#4 - Finding The Right Dress for the Marine Corps Ball = Mary Freaking Out

So, the Marine Corps Ball was postponed to tomorrow night, due to Hurricane Sandy. And well, I'm freaking out just a little bit. I haven't found the right dress for that night and I don't know what to do with my hair. Let me tell you about my hair. I get bored easily and have to either cut it or change its color. I used to have long hair up to my belly button, then one summer, I chopped it all off in a stylish pixie cut way back when I was 17 years old. And ever since then, I fell in love with short hair. So, the longest my hair has been, is past my chest. And I recently have started growing out my pixie cut and started to display a modern day mullet, so I went for another haircut. And now it's manageable and I quite like this cute short hair I have now. But, my hair is very stubborn and sometimes, I just brush it one way and leave the house like that. People tell me they like my hair, but I'm starting to think I want it long again. Many of my friends say to grow it out and add some bangs again. I might do that. But!!! That's not what I'm talking about. I NEED TO FIND A DRESS TONIGHT or one by tomorrow morning. I'm afraid I won't find the right one. And then, the hair issue pops up :( I really wanted to style my hair like how the ladies back in the 40s did. I wanna add some volume and some waves to it. I thought it'd be quite and sophisticated at the same time. As for the dress, I don't know what color I should choose and what style. All I know, is that I want to feel beautiful in it and not have to constantly doubt myself during the night. I want to be able to enjoy the ball with my husband. I feel like a modern day princess and my manager says that I am a modern day princess. HAHA! I wish I was. It'd be nice. But I guess, tomorrow night, I'll have the chance to feel that way.

Anyways, this is a short blog entry for me. I must be rushing out the door in a couple of minutes to search for the right dress. Never mind the shoes because I have these nice silver heels that I absolutely LOVE. I will definitely post some pictures later if I find my dress. I'm excited and anxious. And my goodness! It's freezing out! Wish me luck everyone!

#3 - "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?" (Cover)

This is my latest cover of "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?", since I'm in such a holiday mood :) Enjoy!

#2 - Holidays and Birthdays

Is anybody else as excited as I am about the holidays?! Well, I can't even begin on what I'm excited about. Too many things! Anyways, well...as some of you know, my birthday is December 21 and I'm turning 22 years old! Can you believe it?! Haha. To be honest, I haven't had such great birthdays in a while. But, it doesn't matter as long as I get to spend it with people who care about me and whom I love. So, this year, I actually have a 45 minute acoustic set at RAPTURE LOUNGE in Astoria, Queens the night before my birthday. This is actually my second time playing at this lounge and I absolutely love the vibe of this place. So, I want to invite all of you to come join me on the night before I turn 22, and listen to some of my music LIVE. There is also another artist playing that night right after me. I go on at 8PM, but I'll be there early to grab some food to eat and perhaps a couple of drinks, if you guys would like to join me. Unfortunately, this acoustic show is only for 19+ year olds. And you must bring an ID with you and money to spend on some food and drinks. I hope you all join me on this night and celebrate 22 years of my life.

Alright, now on to the holidays. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE CHRISTMAS and HOLIDAY MUSIC. Right after Thanksgiving, I put on the radio to 106.7 FM and listen to Christmas music all day. It really cheers me up and always makes me feel like dancing around. I don't know what it is about them, but they're a great pick-me-up for me. I also can't wait to celebrate the holidays this year with Noah, my son, and my husband, Christopher. The thing about holidays and special dates such as birthdays and anniversaries and other events throughout the year, I love celebrating them the day of. To me, it makes it even special doing it the same day, and spending it with the right people. Of course, with every occasion, I love to hear music. Music is my life, what can I say? Everyday is filled with music. 

Oh! I forgot to mention that I'm planning on writing a holiday song. My manager and I were talking about topics and how 30 years from now, we'd stop by a STARBUCKS and hear my song playing and somebody else covering it. What a wonderful thought! Oh man, as I'm typing right now, I'm listening to the soundtrack to Charlie Brown's Christmas. Loved that movie. What are your favorite holiday movies? What is your all-time favorite Christmas song? I would really like to know your favorites and how you feel about this year's Christmas and New Year's. What are your New Year's resolutions? How have you changed this past year? And last but not least, are there any songs you guys would like for me to sing? Please leave me a comment and say hi! I'd love to hear from all you wonderful people <3 Well, until then, have a nice day everyone!

#1 - "Hello" From a Sick Mary Desiree

Hi, everyone. My name is Mary Desiree, but you can call me Mary for short. Let me introduce myself to all of you before I start blabbing about my life. I am a 21 year old (turning 22 on 12.21. *hint hint* haha) singer-songwriter from Queens, NY. I am also a mother to an 18 month old beautiful baby boy named, Noah (and if you were asking yourself if I named him because of THE NOTEBOOK, yes. You're right.) Short and sweet, I am a passionate lover of the music and arts and everything that has to do with it. So, let's get it started shall we?

This is my first blog post and there are so many thoughts flying around in my head that I don't even know where to start. Hmm...how about we start with last night's meeting with my manager and my first band rehearsal. Last night, my manager, Hal Eisenberg (WINDOWS OF OPPORTUNITY, INC.), took me to see a one-night only BON JOVI concert documentary-type movie at our local movie theater to help me get inspired. There was a Q&A with BON JOVI and there was one question every aspiring musician would ask someone in that position: "What advice can you give an aspiring singer-songwriter/musician?"

     They answered, plain and simple: "Write. Write. Write."

What an excellent answer! This totally inspired me a lot, even though my manager considered that whole experience, "torturing me". Haha! So, after that, we headed to STARBUCKS because my cough was acting up and we bought some peppermint tea with honey, and I must say, that it helped with my cough AND it tasted great! We also bought some honey-lemon cough drops at the CVS nearby. And then, off we drove to the studio to meet up with my band. Now, I must inform you all, that the guys in my band are just AMAZING! They're all super talented in their craft and I'm so grateful to be working with each and everyone of them. I like being a part of something where I can feel welcome and just comfortable in my own skin, as well as feel like I can bond with the rest of the team like a family. I am all about family bonding. 

So, we arrived at the studio a little early and caught up with my trombonist, Darius N. and my other trumpet player, Isaac L. Our drummer, David G., was already there and soon enough, our bassist, Dominique J. appeared and finally, our main trumpet player, David D. arrived. I was filling in the spot for guitar because we are still looking for the right guitar player for our band. Mind you, I do play guitar but I prefer having vocals as my main priority. We went through my bluesy original, "THE WAY I AM", and learned my newest song, "BURY ME". I was SO excited to hear how my newest song would sound like with a huge band. An hour later, we got a basic set-up for my song and I cannot wait to completely polish it up and show it to the world. So many thoughts about this song! From music videos to photoshoots to studio recording time....TOO MANY THOUGHTS! Hahaha. Anyways, you'll hear that song soon enough :)

Afterwards, my manager and I had so much in our heads that we decided to stop by a DUNKIN' DONUTS to have a late night snack and to talk business. Mind you, this was like around 1:30 am. This whole meeting lasted til about 4:30am. Now, you must know that we had LOTS to talk about AND was just so motivated to keep going, although you can tell we were worn out from the day's activities. We talked about what the plans were for my music career and everything else that will be happening real soon. I am ecstatic to the point of no return. I don't even know if that made any sense but you must know that I am so excited and just so overly grateful and SO -- I cannot even find the right word --- that all my hard work from the beginning is finally paying off. I can't wait to share my story with you guys and to the rest of the world. I can't wait to be able to inspire a young artist like myself, when I was 16 years old and just starting out with my song-writing and playing guitar, with my calloused fingers. I can't wait to touch hearts and to put a smile on people's faces even when they were having the most horrible day of their lives. I want to be able to reach out to someone and tell them that it's okay. That you CAN make it and that you should NEVER doubt yourself, because that's the only thing holding you back from your dreams. Yourself. So, if you believe in yourself, you can do anything. My manager loves my song, "BELIEVE", because he felt so inspired by my words. I can't wait til you all hear my soul through my music.

Please come back to my blog and keep in touch with me. I'd love to interact with my supporters and fans and friends in any way possible. I want to thank everyone who has ever believed in me and supported me no matter what. I can't be where I am now, without all of you. Just remember that. But, that's it for today. I will see you all again tomorrow and I hope my cough goes away soon. I don't like feeling sick and I wish I can go and dance around my room and blast holiday music from 106.7 FM, with my son, and sing as loud as I can and bake my cookies and --- wait a minute. Nothing's holding me back! NOT EVEN THIS COUGH! I WILL go and dance about and make a complete fool of myself now. Haha. Have a great day everyone!