Resolutions & Goals for 2017

As we've gotten settled into January and the new year, I took some time to figure out what I wanted for myself this year.  With the life-changing year of 2016, I am really excited to welcome 2017.  Out with the old and in with the new, and here's to a fresh new start with stronger relationships, more creativity, positivity, yummy food, and work!

Last year I took a Master Class at the Ruskin School, working with Chris Mulkie, Paul Sand, Billy DaMota, Paul Ruddy, Bruce Davisson, and more.  I learned so much over the weeks and certainly grew as an Actor.  These Actors & Coaches (including John Ruskin) pulled so much out of me and brought new ideas and intentions for me to work on.  I'm always striving to learn new techniques that make me stronger in my choices.  I started producing some of my Aftershows at Afterbuzz TV as well, and brought in a ton of guests to talk about 'Supernatural.'  This show continues to pick up steam and just got renewed for Season 13...woo!  We had a few Improv Shows and I've been actively involved in our weekly Improv classes.  CAC Studios had also re-opened 'Thenardier's Inn' and I got to do some Princess Shows on top of our adult shows.  I even stretched my range by working with some talented actors for 'One Night Stands,' which was a blast and challenge.  I can't wait to get involved with some new projects this year, film with my friends, creating our own work, and get myself out more often!

'No day but today!' ~ Rent (Photo by Angel Romero)

I grew in the kitchen too, thanks to Blue Apron.  The girls from Lubitsch gifted me a couple weeks at Christmas time, and I actually kept up with it because I love to cook.  It makes it so much easier when the ingredients and recipes are delivered right to your door and all you have to do is cook it up.  I'm looking forward to making some of these recipes on my own now!  I Hosted my first Dinner Party last week and can't wait to have another one.  Health and fitness-wise, I've been working really hard and thankfully can still enjoy my favorite foods but need to make sure to keep up with my work-outs because it's definitely harder to stay in shape in your 30's.  Water has been a huge part of the last year, as I've made sure to drink a minimum of eight glasses a day and I can truly say I've seen a difference in my skin (it looks clearer and brighter), I very rarely have a headache, hangovers are far less regular, and I don't crave sweets or sugary drinks like I used to.  I always have a bottle of water with me, wherever I go, so that makes it super easy to keep up with my water intake.

My circle of friends has grown and become tighter and I've gotten so much closer with my family as well.  Everyone has come together during some hard times and I couldn't be more grateful for my wonderful family and friends.  I also gained a new family member; Rutherford B Hayes, has come into my life, stolen my heart, and I love that little man more than words can express.  He has helped me get through some of the toughest times in the past year.  It's insane to realize how much he has impacted my life.  And it was an honor to become a God-Mother to my cousins little girl, Alina!  We got to see our whole Jacoby side of the family for Monica & Tyler's Wedding this past Summer in Newport Beach.  As we all make transitions into our lives without my Mom, I know that my relationships with those that are important will flourish.  Thank you to those incredible people.

The gals and I made a couple trips to Vegas in the past year, I went back to Wisconsin a few times, and was able to check out some new restaurants here in LA, have more Girl's Nights and Game Nights, and also saw some wonderful theater and shows.  I was inspired and even started writing my own sitcom and am very excited to make progress on that this year.  That is one of my driving forces right now to keep me in LA.  I don't know exactly where I want to go next but I know that I need to give my all in order to feel fulfilled in what I've done here in LA if I do want to move somewhere else.  But I've got at least one more year here in LA and know that it'll only bring more success because I've got dreams, and I'm going to make them happen!

I'm charging into 2017 with a passion and drive that won't be stopped!  Here we go...

Resolutions and Goals for 2016

This year has already been life-changing, difficult, and positive, all wrapped into one.  I'm hoping the drive that I started 2016 with to make progressions in my career continues, that my new philosophy on life takes exciting direction, that my family and I continue to grow closer together as we've already built stronger bonds of love, that I experiment in the Kitchen and make at least one new dish a month, and that I make my Mom proud in my decisions and choices.

Last year I wanted to do something every day that scared me; I like to think that I did that but I'm sure there were days that I felt fearful about something and let that fear take over.  It's natural and as long as I know that from fear comes growth, I just have to challenge myself and be daring.

'You had the power all along, my Dear.' ~ Glinda

I also wanted to be more patient and polite with Customer Service Representatives and Bar Patrons.  I definitely feel like I kept true to that and I will certainly continue to maintain a positive outlook and try to be patient in moments of frustration.  In November I actually started a 'No Complaints' Challenge that was supposed to be seven days...it went on much longer and I was able to keep up with it.  I plan on starting that again since I was really happy doing it and it seemed to positively affect the people around me and inspire them to get involved :)  In addition to that, I also spent some time Volunteering for Habitat for Humanity and would like to find some opportunities to volunteer throughout LA!

For the past few years I've made sure to try new restaurants and Happy Hours all over at least once a month.  Dine LA makes that easy since there's so many restaurants throughout Los Angeles and many of them offer a three-course menu for a discounted price.  Plus, there's always a new Happy Hour spot popping up somewhere!  I also wanted to get out of town more often and was able to get back to Wisconsin in September, Palm Springs in July, Arizona in April, and Solvang a couple times as well.

I advanced my career at Afterbuzz TV now taking on Segment Producer for our 'Supernatural' Aftershow.  I took over the role of Madame Thenardier in August for the rest of the run of 'Thenardier's Inn - A Les Miserables Cabaret,' where I'd been playing a Lovely Lady since November of 2014, started doing Improv again with our Theater Company, CAC, and also did a few other projects throughout the year.  When you look back on the past year, it's interesting to see all the strides you've made in the right direction and know they are milestones now.

Cheers to another exciting year of adventure, career challenges, love and fun surrounded by positive influences!

Upstairs 2 for Dine LA

I've been doing a pretty great job of keeping up with my New Year's Resolutions for this first month of 2015.  Upstairs 2 was my third restaurant in Los Angeles in the past month that was new for me and I also went by myself for Dinner which is definitely a little scary; another Resolution, to do things every day that scare me.  There's a great "Friends" episode where Rachel tries to eat out alone but gets in her head about the whole thing, luckily, I didn't go through that scenario ;)

Upstairs 2 located in West LA also has The Wine House connected to it downstairs and they have Wine Tastings and is the largest wine store in LA.  I was there on a Wednesday so they had a Wine Tasting at 7 pm.  I'll need to go back and check that out!  I had decided on Upstairs 2 because of their Dine LA menu but when I got there and saw the regular menu I was so overwhelmed by all the amazing-sounding food I decided to order off the regular menu and ended up spending less than I would had I ordered off the Dine LA menu!

Dinner at Upstairs 2 in West LA for Dine LA Week

I started with the Brussels Sprout Salad that had endive, pecans, and brussels sprouts and was quite large for an appetizer salad; I am not complaining, trust me, I was very happy!  I also got a glass of their Riesling which wasn't overly sweet, just right, and priced appropriately.  Next, I had the Lemon Pesto Shrimp to which they gave me some Parmesan Cheese that really knocked the dish out of the ballpark.  It was a really nice portion and I loved the Lemon Pesto!  I was quite excited to find out they had Chocolate Lava Cake (which wasn't on the Dine LA menu) so of course, I had to get that.  It came out perfectly gooey and the Bartender even had the kitchen put the ice cream on the side for me because I don't like the cold ice cream to take away from the chocolatey center.  OCD, just a little.

The Bartender was really friendly as well as one of the waiters I chatted with.  The food and selection was impressive and changes seasonally.  They're very happy to suggest wine pairings and the menu is actually set-up to do just that, and they also let you taste just about anything which is great.  I'll definitely be back to try more food and wine as well :)

Resolutions for 2015

As we're already a couple weeks into 2015, I figured it was time to settle into my resolutions for this year.  I'm really happy with how I kept up with my resolutions from last year and will bring a couple of those goals into this year as can be seen in my previous blog.  I'm excited to start 2015 with a fresh start and clear outlook!

So, on top of my old resolutions to continue, I've got two more to challenge myself.

1. Do something every day that scares me.

'Clear Eyes, Full Heart, Can't Lose'

I found this really neat book at Urban Outfitters that has 365 challenges that you can fill in throughout the year, or you can create your own.  Sometimes it's easy to follow, I'm at a restaurant I love and instead of ordering my old stand-by, I get something new that I wouldn't normally try.  In Minneapolis I went up to a guy in a bar (he looked just like the lead singer from Lady Antebellum) gathering courage and support from my best friend and her friend, and gave him my number on a bar coaster.  I ended up having a 10 minute conversation with him and his friends and he actually texted me later that night.  I clearly live in LA and he's from Wisconsin, so the likelihood that anything would ever happen is slim, but trust me, that scared the sh*t out of me!  But life is about taking chances and creating memories, and if you try new things that scare you, you may actually find out that you like it.

2. Be more patient and polite with Customer Service representatives and bar patrons.

It's super easy to get irritated with drunk people at the bar, or Time Warner Cable, when the cable bill goes up $50, etc.  Instead of getting frustrated and either walking away and ignoring these yahoo's at the bar, or venting my anger to the representative, I will choose to leave people better than before I spoke to them or met them.  Everyone has a bad day (me too) but as I always try to see the best in people, I need to find the best in me during those demanding moments, and give my patience instead.  I'm already looking forward to this one...there's always room to be a better person!  Always.

I really learned a lot in 2014 and feel like a stronger person because of it and I'm looking forward to everything that 2015 will bring with a new more positive outlook!  It's really refreshing to experience life when your mind and heart is clear and open <3

Last year's Resolutions completed!

I'm really proud that I was able to complete and work on my resolutions from 2014.  I'll definitely continue working on these in 2015 and add some new ones as well.

Goodbye 2014...you've taught me a lot...

Last year I really wanted to try new restaurants and happy hour's at least once a month and totally kept true to that.  It opened my eyes to new food and drinks as well as experiences.  From The Culver Hotel, Cafe Laurent, Gladstone's in Malibu, The Blind Barber, Mastro's in Beverly Hills, La Vecchia, Public School 310, Alibi Room, C&M Cafe, and BOA in Santa Monica, I dined, and I dined well, usually with wonderful company :)  I will definitely keep that resolution and say I want to do that at least twice a month this year.  With Dine LA starting next week, I'll get a couple new places in for sure, and since I was in Minnesota the first week this month I had a couple great dinner's with my best friend there as well.

Another resolution from last year was to go out of town more often and try new things.  While I only made it home to Wisconsin once, I made the trip to Minnesota at the start of this year.  I had my first trip to Catalina Island for my Birthday and it was absolutely amazing; so beautiful it didn't even feel like LA.  My family and I made a trip to Carmel to visit my cousin and while hiking we were surrounded by breath-taking scenery.  I also made another trip to Phoenix (I seriously want to move there) and did some hiking in the mountains and got to go to fabulous wedding!  This year I got to spend a lot of time with children through Creating Arts as well as my cousin's kids and I really cherish those moments.  I also saw some incredible concerts and shows this past year, Sara Bareilles, 3 Doors Down, 'Ghost' at The Pantages, and more.  I look forward to more new adventures in 2015!

I've been working on advancing my career in new ways and took some more casting director workshops and also got more involved at Afterbuzz TV working on some new shows.  I also interviewed some great people including Misha Collins at Supernatural Con and made some amazing new friends!  I've done a ton of children's shows with Creating Arts Company including our new adult show, 'Thenardier's Inn - A Les Miserables Cabaret,' and have learned so much working with our awesome company.  I'd really like to start taking some acting classes this year and do more on-camera work and continue to build my reel.  The short film I did this past year was a blast and I also shot a couple commercials for a great company and innovative brand, as well as a music video about stealing a grill.  I will work even harder this year on doing what I love to do.

Hosting at Afterbuzz TV with our Panel for HBO's 'Hard Knocks'

I've been living in LA for nine years and it's been quite the crazy ride, so here's to another year of memories, fun, and insanity!  Happy 2015 everyone!

Last Month's NEW Restaurants!

Part of my New Year's Resolution was to hit up new Happy Hour or Restaurants at least once a month to branch out from the ordinary and my favorites.  I was actually really pleased with each of the restaurants and they were both very different from each other.

I started the month of March with a visit to Stout in Studio City with Neil.  It's a burger and craft beer restaurant and similar to Father's Office, there are no substitutions.  We started with a giant Pretzel that came with four different sauces:  A pesto that was my favorite, a chipotle that was Neil's favorite, a lemon basil aioli, and thick mustard.  After checking their menu it looks like they recently changed it because I couldn't find my burger on it anymore (or the pretzel); it was a Truffle Burger with Mushrooms and a white cheese.  It was good but I actually preferred Neil's Stout Burger that had Blue Cheese, Gruyere, Bacon, Caramelized Onions and Horseradish Cream.  I chose a beer called Chocolate Indulgence which is from the Ommegang Brewery and a Belgian Stout.  It had just the right amount of sweetness to compliment the bitterness, and I enjoyed it so much I had a second one.  We sat at the bar and the bartender was polite but had a big group of her friends that were sitting at the bar who were actually obnoxious.  I was surprised the manager hadn't told them to leave because it was disruptive to other diners.  It was also a little spendy for burgers and beer but I would definitely go back and try something else!  And definitely get that pretzel again :)

At the end of March, my new roommate, Anthony, moved in and took me out to the Blind Barber in Culver City which is actually a Barber Shop during the day and Speakeasy at night.  I was sold as soon as I saw their menu consisted mostly of Grilled Cheese.  The place was packed for a Monday night but there were some tables open so we grabbed a drink at the bar and ordered our food.  They have a Cocktail Menu as well as a Seasonal Drink Menu and since it's April, it has already changed so I can't name the first drink I had but the second was the Batman with Gin, St. Germain, Peychaud's Bitters, Lemon Juice, and Mint.  The drinks were good but I prefer something a little sweeter and there were still a few more I would gladly try.  I picked out an all White Grilled Cheese that was $8 and came with a Kale salad that was actually really good.  I was so happy with my Grilled Cheese; it was delicious!  I'm definitely going back to try out more of their menu and I love that you get a dipping sauce with it so of course I picked out the Truffle aioli.  The DJ was great, the crowd seemed cool but not douchey and the Bartenders were helpful.  I can't wait to go back!

A Dinner of amazing Grilled Cheese is served at Blind Barber in Culver City!

I'm surprised I haven't been to either of these spots before but I really look forward to going back and trying more off of their menu's.  There are three Stout's throughout Los Angeles and Blind Barber is just down the street.  So far, this New Year's Resolution has been very successful!

Resolution Check-In!

We finally got some rain in LA this past week and rain makes me want to relax on the couch and watch old black and white movies with take-out and a bottle of wine.  Alas, I've got work later tonight at The Garage and I'm hoping people will want to come out and have some beer and tasty food to get out of the house during this dreary week!

Salted Caramel Goodness...

Since it's the last day in February I figured it was the perfect time to check in on my 2014 Resolutions.  I've certainly tried new Happy Hour and Restaurants in the past two months, trying Buffalo (in burger form) for the first time in January along with FIVE new restaurants during Dine LA week.  All my Dine LA restaurants have blogs dedicated to them in addition to instagram pictures.  This month I've had Happy Hour at Akasha and Dinner at Sage, a new Vegan restaurant in Culver City.  At Akasha I had a mushroom flatbread which was so good but very light so I had plenty of room for the bourbon salted caramel chocolate cake with ice cream.  Since it was Happy Hour I had to try their Citrus Germain which was vodka, elderflower liqueur, lemon bitters and agave.  It was really refreshing!  At Sage I had a mushroom and leek burger with sliced mango and a saffron aioli which was delicious and perfectly spicy in addition to amazing chocolate espresso vegan ice cream.

As for trying new things and going out of town more often, I went to Pomona for the Drag Racing Winternationals, which was also a great Hosting day since I filmed clips for another Hosting Reel I'm currently working on.  I spent a few days in Phoenix for a friend's wedding and got to enjoy beautiful 80 degree days with good people, hiking mountains, and lots of wedding fun.  I saw another Troubadour show in January as well as my first ever Three Doors Down concert which was incredible!  I've even tried some new recipes that I'm just perfecting before I post them :)

Afterbuzz TV Headshot

Advancing my career in new ways was creating this new Hosting Reel after being in Pomona for the Drag Races and also having my first meeting with my Agent to set up a plan for what we want to target in the next few months.  I'm gaining more experience at Afterbuzz TV and have had some incredible meetings with new ideas and have already set them in motion.  Getting my ideas up and running is making sure I've got my content available for people to see.  I blogged and instagramed all my Dine LA experiences because I love food and I'd love to be able to go out to restaurants and try new dishes and talk about it and I'm getting great feedback on it as well!

I'm pretty happy with how 2014 has started and thanks to the Happiness Challenge I did in January I'm continuing with the positive and getting rid of the negative.  Make sure you're surrounding yourself with people who make you feel happy and better about yourself and the future.  There's no use in keeping people in your life who make you question yourself or doubting your inner happiness.  Rock on 2014!

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2014 Resolutions and Goals!

We are all eight days into January and most of us have thought about our resolutions or even started working on them.  I wanted to take a few days to think about my 2013 resolutions and achievements, build on that and think about what I wanted for this year ahead.

 

Already an incredible New Year so far, here is my toast to 2014: To new beginnings and fresh starts.  To a positive outlook fillled with laughter and exciting adventures.  To friends old and new who support and love selflessly with compassion and honesty.  To a loving family who stands by me believing that anything is possible.  To picking up the pieces and trusting that someone who deserves it is holding that missing piece.  To faith, hope and the greatest of these, love.  This is 2014...go out and get it!

 

Goodbye 2013...Hello 2014!

1. Try new Dinner or Happy Hour spots once a month.

There is so much diversity here in Los Angeles, and before I had moved here I had never tried sushi, Indian food, oysters, craft cocktails and beers, various wines (aside from Boone's Farm), and different cheeses from all over the world to name a few.  Since there are so many places I haven't been but talk about wanting to go to, I have made it my goal to try something new at least once a month.

 

2. Continue to do new things and go out of town more often.

Last year was filled with so much excitement due to new career moves and opportunities, a plethora of concerts at venues throughout Los Angeles, and trips to Carmel, Vegas, Punta Cana, and Santa Barbara.  I want to continue to get out of LA, see and do new things, and continue to take chances on ideas and things that are out of my comfort zone.

 

3. Advance my career in new ways.

This past year I started taking some Casting Director workshops so I could network and hone my skills and get to learn more about the casting process.  This year I want to take some more workshops and classes with teachers and coaches to build my resume.  I also want to book a substantial role that will help me grow, whether it be in a theater production, commercial, TV show, or movie.  This is my dream and I'm working for it!

 

4. Get my ideas up and running!

I've had this idea for a show for a couple years now and I need to get it going.  This would also help to advance my career and creating something on my own is an achievement in itself.  I need to film my ideas and get them posted so my work is out there for Agents and Directors to see.  I've also gotten some more footage over the years so getting my updated Acting Reel posted will also be beneficial to my career.

 

I'm really happy with my resolutions and goals last year and the positive changes I have been making in my life.  This business is a difficult one but I am up for the challenge and I'm ready for what 2014 is going to hand me.  I'm going out and getting it!

My 2013 Resolutions Redux

Last year I made some positive resolutions for the new year.  You can read all the details here: 2013 Resolutions and Goals.  For the most part I kept true to them and much more!

I wanted to create my own web series and post episodes on social media.  Although, I haven't yet gotten that far, the ball is rolling and it's closer to production than before.  Throughout this year I have posted videos and am working towards creating a brand.  I also created a Fantasy Football section on my blog that I updated on a weekly basis.  While it may not be my own show, I am Hosting for Afterbuzz TV which airs LIVE weekly on their website and has all the episodes on YouTube.  Host Lyndsey Wegner for Afterbuzz TV.  My Co-Hosts and I bring viewers a recap, opinions, gossip and news for Supernatural and Shahs of Sunset.  That's me Hosting a show where I can be myself and that's what I wanted!

Hosting for Afterbuzz TV

I was waiting to share the news until I could tell my family and close friends and am happy to report that I now have Representation for TV/Film and Hosting by Chez Chic Talent.  We are currently putting together a portfolio of headshots and photos as well as a video section with all my projects, commercials, and reels.  I finally feel like I have someone who is as excited as I am to find and book work, that wants me to succeed in a business and career sense.  It's a great feeling and hopefully there will be some big work to come this year.

My favorite resolution of last year was to do more new things and get out of LA on a regular basis.  From a trip to Carmel and Clint Eastwood's restaurant with my Mom and Dad, to hitting up Las Vegas for an impromptu trip with my roommate, going to Santa Barbara with Neil, and having a family vacation in Punta Cana; it was nice to travel and do something different and fun.  There were tons of concerts I saw this past year, Sara Bareilles, Keith Urban, Matchbox 20, and Buckcherry to name a few as well as seeing Jekyll & Hyde at The Pantages Theater and other theater performances that were incredible.  I also got involved in the Creating Arts Company and had my first theater experience here in LA being cast as Mary Contrary in Babes In Toyland.

Goo Goo Dolls at The Gibson

As I'm looking back on this past year and the goals I set for myself, I didn't realize how much I've achieved with my hard work and dedication.  I'm getting to do what I love, I'm working at a few bars here in Los Angeles and having a blast and I even get to enjoy some fun experiences.  This 2013 was pretty good but I truly believe that 2014 will be even better!

The Catch Up Game

It's November and that means Pumpkin Pie, Cranberry Sauce, Green Bean Casserole and other fun Thanksgiving treats are making their way to the front of the grocery store.  It also means Christmas commercials, holiday music, and Santa will all be here very soon.  Even though the change of seasons in LA isn't as noticeable as in Wisconsin, I can still tell that it's Fall because the air gets a little crisper, it gets darker sooner, and people are walking outside with hats and scarves on the 40ish degree nights.  I'm playing the catch up game and reflecting on my resolutions and goals for this year and I'm really happy with where I've been at the last year and past couple months!  

Find me on Twitter.com/LyndseyWegner or Facebook.com/LyndseyWegner

In August, Neil and I played a live show at The Garage for a friend's Birthday Party and that was something completely new for me, singing a whole show with Neil, just us and his acoustic guitar.  Totally different than Karaoke but absolutely addicting.  We also saw an 80's Cover Band play at Canyon Club in Agoura Hills which I had never been to before and is known for it's performers and shows.  I heard Pat Benetar plays there, so the next time she's playing I hope I can go!  I saw 'Women Are Crazy, Because Men Are A**Holes' because I had friends who were in the show, and it certainly made me want to get more involved in theater after seeing such an awesome production!  And to top it all off, my brother's band, The Hussy, came out to LA while they were doing a West Coast Tour and performed at Redwood Bar!

Keeping an eye on my goals!

When September rolled around, I had already worked on a friend's music video (we just filmed some more footage this past week and have a couple final scenes before the video is completed) which will be coming out in December.  Neil and I took my first trip to Santa Barbara where we went Wine Tasting at a couple different Wineries and walked all around the city, eating Dinner at a quaint little Italian Restaurant in downtown.  Even though we missed the Sara Bareilles show we still had a blast!  At the end of the month, Neil and I saw Keith Urban perform at the Hollywood Bowl (my first show there) and he was incredible :D

By October I had decided to launch a new concept for my blog so I filmed a Fantasy Football Teaser and now currently feature a weekly blog about Fantasy Football Pick-ups, Projections, and Stats, along with my Weekly Match-Up.  I also did my first ever show for Afterbuzz TV, where we do a post-game wrap up of the show 'Supernatural.'  I filmed my 5th episode this week and love working for the company and getting to Host on a weekly basis!  Neil and I worked on a Halloween Music Video, where he rapped and I sang, (in the style of Eminem & Dido) and the music video came out just before Halloween.  We also saw 30 Seconds to Mars perform at the Hollywood Bowl as well (our second time seeing them together)!  I spent a lot of time with my girlfriends in the past month, grabbing Dinner, hitting up a party, and even seeing a Kings Game from the Luxury Box thanks to Marty.  In the midst of all the crazy I did a workshop at ACT Now for 2 weeks so that was a fun learning experience too and also uploaded my Commercial Reel to be viewed on YouTube!

Talk about a busy couple of months but I wouldn't want it any other way.  I'm paving my own path and when things start to get frustrating or I wonder what I'm doing, something makes me realize everything is happening for a reason and that's when the big things hit!  I can't wait to see what's next...

Catch up time!

I can't believe 2013 is over half-way gone and we're nearing Fall!  I'm proud because I've got some great jobs that keep me very busy and I'm able to save up money to do all the fun things when I've got some free days.  I've been keeping my Resolutions for the New Year; I'm going out of town and traveling to new places, having spontaneous vacations, seeing tons of live music and bands, and trying new restaurants and recipes.  I'm also working towards getting Representation and had fantastic headshots taken by Hillary and am just choosing my favorites so we can get them sent out to Agents and Managers soon!

At Universal Studios for the Matchbox Twenty
and Goo Goo Dolls Concert!

Just last month in July I went to Punta Cana for a week-long vacation with Family.  I had never been to the Dominican Republic and while we all had a blast, it'll be a while before I go back to the Caribbean anytime soon.  I also saw Matchbox Twenty and The Goo Goo Dolls perform; two fun bands from the 90's!

I had my 30th Birthday in June and got to spend it with friends and family throughout the month (including our week in Punta Cana).  I've been working on new recipes and posting them on here more often and had the last photo shoot of my 20's with my friend, Kristina, the day before my Birthday.  June also started my Lector Duty at Church and I've been doing that for the past 3 months and just got our schedule for the next 3, so that's a fun and exciting way to enjoy Church!

In May, I had my first ever BIG SAG Audition since I had joined the Union which was exciting.  Even though I didn't book the Audition I did film a couple Match.com Parodies and got to put my Princess Leia costume to good use, once again.  I also got to see one of my favorite artists, Sara Bareilles, perform at The El Rey Theater and to make the month even more exciting, Emily and I made a spontaneous trip to Las Vegas for 2 nights and had an absolute blast.

I made my first move towards creating my Web Series this past weekend, pulling out Neil's brand new Canon Camera and just playing around with the video and photo functions.  We took a couple headshots and also filmed me doing an opening sequence for my show in a few different ways so that was a lot of fun and super creative!  I've got some ideas for the show already written down and now it's a matter of filming a couple episodes so I can put together a Trailer and get the show up on YouTube.

Testing the new camera...

I can't wait to get started on a show that's all my own :)  Set those goals and you can reach them!

2013 Resolutions and Goals!

I can't believe how quickly 2012 flew by and I'm sure that 2013 will only follow in suit!  Obviously, we all survived the Mayan Death Calendar, although my flight landing in Wisconsin on the 20th during a Blizzard made me think I might go before the 21st, it's already January 3rd and we've got a long road ahead of us to enjoy so much!

I'm so happy that I was able to keep up with my resolutions from last year and will continue to challenge myself to keep them this year because it does feel like a lifestyle change for the positive and I can't wait to add more to that!  Some of my new resolutions seem more like goals, but at the end of the day, I'm striving to achieve more, so either way, if I stick to something and work hard, I'll be happy with my decisions.  These are my goals for 2013!

1.  Create my own Web Series or Show and post Episodes on Social Media.

Watch out 2013...here I come!

I have so many ideas floating around in my brain and this is the year I plan on putting those thoughts on camera!  It'll probably have something to do with cooking and recipes, crazy stories, cars and other fun stuff so I'm really looking forward to making that happen and perhaps even Hosting my own show!

2.  Get Representation.

Now that I joined the SAG/AFTRA Union in November I need to get Theatrical and Commercial Representation so I can go out on more Auditions, book work, and build my resume!  I enjoy submitting myself and book most of my work and jobs on my own so it would be nice to have someone supporting me and getting me out there so I can form new relationships with Casting Directors and Industry people :)

3.  Do new things and go out of town more.

I've been living in Los Angeles for over 7 years and I've been to San Diego once, Temecula once, and Las Vegas a few times.  I have always wanted to go to Catalina, Santa Barbara, etc.  These are places that are a car-ride away so I want to take a day or two and enjoy a different city on occasion; it'll make me appreciate where I live and give me an opportunity to try new things.  I also want to do things I don't normally get to do, like going to plays or seeing Musicals when they come to LA, trying new restaurants instead of sticking with a stand-by, or taking a fun new class.  Groupon and Bloomspot offer great ideas for restaurants and things to do around LA and I often buy restaurant stuff but I'll push myself to buy some activities from now on too!

I think my 2012 positive lifestyle changes in addition to these new resolutions and goals give me a lot to look forward to in 2013!  I'm determined, I'll work even harder, and I'll keep smiling and be patient because one of these days, my hard work will pay off and I'll achieve my hopes and dreams :)

My Resolutions of 2012 :)

Well, 2012 has come and gone more quickly than I could have ever imagined!  I'm proud to say that I kept true to my resolutions from last year :)

1. To do something creative or artistic every day.

Whether it was performing Karaoke (in which I sang a new song every time I Hosted Karaoke and I plan on continuing that challenge), reading a play, taking a Casting Workshop, Auditioning, writing lyrics, painting, submitting for castings or e-mailing Agencies, I did something creative each and every day and I feel more fulfilled in my Acting Career because of it.  I filmed a Commercial in Spokane early in 2012, did a Politcal Spoof for Palpatine Vader, created a Doritos Spec Commercial for the Super Bowl which currently has nearly 60,000 views, worked a Medical Tradeshow and was a featured Model in Wheels & Heels Magazine.  I became a part of SAG/AFTRA which was one of my goals for a long time so I'm looking forward to even more success in 2013 and will also continue to do something creative or artistic each and every day.

2.  To be more patient.

Writing in my journal has really helped me to be more patient and aware of myself.  It's been such a great outlet for me to get out my feelings and think before I do something and I love writing out the best part of my day in addition to the creativity of it.  Even though I don't plan on journaling as much as I did in 2012, I will still write in it from time to time when I need a breather and break from the world and to share specific stories and feelings.  In addition to my journal, I took Yoga regularly and that also helped with my patience, breath, and inner peace and I continue to look forward to more of that in 2013!

3.  To smile more :)

With patience and understanding comes communication, and strengthening friendships and bonds and even though I want more, I'm happy with the progress I've made in so many aspects of my life and definitely feel like I've been smiling a whole lot more!  Part of smiling more is encouraging others to smile as well and I'll continue to make me people laugh and enjoy life just a little bit more.  I'm fortunate to work in a career where it's my job to make people laugh, and even when I'm Bartending, I love entertaining people, making them feel welcome, and it makes me feel great when I see the smile across there face when I remember their name and their drink :)

4. To start a blog.

It's been a year and 197 entries later, I have kept up with a blog and sharing parts of myself with the world.  I've gotten a little feedback recently and I will continue to keep up with my blog but I'm going to try to keep the entries shorter, therefore keeping viewers entertained without boring them (hopefully).  I'll try to include more pictures and write creative entries as well as share my funny and crazy stories with those that are interested in reading them! 

I worked really hard last year to stick to my resolutions and after a year they no longer feel like resolutions, I'm hoping they become more of a lifestyle and positive change.  I'll continue to challenge myself and keep up with them in addition to new resolutions, new goals, and new ideas.  And that all starts now...Happy 2013!

Thanks for being a part of my world :)

Resolutions & Karaoke

After 8 and a half months of singing a new song every time I do Karaoke I'm proud to say I'm holding true to my New Year's Resolution.  I'm still journaling every day, and at this point, I'm at 440 pages.  I'm also blogging regularly.  After this year, I can't say that I'll sing something new every time I Host Karaoke but I will make an effort to do new songs on a regular basis.  I will definitely continue to blog regularly and try to write in my journal every day, but probably less in-depth than I've been doing for the past 8 and a half months.  I think one of the most important resolutions that I've kept is that I'm doing something creative every day, whatever it is, if it's journaling, blogging, submitting for castings or sending out my resume and headshots, editing photos, painting, reading scripts or popular books, watching a movie I've never seen, writing lyrics, singing, performing or entertaining.  That is something I will continue to strive for each and every day!

On Wednesday I had my usual Karaoke day at Gabe's.  It's been slow at work (Gabe's & Irish Times) for the past few weeks.  I think the extreme heat had something do with it and the fact that it's the end of Summer and perhaps people are trying to enjoy their final days before going back to school, work, or feeling like Fall.  With all the craziness that's been going on lately, I feel like I haven't fully recovered from my laryngitis and am still run-down because I can't get enough sleep or eat when I normally do, or do my regular work-outs.  I'm going to be so sore next week when I get back to my usual run and stair work-out.  Perhaps I should re-think doing that the day before my Photo Shoot?

Wednesday started off slow and after fixing some sound issues we got the night started.  It stayed slow but steady for the first hour or so and then some of the Karaoke regulars showed up.  Both Debbie and Khad were doing new songs all night long.  Khad's discovered some new Pearl Jam and Jim Croce and Debbie is trying new Disco Era songs and even sang Frank Sinatra's 'New York, New York.'  My new song of the night was Madonna's 'Power of Goodbye,' which has been on my list to try for years but I always seem to forget about it.  The crowd seemed to enjoy it and it fit my voice and range perfectly.  I heard the best version of a Tenacious D song tonight ever which was a pleasant surprise and a guy that comes in on occasion and always kills it, did 'Devil Went Down to Georgia' and 'Folsom Prison Blues' which is better than Johnny Cash's version in my opinion.

When I got done with Karaoke, Khad and I decided to grab a late night bite at Swinger's in Santa Monica.  He got a Vegan Burrito and I ordered the Avocado Toast which was soooooo good.  Who would have thought?  Simple and tasty, avocado spread on thick multi-grain toast with olive oil, lemon, and chili pepper flakes.  Of course, I would have added parmesan to it, but it was still fabulous!  After a very long day, starting with court, getting in a work-out, then going to work at Karaoke, and a late night Swinger's run, I was ready for bed.  It was a good thing I didn't get that Rocket Shake afterall!