Magic: The Gathering

In the past couple months, more and more people have been telling me to get into Voiceover.  I never thought my voice was anything special, low, maybe a little bit husky, and raspy, even though I don't smoke cigarettes.  In acting class, on set, random people I meet in the bar, I've been hearing it on a regular basis and lucky for me, I was able to put my voice to good use a week ago in the recording studio when I got cast for a story version of "Magic: The Gathering!"

Nathan, Lauren, Austin & I in the booth for 'Magic: The Gathering'

Thresa (who brought me in for this project) and I had met when we were in Creating Arts Company's Children's Show in December 2013.  We were cast in 'Babes In Toyland' alongside Nathan and Lauren whom were also cast in this voiceover project.  Nathan's roommate, Austin, rounded out the CAC crew, as we sat in the recording booth excited to be working on this really fun story led by Shaun who knows everything there is know about the Magic card game.

As we got further into the script, I got more and more excited, wanting to know what was going to happen, what was coming for us?  I'm doing the voice for Halana and I like to describe her as a cross between Lara Croft and Katniss Everdeen; she's this badass huntress who fights evil with her close friend, Alena.  Together they're trying to protect the people of the town, Ulvenwald, against anything bad.

That's a wrap for 'Magic: The Gathering!'

Now we're all just waiting to hear if the project gets picked up and turned into a weekly thing which would be an absolute blast!  I like to keep myself busy with all sorts of projects with voiceover being a new venture for me and I look forward to doing more work like this!  Thanks to our entire awesome crew that day...it wouldn't have been such a breeze if it weren't for them!

Red Bull Training Video

A week and a half ago I got booked on a shoot for Red Bull.  They were filming at Blind Barber (one of my favorite bars in West LA) which is a Barber Shop during the day and a fabulous Bar & Restaurant (they serve some of the best Grilled Cheese I've ever had) at night.  Red Bull was shooting a Training Video for their employee's and Justin & I were playing the 'Bartenders' for the day.  Good thing we had some experience in Bartending!

It was a really fun shoot, working with the crew, the Wings (Red Bull gals who bring their products into bars) and also drinking a lot of Red Bull.  When you have to get the right shot, and they need to see you pop the tab on the can and take a sip, you end up opening a few cans and I couldn't let them all go to waste!  Needless to say, I was up till after 4 am that night and I had my last Red Bull at 4 pm.

Lots of Red Bull was consumed during the taking of these photos and filming of this shoot!

The video teaches the employee's what to do when encountering Bartenders & Managers, and also educates them on what products are available and how to get the product on the shelves!  Right now, they've got a new flavor, Tangerine, that tasted just like Orange Soda.  My personal favorite is the Blueberry but they also have Cranberry & Tropical flavors.

Just taking a little break in-between shots...

I'm not sure if I'll ever get to see the Training Videos or get a copy but I hope I do as it was a great shoot and the vignettes were also super funny so I'd love to see the finished product!  At least I have the photos and memories :)

My 'Graey Area' Episode!

I was a part of 'The Graey Area' Web Series which had it's premiere at the end of January!  My episode aired nearly a month later in February and I realized I totally forgot to share it here :)  They are looking to come back for Season 2 and perhaps Stacy will get to join the cast again for some more fun and excitement!

We've all been there before...you think you're dating someone, but they're actually dating someone else, and most people once they realize they are the 'other' woman, end said relationship.  Turns out, I was the other woman in this Web Series, and I had a big secret to share.  Hopefully, Grace & Stacy can become friends, and take on the world together!

You can check out the episode right here (I come in at about the six minute mark) and the rest of the episodes for 'The Graey Area' as well.  Enjoy and thanks for watching!

Union Mission Rescue Volunteer

Lauren and I were working together one night at Bar Lubitsch and she mentioned she was going to a Women's Shelter to Volunteer the following weekend and I asked if I could tag along.  She said she'd check with the coordinator and let me know.  Lucky for me, I was able to join her and I had such a wonderful and heart-warming experience on a Sunday afternoon!

As I pulled up to the Union Mission Rescue I was overwhelmed by the level of poverty that was right in front of my eyes.  I was just a block from Skid Row and I saw hundreds of people on the street...this was their home.  I cried because I knew there was really nothing I could do to change their lives; I felt helpless and frustrated.  As I walked the six block from my car to the shelter, a man stopped and asked me for $100.  I had tried to 'blend' in that day, wearing Chuck's, jeans, a black shirt, and my hair pulled back in a ponytail, but I clearly didn't fool him and stuck out like a sore thumb.  I apologized because I wasn't carrying any with me and kept walking.  I walked past buildings where people were singing Church songs, ladies were gossiping, men were talking about food and plans for later in the day, people were sleeping in the middle of the sidewalk, there was trash everywhere, and I just kept walking.

Waynisha and all the gals who Volunteered!

We met at the Rescue Shelter and took a tour of the huge facility that helped people get off the street, take classes, find a job, put their children in school, fed them three meals a day, and still gave them small privileges that no one would take for granted.  It had separate sections for the men, women, and all the people who were addicted to drugs and trying to get clean.  There were dental and medical facilities run by students from UCLA and USC and also a bank so people could safely keep money and take out what they needed.  The building was nearly a quarter of a million square feet and even included a beautiful rooftop where they held events and also had a playground.

Our job as Volunteers that day (thanks so much again to Lauren for letting me join you) was to give the women manicures.  While most of them were shy at first, they slowly opened up.  After I finished manicures for two women (one of which was giving me the hardest time, having me re-do her nails multiple times, put initials on all of them, and was genuinely trying my patience) and yet when I finished and she took off the polish again, I must have passed her test because she was sweet as pie and friendly from there on out!  A cute girl, Waynisha, asked if I already had my nails done (and they were) but she asked if she could re-do them for me and I said absolutely.  Waynisha from Skid Row, that's what she told me to call her and she warmed my heart the way that the kids always do when I'm performing with Creating Arts Company.  She had a sparkling personality and thanked me when she finished with my nails.  I asked her how she could be thanking me when she had just given me a manicure?!  Waynisha told me that I helped take her mind off of all the bad things going on in her life right now and I gave her something to smile about.  Wow.

It was a humbling experience and I already know that I'm very lucky to have all the things I do, and my wonderful family and friends, but she gave me even more of a reason to be grateful for the things and freedom I have.  Thank you Waynisha from Skid Row; you made my day and I hope more women there find the optimism and determination she had to pursue her family and dreams.  Waynisha, you truly deserve it.

Valentine's Day in Vegas! Part 1.

I may have lost my voice a few days before Valentine's Day, and thankfully got it back on Saturday, but there was nothing that was going to stop Jamie and I from going to Vegas on Sunday for a little Girl's Trip!  We had talked about taking a spontaneous trip a couple days earlier and since it was Valentine's Day weekend, we figured it would be a little bit less crowded and the price was right!

I drove us to Vegas and we had booked a room at Mandalay Bay.  It was beautiful; floor to ceiling windows across the whole room, two huge fluffy beds, a double vanity/sink in the bathroom, glass shower and Jacuzzi tub.  Why didn't we take a little swim when we got back to the room that night, Jamie?!  Once we got settled into the room and freshened up we had a little bite to eat and wandered around the Casino before stopping at a Craps Table.  I had never played but Jamie said it was really fun, so we watched (and I tried to learn a little more about the game), had some cocktails, did some slot machine gambling and then went up to the room to get ready for Dinner.

Valentine's Day in Vegas with Jamie!

We took a cab to the Aria because we were having Dinner at Carbone which was one of the top-rated new restaurants in Las Vegas.  We got two spots at the Bar and were ready to feast.  Jamie and I decided on the Caesar Salad with White Anchovies and the Mushroom Fettucine.  Jamie was going to order another Appetizer but the Bartender stopped us saying we'd have plenty of food after their Appetizer course of Assorted Bread, Pickled Vegetables, and Charcuterie.  He was right!  I had started to lose my sense of taste and smell the day before and sure enough it was long gone by the time we got to Las Vegas.  I had tried eating Wasabi at Happy Hour earlier and nothing.  So unfortunately, I can only go off of how I imagined the food would taste as texture and appeal are all part of eating as well and I had a little sense of it.  I actually ate a White Anchovy and it didn't scare me and the Fettucine seemed perfect!  I want to go back and eat the meal all over again!  We got a little after Dinner dessert that accompanied the meal and I ordered a glass of Moscato from the elegant drink cart.  It was a beautiful dining experience and the perfect Valentine's Dinner Date.

Dinner at Carbone in the Aria Casino :)

Then we took a cab to the Luxor and we were able to find a $5 Blackjack table.  We did have to wait a little bit to finally get some seats but both of us were able to play and enjoy ourselves for a few hours.  It was amazing how quickly the time flew by as we were playing.  I ended up breaking even at the end of our gambling adventure and then we headed back to our hotel.  It was nearly 3 am by the time we were back and we had another full day on Monday!

Part two of Valentine's Day in Vegas is continued below...

Valentine's Day in Vegas! Part 2.

There's nothing like a little trip to Las Vegas on a whim...

On Monday we went to Wicked Spoon in The Cosmo for Brunch!  This buffet was crazy; it's voted as one of the best buffet's in Las Vegas and it had something for everyone.  Everything is already portioned out so you can take as many as you like from any of the stands, carts, cuisines, etc.  As you know, my sense of taste was completely gone, so I was eating as much as I could and imagining what it would taste like.  I knew it all would have been incredible.  This restaurant will also be at the top of my list to visit the next time I'm in Las Vegas.  The options they offered, and the quality of food, was better than anything I've ever seen.  I even tried eating horseradish to get some sense of taste back but that did not help.  It was almost like the Jackass episode where they feed the guy wasabi and he eventually gets sick.  I was getting to the point where I was so desperate to taste food, I was eating anything pungent and trying to get something out of it but nothing worked.  Jamie seemed to really enjoy it and they offer a $15 Bottomless Bloody Mary, Mimosa, or Bellini for two hours which I'll oblige in the next time we visit.  Also, you can't skip dessert as there is a whole section designated to it including a Gelato Bar!

Brunch options at Wicked Spoon in The Cosmo!

Until next time Vegas...

After Brunch we walked from The Cosmo to the other end of the strip to The New York, New York Casino to seek out another $5 Blackjack Table.  We found one with slightly different rules; they automatically bet for you when you could Double Down or Split, so no matter what, you wouldn't lose, but the Dealer also pushed on 22.  It still ended up in our favor as Jamie won back all the money she had lost the day before and while I had gone done at the table, I came back up.  Over the course of our gambling I only ended up $20 in the hole.  Not too bad for at least five or six hours of gambling over two days!  We walked back to The Cosmo to grab my car and decided to stop at the Secret Pizza Place there and get a slice; one with lots of garlic for me and I'm sure that would have been great as well.

By six pm we were ready to head back to LA so we made one stop at the Outlets at Primm for a little late night shopping.  Jamie made out really well there getting some fabulous deals while I just did a little browsing.  Then we chatted, listened to music, read quotes for the rest of the long traffic-ridden drive back to Los Angeles arriving around 1 am and so ready for bed!

It was seriously such a fun trip even though I was sick the entire time.  It was a Ladies Valentine's Day and I couldn't have asked for a better date!  We had great food, a blast gambling, a beautiful room, and of course, each other to laugh with.  It's a trip to Vegas that's still chill but super fun that makes me really excited to go back sooner rather than later :)

February Karaoke

We may have gotten an extra day in February with it being a Leap Year this year, but it still meant there were only four weeks of Karaoke this month!  It was really slow at the beginning of the month but every week following that was extremely busy so I took a little break from singing.  It was a welcome break since I've had a cold for a few weeks that turned into a Sinus Infection and now that I've got some antibiotics I'm hoping to be ready to go for Karaoke next week!

Pat Benatar "Heartbreaker"

Journey "Lights"

Staind "It's Been A While"

Goo Goo Dolls "Name"

Cyndi Lauper "Time After Time"

Seether "Careless Whisper"

Tracy Chapman "Give Me One Reason"

3 Doors Down "Here Without You"

Shania Twain "Any Man Of Mine"

Jewel "Foolish Games"

Tonic "You Wanted More"

Mandy Moore "Candy"

Britney Spears "I'm Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman"

Fleetwood Mac "Dreams"

The Cars "Just What I Needed"

Melissa Etheridge "I'm The Only One"

Tonic "You Wanted More"

Badfinger "No Matter What"

Phantom of the Opera "All I Ask Of You" 

Joan Osbourne "One Of Us"

Since the first week was so slow, Jamie, Adam, Crosby and I were able to sing quite a bit.  My new song that night was "Name" by the Goo Goo Dolls.  It was my Mom's favorite Goo Goo Dolls song so I was happy to sing it in her honor.  I was also prepping for the Broadway Cabaret Show at Three Clubs that weekend so I practiced Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time" and also sang Seether's "Careless Whisper" (not for the Cabaret Show) which I love the rock edge to their version.  On the second week we had a little CAC Reunion so it was really busy and my new song that night was Britney Spears "I'm Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman."  It's not my favorite Britney song but it works well for my voice and was actually fun to sing.  Since I had started to lose my voice after Valentine's Day I stuck with The Cars "Just What I Needed" so I could sing-talk through the song.  I will sing that song again for sure since it's a classic!  Last week was busy as well and since I was still sounding like a turtle on and off throughout the week I decided on "No Matter What" by Badfinger; a song I remember listening to in the car with my family when we'd be on our way to Wisconsin Dells in the Summer.  I loved singing it and will certainly come back to it!  Adam and I also sang "All I Ask Of You" from 'Phantom of the Opera' and surprisingly, since my sinuses were draining, I was able to get into my head voice and hit some of the higher notes.  Perhaps getting my deviated septum fixed is far more important to my singing and voice than I thought it was!  That was also a new song for the night for me...woo!

I'm looking forward to a far healthier month, as I've been on anti-biotics since Thursday, and have my sense of taste and smell back for the first time in a week!  I'm hoping to do another theme towards the end of the month so I'm welcoming and ideas from my Karaoke regulars :)