Missouri I hardly know you..

So, due to recently developing events in my life--I will be taking a trip to Missouri tomorrow and returning to L.A. early next week.

I have never been to Missouri and I am SO excited to be getting out of L.A. to spend a little time in the fresh air. It's been 4 months since I have left so it is looong overdue. For example, I was in Hollywood yesterday, walking to my friends house and::

#1 - I was approached by a man asking me directions to the Church of Scientology..ummm nope.

#2- Had to dodge a guy on the street using a bush as a urinal. Sick.

#3- As I was driving away, a random guy ran up to my car and kissed my driver's side window. Thanks, but no thanks.

All this to say, for those of you who think Hollywood itself is glamorous and awesome-- hate to bust that bubble, but it just isn't.

SO- The reason I am heading to Missouri??

The date that I mentioned in a previous post, Grant, is from there and he has graciously invited me to go to his family's ranch and spend some time with them there. Be expecting some photos of ranch life coming your way. My dad will be uber-jealous I am sure!

I fly out of LAX tomorrow, and Lord willing will be landing in Kansas City tomorrow evening!

::Music Edition::

Recently, I have been getting into some new music thanks to my many musical friends. It helps to have friends that work for music supervisors and they get free stuff all the time and give it to their friends (legally, thankyouverymuch)

So now I would love to share with others. Love it, or hate it. It's just some suggestions...

FIRST AND FOREMOST::

MUMFORD & SONS

This band is hands down my new favorite. At first I thought maybe they were a little too folksy..
I mean, come on now. This picture.

(I dig it, but some may find it to be a little too much folk/indie/hipster)

But give it a chance!! They are on my blog playlist over there (#2) -------------- >

SOO great. Especially when driving. I started listening about a month ago and I. cannot. stop. I am seeing them live in Hollywood in October--can't wait!!

Favorite Songs::

"Roll Away Your Stone"--

It seems that all my bridges have been burned
But you say 'That's exactly how this grace thing works’
It's not the long walk home that will change this heart
But the welcome I receive with every start

(little sample of lyrics)

"Sigh No More"

"Awake My Soul"

FLORENCE + THE MACHINE

LOOOVE this chick and her band as well. Sometimes I jog to it. Sometimes it's just on in the kitchen. Either way:: good, clean fun. I have also put one of these tunes on the side playlist as well.

Favorite songs::

"Dog Days Are Over" (made popular on the Eat, Pray, Love trailer) ---> #3 on playlist

"Drumming"

"You've Got the Love"

CHRISTOPHER WRAY

This guy is my friend and everyone should give him a listen. It's pretty jazzy and soulful music. I just have to say I know him personally, and his girlfriend is one of my best friends in L.A.

CHECK HIM OUT!

http://www.christopherwraymusic.com

OTHER FAVORITE BANDS AND MY FAVORITE TRACKS::

LOCAL NATIVES--

"Airplanes" (#4 on playlist)

"Camera Talk" -- good for running!

VAMPIRE WEEKEND--

"A-Punk" I dare you to listen and not want to jump or tap your foot. Try it. Nope. You cannot.

------------> listen over there #5

"California English"

"Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa"

PASSION PIT--

"Little Secrets" (#6 on playlist)

"Let Your Love Grow Tall"

EDWARD SHARPE AND THE MAGNETIC ZEROES--

"Home" (#7 on playlist)

"40 Day Dream"

Also check out MUSE if you want some good rock to run / workout to. GREAT, GREAT BAND.

THE END--- You are welcome! (I hope)

I also went to a wedding last weekend in Hollywood in a 90 year old movie theatre (which also serves as my church, Ecclesia).

It was super beautiful and fun. This was my date, Grant. He is great.

Yeah..aaand.... that's all for now.

Have a great week!!

Weird, weird Emmy weekend.

SO, again I am failing at blogging. However, that is probably O.K. considering I doubt many of you are waiting with baited breath to know what is going on in my life. It's pretty boring most of the time..

Last weekend was a little more interesting because I worked the Emmy Awards in downtown Los Angeles. I have been through awards season in the winter and it was ROUGH. This weekend, however, was rather smooth. I did have some moments where I thought.."Huh, look at what I am doing right now..this is not normal.."

One of those moments was on Sunday night during the Red Carpet show. I was by the E! 360 Camera, just sitting off to the side and watching everyone. Kevin McHale (Artie from "Glee") comes up to get his photo taken. He is, however, upset because the button from his jacket has fallen off.

We happened to have a sewing kit and I mentioned to him that I knew how to sew a little (thanks mom). He was super excited about this and promptly removed the jacket and we sat and chatted while I fixed his button.

So, there you have it. I sewed on THAT button. My big accomplishment at the Emmys. He was really, really nice and during his interview when they asked him who his suit was by, he said the designer and mentioned that a girl named Ashley fixed his button. So basically I am a designer now.

When the Red carpet part ended and the show was about to start, I began to clean up our area. This is when I spotted an envelope with Claire Danes' name on it. I open said envelope and inside are her tickets to the show. I didn't know they gave out tickets if you were nominated (which she was) I just kind of figured it was an automatic entrance thing.

Anyway, I realized she probably would want these tickets. So I went upstairs to the lobby and began to squeeze myself through the crowd looking for Claire Danes. This is when I had a moment of "What am I doing right now? This is not normal.." I am pushing through the cast members of my favorite T.V. shows in search of an actress who doesn't know me-- but I know her-- in an effort to return her Emmy tickets. Weird.

I had no such luck finding her and went back downstairs. Her husband and her publicist or manager or assistant or one those members of celebrity entourage types were looking for the tickets. I gladly handed them over and was done with that situation. One thing I always think after an awards show is how unnecessarily crazy they are. It's just so weird to have that many people working endless hours to prepare for people to walk into a building and receive awards for doing their jobs. I love them, I watch them, I am choosing to work them. They are still crazy when you break it down.

Other than that, things are pretty good. I can't believe I completely missed a TX summer this year. First time in my life. I think the hottest it was here was 90 degrees for about 4 days, so I am NOT complaining. I don't even have AC in my house and for the most part we don't need it. I am grateful for that Southern California weather.

I hope to see my family soon though!! It's been so long and my little nieces and nephew are getting so big!! I will definitely will be there for Thanksgiving and hopefully sooner if it works out.

I will also get back to blogging more regularly. I think I have 3 readers now (all related to me) so I am sure they are just DYING to read these :)