Running on Empty

I'm going to start a new chapter of my blog. :)

I'm ready to start making fitness a priority in my life and I think if I start writing about my journey, it'll not only make me more accountable, but it may help others who are looking for help.
So.. here it goes.

Here's my plan.

I'm going to start with a walk.  Just a 15 minute walk twice a week. Then, I will make it a jog/walk.  Then, I will run.  Then, i will do a 5K.  My first 5K was a couple years ago and though I never run the whole thing, it was a great experience.  I remember being so happy, I cried a little bit.  I never thought it'd ever be something I would want to do. I'm ready to feel that gratification again.

I will also start my new "whole30" inspired diet plan on Sunday.  Every time I've done a whole30, whether or not i've made it to the 30 day mark, my health has dramatically been better.  My blood pressure is better, my weight is down, and I feel great.  I think it's the 'rules' that keep me accountable. I think the strictness is what keeps me questioning why I'm doing what I'm doing.  (I mean, who would ever willingly put themselves through 30 days of no added sugar?) I think this will-power makes me feel strong.  If only I could use that will-power to help me exercise more regularly.

Wish me luck.  I'll try checking in through the week over the next month to report on my progress.

Quickie Update

Hi everyone,

Well, as an update to WW, I have lost a total of 23 lbs. Yea! Pretty rad.
I have been busy preparing for another year of auditions and I'm looking forward to the annual trip to NYC. It's pretty funny, I think the most difficult aspect of being a working singer is the distraction aspect of having another job and trying to stay focused on the career.
I'm sure many singers have faced the same issue, your job pays for your career. It's not a difficult distinction to make, just an a typical one.

Anyways, until next time...

Tiff :)

New Challenges

Hi folks,

So this doesn't have a lot to do with music .. but I have joined weight watchers. Finally trying to take control of my eating habits and learn about myself a little more. I've been doing it a month so far and I've lost 11.6 lbs. Evidentally, it's a product that works for me. :)
I've started going to the gym on a more frequent basis and I'm striving to be more active on a day to day basis. 3 days at the gym just doesn't cut it anymore.
And you know what? It's actually kind of fun to have this new exciting goal ahead of me. I'm not looking to change my entire appearance or look like Victoria Beckham... just feel healthy.
I've already started noticing things about myself that I was unaware of. For example, I had always been told that there is not a "controlling" or "type A" bone in my body. But that's just not accurate. I'm usually so co-dependent that I haven't noticed that deep down, I WANT and NEED a sense of control over some aspects of my life. Food has become one of those things. And surprisingly enough, it's kind of fun to learn how to take RESPONSIBILITY for my eating habits.

I'll keep you guys posted on my progress month to month and I will try to focus on more blogging as well. Stay tuned!

until next time,
Take Care!!

I want to go to there

I want to see THIS! Pretty psyched!

Audition weekend

Hello pups,

So this past weekend, December 4-7 I went to NYC to audition for some YAPs and got to spend some wonderful quality time with an old friend, Ms. Nora Graham-Smith. Nora and I are like peas in a pod; the type of friends who after not seeing each other for years, can pick things right back up from where they stopped and it's as if I had just said goodbye yesterday.
She's quite lovely and it was the highlight of my weekend. Not to sound cliche, but I really believe that we need our friends like we need air to breathe. I have seen too many people become absolutely miserable because they are alone with no one to share life with.

I arrived in NYC on Thursday night and slept over at Nora's apartment. The next morning, I was due at NOLA studio in NYC at around 10:20am. Luckily, due to my work schedule I'm used to getting up around 6am, so as much as I tried, I really couldn't sleep past 7am before I had to be up and moving around. I arrived at NOLA and to my surprise, I saw an old friend, who I took to a high school dance, Ted Federle. Now married, Ted is doing well and is still the same passionate, talented guy I remember from back in the day at May Festival Youth Chorus in Cincinnati. While chatting with Ted, another singer friend from CCM, Liz Bouk arrived and I haven't seen her since 2005 at least! She looked exactly the same, her lovely blonde hair reflecting the color of her blue dress, but she's PREGNANT! WOW! And due in FEB!
It was so bittersweet! I just love seeing how happy and accomplished my friends are becoming and I realize that there is hope for all of us! The world is indeed big enough for all of us to make of it what we can! I felt so inspired!

My audition itself felt a little tired, and my feet were shaking (Whatever THAT's about?!) and after singing, Liz and I grabbed some coffee and caught up on our lives.
I met up with Nora and that evening ended up back at NOLA where I crashed my first audition and it was the best I have ever sang in my life!! I think it has to do with the fact that I was wearing Yoga pants and flats. Note to self: wear more comfortable clothes to sing in. It made a WORLD of difference in the sound quality, breath support, confidence, ..the list goes on.

After doing some shopping on Saturday, Nora and I got tickets courtesy of a friend of mine to see "White Christmas" at the Marriott Marquee in Times Square. It was DIVINE! So fun!

Overall, it was a FANTASTIC trip and I hope to visit Nora in NYC again very soon.
Until later, puppies.... :)

Beaker + Carmen = Hilarious!

This will never get old. Thank you, Jim Henson for being fabulous! :)

Enjoy!

Living in a recycled culture

I just read something quite interesting...

"You have two kinds of shows on Broadway -- revivals and the same kind of musicals over and over again, all spectacles," says Sondheim. "You get your tickets for 'The Lion King' a year in advance, and essentially a family comes as if to a picnic, and they pass on to their children the idea that that's what the theater is -- a spectacular musical you see once a year, a stage version of a movie. It has nothing to do with theater at all. It has to do with seeing what is familiar. We live in a recycled culture." - Stephen Sondheim from Frank Rich's New York Times article.

I can't help but competely agree and I feel like this is exactly the reason why I don't go to Broadway shows. It's pretty sad when I hear these wonderful stories about a time long lost, where Rodgers and Hammerstein's works were considered brand new. Can you imagine what it would have been like to be in the premier of Guys and Dolls? Or West Side Story?

At the same time, I feel that there are new musicals being produced, like In the Heights that are worth seeing, however, with the cost of the trip and the ticket combined, I fear I might be dissapointed, so I end up talking myself out of it.
Now speaking of movies, I hear that there will be Spiderman: The Musical. Even if it's directed by Julie Taymor, and is sure to have some brilliant headliners, it's kind of sad that there are no original ideas for theatre anymore. I'm sure it all comes down to money, but can't SOMEBODY just come up with a good story and instead of making a movie first, make it into a musical??
I'm just sayin...

I'll just submit my idea... box office, the musical. It'll be a hit! :) Now I just need Stephen to write the music and I'm gold! ;)