Mommabares.com (new lifestyle blog)

Hi friends!

I wanted to let you know that as of now, well actually as of almost a year ago, I am taking a break from this blog. Many, many things have changed over the course of this year and I felt it was time to create something anew!

My first creation is still in my belly and I am THRILLED!! I am currently 7 months pregnant with a baby girl and my family is eagerly awaiting her holiday arrival! As life continually changes, so must many of our plans and so I am currently on an acting hiatus.

It has been a wonderful time to shift focus from career to home especially because I can take full advantage of this amazing “nesting” period.  I have redecorated 6 rooms in our home; moving Venice into her “teen” room and Jake into his “big boy” bedroom while creating a nursery for our little bean 💗

But, I wouldn’t feel like myself if I wasn’t working on something professionally creative and so I want to introduce you all to my newest creation!

I have had many different project ideas over the years pertaining towards empowering women; representing real life and not what today’s media or even our beloved Perfect Pinterest portrays. As life has progressed, this desire has broadened and I am SO very PROUD to say, TODAY IS LAUNCHING DAY!!

My cousin Kristyn and I have been working on a new blog/website for a few months with the intention of launching in the spirit of Back to School and I am even prouder of the fact that we tackled our deadline!

It is a lifestyle blog that focuses on simplifying the chaos of motherhood while maintaining balance in relationships, career, creativity and giving back! It is our goal to keep it real and honest and to offer a platform for like-minded women to connect.

Kristyn is brilliant and I am THRILLED that she agreed to be my partner in this endeavor.

SO…please check it out and feel free to share and subscribe! I look so forward to continuing to share our journeys together!

Love, Laugh and Create..

In Gratitude,

Jessica

mommabares.com

 

Joy..

So Joy is the first movie of awards season that I am reviewing even though I saw my favorite film of the year, so far, months ago, Straight Outta Compton.  My review of this brilliant piece of film will soon follow but for now, Joy.

I will preface this with a bit of what has been going on in my world.  My mother has recently moved out here to California with me!  We have not lived in close proximity since I was 17 and so you can understand my excitement of having her near me, once again, for the simplest of things like going and seeing a movie with her on a random Monday.

Joy stars Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper and you can guess the rest.  Let me just say that I adore directors that use the same cast and crew; Woody Allen, Paul Thomas Anderson, Martin Scorcese and God willing Seth MacFarlane;)  However, for some reason I feel that people are tiring of this David O’Russell trio.  Why?  Probably just jealousy because in my opinion it is a bit flawless or at least it has been in the past but the reunion in Joy just didn’t quite make sense to me and here is why.

1. Jennifer Lawrence is too young to play this role. Yes Hollywood, too young. Yes, she is brilliant and she is both perfect and accessible.  She is fierce and vulnerable and hands down is the best actress, the absolute best actress, of her generation but it is a little difficult to buy her as this worn out single mother with all of this downtrodden life experience at the ripe age of 24. So, as much as I adore David O’Russell, I am so bored with these directors not casting age appropriate leads.  Women do lead lives past the age of 20 and are super hot, at that!  Moving on.
2. Bradley Cooper: I felt like he was just thrown a bone. (Not that he needs one so try throwing one to someone else!)
3. Elizabeth Rohm-She is a force.  I loved her in American Hustle and was excited to see her in Joy.  The screenplay lacked in believability for me regarding the relationship between the sisters.  You cannot have that much competition or “loss of love” between family without first showing the love to begin with.  Maybe in real life you just cannot stand a sibling from birth? Maybe? But for filmic reasons, it is necessary to show why that relationship has deteriorated or we just don’t care or worse; we don’t believe.  And, I certainly did not believe or invest in this sisterly rivalry, coming from the place of having two older sisters,  the loss of relationship or lack thereof just was not ringing true for me. At all.
4. The other reason is that that the movie is about a mop.  I both love and hate this.  Okay, it is not only about a mop but a woman’s rag to riches story but for me, the story didn’t dig enough to get to the grit of life as say The Fighter did.  Yes, you get JLaw’s fierceness and this takes things far but not enough.  It felt to me that things were cut and pasted and tried to salvage themselves.  Just not an interesting enough movie for awards season and I don’t appreciate films gaining award attention because of the names attached.  If this had been a film adorned with any other actors it would have fell by the wayside but because Ms. Lawrence is involved, suddenly it is a contender.  I just wish Hollywood would look a bit further than its own intimate circle for nominees.

I left the theatre and the first thing I said to my mother when she asked me how I liked the film was, “There are very few actresses that can carry a movie about a mop. Jennifer Lawrence is one of them.”  She is exciting, she is a force both in life and in career and I am so glad that she is an accessible role model for young girls everywhere.  Hell, for young women everywhere.

Let us all hail JLaw and then tell her to take a friggin break and let some other actresses get some work! : )

My favorite shoot to date!

Cheers to an interview where neither my boobs nor talk of sex with a teddy bear is the focus!

Spoiler Alert:  There is no bear. The bear is animated.  There is nothing there.  There is.  No sex.  With a bear.

Now that we have cleared that up and now that I have a little down time, I will be posting all of the fun press we did in recent months.  Bear with me..hahahahaha..get it!?  It’s late.    I apologize.

So, I will basically be posting in reverse.  Better late than never has always been my motto so why change it up now?  So here goes the first (last) press release!

This shoot was for a SIX PAGE spread in Glamoholic which is this cool edgy Canadian fashion magazine!  I had a blast getting ready for this shoot.  I was styled by the wonderful Caley Rinker and let me just say ladies, that this is the way to go.  I am less Stella McCartney and more say.. a whatever Nordstrom (Rack;) has on sale kind of a gal so having the opportunity to play dress up in clothes that were worth more than my first car was a dream!

MANY HUGE THANKS to my Glam Squad for the day because momma don’t wake up like this!

Hair: Brian Fisher Make-up: Hinako  Stylist: Caley Rinker

Photo: Wes Klain

http://www.glamoholic.com/33/22.htm

l

Thank you.

Heading home from London to LA, in a private jet.  It is not my first time on a private jet and it won’t be my last. While being fed by a ridiculously talented private chef, who also happens to be a good friend of mine, we took a moment to appreciate how far we have both come in our lives to be able to share in this moment, today.  No matter how many times I have flown privately, the privilege and gratitude never escape me.  As I fly above the clouds in such style and comfort, amongst some of the most talented people this business has to offer, I remind myself of that little girl, sleeping in her little room, in her little bed, in her little house, on her little street, in her little neighborhood, dreaming her big dreams.  I want to hold her and thank her for having the courage to dream those dreams and tell her that no matter what happens in her life and no matter how difficult things will be, she can relax and breathe and take comfort in the fact that one day, she will have everything her heart has truly desired.

Interviewing with Maria Menounos-Domestic Press Tour in London!

Touching Base

In a nutshell:

I hired a publicist and she pretty much rocks my world.  I have been invited to event after event and most importantly, I got my makeup done by Rachel McAdam’s sister. I might as well have met the Pope.  In all seriousness, I feel completely honored to have been teamed with the absolute best stylists, hair and makeup artists who exist in LA.  I feel very A-List; )

I have been interviewed, photographed and even a cool little behind the scenes video has been shot of my Playboy NON-NUDE shoot!  Keep your clothes on, my loves! Posting will be upon clearance but I will tell you that there are some really cool things coming this way in the way of publicity!  I may or may not be heading to London on an International PressTour for a movie involving me marrying a bear!

Currently I am in Georgia filming a horror film with an incredible cast and lots of screaming tears!!  I have been here for two weeks and it has been a blast but 3 more days and I get to go home to my LOVES!

Back in La, I have a few meetings set up with some really cool documentarians as I begin a new project that I have been working on for years.  This is my passion project and I am really putting my heart and soul into this.  It is top secret at the moment but not for long!

Thank you, as always, for your undying support!  I hope you all have a wonderful week!

xx

My Super Bowl Appearance!

Tom Brady Cameo Revealed..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPs3Kt6T7WI

Here we come, again! June 26th!!!

<a href=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-9E2Tv9f1U” title=”Ted 2 Trailer” target=”_blank”></a>

Sag Nominees! Who are you voting for?

Eddie Redmayne is my choice for top male performance. Keaton is a close second. A very close. I am almost positive he will take how every award but Redmayne is truly remarkable and not just in this film. He is the one to watch!

We are attending a screening of Cake tonight followed by a Q & A with Jennifer Aniston and I have yet to see, Still Alice so I cannot choose right now. I will keep you posted with my predictions!

Nominees Announced for the 21st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards®
21st ANNUAL SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARDS NOMINATIONS
Ceremony will be Simulcast Live on Sunday, January 25, 2015 on TNT and TBS at 8 p.m. (ET)/5 p.m. (PT)

THEATRICAL MOTION PICTURES

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
STEVE CARELL / John du Pont – “FOXCATCHER” (Sony Pictures Classics)
BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH / Alan Turing – “THE IMITATION GAME” (The Weinstein Company)
JAKE GYLLENHAAL / Louis Bloom – “NIGHTCRAWLER” (Open Road Films)
MICHAEL KEATON / Riggan – “BIRDMAN” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
EDDIE REDMAYNE / Stephen Hawking – “THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING” (Focus Features)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
JENNIFER ANISTON / Claire Bennett – “CAKE” (Cinelou Films)
FELICITY JONES / Jane Hawking – “THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING” (Focus Features)
JULIANNE MOORE / Alice Howland – “STILL ALICE” (Sony Pictures Classics)
ROSAMUND PIKE / Amy Dunne – “GONE GIRL” (20th Century Fox)
REESE WITHERSPOON / Cheryl Strayed – “WILD” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
ROBERT DUVALL / Joseph Palmer – “THE JUDGE” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
ETHAN HAWKE / Mason, Sr. – “BOYHOOD” (IFC Films)
EDWARD NORTON / Mike – “BIRDMAN” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
MARK RUFFALO / Dave Schultz – “FOXCATCHER” (Sony Pictures Classics)
J.K. SIMMONS / Fletcher – “WHIPLASH” (Sony Pictures Classics)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
PATRICIA ARQUETTE / Olivia – “BOYHOOD” (IFC Films)
KEIRA KNIGHTLEY / Joan Clarke – “THE IMITATION GAME” (The Weinstein Company)
EMMA STONE / Sam – “BIRDMAN” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
MERYL STREEP / The Witch – “INTO THE WOODS” (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
NAOMI WATTS / Daka – “ST. VINCENT” (The Weinstein Company)

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture

BIRDMAN (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
ZACH GALIFIANAKIS / Jake
MICHAEL KEATON / Riggan
EDWARD NORTON / Mike
ANDREA RISEBOROUGH / Laura
AMY RYAN / Sylvia
EMMA STONE / Sam
NAOMI WATTS / Lesley

BOYHOOD (IFC Films)
PATRICIA ARQUETTE / Olivia
ELLAR COLTRANE / Mason
ETHAN HAWKE / Mason, Sr.
LORELEI LINKLATER / Samantha

THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL (FOX SEARCHLIGHT PICTURES)
F. MURRAY ABRAHAM / Mr. Moustafa
MATHIEU AMALRIC / Serge X.
ADRIEN BRODY / Dmitri
WILLEM DAFOE / Jopling
RALPH FIENNES / M. Gustave
JEFF GOLDBLUM / Dep. Kovacs
HARVEY KEITEL / Ludwig
JUDE LAW / Young Writer
BILL MURRAY / M. Ivan
EDWARD NORTON / Henckels
TONY REVOLORI / Zero
SAOIRSE RONAN / Agatha
JASON SCHWARTZMAN / M. Jean
LÉA SEYDOUX / Clotilde
TILDA SWINTON / Madame D
TOM WILKINSON / Author
OWEN WILSON / M. Chuck

THE IMITATION GAME (The Weinstein Company)
MATTHEW BEARD / Peter Hilton
BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH / Alan Turing
CHARLES DANCE / Commander Denniston
MATTHEW GOODE / Hugh Alexander
RORY KINNEAR / Nock
KEIRA KNIGHTLEY / Joan Clarke
ALLEN LEECH / John Cairncross
MARK STRONG / Stewart Menzies

THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING (Focus Features)
CHARLIE COX / Jonathan Hellyer Jones
FELICITY JONES / Jane Hawking
SIMON McBURNEY / Frank Hawking
EDDIE REDMAYNE / Stephen Hawking
DAVID THEWLIS / Dennis Sciama
EMILY WATSON / Beryl Wilde

TELEVISION PROGRAMS

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
ADRIEN BRODY / Harry Houdini – “HOUDINI” (History)
BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH / Sherlock Holmes – “SHERLOCK: HIS LAST VOW” (PBS)
RICHARD JENKINS / Henry Kitteridge – “OLIVE KITTERIDGE” (HBO)
MARK RUFFALO / Ned Weeks – “THE NORMAL HEART” (HBO)
BILLY BOB THORNTON / Lorne Malvo – “FARGO” (FX)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
ELLEN BURSTYN / Olivia Foxworth – “FLOWERS IN THE ATTIC” (Lifetime)
MAGGIE GYLLENHAAL / Nessa Stein – “THE HONORABLE WOMAN” (SundanceTV)
FRANCES McDORMAND / Olive Kitteridge – “OLIVE KITTERIDGE” (HBO)
JULIA ROBERTS / Dr. Emma Brookner – “THE NORMAL HEART” (HBO)
CICELY TYSON / Carrie Watts – “THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL” (Lifetime)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
STEVE BUSCEMI / Enoch “Nucky” Thompson – “BOARDWALK EMPIRE” (HBO)
PETER DINKLAGE / Tyrion Lannister – “GAME OF THRONES” (HBO)
WOODY HARRELSON / Martin Hart – “TRUE DETECTIVE” (HBO)
MATTHEW McCONAUGHEY / Rust Cohle – “TRUE DETECTIVE” (HBO)
KEVIN SPACEY / Francis Underwood – “HOUSE OF CARDS” (Netflix)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series (6 nominees)
CLAIRE DANES / Carrie Mathison – “HOMELAND” (Showtime)
VIOLA DAVIS / Annalise Keating – “HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER” (ABC)
JULIANNA MARGULIES / Alicia Florrick – “THE GOOD WIFE” (CBS)
TATIANA MASLANY / Sarah/Coxima/Alison/Rachel/ – “ORPHAN BLACK” (BBC America)
Helena/Tony/Jennifer and Various Others
MAGGIE SMITH / Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham – “DOWNTON ABBEY” (PBS)
ROBIN WRIGHT / Claire Underwood – “HOUSE OF CARDS” (Netflix)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
TY BURRELL / Phil Dunphy – “MODERN FAMILY ” (ABC)
LOUIS C.K. / Louie – “LOUIE” (FX)
WILLIAM H. MACY / Frank Gallagher – “SHAMELESS” (Showtime)
JIM PARSONS / Sheldon Cooper – “THE BIG BANG THEORY” (CBS)
ERIC STONESTREET / Cameron Tucker – “MODERN FAMILY” (ABC)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
UZO ADUBA / Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren – “ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK” (Netflix)
JULIE BOWEN / Claire Dunphy – “MODERN FAMILY” (ABC)
EDIE FALCO / Jackie Peyton – “NURSE JACKIE” (Showtime)
JULIA LOUIS-DREYFUS / Vice President Selina Meyer – “VEEP” (HBO)
AMY POEHLER / Leslie Knope – “PARKS AND RECREATION” (NBC)

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
BOARDWALK EMPIRE (HBO)
STEVE BUSCEMI / Enoch “Nucky” Thompson
PAUL CALDERON / Arquimedes
NICHOLAS CALHOUN / Sean
LOUIS CANCELMI / Mike D’Angelo
JOHN ELLISON CONLEE / Commodore
MICHAEL COUNTRYMAN / Frank Wilson
STEPHEN GRAHAM / Al Capone
DOMENICK LOMBARDOZZI / Ralph Capone
NOLAN LYONS / Enoch Thompson (young)
KELLY MACDONALD / Margaret Thompson
BORIS McGIVER / Sheriff Smith Johnson
GRETCHEN MOL / Gillian Darmody
VINCENT PIAZZA / Charlie “Lucky” Luciano
MICHAEL SHANNON / Nelson Van Alden
PAUL SPARKS / Mickey Doyle
TRAVIS TOPE / Joe Hardy
SHEA WHIGHAM / Eli Thompson
MICHAEL KENNETH WILLIAMS / Chalky White
ANATOL YUSEF / Meyer Lansky
MICHAEL ZEGEN / Benny Siegel

DOWNTON ABBEY (PBS)
HUGH BONNEVILLE / Robert, Earl of Grantham
LAURA CARMICHAEL / Lady Edith Crawley
JIM CARTER / Mr. Carson
BRENDAN COYLE / Mr. Bates
MICHELLE DOCKERY / Lady Mary Crawley
KEVIN DOYLE / Mr. Molesley
JOANNE FROGGATT / Anna Bates
LILY JAMES / Lady Rose
ROBERT JAMES-COLLIER / Thomas Barrow
ALLEN LEECH / Tom Branson
PHYLLIS LOGAN / Mrs. Hughes
ELIZABETH McGOVERN / Cora, Countess of Grantham
SOPHIE McSHERA / Daisy
MATT MILNE / Alfred
LESLEY NICOL / Mrs. Patmore
DAVID ROBB / Dr. Clarkson
MAGGIE SMITH / Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham
ED SPELEERS / Jimmy Kent
CARA THEOBOLD / Ivy
PENELOPE WILTON / Isobel Crawley

GAME OF THRONES (HBO)
JOSEF ALTIN / Pyp
JACOB ANDERSON / Grey Worm
JOHN BRADLEY / Samwell Tarly
DOMINIC CARTER / Janos Slynt
GWENDOLINE CHRISTIE / Brienne of Tarth
EMILIA CLARKE / Daenerys Targaryen
NIKOLAJ COSTER-WALDAU / Jaime Lannister
BEN CROMPTON / Dolorous Edd
CHARLES DANCE / Tywin Lannister
PETER DINKLAGE / Tyrion Lannister
NATALIE DORMER / Margaery Tyrell
NATHALIE EMMANUEL / Missandei
IAIN GLEN / Ser Jorah Mormont
JULIAN GLOVER / Pycelle
KIT HARINGTON / Jon Snow
LENA HEADEY / Cersei Lannister
CONLETH HILL / Varys
RORY McCANN / Sandor “The Hound” Clegane
IAN McELHINNEY / Ser Barristan Selmy
PEDRO PASCAL / Oberyn Martell
DANIEL PORTMAN / Podrick Payne
MARK STANLEY / Grenn
SOPHIE TURNER / Sansa Stark
MAISIE WILLIAMS / Arya Stark

HOMELAND (Showtime)
NUMAN ACAR / Hassan Haqqani
NAZANIN BONIADI / Fara Sherazi
CLAIRE DANES / Carrie Mathison
RUPERT FRIEND / Peter Quinn
RAZA JAFFREY / Aasar Khan
NIMRAT KAUR / Tasneem Qureishi
TRACY LETTS / Sen. Andrew Lockhart
MARK MOSES / Dennis Boyd
MICHAEL O’KEEFE / John Redmond
MANDY PATINKIN / Saul Berenson
SURAJ SHARMA / Aayan Ibrahim
LAILA ROBINS / Martha Boyd
MAURY STERLING / Max

HOUSE OF CARDS (Netflix)
MAHERSHALA ALI / Remy Danton
JAYNE ATKINSON / Catherine Durant
RACHEL BROSNAHAN / Rachel Posner
DEREK CECIL / Seth Grayson
NATHAN DARROW / Edward Meechum
MICHEL GILL / President Walker
JOANNA GOING / Tricia Walker
SAKINA JAFFREY / Linda Vasquez
MICHAEL KELLY / Doug Stamper
MOZHAN MARNÒ / Ayla Sayyad
GERALD McRANEY / Raymond Tusk
MOLLY PARKER / Jackie Sharp
JIMMI SIMPSON / Gavin Orsay
KEVIN SPACEY / Francis Underwood
ROBIN WRIGHT / Claire Underwood

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series

THE BIG BANG THEORY (CBS)
MAYIM BIALIK / Amy Farrah Fowler
KALEY CUOCO-SWEETING / Penny
JOHNNY GALECKI / Leonard Hofstadter
SIMON HELBERG / Howard Wolowitz
KUNAL NAYYAR / Rajesh Koothrappali
JIM PARSONS / Sheldon Cooper
MELISSA RAUCH / Bernadette Rostenkowski-Wolowitz

BROOKLYN NINE-NINE (FOX)
STEPHANIE BEATRIZ / Det. Rosa Diaz
DIRK BLOCKER / Hitchcock
ANDRE BRAUGHER / Capt. Ray Holt
TERRY CREWS / Sgt. Terry Jeffords
MELISSA FUMERO / Det. Amy Santiago
JOE LO TRUGLIO / Det. Charles Boyle
JOEL McKINNON MILLER / Scully
CHELSEA PERETTI / Gina Linetti
ANDY SAMBERG / Det. Jake Peralta

MODERN FAMILY (ABC)
AUBREY ANDERSON EMMONS / Lily Tucker-Pritchett
JULIE BOWEN / Claire Dunphy
TY BURRELL / Phil Dunphy
JESSE TYLER FERGUSON / Mitchell Pritchett
NOLAN GOULD / Luke Dunphy
SARAH HYLAND / Haley Dunphy
ED O’NEILL / Jay Pritchett
RICO RODRIGUEZ / Manny Delgado
ERIC STONESTREET / Cameron Tucker
SOFIA VERGARA / Gloria Delgado-Pritchett
ARIEL WINTER / Alex Dunphy

ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK (NETFLIX)
UZO ADUBA / Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren
JASON BIGGS / Larry Bloom
DANIELLE BROOKS / Tasha “Taystee” Jefferson
LAVERNE COX / Sophia Burset
JACKIE CRUZ / Flaca
CATHERINE CURTIN / Wanda Bell
LEA DELARIA / Carrie “Big Boo” Black
BETH FOWLER / Sister Ingalls
YVETTE FREEMAN / Irma
GERMAR TERRELL GARDNER / Charles Ford
KIMIKO GLENN / Brook Soso
ANNIE GOLDEN / Norma Romano
DIANE GUERRERO / Maritza Ramos
MICHAEL J. HARNEY / Ofc. Sam Healy
VICKY JEUDY / Janae Watson
JULIE LAKE / Angie Rice
LAUREN LAPKUS / Susan Fischer
SELENIS LEYVA / Gloria Mendoza
NATASHA LYONNE / Nicky Nichols
TARYN MANNING / Tiffany “Pennsatucky” Doggett
JOEL MARSH GARLAND / Scott O’Neill
MATT McGORRY / Ofc. John Bennett
ADRIENNE C. MOORE / Black Cindy
KATE MULGREW / Galina “Red” Reznikov
EMMA MYLES / Leanne Taylor
JESSICA PIMENTEL / Maria Ruiz
DASCHA POLANCO / Dayanara Diaz
ALYSIA REINER / Natalie “Fig” Figueroa
JUDITH ROBERTS / Taslitz
ELIZABETH RODRIGUEZ / Aleida Diaz
BARBARA ROSENBLAT / Miss Rosa
NICK SANDOW / Joe Caputo
ABIGAIL SAVAGE / Gina
TAYLOR SCHILLING / Piper Chapman
CONSTANCE SHULMAN / Yoga Jones
DALE SOULES / Frieda
YAEL STONE / Lorna Morello
LORRAINE TOUSSAINT / Yvonne “Vee” Parker
LIN TUCCI / Anita DeMarco
SAMIRA WILEY / Poussey Washington

VEEP (HBO)
SUFE BRADSHAW / Sue Wilson
ANNA CHLUMSKY / Amy Brookheimer
GARY COLE / Kent Davidson
KEVIN DUNN / Ben Cafferty
TONY HALE / Gary Walsh
JULIA LOUIS-DREYFUS / Vice President Selina Meyer
REID SCOTT / Dan Egan
TIMOTHY SIMONS / Jonah Ryan
MATT WALSH / Mike McLintock

SAG AWARDS® HONORS FOR STUNT ENSEMBLES

Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture
“FURY” (Columbia Pictures)
“GET ON UP” (Universal Pictures)
“THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
“UNBROKEN” (Universal Pictures)
“X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST” (20th Century Fox)

Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Comedy or Drama Series (6 nominees)
“24: LIVE ANOTHER DAY” (FOX)
“BOARDWALK EMPIRE” (HBO)
“GAME OF THRONES” (HBO)
“HOMELAND” (Showtime)
“SONS OF ANARCHY” (FX)
“THE WALKING DEAD” (AMC)
LIFE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Screen Actors Guild 51st Annual Life Achievement Award
DEBBIE REYNOLDS

Maxim’s Women to Watch

This is a great way to kick off the year in terms of my career! I am super excited for 2015 and it does my heart good to know that others are, as well! Check out #16;)
http://www.maxim.com/women/23-women-youll-get-know-2015

Goodbye and Hello: A New Year!

It is the first night of 2015! I really love January 1st. It just feels so clean. Like a brand new composition book! Few things excite me more than a brand new, black and white composition book. Throw in an excellent blue pen and I am a happy woman. I always go hiking on New Years Eve. I love hiking. It is the closest thing to a meditation practice that I have and it is how I set my resolutions for the upcoming year.

I will not bore you with my (long) list of resolutions this year because I am sure that it doesn’t differ a whole lot from yours or anyone else’s. It is full of things having to do with fitness and wellness routines, time management, meditation, and just so I wouldn’t bore myself to death, I threw in things like tightrope walking and trampoline jumping. Who doesn’t need more trampoline jumping in their lives? (Just sayin’)

I am so grateful for every experience in my life that has brought me to where I am today. Even and maybe especially the painful ones. Ok, maybe not especially. That may be a crock of shit. Maybe I just said that because that’s what people say. On second thought, I really could have gone without a whole hell of a lot of the pain that I have experienced in my life. Any time we were dealing with a difficult situation, my dad always told my sisters and me that it would “build character and make us stronger”. When he died..I told God that I was strong enough and this needed to stop. So, I am mostly grateful for all of the experiences in my life that have brought me to where I am today.

Back to my hike. It was on this hike, I decided that this was the year to just let go of all my shit. You know what shit I am talking about. It’s just the shit you have carried around with you your whole life. It’s that shitty voice that comes and goes inside your head that just pops up whenever the f@ck it feels like and tells you mean things about yourself. The great Amy Poehler calls this voice the demon. We all have one, some just have a nicer demon than others. So, it was decided. I was going to stop letting my past be all up in my present’s grill. Good resolution. Easier said than done.

It is very hard for me to “let go” and in fact, I’m not even sure what that truly means. It is laughable to me when somebody lends the advice, “Ya know what, you just gotta let go.” Ohhh..Is that what I have to do!? Oh..Ok! Why didn’t you say so before!? I know I have to let fucking go. You wanna tell me how that is actually supposed to happen? Am I supposed to burn some sage or go heal my chakras? Maybe I should schedule a colonic?

The only answer I have been able to come up with is to be present and try your best to live in a state of gratitude. If we can be present in each moment we are living or at least the majority of them, there leaves little space for focusing on past feelings or regrets that simply don’t serve you anymore. So, the goal has become to “accept what is, let go of what was and have faith in what will be.”

Whether it is letting go of a life long friendship that doesn’t serve you, letting go of a spouse you shared your life with, letting go of your father who passed away way too early, or just feelings that make you feel kind of shitty about yourself. The answer is to forgive and be grateful those experiences happened and also to honor those past relationships because they created beauty in your life for the exact right amount of time that they were meant. The answer is to focus on all of the love you have in your life, right now in this present moment. I have so many blessing for which to be grateful and so very much joy in my life that deserves to hold its space in my world. We all do.

So, open that brand new composition book of life and write your own amazing story!
Happy New Year!