‘television’ Category

18 February 2010

TV shows I’m (not) loving right now

By: Jessica B.
Tagged: television

The Olympics are on now and a lot of my shows are on hiatus. So I thought it was a perfect time to post about the shows I’m loving right now and those that are on the fence to be removed from my DVR.

Seriously, my DVR cannot handle the amount of shows I watch right now. Hot mess.

Let’s take a closer look.

Love:

  • Life Unexpected (CW) – Yeah it’s kind of hammy but it’s a really cute show and it makes me want to visit Portland stat
  • Good Wife (CBS) – This is one of my new favorite shows. Juliana Margulis is great and I love that Mr. Big and Chicago are featured in it!
  • Lost (ABC) – OMG I love this show. I’ve watched since the beginning and I’m dying to see how it ends. Plus, I have a big crush on Sawyer and Jack. Rawr
  • Damages (FX) - This is another show I really love. I’m confused for most of the season but then it starts to come together and it’s really explosive. Glenn Close is great and this season’s topic (a Ponzi scheme) should be really good!
  • Parks & Recreation (NBC) – I don’t have a lot of love for NBC (due to CoCo drama) but the second season of this show is really growing on me. Amy Poehler is hilarious and Aziz Ansani cracks me up. Plus, it makes me really want my own DJ Roomba. YES!

On the fence:

  • Bachelor  (ABC) – I love a train wreck just as much as the next person but the 120 minutes of non-stop backstabbing and drama? Kill me. Plus, I really CANNOT stand Vienna. Yet, I keep watching. FAIL
  • 30 Rock (NBC) - When it’s hot, it’s hot but lately, the humor has been falling a little flat. Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin still make me laugh but sometimes, it’s just too over the top
  • Grey’s Anatomy (ABC) – Yawwwwwnnnnnnn. Wait, is this show still on? I used to really like this show and it has great season finales but every episode leading up to that is a marathon in nausea
  • Nip/Tuck (FX) – I cannot wait for this show to be over. The last three episode are dragging! I used to love it for being so provocative but it jumped the shark about two years ago and I’m bored of the metaphors about inner vs. outer beauty. I GET IT

I love the Olympics but I’m ready for my regular shows to come back too. Hello, 90210, Gossip Girl and Melrose Place, I miss you! Plus, I’m ready for Top Chef again soon. Can’t wait.

What shows are you loving or on the fence about lately?

21 January 2010

Winter blues miss list

By: Jessica B.

Today, I cancelled my Match.com membership. And really, I’m okay with it, even if I do feel like a little bit of a failure. I haven’t been putting in the time or energy to weed out potential d-bags and Prince Charmings and I need a break.

When it’s winter in Chicago, few people go out like they do in summer and dating is a lot more difficult.

But now that its cancelled for a few months, I realized that a small part of the winter blues are settling in and there are a few silly things I’m missing right now:

  • Sunshine that actually warms your face and body
  • Crush-induced butterflies
  • Walks by the lake
  • Glee
  • Seeing hot boys wearing blue dress shirts and khakis on the bus
  • Not having to wear 2-6 layers of clothing to stay warm
  • Kissing a boy (or sloppy makeout sessions)
  • Grilling out
  • Slow dancing with someone you really like
  • The Office being actually funny and Grey’s Anatomy actually being interesting
  • Sitting outside and reading a good book
  • Skin-a-max in HD (Come on, you watch it too, don’t lie)

Hmm, after reviewing this list I’m either in heat or missing spring/summer. Maybe it’s time to start actually planning a vacation to address some of these missing needs.

Bringing home the bacon: 20sb bootleg

The 20sb bootleg award winners were announced yesterday and I’m so thrilled to share that my blog was the Last Chance winner!

WOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

That’s right, I am proudly posting that badge on this post to show off how happy I am that I won (seriously, I’m beaming) and say a big thank you to everyone in the 20sb network who voted for me.

You made my week and you all get a big inappropriate hug the next time I see you. Be ready.

Has anyone else hit the winter blues yet? January might be a little early :) Or what are you missing right now? It can be on TV, from boys or anything!

Movie review reminder: The Lovely Bones review is still up and a new review will be posted this weekend!

18 January 2010

Golden Globes fashion recap

By: Jessica B.

Woooo! It’s officially award season, which means I become super fashion judgemental and share my b*tchy, catty comments with all of you!

So let’s kick this off by recapping the Golden Globes, my favorite of all the award shows (probably because people have gotten drunk pre-speech.)

Best/Worst Moments: Award show

Best:

  • Host/presenter: Ricky Gervais – Hilarious, drinking a beer and shamelessly self promoting. Love it all
  • Quote: “It’s God crying for NBC,” said by Tina Fey during the NBC pre-show. So true. I hope NBC gets herpes for what it’s doing to Conan
  • Acceptance speeches: Glee cast, Sandra Bullock and Robert Downey Jr. A nice mix of silly, sweet and sincere

Worst:

  • Presenters: Felicity Huffman/Mickey Rourke – Guess reading isn’t fundamental
  • Quote: “Give it up for yourselves,” James Cameron. Seriously, are you kidding me?
  • Commercial: Chrysler, thanks for inviting ME to keep watching the Golden Globes, which I was already watching on MY TV. FAIL
  • Acceptance speech: Anything with James Cameron
  • Camerawork: Too many moments to mention. NBC can’t even produce the show correctly? Who was controlling the camera throws?

Best/Worst Moments: Fashion

I have to say, this was difficult to write because I loved a lot of the dresses last night. But alas, I had to call out the ones that really shined and should have stayed at home.

Best dressed male/female:

I could not take my eyes off Penelope whenever she was on screen. Hair, dress, jewelry are all flawless. That’s a moviestar

Yes, I have a Glee crush on him, but the classic Hugo Boss suit can never go wrong on any guy

Best dressed couple:

They make anything, from the Gap and evening wear look adorable. Love Amy’s dress too

Worst dressed female (tied):

I have a feeling Tom Ford dressed her in this unflattering, shapeless ensemble and it breaks my heart

I love ruffles too but I don’t LOVE ruffles. Too much. Way too much. It’s like she sewed two frilly dust ruffles together

Best skank-free look:

Another great, age appropriate, classy look with a bit of edge. Also, I’m glad that she left the buttless chaps at home this time

An ode to Sham-Wow:

Hate the color, hate the overdone texture and that oversize bun (not shown). Not flattering but she could pick up any spills with that dress

Needs a reminder she’s not 20 anymore:

We get it Jen, you’re single, 40 and free. But I don’t want to see your “see you next Tuesday.” Sometimes covering up is classier than showing it all off

Dress doesn’t match body type:

She has an amazing voice but this full volume skirt just doesn’t work on her. Just because it’s De La Renta, doesn’t make it right

I usually love Tina’s choices but this skirt isn’t working for me or for her petite frame

Confused a nightgown with a dress:

We get it, you’re hot and a mom. Go back to bed or pump in the bathroom

Project Runway graduation:

Wearing Christian Siriano – Love the color and way it compliments her skin tone and hair. Ka-boom on the boobs too! Snap, damn

Best old Hollywood glamour:

Nicole’s choices can be hit or miss but the dress color and draping are great. Thanks for the nip outlines too!

LOVE this look. The mix of fabrics, headband and red lips are amazing. The more I look at it, the more I love it

Well the Oscars are up next and the judgement on that fashion will be much harsher than this. No mercy!

And sadly, I couldn’t include a picture of my dream man, John K, because all of them had Emily Blunt in it. I love Emily Blunt, just not with him. But he still looked hot (as always!)

What about you? Did you watch the Globes? What were your favorite parts or best/worst dressed? Did you love Ricky Gervias as host?

Review blog note: I also updated my review of The Lovely Bones this morning. Guess I was a little tired when I wrote it because I forgot to add some things :)

17 January 2010

Weekend recap: Magical trip to the suburbs

By: Jessica B.

Happy Sunday! I know the Golden Globes are on now but before I get back to putting together my fashion recap, I wanted to share a big adventure I had this weekend…to the Chicago suburbs.

Prepare yourself.

When you live in Chicago without a car, the options to get out to the suburbs are a little limited to wherever the Metra stops. And when you do go, it’s like playing tourist, just outside your city. The suburbs are…a magical place to a city girl. A strip of road can have Targets, Wal-Marts, grocery stores and restaurants lined up one after another. It’s sensory overload.

And I had the best reason to go out to the suburbs this weekend: celebrating Glee day with some of my awesome blogger friends at Erin’s house.

The Chicago city bloggers carpooled together and along the way, had our own little adventure that included:

My first trip to a Meijer grocery store. Seriously, I could spend all day there. I LOVE IT and talked about it all day. And the groceries were so reasonably priced ($1 for a two liter bottle of Pepsi) that I nearly passed out from shock.

Also, a Meijer employee helped me find something in the store and do you know what he said to me?

“Have a nice weekend miss, happy to help.”

AND it sounded sincere. WTF is up with that??? (Yes, I was nice back to him)

On our way out, we saw what has to be the smallest Stop sign I’ve ever seen. At night, I would run right through that.

And just before we arrived at Erin’s I jumped out of the (stopped) car to get a picture of this, another insanely overdecorated home for the holidays. This definitely beats the one I posted about.

The best part of the entire day? Just hanging out with friends, watching Glee, sharing our favorite lines and episodes and just catching up with one another. I love that no matter how long it’s been since I’ve seen these girls, whenever we’re together in person, it’s like we haven’t been apart at all :)

Oh and the food for this day was very exclusive to Glee fans too.

How was everyone else’s weekend? I’m off of work tomorrow and cannot wait to spend it cooking and relaxing. Is anyone else off tomorrow too? Or Glee fans, share your favorite songs or episodes!

Movie review up! TC and I went to see the Lovely Bones this weekend and I posted the review here

25 November 2009

A silly and serious thankful list

By: Jessica B.

Well tomorrow is the big day, Thanksgiving, and I am already fasting as I type this.

My parents are divorced so every year I have two Thanksgivings in one day. Moms in the morning and dads in the evening. And the first year we worked out this arrangement, I thought my stomach was going to explode from all the food. My dad found me passed out with a plate of turkey next to me and woke me up to go to bed.

The image of me passed out on a couch, drooling with turkey next to me is hilarious. I wish I had a photo of it.

Anyhow, tonight I’m on my way back to Wisconsin to be with my family, shop my heart out and try to get into the Christmas spirit.

But before that, it’s time to share a silly and serious list of what I’m thankful for this year.

Serious:

  • Family (we’re not perfect, but they’re mine!)
  • Friends (even those I’ve been estranged from lately)
  • A good job
  • Good health
  • No credit card debt
  • A good life in a great city

Silly (this is more fun):

  • Jacob’s abs (cougar time!)
  • Glee
  • HD-TV
  • A full head of hair (I would be more thankful if I didn’t have so much gray)
  • iPods
  • Text messaging
  • John Krasinski’s hotness
  • Push up bras
  • Cotton leggings
  • Nordstroms
  • A good sense of humor
  • Twitter (which will help me get through four days at home)
  • Mac and cheese (or just cheese)
  • Honey crisp apples
  • Cupcakes

And of course, thankful for all of you :)

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!

So what are you thankful for this year? It can be silly and serious!