Your New BFF: The Soubrette Brunette

True Story: Sammi and I went to the same college, and were in the same major, just in different years. We knew each other, but we didn't know each other, you know what I mean? Fast forward a few years and now we're actually friends, all to the wondrous power that is blogging.

Here's the thing you need to know before diving in: you're going to envy her wardrobe. You just are. You need to accept that first. Girlfriend can dress, and she does it all with charm, class, and adorableness. Here's another important thing: her cat is pretty darn cute. I don't even really like cats but this one gets my vote. Lastly, the girl is talented. Our shared college path was musical theatre, which she continues to do in the area she lives in.

Go check out Sammi and then come back here and we can swoon over her closet together.

on LAST MINUTE FOURTH OF JULY-ING

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If you're anything like me, today is the day when you scramble to figure out what to bring to the Fourth of July party you'll be at tomorrow. Obviously, one turns to pinterest for inspiration :)

My plan is to go the fruit route, first because I'm vegan and am therefore ensuring I can eat something.

Second, because it's really pretty, easy, fun, and fast, which are my usual cooking requirements.

The Sangria recipe (and a non-alcoholic punch version) can be found here!

For Eco-Friendly Fourth of July ideas, click here to see my post on Viesso.

And for fun, last minute easy DIY ideas, go visit Drea's post here.

Last but not least, please keep an eye on your pets! July 4th is super scary for them.

Please leave on soothing music or a tv if you'll be out

and for potato's sake, please don't bring them to parties or fireworks.

And lastly, for our furry little ones:

Happy Fourth of July!

on GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS

I just read this fascinating little piece by Lisa Bloom about how she chooses to talk to little girls. Can't remember how I landed there, but my best guess is that sneaky facebook newsfeed.

I'm totally guilty of talking cutesy to little girls, or telling them how beautiful they are. Because they are beautiful, and adorable and sweet and loving and have the cutest little outfits on earth, right? Right. But Ms. Bloom points out the obvious of why it's important to start speaking to them differently. And some interesting stats (from 2011, but still relevant today) such as nearly 50% of little girls 3-6 worry about being fat. Not cool.

Give it a read, let me know what you think.

P.S. See that fabulous picture up there? That's from the brilliant Katie Rain Photography. Check out her website (and facebook page!) to see her incredible work. (Also, that's her gorgeous, intelligent little girl. I may or may not be biased from my massive amounts of love for her.)

ON my film debut in China (sort of) & major link love

Oh, internet. WHY do I post these things? Why? But I must. I cannot keep this from you.

Click :55 seconds into the video and you may perhaps see a familiar face..

FOR THE RECORD.. the reason that I only appear once in this is because I killed it on every other name. Just owned those names! Those Rosetta Stone lessons are no joke and apparently must actually work because I can look at strange words and pronounce them correctly (I can also say 'cat' in multiple languages. Don't be jealous.)

These are the types of things that happen on a day to day basis in my world. One minute you're leaving an audition and realize your phone is dead so you hightail it to the Apple store across town and on your way, some random people ask you to say the names of Fashion brands on camera for a video in China. And if you're me, you're all "OKAY SURE! And yes I will certainly sign that release form!" Might as well live, you know?

In unrelated news, here are some other internet gems I'm (honestly) loving this week:

Katilda wrote about being a single 26 year old Mormon and her words are really universal.

Melissa wrote about why it's so important to surround yourself with people who are in Love.

Bri reminded us why it's sometimes best to avoid the internet when brainstorming/creating.

And I wrote two pieces here: one about Chez Sucre Chez & one on Home Theatre Inspiration.

Lastly, for the love of potatoes, please make sure to enter the amazing giveaway that I have going until Monday. I'm only $99 shy of my goal for these two amazing dog rescues! Every dollar counts and you could win a boatload of awesome prizes for your generosity. Happy Weekend! xo

ON Kindness For Your Soul (OR; Cappy The Dog)

One of the amazing dog rescues that I am lucky enough to volunteer with is Badass Brooklyn Foster Dog. They are seriously some kick-ass humans who go down South and rescue dogs from the (super high) high kill shelters. They have a whole team of volunteers/fosters down South who help and a whole other team up North, here in NYC. They've rescued over 800 dogs. 800 dogs!

This picture and story appeared on BuzzFeed last week, now with well over 160,000 views. It's gotten so much attention that there's a longer story featured on HuffPo today.

The stories are great but the best part is getting more attention, fans, and volunteers for Badass, and for animal rescues every where. So if it touches your heart, do share with your social media network.

You can follow the Badass Twitter here (you may, ahem, hear a familiar voice tweeting) or 'like' their Facebook page here. Streams of cute pups all day? Yes please.

P.S. Make sure you enter my Dollars for Doggies giveaway!!

ON five for friday {three}

Five Facts for you from this week:

1. this picture is here to remind you that warm weather does, in fact, exist. seems like all my favorite people are in freezing cold places (twitter and facebook have been keeping me posted on your thoughts about it) and just a pleasant reminder that it's almost the end of January and then February is super short and you're almost out of the woods. Or, you know, just move to LA with me!!!

2. third week in my acting class and finally, finally felt like i was back to being over the moon for this place. a nice reminder to keep going back until your gut says otherwise.

3. actors: don't let 'em tell you what does and doesn't work. you wanna blindly email some agents/managers you don't know? go right ahead. worked for me yet again this week. this goes for everyone: don't let anyone tell you "how something is". all they can tell you is what they've heard or their experience. try it anyway.

4. grocery shopping can literally change your entire outlook on life. fact. same goes for exercising, sleeping, singing really loud while driving, showering and getting dressed up.

5. i miss Henry. i mean, you saw that one coming, right?

And Five Faves:

1. made it through my second class here without feeling like death was approaching me. do you have one in your city? have you gone?

2. i mean.. doesn't hurt to check in on this. speaking as one. also: acting school founder! holler!

3. i'm unable to watch this without bursting out with laughter. i tend to watch hulu later at night (night owls: who's with me?!) and this can be a problem when others are, you know, trying to sleep.

4. Mayor Cory Booker has my heart, politically speaking. He's a real life superhero! Did you hear about how he rescued this sweet pup?

5. You know how I talk about your inner compass a lot? Lissa calls it your inner pilot light and has a bit to say on it.

Enjoy your weekend! See you on Monday :) xo

On Five for Friday {three}

This edition of Five For Friday is a little something called: my life is in shambles, let's write about it! Ready? Super, let's go.

Five Facts:
1. Little timeline for you: Tuesday I went back into the city, Wednesday was a super fun day, Thursday night I decide it seems like a fine time to start packing for my move on Saturday morning. A few hours into my delightfully fun packing adventure and BAM. Hit with the sicks. The "oh-my-gosh-what-is-happening-am-I-dying" kind. Like a truck had done gone ahead and run me over. Couldn't move, couldn't swallow, couldn't speak, and the worst is I kept waking up all night. You guys. Yikes.

2. Which brings me to: I think I have the coolest doctor in the world. Not only did she stay past her normal hours so she could see me, but her office is lined with Broadway posters, only plays alternative rock, and has a rescue dog in the office that just roams around. Everyone that works there is amazing.

3. I had a last minute audition on Wednesday where I had to sing Auld Lang Syne. Did you know that it is mostly in another language? Because I did not. Good news is that I had such a fun time in the audition, shooting the shit, and being silly, and was just myself - which I tell you is the only key to this business - and then totally forgot about it until the next day when I had missed two emails and a phone call from the casting director checking to see if I was available for the shoot. Cross your fingers and toes, friends.

4. I don't really have that much stuff. Honest. I've purged and relocated things and downsized. And yet, somehow.. I have.. so much stuff. I honestly can't believe how many books I have. And the tricky thing about books is that they're heavy. Did you all know that? Books are heavy. This is why you read my blog, right? For life changing information like this. I know, I know.

5. One of my all time favorite quotes in the world is "There are these people, who, like, know you in this way, that other people can't. Because they've seen you change. They've let you change." If you google that you will find that it's from My So-Called Life, which, as we know, is a mastery of art and human emotions. But this week really exemplified that for me. The people who just roll through the endless tides of change that is me. And the way they just love me no matter what. It's mind boggling. I think a big facet of that is allowing myself to see the ways they're loving me, you know what I mean? Instead of having some conceptual idea of what love should be/look/sound/feel like, paying attention to all the tiny little things that are exactly someone loving you.

Five Faves:
1. This Holiday playlist. Download it (for free) and Be Merry.

2. I'm having a moment with this color. (I have an ongoing moment with this store. We had quite a few moments today, come to think of it.)

3. This bag. Now must just sit patiently and wait for a sale.

4. iGive. Because if you haven't noticed from my last two faves, 'tis the season where people shop, yo.

5. One of my all time favorite blogs. I love the way Bridget takes these teeny tiny simple things and strings them together to create these beautiful truths. Plus, her dogs are adorable and she loves books. Swoon.

P.S. I would like to note that it is again Sunday when I'm posting this. So maybe it's like Five for your next Friday. Or Five for your day when you have a lot of time off and can click/read everything. So basically, I'm doing this delay in posting for you.

On The Other Kerry

You guys, have I ever told you about the other Kerry?

She is one of my very first blog friends! She is all around wonderful, interesting, and a great writer.

You should probably go check out her blog. In case you need even more incentive than just trusting my good word (and the word is good, friends) she is hosting a great GIVEAWAY right now.

That's right: I'm giving you a new blog to read, a new gal to adore, and a new giveaway to enter.

You're welcome, you saucy minxes. You. Are. Welcome.

xo

On Five for Friday {two}

Five For Friday... on a Sunday! (I mean, it was a holiday and all..)

Five Facts:
1. Henry got a fur cut yesterday and didn't talk to me for an hour afterwards, but you'll be happy to hear I won his love back with potato chips. Bribery, friends, bribery. Since then I've been wrapping him up in blankets since he is now shivering from his short new 'do. Excellent mothering, no?

2. If I don't get a certain amount of alone time, I am sunk. This week I accidentally planned three things that involved groups of people, back to back to back, and about halfway through I thought I was a goner. When I need a good laugh, I imagine myself working in a big office, surrounded by people all day. Oh boy, oh boy.

3. Important lesson: when one paints one's nails in bed, one may end up with purple nail polish all over one's bedspread. All. Over. It.

4. This year was the first Thanksgiving where I had a vegan version of turkey and vegan deserts. This is big, people. I also did my afternoon meditation despite the clamoring going on around the house and the various relatives who were whisper-asking my mom just what exactly was I doing. I maybe forgot to give a disclaimer first and I also maybe did this in the middle of the living room.

5. A mix cd is a most excellent super good gift. Even better when coming from the hands of a handsome man person. If I was given only mix cd's and flowers for the rest of my life, I would be the happiest in all the land. Ahem. Please do take note.

Five Faves:
1. Favorite poem (this week). The last line, friends. Delicious.

2. Favorite current read.

3. Favorite things to browse lately.

4. Favorite new blog. Though you probably already know about it..

5. Favorite video of the week. Because, I mean, COME ON.

Okay now, whatcha got for me? Favorite links?

Favorite facts from your week? Favorite favorites? What? xo

On Five For Friday

Five Facts from this week:

1. I realized that whenever I see a certain pal, I end up at Sephora within a couple of days. Case in point? We hung on Saturday.. I found myself there on Tuesday :) She knows SO much about face creams, make up, eye brow pencil lighten upper filler-inners, etc.. so she talks about something I didn't know about and, bam. I'm the new proud owner of an under eye serum (and then, well, I was already out of eye cream, so..).

2. Was up for a Burger King ad. All the way down to the fancy part where they make sure your schedule is clear (hard to explain, but yes this is a real thing) and then I didn't book the job. I told my agents it was probably because they found out I'm vegan. Why yes, thank you for asking, the joke was a hit.

3. It took me 5 weeks to send 3 (scary-ish) emails. 5 weeks! Thus we come to the fact that it's more important to just do it: send the email, make the call, say the words, ask for help. Thinking about it only makes it seem scarier or harder or more impossible. This is coming from the queen of the hemming and hawing. When I just do something right away, it turns out to be not so scary after all - usually it is pretty easy, too.

4. When I got in my bed last night, I realized my pillows smelled like my favorite. Thus, making the rational decision that I won't be washing my sheets for the next few months while he's out of town. Bet that makes ya want to have a sleepover with me asap. Who could resist such cleanliness?

5. Spontaneous girls nights may be the key to actually getting together to have a girls night!

And here are Five Faves:

1. Favorite new restaurant in NYC.

2. Favorite new video (this had me laughing in hysterics, tears-rolling-down-my-face-style).

3. Favorite new TV show (don't judge me! and yes, I know I'm several years late to the party..).

4. Favorite truth.

5. Favorite new blog (jersey girls just get it).

All right, what have you got for me? What did you learn this week? 

What were some of your favorites that you came across? Share please! xo

FULLweek: 4/27 recap

This past week was glorious:

• Started it in Miami and ended it in NYC.
• Got super inspired by this article on The Daily Love.
• Spent an afternoon on the phone with casting in LA, discussing a reality TV show opportunity for...my pup, Henry. Yes, seriously.
• Recalled how great this business can be.
• Revisited my love for this poem.
• Began this book.
• Captured the week in instagrams.
• Shared my love for my incredible meditation teacher and center.
• Visited Greenpoint for the first time ever.
• Attended the opening night of this Broadway show.
• Wore these shoes a whole lot with long, pretty skirts to twirl in. Twirling is important.
• Had my favorite casting director tell me he's proud of me.
• Focused on starting my day with positive thoughts as an experiment to see what would happen (hint: really awesome things happened).

P.S. Have you seen this awesome giveaway on A Beautiful Mess? Enter before April 30th to win! Don't fret if you miss it, Elsie & Emma do one like this every month.