2013 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show

I love this night! This is usually my kick-off to Christmas but like I said last week, I'm already fully in to the spirit and have been for awhile. But tonight, the tradition that stands will be putting up the Christmas tree! I have my girlfriend coming over to help me out, and to watch the show, and eat some delicious food! So looking forward to it all.

Yup, it's fall and it's great!

On Tuesday after this past long weekend, I posted about how mentally I feel like we're in fall, but I still hope to have an extended summer with a few primo days... while that remains unchanged I must say, it's not like we're in fall anymore. It IS fall. Why the strong stance you ask? Why today? Because friends, today is the day the NFL returns in all it's glory! My team doesn't play until Sunday, but that doesn't make today any less special!

Welcome back football. My Sunday's (sometimes Thursdays and Monday nights) have been lost without you...

Funny Friday: Sharknado

It's real. Sharknado is a real movie. I'd heard lots of buzz about Sharknado on social media sites, in passing, and then I finally saw the trailer for it. After ALL THAT it never really dawned on me that Sharknado was a real movie. Maybe it was that I saw Ian Ziering (of original 90210 fame) and Tara Reid in the trailer - that almost made it more likely to be a spoof or an SNL digital-short or something of that nature. Nope. It has a real script, a real cast, real money went into it and a real TV network aired it. The best part maybe? That there's already a sequel in the works. Yup. So anyway, in case you've not seen it, I am making sure you see the trailer in all it's glory.



As if that's not funny enough, click here to see what The Weather Network did to acknowledge Sharknado. Not just the video, check out the commentary! 

On that note, wishing you all a happy and Sharknado-free weekend! :) 

P.S. I still can't believe this is real, haha!

Style Icon: Olivia Munn

Let's start this post with a little TV bonus: I'm super stoked that this coming Sunday season 2 of the show The Newsroom is premiering! In case you're not familiar it's an HBO series starring Jeff Daniels and Emily Mortimer, and also today's style icon Olivia Munn. It's a riveting and intelligent show that takes you on a behind-the-scenes look at a (fictional) newsroom during real-events that have made headlines. Of course it's not that simple, as they have their own side dramas to work through as well. I believe season one is out so you should definitely check it out!

Now, back to our style icon. Prior to The Newsroom I didn't know who Olivia Munn was, but later recognized her from the movie (that I much care for) Magic Mike. Both the show and the movie were coming out around the same time so she was doing double the press and it was then that I noticed her fabulous fashion sense, and she's since kept impressing. In general I find her style very effortless and simple, but she takes it to the next level with either a print or a pop of colour. Another style icon who has a realistic style that can be translated to real life. Gotta say, I'd be happy to rock any one of these outfits!

 

Style Icon: Nina Dobrev

The Vampire Diaries actress has already made my blog for her good sense of red carpet fashion so it's no surprise I finally decided she, and she alone, deserved a moment in the fashion spotlight. She has previously made my Best Punk list at The Met Ball, as well as my favourites list at the SAG Awards. Let's not forget she also was voted Sexiest Style in this year's Victoria's Secret What is Sexy list. While browsing her looks over the last little while it was rather difficult to pick my favourite looks to feature - there were so many!

Kind of like my other style icons Blake Lively and Gwyneth Paltrow, I feel like Nina is all about the legs - if you've got 'em, flaunt 'em! I love how fun and youthful her style is but nothing outrageous. She does modest and sexy and chic at the same time!

What do you think about Nina's style? Yay or nay?

SATC Anniversary

Last week was the 15th Anniversary of Sex and the City. Man, what a show! It changed, reassured and empowered so many women. The show itself was a real, raw, fashionable, beautiful celebration of women. Since it's finale we've never seen anything quite like it, and I'm not sure we ever will. Personally, I'm okay with that. I don't seem to ever get sick of watching old episodes! In honour of the anniversary (and in the spirit of "better late than never") here is a favourite quote of mine from show which was spoken in the final episode...

Drinking & Tweeting

The second book I've finished since rediscovering myself as a Book Worm is Drinking and Tweeting by Brandi Glanville. 

If you like the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, you will most likely like this book. If you love Brandi Glanville, then you will mostly likely love this book. If neither are true, well, I don't know how you'll feel about this book actually! I am a fan of both the BH Housewives AND Brandi, as is my mom, and we both agree that you might have to know her to enjoy this book or for it to make sense. Brandi is so crass, outspoken, blunt, but in my opinion, also hilarious. One of the things I liked about the book was that as I read each page and each word, I could almost hear her saying it all! Hence where the disconnect might come in if you are not familiar. 

But moving on, she is of course the scorned ex-wife of actor Eddie Cibrian, who famously had an affair and left her for country singer LeAnn Rimes. There you go! You have the foundation of the book. The affair happened before she became a Housewife and although you hear snippets of her talking about it on the show, I was mostly aware of what had gone down from the media frenzy that surrounded the whole situation. That being said, it was a very interesting read because she is very real, and took you through her experiences. Don't get me wrong, this is a VERY fluffy book, but it was a quick read and I also found it a lot of fun.

I've said it before and I will say it again, I can't guarantee you'll love it if you don't know her (but who knows, you might!) but if you do, I recommend you put this on your summer reading list! 

Funny Friday: Fashion Insultants

A couple of weeks ago I was watching Jimmy Kimmel and there's a segment he did with Guillermo and his Aunt Chippy called Fashion Insultants. I just tracked it down to share because I thought it was hilarious and I hope you do too! It's about exactly what it sounds like it's about, and it's so good. Happy Friday!

An Ode to What Not to Wear

It's (kind of) the end of an era. After 10 seasons of lost (fashion) souls, of the worst clothes we've seen, of the best clothes we've seen, of laughs, of tears, of transformations - TLC's What Not to Wear has announced the show is coming to an end. This summer the final episodes of the series will be aired. I absolutely love watching this show and am definitely sad to see it come to an end. 

I have loved watching the people get transformed and gain confidence with their new styles. Some of the stories on this show are super heart warming and actually bring tears to my eyes - when people are super kind, really deserve it, and give so much, it's nice to see this show give them something back. Aside from that there is also the overall entertainment - some of these people are hilarious (in good but sometimes bad ways) and seem to be able to justify all their fashion crimes! It's ridiculous what some people try to pull off. Also hilarious: Stacy and Clinton. THESE TWO CRACK ME UP. I'm not sure if it's just me but in the past few years they have gotten funnies and funnier! They play off each other SO well and just lighten every situation. And if a situation arises that they can't lighten up - like a difficult participant - then they go have a drink! It's the best. 

We can't forget Ted Gibson and Carmindy! I love Ted Gibson. He is so sweet to these women and is truly an artist when it comes to his work on them. I am always amazed at the final result he produces. Sometimes I think HE is the one that gives them this new lease on their lives. He is also incredibly respectful of any reservations they might have and really walks them through the process. There is a reason he's a renowned stylist! And Carmindy - I do like Carmindy and think she's definitely great at what she does, but I've never felt she's tried to bond with the participants as much as everyone else. I do also enjoy seeing what she's wearing every episode! I like her bohemian style.

When watching the show I of course love watching the fashion. Not just the participants' transforming fashion, but also Stacy's fashion. She (of course) has great style! My favourite style moments though? Her outfits during the "rules"/360 room segements and at the end of the show during the big reveal. It's at these parts that she always tends to wear really great dresses, and I love dresses! They always inspire me for work-wear fashion (the ones that aren't on the shorter side anyway). They also always make me think that I should get some more dresses for how effortlessly chic they are! New fashion resolution perhaps? 

To conclude my ode to What Not To Wear, I've compiled a few of my favourite Stacy looks:

P.S. Has anyone been watching as long as me and not only remember Nick Arrojo (the hair stylist they had for several years) and Wayne Lukas (the first male stylist they had that Clinton replaced)? I did NOT like either of them but felt the need to bring them up as there were a part of it all! :)

Must See TV: Girls

One of my newest favourite shows is premiering this weekend for it's Season 2! The show (if you haven't guessed already) is Girls. If you have not seen the show yet, you've likely heard about it. Girls is an HBO show that kind of popped up out of nowhere (another show recommendation from my mom) and I just think it's so great. To describe this show it would be easy to first think of Sex and the City, but that's probably because it's about 4 very different girls living in New York City. Other than that, it is a very different show. The girls are younger and they deal with very different, very realistic problems. Like Sex and they City, you have your favourites but you can't help but root for all of them. Each character is brilliant and unique. This includes the guys too! There are some brilliant actors playing some interesting characters on this show. The writing is unreal too. Mostly funny, but also serious, dramatic, heart-wrenching - all of it! The shows creator and writer, also happens to be the shows star, Lena Dunham who plays Hannah. What talent.


Needless to say, I'm pretty excited for it to be back. And if you've not seen it for yourself, I recommend you do!

Bonus: Only if you like Girls AND indie movies do I recommend the film Tiny Furniture. It, like Girls, is written and directed by - and staring - Lena Dunham. I saw it not too long ago and loved it! Very her. Very brilliant.

XOXO Gossip Girl

Today marks the end of a mini-era for me. Tonight is the series finale of Gossip Girl. I have been watching (and loving) this show from the very beginning! I remember 6 years ago my mom telling me she had heard of this new show starting up in the fall and that I should check it out because it sounded right up my alley. Well, was she ever right! (I mean, are moms ever wrong... really?) 

5 years later I am still hooked and still loving it. For me I like my TV shows to provide an escape and this one did it for me. At the start of its run, Gossip Girl was set as a high school drama, but lucky for me, a somewhat intelligent one at least! Also lucky, they all graduated high school on the show a couple years ago (and seemed to skip college and go right in to careers), so I didn't feel so bad being a young career woman and watching it. Other parts of it I love? New York City. Been there. Loved it. Enjoyed seeing it on the show. The fashion. UNREAL! Seeing all the designer duds come to life and being inspired by their styling - it was a brilliant show for fashion. It also introduced me to a lot of indie music I might not have otherwise found. Although obviously VERY different, the NYC and fashion elements of the show were reminiscent of Sex and the City for me. I wonder what show will turn up next to inspire me the same way...

It's Christmas!

Tonight is the night that I look forward to every year and get's me in the Christmas spirit! Why? Because tonight is the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show! I've been watching it for years and always made kind of a big deal of it. Having people over, making delicious food, drinking delicious drinks, and turning up the volume! Like most girls, I do like Victoria's Secret. Not just their stuff, but their brand, or rather the spirit of their brand. The show is so fun, loaded with great music, and fabulous looks. I just can't wait. 

Last year I took the fact that it puts me in the Christmas Spirit one step further. My roommate and I put up the Christmas tree and decorated the house (while drinking and eating as mentioned earlier as a crucial step) all before the show began. By the time it was starting, we were able to watch in the glow of our Christmas tree. So fun and perfect. Can't wait to do it again! This year's musical guests include Justin Bieber, Bruno Mars, and Rihanna. These pictures are also a sneak peek tonight's show.

Merry Victoria's Secret Fashion Show!

I want to live in Jennifer Hudson's closet

For real. It's not necessarily because she has great style, which actually she does, but rather because she's got a good vision when it comes to what a closet should look like. She recently bought a house and had the closet of her dreams designed and built. I couldn't help but share.

Check this thing out!

Must See TV: Damages

Damages was a show that I had read about briefly but didn't know much about. I knew who was in it - Glenn Close and Rose Byrne. I knew that it was supposed to be smart. I'd also heard it was a good show to watch if you liked to see business appropriate fashion. The hook for me though, was definitely the cast. Glenn Close makes pretty good choices if I do say so myself, and I've grown to love Rose Byrne since I first saw her in one of my favourite movies, Wicker Park.

Enter, once again, my Apple TV and Netflix. I swear they will be the end of me, or at least my social life. Damages is of course on there. And if I like it? There are five seasons ready and waiting for me to enjoy. And boy, do I not only like it, I love it! The acting in it is phenomenal. The only thing better is the writing. Each season starts with a teaser or something that is happening in the "present". Then the meat of the episodes are "6 months ago" and sooner as the episodes progress until you catch up to the "present". There are so many twists and turns. It is such a strong and intelligent show. As each season ends, you are also left with the curiosity of how there can possibly be a next season, but then there it is. As far as the type of show - they are lawyers and the story line follows an intricate case as well as their personal lives.

I'm only on season 3 but I am hooked. My roommate is caught up in it too. But we have to hurry, according to this promo poster I found the next season starts in January! 

Style Icon: Lauren Conrad

Lauren is another starlet who came into fame from Laguna Beach and The Hills. Like Kristin Cavallari, I think that Lauren looks like the epitome of a California Girl. Her blonde waves are envied far and wide. She has a laid back style, but she is also the queen of party dresses!

Although she started with reality TV, Lauren has tried to separate herself from that piece of her past, and make a name for herself. She is an author; her books are for a young-ish audience and are super fluffy, but fun. They are based on a California girl who is asked to be in a reality show... I guess write about what you know! She also has a beauty book coming out and she is the subject of many beauty vlogs. I gotta say, she does know what works in that department! She is also heads up the fashion line Paper Crown. It's a fairly simple line, but it's quality and pricey! I think she did a great job with it. It's very her. 

If I have one suggestion for her, it would only be to lose the teapot arm!

Must See TV: The Walking Dead

Last February I bought an Apple TV and almost immediately signed up to Netflix. Having Netflix has been incredible and allowed me to watch and catch up on all sorts of shows! Once such show is The Walking Dead. I'd heard about it from friends and on social media, but never caught it on TV so didn't know what all the hype is about. Netflix luckily had season one available! My roommate and I decided to watch one episode, which turned into two episodes, then three, and so on, and so on - this seems to happen a lot to us. Luckily, it was only a 6 episode season, so we zipped right through it! Unfortunately we were hooked and didn't have any more to watch. Until a week ago that is...

A much longer (13 episode) season 2 just became available on Netflix. We finished it in a hurry but now we only have to wait until this Sunday for season 3 to premiere! This show is a great show. In case the title didn't give it away, this show has to do with zombies. It's that whole Dawn of the Dead, 28 Days Later concept. The main character wakes up in a hospital only to discover that the world he knew is gone. There are zombies or "walkers" just about everywhere. Once reunited with his family, and the group of survivors they've been staying with, it's all about their journey for shelter or other survivors. And what a journey it is!

This show is incredibly intelligent and has stayed strong through both seasons. If this kind of genre is even a little bit up your alley, definitely check it out. Can't wait for Sunday! (Yes, another show to add to my Sunday collection)

Style Icon: Kristin Cavallari

Back in the day, Laguna Beach and The Hills were my absolute reality TV guilty pleasures of choice. If I'm honest I still miss them sometimes! It's on these shows that a reality star was born - Kristin Cavallari. 

Since then she's made other reality appearances, contributed to fashion lines, gotten engaged to NFL quarterback Jay Cutler, and just recently she became a mother. Just like Blake Lively, I always look forward to seeing pictures of her and what she's wearing. Unlike Blake Lively, I feel like she wears stuff that is not necessarily unrealistic for real life, or a non-Hollywood life. Fun dresses that show some leg for occasions, then very comfortable and practical wear for the everyday. No matter the outfit, they are so simple, fun and oh so stylish.

One last thing, let me tell you about that last picture in my selections... the one of her in that black dress. That is from earlier this week, just 2 months after having her baby. TWO months!!! Way to go Kristin.

Kristin's Event Style

Kristin's Everyday Style

Best Oscars Ever?

The Oscars are about to get awesome this year in my opinion! 

Just announced yesterday, Seth MacFarlane (of Family Guy fame in case you're not familiar with him) will be hosting this years Oscars!

"It's truly an overwhelming privilege to be asked to host the Oscars," MacFarlane said. "My thoughts upon hearing the news were, one, I will do my utmost to live up to the high standards set forth by my predecessors; and two, I hope they don't find out I hosted the Charlie Sheen Roast."

I think he is one of the funniest people out there and can't wait to watch him host.  That being said, we've had some OK hosts as of late, like Steve Martin & Alec Baldwin, Hugh Jackman, and Anne Hathaway (who co-hosted with James Franco, who I did not think was as great). But there have been more duds then not - even with people I love, like Ellen DeGeneres. 

I am rooting for him and I'm sure he won't disappoint. As he mentions in his above statement, he hosted the Charlie Sheen roast... which was not as a whole funny, but he killed it! I'm so excited I may start planning my "Seth-MacFarlane-is-hosting-the-Oscars" outfit! Just kidding... 

Now we wait. Until February.

Sunday (just got more) Funday

Well Sundays are just about to get way more fun! This weekend 4 (count 'em 4!) of my favourite shows are premiering... and all on Sunday! My PVR is going to get a serious workout this fall. 

On ABC the second seasons of Once Upon A Time and Revenge start up, as well as a brand spankin' new show called 666 Park Avenue. 

Once Upon a Time was new last fall and very much unlike anything I'd ever seen before. It's definitely an acquired taste but it had me hooked. It's half fairy tale and half real life - a story based around Snow White's evil queen putting a spell on all the land (so all the fairy tales) and sending them to a horrible realm - Earth! I thought it was quite well done, and gives you a darker or more real look into these fairy tales we all know and love. I didn't know how they were going to make a second season happen with this story line, but there it was, in the last few minutes of the finale. I can't wait now to see what happens!

Revenge. I love this show. It's smart, creative, suspenseful - it's awesome! If you have not seen season 1, I recommend you do. The whole season (and series) revolves around this main character avenging her fathers death. That could definitely make for a cheesy show, but they do it really well!

666 Park Avenue is a new show this fall. Since it follows the other two ABC shows I'm already hooked on, why not give it a shot! The magazine ads for it make it look like a saucy show, but the TV ads for it make it look like a scary show - either way, WIN! Can't wait.

Moving on over to Showtime... DEXTER. There's not much to say except that it is brilliant. I can't believe this is going to be the start of season 7. The show has not lost any of it's quality over the years, in fact, it might have gotten better! As more time passes, serial killer Dexter has to become more clever, and therefore the writing does too. Each finale has left me with my jaw dropped and last year was no different. This is going to be a good season kids!

Do you share my love of any of these shows? What are you most excited to see come back (or start) this fall?

2012 Emmy Awards

This past Sunday the 2012 Emmy Awards were on. Unfortunately I missed the red carpet special which is my favourite part of almost any awards show! BUT, the internet is a beautiful thing where I can access all the fashions everyone wore and make my own commentary/decisions. 

There were some stunning choices let me tell you! Lots of lace, lots of beading detail, lots of sheer overlays. There were also a fair amount of stunning simple gowns in beautiful colours. I had my work cut out for me, but in my humble opinion, the below selections are my 5 favourites of the evening. You can definitely see that I have a preferred silhouette - and although I knowingly put them in this order, it was only after making my selections did I realize they also make up the colours of a rainbow... promise!

My style winners of the night: Tina Fey, Padma Lakshmi, Julie Bowen, Allison Williams, Zooey Deschanel

Did you happen to catch any of the Emmy's? Any favourites?