Growing Old

This evening was a time of catching up. I skyped with my parents for almost an hour, chatted about Thanksgiving and my plans to come home for Christmas, and caught each other up with what was going on.

Then I decided to read up on my brothers blog. He's getting married next year and he just got an awesome promotion at work. I rarely speak with him on the phone, but when I do it's so great to hear his voice. He's so inspiring, and so when I read his blog, I feel that same sort of inspiration.

And I found myself getting teary eyed as I read how he's rearranging his apartment to make new space for his fiancee who will be moving in soon. It was so touching and it settled in that my big brother is starting his own family. What does that mean for our family? I already don't see alot of him!

Ugh. Such a selfish thought. But it's the same feeling I feel when my good friend starts dating someone. I grew up mostly as an only child (big bro is 12 years older than me) so I am quite possessive.

Oh well.

Well Hello!

I musttttt start writing on this thing again! I like to share my thoughts and current obsessions, so here's where I'll start.

I'm cooking split pea soup right now and I added CHIA SEEDS to the broth. What are chia seeds? They are a wonder seed. The are full of fiber, they're tasteless, and you can eat them on just about anything. They absorb water so they keep you full for longer, and they're a wonderful antioxident. I'm trying to eat them everyday.

I've been watching Kimora Lee Simmons' reality show. She is an inspiration to me for some reason. I connect with her on so many levels. She's simply fabulous (which is her motto.) She's just given me the confidence not to take any BS from anyone. Don't be afraid to let people know who you are, what you stand for, and what you need! When someone isn't doing their job, she calls them out on it. And she is always dressed to impress. It shows that she means business. And I like that.

Lastly, I have moved into a new apartment. I signed a year lease! It's quite lovely. Nice neighborhood, nice apartment, good deal. I'll be honest - living with other people has never been something I enjoyed but I'm trying to come to terms with it. I think i just have very high standards for the way I live and I have yet to find someone who shares that same standard. These are the perils of having grown up mostly as an only child. I expect too much.

Pics of my soup to come!

Abu Dhabi!!!

So the 12-hour plane ride went quite quickly. There was so much food to eat and so many movies to watch!

I started out by watching “Nine” while eating a delicious selection of Chicken in Arabic yogurt and basmati rice. And they had pineapple juice! My fav…. I topped off my meal with an apple crisp with vanilla custard. I was very satisfied.

I fell asleep and when I woke up, I found out that I had missed the mid-flight snack, which was a choice between popcorn and a frozen snickers ice cream. I was upset!

It was time for another movie and another meal! Although it was breakfast, I decided to munch on the baked tilapia with rice, fresh seasonal fruit, and a hot chocolate. I watched “Up in The Air” and loved it! I’ve never been a huge fan of his, but I can see why America loves George Clooney.

We landed, whizzed through customs, got our bags, and got picked up to go to the hotel. When we proceeded to the check in line, they told us we were in the executive suites and we’d need to head upstairs to check in.

We entered the 10th floor where we were greeted with tea or coffee, fresh almonds, pistachios, and DATES. I LOVE DATES! We opened the door to our room, where we were awaited with complimentary fruit, a gift bag, and other delectables!

Today we had to be up early, so we headed down to the buffet breakfast. Then we got picked up to head to the Grand Mosque, get a tour of the New NYU campus, tour of the Abu Dhabi mall, and dinner on the Marine.

Some of the highlights of the day – getting to wear an Abaya and Sheila in the Grand Mosque, the kiwi and lime juice I had with lunch, swimming in the Arabian Gulf that had a perfect temperature warm enough to keep us swimming until 6 pm.

I am happy to report that I did get tan, do plan on eating more dates tomorrow, and trying more exotic juice drinks!



-- Dominique

Moving is Stressful

I moved into a new apartment and it's so incredibly stressful. Stressful to try to lug furniture around manhattan and brooklyn and up 4 flights of stairs, stressful to have to deal with roommates who may live differently than you, and stressful to realize that you're actually an adult who must pay rent and buy groceries.

I finally got a bed today. Up until now, I've been sleeping on an air mattress. It feels so nice to have a big bed to sprawl out on. I can eat chips and drink iced tea and watch Lost all within a few inches of myself!

Also, I've been eating really badly the last few days. The kitchen in this new apartment was not clean so I didn't want to cook in it until it was cleaned up. Today I nearly had a conniption fit as I made pasta for lunch. I decided to have a "dirty dinner" as I like to call it - soda, pizza, and chips. I was in no mood to cook and I had a raging headache from running around the city trying to get cleaning supplies, a chest of drawers, and other household items.

I felt guilty when i was at the grocery store, but there's nothing better to cure a headache than just-out-of-the-oven pizza and salty potato chips!

My boyfriend abandons me on holidays. Like today - it's Passover and he went home and he's not even Jewish! I guess those are the perks to having your family only 2 hours away.

I must vent - may I?

I was on the subway today headed home. I was in the first car of the train. I could not find one damn seat to sit in! Everywhere I turned, there was an overweight person taking up 2 seats. I was verrrrrrrrry upset. And they knew I was upset because I let out a huge breath of disappointment. Then, this really big woman came in. She was huge. "Precious" huge. Now, I had been standing for the entire trip and she didnt get into the subway until about halfway through my ride. Someone finally stood up and there were 2 empty seats. As i started to approach one of the empty seats, she quickly dodged in before me and sat down, taking up both seats. I stared at her and she looked at me as if to say, "Yea I know I'm taking up 2 seats, but it's not my fault. Now get yo curly ass away from my seat."

ughhhhhh. I'm still mad.

My Blog Is Back

I had to keep writing. Why did I stop this thing? Oh, because I was going through relationship problems and hated the world.
Well I have so many interesting and weird things going on that I must share.

Here are my current thoughts:

1) If I was rich, I would buy enough Almond Butter to last me a year. And not just almond butter, but Cashew, Macadamia, Pecan, Walnut, and Coconut Butter. They're so f-ing expensive and so good. That is on my to-do list when I get my first big check.

2) I am moving out of my grandmothers house and subletting an apartment (do you sublet an apartment or a room? who cares.) I'm moving in with a fellow Tisch alum, a film student. He and I have had some rough patches in the past. He cast me in his film at the same time I was cast in a Tisch Mainstage. My first love is Theatre and it was my priority at the time. Of course the schedules conflicted and so I dropped out of his film. We didn't speak for a year after that, and now I'm going to be his roommate.

3) I received a raise at work. A testament to me I suppose because I've only been working there for 4 months. This morning I sent an email to my boss asking him if I could be a server because I needed to make more money. I haven't gotten a response yet. I'm so scared to check my email! What if he's mad at me?

4) One of the reasons I'm so excited about moving out of grandma's house is because I'll get to cook the foods I like! She's a vegan and alwayssss in her kitchen. I haven't cooked a home-made meal in months and one of the first things I'm going to do when I move in is cook a quiche for Easter.

5) I've decided to allow myself to buy one thing per week that I want, instead of spending all my money in one sitting. So, 3 weeks ago I started out by buying a nice new bra, the week after that I bought suede flats from Aldo, and last week I bought this expensive homeopathic medicine I've wanted. It's sort of fun looking forward to the one gift I give myself each week.

okay, time to go shopping for sheets and hangers.

Goodbye

It's time i delete this thing. Thanks for reading!

Julian the Master Mind

I am babysitting a demon child. He’s a liar at best. Are all 5th grade boys like this? I don’t remember them being like this at all. In fact, I remember having a boyfriend in the fifth grade named Donell Tucker. Perhaps he was mature for his age, but he would never do half the things this boy I’m watching is doing.

First, he re-nigs on everything he says. “Go take a bath Julian.” “Okay… (5 minutes later) I already took one last night.” “Here, I bought you a chocolate chip cookie Julian.” “I don’t eat milk chocolate… (5 minutes later) Ummm, can I have the cookie?” WTF?!

Me: Have any homework?
Little boy: no, I did it at school.
Me: Don’t download any games on my computer
Little boy: okay! (as I watch a machine gun game being downloaded)

The worst was when he told me that echinacea will not only prevent him from getting swine flu (which causes autism), but AIDS as well. Holy Moses. Help this kid out!

Tomorrow I have to leave him alone for a few hours. I’m deathly afraid of leaving my computer so I’m going to take it with me. I can just see it now – spilt lemonade on my keypad. NOT FUN. What will he do for 3 hours with a computer or working television? I dunno, he’ll have to figure it out. I’m over it.

10 Things I love To Do

1) Grocery Shop
2) Drink Tea
3) Cook
4) Write Songs
5) Feel Pretty
6) See Shows
7) Go Out To Dinner
8) Plan Outfits to wear
9) Dance
10) Make Money

The last one being the topic of the post. I did my showcase at NYU. Haven't received any responses - yet. It's not the end of the world. I am still going forward with my quest to get an agent. Or at least be cast in a show. That is so important to me right now. To be doing something that is actively creative. I want to be in a show so badly!!!!

I don't think I'm going home for Christmas or New Years. I don't have the time or the money to do it. I have a job here in NY - one I am beginning to really like and enjoy. I work as a hostess in a very cute restaurant. I am getting to be really good at being a hostess and the money is bomb. As are the benefits of working in the restaurant - food, being around other young aspiring artists (we have several models, actors, playwrights, and dancers who also work there.)

A month ago I was praying that I could either find a job this holiday season or return back to NY. Well, I now have both and I'm on a fast roll to getting some of the things I want. It sorts of makes me sad to think that I won't be home for the holidays, but I need to keep my eyes forward on my goals. I'll get home, one of these days.

Happy Halloween!

Everything is better in New York. I suddenly feel more in my skin, more at home, more mobile! Even the tea tastes better. I got up and made white chai tea and it tasted better than it ever had. At home, I would always put cream in my white chai tea, and any tea aficionado will know that white tea is too delicate to really put cream into it (it would overpower its essence), and this morning I made my tea forgetting to put cream in it and it tasted perfect! See, even my common sense makes better sense here!

It’s so funny how if you put your dreams into action, they can come into fruition. Just like my friend who said, “I want to get out of LA and go to Chicago” – she has a wonderful job and apartment in Chicago exactly a month later. And then I said “ I want to get out of LA and go to New York” and here I am trying to make the next steps for my future. It feels really exciting to be doing what you love and in a city that inspires you.

And it feels like fall. That is very cool. I’ve always loved fall clothes – hats, gloves, pretty scarves, jackets, and BOOTS! And fall food is so appropriate here. I had lentils with squash, turnips, and yams – so good!

The World I Know Is A World Much Too Slow

So here it is - I am not happy with where I currently am in my life. Instead of sitting in gloom, I am going to follow in the footsteps of one of my smartest friends. Only 3 weeks ago she wrote down that she wanted to get out of Los Angeles and now she has a one way ticket to Chicago. I am not ashamed to say that I broke down and sobbed for an hour when I got the news. One of the best parts about being in LA is that she is here, and now that she is getting out, it makes me ravenous to get out as well.

As my boyfriend knows, I am an envious person. I envy other people's relationships, successes, opportunities, and blessings. I am in a rut and do not know how to get out.

So here I will confess all of my short term goals and surrender them into the universe, hoping and praying that they are heard.

I am finding that while I love California, I don't love living here. I feel incredibly immobile here. I am always needing, whether it be a ride, directions, or an excuse. I spent 4 years in one of the most connected cities in this world. I miss the feeling of being mobile, knowing where to go, and having the freedom to just get up and do what I need to do. It's saturday afternoon and I am stuck in my house because I don't have any transportation. It's a joke.

While I have 2 great internships and a decent job, I am not doing what I love. I am not living the life I want to live at 22. I am not making enough money, I am doubting myself more than ever, and I am not having fun. Shouldn't I be having the time of my life right now? It seems like everyone else is!

The one thing I will say is that I am writing more songs than I can keep up with. They come to me in the car, right before I wake up or go to bed, and when I am watching tv. I am slowly starting to wonder whether this is a sign that I should really dig my heels into this.

My search for a second job in dead. I did not graduate from a 4 year university just to go work at the Olive Garden, but at the same time, I need a second income if I want to save and move back to New York. I am getting desperate, but I'm not quite there yet. I will keep praying. I don't think the answer is in the restaurant industry.

"Starting now, I am planting the necessary seeds to initiate a massive change in my life."

Amen.

Enchiladas, linguine, and salads (oh my!)

Salad Nicoise i whipped up last night. I love all the ingredients - it's sort of like a hodge podge of unusual but quite tasty items. Here you see tomatoes, kalamata olives, tuna with pesto, a boiled egg, steamed green beans, and a baby red potatoes.

Not the clearest shot of my chicken enchiladas, but boy were they good. Corn tortillas, cheddar cheese, shredded chicken, and a homemade red sauce. Beware, this is such a messy meal!

Pesto Linguine with whole wheat pasta and some parm.

Lemon Pepper roasted chicken with carrots, potatoes, and onions.

Tortilla chips I made by quartering some corn tortillas and lightly frying in oil. A dash of salt, and these babies are the perfect snack!

When Keepin it Real Goes Wrong

I tried to keep it real and it backfired. Today I got caught. My health insurance ran out a month and a half ago. I applied to Aetna, only to be denied because o my pre-existing condition - a disease i will have for the rest of my life but is manageable with medicine. Denied? Well fuck you! I didn't want to apply to anymore health insurance companies. I am not a rich woman (yet) and could not afford the monstrous fees they would charge me just for having a disease, so I decided to take action in my own hands. I reduced the amount of medicine I take daily, thus stretching out my medicine supply until I absolutely needed to get some more. It's lasted be a long time! But lately I've been having splitting headaches, sleeping all day, so tired... uh oh. I told my mom about what I did and she told my dad and I sort of got in trouble. "What were you thinking?" "You are not a doctor!" "You're probably making yourself more sick." I WAS JUST TRYING TO KEEP IT REAL. Dang.

So what is one supposed to do? Well, I'm searching for a second job to help relieve the financial pressure. When is Obama going to pass this stupid health bill?! Help a sister out!

The Cake That Made Me Cry

My mother's birthday is on tuesday and with my brothers girlfriend in town, we decided to cook a big dinner.

Appetizers: white bean and rosemary dip, crudites, and radish en croute (a name I made up) - toasted ciabatta with butter, radishes, a touch of salt and pepper. So simple and so good.

Dinner: Garlic Shrimp, whole wheat pasta and mozzarella, lobster, and mixed veggies. We had spent about an hour preparing to make a vegetable napolean (roasted zucchini, squash, red peppers, eggplant, and mushrooms layered in between mozzarella cheese, baked in the oven for a quick 5 minutes to melt the cheese) - but a kitchen disaster quickly changed that. NOTE TO ALL - never put cold water in a hot dish and vice versa. IT WILL BREAK! No one was injured, but we lost a pirex dish and the oven was splattered with glass.

Dessert: So, for my moms birthday I made her a 3 layer caramel cake. Talk about a cake! I started cooking it at 4 pm and finished at 7. Everything was homemade, including the frosting. we used 5 sticks of butter and alot of brown sugar. I literally cried when I finished putting the frosting on. It was so beautiful. And it tasted even better. OH MY GOD.

Split Pea Soup and Bruschetta

Split Pea soup for lunch and bruschetta for dinner. I was fully inspired by "Julie and Julia." I just want to cook and eat!

This Week At A Glance

Some highlights:

- a job interview that went well. Will I take it.. now that's the question.

- scheduled a meeting for a fall internship with ABC. very cool.

- a great audition. always feels good to have one of those.

- wrote another song. it's very funky!

- first table read of a play I was just cast in. I play a villian!

It's only Thursday, but I have many things up my sleeve. I plan on making split pea soup, bruschetta, and cinnamon chicken this week. All new recipes. I hope they turn out well.

I'm going to see a matinee of 500 days of summer someday this week. Just me and myself. And I will treat myself to popcorn!

Hope the rest of the week is eventful!

Piano Wizards

Went to see these 2 guys at the Hollywood Bowl last night. First off, the Hollywood Bowl is such an amazing venue. 18,000 people, open air facility situated in the Mountains of Hollywood - very nice. The LA Philharmonic played behind them and it was just a great show, esp. for musicians. It was purely about the music, and boy did it sound good! They also had Josh Groban as a special guest. That was pretty awesome. Made me want to practice piano more.

Hi It's Been A Long Time

Wow, I feel like I've abandoned "Diva Please." I'm back though. Took a little hiatus, traveled to NY, sang at a wedding in Massachusetts, began blogging for Backstage.com. Here's a peek through (what else): photos of food.


cupcakes i made today. Yellow cake with almond milk chocolate frosting. yum.

pizza from Adrienne's in NY. i dreammmmm of this pizza.

chorizo patatas. and white wine in mugs :)

rib sampler and sweet potato fries (with maple dip) from Blue Smoke. Whoa.

decent mexican food on 2nd ave.

Fascinating

Some things i've come to realize:

1) Californians love to use the word "bomb"

Jenna: My mom got these bomb ass burritos at Ralphs. Wanna try one?
Ashley: Bomb

2) New York has a specialty store for everything, where as here in LA, things can be found in one lumped place.

New York: Peanut Butter and Co, Mamouns falafel, Pluck U wings
California: Hot wings at Pizza Hut, salads and wraps at Jamba Juice: nothing special

3) The world will begin to take shape for you only when you start to truly love and believe in yourself!

Average girl: I'm not that pretty and I don't have much to offer.
Bomb girl: Do you have a job, money in the bank, good friends, and future prospects?
Average girl: No...
Bomb: Exactly, honey. Love yoself and then the world can start loving you back.

Fathers Day

On Friday we had a joint celebratory dinner: fathers day and my birthday. We went to this bomb restaurant in los feliz called The Vermont. Los Feliz is really cute and the community seemed tight knit. I had a kobe beef burger. Sooo good. I love a good hamburger!


I also did shots with the fam. First one was a chocolate cake shot, second one was a wedding cake shot. THEY WERE AMAZING.


This morning I made waffles for dad. This picture says it all: Obama, flowers, "I can't believe it's not butter", waffles, and orange juice. Divine.