Hot in Hollywood?

Photo montage of the day:

1. my attempt at being edgy - green nails. heard they’re in!

2. trying to dress up the natural wave with some hair bling at work.

3. being an adult means sitting in LA traffic for hours on the commute home.

4. my favorite flats made a trip to the office.

So yesterday was day two at the office, and I’ve got my first bit of exciting news to share: I will be attending US Magazine’s Hot Hollywood party this spring, and oh yeah…the Oscars too.

I’m seriously so excited I can’t even pretend to do that whole I’m-so-over-it-not-even-impressed thing! But it’s not the celebrity guest list that has me counting down the days to the red carpet though (although if I find out Carrie Underwood is attending either event that will quickly change) - it’s more the fact that my impending introduction to the fashion, glamour, and glitter of Hollywood have me feeling a little like Cinderella at the ball. Or in my case, the cubicle.

 Yesterday pretty much started out the same as Monday. I went with another intern to Starbs again and grabbed another round of venti-chai-somethings, and was still put oddly at ease by one of the baristas. This one didn’t call me darling, but he did compliment me on my “nice blouse.” Big fan of that Starbucks!

Other odd jobs included calling on a Women of Hollywood SAG awards gifting suite for our event coordinator and running to grab some paperwork from the William Morris Endeavor off Rodeo Drive. WME was interesting. When I walked into the lobby, I had no idea where I was. About every 10 seconds one of the four receptionists at the long white desk would get a phone call on their Britney-esque ear piece, during which each respective receptionist would kindly crush the garbled dreams of a hopeful actor or actress on the other end of the line.

After overhearing the receptionists’ side of more than a few of these one-way conversations, I finally decided to ask just what exactly WME was. When I finally walked up to the desk to ask, one of the male receptionists gave me a polite smile that seemed to say “you’re clearly a half-wit farm girl, but I’ll tolerate you because your ignorance is charming,” and informed me that WME was a talent agency.

He wasn’t lying, either. Once I sat back down in the reception area (that overlooked the Hollywood sign towering in the distance over Rodeo, by the way), I googled the agency and found a list of several of their clients, which included Ben Affleck, Shia Labeof, Jennifer Garner, Olivia Wilde, and Vanessa Hudgens, just to name a few. And yes, Karley from Sunnybrook farm was indeed impressed.

After returning to the office, our boss took all of the interns out to lunch and answered our star-struck questions (i.e. who have you met? where will we go? what all will be doing?). Overall, day two was a success. We’ve got some fantastic events coming up at the office, and I can’t wait to share them all with y’all! But in the mean time, check out the latest inspiration pics I found while snooping around people.com at work. I’m loving Hilary Duff’s style lately! .

         

xxo

Decide that you want it more than you are afraid of it.

Bill Cosby

The Intern Diaries

Is it ironic that one of my new year’s resolutions was to spend less time talking about other people and that I’m currently interning at a celebrity gossip magazine?

Don’t answer that. Day 1 was fun! I scoured around for inspiration pictures to help me think of something fun to wear, and pretty much fell back on a version of the JCrew “uniform” I always seemed to sport a version of during my days in retail. But you can never go wrong with the Crew, right? Right!

During my weekend what-the-heck-do-I-wear search I came across a few faaaa-bulous ensembles that I have to share. Hope they inspire you as much as they did me!

Per the suggestion of my roommate, I left about 30 minutes earlier than necessary and showed up so early at work that I had plenty of time to walk across Wilshire and grab a cup of coffee at Starbucks. That was my first Starbs run of the day—the second would come later, when I went back with the other US intern to grab coffee and scones for the office. Venti steamed vanilla chai soy latte with no water, anyone? Anyway, the barista (he was there both times I went) called me darlin’, which somehow put me at ease as I polished off my bagel and banana with a half-caf Americano on the patio before returning to the office building where US and Rolling Stone are housed. Livin’ the dream.

I was so thankful for my JCrew’d out ensemble when I met the West Coast Editor soon after arriving at the office. In her ultra skinny jeans, suede red pumps, oversized white tunic and crisp coral manicure, she could have stepped right out of the pages of the catalogue. And yes—she even has a British accent. Half the office was in sweats thanks to a sleepless night spent exporting the Golden Globes issue to New York, but the other half was dressed per usual in all the glamour that editorial journalism stands for; dark wash denim, high heeled booties, slouchy tops, and oversized shades.

It’s a world I always knew existed, and I’m so excited to get to sit in on a little slice of it. Even if it does mean carting buckets of caffeine to and from the little Starbs on Wilshire. xx.

First day as an US Weekly intern on Monday. Wish I could get away with this ensemble at the office! Blake always nails it with a perfect mix of dressy + casual separates. Love it!

My project for the rest of the weekend officially has become scrounging around my wardrobe to come up with an appropriately fun/eclectic/professional ensemble for day 1 at the office. I’ll post the inspiration picture and final result as soon as I come up with something!

Happy Saturday! xxxoo

(Source: http://weheartit.com/entry/6265382)

Warning! Country Strong Review

Do not read this if you would rather die than read a spoiler about the film Country Strong.

Or should I say Country Wrong. or Country Weak. Titles aren’t really important…here’s what is:

See the movie if you have enough alcohol on hand to drink yourself into a coma. You’ll need to designate a good four hours or so to knock yourself out so that you can sleep off the depression you’ll inevitably leave theaters with after the credits roll. Do yourself a favor: download the soundtrack and forget wasting money on a ticket to see the movie. All of the actors can sing, and no one’s lying when they say that Gwyneth Paltrow’s acting is good enough to make a cowboy holler. But the storyline is spun with a kind of heavy that never lifts.

Gwyneth’s character Kelly Canter is like a countrified Britney Spears minus the head shaving. Her story will have you feeling anxious throughout the entire film as you futilely await Kelly’s victorious career resurgence, and ultimately, you’ll probably feel the urge to check yourself into rehab after leaving the theater. The highlight of the movie is Kelly’s big comeback, although she kind of ruins the whole coming-back aspect when she intentionally overdoses on pills five minutes after walking offstage and dies unloved and alone (I told you it was depressing).

Country Strong won’t make anyone’s dreams come true and it might just discourage a few up-and-coming singers to rip up their big record deals and head back to the safety of a small town. But then again, that might not be such a bad thing after all.

On a brighter note, the dress Kelly/Gwyneth wore during the final song of her goodbye performance was stunning! Check it out:

I can definitely see that dress winning pageants. Stunning! But for a country concert…not quite so sure.

"Whatever"

That’s my mantra for 2011, if you were wondering. Yes, really!

Here are the ways not to interpret my new go-to word:

- in a Valley Girl-esque drawl, i.e. “Whateverrrrrrrr.”

- as another way of saying “I could care less about life.”

- as the response of a coach potato/bum to any question, i.e. “Do you want to bathe? Go out and try to get a job?” “Whatever.”

- as a less X-rated version of screaming “F-off, world!” (sorry, I know that’s a little tacky)

None of those come close to summing up the meaning of my whatever, because my whatever is a positive thing. For me, it means that I’m 100% open to whatever God has for me. after my internship this summer, for LITERALLY the first time in my life, i have zero plans for my life, career, income, future, etc…and i’m excited about it! Over the past few years I guess it’s just finally clicked; I’ve realized that fear is futile, and worry robs the joy of the present by suffocating you with anxiety about a future that can’t be controlled or foretold (that one comes from my dad’s arsenal of wisdom. shout-out pops!)

The coolest, most freeing thing about living sans-fear is that it opens up the doors of possibility. This 2011, I’m resolving to go on a few adventures in full anticipation that great things come when we acknowledge that the only closed doors are the ones we refuse to let ourselves believe we’re capable of opening. That being said, here are my New Year’s Resolutions (I guess this means I have to keep them!):

- to dream big without apologizing for it

- to start a business with my friends (a successful one!)

- to make exciting connections

- to embrace my unknown future

- to live one day at a time

- to always give thanks

- to remember that I am not living for myself, but for my Creator, that in all things I might reflect His grace more

Be on the lookout for new blog posts. I’m blessed to be working at an internship with US Weekly Magazine this semester, so I should have some fun stories to share!

xxooxx

Everyone on your Christmas list for $150. Really!

I recently purchased my copy of InStyle’s December/holiday issue. Aside from the fact that I was extremely disappointed in the way they styled Carrie Underwood’s hair (I seriously didn’t know it was possible to make her look anything less than perfect until their very sad cover shot proved otherwise…), the issue was fantastic. And when I saw that they had included a special gift guide section that promised to hit “every price point,” I was even more thrilled. I hurriedly flipped to the section, since as a typical college student I’ve been too preoccupied with finals to make the preparatory shopping lists needed to guide my holiday expenditures. InStyle made things easy in the article, separating gift ideas by the personality type of the recipient. I quickly flipped to the ‘fashionista’ section with the hopes of getting some good ideas for what to give my (very) stylish mother.

Unfortunately, InStyle seems to have no idea of what a realistic gift budget for a Christmasing college student really looks like. A $625 Alexander Wang cotton-polyamide crewneck sweater? A $350 calfskin Philip Lim wristlet? Oh, and at the lower end of things, a $140 Tom Ford gift set that consists of one bottle of nail polish, one lipstick, and pressed perfume powder. Excuse me?

That dinky little nail polish set would nearly empty my entire bank account. So I decided to tackle the impossible and budget a Christmas shopping guide that covers everyone on my list for a grand total of $150. Think it’s impossible? It’s not. Read below to get some ideas on how to construct a similar budget for yourself!

For Dad: Though he probably wouldn’t admit this to you, my dad is a huge fan of one particular male “beauty” product—Kiehl’s Facial Fuel Re-energizing Wash. From time to time, I see his eyes wander toward the Kiehl’s counter when my mom and I drag him along on a shopping expedition to Neiman’s. Lucky for him (and me!), Kiehl’s is promoting a special men’s skincare set for only $29.50. So this year, I’m getting him the gift that he wishes he could buy himself, but doesn’t actually get to avoid looking too metro: Kiehl’s Men’s Refueling Set, available for purchase at NeimanMarcus.com (with free shipping)!

For Mom: For my fashion loving, coffee addicted mother, I will be purchasing a two-part gift. A pound of holiday blend coffee from her favorite coffee shop, Café Brazil, and InStyle’s recent publication The New Secrets of Style. Made from a blend of cinnamon, caramel, French vanilla and hazelnut, the coffee will pack a lot of Holiday punch for just $12.99. And at just $19.77 on Amazon, InStyle’s book will be the perfect complement to a hot mug of freshly brewed grounds.

Order Café Brazil’s holiday blend for your favorite caffeine addict at: http://www.cafebrazilonline.com/p-11-holiday-blend.aspx

InStyle’s book is available at Barnes & Noble, InStyle’s website, and Amazon.com. Have it shipped straight to you from: http://www.amazon.com/Instyle-New-Secrets-Style-Complete/dp/1603200827

For Boyfriend: I feel like every magazine I’ve opened lately has promised me that boyfriends—and most other humans, for that matter—enjoy “experiences” more than gifts. So I decided that this year, I would finally listen to the experts and give my #1 guy something a little more creative than the usual JCrew apparel I snag for him with my employee discount. Here are my top three options for my outdoors loving, musical instrument playing boyfriend:

Option 1: Archery lesson at Conejo Valley Archers. He thinks bows and arrows are cool, so why not send him to a range to get some practice? The site is a training ground for the Junior Olympic Archery program, but members of the public can get in for—get this—$5.00. He doesn’t need to know the cost!

Option 2: Self Defense shooting at the LAX Firing Range. Guys are into stuff like guns, protecting themselves, and pretending to be private detectives/cops on the hunt for predators. This gift will let him use his imagination and play cop-and-robber with a bunch of other testosterone-crazed males.  He can play with high-end handguns, rifles, and shotguns for only $20.00.

Option 3: Classical guitar lesson. Probably the safest bet. He loves music, and this sounds like it would give him an amazing opportunity to learn from a pro. Plus, I’m sure to benefit from all the classical guitar infused love songs he’s sure to write for me after I present him with this gift. Private lessons generally run about $40 an hour.

For best friends, friends, professors, and everyone else: Don’t kid yourself; your best friend isn’t getting you a new Louis Vuitton either this Christmas. She’s a broke college student like you! So keep the gift exchange easy by handing her a thoughtful, homemade gift that’s got a lot of heart with a small price tag. For all of the above-mentioned names on your Christmas list, make homemade treats and pack them in a cute tin (you can usually purchase Christmas tins from craft stores like Michael’s or Hobby Lobby, and maybe even from CVS). Consider packing your goodie-filled tin with one (or all!) of the shockingly simple holiday recipes below. Your friends will never believe they’re homemade.

1. Oreo truffles: combine a package of smashed Oreos with Neufchatel cream cheese (I prefer to use mint Oreos for holiday truffles). Roll the mixture into a ball about the size of a walnut and let harden in freezer for 10 minutes—one package of Oreos should let you make up to 30 truffles. While the truffles are shaping up in the freezer, heat Baker’s white chocolate over the stove. Take truffles out of the freezer and dip individually into the melted chocolate, replacing covered truffle on a cookie sheet with wax paper to set. Refrigerate on tray for 30 minutes. Drizzle in melted dark chocolate to add some pizzazz, and add crushed peppermint as a garnish if desired.

2. Toffee bark: my friend Kate got me addicted to this recipe last Christmas. This version comes from an About.com posting:

Ingredients:

• 1/2 pound (two sticks) butter


• 1/4 cup brown sugar


• 1/4 cup granulated white sugar


• 1/2 box (about) graham crackers (not crumbs)


• 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips


• 1 cup chopped macadamia nuts

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 10 x 15-inch jelly-roll pan with non-stick foil. Arrange whole graham crackers (plain) to fit the bottom of the pan in a single layer, breaking up the last few to fit the space.

Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add brown sugar and white sugar. Stir to combine. Bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat and let the mixture gently bubble for 4 minutes. Remove from heat.

Carefully pour sugar/butter mixture evenly over the graham cracker layer. Spread to cover. Bake for 10 minutes.

When done, remove from oven and let rest until bubbling subsides. Sprinkle chocolate chips evenly over the top. Wait about 2 minutes for chocolate to melt, then use a spatula to gently spread into an even layer on top of the toffee graham crackers. Sprinkle with the chopped macadamia nuts, pressing down gently into the chocolate.

Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for 2 hours. Peel foil from chilled bark. Break into 2-inch irregular pieces.

3. Chocolate dipped jumbo stick pretzels: so easy, so cute. Dip one half of a jumbo pretzel into melted chocolate bark (white or milk chocolate will work). Decorate chocolate covered half with Christmas colored sprinkles, then stick into the refrigerator for about 20 minutes to let them set up.

Finish your goodie tin by including a Land O’ Lakes cappuccino classic mix – they’re only 60 cents a piece and can be purchased from any local grocery store. Tie a ribbon around the tin with a hole-punched picture of yourself and your giftee strung through it to personalize.

Feel free to go nuts and make as many of these goodie tins for friends and family as you want! The total cost of your ingredients should be no more than 30 dollars, and will ensure gift coverage for a large number of people.

Sibling or miscellaneous other: You’ve still got about $15.00 left in your $150.00 budget. For anyone that you don’t feel like you can cover with a goodie-tin, go with something simple, like a giftcard to their favorite store. Combine with a framed picture of the two of you and stuff all of the contents into a stocking from CVS for a cheery presentation.

Working Budget: $150.00

Total Expenditure: $147. 26

That leaves you smart spenders with $2.74 to spare—so buy yourself some nail polish and give yourself an at home mani-pedi. You deserve some primping after all that scrimping!

Happy shopping (and holidays)!

xoooxo