We're still down three housemates, but we've all officially started! It's technically prep week, so we're working on setting things up and getting them working rather than working on an actual show. The actors are in rehearsal for The Velveteen Rabbit and are having a grand time of it, from what I've heard.

As for me, I got to relax a little on the first day, and then Rew and I set up the board and set up and tested the headsets. We have a brand new Behringer Xenyx X1832USB this year which will become my BFF from the summer. Also, we're getting SFX (an audio playback program) which I'm very familiar with, so I'm glad I won't have to learn a whole new program.

Everything about this little town is so quirky. The theater building also houses the public library.

 It's a little strange, but very quaint and charming. Plus, it's been absolutely beautiful here, especially weather-wise. I've been cold waking up in the morning! It's glorious.

The theater was originally built as an opera house, so it has that same, giant, decorated opera house feel in a little tiny theater that seats a little over 200. It's cute and (here's the word of the summer) quirky, and definitely very maze-y. I'm reminded of trying to learn the Taproot Theatre summer of 2011. I'm sure I'll figure it out soon, but for now I get pretty turned around.

I've never worked in legitimate summer stock before, so this will definitely be a new experience for me.  We spend June preparing as best we can and all of July in tech. That's going to be pretty crazy. But, I'm  already enjoying it way more than last summer. 

Suave Moroccan Infusion Shampoo and Conditioner Review

Let me start this review with a fact: I have never liked Suave's products. We used to use them when I was younger, and my dad still does, and I've never been happy with them. The shampoo is okay, but I always thought the conditioner was watery and didn't do a single good thing for my hair. 

I've steered clear of Suave for as long as I've been choosing my own hair products which is why it's kind of a miracle I even decided to try them in the first place. But, I had been watching EleventhGorgeous on Youtube talk about their hair troubles, and in one video, Stef mentions that Pantene products are heavy and weighed their hair down.

Now, I've always been a loyal Pantene girl. It has been my go-to shampoo and conditioner for years now. But I had been having problems with my wavy hair being not-so-wavy because of product build up. I thought it just happens and then you go to the salon and they fix it for you. It never occurred to me that the products I was using was causing it to be that way. 

To combat my product build up, I had started to use the (strangely enough) Suave Clarifying Shampoo and it was actually working pretty well for me, but I decided that it might be time to try something new in my hair care routine. 

I was intrigued by the Suave Moroccan line, but I was wary of trying it full-size because I'd had such bad experiences with Suave in the past, but after reading NouveauCheap's review of the products (her hair is incredibly similar to mine), I decided I wanted to give it a go. I tried to find some samples or travel sizes, but eventually, they were on sale 2/$6 at Walgreens, and I just went for it.

And holy wow, was it a good choice. 

First of all, the formula of these products is great. The shampoo is thicker than the other Suave products I've tried which was a big improvement for me, and the conditioner is a wonderful consistency. Both the shampoo and the conditioner cover and feel like they cling to my hair but at the same time wash really clean. I no longer feel the need to use the clarifying shampoo on a weekly basis. Second, my hair has improved a ton. It's light and bouncy and soft and the waves are nice and piecey. 

In short, I'm totally in love with the line. I have abandoned my Pantene for Suave, and, as of now, I'm not looking back. I still think their Naturals line is awful, but I'll stick with the Moroccan Infusion line. Props to you Suave! You've turned this non-believer into a lover!

The Tang of the Salty Sea will Call Us Home..

I've been pretty lucky in terms of theater experience. I spent the last two summers in Seattle and California, and I landed a pretty awesome sound internship for this summer as well. And this one gives me room and board as well as a small paycheck!

This time, I've traveled up the coast to Monmouth, Maine which is about 20 minutes south of Augusta (which is the capital, in case you, like me, are not up on your Maine facts). I left Baltimore around 10 am on Sunday and drove, drove, drove for ten and a half hours (an hour and a half longer than Google said it would take me) and finally made it! I moved into Toad Hall (as it's affectionately known) which is this huge old Victorian-era house that sits right across the street (literally) from the theater.

The first night was quiet, as only three of us were here. The next day, I woke up and traveled into Augusta to find breakfast and explore a bit. I found a Walmart to pick up some necessities (there's an Ulta in the same shopping center...Lord save my paycheck) and then headed back to finish unpacking. One of my two roommates arrived not long after I did, so I met Beka and her mom. 

Then everyone started to arrive! I share my room with Beka (Stage Management Intern) and Beth (Props Intern), and we share our bathroom with Matt (Lighting Intern) and Simon (Acting Intern). Through the living room are two more rooms where Sam (Master Electrician) and Daniel (Production Manager) live. Upstairs there are four more bedrooms. They hold Aislinn (Actor) and Hannah (Actor); Ardarius (Actor/Shop Foreman) and Ryan (Actor/Box Office); Sarah (Costume Intern) and Armadi (Marketing Intern); and Luke (Actor) and Alex (Actor). The last three haven't arrived yet, but other than that we're a full house! 

There are four bathrooms (one of which also has laundry), a kitchen, a living room, a game room, and the scene shop and costume shop are both attached to the house. It's a crazy environment! Last night, everyone who was here went out to dinner at Margarita's and that was fun and ridiculous. Then we hung out in the living room until bedtime. It's a creative, energetic environment, and for now I'm loving it. I know eventually my introvert side will kick in, but for now I'll enjoy the talent and passion of everyone around me. 

Welcome to the Jungle

Hello and welcome!

This blog is going to be a little bit different for me. I'm combining two things I've really come to love a lot: beauty and theater.

So, some background about me!

I'm Liz. I was born and raised in Tallahassee, FL. I spent the first two years of college at New College in Sarasota, FL and the last two and a half at Plymouth State University in Plymouth, NH. I graduated in December with a BA in Theater Arts with a concentration in Theatre Design/Technology and an emphasis in Sound.

Since then, I've been hanging out in Baltimore, MD trying to figure out my life. I was looking into grad school and internships and basically any experience I could get that would get me closer to my ultimate goal: to work as a sound designer at a theatre somewhere in the US. While I was working that part out, I got really into the beauty community. I have a core group of Youtubers who I watch religiously, and I'm following a bunch more blogs. I'm especially into nail polish, but I love reading about all cosmetics and skin/hair care products.

So this blog is a combination of those things. I just relocated to Monmouth, ME for the summer for a sound internship with the Theatre at Monmouth. There will be more on that tomorrow. For now, I just wanted to introduce myself and say welcome. This is a new venture, and hopefully I can keep at it. And maybe have a little fun along the way.