Saturday, December 31, 2011

Wrapping up 2011!

It sure has been a while since I've blogged...but when you're surrounded by family, friends and food, there's just no time haha!

But can y'all believe that 2011 is coming to an end?! What a crazy year!

Some highlights of the year:
1) I graduated from college
2) Made the big move to Los Angeles
3) Took many fun trips with family and friends (Cozumel, Beach Week, Charleston, San Antonio, Los Angeles, DC)

It doesn't get any better than that!

And these past couple of weeks that I've spent in Abingdon and Charleston have been great! I've caught up with lots of high school friends and enjoyed downtime with my family. It's truly been a great holiday season!

Now bring on 2012! I imagine more great changes and unforgettable experiences!

What are y'all doing to ring in the New Year?!? I know I'll be living it up in the good ole Southern town of Charleston, SC!


Always have faith!!

Monday, December 19, 2011

Home sweet home!

YAY! I'm finally home for the holidays, and so excited to have some fun with family and friends...although I do miss the warm LA weather! ;)

But once you get past the mess of airports - delays, crazy people and lost luggage (yep, still waiting for that to be delivered) - then it's time to enjoy some relaxation and catching up with loved ones.

Lots of plans to make to see everybody I've missed! :)

There's just something about the holidays that make you feel nostalgic, yet genuinely happy. It's definitely my favorite time of the year!

Now bring on the Chef Heather's for lunch! YUMMY!!!



Always have faith!!

Friday, December 16, 2011

Christmas shopping in LA!

There are just SO many stores to shop at in this big city! The other day I made the drive out to the ocean - to Santa Monica!

I had a blast. It was warm and sunny too! I was wearing a dress and cowgirl boots haha! Now that's the kind of Christmas shopping weather I can handle!

Once you find parking, all you have to do is get out and walk down 3rd Street Promenade and you will find almost every store you can imagine! One of my new LA favorites is called Brandy Melville. It's like a Forever 21 but just in certain places in California and all of the clothes and accessories come straight from Italy! Affordable and stylish - I like that! :)

Santa Monica is just a gorgeous part of California. I'll definitely be making by way over there a lot more while I live in LA!

And now I can check Christmas shopping off of my to-do list!


Always have faith!!

Thursday, December 15, 2011

It's the little things in life...

It's that time of year again... The time when I would be finishing up with my final exams at UVA and making the 3.5 hour drive southwest from Charlottesville, VA to Abingdon - home sweet home.

What good memories I have from that drive. Winter break was always my favorite because you get to take a month off of school and basically do nothing except what you feel like doing - hanging out with friends and family, watching movies and cozying up in front of the fire with hot chocolate, oh - and shopping of course!

It's just the best time of the year. And that drive will always be a wonderful memory. I would get so excited to pack up my car and head home. I would sing along to all of my favorite music - especially Carrie Underwood and Rascal Flatts, and just think about life and how lucky I am. My favorite part of that drive though was seeing the beautiful mountains that lasted the entire way. How gorgeous! I was always astounded by how beautiful that drive was, and I will forever cherish the time I had to escape reality and see the beauty life has to offer.

I found this song the other day that would have been the perfect addition to that trip I used to make. Now I'll just have to listen to it on the plane ride from LA back home! I hope y'all like it! It reminds me of home, and I'm so excited to be there in a few days! :)


Sometimes the smallest things like listening to good music while you make a road trip home give you the best memories!


Always have faith!!

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Great article!!!

Y'all should definitely read this article...especially if you're in your 20's!! A friend passed it a long and it really hit home!

http://www.relevantmagazine.com/life/whole-life/features/25956-11-things-to-know-at-25ish





Always have faith!!

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

"Act like a lady, think like a man"

So my roommate's friend just raved about this book: "Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man" by the comedian Steve Harvey. She said we just had to read it, so she passed it along. Well yes...we were bored one night so we decided to take a look.

Let me tell you...there are some insightful things in that book haha! It makes you really question a lot of things about how you act around guys and about guys in general. It talks a lot about the differences between ladies and gents and goes into detail about how to attract the guy you're looking for. The book touched on everything from Mama's boys to the three things that drive men and even why women should have standards.

I definitely enjoyed the book, but I'm not gonna lie...some of the stuff I didn't agree with - like why men cheat and how guys like to protect their woman (to a point where it seems too aggressive for my taste). Get yourselves together boys!

Last night we came across the trailer for the movie that's based on the book! It's coming out in March haha...who would have thought that we just read the book and it's already hit Hollywood!


So I guess ladies could learn a few things from the book. Watch out boys...we know your secrets now! ;)

But I also came across this video and thought...maybe this girl has it all right haha.


Haha good advice huh? Hope you enjoyed!


Always have faith!!

Monday, December 12, 2011

It's a small world after all!

What a fun weekend!


Last night was the UVA Entertainment LA holiday party. It was at Village Idiot on Melrose, and I had a blast! There were UVA alums there from all different years. These events are great, especially when you're new to a city. You get to meet people who work in the entertainment industry and learn the paths they took to get where they are now. It's also cool because you all have plenty to talk about...I mean everybody spent at least 4 years at the same college!

And you never know who you'll meet at these things! I overheard someone say he was from Southwest VA, so of course I had to jump in the convo haha! I learned he was from Marion and graduated two years before me. How crazy is it that he played football and I cheered, so that means we've crossed paths on the football field in high school and never met until last night - in Los Angeles of all places. We could even name drop and know who the other was talking about. Talk about a small world!

What a great way to bring UVA alums from all over this big city together for a night. It was definitely a fun holiday party, and I'll look forward to it next year!

Hope y'all are having tons of fun-filled holiday parties as well!! It's the best time of the year. :)


Always have faith!!

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Shopping with a supermodel!

We all have a few celebrities that top our "celeb sighting" list - the ones we would love to see at least once in our lives. And they're usually the ones that are the hardest to catch a glimpse of.

Well yesterday at the Grove, I spotted one on my list. I was getting ready to leave Zara and on my way out I saw a familiar face. So of course I turned around and pretended to keep shopping haha. Yep it was Alessandra Ambrosio! The gorgeous supermodel was out shopping with her daughter Anja. She was speaking Portuguese to her daughter the whole time while Anja tried on hats and was laughing up a storm.

I ended up being right beside her while we both checked out at Zara. So crazy! She looked like a normal person - she wasn't dolled up and was wearing casual clothes. She was still gorgeous of course.

The cool thing is when I see these different celebs, I realize they're just normal people doing the same exact things I'm doing. It's nice to know they're just like us in some ways.

As I was leaving the Grove, I passed Victoria's Secret and there she was again...but this time she was in a huge picture advertising for the store. How crazy that the same person I just stood two feet from in real life was now just a model in a picture. That's the thing about celeb sightings...it's exciting for a second and then they're gone in an instant. It's back to seeing them in magazines and on TV because most likely you won't catch a glimpse of the same one twice...


Always have faith!!

Friday, December 9, 2011

Fun hosting dinner and exciting news!!

Last night, we had a ladies hosting dinner and it was a blast! We tried out a place in West Hollywood called Spanish Kitchen...yummy Mexican, although the service wasn't the absolute best!

It's always so fun to reunite and stay in touch even when class is over! I love that us girls try to keep in touch! Here's a pic from last night!



And in other news...I GOT A JOB!!! Woohoo! I'm so excited! Finally, my first job in LA in the entertainment industry! I start in January and I'm very thankful that I have something now! It took a lot of networking and staying positive that's for sure! But it's definitely a step in the right direction!

Wonder what exciting things will happen next?!?


Always have faith!!

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Determined People Succeed

I just read my daily devotional by Joyce Meyer and the subject was "Determined People Succeed." What a fitting topic. As I continue to question my choices and goals for my future, this devotional helped me realize that most everyone who has become successful in their respective fields has paid their dues.

People struggle and are told no time after time, but staying determined and continuing to believe and strive for success helps to build character that will get you where you desire in the future.

The passage really spoke to me because I know that I can be impatient sometimes. Most people want their goals to be reached now and without struggle. But understanding that I am being shaped during this process to reach my goals will help me become even better in the future.

So stay determined and you will succeed!


Always have faith!!

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

It's that time of year...Christmas shopping!

I'm making a list and checking it twice!

Let me tell you...it is impossible to shop at all the good places in LA in just one day! I've made a list of the places I need to go before I go home for Christmas, and it looks like I'll have to split my Christmas shopping up into three trips ahhh!! It's going to be crazy!

I figured I'd hit up the Grove and the Beverly Center for a few things one day, then make my way to 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica on a different day, and finally shop on Melrose and Robertson for my last day of Christmas shopping. And those places aren't even close to all of the shopping in this big city! But it's not like I'm going to Rodeo Drive or anything... ;)

I love this time of year though! Everybody is out and about enjoying the holiday spirit! Let's hope all this shopping is more fun than stressful!

Good luck with y'alls shopping as well!


Always have faith!!

Friday, December 2, 2011

Never bored in LA!

If there's one thing I know for sure...it's that there's ALWAYS something fun to do in LA!

Last night, my friends and I went to see a comedy show. I've been to two so far, and I always have a blast! I find the actors so talented because I know it must be hard getting up in front of a bunch of people and doing improv and acting crazy haha!

Plus, you never know who else will show up to watch the shows! Last night, Darryl (Craig Robinson) from The Office was in the audience watching. Pretty cool!

If you get the chance, I would definitely recommend going to a comedy or improv show. There are tons all over the city, and I can guarantee you'll laugh! :)

Hope y'all have a great weekend!


Always have faith!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DIDDY!!!

It's my daddy's birthday...so I had to to post this:


I knew it would come in handy one day! :)

But I just wanted to say happy happy birthday to Jim Diddy Durin Fern! I don't know what I would do without him. He's always been so supportive and has taught me many things about life - the importance of perseverance, following your dreams, and most importantly always having faith.

So thank you for being such a great Dad, and I hope you celebrate a day that you'll never forget! Wish I was there...and please don't be derogatory haha!

Love you Dad!



Always have faith!!

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Last hosting class :(

Last night was my final hosting class. And I'm so sad it's over! I met so many awesome people and learned so much during those six weeks.

Guess that means I'll have to take another one soon!

We got to tape our stand-ups last night, so everybody came dressed up and ready to film! It was a lot of fun! We used the teleprompter and each said our stand-up four times. Mine was about the CMA's...had to bring in the country music of course! :)

After class, we all went out to Rush Street in Culver City. It was such a cool lounge...I definitely want to go back! And I love how the entire class became so close that we keep wanting to hang out with each other haha. We all decided we're going to take another hosting class together next year!

Here's our "funny" picture that we took last night in front of the green screen. Good times!!


I'm sure there will be a lot more hosting memories to come in the future!



Always have faith!!

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Another unexpected night at the Grove!

Seriously y'all...the Grove is the place to go to see some celebs! I was kind of discouraged at first because I hadn't seen any yet, but then we sat down to eat at Morels and got to people watch for about two hours!

First celeb spotting: I saw a man trip, so I glanced over at him. Yep...it was Big from Sex and the City! He was with his wife and son. So crazy!

We continued eating after getting our heart rates up when we saw Big, and then I saw Toby from Pretty Little Liars! Woot woot...I had a good eye last night.

But the best and most exciting celeb spotting of all... I saw a tall guy wearing a hoodie, so I thought - he must be trying to hide or something. It ended up being Austin Nichols with Sophia Bush. I think they were heading to the movies. We were talking to our waitress at the time, and I literally interrupted the conversation saying their names over and over. It was my favorite celeb spotting yet! One Tree Hill is like my all time favorite show!!

The last one of the night...we were in Nordstrom and I saw a familiar face. It was the new Irish guy from Glee!

What a fun night! I'm never good at spotting celebs, but I was on point last night haha! So much fun!

Who knows what will happen next?


Always have faith!!

Sunday, November 27, 2011

I still say wahoowa...just not in all CAPS!

Well...the rivalry game between UVA and VT was a bummer to say the least. I don't even know what to say really.

But, the UVA alumni group got together to watch the game at a really fun bar in Santa Monica. I love how our school has crazy UVA pride no matter what haha! The bar was called SOUTH and it served authentic Southern food! Talk about good stuff...I had me some fried pickles!! :)

We had a blast eating good food and watching the game! It definitely reminded me of home, and it's so cool to hang out with a bunch of people that all have UVA in common!

Even though we lost in football, it's a good thing that UVA is awesome at everything else! There's always next year...


Always have faith!!

Saturday, November 26, 2011

A night at The Roxbury



Last night was such a fun night!

One of my sorority sisters came in from New York for Thanksgiving and we got to celebrate her birthday - Hollywood style!!

We went to Katsuya for dinner. I shared the Rock Shrimp Tempura Roll and the Crispy Rice with Spicy Tuna. Talk about yummy!! Oh...and the White Grapefruit Cosmo was to die for!! Katsuya is definitely a Hollywood hotspot, and I know I'll definitely be going back!!


After dinner we made our way over to the famous Roxbury club. And we had a fun night at the Roxbury ;). We danced and mingled and had a great night all around!

Definitely want a repeat of that birthday celebration!!


Always have faith!!

Friday, November 25, 2011

Thankful for family, friends and food!! :)

I hope y'all had a YUMMY Thanksgiving! I know I sure did. Although I didn't get to spend it with my family in Virginia, I enjoyed spending time with my LA family this year! It's always nice to have people to be thankful for all over the country!

We had SO much food yesterday. And I loved it all so much, that I have to tell y'all all about it...

My Thanksgiving meal consisted of turkey, sweet potato casserole (with marshmallows on top), mashed potatoes, two types of mac and cheese, stuffing and dressing, rolls, green bean casserole (that I helped make woohoo), and of course lots and lots of gravy! We followed that up with pumpkin, apple and pecan pies! Whoa! So much food I literally couldn't move.

There was great conversation and lots of laughter at my Thanksgiving table. I felt so blessed to be surrounded by great friends who so kindly took me in as one of their own for the day.

After the food coma set in, I somehow managed to make even more new friends. Everywhere I went...these two followed! And they fought over who got the most attention. I don't know what it was...maybe I smelled like food haha?!

Here are my Thanksgiving pals (these are the only two pics I managed to get without them on top of me!):



How sweet!!

My Thanksgiving was definitely a success, and I hope yours was too! I'd love to hear what some of y'all did this year.

And, I will forever be thankful that I am so blessed to have an amazing support group in my life.

Happy Thanksgiving y'all! And now it's time to shop ;)


Always have faith!!

When a parent visits...we EAT! :)

My roommate's (Bianka's) mom came into town for Thanksgiving. Somehow we managed to make it a tradition that the parents who visit take us out to dinner - talk about a good tradition! ;)

Since we don't have a lot of money, we get to go all out and eat somewhere really nice that we couldn't afford on our own!

Bianka and I made a bucket list of restaurants we want to try eventually. So, after glancing over the list we decided to try Villa Blanca on Wednesday night. Now...if you've ever watched The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, then you know Villa Blanca is one of Lisa Vanderpump's restaurants. Being the avid housewives viewers that we are, we thought we might as well try out her restaurant. And who knows...maybe we'll even see some people from the show?

And that we did! Lisa's daughter Pandora and her new husband Jason were working there that night. Who would have thought?! Overall, the meal was excellent. I loved the bread with the olive tapenade, and every dish I tried (the seared tuna and the lamb chops) I loved!! So yummy!

After dinner we drove down Rodeo Drive to get a glimpse of the holiday decorated stores. Gorgeous!

So thank you Bianka's mom for treating us to such a lovely dinner and memorable night! Maybe one day, we'll be able to repay our parents for everything they've done for us over the years - I definitely see some nice dinners in our future haha!


Always have faith!!

Monday, November 21, 2011

Clear eyes, full hearts

I finally watched the final season of Friday Night Lights - my all-time favorite show!

It was AMAZING!!! The show deserved more Emmy awards that's for sure...

If you've never watched it, then you're definitely missing out. It brings you back to your high school days and centers around football games that the entire town goes to every Friday night. I can promise you I laughed out loud, cried, got frustrated (so many emotions!) while watching this show. You really feel a connection to it - especially if you're from a small, Southern town like me!

I just felt inspired after watching the show. You truly connect with the characters and their growth throughout the series. It gives an honest portrayal of real life struggles, changes and experiences. So relatable!

And...best news ever! Looks like there's going to be a movie hopefully in 2012. So I suggest you catch up on the five seasons so you're ready for the best movie ever! Good to know that the show isn't completely over yet...

CLEAR EYES, FULL HEARTS!!! Love love love Friday Night Lights!


Always have faith!!

Sunday, November 20, 2011

23...the year for me!

I had the most amazing birthday ever!! I can't believe I'm already 23. Time flies!

My friends and I definitely celebrated in style. We met up for lunch at Toast, a really yummy LA cafe and had great sandwiches. Nina pretended she had to call her agent and came back with these:



Sneaky woman!! So sweet! And they definitely got me a lot of attention walking around in Beverly Hills haha! I also got a surprise cupcake at Toast and got to make my first wish of the night! Of course, I can't tell y'all that or it won't come true ;)



Talk about a good start to my day! Then we went to the famous Sprinkles cupcakes! Yep...after already getting a cupcake at Toast, we got more. And we definitely ended up in a sugar coma. Don't these look SO yummy?? Red velvet, pumpkin, black and white and chocolate marshmallow ahhh!



I don't know how we managed, but we went home and changed and made our way to Beso for dinner. Beso is such a good restaurant. It's the one that Eva Longoria started! We got some free goodies at dinner too. Birthdays definitely have their perks! After dinner we met up with a bunch of other people and had a great rest of the night!

I've decided that 23 is the year for me (nice catchphrase huh?). I can already tell it's going to be a great year with a bunch of new experiences, changes and opportunities. I'm definitely excited to see how 23 turns out.

Thanks to everybody who wished me a happy birthday and was a part of my special day! I am truly blessed!! :)


Always have faith!! 

Thursday, November 17, 2011

I just had to share this!

I read my daily devotional today and had to share it with y'all.

To everything there is a season, and a time for every matter or purpose under heaven.
-Ecclesiastes 3:1

The devotional was about how we always seem to be in a hurry to make our dreams come true. What we really need to practice is patience. Things will happen according to God's plan and that should make us all feel less anxious.

I know this devotional really spoke to me, especially when I'm searching for jobs and following my dream to become a host. I definitely need to practice patience and have faith that my dreams will come true at the right place and right time.

Hope this helped some of y'all!

Always have faith!!

What a sweet surprise!

Hi y'all!! I hope everybody's having an amazing day! It's almost the weekend and my birthday ahh!!!

I had to write a blog today because I got the best surprise last night at hosting class! When I got to class, there was a surprise cake and card for me! I couldn't believe it! Such an awesome surprise. It just made my day!

The cake was SO yummy! Jenna @jennatimetweets brought it from Nothing Bundt Cakes and it was a lemon poundcake with cream cheese frosting...so good! Look at it! But beware...you're going to want a bite! :)


It was just such a sweet and unexpected gesture that I had to post it. What a great way to start celebrating my birthday! I love my hosting class!!! :)


Always have faith!!

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

We were just shopping at the Grove...

Last night my friends and I went to the Grove to look around and shop a little bit. Who would have thought it would have been such an eventful night!

Once we parked and made our way to shop, we saw the gorgeous and huge Christmas tree all lit up! So beautiful!


It really gets you in the holiday spirit! And while we were walking around, fake snow started falling and Christmas music started playing. It was magical!!


Look at the snow and the sleigh with reindeer! So fun!

So the Christmas tree already got us excited while we were shopping, but then we found out that Kris Jenner was at Barnes and Noble signing for her new book. We made our way to the top of the store to try to catch a glimpse. Might as well, right? We had nothing to lose. We weren't buying her book, so we snuck around the ropes that were stopping us from seeing her. As Nina said, "Where there's a will, there's a way!" HAHA! Here's a pic of her...drinking her water. We literally couldn't get any picture without that water bottle in her hand!

So we left Barnes and Noble to go to different stores and we saw one of the guys from The OC waiting for a table at the Cheesecake Factory! So crazy! Most people probably wouldn't recognize him, but he was Ryan's ex-girlfriend's fiancé, Eddie! Real name: Eric Balfour. Kinda cool!

But it didn't stop there! On our way out...I almost freaked out. I noticed a cute guy in a white t-shirt eating dinner, and I made my friends turn around and sit and stare for a few minutes! It was Tristan MacManus from Dancing with the Stars! Such a cutie. And he definitely knew what we were doing because on the way out I smiled and he smiled back at us three girls flat out staring at him haha.

What an unexpected night! Tuesday's must be the best days for celeb spotting...you just never know! It's so cool to be walking around and see the most random people! Until next time...

Always have faith!!

Friday, November 11, 2011

Fun day at Fox Studios!

Hi y'all!

Yesterday was such a blast! My friend Nina and I went to meet my roommate Bianka for lunch at Fox Studios and we got to tour the lot. I love going to studios because you get to see what goes on behind the scenes for a bunch of different shows! Here's a Modern Family truck (my favorite)!!


Last summer when I was here, I met with a UVA alum at Paramount for lunch and also got to tour that lot!

It's really interesting because there was a lot in common between the two studios. They both had all of the different sets spread across a huge lot and they both had a New York street! Check it out!


I actually felt like I was in NYC even though I'm across the country! And there was even a subway entrance!

The cool thing about these different studios is that you feel like you're a part of a smaller community. There are cafeterias and people know each other. It's kind of like a school! Any studio would definitely be a great place to work - there's always something cool going on and lots of people to meet!

Well...I've got to stop writing and start watching the CMA's! I missed them because of hosting class (we got to use the teleprompter this week :)), and I heard the show was amazing! Love me some country music!


Always have faith!!

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Can't sleep...so blog! My cold weather favorites!

I don't know what's wrong with me, but I woke up at 6:30am this morning! Ahhh I never do this unless I absolutely have to haha!

I'm blaming it on the change in weather out here in LA. It's SO cold...we even had to turn on our heat! I thought LA was supposed to be warm all year long... :(

When the weather gets cold, you have to get creative about finding fun things to do so you're not outside freezing your booty off. Here are a few of my cold weather favorites:

1. Bring on the warm and yummy Starbucks drinks! I guess when it gets cold outside, you know the holidays are near. And when Starbucks debuts its holiday red cups, I get so excited!! A few of my Starbucks favorites - skinny vanilla latte, white chocolate mocha and of course the signature hot chocolate!



2. I'm all about going to the movies when it's cold outside. At least that gets you out of the house, but in a warm movie theatre with friends and entertainment! My roommate and I just went to see Moneyball with Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill! And boy am I all about the baseball players haha. We went to the famous Arclight Cinemas in Hollywood. Definitely glad we went, but it cost us both $17.50 to park and see a movie! Shew...don't they know some of us are still unemployed! The alternative...have a fun movie night at home with your friends. Then you can sit around in sweats and veg out all night!








Those are just two of my favorites when it's cold outside...I'm sure I'll come up with many more this season! Cold weather makes you get creative. It's not always fun to go out when it's freezing, so sometimes a fun game night with friends is just what you need!

What are some of y'alls favorites when...baby it's cold outside? ;)




Always have faith!!

Monday, November 7, 2011

So I tried a juice cleanse...

The latest LA trend - a juice cleanse! Yeah...maybe not the smartest idea, but I must say, I did feel cleansed and refreshed after it was finally over!!

Too much In N Out led me to want to clean up my diet, so I did a lot of research to find a good way to "start over." I found a bunch of different companies online that actually deliver fresh juices to your door. A normal cleanse could last anywhere from 3 to 7 days...but I just did it for two days - another day and I would have gone crazy! And I made sure it was healthy because I didn't want my body to think I was starving it. The cleanse I chose gave me about 1200 calories a day filled in six different juices!

Some of the juices I actually loved and would drink again like the pineapple, apple and melon juice. But let me tell you...the green juice with romaine, spinach, kale, green apple, celery, parsley and lemon was yuck! Never again haha!

You basically drink six juices each day and drink one every couple of hours, so you actually don't feel hungry. The hard part is that it's just liquid, so the first day I was dying to have real food to chew. The second day was a lot easier though...probably because I knew I was almost done.

The cleanse really did make me want to start eating healthier though! Overall, I'm glad I tried it once, but I probably wouldn't do it again. Oh well!

Always have faith!!

Friday, November 4, 2011

I had this dream...

Well it's a rainy day here in LA...and all I want to do is stay in bed! My new bed by the way...it just got delivered today! Look!



So while I'm being lazy, I've been trying to figure out exactly what it is that I'm meant to do with my life. I know I love hosting - we practiced red carpet interviewing at my class on Wednesday night, and that was a lot of fun! Hosting would definitely be my dream job! I feel so much like myself when I'm interviewing and speaking in front of people. But I've been so confused about what my next step should be...just like a lot of people my age probably are. We're all wondering what the future holds...

But it was so weird! I woke up this morning with an idea! Maybe it was me thinking about hosting right before I went to bed, but I came up with a cool hosting idea in my sleep. I want to start a web series where I interview different people and talk about their goals and dreams for the future. I could interview people who have been through their "turbulent twenties" and get advice for people my age who are trying to figure out what steps to take. And I can interview people my age who talk about why they are where they are at the moment and what their goals and dreams are for the future...

I've always loved learning about different people and how they end up where they are; and it's always inspiring to share dreams and goals with other people. Maybe this web show idea could be a great way to demonstrate how things happen for a reason... And it would be a great way to highlight the different stages in life that eventually lead you down the path you're meant to take.

The idea kind of reminds me of a country song (haha of course)! It's called This by Darius Rucker. Check it out!


So what do you think about my idea?? I feel like learning about the stages of life and different people's paths would be a really cool show. I know I could definitely benefit from other people's advice!

Anyways...I'll keep you posted on my show idea. Hopefully I can start interviewing people soon!


Always have faith!!

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

The Best of Me...you just have to read it!

Hi y'all! And happy hump day!

So I just finished reading Nicholas Sparks' new book The Best of Me and I just have to write about it! If you are a romantic at all...you're going to LOVE this book!

It's about first loves being reunited for a mutual friend/mentor's funeral. Since the two loves, Dawson and Amanda, haven't spoken to each other sense they broke up after high school, the couple must face the past and the challenges that go along with loving and losing your first love. 

The story takes many turns, with family members getting in the way and causing issues as well as accidents that unexpectedly affect the entire plot of the book.

All I can say is that I definitely shed my fair share of tears. Nicholas Sparks has a way of making me even more of a romantic than I already am!

So if you love love, then definitely check out this book!

Hope y'all have an amazing rest of your Wednesday! I'm off to my third hosting class soon!


And remember...always have faith!!

Monday, October 31, 2011

Malibu...what a view! And Kim Kardashian is already getting divorced?!?

Happy Halloween y'all! I hope everyone has a fun day filled with lots of candy haha!

Now for a little update on my internship...

I worked an event at the Bel Air Bay Club in Malibu on Friday night! It was an awesome venue, and check out this view:


So crazy to drive down the PCH and see the Pacific Ocean for miles and miles! It's gorgeous and one of the best places in California!

The event was a lot of fun! It was a dinner supporting the Susan G. Komen Foundation for breast cancer research. I got to work the "pink" carpet and help with the celebrities! I met Emmanuelle Chriqui from Entourage and Sara Ramirez from Grey's Anatomy! And there were a few other celebs there to support the cause as well!

Now...what is this breaking news that Kim Kardashian is already getting a divorce?? How crazy...it's barely been two months! I guess no one ever knows what goes on behind closed doors in some of these relationships. Makes you really wonder what is happening to marriage these days. I'm sure the media will blow this up and let everyone know what happened, but I'm honestly speechless!

Until next time :)

And always have faith!! Seems like a lot of marriages need it these days...

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Costumes, candy corn, and Hocus Pocus!

First Halloween weekend in LA! Santa Monica Blvd is completely blocked off and people are dressed up in things that would never even cross my mind haha!

I love how everyone gets in the spirit here and it's not even officially Halloween!!

My friends and I have had a Halloween movie night where we watched Hocus Pocus and Practical Magic and ate pumpkin infused brownies and way too much candy! And you can literally walk out onto the street and find a Halloween party going on! People go ALL out!

Then it seems like everyone ends up at In N Out (yummy) for a late night nosh - it even stayed open until 3am last night! People were seriously wanting a burger and fries haha!

We still have actual Halloween night to have some more fun, so pics of costumes to come.
I was a cowgirl of course :)

Have a HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

And always have faith!!

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Is this real life??

Yesterday was such a crazy day!!! A big group of us were celebrating my friend and old LA roomie Lindsay's, birthday. We had a blast! And seriously everywhere we went something exciting happened!

We started off having tea time at the Peninsula hotel in Beverly Hills. It was gorgeous! There was a harpist playing music and we ordered tea and scones and sandwiches. So much fun! Here's a pic:

Me and Megan outside at The Peninsula - gorgeous!

Inside where we had tea time!

Well I arrived early, so I was sitting at our table waiting for everyone and just scoping out the scene. Then, I looked at the table next to ours and I couldn't believe it!! Two of the stars of Pretty Little Liars were having tea with their friends! Ahhhh!! It's especially exciting because I'm obsessed with that show haha! The teacher Ezra Fitz and Spencer's older sister, Melissa Hastings, were sitting right near me celebrating a birthday as well. They even clapped along with us when we sang Happy Birthday to Lindsay! 

Being the sneaky girl that I am...Lindsay and I got a picture together and managed to get Melissa Hastings in the background! Check it out!


After tea we all went home to change and get ready for a fun dinner downtown at Bottega Louie. It was my first time at the restaurant and it was such a cool atmosphere! The food was amazing too, so I'll definitely be going back! 

As soon as I walked in the door, the girls told me I was going to freak out! What...why?!? Well...who would have thought that Taylor Lautner from Twilight (talk about cute) and Dianna Agron from Glee would be at the same restaurant having dinner - together (with Dianna's boyfriend too)! But ahhhh! 

I was about to die! Everywhere we went yesterday we got to see some celebs...it was crazy! Such a fun day!

I guess you really never know what's going to happen in this city! Definitely keeps things exciting! :) 

Always have faith!!

Monday, October 24, 2011

Wahoowa!

Yesterday was a great day! I went to the UVA Club of Los Angeles event at Griffith Park and got to meet tons of UVA alums!

The weather was perfect and it was fun to meet and mingle with a group of people that all had one thing in common - UVA! The barbecue wasn't too bad either ;)

It's really cool to have such a strong alumni network out in LA. It makes it easier to meet people and to get connections for jobs!! I'm definitely looking forward to the next few events...especially the holiday party!!



The rest of this week is jam-packed with tons of fun things...so I'll be sure to keep y'all updated!!


Always have faith!!

Thursday, October 20, 2011

I'm so excited...and I just can't hide it!

Today is just gorgeous! I sat up on the rooftop to read and I just can't believe it's sunny and warm when it's almost November! I can definitely get used to this weather! :)

I told y'all I'd let you know how my hosting class went...and I LOVED IT!!! It was so much fun and I met some great new people (even another Whitney from the South haha)! I realized that hosting is exactly what I want to do with my life! It made me feel so energized, no joke! I love getting up in front of people and talking about different things, so I'm really excited to see how the rest of the classes go!

It's almost my two month anniversary in LA, and I feel like things are finally starting to come together and I'm figuring out what I want to do. But you never know how plans may change, that's for sure! So I'll definitely keep sharing my new adventures and exciting experiences that I hope I'll continue to have!

And remember...always have faith!

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

It's going to be an interesting day!

Today's kind of a big day! I have my internship from 10 to 6pm and then I'm going to my first ever hosting class! I'm soooo excited to learn what hosting is all about and to see if I'm good at it or not! The class is supposed to teach me the ins and outs of hosting...so like what Giuliana Rancic and Ryan Seacrest do on E!

It'll definitely be nerve-wracking, but no matter what, I know it'll be a great experience! It's always fun to get out of your comfort zone sometimes and try new things.

I'll definitely keep y'all posted about how it goes! Who knows...my Southern accent could be a great asset ;)

Always have faith!

Sunday, October 16, 2011

A few of my favorite things!

I'm not kidding...Sunday is my favorite day of the week! It helps that it still feels like summer out, but Sundays are just different than the rest of the days. I love how laid back the day feels.

People are out and about going to church and brunch, yet there's less traffic than usual; so there's a sort of calm in the city. It's the perfect day to take a walk or relax outside reading a book. I don't even think about having to go to my internship tomorrow because Sunday is just the perfect day!

Since I've been in LA about six weeks now, I've managed to find a few favorites so far (besides the entire day of Sunday haha). Basically, if my friends or family visited, these are some of the things I would want to do with them:

1. Runyon Canyon is amazing! Not only is it a good workout, but the view is absolutely gorgeous! You can literally see the entire city! The first time I went, I definitely wasn't expecting it to be such a hike, but once you get to the top, you can't help but to rest and take in the view.
Here are some pics from my hike at Runyon Canyon:





2. I love The Grove! It's an outdoor mall with stores, restaurants and a movie theater. And there's a Farmer's Market too! It's a great place to walk around and people watch. Monday through Friday, Extra is filmed at The Grove, so you might run into some of your favorite celebrities! It's definitely one of my favorites places to go.

3. Malibu! Talk about beautiful. You drive down the PCH for miles and can stare at the Pacific Ocean the whole way. And you have your pick of beaches...from Zuma to El Matador! They're all gorgeous! It's definitely a place to see. Check it out!



Of course, I love doing tons of other things like trying out new restaurants and going to the LA Dodgers game, but these were a few of my favorites that made me fall in love with LA!

Have a great week y'all!

And always have faith! :)

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Feeling a little nostalgic

It's a gorgeous day in LA...like 93 degrees! It's never this hot here! Shew

But I'm sitting at my internship and I've already updated all of the company's social media sites, so now I'm just surfing the web (Facebook that is) shhh. ;)

I started looking through all of my pictures and it made me nostalgic! High school and college pics (there are SO many)...I definitely had a blast! It makes me miss good ole Virginia and all of my friends and family.

I could hardly choose, but here are a few of my favorites from high school and college:













And to make me miss home/people even more...I'm listening to Lady Antebellum - my favorite! I told y'all I went to see them play at the Troubadour in LA...so here is a pic from that night!



I am IN LOVE with the new song Dancin' Away With My Heart. Reminds me of being a teenager. You have to hear it!




Hope everyone has a great hump day!

Always have faith!

Monday, October 10, 2011

Just another day in the life...

Well...I started an internship! It's unpaid of course - that's just how LA does it. But, at least I'm getting some more experience while I'm going through this whole job search process. 

I feel like a working woman! 10-6 is not too bad. And it makes me excited for when I get that coveted first job!

It's fun too! I get to update social media sites and help with red carpet events! I get to really see what goes on behind the scenes. And getting a celebrity gift bag is always a perk! ;) 

Here's a picture from the red carpet event I worked at the W Hollywood (a super chic hotel):



So things are coming along. I'll definitely keep y'all posted on what the future brings here in LA!


Always have faith!

Friday, October 7, 2011

Diary of the Unemployed

Yep...that's me. Off to LA with no job! But it's all going to work out...(fingers crossed)!

I came out to LA for a reason - to get my start in the entertainment industry. And there's no better place to do it! Obviously, I knew before moving out here that it was going to be a gamble. It's tough not knowing if it's going to work out or not, but I have some experience on my resume, and I definitely have the desire to make it work! What can I say...I'm a dreamer!

You'd think I'd be spending my days on the beach or shopping...but being unemployed can definitely be stressful. Many of my days consist of waking up and going straight to my laptop to apply for more internships and assistant positions. Plus, there's no room to waste money on shopping anyways!

Being unemployed has definitely afforded me with lots of extra time. So much time that I literally have every possible new show recorded on my DVR! I could literally write a summary on all of the new shows in the fall line-up. My favorites being:

1. Hart of Dixie (who wouldn't love a show based in a small Southern town)  ;)
2. Revenge (oh the mystery and drama)
3. Pan Am (love those strong and smart women!)

Of course, those are just my new favorites. My go-to shows are on the DVR as well - Modern Family, Gossip Girl, and Desperate Housewives...final season :(

So you can see...being unemployed has definitely allowed me to stay caught up on my TV shows. I don't know that that's necessarily a great thing.

Hopefully, I won't be unemployed for much longer. Lots of interviews and networking...

I do believe it will all work out in the end...and I hope in some time from now my DVR is 100% full because I'm so busy ;)

Remember - always have faith! That's what I'm banking on...

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Crazy adventures...officially checking off my LA bucket list

Talk about crazy...it's RAINING in LA right now! And that never happens!


Then again, I guess you never know what kind of crazy and random adventures LA will bring you. I'm never surprised anymore. 


My first official month out in Cali has definitely been exciting...from meeting NBA and Dodgers players (or so they claim), to working a fashion show on a rooftop in Venice, to going to the live taping of Dancing With The Stars. And yes...I did get to see the Kardashians, Courteney Cox and a little too much of Nancy Grace ;)! But my favorite part had to be the dance moves...so cool to watch the dancers and stars perform live. I have no idea who I'm going to vote for anymore! 


And those are just a few of the fun things I've been getting to do. I've definitely learned that anything can happen here! Just the other night Lady Antebellum was playing at the Troubadour - an awesome concert venue and a place on my bucket list. Apparently tickets had been sold out for a while...I found this out because I called the local radio station and all I got was a big "good luck with that!" So I eventually gave up trying to find tickets...who would have thought that country music was popular here?! Then fate stepped in... I still don't really know how it worked out (a friend of a friend's car broke down so we got 2 tickets!), but I got to go to the concert and skip the line to get in early! I definitely got a lot of stares wearing a dress and cowboy boots... But I could literally see the sweat dripping off the band. AMAZING! 


I think it's safe to say that I'm going to have to start adding more to my bucket list because I keep getting to check things off! It's unreal! It definitely feels like anything is possible in this place...and I'm loving it! 


Hope you enjoyed reading about some of my adventures in LA so far...hopefully many more to come! 


And remember...always have faith!





Tuesday, October 4, 2011

The Ups and Downs of Life after Graduation. Oh...and growing up in a small southern town

Well...it's been about 4 months since I graduated from college, and I must say that life is definitely different. As school was wrapping up and all of my friends and peers were getting job offers or looking for apartments in new cities where they would relocate...all I could think about was moving to LA at the end of the summer!
Yes I was doing the unthinkable (especially since I graduated from a prestigious university with tons of services focused solely on helping students get jobs). But I decided that I wanted to work in the entertainment industry and that meant taking a giant leap of faith: moving from small town, southern Virginia to the big city of Los Angeles - without a job.

I've been in LA a month now, but let me take you back to the beginning...

I'm a small town, Southern girl...I grew up with cows in my backyard in a town where NASCAR races and high school football games are major events. Everybody knows everybody and everything that's going on. I went to the same high school where my parents met and were high school sweethearts. So you can imagine that gossip from break-ups to "who's dating who" rule this town. I loved every second of growing up in this place...

You can guess that my move to California was big news to the people in my town. Why would you want to move to California? Don't you know there are earthquakes out there? But you don't have a job...how are you going to manage? Shew...talk about a lot of questions!

So, I made sure to have a great "last summer" hanging out with friends, riding the Seadoo on the lake, and taking the annual family trip to Charleston, SC. But the fact that I didn't have a job like most of my peers loomed over my head. Thankfully, I managed to convince my sorority sister and college roommate to make the big move to California with me.

All summer, we searched and searched for apartments in a city we didn't know much about. And luckily, we have supportive parents! So we made a trip out to California to find the perfect apartment. Oh the stress of that weekend...driving from place to place, viewing what felt like one hundred apartments and persuading our moms that this move is really a great thing!

We had a successful trip and found a beautiful and safe apartment with a glistening pool and a rooftop with amazing views! We were so excited!

After I got back home, like most other college graduates, I had to get everything in order...from shipping my car from VA to CA, packing up my life, and saying goodbye to the beautiful town I will always call home.

Changes in life are inevitable...and I am SO excited to be living in LA. I'll always be a small town southern girl with big dreams...and now I'm living in a city that can make those dreams come true!

I can't wait to share my journey and experiences with you and boy am I living a crazy life! Until next time...

Oh and remember...always have faith!