California Braces

I got to LA and COMPLETELY forgot to blog. I was spending way too much time panicking about my future. ... good thing that's over... ha...ha.

So braces made it! Woo hoo!!

First thing's first: I have ortho appointment's next week. Here's hoping my movement schedule is not off. Maybe they will even have good news like - it will cost less or be on for less time??? Am I asking too much??? Because I would pay ONE MILLION DOLLARS for these braces to come off tomorrow... of course I would have to put that on my credit card.

Anyway, just mainly hoping the sun doesn't burn my mouth gear. Hot metal in my mouth would not be fun. Maybe it is a good time to learn to weld?

Day 5- Lake Tahoe !!!!!!

Oh... WHO KNEW? Lake Tahoe is gorgeous. And I haven't even seen much yet.

Today's drive was the longest but still not bad, other than I got a little dehydrated and TOO much sun so poor Alex drove a little bit more than planned today. I finally have a photo to share. I snapped this on the highway in Nevada.

Day 4- missed a spot!!

Day 3 was Denver, and it was so cool I forgot to blog.

Day 4- Salt Lake City. Here visiting family, which is really really great. The drive today was absolutely gorgeous!! I love rocks!! Who knew?

Funny thing? Got an oil change and new air filter in Cheyenne and the guy asked where I was moving (he somehow noticed my entire backseat packed to the brim, very observant). When I told him I was moving to LA he said I was the 3rd person in about a week to be moving across the country to LA and stopped in for an oil change!! No kidding! Looks like it is meant to be. Pictures to come later... time zone catching up with me... sleep...pillow...head...gnight.

Day 2 - Lincoln, NE

So tired... sleep is hitting me.....

Today's Highlights!

Village Inn- it is a chain in Iowa and Nebraska similar to IHOP. So much food for your money and on Wednesday's you get a free slice of pie... unfortunately today is Thursday.

Gas Tank- Seriously the closest I ever came to running out of gas. We followed the GPS to find a gas station that took us 20 minutes off the highway in the middle of NO WHERE. As I ranted about the check gages light on the dash, Alex said, and I quote, "Chels you have to stop because now you're freaking me out." Got gas with probably 5 drivable miles left. WHEW..

Meredith- lovely friend from NYC whose parents and her are letting us stay the night. So wonderful!

p.s. braces still rockin it but I'm feeling a LOT of soreness where I think they are moving the fastest. Also booked another consultation in LA today!

Day 1 - Peoria, IL

We made it to Peoria!!

Today was the loveliest of days! Started with a nice breakfast at Cafe Zola in Ann Arbor. Then a 6 hour drive to Peoria, IL where my sister Maggie lives. The weather and road trip was GORGEOUS. Let's hope the rest of the days are just as nice. And you know the old expression "that won't fly in Peoria" Well, Alex and I - pretty sure we fly! haha. At least no one has asked us to leave yet.

We didn't take too many photos, and none on my camera since the battery died, so there will probably be a photo montage at the end. Besides, I love montages. Until then this will have to suffice.

Maggie's living room has dramatic lighting. You know how we do.

BRACES NEWS: Today there was a posting on an Actor job website for the role of a young girl and the AD said "it would be nice if she had braces." HUZZAH.

Day 0 - Road Trip materializes

AHHHH!!! OH MY GOD!!! IT'S HERE!!!!!

not like I'm freaking out or anything but the road trip begins tomorrow. I am search of gold so I thought I would move to California. (How else am I supposed to pay for my new smile?)

My intention is to blog on the the road so it may be less brace- related and more cross country oriented blogging. DEAL WITH IT. or not. whatevs.

Already some exciting things have happened.

1. I walked into a wall last night. To my defense all the lights were off in my sisters house and I didn't want to wake anyone up. But what a lovely way to start! I can't wait to see if the bump starts coloring!

2. I bought my friend Alex a ticket on Spirit Airlines from NYC to Detroit so she could join me on my road trip. (seriously, picture me driving in a car across the country by myself. I would arrive in LA with multiple personalities). But Spirit decided to go on strike this week and cancel all flights. (they called me and were like hey, we really need to strike, and I was like DO IT so it will give me something to blog about - not). Yesterday morning I purchased a ticket for Alex to fly in TODAY = $$$$$$ Fun FUN FUN

3. Bought new tires. Woo Hoo!

4. A road trip when you can chew better than you have in almost three months - Priceless

Check in Daily if you are curious about what the West looks like!!! OMG Here we go!!!

Look at them now!!

Photos! Photos! Photos!

Today is a photo blog! Why? Well, because for some reason the Less you have to do, the harder it is to get everything done. I apparently FEAST on being overwhelmed with work. ALSO, in my defense, not much has happened in the braces department. But I could make stuff up?

Oh my God! So I'm here in Bay City, hometown of yours truly and Madonna!! (I know she likes to say she is from Detroit but that is because she thinks Bay City will mean nothing to people not from Michigan. She's wrong. Oftentimes it means nothing to people FROM Michigan). ANYWAY, I'm walking in to St. Laurent Brothers Nut House - chocolate covered nuts not straight jacket covered nuts- and who do I see? My old friend Madge! (Well old friend is kind of strong. I once knew a girl who was distantly related by 2nd cousins.)

So I saunter over to her beautiful daughter Lourdes and I say, "Nice copper chops" to which she replies "sweet brace face" to which I retort "what are you doing here? buying carmels and nuts so you can stare at them longingly?" Next thing I know the three of us are sitting at the Dockside Bar sipping mojitos and laughing about my Madonna impressions I used to do in my living room at the age of 7. Then we are laughing over the fact that the mint in the mojitos is stuck in Lourdes and my Braces. THEN we are giggling because Lourdes is 15 with braces and I am 25!!!! Oh... good times! Good thing we snapped a quick photo!

Now I am passing the gauntlet over to my beautiful friends who offered their brace faces for this blog. To be fair I am posting a "Where are they Now?" Photo so you can see just how lovely they really look.

Erin Farrell

Braces photo- Junior Prom. Serious Bummer, but she looks gorgeous anyway.

Kirsten Benjamin. She got this photo mailed to her from her mother! When she opened it up she really had a moment of hiding it from me and saying she never got it in time. But she came to her senses and handed it over. But look at her now!! Gorgeous! And she also mentioned that her brother had braces as well, but he had the sense to keep his mouth shut. I love the Christmas Velour!