Oscar Night

Last night marked the 83rd Annual Academy Awards on ABC co-hosted by James Franco and Anne Hathaway.  The show started out with a lot of potential with a take on the best films as seen through Inception.  Unfortunately, the show went down hill after that.  Franco and Hathaway joked about them being young and hip, but the award show was nothing young or hip.  Ninety-four year old Kurt Douglas stole the show when he announced the award for best supporting actress.  He joked about everyone laughing except Colin Firth since he is a brit.  Another bright spot was when Billy Crystal returned do show visual effects with Bob Hope.  Apparently the crowd wanted Crystal to stay longer because there was a chant “come back” sadly Crystal did not return and the show dragged on and on.  Maybe he will host next year? 

As I read the reviews online today, the same theme was present no one was impressed with Franco or Hathaway.  I personally felt that Franco was the worst.  He showed no energy throughout the show.  Maybe he is too tired with all of his work – General Hospital, movies, and going to Yale?  As for Hathaway, I sort of felt sorry for her.  She tried and she did some things well.  Yes, she may have been a little too chipper, but she had energy and maybe she was trying to energize Franco.  We will never know.   I do know that she changed outfits 7 times 8 if you count her outfit on the red carpet and she looked good in all of them.  Bravo to those quick changes!  Now for the winners – There was not a lot of shockers so I will just list them.  

BEST PICTURE -The King’s Speech
BEST ACTOR - Colin Firth, The King’s Speech
BEST ACTRESS - Natalie Portman, Black Swan
BEST DIRECTOR- Tom Hooper, The King’s Speech
BEST SONG - “We Belong Together,” Toy Story 3, Randy Newman
BEST EDITING - The Social Network, Angus Wall and Kirk Baxter
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS - Inception, Paul Franklin, Chris Corbould, Andrew Lockley and Peter Bebb
BEST DOCUMENTARY- Inside Job, Charles Ferguson and Audrey Marrs
BEST LIVE-ACTION SHORT - God of Love, Luke Matheny
BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT - Strangers No More, Karen Goodman and Kirk Simon
BEST COSTUME DESIGN -Alice in Wonderland, Colleen Atwood
BEST MAKEUP - The Wolfman, Rick Baker and Dave Elsey
BEST SOUND EDITING - Inception, Richard King
BEST SOUND MIXING - Inception, Lora Hirschberg, Gary A. Rizzo, and Ed Novick
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE - The Social Network, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR - Christian Bale, The Fighter
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM - In a Better World (Denmark)
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY - The King’s Speech, Screenplay by David Seidler
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY - The Social Network, Screenplay by Aaron Sorkin
BEST ANIMATED FILM - Toy Story 3
BEST ANIMATED SHORT - The Lost Thing, Shaun Tan and Andrew Ruhemann
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS - Melissa Leo, The Fighter
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY - Inception, Wally Pfister
BEST ART DIRECTION - Alice in Wonderland, Robert Stromberg, Karen O’Hara

The biggest winner of the evening was The King’s Speech.

Now for the best part of the evening is the red carpet.  Most of the stars looked really good.  There were only a few that would make the worst dress list.

Natalie Portman wore a plum Rodarte gown, Tiffany & Co jewels, and jimmy choo shoes.  Portman looked gorgeous in the plum and glowing from pregnancy.  She looked great!

Halle Berry wore a nude crystal Marchesa gown.  Her dress was so much better than her Golden Globes Dress.  She looks stunning.

Nicole Kidman wore a white Dior gown.  Nicole looked like a bad prom date wearing a gown that completely washed her out.  She was one of the worst dress stars of the evening.

Anne Hathaway struck a pose in a red Valentino vintage gown.  Hathaway looked gorgeous in this gown.  She also wore Tiffany & Co jewels.  It is being reported that she was paid $750,000 to wear the jewels.  WOW!

Reese Witherspoon dressed in an elegant black and white Giorgio Armani dress.  Although I liked the dress, Reese's hair was a little disturbing.  She looked like a cross between a beauty queen and Barbie.  I would have liked her hair to been pulled up off her neck and a gorgeous necklace.  Instead she looks like she wants to tell us about world peace.

Sandra Bullock shined in a scarlet Vera Wang gown.  After the year she has had Sandra looked gorgeous.  She also was a highlight in the awards show joking about the nominees for Best Actor.

Poor Scarlett Johansson.  Although she looks better than she did as the Bride of Frankenstein for the Golden Globes she still missed the mark.  The newly single Johannsson wore a Dolce & Gabbana magenta lace gown.  I was hoping for something more from her.  She has a smoking body (even more so after Iron Man 2) but she has been really missing the mark at the awards shows.

New comer, Jennifer Lawrence, was a show stopper in the red Calvin Klein dress.  Her hair and make up looked amazing!  Bravo!!

My best dressed star for the evening (and for the whole awards show season) goes to Mila Kunis.  The Black Swan star wore a lavender Elie Saab gown.

The always waky, Helena Bonham Carter, wore a black bustier ensemble created by “Alice in Wonderland” costume designer Colleen Atwood.  This outfit was a little conservative compared to Helena's previous award show dresses.  I was hoping for a big surprise this time so I feel a little let down.

The 14 year old, Hailee Steinfeld, was my other best dressed star.  Steinfeld wore a Marchesa design that she helped design!! 

For me the worst dress star of the evening was Academy Award winning, Melissa Leo.  Leo who used the f-word during her speech wore a Marc Bouwer creation.  The dress looked like a reflective table cloth. 

Well that's my recap for the Oscars from the best to the worst.

Reflections

Today I decided to reflect on something other than my pursuit of finding the right career.  Today I'm going to write about friendship.  When I think about friends I always think about the song I sang at 4-H - "Make New Friends".  The lyrics are:  Make new friends but keep the old one is silver and the others gold.

As I've grown up I have met a lot of people whether through 4-H, high school, speech, college, and law school but I only have a few really close friends.  As I've grown older I have grown apart from some people and maybe that's the way life is or maybe I'm just not good at keeping in touch, I'm not sure.  But there are a few people that even if I haven't spoken to them in months I can pick right up with them like nothing has changed.  These friends I appreciate more than I tell them.

I think as life changes your best friends do too.  Now that I'm married my best friend is my husband.  He can tell even when I'm a little upset that something is wrong.  I tell him everything even if it may hurt his feelings he knows my darkest secrets.  It is wonderful to feel that way with someone and I feel truly blessed but there are times when I miss my other friends.

I have tried not to use names while blogging but I think it's appropriate today.  Because I want to thank my close friends.  If you are not mentioned it's not because you are not important to me it's just I have left you out.

My mom - I never thought I would be as close to my mom as I am today.  We talk every day or almost every day.  She makes me laugh when I need it and I try to do the same.  She also gives me criticism and advice to help guide me.  I appreciate everything she does for me.  I miss her like crazy.  I never knew how much I missed her until she was here after my surgery.  I'm thankful to be so close to my mom.  It makes me sad that some people do not have the relationship like I have.  Along the same lines as my mom I have to thank my Aunt Debbie.  She is one of the most thoughtful people I know.  When I'm going through something she always sends me a card to brighten my day and lately I've tried to do the same for her.  

Aimee and I have known each other since we were tiny playing t-ball.  We have had so many great memories through 4-H and school.  Although we don't talk all the time when we do it's like nothing has changed.  I know that if I ever needed anything she would be there for me no matter what.  I think she is probably my gold from the song.  I am so thankful for her and hope that I can some day be as sweet and caring as she is.

I still remember the first time I met Amanda it was at cheerleading camp (yes I was a cheerleader for one year).  Amanda and I got off to a rocky start.  She didn't like me because I won the spirit stick at the camp had I known she wanted it I would have gave it to her.  But we became close friends through speech. It turns out she and I had a lot more in common.  We had the same since of humor and a love for fashion.  Over the years we didn't talk all the time but we still kept in touch.  Amanda is the friend who gives me the advice even if it's not what I want to hear.  She can be brutally honest but in a good way.  I promise to try to be better with keeping in touch and visit soon!

Shoafie is the friend that whenever I need to laugh that's who I call.  She can always tell me stories to make me feel better.  She's another person I can go a while without talking to and know that it doesn't matter.  I'm so happy that I spent a year living with her and getting to know her family.  I feel like they are as open and friendly as my own and would help me in any way they could.  She is one of the happiest persons I know and hope some day I can be as optimistic as she is.

Luyen and I met our sophomore year of college.  We lived together our senior year and have even been asked if we are sisters which is hilarious since she is Asian and we look nothing alike.  She knew all of my secrets for years and I knew hers.  Over the past year or so we have started to grow apart.  I am not sure if it's because we are in different cities or if it's because we are both in serious relationships.  Maybe we have both replaced each other?  I'm not sure.  I do know that I miss her.  I miss staying up late talking, I miss our two to three times a week emails.  I just miss it.  I woke up this morning really sad because I think it finally hit me that we had really grown apart.  I guess that's how you feel when you've lost your best friend.  I'm not sure if she and I can ever go back to how it was in Miami times have really changed, but I want my best friend back.

To my other 4-H friends -Heidi, Emily, Teb, Curtis, and Cara - I'm sorry that I have been so terrible with keeping in touch.  I am going to try to do better.  I miss each of you in your own special ways.  Heidi I miss all of our times at the fair and our "ring men", lol.  Emily and Teb I miss our late nights at 4-H camp and the games we would play.  Curtis and Cara where do I start!  I miss making fun of Grand Champion and the hilarious beach trip.

To my college friends - Jess and Bridget I miss you both.  Jess I'll see you soon and hopefully do a better job keeping in touch.  Bridget I will be in St. Louis in March.  I'd love to see you!

Lastly the law school crew - Laura, Kel Kel, Catherine, Jav, Whitney, Jordan, Shawn B, and Sean L - I miss you all!  I'll try to be better with keeping in touch.  Understand that I'm bad about calling but I'll try to be better with emailing or something!!

Finally, I must say how thankful I am for Jeff.  He really is what gets me through the day.  He is so good to me and I know I'm a better person because of him.  I never thought I'd be married but now I don't know what I'd do without him.  

As I have reflected I remember another 4-H song - friends I will remember you, think of you, and pray for you and when another day is through I'll still be friends with you.

Image Consultant

Well, I have sort of made a career decision.  YAY!  I am not sure the job will be successful and I'm doubtful I will make money the first year but I am going to give it a shot.  I have decided I am going to open an Image Consulting business.  Basically, Image Consultants help people achieve what they want - a new job, make a good impression, or feel good about themselves.  Most consultants offer – image analysis, makeover consulting, fashion styling, wardrobe consulting, makeup analysis, personal shopping, help with vocal communications, non-verbal communications, and etiquette.  As of right now I am leaning towards providing wardrobe consulting and etiquette.  With wardrobe consulting I will help with picking out outfits that fit a person’s size and body type as well as the right color scheme.  I can help go through the client’s closet and help keep what works and then get rid of what doesn’t.  After that the personal shopping comes into play, I can either go to the store and help the client shop or I can go pick up items for the client.  With the etiquette services, I will help clients with job interviewing skills, interview luncheons/dinners, work luncheons/dinners, or even dates.  I am really excited to get everything set up.

This week I am going to work on a business plan and then setting up my limited liability company.  I have narrowed down a few names.  I am not 100% sure which names I like best.  Right now I have, First Look Image Consultants, LLC (the name is available in Florida but there is a First Looks Image website – so it may be out), Ideal Image Consulting, LLC (also available in Florida and no website), Right Look Consultants, LLC, Right Image Consultants, LLC, or Style Chic, LLC.  Any thoughts on the names would be really helpful! 

After selecting the name then I have to register the LLC, open a bank account, form a website, and then buy the tools necessary for the job.  Most of the tools aren’t too problematic so I will be on my way.  But before I start taking clients I am going to take volunteers to let me try my skills on them.  So if you want free style advice definitely contact me.  I am hoping to even get a few testimonials for the website.  You won’t have to spend a penny – I’ll just tell you what works and doesn’t work and you don’t have to take the advice and you don’t have to buy any more clothes.  I just need practice!  Well I better get back to work! 

Super Bowl Recap

I have always been the girl that watches the Super Bowl.  I watch the Super Bowl not for the actual football game, but for the commercials.  However, this year was different.  I was actually looking forward to the Super Bowl for the game.  I have been rooting for the Greenbay Packers ever since Farve retired and then returned and then retired and then returned and so on and so forth.  I felt that Aaron Rodgers always got the short end of the stick being compared to Brett Farve.  I understand Farve had ridiculous numbers and a great career, but I also feel his drama over retiring not to mention the text messages really put a damper on his career.  Let’s not forget he only won one ring his entire career so I wanted Aaron Rodgers to get a ring and put all of the Farve drama behind him.  So for once I was really excited about the Super Bowl.  It also helped that the Packers were playing the Steelers.  In the past I had no issue with the Steelers but after this summer and Big Ben’s behavior I was finished with them.  He is one of my least favorite people in the pro sports community.  He is right up there with Tiger Woods and A-Rod.  I dislike them all so much.

Anyway, the game was actually really exciting and the Packers won 31-25!  Yay!  The game came down to the last drive of the game so it made it very entertaining and Rodgers won the Super Bowl MVP (something Farve never did).  So hopefully Rodgers can come out of the shadows of Farve and Farve stays retired once and for all.  But I am sure come summer Rachel Nichols from ESPN will be camped out in front of his house waiting to see if he is coming back…lets up he doesn’t.

Although I have discussed the outcome of the game, I have to talk about the pregame, halftime as well as the commercials, because lets be honest 99% of people watch the game for the commercials.

The pregame started with Lea Michele of Glee singing America the Beautiful.  She did an amazing job.  She sounded great.  My only issue with Lea is that she wore a coat that looked a little too big for her.  She is a tiny tiny girl and the coat made her look like she was drowning.  But again she was great.  Good job Lea!  Then Christina Aguilera sang the Star Spangled Banner.  Let’s just say WOW!  What a mess up!!  First Xtina looked terrible.  Her platinum blond hair was a mess and her outfit looked matronly but not in a good way.  Then she started singing.  Well her rendition was typical Xtina with her belting every note making the song longer than it was supposed to be, but then the real problem happened.  Although Xtina has been singing the anthem since she was 7 (her words not mine) she forgot the lyrics to the song.  She sang, "What so proudly we watched at the twilights last gleaming” instead of "O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?"  As she was singing my husband and I looked at each other and said did she really mess this up?  I thought no she couldn’t have but the more I thought about it the more I knew she did.  Holy Crap!  I know some people are taking up for her saying at least she sang live, but come on really she MESSED UP THE WORDS TO OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM!  I felt disgraced by this.  What made her singing even more classic was the look on some of the players and coaches’ faces when it happened -most looked really confused.  Within seconds of her mess up the internet erupted with reports of the mistake.  It looks like Xtina is making history, but not in a good way.  After her last album failed, Burlesque failed, and now this maybe Xtina should give it up for a little while and get her life back together.  But maybe she thought these were the right lyrics since Wikipedia has the words she sang as the correct lyrics to the song.  Oh boy!

As for the halftime show, a lot of people were upset with the BEP.  I personally didn’t hate the show.  Yes, their vocals and microphone issues were bad.  But I thought the special effects were amazing.  I liked the lights on the dancers, the box heads, the different way the stage moved, and I liked the surprises.  Who would have thought Slash would be playing with Fergie and who knew Usher was going to drop from the ceiling? Last year The Who played and their vocals were TERRIBLE and they were boring old men who didn’t move across the stage.  Although BEP didn’t sound great I was entertained and isn’t that what a halftime show is suppose to do?

Some of the commercials this year were mediocre but I thought there were a few standouts.  My personal favorite was the Audi Luxury car commercial.  The commercial started with people of luxury locked in cages in an extravagant home and two guys trying to escape luxury.  I thought the commercial was really clever.  If you missed it here’s a link to the commercial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKeKj0Lckzk

My next favorite was the Chrysler Eminem Imported from Detroit commercial.  Although this commercial was not funny it was shot amazingly and was just a really cool commercial.  Check it out for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKL254Y_jtc

Snickers was also pretty good since Roseanne Barr got smacked with a log when she needed a snickers. 

However, I think some businesses missed the mark on their commercials this year.  I felt like Bud Light and Budwiser missed the mark.  Bud Light has the extreme home makeover commercial where nothing changed but they added Bud Light and they also had the dog watcher where the dogs could do anything including wait on people and wash dishes.  Although they were both cute I didn’t think they were worth the money.  I am use to Budwiser showing the horses they are known for their horses, but what do they do.  They show them at the beginning of the commercial and then have a mean cowboy break into Tiny Dancer once he gets his Budwiser.  I just wasn’t pleased with these commercials.

I thought Doritos did a fairly good job. The pug dog jumping through the door to get the Doritos was cute and Doritos bringing everything back to life including the guys Grandpa was great.  But Doritos then creeped me out when the guy sucked on the other guy’s fingers.  It made me not want to eat the chips. 

The E Trade Commercials were also not a good as last year.  Personally I don’t think anything will top Lindsey the Milkawhat baby, but that’s my opinion.

Although the final commercial using the Glee cast did not show until Glee started the commercial was great.  It was super over the top and Sue was her evil self, but what made the commercial was when they decided not to do the commercial so they wouldn’t lose their amateur status and Brittany says “I was gonna donate my Chevy Cruz to Charity. Charity’s my cat, she totaled my SUV last weekend.” 

All and all I thought the Super Bowl was successful.  My team won, Lea Michele did a great job, there were some good commercials, and most importantly Glee returned!

A Few More Options

So I am gradually telling my family about my decision not to become an attorney luckily everyone has been supportive so far.  My mom and I discussed how I should have changed my major to marketing/advertising like I discussed my sophomore year of college.  Unfortunately, when I told my dad this decision he flipped out like he always does, but that’s beside the point now.  And if I had changed my major I likely wouldn’t have met Jeff so I guess things happen for a reason.  I am not sure why I had to rack up a TON of student loans to find Jeff, but he is worth it. 

Anyway, my mom gave me a few new suggestions on job choices that she thought I would be good at and enjoy.  She suggested doing ad work, becoming a travel agent, pharmaceutical sales rep, and a personal shopper. 

I’ve always loved commercials and advertising.  I think I am probably one of the only people in the world that really watch commercials.  I love their humor and I love little ways that they promote the product.  For instance the new Sprint commercials the ones that send texts, emails, phone calls to breakup or say that the family’s home is Ho-Ho-rendus if you notice the person making the calls is in black and yellow (the colors of Sprint).  I just think that is a really clever marketing tool.  I am not sure I can start working in advertising since I don’t have that degree.  Maybe since I have a business degree it could work?  So I am going to look for jobs in the advertising field as another option.  If anyone has any details on this type of job that doesn’t require a marketing degree, please let me know!

Becoming a travel agent would also be fun.  I love planning trips and vacations.  Plus if I worked for an agency I would get the perk of discounted travel.  Wouldn’t that be awesome? Yes, it wouldn’t make a ton of money, but honestly that’s not the point.  I want to find a job I LOVE!  So I did some research in becoming a travel agent.  I figured I could probably just apply for jobs and in my cover letter specify that I love to travel and help people created memories of a lifetime or something cheesy like that.  But when I looked at job postings all the jobs required a travel agent certification.  WHAT?  Who know that you needed one of these?  To gain the certificate it is not a huge deal; you take some classes and an exam.  But before I sign up for classes I feel like I need to be 100% sure this is what I want to do.

I had thought about a pharmaceutical sales rep around Christmas time when discussing jobs with my brother.  I believe I have that personality to get along with the doctors and lets face it.  I have had so many illnesses in my life that I could definitely talk about the benefits of the product.  My only concern is that the job postings that I have seen required at least 2 years of sales experience.  How am I supposed to get this experience if no postings are for entry-level representatives? 

The last option is a personal shopper.  As most people know I love shopping.  I love shoes, I love handbags, and I love everything there is about shopping.  I also love watching shows that help give makeovers.  I think I could be on What Not to Wear.  Obviously not has one of the bad dressers but as someone who helps make someone over styling them, selecting clothes that fit well, etc.  I have done this task with my family by giving my dad stylish sweaters for Christmas instead of his usual ugly t-shirts and button up shirts (unfortunately for him he never wore them).  I also changed my brother’s look when he decided he was finished with his “cowboy” look.  I picked out dark jeans, button up shirts, and sweaters this transformed him and he follows my style advice some still today.  I also have picked out date outfits for my aunt and always try to make my mom dress better.  So I actually think I have what it takes to be a personal shopper.  So I did some online research and looked at stores online trying to find personal shopper jobs.  There doesn’t really appear to be many options in Jacksonville.  So I started looking to see what it would take to become a personal shopper.  That’s when I discovered an article about starting a business as a personal shopper.  Obviously the article talked about how to become a personal shopper, but more importantly, the article talked about applying shopping skills to an image consultant business.  An image consultant can give advice on fashion, an overall wardrobe, vocal communication, non-vocal communications, and etiquette.  When I read the article and other articles regarding image consulting.  I became excited.  The most excited I have been in a long time.  I feel like this is a job where I can put my fashion skills to work, but also the skills of interviewing and personal interaction.  I’m in love with the idea of this job.  I am not sure if it will actually work out because there is a lot that I need to look into, but I am going to buy some sort of how to book on image consulting and go from there.

I am still not ruling out my other job choices just yet, but for once I am feeling excited about something again.