December Happenings

WOW December was uneventful, at least in modeling. The fashion industry essentially shuts down during the holidays - they don't want to work either! lol So it was a very slow month. One casting in LA for St. Johns; the second time they have request casted me and the second time they have not booked me! I think it is because I look too young and the St. Johns line projects to the more sophisticated age ;)

But I welcomed the break. Granted it is nerve-wracking to not have a booking from December to look forward to payment from in this next quarter. Somehow, in a way, the stress of that pales in comparison to the memories made this month. It is was a joy to reconnect with friends and family. Some who we haven't seen in too long! New years was amazing. Our family was blessed to have time with Jonas, we are so grateful to him for sharing his New Year with us! A great time of sweet fellowship. We thank God for bringing him into our lives. Such a blessing.

So overall, December was rather quiet; a nice break to rejuvenate before the new year kicked into full swing. Looking ahead in January I am hopeful for some exciting prospects! Please keep me in your prayers as decisions being made this month are crucial.

Love to you!

November Happenings

(Ok so I just finished writing a super great blog entry about November only to have my computer lose it! AH I really need a new one lol)

November is the month celebrating Thanksgiving. Since this blog is on November, I’d like to begin by thanking all of you for your continued support, encouragement, and prayers. It all means so much to me I can’t tell you how I appreciate each one of you. Thank You.

Alright, sappy stuff aside =] The first weekend of November was spent as a beach retreat with my sister and mom celebrating Brooke’s Sweet Sixteenth Birthday! I can’t believe it! Special Memories …

I applied for my Passport beginning of this month! And received it yesterday. My hope is to travel abroad for modeling sometime this coming year. I’d like to push my career and see where God wants to take it. I have been met with opposition from (surprisingly) my agent! It seems he would rather keep me close to the nest. This is discouraging and rather disappointing for me—it seems reevaluation is a painful and necessary process. I covet your prayers as I desire and seek wisdom and discernment as I proceed with difficult decisions regarding taking this next step in my career.

On the 10^th I worked a cosmetics trade show for Nordstrom’s in Walnut Creek. Call time was 6am w/ a 2 hour commute (ouch lol) but it was great fun. I was the Chanel cosmetics girl. My artist was Chanels ambassador/representative and he offered much insight and encouragement to me. Great Guy. Amazing Artist. Priceless Contact.

On the 19^th and 20^th I was in SF: a fitting on Monday for Macy’s Vale Monte show after Thanksgiving, and Tuesday was my most insecure adventure to date! Swimwear … dun-dun-duuun lol Nah, it really turned out fine. 3 other girls—about 10 bikinis each—closed executive meeting where we presented swimwear lines being considered for s/s ’08 seasons. Bill (Passport Exec) gave me a wave and a smile. I was so excited he remembered me! The other girls were jealous. =] It’s funny … I’m known as a Passport Model now—pretty famous among other girls. Ha

Thanksgiving was a blast! Uncle Bob—G’ma & G’pa—Family, Food, Football—Corvette =] —4 pounds gained … lol good times. See slideshow

The 26^th began the whirlwind of fun—Macy’s Vale Monte. Monday: Dress/Segment Rehearsals. (Those 4 pounds were talking in those jeans! Lol) T/Wed/Th: 2 Shows a Day w/ fun & friends throughout. Tuesday’s morning show was the biggest status for the models. Larry (Passport head) Duran and Tiffany (other Macy’s execs I have worked with) were all present in the audience watching. I received amazing feedback from Larry and Natalie (head of vale Monte) after this show. “We are going to miss you so much! We just try and use you any chance we get for as long as you’re here. You know, you’re going to get picked up for NY &/or Europe!” Natalie said. “OH yes, but she has to come back for Passport!” Larry said … =] I’m still smiling.

So there’s November! God is so faithful – He offered me such encouragement and confirmation to counter my agent’s negativity. Maybe my ambition could get me into trouble … but I’ve got the feeling God’s pretty ambitious right along with me =]

October Happenings

It feels weird recapping October already!! This month flew by like none other ... I've been on a high from September and Macy's Passport and can't believe its been over a month since that experience. October was a very good, productive, insanely busy month. I loved it - wouldn't have it any other way!

So let's see here ... I was in LA for the majority of October--missing Jay and SF terribly. AST I was frantically running around and doing castings the week of the 8, I did a show for Directives West and fittings for Mercedes-Benz Los Angeles Fashion Week. My first FW show was on the 13 for Elsie Katz Couture and my second was on the 18 for Semora Couture. I had a third but they pulled all their models @ the last second for cost. =[ grr.

I was very pleased that I got the chance to visit Models For Christ while I was in LA. I was pleasantly surprised and met some solid people with whom fellowship is sweet. Models for Christ is an accountability organization for models and others in the fashion/entertainment industries. It was a rejuvenating and refreshing time of fellowship. I will be returning whenever I can and am in the area.

I had a networking opportunity as well at the open house party to celebrate the new FORD LA office (shweet). I met many of FORDs top clients and received very encouraging feedback. I also made a connection w/ a photographer (God's timing is good). I had put in a request to my agent for a test shoot w/ an LA photographer--but my budget is tired! lol. nothing was popping with that request and I was leaving in 3 days after FW. This photographer shot with me before my final show in FW for FREE!! Great times and I can't wait to see the photos. Even in the little things God is working!!

Jay booked me for a Macy's Impulse informal show on the 23 (7:30pm) in SF and LA booked me for a Directives West on the 24 (6:30am) in LA! I still am not sure how I physically managed on a total of 2 hours sleep in about 48hours. Somehow, God pulled me through. And I kept the clients happy ... its all in the priorities lol.

I finished out the month in San Francisco. I had been staying in LA at the apt w/ my roomy (Sophia! <3>

So there's October!! phew ... =] haha

Macy's Passport 2007

Well, for one, Frisco is my city so it’s just a given that the journey called Passport started out on a very positive note right away. On the first day I arrived for segment rehearsals and it was a bit nerve-wracking since I didn’t know anyone. However, this quickly faded, as I recognized a few familiar faces from other gigs as well as many more new ones. Needless to say, throughout the entire experience, the team of producers, faculty, stage hands, models, dancers, and talent connected with each other in a huge way; we were/are a family. Veteran performers welcomed first timers, such as myself, with open arms and words of encouragement and advice. It was a unifying experience, working toward one common goal: Passport 2007 … the Silver Anniversary; celebrating 25 years of “Fashion and compassion”, Aids/HIV benefit and awareness. Such a great cause—not to mention a great team. I met Brian Friedman (“So You Think You Can Dance?”), a dream come true; he choreographed all of the dance routines in the show. Kane “Insane” Friesen (Kawasaki stunt cyclist), Dan Heaton and Shaun Johanneson (stunt unicyclists—they’re awesome), a group of young dancers who performed with the Transcendent Spirits group (incredibly talented kids ranging in ages of 6-16 from Uganda), they truly were the heart behind Passport and an inspiration to all who participated – including myself.

Charleston Pierce was/is an incredible blessing and addition to my life. He was a Macy’s Passport model for 17 years who has since been promoted to the position of model coach for the past few. And what a coach he is! I won’t ever be able to articulate the impact he had on my experience in passport; he truly helped to make it so special and memorable for me. As his adopted sister, we will be keeping in contact; a mentor for life.

Segment rehearsals, “stumble” (run) throughs, and dress rehearsals took place every day for about a week before our first show: San Francisco Teen Night. WOW … there aren’t words to describe the adrenaline I was experiencing backstage prior to show time. High Schoolers filled the stadium surrounding the runway; chanting, screaming, stomping … it was one HUGE rock concert, pep rally, whatever. I can’t even describe it. What a way to kick-off the tour; they’re energy carried us through the entire trip.

The same show was repeated 5 times: 3 nights in SF and 2 in LA, each night to an audience of 1600+ guests. Granted, a burlesque routine performed by Dita Von Tease wasn’t presented during the teen shows! My first segment was “Calvin Klein: A Day in the Life”; I had the privilege of closing in an incredible formal dress. By far my favorite moments of each show! My next look was as a “mod model” during the “Via Spiga: A Really Big Shoe” segment, lots of fun. Lastly I got to open the “Academy of Art: Student Designers” Segment, which was such a thrill! There is absolutely no other feeling like that of opening, or closing, a show or segment – being the first girl to present the designers work, or being the final “wow” factor of that collection – not to mention quite a compliment! No pressure or anything haha. I was truly blessed to be in both positions every night.

American Express (AMEX) was the next night and it was another great show with wonderful memories. The Gala night closed San Fran and let me tell you … that was incredible. Big names were watching—if you had to choose which night to be “on” – you’d choose the Gala. Careers have started because of discoveries made there. I don’t ever get nervous but let me tell ya … I WAS SO NERVOUS!!! It was great though.

Los Angeles was the next stop—after a days rest back home to regroup. Being apart from my Passport family for 4 days was tough … we all came back together the following Wednesday for dress rehearsals and it was a big happy reunion! After being together constantly all day and into the wee hours of the following mornings … it became routine and was strange to not see each other for so long. But, I was productive over the break; I booked a hair show (pics of afro in slideshow), with Alex (roomy), in San Francisco, so that was very good for my sanity! Keeping busy for me is probably a little bit like a psychotic frenzy to most LOL.

Los Angeles opened with Gala night. Marc Ecko was watching. Reps from the house of Calvin Klein were there. Heads of fashion houses were in the audience watching. Not to mention celebrities … it is LA, home of the stars. It was a huge night—absolutely amazing; flawless on everyone’s part. Something that most people (in or out of my industry) probably won’t believe is that, before every show, the producer (Larry Harshbarger) and the team of coach’s, etc. would gather all the models and talent and we’d have a “model chat”. Basically, it was a personalized pep rally backstage to get us all pumped for a great show. Larry, Charleston, and Bill (Macy’s executive) would share with us the feedback they were getting on the show, tell us how proud they were to be working with us, and wish us good luck. Not to mention reminding us of the reason we were together doing this … the cause we were supporting. Passport goes deeper than fashion—it’s a heart thing.

The last night was Los Angeles Teen Night … the energy from opening night in San Francisco that carried us through ‘till now was revisited only by these kids. This audience allowed us to finish even stronger than when we first began. All the models were so comfortable in their skin. I feel like this night was definitely my best performance—I was at home on that runway—having so much fun. It is an indescribable feeling … the energy from that audience lifted me off that runway and onto cloud nine. Cliché? Yes. But, like I said, there just are no words!

Overall, the experience was more than I could have every hoped for. This was the final “notch-in-my-belt” so to speak for the San Francisco market … I have officially booked all the top shows (Jay is very pleased) ... and my introduction to the Los Angeles arena. A lot of pressure is put on Passport and so for me to land it my first time out is a miracle--entirely a God thing; models with years more experience than I go out year after year and don’t get it. This experience (I hesitate referring to it as a ‘show’ … because it really is much more) has God’s fingerprints all over it and I anxiously await the things He will bring from it. I can’t wait until next year!! Passport 2008 … here I come!

September Happenings

WOW! What an absolutely crazy month ... so many wonderful memories. September was consumed by Macy's Passport and so I am not going to attempt to cram it all into this blog; hence, the separate page dedicated to this experience! (Click HERE to visit Macy's Passport 2007 page.) However, I will say this: Passport granted me the opportunity to spend a lot of time connecting with people. I had opportunities to share my beliefs, standards, and convictions, and it was encouraging to be met with such respect and support. God is good!

But beyond that, at the beginning of the month I made a trip to SF to shoot what I guess could be called a podcast for FORD (models). It will be used on the FORD Models website, on my page, to represent me to clients in a different media than photos and stats. I am excited to see how it will turn out.

While in Frisco for Passport I booked a hair show: although the pay was great, the PAIN was horrendous. lol. it was also probably the most boring job I've ever done because the models are sitting the entire day ... just getting hair done! But anyways, glad I got it. Alex (roomy) and I had a blast together.

During the 2nd half of Passport (in LA) I was able to make a bunch of runway castings ... and booked a good number of them which will be coming up in October - a good sign for how I am being received in that market.

Check out Macy's Passport!!

Thx for reading.

<3>