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.

Cheese 'n Crust Souperstar

Last night, we began rehearsals for the newest project I'm involved in, Jesus Christ Superstar at the Boiler Room Theatre! I am so excited to be a part of this rock opera. It's amazing music by Time Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber is technically complex and difficult, yet totally conveys the passion and the emotion needed for such a heart-wrenching story. I got chills several times last night just at the sing-thru! Oh, and as a side note, some of the voices in this show knock my socks off! And with Billy Ditty choreographing, you know it's going to be an amazing production. Click here to get your tickets early.

It also reminded me of a little place I found in Vermont with my family this summer. It was right after I'd been cast in the show, and my family and I took our annual trip to my Grandmother's hometown of St. Albans, VT. While there, we took a day trip down to Burlington, a beautifully quaint little town whose outdoor cafes and shops sit right on Lake Champlain. While strolling down the cobblestone streets enjoying a cone of Vermont's own Ben & Jerry's ice cream, I spotted this little sandwich shop called the "Cheese 'n Crust Souperstar"! Coincidence? I don't think so! ;)

Lucky, my first official post!

Welcome to my blog! I am really excited to get this up and running. I am hoping that it will allow me to be creative and inspiring while gaining inspiration from some of you! Please join me on my journey! Away we go!

This weekend I was reading my favorite magazine ever...Lucky Magazine! I am obsessed with this publication for it's fresh take on fashion, home decor, skincare and beauty, as well as real-world applications (ie how to dress like a Fashionista when you're budget says Recessionista!). My husband Jason is constantly making fun of me because I am obsessed with their sheet of pull-off tabs that allow you to mark pages with "Yes!" or "Maybe?" tabs. Ingenious! That way I can go directly to the pages I love when I pick the magazine up for a second and third time. This months cover features Hayden Panettiere, who has traditionally flown under my radar but has grown on me in recent weeks for her fun, bubbly personality...and I loved reading about her surprising fashion and beauty picks.

If you don't have this month's copy yet, go grab it! Thank you Lucky!