Today was a Great Day!

Today was awesome! I'll tell you why...

Despite going to bed at 4 am (because I seriously work until that time from my home office!), I woke up at 9:30 to "work on my fitness" for the Ms. United States Pageant in Vegas this July. It was hard getting back into working out after being sick for 3 weeks- but I DID IT!

Right after that I downed like 3 cups of my home- brewed organic coffee...mmmm, it excites me to think of coffee ;-) Next, the G-Volution Dancers came over for rehearsal in my home studio. We were all so pumped during rehearsal with the brand new choreography...it's pretty smokin', if I may say so myself! We get pretty silly during rehearsal and almost forget we have to work...and that's when we came up with hand symbols for G-Volution to depict the "G" and the "V"......yeah, and as the director/choreo, I should be "regulating" right? HAhahaha, yeah right! But really, these girls are some of my closest friends, and as a company and friends we have a blast together!

The second major part of my day was traveling to Wine Library in Springfield NJ where I got to meet....(drum roll please!) Gary Vaynerchuk, the host of Thunder Show! I was so excited to meet him that words hardly came out of my mouth! Well I have to say, that Gary is even more cool and charming in person that he is on camera (if that's possible)...and a very REAL guy. He's so uninhibited, and it's really refreshing to meet a celeb like that. I left feeling very inspired and excited to put to use some of the business advice he had for me....that's what I'm doin' now! I got some cool Thunder wristbands, which I will be using very creatively next Tuesday.....you'll have to wait and see ;-) Thanks Gary! Check out my THUNDER STYLE! Goofy Me playing with the webcam... Till next time-
GraziellaB
MsNewYork

How to Do It All

As I sit and write this post, I am asking myself the same question I am answering for you: How do you manage several careers at once, and still have a life? Well, for starters, I am in the earlier stages of my careers, and I know it will only get more complicated from here fourth. The kind of work I do at this moment for my businesses is very much "preparatory work," meaning, all the annoying & tedious stuff that needs to be done before I can begin just doing my job--> editing websites, marketing, concept refining, more marketing, talent development, networking, more marketing, refining, etc... If you're confused, and/or reading this blog for the first time, then here's a brief lowdown on what I do:
*I am a dancer/singer/actress & choreographer
*I own a dance company (performance, not instruction)
*I own an image consulting company and graphic/web design company
*I also teach dance
*I am a blogger (as of Nov 07) & have added blogs to each of my companies and professions
*I am also very involved with my family, whom I love very much :)
*And...I am the "Everything" of my companies with the exception of my 4 dancers (which I can't be), and my image consulting partner Liana, my sister.
*Oh wait, one more thing, I am Ms. New York US 2008!

With that said, I know I seem like a career- lunatic...but I am! No really, I actually do have a life besides my careers, but there's a catch...my careers are also my hobbies. I adore what I do, and put the work in it whole-heartedly without thinking twice. I go to sleep at night wishing it would go faster so I can start the next day- and I really am excited about it. Sounds ridiculous? It is my truth that I feel so blessed with...and it is a truth that everyone can find. I think I just answered the question. Find what you LOVE to do...Do what you are. Actually, that's the title of a great book that I bought for a loved one: Do What You Are by Paul D. Tieger & Barbara Barron. It talks about embracing your inherent qualities to discover a career path. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it's as easy as picking up a book and identifying your "profession profile." If you want to really do what you love, then be prepared to look within yourself, sacrifice, work hard, never sleep, but wake up every morning with a smile. Aside from that, add some good time management skills, a priority list, a Blackberry, and you're good to go! :-)

Before I wrap things up, I'd like to give a quick shout out to some people who inspire me:

~Thanks to Rob Romeo who started me on blogging & refining my sites!
~Thanks to Gary Vaynerchuk of WLTV for inspiring me with his amazing Wine Show! Plus, see his related podcast 1 Trick Ponies, I DON'T THINK SO!
~Thanks to Jason M for inspiring this blog post!
~Thanks to all of my past and present teachers who have inspired me, pushed me, and some who have brought me down so I could bring myself back up again!
~Last but not least, a HUGE Thank You to my family & friends who always inspire me to achieve my goals and support everything I do..they are a gigantic part of why I am me :)

Till next time...Friend me Up on Twitter
GraziellaB
MsNewYork
TotalBeautyTips

Graziella's Spring News!

It's Spring, and like the season, my life is blooming with all kinds of new happenings! First things first: For those of you that don't know yet, I was named Ms. New York United States 2008! I am very excited for all the opportunities for growth and community service that the title brings, in addition to the national Ms. United States Pageant in Las Vegas this July. Check out my official Ms. New York US Website, and Ms. New York Blog where I discuss my new title in detail.

Second: G-Volution (my triple threat dance company) is getting a makeover! We've auditioned and cast two new members of G-Volution, which is just a small part of it's makeover. We will update our look with new costumes, updated site, new photo shoot, new video shoot...the works! I am very excited to unveil the new G-Volution in the next few months, and will be sure to let the world know about it!

Third: I, along with my sister Liana, will be kicking our company B.Youneek into high gear. B.Youneek is our image development company that offers image consulting (beauty, fashion, fitness, wellness) and graphic & web design services for the individual and for businesses. These services are diverse, yet really compliment each other to create the "whole package."
We are truly passionate about what we do with B.Youneek, and look forward to offering all types of seminars and workshops very soon!

Fourth: I continue to teach dance classes and have also taken on a brand new dance team- the X-Factor Dancers who dance for Dominican College and the New York Strike Force basketball team. Classes are getting more intense and exciting as we kick into high gear approaching recital season!

All in all, even though there is much going on, I am enjoying every bit of it! I am blessed to do what I love, and be able to bring joy into other's lives through the arts, image consulting. Thank You to everyone who continues to support me in my endeavors and adventures!
Friend me up on TWITTER!

Wine Library TV webfomercial

I am winding down to the night of my show, Puttin' on the G, actually less than 24 hours away....and I'm getting anxious and very excited!! I just wanna do it! Well, I wanted to relax and get my mind off the busy day ahead of me, so I watched my new favorite show...and it's actually about wine.... something I'd like to have right about now, but I'll have to wait till after tomorrow night because it dries the vocal chords, and I need those!

When I was searching for some wines for New Year's Eve, I googled "wine stores in New Jersey" and was pleasantly surprised when I found this site: Wine Library TV

The "Thunder Show" is an educated, passionate, and fun show all about wine, hosted by the hilarious & charming Gary Vaynerchuk! Whether you are new to wine, or already an aficionado, Gary's got a mouthful of info & wit to share with everyone, 5 days a week! Check it out-------> Wine Library TV

And, Oh Yeah....Come see my show this Friday! It's an entire evening all in one.... Whole Package: 3 course Dinner, 90 minute Show & Dancing Afterwards with NYC DJ Graphic George: Puttin' on the G

Transcendence & The Journey

As I prepare for a very busy, & exciting next 3 weeks ahead with the premiere of my show "Puttin' on the G" in my home state of New Jersey, I reflect on what remains most important...The Journey. Sometimes it gets lost when constantly focusing on the "end result," or your goal. The journey itself is what life is about, not what you attain at the end. We live in such a fast- paced, goal- oriented society that is centered on "winning, making the goal, getting the job, reaching the quota," that we do not pay attention to everything else that happens around us, and with us.

I wrote a poem a few years ago during my senior year in college, and it sticks with me...entitled Transcendence. I was going through a very transitional period in my life, as you can imagine a 21 year-old about to embark on the "real world!" I wanted to go beyond what I knew of as "myself," to surpass what I've been...all while living in each and every moment fully.

My brand new demo video contains excerpts of this very personal & intimate poem in the form of spoken word over music- check it out! Transcendence Demo Video
This video is in QuickTime Player Format- Click Here to get QuickTime
*Videography by Angel Sanchez

Transcendence (The Original Poem) by Graziella Baratta
To transcend oneself is to overthrow me
Never knowing what there was to see,
Never really being true to thee
Please be patient and just listen,
As I allow my true colors to glisten
Allow me to dance in the silence of my heart,
For only then I can become a part
Of this enthralling journey
I shall never forget what I bring with me
Remembering to breathe,
Remembering to bend,
I shall finally
Transcend
© Graziella Baratta


Hope you enjoyed it and related to it in your own way.

The "Self- Photo Shoot"

There comes a time when you really need to (or really want to) update your photos, especially if you're a performing artist or model. There also comes a time, like the holidays, when getting a brand new photo shoot is just not possible for many reasons. So, today after shooting the new dance troupe demo with my dance company G-Volution, I decided to do a "Self- Photo Shoot" with my digital camera and mini- stand. I was already in hair and makeup from the video shoot, so I thought "why not?" I know, I know I am not a professional, but at least I can have an updated look for the time being, until I get the new pro photos. I am definitely not Fadil Barisha (Miss USA photographer who did my last photos), but I'm pretty proud of my ametur work! Check out my Self- Photo Shoot in My MySpace Profile photos--->Click Here- Graziella's Self- Photo Shoot

Talk to you soon!

Graziella

Graziella's Demo Video