​I’ve been attending Comic Con’s and Conventions for almost a decade, and speaking on panels for a few years now, but just a few months ago, I got a taste of what it feels like to be a VIP Guest at a Con. And boy, did it feel GREAT!!
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I was invited to be a VIP Guest to the first ever Pop Culture Expo held just outside of Boston, Massachusetts for Memorial Day Weekend.   The event was produced by Gary Sohmers and Image Meet and Greets; and a ridiculously awesome time was had by all.

I arrived via a complimentary round-trip airfare, at the airport to be greeted by a representative from the Con and shuttled to the hotel (also comped).   I soon found myself in the shuttle with actors and actresses from Game of Thrones, Supernatural, Disney, and much more.
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We spent a weekend together, being treated to complimentary meals, dinner parties, autograph signings, and panels.   The staff was extremely polite and helpful and continually checked in on our booths to make sure we were well fed and watered.

​I was scheduled to appear on the Voice Actor panel two days in a row, and at the last minute was also asked to moderate Alaina Huffman’s panel for the weekend. Both panels were amazing, but the highlight of my weekend, was inviting actor Ernie Hudson (Ghostbusters), to join our Voice Actor panel, and having him take time away from his booth to show up! Here I am reading out loud a scene from the script, thinking, wow the actor next to me REALLY sounds like the real deal from Ghostbusters…. CAUSE HE IS!!!   What a fantastic moment.

I’ll be honest, a few times during the weekend I thought wow, how did I end up here?   But here’s the catch… I was the only one thinking that! To everyone else, I had earned my place there right along with the rest of them.   A running theme in my life and career, so it’s important to remember, just lasting all of these years in Hollywood is a SUCCESS story in and of itself, but add some television, movie, and producing credits, now you’re success rate is higher than the average and something to really be proud of.
Remember, as you go along this journey, most folks will glance at your credits, check out your imdb page, and assume you’re successful and happy unless YOU tell them otherwise. 
I hope you join me in celebrating the successes, and shifting perspective to what we HAVE accomplished, rather than what we haven’t. Would love to hear from you on any shifts you’ve had lately, career or otherwise!

*Originally Written for Ms. In The Biz  5/7/14* 

I’ve blogged a lot about my journey to self-love, and lately I’ve been speaking a lot about it as well!  In February, I was invited to speak on a panel at the first ever “F Word Event” produced by Asha Daya of Girl Talk HQ and Sarah Moshman of Heartfelt Productions.

It was a fabulously new experience for me, as typically I lead a panel of women on topics of self-love, body image, and eating disorders, but at this event, I was asked to present a 10 minute speech about body image (a la a ted talk) on my own, and I was up first.  I had a lot of chatter in my brain around the event, what was I going to say? How can I keep it upbeat and inspiring talking about a subject that I still haven’t conquered?  Turns out, I had nothing to fear, and many, many women approached me after or online to thank me and share their own stories.  A beautiful event and I met  a ton of new awesome ladies.

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In April, I was invited to be a guest on Go Curvy, Hosted by Sherry Lee Meredith.  I’ve now been a guest two times, but that first show was about, you guessed it Emotional Eating. Another new experience, this time in a talk-show format, with women I hadn’t met yet, and being Ustreamed across the web.  I wasn’t as nervous for this, I guess because there was no speech to memorize and I’m great with off-the cuff, in the moment, interviews. It was exhilarating and the show is fabulous. Sherry Lee is amazing, and the production value is top notch. Be sure to check out the entire episode on Emotional Eating, and enjoy this fun clip, where Sherry brought me into the kitchen to make some healthy snacks.

*Originally written for Ms. In The Biz 3/3/14*

Life sometimes gets in the way of Life… or more so Life happens and you find yourself in a completely different mindset and place than you envisioned yourself to be.


I started the new year off with a great attitude, feeling strong, and ready to take on the world, my demons, and to continue to climb to the top of every mountain I came across.  I soon found myself in a frantic journey to find a new home.  As some of you know, in 2012 I lovingly took on Gypsy Mode, and spent time in Philly, NYC, Atlantic City, Vegas, and Nashville before settling back into LA in 2013. I had been renting a gorgeous bedroom in the Hollywood Hills for most of 2013, and had gotten quite comfortable with my situation. Pay my rent to the lady who rents the house and that was the extent of my responsibilities. No lease, no repairs, no utilities, just pay my rent and be good to go.    Just before the holidays, I was given notice to move by February.  Now, that seems like a long time, but after my concussion and a 3 week trip back east for the holidays, I was left with just 3 weeks to find a new place to call home.  If you’re not in Los Angeles, you’re probably thinking okay, 3 weeks to find a place, no big deal.  Except in LA it is a big deal.


I looked at about 35 guest houses and 25 apartments. I was in my car 6-8 hours a day going to appointments and/or searching for rental signs.  And soon it became a full time job.  This is the part where life gets in the way of life…  I suddenly had just enough time to keep my current social media and crowd-funding clients happy, but had no time at all for exercise, sleep, or any kind of social life. I joyously had one audition during that time, but was left without the gusto or energy to pursue new projects or go to the ever important networking events.


It’s easy to get depressed when “nothing” appears to be happening in your career, and it can be frustrating when the reason “nothing” is happening is because you have no time to focus on it.  But, as you know, you have to trust the process… you have to trust that all is working out the way it’s supposed to be and lo and behold I was offered a lead role in a horror feature this summer, booked a ½ dozen new crowdfunding clients, and have been invited to be a guest speaker at an amazing event happening in March.  All while scouring every corner of LA for my perfect guest house.


So where am I now? Well, I still  haven’t found that perfect place, I mean, I found at least 10 suitable places, but for me, I’m not willing to compromise on something , especially after the last 2 years of gypsy mode/freedom. I just can’t plop down a few thousand dollars, and sign a lease on something I don’t love. I know what I want, and when I walk in I will feel at home


In the meantime, I’m renting a bedroom from a friend who is travelling in India. She’s been on a very inspirational journey, and in some weird way, being in her space right now, is also inspiring.. knowing that not too long ago, she was here feeling some of the same feelings of frustration with career and watching the ticking clock, yet she had the courage to pack up and go to India, on her own and really experience life in another country.  Casting calls and auditions will still be here when she returns.


It is challenging though, trying to run not only my actor business, but also my crowd-funding business out of boxes and suitcases and makeshift offices…. But I feel as if there’s something else about to unfold, perhaps I’ll be traveling soon myself, and there’s no need for a lease anywhere.


As I write this, my 3 month old nephew is on Day 6 in the intensive care unit of Dupont Hospital.  He was diagnosed with a very rare form of Infant Botulism. He is getting stronger every day, and is expected to make a full recovery. But, it’s a very scary thing.. and back to the life getting in the way of life theme… nothing else matters right now in my day outside of getting updates from home as to how my nephew is doing.  I have to force myself to answer emails, or promote my latest project on facebook, because truly does any of that REALLY matter?!


Yes, of course it matters, but you know what I mean… When a precious life is at risk, a baby, a family member, nothing else matters.   I know my nephew is going to be alright, he is strong and his parents are amazing, and everyone will get thru this even stronger than before.. but again, it makes me think.


I’m approaching a rather large milestone birthday and as I look around; at my career, my ‘home’, my finances, my body, there are so many things I’d like to improve.. some days I’m not even sure who I am or what I’m doing.  I have a lot to figure out.  I’m determined to make improvements in all areas of my life, life is precious, time goes by super fast, and as cool as the parties, awards, red-carpets, etc are.. what is it that really fills your heart with joy?  Is it the craft? Is it the career moments? The good ones, or all the moments?  What is it that we’re fighting so hard to accomplish out here, sacrificing financial stability, and often times mental/emotional stability?
I’m going deeper. I thank you for being a part of this journey with me.
Live Love. Love Life.

*originally written for Ms. In The Biz  12/17/13*

​The past few months I’ve been working out a minimum of 3x a week, taking probiotics and a few other natural supplements that my new therapist has prescribed, spending time with my spiritual community at Agape, and making a nice income from advising crowd funding campaigns, with the occasional awesome audition or acting opportunity popping up.

That all sounds great, and it truly is, but for some reason I still don’t have this whole self-love / binge eating dealio in check.  I know it’s a process, and processes take time, but I’d really love to be over this stage of my human development.
But some things just take time.

For instance a few days before Thanksgiving, I got injured at my morning boot camp class.  Long story short, it’s a group of friends who do a cross-fit style class but with the use of monster tires, and ropes in an outdoor park in Burbank.  I set myself up wrong for the last exercise of the day, a leg press (I’m good at leg presses), but instead the 350 pound monster tire came crashing down on my face and chest.  At first it was comical; I lay there as if in a cartoon, invisible under the tire, with a tiny voice yelling “Help! Help!” My work-out partners came to my rescue and I brushed it off and finished the last round for the day.

Not until 2 hours later, when I saw my swollen forehead and eye did I realize this wasn’t funny, I was injured.  Not until 2 days later, of repeat confusion, dizziness, making wrong turns while driving, and crying out of confusion and feeling scared, did I realize this was serious, and a friend convinced me to go to the ER for X-rays and a CT Scan.

Luckily, nothing was broken or bleeding inside and the diagnosis was Concussion and Chest Contusions (fancy word for bruises) and the prescription was rest.  Serious rest, not just take it easy, but the kind of rest where you keep the lights off and lay in bed and just sleep. I couldn’t do many emails, or my head would pound, and I didn’t even attempt to read a book, so I was forced into a resting mode for about 5 days, including Thanksgiving Day.   In the dark, with nothing but my 2 kitty cats to keep me company.

A situation like that puts a lot of things in perspective.  One, you realize that you do, or maybe you don’t, have a core group of friends that you can count on to be by your side when you’re in need of someone to just sit by your bedside and hold your hand. Two, you realize how quickly life can change. In a moment’s notice, things I took for granted, like texting with my thumb at super-human speeds, were increasingly and frustratingly difficult. Three, the world will function without you; you CAN take a break and unplug.  For me, it also made me realize how grateful I am to have the intellectual capacity I have. I take for granted my intelligence, my quick thinking, my incredible multi-tasking skills… and I often forget that those aren’t things that everyone has.

It’s been a little over 2 weeks now, and I’m still processing it all.  I’m running at about 85% brain capacity now. I still have some aches and pains, and I’m still trying to take it easy.  I’m really looking forward to the upcoming holidays.  I’ll be spending 3 weeks back east with all 6 of my nieces and nephews, and cannot wait to slow down and enjoy the time with those precious little ones.
My perspective and outlook on not only my own God-given skills, but on the pace of life, and daily activities has really been shaken up by this injury, and I’m sure there are many more golden lessons to come from it.   I hope it doesn’t take an injury for you to appreciate your gifts, so let my injury serve as a reminder to all of you.. to appreciate yourself, your gifts, your uniqueness, to make sure you surround yourself with friends who will sit by your bedside and hold your hand when needed, and to honor this amazing brain and body we have all been given, by allowing it some REAL REST time, a real unplugging.. because it’s in the UNPLUGGING that we truly Re-Charge.