Mommy Monday- An Amateur

Why is it that despite being a mother for 12 years and having four children that they make me feel like an amateur mother?

I love my kids, I really do.  Their teachers love them, they are good in public.  I swear though that once they climb up our metal stairs and into our home, something clicks in their brains and they turn into little monsters.  I guess it means they feel safe to act however they want.  It also seems that their ears stop working. I have to ask them to do things three or four times. Even when I use love and logic, I still have to repeat myself over and over again.

Then suddenly, one of them will run over and give me a hug and a kiss. They tell me that I am the best mom ever and my heart just melts. And everything is right with the world.

Friends on Friday - Nicole

Nicole is a strong woman of faith.  She thinks she is boring but I just think she is fun.  She is devoted to her husband and her children.  She is crafty and just plain cool.  I think that is part of why some of us like to call her Coolio.  Any how, I'm just grateful she is my friend.

So, tell me about yourself:


C:  I'm a stay-at-home mom to two crazy kids, and wife to an amazing husband. Joe and I have been married for 6 years. G is 3 1/2 and is the quintessential princess and girlie-girl. A is 22 months and is all boy. Rough and tumble should be his middle names :)

 

N: What are you passionate about?

C: My passions include making our home a safe and comforting environment for all who enter, reading, praying, listening to sermons, finding new adventures for our family and baking.

N: What do you like to bake?

C: I love to bake cookies, bread, biscotti, caramel rolls. Anything really :)

 

N: What is your favorite recipe?

C: Probably my pumpkin bread with chocolate chips.

N: I'll take some of that, please.  Have you ever had any cooking disasters?

C: When I was about 16, my mom and I tried making these decorative Easter eggs by dipping small inflated balloons into melted almond bark. Well, the balloons kept popping and spraying the bark everywhere. We finally gave up, but the entire kitchen, ceiling, counters, as well as the two of us, were covered in splatters of almond bark. We still laugh about it today!

N: I think I've seen something like that on Pinterest. I'll have to stay away from that. It is great that you can laugh about it now.  Family seems to create some of the funnest memories. What is some of your favorite family adventures?

C: We love to play outside in the summer, take walks to the park, have picnics, or just have tickle fights in the living room.

N: I think those are some of the best adventures.  What is one of your favorite memories of your children?

C: One day, I was washing dishes and A fell and bonked his head. G went up to him, gave him a huge hug, kissed his forehead and said, "It's okay, buddy. I'll always take care of you." Melts my heart just thinking about it!

N: That is so sweet. Aww. You mentioned you like reading. What is your favorite book?

C: Honestly, the Bible. I love the relevance it has, even for us today, the promises, comfort and peace it brings. 

N: Amen, to that.  I know that you just adore your husband.  What do you think makes him such an amazing husband?

C: He's humble, honest and hard-working. He cares for our family in so many ways, from working his butt off to provide for us financially, to playing with the kids, to making me leave for some time away. He's constantly striving to become a better man, husband and father. He's funny, smart and Godly. He's truly the biggest blessing in my life, and he makes me a better person just for knowing him.

N: Wow, it sounds like he is truly worthy to be your husband. I think it is great that you have each other.  You both are wonderful parents. What do you enjoy most about being a mother?

C: There are so many things that make me smile about our kids, but I can say the thing I enjoy most is the fact that I'm the one at home raising them. I get to see their interactions with each other, see their eyes light up when they learn something new, instill our values and teach them about the Lord. I love that I know them better than anyone. I love that my kids are best friends, and I pray that continues long after they're raising their own families.

N: Thank you so much for letting me interview you. I think you are all the things that a child could wish for in a parent.  You are truly blessed to have such an amazing family and I am blessed to have you as my friend. Thank you for helping me remember that with God all things are possible and what a blessing it is to have mothers in this world.  You are an angel.

Theatre Thursday- Hale Centre Theater, AZ, The Hasty Heart

It seems serendipitous that with Friday being Veteran's day that the next show I did took place during WWII.

The show is The Hasty Heart by John Patrick.  If it sounds familiar, it is probably because it was one of the movies that Ronald Reagan played in before he became president.  Another fun fact is that James Earl Jones played one of the roles originally on Broadway.

It takes place in an Allied mobile surgery unit toward the end of the war and centers around a group of wounded soldiers from various countries.  The cast is predominantly male. In fact, there is only one woman in the show, my character Margaret, who is a nurse from England.  The unit is a peaceful and enjoyable place to be until a surly Scotsman is admitted.  Unbeknownst to him, he is only expected to live a couple weeks due to having only one barely functioning kidney.  All the other soldiers know about his condition and try their best to  make his last days as best as possible.  Of course, the nurse and the surly Scot fall in love. But the truth has to come out about his fate and conflict arises.

Publicity shot by D. Dietlein

The cast was so much fun.  It reminded me a bit of my childhood and growing up with five brothers, very entertaining and rambunctious.  The show is filled with the harmonies of many different accents and it was fun speaking with a British dialect. Eric who played the "Lachie" the Scotsman just nailed the accent and was great in the role, all the critics loved him.  The show was directed by Charlie L. and stage managed by our mother bear Siobhan.

Besides, the accent, Margaret was a challenging role.  She must try to remain detached and despite knowing what she knows about his condition and his inevitable death, she can't help falling for Lachie.  We had some  emotionally charged scenes that challenged me, but I like to think I did well. I received good reviews from the show.  Chris Page from the East Valley Tribune said I was:

A splendid actress and a crush-worthy cutie, Mathias is used to playing wooers to difficult men at the Hale, in both the comedy "The Man With the Pointed Toes" (which will come back to open the theater’s next season) and as Scrooge’s young flame in "A Christmas Carol."

Later the show won an Honorable Mention for Best Drama in the Tribune's Spotlight awards.  I also got an Honorable Mention for Best Dramatic Actress that year for my role in this play along with Man with The Pointed Toes.  Funny enough the woman who won the actual award was at the time married to the man who played Hamlet to my original Ophelia.  She made an incredible Maggie in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" and I was honored just to be mentioned as being in her company for the award.

Here are some more backstage pictures from the show:

I forgot to mention that Eric was gone for a couple shows and we had Carson S. fill in.  I was his first stage kiss, if I remember correctly. He was so nervous but did a good job in the role. I remember overhearing some old ladies leaving that said they thought he did great and they wouldn't have known he was an understudy. He is the one in the black shirt.

I also just recalled that it was the first time I got to have a dressing room all to myself and so I put up a gold star on it just for fun.

Trailer Trash Tuesday- My new love

I have a confession to make. I have a new love.  I have fallen in love and don't think I can ever go back to the way things were.  This love had always been around and I never really thought about it much.  But circumstances being what they are, love has blossomed.

Now before you go and think that I have truly embraced my Trailer Trash status, I think you may understand when I explain a few of the things my love does for me.

1. Cooks
2. Cleans
3. Gives me facials
4. Washes my hair
5. Cleans the toilet
6. Gets stains out of my carpet

I mean, how can I not be in love.  I was able to sneak a picture....

Check out those biceps!

Mommy Monday - mom blog

Being a mom is like writing this blog; half the time I don't know what the heck I'm doing and other times I get it just right.

This would be one of those, I don't know what the heck I'm doing times.

But, I must be doing something right because my kids still like to bring me flowers.

Friends on Friday-Alaina

Alaina - Photo by Jessica Frieling

Alaina  is a powerhouse.  She can sing, she can dance, she can act, she is a mother, a hairdresser, a devoted wife, in other words AMAZING.  We met at the Hale Centre Theatre in Arizona where we were the only two girls in the show, Man With the Pointed Toes.  She later took over the role of Florence in that show in later years. We had a blast and did several other shows together including A Christmas Carol and A Curious Savage. She has performed all over the Valley of the Sun in AZ and audiences love her.  I love her too.  I think she is fabulous and I was excited to get to know her better. So on with the interview...

Alaina and me in A Christmas Carol

Me and Alaina
The first Charwoman and Laundress at Hale Centre Theatre's A Christmas Carol

N: Tell me about yourself

A: My name is Alaina B. Born in the Bronx, New York.
I was raised in the beautiful Catskill mountains in upstate New York.
I started acting at a very early age and was performing professionally by age 11.
I have been very happily married for 17 years and have 2 beautiful daughters and an amazing husband. all of whom still support my passion for acting.

Alaina's girls and hubby

N: What are you passionate about?

A: I am passionate about family and the arts; mainly singing and acting and musical theatre. I'm also passionate about the history of our great country. 

N: What was a defining moment in your life?

A: One defining moment was when I realized that anything is possible if you are true to who you are and your beliefs, and you work hard to achieve goals. and that it's not up to others to make us happy in this life; but up to ourselves and that you must never settle for less that what you believe you are worth.

And I think Noe is fabulous!

N: Aw, thanks.  Alright, here's a couple more questions...

If you could only choose acting or singing what would you choose and why?

A: I cannot choose between acting and singing as they are both one in the same to me.

N: That is why you are so great at both.  What was the most favorite role you have ever played?

A: My favorite role is Christine in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.

Alaina as Christine
(She won an AriZoni award for this role:
Best Actress in a Major Role-Musical Non-Contracted)

N: What do your girls think of your acting? Do they want to get involved in the arts?

A: My girls are very supportive and proud of what I do. However, they don't seem to have an interest in acting but they do both play Cello and Violin and enjoy performing in their orchestras.

N: I think it is great that your family is supportive. Because you are an actress you get to answer the famous questions from the Actor's Studio:

What is your favorite word?

A: My favorite word is Dream.

N: What is your least favorite word?

A: Work

N: What turns you on?

A: An amazing actor.

N: What turns you off?

A: A terrible actor.

N:  What sound or noise do you love?

A: I love the sound of my daughters playing their instruments.

N: What sound or noise do you hate?

A: I hate the sound of dogs barking!

N: What is your favorite curse word?

A: Shit!

N: What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?

A:  Undercover cop.

N: What profession would you not want to do?

A: Defense attorney.

N: If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates?

A: "I made coffee...I hope you brought a bobka" or "woohoo...let the party games begin"

N: Alaina you are too fun.  Thanks for letting me interview you and inspiring me to keep following my dreams.  Bravo for all your hard work both on stage and off.  Thanks for being my friend and interviewee!

Theatre Thursday- A Christmas Carol

Since many people are already gearing up for Christmas, even though it is just barely November, it seems appropriate that the next show that I did for Hale Centre Theatre was A Christmas Carol.

I was a little nervous about auditioning because at that point I hadn't had much musical training.  Hale's version of  A Christmas Carol is interspersed with some original music and classic Christmas music dispersed throughout. I was cast, obviously.  I played several roles in this show and the same show the following year. I was a narrator, Belle (Scrooge's love interest), and Charwoman.  It was fun switching between characters and a mad rush to redo my makeup between each not to mention getting in and out of corsets.

Narrator

In the middle as Belle

My costumes were in the bathroom.

My spot was always the right corner, next to the bathroom.

It was really fun getting into the holiday spirit by doing a show. Of course, I had to juggle being a mom and wife on top of all my acting duties. The second year my good friend since high school, Jere, was cast in the show and we did an auction during dinner between one of the matinee and evening shows to help him raise money for an iPod.  That was fun.  

The second year of the show received a "Spotlight Award" for the Best Christmas Production.  I got special mention in a review for the show and was called an "East Valley favorite" along with my friend Jere.

JL, Jere, Me (2nd year Charwoman) in the dressing room.

The Hale Centre Theatre really knows how to treat their actors and crew.  They really make you feel like family.  Hopefully, we will make it down to AZ for Christmas and I will get to see their Christmas Carol this year.

2nd year Christmas Carol Cast (I'm on the far right)

My good friend Alaina played the Laundress to my Charwoman the first year of Christmas Carol.  Check back tomorrow for my interview with her.