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Realizations.

Is it just me or did Spring and Midterms appear out of thin air? It was like, I went to bed one night, cold, with lingering feelings of Christmas and holiday cookies still in the air and woke up and it was 75 degrees, and I'm right in the middle of the semester. It's....scary. But MORE than scary it is so exciting. It's so close now, graduation. Spring break is coming up and during this time I'll be in Atlanta, job/apt. hunting and just taking care of business. My wonderful friend Liz is providing me with a place to sleep at night so I can stay however long I need which is absolutely amazing. I'm just so over the minutia of college life. I am just weary of alot of things. The classes, mind-numbing theatre practice, the guys- the list goes on! '

One thing that is exciting- The show I've been rehearsing for months now is finally going up tomorrow! Tonight was our final dress, and to be honest it was a little rough. But I feel confident that tomorrow will be great- that is always a common occurrence anyways, that the final dress is bad and the opening is awesome. You've got to have a little dip to create a peak performance! And I'm positive that will happen. However, my knee has been acting up which is weird because I never ever have knee problems. I think it's just the strain of dancing so hardcore nightly. When you see the show you'll understand what I'm talking about- it's intense! But it's so much fun. I'm excited about my mom coming in town on Saturday, too. :)

As You Like It is going well- our offbook date is Saturday, but we were encouraged to be off book the week before so I'm pretty golden. It's great because that was the one thing I was worried about the most- I just knew for some reason I would be struggling with the Shakespeare text and memorization but the funny thing is- I'm actually having an EASIER time with this than with other things I've had to memorize! This show really has one of the most wonderful rehearsal processes I've ever been a part of, even though it's a little bizarre at times. It's hard to explain but we all just have such a cameraderie that I think is unique to this show and the experiences we've all had to go through with it. But I think it's going to come together quite wonderfully and I really love the show and the process so far!

Musings of my Senior High School self

I was in a nostalgic mood and perusing old myspace blogs again. But this time I decided to read some of my thoughts as a Senior in high school. Interesting seeing as now I'm a Senior in college!

• COLLEGE CRAP IS ANNOYING. Juniors and below, relish the time that you have in which you do not have to be constantly plagued by due dates, application forms, auditions, and anxiously waiting on scholarships. ADKJASD. Everytime I turn around there is something else that I didn't realize I needed to do such as today I had to go get shots that I didn't know I had to get, which suspended my application even longer. It's so retarded it's ridiculous. Geez. I will be glad once I am just IN college. (Ah, janine of 4 years ago- just wait until you are about to graduate college and the real world sets in! Scary!)

• I know it seems petty, but I STILL HAVEN'T GOTTEN A PROM DRESS =[
  I want to go to the Lennox mall in atlanta and go to Betsey Johnson. Seriously. Or else- Burlap sack, here we come!

• I want to do my nails but I can't because concentration camp victims cannot have french tips! Alas it must wait until Sunday.
  (I was in a Holocaust show. Go figure.)

• I hate winter. I wish it would die. I'm sick of looking like a hobo everyday. I want to wear cute things, but I cannot because of the cold weather, and I'm reduced to wearing the same brown coat with the really loose button that flies around when I walk. That or the wrap sweater which makes me look 10 lbs. heavier.
  (Some things never change!)

• I just want a day off. A day off from school, from rehearsals, from church, from my parents bugging me about random stuff, from everything. But like my character Erna says, "Isn't it a wonderful fairy tale?"
  (Obviously I was always a workaholic.)

• On a happier note, I just want everyone to know that I have the pimpest boyfriend ever.
  (I'm judging myself for using the word "pimpest." Hardcore.

Throwback photo! This is me as Miss HHS! I still have the crown. it's pretty "pimp" (That is the word I apparently used for every freaking thing in high school.)

And to top off this post: A day in the life of my Senior year of high school self:

"Monday. My cell phone alarm goes off at 6:15, but I keep snoozing until about 6:30 then I shut it off like I'm about to get out of bed, but then I drift back to sleep and wake up about 5-10 minutes later spazzing out because it's late. So I rush, groggy eyed, to the bathroom, take a shower then get dressed and do makeup/hair. Very quickly, I might add. Which usually results in my hair feeling all weird because its straightened while being damp which makes it feel frizzylike. So then I get my lunch together and rush to school to make it on time in Mrs. Weimar's class. French class is a breeze. Then it's drama where Mr. Lewis tells us random things to do that usually don't make any sense. Then AP Lit, which is pretty easy most of the time. Anatomy=easy, then there is art which is an awesome class because I get to paint. Then its alg 3 and then off to the theatre. Rehearsals last until about 5:30ish. Where I now am going to have to rush from school to get to church to put together this children's christmas play. After that I do homework or senior project stuff/ get online and dawdle. Then I have my much needed call to Sean and end up getting to bed later than I need to. Tuesday is a nice day, because I don't have any extraneous activities besides rehearsal. Then Wednesday, I have rehearsal then rush to church to teach my 3-4 year old class. Which is stress in itself. Thursdays, I have to rush from school to ballet at 5, then I have a couple hours to hang out with Sean before our Salsa class at 8. Then it's already Friday. Which is my date night/hang out night, after rehearsals that is. But this weekend is Harlemfest so it's booked for the most part. Somewhere in there I find time to do senior project stuff, read, do my journals for ap lit, attend meetings for the 20398 clubs I'm an officer of, and alot of other crap. Aside from my extreme busyness and stress, my life has been going pretty good. I have the most awesome boyfriend I could ever ask for who helps me out so much, and is 100% supportive in everything I do. I don't know what I would do without him! My senior year has been going relatively well so far, and let's hope this is an ongoing trend.Anyways. I just need to take a day off for myself sometime, I think, I tend to feel overwhelmed sometimes, but its ok. I'll survive!
    Ok now I want to go on my soapbox about healthy food: Everyone needs to make sure they get their daily portion of WHOLE GRAINS and WATER a day! Where do whole grains come from? Well, the best form of whole grains are triscuits. They are amazing. I eat them like potato chips. Those and wheat bread. And not the lame wheat bread thats like white bread with brown food coloring. I'm talking about 12 grain bread with the whole seeds. It's so good. And you should drink half your body weight in ounces of water a day. (Here, I"ll do the math: if you weigh 110 pounds, thats 55 oz. of water a day.) And yes, I actually do drink that much water a day. And it helps me survive and makes me feel better and makes my skin clear and GLOWY! =]
SODA AND WHITE BREAD ARE THE DEVILS TOOLSSSSSS
haha
I hate soda and white bread. So much. Especially DIET soda. GROSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS.
WATER is the best
I am starting to get delirious.
So maybe I'll stop.
OH and you need your fresh fruits and vegetables a day too! Yum yum!
Ok so everyone promise me you will have at least on eserving of WHOLE GRAINS, FRUIT& VEGETABLES and drink one extra bottle of WATER a day!
And you will feel healthy."

Bahaha. Oh, my Sr. year self.

What's On My Mind?

• I'm proud of myself for stopping biting my nails. They are, dare I say- PRETTY?! Weird. I used to have little boy, chewed up nails. Now they're nice :)
• As You Like It rehearsals are so much fun. I never thought I would enjoy Shakespeare as much as I do! I'm loving my role and my part in this fun story and I absolutely love our director. I can't wait for everyone to see the show in April! 
• I'm also super excited for the opening of In Dreams/Nightmares this weekend! It's been a challenging process and I am doing things I never thought I could do and have really been stretched (literally! :P ) as a dancer, and I am so grateful for this opportunity. I've come a long way from the first rehearsal of "Toxic," where I was so discouraged I thought Robin cast me out of pity because I'm her roommate/best friend...lol.
• I'm really excited about my career and life outside of college. It's SO SO SO strange how close I am and how fast this semester is going by- it's by far the fastest of any semester. I think it's crazy that soon I'll be living in Atlanta on my own, away from the safety net of a collegiate atmosphere. I can't wait to have the time to pursue my goals and just really make my mark on this world. 
• I am feeling really insecure lately about my body and I'm not sure why but I feel like I've been gaining weight? Although I may be the only one who notices. I just literally feel like my weight and body are on my mind probably 75% of the time, and it's so annoying.
• I'm literally in love with this weather we've been having lately. It's perfect. 
• I want to travel. I want to get out of GA and just get on a plane and fly somewhere. 
• I feel like every day a new person is in a relationship, engaged or married. It's so weird. I've been single for a long time now, probably the longest I've been in years- and have realized that as much as I enjoy being single, I kind of miss a relationship a little bit. Just little things- like being on constant texting terms with someone- or what have you. But things will come in due time. It's good timing anyway- as this is my last semester in college which essentially means..CRUNCH TIME. Can't let nobody break my stride!
• I miss having a kitty :(
• I want a new pair of jeans. 
• I have an obsession with Chobani greek yogurt...it's..SO GOOD. Crush some almonds or chop up a banana in vanilla/plain flavor and it's just to die for yummy. I look forward to breakfast every night! haha!

A Personal Update.

So as you know (if you read my blog) recently I went to Daytona to compete in ACTF. It was tons of fun being by the beach in Daytona! Plus the weather was gorgeous- a nice reprieve from the chilly winter we've been having. (Although it's pretty warm, today!)

But yeah, I didn't get passed on to the finals but it was still a great experience and if anything it was a mini-vacation, a calm before the storm if you will before the craziness that is to come of this semester.

In other theatrical news- As You Like It is FINALLY cast and we have already have some rehearsals which have been a blast so far! I really enjoy working with our director, Jeff Watkins from the Shakespeare Tavern in Atlanta. And I'm absolutely loving my role so far- I play Celia who is a princess and is the over-dramatic female co-star of the show. It's going to be really funny, I think! :P

Robin's show, In Dreams/Nightmares is going to be super awesome, too. We're SO close to almost finishing all the choreography finally! (There are 15 songs total. Killer!) But I'm really enjoying the process and it's fun to improve as a dancer as alot of it is pretty challenging. I think the theatre department will be pleasantly surprised at the ability of alot of the cast-members to be honest!

My Sr. Recital is moving on along. It's really more annoying than an enjoyable process at the moment but hey- it's something everybody's gotta do. My pieces are from My Fair Lady and a show called Othello Undercover- and I'm doing the song "I'm a Star" by Scott Alan. Larry mentioned that since my pieces were short I may do another monologue as well...? But I'm not sure about that quite yet!

(Side note: WHY is my apartment so freezing?!) Okay, moving on.

So in other news of my life- I just did another shoot with Bryant from Shooterfoto magazine. I just got some shots back from the last shoot and they turned out pretty cool! They are all original designs by a local Atlanta designer, Ben Almonor:

I'll be sure to post some from the new shoot as they come!

The Single Girl's Guide to Valentine's Day

   So, unless you’ve been living in a world with no access to television or advertising of any kind, it’s obvious that Valentine’s day is coming up. What does that mean for us single girls? Well first of all, it means we get to bypass treacherously long restaurant wait times, obnoxiously huge, fluffy plush dogs, and chocolate of questionable quality that comes with maps. But best of all- it’s an excuse to do whatever the heck we want! Use this day to pamper yourself. At a loss for what to do? Have no fear- as I’ve compiled some suggestions to help you realize that Valentine’s day as a single girl is not as bad as it may seem! (And perhaps even better!)

1.)    First of all, you should start the day off with an extravagant breakfast. Stuffed French toast? Nutella crepes? Omelettes? Fruit parfaits? Go scouring the internet for some truly decadent breakfast recipes and eat something divine to start your day off right. You may need to wake up a little bit earlier for this but I guarantee it will be worth it! Gloat to your classmates about how wonderful of a breakfast you ate as they nibble on their dry pop-tarts.

2.)    Secondly, use this day to look super cute. If you’re usually a sweats and jeans type of gal, use today to put on a dress and break out the curling iron. Normally don’t wear make-up to class? Throw on some hot pink lipgloss or try a smokey eye just for the heck of it. Got some high heels that you save solely for going out? Wear ‘em. Because today is your day! And if dresses and heels aren’t your thing- then just wear whatever makes you feel the most beautiful and just rock it!

3.)    So classes are over, and it’s time to get home. Bubble bath time! Run a steaming, hot bubble bath and fix yourself a glass of sparkling water with a squeeze of lime, or pour a glass of wine/champagne if you’re of age, and just relax. Play your favorite relaxing music in the background for an extra dose of atmosphere. Of course- you’ve also gotta have on a therapeutic face mask while soaking in your bath chamber of luxury. I especially love the Montagne Jeunesse face masks you can buy at ULTA - these $1.99 individual packs are truly glorious and come in different varieties to suit your skin. Use this time in the bathtub to soak, and just relish in being a girl!

4.)    Now that you’re all soaked, give yourself a manicure and pedicure in your favorite nailcolor shade. Perhaps get one of those nail-decorating kits and paint something ridiculous on one of your nails, just because you can. It’s Valentine’s day! Anything goes!

5.)    One word. Fondue. Melt some chocolate chips on the stove and dip your favorite fruit (strawberries, anyone?) in it while watching a super cheesy movie. You know, that one movie that you feel guilty for loving and would be embarrassed about people knowing you loved so much. It’s gotta be that one. No Oscar-contending emotional historical dramas here- only pure fluff is acceptable for this occasion!

6.)    Feel free to include your other single friends to these events and turn it into a party if you wish. Not feeling fondue? Order in your favorite food or get together and cook a gourmet meal. The point is to completely indulge yourself for a day in whichever way you wish.

7.)    The day after Valentine’s Day- go to your local CVS and purchase as much half-off V-day candy as you want. Okay, I know what you’re thinking. I’m supposed to be this healthy-eating guru and shun anything with a high calorie count. But there are some days when you just want chocolate, and there are some things that are just too good of bargains to pass up. And the day-after-Valentine’s day chocolates are just one of those things. Plus- who am I to deny a girl, single or not, chocolate on Valentine’s day! But please try to not get those mystery filling chocolates that you need a map to eat. Stick to the good stuff like Lindt, Godiva, and Ghirardelli for some true chocolate bliss. But hey- if mystery mapped chocolates are your thing then by all means go for it.

   At the end of the night, realize that being single is pretty awesome, Valentine’s Day or not! In these crazy times where we’re now old enough for our friends to all be getting engaged and married, it can be hard at times, but just realize that these are the only times in our lives to find out who we really are- and just use this time to have fun, pursue your passions, and discover!

A kick-start to eating right.

Want to get healthy but not sure where to start? Let me help! One of the things that will help you out the most in trying to be healthy is learning to cook. Even those of you that say you can’t- it just takes some practice and spending some time on Youtube tutorials. Don’t sweat it. But some basic skills in the kitchen will allow you to create much more than just Ramen Noodles and Kraft Macaroni and Cheese! And when you cook, you’ve got to keep it stocked with a few basics.

First of all, throw out your butter, Crisco, and lard and replace it with heart healthy olive oil. Also, spices are absolutely essential. Oregano, basil, cumin, red pepper flakes, chili powder, garlic powder, Tony’s seasoning, curry powder, salt, and pepper are the spices I use the most. To create exciting, flavorful meals, spices are the key.Another necessity? Fresh produce. Now before you say, “I can’t afford it!” Hear me out. The key is to REPLACE. Stop buying things like potato chips, cigarettes and Little Debbie cakes, replace it with fresh fruits and veggies and trust me. Your body will thank you immensely, and your health is worth it. It’s all about priority, and I don’t know about you, but living a long life free of prescription medicine and hospital bills is a heck of a priority.  

Something else that deserves to be in the trash and not your body is refined white bread. It’s devoid of nutrition, flavorless, wimpy, soft, and essentially turns into a paste in your stomach. Gross! However, a full grain bread such as Ezekiel bread (in the freezer section) or a 15 grain bread is crunchy, flavorful, and can  hold up to a sandwich while providing countless health benefits. Wean your way off of white bread by building up to whole grain with other lighter breads if need be- but for your health,  I really think it's necessary to throw out the white bread. 

  So what are the types of things I love to eat? One of my favorites is black bean burgers.  For one can of black beans at around $1, you can make about 3 or 4 burgers without the fat, grease, and growth hormones of beef! (Plus not having to deal with raw meat is always nice!) All you have to do is mash them up, mix some bread crumbs, a little flour, and some spices such as cumin, salt/pepper, red pepper flakes, and whatever else you want, form them into patties, and pan-fry them in about 1 tbs. olive oil on medium high heat for about 5 minutes until they’re browned on both sides. I eat them with my whole grain bread as a bun, and top with fresh avocado slices and spinach, or ketchup with curry powder. I love these because they’re so customizable, delicious, and are very filling as well!   Another quick and easy lunch idea? Put some oomph in to a blah PB&J with peanut butter and jelly wraps. I spread some natural peanut butter (the Fresh Market makes some amazing fresh peanut butter right in the store that is not too expensive and is super yummy!) and some natural jam or fruit spread on a whole grain tortilla, and roll it up. Pack that up with a banana and you’ve got a filling, portable, and delicious lunch!  You can always spruce up Italian  night with some whole grain pasta, and adding your own sautéed, fresh veggies to a pasta sauce or make your own!  Put some oregano, basil, garlic salt, and pepper in a shallow dish and add some olive oil and you’ve got a lovely dipping sauce for some whole grain bread! 

For snacks- munch on fruit- spreading peanut or almond butter on a banana or apple is a nutritious and extremely energizing snack that's healthy and delicious. Or of course hummus with veggies is another great option.

  When you feed your body right, it helps in all areas. It prevents cancer and disease, your energy skyrockets, (no need for a midday nap=more productivity in your day!), you can be more focused in class, your skin and hair looks better, you lose weight- and the list goes on. Now nobody’s perfect- and being healthy is a journey.  But if you determine to get healthy, it’s the best decision you will ever make, I promise.

Staying Hot...in the Cold!

   Cooler temperatures often bring some challenges when it comes to looking your best! I mean, we have all dealt with the super chapped lips, flaky, dry skin, and the monotony of throwing on the same winter coat day after day. However, just because it’s cold doesn’t mean all hope is lost and we are relegated to a season of alligator skin and clothing boredom! Here are a few tips to keep in mind to keep you looking’ hot all winter long. 

   When it comes to dry skin, I know, it’s obvious, but moisturizing is key. Even if your skin is usually oily- get a non-comedegenic moisturizer and make sure to apply it to your face morning and night in order to protect your skin from the chilly winds and to keep it glowy and supple. There are lots of affordable moisturizers out there- I honestly use a CVS brand knock-off of Oil of Olay moisturizer and it has lasted me months and months and keeps my skin from drying out. Wintertime also takes a toll on your hands, cuticles, and nails. So in order to combat that, it helps to get an intensive moisturizer for extra-dry skin, slather it on at night and rub it into your cuticles, nails, knuckles and all over your hands, and let it sit overnight. You can do this in the morning as well, for extra moisturizing and protection. Just make sure the lotion has glycerin in it, as it acts as a protective shield for your skin. But the absolute best tip in the battle of dry skin is to stay hydrated. Drink lots of water! I know you may feel beat over the head about drinking water, but this is just another great bonus. I guarantee you will tell a difference.

   Another great tip to combat that creepy, scaly, dry skin that you can get on your legs during this time of year is to use a scrub to exfoliate the skin daily. And the best part is you can make it yourself, in your own home! All you need to do is get about a cupful of sugar or sea salt, add about ¼ cup olive oil (not vegetable oil!) and some cocoa butter if you want some extra moisturizing, and mix it together. Use it before shaving and you get the added bonus of a smoother, closer shave. It’s also very customizable- you can pretty much add whatever else you want, some lavender essential oil for a relaxing bedtime scrub, or some lemon juice for extra exfoliation and a citrusy scent.

   Do you ever feel like you can’t really express your style in the winter time? Personally I go through that in the winter as I hate to cover up my outfits with a coat 24/7. So in order to combat that, I accessorize, accessorize, accessorize! Winter is a great time to incorporate fun, funky scarves, hats, gloves, etc. to help you stand out in a sea of black pea-coats. One of my favorite things to do is to wear a faux flower on my lapel. You can buy these at stores such as Claire’s or make your own, like I do! Just glue some felt to the back of a faux flower and affix a brooch pin to the back. (You can find these at craft stores.) It’s so simple and cheap to make, and can add a whimsical touch to a boring coat or jacket. You can also find cute vintage brooches at antique stores and arrange them artfully on your lapel instead of flowers if they aren’t your thing.

   Lastly, don’t be afraid to wear some bright eye-shadow colors or throw on some red lipstick in order to spruce up your look. Since most of winter outerwear is drab and consists of dark colors, winter is a great time to experiment with colorful make-up! But at the very least- make sure you have some chapstick, as cracked, dry lips are never attractive.\

   With these tips, you can brave the cold with confidence. And hey, it’s Georgia- which means that you’ll have some days where it will be 65 degrees anyways! Gotta love the South. :)