Happy 2nd birthday!!!!

I'm so honored to be a part of everything that is going on with this site.  What you all do is amazing!!!  Congratulations on another great year!!!  Here's to many more!!!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

CHRIS

Wow, life has been a complete adventure lately and I'm so thankful it has been!!!

Normality is highly overrated, and lately I've gotten to do some downright AWESOME things!

I just released by debut single "It Girl" through my MySpace page (it'll be out on iTunes next month!) and I'm so excited that people are liking the song.  It was really nervewracking because I wanted to keep quiet about the fact that I'd been working on music and let it speak for itself.  I wanted to make sure it was something I was proud of and something that I was doing for myself.  I had a blast recording the song and it would mean a lot if you guys would all help support it! :)

We premiered the song on WZAP Radio w/ Zach Sang.  I got to meet Zach at the 1>0 Benefit Concert that I did in New York earlier this year and it was so cool to get to premiere my song on his radio show!

Speaking of New York, as if all that wasn't exciting enough, I just got back from spending the weekend in up there!!!  I went up to see the Jonas Brothers perform on the Today Show and catch up with everybody!  The guys did awesome and it was great to actually get to say hey!  It's been so long since we all been able to hang out, and even though everyone was in and out, I was so glad to be a part of it and to get to say hey! 

We took a bus tour of the city, stopped to get some Pinkberry (personal fave of mine), and hung out in Times Square.  Lots of fun for sure!!!  I love New York!

I also found out that I'm going to go back to California in August because I'm performing at the OC Fair!  I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M GETTING TO PERFORM THERE!!!!!!  The fact that I'm gonna get to perform there is a dream come true!!!  I've always dreamt about getting to one day perform in California, but the OC Fair is just, wow........

I've got an exciting summer ahead!  Here's to having it be the best one ever!  I'll check in again soon!

CHRIS

It's 2:45 in the morning and right now, I'm sitting alone in my room watching episodes of Home Improvement on Nick at Nite and lovin life!

Summer is coming up and I'm leaving to spend some time out in LA in a little less than two weeks!!!  I'm so excited!  I'm working on a new project that I'm insanely excited about and I will fill you guys in as soon as possible!

I also just found out that the movie Bloomington that I worked on last month just finished filming and is scheduled for a 2010 release!  I'm excited to get my hands on a finished copy!  Hopefully I'll have some more news to share with you guys about the movie soon!

I got to chat with Kevin tonight for the first time in a while and it was so good to catch up!  The Jonas Brothers' new single "Paranoid" is out on iTunes now!!!  Make sure to get a copy and show your support!

Also, a couple weeks ago, I got a phone call and found out that one of my childhood dreams is about to come true this summer!!!  Life is so good and I've been working really hard on getting things ready for this summer!!!  I'm so excited to share everything with you guys!

I have a show this Friday with an awesome band called Dreams of University in Muncie, Indiana.  Tickets are on sale if you guys can make it out!!!  They're really cheap too and we will be raising money for Riley Children's Hospital!  Ticket link: http://escapades.eventbrite.com

Figured I'd just write and check in and say hi!  I hope everyone's doin awesome!  Write again soon!

One love,
CHRIS

Hey guys!  Hope life is good with everybody!  I've been so busy lately, but it's been a good busy, so I wanted to check in with you guys and say what's up!  Life has been good to me lately...

Last month I was in New York City for the coolest event I've done in my entire life.  I got to emcee a benefit concert helping the teen charity One is Greater Than None.  The girls from the charity gave a check to the International Organization of Migration for $68,000 to help save kids in Ghana, Africa!!!  It was amazing seeing those girls and how much work they put into the show.  Push Play, Saving Jane, Graham Colton (a personal favorite!), Tamarama, and WOW all performed, and then Tiffany Giardina and I co-hosted the show together.  It was just an incredible night all together and I can't believe that I was blessed enough to be a part of it all and to help raise more money for their charity!!  Here's a pic of Tiffany and I before the show!

I took my friend Danielle with me and we spent the next day with our friend Janine walking through Central Park, spending some time in Manhattan, and just taking in the city.  It would have been insanely romantic, but I'm insanely single, so there we have it...lol!

Then, earlier this month, I found out that I got cast in a small role for an upcoming feature film called Bloomington.  I'm playing a student that goes to school with a former child star who decides to go back to college.  I've spent the last couple days on set filming and it's been SOOO awesome!  The cast and crew have been amazing (and insanely talented), and it's so cool to have a part (even if it's a small one) in my first movie!  I can't wait to see how it all turns out!!!!!!!!!  I just wanted to share that with you guys!!!!  I'm soooooooo excited!

Then two nights a week for the last two months, I've been judging a talent competition called American Icon.  It's been ridiculously fun and I've had a great time getting to know the contestants and rockin out with the other judges.  We're down to the finals, so if you haven't been out to see the show yet, c'mon out, it's a blast!  The winner gets $2,500 and press in the magazine that is sponsoring the contest, so it should be pretty awesome!  Here's me and the other judges...

I'm so ready for summer its insane though...today it's snowing AND raining...both!  hahaha  Summer should be pretty amazing though!  I can't wait to get out and spend some time on the road again!!!

Well, I'm gonna get ready and actually hit the gym, so I hope everybody's doin awesome!!!!!  HAPPY MONDAY!  Stay warmmmmmmmmmm..........

This past Tuesday was my birthday.  Every year for the last three or so years I've been sick on my birthday.  This year was no exception.  I've been battling what I have deemed "localized malaria" (for comedic value), although its probably just a simple sore throat and sinus infection, for about a week now, and it seems like it's taking forever for me to get over this.

For my birthday though, we kept it pretty low key again this year.  I went out to eat at the Cheesecake Factory (awesome, by the way!) with my mom, which is always a good time.  They brought out my chocolate chip cookie dough cheesecake all decked out with a special message.  And a big shoutout to Courtney at the Cheesecake Factory for making my birthday awesome.

After we got done with lunch, we hit up a couple stores to get some stuff that I needed for my upcoming trip to New York.   I'm hosting a charity benefit coming up at the Hammerstein Ballroom (which is a dream come true for me, really) and during my shopping trip, I found a hat and glasses that I decided I should immediately try on and get my picture taken with...

I also made a trip to see David Archuleta perform this week, completely against my better judgement (with me feeling so run down).  I ended up having a great time - that kid puts on a heck of a show.  Great vocalist, ridiculously charismatic on stage...great stage presence.  I got a few pointers...hahaha.

But yeah, that's been my week, really.  I just wanted to check in real quick.  Thanks to all my friends here at TheOneLove for their birthday wishes and to all of you who are reading this blog - you guys helped make my birthday amazing.  Thanks for everything guys! 

I'll write again soon,
KOON

"My classmates sent around a 'We Hate Demi Lovato' petition. It was ridiculous! And yet, there are kids out there who kill themselves over this sort of thing. I'm sure if I hadn't had dreams, I could have been suicidal." -Demi Lovato, Time Out New York Kids

I read this quote a couple days ago online and it's really stuck with me. 

This month on TheOneLove, the charity focus is on the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention, a cause that I've obviously been very personally effected by.  (If you don't know what I'm talking about, scroll down a few entries to my very first blog and read my story).

This has been an interesting experience for me, becoming a blogger here at TheOneLove, because I never thought this would be how I told my story.  Not that there's anything wrong with it, but I never thought that this would be how I put it out there for people to hear.  Even months after writing my first blog here and telling my story, a lot of times I go to update this blog, and find it hard to find the words.  After dealing with not one, but two suicides, there are many times when everything else seems so trivial.

To read a quote like Demi's, it really hits close to home.  Here is a 16 year old girl talking about suicide because her world could have been made so bad by her peers.  Is Demi wrong for thinking this way?  I don't think she is.  I'm not justifying suicide, but at the end of the day, you can't help the way you feel, and unfortunately, some people feel this is their only option.  But it's not.  Not only that, but feelings of depression can be prevented in many different ways.  Even though you can't help the way you feel, imagine being on the other side of things.  Imagine being one of those people that created that list.  Imagine how you would have felt.  The point I'm trying to make with all of this is that compassion, caring, and outreach can be all it takes to prevent a possible suicide.  On a daily basis, you never know what people are going through UNLESS YOU TAKE THE TIME TO ASK.  It literally takes two seconds, and sometimes those two seconds can save a life.

So, this month, I have a challenge for all of you.  Take a couple minutes out of your day - stick a note in your friends locker just to tell them that you love them, take a coffee to your mom or dad when they're stuck working instead of being home, open the door for a complete stranger, put a teddy bear in the mailbox of a sick friend...it doesn't matter what you do...but I challenge you to do that one little action - that one tiny thing to let someone know that you're there for them. 

Sometimes the best friend is the friend who isn't just there when you need them, but is still there for you even when you think you don't. 

I challenge you to be that friend.  And never change.

And if you or someone who know has been effected by suicide, please visit: http://www.afsp.org/. 

There have been a million times when I've been listening to the radio or listening to music online and thought "wow, I really relate to this song", but never like this next one.  The song that I'm talking about is called "Angels on the Moon" and it's by a brand new band called Thriving Ivory.  I just REALLY related to this song a lot and figured that maybe some of you might feel the same way.  This song is the story of my life, hahaha.  And the lyrics for your reading pleasure....

Do you dream, that the world will know your name
So tell me your name
Do you care, about all the little things or anything at all?
I wanna feel, all the chemicals inside I wanna feel
I wanna sunburn, just to know that I'm alive
To know I'm alive

Don't tell me if I'm dying, cause I don't wanna know
If I can't see the sun, maybe I should go
Don't wake me cause I'm dreaming, of angels on the moon
Where everyone you know, never leaves too soon

Do you believe, in the day that you were born
Tell me do you believe?
Do you know, that everyday's the first of the rest of your life

Don't tell me if I'm dying, cause I don't wanna know
If I can't see the sun, maybe I should go
Don't wake me cause I'm dreaming, of angels on the moon
Where everyone you know, never leaves too soon

This is to one last day in the shadows
And to know a brother's love
This is to New York City angels
And the rivers of our blood
This is to all of us, to all of us

Don't tell me if I'm dying, cause I don't wanna know
If I can't see the sun, maybe I should go
Don't wake me cause I'm dreaming, of angels on the moon
Where everyone you know, never leaves too soon

You can tell me all your thoughts, about the stars that fill polluted skies
And show me where you run to, when no one's left to take your side
But don't tell me where the road ends, cause I just don't wanna know, No I don't wanna know

Don't tell me if I'm dying
Don't tell me if I'm dying
Don't tell me if I'm dying

And if you guys wanna hear the full song, show the guys some support and hit up their official website at www.thrivingivory.com.  I usually don't plug bands that I don't know, but this song........you definitely should check them out.

I'll write again soon.  Goodnight guys!

This is my first entry of 2009, and we're already halfway through the first month.  That's relatively quiet for me, so I figured I'd write and fill you all in on what I've been up to.

And to be honest, it's been a LOT of working out.  I've been going to the gym about 4 times a week and doing lots of walking and biking.  As easy as that sounds, walking, jogging, or running 7 miles a day is harder than it sounds.  I've been trying to get myself in better shape for some of the things that I have coming up later in the year, and I figured this was the time to get started.  I have a friend who I'm dragging into all this with me, so it's been nice to have a workout buddy.  Sometimes its hard to get motivated to work out at 7 am on your own! hahaha

I've been spending a lot of time at home, which has been nice.  I've been trying to move into my room since we bought our new house in October, and I'm still only about 90% there.  I'm ready to finish going through everything, get situated, and officially move in.  The nice part is that we coverted half of our sunroom to a home gym with an elliptical, stationary bike, treadmill, weights, and an ab machine, so even when it's cold out, I can just walk to the other side of the house and work out.

We also just got Guitar Hero for the Wii, so we've been rocking out in our living room on a daily basis.  We also have this platform when you first walk into our house that we all call the "stage", so it's pretty funny to see everybody so into it!!!  My mom's been practicing and is trying to kick my butt so we'll see how she does here in a couple weeks...hahaha.  She's pretty awesome for just starting!!!

On a more serious note, I've also been doing some songwriting with an amazingly talented co-writer, which is something I never thought I'd be doing.  I had written songs growing up, but probably less than 5 people have ever heard them, and I never thought that there would come a point where I would have my lyrics become an actual song, so that has been really cool.  It's been a big learning experience for me, and maybe someday I'll actually record a studio version of one of the songs we've been working on and put it up somewhere.  I guess we'll see.

I hope y'all are taking it easy and staying warm.  Right now, it's -25 below with the wind chill here at home, and it's gettin me pumped for summer!!!  Can't wait!

Well, it's past midnight, and I have to be up again in about 6 hours to get ready to hit the gym.  I'm not a morning person, so this should be interesting!!!  hahaha

Till next time, peace and handpounds,
-KOON

2008 has been a year of ups and downs, but it's been a year that's taught me a lot.  However, I'm ready to be done with it...hahaha.  The year has had a lot of challenges - both personal and professional, but I figured I'd take a look back on 2008 and remember some of the awesomeness that went down...

In January, I emceed a Teens Making an Impact concert in Woodstock, Georgia with Chris Fedun, Joey Page, Zoe Myers, and Taylor Reid.  It was just a small theater show, but it was sold out and the crowd was great.  Georgia is beautiful, and one of my favorite places to perform and visit, so we had an awesome time.

February was awesome because I went to Florida to hang with my buddy Joey Page.  He was performing at the AKA Lounge, and I got to emcee the show and open for him.  We also spent some time rehearsing the Soulja Boy, and performed that as a surprise, so it was pretty hilarious.  It was my first gig ever as an opening act, so it was definitely a cool thing and an honor to perform with my friend.

March was my birthday.  I was sick, but I got a really cool scrapbook with messages from friends and fans who have been really supportive through the last couple years, so that was a big surprise!  Also, I made my first trip out to Hollywood, and hit up Pinkberry and In-n-Out.  I also got to be a guest at the Hollywood Knights charity basketball performance, so that was really cool.

In April, I went back to LA for my first red carpet event for my friend Monet's birthday and video premiere.  That was so cool, but really nervewracking, walking my first red carpet.  It was a lot of fun though and Monet did great.  After that, I emceed the Rock for a Cure charity benefit for diabetes in Chicago.  Phil Bensen and Push Play performed, and then I did a performance for VIP ticketholders.  That was also sold out, and we raised a lot of money for a great cause!  I also emceed Khalidapalooza, which was a benefit concert for kids in Africa.

May meant another trip to LA for a couple meetings to line up some acting stuff I was going to be doing.  And of course, the obligatory stop at In-n-Out Burger...haha.  Shannon, one of my friends from back home, is a HUGE Yellowcard fan, so we went and saw them perform too, so that was fun.  They were great live.

June was a busy month for me!  I performed at National Cancer Survivors Day, a cause close to me, obviously because of my grandpa.  I also did a charity performance in Indiana with my friends Katelyn Tarver and Farebridge.  I went to see the Verizon VIP Tour in Ohio and got to meet Natasha Bedingfeld briefly as well as say hey to the Veronicas, who I hadn't seen since 2006!  (Their record is INCREDIBLE, by the way!)  That was a lot of fun too.  I also performed at a private event for a family in Chicago, who were amazing.  They were so great to my family and I, and it was so cool being able to meet such a sweet family.  Then after that, I flew down to Florida to celebrate Joey's 18th birthday.  It was awesome to be down there to celebrate, and to get to perform at his party too.  I had a blast!

July was a month of catching up with friends and enjoying summer!  I hit up a few of the Burning Up Tour stops (Jonas/Demi/Avril) in Detroit, Indianapolis, and Cincinatti.  It was probably one of my favorite tours the Jonases have ever done and it was so unbelievable seeing them live their dream.  It definitely made me proud.  I also went to two of Joey's shows - one in Indianapolis (where I danced onstage to "Who I Am" hahaha) and one in Chicago with Corbin Bleu.  Then, it was back to LA because I got booked for a promo for ABC with the casts of Grey's Anatomy, Lost, and Desperate Housewives!  The Grey's cast was hilarious, and everyone was really nice to me.  (Not to mention the best banana pancakes I've ever tasted!  The catering trailer was AMAZING! hahaha)  I also got to hang out with my friend BooBoo while I was out there, so that was a lot of fun.  It was a HUGE learning experience, and I really hope that I can do more acting in 09.

I was in New York in August for the Jonas Brothers' CD release for their third CD.  Mandy and I both got to to go Madison Square Garden for the first time, and we got to sit in the second row and watch the show.  We were close to the stage and we had cameras right in our faces, so it was funny to see ourselves on the jumbotron in such a historic venue.  We were giants!  hahaha!  TONS of our friends were there from all over the world (Austrailia, Canada, Florida, California...), and it was so great getting to hang out and see everybody.  The yearly Jonas album release parties are one of the few times where we are all together, so even though it always goes so fast, nothing's better than celebrating in NYC with all of your best friends!

September meant another trip down to Georgia.  This time, I was asked to do another Making an Impact concert with Chris Fedun and Monet.  This was probably the most fun show that I've ever done!  We had a great time and Fedun asked Monet and I to learn his choreography to "Shining Star" and perform with him.  I had known Fedun's work growing up (from Jump5), so it was a huge honor for him to ask me to perform with him.  He's a great friend and really talented, so it was really cool, and the show was just a lotta fun.  It was great performing but we had more crazy memories from just hanging out than anything...hahaha.  I also met a ridiculously talented musician named Kyle Cruz (http://www.myspace.com/kylecruz), who is one of my favorite artists out right now.  Check out his music - the dude is incredible!

In October, we moved into a brand new house, and I went into rehearsals for some shows that I had coming up.  I also went to Columbus to see a couple shows - Josh Hoge, who I'm a huge fan of, and then the Veronica's were there with Hanson, so that was a trip back in time...hahaha.  Those girls are incredible live though, lemme say.  They rock, no lie.

November was a HUGE month for me and LOTS of fun, but not a lotta sleep...hahaha.  I was asked to join the Peace. Love.  Push Play. Tour with Push Play (obviously) and Phil Bensen.  It was my first real tour as an opening act, and it was great to be performing in cities I'd never performed in before.  We went to Fishers, IN, Green Bay, WI, St. Paul, MN and Chicago, IL.  As soon as those shows were over, I was off to Peoria, IL to serve as the Grand Marshall for the Santa Claus Parade, which is the longest running parade in the country.  I got to ride on a float and kick off the parade live on CBS, so it was sweeeeeeeeeeeet!  I also was asked to start blogging on TheOneLove, so thankfully I have a place to ramble about all this stuff, and help people while I'm doing it!  How sweet is that?!  hahaha ;)

December started with filming a Christmas special for WIPB-TV in Indiana.  There were around 5,000 people in the audience while we filmed, so it was intense.  It was really cool though, and everyone who performed did great!  I also found out that I was nominated for a FanGap choice award for favorite actor, which is my first award nomination as a performer!  I am so excited to be nominated, and I'm a fan of the other nominees, so I'm honored to even be in the category with those guys.  I guess I'll just have to wait till 2009 to find out what happens!

I guess, all in all 2008 was a groundbreaking year for me, even though sometimes breaking that ground feels like an earthquake, and you can barely stand up.  Now that it's coming to an end, I'm finding that I'm ready for 2009 full force.  Thanks to everyone who's stood by me this past year.  Here's to 09 and many more awesome times to come!

-KOON

Hey everyone...

Quoting the classic *NSYNC song (haha), I just wanted to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a happy holiday!!!

I'm at home with my family and this is the first Christmas in our new house, so it should be a lot of fun, and nice to spend a Christmas at home relaxing since the last two Christmases I've been out on the road.  We have a ton of lights up outside, Christmas cookies on the counter, and three trees up this year, so we're ready to go! haha

I hope you all get everything you wanted this holiday season and remember what's really important.  May you all have a blessed holiday season.  MERRY CHRISTMAS!

One love,
CHRIS

Everyone has their story...

It's Thanksgiving day at two in the morning and I'm sitting here awake at my computer writing my first blog for TheOneLove. 

About a week ago, I was asked to be a part of the website, and for a long time, I had been looking for a way to tell my story.  I put it off time and time again, doing a lot of thinking, hoping, and praying about it, and I knew that when the time was finally right, I would speak about it.  And, to me, the time finally feels right.

This is probably the hardest blog I have ever written, but it is important to me that I speak out and tell my story of why I decided to be a part of TheOneLove.  This is probably also the most important blog that I have ever written because it helps a cause that hits closer to home for me than any of you probably know.  If you guys are new to TheOneLove (like me), here's how it works: Each blogger has chosen one charity to support. 100% of all profits collected from traffic to our blog pages, from banner ads, will be donated to the charity of our choice...my charity being the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

About a year and a half ago, a good friend of mine announced publicly that he had diabetes.  It was a struggle that he had to overcome and he's said time and time again that he wouldn't let it get him down.  Now, that friend has gone on to become one of the biggest stars in the world and is living his dream everyday.  Over time, I saw his story inspire so many others, and rather than keep quiet, he used his story as a chance to reach out and help people overcome their personal struggles, and inspire others to tell their story.  I'm one of those people that he inspired, and now it's my turn to tell my story.

My mom worked a lot when I was a kid.  As a single parent, she had to.  She and my dad split up when I was really young, so when my mom was working, I would spend most of my time with my grandparents.  I would stay at their house every Friday night and they would bring me back home Saturday morning.  This became tradition for years and years, even after my mom stopped working weekends and I was old enough to drive myself everywhere.  It was just something we did.  It made sense. 

My grandparents helped make me the person I am today.  We did so much together...we would watch Boy Meets World (my favorite show) together every Friday night, go out to eat, they would take me to the arcade, take me shopping, drop me off at friends' houses...they helped me memorize my lines to the first musical I remember doing...they helped me with SO much.

A few years ago, I got a phone call saying that my grandpa had been diagnosed with lung cancer and emphysema.  At first, I knew it was bad, but I brushed it off.  I mean, it couldn't happen to me, could it?  MY GRANDPA?  He couldn't have cancer...he was MY grandpa.  That happened to other people, but not me.  But it did, and he ended up getting REALLY sick.  This went on for almost two years.  It was the worst thing in the world seeing how much pain he was in.  Every Friday that I went over to my grandparents' house, it just got harder and harder for him, but he still held on.  He didn't let it change anything between us, and neither did my grandma. 

My grandma would usually go to the grocery once a week, always on the same day, but one week, my grandpa asked her to go and pick something up a day early.  So she did.  At the time, she didn't understand why, but she did it anyway, because she loved him.  When she came home that day from the grocery, she couldn't find my grandpa.  She later found that he couldn't deal with the pain anymore.  My grandpa had committed suicide.

During the next year, my grandma did everything possible to make Friday nights the same for me.  My grandma and my mom were two of the only reasons that I made it through the way I did.  Nearly a year later, my grandma couldn't deal with the pain of the loss of my grandpa anymore, and she too, committed suicide.  I didn't believe it.  I still don't want to. 

To this day, it is still one of the hardest things I've ever had to deal with, and for a long time, I didn't deal with it.  I clammed up, pushed a lot of people away, and kept my guard up.  Sitting here, writing this blog, it just feels like a lot of words and not much sense being made, but there isn't a day where I don't think about my grandparents, and in a lot of ways, that friend I was talking about earlier helped save me, whether he ever knows it or not.  One person speaking out about their struggle can change the world, and I've been silent too long.  It is time that we all speak out and make the world a better place.

And I'm trying...but I guess, today, Thanksgiving day, it's all hitting really hard, but today is about being thankful, and so for that reason alone, I'm thankful that I ever had those experiences with my grandparents.  I'm thankful for those memories...those Friday nights...I'm thankful for my family, and for overcoming everything and becoming a stronger person.

I never thought this would be how I would tell my story, and this is just a small part of it all.  Not every blog entry will be like this...but it was time for me to finally speak out. That is why I've chosen to support the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention as my charity here on TheOneLove.  Now you know the reason behind the blog, and the reason why I've chosen to support the charity that I've chosen. 

There's really no good way to end this, but I do want to say HAPPY THANKSGIVING.  Just remember we all have a lot to be thankful for...I love you all.

CHRIS