Everyday Adventures (of Me in the City) -- Chicago, IL » celebrity

Oscar fashion recap!

Jessica B. — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 02:57:47 +0000

Happy Monday everyone! I’m back from my business trip and trying to get back in the swing of things. Travel is draining, seriously.

But, before I pass out in a snoring haze, I need to talk about something very, very important….OSCAR FASHION.

That’s right, last night was the movie and fashion Super Bowl extravaganza known as…the Oscars. I was ready to party, celebrate and prove how hyper critical I can be.

So let’s put my soul-crushing critical skills to the test!

Best Dressed

Mila Kunis – I hate it at first but now I’m loving this look. LOVE the color, feminine details and hair. Flawless

Hailee Steinfeld – Adorable, age/event appropriate and the length of this dress is perfect! I just want to give her a hug she’s so cute

Amy Adams – The navy is perfect with her red hair and I love the sparkles/cap sleeves. Just lose the necklace

Michelle Williams – After a Globes misstep, this Chanel gown is simple and elegant. And I wish I could pull off that pixie cut

Cate Blanchett – Much like Zoe Saldana’s gown last year, this was love/hate and I loved it. Matches Cate’s style perfectly and only she could pull this off. I love the detail, color and shoulders

Dear Natalie Portman – I hated your Globes dress (a lot) but this entire look is FABULOUS. Tasteful cleavage, stunning color and cut. Let’s hug it out

Mandy Moore – Thank you for showing us pale-skin girls how to wear nude. The sparkles and neckline plus coral lipstick is a winner

It was tough to pick my final female “best dressed” pick. Jennifer Lawrence’s va va va voom look, Gwyenth’s Star Trek-like look (despite orange skin) and ScarJo’s body hugging berry lace number were all worthy, but my final selection is….

Camila Alves – Tasteful boobage, classic color and perfect jewelry, L-O-V-E, now tell your man to wear a shirt

Not So Best Dressed

Jennifer Hudson – From one Chicago girl to another, you look amazing but the unflattering saggy boobs here distract me, and not in a good way

Marisa Tomei – that dust ruffle needs to be nipped closer to the heels and you need a bigger chest to pull off that full coverage sweetheart neckline. Fact

Nicole Kidman – This is an easy shot but the flaps on your hips are not flattering, even for someone as skinny as you

Dear Reese Witherspoon – I love your everyday sense of style but this 1950s Barbie look takes vintage too seriously. Still love you!

Halle Berry – If you could have tripped this frothy toilet paper off the dress, you would be in the above category. Sorry

Annette Bening is a classy lady but I’m just not loving this. I wish I could explain more but I just don’t like it

I love that Michelle Williams’ BFF Busy Phillips was her date last night but that front satin flap needs to go. Dawson would not approve

Phew, okay, that is my Oscar fashion recap for this year. I’m thinking of writing a bit more about fashion on this blog too, so if you feel strongly yay or nay on that, let me know!

Now, for tonight’s question, did you watch the Oscars? Who were your best/worst dressed?

Oprah and Me

Jessica B. — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 03:17:29 +0000

Yes, it sounds like the title of a new best-selling book but actually, I’m talking about one of the most surreal experiences I’ve had in Chicago, going to a taping of the Oprah Winfrey Show.

Oprah tapes her show in Chicago and let’s just say that you stand an easier chance of winning the lottery AND getting struck by lightening in the same day than getting tickets. Demand (especially for the final season) is out of control, all the time.

I’ve tried on and off for the last two years to get tickets all to no luck. BUT last week Oprah’s website had last minute ticket reservations due to Snowmageddon so I submitted my name and then Thursday I got the email. Oprah herself (or as I like to think so) selected me and there was space for me in the Friday afternoon taping. Work was awesome and let me go and Friday afternoon, I was on my way here.

And once I got to Harpo, I got to wait in this line.

Here’s the thing about going to TV show taping. Yes, they’re fun but you also have to be prepared to wait. You wait AWHILE to get in, go through security and then be seated. It’s a process. And yes, this one was tedious too. I waited more than 90 minutes before I was inside the studio and seated.

And Harpo security was more thorough than any TSA agent out there, for good reason. My iPhone, Blackberry, iPod, pens, paper, camera and tissues were all taken. Fortunately, I passed security’s “wand” test.

The really exciting part is when you’re seated. Production staff strategically seats everyone strategically in the studio and apparently my hot pinky/purple Gap top was attractive because I got to walk across the stage and was seated right against the aisle, right behind Oprah’s chair.

And I’ll say this, looking around the set, was pretty cool. And women were EXCITED to be there. Crying, hugging, screaming, jumping up and down. It was like an adult-only Justin Bieber concert. It was a little overwhelming.

Then, Oprah appeared, sadly with no fog or entrance music, in the studio and she walked RIGHT BY ME because I was sitting against she aisle she walked down.

We made eye contact (with my mouth gaping open) and had our moment. I won’t lie, it was pretty magical. I had another eye moment as she exited the studio and left feeling a little tired and dazed.

Overall, it was a fun experience and I’m so glad I got to go.

The show I went to airs February 16 so check it out! Apparently I was in “prime camera area” too so who knows if I’ll be on there but you never know!

Glee live in Chicago!

Jessica B. — Wed, 26 May 2010 05:24:06 +0000

It’s official, I’ve seen the scariest fans ever. No, they aren’t Twi-hards or Trekkies, they’re teenage Glee fans.

And they’re taller than me too. FAIL.

Tonight was the first of two Glee concerts in Chicago (part of a four-city tour) and ever since I heard it was coming to Chicago, I was determined to go. And after some drama, negotiating and tears, I scored two floor seats. YES!

TC and I sacrificed watching the Lady Gaga episode live to see the show and it was TOTALLY WORTH IT.

The show was AH-MAZING.

Really, the staging, singing and costumes were awesome. We even got to see Bad Romance live (thanks Perez for the tip) and it was insane. Everyone was on their feet but no one was really dancing….except TC and me, who literally sang, screamed and danced the entire time. People must have thought we were insane but we shut it down. Fo sho.

Here are some photos! Note: So that I don’t ruin everything for the New York fans, you can see more photos on my Flickr page.

After the show, TC and I were going to the car when we saw people gathering at the stage door, so we joined for a little bit, hoping to catch a glimpse of the cast. And then the screaming and pushing started because my man, Cory Monteith (Finn) was like, right there, and I thought I was going to be trampled to death. No joke, having girls pushing, pulling at your clothes and body to get closer, was kind of scary. But I emerged safe and in one piece…and with an autograph :)

TC and I even went back into the mess for her man, Mark Salling (Puck) and boom, there was another autograph on the program.

It was pretty f*cking exciting :) And yes, Cory is smoking hot in person (OMG HOT) and Mark was pretty cute too. So awesome.

The entire night was worth every penny, tear, pleading email and hours spent researching to get us there. I’ll be on this high for a few days.

Also, big thanks to Chicago’s I-90/94 express lane for getting us to the show quickly in rush hour traffic!

What about you, did you get to see Glee on Tour? Or what is your favorite Glee song?

Conan’s Legally Prohibited tour!

Jessica B. — Thu, 20 May 2010 04:43:19 +0000

Conan’s Legally Prohibited tour is in Chicago for two nights and I’m purposely staying up late to tell you all how awesome it was.

For real.

I may be biased though because I love Conan. I’ve been a rabid big fan of his since his former late show on NBC. On my first-ever trip to New York, I requested tickets to his show and got them every night we were there (this was before he was hot.) I love his sense of humor, interview style and overall zaniness. Plus, a masturbating bear? Genius.

I faithfully watched his former late and Tonight Show episodes and when the whole Leno/Conan drama went down, I was hard core on Team Coco.

And with a little luck from Twitter and Ticketmaster, I was fortunate enough to get tickets. And then jump/prance around like a little kid.

So before I head back to pack and get some sleep before leaving for Vegas, I wanted to share with everyone some photos from tonight’s show!

Kendra, Robin, Lauren and me outside the theater (yes, it was packed)

Chicago Theatre marquis

Screen image, yes!

Musical number (Conan did a lot of these)

Andy showed up! And so did a self-loving friend from his NBC show

John C. Reilly showed up to pull the Chuck Norris lever (it was hilarious)

Finale Rockabilly number (yes, that is a huge inflatable bat)

What was really cool after that last photo was Conan rocked out in the audience and even ran up the balcony to give the people in the high seats a treat. Awesome.

Conan said his goal for the evening was to have us leave and feel like it was worthwhile experience.

It totally was :) I left laughing and smiling and I cannot wait to see him on TBS in November.

Are you a Conan fan? I know it’s early to ask too but does anyone have big plans for the weekend? I’m off to Vegas but I promise to behave (maybe!)

Oscar fashion hits and misses

Jessica B. — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 06:36:05 +0000

Happy Monday everyone!

Normally, I would post a recap of my weekend but due to the Oscars and red carpet glamour, I am mixing up the schedule this week so I can give you a full recap of Sunday’s big show, even if it’s past my bedtime as I write this.

Overall, the celebs did a pretty great job tonight. There were a few hits and misses but nothing totally cringe-inspiring (but close). I was hoping for a little more bold color, but there were still plenty of gowns I fawned over and looks that made me shake my head.

So without further ado, here are my best/worst dressed picks!

Best dressed female: Vera Farmiga

Gorgeous color, flattering and the scallops/ruffles were to die for. Fab! I could not take my eyes off her when she was on camera

Best dressed male: Jeremy Renner

He brought his mom as his date and looked great in a classic suit/tie. Adorable.

Worst dressed female: Charlize Theron

She took a risk by reinterpreting Princess Leia’s buns on her boobs, but that’s all I could focus on and not in a good way. Your boobs should be used for good, not as dinner rolls.

More Oscar fashion winners:

Maggie Gyllenhaal

I haven’t been the biggest fan of Maggie’s dress choices (oy!) but this was simple and had great color. A necklace would have been nice but she makes it work. But damn is she skinny! Eat a burger girl!

Zoe Saldana

I LOVED this look. Vera barely beat her out as best dressed. I love the color, beading and bottom of this dress. Gorgeous and young.

Sandra Bullock

She looks like an Oscar herself. The detail and beading on the top were fabulous and with the simple hair and makeup, it was a great age-appropriate look. Now if only she could give me Ryan Reynolds phone number…

Kristen Stewart

I was shocked at how classy she looks. See how good you can look when you take a shower and put forth some effort? Now she just has to stop looking so pissed off and/or constipated

Gabourey Sidibe

Very figure-flattering and age-appropriate. Plus, she rocked the sh*t out of this on the red carpet. You go girl, fist bump!

Penelope Cruz

The movie Nine was awful, but she looks hot here. That red is very rich and gorgeous on her skin tone and it makes her waist look small and her boobs big. Win, win!

Oscar fashions that get a “see me” note:

Sarah Jessica Parker

Chanel fashion fail #1. Absolutely no shape, and I hate the yellow strap on the neck. I have no idea why it’s actually there. SJP, just because it’s Chanel Haute Couture, that doesn’t make it right!

Diane Krueger

Chanel fashion fail #2. I don’t hate the cream and black colors but it’s that loofah-inspired mid-section that confuses me. But if she brought Josh Jackson with her, that would have slightly distracted me from this mess.

Jennifer Lopez

I don’t totally know why she was here but a hip fabric puff when you’re a curvaceous woman isn’t a great idea. She actually looks a little like a teapot here. Ouch.

Miley Cyrus

You are young, rich and at the Oscars. Stand up straight! I don’t like the bodice of this dress and honestly with that bad posture and bride of Frankenstein hair, I’m not a fan.

Anna Kendrick

I’ve not been a fan of her fashion at award shows this season but the main issue I have with this look is the color. It washes her out and I can’t see the amazing detail on this dress. FAIL!

Other high/low points:

Steve Martin/Alec Baldwin: I thought they did a pretty good job. I still think Hugh Jackman was a better host last year, but they were funny and used dry humor
I really liked the best actor/actress introductions. They were funny, heartfelt and really sweet to watch
Kathy Ireland: OMFG what a train wreck. Her dress/necklace combo was a disaster and her interviews were so painful to watch with her claw-like hand that I had to look away
The random woman who ran up on stage when Music for Prudence won. Who was she? Where was security? Random!

Phew, well that is this year’s reacp. It’s now time to put the fashion judgement hat back in the closet until next year.

What did everyone else think of the fashion and show? Who was your best/worst dressed picks? What did you think of the show?

Peace out 2009 and hello 2010

Jessica B. — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 23:00:04 +0000

So tomorrow is New Years Eve, which means I’m taking a look back at 2009 and looking ahead to 2010 by making a list of resolutions.

Or as I like to call them “things I try to achieve when I’m not lazy.”

But before I go out tomorrow night, drink loads of champagne, possibly force a guy to make out with me and spend the first day of 2010 hungover on my couch, I want to highlight a few 2009 highlights (in no particular order):

Vegas – holla bloggers!
Boston with dad
BlogHer 2009 – did you see this video of Katelin, Jamie and me? That’s how much fun it was
New blog design/URL (I’m such a grown up blogger now)
Target Bazaar party with Ed Westwick and Jessica Szohr (I die!)
Turning the big 3-0
Received a promotion at work (WOO!)
First ever VLOG about my then life as a twenty something

All in all, 2009 was a pretty good year, lots going on but a lot of positive things too. So as I continuously try to become a better person, let’s look at how I plan to do that starting Friday. Oh and this is separate from the yearly pledge to lose more weight.

2010 resolutions:

Sign up for dance classes (real ones at a real dance studio)
Run a 5k (and start the Couch to 5k program)
Be a better friend and daughter
Start a knitting project (other than a scarf) and FINISH it
Make one new recipe a month
Be more active in blogging communities in addition to my blog

Well that’s my 2009 wrap up and 2010 sneak peek for now. I hope 2010 will be as exciting and good to me as well as for all of you. I think 2010 could be the year of me!

I’ll be back this weekend with more but in the meantime, I hope everyone has a safe and Happy New Year! My New Years Day plans involve my couch, a pizza and lots of water and Naked Juice. Let’s party.

What was your 2009 highlight (blog or otherwise) or what’s your big 2010 resolution?

New movie review is up! You can read my full review of the musical Nine, get those jazz hands ready!

What I’m wearing: Sunday, I put up a picture of me wearing the below outfit over the holidays and then I didn’t share what stores I got everything from! I’m sorry! Details on my comfortable, “trendy” look are below.

Outfit breakout:

Shirt: Old Navy

Long vest: Banana Republic

Leggings: Hue, purchased at Nordstrom

Necklace: Banana Republic outlet

Boots: Banana Republic

Bracelets: Old Navy (black jet beaded ones) and David Yurman

As many of you know, I’m a huge Gap/Banana/Old Navy fan. Minus the Yurman bracelets, the most expensive item from this ensemble was the boots, which were $100 on super-end-of-season sale. Everything else individually was $40 or below.

Emmy fashion recap-oh the fashion!

Jessica B. — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 01:51:35 +0000

Oh yes everyone, it’s award season where I sit at home in my pajamas and glasses, eating ice cream and watching the Red Carpet coverage, daydreaming of couture gowns and diamonds dripping off my arms and ears.

Yeah, I’m dreaming about it now……..

Anyhow, last night was the Emmy’s and I’m here to honor and highlight the good and the bad of last night’s fashion.

But first, I will say, I thought Neil Patrick Harris did a great job (so funny and dapper), Dr. Horrible was an AWESOME surprise (and hilarious) and Jimmy Fallon cracked me up with his fall-inspired song. I was laughing hysterically.

On to the fashion!

Best Dressed (female/male)

Toni Collette – Great color, hair and her arms are fierce!

Jon Hamm (couldn’t find a solo picture) but this classic tux with side swept hair, SO handsome

Worst dressed (female/male)

Jennifer Carpenter – The flower is a problem but it’s just tragic from head to toe

Jon Cryer – It’s like prep meets black-tie in the worst way possible

Quick ode to my dream man (he thinks I’m a-okay! I love you!)

Best Candy Interpretation (gum drop anyone?)

Anna Torv – Love the cut of the dress though

Most improved

Jenna Fisher – Finally, something that doesn’t make me cringe

Drew Barrymore – I love the base of this dress! Looks better when she walks

Best inspiration to get my a** to the gym

Blake Lively (xoxo Me!)

Best creation of fabric saddle bags

Sarah Silverman – Well her mustache bit was really funny

Best reason to have another cupcake

Christina Hendricks – Dangerous curves ahead!

Makes me rethink not wanting kids

Heidi Klum – Woman looks gorgeous. Hot d*mn!

Most in need of a spray tan

Leighton Meester – White dress + pale skin + deep red lipstick = mini ick

Rose Byrne – Love the dress, just wish I could see it

Best use of lettuce leaves

Olivia Wilde – I just don’t like this. Flat out

Best disco ball/broken glass reinterpretation

Kristin Chenoweth – Cute length but I wonder how many mirrors had to be sacrificed

Tragic use of a flower

Padma – Pack that flower and go!

So in summary, I had to REALLY work to find material for this post. I was pretty happy with all the choices last night. Yes, the bad ones jumped out but overall the colors and cuts were great and everyone was dressing age appropriate.

I’m sure this won’t be the trend as we get into the Globes and Oscars, but this got the creative juices flowing.

Who was your best/worst dressed or your favorite part of last night’s show??

BlogHer recap – Close encounter of the Tim Gunn-kind

Jessica B. — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 05:00:45 +0000

That’s right. I was touched by the right hand of fashion and style, Tim Gunn. Actually, we hugged. And yes, I almost screamed out loud like a teeny bopper waiting at the mall. But we’ll get to that later.

This past weekend was BlogHer and I love it because I get to hang out with awesome people I read all the time, get my geek on and party like a blog star.

And this year was no different. I got to meet up with some of my favorite bloggers from San Fran last year and discovered three new blog crushes: Modern Gal, Life in Pink (who has the best laugh ever) and Chookooloonks. I actually fell in love with Karen while we were talking after a session she moderated. No joke.

There were a lot of highlights from this year’s conference, and I’ve put them together in a little list and photo montage for you below.

Highlights:

Sit-down dinner at the Signature Room (thank you Brand About Town). Our table kicked a**! I’ll never look at a scratching post or think about dry humping the same way again

BowlHer/Cheeseburger party. I won’t lie, I was so drunk I don’t remember a lot of both parties, but if I slapped your butt, tried to pull your shirt down and/or grab your boob. I’m sorry (sort of)

Lunch! OMG the lunch food was so much better than last year. I got to sit and eat family style with awesome people. Win, win

Sheraton hotel beds. I’m not kidding, it was one of the best beds I’ve ever been in. It was like sleeping on a cloud, wrapped in a hug (and you know how I love to hug)

Friends. I’ve said this before but I’m so fortunate to have great blog friends. One bought me champagne to congratulate me on finishing my work at the conference and everyone was so supportive when I thought I might lose my mind

Wooing. BlogHer can be a little overwhelming so to keep our group of bloggy ladies together, we adopted the “woo” chant, a la HIMYM. Silly? Maybe, but it works

Okay here are some of my favorite photos.

Me and Tim Gunn – Yes, that is the look of pure joy on my face

Me and Edward Cullen – I think that is the only clean picture we took with him :)

Photo of me, April and Rick Bayless. Me = Super Top Chef fan

So that was BlogHer 2009 in Chicago. And let me just say, it blew my skirt up (not literally).

We’ll see you b*tches in NYC next year. Woo woo!!

Tonight’s question! If you had the chance to meet one celebrity, who would it be and why!

Reader note: Thank you everyone for your sweet words about the new blog design! I’m super happy with it and am so glad you’re joining me over here. Your comments definitely made my day!

Site updates: Sorry about the little feed issue last night. Google went a little crazy on me. So sorry! Working on resolving that issue now. Stupid feeds. Also, the “Subscribe in Google Reader” link on the right is now working!

Kicked off the pop culture island

Jessica B. — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 20:49:00 +0000

I do love celebrity gossip and entertainment news, but there are a few things I’ve been hearing a lot about lately, or I’ve been hearing about certain things for way too long.

So let the tribal council gather because I’m kicking the following things off my pop culture island.

Speidi

I cannot begin to explain how much I loathe these two. If I had a nickel for every d-bag thing Spencer said, I could pay off my student loan and I don’t like that. Between “the Hills” and “I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here,” I’m tired of hearing about both of them. Fortunately, E! is on the right track by going “Speidi-free” and now we need to rally other celebrity news outlets to stop talking about them too!!

John & Kate (and ALL the drama)

I won’t lie, I’m not a Kate Gosselin fan, but I don’t want to hear any more about them. I’ve had more than enough over the last few months (this picture as one example). And last night came the expected result: divorce. Who saw that coming??? Wha?

Yes, the kids are cute and Kate’s hair and behavior are beyond awful, but as a kid from a divorced family, this is the best thing for everyone. Kids pick up on their parents being unhappy, so I’d rather have them be apart and happier, which will ultimately be better for their kids. I hope they use the show’s network-enforced hiatus to get back on track.

Scary pregnancy shows

These shows scare the absolute sh*t out of m. For example, TLC’s “I Didn’t Know I was Pregnant” or MTV’s “16 and Pregnant.” For me, the former is way scarier than the latter but both make me want to OD on birth control. In fact, I can’t even really explain why these scare me because I’ll start shuddering in a ball on the floor. I think the titles say it all

Melissa Rycroft

Getting dumped on national, live television is awful. I can only imagine how humiliating it was, especially after the man who dumped you, hooks up with another woman moments after you leave. That is awful, but you’ve done “Dancing with the Stars” and now you’re on GMA and I think it’s time life goes on. I’m tired of hearing how you got your “revenge.”

Lindsay Lohan

I don’t know what to say, she’s a trainwreck. An absolute trainwreck. But I’m holding out for Britney shaving her head again so I am kicking you off the island. Oh and start wearing pants, leggings are not attractive on bony legs. And get your sh*t together girl, seriously.

Jennifer Aniston/Brad Pitt/Angelina Jolie

Similar to my open letter to Jenn awhile back, why are we still talking about this??? Please, please stop and let them each go on being equally hot.

None of these things would ever be part of my desert island game. Ick.

Who would you like to vote off your pop culture island?

A healthy list of celebrity crushes

Jessica B. — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 20:55:00 +0000

I like guys and read a healthy amount of celebrity magazines, so it’s only natural that I have a long list of celebrity crushes. Some I’m very open about *cough John Krasinski cough* and some I need to put out there more. I can’t let John think I’m just sitting around waiting for me.

(Note to John Krasinski: I’m totally ready to run off and marry you at any second. I just need to grab my purse. Call me)

So rather than focus on some recent family health issues, here is a list of my biggest celeb guy/girl crushes. Oh and for any man I date, it is totally okay for me to sleep with any of these guys. Consider it my “get out of jail free” card :)

John Krasinski

It can’t be a huge shock that my uterus wants to give him LOTS of babies

Jon Hamm

Why yes Mr. Draper, I can come in your office to take a memo :)

Chris Pine

Beam me up Kirk! Rawr!

George Clooney

I just really want to say I slept with George Clooney. Timeless, just like Chanel

Ryan Reynolds

Boyish good looks in a chiseled man’s body. Yes please!

Hugh Jackman

He can sing and dance. And likes women. Triple threat

If you notice, all of my guys picks are clean-cut, All-American guys. That shouldn’t surprise anyone if you know me. I like ‘em that way.

And now for the ladies….

Angelina Jolie

Gorgeous. Hands down. And her partner is really hot too

Isla Fisher

Love her hair. I wish my hair was that gorgeous

Leighton Meester

Preppy perfect and slept with Chuck Bass. Win, win

Reese Witherspoon

I love her look, style and man. I can’t help that

Who are your celebrity crushes? Guy and girl choices can be shared.

Or does anyone have any big weekend plans?

An epic night at Target…with Chuck Bass

Jessica B. — Thu, 07 May 2009 20:27:00 +0000

If you follow me on Twitter, you know I had a big night last night, so let’s cut the witty intro and get right to it, eh?

This week, Target opened a pop-up store (the Bullseye Bazaar) on Michigan Avenue and it’s only open for three days. So, as a city girl with no car or Target nearby, I nearly wet myself with excitement. That is until I was invited to attend its VIP event last night, which is a sneak peek at the store before it opened today. Yes, then I nearly wet myself.

So my joy about attending this event compounded on Wednesday when rumors started spreading on Twitter that Ed Westwick and Jessica Szohr from Gossip Girl would also be attending the event. Well that’s when the insanity really started on and off Twitter. The event was supposed to be invite-only, VIP, but suddenly everyone in Chicago was invited. Okayyyyy, not exactly VIP or what I signed up for but alrighhhhht.

Cut to post-work, with pouring rain and lightening in Chicago. Suddenly my perfectly selected outfit was covered with my damp coat and my coiffed hair was a frizzy mess. FAIL.

But I met up with some co-workers and my buddy Jenn to head over to the Bazaar and bask in the goodness of Target.

And check out the awesome interior! Look at this, even the chili peppers love Target!

And of course, after a quick glass of champagne, I dove into the racks of stuff. I’m pretty happy with my new treasures! One note though, the hat, which is adorable, has pink stains on it. So that will definitely be going back. But otherwise, everything fits. That’s a miracle.

Oh heck, let’s get to the really good stuff. So rumors flew that Ed and Jessica would be at the event, then we heard they weren’t going to be there. But this girl (aka me) knew better. And sure enough, not long after we got there, the media section start lighting up and suddenly Kate Walsh from Private Practice is talking to reporters.

So I try to wedge my way back there (tastefully) and when I’m denied, I actually say, “blogs ARE the new media.” Wow, bitchy, I know. Didn’t mean it like that. But it gets me back there (after I flash my bloggy business card) and after more pushing, I get this picture.

Yes, she’s gorgeous in person.

Then the main event happens, we hear Ed is in makeup and suddenly he’s THERE. Chuck Bass, the man I would like to take advantage of me after we shop at Brooks Brothers is THERE. So we move into more pushing and shoving and I get this money shot.

SOOOOO dreamy.

And then Jessica shows up. She is so nice and personable and petite in person! Jealous. But I’m obsessed with her necklace, which matches my JCrew bracelet, so it should be mine right? Right? She’s also from Wisconsin. We’re meant to be best friends.

Anyhow, I grabbed her after all the interviews and got this photo, which her publicist seriously could not have taken any faster. Thank god it turned out.

So after some more loitering around/shopping, Jenn and I see Ed again and basically stand around and wait to see if we can snag a photo with him….WHICH WE DID. OMG and I told him I’m a huge fan. Could I be any more of a dork?

*insert angels chiming*

Oh an our outfits match. We’re meant to be :)

Best. Night. Ever. Here is a link to the set of photos on my Flickr page too, where all the photos are posted (there are a lot!)

I’m so thrilled and excited that I got to go and get to shop before the store opened to the public. Once I exchange that hat, I’m ready to rock it outside.

Of course, there are a few things I have to share too. First, this was a great evening and I’m so glad that I got to go. And I know this little blog and
I are not that special, especially compared to Metromix or Chicago Magazine, but being invited in to the media area to take some pictures, only to be kicked out for more important people, isn’t cool. My parents think I’m special!

Same with the amount of shoving and pushing to get us to move back so the celebs could come in from the street. I’m all for fire safety, but being pushed back to make room for a walkway that’s already there, is also not cool, especially when you block my shot and shake your head at me. I’m not cattle. Don’t herd me.

So despite a few hiccups. I had a great time. And now I’m ready for a quiet weekend :)

Thoughts? Or any other big Target fans out there? Big weekend plans? Happy Mother’s Day!

Key learnings, reality show filming and trekking for food

Jessica B. — Sun, 03 May 2009 20:40:00 +0000

Happy Sunday! It was a great weather weekend in Chicago, mostly because the sun was out and not drop of rain. I even pulled out all the new spring clothes so I can start wearing them ASAP.

So while I’m mentally delaying the start of another week, let’s hit the key learnings.

Key Learnings:

I hate the sound of car horns honking. HATE it

The two of the most distinctive sounds are: glass shattering and someone’s car being hit (people sure don’t like that)

Netflix needs to start sending me happier movies. My latest selections: The Reader, The Wrestler, Rachel Getting Married and Doubt. Geez

Mussels and fried eggs are my new favorite foods, along with gnocchi

A beer headache is not a good way to start a Friday, especially when you have work to do

Adjusting yourself in public is never appropriate or appreciated by women

I am obsessed with taking pictures of flowers

E! producers are serious when they say “no flash photography”

Muffin tops are out in full force and show no signs of stopping

Even on a summer-like day, someone will always be outside wearing a down jacket

I am SO tired of hearing about Swine Flu

I really like having a Blackberry, which means, I can never go back to life without one

Reality Show Taping

Today I went to the gym and was greeted with a large “NOTICE” sign on the front door.

Swine flu? No, turns out E! was there filming Bill and Giuliana Rancic’s new reality show. And the notice was to tell us that by entering the premise, we consented to possibly being filmed. So despite my mismatched outfit, glasses and unwashed hair, I walked in and did my workout, sneaking away to watch some of the filming.

I even took a few photos of the filming (Mission Impossible-style) before I was caught and asked to stop by a swarm of not-so-happy producers. Dude, I’m a blogger, you can’t stop me!!

Oh yeah and Saturday night I went to The Publican, rated by Chicago Magazine and TimeOut Chicago as the best new restaurant. And it was a decadence of pork and meat. Sarah and I trekked down to the West Loop to meet Ray for a lovely night out. And somewhere between the chef’s selection of three hams, farm roasted chicken, frites with fried egg, and lemon and chocolate gelato, I died and went to heaven. My parents even gave me the third-degree about my dining experience, which means a return trip with them could be in my future. Plus, when you see a restaurant sign with pigs on it, you know it’ll be good!

How was everyone else’s weekend? Do anything fun? I hope the weather was as nice by you as it was here! We have so earned it!

Reader note: I really enjoyed everyone’s comments on the “petite” post from Thursday. I’m glad to hear I’m not the only petite person out there that feels bittersweet about my height. Everyone was great to share their thoughts on this and I very much enjoyed them :)

A lovely Friday: LV and Saks

Jessica B. — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 16:07:00 +0000

Rhetorical question: Do I love fashion and shopping? Unless you’ve never met me or read this blog before, the answer might take you a few seconds to think about.

To my joy, I was invited to attend a Friday night fall fashion trend event sponsored by MasterCard at Saks in Chicago with celebrity stylist, “America’s Most Smartest Model” judge and Harper’s Bazaar Contributing Fashion Editor Mary Alice Stephenson. This event came at the perfect time because I’m in desperate need of new fall clothes so I need someone to show me what I should be looking at this season. And it was the perfect opportunity to take Speedy out for a night on the town.

Thanks to Friday traffic on Michigan Avenue, Sarah, Teresa and I were a little late, but we were able to grab some drinks and appetizers before snagging front row seats for the trend fashion show, where we got to see some gorgeous pieces from Lanvin, Donna Karen, Michael Kors, Escada, Theory and Ellen Tracy. I also got some great ideas of pieces to add to my wardrobe this fall too like romantic blouses, bold necklaces (my favorite!), deep hues, like purple, and tailored dresses. Not sure if the latter works with a curvy, full chested figure, but we can make it work.

I am loving the purple bag, sweater coat and Prada shoe-booty!

The most exciting part of Friday night, outside of a fun girls night out and the fashion show, was that I was able to interview Mary Alice quickly for my blog :) I didn’t get to ask all of my questions, but I did get to ask her key ones to share with everyone.

Pre-interview picture of me and Mary Alice

What are the biggest fall trends for women?

Costume jewelry, cocktail rings and bold necklaces which are an easy way to dress up any outfit and are available at every price point. Forever 21 and H&M are two great examples of affordable places to get costume jewelry that are great for fall.

If I could only buy one thing this fall, what should I invest in?

Tailored dress – the right tailoring and close cut makes you look your best and flatters every figure

What are the top 5 things a woman should have in her closet?

Black pencil skirt
Dark denim trouser jeans (perfect for work and weekend)
LBD – fitted black dress
Top handle bag
Boots – knee-high or shoe-booty

What fashion trend should never come back?

This is tough because I draw inspiration from everything, but if I had to pick one, it would be the sheer blouse with colored bra underneath, it’s very 80s Madonna. Sheer can work and can be tasteful but not mixing colors like that.

For petite, curvy girls, what are the best cuts/fits to buy?

Any style can work for curvy and petite girls, you just have to really spend time with the particular style you’re interested in and find how that works for your body. Flat-front pants work the best, and if you want to minimize your waist, go for hip-slung pants that sit a little lower. If you want a “hippier” waist, go with a higher-waist pant. If you’re conscious about your arms, go for an off-the-shoulder look and play with necklines.

What advice do you have for women who are still struggling to find their personal style?

Play dress up and play with clothes to help you find what works best for you. Look online for tips and ask for help at stores about fit and cut. Identify your best asset and play it up, embrace it! Work what works best for you. And identify your “problem area” and make sure when looking for fit, you fit that area first and tailor the rest of the outfit around that. If you hate your rump, find pants that fit that the best and tailor the waist or cuff. Clothes and fashion should be fun so have fun with it!

Once my interview was over, we got to go shop around Saks to find some of the outfits they modeled in the show. There was a white wool Michael Kors dress that literally made me almost sacrifice paying rent to buy it and a gold Alice + Olivia peacoat jacket that made me hunt it down (literally) in the store. Here’s a picture of me modeling the jacket. I think it looks adorable on me.

Forget rent and food, I love this jacket!

Realizing clothes would not be an option, we went and played in the handbag department, indulging in our love of Bottega, Gucci and a little D&G. At dinner after (with champagne of course) we went through the gift bag we got and I am beyond excited about my new Bobbi Brown Tube Tints, which has four mini lip glosses in awesome colors. So excited!

So it was a fun Friday night and I managed to a) behave myself and b) be professional, I was on full bloggy detail after all.

How was everyone else’s weekend?

Rant: Another celebrity caves to the Hollywood stereotype

Jessica B. — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 01:17:00 +0000

I always look forward to the new issue of US Weekly. Who doesn’t love unnamed sources and somewhat shady reporting sometimes? It’s the perfect balance to my other reputable magazines, such as Vanity Fair.

Anyhow, the latest US Weekly definitely caught my attention and not for the right reason. Jennifer Love Hewitt, who I loved on Party of Five, is on the cover standing like a Stepford Wife declaring that she lost 18 pounds magically in 10 weeks. Now everyone can see how thin and statuesque she is compared to her old body. The cover and story photos gloss over how amazing she looks now, perfectly styled and put together, compared to how she used to dress, which sadly is how I dress on the weekends sometimes. I guess in real life, I’m the fugly version of her too.

She says in the magazine that she did it to feel better about herself and that I believe, somewhat. Who doesn’t want to feel good about how they look? After waking up on the bathroom floor one morning after a long night out, I swore that I would change my lifestyle and since then, I have. I work out, I eat better (or honestly try to) and take care of myself. And weight loss came along with that. But I did it because when I looked in the mirror every morning, I wanted to think I was a hottie rather than be embarrassed at how I look. And if Jennifer honestly did that for the same reason, then good for her.

But there are coincidences in timing here that I can’t help but trip on. The unflattering Hawaii photos in December, her declaration to People magazine to “stop calling me fat!” and her scrutiny back of the media for their focus on self-image, yet now, a few months later she’s back in the news for this brand-new body that seems to exemplify everything she told them media to f*ck off on before.

The magazine doesn’t say what size she’s at now, but I can’t help but feel that it perpetuates the stereotype that women who wear a larger size, such as a size 12 or above are always the “before” picture in these magazines. Kirsten Johnston from Music and Lyrics and 3rd Rock from the Sun was a size 12 at her “heaviest” and because of a medical condition lost 60 pounds. To be fair, this is a different situation but the way she talked about being a size 12/14 is what upsets me. Saying that was her size at her “lowest point” where she ate whatever she wanted and drank beer all the time doesn’t show that a size 12 can still be a healthy size, even if some people have gotten there using unhealthy methods.

I proudly declare that I wear a size 12 and I’m not unhealthy or at my “lowest” point in health. The only way I can get any lower than a size 10 would be if you cracked off part of my hip bones because I got the “hips” in the family. I am petite, curvy and “full-figured” but I am not ashamed of the size I wear, nor do I feel the need to torture and deny myself everything so I can crash diet another 18 pounds off my frame. If I feel like my overall package is healthy and fit, who the hell cares if I wear a size 12 or 6? I could actually be healthier than some of the size 6 women running around.

So when I see women who declare they wore a size 12/14 “before” they lost all this weight, it says to me that because I’m stranded on “size 12 island” that I will never achieve the Hollywood glamour that they have with the help of starving themselves and exercising 14 hours a day. Who has time for that? I want to eat!

Now this is only my opinion and I could be very wrong in my assumptions, but it’s always disappointing to me to see a woman as self-confident and secure as Jennifer cave to what the media says is healthy and beautiful. I’m not embarrassed by how I look so now it’s time to grab a drink and settle back on “size 12 island,” and watch the sun set, and clap.

Tidbit Friday: Celeb sightings, pet peeves, Miami follow up

Jessica B. — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 16:46:00 +0000

Okay now that I’ve gotten some sleep and “perked” up a bit, time to give you the lowdown on Miami, and all the noteable, adventure-some points from my trip.

Celebrity Sightings
In the Miami airport yesterday, Emily and I saw Laura Prepon, from the TV shows October Road and that 70s Show, waiting for a flight to Aruba. Yes, she’s very tall and I’m sure she’s much cuter when she is all made up. But it was exciting.

Pet Peeve #401
Along with inattentive parenting and visibly stained clothing, mispronounced words is another huge pet peeve for me. I won’t lie, I have trouble pronouncing the word “ambulance” properly (speech impediment as a child), but it drives me insane when other people do it.

Examples are below:

– Library – pronounced “lie-barry” by a guy back in Wisconsin. It took every ounce of my strength not to correct him, or ask him to stop using it.

– Computer – pronounced “computie” by a tech guy in Miami. The first time he said it, it caught my attention and I thought it was a joke, but nope, apparently, he “don’t know nothing about computies.”

Conceirge quirks
On Wednesday night, I had some additional work to do back in my Miami hotel room late at night in preparation for Thursday. This required the use of a scissors, which I did not have, so I called down to the conceirge at the hotel to see if they could run a pair up. Here is how the conversation went:

Me: “Hi I’m wondering if you have a pair of scissors that I could borrow tonight for some work I’m doing?”

Conceirge: “What? What you need?”

Me: “Scissors, a pair of scissors please”

Conceirge: “What’s that?”

Me: “You don’t know what scissors are?” (shocked)

Concerige: “No” (laughs)

Me: “Should I call the front desk and see if they know what scissors are?”

Conceirge: “Yes, good idea”

The front desk fortunately did know what scissors are and a pair of them did arrive in my room. However, the front desk did pass me back to the conceirge, who magically knew what I was talking about. Awesome.

View from my hotel room