New Year's.

Fall Acting Update.

This

past fall season I
was pleased as pie working on numerous exciting projects.  Here

are a handful of highlights I want to
share with you:

• Booked and filmed the lead
  in a 1950’s era film; SWEET APPLE PIE.


• Launched my website:  www.ashleyyazzie.com


• Refined my on-camera technique in a 8
  week intensive; taught by renowned acting coach Christinna Chauncey.


• Earned my first IMDB credit via
  BOYSENBERRY PIE!


• On-going reader for WE MAKE MOVIES
  writer’s workshop: www.wemakemovies.org


• Attended
  SAG events.  Learned key elements for
  successful agent/client relationships.

In

the winter months I'll be updating new footage for my demo reel,
finalizing details for my website, and working on some
impending top-secret projects!

In

other breaking
news:  I now have a new, favorite book.  Do yourself a
literary favor and obtain a copy of Sherman Alexie's THE ABSOLUTELY TRUE
DIARY OF A PART TIME INDIAN.  You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll thank me
repeatedly upon completion.

Wishing

you a prosperous New Year, 



Ashley

2010.

This past year embodied checking things off of my to do list. It was all about getting the things accomplished that I've said I wanted to do. Turning wants into reality is NOT easy. It meant being uncomfortable and having my fingertips turn to prunes. It meant going out of my comfort zone.




January brought a gig for Bunnie.  He is always happiest when he's creating music.  It also brought a serious automobile accident for my sister Chanelle.  I am grateful for her not only surviving, but making physical progress daily.  

February brought some spiritual goals to fruition; including visiting the Temple more often. After Chanelle's accident and spending a week in a hospital waiting room, I craved quiet reflection.  I took a break from auditioning because I needed some time to heal.  In happier moments, I mastered French Toast {here.} which was a huge culinary triumph for me!

March brought my sister to California.  After months of rehabilitation, she needed some down time.  We visited the Farmer's Market, had adventure, played with chalk, and annoyed Bryan.  It was a pleasant time filled with food, giggling, and shopping....of course.  I also enjoyed modeling Rachel's beautiful dress.  

April ushered spring and change in the apartment. Bryan continued flourishing in his design work doing free lance design for a local retailer. Meanwhile I saved money to take an acting class, and participated in work shops. Oh, and then I chopped five inches off of the length of my hair. 

It felt amazing. It looked sassy. It curled by itself.  It was great. But yes, I have been growing it out ever since.  I just love having ridiculously long hair.  So what?  Who cares?

May carried the Yazzie clan to the desert cities stowing our families. We drove through Arizona and stopped for a night with my mom, curving up to Albuquerque, visiting Uncle Marty for a few days.  I loved Santa Fe and spending the day as tourists. Our final destination was Farmington, which brought my favorite destination of the year, hiking the Aztec ruins.  It was incredible.  

June brought Bryan's Birthday, and Soba's first extended road trip. I started a new feature on my blog coined as "What I Wore Wednesday."  It's been a challenge trying to style new outfits, and to make the photos visually interesting.  

Our little family continued to laugh, flourish, and endure a cold July.  We only used the pool twice all summer long!  We saw The Dead Weather play at the Palladium.  It was epic. Our friends Chris and Melissa were pregnant, and moved to Philadelphia for promotions with Urban.  The greatest personal triumph of the month, and year for that matter, was finishing my first ever demo reel!  {here.}

August was a creative month for me.  Two of my favorite wardrobe/stylings came in August. I loved the lighting and color. Bryan and I ran into a bout of bad luck; my car was broken into/stereo stolen, and Bryan's car was severely hit by a drunk driver being chief on the list.  I was grateful for Scott offering for Bryan and I to stay at his family beach house at Seal Beach.  It was breathtakingly gorgeous. 

In August we fell in love with the t.v. show MAD MEN, I found the courage to wear a bikini, and I started film reviews every Friday for fun rentals.  

September is my favorite month of the year.  It brings change, cold weather clothes, tights, boots, mulled apple cider, and my Birthday.  I had a fantastic dinner party with girl friends, nibbled on cupcakes, and wore my beautiful, new lace dress.  I was also cast in a short film entitled, SWEET APPLE PIE.  Where I was the principal character.  She was a tough broad.  I didn't like her much.  But I loved playing her. I also enrolled for a film class focusing on auditioning for network television.  This was huge for me.  Huge!

October.  October meant Bryan landing a dream-come-true promotion at Space 15 Twenty, after submitting an extremely detailed, elaborate proposal.  I cried.  We also had the Annual Yazzie Pumpkin Party.  I love going to the pumpkin patch to pick out our pumpkins.  I made Bryan watch THE GREAT PUMPKIN CHARLIE BROWN {against his will of course.}  I thrived in my film class, though it came with much crying fits, and feelings of inadequacy.  I felt that I was making progress, and that brought me happiness. 

November was gorgeous.  It was filled with concerts, including my favorite concert of 2010; BLONDE REDHEAD at the Music Box Theater in Hollywood.  We had Thanksgiving with the Nobles, and Court's family at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Beverly Hills.  It was lovely.  I jotted down many things I was grateful for.  My family and sweet heart made the top of the list.  I also fell in love with black ribbon, and used it everywhere.  

December slipped through our fingers.  Bryan started his promotion.  We visited my mother and sister in Arizona, and completely enjoyed ourselves. I decorated the house by myself, an early Christmas present to Bryan!  We celebrated 7 years of a remarkable, loving, comical marriage.  We had the best dinner ever, at Craft of Beverly Hills. We chatted about our favorite highlights of our marriage. We celebrated Christmas. We loved the season, and the year.  We feel fortunate that 2010 started out with tragedy, but blossomed into a brilliant opportunistic year.  We look forward with bated breath for 2011.

Who inspired H&M's Winter 2010 Mannequins?

Frizzy, red Afros are infiltrating the retailer coined as H&M all over the country.  But who inspired this wily, unkempt look?  Our raving reporter Pansy Pumpernickel knocked on every door, and searched every corner for answers.  After numerous dead ends, she finally received legitimate confirmation from the company's own visual manager, Kiki McGee. 




P.P.  Kiki....May I call you Kiki?

K.M.  Certainly.

P.P.  After searching every niche and crevice in the universe, I must know.  Rather, the world must know.  Who inspired the kinky, ginger afros gracing the retail mecca known as H&M?

K.M. This is delicate information.  But, Ashley did.  Ashley Yazzie.  Her insane frizz was the inspiration for our winter 2010 mannequins.

P.P.  You don't say?  But her hair usually looks relatively tame!

K.M.  Tut, tut.  Then you've never seen Ashley right after she wakes up, or whilst enduring intense humidity, nor when she allows her locks to roam without product or constraints.  

P.P.  I must confess, I am completely shocked and dismayed.  

K.M.  And yet we at H&M embrace Mrs. Yazzie for her troll-like hair.  It reminds one of simpler, happier, and luckier times.  

P.P.  There you have it.  The mystery has been solved.  Ashley Yazzie's crazy coils inspire retailers and buyers alike to embrace their inner, and outer Afros. 

Creativity Tuesday on a Wednesday: What I'm reading.

Remember when I did the rave film review of THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY {here?}  Well, husband bought me the book that inspired the screenplay.  I started it three months ago, then promptly misplaced it in a suitcase for two months.  I recently unearthed it, and now I'm back to cherishing it.  It's a gentle read, with most chapters being two page vignettes.  I'm in awe that every painstaking word was constructed via his only means of communication; the blinking of his left eye.  If he can wright a book through such utterly desperate means, what can you and I achieve with our full faculties?  This book humbles me, and inspires. 




The following excerpt relates to the vivid, imaginary feasts Bauby creates in his mind, as he can no longer eat for himself.




"Now I cultivate the art of simmering memories.  You can sit down to a meal at any hour, with no fuss or ceremony.  If it's a restaurant, no need to call ahead.  If I do the cooking, it is always a success.  The boeuf bourguignon is tender, the boeuf en gelee translucent, the apricot pie possesses just the requisite tartness.  Depending on my  mood, I treat myself to a dozen snails, a plate of Alsatian sausage with sauerkraut, and a bottle of Gewurztraminer; or else I savor a simple soft boiled egg with fingers of toast and lightly salted butter.  What a banquet!  The yolk flows warmly over my palate and down my throat.  And indigestion is never a problem."

Muddy.

Nothing says Christmas Eve like an extremely muddy run through Griffith Park.

It came upon a midnight clear.

Christmas came to our home.  In the morning we binged on doughnuts, played Christmas records, and called our families in Arizona and New Mexico. Each member of the Yazzie family had exactly three gifts to open.  Soba received; a dog tag from our neighbor Fred, green and red raw hides, and snowman toys. Bryan received; a wool blanket, a work pack, and lessons for archery.  I received; a wool cardigan, a native print romper, and a beautiful silk frock. {loved!}  Side note:  I had several costume changes during Christmas. 

Being from the southwest, our family has a tradition of eating Mexican food for Christmas. This year I made rice, beans, corn, sauteed shrimp, guacamole and chips, and let Trader Joe's provide the enchiladas and tamales.  It was delicioso.  I love my little family.  Do you have any odd Christmas traditions?