If Money Weren't a Thing...

If money weren't a thing, I would quit my job and spend my days refinishing furniture (which I would then sell for shits and giggles and personal glory), teaching private lessons, and cooking amaaaaazing things...

I would scour Goodwills and thrift stores and pick up banged up wooden furniture and transform it into awesome pieces. Perhaps I would create an adorable workshop in our garage (because in this fantasy, we would be home-owners). While I sanded and restored the furniture, I would stream all my favorite shows- 30 Rock, Parks & Rec, Orange is the New Black...

Our home would be spotless and organized, and decorated like it was ripped from a Real Simple magazine. The closets and cabinets and drawers would have little dividers and sub-compartments. Our linen closet would feature stacks of perfectly folded, crisp white towels. White sheers would billow in the light breeze coming through the open windows (which are very large and allow ridiculous amounts of natural light).

We'd have a quaint little studio space off of the back of the house where we'd give private lessons to local kids. There would be an upright piano, a smattering of music stands (that may or may not have "Naz" spray painted on the back), a pair of cushy arm chairs, and some kind of message board where we could post helpful tips, reminders, performance and audition notices, and sing the praises of our glorious students who will all be super talented and amazing.

I would perfect all my favorite recipes (much like I have already perfected my chocolate chip cookie recipe... I seriously have... these babies are unbeatable). Our dinners would be thoughtful and interesting, and my repertoire of dishes would be extensive. My kitchen would always smell amazing, our fridge would be well-stocked, and the cookie jar would always be full.

I think this would be a lovely life, don't you?

Reading "Basic Black" by Cathie Black (aka: former President of Hearst Magazines). I bought this book a few years ago when I lived in Philly and was searching for my next career move-- this book was very inspiring and encouraging and gave me a boost I needed to take the next step (and it obviously worked, because I scored a sweet job at Geva soon after reading it the first time). Since I just got promoted, I figured it was time to read it again and refresh that business-savvy! I highly recommend this book- it's got sound advice from an obviously successful businesswoman and it's not loaded with the corporate jargon so common in other 'get ahead at work' books out there.

Laughing at this video-- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nv7Ts4v5_Bs

These are my spaghetti arms.

Listening to our VHS of "Dirty Dancing" as I fall asleep each night. I recently purchased the VHS at Goodwill and, though he had absolutely no interest in ever seeing it, Jeff has quickly become obsessed with it. The soundtrack of Patrick Swayze grinding his bidness on dancing women has serenaded me to sleep these last few nights.

Thinking that late July is too early to be putting out Halloween candy displays at Wegmans.

Craving everything. Just everything. I want to eat all the things. Particularly poutine (I made homemade poutine last week and it was AMAZING). And shortcake (we got a mixed berry shortcake from the bakery at Wegmans last week and it rocked our world).

Watching 30 Rock on Netflix Instant, mostly while I cook or tidy the house. I love it, it never gets old no matter how many times I watch it over and over again (and I do).

Ben... I love him!

Missing my nephew, Ben. He's the cutest and I love him. He JUST turned 2, so he's running around all over the place and saying the funniest things.

Feeling super exhausted.

Trying to figure out when I'm gonna have this garage sale that I blogged about a couple of entries ago. I was going to do it this weekend, but that's craziness- I'm never gonna get it together in time! Maybe Labor Day weekend?

Hating government grant applications. Oh man, they stink.

Musical fart competition

Loving all of "Fiona"'s songs from Shrek: The Musical. In 3 days, I'm auditioning for Rochester Children's Theatre's February production of it (yes, they are holding auditions 6 months before the show is set to run). I think that the thing that appeals to me most about this particular character is that she's a feisty princess. I've played sooooo many fluffy fairy tale princesses (many for RCT), the sweet, innocent, angelic type. While those parts were great, I have a natural tendency to infuse my roles with spunk and sass, and always struggled with portraying the stereotypical Disney-esque, sweet-as-pie, princesses. Fiona is totally different. She recognizes the "appropriate princess" behavior and puts up that facade when Shrek rescues her from her tower, but she quickly ditches the front and reveals her true, quirky, tomboyish, sassy self... which is totally me. I love it. There's a fart sequence in one of her duets with Shrek. It's totally me. I want it. Keep your fingers crossed fo' meh, bitches.

Needing to print out my headshot/resume. For said audition. Hmmm.... I need to update my resume, actually...