around the bend.....

My darling friend Adam and I knew we were BFF the day we both shared a love for ex-Disney Channel kid stars, (minus Britney) i.e. Justin T, Ryan Gosling, Kerri Russel, Fergie, Christina Aguilera....one day i asked him who his favorite artist was and he told me, Tony Lucca... (what?!) Don't you rememeber Tony?
I had a total crush on him as a child when i watched the Mickey Mouse Club religiously...( i am sure he cringes when people say that)... you always hear about kid stars trying to shake off the bubble gum image... and he certainly has... less clean cut abercrombie looking now....but he was cute and talented then, and he is cute and talented now!

To my suprise and delight Adam begins to tell me all about his albums, how great of an artist he is, and gives me his collection of music to listen to for myself.... i listened to it, and LOVED it...

He plays in Chicago a few times a year, and the last time he was here, in the midst of my wedding planning, i was not able to make the show.... So when he rolled into town this time, i made sure to make myself available....I am not kidding by saying that the CDs hardly do the guy justice...lucky for me, the day he came we got about 8 inches of snow(March in Chicago!), so though there were quite a few people there, we got a seat right up front to enjoy the show. I sat there with my friends smiling to myself because i enjoyed listening to him that much....it was one of those really intimate performances, where the music and the singing is so good, that it gives you goosebumps...

I think I am fan for life...

P.S. Is it just me, or do Adam and Tony sorta look alike?

Can't get it out of my head.....

This week, the hotel that i work for had a huge "unveiling" party. We just completed a 30 million dollar renovation of guestrooms, meeting space and a bar/lounge.... Samantha Ronson was the DJ at the bar that night and she played a song that i couldnt get out of my head for the rest of the night.... hands down, Leona Lewis is my new favorite singer.... not only is she beautiful, her voice is amazing....here is her new single its FAB!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sF84pIhP5UM

Silly Shots...

About a year ago, my very old, refurbished three times computer finally died. After going through a very challenging experience with Geek Squad (whom i will never use again) i managed to get my music and pictures off of my old computer and transferred to an external hard drive. I finally bit the bullet, got a new laptop, hooked up the hard drive and peeked through some pictures that i hadn't seen in forever. Don't you just love finding stupid old pictures of yourself?

(late night karaoke session in my apartment in atlanta)

(hanging out of my hotel balcony in san diego)

(gut busting laughs with friends in ny)

Priceless.....

I've Been Tagged...

Don't you just love these things? Here you go Allison!



10 years ago:

I was in 10th grade...in San Antonio, TX getting ready to move to Georgia, in the middle of high school... needless to say, i wasn't too happy about it



Things on my to-do list today:

Getting ready for a weekend in Atlanta, so i will be pretending to work all day, then scooting out as fast as i can to go catch my flight



What would I do if I was suddenly became a Billionaire?:

I have always had this dream of leaving for a trip with nothing packed.....just going with my purse and the clothes on my back to different destinations all over the world....buying what i needed when i got there, and shipping it back home before i left to the next destination... i think i could do that for at least 3 years... and hopefully write a novel during that time...i would help out my family and friends financially, then i would collect children from all over the world like Brad and Angelina, buy a big house and raise a big family....



Three of my bad habits:

1) I am much too hard on myself... i am my own biggest critic

2) I am not always the most punctual person

3) I can always find something more fun to do than doing what i should be



Five jobs I have had:

1)Camp Counselor

2)Waitress

3)Day Care Worker

4)Front Desk Agent

5)Sales Manager



Three things people don't know about me:

1) When i was a little kid i used to love to lay in bed in the morning and dream up adventures.... as an adult i still do this

2) I have a crushed bone in my left hand that will never heal (an old cheerleading injury)

3) I like to talk on the phone and look at myself in the mirror at the same time...(random i know)

The long overdue, story of my " i do"

I recently realized, that enough time has passed, that i can now tell the story of my wedding. It was the most stressful week of my life to say the least, but certainly one of the most awesome experiences. I look back on my pictures now, and though i remember all the horror of the day (because i could go on and on about all the craziness that happened), i smile to myself. I have reached a point where i can laugh at all of the mishaps of the day, and tear up about all of the wonderful moments that made that experience truly unforgettable..... all the small stuff, really doesn't matter...and i am thankful for that too... the fact that i remember all of it.....

I woke the morning of my wedding with a room full of my friends... we had all had a fun filled night at my karaoke bar-b-que rehearsal dinner, so the morning was packed with laughter and recounting stories from the night before. My friend Terri started a chorus of "Going to the Chapel" and, in perfect harmony, they all serenaded me before we set off to get our nails done. My friend Dianna, who is a hair stylist, came over to my parent's house, and everyone ate, and talked while we each had our turn with her. I had a long bath, my friend Kori packed my wedding night bag, and we were off to the chapel..... and that pretty much ends the un-chaotic part of the day....

Once I got there, i realized that though i had remembered everything else, I had forgotten my engagement ring? Oh, and my underwear too... yes i strolled in the chapel that day totally commando... didn't even realize it until i was hugging the Chaplin outside of the church....but it was a beautiful sight once i arrived.....

Not to worry, my mom brought my missing items from the house, and all was well. That is until, i was told that my cousin knocked over one of the candelabras and set a flag in the church on fire....so the wedding was delayed... don't think i did not consider that if the church burned down.. that might have been a sign that i wasn't supposed to get married.... but we took care of it pretty quickly, cleared the smell from the chapel, and the wedding started.....



The ceremony was short and sweet, just how i wanted it. My wedding musician and singer were great, everyone looked beautiful. We said " I Do", snapped some pictures and were off to the reception.

Which was a BLAST! My colors were black and white... i wanted it to look very formal and vintage, but feel very warm and comfortable... i think i accomplished this with the colors, my deep red roses, soft candle lighting, paired with my southern inspired buffet dinner..... My band was awesome, the food was great, i danced the night away and caught up with people i hadn't seen in years. I was truly amazed and honored by everyone there... i remember realizing that very night, just how many people i have around me that love me, love Ken, and support us...



My favorite things:

• Although my cousin almost burned the church down, he brought a crew from his production company, and did all my wedding pictures and video... FOR FREE! And they turned out great...



• My band couldn't have been any more perfect... they even did a special Beyonce' medley for me... and we runwayed... yes, in the middle of the reception



• I really loved the way i looked... i had agonized over diet and exercise for months, but when it was all said and done, i was truly happy with the finished product



• It was a family affair.... if i ever questioned how my family felt about me, i found out that week... my aunt's threw my rehearsal dinner, my cousin took care of photos and video, my uncle performed the wedding ceremony...everyone wanted to help out, and it made all the difference..



• My friends showed up for me... i can't say enough about how great they were... they did everything exactly how i wanted it, calmed me when i was crazy, made me laugh when i wanted to cry....from my breakdown in the parking lot of a Michael's in Skokie about wedding ribbon (with Lesli)... to my kick a$$ bridal shower and bachelorette party.... hands down... i have the best friends ever....

But most important, i married Ken, who is the most wonderful person i know... i will never forget the way he looked at me, and how honored i felt standing there, holding his hands...people always ask me how i felt that day; if i was nervous, had second thoughts, sweaty palms... and i always respond the same...

I told my mother after our second date that he was the man that i was going to marry... and 3 1/2 years later, marrying him was the most natural, comfortable, and exciting thing i have ever done...

Jigga What?

Last night, i had the opportunity to attend the "sold out in under a minute" jay-z american gangster concert. Needless to say, it was amazing. It was one of those things that you just HAVE to do if you are able. First of all, the house of blues chicago is the best venue to see a concert. There isn't a bad seat in the house, it is very intimate, and they sell less than 2,000 tickets, so the crowd is never too crowded or crazy. Of course, big names like jay-z always come with a large sticker price, but i couldn't put a price on seeing an artist who's music reminds me of my tender years through jr. high, high school, college... okay...his lyrics are not the most moral and ethically pleasing... but i don't think anyone can deny his lyric ability...the man doesn't ever write his lyrics down! He literally goes in a studio... makes up music and lyrics on the spot... remembers them... then makes another song....there is something quite genius about that..... As the concert progressed, his song selections vividly brought me back to so many different memories of my life... songs like:

"Big pimpin" (me and my older brother watching videos all day, summers in san antonio)

"Hard knock life" (heard for the first time while on the phone chatting with my biggest crush in high school, Brannon)

"Girls, Girls, Girls" (my all-time favorite jay-z song, heard countless times on a drive back to georgia, with micah, thanksgiving break, freshman year)

I can't do that with many artists... but he is definitely one of them....

My Cannon Bomb......

Anyone who knows me knows i have always had a thing for guys who are comical, and a bit funny looking.....which is why my celebrity boyfriend is Nick Cannon. I am NUTS about him, i love his show on MTV, but before that, i loved his show on Nickelodeon.... I have watched Drumline a million times, and i even bought that stupid movie "the underclassman."I know what you are thinking....nick cannon is pretty hot....NOW.... please remind yourself of how goofy looking this hansome man was when he was a scrawny kid who hadn't grown into his manly physique, so i adored him even at the risk of being made fun of.....needless to say, when my co-worker mentioned that he was staying at our hotel, i immediately assigned myself to being on his welcome team to walk him up to his hotel suite....dont get any ideas.... i just wanted to see my celebrity boyfriend in person...here is how it was going to go in my head...


(greeting in the lobby, escorting him to elevators)

Me: Hello, welcome to our hotel...

Nick: Thank you...so good to meet you

Me: You as well, i am definately a fan

Nick: Really? that's great...so are you from Chicago?

(elevator doors open, we step inside)

Me:No, i am from Atlanta, and i moved here last year to be closer to my fiance'

Nick: Congratulations! When is your wedding?

(elevator doors open again, we walk down the hall to his suite)

Me: Thank you! Its in September, congratulations to you as well...you are newly engaged right?

Nick: Yes I am.... to a Victoria's Secret model....but she looks like a bullfrog compared to you...

Me: Oh... nick....stop it... you are so funny (giggling).....

Nick: So i know we are both engaged, but neither one of us are married yet....

Me: (gasp)

Nick: I am sure you would never cheat on your fiance'

Me: That's RIGHT!!

Nick: How about we just make out and engage ourselves in some heavy petting?

Me: Well......Okay.....

(door closes to hotel suite)

As wonderful as that sounds....it didnt happen.... nick's manager got the wrong time of his arrival, and i was on a lunch appointment with other clients, so i missed everything... i had to hear a story from a fellow co-worker about how great he looked, how nice he was... blah blah blah.....

I suppose the moment has passed, and our paths won't cross....

But......I am still seriously considering pulling the fire alarm.....