The Mark Twain Hotel

Hey everyone! It's been a while since my last post. Things have been crazy busy for me lately. I decided to come back with a true story about my time in Hollywood, CA about three years ago.

I was living in Florida with my mom when we decided to see what the west coast had to offer. She had dreams of Arizona, and I had dreams of California. I was only sixteen when we decided to drive across the country. Talk about a road trip! It was a week of being crammed in a blue Ford F-150. Just me, my mom, and my adorable cream-colored chihuahua, Harley. But the adventures we experienced, the lessons we learned, and the places we saw; that trip was worth it. It was hands-down the most memorable experience I have had. (so far!) I have collected a few of the most memorable memories from that trip, and decided to share them with you.

The Cooler Incident 

We decided to bring a cooler to save money on food and drinks. Sounds like a great idea, right? Wrong. While it would have been fantastic if we had the space for it, but that truck was packed so full, that there was no space. It was sitting kind of behind me (in the passenger seat) and kind of on top of everything. It was painful every time we took a turn or had to stop. That cooler would not stay put! Also, every time it hit me in the head, some mixture of melted water and ice splashed on me. No, it wasn't pleasant. So somewhere between Alabama and Texas, my mom pulled over to the first exit she saw. Then, she pulled over on the side of the road. That is where we left that cooler. We left it there and never turned back. Somethings just aren't worth the hassle (or being bopped in the head).

On the Road Again

Now, this wasn't the first road trip that I've taken with my mom throughout my teenage years. We traveled from Florida to Maryland and then back again, all the time. Each time one song always seemed to make an appearance. I swear, the radio just knew we were "on the road again." The trip to California was probably the most I ever heard that song. It just kept playing every time we got back in that car whether it was from a gas-stop, food-stop, rest-stop, or Harley-stop. The song is called "On the Road Again" by Willie Nelson. Naturally, I know this song like the back of my hand. I mean, how could I not? After hearing it countless times, and singing to it across the country and back, it's just in my head. Now thanks especially to that California trip, I think of that song every time I get in the car.

The Desert 

Having never been further west than San Antonio, TX, I had no idea what to expect. I knew there were deserts and the West consists more deserts than anything. But after crossing through west Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, and South-Eastern California, deserts is all I saw. Without the help of the welcome signs, I wouldn't have even known that we crossed state lines. It all looks the same! It was discouraging at times because the road seemed to go on forever.

One night my mom and I had stopped at a rest stop (helps save money on motel costs if you use highway resources) to get some rest. Since it was pretty hot and we didn't want to leave the truck running, we had the windows rolled down about an inch. Right in the middle of falling asleep, I hear a weird noise. I look over and see my mom freaking out about something. Apparently a big, hairy, spider or some creepy-crawly insect, had tried to crawl in the window. And there went sleep for that night.

 Now I mentioned my mom had dreams of Arizona. Probably the only reason we didn't end up there is because the desert and my mom are not a good combination. The whole time we were traveling through the desert, my mom couldn't stop sneezing. It was as if she had allergies. Turns out, my mom is allergic to the desert. So there went Arizona.

Making it to Hollywood

Photo Taken by Jessie Kinsey  © 2014 All Rights Reserved

After about a week of being crammed up in the truck, we finally made it to Hollywood. The first time we drove down Hollywood Boulevard, I was ecstatic. It was all I imagined and more! I saw the palm trees lining the road, the famous Hollywood sign, and the Hollywood Walk of Fame! I found it very beautiful. I love mountains and beaches, and there you get the best of both worlds.

But it's not all glamour and fun though. It's insanely expensive to live there. Jobs are extremely hard to come by and driving is a nightmare! (I saw a speed limit sign for 80 mph and people were speeding) I know, you're probably thinking that I should've expected the high cost of living. I did. I just had no idea it would cost that much.

My mom and I had gone apartment hunting for a few days. We just couldn't find something affordable. One apartment we had called to inquire about, didn't look too fancy or expensive. But oh, were we wrong on thinking that or what? The conversation went similar to the following:

Ring ring ring
Apartment: "Hello (insert Apartment Name here). How may we help you?
Mom: Hi, yes, I would like to know how much your cheapest studio is going for on a monthly basis.
Apartment: Of course, it's $2,000 a month. Would you like to schedule an appointment to view it?
Mom: (laughing) You're joking, right?
Apartment: No. It's really nice, though.

(Note: This is an approximate amount and the conversation is not word for word. It's generally what was said as memory serves)

That was where my mom said no thanks, and hung up the phone. I mean, really? $2,000 for a studio apartment? That was the average price for most of the places too. One apartment complex even asked if we'd like a bathroom included or not. I'm not sure about you, but I thought a bathroom was a standard feature in any living space.

We gave up on finding an apartment. After searching through monthly rates on motels, we finally ended up at the Mark Twain Hotel.

The Mark Twain Hotel

The name sounds nice, right? Well I wouldn't describe it as nice, but it wasn't that bad on the inside. Not saying that it was ideal, but it could've been much worse. At $900/month it was the cheapest place we could find in Hollywood. Before we could let my dog inside, my mom had to pick up all the needles on the ground and under the bed. After tidying up a little bit, we noticed it wasn't that bed. It had one double bed, a very small TV (one of those box TVs, not the flat-screens) and a full bathroom. Although the bathroom window didn't shut, it could've been much worse.

Some did think it was much worse though. People passing by actually thought it was out of business. On my way out the door one day, I had a very interesting, but short, conversation with a stranger passing by.

Stranger: "Hey, is this place condemned?"

Me: (processing the very thought that never occurred to me) Nope, I live there.

Stranger: Oh, well it looks condemned.

I had never taken a good hard look at the hotel before. But after that conversation, I did. It did actually look condemned. You have to wonder how a place is still in business when the majority who pass by, immediately think it's condemned or out of business. But that's the way it looked. Taking a walk through the place won't help change your opinion on that either. You'll see needles on the ground and just know that they were for shooting up drugs. The sock on the door with the loud, obvious, noises let you know that this could be a place for prostitutes as well. Or just people that couldn't care less. But, that's the Mark Twain Hotel.

It's the very hotel my mom and I stayed in during the time we lived in Hollywood. It was in a great location right between Hollywood Blvd and Sunset Blvd. I could walk to Hollywood High School with no problem, and the stores were close as well. My experience with the Mark Twain Hotel will never be forgotten.
However, for what it is, it's expensive to live there. It's expensive to live in Hollywood, just like any city (but especially Hollywood), and it wasn't going to work for us. So about a month later, we decided that we needed to get out while we still could. As my mom put it "We need to leave before we die in California." It's not the place for those with little money. Between the cost of that room and food, we were barely making it. And what I mean by barely making it is living off of PB&J sandwiches and desperately looking for the jobs that weren't there.

So off we went back across the country to Maryland. But that's a story for another time.

My dog Harley and Me 

Harley, Long Haired Chihuahua, on the road trip

My Mom (right) and I (left) 

Why Most People Don't Follow Their Dreams

I hear everyday about people having dreams, and never doing anything with it. "Oh, I want to be an actress. But I know I can never do that." "I wish I could write a book. But I know no one will read it." "I'm dying to travel the world. But I know I can't." 

All the time I hear people saying what they want, and following it with an I can't. That little voice in your head is the main reason people keep their dreams, well, just a dream. There are many other reasons, I've decided to list a few.

I think the first step in making your dreams come true is realizing what's standing in your way and why you think you can't.

1.  Fear.  

(Fear is a hard thing to overcome. But regret is harder to live with)

 People are afraid to take risks. Afraid they will fail. It's natural to want security. To ensure that you won't end up on the streets or starve. It's natural to be afraid of rejection and sometimes afraid what people will think. But, it is possible to either overcome that fear, or fight through it to make your dreams happen. In my opinion, fear is the biggest obstacle and one of the biggest reasons people don't do anything with their dreams.

2.  Others telling you that you can't.

 That's another problem. There will always be people looking to put others down. To tell you that you can't do it. Mainly, that's because they either wanted the same thing and never did anything, or they tried and failed. So they will tell you that you can't. That it's just not possible. That's the power of words. Especially, if it comes from your own family and friends. It's discouraging and might just persuade you out of doing anything with your dream.

3.  It's hard. 

 Well if you thought it was going to be easy, you are probably kidding yourself. Depending on what you want to reach for, you're chances could very well be 1 in a million. That's a very slim chance. It's going to be hard. Nothing in life that's worth anything is easy. The difficult path leads to adventures and experiences you might never have had otherwise. But, the fact that it's hard and you're chances are very slim, will discourage many and lead them down a different path. A path that might lead to unhappiness. Or regret. All because it's hard.

5 Ways to Easily Save Money Each Month

Everyone wants to save money. I mean everyone. Why wouldn't you? Money is good. More is better. Now I bet a lot of you here are either 1. living paycheck to paycheck or 2. spend more than you realize.

Either way, these 5 simple tips that I learned, will work for just about anyone.

1. Find deals that actually save you money at the grocery store. 

There are a million deals at every grocery store that make it appear like you're saving money, when you actually are not. Buying in bulk is not always the answer, especially if you don't normally buy those items. I recommend reading the "deal" and determine how much you would normally spend, and how much you are about to spend. If it's cheaper, then go for it. If not, maybe not this time. But again, don't buy in bulk unless you normally do. It won't save as much as you think.

(personally, I swear by ALDI. It's an insanely low-priced grocery market, that has the monthly necessities. I recommend checking it out if you have one in your area. Even if it doesn't have everything, you can save a lot buy buying some things there instead.) check to see if it's near you.

2. Create a monthly budget every month. 

Write down your monthly income at the top, then every expense you have. Write it down, and how much it costs. For expenses such as new clothes or entertainment, think about if you need those things, or put a limit on yourself. For example, on my budget, I put $30 to spend on entertainment/month. Now you may have a different lifestyle, or a bigger family than I have. However, write down a limit, and stick to it. It will keep you organized and likely to not overspend.

3. Do not be too strict. 

It's tempting to say that you won't spend anything extra each month and restrict yourself from any fun, or goodies. However, when you do that you're prone to splurge more. That will cost you more money in the long run. It's okay to go out to eat or order in. It's okay to buy that pair of shoes. Just don't eat out as often. And don't buy two or three cute pairs of shoes. Catch what I'm saying?

4. If you use cash, put all of your change in a jar. 

It seriously adds up. I always do this, and each month I cash in the coins I've collected, and I had $20 once. Just from change! It doesn't sound like a lot, but it can and will make a difference.

5. Put aside a set amount of money each month in your savings. 

Whether it's $5 or $100 each month, any amount will add up and make a difference. Get it out of sight, out of mind. If you don't see it, you'll think you don't have it. Therefore, you won't spend it. Also, if you come across an emergency, you'll have something if you need it. Instead of freaking out, because you don't have any money.


Follow those simple steps and you'll see a difference. I live by those steps, and I'm able to save money each month. (And I don't make that much) Taking small steps, will lead to bigger results.

If you have any tips you live by, please feel free to share. I'd love to hear what others are doing as well! I'm always looking for new ways to save money.

What about my shoes?

So, like the title states, I did leave my shoes in South Carolina. It's quite a tale at that.

It happened when I was seventeen (May of 2012). My mom and I were making a trip from Maryland to Florida. Well, actually we were moving from Maryland to Florida. (I had just lived in Maryland for one full year, after living in Florida prior to that.) So there we were on I-95 S heading back to Melbourne, FL to start again. My mom, my dog Harley, and I were all crammed up in the U-Haul truck. The truck with all of our furniture and belongings in the back and a small cab for us to ride in. And when I say small, I mean tiny. It was one of those no-backseat type of truck cabs with no room to recline the seats whatsoever. We traveled that way for about 1,000 miles. It really was pretty uncomfortable. But then again, I was used to it.

So we stopped to get gas in South Carolina, I don't remember which part. It was one of those gas stations with food and everything, probably a trucker stop, which suited us just fine. Since I brought my cream-colored 7 lb long-haired Chihuahua with me, I had to walk him so he could stretch his tiny legs and use the bathroom as well. There I was, standing in my tan moccasins letting him run around and whatnot, when I felt a weird pinching sensation. It was a tiny sensation, but I felt it all over my feet. Naturally, I look down and scream.

I didn't expect to see what I saw. I wish I never had because it truly was traumatic. And as I freaked out, time seemed to stand still. When I looked down to see what was pinching me, I saw a couple hundred fire ants all over my two feet crawling up to my ankles. I had never seen that many at once before. At least, not all over me! The first thing I did, besides scream, was take my shoes off and frantically throw all of those ants off. When they were finally off of me, I went to get my shoes. But in the matter of seconds there were about triple the amount of ants all over and in my shoes. The ants were taking over.

I quickly scooped up my dog and frantically asked my mom to finish walking him so I could make sure I got all the ants off in the bathroom. I, also, gave her a quick rundown of what happened. Maybe it was my frantic voice, or the way I said it. But she found it hysterical. I did not. I started walking to the gas station, got about halfway there when I realized I didn't have any shoes on. How I didn't notice the burning asphalt against my bare feet, I don't know. Adrenaline rush maybe?  So I ran back to borrow my mom's shoes. They were two sizes too small, but I didn't care. I just needed to make sure those ants were off me. I just needed to know.

After I had calmed down, I noticed that I was actually standing on a fire ant hill. So the previous events were probably a cause of my own carelessness. But, I left my shoes there, on that fire ant hill in South Carolina. I didn't have shoes for the remainder of the trip, until we got to Florida, and I bought a cheap pair of flip-flops.

Nowadays, when I tell this story, I laugh. It's funny how frantic I was over tiny ants. But I did learn a valuable lesson. Well, two.

1. Never, ever stand on a fire ant hill. Fire ants do bite. They do leave itchy bumps. And they do attack.

2. Objects and possessions, don't matter. I easily made the decision to leave my shoes than risk getting attacked by those ants again. Or on a more serious note, what if there was a fire in your house. Would you care about your cell phone, or any of your possessions? Would they matter? Or would the people and animals in that house matter?

Lesson Learned: You can always buy another item, another possession, another phone, or computer, or well anything. You can't buy another mom, sister, brother, father, or person. You can't buy time. You can't buy actions. It doesn't matter what you have. It's dispensable. It's replaceable. But it matters what you do, and who you're with. Who you surround yourself with and the actions you make.

At the end of the day, that's all that matters.