AM~Erica Lost an Hour

So anyway...

I am taking a small break from the March celebrating (find out about all of it HERE) to talk about another event that takes place in March now...

This used to happen the 1st Sunday in April, but recently got changed. And it tends to be hard on EVERYONE to start out with. The adjustment can be a beast for several days!

I'm talking about changing the clocks to skip an hour. Daylight Savings Time sets in, and we have a 23-hour day. You have to hope to remember to change your clocks (if it doesn't change automatically) to know not to be an hour late to wherever you need to be. It. Is. Hard.

"And remember, this is for posterity. So be honest."
*cries*

As I got around for Sunday morning...it felt like I'd lost an hour. Coffee was so needed, for sure!

It was a little hard getting the kiddos around for church, too. But it was going to be a beautiful day! So that did help, after this whole winter stuff. At least the weather was a truly welcome change, if the time change wasn't!

So, we went to church. The morning was moving & fulfilling! Hubby's message on Pulpit AND Table was so on point! It spoke of the importance of getting the message AND the importance of communion. The music was fantastic & worshipful. Worshiping with others had the Spirit moving, for sure.

Plus, hubby was in a delightfully weird mood. Things are falling into place for enrichment of all sorts at church. And the weather was beautiful!

Have I mentioned how much I love being around positive people? Because I do! (find out about these people HERE) And I got to chat with several positive people that morning. It all put a fun little pep in my step! It felt SO good!

We got home to chill out a bit before needing to get to the evening schedule...

It was a makeup week for taking Teen Girl to the Coterie Theater (read why HERE). Last weeks had to be cancelled due to awful winter weather. Go figure. But I love taking Teen Girl! I get to take in some famous KC sights! I love spending a couple of hours meandering around Crown Center & Union Station.

However, at the moment, Crown Center is really rough. Many stores have left or either closed or closing due to the massive take-over of Halls for the 3rd floor. Pretty much, Halls is closed right now. Many stores are either trying to relocate, or just leave. It's really sad to look at...

The sad remains of Victoria's Secret...
...about the only empty store that was temporarily uncovered Sunday

Even worse...the parking garage is blocking a lot of parking right now, too. It's really frustrating!

However...I do enjoy taking The Link over to Union Station. (check out one of my Link trips HERE) I decided to stay indoors since the wind was so strong that afternoon. And The Link was toasty warm with the warming of the sun shining thru it!

As I got over to Union Station, I decided to walk around a bit. Must've been the nice weather bringing people out...cuz it was SO BUSY!!  I wanted to walk downstairs...just to walk...and something caught my eye in a little tucked away corner. In a tiny hallway-type room that is usually roped off, I caught sight of a ballerina. It appeared she was warming up for something! So, I had to sneak a couple of pics of this gorgeous artwork:

Got the UMB sculpture in there to look like that's what I focussing on in case she turned around...
...look at all of the art happening at once! Amazing, right?

The amazingly beautiful tatted ballerina!

I watched her for a moment go up on pointe, looking out the window, even hitting a couple of poses. And it was her dainty appearance of the tutu & pointe shoes along with her vivid tattoos with it. It was eye-catching irony. I, then, began to realize she was having her own photo shoot. The photographer was fairly young & I think the photographer & ballerina might be sisters. They looked very much alike! I waited for a break...then stuck my head in to let her know how stunning she is! The photographer got really excited! She bounded over to where I was standing to show me a few of the photos on the camera taken of the dancer. It was awe-inspiring! And I was in the right place, at the right time, and just conscious enough to see what was going in in a far corner of Union Station...

There was a big smile on my face as I headed down that stair case. It made me miss hardcore dancing. And it opened my eyes to the layers of art happening in that situation...

I meandered a bit downstairs, and then decided to head back up. No time for me to see a movie, and the Irish Museum was already closed for the day. So I headed up the escalator...and the marquee at the top just really caught my eye this time:

Not sure why it caught my eye today...but it did. And I've seen the model trains...but I was really taken with the marquee this day. And the other side is about the downstairs Theater District...again...not sure why the marquee seemed more prevalent. Either way...it's a great, double-sided marquee!

I also took in Cafe' Parisi. If you want some pretty good hipster coffee, try it!

Macchiato pictured here...but have also enjoyed the Affogato.

As I was headed back to Crown Center from Union Station...I saw several folks with fancy cameras wandering around. I even saw an engagement photo session taking place under the famous Union Station clock! Love & Spring were abound at Union Station...and many people wanted to capture a lot of these moments & take in the scenery, too!

Now then...I still haven't full-on color-streaked my hair. But I am still using the hair chalk for now. So...this is how my hair looked:

OK...this is important to some of the story, y'all. I promise!

As I was in The Link, there was guy with a couple of girls. I'm guessing it was either daughters or granddaughters... One of the girls was a tween or young teenager (maybe 13 or 14 TOPS), and then there was a much younger girl, maybe about age 7, who was in this very fancy dress. It was like she wanted to be a princess for the outing. As I walked by...the gentleman loudly pointed out my hair & wanted to show the girls! I was happy to oblige & show them the pink & purple showing brightly in the sun. The guy sounded like he was gonna take the girls to get colors in their hair! That was entertaining...

Then I went back to Crown Center to kill some time. I looked around a couple of shops still open. I'm always entertained by the Magic of Christmas store. It really is mostly Christmas...and then a semi-nod to whatever major holiday is approaching...with ornaments on trees & such. But I was taken by their St. Paddy's display INSIDE the store:

If that Irish Soda Bread dish wasn't $30...I would have been all over getting it! And I didn't want to spend $12-13 for the mugs, either. But I sure loved looking at them!

But then I went across the hall to the very large (as it should be) Hallmark store. I looked around at all the different things they have...
And then I came across the most adorable Middle Eastern employee! I want to point out her background because of the cutest conversation we had...and her accent just made her that much more adorable! So, here's how it went down...and I want you to imagine her accent in this conversation:

Her:  Your hair is so pretty!
Me:  Thank you!
Her:  It make me think of that "orchid" color...Brilliant Orchid?
Me:  *laughs* Ah! Radiant Orchid!
Her:  Yes! Radiant Orchid! You hair make me think of that color. Is it color of year? Right?
Me:  It sure is! And I'm glad you picked up on it! It makes me think of the Cheshire Cat, so I did my hair like it!
Her:  *SMILES*

*Note:  She pronounced "orchid" as it is spelled...and I pronounced it as we do, "Or-kid".*

What a precious conversation! And she totally got my hair inspiration! (reminder HERE) That was so awesome!

I left Hallmark & walked around a bit more. I finally headed back toward Coterie & got to chat to a couple of the other moms hanging out there...

Then, we headed home. I couldn't wait to get out of the parking mess & Crown Center mess...but got to go home to get some dinner...GRILLED!! Woo-Hoo!! Hubby got to grill for the 1st time in...um...I don't even remember when. Those brats tasted SO good!

And then hubby & I topped off the night with a bottle of moscato Antioxidant-Fortifed Jesus Water.

Missing out on that hour wasn't as big of a deal as I thought it would be! My day was great!

So, Count Rugen...keep your hour! I didn't need it!

Now to take in another beautiful March day! Yes...even for a Monday...because Missouri weather is about to set in & I want to take in the nice weather when I can!

Stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica

AM~Erica: Too Tired Fashionista

So anyway...

As you may know, Teen Girl goes to Crown Center once in a while to go mingle & brainstorm with other YOUNG COTERIE PLAYWRIGHTS. It's a pretty awesome gig.

So, while she goes & bonds with them, I tend walk around & enjoy the shops & views. I've recently been taking The Link (a glassed in walkway) to Union Station, too.

Now then, I love having fun with fashion. And I like to sport something that's a bit eye-catching when I hang out around Crown Center Square. And I start channeling some Tyra Banks & 'America's Next Top Model' when I walk The Link. I always imagine it as some artsy-cool, high-fashion catwalk. And you know I stomp that walkway & strut my stuff thru the glass corridors with the sights of downtown KC surrounding my own fashion show! And probably doing some smeyesing while pounding the catwalk...

Tyra Banks' Smeye

In my mind, I'm some cool high fashion chic that someone in "the biz" should totally be eyeing & saying they would love to throw their lush & crazy fashions on me since I'd be the perfect canvas! You know...a whole street-fashion look that would be over-the-top & rockin'! I'd totally rock whatever look that is!

So...as I'm strutting in my Chiefs-inspired street fashion (cuz they are 5-0 right now, baby! GO CHIEFS!) thru the glass catwalk of The Link between the buildings of Crown Center Square & heading to Union Station, I've got high-fashion on my mind!

The stretch of The Link I like to stomp & strut thru

And artsy view of the inside of my catwalk

I get over to Union Station...and I know it was a total sign! The big, echoy area was closed off due to a covered runway from KC Fashion Week! That's what I'm talkin' 'bout, yo! So, I'm stomping the tiles hard...cuz you know those fashion people were looking at me & thinking that I'm the next big thing...especially for Chiefs colors & everything...

...and I cannot figure out why nothing is happening...

So forget it! I thought I'd take an artsy selfie with some awesome KC scenery...ummm...I think I figured out why no one wanted to stop this train...

I'm all thinking I look all great & uber high fashion. Kinda like this:

Oh yeah...you know that feeling?
But then in reality...I actually ended up looking more like this:

Oh yeah. My outfit was adorable...but I looked like a mom with too little sleep & some mommy hips to match. I don't think anyone from the New York scene...or even the local high fashion scene...would want this worn out canvas.

My runway walk back thru The Link was a bit sadder. I think I lost the strut I was feeling when I thought I looked like a Vogue cover.

I just had a discussion with a friend of mine about the whens & hows of looking pretty. Some do it more often than others, but it does happen. And even if it's a simple detail to a whole outfit, or adding makeup to a new haircut, there are times when it sets a mood & you just feel good about it & yourself!

There's a quote I heard once. It was when I was watching "How Do I Look?" It went like this:

"The most powerful thing in the universe is femininity - and it's free, and you can put it on everyday." ~ Andy Paige

And it's so true! No matter how little, you can make it work! Amm-i-rite, ladies??

So it's nice when you do feel that way. Imagine how sad I was to find out how wilted it actually was!

OK...don't get me wrong, I am not focusing on bad self image! I do think we are all beautiful in our own way. Check out my other posts on it HERE.

It's just that it was a day I thought I was making a fabulous statement...and I was a scary, unretouched version of my hyper-supermodel cover version of what I thought.

*sigh*

Well, at least my hubby loves me. He is MY PRINCE CHARMING after all. He accepts this princess even under the less-than-attractive moments. Even the too-little-sleep-mommy-with-mommy-hips moments.

And that's what actually matters. But I'll still have fun with fashion...I just need to pull back those ideas that Tyra will use me in some glass walkway as a crazy-fashion canvas.

I think I need sleep now...so I'll just dream about it instead...

How I wanna believe I look...

...how I actually look.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

Stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica

AM~Erica Is Busting With Pride

So anyway...

If you remember, I bragged about being a VERY PROUD PARENT! It is, at the time of this posting, the 3rd most popular right now! Well, there's more...

In that post, I did talk about Lil Guy getting his shot on stage by being a main puppet character in the church Christmas play. Even fighting a sicky virus thingy...he trodded thru like a little pro & was so awesome! Why this is an even bigger deal is a post all by itself. But he was awesome!

And, if you remember in that post, I talked about Teen Boy doing his competitive drama & debate thing. He's still on course to keep going with that stuff. Still very proud of how he's doing there...and the smarty pants keeps bursting into "debater mode." If you are familiar with this, then you totally know what I mean. It's so annoying! But I'm still a proud mama...what else can I say?

But this time...I have major bragging to do on the kiddo I haven't mention here yet...
That's right! I must, Must, MUST brag on Teen Girl! (and no, this is not hacked by her...it's really me)

I brought up her exciting new venture as a main character in the spring play at her high school. We are so stoked & in awe about that...but wait...THERE'S MORE...!!

In participating in a lesson on script writing in her theatre class, a local playwright, connected to THE COTERIE THEATRE, had come in to give tips & help out. Now...Teen Girl can be quite OVER-dramatic about some things. She has been known to over-inflate a story to seem more victorious. She tends to have an inferiority complex...and we aren't sure why. She is so talented in so many areas...but I think when she doesn't get "THE" part (in anything) she hopes for, she really takes it hard & tries to make a mountain out of a molehill. On that note, she talked about how this playwright seemed really into her take on a fantastical script & on a separate monologue she wrote. We were very happy for her, but still took it with a grain of salt. Because, as I have said...we are also very realistic parents.

The super amazingly awesome lobby of the Coterie

Somewhere in all of this, there were script pieces submitted to the Coterie to be considered for the Young Playwright Roundtable. (OK...I need you to stay with me on this...) Thursday, Teen Girl got a text from the playwright saying that her 7-minute play & monologue were good enough to have her being considered to possibly be a part of the roundtable! But first? An interview...at the Coterie...on Friday afternoon. Well, that's exciting! So we took her to CROWN CENTER for her 10 minute interview. She seemed to think it went well.

Crown Center Square - home of the Coterie, American Heartland Theatre,
Off Center Theatre (this one makes me giggle), the famous fountains & Hallmark Card's headquarters

If you remember in my other bragging post about the speeches I give her, I told her, "OK, now that you've had your interview...I need to still give you one of the speeches. *clears throat* Now remember..."
She cut me off to tell me that I didn't need to give her the speech. She went on to tell me that she was very happy knowing that she was even being considered. She couldn't believe it since she hasn't been happy with her writing, so this was an accomplishment in its own right. We were also informed that she would not be disappointed if she didn't make the roundtable. Not only was she excited that her work seemed to be good enough to have her considered...but she got to meet a couple of playwrights in the midst of this.

WOW! Color me proud by that proclamation!

Well, she was to find out on Saturday (today) whether or not she got in or not.
and...
And...
AND...?

** SOUND THE TRUMPETS & ROLL THE RED CARPET **

SHE'S IN!!!! she's in, She's In, SHE'S IN!!! *jumps up & down excitedly* She is now on the in of a great theatre! If you looked at the link (above) for the theatre, you will see it's been considered one of the top 5 theaters for young audiences in the country by Time Magazine. And Teen Girl is now a part of it.

This is a girl that loves the spotlight when it comes to stage things: choir/singing, musicals, acting...you know anything that gets her attention on stage. She's quite different in the real world. But she holds on to big broadway dreams. I can't blame her, but we try to keep her grounded, too.

Well...not too long ago, I came across a blog post from a friend of mine. If you've not heard of this girl, go check out the honest, raw & grateful I WANT A DUMPSTER BABY! You'll understand why we get along. But there was THIS PARTICULAR BLOG POST that hit home so hard...I knew I needed Teen Girl to read the reality that she could face.

For years, my hubby & I have been trying help Teen Girl groom her talents, but letting her know that not everyone gets these big parts because they show up. Then it took this blog post (from someone else, of course) to open her eyes. She cried for a while about it & it stuck in her head. She realized that she could still continue in her love, but to take it a step at a time. It was that blog post from my friend that allowed my daughter to realize she could try other things & that she may have greater talents in the same kind of area.

My friend is an inspiration & is about ready to pop with twins tomorrow! A whole 38-week, full term set! What beautiful timing that Teen Girl, who was inspired by my friend, Katy, to try new things. Teen Girl is getting the blessing of having bigger dreams realized as well as Katy in a different way.

This is a great new year! Teen Girl needed this. She will get to see her play on stage with actors, costumes, sets & lighting...at the Coterie! And? She is on the roundtable until she graduates! She gets to work on more things to come. Maybe even that monologue...that she actually based on the gratefulness & personality of my friend. The character's name is Jessica Kate. (Partially because Teen Girl thinks Katy looks like Jessica Simpson. She's gorgeous, people.)

And, on top of the making the roundtable and being a main character in the spring play, Teen Girl has been invited, for the 2nd year in a row, to be a part of Fine Arts Night at the high school. It's an evening where incoming freshman (current 8th graders) and their families can check out many of the electives offered thru the high school. Last year, Teen Girl was one of a small handful (like maybe a total of 7 students) to help highlight the theatre department. She got to do a monologue...and she did it beautifully. This year, she's been asked to do it with a small scene with 2 other people, among another very small handful of theatre students. This is exciting!!

Also...she is working up a solo for choir contest. This girl is going to keep us delightfully busy as she slowly builds her resume.

We are oh-so proud of her!

Oh...her first roundtable meeting? TOMORROW AFTERNOON! Yes...I told you all of this happened very quickly.

Let the rejoicing commence!

Stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica