Melt My Heart

If you know me at all, you know I am, if nothing else, two things: a lover of all things Christmas, and a total hopeless romantic. This scene from "Love Actually" is probably my favorite single scene in any movie around. It is the perfect combination of heart-meltingly sweet and endearingly quirky and creative (come on, what girl doesn't wish she were in Kiera Knightly's shoes at this moment?!?) and it gets me every time! If you haven't seen this movie (or haven't seen it in a while), follow this link to watch the clip...and then make some hot chocolate, build a fire and snuggle up on the couch with a blanket and watch the whole thing. I know that's what I'm planning on doing in the very near future!

Can you spot the knock-off?

One of these is not like the other....can you spot which one of these Coach bags is a knock-off??


If you guessed the top one, you're correct! I scored this look-alike on the streets of 5th Avenue while window shopping with Jason in NYC this weekend. Regular pricetag: Upwards of $300. My bargain: $40. I'm very much ok with that!

A Thanksgiving to Remember

Every year on Thanksgiving, I am a sucker for the Macy's Day Parade. I always begin my Thanksgiving morning watching the incredible floats, balloons, and talented performers as they roll into Herald Square, and every year I think "Next year, I am going there." Well, this year, I did! I grabbed Jason, booked a flight and hopped a plane to NYC the night before the parade. We woke up bright and early Thursday morning, grabbed our Starbucks coffee, donned our warmest jackets and set out to find the very best viewing spot along 7th Ave. Luckily, we found a spot around 55th and 7th where the sidewalk was a little bit elevated, so our views, even 3 or 4 people deep, were perfect! Above are some of my favorite floats and balloons from the parade. It was an incredible experience, certainly one I will never forget! I can't wait to go back next year (*wink wink*)!!

Oh Christmas Tree

Anyone who knows me knows that pink is my signature color. Well, this year, I'm ready to take my love for the color one step further by incorporating it into our Christmas! I have been lusting over these pink trees for over a year now, and I think it might be time to invest in one myself! As a side note, I've already asked Jason what he thinks about the idea, and it did not go over well ("Pink is not Christmas," he said, to which I replied, "Pink is a shade of red, so yes it is!"). You don't think he'll notice if I sneak it in, do you?? :)

Beauty WILL Rise

One of my favorite artists and friends, Steven Curtis Chapman, has released a new album called "Beauty Will Rise". I purchased my very own copy of it yesterday from iTunes. This album is raw, real, heart-wrenching and hopeful response to an unthinkable set of circumstances, the loss of little Maria. A friend introduced me to the song February 20 and I must say that this is the song that continues to stop me in my tracks. I sat down this morning and cried tears of sadness, hope, and joy as I listened to his poignant recount of a day that will live on forever. Thank you, Steven, Mary Beth, and all of the Chapmans for continuting to show faith through love.

WTF???

There are no words. Period.

My fantasy

Is anyone else out there as excited as I am about the remake of one of my favorite childhood stories, Alice in Wonderland? Directed by Tim Burton and starring Johnny Depp = one happy me! I loved their last collaboration together, Sweeney Todd. Depp's twisted dark humor and Burton's brilliant knack for walking the fine line between creepy and amazing are spot on. I hope the same magic is created in this film, out in 2010! See the entire trailer here!

My new obsession

So, I recently discovered designer Rachel Roy, and holy moly where has she been all my life! I love her flair for bold color, soft knits, and of course, sequins! I also fell in love with her even more when I went onto her website and on the RRNY homepage found this quote: "To find inner tranquility is to find strength in what is true and elegant." Check out her fabulous lines, Rachel Roy New York and Rachel Rachel Roy!

The Worst Idea Ever

As some of you may or may not know, I am now working part time at Nine West in Green Hills. I am in heaven! It's a fast paced job, but let's be real: it's shoes. How fun is that?!? Jason has now nicknamed me "Boots" because I wear boots literally from October to May every year and have about a million pairs! He quickly pointed out after I used my 50% employee discount and came home with several new pairs that my working there was "the worst idea ever." Enjoy some of my faves, above, in stores now! Also, we're having a Girl's Night Out Event next Thursday, October 29th! Door prizes, raffles, snacks and 15% off the entire store....come on out!

Drama Drama Drama

I know the hype was centered around the Kanye West/Taylor Swift drama at last night's Video Music Awards, but can we please for a moment turn our attention to Lady Gaga? Now, I like to consider myself one who is "into" fashion, but I will never for the life of me understand her choice of attire for the occasion. Performance art? I sure hope so!

Bohemian Rhapsody

I want these pieces to be the inspiration for my next outdoor gathering! I love the bright colors, a twist of bohemian and 60's mod...I can see the spoons tossing a large spinach and strawberry salad and burgers being served on the platter! A gathering of friends around the table, enjoying good food and soft candlelight through the birdcage lantern...ahh, summer, you are my favorite time of year!

Life...

Things have really picked up this fall. Between running Jesus Christ Superstar at the Boiler Room Theatre in Franklin, being cast in Clue, settling in to life as a newlywed, and trying to plan my next step, things have been a little chaotic! Looking forward to getting back to being blonde, broke and fabulous!!

Happy Birthday Jay!!

Two years ago today, my nephew, Jayson Wiltin Thomas (we call him Jay) was born! He is the biggest blessing and keeps us smiling all the time! Happy Birthday Jay!

"I'm So Excited!"

As many of you know, I am an avid magazine junkie, and every Thursday afternoon/Friday morning, I run to the Walgreens on the corner and pick up my weekly jewels. As of late, I have been very disappointed with the over-exposure of Jon & Kate, or Jessica Simpson's love life, but this past Friday, my heart smiled when I walked in, turned down the magazine aisle and gasp! saw my pre-teen idols plastered on the front of People magazine. That's right, Saved by the Bell is back!

According to People Magazine, the gang's back together and a reunion is in the works. The article interviews each of the show's main characters, doing a quick recap on their favorite SBTB moment and character quirks. According to Elizabeth Berkley, who played brainiac Jessie Spano, "it feels like we just picked up where we left off."


But one main characted was not featured in the People spread: ever-lovable Screech, played by the norotious Dustin Diamond. Although SBTB put Diamond and Screech on the map, it's been his erractic array of Reality TV appearances and pornography videos that have followed him in the years following Bayside High. He is even allegedly writing a Saved by the Bell tell-all. Is former best friend Zack, played by Mark-Paul Gosselaar, worried?? "Nah? What can he say? That we were banging groupies at 14?...It's entertaining, but it's sad."

I, for one, can't wait for this little gem to come to fruition! In the words of Miss Spano herself, "I'm So Excited!"

I've died and gone to Bentley heaven

So I've never understood the Bentley obsession, UNTIL....

...this car was parked outside of Sambucca Saturday night! Am I allowed to start asking for Christmas presents in July?? ;)

Everything's bigger in Texas

Today I officially begin training for my next goal, the San Antonio Marathon! I have a 16-week training guide that I hope will prepare me for race day, and I pray the conditions are better than the Chicago Marathon I ran in 2007! These are just a few photos of what I can only hope to see on my 26.2-mile trek to the finish line!

Happy Birthday Lauri!!

Today is the birthday of one of the most amazing women I know, Mrs. Lauri Gregoire! Lauri and I first met when I was a Sophomore in HIGH SCHOOL - she was hired to choreograph our spring musical, Kiss Me Kate. However, it was very clear very early on that Lauri was going to be the star of that show - the boys could not stop drooling!! We have been friends ever since, and have performed together in numerous Boiler Room productions together - Beauty and the Beast, Grease, H2$, Working, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Billy Bob's Holiday Hoedowon,
Will Rogers' Follies, and currently Jesus Christ
Superstar!

Lauri has taught me so much about what it means to be a friend, a Christian woman, and a performer. She and I have laughed, cried, vented, griped and grubbed our way through heartache, love, weddings, lost friends, long rehearsals job changes. She is one of the strongest people I know - she owns her own business, Bellevue Dance Center, an admirable feat in and of itself. But on top of that, she teaches private lessons, performs at Opryland, directs summer camps at the Boiler Room, and finds time to be a wife a
fantastic friend.

Lauri, you are such an inspiration to me! The dedication to your work, your family, your friends, and God - all the things you love - is amazing! I am so blessed to have you in my life and don't know what I would do without you! You are like a big sister to me and I am blessed to have a front row seat to all that God is doing in your life!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MISS LAURI! :)

Barn on the Rooftop

Yesterday was such a fun day for me! On Tuesday I went to a downtown Nashville office to audition for a music video for a new country artist, Ty Williams and got the job! Since I was not familiar with Ty or his music, I was anxious to see what the shoot would hold on Thursday. It was such a wonderful time! The concept of the video: a group of conservatives sneak into a secret barn party and strip themselves of their humble "office" attire to reveal their inner hell-raisin' country side!

We arrived at a barn in Franklin around noon on Thursday and immediately were taken upstairs to where they were shooting...the old rustic barn loft had been transformed into a party, with strings of lights strung up on the ceiling amidst the lights, camera, and, well, action! We danced to Ty's new hit, Barn on the Rooftop, on and off for nearly five hours! It was such an easy gig though - the song is all country and feels like a party; Ty and his band are so endearing and energetic; and the people I was working with were fantastic!


Next we headed down to 3rd Ave and Church Street in downtown Nashville around 8 pm (but not without stopping by Jackson's first for a quick breather!) to shoot the conservative scenes. I could have easily been wiped out from just the afternoon of dancing! Ty even came down to see what was going on, even though he and the band had wrapped their part of the video hours before. I thought that was such a classy move on his part. All in all, we wrapped around midnight and I slowly drug my tired booty back to Franklin. What a fun day with some amazing people! Above: some of the fantastic girls I worked with, Chrissy, Sabrina, Me, and Stephanie!

I'll take one of everything, please

I thought when I left NYC behind that I was also leaving behind some of my favorite stores to pop into. Thankfully, Urban Outfitters is not one of them! Yesterday I popped into the store in Nashville's trendy Gulch area (my first time in since they opened) and fell in love! I wanted one of everything! For a store that can tend to be hit-or-miss for me...yesterday was certainly a hit! Pictured above, some of the pieces I scored on sale as well as some of my current lusts.