i'd like to be here today...

on a mountain top in greece.
warm sunburnt skin.
gauzy clothes.
beautiful views.
ocean salt stinging my nose.
loves warm hand holding mine.
and long hair.....

(oh, long hair! i miss you! grow faster!!!)

far away from
saigon tears / headaches & a dark dusty theatre.

my mom would say i need to sleep.
that's true...

but i also need
a beachy vacation.

pic by sussy

back to black...

me wearing chris' dirty t-shirt to bed

scratch the blonde wig.
natalie brown curls are back.

......

christopher and ellen scottschevitz.
what a nice jewish couple.

is it better to have loved and lost?

my beautiful cousin (by marriage), lizeth, lost her sweetheart (and my cuz, matt)
this year- a hot second before they were to be sealed in the temple.
her musings often reduce me to tears.
especially {this} post.

theirs was the kind of love you hope for, dream about, and wait for.

and yes, it's easy to say
it's better to love ... even if you lose.

but is it?

really?

these ones? or those ones?

i preface this story by stating, that i have never claimed to be perfect in my grammar usage...
half of these posts are late night ramblings with lazy typing fingers.

as i was purchasing a new pair of ray bans @ nordies the other day,
the darling sales girl was having a hard time trying to figure out which pair i was asking for:

her: these ones?
me: no, that pair.
her: THOSE ones?
me: yes.
her: these ones look cuder (that's cute without the 'T') on you than those ones.
me: i think you're right. lets take this pair.
her: these ones?
me: yes.

i tried desperately to stifle a laugh by biting my cheeks.
mr downs & ms bestor @ Orem High School (go tigers!) taught me that "these ones" and "those ones" are grammatically redundant and, well, incorrect... wonder where she went to high school. ...

just ask the english teacher!

the two wives....

aren't we classy?
i look like a relief society prez (or my great aunt shirley in the 80's)
and she... is a bangkok hooker.
no wonder chris is so conflicted!!!

good things interview {here}
i think i look like a freak.
spoof video soon to come....

thanks cherry blossoms & angel for the link!

sabrina

sabrina was on tv
while i did my tracy anderson video today.
(hurts less when you can distract yourself...)

i forgot how lovely this film is.

"it has turned cold out... but i do not feel cold"
oooh i love it.

i need to find myself in paris...but in the meantime, i
need to get a hold of the audrey hepburn version

first dress rehearsal today...

we've been bananas with the photobooth.

ellen (our good catholic girl) looks a titch like annette (sat night fever) meets dolly, no?

i'm working on zuszching the hair a bit more up top... 

flat at the crown of the head isn't so cute on my schnoz. 

meet my besties: abbie

meet abbie-cadabbie!!

(pictured above with her awesome husband E)

seriously. one of my favorite humans on the planet. 

NOBODY makes me laugh like she does. 

we met one may evening @ CVS

 (which is ironic considering she works for one of the largest casting offices in nyc AND lived a block away from each other......but we'd never met)

when i was on a "date" with a 65 yr old film/tv star (THAT story deserves a post of it's own).

we bonded over good ole christian values, close families of sisters (her family is completely divine!), raising our puppy nuggets, theatre gossip, cupcakes, and a sensible obsession with the same tv shows/junk foods.... (if you don't believe for one second that we watched EVERY episode of "CROWNED: a mother/daughter beauty pageant" together, you'd be dead wrong)

enjoy the funniest survey i've read....

Where do you live? 
From NC, now live in NYC.  

 

what is your favorite color? 
Black. It makes me look skinny.

 

what is your favorite city? 
New York City, duh. 

 And, Wrightsville Beach, NC

 

What is your favorite thing to cook? 
 
to what? Not sure I know what that is? 

, I don't cook. I def don't have a favorite to cook, but I have enjoyed EATING other peoples favorite things to cook. 

What beauty product can you not live without? 
 What's a beauty product? I swear, is this survey in English?

No seriously, I guess a hair tie/rubberband. I put my hair up when its in my face. 

Buns, pony tails, braids, shooting them at erik- they are good for a lot. 

 what is your favorite nyc restaurant? 
 
Anywhere that delivers. And since that is pretty much everywhere I will specifiy this weeks faves:

Wondee Siam II

Papa Johns

I have a very sophisticated palate, clearly 

What is one thing you can’t help but splurge on? 
 
Sweets. Cupcakes. Brownies. Cookies. I order 10 boxes of Girls Scout Cookies. 

ANd recently, I tots splurge on the pup. He gets groomed more than I do, and his toys exceed my underwear count.  

What is your favorite word? 
 

This is hard. I will think about it and maybe come back to this. 

(10hrs later)

I am coming back to this, and I don't have an answer. I guess vacation. But only if its used in the sense that I am on one. 

What movie can you recite by heart? 
  Clueless ( I totally paused)

   

  Sixteen Candles ( who me?...yea you..)

     Pretty in Pink ( I wanna go home with you guys...)

 

What is your favorite thing to do on the weekend? 

  Hang with the hubs and the pup. Catch up on DVR shows.
Order in - oh wait, I do that everyday. Crap.

Which tv show makes you happiest? 
 
The Real Housewives of ANYWHERE- I love Atlanta, OC, New York, and now New Jersey.

What is your favorite beverage? 
  DIet Coke. Its a problem. 

 

What is one trend that totally victimized you? 
 
Crop pants. I am 5'10 with a 34" inseam. Those suckers made it look like there was a monsoon expected- in the piedmont. 
 

If you could trade lives with anyone for a day who would you chose? 

. A FIREMAN!!!!! I love love love their lifestyle. It is fascinating. I want to be part of the brotherhood~

    If someone famous, then for sure Jennifer Lopez ( don't hate) everything that girl touches turns to gold.

 


What is your favorite comfort food? 
 
Well, I think baked goods. But then what is that saying about me when all I ever crave or want is sweets and baked goods?
 

What famous person do you think you most resemble? 
 
Back in the day I use to get Katie Holmes all the time. Last year when my hair was to my tail, I got Winnie Cooper. Recently, at work  a room of people told me Cherry Jones. Please google her. If I have gone form Winnie Cooper to Cherry Jones in less than a year, then I have GOT to see someone. I love Cherry Jones, but really? Really?

(first of all.... i can't stop laughing. y'all, cherry jones is the prez on 24 this season & a brilliant stage actress... i would say she could be your mother (face/eye shape....) yes.. but you? no. ... maybe crystal gayle with the hair?? ;)
 

What is your favorite adventure that we've shared?

Meeting in CVS, watching tv while eating yummy cupcakes, playing with puppies ( yours, then mine), and BREAKING THE CURSE!!!!!!!!

(hooray for the breaking of the curse!! i attribute it all to your goodness and karmic energy!!)

 


What was the best piece of advice you were ever given? Who gave it to you? 
  Anything my mom and dad say. They inspire me. Whenever I am down, they tell me these things that are so profound and yet so simple. I couldn't begin to narrow it down to one thing.


What three possessions do you value most? 
1)  Bible.

2)Wedding ring/engagement ring

   3) Scrapbooks/pictures. 

 

What three non-material things do you value most? 
 OH here we go: The three F's

  1) Family ( mom, dad, jenn, shell, erik, emma, and kisey)

   2) Friends ( there's not enough room)

   3)Faith 

 
When was the last time you told someone you loved them? Who was it? 
 
A few minutes ago- Erik, the hubster. 
 

.madison sq park. shake shack. my birthday.

love you, ab!

can't wait to get back for a proper puppy play date!

press. press. press.

so my good things utah interview
is airing tuesday, april 28th
@ 10:00 am

shannon and i are singing "i still believe"...
let's hope it isn't a train wreck
( i always think theatrical performances on tv look bizarre and over-dramatic).

you may have heard my interview for 106.5 and 97.1 this weekend for their "bway series"...

also, read stories about the show from
deseret news and salt lake tribune

our trip to asia.

24 hrs of tech + 0 hrs of stage time = TRIP TO ASIA for nat and kel!!

always doing cardio.

looking for brangelina.

"where's my camel!!!!??" "so HAWT!!"

i'm so effing ZEN! (ij)

i think i'm turning japanese!!!

chakras align in the dressing room.... i mean... india.
namaste.

mao ze dong! kim jung il! ho chi minh!
all those commie asians look the same to me!
(quoted by kelvin.. who is asian... and plays a commie asian.... so it's ok)

theatre is so glamorous.

we're in tech: round one

kelvin (thuy) and i have LOADS of off-stage time....

so in 10 of 12's (working 10 out of 12 hrs) for two days straight....
with about zero stage time....

we had to amuse ourselves.

jazzy jazzy jazzy

dubya took me to my second jazz game this season... this time we sat 3 rd row.
very fancy, indeed.

i love me some jazz..... come on , guys! take LA tonight!

and while most gals are bananas for kyle korver
(apparently he looks like kutcher?? notsomuch.)
my heart lies with harpring.
he's scrappy, he has delicious arms... and
he looks like he could be your home teacher.

other jazz look-a-likes...

carlos boozer = raja

andrei kirilenko = freshly-hatched baby bird

mehmet okur= berenstain bears "brother"

and a parting shot of the home teacher.

go jazz.

miss saigon public service announcement

if miss saigon was a film,
it would be rated PG-13
for
occasional strong language
&
adult themes

not to worry: it's not gratuitous.
and it's worth it....
don't worry.. i keep my clothes on!

... you've been warned....

meet my besties: nina

.nina.
aka. sister kristina hill, teeny, tina (which she hates), beaner, jelly

is our little korean missionary who sends the funniest diatribes.
she's epically funny (though apologizes for her lack of wit in this interview) and very much missed.
nina is our resident glamor consultant --can't wait till i can steal her korean stuff!

Where do you live?
BUSAN KOREA... IN GWANGALLI


what is your favorite color?
YELLOW AND PINK


what is your favorite city?
HAEUNDAE AND GWANGAN


What is your favorite thing to cook?
THE ONLY THING I HAVE COOKED IN 10 MONTHS ARE COOKIES AND BROWNIES! YAY SISTER
MISSIONARIES


What beauty product can you not live without?
DIOR MASCARA... MOM SENDS ME ALL THE GOODS


what is your favorite nyc restaurant?
SERENDIPITY... AND THOUSANDS MORE.... ITS AMERICAN FOOD


What is one thing you can’t help but splurge on?
BEAUTY PRODUCTS... THEY HAVE AMAZING SKIN CARE HERE


What is your favorite word?
SECRET IN KOREAN 비밀


What movie can you recite by heart?
TESTAMENTS......."IS THE PLACE OF RECORDS FAR" GOOD ONE JOY...


What is your favorite thing to do on the weekend?
HMM.... I DON'T FEEL ANY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WEEKENDS AND WEEKDAYS EXCEPT THAT I
HAVE MORE APPOINTMENTS!!! YAY


which tv show do you makes you happiest?
CANT WATCH THAT...


what is your favorite beverage?
ALOE VERA DRINK.. OR MILKIS (A MIXTURE OF MILK AND SPRITE!)


What is one trend that totally victimized you?
BLACK TIGHTS AND HEELS WITH EVERYTHING.. AND A SASSY BUN


If you could trade lives with anyone for a day who would you chose?
SOMEONE WHO COULD SLEEP IN....


What is your favorite comfort food?
ICE CREAM


What famous person do you think you most resemble?
SHANIA TWAIN..... "ITS LIKE A GIFT FROM GOD OR SOMETHING i DONT KNOW.."


what is your favorite adventure that we've shared?
WHAT HAVENT WE SHARED... SNEAKING OUT TO GET FROSTIES.. DVC ADVENTURES... LAKE
POWELL...... OH WAIT.. OUR WHOLE LIVES!


What was the best piece of advice you were ever given? Who gave it to you?
"FORGET YOURSELF AND GO TO WORK" ... IT WORKS FOR EVERYTHING. DAD SAID IT TO ME
QUOTING PRESIDENT HINCKLEYS DAD


What three possessions do you value most?
JOURNAL CAMERA BOOK OF MORMON


What three non-material things do you value most?
FAMILY PRAYER CAN i SAY FAMILY TWICE?


When was the last time you told someone you loved them? Who was it?
I TELL EVERYONE EVERYDAY... ISN'T THAT WAS SISTER MISSIONARIES ARE FOR?

good things shannon and natalie

shannon (kim) and i are singing "i still believe" and doing a saigon interview for
good things utah
tomorrow.... hopefully airing friday? or next week?
set your DVR!

i think those "good things" girls are a hoot!
we had the best time when they interviewed me a few years ago.

clearly shannon and i have a lot to talk about....

or i have a lot to say to her.....

she's wonderful.

mean girls....make mean women. (or men...)

A fly, Sir, may sting a stately horse and make him wince;
but, one is but an insect, and the other is a horse still.
. samuel johnson .

so, ironically, i've been working on a post about snarky commenters. loads of my favorite bloggers and friends have gotten the occasional bitter betty comment on their superbly awesome blogs for no justified reason. this hilarious acerbic diatribe will have to be curbed... if i posted it now, it might have a different punch considering the whopper of a comment i got last night...

about once every 6 months, i've been the target of such crankypants comments which i have brushed aside and declined a comment... why justify it?
but when it happens to my people, i mama-bear over to their blogs and comment protect them with my sharp type-sword.

but last night's above comment actually made me laugh.
out loud.

see... it really didn't offend me. that cheap shot.... was... just cheap.
i've had worse....
i'm not about to defend myself... i don't think that's even necessary.

what kind of person spends their beautiful moments on earth anonymously writing salty comments on other peoples blogs?
do you really think i'll learn a "lesson" by your misspelled unjustified accusations?
why would you go out of your way to be nasty?
does it make you feel better?
where is this really coming from?

if you don't like someone... or their blog.....here's an idea......

don't . read . it .
if it gives you stress, don't spend precious seconds thinking/reading about it.
no one is forcing you to read "mormon in manhattan."
i don't like sushi ... so i DON'T eat sushi.

simple as that.

i am so humbled by the way so many of you have commented on my side and have fought my battles for me. you know, i'd have your back if you ever needed me.

may we all be more mindful with our commenting.
the pen is as sharp as the sword.
so many people get off on the thrill the anonymity the computer affords.
i'm not saying you need to agree with me all the time....no! that'd wouldn't be fun!
but you can disagree tactfully, tastefully, and respectfully.

so for all of you who get mean girl/boy comments.... you're not the only one....

but i'd bet you're not the type who'd do that to someone else...

for the record, lackadaisical is not spelled laxidazical ;)
pics by sussy

mama mia

one of my blog-heros, veeda, did this awesome interview of my mot.
i think everyone's mom should be interviewed.
i really learned a lot.
i really lucked out with an extra-ordinary set of parentals.

tub time-out works.
NOBODY likes to sit in a cold tub.
i think my mom is groovy.

so remember

how i dated the best friend of the oscar nominee?

well.... it lasted for a while.....

until i just couldn't stand his natural smell...

raw beef + sea salt

deal breaker.

strictly ballroom

i {heart} glitter
i {heart} beautiful movement
i {heart} beautiful people
i {heart} fake lashes and sparkles
i {heart} wild costumes

i even {heart} oompa loompa orange skin tone (only on the dance floor)

i should have been a ballroom dancer.
i have now decided that i must become epically famous (then have a fall from grace) so i can become a contestant on dancing with the stars.
heaven knows i'll never learn to ballroom dance any other way!

keitch competed for her byu ballroom class at the
national amateur dancesport comptetition and was so beautiful!
she was robbed!!!

my favorite moment was when one of the contestants got a nose bleed.
look at his partner! it's the end of the world!!!
he stuffed tissue up his nose and continued- it was genius!

beautiful keitch and i feeling inspired.

viva la france!

5 yr old cousin cici asked her mommy:

cici: mommy, do people kiss differently in other countries?

mommy: you mean french kissing? when you kiss with your tongue?

cici: EEEEEWWWWW! i never wanna go to FRENCH!!!

photo by sussy

mission accomplished

the fellas and me
thanks, all, for the lovely inspiration.
i had a most excellent time firesiding with the lovelies in mountain green!

the gorgeous gallerinas

their fearless leaders

thanks for having me, brooke!

delish and springy sea of cupcakes made by generous natasha!

one of my new favorite quotes :

I believe in myself. I do not mean to say this with egotism or arrogance, but I believe in my capacity and in your capacity to do good, to make some contribution to this society of which we are a part. I believe that I am a child of God endowed with a divine birthright. I believe that there is something of divinity within me and within each of you. I believe that we have a godly inheritance and that it is our responsibility, our obligation, and our opportunity to cultivate and nurture the very best of these qualities within us. I do not have to be a scrub, though my work may be menial. Though my contribution may be small, I can perform it with dignity and offer it with unselfishness. My talents may not be great, but I can use them to bless the lives of others. I can be one who does his work with pride in that which comes from his hand and mind. I can be one who works with respect for my associates, for their opinions, for their beliefs, with appreciation for their problems, and with a desire to help them should they stumble. I believe in the principle that I can make a difference in this world. (Gordon B. Hinckley, "Articles of Belief," Bonneville International Corporation Management Seminar, February 10, 1991.)

pix by brooke stanley

help!

hope you have a lovely weekend!
i'll be doing a run of saigon this afternoon (we've learned the whole show!!!)
and on my day off tomorrow,
i'll get a good dose of church, family dinner &

i'm speaking at a fireside to some
darling young women and MEN (aaahahhhh! mixed company!)
about standing for something in a world that stands for nothing...

i'm not sure i'm the most equipped abecedarian, but at least it'll be entertaining...
i've essentially finished remarks but i'm sure you lovelies have loads of wisdom to share.

any favorite encouraging quotes (secular or spiritual) about living up to your divine potential?
or just a lovely motivational phrase?

love & thanks,
n@

pic by sussy

i go buy bubble

after charlie's,
go next door to caffe d'bolla
for bubble tea!

few treats thrill me more than bubble tea.

chow at charlie's

last night, we discovered charlie chow's dragon grill
in downtown slc.

sweet heaven, i LOVE me some mongolian bbq.

all you can eat for $10.50?!

ask for arlene
(quite possibly the most fantastic waitress i've ever had!)
she'll hook you UP!

you're welcome.

yup.

keitch outlined a classic "me" moment @ nordies
on her adorable {blog}

the part she forgot was when the girl asked me who i play in grease, i replied...

me: cha cha digregorio

her: (slowly and deliberately)... isn't she the sluuuuuuuuuuuuuut?

classic.


link fixed, thanks lovies!
www.kara-hill.blogspot.com

so in a few weeks...

i'm going to look like this....

one of my good friends and neighbors is now training "M".... as in... MADONNA (not a shabby gig!), using tracy anderson's method (word has it, M does a 2 hr 45 min workout daily)..
well...

i'm not a superhuman... i can only handle her one hour video mat workout.

seriously... it's killer.
she's not the best at cue'ing.. but it's the best workout i've ever gotten from a vid.
gweneth swears by it as well.
her whole theory is high rep/low weight to re-sculpt the body without adding bulk.
pretty soon i'll look like i dance for city ballet.
i'm so sore...

has anybody tried her cardio dance video?

spend spring in new york city!

stay in my pad from may 1- june 5
(dates negotiable)

details {here}

heat is definitely on in saigon.....

rehearsals are well underway and i'm blown away by the talent in this cast.
i've had very little rehearsal (because i'm only in one song in the first act-but the rehearsal i've had has been so fulfilling and intense.)
and have been so antsy to get in the game.

cute rob diamond's broadwayworld.com posted a comprehensive press release {here}

this show is going to be incredible. seriously.

hurry.. get your tix fast... they're selling out!

last weekend, we had a little saigon mixer at G.I. jack's amazing pad....
say hello to much of the cast....

which one of these is not like the other......

yeah, boyeeee! look at those dapper men in ties!

ooooh the love triangle.
love me some shannon and josh.

looks like ellen is infringing on kim and chris's engagement photo....

to all the current girlfriends of my ex boyfriends......

ladies, let's be civilized, now. i've created a few guidelines to help you in your new relationship...

1. if we're working together, talking to him RIGHTNEXTTOME and calling him "baby" and "sweetie" is just classless.

2. again, if we're working together, leaving HIS things on MY workspace is unacceptable.

3. harrassing my friends and making ridiculous assumptions about me only make you look crazy......

4. making up silly stories about me to use as fuel to get a declaration of love from my FB to you probably won't work. and, again, you'll look crazy

5. i have fixed his hair, clothing, and gifting abilities. enjoy that. you should thank me, really.

6. there's probably a REASON i let him go. shoving YOUR relationship in my face isn't gonna make me wish i was you, it's gonna make me think you're crazy

7. don't talk to my people about me on facebook. no good can come from facebook...and it makes you look crazy

8. standing in front of me in the mirrors at auditions doesn't worry me. I don't need to see myself and you just look crazy.

9. tell your boyfriend to stop texting me.

that's all. BYH.

hope you had a lovely

passover

or
easter sunday
(in grand-hill style, the easter bunny hides a basket with a swimsuit and other lovely pressies... can you believe m & d did one for me this year?! loved it! stellie insisted upon getting in the basket to eat the treats but i forced her to pose for a photo)

filled with people you love, cherry blossoms, hard boiled eggs,
and gratitude for all your blessings!

Christ the Lord is risen today.
hallelujah!

my small- town, wt, new, easter tradition.

because i haven't given my young parents grandchildren (i know! i know!),
we schlepped to heber city, utah to celebrate with our nugget cousins.

breakfast at chicks (cheep cheep-get it!) was delish...

al and i watched the hunt which lasted all of 20 seconds...
but had more fun watching the variations of camouflage apparel.

nothings says easter and rebirth like a camo dale ernheart puffy jacket
with matching pants and hat.

next year, we're heading to cabela's for appropriate attire.

next, we scientifically tested loads of kits and found a marbling kit to be superior to the rest.
... i was ripped out of bed so i'm not wearing a stitch of makeup...
do you love how you can trust that my blog posts are TOTALLY unstaged or thought out.

and finally, when in rome....

git ya a big slug (a two hander!!!) over ta the mavericks.

hippity hoppity easter time is here!

howdy, neighbor!

lovely blends,

if you see me out and about in nyc, slc, orem, san francisco, heber, wherever......
please say hello!

obviously, if you're reading this blog (which is public) you have excellent taste ;) and we have MANY things in common.
i'd love to meet you!

cause when you don't...... and you watch me....... my first response is to check my teeth or make sure i'm fully buttoned. if there are no low hanging boogers, i then assume we must have known each other from high school, shows, mutual friends and i'm a sucky person because i don't remember your name (which is common -sometimes i can't ever remember my own) and shame on me for being so RUDE!
get it? it trips me out?! i'm certainly not famous... so if big groups of girls are looking at me, i immediately turn into junior high goo and go all insecure postal on myself.

so.... say hello! we are friends, after all!

love,
neurotic natalie*

photos by sussy

fertile myrtle.

number of times i was told my eggs are rotting over this easter weekend: 5

number of eggs i dropped while dying: 7


conclusion: i am, indeed, single and clumsy.

baile con fuego!

kass (of my utah posse) teaches zumba
the most amazing (and toning) cardio world dance workout.

i felt borderline handicapped doing the movement
(not to mention, totally out of shape- thanks to my injured toe) but quickly realized the only way to not look like a total idiot is to do the movement as BIG as you can...

hey, and if i can salsa my way skinny like kass?....
i say, bueno!

kass teaches at golds gyms around utah county.
orem schedule {here}
find a zumba instructor in your hood {here}

toothpick and the whale revisited....

too emotionally drained to get my blog on.
lots of tears shed in saigon rehearsal today...
man! this story is so sad!

but remember
the toothpick and the whale?

i ran into him the other day..
just as bizarre as ever....and still a toothpick.

some things never change.

louboutin on gilt

good NIGHT!

look who's on sale @ gilt group

will somebody please buy these and wear them in my honor!!

 

these are a touch "slipper and the rose" but so gorgeous on the foot..

yes, i've tried them on...

wedding shoe?

please, i'd wear these girls to the grocery! i love them!

you're welcome.

the oscar nominee

once upon a time, i was working as a coat-check gal for a very upscale nyc eatery. 

one night, a very famous oscar nominee came in, checked his hat 

(which he later gave me $20 as a tip) and sat at the bar with his buddies.

naturally, by the end of the night, i had lost my job, but found a great friendship with the quirky yet terrifically handsome celeb. 

at one point, he answered a phone call.

 i don't remember much, but the words "sweetie," "i love you," and

 "come over! we're at _____" were definitely in the mix. 

"what a scoundrel!" i thought!

 isn't that soooo l.a. to be sweet talking me AND another girl on the phone! 

i wasn't about to get played or mixed up in this sick menage he was planning.

 soooo... i saddled on up to his best friend who shared many of my same interests as well as time at yale. i was bummed he wasn't super-charmer celeb, but happy that i had stood up for myself and dropped him like a hot potato.  the best friend snagged my number and we made plans for a date that week! celeb noticed that i abruptly avoided him (who drops HIM?!)

 and was pouting into his scotch. 

"serves him right!" i gloated!  "he's a rapscallion!"

go mim!! way to assert yourself!

next, a beautiful blonde breezes into the restaurant. 

she's perfect. 

she's interesting. 

she's the celeb's sister. 

well played, mim. 

things that make me happy today...

(sussy, me, and jelly.. sometime in the 80's after fingerpainting in the tub)

1. feeling sufficiently tight/worked from pilates.
2. meeting new people and smudging the old.
3. artistic excitement.
3. a vocal tune up with gayle.
4. not eating any of the crap i put in my body over the last few weeks.
5. new skin products.
6. new jim-jams.

what made you happy today?

this is what friend pride looks like...

(nana and i congratulating lala in her lincoln center dressing room)

if it looks like i'm not wearing any makeup....
it's because i cried it all off...
literally.. my chest was completely soaking wet from giant loopy tears.
half friend pride/half moved by the south pacific waters.
our girl is amazing.

on my wonderland stay in nyc, i

saw my girl, la la, give the most beautiful and moving performance as
nellie in south pacific.
really. if there is one performance to see this year.... her nellie is it.
she's spunky, grounded, funny, and man, i believed it when she sang she's
"in love with a wonderful guy!"

saw my girl, jenny powers in happiness- the most beautiful new show i've seen in a long long time. her performance (and the rest of the cast's) was so stunningly complicated and gorgeous. i have a whole post dedicated to the beautiful story of this show... really, don't miss it.

saw my original kenickie, matt saldivar, in toxic avenger....
he was brilliant and the show is
shockingly hysterical. nancy opel's brilliant belt and comedic performance makes me feel like she just may be an alien. i don't believe humans are capable of what she did on that stage.

saw too many friends (to mention individually)rock it in west side story!
the real stand outs were the jet girls, action, sexy bernardo, and quite possibly the most perfect maria, josephina scaglione.
she's everything you could ever hope for in a maria.
bueno!

i was so inspired by these brilliant ladies!
not a bad week in theatre.

it's official!

playbill.com released the miss saigon cast announcement!
read {here}

we start rehearsals tomorrow.
wish me luck!

hooray!

dd was interviewed for the washington post
about her life as a tour manager on the road
(see if you can find her secret shout out to me!),

alibug
became a varsity cheerleader,
got an A on a test for mr. downs (no small task!),
and became a certified lifeguard -
all in ONE day!

go girls!

pic by suss

temporary relief from hunger

part of sussy's birthday extravaganza included her virgin trip to napa valley.
and though i would have loved to treat her to thomas keller's french laundry,
his more casual (and less expensive) ad hoc was a culinary extravaganza.
they serve a 4 course family style no-options menu.
the nights menu is revealed at 2 pm that day.
amazing.
we hear the fried chicken is to die for and on alternating mondays.
bon appetite

hey, nyc casting friends-

you may want to check this out...specially you, abs.
while i didn't graduate from byu (fighting NYU violets, remember?) i'd fight anyone who would say they could find a better collection of healthy singers.
gayle lockwood (my utah voice guru extraordinaire)
has these kids belting at crazy and safe heights.

dear telsey,
you're welcome.

happy conference weekend!

general conference for my church is today and tomorrow.

i love listening to the words of the prophet.
i always feel hopeful, safe, peaceful, optimistic, inspired, motivated, and focused...
it's like spring cleaning for my soul!
especially when i can listen at home
(online {here} or on tv in utah)
with the fam in my jim jams.
in the spring, we listen outside while laying on the grass and watching the puppies play.
since it's snowy, i'm planning on snuggling with stellie by the fire and taking notes for my upcoming firesides.

tune in!
.all are welcome.

photo by suss

5 reasons why i love deer valley

5. i grew up on this mountain.
4. my Utah ID puts a $52 pass in my mitten-ed hand.
(THAT'S why i don't get a nyc license)
3. even on peak days, i never have to wait in line for a lift.
2. snowboarders are forbidden!! yay! no one ruining my moguls!
1. deer valley lunch.
(you've never had a better salad bar/turkey chili/chocolate chip cookie)

finally!!
i got to ski 2 days in a row*.
i'm the happiest girl in the world!

* yes... i realize that in one week i went from napa valley to san francisco to disneyland to deer valley and that's total grounds to be annoyed with me... and yes, i realize how blessed/lucky i am.... must make up for lost time, after all, i was stuck at rydell high for a full year and a half!
unemployment is lovely!

how not to pose in your online profile picture.

i have seen too many pretty girls ruin a
good self portrait in attempts to

a. look sexy
b. look fun
c. look skinny

since you were all SO impressed with my amazing modeling skills (look out, tyra!),
here i am (again, making a fool of myself)
ready and willing to illustrate my point...
thank you sussy and bille for making this magic happen.

suss and i like to call this gem the "deranged bird."
nothing says, "i'm trying to hide those lose last stingy 10 lbs"
or "please note that i have cleavage" (sorry, my g's prevented a full line shot)
like the classic down shot with a protruding eye.

a. not sexy or demure (is that what i was going for?)
b. not fun-sort of mean, really
c. somewhat skinny... but cougar looking... ready to pounce!

on the left: "kissey face"

a. does not look fun or sexy
b. does not make my face look skinnier
c. does not induce kissing feelings from the opposite sex-
or even from stella.
it's just zany and bizarre.

on the right: "prune"

no. i'm not an olsen twin-easy to confuse on this shot..

a. not sexy... and i DEFINITELY don't look like a supermodel.
b. not fun... or approachable.. looks like i just smelled something rank.
c. just makes my cheekbones look more defined cause my lips look simpson-esque.

and finally,

"tyra eyes"

before and after

nope.. still not fierce.

ladies, i still think you're better off sporting a toothy grin.
your mom and dad paid a pretty penny for orthodontia...
show those pearlies off!

headband by taza: see belo
necklace: "love" by guenevere rodriguez

these grown up brain-squeezers are more than acceptable.

do you have a taza & the prince headband?

"anyone who's anyone has one!"
{famous words by "shelley" (me) in hairspray}

i do.
thanks, taz!
i love it!

photo of me by sussy

. create .

to create

my sisters and aunts can create something from nothing with their eyes and hands.
my mom can create something from nothing with scissors or a whisk.
creation in many areas comes naturally to them.
sadly, domestic goddess-creation is not my strongest suit (yet...) .

i'm hopeless with a needle and thread
(though i have many botched baby quilts to show my attempts),
my baking foreys are better than my cooking skills
(which isn't saying much),
i don't know how to arrange a beautiful flower arrangement,
i barely know how to use a computer,
i love love love to paint, but your 5 yr old has a more deft hand at the art,
and after 9 + years of studying the piano, i can only remember
smidgens of beethoven's 6th variation.. and nothing else...

you see, my hands aren't very good at creating
(much to my great dismay),

but my heart is.
my heart creates stories and feelings you've never heard or felt.

my heart turns itself inside out and says
"see?! this. this right here is what you feel too, right?"

sometimes, my voice sings you how my heart beats.
sometimes, my body moves to the rhythm of my heartbeat.
sometimes, my fingers (finally useful for something!!) write you how my heart feels.
and sometimes, my heart can't figure out how to get it out...
but somewhere, from deep inside my bones, i feel like i have to get it out.
i have to connect.
i have to create.

how does He want me to create?

nie nie posted this video.
oooh it speaks to my create-a-torium.
so many different ways to make something from nothing.
so many reasons why we must.

how do you create? why do you create?

a very sussy birthday.

march 30, 2009
10:30 pm | san francisco

decide flying to disneyland FOR THE DAY would be a grand way to
spend sussy's 24 th birthday.

11:00 pm
tickets purchased for aforementioned adventure

march 31, 2009
5:30 am | san francisco
fly to long beach
(romy and michelle's high school reunion was on jetblue tv-clearly, a birthday miracle)

8:30 am
rent car
enter magic kingdom

thunder . space . splash . screamin' . matterhorn . pirates . tower . midway .
dole whip. chocolate covered banana . churro .
more.

5:54 pm
leave happiest place on earth

9:15 pm
return to groovy san francisco

9:45 pm
in-n-out

proudly upholding the hill family motto:
"excess in all things"

happy b-day, suss!
i love you too much!

i'll never forget this day!