Family of the Year

A while back, I got a free ticket to see Family of the Year play at the Bing Lounge downtown.  I heard about the concert from one of my favorite radio stations, KINK.fm.  It was a short show, but the band was great and I even got to take a picture with them!

please forgive my awkward stance--I didn't know what to do with my hands.

Since I couldn't great video of them playing, here are the music videos for my two favorite songs.

You can buy their album on itunes right now for $7.99.

back from the dead

Remember this guy?

Kemal Pamuk, aka Lady Mary's lover who died in her bed?  

Well, he's back, or at least the actor who played Mr. Pamuk is.  

Theo James is the lead in a new TV show, Golden Boy.  It tells the story of a young detective who ends up becoming the youngest police commissioner in NYPD history.  The show switches between Detective Clark's first year and seven years in the future. 

I've watched the first two episodes and I really like it.   You can watch the first three episodes at cbs.com and the newest episode is on Tuesday at 10:00.  Watch it and let me know if you like it!

picture 1// adelaide
picture 2// yahoo
picture 3// cbs

Academy Awards 2013

Oscars Recap:

So, Seth McFarlane.  What did you guys think?  I thought that he was very funny and I enjoyed his singing and dancing, but some of his jokes didn't fit with the tone of the evening.  I definitely laughed, don't get me wrong, but I felt awkward at a couple of the bits.

How funny was DDL?  Give that guy a comedy already!  I'll admit, I didn't see Lincoln and I don't know if I've seen any of his movies, but I'm definitely planning a DDL weekend viewing party.

I enjoyed watching Charlize and Channing dance, although let's face it, I'd watch Chan do pretty much anything.

Man, I'm such a fan of this guy.  I got a little teary watching Ben accept the award for Argo.  I think he's done such a great job evolving into a wonderful filmmaker.  It doesn't hurt that he seems like an awesome dad and husband, too. I can't wait to see what else he does.

Did you see all of the guys with long hair?  It was like a conspiracy or something! 

Okay, on to the most important part of the night!


I noticed a couple trends: romantic, white, bridal-esque gowns, bold colors, lace and beading details, and metallic dresses.  Here's my favorites--

Amy Adams

This is a big dress but she pulls it off.  

I love the texture of the skirt and her hair and makeup are spot on.

Charlize Theron.

I don't know anyone else who could pull off a white peplum gown.  

I love the slit on the bodice and how she didn't wear a necklace.  

Jennifer Lawrence

She looks beautiful and I thought her hair and makeup looked lovely.  

I do wish she had worn a more fun color, but let's face it, I love everything this girl does. Silver Linings Playbook was one of my favorite movies this year and I was so excited for her win.

Zoe Saldana

I think that the ombre detail on the bottom is great and the flowers at the bodice are fun.  

I don't love the belt, but I love this look overall.

Jennifer Garner

Such a beautiful color and I think that the simple front works well with the ruffles in the back. 

 Her jewelry is just right and her hair and makeup is stunning.

Jennifer Aniston

A lovely departure for our perennial Lady in Black. 

This fabric is tricky to get right, but she looks lovely.  

I can't wait to see what she ends up wearing for her upcoming wedding.

Sandra Bullock

I love everything about this look.  

The color and detailing are so fun and 20s-ish. 

 I love the cap sleeves and how the length is just long 

enough to show off the beading but not too long. 

Jenna Dewan-Tatum

I think she pulled off maternity red carpet so well.  

Her dress was beautiful and her hair and makeup looked lovely.  

And how cute are these guys?  What a lucky baby!

 

Stacy Kiebler

She always looks so chic and sophisticated at every event! 

I love how this dress looks like a bunch of necklaces layered on top of each other. 

 

Nicole Kidman

 I don't know how this dress looks like liquid sequins, but it does.  

The details at the bottom are very cool and it looks great on her.

 

Halle Berry

I love the strong shoulders and the covered up yet formfitting shape. 

And how is she not aging? Seriously!

 

 Naomi Watts

My favorite dress of the night!

The cutout detailing is so great and the fabric is amazing.

What did you think?  What were your favorites? 

What I Read in 2012

I know, I know, it's February and all the end-of-the-year posts have already been done, but these are my favorite!  So bear with me and let me tell you what I did in 2012.

Here's a list of all the books I read (and finished) in 2012.

The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides

read for book club, really enjoyed it. not as much as middlesex, but i love his writing.


The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes

read for book club, didn't really love it.  

When She Woke by Hillary Jordan

my pick for church book club.  interesting premise but it got kind of lost towards the end.  

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer

read on my own.  took me a long time to finish because i got really sad.  the writing was beautiful and the stories were really interesting.  has anyone seen the movie? 

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

gosh, i really loved this book.  i was hooked right away even though it's really out of my usual reading comfort zone. the main character had such a great voice and i loved all of the pop culture references. i heard it's being made into a movie and i couldn't be more excited.


The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka

read this for book club.  it was short and sweet and an interesting look at Japanese internment. 


11/22/63 by Stephen King

my pick for book club and my first ever stephen king. i loved it so much that i wrote a letter to the author, although i didn't send it.  if you like history or have always been fascinated by time travel, you will love this book.  don't be afraid of how long it is--it flies by.  it's also not gory or scary, just suspenseful.

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling

i read this during a day of travel and it was the perfect distraction from turbulence and layovers.  mindy is so funny and tells stories like you're old friends catching up over lunch. 


A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

it took me a few times to get into it, but i really enjoyed this supernatural drama.  most of the book takes place in an around oxford and now i really have a hankering to take a trip.  the romance gets a bit cheesy towards the end, but i loved the history and science throughout the book.


 When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

technically a upper elementary/middle school book, but it was such a lovely story and the ending really caught me by surprise.  


Where We Belong by Emily Giffin

this was my favorite emily giffin book since something borrowed.  so good.

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

oh man, what a crazy story!  the twists and turns never ended and by the end i was extremely suspicious of everyone around me.  i don't know how the author wrote such crazy and messed-up people, but i was impressed. 

Divergent by Veronica Roth

i read this for church book club and was surprised at how much i liked it.  i normally take my time reading, but i ate this one up in a couple days.  at one point, i said that i liked it better than the hunger games.  i've already read the second book, but i finished it a few days into 2013 so it's not on this list.  i've heard that they are casting the movie and i'll be interested to see how it turns out.

here's what's up next on my list for 2013:

Broken Harbor by Tana French
Midnight in Austenland by Shannon Hale
One of Our Thursdays is Missing by Jasper Fforde
Bleak House by Charles Dickens
The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
The Round House by Louise Erdich
Beautiful Chaos by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks


what are you reading? anything good?

all pictures from goodreads.com.  are you on goodreads? it's a great way to keep of track of books you've read and books you want to read.

Golden Globes 2013

better late than never, right?  i thoroughly enjoyed the globes this year, especially because tina and amy did such a wonderful job.  and can we talk about how amazing they both looked?  seriously.

here are the dresses:

 

anne hathaway. 

 i'm not a big fan of the actual dress, but i think 

she looks fabulous. she is rockin' that hair!

 

connie britton.

 does she ever not look amazing?!

 

hannah simone.

you know i'm a huge fan of grey and that dark lip is so great.

 

isla fisher.

sparkly and fun.

 

jessica alba.

fun color, although the fabric isn't my favorite. 

 i love her hair and how she accessorized the look.

 

naomi watts.

gorgeous color and such a refined yet stunning look.

 

amy adams.

i love the shape of this dress so much, but on second glance,

 i wish the color was a bit more of a contrast with her skin.

 

emily blunt.

so different from her usual and so fun.

 

helen mirren.

this dress is so visually interesting but simple at the same time.  

and is it weird to covet a sixty something woman's hair?

 

jennifer garner.

jen always kills it but this look is especially great.  i love red on brunettes.

 

julianne hough.

the beading is fantastic and i'm loving the rocker hair and makeup.

 kerry washington.

i love the detailing on this dress and how delicate it is, 

but i wish that the slip and hem weren't so obvious.

 lucy liu. 

wow.  just wow.  this dress is amazing! it's very marie antionette meets beautiful wallpaper. and i mean that in the best possible way.  it's daring but i love it.

 

i also really love her braids! 

well, that's it.  did you watch?  what did you think?  are you getting ready for the oscars this sunday?  i'm counting down the days!

Shannon's Wedding 10.13.12

One of my best friends and roommates from college got married and I got to be a bridesmaid.  The wedding was at the LDS Temple in Mesa, Arizona.  Except for some ill-fitting shoes, the wedding was beautiful and the weather was just right.

Mesa Temple

Eric and Shannon, the happy couple

Bridesmaids

Shannon and I

What a gorgeous cake!

Can you believe this groom's cake?!

Congratulations Shannon & Eric!