Today.

Today was a beautiful day here at UC.

I absolutely love my schedule right now.

I also got a chance to go see the seniors NY showcase today,

and will be attending the Dolly Awards this evening (a CCM awards night)

Seeing the Seniors perform was so inspiring and I'm so happy for them.

I know they're all going to do amazing things.

Keep your eyes peeled for an update on the Dolly Awards tomorrow :)

'Til next time...

-C

My Path to Academia.

Today was my first day as a non-CCM student. And it was weird.

Real weird.

I woke up at 8:00 this morning for my first 10:00 class. I did this for tres reasons.

1) I needed to shower which would mean blowdrying of the hair. How I wish I were a boy sometimes.
2) I wanted to have a healthy, hearty breakfast before I began my first day on My Path to Academia.
3) I had an awful nightmare that was keeping me up and I figured now was just as good a time as any to start my day.

**Noted: The CCM Drama Department still has my coffeemaker from Boards. I neeeed you, coffeemaker. If any of my acting lovelies are reading this and could maybe retrieve this for me one day, I would be grateful.**

So, I showered, got dressed (not in my originally planned first day of school outfit I might add, the Cincinnati weather was disappointing), and stopped at the dining hall for a bagel and coffee. I left about 20 minutes early armed with my number two pencils and notebooks to get to my class because I had NO idea where any of these buildings were. I have been occupying the same side of UC's Campus since the beginning of the year and rarely had time or need to travel outside of it. Luckily, I found all of them pretty easily thanks to the trusty campus map.

My first two classes went really well! I had Intro to Journalism and Interpersonal Communications. I was originally taking Intro to Mass Communications but it was a 3 hour long class on Wednesday evenings. This way, I'm done at 3 everyday and can hopefully get a job for weeknights. I was surprised by how much I liked the professors. My only 2 academic professors here before this were not so great, but these guys were really enthusiastic and welcoming. I can tell already that I'll really like both of the classes.

I have a break at noon followed by the CCM class that I'm still taking, Fundamentals of Directing. It was interesting being there today. For a moment, I almost forgot that I had even left CCM. All day in my academic classes I was sitting there thinking "Hm. So this is how the other half lives...".

Right now I kind of feel like I'm having an out of body experience and just watching myself as I go through this change. Its weird going on the other side of campus. It's weird having time to go to the gym. It's weird thinking "I need to shower but when will I ever have the time...oh wait...I do." It's weird having classes with completely different people.

Today really reminded me of how I felt in the first week at CCM. Totally weirded out. Not because it's actually a weird thing, but because it's new. And that's exactly what today was. SO new and different than I'm used to.

Acting is so familiar to me. Being in an Ensemble is so familiar to me. Academia is NOT familiar to me. Being surrounded by a million people I don't know is NOT familiar to me. My performing arts high school had like 400 students in it TOTAL.

I think for a long time people thought I was taking such a big risk by majoring in Acting in college, but to be honest, that felt like the safest option I could ever pick. I knew what to expect. Right now, I really have no idea what the rest of my quarter will be like, and it's scary to me. Not at all in a bad way, but I it doesn't feel like a "safe" choice or like I'm "taking the easy way out." It feels good because I'm learning about myself, and things I've never studied before.

For the first time in too long, I think about acting and I smile again. I look back at the way that I used to perform and the way that I've performed since I've been here and I swear sometimes it feels like two completely different people. Because one of them had heart, and one of them didn't. Everyone reacts differently to training. For me, I think I had an overdose from doing it for so long, that I forgot how to just BE.  But today, I remembered why I love it. Freeing myself from making it my only option, has made me remember why it ever was one. And that makes me really happy. Because at the end of this, I'll have every option.

For now, you can find me moseying down the Path To Academia :).

 

My new, adorable "Desk Scape" :)

Thanks for readin y'all.

'Til next time...




-C

Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

Hello, blogosphere. I have news!


Firstly. Tims left today for his first Co-Op job in Buffalo, NY! For those who aren't familiar with co-ops, heres a little tutorial: Ya see, Trevor's program does this really cool thing where starting the end of his Sophomore year, he begins to alternate quarters of working professionally in the field he's studying (Industrial Design, if you're curious), and taking classes at school. It's a really great way to get hands on experience and build up your resume before you even graduate. It's more than interning because you're working full time and don't take classes simeltaneously. You also get paid! He's a very lucky boy because it also allows him to travel outside of Cincinnati. Not too shabby. The downside is that he's in school all year round because he has to take classes in the summer, and you're in school for 5 years instead of 4. But still, a small price to pay :).

 So last night I said goodbye to him and will be returning to Cin-City solo. I'll miss him, but I'm so excited that he gets to do this! He's fooling around with the idea of starting a blog to document his internship (he also made it very clear it would be only about his internship, nothing about his mushy gushy feelings for me. he knows me too well.) Buffalo is about a 7 hour drive from Cinci, so hopefully we'll get to each other on weekends once in a while. Another fancy perk about the company he's working for is that Fridays are a half day, which makes it much easier to make weekend trips. Hoorah!

Secondly.  I have just made a very big change to my life that I'm really excited to tell you all about.
After a lot of thought and consideration, I've decided to leave CCM and switch my major. I'll be staying at UC, and will most likely declare a communications major in the fall. For now, I'll be taking some core classes to recieve some credits.

If you're a first time reader, let me give you a little background. Since September I've been an acting student at a conservatory. Before that, I went to a pre professional performing arts high school, and before that, I went to a performing arts magnet middle school. So many people think that going to school for acting is a cop-out of doing any "real" work, but let me tell ya-you couldn't be more wrong. A typical day at school for me started at 9am and didn't end until 10:30pm, and I think all of winter quarter I had 2 weekends off. This is all in conjunction with memorizing lines, doing homework, and trying to maintain your personal hygeine. It's a tricky lifestyle but I'm surrounded by people who handle it very well.

Winter Quarter was really rough for me. Well, Winter Quarter is rough for EVERYONE. But for me, it was a little more than just being busy. I had little to no motivation all the time, and I can't tell you how lonely it feels to be in a room full of people who are so excited to be doing something that just feels like a chore to you. I'm not sure why I felt this way, or what changed for me this quarter.

After talking to the head of my department, it was noted that I was always very engaged and giving when I would be watching other people work in class, but when it was my turn to work, the fire dwindled. It's weird hearing this, because it's true and it's weird that it's true because that was never the case for me before. I've been acting since I could talk practically, and that's when I've always felt the most alive.  That's where my energy comes from. But this quarter, I found myself being relieved when I was offstage. I found myself doing things just to get through them, but having no joy in my work at all. It was scary for me because this is something that has DEFINED me for the majority of my life.

I finally realized that feeling this way is okay. I finally realized that this doesn't mean I don't get to be an actress, or that I can't be involved with theatre, it just means I need to be in control of my own life and have other options. Maybe turning something that I love so much into a job isn't right for me. I love it too much to let it become something that I dread. Who knows if that's the way that I'll feel a month from now, but I'm comforted knowing that the choice is mine, and that I hold the control over my own life. It was a scary decision to make, but a surprisingly easy one because I knew deep down that this is what I needed to do. Whether or not I pursue an acting career when I graduate, I don't know right now. I know it will always be a part of my life, but at this point I need to be able to have more control over what I do. I'm excited to move forward. I feel settled and good about this decision and I know that everything will come together the way that it should.

So! Here is my schedule for next quarter:

Monday: Intro to Journalism (10:00-10:50)
                Fundamentals of Directing (1:00-1:50)
                Math (boooo! 2:00-2:50)

Tuesday: Off. Yes. I'm off. I have no classes. Zip. Zilch. So instead I'll fill my time with working out, homework, and eventually a job when I'm able to get a car to Cincinnati!

Wednesday: Intro to Journalism (10:00-10:50)
                     Fundamentals of Directing (1:00-1:50)
                     Math (boooo! 2:00-2:50)
                     Intro to Mass Communications (3:00-5:40)

Thursday: Off. Yep. Again! More working out, homework, and a job! I'm so excited to be able to get a job and have my own money again. Definite Plus :)

Friday: Intro to Journalism (10-00-10:50)
            Fundamentals of Directing (1:00-1:50)
            Math (boooo! 2:00-2:50)
 


           
So there you go. Thats my new, simpler life. I'm so excited to see where it will take me.


'Til next time...




-C


             

Family Matters.

Being home this spring break makes me miss my family an unexplainable amount.
I've never really been homesick before but boy oh boy, I feel homesick now and I'm still here.

It's difficult being brought up in two different places. When I'm in Texas, I miss my friends in Maryland, and I miss the city of Baltimore because it feels like home. I instantly get a smile on my face when I drive into Fells Point.

It's weird because since I've been here, I haven't spent much time with my friends.
That's partially because our spring breaks don't line up,
but I'm also just really enjoying being at home with my Madre as much as I can.
I'm not QUITE sure she was prepared to spend this much time with me =D

But when I'm in Maryland, I really miss my family in Texas.

And today, I really miss one person in particular.

See that adorable blonde lady? That's my cousin Jodi. And today, I miss her a lot.

I'm not sure she knows this, but she's someone that I've always looked up to.
 When I think of what I'd like to be like when I'm out of school and settled down, I immediately think of Jodi.

                    
Thats her husband, Luis. I know. He's almost just as cute as she is.

 These are their ridiculously beautiful children.
That's Brianna (the older one) and Bella (the little munchkin on the right).
Have you EVER seen two prettier girls?
I didn't think so.
I tell them all the time that I'd like to order one for myself at around 26 or 27.

They think I'm joking.


Besides being adorable and having an adorable family, Jodi is also one of the strongest women I've ever met. My family is PACKED with strong women.

Jodi had Brianna when she was just 18 years old, which is so hard for me to believe because even when I was little I remember thinking instantly what a good mom she was.

She is a perfect example to me of being able to turn a scary situation into an amazing life.
She's a successful Real Estate Agent by day,
and a Great Mom/Zumba go-er/ Gardener/Chef/Hilarious person by night.
Not to mention a fashion connoisseur, look at how CUTE her clothes are!
I use the word cute a lot, because there is just no other way to describe Jodi.
She is the funniest, goofiest,  most charming person,
and I miss the days of sitting on her patio drinking wine and solving the world's problems.
If I am ever in a situation where I have no idea what to do,
which will probably be more often than I'd like,
I would pretty much do whatever Jodi told me,
because that's how smart I think she is.

In conclusion...

If you ARE with your family, don't take it for granted.
I would love to have my whole world in one place.


'Til next time...


-C

:)

Tims comes home from Bermuda tomorrow!

I can't wait to see him :)

This picture is from 4 years ago.

But I still love to look at it.

'Til next time...

-C

Happy Times from 2010.

 

seester.

 

Margarita Night <3

                                                                New Years with Miss Tims

 

Shadowy picture of the Tims on New Years

                                                        Walkin the streets of New Orleans.

                                                    Thanks for makin me smile, Happy Times.
                                                                     See you again soon.

                                                                             Til next time....
                                                                                      -C

Pedicures.

I did something yesterday that I usually battle to the death.



I got a pedicure.

I hate pedicures. I mean, I HATE them. But my mom is quite a fan of the pedicures and she forced me against allll my better judgment to go.

Who finds these things relaxing? I swear I am so tense with anxiety sitting in that spa chair you'd think I was sitting in the dentists office.

1. First of all, I feel so RUDE. Like, I'm just sitting there in this cushy chair handing my feet to someone and telling him to rub lotions all over me and fiddle with my toes. I know that's not a pretty image but that's exactly the point.
2. I am literally the most ticklish person on the planet. Just talking about being tickled makes me laugh. But not in a good way. Which is the worst part about being tickled! I'm laughing because I can't help it, but deep inside I am SO angry.
3. They always try to get you to upgrade to some type of special spa something or other which tacks on like 10 bucks to your already expensive outing to groom yourself, and it's very frustrating to keep saying no to all of these upgrades! My mother, once again, FORCED me to get the "Callus Remover" treatment and I'm just sitting there awkwardly while they peel my foot like they are peeling a carrot (again, I'm sorry for the image)

Pedicures are just not.my.thing.

On the upside, I did recently get these new earrings that I really adore:

                

                      It's hard to tell from that picture, but take my word for it, they are quite lovely.

                                                It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood.
                                            I'm off to enjoy some hamburgers off the grill.
                                                Hope you all had a wonderful weekend!


                                                                     'Til next time...


                                                                            -C

Happiness is...

-Going on a road trip

-Cross Street Market

-Sushi

-Good Mexican food

-Flowers just because

-Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream

-Watching a Chick Flick with your best friend

-A hug from my little cousins

-Spending time in Texas with my family

-Blogging

-Falling asleep with Tims


What is happiness to you?



'Til next time...


-C

Taking a breather.

I did it! I'm on spring break!

                            Feels Fabulous.

Today was a beautiful day in Baltimore. I woke up with my madre and had breakfast and coffee outside on the porch. It was so nice to just sit and chat with her again.

Afterwards we went to the mall to do a little bit of shopping, grabbed some iced tea and went for a drive. I need that more than anything right now.

I said previously that I would share my boards results on here. So heres the sitch: I was "retained" for next year, but had an "unsatisfactory" board. This was disheartening because I've worked really hard this quarter. Or maybe I just felt like I was because this winter was so rough on me mentally and emotionally. Who knows. Anyway, I'm moving forward and after talking with my mom I already feel so much better. Being home just reminds you of who you are, and what matters the most.

On top of that, I'm having some other personal problems that I can't really go into. But as stress free as I was hoping my Spring Break was going to be, it looks like it might not be that simple. But life is always evolving. Things are always changing. A knot in my stomach today doesn't mean that I won't be smiling tomorrow.

For now, I'm going to relax, watch some mindless TV, and drink wine with my best friend.

I hope you all are enjoying your week <3

'Til next time...


-C 

What's Up?

Well, Ladies and Gentleman. Spring is currently springing, although not quite SPRUNG...yet :)


I apologize for my lack of updates in the past couple of days. My blogging juices haven't really been a flowin' due to finals week coming up. I will still have more work to complete even after I go home on Tuesday, but at least I'll be doing it from the comfort of my own home :).

Tomorrow I'll be updating with my results from boards. For those of you who aren’t sure what that is, it’s where I (and the rest of my class) have to perform a monologue and a scene for faculty and other students to determine our progress through the year. We have them in the Fall and in the Winter, but Winter boards are a little different because in addition to finding out if you have a satisfactory or unsatisfactory board (ahem. pass or fail) you find out if you are "Retained" or "Not Retained" AKA whether or not they keep you in the program based on your performance throughout the year.

No pressure.

A preview of what this Simple Girl will confess next:

-Boards Results

-Pictures from Margarita night. Fun was had.

-Words and hopefully pictures (if Trev cooperates) of our road trip home for Spring Break!

Thanks for checkin in, everyone.


'Til next time...

-C

Resolutions and Pretty Things.

This quarter ending literally feels like the end of a long, crazy year, which means it's time to make resolutions for the start spring.

Because I've failed at the ones I made at the start of 2010 already.

My resolutions for next quarter:

-STOP PROCRASINATING. You only despise yourself for doing this later. STOP IT CAITLIN.

-Be happy with now. I am always saying "I'll feel better when..." or "I'll be so happy when...", and I need to just learn to be happy with where I am now, both literally and mentally.

-Be more positive. I don't know when or why all of a sudden I have become such a sour sally, but I miss being a positive polly.

-Embrace my youth, instead of fighting it ( I know. That sounds bizarre. I'm bizarre.)

Moving on.

Things I like:

I love these camera bags by Jo Totes. I want one.

I love this coffee table. Yes please. (www.styleathome.com)

'Til next time...

-C

Don't sweat the small stuff.

I've decided not to sweat the small stuff anymore. Yup. That's my decision.

You see, I'm lucky. Really, really lucky.

I have an amazing family.
I have a body that works. 
I'm getting an education.
I have a wonderful, loving manfriend.
I have great friends who I know would be there for me in a heartbeat.


What else could I need? There are certain days like today, where everything that has been getting to me lately just seems so insignificant. I'm so thankful to be surrounded by people who love me, and who have my best interest at heart.

With this in mind, I know everything is going to be okay. Now all I have to do is wait 6 more days until I'm roadtripping it back to Baltimore with Tims, and soon after sitting on the porch with my madre and my sister enjoying each others company.

Not sweating the small stuff sure makes you appreciate the important stuff.




Also, I love these flowers:

They are from a Vintage Valentines Day Wedding. They look so simple and imperfectly tossed together in that mason jar. 

Taken from Ruffled blog



'Til next time...


-C

Missing.

My heart hurts right now. I miss my family so much.

 

look at that face!

Warm and Fuzzy.

Today has me feelin' warm and fuzzy..

I love puppies :)

-I awoke to great news from my mom about my tuition bill this quarter
-I awoke a second time to a text message from a classmate telling me that my first class was canceled which meant I got to sleep in with Tims :)
-I walked outside this morning and was greeted by beautiful sunshine and bright blue skies. I forgot what that looked like.
-I got out of costuming crew (a requirement for BFA acting majors at my school) 45 minutes early!
-I received a wonderful package from my very generous mother will all sorts of goodies that I can't wait to enjoy (including a box of chocolates which I have already very thoroughly enjoyed if ya know what I mean).
-I was released 2 hours early from rehearsal which means a much less stressful evening, where I can get my homework done at a reasonable hour and get some shut eye :)

It's been a long time since I've had one of these days. It sure does make you appreciate them when they come around.


I hope you all have one of these days soon too <3


'Til next time...


-C

Beginnings.

So. You'll find that often I'll refer to one person pretty regularly on here. That person would be my manfriend :).

       That's him. His name is Trevor. I call him Tims.

Tims and I met in February on a class trip our freshman year of high school. We quickly fell into the same group of friends and began "dating" April 30th that same year.

                         Awwe! Itty bitty Tims.

At barely 15 years old I wasn't quite comfortable with the whole "girlfriend" thing, so after a couple of months I told Tims very dramatically over an email (sorry sweetie :) ) that I thought we should just be friends for a while, although we still liked each other. We stayed close friends for the next couple of years and in true high school fashion, despite the lack of a label, we would talk on the phone just about every night and end each call with a quick and awkward "i uhh..iloveyou." Trev didn't really understand my aversion to being his girlfriend, and I guess looking back I'm a little puzzled by it myself. But it sure made sense at the time.

Finally, in November  of our junior year we went on our first date (I don't count the ones when we were 14, considering our parents had to drive us) and that Christmas I asked if I could be his girlfriend. 

We didn't plan to come to the same college. This sort of happened somehow. I took a year off to live in Chicago after graduation and deferred to a college there. When I came to visit Trev at UC, I fell in love with the campus and decided to look into other colleges that I thought would suit me better than my previous choice. I randomly looked at the acting conservatory's website at UC, and fell in love a little more. I auditioned, I was accepted, and I came.

That all sounds rather swift, but, the truth is, Tims and I have had more than our fair share of...hiccups. We've been through a lot together. I think it's safe to say there were plenty of times when we both didn't know what would come of this. 

Being at the same college presents different issues than being miles away. Don't get me wrong, I'd much prefer to deal with these issues than the other ones. But they are things to deal with, nevertheless. 

Trev and I are in very demanding programs where we are. He has mounds of homework all the time, and I constantly have places to be. We mostly get to see each other in the evenings. I have rehearsals pretty late (right now they go to 10:30) and he's usually doing homework at the same time. As wonderful as it is to be right next door, it's still hard to find the time to be together, and sometimes that is even more frustrating. Considering how busy we both are, we actually do a really good job of finding time together. But the quality of the time varies. Especially in these last couple of weeks. We're both extremely stressed, and while Trev tends to become more introverted and isolated when he's stressed, I become really emotional, which adds OH so many fun colors to our relationship.

The more time Tims and I spend together, and the more hurdles we jump together, the more I realize that being in love is not like falling in love. It's not always glamourous and sometimes it's so frustrating that I just want to either scream or bury my head in the pillow because it was just all so simple in the beginning and how can he not understand what I mean by this or I know I sound like a looney bin right now but my mouth won't stop moving and why is he looking at me like that and CAN'T YOU JUST READ MY MIND SO WE CAN STOP HAVING THIS ARGUMENT?!

Thats the nature of relationships though. The beginning is easy. By the happy ending, you've come full circle. 

But the middle....the middle is where you have to work. 

             

 I guess the important part is to like your co-worker :). 

'Til next time...

-C

Simple Pleasures.

Before I begin my work for the evening, I decided a simple pleasure list was in order...


My Simple Pleasures:

1) Sending/Receiving snail mail
2) Love notes
3) Going to sleep with wet hair :)
4) Chocolate chip cookies
5) Nights with nothing to do but cuddle and watch Friends.
6) Free Margaritas with Kate
7) Sleeping in
8) Talking to my mama
9) hangin' out with my seester
10) Sex and the City.
11) Mornings when I wake up early enough to make coffee and a breakfast sandwich before class :)
12) My Auggie Doggie

'Til next time...


-C