A Fresh Start and Family Visits

So it all started the other day. I made my regular bowl of Kashi Go Lean Crunch, took a bite, and then looked down to realize that the entire bowl was full of ants!!! I could not run to the sink to spit it out fast enough. GROSS!! Upon further observation, there were a few things in the cabinet full of ants. I threw out those things and hoped that hopefully I'd seen the last of them. Wrong. So finally this week I threw out all of my food, sprayed down the cabinet with Raid, and had to restock the cabinet. Even though it was a little inconvenient, I have to admit that it's a nice feeling to have a new start. I bought lots of new, healthy food! 

Last week, my cousin Thomas called and told me that he and his wife, Jenny, would be in town and had a free weekend! Unfortunately, weekends are probably my busiest part of the week, but we still managed to spend some time together. I picked them up from their hotel on Friday and took them around Santa Monica. We also walked down the Santa Monica Pier because they had never seen it. We got a funnel cake and luckily were able to see dolphins and sea lions! We also went to breakfast on Sunday at my favorite beach restaurant, Patrick's. 

This weekend, my mom is coming in to town! She is coming Friday through Tuesday so it will be a nice trip! I'm trying to plan things out for the visit so we get to see everything. I'm also looking forward to taking off of work for a few days! I haven't had two consecutive days off in as long as I can remember! I'll be sure and post pictures of the trip as soon as I can. Have a great afternoon!

-Emily

Too Soon Old, Too Late Smart

Hi Everyone! So the blog title is the title of a book I just started reading this week called "Too Soon Old, Too Late Smart - Thirty True Things You Need to Know Now" by Gordan Livingston. So far, I've only read to the fourth chapter, but it is a really interesting book that I think anyone could enjoy! The chapters are very short and to the point. My favorite chapter thus far is titled We are What we Do and it discusses judging others by their actions and not their words. I believe everyone has probably had someone in their lives who says one thing and does another. It reminds you to quit listening to words that people feed you when all their actions show is that they cause chaos in your life. Not only do you need to quit putting faith in people that break their promises to you, but to quit breaking promises to yourself. Happiness isn't the absence of despair, but a state of being in which our lives have meaning, pleasure, and something to look forward to. (Hellllooo Jesus!) Anyway, it's a great book so far and if you get the chance to read it, you should!

Today has been a good day because I actually have the day off! Whew!! I have been getting things done around the house and running a few errands that have been on my to-do list for quite some time. I shipped the box of Ikea hangers that has been in my room since I moved to Santa Monica to Mom. Finally. That's just one of those things that's been nagging at me but I haven't deemed it important enough to actually do. When I woke up this morning and saw that box I said "Today is the day!" It's amazing how accomplished I feel not having that box staring at me every morning and night when I go to my room! Ha! I'm also FINALLY printing pictures off of my computer. I haven't printed any pictures since last year!! I've got quite a few other things I've been getting done today, but I don't want to bore you with that.

I'm still waiting on the camera charger that mom is shipping me to get here so I can put more pictures on my blog! Until then, here is the last picture on my camera before it died. It's of mom and I in Vegas eating at the Grand Luxe right when we got in to town! May my little Sony Carl Zeiss digital camera rest in peace. 

Conan

Way to go Conan O'Brian! I love him as the new host of The Tonight Show. Probably because he's got a weird sense of humor just like me! Did you all watch his show last night? I'm looking forward to his next several years as the host!

I especially enjoyed the part with the Universal Studios tour. I'm thinking of applying to be a tour guide there, myself. That would combine my love of two things: history and trams. Wish me luck!

I hope everyone is having a terrific Tuesday! I am so far!

-Emily

It's Been a While!

Hi everyone! Sorry it's been so long since I've blogged...I have been very very busy! Honestly, I feel like I'm spread a little thin these days, but things should slow down some after June. On top of all of that, my camera is broken, so I don't have any pictures to share! Mom let me use her camera for a while, but I don't have the battery charger so it's dead and therefore useless. 

It's a beautiful Sunday afternoon here, but this morning it wasn't quite the case. We're getting in to what's known as the "June Gloom." The mornings are usually pretty cloudy and then by the afternoon things clear up. I guess since I've been so busy I'm a little glad the weather is bad...then no one else gets to enjoy it either! Haha I'm not really that selfish...but then again it is a little of a consolation. 

Yesterday was spent in Hollywood at the Second City which is the highlight of my week. We are really developing as a group and getting in to more complicated classes. Instead of just having fun, we are working on developing emotions and following rules that we weren't following before. We focus a lot on the first 90 seconds of a scene which is really the hardest part of a scene. In the first 90 seconds, the exposition needs to be completely developed -- the who, what, when, where, why and relationships should all be clearly defined, so then you can spend the rest of the scene having fun! We are also learning how to create the "moment of truth" in a scene. In the middle of a scene, the attitude should completely change...or else there is nothing to watch! It's a lot to learn, but we're all picking up on it! 

I just got home from work and I think Jennifer and I may go to the beach for a little bit. I would love to take a nap, but I think I may just sleep on the beach so I can work on my tan! 

I have a little trick to share for you when life gets really busy. I always hate the feeling at the end of the day when there's still so many things left on my to-do list, so a teacher I had in college taught me to make an "I did" list of 10 accomplishments you made that day instead of focusing on what you didn't do. It can be any little thing! Today hasn't been too busy so I'll do my 10 things list from Friday:

1) I did a load of laundry

2) I did the dishes

3) I made my bed

4) I cleaned my bathroom

5) I returned some DVD's

6) I worked 

7) I cleaned out my car

8) I worked out

9) I lifted weights

10) I picked up my room

So there you have it! Some things may not be a huge accomplishment, but at least you're focusing on the positive things you did that day instead of stressing out about what you didn't do. Have a great afternoon!!

-Emily

Getting Ready for Swimsuit Season?

Okay so I'm not really attempting to diet, but I always have my eye out for healthy options and I just have to talk about my love for COOL WHIP FREE! It's fat free and only 15 calories per serving and tastes great. Granted, one of its ingredients is high-fructose corn syrup which many people try to avoid. However, anything else unhealthy you'd eat in its place probably also contains HFCS. If you're looking for a quick snack, just dip some strawberries, pineapple, or any fruit you love into the Cool Whip and instantly you feel like you must be cheating! It also tastes great to put a scoop of it over a sugar-free Jell-O chocolate and vanilla pudding pack. You can even freeze it and eat it like ice cream! Be careful though, a serving size is only 2 tbsp...so don't go nuts!! 

Anywho, I know my blog has nothing to do with food or dieting in general, but I just had to share! Happy snacking!

My First Show & an Exciting Encounter!

I can't believe I haven't had time to blog about this yet, but two Saturdays ago was my first improv show! It all started out as a kind of joke, I mentioned to our teacher that when I was in dance, we put on a recital at the end of the term...so why could we not do that with improv?! The next week he came back and said that Second City had allowed us 30 minutes on the mainstage! This may not seem like a big deal, but we were the first group of students that aren't in the conservatory to get the opportunity to do this! Needless to say, we felt pretty special. We picked out six games to perform and who all would be in them and ran them like a show would be run with our teacher, George, explaining each game before we did them. The show was free and we were all encouraged to invite our friends and family. Obviously I had no family there, but my friends Jocelyn, Mark, and Natalie came so I was very excited they were there! It went over very well with the audience so there's high hopes for our little improv group. We call ourselves "Hell Toupee"...not for any particular reason! It was a perfect ending to our Level C term. I began Level D this past Saturday and after I complete Level E I will be able to audition for the conservatory and begin doing shows on a weekly basis if I make it!

As for my exciting encounter...most of you know I intern at a talent agency a few days a week. One of our clients is Lorna Luft, Judy Garland's daughter and Liza Minelli's sister. I got a call the other day from her and she said she was going to be in the office in about an hour! I was so excited to meet her, and even a bit nervous! She stayed around and chatted for about two hours and was absolutely hilarious. I could've listened to her talk for another two days. The whole time all that was going through my head was "Oh my gosh..your mom was Judy Garland. Your mom was Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. Oh my gosh!" I bet she thought I looked a little crazy, but she was very friendly and a total diva (But in a good way!). She had just wrapped a show in London that she had been doing since January and was back in America looking for new projects. I thought it was so funny because she has a son who's trying to furnish an apartment and she kept asking if I knew where cheap couches were..she's surprisingly normal for the crazy life she's had! 

I don't have any pictures or video from the show yet, but I do have a short little video of us in the green room waiting for the show to start. For some reason, I can't upload the video right now so I'll try again this evening. Have a great afternoon!

-emily

"The Vegas"

For some reason, 2009 has turned out to be the year of "The Vegas." Since January, I have been to Las Vegas three times. It's a little ridiculous, but there was always justification for going, of course! The first trip I made this year was with my friends Jocelyn, Natalie, and Holly. Jocelyn is from Tulsa, OK and we knew each other through a mutual friend. She got in touch with me via the facebook and it's been really nice to have another southern friend out in LA. Natalie and Holly are also from Tulsa, however, we didn't know Natalie until we got to Los Angeles. Holly currently lives in Tulsa, but lived in LA to go to school at FIDM. 

From left to right: Me, Holly, Jocelyn and Natalie. In total it only cost us $80 to stay there, and then I won $200 at the craps tables...Success!

My second trip to Vegas came about when my room-mate Jennifer had a trip planned to meet her best friends from high school. I wasn't planning on going, but it was going to be Easter weekend and I really didn't want to be alone! We went with her friends Lauren and Amanda. Amanda lives in LA as well, so the three of us drove down on Friday morning and met Lauren who flew in from Washington, D.C. I was the only one who had ever been before so I was the official "tour guide" of the weekend. We stayed at Planet Hollywood and it was really nice! Jennifer and I also met one of our favorite "celebrities!" For any of you who watch Chelsea Lately, we met Chuey, her assistant. They film Chelsea Lately in Santa Monica, so Chuey gave us his card and said to call him any time we want to come to a taping. I'll probably take him up on that!

Okay so the third trip to Vegas was two weeks after this trip, and I went to meet Mom and Dad since they had won a trip there. Jennifer went with me too and we stayed at the Venetian. I had never stayed there before and it was so nice! We didn't get in until late Friday night because Jennifer had an acting class, so Friday wasn't too eventful. On Saturday, we got up and had breakfast, then dad went to the Motorcross races. (Or whatever they were, I'm not really sure!) Jennifer and I went to the pool for about an hour and FRIED! Then mom, Jennifer, and I just went walking around Vegas. We ate at Cut by Wolfgang Puck that night and the meal was amaaazing. You'll have to ask mom about her 3-year-old Japanese cow that she ate. We also went to see David Spade who happens to be one of my favorite comedians. He was hilarious! I would love to write a stand-up show and get to do what he does every night. On Sunday, mom and dad had to leave to catch a flight, so I dragged Jennifer to the Titanic exhibit at the Luxor. I had seen a Titanic exhibit before, but this one was a little different. In the beginning you get a ticket of a passenger and in the end see if you lived or died. I was a woman in first class so I was just sure I would survive, but I didn't. I got a little teary-eyed at one point when they had people's personal belongings and their story of why they were on the ship. Sometimes you forget that those people were real and they were mothers, fathers, children, and friends. 

So the best part of that trip would definitely be the trip home. For some reason, the traffic coming back from Vegas was three lanes, bumper-to-bumper, not moving. I could hardly keep my eyes open, so we pulled over in Primm, Nevada to rest. Since the traffic wasn't going anywhere, Jennifer called to see about how much a hotel room would be. $19.95 a night! Gosh that is CHEAP! We figured we'd just buy a room and wait until about 9pm to start driving again. If you've ever seen Primm, it's like a mini-Vegas. There's three cheesy hotels with casinos and an outlet mall. It's Redneck heaven. We checked in to Buffalo Bill's "resort" only expecting to stay for a few hours. There was a man in the elevator who brought his own cooler to the casino. Another man was walking down the hall carrying a "tallboy" and passing gas very loudly. I hope you have some kind of mental picture of this place. We ended up staying there until the next morning around 5am and drove back to LA. I don't think I've ever been happier to leave a hotel in my life. To go from the Venetian to Buffalo Bill's is quite a culture shock! If you ever get the chance to visit Primm, Nevada...don't. As for Vegas, I think I'm all Vegas'd out for a while!!