This is for My People

As the first month of this new decade comes to a close, I've taken some time to reflect on the past ten years and started thinking about the next ten to twelve months.

Reflecting on ten years can be a daunting task, so I'll spare you the details. In a nut shell, I've had two graduations, made great friends, traveled to far away places, fell in and out of love and left the greatest city in the world for a windy one.

Anyone that knows me well will tell you -- QQ is a planner. I love to think ahead and plan everything down to the last detail. I will even go as far as giving you an itinerary, just so you know what's coming next. What can I say? It’s the Virgo in me! Thank God I can do this as part of my career because it is nearly impossible to plan for the next 365 days.

For this New Year, I have resolved to stop planning the rest of my life today. I’ve decided that I am going to trust myself to know that every decision I make will shape the life I want to build -- not just for myself but for "my people.” No, not “my people” as in an entourage! The people who love and care for me, my family, lovers and friends– current and future.

Who knows where life will take me in this new decade, but knowing that my people are by my side makes the journey that much sweeter!

Here’s a toast to all my people!

Love,

QQ

New Chromeo Video!!!

Who knew Dave 1 was such a good dancer?! He can be on dwts!

Chromeo "Night By Night" Video on Vimeo - Watch more Videos at Vodpod.

Basement Jaxx -- Feelings Gone


Basement Jaxx - Feelings Gone on MUZU.

This song is awesome, and this video is hilarious

Festivus for the rest of us

Thanksgiving has to be one of my favorite holidays. This is was my first in Chicago and away from my family, but I was determined to make it a memorable one.

In an attempt to make Chi-town Thanksgiving feel like a Quinones Thanksgiving I decided to make a pernil (pork shoulder). This is no easy task! For starters, where was I going to get one? Not in the middle of downtown Chicago. I made the treck out to Humboldt Park, Chicago's Puerto Rican neighborhood, on the way there I called the family cooks (grandma and mi papi) and asked the daunting question: how do you cook a 10lb slab of meat? They both gave me the same answer, SAZON, and not the Goya kind.

After five plus hours in the oven, out came this wonderful juicy, crispy pernil -- sorry, the recipe will remain a QQ secret. Along with the pernil, we had Puerto Rican pastelon, stuffed sausage balls with gravy, sweet potatoes, scalloped potatoes, biscuits, and the main bird, Turkey. For dessert I made a creamy coconut flan and crunchy oatmeal cookies. Needless to say, everyone was stuffed.

This Thanksgiving I was grateful for family and friends but also grateful to know that I can recreate the feeling of home in one bite.

Hope everyone had a joyous Thanksgiving!

Qurious Quinones

It’s been about two months since my last posting – basically an eternity in the blogosphere! A million apologies to all my readers, there’s been a TON going on – but there is no excuse. From now on, I promise you will NEVER wait this long for a post again.

So what have I been up to? Everything from crazy dance nights, fashion shows, trips to Miami and chill out movie premiers have gone down in the past two months. What can I say, life is crazy when you’re Qurious Q.

Here is a quick recap of my escapades in the great city of Chicago and beyond!!!

Amigos Invisibles - Logan Square, Sept. 18th
One of my favorite bands, Amigos Invisibles, was in Chicago and put on an amazing show! Yes, they are my invisible friends from Venezuela and they can be yours too! Los Amigos are rumba, sweat and sparks of sexual energy beaming out of the lead singer. Needless to say, I was a spinning like a dreidel all night!

Mentiras




Mexico vs. Colombia
In late September, I was in Dallas, TX for a Mexican National Team match against Colombia. My client sponsors the Mexican team, so I was there to activate the event. Lucky for me, it was easy to root for the winning team, COLOMBIA! Colombia wasn’t the only victor of the night; I won a bet down to the score. Victory is sweet…thanks for dinner ;)

Seriously, Soccer will be the sport of 2010…So get on the soccer bus!! Plus the players are super cute. Check me out with Memo Ochoa, goal keeper for the Mexican National Team.



Chromeo - Congress Theater, Oct. 30th
It was Halloween eve and the freaks do come out at night, even when it’s super cold. At one point I was dancing next to Oscar the Grouch. I don’t know what happened but the next morning I had a tiny black and blue on my eyelid. I had such a great time at this show.
Chromeo played all the favorite tracks and there was fancy footwork on the dance floor! The costumes were awesome!



Basement Jaxx - Congress Theater, Nov. 6th
I love Basement Jaxx since my college radio days and it was amazing to hear them spin. Even though they didn’t play many of the favorites, they did play a couple of tracks from the new album, which I love (of course)!
Here’s a home made recipe for a hangover: Booty bumping tracks, Tequila shots and a dash of beers. I did my research, and it’s a killa hangover.

Sept. 3rd, 1982

Let the countdown begin!

I usually like to make a big splash on my birthday, and this year is no exception. As a matter of fact, this year I’m celebrating more than ever! The past year has been a transitional one for me, to say the least. From the gritty city streets of New York to the hair tousling Windy City, I finally feel like I’ve come into my own.

Chicago has opened a new chapter for me and I’m excited to celebrate my first birthday in this city. I’m re-energized by the prospect of a new beginning but also nervous about the uncertainty the future holds. Whatever this year brings me, I know I can handle it with courage, hope and a little alcohol.

For my 27th birthday I’ve put together a list of the 27 things that will help me along as I navigate a new year.

1. Peace on Earth
2. For Mimi to be well behaved for JUST one day!!!
3. Salud, Dinero y Amor for all my friends and family
4. To Party like its 1999!!!
5. Exciting new novels in Spanish
6. Haircut
7. Headphones (preferably a pair I can workout with)
8. Shots of Tequila
9. Digital Camera
10. Michele two tone watch strap bracelet
11. For the METS to get their act together (next season)
12. Hermes Fragrance – Un Jardin en Mediterranee
13. Wine glasses
14. Andy Warhol Lips Tray
15. Shots of Whiskey
16. Socks
17. CVS Gift Card
18. Exciting new novels in English
19. ITunes gift card
20. Skinny Black Hudson jeans
21. Flowers
22. Anita Ko’s Gold Spike Stud earrings
23. Shots of Tequila
24. Ice Cream Cake
25. Champagne
26. Heart rate monitor
27. Hugs and Kisses

xo
QQ

Jamaican-Me-Crazy

For this year's family vacation, my mom decided on Jamaica. I know you all think I had something to do with it, but it was totally her idea.

Below are a few Highlights from my trip.

Sea Horses:
We went on a horse back riding excursion, where you are a guided through a plantation (more like a dirt road) and get to ride in the water. This was no biggie for me, I have gone horse back riding before, but then the water part came. My thoughts were that we would ride the horses along side the water. NO. Once we finished with our “plantation” tour we rode to an ocean side shack where the saddles were taken off our horses and we were guided into the water -bare back, holding onto the mane of the horse, into 20 feet of water! The horse was swimming and I was riding it - in the water!!
The funny thing is the horse in front of me pooped and my fear switched from riding a horse in 20 feet of water, to not letting the poop touch me!

Negril:
Seven miles of soft white sand beaches and crystal clear water along with that relaxed Jamaican vibe. You can’t beat that!! Total BLISS! Thats Negril!
That soon ended when our tour bus pulled into Rick’s Café to see the world famous Jamaican Sunset and the divers. People were flinging themselves of the top of trees over 50 feet in the air! Obvi, I didn’t partake in the 50 foot jump. I went for a more mild 25 feet. After my jump a random guy came over to me and asked if it hurt. Confused I said no, only to have him point out that I had blood all over my mouth. I busted my lip as I hit the water. I had so much adrenaline pumping through me that I didn’t feel a thing.

So scared!

On my way down

Braids:
I didn’t want to be a total cheese ball and come back with braids, but I had a vision of me with bad ass braids on one side of my head. So I did it! I wish I had the balls to actually shave one side of my hair and be a REAL bad ass, but I'm a wimp.

I had a great time and will be returning to Jamaica and maybe this time I'll try the 35 foot jump!

YAH MON!
QQ