Celebrating Singlehood

This morning on my way to church, I was listening to Valentine on the radio for a few minutes and managed to catch a glimpse of a conversation that was all too pertinent in my life. They were discussing a [single] female acquaintance of theirs and how she was throwing herself a house-warming party and had registered herself for gifts.

All of them argued that this was strange, and allowed women to start calling in to laugh at this woman for her lack of etiquette, stating that the only time it is appropriate to do something like that is when you are getting married.

Now, if I heard correctly, this woman is a little older, and has decided on a life of singlehood. Therefore, she will not get married nor will she ever enjoy the parties, receiving of gifts, or the big celebrations that go into a wedding.

So what is the problem with her celebrating... herself?

I am very open about the fact that I have been single for a long time. My last real relationship was about three years ago, if you can even count relationships at the age of 19 "real." (It is funny to realize that even if three years doesn't seem that long, relationships at age 22 and being out of college are incredibly different than what they were when I was 19.)

Now, those who know me really well know that I celebrate my singlehood every year. You read correctly. Once a year I throw myself a celebration. I wear a dress and heels, and take myself out or get all my friends together to party! I figure that if I don't have a "special someone" to celebrate my beauty, why not celebrate it myself?

If I never get married, who else is going to celebrate for me? And who says I can't treat myself to special events and gifts like my married friends? Where is that written in the "etiquette" books?

I guess what it comes down to for me is that as a single woman, I have learned how to live on my own and rely on myself for most things. In fact, if/when a man does ever enter my life, I know I am going to have a strange adjustment period of learning how to allow myself to rely on him for some things.

But when you learn how to rely on yourself for so long, you learn that sometimes there won't be someone to celebrate with you.

So I will continue to celebrate myself. Because I am so worth celebrating. Every part of me is beautiful, strong, independent, passionate, and absolutely fabulous. If I never have a man to remind me of these things, I will be absolutely fine.

I applaud the single women throwing themselves house warming parties and registering for gifts. The single women taking themselves out to dinner. Dressing up solely for themselves. Learning how to cope with being independent every day in a world that tells us we need to have someone to share our lives with. To my single ladies, you go, girls. Seriously.

I hope that one day you will all be there when I throw myself a party for which I will register my fierce single self for gifts.

Screw "etiquette".

Back from D.C...

I have so much to write about, but I don't have all my pictures yet, so I am going to delay the Washington, D.C. post until then.

For now, know that I had an INCREDIBLE trip, and singing on the Kennedy Center stage was a true honor and joy. And doing it with such amazing friends made it even better.

Oh, and the snow... for a California girl like me, it was quite the adventure. But I loved it.



Seriously.

Just an update...

I guess that's what blogs are for, right?

I'm doing a web series called "The Sunset Players" right now... and you all need to watch it when it finally premieres! We have been working SO hard on it and I'm absolutely loving the project... I can't wait to see what people think.

I'm playing an 18-year-old AMDA student who just moved to LA from Ashland, Oregon. I had a whole crew in my bedroom filming me jumping on my bed and singing the other day... it was a trip... and way too much fun.

So promise me you will all watch it when it comes out! I'll keep you posted :)



In other news, I've just been getting ready to go to DC... I'm leaving on Wednesday. It's really insane, the reality that I'm singing at the Kennedy Center probably won't hit me until it's done. But such is life. The roller coaster keeps moving!

God's Roller Coaster. Buckle Up.

This week has been insane, and unfortunately some of the details are a little too personal for a blog.

However, I just wanted to share with all [12] of you that I will be singing at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. on February 12th!

My good friends, Jordan and Jonny, are having a concert of their original music, and although it was uncertain for a while, I am officially one of their guest performers.

God is full of surprises that are never ending. I am just glad I've got my seat belt on, because otherwise I would have fallen off a few days ago. I'm holding on for the ride... I'm ready for the adventure!

Reason #WhoTheHeckKnows Why I Love My Job.

I was in Dana Point today to give a voice lesson, so I decided to stop by my school even though I don't go back to work for a few weeks. I made it just in time to catch a few of my students before they left with their parents.

Having 16-year-old boys throw their books and run with reckless abandon to greet me with huge hugs was one of the most priceless things I have ever experienced.

Not to mention stopping by Brittany's house (the director I work with at SOCSA) after and just loving how close we have gotten to be as friends.

What a glorious day.

Ok... Had enough break... thank you

My life doesn't make as much sense without my students...

I'm so ready to go back to work.

42nd Street, hurry up.

A Quick Year-in-Review

2009 has been full of adventures - adventures that I don't even realize are all contained within the same year, as some of them seem so long ago.

Anyway, I stole this idea from Liz, hope she doesn't mind - just a quick look back at some highlights!

JANUARY:

My high school best friend, Natalie, and I rang in the new year alone at her house with some champagne... We were so lost in catching up and cracking up that we missed midnight... but it was perfect.

FEBRUARY:

I composed a musical in two months... I finished on February 23, 2009. I was tired... all the time. But friends like Ian got me through it!

MARCH:

Aforementioned musical, The Book of Tink, opened and closed. What an experience.

APRIL:

I had the idea one day to take my 3 best friends and put up Songs For a New World in about 3 weeks. Everyone thought I was nuts... but we did it.

MAY:


I got the privilege of performing in Little Women with 9 of the greatest people ever, who became my family and closest friends. I got four beautiful daughters at the age of 21 - some of whom were older than me. It was fabulous.

JUNE:

Deidre & I threw an epic boat party. I had 95 people on a boat, dancing and celebrating graduation & the end of the year. Honestly, probably one of my proudest achievements of 2009... putting that whole thing together and watching everyone have a blast.

Oh yeah...


I also graduated from UCI!

JULY:

I got my job at SOCSA, music directing Guys & Dolls. You can't see me, I'm in the middle of the teenage group hug.

AUGUST:

This Catholic girl had a job music directing ArtsFest for the teens at the Jewish Community Center.

And I threw my first bachelorette party. Success.

SEPTEMBER:


Apparently nothing exciting happened in September, except that these photos were posted on facebook by my nostalgic sister. Enjoy.

OCTOBER:
I chaperoned my students' choir retreat/campout. Probably the most fun I had had in years... everything from staying up til 2 AM trying to kill spiders, to the talent show & just staying up gossiping with my girls.
Michelle got MARRIED! First girl to go!
I turned 22 and threw a Murder Mystery Party. It was nuts.

NOVEMBER:

Thanksgiving: We had to document the fact that we're all the same height... it won't last much longer.

DECEMBER:

Annie. Read previous post. :)

And we spent Christmas Eve, as always, out of the back of my mom's van singing Christmas carols as loud as we can!


So long, 2009. I can't wait to see what adventures 2010 has in store!

Happy New Year, my friends!