The college years can be some of the best of your life.  They’re filled with learning, friends, travel- what more could a girl want?  College can be tricky, though, because while you’re an “adult,” you’re not yet living with the responsibilities that are bound to come later in life. 

Take your “job,” for example.  Your main job is going to class.  We all know that college classes are generally challenging, but the schedule is certainly not bad!  A couple of hours of classes per day and the rest of the day to study and have fun?  It’s a schedule that feels like a vacation to a 40+ hour/week employee!  Let’s now look at housing.  You’re likely living in a dorm or a house off campus, filled with excitement at every turn (if you’re the type to look for it).  If you’re lucky, your parents may be footing with the bill, but even if they’re not, you’re not likely to see a monthly bill or get any surprise bills for maintenance while you’re in school.  And there’s the food.  What pleasure it is to go to the dining hall or order in using your student card whenever you want to.  No trips to the grocery store are required in college, unless you like to go (you know, like for the supplies for your next party).  

And this is not to say that college kids have it too good.  The college years are the last years before what I consider to be true adulthood.  You should be using the time to explore, grow, and figure out who you want to be (although, if you’re like me, this process will continue far beyond the early 20’s!).  That being said, I believe it IS fair to say that most college kids (not all) often leave college not knowing a whole lot about financial responsibilities and budgeting.

For the past few months I’ve watched interviews of my acting role models when I have down time. I really enjoy the Variety’s Actors on Actors and The Hollywood Reporter’s Roundtable Discussions, (THR). I find them on YouTube and watch as many as I can.
  
I wish I wrote this article when I first discovered these videos—I viewed so many the first week I won’t even bother with a wild estimate. I felt such a rush while watching them. Some of my favorite actors, like Tom Hanks, Keira Knightley, Emma Stone, Nicole Kidman, and Viola Davis (just to name a few) asked each other questions and shared their experiences as actors. (Variety’s Actors on Actors) Then, there was the thrill of the Round Table Discussions with several of my favorites—casually expressing their feelings and history, (Kate Winslet, Cate Blanchett, Jennifer Lawrence, Amy Adams, Denzel Washington, and many more).
 
I was excited by the interesting pairings. I learned many had a shared director,  co-star, or worked on a film together years ago. I was completely enthralled. It’s entertaining and insightful for me as a member of the audience but also as a person interested in exploring the human condition as an actor.

Thanks to all our friends who were involved:
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      Holly Williams: "Poppyseed FeatherChild," Story concept, Writer
      Meghan Lima-Bona:  "Meghan"
      Kelsey Connolly: "Kelsey"
      Cody Pepin: Writer
      Victoria Clougher: Director
      Chris Love: Cinematographer, Editor
      Andrew Bona: Boom Operator


Feeling zen yet?
Let us know what you think in the comments below!

​Do chocolates really matter?
 
Valentine’s Day is tomorrow and that question has tickled my mind a few times this month. Valentine’s Day: is it one of the longest running marketing campaigns that provokes gimmicks to buy chocolates, cards, and roses, or is it a holiday totally devoted to couples to make the extra effort that show they truly love each other?
 
I’ve never been bothered by the commercialization of the holiday, so I either am the target market to the “T” or I just think it’s a nice reminder to show extra affection.
 
Now, money is tight and I’m not demanding a fancy dinner at a candlelight table, or a dozen roses--or any roses, actually. A cute card, homemade or purchased, would be nice. Chocolate isn’t necessary,  and depending on my mood, if I’m attempting a sugar detox, it’s refused; or if I’m indulging my chocolate craving, it’s greatly appreciated.
 
My boyfriend and I have always done something for V-day but it’s always within our financial means and lighthearted. We’ve gone to out to dinner, movies,  made homemade cards and gifts for each other and shared some special time together ;)
 
I won’t be devastated that we’ll be thoughtful on a budget. In fact, I think that this creates an opportunity for creative and truly personal ideas.

Forget about the mature adult relationships you may have had for just a moment. You know the ones: The perfectly planned out Valentine’s Day gifts—with greeting cards and expensive chocolates, perhaps even a tiny box of jewelry that was meticulously gift wrapped. You know those relationships where you talk about feelings and futures, make promises, commitments, investments and share responsibilities; before there were foot and backrubs, dinners to be made, date nights, in-laws, kids and noticeable idiosyncrasies. 

Go back as far as you can and remember a simple time when you were younger. Maybe it was a first crush or puppy love. Perhaps it was a young love or first kiss that sent shockwaves through your entire body. 
​
In third grade, a boy named *Doug moved to our school. He was a fraternal twin. Doug was a sweet, soft spoken, but silently strong type of boy. I could tell he’d been through a lot, as I was also quiet and observant, inquisitive and insightful at a young age.
*{I’ve changed the names of the people in this  reflection of my first love /puppy love, sheer bliss, or whatever you want to call it; of simple times and of pure feeling of thoughtfulness and friendship.} 

    Dear Diary, 
    Today, Doug smiled at me and said ‘good job’ 
    when we played capture the flag in gym.

​Hi Pixie Chicks!
 
Over the course of this last year I think it’s safe to say that things were difficult for me: from my mom’s brain surgery and continued recovery, my lack of funds, and even lack of transportation.
 
It really wasn’t all that bad—(I can say now).
 
I got a job and a car (which means I also have a little extra pocket money…but I will always welcome more)!
 
But not everything was easy-peasy for these improvements.
 
For instance, at work I occasionally make a mistake. (I’m new and human). But honestly I’m not used to that situation. I don’t want brag falsely but the circumstances that I dealt with recently (pre-job) didn’t allow or require me to mess up. In fact when it comes to my mom’s recovery and my responsibilities I didn’t mess up. I was a machine—a real-life computer or super brain (which my family and I often joked about my mom’s brain surgery and me behaving like a super brain). 

Jokes aside, I was her brain and I held and sorted so much information. It was impressive and weird as to what I retained and my quick ability to call upon dates, names, and other facts so immediately in regards to her surgery and recovery,  and of course perform all the duties like complete paperwork and calls. (Folks I wasn’t just giving her tea and plumping pillows—I wish that’s what I did. I wrote letters, emails, filled out medical applications, financial assistance applications, insurance papers, charity request applications, spoke with doctors’ offices and insurance companies on pretty much a daily basis for 9 months - thankfully things have slowed down.

Hello Pixie Chicks:

The cold weather is upon us which could mean your idea of date night might be Netflix and fuzzy blankets. Well that’s all fine but there are other options out there too.

1.  Bowling—when was the last time you put on those slick shoes and bowled your best? Could have been middle school or the occasional college outing. This is a super fun way to engage in a fun and cheap activity with your S.O.​

A few weeks ago I cleaned my desk and I came across something I hadn’t seen or thought about in years. Immediately I remembered the impact it had on me.

I wish I wrote the date on it...didn’t think to then, but it was obviously around a new year that I created my list of “resolutions” or, better defined, my mantras.

The rainbow stream of fonts in all different sizes illustrate my intention to make each point stand out.

I used direct lines from lyrics...Hannah Montana lyrics to be honest...I’m guessing I wrote this inspirational page around 2007.  I definitely remember having this hung up in my bedroom during high school. I would walk the school halls and classrooms and repeat my favorite lines to myself--one being, “I own the room, in a good way.”​