My take on the first decade of Millenium fashion.

As the first decade on the millennium begins to come to a close I reflected on the first full decade of fashion I came into as a girl and left as a woman. Here's my take on what us women have been through the last ten years.

2000-2004: Four years where it was indecipherable to tell who was really a stripper by night and was a nanny after school. The g-string hanging out, low rise pants, muffin top, mid-drift tops on 15 year olds, and cleavage took on a whole new level.

2005-2006: My first two years of college where every girl thought rolling out of bed putting on those hideous jersey gaucho pants and platform flip flops was good enough to qualify as a day and night outfit. It's a small part of why I left for the European streets of skinny jeans and boots, ok well not really but good enough in retrospect.

2007-2008: Where designers decided to make every not pregnant woman look pregnant. Coincidence that there was a small baby boom during this period? Not sure, but let's all make a pact not to buy any more maternity clothes until we're actually in our second trimester. Ok thnks.

2008-2009: The years where everything 80's and early 90's came back with a vengeance, and designers decided to play with new shapes. Ugh. Not impressed. Weren't these decades cruel enough on women's shapes the first time? Yes. Let's pass on the majority of these trends, aka liquid leather leggings, and stick to what works for our actual shapes and timeless pieces made with great fabrics, aka cashmere, silk and cotton.

So here's hoping the next ten years of millennium fashion leave the 80's in the 80's, Doc Martins combat boots don't make the comeback I fear they will, and low rise jeans stay very far in the back of women's closets or out of their closets for that matter.

Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood=Amazing Musical Moment in My Life.

I have today off thanks to my agency's summer hours and am not running somewhere for the weekend so I finally have the time to post. 

Last night was one of the most amazing moments of my life. I saw Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood in concert and for a classic rock music junkie like me this was a big check off the bucket list. I've loved Eric Clapton since before I could speak. Ask my parents and they'll tell you I knew the entire Crossroads and Journeyman albums at the age of 4. I could do a mean rendition of "Pretending "on my toy guitar. His music has influenced my musical tastes from an early age on, so when I told my parents he was coming to town it only made sense we went as a family.

There was no opening band, no formal introduction. You were just instantly hooked the second the guitars were hooked up and Clapton and Winwood struck the first chord. For two hours and 30 mins it was the classics, a few amazing covers, and one hell of an encore. 

My personal playlist of what I hoped to hear was not dissapointed. Clapton and Winwood belted out "After Midnight", played a beautiful acoustic set including "Layla", Winwood played a church organ for his cover of the Ray Charles' classic "Georgia", and Clapton brought the house down with his cover of "Voodoo Chile." He's the only living guitarist left of the guitar rock gods (Hendrix, Vaughn, and Clapton) thus the only one who should ever be allowed to play it. 

Ending the overall set with Voodoo Chile, the baby boomer crowd demanded an encore with a mix of old school/new school methods. Bic lighters and Blackberrys. Clapton and Winwood not to disappoint the crowd, despite a 3-wk non-stop cross country tour while in their 60's, strolled back on stage and brought the sold out Xcel to its feet with Cocaine. 

It was Legen-wait for it-dary!

Emma is the #1 baby name in the U.S.

Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Emma is now the #1 baby name in America! Taking out Emily, after it ruled for 12 years. 

Now let's get a few things straight. I've never been a fan of Emily, bc A) ehh name B) Emma is not short for Emily! Most annoying question ever.

So kudos to my moniker for finally taking the bitch out. When I was named Emma only a short 22 yrs ago, the only other Emmas were already on their social security and drinking their prune juice. It was unique for newborns to say the least. Congrats to my mom for being such a trendsetter!

For all the future and newborn Emmas out there here's some advice: Your name means 'universal' so take it seriously. Explore the world, keep an open mind, be tolerant of others, and always be a sponge by learning everything you can soak in. 

 

Its Opening Day!

Basically everyone who is a great American should be excited that its opening day! I'm not a die hard MLB fan, but I love baseball bc it represents summer and everything great about it! 

Patio bars before and after the game, a beautiful open air ballpark (which Minnesotans will get next spring!), hot dogs (aka domedogs), beer in huge cups, and generally affordable tickets for professional sports. 

I of course will be waiting until Wednesday's game (aka college night). I'm sorry you can't beat $4 tickets and a $1 dome dog. Oh and get excited Minnesotans...the frame of the scoreboard for the new Twins stadium is up. You can see a great view from 5th st & 1st ave. I'm so excited for that new stadium, not only is it going to be amazing, its going to introduce residents to a great neighborhood the North Loop. Its one of the oldest neighborhoods in downtown some streets still have cobblestone for pavement, and turn of the century warehouses that are now home to some great restaurants, coffee shops, and businesses (i.e. Space150).

Ok back to baseball. In honor of opening day here are two of my favorite clips from two of my favorite baseball movies. Enjoy!

The Daily Show's coverage of the G-20 Summit: EPIC!

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This past week the G20 Summit took place in London. Besides dealing with a global financial crisis, it was also a platform for the Obamas to shine on the global stage. Unfortunately our national media turned it into a play by play of Michelle's fashion and their etiquette with meeting the Queen.

Giving Jon Stewart plenty of ammunition for the Daily Show. Besides the Inaguration and Election, one of the best weeks of the show's year. From the montage of Michelle's fashion analysis to the name Clusterf@#k to the Poor House: Global Edition to Jon Oliver's take on why the Queen can't be touched, hilarious. I was laughing up until the point Jon brought on an author of a Uranium book. 

Kudos Daily Show for finding the humor in an otherwise gloomy conference. So much better than the Doomsday network's coverage (aka CNN).

While I was having the worst day ever...South Park washed it all away

As I mentioned last week in my adoration for the new South Park promos, SP is back with an all new season. Since Top Chef is no longer on Wednesdays @ 9 I'm back to hangin' with Cartman and the crew. This week's episode was a classic!

Cartman turned into a secret superhero "The Coon" yes only on SP and the half hour quickly turned into a direct satire of The Dark Knight right down to the last frame where Cartman runs off into the night on his coon bike. 

It was exactly what I needed at that exact moment. South Park was exactly what an entertainment show is supposed to be: an escape for a period of time from whatever you're having to deal with in your life at the time.  Thanks SP for the laughs it was much needed.

You can watch the episode here   

Taking D to the country

So now that I finally have a new car after 4 years without a vehicle my parents have started using it as a bribe to have me drive home and see them. This weekend I took a willing hostage, my good friend D.

D is from south Florida and this is her first winter in MN, so its been entertaining to say the very least. When she heard I was heading home to the land of the largest ball of twine, meat raffles, American legion bars, and Wal-Mart she willingly jumped on board. 

It was an entertaining and relaxing 24 hours. My dad had gladly filled the house with a year's worth of girl scout cookies!!! Thank god I was worried I was going to miss out on thin mints this year.  By 5 it was time for the meat raffle. D new to the concept won on the fourth round, which of course hilarity ensued as she asked for my 'country' girl expertise on picking a good cut of meat in front of the local farmers.  D was on a lucky streak as she won the free drink round and was the only one out of the five of us who won on pull tabs.  

Next it was off to Carlito's the authentic Mexican restaurant in town that is amazing! The owner is a trip which D was quick to point out. Which got me to wondering about growing up in a small town versus a suburb or urban area. In a small town you're not exposed to a lot in terms of what the real world is like, but you are exposed to some of the greatest characters ever. Many of my family friends could be the plot line of a successful sitcom.

There are days when I utterly cringe about my small town roots, but D gave me a new perspective. I came from this crazy place with some of the most entertaining, crazy, genuine characters around. And as many of you know its the people in your life that makes life so entertaining and engaging. Mine was more engaging and entertaining than I realized. 

The Beehive is back!!

One of my favorite musicians/recent trainwreck Amy Winehouse has been shacking up in St. Lucia for the last three months getting off the 'bad stuff.'  Because in the immortal words of Whitney Houston, "Crack is WHACK!"  

Well now that her Blllaaaake incarcerated is out of the chokey, she's back in London.  During her Carribbean getaway her famous beehive also took a vacation. What is Amy without her 3 foot hive?  Well worry no more it's back! For now.

She's actually looking pretty good, let's hope she keeps it up, and gets her tush back in the studio. I need a follow up to Frank and Back to Black!  

Bravo you're better than Tyyyra!

Bravo, aka my version of crack, has stooped to new levels that made me change the channel.  I love basically every show on their minus that Make me a Supermodel garbage.  Today I came home to the shocking development that Bravo is now running marathons of America's Next Top Model. Uggh why?! I feel like Tyra is taking over the world and there is nothing to do to stop it.  I can usually avoid Tyra because I avoid trashy networks like UPN and FOX, but now she's taking over my holy grail of T.V. channels!!  Bravo and NBC you're better than this! Kick the ego loving Tyyyrra back to Viacom and MTV!   

NO NO NO NO Top Chef

I just finished the finale of one of my fav shows on TV and I'm irate.  Damn it Top Chef and damn you Casey!! 

SPOILER ALERT! First off I hate that cheating bastard Hosea he's so insecure and needy and a pain in the ass.  He sucked during the seafood challenge and he works in a seafood restaurant!!

If it wasn't going to be Carla it should have been Stefan.  That man is one of the cockiest people on TV, but he's got the goods to back it up!  Hosea just sucks in general and he's been on my shit list since Arianne got the ax bc he threw her under the bus for his hussy Leah.

It's been a great season, loved a lot of the contestants, and it just ended on the most sour note I could have ever thought of.

That's it for the day.  I know I'm not the only one who feels this way. I've already received numerous texts from friends pitching a fit just like I am right now.  Air your grievances below.

I hope I've still got it like this at 44

The inspiring photo above is Marisa Tomei at an after Oscars party.  Her actual boy toy is to her left.  He's from the show Prison Break, I think.  Does it really matter though? No. He's just arm candy, and I'm sure he's not complaining he's probs gotten some fab networking out of all the awards season red carpets.  

Basically I've loved Marisa since the days of My Cousin Vinny.  I'm taking note. I hope I've still got the voodoo like this at 44.  Hot damn! Now this is a cougar with class.

Amazing Top Chef!! 1 episode left!

So I just finished watching my favorite show: Top Chef. It was the semi-finals tonight in New Orleans, and it was high drama. My girl Carla came out on top again!! Are you surprised? Puhlz she cooks with soul and she has a southern background, she had this in the bag.

SPOILER ALERT!! I'm bummed Fabio went home. Uggh!! Now I only have Carla to entertain me during the finale, and I have to put up with the two bald guys fighting over some ridiculous ingredient next week. I'm so sick of those two! My girl better be Top Chef next week!

Moving on...I loved that the finale is in New Orleans. Its such a fabulous food culture city!! My kudos goes out to the New Orleans tourism board. So smart to partner with Top Chef to promote the city and Mardi Gras. I was totally wooed into wanting to visit the city even more after tonight. The episode was a great way to showcase all of the history and culture of the city, and in a way repositioning to a bit of a classier group. In the past we've all known Mardi Gras as a southern city with a flashing problem around Lent. With this promotion through Top Chef, New Orleans could reposition itself as a gourmet food city with grand American history (which it already is) to a more urban gourmet foodie group looking for a great weekend getaway. Especially to the northern set, who want a warm getaway this time of year. I'll second that. To me the real winner tonight was the city of New Orleans. Promotion well done!!

Wednesday=Top Chef Day!!

First off let's just get right to the point and discuss how freakin' excited I am that Leah finally got the boot!!! YES. Hallelujah. Lord its about damn time! If she had made it to the final four I would have been irate and would have immediately headed to the bar. Thankfully for my pocket book I can stay in.

Carla, aka my fav, made it to the final four as the only female and basically has been labeled the underdog. I think she has a real shot actually. She's classically trained, is consistent in garnering great reviews from the guest chefs, and cooks simple beautiful food. I frankly don't believe in overdoing food. You should love it, let the ingredients come together, and don't try to make it into something it can't be. I love that she puts love into her food and lets the flavors of the ingredients shine through as opposed to making it into a foam. Ugh Marcel and those stupid foams.

Stefan f*ed up tonight by overcooking a salmon. Really?!! You're Finnish and you overcooked salmon. Come on. I'm Midwestern, as in no bodies of fresh water anywhere near me, and even I don't overcook salmon. I agree with Fabio. He needs to get his ass kicked in New Orleans. P.S. How psyched are we all that the finale is in New Orleans? Yes, a city definitely on my list, and have always had a liking towards. I think I love any city that incorporates food as such a critical component of its culture.

Let's move onto Fabio. How could you not love Fabio tonight? He talked about his grandma for the umpteenth time, but it adds to the Italian charm. He won the challenge with one hand!! That's top chef material if I've ever seen it. He created a classic dish, that as Tom Colicchio noted, "If he opened a restaurant this would be the dish he'd be known for." Perfect compliment.

All in all a fab show and I'm super stoked for the finale, which they'll break up into two parts so they can air the last episode the day after Fat Tuesday. Ahh the beauty of television scheduling! There is always a reason behind everything.

Tacky Trend: Maternity Bridal Gowns

I'd heard rumor these garments existed during summer wedding season, but I thought it was a tacky joke. Turns out its just tacky and true. This is by far one of the tackiest things I've ever seen in my life, and I grew up in a small rural town I've seen a lot. Here's the thing: I accept and generally encourage having a nontraditional family, but then don't expect to have a traditional wedding. Sorry but you can't have it both ways. A white dress does have symbolic meaning whether you like it or not. If you're going to walk down the aisle during your second or third trimester than don't wear a floor length, white lace bridal gown. It just screams shotgun wedding! Either wait if you want the princess dream gown that badly, or wear a different color in something tasteful and flattering. In the immortal words of Miranda: "I said no white. I have a child. The jig is up!"

Slumdog Millionaire. Does it deserve Best Picture?

Last night after two failed attempts I finally saw Slumdog Millionaire. I thoroughly enjoyed the movie. It is grand, beautiful, emotional, a true love story. Danny Boyle has created a great film, one that the Indian Tourism Board definitely doesn't want you to see. Can you blame them though? It takes place in the slums of Mumbai, and shows the harsh reality of growing up on the streets as an orphan in one of India's largest cities. Yet intertwined into this dismal setting is one constant emotion, hope. The emotion of the year that has overwhelmed many of us in these dismal times.

So my question is does Slumdog Millionaire deserve Best Picture or is it simply a reflection of how we're all feeling in this rough year? Will this picture stand the test of time and become a classic? Many have said Benjamin Button will stand the test of time and become a classic. Its still on my list and I've decided once I've seen Button I can decide for myself who I think deserves Best Picture: Slumdog or Button. In the end we all know its down to these two films anyway.

I recommend Slumdog. Its a beautiful story narrated by a beautiful score, with an engrossing cast from the small children to Frieda Pinto and Dev Patel. It has the makings of a Best Picture and we'll find out on February 22nd.

My fav contestant on Top Chef 5...Carla of course!

After watching one of my favorite shows on television, Top Chef, tonight I decided my fav contestant aka most entertaining is Carla. She makes great T.V. hands down. Those facial expressions, her interview commentary. Pressure... She's eclectic, a little crazy, seems like she puts a lot of love into her food, and always says exactly what I'm thinking about the situation or the other contestants. Plus her winning two tickets to the Super Bowl...AWESOME!! That was priceless T.V. You couldn't write that reaction.

I'm still mad that the little twit Leah is on and Arianne was given the boot a few weeks ago. Mark my words in a few months she'll have her own food segment on a morning show if not her own cooking show. She's relatable, attractive, comfortable in front of the camera, down to earth, a mom, and cooks classic food. The main ingredients that make a great cooking show host. I'm thinking a Today's show segment, since she won that challenge or a Food Network weekend program.

That's all for now, sorry its been slow lately, its the middle of winter here in the frozen tundra and there has been little inspiration. Stay posted after this weekend I have a feeling I'll be back in the swing of things.

Is Disney the Prostitot factory?

What is with every young female Disney star walking around town looking like a child prostitute? It started back in the day with Lindsey and Hilary, during the years where every young teenage girl bared her pubescent tummy with little thought to the inappropriateness of it all. Now the prostitot role has been taken over by the Disney poster child: Miley Cyrus. I have my own grievances about the daughter of mullet loving Billy Ray, but that's a whole other post in itself.

I mean seriously where is her mother? Oh that's right her mother wears more inappropriate things than this. Case in point: that gawdy silver cocktail dress she wore at the Golden Globes last week. She could have moonlighted as Chris Angel's assistant at a magic show it was so vulgar.

Back to Miley. It seems that Disney continuously churns out the prostitots from Lindsey to Hilary to Vanessa Hudgens (nude pics scandal) to Miley. This wholesome family company forces young girls to grow up faster than ever, then act as role models to tween girls. I don't consider the picture above to be a role model. If I ever do have a daughter you can bet she won't be watching her generation's Hannah Montana.

Bromances...

My personal favorite bromance, because original is always the best.

Urban Dictionary defines Bromance several different ways.  Below is my favorite, and probably best describes the bromances I've witnessed.

Bromance

The intense love shared between heterosexual males. A form of male bonding and 

usuallly invisible to the naked eye. This bond is normally only shared between two 

males that have a deeper understanding of each other, in a way no woman could ever 

realize.

"My boyfriend is off for some bromance with his best mate tonight..."

My introduction into the bro world began as a sorority girl.  Witnessing Frat Boys calling each other bro, watching the YouTube Bro Rape video, and watching these boys heavily influence one another's decision making process often at the expense of close girlfriends always puzzled me.  Watching boys bro it out was always fascinating to a girl who had never considered herself co-dependent on any particular person. Now I've seen this bromance epidemic spread to almost every male in my life.  They "bro" it up several times a week and some with several different bros.  Many seem more excited to bro it up than hang out with their steady girlfriend.  Some bromances even sound similar to a heterosexual relationship. "Yo tonight I told David I would revolve the whole night around him." Excuse me?! What occurs at these bromances is still of curiosity to myself and my close girlfriends.  When did the men, sorry bros, of my generation become co-dependent on each other?  When did they become so expressive of their mutual boy crushes on each other?  Why are they more in tune with their bro feelings than their feelings for women?  Is this a defense mechanism from transitioning into the next phase of adulthood or a true brotherly bond between two males or several males? Is there a female equivalent or can that kind of comradery not exist between a group of females?   

Feel free to post your thoughts...