Virginia is for Lovers

I haven't really blogged in like 7 weeks.
I have good reason for that because life has been BUSY.
and GREAT
and DIFFICULT
and EXPENSIVE
and FUN
and TIRING
and EXCITING

Major Happenings:
1. Working part time as a nanny to two adorable pains in my ass (who I love and who love me somehow even after putting them in time out).
2. Taking Statistics at the community college since it's a requirement for PharmD
3. *drum roll* I got an interview for VCU School of Pharmacy!! This Saturday, the 21st.

Not so major happenings:
1. So we spent all of August doing a primal/paleo diet (no bread, rice, beans, pasta, chips, processed foods, etc) and we really stuck to it like 90%. Wesley lost a few lbs (don't know where they came from since he's pretty skinny already) and so did I. But, that wasn't really the point since we're both aren't overweight at all. I think I felt more of a difference than he did. My allergies were more bearable, as well as my back pain. But, for September we brought all the prohibited stuff back in since it's easier and less expensive. But, I'm still gonna try to limit my intake since I definitely have been more uncomfortable this month. lol.

I had Statistics class today and we don't really have tests besides the midterm and final. So, instead we have "projects," which are kind of like a take-home test. I got my first one today and it didn't seem too bad. I'm not worried about this class in general.
There's this one woman in my class who is in her 40s and has a strong eastern european accent. I applaud her for going to school and taking a mathematics class in a language that she has definitely not mastered. At the same time, she slows the class down occasionally, which is annoying to everyone including the teacher (even though he tries not to show it). But, I'm sure I'd slow down a class if I was taking Statistics in a Spanish-speaking country.

The family I nanny for has been a really good fit so far. It's a lot of work; but, it's definitely rewarding by having a hand in making the kids' childhood great. It's not a bad way to make money.
The dad is an attorney (partner at his firm) who comes from old Virginia money. The mom works in the coal industry, I believe, as a client/investor relations executive or something. Still don't know the details on that.
Hue (short for Huestis Pratt Cook IV...), age 5, just started kindergarten at a private all-boys episcopal K-12 school that kind of reminds me of Lake Highland (where I went to high-school) if it were all-boys. Addie (short for Addison Louise), 3, is in preschool. They are beautiful, creative, curious, sweet little balls of energy that really keep me on my toes.  Hue is at that age where everything warrants five or six questions. What is that? How does it work? Why??? What's the difference between Dragonflies and flies?

Save The Dates are out and the wedding is really coming together. I can't believe we're at the 6 month mark already. Feels like we just got engaged. You never know how much goes into a wedding until you're trying to put one together. It's insane.
Living together has been pretty awesome. People ask how it's going and expects us to be so sick of each other something. I'm sure it'll happen at some point. But, for now, it's a breeze. The biggest issue we've had is the fact that I forget to clean out the tea pot after I use it.
That and trying to stick to a budget, of course.
SAVING MONEY IS HARD!
My grandparents sent me $20 in the mail out of the goodness of their hearts and I felt a little guilty using it to buy a pair of shorts at H&M as opposed to saving it for later. haha.

The other night, Wesley and I were talking about how despite our budget struggles, we're actually doing really well compared to a lot of people our age.
1. We both have jobs. (Yeah, I'd make more money full-time, but then I wouldn't be able to handle class and wedding stuff)
2. We are able to be "in the black" at the end of each month so far, even if it's just by a very small amount.
3. We can afford to have a nice sized apartment in a good area.

We also are just so blessed to have our parents/family. I mean, my parents are paying for like 90% of the wedding. If Wesley and I had to pay for the wedding, we'd be going to city hall (which would suck). My parents still pay for my car insurance, health insurance and phone bill. I really should be kissing their feet and claiming that I'm unworthy (Wayne's World style).

I'm gonna try to make more youtube videos. I got very good feedback from my most recent one. It's funny to me because I wasn't even sure if it was good enough to post. I showed it to Wesley and my Mom before making it public.

Well, I'd write more, but I have to pick up Addie and Hue from school.

The new adventure begins

Okay so, I finally found some chill time to write in this thing. So much stuff has been going on and it has been like 90% awesome. That's a pretty impressive awesomeness quotient, I think. I'm gonna have to change the banner on the top of this blog so it doesn't have the downtown Nashville skyline anymore.

Wesley and I have moved in together and have been roomies for almost a month. I moved in on June 23rd, but then we soon left for a full week of Michigan ridiculousness. So, technically, my belongings have lived in the apartment longer than my personage has. So far, I really love living with Wesley. I love our apartment, I love getting to see him every day, I love being able to explore a new city, I love starting a new chapter with the love of my life even before the wedding. So far the only dislike I have are that there is construction going on around our apartment from 8am-6pm. The changes they're making are going to look really nice, but it sucks for sleeping. It also sucks for windows apparently since a few days ago a piece of plywood flew through our living room window. It's all boarded up now and we're waiting for a new window to be installed. Twas supposed to come yesterday but, alas! It has not arrived.

I've been cooking a lot lately. Wesley says I'm spoiling him. lol. I really enjoy cooking. I won't have a much time for it when I start my new job and take my two classes I still need for PharmD. So, I'm trying to get the most out of my free time right now.

Played my first Virginia show on Tuesday night, and I have two more this weekend (one in VA Beach and one in Newport News). The one on Tuesday was in Ashland, which is like 20 miles north of Richmond. It was a songwriter's contest thing and the winner got to compete in their finals (in like 5 months or so) for a big cash prize. I was really surprised I didn't even get in the final four. But, whatever. I met some cool new people including a 15 year old girl who won the 6th finals (we're on the 8th now, she wasn't allowed to compete in the 7th, naturally).  She had a deep, warm, folky voice not unlike Natalie Merchant. When she played I felt like I was in a Dublin pub or something. She doesn't have an accent when she speaks, but when she sings she articulates her words in a somewhat Irish fashion. A couple audience members and fellow contestants came up to me and were very sweet and supportive. Some even said I was "robbed." I feel like if my "competition" and the audience members who pretty much came to see other artists are telling me that I should have won, I'm doing something right. That's what matters to me.

I was supposed to have 12 shows over the next couple months, from Richmond to Virginia Beach to Newport News, performing for this furniture chain. It was all set up and booked, and then a few days later, they said there was a problem with the venue and all august/september gigs had to be canceled/rescheduled. LAME.
But, at least my two shows this weekend are still on.
I mean, 2 paying gigs are better than no paying gigs, or no gigs at all.

I'm gonna start a job on August 12th, as a nanny for a 3 year old girl and a 5 year old boy. They live walking distance from my apartment so it's very convenient. I'm excited: #1 to be making an income, #2 to be a babysitter again. I love kids. It's gonna be a challenge since I'm more experienced with the late-elementary/early adolescent set. But, I'm up for it.

Wesley and I are thinking of doing a mostly "primal/paleo" diet for the month of August. Like breakfast and dinners, since it's hard to eat like that at work or when you're around tiny children. Since we both have inflammatory issues and autoimmune stuff, we want to see if a diet change like that will help. I hope it does. Again, more challenges.

As for wedding planning, we are gonna start sending out batches of Save The Dates starting next week! I've been stamping return addresses on tons of envelopes for the past couple days. Gathering addresses is a pain in the ass, and I've got like 95% of them. Oddly enough, the majority of the ones I'm missing are from immediate family on my dad's side. We're also gonna get a registry soon, figure out our getaway car, and pick out bridesmaids dresses. Bridesmaids dresses have become the bane of my existence. I didn't think it would be so difficult to figure out what my bridesmaids should wear. I guess I'm picky, and I have 6 wonderful bridesmaids in all shapes and sizes. I have to make sure they are comfortable and that the dress is flattering.

I'm having trouble registering for classes at the community college for this fall semester. Apparently my transcript never arrived, so it looks like I don't have the necessary pre-reqs to take the classes I want. Things just have to be difficult, don't they? So now I'm gonna have to get a new transcript. Let's just hope the classes I need aren't completely filled by the time I get my shit together.

I'm still here, I promise.

With all the music videos, EP release, moving to Richmond, and vacation in Michigan, I've been obscenely busy. Thus, I haven't updated in a long time. But, I promise I will soon. My life has just been one thing after another after another lately.

Another music video!

Click the picture above to see the music video for "Melody."

MUSIC VIDEO!!!

My first music video for my song "Not What I Need," off my new EP.
I have another music video coming probably sometime late next week or early the following week, depending.

Enjoy

"Like"

Comment

<3

Cry. Hurt. Laugh. Sing.

My new EP is officially coming out on June 4th!
And it will be called the "Cry. Hurt. Laugh. Sing." EP.
The name is taken from some lyrics in the song "Dangerous Things."
I like how it encompasses a lot of different feelings and kinda expresses the diversity of the songs on the EP.

Tracklisting:
1. Firefly (A pop/rock-ish tune about wanting someone you can't have)
2. Mysterious (a jazzy song about being intrigued by someone)
3. Not What I Need (an epic, atmospheric, folky ballad about settling in your relationship)
4. Dangerous Things (a bluesy pop song about the rollercoaster of emotions you experience while falling for someone)
5. Slow Poison (a straightforward, chill pop ditty about a somewhat toxic relationship)

When you listen to my last EP (self-titled and released in August 2011), you can tell it's very glossy and smooth. The production is very radio-ready. This new EP is less glossy and more on the raw side. I'm highly impressed by the quality of recordings I got, considering this EP was free for me. I feel very blessed to have met the people who worked on this project. They put a lot of hard work into it and I wasn't even compensating them.
I'm happy that it's coming out on my mom's birthday too. It's kinda a way to recognize her support of my music, I guess.

Yesterday, I filmed the music video for "Melody."
It went very well. Joshua Lockhart, the videographer, was very easy to work with and I think he'll make something really awesome. I recommend him.
We filmed in this alleyway with a lot of cool brick walls.
I got my hair and makeup professionally done, too.
For the "Not What I Need" video, I did my hair/makeup myself and I was very proud of the result.
But I felt that Melody needed something extra.
My hair was all teased and softly curled at the ends. It looked a little 1960s.
My hair was pretty big and full of secrets.
I also wore my "crazy pants." (A pair of Roberto Cavalli skinny jeans I got from China on Ebay. They include leopard print, colorful paint splatter, floral print, AND a colorful optical illusion-ish print.)
Josh and I joked that I should create a record label called Crazy Pants Records. Love it.

We started filming around 3pm. Around 5pm, When I was trying to get up to this platform area (while wearing 5 inch heels), I tripped and hit my head really hard on the brick steps. I felt fine, just a little disoriented with a scratched up arm. So, we continued to film.
Later that night, around 11:30ish, I started to have a horrible headache and feel nauseous.
After a few hours of progressively getting worse and being too afraid to fall asleep (you're not supposed to if you have a concussion), I decided to go to the ER (after calling and waking up my parents in the middle of the night to get their opinion).
I arrived at 2:30am and got a CAT Scan. The scan turned out to be clear, thank goodness. The doctor said I got a mild concussion and the symptoms were late onset. But, I should be completely fine. They gave me a prescription for anti-nausea meds and pain meds. I finally got back home and into bed by 4:45am.
So, I probably freaked out my parents for not big reason.
I also texted Wesley all about it as it was happening, but he was asleep so he didn't get them until the morning. I bet he was surprised that he had like 6 texts from me when he woke up.

Definitely gonna be taking it easy for the next couple days.

I filled those prescriptions today.
I woke up and still had a bad headache, but it wasn't as horrible as last night.
I took a pain pill and it definitely helped. I also feel slightly loopy. Like I took a tequila shot or two.

So, my Sunday night has so far consisted of eating dinner and listening to Eisley's new album while high on Tramadol.
Side note: Eisley's new album "Currents" is a gorgeous piece of art. It's streaming for free on Pandora right now and comes out on iTunes this Tuesday. Being the uber-fan that I am, I pre-ordered the deluxe edition weeks ago.

It's so cool how music can trigger memories.
the other day, my iTunes was on shuffle and Regina Spektor's cover of "Real Love" by John Lennon came on. I was immediately transported to freshman year of college. Fall 2008.
I first heard that song when I was feeling crazy home-sick halfway through my first semester of college.
I was also missing Wesley something fierce.
The song came on and I listened to it on repeat while crying, alone in my dorm room.
Magical.

Well, I'm gonna watch a ton of Parks & Recreation and go to sleep early.
Tramadol also makes you hella tired.

Some random stuff that's popped into my mind lately

- I had a dream last night that Eisley played a concert in one of the rehearsal rooms at UM and I was supposed to sing harmonies and play keyboards because Stacy King was sick. But, my microphone was a giant wooden plate that blocked my face from being seen by the audience. I also was annoyed because every time I tried to get a picture with the band, the picture came out all warped.

-Today: For the first time that I can remember, I came up with a melody upon waking up, as opposed to when I'm trying to fall asleep.

-It's interesting how my mom texts me saying she'll "call me in a bit," and 2 hours later she still hasn't called. With her timing, I'll probably in the shower, at the gym, or going to the bathroom when she calls. And of course, she doesn't answer when I call her first. Oh, this is the dance we often do!

-I read an article about funny lies parents tell their children and I started remembering ones my parents said to me:

•       I was obsessed with my pacifiers as a toddler. I could fit like 4 in my mouth at once. But, once I was three, my parents told me that it was illegal in Texas (where we lived) to use pacifiers if you were 3 or older. So, we got rid of them. I think I was 13 or 14 when I finally found out that there was no such law. 
• My mom told us it was illegal to have your car windows open on the highway because rocks would fall into our car. 

Anywhoozle,

The EP is ALMOST done.
I know I've been saying that forever.
But, for reals.
It kind of has to be done before the week is over because that's when Producer-Andrew's project is due.
This EP is his final project for his masters in audio engineering or something at MTSU.
Hence, I've been getting these recordings at virtually no cost to me.
We did some last minute electric guitars last night because there was something seriously missing in a few tunes.
Once we have the final mix of "Not What I Need" (which will be today), the music video can be finally be released to the public.

Also, filming music video for "Melody" (this one I actually have to pay for) this Saturday in Manchester, TN (Home of Bonnaroo). I have no effing clue what to wear. But, I am getting my hair/makeup done professionally for this (unlike the NWIN music video, where I did all that myself).

I'm really excited.
But, I'm also pretty anxious to get all this stuff done so I can focus on selling my furniture and getting ready to move. Does that make me lame?

I will be continuing this blog when I live in Richmond. I still will have a lot to talk about:
-wedding planning
-the adventures of living with my amazing fiance
-getting to know another new city
-applying to PharmD school
-continuing to do music in a town with virtually no music scene (from what I can tell)

Change of plans, y'all.

So....I know I said I was going back to Florida.....
But, this past weekend visit there, despite how awesome it was, opened my eyes to some of the pros/cons of Orlando (where my family lives) vs Richmond (where my fiance lives). I've also realized the some pros/cons mean more to me than others.

Orlando pros:

• Close to my family and a majority of my friends
• save money by not having to pay rent
• wedding planning becomes more convenient (since the wedding is going to be there and almost all my bridesmaids live in Florida)
• I'm already familiar with practically everything in the city since I'm a native-Orlandoan (Orlandoite? Orlandon?)
• Be able to do work for my mom in-person (oh yeah, btw: I work for my mom now in an online fashion)
• getting my last 7 credits for PharmD won't be expensive

Orlando cons:

• Living with my parents and/or my sister (I've really enjoyed my independence and don't want to lose it, and my sister and I wouldn't make the best roommates if we got a place together)
• Being 750 miles away from Wesley
• Less space (this house is less than half the size of the house we had back before I went to college)
• Chaos/stress ensues a lot with a family of 4 and 3 dogs, in general and specifically.
• Having to travel lots to visit Wesley (not that seeing him is an obligation. I just find the act of traveling to be a huge drag. I'm all about the destination)

Richmond Pros:

• Being with Wesley (and get some valuable time together before we get married)
• taking my credits there would probably give me more clout to get into VCU PharmD  (and I'd be a resident after a year or something)
• a new city would be a new adventure!
• Being with Wesley
• Saves me some money since we'll be splitting everything.
• Saves my parents money so they can contribute to the wedding more easily
• Did I mention being with Wesley?
• My job for my mom can be done online or through the phone like 98% of the time, so I don't have to quit.

Richmond Cons:

• Have to travel about every 6 weeks to Orlando to do wedding stuff
• If I live with Wesley I have to take responsibility for around $750 worth of monthly bills that my parents won't cover anymore. (But that won't be too bad because I need to become financially dependent from them soon anyway. I'm lucky they've been helping me out as long as they have)
• Not a great music scene (Orlando is better. Now that I've been in Nashville, I'm spoiled.)
• Living with my fiance is a scary, big life step.
• I dislike weather below 60 degrees fahrenheit. So, winter won't be too fun.

After weighing these things, I've decided that Richmond is the better decision for me. I'm turning over a new leaf and doing things that I want to do without worrying about what other people think. My whole family approves of my decision, but that isn't the point. My desire to live close to my amazing family doesn't outweigh my desire to start a new adventure as an individual and with Wesley. I literally figured this all out in the last 24 hours.

And I know some old-fashioned people might frown upon us "living in sin," but it's 2013. 

Get over it. 

ANYWAY

The weekend back in my hometown was awesome.

We had our first meeting with a potential florist, who will send us a quote in a few weeks. 

We ate DELICIOUS food choices and finalized the reception menu. We had extra food to eat for 2 days.

We toured our venue and discussed lighting. After seeing all of it in person on a beautiful Florida day, I definitely feel for sure that it's perfect.

Tasted some cakes and figured out that what we want cake-wise will cost like $175 less than we budgeted (always a good thing).

Got to hang with our amazing planner, Kristen. Love that girl. 

We are so ahead of the game with this wedding planning. 

So happy.

Got to meet my sister's new puppy, Baxter (as in Anchorman).

He is a fluffy, angelic, four-and-a-half pound ball of personality.

Got to have some nice girl time with my mom and Kelsey. 

The night before Mother's Day, I made dinner (stuffed peppers) and we all watched "Love and Other Drugs" and enjoyed lots of wine.

Then, on Mother's Day, Kelsey and I cooked brunch for all of us. We spent a while enjoying our food and mimosas up on the roof-porch in the Florida sun with the dogs. 

Sad my Dad was out of town the whole time I was there. But, he needs to be in St. Louis helping to take care of his elderly parents. My grandpa just had back surgery and my grandma needs some care as well.

At the Orlando airport today, I was going through the beginning of the security checkpoint and the TSA woman who was looking at my drivers license and boarding passes annoyingly caused the line to go to a halt by asking about 4 different TSA people if my license was fake. I have a FL drivers license with a TN address on it. I understand that she apparently had never seen that before and wanted to check. But, asking so many people and holding up the line for so long was unnecessary. I looked to the people behind me and apologized about twice during the whole thing. Later, one of the older men who was in line behind me was at the same gate. He said "Well, you definitely look like a criminal to me!" with a hearty laugh. 

Sleep calls to me.

Stuff and Nonsense

Lots of stuff has been going on lately.
EP's almost done.
On Tuesday we filmed a music video for "Not What I Need."
Very exciting.
It was beautiful day and we walked around Centennial Park among the pretty flowers and prime sunlight.
Afterwards, we went to an ethiopian restaurant.
I had never eaten ethiopian cuisine before. It was very good and very filling.
Since it closed at 9pm and we didn't get there until after 8, we pretty much were the last people there
and closed out the place at like 9:30.

In less than a week I'll be in Orlando with Wesley doing some wedding stuff and some fun hanging out with the family. First floral consultation, a food tasting, and a venue walk-through. It's starting to seem real.
Been working on a basic little wedding website.

Last night, my apartment complex had a Margarita Night. Free food and booze! Yay!
I never get to go to their monthly resident parties. I always happen to be busy on the nights they are scheduled. But, last night worked out perfectly.
I enjoyed a margarita and got to know an elderly hungarian man named Joe.
He became a US citizen like 35 years ago but still has a crazy-strong accent.
I love old people.

I wore my new dress that I bought with a good portion of the money I got from working on Nashville.
It might be the only dress I own that fits my waist and my chest without some sort of belt or tie waist.
So, I looked and felt like a 50s pin-up.

Speaking of Nashville! I never wrote here about my experience for an episode they filmed on April 19th.
I was cast as Hayden Panettiere's hand double. So fun and so random.
They needed a closeup of her hands picking up a phone but forgot to get the shot the day before, but Hayden was too busy filming other scenes so they needed a double. They asked for photo submissions of the hands of petite, white, blonde women between 18 and 28. So, I submitted and then was hand-picked (no pun intended) by the director. I pretty much spent an afternoon getting the best manicure of my life, picking up props and being surrounded by famous people. So, come episode 20, if you see a scene where Juliette picks up a cell phone while sitting in bed, those are my hands in the close-up.

After my hand scene was filmed, they asked me to fill in for one of the stand-ins.
So, they threw some glasses and a blue button up shirt on me and I became the stand-in for "Maddie" (Lennon Stella), the 13 year old daughter of Connie Britton's character.
So, I basically sat on a couch while light was adjusted on me at a few different angles in preparation for the scene with the real actors.
I got to talk to and get a picture with Lennon, who is one of the coolest/most talented 13 year old's I've ever met. I gave her my card, so I hope she looked up my music and liked it.
I also got to talk to Chip Esten! We briefly chatted about Whose Line Is It Anyway.
Man, has he aged well.
I was only there for 3.5 hours but got paid for a whole 12. niiiiice.
So, I'll be adding that to my resume. haha.

Write another travelin' song

Haven't been updating, which makes me sad.
Even as a kid when I kept journals in notebooks, if I didn't write in them for a period of time,
I felt guilty. Like the journal was sentient and was feeling neglected.

So, my lease comes up in late June. And if I stay for another year, my lease goes up $50/month.
If I choose a month-to-month plan (which would make more sense for me since I get married in
less than a year and Wesley isn't coming to Nashville), it goes up $200/mo.
And there's really no other place in Nashville (that's not completely sketchy) that is in my price range
unless I get a regular 40-hr week job.
But, I can't do that because I have to go back to school.
I took the PCAT and aced the shit out of it.
But for some reason a Pre-Med degree doesn't get the credits you need for PharmD?
So I need to get 2-3 classes done at a community college before I matriculate at either UF or VCU next fall.
And it's cheaper to do it in FL.
And I have a wedding to figure out, which is taking place in Orlando.
So....I'm gonna have to move back to central FL when my lease is up.
Only a year of Nashvillian experiences.

But, strangely enough, even though I've absolutely loved it here, I'm not sad.
I've played shows, I've cowritten, I'm recording my second EP.
I've sent in my music to festivals here and publishing companies.
Met some amazing people who I hope to stay in touch with for always.
But, since I've been here I've actually felt like less than myself.
Writing is harder.
I'm not as motivated to play shows.
It's so weird.
I guess maybe I am happier as a big fish in a medium sized pond
than just another random fish in a massive ocean.
if that makes sense...

And now I know that it's completely okay to feel this way.

There's a bunch of stuff I want to do before I leave though.
Like finish the EP and do a music video.
Check out all of those vintage shops and unique-to-Nashville shops.
Go see a show at one of the bars on Broadway.
and more.
And I'm gonna freaking make these last 2ish months count.

I'm so happy I even got this year on my own in such a wonderful place.
I am so blessed to have my parent's be so supportive and helping me out financially during my whole stay.
But, I can't keep mooching off of them and of course, they won't let me. haha.
I feel like just by moving here, I did something important for myself.
I moved to a completely different state where I didn't know hardly anyone.
I lived by myself and was the most independent I've ever been.
I've planned a good portion of my wedding long-distance.
And for the first time, my fiance and I were in different time zones and states, let alone different cities.
and I did very well.
I needed this experience so badly.
I'm not even the same person I was a year ago
and that's thanks to my time here in Nashville.

I got to go back to Miami to play in a recital for my good friend and former bandmate/drummer, John Keener. I had such a great time and felt so amazing playing two songs with him, Russell Klein, Sam Cohen, and Jon Sheairs. And at the same time it kinda made me sad because I surprisingly hadn't had that same
exhilarating feeling onstage during my time in Nashville.

I quit my marketing job.
I loved the people I worked with, but I couldn't stay just for that.
Especially since the work itself turned into a huge obligation.
I only have a short time left here, so I'm only going to spend it doing things I truly want to do.

End Scene.

Before 30 To-Do List

I'm 23.
An awesome number, but pretty much out of my early twenties.
I'd love to start having kids at 30, and I realized that is less than 7 years away.
So, I made a list a few months ago in my physical journal (Big Red Book Vol. 3) of stuff I'd like to do before I'm 30. Now I've added to it and edited it to put on the blog. Some are big and some are small. Some are silly and some are important. And interestingly enough, a lot of them have to do with traveling.

1. Run a half marathon
2. Go to Ireland (test out my accent at a pub)
3. Pay off my undergrad debt
4. Move back to Florida
5. Go to Thailand (ride a freaking elephant!)
6. Go skydiving
7. Record a full-length album
8. Learn how to sew (like, for reals. Not just the BS'ing I've been doing when fixing buttons and stuff)
9. Tour the country (self-funded? label-funded? as an opening act? any and all work for me)
10. Go to the Grammy's (whether as a regular old attendee or as an artist)
11. Go skinny-dipping
12. Go to Paris
13. Become conversational in Spanish (I used to know a lot more than I do now. I've become really bad at it.)
14. Get a tattoo
15. Dye my whole head of hair some unnatural color
16. Go scuba diving
17. Go to Napa Valley to go wine tasting with my family
18. Be able to pay to have my family come visit me (when I'm in a different state, of course)
19. Hike in beautiful New Zealand
20. Take a cooking class
21. Crowd surf or stage dive
22. Go to SXSW, Austin City Limits, and Coachella multiple times
23. Get a cut on someone's record (translation for non-songwriters: get a song you (co)wrote on an artist's album)

a short list of just a few things that I want in life

I want to be as close to my family and friends as I possibly can (locationally & emotionally).
I want to be able to travel to some far off place once a year.
I want to be creatively stimulated often.
I want to be able to dye my whole head of hair bright pink or something without having to worry about career options or judgement.
I want to play shows at least once a week (even after I have kids).
I want to stop giving a shit about what other people think and do what makes me happy.

On inspiration

I've been writing a lot, but I've been hating everything I've been writing.
I feel like I'm trying too hard or something.
But, I just haven't felt truly inspired in a long time.

I don't know what to do.

Tales of the studio

Saturday I spent a few hours in a studio on the MTSU campus for my new EP.
Guitars were tracked. The guitarist, Matt, was great.
We were doing "Firefly" first and I felt bad because it was probably the hardest song to play on the record ("Not What I Need" being a close second).
Like I said to Matt "This song is a bitch...but, it's my bitch and I like it."

When we got to "Mysterious" next, I remembered how much I love the bass Taylor did for it.
Matt goes "you want fingers on this?" and I was very confused. Obviously he meant fingerpicking.
At the end, he was playing the hammer-on too aggressively.
So, Ryan (engineer) told him to play it like he was "kissing a baby."
We had a lot of fun and I got a lot of funny quotes from it.
The lights were on in the room where Matt was playing, and he was like "it's not mysterious enough in here."

Andrew brought a pizza to the studio before I arrived.
And when I got there, no one had eaten any of it yet but like 4-5 tiny black ants were walking around the counter near it. So, I ate a piece and moved the pizza over a little.
an hour or so later, we looked back and saw the counter covered in ants! AND they were all up in the pizza.
I was the only one to eat any of it. The rest of the pizza had gone to waste.
The ants took over and we couldn't figure out where they were getting inside.

Halfway through the time I was there, Andrew drove to Starbucks while we worked.
I was so funny once he came back with our drinks because everyone was so happy to have the drinks they made some sort of loud, satisfied noise at first sip. A choir of "mmmmm's".
Andrew and Ryan made "Broasts" instead of "Toasts" when drinking things....how bro of them.

I'm really happy with the way the music is turning out.
I've done a lot of recordings in the past where after it's done, I realize I am not happy at all with how it sounds or how it was mixed or how my voice didn't have the right reverb setting or whatever.
I'm kind of a perfectionist when it comes to my music and it can be a good thing and a bad thing.
A good thing because it pushes me to create things that I'm really proud of,
But, a bad thing because it sometimes prevents me from finishing or liking a lot of songs/projects.
AND it adds to my occasional inferiority complex.
Even though this EP isn't going to have the glossy, professionally produced sound of my first EP I want it to be something that not only I can be proud of, but my family, friends, and my old bandmates as well.
I wish John and Russell could have played on these recordings, and I'm sure they feel that way too.
I hope they can still find aspects of what they brought to my songs in these new recordings. I developed my first full band sound for a lot of these songs with them before I moved to Nasville.

I can't wait to go back to Miami from the 17th-21st.
John's recital is on the 20th. I'll be on two songs that close the show.
"Looking Up" by Paramore  and "Not What I Need" by me!
Two very different songs! And I really have to step up my stage-presence game with the Paramore one.
upbeat pop-punk in 4/4 and then an acoustic power-ballad in 3/4.
I gotta figure out what to wear that's flattering but still comfortable for jumping around on stage.
No heels....:/
I am so excited to be reunited with my bandmates and to see my sorority sisters.
Since I'm going straight to Richmond to see Wesley (!!!) after Miami, I'll be packing for two totally different climates. I'm glad to be spending some time in a place where winter really isn't a thing.

I'm really enjoying certain aspects of my job right now.
There are other parts that aren't fun at all.
I guess it's that way with all jobs, really.
I love the people I work with, I love interacting with customers, and I really believe in the products I market.
But, I really dislike not knowing my work schedule until a few days before.
And despite 8-hr solo shifts being the best way to make the most money (since you don't have to share commission), they are really really difficult for me for a couple reasons (ex. my back problems).
And the Sam's Club food is really hurting my girlish figure.
I'm still in Murfreesboro this rotation, on Whip It again.
But, I'm only working 2 days a week this week because of my trip coming up.
And I come back from Richmond a few days into next rotation.
So my check for this coming rotation will be a fraction of my last two.
But that's fine.

Wedding Progress Report

I'm getting married to my high-school sweetheart in a little over a year (3-22-2014).
We got engaged in August 2012, and we already have a great amount planned.

Things we've figured out-
Venue (Cypress Grove Estate House)
Food   (venue provides the food)
Dress  
Planner (Kristen from An Affair to Remember)
Colors   (Pink and Gold, with black accents)
Photographer (Julie Brewer Photography)
DJ (Liquid Entertainment)
Honeymoon location (thanks to my parents for letting us use their timeshare in St. Marteen!)

Things left to figure out-
Hotels
Transportation for bride & groom (classic getaway car, hopefully!!)
Wedding Party
Bridesmaids Dresses
Flowers
Stationary (which I'm hoping to design myself because
                     #1. I'm so picky
                     #2. I really love designing stuff
                 I've made a few different designs for the Save The Dates so far. Gotta get those out in July)
Favors (trying to decide between mix CDs of Wesley's/My favorite love songs or custom made ray bans with our wedding date on them)
Decor (like centerpiece stuff besides flowers, pictures to put around the venue, etc
Lighting
Hair/Makeup Providers
What will be our first dance song?
Officiant
Wedding website
Cake!

Probably forgot something in either category.
All in all, it's so exciting.
I'm so glad we are having a long engagement.
I mean, I can't wait to be married to him, but it just makes the planning part so much less stressful.

We've got a corny little engagement announcement in the Alumni section of our high school's magazine coming soon. I can't wait to see it.

Got a hair appt tomorrow to start the "back-to-blonde" process and get a haircut.
Hopefully I'll have a strawberry blonde look going. Like Jessica Chastain or something.
and I'm probably gonna take like 2 inches off at the most. My ends are just so split.
So, I'll look extra-purty when I go see American Idiot tomorrow.

Lori is still sick :( But, sadly I couldn't take a shift today to help out.
I feel really bad that I couldn't, but I really had stuff to do today
I'd never get any errands or appts. done if all my days-off turned into days-on.
When I can help, I will. But, I'm part-time for a reason.
I LOVE working for my company, especially because the people are so nice/cool to be around.
But, if I was going to be working full-time or be on call for something, I might as well be back in FL not pursuing my music and my independence.

Just realized today that Glee did a version of Halestorm's "Here's To Us," with it all censored out.
And of course, it's the only karaoke/instrumental version available. And the "back up vocals" sing the clean version. lame.
I was considering just doing a vocal/karaoke youtube video later this week, but if I'm gonna do that song, I'll need to play guitar on it.

I went to the mall to get my Clinique facewash since I ran out.
I discovered I.N.C. was having a sale and ended up getting a few work-appropriate things for like 70% off.
My wardrobe needs more business professional stuff, so YAY.
I love clothes. I guess it's the creative part of me just looking for more ways to express myself.
But, my problem is that I never get rid of anything.
I need to sell some stuff on ebay.
Because I still own shirts from 10th grade that I haven't worn in years.

Mo' money....no problems at the moment....

Got my first check from work today!
My savings have been pretty much non-existent for the 6 weeks or so that I've been virtually unemployed
(I say "virtually" because I still make a negligible amount of money from shows and cd sales).
I have been even selling possessions on Ebay.
Now, I just need to actually save the majority of the check amount.

It's a lot harder marketing hair products (amazing 100% ceramic styling irons and stuff)
Most people are very loyal to certain brands
AND now I'm pretty much selling to half the amount of people I was before with the cleaning products.
I do talk to men but most of the time they don't have any idea what I'm talking about.

Yesterday evening I got to help out this adorable elderly deaf couple. I saw them signing from far away
and while the woman looked at something else, the man came to my booth.
When they walked by and I showed them the products and they first weren't interested
but then I signed "thank you" because I always say thank you to people for giving me the time of day.
And I think the man was impressed that I knew any ASL whatsoever
So, the lady went over to look at shampoos and he came over to "talk" to me about the products.
I pantomimed how the 2-in-1 styling irons worked and wrote down the key points on paper.
He was somewhat verbal. He painstakingly said "Does it turn off on it's own?"
He seemed more interested in the products than the woman was.
He convinced her to come over and get some of her hair flat ironed for a demo.
She seemed to like it and signed with gusto to her husband from across the room.
But they decided not to buy and she signed an emphatic couple of "thank you"s
Made my freaking day.
I miss doing ASL.
I used to know A LOT of it when I volunteered with the mentally disabled kids in middle school.
I'd say about half of them had hearing issues as well and used signs.

My coworker, Missy (the KKG one), had me and Lori (another coworker) over for dinner last night.
She lives near the Green Hills mall.
Since I had to do inventory in murfreesboro, I didn't make it to Green Hills
until like an hour and a half after my shift ended.
We talked about family and life over some amazing chicken salad, vegetable crudite, chips+dip
and wine. I had a great time and learned a lot about both of them.
and Missy has an adorable Pekingese named Ping.
and after Lori left, Missy and I proved our chicken-ness around cockroaches
when one came in the house.  It was the first one she'd seen in her house ever.

So I went to bed kinda late since today was supposed to be my day off.
But, Lori got very sick so someone had to take her place doing cleaning products
at the store in Old Hickory from 11-3.
I ended up doing it.
I started out doing it begrudgingly;
But after I ate breakfast and woke up a bit, I was happy to help.
I put free samples behind my ears and in my hair and told people:
"I'm WHIP IT GIRL! and I'm here to make your life easier!"
The more bored I get, the more silly I get to try to make life funnier, at least to me.

So over the next few days (I have tuesday and wednesday off, then I work thursday,
then I get friday and saturday off, then I work sunday!),
I'm going to get a haircut, see the American Idiot National Tour cast at TPAC, clean my car,
do another youtube video, etc.
PRODUCTIVITY

Less than 2 weeks until I'm in Miami to perform in my wonderful friend/former bandmate John's senior drum recital.
17 days until I see Wesley for the first time in 11 weeks!

WED.NES.DAY.

I've been so productive today!
I've cleaned just about my whole apartment!
Wiped down the counter tops, bookshelves, couch, tables, stove top, keyboard, keyboard chair, etc.
Hung up the laundry, ran the dishwasher, took out the trash, and went to the gym!
AND I practiced some guitar.
Trying to learn some new covers for my next youtube video.

Today is a day-off from work, but I ended up working a bit anyway because of some mishaps last night.
Last night we got our new product and location assignments and then we had to go to the storage unit to get our inventory and THEN set up our booth at the location.
Missy (sweet, 50something, Kappa Kappa Gamma coworker) and I got to the location in Murfreesboro and realized we were missing like 3 things that severely hindered our setting up.
For instance, to put up our big sign behind us, we needed to put together the poles for the sign holder.
But, of course, the tool box with the screws and screwdriver to do that wasn't anywhere to be found.
And strangely enough, the staff at the Sam's Club didn't have one to lend to us.
We ended up being there until after 11pm when we were only supposed to be there til 10 at the latest,
and Murfreesboro is 25 miles away from my apartment.
So, a good portion of setting up had to be done this morning as well.
I didn't really have to go, but Missy needed by help. Who am I to leave her high and dry?
So, I went to the storage unit to look for the things we were missing with the help of a coworker named Steven. Still couldn't find the tool kit, but we got the other stuff.
So, we were forced to be creative in terms of coming up with a way to hang the sign.
Steven and I created a plan.
I met Missy at the Sam's Club and we executed the sign-plan and IT WORKED!
Steven and I saved the day!
I had to give 1 hr out of my day and about 50 miles onto my car, but it feels good to help out.
I'm working Thursday, Saturday and Sunday this week.
Kinda not happy about doing weekend stuff. But, I won't be done too late those nights anyway.
So, if I wanted to, I could still go out and do stuff after my shifts.

My boss, Alexis, has an interesting vocab that I've been picking up on.
Alexis-isms: pt 1
1. "Getting negged out" - becoming unmotivated/sad and thus losing your positive attitude. Letting negative vibes in.
2. "Juice?" - "Got it?" or "understand?"
3. "Juice!" - a response to #2: "yes, I understand and I am excited about it"
                   a response to someone saying they understand: "Awesome!"

My hair is dirty, and the products I'm working with tomorrow are 100% ceramic flat irons and various hair products. So, I probably should make sure my hair looks good.
Blow drying my hair takes so much of my energy......I hate doing it.
I gotta fit it in soon since It's almost 6 and I have to cook/eat dinner and I have an internet date with Wesley at 8pm.
I can't be up too late tonight because I have to get up at the butt-crack of dawn tomorrow.

I promise I'm still alive

For the past week, I've been out in Cookeville for work.
It was great to get so much work experience in such a short time (my training is just about done).
I'm much better at sales than I thought I would be.
But, it was exhausting.
   1. I was on my feet for many hours at a time
   2. my coworker who I shared the hotel with SNORED in all capitals. I thought I was going to burst an    eardrum by pushing my earplugs so far into my ears. And I put pillows over my head. It was kind of impressive on her part that I could still hear her. lol
   3. I got sick from Sam's Club food on my second to last day.
I'm so happy I am back in Nashville in my own apartment.

I hope I don't have to travel very much because I came to Nashville to actually be in the city.
If I have to go 80 miles away every other week, I'll miss out on music stuff.
I really like the people I work with though

Some fun stories from my time promoting products all week:
  1. I got proposed to by a man in his 60s with an epic white handlebar mustache.
      It was cute when he first started complimenting me, but it soon got creepy.
      And he didn't even buy anything!
  2. I all but got offered a job by a man who works in the medical marijuana industry.
      He thought I was a good salesperson.
      He told me that even though it isn't legal in TN (he was visiting from FL),
      TN grows the 2nd most weed in the country next to California. Mind blown.
      And he didn't even buy anything!
  3. There was a crying boy (probably around 4 years old) in his mother's cart.
      Wailing so loudly, it was bothering other shoppers.
      So, I walked over and put a free sample in his hands and said "free presents!"
      and he stopped crying! And, his mom didn't even buy anything!
  4. A 6 year old red-headed girl told me I was pretty and I responded with
     "You're pretty too! Us red-heads have to stick together!" and it seemed like
      her day was made. :) And yes, her parents bought something!
  5. My southern accent really came out in Cookeville. Southern people have the best sayings.
      For instance, I overheard a Sam's worker say something like:
       "So good, it'll make you smack your mama!" about some sort of food.

Last Monday, my show at Belcourt Taps went very well and like 6 people from work showed up!
That was so nice to see people from work come to support me even though I had just started.
I played at Belcourt again last night with my friend Tanya and it was so much fun.
I hadn't heard Tanya live before and she was really good. Really sassy.
And the other player, Clint Freeman, was very good as well. He had the perfect country baritone
and his songs were romantic in a humorous way.

Next week the American Idiot National Tour comes through Nashville, and I know three of the
lead characters. Two of them I went to college with and one I used to do Theatre with as a child.
I need to buy tickets, but I won't have the money until a few days from now.
I'm so glad February is a short month.

My uniform for work is black pants and a black shirt, and I only have so many of those.
So I really need to do some black laundry today. But, I don't have any change.
I hate how my apartment complex's public washing machines don't take credit cards or cash.
Just quarters.
So, I need to go to Kroger and get some food and get change from customer service.

And since I have a 4pm conference call, I need to do that now.
   
 

Is it over halfway through February already?

I had a great Saturday.
I got to go to a Vanderbilt vs. Texas A&M basketball game with one of my mom's best friends (Becky) since before I was born, her son, her friend Laurie, and Laurie's son.
Vandy won, and it was very fun.
Their sons are 15 and 16 so they are starting to get interested in college and the future.
So, they visited a few colleges on a road trip, including Vanderbilt.
It was 30 degrees the night. Soooo cold.
Even in the afternoon I saw snowflakes falling but melting before hitting the ground.

We went to dinner at Sunset Grille near Hillsboro Village. Yum.
I had been there once before and was seated really close to the door.
But, it was very busy when we got there (we had a reservation)
So, they led us to the other side of the restaurant....which showed that the restaurant was HUGE.
It just kept going. lol.
Had some great food and great conversation.
I was worried I dominated the conversation too much. I have a tendency to talk a lot.
I wanted to give the boys a lot of advice about college and stuff.
I mean, I used to be a peer counselor at UM for freshman.
Granted they were freshman in the Bio program. But, general college and life advice applied.
I also gave them the "Greek life rocks" pitch.
The next morning they left on the road back to Ohio.
I'm so glad I got to see them.

I had to be at work this morning at 8:30am. (Technically 8:45ish, but I like being early).
And I was only there until 10:30, so when I got home I took a nap.
I love taking naps, but they never work out the way I plan them.
If I want to sleep for an hour, I end up sleeping for two hours.
I had to teach back some of the stuff I learned last week
when they taught me some marketing principles.
I'll have to teach more tomorrow since I learned more today.
The office is a really chill work environment.
I just need to get used to getting up early.

I got an interesting opportunity to get some "in the field" experience before my training is over.
I'll spend the whole week, starting tomorrow afternoon, in Cookeville, helping to promote a product.
I'll stay in a hotel with another employee, so I'm sure I'll really get to know them over the week.
Should be fun, interesting, and hard work.
The uniform is black shirts with black pants.
So I need to wrangle all my plain black items and pack em' up.

Playing a show tonight at Belcourt Taps & Tapas!
8:30pm writer's round.
My supervisor from work might be able to come see me.
I hope she can.
I might debut "That's Lonely" live at the show.

Now that I think about it, I should do more practicing at the moment and less blogging.

That's Lonely

Been a little while.
Decided to do a valentines day entry since it's not like I'm spending it with my fiance.
So I might as well write about the last few days.

Saturday: The Charities Bash
The warehouse was decorated beautifully with different booths for the different charities.
TJ Martell Foundation, American Red Cross, and more.
My shift was 9pm-1am, volunteering.
But I arrive around 8pm so I could enjoy the party and my two drink tickets (every volunteer got two).
So, I drank, and danced, and ate doughnut covered corn dogs and flavored kettle corn.
Delish.
Just before my shift started I got a glass of wine for no drink ticket by a cute bartender.
EGO BOOST.
Nice guy, let's call him B. With a goatee.
Not that I was interested, but it's nice to know I'm not invisible now that I'm engaged.
(Did anyone else see that How I Met Your Mother episode?)

So, I spent about 3 hours at the VIP bar, making sure that the people going in had the right wristbands.
I got to interact with some funny drunk people.
Some people danced on the way into the VIP bar while making serious eye contact with me.
One guy even offered me a cigarette even though there was No Smoking in the venue.
And I'm pretty sure that guy was with some woman.
Feel bad for the woman if he's just offering up cigarettes to random stranger girls.
Another woman asked me if I was having a good time while a VIP Bar guard.
I said "sure" and she handed me her drink. Smelled like whiskey.
I asked her what it was and she said "just drink it, honey!"
Needless to say, I didn't.

After the party was dying down and I danced to "Don't Stop Believing" with a work friend and one of her audio engineer friends, B the Bartender came over to talk.
He said his friend bet him he wouldn't ask me out to dinner.
I was flattered, but of course, I'm taken.
So I told him that he was cute and sweet and I appreciated his interest, and informed him of my relationship status.
He took it really well, which made me happy.
Because some guys get really offended.
I feel bad for girls who aren't even in a relationship and just aren't interested.
I probably would've enjoyed a date with him
But, for a few years now, all guys (even attractive ones) are pretty much eunuchs to me.
I probably won't ever see B the bartender again.

The day before the party I uploaded a new video. A vedera cover. I hope the Vedera lead singer sees it and likes it, considering she follows me on instagram (and I her). So far she hasn't commented. Oh well. Just wanted to show her how much I love her old band. She's now the new lead singer of Flyleaf. Crazy.

I love being a red-head.
I definitely want to be a blonde again for my wedding.
But, I still have plenty of time before I need to start transitioning back to it.


Monday: Cowriting session with a BEAST
Brian White, SB21 music publishing, produced my EP in the late summer of 2011 (back when he was with Sony Brentwood). Ever since I'd moved to Nashville, I'd wanted to write with him.
#1 because he's so experienced
#2 because I need more co-writing experience
#3 because he seems to believe in me

So, I met with him at the building on music row and spent 3:30 to 6pm writing with him.
I was so nervous and intimidated (considering he's had number one hits). But, Brian's so easy to work with,
he melted my nervousness away. It was so casual and fun.
And I understand why Brian makes the big bucks as a songwriter.
He is a freaking lyric/chord progression machine.
We started out looking at some concept ideas I had. And decided to write a song about loneliness.
It's sad, but mid-tempo, with a good melody. And it's called "That's Lonely."
AND it's a country song.
I've never actually written a straight-country song.
AND I love how it can be sung by me, but could be easily pitched to someone else.
I'm very proud of it, and I can't wait to write with him again.
I hope his publishing company wants to put it on their catalog.

Lyrics have always been difficult for me as a whole. I can come up with a great line here and there.
But, to write lyrics for a whole song takes a long time for me on average.
Melody is my thing.

Wednesday/Thursday: Legacy Events Center
Heard back from LEG, the marketing company I interviewed with.
I GOT THE JOB!
I heard on Wednesday and started today. A nice valentines day start date.
I only worked from 8:30am-11:30am, but it's in the training stage.
I'm anxious to get through the training stage so I can actually get into the field.
There were more people around my age than I thought.
And out of like 10 people, there are 3 redheads (though I'm the only fake one....).
Everyone seems so nice, motivated, and hard working.
The only thing I'm worried about is the hours they expect from me.
I told them when I interviewed that I was only interested in part time (25 hrs/week ish)
But, looking at the schedule stuff, it might be more.
So once I'm done with training and in the field, I need to make sure they know what I'm interested in.
I'm sure they know. But, just in case.
Wish me luck.


For valentines day, my beloved Wesley got me a bright pink version of the black Panache sports bra he got me a few weeks ago. Pink for love! As a top-heavy person, I've worn two sports bras at a time while working out for the past 7 years. NOW I don't need two! And it's actually comfortable. Yay for healthy massive breasts.

My sister recently posted something on facebook about how Kate Upton isn't a good example for healthiness. My sister is an amazingly beautiful fitness model who cheers for FSU. She blows my mind sometimes considering her body and muscle-y-ness. But, she says that Kate Upton is "gross, end of story."
But, it really does nothing for her to put down another model. And though Kate Upton may not have a 6 pack or wear a size 0, she is gorgeous and closer to "normal" women than most models (even though it's still a big difference).
Saying that K.U. is "not healthy" or "gross" is incredibly offensive to people. She does a lot of exercise. And exercise looks different on every body! I have a BMI (a bullshit measurement) of 21.5, which is lower than the majority of women I know. So I can only imagine how insulting my sister's facebook status was for my friends if it was offensive to me. And to think my sis was going to use me as an example as "a girl with big tatas and isn't muscular who still looks like she works out." I have cellulite. More cellulite than Kate Upton. But, I am skinnier by a little bit in terms of measurements (39-26-36). I work out 3-4 times a week.
These are a few things concerning weight/health that I truly believe in:
1. you CANNOT judge someone's health by their weight
       (I may be 5'3" and 120 lbs, which is "healthy" but I have severe allergies, fibromyalgia, and hypothyroidsim. I might just have worse health than a "fat" person.)
2. You can't judge someone's activity level by their looks. I know plenty of supposedly overweight people who work out 3-4 days a week. Some "skinny people" never work out and eat crap food. While some "fat people" eat healthily and work out but never lose weight.   It's on an individual basis.
3. PEOPLE CAN BE "FAT" AND HEALTHY. THE END.
4. Skinny does not equal "healthy."
5. Health needs to be judged on and individual basis.


Rant over......:/

Loving Ghosts

New video!

Enjoy.

Thursday is as Thursday does

I had that interview I mentioned in the last entry.
I enjoyed it and I think it went well.
It was a 2-part interview.
The first part was in the office and the second part was out in the field (a Sam's Club in Franklin).
It's a marketing event company.
They're the people who put out those huge booths at trade shows dept. stores and show you cool demonstrations about products that aren't normally available in stores.
The second interviewer was a Kappa Kappa Gamma alum!
So, naturally, we went all "sorority girl," and did the secret handshake.
It's always so nice to randomly meet sisters (of all ages). Like, in the airport or at Starbucks or at a show.
It reminds me how I'll be part of something forever.
Sorority life was empowering for me.
And that's coming from someone who was totally anti-sorority before college.
If I had never rushed, I wouldn't have accomplished almost all of the things I'm most proud of.

Anyway, the interviewer and I enjoyed talking to each other.
She said her only concern was that I had a very minimal retail experience.
So, who knows if I'll get the job? I guess we'll see.
I have a shit-ton of marketing/PR and media experience.
But, my only retail job was at a jewelry store on Park Ave in 2007...for 5 months.
Then the owner's son died, and the store closed soon after.

I'm not like in love with marketing
But, I really need a job right now that is around 25 hours a week and still making decent hourly wage.
And I'd prefer that job to be people-oriented.
And the job I interviewed for today fits these descriptions.

I also applied to another job today.
Gibson in Nashville is looking for a social media person.
Now, that would be extra cool.

Saturday night is gonna be kinda crazy.
A big mardi-gras themed "Charities Bash" party is being thrown by Music City Tents & Events.
The money from it goes to TJ Martell Foundation (the company I'm with right now) and The Red Cross.
I'll be volunteering on behalf of the former and my shift is from 9pm-1am.
But, the whole thing starts at 7pm. So I can party a bit before starting my shift.
I also get 2 drink tickets. Free booze!
I'm really hoping I get assigned to "band hospitality."
I wanna meet the entertainment and get my name/music in their ears while getting them drinks.

I've been taking hot baths a lot.
It just helps with my back issues a lot and I've been having some stomach aches this week.
It's really nice partly because tenants don't need to pay their water bill at my apartment complex.
It's completely covered. So, I take advantage.

I got my check in the mail from my work as an extra on Nashville.
They took out almost 20% in taxes on a check for less than $100! That's just evil.
Don't they know I'm a starving artist?
Episode 13 is on next week.
Look for me drinking alone in the Bluebird cafe during a Scarlett/Gunnar scene.
I'm wearing my black leather jacket and a floral shirt.

I'm writing with Brian White on Monday.
He produced my EP. Such a great guy.
I'm really intimidated though since he's this huge amazing songwriter millionaire person.
And I'm having writers block issues (that are getting a little better...slowly.)
So, I have lots of ideas.
Hopefully he can help me make the good ones better and a great one into a hit.
*does a rain dance to call for inspiration*

I think my sleep schedule is finally back to normal.
I went to bed around 11:15pm and woke up at 9am.
For a while now I've gone to bed around 2am and woken up after 11 (sometimes as late as noon on the weekends). Oversleeping just makes me feel unproductive and still tired.
I've found that when I work out regularly, my sleeping normalizes.

I can't find my capo and it's hurting my soul.
I have a song idea, but it's capo-ed on the 2nd fret.
I can't fully realize it without hearing it in it's actual key!


Well, guess what I'm gonna do?
Take a hot bath!
(I have such a hard life)

Mom Weekend

My mom came to Nashville from Thursday morning until this morning for business and partly to see me!
It was really fun. I hadn't seen her in a little less than 4 weeks, and it felt like longer.
So, after she was done with work on Thursday, we walked around the 21st Ave S shops for a while.
Got a cream cropped leather jacket at Fire Finch.
It was really cold all day. So, we warmed ourselves up with some great Mexican food at Chuy's.
My friend Tanya is a waitress there. So, I requested her.
Great food. Great company.

Afterwards, we went back to my mom's hotel and chilled. We watched a really awkward movie called "Hope Springs" while sharing a bottle of okay-wine. The ending was cute, but the middle was very uncomfortable. Lots of old people talking about their sex lives (or lack thereof) and marriage problems. I always enjoy Meryl Streep though.

Got a text from my friend Moira saying "Umm, SNOW."
So, we looked out the window and sure enough, it was SNOWING in Nashville.
My mom and I wanted a picture but didn't feel like lacing up our only shoes (boots).
So we went out barefoot for like 5 minutes! frozen feets!
Awesome for a Florida person like me.

The next day, I had a phone interview for a really cool paid marketing internship. I have an in-person one next Thursday. Wish me luck.

My mom and I met up again later and went to Green Hills to shop around. Ended up getting a cool wall decoration that says "Keep Calm and Drink Wine" on a large wine-bottle shaped tin sign. It was perfect for my apartment and my drinking habit.
My mom had scheduled massages for us around 6, and we had a dinner reservation at 8.
My mom has been having really bad pain in her lower back, and I've always had upper back and shoulder issues. So, the massages were sorely needed (pun intended).


My mom and I drove by the Bluebird just to see what was up tonight.
Of course the 6:30 and 9:30 rounds were both sold out. And like 30 people were lined up outside the door in the lightly snowy coldness.


We met with Moira at The Firefly Grill in Green Hills and had a really amazing dinner!
None of us had ever been there before.
I chose it because I wanted to go somewhere unique to Nashville that I had never been to before.
I highly recommend it.
I had a spicy Indian soup and risotto with scallops.
Moira and my mom both had the grouper.
Delicious.
My mom said I could invite a friend to dinner, so I invited Moira because she's a blast to be around.
I knew my mom would enjoy meeting her and knowing I had a friend like her in Nashville.

So we parted ways with Moira, and my mom stayed at my apartment last night.
I cut her bangs for her. They turned out really nice. I was worried I'd mess it up.
The last time I cut a family member's bangs, I was thirteen and didn't have very much experience.
Thus, my sister had horrible bangs for a little while when she was 12.
I think I have a lot more hair-cutting experience after 10 years.
My mom also dyed her hair like a shade darker. I really like it.
She doesn't seem to ever like her own hair color.
After she left this morning, I noticed she had gotten hair dye on my bathroom wall, my sink, and my sing cleaner container. She must have not noticed she made such a mess.

Tonight I'm just gonna hang out alone.
I'm excited for tomorrow because we're tracking bass on a project I'm working on with some awesome MTSU students.
Yay music!

Oh, damn...

So, for anyone who saw my last youtube video, you could hear me say lots of f-bombs in the outtakes.
I am not one to curse a whole lot. But, I tend to curse a lot when I get frustrated.
And I get frustrated when I mess up when trying to make a video.
My grandparents saw said video and told me they were disappointed in me about the cursing.
Of course, they still love me and everything.
And I love them sooooo much.
But, honestly, there's a warning in the video.
People who are offended by "bad" language aren't obligated to watch the outtakes.
I'm an adult. I say bad words sometimes.
And most people my age find it funny.
It's not that big of a deal.
I'm a scholar, leader, artist, and overall good person.
There are worse things I could be doing right now to cause disappointment.

My Hair Adventures

I'm a natural blonde.
And I've been dying my hair to make it even lighter since around 9th grade.
So, everyone in my whole life knows me as a blonde.
And for years, I've wanted to change it.
Why?
Not because I thought I looked bad with blonde hair. I look good. :P
It just gets boring looking the same all the time, you know?
I'm an artist, and I wanted my hair to be another form of expression.

My All-Blonde Days

Blondie Baby: Here I am, about 2 years old (right). 

 Age 15. Golden blonde, with darker "lowlights." Really close to

what my natural color was at the time. (October 2005)

.

Age 20, very light. (Summer 2010)

Age 22, practically white. (September 2012)

Strangely enough, my hair has stayed in good condition. And I've never had to bleach my hair to get it platinum. In between the last two pictures, I decided to take a plunge into unfamiliar territory. 

June of 2011, I dyed my bangs and under-layer of my hair light PINK!

I was inspired by Sherri Dupree-Bemis of Eisley. 

My hair-muse.

I then took the pink out of my bangs, and made the underside darker.

Then went back to all blonde for my ill-fated medical school interviews.

Then two streaks on each side.

And then dyed the tips fuchsia after graduating.

I loved it. But, it took my parents a while to get used to the change.

A lot of my friends thought it was great. 

But many people (of all ages) didn't really understand why I would try to "fix" something that wasn't broken.

It doesn't have anything to do with trying to "fix" my hair or make myself look "better" than before.

It just has to do with the fact that it's fun and why the hell not?

Pink Timeline

Stripe-y bangzzz, June 2011

Saturated, August 2011

Pink-haired Homecoming Queen, November 2011

it faded a little darker and wine-colored, strangely.

April 2012, Streaked it up on each side after going back to all-blonde for a few months.

June 2012, Dip dye

In September 2012, I cut off the pink tips after it faded to a barely-there pastel.

Even throughout all this pink-sperimentation, what I really wanted to try was RED.

My close sorority sisters laughed at me sometimes because of my long-held obsession with gingery locks.

I even had a folder on my computer dedicated to red-hair inspiration. 

The things that held me back were:

1. The fact that red fades the fastest

2. Red is the hardest to pull off and find the right shade

3. I was deathly afraid of it looking bad. 

4. It would cost a shit-ton of money to do it professionally in a salon

But, after talking with my wonderful fiance, he said if I wanted to do it over Christmas break, he would pay for it as my Christmas/birthday gift. YAY. 

The Red Chapter

At the salon, December 2012

After! Turned out darker and browner than I wanted, but I was still really happy.

It faded really nicely.

Taken last week. :)

New Hair Goals

-Get back to light blonde by May without frying my hair

-try some darker blonde shades along the way

-try pastel pink all-over someday

Thanks for listening to me ramble about something most people find boring.