Nostalgia Part 1

I have been feeling extremely Nostalgic lately...

I receive letters weekly from up and

coming singer/songwriters needing advice on how to break into the industry. I guess they think I've made a little dent. Ha. Most people have no clue who I am. And the people who do know me, remember me from my Christian Music days or touring with Carrie Underwood as her backing vocalist for 2 years. Yes, it has been such a LONG journey. It began when I was only

13 and signed my first record deal.

<------ This pic is funny. This was the welcome banner for Gospel Music week one year. The Renaissance was the host hotel for the event.

One piece of advice I can give people...is to truly enjoy your journey. Most times were looking so far ahead to what can be, we miss out on such amazing moments that are happening right now.

My Mom, Dad and I 5 days after my 17th birthday.

I had the record release party in my

hometown.

------>

One of the saddest moments was my last day on the road with

Carrie. This truly became one of the greatest highlights of my life. She gave me

the opportunity to travel all over...be on Oprah, SNL, the Grammys...and too

many etc's. 2 years of amazing fun and amazing people. They became family to me

and I miss them all dearly. I always wanted to be my own artist and never thought

I wanted to be a back up singer. However, in reaching the bigger picture of our lives and goals

you have to embrace different path's. Now I could not imagine not having that memory in

my

life. I honed in on my harmony/arranging skills and that has come in

handy when doing my recording.

<-----Last day for me on the Carrie tour :(

One of the highlights of my touring was when I was able to do show's in

Hawaii. During one of my trips I met some amazing people that I still keep in contact with. We ALL decided we had to get a tattoo or piercing. I opted for the tattoo.

I regret that Hawaiian tramp stamp to this day. But...what a great

memory. I love all these guys. And the moments we had performing and running around Hawaii will be always cherished.

I loved the honeymoon suite I shared with my girlfriend. haha

Jordan, Jason, Nathan, Bethany & Sumer ---------------------->

My Carrie tour fam. Late night in front of the tour bus.

I met my favorite man on this tour. My Pa........Carl Carter.... ------>

Saying Goodbye to Nashville at my

Goodbye party....Matt, Van, Kelly and Brennin.

The greatest friendships I've ever had have been in Nashville.

I miss it terribly. --------->

City Lights shoot w/Fab --------->

Jaslyn & I blowing out the candles on my 21st Bday

---------->

I have so many more pics and highlights....which is why I labeled this part 1. I will get into the Nikki & Rich files soon and post a few shots. It's exhausting to look back on my music journey. I do not recommend parents encouraging the music business on their kids! It takes a lot of patience and some thick skin. My words of advice that I generally respond to inquiring emails are: Simply take the opportunities that lay in front of you. Do NOT wait for some big magical moment and HUGE deal to make you embrace what is available. You will truly miss out on the journey and the growth that come from living in the NOW. While your accepting your future Grammy inside your mind....accept the reality of what life is. Always dream BIG, But don't dream SO big that you never wake up and love the PEOPLE around you. One day the people who helped you in the smaller things will mean a lot more than anyone else.

Its a HAIRY situation

Are you bored? Are you sitting at work/home on your computer looking for something mindless to read? Well....here you go! I have spent the last 3 weeks fixing my hair color. Hair color is very tricky for extremely dark brunettes like myself. I LOVED my hair for soooooo long. I now have a weird shade of coppery brass that reminds me of a burned horses tail. It's just not right. I will update with a final FIXED picture. Something is just NOT right...Maybe I am just meant to be a Brunette...

1st COPPER shot:

2nd attempt:

3rd Attempt:

4th:

The Daily Plate

I must say...I have found a new friend in this amazing website. It has done an amazing job at tracking my progress with my calorie counting. There are so many fun options as well. Bmi calculator...Weight loss tracker...recipes and suggestions to reach your goal. You also get all of these perks without paying anything. The extra options that are included with the additional membership fee are not extremely necessary for what I need.

www.Thedailyplate.com

350 Calorie Dinner

I found these incredible stone ground, whole wheat, all natural roll ups. They are only 110 calories per tortilla! They are giant! I cooked the chicken breasts in salsa and added my own black beans and corn. I threw in some flax seeds (you don't even notice em), little bit of fresh avocado, a couple tablespoons of brown rice, spinach and a tsp of cheese. It was SO good! I made a little kale salad with chopped almonds as a side. I incorporated all the great foods I need along with my obsession with mexican food.

Confessions of A Home-Schooler

WARNING: This is my humble opinion. Circumstances are varied. Not all homeschooled children are uneducated idiots. Justt Mossst.

1: Home-Schooled kids really do just watch T.V. and sleep in till noon.

2: If your parents aren't educated they probably shouldn't educate you.

3: The dinner table is not inspiring to do an English test.

4: As much as I tried, I could not teach myself spanish.

5: Doing the Jane Fonda workout tape I bought from a garage sale... got REALLY old for P.E.

6: Home schooled kids, don't use the comma's properly.

7: If your trying to keep a child away from negative influences in the "school" system...have you been online lately? It's a portable wonderland of debauchery. They are much better in class than on leatherandwhips.com.

8: Home school can be a bit pretentious to an outsider. Do you really think your ideals are that matured and correct that you can't accept anything else but the truth in your head?

9: Eventually a child will be allowed out in the "real" world. More harm is done in their inability to make choices and socialize with "real" people.

10: My Mom aka "Principle Cindy" was a dope cafeteria lady.

11: I was the Homecoming queen....my brother was the King.

12: I was voted MOST likely to succeed....By the Mormon neighbors.

13: People scare me.

14: Math...hmmmm.....What is that? No one could get a handle on that subject. NEXT!

15: I was never reading my bible in the morning. I would set my alarm every 10 mins to turn a page. ZZzzzzzzzzzzz

16: 6th period=Chores

17: I still HATE workout videos.

18: 5th period=Chores

19: People scare me.

20: Just say NO to Home School.

(THIS EXCLUDES THOSE WHO ARE TEACHING THEIR CHILDREN BECAUSE THEY HAVE DEGREES to TEACH with...Sports teams...Social LIVES With other humans... ETC )

This is for personal entertainment value. Refrain from defending HS..I get it.

Hammer Time

Love my Hammer pants.

This morning I am writing music and getting prepared for a recording session 4 my record. I felt a bit sluggish so....

I made a little low-carb egg white omelette for Bfast:

Egg whites

Trader Joe's Pineapple salsa

50 calories worth of Pepper Jack cheese

Few pieces of chopped Turkey

Under 300 Calories :

(This is not actual omelette. ..The image in this picture is an actor's portrayal of said omelette)

Coffee & My Baby Taylor

I can't seem to leave my house these days. I am writing a new record and find myself completely inspired by coffee and silence. The rain is quite charming today. I may continue in my reclusive state and stay in my little corner.

Fall and James Taylor

My Favorite song...Ever.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iDul2ElFGI

Halloween...Boo!

Apple Crumble

I baked this apple crumble a couple weeks ago. I really loved it:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/dave-lieberman/apple-crumble-recipe/index.html

This was OBVIOUSLY before my 17 day diet...ha

Jump Starting my Metabolism-

Okay! Here is the latest choice of action in my quest for better health. I am reading this book. I am not exactly following it exactly as it says. But there are a ton of good recipes and general healthy eating tips. I started this on Monday. I do feel a bit lack luster today. The absence of refined sugar (my addiction) is contributing to this feeling. However the loss of the extra fall flab is making me feel good. Today I enjoyed egg whites, kale, red grapes, humus, green tea, baked chicken, celery, grapefruit etc. I feel this will be a great benefit to my overall health. For sure. I also took in a pilates class this morning and that makes me feel really great.

2 pounds in 3 days. WOW. :)

What's New?

Well, helllllllo! A friend of mine asked me if I had updated this blog recently. From the looks of it, that would be a big fat no! It's crazy to look back and read old posts. I was kind of an idiot. Thank God we are always growing and changing.

I have been busy writing new material for an upcoming solo project. It will be completely different than anything you have ever heard from me. I am finally going to make a record that really encompasses all of my influences and speaks a bit of my story.

I am still a bit obsessed with health food and natural living options. I am enjoying the fall. I am enjoying love. I am constantly trying to push myself to remain active. I have been a bit on the reclusive side lately. I find myself wanting to write melancholy music and practice my guitar. It comes from a pleasant state of being and not a saddened one. I find myself to be more content.