The Apprentice's Roxanne Wilson details reality after a reality show. Follow Roxanne through her experiences as she writes her first book, speaks across the country, promotes charities, attends events, and much more.
So my time at The River is slowly becoming: The Domestication of Roxanne Wilson. Susie has vowed to get me married off and has a timeframe, I did my own hair (see the Maxiglide blog below), and I have been dabbling in the cooking arena. Yowzah! ---- So on Friday I had my girlfriends Carrie and Liz over for happy hour. We initially were going to go out, but it morphed into my place.
I guess all this talk about the River recipes has been rubbing off on me, because I decided I was going to cook! Or as some call it, 'prepare'.
I headed to the grocery store after the show on Friday got a few little nibbles: Meatballs Artichoke and Cheese pastries Cream Cheese wontons
All were frozen.
Check out what happened when I cooked the Meatballs with my secret ingredients...
Oops technical difficulties. What can I say, I am a one-woman operation here...
Meatballs cooking! Check. Now onto the spinach & cheese bits
So in the days of cutting back I am conscious of some things that could go. My hair appointments. I typically like to go to get my hair done once a week...before you raise an eyebrow, let me tell you that I am HORRIBLE with hair. To the point that my hair breaks off and falls out or just looks bad, if I don't get professional help.
But I am all for cutting back and honestly if I could take care of my hair on my own, that would be awesome. So my mom told me about this "As Seen On TV;" product she found. The MaxiGlide (which i realized on air yesterday I called it the Maxiplus. oops!)
Apparently it is supposed to work on all hair types and get the hair straight like a professional.
Knowing that my mom has amazing hair and is good at taking care of it, I was skeptical, but when she told me there was a 30-day trial, I decided to try it. So I called and ordered it. It came four days later...not bad.
So I got the MaxiGlide and I was ready to try it...
Here's the before
Here's the during
Not bad, but I am not completely sold. I will definitely use the 30 days to think about it.
If you have used the MaxiGlide, let me know at Roxanne Wilson
So one of my coworkers took a picture of me at my desk and posted it on Twitter . Since then I have gotten tweets (messages) on my Twitter account concerned for my lack of decoration.
For example: Girl, get some pictures up in your office... do I need to come decorate your desk like I did my husband's?11:24 AM Mar 24thfrom TwitPic
----- Thanks to all for your concern, but have no fear...it was just the angle at which the picture was shot. In the five months since I started at The River, I have indeed started decorating...
Join in on the Twitter fun. To see Roxanne's Twitter page click here. To see The River's page click here.
So SXSW was last week, and after my birthday, I wanted to be a part of the the action. I am a single girl....SXSW is not in my budget. So my mission: To experience SXSW on a shoe string budget--aka No Badge & No Wristband. No expectations, just an open mind, and an empty wallet...
Jackson Walker? Are they related to Jerry Jeff? Day 1: Wednesday March 18
A buddy of mine from my lawyer days works at Jackson Walker and invited me to their party. The food was awesome: 34th Street Cafe Catering (part of 34th Street Cafe). Spinach Artichoke dip, Asian salad served in little Chinese takeout boxes with chopsticks, and more! Highlight: Meeting two River Listeners who were also enjoying the party.
Running Total: One Band 34th Street Cafe Food Drinks Total: $0.00 So far so good... Music and Mammograms Day 2, Thursday March 19: Free Music at the Pita Pit
So it turns out that some of the musicians from my church, Riverbend, landed a gig during SXSW playing at the Pita Pit on 6th street. So I cruised over there and met up with my buddy Aimee before the Mammo Gram Mixer, drank a smoothie and listened to them play. I actually found out they are playing regularly at Uncorked Wine Bar as well... Check them out on MySpace Miranda Dodson Bob Barney Chase Gassaway Nathan Hubble Self-taken pic of Aimee & me...she was my partner in crime for a lot of this experience.
Really bad pic...I know
Running Total:
Four Bands 34th Street Cafe Food
Drinks Smoothie
Total: $3.49 Not bad...
Then I headed to the March Mammogram Mixer for my station 102.3 The River. There was a great group of ladies there and we had fun getting to know each other. After the mixer, I headed home to take a taxi and head back out to the Parish to listen to Hotel Cafe Tour featuring Meiko, Sara Barielles. Need I say more? But I didn't want to deal with parking. Hence the taxi. Forty-Five minutes later...still waiting on that taxi.
I decided that it wasn't meant to be and went to sleep instead.
SXSW or Bust! Day 3 March 20, Friday
Well at this point, I was determined to make sure that I made the most of my Friday...SXSW would be over before I knew it...after Family Friendly Mornings, I headed home. My brother (not by blood) Daniel, met up with me and we walked to Sixth Street from my place. We were down there by 11am...And that is when the night got interesting...more to follow. ;-)
As we were walking, we stopped by the Convention Center to find out if they had tickets to any free shows. That's when we found out that Ben Harper was performing later. Exciting! So we got tickets and then headed to Sixth Street.
We stopped by Maggie Mae's who by the way gave away a recycled bag with a cd, guitar pick and more inside. We listened to a few of those bands and ate complimentary queso before we left.
Running Total: Six Bands 34th Street Cafe Food Queso
Drinks
Smoothie
Total: $3.49...Staying Strong
What band are you in?
As we were walking around Sixth Street, taking in the music, we saw a sign for SPIN Magazine on the door of Old Pecan Street Cafe. Daniel suggested we go over there and we did. Apparently you had to have a gray wristband to get into the party. Well Daniel did so they shooed him in and assumed that since I was with him, I needed a wristband. So they gave me one. When we walked up the stairs, we were in another world. The world of musicians. It was an artist party complete with free drinks, free food (catered by Wahoo's tacos), and free swag! Allow me to describe: there were white draped partitions, like when you go to a trade show. One had sunglasses in it, the other Airwalk shoes, and the final one had Tommy Hilfiger clothes. This was in addition to the free samples of Calvin Klein cologne, as well as all sorts of other goodies around the room.
And get this, all of the swag was there for the taking. A rep assisted you in trying it on and you could have what you wanted. I got two pairs of shoes: flip flops and tennies. I didn't have the guts to take any of the Tommy Hilfiger stuff...although they made a point of telling me I could have anything I wanted, but I was an imposter, so I couldn't. I passed on a beautiful leather purse and an lovely leather jacket. Sigh. Running Total: Six Bands 34th Street Cafe Food
Drinks Queso
Smoothie
Two Pairs of Shoes Three Recycled Bags Five Perfume Samples One Ipod Case Regret of not getting the leather jacket Total: $3.49...
Who is Gomez anyway? Anyway after the party, we met up with my friends David (he is also one of my pastors at Riverbend) and Aimee, and headed to the free concert at La Zona Rosa - Gomez was performing. I recognized one of their songs, and the rest were unknown to me, but they were good. They are a British band. With a name like Gomez, I thought for sure they would be anything but British.
After the concert we walked from La Zona Rosa (which is near Whole Foods) all the way back to the Convention Center to see Ben Harper. We stood in line for about an 40 minutes (the line was extremely long)...to ensure that we got in. Naturally they passed out more tickets then there was availability...not to worry. We were early...
Running Total: Seven Bands 34th Street Cafe Food
Drinks
Queso
Smoothie
Two Pairs of Shoes Three Recycled Bags Five Perfume Samples One Ipod Case
Regret of not getting the leather jacket Tired feet--La Zona Rosa is a tough place to stand in Total: $3.49...
Ben Harper at the Bat Bar...aka room in the Convention Center
Ben Harper was awesome! He sang songs off his upcoming CD, so I didn't know any of them, but I liked them. I mean it's Ben! Here is some poor quality video I took on my phone...But maybe you can feel like you were there...
Short people have....reason to live
Okay but let's get serious for a moment, something was bugging me enough to facebook about it right there...
Roxanne Wilson Being 5'3 & some change is not advantageous when you are standing @ Ben Harper's concert...tall peeps have no concept of their size. Like small dogs.
March 20 at 5:46pm
Jill likes this.
at 6:06pm March 20
Not cool man...not cool. What would you like us to do? I'm open to suggestions. PS I love Ben Harper!! xoxox
Roxanne Wilson at 6:08pm March 20 via Facebook Mobile
Ben Harper love you too. I would like you to stand in the back. you can still see... hee hee
at 6:22pm March 20 via Facebook Mobile
Um yeah try being even SHORTER like me. Oh well, rock the cute factor.
at 7:31pm March 20
Yeah, pretty much be cuter than the tall ones. That's MO.
at 7:45pm March 20
You're all cute! :)
at 10:54pm March 20
yea! ben harper!
Running Total: Eight Bands 34th Street Cafe Food
Drinks
Queso
Smoothie
Two Pairs of Shoes Three Recycled Bags Five Perfume Samples One Ipod Case
Regret of not getting the leather jacket
Tired feet--La Zona Rosa is a tough place to stand in Great Facebook dialogue: Short v. Tall Total: $3.49...
Feed me Seymour
Next stop? Slight detour for a Surprise Birthday Party @ 219 West.
The great thing about this detour is that it was more like an EATour.
Being on my feet for eight hours called for sitting and eating. If you haven't tried their shallot fries and mini burgers and corndogs at 219, you are missing out. No lie!
Running Total: Eight Bands 34th Street Cafe Food
Drinks
Queso
Smoothie
Two Pairs of Shoes Three Recycled Bags Five Perfume Samples One Ipod Case
Regret of not getting the leather jacket
Tired feet--La Zona Rosa is a tough place to stand in
Great Facebook dialogue: Short v. Tall Shallot Fries Mini Corndogs Mini Burgers Total: $13.32 Dinner did me in...
If at first you don't succeed...
So I mentioned earlier that the Hotel Café Tour was going on but I missed it on Thursday because I couldn’t get a taxi and didn’t really want to walk in the dark. Well we found out that the group of musicians from Hotel Café were doing another performance @ the Ale House---a club located in the alley behind sixth street. So David, Aimee, Thom (our newest community pastor at Riverbend) decided to go check that out. When we walk over to the Ale House, the SXSW volunteer at the door enlightens us that this performance is Badges/Wristbands only aka people who paid money. Sigh. We weren’t giving up so easily. Well known fact about the Ale house…it is connected to Shakespeare’s pub on sixth street. The only thing that stands between it is a gate. I will credit David with what happened next. We walked over to Shakespeare’s to see if we could get in.
David & Me @ my birthday...David gets credit for what happens next
We walk up and all go in, or so I thought. Sweet Thom left his ID in his car…’rookie mistake’! * Sidebar: Thom and his wife Anita just moved from S. Dakota. Bless his heart, he hasn’t been carded in years, so naturally he had no idea that he needed to walk around with it in ATX (Austin, Texas). So Thom headed back to 4 ½ blocks to his car to get his ID. Thinking that his free spot by the post office was too far, Thom decided to drive closer…on a Friday night, during SXSW, in ATX. Needless to say he drove around for forever and then gave up and headed home. Poor Thom! Lesson: If you find a free spot in downtown Austin on a weekend, keep it!
Back at Shakespeare’s I am somehow elected to take the lead and sneak through the unlocked gate. I head toward the gate as a waitress is walking through. She stops me and I ask her if the ______’s (insert name of owner) is in there…(I know a lot of people in Austin). She says yes and that the Ale House is SXSW. I shake my head knowingly, and she lets me through. David and Aimee scurry in behind me. Eureeka! Running Total: Eight Bands 34th Street Cafe Food
Drinks
Queso
Smoothie
Two Pairs of Shoes Three Recycled Bags Five Perfume Samples One Ipod Case
Regret of not getting the leather jacket
Tired feet--La Zona Rosa is a tough place to stand in
Great Facebook dialogue: Short v. Tall Shallot Fries
Mini Corndogs
Mini Burgers One Rejection Risk of being kicked out Adrenaline Rush Total: $13.32
You never know who you will run into in Austin, Texas
As we are standing there enjoying the music of Tyrone Wells (who was awesome, and by the way is the son and grandson of pastors…tres cool), I glance at the door and see what I think is a mirage. It’s a man with sunglasses, a full head of hair and a familiar face. Could it be? No, yes! As I look to Aimee to tell her, her mouth is mouthing the words that are in my head.
I will let my Facebook post tell the rest of the story....
Roxanne Wilson Matthew Mcconaughey just joined me @ hotel cafe tour sxsw. Baby momma is here too. They are standing right next to me. In my almost 6yrs in ATX I've never seen him. I turn 30 & bam.
March 20 at 11:19pm ·
at 11:24pm March 20 via Facebook Mobile
Love it!
at 11:25pm March 20
is he wearing a shirt?
at 11:30pm March 20
Does he stink?!?
at 11:37pm March 20
OMG I AM SOOOO JEALOUS! I've wanted to meet him sooo bad.
at 12:50am March 21
WHO??
at 12:51am March 21
OHHHH... M.Mc. and his woman... I get you now. AWESOME! Tell him to find a beach and do some push-ups. :)
Roxanne Wilson at 2:46am March 21
They stood right next to us, bumping into us the whole time. Oh and they made out like crazy. I also talked to Sara Barielles!
Roxanne Wilson at 2:47am March 21
I didn't smell him. He was clothed and wore sunglasses.
at 7:48am March 21 via Facebook Mobile
Why was I not with you last night???uggg!!! Glad your having fun!
Roxanne Wilson at 8:08am March 21
Lady that is a good question...we need to remedy that.
at 8:46am March 21
I told you 30 was good!
Yes indeed, Matthew walked into the Ale House and then stood right next to me with his baby momma (aka mother of his child). He had an entourage of at least ten people hanging out around us. All of them were tall and dwarfed me. Matthew and baby momma kept bumping into me as they danced to Roco Deluca and I just stood their laughing to myself. How surreal. I loved him in "A Time to Kill" and "The Wedding Planner," not to mention many other movies. And there he was.
Running Total: Thirteen Bands 34th Street Cafe Food
Drinks
Queso
Smoothie
Two Pairs of Shoes Three Recycled Bags Five Perfume Samples One Ipod Case
Regret of not getting the leather jacket
Tired feet--La Zona Rosa is a tough place to stand in
Great Facebook dialogue: Short v. Tall Shallot Fries
Mini Corndogs
Mini Burgers
One Rejection
Risk of being kicked out Matthew Mcconaughey sighting Dilemma of whether to ever wash the right side of my body again (KIDDING) Total: $13.32 Now this is a bargain
I'm not going to write you a love song.. By now the place is crowded, and as I am looking up at the stage (or trying to because I am so short), I see this woman that I recognize. River Artist, Sara Barielles! She sings "Love Song," and my personal favorite, '"Gravity." By know I am feeling fearless, what with Matthew and baby momma (who is a model) by my side. so I tap Sara on the shoulder and say, hello and tell her that I am excited about her performing on Tuesday (for our sister station) She was sweet as pie, and asked my name. After she walked away, I turned to Aimee and David and said, that was Sara Barielles. Both of them looked stunned and bummed.
We spent the rest of the night there and after 2am headed to Aimee's car (David left a good hour before...). We couldn't stop talking about what a great day it had been. Off to bed...Tomorrow Racheal Ray's Party Running Total: Thirteen Bands 34th Street Cafe Food
Drinks
Queso
Smoothie
Two Pairs of Shoes Three Recycled Bags Five Perfume Samples One Ipod Case
Regret of not getting the leather jacket
Tired feet--La Zona Rosa is a tough place to stand in
Great Facebook dialogue: Short v. Tall Shallot Fries
Mini Corndogs
Mini Burgers
One Rejection
Risk of being kicked out Matthew Mcconaughey sighting Dilemma of whether to ever wash the right side of my body again (KIDDING)
Sara Barielles meeting Total: $13.32 I could be done now! Yum-O Susie and I had the pleasure of getting VIP passes to Rachael Ray's SXSW party. Racheal's husband is in a band called Cringe. And she throws the party with great food and performances by Cringe as well as others. I have to tell you how tired I was. My body didn't want to move from walking all over downtown yesterday, but SXSW calls. We tried to get an interview with Racheal, but it wasn't meant to be. We ate food though... ;-) We are working on getting a recipe however for the River Cookbook. Stay tuned... Here is the skinny on the party:
The food:
The review:
After the party, I went home and laid on my couch with little interruption from 3pm until 2am! Exhaustion!!!
Running Total: Thirteen Bands 34th Street Cafe Food
Drinks
Queso
Smoothie
Two Pairs of Shoes Three Recycled Bags Five Perfume Samples One Ipod Case
Regret of not getting the leather jacket
Tired feet--La Zona Rosa is a tough place to stand in
Great Facebook dialogue: Short v. Tall Shallot Fries
Mini Corndogs
Mini Burgers
One Rejection
Risk of being kicked out Matthew Mcconaughey sighting Dilemma of whether to ever wash the right side of my body again (KIDDING)
Sara Barielles meeting Rachael Ray's food (see above) Rachael Ray sighting and almost introduction/picture
Total: $13.32 Now this is a bargain My conclusion: SXSW CAN be done in THIS economy for next to nothing. I only paid for dinner Friday and a smoothie on Thursday! And I had good, clean fun...bonded with my buddies. It was priceless!
I highly recommend trying it out next year. We are gifted to have such a major even right here in town every year. Next year I want to add on the film part...Yeah Baby!
So my birthday was on Tuesday. Also St. Patrick's day. As a St. Patty's baby, I happily embrace the union of both holidays. It has always been great to see the world celebrate my birthday. Green is the theme.
I turned 30 this year. Wow how time flies. And I don't think that has totally hit me... But I did decide to take the green theme to a new level for the 30th.
So I wore a leprechaun outfit. No lie... It's the one day of the year that I traditionally dress up, so why not go the extra mile right? Too fun. Thanks for all of the birthday wishes...it's a new year and I am thankful for you, my family and my friends.
