Love.

I could apologize about how I haven't updated in a week, however, maybe it just wasn't meant to be. Although I haven't necessarily been blogging, I was still taking pictures of moments that caught my eye. What I've realized, though, is that I would like to take more adventures. Explore new places, try new things, experience that which I haven't experienced yet. Every day for me is an adventure, but I would like to travel outside of my usual box or bubble of existence. New goal. Love.

I feel as though I have been going through the rough chapters in my book of my life for the past few months, but am now getting to the good parts. Not necessarily with a lot of action, but the good parts meaning feelings of content, of hope, of excitement, of anxiety for what's next. It's a fascinating part of the book, and almost a sort of segway. Thrilling. Exciting. I'm turning 26 in about a month...maybe that has something to do with it? I have a feeling 26 is going to be a really good year. A year of change. A year of good change.

TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2011

So relaxing. As I was sitting drinking my soy latte (decaf) with a friend at Starbucks, I was also brought to peace by watching these flowers sway softly with the light breeze. Calming and peaceful.

MONDAY, JULY 25, 2011

It's amazing when you own something for seven years and never actually use it or wear it...for whatever reason. I bought this shark tooth necklace in Hawaii in 2004 and it's been hanging on the rearview mirror of my car every since....first the sunbird, then the cobalt, then stuffed with my other necklaces, then on my focus, and this day on my neck. I felt an inclination to actually wear it, and I actually enjoyed the look, the feel, and the emotional connectivity that came along with it. It was an amazing family vacation and it was cool that one little item carried so many memories.

SUNDAY, JULY 24, 2011These guitars are all over Sunset Blvd. and were designed by different artists...Chicago has the cows, Detroit has the frogs. I thought it pretty sweet. I love art, as you know, so any kind of art being put up around a city makes my heart warm.

SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011

Somehow, I always manage to hurt or cut myself at work; this injury was the topping on the cake. To put it plainly: Disgusting. One of the signs fell on my finger, well fingernail, and cut it. Blood oozing through a small cut in your nail? Pretty gross, but definitely picture worthy.

FRIDAY, JULY 22, 2011

I never get the chance to just lay poolside and soak up the sun, relax, and talk with friends. This was a memorable and beautiful moment. I'm kind of in love with LA. I'm excited for the day when this will be me, in my own backyard with my own pool. In the meantime, however, I'll use my friends' pools. :)

THURSDAY, JULY 21, 2011

Once a month, my friends and I try to gather for a group happy hour at a local bar. Quesadillas = a must. Margaritas = obviously. Amazing times with Amazing friends = DUH! I think it's such a wonderful and important thing to make sure to make time for those you love in your life. My friends are some of the most amazing people ever.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2011

First family game night! Lo, Matt, and I met up at a really cool coffee shop called Intelligencia, and also brought Disney Monopoly. One of my favorite things to do is go to a coffee shop and chill and talk and relax. Love it. I LOVE going to smaller, mom-and-pop, family owned, hipster, whatever types of coffee shops. The corporate feel isn't there. The quality of the beverages is better, and the atmosphere is much, much more relaxed. Customers and baristas alike are cool and chill. And by the way, going to a coffee house and bringing my own board game has always been something I've wanted to do. Checking that one off of my bucket list. :)

TUESDAY, JULY 19, 2011

There are friends you tell you're deepest, darkest secrets to. There are friends that are there for you when you're happy or sad. There are those that you grab a movie or a drink with. There are those friends that you can spend hours and hours talking about nothing and laughing hysterically about absolutely nothing. My friends make my world go round. They know how I tick; they know how to make everything better, and they know how to bring a smile to my face. love.

And the beat goes on.

What a week. I came back from Detroit to thrust myself right back into my normal busy life here in LA. I opened another show on Saturday, which meant rehearsals. We also had a pick up rehearsal for Hamlet. So, Work + Rehearsals + little sleep = my week. But it's ok. I love rehearsals and performing, I thrive off of it. I never get upset about going or hate the time spent; it's sort of euphoric for me. I need that creativity to live off of.

This week was also a week of friendships...friendships gone awry, friends from the past coming back, realizations of true friends, and working through the daily hurdles. Fascinating, thrilling, and intense ride. You don't realize how much of an effect the people you keep around daily have on your life until you stop to think about it, or until some event happens. I am thankful for who I have in my life.

MONDAY JULY 18, 2011

Skype. What a beautiful creation. Because of skype, I am able to not only have "face to face" conversations with my family and best friends, but I am also still able to "meet up" for a drink with a friend. Whitney and I always text and plan at least one skype date a week to catch up, laugh, reminisce, and have a drink together...however, usually I'm eating dinner and she's getting ready for bed. Oh, the three hour difference. However, I love that I am still able to have face time with my friends from New York. :)

SUNDAY JULY 17, 2011

I didn't just take this picture. I'm cheating; I actually took it before I started this project. However, I found it this day and found it so relevant in everything in my life that I wanted it to be my picture for the day. This was a piece of artistic graffiti at the end of my street. I love it and totally agree with it.

SATURDAY JULY 16, 2011

Full moons are fascinating. I find it bizarre and remarkable how a full moon can literally change people's moods and demeanors. Why is that? Why are people affected by full moons? It just makes me think that the universe is so much more powerful than we could ever imagine or possibly fathom it could be.

FRIDAY JULY 15, 2011

This photo was taken at about 12:15am as Jonathan, Adrianna, Samantha, and I waited outside of the theatre to see "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows Part 2." It's amazing how an immensely well written story can not only affect lives, but create a worldwide phenomenon. The mind is a powerful instrument and when used correctly, it can create amazing results. This movie sort of marked an end of a generation. The movies have been coming out for ten years, but before that, the books had been out for a few years. The story of Harry Potter has been around for most of my life and has also affected it such. Brilliant, moving, and mind blowing.

THURSDAY JULY 14, 2011

I spend a lot of time in my car driving to and from work, rehearsals, performances, auditions, zumba classes, or whatever. I happened to long in my side view mirror and capture a beautiful moment on the road. This is the world as I see it on a regular basis.

WEDNESDAY JULY 13, 2011

The drains are continuously getting clogged at work (the construction people are actually coming tomorrow to fix them). So, Samantha thought she would scoop the water out of the drain and dump it into the sink...until she realized that the sink led to the same drain she was scooping water out of; therefore not making any progress what-so-ever. This moment led to a twenty minute fit of laughter, snorting, and slapping of the knee. I love fits of laughter.

TUESDAY JULY 12, 2011

I met up with Julie for lunch in Brentwood, which is a city right outside of Santa Monica where she lives. Would you guess that this picture is actually in an alley? Yep. It's a small alley next to the cafe we met up at. I love how in big cities such as LA and NYC, everyone makes the best of the space they have. Instead of this being a boring, and maybe gross alleyway, it was made into a cute outside patio for the restaurant. Thinking outside of the box always = win. :)

A whole week's worth...

What an exciting past week it has been! I spent the weekend in Michigan with my amazing family and friends. The trip home was to attend Emily and Nate's Wedding. It was a reunion of sorts for our group of friends that is now spread out throughout the country. It was a weekend of fun, love, happiness, recollection, laughter, and memories. I'm truly blessed with the people I have in my life.

MONDAY JULY 11, 2011

I began my morning with a cup of (1/2 caf.) coffee. and some poppyseed roll slices. Amazing. Grandma clearly couldn't send me back to the west coast sans poppyseed! It was a beautiful way to begin my week.

SUNDAY JULY 10, 2011

I love Cassie Dew soooooooooooo much.

SATURDAY JULY 9, 2011

Eight years later and we're still best friends...not just the three of us, but our whole huge group. That was something that was talked of a lot that evening - the value of friendship and how our group is so lucky to have formed. They are some of the most amazing friends I have ever had. I am so happy for Emily and Nate and wish them nothing but the best in their future, but let's be real: I'll clearly be along for the ride.

FRIDAY JULY 8, 2011

Afternoon beer with a good friend...Correction: Afternoon OBERON with a good friend. Nothing compares to this. This is the quintessential way to spend an afternoon. I was reminded by someone who believed in me of everything I can and should offer to the world via talent. I absolutely love intelligent conversations that turn into philosophical and hypothetical ones that turn into random spurts of laughter and stories. Nothing like an afternoon Oberon with a good friend.

THURSDAY JULY 7, 2011

Remarkable, isn't it? This is the view from my window of the plane. Breathtaking. The billowing ocean of cloud looks just comfortable enough to fluff up and roll around in. The clearness of the sky is enough to put your mind in a zen state looking out onto the endless horizon. The way the sun peeks into the picture is an everlasting reminder that you are being guided in life. It's amazing to think that I have never lived during a time when a view like this wasn't possible. Remarkable how many things we take for granted...

WEDNESDAY JULY 6, 2011

The value of friendship again resurfaces. My second family here in LA was sad that I was leaving and each of them made sure they found me before I left to give me a hug and wish me a safe trip. Mattie and I grabbed lunch (my picture is of me and my iced passion tea lemonade) and talked...a lot (per usual) before I had to head back to the apartment and pack for the weekend.

TUESDAY JULY 5, 2011

As you know, I love finding art. Everything is art. What I love about living off of Melrose Ave. is that there is ever-changing artwork all over all of the buildings, the ground, whatever. It's not graffiti (which is a different art form in itself), but it's art that is put there for a reason. This piece is just a section of a side of a building. I loved it.

MONDAY JULY 4, 2011

Happy Independence Day! How did you spend the holiday? I worked, then met up with some of my second family for a bbq, and ended the evening on the side of a mountain watching the fireworks all over Los Angeles light up the horizon. I definitely have to say: it was pretty cool. It was somewhat peaceful watching from a distance, feeling like you were somewhat on top of the world looking out onto this painting that the fireworks were creating as it splattered the canvas of the night sky.

Going Away...

I just wanted to write a blog and say that I won't be posting again until Monday, July 11th. I'll be in Michigan for the weekend for a wedding. :) Don't worry - I'll have a whole slew of new pictures to post, though. Thanks for following, and make sure you check back on Monday! Have a great weekend!

The Simple Things in Life...

My friend Patrick sent me a blog posting to read today from a mother of 6 who lives on a farm and discussed the simple things in life that make the world go round. Everyday you may dream of these beautiful materialistic items, amazing exotic vacations, and trendy fashions, but at the end of the day, what makes you happiest? Sometimes, it's just curling up with the dog. Sometimes, it's just sitting on the porch with a drink. Sometimes, it's just watching the stars. All of these are things that we sometimes take for granted, but we need to remember the simple things in life. Here's the link for the article if you're interested in reading it: http://humblemusings.com/?p=3200. (I recommend - it's a good read, eye opening, and funny, too. We can all relate to what she talks about.) What are some of the simple things in your life that make your day? It's interesting...many of the things that make my day have been captured as a photo and have been here for you to see...

SUNDAY JULY 3, 2011

My festivities today included going over to my friend Steven's. He had a bbq. I, of course, was going to bring something...and therefore, thought to bring my mexican dip. This is one of my absolute favorite things, and I think of it as a "treat" because I don't make it all the time. It is seriously like crack, and if you are not careful, you will have eaten the entire thing yourself. No joke. So...good day with good food, good sangria, good people, swimming, beautiful weather, and the amazing sun.

SATURDAY JULY 2, 2011

Meet Matt...aka M2 (squared)...aka Matthew...aka Martini. How can this picture not make you laugh, if not at least make you crack a smile. When I turned around and saw this while working, I was dying laughing. I love the people I work with, how everything (even cleaning walls and behind cabinets) can be made into something fun, and that we are always laughing or making each other laugh. As stressful and rough the job can be sometimes, the people I work with make every day so much better.

FRIDAY JULY 1, 2011

Sometimes you just need some lovin in your life. This is how my soy (decaf) misto with extra foam was presented to me by one of my good friends at work. (I always get to work at least 30 minutes before my shift to chill, have a drink, and relax before I start.) Anyway, it was a pretty great way to start my day.