A Mixed Bag- Abundance and Loss

General disclaimer- forgive the phone pics! I've gotten a bit lazy, but promise to snap out of it soon! :)

When you start a day off with shoes this fly, you can't help but smile. 

I had mixed up some overnight oats, using some dry multigrain hot cereal, soy milk, frozen strawberries, peanut butter and blackberry jam. No matter how small the portion, I can NEVER finish a bowl of these. Is that weird? I am no dainty eater, as anyone who's ever witnessed my consumption powers can attest to, but when it comes to oats, I can never seem to get to the bottom of the bowl....

I did a short but FIREY kettlebell circuit after breakfast. This picture isn't from yesterday, but it IS me with a kettlebell. Oy. I'm really patching this one together today....

I snacked on some Late July Organic Mild Green Mojo Chips- which have been my life long best friends since I discovered them, shared with some Original Tribe Hummus. I love the individual cups!

I ran around the city doing some promotional work for my upcoming show and stopped by Pret A Manger to grab a quick snack before rehearsal.  This cup was PERFECT! Quinoa, salmon, egg, arugula- tons of protein, few extraneous calories, and just the right portion size. 

Outdoor rehearsal for The Four Seasons NYC at Astor Place was inspiring as usual. Can you spot my silly MUG in the middle, sharing the wheelchair? Seriously. Come. See. This. Show. Tickets here. 

Photo swiped from castmate Phoebe.

 A quick Whole Foods dinner was in order, devoured on the Q train at appx 9:30p.

Nutritionally, yesterday was pretty great. Except the LARGE helping of Half-Baked that I devoured while catching up on computer work....

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And then I woke up this morning to learn that my hometown, Ft. Plain, NY, is currently being destroyed by another 'historic' flood- on the 7 year anniversary, to-date, of the first 'historic flood' in recent memory. It is believed that at least 100 homes have been flooded, which is a devastating blow to a town of approximately 2000 people. My Facebook feed is clogged with images and videos too heartbreaking to share, but please, keep NY's Mohawk Valley in your prayers or meditations or intentions today. I know all to well what they're going through. 

Stickytown

Yesterday AM was spent prepping for upcoming auditions and working on scripts for the two shows I'm in currently.

Outdoor rehearsals are enlightening, meditative and inspiring. They're also a great workout- we cover a lot of ground!

Yesterday afternoon we did some street promotion for The Four Seasons NYC. It's amazing how many people ask what you're doing when you just stop and stand still for a few minutes. 

 I found my new favorite threading salon. Never has something that hurt so much made me so excited! Perfect Brows NYC.

When Wet Seal is selling sunglasses 2 for $6 and you lose sunglasses as fast as I do, you stock up. Nevermind the fact that I was probably the only person over 21 in the entire store. 

When I got home, all I wanted was a smoothie in a bowl and a cold shower. 

In fitness news, I'm working up the nerve to do a body transformation series. Grad school was rough in a lot of ways- the first year I lost a ton of weight, all of it muscle, and the second year I put it back on- none of it muscle. I'm in a very transitional place in my life, so I'm eager to get settled and start a routine, but in the meantime, I'm squeezing in all the sweat I can. Like a kettlebell ass kicking. Startinggggggg...... NOW.

How do you get yourself back on track?

A mumble-jumble collage of a week!

Good morning. 

From inside my belly. 

Spinach, eggwhites and a bit of mozzarella on two small slices of high fiber multi grain toast. So simple, so filling.

I'm a busy girl. Always have been, always will be. It's in my nature to fill my schedule to the brim. This week has been no exception.

Rehearsing for the world premiere of Charles Mee's The Four Seasons NYC has demanded most of my time these days. Can you spot me in this photo (look for my signature pile of unruly red hair).

On Monday we got to do a group walk-through of the space we're performing in- the stunning Angel Orensanz Foundation- the oldest synagogue in NYC, now an artistic haven. Lots of non-performers don't realize that rehearsals (especially in NYC) rarely take place in the performance space until the week of technical rehearsal (right before opening). Getting a few minutes to romp around this creative playground was such a gift.

I mean... COME ON.

If you're in the NYC area, you MUST join us! I guarantee this magical celebration of life and love in one of the city's most majestic historical spaces will be unlike ANYTHING you've ever seen. Get your tickets here!

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I'm moving for the 5th time in about 9 months. After being displaced by Hurricane Sandy, things have yet to settle down on the housing front. Fingers crossed that this next move will be somewhat permanent! My new roommates are two good friends from school, the apartment is large (by Brooklyn standards), and I'm excited about the neighborhood!

Why yes, that is a chalkboard-paint circle, right next to where my desk will be, because I am an eight-year-old.

I'm working with reds and earth-tones. The room was pastel purple before, so this is a big upgrade.

How radical is this mirror I snagged for $20 in a street fair?

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My BFF since middle school is having a baby! I had a blast taking her maternity pics last month.

And this past weekend I made a whirlwind trip home to help throw her baby shower!

In sweaty news, I've been spending a lot of time at the Yoga to the People's 38th St. and 26th St. studios, taking some of their hot vinyasa classes. Oof weezy. The sweat.

I'm easing myself back into running- admittedly the stress of the past 9 months has taken it's toll on my workout routine. My energy has suffered, and I miss feeling healthy and strong. So LEGGO!

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In other random news, I bought some sweet summer kicks. Reason #44949585 why NYC is the best place to live on earth- there is an abundance of super fresh, hyper trendy, awesomely now everything being sold on the cheap.

And these little devils happened on one of my coffee breaks.

Cookie dough, cinnamon and peanut butter cup. Each under 50 calories. Baked by Melissa, GET AWN WITCHYO BAD SELF. Also, their iced coffee is DELISH, and cheap! When you're buying 2+ iced coffees a day in NYC, you keep a running tab of who's doing their thang for less than $3.

Emerging from my Chrysalis, OR my One Year Absentia.

Howdy. It's been a while. A long while. If your first thought is "Who IS this person appearing on my Reader Feed?" - don't feel bad! It's been one week short of a year since I've last dribbled some musings into Blogger's editor and published it into your consciousness. We'll get reacquainted, don't you fret, and perhaps better than ever! 

A lot has changed, around here. 2012 was one of the most transformative years I've experienced yet, and while it felt at times like the end of the world, the light beyond the trauma is bright and warm. While I do not plan on digging into the full details of exactly what these changes consisted of, know that my life is now nearly unrecognizable. I hope you'll still come along for the ride!

Since I've been gone:

I won a very prestigious Brooklyn College Alumni Association Award for service to my department, the school community at large, and the borough of Brooklyn.

I've had amazing roles in several plays:

Reconcile, Bitch

Bring a Weasel and a Pint of Your Own Blood Festival

Featuring Loretta

A Murder of Crows

Yeah Girl, Whatever

I got certified by the SAFD in Unarmed Combat!

I lost my home and all my belongings in Hurricane Sandy. I haven't shared these pictures yet.

Went to Costa Rica- a week by myself to ring in the new year and new beginnings, and a week with an old friend for some much needed girl time.

I got my Masters of Fine Arts in Acting from Brooklyn College!

And now, I'm preparing for one of the biggest shows I've ever been in- The Four Seasons NYC, moving into a new, stable and positive living situation (the 6th place I've stayed in the past 9 months), and remembering/ relearning what the real, non-grad school world is like.

This blog will change, too, I suspect. I recognize in myself the former desire to create a FITNESS blog, but it was never quite that, or a TRAVEL blog, but it was never quite that, or a FOOD blog, but it was never quite that, either. One of my big lessons of late has been letting go of preconceived notions and judgements and just seeing what things are. So let's see what this is.