2015 Book Review

Another year down, another 40 books read.

Anolik, Lili - Dark Rooms

Beaton, M.C. - Death of a Celebrity*

Beaton, M.C. - Death of a Hussy*

Beaton, M.C. - Death of a Kingfisher* 

Beaton, M.C. - Death of an Outsider*

Beaton, M.C. - Death of a Scriptwriter*

Beaton, M.C. - Death of a Witch* 

Christie, Agatha - Death in the Clouds*

Christie, Agatha - Elephants Can Remember*
Christie, Agatha - Hallowe’en Party*
Christie, Agatha - Taken at the Flood*
Christie, Agatha - The A.B.C. Murders*

Gabaldon, Diana - Drums of Autumn* 

Gabaldon, Diana - The Fiery Cross* 

Gaiman, Neil - The Graveyard Book*

Galbraith, Robert - The Cuckoo’s Calling* 

Galbraith, Robert - The Silkworm

Grahame-Smith, Seth - Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter* 

Harkness, Deborah - A Discovery of Witches
Harkness, Deborah - Shadow of Night
Harkness, Deborah - The Book of Night
Hawkins, Paula - The Girl on the Train
Hornby, Nick - Funny Girl* 

James, Henry - The Turn of the Screw* 

James, P.D. - Death Comes to Pemberley* 

Jones, Owen - Chavs 

Kondo, Marie - The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up 

Moran, Caitlin - How to Build a Girl

Poehler, Amy - Yes Please*

Pressfield, Steven - The War of Art 

Ronson, Jon - So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed 

Ronson, Jon - The Psychopath Test* 

Rowling, JK - The Casual Vacancy*

Rosenberg, Liz - The Moonlight Palace

Russell, Alan - Guardians of the Night

Sandberg, Sheryl - Lean In 

Sharpless, Andy - The Perfect Protein 

Slaughter, Anne-Marie - Unfinished Business: Women Men Work Family

Strayed, Cheryl - Tiny Beautiful Things

Strayed, Cheryl - Wild 

*Audio Book

Total: 40

GoodReads Challenge

Monty the Mustang -- is mine!

Today's a big day for me -- after years of paying monthly, the Mustang is mine!

Proof!

Here's the only picture of me with my car:

And my German friend Philip, too.

Finally paying off my car is also on my 30 by 30 list (owning a car is kind of a big deal, you know!), so I'm thinking I'm off to a good start!

Something to remember...

"In order for us to go forward, we must live in the now. We must take the day that we have been given and make of it what we can. We cannot change the past. We can only regret it, and such dwelling leaches optimism from the day at hand. It is one more way to be blocked and a sadly effective one -- if only... If only things were different, but they're not!"

- Julia Cameron, The Artist's Way Every Day

How important to remember this -- it's so easy to get caught up in the life you wanted years ago and forget to enjoy the life you're living now!

28

Today is my 28th birthday! I feel like it's a BIG DEAL year so I'm really happy that it's starting off in the best possible way. My friend took me to a bakery for delicious cupcakes last night, I've received 3 bouquets of flowers here at work today (making working on my birthday not so bad at all, actually) - and even some chocolate-covered strawberries.

Feeling loved with some Big Sugar Bakeshop cupcakes

I think it's normal to use your birthday to reflect on the past year (and the whole of your life, really - Wendi Hansen wrote THIS spot-on article just today about her life lessons learned by 28), and to put down in words your hopes for the future. But, really, I don't even know where to begin! What do I hope the last years of my 20s will bring? I'd like to keep learning new things, to love deeply, and to see more of the world. I'd like to really feel like I'm making a difference in my community, that my career is growing in the right direction, and I'd like to say yes to every opportunity that comes my way. I want to live without regrets, and I'd like to learn how to make Eggs Benedict. 

My life has been such an adventure -- I couldn't have predicted my life would turn out this way. If you'd told me 10 years ago (or even 3 years ago!) that I'd be living in Los Angeles working in TV, I'd have called you a beautiful dreamer. And yet, here I am. (So thank you, beautiful dreamer!) 

Still, I've got to say, 28 is shaping up to be the greatest year ever. I've got 3 big trips around the US and Europe coming up before the leaves even change. I'm going to be able to see friends and family that I haven't seen in years -- and even be able to watch a very good friend get married to the man of her dreams in August. I'm going to keep taking my tap classes, and I'm going to take a few more acting workshops. Maybe I'll relearn how to sew or to make sourdough bread. I'd like to get back into writing and I'd like to try everything the world has to offer.

The sky's the limit -- and life is really good. Here's to high hopes for a good year!

Sylvester's 2nd Adoption Day

Happy Adoption Day, Sly! He got a new catnip toy to celebrate (Sylvester loves the nip).

THEN: "Sylvester for Sale" 2013

2 years ago today, I made one of the smartest decisions of my life -- I brought Sylvester home from the East Valley Animal Shelter.

NOW: Sylvester 2015

He'd been up for adoption for a very long time before I picked him up (they even gave him to me for a steep discount) because he was already all grown up. I guess everyone wants a kitten instead of an old man cat (fools!) -- but, Sylvester is the sweetest animal in the world and he's only grown more and more loving over the 2 years I've had him. If you're looking for a pet, go to your local shelter before thinking about buying from a breeder. And don't be afraid if they seem a bit freaked out when you bring them home (Sylvester hid behind the toilet for 3 days when I first got him) because soon enough they'll turn into your constant companion and TV watching partner. He's a very good boy.

NEWSIES at The Pantages: Review

I went to "Newsies" last night and am still radiating happiness from the experience. The dancing was incredible. I went with my tap class (more on that another time) and we all left feeling inspired and totally jazzed -- there was definitely a bit of flapping and shuffle-hops on the way to the car. I'd loved the movie as a kid but had forgotten all of its plot (like the whole strike business AKA the entire point), but sitting in my seat inside the gorgeous Pantages Theatre in Hollywood, I got to experience the warmth that comes with things half-remembered tugging at your heart.



It was also cool that the show I saw was packed with a much younger audience than is usual for theater (and there were even a handful of fans dressed up as newsies -- it was adorable). The whole night was nostalgia-filled and maybe that's what's influencing my extremely positive experience of it all, but the show is only playing for another week so go and see it.



And then ask me about my adult beginners tap class so that we can take the next session together.

Robbie the Space Raccoon: Homesick- Shows for Kids

My friend from work created "Robbie the Space Raccoon" - a YouTube children's show. Talk about the future: children's programming on YouTube -- AND this episode also introduces a gay cowboy character -- the first openly gay main character in children's TV history.