This message brought to you by the world wide web...

We all know that the internet has taken over. It's become the number one way we communicate and is causing us to communicate in ways we never would have dreamt of a mere 5 years ago. In so many ways these changes are amazing and exciting. I, being someone who loves the idea of a time without cellphones, internet, television, etc. am for the most part scared by the promise that this is taking over our lives. The funny thing is, this message is being written and read on a computer, and I pay my bills by performing on television. So modern technology undoubtedly has it's perks.

I could write a hundred thousand word essay on the antithesis of that, and why it drives me crazy. Some ideas are; what it exposes our children to, us becoming an increasingly less social society while we becoming more social through a screen, less outdoor play, the need for instant gratification, the downfall of the english language and on and on and on I could (but won't) go.

This leads me to the reason for writing this scattered note. The US Postal service is going down down down baby down. It scares me because I love getting mail. I hate getting bills, but I love getting mail. It's one of the things thing that I believe simply cannot ever be replaced by the internet. E-cards just don't have the same feeling. You can't touch them, hold them, keep them forever... knowing that someone put the time and love into buying (or making), hand writing and mailing something for you. It didn't take a few minutes through a company that fills in the spaces for you and one click and it's off. It's the unexpected nice surprise that is mixed into your expected bills and junk mail. The birthday or Christmas card you didn't expect. It's the check from your grandma, the magazine you subscribe to, fan mail you sent, letter from your loved one in Iraq, the school photo of your niece, the confetti in the holiday card, the postcard from the Philippines, the smudge marks on the paper, the scent of your loved one, the S.W.A.K (sealed with a kiss) from your best friend.

When I read this article today it made me want to come on here and beg you all to try to send holiday cards this year. Even go buy an old typewriter, some cool paper and have fun with sending vintage-looking notes. Maybe keep an address book with the people you loves' mailing information in it and once in a blue moon, send them a card. Help the post office stay alive for as long as we can. It's up to us to continue on supporting something that our families before us relied on so much, before a time of status updates.

Who knows, you might miss it when it's finally gone.

And I would've mailed this if I knew each and every one of you addresses.


http://news.yahoo.com/postal-cuts-slow-delivery-first-class-mail-141723847.html

Keep warm in your homes and hearts,
*Chels

Teen Choice and Tuesdays (your new favorite day)

So we were nominated for a Teen Choice award again this year! We actually don't know what we are nominated for, but will find out next week; so hopefully I can let you all know asap and you guys can help us by voting for MIOBI! Pretty please ;)

Also, I want to remind everyone that we are now on Tuesdays at 9pm (after pretty little liars) which is AMAZING. Especially if you are like me and can't keep your eyes open late enough to watch the show at 10pm (our old time slot). So now we are back at 9pm like we were first season, but on Tuesdays!

What else... hmmm. Yeah that's about all the excitement in my life as of this week. Thanks for reading:)

Here's a random, pretty picture for your enjoyment.



And here's another slightly darker one.

Set your DVR's!

Okay, so I swear I will slow down the amount I talk about MIOBI. I just have to do this post cause we are airing on Monday!

So everyone please set your DVR's or just tune in and check out or series premiere! I'm so excited I can't handle it... it's been so long since we filmed the first episode and I can't wait for you all to see it:) The plot only thickens too, so make sure to stay tuned in ;)

For info on the cast, interviews, video clips, photos and more go to:

http://abcfamily.go.com/abcfamily/path/section_Shows+Make-It-Or-Break-It/page_Detail

Have a great weekend and Happy Father's Day!

Disney/ABC Upfront presentation!

Last night we went to a party and presentation of all ABC's new shows, to promote for international distribution. Around 600 people showed up from around the world and they showed a clip of our show to them before bringing us on stage. Here are some pictures of the party after and us just before, as well!

Also check out this months issue of  "M Magazine", we are featured on their 'it list'. Such exciting changes, and we're still sooooo excited for everyone to see it all : ) 

Happy Memorial day everyone!

Xoxo Chels

Behind the scenes photos, the cast meets Nastia Liukin!

So we were on set yesterday and got a surprise visit from Olympic gold medal gymnast, Nastia Liukin! You've never seen such giddy girls. Living and breathing gymnastics for 6 months, we have come to idolize her and all the other "greats". 

I posted a photo of it, and below are some more behind the scenes; including my gymnastics double and I. 

Here we go...

So here I am starting my first blog... 

I love writing, always have. So I figured this would be the best way for me to keep in touch with the world and satisfy my craving to write. 

So...my life, my life... I'm entering a new chapter that I'm very excited and naturally a little nervous about. The pilot I filmed in December has been picked up for series! ABC Family has given us a 10 episode order, and we (meaning the cast and I) are all soooo excited to get going!!! The picture is the three other leads and me, by the way.

Now here comes the tricky part. I'm in 5 day a week training to build muscle mass (I'm naturally slight in frame and need to be more muscly like a gymnast), for 3 of those days I'm training twice a day. After going to a nutritionist I've been put on a 110g of protein/day "diet" and that includes 2 shakes a day; one whey the other egg-white based! 

Whew! Writing it down makes me realize how much all that is! It's amazing the difference I've seen in 3 weeks.. now we have about 6 more to go till we start filming. Crrraaaazzzzyyy!!!

I have to say the thing I'm probably most excited about in all of this is how fresh this show is. Here you have a plethora of shows showcasing girls who are shockingly thin. Ours is showing young girls that healthy young women who take care of themselves and kick a$$ in the gym, are beautiful! Our cast is stunning and athletic. All of the four girl leads take care of ourselves and all four of us are different shapes and sizes. 

I can't tell you how refreshing this is to me... and I'm sure it will be to thousands of other people. I'm so sick of the pressures young woman (and hey, even men) feel to be small or look a certain way. Let's motivate our youth to take care of themselves and give them healthy role models. And listen, I'm not sitting here preaching from my keyboard. Teen years are teen years and that comes with drama. It's just nice to know that the world is about to see a show on air that resembles all of our favorites but one which is based upon athletic, driven teens. It excites me immensely.

And on that note... I'm gonna watch a few of my guilty pleasures before bed. 

Kinda a crazy first blog, but hang in there and check back for some updates. 

I'll try to make it more often than not... depending on how much I have to say ; )

Love and peace

Chels