big gulps, huh?

day 4- a habit that you wish you didn’t have

I don't know what it is.... but I can never say no to fountain Diet Coke. Especially if it has that crushy ice....

I get by with a little help from my friends...

day 3: a picture of you and your friends...

several of my best are missing... perhaps i should photoshop them in?

What's in a name?

day 2: the meaning behind your blog name

I think it's self explanatory. I'm a New Yorker. And I write this... with love :)

I want to live in a beach house forever

Day 1: Post a recent picture of yourself and 15 facts about you...

This is a picture of Robbie Rob and I at the NYMF closing party. Rob is my best best boy and I love him tons. This picture was taken 2 days before I completely changed my hair. I look like someone entirely different now.

1. I love Christmas probably more than anyone you will ever meet. I love trees, lights, ornaments, gift wrapping, hot cocoa, Christmas movies, music, etc. I also love that this is how we celebrate Our Savior's birth. It's like the BEST birthday party around.

2. I am REALLY slow at getting ready in the mornings. I don't know what it is, but I can use up 2 hours like nobody's business.

3. I love to cook. A LOT. I've made some amazing dishes in the past month that have been absolutely delicious.

4. One day, I want to live in a beach house. FOREVER. Not just during summer.

5. I'd like to run a marathon someday. Any clue how to get rid of the worst shin splints in the world?

6. I hate sleeping with socks on.

7. I have very little patience for whining. Let's be honest. It never helps anyone.

8. I have a REAL problem with staying awake in cars. I was once on a date where I may or may not have fallen asleep on the poor guy... Not because he was boring or anything (I was actually really excited to be on said date) but I literally shut down.

9. I wear a cocktail ring 24/7 that I got for Christmas from Mama Marta. The stone is clear and sometimes I wear it on my left hand on purpose... Like the time I was on a flight and I knew the creeper next to me would try to talk to me... Qucik switch-a-roo and behold! I was able to use the "Sorry, I'm married excuse." hahaha. Sad, but true. And useful. But seriously. The thing is huge! How do people even buy it?

10. I hate raisins and anything grape flavored. Get that out of my face...

11. If I could have dinner with ANYONE in the world, it would definitely be Julie Andrews. She's the epitome of class.

12. I make my bed every single day the second I get up. I may be in the minority... but I can't get going with my day unless I do that first.

13. "Watching a movie" at home during the day usually means "taking a nap." Don't text me.

14. I am in desperate need of Gilmore Girls seasons 1-7

15. I'm a BYU Cougar through and through, but let's be honest... I don't know the first thing about football.

30 days

I saw this on K. Andrus' blog and I decided to give it a go. My blog is in some serious need of more posts and lately, I don't seem to have much to blog about. So here I go...

For the next 30 days, I will post the following:

day 1- recent picture of you and 15 interesting facts about yourself

day 2- the meaning behind your blog name

day 3- a picture of you and your friends

day 4- a habit that you wish you didn’t have

day 5- a picture of somewhere you've been to

day 6- favorite super hero and why

day 7- a picture of someone/something that has the biggest impact on you

day 8- short term goals for this month and why

day 9- something you're proud of in the past few days

day 10- songs you listen to when you are happy, sad, bored, hyped, mad

day 11- another picture of you and your friends

day 12- how you found out about blogger and why you have one

day 13- a letter to someone

day 14- a picture of you and your family

day 15- put your ipod on shuffle: first 10 songs that play

day 16- another picture of yourself

day 17- someone you would want to switch lives with for one day and why

day 18- plans/dreams/goals you have

day 19- nicknames you have and why you have them

day 20- someone you love.

day 21- a picture of something that makes you happy

day 22- what makes you different from everyone else

day 23- something you crave for a lot

day 24- your last five facebook status'

day 25- what I would find in your bag

day 26- what do you think about your friends

day 27- why are you doing this 30 day challenge

day 28- a picture of you from last year and now, how have you changed since then?

day 29- in this past month, what have you learned

day 30- you favorite song

jour de dinde = début de noël

 In exactly 8 hours, I will board a bus to Tom's River, NJ. I bet you're jealous. But really, I am quite excited to spend the Thanksgiving holiday and all that it  entails with Rob and his very Italian family... or so I've heard. I hope they make lots of stuffing b/c that's sort of the only Thanksgiving food I really love. Everything else is sort of okay.

 Tis the season to watch Home Alone and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York as often as possible. Tis also the season for awesomely bad movies courtesy of the ABC Family channel and Lifetime network.

5 days is all that stands between me and my Christmas tree. 

My bangs are doing some kind of sticky-up thing and I'm really not into that. Settle down already. 

How will I live without this face for 4 days?

NO DIET COKE. Ever again*. If you see me trying to buy one, please, intervene. 

I really like it when people have great music on their blogs. On the other hand, I really hate it when people have terrible music on their blogs. In my case, I will spare you all from having to listen to "Let the Sunshine In," "Three-Five-Zero,"and "I Turned a Corner" which are currently the top 3 in my itunes "Top 25" list on repeat. Sad, really. I promise I do listen to other songs. Like... good ones. On people's blogs. 

So... when can I go see Harry Potter again?

I need a Christmas reading list. ASAP. I don't mean Christmas-themed books. Just books. The fact that I picked up a Meg Cabot from my bookshelf to read for the 17th time should be an indicator of how badly I need book ideas. Got any? Please be sure that anything that is serious-ish or biographical is out of the question. I love Charles Dickens as much as the next person, but the point of the Christmas list is to read fun books quickly. Not sure any such books can fall under that category.

Is GMail unusually slow for anyone else?

The December issue of Cooking Light is out with an amazing array of holiday-type food. I have assigned myself as chef for the holidays at my house and my family will love every bit of it. Especially my mom. She hates that I make her make me the lemon cream chicken supremes every year. Well, now she wont have to... for Christmas dinner. I better get those sometime between Dec. 26-30.

That is all for now. I suppose I have some exciting news regarding a producing project but I'm sort already on vacation till Monday, so check back then! :)

*let's be honest. i'll probably have Diet Coke for lunch today. Shut up. 

Les Miserables 25th Anniversary Concert

This concert blew my mind. I was not there, as it took place in London, but I attended one of the Fathom event screenings. Absolutely brilliant. This is The Queen, The Barbican, the O2 and the Original 1985 companies. This is the reason I do what I do. One day...

Pay attention at 2:22. Alife Boe is absolutely brilliant. He played Jean Valjean in the concert and I now want to write him into every show I produce from here on. :)

{unspoken heart}

Amen, Gav. AMEN. {the first song only until 3:52} a recording of unspoken heart at the jazz club in england.

Miss K, Rob, me, Jenny, Luca and Carola. Such sweet people.

talented.

Parents....

I have this friend named Gavin. He is one of the most talented people I know. But that is besides the point... Gavin is also very good at writing beautiful things. Click here and check out what he wrote about his mom and dad. I don't know his parents, but based on this, I can see that they are really wonderful, salt-of-the earth type people.

This made me think about all the fantastic people in my life, but more specifically, my mom. My mom is the most amazing woman. I love that she is perfectly ridiculous, has a great sense of humor and has given me the world. I am who I am because of my mom. I am so, so proud of every step she has taken to become who she is. She is a fighter, a hard worker, and a loving mother. She is someone who deserves to be looked up to.

Mom with Little Rodrigo. 

Let's Blaze a Trail

My latest show, TRAILS, was part of the prestigious New York Musical Theater Festival (NYMF 2010). Every year, tons of musicals are submitted but only 30 are chosen...

About: Two friends make good on a childhood promise to hike the Appalachian Trail from beginning to end. Over the six month, 2000 mile journey, past and present intertwine as the two face both the elements and the ghosts that haunt their memories. As they sift through the ashes of their tumultuous history, a bond of brotherhood struggles to be reborn.

Matt Lutz as Seth and Nick Dalton as Mike

Cast: Vanessa Ray (TONY winning revival or HAIR, Damages, As The World Turns), Nick Dalton (Hairspray Las Vegas, Legally Blonde Tour), Matt Lutz (Trails LA, A Walk to Remember, Bringing Down the House), Hollis Scarborough (Hairspray Las Vegas, Across the Universe), Kate Kearney-Patch (Law Abiding Citizen, The Sixth Sense) and David Atkinson (Trails LA, Heroes, Christmas with the Kranks).

Nick as Mike and Hollis as Faith

Writing team: Jeff Thomson (music), Jordan Mann (lyrics) and Christy Hall Lutz (book). 


Crew: Directed by the fabulous Jen Bender (artistic director of Broadway in South Africa). Co-produced by Sami Saltzman, Rob Intile, Ashley Mas and ME. (plus 2 others I'd rather not talk about...)

The lovely Kate Kearney-Patch as Grandma Harley

Favorite song: Stories in the Sky, closely followed by Run, Run, Run and Places in Between

Stories in the Sky- Performed by Matt Lutz (center), Autumn Hurlbert and Zachery Prince. Matt was in our NYMF cast as Seth.

The fabulous Hollis Scarborough at NYMF Open Mic Night at New World Stages. She was still learning the song, so she jumps around a bit but her performance is stellar.

Why I love it: The theme of forgiveness is present throughout the whole show... forgiveness and healing. Learning to let go. Love. Friendship. Honesty.

Vanessa and Matt 

Most unforgettable moment: The Saturday before our show opened at NYMF, we ran the entire show (without sets or costumes) and when Nick, Matt and Vanessa sang Stories in The Sky, it got me.... like A LOT. I got the lyrics, I got the meaning and since they were standing right in front of me, I could see how the beautiful lyrics affected them. The feeling in that room was electric. Even though we were in a tiny studio, I felt as though their words shot right out of the room and echoed far.

All good things must come in 3...

Greatest challenge: Thinking of ways to market the show... I got really good ones! I made our boys attend a Gay Men's Networking Event to promote our show there. Apparently, they had no clue it was a gay men's social. I sent them an email... Perhaps they should have read it :) Our lovely Hollis sang at the NYMF Open Mic Night (see video above). The fabulous Vanessa Ray sang Miles of Time on Sirius XM Radio on Seth Rudetsky's radio show...

David Atkinson is probably one of the nicest people I've ever met...

V Ray was a rockstar and learned this song in ONE day to have it ready for the Seth Rudetsky broadcast

Cast (minus Vanessa Ray) of Trails

Nick

Vanessa, Matt and Nick

AWARDS

Best of Fest Audience Choice: Runner-up

Excellence in Writing (Music): Jeff Thomson, winner

Excellence in Writing (lyrics): Jordan Mann, runner-up

The Stage Entertainment USA Development Award 

Small things count for more at journey's end...

Go West! (Reference to Priscilla Queen of the Desert intended)

It's not secret that I've turned into a producing maniac. In just six months, Now Soon Later Productions (our production company) has produced three full length original works and two concerts. It may not sound like much, but trust me, it was a lot of work. A lot of after hours... A lot of weekend hours...  A lot of sleeping hours. A lot of dealing with impossible and dishonest people... I loved it (minus the Shady McShadersons), but it got exhausting. I decided to do a little 4 day getaway to Utah to see my friends that I have missed so so much and so have some much needed (and earned) time off.

First things first: A stop at Cafe Rio. I had Ky and Ness meet me there. Amazing reunion. Erin was there as well. She picked me up from the airport and we had so much fun... Then we headed over to Karson and Betsy's house for some Dancing With the Stars watching.

One of my favorite things is to walk around BYU Campus. Is it not beautiful? I love that this is where I went to school. The fall colors are out.

More fall colors on my walk of campus...

Thursday included: A visit to the BYU Bookstore to visit old co-workers, a visit to Kylie and Vanessa's Folk Dance Team, an afternoon of babysitting Sweet Little Izzy and Red Robin with my people: Ky, Ness, Karson, Betsy, Izzy and Dave.

How cute is this?

At Corn Belly's Corn Maze in Thanksgiving Point... Perfect Friday afternoon...

On the hayride that was about to be the most fun moment of our entire Corn Belly's experience...

The bouncy hayride. This is about 2 seconds before Betsy's mom, Elizabeth, got bounced off her seat and onto the hay.

Little Iz the pumpkin

What more could I ask for than for an amazing afternoon with all my best friends? The only other thing that would have made it better would be if both Vanessa (who refused to miss class... selfish) and Rob (highly unlikely) were also there. 

Just because...

No trip out of the city can be complete without a visit to a chain restaurant. For old time's sake, I chose the Macaroni Grill, where I used to celebrate my birthday each year. Betsy had a Girl's weekend with her family and couldn't come to dinner with us. 

With my best girls. This statement includes Erin though she is not in the picture :)

 Because I secretly love the BYU Cougars no matter how bad the team is. I enjoyed going to the game. We had fantastic seats right near the end zone. The game was so close, it literally came to the last second. Oh rise and shout the cougars are out...

 A drive up Provo Canyon on a rainy Sunday afternoon: perfection

  Bridal Veil Falls