A Little Summertime

Happy Birthday Melanie!

"There is no friend like someone who has known you since you were five."
- Anne Stevenson

Girl Scouts, hayride at Jackson Pumpkin Farm circa 1994

Please note Melanie's awesome Little Mermaid rain jacket and purple jeans, my killer wind breaker and necklace made from an old film canister (remember those?!) and a dinosaur sticker. Even from an early age... Birds of a feather, my friends, birds of a feather.

Happy Birthday, Melanie!

SYTYCD

You know how much I love So You Think You Can Dance. Love love love. Hands down one of the most entertaining shows on television. These dancers are incredibly, incredibly talented. The season ended last week and I just wanted to share my three favorite numbers with you.

Melanie & Marko from the first night of the competition. So heartbreakingly lovely.


The top 10 girls. Bad ass.


And this. This. Sasha and Twitch. Mmm, mmm, mmmmm. This is how breakfast should be every morning.

Bangable Dudes in History

One of my new favorite blogs. Bangable Dudes in History. Genius.

My favorites so far are Robert Cornelius or Lewis Powell, followed closely by William Tecumseh Sherman. I have a thing for older men, apparently.

I would like to submit for consideration:

Billy the Kid.
There's just something about that boyish charm.

John Dillinger.
Look at that smirk. Something tells me bank safes aren't the only thing he knows how to unlock. Heyoo!

Jesse James.
Those eyes!

Apparently I also have a thing for vigilantes and outlaws. Don't tell my mom!

The Bachelor: Week IX

We're getting so close to the end, boys and girls!
Next to the hometown dates, final three is probably my favorite episode of the season for one reason: Fantasy Suites. Everyone tries to be coy and pretend like they're not going to go, but in the end everyone accepts. Then ABC makes some fantastically cheesy innuendo of a volcano exploding or waves crashing or an animal crying out in the night. And this episode didn't disappoint! In this crazy world to change it's nice to have something steady you can rely on.

So here we are in South Africa. Once again I am ridiculously jealous. It's like the real life Lion King! Except instead of starting with The Circle of Life it started with Brad ruminating on his relationships with these women while he watches monkeys picking at each other.

Chantal's Fantasy Date
I can NOT believe they're going on safari. That would be so amazing! Brad was so funny and excited, like a little kid on Christmas. The best line of the date was when he mentioned how amazing it was "Exploring the South African bush." ...Insert obligatory joke about Chantal's bush. Insert obligatory joke about inserting things. All in all, Chantal and Brad's date was nice but I guess I don't really see the connection there. I see a friendship, like two good buddies hanging out and joking around, but I don't see any romance there. And I see Chantal trying so hard to make there be a romance that it's almost uncomfortable. While their treehouse is INCREDIBLE, the whole thing felt forced to me.

Emily's Fantasy Date
She looked SO cute! The girl's got great style. More than that, Brad looked so genuinely excited to see her. His surprise for her...I CAN'T EVEN! RIDING AN ELEPHANT! Emily's reaction was so adorable with all her little Southern Belle sayings: "Oh my goodness, oh my dear lord, oh my gracious, Oh mercy." One of the things I like about Emily is that she doesn't let Brad get away with any BS. I was very glad to see her put him on the spot by asking if he is actually ready not only for her, but an instant family. Even more impressive was Brad's answer and the look on his face when he said it. Later, when she really put herself out there and told him that she loves him, he looked so humbled and gracious. He told her he is falling for her as well, but I wonder if he just said that in the moment or if he really meant it. Only time will tell!

Ashley's Fantasy Date
Ashley's description of South Africa: "It's a very large land filled with very exotic animals." No shit. Brad said something I felt was very telling. He said he wants a relationship with Ashley, which means he doesn't feel like he really has one now. If Chantal and Brad's date felt forced, this one was just downright painful. It was obvious that she didn't like Brad asking her all those questions because she is not ready to answer them. It was exhausting hearing her dance in circles around the subjects at hand! The second Brad pointed out that in her vision of her life she never once mentioned Austin, or him, I think they both knew it was over.

I commend Brad for letting Ashley go the way he did. He tried to talk to her about the situation and how he was feeling, but she seemed to really be on the defensive and didn't want to hear it. She claimed to be shocked when he said he was sending her home, but if she was actually listening to what he said she would have understood. They did have a great connection at one point, but they just cannot communicate with each other and I was glad to see her go.

So now we're down to the final two! I won't be writing next week since it's the Women Tell All episode and I don't feel the need to rehash the same things I've already written about. I'll end this by pointing out something I feel is very telling. Chantal keeps telling us how hard she's fallen for Brad, how giddy she feels around him, how he makes her want to be a better person. All these things she says she's feeling for Brad, Brad has openly admitted he feels for Emily. Most telling of all was the fact that he said, "I want Emily for my wife." Never once has ever mentioned feeling like that about Chantal. I'll leave you to think about that and I'll see you in two weeks!

The Bachelor: Week VIII

Hometown Dates!

Mercer Island, WA - Chantal
I hate to be that girl, the one that points something like this out, but it must be said. Chantal has gained approximately 20lbs over the course of this show. I mean really. What is going on here. I digress. Let's move on to more important things like her dog. HER DOG. I die. And her parents palatial property. And her dad's purple shirt and jet black hair. All incredible. Also worth mentioning: that ridiculous sculpture, her cougar mom and stoner brother. Finally, that wine cellar. Christ! Oh, what's that? I didn't mention about Brad and Chantal's relationship? That's because I don't think there's anything to tell. She's in love with him and he wants to bang her.

Madawaska, ME - Ashley
"Isn't that cute?" If heard that phrase one more time tonight I was going to lose it. Ashley is like a yippy little Chihuahua. Even so, their date got off to a cute start. She's seems a lot more relaxed and normal away from the house and the other girls. But my god, was that not the HAPPIEST family on the face of the earth? I want whatever drugs they're on. Overall the date went well, but there was one very telling moment. Her brother asked her if she would marry Brad and instead of clapping her hands and screaming, "Yes!", she danced around the subject. She never said no, but she definitely never said yes or even hinted that it was in the realm of possibility. Innnnteresting.

Chico, CA - Shawntel
What. The. Hell. Was that commercial?! Oh my god, so uncomfortable. And that 45 seconds of torture set the mood for the entire hometown date. I could not believe she made him lay on that table! I felt she was going to make him the first link in her very own human centipede. Poor Brad was beyond uncomfortable but he stuck it out. As bad as the tour of the funeral home was, dinner with Shawntel's parents was even worse. There's a very real chance her dad is a flaming homo. And then when Shawntel seemingly sprung a possible relocation to Austin on her family I thought he was going to lose it. If I could feel the tension sitting on my couch, I can't imagine what it must have been like actually being there, and I'm sure none of that was lost on Brad.

Charlotte, NC - Emily
It was very sweet seeing Emily and her daughter together. And I think that the way she explained Brad to her daughter as being a new friend like the ones she made at school was perfect. She is a wonderful mother and that was obvious. And look at "Mr. Brad!" I thought he did a great job of making a very shy 5 year old feel comfortable. What I thought was really great about Emily's home town date was that it really represented a day in her life. Playing Candyland, making dinner, putting her daughter to bed. And as simple as it was, Brad seemed to be in awe of Emily in a way that he isn't with the other women. I thought it was sweet that Brad was unsure about kissing Emily with her daughter being upstairs, but it was even better how Emily wouldn't let him leave without kissing her. Get it girrrrl!

In the end, it was no surprise that Shawntel was sent home. How can you ever feel sexual attracted to someone who made you lay on a table in a morgue?

The Bachelor: Week VII

Every week I get more and more jealous of the places these women get to go.
Anguila, and their private villa, look AMAZING.

Miss. Emily had the first one-on-one date this week. No surprise there. By this point we all know these two have an amazing connection. I love that he broke protocol to tell her that he's giving her a rose and he wants her around. As incredible and romantic as Brad and Emily's story is shaping up to be, I'm growing increasingly wary of this relationship. There are spoilers all over the internet saying who Brad picks in the end, and it's not her. But the way ABC is portraying this story, I don't see how it could be any body but Emily. I can't help but wonder if Emily is going to leave of her own accord, forcing Brad to go with his second choice. Only time will tell, I suppose!

All I could think while watching Shawntel's one-on-one was, "What if I was on The Bachelor and he told me I had to ride a bike?" Let's face it, I'd get sent home in 2 seconds. Their date was super fun, but I just don't see any chemistry there. They had this serious conversation where they talked about how much they like each other, but their body language was so off - they were literally leaning as far apart from each other as they possibly could.

Britt. Ohh, Britt. The thing is, in a lot of ways, I feel like I understand her completely. I'm right there with her when she told Brad that it's very hard for her show what she's feeling. I know from my own pitiful experience that just because you're not able to vocalize or show what you're feeling, doesn't mean you don't feel it. In the end, the connection just obviously wasn't there. I respect him for sending her home, but it's kind of pathetic how she had to leave right then and there on the boat. Even worse that she had to go back, tell the girls what happened, and pack her bags. Poor thing.

This week's group date was EPIC. I loved how Brad woke them up before the sun and how stressed out they all were. I seriously could not believe they got to be in Sports Illustrated's swimsuit issue. Way to pull out the big guns and bring the dramz, ABC! This was one of the dates were you tell just how drunk the girls were, at least Ashley and Chantal. I'm thinking that may have had a lot to do with why they immediately pulled their tops off. Christ. I've got to be honest, I thought Michelle was very smart in asking for photos with Brad. Brad obviously let it go too far, but I've got to give Michelle props for even thinking of it. All's fair in love and war, babe. Even better was that the second the shoot was over, Brad knew he was in for a shitstorm. The whining, the crying, the Michelle not talking - it was the worst, most uncomfortable group date ever and I loved every second. I don't know how or why Brad puts up with Chantal's crying. As I mentioned, she was very obviously intoxicated, but come on girlfriend. Control yourself. Your man's patience is wearing thin and it's starting to show.

Very happy to see the Preying Mantis finally go home. Her exit did nothing to dispel the rumors swirling around that she's an actress. If she really cared for him, don't you think she would have wanted to talk to him and know why he was sending her home. Especially when she's been so quick to confront him in the past. And Michelle has never been one to hold back in front of the camera. It just makes me wonder. Either way, I'm glad she's gone. Now it's on to the home town dates. Shit's getting real!

Final Thoughts: Chantal has some serious junk in the trunk. Daaaaayum.
Also: Enjoy.

Things 90s Kids Realize

I've found my new favorite thing.

A new blog called Things 90s Kids Realize. It. Is. Amazing. I literally sat here for 30 minutes reading every post, grinning from ear to ear. The 90s were such a weird, random decade and I love that I can call myself a 90s kid. The overwhelming majority of the posts are pop culture references and revelations. My favorite post far: DJ Tanner's boyfriend, Steve, voiced Aladdin. What?!

More than reminiscing about my favorite childhood TV shows, it just made me think back to my childhood and what a great time I had. Life was so much simpler back then and my highest ambition in life was to be just like Clarissa from Clarissa Explains it All. Somehow looking back and remembering the things that rocked my world at age 7 kind of puts life at age 23 into perspective for me.

So, if you're feeling a little nostalgic for your childhood, check it out and take a walk down memory lane with me!

The Bachelor: Week VI

Drama Drama Drama
The claws are out and I can't get enough! There was so much reality TV goodness packed into last night's episode that this post is a little lengthy. Enjoy.

The episode started off by Brad declaring: "I am here with 8 women that I really care about." ...I'm sorry, what? If it's obvious to little old me sitting on my couch who Brad favors, then it's sure as hell obvious to Brad and the girls that are there. Let's stop the bull and cut to the chase, Bradley. I also found it so funny how, throughout the entire episode, he kept saying things like "What better way to fall in love/discover someone's true character/make that deep connection than to [insert insane activity] in Costa Rica?" Like it's the most natural, obvious conclusion. Let's not forget you're living in ABC's fantasy world right now!

Another one on one date for Miss Chantal, oooh lala! This girl gets the coolest dates. Zip lining in Costa Rica?! Incredible! She's very lucky that she got to go back to his place and just hang out. Brad had to pick his jaw up off the floor when she came out in his shirt, but my favorite part was something Chantal said. "I feel that...*thumps chest*...that thing you're supposed to feel." To which Brad emphatically replied, "Me too!" And then Chantal told the camera, "Tonight I felt his love." God, I know that feeling. Exactly. I feel so happy and excited for Chantal, like she's my friend or something. All the spoilers are saying she's the final one and I totally see it.

This week's group date brought the dramz as usual. I could not stop laughing when Brad used his date with Michelle as a tool to make Jackie feel better. I'm still undecided whether Michelle pouted her way to being the last one up there with him or whether Brad intended that all along. Either way, I gagged. Kudos to Jackie for calling him out on the Michelle nonsense! And even more kudos to Brad for actually starting to call Michelle out on said nonsense. Finally. His body language towards Michelle is very telling. He's getting sick of her going off on him, especially when it's about Chantal who he obviously cares about. A final big kudos to Brad for not giving a rose out.

Ohh, Alli. Your one-on-one date was such a mess. Let's start with the horse back ride. You know, the horses that were smaller than the people actually riding them. And why exactly are there 2 babies following them? Too funny. Then that cave. No way in HELL I would go in that fucking cave. Have you SEEN The Descent?! I feel like it would have been that combined with the bug scene from The Temple of Doom. And then they have to climb all the way back out! Yikes. And, after all of that, they have zero chemistry. None. They seem like great buddies, but that's it. Their dinner was chem-o-riffic. He definitely made the right decision in sending her home.

And now for Michelle's midnight rendezvous at Brad's pad. I laughed out loud when she called Chantal aggressive. If Chantal's aggressive, then what exactly would you call this? Let's be honest, Brad could not have looked any more uncomfortable when he opened his door and saw her there. And then sitting on his couch, his body language once again revealed everything. He's over it. He was joking when he asked her if there were any other decisions she made for him. That one obviously flew right over her head as she started listing the order he should eliminate the girls. Her insane "remembering" of that conversation was almost too much. I think Michelle herself said it best: "I don't understand, am I crazy here?" Uhh... YES.

Now a question for you all. What do you think of Chantal telling Brad she loves him? I am on the fence. On one hand I think that's way to soon to be saying something that serious, however we're not in real life. We're in Bachelor land where everything is rushed and you're forced to make decisions faster and share your emotions more quickly. I appreciated how she told him because she knew she was already safe and so she wasn't telling him to get anything out of it. Smart. But do you think it was game play? As many times as Chantal claims she's here for love, she's just as competitive as everyone else. Do you think she said it to get ahead of the other girls?

Final Thoughts: My hair would NOT do well in Costa Rica. That humidity would be killer. And HOLY BEETLE on the table! I laughed so hard at Alli throwing a fucking glass of wine at it. Favorite moment of the night by far.

The Bachelor: Week V

VEGAS BABY! That suite they're staying in is unreal. I would go on the bachelor just to stay in a room like that.

Shawntel aka I See Dead People got a shopping spree?! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! If that were me, ABC would be shaking their heads after 5 minutes saying, "I've made a huge mistake." And the reactions of the other girls were hysterical! Regardless, the two of them are fun together. It seems like they laugh a lot and have a great time, but I don't see anyk ind of deep connection.

The Race Car Date. I would LOVE to drive race cars. I mean I'm not a good driver, at all, but it would still be fun. The fact that Emily is on this date is too much. I honestly can't help laughing because it's that cruel, that evil, that I don't know what else to do. I mean come on ABC. Poor Brad. I do give Miss. Emily O'Hara a lot of credit for driving the car. I hope that helps her move on and say goodbye to Ricky. I also thought it was pretty ridiculous how little empathy the other girls seemed to have for Emily or that fact that her date was at a fucking race track. They all cried and whined about how Brad spent so much time with her...uh, yeah, because he felt like a jackass and had to make it up to her.

Two-on-One date -- Ashley v. Ashley -- The Dentist v. Pollyanna -- It. Is. On. Hilarious, and yet so sad watching these two women compete over him. I thought Pollyanna would go home, but I hoped that she wouldn't. The girl was just way too young for him. She was wearing silly bands, for Christ's sake. I honestly felt bad watching Pollyanna doubt herself like that, but in the end it was The Dentist who got to stay and perform the most cheesetastic routine ever. Thank you, ABC, for giving us a shot of Brad's beefy man thighs hanging out during the rehearsals. And thank you again, ABC, for playing Are You Lonesome Tonight? and making one of the most pathetic exits ever.

Final Thoughts: Michelle's time with during final rose ceremony. The chick is batshit. BATSHIT.

Until next week!

Making an Apartment a Home

When I first moved into my apartment, my bedroom looked like this.
After about three weeks I couldn't take it anymore and I spent a whole weekend painting, so it looked like this.

Since then I've added little touches here and there that have taken my room from four walls were I can hang my hat and crash at night, to a space that is homey, inviting, and - dare I say it? - stylish.

My room is completely a reflection of me. My tastes, my preferences. My personality. The process of transforming this big empty space into a physical expression of who I am has been so much fun, and I'm nowhere near done yet! I thought I'd share some of my favorite parts of my room with you here:

Amazing lamp I bought in Perugia. On my way to meet my friends at a bar one night, and already three sheets to the wind, I passed a street vendor selling these lamps. The best 20 euro I ever spent.

Pretty candles!

Candle, sketches, a tin from Barcelona filled with (fake) peonies, amazing vase with peacock feathers all sitting pretty on top of my bookcase.

And in my bookcase? My babies. This is only half of one shelf.

Amazing family photos. Both of my grandfathers on the left, and my parents when they were my age on the right.

A ridiculous and disturbing picture Hannah drew me of a dream she had once.

Fabulous ottoman I bought for about 30 dollars that I use as a seat at my desk rather than a traditional chair.

My favorite quotes written on colorful paper fluttering on the wall above my desk.

Put it all together and the effect is quite lovely, no?
I still have a ways to go. First on the list is to find something to fill that big empty space between my dresser and my bookcase! But, all in all, I'm very happy with what I've done so far.

How did you turn your bedroom/apartment/house from a blank canvas into a home?

The Bachelor: Week IV

First off, I'd just like to give a shout out to Mr. Chris Harrison. You looked so spiffy in your flannel and cardigan!

Now down to business. Week four and we've already got a tight race.

This week Chantal joined Emily has a front runner for Mr. Womack's divided attention. I thought their one-on-one date was great. I'm jealous they got to walk on the ocean floor - how cool! They're very real with each other and she definitely keeps him on his toes. I love love love that she apologized for the slap. I like anyone who will readily admit when they know they're wrong. It was also adorable how excited Brad was by her - "This is crazy!" - It's like he can't believe how strong their connection is. But will it last? Dun, dun, dun...

This week the Preying Mantis brought the crazy, and I have a feeling this is just the beginning. There is no way in hell she just happened to wake up with a black eye. There is also no way in hell a real black eye would fade in a matter of 24 hours. I know. I had a black eye once and I looked like Frankenstein for almost 3 weeks. I digress. Other than the fact they repelled down the side of a sky scraper, their one-on-one was typical. Let's be honest - Brad wants to bang her. She's hot, and I'll give her that. But there's no way she's going to around for even the final four.

The group dates are hysterical. The desperation is palpable as these women throw themselves at Brad, trying to delude themselves into thinking they formed a deep soulful connection in the 5 minutes they've spent together. I literally cringed when Ashley stole Brad away from Alli after 20 seconds and then, in her very best 12 year old baby voice, reached her arms out and said, "Hug! Hug!" so Alli wouldn't be mad. Yeah, that'll take care of it.

One of the highlights this week was watching The Dentist lose her shit. The woman is self-destructing. I can hear the air horns going off and see the red lights flashing and I. Love. It. What a creepy stalker showing up out of nowhere and watching him kiss another girl. She's also showed that she's ready to bail at the first sign of difficulty, and that's definitely not something you want in a partner. When Brad was about to give out his rose and she groaned about how awkward it was, I literally clapped my hands with glee. Leave it to Brad to call her out on her BS. And then she just sat there silent and embarrassed. No, bitch, now it's awkward.

Kudos are in order for Miss. Britt. You can tell how shy she is and I admire her for putting herself out there the way she did. I also love that she didn't say she was falling for him or even that really liked him, but that she was interested in him. This is a much more realistic response given the time they've spent together. She definitely deserved her rose. Get it, girl!

My favorite moment(s) of the night: Michelle almost losing it when Chantal mentions her date card doesn't have the word love in it. Michelle actually losing it when Brad chooses to talk with The Dentist for 30 minutes on their date day. And now, so we can all see why our Preying Mantis is actually on this show, I leave you with this little gem.


Until next week!

Home

In the last week or so I have watched this video more times than I can count.
This is the stuff happiness is made of.

The Bachelor: Week III

No big surprises here this week, kids. It's alright. Can't be drama drama drama every single week.

The first one-on-one date was with Pollyanna (Ashley S). She's such a sweetheart. I like her. I want to be friends with her. But what the fuck is going on here? I feel so uncomfortable watching them together. She looks so young compared to him. Not quite father-daughter, but maybe older uncle and young niece. It really freaks me out. Also, her favorite song is "Kiss From a Rose?" How convenient!

ANOTHER movie date?! Be still my heart. I can't lie - I would love to film a bad ass action movie. How fun! Other than that, the group date was boring and predictable. The Preying Mantis was crazy, the other girls cried, and everyone has Daddy issues. Same old, same old.

Miss Emily O'Hara got the other one-on-one and I realized an undeniable truth about our southern belle - she has Chiclet teeth. Moving on. I found it moving when she told the girls her story. I think that's the most real we've seen her yet and it was refreshing. How awful and unintentionally hilarious was it that Brad took her up in a private plane?! Oooohhh the irony! Their date went well and I'm glad she told him her story too. Brad was right, you could literally see the weight lift off her shoulders. It was sweet how breathless Brad sounded after he kissed her! But did anyone else notice they were sitting in a barn full of hay and lit candles?

Fangs. I'd love to think she was being sincere. That she meant what she said: "How can I take a man I want from someone who needs him?" But I can't help but think she just realized there was nothing there and would rather go out with a bang than simply get eliminated.

What surprised me the most was Brad's little therapy session. And while I felt mostly disgusted (because I know how intensely personal those sessions can be - ABC really will stop at nothing, huh?), I was also captivated by what they were discussing. About the walls he puts up, how he needs to unlock space within himself for a women to be comfortable, how he has to be vulnerable if he ever wants to be truly happy. About how scared he is to do all of these things.
And so I leave you with a question - do you think that is possible?
Do you think it's possible to be so scared of something good, potentially wonderful, that you'll close up and run in the other direction?

Just Dance

Best thing I've seen all week.



Sometimes, when no one is home, or even when they are, I pump up my 90s dance mix and shake it just like this. SO FUN.

The Bachelor: Week II

Alright, kids. Week two of our favorite reality show, and the drama is already reaching new heights. The dates have begun and the claws have come out.

Let's start with the very first one on one date with Ashley the Dentist. She didn't make much of an impression on me last week. There's something about her that rubs me the wrong way. She is a dentist so she's obviously a very intelligent woman, and I see glimpses of that, but for the most part she talks like a valley girl and acts like a child. It's irritating. Also, WHAT was she wearing? I'm all for girly sparkly clothes, but she looked ridiculous. All in all I thought their date looked like a lot of fun, and it was nice to see Brad really open up and bond with her over their relationships with their fathers. Best moment = when Brad admitted that he really liked her. Adorable!

The next day was the first group date. You know, the ones where they film scenes where half the people make out and the other half cries because nobody loves them. Usually this kind of group date is saved for episode three or four when the the Bachelor is a little more comfortable with the contestants, but I LOVE that ABC decided they don't give a fuck anymore. Why not? Let's do it on day 1! I also thought it was hilarious that they pretended that this was some kind of PSA for donating blood. Excuse me? Who do you think you're fooling ABC?

We also found out a lot of interesting things about the girls on this date:

• Melissa of the Droopy Boobs quit her job, sold her car, and bought a closet full of hideous juvenile dresses to come on this show. CHEMS when she barged into the scene and awkwardly kissed Brad. I've never seen someone cry so much over nothing. She also gave us one of the best lines of the evening: "If Raichel gets a rose and I go home, it would be a tragic shame." And the way she looked at Raichel right before Final Rose? What a shame he let that girl go.
• Raichel the Manscaper? HOLY TITS.
• Now I'm not sure if you guys noticed this, because no one really talked about it, but it was someone's birthday the SAME DAY as the group date!!!?!?!?!?!?!? *facepalm* That bitch is crazy. And insincere. And Crazy. Michelle is a Praying Mantis. You know about their post-coital rituals, yes? I feel really nervous for Brad.
• Madison Cullen got really excited when she realized they were doing a PSA about blood.
  
• Miss Emily O'Hara looked flawless as ever. It's pretty adorable how nervous Brad gets around her. He really likes and I think that's great. On paper they're perfect, but in real life I have a feeling something is missing.
  
• Poor RocKeltie had to be "Butch Girl in Neck Brace" Hahaha poor thing!
• Brit the Gymnast is a food writer?! How did I not catch that? She's beautiful. Like seriously beautiful. She is just hiding under all of that hair. I love that she said she's a big old prude and then slutted it up in her soon. Get it girl.
  

Jackie the Artiste's one on one date was incredible. Minus when they had to listen to the band Train. But seriously? I. Would. DIE. if a man did that for me. DIE. I love how straight forward she is and how much she unsettles Brad. Also, I love slow dancing. Why don't people do it any more? One thing that bothered me was that Brad was bothered that she'd only had two relationships in her whole life. I was left sitting here thinking, "....So?" Isn't that a good thing? It shows how seriously she takes her relationships. I think it's pretty admirable.

Southie Stacey - I have no idea if she's right for Brad, or if she's actually from Southie, but the more I see her the more I'm convincing myself that I know her just because she's from Boston. Chantal the Slapper is really growing on me.

Words can't describe how much I LOVE the fact that they brought in Ali and Roberto. Roberto? I die. Handsome as ever. Ali? Holy shit. The girl looked awful. Awful. Not so cute without the hair extensions, wardrobe and makeup that ABC paid for. I'm not sure what kind of advice they could possibly give to Brad seeing as they don't know this guy at all, but I love that they pretended they could. I was definitely glad to see the two drama queens go. It makes me feel like Brad is taking this very seriously.

Final thoughts? Brad said irregardless.
We're done.

The Bachelor

You all know how I feel about reality TV. It's a mild obsession. Let's be honest - mild is putting it nicely. And on the top of this list is The Bachelor.

I'm the first to admit that women are totally insane. So when you have 30 of them locked in a house for 8 weeks competing for the affection of one man... The drama, the absurdity of it all... It's fantastic! So for the next 6 weeks or so, I'm going to share my thoughts with you on this season of The Bachelor.

This season is better than ever because the guy in question is a previous Bachelor contestant. Remember Brad Womack? Yes, the one who didn't choose either of his final two and left all alone. Within the first 60 seconds of last night's show Brad was crying, and I knew it was going to be phenomenal. The women competing for Brad's affections this time around were not exactly pleased to see him when they got out of the limo. One woman even slapped him across the face.* I'll be honest, I wasn't very impressed with ABC's casting this season. The women are, to be frank, pretty trashy looking. I saw a lot of cheap hair extensions, dresses from their local Mandee's and way too much makeup. Here's my first impression of the ladies that I jotted down during the first rose ceremony:

Emily - Perfect Southern belle. Dead fiancee and a baby. Match made in heaven on paper, but I don't know about real life.

Raichel - Manscaper. Reminds me of a woman truck driver. Brad saying, "That is shockingly bare." Her saying, "The undercarriage and bat wings." Thank you Brad for letting us know you never want your package waxed.

Keltie - Rocket. Looks like she's 45 acts like she's 11. What kind of self-respecting woman says, "I'm bendy"??

Ashley S. - Gold one-shoulder dress. Says like every other word. I'm honestly concerned that she is 12, and am waiting for Chris Hanson to come out instead of Chris Harris. First impression rose?! I felt like I was watching a dad with his daughter.

Jackie - Artist. Yellow dress. She sang. Not well. And it was awkward. But kind of charming. I like her, but I don't think he'll pick her.

Alli - Green dress. BOOBS. Can you handle my big ass?

Madison - Hayden Panettiere, Fangs. Freak.

Michelle - COUGAR. Dress with a slit up to her nana. "I am a woman. Not a little girl, I'm a woman." Gold digger. Manipulative. Lady MacBeth. I literally cannot wait to see what happens when things don't go exactly her way.

Ashley H. - Dentist. Possible the tiniest human being ever? So far has no personality.

Meghan - Ugly. Ass. Shoes. I really like this girl, but there is no excuse for that footwear.

Lisa M. - Kansas. Ruby red slippers. Forgettable.

Lindsay - Big Red. Might actually be a man. No but really. There is a drag queen she looks like and I've been racking my brain trying to figure out which one it is.

Sarah P. - Black strapless dress. Nothing. Even as I'm writing this I can't remember who she is.

Marissa - Sports fanatic. Gorgeous dress. But that faccia... ugh, poor thing.

Brit - Mop head. Her hair reminds me of Samantha James from Just Friends.

Stacey - BOSTON!

Shawntel N. - Mortician. Yikes. She actually seems like a normal girl though.

Melissa - May also be a man. What's going on with her boobs? They're so droopy!

Kimberly - Blonde. Nothing.

Chantal O. - The slapper. I guess slapping guys upon first meeting pays off. I may have to try it from now on.

Final Thoughts: Crazy bitches, crying, whining, waking up with black eyes, Kiss from a Rose playing in the background, sweet smell of desperation in the air, the most shocking season of The Bachelor EVER.


*Note: Am I the only woman in American who doesn't hate Brad Womack? I can't be the only one who thinks what he did is admirable - not settling, not leading these women on even further, even when everyone at ABC and the rest of America were pressuring him to make a decision that he wasn't ready to make. That takes guts. If I got out of that limo and saw him, he would have gotten a big high five, not a slap across the face.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone!


Can you believe it's 2011?

Me either.

One year ago I posted my new year's resolutions for 2010. Confession: I didn't do most of the things on this list. Didn't run in a 5k, didn't perform in a musical, didn't speak that much more Italian. Kind of disappointing. The good news is that I am adopting these same resolutions for 2011 and adding in a few more:

Host a Dinner Party
My friend Kristen and I have been talking about this for a few weeks. I love cooking for other people, I love entertaining, and I love getting dressed up. A small dinner party is the perfect combination! Plus I just got this for Christmas and I want to make, oh, everything in it.

Acting
A few days ago I watched the movie The Town for the first time. Great film, but that's not what struck me. One of the cops looked familiar but I couldn't place him. Then he had a speaking scene and it all clicked - I used to take acting classes with this guy at the Boston Center for the Arts. What?! Time for me to get my audition on.

Dream Job
Don't get me wrong, I don't hate the job I have now, but I don't love it. I feel like it is a god job for someone like me, right out of college and deciding what their next move is. The thing is, I feel like I am ready to make that next move. I'm not 100% sure what it's going to be, but I know I'll never find out unless I take a chance. And there's no time better than the present.

Travel
My best friend from college, Hannah, is moving to Wales in 10 days. I've never been and this is obviously my perfect opportunity to go. My brother is looking at med schools out west and I'm going to visit him wherever he ends up. And just last night my friend James was talking to me about his parents' time share in Hawaii. Gotta get my suitcases out and ready!

Be more open
More open to new people, new experiences, new everything. I want to live and love every moment, every word, to the point that it's absurd.

Love.

Bring it on, 2011. I am so ready.

Moments from 2010 I Never Want to Forget

Memorial day spent on my friends' roof. Gorgeous weather, gorgeous view of my city. Friends (new and old) lounging, laughing, drinking. A perfect day.

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The first time I saw my name in the masthead of the Improper Bostonian.

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A morning spent with someone who gives me butterflies in my stomach. Lounging around in our t-shirts, talking, laughing, not wanting to leave our little bubble. The way he picked me up and carried me, the way he ran his fingers through my hair. Kisses that made my knees wobbly.

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Graduation. The feeling I felt when I opened my diploma and saw my name. Looking up into the crowd and seeing my parents' faces.

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Lazy days at 772 spent on the couch, eating Annie's Mac & Cheese, and watching movie after movie and medical mystery shows.

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Halloween. A great night with my friends and one of my favorite costumes ever.

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Moving out of 772 and into Greenway Court. The end of one era and the beginning of another. Painting and decorating the new place, making it a home.

Merry Christmas!

Wishing all my family, friends and readers a very merry Christmas.