home stuff

Home is very important to me. Ever since I left to pursue my acting dream in LA (for a second), I've felt a very strong sense of home tied to Northern California, specifically Sacramento. There's something about this place that's in my bones. My roots are going deep here and B Street Theatre has been no small part of that.

B Street, for the last three+ years, has been a home base for me, both professionally and personally. I learned more as an actor here than I ever had before. I learned endurance & technique & how to play a dozen characters in one show, powering through no matter what. This theatre has brought me together with some of my dearest friends and welcomed me back with open arms after I had Brynlee. I'm currently teaching acting classes to kids through their amazing Outreach & Education program which is the perfect place for my career at the moment. To have this wonderful place to call home continues to be a huge gift in my life.

Today was B Street's first official day at their stunning new building, The Sofia - a goal they've been working towards for far longer than I've been around. I got to see the inside of it for the first time today. What a feeling, to see where a new home base will be, not only for me but for people I love, a company and a cause that I hold so dear. 

Sappy as hell, I know, but this home stuff is so real. I'm big on it. I'm big on settling in. I'm big on putting pictures on the wall & hot sauce in the cupboard & a yoga mat on the floor. I'm big on making a place my own. And I'm big on staying where home tells me she is. 

Ah, Sacramento, you've given me yet another reason to put up another picture, put down another root. And I love it. 

around here

The last few weeks have been happily busy. Lots of color and life. I thought I would share some highlights. 

I love living in the farm-to-fork capital. It means delicious farmers market goodies all year long. 

For Valentine's Day, Ryan & I went to our favorite favorite favorite ever ramen restaurant, the Ramen Shop in Oakland. The best cocktails & appetizers & ramen I've ever tasted. Every plate & drink are so thoughtfully made. We could eat here every week, seriously. But, then we couldn't pay rent. So. You win some you lose some.

I love my Auntie B. At least once a month, she will suggest a dinner idea or a trip to the flower mart. Driving to San Francisco with her, chatting about everything under the sun, buying flowers, and eating brunch is definitely up there in the "This is What Life is About" category.

I mean, COME ON. Look at these beauties. I swear, buckets of flowers really do it for me. At some point in my life, I really want to get paid to arrange flowers. Hold me to that please, interwebs.

*heart eyes heart eyes heart eyes*

I've also been busy working at B Street, a theatre company here in town that I have a lot of affection for, doing lots of things here & there. I accepted a gig doing another school tour with them and I am so looking forward to hitting the stage again before summer.

My dear dear friend, Jordan, recently opened an Etsy shop (jamstickershop!) where she sells her hand designed stickers. They are designed for a very expensive planner that I do not own, BUT I couldn't help but buy some for my moleskine planner. They're just the cutest and so well made and really could be used for planning or stationery or anything you want cute stickers for! I'm totally hooked. Go check out her shop!

I am also completely hooked on this Skin Polish by Lady Made Stuff. She makes all her products thoughtfully with essential oils. This scrub makes me feel so happy about life. I discovered her on instagram a while back and can safely say I am sold sold sold. 

Also, I just love supporting the business ventures of strong women that are committed to creating quality products. 

Lastly, a few nights ago, Ryan & I went to see MuteMath, a band I've been a fan of for nearly ten years. I've seen them play live two other times before, but Ryan hadn't ever. It was his birthday but he went happily to see "my" band play. We had such a good time. I love that no matter if Ryan is not familiar with a band (or a play or a movie or any other given performing art medium), or a little familiar with them, or a lot familiar with them, he is just appreciative of good art. He's appreciative of stage presence & great technique & he always notices the little things. I love going to shows with him and just living life with him. 

He's the best. 

So, that's it for me, as of now! I hope that wherever you find yourself in what can be a very dreary time of year, that you can recognize the color & life & light & goodness around you and be glad you're there to experience it. 

~A

a new chapter & grapes of wrath

hello internets!

here's a bit of what i've been up to lately if you're so inclined.

the last three weeks, i've been making my home in this lovely place. earlier this summer, i was cast in "Grapes of Wrath" at Sacramento Theatre Company, and it's been a whirlwind being a part of putting together such an epic show in less than a month. 

but, we did it, and we did it together. which is a testimony to the story of Grapes of Wrath, itself. (read the book if you haven't & you will understand. or come see the show! :))

if i've said it once, i've said it a thousand times - i love this city. i am so happy to be in Sacramento doing what i love the most. to say i feel at home in every sense of the word would be an understatement, but it's the best way i know how to express how i feel about life right now. this place is home, what i'm doing is home, and i could not feel more lucky, more grateful, more honored, to be here, now. i am a part of something big & important & isn't that what good theatre (good art, really) is all about? 

Grapes of Wrath is a story of survival, of hope in the darkest of times, of human kindness when there seems to be nothing left. and this group of people i have the privilege of working with is an example of those very things. i am so so very lucky. 

i could write so much about what i've experienced & continue to experience through this production, but Jim Casy says it so much better than I ever could. 

"but, when they're all workin' together - kind of harnessed to the whole shebang - that's right, that's holy."

~A