I'm so glad that Miley Cyrus is coming out of her weird stage. I love her new song, Malibu! It's fresh, fun, sappy, sweet, and unique. Here's hoping this new Miley is here to stay!
I think this will be my summer song! <3 Enjoy!
Tuesday, May 30, 2017
Monday, May 22, 2017
Recipe #36: Flavored Pretzels
This spring we had student worker appreciation week. Each day someone brought in treats. Most of the treats were sweet. So, I asked the students what they'd like me to make and they agreed on Flavored Pretzels. I reached out to another student that I heard made great spicy pretzels and she shared this recipe: 
I initially wasn't sure they were good, but the next day they were even better and the student workers loved them!
I initially wasn't sure they were good, but the next day they were even better and the student workers loved them!
Monday, May 15, 2017
The Orphan Keeper By Camron Wright
Over Christmas break I read the book, the Rent Collector by Camron Wright. I loved it and it was a quick read. Since then, I've been longing to read his other book, the Orphan Keeper. I was hoping it would be similarly addicting. While it is a good book, it isn't as interesting or irresistible as the Rent Collector and it's about 100 pages longer. It though is based on a true story
Like the Rent Collector, it is set in a poor environment in a foreign country. The premise of the book is based on a true story. A young Indian boy from a poor family with an alcoholic, abusive father is kidnapped and taken to an orphanage. Despite all he does to tell them that he has a family, he is told that his family gave him away. There he cares for the younger children and tries to find a way out. He escapes one night through a sewer pipe, but soon returns once he's found a herb/root of something that may help an ailing girl named, Anu that he's taken an interest in.
Next thing you know, he's sent to America to live with the Rowland Family. From there, the book essentially skips ahead 10 years. Skipping that much time felt a little too long. The book picks up around his senior year of high school. Despite being in America over a decade, he still feels like he doesn't quite fit in. He is popular, yet struggles. He's since forgotten his Indian name and everything about his childhood in India.
After high school, he decides to study abroad in London. There, he lives with an Indian family. This is uncomfortable for him. Through those experiences, it brings up distant memories about his past. This experience makes him want to know more about his real family, but there's only so much you can learn from so far away. So, he tucked it into the back of his mind.
So, he goes back to the States, meets and marries an Indian girl, and graduates. They go to India for her brother's wedding and silently hatches a plan to drive around and try to find where he's from and his family. He doesn't remember much and doesn't speak the language. Also, the orphanage has since closed, but along the way he meets people who help him put together the pieces.
Finally, he finds the town he grew up in and his family. The joy and relief is unreal as he reconnects and tries to make up for lost time.
Several years later, both his set of parents meet and it's touching.
This was truly a great read though long in places.
Like the Rent Collector, it is set in a poor environment in a foreign country. The premise of the book is based on a true story. A young Indian boy from a poor family with an alcoholic, abusive father is kidnapped and taken to an orphanage. Despite all he does to tell them that he has a family, he is told that his family gave him away. There he cares for the younger children and tries to find a way out. He escapes one night through a sewer pipe, but soon returns once he's found a herb/root of something that may help an ailing girl named, Anu that he's taken an interest in.
Next thing you know, he's sent to America to live with the Rowland Family. From there, the book essentially skips ahead 10 years. Skipping that much time felt a little too long. The book picks up around his senior year of high school. Despite being in America over a decade, he still feels like he doesn't quite fit in. He is popular, yet struggles. He's since forgotten his Indian name and everything about his childhood in India.
After high school, he decides to study abroad in London. There, he lives with an Indian family. This is uncomfortable for him. Through those experiences, it brings up distant memories about his past. This experience makes him want to know more about his real family, but there's only so much you can learn from so far away. So, he tucked it into the back of his mind.
So, he goes back to the States, meets and marries an Indian girl, and graduates. They go to India for her brother's wedding and silently hatches a plan to drive around and try to find where he's from and his family. He doesn't remember much and doesn't speak the language. Also, the orphanage has since closed, but along the way he meets people who help him put together the pieces.
Finally, he finds the town he grew up in and his family. The joy and relief is unreal as he reconnects and tries to make up for lost time.
Several years later, both his set of parents meet and it's touching.
This was truly a great read though long in places.
Tuesday, May 9, 2017
Tuesday, May 2, 2017
Film in Manhattan, KS Needs Background Actors and Production Assistants 5/5-7
So, this is a film that I've been helping with. It's called Ella. I've worked with the Director Dan Chen and Producer Eric B. Cook. I'll be there Friday. Join the fun! Looking forward to a unique experience! I'll share more on how I got involved with the project and how it all goes this weekend.
SEEKING PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS for a new film shooting in Manhattan, Kansas.
The film is a coming of age story about an unlikely bond between two Asian American
teenagers, a high school recluse and a college dropout in small town America.
MUST BE 18+
DATES:
Friday, 5/5-Sunday, 5/7
***(AVAILIBILITY ALL DAYS PERFERED)
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Assist Production Staff with general tasks on set. If you have a car that is a plus.
No pay, but meals and IMDB credit will be provided. This is a great opportunity
for anyone interested in working in the film industry.
Please email: ellashortfilmcasting@gmail.com
Include: Name, Age, Phone Number, Email, Dates Available/conflicts
The film is a coming of age story about an unlikely bond between two Asian American
teenagers, a high school recluse and a college dropout in small town America.
MUST BE 18+
DATES:
Friday, 5/5-Sunday, 5/7
***(AVAILIBILITY ALL DAYS PERFERED)
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Assist Production Staff with general tasks on set. If you have a car that is a plus.
No pay, but meals and IMDB credit will be provided. This is a great opportunity
for anyone interested in working in the film industry.
Please email: ellashortfilmcasting@gmail.com
Include: Name, Age, Phone Number, Email, Dates Available/conflicts
Luke Young, Hurricane
In February, I attended a Brantley Gilbert concert and was introduced to Luke Combs' music. I love his song, Hurricane and it often gets stuck in my head. Enjoy!
Tuesday, April 25, 2017
My Story: Getting Over My Fear of Public Speaking
Public speaking, like for most of the world is my greatest fear. I'd get nervous before choir performances. I'd even have an upset stomach the night before.
In college, I took public speaking first semester freshman year to try to get it out of the way since I dreaded it so much. I wasn't comfortable talking in front of people. In addition to getting nervous, my hands would shake and sometimes my voice. My mind and heart would race too. I generally felt like I could be sick at any moment. I was jealous of people who could talk about any subject while being carefree and engaging. Despite all the presentations I made during college, I never got comfortable with it. I always prepared, but never felt like it showed that much.
In my first job out of college, I was no better. Every time I had to speak, I was awful. Once I had to give a briefing to top military officials, my boss, and a group of 75. Despite all the practicing I'd done and the fact that I knew my topic, my voice betrayed me and made it sound like I was on the verge of crying.
When I got my current job, I ended up speaking to 17 classes, of up to 400 students at a time, in the span of two weeks. It was hard, but I didn't back away from it. From then, I vowed that any time someone asked me to speak I would do it. How else was I to get better? That doesn't mean it was easy.
Once, I hadn't left my office early enough, so I was rushing to a building up a slight hill. Once at the building, I climbed three flights of stairs. I took a deep breath, went it, was introduced and started speaking. Soon, I realized that I wasn't getting oxygen fast enough and needed to catch my breath, meanwhile I'm speaking to a class of 45 students. I wasn't sure what to do. I tried to take short breaks to suck in some air, but it wasn't enough. I was panicking. I thought about running out of the room. Finally, I made a slight joke about how I was short of breath from running up the stairs. Thankfully, the instructor started talked and let me catch my breath. Later, we laughed about it, but at the time it was mortifying.
Last fall, my job changed even more. My coworkers and I started teaching professional development topics to College of Business students. So, each week, I taught two different sessions to up to 80 students. For someone with a fear of public speaking, this was intimidating. Starting out, I always had my note sheet by my side, but now I can remember everything I want to say. This experience and presenting in my Masters classes has made me a much better, more relaxed speaker. I work to find ways to engage my audience and show them why the subject is important. I use student feedback to constantly improve on my presenting ability.
I still have a lot of room to improve, like being able to speak off the cuff on other subjects than my area of expertise. The point is that I'm improving. While, I will never be paid to go around the world and speak for a living, that doesn't mean I shouldn't work to get better at it.
In college, I took public speaking first semester freshman year to try to get it out of the way since I dreaded it so much. I wasn't comfortable talking in front of people. In addition to getting nervous, my hands would shake and sometimes my voice. My mind and heart would race too. I generally felt like I could be sick at any moment. I was jealous of people who could talk about any subject while being carefree and engaging. Despite all the presentations I made during college, I never got comfortable with it. I always prepared, but never felt like it showed that much.
In my first job out of college, I was no better. Every time I had to speak, I was awful. Once I had to give a briefing to top military officials, my boss, and a group of 75. Despite all the practicing I'd done and the fact that I knew my topic, my voice betrayed me and made it sound like I was on the verge of crying.
When I got my current job, I ended up speaking to 17 classes, of up to 400 students at a time, in the span of two weeks. It was hard, but I didn't back away from it. From then, I vowed that any time someone asked me to speak I would do it. How else was I to get better? That doesn't mean it was easy.
Once, I hadn't left my office early enough, so I was rushing to a building up a slight hill. Once at the building, I climbed three flights of stairs. I took a deep breath, went it, was introduced and started speaking. Soon, I realized that I wasn't getting oxygen fast enough and needed to catch my breath, meanwhile I'm speaking to a class of 45 students. I wasn't sure what to do. I tried to take short breaks to suck in some air, but it wasn't enough. I was panicking. I thought about running out of the room. Finally, I made a slight joke about how I was short of breath from running up the stairs. Thankfully, the instructor started talked and let me catch my breath. Later, we laughed about it, but at the time it was mortifying.
Last fall, my job changed even more. My coworkers and I started teaching professional development topics to College of Business students. So, each week, I taught two different sessions to up to 80 students. For someone with a fear of public speaking, this was intimidating. Starting out, I always had my note sheet by my side, but now I can remember everything I want to say. This experience and presenting in my Masters classes has made me a much better, more relaxed speaker. I work to find ways to engage my audience and show them why the subject is important. I use student feedback to constantly improve on my presenting ability.
I still have a lot of room to improve, like being able to speak off the cuff on other subjects than my area of expertise. The point is that I'm improving. While, I will never be paid to go around the world and speak for a living, that doesn't mean I shouldn't work to get better at it.
Thursday, April 20, 2017
Unique Bachelorette Party Ideas
I think, the key to a good bachelorette party is that it's personalized to the bride.
One of my very best friends is getting married next month. She's not a drinker, dancer, or into the club scene, so the typical bachelorette party wasn't for her. She loves fitness and giving back, so for her party we're going to run a charity 5k and then for donuts to a fun, little shop, called Varsity Donuts.
Another fun bachelorette party that I went to once was at a spa. We chose from their services. I liked that it was different and relaxing.
Other ideas...
Karaoke
Bowling
A Hike
Board Game Night
Wine Tasting
Wine & Painting
Pretty much, the sky is the limit. So, get creative. It's all about making the bride feel special and spending some quality time celebrating the next big step in her life.
One of my very best friends is getting married next month. She's not a drinker, dancer, or into the club scene, so the typical bachelorette party wasn't for her. She loves fitness and giving back, so for her party we're going to run a charity 5k and then for donuts to a fun, little shop, called Varsity Donuts.
Another fun bachelorette party that I went to once was at a spa. We chose from their services. I liked that it was different and relaxing.
Other ideas...
Karaoke
Bowling
A Hike
Board Game Night
Wine Tasting
Wine & Painting
Pretty much, the sky is the limit. So, get creative. It's all about making the bride feel special and spending some quality time celebrating the next big step in her life.
Thursday, April 13, 2017
Turning 33, My Wishes for the Year
I turned 33 last Sunday.
My wishes for the year
-love
-a real vacation (the pipe dream is Europe)
-pay my car off
-a house with a back yard and garage
-a golden retriever puppy named, Scout
-laughter 
-adventures 
-a closer relationship with God 
My wishes for the year
-love
-a real vacation (the pipe dream is Europe)
-pay my car off
-a house with a back yard and garage
-a golden retriever puppy named, Scout
Friday, April 7, 2017
My Style Icons, Jane the Virgin and Gina Rodriguez
I admit, I am addicted to the show, Jane the Virgin. 
In addition to loving the show, I love the wardrobe for the lead character, Jane. The show is set in Miami, so she wears a lot of vivid colors, which I also like to do. She also wears tons of super fresh, fun dresses.
Here's a sample of some of her fun outfits
The actress who plays Jane is Gina Rodriguez and I like her clean style.
I also love Jane/Gina's hair and am trying to do mine similarly. It's so fun and flirty!
Here's a sample of some of her fun outfits
The actress who plays Jane is Gina Rodriguez and I like her clean style.
I also love Jane/Gina's hair and am trying to do mine similarly. It's so fun and flirty!
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