Currently Coveting:

I've come to a realization. I'm a sucker for all things girly. Now, I never really gave that much thought to being such a girly girl (I know, for those who know me, this may be shocking), until I flat out asked the boyfriend if he thought I could pass for a tough, rough and tumble girl who could hang with the boys. He shot me down without a moment's hesitation. I mean, I thought I'd at least get two seconds of contemplation, but no, without a doubt, I'm a big ole girl.

Let's examine the evidence:

1. My iPhone case is pink. Let me be specific. Pink crystals. To be fair, they're pretty badass crystals.
2. I spend enough at Sephora to always be eligible for V.I.B. status.
3. I know what V.I.B. status is.
   
4. I like buying pretty frames and collecting coffee table books, like Daniele Bott's Chanel Collections and Creations.
5. I have an unhealthy handbag obsession. The Purse Forum is my second home.
6. Things in miniature and/or pastel tones give me the giggles or elicit squeals.

Alright. I've had enough. I think the evidence is pretty incriminating. I'm pretty damn girly. And you know what? That's totally okay. So I may not know all the rules to professional basketball or be able to survive in the wild Bear Grylls' style, but you can sure as hell bet I'm the first person anyone comes to when they want to buy a new purse or want to plan an awesome party. Damn right.

These are the things I'm currently coveting:

Topshop Mel Leather Brogues, $64.


Chanel Special Edition Three Book Set by Francois Baudot and Francoise Aveline, $750.

Macaron Limoges Box: $96 for the box or $10 each. Tell me these aren't the most awesome things you've ever seen.



Zara Floral Print Dress, $89.90. Reminds me of a Mary Katrantzou or Alexander McQueen print, except without the hefty price tag.


Proenza Schouler PS1 iPad Case, $685. So it costs more than an actual iPad, no big deal.

Oscars 2012 Best and Worst Dressed

Finally! The 2012 Academy Awards are here. This is definitely my superbowl.

Quick thoughts on last night's Oscars:

• I almost peed my pants when I heard Billy Crystal replaced Eddie Murphy as Oscars host. I am a huge Billy Crystal fan due largely in part to his role in When Harry Meets Sally (obviously) and his awesome character in Monsters Inc. (which also happens to be one of my favorite movies of all time), Mike Wazowski. The show was disappointingly tepid, but that's okay, Billy, I forgive you because Monsters University is coming in 2013!
• Queen Meryl's first Oscar in 29 years! Everybody, bow down.
  
• I felt like a proud mama seeing Bret McKenzie up there for Best Song. You've come a long way since Flight of the Conchords, my dear little Bret. Now hurry up and make another season or a movie. You can only torture us fans for so long.
• Am I the only one who really thought that maybe, just maybe, comedy would prevail and Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumulo would win Best Original Screenplay for Bridesmaids?
• View the whole list of winners on Oscars.org.
  

Alright, now on to my favorite part: best and worst dressed of the year.

Best Dressed:

Gwyneth Paltrow in Tom Ford: I am insanely obsessed with this look. I had one of those super embarrassingly girly reactions as soon as I saw Gwynnie on the carpet. It was a full on squeal/giggle/gasp.
Milla Jovovich in Elie Saab: Milla always looks flawless on the carpet. This was her first Oscars appearance and she nailed it. That neckline, red lip, and minimal jewelry is perfection.


Angelina Jolie in Atelier Versace: Ah, the look and the leg that launched a million Internet memes. That leg. THAT leg has a personality of its own. All jokes aside, I actually really love this dress. I'm always a little underwhelmed by Angelina's looks on the red carpet because I always think they make her look so rail thin, but she looks curvy and beautiful here. That velvet texture is just so amazing.
Rose Bryne in Vivienne Westwood: Rose Bryne is a goddess. I love this woman, especially because she is so exceptionally good on Damages. You don't see too much Vivienne Westwood on the carpet, and I'm glad to see she went against the norm of choosing popular red carpet designers.


Jessica Chastain in Alexander McQueen: Who doesn't love a McQueen dress on the red carpet? Nobody. Who doesn't love a fiery red ginger in McQueen on the red carpet? Absolutely nobody.
Glenn Close in Zac Posen: Glenn Close couldn't be more fierce if she tried. I just love this monochromatic Zac Posen ensemble in a deep forest green. I love that she's dressing her age, but also looks incredibly sexy.


Michelle Williams in Louis Vuitton: Michelle Williams is just so sweet. She always looks like a perfect doll on the carpet. On anyone else, this dress would underwhelm me, on Michelle, it's absolutely perfect.
Rooney Mara in Givenchy: Nina Garcia, fashion director of Marie Claire, called Rooney Mara a punk modern day Audrey Hepburn in this Givenchy dress. I wholeheartedly agree.


Worst Dressed:

Shailene Woodley in Valentino: My main issue with this dress is that it is entirely too mature for Shailene, who is such a vibrant, young girl.
Sandra Bullock in Marchesa: See, I wouldn't have minded this dress if the top wasn't so awkwardly ill-fitting.


Judy Greer in Monique Lhullier: Judy Greer has such a beautiful figure, but this dress just isn't doing any favors for her. It also doesn't help that her hair looks like she got caught in the rain.
Viola Davis in Vera Wang: The color of this dress almost makes me feel a little queasy. It has an odd sheen to it, which makes it look so strange against the light. Plus, I just can't deal with the oddly placed slit in the front.

Golden Globes 2012 Best and Worst Dressed

Interesting notes about last night's Golden Globes awards:

• I'm kind of tickled by the fact that Madonna and Johnny Depp decided it was cool just to speak in accent.
  
• Why was Elton John so sad/mad last night?
• David Furnish, Elton John's hubby, reeeeeeally didn't like Madonna's acceptance speech last night. Someone sounds a little upset about their significant other losing out to Madge. It's okay, David Furnish, the sooner you accept the fact that Madonna is the queen of anything and everything, the better you'll feel.
  
• Ricky Gervais was surprisingly toned down last night. Perhaps he thought he went a little too far last time?
• I kind of lost it during George Clooney's acceptance speech for best drama actor for The Descendants. When he referenced Michael Fassbender's full frontal nudity in Shame and how he could play golf with an appendage other than his arms, I just about fell over. Oh lordy, Fassy and Clooney. *fans self*
  
• Overjoyed by Homeland's win for best television drama and Claire Danes' win for best drama actress. Well deserved. Now can we fast forward time to the premiere of season 2?
• Stomping my foot like an angry child over Amy Poehler's loss in the best television comedy actress category. WHY is she always shafted? I feel like this injustice is especially heightened because of this Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. All I did was have a dream that my queen Amy would finally be acknowledged for her flawless work on Parks and Recreation.
  

Now onto my picks for this year's best and worst dressed.

Best:

Claire Danes in J. Mendel: You can always count on Claire Danes to look classy and put together. She just looks like a winner.
Emma Stone in Lanvin: Emma wins for best color choice of the night. That eggplant and burgundy against her red hair is perfection. I just wish she would have gone for a different belt or perhaps accessorized more to tie it in to her look.


Shailene Woodley in Marchesa: I love that Shailene is dressing her age, but still looks sophisticated and classy.
Charlize Theron in Christian Dior Haute Couture: Charlize is a flawless goddess. That high slit and those killer legs are insane. Plus, everyone loves a good sparkly headband.


Nicole Kidman in Atelier Versace: First thought: Nicole's body is ridiculous. It defies human nature. How old is this woman? How many children does she have? Damn, seriously. She does Atelier Versace justice, for sure.
Evan Rachel Wood in Gucci Premiere: I'm not normally an advocate of feathers on the red carpet, but it just works on Evan Rachel Wood. She's one of my favorites on the red carpet, because she never goes for safe, and she never goes for expected. Love her.


Michelle Williams in Jason Wu: Michelle Williams always just looks so darling. No exception here.
Tilda Swinton in Haider Ackermann: Tilda just kills it in Haider Ackermann. KILLS. SLAYS. Only Tilda could pull off a look like this. On anyone else, it would look like a disaster. On Tilda, it looks incredible.



Worst:

Sarah Michelle Gellar in Monique Lhullier: Ooh girl. This is what happens when you let your daughter pick your dress. Charlotte is adorable, but she's just a 2 year old! She'll point at a garbage bag if it means she'll be able to have an extra cookie tonight.
Lea Michele in Marchesa: See, this is my issue with Lea Michele. Year after year, awards season after awards season, she always dresses so much older than her age. I just don't get it. It's like she wants to look like a 40 year old woman.


Amanda Peet in Marc Jacobs: I appreciate Amanda Peet doing a throwback of S/S '06 Marc Jacobs, but this look just fell flat on the carpet. This would, however, be a great look for a Little House on the Prarie themed party.
Jessica Biel in Elie Saab Couture: I'm convinced Amanda Peet and Jessica Biel got on the phone prior to arriving and decided to coordinate grandma wedding dress style. I want to try and understand this look, but all I can think of is how hot and sweaty she must be under all that lace.


Naya Rivera in Vera Wang: This dress is just not doing anything for Naya, which is such a shame because she has such a beautiful body.
Piper Perabo in Theyskens Theory: I just don't even understand what's going on here.


Zooey Deschanel in Prada: I see where Zooey was going with this dress, but her hair is just so wrong. It's too perfectly coiffed, like an American Girl doll.
Madonna in Reem Acra: It pains me to put my girl Madonna on this list, and I love it from the waist up, but then when my eyes follow the length of her body, a look of absolute horror just crosses my face every single time.

Wes Anderson's "Moonrise Kingdom" Trailer

Finally, a new Wes Anderson movie for me to obsess over! Set in the 1960's on an island off New England, Moonrise Kingdom is about two young lovers who run away together, which causes various search parties to mobilize in order to find them. I kind of love it already.

Also, are you kidding me with this cast? Tilda Swinton, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, Frances McDormand, Bruce Willis, and obviously, no WA movie would be complete without Jason Schwartzman. Insane. So excited for this movie!

Best of 2011

(Cinema 2011 -- A beautiful montage of movies in 2011)

I love making lists because I'm just that kind of neurotic, obsessive person who likes to categorize, organize, and catalog. Frankly, lists just wrap things up in a bow and make them look pretty, and hey -- I'm all for that. Always.

Now that's it's 2012, and seeing as the world may end this year (yeah, I'm also just that kind of paranoid, conspiracy theory believing person too), I thought it'd be best to reflect on my 2011.

Top Movies of 2011 (all in no particular order):

• Drive - This may be my favorite, although I may be just slightly biased as I will basically watch anything with Ryan Gosling in it, as made obvious by this list.
  
• Midnight in Paris
• The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
• Bridesmaids
• Moneyball
• 50/50
• X-Men: First Class
• Contagion
• The Ides of March
• Crazy, Stupid, Love
  

Top Film Performances of 2011:

• Michael Fassbender in Shame
• Elizabeth Olsen in Martha Marcy May Marlene
• Rooney Mara in The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
• Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill in Moneyball
  
• Melissa McCarthy and Kristen Wiig in Bridesmaids
• Ryan Gosling in Drive

Top Television Shows of 2011 (a mix of returning and new):

• Homeland - Definitely my favorite of the year. A brilliant piece of work. This is definitely Claire Danes' best performance ever.
• Parks and Recreation
• Fringe
• Shameless
• New Girl
• Happy Endings
• Revenge
• The Walking Dead
• The Big C
• Breaking Bad
• Suits - A real dark horse. I realize there was a huge uproar following Patrick J. Adams' SAG nomination, but this show is truly great, as is he as the lead. Really surprised at this little USA dramedy. Really entertaining.
  

Top Television Performances of 2011:

• Claire Danes in Homeland
  
• John Noble in Fringe
• Amy Poehler in Parks and Recreation
• Glenn Close and Rose Byrne in Damages
  
• Jessica Lange and Evan Peters in American Horror Story
• Laura Linney in The Big C
• Madeleine Stowe (ultimate ice queen) and Emily VanCamp in Revenge
• Ty Burrell in Modern Family
• Adam Pally and Damon Wayans Jr. in Happy Endings
  
• Emmy Rossum and William H. Macy in Shameless
  

Sh*t Girls Say

See, I would be offended by this if it wasn't so damn true. Seriously, spot on.

A Golden Globes and SAG Awards Nominations Rant (aka a thinly veiled Parks and Recreation fangirl post).

I do this every year, but I feel as if I'm particularly annoyed with this year's Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild Awards nominations. After the nominations were announced, I was about two vodka tonics and several heavy breaths away from a good old fashioned hair flying, crazy eyed, foot stomping temper tantrum. But HFPA and SAG, it's just not fair!

It's clear to me now that both lists of nominations are invalid because they exclude Parks and Recreation from their best comedy ensemble/series categories. Seriously now, seriously?! Where's Seth Myers and his SNL Weekend Update bit when you need him?

Season three of P&R was perfection, and there's not even a shred of embellishment in that statement. I mean, come on people -- flawless cast, a comedy that favors optimism instead of insult, Leslie freakin' Knope, Ron effing Swanson, all on a pretty little platter.. for god's sake, what more do you want?! At least the HFPA came to their senses and nominated Amy Poehler for best actress in a comedy series. So that's one less reason to hurl my TV across the room come awards night. The real disrespect comes from the SAGs, because the nominations come directly from their peers. And when you're snubbed altogether, that just hurts. Damn.

It also hurts when you've been edged out of a Golden Globe nomination by a show in its infancy that's barely even had nine freaking episodes. I mean, I love Zooey Deschanel and I love New Girl, but let's not pretend that playing a weird, quirky, yet lovable indie girl is a far stretch for Zooey. If that's worth a Golden Globe nomination, maybe I should star in a show about a nerdy Asian girl who is pressured by her parents to become a doctor/lawyer and get married in order to populate the world with even more overachieving children and overbearing parents.

I've come to some conclusions about these snubs. Clearly, the SAG voters who did not nominate P&R nor Amy Poehler are either:

1. all blind,
2. all jealous of the comedy gold that is Parks and Recreation,
3. are all receiving bribes from Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk,
4. or all of the above.

Sounds about right, no?

On the upside, Claire Danes has been nominated for Homeland and that makes me beyond happy because girlfriend is certifiably crazy on that show and it is awesome. Thank you for getting something right, HFPA and SAG!