Newsprint Junkie

Something to add to your "to read" pile

2012-01-20T14:04:00.002-07:00

Tina Fey's Bossypants is the funniest book I've read in a while, but Mindy Kaling's (Kelly from The Office) book Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) ran a close second. I would highly recommend it. And if you haven't read Mindy's article "Flick Chicks" that ran The New Yorker--you should. Her take on romantic comedies is spot on. If you're even a casual rom-com watcher you will find yourself nodding your head and muttering, "that is so true!"

I'm getting itchy just looking at it...

2012-01-20T13:50:00.001-07:00

Welcome to my nightmare.

A photo of a 1961 Hollywood audition for a black cat via Cup of Jo

Stocking stuffer fit for the, um...Queen

2011-12-07T13:44:00.000-07:00

I give you, the Solar Queen. Place her in sunlight and watch Her Majesty wave with a subtle twist of the wrist. This gesture cultivated over centuries is the true mark of royalty. I'm thinking she would be a great addition to my desk at work.

You can buy her at Kikkerland Design. For more awesome stocking stuffer (or white elephant) ideas I also recommend fredflare.com and urbanoutfitters.com.

Holiday gift idea: All my friends are dead.

2011-11-22T17:02:00.001-07:00

If you're looking for a stocking stuffer, an under-$10 gift for your office holiday party or a little something for that friend who's hard to buy for, I suggest All my friends are dead by Avery Monson and Jory John.

If you're a dinosaur, all your friends are dead. If you're a pirate, all your friends have scurvy. If you're a tree, all your friends are end tables. Each page of this clever book showcases the downside of being everything from a clown to a cassette tape to a zombie. It's really a children's book for adults. As one reviewer said, "...it teaches valuable lessons about life while exploring each cartoon character's unique grievance and wide-eyed predicament." From the sock whose only friends have gone missing to the houseplant whose friends are being slowly killed by irresponsible plant owners (like you), this book is all-at-once silly and poignant. All my friends are dead will make you want to call/text/email or write everyone you love.

Revenge is my favorite new show of the season

2011-11-13T01:54:00.008-07:00

As I'm sure you know I occasionally enjoy a good nighttime drama (okay, okay...soap), but it's been a while since I've found one I've really liked. This fall season I am loving Revenge (ABC). It is well-written, well-acted and has great twists and turns. I thought Ringer would be the "mysterious" drama I'd love, but Revenge has me hooked. If you haven't checked it out, I highly recommend it. You can get all caught up on Hulu.

Here's a description of the show (thanks, Wikipedia):
Emily Thorne, whose real name is Amanda Clarke, moves back to The Hamptons to take revenge on the people who caused the death of her father David and destroyed her family. When she was a little girl, Amanda's father was arrested on trumped-up terrorism charges, and was tried and convicted for treason. He died in prison. Emily feels her life was destroyed; she ended up in juvenile detention and on her 18th birthday inherited the wealth of the company in which her father invested. She changed her name to Emily Thorne and decided to take revenge on the people responsible for her father's downfall.

Gallery hosts A Tribute To The Best Of Bill Murray's Characters

2011-11-13T01:43:00.002-07:00

I love Bill Murray. He is one of my all time favorite actors. So you can imagine how excited I was when I heard that this month Gallery1988 Melrose in LA is hosting a tribute to Bill

called 'Please Post Bills'. It's a collection of over 100 pieces of art (paint, print, sculpture) celebrating the screen legend and his films. From Dr. Peter Venkman in "Ghostbusters" to Herman Blume in "Rushmore," Raleigh St. Clair of "The Royal Tenenbaums," Phil in "Groundhog Day," Bill Murray (according to HuffPost and me) is a character god. You can check out LAist for photos of the actual art seen in the gallery (the show runs through November 26). I hope, I hope to see it before it closes.

Kids Reenact "Keeping Up With The Kardashians" and the "The Hills"

2010-09-10T00:39:00.006-06:00

If you're looking for something to crack you up check out all the Kids Reenact videos at Babelgum. There is "Keeping Up With the Kardashians", the "Real Housewives of New Jersey", "The Hills" and "The Jersey Shore" It should probably be considered child abuse, but I still find them hilarious. The kid who plays Scott is spot on. So is the girl playing Teresa Guidice and the girl playing Audrina. Justin Bobby...he he.

Hoth Chic

2010-09-09T21:19:00.001-06:00

Let's talk for a minute about Chanel's Fall / Winter '10 Collection, shall we? As a Star Wars nerd I prefer to think of this collection as "Hoth Chic". I was a part-owner of a Chewbacca backpack a few years ago that was much cooler than that backpack. And check out those Yeti booties. I can just hear Robin Leach's voice now, "These elegant Chanel booties are made of fur from the most select abominable snowmen (Wampas for you fellow Star Wars nerds)..." These are ridiculous. The only place I would feel comfortable wearing these boots is on the Matterhorn at Disneyland. Coco Chanel must be rolling over in her grave.

Photos from Style Bubble

I am crushing your head...

2010-09-09T18:18:00.002-06:00

Ah, Canadians. Why are you so funny? I totally forgot about the "crushing your head" guy until I ran across these videos today. When I was in college my roommate and I spent a whole day watching a Kids in the Hall marathon on Comedy Central. For some reason we thought the "crushing your head" skits were soooo funny. It's funny, but it's not that funny. It does still make me giggle.

New Fall TV

2010-09-09T16:32:00.001-06:00

What fall promos caught your eye this summer? There are many returning shows that I can't wait to see but there aren't many new shows that I am looking forward to. I want to get excited about JJ Abrams new show Undercovers, but I just can't. Here's a few I think have the potential to be good.

Better Together seems like the most promising of the new crop of sitcoms. It could go either way.

Lost is over and Flash Foward wasn't renewed so I'm in the market for a new insane, mind-bending thrill-ride. We'll see if The Event fills the bill. If not I'll just keep watching Rubicon on AMC.

I like the occasional nighttime soap (see Gossip Girl, 90210, Grey's Anatomy...). I think I'll give Lonestar a chance.

And last but not least, Running Wilde. Felicity Porter and Gob Bluth? Please be good.

New Glee Promo

2010-09-09T16:01:00.001-06:00

This Glee promo combines two of my favorite things...New York and,
well, Glee. Sept. 21 can't come soon enough for this Gleek!

Sister Wives

2010-09-09T15:46:00.002-06:00

Man, just when I thought TLC could get any weirder. They have the show with that family that has 18 19 20 kids. They have the show with all those women that didn't know they were pregnant. They have the Gosselins and now the Gosselins 2.0. But now they've really outdone themselves at the channel formally known as The Learning Channel. Coming to a cable channel near you...Sister Wives. This program follows the lives of Cody Brown, his three wives, 13 kids, and newest fianceé as they all prepare for Cody’s fourth wedding. The tagline is "a show that rethinks love, marriage and reality family.” *sigh* Okay Mormons, get ready to dust off that speech about how we no longer practice polygamy, it was outlawed many, many years ago, these people are not of our faith, yada, yada, yada...thanks a lot TLC.

Later...my new favorite celebrity couple

2010-09-09T15:28:00.000-06:00

Ugh. I'm over most celebrity couples these days...Brangelina, Aniston and ~~John Mayer~~ her flavor of the week, Clooney and that Italian chick, Speidi, all the reality show morons, etc. But this new celeb coupling brings a big smile to my face--Lauren Graham and Peter Krause. I, of course, love me some Lorelai Gilmore and I have loved Peter since Sports Night. Here is the link for LG's interview with People. Hmm, what should be their portmanteau nickname, hmm...I hereby christen them... Later.

Ew. Just...ew.

2010-09-09T12:27:00.000-06:00

BYU Mint Brownies

2010-09-09T12:17:00.001-06:00

Those of you who went to BYU or have ever been to the BYU Creamery are probably familiar with these ah-mazing brownies. I found the recipe on the blog, The Girl Who Ate Everything (a truly fabulous recipe blog), and had to share it.

BYU Mint Brownies
by BYU Dining

1 cup butter
1/2 cup cocoa
2 Tbsp. honey
4 eggs
2 cup white sugar
1 3/4 cup flour
1/2 Tbsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

12 oz. chocolate icing (Use your own icing recipe or purchase some chocolate frosting.)

MINT ICING
5 Tbsp. butter
dash of salt
3 Tbsp. milk
1 Tbsp. light corn syrup
2 1/3 cup powdered sugar
1/2 tsp. peppermint extract
1-2 drops green food coloring

1. Melt butter and mix in cocoa. Allow to cool. Add honey, eggs, sugar, flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix well. Add nuts. Pour batter into a greased 9-by-13 baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Cool.

2. Prepare mint icing: Soften butter. Add salt, corn syrup, and powdered sugar. Beat until smooth and fluffy. Add mint extract and food coloring. Mix. Add milk gradually until the consistency is a little thinner than cake frosting.

3. Spread mint icing over brownies. Place brownies in the freezer for a short time to stiffen the icing (very important step I realized since I was impatient). Remove from the freezer and carefully add a layer of chocolate icing. We liked ours stored cold in the refrigerator or you can store them at room temperature.

Shout Out Louds - "Show Me Something New"

2010-09-09T01:32:00.003-06:00

I've recently been digging the band the Shout Out Louds. Here's the video for their song "Show Me Something New". I hope you dig it, too! I've been introduced by a lot of great music lately from the blog Black Eiffel. She has Music Mondays and introduces a different band each week. She has great taste (or at least the same taste in music as me) and I have liked almost every band she's recommended. I've also been introduced to some great new bands from the blog Passionista.

Outfit ID

2010-09-09T01:16:00.000-06:00

You know how sometimes you'll see a photo of a celebrity with a purse or shoes or occasionally an outift that you really like, but you have no idea who the designer of said shoes, purse or outfit is? Some smart blogger has come up with a way to capitalize on this very dilemma. They have created a blog called Outfit ID . They post tons of photos daily and list the designer or brand of the items the celeb is wearing. If you find a photo of items you would like identified you can email the blog and they'll figure it out for you. They get back to you very fast and they are very nice. I highly recomment it!

(I really want that purple purse)

Awful. Just awful.

2010-09-09T01:04:00.000-06:00

I'll admit it. I like to watch Gossip Girl. If I miss an episode it won't kill me (like it would with, say, Glee or 30 Rock), but I like it. Leighton Meester, Blair Waldorf on GG, wore this monstrosity to the opening of Fashion Week 2010 in NYC. No wonder Anna Wintour (the inspiration for Miranda Priestly) invited Blake Lively, and not Leighton, to sit by her. Really, you wore this to Fashion Week? Maybe it's time to hire a stylist or fire the one you've got...

Cute Dresses

2010-09-09T00:44:00.000-06:00

I came across a Web site that sells cute, modest dresses that are quite affordable. William Riera has some really cute stuff. I'm especially digging the charcoal one. I haven't bought one yet but it's on my list. Just thought I'd share.

Awesome Birthday Cake

2010-09-04T21:39:00.000-06:00

How much do you want this cake pan? If you're like me, the answer is... a lot. This is the Cakewich and it's available on Amazon. What kid wouldn't love a cake that looks like a giant PB&J sandwich? Even, ahem, 30-year-old kids would love their birthday cake to look like this. Just sayin'.

Date My Single Kid

2010-09-04T17:42:00.000-06:00

Please don't anyone tell my mom (or anyone in my ward) about the Web site Date My Single Kid. It's a site where moms can find matches for their single kids, as only they know how. (Nieces, nephews, grandaughters and grandsons are also welcome). Ugh.

Scratch Map

2010-09-04T17:11:00.000-06:00

How cool is this Scratch Map? You scratch off the places you've been with a penny! I want this...I need this...I must have this.

Coeur de Pirate || Comme des enfants

2010-09-04T16:32:00.000-06:00

Hope you all have a wonderful Labor Day weekend! I am really enjoying Montreal singer-songwriter, Coeur de Pirate, lately. I wish my French was good enough to really understand the lyrics. I can pick up words or phrases here and there. Oh well. Either way, her voice and the music is beautiful!

Fall Movie

2010-09-04T15:53:00.000-06:00

What do you think about The Romantics? I'm intrigued. (I like me some Seth Cohen, er, I mean Adam Brody...). Anyone planning to see it? I can't decide if the movie looks great or if I'm just a sucker for that whole East-Coast-in-the-fall vibe (and that wood paneled Wagoneer) in the trailer...

Cute note cards

2010-09-04T15:34:00.000-06:00

I am a sucker for cute note cards. Cute note cards, office/school supplies, lip gloss, magazines, shoes, purses...okay, let's face it, I am a sucker for a lot of things. I am loving these darling notecards from Gold Teeth Brooklyn and their simple graphics. I could spend all my time browsing Etsy and all my money on note cards. I wonder if they have a 12-step program for stationery addicts? Better look into it.

Apple Store, Paris

2010-09-04T15:24:00.000-06:00

It's no surprise that the Apple Store in Paris is a work of art. Not that all Apple Stores aren't amazing, but this one is so perfectly Paris.

Great Party Idea

2010-09-04T15:06:00.000-06:00

I love this idea of turning balloons into ice cream cones. Another great idea from the Craft Department at Martha Stewart. Love these creative folks!

Book of the Month

2010-09-04T14:57:00.001-06:00

I am in love with these book clutches from Kate Spade. They combine two of my very favorite things - reading and purses. It's such a cute idea. If you don't want to spend the $300 to buy one, you can always just download the free wallpaper online.

Zee Avi - Bitter Heart

2010-09-04T14:38:00.001-06:00

Zee Avi is a great new artist who hails from Malaysia. She was discovered on YouTube and picked up by Jack Johnson's record label. Her album, One More Time With Colors, was released July 20. The four song EP includes the never released song “I Wish I Never” and three remixes of tracks from her critically acclaimed LP, Zee Avi. I have fallen in love with her voice. Enjoy.

Just FYI - Zee will be opening for Jack Johnson’s fall tour beginning October 1st. I think I might try and catch her in Santa Barbara or hopefully she and Jack will come to Orange County!

Jeff is Kicked Out of Pottery Class - Community 1.19

2010-09-01T16:06:00.000-06:00

One of my favorite clips from "Community". It's on Thursday nights on NBC. There's still time to catch up on the first season before Season 2 starts!

2010 Emmys Opening Sketch

2010-08-30T20:52:00.001-06:00

I love this! Springsteen + Jimmy Fallon + Glee + Tina Fey + Sue Sylvester + Jon Hamm + Betty White + Hurley + Joel McHale + Tim Gunn = Completely awesome!

Amazing!

2010-08-27T00:06:00.000-06:00

Creative people astound me. I saw these on Etsy the other day and I just have to share. Artist Karen O'Leary makes these incredible paper cut outs of city maps. There is London, Paris, Manhattan, San Francisco, etc. They are so intricate and detailed and beautiful and I want one! Here is her Etsy site. They are worth checking out!

California - Mindy Gledhill

2010-08-26T23:51:00.002-06:00

I only recently became aware of Mindy Gledhill. I fell in love with her song "California". Hope you like it!

Something riduculous that I want...

2010-08-26T23:48:00.000-06:00

For some reason I really want these girly-looking tools. They are made by Cynthia Rowley, one of the geniuses behind the now-defunct Swell line @ Target. You can find the tools here.

Liz/Jack 30 Rock Music Video

2010-08-06T22:23:00.000-06:00

Some video editing genius on You Tube took clips from 30 Rock (one of the funniest shows ever written) and put them together to create an angsty, dramatic, romantic video about Jack and Liz. I hardly recognized the show. I don't have any desire to see Jack and Liz together, but this is pretty good. It's just crazy what creative people can do. It also makes me realize that Tina Fey could do a dramatic role and nail it.

I love Community...

2010-08-06T18:14:00.000-06:00

Community is my new favorite show. Its pop-culture references alone make it hilarious. The first few episodes are a little rough, but then it gets really good. They reference several TV shows and movies from the 80s/90s. Particularly don't miss the episode "Beginner Pottery" if you're a Patrick Swayze fan or a fan of Arrested Development. "Modern Warfare" and "Physical Education" are also both really funny. You can watch most episodes on CastTV . Hulu only has a couple up right now. Just a suggestion for something funny to watch this summer (or what's left of it anyway).

Yeah, I bought this shirt...

2010-08-06T18:02:00.000-06:00

I've had it with hipsters. I'm sick of their androgynous, messy shag cuts and asymmetric side-swept bangs and faux-hawk hairdos, ridiculously tight jeans, guyliner, 1980s-Tom Cruise in Risky Business-Wayfarer sunglasses. In protest of Hipster-ization of America, I'm going to wear this shirt to the gym.

**Typically a Hipster can be identified by vintage or thrift-store bought clothing, a taste for obscure or underground music, a penchant for irony and an elitist attitude.

For more information see the definition of Hipster at UrbanDictionary.com

Jane Austen's Fight Club

2010-07-27T15:42:00.000-06:00

"The first rule of fight club is one never mentions fight club. No corsets, no hatpins, and no crying."

Why do I think this is so funny?

adidas Originals - Star Wars™ Cantina 2010

2010-06-06T18:30:00.000-06:00

David Beckham and Han Solo in the same commercial? This commercial was obviously created by a woman.

One fish, two fish, mod fish, cube fish(bowl)...

2010-06-03T18:01:00.000-06:00

I don't really want a pet, but I am seriously considering getting a goldfish thanks to this Fish Condo from Unica. It is so cute and the clean lines would look great in my new place. Goldfish are a sore spot with me. My first pet was a goldfish named Goldie (creative, I know). Goldie jumped out of the bowl one day resulting in sobbing, a funeral and a backyard burial in a green velvet jewelry box. It was a traumatic event, but twenty-something years later perhaps it's time to move on.

New Home.

2010-06-03T17:46:00.000-06:00

I've relocated to Corona Del Mar, CA. It's right inbetween Laguna Beach and Newport Beach. My family has a little condo here and they've graciously allowed me to live here for awhile. Now I just have to find a job... Come visit! I'm just a few minutes from the beach! More pictures to come. They re-did the plumbing in the complex--they still have to re-stucco the holes. Thanks to Kimber for the darling wreath!

Awesome Cupcake Recipes

2010-05-12T00:44:00.000-06:00

I love Key Lime Pie and I love cupcakes--the geniuses at the blog Ming Makes Cupcakes have found a way to combine the two! Mmmm...Key Lime Cupcakes. It has a bunch of great looking recipes for tasty and creative cupcakes--red velvet, pumpkin, caramel apple and more. I can't wait to give a bunch of these recipes a whirl!

It was just a matter of time...

2010-05-11T21:58:00.000-06:00

The monocle is making a comeback. This particular monocle is called the Colonel. Warby Parker, the company behind this anachronistic accessory also has a great selection of glasses, if you need more then one eye covered. Also, when you buy a pair of glasses, they give a pair to someone in need. That makes it even cooler. How quickly will the opinion makers embrace this trend?

Deadline A Post-It Stop Motion (HD)

2010-05-10T22:01:00.000-06:00

This video is absolutely amazing. People's creativity astounds me.

Brownie Husband...every single woman's fantasy?

2010-04-13T13:16:00.000-06:00

Promises, Promises

2010-03-31T08:06:00.000-06:00

I went and saw Promises, Promises on Broadway last night. It is the musical version of the film The Apartment (with Shirley MacLaine and Jack Lemmon). All the music is Burt Bacharach. Let me just say that it was amazing. Sean Hayes should never do anything but Broadway--he is spectacular. He was absolutely perfect for the role. Broadway newcomer Katie Finneran was hilarious as a boozy flirt--she will be a big star. Notice I haven't even mentioned Kristin Chenoweth yet? She was the third best thing in the musical and she was amazing. I absolutely loved finally seeing her live on Broadway. They are still in previews and are working out a few kinks, but it really is excellent. Tony Goldwyn is a little weak, but not bad. The sets and costumes are so well done and everything feels very authentic to the 60s time period. Sean Hayes has a scene with an Eames chair that is so funny. Two words--Owl coat.

Rain, rain, go away...

2010-03-30T08:18:00.002-06:00

I want the streets of New York to look like this during a storm...

Instead it looks like this....

The tri-state area has been hammered with rain the past few weeks. It seems like we get teased with a couple days of sun and temperatures in the high 60s and then the rain comes back. And not just a light spring drizzle. We're talking a downpour and gusting winds that will take your umbrella OUT! If you see the Easter Bunny please tell him to bring me an umbrella that is made to withstand hurricane-like weather. Thanks.

Pick a card, any card...

2010-03-29T12:26:00.001-06:00

I am a sucker for cute cards, it's a disease I inherited from my mother. Paper Source in San Fran and Kate's Paperie in NYC are especially dangerous places for me and my wallet. But I've found a great new place online -- Sycamore Street Press. They have amazing, cute and funny cards available both online and in stores in most states. My friend Steph is one of their designers (Hi Steph!). Check out her alphabet and number posters--they make great baby gifts!

March Celeb Sightings

2010-03-29T08:52:00.001-06:00

A couple of random celebrity sightings from last week. While on a food tour with Marie and Deb (a couple friends who were in town) of the Meatpacking District we saw Mickey Rourke, complete with bionic arm and all. I know he's the villain in the new Iron Man sequel, but did he just forget to take off part of his costume when he left the set?

As we were leaving Billy Elliot, we saw Anthony LaPaglia at the stage door of his current Broadway show, Lend Me A Tenor.

Mr. Chocolate, what have you done now?

2010-03-25T14:32:00.000-06:00

I found what New York treat I'm going to try next. How about Chocolate Covered Cheerios from Jacques Torres? Hmmm. Could be good. You can also order them online at mrchocolate.com. I'll let you know how they are.

Time to party...

2010-03-25T14:26:00.000-06:00

I like party decorations--streamers, confetti, banners, disco balls--the works. Thanks to Daily Candy, I found Banter Banner, a great place to get decorations for my next soiree.

Monopoly Makeover

2010-03-25T14:18:00.000-06:00

The classic board game recently got a major overhaul. The new Monopoly Revolution has a circular board, electronic banking and music. As long as it still has the Thimble and Boot as game pieces, I'm happy.

Available for preorder at hasbrotoyshop.com, $35.

Bowling at the White House...

2010-03-25T10:00:00.000-06:00

I spent St. Patrick's Day in Washington, D.C.. Andrew, the other intern, and I spent a cool $29 to go down to D.C. for the day so that we could go bowling at the White House that evening. It was totally worth the money. Here are just a few pics from my bowling adventure. One lane was broken so we all took turns. I'm not the best bowler in the world, but I didn't get one strike or spare. Oh, well. Some guys turned the TV to Fox News, thinking it would be funny to watch Glenn Beck in the Obama White House. The interns we bowled with were from BYU and the University of Utah and were all very nice. It was a lot of fun.

It's like PB&J...but better

2010-03-23T15:28:00.001-06:00

If you want an amazing treat in New York City, grab a tasty doughnut from the Doughnut Plant down in Chinatown. My favorite doughnut has raspberry jam filling and peanut butter frosting...it tastes like the best PB&J ever! Mmmm. The Dulce de Leche, Creme Brulee and Triple Chocolate are pretty divine, too!

The end of an era...

2010-03-23T11:10:00.001-06:00

My dad just texted me and told me that on April 1, 2010 Emigration Market will be closing. "Emo," as it's affectionately known in my family, is a great little neighborhood market in the Harvard-Yale area of Salt Lake City. I have been going there my whole life. I used to take my $1 allowance and buy Lemonheads and Mr. Melons and Jawbreakers and baseball cards every Saturday. It is a part of my childhood and I am sad to see it go.

Sweets, and treats and seats...

2010-03-10T12:55:00.000-07:00

If anyone wants to buy me something for my birthday or Christmas or you know, whatever, I would like this cupcake seat from jellio.com . I really want the gummi bear candy-lier, too. The stuff they have on their site is so creative. I would buy it all if I had money--and a house/apartment to put it in. Oh, well. A girl can dream...

Handsome Men's Club - JKL

2010-03-09T14:37:00.001-07:00

Another thing that made me laugh this week. I don't usually love Jimmy Kimmel, but anyone who can gather John Krasinski, Sting, Taye Diggs and Matt Damon for the same project deserves some props. Also love McConaghey as the villain...

I'm not a witch, I'm your wife!

2010-03-04T09:37:00.000-07:00

I hope you all remember that classic line from The Princess Bride. The reason I bring it up is that Carol Kane, the great singer/actress who made that line famous, came into my work yesterday. She had seen a show on PBS about the Mormon church and wanted to know more about it. Andrew (the other intern) and I got to talk to her about the Church for about 20 minutes. It was such a treat. She's the nicest lady. You never know who you'll meet in New York.

Olympic Thoughts (so far)

2010-02-23T20:59:00.000-07:00

Cutest Couple of the Olympics - Canadian Ice Dancing Supercouple Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir. Okay, so they're not a real couple, but I love them together anyway. They are so cute. I am so glad they won the gold medal.

Olympic Crush - Aksel Lunk Svindal, the hot skier from Norway. He's won a couple gold medals, he has a great relationship with his dad, he's funny to follow on Twitter and he quotes Barney Stinson. Love him.

Biggest Olympic Dirtbag - Evgeni Plushenko. Creepy. He's such a poor loser. He says he won the "platinum medal" at the Olympics. Okay so he's a good jumper but he makes gross, skeezy moves during his performances. I needed to take a shower after his long program. As my roommate's sister said, "A few pelvic thrusts does not a gold medal make." I hope he retires for good this time.

Tassles, really?

2010-02-17T14:49:00.000-07:00

Johnny Weir is too much. At least he didn't do his Lady Gaga "Poker Face" number like he did at Nationals. Can't wait to see what he wears for the Long Program. I'm guessing rhinestones and maybe... fur?

Red Velvet Cake Yogurt...can it be good?

2010-02-16T07:35:00.000-07:00

Red Velvet Cake? Good. Yogurt? Good. Together? Hmmm. I will have to give this a whirl because I am a big fan of both Red Velvet Cake and yogurt on their own. I'll let you know the verdict.

LOST...in the snow

2010-02-15T12:26:00.000-07:00

Some dude in Central Park took advantage of the huge storm last week to make a sweet snow tribute to LOST. The Four Toed Statue in Snow by Tom G. Waaaay better than a lame snowman. Jacob would be so proud...

Hug E Gram / HugEGram Commercial - Complete fail

2010-02-12T14:25:00.001-07:00

Worst Valentine's Day gift ever? I'm afraid this is a dealbreaker... Stick with the classics--chocolates, flowers and a nice dinner--you can't go wrong.

Toe.....pick.....

2010-02-12T14:22:00.000-07:00

Just a little shout out to my favorite winter sports movie, The Cutting Edge on the eve of the Vancouver '10 games.

Kate: I'm sure there's nothing I do that you'd find exciting. I don't open beer bottles with my toes, I don't sit around and count what's left of my teeth, hey, I don't even enjoy a good tractor pull. It's been a limited existence, but I've gotten used to it.
Doug: Life of the party, huh? Place must be crawling with guys.
Kate: As a matter of fact, I do have a boyfriend.
Doug: Well there's a rough gig. What do you do, keep him chained up in the basement?
Kate: Hale at the moment is working in my father's London office, he's an MBA - Harvard. You might have heard of it. They do have a hockey team.
Doug: He must be a very smart guy.
Doug: Bet you look pretty good from a few thousand miles away.

Jimmy Fallon "Glee" Parody

2010-02-04T10:47:00.000-07:00

Good. Not as good as the real thing, but it will have to do until Glee returns...

Anyone want to go halvsies on the Full House house?

2010-02-04T10:36:00.000-07:00

The TV house I most wanted to live in as a kid is for sale. The Full House house! I always wanted DJs room with the awesome geometric 80s wallpaper and the poster of George Michael and a recording studio in the basement where Jesse and the Rippers once recorded. I wish I could afford it. I mean if I were going to live in San Francisco, where better to live than the Full House house?

**Never mind. The article was wrong. The house is not for sale. It's a neighboring house. My heart is broken. I guess I'll have to concentrate on my second favorite 80s house, the one from Home Alone.

Knicks v. Wizards Feb. 3, 2010

2010-02-04T10:11:00.001-07:00

I went to a Knicks game last night. We sat in the nosebleed seats, but they really weren't that bad. We moved down to closer seats in the 3rd quarter. Madison Square Garden is a lot smaller than it looks in the movies. MSG always reminds me of one of my favorite movies Forget Paris; especially when the fans are hurling insults at Billy Crystal's character. Last night the New York crowd treated the team to plenty of "Boos" and "You suck!"(and other lovely things than shall not be repeated here) until the Knicks stepped up their game in the second half. The evening was a success, the Knicks blew out the Washington Wizards and I got to see Spike Lee and James Taylor sitting next to each other on the front row as well as Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz. I'm still a faithful Jazz fan, but it was a fun evening.

Man, America is Lazy....

2010-02-04T09:42:00.003-07:00

Ah, Pajama Jeans--the love child of sweats and jeans. Pants made for those who want to be comfortable without looking like a complete bum or for those who are too lazy to wake up and get dressed for the day. I love my pajamas as much as the next gal. I also love jeans. I'll admit I can be lazy--but not so lazy that I can't take 30 seconds to change from my jeans into my PJs or vice-versa.

In other pant developments for lazy folks....I give you...Shoe Pants. Designer Sebastian Errazuriz has come up with the perfect clothing item for those who like to wake up, slip on their clothes and go. These jeans will save you a step. He put together denim and a pair of Converse shoes so all you have to do when you roll out of bed is slip a pair of these on and off you go. It's sort of a good idea.

Icing shots?

2010-01-25T11:34:00.000-07:00

Cupcake shops are all the rage and have been for a few years. The new trend at cupcake shops are icing shots — perfect for a quick, intense sugar high. Yikes! The frosting is my least favorite part of a cupcake, I usually end of scraping half of it off. This new trend isn't for me, but for you frosting lovers out there your time has come.

Weird foods you can buy in NYC

2010-01-21T14:13:00.001-07:00

Whenever I go grocery shopping in new towns or new countries I like to see what they have there that they don't sell in Utah. So far these have been my two finds-- Ketchup Potato Chips and Grape Ginger Ale. Both are pretty good. I'll have to keep my eyes out for more new and unusual stuff...

Apartment in NYC

2010-01-21T13:58:00.000-07:00

My little corner of NYC in East Midtown.

Twilight: The Eternal Companion

2010-01-19T12:10:00.000-07:00

Twilight Years from Tom on Vimeo.

I heart NY

2010-01-12T21:25:00.000-07:00

In 80s movies like Working Girl and Baby Boom there's always a montage of smart, successful women strutting down the streets of NYC in their power suits and sneakers. Today that was me. I wore sneakers with my skirt and tights to walk home from work. I looked and felt like a dork but I totally understand why women here wear running shoes with their work clothes--no pair of heels is comfortable after 20 blocks. I'm learning how to be a real New Yorker! (The song that should be playing in your head as you think about those 80s power suit montages is Carly Simon's Let the River Run).

Valentine's Day Movie Trailer

2009-12-19T09:31:00.001-07:00

Hope it's good! The cast is amazing.

There are no words...

2009-12-09T21:19:00.000-07:00

So much to talk about--Tiger, Tom Brady's baby, cheesy Christmas movies...this is by far the most fascinating thing I've seen this week. Who knew Martha likes her burgers "animal style"?

New Favorite

2009-11-27T22:02:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite blogs, dailycandy.com, turned me on to Lypsyl, a great Swedish balm that has been softening lips with coconut oil and beeswax since 1905. Lypsyl has a nice minty flavor and the tube lasts a long time. It's great for chapped winter lips. You can find it at Walgreens, CVS or online at drugstore.com and at $3 it's a great investment.

No need to get up at 4 am to shop...go online!

2009-11-27T21:34:00.000-07:00

In the spirit of Black Friday I thought I'd share my new favorite online store. In the last few years I have started doing most of my Christmas shopping online. This year Entertainment Weekly introduced me to delight.com . Thanks EW! It has such fun and funky items for sale. I highly recommend it for those "hard to shop for" family members or friends. The Kor One water bottles are one of my favorite finds. They also have fun 2010 wall calendars, planners and some really cute reusable grocery bags. Happy Shopping!

Waffle shortage coming to a supermarket near you...

2009-11-22T22:34:00.000-07:00

Don't leggo your Eggos if you can help it...apparently America is in the midst of an Eggo Waffle Shortage. Flooding from heavy rains in Georgia have temporarily closed a large Eggo Waffle plant, causing a sharp drop in supply. Equipment problems at another large plant in Tennessee means the shortage is spreading. Is this the biggest challange of Barack Obama's presidency? You'd think so from the hysteria shown on the news. I myself am a fan and frequent purchaser of Eggo waffles...but I'm not going to let this waffle shortage alter my breakfast routine. I won't switch over to Pop Tarts or Toaster Strudel just yet...FYI...Archer Farms' (Target) waffles are just as tasty and even less expensive. Hopefully Kelloggs can right this problem ASAP. Oh, and there's a shortage of pumpkin as well... so if there's an apple pie on your Thanksgiving table this week, that's why.

Elf Yourself v. 3.0

2009-11-22T22:20:00.000-07:00

Blast! Every year I get sucked in by ElfYourself, even though the concept should be totally lame to me by now. The site is back for Christmas '09 with a couple new features, including "singing" elves, the ability to post to Twitter/Facebook and the very necessary "Hip Hop Elves." (For $4.99 you can download your clip.)
Go ahead, make sure your boss isn't looking, and go waste some time at http://elfyourself.jibjab.com. I think I'll put myself breakin' it down with Tom Brady this year...

There'd better be a song about the leg lamp...

2009-11-22T22:10:00.000-07:00

A Christmas Story, The Musical!, based on the 1983 MGM film, premieres at the Kansas City Repertory Theatre Nov. 20-Dec. 27, 2009. It has already broken box office records at KC Rep and is aiming for a 2010 Broadway debut. Songs in the production include "Getting Ready for Christmas," "Take That!," "I Won (A Major Award)," "You'll Shoot Your Eye Out!," "Ho, Ho, Ho!," "I'm Awake," "On Christmas, We Go Eat Chinese" and "There Must Be Something We've Forgotten." I know what I want in my Christmas stocking in 2010--tickets to this! I can't wait to hear "You'll Shoot Your Eye Out!", I have a feeling it'll be a show-stopper, real Broadway gold.

Real Salt Lake's comin' home with some hardware!!

2009-11-22T21:57:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Real Salt Lake for winning the 2009 MLS Cup! It's hard for me to cheer against Becks...but RSL got it done. Frowny face for Landon Donovan for shanking his penalty kick...so much for LA's "Galaxy of Stars." If this game is any indication of LD's "big game" play it does not bode well for Team USA in the 2010 World Cup.

Firelight - SNL Twilight spoof trailer

2009-11-15T17:22:00.001-07:00

This is an amazing spoof of Twilight. Taylor Swift has got Bella's lip-biting down pat. Can't wait for the sequel.

Video Recaps | Full Episodes | Webisodes

Chicken Bacon Artichoke deLITE Pizza

2009-10-31T17:16:00.000-06:00

I have never been a huge fan of Papa Murphy's Pizza, until now. In the past I have always had trouble getting their pizzas to bake all the way through, so I've stayed away. The other day my grandma brought us their Chicken Bacon Artichoke deLITE Pizza. It is part of Papa Murphy's lower-fat, lower-calorie thin crust line – and it is delicious! It doesn't taste low-fat, it tastes gourmet and the crust is fabulous (and cooks beautifully in a traditional oven). It has a cracker-thin crust, topped with creamy garlic sauce, real mozzarella cheese, crispy bacon, grilled chicken, fresh spinach, marinated artichoke hearts, shredded parmesan, and herbs. And it's only $9.99. It's a really great dinner or something to cut up in smaller bites to serves as an appetizer at a party. Enjoy!

The Harry is fake...the scar is real.

2009-10-31T17:05:00.001-06:00

I was at 7-11 this morning and the cashier had dressed up like Harry Potter for Halloween. He was so into the holiday he had scratched Harry's "lightning scar" onto his forehead. He didn't draw it on, it wasn't a prosthetic scar, he had literally scratched the scar onto his head. That is taking Halloween far too seriously.

Creepy soaps....just in time for Halloween!

2009-10-31T17:00:00.000-06:00

I saw these "hand soaps" in a magazine. They are molded from real dolls hands. They creep me out (and kind of remind me of the creepy baby cake ). Please don't have these hand soaps in your guest bathroom. Thank you.

Book Crossing

2009-08-16T21:51:00.003-06:00

As a book lover I am intrigued by the idea behind Book Crossing,the world's biggest free book club. Maybe I'll join.

Wearable Towel infomercial

2009-08-02T22:36:00.001-06:00

What has happened to the world? If wrapping a towel around you is too difficult or immodest or whatever your issue is, how about you wear a robe? Then you don't have to shell out $20 for a faux-toga. I think a lot of these inventions are kind of weird but I wish I could invent one because then I'd be set for life...

Yikes!

2009-08-02T22:17:00.004-06:00

A couple things that are giving me nightmares right now...the picture of Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter in the new Alice in Wonderland movie and the photo of the Slap Chop (formerly of ShamWow!)guy that is on the front of the box. They both give me the creeps.
(FYI - I like Johnny Depp a lot and I'm sure the Slap Chop guy is perfectly nice, it's the pictures that scare me, not the men...)

Seriously?

2009-08-02T22:12:00.002-06:00

They now have a Snuggie for Dogs. Great. Just what every dog needs, to keep his paws free while he stays warm.

HGTV Design Star

2009-08-02T22:00:00.003-06:00

I Heart HGTV Design Star. I am so glad it's back! Along with So You Think You Can Dance, it's probably my favorite Summer show. This week the designers had to use items from the grocery story to decorate the "white room." If you get a chance to see a rerun, it's incredible what these guys do with apples, oranges, dog food, etc. Their creativity absolutely amazes me.

A nice garnish can class up any meal...

2009-07-28T21:41:00.005-06:00

Fancy Fast Food is my new favorite blog. They take food (ingredients) from fast food restaurants--Taco Bell, KFC, Wendy's, etc., and turn it into something that looks (if not tastes) gourmet. It's amazing what a good garnish and some creative plating can do!

Nauvoo University

2009-06-29T22:34:00.003-06:00

If you know anyone who would like a really neat educational experience, a new university is opening in Nauvoo this fall. Nauvoo University is a university with LDS standards located in historic Nauvoo, IL.

Type of Institution:
Nauvoo University is a coeducational private institution.
The institution will initially start as a semester study program.
The next step will be to become a two-year community college.
The final step will be a four-year university.

Affiliation:
Nauvoo University is an independent, privately-funded university following in the rich educational tradition of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Brigham Young University, but not funded or operated by either of those institutions.

Curriculum:
Nauvoo University offers a balanced education combining a classical liberal arts component with practical skills and training. The three current majors offered are General Education, History, and English, and will be expanded to others each year.

Location:
Nauvoo, Illinois, is a small rural town with a population 1,100. It is located on a bend in the Mississippi River in the Tri-State Area (Hancock and Adams Counties, Ill, Lee County, Iowa, and Clarke County, Missouri) with a population of 153,300 residents. The area includes Nauvoo, Carthage, Hamilton, Quincy, Keokuk, & Fort Madison.

Check out their Web site for more information.

I'm over 25. I guess it's time to grow up?

2009-06-29T22:18:00.004-06:00

Wow. Read this blog post at Tomato Nation. I guess it's time for me to grow up (and learn to walk in heels). Some of it I happen to agree with, some of it is a little harsh. Thank you notes are a must! Proper etiquette really has gone out the window. It's time for Emily Post (or her granddaughter) to write a new book that includes the etiquette of cell phones, texting, emailing, etc. I just thought this was an interesting article.

Michael Jackson (1958- 2009)

2009-06-25T16:44:00.004-06:00

The King of Pop has died. Thanks for Beat It, Billie Jean, Smooth Criminal, Bad, Thriller, Man in the Mirror and Black or White.

Music I'm digging right now...

2009-06-10T00:09:00.002-06:00

I am really liking Diane Birch lately. Her song "Valentino" is the perfect peppy-folksy-poppy-song for the summer. It's a good driving song--if only I had a convertible...The rest of the album, Bible Belt, is good, too. But, as always, you don't have to take my word for it.

Free Lip Balm

2009-06-10T00:02:00.002-06:00

This year Burt's Bees celebrates its 25th anniversary. To celebrate, the company is giving away a bunch of free stuff, starting with 25,000 tubes of lip balm.

Each day through June 20, the company is offering 1,000 free Beeswax Lip Balms online. Today's stash is already gone, but you should bookmark this page for a chance to win. The contest starts sometime between 9 a.m. and noon ET, but it changes each day -- you have to keep checking the site.

I love getting free stuff and I love Burt's Bees lip balm -- it's a win-win situation!

Happy Anniversary Burt!!

Of course it's not real fruit!

2009-06-09T23:53:00.003-06:00

A California woman claimed she was deceived into buying Cap'n Crunch cereal during a four-year period because she thought "Crunch Berries" were real fruit. She sued the company for damages. Luckily the judge was smarter than her and threw out the case.

What kind of fruit did she think Crunch Berries were exactly? Dried um, maybe strawberries? Just another reason we need to put more money into our education system.

Cap Sac : The Fanny Pack for your head...

2009-06-09T23:48:00.003-06:00

Wow...I can't believe they didn't come up with this in the '80s. I'm getting rid of my purse and I'm gettin' me a Cap Sac!

(If you believed the above sentence, you don't know me very well)

Full House: The Movie

2009-06-09T23:41:00.002-06:00

Former sitcom star John Stamos confesses that he’s conceptualizing a “Full House” feature film. “I’m working on a movie idea, but it wouldn’t be us playing us,” he told NY Daily News. “I’m not 100% sure, but it would probably take place in the first few years” of the 1987-95 series.

The former “ER” doc votes for James Franco to reprise Stamos’ role as Jesse Katsopolis. “I see Steve Carell as [Bob Saget’s character] Danny Tanner and Tracy Morgan as [Dave Coulier’s] Joey Gladstone because he’s funny,” he added.

I'm not sure about this. Will Steve Carell be able to re-create the touching teaching moments at the end of each episode, you know the ones with the signature "you're about to learn something" music. I confess, I loved Full House as a kid. I even named my rabbit after D.J.

Saved By The Bell Reunion Update 3 (6/8/09)

2009-06-09T23:35:00.001-06:00

Video Recaps | Full Episodes | Webisodes