Vote for my shopping blog for the Divine Caroline: Love This Site Award! I’m up for the style category and in second place. I believe voting ends tonight so help me win $250!

Don’t let a forum win. We all know blogs are far superior!

Remember I’m donating about half of it to a worthy cause if I win!

Vote! Vote! Vote!

Today officially kicks off the holiday season. Are you ready? I’m sure not!

Today is also a day of thanks. To be honest, I’m really thankful 2008 is almost over. This has been a rough year for me.

I have a lot of other things to be grateful for though.

I’m thankful my dad is still as healthy as can be. That my dog, Princess, lived a long, happy life. I’m so thankful for the past 5 years with William. I couldn’t imagine my life without him - he was my lover, best friend, go-to guy. He’s my person and always will be. I’m thankful for his family. I love them. I’m thankful I brought a little 7 pound ball of fluff and ears home in February. Who knew a puppy can bring so much light into someone’s life? I’m thankful for friends, both real life and internet. I couldn’t have survived this past year without you. I’m thankful Stephanie Meyers wrote a dumb book about vampires, they were a distraction I surely needed. I’m thankful change is coming. I’m thankful I found my place and scored an internship where I’ll be able to grow and develop.

Most of all, as much of a mess this year has been so far, I’m thankful I still have hope.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Eat those leftovers tomorrow and throw in a moistmaker.

This past weekend, I was pointed in the direction of an amazing fashion blog. It’s written by a witty, snarky girl with some bold fashion choices. Her name is Tavi and she lives in Chicago…but what you probably wouldn’t have guessed is she is only 12 years old.

Yup.

Her blog is Style Rookie. Check it out.

I’m done talking fictional, albeit ridiculously sexy, vampires*. For now at least**.

Anyway, I have business to take care of. Business of the awesome kind. I’m looking at you, Chicago people.

Friday, I met up with a huge group of 20something bloggers and we took over Quartino and later Streeters. No seriously, there was like 18 of us and name tags were involved***. There was beer pong at a bar? I might be one of the only 20somethings who has never played beer pong ever and uh, love you guys but I’m not sure I care to.

So yeah, it was a great night so now I think we should do it again! I’m filling up your calendar. I have three events coming up that I will be at and this means you should too.

First, we have another fabulous Gal’s Guide event on December 5th. This one will be at Banana Republic on Michigan Avenue. We will enjoy gift bags, hair styling by Maxine Salons, personalized shopping assistance, goodie bags and most importantly a 25% discount all night! If that doesn’t make you want to go, I don’t know what will. Check out the flyer and RSVP on Facebook.  Then after we can go get drinks or something!

Next up, on December 9th is the winter CRAVE Party at the Chicago Cultural Center.

Read the rest of this entry »

I know some of you might have read my twitter about being unimpressed once I walked out of the theater. First off, no one screamed during the movie which was good or they would have got a Nike to the back of the head.

Casting:
- Rosalie was like the biggest casting fail. She was suppose to be this like hot fierce bitch but she was definitely not.
- Jasper was okay but I think he was just a little too stiff, if would have loosened up it would have been way better.
- Mike and Jessica. NO.
- who I liked: Alice, Emmet, James, Victoria, Laurent and Charlie. I thought they were cast very well

Biggest gripes:
- not enough build up. I know you’ve read the books. They are continuously on the verge of getting hot and heavy. The one kiss was good but it just wasn’t enough. I don’t think there was enough passion between them to get the full effect of the books.
- Kristen Stewart underacts, especially in the breakup/leaving Forks scene. She’s too controlled.
- the diamond glittering effects and sounds. Seriously, could you get anymore cheesy? Totally should have looked like this (scroll down).
- a lot of the high school scenes just annoyed the hell out of me.
- they veered from the book a lot. I can understand have to adapt to a movie but this was just too much.

Things I loved:
- the bad vampires. They were cast so well and Victoria is perfect. Can’t wait to see how she does in movie three!
- the baseball scene. Loved it!
- RPattz playing the piano. Um hi, I totally melted.

Overall, they skipped way too much. Added in too much bullshit. Not enough Edward and Bella buildup. Rosalie sucked. It felt like it moved too fast and was over way too quick. It wasn’t horrible but had so much more potential. It could have been amazing. They just got the go ahead for the next three. Hopefully, they will be way better even though New Moon is next and bores the hell out of me.

Oh and did you notice Stephanie Meyers was in it for a split second? She was in the cafe.

Twilight movie = FAIL

What did you think?

Twilight came out in theaters today. I will not be seeing it until Sunday so take your spoilery bullshit somewhere else!*

Good thing Jessica Maria and I started out internetz book club and read Twilight because don’t we all need to be distracted by fictional, smoldering hot vampires who are obsessed with the person they love and consider their life?

Yes, thank you Stephanie Meyers for distracting me from life for a solid four days while I read those books. Even though your writing was cheesy and Bella was whiny as hell. You still sucked me in.

Twilight is my crack.

Alright, time for some RPattz** for this Friday morning. Who doesn’t love this dude?***

* Yes, we all know what happens since we read the books but I still don’t want to hear it!
** The hair**** is totally sexy. I don’t care what you bitches say.
*** Crazy people, that’s who.
**** Marry me, plz and we can have amazing hair together. Thanks.

Why is America’s Next Top Model such a complete fail? Why do I continue to watch this? WHY? First, ChaCha, then Saliesha, then Whitney’s fake ass and now this??! So much fail in two years.

McKey.

The big ass mouth and talking out of the side of it thing? She is so bad! And Sam in the final two?! Are you kidding me?

Whatever, America’s Next Top Model looks like the Joker.

FAIL

Well it was great reading all the comments about what you don’t like about blogs! It wasn’t meant to be an attack or the rules of blogging, just personal preferences. That’s all. The comments were pretty interesting though so check them out if you’re curious to see what other bloggers think on the subject.

Since I was emailed a couple times asking to post about it, I think it would be good to talk the opposite now.

What do you love about blogs? What makes you add them to your reader or bookmark? What makes you come back for more?

Me:

• good, quality writing
• posts that make me think, that introduce me to new ideas, make me dig a little deeper or really question my own views and feelings
• blogs that inspire me - to try something new, to keep working toward something or that just make me want to be a better me.
• funny bloggers! I love to laugh and if you can make me laugh, you’re almost sure to go to my reader
• blogs with great photography. I know some bloggers can’t post them being anonymous but I love getting that extra glimpse into someone’s life.
• learning things. I love to find things that I can apply to my own life, whether it’s a recipe, new store or site to browse, design tips, etc
• the blogging community in general. I’ve said many times before how great it is. I’ve never has such amazing conversations, emails, support - not even with some friends in real life!

Okay, your turn!

Today on The Tyra Banks Show, she will be surprising Isis with a sexual reassignment surgery. Isis is from Cycle 11 and was the first transgendered contestant on America’s Next Top Model. The only reason she hasn’t be able to make the full transition is because the surgery costs $20,000-30,000.

Tyra will not be paying for the surgery but introduces her to Dr. Marci Bowers, a leading gender reassignment surgeon who has experienced the surgery herself. Bowers will be paying for the surgery.

But you know Tyra will totally take credit somehow.

Cycle 13 prediction: Tyra lecturing the models on how she performed a sex change surgery when she first started modeling at 15.

* But really, good for Isis. She’s been wanting this a long time.

(clip found here)