My Shout Out: Trevor Zhou and His New Film The Waltz

As an immigrant and as an Asian American, I was very intrigued when I saw this video about a new film from Trevor Zhou. However, I don't think you have to be Asian American or an immigrant to be able to appreciate or relate to Trevor's new film.

Take a look at Trevor's campaign for his new film called The Waltz.  This film is inspired from Trevor's personal life and is told from an immigrant mother's perspective.

Our house was not the neatest house either when we were growing up; but while my parents were not and are not "as bad" as the photos about Trevor's mom's hoarding in his campaign video when it comes to hoarding, I (and I am sure many immigrants, as well as, many people, in general) can relate to Trevor's story and about his mom's hoarding. Many immigrants come from NOTHING, and leave EVERYTHING behind to start a new life in a new country for whatever reason - whether it is so that they could have a better life than they had before; or if it is because of job relocating reasons, for instance. Most immigrants around during the time I came to the US was because they wanted a better life for their family, which means, we had NOTHING and had to start from scratch. Sometimes coming from nothing teaches you to waste nothing, and that can sometimes be the very start of hoarding.

It is hard to know what reasons or motivations people who hoard have exactly, but there are probably many mental, emotional, as well as, physical reasons and repercussions of hoarding - not just for the person, but also for those around them.

I think we can all have a tendency to "hoard" something. We may all have a little "hoard" pile somewhere in our house even if it just a desk with a pile of mail or even a pile of junk food stashed somewhere for when we get the munchies. So, just because we may not be "as bad" as Trevor's mom in these photos when it comes to hoarding, I think this film can resonate with many.

I am looking forward to seeing this film! Good job Trevor and good luck with your film! :)

Click below and check out Trevor's video! Have a great day Everyone! :)

Thank you Gray Talent Group!

I have the best agents in town! I love Gray Talent Group in Chicago!

Tomorrow #ChicagoFire returns! We're so excited to see @CindyChangSings, John and Charlie Babbo on the season premiere!

— Gray Talent Group (@GrayTalentGroup) September 23, 2013

Watch Chicago Fire Season 2 Premiere Episode September 24, 2013 on NBC!!!

Remember to tune in on NBC on September 24, 2013 for the premiere episode of Chicago Fire Season 2 tomorrow!!!

Here is a look:



And yes, my character, Mari, will be back for the premiere episode! :)

1. @LadyJ_817 are we going to see more of Mouch's girlfriend? Yes, Mari will be back for the premiere episode.
— Derek Haas (@popcornhaas) September 22, 2013

Cadence Health | Laser Focus

Thanks to my friends Amy Doran (whose son Connor Doran you may have seen on America's Got Talent Top 12 in 2010 performing his incredible indoor kite flying act that can make you cry and give you goose bumps! Check out Connor's website!) and Frank Turchioe who is huge fan of AGT and a sweetheart who both took time out of their busy schedules to help me find this video, I was finally able to see the commercial spot I filmed for Cadence Health! Thank you Amy and Frank! I love you guys!!!

Here it is!

New Documentary: Revolve on Camera

My friends, Benjamin Epps (who directed Family Weekend film starring Kristin Chenoweth and Matthew Modine) and his beautiful wife Heather Epps (second unit director on Family Weekend film), are working on their new documentary introducing the work of the Revolve Dance Company.

I admit that I am not a dancer and would never claim I know anything about dance, but, like many, I do appreciate the art of dance, as I appreciate the arts in general; and from watching the Epps's video below, I particularly like what Heather says about when most people think of "professionals", they tend to think of the well-known names in Hollywood we see and hear about on tv.  However, the truth is quite the opposite.

The truth is most professionals are the no-names who get no glory, but still work very hard everyday still dreaming to one day "make it"; that have to work another "real" job or two or more for years to pay the bills just so they can still pursue what they really want to pursue - which is to perform; and sometimes they have to put their dream to perform on hold; or they have to pursue their dream on the side for now since real life gets in the way or until they can get their "big break"; or they work a "real" job and try and save enough money to pursue their dream more again at a later time and so they end up pursuing their dream only off and on over the course of their entire lives, so it seems to be more in spurts and segments sometimes; or they are the ones that don't make any money at all performing or just very little but still just perform anyway so they get the experience of doing what they love to do and are trying to just get their name out there any way they can, etc.

You just may be surprised who these "professionals" are.  They just may be your next door neighbor; or your child's teacher; or someone you see at the store every week on your errands in your neighborhood. They are your every day neighbor who continue to pound the pavement day after day working hard toward the dream even though nobody else may know or realize it....yet!

Most of the "professionals" work VERY hard for years and years without ANY glory, but they do it all just because of the fact they love what they do even if everybody else in their lives think they are crazy for doing it.

So, as much as we wish being a "professional" meant being like what we see on tv with the well-known names, but it is not usually the case, unfortunately.  However, that doesn't mean that the rest of us "professionals" who are still trying to "make it" still would not be doing what we are doing because the fact is we LOVE what we do and would still be doing it, or at least trying to have it somehow in our lives no matter what, even if we have to take a break sometimes because our priorities in life may change at times.

This is why I am eager to see how this documentary turns out because regardless of whether or not you are a dancer, or regardless of whether or not you love dance, we all know what it is like to have a dream, and deep inside we all wish to just do it! And these dancers are obviously doing just that!

Check out their video below from their Kickstarter campaign page for Revolve on Camera. 

Enjoy! :)

Happy Birthday to My Baby Isaac!!!

I love my vet! I got an email last night wishing my baby Isaac a "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" I don't think I have ever gotten that before from a vet! I thought that was so sweet and thoughtful, and it just ended my evening on bright note last night, and it started the new, next day focused right...straight on Isaac's birthday!

I am sure some people who don't have dogs or pets, or even people that do have them, but maybe don't feel about them the way I feel about my Isaac may laugh at me, but you know what? I don't care! I am a proud pet parent! So, yes, folks, being that I am a proud mama, today, this day, on July 13, 2013, I am wishing my baby Isaac a very...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! 

My cute, loyal companion, baby ball of fluff that I love so much that you might have thought I had given birth to him myself is 9 years old today!  He has been through so much, and if you are on facebook, you know there were times I was afraid I was going to lose this little guy; but he is such a little trooper, and I thank God he made it through because I cannot imagine my life without my little angel. We have been through so much together and God must have known I needed him.  He is definitely a gift from God for sure, and I am so grateful for him, for his little spirit, for his little face, for the goofy little things he does and the looks he gives me, and just for being in my life.  I feel very blessed. 

Gosh, isn't it amazing how these furry creatures can bring so much joy into our lives?!  They can make a difficult day feel a-ok just by seeing their furry little faces.  Who else waits for you by the door when you go outside to check the mail, even if you are gone only for just a few minutes or a few seconds and then rejoices as if you have been gone for a few centuries?  Who else doesn't care about how much money you make, or how beautiful you are, or how talented you are, or how tall you are, or how short you are, or how fat you are, or how skinny you are, or even how you smell?  They don't care about a big house, or fancy clothes, or fancy food, or fancy toys, anything.  They don't need the best of the best because they think they have it with just YOU.  To them you ARE the best.  They just want to be by your side and want nothing better than to just follow you wherever you go.  They show us what unconditional love can feel like and what it feels like not to be judged.

Do you know that song by the group Chicago "Hard to Say I'm Sorry"? There are lyrics that say "Everybody needs a little time away..." and "Even lovers need a holiday...", but you know, I don't think this is true for dogs, at least it is not true for my Isaac.  He wants to be by me ALL the time!  I love my husband and we are one of the couples that actually really like spending time together, and we actually are ok to do everything together - for real!; but even he doesn't want me around ALL the time!  But Isaac?  Isaac wants to be with me ALL the time!  That is the unconditional love of a dog!

                                                                                                                   

So, since I can't sing Happy Birthday in "dog" language, I will end this blog and help celebrate Isaac's birthday by sharing an old, favorite video.  It is of Isaac during his puppy years w/his brothers, Murray and Jacob, (may they rest in peace) that I have shared with my friends in the past.

Hope you enjoy it & always show your furry companion lots of love!

(Just a little history about this video: Whenever I would vocalize, or practice my scales singing, this is the kind of things my dogs would do.  I am not sure what they were trying to tell me, but instead of thinking they were being critics, I decided to try videotaping an example of what they were doing instead to show my family since I thought my family, also having dogs, would get a kick out it.)


( In the video:

Isaac: the birthday boy when he was a puppy!  He usually howls longer, but this was one of his shorter ones. Isaac is my HEART!!! I am sooo grateful I have had 9 years with this funny boy, and I pray I am able to have more! My pride & joy! My laughter! My everything! My world!;

Murray: THE GREATEST American Eskimo in the WORLD!!!! He was my husband's favorite baby for sure!  He was in my life more than 16 years! so I must admit yeah, he is still up there as one of my top 2 favorites (my very first Maltese named Jordan who was deaf since he was 2 years old that I had for 12 years before Isaac and Jacob years is my up there as my ultimate baby). Murray was sooo friendly to people! Every vet that met Murray said he was THE friendliest American Eskimo they EVER met! He was my genius boy! I want another Eskie because of my Murray!;

Jacob:  Isaac's half-brother and sooo sweet and my little lap dog. He was a very, very special soul. Indescribable how special this little guy was. He was just 2-3 lbs, but a little warrior who lost his battle with PLE.  He had a hard life.  He was THE CUTEST little thing EVER!!!  He was SOOOO forgiving!  He was THE SWEETEST EVER too!!!    

I love ALL my dogs that have sadly passed on, and I MISS all my babies VERY much that it is bittersweet to see videos of them because I wish I could hug them all; but I am blessed to have had them in my life. And yes, I am one of those that people have their dogs' ashes, and their ashes will be buried or cremated along with me when the time comes for God to call me home too.)

My Fan Shout Out to YOU!!!

You know, since this blog is about sharing my favorite "whatevers" with my fans, and I wouldn't have even thought to share a blog like this if it wasn't for my awesome fans, today, I am going to do a shout out to my FAVORITE of FAVORITES.... my AWESOME group of FANS!!! (I still feel so strange saying that..."my fans"...I still have to pinch myself and am in disbelief that I have ANY besides my husband and my dog! :))

I just love you guys soooo much!!!  I can't tell you enough!!! I am so grateful to this day and everyday, and on days like today, (especially, when I get such heartfelt emails from people giving me their support; encouraging me not to give up my dream to perform; telling me how much watching me on tv touched their hearts and lifted their spirits - omg, are you kidding?  In truth, it is actually the reverse because you guys actually lift mine! - defending me against any senseless negativity on the internet; and pouring out their hearts about their own dreams, and sharing a little about their own lives with me), I am reminded about how blessed and fortunate I am to have such a wonderful group of people in this world to reach out to somebody like me - a nobody - but for some reason, a few, wonderful group of people from different parts of the US and also from all over the world feel comfortable enough with me to want to connect with me.  That is such an amazing honor, and I am so humbled and so, so grateful.  You guys remind me and help me feel like I am not alone.  I thank God for you!

So, I just had to say a BIG THANK YOU to you guys!!! I just want you to know how much I appreciate the support you have given me. Your support means more than I will ever be able to express.

In addition, since some of you have shared with me that you wish you could spread the word out about what you do or what your dreams are with others, I want to give some of my fans an opportunity to do just that. That is what blogs do right?  Help spread the word?  So, once a month or periodically - since this will really depend on you guys if you want me to help spread the word about what you do - I will dedicate a post in my blog to one of you to help spread the word out about what you do or what your dreams are with others. Just submit a link of your video sharing what you do or what your dreams are, and I will be happy to post the selected video to help spread the word!  However, I suggest to keep the videos and the messages in the videos CLEAN!!! since this is family-oriented, remember! :)  It is really wonderful to share things, such as, the song you wrote for the first girl you ever had a crush on; or the gymnastics routine you won at regionals; or your dream of being a teacher; or the beautiful, original, handmade dresses you design; or the beautiful baskets you arrange that make people so happy to receive in the mail, etc) - those are all amazing, positive stories and things to share with others that has made me smile and touched my heart and can touch other people too.

Now, please keep in mind that if we do this, this will still be a learning curve for me since this is THE first time I would be doing something like this and have no idea what I am doing.  I will totally admit that. So, please be patient with me, and I will apologize in advance for any future errors I make. However, because of some of the emails I have gotten, I can hear a similar theme, and that is that people have a voice (and I don't mean a singing voice in this case - although I know some of the people that wrote me are obviously singers). I am talking about "a" voice, "their" voice, and they just want a chance to be heard. I am just trying to find a way to give you guys a chance to be heard. If there is a way I can do that. I want to try. This is my way to try to do that for you even if it is only in just a little way.  It will still be a way for you to be heard.

Maybe someday, I will be a "somebody", but right now, I am just little me. :) Thank you so much for supporting little me, this nobody, but somebody who deeply thanks you from the bottom of my heart!

Have a wonderful day!

Shout out: Shear Catastrophe Leads to Shear Talent!

Some of you may have already heard by now about the worst haircut experience I have ever had at a salon, so I will apologize in advance if this post is somewhat of a repeat. Now, I will admit that I don't go to the salon all that often compared to the average person since I tend to go about only a couple of times a year. I know, not very healthy for my hair. I need to do better in that area, but I admit it is hard for me to allow myself to get regular trims since I am pretty frugal. Hey, I used to even cut my own hair! :)

But I just wanted to share this experience with you guys to show you how sometimes you may have to go through a not so good experience to lead you to a better one; and I also wanted to share this story because it is important for me to say thank you and acknowledge people, businesses, or even products whenever they make a difference in my day!

So here's my shout out for today:

A couple of weeks ago, I got the worst haircut I have ever gotten at a salon that I can remember. In the past, even if I didn't get the best haircut, I would usually just say "oh well" & I would just work with it until my hair grew back. But for the first time ever, this was something I really could not work with at all; and it was the first time that I was so desperate to find another stylist so immediately after a haircut to try to fix that haircut somehow asap. (I couldn't get myself to tell the guy who cut my hair how unhappy I was because he seemed really sweet & he was really proud of the haircut he gave me, so I didn't want to hurt his feelings & tell him how horrible it really was so I just said thank you & tipped him 20% instead of a normal 15% because I felt so sorry for him.)

But you know you got a bad haircut when even your husband who is not picky about haircuts looks at you and his face is saying, "!?#@&?!"!

I desperately did a search on the internet for the best hair stylists in the area. I came across some very nice customer reviews for a salon called Shear Talent. I called and thankfully, they were able to fit me in that day!

Jennifer, the saving stylist who was nice enough to fit me in at Shear Talent, described my hair exactly right. The first thing she said when she saw my hair after I took out the hairband I was using to try to cover my horrible haircut was, "OMG! He gave her China bangs!"

Yup, that was it! I was trying to figure out what the horrible haircut he gave me reminded me of & it was exactly that  - CHINA BANGS!!! But it wasn't just that he gave me China bangs but that he gave me the most horrible, dreadful, choppy, butchered, unblended China bangs (keep in mind, I have NEVER had China bangs in my life, and I NEVER said I wanted to have China bangs. NONE of the pictures I showed him of the style/cut I wanted before he started cutting had China bangs. Plus, I have naturally wavy hair, so call me crazy, but I don't think China bangs work very well with naturally wavy hair. Besides, I know I told the poor guy...I'm KOREAN!!! :) yes, I can joke about it now even though it wasn't too funny at the time & still isn't whenever I look at my hair in the mirror. sniff sniff :))

While I knew there was nothing that even awesome Jennifer could do about the horribly, hopeless China bangs, awesome Jennifer in all her awesomeness was still somehow able to cut my hair in a way that made the worst haircut into something I could work with enough until my hair grows out.

Obviously, I can't wait until my hair grows out, but it is nice to know I won't feel like crying as much every time I look in the mirror while I am waiting for my hair to grow out!

I wish I knew about Shear Talent before, but at least I'm glad I know about them now. And I'll just take this whole experience as a blessing since it eventually led me to Shear Talent and the great group of girls that work there! (Besides, I know there are a lot of other things worse to go through in life than a horrible haircut so I just try to keep things in perspective.)

I would be happy to go to Shear Talent again! Thank you Shear Talent & thank you Jennifer C., the owner/stylist, for making a nervous, new customer feel extremely welcome and at ease, & thank you Jennifer E., the awesome stylist who recut my hair, for being so nice fitting me in on such short notice and for helping me feel better than I did when I came in!

So, a shout out to Shear Talent because that is exactly what they are! Thank you Ladies at Shear Talent! Hope to see you again sometime!

Shear Talent is located at 1155 Commerce Suite H, Las Cruces, NM 88011 (575) 532-5555.