Teardrops and Gingerbread Lattes

Well, teardrops on my blog. After all the excitement leading up to the drawing yesterday, I was extremely let down at Abuelo's (the restaurant where the New Moon drawing was held). I probably will never eat there again. Nevertheless, I was excited for two of the winners, but the third was a Dad who looked more excited to see his enchilada special than to win the tickets. I thought about going up to one of the winners who looked approachable and offer her a check and a free dinner, but my better judgment kicked in and I left the contest with grace. That is the best thing to do as a loser. I now just have to shift my focus to finding Taylor Lautner when he is in Knoxville for a secret photo op and meeting.

As I was shopping around yesterday, one thing is clear: the retailers want you to buy, buy, buy! Christmas will be here before we know it, Starbucks already has their annual red cups and are now producing gingerbread lattes at a mass volume. I have not started listening to the tunes yet though, wanting to hold off a few more weeks so I can really be in the spirit and not turn into a Scrooge after being overly bombarded by holiday propaganda. One place where I do wish it was Christmas year round is the Saks Fifth Avenue in New York. The decor makes you feel as if you are in a winter wonderland and I swear they are pumping some scent that triggers an emotion in your head to say "Just Charge It"! If I had an unlimited amount of funds or a sugar daddy, I would want to stay there year round and just buy clothes and make-up, go out to eat at fabulous restaurants and then sleep in the plush dressing rooms.

However, since I do live in Knoxville I may have to get by with a closer Christmas wonderland...Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Though I am very cultured and look down on those who drink white zinfandel, I do have a redneck secret. I love Gatlinburg. It's the only place where you can wear a fanny pack, see Dolly Parton, eat pounds of pancakes, and play a round of putt putt all in one day. The area is filled with holiday lights and decor, making you feel as if you are trapped in a snow globe.

VIP Premiere

A grand event could happen tonight. I could win tickets to something my celeb friends attend all the time. What you may ask? A movie premiere. Yes, an event of epic proportions is happening in Knoxville. New Moon, the second story in this classic vampire - werewolf - human love triangle, will be flashed upon the silver screen for a select VIP audience before it is released across the entire country. And yes, I will be a member of this VIP group.

Let’s go back a little bit though. You may be thinking, Knoxville? Why are you no longer in Memphis? Well I moved. About a month ago I decided to pack up my things, work long nights filling my U-Haul and then proceed to get everything I own across the state of Tennessee in one single trip. Actually the only truth in that is the moving to Knoxville part. While I did pack up the majority of my items, I of course did the VIP thing and hired a mover and also gave many boxes to my boo for an additional trip. Upon my arrival, I just had to sit at the new house and merely direct everyone to where I would like the boxes while I just sipped some wine and relaxed. The long drive from Memphis to Knoxville will just take it out of you.

Life in Knoxville is just fabulous, as the way everyone’s life should be. I have had a wonderful time attending Tennessee Football games, eating at my favorite sushi joint and enjoying the ultimate: a Dunkin’ Donuts store where I can choose from a plethora of coffee and latte flavors each morning. The only thing that would make it that much more fabulous is being able to attend the VIP showing of New Moon. Not only would I be one of the first to watch this blockbuster, but I would also be in the presence of Team Jacob – Taylor Lautner. What…a cutie. If I do win, I will have to purchase a “Team Jacob” shirt from Nordstrom’s because it will make for excellent photo ops. Though I will be sporting this t-shirt, my heart does know my true devotion, which of course lies with Edward Cullen.

Speaking of Taylor Lautner, I am sure you are dying to know some celeb updates. Well word on the street is that Taylor is dating my other favorite Taylor…Swift that is. Taylor Squared. I highly approve of this couple, and do hope that they last through the “young stars” phase and one day adopt a ton of children just like Brad and Angie.

In other celebrity news and due to the New Moon theme to the blog, my gal pal Janna sent me this update about the movie. It is straight from Stephanie Meyer’s brother (the author, duh) who lives in Memphis:
“Just got inside scoop on New Moon.... As you know Stephanie Meyers brother goes to optometry school with Landon...Landon got the scoop on the new movie for my sister. Word is the second movie is 5,000 times better. Stephanie was disappointed with the first movie; she had a lot more input on second film and was in constant contact with the director. Also, RPatz is a douche. He didn't speak to anyone at the premiere after party. Taylor Lautner is super nice. (of course) SOOOO excited.”
-Janna Tacker

The other day I walked into Walgreen’s to pick up a card and some face wash and was stopped dead in my tracks. The entire front wall was lined with…Snuggies. I have been dying to purchase one but just keep putting up it off for one reason or another. However all of the stars were in alignment and a leopard print Snuggie ended up in my hands. It is the best $14.99 I have spent in a long time. Not only does it keep me comforted while I watch my favorite TV shows, it is also in a fashionable print. Go. Buy. One. Now.

Be sure to check-in tomorrow to see if I am a member of the VIP Premiere group.

VMA's update and Make it Work

Well, well, well - it is now that time of year when you get enough dips, pigs in a blanket and Bud Light to go around. Yes, my friends, it is officially football season. But more importantly, September brings around the annual MTV VMAs! (Side note - I thoroughly enjoy football season, I love the VOLS. But, celebs entertain me more than Crompton's terrible 'stache.)

First, let's talk about the amazing Twilight:New Moon extended trailer. OMG. Taylor and R-Patz together on the stage. Team Jacob and Team Edward in person. I almost fell off the couch with excitement when the trailer was finished showing. And no worries, I have watched the trailer about 10 times again today at work. If you are not a Twilight fan, get on the bandwagon. I will admit, HP is much better, BUT these actors are way better looking. Well minus Bella Swan aka Kristin Stewart because her haircut looks like a mullet that could be spotted in Gatlinburg. I also proceeded to look up facts about each of the actors and feel a little guilty for having a crush on Taylor Lautner (Jacob Black) because I found out that he is only 17. Let me restate - I only feel a little guilty. You must watch it below:




As you all know, Kanye West tried to ruin Taylor Swift's night, but let's talk about what Taylor was wearing. Before she changed into the cute red dress - she was stunning in a silver sequined number. I looked up the dress online, and found out that it was only a few thousand dollars, so I decided not to purchase one for this award season. Maybe the designer would like to send me one for free since I am blogging about it? Hey, a girl can dream.

I would def say that SEQUINS were the main thing to the outfits last night. Leighton looked amazing, Pink and Shakira in the same dress, and Beyonce's performance leotard all had this wonderful fabric. I believe that sequins are always in, maybe this is because I grew up in dance costumes and red lipstick. Whenever I am in a store and I see them shining underneath the lights, I am drawn to that item and then usually have to purchase the article of clothing.
Talking about fabric leads me to another reason I am glad that fall is here - the new season of Project Runway is here. Oh Tim Gunn, I have missed your wonderful style advice. Heidi, how do you get your hair so shiny? Michael and Nina, your judging is always impeccable. The show has only been on for a few weeks, so there is not clear cut favorite yet, but I have been partial to the cute southern Carol Hannah and the blonde blonde blonde Althea. However, there are many challenges to go, so I do believe that we have not seen the best of the best yet. This season is being filmed in LA, compared to the last 5 which have been done in NYC, and sources have revealed that it has been much easier to get celeb judges each week. I can't wait to see what this Thursday has in store.

Another great new TV spot - Glee. This show reminds me of the wonderful days I spent in my high school choir. If you ever want to see tapes or pictures, please contact me via e-mail. Anyways, back to Glee. This quirky show has fun, fun, fun musical performances and I love how they remixed RiRi's hit song "Take a Bow" last week. If you are looking for a new show - I would def recommend this one.

Sushi = Artsy and The Saint

So Friday night I ventured out on an artsy experience. I love artsy experiences. I went to an opening for Janna's brother, Daniel Tacker Originals. Check out the website - he is going to be famous. We had a great time drinking wine, admiring the art work, eating dips and sushi on the hot Memphis night. I mean, you have to eat sushi whenever you do something artsy. It makes your feel like you are in the moment, and if we had switched to pizza and beer, our night would have been ruined. Basically, eating pizza and beer would make us look as if we had just come from doing donuts in a 4x4. While I am not judging those who do donuts in a 4x4(I have done this on backroads in rural Tennessee), it's just that the sushi added to the experience. Def check out the Bluefin in Memphis - wonderful experience.

As we all know, last week was not a good week to be a celeb. As you are reading, take a moment to remember you favorite moments of Ed, Farrah, Michael and Billy.

My favorite memory of Michael is not really something that he did - but a time when I was lucky enough to be chosen to play him in my high school senior skit. I had a chance to lead some dancers in Thriller - while I got to wear a hat and one white glove. If E! had seen this, I would def have been a co-host of The Daily 10 by now. What about you - did you ever dress up at Michael? I wish I could post a picture - but now worries - it is published for all to see. Well, basically all to see if you have a copy of the 2004 Saint Yearbook. However, if you truly want to see this magical memory, send me a comment, and I will arrange a meeting for us to look at that wonderful picture and then will also show you through my entire senior yearbook.

Speaking of yearbooks - how fun were those? I was really sad that UT did not have a yearbook that was as big of a deal as other schools around the south. I remember the day when they arrived, and everyone clamored to get one from the school cafeteria to see how many pages they made, AND if they actually looked decent in any of the pictures. I actually was lucky enough to be VIP for the latter years of my high school experience. If you are asking how, you are clearly mistaken on who I am - of course I was VIP. The reason being: I was a proud member of The Saint Yearbook staff for two years. Through this experience I have many fond memories, such as figuring how to get low profile people in at least 3 pages (low profile - the weird kid who did not talk to you, even during your chemistry lab), photo shoots around the Collierville Town Square, watching Steel Magnolias after a deadline and of course, the infamous yearbook camp. I know, you are probably thinking - yearbook camp is not VIP. My motto - sometimes you have got to go through the un-VIP events to make it to the real ones. And we actually learned a little too there...

Also - check out my The Germany's Blog: http://www.jgbgthegoodlife.blogspot.com/

They have just moved to Aurora, Illinois (south of Chicago) to work for K-Life. Britt and Josh are great friends, and the blog is wondrful.

Anyways, enough talk of memory lane. Tonight I am going to drink a glass of wine and then clean something with Oxi-Clean to remember all of our famous friends.

LC, Nascar, Montgomery

Amidst the sweltering heat of the Memphis sun, I ventured out after work for a celebrity sighting. Yes, Lauren Conrad (LC) from the wildly popular show, The Hills, was in the 901 yesterday. If you don't know who she is, you obviously have not been reading my blog. (May I suggest that you take a scroll through the archives?)

LC has a new book out, but I don't even know the name because I would rather spend that $20 on make-up or some wine. So she was hitting the south to give fans a taste of the LA life while signing copies. However, this book signing was very different than expected. As I drove up to Davis-Kidd, I was bombarded by girls younger than me all dressed as if they wanted to go to high school in Laguna Beach. This was when I first thought - I need a cold glass of chardonnay. When I met up with my friend Alicia, we both decided that we needed to play it incognito, not let anyone there recognize us. (But wait, we are in Memphis, and each saw a handful of people we knew...) Our friend Elizabeth works for a magazine that sponsored the signing. She gave us the scoop that LC thought it was entirely too hot in Memphis, loved our cute accents and was eating dinner later at Spindini.

So after coming out fifteen minutes later than scheduled -hello you are not Brad and Angie - LC graced Memphis with her presence. I am not going to lie, she did look very pretty, had long gorgeous hair (def extensions) and was tiny. So after a few minutes of seeing her and high school girls screaming in my ear, I ran out of Davis-Kidd and straight to the bar at Old Venice. I will admit, I was excited to see a glimpse of The Hills star, but I still wish that Lo had been there - at least I could have given her the Kappa handshake.

A few weeks ago, I made a journey that I never thought I would make: I journeyed to the Nashville Speedway for a Nascar race. Let me tell you, it was like I had stepped into the world of Ricky Bobby. I of course cheered for Carl Edwards (only because my friend Cory told me to), because I was wearing his jersey. Though Carl lost, I thoroughly enjoyed my time by entertaining myself with the following activities:

- text messaging Jenny when she was sitting next to me

-spotting 5 mullets in a span of 2 minutes

And my favorite:

-obtaining VIP status because of my jersey, than having Chad convince everyone in the elevator I was Taylor Swift. It worked for half a second because of my blonde curly hair, but then as the locals whipped around to see, they just saw me. However, that half a second when people thought I was Taylor was the best time of the entire race.

Last weekend, I woke up to find myself in Montgomery, Alabama. Why, you may ask? Well, yes, it is the capital of Alabama and my hotel had a rooftop pool. But the real reason I was in the state was to celebrate the nuptials of Anna and Stephen. It was truly a magical weekend of dancing, great food, and good times. And though I really wanted to request Rocky Top from the band, I knew that all of the Roll Tide Roller's would have kicked me out. So I was content to dancing to the ultimate wedding favorite: Shout!

Stay tuned for more adventures... this weekend I am going to a VIP art show where I just have a feeling that I am going to run into someone famous. If not, then you can find me at Spindini asking my server to bring me whatever LC had.