instead of marrying a wife. Another legend states that a prison member fell in love with the daughter of his jailer and before was killed sent a love letter to her and signed it "from your Valentine."

Ok, that being said it gives me less and less validity of this holiday. Especially if it was to honor a saint and has now turned into a commercial holiday where people don't even know the history about.

HOWEVER, if Valentine's Day helps reignite the love you have for another (or others) I wish you a Happy Valentine's Day. Don't forget the love that you share today. May you remember the love and continue to show it through the rest of the year. :)

It's Me: Kissa w/ a Re-invention

So 2010, so far, has been what I like to call "eh." Everyone has struggles and just like everyone I've got a handful of my own. I'm taking everything with a grain of salt and trying to work every day toward the dream I like to call "my life." I'm a dreamer after all right? So here's what's in store:

After much self-contemplation and evaluation I've decided I'm in a rut. I need to re-invent myself, keep things interesting. I need that x-factor, that extra something that's missing. So on my road to re-invention, I've decided to get educated among other things. :)

1. Hopefully this Spring I will be working toward something new, something exciting. Helping me not only with my personal re-invention but also further my education in something I really do enjoy: BUSINESS.

2. I used to be so afraid of what people think. I still am in certain ways, but not as much as before and I have my re-invention to thank. During the time that I starting really looking at myself in a different perspective I told myself that I needed to take off the rose colored glasses. See what I liked about myself and what I didn't like about myself. See what I was willing to change and not willing to change. And let's face it, this is never an easy task. But I needed to get past that. I had to realize that what I see is what I get and if I wanted to change anything it's better now than later. The more I put it off, the more difficult it'll be for me to change. So I took a deep breath, and here I am.

3. Every bride...well not every, but many of us...want to lose weight before their wedding right? I'm no different. My family has a history of health problems and since I was a little kid I've been fighting to keep those problems away. It's sad for me to say but I realized that after a certain time in my life, my appearance didn't seem to matter much to me anymore. I wouldn't wear make up unless needed, in college I'd roll out of bed and wear sweats to class, and mind you, I love getting dressed up...or at least I used to. So I have decided that I will begin my quest for a healthy and attractive lifestyle.

I know people think I must be crazy for adding more onto my plate, but new things make it exciting. In my opinion re-invention is just a part of life. We live in a world where we move fast, rely on technology, and the concept of "the next big thing" is hanging in the balance. For me, keeping up with that momentum that the world is running on is so much fun and it's what makes it so interesting. The world is changing right before our eyes, let's do it too. Let's do it by doing the things we've always wanted to do, by not wishing and hoping and actually taking action, by seeing the best of ourselves and working hard to be just that. The rest will just fall into place, right?

Happy New Year! New Year, New Life

Ok, I know. It's already the 12th and I'm only now greeting everyone a happy new year. But to my defense lots has been happening in the past few months. With that being said, forgive me? :)

The year has started and I'm ready for it. This year I can tell is going to begin an upward climb for myself, but also for many other people. And I'm happy to say it! I've already begun to make things happen, but have been praying for continued guidance. And boy am I getting a response! So far, 2010 has been treating me well and I'm very thankful for the positivity around me. It definitely keeps me going.

This past Friday was my mom's birthday. We didn't get to celebrate like we normally do. My mom loves to be a great hostess (I guess that's where I get my party planning skills from). We normally throw a little get together at our house and have the family over, but with the shop being open and all the hard work that she does on top of that we had to have our own little celebration with just immediate family. As a tradition, we always make noodles as a sign of long life so we all had some for my mom.

Mom, happy birthday. You're a beautiful woman: strong, giving, motivated, hard-working, and loving. I hope to be just as wonderful as you are one day. I know that many of the traits I take pride in are from you. Learning from you and seeing how hard you work motivates me to do the same. I love you.

One of my groomsmen, Ray, also shares my mom's birthday. I've only known this guy for almost 4 years, but he's one of those people that I feel like I've known forever. Ray was actually the first person (besides my parents and Charlie's parents) that found out Charlie and I were engaged. Ray Ray, happy birthday. You're a shining light to everyone that you meet. You've always been a great person to look to for guidance, loyalty, a shoulder to cry on, a good laugh, and so much more. Thank you for being such a great friend. I pray for you every day.

I found out on Christmas Eve from one of Ray's best friends that he was admitted to the hospital. A few days later, we discovered he was sick and had leukemia. It hit many of us very hard. Such a wonderful person now battling this horrible disease. I know many of you out there know the feeling. Those that know someone or is battling any type of cancer knows the every day battles. I now know 2 people (and families) that have suffered from the disease of leukemia.

Ray's brother with the help of family and friends is throwing multiple events, first being "A Ray of Hope Bone Marrow Donation Drive." For those interested in becoming a donor, not just for our friend Ray but for anyone suffering you can easily register with the National Marrow Donor Registry.

To all those that celebrate another year of their life, happy birthday. It's such a blessing to be alive. I am grateful for everyone's presence in my life and pray for your continued presence every day. I wouldn't be the same person without you.

Glancing Back at 2009

I believe that if you don't learn from the past, the future isn't going to be much different. There's no improvement without a little reflection and action. After this personal reflection, I am definitely making some meaningful resolutions for the upcoming year. 2009 was a year of roller coasters for me, but I'm more than blessed to be alive, healthy, and in the presence of love from my family and friends. God has been truly good to me. So, my dear 2009, thanks for everything. These memories will bring everlasting gratitude and warmth to my heart.

First and foremost, this has been quite a year of transitions. This year, I resigned from my position of Administrative Director for VENT Dance Group. It was a very difficult decision for me to make as the people that have been, are still, and will be part of this group remain near and dear to my heart. Relinquishing control is something very difficult for me to do, especially with this group. The success of the team and the success of the individuals that have come and gone means very much to me. I have learned so much from being a leader and dancer for this group and I am very grateful. I now hold the proud title of "Advisor" and will forever love this team, my family. You guys have made the past 3+ years of my life fun, exciting, and rewarding. I'm looking forward to continually being part of your lives and the future of our team.

October 2009 completes that 1 year anniversary of the opening of Ninong's Pastries & Cafe. My parents and family own this little shop in Granada Hills. We have invested our time and money because we believe we have something good to offer the public. The bakery has definitely brought my family closer and I am so thankful for this blessing. It's a dream come true for my family and I'm so happy we are living it. With time and dedication, I know the success for my family and our little bakery will pay off. I love you all very much!

In 2009, I have been blessed with new, existing, and old friends. I've reunited with some, gotten closer to some, and even drifted apart from a few. Regardless of our current status, you are all still my friends and I value everyone's friendship.

On April 1, 2009, Charlie and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary. And shortly after that, we got engaged (as my blog, twitter, and FB followers already know)! I am a very, very lucky girl to have found such a wonderful person to love. He has made my days brighter, my smiles bigger, and my heart beat faster. I'm so thankful for his selflessness, understanding, faith, and overwhelming love. Being engaged to Charlie has made me the happiest I've ever been and I owe it all to him.

Life wouldn't be complete without its downs, and I am also very thankful for these blessings in disguise. Every day has its own ups and downs, some bigger than others. Because of the lessons I've learned in the past years, I've learned to take them in stride. Continue to live on, be a student of God, always believe that there's a plan. You just have to believe that it's there.

Dear 2010, I look forward to what you have to bring: good or bad. Please be as kind as possible, though. :) I'll be speaking with you again shortly.

My Holiday Wish List

Happy Holidays to all! I hope the season has been kind to everyone and has brought much excitement and anticipation for your time with friends, family, and loved ones.

It's been a while since I've blogged mainly because I've decided to make most of my presents this year so the added to-do list has taken much of my time. But enough of my excuses.

It's always been a tradition of mine to reflect on the past year around this time and by the new year, I would have a list of goals and resolutions to fulfill for the next year. This year, I've decided that I would add a "wish list" if you will of things that I want for the holidays. And no, it's not tangible items (well, at least not all of it) :)

Here it goes. I wish...

10. ...For a shiny new bike. (not really, more like a shiny new anything haha)

9. ...That things got just a little bit easier.

8. ...For a sign that I'm on the right track.

7. ...For a nice, relaxing massage.

6. ...(actually I hope) to get all my presents done in time for Christmas.

5. ...For people to remember the magical time of the season is about love, life, family, selflessness, happiness, and the joy of giving.

4. ...That whatever religion or holiday people celebrate, to really reflect on what the holidays mean to them. Forgetting the presents and reflecting on where their holiday tradition began and why they celebrate it. Remembering what this holiday means to my faith and religion has made me re-think my conceptions of Christmas and the Holidays.

3. ...That through these difficult times brings family and friends closer rather than farther apart.

2. ...For God's continued guidance toward success and happiness.

1. ...For everyone's good health and their prayers to be answered.

To everyone out in internet world, Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas from me! Maybe your days be full of peace and joy.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Yup, I'll admit it. I've been a Daddy's Girl right from the start. He used to take me along to his rally races and pick me up in either his beautiful 20B RX7 or his beat up lancer. He used to let me "work" on his car; which basically meant me having a tool in my hand and just twiddling with the roll cage, steering wheel, or something that wouldn't really hurt me back. Those were the fondest memories I had with my dad.

I got my entrepreneurial and common business sense from him. He was always very supportive about my career dreams and goals. When I told him that I wanted to go to art school, he didn't flinch and supported my decision. He always wanted to know what I had to say about business and even asked for my advice. Knowing that he cared about my opinion despite my age showed me that he knew his daughter was on the right track. Maybe not there yet, but on the right track.

Like any dad with an only child, only daughter for that matter, he spoiled me. He gave me almost anything and everything I ever wanted. If I ever wanted anything, his motto was to "might as well get the top of the line if you're going to spend the money." He introduced and bought be my dream car. Actually, my dream car was exactly that because of his influence. With all these things that he did buy me, he still showed me the value of a dollar. He taught me that with high hopes, fearless dreams, and preparation you can reap the rewards of your hard work. That showed in his cars. Apparently, he's quite involved in the car scene and has even been featured online, in magazines, and won a handful of car shows.

Daddy, today's post is dedicated to you. You're a wonderful Father, Husband, Brother, Son, and Ninong. I love you very much and thank you for everything you do for me.

Here are some of my Dad's other babies. :)

Check out my dad's RS200 replica at 1:50

Photo sources: Speedhunters.com, 3rotor.com,

I Guess Bad Memories and STILL Memories

This past weekend, Charlie and I went to Vegas to celebrate his birthday. What a great time. We got to see friends and spend some time together. We hit the bars, visited the automobile showroom, ate amazing food, went shopping, it was a blast. I've been making a conscious effort to make time for us - I live for the good times and memories.

One of the memories that will definitely last for the books: we were on our way to our buffet dinner (you HAVE to in Vegas right?) and as I was walking in my new dress and super-cute-wanna-be-wicker wedge heels my ankle twists, cracks, and I fall to the ground in front of everyone in front and behind us. GREAT, JUST GREAT.

First of all, I was wearing a dress and falling in a dress is never pleasant. Second of all, I twisted my ankle so much that I heard 2 loud cracks and it bent so far that I felt like my foot and my leg were perpendicular to each other. It took me a good minute to get up...MORTIFIED!!!!

Well, cheers to making memories. I guess bad memories are still memories! Here are some of my always amateur photos of the trip.


Here's a nice blurry picture of Charlie and I.



Our "Central Park Omelet" and Sundae from Serendipity 3.


And finally, the original of my dad's car -- the RS200. This car was displayed at "The Auto Collections" at Imperial Palace. It sat alongside many classic cars in a huge showroom. Imagine, 0-60 in 2.1 seconds! One of the first things Charlie said he wanted to do was go visit the showroom. Him and my dad share a love of cars that I can only try to understand. My dad is such a huge fan of this unique car that he has a replica sitting in his garage. This one's for you, Dad.

My Birthday Blessings

It was like I was on Cloud 9. I'm not going to sugar coat it, my life isn't easy but it's not too tough either. I always complain but I have to admit that I have many blessings and I'm learning to keep counting those. This past week was definitely a time that had countless blessings and I'm so happy for those moments.

I'm so lucky to have a wonderful fiance, family, and friends. The party started on Thursday and didn't end until Tuesday. I love celebrations (of course I would!) and the things that made these celebrations what they were was the people that I was with. Pictures of the birthday festivities will be up soon, stay tuned for those.

To everyone that wished me "Happy Birthday" and to those that had the time to celebrate with me, I can't thank you enough. All I want is to just spend time with people, and that is what I did. I love you all, you're my most valuable blessings.

RIP: The King

I actually feel like this is late, since he passed away a few weeks ago. I guess now is when I'm ready to write about it. Watching the memorial yesterday probably helped a bit too.

I'm going to do my best to not say what everyone else has (he's the greatest entertainer that ever lived, he will be missed, condolences, etc). But that will obviously be difficult due to my feeling of desolation and contemplation. I guess I'll just try to keep that section short. I'll just say that the first song I remember was "ABC 123" because of my Dad. It's amazing to me how MJ effected the lives of my Dad, my older cousins, me, and my younger cousins through his music. I still remember the performance I saw that made me respect him more than an entertainer. Everyone I talk to remembers Michael Jackson for Thriller, Billy Jean, Beat It, his Jackson 5 days, etc. But no, not me. Though as a dancer myself, I of course loved his talent in all those numbers and all his performances, that goes without saying. But what I remember most is his performance at the Super Bowl singing "Heal the World." Why? I'm not quite sure. I just remember that I saw true care for young people, old people, the world, and everything in between in his performance. I really respected that about him. He put others before himself many times. He was very selfless and giving, something I aspire to be.

Michael, millions pray for you and miss you. I guess I'm just another one of those million lives you touched. A person like you puts me in awe. What an amazing feat to be respected, admired, and loved by so many people by doing what you love. You bring people together from all walks of life, you inspire me to be a great person and to give 100% in everything I do. Thank you.

The Wedding Planner's Engaged!

I think the headline sums it up pretty well. And it gives me a chance to put it out there: yes! I'm a wedding planner that plans weddings because I love weddings, not because I planned my own wedding. And for those that have asked, of course I'm hiring a wedding planner! =)

As you can see in the picture, we're excited! We were engaged in April, and no, not sure when the date is yet. We're still talking with our families to figure out what dates works best for us. Thank you to everyone that has sent their love and support, we really do appreciate it!

25 Years of Marriage, Congrats Mom and Dad!

What a weekend. I’ve been planning this party for my parents for almost a year. This past Saturday, it finally happened.

My parents have been married for 25 years as of May 12, 2009. They’re hard working, wonderful people. As parents, they gave me everything and almost anything I ever wanted and needed. They recently opened a Bakery and Cafe (www.ninongspastries.com) in late 2008 and the shop has been taking all of their time. I get my love of parties from my mom, and I knew she wanted to have a party for their anniversary, but where would she even get the time to do it? She’s not only at the shop 50% of the time. The other 50% she works as a Realtor (which she’s proudly been doing for over 15 years).

So, I decided to take it upon myself to plan their anniversary for them. It was tough to keep it a secret, but thanks to the rest of the family we pulled it together. People came from out of town and from down the street. Everyone pitched in and I was touched to see how many people wanted to help. I couldn’t do it without them. It really shows me much my parents are loved by their friends. Even those that regretted they couldn’t make it were disappointed that they couldn’t come.

Just my camera alone took over 300 pictures. You can view more here: http://gallery.me.com/carissasolomon#100055

Congratulations Mom and Dad. I love you!