WEEKEND OUTINGS - Special Parenthood Screening/Q&A

Since I had work on Friday night, my husband and I enjoyed our weekend date night early on Thursday evening. We attended a special Parenthood Screening/Q&A that he was invited to through work. As a weekly viewer of the show and an avid Lauren Graham fan (Gilmore Girls), I was very excited to hear from the cast and producers up close and personal.

Overall, it was an enjoyable night, but after about the twentieth audience member stood up to gush about the show, give their own technical notes (yes, they did), and finally spit out their mediocre questions, we were ready to rush out for dinner.

While these 'pinch-me' LA moments provide a quick thrill and a fun anecdote, they really don't compete with life's simpler screening pleasures...like laughing hysterically until you snort during your Parks and Rec marathon with your husband (I'm a snorter - big nerd- I know)...or snacking on a box of Hot Tamales squished between your two best friends at the movies...or having an all-nighter watching musicals with your dad...or bumping into a family friend, like Mr. Person, at your hometown theatre, knowing full well that the next day at church, he'll tease your mom, "Don't tell me you didn't like that movie. I saw you laughing." Because in the scheme of things, movies and television are about shared experiences with the ones you love - the real stars of your life. 

INSPIRATION - Oprah Winfrey

With only three more shows left before the grand finale next Wednesday, we are down to the final moments of The Oprah Winfrey Show. While I am certainly not an Oprah ‘worshiper’, dazedly agreeing with everything she says, I am a devoted fan –sincerely respecting her compassion for the downtrodden, her love of literature, and her ability to inspire others to live their best lives. Oprah’s positive impact on the world is undeniable. And even if you’re wary of feeling like you’re drinking the Kool-Aid, I assure you that we can all learn something from Oprah’s relatable vulnerability, sense of humor, and perceptive wisdom.

Photo from People.com

“As you become more clear about who you really are, you'll be better able to decide what is best for you - the first time around.”

“I am a woman in process. I'm just trying like everybody else. I try to take every conflict, every experience, and learn from it. Life is never dull.”

“Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody's going to know whether you did it or not.”

“The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.”

“Turn your wounds into wisdom.”

“What God intended for you goes far beyond anything you can imagine.”

“What I know is, is that if you do work that you love, and the work fulfills you, the rest will come.”

"I know for sure that what we dwell on is who we become." 

"I trust that everything happens for a reason, even if we are not wise enough to see it."

During my last two years of high school, my mom and I would spend the hour right after school watching Oprah together while I worked on my homework before heading to the theatre or some other activity.  Growing up, my mother was never a ‘friend’ mom nor did she ever wish to be. She was always our mother first and foremost, disciplining, encouraging, and earning our respect, and I greatly admire her for that decision. 

We had always been close, but during that short break watching Oprah in my final years at home, we became more than mother and daughter. We initiated a strong friendship that has continued to grow to this day. For that reason, I will always appreciate Oprah Winfrey for her gift of making people look at things in new ways. At the time, my mom and I simply had never thought to view each other as friends in addition to mother and daughter. To be honest, I was probably too young until that point for friendship to be an option. If there is one thing I know for sure, I will always be grateful to Oprah for that time well spent.

ENTERTAINMENT - Fall Television Preview

The television industry has been in the thick of Upfronts this week, announcing their new fall schedules to the press and major advertisers. My husbands’ bosses have been in New York all week for the events.  And now, the networks are revealing their new fall line-ups to the public! While I’m not overcome with enthusiasm for every new series (where is the next Gilmore Girls already?), I must admit that there are some promising prospects…and some interesting, albeit repetitive, patterns in the line-ups.

Check out some sneak peeks below! You can also visit each network’s site for details on their entire line-ups: NBC, ABC, FOX, CBS, & CW. At the time of writing this post, CBS and CW hadn’t yet revealed their trailers, so you’ll definitely want to look into those!

Can’t get enough of Mad Men? Obsessed with nostalgic throwbacks?
Tune into NBC’s The Playboy Club and ABC’s Pan Am to travel back to the scandalous glamour of the 1960’s.

Love watching strong women kick butt at their jobs?
Tune into NBC’s Prime Suspect and ABC’s Scandal to watch these fearless females confront the obstacles of working in a ‘man’s world’. (ABC is also premiering a new Charlie's Angels series, but it looks a little weak.)

Still get weak at the knees over a well-told fairytale? 
Tune into NBC’s Grimm and ABC’s Once Upon a Time for modern twists on classic tales.

Can’t resist ‘new girl’/’girl starting over’ comedies? 
From Fox’s New Girl, NBC’s Best Friends Forever (coming a little later), and ABC’s Apartment 23, Suburgatory, and Good Christian Belles (set in Highland Park), you have a handful to choose from this season. I didn’t post Apartment 23’s trailer below, but for all you fellow Dawson’s Creek fans, James Van Der Beek plays a parodied version of himself!

Steven Spielberg enthusiast?
Tune into two new series with Spielberg as the Executive Producer, Fox’s Terra Nova and NBC’s Smash (coming out a little later).

Finally, I wanted to share the trailer for NBC’s drama Awake that premiers a little later on. It caught my attention, and I can’t wait to see how it pans out on the small screen.

WEDDINGS - Pink of Perfection

Tickled pink by these gorgeous bouquets, I am longing to plan a beautiful pink wedding. Actually, I have been dying to help with a pink wedding for quite some time because there are so many amazing possibilities!

From Left to Right: Kissthegroom.com, The Knot, The Knot, myweddingconcierge.com, The Knot, Martha Stewart Weddings, Style Me Pretty, Martha Stewart Weddings, Style Me Pretty, The Knot, Martha Stewart Weddings, Martha Stewart Weddings

Today, I’m only focusing on bouquets because I know that they are at the top of your priority list. Moreover, your bouquet should embody the style and design of your entire wedding. Deciding on the bouquet can shape the rest of your planning decisions – from other floral arrangements and reception décor to invitations, fashion, and more.

If you go with pink, you will have endless flower options as so many varieties come in this pretty hue. Although I love blue weddings and green weddings (my own sister and I opted for these choices), you have to be a little more creative with your flowers, sticking with mostly whites or adding in a second color such as yellow. With pink, there are so many tasteful flowers that actually remain true to your chosen color palette. Romantic, dreamy, and naturally beautiful, pink will set the stage for your elegant and fashionable affair. Most importantly, your guests will leave thinking that your wedding was the very pink of perfection!

INTERIOR DECORATING/HOME - Decorating Books Wish List

Every time I stop by the bookstore, I linger at the Interior Decorating/Home section and drool over the gorgeous, glossy pages of these to-die-for books.

• Domino: The Book of Decorating
• The Southern Cottage: From the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Florida Keys 
• Jonathan Adler on Happy Chic Colors 
• Apartment Therapy’s Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
• Decorating with Books (House Beautiful) 
• Charlotte Moss Decorates: The Art of Creating Elegant and Inspired Rooms 
• Style and Substance: The Best of Elle Décor 
• An Affair With A House 
• Glamour: Making it Modern (Metropolitan Home)

While I love finding inspiration from the pages of magazines and websites, there is nothing quite as exhilarating as flipping through a stunning book, absorbing its images from cover to cover. These nine books are on my personal wish list, and I know that you will find them intriguing as well. As a young twenty-something, I’m just starting my collection of interior decorating/home books. I encourage you to begin your own collection or add some of these to your set. Filled with beautiful ideas for your own home, I guarantee that the purchase will be well worth it. If nothing else, the books will look amazing on your coffee-table or shelves! 

FASHION - Summer Fashion Checklist #4

The Summer Fashion Checklist continues with the cutest beach bags and poolside totes. Carry on with the fun! 

#4 BEACH BAGS/TOTES

From Left to Right: Lilly Pulitzer, Kate Spade, OndadeMar, Kate Spade, L.L. Bean, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Hable Construction, Gap, Vineyard Vines, Lilly Pulitzer, Pottery Barn, Dooney & Bourke

Catch-alls for your sunscreen (the ultimate summer must-have!), magazines, paperbacks, shades, and more, these beach bags are your perfect summer companions for some fun in the sun. You'll be toting this bag around all summer, so don't waste your money on something dull or inexpressive. Pick a bag that shows off your vibrant personality. 

Keep checking back as I unveil more of the Summer Fashion Checklist! Here comes the sun!