9 Facts About Me: Star Sign, Nationality, Go-To Cocktail, and 5 Things I Can't Stand
Hello, everyone! My name is Melina Maria Morry. Although, most people reading this probably already know that. Or at least I’m assuming. However, I wanted to reintroduce myself with nine facts about me, myself, and I. After all, there are more layers to me than a runway look from The Row. I’m a chick lit author, wife, and mother with two published books out in the world. But I’ve got a lot more going on inside of my overworked yet stimulated brain than that.
Most days, you’ll find me balancing the ever-so-delicate act of being a mom to twin toddlers and channeling my creativity into my work. Which, of course, is my writing. I also love to do hot yoga, edit little videos of my year with clips from my camera roll, bake, read, listen to true crime podcasts while I’m cleaning the house. You know, regular power mom stuff.
It’s usually pretty book-focused on this blog. So, let’s take a break from business and get personal. Here are nine facts about me—from my favourite foods to my go-to cocktail, foolproof outfit, and the things that I absolutely cannot stand.
9 Facts About Me: Star Sign, Nationality, Go-To Cocktail, and 5 Things I Can’t Stand
1. I’m half Peruvian with Aussie citizenship
My mom was born in Pacasmayo, Peru. She moved to Lima with her mom when she was a little girl. (She’s the youngest of 11 children.) In her early twenties, she left Peru for a “better life” in Sydney, Australia. That’s where she met my dad—a British-Canadian guy on a year abroad. So, I’m Peruvian, British, and Canadian with dual Australian citizenship. And I now live in Los Angeles, California.
2. I went to university in Sydney
Taking full advantage of my double passport situation, I decided to study journalism in Sydney. I can’t imagine having gone anywhere else. I loved my time in Sydney so much but ultimately felt like it was just too far away from my Canadian family, so I moved to Toronto after graduation. And before all of that, I studied fashion at Pacific Design Academy. However, I soon discovered that I liked writing about fashion a lot more than I liked designing it.
3. I’m a loquacious Gemini
I more than live up to my star sign. I’m creative, indecisive, and a total chatterbox. All throughout grade school, I think every single one of my report cards said that I had great potential, if only I’d shut up once in a while and stop socializing. Of course, not in those exact words. One of my professors at fashion school said it was a skill of mine to be able to talk to anyone from any walk of life and have something to discuss. The gift of gab.
4. I wrote the fashion column in high school
My first taste of fashion reporting came from writing the style column at my high school newspaper, The Jacklin Standard. It was a natural fit, considering I used to rock up to English AP in stilettos and hand-sewn dresses that I made in my spare time. One of my classmates recently told me that I was “dressing for the life I wanted, not the life I had” and I’ve never felt something more.
5. My favourite foods are…
Pesto linguine. My dad taught me how to whip up this simple yet delicious dish when I was a moody teenager who hated anything to do with the kitchen. To this day, it’s one of my favourite things to make. The more basil, the better.
Spicy salmon sushi. It’s a weakness of mine. My boyfriend husband knows that when he asks what I want to order for dinner, he has to be very specific with options or I’ll default to sushi every single time.
Fries. Any time, anywhere, any day. I love them on their own or accompanying a juicy steak, steamed mussels, or a cheeseburger.
6. I have 12 piercings
Eleven in my ears and one in my belly button that I got when I was 13. I think that the movie of the same name was a major influence in that decision. I still can’t believe my mom let me get my belly button pierced at that age. I’m planning on getting a couple more piercings in my right ear to round things off to a perfectly odd thirteen. After all, I have a thing about that number. Hence, my new book Thirteen Emotions.
7. I believe a good blazer is the key to your wardrobe
My foolproof outfit combo is usually: a body-hugging T-shirt, baggy jeans, and an oversized blazer. On my feet it’ll either be comfy sneakers for chasing my toddlers around or cute leather boots when I want to take my style up a notch. But to be honest, it doesn’t matter what I’m wearing—a mini skirt, ankle-skimming dress, bike shorts, leather pants—throwing an oversized blazer on top instantly takes my look from meh to me.
8. My active lifestyle started young
I started skiing at three, horseback riding at seven, and practicing yoga at 14. Growing up in Victoria, British Columbia really helped foster my love for being active and living a healthy lifestyle. (West coast, best coast—don’t @ me.) My dad was super into hiking, sailing, and running as well, so I often joined him for jogs through the forest or boating trips from our summer cabin.
9. My go-to cocktail is a martini
But what kind of martini, you may ask? My default is a dirty martini with gin and olives. It’s classic and contemporary at the same time. I can’t explain it, it just is. And it’s impossibly glamorous in a retro way. The next drink I default towards is the ever-so-trendy espresso martini. Of course, made with tequila. And when I’m at home and don’t feel like going through the martini-making steps, I’ll crack open a bottle of Avaline wine.
9. My pet peeves are…
Being mean for no reason. Some people obviously didn’t get the “treat others how you want to be treated” memo. That’s so not how a fierce woman behaves.
People who don’t cover their mouths when they sneeze or cough. Also, when people cover using their palm and don’t sanitize before touching everything around them. Serious ick.
People who can’t tell the difference between there, their, they’re and you’re vs. your. For example, check out this reel I made about this exact topic, with a little help from Sabrina Carpenter.
Constantly being on your phone. Live in the moment! Experience life! Make eye contact! Read a book!
Hitting REPLY ALL when you really just needed to email one person. There’s no need.
What are nine facts about you? Comment or reach out to me on social.
—ᴍᴍᴍ