2012!

Ross and me at Angus Barn!

Christmas in NC was absolutely wonderful! Though I was sick for the majority of my time home, it was wonderful to spend time with family, and just relax. I got to catch up with old friends, some of whom I haven't seen in years, and meet some new friends too! Once I started feeling better, I went to Chapel Hill for a voice lesson with my NC Voice teacher, did some apartment shopping with mom (We are decorating my NY apartment this month!), and ate at several of my favorite restaurants.

Fearsome Foursome from
Sanderson HS

Dad and me at Angus Barn for my belated
birthday celebration.

 After Christmas, Michelle flew back to NYC with me! After some stressful packing (well...really just over-packing), Michelle and I combined our luggage so that none of our bags were over 50 pounds. :) We had a blast in NY, and crammed two weeks of activities into 4 days. We saw "Bonnie & Clyde," "Godspell," and "Anything Goes." (More shows than I had seen in the past 6 months!!) They were all wonderful, and we saw all of them for about $100 total. My good friend William has "hook-ups" with his job and was able to help us out with tickets. We had so much fun!

Michelle & Me in front of the Rockefeller Tree!

HAPPY 2012! I had by far the best New Years I've ever had! My friends and I went to Brasserie, where my good friend Bridget is a bar-tender. We enjoyed balloons, great music, unlimited Moscato D'Asti (my favorite wine), and some dancing on the bar. It was so wonderful to be surrounded by such positive people, and true friends. We enjoyed each other's company immensely, and had a blast ringing in the new year!

Sayrah and me!

ADPi Love!

Shimmying with darling Geoff.

I feel like I have a lot to really look forward in 2012. 2011 was okay, but all of the negative aspects of 2011 already seem to be resolving, which makes me so excited about the new year. I keep thinking of the quote, "When God closes a door, somewhere he opens a window," from Sound of Music. I auditioned for Sound of Music today, so it's been on my mind, and I just realized how applicable that quote is to my life right now. Some of the doors God closed in 2011, have already directed me to new "windows." Already in the last months of 2011 and the first days of 2012, God has blessed me with wonderful families to babysit, in addition to my fun job at Brother Jimmy's. I am growing so attached to the great children that I get to play with.
My favorite quotes of the week:

2-year-old: "I try to be as silly as Miss Emily!"
4-year-old: "I protect the nice girls from the bad guys at school. That's my job."
4-year-old: "I used to want to be a Daddy when I grow up, but now I think I'll be a cheerleader instead."

The friendships that seem to have drifted apart in 2011 are being supplemented by the new friends I've made, and the deepened relationships that have developed with long-time friends. I have so many positive voice and acting coaches in my life, that I'm really excited to continue to work with in the coming year. Overall, I'm just feeling really positive about 2012. Here are a some of my resolutions... what are yours? :)

1. Be prompt/on-time when it matters.
2. Surround myself with positive people.
3. Be more grateful for daily blessings.
4. Keep my apartment neater. (Haven't started that one yet)
5. 2-3 dance classes per week.
6. Practice voice 4 times per week.
7. Only take taxis when it's a safety issue...not a lazy issue.