Take it on the run...

Oh, I just love cheesy 80s music! Can you name the song and artist of the cheesy 80s song referenced in the title of this week's blog?

Moving right along...(awesome song from an awesome childhood movie! NAME IT!)

A few months ago I discovered a program called 'Couch to 5K.' For months I've been saying 'Oh I'm going to start that 'Couch to 5K' thingy tomorrow.' But did I? NOooooooooo

Well, lately, I've been de-cluttering my life and my house, organizing, and prioritizing. I'm becoming more accountable for my actions. And in the midst of it all what did I do?

*************DRUM ROLL PLEASE*********************

I completed week 1 of the 'Couch to 5K' program. And I feel great. I'm not sure why I didn't do this months ago. Several high school friends shared stories of their running experiences and how it has changed their lives (Magda, Marjorie, Erin, Abrah) and I kept thinking 'I can't do that, I can't run!' Boy, was I wrong! This program is awesome. And thanks to Heidi letting me in on the iPod app secret it's even easier. In just one week, I'm running and I feel great. The app is really cool too. You use music from your iPod and there is a voice that tells you when to switch from running to walking. For me...the music I have on shuffle each workout is a bizarre mix of cheesy 80s songs like 'Eye of the Tiger' and 'Girls Just Want to Have Fun' to Linkin' Park, Kelly Clarkson, and Pink.

The funniest part is the day I started, I left my house quite early (well, early for me!) and took off through my development and up behind me where the retirement village is. They have nicer (clay) walkways. There were tons of little old ladies out for their morning walk. I had my headphones on listening to the program and of course the first song that comes on is 'Eye of the Tiger.' Not seeing the group of ladies at first I started punching an imaginary punching bag because, well, what else am I supposed to do listening to that song? I don't live anywhere near the Philly Art Museum, and besides, I'm doing 'Couch to 5K' not 'Couch to Stair Master on Crack.' I digress.... I didn't see the group of ladies as I start punching the air and have this big grin plastered on my face. I rounded the corner and there they were. Without missing a beat I tilted my head and said 'Mornin' and continued on. They probably thought I was a drug addict. But I don't care because I felt great!

Along with the C25K I'm also determined to cook lighter for me and the hubster. Michael and I came to an agreement. We'll have fish once to twice a week AND one vegetarian meal a week. We are also cutting out red meat. I'm also making sure we have healthy portion sizes. The only day we are allowed to 'cheat' is Football Sunday. Since we both enjoy watching all the games neither of us want to spend a ton of time in the kitchen preparing.

Oh, wait! I bet you are wondering what the heck any of this has to do with 'the Business of ME!'?
Glad you asked.

A big part of any successful business is organization and accountability. Right now, I'm taking a few months to regroup and take care of personal business. As part of this regrouping, I'm doing what I can to keep me healthy, active, and accountable in my acting career. I am still submitting to agents and casting directors but have cut back on my trips to the city to save some money. So, I'm working on the aspects of my business I can work on while I take the time off like:

• Getting fit
• Getting organized
• Prioritizing
• Working ($$$)
• Apartment searching (Thank you, Doug, for sending me the list of sublets)

When the holidays have come and gone, I want to hit the ground running again in NYC. I'm going to look and feel great and be so prepared that I will be an unstoppable force. There. I said it. Now you can all hold me accountable too!

Thank you for following along and for your support.

Upcoming Performances:

Spotlight Cabaret

Thursday, October 7, 2010
8 PM
Allentown Brew Works
Hamilton Street
Allentown, PA
$5

My set this month:

We Deserve Each Other (Me & Juliet)
The Portrait (A My Name is Alice)
Summer in Ohio (Last Five Years)
Shine (Spitfire Grill)

Don't forget to bring your books.....after the cabaret there is an open mic!!

Quote of the week:
"The will to win means nothing without the will to prepare." - - Juma Ikangaa, Tanzania

Recipe of the week:

Pan Roasted Lemon Pepper Chicken

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
zest of 1/2 lemon
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 onion powder
1 tsp seasoning salt
4 T panko bread crumbs
EVOO

Dressing:
2T EVOO
1T Lemon Juice
1 T White Wine Vinegar
Salt & Pepper
2 T Chives
2 T Parsley
1 T garlic

Combine in a bowl and mix well. Microwave for 1 minute until warm.

wash, pat dry, and butterfly chicken breasts
lightly coat the chicken breasts with EVOO. Mix dry ingredients in a bowl. Sprinkle on top of the chicken breast only. Leave bottom plain. Once you have each breast lightly coated get the non-stick skillet nice and hot with some EVOO in the bottom.

Place the breasts coating side down and DO NOT TOUCH for 2 minutes. A nice crust will form. Turn them over turn the heat down to med-lo cover and let them slowly pan roast for 15-18 minutes. Internal temp should be 170.

Remove from heat and let rest while you make dressing. Plate and drizzle dressing over the top.
Low cal....low fat....full flavor!

Kirsten Rani Almeida received her B.A. in Theater and Speech from Wagner College. For twelve years, Kirsten doubled as a professional fundraiser for a large non-profit arts organization and an actor, director, choreographer, and playwright. She has performed in more than forty shows all over the U.S. She spent four months touring the country with the Omaha Theater Company's production of 'The Little Engine that Could' as the Red Dress Doll. She performed nearly 80 performances in 36 states. In New York City, Kirsten was part of the cast for the award-winning 'Skin Deep' which has won top honors from the 2010 Samuel French Off-Off Broadway Short Play Festival and originated the role of Lavender Blue in the eerily funny 'Professor Von Awesome's Traveling Caravan of Cautionary Warnings.' Kirsten appeared in the U.S. premiere of 'Scandalous! A new musical based on the life of D.H. Lawrence' in New Orleans and appeared at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in the World Premiere musical 'The Butterfly Project' which raised money for children's cancer research. Other credits include Children of Eden (Mama Noah), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat(Narrator), Hello Dolly!(Minnie Fay), Beauty and the Beast(Silly Girl & Madame de la Grande Bouche), The Sound of Music(Mother Abbess), Annie(Star-to-Be), Oliver!(Widow Corney), How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying(Rosemary), My Fair Lady(Featured Dancer), Promises, Promises!(Featured Dancer), Nunsense I & II(Sister Leo), Gypsy(Tessie Tura), Guys & Dolls(Featured Dancer), Back to the 80s(Debbie Cox), Seussical the Musical(Gertrude), Snoopy!(Sally Brown), Pippin(Featured dancer), Carousel, Godspell, Little Shop of Horrors(Chiffon), and many more.

In film/tv, Kirsten has appeared in the upcoming comedy 'Big Guns', 'Three Chris'', and filmed the independent short 'Westfield' with Clocktower Productions. She has also appeared in two episodes of 'The World's Most Astonishing News'.

She has also appeared as a guest artist with the Newark Boys Chorus and Triad Ensemble and the Spotlight Cabaret with Allentown Public Theater. She was a founding member of the Boonton Parks & Recreation Theatre Company for young performers where she not only directed and choreographed the shows for the company but also acted as lead fundraiser, costumer, lighting designer, marketing director as well as scenic and props designer. Kirsten also taught dance for the recreation department to children ages 7-12. Kirsten has also dabbled in play writing for children's theater. Her twisted version of "The Three Little Pigs" (a musical from the Big Bad Wolf's perspective) was produced at Playhouse 22 in East Brunswick, NJ.

Kirsten teaches drama classes at the Civic Theater in Allentown, PA to grades Pre-K through 4. Kirsten also offers an audition class to high school students which helps students audition confidently. Her effective teaching style is requested by groups in PA and NJ and NY.