Star Power

My 72 hours of being sad up (yes, that's the rule-72 hours to wallow and then move to the next step!), I decided to channel some star power today. As an actress and celebrity in training (gotta shoot for the...ahem...stars, people!), I often check out PEOPLE magazine and am in awe of the women who not only have to deal with the pain caused by their lying, cheating boyfriends and husbands, but they have to do it in front of the world. I joke with my best girlfriends that one day, we'll be able to recover from our broken hearts by the pool at Canyon Ranch, where we'll spend three weeks in hiding: week 1 will be spent sleeping, crying and kabashing our delicate diets and exercise routines with major comfort food; week 2 will consist of hours on the therapy couch to complain, analyze, and cry some more; and week 3 will be the overhaul where our stylists and trainers fly in to detox, whip our butts back into amazing shape and give us the magical new hairstyle and wardrobe that will make "he whose name we no longer speak of" lose sleep at night.

So until then, I'm channeling my inner Reese. Witherspoon, my go-to girl for both her talent, her Southern charm and class, has definitely been raked through the mud by "what's his name" Phillipe and had to pull herself up by her Manolos with two kids in tow. Not only that, she channeled her pain by getting into better shape-both physically and with her career-and took home an Oscar not soon after. Then there's her film alter-ego Elle Woods who took her rejection to the doorways of Harvard, and not only saved the day but landed a kind, funny and sexy partner in crime, too (I do love Luke Wilson...).

With this in mind, I took myself to Hee Soo Beauty in the East Village, a hole in the wall nail salon that is AMAZING. As in cheap ($10 manicures and $25 pedicures) with the most lovely little ladies to take care of you. Clean, personable and with the most delightful massage chairs, it was just the respite I needed to feel cool, calm and collected again. Plus, you get a free shoulder massage with any service! I went with Essie's STATUS SYMBOL which is a creamy, feisty hot pink-perfect. And yes, I pick colors based on their names and how I want to feel...

In case you were wondering about their stats, here they are. They don't have a website but you can also check out their great reviews on Yelp. It's not just me that adores this place! You must go the next time you need a pick-me-up!

Hee Soo Beauty

114 4th Avenue

(between 11th & 12th Streets)

Salvation Army is next door so this is also the perfect time to drop off clothes to make room for your upcoming closet makeover!

Next on my list. Cut and color. Ok, confession. I am BAD about spending money on myself. Or rather, when I do, it goes towards classes and headshots rather than clothes and personal care. So with my long locks, I tend to skip expensive salons in favor of good old Supercuts. I told you this was a confession! But actually, the one on St. Mark's does a pretty good job in case you need a quick and cheap trim...

But I'm splurging on myself a bit. I've been so good about saving the past few months but now I need this TLC, a power boost to get me ready for the week of auditions, rehearsal and oh yeah-that amazing trip abroad where I'm just positive an Irish lad is waiting for me. I was going to go for the out-of-the-box color, but I keep wavering so time to head to the pros at Salon NK. Gilt City NYC has a great deal for single process color in case you, too, are ready for a new look. While still undecided if I'm going to go for a more dramatic deep brunette or more auburn (I'm headed to see my Irish roots after all!), I'm sure I'm in good hands with Nerik's knowledgeable staff.

Now I just need to find the time for an appointment. Thankfully, the paparazzi aren't yet banging down my door, so I have a little leeway. I think post-show is the way to go...with all the curling for the production, my hair will need some extra care in two weeks. So whether you had the spa money in hand or only $10 singles to spare, it's amazing how some personal fluffing and taking care of yourself can make you feel a new sense of personal power.

I'm On the Market & In the Moment!

ON THE MARKET-and now freaked out

Ok guys-back ON the market again...time to re-design the blog AND my way of thinking.

So I've taken the plunge and just signed up for Match.com to take a gander and practice dating again.

And now I'm sufficiently freaked out! What happened to the days when you could just meet someone through your grandmother's neighbor's friend?!?!

But I'm doing this for your entertainment, blog-gotta have something to write about!

And so it begins....


But before that, I just wanted send a huge thanks to my incredible support network that has pulled me through the last year and all of its many ups and downs. Through the cards and words of encouragement, the opportunity to write and express myself, I am incredibly blessed to have such a rock solid foundation of family and friends. Off the Market love to you all!

Or rather, On the Market love. It's a new year after all!

Day 2-One More Day

So amid moving to a new apartment in Little Italy, starting rehearsals for a new show and traveling home for a much-needed hiatus, I was reminded many times over that the year is nearing a close. In many ways, I wonder where the time went. In many more ways, I wonder if I learned anything at all?

Here's what I do know: despite my "off the market" status, it was more difficult than I thought to keep my heart in check. Yes, I stayed out of a relationship, but yes, I fell for someone. HARD. (so at times, yes, I felt like I was cheating on the blog...) And got hurt when I played the casual card which ultimately wasn't do-able for me. Then, I got cynical that relationships and marriage were just too tricky a beast to be tamed. And then fell hard again in hopes that casual was, in fact, just another version of being "in the moment." I still think there is something to that theory, but at the end of the day, we all deserve someone who is willing to take a leap of faith with us. And then the cookie REALLY crumbled this weekend while at a friend's wedding, I watched an old ex, now friend, dance happily with his girlfriend. Instead of what once would have been hurt, I weirdly found a sense of hope-that while it didn't work out for us, one day there'd be someone who was that excited to be with me. Life is ironic.

So am I older and wiser? Well, now I realize the value of timing as well as the importance of deeds following words. In many ways, I feel a little more foolish, but I'm certainly not sorry for following my heart, even if it ultimately ended with my not getting what I hoped would be. I did my best to be in the moment though at times, it was almost painful to fight the urge to think about the future. I definitely wished I had more even more time to write-thankfully, you get a few more months of me ON the market!

And when asked whether I'm looking forward to being back on the relationship scene? Well, I'm really not sure. It doesn't seem life will be much different though I won't be able to use the blog as an excuse for holding back. Because while I certainly feel more grounded than I did a year ago, better able to both prioritize my dreams and bounce back from disappointment, I found that doesn't make me infallible to hurt. In fact, what I definitely discovered is that while being single does have its drawbacks, it is a MUCH easier course to fly solo, worry about your own needs and wants and not put your heart on the line. Being open to relationships? Now that's scary stuff.

And totally worth it.

I definitely thought that starting this mission would result in a year of being crazy single and carefree or in the words of my Day 365 self, "the focus of the year is to get out of my head and away from my heart long enough to secure the foundation for that fun-loving, confident, doesn’t have a care in the world girl that I lose every time I get what I think I’m looking for"...

Fun-loving? Check. Confident? Working on it...Doesn't have a care in the world? Well, that was just unrealistic! I'm a caring person. I think I was going for feeling light, joyful-and there have been some blissful moments indeed like when I landed my first NYC show, got stuck in a snowstorm with someone I cared about, was supported by friends with cards of encouragement, and welcomed the New Year abroad, to name a few. But life is made of ups and downs, and sometimes is so loopy you don't know which way is up anymore. Thankfully, I can say with confidence that I'm growing stronger. And learning. I haven't lost myself as I have with past disappointments, despite my tendency to analyze a bit too often or try too hard when I should just let go. A year definitely doesn't cure all, but I'm learning to give myself, and others, a little more slack, and in the meantime, keep moving forward.

I'm Off the Market and In the Moment! At least for one more day.

Day 24-What Inspires Me (Sponsored Post)

When I was in college, I was given the idea to make a list of 10 things that make you happy. Easy enough, right? Except that list couldn't include other people. The whole exercise was to find those little bits of motivation in your own life, without leaning on the people around you to provide for your happiness.

But what inspires me? Well, that's a different story that goes beyond buying flowers for myself.

As a single woman, particularly an Off the Market one, I think making time to discover and surround yourself with your own personal inspiration is invaluable--and integral to creating your own legendary life story. I've actually been meaning to create an inspiration board for awhile, based on my mid-twenties meltdown from a few weeks ago. Still, it's hard enough to live in the moment, let alone find extra moments to think about what really inspires me and makes me want to live a legendary life.

And I'm sure I'm not alone.

I'm lucky in that I have passions aplenty--so much so that I've spent the year prioritizing these passions as more than occasional activities. But when am I truly inspired? Well, this blog has forced me to sit down and actually figure it out. At first I thought of the beach, those moments of clarity I get when sitting by the water with the sun shining down. But that's not really the same as inspiration as being there is rather, my escape. Of course, writing and reading near the top of my list but again, I thought, those are my escapes....

But when I'm performing? Acting, dancing, singing, whether it's for myself or a crowd, simply lets me forget everything else in my life and be absolutely in the moment. It's my way to connect with my authentic self. My stress release yet at the same time, my high. My best outlet to be creative and push myself to the limits.

So there ya have it. I found my inspiration-do you have yours?

Thankfully, AOL is sponsoring a contest as part of their "Life is Legendary" campaign, an opportunity which makes the creation of my own inspiration board amazingly easy. The “Inspiration Board” is a custom destination that allows anyone to easily record all the things that represent her and what she aspires to become – it’s a forum to express one’s individuality that is sharable with friends on Facebook.

I strongly believe in the power of sending your dreams into the universe--with AOL's “Inspiration Board” is doesn't get any easier than visiting: http://www.jeeplegendarylife.aol.com/

AND, you'll be automatically entered to win a random sweepstake which includes a weekly $50 gift card drawing as well as a chance to win the Grand Prize, a $4500 gift card.

I'm Off the Market & In the Moment!

Day 36-Comfort for the Single Gal's Soul (Sponsored Post)

One of my OTMITM goals this year was to amp up my skills in the kitchen. Well, a month to go, and I've yet to make the leap from culinary newbie to seasoned chef. Though I still plan to continue on this quest, there is thankfully a wonderful option to make sure this Off the Market gal doesn't starve--or permanently live a life of peanut butter and jelly.

Enter Soup Singles. This great brand offers delicious go-to meals in prepackaged packets designed specifically for single servings. And with all the gloomy rain days we've had in NYC lately, this is just the dose of feel good I love to keep on hand.

Plus, one of the biggest deterents to cooking for me is the time factor. I'm constantly on the run, and Soup Singles makes it easy to have a bowl of comfort at a moment's notice as I run out the door or crash on the couch after a fabulously long day. Plus, the extra time I find from NOT cooking can be spent enjoying a well-deserved glass of white!

Since I'm a foodie, I love challenging the taste buds with new eats and flavors and Soup Singles has 8 tasty ones to enjoy. Balsamic Tomato Rice & Vegetable anyone? AND, the soups are made with only the freshest ingredients but minus the sodium that saturates other brands. Normally, I can't eat soup regularly-I'm a bloater :-) But with Soup Singles, I can get the satisfying taste without the salt. The soups are also low cal so they are perfect for helping me get myself in prime swimsuit shape.

Even better? Soup Singles is also designed with the single gal's budget in mind. I can get 5 Soup Singles for just $5 at participating ShopRite stores, leaving me with more funds to spend on new dresses or spontaneous happy hours this summer. Goodbye expensive frozen meals!

Soup Singles has bought me the time I needed to master my skills. And should I have another person across the table, I can create a meal for two without the embarassing interuption of our apartment's fire alarm going off... or maybe I'll save this bowl of comfort for just myself. Thanks to Soup Singles, a little self love is never far away.

I'm Off the Market & In the Moment-and now quite hungry!

Check out their Facebook page for daily deals and more information.

Day 41-Off the Market Crisis

So this week has been interesting....lots of reflection, confusion...and more than a few tears of frustration. Let's just call it a mid-twenties crisis. What to do with my life? Where to live? I hit all of the biggies with very few answers.

Needless to say, I've been stressed and not at all in the moment. So much for the last month of the blog mission! Fortunately, a wise friend caught the signs and sat me down for a chat, all the while instructing me to think about what I'd want out of life if there were no limits (rent, fear, hours of the day...RENT). So that's what I did. I took the time to figure out my hopes for this very short life and wrote them down, in no particular order.

-to travel

-to act, dance, and sing to my little heart's content

-to LOVE

-to learn French

-to own my apartment (remember the sky's the limit, even in Manhattan!)

-to volunteer

-to have a family/children

-to have a beach retreat of my own

-to learn how to cook (I can dream, can't I?)


Some things are obviously more superficial than others, but these are my top wants which I have now sent out into the universe. I guess you can think of this as a vision board of sorts-though I assume it will grow and change as I continue to do so. And of course, I expect additions.

Just looking back to Day 357-Making a List where I numerated goals for my year of OTMITM. Fortunately, I've crossed off being in a show since though I've yet to make it to my ballroom class or again, fix anything other than a PBJ and popcorn for dinner.

While I don't know what my next steps are any more so than I did on Monday, I'm a little more at ease getting this all in writing. And realizing that while these are all life-changing decisions, they are positive ones and not at all crisis-worthy as I make them in my head. Hopefully, now I can just release my hopes enough to get back to what's in front of me. And be patient for the answers to come.

I'm Off the Market & In the Moment

Day 51-Taking a Moment

So I've been MIA once again due to lots of rehearsing and little time for much else. I'm doing my best to hang on here! But, I didn't want to leave OTMITM hanging for another week so wanted to take a moment and share this quote that was sent to me courtesy of The Daily Love:

"People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you selfish, ulterior motives: Be kind anyway. What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight: Create anyway. If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway. The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway. Give the best you have, and it may never be enough: Give your best anyway. In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway."

--Mother Theresa--