25 Days of Holiday Style- Day 13,14 and 15

Who: Maude Apatow, This is 40 premiere

What: White taffeta party dress

Who: Taylor Swift, VMAs red carpet

What: Sleek white suit

Who: Anne Hathaway, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon

What: White dress, amazing red satin peep toe pumps

To Wear Where:  Whenever you're dreaming of a White Christmas

Happy Weekend- What's Up Tampa?

Happy Weekend!  Well, I'm still in Florida.  For the past week I've been in Tampa, which is basically my hometown except its not. At all.  If you're not familiar with Florida, I tell you I'm from Tampa.  If you've been to Tampa, I tell you I'm from St. Pete/Clearwater.  And if you've been to St. Petersburg, then I'm proud to tell you I'm from Seminole.  But that's another story.

So for the past 10 years I've basically been claiming to be from Tampa which is a total lie.  IAnyways, I what I really want to tell you about Tampa is that in 9th grade I went to a Backstreet Boys concert and Mandy Moore opened for them.  Poor 15 year old Mandy wobbled around the stage in her stilettos yelling "Whats up Tamp-puh?!"

I'm blogging in a room with 3 of my best friends and they all have this exact memory.  That's what makes childhood friends so wonderful- not shared interests but shared memories of 90's pop stars.

Story of the Week:  Does NoahCalhoun=ChristianGrey? 

I have a lot of opinions about 50 Shades- more on that soon.  But I have even more thoughts on Ryan Gosling being cast.  And the thoughts are NO.  Anyone who thinks that an A-list actor wants to be cast in this movie is kidding themselves.  This story is for soap opera hunks and ABC family starlets only.  

Rental of the Week:
Mandy Moore, all grown up, no heels, still long blond hair. I LOVE Tangled, especially the song in the scene above. 

Look of the Week:

 Anne Hathaway, another Disney darling.  Its not so much that I love her dress, but that she looks amazing despite the grandma dress and short hair.  She's getting married tomorrow!  It takes some guts to get married in short hair.  Better than the alternative?

NPR Interview of the Week:Amy Adams on Fresh Air.

I've been listening to so much NPR on the road but hearing one of my favorite actresses talk about being a Disney princess was my favorite thing all week!

Movie Ticket of the Week:  
And speaking of Amy Adams . . .The Master is getting phenomenal reviews . . . it just seems like a lot to take on.  I'll take one for the team and get back to you.

So tomorrow night at this time, I'll be past the finish line at this. . .

What's up Disney?! Wish me luck!

CFC Class- A Night at the Ballet

Read: 
A Lofty Discussion on Ballet

This article on SJP's involvement with the NYC Ballet and Valentino's new costumes is one of those pieces that totally blurs the line between Sarah Jessica and Carrie Bradshaw. I mean, aren't they they same person?

Browse: 
Sarah Jessica Parker, Anne Hathaway, Martha Stewart at Valentino’s Ballet Gala

This slideshow of pics from the gala red carpet.   Anne looks wonderful!

Ponder:
Candace Bushnell Files for Divorce, Claims Husband Had an Affair

I always enjoyed how Carrie almost ended up with an artist (played by a dancer) when the real life Carrie actually ended up with a ballet man. This bit of (old) gossip makes you wonder how things could have turned out if Carrie stayed in Paris with the Russian. 

 Watch:

   

 A very young Alexander Petrovsky (okay, Mikhail Baryshnikov) during a ballet solo. I'll admit that I'm giggling over the youtube comments about his "powerful buttocks."

Happy Weekend- Coastal Living

I think we all have a fantasy life.  Mine involves living on the Florida gulf coast, going to the beach every day, wearing flip flops and never bothering to straighten my hair.  Basically I'd live out a Kenny Chesney song 24/7.

After spending the week in Naples, and doing some significant people watching/ lunchtime eavesdropping, I've realized that even people on a permanent vacation have problems too.  Like the women at Cheesecake Factory who debated how much botox is too much.  (I'd say five injections ago, ladies.)  And a grumpy old man who cursed an afternoon thunderstorm that interrupted his tee time.  

But check out that view . . .

What I've been up to lately:
Reviews of Hit and Run and Lawless
MTAD for Trouble with the Curve and The Big Wedding
Confessions and Style Aspirations

Behind the scenes clip of the week: 

Its going to change our lives, right?  I'm so excited.

Rental of the Week:

Speaking of movie musicals, the last one to win Best Picture was Chicago in 2002.  Love it?  Watch it again and sing along!  Never seen it?  What is wrong with you?
Look of the Week:

Speaking of little dresses and razzle dazzle, I saw this window shopping in Nordstrom and fell in love.  I want to wear it to a New Year's party with a faux bob, glitter headband and all that jazz.

Story of the Week:
Kanye and Kim get a Kat.

Is anyone else hoping Kim gets out of her marriage to Kris quickly so we can have a Kim and Kanye wedding?  The sheer absurdity of it actually gives me chills.  Cute kitty though.

Movie Ticket of the Week:

Justin Randall Timberlake on the big screen.  Don't let me down!

Happy Weekend!

The Dark Knight Rises Review

The Dark Knight Rises is certainly . . . ambitious.  Class warfare, a nuclear bomb, and a villain whose ominous threats you can barely decipher? Isn't it enough to simply wrap up the greatest superhero trilogy ever?

Apparently not.  We've also got Christian Bale's "the batman" at his most vulnerable and most attractive.  Good lord, that man is gorgeous.  Also Anne Hathaway has a delightful time as the sexy and smart Selina Kyle.  Her catwoman is almost too much fun for such a dark movie.  Joseph Gordan Levitt is perfection as a young cop and Michael Caine is heartbreaking as Bruce Wayne's ever faithful butler.

However, as the movie started to drag, I wondered; how many times do I have to watch the dark knight fall before he rises? If I had only know the crazy plot twist and completely epic ending that lay ahead I wouldn't have been so restless. 


 The Dark Knight Rises manages to close this chapter in Gotham's history with respect to the past and more than enough hope for the future.  Turns out the movie's ambition wasn't quite so blind, even with a mask on.

The Dark Knight Rises, rated "R," action, starring Christian Bale, Tom Hardy, Anne Hathaway, Joseph Gordan Levitt "B+"

Just Workin on my Fitness

When it comes to my fascination with celebrities, I'm not just looking for fashion tips, I'm looking for fitness details as well. However, while starlets are more than happy to pose on the red carpet in their designer gowns, they're a little more secretive when it comes to getting in shape.

How many times have you heard a celebrity saying "I eat so much! I never diet! I don't have time to exercise, I just walk my dog occasionally!" In fact, actresses are famous for showing off their "gigantic appetite" during a lunch interview for a fashion mag. Those articles always say the same thing: "She looked casual chic in an all black ensemble and had glowing skin without a stich of makeup. She ordered scrambled eggs with extra cheese, 16 pieces of bacon, and chugged a bubba keg of beer on her way out the door."

Blake Lively once gave an interview saying that she eats pork burritos, chips, and coke before shooting lingerie scenes.

Okay. We all know she hired a trainer for The Green Lantern, and now that she's dating the fittest man alive (R. Reynolds, of course) you can bet she's keeping up with her squats.

Kate Walsh also boasted on Live! with Kelly that she did absolutely nothing to prepare for this Shape cover.

"It should be called Unshape magazine!" she laughed. " I ate a burrito right before the shoot!" I'd chalk it up to great photoshopping except she looks consistently looks smokin hot - check out those leg muscles!

There's been a lot of talk about the importance of featuring "real women" with "real bodies" in women's magazines. They suggest that we will feel bad about ourselves after seeing models, celebrities, and other superhuman beings in the media time after time.

I don't know about you, but I see real women every day. And every time I step out of the shower, there's a real woman in my bathroom mirror. If I'm reading Shape magazine, I'm certainly hoping to see an ultra fit celeb. You know makes me feels bad? Hearing stars talk about eating everything and never working out while still maintaining a toned physique. I workout most days and watch what I eat and no one has ever asked me to pose on a magazine cover.

So let's reflect on a few ladies who aren't afraid to say, thanks to LMFAO, "Girl look at that body, I work out!"

Anne Hathaway says she was working out for two hours and day and living on "kale and dust" to fit into her catwoman suit.

Gwen Stefani was quoted as saying " I am always on a diet"

And " I work hard to look this hot and I want girls to know that."

Gwyneth Paltrow works out for an hour and a half 5 days a week with the infamous Tracy Anderson- Madonna's trainer.

She also frequently goes on a 12 week (!!!!) detox.

Kelly Ripa is my fashion, fitness, and overall life idol. In a recent interview she said she works out every single day, even on vacation. She alternates between spinning, running, and "dance cardio and toning."

Also, she gave us an idea of her typical eats.

Breakfast- wheat toast and coffee

Lunch- greek yogurt and blueberries or a small salad

Dinner- small piece of fish with lots of veggies

Snacks- Pepperidge Farm goldfish- haha!

As beach season quickly approaches, I'll certainly be more aware of what I'm eating and how I'm exercising. Will I be as dedicated as these ladies? Of course not! And I won't expect my green bikini to sit quite as nice as Kelly's.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that it makes me feel good to know that real women (even celebs!) have to work really hard to look really good.

Chim Chim Cheree

I saw this video today and laughed and laughed. I admit I have occasionally chopped carrots this way- gross. And when I talk to myself its almost entirely in a British accent. I like to think of it as a combination between Keira Knightly in Pride and Predjudice:

"It would be most inconvenient since I've sworn to loathe him for all eternity!"

Emily Blunt in The Devil Wears Prada:

"A million girls would kill for this job!"

And Carey Mulligan in An Education

"My choice is to do something hard and boring or to go to Paris and have fun!"

And of course Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins:

"Or blow me a kiss- and that's lucky too!"

I also spend a considerable amount of time dancing around and singing by myself like Cameron in The Holiday:

Or like Brit Brit at the beginning of Crossroads:

After searching for that video I entered a googling spiral, we've all been there, where I couldn't stop watching old videos of Britney Spears.

So that's another SSB to add to the list- a hour spent watching 90's pop starts on YouTube.

What are your weird habits when you're alone?

One Day Review

Hmm. . . what to say about this movie.

What I liked: Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess were great as Emma and Dexter. Dexter was just as cool, charismatic, and at times, hopeless, as I expected him to be. And Emma (played by a makeover expert!) blossomed beautifully from a sweet, awkward college grad to a lovely and accomplished writer. The script was very close to the book (which I loved) and pieces of the dialogue were word for word. Some moments were very touching, especially the scene in Paris. I loved Emma's dress in this scene and would like to wear it to meet by imaginary Parisian boyfriend.

What I didn't like: The book was certainly somber, but the movie was a total downer. The few bits of humor (straight from the book) were lost in British accents and quiet moments. A certain scene at the end was shown in detail that I though was completely out of place. Im not sure if I could have liked it more without having read the book. I am sure that the book was better and you should spend your Saturday night reading it, instead of at the movies.

Last night I went to this movie with my best friend and former roommate. We have lived in the same building, house, or apartment for the past 8 years. Its incredibly unique to live with someone (who is not your spouse or relative) from ages 18 to 26, and I wouldnt have had it any other way.

Last night I also heard some very sad news about someone I knew for a short period of time a few years ago. I can't stop thinking about his life, although I really only knew him for one day.

We tend to think about days as part of the bigger picture of time. We can't believe the summer has flown by or we wish a week would hurry up and end. In One Day, Emma says "No matter what happens tomorrow, we had today, I'll always remember it."

Just one day is not a lifetime, but it is a piece of a life. And right now I'm trying to be thankful for every single day.

One Day, rated "PG-13," romantic drama, starring Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess, C

Book Club: One Day

If you have watched even an hour of tv this week (I've watched about 45 hours) you have probably seen a commercial for One Day. When I saw this trailer in May I immediately bought the book and downloaded One Republic's "Good Life." I'm happy to report that both are excellent!

One Day is one of the most romantic, most realistic love stories I have ever read. There is nothing easy or predictable in this story of two people who you know are meant to be but you fear will never end up together. It reminded me a lot of The Time Traveler's Wife. I thought about fate and soul mates and what happens to relationships over time.

I immediately thought One Day would make a great movie because the book's dialogue is beautiful and tragic and sometimes really funny! I can't wait to see Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess as Emma and Dexter. Until then I'll watch the trailer and say "university" and "disaster" and "teachers" in my fake British accent.

The Half-Back

The Half-Back sounds like its probably Jason Bateman's newest movie. With The Switch from last August and The Change-Up out in theaters today, its about time for another ambiguously named comedy. Actually, the Half-Back refers to the classic chick flick cliche- the movie makeover.

The other night, my boyfriend and I were having drinks and discussing the amazing makeover that Steve Carrell, as Cal, undergoes in Crazy, Stupid, Love- all thanks to Ryan Gosling( Jacob.) At one point Jacob asks "Are you in a fraternity? Are you Steve Jobs, the billionaire CEO of Apple Computers? No? Then you have no excuse to wear New Balance shoes. Ever.” I should note that Jacob is flawlessly dressed in this movie.

Well, he is not necessarily dressed there.. but I couldn't help myself. Anyways, we watch Cal go from sneakers and droopy khakis to beautiful shirts and a better hair cut to... somewhere in between. My boyfriend said " I hate how at the end he went half-back." We realized this happens all the time in movie makeovers. For example in Devil Wears Prada, we watch Andrea Sachs go from the "cerulean blue, casual corner sweater" (love that speech!)

To the Gisele envied Chanel boots. . .

To somewhere in between

Time and again, we see this happen in a movie makeover! Tai is half preppy/half grunge by the end of Clueless, Gracie Lou Freebush is wearing a suit, but rocking wavy hair when she is awarded Miss Congeniality, and Princess Mia (Anne Hathaway is makeover queen!) probably has a partial uni-brow growing back in by the time she writes The Princess Diaries of Genovia! I know its supposed to show the audience that the character has became comfortable in who they were... with some positive physical changes of course!

This is actually realistic. Think of how many times you've gotten a new haircut, new makeup, borrowed a friend's outfit for the night and you look like a new person! But chances are you can never quite replicate that salon blowout - you only have two arms and a round brush from walmart for heaven's sake! And by the time you head back in for a new haircut you're slightly embarrassed. "Thanks for spending hours on my hair a few months ago- you'll notice its returned to its natural state." (hangs head in shame)

And as important as it is to embrace your natural self, I think we all could use a makeover that actually sticks now and then! So when you're making a life change- whether its getting bangs or changing jobs- don't settle for the chick flick happy ending and find yourself with a "half-back" situation. Stick with it, buy a new hair brush, grow another arm, and keep wearing those Chanel boots!