A moment

Ah, I have finally found a blogging-minute. I spent the morning buying groceries to replenish my sparse kitchen. I hadn't found the time to go since getting back into town on Sunday. The first shopping trip after being out of town always feels like an accomplishment. Then, one of my best girl friends invited me out for an early "birthday lunch" (my actual birthday is Saturday). We enjoyed some soup and salad at Olive Garden (ok, I also splurged on a birthday bellini...it was almost 1:00pm...that's after Noon, at least...), and then we went for lattes at Starbucks.

The rest of the afternoon was spent doing some character study for a film audition I have Monday. This could be a big opportunity for me, so I'm very excited. They want me to have a specific accent for the role, so I have been doing research to find good examples of the one I need to learn.

My play reading performance last night was a lot of fun, and I think it went quite well. I was very flattered to receive some nice compliments on my acting afterwards. I like that the event was professional, yet low key, and sort of like a little cocktail party that included a reading. I hope I'll get to do more in the future. Just having a "toe" back into the theatre world, really made me remember how much I love it. It's like home.

For now, I'm curling up in my "girl throne" with the rest of my soy latte and delving into this film script they've sent me. I love when I'm able to have access to the entire script before an audition, not just the one scene they want me to read. I happen to be mimicking Gwyneth's outfit above, coincidentally. Nothing better than a big, cozy sweater and a pair of boy shorts or undies to get comfy on a Fall day. I've added my trademark knee high socks to the mix, with an argyle pattern.

Hope everyone's having a lovely day. I am so glad the weekend is upon us!

Upward spiral

Busy busy busy busy busy......and enjoying the cooler weather.

Tell me about your week so far. xx

Craving

Yes, please.

I've been having cravings for croissants, strawberries, coffee, and grapefruit mimosas since last night. Maybe that will be a birthday present to myself this weekend.

Too much work to get done today...I'm struggling to get started. My mind is more focused on wishing I was in the photo above, and on the play reading my boyfriend and I are going to this evening. There are two plays this week, and my group performs tomorrow night. I thought it would be fun to go and support the other group, as well. Plus, I can't think of a much better combination than wine and theater. Except mimosas and croissants...with strawberries.

Dragging myself to work now...

Austin - Little Rock - Fayetteville - Kansas City...and back.

I have to say, I am thrilled to be starting a new week. It couldn't possibly be as hectic or stressful as this past one (right?). Even though my trip to Arkansas/Kansas City was a whirlwind and involved way too much driving in 3 short days (30 hours total in the car), I had a nice time seeing family and friends, which is always worth a little craziness. For now though, I am very happy to be home and back with my boyfriend.

Luckily, I don't have to settle into a too-normal routine just yet, because this week I am doing a play reading with some local playwrights. It's been a little while since I've done a live event, so I'm really excited. I was asked to participate by one of my favorite college professors (back when I was earning my acting degree in Birmingham, Alabama), who is also now living in Austin. We have a rehearsal this evening and the performance in on Wednesday night.

Meanwhile, here are some photos from my trip (in no particular order):

 I loved the walls in the building where my cousin's wedding reception was.

 

 Remnants of a wedding...

 Awake at 6am. This had to be documented.

 

 Sunset while driving through Fayetteville, Arkansas. If my camera had worked just a few seconds faster it would have been a much more amazing shot. Trees got int the way.

 A great little dive burger shop...somewhere in Arkansas.

 Looking up at the wedding reception.

 Personalized bottles for the couple. Cabernet Sauvignon - my wine of choice.

 Center pieces. And my mom's husband.

 

 Last night in Little Rock meant dinner and drinks with friends. The awesome manager at Old Chicago gave us a sampler platter on the house.

Best wishes and congratulations to my cousin, Erin and her new husband Greg on their marriage! 

Road trip: attempt #2

Ok, I'm a bit more "regrouped", I'd say, than I was yesterday. I'm finally off to Arkansas, and immediately onto Kansas City with my family. I will see you on Monday, hopefully with some recoverance of sanity. Have a great weekend!

p.s. Don't forget, you can stay connected with me in other ways, too:
- Follow along on Twitter
- Ask me anything on Formspring
- Stay updated by "liking" me on Facebook

I wasn't even supposed to be here today...

I'm just gonna say it: this week has been absolute murder. I felt too sick to drive to Arkansas today when I woke up (this would be day 5 of being sick), and on top of that, my dog is suddenly really ill and we spent the whole morning at the vet with him. In fact, he's still there, while they run some tests.

Someone needs to bring me a latte and some sanity.

Little Things That Make Me Smile...

Later-than-usual post today. I've been running around trying to get all my work done before leaving town tomorrow morning, plus I had to squeeze in a run to the doctor, since I am really not feeling hardly any better after 4 days of being ill! Being sick already ruined Halloween, it'd be awful to have it ruin my cousin's wedding for me, too!
My doctor seems to think my symptoms point to a virus, but thankfully I've been hooked up with antibiotics just in case. I really don't want to be miserable during my whole trip. We'll see if the medication works, and if not, at least I've ruled out that possibility the it's something bacterial. Then it probably just means I need to let the virus run it's course....but, boy oh boy, do I hope these pills work.

This seems like a good time to concentrate on the little, simple, uncomplicated things that make me happy right now:

 Black nails. I think it's a "do" for Fall/Winter. What do you think?

 A seasonal snack: honey crisp apples in caramel sauce.

 Hot tea with a "honey spoon", brought back from Monticello in Virginia.

 Rediscovering old shoes, which make some pretty awesome Mary-Jane-like platform shoes for Fall. This is why I rarely throw anything away. ;)

I was a Halloween zombie, but not in a good way

I'm still mourning the fact that I missed Halloween. I rarely get sick, so the fact that it had to happen on one of my favorite days of the year is making it difficult to take.

Luckily, I can still look back on Friday night, when my boyfriend and I attended our friends' annual pumpkin carving party. I didn't carve a pumpkin this year, but it's always good fun to go and hang out with everyone, and enjoy a nice spread of Halloween food and drink. There was no shortage of talent among the pumpkin carvers, as well, and it was fun to see what everyone came up with.

Drink of choice for the night: Snakebites (Guinness and Hard Apple Cider)

 

My cold-weather, casual party wear

I'm still feeling quite under the weather, and aside from that being a real annoyance, I am driving to Arkansas on Thursday morning, and then up to Kansas City with with my family on Friday, for my cousin's wedding! I am really looking forward to it, but being sick during the entire trip is definitely not the goal. My body needs to get in gear!