Slowly Back to Normal

I don't really make New Year's resolutions because it just seems like too much pressure. I do, however, make goals for myself. Some to tackle immediately and some that take time. 

Some things on my list:  Wedding, School, Book a Gig, Find a Job, Read a Book that isn't required reading, Write More, Win the Lottery. 

Ya know, I have heard that if you put your goals in writing that you are more likely to finish them. Well... here's to that! I have 5 minutes to go and read something stupid like TMZ! 

How about you? Any resolutions? 

A Year In Review!

The last post of 2010!! 

Can you believe it?

Well, 2010 has been quite a year for me! Here are a few things that made it special!!

My year began with an annual trip to Oklahoma for the Debbie Collins Memorial Scholarship Showcase. Such a great show and always a great time! The "Debbie Show" is one of my favorites.

In February I went to Texas and attended a dance convention with Mom's kiddos. They were fabulous as usual. And I, of course, had a blast! 

In March, I was back on the road with Yo Gabba Gabba and staying extremely busy. 

In April, Gabba took me to the White House!! We performed at the Easter Egg Roll!! Amazing!

May might just have been the biggest month for me in 2010. 

First it was SCD's 20th Anniversary!!

And I got ENGAGED!!

And getting engaged led to the most popular thing here at Dancing Through Life! 

Wedding Wednesdays!

I am pretty sure the only productive thing I did in the month of June was go to Oklahoma and teach at the SCD Summer Workshop. We had a blast!

Then in July... we found THE DRESS!! And had lots of fun just playing in the city!

August led to the usual trip to Oklahoma for more dancing! The Sailor moving back to the mainland and Gege turning 90!

September brought my favorite time of year Football Season! 

In October I had a milestone birthday! 

I was a busy busy bee in November. Dancing all the time and all over the place!

The best... The First Annual DDI!

And finally... it was December! I mean... this year has been super full!! 

First Christmas in years that the whole family has been together!!

May you and yours have a happy and safe New Years Eve!!
And here's to an even better 2011!!

25 Things Random About Me!

I have seen several blogs this week with this title! So… I decided to hop on the bandwagon!

25 Random Things about Me!

1. I have been to 49 of the 50 United States. I only lack Alaska.
2. On Thursday September 16^th I realized I had been at home for an entire month!
3. I have not been at home for more than 4 straight weeks since sometime in 2008.
4. My apartment is one room. That’s it. And it seems to be all I need.
5. In my first NYC apartment, the shower was in the kitchen.
6. In this apartment, I sleep next to the stove.
7. I love NYC and don’t mind my living situations being strange.
8. I HATE WINTER with a passion. HATE IT!
9. Snow makes me want to cry.
10. I love hot chocolate and could drink it every day.
11. I was a Yankee fan BEFORE I met Stud Muffin and BEFORE I moved to NYC.
12. I always laughed at girls who were consumed by wedding planning… then I got engaged!
13. I reserve the right to change my mind at any moment.
14. I never wanted to get married until I met Stud Muffin.
15. As of today, I still do not want to have children. I love my SCD Kids and that is good enough for me! I would jump in front of a bullet for them.
16. I am crazy clumsy. (I broke 3 things in 3 days time this week.)
17. I feel like something is missing when I go more than a day without speaking with My Mom.
18. Sitting in traffic does not bother me one bit if I am alone in the car.
19. If I had tons of money I would spend it to expand the arts programs in my hometown.
20. When women breast feed in public it makes me extremely uncomfortable. Not saying it’s wrong, it just makes me all jittery.  
21. I think the fact that my parents supported my crazy ideas and dreams my entire life is one of the greatest gifts they could ever give me!
22. I love being from Oklahoma!
23. If I couldn’t dance and sing for a living I would want to be a College Football Analyst.
24. One of the happiest days of my life is when I got my reduction! (more on that later, I promise!)
25. I was once told I would never make it in this business because I had a great childhood. If that is the case, I am okay with that. My Daddy and Mommy are the best & I am ultra fortunate to have the childhood I had!

MY OH MY, HOW TIME FLYS

I cannot believe that it has been 10 years of the 2000s!

Many things have changed for me in the past decade. I would say that this has been the most interesting 10 years of my life by far. (Not that I have that many decades to choose from but ya know!) So, with inspiration from all the television "lists" this week, I have decided to recap the highlights of my past 10 years.

1999

* I graduated high school and thought that made me a real adult. Not so much!
* I began college as a modern dance major and learned quickly that it was much harder than I had ever expected.
* The first year I ever paid taxes. (blah blah blah!)

2000
* I left the dance department and changed my major to journalism. BUST! I wanted to dance, just not in a college setting.
* I moved into a house with 96 girls. One of the most fun things EVER!! I absolutely loved it there.
* The Sooners went UNDEFEATED and won their first national championship in 15 years! Yeah Baby!!

2001
* I MOVED TO NEW YORK CITY!!!
After moving, I quickly learned that I was not going to be "famous" overnight and that it took a lot more than talent to make it here. There is a reason people with far more talent than me left LA or NYC after just a year. It is lonely and you never really know who your friends are. Lucky for me, I guess, I was just too stubborn to admit I missed Oklahoma and normal life.
* After living here for just a short 8 months, the twin towers were hit in a terrorist attack. I have absolutely no idea why, but that one single event gave me more courage to stay here than anything else had done. I know that day will forever remain a memory in my mind.
* I also performed my very first show in NYC this year! It was a dance revue at Broadway Dance Center but I loved every minute of it!!

2002
* I was living in NYC's Greenwich Village and finally adjusting to life in the big city.
*I started working full time for Encore Performing Arts Showcase and was most definitely working as a full time waitress. (BOO!!) Although, I met some great people while working there!
* I performed in my first Elan Awards honoring Anne Reinking! Love her!!

2003
*My first NYC roommate moved out and went on tour with Hairspray. :(
* I lived alone for about 2 months and painted my apartment HOT PINK! It was fabulous!! (Sadly, I cannot find my pics of this lovely Barbie Dream House)
*That summer, we had a city wide (well, most of the northeast) blackout! It was HOT! I had 3 people from my hometown staying in my apartment that summer so we made the most of it! We did a lot of hanging out in Central Park.
*In the fall, I got to perform in another Elan Awards... this time, honoring Rob Marshall!! Needless to say, I was pretty excited to dance in front of that man!!
*And then that winter... I got to be Daffy Duck in the Holiday Parade! Oh, you know you wish you were in that costume!

2004
*Oh 2004... the year I took a step back from dancing (not on purpose) and became a restaurant manager! DUMB DUMB DUMB!
*Although, I met the love of my life while working there, so I will accept that year as a good one!
*And... 2 of my favorite people in the world got married!! I love em!!

2005
*2005 proved to be a much better year for me than the one before. I quite my job as a manager on Jan. 2!! Oh happy day!!
* I moved into my own apartment. It was the cutest little studio all to myself! I loved it!! (I think everyone should live alone for a year. It really helps you to become you!)
*I started auditioning more and more and dance became fun again!
*Brian took me to Fire Island for the first time, where I fell in love with the place! And I took him to Key Largo for the first time.

2006
*This was the year I became Big, Blue & Furry. I was cast as Bluedles on the short lived PBS show "Sheira & Loli's Ditty Doodle Works."
* It was a crazy job but it was fun for the most part. Can't say I miss dancing in that suit though!
*I got to do the choreography for the show when they performed with Johnny Weir at the Reckson Center Christmas Tree Lighting!
*Oh, and I got to dance with Chaka Kahn!!


2007
*This year was a bit of a downer compared to 2006 for me.
*Ditty Doodle went on tour for about 3 weeks and then we all lost our jobs because they weren't making enough money.
*I spent a lot more time teaching and judging dance competitions this year. (Which I love but it wasn't enough.)
*And... the real downer for me!! Coco joined the freakin Navy while we are at war!! I was angry for a while but I think it has made him a man!!

2008
*Eventful to say the least!
* We started the year off by meeting up with Coco's ship in FL. It was great to see the sailor!
*Then Brian & I took a trip with our friends Megan & John to St. Maarten. It was a blast!!
*I spent the summer on tour with Kidz Bop Live! It was a good time for sure. I still keep in touch with all of the kids and love them dearly. They are super talented and going places!
*Brian attended his first OU/TX game with me and the family in October. Unfortunately, we lost.
*I then spent 3 months in Akron, Ohio performing in a production of All Shook Up! One of the most fun times I have ever had!! I really missed Brian and hated working on all the major holidays but it was a great experience!

2009
*Well, this year started off slow... I came back from Ohio with the economy killing Broadway!
*I judged and did some choreography during the spring and summer.
*I went to LA for about 6 weeks in the end of summer to see about switching coasts and what do you know... I got a JOB!!
*The Yankees won the World Series!!
*Yo Gabba Gabba Live then took up the rest of my year! It was HUGE. I even got to watch Snoop teach the Peanut Butter Stomp!
*After that I took my first trip to Hawaii and got to see my brothers ship come in.
2010
Cannot wait!!

I cannot wait to see what the future brings. Happy New Years to everyone!! Be safe, wear your seat belt and have a DD!!