jim caruso's bloomingdales cast party

(which one is jim?)

i forced my dear friend,jim, to shop with b and me for an opening night dress + yogourt.
he usually shops with LIZA. yes... THAT liza.
turns out, he was wearing the same outfit as the models from ralph lauren.
he has impeccable style and gets invited to all sorts of snazzy parties... like j. lo's bday.
he rolls like that.....

we had a LOVELY time at bloomies.

hey nan,

( balloon posing next to lala and aud on one of our bachelorette nights )
my birthday balloon lasted a month and a half...
finally, i had to take a knife to your very lovely gift.... he wouldn't die!!
thank you for the gift that gave and gave and gave.....

p.s. stellita had a wonderful time trying to box it. we can call her billy blanks now.

living in nyc is cool because...

you can run into your childhood next door neighbor (whooolia)
while you're with your visiting childhood bff (aim) when
you're standing outside you nyc bestie's mama mia stage door (bran).

and that sort of situation happens all. the . time.

i love visitors.

aim, come back!!!!

bye bye birdie FAQ

i've had lots of questions... here are some answers:

1. what nights are you in the show? - every night (unless i'm sick) i'll be onstage playing Ms. Henkel wife to Mr. Henkel and mother to 3 Henkel teens. that is my ensemble track.
   
2. what nights are you playing "Rosie"? at this point i don't know when/if i'll be playing "rosie." the gorgeous miss gina gershon ( who will be WONDERFUL ) is in the role and i'll bust into those spanish rose shoes whenever she is under the weather or has a prior commitment. i do not have any idea when that will be...... so come see the show and you just may get lucky. either way, you'll see me on stage.
   
3. what is the difference btwn a cover, understudy, and standby? a cover and understudy are usually the same thing. it's usually an onstage ensemble member or offstage swing who have ensemble responsibilities and also are prepared to perform in a principal role. a standby is not in the show. they wait offstage until they are called upon.
   
4. do you have access to free tickets? no. even my parents have to pay for tickets to see bye bye birdie. please don't even ask.
   
5. is john stamos a good kisser? uhhhhh... i dunno. i met him yesterday. i'm sure i'll find out onstage when/if i go on for "rosie." i will say that he and gina are both really nice. we're going to have a great time.
   
6. how long is the BBB run? the show opens for previews (meaning the show is still changing and we rehearse during the day as well as perform at night) on september 10 and we officially open on Oct 15. at this point, the show is scheduled to close on january 24... but if it's a HUGE hit, the show will remain open.... so BUY TICKETS NOW!
7. do you like your costumes? LOVE LOVE LOVE... my ensemble costumes are gorgeous and the "rosie" costumes are SO fabulous. greg barnes is a costume genius.
8. how long are you rehearsing? in august, we rehearse 10-6 / 6 days/week. after we move to the theatre in september, we'll start longer tech hours (where we put the costumes, lights, sets together). tech on this contract will rehearse 9 out of 10 hours.
   

any other questions?

first day of school

went beautifully.....

my lovely team of sylists gave the thumbs up on my little free people number
and i danced my way to rehearsal where i met my beautiful birdie family.

the "kids" are stunning, the "adults" are lovely and everyone sounds AMAZING.
(i learned all of my ensemble track music)

i'm now proud to be a wife to the handsome mr. henkel
and mother to 3 teenage children
(2 of which look NOTHING like me ... or my husband....
clearly mrs. henkel had her cake and ate it too....)

life is good in sweet apple, ohio!

get your tickets { here }

after the rose

ok.
i'm happy for j & e.
they're funny and make the most sense to me.

and now i'm bored of them....

and melissa
(go AWAY!!!--but she did look a million times better this episode)

i'll see you when kiptyn graces us...
(i'm KICKING MYSELF THAT I COULD BE ON THAT SEASON AND I'M NOT!!!
sorry, i didn't mean to scream at you. i'm THAT upset.)

blanket etiquette breaker

ew.
get your glittery sausage toes out of my line of sight and off my blanket, you slob!
you had half a MOUNTAIN's worth of room.

nasty.

in other news:
you really should go to deer valley to see the symphony.
it's a perfect eve and the utah symphony is one of the best i've ever heard.
elvis costello is coming!

get tix { here }

and look for melissa! my newest blend! so nice to meet you!

country bear jamboree 2009

day 1:

hit the kenny chesney, sugarland, miranda lambert, lady antebellum concert
to see SUGARLAND!

boo.
nettles was sick.
sugarland cancelled...

but i left a fan of all the above.

day 2:

big family dinner pre-rodeo.
corn hand shucked ,
homemade everything, including peach pie!

mot and d

lar, boy-fetus, and angel

presentation of the rodeo queens!
so maybe i got the lump. ...
country fans are SO completely patriotic.
i felt grateful to be an american and grateful to be surrounded by family.

dub and i hit the carnival after the rodeo to watch the fireworks and nearly lose our homemade dinner on those completely unsafe rides.

won a toy for nugget with my amazing dart skills
(ok, ok, ... i made 1 out of 4)

and dub won a dalmation for me on the ball toss

day 3:

leeann rimes and the utah symphony @ deer valley
LOVED LOVED LOVED everything about this night.
the symphony is so magical.
especially when the stars are out and you're snuggled into a blanket on the
bunny hill of your childhood.

thank God i'm a country girl!

bachelorette roundup 9

• as-it-happens reaction to the bachelorette finale....
• 
  
• i love jilly's parents. mom peggy is not afraid of a loud print.
  
• if my cousin looked like jill's, i wouldn't invite her on natnl tv to look better than i do.
• ed, ed, ed....... what on EARTH are you thinking with those clothes!!! who advised you? you're not fashion forward, you're fashion dysfunctional.
• and the hair... lloyd christmas. not having it.
  
• kip reminds me of every cute orange county boy. i have a feeling he's not as boring as he may seem.
  
• can we assume the volcanic eruption signified the viagra kicking into ed?
• kiptyn's body? yes please.
• i sort of feel like kip is much more sincere than ed.
• love that kip is running sans shirt and ed sat by the creek while they were pondering the proposal.
  
• really dig all the neil lane rings
• ok... i'm pretty sure at this point in the show that kip is going to be the next bach simply because of all of the topless shots.
• i like jilly's pink wedding dress.
  
• the proposal gangplank looks like an "america's next top model" runway challenge.
• i KNEW IT!!! kip the first out of the limo! next bachelor.
• it's like watching a train wreck!
• what a stud. good fair goodbye. ooooh, i like him.
  
• cute reid. cute.
• would have loved a suit that wan't so mismatched and black... did you steal it off the catering guys?
• those poor people... just dripping sweat and trying to look cute.
  
• poor little reid.
• wow. nice language jilly.... trucker in a ballgown.
• sorry... kip's ring was better.
• ok ok. i like them together. good choice, jill...maybe you can fix his style?
• yay wedding video to martina!
• he's cute when he accepts the rose!
• piggy back in the ballgown....hmmmm....

thoughts?

leaving on a jet plane....

told you... i'm a sub-par blogger lately.

hopping back to nyc tonight to get ready for my first day of birdie school on TUESDAY!
{ i can't believe the time has come! }

as soon as i'm settled and my bachelorette party is in full swing, i'll tell you all about

• my country bear jamboree 2009
• coney island with kelly-moon and b
• the undying balloon
• the bbb audition story
• dr jekyll and mr hyde date
• why i hate fish | episode 2
• glitter sausage toe slob

and since you're already following me on twitter, follow stamos
{ he's tweeting all about the birdie experience }

i'll check in when i land in the apple.

xo n@

i hosted a sex party

(both sets of parents on skype to witness the cake cutting)

gotta thank those procreating duggars for giving me the idea to have a sex party
for lar and dug's baby.

la brought the sealed envelope from her doctor to mom who made a RIDICULOUS white almond cake with buttercream frosting (from scratch, no less--that's how she rolls)

(nugget... always in the shot. quite the diva.)

and a blueberry center
cause....

it's a BOY!

congrats!

alma loveland rocks!

the beatles "i will"
{ i'm also obsessed with the ben taylor version }
is my favorite song of all time.

i REALLY want this print...alma, is it for sale?

summer lovin... having me a blast.

mim & sussy . july 2009 . jordanelle . eating fancy costco treats

i've been a horrible blend, lately.
too much reuning (see sussy's recap here) and summer fun.
i have posts backed up for 3 weeks that i've yet to write.

follow my adventures as they happen by my twitter page

or wait for the old news to come to print.

either way, thanks for reading ;)

real beauty

so maybe a photographer i know was looking for models in dallas and happened upon this beautiful mother / daughter combo on a legitimate modeling site.

i imagine the mother's name is trixie.

dd doesn't she remind you of my dresser and former burlesque stripper from appleton?
she was amazing. and toothless.

bachelorette roundup 8

1. chris harrison's makeup was a-maze-ing. full shading, shadow, and maybe a touch of mascara?
2. jason and molly make me gag. vomit. her new brown hair is even worse than the highlighted lion mane.
   
3. was i right ? or was i right? or was i RIGHT about reid coming back and popping the question?
4. i have a feeling she'll choose reid which would explain his absence.
   
5. wes was smart not to tell her about his girlfriend for so long; his song was brilliant... move over joshua radin and john mayer
6. how about that pilot... so dreamy. so nice. so hot. i want his babies if he's chosen for the next bachelor
7. #'s 5 and 6 were just written by dubya--never leave your computer unattended.
8. i'm thinking the next bach is btwn kiptyn and the pilot - remember how some planted audience member asked jill if she'd like to be the next bachelorette? formula.
   
9. i loved the blooper reel.... jill's orgasmic pepperoni experience was depressing... clearly she doesn't eat and that little morsel was more food than she'd seen in a week.
10. can we PLEASE have a bachelorette who actually says what she thinks? she couldn't possibly think tanner's foot obsession was ok. he just got crazier and crazier...
11. mother trucker (who's name continues to escape me) is still one of the creepiest dudes around. i was really ready that volcano to blow again... sad it didn't.
    
12. wanted more out of juan. { cue the castanets }
13. favorite quote of the night: "i may not be able to breakdance, i may not be able to write a song, but daddy can suck a mean foot. "
    

ok, folks, who do YOU pick & who do you think SHE'LL pick?

joan of arc and natalie hill

joan of arc and natalie hill both want this dress.
please don't buy it before we do.


so the shabby apple gals gave me a pretty sweet shout out in the-savy-woman.com

read the article { here }

my favorite paragraph:

On the subject of positive role models, both ladies remarked that they felt Susan Sarandon, Gwenth Paltrow, Natalie Portman, Eleanor Roosevelt, Joan of Arc and Natalie Hill were good choices. Furthermore they noted that in addition to sending a positive message Broadway star Natalie Hill is also one of their customers.

hilarious. you KNOW everyone is wondering who in the world i am?!

buy shabby!
they like me.

sussy and mim sweat to the oldies

demonstrating our favorite routine... i'm the one in the most flattering byu boy shorts on the planet. don't be jealous.

sussy and i are bringing it back!

they (suss and bil) gave me "sweatin' to the oldies" for my bday because... well.... they think i look like richard simmons.

awesome.

so we did the workout today.
we might be obsessed with it.

it's hilarious and incredibly fun.

maybe a richard simmons weight-loss challenge is in the works.....

i'm a bit desperate to go to his live classes.
see the schedule { here }

oooh baby, baby!

blends,

i need your help.
i have the loveliest friends who are seeking to adopt a little tiny one.
my heart aches for them and for so many of my dear girlfriends
who are struggling to get pregnant.
i'm wondering if you may know someone in your family or friend circle
who is needing to find a good home for their baby?
i'm always so happy when we can use this wide cast net as a tool to help other people.

if you or anyone you know is interested in adoptive parents, please direct them to
doug and tamara's sites.
they're such brilliant and giving people who will make the most amazing parents to lucky children.

get to know doug and tamara by
reading their { blog }
visiting their { adoption webpage }
or
it's about love { profile }

thank you to the moon and back!

xo mim

reader engagement photos: laurie

the death stare.
always love when the happy newlyweds look like they're going to skin you alive.

does it look a little bit like laurie is standing up in a manhole behind her husb?

l, you're such a good sport
and i'm SO GRATEFUL you picked a more sensible pose to send out.

another beautiful couple falls victim to a mis-guided photog.

how much is that doggy in the window?

mom's portugese water dog
(yes, like bo obama--but we've had them forever)
had little nuggets.

4 males are for sale!
check them out on sussy's blog { here }

oh canada!

.canada day 2009. irish rogue . jen sese . mim . melissa van der schyff- token canadian .

i forced the gals to hit broadway's canada day party (specially melissa who was our "token")
with me.
what better way to break the ice with lines like,
"are you canadian? i'm not- but i like katchup chips and robaxacet."

my favorite quote of the night: I'M NOT GAY!!!!!( ij)

see more of linda lenzi's photos for broadwayworld.com { here }

too bad i don't have a jeep....

ksl link { here }

thanks to sharon for the link!

ok ok ok... good engagement poses

(sussy and bil's actual engagement shot)

ok lovies,
chillax. engagies aren't really THAT hard.
when in doubt, go tight headshot, and DON'T pose.

be careful to wear clothing that doesn't date the photo too much... you may think leggings and giant brain squeezers are cute now, but your kids will ridicule you to no end...
avoid wild prints and keep the neckline interesting.

wear SIMPLE makeup. no smokey eyes or crazy lipstick. less is more.

and PRACTICE your fiance's smile.... make him look in the mirror and practice his "real" smile. that sounds ridiculous, but you wouldn't believe how many guys don't know how to photograph well....

here are a few of my favorites....

the following are from sussy:

i recognize these are bridal/groomals but we're looking at poses, folks...

the rest are matt clayton:
i don't know this cat but i think he makes even the most average people look like rock stars.
be careful not to get to modely (he REALLY does make everyone people look like models)... they're great for your living room but a bit much to send out.

happy engaging!

bachelorette roundup 7

my random thoughts as we (the bonnie and clyde gals) and i tune into this weeks episode.
in sequential order, natch.

• kiptyn is completely adorable. i'd date him in a ny minute.
• if i had been on that ropes thing, i'd have completely wet my pants in fear.
• um... did they steal the tablecloth on kiptyn's date from the mirage hotel in 1990?
• since when did they start doing second chances "fantasy suites?"
  
• please tell reid that his hair is just THIS shy of too long to try the spiky hair thing this episode. maybe covering the budding bald spot?
• i am TURD tired (sorry.. that was the spaneesh fork coming out of me) of the freaking helicopter rides. over. 2 in one season? e.nuf.
  
• she called him cuddly, warm, and sweet. that's even too schmaltzy to even call my dog. (i call her a spicy lady)
• why the 20 questions DTR girl! sheesh jill, chillax!
• WHY are you so surprised that she's asking you to propose? isn't that the point of the show?
  
• he's (reid) so awkwardly uncomfortable.... NOT READY.
• bubble bubble toil and trouble!! those bubbles were on steroids!
• woooooooah , ed and the tank top and short shorts?! oooooooooh such a bad idea. made denny look fat, gay, and trashy at the same time.
  
• straddling in a mini jean skirt is never going to be easy, jill. carefee...
• i'm completely over her giant diamond stud earrings that point down.
• "the fact that ed flew his parents out here MELTERD my heart"
• those yellow chicken legs in the short shorts!!!
• sweet quintessential midwestern parents-WHY were you acting so shocked to be in hawaii? did they really bamboozle and fly you down without knowing?
• ed's dad's stash is stellar.
• wait.... lets remember again that ed is in the most unfortunate outfit of the season. i don't wanna see THAT!
  
• on the bed, did he smell his pit or wipe his sweat when jill got up to freshen up?
• i feel totally uncomfortable watching their awkie massage scene...
• hey jill, maybe the "romance" wasn't there because the green shorts stifled his manhood?what does that even mean? were they being cryptic about his prowess?
  
• nan pointed out j-dawg and kip kip need to tone down the winking.
• kip kip's PRIVATE video was a touch trite, no?
  
• honeybear?? whyyyyy do you have nicknames like that? gross.
• ed, you pastel clown! are you straight out of miami vice with that suit?
• and the "i love you"?! woah, mr. ed! slow down! lets make sure things work down there first?
• ok... i'm the teensiest bit surprised she gave reid the boot. coulda, woulda, shoulda, reid. he wasn't that into her.
  
• i think the big "confession" in the teasers is reids profession of love.
  too little too late? we'll see...
  

reader engagement photos: katie pease

"the serious" pose.

katie says:

Note: I think this is the first time in my life I was actually photographed (we never got fam photos as kids), so I had no idea what in the crap was going on. The photographer just positioned us. Here are some photos for you.

katie calls this the "fiance attack/show off the ring"

i call it the two-headed monster puts his siamese twin in a choke hold.

thanks katie! you two are beautiful people- and love the one you actually chose!
and..... we've seen MUCH worse.