tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63847215235659113452024-03-14T02:00:59.620-07:00The Cozy CornerEmilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12774051291400256475noreply@blogger.comBlogger91125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384721523565911345.post-57119530491903800542016-01-28T22:52:00.000-08:002016-01-29T08:49:08.242-08:00#MadFunnyWomenFor my friends and family not involved in the Chicago comedy scene, there is a lot of really awesome stuff in the works to help create safer places for women to play, learn, perform, and grow as comedians. I realize most of the people I know who aren't involved in this community have no idea what is happening, but it is important so I wanted to take a moment to write about it. I know this wont be as eloquent as I would like and it will only graze the surface of the issues coming to light, however, I think it is important to share.<br />
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Let's start at the beginning. Recently in the LA comedy scene a woman named, Beth Stelling, broke her silence about abuses she endured from a fellow stand up comedian she had been dating. She was physically, emotionally, and sexually abused by her boyfriend for a long time before calling it quits.<br />
Read more about Beth <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/comedian-beth-stelling-wrote-a-powerful-message-about-surviving-an-abusive-relationship-a6789386.html" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/news/comedian-beth-stelling-posts-about-abusive-ex/" target="_blank">here.</a><br />
Her courage and openness has spurred a movement in LA as well as Chicago and many cities across the country. Women are opening up and sharing stories of sexism, sexual harassment, and sexual assault in the comedy community. A non profit organization, Women In Comedy, made a form which allowed women to anonymously submit stories about their individual experiences facing sexism and sexual harassment/assault in classes, rehearsals, shows, etc...<br />
Visit the website and read some of the stories <a href="http://www.womenincomedy.org/#!Its-Not-A-Big-Deal-Harassment-Sexism-Assault-of-Women-In-Comedy/cyh4/56a19f440cf2bfd5cceca622">here.</a><br />
It quickly became evident and alarming how many women all over the country experience varying levels of sexism at the hands of teachers, coaches, directors, teammates, classmates, etc... The mildest of which can come in the form of men claiming women aren't funny or placing women into deliberately submissive roles in sketch and improv. The worst of which can be sexual assault, rape, physical or sexual violence from fellow team members, teachers, coaches, etc... Many males in this community use their positions of power to coerce and use female comedians. One of the biggest issues women face is their voices being silenced in these discussions in the past. Many women are too intimidated to report these instances for fear of backlash from the theatres. Often the theatres staunchly defend their teachers, thusly leading women to decide not to report so as not to "ruin the reputation" of the teacher, have their own name dragged through the mud, or be "run out" of the comedy business.<br />
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The good news? Because of this outpouring of stories many women are demanding changes to policies at the various comedy theatres to make it easer and more lucrative for women to report these occurrences. And thanks to the hard work of some very smart, dedicated women many of the major comedy theatres are re-evaluating their policies or putting new policies into place. They are working with lawyers and HR professionals to start a dialogue and begin the long process of making these theaters safer spaces for women.<br />
Here are a couple articles explaining the whole atmosphere in Chicago a little bit better than me. <a href="http://jezebel.com/chicagos-woman-comedians-are-fighting-back-against-sexu-1755656627">Jezebel Article</a> and <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/theater/ct-sexual-harassment-accusations-roil-chicago-improv-community-ent-0129-20160128-story.html">Chicago Tribune Article</a>.<br />
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I mean just look at all these badass bitches getting shit done!! I am so proud of all the women in this community for speaking up, standing up, and most importantly supporting each other and creating safe spaces for women to talk!<br />
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I, for one, am fortunate enough to have been in many classes and teams that were super supportive, respectful, and sympathetic to the struggles of women in comedy.<span style="background-color: white;"> Not to say I have never felt the sting of sexism in this community, because I have and it is heartbreaking. But almost all of the men and women I have had the privilege of playing with have been nothing but respectful and aware of how women are treated off stage and represented on stage. </span>Many of my teammates and classmates actively work to make sure the playing and learning environment is positive and safe.<br />
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It is not even worth my time to regale the many times on or off stage that a male comedian has said or done something to make me feel uncomfortable. From this moment on I will stand up for myself and my fellow women! I will be unafraid of speaking up and letting someone know when they have crossed the line! I will not back down from an opportunity to educate a fellow comedian about their role in perpetuating sexism and misogyny in this community. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could stop sexism in its tracks just by calling it out whenever we see it, smacking down harassment before it even starts, standing up for the safety of our fellow comedians, and creating safe places for women to perform, play, learn, and above all else be funny!!!<br />
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While the steps these theatres are taking is a BIG deal and huge step in the right direction the problems are far from being solved. There are a lot of gray areas especially when it comes to independent teams, post show parties, after hours conversations, etc... However, progress is progress and there is an open dialogue, which is hugely important. Right now people are pretty amped up on women's rights and creating safe spaces for women but it is important to note, women are not the only groups of people who face extreme prejudice in this community. People of color, women of color, and LGBTQ groups are also often fighting for their voices to be heard. Hopefully, these new policies and conversations will benefit all these marginalized groups making the entire comedy scene in Chicago (as well as other cities) a generally safer environment for funny people of all shapes, sizes, colors, and orientations!<br />
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Right now women in the comedy world are fired up and fighting for change, and only good things can come from this many women fighting for something important.<br />
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"Girls, if a boy says something that isn't funny, you don't have to laugh." -Amy Poehler</blockquote>
And if its sexist feel free to tell him just how not funny his "joke" really is!<br />
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Stay funny all you classy ladies!!! <br />
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Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12774051291400256475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384721523565911345.post-47846303325523160372016-01-03T12:36:00.000-08:002016-01-03T12:36:06.865-08:00Dear Diary<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">It's been exactly one year since <a href="http://cozycornerwithemily.blogspot.com/2015/01/well-hello-there-stranger-its-been.html" target="_blank">my last blog posting</a>. I am clearly incredibly successful at keeping a blog alive.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">My blog has essentially become one of my old diaries from elementary school:</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Dear Diary,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">I know it's been a while since I have written, but I promise to write everyday this year. Promise.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Dear Diary,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Screw it.... We both know I am a failure when it comes to any sort of daily writing, so why even try?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">So, Let me catch you up on this past year in a series of retroactive Diary entries reminiscent of my early days as a failed writer.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><b>January 2015</b></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Dear Diary</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">On Hiatus performed in Sketchfest this month. It was a blast! Bonus: my mom came to visit!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><b>February 2015</b></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Dear Diary</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">I have been unemployed this whole month. It's been a bummer except I have been watching some excellent television on Netflix.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><br /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><b>March 2015</b></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Dear Diary,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">I got a job teaching swim lessons. I graduated from the Second City Conservatory... my Mom, Dad, Sister, and Grandma came to see my graduation performance. March was a big month for me.</span><br />
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<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><b>April 2015</b></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Dear Diary,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">On Hiatus is writing a new show called Retro Lens, but what does that even mean?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><br /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><b>May 2015</b></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Dear Diary,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Opened and closed Retro Lens with On Hiatus</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">P.S. Marketing is hard.</span><br />
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<b>June 2015</b><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Dear Diary,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Did this month even happen?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><br /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><b>July 2015</b></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Dear Diary,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Spent my birthday in Detroit with my dad's family. Introduced Megan to the craziness that is a Forest Family gathering. Good news, I haven't scared her off... Yet.</span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CyD750clLjI/VomBGU15AuI/AAAAAAAABaU/r5zmFQNSeW8/s1600/IMG_2807.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CyD750clLjI/VomBGU15AuI/AAAAAAAABaU/r5zmFQNSeW8/s320/IMG_2807.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">Forest Family tradition, Pirate mini golf</span></td></tr>
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<br /><b><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">August 2015</span></b><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Dear Diary,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">2 weeks in sunny San Diego with Megan and her family. Plus, Disneyland with Willie, what more could a girl ask for.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><b>September 2015</b></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Dear Diary,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Opened a new show with On Hiatus called Autumn Shorts: a Night of 10 Minute Plays.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><b>October 2015</b></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Dear Diary,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Quite my job. Unemployment really suits me well.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Closed a new show with On Hiatus called Autumn Shorts: a Night of 10 Minute Plays</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">P.S. Marketing is really really hard</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0ftkbV1b0QY/VomBId-Jx6I/AAAAAAAABas/iLTCQOSTSSg/s1600/IMG_3743.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0ftkbV1b0QY/VomBId-Jx6I/AAAAAAAABas/iLTCQOSTSSg/s320/IMG_3743.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><b>November 2015</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Dear Diary,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Started a new job taking care of two precious and rambunctious girls (5months and 2.5 years)</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><b>December 2015</b></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Dear Diary,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">On Hiatus is writing yet another sketch show for Sketchfest 2016!!!</span><br />
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<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">I am resurrecting this blog because I forgot how great it is to have a writing outlet that isn't some sort of serious project. I just need to write more and think less.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">However, do not take this as any sort of "resolution" that I will be writing every day or every week or even every month. Who knows this could end up being a blog that only consists of a yearly recap. Let's set our standards low and then chances are we will exceed them.</span><br />
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<i style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">NOTE: I wrote this and meant to post it on January 1st... Clearly I am already off to a good start. </i>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12774051291400256475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384721523565911345.post-59627606695791663162015-01-01T01:07:00.001-08:002015-01-01T01:13:19.530-08:00Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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Well hello there stranger!</div>
It's been awhile since I have posted here and I have to say it was very nice to have a little vacation from writing. I know that I should be writing every day to hone my skills and become a better writer. But with all the writing I was doing for my blog and for my sketch groups I was starting to feel a little burnt out. So vacation came just in time for me between the number of hours I was working, the rehearsals, classes, and amount of writing I was doing I was glad for the break.<br>
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So here are some of the highlights of my holiday celebrations and vacation.<br>
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Before heading back to Colorado to visit my family I had a little holiday fun in Chicago.<br>
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Megan, her sister, and I headed to the Christkindlmarket in the Loop in Chicago. We did some shopping, window shopping, and indulged in some German snacks. </div>
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Since Megan and I weren't going to be together for Christmas we decided to have our own little christmas celebration together. We got dinner at Twin Anchors in Old Town before heading over to the Lincoln Park Zoo for Zoo Lights. We walked around and saw the ice sculptor hard at work on a frozen octopus, indulged in some delicious peppermint hot cocoa, and rode the Endangered Species Carousel. </div>
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After our adventures at the zoo we headed home to warm up, open gifts, and watch a Christmas movie.<br>
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It was a pretty fabulous, albeit chilly, pre-Christmas celebration. </div>
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Soon after I headed out of the Windy City to my home state of Colorado. Oh how I miss these beautiful mountains! </div>
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Being home with my family for the holidays can only mean on thing and that is a ton of baking and food prep for the big dinner. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mary, my Dad, and I making pizzelles as per tradition! </td></tr>
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Thankfully, or maybe not, It snowed a bunch during my time in the Mile High State. It hasn't yet snowed significantly in Chicago, so I was enjoying watching the snowfall while curled up next to the fire with a cup of tea. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Risking everyone's lives driving with my 15 year old sister! </td></tr>
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There are many Forest Family Christmas Traditions and as per usual I took so few pictures its actually astonishing that I have a blog at all. Some of my favorite traditions include hash brown quiche for breakfast, a 4 course Italian feast for dinner (Italian wedding meatball soup, lasagna, roasted chicken/salad/green beans, macerated oranges, and of course pizzelles, biscotti, and chocolate for dessert), and the annual cousin foosball tournament!<br>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tradition runs so deep in my family it was no surprise when my little brother Nathan won the tournament for the 4th or 5th year in a row!!! </td></tr>
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Between much relaxing and TV binge watching we managed to get out and have some fun family times including this trip to Blossoms of Light at the Denver Botanical Gardens. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We take the best selfies!! </td></tr>
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And this trip to the Denver Art Museum to see the Brilliant Cartier special exhibit<br>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Classy, classy ladies! </td></tr>
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I got to catch up with some old friends from childhood, high school, and college. Of course, true to form, I only have one picture with my good friend Raye from college. We squeezed in a visit on New Years Eve on my last night in Denver. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Puzzles, Diet Coke, and a good friend what more do you need? </td></tr>
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Tomorrow morning I am heading up to the mountains with my family to spend a few nights at my parents cabin.<br>
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I am super looking forward to one last relaxing weekend before heading back into the chaos of Chicago, preparing for Sketchfest 2015, and starting Level 6 of the Conservatory.<br>
We don't have any internet up there so I am trying to get all this packed into one blog post.<br>
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Happy New Year Blogosphere!!<br>
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Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12774051291400256475noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384721523565911345.post-35448259932279142762014-12-11T07:16:00.003-08:002014-12-11T07:16:58.447-08:00Alternative Christmas CardsIt's that time of the year again. You're thinking about what picture of your family you are going to put on one of those glossy postcard-esque print outs from Sam's Club and you are devising the letter you plan to write to all your friends and family bragging about your recent trip to Hawaii, the fact that your eldest daughter just got accepted into a top Ivy League school, and your youngest son's baseball team is the state champion. You'll gloss over all the things in life that are just mediocre or completely miserable like how you got a wicked sunburn while in Hawaii or how your middle son decided he wanted to go to clown college. Meanwhile, all your friends and family will also be writing, editing, rewriting, and re-editing their list of accomplishments from 2014. So why not break away from the pack and do something unique and different for your Holiday cards this year.<br />
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Here is a list of alternative Christmas Card letters you could send to your family and friends<br />
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<li>A series of limericks that merge holiday themes with your <i>lousiest </i>moments from 2014</li>
<li>A hand drawn crayon portrait of your family with a description of the <i>symbology</i> of the picture</li>
<li>A crossword puzzling <i>challenging</i> your friends and family to care enough to decipher clues</li>
<li>A Dadaist piece involving random words and pictures from 2014</li>
<li>A letter from your future selves <i>divulging the secrets </i>of how everyone meets their ends</li>
<li>A 100 page novel about a fictional family with a <i>perfect life</i></li>
<li>A series of cave paintings narrating an epic adventure you <i>wish</i> you took with your family </li>
<li>Your Christmas card for 2015 explaining that it's never to early to get a jump on sending out your Christmas letters</li>
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No matter what you decide to write just make sure that the pictures are perfect and only capture the half of the family that you care the most about!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My mom accidentally, through a series of unfortunate events, printed 200 of these Christmas cards with duplicate pictures of me, my dad, and sister. Finally 200 cards later was able to get the second picture to correctly be of her and my brothers! I like to think that my parents just wanted to remind the world how much they love me and my sister. </td></tr>
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Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12774051291400256475noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384721523565911345.post-18541868465667093602014-12-05T12:58:00.001-08:002014-12-05T12:58:27.620-08:00Liebster AwardI got nominated by Becky from <a href="http://beckyboops.blogspot.com/2014/11/holy-cahonies-award-this-way-comes.html" target="_blank">BeckyBoop</a> for the Liebster Award, which is an award given out by bloggers to other bloggers for being awesome and usually geared towards newer bloggers! (Say "bloggers" one more time in that sentence!)<br />
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Here are the rules:<br />
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-Link back to the blogger who nominated you<br />
-Answer all of their questions<br />
-Write 11 facts about yourself<br />
-Link 11 blogs with less than 200 followers and tell them you have nominated them<br />
-Ask 11 questions of the people that you nominated<br />
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Hold on to your pants team this is going to be a lot of information about me, and there is no stopping it!<br />
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<b><u>Questions from Becky</u></b><br />
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<b>1. If you could live in any book universe, where would you choose?</b><br />
My immediate reaction to this question is Narnia. Is it cliche? Maybe, but I am sticking with it... it's so gosh darn pretty there!<br />
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<b>2. What is the most odd term of endearment that you have used for someone, or that someone has used for you? </b><br />
Well, I have used some pretty weird terms of endearment in the past and present and to avoid any seriously lasting embarrassment I am going to go with some of the ways that I address the little girl that I nanny. I like to make up new nick names for her all the time so here are some of my favorites: Pumpkin Pie Face, Mocha Choca Latta, Yoga Baby, Giggle Butt, Tortellini, Poopy Pants, Pooper Scooper, Buga Boo, this list could go on and on.<br />
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<b>3. Snap Question: Zombie apocalypse! First weapon that comes to mind? </b><br />
Axe...<br />
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<b>4. If you were a vegetable what would you be and why? </b><br />
Romanesco... Because you've probably never heard of me!<br />
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<b>5. Do you have any tips or tricks to posting regularly? </b></div>
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I don't necessarily post regularly. I try to post a couple times a week even if one of them is just about my week or something fun that I did. Then I try to come up with another post of something more creative and comedic. It doesn't always work... but what cha gunna do? </div>
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<b>6. What is your families most important Christmas tradition? </b></div>
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I wish it didn't say the word "important" because I think the best holiday tradition we have is our annual foosball tournament. Which pits everyone against each other and always ends up with my little brother winning. But that's not as "important" as having lasagna every year, come hell or high water, we will be eating my Dad's lasagna! </div>
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<b>7. Do you have an outfit or item of clothing that you have owned for a long time but rarely wear? </b></div>
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Yes, I do. I own a sweatshirt from when I was 6 years old and started swimming on the neighborhood summer swim team (so if I am doing my math correctly that is a 17 year old sweatshirt). The miraculous thing about this sweatshirt is that it fits me! My mom bought the sweatshirt about a million sizes too big when I was a kid so I could fit my whole body inside of it while at meets. Lo and behold I perfectly grew into it. </div>
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<b>8. State a favorite character. Now explain what kind of underwear they would wear. </b></div>
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Scarlet O'Hara. Historically speaking she would be wearing all those crazy petticoats, bloomers, corsets, and such. But I would like to think that Scarlet O'Hara is actually wearing days of the week underwear and always the correct day of the week is being represented. </div>
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<b>9. If you could add one hour to your day what would you do with it? </b></div>
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My initial reaction was to say "What couldn't I do with it! I could be so much more productive if I had an extra hour every day!" But, lets be real, I would just sleep an extra hour. </div>
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<b>10. What do you want to achieve by the end of 2014?</b></div>
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Seeing as I only have 28 days left, being a realist, I would say very little. But last year for New Years I came up with this project idea to do an <a href="http://cozycornerwithemily.blogspot.com/2014/01/new-year-new-you.html" target="_blank">improvised painting project</a>. I really loved the idea but I have yet to actually do a single one. So maybe I can do one before the end of the year. </div>
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<b>11. If you could be any Harry Potter character who would you be? </b></div>
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If we are basing this on personality I would be Hermione Granger, if you know me this is so explanatory. If we were picking based purely on who would be the most fun to be, I would say Luna Lovegood.... obviously! </div>
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<b><u>11 facts about me! </u></b></div>
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<li>Christmas is my favorite time of year. And for me Christmas season starts early to mid-October!</li>
<li>I dislike chocolate dairy products; chocolate milk, pudding, ice cream, hot chocolate, etc... But I love just having a bar of chocolate</li>
<li>I never get sick of talking about improv and comedy in Chicago... hope you don't get sick of hearing about it</li>
<li>I am currently picking fingernail polish off my fingers... cuz that's what I do. </li>
<li>I got head shots taken a few weeks back and I finally settled on which ones to get edited and I am so stoked for you all to see them! </li>
<li>I love the winter and all snow and winter activities</li>
<li>But my favorite part of winter is cuddling up with a bunch of blankets and a hot cup of tea. </li>
<li>I have recently started being obsessed with red lipstick, and I am liking the drastic change. </li>
<li>I have been known to talk in my sleep and even on occasion sleep walk. </li>
<li>I am super freaking proud of my girlfriend who just got cast in Twisty, the House Ensemble team at Second City!! </li>
<li>This section, by far, took me the longest to write. </li>
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<b><u>People I am nominating: </u></b></div>
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<a href="http://marykeithp.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Mary Keith</a></div>
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<a href="http://citybella21.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Georgia Peach</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.sincerelyandsarcastically.com/" target="_blank">Sincerely and Sarcastically</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.thisismyrealhair.com/" target="_blank">This IS my real hair</a></div>
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<a href="http://thewonderfullymade.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Wonderfully Made</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.sundarla.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">SunDarla</a></div>
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<a href="http://dianadegzz.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Life in German</a></div>
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<a href="http://camomilleteatime.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">CamomilleTeaTime</a></div>
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<a href="http://thecolorcodedlife.com/" target="_blank">The Color Coded Life</a></div>
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<a href="http://jamiffer.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Going the Distance</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.kblblog.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Kelly's Kinda Crazy</a></div>
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<b><u>Now it's your turn! Answer these questions!</u></b></div>
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1. What makes you smile? </div>
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2. What is a secret talent you have? </div>
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3. What is your biggest challenge when it comes to blogging?</div>
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4. When you are stressed or upset what makes you feel better?</div>
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5. Who is your favorite literary character and why? </div>
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6. What movie have you never seen that everyone else has seen and would be appalled that you haven't? </div>
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7. What is your favorite smell?</div>
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8. Tuna or egg salad? </div>
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9. Where is some place you never want to visit again? </div>
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10. What is the most strange, weird, exotic, or disgusting food you have ever eaten?</div>
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11. It's a rainy Sunday afternoon... What are you doing? </div>
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Thanks for sticking it out till the end! Here is a picture of a couple cute puppies to say thanks! </div>
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Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12774051291400256475noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384721523565911345.post-42244919821503793532014-11-30T11:16:00.001-08:002014-12-01T06:20:02.582-08:00The Best Holiday Show!Dear people of Chicago and people who will visit Chicago this holiday season,<br>
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Please do yourself a favor and go see I<a href="http://www.stage773.com/Show?id=288" target="_blank">t's A Wonderful Santa Land Miracle Nut-Cracking Christmas Story... Jews Welcome</a> at Stage 773. It is the most fun you will have watching a holiday themed show!<br>
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I laughed, I cried, I laughed some more. I sang along, I ate fresh baked cookies, and drank cold eggnog. I might be biased because I am friends with two of the talented actors/performers in the show, but I think regardless of my bias it is a great show.<br>
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Let's start at the beginning. When was the last time you walked into a live theatre show and they handed you fresh baked christmas cookies covered in powdered sugar? If your answer isn't this weekend, then you are doing something wrong!<br>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Making fresh cookies right on stage as you walk in! </td></tr>
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<br>The whole show was full of singing, dancing, instruments, hula hoops, puppets, christmas lights, christmas trees, and an all around good time. <div>
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I can't even put into words how wonderful this show was. It really was a full experience from the moment you walk in to the moment you leave, brimming with holiday spirit, joy, and fun! </div>
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If you don't go see this show then you will be missing out on the best holiday experience this season! Of course, that could just be my biased opinion. </div>
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Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12774051291400256475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384721523565911345.post-45850418508129453022014-11-29T10:58:00.000-08:002014-11-29T10:58:26.273-08:00Thankful ThanksgivingPhew! I don't know why the past week was so exhausting, but I feel like I can finally sit down and get some "fun" stuff done. I have been writing like crazy, unfortunately not for my blog, and I feel like I have been running around Chicago with my head cut off. So I finally had a chance to sit down and read some blogs on the blogosphere and write.<br />
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Nancy from <a href="http://www.sincerelyandsarcastically.com/" target="_blank">Sincerely and Sarcastically</a> tagged me in her <a href="http://www.sincerelyandsarcastically.com/2014/11/thankful-thursday.html" target="_blank">Thankful Thursday</a> post and now that it is two days past Thanksgiving and not even a Thursday I think I will finally write on it. Plus, now I can tell you guys about my wonderful Thanksgiving.<br />
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1. My family- Of course!<br />
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2. Megan- I love her so much!<br />
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3. My friends- in all their crazy wonderfulness!<br />
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4. The Chicago Improv Community- so many opportunities and awesome people<br />
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5. My Job- It's the best day job for a burgeoning comedian!<br />
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6. That I don't have to pay for heat in my Chicago apartment- warm winter months ahead.<br />
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7. Left over Thanksgiving food in my fridge- so I don't have to buy groceries for a couple days,<br />
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8. The heat lamps on the train platforms- for heating only the top of my head.<br />
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My Thanksgiving Extravaganza!<br />
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This year, like last year, I was staying in Chicago for Thanksgiving and as such would have to make my own Thanksgiving fun. With my group of friends we continued out tradition of a big pot luck Friendsgiving on Friday night.<br />
On Thursday Megan, Courtney (her sister), and I went and saw Birdman (sidenote: it was pretty amazing!). After the movie we spent all day cleaning my apartment making it presentable for guests. We ended our night with a delicious Thanksgiving feast of Buffalo Wings and Mexican Train Dominos!<br />
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On Black Friday we got our shopping on but not in the way your thinking. We headed down to The Village Discount Thrift Store to find another table and some chairs for our Friendsgiving dinner. Everything at the store was 50% off so we bought a pretty nice outdoor patio table for $4 and a kitchen bench for $3, plus a Pictionary game for $1.50. </div>
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After the thrift store we went to the dollar tree and got some decorations for the party. Some of them I already had from Target and CVS.<br />
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We spent the rest of the day cooking and prepping things and of course I forgot to take any pictures of all the delicious food that we made and that people brought. We had an overabundance of dessert, most of which was left at my house so I will be feasting on pie, cheesecake cupcakes, and chocolate peanut butter desserts. </div>
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Anyway the whole event was a huge success and I got to spend this wonderful food centered holiday with some wonderful friends, new and old. </div>
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<br />Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12774051291400256475noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384721523565911345.post-39035512660730814962014-11-25T12:53:00.001-08:002014-11-25T12:53:46.987-08:00The Peak of my CareerI will never be as funny in my life as I am to this child right now.<br />
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I have reached my comedy peak. Every single thing I say and every face I make sends this Drool Monster into adorable fits of infant giggles. No audience will ever smile with such genuine enthusiasm and deep appreciation for the subtle art of silly sounds. No audience will have to hold their side from the sheer comedic genius of a truly goofy face.<br />
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I don't think any comedian has ever been greeted with high-pitched laughter and shrieks of enthusiasm upon exiting the bathroom, quite like I have. Not to mention, the content of my jokes are completely irrelevant, its all in the delivery. How many comedians are lucky enough to not have to write a single joke? Not many I can tell you that. <br />
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Just for me every seat in the house is filled... A sold out audience every day, and thats the dream. With stuffed animals, little plastic people, a couple of fabric blocks, and of course my #1 fan, The Baby, waiting patiently for todays set, I knock 'me out of the park.<br />
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So write this down in the history books of my life as the day my comedy career reached an all time high! <br />
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Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12774051291400256475noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384721523565911345.post-22539832128420741442014-11-20T13:31:00.000-08:002014-11-20T13:31:17.611-08:00Spinning Fiasco<div>
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3 years ago I went to a spin class for the first time and I vowed I would never go back. So you can imagine my surprise when I found myself sitting on a tiny bicycle seat, unable to feel my legs, wishing for death to take me quickly. </div>
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I don't know what sort of demon possessed me to make me enter that room yesterday but it left me alone and helpless about 10 minutes into a 60 minute class of sweaty, painful Hell. </div>
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The instructor, Steve, started out nice enough. He welcomed me into the class. Helped me adjust my bike and told me that if I felt dizzy, or fatigued I could take a rest before rejoining them. But that nice, gentle Steve was replaced with boot camp, drill Sargent Steve. Every time he yelled "keep moving" or "all the way to the finish line" or "don't give up on me now" I imagined myself rebuffing his commands with a long series of hate filled expletives.</div>
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I especially loathed when he told us that in our next set our "rest" would be standing up on the bike (still pedaling, mind you). But really, is that even a rest? To me, a rest would be getting off your bike and taking a 5 minute nap on the floor. You might be thinking, gross, Emily you wouldn't want to take a nap on the floor of the spin room! But nay, I tell you, I would have. Right around minute 40 I would have gladly abandoned my bike for a nice sweaty, bacteria infested nap on the floor. </div>
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By the time we got to minute 60 I was sure that when I dismounted my bike my legs would just cease to work completely. I imagined I would be like a baby deer just entering the world collapsing with every feeble, wobbly step. I pictured Steve scraping my remains off the floor of the classroom and adding me to a pile of similar sad saps who didn't survive their first spin class. </div>
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But, I mean, I'll probably go back next week. </div>
Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12774051291400256475noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384721523565911345.post-37576875431068130472014-11-17T14:52:00.000-08:002014-11-17T14:52:01.238-08:00Sketchfest or Bust! I am so excited to announce that <a href="https://www.facebook.com/onhiatusimprov" target="_blank">On Hiatus</a> will be performing in <a href="http://www.chicagosketchfest.com/" target="_blank">The Chicago Sketch Comedy </a>Festival in January!!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhvJ-5dX-eM" target="_blank">Check out a preview of our show from Midnight Melt</a></td></tr>
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We are a pretty talented group of weirdos, or so we think. But I didn't know if the rest of the world would appreciate our finely crafted fart jokes and eccentric off the wall characters. Alas, they do! Thanks to our incredibly talented director <a href="http://www.tiffaniswalley.com/" target="_blank">Tiffani Swalley</a> who has been able to gently tease some wonderful sketches out of our chaotic mass of ideas.<br />
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We are so thrilled to be taking this next step as a group of comedians and super excited to see what the final version of our show will look like for Sketchfest. We are hard at work writing and fine-tuning to optimize the laughs per minute!<br />
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Golly I am so thrilled I just can't stop smiling! If you're in Chicago, you should definitely come check us out!!Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12774051291400256475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384721523565911345.post-3202560959787467702014-11-14T12:22:00.000-08:002014-11-14T12:22:24.806-08:00Terribly at Proofreading<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It has recently came too my attenshin that I am really terribly at proofreading my posts. What a sham! I think of myself as well readed indiviual. I have written many many assays in collage and passed with flying collars! I even graduation with honors... how could someone so smart strudel with proofreading her own blog posts?<br />
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May be I get two egg cited about how smart I am too rereread carefully. May be i get distributed by how funny I am. Maybe I know I brilliant and don't need two proffread. Cause righting isnt really that hoard, is it?<br />
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I am a artist. Why should I charge what I do, if its werking for me, I car less if its werking for you. Because why squelch the my creatively and alloy the systematic rules of languid to stop me from wrighting what I want. Storys and poetrys are a writhers bush and canvas... would you tell a pointer that her paintwork was grammaticaly incorrupt?<br />
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We can argue the merlots and demerits of proofreading all day lounge. Irregardless, when it cames down to it I guess it sorta maters if I spell things correctionally and if i us the corrective gamer.<br />
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I guess its oblivious now, that in really my streem of conscientiousness isn't so smart after all.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How I feel about proofreading!</td></tr>
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PS While writing this I remembered the poetry done by Taylor Mali. I think all of his work is brilliant, but especially given my issues with proofreading here is one of my favorite poems by him.<br />
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<br />Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12774051291400256475noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384721523565911345.post-75380240526734370762014-11-10T13:47:00.002-08:002014-11-10T13:47:46.986-08:00Weekend UpdateI had a wonderful action-packed but, thankfully, it was also relaxing weekend!<br />
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Megan and Courtney had a childhood friend, Rachel, in town visiting so we went out and did a lot of fun stuff! Friday night we went to the iO Theatre to see Improvised Shakespeare. I hadn't yet seen a show in the new iO building so it was really great to see the new space and laugh my butt off in a fabulous show!!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before the show! </td></tr>
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Before the show we went The Burger Bar, which was a very cool little bar and restaurant with a huge delicious looking list of gourmet burgers. Unfortunately I had already eaten so I got a "boozy" vanilla malt milk shake with Bailey's in it.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And it was so delicious!</td></tr>
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Saturday was a nice lazy morning and afternoon followed by a delicious home cooked meal by Rachel. And after that I got together with some of my friends from my class, we drank margaritas, played board games and ate left over halloween candy! I even won trivial pursuit... and I never win any games especially Trivial Pursuit!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nick making margaritas!</td></tr>
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Sunday we went to the Museum of Science and Industry. I have been wanting to go since I moved here to Chicago and finally we went. I had so much fun and took so many pictures I can't post them all here. But here are some of my favorite parts!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The building is the last remaining building from the Chicago World's Fair of 1893</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Chick Hatchery... I got caught up here for a while watching these little buggers enter the world! </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The exhibit about the German U-Boats was pretty fantastic including an actual U-Boat! </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Megan enjoyed the Farming exhibit, as you can see! </td></tr>
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I think the best exhibit of all though was the one all about Walt Disney. It talked all bout Walt Disney and his rise as an animator in Hollywood, his animation process as well as his animation studio, the imagineering of Disneyland, and they even had an area where you could learn to draw the characters! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The original book used for the beginning of Snow White!! </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guys, I drew Mickey!! </td></tr>
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After the Museum, since we were on the south side and I have heard that all the good southern style comfort food is on the south side we headed over to Chicago's Home of Chicken and Waffles and ate ourselves sick with fried chicken, candied yams, collard greens, corn bread, etc... I wont have to eat for days after that meal. And unfortunately I forgot to take any pictures, but boy was it amazing!!<br />
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Last night we played Mexican Train before Rachel has to leave today to go back to California. And in true Emily fashion I lost gloriously by over 200 points, because when I lose; I lose with style!!<br />
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I finally got to do a bunch of things I have been wanting to do in Chicago this weekend and I got to do it with so many great people!<br />
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<br />Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12774051291400256475noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384721523565911345.post-73769960818553618082014-11-08T15:35:00.000-08:002014-11-08T15:35:17.885-08:00The Writing Process<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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What is my writing process? Well, that is a question that I am actually trying to figure out everyday. <a href="http://beckyboops.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">BeckyBoop </a>tagged me in her Writing Process post and I thought I would answer those questions and see if we can all discover the hidden secrets to my writing process, together! <div>
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<b>What am I working on? </b></div>
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You have probably heard me talk about this all the time, I am working on two sketch shows currently. One is through the Second City Training Center and the Conservatory program. We will be putting our show up in February and March. In addition, My old improv group On Hiatus has transformed into a sketch group and we are hoping to get into sketchfest (We find out next week... keep your fingers crossed!) in January and then open a show this spring. So I am currently working really hard on sketch writing, song writing (yes, you read that correctly Mom, I am working on writing a song), and putting a whole show together. </div>
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<b>How does my work differ from other of its genre? </b></div>
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In regards to my blog I am working on finding my unique voice and I want it to be comedic yet honest and true to who I am. I want it to be a lifestyle blog that shows who I am, what I am doing, and also a little bit of my sense of humor. </div>
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In regards to my comedy and sketch writing, it is so hard to stand out in this city. There are so many incredibly talented writers, improvisers, and performers that are doing some incredible things! I just want to make a statement with all my work, challenge people's ideas of the world, break stereotypes, and maybe even make a little bit of a difference.... who knows! </div>
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<b>Why do I write? </b></div>
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I used to hate writing... This is a true fact. I started writing the blog so that I could keep track of my adventures in Chicago. I kept the blog because it became a good release and creative outlet. I now have aspirations to be a writer because I have realized that I really enjoy it and I have so much to say! </div>
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<b>How does my writing process work? </b></div>
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Hahaha... This question assumes I actually have a process. </div>
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I have started just opening up blogger on my phone or computer the second the thought "I should blog about that...." crosses my mind. I think I do my best writing when I recognize that I have had that thought and then immediately let my thoughts tumble out! </div>
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For sketches if I think of an idea I like to jot it down in one of my 3-4 notebooks that I always carry around with me. And then go back and look at it and try to iron out the details. If I need inspiration coming with ideas for sketches I sit down and read Google news and click through looking for interesting headlines. </div>
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Wow! That was a lot of information. To be honest I don't think my writing process can actually be written about in a manageable size blog. It seems that it is never the same process twice, because it is never the same inspiration twice. But I am constantly growing and learning to take advantage of inspiration as soon as it comes! </div>
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I am tagging some bloggers that I really admire and would love to hear a little bit about their writing process! </div>
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<a href="http://www.thedailytay.com/" target="_blank">The Daily Tay</a></div>
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<a href="http://marykeithp.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Mary-Keith</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.sincerelyandsarcastically.com/" target="_blank">Sincerely and Sarcastically</a></div>
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Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12774051291400256475noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384721523565911345.post-61970528515273132122014-11-07T13:53:00.001-08:002014-11-07T13:53:47.182-08:00The Importance of Bus SeatsImagine this if you will... Every morning you get on the same bus, with the same people, and the same bus driver. And every morning you head for the same seat, the one right past the exit doors up a couple of steps with a good view if the street and the sign ticking off the stops. The seat that is right in front of the young mom who always looks super sharp on her way to work. Kitty-corner from the man who works in the walgreens pharmacy or clinic, but either way is always in his Walgreens blue scrubs with his Dunkin Donuts coffee and breakfast.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yep, that's the one! The magic seat</td></tr>
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Now imagine that on this day you are getting on the bus behind a woman about your age who you have never seen before. She is going to the same bus as you. At first you don't think anything of it, other people are allowed to ride the bus too. But then you start to realize she is walking right towards your seat. Beethoven's 5th symphony begins playing in your head as you watch her sit in your bus seat. Then you begin having flash backs of college classrooms in which you attended class every single day and you had found the perfect seat with a good view of all your classmates as well as an unobstructed view of the teacher and the board. Then comes the day of the final exam and some kid who hasn't been in class in weeks, and therefore has not witnessed the possessiveness with which you proudly claim your desk, is smugly sitting on your throne of learning. You stand there stunned momentarily paralyzed with the realization that for the most important day if class you will not get to sit in your highly coveted, optimal learning seat. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thats about right... maybe a couple seats back!</td></tr>
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And so I stood there on the bus at precisely 7:26am momentarily stunned as my morning routine came crashing down around me. "You are sitting in my seat! Don't you know that seat is MINE?!?" After a couple of long panic filled seconds I begrudgingly sat across the aisle silently judging her for completely ruining my morning routine. </div>
Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12774051291400256475noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384721523565911345.post-79023413480252456272014-11-05T11:36:00.000-08:002014-11-05T11:36:32.238-08:00October Wrap UpGuys, I did it!! I actually wrote every single day of October!! Not only did I write a blog post every day, but I also wrote probably a dozen different scenes for my various sketch groups!! I didn't think it was possible but it was!!<br />
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I think my favorite blogtober post to write was A Letter to <a href="http://cozycornerwithemily.blogspot.com/2014/10/a-letter-to-my-younger-self.html" target="_blank">My Younger Self</a>, I had a lot of fun time writing this. The whole blogtober experience was wonderful, I met a lot of bloggers in this big scary blogging world and it has made it a whole lot less scary!!! I learned new <a href="http://cozycornerwithemily.blogspot.com/2014/10/favorite-fall-recipes.html" target="_blank">recipes</a> and <a href="http://cozycornerwithemily.blogspot.com/2014/10/the-instagram-life.html" target="_blank">new apps</a> for editing photos for instagram and blogger. It was particularly exciting to read what everyone else had to say about these topics, I learned so much! Plus I added a bunch of wonderful new recipes to my cook book!!<br />
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This weekend was loco crazy for me!! After working a 55 hour week, I rushed home to throw on my Rosie the Riveter costume to go out with some friends for Halloween!<br />
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On friday we went out to a couple bars and stopped at The Burrito House in between!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YG1CTsa-Ln8/VFp3gPrXzzI/AAAAAAAABFQ/Ii6PfD2A8ZE/s1600/photo%2B1%2B(16).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YG1CTsa-Ln8/VFp3gPrXzzI/AAAAAAAABFQ/Ii6PfD2A8ZE/s1600/photo%2B1%2B(16).JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A lot of trench coats in this picture!! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V72_gnZK1Qo/VFp3gKF21NI/AAAAAAAABFI/Azp7ulhdWkU/s1600/photo%2B2%2B(14).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V72_gnZK1Qo/VFp3gKF21NI/AAAAAAAABFI/Azp7ulhdWkU/s1600/photo%2B2%2B(14).JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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And they had this perfect yellow wall for Rosie the Riveter, so I just had to take a picture<div>
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Saturday I spent the morning running errands and the afternoon/evening cleaning my house and carving pumpkins for my Halloween party! </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xhUJfeqGLBM/VFp3gpgo_RI/AAAAAAAABFY/r_YmkQ0wwEE/s1600/photo%2B3%2B(8).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xhUJfeqGLBM/VFp3gpgo_RI/AAAAAAAABFY/r_YmkQ0wwEE/s1600/photo%2B3%2B(8).JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Megan's Pumpkin! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KvslYwEUvPU/VFp3h-YxeII/AAAAAAAABFw/GlLqXlaaRc8/s1600/photo%2B5%2B(5).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KvslYwEUvPU/VFp3h-YxeII/AAAAAAAABFw/GlLqXlaaRc8/s1600/photo%2B5%2B(5).JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My sad drunk pumpkin! </td></tr>
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The party was a blast we had some friends over, we ate snacks, played some party games, drank, and had a merry old time!! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Megan as Starchild from KISS and me as Rosie the Riveter</td></tr>
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A successful weekend full of friends, costumes, candy, and of course alcohol!! I couldn't has asked for a better weekend!<br />
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Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12774051291400256475noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384721523565911345.post-54129501351228542592014-10-30T22:47:00.002-07:002014-10-30T22:47:18.747-07:00Halloween Costume RevealThis is the last day of the Blogtober14 challenge!! I had such a blast meeting new people and challenging myself to write every single day! Thanks to <a href="http://www.heleneinbetween.com/" target="_blank">Helene </a>and <a href="http://www.thedailytay.com/" target="_blank">Taylor</a> for setting this up!<br />
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So the final post prompt is the big Halloween costume reveal!<br />
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**Drum roll please**<br />
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I am going as Rosie The Riveter<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rNyYF0LqYRw/VFMS79Qr6NI/AAAAAAAABEY/WrJbuwWEyCU/s1600/rosy%2Bthe%2Briveter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rNyYF0LqYRw/VFMS79Qr6NI/AAAAAAAABEY/WrJbuwWEyCU/s1600/rosy%2Bthe%2Briveter.jpg" height="400" width="308" /></a></div>
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Here is a preview of my costume from when I practiced doing the makeup and hair last weekend. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1pRz5qp8uyM/VFMUiFDWCEI/AAAAAAAABEk/p3dIDzA9CfQ/s1600/photo%2B(23).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1pRz5qp8uyM/VFMUiFDWCEI/AAAAAAAABEk/p3dIDzA9CfQ/s1600/photo%2B(23).JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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I am particularly proud of the dirt marks on my face! I am going to fix my eyes and my hair a little bit for my actual costume. Stay tuned for more pictures of my costume after this weekend!! </div>
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This is a bonus picture from when I ran errands half dressed in my Halloween costume. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y0XZQ8YyY-4/VFMYCUhuqJI/AAAAAAAABEw/JjSyvFW1yHE/s1600/me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y0XZQ8YyY-4/VFMYCUhuqJI/AAAAAAAABEw/JjSyvFW1yHE/s1600/me.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12774051291400256475noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384721523565911345.post-42168326670394809572014-10-30T10:48:00.002-07:002014-10-30T10:48:32.320-07:0010 Absolutely True Facts About MeFollows is a list of 10 absolutely true facts about me<br />
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<li>Not only do I get a lot of writing done at work I also get to take a nap every day! </li>
<li>I am from the great state of Colorado and no matter where I live or how long I am away from it, it will always be the greatest state and my home. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<li>I am completely obssessed with Gilmore Girls right now. </li>
<li>Speaking of things I am obsessed with... These lollipops, which you can only find around Halloween. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<li>I hate doing the dishes more than any other chore in the house. </li>
<li>I have a handful of friends who call me Limey or Limes and it's my favorite nickname. Betcha you could never guess where it came from! </li>
<li>My happy place is a fictional place I made up. It consists of me sitting in a big comfy chair, snuggled up in blankets, reading a good book, next to fire, and I can watch the snow fall through huge picture windows! </li>
<li>I have hiked 3 of the 53 14ers (a mountain in which the summit exceeds 14,000 ft) in Colorado. I have always wanted to hike more of them, but now I don't live in the Colorado. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mt. Bierstadt (14,065 ft) 4 years ago</td></tr>
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<li>I went to Disneyland more as a college student than I did as a child and I hope to go again around the holidays this year. </li>
<li>I love the city of Chicago and I plan on living here for a while! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fynwezp0L_I/VFJ4gMmuhuI/AAAAAAAABEI/0FbXV4Y495s/s1600/Chicago%2Bfrom%2BMill%2Bpark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fynwezp0L_I/VFJ4gMmuhuI/AAAAAAAABEI/0FbXV4Y495s/s1600/Chicago%2Bfrom%2BMill%2Bpark.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
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Linking up with <a href="http://www.thedailytay.com/" target="_blank">Taylor</a> and <a href="http://www.heleneinbetween.com/" target="_blank">Helene </a>for the 2nd to last day of Blogtober! Can't wait to show you all </div>
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my Halloween costume tomorrow!! </div>
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Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12774051291400256475noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384721523565911345.post-64965136755057609752014-10-29T21:28:00.001-07:002014-10-29T21:28:47.038-07:00Embarrassing Moments or Funny StoriesI don't usually feel embarrassed or humiliated, I like to think of embarrassing moments as future funny stories.<br />
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Since I love talking about past performances that I have been in in the past, here is one of my "embarrassing moments." In high school the first play I was cast in was <i>Our Town. </i>I was Mrs. Webb, one of the mothers, and opening night of the show in one of the final scenes of the show as I walked past the stairway I caught the edge and tripped. Thankfully I was able to catch myself before falling onto my face. Even as it was happening I couldn't help but laugh!<br />
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On second thought, I am embarrassed looking back through the photos from my high school shows! So much second hand embarrassment for a past version of myself. <div>
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Linking up with <a href="http://www.thedailytay.com/" target="_blank">Taylor</a> and <a href="http://www.heleneinbetween.com/" target="_blank">Helene</a> for Blogtober! </div>
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Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12774051291400256475noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384721523565911345.post-50940307692513111882014-10-28T08:52:00.003-07:002014-10-28T08:54:42.932-07:00"All Hell Will Break Loose" I don't really believe in superstitions. The whole idea of something bad happening if I do or do not do something is hard for me to buy into.<br />
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But ritual and tradition closely parallel the idea of superstitions. And I do have one ritual, so to speak, before every performance or audition. I like to take a moment and close my eyes collect myself and actually pray. I am not a super religious person, organized religion isn't exactly my jam, since my "coming out" its hard to buy into a religion that doesn't necessarily buy into me. But all that aside, I do still believe in most of the teachings of the bible (my faith is just my own now). And I like to take a moment before performances to thank God for my talents and passions and for giving me these opportunities to share them with other people.<br />
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And just for funsies here are some photos from my college improv team:<br />
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"All hell will break loose!"<br />
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Linking up with <a href="http://www.thedailytay.com/" target="_blank">Taylor</a> and <a href="http://www.heleneinbetween.com/" target="_blank">Helene</a> for Blogtober day 28!!<br />
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<br />Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12774051291400256475noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384721523565911345.post-75236115484100594472014-10-27T13:01:00.001-07:002014-10-27T13:01:01.034-07:00A Letter to My Younger SelfWhat do you say to a younger version of yourself who managed to overcome crazy obstacles and surpass expectations? In the sappy answer of this question all you can say is thank you to your younger self for being smart and witty enough to figure life out without your help. In the less sappy answer to this question maybe all you can really do is cheer yourself on!<br />
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So here is my letter to the little munchkin in this picture:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Circa 1995 (?)<br /> Age: 4 (ish)</td></tr>
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You go Girl!! </div>
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You rock that intertube on land! You wear those roller skates without a helmet! Don't ever let anyone tell you that you can't do whatever it is that you want to do! Don't ever stop wearing yellow leggings unless you decide you don't like yellow leggings! Don't defend your choices to wear pool toys outside of the pool! You don't have to answer to anybody! Wear whatever you want to wear! Say whatever it is that is on your mind! Unabashedly skate head first into all the challenges and adventures that life throws at you! On second thought, maybe put a helmet on! Don't back down on how you feel or stop being who you are! Because who you are is amazing, creative, smart, beautiful, and unique and that is all you will ever need to succeed!! </div>
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PS You should never be too busy to enjoy a juicy slice of watermelon with good friends... remember that! </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EIMecNtiYlE/VE6iq3qr5_I/AAAAAAAABCM/1pRXDkrhn04/s1600/Watermellon.TIF" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EIMecNtiYlE/VE6iq3qr5_I/AAAAAAAABCM/1pRXDkrhn04/s1600/Watermellon.TIF" height="263" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Age: 3</td></tr>
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<br />Linking up with <a href="http://www.thedailytay.com/" target="_blank">Taylor </a>and <a href="http://www.heleneinbetween.com/" target="_blank">Helene</a>! Blogtober Day 27!<div>
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Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12774051291400256475noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384721523565911345.post-25263495917174825382014-10-26T16:02:00.003-07:002014-10-26T16:10:37.092-07:00The Life and Times of MeIn the future when a film is made about my life and it is the perfect combination of comedy and heartfelt drama the casting of me would have to be perfect, obviously. So throwing age and time out the window here is how I would cast myself:<br />
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A late teen early 20's Emily would be played by:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2jENf0cOw70/VE13jxerVpI/AAAAAAAABBM/Y1PZB79sfgI/s1600/J%2BLaw%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2jENf0cOw70/VE13jxerVpI/AAAAAAAABBM/Y1PZB79sfgI/s1600/J%2BLaw%2B1.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7EWu3PwM_pA/VE13mK7of9I/AAAAAAAABBU/ggwS7TXailA/s1600/J%2Blaw%2B2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7EWu3PwM_pA/VE13mK7of9I/AAAAAAAABBU/ggwS7TXailA/s1600/J%2Blaw%2B2.gif" height="215" width="400" /></a></div>
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I mean, obviously, Jennifer Lawrence! I don't care how cliche this might be, she is cute and funny, quirky and beautiful, but can also be very serious and dramatic! </div>
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For a later in life version of myself (like mid-to-late 40's) Emily</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gHyts7aF9WM/VE150CvAzKI/AAAAAAAABBo/oOaKCz781uU/s1600/Lauren%2BG%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gHyts7aF9WM/VE150CvAzKI/AAAAAAAABBo/oOaKCz781uU/s1600/Lauren%2BG%2B1.jpg" height="400" width="292" /></a></div>
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Lauren Graham, not only is she a talented actress, but I feel like she posses the same sarcastic and dry humor that I have. The character of Lorelai Gilmore in the Gilmore Girls is essentially who I aspire to be in terms of quick witticisms and clever comebacks that so easily roll off her tongue.<br />
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This was a fun prompt for Blogtober with <a href="http://www.thedailytay.com/" target="_blank">Taylor</a> and <a href="http://www.heleneinbetween.com/" target="_blank">Helene</a>, make sure to check out what other people have said!<br />
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Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12774051291400256475noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384721523565911345.post-61763606403552785612014-10-25T08:15:00.001-07:002014-10-25T08:17:42.870-07:00So Many Books...Would you ask a mother who her favorite child is? No, you wouldn't, so you also wouldn't ask a book lover what her favorite book is! This is an impossible question, it's just too damn broad. My favorite classic book? My favorite Sci Fi? Fantasy? Historical? Historical Fiction? Humor? Young Adult? Dystopian?<br />
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Ok, you get the picture. Instead of narrowing it down to my favorite book. I am going to tell you the best book I have read in the past year, my least favorite book of all time, my favorite book(s) to reread, and a book that changed my life!<br />
So here goes...<br />
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Best book in the past year:<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Devil-White-City-Madness-Changed/dp/0375725601/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1414181671&sr=1-1&keywords=devil+in+the+white+city" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Lzwx7WmkJss/VEqzZM6Z4oI/AAAAAAAAA_k/Woe-IIIfQqg/s1600/Devil%2BWhite%2BCity.jpeg" height="400" width="252" /></a></div>
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I read this book right after I moved to Chicago. It is all about the 1893 Chicago World's Fair juxtaposed with the story of H.H. Holmes who murdered many women in the boarding house that he built for the World's Fair. This book is non-fiction, Erik Larson uses only primary source material to tell the story, but never does it feel like a history lesson. This book combines two of my favorite things history and psychological thrillers.</div>
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My least favorite book of all time: </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Grapes-Wrath-John-Steinbeck/dp/0143039431/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1414182010&sr=1-1&keywords=grapes+of+wrath+by+john+steinbeck" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DEPu_d1CEc0/VEq0qM4DeeI/AAAAAAAAA_s/YAs2u-Mv2Vk/s1600/The%2BGrapes%2Bof%2BWrath.jpeg" height="400" width="261" /></a></span></td></tr>
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I read <i>Grapes of Wrath </i>the summer before my junior year of college and it took me the whole three months of summer to read it. Now, I am a slow reader... but not that slow. This book made me so mad, and so bored, and so apathetic. My mom recommended it to me because its a classic and its semi-historically based. I wont let my mother live this down. I probably wouldn't have even finished the book if it wasn't for the fact that I had to do a project for school on it. I haven't read any other John Steinbeck novel and I am not sure I ever will.<br />
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My favorite book(s) to reread: </div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Harry-Potter-Paperback-Box-Books/dp/0545162076/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1414182297&sr=1-1&keywords=harry+potter+box+set" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ra2ekpZlTkc/VEq1t59ppcI/AAAAAAAAA_0/KJXp_taLdC4/s1600/HP%2Bbox%2Bset.jpeg" height="318" width="400" /></a><span id="goog_2081803308"></span><span id="goog_2081803309"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a></div>
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How could I not say Harry Potter. I grew up with these books, I was one of those kids that anxiously waited for the release of the next book. I will never get too old or too familiar with these books to stop rereading them! Every time I read them I discover new things that I didn't pick up before, plus they are just a great escape! </div>
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A book that changed my life: </div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bossypants-Tina-Fey/dp/0316056898/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1414182469&sr=1-1&keywords=bossypants" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mP4d7xqk0KA/VEq2aMHI15I/AAAAAAAAA_8/ayHxhAl0bu8/s1600/bossypants.jpeg" height="400" width="248" /></a></div>
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I read this book in college right after I had started really falling in love with improv. I knew that I loved Tina Fey, what I didn't know was that Second City existed. I had no idea that you could take improv classes and eventually work your way onto a touring company, and maybe even get hired to be on one of the resident stages. I always thought of improv as a hobby to do while doing something else until I read this book and I realized that I could pursue improv as a career and it could open up a lot of doors of possibility for my future. (So Mom, you have Tina Fey to thank for my pursuit of a career in comedy. When you sit around wondering why/how on Earth I came to want to do this you can just blame it on good ol' Tina Fey.)</div>
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I am currently not reading a book so I am excited to see what books everyone else is reading on the Blogtober link up with <a href="http://www.thedailytay.com/" target="_blank">Taylor</a> and <a href="http://www.heleneinbetween.com/" target="_blank">Helene</a>.<br />
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Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12774051291400256475noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384721523565911345.post-45079215656065447692014-10-24T07:56:00.001-07:002014-10-24T07:56:46.314-07:00Sleek and Shine and Out of ControlOne hair product that I can't live without? I am going to cheat a little bit and say two but they go hand in hand.<br />
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I am not a very high maintenance girl, I pretty much only wear makeup for special events and the least amount of time I can put into doing my hair, the better.<br />
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Fortunately for me I have this fun, pretty easy to handle, wavy hair and all it takes is two easy steps to get me out the door. (excluding my bangs which take an extra couple of steps)<br />
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When I get out of the shower I take the Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine leave in conditioner and put it on my fingers and run my hands through all of my hair (finger combing, if you will).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_VTv4wetZCg/VEpkAVgLUnI/AAAAAAAAA_E/syy00gDcQmM/s1600/photo%2B1%2B(15).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_VTv4wetZCg/VEpkAVgLUnI/AAAAAAAAA_E/syy00gDcQmM/s1600/photo%2B1%2B(15).JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plus, it smells delicious! </td></tr>
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Then I seperate my bangs and spray the rest of my hair with Ganier Fructis Curl Shaping spray gel, followed by some good old fashioned scrunching.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-335WszrRAZw/VEpkSIXeQxI/AAAAAAAAA_M/O5pr5LSAwh0/s1600/photo%2B2%2B(13).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-335WszrRAZw/VEpkSIXeQxI/AAAAAAAAA_M/O5pr5LSAwh0/s1600/photo%2B2%2B(13).JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
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BONUS STEPS:<br />
I blow dry and straighten my bangs so they don't look crazy!!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TRAZIjtKnzs/VEpkloxi0RI/AAAAAAAAA_U/BBs0lIShjhg/s1600/IMG_1993.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TRAZIjtKnzs/VEpkloxi0RI/AAAAAAAAA_U/BBs0lIShjhg/s1600/IMG_1993.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And Voila, I look like a human....kinda</td></tr>
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To say that I couldn't live without these products would be a huge exaggeration, when I am tired and feeling particularly lazy I don't even do that. But without the help of my trusty Garnier Fructis friends my hair would always be up in a ponytail and incredibly frizzy.<br />
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Linked up with <a href="http://www.thedailytay.com/" target="_blank">Taylor</a> and <a href="http://www.heleneinbetween.com/" target="_blank">Helene</a> for Blogtober, go check out some of the other blogs!<br />
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<br />Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12774051291400256475noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384721523565911345.post-4120690109513252882014-10-23T08:46:00.002-07:002014-10-23T08:52:10.362-07:00The Instagram LifeBlogtober14 prompt for day 23 is favorite Instagram editing apps/ editing tools for your blog. To be honest I could use a little help in this department, I am relatively new to Instagram and am only just realizing the possibilities for making my blog look nicer and more professional.<br />
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<a href="http://instagram.com/cozycornerwithem" target="_blank">For Instagram</a>:<br />
-Picstich: I use picstitch all the time to make little collages so I don't bombard Instagram with a ton of pictures I can just combine them into one post. I just love how many different configurations there are for photos.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5k08IiUyVqg/VEgavs_L-PI/AAAAAAAAA9s/CsOUbCN52hk/s1600/IMG_0755.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5k08IiUyVqg/VEgavs_L-PI/AAAAAAAAA9s/CsOUbCN52hk/s1600/IMG_0755.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first collage from picstitch! </td></tr>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oWp_wQUzURs/VEgavYdIuHI/AAAAAAAAA9o/TT0bKpol1Sc/s1600/IMG_1036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oWp_wQUzURs/VEgavYdIuHI/AAAAAAAAA9o/TT0bKpol1Sc/s1600/IMG_1036.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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-Hipstamatic: This one isn't an editing app it is a picture taking app. It automatically places cool effects on the photos based on your choice of camera lenses and film choice.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-88crBywX2yw/VEkfYHcxRqI/AAAAAAAAA-U/Y8eGv6q1wdM/s1600/photo%2B1%2B(2).PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-88crBywX2yw/VEkfYHcxRqI/AAAAAAAAA-U/Y8eGv6q1wdM/s1600/photo%2B1%2B(2).PNG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It makes your phone look like an old camera. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WZzd_6lq2Hw/VEkfXu5fazI/AAAAAAAAA-I/ppAuGqpN8LY/s1600/photo%2B2%2B(3).PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WZzd_6lq2Hw/VEkfXu5fazI/AAAAAAAAA-I/ppAuGqpN8LY/s1600/photo%2B2%2B(3).PNG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can choose between a bunch of different lenses, film, and even flashes. And you can buy extension pack with even more options. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9m4BDL8J3Js/VEkfYNhtAsI/AAAAAAAAA-M/mWpmmDpJryE/s1600/photo%2B3.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9m4BDL8J3Js/VEkfYNhtAsI/AAAAAAAAA-M/mWpmmDpJryE/s1600/photo%2B3.PNG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When you find a combination that you like you can save it so you always remember it. </td></tr>
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Here are a couple of my favorite photos from Hipstamatic:<br />
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For my blog:<br />
This is a whole new world to me.<br />
Picmonkey: I was just introduced to <a href="http://www.picmonkey.com/" target="_blank">picmonkey.com </a>and I have only begun to play around with it. My first project was my About Me section, which I don't love but now I know how to use it and I can make a better one. I am really looking forward to playing around with this website and seeing what all I can do with it.<br />
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I can't wait to see what other people are using so I can pick up some tips and tricks. Thanks to Blogtober with <a href="http://www.thedailytay.com/" target="_blank">Taylor </a>and <a href="http://www.heleneinbetween.com/" target="_blank">Helene</a>, I am learning so much about the blogging world!<br />
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Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12774051291400256475noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384721523565911345.post-51176736149275884322014-10-22T13:04:00.001-07:002014-10-22T13:04:42.791-07:00Things that go Irk in the NightThe Blogtober prompt for today is all about your pet peeves. Here is the thing about me and pet peeves, I have them, lots of them, but I can't ever seem to remember any when asked.<br />
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Here are a couple that seem to be most present in my mind right now:<br />
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-When strangers try to talk to you at the bus stop and you are clearly not interested in speaking to them.<br />
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-Shoes that are left in the middle of a room, doorway, or hallway just begging to be tripped over in the dark (confession time: these are almost always my shoes)<br />
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-People who smack their chewing gum, if I am on the other side of the train car and I can hear you, we have a problem.<br />
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-When the gentlemen who live below me smoke in their house so the laundry room smells like cigarettes.<br />
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-The way the Walgreens employees always say "Be Well" after you are done with your purchase (you don't want to say it, you probably don't mean it, and I will most definitely will not be well after I finish eating these 5 bags of halloween candy and drinking this 6 pack of beer).<br />
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-People who judge me for my trashy TV choices, we all watch at least one trashy TV show.<br />
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-And currently the thing that irks me the most right now is when misinformed people cause hysteria (e.g. Ebola, not vaccinating your children, not getting the flu shot, etc...)<br />
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Man once you start listing them you can't stop!<br />
To leave this post on a happier note, the weather here today was beautiful and so I took some great pictures while out for a walk.<br />
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I keep forgetting to link back to <a href="http://www.thedailytay.com/" target="_blank">Taylor</a> and <a href="http://www.heleneinbetween.com/" target="_blank">Helene</a>'s blogs for this Blogtober challenge. Go and check out what other people are writing about!<br />
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<br />Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12774051291400256475noreply@blogger.com7