I'd Like to Thank The Academy....and Double-Stick Tape

Unfortunately, I don't have the time this evening to give an editorial recap of last night's Oscar festivities...I know, you're crushed. That'll come tomorrow. But the highlight of a otherwise fairly uneventful evening was, as usual, the fashion. Here are some of the gowns that caught my eye. Even I was surprised by some of my selections. I mean, Mandy Moore and Celine Dion? What is this, 1998?

 Well done, Ladies.Well done.                                            


Cate Blanchett in Givenchy Couture
(Photo Credit: AP Photo/Matt Sayles)

 


Hailee Steinfeld in Marchesa

(Photo Credit: Kirk McKoy/Los Angeles Times/MCT)

 


Sandra Bullock in Vera Wang
(Photo Credit: AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)




Celine Dion in Giorgio Armani Prive
(Photo Credit: Jason Merritt/Getty Images)



Worst Business Model Ever

It's Girl Scout Cookies season. Those vest-wearing saleswomen are everywhere...door-to-door, outside Walmart, inside the mall. As a good citizen who wishes to encourage the successful ventures of our community's youth, I've already had my fair share of Thin Mints with a side of Samoas. It's so hard to say no to Girl Scout Cookies when you know that they won't be around forever. You always want what you can't have. Seeing Tagalongs, Thin Mints, Samoas, Do-si-dos (Really? Those continue to make the cut?), and the newly introduced (to me) Dulce De Leche cookies in the break room at work reminded me of a segment from SNL Weekend Update analyzing the Girl Scout Cookies model.

Enjoy.

 

Five Things I'm Loving Right Now

1. Tea and Travel: Mutually Exclusive No More

My love of tea is no secret. But, as I was in a tea store (which should be a more commonly found establishment), I thought, "I wish someone would create a travel mug with a built-in tea infuser so you could have the deliciousness of loose tea on the go. I've never seen such a thing. I will invent it!" Well, guess what??? I didn't. Because someone else did. While I was perusing the aisles of my local Crate and Barrel, I spotted it. The coveted (by me) tea infuser travel mug. The one pictured at the right is the same one I bought! Well, not literally the exact same one, obviously. This one is by Aladdin. I can now enjoy my delicious coconut ginger tea on the way to work. Speaking of Coconut....

2. The Other White Meat

(Get it? Because the edible part of a coconut is called the meat? And, it's white? I was pretty proud of that.)

I used to hate coconut. Or, at least I thought I did. Sort of how I thought I hated guacamole...boy, was I taking crazy pills. That mess is delicious.

Great Music Makes Me Weak in the Knees...and Sore in the Abs

I love to exercise.

No, that's not right.

I love to listen to music. I'm pretty sure I could be convinced to try any kind of workout as long as the tunes are good.

However the problem is that music doesn't just "inspire" me to "go that extra mile." It is my complete power source. If I'm running/jogging/walking my normal "neighborhood loop" and halfway through my ipod dies, then suddenly 2 more miles feel like 20. I become hyper-aware of the pain in my body and my wheezing. Music does a good job of drowning out the wheezing...although I'm sure the people sprinting past me would disagree. They're probably thinking "Aw crap, am I going to have to stop my run to help this loser? And why is she humming Bruno Mars songs in between wheezes?" If the ipod dies, then I can't think of anything else other than how much further I have to go and how bored and miserable I am. Then, I try to be more positive but all I can think about is how I can't think of anything else.

Pathetic. Women's Health is not banging down the door to interview me on my workout habits.

Although, I've learned the degree of awesomeness of the music must be greater than the difficulty/tediousness of the exercise.

Case Study: Spin Class.

I was excited to try Spin Class because I'd heard what an incredible workout it provides. I was even going with friends. I imagined myself really getting into cycling and becoming one of those fit people who takes her bike everywhere, even on vacation, perhaps even planning vacations around beautiful scenery with bike paths.
Here's the problem.

5 Things I'm Loving Right Now

Since my last "5 things" was a holiday edition, it appears it's time for an update. Let's do this.

1. Milkandhoneyshoes.com

When I was little I liked to draw pretty clothes and shoes like I was a fashion designer. Then I grew up and I kept doing it. Although, my drawings are more doodles and they include less rainbows, hearts, and "Lindsay + Jordan Knight" images. But, that's why I LOVE http://www.milkandhoneyshoes.com/. You get to be a shoe designer! While I can't actually afford to buy most of the shoes I craft, I adore the fact that you can customize your own shoes. It's genius. And, for you sporty types, try designing your own shoes at www.nike.com/nikeid 

2. The Return of Parks & Recreation

You know when you run into an old friend and think, "We used to have so much fun, why did we stop hanging out?" Oh right, I remember. The season ended and Thursday nights were filled with inadequate reruns. I'd forgotten how AWESOME Parks & Recreation truly is. Welcome back, Leslie Knope and Ron Swanson's 'stache.

3. Aquiesse Candles in Luxe Linen

I have allergic reactions to strong smells. I know, I thought it was a made up thing too. But then my allergist gave me a pamphlet and a drug so it must be legit. However, I live in an old building and want my apartment to still smell, in the words of Outkast, "so fresh and so clean, clean." Solution? These fantastic candles by Aquiesse. The Luxe Linen scent smells clean without being overpowering. It also does not smell fruity, floraly, tasty, outdoorsy, or holiday-y. I can't vouch for any of the other scents because I found Luxe Linen and it was love at first sniff. I never  

                                                       looked back.

4. The King's Speech

Not to be all predictable and "following the trends," but here's how it is: this movie rocks. Nothing blows up, there's no nudity, and you don't have to wear 3-D glasses. It's just a good old fashion movie. Well acted, well edited, well written etc. Worth seeing and not just because of all the hype. Well, no actually that's exactly why you should see it. The hype is true. A great movie. Colin Firth can do no wrong.

5. Jillian Michaels: Yoga Meltdown

I'm not a huge fan of Jillian Michaels on Biggest Loser. I'm definitely Team Bob Harper. However, my preference over Jillian is because I don't like all the "let's get inside your head and make you cry until you realize why you're fat" stuff and has nothing to do with her training abilities. That said, I really love this workout DVD. I have a lifelong goal to want to love yoga. The problem is, I don't. Yet, this DVD is challenging and fast-moving enough to keep my interest. I also felt really sore the next day, the bittersweet sign of a good workout.

Does That Come in My Size?

Due to a computer glitch I wasn't able to post pics from Golden Globes fashions yesterday as I'd planned. But now I'm back up and running. Ok, I won't bore you with rhetoric. I'm going to jump right into some of the looks I loved.

(Disclaimer: I'm not showing any of the men because unless they did something totally bizarre, they all looked fantastic in a tux. Even you , Christian Bale, with your long hair and beard.)

I don't have a comprehensive inventory of the fashions from last night, but here are a few that caught my eye:

Amy Adams in Marchesa. I adore this
color and think it was a perfect choice for her. 

Ever since the Emmy's Claire Danes has
been making awesome fashion choices: clean, simple, complementing to her features. This pink beauty
from Calvin Klein Collection is stunning. 

I'm also slightly obsessed with this
Fred Leighton cuff that accented Claire's
pink, simple-cut dress.

Kyra Sedgwick in Emilio Pucci. While I'm still on the
fence as to whether this is the perfect color for her,
I LOVE this color and everything about this gown.

Diamonds are a girl's best friend, right? Well, I'm
too poor for diamonds so I'm a huge fan of sparkles
in general - sequins, glitter, rhinestones included. Olivia Wilde
looked gorgeous in a Marchesa gown and the fullness of the skirt is
fun, eye-catching, and fairy-tale-esque.

Did I mention that I like sparkles? Amber Riley's Oliver Tolentino
gown was so fun! She went all out and this
glamorous number looks fantastic.

Booze, Sequins, and Lifetime Achievements: Award Season Begins!

It's my favorite season of the whole year. Award Show Season, you guys!!

Golden Globes tonight!  I'll have a full recap of my favorite looks later. Oh, and some comments about those award things too.

(Side note: I'm writing this as I watch the "Arrivals Special" on NBC. Worst questions ever. Why is Carson Daly hosting the red carpet? Carson, I loved you....in 1999. TRL was your forte. Please, stop asking red carpet guests, "What are you wearing?" It's a dress. It's a tux.)

I love the Golden Globes because everyone is a little bit tipsy. It's sort of like the first hour of a college formal, everyone is dressed in fancy clothes but, you know in a few hours, all hell is going to break loose. I also love seeing my favorite TV actors mingling with the favorite movie actors. I get excited like I had something to do with them being together - that satisfaction you feel when you introduce your "friend groups" and they hit it off. "Matthew Morrison, meet Jake Gyllenhaal. Jake, meet Matt. Matthew is on a show called Glee. Matthew, Jake is gorgeous, er I mean, a very talent film actor."

(Side note #2: I love that Tina Fey just said, on the red carpet, that she is excited about being at the Golden Globes because "There are, like, real movie stars here." And, I have to give him credit. Carson Daly is getting a little bit better, perhaps I was too harsh.)

T minus 20 minutes until the start of the show.

Who will win?
Who will trip up the stairs?
How many people will Ricky Gervais offend?
Will there be an acceptance speech that brings me to tears?
How many winners will tell their children at home that it's "time to go to bed" in their speech?

Bring it, Golden Globes. I'm ready to take in all the glamour from my couch while I wear my incredibly un-glamorous sweatpants.

Who am I wearing? C9 by Champion, for Target.