Friday, November 25, 2011

Thanksgiving Week





rehearsing
This past week has been tiring but fantastic! I’ve rehearsed every day but Thursday for “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.” So far, I really like the cast and creative team. We are ready to perform this show! We have a few days off this coming week while our director puts up another show, and then we head out next weekend.  I don’t have too many updates from this past week, because rehearsal is mainly all I’ve done, other than catch up with a few friends before and after my 8-hour rehearsal days. I think the coolest thing about this week is every evening when it starts to get dark, I subconsciously think, “Well it’s about time to head to work at the restaurant,” and then I remember that I don’t have to! I’m getting paid to do what I love and I’m so grateful for that.

my sweet Annie
Thanksgiving was fun because I had the day off, and spent it with my family. I waited until the last minute, and went to the store at around noon on Thanksgiving day to get what I needed for the dishes I was cooking. I also realized around noon that since Ross was finally 21, this Thanksgiving needed to include wine. Let me tell you, there is an interesting demographic at the Harris Teeter on Thanksgiving Day.  I did meet one really cute New Yorky looking guy who was running an errand for his mom. That was fun. I gathered my items (it took an hour because grocery stores down here in the south are HUGE), and then went to check out. I didn’t have my ID, and they wouldn’t let me buy the wine. They said I looked honest, but not 21, but eventually I talked them into letting me buy it.

I went home and made my Italian Sausage, Chestnut Foccaccia stuffing!  It was delicious. My Crack Pie (from Momofuku’s recipe) didn’t turn out as planned because I didn’t have time to make the Oatmeal cookie crust. I still thought it was delicious with the graham cracker crust, but Ross kindly informed my family that it looked like his biology experiment.  Thanks, brother.   Overall it was a lovely holiday! After our meal, I went on a nice long walk with Jennifer and caught up,  and then went to a movie with Mom. Kenan and Nick came over that evening…always so much fun to chat with them!

Cheers for Thanksgiving 
This coming week, I’m looking forward to five days off! I have some voice lessons in Chapel Hill scheduled, as well as catching up with friends there. I am so excited to see some of my favorite professors and spend time on campus! Otherwise, I’m trying to balance being productive with enjoying being home in the sweet, slow pace of North Carolina.

Friday, November 18, 2011

2 Beautiful Fall weeks in the city.


My last two weeks in the city were somewhat uneventful, but still good! Fall in the city is beautiful!

Sarah, Megan and me at Lupa
My dear friend, Megan, visited and we had a great weekend! We shopped a lot, ate at my favorite restaurants (Made Fresh Daily, Lupa, Dos Caminos, Sarabeth’s), and hung out with friends. Having a visitor is so fun because it’s basically the only time I “splurge” and go to nicer restaurants/do fun things that aren’t work or audition related. I was also really glad that she got to meet some of my good friends in New York!

Megan and me in Central Park


After Megan left, I got sick, unfortunately, and was pretty much sick my whole last week in the city. I cancelled the audition appointments I had, and didn’t go to any open calls, so that was disappointing. I didn’t have a voice to speak or sing with, which is so frustrating when that’s your “product.”

Towards the end of the week I started feeling better, thankfully, and I babysat for a new family that I absolutely love. The sweet 2-year-old girl and 4-year-old boy are so polite and loving. They’re quite precocious too, which is always fun for a babysitter. I showed the 2-year-old a picture of my Halloween costume as a ladybug, and she particularly enjoyed that, and then referred to me as “Ladybug Emily” for a little while. One time I yawned and she said, “Miss Emily, is it time for your nap?” The four-year-old introduced me by name to all of his teachers at preschool. To top it all off the mom is a gem! Not surprisingly, she’s a good friend of another one of my favorite families.

dessert platter!
manicures!
My last 24-hours in the city were awesome, and such a good reminder of the wonderful community I have there. Bridget and I had a girls day and got manis! My former neighbors were in the city visiting, and I got to spend some quality time with them! My roommate, Sarah, surprised me with Riesling and a sweet card. Some close friends and I went out to dinner at my favorite Mexican restaurant, Dos Caminos. The restaurant was late seating us, and gave us free champagne! Our waiter was a client of one of my friend’s, and so we got a delicious complimentary dessert platter! After dinner, drinks and lots of storytelling, we went to a housewarming party at another friend’s apartment! The next day, my dear friends William and Geoffrey took me to Olive Garden for a going away lunch. The three of us, especially me, LOVE Olive Garden, and particularly enjoy the unlimited soup, salad and breadsticks for $9.95 deal, so we deal with the Times Square tourists to partake in the yummy chain Italian food.
friends at Dos Caminos
*side note, I look so fat in this picture...terrible angle. But I
love the people in it, so I had to post it.
William, Geoff and me at O.G.
Leslie, me, Sarah right before I left



Katie Jane and me at JFK








When I got back to my apartment to leave for the airport, my sweet friend Leslie was waiting to see me off.  It was sad to leave Sarah, and all of my great friends. I had one last surprise visit from Katie Jane at the airport though! She locked herself out of her apartment, and I had her spare keys, so she hopped a cab and came to JFK! It was a $50 visit, but great to see her nonetheless :)

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Weddings Galore

The past two weekends I've been attending weddings! I really like weddings, especially the ceremony. I find it fascinating to observe how different religions (even just different Protestant denominations) marry people. I also think it's such a special time of worship for the friends and families of two people, who have decided to spend their lives together. I love to take note of the aspects I want to include in my wedding one day! Both weddings these past two weekends were absolutely beautiful.

The last weekend in October, I sang the Benediction for my childhood friend Celeste's wedding. I was a bit anxious about singing, (singing at someone's important day is lots of pressure, because it needs to be perfect!) but it went really well, and the whole weekend was lots of fun! The reception at the Angus Barn was a blast!
Ross and me at White Memorial Presbyterian Church

Celeste's wedding was the first wedding that my whole family attended together since I can remember. It was really fun dancing with my dad, and spending time with all four of us together! It was also fun hanging out with Dr. Rhodes, one of my favorite professors from UNC, and her daughter, who I sang the benediction with!


Mom, me, Susanna, and Dr. Rhodes
First Dance - Celeste and Chris
My parents and me
























Homecoming in Chapel Hill being the same weekend was an added bonus! I got to see friends over there Saturday night. Top-o is always a good time! I also really enjoyed going to CH for a faculty concert on Sunday--seeing my professors sing is such a treat. They are so talented!


This past weekend I went to Auburn, AL to see my New York friends Julie and Stan get married! I started off the weekend in the best way possible, by spending the night in Atlanta with Anna, Ashley and Ellen. I LOVE Atlanta, and I love those girls. We had the best time! We ate Chic-fil-a, saw Mamma Mia downtown at the Fox, and stayed up in their kitchen talking like old times at Little House.

best friends and me at Mamma Mia!
Missing you, Carly and Maddie!


Julie & Stan
I spent Friday and Saturday in Auburn! The kindest family hosted me, and I was literally wined and dined the whole weekend by so many generous families who wanted to participate in Stan and Julie's special weekend. From the Bridesmaid Luncheon to the Rehearsal dinner, I met so many wonderful, Southern people. Julie and Stan are such a sweet couple, and they are so in love! Their ceremony at Auburn United Methodist Church was so special, and the reception was amazing! It was really cool to go into a weekend knowing very few people, and leave feeling like I had a whole community of friends in Alabama!

Ali G and me at the reception

Laura, Ali and me after the Wedding Day Brunch



Sunday was another great day in Atlanta! I FINALLY ate at The Varsity, and yes, I did get a Frozen Orange! Spending time with my girls and their roommates was such a treat!
Ellen, Ash and Me @ The Varsity!