Shops at Target Review…Ramble

I was a little skeptical about another Target designer launch. Who can blame me when it’s a shopping nightmare any time they have these things and the Missioni and Jason Wu events left many, including myself dissappointed. Still, I can’t help but be curious and there was shift dress I had my eye on when I saw a preview of the collection. My curiosity was also piqued by, of course, the Boston company The Polka Bakery, which makes dog treats. One sale that includes stuff for my precious Elle, myself, the home and the sweet tooth? Oh my this I had to take a gander at, but I didn’t go until this past weekend.

The Privet House definitely appeals to the preppy part of me so I was quite happy to see there was almost the entire collection. I do think with rivals Home Goods, TJ Maxx and Marshalls (ok I know they are one company) what made Target think premium pricing on this unknown brand was going to fly off the shelves? Target employees said it’s selling, but not like other collections and the clothing from Miami’s Webster was ample. The one thing low in supply being the shift dress I had my eye on, but I was lucky there was one left in my size. Even though online reviews said the sizes ran small it fit and wah-la I present my Shops booty:

Without trying I managed to get something from each one of the shops. Hello Candy Shop from SF you were helpful on Mother’s Day. The glasses are from Privet House, which perfectly line up with my juicer (I have been on the search so this was a huge bonus.) 

 

Crush of the Week: Robert Downey Jr. …Ramble

RDJ is an eclectic artist who has survived jail, a crappy self-indulgent CD, drug use and the baddest playground known as Hollywood. Now a veteran of the industry with two successful franchises – Iron Man and Sherlock Holmes, 

I’ve had a crush on this man even his wife describes as odd, for some time. Hey, everyone likes a bad boy! What I love about RDJ at this point is his influence over other actors and helping create some amazing careers. 

It was RDJ who convinced Gwyneth Paltrow (if you didn’t know she was one of my faves then search her on my blog for why) to take the role of Pepper Potts in Iron Man by telling her she should be in a film people went to see. Oh yeah, being real is an RDJ talent. 

While I don’t care for his buddy Mel Gibson, RDJ is a loyal friend who totally got annoyed with his ‘Due Date’ co-star Zach Galifiankis for getting Mel kicked off a cameo of ‘The Hangover 2′. I also LOVED that RDJ fell in love with the Frenchie on ‘Due Date’ he tried to adopt him unsuccessfully. (Frenchies can be little heartbreakers in the best way possible.) Still, it’s kind of cool that Robert stood up for his friend who has been revealed as a crazy racist who’s lost his mind during Mel’s ‘hard times’.

Now Robert Downey Jr. has continued to work his magic on ‘The Avengers’ franchise. First, he insisted and convinced director Joss Whedon to have the Pepper Potts character in the film to enhance his character Tony Stark, as ‘crazy-in-a-relationship’ kind of guy. Secondly, according to the DETAILS cover interview with Chris Evans aka Captain America, RDJ connected with Evans via their shared agent. He convinced the reluctant Evans to take the role telling him by making tons of money for the studio it would enable Evans to get backing for the smaller films he really wants to do in the future. 

What a helluva a friend, mentor, and kickass actor! I can’t wait to see him in ‘Avengers’ out May 4th. 

Happy 2nd Anniversary to My Canine Kid Elle…Ramble

Two years ago today I drove five hours to pick up my lovely little Frenchie @Rocknroll_ELLE who completely changed my life the moment she came to me when I beckoned her with my finger. I was in love in a big way and it’s crazy to me how each day she is more adorable and how lucky I am to have this little fur baby as a soulmate. 

She was only 5 lbs here and now she’s 18. Elle is the most wonderful companion. She is sweet and clever and she loves to play. I’m so glad her soft palate operation is now behind us and she is just as playful and energetic as the day we first met. 

We’ve been all over this town and on many adventures outside of it. I always feel much calmer when I have my best friend with me so thanks Elle for two amazing years and here’s to many more! Thanks for always being such a good sport too! 

Girl Crush: Author Liza Palmer…Ramble

Liza is one of those people who’s writing creates new friends. Friends that fulfill the Girl Scout song “Make new friends, but keep the old, one is silver and the other is gold.” I’ve been able to connect online with Liza and interview her for some outlets, including this blog. She just pretty much kicks ass. Funny, honest and bubbling over with talent, she even has a French bulldog named Poet. Could she be any cooler? 

My favorite book of Liza’s is Seeing Me Naked. It’s a powerful and intrigueing facing the hard stuff in life with your family and finally creating a life for yourself regardless of what everyone expects you to do. Her last book A Field Guide To Burying Your Parents completely book my heart. It was so powerfully emotional and really hit a raw part of my experience in life. Let’s not forget her first book Conversations With The Fat Girl which was both hilarious and amazing.

Palmer fans already excited for her latest book More Like Her out on April 17th, which I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy of to read. I’ve been discussing this issue of lifestyle over career ambitions and how that changes with age with a lot of my friends in the last couple of years. It’s like Liza was part of those conversations or at least her characters in “More Like Her” were. There are times when it’s hard for us to understand the end of a relationship, romanticize it and grieve for it while admiring someone else who seems to have “more” than us in one or several ways. 

“More Like Her” captures the feeling of being in your 30′s wondering why life still hasn’t resolved those career and relationship issues, but really addresses the need to actual realize you deserve someone who appreciates you as you are and the first person to fall in love with you should be you. This book is a little bit of a lighter emotional tugging than Liza’s first three books, but have no fear she will still take you over that edge and in that way I wish I was ….more like her.  

Face-off: GWTDT vs. The Hunger Games MOVIE Ed…. Ramble

I find many times movie versions of books which I didn’t like, are better on film. The reverse effect can occur when I really dig a book and then the movie version is complete crap. In the book version of this Face-off the clear winner was The Hunger Games. Now both movies are in the world let’s compare them.

LEADING LADIES:

Rooney Mara: daughter of the owner of The New York Giants, Mara had jaws dropping to applaud her Oscar nomination for her portrayal of Lizbeth. She was rail thin but intimidating. Rooney embodied this character with frightening accuracy but also made me root for her in a way I had connected with reading the books. She gave Lisbeth humanity. 

Jennifer Lawrence a Southern Belle who was criticized for her womanly curves for the role of Katniss Everdeen. Hmm, Katniss is supposed to be somewhat atheletic as Lawerence is and I thought she was flawless in this role, although some of the wardrobe choices were not (*see the scene where she and Peeta speak the night before the games begin). Lawerence was quoted saying she didn’t want to be overly skinny as she didn’t think a Kate Moss body with a bow and arrow was as intimidating but…though I love you Jennifer, I have to disagree. Rooney Mara is on the same level of skinny as Kate Moss and she was very frightening when she took down her guardian. 

Winner: Hmm, this is a tough one because both shined in these roles. Mara’s Oscar nod is going to have to tip it in her direction although we all know ever award Lawerence will get for this role will be in the Nickelodeon-MTV-youth category.

LEADING MEN:

Daniel Craig: The current James Bond was recently given unprecedented access to the Queen’s quarters to film scenes to open the London Olympic Games this summer. Married to the amazing Rachel Weisz, this Brit has a body that just won’t stop…and why would you want it to? Strong and smart in this role, Blomkvist is a man to be reckoned with in the battle of wits.

Liam Hemsworth & Josh Hutchinson: Oh…tag team. Oh my. In the film Liam’s Gale didn’t have too much camera time. It was one of the flaws of the film in my opinion. Josh only had one scene in the cave which really sold him to me as Peeta. While I was reading the books, I envisioned Peeta as Scott Wolf in his Party of Five days. Of course, the books were not even a notion in Suzanne Collin’s head that long ago, but a guy who had more of a sturdy frame. 

Winner: Is this a fair match up? GWTDT has a man’s man, danger & brains. The Hunger Games pits children against children in a gory death match. Being my blog and since I’m not a pedofile I’m going to declare Daniel Craig the winner. Of course Liam is a close second and Josh, sweet thing that you are, comes in last place. 

SOUNDTRACKS:

NIN’s Trent Reznor’s soundtrack added to the twisted darkness of TGWTDT. He gave away six songs for free via a TopSpin widget. He also happened to win an Oscar for his work, looking quite sexy in a tux.

The Hunger Games had a single by Taylor Swift & Civil Wars leading the charge, but in the actual film the music we hear is true to the books, just Katniss serenading her sister and little Rue as she died. 

Winner: TGWTDT. Don’t worry The Hunger Games has a lot more sales.

TRUE TO THE BOOK

TGWTDT: I gave it an unexpected A-. It fixed moments I really couldn’t stand in the book like her buying a cheesy Elvis license plate for Blomkvist. 

The Hunger Games: here’s where I confess I really hate the first twenty minutes of The Hunger Games. The camera work gave me motion sickness. I was worried I wouldn’t like it at all, but that’s pretty hard when Katniss came to kick ass! I did find it left out too much and didn’t serve as much of a set-up for those who hadn’t read the books prior to the film. I’ve done a little survey and those folks who didn’t were scratching their heads a few times. It bummed me out that Cinna’s importantance fell felt. Since I love the books it further bummed me out to give this a B-. The gore of kids killing kids on the big screen was just as hard to stomach as I thought it would be. Do parents even read the plot summary before taking their 10 year olds to this film? 

Winner: TGWTDT

OVERALL WINNER: The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. Hands Down. 

Crush of the Week: Alec Baldwin…Ramble

The news of Alec Baldwin‘s fresh enragement, I mean engagement to his yoga instructor lady friend already had him showing off his devotation last night. Mr. Baldwin took to Twitter to voice his disgust at ‘crime reporters’ who were sneaking in and harassing folks just trying to feel the zen of yoga for a photo of his lady love.

Alec’s passion is what is most attractive about it, it is also what drives him to excel. He cares ALOT about politics, his daughter Ireland, the planet, words with friends and protecting those he loves all while being incredibly debonaire. That’s not an adjective I get to use very often but it really fits Baldwin. 

Forget Don Draper who is quite droll, Baldwin shows him up with his intelligence and wit on ’30 Rock’ each week as Tina Fey’s Jack Donaghy. I think this role grounded him when he needed some stability. There’s just nothing more attractive then a ‘bad boy’ who cares. He isn’t afraid to poke fun at himself *see the Capital One adverts or show up semi-nude *see It’s Not That Complicated, and he always has that oh-so-incredible voice that has turned him into quite a narrator from his work for Thomas the Train to the current Frozen Planet. I also love watching him talk classic movies on TCM. What a man! This is where we should all be investing in cloning!!

Congrats on your engagement Alec. I hope you are both very happy together! 

Vicki vs. Gretchen…Ramble

Ever since Gretchen Rossi joined ‘The Real Housewives of Orange County’ she has been in the center of drama. She was hard to like with her Barbie Doll ways and her nasty jabs at the other castmates. She came on with a fiancee twice her age with terminal cancer who showered her with diamonds. It seemed very clear she was a gold digger.

After her man passed away, Gretchen moved on with Slade Smiley who had previously been dating the very likeable Jo, whom Gretchen replaced in the cast. Jo moved to LA to try to be a singer and tried to find love elsewhere in her own dating reality show during which Slade tried to win her back. Slade was quite wealthy when he was with Jo living in a huge house and showering her with gifts. However, the recession hit Slade’s real estate job (but not former cast member Gina) and he lost pretty much all he had.

Gretchen who was in an all out war with Tamara ignited by the ‘who is hotter?’ debate showed us just how ugly they could both behave. Tamara and her best friend Vicki have always thought they were superior to Gretchen despite Tamara’s son being in jail and Vicki’s way of making everything about her (i.e. on last night’s show her daughter who has been ill had to console Vicki).

Vicki and Tamara both attacked Gretchen’s boyfriend Slade on last season’s reunion show calling him a dead beat dad for not paying child support. Despite that, this season’s premiere kicked off with Tamara and Gretchen mysteriously deciding to bury the hatchet. Tamara not-so-subtley was keeping the reconcilation from her bff Vicki. Vicki is not too happy about it but she still continues to show up for group events.

Slade is also not happy about Gretchen being friends with Tamara after everything she accused him of and making him look terrible on national television. He decided for some reason he was going to try stand-up comedy during which he called Vicki “Miss Piggy”- whom Bravo had the genius move of booking on ‘Watch What Happens Live’ alongside Vicki last night. (Seriously genius booking! Love Miss Piggy!!!)

It all came to a head last night for the latest round of war when Tamara hosted an 80′s Bunko Night. Vicki and Gretchen were at separate tables talking about Slade’s stand-up and the room erupted when Tamara added the men to the mix.

Why on earth would Tamara invite Slade to this Bunko night?
Why did Tamara and Gretchen really bury the hatchett? Castmate Alexis said she has heard rumors of what is really behind the reconciliation.

Andy wanted to know who’s side the audience is on Gretchen or Vicki?
1) I’ve always liked Vicki as a strong women who supports her family and works really hard.

2) The nasty behaviour in the tabloids is the most catty and least interesting of all the Housewives Casts, but being the original I can’t deny I have more than a passing interest.

3) I felt bad for Gretchen last year when she was trying to make Tamara own up to her own crappy behaviour but Tamara having the same mudslinging done in the press to her by Gina was supposed to be different– why Tamara? Oh because it’s happening to you.

4) There is an interesting debate here that also happened on the last season the NY cast. Simon apparently got very nasty with some of the ladies in the cast. His wife Alex said they needed to go directly to Simon. The women felt they should never have to be put in that position. In the OC Gretchen is saying the same thing and although she chastised Slade for his stand-up, she still defends his actions to the women. She thinks the women should go directly to Slade but doing this during a group game night was pretty ridiculous. Tamara just stood by in the corner with her head down.

If you have a problem with a friend’s partner, should you be able to clear it up with your friend or have to speak directly to the person you have the issue with?

5) The fight between Gretchen, Slade and Vicki really heated up when Gretchen brought up Vicki’s current boyfriend Brookes has been in jail for not paying child support. Vicki claimed her man was none of Gretchen’s business to which Gretchen retorted Slade was none of Vicki’s. Vicki apparently thinks it’s ok to accuse Slade of bad behaviour according to news on the net but she doesn’t want that applying to her man. Hmmm….

Vicki also told Gretchen she’d never understand (since Gretchen is not a mother) what a man not paying support makes a woman have to endure. Hmm….

Final conclusion: In these kinds of debates no one wins. None of these people are angels, however I’m on Gretchen’s side here. She was attacked by these women while her fiancee was dying of cancer. Vicki, being a mother and a survivor of a dead beat dad is dating someone who has been jailed for the same thing. It’s hypocritical and sad, sad behaviour.

Vicki get a grip it’s not all about you. You have to do a mea culpa here and then just get on with things. If these people are causing you so much stress you should quit the show. No one is making you do this show and after last season I can’t imagine how you are still on the show! Finally your daughter shouldn’t have to console you when she might be told she could have the big ‘C’.

This round goes to Gretchen. Good for you for standing up for yourself although I have no idea why you are into Slade.

Cameo Carlson’s Inside iTunes Tips…Ramble

You know what’s great? Waking up on a Friday morning to watch two former bosses who happen to be seriously smart people sit down and discuss the state of the Digital Music Industry.

Cameo “abandoned” me three months after I started as VP of Digital Marketing at Universal Republic (boo!) and Ian was GM of Yahoo! Music while I was Head of Video Music Programming there. These days Cameo is Head of Digital Business Development for Borman Entertainment which manages Lady Antebellum and Keith Urban (swoon) among others.

If you want an education in the Digital Music Landscape watching this sit down where Cameo explains iTunes, the frustrations of working at a major label, which partners matter, and how being on the management side allows the freedom to get big things done.

So, in other words WATCH THIS:

Crush of The Week: Katy Perry…Ramble

It might be shocking to read that headline, after all I’ve been very honest while I think Katy’s hits are fun, she’s not the greatest vocalist. It irks me how many notes she doesn’t quite hit and perhaps she could realize being an alto is sexy too. 

I have always recognized she can write a hook and really catchy songs. What makes Katy my crush is her ability to make life so damn enjoyable even signing her divorce papers with a smiley face. I also admire the fact she has come clean regarding “Part of Me” not being about Russell Brand. In fact, the song was written and leaked in 2010 but didn’t make her album “Teenage Dreams.”

While it is just extremely excellent timing and it could even be more a marketing genius move to come clean, Ms. Perry I had to buy this song on iTunes and support you! 

Cuddles with Gary…Ramble

Gary Lightbody Thinks I’m Sweet

Meant to post this but my Droid was being fickle (surprize!) and I thought it got deleted. This was after a private showcase in New York at the end of November 2011.