Joy Leslie

Alright, so I messed up. I shouldn’t have posted all those wedding pics on my facebook because someone totally took them and now they’re on ybf.com. They’re going to be taken down I think… they’re already down on my facebook. And now, if you’re not my facebook friend, you can’t see them. I hate having to do that. However, I also see now that such precautions are necessary… since some people look for things to use to hurt others and they’ll manipulate my good intentions to do that. Sooo yeah. Lesson learned. The only stuff that’s going up is stuff that I don’t mind getting put up and that I know will not affect other people’s careers.

In other news.. Uness is back in town!!! Hooray! I think we may start working on some music together. Super cool guy… I really need to get on the ball. I still have NO IDEA what I’m doing. It’s been a few months, you know? So I’m thinking I’m going to start trying to do some shows. I need to get my face out there. I’m too timid with this music thing. I was talking to a guy and my husband last night at a restaurant and they were both saying that I act too humble. No one will notice me if I don’t make some sort of stink about myself.. that’s just not really how I am, so I’m literally forced to fight NATURE when I talk about me. I never thought I’d say this, but I think I need a bigger ego. LOL!!!

I woke up REALLY late today. My husband went to work this morning, only to come back when he realized that he didn’t have to be there until this evening. So stupid us, we went back to sleep and didn’t wake up until 3:15 in the afternoon!!! So my whole day is shot. Then, on top of that, I also learned that he’s working a DOUBLE SHIFT on Thanksgiving, so we won’t get to do anything that special together. Super bummed!!! I just need to take a few deep breaths and try not to think about being bummed. Besides… tonight I get to see BEOWULF in IMAX 3D!!! I heard it was awesome. So I’m at least happy about that.

Okay so for my video today, since I was having such a bad day, I decided to sing a feel good song. It’s Whitney Houston’s “The Greatest Love of All” and it has always made me feel better about things when I’m feeling a little down in the dumps. So I hope you like!

LOL I was going to upload this at the studio and do some syncing with my iPhone, but I went all the way down there to find it locked with no one there!!! Sad, I know - I was wearing some really uncomfortable shoes so I pretty much was hurting by the time I got back to my house. The staff at Next Selection is like a large band of brothers. It’s a bunch of dudes and then… me. I need Mia to come back from London so it’s not such a sausage fest. LOL … Awww, one of my “brothers” is going back to England tomorrow. I feel kind of bad because I intended on seeing him before he left. He says he’s coming back though, soon… either way - Safe travels, Stevie!!!

OKAY so I finally found something to sing! It’s Natasha Bedingfield’s “Soulmate” and I just learned it. I changed it up a bit and sang it in the bathroom instead of the bedroom… the bedroom was like 54 degrees farenheit and I couldn’t put the heater on or it would mess with the sound of the video… So I decided to go to the bathroom where it was warmer. Don’t know why - just was.

Hope you like it!!!

UPDATE: Three hours after I’ve typed the above… I’ve been having the WORST time trying to upload this video! Either the page stops loading, the internet connection dies, or I accidentally refresh the page before it’s done!!! GRRRR, here I am, all this time later, STILL waiting for it to load!

FINALLY!!!

*sigh* So today I wanted to post a new blog and video for everyone… but it’s now 10:51pm and I have no idea what song to sing… STILL. I’ve been searching online for hours for a good idea for a song, or for a decent instrumental… I was looking for Bubbly by Colbie Caillat but the person that had it up on YouTube deleted it! I also looked at One Republic’s Apologize but it’s kind of not my song. I tried it, but I didn’t like how I sounded on it. Actually I didn’t like how I sounded on ANYTHING that I tried to sing today. It’s one of those days where everything you try to sing sounds bad. It’s been frustrating for me because there was a lot that I wanted to do that I didn’t get to do.

I spent the morning with my husband. We tried this new breakfast place on 116th and it was really good. When he was leaving for work at around 3ish, he said that I should do a blog today. I said okay because I needed to go to the studio afterwards and I was planning on having my day go something like this:

3:30pm get ready
4:30pm sing song for blog and upload to YouTube
5:30pm go to studio to pick up stuff, do Myspace and Facebook, and finish this blog
10:30pm come back and relax

BUT obviously, that didn’t happen. So here I am sitting down all dressed up and nowhere to go. I was still going to go to the studio up until 10pm, but now I don’t want to go out there on my own and it’s nearly 11. GRRRR so frustrating!!! I need some new instrumentals or something!!! I did promise that I would do a blog, so I’m writing in here… at least there’s THAT. So let me at least update you on what’s been going on with me:

I think I found a trainer. Jakhamah aka Chanan is offering his services to me! On Sunday we met up for a lunch meeting and I asked him about maybe training me 3 times a week to keep my weight normal and stuff. Also I was asking him about choreography, but my brother doesn’t think I need that as much because I really need stage presence more than anything. But yeah, I have a trainer! And Crystal is coming down this weekend to NY so I’ll get to see a friend this week which is also very cool. Also, one of my good friends since forever is having his anniversary soon and asked me to reprise the song I sang for him and his wife at their wedding. I gotta re-write some of the words because the video he has of it is kind of cut off, but I got the jist of it… soooo I’m going to be working on that for a new video soon, too.

GAH! I can’t get over this frustration of the fact that I got ready to sing something and I came up empty-handed!!! Tomorrow better be a better day!!! I promise - an actual video comes tomorrow.. Until then, here’s some fun pictures of me, my husband and some of my favorite people.

My husband and me - HOMIES LOL:

My parents back in the day:

My brother and I back in the day:

LOL my fourth grade graduation day!!!

Me with my hubby and some other USC friends:

The best wedding EVER!!! (LOL look at my bro on the far right):

Hey guys, I’ve been waiting on doing a new vlog mainly because I RE-CHIPPED my front tooth and I didn’t want to get on camera like that… LOL I know… but I’ve got a temporary fix and I’m making a dentist appointment soon. Until then, I just wanted to check in and let you know that I’ve been practicing for a new video - I think I want to finish up Alicia Key’s “No One” since I only sang a little bit of it before… What do you guys think? Until then… I’ll be around.

XOXO, Joy

UPDATE: Okay so I’m finished recording it!!! Hope you all like it! Here it goes…

Hey guys, not too much today, but I just wanted to come by and leave you with a few thoughts. First and foremost - thank you AGAIN to STACEY!!! She’s seriously been my biggest help with this whole online campaigning thing. Because of her help, I was the #7 most viewed musician today on YouTube!!! Here are all of the honors I got from YouTube:
#37 - Most Viewed (Today)
#7 - Most Viewed (Today) - Music
#52 - Most Viewed (This Week) - Music
#36 - Top Rated (Today) - Music
#23 - Most Discussed (Today) - Music
#5 - Most Linked (Today)
#3 - Most Linked (Today) - Music
#21 - Most Linked (This Week) - Music
That’s seriously amazing. So Stacey… thank you thank you thank you a million times over. If any of you guys want to post my video up around myspace and get my youtube views up, please do!!! I seriously need all the help I can get!

So today’s song is Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Run To You” … this one has always been a favorite of mine to sing, so I decided to go and give it a try for you all. I got a little thing in my throat during the first verse/chorus, but after I cleared my throat it went away. Other than that - I hope you all like it!!!

Thanks again for all the support. It means the world to me. And thanks again, Stacey!

There’s a lot that has gone on since I last wrote in here! I finally got to meet my new friend, Crystal, out in the city. She’s an aspiring singer/actress from Boston. Great songwriter too. Anyways, she was in New York to audition for these guys that said they represeneted Kat de Luna and Universal Records. Then they said Sony, but the man’s card said Empire … weird. But anyways, yeah, they wanted her to sing in a showcase or something. Well, they were all really late in getting to her but we finally met up with them. Small world, they all knew my brother. Or at least OF him. They were asking me to sing for them too, but I was like, “Sorry, I’m already signed with another label.. I’m really here for my friend..” LOL it was funny getting to say that to some big music execs. So yeah, Crystal - SUPER COOL and really sweet. Loved her. Can’t wait to head out again with her. I forgot to tell you, we both have one dimple.. mirror image of each other. Funny… Oh and then that night on my way home, I walked past Brooke Shields and Lindsay Price. I was just thinking to myself as I got closer to them, “That lady REALLY looks like Brooke Shields!” LOL.. well of course she did.

So then I got to head out on a photoshoot with my brother for a campaign that he’s doing. It was really really awesome. I got to meet some really cool stylists, makeup artists, managers, a beautiful model named Irina Shaykhlislarnova (I know, try saying THAT two times fast… or even just once fast. LOL). Super nice, very cute girl. Modeled for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issues too. Here’s a picture of her:

I know!! Gorgeous right? Well, she IS a model. AND the best part of the day? I got some of the clothes! I got some Givenchy shoes, a Kooba clutch purse and some leather studded gloves. (I don’t know the brand on those).. but SO AWESOME! My first designer anything! LOL…

AND I finally tried out a basic dance class. It wasn’t at the Broadway Dance Center. It was at another place closer to my house. It was taught by my new friend Chanan Lareche aka Jakhamah!!! I actually had a really fun time and it wasn’t because the lady at the front desk had a really cute dog. It was a smaller class, more laid back, and the people there were more at my level. So I was comfortable and not so intimidated by all the professional dancers in the room. LOL.. So had a great time. I think I’ll go back next week. He teaches step, hip hop and house dancing. I’ll finally get to experience that! Hooray!!!

Anyways, that’s all folks! I have a video for you - I’m kind of fighting off this dumb cough, so my voice is husky.. so to take it easy on the voice, here’s an Amy Winehouse for you:

That is exactly what I feel like today. Today is one of those days where I don’t feel like doing anything. Well… I DID do SOME stuff. I returned my dvds to Blockbuster, and I found some new walking shoes. That was fun. Doing laundry… not so fun. I am starting to run out of ideas for what to write about.

HALLOWEEN was last night and I totally thought my friend didn’t call me - but she DID! We were supposed to go out and I REALLY wanted to wear my costume, but … well this is actually my fault. A few days ago, I dropped my phone on the volume button, and so now, whenever something touches that button ever-so-slightly, it turns the ringer ALL the way down. So - my friend DID call me — I just missed it. And so I sat at home and watched Transformers on DVD - twice. MAN! I could have had so much fun, too! *sigh* oh well…

It’s getting colder - but not too crazy cold. It actually feels like FALL. I remember now how much I LOVE this season. It’s awesome. I think the hubby and I might do Thanksgiving on our own this year. Our very first Thanksgiving alone with ourselves. I hope we don’t build it up too much and then end up fighting. LOL!!! Does anyone else ever notice that when you try really hard to plan something nice it either goes all to crap, or it goes exactly as planned? Story of my life!

Okay - so today, I’m singing Pink’s “Who Knew” so I hope you guys like it… Took me a while to figure this one out, but I’m fairly happy with the finished product:

I know… I know.. I always do this. It’s been a few days. I said everyday. It looks like I’m not committed. But really, I am!!! Here’s a quick rundown of the past few days:

FRIDAY: I was getting low on groceries and I needed more money to add to my metro card. The one thing that has been really hard for me while under a Next Selection contract has been that I have no source of income. Basically, whenever I need something, I have to ask. It’s always given, but I’m sooooo uncomfortable with asking for things. So I went to my brother to have a talk about it. First, I was gettting tired of ONLY doing MySpace, my blog and YouTube all the time. I needed something to do. So he gave me a project. And I’m glad. At least I have something else to fill my 18 hour days. My brother is making a movie and wants me to research all the film festivals that he should submit his film to. I think this could be fun… I’m also going to start checking out some new t-shirt designs for his Diamond Girl models. That is also something that sounds like fun..

SATURDAY: My parents showed up in New York for a surprise, kind of, visit. I didn’t know about it, but my brother did… so it was a surprise to me. I met with them at their hotel in Midtown and ate lunch with them. My mom was tired, so my dad and I walked thirty blocks to my husband’s job just to see him. My hubby was exhausted and was just getting off work, so he, my dad and myself all came back here to the apartment. My dad wanted to see it anyways. I started to get sleepy, so then we turned in while my dad went to the studio to catch my brother film some stuff for his movie.

SUNDAY: I met up with Ryan and my parents for church. It was supposed to start at 11am, but people kept trickling in WELL into the 11 o’clock hour. It was a good time though. Then, of course, the real reason that my parents came was to celebrate my dad finally passing the Arizona BAR! My brother went back to the studio for a while, so my parents both came back with me so that we could show my mom the apartment. Then we grabbed a taxi and went to brunch back at their hotel. That meal was so so so so good. You know what else was also really good? Hotels have cable TV!!! I haven’t watched a football game in soooo long, or seen my beloved Animal Planet, the History channel, or Discovery. I miss TV. LOL … So we had dinner reservations at Phillipe Chow’s at 7, but my husband couldn’t get off work. So it was just the four of us again - for another FANTASTIC meal. It was getting late, so we all decided to turn in. I miss them. They probably didn’t think so, but I do. I miss you, Mommy and Daddy!

MONDAY: My husband’s FIRST day off of work since the first week he started. He’s been working CRAZY hours for so long, I hardly ever get to see him until it’s bedtime!!! He got home late on Sunday night, so we slept in until around 10:30… well, he was also kind of sick, so he actually slept until about 3pm. Poor thing. He was all set to hang out, but he was seriously sick. I got him some non-drowsy medication and we made a walk down to Whitecastle. It was our first time there. One word: OVERRATED! HA! We also decided to get some movies since we don’t have cable for TV and only can watch DVDs. Spent the rest of the evening curled up in bed with the hubby watching some good stuff.

AND NOW - we’re all caught up! Back to the grind. I am still dedicated to trying this out for reals, but my family has always taken priority in my life… so I can’t say that I regret any of it - because I don’t. But I know I may have set myself back a little… *sigh* Forgive me?

Found some great instrumentals on YouTube… Decided to sing Norah Jones “Don’t Know Why” for you… hope you like!!!

I have been indoors for like two days. It’s been kind of gloomy outside so I didn’t feel like braving the rain. But then I realize, “why not? I have this new, curly do so that I can sweat, get wet and still look fabulous…” LOL. Riiiiight. SO.. today, I went to Times Square about an hour earlier than I was supposed to for my dance class. My husband was home from work, but all he’s been doing is sleeping (bless him, he needs it - but I get so bored!!!).. I decided to go a little earlier so that I could walk around and kill some time around actual people and not just those people on the TV screen. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been trying to befriend people left and right. It’s just not that easy to start hanging out with random people without feeling like you need to have a little bit of your own life at the same time. It’s starting to get cold. I was (and still am) wearing a tank top and some work out pants for dance. The only jacket I had was my sweatshirt.. so I’ll be honest, I was cold. I just didn’t care. I need to get out!!! I need a life. I’m too social not to have a life!!! So out I went to find something that could start looking like a life - it was pretty successful.

First, I met a guy on the subway named Aramis. A poet who knows some people at the Broadway Dance Center, and who is actually good enough to get an editor’s shout out on Poetry.com. You can check him out.. his stuff is pretty good! Also new to the city - he struck up a conversation with me because he was asking me if the train I was on stopped at 14th street. Of course, there was no way I could help him, but we got into a conversation anyway. Nice guy. Well dressed… manages a store - I forget the name of it. (Oops).. but that was that. I got his email address and told him I’d look him up. Then, there was Jasmine, a girl who worked at the Duane Rx in the Square. We didn’t talk too much, but for some reason when I DID talk to her it was all smiles. She made an impression. But that’s about it. Then, there’s Chanan (pronounced like Shannon). He’s the guy that took my payment for the BDC dance classes on my first day. I passed him on the street first, but didn’t realize it was him until I was like 10 feet past him. I still ended up at BDC like 45 minutes earlier, but he was there! Thank goodness - because I can really see this guy becoming a cool friend. If you’re reading, Chanan, I really do! You should all check out his myspace page at www.myspace.com/jakhamah. That’s also his YouTube name… He’s teaching and dancing all over the city and he’s totally interested in maybe doing some choreo for me (if I ever get to a place where I need it.. I will I will! POSITIVE THOUGHTS…) so yeah.. We exchanged info and I’m totally planning on seeing him again in the near future. He teaches HOUSE/HipHop and Step classes. I had no idea exactly what HOUSE is, but it sounds fun. Maybe I can get my husband to come with me to a dance class that he teaches. Y’all don’t know it - but my man can dance circles around me. If you ever saw it - you know what I’m talking about. LOL .. So hooray!!! AWESOME networking day for me!

I’m glad I got out of the house today. Sometimes I drag my feet and feel lazy, but I never regret it when I do. I’m going to make it a habit. Even in dance class, I saw a girl who looked like it was her first time - she was real quiet - not unapproachable, but reserved, so I made it a point to talk to her at the beginning of the dance class. Her name was Whitney.. I managed to tell her when it was my brother’s song playing during the warm-up. No sign of Athena.. She was the one who first told me about the House classes. I think I might try it once. Bev is awesome in her Hip Hop classes - but I want to spread my wings a little too.

ALSO, one of the guys I met out at the restaurants/bars a few days ago found me on facebook so we’re totally going to get to see that guy too. I’m making friends - and I love every minute of it. Anyone else wanna be my friend??? LOL

OH YEAH, and in the spirit of Halloween… Saw these HILARIOUS pictures of some pumpkins… they’re kind of cras - so get your children out of the room!!! I warned you all…

So yesterday and today I had the privilege of being able to see and meet people on their own personal New York Hustle. I went down to 92nd street and 2nd Avenue, close to where my husband works, and got to see a little bit behind the scenes of busy New York bar/restaurants.

First stop, Yorkville, which is two buildings away from the ASPCA (I’m SO volunteering there!) and located in the Marriott Hotel. I met one guy who literally came into work, asked for a schedule change, got his paycheck, looked at it, and QUIT all in the span of 30 minutes. Seemed like a cool enough guy, just wanted more payoff for the hours he was putting in. I felt kind of bad for him, but since he quit, that made my husband the new manager. Crazy right? One man’s pain-in-the-butt is another man’s promotion. Later, went to another place where I met some guys in their mid to late 20s that were basically taking a break from the business life to relax a little. Also cool people, and I think we might hang out again one day. I let one of them hear a little bit of my songs and he wishes me genuine luck on my singing career. He “really think(s) that I got a chance.” One more stop at another bar where the bartender just moved here from Vancouver. VANCOUVER folks. It’s really close to the Washington state border, and it’s not Siberia. Yeah it gets cold - but I really think we should start to know a little more about our Canadian neighbors up there. There was a super cool chick with the most beautiful sleeve tattoos I think I might have ever seen. She’s gonna call me up so we can go to the Met soon, and she knows some people where she can go see some live music for free and wants to get me in with her sometime. Really excited to see where that’s going. (I’m making friends, see?!) Another man at the bar, Kenny, a little inebriated to say the least, but a musician. He sampled one of my songs and was really happy and genuinely surprised at what he heard. He thinks I got something too. This is the opinion of the general public, folks, so I think we may be on to something here… I dunno, what do you think? I had a late night so I didn’t write (I know, sorry!!!) but I’m here now, and that’s all that matters. HAHA, I sound like a bad movie.

Been eating solid foods. It’s undoubtedly still one of the biggest highlights of my days. Haven’t been to the studio in about 2 days. The walls were starting to close in on me, so I had to take a breather.

Halloween is like a week away folks! I have a cool witch costume that I’ve never gotten to wear out. Anything fun going on for you guys? I want to do SOMETHING, but since I’m a total newcomer, I’m totally at the mercy of whatever the city has to offer me. But this is NEW YORK?! There’s gotta be something right???

I’m posting a picture of my costume below. I think it’s really cute.