on NEVER FEAR, BROOKLYN'S HERE!

On a Saturday in Brooklyn, Evan & I took off to the Brooklyn Flea, wandered the streets of Greene Point, and found ourselves a little dream garden to dine in. There is maybe no other NYC activity I love more than perusing the Brooklyn Flea. Piles and piles of antiques, vintage, records, art, handmade, and furniture, plus tons of food options, and dogs are welcome to join you. Like a dream, I tell ya.

I have an endless crush on Brooklyn. Every new part that I explore is the new part that I muuust move to. (This is how I am with many states and cities, too, that pesky wanderlust). The brownstones and homes really create this section of Brooklyn, there's just so much character and inviting presence.

Evan and I went to school together, and, well, I guess you should know, he is seriously incredible. First, the man can sing. He can saaaaang. Plus, he has the most beautiful spirit. His energy dances around you the whole time you're together, and he is joyously authentic. We haven't gotten to see each other too much over the past several years (hello, actors), but whenever I see him, it's just the best feeling. Aren't those kind of friends the very best?

Where have you been adventuring lately? Do tell, do tell.

on LATELY, LATELY

Instalife, over here. Lucky, lucky girl, I am.

Brooklyn Lunch / On the Hudson / Meditating / Henry Bear / Favorite Place

Reunited / Color Change / Girl Talk / Layla June / Stolen Toy

Follow along here.

on LIGHT

all found via pinterest

When I'm curating collections of images for personal inspiration, for blogging or for my work on other blogs, I am always drawn to light. Which makes sense because that's how it is in real life, too.

When I first enter a room, I'm immediately assessing how the light gets in. What are the windows like? When will the sun be there to spend time with me? I thrive off of light, and have to have it.

When I meet a new person, it's the same thing. Where's the light? How do they shine? What lights them up? (Does anybody else do this? Is it really just me?) There's something about seeking out the light within someone, while seeking out the light in the natural world, that fuels me.

Summer is slowly starting to descend, and as it does, I'm trying to soak up as much light, sun, time outdoors, water, sand, relaxing, and summer-only things that I can. And I'd surely spend any of these summer days in any of these spaces.

on MAGENTA

So this happened the other day. Really hard to capture but the color is currently like magenta.

If I'm being honest, I actually don't like the color in real life. At least, not yet. (I loooved the purple.)

And my bangs were slightly changed. And guess what? Don't like those either.

So two for two! But.. here's the thing. I'll either start to love it, or I'll call my hair place, and we'll fix it.

In the mean time: I have pink hair, I have pink hair, la la la laaaaa.

on MINE MINE MINE MINE (or; hello summer)

When I woke up, groggy, way past when I wanted to be up, she suggested that I go to the beach. I snapped at her, "I have to work, I'm so behind, there's a million things to do, so many emails to send, I can't just go to the beach."

Then it dawned on me: yes I can. Before I could change my mind, a swimsuit was pulled on, sunscreen slathered, hair up in a bun, sunglasses found, keys in my hand, and off.

The day before had been insane. An early trip to the city for an audition, an unexpected message from a friend on her way to save a dog on death row at the city shelter, facebook to text and back to facebook, strangers helping me help her. Barging into his apartment to borrow his computer when my phone gave out, kissing his face before driving back to NJ, with the knowledge that the pup was safe. She had saved him. Upon arrival home, an unknown car parked in my driveway caused quite a scare, until it was discovered it was just my aunt and some of my favorite kids in the world. Distractions, conversations, teaching runway walking techniques on the backyard deck, these things are important. Food was finally shoveled into my mouth, two sweet baby pups at my feet, ready for crumbs. And then.. I saw it. An email. An audition. In 73 minutes, back in the city, and I was at least an hour away. Back into my car and off I went, my second trip into the city (where I freaking technically live, mind you) on the same time, after such an emotional morning and afternoon, and I.. well, I was spent.

I feel like I am missing my summer. Do you know that feeling? Like you're missing your own life, in favor of promises and errands and emails and lists. This is not how I live. This is not what I believe living to be. And if living like this means missing my summer, then to hell with it. I was in NJ for the very purpose of getting to the beach, of being with my babies, of languishing on the couch, and riding my bike. But I hadn't been to the shore, and my bike sat in the garage, and my pups slammed their paws on my laptop as I shooed them away for just-five-more-minutes-mommy-loves-you.

So I went to the beach. And I said hello to the ocean, and I finally saw the beach house after Sandy made her way through it last fall, and I made peace with the fact that my uncle would not be coming around the corner any second as he headed into the garage, telling me there were cold drinks in the fridge. Even if he was still alive, the garage was taped up, waiting for construction. I had to go see things as they are, all with the power of remembering that our life is what we choose it to be. I really like my life right now. I love working so hard, I love the people in it, I love my apartment, and I feel overwhelmingly blessed. But if I can't go to the beach, I don't want it. That might just be my new life philosophy.

Hello Summer, I've missed you. Let's go to the beach.

on OH HEY INTERNET

Internet. Blog. Blog friends. Actual friends.
Hello.

It has been a minute, no? I haven't posted on this here little blog in what feels like forever, which is serious proof that my life is in crazy mode. So obvs we need a catch up, right? Right. Here's what I've been up to in the past two weeks. First, some photos:

My sweet babies.

Layla is either causing trouble or being unbelievably sweet and cuddly. Nothing in between.

I met Heather! Love this girl. Check out her blog here.

Broadway Barks! The little Chi above, Dotty, is avail through Bidawee. Another pup fancied her to be his tail rest.

Best pizza I've ever had in NYC so far. The company sure didn't hurt either ;)

My little cousin moved to NYC! Now we can have impromptu lunch dates!

This is my favorite place ever.

 So now that you've been caught up in photos, here's what else I've been up to:

Auditions. Just streams of them. Commercials, voiceovers, musicals, magazines.. meetings and setting up meetings and helping others set up meetings. At my agency, at studios, in recording booths. Uptown, downtown, midtown. Even via my iphone recording app and good ol' fashioned email. I feel lucky and grateful and excited and terrified.

Coaching. That's right, I'm officially coaching. After getting trained as a life coach a couple of years ago, and then laughing about that, plus years of intense work on this here life/human, plus x amount of years in the industry plus an obsession with the business side of the business and the realization that all I do is coach every one anyway, especially with biz stuff, and a few brave moves later... annnnd coaching. Life and business coaching for actors/artists and people who want to be actors/artists. I'm kind of obsessed. There will be more on this later. (Also, want to coach with me? Great, send me an email. Not an actor but want to coach anyway? Cool, I got you, email me.)

Life. More like driving back and forth between NJ and NYC. A lot. Summer means a lot of time in NJ and I thought this summer would be like summers past where I have nothing going on in acting land or social life land and could kick it on my couch with my babies and my family and friends and go to the beach. Incorrect! Ha! said the Universe. Ha! said God. You think you run the show? Nah, hop in your car, we've got plans for you. And all I can do is surrender to it and be excited.

Doggies. Mine (eeeeee I love them so much they are my babies hkjsnfkansfal). Other people's whom I watch. Shelter pups who I am working to save on the daily. Like every night until 2 or 3 am with the Urgent group. If you are looking to help save some dogs, please join Urgent (or a group like that near you) and post the dogs on your page. They have about 12 hours between being listed and being killed. The more who post them, the more get saved. More on this soon, too.

Lessons. As in, the ones that are repeatedly given to me to learn and learn and learn until I get it straight and then more lessons. Cause this is how we grow.

Work. I counted yesterday and I now have 6 jobs. 6! What am I, nuts? All freelance, and all remotely, and all things that I seriously love. Which is good because, seriously, 6?

And that is that! You are caught up, internet style. Happy Tuesday, beautiful people.

on MR. & MRS. MONACO TURN TWO

This past week marked the second year of marriage for my sister and brother-in-law. That's a long time, if you ask me. Because when you're married to someone, you're married to them every single day, all day, nonstop. Think about it (non-married people.. you married people can laugh either in understanding or mockery). Sometimes I just say the "M" word and get really uncomfortable. Recently, my favorite male person said it once or twice himself (I did not even know he knew the word), and understandably we didn't speak for a few days after that. I'm pretty sure I replied with  "you've thought about what?". So you can imagine my impressed-ness over anyone being married at all, let alone multiple years.

The second year of marriage calls for a cotton gift. I told my sister that I would give them a blogtton gift instead. It's true, I am incredibly generous. No, I will get them a gift, but first I must scour etsy and the like. In the meantime: blogtton! Both of them are very weird, which seems right when getting married. Find someone as weird as you, who puts up with you even when you are whiny (Amy) or making fun of the other person's little sister (Matt), who will go to Target with you, and other places. But mostly, just someone weird who likes you a whole lot. They have that down.

Love you both very much. And sometimes your cats. Happy Anniversary!
Love, the sister, Henry Elliot, and Layla June. (they helped write this. woof.)