Sweet Potatoes & the Simple Joys

So I'm on day one of my new eating regime for life. And I've been SOOOOO good! It's only 1200 calories and let's face it. I can easily eat 1200 calories in one meal...no, make it one snack! I've only cheated once...I had one pretzel. Yes, uno. I'm now eating dinner - grilled chicken (with salt), steamed broccoli and part of a steamed sweet potato. It does taste pretty good. I'm savoring each bite. :) And guess what?!? Later tonight I get to eat 1/2 of a Midnight Milky Way. It's all about balance and portion sizes. :)

In other news, I went to an audition tonight for "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" which will be playing at the Sundance Summer Theater. I sang the first part of "The Simple Joys of Maidenhood." I'm so glad they are doing shows in Sundance during the summer again! I went to a concert there once and it was such a gorgeous environment. A little on the cold side though...okay a LOT on the cold side. Mental note...do not go into the mountains (even during the summer/early fall) unprepared!! Otherwise you'll have to curl up in 1/4 of the blanket you are sitting on while still maintaining distance from the gentleman you are with, lest you give the wrong impression. :)

Getting Fit

Tomorrow is day one of my new eating/working out way of life program. I have my food all packaged and ready to go for work and I only have to work out three times this first week. Although part of that will be running for 15 minutes straight...oh help! It may be a VERY slow run. :) But I get 100 calories at the end of each day to reward myself. That's like 5 peanut M & M's or 1/5 of a pop tart or one bite of a Great Wall of Chocolate from PF Chang's. The possibilities are endless!

My personal trainer said that how well I stick to the meal plan and work out schedule early on will impact my overall success. So here goes to 21 days of sticking to it and not cheating! Will some willpower my way, will ya?

Potential Shrine Photos

I noticed a startling trend in my parent's home last Christmas. All of the kids in my family have multiple photos in my parent's house...except for me. I think it's a hazard of being single and in your late twenties. The younger kids, the sister on a mission, and the three marrieds all have photos up - and the grandchild...well, suffice it to say she's represented. My Mother offered to put more photos up of me...a shrine if you will to her lovely daughter Erica. I have a few photos that I think might be good candidates (see below). Let me know what you think.








**Okay, so I might be exaggerating and I do have equal representation at home... :)

Boys With Initiative

This post is dedicated to all those boys out there who take initiative in asking out girls. You are my heroes! Today I got a surprise call from a guy at church who I had chatted with at the opening social a few weeks ago. He asked if I wanted to go for a drive to enjoy the fall leaves. We took a drive up the Alpine Loop and went to Cascade Springs. It was so amazingly gorgeous. Now is the time to go check out the leaves!! I had a great time with the boy, **b, and it felt really comfortable and great. **b is 1 1/2 years younger than me...not sure if that will be an issue for him or not, but I was just stoked to be asked out on a date!

Another guy who showed initiative was Mr. Vanilla Ice (see photo in prior post...he's cuter without the wig :) ). He came over and sat down by me during the dance at the Mid-Singles Conference and stayed by my side the rest of the night, he invited me to the after party (where he again stayed by my side for 2 hours), he stayed by my side during church, dinner, and the fireside, and he even called me that night (after the conference) and asked me to stay another day in California so we could hang out...pretty dreamy!! Let's hear it for the boys!

Vanilla Ice and the Gang

Last weekend I attended a Mid-Singles Conference in the Bay Area of California. It was a great excuse to take a vacation and see my grandparents and a college friend. I had a wonderful time! Driving wasn't too terrible (thank you GPS) and I didn't hit very bad traffic. Also, the place where I stayed in Santa Cruz was totally beautiful and fun...and also on the beach! Great views, but not very good waves. Mental note - do not plan on boogie boarding in Santa Cruz...you will just be disappointed!!

They had a dance Saturday night and did this whole red carpet event where some people dressed up like stars (i.e. Vanilla Ice, Cher, Lady Gaga, Elton John, Michael Jackson, Hulk Hogan, Bjork with her fowl dress, etc.) and there were multiple photographers who took photos of everyone. They then posted the pictures online. It was really a fun idea. Here's a shot of me, my friend Brittany, some other people at the conference and some of the stars!


Vanilla Ice actually came and talked to me that night. We hung out for the rest of that night and also at the after party from 1:30 am - 3:30 am. More on that later!

I'm Baaaaaaaaack!

Well, after a five month hiatus I'm officially back. It's the season premier of my blog, if you will! :) I recently took a trip to California (more on that later) and a friend of mine mentioned that she liked to keep up with other people's blogs to see what is happening in their life. I too enjoy reading my friend's blogs to see what's going on in their life, so I thought maybe I should update my blog in case any one was wondering what I've been up to. Stay tuned to see what I've been up to!

Who Needs 30 Days?

A New Thirty Day Challenge

I've had a wonderful birthday! A weekend long celebration, lots of fun movies, breakfast made by my roomies, gorgeous flowers, swimming with my cutie petootie niece, pizza from Papa John's, steak by Alisa, funfetti cake with rainbow chip frosting from the roomies...who could ask for anything more. The only downside was a nice breeze I received today on my backside...my favorite pair of capri jeans S-P-L-I-T in the back. Luckily I didn't notice until I was practically home...however some folks at Wal-Mart may have gotten a pretty funny posterior view. So the new 30 day challenge...let's see how many old clothes Erica can fit into (you know, the skinny clothes). Wish me luck! Hopefully there will be less of me to love after the next 30 days! :)

Thirty Day Challenge

My hair is about as straight as a board...what a tired simile. Let's try this again. My hair is about as straight as the horizon in the desert with no mountains...hmmm, not much better but you get the idea. (What cool things are straight?) So for the show I'm in right now (shameless plug - come see it Mon, Fri, or Sat through Mar 21st at the Springville Playhouse at 50 S Main Street), I have to pull off a 40's do. So I use my cheap-o curlers and lots of Redken Spray Starch (best stuff EVER) and get the following...



The director thinks my hair is darling and has now told me that I must wear it like this all the time! She's convinced that it might even lead to a marriage proposal for me. She's a little at the end of her rope where I am concerned...she directed me in a show where I was the only female cast member and there were four single guys in it and I still couldn't make something work. I told Mo the other day that I would take a 30 day challenge. I'll wear my hair like this for 30 days and see if I can get a husband. What do you think...is that what I've been missing all these years. :)

This one's for you, America!

So during tough economic times often a paradox will result where individuals do what's in their best interest (save) instead of doing what is in the best interest of the national economy (spend). Because no one is spending, the government has to spend to help pull the economy out of recession. I heard Warren Buffet spends when people are saving and saves when people are spending...I like that strategy, but I think I took it a little too far today. I took my care in to Sav-Mor auto in Orem to have them investigate some funny noises my car was making. Turns out the back right wheel bearing had to be replaced and the clutch had to be replaced. I felt like a very generous individual today contributing $1300 towards my local economy. And I thought to myself as I plunked down my credit card*, "America...This one's for you!"


*I would like to have it known that I pay off my credit card each month when I remember to pay the bill...I've only forgotten once in my life. :) Unfortunately, Sav-Mor didn't take American Express - a pity! I would have liked to have gotten some cash back on that charge!!

Just Say No!

I'm speechless...I can't think of anything to preface this video clip with...it's just amazingly funny. Enjoy!

Best Beauty Find Ever

Ladies, thanks to my roomies I've discovered the beauty find of the century! Cover Girl's plastic mascara brushes are DIVINE! One of my pet peeves regarding mascara is the way it just clumps up your lashes and looks gross. I've tried the "jiggle" trick (jiggle the brush as you apply the mascara), but it just doesn't seem to work.

I'm totally in love with the plastic wands - they seriously work wonders when it comes to mascara. They don't extend my lashes quite as much as the L'Oreal mascara, but I'm willing to take shorter lashes that aren't clumpy. :) Now if I could just figure out a way to take it off easily I'd be perfectly happy...

Establishing Priorities

Last Sunday, the idea came to me to live my life according to my priorities, instead of living life according to what is urgent or fun. I'm such a procrastinator, that often I miss out on the most important things because I'm frantically focusing on the urgent things or so exhausted from my last minute rush that I am recuperating by doing "fun" things. I came across a great talk by Elder Ballard (an Apostle in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) entitled "Keeping Life's Demands in Balance" (April 1987 Conference Talk). He gives eight great suggestions for achieving balance in life. As I was searching for information on priorities, I came across a talk by Elder Oaks (also an Apostle) entitled "Focus and Priorities" (April 2001 Conference Talk). I like the emphasis this talk places on "focus" and I'm looking forward to reading what Elder Oaks has to say about "priorities." Here's to a more efficient and effective life in 2009!

Disney Land - Here I Come!!

Recently I found out about a cool contest KOSY 106.5 is having for the month of January. You can enter as many times a day as you want and they pick a new winner every week day and call them at 7 am to tell them they won a trip to Disney Land! A three day hopper ticket for 4 people and two night's stay at a hotel. (You have to get down there yourself, but it's not too far...) I LOVE Disney Land and the idea of getting a trip for free (AND getting to stay right there at the park) is very tempting.

So how do you win? Simple! All you have to do is click on all the rides on the Disney Land map (of Magic Kingdom and California Adventure) until you find Fisher and Peggy (the DJ's of KOSY's morning show). A little hint for all those interested....Fisher and Peggy are at the Ghost House (in New Orleans Square). Feel free to go log in and start trying to win. All I ask is...YOU MUST TAKE ME WITH YOU!!!!!!!

Why One Shouldn't Travel Alone

It's not the possible muggings or such. One shouldn't travel alone because then you get pictures like these...

Yeah, I don't know anyone in this picture either. But it's pretty! This a building on Colombia University's campus - recognize it? There's a scene from Hitch that was filmed on these steps (when the funny guy and Will Smith meet for the first time).



The ice skating rink at Rockefeller is SO much smaller in real life! (Sorry to ruin that for anyone.) Yep - still no one in this picture that I know.


Trying to master the art of photographing yourself - the one arm zoom. (Is my forehead REALLY that big??) The backdrop? Lovely Central Park - it really is amazing!!!


And then some nice man offered to take one of me. See how much better it is?


A little bonus - Holy Poof of Bangs Batman!!

Numbers Game

Days spent in NYC...4 1/2
Shows seen on Broadway...3 (plus the Rockettes' Christmas Spectacular)
Happiness level...110%
Number of marriage proposals...1 1/2 plus a wink from a stranger on a subway
Number of mysterious but cool gentlemen I met on said trip...1 (enter *r****)

Days away from the office...3
Number of voicemails received...1
Number of NEW emails...190+
Number of minutes spent hyperventilating when I saw the number of NEW emails...27

Equals...A great trip to NYC and a killer day back at the office. How long until the Thanksgiving holiday??

Blind Dates

I received an email from a girl I had been in a show with a couple years back asking if I was still single. We were friends on Facebook and she was looking for someone to set up her brother with. It's a good thing she ran across my photo in Facebook! Now I can up my dating statistics for 3rd quarter 2008 to a grand total of possibly one. Hmmm...maybe I should actually send a Christmas letter this year out to all my friends and subtly (or not so subtly) remind them that I am still single and I'm always up for a blind date with men over 6' 2", who have a decent occupation (i.e. college degree with ambition to advance), are good Mormon boys, and who like to laugh. But I digress...

So *o** called me Sunday night and we chatted for a while. He seems like a cool guy - I was kind of a dork on the phone and he didn't totally laugh at me. :) At the end of our conversation he even suggested that we get together before we both leave on our vacation trips (not with each other, don't worry...that would be some blind date!) this weekend, because - and I quote - "You sound fun." (According to his sister, he also finds me attractive!) I'm not gonna lie - it's flattering to have a good conversation with a guy and know that you have a date with him that week.

Now for conflict (every good story has to have some sort of conflict or set back, right?). It's Tuesday night and he hasn't called to set up the particulars of our supposed date tomorrow night. I did get a call from his sister around 10 pm tonight asking how our phone call went - yes, we are still in middle school. She said he's shy and that he wasn't sure if he should call me back...I'm totally flattered that he finds me attractive and enjoyed talking to me. But darling *o**, it does neither of us any good if you DON'T CALL ME BACK!! *sigh* I told her to tell him (did I mention we're still in middle school?) that he should call me and we'll go do something. I even told her to tell him he can pick something he enjoys doing, so if I'm lame he'll still have a good time. She says he's just shy in the beginning...after a while he'll grow out of it. Hope springs eternal. :)

By the way, I'd just like to take this opportunity to let you all know that I am still single. I find blind dates (or the events leading up to blind dates, or even the offer of blind dates) amusing, so please send any eligible young men my way. Please... :)

Will's Fest in CC

(Charm and TT at the Cedar City Shakespeare Festival doing our best Juliet impression - 2007.)

I love to go down to the Shakespeare Festival in Cedar City. Seriously - I love to GO down there. I absolutely abhor, despise, detest, and loathe the drive back in the dark, deer-infested night. I'm always so terrified that I'll end up hitting a deer or that I'll fall asleep at the wheel and kill myself. I know what you're thinking - "Don't hold back, Charm...Tell us how you really feel." Don't even get me started on the time it took us six hours to get from Cedar City to Provo...

Besides the awful drive back, the Festival is really great. I headed down with a friend and we started off with lunch at the Pastry Pub. Absolutely delightful! If you ever frequent Cedar City you MUST stop by the Pastry Pub for the good grub. Plus the slightly Shakespearean influenced decorations are kind of fun. :) However, I do not recommend the Baklava for breakfast...I made that mistake this morning with Baklava I purchased last night.

Our first show we attended was "Gaslight" - a Victorian thriller about a woman who is being driven insane by her husband. I was impressed with the leading lady - she handled the role very skillfully. Just the right touch of almost-hysteria, but she didn't cross the line into melodrama. That is a very difficult balance. And the set was amazing. Loved it!! (If you think you might enjoy watching a woman lose her mind, check out the film with Ingrid Bergman.)

Before "Gaslight" started, I ran into my Drama Queen Cousin and Aunt Art at the Festival quite unexpectedly. You never know who you'll see in Cedar City!

Then we walked around town and ate dinner at Cafe Orleans. Who knew you could get Cajun food in Cedar City, Utah! It was pretty good. I think they even had Tony Chachere's in salt shakers...it wasn't labeled, but I could tell what it was. :)

The evening show was closing night of Julius Caesar. To be honest, I wasn't really excited about seeing Julius Caesar - I like Will's comedies more than his tragedies. But you almost have to see a Shakespearean play when you go to the Shakespeare Festival. I did actually like seeing their version - all the costumes were modern suits and army fatigues. My favorite moment...In one of the first scenes Marc Antony comes bounding on stage (yes - he was bounding) in a Formula One car racing suit. Priceless! (I think reference is made to Brutus driving at a rapid pace in his chariot...hence the racing suit.) From a technical aspect, the lighting and sound were excellent. They had some ominous lightning at critical moments in the play, which was excellently executed. Also, during the funeral speeches they had a track which gave "voice" to the audience, which was a fun effect. Overall, it was pretty well done. But still not one of my favorite plays...sorry Will.

The Biggest Loser

I'm totally addicted! Last night I watched 3 hours worth of The Biggest Loser on NBC.com - isn't the world wide web amazing? I started watching last season. It's phenomenal to see the transformation that happens. Yep, it's pretty great viewing...especially as I chow down on brownies and rice crispy treats. After all, if they aren't going to eat them, someone has to do it...I'm just doing my best to keep balance in the universe...

A Hike to Remember

So dreamy **i** (not to be confused with **v** - and yes, things really are over with **v**) and I are going hiking Friday night. He's the dashingly handsome man that took me to the Spring Ballroom Dance concert. Remember? (Hey, just because he waited 6 months to ask me out again doesn't mean anything...I want a guy who makes wise, well thought out decisions...yeah...)

I told him about my show and he said he wanted to come see it. I posted a comment on Facebook stating that I only had 6 shows left and that prompted an email from said gentleman, **i**. He asked if I was looking forward to the free time after the show was done and I mentioned that I was exciting to do other things again, like hiking...yeah, I was totally playing up to him. I mean I do like hiking...see the picture above for proof...just because I know he likes hiking and happened to mention hiking...well...it's something we have mildly in common! All I'm trying to do is build relationships of trust - right? Anyway, he said if I did well enough in the show that he might even take me on a guided hike...guess I did well enough. :)

Cross your fingers for me! Maybe if I'm lucky he'll ask me out again in another six months!!

And for those of you who think I don't like hiking...