englandsword

It's been a lovely week with my family! My mom, step-dad, and brother went home today and I'll be going home on Saturday. On Monday we went shopping at an outlet mall and had lunch at a chain restaurant called Yard House. They have a gigantic beer selection and surprisingly, an entire vegetarian menu featuring Gardein products! I got the BBQ Chicken Salad with no cheese and vinaigrette on the side, instead of the dressing it came with. I didn't want to make too many changes so I just picked off the fried onions and tortilla strips. It was really delicious and flavorful, and I didn't even really need the dressing. It had romaine, corn, black beans, tomatoes, avocado, red pepper, carrots, Gardein "chicken" strips, and the fried onions and tortilla strips I picked out. Mixed together: Great lunch! It's always nice to find a chain in the Midwest that has nice vegan options. We did some awesome outlet shopping, so I'm going to have great Fashion Friday post...

We had to wake up at 5:30 on Saturday (3:30 Pacific time!!) to fly in my dad's plane up to Aurora, Illinois for my great-aunt's funeral. She was a nun, so it was super Catholic. Funerals are serious. But honestly, I never met my great-aunt and knew almost nothing about her, so I mostly just felt bad for my grandpa losing his sister. My brother flew us back -- he got his pilot's license last year (at age 19!). I'm so proud of him. My dad got his pilot's license when he was in the Army so my brother has always wanted to get his, too. The flight was beautiful, and my brother did a great job! Today we mostly just hung out on the porch or inside, escaping the over-100 degree temperatures. We watched baby brother play in his pool and watched Wall Street 2. And I got to work out. I haven't recorded my workouts in a few weeks because I got so busy. I've still been working out, just not quite as much. I've made sure to lift weights and at least squeeze in 20-30 m...

It's weird, but I've been bored of food lately. Does that ever happen to you? It's not like I'm just bored of the food I usually eat, because I tried to think of what I really would want to eat -- anything -- and couldn't really think of anything. I went to Trader Joe's today with the full intention of grocery shopping and only walked out of there with a box of Dr. Praeger's veggie burgers. I looked at things I had thought about buying - hummus, edamame, salsa, sweet potatoes... and just didn't feel like it. Oh well, I'm sure a day full of veggie burgers and grapefruit (that's all I have right now, seriously) tomorrow will inspire me to go back to the grocery store and stock up. Yesterday's workout: 50 minutes bike Weights/strength: hamstrings, chest, back Today's workout: 40 minute walk 10 minutes dance 10 minutes bike Weights/strength: squats, glutes, quads Today's food: 1. 2 steamed sweet potatoes 2. Dr. Praeger's veggie burger...

I have a super good reason for not posting for the last several days -- my computer died! =( It's very sad. But good news... I got a new one. So I'm back. But of course I didn't back up my shit so I have to figure out how to get the stuff off of my hard drive, which luckily was not affected (the logic board had problems, whatever that means). I had a ridiculous week. Great, but busy. This week I had my intensive improv 201 classes, five auditions, went to a bunch of improv shows, a few networking events, a cold reading class, worked on my demo reel, and work for my sales rep job. I did manage to lift weights and walk a little every day but my cardio definitely suffered. I just could not find the time. I finally got some time today to have a nice workout, though! Exercise: 45 minutes bike 20 minutes dance Weights/strength: inner/outer thighs, squats, abs stretching foam rolling Food Diary: 1. Dr. Praeger's veggie burger 2. Quinoa salad with spinach 3. Seitan 4. Edamame ...

I'm so proud of the way I used my time today. I fit in a lot! First of all, I woke up with perfectly feathered bangs. I didn't keep them that way, but it's almost a shame because I'm sure girls really tried for this a few decades ago. Awesome! This morning I did laundry, which really takes a while, so I feel accomplished when I do it. I also vaccuumed my whole apartment! Yay, good for me! I went to Target to pick up some essentials. Then I headed to SAG for a screening of True Blood and an interview with Sam Trammel, who plays Sam Merlotte on the show. It was really interesting and it's always cool to hear from working actors. I went grocery shopping (at TJ's and the normal store) to kill time before my reservation at the 11:00 show at UCB. It was a great show! So in one day I did plenty of exercise, cleaned, did laundry, did actor administrative work, ran multiple errands, went to a SAG event, and went to an improv show. Kaboom. Food Diary: 1. Green smoothie - ...

On Saturday I had a great audition and on Sunday I spent all day on set, working as a 2nd AD (Assistant Director). Today I went to Power Group at The Actors Network and then spent all evening (five hours) at the Upright Citizens Brigade watching and doing a little participating in improv - the last show I went to was the monthly "jam." As I was signing up I was thinking, "Eek, what am I doing!?" But I do love to challenge myself! Because I was so busy this past few days I didn't get to do as long of workouts as I wanted but I fit in what I could. Saturday: 40 minutes bike 20 minutes dance Weights/strength: chest, upper back, triceps stretching Sunday: 20 minutes bike Monday: 20 minutes bike Weights/strength: biceps I do have a little announcement -- I am now the LA sales rep for Moda Industria! I reviewed one of their bags a few months ago. This is the website - www.modaindustria.com . They are all made in Bloomington, Indiana, by people I know (my best friend ...

My legs are STILL sore. Still sore. They're better than yesterday and the day before, but I still feel it. Yesterday I went to orientation at SAG in the afternoon. I wore my yellow Target dress with my new purple Habitat for Humanity t-shirt (thanks, Mom!) and my leopard-print Target sweater I've had forever that I put on when I got cold. It's only been in the 70's here so it does get chilly at night! By the way, I put my hair in braids and pinned them on top of my head. That's why my head looks lumpy. It looked cute in person. I love yellow and purple, it's such an unexpected color combination. I wore my gold camel-print Keds. Love these shoes. Today I went to the Actors Network and tonight some friends came over and we watched Bloomington. It wasn't even my idea - my friends wanted to watch it. They are awesome. =) Yesterday's workout - 10 minute walk 10 minutes bike 10 minutes dance stretching light foam rolling (so sore!) Today's workout - 30 min...

Holy crap I am so sore today. I'm guessing it must have been the cheerleading jumps but seriously, my legs are not working right today. Even just attempting to sit on the toilet caused me to shout in pain (in a public restroom, no less. I am not responsible for other people's perceptions!) Tonight I went to the LA Actors' Tweetup - I went through the professional photos and found one of me. I'm talking, what a surprise. After that I went to a show at UCB. Once again, I'm full of surprises today. I got something cool in the mail today -- My Bloomington DVD! Awesome picture, I know. But if you want to watch it, it's now available for rental on Netflix! A friend from college wrote on my Facebook wall today that she went to her local video store in Costa Rica, where she's in the Peace Corps, and found Bloomington on the shelf! Isn't that incredible!? I watched Step Up 3 today while working out -- it's great workout inspiration! Everyone is in great shape...

My audition and improv show both went great on Sunday. I meant to write a recap that night but my internet wouldn't work. I also meant to take pictures and I totally forgot. =( I loved my improv show. It wasn't perfect, of course, but it was fun and I was happy with my work and I think I used what I learned over the last couple weeks. I can't wait for 201 to start on the 20th! I also thought it was pretty cool that I had my show and then the next show on the same stage featured Tim Meadows (of SNL, The Ladies Man, etc). Today I enjoyed a nice long workout and a good foam rolling session. I cleaned my apartment a little and Skyped with my mom then headed back to UCB tonight to see a few shows! Sunday exercise: Weights/strength: upper back, chest Exercise: Weights/strength: inner/outer thighs, triceps, deltoids 20 minutes dance 35 minutes bike Today's food: 1. Spinach and lima beans with BBQ sauce (I took a picture of this but it looked terrible so I'm not sharing it...

I bought a foam roller! It's bigger than I thought it would be. That's my shoe for reference. No, it's not a tiny shoe next to a regular-sized foam stick. It is a normal-sized shoe next to a huge foam stick. I started foam rolling today. Here's an article with an overview of some ways to roll: http://www.t-nation.com/readArticle.do?id=475832 I was focusing on that hamstring/butt muscle I pulled last month and wow, some weird things are going on in there. I don't know what exactly, but it is crunchy and painful and gross. My last few days have been great! Thursday was so busy I actually did not fit in a workout. =( Oh well, ya gotta have rest days. I had improv class, then an audition, and then went to a couple shows at UCB in the evening - How to Live with Chelsea Peretti, with Sarah Silverman as a special guest, and an improv show. Both shows were hilarious! I am so obsessed with UCB now. On Friday I had my last day of class and then went to Abbot Kinney First Frid...

I had improv class again today from 9-2, and then immediately afterward I went to an actor friend's house so we could record some self-taped auditions. His apartment has a huge deck and a great view so I took a picture that doesn't really do it justice. There's a trend in casting that's becoming more and more popular for casting directors to request actors to record their own auditions and send them in. I know one of the reasons is to save time but that did not happen today. It took us almost four hours! We had to practice, set up lighting, wait for the buzz saw next door to stop whirring... But eventually I think we both got some good audition tapes done. Yippee. After our auditions, I went home and stuffed my face while catching up on e-mails and self-submitting on casting sites, then went right back out to catch a couple shows at UCB. My improv show is coming up on Sunday and I want to be as prepared as possible, so I want to see as many shows as I can! My diet for t...

So busy!! I've been going to improv class during the day and shows at night and fitting all my other acting work and life in between. Cardio has been tough to fit in but at least I'm getting my weight workouts done. Wait... does laughing my ass off at improv class count as cardio? Monday: Weights/strength: Biceps, triceps, deltoids 10 minutes bike 10 minutes dance Tuesday: Weights/strength: hamstrings, quads, obliques 20 minutes dance My butt was sore for a couple days after hiking up Runyon on Saturday. I took some pictures from the top to show you guys - Hey wait, what's that over there? It's the Hollywood sign! Sorry for the bad pictures, I wasn't going to lug a camera up there with me and my Blackberry does not take very lovely photos. I bought a foam roller off of Amazon and it arrived in the mail today. Now I need to figure out how to use it! I also saw a snail climbing up the wall outside of my apartment. My roommate thought it was weird that I took a picture...

Wow, what a busy week! I am loving my improv class but it's been weird having a schedule! I've been doing my weight workout first thing in the morning and fitting in my cardio later in the day after my improv class. This recap will be very brief -- despite a very busy week, I'm happy with keeping up my healthy habits. I'm still fitting in my workouts and I am really enjoying the mini-meals that I announced last week I'd be trying. I think it helps me control portion size if I know that I get to eat again soon! Thursday: Weights/strength: triceps, deltoids, chest Rest day from cardio Friday: 40 minute jog Weights/strength: upper back, hamstrings, obliques stretching Saturday: 60 minute hike at Runyon Canyon Weights/strength: quads, glutes, abs stretching Sunday: 30 minute bike Rest day from weights stretching I've had something to do in the evening every day. On Thursday I went to a Miss California party with one of my roommates, who is interning for a company th...