Living in the China Moment

1am- shooting the nightlife segment

Day 7 was our longest, but best brainstorming day yet. We hit the tennis courts, did a spotlight interview with Michael Sicora, got down and dirty in the cafeteria, and FINALLY found the night life on campus.

shooting the cafeteria segment with USA's men's water polo team

Before shooting our nightlife segment, we hit up "The Wine Culture Experience" center where we met our new friend & college graduate Alex (next to me). This was the first native Chinese person that not only spoke english, but talked to us for longer then 5 minutes. We had been in China for 7 days now, with so many questions and no answers- Alex was in for it. 

But before bombarding Alex with questions,we had to know how every Chinese person had American names like: Alex, Nancy, Brenda, Lauren, Fred, Tom... Answer- They simply go down a list and pick their favorite name to share with tourists. 

After an hour of picking Alex's brain we were on the topic of living in the  moment, and in this moment we were in China for 17 days, working 15 of them, yet so close to unforgettable land marks. We were in quarter final territory for the games, but in a spur of the moment decision we had to see the Great Wall of China and Forbidden City...so we booked a 3hr flight to Beijing the next day, and our 1 day bullet trip of the moment was set in stone. 

motivation to Beijing

my fans that watched and documented every standup I shot

Day 7 Covering the World University Games for Fox College Sports

Day 6 in China

By day 6 our 12 hour shoot days were like a piece of lemon meringue pie (my fav)...and today was my first coach interview with legend in the making Brad Steven's- head coach at Butler University & assistant coach for USA's men's basketball team. Seeing that our men's basketball team had won every game by 30 points at this stage in the tournament, Brad was very confident and poised in his interview. However, he shared that his USA team was going to be challenged very soon and he they needed to continue to improve as the competition rose throughout the tournament. 

After the Steven's interview we drove 2 hours to the Shenzhen coast to shoot our 4 dominating beach volleyball teams. Now this coast was breathtaking, literally- it was so hot and humid you could barely breathe and the moment you stepped out of the car, you were an instant puddle of sweat. Thankfully the scenery was gorgeous, but not ideal for on-camera work. 

Annie's face says it all

We ended our shoot day at the swimming arena, where team USA won a handful of medals. 

Please note this photographer's epic rat tail

But our day was not over yet. Seeing as we were pretty sick of eating the cafeteria food twice a day, we decided to play a game of charades with our Chinese driver and try our first local food spot.

Despite the grotesque menu photos, the food was surprisingly deeeelicious.

Day 6 covering the World University Games for Fox College Sports

Swoopin up The Colony

After a year of hosting Bikini Rock's, this past event was my favorite. Even though it was the first BR I didn't host and just walked in the fashion show I still loved it. The venue, crowd and environment was electric.
All the models arrived around 4pm...I rolled in around 5:30 (always have to factor in Curry time), to get hair and make-up done for the big show. Doors opened at 9pm and the place was packed by 9:45, just in time for the 10pm bikini runway show. 

Backstage before the show with Jennifer Akerman (right) & Amy Maurer (left) all modeling Calavera swimwear.

Modeling Calavera

Modeling Smack swimwear

After the fashion show wearing KORE swinwear

Swoop- exporting southern California to the world.

Farming the farmers market

Besides the obvious reasons to attend your local farmers market each week: delicious foods, free samples, supporting your local farmers, getting fresh organic foods...it can actually save you money! Since you are getting your foods directly from the source, the prices are lower then those at your grocery stores. 

A couple other ways you can save money by shopping at the farmers market are: plan a few meals for the week and only buy the ingredients you need, buy foods that can be used in more then one meal, and always go with a list- this eliminates impulse buying. 

Here are my usual stops at the farmers market...

Each week I buy a whole rotisserie chicken- peal it, put it in a container, and refrigerate it. That way I can use the shredded chicken in meals throughout the week.

Daves Korean Food is my guilty pleasure and splurge at the FM. After he gives you a sample of EVERYTHING they sell, I limit myself to 3 things. This week I bought a tempha, spicy cucumber, and green seaweed salad. All of these things can be used in 4 different meals through out the week- salads, sandwiches, scrambles or stir-fry. 

Always get a couple veggies, but once again only buy what you know you will use that week.

I got 2 bell peppers, 1 eggplant, romaine lettuce, green onions and radishes all for under $6

Fruit is always great for snacks on the go

This week I went for berries. They go great with breakfast cereals, smoothies, snacks and with yogurt or sorbet as a healthy dessert.

And lastly I always get a couple dips & spreads

Baba's hummus is a FM favorite because you can taste every hummer before you buy it. Hummus is a great substitute for cheese, you can use it on sandwiches or as a snack with crackers or veggies.

My other favorite spread is Bolani's Garlic Mint Cheese. It's vegetarian, low-fat, low-calories, low-carbs and no cream is used. I use this spread on almost everything I eat.

Todays snack- beet hummus and Glutinos gluten free pretzels 

Another great way to save money on food is using leftovers! Here is a great blog about leftovers by my sister Megan... LEFTOVERS

The Bears Oktoberfest

Last week, was my spur of the moment & make time for fun week. Wednesday I became a surfer at San Onofre, Thursday was wine tasting in Murrieta and on Friday the 7 wonders took over Big Bear for some celebratory drinking at Oktoberfest. 

Our journey to Oktoberfest began Friday night as we blasted Celine Dion all the way up the mountain. Once we arrived at the Hesley cabin, we immediately took to the floor, put on our new socks, and tried to pop open to some wine....but we had one problem, no opener. So after a short walk to neighbor Jan's house, she explained that back in her alcoholic days, they would push the cork through the bottle with a screwdriver in desperate times...thanks Jan!

We stayed up till 3am laughing and catching up on the last 6 months of everyones life. Then thanks to my loud cackle laugh, we were all up again at 7:45am ready to take on the day. 

Saturday morning we prepared a delicious champaign breakfast then it was time to begin to get ready for Oktoberfest...and 4 hours later we arrived at the Big Bear convention center.

welcome to Oktoberfest

Kimmy learning the 2-step with her German man

Big Bear Oktoberfest has yet to disappoint. With live music, authentic German food, stein carrying competitions, petting zoo's, fair booths & bars all around selling mini kegs, we were set for the day.

my new favorite FROGGY HAT

moose head and froggy mouth

the hat got around...

Until next year...

Surfing my fears

I've lived walking distance from the beach for 24 years, spent every sunny day I could baking on the sand and swimming in ocean, but because of an old fear I never learned to surf. When I was 6 years old I witnessed a young girl getting pulled out of the water with a chunk of her leg missing from a collision with her surfboard fin. Apparently, that image was the only thing that came to mind every time I attempted to surf. But life is all about facing your fears, and after 18 years it turns out all I needed was a perfect day at San Onofre. 

Because I visualized myself sanding up and surfing for so many years, once I was in the water with my board, I knew what I wanted to do...

1st wave of the day- I was up and rode it all the way in.

2nd wave I was determined to angle- so I took a right all the way to the shore.

3rd wave- Jeff and I rode it in together.

It's official, I'm a surfer.

After a great day of surfing we packed up and were off to Murrieta to celebrate Clay's birthday.

the best adventure car EVER...my FORD Explorer. 

we chopped our own firewood 

had our own wine tasting

celebrated Clayton's birfday

and hiked through Hoover's 10 acre property. 

Once you face your fears, anything is possible.

Life is About the Journey, Not the Destination

It's time to live your life and follow your dreams...

The Dalai Lama, when asked what surprised him most about humanity, answered "Man. Because he sacrifices his heath in order to make money. then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived"

We live in a fast paced society, and forget to slow down & truly appreciate each day. Every week or month set your goals, and learn to be present in every step it takes to get there. 

The goals I set for 2010-2011

host on E! Entertainment

host on Fuel TV

write, co-executive produce and host my own show about the MLS

work with X-Games

travel around the world for work (covering the World University Games in China for Fox College Sports)

be a cover girl

Life is about the journey, not the destination.