And just like that, the train done arrived!

You might remember that I wrote here that I was pondering a way to jump back on the vegan train. Well, folks, the train has arrived at the station!

I have spent the past month reading and familiarizing myself with the Crazy Sexy Diet, and today I'm kick starting a new lifestyle with a 21 day vegan cleanse. This cleanse involves drinking a lot of green juice and eating a lot of green veggies.

I've decided to chronicle my 21 day journey to a cleaner system on this blog. At the end of each day, I'll be answering 20 questions of accountability posed by Kris Carr, author of the CSD. And I'll also be writing about how I'm feeling during the cleanse.

Here are the 20 questions:

1. Did you abstain from coffee?
2. Did you abstain from alcohol?
3. Did you abstain from gluten?
4. Did you abstain from animal products?
5. Did you abstain from crack (aka sugar) and choose low-glycemic fruits and better alternatives such as stevia or agave?
6. Did you dry brush today? (Dry brushing is just what it sounds like...taking a special brush or loofa to your dry skin and brushing yourself from toe to nose!)
7. Did you clean your sinuses with the good ol' net pot?
8. Did you move your body for at least 35 minutes?
9. Did you meditate for fifteen to twenty minutes?
10. Did you chew your meals thoroughly and mindfully?
11. Did you laugh out loud and tell someone you loved him or her today?
12. Did you spend time in nature? Even five minutes is better than nothing.
13. Did you get eight hours of uninterrupted sleep?
14. What did you eat today and did you juice? Include breakfast, lunch, dinner, and any in-between snacking--it may help to jot down meals and snacks throughout the day.
15. How much purified water did you consume? You can include fresh veggie juices in your calculation.
16. What supplements did you take?
17. How was your elimination?
18. What time did you stop eating? Three hours before bed is optimum.
19. How do you feel physically?
20. How do you feel emotionally?

Hop on the train and enjoy the ride with me for the next few weeks!

The Train is Rolling Ever Closer to the Station

Hey Party People!  How are you?

If you are one of the faithful who still stops by to see what's going on here, I truly love you!  Thanks for your patience as I've settled into motherhood.

Speaking of that, things are feeling like "the new normal" here, and for that, I'm so grateful!  The first two and a half months home were really tough in terms of exhaustion. Going from zero to two kids was a huge adjustment, and I know the kids were going through adjustments of their own, as well.  I have to say, though, that we all seem to have adjusted quite well to being a new family of four, and we love each other so much!  Of course, we're brimming over with love for our sons, but it is truly sublime to have Jeremy run up to me and throw his arms around me just because!

On a completely different note, let's talk about fitness and nutrition. Eight years ago, when my stepdad was dealing with cancer, he and I (and my Mom, too) all committed to doing a vegan diet together. The idea was that eating vegan helps the body to fight the cancer. Mom and I did it in solidarity with him. In the year-ish that I ate that way (with some cheating here and there), I lost about 20 pounds and two dress sizes. I felt great and looked great, too.  I was also living in Spain for much of that time, so all of the walking around that I was doing didn't hurt things, since I didn't have a car, and the European lifestyle is largely a pedestrian one.

All that to say, I have long felt that the vegan diet is something I'd like to get back to. It's like seeing a train rolling into the station, but the light on the train is still a looooooong way away. Well, the train is getting ever closer, I think I'm on the cusp of making a big lifestyle change.  So this blog's gonna be cranking back into gear soon, because I need a place to document what I'll be doing, how I'm feeling, and I'll need some measure of accountability, as well.

Since adopting my boys, my nutrition and exercise has kind of been kaputs-ville.  So I went to Target yesterday, and I invested in some new workout duds. Sometimes I think it helps if you feel good in what you're wearing to the gym. I also just needed some new stuff...I was down to two workout outfits for winter.

I'm not sure how to wrap up this rambling post, so with that I'll bid you adieu and head down to breakfast and then off to the gym!

Merry Christmas from our Family to Yours!

My family put together this special holiday dance just for your enjoyment!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm thankful to have spent a wonderful day today with my family!

I love Santa and other musings...

Today, I loaded the boys up in the car and drove to a local commercial retail center in town so I could rev up with some Starbucks and then take the boys for a walk in the stroller. It was a gorgeous morning, sunny and cool--perfect for a stroll. I confess that I love this time of year, when the store windows are transformed into mini holiday wonderlands. Hopeful that I'd get to see some good holiday window dressings, I strolled the boys by Kirkland's Home, and I was not disappointed. In one of their windows, there were several gorgeous framed paintings of Saint Nick--one was a regal Santa dressed in a majestic golden cloak, another depicted him with a couple of his reindeer, but the one I loved best was a rendering of Santa holding his finger up to his lips, as if to say, "Shhh! It's our little secret." I'm not sure why I loved it so much, but a wave of nostalgia washed over me, and I started to sing Christmas carols to myself.

Artwork found on Kirkland's Website

As I moseyed on, I couldn't help but think about a most strange (to me) phenomenon the exists in the Christian sub-culture: there are some who think it is wrong to incorporate Santa into one's family's Christmas celebration. Some say that it is lying to your children. Others say that it takes the focus off of Jesus, who is, after all, the Reason for the Season. And you know? I respect their decision to celebrate Christmas sans Santa, even though I don't share their view.

My family? Santa comes to our house every year!

I grew up in a family who celebrated Christmas with presents, a fresh cut tree, and yes, Santa Claus. Was I sad when I grew up and found out? Absolutely. Do I wish my parents hadn't "lied" to me? Absolutely NOT! I never felt lied to, and it made my childhood sparkle with magic. I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

I think the reason the painting of the Santa saying "Shhh!" so resonated with me is because it felt like he was saying, "We're totally getting away with something here...and it's good!" That's right! Me and Saint Nicholas?... We both believe in Jesus, and we both love to celebrate His birth in grand style!

I'm so excited to share the upcoming Christmas season with my boys!

Gustopher Jones

In the midst of becoming of mother of two, I haven't been able to dote on my newest nephew the way that he deserves. However, I got to do his three month old photo shoot, and was he ever ready for his close-up! Behold his cuteness:

We love you, little Gus!

I'm Alive!

Hi! According to my site meter, there are still 37 of you who pop by here each day in hopes that I might actually post something. Thank you for having faith in me!

We've had our boys for seven weeks now, and WOW! It's hard work and so much fun all rolled up in one!

I've been unsure about what to do with this blog, since I've been posting exclusively on our adoption blog for the past two months.

Do I hang up my hat here at The Starshine Report? After all, this blog was created to chronicle my life in Los Angeles, and that chapter has come to a close and a new chapter has started. I can still post about other things on our adoption blog and make that my sole place to write.

Do I post primarily on our adoption blog and occasionally here? I do have some Starshine-y things to write about still, like the awesome acting class I found here in Houston that I've been attending on Monday nights this month, and LOVED it! Or the two new pairs of jeans that I found and bought during a one hour intensive shopping trip today. (Impressive, huh?)

Anywho, I just haven't quite figured out what I'm going to do with this blog, but for those of you who still stop by...I wanted to tell you that I appreciate you!

I'm a Mom!

On August 4th, an Ethiopian judge said, "They are yours", and we became the parents of two wonderful sons!

Jeremy:

and Zachary:

We love them so much, and look forward to bringing them home in early September!

Lots more details about our trip and our boys are being posted on our adoption blog!

One Week old and Already Breaking Hearts (Well, mine that is!)

My sweet nephew Gus came over for his one week old photo shoot on Monday, and suffice it to say, the little guy has completely stolen my heart. He's so little and sweet and precious and...I could go on and on. But it would be much easier to just show you how wonderful he is. Prepare yourself, though...he might just steal your heart, too.

Brian and I are beside ourselves with glee...we're going to Ethiopia on Friday to meet our sons! Tune in to our adoption blog for updates (if we have access to the internet, that is)!

Big hugs to all!

Meet Gus!

Dear Gus,

Yesterday, your Mom texted me in the wee hours of the morning to tell me that her water broke and that she would be having a baby later in the day--and you got it...that baby was you! You made your entrance into the world at 7:06 via c-section yesterday morning, and you've been charming the world ever since!

I got to meet you just three and a half hours after you were born, and I spent the rest of the day hanging out with you and your Mom and Dad in the hospital room. We mostly stared at you and passed you around so that we could all cuddle you.

You are just precious, and I'm already in love with you. Being an aunt to your awesome big brother Sam has been one of the sweetest gifts of my life, and I'm so blessed to be your aunt now, too. I'll be here for you whenever you need me--to hang out, to talk, to pray with you or whatever!

You can be sure that I've got a heart full of auntie love for you, and I'm blessed and honored to be a part of your life's journey. May God bless you and this beautiful life He's given you, Gus!

All my love,

Tia

Until Future Notice...

I'm blogging a whole lot more over on our adoption blog, and I think I will be for the foreseeable future. So if things seem too slow around here, just come over HERE to see what's going on in our world!

Three Years Ago Today...

About this time three years ago today, my family and all of the bridesmaids had made their way into the church or to the lobby of the church to make their processions, and I was left alone in the bride's room. All fell quiet, and I looked in the mirror and realized, "Wow! I'm a bride!" The moment I'd been dreaming about for much of my life was here. And then just like that, someone came and told me it was time!

I walked down the aisle, and we made our vows to one another!

This morning when I entered my kitchen, my beloved had left me three beautiful bouquets of roses to symbolize our three years together.

Honey, the past three years with you have been a joy and delight! Thank you for being such a wonderful husband. Saying "yes" to your marriage proposal was one of the easiest questions I've ever had to answer! And I'm so thankful that with each passing year I continue to realize that it was also one of the wisest decisions I've ever made. I love you with all my heart!

Simply Breathtaking Talent!

In case you missed the Tony Awards on Sunday, Lea Michele and Matthew Morrison from GLEE performed with such panache and brilliance and apparent ease, it would simply be a crime for me not to share it here on my blog.

Lea Michele (who is very nearly Barbra Streisand II) performs one of my favorite Streisand songs, "Don't Rain on my Parade". Her performance brought me to tears and makes me thank God for allowing so much beauty in the world. Talent like hers is truly inspiring. Enjoy:

Girl Meets Flat Iron

I've been meaning to do this silly post since my South Carolina girls' weekend in early May. My bestie Anne has these naturally curly locks. They're gorgeous and so is she!

Before:

When we were in S.C., our other friend May and I were flat ironing our hair, and Anne commented that she had never straightened her hair (and after all, why would you when you have locks like hers!) Well, May and I took turns with the flat iron (curls like Anne's are a group effort to tame), and--drum roll please..........

After:

It took all of us (including Anne) a little while to get used to the change. She could totally have an alter ego, huh?

Dirty Little Secret

A couple of months ago, Hubs and I decided to do a little yard work to pretty up our backyard, so we--and by we, I mean he (I gotta give credit where credit is due)--dug a lot of holes in our yard and planted a bunch of crape myrtles. They do really well here in the extreme Texas heat.

I thought that while we were at the nursery, it would be fun to buy a hanging plant to suspend from our bird feeder. They were gorgeous hot pink petunias that lasted about one week, and then they were completely dead. I wasn't sure if I over or under watered, but they were gone. And rather than heed my Mom's advice and return the plant to the nursery and ask for a new one, I decided to cut all of the shriveled blooms and leaves out of the hanging basket and replace them with some flowers that would never die. That's right, people, I bought fake ones and stuck them right in the same soil as the others!

Aren't they pretty? Even my mom told me they were beautiful, though, as soon as she found out they were fake, she rescinded her compliment. She doesn't do fake flowers. I, on the other hand, love looking at their loveliness when I wash dishes, and I feel smug knowing that it really doesn't matter if I remember to water them or not! It's a win-win.

Well, the other evening, as I was washing dishes and admiring my fake fleurs, I thought, "Wow! Those leaves look SO lifelike! And then this morning (while doing more dishes), I noticed some hot pink buds popping up through the falsies!

Dirty secret EXPOSED! Now what? Do I pull out the fakes and let the real ones live, or should fakery and reality live together in perfect harmony?

Happy Flag Day!

According to this Wikipedia article,

In the United States, Flag Day is celebrated on June 14. It commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States, which happened that day by resolution of the Second Continental Congress in 1777.

In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation that officially established June 14 as Flag Day; in August 1949, National Flag Day was established by an Act of Congress.

One of the things I really like about our neighborhood is that many of the families fly American flags in their front yards on national holidays (even our Canadian neighbors! Go Canada!). When I was in junior high school, I used to LOVE being assigned the duty of raising and lowering the American and Texan flags at the beginning and end of the school day. Today, as I put our flag up, the same feeling of patriotism and American pride washed over me!

A Dream Realized

This weekend, Houston (along with several other U.S. cities) was part of the 48-Hour Film Project! Right here in Houston, sixty production teams had 48-Hours to write, shoot, edit, and turn in a completed short film. I was thrilled to be part of the acting ensemble for one of the teams!

Our production team, Moon Unit 9 Pictures, was headed by Michael Aschner. We had an amazing crew and a wonderful group of actors.

Every film made had to include the following elements:

Character: Sherman or Sharon Brown, recently unemployed

Prop: a book

Line of Dialogue: "There's a $2 service charge."

It was so cool to read our script for the first time and see how Michael wove those elements into the film.

Given the 48-Hour timeframe, the shooting was focused and intense! It was one of those days when it felt like only fifteen minutes had passed, and then I would realize it had actually been two hours! The awesome thing, though, is that when you are passionate about something, all of that focus and intensity feels like pure joy!

At one point, in a quiet moment when I was going from one shoot location to another, I had an awareness that I was living my dreams--that God, in His goodness, had realized one of my dreams! How sweet it is to receive a good and perfect gift from our Father!

He's doing that a lot lately! Thank You, GOD!

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." James 1:17

We have some exciting news over on our adoption blog!

Click HERE to see our big news!

Help me pick a new headshot!

Hello! About once every two or three years, I get new acting headshots taken. I'm super excited about finding photographer Claire McAdams. She's based in Austin, but comes through Houston 3 or 4 times a year to shoot here.

In the comments section below, please "vote" for your top three choices. I'd really appreciate your input. Thank you (and please forgive me if this seems live a ridiculous exercise in narcissism--I'm an actor...we can be that way sometimes)!

A:


B:


C:


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F:

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L:

Remembering Lynn Redgrave

Yesterday actress Lynn Redgrave passed away. The stage and the silver screen have lost a shining star.

In the mid-90s, my mother took me to see Lynn Redgrave perform her one-woman show, Shakespeare for my Father at the Alley Theatre in Houston. We waited to meet her after the show, and she was gracious and kind to us strangers.

I remember how brilliantly she used Shakespeare's plays to revisit her relationship with her father (Sir Robert Redgrave, a giant of the English stage). I admired her vulnerability, as she laid bare her soul's deep desire to know her deceased father better, and I respected how she could be honest about her own emotions (a deep longing for a closeness with him that he wasn't really able to give) while still honoring her father and his legacy.

You might remember her turn as the wife of prodigy pianist David Helfgott in the film Shine. Sheer genius! She brought such joy to her eccentric character, and I remember it vividly, even though I haven't seen the film for over a decade.

Thank you, Lynn, for YOUR legacy that lives on in your writings and film performances. And thank you most of all for your performance in Shakespeare for my Father that lives on in my memory. Your vulnerability on stage touched something in my soul, and I'm grateful.

I like to think of you reunited with your father in Heaven, finally getting to know each other the way you'd always hoped.

Lay her i' th' earth,

And from her fair and unpolluted flesh

May violets spring!

~Hamlet