I actually DO love fashion!

Gasp! It's true.  For anyone who has met me, I pretty much dress like a total shlump all the time.  Mostly because I work from home, and rarely go outside before 5pm.  My entire wardrobe pretty much consists of PJs.  C'est tout.

But I do love following fashion.  (Another big problem of mine, aside from PJ syndrome, is my size.  Not to beat myself up (although I DO), but I'm a pretty big girl.  The cool clothes I see online/in magazines? Yeah, I can't really wear them.  And even if they DO make my size, it usually isn't flattering.)  And I'm going to make more of an effort with my ensembles.  Maybe it'll finally be the motivation I need to get into shape (I would say get BACK into shape, but c'mon, who are we kidding here? :) I'm just dealing with facts, people.)

My biggest inspiration is Jess over at What I Wore (check here out HERE if you haven't already...it's pretty awesome, and SHE'S pretty awesome.)  The choices she makes and the incredible outfits she builds from her wardrobe rocks my socks (haha, socks! like, clothing. i funny girl.  FANNY BRYCE!  Ok, note to self...coffee in the afternoon = bad idea.)

So I have decided to clear out my wardrobe.  I can't afford much new right now, the moola, it is tight.  But maybe I'll start posting fashiony related stuff too.  OOOH, maybe I'll flea market it this weekend - I have been meaning to check out the Boston flea market scene, but I'm a lazy f*ckaboo.

Peace and love.

YouTube Obsessions.

I am obsessed with YouTube videos...specifically of the B'way nature.  A few of my favorites:

Jay Armstrong Johnson (Claude u/s in HAIR on B'way)...I also saw him as Link Larkin in Hairspray up in VT...last summer? Two summers ago? Whenever it was! LOL

A fan video from the GMA HAIR taping..."I've Got Life", which wasn't aired.  But I think this captures the brilliance of this cast, and how they just LIVE on that stage and have so much fun.  Plus, you can see my friend R dancing like a goof in the audience, because he was standing right behind whoever took this video.

Oh, and just for the heck of it, one more.  Elaine Stritch on Ellen.  She is a HOOT.  A salty, salty HOOT.

HAIR

OK, it's definitely been a while, and for that I fail fail fail.  BUT, exciting things have happened in the meanwhile, the MOST exciting of which was I saw HAIR on Broadway!!! It was absolutely everything I thought it was going to be, and so much more.  My thoughts (hardly a review):

I find HAIR to still be extremely relative, in it's own way.  Yes, most of us "young folk" don't know what it's like to be drafted, but aside from that, we certainly understand being in the middle of a war we don't find necessary, and being told who we are isn't acceptable.  (Andrew Kober's Margaret Meade speech about parents going home and telling their kids it's ok to be who they are got a HUGE round of applause.)  The only part I REALLY found outdated (though I'm sure in some parts of the country it would still be ick) is my favorite part of the show: the Black Boys/White Boys songs - interracial relations are SO not the deal they used to be - or maybe I don't see it that way because I'm part of an interracial family!  But I digress - the story is still profoundly relevant, so much so that I was in tears at the end.  

The performances given by the cast were absolutely INCREDIBLE.  Let's start with Will Swenson - who played Berger.  WOW.  SO robbed of the Tony.  I've never seen anyone give a performance like that in my LIFE.  I would imagine it would be very difficult to play someone who lives impulse to impulse (not to mention tiring), but Swenson is in it from beginning to end (and he has a sweet tush! LOL!!!)  Gavin Creel was also spectacular - his voice is divine.  Other standouts in the cast for me were Allison Case (Crissy), Jackie Burns (Black Boys Trio - FIERCEST BELTRESS EVER! I want to go back and see her Sheila!), Andrew Kober (Margaret Meade), Bryce Ryness (Woof) and Theo Stockman (Tribe - I don't know but I was so taken by his performance - so intense and a little creepy!).  Sasha Allen was out, which was disappointing, but Saycon Sengbloh was PHENOM.

Cast interactions - probably the best part of the show.  The cast was EVERYWHERE, almost all the time! Climbing on seats, handing out flowers/flyers, running up and down the aisles.  I scored a SICK seat - D2 (which is third row, on the aisle), and got tons of great interaction! I got smiled at, winked at, my hair played with, my sunglasses played with, I got a Be-In flyer, and my favorite - Darius Nichols, who plays Hud, kissed me on the forehead.  ADORABLE!! I was also close enough that I could rush up on stage at the end for the dance party.  Yes, I sang and danced on the B'way!!!

OK, so that was way too long and rambly.  But seriously, folks.  GO SEE THIS SHOW.  You really really really won't regret it.

I saw this and just had to steal it, because it's sadly a true, true fact in my life!

A beautiful quote by the brilliant Louise Erdrich, '76, who spoke at Dartmouth's commencement this year.

It is love of peace that makes you a warrior, love of process that binds you to your work, love of family that steadies you in all that you do.  Often, the only answer to the questions that will be posed all through your life is a mute and fierce love, an irrational love, a love that simply answers I am here.

Click HERE to read her entire, wonderful speech.

Summer Reading List

1.  A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, by Dave Eggers

2.  The Plague of Doves, by Louise Erdrich (a '76! I got to see her speak at S's graduation, which prompted me to add her work to my list)

3.  The Letters of Noel Coward, edited by Barry Day

4.  The Time Traveler's Wife, by Audrey Niffenegger (ok, I admit this was added only after I saw the preview for the movie.  So kill me.  I do that sometimes.)

I am very excited.

You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. Because believing that the dots will connect down the road will give you the confidence to follow your heart even when it leads you off the well-worn path, and that will make all the difference.

—	Steve Jobs’ 2005 Stanford Commencement Address

I'm an ARTISTE!

Haha I wish...so I'm in camera transition right now (a poor grad student saving up for a digital SLR...so I may be in transition for a WHILE!), but I took along my trusty iPhone to my brother's graduation this past Sunday.  Here are my two favorite shots (one from the beginning of the ceremony, and the other at lunch back home after):

Q and A

So, I like to pretend that I have readers.  It's fun! LOL!  I'm going to do a Q and A with myself, just because I can! This is totally a ripped off, compilation version of what Playbill runs on their website (so apparently, not only do I fancy myself a blogger with a following, I'm on BROADWAY! hahaha)  Here we go!

Full given name: I suddenly feel really awkward.  I won't post it, but suffice it to say, Miki is a nickname given to me by my mother.

Hometown: Well, I've lived in a bunch of places, but I'd call Wilton, CT my hometown (though it would be cooler if I said Paris, since I did actually live there! Hardly a home town, though.)

Zodiac sign: Aries

First Broadway show ever saw: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat 1993

If you could go back in time and catch any Broadway show, what would it be?: There are so many, but one of the more recent ones would be the Assassins revival.

Current show you have been recommending to friends: Sadly, I haven't really seen enough this season to recommend ANYTHING, but in the recent past, I'd say In The Heights.

Favorite show tune: "White Boys" from Hair.  I love the arrangement Seth Rudetsky did for the Actor's Benefit concert.

Most played song on your iPod:  This is going to sound crazy.  But it's actually Bogoroditsye Dyevo (Rejoice Virgin, Mother of God).  It's this beautiful Russian song we sing in church.  Check it out on iTunes.  Totally soothing. 

Last book you read: I can't even remember the last book I read for pleasure...most of my reading has been for school (don't get me wrong, it's fantastic) but right now I'm reading "The Inner Game of Tennis"

Must-see TV show: So You Think You Can Dance

Last good movie you saw: "Up"

Performer you would drop everything to go see: Raul Esparza

Pop culture guilty pleasure: Twilight

Worst costume ever worn in a show: it's actually the same as my BEST.  I wore this kick ass silver trench/raincoat in a production of Taming of the Shrew.  It was at a little theatre with no air conditioning in the middle of the summer.  The coat was lined, but it was so hot the lining was cut out to make it cooler for me.  Unfortunately, the jacket was that plasticky stuff raincoats are made out of, and I wore a tank top underneath it, so it would stick to me.  SO GROSS.  But it looked cool.

Worst job you ever had: Deer Park water mascot.  It deflated on me, and was torturously hot inside.

Role you've been dying to play: Tribe in Hair.  It seems like one of those shows that is life changing to be in.  I love those kinds of shows.

Picture of the Day

From the WSS CD signing at Lincoln Center.  Karen Olivo, you are BEYOND ADORABLE!

A Bad Day turns into a Good One...

So, today was a horribly stressful day at work...but that is neither here nor there.

Two things turned this day around.  First, my cast recording for the Hair revival came! SO EXCITED! I've only listened to the first couple tracks (which breaks my rule of not listening to cast recordings before I've seen the show (currently

 running, of course)...but I just couldn't even help it! Runneth out and grab your copy if you can!

Also, I saw a chick on the T today with the most awesome boots.  I HATE the thought of  taking pictures of random people on public transportation (it just seems so WRONG!) but I legit had a compulsi

on to...check out these puppies...

I'm obsessed.

TONY AWARDS, FTW.

I was going to do a recap of the Tonys, but that would actually take effort.  I have therefore listed for your reading pleasure, the FTW moments of the night:

Bret Michaels running into the set in the opening number. 

HAIR in the opening number...for REAL FTW.

Obama Mia.

Neil Patrick Harris' shiny leather suit.

Angela Lansbury.

N2N winning best score.

An appearance by Lin Manuel Miranda - when he smiles the world lights up.

WSS - Mambo and Josephina's AMAZING high note crack.

ROA.  Period.

The Michigan hand point in the ROA performance.

LIZA.

An appearance by John Stamos.  He's so pretty.

Greg Jbara. He's completely adorable.

Karen Olivo winning the freaking Tony.  AMAZING.

"Please welcome from the cast of Next to Normal, the cast of Next to Normal!"

Every appearance of Aaron Tveit.  BeYOND adorable.

Geoffrey Rush's acceptance speech.  Wonderful.

The In Memoriam.  Beautiful arrangement of "What I Did For Love"

Frank Langella being totally not bitter over not being nominated this year.

Billy Elliot's cool tap dancing, accented by awkward yelling

HAIR's performance...THAT'S HOW IT'S DONE, PEOPLE!!

And then winning revival right after - peace now, freedom now, equality now, justice forever.

DHP presenting Best Actress in a Musical. So funny!!! 

Being yelled at by Alice Ripley.

Audra being awkward.

NPH's fun closing number - "This show could not be gayer, if Liza was named mayor, and Elton John took flight!" LOL

And biggest shenanigan moment of the night:

Best Leading Actor in a Musical = Best Leading Male Role in a Musical.  

are you SERIOUS, Tony Committee? Did you REALLY just reward a ROLE, not a PERFORMANCE? If the Billys were ALL that good, they should have all been nominated separately, not together. End rant.

And I feel sorry for the poor sound guys who are CLEARLY going to be fired.  

TONYs 2010...in only T-365 days! :)

Inspiration

How many people can walk through a city and prove they were there? It's a sign I was here.  My hand made this mark.  I'm f*cking alive!

Great Tongue Twister

Grip Top Sock

 

Give me the gift of the grip top sock.

A drip drape, ship shape, tip top sock.

Not your spinslick, slap stick, slip slop stock;

But, a plastic elastic, grip top sock.

 

None of your fantastic slack swap slop

From a slap-dash, flash-cash, haberdash shop;

Not a knick knack, kit-lock,

Knock-kneed knickerboxers sock

With a mock-shot, blob-mottled tricktickertock clock;

 

Not a rucked-up, puckered-up flop-top sock;

Not a super-sheer, seersucker ruckasack sock;

Not a spot-speckeled, frog-freckled cheap sheik’s sock

Off a hodge-podge, moss potched, botched

scotch block

Nothing slip shod, drip drop, flip flop, or

glip glop,

Tip me to a tip top, grip top sock!

You can find that and other great tongue twisters HERE (great resource!!)

Broadway Softball League

Ok, I am MAJORLY jealous of Constantine Maroulis' HAIR!!

It is just all kinds of tousled and fabulous.

In Remembrance, and in Thanks...

Quick Memorial Day post, guys.  I woke up this morning with this on my mind and in my heart.  I am probably about as anti-war as one can get, but at the same time, I have members from both sides of my family who have served, and I do feel like we owe our lives to those men and women who sacrifice so much to keep us safe, and I'd like to take a moment to honor those near and dear to my heart.

In Remembrance, Major Carl Saffoe.  He didn't give his life in war, but served this country proudly.  I only wish I had been lucky enough to know him as an uncle.

I also want to give thanks to all my other living relatives who have served - Grandpa H, Uncle Ronnie, Sonny and Eric.

I also want to highlight a WONDERFUL cause.  Almost three years ago now, my hometown lost one of our boys in Iraq.  The town continues to honor and remember him through a great charity: Kick for Nick.  I hope you take a moment to watch this video that ESPN ran.

It's such a worthy cause, and I encourage you all to think about donating any unused balls you may have, as collection is still VERY MUCH ACTIVE!!! (you can look up more information HERE)  I love driving through town when I'm home and seeing that net filled with soccer balls.

Thank you.  All I can say is thank you.

Black Magick Cupcakes

This is my entry for the 2nd Annual Ice Cream Cupcake Roundup (hosted by The Cupcake Project and Scoopalicious)...introducing, Black Magick Cupcakes!

Introducing your ingredients:

Brownie mix (yes, I used mix! It was late at night, and I didn't feel like futzing with a new brownie recipe! I knew the mix from the box would have the density I was looking for)

Oreos

Raspberry jam

Ben and Jerry's Magic Brownie Ice Cream (black raspberry ice cream swirled with sweet cream ice cream and fudgy brownie chunks)

Vanilla ice cream

Chocolate ice cream

Whipped Cream

I baked the brownies into cupcakes, then cut and divided, and added/froze all the layers one by one...phew! So time consuming, but so worth it, because if I say so myself, these were DELISH.  Yum yum.

The layers, from bottom to top are:

Brownie

Raspberry jam

Vanilla ice cream

Crushed oreos

Magic Brownie ice cream

Chocolate ice cream

Brownie

Whipped Cream

Fresh raspberries

Please excuse the HORRIFIC cutting job!!! Hahaha.

I don't pretend to be a master baker, or know what I'm doing when I throw ingredients together, but I'm pretty darn pleased with how these turned out! :)

Miki

Black Magick Cupcakes

My new entry for the Ice Cream Cupcake Roundup. (Did you really think I was going to submit my last post with those stalker iPhone pictures? Puh-lease!)

Get excited...I'll give you a few hints...brownies, raspberries, Ben and Jerry's Haagen Dazs...DELISHHHHH.

Almost as delish as Brandon Bryant on this season of SYTYCD. ;)

SYTYCD

So, my summer obsession starts...SYTYCD!!! If I can get myself together, I'll start blogging the show live time...maybe...no promises!!!

But in the meantime, between new episodes, I amuse myself by searching videos on YouTube, and that's where I came across this amazing kid, from SYTYCD Australia.

PS - He's FIFTEEN.  What an incredible, incredible talent.  I literally cried.

Ice Cream Cupcake Roundup entry!

Here is my first batch potential entry for the Ice Cream Cupcake Roundup (hosted by The Cupcake Project and Scoopalicious)...check out the contest page HERE.

These are tentatively titled Cinnamon-Banana Friendship Cupcakes.

The cupcake recipe is a modified version of the Amish Friendship Bread Recipe (just a little sweeter, and more cakey than it's bread-like cousin).

The ice cream filling is Haagen-Dazs Banana Split (banana and whipped cream ice cream with strawberries and fudge ribbons)

Frosting is cream cheese frosting s

prinkled with cinnamon-sugar and garnished with a cinnamon stick.

This was my first attempt at ice cream cupcakes, and they were QUITE delish!  See horrible, iPhone 

quality close up photos below (please forgive me, I'm still working with a FILM SLR and haven't gotten the photos developed yet...anyone wanna chip in and buy me a DSLR? I would love you forever! ;))

 

GAH! Fuzzy pictures wound my soul.  But it's all I got for now.

Toodles Poodles!

Miki

Brigadoon, brought to you by Vicks...

So I am muy upset that I wasn't able to be a part of WHS's spring musical Brigadoon (see below for what I thought!), but I did enjoy crashing the cast party, and hearing all of the things these crazy Briga-kids got themselves into.  Like this, for example...

What do high school kids do when they have to show emotion during a funeral scene?  Crying is apropos...but what if you don't have the acting skills to pull it off? Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, the ultimate outside-in acting tool...

It's true.  One of the kids, CD, had the bright idea of applying a generous amount of VapoRub underneath the eyes to induce tearing.  It's a wonder half the kids didn't go Briga-blind.  Needless to say, this acting choice was quickly nixed by the director.  Oh, what kids do!

I still love high school musicals...

No, not THE High School Musicals (though don't tell anyone, they are my secret obsession.  Shhh.  The choreography is really good!!)...high school musicals.

I went back to my old high school this weekend to see their spring musical, Brigadoon.  Now, a little background here (since I didn't go back just to be a creeper.)  I'm very good friends with...the director, assistant director, choreographer, assistant choreographer, musical director, tech director, set designer, and producer/costume designer.  Maybe because I've not only worked with all of them (most of them are returning staffers from last year, when I was the assistant choreographer/"critique fairy" for Guys and Dolls, but they are also all really good friends.

And I have to say, I was IMPRESSED!! Those kids always pull off a good show, but this was absolutely breathtaking to watch.  The choreography was seamless and beautiful (and I don't just say that because JJ's my best friend), and the kids danced it beautifully.  That's WHS's strong suit - the dancing, particularly guys dancing, which is always a crowd pleaser.  The leads were all fair - Charlie was by far my favorite...natural actor (although I heard it was quite a battle to get him there), and a beautiful singer (when it's in his range...but he's forgiven...he was only a FRESHMAN!!!).  And I was very proud of all the returning kids I knew - particularly DM, AF, AS and KKM.  GREAT job, guys, you all Briga-ROCKED!

This is definitely on my list of shows to do when I am a teacher! It's just one of those classic shows...sure, it may be a bit dated, but it's just so simple and beautiful, and I was surprised how well it was pulled off at WHS, considering they had just lost a VERY talented senior class the year before.

I also got a chance to talk to SA, who is the director of Brigadoon (and coincidentally, was also the director of my senior musical in high school!), and we were discussing what show they were thinking of doing the next year - there's so much more planning involved than I thought, and a lot of guesswork involved.  She mentioned Titanic as a possibility, which I would die from sheer happiness if they did.  I think they're gunning for Chicago, but that might be hard, as we are not far from NYC, and we can't get the rights while it's playing on Broadway...so DON'T GO SEE CHICAGO, so it can close and a high school in CT can do it. :)

Toodles Poodles,

Miki

THIS BLOG IS BORING.

And for that, I apologize.  I mean to use this blog mostly for theatre, cooking and grad school...of which I am doing NONE at this moment...what was I thinking! LOL...hopefully things will pick up when I have use of my camera, and school starts back up after Memorial Day!!! Good Lordie.

The Princess and the Frog

Anyone as excited about this as I am??? It looks so good!!!

Check out the trailer HERE.  Slash, Anika Noni Rose is fierce.  Ok, maybe she is half the reason I'm excited about this movie.  But HELLO!!! An old school Disney movie...with a BLACK princess...set in NEW ORLEANS.  That's HOT.

Change in Title

OK, so as I get more and more into this crazy thing known as BLOGGING, I have already made a change...the name of my blog!! Working for the Yankee Dollar??? What does that even MEAN??

But right now I am obsessed with all things vintage circus, and I think it will serve me well.  So look out internets, and welcome Cirque du Vie! Look for some fancy shmancy shiney new additions soon!

Toodles poodles!

Miki

Dear Internet...

I want you to meet the love of my life.

This is the Lucky.  (Please excuse the crappy quality, taking with le iPhone.)

I love this dog more than life itself.  How can you not?? LOOK AT THOSE EARS.  I WANT TO EAT THOSE EARS FOR BREAKFAST.

Kick for Nick

OK, so, I'm obsessed with YouTube.  I'm sure I will be posting MANY a video in our time together, but I have to post this one first, because it's the MOST important.

Nick was a good buddy of both my brothers, and they were both DEVASTATED when he died.  But I think this cause is SO great, and I always get a little teary driving through town and seeing that collection (over 2 years later, it's still going strong.)

So take a minute, watch the video, at the very least.  

Toodles poodles,

Miki

Friday Fun Fact

Here's a random fact to start your Friday off right! (Well, maybe not RIGHT, but certainly INTERESTING!!!)  A hat to all mothers out there...Happy early Mother's Day!

Are you ready for it? Here we gooooo.....

Shark embryos fight each other in the womb.  The survivor baby shark gets to be born.

It's Me!

Welcome to my blog, Workin' for the Yankee Dollar.

What is Working for the Yankee Dollar, you ask? It's an Andrews Sisters lyric.  I just really like it.  I'm random like that. :)

Who am I, you ask? Well let me tell you! My name is Miki, and I...

am 26

am a graduate student, studying Theater Education (will be a drama teacher someday...SOON, hopefully!)

LOVE food...cooking it, EATING it, looking at pictures of it, researching new recipes to make it...you name it!

am a theatre FREAK, especially with MUSICALS

am a photography NUT

am SINGLE ;)

love my friends and family

am gainfully employed as an administrative assistant at a recruiting comany

LOVE The Biggest Loser, ER, House, The Dollhouse, Bones and Lost

am a New England girl, through and through.

Is that too much info? Maybe.

Really,  I just need a place to be ME.  To gather all my thoughts, and what not. 

And hey, how about I list some of my favorite blogs? Wouldn't that be FUN? hehe

First up, Pioneer Woman.  I am OBSESSED with all things Pioneer Woman.  For shizz.  She pretty much rocks my world.  Is that a little SWF? Maybe.  Yikes.  I take it back.

I also love Cake Wrecks and Fuck You, Penguin.  Both are just SO hilarious, they make me laugh.  I can't even help myself.

And for all you Broadway lovers out there, I just love Andrew's Blog.  He's hilarious and crazy, and knows what's what.  And he's a PRESHIE.

I'm almost done, I promise.  Last two.  Friends of mine...first up is Life Beyond the Postseason.  Ever heard of a little women's b-ball team from the University of Connecticut? Ally's dad is the coach.  And she's pretty awesome herself.  She blogs about everything...her dad's career, meeting OBAMA (JEALOUS!), and her life as a working actress in NYC.  She rocks my socks. 

Last but not least, my friend Annie's blog [clever title].  She ultra-sassy.  And a pop-culture FREAK.  It's why I kinda love her a lot.

That's all for now folks...hopefully I will see this blog through!

Things you can look for here:

Random thoughts

Recipes

Photos (praying for a digital SLR! My poor Canon film SLR just ain't cutting it anymore!)

Theatre reviews/news

HI-larious Youtube videos

Whatever else I feel like!

XOXO,

Gossip Girl

JUST KIDDING!!!!!

Toodles poodles!

Miki