Where were you?

The media has been having a heyday with the one year anniversary of Michael Jackson's death.  As a prominent figure in pop culture, I'm sure it will still be an event for years to come.


There have been a few major events in my life that I know where I was when I found out.  I remember sitting in my parents bedroom when they explained to me about Princess Diana's death.  I will always remember twelfth grade government class, when we turned on the TVs to see the twin towers burning on 9-11.  


Michael Jackson's death didn't mean that much to me.  I was never a huge fan of his music, and I was definitely not a fan of the man I read about.  I'm sure the media twists things, but I still never felt a connection.  Either way, I will always remember where I was the day I found out he died.


I was on a movie set in Washington, DC, as an extra in a Reese Witherspoon/Owen Wilson/Paul Rudd movie.

I blogged about it a bit last year.  How my friend contacted me, thinking I'd be a great stand in for Reese.


How I was actually just the smallest of smidges too tall, thinking I missed out on the opportunity of a lifetime.


And then, my friend still thought of me, to include me in a message about being an extra.


I got a role!  I was going to be a college student!


I planned to write out my experience, and apparently never did.  Luckily, my girlfriend Christina did, and you can read it here.  The only things I would add - she didn't exaggerate.  Reese is stunning in real life, a thousand times prettier than any picture I've ever seen taken of her.  She's also this itsy bitsy tiny little thing.  She's also SUPER nice.  Owen Wilson, on the other hand, creeped me out.  I found his attention to Christina and I super flattering, but come on.  We're extras in a film, we told him we were married, and he still kept patting her butt/rubbing my back.  He also looks about 60 years old in real life.  He did NOT age well.


This is a picture of Reese in the same outfit she wore for the scene we shot with her:

You better believe I spent all summer trying to recreate that look.  She looked amazing in this.


Christina left, and I stayed a few more hours shooting scenes in my car.  So all in all, I should "be" in about three scenes in the movie.  


The movie is called "Everything You've Got" and it comes out December 17th this year.  You  better believe I will be rehashing this and making you all go see it, to see me ;)


Sooo, to bring this all full circle...we all found out about Michael Jackson via text that night.  Everytime I think of his death though, I will always remember the opportunity of a lifetime - meeting two crazy famous actors, getting a chance to be in a film, and one hell of a story to tell the kids :)  I think I need to type up things I remember that Christina didn't mention sometime soon...

Marshmallow Pops

I was invited to a barbeque on Sunday, and I really hate going to parties empty handed.  I had limited time, so decided to make yummy marshmallow pops.

My cake pops turned out so cute...

That I thought that marshmallow pops for sure would be a big hit with the kids.  Mmm, I forgot to ask the kids, but they were a big hit with me!

The base of the 13x9" dish is lined with styrafoam wrapped in saran wrap, and all topped with M&Ms.  I then took lollipop sticks from Michaels, and placed a large marshmallow on top.

I then dipped the top of the marshmallow in melted chocolate, and sprinkled generously with nonpareils.

I can't get enough of these bright, happy colors.  I could have eaten the whole batch of these.  I'm certain there is nothing better in life than marshmallows, chocolate and sprinkles.

Bliss.

What have you made recently?!

Princess Holly

The second day at the beach, Tyler called to tell me that Holly wasn't eating.  I immediately started to worry, but Tyler said he would just keep an eye on her.  

picture by Christina

I wrote this post last July, and that was the start of the most difficult year of Tyler and I's lives.  Holly was our first dog, and she is absolutely the center of our world.  We take "furkids" to a whole 'nother level.  Our conversations are about our dogs, our free time is with our dogs, and they are our family.  Ever since Holly got sick, we constantly worry about her...her eating habits, her weight, her bowels...she has us constantly on guard.  

picture by Christina

Tyler called back while I was out that night to say that Holly was vomiting blood and he was rushing her to the hospital.  I fell apart.  Not only was I hours away, but since we'd all been drinking, we had no way to drive home.  My baby was sick, and I wasn't there with her.  And I couldn't even support Tyler.  My friend Jessie took me back to the hotel, and I sat out on the balcony and cried and drunk texted every single person I knew how much I loved them, and I needed them to pray for Holly.  

picture by Christina

Thank god for the best best friend ever...Malia agreed to cut our trip short and head home early so I could be with my baby.  I was a mess Sunday morning, and was so distracted - I couldn't think of anything else but getting home.  She's so much more than a dog to me...she is the cornerstone of my and Tyler's family.  She is an absolute princess, and I would do anything for her.  

picture by Christina

Malia took me straight to the hospital, and unfortunately, the staff knew exactly who I was.  They allowed me to go straight back and get a private room to spend some cuddle time with my Hollybear.  Hello, sunburn.

via Malia's iPhone

As horribly upsetting as it was at the time, she got released four days later.  We still don't have a diagnosis for why she randomly vomits blood clots and is in so much pain.  Last July they were able to fix it with surgery, but we're not sure that will always be the answer.  We currently are trying a combination of various drugs and soft hypoallergenic food.  Its been three weeks, and hopefully this keeps everything at bay.  I need this little girl to live a very, very long life.

picture by Christina

End of May

What's been going on?


First, I had some of my favorite internet friends over after running the 5K.  8 people, 7 dogs, and a whole lotta beer.  It was a perfect day.  

picture by Christina

Tyler and I fell in love with a bulldog named Matty..

Unfortunately, she belongs to Christina, and she isn't giving her up.


Then, I went to Virginia Beach with my best friend Malia for a much needed vacation.  We made pretty good time down there, and immediately decided to open some wine.  Unfortunately, we didn't have a wine opener, so I had to use my pocket knife.

Which really did a number on the cork.  Somehow, there was minimal "stuff" floating in the wine.  Score one for us :)

It tasted delicious.

You definitely don't wear the same thing in VA Beach for a night out drinking that you would in DC.  In DC, I'd be in a cocktail dress with stilettos and a clutch.  I didn't really have anything casual enough to wear out, so Malia lent me this top, and the wedges were hers as well.

She teases me about my blog, but I know she reads it, so I made her do an OOTD pose with me :)

The night started VERY interesting, but ended perfectly.  Malia and I found a less popular bar, and had a blast starting our own private dance party.  We then walked back to our hotel along the beach, and made some fun friends on the way.  I always have the very best time with her :)


We took about a million pictures that looked just like this...

The next day, we immediately went to the beach, where I got sand in my camera and broke it.  So here ends the pictures.  And, I got a phone call that made my whole weekend fall apart...but more on that in my next post...