When in Rome...

Yep.  We did it.  Jordan took me to ITALY for Spring Break!!!!!! I thought the best way to post pictures and tell people about the amazing-ness of it all would be to do a post per day that we were there.  So, I understand if you don't have the stamina to make it through them all, but I know that some people really want to see these pictures, so for those people, here you go.  Mostly I'd like to thank my incredible husband who insists on going to places that I want to go, doing things that I want to do, allows the twice per day gelato I insisted on, AND takes great pictures :)  Jordan, I love you.  But you know that :)

So, ANDIAMO!!

Day 1- Travel Day

So, we left Friday morning, March 9th at 8:00 am.  My father-in-law was kind enough to take us before the sun was even up!!  I was so excited to go to Italy that I could ALMOST get past how long we were going to be traveling.... :)  We flew to NYC first and, as you can see, I am already looking exhausted.  Oh well--the flight was pretty quick in retrospect.

 

Jordan and I at JFK airport on our layover.

So, then we got on an Alitalia flight (long security line) for a red-eye to Rome.  I was grateful that Jordan really pushed for a non-stop flight to Rome from NYC---it really was nice.  The plane was awesome.  We could watch tons of movies for free, play video games against each other, and play trivia with other passengers on the plane.  Pretty cool.  I watched "The Help" and enjoyed two pretty decent meals.  The only downsides were the ridiculously rude people behind us.  If I had to guess I'd say they were between 18 and 25 and are the reason people hate Americans overseas.  Seriously.  Who brings sauerkraut on a plane????  And they were making fun of the attendants' Italian accents.  And talking obnoxiously loud and with, uh, colorful language.  And complaining about the food.  Luckily, karma stepped in and one of the punks shoved an ipod earbud too far into his ear and couldn't get it out.  Awesome.

Fast forward 8 hours or so and we were in Rome.  And it was 8:10 in the morning on Saturday.  We had arranged for transportation to our hotel from the airport and so after getting our bags (right away, I might add) we got to take a slightly alarming, but fun ride through Rome.  It was like a tour AND a cab!  We got a feel for where things were in the city and were dropped off right at our hotel, the Hotel Taormina.

Day 2- The Borghese Gardens, Gallery and other Surprises

So, we caught a lucky break and got to check in to our hotel early.  We took a quick hour nap to try to make it through the rest of the day.  Then, we walked to the main transportation hub, called the Termini, where we bought ourselves Roma Passes.  If you are going to spend 3 or more days in Rome, GET THIS PASS.  It gives you your first two sights for free, and discounts on the rest, plus free use of any public transportation (minus cabs) for free for 3 days.  It paid for itself pretty quickly.  We figured out the Metro system and went to the edge of the equivalent of Central Park in Rome- the Villa Borghese Gardens.  It was beautiful.  So nice to have some fresh air around.  I was pretty light headed from being tired though, so we got some food and water and tried to muscle through the jet lag.  Side note: if you are in Italy and you see a bathroom, use it.  Public restrooms, labeled toilette or WC's are hard to find, especially when you need them (as poor Jordan can attest).  Trust me, if you see one, just try.  It can't hurt.  Here are some pictures from the beautiful gardens.  

The Borghese Gallery (see later in this post)

The Borghese Gallery

One of Jordan's better pics.  Hilarious.  Or maybe just cause we were jet-lagged.

The side garden of one of the villas in the Gardens.

Just another beautiful fountain of horse-mermaids.....

Jordan and a big dirt track close to sunset.

A beautiful lavender tree.

One of the entrances to the gardens.  Those are called Umbrella Pines.

One of the many paths to take in the Gardens

A lovely pond you can rowboat on.

In the park

When Jordan discovered the "super vivid" function on his new camera.  It was a good moment :)

Not sure what this monument is for, but that happens a lot in Rome.

The Track

Look how small the people right by the statue are! Again...not sure who this is for.

The first of many obelisks we saw in Rome.

So, we were in the gardens to see the Borghese Gallery, which has some of the most beautiful sculpture in the world.  Most by Bernini.  We couldn't take pictures inside, but here are my three favorite works:

Paolina Borghese as Venus by Antonio Canova

It's hard to see the detail here, but one of the most amazing parts about this to me is the mattress and pillows, believe it or not.  They are SO lifelike, with wrinkles and indentation where her body touches them.  I don't plan on being immortalized in stone (especially in the nude), but if I could be assured it would look like this...I'm just saying, I'd consider it.

Bernini's David

These are three views of Bernini's "David," not to be confused with Michaelangelo's "David," which we saw later in Florence.  This one is telling more of a story, with David in the act of slinging the stone at Goliath.  It is amazing how Bernini was able to get so much movement out of a piece of rock.

Bernini's Apollo and Daphne

 

I think this sculpture is gorgeous.  It tells the story of how Daphne, who had pledged to "never know the touch of a man" to Zeus, is "rescued" by him when Apollo, under Cupid's spell of love, pursues her.  To keep her promise, Zeus turns her into a tree before Apollo can touch her.  This sculpture captures the moment she is mid-transformation.  Anywhere Apollo is actually connected to her is already tree.  The intricacy of the leaves, especially in her hand is beautifully sad.  I also loved the movement in Apollo's sash, or robe.  It flows away from his body beautifully and incredibly, given that this started as a giant piece of marble.  It was breathtaking.

Ah.  So, after all that art, I really was in need of real food and a good night's rest.  On our way to get some of both, we happened upon an incredible view of Rome at sunset.  The pictures speak for themselves.

The Eternal City

Victor Emmanuel Monument

So, we continued our walk and found the Spanish Steps.  Then, we found some food (fine, but nothing compared to what we would eat later in the trip).  After some gelato at the Trevi Fountain (pictures to come later), we stumbled back to the hotel and passed out, enlightened, in love, and exhausted.

The top portion of the Spanish Steps

Looking down the steps

We are here!!!!!!!!!!

So, those were days 1 and 2.  Hope you enjoyed!  Stay posted for Day 3....

Lessons in Goal-setting and Graciousness

Hey everyone!  Happy belated Valentine's Day!  I hope yours was a wonderful as mine was--thank you wonderful husband.

So, the last week has been very stressful for both Jordan and I, and we've had to take it one day at a time to avoid being too overwhelmed.  It all ended up okay, just glad its over.

Here is  a lesson I learned:

1) If you have a goal in mind ahead of time, you are more likely to accomplish it.

This sounds silly, but its true!!  Having a specific goal helps you to know if you've achieved it or not.  "Doing well in school"  is general, but getting higher than a C on an upcoming calculus test is more focused.  BTW, Jordan got a B+ (holla!)

I have had a musical theatre competition looming for the last two-three months.  I hate competitions.  I never choose the right material, and they make me very nervous.  I know they aren't that different from auditions, but somehow, I get more skittish around the word "competition."  Anyway, my former teacher encouraged me to do this particular one, and I agreed, only to quickly regret the amount of stress it was causing.  "I'm too old for this!" I thought.  This is something I did in college....not now.  But, alas, the application fee had already been paid.  So, I thought about my goals..... what did I want?  Well, I didn't want to be cut off at the 5:00 minute time limit.  I wanted to feel like I had done my best.  And I wanted to win second place.

Why second place?  Because, the second place prize is $1000 dollars.  The first place prize is more ($2000), BUT I'd have to represent AZ in the national competition in Texas in May.  I'd have to do this all over again, but with more pressure.  I'd have to go to workshops and classes, and compete and a whole lot of other things I didn't want to do.  So, there it is.  Under-achieving, but what I really wanted.

So, let's check the score card:

Cut-off at the 5 minute limit?--- No.
Done my best?----Yes-ish.  I sang well and my monologue was good, but my final song could have been slightly better.
Win second place with no additional responsibilities?-- YES!!


Yeppers, my silver medal dreams came true.  I was judged second best behind a guy I didn't know.  Which means that I was the best girl, I won $1000, and the only thing I have to do now is perform my selections again at an awards dinner in March!  Holla!!!  What a great day.

The second thing I learned this weekend is how to be unreasonably talented and gracious at the same time.  I watched the Oscars last night---sometimes I don't care about them, but as I had seen many of the movies up for awards this year, due to the PG-13 rating on them, I was more interested.  Generally, I don't care about speeches, I just want to see the dresses, who won, and watch the extras (Cirque was pretty cool.)

However, my favorite Oscar moment was a speech.  When Colin Firth (admittedly a Hollywood crush of mine) so eloquently paid tribute to each Best Actress Nominee, I couldn't help but hope that the winner would keep up the classy composure that he had when presenting.  And boy did they ever.  Meryl Streep--quite possibly my favorite actress of all time-- gave what is in my opinion, the best acceptance speech ever.  She seemed genuinely surprised, she could laugh at herself, and enjoy the moment without seeming fake or haughty.  She started her thanks with her husband, which I found both refreshing and very romantic.  I loved it.  Our husbands should be the first people we thank :)  Thanking her "other partner"--her makeup artist, was also a touch of true class.  Many actors forget about the behind the scenes people who make them look and sound amazing.  She did not.  And then to graciously acknowledge her friends and colleagues was heartfelt and down to earth.  She was honored, but not starstruck by the almighty Oscar--she seems to see the reality of what she does, and truly enjoys it.  I can only hope to be that elegant and gracious in my life.

Here's a video of her speech: Meryl Streep's Acceptance speech

So, there you go.  Time to practice better posture, more eloquent speaking, and how to age that well. :)

WINNING!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay, I am just so excited to write this post.  We have been waiting for 2 weeks since we got the announcement that 12 Princesses had become a finalist for the Annual Awards at Amazon Studios.  It was one of only five films being considered for the Million Dollar Grand Prize and a chance to talk with Warner Bros. about producing it into a major feature film.  Just to recap, the movie has already won:

Winner of June 2011 Best Test Movie Award
Finalist for best Kids and Family Script
SemiFinalist for best Over-all Script in December
SemiFinalist for Best Annual Script
Winner of Best Dialogue Track
Winner of Best Trailer in December
Winner of Best Actor (Michael Sackett)
Semi-Finalist for Best Actor (Me, Jere Van Patten, Mark Kleinman, and Lana Shumway)

and NOW:


WINNER of Best Annual Test Film Award!!!!!  


That's right!! On Tuesday, a bunch of us got together to wait for the phone call announcing the winner.  We waited for 2 hours and, finally, at 3:58 (it was supposed to come before 4), his phone rang and this is what happened:

Click THIS LINK to see a longer video, with the reaction after he hangs up the phone!!! I can't embed it from Amazon's blog for some reason.  Oh I am so so so excited!!!  Here is the winning teaser trailer for the movie:

YAY!!! More news to come as I hear about it! Be watching for it on the big screen in a few years (most likely!!)

Oh yeah...and this is what happened at Christmastime...

So I was cleaning off my camera and realized that I didn't post anything about Christmas or the 20th Anniversary tour of Forgotten Carols!  Oops.  I got too excited about other things I guess.

So....here are some pictures from when I went to visit him in SLC and Park City (I am the only one with a camera, so that's why those are the only pics I have)

The Olympic Sled Runs in Park City

So cute!

Happy to see each other!

Yep....he had to do Trigonometry during the show....

Gili, Christy, Jordan and Kelly waiting to sign autographs

Post Cast Party and Cheesecake Factory Taste Competition

The 20th Anniversary Cast of Forgotten Carols

Poster

So that's that.  Update on 12 Princesses:  it made it to the FINALS!! It's now one of only 5 movies that is is being considered for the grand prize of a million dollars and being produced by Warner Bros!  Its also still in the running for Best Dialogue Track, and Michael Sackett is still in the running for Best Actor!  Yay!!!!

Exciting Things!

Hello all!  Well, 2012 has gotten off to a great and busy start!  I have been meaning to post about a few different things for a while now, so its time I got off my tuckus and got it done!!  I apologize in advance for this post being a little too bullet-pointy:

-  First off, the show I'm in right now is a 50s and 60s revue and it opened to an amazing audience at the Broadway Palm.  Seriously, it went WAY better than it should have, and I am shocked and elated that everyone loved it so much.  Its always a good feeling when the solo you are about to sing gets applause as the intro starts.  They are gonna love it no matter what at that point :)  If you are interested in the production company we are doing these revues through, check it out here!  Its called Showtune Productions, and Jordan and I have been having a great time doing shows with them.

Best of the 50s and 60s

Broadway Showstoppers

Sounds of Christmas

-Secondly, I'm starting rehearsal next week for a gala fundraiser for Phoenix Theatre--it will be goofy, but I'll probably get to wear a pretty dress and eat fancy, rich people food.  Sounds good to me!!

-Third,  Jordan is a superstar.  He's being pulled in about a TRILLION directions right now and he's killing it.  He started school again this week so that means....School every morning, teaching every afternoon, and rehearsal for Madame Butterfly with Arizona Opera at night.  Or doing stuff for the Elders Quorum, cause he got called as the 2nd counselor.  Whew!  And he still has time to snuggle sometimes.  For those of you who follow my facebook, we were able to get his outrageously overpriced books for WAY cheaper online through Craigslist and Amazon.  Seriously--a $250 book for $83 and a $175 for $75.  Insane.  Jord's awesome teacher did shed some sad light on what a "new edition" means:  technically, it means that 25% of the book has to be changed to justify a new edition.  But that includes:  shifting of text and enlargement of graphics.  ARE YOU KIDDING?  His teacher said that the material is almost never different--thus she told him to buy the most inexpensive version of the textbook within 3 editions.  I'm a fan of this woman.

-Fourth, I have to toot my friend Linsey Maxson's horn.  She is WAY craftier than I am (but its okay because, while I like cute things, I rarely like to make them) and has started a little business of her super affordable and adorable platters.  I bought two and am resisting the urge to buy more until a new holiday comes around and I redecorate with new colors.  Check out her blog and Sweet Stax HERE!

Seriously, I love them.  And she's selling them for such a great price!

- 12 Princesses is doing AMAZING!!  I've been part of this project for the better part of a year and its so exciting to see it doing so well.  Our friend, Rob Gardner, reinvented the musical he wrote back in 2004 and created an animated movie of the beloved fairy tale.  He did a storyboard and had myself and a bunch of other incredibly talented people voice the characters.  He entered it into a contest at the new Amazon Studios and it has been really going well.  It won the monthly $100,000 prize in July for best test film and we were all so excited.  He got feedback from producers from all over and did a rewrite of the script, and we re-recorded everything for a new and improved storyboard.  That new storyboard is now a semi-finalist for the $1 million dollar annual prize of Best Test Film!!!!  If it won, I believe it would be sent to Warner Brothers to be made into a movie.  But I also know that Disney has seen it too. Yeah.  DISNEY.  You can watch the movie HERE!

Along with that mama award, it is up for Best Dialogue Track, Best Script, and was recognized as the most watched film on the site all year.  In addition, I got an email along with my costars Michael Sackett, Jere Van Patten, Lana Shumway, and my dad, Mark Kleinman that said we were all semi-finalists for the Best Actor Award ($1000)!  Either way I am getting a free shirt out of it, but its pretty cool to be nominated.  Here are some stills of my character and the movie:

My dreams of voicing a princess in an animated movie are WITHIN REACH PEOPLE!!  I can't believe it.  Its still a long shot, as the movie hasn't won yet or been made into a movie, and as I'm not famous enough to be considered for voicing Princess December in the movie if it is made, BUT I'm at the stage where anything is possible so its fun to pretend that it will happen.

New Year!

Happy New Year!!  So, I fell off the face of the earth for awhile.  I'll try to post some pictures from December--my show, visits to Jordan on tour, Christmas, etc.  But, first, I just wanted to quickly acknowledge how amazing my husband is (again).

I've been rehearsing for another show this week and its been very, very stressful.  The human brain can only handle so much!!! Anyway, Jordan has been recovering from some sickness, but yesterday, he still found the time to be a superhero.  I woke up to an incredible back rub.  I was surprised and all the explanation I got was, "Its one of my resolutions to give you more backrubs."  Seriously.  Who makes resolutions to do that??? My husband. :)

Then, he helped me finish taking down all the Christmas decorations, including the tree.  A mammoth undertaking, and yet, it was done and spic and span before I had to go to rehearsal.

I came home for a super quick dinner break to the smell of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies.  Just the pick-me-up I needed when facing another 4 hours of rehearsal.

I got home and we got to talk for a little while before hitting the hay- he had rehearsal that night too, and they both went well.

Love it!!!!!!! If yesterday was any indication of how this year will be, 2012 is going to be amazing!!!!

A Christmas Letter for My Honey

So, my hubby has been on tour for a few weeks now, and I decided to write a blog to show him all the awesome Christmas decorations on our house now :)  This could not have happened without the help of my amazing family.  Ryan helped with the outside and my mom and sisters rescued me from a nervous breakdown after the lights on the tree I just spent 5 hours lighting went out.  Twice.  All is good now (except for a mysterious un-working outside outlet that needs to be replaced somehow).  I miss you, sweetie.  May these pictures bring a smile to your face and hold you over until you can see them in person. Merry Christmas.


Oh--and first some pics of our "Thanksgiving Dinner"(we celebrated early, since he wouldn't be home for Thanksgiving).

Yummy--both the man and the food :)

The tree I chose to cut down with the family!

And finally, the piece de resistance:

Home :)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

PS:  I've saved a special ornament just for you to hang :)