Thanksgiving Detox

I forgot that it was possible to gain 10 pounds in 4 days;
I suppose that's what happens when you enjoy a Thanksgiving-four-day-feast-athon without even thinking about working out, or going to a gym.
In fact, the only exercise I got this past weekend was:
Opening wine bottles,
Lifting food and drink from table to mouth,
Racing through the mall on Black Friday for outrageous deals,
And a lot of laughter with friends...
Sadly, that was not enough to keep my waistline trim-
So today, it's time to reel it in!
#TheHolidaysAreHere

Fight On!

Game day tailgate rocks,

Laughter, friendship, drinks and junk.

Thanksgiving detox! 

Deck the Halls

Starbucks Gingerbread Latte-

Black Friday, yes, I scored.

Home Depot for the perfect tree,

Awful 80's Christmas Films playing in the background;

Trimming the tree with family heirlooms.

Our house is covered in Christmas cheer.

#NostalgicChristmasTheme

Giving Thanks...

I'm always thankful for my family and friends-
But at this time of year the joy and gratitude overwhelm me.
No matter the distance, I continue to absorb the love from the family and friends who continue to support and inspire me.
Gathered around the television watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, while the smell of turkey and stuffing saturate the air-  just one of the childhood memories that I continue to enjoy today.
Loved ones pass and friends move on, but the spirit of Thanksgiving carries beyond.
#Blessed and #Grateful

Six Word Essay on Feeling Rushed

Get off my back, or die.
#SubtleWarning

Hollywood

Walking on the stars,

Celebrities everywhere!

Hookers and bums too.

Live In The Moment

Is to appreciate the blessings I have in my life.

Without fear of the unknown,

Or regret for the un-changeable past.

Full of gratitude for the opportunities that exist today-

The laughter and conversation with friends,

The unexpected adventures that spring up everyday,

And the reminder that tomorrow is never promised-this moment is a gift worthy of being present.

Random Observation

The interesting thing about sleep is when you go without it long enough-

You really start to believe you don't need it.

#DownfallsOfTraveling

Blogger Late Than Never...

That moment when you freak out because you didn't hit one of your daily targets-

Writing on your blog.

Stay creative by creating habits!

Self-Park

Who needs valet, when you can park for free?

And by 'free' I mean $25 a day.

#TheJoyOfTraveling

Forced Group Activities...

#SUCK.
Seriously, I've hated assigned group activities since my first experience with them in Mrs. Oberwater's 3rd grade class.
There's always one person, generally an overachieving perfectionist who does all of the work (me), three or four people who just sit around with a blank stare, and one person who's only contribution is to complain about every decisions made, and take credit for the project in the end.
It's not that I don't believe in team work, I just prefer to associate myself with a team of people that I can count on!
#OverIt

Movie Marathon

The escape from our day to day lives.
Lost in a giant screen full of beautiful characters.
Delicious popcorn;
Reclining velvet seats.
And all for only $32 a ticket!?
#MoviesAreALuxury
But getting caught up in the magic is worth every penny!

Spa Day Off

Peace of mind comes in many forms-

Today, mine comes in the form of a Swedish massage and spa retreat, followed by light shopping in LA and a movie!

#DayOff

Dear Bagel,

I realize that carbs are considered the Devil in Hollywood-
But I cannot resist your glossy hard outer shell and warm doughy insides.
Even without cream cheese, you rock my world.
Please do me a favor, stay away from my love-handles and booty, and I will continue to savor you every morning from now until the end of time.
Love,
Matthew
#AddictedToCarbs

Yoga

You

Go

And

Oblige 

Puppy Love

My puppies think they're friends with everyone we pass.

They'd jump-on, lick or cuddle-up with a horror villain if I weren't there.

If only humans were so friendly!

People Watching at Starbucks

Odd and comical,

He has a clear objective.

You just have to laugh!

What Happened? Six Word Essay

Honestly, how could I forget you?

Reading At A Cafe

Quietly sitting,

My imagination runs wild;

Escaping through books!

Six Word Essay on Having A Day Off

I'm not going to do anything!

Monday Madness!

Walked the dogs,
Posted my #SocialMedia,
Two conference calls,
Returned twenty emails,
Mailed the final proofs for my book, back to my publisher,
Ate breakfast,
Rehearsed an audition,
Choreographed for my next master class,
And finished my creative writing...
All before 10AM!
(You should see what my mid-day looks like!)
#Overachiever!

Airport Case Study

I never get tired of people watching.
Especially at an International airport-
Europeans are always well dressed and smell good.
Asians are always quite and efficient.
Americans are always poorly dressed, loud and eating something.
These are all generalizations, of course.
Still, I find it crazy that in every culture, young and old, EVERYONE is plugged into a power source... or desperately searching for an outlet!

I'm Awake!

The alarm goes off-

SNOOZE!

The alarm goes off- 

SNOOZE! and silence phone!

The alarm goes off- 

VIBRATING on the hotel nightstand...

I'm awake!

But I'm 5 minutes late.

#LifeOnTour

Life On The Road

And it begins:

The stress.

The lines.

The people who still don't know how the TSA screening works.

The dreadful coffee.

The bags, not under the seat, under my eyes...

#TheGlamorousLife

In Knots

Twisting and turning,
A sea of dread and anger.
Daydream to forget.

Six Word Essay on LA Traffic

The layers of rage are vast!

Election Day

Election day always reminds me of my Gram Shaffer and my grandpa Smith.
My Gram was an extremely active woman in our community.  She never needed to push an agenda, but had a magnificent way of encouraging anyone who she came in contact with of their right and responsibility to be involved in the world they live.
My grandpa continues to be an activist.  He served as the County Commissioner in his town, and I'm proud to say that during my first election in 1996- I was able to vote for him!
Ever since- I have been eager to research and elect people that I believe really want to make a difference in public office.
Naturally it's easy to become agitated or repulsed by career politicians and the media pushing agendas on either side of the aisle.
But a voice inside of me remembers that we are fortunate to live in a country where we have the right to speak up and vote.
Whether you think your vote matters or not- we need to remember that there are so many places in the world where citizens are not free and don't even have the option to submit their "illusion of a choice" so I never take for granted my obligation as a proud citizen of the United States of America.
#RockTheVote!

Fighting With Fire

I'm not afraid to ask for what I want.

I know that everyone who gets anywhere, does so by being bold, fearless and demanding.

I always attempt to be thoughtful, warm and humorous--especially when asking for a big favor.

However, time and again I get further by demanding what I want. (Especially from the people who I've helped out in the past, which is sad and strange.)

Still I realize, you have to fight fire with fire.  And I will not be the one getting burned!

You may not like me as much afterwards, but you'll respect me.  Moreover, you'll work with me again, because I get shit done!

Gingerbread Latte

Isn't it fascinating that such a simple idea exploded into such a massive event-
I'm positive that there are people who have "Starbucks Red Cup Day" marked on their calendars.
The Gingerbread Latte evokes the spirit of the holidays.
My first sip of Christmas in a cup came during a lunch break during rehearsals for the Radio City Christmas Spectacular in New York City.  I was with a group of performers strolling through Rockerfeller Center.  We were tired and needed a pick-me-up.  I broke my usual (twice a day) habit of ordering a Grande Mocha, to try the new festive drink.  Trust me, I spent more money on Starbucks coffee, than I did on rent in my NYC studio apartment during my twenties!  (If only I had that money now.)
I haven't looked back since.
Every holiday season since, I eagerly await the day I can order a taste of Christmas past.
After all, isn't that what we're buying into?
It's commercialism at it's finest.  If you're longing for family, friends or the childhood memories that never existed- look no further than Starbucks.
I promise one sip of their custom holiday specialty drinks will fill you with warmth and happiness!

Gentle Reminder To Self:

Life is short to leave room for doubt.

It's also too short to stray from doing anything other than what you know in your soul you were born to do!