Things I'm Loving - Fall Fashion ed.

could not be more obsessed. via http://olsensanonymous.blogspot.com/

It’s the first day of September, and you know what the means: the Vogue September Issue will be on newsstands soon.

Since Vogue started producing the massive fashion reference book (which, let’s be honest, is more of a collection of advertisements than anything else), several other magazines have followed suit. Thus, September has become synonymous with stacks of glossy write-ups on seasonal lipsticks and handbags, so heavy they could rival a Webster on the scale.

If you’ve started to get the impression that I’m above the influx of fall fashion advertisements or don’t buy into all the hype, then I’ve seriously misled you—because I’ll be the first in line to pick up every new copy of People Style Watch, InStyle, Vogue, Glamour. You name it, it’ll find a home in my shopping cart.

Since I can’t exactly overhaul my entire wardrobe (like I’m always tempted to do come September), I’ll be looking for fun pieces this season that accent or update what I already own. Like these two steals I just welcomed into my closet:

no, rhianna’s not in my closet. but her Elizabeth and James feather plume vest is, courtesy of an insanely amazing sale at Neiman Marcus off the rack. camel blazer from the fall H&M line—$29.95.

I’m planning on updating my polished little blazer by replacing the buttons (plastic-y and cheap) with sturdier brass pieces.

Now, to the fun part. My I-so-wish-I-could-have list for fall.

 

alice + oliva faux fur jacket, via nordstroms.com

leopard heeled booties, via topshop.com

sold-out poppy king for j.crew lipstick, via jcrew.com

stunning chanel flat I snapped at Neiman’s flagship store in downtown Dallas

literally anything and everything Haute Hippie—see their fall lookbook here: http://hautehippiestore.com/

every piece in the Missoni for Target collection (debuts sept. 13)—full collection lookbook here: http://fashionista.com/2011/08/here-it-is-the-full-missoni-for-target-lookbook/

Has anyone else been bitten by the fall fashion bug? What’s on your wishlist?

happy daydreaming! xo

Burn, Baby Burn!

Tonight’s blog post is way outside my comfort zone. I’m definitely taking a risk with this confession, so I hope that if you’ve ever tried one of my recipes, you’ll stick with me through this!

I burned cupcakes tonight. And it is beyond difficult for my perfection-istic self to admit that publicly!

After spending two hours in the kitchen embellishing a semi-meticulous cupcake recipe with a few fun ideas of my own, I was forced to face the truth: I had seriously overcooked my cupcakes (and made a grainy frosting, to boot!)

I knew the maple bacon cupcake recipe was a risk to begin with. But I’ve made a lot of really successful funky dishes lately, and I was feeling up for the challenge. So I heated up a frying pan, waited for the oil to pop, and breathed in the deliciously crisp eau-de-bacon like it was potpourri.

The cupcake could have been wonderful. And beautiful! I had this fantastic plan to reserve a little of the batter to press into an edible waffle cupcake liner (didn’t work, turned to mush), and I rubbed two extra pieces of bacon with pancake syrup and brown sugar, letting it candy in the oven to serve as a garnish. That element of the dish, I have to admit, was insanely fantastic! I’ll definitely use that technique the next time I make this cupcake. As for the rest of it…

It was really just a flop. The texture came out kind of like cornbread. A little mealy, not super sweet, and definitely nowhere close to the breakfast-for-dessert salty/sweet confection I was going for. As for the icing, while maintaining a nice flavor, I couldn’t get the texture right. I added milk, extra powdered sugar, vanilla, rimming it in salt like a cupcake margarita…nothing saved it. It was just doomed. 

Usually this is the part of the blog post where I post a pretty picture of some food I’ve made that I feel is impressive, with the general idea being (of course) that people will leave nice comments confirming my creativity and how envious they are of my culinary genius. Okay, I’m exaggerating - I’m not that much of a compliment junkie! :) But in keeping with the theme of “the failed baker tells all”…here’s a picture collage of my creation!

He looks sad, doesn’t he? And brown.

The funniest thing is, my dad swears it’s the best cupcake he’s ever had in his life. While I choked mine back with a cup of coffee and immediately began mentally brainstorming how to fix all of the errors (turn the heat down, check the timer more often, don’t ever add milk to a frosting…), he ate two of them. And asked if I would make some “for his friends to try.” That right there is sacrificial love, folks.

Long story short: I hate messing up. I just hate it! I have this problem where I always think, “how could I have done this better?” or “why didn’t I try A, B, or C?”

But don’t we all have that annoying fear of failure? That feeling that curls in the bottom of our stomachs that says, what would happen if I just totally blew this? Generally, my mind responds with things like this: people would think I was stupid. people would think I was a failure. people would think, people would think, people would think…

Those three words—people would think—are just so silly! The truth is, people don’t think about other people’s successes and failures because they’re too busy thinking about their own. So my goal is to just start cutting people some slack—starting with myself!

At its root, perfection is an idol that turns our focus inward. Wouldn’t it be amazing if we could transfer all that energy into loving other people? How about into praising God for being our one perfect Savior?  These cupcakes aren’t pretty. But neither are we apart from God’s grace.

Despite whatever my dad’s twisted taste buds have to say about it, I thank you for failing miserably, maple bacon cupcakes. You’ve given me the freedom to abandon the perfectly pulled together version of myself that I so often strive to attain. If I ever do produce a result from this recipe that I think someone would actually want to duplicate, then I’ll be sure to post a tasty update! But until then…

Burn, baby! xo

“Ask the Lord to put awareness of Himself in you, and your self-awareness will disappear. Then He will be your all.” - Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes!

So many things have happened this summer that I’ve really got no choice but to summarize the whole thing via picture montage. I’ll try and add in a little text later, but in the meantime feel free to play a game of photo fill-in-the-blank with me.

Many, many updates to come. Including a potential change of blog name, since I graduated from Pepperdine and the whole L.A. thing is no longer really applicable. Hint: I’ll need suggestions of caffeinated beverages that start with the letter “M”. Mochachinos in Monaco? Possiblement.

A few bonus pictures from my mom’s birthday yesterday, just because I think my family’s so darn cute. Who cares if I’m biased? Happy ___th, mom!

xo

Have Stress, Will Cook

and clean. And work out. And walk the dog. And redecorate my room. And…trim the bushes in our front yard?

Yes - these are the things I have been doing to “get through” the last few weeks. Which probably sounds a lot more depressing than is really the case, because as it turns out I actually liked trimming the bushes. I gave them a nice round shape, and my mom even said they looked professional. Honestly, can’t disagree!

Here is the truth of the matter: losing people is hard, and no matter how many ways I find to keep myself busy there just isn’t a way to deal with loss (in a healthy way) that doesn’t involve pain. But I have found out that there are ways to keep moving forward while still keeping old memories alive - because really, would our loved ones want us to wallow? I kind of think not.

I’ve discovered that one of the ways I feel the most connected to happy memories of my grandmother is through cooking. We shared a love of creating in the kitchen, and lately I’ve found myself pulling out our old tin baking pans even more often than usual. Every time I dig through her old recipe box and read through her instructions, it’s like she’s still able to teach me something. I’ve also found out how much fun it is to invent my own recipes or put a new twist on something I’ve made before - an ingenue spirit that I know helped my grandmother to become the most famous cook in Tyler, Texas (if not the world).

So, if you’ve lost someone you love or just plain lost your mind due to work, summer school, a break-up or other natural disaster, try giving one of these recipes a shot. You won’t regret it!

We’ll start easy with semi-homemade, Southern style red velvet cupcakes.

Buy a box of red velvet cake mix from the grocery store (trust me, it’s just as good as the real-deal and so much easier). I like Duncan Hines extra moist, and judging by how fast these cupcakes went once I pulled them from the oven, I’m guessing my family does, too. Up the “fancy” and the homemade flavor by making the icing from scratch. Here’s the recipe I follow:

The Best Cream Cheese Frosting:

8 ounce package low-fat cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup butter, softened

1 cup + additional (by taste) sifted confectioners sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a medium bowl, cream together cream cheese and softened butter (I put the butter in the microwave for 30 seconds to help the two mix easier). Mix in vanilla, then gradually stir in confectioners sugar. Blend with electric mixer, whipping until well-blended and light.

Tip: if you don’t have an icing bag, here’s an easy way to make your own! Transfer frosting into large plastic ziplock. Release air and close. Cut a corner of the bag diagonally with scissors, working all of the icing to that end of the bag. Squeeze desired amount onto each cupcake, swirling slightly. Perfection!

Now for a medium-level recipe I tried recently and LOVED - lemony-blueberry muffins! Sooo good (almost too good) with a cup of coffee in the morning. Or night. Or as a snack…

Lemon-Blueberry Muffins: (from the Food Network pantry)

1 stick butter

1 cup sugar

2 tbsp. lemon juice

2 eggs

1/2 cup milk

2 cups flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoon lemon zest

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups blueberries, frozen or fresh (I like fresh)

Preheat oven to 350, and grease muffin tins. In a bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Stir in eggs and milk. Add flour, baking powder, salt, vanilla, and lemon juice. Carefully stir in blueberries. Divide batter among muffin tins.

In a separate bowl, combine 1/4 cup brown sugar, 2 tbsp. butter, and 1 to 2 tsp. lemon zest (the grated rind of a lemon). Sprinkle mixture on top of muffin to create a warm streusel topping. Bake for 20-25 minutes.

And now for the most difficult - but potentially the most rewarding - recipe that I’ve concocted as of late: THE chicken enchiladas of all chicken enchiladas. I found this healthy recipe in it’s original form on food.com, then altered it with the help of my best friend to up the flavor even more. The result?

Karley and Morgan’s YUM-azing Chicken Enchiladas: (an all-out Mexican fiesta)

The Sauce

1 cup of baby roma tomatoes, halved

4 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped

half medium onion, coarsely chopped

2 teaspoons chili powder

2 teaspoons ground cumin

1 teaspoon paprika

1/2 chopped/seeded jalapeno

handful of cilantro, chopped

2 tablespoons of your favorite salsa

salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lightly coat a baking sheet with oil spray. Place tomatoes, onions, and garlic on sheet. Bake for 15 minutes or until union and garlic are golden and tomato juices have started to run. Remove vegetables from tray, transfer to a blender or food processor. Mix all dry spices in a bowl until well combined, then transfer to the food processor. Add jalapeno, cilantro, salsa, and salt and pepper. Puree until smooth. Set aside.

Other Ingredients:

whole wheat tortillas

green chili sauce, store bought or prepared (we used Las Palmas from the international foods section)

2 cups pre-cooked rotisserie chicken

1/2 cup fat-free cheddar cheese

1/2 cup fat-free mixed Mexican blend cheese

Pull apart rotisserie chicken into finally shredded pieces, removing and tossing skin/bones. Should produce about two cups of chicken. Coat chicken with prepared sauce, turning with spoon until well-covered. Once coated, stir in 1/2 cup fat-free cheddar cheese and 1/2 cup fat-free Mexican blend cheese.

Turn oven temperature down to 350. Pour half of green chili sauce into the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking pan. Spoon about 2 tablespoons of chicken mixture into each whole wheat tortilla. Roll tortillas and place seam-side down into the sauce-coated baking dish. Cover tortillas with additional sauce, topping with a layer of shredded cheese. Bake for 17-22 minutes or until sauce bubbles.

Tip: saffron rice (find it on the international food aisle) and black beans complement these enchiladas perfectly, and a dollop of homemade guacamole makes the whole thing taste like a dream.

I promise, you’ll feel better after you pull something you’ve created out of the oven. And if you don’t feel de-stressed enough after an afternoon of baking, there’s always yoga. Or trimming the bushes.

xxoo

"Life Happens"

Who even came up with that quote?

It’s so short, but it just gets it, doesn’t it? Life does happen, and lately, here’s what’s been happening to me: a cocktail of the good, the bad, the sad, the beautiful, and the everything in between.

1. The Write Stuff

This semester, I was blessed to have the chance to take a screenwriting class taught by writer Nancy Dodd (The Writer’s Compass) and screenwriter Randall Wallace (Braveheart, We Were Soldiers, Pearl Harbor). This is the end product of the class: a full-length, 96 page original screenplay! I’ve never been so proud…or sleep deprived/over caffeinated.

2. The Cool Thing

The US Weekly Hot Hollywood party was the last weekend of April, and can I just say it was worth the wait? It was worth the wait. I got to hang out and do a few interviews on the press line with another intern, and watched as Lauren Conrad, Whitney Port, Brooke Burke, Jessica Simpson, and more made their sh-nazzy entrances on the white and pink carpet. But the highlight? By far when Joe Jonas rejected me for an interview. Not because he rejected me (he actually didn’t…his publicist did, and he apologized sheepishly), but because I tried. And because he was short, and that answered my life-long question of whether or not the Lord intended for us to be married (no).

3. The Real World

As hard/weird/strange as it was to say goodbye to Pepperdine a full year early, I can say with absolute certainty that graduating this year was the right thing for me. I still don’t have a plan that extends past this summer, but I’m so excited to see what the Lord has in store next. I’ve got some pretty fun ideas!

4. The New Thing

On May 8th, I competed in my first ever pageant: Miss Dallas USA. SUCH a fun and memorable experience…and at the same time, so crazy! I have this problem where I tend not to try things without a “100% guarantee of positive outcome” tag attached. So competing in Miss Dallas was a big risk for me! No, I didn’t win…but I did place in the top 5 as second runner up! The real reward, though, was in conquering my fear of failure by simply trying something new (although I wouldn’t have minded wearing a sparkly crown on my head, either).

Those, of course, were all good/fun/exciting things. On a different note, however, this past week I lost one of the people who I have always held most dear to my heart. On May 16 at 7 o’clock in the morning, my grandmother passed away. I don’t know that I have the words yet to adequately express the life she lived and the love and legacy she left behind. What I do know is that I will miss her immensely—in my life, she will always remain unmatched. In honor of her, my family made a southern feast of fried chicken, gravy, steamed broccoli, mashed potatoes, sweet tea, and chocolate pie tonight while big band music played from our living room.

I’ll sign off with the recipe for her famous chocolate pie. You’ve got to try it…there’s just no ifs, ands, or buts about it. And believe me…once you’ve had Jimmie Clayton’s pie, you will NEVER eat icebox pie again.

Jimmie’s Chocolate Pie

1/3 cups flour                                            1 tsp. vanilla

1 cup sugar                                                2 tbsp. butter

4 tbsp. cocoa                                             9 inch pie shell

½ tsp. salt                                                  3 egg whites

2 cups milk                                                6 tbsp. sugar

3 egg yolks

Sift flour, cocoa, salt and sugar. Gradually add milk. Cook in heavy pan over low heat until thick, stirring constantly. This may take up to 15 minutes.

Slightly beat egg yolks. Add small (3 tbsp.) amount of hot liquid to egg yolks, mixing well. Stir into remaining hot mixture. Cook 2 minutes, then remove from heat. Add butter and vanilla. When cool, pour into baked pie shell.

Meringue Topping

Using mixer, beat egg whites until stiff foam. Add sugar 1 tbsp. at a time, and continue to beat mixture until stiff peaks form.

Spread over cooled chocolate mixture and bake in pre-heated oven on 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes, or until meringue is slightly browned on top. 

Isn’t she lovely?

xox

A (lowly intern's) Cinderella Story

I walked into the US Weekly office the Friday of Oscar weekend beyond excited. My boss had emailed me a couple of days earlier asking if I was free to help cover an Oscar gifting suite, and of course I immediately responded with an emphatic YES as I mentally dug through the swag bag I was sure I would be receiving at the end of the night. But instead of holding a swag bag in my hands at the night’s end, I left clutching a rain-drenched silver tape recorder that held interviews with celebs ranging from the Kardashians to the Trumps. Interviews that I had conducted. Alone. On the red carpet, in the press line, thrusting the built in microphone on my tape recorder into the faces of Oscar nominees and A-list celebs as the official reporter for Us Magazine (if only for one precious night).

My interview with these two turned into a fun get-to-know-you chat! A pic from the red carpet with my new BFFs Kiptyn + Tenley, my favorite Bachelor couple of all time…with the exception of Ali and Roberto, of course.

Basically when I went into work Friday morning I thought I would be shadowing a reporter. Turns out, there were so many Oscar-related events to cover over the weekend that someone had to get bumped up to fill in the reporting gaps, and I happened to be the intern asked to do it. I was so thankful that they trusted me to go solo and am happy to finally be able to share the official report I compiled now that the Oscar issue has circulated for over a week. That’s the funny thing about this internship - I come away from work with these incredible stories, but I can’t share them until after US has already used everything for publication that they need! So hopefully, this won’t be too irrelevant by now.

____________________________________________________________

5:41 p.m. Sara Rue arrives on the red carpet wearing a blue-ish gray short dress accented by both pockets and rivets on the shoulders. She looks healthy and very fit, is posing and smiling and showing off a tattoo on her left ankle with her studded gray suede pumps.

Interview

US: Whose dress are you most looking forward to seeing at the Oscars this year?

Sara Rue: “I think I’m looking forward to seeing Scarlett Johansson this year, I don’t know why I just think she has such an interesting take always on the red carpet, like it’s never super traditional, it’s never like what you would expect. I always love her, I just think she’s beautiful.”

Secondhand: Sara on selling her QVC jewelry collection. “I almost wanted to make runway to reality pieces, pieces that pricewise were affordable but fun.”

5:42 p.m. Celebrity stylist Ken Paves (Jessica Simpson’s stylist) posing and chatting on the red carpet with two models with red carpet hair looks

Interview

US: What hair styling trends are you expecting to see on the red carpet this year?

Ken: “Effortlessly chic hair, undone hair, or hair that doesn’t look too polished or too finished, hair that’s just kind of swept back, what have you. Ponytails are going to be great, very loose chignons are going to be great, but hair that’s tangible. I think it’s a throwback to the 60s when hair had texture and…hair that looked real. Now it’s about real hair. The beauty of a woman—not about her hair.”

Secondhand: Mentioned that he thinks Cate Blanchett is one of the great actresses of our time, and is excited to see what Natalie Portman wears/how she is styled at the Oscars

5:44 p.m. Donald Trump and wife Melania arrive. He seemed proud of her and her QVC line, and lets her take the spotlight on answering questions despite a few Apprentice questions from journalists. Donald wore a suit with a purple silk tie, Melania truly stunning in black strapless beaded gown with pointy toe patent black pumps, hair in soft waves, wearing her own earrings from the QVC line she has coming out in April.

Interview

US: When do you find your wife most beautiful?

Donald: “I would say at night without makeup (she laughs). And even in the morning without makeup. She’s actually more beautiful without makeup.”

US: Tell me a little about your line—what are you most excited for and where do you see it going?

Melania: “Well it’s exciting because it’s only a year since I started and it’s a big huge success and I have a fourth collection coming out in April and it’s really exciting, I love to design, I love to sketch, and to work with QVC they’re very professional so something I look forward to for many, many times.”

Secondhand: Donald is rooting for Michael Douglas to win at the Oscars

Melania loves Black Swan and King’s Speech

5:51 p.m. Jeannie Mai, host of show “How Do I Look” mentions that she loves to see what Helena Bonham Carter wears to the Oscars. Also mentions that anytime Anne Hathaway steps into a room “everyone falls in love with her” because she’s so charismatic.

5:53 p.m. Helena Bonham Carter arrives on the red carpet wearing a corset top dress topped by a vintage-looking jacket, a huge black bow tucked into her messy curled updo, and black suede pumps. Heard saying she’s looking forward to seeing Javier Bardem at the Oscars as well as Amy Adams, who she “adores.”

Interview

US: If you were not an actress, what do you think you would be doing?

Helena: “I don’t know I often think of that and because I can never come up with anything I end up acting, you know. But I’ve often thought, oh I must be able to do something! At the end of every job I feel like I’ve got to give up, I’ve got to give up, and then I can’t think of something else to do. So, probably invent things which would be absolutely useless.”

US: What keeps you coming back to acting?

Helen: “I like pretending to be other people and I love dressing up.”

Secondhand: “I don’t know…I might just go very straight and normal and grown up (to the Oscars). The thing is, I basically just do what I like. I’ll continue doing what I like because that’s the only thing I can do.”

5:55 p.m. Camila Alves (Matthew McConaughey’s girlfriend) arrives on the red carpet wearing a sparkling black one-shoulder dress with strappy, sparkly silver pumps and hair parted down the middle in her signature beachy style. She speaks to several news stations but walked past all print interviews.

6:06 p.m. Gossip girl’s Kelly Rutherford arrives on the red carpet wearing a long, navy, backless gown with in sparkling earrings. Very excited and eager to talk about her handbag line for QVC (she’s carrying on of her bags, which is embossed leather made to look like crocodile skin).

Interview

US: You said you designed your handbags based on your personal style. What kind of woman do you see carrying your bags?

Kelly: “I went to pick up my son at school the other day and I had like three of the girls that looked like they were about seniors come up and ask me where I got my satchel bag, my tote satchel. And I was so excited. I was like, I did this!  I designed it! So to me, I’m in my 40s, so I designed something that I thought was very classic, that wasn’t really about age—it was more about what looks chic, what goes with a lot of things, what was missing in the market in terms of what I look for.”

6:08 p.m. George Blodwell (celebrity stylist and one time Editor-at-Large for Italian Harper’s Bazarre) arrives on red carpet.

Celebs he’s styled: He most recently styled Jane Lynch who presented to Lady Gaga at the 2010 Video Music Awards, Naya Rivera and Eva La Rue for the 2010, Forest Whitaker and Quinton Aaron for the 2010 Oscars, Anil Kapoor, Bill Maher, Katie Price and Peter Andre at 2009 Oscars, and Helen Mirren at 2008 Oscars.

Said he would love to see a design by Gareth Pugh at the Oscars because  he’s “avante-garde, futuristic, interesting, and intelligent.”

Trends he’s expecting at the Oscars: “I said orange for the golden globes, not as much. “A lot of nude colors, some white, I’ve got a feeling orange and blue. Even green. Who knows?”

6:20 p.m. Karina Smirnoff arrives on the red carpet red in a tight, short red dress with a plunging neckline and tan YSL shoes. She’s busy promoting her shoe line, make-up line, DVD and new studio. She’s also overheard joking about how she’s a sucker for advertising products on infomercials, and claims to be the owner of both a Magic Bullet and the Shake Weights (she flexes as she says this, jokingly saying that’s how she got so fit).

Interview

US: You have so many business endeavors going on right now! Have you always been a natural born business woman?

Karina: “No, but I think I’ve grown into it because since I was a little girl there’s always been some sort of project.” Gave examples: started teaching ice-skating to other children at age four. “I think now more than ever, it’s like I have certain dreams and I’ve been working on them” Also mentioned how she assembled a reception desk in her new studio without tools (very hands on with this project, lots of excitement), and claims that she balances everything because she has A.D.D. and a great team who helps her out and offers support.

Also overheard discussing wedding plans: should be a small wedding (75-100 guests) in the Caribbean—a destination wedding. Just waiting to finalize.

6:22 p.m. ex-Bachelor contestant Vienna Giardi breezes down red carpet in a flash, not stopping for any interviews

6:23 p.m. ex-Bachelorette contestant Kasey Khan walks onto red carpet VERY shortly after Vienna, only stops to talk to US, and seems very confident on opinion of Emily winning Brad’s season of the Bachelor. 

Interview

US: Can you tell me a little about your philanthropy work and why you’re so passionate about it?

Kasey: “I love kids…I wanted to do something on the show that was portrayed kind of negatively (getting his tattoo), I wanted to flip that around and make something positive, so what I did was actually take it and make it into a non-profit, called it Guard and Protect Hearts. So I want to guard and protect the hearts of our youth one heart at a time.”

US: Any predictions on the bachelor? Any favorites?

Kasey: “Keep a close eye on Emily. Mark my words, keep a close eye on Emily. You might hear differently, but keep an eye on Emily. Mark my words.”

6:43 p.m. Maria Barrera (mostly Disney roles) arrives on the red carpet and is excited to talk about her new role alongside Julia Roberts and Tom Hanks—mentions that she loves Julia and that Julia seems like a fantastic mom!

Interview

Us: You’ve done a lot with Disney’s teen queens, and now you’ve moved on to a film with Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts. What was that like?

Maria: “It was amazing. It was like a master class because it takes place in the classroom. We get to watch Tom Hanks direct and act in scenes with Julia Roberts. It was a wonderful experience.”

US: Did Julia bring the kids to set?

Maria: “Yes she did, oh she did and they’re so cute! Three of them, oh it was darling! It was wonderful. I’m a mom of two and I know how wonderful it is and how exhausting it is, so we chatted about that. We shot during Mother’s Day so we talked about that. She was a sweetheart.”

6:45 p.m. Rebecca Gayheart breezes down the red carpet in black tights, black pumps, and a striped dress…and doesn’t do a single interview

Huge lull in the red carpet as everyone was waiting for the Kardashians to arrive

7:13 p.m. Brenda Song stops for a brief comment on her current fashion obsessions: “I like glunge, what I’m calling glamour glunge, it’s like my favorite thing right now. It’s like I do care, but I don’t care.”

7:16 p.m. Jessalyn Gilsig arrives on the red carpet, but does not do any interviews

7:19 p.m. Melissa Leo (“The Fighter” Oscar nominee) arrives on the red carpet in a puff sleeved Mark Bauer gown that showcases a tattoo on left breast that’s sticking out. Her dress is a little outrageous and be-dazzled in sequins and lace.

Secondhand, on exercise routine: “I don’t have a lot of experience with it. I drink a lot of water. I don’t really have time for exercise…throughout awards season a lot of air travel, eats an apple a day.”

“Throughout the awards season you will see me in Mark Bauer.”

Mentions she’s looking forward to seeing what Amy Adams has on (kismet between her and Amy Adams, good friends, show up often at award shows in not matching but complementary outfits)—both Oscar nominees

7:21 Sloan and girlfriend Gretchen Rossi (in short white gown) from Real Housewives of Orange County arrive on red carpet as if hoping for an interview, but no one bites. They kiss and are overly physically affectionate at the party afterward though, so it seems like they don’t care.

7:22 p.m. Jennifer Laurence (Oscar nom “Winter’s Bone”) arrives wearing a cream-ish dress that looks semi like lingerie (Mischa Schuab is the designer). As she walks down the carpet, she talks on her iPhone for a long period of time and seems to avoid interviews for awhile. By the time she gets to print interviews, she’s being rushed along by her publicist and is not allowed to stop for questions as walking on red carpet.

7:26 p.m. Melora Hardin (Jan from The Office) arrives on the red carpet and chats about what The Office will be like now that Steve is leaving.

Interview

US: With Steve Carrell leaving, how will you top your role as his love interest and what will the show be like without him?

“I love Jan, she’s just a great character, and I’m supposed to keep popping back on the show here and there, so I totally will miss Steve. I think he’s great, I love doing scenes with him, I have a fun time and we’re funny together. I think the characters are funny together, I love Jan and Michael together, they’re just so wrong and so right. I definitely think that’s a unique relationship that will be missed by the fans and by me.”

As for Steve… “We’ll miss him but it’s a great show and it’s got a lot of great characters.”

7:28 p.m. Tenley and Kiptyn from The Bachelor Pad arrive and are extremely into each other, holding hands, posing together, smiling, laughing, and leaning toward each other. He rubs her back protectively as they answer questions as a couple. After interviews they enjoy the party with glasses of wine and sampling the caramel cup hors d’oerves.

Interview

US: Tell me about how the bachelor throughout the seasons seems to become an inter-dating society.

Tenley: “There’s a lot more reunions stuff put together that it makes sense. For us, I’ve been thinking…if I was dating someone else, would they understand the whole bachelor process? Would I understand it? I think it’s a neutral ground and something we both experienced. I think there’s something you have in common that’s such a unique experience that just brings all these couples together from within.”

Kiptyn: “We’ve all been through this unique thing but I think people kind of share that, and they bond over that, and that’s the group you’re hanging out with, and you start dating.”

US: When is Tenley most beautiful to you?

Kiptyn: “Is always a time?” (she laughs) “Morning. First thing in the morning…sweatpants, chillin’ with no makeup on…I stole that from Drake, but I like it.” (both laugh)

7:33 p.m. Shay Mitchell from Pretty Little Liars arrives on the red carpet in a sparkly one shoulder dress and nude pumps

7:49 p.m. (50 minutes past when the carpet was supposed to close) Kim Kardashian arrives on the red carpet, giving her signature stare to the flashing cameras, lips parted. She’s wearing trendy coral lip color and sporting a casual but glam look—a 3-quarter length gold sequin blazer from her KDASH line, pants, and a white shirt underneath with stacked tan and gold heels and funky, dangly earrings.

7:50 p.m. Kourtney joins Kim on the red carpet in a sparkly sequined skirt from their KDASH line accented by black tights, black strappy/chunky heels, and a flowy black shirt that ties in loose bow at throat

Both of the sisters took their sweet time in the press line, posing together to take pictures and answering at least one question for everyone (though questions were limited to only their QVC line by their publicist)

Overheard: QVC is “well-established” so they were excited to get involved, Kim has music coming out soon, a single called “Jam” that will drop in about 2 weeks, airing Ryan Seacrest, proceeds to cancer organization for fun and good cause

“It’s all about the glitz and the glam this season on Kdash.”

Interview

US: Why is it important to make clothes that are affordable, is it for your fans?

Kim: “It’s really unrealistic to be able to afford really expensive things all the time I mean we’ve always loved to mix and match and wear lower price point clothes and mix them with some high price point clothes and accessories, and we have stores ourselves so we know what our fans and friends can afford and can’t afford.”

Kourtney: “I’m all about that. I think that just is style, knowing how to take something and make it your own and mix it with other stuff. I think that’s rally important.”

Overheard—Kim: “We work well, me Kourtney and Khloe…we make it go really easily, I’m a little indecisive so it helps to have my sisters there.”

8:02 p.m. Katherine McPhee arrives very last on the red carpet in a long red  Marc Bauerdress with pockets accented by a simple circular diamond pendant on a chain necklace. Press had started packing up then a few came back when they realized it was her, but many went ahead and left.

(secondhand) QVC’s was the only event she’s going to, she “loves the Kardashian girls,”  (and their QVC line)

Interview

US: how do you stay true to yourself in Hollywood environment?

Katherine: “I check in with the people who love you the most. For me, I feel like I check myself and keep my own self in balance, checking in with how I could have done better in certain situations or treated someone better, just like anyone else.”

US: Whose career do you want to model yours after?

Katherine: “I love Lauren Linney, Naomi Watts. It’s cool when they have really strong careers but aren’t at every event, and stay out of craziness of everything.”

8:35 p.m. Nicole Richie seen walking through lobby in short black dress with arm casually draped through a friend’s arm, people buzzing around her asking “where’s her publicist?” She skipped the red carpet, stopped to take one picture with a fan then disappeared, headed toward bathroom.

8:36 p.m. Lisa Rinna wanders into lobby in long sparkly gown, posing for pictures with friends dressed equally as gaudy, but changes soon after and stands outside waiting for her car to valet (for almost an hour) in a camel trench and white dress, taking pictures with foreign fans.

8:47 p.m. Kourtney Kardashian seen running through the rain in her heels, ditching the valet line to get picked up by a driver in a black SUV (with no Kim in sight)

9:32 p.m. Sara Rue exits hotel and greets Lisa on her way out…who is still waiting on her car to pull around

If you’ve made it this far, thanks for reading! I was so excited to see a quote they pulled from my interview with the Kardashians posted online the other day. Check it out!

http://www.usmagazine.com/stylebeauty/news/pic-kim-kardashian-covers-up-in-high-waisted-pants-2011262

Better Late Than...

You know the rest! Life/school has been crazy lately, so I haven’t exactly had the time (or necessary inspiration) to write in the past few weeks.

Fun update from work: I got to shadow a reporter to an event last weekend that turned out to be amazing! We covered The Bachelor/The Bachelor Pad’s L.A. reunion party. While stalking the bar, I saw a few familiar faces from Jake, Jillian, and Ali’s seasons of the show. Check out the line-up of obsessed-with-themselves pseudo stars who spent last Saturday night lounging around the Hilton Universal’s hotel bar:

 

 

Highlights of the night include seeing the real-life tattoo of Kasey Khan (who trademarked the now famous “I promise to guard and protect your heart” slogan) peeking out from under a muscle tee, and having my dinner interrupted by the one and only Vienna. “Hey love,” she said with a made-for-TV smile, “do you mind if I steal this chair from you?” I forced myself to keep from immediately digging my iPhone out of my bag to text my father (and fellow bachelor fan) as she dragged it to the table next to mine so that some really hot ex-bachelor contestant that I didn’t recognize could sit next to her. 

P.S.—she’s cuter in real life than she was on the show! Letting go of the extensions was a positive move. Also, apparently she’s gunning to be the next Bachelorette now! Check out this article on the current Wes/Vienna/Gia love triangle US has been covering:

http://www.usmagazine.com/moviestvmusic/news/former-bachelorettes-gia-and-vienna-go-to-war-201122

On another note, since the editor of US was out of the office, I got to leave my internship early today. Which is great, because aside from transcribing an interview and posting a few layouts of next week’s issue on the wall, today in the office basically consisted of me running to Starbucks to grab lattes for myself and the other intern (seriously, what is it about holding a coffee cup that makes one feel so empowered and professional? And cool). So since I had some spare time, I took the opportunity to explore a few of the stores near the office building that I’ve been dying to look around. I went by two thrift stores and an antique store called Paris Antiques—I LOVE thrifting/antiquing and always get such a rush when I find a hidden gem. Kinda like this one!

Yes, that’s right. Those are Chanel earrings. I’m pretty sure they’re real, too! I found them at the dinkiest little thrift store in the middle of Little Ethiopia (yes, this is a real place…it’s just a few blocks away from Wilshire!) The man who owned the store didn’t seem to have any idea of their value, so I ended up snagging them for…get this…40 dollars. My roommate says that this practically constitutes stealing. But I say it’s just a stinkin’ great deal! Additional finds include an amazing beaded necklace with a jade pendant, a snake pin that I thought would spice up my work blazers, and a colorful scarf made from Indian silk. I may have gotten a little carried away, but everything was so well priced that I couldn’t resist. Here are a few pictures from the quirky little store:

The antique store, unfortunately, was too expensive for a girl working a non-paying internship. But I had a blast checking out everything they had stocked the showroom with. The majority of their stock was French/vintage, and they had an insane collection of Pucci scarves, Gucci bags, mink stoles, canvas prints, photographs, furniture, and Prada shoes. Basically, Paris Antiques is heaven. Check out these pictures of the showroom!

I’ll try to update sooner rather than later next time. xxo