MINNESOTA | Nan McNamara

I Feel Like School Starts Tomorrow

I’m thinking about my carefree 12-year old self this Labor Day weekend and feeling a bit of adult melancholy. What happened to those empty summer days we had ahead of us just three months ago? So many plans – dreams of pool-side drinks and long hikes and naps dancing in my head.

But now, it’s all over. My head is full of phrases like, “You better get busy” and a slight sense of dread.

Emotional Calendar

Labor Day might be bringing up these feelings for you, too. There’s an emotional calendar to our lives and maybe, like me, you

September 2, 2019

ACTOR'S LIFE, ACTRESS, CONFIDENCE, CREATIVITY, FASHION, INSPIRATION, MINNESOTA, PERSONAL GROWTH, SELF-HELP

Baby, It’s Cold Outside

Nan McNamara

2 Comments

My team lost. And I am still thinking about it two years later.

I actually cried stone-cold sober tears over the loss, the third time in the past two decades (The tally now stands at sports tears shed in 2009, 2016 and 2018 to be exact).

For those of you who love a team, you know the pain.

If you’re a college basketball fan, March Madness provides its own special pain. 63 out of 64 teams will will ultimately end their season in defeat. Even though we’re in basketball season, I’m still stuck on footballs, touchdown passes and field

March 29, 2018

ACTOR'S LIFE, ACTRESS, CONFIDENCE, INSPIRATION, MINNESOTA, PERSONAL GROWTH

Here’s to an Uncomfortable 2018!

Nan McNamara

1 Comment

The year will be remembered (among other things) as the year I was on the Kiwanis speaking circuit. If you didn’t grow up in the midwest or you aren’t of a ‘certain age,’ you might be saying, “What’s a Kiwanis?”

Well, in very simple terms, Kiwanis is a club where professional folks come together for a meal, listen to a speaker, and encourage social and charitable contributions to the community.

But if you have ever attended a Kiwanis meeting, you know it is so much more than that dry description. These people are fierce – fierce in their

January 1, 2018

ACTOR'S LIFE, ACTRESS, CONFIDENCE, CREATIVITY, INSPIRATION, MINNESOTA, OVERCOMING FEAR, PERSONAL GROWTH, SELF-HELP

Walking the Emmy Red Carpet: A Do-It-Yourself Guide

Nan McNamara

12 Comments

Walking the Emmy Red Carpet: A Do-It-Yourself Guide

When I was a kid growing up in Minnesota, televised awards shows were appointment viewing. The Oscars were King, but the Emmys took a close second. At nine years old, I never imagined I would actually get to GO to one of these events.

My good friend Paul is actually nominated for an Emmy this year (yay Paul!) and he asked me to be his date.

Mmmmm. Well, I guess I could do that.

But, what to wear? How should I do my make-up? What about shoes? My hair? The list of questions

September 13, 2017

ACTOR'S LIFE, AWARDS, FASHION, MINNESOTA