Model and Talent Expo.. Ricky is on his way to stardom!

• November 17-21
• The 2010 Fall Model & Talent EXPO
• Dallas, Texas
• By Invitation Only!
• The Model & Talent EXPO, presented by Mike Beaty, is the most exciting model and talent discovery event of the year. The world's top model and talent agents will be there to meet you. The EXPO offers you a world of opportunities all under one roof. The EXPO is a highly selective event where only the best are invited!
• The Model & Talent EXPO has successfully placed models, actors, singers and dancers with the top agencies and managers from around the world. EXPO participants can be seen in fashion shows, magazines, catalogs, national print campaigns, TV shows, sitcoms, soap operas, movies and Broadway. Many of the singers have received major recording contracts. You will meet the Who's Who in the modeling and talent industry at Mike Beaty's Model & Talent EXPO.
• The EXPO'S concept is to showcase the individual. Agents and Managers come to see you audition and can launch your careers

• http://www.modelandtalentexpo.com/mte/home.html

• Ricky has been invited to this! Of course it comes with a cost! If you would like to help him reach his chance at this amazing opportunity we are selling raffle tickets at the low cost of $10 a piece!  The prize is a cruise for two March 2011 (exact week yet to be determined) plus $500 spending money. We are selling them up until the day we leave for Dallas! The drawing will be held November 29th..
• Lots of great info is listed on the website above including success stories, scouts that will be there. This is a legit expo! Here is just a little bit more information on what Expo is. Ricky is competing in almost all areas from acting- monologue, cold-read, and 2 person scene, singing, guitar, songwriting, and modeling. 

Model and Talent Expo presented by Mike Beaty is an educational and career-building event like none other for people interested in the modeling and performing arts fields. The Expo is designed to allow aspiring models, actors, singers and o showcase their abilities in front of some of the world's most prominent agents, managers, casting directors, recording labels and clients. The Expo features workshops and seminars by industry professionals where one can learn about all aspects of the industry, such as: runway techniques, acting techniques, dance, audition styles, photography, film work, hair and makeup artistry, styling, and internships. During the four days of auditions, seminars and workshops, participants will gain insight into how they fit into these exciting fields. Since 1992, the Expo has brought models, actors and performers together with power house decision makers in the modeling and entertainment industries. The Expo has a proven track record of changing lives. The Expo is an exclusive event and only those selected from approved agencies or schools can attend. Whether participants move on to a career in front of or behind the camera, a discover a venue they didn't think possible, the Expo gives them valuable experience and knowledge, as well as a boosted self-esteem. In four fun-filled days, participants will get the chance to audition in runway, photography, monologues, cold read TV commercials, TV scenes, swimsuit, singing and dancing. In addition, they will attend educational seminars, one-on-one interviews with scouts, and an awards banquet. Come to the Expo and experience a world of opportunity all under one roof!

UT Bound? Time will tell!

Well not long ago I posted Marc's college status and having his mind set on staying as close to home as possible. I was beginning to wonder if he was really mine! Hahaha. He was very interested in attending UTSA or Texas State. You know his mind was set to being able to come home whenever he felt like it for home-cooked meals and more. Ricardo and I have been throwing out the idea of looking at other schools, UT being one that was mentioned frequently. Marc has mentioned that he's strongly thinking about a business degree. UT has one of the top 10 business programs in the nation. So yeah of course we were pushing UT. The tuition is not too bad AND we would get in-state price and it's fairly close to home. Ok maybe a little too close if you ask me! Hahaha. After all when I think of going away to college I mean farther away than 45 minutes-1hour, which is how far UT is.  Well I have a cousin who is a junior there and Marc made arrangements one weekend to hang out with him. Ever since that visit Marc has been dead set on attending UT and is determined to get in there somehow, someway. I just knew it! I knew that once he was given a real feel of what college is about, of what Austin is really like, etc. that Marc would really want to go there. I think I do know my child just a little and really felt that UT would be a good fit for him. If not UT, then the surrounding Austin colleges such as St Edwards and Huston-Tillotson. Since the visit there he has gotten very serious about the whole college thing such as what he needs to make on his SAT's to get in, financial aid and more.  Can you say we are happy that UT is now in the running for possible colleges? Oh YES! Hook Em Horns! Now, if he choses somewhere other than UT I will be content. I heard in someones speech back when Marc was in the 2nd grade that the question should not be are you going to college, but where are you going? That being said we are in the stages now of SAT prep, financial aid, scholarships, etc. It's an exciting time right now, yet so hard to believe that 18 yrs has flown by right before my eyes!

We have a rising star in the house!

Not long ago Ricardo saw an ad about auditioning for some top agencies, including Nickelodeon, Disney and many others. Of course we mentioned this to Ricky and he was all for it! We weren’t really sure what to expect. I was actually thinking we might be auditioning that day at the meeting we were going to. Well we went an it turns out it was an information meeting at one of the local fashion and talent agencies here in town. This company was holding auditions and if they liked what they saw, your child would get an invite to this big Expo held in Dallas in November where the top agencies will be at. Ricky was really excited to show these people what he was all about. He was prepared to sing and maybe a do a little skit. He was given a short script/cold read part for a Pringles commercial and given a few minutes to go over his part. When it was his turn to go back he did his thing and then sang Billionaire. Well, needless to say when his turn was up we were called back and were told how great Ricky's natural raw talent was. We were given the invite and of course we said yes to that! We are really excited for this wonderful opportunity that Ricky has been given, which will ultimately be a life changing experience. Can I say we are hoping for a call back from Disney or Nickelodeon? You bet! More info on Expo in another post. 

School is back in session!

Ricky is in 6th. Justin is in 10th. Marc is in 12th! Hard to believe that in one year he will graduate and go onto college. I hear day after day that I am way to young looking to having kids in high school. Of course I’m not! Thats part of having kids right after high school. I’ll just soak up my youthful look as long as it lasts!

New York Trip

So all the boys were gone at the same time during the summer and I decided what better place to have a getaway than going to New York City. Luckily Ricardo was down for it so the planning started right away. We did so many fun things, and went to new places and tried new restaurants on this trip. 

Some of the highlights on this trip was going to Governor’s Island and hanging out at Taxi Beach there with Sara and her husband Efrain. 

We also went to see the Blue Man Group earlier in the day and that was awesome!  One morning Ricardo went golfing with Efrain while Sara and I went to the Botanical Gardens then went back to the clubhouse and hung out while the guys finished up their game. The only thing missing was our big poofy hats so we could really feel like trophy wives! Haha! 

We went to several comedy clubs on our visit. That of course is one of my favorite things to do- who doesn’t need and love a good laugh from time to time right! 

Ricardo and I saw the 4th of July fireworks and now I can happily check that off my list. I’m telling you it was a MADHOUSE! I don’t need to see them up close again, but happy we did just this one time. 

I saw The Heights with Norma, Devin, Sara and Bryant. I really enjoyed that show!  

One day while hanging out at the Blue Fin in Times Square, where I had lunch with Sara, there was a big event going on right in front of us. Turns out it was the big spectacle/ promoting the release of Madden 2011. The New Orleans Saints were there along with the cheerleaders. I decided to keep my window seat at the restaurant and take pics from the inside- since it was ridiculously hot outside! When I saw the team and cheerleaders were throwing out copies of the game and went out and tried my luck. Since I know ALL about football I yelled the magic words and was given a copy from one of the cheerleaders. That was cool! 

Last but not least, I was able to see Papa Duke’s one day (Norma, Sara, and Maddie’s Dad) He is hanging in there, and to say that he is Superman might be an understatement! What a fighter he is. 

Overall, this trip was so much fun and of course I want to go back asap! This may have been of the best trips I have had there.