Female Designers Sweeping this Season of Project Runway

Around the World in Two Days, the tenth episode of Project Runway – Season six, featured guest judge Milla Jovovich. Michael Kors and Nina Garcia were also there, so it felt like a reunion episode. (Have I already mentioned that the lack of consistency with the judges this season irks me a little?) The designers were challenged to create a look inspired by a famous city or country, and given a budget of $150 and one day to complete the design.

The inspirations for the designs were as follows: Carol Hannah – Palm Beach; Irina – Aspen; Christopher – Santa Fe; Gordana – New York; Nicholas – Greece; Logan – Hollywood; Althea – San Tropez.

Although I had been pulling for Christopher all along, the only designer without a degree or formal design training, this challenge proved disastrous for him. His inspiration was Santa Fe, but what he created was, as he admitted himself, more Little House on the Prairie. I think Althea said it best when she said, “If Christopher can put that garment down the runway and not get eliminated, then I don’t know what’s going on.”

Irina’s “sexy, rich snow-bunny” caramel design isn’t really my style, but when I saw it on the runway, I did really like the sexy cut-out back and how the look came together as a whole. Thinking about wearing this design did make me want to sip champagne in a ski lodge, and Irina really did an amazing job stretching her $150 budget to create three pieces. Even though she isn’t very nice, she is a great designer. She won this challenge; Gordana and Carol Hannah also placed in the top three. The surprise was that Christopher was not eliminated. Instead, it was Nicolas who was sent home. I wasn’t crazy for many of Nicolas’ designs, so this decision did not break my heart, but I expected the judges to let him through to the next round.

And then there were six…

Last week’s episode, entitled The Best of the Best, featured guest judges were Project Runway alumnus Nick Verreos and model Kerry Washington. Nina Garcia was back again, but Michael Kors was MIA. The designers were challenged to create a companion piece for their best looks, which they did not select for themselves.

Althea was incredibly annoyed that Logan was copying one of her previous looks. Meanwhile, Irina felt that Althea was copying her Aspen look with her oversized, comfortable top. Irina actually tried to accuse Althea of copying her right on the runway, so it was nice to see Althea defend herself and take the win. Irina is a tough one to want to root for, despite her talent; I guess that’s what makes the competition fun to watch. Carol Hannah’s short, black cocktail dress with pockets was adorable, and also could have easily won. Heidi pointed out that she, Nina, or Kerry would all be able to wear that dress.

Christopher’s dress “throwing up another dress,” to use Irina’s description, was somehow deemed superior by the judges to Logan’s zippery, sort of futuristic design. Gordana also landed in the bottom three in this challenge; the judges felt her look was boring, something you would wear if you didn’t want to be noticed.

There’s a pretty good chance that it will be Gordana or Christopher that we will say goodbye to next week, and it looks (at least in my mind) like our top three designers are all women at this point in the season: Irina, Carol Hannah, & Althea. Maybe we’ll have one good catfight yet…

Sixth in a series about Project Runway, Season Six by Mary Salmon

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Project Runway: Design for Christina Aguilera Challenge

The ninth episode of Project Runway, Season Six, was entitled "Sequins, Feathers and Fur, Oh My!" The designers were challenged to create "an extravagant stage look for Christina Aguilera." You can watch the entire episode here.

The first guest judge was fashion legend Bob Mackie; he has designed for Cher, Diana Ross, Madonna & Tina Turner, to name a few. Christina Aguilera herself is the second guest judge. In my last entry in this Project Runway series, I was not able to show you images, as they had not been posted on the auction site. These particular designs will not be auctioned off, as they were returned to the divorcees. The video below will give you a peek at all the designs from episode eight, where the designers turned divorcees' wedding dresses into something new, but Lifetime is keeping a close eye on youtube, so this video may be yanked at any time. (But someone else will always re-post it...)

This is the first challenge where the winner will not receive immunity, and there will be no more immunity for the remainder of the season. The designs pictured below (Left - Right) are by Althea, the wining design by Carol Hannah, and my personal favorite by Nicholas. These were the three designs the judges were most impressed with. Christina commented that Nicholas' design would be perfect for running and dancing around the stage. She also said she loved the way Carol Hannah's elegant design would hug her curves and said she could picture herself wearing it.

The bottom three designs were by (pictured below left - right) Shirin, Logan, and Christopher. It was Shirin, who clearly did not fully grasp this challenge, who was voted off. Of the bottom three, I didn't think Logan's design was horrible, and Christina said she appreciated that he took a risk.

Christopher was one of my favorites at the start of the season, but he is slowly losing my vote. Althea and Irina are both really talented, but it's hard to root for Irina, as she is not the most pleasant person in the bunch; that most upbeat person may actually be Althea - it's easy to pull for her. I have not fully made up my mind about Carol Hannah, but she is certainly still in the running to make it to the final three. Nicholas has come a long way, but I'm really hot and cold with him from challenge to challenge. I guess what this means is that it's a good season that could bring some surprises - and actually already has - there are many designers who have been voted off before I thought it was their time. Epperson comes to mind, for one.

This Thursday night on Lifetime Michael Kors will return, and the preview for the new episode, below, does not reveal much about the challenge, but it does show us that there will be increasing tensions between the designers.

This last video is silly & just for fun, but fellow Tim Gunn fans should get a kick out of it!

Fifth in a series about Project Runway, Season Six by Mary Salmon

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Vote for Jessica Miller - Models of the Runway Contest

This is exciting news. One of our very own Runway Ready readers, Jessica Miller of Buffalo, N.Y., has not only entered Lifetime's contest to be a new model strutting down the catwalk on upcoming seasons of "Project Runway” and “Models of the Runway," but she has made it to the third round!!! PLACE YOUR VOTE FOR JESSICA BEFORE OCTOBER 30 - That's when Round Three ends.

Aspiring models have entered the Models of the Runway Casting Challenge, created profiles and are competing for a spot on the show! By signing up and collecting votes, entrants of the Casting Challenge get closer everyday for their chance to experience the drama, anxiety, joys and frustrations the models themselves face each week on the show. The five finalists will also be awarded $1,000 each.

At the end of Round Three, the top three entrants with the most votes along with two “wild card” users chosen by the show producers and Lifetime will move onto the final round making up the Five Finalists. Jessica is one of 50 girls left in round three, and she could use our help and support to get to the top three so she can advance to the final round. You can check out Jessica's entry & vote here.

In the final round, the Five Finalists will be announced! In this round, vote counts will again go back to zero but with a twist! (It wouldn’t be a “challenge” with a twist right?) The vote count for the Top Five will be a “blind” vote count and hidden to users and contestants. This makes for excitement when the winner of the Models of the Runway Casting Challenge will be announced. Round Four, the final round, will take place from Saturday, October 31 through Sunday, November 8.

When Jessica introduced herself in round one, she said, "I have wanted to model professionally since I was young, just like a lot of girls. I think this would be such a great opportunity. I feel I have a nice height and look to make it. I just need to be given that chance. This would be a dream come true and change my life. I would love to gain the experience." She also has videos posted on her profile page, so you can get to know her a little better, before placing your vote.

Describing her dream runway walk? Jessica said, "I would say any runway basically! haha :) I think it would be nice to have it in on a beach, maybe model some swimwear, but my DREAM RUNWAY WALK would be a Victoria's Secret Fashion show! If I was in a Victoria's Secret Fashion show, I would want it to take place in NYC or LA, of course. I would love for the background music to be up beat and at a faster pace. I think just being in the show is enough, getting to work with all the other wonderful models. What celebrities would be in the front row? It wouldn't matter too much to me but it would be nice to see the Olsen twins, Gerard Butler, Jessica Simpson, and The Kardashian family. After this show my name would be out there and hopefully agents would see me and I would get more offers to walk other shows! :D That would be my dream runway walk and dream come true."

Here are some of Jessica's favorite quotes:
"The dreams in your heart are only previews of your future. Hold fast to them...never let them go till they are here."
"Disregard the hype; if popular opinion says one thing, do the complete opposite."
"Progress always involves risk; you can't steal second base and keep your foot on first"

The winner of the final round will be selected by show producers based on weighted scores of each of the five remaining contestants. These scores will consist of 60% judges score and 40% public voting. Let's lend our support to Jessica & help get her on the next season of Models of the Runway!

By Mary Salmon

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Posted by Mary Salmon at 09:15 PM | Comments (0)

Project Runway: Designs for Movies, Macy's, & Divorcees

(Clockwise from top left – Designs by: Chris, Nicholas, Althea, Epperson, Shirin, Gordana, Ra’mon, Louise)

It’s time to play catch-up with the sixth season of Project Runway. This top photo shows eight of the designs from the sixth episode, entitled Lights, Camera, Sew!; the challenge was to create a look inspired by a movie genre including western, noir, period, action/adventure (not pictured above), or science fiction.

The guest judges were designer John Varvatos, costume designer Arianne Phillips and Marie Claire’s Shopping Editor, Zoe Glassner. I loved Chris’ period piece for a vampire bride, but the winner of this challenge was Nicholas’ evil ice queen.

Nicholas’ genre was science fiction, which he interpreted in more of a fantasy direction. This was probably a good idea, as none of the judges were crazy about Ra’mon’s green “swamp thing” sci-fi costume, and unfortunately he was the designer who did not make it to the next episode.

Episode seven, entitled The Sky is the Limit, challenged our designers to create two designs for the Macy's INC brand. Pictured above are one of the winning designs (right) and one of the losing designs (left). The designers worked with partners on this challenge. Nicholas had immunity, and he was paired with Louise. She made two dresses with ruffles; he stated he hated ruffles. I think Louise has talent, but certainly a talent that is not particularly modern, and not very marketable.

Irina, with partner Althea, won this challenge. Irina, as winner of this challenge, will have her design produced for Macy's - available in select stores and on Macy's.com/projectrunway. The guest judges for this challenge were Martine Reardon, Executive VP-Marketing at Macy's, and Zanna Roberts, Marie Claire's Senior Fashion Editor. It was refreshing to FINALLY see Michael Kors again during the judging, as well.

At this point in the season, I have lost a bit of respect for Chris, who was a cry-baby on the stage when no one liked his shirt dress, but he still has produced many amazing designs since the start of the season. Irina continues to impress me. Gordana has talent, but I don't see her making it to the final three. Logan's episodes are numbered at his point, in my humble opinion. I'm not sure what I think of Shirin overall, but I do think that she & Carol Hannah deserved the win on this challenge with their designs shown below.

The most recent challenge, entitled A Fashionable New Beginning, was to convert an old wedding dress into a new look. The clients of the designers were all divorcees. Shirin had a challenge with a divorcee who wanted a Cher costume, feathered headdress and all, but was working with only two yards of material from the original dress. (The designers were limited to another two yards when they shopped at Mood, forcing them to really use the wedding dress material.) Unfortunately, these photos have not yet been added to the auction site, but you can click here to watch the entire episode- or just skip ahead to the runway & judging.

The guest judges were Zanna Roberts (again) and Tamara Mellon, founder of the Jimmy Choo Company. Michael Kors was back again, but I'm still missing Nina. Gordana won with a very beautiful design, that was very edgy for her, and you could tell her model loved it. Epperson made a terrible design that unfortunately made his model resemble a bar wench. To be totally honest, I didn't like Chris' design much more. It looked like a garbage bag cinched in the middle. My money is on the women this season!

Fourth in a series about Project Runway, Season Six by Mary Salmon

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Posted by Mary Salmon at 11:37 AM | Comments (0)

Gossip Girl w/ Hilary Duff & Tyra Banks/ W Magazine Photo Contest

Fans of Tyra Banks and Hilary Duff should be sure to watch the next episode of Gossip Girl, airing on the CW Monday, 10/5, at 9pm EST; both will be guest starring.

Yesterday's TV Guide spoiler column has the latest on what we can expect in the next episode, entitled "Dan de Fleurette." Hilary Duff's character, Olivia Burke, will be rooming with Vanessa, as well as romancing Dan, and working with Serena. Working with Serina? That's a new one. (Dan Humphrey, in case you hadn't noticed, is looking way hotter this season; someone was working out over their break...) Fellow guest star Tyra Banks will perform alongside Duff in Fleur, the film-within-the-show. The film is about the French resistance during World War II.

Jenny is also supposed to get her first big storyline of the season underway in this next episode; an "international bad boy" is going to complicate her life. Meanwhile, Chuck apparently is rooting for her to remain queen of the high school:

After each episode, I love to read the weekly pieces in New York Magazine - the Gossip Girl "Reality Index." Here are a few examples. It's extremely irreverent and sometimes all too accurate! This is just from this past episode:

- "Of course Georgina and Dan would put a sock on the doorknob to indicate they were hooking up — college students just inherently know to do this, as children all over America in the eighties inherently knew that you had to blow into a Nintendo cartridge to get it working again. Plus 3, with an additional plus 3 for Blair having no idea what this tradition meant. Oh, and plus 1 for her putting her glove on to take the sock off."

- "Someone should invent an iPhone app that allows you to speak like Chuck Bass. Like that “I Am T-Pain” app. No points. We’re just saying that would be cool. Even."

- "Also, really, why was everyone at the Sotheby’s auction? If Rufus wanted “everyone to be together,” as Dan said, why were Eric and Jenny not there? This whole scenario is absurd. Minus 4."

You get the idea. I thought I'd share with my Gossip Girl lovin' readers because I get such a kick out of it.

It's nice to finally see Blair and Chuck as a couple, as far-fetched as the entire auction photograph/secret society storyline was, but how long will it last? I'm bracing myself for heartache. My own, not Blair's - I love these two together.

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Focus Your Creative Lens and Enter the W Magazine Photography Contest

W magazine seeks America's most talented young photographers in its first-ever photography contest, "W: The Art Project." Entrants must capture the theme of "obsession", and may submit their work online starting today, October 1, through December 1.

A panel of six judges, will select twenty semifinalists, and the public will vote on a winner. The winner's work will be published in W as part of the grand prize, which also includes a fancy new camera and a three-month consultation by art consultant Blair Voltz Clarke. Some of the country's most recognized creative forces, distinguished arbiters of talent—and fellow readers—will judge submissions.

The winning photographer will receive a grand prize package, including:

•Agency consultation
•Professional-grade camera
•Professional photo website membership
•W Magazine promotional feature

By Mary Salmon

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Posted by Mary Salmon at 12:32 PM | Comments (0)

Project Runway: Nina & Michael - Come Back!

This past Thursday night, the sixth designer was eliminated from Project Runway, but as I have to catch up on some DVR viewing, I'll share with you who my favorites have been up through the fifth episode of the new season. Episodes four and five brought interesting challenges to our designers. The fourth challenge forced the designers to design for their models, to dress them for an "industry event." Sound like an easy task? Poor Epperson had a model who requested something flowy, cocktail, tight, sexy, romantic, chic, elegant, classy, fitted, short, punk, and "tiger." (And I'm sure I missed an adjective or two...) He actually did a darn good job giving her what she asked for! In the photo below, it is second from the left. If you are behind this season, and want to see what you have missed, you can watch all the past episodes in full at mylifetime.com.

Pictured above (l-r) are designs from Shirin, Epperson, Johnny, and Carol Hannah. Johnny's design was the losing design in the paper challenge. I didn't love Carol Hannah's dress for her model, but I didn't hate it. Maybe I'm just growing tired of asymmetrical dresses in general. I thought Shirin's design above from episode five looked great going down the runway. As the weeks have passed, I have really grown to like Chris and Irina.

Chris' designs from challenges four and five

Is the dress on the left not perfect to wear to see Wicked? This dress cries out Emerald City and I personally love it. Working with a color that strong could have gone seriously wrong, but I adore the way he used the black fabric to tone it down just enough.

Irina's designs from challenges four and five

The judges, probably many viewers, and I all loved Irina's trenchcoat made of newspaper. It sold on the auction site for $183. (Chris' winning design finished on top for $205.) How much would you pay for a dress or trenchcoat made of newspaper? And where have Nina Garcia and Michael Kors been? I miss them. I miss consistency of having the same judges each week. I miss Michael Kors' voice. Tommy Hilfiger, Eva Longoria Parker and Zoe Glassner judged the model challenge. The fifth episode was a challenge where the designers were asked to create a design using newspaper as fabric. The judges on that episode were Jennifer Rade, Marc Bouwer and Zoe Glassner. I do at least agree with most of what Zoe has to say.

Logan's designs from challenges four and five

Logan is cute and (from the previews I have seen) going to get to know Carol Hannah better, so these two will probably stay on the show for at least a few more weeks. I wish Logan had covered the bright blue bottom of his design for his model with black lace; that is not an example of his finest work. His excuse was that he had never worked with lace before or designed anything 50s-style - his models' requests.

Althea won the model challenge. I liked the design, but one might ask the model if it was a little cold on the runway...

Althea's designs from challenges four and five

As the season continues, we'll see if Chris and Irina remain my favorites. The sixth episode challenges the designers to design for different movie genres such as western, noir, sci-fi, & action-adventure.

Third in a series about Project Runway, Season Six by Mary Salmon

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Posted by Mary Salmon at 11:11 PM | Comments (0)

Gossip Girl Returns... WTF! - Watch This Fall!

In the third season premiere of Gossip Girl, Reversals of Fortune, some details have been released by the CW. The summer is drawing to a close, Blair and Chuck are madly in love and adjusting to their new “in a relationship” status, breaking all traditional rules of dating as would be expected. Serena returns from her European adventure with many secrets to hide and a complicated relationship with Carter Baizen (actor Sebastian Stan). Nate returns from his travels with a mysterious brunette, Bree Buckley (actress JoAnna Garcia) in tow. Rufus, Dan, and Jenny spent the summer in the Hamptons, adjusting to the van der Woodsens' glamorous lifestyle surprisingly faster than expected.

Leighton Meesterwas recently on Letterman discussing Gossip Girl, as well as being pulled over recently for speeding while covered in fake blood from a movie she was making; how her dog resembles (and acts like) actor Richard Gere; and most importantly - that viewers will not be disappointed in the sex, partying or clothes in Season 3. (Like I was worried?) The video has been removed from YouTube.

The CW has released its official episode synopsis for "The Freshman," the second episode of the season, in which Michelle Trachtenberg returns as Georgina. These two are great on screen together! According to the network, Blair is determined to maintain her Queen B status in college as she embarks on her first day at New York University, along with Dan and Vanessa. Unfortunately, Georgina (Michelle Trachtenberg) turns up as Blair's roommate, and is determined to make Blair a social outcast. (But we always love to see B get her revenge!)

In this next interesting video, Gossip Girl costume designer Eric Daman discusses how he outfits Jenny Humphrey. He mentions that back in season one, he was inspired by Molly Ringwald; that in season two Jenny entered her punk, rebellious phase, and it seems in season three Jenny is adjusting to her more expensive wardrobe (and lifestyle)quite comfortably. (He also says she won't be wearing any headbands; since she's the new queen, I have mixed feeling about that, but I guess headbands should be reserved for Blair.)

I'll end this entry with a HOT photo of our girls... Blair & Serena - in a promotional shot. Don't forget to tune into the CW at 9pm EST!!!

By Mary Salmon

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Posted by Mary Salmon at 01:48 AM | Comments (0)

Project Runway - Recap of Partner Challenge

Episode three of Project Runway, Season Six was entitled "Rumble on the Runway." Our designers were forced to work with one another in a partner challenge, which produced some amusing results. The guest judges were Max Azria and Rachel Bilson, and the challenge was to create a surf-inspired look and an avant garde companion piece. Mitchell, after admitting he didn't really help at all on this challenge, was eliminated. Here's a video clip featuring Mitchell. It's just amazing that he made it on the show & completely blew the opportunity! How many other designers would have killed for his spot?!

You can now also buy all of the designs from the program online. This is great, because now I have a way to show you some photos! (And now everyone has a chance to have a piece of Project Runway history. I will never regret buying one of the limited edition dresses by Suede last season on bluefly.com!)

Mitchell's luck finally ran out, and he is out. Ironically, his partner won the challenge. The designers drove to a beach to talk to real surfer girls for inspiration. Tim Gunn (wearing flip flops) explains that this week’s challenge is to create a “fun and fashionable surfwear look.” I was imagining a sporty, fun, surfing feel to the designs, but the designers came up with poufy ballgowns, and designs that did not scream summer to me.

The most offensive design had to be by Nicholas, who had previously declared, "Hoodies are not for the runway.” Apparently full-lace bodysuits are? (I know lots of people who wear similar outfits to the BEACH... Oy!)

The designers were caught off guard when they were told they also had to make a second avant-garde look to accompany the surfwear look. Epperson and Qristyl were probably the worst-paired team, fighting throughout the entire challenge. (I honestly don't think I would have been able to work well with either of them!) They didn't even come close to making it work; here are their collaborations, voted the worst by the judges.

Here are the photos of Ra'mon-Lawrence's winning designs:

Tonight's episode should be great, as the models get to call the shots. (Preview available on the player at the end of this entry.) Episode four is entitled "What a Woman Wants." The preview alone is hysterical. Let's just say the designers don't seem to take orders from their models too well...

On a side note, fans of Christian Siriano (a past winner of Project Runway) - may want to check out his collection at Payless Shoes.

Second in a series about Project Runway, Season Six by Mary Salmon

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Posted by Mary Salmon at 10:08 AM | Comments (0)

Project Runway on Lifetime - Season Six So Far...

The good news is that despite the location change from NY to LA, Project Runway is still the same show we came to know and love on Bravo. There have not been any noticeable changes in the first two episodes this season, and I view that as a positive thing. Sometimes you shouldn't mess with a formula that works.

The Lifetime Project Runway website has copyrighted all of their photos, so as much as I would like to show you photos of all of the designs from the first two episodes of the new season, all I can provide you with is some video clips that Lifetime has made available. Their website, however, does have the full episodes available; it's pretty comprehensive - I have not had a chance to look through all that is available, but there are photos of all the designs & you can always just watch the last 10-25 minutes of the episodes (the Runway and the judging - the most important parts!) to get a feel for the designers & how they respond to different challenges. It's nice to see the designs on video, so you can see how the fabrics move as the model walks the runway. (But the still shots were nice to have from Bravo.)

The first challenge asked them to create a red carpet look showing their innovation and expressing their true point of view; the dress is for an award show of their choosing. The winning cocktail dress by Christopher is to die for. (Christopher is also the only self-taught designer on the show this season.) I would absolutely wear this dress & love every moment I was in it! It's funky yet pretty, but it has a punk edge that I love. Here is a video that shows the winning & losing designs.

The guest judge on this episode was Lindsay Lohan. I guess they chose her because of her 6126 fashion line. Interesting choice to kick off the season, anyway... I can't say any of her comments added much to the episode. Ra'Mon was also in the top three with his dark blue gown. Heidi said that it looked to her like it was worth more than the $200 the designers were allotted for the challenge. I agree - the structure and detail were impeccable. The judges all liked this design, but felt that it was "safe." Shirin Askari's cocktail dress had an adorable sparkly detail in the back that caught me by surprise as the model turned around. I also liked Louise Black's design, and after seeing what she created for the second challenge, I can tell she'll be a favorite of mine this season.

Ari Fish ended up getting kicked off, but in my opinion, it should have been Mitchell. He designed something that did not fit his model and basically sent her naked down the runway, wrapped in nude nylon. At least Ari had a vision, however bizarre. Mitchell was just whining about how the measurements he was given were incorrect. I personally would like to have seen what else Ari would have created for other challenges, although it was pretty clear she wasn't going to sweep the season. However, flipping through celebrity photos recently, I came across this shot of Jessica Stroup:

This dress reminds me a bit of Ari's losing design, and Jessica is quite a trend-setter, so maybe the judges got it wrong... just sayin'...

The second episode of Project Runway, Season Six challenged the designers to create a figure-flattering, chic look for pregnant Rebecca Romaijn, who was also the guest judge. You can watch the full episode on Lifetime.com. It was interesting looking at designs for pregnant woman, having never been pregnant myself. This challenge gave Althea Harper a chance to stand out and have the judges take notice with her jersey design, but it was Shirin who impressed the judges the most, and I again agree with their choice for winner, but I'm not so sure about the loser. I'm wondering if Mitchell knows someone at the network? The judges hated his design because the construction, especially of the shorts, was terrible. It was Malvin Vein and his "chicken & egg" design the judges deemed the worst. Ok, Malvin's design was pretty atrocious, but this was the second week Mitchell was in the bottom three.

Tonight's challenge involves the designers working in teams. I don't think they're too pumped about that. We're down to 14. Tune in at 10pm EST for the new episode. I have also included more video clips at the end of this entry, and you can even choose which designers you want to learn more about.

First in a series about Project Runway, Season Six by Mary Salmon

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If you would like to have your store or products featured on Runway Ready, please email Mary Salmon or Deb Breneman about your business, sales, and events. Happy Shopping! Follow us on Twitter @Runway_Ready

Posted by Mary Salmon at 01:45 AM | Comments (0)

Free Books Online & Songs from iTunes/ The September Issue Opens

Founded in July 2003, Readprint.com is a website that offers over 8,000 online books by 3,500 authors. Many of the books are well-known and/or classics.

You may have seen this website featured on

It is a free online library for students, teachers, and the classic enthusiast. The Top Authors are: Agatha Christie; Charles Dickens; Edgar Allan Poe; George Orwell; Jane Austen; Louisa May Alcott; Mark Twain; O Henry; Oscar Wilde; Robert Frost; William Shakespeare. Their Top Books are: 1984; Animal Farm; Hamlet; Jane Eyre; Paradise Lost; Peter Pan; Pride and Prejudice; The Canterbury Tales; The Great Gatsby; The Invisible Man; The Origin of Species.

The website does come with a warning, "The surgeon general reports that having this many free online books at your disposal can be highly addictive."

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20 Free Songs from iTunes (When you become a fan on Facebook)

Check out their Facebook page for more information on this offer.

Freebie Hunting by Mary Salmon

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The September Issue - Fifth Best Documentary Debut in History!

We loves us some Anna! The September Issue opened in New York this weekend; it grossed $240,078 in six theaters, for an average of $40,013 per screen. That makes it the second-best per-theater average of any 2009 release, according to indieWIRE. It also makes it the fifth-best documentary debut in history, behind 1995 IMAX featurette Across the Sea of Time, Davis Guggenheim’s An Inconvenient Truth, Michael Moore’s Sicko, and Paul Provenza’s The Aristocrats.

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Posted by Mary Salmon at 01:10 AM | Comments (0)

Gossip Girl Season 3/ Leighton & Ed in Elle

The CW has released this brief summary of the September 14 Season Three premiere of Gossip Girl; the episode is titled "Reversals of Fortune." There has been much speculation by fans about what this third season will bring, but these details are the first to be officially released by the network so far.

As the summer is drawing to a close, Blair (Leighton Meester) and Chuck (Ed Westwick) are madly in love and adjusting to their new “in a relationship” status, breaking all the traditional rules of dating as would be expected. Serena returns from her European adventure with many secrets to hide and a complicated relationship with Carter Baizen. Nate returns from his travels with a mysterious brunette, Bree Buckley in tow.

Rufus, Dan, and Jenny spent the summer in the Hamptons, adjusting to the van der Woodsens' glamorous lifestyle surprisingly faster than any of them expected. We also know that Jenny is the new "Queen" of the high schol, and I am certainly looking forward to her reign.

Elle magazine will be featuring Ed Westwick and Leighton Meester in an upcoming issue. The photos are hot - below is just a sampling from their shoot with the fashion magazine that have surfaced online.

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Sonic Youth to Appear on Gossip Girl

One of New York’s greatest bands, Sonic Youth, will perform an acoustic version of their 1986 single “Starpower” on the fifth episode of Gossip Girl this fall.

“Sonic Youth is one of my favorite bands,” Gossip Girl executive producer Stephanie Savage said, “and last year when I was doing my regular Gossip Girl Google search, it came up in some blog about a Sonic Youth show that Thurston [Moore] was playing 'Psychic Hearts' and Gossip Girl was playing on a screen in the background."

"And I was like, ‘Whaaaat? Oh my God. I hope they’re not making fun of us! I hope it was a cool, edgy homage!’ And it turned out that it was - tongue in cheek for sure, but definitely with love, and that they were fans of the show.”

Last year, Moore (who has a 15-year-old daughter with his wife, Kim Gordon) and Be Your Own Pet’s Jemima Pearl cut a cover of the Ramones’ “Sheena is a Punk Rocker” for Jenny Humphrey’s guerrilla fashion show, and the talks continued from there. “We have a very special event coming in episode five that we’re filming right now,” the Gossip Girl show-runner says, “they seemed the ideal musical guest for it.” But, in traditional Gossip Girl fashion, Stephanie Savage is keeping quiet about the exact circumstances of the festivities involved. “It’s a big event that involves [engaged adults] Rufus and Lily. Just draw your own conclusions,” she laughs.

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New Season of Project Runway - Premiere August 20th!

Lifetime has set Aug. 20 for the debut of Project Runway's sixth season after a nine-month delay and the settlement of a lawsuit by NBC Universal, whose Bravo cable network has aired Runway since its inception.
"It did arrive fashionably late, but for us happily the wait is over," says Lifetime CEO Andrea Wong.

It's also the first season to be shot mostly in Los Angeles, which left mentor Tim Gunn nervous. "I was dubious about doing this," he says. "We've been in New York for five years, and New York is the fashion capital." But the location shift, made partly to accommodate pregnant host Heidi Klum, provided "an entirely new backdrop, a point of departure for challenges and a whole new source of inspiration," Gunn says, along with a new crop of guest judges, including Lindsay Lohan.

Project Runway will air Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT, and will be followed at 11 by half-hour spinoff Models of the Runway, which offers a behind-the-scenes look at the competition from the models' point of view. Wong says casting has begun for a seventh season, to be shot in New York and air early next year, with subsequent cycles rotating between both coasts.

Also, for the first time in Project Runway history, eight former fan favorites and Project Runway superstars are returning to the catwalk to compete against one another in the two-hour special, Project Runway: All-Star Challenge. The spirited competition premieres Thursday, August 20, at 8PM ET/PT, before the premiere of the sixth season of Project Runway.

At stake for the designers are not only the ultimate bragging rights, but also a $100,000 cash prize. Will the designers be up to the challenge of returning to the workroom, working under the "Gunn" (as in Tim Gunn) to create a successful fashion line? Are they ready to, once again, face the critiques of Heidi Klum, Michael Kors and Nina Garcia, as they showcase their creations?

The designers competing in Project Runway: All-Star Challenge are as follows: Daniel Vosovic, Season 2; Santino Rice, Season 2; Jeffrey Sebelia, Season 3; Uli Herzner, Season 3; Mychael Knight, Season 3; Chris March, Season 4; Sweet P, Season 4; and Korto Momolu, Season 5.

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"Gossip Girl-Inspired" Reality Show/ Max Azria & Miley Cyrus?/ Donut Day!

NYC Prep Debuts on Bravo June 16

Bravo has ordered a new reality show, said to be inspired by Gossip Girl. The prep school-set documentary series will be called “NYC Prep.” It premieres Tuesday, June 16 at 10pm. Similar to the book series-turned-TV show, “NYC Prep” will follow six high school students who are “firmly entrenched in Manhattan’s social circle,” said Bravo executive vice president and general manager Frances Berwick. He also said, "Bravo continues to intrigue audiences with real-life depictions of relatable characters who live in exclusive worlds.”

This video introduces the new reality show:

And click here to watch an extended 22-minute preview, if you can stand to watch for that long! Let's just say I'm a huge Gossip Girl fan, but part of why of love it is because it isn't real. I'll watch the first episode of NYC Prep, if only to see how bad it is in comparison to Gossip Girl.

-Mary Salmon

You can get to know some of the people on the show a little better in these clips:

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Can Miley Sell Clothes?

Miley Cyrus updated her Twitter page Tuesday evening to announce that she “wanted to let yall know i am making a hugggeee announcement at 7 am tomorrow. cant wait for yall to hear the news.” On Wednesday morning, Miley was not promoting her next tour, but rather the fact that she is joining forces with fashion great Max Azria, the mastermind behind BCBG and Herve Leger, to design an affordable line for Walmart.

Many of the Miley Cyrus and Max Azria looks are inspired by Miley’s rock-and-roll roots. Pieces will include tops, pants, graphic tees, shoes and accessories, all priced under $20! “I love creating looks that are all about personal expression and individuality,” said Cyrus. “Collaborating with Max Azria has been an amazing experience, and I’m really excited about launching this line with Walmart. There’s even more to come!”

The Miley Cyrus & Max Azria Collection will not hit Walmart stores until early August 2009.

Mary Salmon contributed to this article by People.com

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FREE DONUTS TODAY - JUNE 5!

Dunkin' Donuts and Krispy Kreme (if you are lucky enough to live near one) are both giving away a free donut* to every customer today!

Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity to up your saturated fat intake! (For FREE!*)

*At Dunkin' Dounts, you do need to buy a drink to get the free donut.

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"I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here!”/ Fashion in Manchester 6/6

The nightly competition show originates from the Costa Rican jungle, with semi-famous people vying for food, supplies and money for their favorite charities — not to mention coronation as King or Queen of the Jungle. But judging from Monday's debut, most of the action is bickering and eating bugs.No one was eliminated, depriving viewers of that small measure of gratification."The only thing that's certain is, YOU are in control of their lives," co-host Damien Fahey told the audience at the top of the show. Promises, promises. And despite the promise of spontaneity from the show's live segments, most of the seemingly endless two hours was pretaped and carefully edited.

Actor Stephen Baldwin, pro wrestler Torrie Wilson and former Illinois first lady Patti Blagojevich are among the show's 11 contenders. So are lovey-dovey newlyweds Spencer and Heidi Pratt (stars of MTV's "The Hills"), who furnished most of the limited entertainment value while sending the irritation level off the charts. Heidi, skilled at channeling a second-rate version of Paris Hilton, kept the howlers coming. Peering into a tree, she wondered aloud, "Is that a REAL monkey?" And during one of her meltdowns over rustic camp conditions, she declared, "This is just almost borderline real torture. Like I would do to al-Qaida." Meanwhile, hubby Spencer displayed his specialty for sarcasm, with intermittent temper tantrums thrown in for good measure. With numbing regularity, the couple bailed out, then reconsidered, returning to the camp and the competition. But after coming back on one occasion and finding the others had plundered their belongings in their absence, Spencer went ballistic. "Where does it end?! Where does it end?!" he railed, temporarily unhinged. But the Pratts are just two people. There's little hope they can save this show. Nor can former "American Idol" contestant Sanjaya Malakar, or former NBA pro and TV personality John Salley. Nor can the show's dinky challenges, to judge from the debut. They were too inconsequential to describe.

The show's most novel participant is Patti Blagojevich, whose husband, ousted Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, had planned to be on the show until a judge ruled he couldn't leave the U.S. He has pleaded not guilty to federal fraud charges, and in the best sequence of "I'm a Celebrity," his wife filled in as his advocate. Spencer broached the delicate subject, which he called "this big elephant in the room," by asking, "Why is your husband facing jail time? What happened?" "I can't really get into it too much," she replied, "except that they made hoopla out of something that wasn't even true..." Her husband "was fighting special interests down in that entrenched state capitol," she continued. "You make these huge enemies. ... They didn't like that he went around them, see?"

"Just so you know," said Spencer, unexpectedly nice, "when I met him, I was like, this is who I would have voted for the president of the United States of America." Chiming in with more support, one-time supermodel Janice Dickinson told her, "You need to set the record straight, and we're glad you did." Then Patti clasped hands with Spencer and Heidi, who led them in prayer: "I pray that the truth will be revealed. I pray that he will triumph ..."

Wacky, all right. But "I'm a Celebrity" looks like a dud anyway. Can the show get better, airing night after night the next four weeks? Maybe NBC should say its prayers. Source: Yahoo.com

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FLUSH: FUNK & FASHION HEAD TO ManchVegas
MODELS ON THE RUNWAY, LIVE MUSIC ON THE STAGE

Scott Ruffner and his band THE HEAD are heading for ManchVegas to perform live while models showcase fashions and lingerie from hot local designers and boutiques including Ablaze, Top Drawer, Kye Power & La Cage Boutique at Milly’s Tavern on 500 Commercial Street in Manchester on Saturday June 6th from 9:00pm -12:30am. There will be DJ sets and giveaways.

Brought to you in part by Cabin Fever, Whiskey Girls and WXGR FM 101.5. Hair & Makeup will be provided by Signature Style Salon.

By Debbie Breneman

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Paulina Porizkova Fired from America's Next Top Model

Paulina Porizkova got a pink slip from "America's Next Top Model." That's what the model-actress said Tuesday night on CBS' "The Late Late Show," dropping this bombshell to host Craig Ferguson: "Do you know why I'm in Los Angeles, besides seeing you? ... Because I'm looking for a job. Because I was fired by `America's Next Top Model' on my birthday."

Porizkova, who turned 44 on April 9, joined the judges' panel of the popular model-scouting series last year. Wednesday night's 12th season finale on the CW network marks her final appearance. According to Porizkova, the firing happened over the phone. "Just to be fair here, the reason I was told I was fired was because ... it seemed that `America's Next Top Model' had gotten too fat and they needed to cut some fat — and the fat was me," she explained to Ferguson.

Porizkova judged the crop of `Top Model' wannabes alongside fashion insiders J. Alexander, Nigel Barker and the show's creator and host, Tyra Banks. Show representatives Jeff Tobler and Chelsea Hettrick declined to comment beyond confirming Porizkova's departure. The supermodel's publicist, Meghan Prophet, did not return a phone call regarding Tuesday's announcement.

Porizkova joked that her "gigantic huge ego" might have contributed to her untimely reality-show elimination. That prompted Ferguson to ponder whether there was rivalry between her and Banks. Getting serious, she added: "I really believe that they just felt like they didn't need me, which, of course, they don't." source: yahoo.com

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When Debbie Breneman isn’t shopping she’s reading your emails. You can contact her for sales, product info, reviews, interviews, events. You can spill it all at debreneman@gmail.com.

If you would like to have your store or products featured on Runway Ready, please email Mary Salmon or Deb Breneman about your business, sales, and events. Happy Shopping

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Season Two Gossip Girl Finale - "The Goodbye Gossip Girl"

Tonight at 8pm on the CW, Gossip Girl will wrap up its second season with "The Goodbye Gossip Girl;" and the last new episode until Season Three begins on August 31 is one for the ages. (Or so I've been reading!) Last Monday’s episode, "Valley Girls," was the “back-door pilot” to the Gossip Girl spin-off, which may or may not come to fruition. The Gossip Girl spin-off is apparently still under consideration, but now for midseason. Melrose Place and Vampire Diaries are considered locks, with modeling drama Beautiful Life, Life Unexpected (formerly Light Years) and second-year sleeper Privileged battling for the third and final slot.

It was fun re-visiting the 80s, but the problem I had with this episode is that it never picked up the storyline from the previous week. If you recall, Poppy & Gabriel had screwed quite a lot of people out of money. The episode ended with Georgina telling Blair over the phone that, “The bitch is back.” She was there to “finish what [Blair & Co.] obviously couldn’t.” And it would have been nice to see what happened next… as sick as most of us are of the Poppy/Gabriel storyline anyway. It seems that Georgina’s time of being devoted to Jesus Christ has come to an abrupt end, but you had to love the OMJC shirts at the camp!

A few spoilers about tonight’s episode (skip over this paragraph if you don’t want to know!) A couple gets engaged ... and stoned. Carter Baizen makes a surprise appearance. Vanessa will definitely be around next season. Reluctantly, J decides she wants to rule the school. (This I want to see! Though, I wish she weren’t reluctant!) When Serena tries to unmask Gossip Girl, it backfires. Hard. (This sounds GOOOOOD!) We find out Blair's roommate at NYU, and it's someone we know. While Jack Bass does not appear in the episode, he still plays a role. Someone we know - a dude - is falsely accused of being Gossip Girl. We now know what brought Serena to Santorini ... or more accurately, who. Chuck Bass is branded a coward by Gossip Girl in the blogger's shocking graduation blast, and for a while, he certainly lives up to the billing. Lily and Rufus' long-lost love child, Scott, is alive, well, and in New York. No one knows his identity yet, but he has something up his sleeve.

In this scene from early in the episode, Jenny expresses reluctance to throw her hat in the ring to rule the school, but perhaps she'll have a change of heart ...

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My New Wonder Make-up/ Celebrity Apprentice: Joan Rivers Wins

I recently had a chance to try out Bare Escentuals face powder foundation – and let me tell you, it’s fabulous. During a recent trip to Florida, my sister, whom I hadn’t seen in about a year, just looked so flawless, rested and younger. I asked her if she’d been using Botox or fillers. Also, my sister was a sun worshipper in her younger years, which left her with a little blotchy skin on her face that she was always trying to get rid of or cover. “I’m using a new makeup that I love called Bare Escentuals,” she said.

So, of course, I asked if I could give it a try. With just a small portion, I could see an immediate difference with every stroke of the brush. Bare Escentuals went on like silk, minimizing those annoying little lines that most powder makeup reveals and giving my skin a natural luminosity. I didn’t feel like I had makeup on and it didn’t clog up my pores or look cakey. It just left my skin looking completely natural and light, and the color was perfect.

Of course, with the heat in Florida I’d keep reapplying my makeup throughout the day. But with Bare Escentuals it lasted, kept me looking fresh, and with no touchups. You can find Bare Escentuals at the Pink Sapphire boutique on 82 Fleet Street in Portsmouth, NH. Or visit BareEscentuals.com

By Debbie Breneman

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Celebrity Apprentice Winner: Joan Rivers Beats Annie Duke

After beating 14 other Apprentice hopefuls to make it to the final two, Joan Rivers and Annie Duke were given their final task – sell 80 tickets to Cirque du Soleil, throw a celebrity-studded silent auction party for their charity while integrating Kodak’s new video picture frame product. They would be judged by money raised, celebrities in attendance, the silent auction and Kodak brand messaging.

Donald Trump brought back six former contestants to be Rivers and Duke’s helpers. Clint Black, Herschel Walker, Dennis Rodman, Tom Green, Brande Roderick, and Melissa Rivers returned to help with the final challenge. After flipping a coin, Annie got first pick. She chose Brande first while Joan went with Herschel. Annie chose Dennis second and Joan chose Clint. Annie picked Tom last, leaving Joan with her daughter Melissa.

The teams headed off to start on their task. Each was given a large empty space to decorate for their silent auction. They were also given a designer from the same design company. As plans got under way and Cirque du Soleil tickets were sold, Joan began having problems with her designer. He didn’t seem to have any ideas or be of any help. Joan got frustrated and told him she would call in a friend to help them with the design. Apparently, that made the designer mad and he quit.

Over in Annie’s war room, she and Brande attempted to contact their designer, who wasn’t answering the phone. They headed over to the designers office to talk but when they walked in, the receptionist demanded they get the Apprentice cameras out of the building. Annie talked with the designer privately and she claims he said they quit over Joan’s rudeness. Annie is furious with Joan and vows to take her down, calling the comedian a “despicable person.” Both teams were thrown for a loop after their designers quit. It was after 7, no other design companies were open. Annie found a designer who would help while Joan called people with her charity ‘God’s Love We Deliver’ for help.

Annie decorated her room with posters from her charity Refugees international while Joan went with a red, yellow and white theme for Kodak. She created a large Kodak frame in the doorway. Joan also brought in many celebrity impersonators, giving the party a fun atmosphere. Annie brought in her poker players and several celebrities. After the silent auction was over, everyone headed over to the Cirque du Soleil show. In the boardroom, Joan and Annie rehashed their old arguments before Trump, with advice from Apprentice Piers Morgan and former contestant Trace Adkins, hired Joan and fired Annie.
Source: Entertainment News

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CW May Cancel Gossip Girl Spin-off/ Anna Sui to Debut GG Collection

According to reports, the much-talked about Gossip Girl spinoff we were getting ready to see previews of in tonight's episode is no longer happening. The upcoming episode, "Valley Girls," contains flashback scenes which were supposed to provide a tempting taste for next fall's spinoff following the wild teen years of Lily van der Woodsen (played by Brittany Snow) in Los Angeles during the 1980s.

But even though the CW executives reportedly loved its yesteryear vibe, the new show from Gossip Girl executive producer Josh Schwartz went from hot, to lukewarm, to "fading but wouldn't count out," to now dead, according to insiders. With three time slots to fill and six pilots under consideration, the Gossip Girl spinoff apparently didn't make the final cut, for one reason or another.

E! Online, however, is reporting that while the spinoff is indeed battling the new Melrose Place (which looks like a virtual lock) along with The Beautiful Life and Vampire Diaries, reports that it's out of the running completely are premature. Nevertheless, this is not good news for those of us hoping for the spinoff. Here are two scenes from tonight's episode (I adore No Doubt's cover of Stand and Deliver):

Gossip Girl Collection by Anna Sui Coming to Target Sept. 13

Anna Sui will be the second established designer, after Alexander McQueen, to do a collection for Target under the Designer Collaboration series. The line hits stores September 13 in 250 select Target stores and will be available through October 17. Target previously brought us lines by up-and-coming designers like Proenza Schouler and Thakoon for the Go International series, but now they're focusing on established names that will motivate not only fashion-savvy customers, but also the masses, to shop, with the ultimate goal of overtaking its arch nemesis, Wal-Mart.

Target hasn't been able to regain the sales momentum it enjoyed when Isaac Mizrahi designed an exclusive collection for the chain. Meanwhile Wal-Mart basks in the spoils of 11-year-olds blowing allowances on Hannah Montana–embellished comforters and even more terrifying, Hannah Montana dinner plates. This leaves the more sophisticated Target to rope in the 15- to 34-year-old consumer base. And while 9-year-olds love Hannah Montana, 24-year-olds share a similarly strong passion for Gossip Girl. So, in a stroke of marketing genius, Anna Sui's collection will be inspired by the four ladies of Gossip Girl: Blair, Serena, Jenny, and Vanessa. “When I was in Asia last year, all the young girls kept asking me about the different locations in New York City where the characters from ‘Gossip Girl’ live,” Sui told WWD. She used materials like metallic jacquard, herringbone, silk, and chiffon with tulle, lace, and sequin detailing.

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Gossip Girl - Final Episodes of Season. Will Kristen Bell Appear?

This rumor pops up every once in awhile, but this time, Kristen Bell herself has commented on how she wants to make an on-screen appearance as Gossip Girl. The actress who narrates the series as the mysterious blogger - who was seen on set last month - wants to emerge from behind the scenes to play a bit part. I am a HUGE Kristen Bell fan (Veronica Mars is my favorite TV show ever), so I would love to see this happen. At the end of this season, several of the characters are attempting to unmask Gossip Girl, so it could happen...

"I've pitched [exec producer] Josh Schwartz a couple of times for me to be on camera as a waitress or something but he wasn't buying it," Kristen Bell told the New York Daily News. "Hopefully he'll change his mind in the future!"

Tonight's episode is entitled, The Wrath of Con," and here are three previews for you:

The upcoming season finale of Gossip Girl is entitled "The Goodbye Gossip Girl." Here's what the network says is in store for us... Gossip Girl decides to liven things up at the Constance Billard and St. Jude’s graduation by sending out a shocking and damaging email blast in the midst of the commencement ceremony, stirring Serena to come up with a plan of attack. The Mean Girls challenge Jenny to throw her hat in the ring to succeed Blair as Queen Bee next year.

On May 11, Brittany Snow, Krysten Ritter, Andrew McCarthy and No Doubt take us on a wild flashback ride to the 1980s, where 17-year-old Lily Rhodes gets kicked out of her upscale boarding school and runs away to Los Angeles. There, Lily (Snow) reconnects with her parents Rick (McCarthy) and Cece (Cynthia Watros of Lost fame), and sister, Carol (Ritter). This episode of Gossip Girl, "Valley Girls," doubles as the debut of the new '80s spinoff from the GG producers. (Still no word on the new series' title.)

Meanwhile, back in the present day, Blair and Nate attend the prom together, but the evening doesn't turn out exactly as planned. As you might expect, Chuck Bass has a little something to do with that. Serena and Lily don't see eye-to-eye over Serena's recent run-in with the law. We know it involves Gabriel somehow, but what do you suppose she did?

Leighton Meester looking adorable & futuristic at the Star Trek premiere

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Move over ‘Project Runway,’ There’s a New ‘Fashion Show’ in Town

After the Weinstein Company (owner of “Project Runway”) snuck away and negotiated a deal to move "Project Runway" to Lifetime, which has a much larger share of the cable audience, Bravo fights back. Bravo replaced the money show with what some bloggers are calling a “Chinatown knock-off” called “The Fashion Show,” just a month before Season Six of Project Runway starts at Lifetime.

“The Fashion Show” is set to open on Thursday, May 7 at 10:00/9:00c. It'll take over for "The Millionaire Matchmaker," which wraps its second season the previous week. "Fashion Show," hosted by Isaac Mizrahi and Kelly Rowland, "follows professional designers as they strive to make their mark in the dog-eat-dog world of fashion.

The 15 professionals compete for a chance to have their designs sold in the retail market and win a $125,000 prize. Internationally acclaimed designer Isaac Mizrahi shares hosting duties with four-time Grammy Award-winning performer and actress Kelly Rowland. Mizrahi and Rowland will also serve as judges alongside fashion luminary and Senior Vice President of IMG Fashion, Fern Mallis.

Harper's Bazaar is involved, too: the magazine's Special Projects Director Laura Brown will decide the winner of the Mini Challenge every week. Of course, there will be a few differences. The designers competing are considered "professional" and already have established lines, so we fashion gawkers are sure to see some serious catfights and fabulous pieces working the catwalk.

When Debbie Breneman isn’t shopping she’s reading your emails. You can contact her for sales, product info, reviews, interviews, events. You can spill it all at debreneman@gmail.com.

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New Gossip Girl Monday Night, 4/20! No Doubt will Guest Star on Spin-off!

A scene from Monday night's episode, entitled, "Seder Anything," on the CW at 8pm EST

Here's an interesting scene with Blair and Nate's grandfather. Grandfather would like Blair to help Nate make the right choice about going to Yale, and he's willing to pull a few strings for her in return. I have a feeling this Blair/Nate romance can't last for too many more episodes.

Also, those of you who have been following my raving and ranting about this show know that it has irked me that there was an implied sexual liaison between Blair and Chuck's Uncle, Jack, that never came to the surface. Now that Blair and Nate have reunited, E! Online reports that her deeds with Jack will soon come out... and "it barely makes a dent in the storyline." Well, at least it will be addressed, and I don't think anyone really cares if Jack is on the show, anyway.

Tomorrow, Monday, April 20, is the first of the final five episodes of Gossip Girl's sophomore season, and is set to air in as many weeks. When we left our Upper East Side lovelies, Chuck and Vanessa were plotting together to drive Nate and Blair apart, and end up in bed together. Meanwhile, Dan received a letter from a "fan," who happens to be Lily and Rufus' love child. When Dan calls, the kid's father answers his son's phone, and it's pretty obvious that message won't be passed along... but does this kid know who Dan is? Or is it just a crazy coincidence that he saw Dan's story in the New Yorker & enjoyed it so much he wrote the author? Hmmmm...

Oh yeah, and Serina was jetting off to Spain with Poppy, but now if you watch the scenes below... did Serina go with Gabriel alone ... AND MARRY HIM????

The following episode will focus on Serina's relationship with Gabriel, a character rumored to be modeled after Anne Hathaway's infamous ex, Raffaello Follieri, who may not be what he seems... As the poster promoting "A Southern Gentleman Prefers Blondes" reads, "Some guys are just too perfect."

Here are two more scenes from "Seder Anything":

Spin-off Update - We Get Our First Taste In May & No Doubt's Going to Guest Star!

This is the first official photo of Brittany Snow in the role of young Lily. It looks like she's going to be quite the bad-ass. On the May 11 episode, which will serve as the lead-in to this fall's still-untitled spin-off, it looks like Lily finds herself in some serious trouble. As the poster above reads, Serena's mom was a wild child.

It's no secret that No Doubt has a thing for the '80s. In 2003, they released a cover of Talk Talk's 1984 hit "It's My Life," which earned them a Grammy nomination. Then, last Wednesday, Ryan Seacrest posted a link to yet another cover, this one of Adam & the Ants' 1981 track "Stand and Deliver." This is the song the band will perform on the May 11 episode of Gossip Girl, which serves as a "backdoor pilot" for the spin-off series featuring young Lily.

Gossip Girl executive producer Josh Schwartz filled MTV in on some details about the episode and No Doubt's performance on it, the band's first on TV. "As you know, they're reuniting, they're going on tour, and they wanted to do a TV appearance and reached out to us on Gossip Girl," Schwartz said. We came back and asked, 'What about being an '80s band?' So they came on as 'Snow Doubt' and did a cover of Adam & the Ants' 'Stand and Deliver.'

It was amazing." Schwartz said the episode will serve as the jump-off point for the Gossip Girl spin-off, which focuses on the wild, rock-and-roll youth of Eric and Serena van der Woodsen's mom, Lily. "It's about Serena's mom Lily growing up in L.A. in the '80s. And the pilot will air as a series of flashbacks inside the May 11 episode of Gossip Girl," Schwartz said. "We've finished shooting it all, and it all looks great."

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Schick's "Mow The Lawn" Ad/ Julia Roberts' Streaks/ Lip Gloss Tips

Source: nymag.com

It seems like some members of the beauty industry are turning to good old-fashioned, er, bathroom humor to increase sales during these tough times. Every time we watch these out-of-control crazy, hilarious, and semi-offensive-to-the-feminists-among-us new Schick Quattro ads, our jaws drop. Watch this "Mow the Lawn" ad currently on rotation on television channels across the U.K. and you tell us if this makes you want to run out and buy a razor...or if you'd rather not think about hedge clippers and weed wackers in relation to the v-zone. Then again, they're not alone in upping the raunch factor of late: Imadeen, a skin supplement company, has a bawdy new tagline running beneath a photo of a girl lounging on her bed. It reads, "My secret to beautiful skin? I swallow." Wow. Just. Wow.

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Julia Roberts Debuts a Hot (Pink) New Hairstyle Trend

Julia Roberts stepped out to the premiere of Duplicity last week with hot-pink highlights peeking out from under her blonde waves. That's right, America's Sweetheart—not Avril or Gwen or Lady Gaga. And she had Barbie-pink stripes...in her hair.

Julia managed to sneak in a little edge without looking the least bit punk or teen princess. Though, to go with another "P" word, she may have been psychic—cuz freaky color is coming to a salon near you. L'Oréal Professionnel is about to launch a line of crazy-color dyes, like blue, green, orange, and—you guessed it—pink, in mainstream salons across the country. A pro will be able to add them in as highlights, or give you an all-over extreme dye job—if, say, you've always wanted to look like you were wearing a Lime Starburst wig. So true punks are the only real losers here. But hey, they've still got studded dog colors, right? (At least for now.)

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Cosmetic Tip of the Week

Lip Gloss

Lip gloss and lip shine comes in tubes and pots that are convenient to use and give a shimmer and shine to your lips that you have always wished for. They can last for long periods of time and can be water-resistant. They can be applied either over the lipstick or alone for a more natural and nude lip look. Lip-gloss helps to add more volume to your lips and make them look fuller and highlight them on the face. Thus, women with thick lips are generally advised to use it very sparingly.

One can effectively make the lips look more beautiful with the help of lip gloss and other lip products and use it strategically for lip correction. A light film of Chapstick over lips not only protect them and heal them but also helps the lip color to set more effectively.

Lip-gloss directed to the center of the mouth makes your lips look fuller while you can avoid matte lipsticks from drying and flaking by using a lip primer or color fixative before applying it. Special effects and highlights can be achieved by using sheer silver, gold or iridescent lip gloss over lip color.

For evening special effects, apply a sheer lip-gloss in silver, gold or an iridescent shade over the lip color. Vitamin E is good for lips to give them a natural glow while lip balm must be applied before applying lipstick to keep your lips moisturized, nourished and naturally rosy. It also prevents the lips from drying and developing of cracks. Lip gloss adds the emphasis to the lips, but smooth lips make it easier to glide on and lip gloss lasts longer on them. Even, if you are opting for a matte lip color; apply the lip balm before applying lipstick. Use creamy lipsticks for daily use to keep the lips moisturized and add an intense wet look with the help of lip gloss while transforming your makeup from daytime look to a night party look.

And don't forget - FASHION SHOW AT THE PEARL IN PORTSMOUTH TONIGHT!!!!

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If you would like to have your store or products featured on Runway Ready, please email Mary Salmon or Deb Breneman about your business, sales, and events. Happy Shopping!

Posted by Mary Salmon at 06:52 AM | Comments (0)

Project Runway Lawsuit FINALLY Settled! / New Uses for Old Things

Project Runway Moving to Lifetime!

NBC Universal, the Weinstein Company and Lifetime have resolved their disputes," reads a statement from NBC Universal. "The Weinstein Company will pay NBCU for the right to move Project Runway to Lifetime. All of the parties are pleased with the outcome."

I am pleased that we will finally get to see the lost season! Fans have now been deprived of Project Runway for six months, not to mention that the finalists who made it to Fashion Week had to keep their identities secret - what a bummer!

The Los Angeles-set sixth season has already completed filming. Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn will return this summer. The deal guarantees that Project Runway will remain on Lifetime for the next five years and paves the way for the show's spin-off series, Models of the Runway, to begin airing as well. Five More Years!!!! Now THAT is almost worth the wait! Last fall, Lifetime said that, once back on air, the show was expected to resume its pre-network-jumping schedule of two seasons per year.

Christina Aguilera, Eva Longoria Parker and Rebecca Romijn have already filmed guest judge spots for the season.

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New Uses for Stuff You Already Have

Comb - Use to hold nails in place while you hammer them into wood or walls. Hopefully this trick will help you avoid bruised fingers.

Swiffer - Use to clean leather shoes. It is amazing how much dust clings to our footwear.

Pumice Stone - Use to get those little pills off wool sweaters. With a firm hand, brush the garment with the stone. I have tried this out & a few sweaters of mine are much improved because of it.

Fabric Softener - Run through your hair to reduce frizziness. It's a great idea to always carry fabric softener sheets in your purse for those days when you get static cling between your tights and skirts.

Ice Cube Tray - Use to store your smaller pieces of jewelry like rings, earrings, pins. Stack several trays for a modern multitier jewelry box.

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20% Off All Books at RiverRun - Tomorrow

Tomorrow, Sunday, 4/5, is RiverRun Bookstore's Big 7th Anniversary Sale. They are open 9am to 7pm and every book in the store is 20% off. They only do this twice a year, once for their anniversary and once at the beginning of December. Don't miss out!

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If you would like to have your store or products featured on Runway Ready, please email Mary Salmon or Deb Breneman about your business, sales, and events. Happy Shopping!

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SoWa Antiques Market/ It's Official: Sex And The City Returns for Sequel

The SoWa Antiques Market will Debut in the Heart of Boston’s SoWa Arts District

Opening Weekend on Saturday & Sunday May 16 & 17, during the SoWa Art Walk
(Continuing every Sunday through October 25th.)

The SoWa Antiques Market, Boston’s only weekly antiques market, will be a new fun place to browse and shop among the city’s largest selection of antiques and quality collectibles, including vintage fashion, Art Deco, Mid-Century Modern furniture, jewelry, books, art glass and more.

Antiques dealers from throughout New England will join for the first time a wide variety of vendors who gather every Sunday from May 17th through October 25th in Boston’s South End for the SoWa Open Market, which has gained popularity over the past 6 years as a vibrant weekly outdoor marketplace.

The SoWa Antiques Market will be held rain or shine at 540 Harrison Avenue in the historic trolley barn. Admission and parking is free. For information call (781) 862-4039 or visit the website. SoWa Antiques Market is managed by Marvin Getman of New England Antique Shows.

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The Sex and the City Women Return for Sequel

Girls, mark your calendars and start picking out your Manolos. The long-awaited, official announcement that “Sex and the City 2” will, in fact, return arrives by way of a release date: May 28, 2010. According the Variety, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis will all return with director/writer Michael Patrick King.

It seems Warner Bros. and New Line are hoping lightening will strike twice with their choice of opening weekend. “SATC 2″ will hit theaters on the same weekend that it did for the first film’s release, which was May 20, 2008. Rumors surrounding the sequel have been around for months now, with Patricia Fields more or less confirming it in January, and then E! News reporting its confirmation in February.

So, what can we expect to be in store for the quartet? Details have yet to be released, but back in November Sarah Jessica Parker told MTV News’ Josh Horowitz that a little Big-Carrie bundle of joy would be out of character. “[Motherhood] doesn’t seem as if that’s going to be a choice she’ll make. It feels a little bit manipulative to toss that into the mix because she seems so pointed in a different direction.”

Whether it’s babies or boyfriends, the ladies’ return is sure to bring in the box office bucks next May. Source: MTV

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When Debbie Breneman isn’t shopping she’s reading your emails. You can contact her for sales, product info, reviews, interviews, events. You can spill it all at debreneman@gmail.com.

*** If you would like to have your store or products featured on Runway Ready, please email Mary Salmon or Deb Breneman about your business, sales, and events. Happy Shopping! ***

Posted by Mary Salmon at 07:07 AM | Comments (0)

Celebrity Apprentice: Rodman Fired For Drinking/ Summer Shoe Trends

The challenge on Celebrity Apprentice this week was perhaps the hardest the teams have faced. KOTU and Athena had to run a set of five rooms each at Loews Regency Hotel in New York.

Tionne Watkins and Dennis Rodman were chosen at the project managers. Each team had 30 minutes of training in each area of work, which included how to make the beds and clean the rooms. Joan Rivers stepped up to be concierge for Athena while Clint Black and Brian McKnight KOTU. Each team steps up to clean their rooms before guests arrive.

Athena is running smoothly and on time while KOTU gets off to a rough start. They are behind on their cleaning and when their first guest arrives, neither Brian nor Clint were there to greet him. Each guest checks in and has a list of places they want to go and tickets they need. Joan got the tickets and dinner reservations right on time. Clint and Brian struggled to get their guests requests filled quickly.

After starting off as a strong project manager, Dennis soon began ordering vodka cranberries and their challenge went downhill from there. He decided to go eat dinner with two of the guests and then stripped in the hallway. The men were shocked at Dennis’ behavior and all agreed that he has a drinking problem. The women worked well together and their only big mistake was Joan forgot to tell several guests of extra charges and fees.

In the boardroom, Jesse James brought up Dennis’ drinking problem. Everyone agreed that his drinking affected the task. The mood in the boardroom was sad as they talked to Dennis about the problem. After announcing the women won the challenge, Donald Trump fired Dennis.

In the ending credits, a message for help with alcohol abuse problems was posted with --the website for Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).

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Shoe Fashion Trends for Spring and Summer 2009

There are eleven most common clues for shoes fashion in Spring/Summer 2009 and they include:

1) Hot tints. The main color of shoes will be orange. It is lively, dynamic and bright. Other top trend colors include pink, white, red, purple, violet, all shades of grey, browns and metallics. With these colors women will look pretty feminine.

2) Establishment of flowers. Variuos sizes and shapes flower ornaments will be emphasized not only in garments but also in shoes during upcoming season. Flowers will ephasize women's beauty and they will make shoes look elegant and sophisticated.

3) Details of heavy metal. Shoes will be decorated with various chains, snaps, zippers or buckles. Because of that, they will look modern and nice.

4) Cut-Out Booties. It will be very common to cut away different shoes parts. For example, shoes with cut-away sides or cut-out heels will be very popular in spring and summer.

5) Gladiator shoes. High – heeled and bold colors gladiator shoes will be the top trend during the following seasons.

6) Flat shoes. Flat shoes will be colorful and playful, they will also be decorated with various ornaments.

7) Variety of materials. Shoes will be made of mixed media like canvas and leather side by side or ultra-soft leathers and more patents. Printed fabrics and textiles will domite too.

8) Reptile leather. Snake prints on shoes will be especially common during spring and summer.

9) Folk motives. The biggest attention is taken to Egyptian – inspired sandals and Greek style shoes, which will be decorated with jewels.

10) Fringing. Fringes associate with western movies. It is advisable to create this style shoes with colors like camles, brown or black.

11) Sophisticated decorations. Shoes will be decorated with luxurious gems and rhinestones. These details make them look very special.

To summarize, the most important trends of shoes for upcomming spring and summer are platform, various ornaments, fringes and belts. Open and closed shoes will be fashionable. The dominant Greek or Roman style shoes (etc. "gladiator" shoes) will be on the fashion top. The main colors will be orange, pink, black, white, grey, brown, silver and gold. Important are also flower, reptile skin and folk motives. Despite the fact that the biggest attention is taken to high – heeled shoes, flat shoes also dominates in new Spring/Summer collections. Visit piperlime.com to view more.

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When Debbie Breneman isn’t shopping she’s reading your emails. You can contact her for sales, product info, reviews, interviews, events. You can spill it all at debreneman@gmail.com.

*** If you would like to have your store or products featured on Runway Ready, please email Mary Salmon or Deb Breneman about your business, sales, and events. Happy Shopping! ***

Posted by Mary Salmon at 07:00 AM | Comments (0)

Gossip Girl's Wild Party for Jenny/ Free Pantene / Rose Bryant Offer

Gossip Girl's focus on tonight's episode (8pm EST on the CW) will be Jenny Humphrey, who is turning 16. From the promo clips we gather that her party gets out of control. This episode also brings back the A-list friend of Serina, Poppy Lifton, who you may remember from the Fashion Week episode.

Chuck has finally decided he wants Blair. Blair wants Chuck, but she already tried too hard to get him to love her, and now she's moving on... to Nate? This does not look good for Vanessa, but she should be dating someone more intelligent, anyway. Nate is nice to look at, and I liked that Vanessa seemed to help bring out the best in him, but she was clearly upset when he chose a summer internship that his grandfather scored for him over the trip he had already planned with Vanessa.

What are Chuck and Vanessa to do? Both are jilted lovers.... leading to a perfect Gossip Girl plot (obviously, this must be Chuck's idea) to make their respective past lovers jealous. What's fun about watching Chuck and Vanessa together romantically on the show is that they probably aren't acting in their kissing scenes (I did read that they go a bit further than kissing...), as they have been dating since before Christmas in real life.

And I guess the Humphrey's are moving... in with Lily? Somewhere else on the upper-east side? The best moment in this clip is not Dan's lame recitation of the theme song to The Jeffersons, but rather Jenny lecturing him to stop watching so many old sit-coms on hulu...

What's the Latest with The Gossip Girl Spin-off? And When Can We Stop Calling It 'The Gossip Girl Spin-off?'

Brittany Snow and Andrew McCarthy on the set.

That's really all I've got. Well, that and a crazy rumor that once the spin-off (which will not be called Lily, Lily of the Valley, or The Valley - which is good, because I don't like any of those titles...) is up and running, the characters on that show may interact with the characters on the O.C. (Great! How many seasons of that show will I have to catch up on??) Here's one more promo for tonight's episode, but I find it annoying that the voiceover is being done by someone other than Kristen Bell...

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Free Full Size Pantene - Limited Time Offer

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Special April Offer: Purchase Any Rose Bryant Painting at Divine Cafe and Receive a Free Lunch

Rose Bryant and her friends at Divine Cafe are celebrating the beginning of spring. Stop in and have a fantastic, wholesome, dining experience at the Divine Cafe, plus enjoy Rose's color on their walls. Check out Rose's blog for more information.

While you are there say, "Rose Sent Me," and get a free "thank you" art card just for stopping in. If you see a painting you absolutely "must have," and then purchase it, your lunch for one is free that day or you can choose a $15 gift certificate to use for a later day. This offer is good only for the month of April. One art card per visitor. Happy dining!

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If you would like to have your store or products featured on Runway Ready, please email Mary Salmon or Deb Breneman about your business, sales, and events. Happy Shopping!

Posted by Mary Salmon at 07:00 AM | Comments (0)

Gossip Girl TONIGHT! More Spin-off Scoop & Leighton Singing

New Gossip Girl TONIGHT! 8pm on the CW

This is the sneak peek we saw at the end of last week's episode. The episode airing tonight is entitled, 'The Grandfather':

I have decided not to post any spoilers. There's obviously going to be friction between Vanessa and Nate, now that his grandfather has entered the picture, he'll be sucked back into the world of wealth and power. Vanessa and Nate were never meant to be... Blair is with Carter at the end of last week's episode & it seems that she has decided to pursue Carter, just as Chuck finally comes to realize Blair is the one... Well, since the Blair/Chuck relationship is the best thing GG has going, they may as well drag it out ... for seasons! I also adore the black and white dress Blair is wearing in this episode & must find out who the designer is and how much it costs.

"Three DUIs now, is it?"


"I'm not going to play Where's Waldorf all night."

Gossip Girl Spin-Off Update

Gossip Girl head honcho Josh Schwartz spoke with E! Online this week about his man upcoming projects, including the Gossip Girl spinoff. Here's what he had to say:

Q: What's the skinny on the Gossip Girl spinoff?

A: We just finished shooting [the Gossip Girl episode that will serve as the spinoff pilot] and I'm really excited. I mean, you know obviously it's going to be out of my hands at a certain point in terms of whether it can move forward, but Brittany Snow is so good.

Q: She did kick ass on Nip/Tuck.

A: Funny. That's the footage that sealed the deal for me. When I saw her reel, and I saw the Nip/Tuck stuff and saw she could go to that bitch, badass side, I knew we had our Lily right then because eventually she's going to have to go there. She doesn't start off as that person, but she will become her.

Q: Will the show focus on Lily and Rufus and Allison at all? Or Serena's father?

A: No, it's Lily and her sister Carol. Brittany and Krysten Ritter have amazing chemistry as these mismatched sisters and Andrew McCarthy plays their father, which is incredible. We also got No Doubt to record a cover of Adam and the Ants' "Stand and Deliver" just for the show. They're going on tour and they don't have an album, so this is the only new song that they've done. They performed it on the show and everybody, Gwen [Stefani] and the band, were just super into it.

"Yeah, Bette Davis. I love her eyes ... her hair is Harlow gold." -S

Last week, in 'The Age of Dissonance,' Serena says, "Yeah, Bette Davis. I love her eyes ... her hair is Harlow gold." In context, probably the funniest line of the episode. I just found a video of Leighton Meester (Blair) singing Bette Davis Eyes:

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If you would like to have your store or products featured on Runway Ready, please email Mary Salmon or Deb Breneman about your business, sales, and events. Happy Shopping!

Posted by Mary Salmon at 09:55 AM | Comments (0)

Gossip Girl is Back! / Another Veronica Mars Alum Joins Spin-off

Gossip Girl is finally back! (On the CW, tomorrow night - Mar. 16 - at 8pm EST). The episode is entitled "The Age of Dissonance;" The Constance Billard and St. Jude seniors are putting on a school play together. Participation is mandatory and this year's selection is "The Age of Innocence."

Blair receives terrible news as soon as the episode begins. Nelly Yuki got into Yale instead of her. The head Mistress confirms that someone leaked Blair's hazing of Ms. Carr to the school and they rescinded her early acceptance as a result. Nelly pleads not guilty to this charge, so Blair is left to wonder who ratted her out. The suspicions intensify as everyone received a Gossip Girl blast that outlines Blair's former, shady relationship with Marcus. Now, Blair knows who the culprit must be: Vanessa.

Meanwhile, Serena has enlisted Vanessa's help: Serina has a crush on the self-involved play director and needs Vanessa to help her get his attention. The director, Julian, heads over to Serena's apartment prior to opening night of the play. As they read lines together, Vanessa is on a blue-tooth, whispering helpful pieces of information into Serena's ear, the sort of insight into old books and movies that a haughty, stuffy director would appreciate. Unfortunately, Nate overhears Vanessa speaking sweet nothings into the phone - for Serena to relay to Julian across town, and thinks she is speaking to Julian herself. He suspects that something is going on between these two.

Gossip Girls in the Magazines...

Jessica Szohr (Vanessa) is on the cover of the April issue of Lucky magazine.

Blake Lively (Serina) is on the cover of the April UK edition of Marie Claire

InStyle magazine features Leighton Meester (Blair) this month

Gossip Girl Spin-off Update

I am thrilled to report that Ryan Hansen has been cast on the Gossip Girl spin-off. He is the actor who played Dick Casablancas on Veronica Mars. Lost alum Cynthia Watros is close to a deal to play Lily's mom, CeCe. Andrew McCarthy is also joining the cast, as Lily's father.

Here is a photo of Brittany Snow in costume, as the young Lily van der Woodsen. It is going to be a lot of fun to revisit 80s fashion on the spin-off!

For more Gossip Girl promo clips, information on upcoming Season 2 episodes & the Spin-off, check out the Feb 28 entry of Runway Ready.

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If you would like to have your store or products featured on Runway Ready, please email Mary Salmon or Deb Breneman about your business, sales, and events. Happy Shopping!

Posted by Mary Salmon at 08:25 PM | Comments (0)

Gossip Girl Spin-off Stars Brittany Snow/ Rihanna & Brown Reconcile

The good news - I finally have a new Gossip Girl promo clip to share with you... Oh, and Gossip Girl is getting a third season!!! Hooray! (It was just announced this past Tuesday, 2/24.)

The bad news... the next episode is not on until March 16!!! Luckily, I have a lot of new scoop on the spin-off to share with you in the meantime.

You've been reading about the rumored Gossip Girl spin-off for awhile now, thanks to the obsession of yours truly with the original series. (I should mention that I was at a party last weekend where I met a woman in her late 40s/early 50s who claimed that Gossip Girl was her favorite show; it's not just for the kids! She was afraid she had missed an episode, but was relieved when I informed her of these arduous weeks of re-runs we have been forced to endure.) On Feb. 6, Runway Ready revealed that former Veronica Mars actress Krysten Ritter landed the role of Carol, Lily's troubled older sister. Now I have learned that the lead in the spin-off, the young Lily van der Woodsen, will be played by American Dreams star Brittany Snow. I like her more as a blonde, anyway... I wonder what the name of the spin-off will be???

Kelly Rutherford and Brittany Snow

A 'friend' says, "Brittany is thrilled. She loves the original show and thinks the 1980's concept sets the spin-off apart from other series on television. She can't wait to wear all the fabulous outfits and really sink her teeth into the role." In December, Star exclusively reported that a Gossip Girl spin-off was in the works focusing on Lily van der Woodsen's scandalous teen years growing up in 1980s Los Angeles. There have been tons of rumors and guesses about who would play the young Lily, including Kristen Bell and Amanda Siegfried, but it's the American Dreams actress Brittany Snow who will have the honor.

Brittany Snow has also appeared the movies Hairspray and John Tucker Must Die. She was apparently the top choice for producers, who thought she would be perfect for the part of young Lily, played on Gossip Girl by Kelly Rutherford. As of yesterday morning, the deal had not yet been finalized, but rumor had it that Brittany was made a terrific offer earlier this month, without having to audition. Later in the day, Krysten Ritter, who will play Lily's sister Carol Rhodes on the show, confirmed to E!, "they just cast Brittany Snow. It's definitely official, and I think I'm the first one to know that. It wasn't official earlier, I saw on the Internet, but now it is official."

I really liked Brittany in John Tucker Must Die, and I guess I'm intrigued to see how this whole spin-off plays out. Does anyone really care about L.A. in the 80s? Especially viewers in the 18-25 demographic that advertisers are so desperately trying to reach? I guess as long as the writing is as sharp and fun as it is on Gossip Girl, this show has a chance. It just doesn't have a gimmick (yet) like the ubiquitous Gossip Girl with her text alerts to and about "Manhattan's elite." What's the hook? Watching young Lily swoon over young Rufus will get old...

The pilot will air on May 11, 2009 as a Gossip Girl episode, one week before the Season 2 finale.

What else is going to happen this season on Gossip Girl?

The last episode of Gossip Girl (yes, it does seem like ages ago...) ended with Dan and Ms. Carr getting to know each other better... naked...

It looks like Dan and Serina are done for now, but Dan and Rachel are going to have to keep their relationship on the down low if there's any chance of her keeping her job.

Sneak Peeks of Upcoming Episodes

March 16: "The Age of Dissonance" - Sebastian Stan (the real-life boyfriend of Leighton Meester) returns for multiple episodes as Chuck's nemesis, Carter Baizen. Chuck is having trouble dealing with the mystery of who his father was and how he spent his spare time. Nate catches Vanessa flirting with another guy, and in a moment of desperation, reluctantly turns to Blair for help. Dan purposely ignores Serena's calls and tells Ms. Carr that things are beyond complicated between the two of them right now. Ms. Carr chooses not to take her job back and spends most of her time in an empty apartment with her new fling. At the same time, Lily and Rufus question where their relationship is going and talk very casually about merging their households, Chuck Bass, however, is strongly against the idea.

This photo was recently leaked, but I don't know if it will be in the 3/16 episode or not. Dan and Blair will appear on stage together at some point...

March 23: "The Grandfather" - Carter instantly causes trouble for Chuck and further angers him when he tries his moves on Blair Waldorf. Meanwhile, Vanessa receives an offer from Nate's grandfather that is difficult to refuse.

March 30: "Remains of the J," - As Jenny has second thoughts about her future, Tamara Feldman returns as socialite Poppy Lifton, and Armie Hammer makes his first appearance in the role of Gabriel Serrano, Poppy's boyfriend who sweeps Serena off her feet with a romantic vacation. Both guest stars will appear in multiple episodes.

April 20, "Seder Anything" - Wallace Shawn returns as Cyrus Rose, Eleanor Waldorf's husband.

April 27, "Loose Ends" - Michelle Trachtenberg returns as the manipulative Georgina Sparks for a four-episode arc, taking us through the end of the second season.

May 4, "TBA" - Introduces the love child of Lilly and Rufus, who is indeed alive, and returns to his parents needing to finish his Senior Year of high school.

May 11, "TBA" - No Doubt will appear and perform their song "Stand and Deliver" for the first time ever on Gossip Girl. This episode will also introduce the Gossip Girl spin-off as a "backdoor pilot."

May 18, "TBA" - Season Two Finale...

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Lost Season of Project Runway

A design by an unnamed “Runway” contestant.

Remember how Project Runway was leaving Bravo to go to Lifetime? Remember how they filmed an entire season? Maybe not, as it still has not aired due to a major lawsuit holding up the works. Project Runway didn't let that keep them from the Fashion Week challenge last week, on Feb. 20. Around 1,000 people turned out to look at the three finalists' creations, but the designers' identities are being kept secret.

"I'm a little bit sad for our designers that they don't get that recognition," said Heidi Klum. "They worked so hard." Lifetime bought the show's rights for the next five years for a reported $200 million, and planned to debut season six in January. The episodes shot last fall will remain unseen, however, until the dispute is settled between the Weinstein Company (Project Runway's producer) and NBC Universal (Bravo's parent company) regarding who has the right to air the series. In 2008, the Weinstein Company sold Project Runway to Lifetime. NBC Universal, which owns Bravo, sued the Weinstein Company, claiming it had a right to first refusal of the series. In September of 2008, a judge granted NBC an injunction, preventing Lifetime from promoting or exhibiting the series and the two spin-offs they had planned. It remains unknown on which network season six will air.
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Rihanna and Chris Brown - Back Together?!

In some very unexpected news, People magazine is reporting that they have learned exclusively that Rihanna and Chris Brown have reunited. This is about three weeks since Brown allegedly battered the "Umbrella" singer on Feb. 8. "They're together again. They care for each other," says the source. The on-again couple are currently spending time together at one of Sean "Diddy" Combs's homes, on Miami Beach's Star Island.

"While Chris is reflective and saddened about what happened, he is really happy to be with the woman he loves," says a source. People also reports In its latest issue that Brown called Rihanna on her 21st birthday one week ago. "He called to wish her happy birthday," a source told the magazine. "They've reached out to each other. It's been mutual." Brown was booked by LAPD for making criminal threats but the case has not yet been presented to the District Attorney, who will ultimately determine which charges, if any, will be prosecuted.
source: people

When Mary Salmon is not watching teen dramas or reality television, she enjoys sleeping, playing with her cat, and reading your emails, but not simultaneously...
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If you would like to have your store or products featured on Runway Ready, please email Mary Salmon or Deb Breneman about your business, sales, and events. Happy Shopping!

Posted by Mary Salmon at 12:02 AM | Comments (0)

Joss Whedon's Dollhouse/ Bizarre- Joaquin Phoenix on Letterman

Swagbucks - Get Free Stuff Just For Searching the Web

Everyone loves free stuff, right? I know I do, so I'm going to try out this website, and report back in a few months if I have actually scored any good swag. If you sign up here & register (it's free), you will win all the swag that your friends who sign up through you win, as well as the swag you earn yourself. Swagbucks.com is a search engine that offers you the chance to win cool prizes from swagbucks.com every time you search. It says that the search results are from Google and Ask.com. This site believes very strongly in rewarding our users for their loyalty, and prizes are their way of thanking you. No registration is required. SIGN UP HERE!
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Do Buffy Fans Have A Reason To Live Again?

Don't miss the premiere episode of FOX's anticipated 2009 series, "Dollhouse," starring Eliza Dushku and Tahmoh Penikett! DOLLHOUSE will air on Fridays at 9:00pm EST beginning on February 13th on FOX. This is one new show, especially if you are a fan of Joss Whedon, that you do not want to miss! PREMIRE IS THIS FRIDAY THE 13th ON FOX AT 9PM EST.

The Lovely Eliza

Echo, played by Eliza Dushku, is an "active," a member of a highly illegal and underground group who have had their personalities wiped clean so they can be imprinted with any number of new personas. Confined to a secret facility known as the "Dollhouse," Echo and the other actives including Sierra (Dichen Lachman) and Victor (Enver Gjokaj) carry out engagements assigned by Adelle (Olivia Williams), one of the Dollhouse leaders. The engagements cater to the wealthy, powerful and connected, and require the actives to immerse themselves in all manner of scenarios - romantic, criminal, uplifting, dangerous, comical and the occasional "pro bono" good deed.

After each scenario, Echo, always under the watchful eye of her handler Boyd (Harry Lennix), returns to the mysterious Dollhouse where her thoughts, feelings and experiences are erased by Topher (Fran Kranz), the Dollhouse's genius programmer. Echo enters the next scenario with no memory of before. Or does she?

As the series progresses, FBI Agent Paul Ballard (Tahmoh Penikett) pieces together clues that lead him closer to the Dollhouse, while Echo stops forgetting, her memories begin to return and she slowly pieces together her mysterious past.

Eliza Dushku on Jimmy Kimmel Live 8-6-08

Stay up to date by checking in with other Dollhouse Fans. The homepage of the site reads, "I think this is the breath of fresh air everyone has been praying for: Joss Whedon back at his best. The man never lets his audiences down, so naturally people are expecting the delivery of something spectacular with Dollhouse. I'm sure they won't be disappointed." Visit the forums and discuss what you think about the new series. Will Joss Whedon live up to the standards set by shows such as Buffy & Angel? What is your opinion on the choice of Eliza Dushku for main role?
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Jessica Simpson Expands Fashion Line

Despite coming under criticism for her recent weight gain Jessica Simpson is not letting the critics get to her and is planning to expand her fashion line. The range already includes dresses, handbags, shoes and boots and Jess plans to add lingerie and nightwear to the collection. Jessica also has plans to move onto new markets including home interiors and is working with her mother Tina on new ideas.

She told Contactmusic: "I'm blessed to have so many ways to express myself. The ability to sit with my mum and find patterns, to go vintage shopping and create dresses - that's a mother and daughter's dream. We're talking luggage and bedding now. What I'm really looking forward to is jeans and all the comfy clothes. That's what I wear every single day of my life!"

Macy's has several items from her collection available.
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Michelle Obama to Grace the Cover of Vogue

“It’s a wonderful achievement for Vogue,” said editor at large André Leon Talley, who interviewed Obama for an hour at the Hay-Adams Hotel a few weeks before the inauguration. Vogue has photographed the new first ladies since 1929, when the first was President Herbert Hoover’s wife, Lou Henry Hoover.

Obama’s cover portrait, said Talley, “absolutely reflects who she is without any questions. There’s such a warmth that she emanates. It’s the warmest cover you’ve seen in a long time on Vogue. Models pose, actresses pose. This is a real woman.” Indeed...

Obama is the second first lady to be featured on a cover of Vogue; Hillary Clinton was the first.
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Joaquin Phoenix talks (or doesn't) about his new film "Two Lovers." This is a classic awkward Letterman interview. What's up with Joaquin Phoenix? Is he acting or is there something seriously wrong with him?

Posted by Mary Salmon at 07:11 AM | Comments (0)

Confessions of a Stylist/14 Days of Love/Bella Intimates Brings Sexy Back

Confession of a Stylist: Patricia Field

Although Patricia Field is probably most well-known for creating Carrie Bradshaw's look on "Sex and the City," she's been in the fashion business for years and has served as the costume designer for many movies and TV shows including "The Devil Wears Prada" and "Ugly Betty."

Another character lucky enough to be styled by Ms. Field is "Confessions of a Shopaholic's" Rebecca Bloomwood played by Isla Fisher. If you've never read Sophie Kinsella's best-selling series of books that the movie is based on, Bloomwood is a writer who dreams of working for her favorite fashion magazine -- and also happens to be obsessed with shopping. Although the movie doesn't debut in theaters until February 13, Field gave omg! a little insight into Rebecca's colorful wardrobe, as well as her own personal style.

How would you describe Rebecca Bloomwood's style?
"It reflects her shopaholic affliction. It's bold, it's eclectic, it's hyper-reality. Her whole room is a closet, so [her wardrobe] is massive. When you have this volume, you can put it together in so many [different] ways because you have so much to choose from."

Which designers did you turn to when dressing Rebecca?
"I got her a lot of clothes from Tokyo -- Harajuko Shibuya, which is young fashion, lots of color. [Isla's] little and the clothes.

Read on...

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Two Portsmouth State Street retailers receive statewide recognition

Two Portsmouth State Street retailers receive statewide recognition New Hampshire Magazine: “Living Large on Less” Puttin’ on the Glitz & Upscale Resale Affordable luxuries on Portsmouth’s Historic State Street “today’s economy presents tremendous buying opportunities. It’s a buyer’s market…if you know where to look” - New Hampshire Magazine

Portsmouth, New Hampshire…Puttin on the Glitz and Upscale Resale, two retailers on Historic State Street in downtown Portsmouth, were featured in a New Hampshire Magazine article focused on finding “hidden retail treasures” in the state, a list compiled from interviews across New Hampshire by reporter Darren Garnick. His January “Living Large on Less” guide gave hot tips on finding those “tremendous buying opportunities” he says are part of today’s economy.

From “Living Large on Less”
It’s a buyer’s market… if you know where to look. The advice, to appreciate more sunsets, squeeze in more hugs with the family and bake more yummy cookies, resonates strongly during these turbulent economic times — especially to the thousands of New Hampshire families smacked this winter by power-robbing ice storms. But even the most sentimental Americans still love to own nice stuff. And Granite Staters, of course, are no different.

In downtown Portsmouth, Puttin’ on the Glitz boutique owner Assiah Russell’s mantra is that jewelry is not meant to be stored in a safe deposit box. Her sales pitch is that “Daily Jewels” — fine crystals, beads, art glass and semi-precious stones — can represent “the soul and personality of the woman wearing them.”
“Costume jewelry, or fashion jewelry, as it is now called, arose in the 1920s and ’30s when women wanted to look great in a down economy,” she says. “Also, women who were rich and had precious jewels did not want to travel with them, but would not be seen without jewelry. It is like gilding the lily or putting the icing on the cake. We believe it is… about... finding the jewels to accent each woman’s uniqueness,” adds Russell, who also specializes in vintage beaded purses from Europe.

A few blocks away Upscale Resale owner Janet Solomon agrees with the glitz philosophy of daily high fashion. Solomon, who also owns a seasonal high-end thrift store in Ogunquit, Maine, focuses mainly on artsy clothing. “If a woman knows her labels, she’s going to flip out when she comes in my store,” she predicts. “A good label will fit the body much better, it will hold up longer and it will be the item in your closet that you reach for first. It’s like anything else in this world. You get what you pay for.”

Also-February is the month for lovers, friends, champagne, sweets and lovely gestures of affection...

It's time for Valentine's Day, with all it's romance. It's time for precious little things to help us get through the doldrums of winter. At Puttin' on the Glitz we have a Wish List that makes Valentine's Day shopping fun and easy for both the giver and the receiver! Come in and browse, see what's new, and we'll help you fill out your wish list. Drop a hint to that special someone and leave the rest to us.

Flower brooches - put one on your lapel now and on the brim of your sun hat later, starting at just $20!

Jeweled belts - leather belts with crystal buckles or adornment, starting at $59.

Belladonna - another of Puttin' on the Glitz's preferred lines, their latest collection of chandelier earrings is gorgeous in silver and moonlight crystal.

Custom Color Design featuring Swarovski Crystals - working with two international companies, Belladonna from Canada and Atlantis from Germany, we now have the entire Swarovski Crystal Color library available by special order. Whether you choose a simple and elegant piece in one solid color, or create your own stunning collection in any color combination, you can special order any necklace, bracelet or earrings to compliment your wardrobe. Custom color crystals will bring a special glamour to bridal parties or any special occasion that demands your ensemble have just the right combination of color and sparkle. Call us or come in for a complimentary consultation.

Visit Assiah Russell at Puttin' on the Glitz where you'll find many treasures: Daily jewels & accessories, vintage handbags, bridal & special occasion and extraordinary Luxuries at ordinary prices
150 State Street, Portsmouth, NH 03801 603-436-5600
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14 Days of Love

Show your partner just how much you care this year by celebrating your love for the 14 days leading up to Valentine's Day. Your sweetheart is sure to be swept off their feet by these tokens of love, sweet surprises, and romantic rendezvous. Feel free to switch up these 14 ideas and do them in any order, or take some of ours and add in some of your own! Whatever way you do it, this will surely be a Valentine's Day your partner will never forget.

Day 1 - Send an LYC ecard
Send your love an e-card today to kick off your 14 days of love. If you have trouble choosing just one, send one every day until Valentine’s Day! No membership required, totally free, and sure to put a smile on their face. LYC has new cards to choose from every week.

Day 2 - Dinner in Bed
Pamper your love tonight with dinner in bed. Casual or elegant picnics in bed are a fun, romantic way to step outside of the box and connect with your partner. See tips and ideas here.

Day 3 - Desktop Theme
"Like so many out there, there my partner lives overseas. For Valentine's Day, I created a Windows desktop theme of myself for him. I made icons for the recycle bin, wallpaper, and even cursors. I didn’t get around to making sounds (which would've been lines from our favorite songs) but I made great screensavers. I make two different themes -- a "nice" theme and a "naughty" one. I zipped each theme up individually and sent them both to him. Watching his face on the webcam as he opened them, realizing what they were, then exploring them even more was absolutely wonderful and he adored them. Especially the cursors in the naughty theme, hehe."
--submitted by ShineyAngel

Day 4 - Whisk your partner away for an impromptu picnic or to watch the sunset.
See more “Intimate Gestures That Anyone Can Do!”

Day 5 - Take an LYC love quiz together
With questions that range from your favorite childhood memories to what you’ve always wanted to do in bed, these love quizzes will have you sharing and connecting like never before.

Day 6 - Make them a good old fashioned compilation CD
Burn them a disk of great songs today. Choose love songs that tell how you feel, songs from your favorite movies, songs on their favorites list, or a well planned out mood trip (guide how your love will feel from the minute they leave the house to when they get to work and then back home with your playlist – make them laugh, touch their soul and remind them of just how much you care). Package it up real sweet or slip it into their car CD player for a fun surprise.

Day 7 - Read to each other from a favorite novel, book of poetry, or erotica.
If you don't already have some, LYC has plenty of reader-submitted romantic stories, poems, and erotica to choose from. See more bedtime romance ideas.

Day 8 - Treat your love to lunch
There is a romantic idea to fit any schedule…

Meet them for a lunch date at their favorite restaurant.
Pack them a special lunch with a sweet love note or Valentine treat.
Have one of their favorite restaurants deliver lunch to them at work.
Bring lunch to them for an office picnic.
Pack a picnic and have them meet you at the park on their lunch break.
Plan a steamy lunch date.

Day 9 - Play a romantic game for two

We’ve got some great suggestions from LYC readers, as well as our own versions of our favorite classic games gone romantic. Grab a bottle of wine or a couple of beers, a yummy snack tray, and let the games begin!

Day 10 - Ten Reasons Why
"For Valentine's Day, I cut out several hearts that led my boyfriend from the front door to the bedroom. He opened the door to a room full of balloons that covered the ground completely, with some balloons overlapping. In the middle of the room, on a chair, there was a stuffed black dog with boxing gloves on that read, "You're a Knock Out," (this was perfect since he loves to box)! There was a poem sitting beside it with candy kisses all around. In the entire room full of balloons, he had to find the 10 special balloons and pop them to find the hidden messages, which were 10 reasons why I love him."
--submitted by Christina

Day 11 - LYC Printables
Print off a love note and leave it on his pillow, his windshield, or in his lunch. Print off a romantic puzzle to do together, print an award for them, a love journal page, or some Valentine's Day stationary to write them a love note on.

Day 12 - A "Kissable" Surprise
"I was in a "romantic idea" mood and decided that I wanted to surprise my boyfriend with something while he was at work. I get off an hour earlier than he does, so I drove over to his work and put Hershey kisses all over his car! I left before he came out so I couldn't see the reaction on his face, but said it was absolutely the sweetest thing any body has ever done for him!"
--submitted by Anonymous

Day 13 - Love Coupons
Good for one: full body massage, dance in the rain, romantic dinner for two, champagne and cuddling by the fire, a kiss anytime, anywhere. Print or email these love coupons and more from Lovingyou.com or make your own.

Day 14 - "Meet Me" Hunt
"On Valentine’s Day, we were both working and were to meet up at home around 6:30 pm. I managed to get off of work around noon, so I decided to do something really special for him. I set things up with the local bakery, florist, and one of his favorite stores to make the night work. I went home and left a big note on the dining table - a place I knew he wouldn't miss. The note said that I would meet him at the bakery at 7:00. When he got to the bakery, the salesman gave him a cake and another note. This note told him to meet me at the florist, which was nearby. At the florist, he received flowers and a Valentine card, as well as another note. The note said that I'd meet him at one of his favorite stores. When he got there, he collected his already-wrapped gift from the salesman along with his final note. It told him that I'd meet him at one of our favorite restaurants. When he reached there, I was waiting for him with candle-lit dinner. We had a memorable evening and he said he loved it!" --submitted by Neha

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Madonna's got a new boy toy, and he's predictably young and naked.

The 50-year-old Madge, who is newly divorced from Guy Ritchie and has never, ever tolerated rumors of a hot new relationship to grab a little spotlight, appears in various stages of undress in the March issue of W magazine with 22-year-old Jesus Luz. The 46-page spread features the duo making out, Madonna lying on top of Luz, and Luz standing wet wearing only a towel.

The photos were taken by Steven Klein in a hotel in Rio de Janeiro in December. Madonna and Luz first met at the shoot.

What do you think of the pairing? Did Madonna just choose a guy named Jesus to do that fanning-religious-outrage thing she does so well? TVGuide

When Debbie Breneman and Mary Salmon are not shopping they're reading your emails. You can contact us with sales, product info, reviews, interviews, events and we loves us some good gossip, too. You can spill it all to us. If you hav problems getting through please try Deb here.

Posted by at 12:12 PM | Comments (0)

Gossip Girl Updates & Spoilers - Veronica Mars Actress Joins Cast of Spin-Off

I'll get the depressing news out of the way first... We won't be getting a new episode of Gossip Girl until March - maybe March 2, maybe not until March 9... I share in your disappointment. Even worse, we weren't even given any scenes of future episodes... Here's a new ad for the show; it's rather avant-garde, but you get to look at Blake's pretty face for a minute:

There is still the unrevealed mystery of what went down between Blair and Uncle Jack, but it seems he's been written off the show as fast as he was added to the cast - I'm wondering if the Gossip Girl people decided to cut that storyline but forgot to change the preview scenes that referenced said affair. We'll see... eventually... In the meantime, it looks like there will be a rekindling of Blair & Nate's romance...

I guess that means Nate & Vanessa will be over soon, or at least disrupted... the same way Blair's taking a little break from Chuck. There's no way that's over for good, though. On this last episode, Chuck is seduced by a woman, Elle, who thought Chuck was his father and invited him to a party where he "never should have been"... I guess Daddy (Bart) Bass was involved in some sort of secret sketchy society, as Elle ends up missing by the end of the episode.

I have learned is that Blair is going to have to accept that she's not going to Yale in an upcoming episode. Also, Serina's next love interest may be modeled after Anne Hathaway's scandalous ex, Raffaello Follieri. His name will reportedly be Gabriel; he will big sexy & European, and a big phony. He may also put Serina in danger.

Spin-Off Update

This is THE MOST exciting news. The upcoming Gossip Girl spin-off has completed its first piece of casting; Krysten Ritter has been cast as Lily's troubled older sister, Carol. You may remember her as Gia on Veronica Mars.

Described as a sweet girl but also a bit of a disaster, Carol is an actress who's constantly making bad decisions in both her work and personal lives. Lily ends up moving in with Carol after a falling out with mom and dad. Krysten Ritter worked on Veronica Mars and Gilmore Girls, prior to this spin-off. Circa '80s Lily and Carol will both be introduced in the May 11 episode of Gossip Girl, presumably through Lily's flashbacks in some form. Here's Blake Lively dishing a little about the spin-off with HollyScoop.com:

But who will play Lily? My fantasy is that it will be Kristen Bell. Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello says that if Gossip Girl producers Stephanie Savage and Josh Schwartz end up getting their first choice, there will be a lot of very happy fans out there. How great would it be if it were Kristen?! Here's a scene from the second season of Veronica Mars with both actresses. Cross your fingers that my guess is right!

The juciest part of this last episode is, of course, the very end. Rachael Carr has been fired, as a result of the incriminating photo Serina captures on her cell phone of Dan attempting to comfort Rachael, before she pushes him away. Dan shows up at at Rachael's place, presumaby to apologize for trying to hug her, and instead Ms. Carr kisses him and they start getting hot and heavy. She says it's okay because she doesn't teach for Constance anymore. Unfortunately, the head mistress was deciding at that very moment that there wasn't sufficient evidence to fire her. So what will happen now?????

Gossip Girl Gossip

Jessica Szohr and Ed Westwick at Madison Square Garden... these two have been going strong for awhile now - will they follow in Penn & Blake's footsteps? They do look happy:

Ed is also busy working on the K-Swiss campaign:

Video Coverage Galore

It is rare for there to be so much new video footage on the web just since my last Gossip Girl entry, but here's a video of Leighton Meester discussing what it's like to play Blair Waldorf, as well as how her own taste in fashion compares to Blair's style, with Seventeen. There's another video of Matthew Settle, who plays Dan's father, Rufus...

Posted by Mary Salmon at 12:47 PM | Comments (0)

PETA Gets Too Sexy with Vegetables - Banned Superbowl Ad

Michael Kors Sued For Trademark Infringement

The Tony Duquette brand filed a trademark-infringement suit against Project Runway judge Michael Kors yesterday. The suit alleges that Michael Kors wrongfully used the Duquette name to market his resort collection and that Kors took images and patterns from the book Tony Duquette, which came out in 2007, to advertise the line.

Duquette, who died in 1999, was the first American with a one-man exhibit at the Louvre. He won a Tony for costume design for the original Camelot production on Broadway. Business partner Hutton Wilkinson took over the company when Duquette died, and continues to design and market the company's products.

I like several pieces of the collection, but I don't know Duquette well enough to know if Kors really ripped him off or was just inspired.

A Design from Kors' Spring 2009 Colllection
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The PETA Ad That's Too Sexy for Superbowl Sunday...

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE VIDEO BELOW IS FOOTAGE OF THE AD THAT NBC HAS REFUSED TO AIR DURING THE SUPERBOWL, DUE TO ITS CONTROVERSIAL NATURE. IT MAY NOT BE APPROPRIATE FOR ALL RUNWAY READY READERS, SO PLEASE ONLY WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW IF YOU ARE NOT EASILY OFFENDED.

What do you think? Did PETA take it too far? Among NBC's complaints: "Rubbing pelvic region with pumpkin," "licking eggplant," and several other, more graphic acts (you can see the full list here).
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Don't miss out on the Bella Intimates Sensational Sleepwear Sale! 25%-50%
Now through February 1, 2009



Fun, flirty, comfy or cozy, it's all on sale. Bella Intimates wants to help you to feel and look fabulous during these long cold days of winter.

After working in this business all these years, I have come to learned some interesting things about women that I wanted to share. One is that when woman are comfortable, she becomes confident. Another fact is that most women don't need another piece of lingerie, that it's about desire. That when we partake in the ultimate indulgence, we ourselves become impossible to resist.

So with this in mind, stop in, take advantage of the savings and treat your self to something fabulous. Also preview the must haves for this Valentine's Day.

Facts from the seacoast premier bra fitting specialist ladies. Remember that a proper fitting bra can:

*Instantly reduce your appearance by 10lbs.
*Relieve chronic back pain
*Let you look and feel your best in your clothes
*And much more

We have a lot of exciting things happening in 2009 at Bella Intimates and can not wait to share them with you.
150 Lafayette Rd Rt1 Rye NH or call 603-964-7775 or if your in Portsmouth viset our second Location at 33 Deer St. Portsmouth NH or call 603-436-7772

Sincerely,
Bella Intimates owner, Shelly Manougian

Posted by Mary Salmon at 05:06 PM | Comments (0)

Gossip Girl Preview & Spin-off / Olivia Newton-John's Ex Still Alive?

Below is a preview of next Monday's (Feb. 2, 2009) Gossip Girl, "Carnal Knowledge." The new teacher, Miss Rachel Carr (actress Laura Breckenridge), has caused some trouble for Blair. Blair wanted to teach the new teacher a lesson for giving her a "B" on a paper, so she invited her to the opera and dinner, but arranged to meet her at a closed restaurant instead. Miss Carr was angry and ratted her out to the head mistress, and now Blair is in danger of getting expelled and losing her acceptance to Yale. We'll see how she gets her revenge; it also looks like Serena suspects that Dan may be hooking up with her teacher and mentor. This is going to be a good one...

Spin-Off Update

The Gossip Girl spinoff will be launched as episode 24 of the original series. It will be about the life of Lily Rhodes, and will be set in Los Angeles, when she was a lost young soul slumming around the Valley. According to sources, the spinoff-setup episode of Gossip Girl shoots in Los Angeles in mid-March, leaving limited time, just two short months, to cast these roles.

Lily will be the teenage version of the Lily van der Woodsen we all know and love. Gorgeous and privileged, Lily has a bit of a rebellious streak that doesn't sit well with her parents. When she's kicked out of her prestigious boarding school, Lily is forced to relocate to her older sister's home in the Valley!

We will also meet Owen, a 19-year-old hottie from the wrong side of the tracks. It will be fun to look at the dynamics between young Lily and young Rufus. Carol Rhodes, Lily's adorable big sister, is a free-spirited actress waiting for her big break. She's in her early 20s and always seems to be making bad decisions - the wrong men, the wrong career choices... you name it! Her screw-ups will definitely add a fun, comic element to the show, according to the producers.

Lily's dad, Rick Rhodes, is a handsome and charming music executive always looking for the next big thing. By the looks of it, Rick will have no trouble fitting in on the West Coast with his hot young girlfriend and super-tan, super-toned physique?

There's even going to be a young version of Cece, Lily's mom, who we're already familiar with. Little has changed from the version of Cece we know from Gossip Girl - the same overly critical, stuffy and cold New Yorker, just younger. I'm really excited to see who they choose to star in the spin-off; I hope the characters are as easy to love as our upper east side crew.

Kelly Rutherford Will Not Be Leaving Gossip Girl

There have also been rumors flying that due to her messy divorce, Kelly Rutherford may have to leave the series. I couldn't imagine another actress taking on this role or Lily being killed off, so this is very good news: a judge has officially ruled that Kelly Rutherford can take her son to New York while she films Gossip Girl.

Rutherford is due back to work today, January 27, and had said that she was prepared to stay in L.A. with son Hermes, age 2, no matter the consequences she might face as a result, if she was not permitted to go to New York with him. These developments led to speculation that her character, Lily van der Woodsen, may have to be written off Gossip Girl, but all seems well for now.

The judge ruled Rutherford can leave as planned on Sunday and that Kelly's estranged husband, Daniel Giersch, is free to travel there as well. Giersch argued that he needed to stay in L.A. to conduct business, but the judge was not having it. Kelly Rutherford filed for divorce from Giersch, an entrepreneur, on December 30. The Gossip Girl actress is also four months pregnant with the couple's second child.

Giersch was awarded two overnight visits per week for the month of February and three per week for March. All three need to be in L.A. for a minimum of four days. Hermes will be alternating time between the two parents in both cities while they try to hammer out a long-term custody arrangement that suits all parties.

Chace Crawford is featured in a new PSA

Teens for Jeans, a national campaign to collect jeans for homeless teenagers, was launched by Aéropostale and Do Something; the initiative allows you to drop off any pair of gently-worn jeans to any Aéropostale store between January 26 and February 22, where they'll be donated to a local homeless shelter or charity. Aéropostale will give you an additional 25 percent off your next pair. Check out the PSA and outtakes of Chace Crawford below:

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Olivia Newton-John's ex Patrick McDermott 'is Alive'

Olivia Newton-John's former partner is alive and on the run after staging his own disappearance, according to US investigators.

A team of private investigators from Texas said they believe Patrick McDermott has been travelling along the Mexican and South American coastline since disappearing from a fishing charter in June 2005.

Lead investigator Philip Klein said he believed that the former cameraman had disappeared so that he could avoid paying debts and enable his teenage son Chance to receive a $100,000 life insurance policy.

"He's alive - there's no doubt in my mind, this guy's alive," Klein said. "Everything was bad in this guy's life. There was nothing good."

"Maybe in his mind if he stages his death, the insurance policy will pay off all his debts and he can leave his child a gift by pretending he's dead."

McDermott, who had been in a relationship with Newton-John for nine years, was 48 when he disappeared after boarding a boat called The Freedom in California.

An official report from the US Coast Guard released last November concluded that McDermott, who had previously filed for bankruptcy and owed thousands of dollars in child support payments to his ex-wife, most likely drowned.

Klein, whose agency specialises in tracking down kidnap victims and missing people who do not want to be found, was hired by US current affairs program Dateline in March 2007 to investigator McDermott's disappearance.

In an episode devoted to the mystery this week, Klein revealed that his agency had set up a hi-tech trap to help locate McDermott by making a website called findpatrickmcdermott .com, which secretly showed investigators the locations of people accessing the site.

Klein said he suspected McDermott has regularly been logging on to the "spider site," with the team tracking hits from what he believed was a boat traveling along the Mexican coastline as far as South America.

"We put what we call a trap on the web site where we can tell each IP-address that comes in to the web site," Klein said.

"The rule of thumb is always this - when you're running you always are looking over your shoulder and we're going to catch him looking at us.

"The most interesting hits have come directly from Cabo San Lucas, the last place anybody saw Patrick McDermott."

Klein said he believed that Olivia Newton-John, who refused to be interviewed for the investigation, had regularly been logging on to the site to get updates on the hunt for her former partner.

"The most unusual hits we've gotten were Olivia Newton-John when she was on tour in Asia, every hotel she was registered at and staying at there were hits from that hotel on that night where she was staying," Klein said.

"So it's quite obvious to us that the Olivia Newton-John camp is following it."

Klein, who claimed to have confirmed sightings of McDermott from at least 17 witnesses across Mexico, said he was confident that his team would track down their target.

"Patrick McDermott walked off The Freedom and Patrick McDermott's running in Mexico - that simple," Klein said.

"We're close. He's going to make a mistake - they (people on the run) all make mistakes. He's going to do something and I'll be right on his tail."

Newton-John, who married Amazon herb millionaire John Easterling in June, sold her four-bedroom Malibu mansion last month. The Grease star has moved to the upmarket Florida community of Jupiter Island where Easterling owns a three-bedroom house, which is located in an exclusive gated estate and is listed for sale.

source: Peta Hellard in Los Angeles/ heraldsun.com.au

Posted by Mary Salmon at 04:08 PM | Comments (0)

Sex & City-Seguel!/Cure's For Cellulite/Tips from Occasions Bridal & Tuxedos /"Flush" Funk & Fashion

Tips from Occasions Bridal & Tuxedos

With this season's brides on the hunt for the dress of their dreams, Runway Ready had the opportunity to speak with Rye resident Ashley Vaughn, owner of Occasions Bridal & Tuxedos here in Portsmouth.

When asked if she is married, Ashley first jokes that she's married to the shop, then talks about her boutique and offers advice for brides-to-be on picking out that perfect dress at an amazing price you can afford.

Runway Ready: How long have you owned Occasions and what's the story behind it?

Ashley Vaughn: I have owned it for almost three years. I have a passion for fashion, but more specifically for helping others with fashion. What got me into bridal? I love helping girls coordinate their wedding colors and styles. And, of course, I love a good love story. Weddings are usually a fun, happy event to coordinate and I love being a part of it.

Ready Runway: How would you describe your Boutique?

Ashley: My Boutique is very relaxed. I really strive to make girls enjoy this process without any stuck-up feelings that are often associated with bridal salons. All of my dresses are visible. This allows girls to look at all styles, colors and fabrics. They are encouraged to browse over everything without any intimidation.

Runway Ready: I know you do fashion shows – can you tell us how many shows you do a year and how beneficial are they to your business?

Ashley: I do three to four fashion shows a year. This is a great time to showcase gowns girls may have never tried on. Seeing them on can make all the difference in the world. This also helps newly engaged brides see what styles are out there and how they look on the everyday girl rather than a supermodel in a magazine.

Runway Ready: What services do you offer at your boutique?

Ashley: I carry bridal gowns; dresses for bridesmaids, flower girls and mothers; tuxedos, prom dresses and a wide range of accessories. I offer full-service alterations as well. The idea is one-stop shop.

Runway Ready: What style of gown is most popular right now?

Ashley: This year less is more. Girls want to show off their curves with form-fitted gowns. A little bit of bling is always popular, yet simple is always a classic. A soft ivory or diamond white is winning over the traditional starch white.

Runway Ready: What color bridesmaids dress is most popular right now?

Ashley: Blues and greens are popular colors for bridesmaids right now. Chocolate brown is a staple fall color, as well as an eggplant purple.

Runway Ready: What considerations should a bride make when choosing the shape of her gown?

Ashley: Accent the parts you love about your figure. There is a wedding gown for every figure. Tell your bridal consultant what you want to show off, and the parts you would rather not draw the eye to. Every bride should feel absolutely beautiful in her dress.

Runway Ready: How should a wedding gown be stored in order to preserve its beauty?

Ashley: After the wedding, brides should have their dress heirloomed. This process will clean and preserve the dress. Most companies use air-tight boxes with a cellophane window. This allows you to view your gown forever without risking damage or yellowing often caused over time.

Runway Ready: What's the one most valuable piece of advice you would give to a bride-to-be?

Ashley: Brides should try on everything, including gowns they never thought they would wear. You never know what will make you feel like the most beautiful bride in the world. Be open-minded. Weddings are a chance for everyone to feel beautiful, including the guests. All you need is love … and a fabulous dress!

You can find Occasions Bridal and Tuxedos at 72 Mirona Road in Portsmouth, NH (603-430-8998; www.occasionsbridalandtuxedos.com).

By Debbie Breneman
Fashionista
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Don't forget the date: "Flush" Funk & Fashion..

Join a night when fashion fuses with music at the “Flush” Funk & Fashion series held January 24th at The Portsmouth Pearl, with The Head performing live from the balcony while apparel from Luna Chics, Sexy Skins, Ablaze, Top Drawer, Azure, Fast Eddie’s & Ganesh Imports is showcased on the runway. Hair & makeup will be provided by The Portsmouth Spa, food by Zampa & Pimentos, and beer & wine courtesy of Peak Organic & The Imported Grape. Tickets are $20 and are available at all participating outlets. Free parking in lot adjacent to The Pearl.

TVP Records / The Head

The Flush Afterparty @ The Muddy River, Congress Street, Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Cost: $6.00

The party continues downstairs from The Muddy River at Bourbon’s nightclub w/ some funky DJ sets to get your ass on the dance floor.

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Were not done celebrating! "The Seacoast Inaugural Ball This Friday Night

Le Club Boutique and Choozy Shooz would like to invite you to the Seacoast Inaugural Ball in benefit of (H)eat
Supplying heating oil and food for Seacoast residents in need. www.heat-eat.org

This formal event will help in raising money to benefit our community and celebrating the spirit of HOPE.

Join all the fun on Friday, January23rd From 7pm-Midnight at 41 Vaughan Mall, Portsmouth NH.
Tickets are available at Le Club Boutique/Choozy Shoooz, Riverrun Bookstore and Prelude, $50 per person-Formal Attire.

Dancing to Parker Wheeler and Friends. Open bar, refreshments & silent auction items, courtesy of Local Businesses, Restaurants & Caterers.

For more information contact us at: 603-433-4455 or e-mail: brazilianbeth@yahoo.com

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Cure's For Cellulite...

Kim Kardashian has cellulite?!?

Sultry, raven-haired Playboy Bunny and curvaceous beauty Kim Kardashian certainly has no shortage of admirers. Even so, she recently admitted to getting several Velashape
(www.cellulitetreatment.org/velashape.html) body-shaping treatments in an effort to get rid of cellulite. This admission came right on the heels of her former friend Paris Hilton's catty comments, which described Kardashian's backside as "disgusting," saying it looks like "cottage cheese stuffed in a garbage bag."

Although Paris later apologized, it must have really struck a cord with Kim, because she rushed off for VelaShape to get rid of the "unsightly cellulite" that her one time gal pal made fun of.

The sad thing is, Kim Kardashian is a ravishing beauty with or without cellulite and should realize that having cellulite doesn’t make you any more or less a woman…. however, since we know people tend to judge us by our appearance, if there are ways to put our best foot forward, we should always strive to do so.

Surgery to get rid of Cellulite
Liposuction surgery to get rid of cellulite can be dangerous, semi-permanent and may not even work. There is even some potential health risks involved. A whopping 62 percent of people who try laser related surgeries are unhappy with the results. According to ABC news statistics and the cosmetology patients on RealSelf.com, there is talk of class action lawsuits in this regard.

Cellulite Cream
If you have cellulite, then no doubt you've seen a large number of anti cellulite cream products for sale at your dermatologist's office, online and even at the drug store. Some cellulite cream packaging makes outrageous claims -- "Eliminates your cellulite in hours!" is a favorite. You may be wondering if any of these cellulite cream promises are for real.

We've taken the time to sift through the hype and give you the bottom line: you can use an anti cellulite cream to smooth away problem areas. Cellulite Treatment Cream Reviews
Cellulite treatment is big business. There are dozens of cellulite creams available on the market today, and each one claims to be "the best."

A lot of the information you find online is useless. Some of it is deliberately misleading.

What you need is objective information you can use to decide which cellulite cream is right for you.

We've tested these cellulite treatment creams and are in a position to make some recommendations. Here is how the various cellulite reduction creams compared:
visit::http://www.cellulitetreatment.org/reviews/index.html

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Michelle Obama picks yellow for inauguration dress

Michelle Obama, hailed by many as America's new style icon, officially took her place on the world stage on Tuesday wearing an outfit in the nontraditional color of yellow and set fashionistas atwitter.

The new U.S. first lady, 45, chose a sparkling sheath dress and matching coat in a yellow-gold hue by Cuban-born American designer Isabel Toledo for the presidential swearing-in ceremony. She matched it with a wide diamante necklace.

What she will wear to the formal inaugural ball later on Tuesday remained a tightly held secret. But her choice is expected to provide clues to her future balancing act as glamorous first lady in a time of deep recession.

Michelle Obama, a former lawyer, has been credited with bringing a chic, youthful style to U.S. politics and for mixing comfortable chain store garments from the likes of Gap and J. Crew with edgier new designers like Chicago's Mario Pinto and Narciso Rodriguez.

Initially seen as slightly aloof, she won hearts in June by wearing an affordable $148 black and white off-the-rack dress for an appearance on the popular female TV chat show "The View." It sold out nationwide overnight.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/20/jason-wu-michelle-obamas_n_159519.htmlread on..
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090120/lf_nm_life/us_obama_fashion;_ylt=Aq015yRGyMASyvOThSh4eYRPWrsF
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Orange County Houswives...

Last week's episode showed Tamra purposely getting Gretchen drunk and Tamra's son Ryan totally hitting on Gretchen in the bathroom; the show ends with Gretchen saying to Ryan “you turn me on.”

This week’s episode starts off with the bathroom scene and Gretchen showing her loyalty to her sick fiancé Jeff by pushing Ryan away. Good for Gretchen!

Read on with video's

The wives continue to give the 30-year-old blond bombshell Gretchen, who poses an immediate threat with her youth and golden good looks a hard time. Will Gretchen ever make the cut? Here are a few scenes from last night’s episode.

It's no secret that Jeff is ill and the wives ask Getchen tough and personal quetions.

The women head to Fred Segal to get their own personalized scents.

Also, hear what Tamra has to say about her relationship with Gretchen on her Bravo Blog.
read below..

Ok, are you as confused as I am? Are Gretchen and I friends or enemies? They are trying so hard to make it look like we hate each other but every other episode we are together laughing having fun. Hmmmm, it really makes you think. If it wasn't for those interviews it really would look like we liked each other?

I invited Gretchen to my pool party because she has expressed to me she wants kids and the whole life style that goes with it, plus she is a lot of fun. Her dogs are the closest things to kids that she has so I said "Sure, bring them along." Once a month during the summer my friends and I try to get the kids together and have a party. It is always exciting for the kids and time for the adults to catch up. We all had a great day hanging out by the pool, eaing barbecued hot dogs and a bunch of junk food. You might of noticed Ricki? He is Ladera's gay househusband, he is a stay at home dad and has been with his partner 18 years and they have 2 kids together. (Well, not together -- they had a surrogate.) They are the first same sex couple to have both fathers names on their kids birth certificates. He is an amazing dad and a great friend in our community.
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Big news, Sex addicts!

Us Weekly reports in its newest issue that Sarah Jessica Parker , 43, Kim Cattrall , 52, Cynthia Nixon , 42, and Kristin Davis , 43, have agreed to appear in the sequel to Sex and the City: The Movie.

"Not all the contracts are signed, but everyone is on board," a source tells Us. "It just happened."

Look back at Sarah Jessica Parker 's craziest SATC outfits.

Another insider notes that all the leads are getting hefty raises this time around. (Cattrall reportedly held out from doing the first movie for years because of Parker's higher paycheck.)

The news is hardly a shocker: The 2008 comedy grossed $150 million -- immediately prompting follow-up talk.

In September, Parker told Us she wasn't against the idea.

"It's all about the story," she said. "If we cant tell a story that's really worthy of an audience, then we won't do it.

Read on..
http://omg.yahoo.com/news/sex-and-the-city-stars-commit-to-sequel/17942

Posted by at 08:01 AM | Comments (0)

XOXO, Gossip Girl Update - New Additions to Cast

Blake Lively seems to be everywhere lately. Here's the cover of the February 2009 issue of Vogue:

She looks even more amazing inside... here are two shots of our stunning leading lady looking super sexy.

Oh, she presented at the Golden Globes on Sunday, and, of course, also looked amazing there...

It makes me wish Leighton Meester would get a little more press, as I do believe she is the more talented actress. Last night's episode, Gone with the Will, revealed that Bart Bass had left Bart Industries to Chuck, rather than Uncle Jack. Little did he know there was a "morality clause" and Jack saw to it that other board members (and unfortunately, Blair) caught Chuck at an immoral moment, in his office with half naked women. Poor Chuck. Poor Blair. Will things ever work out for these two? If I were Blair, I think I would be more than a little fed up with Chuck's womanizing ways. She does deserve better, but it's a believable storyline, because at that age were you making all the best decisions in love? I do have to mention that I was annoyed that Jack didn't tell Chuck about his affair with Blair on New Year's Eve, as the preview clearly indicated. Maybe next week...

We also saw Lily and Rufus meet with the adoptive father of their son. They were told their son died in a riptide and were handed a newspaper article clipping. I sensed that Rufus was suspicious upon learning this information, and I was wondering if my past reports of their love child joining the cast nothing but were bogus rumors... As it turns out, the adoptive parents are afraid that Lily and Rufus will take their son away from them and they "already lost one son," presumably the one the newspaper article is about. How long will it take for all this to unravel?

Here are scenes from next Monday's episode, You've Got Yale, on Mon., January 19 at 8 p.m on the CW:

The action between Blair and the new young, teacher (Laura Breckenridge) looks like it's going to be full of fun friction. Now that Dan and Serina (and the rest of the upper east side, thanks to Gossip Girl's blast) know that they share a sibling, they need to decide if they will stay together. Serina compares them to the characters in the movie clueless, where Alicia Silverstone's character ends up with Paul Rudd's character, her former step-brother. Serina jokes, "...and that was super skeevy..." Meanwhile, Lily tells Rufus she is in love with him and fears that he is going to hate her forever; they end up in bed together (again), so that could also complicate the decision for Dan & Serina. And will Dan be hot for teacher? Or will things heat up with Dan and Blair when they star in the school play? And how would Serina feel if Blair ever went there? It's so juicy! I LOVE it!

Speaking of Blair, I loved the little Dior bag she carried to school...

The Lady Dior Cannage Bag is inspired by Dior's vintage cannage quilting. It has a geometric grid stitched onto lambskin and is further accented by jewel-finished hardware; it retails for $1,800. You may have noticed Blair carried it in red last week.

Potential New Hot Guy Alert!

The Gossip Girl producers will be expanding Nate's family with the addition of a cousin for Nate, according to Entertainment Weekly. The yet-to-be-cast character will be in his 20s and is described as a wealthy, confident, politically-minded and an extremely good-looking guy. We'll be the judges of that! Unfortunately, this cousin of Nathaniel Archibald is married; his name is Kip Vanderbilt. (It does not seem that Kip is a descendant of New York's legendary Vanderbilt family, however.)

In Other Gossip Girl Gossip...
On the Taylor Momsen front, I'm really starting to worry about her hair. She was spotted at a Golden Globes after-party looking like this:

She will also be starring in an upcoming Nike commercial. It starts off with her being swarmed by paparazzi, but then she takes off like a superhero in her sneakers. Check out some footage of the taping:

Posted by Mary Salmon at 02:00 PM | Comments (0)

The City - Episode 4/ More Golden Globe Fashion Winners & Losers - Video

The City - Episode 4

If you missed the show last night you can watch full edpisode above.

Olivia and Whitney are working and Olivia is very proud of her use of socials in place of socialites. DVF herself actually makes an appearance this week. She wants to know if Whitney likes it and if she’s learning anything. Whitney says she is and compliments DVF. Olivia doesn’t seem to happy that Whitney is getting praise.

Whitney is out eating with Erin and she tells her what happened with Jay last week. Erin tells her its time for her to be selfish and do what she wants. Whitney says she knows what she wants and she hopes Jay will give it to her. RAWR.

Back to DVF for a meeting. They are hosting a Wonder Woman event with Warner Brothers. Alixe is going to have Whitney do the windows to show off the new collection. Olivia is to help Whitney with her project. Olivia forces a smile and she has dimples. Aww.

Off to Erin, and she thanks Duncan for making the bed. He says since he messed it up it was he should do. Erin says he’s the first house guest to make the bed. Duncan is sad he’s leaving, but Erin likes the long distance thing, when he’s there its Duncan time and its good and when he leave she still has time to do whatever she wants. Duncan pushes further and says he wants to move to the City and he’ll need a couch to stay on, and by that he means her bed. I cannot believe he actually said that. Erin says she’s only 24 and wants to have things to look forward to.

Back to DVF, for the party. Alixe is pleased with how everything looks. It looks like a really big party, someone even brought her dogs. Whitney’s friend Samantha shows up to the party and Olivia even seems happy to see her. Samantha wants to know what’s up with Jay. Chris, one of the coworkers comes over to talk to Whitney and Sam. Chris is the only guy who is working there. Sam says it must be nice since he can see all the pretty girls working there. he agrees and smiles at Whitney. Olivia’s cousin is there too. Its definitely a party. Chris asks Whitney to do lunch some time in front of Whitney, Sam, Olivia and Alixe. Whitney is flattered and the girls seem impressed.

Back to DVF and Olivia answers the phone, its Jay looking for Whitney. Olivia tells him she’s out to lunch. We head to the lunch and Whitney is out with Chris. Whitney says she doesn’t know a lot of people and Chris says he’ll take her out. Whitney giggles.

Whitney and Chris head back to the office and Olivia is saying she only orders lunch from 3 places. Chris gives her a hug and Whitney says she’ll see him in the hallway. After he leaves Whitney tells Olivia and Michelle that it was fun, but he’s kind of quiet and shy and she didn’t feel any chemistry. Michelle wants to know if Jay knows she was going out with him. Olivia pipes up and says that Jay called. Whitney says that she doesn’t want to hide anything from him. She says she didn’t know if it was even worth telling Jay about it. Olivia says that she doesn’t need to say anything to Jay, but Whitney says she’ll say something so she doesn’t feel sneaky.

Duncan is getting ready to leave, and Erin says she wants him to move to NY if its for him, not because of her. She says they have a good thing going and she doesn’t want to put any more pressure on it, and she’ll visit him whereever he moves. Duncan calls a cab and heads back to Canada.

Whitney goes to meet Jay for dinner, and it looks like he’s already started in on the food and drinking. Whitney comes right out and says she went to lunch with some guy. Jay wants to know what that’s all about. Jay thinks that she’s trying to make him jealous. Whitney says that just because she goes out with someone of a different sex doesn’t mean there’s anything more to it. Jay tells her she can do whatever she wants, and Whitney says that’s good to know.

Off to Erin’s and she tells Whitney about Duncan wanting to move there. Erin is nervous because she’s only had long distance relationships. She asks about the lunch with Chris. Whitney says she needed to do it for herself and Erin says thats what dating is about, going out with people until you find the right person. Whitney says that boys are so confusing, and they need to man up.

Jay is talking with his roommate, Adam and he tells him that he’s thinking about being exclusive with Whitney. He refers to it as being on ‘lockdown’ Jay is a douche. He says its either going to go somewhere or nowhere and he’d rather Whitney hang out with him than that dickhead Alex or some accountant she works with.

Jay heads over to Whitneys with a bottle of wine. She says she needs to pick out shoes and fix her make up and she’ll be ready to go. While she’s trying to find shoes Jay pours them some wine and says he needs to talk to her if that’s ok. Whitney tells him that he can tell her anything. Jay says its been a good three months and he hopes she’s happy too. He says that maybe now they can take things to the next level. Whitney is all giggles and smiles and says that she can be his girlfriend. He said its big for him, its only his third girlfriend and he’s 24 and Whitney says its the same thing for her. Jay tells her the dating game is over for her. Whitney seems really happy. They make out while the music plays. wordpress
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More Golden Globes Fashion

Earlier today you heard from my co-writer, Debbie Breneman, about her red carpet favorites, but since we don't agree on EVERYTHING... here's my three cents. (Probably at least one more than you wanted...) Click here to read all of Deb's opinions, and for more photos & video coverage.

The Golden Globes are considered the second most important film awards after the Oscars and are awarded by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. (I loved when Tina Fey said she had all the action figures!)

Dev Patel and Freida Pinto of Slumdog Millionaire

I am in love with Slumdog and the color of Freida Pinto's Christian Lacroix Fall 2008 Couture gown. The draping, however, is simply unfortunate. She is such a beautiful woman, but especially around the waistline, this dress has issues. The waist billows aren't even the worst part; there is something funny about the way the dress gathers beneath her bustline that isn't flattering. She is carrying a Judith Leiber Satin and Crystal Minaudiere.

Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio

I agree with Deb that Kate Winslet's glamorous black Yves Saint Laurent strapless gown was old-school Hollywood elegant. What is it like to wear a 47-carat, five-row bracelet by Chopard? I'd be double-checking my wrist all night! Kate Winslet is one of those women who seems like she could be your best friend. She is so genuine and likeable; I'm glad she had such an amazing night winning two Golden Globes: Best Actress for her performance in 'Revolutionary Road' with Leonardo DiCaprio as well as Best Supporting Actress for her role in 'The Reader'. It was a long-awaited happy ending for Winslet, who had been nominated five times in the past.

Here's video footage of Harry Smith speaking with actress Kate Winslet about her double Golden Globe Awards win for best actress and best supporting actress in a drama.

As Deb previously mentioned, Drew Barrymore's hair was bad. B - A - D. Marilyn must have rolled over in her grave. I didn't mind the form fitting gown, however, especially when you compare it to the runway original.

Drew is a woman who is proud of her body, even if it isn't perfect in such a form-fitting dress, and I do admire that about her a great deal.

Cameron Diaz looked pretty in pink, but Deb thought her hair looked sloppy. I think Cameron has enough of a beach-bum, sufer chic vibe (even on the red carpet) that I prefer her hair down, rather than in an up-do.

America Ferrera Discusses Ugly Betty
She's not my favorite actress, as I don't watch Ugly Betty, but I do like her style. I thought her dress was one of the most unique of the evening; it was sort of futuristic. A lot of people hated this dress, but I would wear it.

Pictured above we have Rumer Willis in Reem Acra Pre-Fall 2009; Jenna Fischer in a multi floral print silk chiffon V-neck Zuhair Murad Resort 2009 gown with crystal embellished waist; Hayden Panettiere in Gianfranco Ferré Spring 2008; and Evan Rachel Wood in Elie Saab Fall 2006 Couture. Rumer's new hair color is working for her and I thought it was endearing when Demi Moore reminded her not to "hunch." Demi, by the way, looks at least twenty years younger than she is, and was certainly a hot momma on the red carpet last night. Jenna Fischer attempted to work this ethereal, floral number, but it was one of the biggest misses of the evening. Hayden Panettiere of Heroes looked phenomenal from head to toe. She's so young and already getting it right; I'm excited to see what she'll be wearing as her tastes evolve over the years. Evan Rachel Wood should be given props for not trying work a Dita Von Teese look, but there was something distracting near her cleavage; I thought it was a piece of double stick tape showing, but it seems that it's supposed to be there. Minus that detail, I liked the sparkle and shine of her gown.

I do wish I could be reporting was Heath Ledger was wearing or what he said when he won for Best Supporting Actor, but Christopher Nolan was right when he said that Heath will never be forgotten. Which brings me to my final point... as much as I adore fashion and calling who got it right or wrong on the red carpet, these actors are all being celebrated for their talent, creativity, passion, and dedication to their craft. The entertainment they provide and art they create is far more important than which designer someone chooses to wear, but we'll keep telling you anyway, because dressing up is a wonderful form of self-expression.

Posted by Mary Salmon at 06:15 PM | Comments (0)

Golden Globe's Fashion - Video

Leo and Kate Red Carpet Interview - Golden Globes 2009

After practically falling asleep during the mostly boring fashions at the People's Choice and Critics awards last week, I had high hopes – and expectations – for the 66th annual Golden Globes last night, especially since last year's ceremony didn't happen due to the writers strike.

Ryan Seacrest and Giuliana Rancic from E! caught up with the stars – from the limo drop to the glamcam – mixing in a little small talk with the big question: Who are you wearing?

The fashion faux pas were notably few, and I was thrilled to see that old Hollywood glamour back – with red lips, updo's and strapless floaty fabrics in pretty colors such as blush, red and black.

One standout who caught my attention with her grace and elegance was double Globe winner Kate Winslet. Simply stunning in a strapless black Yves Saint Laurent gown with a black velvet belt and a bow at her waist and a 47-carat, five-row bracelet by Chopard, she's at the top of my best-dressed list.

Eva Longoria-Parker was looking like a siren in a strapless red Reem Acra gown. Seacrest tried to get the scoop on what's ahead on "Desperate Housewives," but Eva didn't spill.

Hollywood glamour did seem to be the theme of the night and Drew Barrymore seemed to be channeling her inner Marilyn Monroe, but … ugh. Her hair looked totally damaged and the dress by John Galliano showed every nook and cranny of her body. By the way, what's the deal Drew and "Grey Gardens" co-star Jessica Lange hanging on each other all night like they were in love with each other?

Deborah Messing was a good sport, posing on the "Glamistrator" in a black dress. I just love her and was pleased she made a comeback from that billowing dress gone wrong at the People's Choice Awards. Loved the ponytail.

Renee Zellweger usually exudes nothing but sheer elegance and style. I'm not sure what she was wearing last night, but it made me wonder if she was angling for a part in a remake of "Petticoat Junction."

Eva Mendes could show up in a garbage bag and make it look good. She wore a sexy, strapless cream Dior with a Van Cleef & Arpels turquoise-and-diamond necklace that was absolutely stunning. Olivia Wilde was princess-like in this gorgeous lavender gown. Anne Hathaway glowed in a midnight blue Armani Prive strapless number. Laura Dern posed backstage with her award (Best Supporting Actress in Television Series, Miniseries or Movie) in this chic black gown.

Christina Applegate wore a Roberto Cavalli gown and a lovely Lorraine Schwartz statement necklace, which was great, but I hated this dress. The Easter yellow just didn't work for me or her. It was all wrong for her figure and it almost seemed like there was a design flaw to it. Though, I give her props on hair and makeup.

I'm just not a fan of America Ferrera's dress (not sure why, just not).

Cameron Diaz, in raspberry pink Chanel Haute Couture, was one of my favorites, but she should have followed the crowd on the updo theme; her hair was a mess. And check out Beyonce Knowles in a silver-sequined off-white Elie Saab gown.

I hated Jennifer Lopez's dress. Is it my imagination or does this look like the same dress she wears everywhere but in a different color each time – the plunging V-neck, gold-bead gown by Marchesa was over the top if you ask me. Halloween-ish.

It was quite humorous to watch Seacrest chase Brangelina down the red carpet, only to be totally ignored as they hurried inside to the show. Angelina looked gorgeous as ever in a grey Versace tank gown, with long sexy hair.

Hmmm did I like anybody? Oh, yes, all the hotties were out last night, looking sharp and very dapper on the carpet – Leonardo Dicaprio, George Clooney, Colin Farrell, Brad Pitt and Johnny Depp. Photo's to come.

Golden Globes 2009 Jessica Lange & Drew Barrymore

By Debbie Breneman
Fashionista

When Debbie Breneman and Mary Salmon are not shopping their reading your emails. You can contact us with sales, product info, reviews, interviews, events and we loves us some good gossip to dbreneman@seacoastonline.com or debreneman@gmail.com or Mary Salmon at msalmon@seacoastonline.com

Posted by at 07:40 AM | Comments (0)

Formals, face lifts, free stuff: It's Globes time/DiCaprio Replaces Pitt/Local Bridal Show's

Stars are sprucing themselves up, getting gifts and going to galas before Sunday's Golden Globes.

GIFTS GALORE: Nothing gets stars in the mood for a big awards show like piles of swag. And despite the slumping economy, the getting was good at gift suites around town.

Stars who visited the DPA gifting lounge at Beverly Hills' Peninsula Hotel - including Golden Globe nominees Blair Underwood and Melissa George - could collect Jil Sander sunglasses, a six-day Tahitian getaway, fine jewelry, handbags and designer dog collars. They could also get pampered with treatments such as eyelash extensions, facials, massages and foot reflexology.

Down the street at Kari Feinstein's Style Suite in West Hollywood, guests perused three floors packed with goodies to eat, drink, wear or apply to skin and hair.

Wendi's Fine English Toffee and Nothing Bundt Cakes provided a sugar kick, and Little Black Dress wines and Glowelle antioxidant beauty drinks offered liquid refreshment while guests including Jessica Alba, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges and Golden Globe nominee Debra Messing stocked up on swag.

Messing collected tooth-whitening products, bedazzled shearling boots and a box of Glowelle drinks, which she called "Glow-tox." Alba fell in love with a woven, diamond-studded bracelet from Tacori. Michelle Trachtenberg of the hit TV teen drama "Gossip Girl" snapped up sexy underthings from Bittersweet Butterfly and Golden Globe nominee Viola Davis coveted a lavender leather handbag from Moni Moni.

Other stars ogled conflict-free, earth-friendly fine jewelry from Precious Earth, adult-size footie pajamas from Pajama City and sparkling gems from Touchstone Crystal.

Davis, who's enjoying widespread accolades for her work in "Doubt," said awards season was "dizzying" but not stressful.

"It's just been a joy," she said. "It's a joy to be recognized for your work."

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GOLDEN FACELIFT: At least one glittering star will admit having a face lift: the Golden Globe statuette.

The film-swathed globe atop a marble base has been revamped this year. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association spent two years refining its trademark trophy. The new one - featuring a more detailed, accurate globe and a new marble base - will be handed out for the first time at Sunday's ceremony.

"There's really not much change in the design," said Jorge Camara, the association's president. "It's basically the same globe with a strip of film around it - the one that we have had since we started."

The organization also redesigned its Cecil B. DeMille award, presented annually in recognition of outstanding contributions to the entertainment industry. This year's honoree, Steven Spielberg, will be the first recipient of the redesigned award.

The revamped statuettes also come with a new leather-bound, velvet-lined case, Camara said, adding that previous Golden Globe winners are welcome to upgrade to the new statue: "We will be very happy to replace them if they want to."

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MAKE YOUR OWN BLING: For actors and actresses who take home trophies at Sunday's Golden Globe Awards, the bling doesn't stop there. Each winner will also be invited to design their own jewelry to benefit the Stars for a Cause charity.

Winning stars will be invited to work with celebrity jeweler Robyn Rhodes to create one-of-a-kind items to wear on the red carpet during awards season. Men can also design their own diamond-studded shoes with Auri Footwear. Once they've worn the custom items, each piece will be auctioned to benefit the star's favorite charity.

Rhodes has already interpreted the gem-encrusted visions of William Shatner, Goldie Hawn, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges and Jesse McCartney. Though none designed jewelry before, "they know what they want," Rhodes said.

"I'm pleasantly surprised because it seems that they do have a vision," she said. (For example, Shatner sought "something celestial" for his cuff links and tuxedo studs.)

The only hitch is that some stars have been reluctant to part with their custom pieces, Rhodes said.

"They actually want to have a replica for their own collection," she said. "They don't want to give it up. They designed it and it's special."

All the star-designed items will be auctioned May 28.

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By Sandy Cohan
AP Television reporter Natalie Rotman contributed to this report.

On the Net:
http://www.goldenglobes.org
http://www.starsforacause.org
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Leonard DiCaprio's New Role: TAG Heuer Global Ambassador

Move over Brad Pitt, here comes Leonard DiCaprio. Leo is set to take on the role as TAG Heuer Global Ambassador — a position that Pitt has occupied for six years. Other famous ambassadors of the brand include Tiger Woods and Maria Sharapova. Based on more than just good looks, the ambassador is choosen based on the reflection of the brand’s “What Are You Made Of” campaign. “Leonardo perfectly embodies this call-to-action with his exceptional talent, extraordinary mental strength and unfettered commitment to social and environmental issues,” a TAG Heuer spokesperson tells PEOPLE. Leo will be featured in the brand’s ad campaigns starting this spring, wearing the Carrera Day-Date watch. Reports People.com
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My girl Lady GaGa performs her #1 hit single "Just Dance" on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno

I love Lady GaGa, but this outfit is a litle off. I'm pretty sure your tights go under your bottoms.
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Worst-Ever Globes Fashions

SHARON STONE
That's Mistress Sharon, to you: In 2003 the actress channeled a dominatrix in a slit-to-there dress, diamond choker and dangerous stilettos. The only thing missing? A leather whip.

LARA FLYNN BOYLE
Boyle, then starring on 1999 winner The Practice, wore a satin gown that clung to her reed-thin figure – which was nearly as distracting as her showgirl-worthy boa.

CAMERON DIAZ
Where's that hair gel? In 1999, the usually stylish star (up for There's Something About Mary) made a misstep with messy tresses and an off-the-shoulder coat dress.

See more..
http://www.peoplestylewatch.com/people/stylewatch/redcarpet/2009/gallery/0,,20249194_1145837_995597,00.html
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Portsmouth: Bridal Extravaganza 2009

Tomorrow's the big day! “The Seacoast Area’s Most Elegant Runway Fashion Show”, provided by Occasion’s Bridal & Tuxedo of Portsmouth plus an Intimate Apparel show by Bella Intimates of Rye.

January 11, 2009 - Show Times: 11am-4:00pm at the Frank Jones Center in Portsmouth, NH (603) 742-0987

A wide range of event services will be at your fingertips with wedding experts all ready and awaiting to make your big day absolutely perfect.

The big Winner of "The Green Wedding Giveaway contest" will be announced at this event.

Clay Hill Farm in Southern Maine's Seacoast, is giving away a free wedding with all the trimmings. A contest where couples can select their shade of green.
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Boston Wedding Show, Seaport World Trade Center on Sunday, January 11, 2009, 11:30 am - 4:30 pm
at 200 Seaport Avenue, Boston, MA. Tickets: $12

Be one of the first 100 brides to arrive and receive your FREE VIP Wedding Planning Book!
This contemporary, spiral bound planner has 64 pages to help keep all the details of your wedding organized.

Battle of the Brides: Five lucky Brides-to-Be at the Boston Bridal Show will get a chance to participate in the "Battle of the Brides" by diving into a huge wedding cake in search of matching wedding bands valued at $2500. The cake is provided by Konditor Meister's Bakery and the bands are courtesy of Diamond Jewelers. It's a must see, with the brides wearing rain gear and cake flying everywhere! Cake Dive: 4:00

Bridal Fashion Show
Our spectacular fashion show features the newest styles in bridal and formal wear. You don't want to miss the latest wedding gown fashions, formalwear, mothers' dresses and much, much more!
Two Different Fashion Shows: 12:30 & 2:30

Iron Bride Auditons: The New England Reality TV show (ironbrides.tv) will be conducting auditions for Season II between 12:00-3:00pm. All auditions are about 3-5 minutes, video-taped at the Iron Brides' booth and posted at youtube.com/ironbrides

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Prizes: Attendees have the chance to win thousands of dollars worth of prizes. Winners are announced after the fashion show; Grand Prize Drawings are announced at the close of the show. Winter Boston Bridal Show prizes include:

Tuxedo rentals ~ Dinnerware ~ Bridal accessories ~ Engagement Sittings
Gift certificates ~ and much, much more!

When Debbie Breneman and Mary Salmon are not shopping their reading your emails. You can contact us with sales, product info, reviews, interviews, events and we loves us some good gossip to dbreneman@seacoastonline.com or debreneman@gmail.com or Mary Salmon at msalmon@seacoastonline.com

Posted by at 08:31 AM | Comments (0)

35th People’s Choice Awards -Fashions/Puttin’ on the Glitz/Macy's will close 11 stores

The fashion scene at the 35th annual People’s Choice Awards was simple, safe and – I’m just going to say it – boring. I guess most stars are holding out for the Golden Globes on Sunday. However, there were some stars who actually put some thought into to the big night.

Pretty in floral, big winner of the night Carrie Underwood looked like an angel in a sparkly, floral maxi-dress. Also, Jewel looked very bohemian in a floor-length floral dress.

I hardly recognized Dakota Fanning. She’s all grown up, but still cute as a button. She wore an age-appropriate electric blue dress with a cute baby doll heel. Lovely “Desperate Housewives” star Teri Hatcher (with daughter Emerson) posed on the red carpet in a stylish, safe black dress. And how cute is Emersion’s outfit?

The “90210” crew heated up the carpet – looking hot, hot, hot in these form-fitting dresses showing all their assets. Jennie Garth wore a simple black dress that was all wrong for her body type, but I did love her hair and makeup.


Favorite Female Movie star winner Reese Witherspoon played it safe in this little black number. And I love, love Debra Messing, but hate, hate this dress. What’s up with the billowing in the front?

My fav actress Kate Hudson may have been fashionably late, but she totally worked this cool teal Gucci asymmetrical gown on the carpet that just works with her vibrant personality!

My fav dress of the night was a gold and silver metallica cocktail dress from Gianfranco Ferre worn by Jennifer Morrison .

More to come with ..

Glamour magazine's Suze Yalof Schwartz spoke with Harry Smith about the fashion winners and losers at this year's People's Choice Awards.

Here's a look at my girl Kate Hudson Win "Favorite Leading Lady" At People's Choice Awards 2009

Debbie Breneman
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HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU!

Here at Puttin’ on the Glitz, we are off to New York for the Spring/Summer shows. What that means is looking at the work of hundreds of artists from around the world, checking out the latest trends and what’s hot on the runway for the new season. Our job is to then interpret this to our geographic location, community, and you, Dear Customer. For consideration is material, color, price, and whether it will work for your lifestyle and appeal to your sense of beauty. When all is done, we’ll proudly present our new collections. They will arrive weekly so that there is always something new and exciting to see in the shop.

Now is the time to consider how to up-date your style in the New Year. Looking fabulous on a budget is the challenge. We all want to look our very best without breaking the bank! How to do it? Our monthly newsletter is here to help you with fashion tips, trend updates, and special sale coupons available only to YOU, as a preferred customer.

Now Dear Reader, I know you have heard our mantra before, but we must say it again. Keep it Simple, Keep it Chic. Here are a few tips to get started:

Know your body type and your style. Find what silhouettes enhance your shape. Look to timeless cuts like the belted trench, or a simple sheath. Maybe it’s a pencil skirt to show off your great legs, or trousers to give you a long lean look. Stick to the shapes that work for you, while trying fancy fabrics such as brocade or shimmery cotton to provide an upbeat look.

Update with splashes of color and a bit of trend. Instead of trying to keep up with all the latest fashion trends, pick out one or two pieces such as blouse or top in the latest color or shape to keep your look fresh and up to date.

Play up accessories. Make them your signature. Accessories will keep your budget on track. Changing accessories will change the look of your basic wardrobe. Picture a LBD worn with pearls one evening, and then a big pendant the following day, and a knotted scarf with a big cuff the next.

Flaunt your jewels anytime. Add a dash of sophistication to a casual outfit, try sparkling jewels and accessories with jeans or a beaded top with slouchy trousers. Mix formal with casual, both in your jewels and your accessories.

With your budget in mind, Puttin’ on the Glitz is offering you a generous discount. Every Saturday and Sunday in January, enjoy a buy one, get one 50% off discount. You loved this coupon in December, so we’re doing it again in January!

With your budget in mind, Puttin’ on the Glitz is offering you a generous discount. Every Saturday and Sunday in January, enjoy a buy one, get one 50% off discount. You loved this coupon in December, so we’re doing it again in January!

To get these fabulous discount coupons simply visit our web site at www.puttinontheglitznh.com

And visit the store at 150 State Street | Portsmouth, NH on Monday 11AM - 6PM, Tuesday Closed, Wednesday & Thursday 11AM - 6 PM, Friday 11AM - 8PM, Saturday 11AM - 7PM & Sunday 11AM - 5PM
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Macy's will shutter 11 stores in 9 states

Department-store operator Macy's Inc. said Thursday it will close 11 underperforming stores in nine states -- affecting 960 employees -- and lowered its forecast for the fourth quarter after one of the weakest holiday seasons in years.

Stores slated to close include locations in Los Angeles, West Palm Beach, Fla., Nashville, Tenn., and St. Louis, among others. Cincinnati-based Macy's Inc. says the closures will cost about $65 million, most of which will be booked in the 2008 fourth quarter.

Clearance sales at the stores begin next week.

"These closings are part of our normal-course process to prune underperforming locations each year in order to maintain a healthy portfolio of stores," said Macy's Chief Executive Terry J. Lundgren in a statement.

Employees at the stores that are closing may be considered for open positions at other Macy's stores, the company said.

Department-store operators have been among the harder-hit in the retail sector as consumers cut back amid the recession, hunting for bargains and trading down to discounters.

Macy's reported Thursday that its December sales at stores open at least a year, or same-store sales, fell 4 percent -- still not as bad as the 5.3 percent drop analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters were expecting.

Total sales for the five-week period ended Jan. 3 fell 5 percent to $4.4 billion from $4.61 billion last year.

Same-store sales fell 7.5 percent during the combined November and December holiday period. Macy's said the holiday season ended with improving sales in the fourth and fifth weeks of December but that sales were sluggish before that.

The company said it marked items down sharply in the fourth quarter to gain sales and reduce its inventories, but that hurt its margins and led it to lower its profit forecast for the fourth quarter and full year.

Macy's now expects earnings of 90 cents to $1 per share in the fourth quarter, down from its previous guidance of $1.10 to $1.30 per share. Analysts expect earnings of $1.11 per share.

For the full year, the company now expects to earn $1.10 to $1.20 per share, down from its previous forecast of $1.30 to $1.50 per share. Analysts expect a profit of $1.35 per share. source AP

When Debbie Breneman isn't shopping she's reading your emails. You can contact us with sales, product info, reviews, events and we loves us some good gossip to dbreneman@seacoastonline.com or debreneman@gmail.com or Mary Salmon at msalmon@seacoastonline.com

Posted by at 09:03 AM | Comments (0)

Get Your Rear in Gear! / Gossip Girl Update/The "City" Recap

What was your new year's resolution? Did it involve more exercise? Do you want a brand new butt for the new year? Try TopNotch Pilates' famous "Happy New Rear" workout! Tighter Assets and Buns of Steel are what you will get in this 8 session small group training. Pilates moves, corepole, body bars, benches and tubing and what ever else it takes to tone that tushie - they have it!! Prices are as follows: $149 for members or $179 for non-members - choose one day/time. (Mondays at 7:30PM, Thursdays at 8:00AM or 6:45PM, or Saturdays at 11:30AM)

Skibums

NOT JUST FOR SKIERS! Tighten those buns, strengthen and streamline the legs, improve balance, stability and core strength. You'll do foot/legwork on the reformer, balance work, squats, lunges and use gliding discs to tighten those buns, legs, and give you strength and stamina. ($149 member/$179 non-member for 8 sessions) Saturday at 8:00AM

Apparatus Circuit

Here is your chance to try all the pilates machines! You'll do exercises on all apparatus including the reformer, stability chair, cadillac, pedipull, arcs and ladder barrel. It's a fantastic workout improving posture, core strength, balance and flexibility. 6 sessions - choose one day/time ($149 member/$179 non-member) Tuesdays at 8:15AM or 7:00PM, or Wednesdays at 9:30AM.

TopNotch Pilates is located at 135 McDonough Street in Portsmouth, NH.
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OMG! Can Gossip Girl Get Any Better?

Last night's Gossip Girl was such an amazing episode that I almost watched it twice, but decided I'd wait a day or two for my second viewing. We now know that Lily and Rufus' lovechild is a boy - darn it all; I was really looking forward to catfight potential with a female sibling, but if the brother is an actor as sexy as Ed Westwick or Chase Crawford, bring him on!

We have met Uncle Jack, Chuck's uncle and Bart's brother. I thought he was going to be a villain, but he just comes off as a goofball, especially in the scene where Chuck almost gets kicked out of school for smoking a joint. ("I prefer hash. I find it gives a smoother high.") Aaron Rose is gone for good; the lack of chemistry between him & Serina was painful for us viewers. Serina and Dan are back together for the third time. Lily and Rufus have gone off together to find their child. And, in the preview for next week's episode, Gone with the Will, we see that something scandalicious happened with Blair and Chuck's uncle on New Year's Eve.

Don't forget to watch the next Gossip Girl on the CW Monday, 1/12, at 8pm EST

The episode that will air on January 19 is entitled You've Got Yale. No clips yet...

The scenes with the mean girls, Penelope, Hazel, & the other one, and Jenny Humphrey were great to watch, but it was a surprise when it turned out that Nellie was "playing" Jenny because she thought it would advance her social standing, but crawls back to the mean girls when Jenny reveals she couldn't care less about going to a collegiate party. Spoiler Alert - don't keep reading if you don't want to know what's going to happen...
Lily is going to be attacked by someone she knows. Any ideas? My money is on Uncle Jack. The spin-off that has been rumored for quite awhile may star Michelle Trachtenberg (Georgina Sparks). She is rumored to be appearing in SEVERAL upcoming episodes toward the end of the season, and she does have the star power to potentially have a successful new show; I bet a lot of Buffy fans will follow. XOXO - You know you can't get enough!
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Hudson's Style Outshines Hathaway's at Bride Wars Premiere

AP Photo/Peter Kramer

Do you think they were going for a bride and groom feel? I just feel sorry for Anne.

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The City Recap: Missing Audrina and Justin Bobby?
Jay and Whitney are shaping up to be the New York version of The Hills' couple.

In retrospect, it's easy to see why Whitney was the most likable character on The Hills. It's because she was always the one asking the questions instead of exposing too much of her own personal life.

She's still a nice woman and all, but as we tread deeper into The City, a scenario that smells an awful lot like Audrina and Justin Bobby is starting to unfold.

The second installment of the show opens with Erin and her Canadian boyfriend, Duncan, sitting on the couch messing around with the guitar, and having a nice intimate moment – until Whitney comes in and interrupts.

(Duncan is from Toronto and visiting for the week, and as you'll remember, Whit is crashing with Erin in her one-bedroom place until she finds her own apartment.)

Whitney: "You must really like Erin."

Duncan: Crickets. Friendly!

Erin and Duncan start talking about what movies they might watch that night (Titanic or The Sound of Music? Are you freakin' kidding me?), and Whitney gets ready to leave.

read on..
http://www.film.com/tv/the-hills/story/city-recap-missing-audrina-justin/25329927

Posted by Mary Salmon at 12:07 PM | Comments (0)

Twilight - Do I Smell Trouble? / New Gossip Girl Tomorrow - Finally!

Comparing Apples to Apples...

The makers of the new Twilight perfume have done something very naughty... their original concept for the bottle design is...copying the bottle for Nina by Nina Ricci. I've never worn Nina, but I've got my Project Runway judge's back! What do you think?

I guess the Twilight franchise just isn't bringing in enough revenue to pay for their own design, but did they really think they could get away with this? I mean, right down to the leaf detailing on the bottle's lid...

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Have You Added a Wish List to Your Facebook Profile?

(This is not a screenshot. The real wish list is much more organized than this!)

I just read about this great new addition to Facebook today - the wish list. Now when you are shopping on the web & you see something you want to remember to buy later, you can add it to your wish list. Something about a list with little pictures is so much more fun than the old-fashioned hand written style. As a bonus, you can also direct friends and family members to your list, if they need a little assistance choosing a gift for you.

It may not be ideal if you have someone on your friend list who has a habit of stalking your style, but that's really the only downside that comes to mind. (How DARE you buy those boots that I have had on my Facebook wish list for over a month?! Okay, it's probably not going to be a big problem...)

If we all start now, this could actually be useful next Christmas... or when those little birthday reminders pop up...
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Milo and Hayden - Spotted in Bora Bora

Milo Ventimiglia and Hayden Panettiere are still together, looking sweet as ever. It's easy to forget their 12 year age difference. The Heroes co-stars were photographed holding hands as they walked out of their private villa in Bora Bora. They were on a romantic getaway in the French Polynesian island for the holidays. I have to give these two props for keeping their relationship relatively under the radar. There's nothing more to report - they are just adorable and happy and one of my favorite couples.
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NEW GOSSIP GIRL Tomorrow, January 5, on the CW at 8pm EST

I feel like it has simply been FOREVER, but tomorrow night my favorite crew from the upper east side will return to the CW. It looks like Rufus and Lily's lovechild won't be coming on the scene until April or May, the storyline I am dying to see played out, but there are a lot of rumors flying that we should see the return of Georgina Sparks (Michelle Trachtenberg) sometime sooner. Tomorrow, we've got Chuck's uncle joining the show and Aaron Rose, thankfully, will not be returning.

I love when Jenny says, in the preview below, "I'm not Little J anymore." This is a new preview of Jenny getting sick of watching the mean girls push another girl around at lunch; I'm just happy to see that Jenny will be back at high school.

In Other Gossip Girl Gossip...

Speaking of Jenny, Taylor Momsen is on the cover of the January issue of CosmoGirl Prom. Here's a cute shot from inside:

Here's footage of Leighton Meester (Blair Waldorf) behind the scenes at her Teen Vogue shoot:

I have just learned that Kelly Rutherford (Lily) has filed for divorce from her husband of two years, German entrepreneur Daniel Giersch. Rutherford had just recently announced that she is three months pregnant. The 40-year-old actress formally filed for divorce on December 30, 2008, citing "irreconcilable differences."

This just in: Blake Lively (Serina) will announce at the 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards. (Watch on NBC on Sunday, January 11, 8 – 11 p.m. EST.)

Posted by Mary Salmon at 05:41 AM | Comments (0)

Best Self Tanners/Wedding Dresses/Seven Things No One Tells You About Marriage

Paula Abdul’s new special on MTV? It’s called RAH

Watch a SPOILER video after the jump featuring the top 2 squads!

Will you be tuning in to watch Paula Abdul’s new special on MTV? It’s called RAH! Paula Abdul’s Cheerleading Bowl and it airs on Saturday, January 3rd at 12pm ET/PT. The 90-minute special will, of course, feature lots of cute girls in cheerleading uniforms but it will also give viewers a behind-the-scenes look at this highly competitive sport.

In the end, five squads will be picked by Paula. These teams will fly to New York to complete in the ultimate cheerleading competition. Of the show, Paula said: “Rah is a project a lifetime in the making. I wanted to share one of my greatest passions, in a unique and special format that celebrates the true spirit, creativity and athleticism that is cheerleading.”

Along with Paula, who will be both a host and coach, the show will feature judges Hi-Hat (choreographer for Bring It On and Step Up 2: The Streets), Scott Bouchard (head coach for the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth) and Brenna Klinger (New Jersey Nets dancer).

The grand prize winners will be featured in American Cheerleader Magazine and a trip for their squad to attend MTV Spring Break 2009
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New Way to Buy or Sell Wedding Dresses Online

SellYourWeddingDress.com has announced its presence on the Internet. SellYourWeddingDress.com provides brides with a unique online wedding dress consignment service, putting sellers in touch with buyers on a level of reach that only the Internet can make possible. The company's objective is simple: to make it simple for you to find the wedding dress of your dreams at a great price or to sell your wedding dress to make yourself some money while you make someone else's dream come true. This is a consignment shop concept married to the scope and convenience of the Internet.

SellYourWeddingDress.com is the United States' leading site for selling and buying gently used wedding dresses. It's easy to post and update your wedding dress, and it's just as easy to search their website and find just what you're looking for.

As a matter of fact, some of the featured wedding dresses have never been worn at all and still have the tags on them. Do you need to budget for your wedding? Then buy a designer wedding gown for up to 50% off the retail price with the option to resell it after your wedding to recoup up to 50-70% of the cost.

Ray Blake, President of SellYourWeddingDress.com, says, "First comes love. Then comes marriage. Then what to do with that one-time-worn wedding dress? Well, our website that allows brides to sell or buy gently-used wedding dresses. Our website helps ‘marry’ sellers with buyers who are searching for discounted, used designer wedding dresses including Reem Acra, Kenneth Pool, Romona Keveza, and other top designers.

"The trend of selling gently-used wedding dresses is increasing. More young people who get married are financially savvy and they realize that there's nothing 'anti-romance' about wanting to recoup the cost of their designer dresses in order to pay for remaining items on their wedding wish-lists. Some brides are looking to sell their used wedding dresses as soon as a few weeks after marriage. We also find brides who go out of their way to buy a more expensive designer dress because they know they can turn around and sell it after it has served its purpose.

"Although it's true that a growing number of brides are choosing to sell, most are unsure where to begin. That’s where we come in. Our company handles everything from posting your dress to guiding you through the sales process."

Why not marry your romance with your economic realism at sellyourweddingdress.com?

SellYourWeddingDress.com is an online bridal consignment service that offers brides a place to sell or buy gently-used wedding dresses. For more information, please visit www.SellYourWeddingDress.com.
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Katy Perry, Travis McCoy Call It Quits

Katy Perry and her Gym Class Heroes beau Travis McCoy have split after a year of dating, a source close to Perry confirmed to Usmagazine.com Friday.

"It's sad, but they were fighting a lot because they never saw each other and now she is going on tour," the source told Us. "She just needed a clear head. It's been non-stop work for her."

Read on..

http://www.usmagazine.com/news/katie-perry-travis-mccoy-split
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Dating 101: Seven Things No One Tells You About Marriage

You're smart. You know life is no storybook. But admit it: Somewhere deep in your subconscious lurk romantic visions of Cinderella, or maybe Julia Roberts. The images may be sketchy and a little outdated, but you can still make out the silhouette of the bride and Prince Charming riding off into the sunset.
In real life, sometimes your Disney fairy tale ends up feeling more like a Wes Craven horror flick -- and you're the chick who keeps falling down and screaming for her life. I've been there. Let's face it, marriage is not for the faint of heart. You want to believe your pure love for each other will pull you through. And it does. But it ain't always pretty.

That may sound grim. But here's a secret: Sometimes it's the least romantic parts of marriage that have the most to teach you about yourself, your partner, and the nature of love. Read on for some simple truths that will unlock the surprising treasures and pleasures in your imperfect, unstorybook, real-life love.

1. You will look at the person lying next to you and wonder, Is this it? Forever?

read on..
http://dating.personals.yahoo.com/singles/relationships/24191/dating-101-seven-things-no-one-tells-you-about-marriage

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Best Self Tanners

How to "Fake It" Best - The Lowdown Self Tanner Reviews - How to Get a Gorgeous, Natural Tan Year Round

They truly enhance any woman's beauty. Below are my favorites, and believe me, I've tried them all. These
are the top of the line products that will not give you a fake orange look, only a gorgeous, even brown/olive
tan. One of the best ways to warm up your complexion - especially during those winter months.

St. Tropez Self Tanning Creme - There's a reason this stuff has been voted number one by hundreds of
women, magazines, and beauty forums. It ROCKS. Quite simply, one of the best self tanning products on
the market - EVER.

Fake Bake Self Tanner - First choice of the likes of Britney Spears and Madonna when they need an
insta-tan. Betcha never thought they were "faking it" huh? This stuff is awesome. Well worth the purchase.
Goes far, tans fast, and has great staying power and natural fading. We love it.

California North Titanium Self Tanner - One of the favorites of the Hollywood crowd. This product is sold in
fine salons and tanning spas out west. Higher price, but well worth the posh results!

Philosophy The Healthy Tan Extra Dark Self Tanner

Murad Self Tanner - Good, good stuff, or else we wouldn't recommend it.

Peter Thomas Natural Looking Tan - This product produces the deepest, most lasting color of any tanning
product out there today. This very natural self tanning product also provides an almost immediate tan, so you
don't have to wait hours for your color to develop. It gives you a beautiful olive undertone, and has a very
pleasant cherry almond scent. Lasts a long time since a little goes a long way. You won't believe how dark
you get even with just one application!

Self Tanning - How to Get the Best Results -

I have some friends that can go tanning, get really really dark and olive colored, and not have to worry so
much about skin cancer or wrinkles, because they are darker skinned to begin with. Oh, how I envy that!
Then there's me, with my naturally pale Irish-German skin, who can't get a tan without getting wall to wall
freckles to save her life, and if I do get a hint of a tan, I have to worry about getting skin cancer.

I've already had two removed and I'm not taking any more chances on getting more, nor am I willing to
compromise my skin (ie wrinkles, age spots are inevitable when you sun yourself a lot). Enter the savior in
my life, the self tanner. Self tanners have freed me from pale summers, and I've gotten so good at applying
them that I rarely have to redo it to get the right look.

There are some really good self tanners out there now on the market. The demand for sun-free tans and
non-skin damaging alternatives to tanning is huge right now. Not only that, these self tanners (at least the
ones on this page) are the best self tanners you'll find anywhere. Period. They are the longest lasting, most
natural looking sunless tanners right now.

They'll fake out even the toughest critic, as long as you apply them evenly and correctly, and don't go with a
cheapo product. Trust me, self tanners is not something you want to spend less than ten bucks on. You just
won't get the results you want. You may get an orange tinted color, and a pale body is better than an orange
one!

I personally recommend only one type of self tanner - the self tanning cream. The reason I don't like the
sprays and the mousses or gels is that, in my experience, these gels and sprays and mousses just seem to
wear off strangely. They actually wear unevenly, so that you end up with a freckled look. I've never had that
problem with any self tanning cream I've used though.

The best of the best self tanning creams will not do this to your skin. They will go on smoothly, wear just like a
real tan, fade just like a real tan, and need to be maintained just like a real tan. And the best part is it's all in
the comfort of your own home. You'll get so good at it that it's way faster than going tanning in a bed
somewhere.

Now, For the Application Tips :

There are some very vital steps you need to take in order to get the best "sunless tan" possible. The first
step is directly prior to applying the self tanner - EXFOLIATION (preferably it happens in the shower, right
before you apply the self tanner). This way, your skin is clean and ready to be the perfect adherence surface
for a long lasting, natural looking sunless tan.

One of the most common mistakes with applying self tanner is that people do not remember to apply them
everywhere. I mean, the not so obvious areas like behind your ears, the back of your neck, your hands (the
tops of them) and so on and so forth. When you see someone with white areas like this, it looks "fake".

The less clothing you have on after you apply the self tanner to your body, the better able the DHA is to work
on giving you the self tan, as it is activated by oxygen, and will work better if it has more open air during the
chemical activation phase. I don't generally recommend reapplying a second coat in the same day, I would
usually do it the next day, since this produces more natural looking results, and lessens the chance of
"yellowness" or an uneven color.

The best self tanners are a win/win situation for you. They do not cause cancer, they do not cause
accelerated aging or wrinkles, and you can get tan even if you don't tan in the sun well (like me!) Oh yeah,
and take a look at the ultra bronzer below, it's one of the best self tanners out there!

To find these products visit: http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&keywords=Self%20Tanners&search-type=ss&index=beauty-index

When Debbie Breneman isn't shopping she's reading your emails. You can contact her at dbreneman@seacoastonline.com or debreneman@gmail.com or Mary Salmon at msalmon@seacoastonline.com

Posted by at 03:51 AM | Comments (0)

The Hills Season Finale-Wedding Nixed

Wedding in 'The Hills'

In the final minutes of The Hills season finale, Spencer nixed his plan to legalize his Mexican wedding to Heidi Montag - at least for now.

Who is Spencer Pratt to turn down marriage advice from Tom Cruise?

Two weeks ago, just after Pratt and Heidi Montag eloped in Mexico, the Valkyrie star appeared briefly on The Hills Aftershow to recommend that Pratt give his woman a big wedding if that's what she wants.

Instead, Spencer brought Heidi to a courthouse to make it official...and then abruptly changed his mind.

Montag had already said "I do," but when it was Pratt's turn he hesitated In an apparent act of consideration for his prettier half, the bearded one decided to wait. The reason given? The two plan to create a fantasy ceremony for Heidi that would include patching things up with her family, who were disappointed to have been shut out of the couple's ring exchange.

Since the moment of those tequila-filled nuptials, Pratt has been wagging his tongue about being a newlywed.

read on..

http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b74651_hills_heidi_montag_spencer_pratt_not.html

Here's a fun spoof from The Soup..

Check out related stories:http://perezhilton.com/2008-12-22-nobody-cares-about-the-hills-anymore

http://perezhilton.com/2008-12-22-whitney-port-is-a-fashion-designer
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Orange Peel Boxes at Fa La Lo

Fa La lo would like to thank all of you who have been stopping in to wish them season's greetings. They are so happy to see you and to help with your Christmas shopping. Remember, when you give a present that is fair trade and/or local, you not only give to the person who receives the present, but you give to the person who made the present as well!

Many people have stopped in and asked about the Orange Peel boxes and were disappointed to learn that they were sold out. HOWEVER, one of the owners made a discovery of a few dozen Orange Peel boxes that had been hidden away. So if you want to stuff a stocking with the beautiful and fragrant present, come on in!

Check out Debbie Brenemans video back in August of Fa La Lo and the Orange Peel Box.
http://www.blogthecoast.com/runway_ready/archives/2008/08/

Posted by Mary Salmon at 03:08 PM | Comments (0)

Does Gossip Girl Have Your Attention? New Promo Clip

Stay Tuned for New Gossip Girl... What's To Come?

I was already excited about the next new episode of Gossip Girl, airing on January 5. After seeing this new promo clip, I really can't wait! (Warning - this entry does contain spoilers.)

Here's some good news for those of us who can't stand Serina's new boyfriend, Aaron Rose. (The artist...) According to some reliable sources, he will not be returning. What does this mean for Serina's love life? A(nother) reconcilation with Dan? Probably not right away, as Dan is probably going to be interested in a hot, new young teacher, who will be played by Laura Breckenridge, pictured below. Now here's something to chew on - Dan and Blair may be starring in the school play together... could that lead to some sparks???

Blake Lively and Laura Breckenridge on the set of Gossip Girl in December 2008

It's also looking like Lily may have indeed given birth to Rufus' love child years ago & that he or she may be a new character to enter the storyline closer to the end of the season. I hope it's a girl, for the potential catfight factor.

In this next clip, Stephanie Savage, co-executive producer of Gossip Girl along with Josh Schwartz, shares her thoughts on some of the highlights of the show's second season so far (as well as what's to come) in a new video posted by the CW:

In other Gossip Girl Gossip...

Leighton Meester, who has an album coming out next year, will grace the cover of Teen Vogue in February 2009. Here are a few excerpts from the interview:

... Her parents’ prison past: “I wouldn’t have volunteered that information, but I’ve never kept it a secret either. It’s just not my past; it’s not my story to tell.”

... Her childhood: “I wasn’t born in jail; I was born in a hospital. I lived with my mother for a few months in a halfway house, and then I went to stay with my grandmother for a few more before my mom got out. But I had a normal life.”

... Her co-star Ed Westwick (Chuck Bass): “He’s my favorite actor to work with. We have really good chemistry.”

... Her debut album she hopes to release this spring: “The music is very fun. It’s edgy, like electropop rather than bubblegum and you can dance to it.”

Chase Crawford to Star in Leona Lewis Video

Chace Crawford will star in singer Leona Lewis' video for her song, "I Will Be."

"He has speaking lines in the video as well as just appearing in it," a source close to the set said, adding that, "It will be the most anticipated video in January."

"Chace went to London a couple months ago for meetings and to promote Gossip Girl. He went to a party and ended up meeting Leona," the source reveals. "The two hit it off and talk every once in a while and have become fast friends."

"A couple weeks ago Leona called Chace Crawford and asked if he would be in her next video. He obviously said yes."
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Dollhouse Premiere

Don't miss the series premiere of Dollhouse, Friday 2/13 at 9/8c, on FOX

Buffy fans haven't been this excited in years. Joss Whedon's Dollhouse will premiere on February 13. The above scene from the Feb. 13 premiere is the first time we see Echo, played by Eliza Dushku, wake up after having her memories wiped in the special memory-flushing chair. That leads into a discussion between lab tech Topher, played by Fran Kranz, and Echo’s handler Boyd, played by Harry Lennix, about her last "date," delving into just what being a doll/active means.

Posted by Mary Salmon at 08:18 AM | Comments (0)

Aubrey O'Day Goes Gay for Pay? Ka-ching!/ Lindsay Lohan's Leggins Flying off the Shelf/ Can Aniston Sell Tickets?/Rumors on the Next Catwomen Role?

http://somagirls.tv Aubrey O'Day goes gay for pay, Hermione Granger gets naked, Lindsay Lohan stocks up for the Holidays, and rumors continue on which Grey's Anatomy star will leave the show

What's the Lindsey gossip?

According to Celeb-gossip, Lindsey is continuing on with her high-profile lifestyle, Lindsay Lohan was spotted on her way out of Magnolia restaurant in Hollywood last night following a delicious dinner with friends.

The “Labor Pains” actress looked focused as she pushed past the paparazzi, sporting a black leather jacket overtop a black mini with black leggings and a pair of black heels.

And it sounds like LiLo is being roped into her girlfriend Samantha Ronson’s lawsuit with her former lawyer Martin Garbus, who Ronson had initially hired to sue celebrity blogger Perez Hilton.

Sam is suing Garbus for malpractice, and he’s counter-suing her for unpaid fees. And according to a report, the lesbian lovers’ private lives could come out in the court proceedings if they’re not careful.

Garbus’ attorneys are reportedly using Lohan as a witness in the case, and have requested information regarding their relationship, finances, drug use, alleged rehab stays, and even copies of the text messages and emails between them.

Yeah, but let's talk about those leggins?

Despite the fact that the economy is crumbling beneath our very feet, Lindsay Lohan's absurdly over-priced leggings are selling like hotcakes.

"They're blowing off the shelves," says Jill Lowe, publicist for high-end Hollywood boutique Intuition.

The Marilyn Monroe-inspired leggings - which cost anywhere from $44 to $132 - are also flying out the doors at Henri Bendel, Nordstrom, Intermix and Lisa Kline.

From leopard prints to zippered black tights, Lindsay's got a lil' something for everyone with 35 styles in various colors and patterns.

Across the board, stores say, Lohan's best-seller is her Mr. President leggings - the most expensive and unique-looking option. Black with grey knee patches, the $132 tights are a big hit from coast to coast.

Craziness! Who'd've thunk it??

And Lohan's gonna keep going with this "designer" gig.

Lohan and her team plan to develop four collections a year - spring, summer, fall and holiday - and they want to get even bigger.

"We are building a lifestyle brand that represents timeless glamour," Brubaker says. "Our hope is to organically [roll] out additional product categories over the next several years."

Do you think Lindsey is trying to tell us something in the picture below? By the way, I have those very boots Lindsey is wearing! Love'em...

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Wellness Presentation

Please join us for our Wellness Presentation on December 16th, 2008 from 10am-Noon. We will have a guest speaker talking about a wonderful nutritional product that will enhance your health and vitality. There will be refreshments and smoothies provided! This will also be a networking meeting so if you have your own business, bring your cards! Attached is a flyer that explains more about this presentation. Please RSVP by December 14th. Hope to see you there!

If you have any questions, please call 603-498-6863, or email at scottlmt@comcast.net.

Spinlates, 621 Islington St. Suites B&C, Portsmouth, NH (603) 766-7746, email info@spinlates.com www.spinlates.com
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Santa's Stocking Stuffer & Other Gifts Craft Fair

On Sunday, December 14, 10am – 4pm at the Frank Jones Center, 400 Rt. 1 Bypass, Portsmouth, NH
Infomration 603-528-4014 or Email jendee@metrocast.net

Need directions? Exit 5 off I-95 to Portsmouth Circle/Rotary & Bear Right onto Rt. 1 Bypass South
Venue website www.joycescraftshows.com

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Surprising rumors about the next Catwomen role...
The "Hot Gossip" seems to be swirling around the possibility of Catwoman making an appearance in Batman 3. Most recently, E! Online has reported that Rachel Weisz of "The Mummy" fame is being considered for the part. This differs from rumors earlier in the year -- fueled by the original Catwoman Julie Newmar -- that Angelina Jolie might be getting the nod.

And still others say that Maggie Gyllenhaal will be donning the cat cowl, which is a bit of a head scratch considering her character Rachel Dawes was blown up in the Dark Knight. However, Hollywood Newsroom claims that Gyllenhaal along with Aaron Eckhart have signed up for not one but two Bat-flicks. The theory goes that Rachel will have used one of her nine lives in the blast and she returns from the dead as the leather-clad feline crime fighter. source Yahoo.com

Continue to read full story..

http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/batman-3-casting-rumors.html

I'm sure I'm not alone when I say Angelina would rock that cat suit!!. Purrrr..

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Jennifer Aniston Sells Magazines. Can She Still Sell Movie Tickets?

It has been 2 1/2 years since the last film starring Jennifer Aniston hit screens. That movie, "The Break-Up," co-starred her one-time boyfriend Vince Vaughn and opened in first place at the box office. But since then, her only acting roles have been guest appearances on Courteney Cox Arquette's show "Dirt" in 2007 and on "30 Rock" last month.

She needs a big box-office smash if she is going to re-establish herself as a real movie star and not just a headline. The most financially successful movie of her career is "Bruce Almighty," which grossed $243 million, but that was sold solely as a Jim Carrey vehicle. In fact, all her top films paired her with a male comedy star, like Ben Stiller in "Along Came Polly."

This means the pressure is on for her next movie, "Marley & Me" to perform well.

read full story..
http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/hmg-jennifer-aniston.html

When Debbie Breneman isn't shopping she's reading your emails. You can contact her at dbreneman@seacoastonline.com or debreneman@gmail.com or contact Mary Salmon at msalmon@seacoastonline.com

Posted by at 09:56 AM | Comments (0)

Did She Have An Abortion Or Not?/ Bettie Page Dies/ US Top 10 Gifts!

Monday's episode of Gossip Girl ended with Rufus telling Dan he would never be with Lily. He had just discoved the real reason she was in France years ago - she had been pregnant with his child. I'm uncertain about the timeline of Lily and Rufus' relationship - so I'm not sure how old the child would be. (Could it possibly be Eric?) The scene where Lily is standing with all of her bags at the train station waiting for Rufus was hard to watch; he shows up with no luggage and just asks, "Was it a girl or a boy?" I was left with the feeling that Rufus would only be that angry if she had had an abortion, but I suppose the child could be alive and he's just ripping mad he never knew Lily had been pregnant with his child. Just when it looked like Lily and Rufus were going to be happy, Lily's own mother let this cat out of its bag. What were her motivations? Does she really want Lily to be with Rufus?

The next episode doesn't air until January 5, so we're going to have to wait to find out! There was some speculation that the much talked about Gossip Girl spin-off would focus on a young Lily and Rufus and the Rock 'n Roll N.Y. lifestyle from when they dated. Hmmmmmmmm... Today I read that this is not at all true. (This followed the rumor that Taylor Momsen's character Jenny would be the star, as in The It Girl book series.) As much as I like Lily & Rufus now, I'm not sure I'd be interested in watching that story. Apparently, this concept was never meant to be a new series, but rather was a pitch for the show's upcoming Verizon-sponsored webisode series. However, it looks like Doroda (Blair's maid) will beat out young-Rufus and young-Lily for this honor.

Here is the extended preview for the next episode, In The Realm of the Basses:

This episode will introduce the character of Jack Bass, Chuck's evil uncle who has come to take over Bart's business. Laura Breckenridge is also joining the cast as a hot, young teacher (possible love interest for Dan), but I'm not sure if she will be in the Jan. 5 episode. We may also see the return of Michelle Trachtenberg's character, Georgina Sparks, in 2009.

And in other Gossip Girl gossip...
Ed Westwick and Jessica Szohr (Chuck and Vanessa) were spotted making out at the Dallas Airport around Thanksgiving, and have been seen together again more recently:

In this photo, Jessica is wearing French Connection’s Celo Wool Coat in a black sheen textured pattern on her way to the show's holiday party on Sunday, 12/7, at New York City nightclub Haven with rumored boyfriend Ed Westwick.
"Ed and Jessica were definitely holding hands,” according to reports from a W spy. "They apparently didn’t leave the club until 4:30 a.m.!"

Is something going on between Chase Crawford and Taylor Momsen?
She may only be 15 years old, but rumors are flying that these two actors have been stealing kisses. I tend to doubt the accuracy of this report, however, as apparently Chase Crawford at one point thought it would be weird for Nate to make out with Jenny because she is so much younger.

Kelly Rutherford, the actress who portrays Lily, is pregnant in real life. No word if this will be built in to the storyline, but I doubt it, as Kelly said she'll be just about six months along when they go on hiatus. She did seem to have an extra glow to her face on Monday's episode.
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Pete Wentz Denies Baby Photo Pimping Rumors

Yesterday there were several reports on the Internet that the photos of Ashley Simpson and Pete Wentz's baby, Bronx Mowgli Wentz, had been offered to several tabloid magazines, but that they were asking too much money. As their covers traditionally don't sell very well, no one was interested.

Today, Pete took to his blog yesterday to deny this.

"ring ring, its the truth calling…

About baby pics gossip: truth is like every celeb couple we were offered mounds and mounds of money by mags from here to Guam to pimp out the baby. We just don’t want to go down that road with him. We are not placing judgment on those that do as they often use the money in a very charitable way. However, we have made the decision to not sell Bronx’s baby pictures right now. We understand that like other celebrities have said, “there is a bounty on our heads” for these pictures. There is a danger when there are cameras being held over walls and into our backyard. We are followed day and night and that was fine when it was us but we are going to do our best to shelter Bronx from that as much as possible. Its scary to be followed by 10 cars to your home. We understand the curiosity, just not the viciousness that comes along with it when it becomes so insatiable. We know there will be a time when we’ll share him with everyone because that insatiable curiousity becomes unsafe or simply because we’re proud parents who want to show him off! We know our fans support and care about us and want to know about our family and we’ve always been straight up and open with those who care about us most, so at some time, when it makes sense, Bronx will be out in the world.

In the meantime, we’d like to say thank you to those who have allowed us relative privacy in letting us just be a family for now - and to enjoy all the happiness he’s brought us.

ps trust me he’s cute. he looks like his mommy."
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Did You Miss The Portsmouth Holiday Parade? Watch it on TV!

The Mayor also announced that for the first time, the city-sponsored Holiday Parade will be broadcast on Local Government Cable Channel 22. The recording of last weekend's approximately 40-minute parade will be shown at 7 p.m. this Saturday, Dec. 13, and features over 60 parade entries, including the award-winning Kiwanis Club of the Seacoast "sleigh" float that carried a traditional holiday tree and gifts. The sleigh was outlined with festive Christmas lights.

photo credit: Scott Yates

Perhaps I'm not impartial, because I worked on the Portsmouth Herlad's float, but it seems an injustice that we lost out on the Mayor's Award. We did win Best Commercial Entry for our portrayal of early 1900s Portsmouth with buildings representing Strawbery Banke, Market Square and the North Church. The Mayor chose the parade's theme of "Vintage Christmas in Portsmouth" to coincide with the citywide celebration launched by the Music Hall and
Strawbery Banke to celebrate "a December of warmth, light and a return to our collective memories of Christmas past." Information on the month-long event can be found at www.themusichall.org/vintagechristmas/index.asp.
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Music on Deer Street

The merchants of Deer Street have partnered with the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra to bring holiday shoppers “Music on Deer Street” on Friday, December 19th.

Join the merchants of Deer Street as they showcase the musical talents of members of the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra from 6-7pm. Shoppers can enjoy holiday music, festive treats and all the warmth of season. This is a free event.

For more information contact Alex at J. Covington, the event organizer. You can reach him via email at alex@jcovington.com or by calling 603-431-4222.
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Wine Party in Portland

Take a break from Mall shopping and relax with Vintner's Cellar Winery. Where else can you enjoy a free glass of wine while you shop?!!

Vintner's Cellar Winery is located at 1037 Forest Avenue in Portland, Maine. Tomorrow, Saturday 12/13, from 11am - 6pm, they are offering complimentary wine tastings, complimentary refreshments, free door prizes and 20% off all gift certificates sold!!!Pass the word on to all of your friends!!!

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AMERICA PICKS TOP 10 CHRISTMAS GIFTS!

Sears asked Americans what they are wishing for this holiday season and their answers might surprise you. Compiling responses through an online survey, Sears' 'What America is Wishing For' campaign will reveal for the first time the most desired holiday gifts this season, as well as some interesting facts.

Americans can join the fun online at Sears.com, and share what's at the top of their holiday wish list. The ever-changing wish lists take the guesswork out of gift giving by showcasing the most sought after gifts in one easy to navigate location. Sears lists -- ranging from wishes from moms, dads, kids and members of the military -- will continue to evolve everyday with each wish submitted. The wish lists will be featured both on Sears.com and Sears' Good News Now network on Yahoo! News.

In the first week of 'What America is Wishing For,' America's Top Wishes
include:

-- Video Game System
-- MP3 Player
-- Notebook Computer
-- Digital Camera
-- Diamond Ring
-- Wii Game
-- LeapFrog LeapPad
-- Diamond Earrings
-- Cell Phone
-- Diamond Pendant

"Embracing the magic and power of wishes has been a long-standing tradition at Sears. We want to reveal America's wishes this holiday so that gift givers everywhere can not just give a gift, but rather experience the appreciation and magnitude of fulfilling a wish," said Don Hamblen, Sears' chief marketing officer. "All gifts on the wish lists can be found in-store at Sears or online at Sears.com. If you're just finishing up your holiday buying or are just getting started, there are great, affordable gifts at Sears."

In compiling wishes, Sears found that men are two times more likely than
women to want electronics and computing gifts. This week's wish for men
includes:

-- MP3 Player
-- Notebook Computer
-- Digital Camera
-- Electronics
-- Entertainment
-- Video Game System
-- Outerwear
-- Jeans
-- Shirts
-- Watches

Women tend towards gifts with a bit of dazzle or fragrance. In fact, women are 30 times more likely than men to ask for a fragrance. This week's wish for women includes:
-- Diamond rings
-- Diamond earrings
-- Diamond pendants/necklaces
-- Gemstone pendants/necklaces
-- Fragrances
-- Handbag/purse
-- Gold necklaces
-- Activewear
-- Bath & Body Gift Set
-- For the Home

Consumers can join in the spirit for 'What America is Wishing For' and select and submit top items from their holiday wish list on the holiday section at Sears.com. SOURCE Sears Holdings Corporation
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Bettie Page Dies at 85
Pin-up queen was a cult-culture phenomenon

Bettie Page, the 1950s secretary-turned-model whose controversial photographs in skimpy attire or none at all helped set the stage for the 1960s sexual revolution, died Thursday. She was 85. Page was placed on life support last week after suffering a heart attack in Los Angeles and never regained consciousness, said her agent, Mark Roesler. He said he and Page's family agreed to remove life support. Before the heart attack, Page had been hospitalized for three weeks with pneumonia.

"She captured the imagination of a generation of men and women with her free spirit and unabashed sensuality," Roesler said. "She is the embodiment of beauty."

Page, who was also known as Betty, attracted national attention with magazine photographs of her sensuous figure in bikinis and see-through lingerie that were quickly tacked up on walls in military barracks, garages and elsewhere, where they remained for years.

Her photos included a centerfold in the January 1955 issue of then-fledgling Playboy magazine, as well as controversial sadomasochistic poses.

"I think that she was a remarkable lady, an iconic figure in pop culture who influenced sexuality, taste in fashion, someone who had a tremendous impact on our society," Playboy founder Hugh Hefner told The Associated Press on Thursday. "She was a very dear person."

Page mysteriously disappeared from the public eye for decades, during which time she battled mental illness and became a born-again Christian.

After resurfacing in the 1990s, she occasionally granted interviews but refused to allow her picture to be taken.

"I don't want to be photographed in my old age," she told an interviewer in 1998. "I feel the same way with old movie stars. ... It makes me sad. We want to remember them when they were young."

The 21st century indeed had people remembering her just as she was. She became the subject of songs, biographies, Web sites, comic books, movies and documentaries. A new generation of fans bought thousands of copies of her photos, and some feminists hailed her as a pioneer of women's liberation.

Gretchen Mol portrayed her in 2005's "The Notorious Bettie Page" and Paige Richards had the role in 2004's "Bettie Page: Dark Angel." Page herself took part in the 1998 documentary "Betty Page: Pinup Queen."

Hefner said he last saw Page when he held a screening of "The Notorious Bettie Page" at the Playboy Mansion. He said she objected to the fact that the film referred to her as "notorious," but "we explained to her that it referred to the troubled times she had and was a good way to sell a movie."

Page's career began one day in October 1950 when she took a respite from her job as a secretary in a New York office for a walk along the beach at Coney Island. An amateur photographer named Jerry Tibbs admired the 27-year-old's firm, curvy body and asked her to pose.

Looking back on the career that followed, she told Playboy in 1998: "I never thought it was shameful. I felt normal. It's just that it was much better than pounding a typewriter eight hours a day, which gets monotonous."

Nudity didn't bother her, she said, explaining: "God approves of nudity. Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, they were naked as jaybirds."

In 1951, Page fell under the influence of a photographer and his sister who specialized in S&M. They cut her hair into the dark bangs that became her signature and posed her in spiked heels and little else. She was photographed with a whip in her hand, and in one session she was spread-eagled between two trees, her feet dangling.

"I thought my arms and legs would come out of their sockets," she said later.

Moralists denounced the photos as perversion, and Sen. Estes Kefauver of Tennessee, Page's home state, launched a congressional investigation.

Page quickly retreated from public view, later saying she was hounded by federal agents who waved her nude photos in her face. She also said she believed that, at age 34, her days as "the girl with the perfect figure" were nearly over.

She moved to Florida in 1957 and married a much younger man, as an early marriage to her high school sweetheart had ended in divorce.

Her second marriage also failed, as did a third, and she suffered a nervous breakdown.

In 1959, she was lying on a sea wall in Key West when she saw a church with a white neon cross on top. She walked inside and became a born-again Christian.

After attending Bible school, she wanted to serve as a missionary but was turned down because she had been divorced. Instead, she worked full-time for evangelist Billy Graham's ministry.

A move to Southern California in 1979 brought more troubles.

She was arrested after an altercation with her landlady, and doctors who examined her determined she had acute schizophrenia. She spent 20 months in a state mental hospital in San Bernardino.

A fight with another landlord resulted in her arrest, but she was found not guilty because of insanity. She was placed under state supervision for eight years.

"She had a very turbulent life," Todd Mueller, a family friend and autograph seller, told The Associated Press on Thursday. "She had a temper to her."

Mueller said he first met Page after tracking her down in the 1990s and persuaded her to do an autograph signing event.

He said she was a hit and sold about 3,000 autographs, usually for $200 to $300 each.

"Eleanor Roosevelt, we got $40 to $50. ... Bettie Page outsells them all," he told The AP last week.

Born April 22, 1923, in Nashville, Tenn., Page said she grew up in a family so poor "we were lucky to get an orange in our Christmas stockings."

The family included three boys and three girls, and Page said her father molested all of the girls.

After the Pages moved to Houston, her father decided to return to Tennessee and stole a police car for the trip. He was sent to prison, and for a time Betty lived in an orphanage.

In her teens she acted in high school plays, going on to study drama in New York and win a screen test from 20th Century Fox before her modeling career took off.

(This story is from The Associated Press)

Posted by Mary Salmon at 11:00 AM | Comments (0)

Final Gossip Girl of 2008

The good news... the episode of Gossip Girl that will air on Monday, Dec.8, looks AMAZING. (Check out scenes below.) The bad news... it's the final new episode of 2008.

At the end of the Dec. 1 episode, we know Bart Bass has been in an accident. The preview shows Chuck Bass in a shady exchange, presumably buying information about why Lily was in an institution in France years ago. I have no idea how Rufus comes into play in this storyline, but he's all over the preview scenes, and Lily and Rufus have such amazing chemistry; I love watching any scenes where they interact. Whatever Chuck learns about Lily "disgusts" him, but I just can't imagine what Lily's big secret could be.

Searching Youtube for Lily & Rufus scenes just goes to how I'm not the only one who can't get enough of these two together! The video below is a fan video of top ten Rufus/Lily moments from Season One.

I can't wait to see how the Vanessa/Jenny storyline plays out. Last week Jenny dressed Vanessa in a sheer gown that she claimed she designed, although it looked nothing like any of her other designs. The idea was to get Vanessa in the spotlight at the ball, so the whole room would see her nakedness through the sheer dress. I couldn't help feel sorry for Vanessa, but I guess I was more surprised by how evil Jenny could be to Vanessa, her brother's best friend. Jenny didn't win any points with Nate, who is suddenly hooked on Vanessa again.

Also, an update on the spin-off rumors. According to an article I just found online, there will be a Gossip Girl spin-off sometime 2009-2010, but it will not focus on Jenny or be modeled after The It Girl books. Read the full story here. Any guess as to which character may get his or her own show?

The first new episode of 2009 will air on Monday, January 5.

Hopefully Serina will be ditching greaseball artist Aaron soon, but until then, at least we can all laugh at his horrible "art."
I mean, seriously, what is going on with those painted on sunglasses?

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Bettie Page Suffers Heart Attack in Los Angeles

Mark Roesler, Bettie Page's agent and attorney, said Friday that Page is "critically ill." He says she suffered a heart attack Tuesday and remains hospitalized, but would not comment further on her condition.

Page is one of the most famous and iconic models of the 20th century. She is credited with helping set the stage for the sexual revolution of the 1960s. She is most well-known for her pin-ups.

Posted by Mary Salmon at 11:31 AM | Comments (0)

Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 2008 Video

Turning up the heat in Miami, Florida, Victoria's Secret's Angels hit the runway for the 2008 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.

R&B singer Usher kicked off the Annual Victoria's Secret Fashion Show at the newly revamped historic Fontainebleau Hotel, featured in famous movies such as "Goldfinger" and "Scarface", which shined in the spotlight once again as Victoria's Secret Angels graced the runway in the newest sexy 2008 collection.

Here is a video of the finale:

You can also view the entire show here: http://www.veoh.com/videos/v16819776twdpt3sF?rank=0&order=

Victoria's Secret Supermodel Heidi Klum, along with Adriana Lima, Marisa Miller, and Miranda Kerr took center stage with a star-studded audience which included P. Diddy, Russell Simmons, Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton. “We watch the show every year on TV, so it’s really cool to see it in person,” Kim Kardashian was quoted as telling the Associated Press

"The theme of the show is a return to glamour," said company CEO Sharen Turney. "Victoria's Secret is about sexy and the new sexy is glamorous for this season."

"The models showed 68 outfits, including the $5 million Black Diamond Fantasy Miracle Bra that could feed a small nation worn by Lima and designed by jeweler Martin Katz. It is decorated with white and black diamonds and rubies, and will be for sale in the company's catalog."

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Holiday Fund Raiser to Benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Seacoast

Happy Holidays to Everyone!

With the Holiday season in full swing I wanted to share with you a Very Special Event being held here at Bellman's Portsmouth on December 11th, 12th and 13th.

Bellman's Portsmouth is donating a portion of the proceeds on ALL SALES made during these 3 days directly to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Seacoast.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Seacoast provides adult mentors and role models for "at-risk" youth between the ages of 6 and 17. The common mission of Big Brother Big Sister organizations is to provide successful mentoring relationships for all children who need them, promoting a brighter future, better schools, and stronger communities.

I invite you and your friends to show your support for this great organization and local families in need this Holiday

Season. It doesn't matter if you are buying a gift or buying something for yourself.....take pride in knowing that a portion of the proceeds are being donated to a great cause.

As is the Bellman's tradition enjoy a glass of champagne while you shop.

For more information on this organization check out the website at www.nhseacoastbigbrothersbigsisters.org.

We all look forward to seeing you!

Happy Holidays ,

Kimberly Buxton Bellman's Portsmouth at 78 Market Street, Portsmouth on the 4th floor.
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On the new cover of Glamour: Britney suggests that K-Fed isn’t the best dad—is that really fair?

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/parenting/on-the-new-cover-of-glamour-britney-suggests-that-k-fed-isn-rsquo-t-the-best-dad-mdash-is-that-really-fair-321260/;_ylt=AowHQ_j.vz41kymeYJTsbyBabqU5
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Jennifer Aniston: Pregnancy Rumors About Me Are "Hysterical"

Jenifer Aniston says she wasn't thrilled to see her quotes about Angelina Jolie being "uncool" on Vogue's December cover.

"I was just surprised that Vogue would go so tabloid," she tells the latest issue of Entertainment Weekly (via E! News), adding that the quotes were taken out of context. "I was bummed. But you almost expect it. Big deal. Done. Next."

Read full story here..http://omg.yahoo.com/news/jennifer-aniston-pregnancy-rumors-about-me-are-hysterical/16127?nc

When Debbie Breneman isn't shopping she's reading your emails. You can contact her at dbreneman@seacoastonline.com or debreneman@gmail.com or contact Mary Salmon at msalmon@seacoastonline.com

Posted by at 08:02 AM | Comments (0)

Gossip Girl Style/ Victoria's Secret Angels Fashion Show

Last week's episode of "Gossip Girl" was intense - Agnes went nutso (but I think we all saw that coming) and set Jenny's dresses on fire. I did notice the green dress was not in the burning pile, but Jenny is saying she now has nothing, so I'm a little unclear if any of her designs remain. Dan was digging around for a writing assignment and discovered that Bart Bass may have earned his fortune only after committing an act of arson & collecting the insurance money on one of his earliest real estate investments. Good old Dan decides not to ruin the Bass family by not to going forward with the story. Jenny is about to divorce her parents to pursue her dreams - it's too bad though, because Rufus was just about to cave and sign those papers.

Tonight, it’s Thanksgiving time and Blair is offended when her Mom’s new man, Cyrus (the actor playing this character, Wallace Shawn, was also the little bald guy from The Princess Bride!), hijacks her Thanksgiving traditions. Lily attempts to fix Jenny and Rufus’s frail bond. Eric discovers a secret about Bart. See the video below for scenes.

Taking a peek inside the upper east side, here is a shot of the living room and Serina's bedroom at the Bass/ van der Woodsen residence.

"[Serina's] room shows a confident, eclectic mix of funky new and classic vintage items," the show's production designer, Loren Weeks, recently said to InStyle.com. "I wanted it to express her character: effortlessly beautiful and self-assured." You can actually take a virtual walk-through tour of the new Bass/van der Woodsen apartment on InStyle.com. It gives you a better look at Lily's taste in art and perhaps you'll take some inspiration for your own decorating. And come to think of it, we never were told if Bart destroyed the Mapplethorpe starring Lily, or if it still exists somewhere.

Trend alert: Blair was wearing Alex Woo's letter necklace (b & w) in last week's episode:
I wonder if we are going to soon see these all over the necks of young Hollywood.

On the September 15 episode, we also saw several cast members wearing Alex Woo: The Little Luck Horseshoe and Sweni Earrings were worn by Vanessa. Jenny was wearing Alex Woo's Little Faith Peace Dove and her dad's date was wearing the Vida Pendant. In the past we have also seen Jenny wearing the Little Question Mark and Little Princess Bow.

Blake Lively spotted with Burberry's Warrior handbag.

One last thought about last week - how totally stupid was it that Serina decided to run around in a slip with Aaron? He brings out the ditz in her, big time. I'm ready for her to move on... At least this week, in the episode titiled, "The Magnificent Archibalds," we know we'll be seeing plenty of that pretty Nate Archibald. Do you really need another reason to watch?
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Victoria's Secret - Angels Fashion Show

Victoria's Secret's angels have descended upon Miami Beach. Singer Usher kicked off the Victoria's Secret show Saturday, which featured 35 supermodels, some wearing angel wings. Models including Heidi Klum and Adriana Lima strutted down the runway at the newly renovated Fontainebleau Miami Beach during the show, which coincided with the opulent reopening of the hotel.

"The theme of the show is a return to glamour," said company CEO Sharen Turney. "Victoria's Secret is about sexy and the new sexy is glamorous for this season."

The catwalk glittered and two silver palm trees adorned the stage. Models showed 68 outfits, including the $5 million Black Diamond Fantasy Miracle Bra worn by Lima and designed by jeweler Martin Katz. It is decorated with white and black diamonds and rubies, and will be for sale in the company's catalog, Katz said.

"You could wear it as an open top," he said. "It looks like a finished top."

Lima said she was excited to be wearing it.

"I always wanted to wear the Fantasy Bra. It's the first time that Victoria's Secret makes a black diamond bra," Lima said. "A woman could definitely buy it if they love it and men too."

Themes in the show included glamorous goddesses and bold colors with geometric designs influenced from the 1920s. Professional dancers wore one-piece bathing suits for one segment and models got playful with Usher when he performed.

There were also designs from the youthful Pink collection, along with pastels, florals and a black tie theme.

Models wore gilded bras with Swarovski crystals attached. There was also a gold sculpted feather body piece that curved around the model's body. Metal sculpted laurel leaves were also worn around some of the models' necks.

Model Karolina Kurkova wore a bra and underwear in a diaphanous hand-dyed, pleated, draped gown with a leather belt and gilded feather jewelry. Meanwhile, Klum was in a cutaway evening gown of handprinted silk, tulle and duchess satin, decorated with red roses. source AP

Victoria's Secret Angel Karolina Kurkova fitting for the VSFS 2008

On December 3, the fashion show will be broadcast to the public on CBS. Runway Ready will post the show as soon as we can get our fashion fingers on it..

When Debbie Breneman isn't shopping she's reading your emails. You can contact her at dbreneman@seacoastonline.com or debreneman@gmail.com or contact Mary Salmon at msalmon@seacoastonline.com
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Britney's New Album Leaked on the Internet Over Two Weeks Before Release Date

I just read that Britney's new album, Circus, (not set to be released for over two weeks) became available yesterday on the Internet. I have not hunted it down myself, but rumor has it that it shouldn't be too hard to find. That's probably going to hurt Britney's sales...

Posted by Mary Salmon at 08:07 AM | Comments (0)

New Gossip Girl - Monday, Nov. 10, 8pm on the CW

Gossip Girl fans will be excited to hear that the second season has been extended by two episodes. Originally there were 22 episodes scheduled for the season, but the CW has upped that number to 24.

We saw Jenny's own fashion line, J. Humphrey designs, debut when Jenny crashed an event honoring Lily Bass during last week's episode and presented her guerilla fashion show leading to her Page Six debut in the New York Post. However, little J's rise to fame may be hindered by her model friend, Agnes, who looks like she will be a liability, judging from the scenes you can click here to watch. I'm getting the vibe that she wants credit for Jenny's designs. Meanwhile, Blair hates Cyrus and Serina is enamored with Aaron.

Jenny's transition to bad, independent girl is emphasized by her new look with heavy black eyeliner and a new (more punk rock, less girl next-door) haircut. It is easy to forget Jenny's age when we see her locking lips with Nate. He starts the season sleeping with a married older woman and transitions to making out with a 15 year-old girl... oh, Nate. There was also that woman from Yale, Jordan, whose name didn't ring a bell when she called Dan's cell phone as he and Nate were walking together. That was before Dan found out about Nate smooching Jenny (though a Gossip Girl photo text update) and told him to move out of the Humphrey household. There is great chemistry between Nate and Jenny, and I'm interested to see where their storyline goes.

The video below was playing in the background of Jenny's fashion show; it gives a sense of Jenny's design aesthetic, if you have not yet watched the footage from the episode. See the Nov. 4 entry of Runway Ready to see Jenny's fashion show.

On a final fashion note, if you have ever wondered about Blair's headbands and headpieces, I have discovered that Jennifer Behr is the designer of many pieces that have adorned Blair's head. Inspired by the richness of silks, feathers, stones, pythons and leathers, materials are the starting point for Jennifer Behr. Her collection is made by hand in her studio in Brooklyn where she works these materials into delicate headpieces. The leather and python pieces are produced with a network of small workshops in Brooklyn and Manhattan. This results in hair accessories carrying the soul of handwork, while remaining thoroughly modern in appearance.

The collection is a favorite among Hollywood's A-list, including Natalie Portman, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Amy Adams, Diane Lane, Katy Perry and Heidi Klum. The pieces have graced the pages of many renowned publications such as W, Vogue, Elle, Teen Vogue, and Nylon. Jennifer Behr hair accessories can be found in over 40 boutiques nationally and internationally, including Bergdorf Goodman, Colette, Browns Focus, Lane Crawford and On Pedder.

Posted by Mary Salmon at 05:36 PM | Comments (0)

Jenny Humphey's Designs from Gossip Girl

A reader recently emailed the following request:

"Hey, I was wondering if you would post the episode of Gossip Girl on November 3, 2008 showing Jenny's designs at Serena's mom's party? I really want to see them and I don't know what other website besides this would post a video of her designs. Please contact me asap, thank you :)"

We aim to please. Here's your first look at J. Humphrey Designs - brought to you by Runway Ready... I'm a big fan of Little J

The Guerilla Fashion Show starts at the 5:58 minute mark and continues on the video below...

Posted by at 08:32 PM | Comments (0)

xoxo... Gossip Girl

WATCH TO SEE JENNY HUMPHREY'S FASHIONS TONIGHT!!!!
GOSSIP GIRL ON THE CW AT 8:00 PM!!!!

Why do we really watch Gossip Girl? Okay, there are a few reasons... the oh so cute & pretty upper east side boys... the story lines that have stayed fairly interesting thus far... and the real reason - what is everyone wearing?? I swear I have plaid flats that I would never have purchased (from last fall) were it not for the character of Blair Waldorf. You will not see me sporting a tie anytime soon, but I can also credit the show for my newfound love of headbands (Blair) and scarves (Serina).

In this last episode - purple - THE color of the season was everywhere... I especially loved the dress Blair was wearing when she was trying to seduce Chuck at the bar - although their storyline is one I had enough of at this point; it's getting hard to keep it interesting, except for the wardrobe changes... There was also the great purple skirt and green top ensemble Blair wore to the gallery.

The video above pays homage to many of the great styles we have seen on the show, but right now I just am so excited to see tonight's episode and Jenny Humphrey's designs! She took a bold stand against Eleanor Waldorf and walked out with the green dress that Serina wore during Eleanor's Fashion Week show finale. Jenny had actually designed the dress, but Blair was causing trouble again...

Jenny's new model friend (perhaps a bad influence?? She did get Jenny dancing around and photographed in her underwear by a photographer with perhaps less than noble intentions, until Nate came to save the day, and then take proceeded to confess his feelings to Jenny in a passionate kiss.) The model advised Jenny to stop letting Eleanor take advantage of her work and take all the credit for Jenny's designs and inspires her to start her own line, and we should see the first examples on tonight's episode! Yeah, and it looks like Jenny will end up getting arrested, too - this show always has great scenes for the next episode:

WATCH TONIGHT!!!!

When Debbie Breneman isn't shopping she's reading your emails. You can contact her at dbreneman@seacoastonline.com or debreneman@gmail.com or Mary Salmon at msalmon@seacoastonline.com

Posted by at 11:01 AM | Comments (0)

Sen. McCain and Gov. Palin (Fey) address the Nation on QVC

In case you missed SNL latest spoofs on Saturday night...

"Obama purchased airtime on three major networks," McCain said. "We, however, can only afford QVC."
"I'm a true maverick -- a Republican without money," McCain said.

Sen. McCain unveils his new strategies on Weekend update.

"I thought I might try a strategy called the reverse maverick. That's where I'd do whatever anybody tells me," McCain said.

And if that didn't work, "I'd go to the double maverick. I'd just go totally berserk and freak everybody out," the Arizona senator quipped.

The ladies of The View welcome Alec Baldwin

I loved all the characters in this spoof of "The View". Ben Afflect was terrific portraying Alec Baldwin, voice and attitude was right on.

When Debbie Breneman isn't shopping she's reading your emails. You can contact her at dbreneman@seacoastonline.com or debreneman@gmail.com.

Posted by at 02:28 PM | Comments (0)

Season Five Project Runway FINALE

((Fourteenth in a series about Project Runway, Season Five by Mary Salmon))

Leanne Marshall, the seemingly shy, yet incredibly talented designer from Portland, Ore., is the big winner of the fifth season of Project Runway. Tim Gunn served as a guest judge when Jennifer Lopez dropped out at the very last minute due to a foot injury. (She did manage compete in a triathlon two days later, though!)

Leanne's collection was wave-inspired, draped in large panels of white, cream and shades of turquoise. It was indeed a "collection," but I have to say I was a little disappointed in the color choices, or maybe it's just that I wish there had been more color... I wonder what a few different shades of darker blue or a greener turquoise would have done to her collection as a whole - she wouldn't have lost that feeling of water and waves. In fact, the turquoise blue she chose reminds me more of a sky blue in the photos and on the runway. I also do have to say I detested the tall pants that Tim Gunn fawned over. To Leanne's credit, I did think many of her pieces were very unique, created with great attention to detail.

All of the strong architectural elements that are Leanne were clearly present in the designs, but her looks possessed buoyancy and an ease, an effortlessness that belied each items' structure. Her collection was superbly edited, something she had challenges with at the start of the season; had she not brought her critical eye and judgment to each look and its relationship to every other look in the collection, there may have been a different outcome.

Leanne's Final Collection:

Leanne first got her itch for design at the early age of 12, after designing ballet costumes. A graduate from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandise in San Francisco, Leanne was the recipient of the Levis/Dockers Fashion Designer of Tomorrow scholarship. Her graphic design experience influences her style, which can be described as innovative, structural and sophisticated – a style that's unquestionably her own. Her feverish appetite for fashion and creation probably lent a hand in naming her line "Leanimal," currently being sold in Portland, New York and Seattle.

This was the first season that the competition ever came down to three women competing for the grand prize. I really loved Kenley from the start of the season, but it seems that if I had been a fellow designer, I would have hated her. Emily, a designer who was kicked off at the beginning of the series said something in a television interview to the effect that the way Kenley was portrayed on the show was actually very kind and that she was actually much more of a "monster" than the viewers saw. Either way, I do feel bad that she gets accused of being a copycat. I honestly think she does need more knowledge of fashion history, but I also truly do not believe she meant to "copy" anyone.

(Above is an example of one of Kenley's "copycat" designs. It's a painted floral dress reminiscent of a dress in the Balenciaga Spring 2008 collection. I personally like Kenley's design more.)

Another questionable design was Kenley's wedding dress:

(Kenley's design on the left; Alexander McQueen's Fall 2008 design, shown in Paris earlier this year. I think this accusation may hold a bit more water, as Kenley did not seem as surprised by the comparison.)

Here are a few other looks from Kenley's final collection:

Kenley presented a strong point of view with excellent execution, neither of which were surprises, and both of which were appropriately lauded. Kenley's textile choices and hand-painting were beautiful. All of the silhouettes reflected that "Kenley" style we have all learned to identify. Her looks beautifully captured the essence of her inspiration: "painting the roses red" from Alice in Wonderland. I would not have been disappointed if she had won.

Kenley's Final Collection:

Korto's collection was pretty much what I expected to see from her, with perhaps a bit more vibrant color than I thought she may bring to the runway, which I really enjoyed. Korto fully embraced her African heritage in her designs, inspired by nature and the landscape of Africa. Her pieces were accented with heavy, beaded African jewelry that she also made. The colors, textures, and jewelry were all integral parts of her collection.

Korto's Final Collection:

Michelle Trachtenberg, who sat in the front row, said she would wear anything by the female designers. “I thought they were all really, really beautiful. A lot of hard work went into them,” she said. “I love Kenley, but Leanne has some great stuff. I think the competition is between those two.”

Fern Mallis, who oversees New York Fashion Week, saw a more clear winner: Marshall. “It worked from the beginning to the end. There was a concept, she made it work beautifully, and executed it.” Last year’s winner, Christian Siriano, agreed. “I thought Leanne’s was fabulous,” he said. “She has to be winner, because everything else was not cute.”

I finally figured out why Joe, Jerell, and Suede were also able to show their collections at Bryant Park; they were the "decoy" collections. As the season was still airing, it was supposed to help the audience not figure out who the big winner was... It makes you wonder how much effort those designers put into their collections! (The Bravo website didn't make figuring out who won a very big mystery, either!) See their collections below...

The "Decoy" Collections:

Jerell Scott, Joe Faris and Suede (you know, the guy who talks about himself in the third person) showed far less inspiring and innovative pieces.

Jerell went Medieval disco in black and gold, mixing black netting, metallic plates, ruffles and lace-up bustiers.

Faris paid homage to the American rodeo, offering a collection primarily made of leather corsets and tight denim with motorcycle jacket details.

Suede sent out models in pink, baby blue and opalescent white sheath dresses and gowns.

(Written by Mary Salmon using some material and photos provided by The Associated Press and Bravotv.com.)

Posted by at 12:27 PM | Comments (0)

Trollbeads Now Available at Paradiza

Paradiza in downtown Portsmouth (63 Penhallow Street) is now carrying Trollbeads. They are a beautiful line of artisan beads made of Italian glass and sterling silver.

Trollbeads are unique. Each bead has its own little history, taking its inspiration from mythology, astrology, fairy tales, fauna, flora, cultural diversity, and last but certainly not least, in the familiar things of everyday living.

What is most distinctive about Trollbeads, apart from the original design, is the use and combination of fascinating materials. The beads are made from the highest quality raw materials including sterling silver, 18 carat gold, Italian Murano glass, natural pearls and precious stones. The original models are typically created in hard modelling wax – cast and finished in metal. Some models are then set with stones. And other models are created directly in molten, red-hot glass.

The concept of Trollbeads charms was developed over the past 25 years. Today, eighteen Danish and internationally renowned jewellery designers create the beads. There are more than 200 different models. The full collection can always be viewed at www.trollbeads.com

The many different symbols, flowers, animals, zodiac signs, colours and materials offer you endless variations and combinations, making the jewellery both unique and personal. You can start with just one bead or be bold and begin with a collection. The beads can be worn on a silver or gold chain – as a bracelet or necklace.

Trollbeads have won international artistic recognition and have recently been exhibited at Sculpture Objects & Functional Art in Chicago and New York.

source: www.trollbeads.com, a product by Lise Aagaard Copenhagen
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In case you missed Sarah Palin on SNL:

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BANANA REPUBLIC AND GOODWILL ARE GIVING 30% OFF FOR THE COAT OFF YOUR BACK
NOW THROUGH OCTOBER 26
The Donations Benefit Goodwill’s Job Training and Employment Programs

Get ready for the holiday season by making a little room in your closet and your heart. For the second year in a row, Banana Republic and Goodwill Industries are giving customers a chance to share the warmth and shop at the same time. Customers who donate their gently-worn sweaters or coats at any Banana Republic in the U.S. and Canada from October 16 through October 26 will receive a 30 percent discount on all regular priced Banana Republic merchandise for the same time period - some exclusions apply, see stores for details.

Donated items will be sold in Goodwill retail stores across the country. The revenue funds job training and employment programs for people with disabilities, those who lack education or job experience and those facing economic challenges. In 2007, more than one million people benefited from Goodwill’s programs. .

“The tremendous success of last year’s campaign encouraged us to continue this collaboration with Goodwill Industries,” says Chris Nicklo, Vice President of Marketing for Banana Republic. “This year, customers can get a jump start on the giving season by donating sweaters and coats to a great cause and once again join us in giving back to the local communities where we do business.”

Last year, Banana Republic and Goodwill Industries collected more than 110,000 sweaters that generated $438,000 in revenue to support Goodwill’s employment programs in local communities. “By donating to Goodwill, people are making an investment in their local communities,” says Jim Gibbons, President and CEO of Goodwill Industries International. “Each donated sweater or coat will help us earn the funding we need to provide valuable job training to those who need it most in local communities.”

Banana Republic is committed to giving back to local communities across the country. This initiative is part of the company’s broader philanthropic approach, “Give Where You Live”, which encourages customers and employees to help make stronger, more livable communities. Banana Republic plans to expand this program with other partners in the future.

Posted by at 12:07 PM | Comments (0)

GAP UNVEILS "VOTE FOR" CAMPAIGN

EXPRESS YOURSELF: GAP ENCOURAGEs AMERICANS TO VOICE THEIR PASSIONS AND OPINIONS THIS ELECTION SEASON WITH "VOTE FOR" CAMPAIGN

Centered Around a Fill-in-the-Blank "Vote for _____" White T-shirt, the Campaign Features Personal Webisodes by Acclaimed Actors, Architects & Political Activists, Real People Voicing their Passions in Store Windows, "Songs Of Freedom" by Musician Matt White and more.

Gap recently launched its “Vote for“ initiative [gap.com/votefor], a campaign that provides a platform for Americans to express their passions, opinions and ideas during one of the most important election seasons facing our nation.

Centered on a customizable classic white t-shirt that simply says, “Vote for _____.”, Gap is encouraging Americans to fill in the blank with whatever word, expression or presidential candidate they are passionate about. In addition to the “Vote for _____.” t-shirt, Gap is also providing other ways for Americans to engage with the initiative – from heartfelt and playful webisodes and Facebook Flair, to “Vote for” buttons and an original song called “Songs Of Freedom” by musician Matt White. Vote for _____.”

T-shirts are available for purchase at gap.com/votefor and in stores nationwide beginning Oct. 23 through Election Day on Nov. 4, while supplies last.

“For nearly 40 years, self expression and individuality have been an integral part of the heart and soul of Gap,” said Ivy Ross, executive vice president of Gap Marketing. “With this historic election upon us, we wanted to provide Americans with a platform to voice their opinions.”

As part of the campaign, Gap has enlisted the support of political activist and American TV and film icon Norman Lear who founded Declare Yourself, a nonpartisan campaign aiming to empower every eligible American to register to vote. Norman participated in the Gap “Vote for” campaign by creating his own Webisode about how every single vote counts. Furthermore, Gap has selected 70 everyday Americans who will showcase their passions via their “Vote for ____.” t-shirts featured in Gap store windows across the country Oct. 23 through Nov. 4.

How Voters Can Participate in “Vote for”:

Hear what Thought Leaders and Celebs Vote for at gap.com/votefor: To get voters thinking about what they “Vote for,” Gap enlisted the help of 10 personalities and thought-leaders to create their own ‘Vote for” videos at gap.com/votefor. Participants include Bill Maher, Norman Lear, Cameron Sinclair, Perez Hilton, Mark Cuban, Olivia Munn, Kristen Bell, The Cool Kids, John Picard and Minka Kelly who “Vote for” a range of passions from “Imagining New Energy” to “BBQ.” Voters can embed their favorite videos on personal blogs and other websites.

“Songs Of Freedom” by Matt White: Singer/songwriter Matt White designed his own “Vote for Love.” t-shirt, inspired by his single “Love” off his debut album ‘Best Days,’ which he wore throughout his summer tour and in his new music video, “Love.” Motivated by his t-shirt and the “Vote for” campaign, Matt collaborated with Gap on a song called “Songs Of Freedom,” which is all about expressing yourself. The song, inspired by people in the past who have put a stake in the ground by saying things that incite thought and conversation, can be heard in Gap stores nationwide, on gap.com/votefor, declareyourself.com, mattwhitemusic.com and is available on iTunes. Fans can view behind-the-scenes footage of Matt White writing and recording “Songs Of Freedom” at gap.com/votefor.

Visit Facebook to Voice Your Passions with Flair and Join Gap’s Fan Page: To show friends what you stand for, Gap has created 300 unique Facebook “Vote for” buttons that can be added to your profile or sent to friends. Facebookers can access the gallery of buttons at gap.com/votefor, Facebook’s Pieces of Flair application or Gap’s Facebook Fan Page. Additionally, people can join Gap’s Facebook Fan Page where they can catch exclusive behind-the-scenes footage from the celebrity “Vote for” shoots, hear about upcoming Matt White events and receive a special promotional offer for 15 percent off any purchase at Gap.

Purchase Exclusive Artist Buttons: Gap has enlisted 10 renowned artists including Fab5Freddy, John Baldessari, Adam Pendleton, Kara Walker, Nate Lowman, John Waters, Deborah Kass, Assume Vivid Astro Focus, Laurie Simmons and Sean Landers to express themselves by designing a limited edition “Vote for” button. Beginning Oct. 23, customers can purchase the limited edition buttons in select stores nationwide for $5 each with a $1 from every purchase donated to Declare Yourself. Starting Oct. 23, Gap will be auctioning off an exclusive set of the 10 limited edition buttons autographed by the artists on eBay. All proceeds from the auction will benefit Declare Yourself.

Visit the Gap Concept Store on NYC’s 5th Avenue: From Oct. 24 through Nov. 4, Gap’s New York City concept store, next to its flagship store at 54th & 5th Ave, will give Americans a chance to express themselves in a voting booth of a different kind. Visitors to the store can purchase and create their own personalized “Vote for” t-shirt with Gap’s whimsical t-shirt generator. After casting their vote on how to fill in the blank including color choice, font and “campaign theme song,” guests can watch as their blank “Vote for” t-shirt enters the generator and undergoes a self-expression makeover by a series of robots with their campaign theme song blasting in the background. Additionally, “Vote for” t-shirts inspired by the thought leaders and celebrities featured on gap.com/votefor, including Bill Maher, Norman Lear, Cameron Sinclair, Perez Hilton, Mark Cuban, Olivia Munn, Kristen Bell, The Cool Kids, John Picard and Minka Kelly will be on display.

Visit www.gap.com/votefor to voice what you’re passionate about today.

Posted by at 12:01 AM | Comments (0)

Dr. Lawrence Gray on ABC “Wife Swap”

Tune in TONIGHT, Friday, October 17th to see Dr. Lawrence Gray on ABC “Wife Swap”

Dr. Lawrence Gray of Atlantic Plastic Surgery Center, located on Griffin Road in Portsmouth, NH, will be on a segment of ABC’s “Wife Swap” which airs tonight, Friday, October 17th. Producers from the hit reality television show, “Wife Swap”, came to his Portsmouth office and filmed an episode during which they seek Dr. Gray’s professional medical advice.

The premise of ABC’s “Wife Swap” is that two very different families exchange wives for two weeks as head of the household to teach each family their way of life while experiencing a new way of life. The segment that involved Dr. Gray, exchanges a West coast wife with an East coast wife. The segment spotlights that getting older and focusing on your family does not mean that you have to stop taking care of yourself. An all new season of “Wife Swap” starts this month.

Globally respected and acknowledged as a leader in plastic surgery, Dr. Gray was selected by the producers because of his strong reputation and 23 years of experience, as well as his state of the art facility. Dr. Gray is well known in the medical community as a leader in the plastic surgery profession and is also nationally and internationally recognized as the inventor of the scarless breast reduction; a revolutionary procedure that eliminates scars associated with the older, traditional method of breast reduction. Dr. Gray is continually sought out to teach this technique to his fellow board certified plastic surgeons. Atlantic Plastic Surgery Center is the first and only globally accredited facility in New England. This achievement certifies having satisfied rigorous standards as developed and approved by the International Society Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons to insure standards of safety throughout the world for plastic surgical facilities.

“While it is very flattering to be on a national television program, I was trying to represent, not just myself, but the plastic surgeon medical profession and our high integrity level in general”, says Dr. Larry Gray. “When selecting a professional plastic surgeon, you want to look for someone who is well trained, board certified, and experienced. I strongly believe in patient education, and we take the time to work with patients to ensure that they are fully informed. Plastic surgery can have a much broader impact on your life than simply improving your appearance. When you look the way you want to look, your self-confidence naturally increases, and a boost in self-confidence can help you in many areas of life, from personal relationships to the world of business.”

For “Wife Swap”, Dr. Gray met with one of the wives and her “husband” from the swapped family and gave some general medical advice. “No ethical professional plastic surgeon is going to critique someone else’s photograph or provide “free” plastic surgery for the sake of television. If you do elect to have cosmetic surgery, you need to do it for you. It is a very personal decision and you should make the decision after much consultation with your doctor.”

Although Dr. Gray took his role very seriously, he did enjoy the unique experience. “I have to admit that participating in the production of a reality show was very different and a lot of fun. I look forward to watching the episode on October 17th.”

Posted by at 11:14 AM | Comments (0)

Project Runway Finale - Part One

Runway show starts at 2:47 minute mark:

TONIGHT'S EPISODE IS THE FINALE - PART TWO... BRAVO AT 9PM TONIGHT!!!
THIS IS THE ONE YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS!!!!

((Thirteenth in a series about Project Runway, Season 5 by Mary Salmon))

Please watch the video above because, for some reason, the photos I always "borrow" from Bravo TV's Project Runway website were really not up to par this week. (Could it have something to do with Project Runway leaving the network?)

The designers return, each having spent months designing an entire collection, hoping to show it at Bryant Park during NYC Fashion Week. We have been told that of Korto, Kenley, Jerell, and Leanne, only three will get to show their collections. (This is a sore spot with me, as it is fairly common knowledge that even Suede and Joe were able to show at Bryant Park during NYC Fashion Week... Bravo even has the footage on the website. So why pretend only three designers will make it all the way? I guess to make better TV. I'll play along for the sake of my critique of the episode...)

Leanne's wedding and bridesmaid dresses were beautiful, but these photos are cropped, so although you get the idea of the "wave" design she was going for that fit in with her larger collection, you don't see that beautiful wedding dress! So please check it out in the video. I am hoping Leanne is the big winner. When Tim Gunn visited her, the wedding dress needed a lot of work. She took his advice and totally reworked it to mesh with the rest of her collection.

Jerell was declared the loser of this challenge with the designs below. When Tim Gunn visited Jerell's collection in the works, he advised Jerell to look at his design with an editing eye, and ditch some of the embellishments. Jerell didn't listen, and he should have. That headpiece alone was quite off-putting.

Kenley has been getting a lot of flak for her attitude. I think it was Michael Kors who said that if she was not self-taught, and had been through design school, she would be used to the critiquing process, and would not get as defensive. Tim was very impressed that Kenley painted her own fabric in an Alice in Wonderland inspired move. He was a little turned off by her use of ropes (especially around the neck of one garment) and asked if she had considered someone thinking that would remind them of a hanging. She said no, and that her father worked with tugboats, and that is why the ropes come into play in her designs. She also claims to love her wedding dress so much that she will get married in it. I will admit that she designed the damn cutest bridesmaid dress I've ever set eyes on! I love the playfullness and the poofiness of the skirt.

Korto's collection is inspired by her ethnic background. She incorporated beadwork that she creates herself into her designs. I, for one, was not a fan of her champagne-colored wedding dress. There was too much going on; I thought it looked a bit lumpy, for lack of a better adjective & it did look more appropriate for the red carpet than a walk down the aisle. Her bridesmaid dress, conversely, was perfectly chic and simple. Okay, maybe it wasn't totally bridesmaidsy, but who really likes bridesmaid dresses anyway? This one could be worn to a party after the wedding! I don't know who made the rule that bridesmaid gowns are creations that should be very expensive and only worn once!

Posted by at 12:15 PM | Comments (0)

Project Runway: The Nature Challenge

Runway show starts at 1:00 minute mark:

NEXT EPISODE ON BRAVO TONIGHT WED., 10/8, 9:00PM EST
SEASON FINALE - PART ONE

((Twelfth in a series about Project Runway, Season 5 by Mary Salmon))

This episode of Project Runway brought us the designers' final challenge, but more importantly, it was to decide which designers would be showing at New York Fashion Week in Bryant Park. Surprise, surprise... of the four remaining contestants, none were kicked off this week. Don't get me wrong, I did not want to see Korto, Leanne, Jerrell, or especially my favorite, Kenley, leave, but they have done this before. Heidi tells the designers that they are all to design collections, but that only three designers will actually get to show at Bryant Park. The guest judge was designer Georgina Chapman, co-founder of Marchesa; she brought a great perspective with her comments about the designs, as Heidi Klum, Nina Garcia, and Michael Kors have become so familiar with each designer that I believe it colors their opinions this late in the season. It was really hard to decide between the four designers left standing, and I am excited to see all four final collections.

Jerrell was the winner of the nature challenge. The designers took digital cameras out into nature at the New York Botanical Garden, but then had to choose just one photo to work from before they left for Mood, to buy their fabric. The designers were tasked with creating an evening gown inspired by their photograph. Jerrell's design mixed a low-cut bustier with a long, layered skirt. The colors he chose worked very well together - a shiny brown with a hint of purple with crimson red and emerald green. Winning this challenge, unfortunately for Jerrell, didn't really help him, as he still has to compete to be part of Fashion Week.

Leanne's look was very "Leanne." Soft, sweet, subtle... I know I said (repeatedly) that Kenley is my favorite, but that has to do with her personality and style. Over the course of this season, Leanne has become my favorite designer, and I do hope she wins it all. I loved the lavender fabric she worked with, creating an almost Grecian goddess dress with a lovely asymmetrical detail over one shoulder, leading down to a symmetrical pattern on the dress, ending around the hips, but in a flattering way. It may not be the best evening dress for someone with large hips, but for a body type like my own, where I really don't have any hips to speak of, it would help accentuate where I could perhaps be a bit curvier, so it would work for me, and I loved it. Jerrell's was just a bit too low-cut for my taste, but beautiful, nonetheless.

(Left - Right: Jerrell's winning design, Leanne's design)

Korto and Kenley were the losers on this one. Kenley at least tried to create something different, less retro, but the judges thought it looked more like a mermaid dress with scales than the "leaves" look she was trying to achieve. I didn't like the belt, I didn't like the racerback, and I didn't like the design altogether. I can't wait to see her collection, though! The judges were not thrilled with Kenley's attitude - I'll include the clip at the end of the entry. Korto was accused of designing a beauty pageant dress. In Korto's defense, I think some of the detailed construction was not visible to the judges on the runway. Bottom line, these judges want to see what both Kenley and Korto will design for a collection. They also seem to wonder if a collection by Jerrell will be disjointed. Go Leanne!

(Left - Right: Korto's design, Kenley's design)

Posted by at 12:01 AM | Comments (0)

Project Runway - Designs Inspired by Music

(Left - Right: Kenley, Jerrell, Leanne, Suede, Korto)

NEXT EPISODE ON BRAVO WED., 10/1, 9:00PM EST
DESIGNERS COMPETE IN A NATURE-INSPIRED CHALLENGE

((Eleventh in a series about Project Runway, Season 5 by Mary Salmon))

This challenge has the designers create looks for one another based on various musical genres: Pop, Rock, Hip-Hop, Punk, & Country. Korto won the challenge for the punk-inspired design she created for Suede. Everyone was a fan of her bleach-splotched jeans, but Suede really sold the look. The video is worth watching just for his appearance on the runway.

Runway show starts at 8:40 minute mark:

and continues below:

Leanne created Korto's country design and Jerrell created the pop-inspired "Kenley Spears" design, a personal favorite, if only because Kenley looked so out of her element! The little purple faux fur vest was adorable, and it was fun to see Kenley sparkle under her black mesh mini-dress. I'm not crazy about that country look, so I wouldn't want to wear Leanne's design, but it was well constructed.

The design Suede created for Jerrell was the losing design, and we said goodbye to Suede this week. The judges commented that Jerrell looks better everyday than he did in the rock-inspired look Suede created. The shirt was very bizarre - sort of a sheer, tie-dye print, but cut very low, and not flattering on Jerrell; it would be completely unforgiving on someone who did not have an upper body as fit as Jerrell's. Kenley, again, created a monstrosity for this challenge. Her high-waisted jeans and floral print top did not scream hip hop to anyone; I think they just screamed, "Burn me! I can't stand how heinous I am!" Sorry, Kenley... I'm still rooting for you. Turn it around. Make it work!

This week we are down to Kenley, Leanne, Korto, & Jerrell. I don't want to see any of them go. I guess Jerrell, Kenley, and Leanne are who I would like to see in the final three. It's a tough call because Korto is a great designer. Now that Bravo & Lifetime are fighting over the future of Project Runway, we had best savor these last few episodes!

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DIOR SPRING/SUMMER 2009 COLLECTION
CLICK HERE TO SEE A SLIDESHOW & VIDEO OF THE SPRING 2009 COLLECTION

The Christian Dior Spring/Summer 2009 Collection was just shown in Paris yesterday, Sept. 29, as part of Paris Fashion Week. I have a feeling that there will be more than a few twisted ankles. Dita Von Teese and Katy Perry were spotted watching the show.

Posted by at 12:04 AM | Comments (0)

Project Runway - TRESemme Makeover Challenge

NEXT EPISODE ON BRAVO WED., 9/24, 9:00PM EST
GUEST JUDGE LL COOL J
DESIGNERS COMPETE IN A MUSIC-THEMED CHALLENGE

((Tenth in a series about Project Runway, Season 5 by Mary Salmon))

The tenth episode of the fifth season presented the six remaining designers with a challenge to perform makeovers on six daughters under all of their mothers' supervision. The winning look will be featured in Elle magazine in a TRESemme advertisement, with both mother and daughter wearing the design. The designers are to take into consideration the various careers of the young women, new college graduates transitioning into the "real world."

(Left - Right: Korto's design, Jerrell's winning design, Kenley's design)

Jerrell was the winner of this challenge. He designed for a woman who works as both a print maker and an artist's assistant. Jerrell created a high-waisted chocolate skirt with a ruffled top more appropriate for evening. The cardigan helped tone the look down for day, but it's overall a complete day-to-night look. The young woman obviously loved her design.

Korto's design also ranked among the top three. The woman she designed for works in a lab. I personally thought the jacket and dress an odd pairing. The construction of the jacket looked great, and I liked the look a little bit more when I saw how much the young woman Korto worked with enjoyed wearing it. Michael Kors was also a big fan of the design, and it was age-appropriate for a 21 year-old.

Kenley designed for a fashion buyer. The look of her dress and fabric was that Kenley 40's vintage we have seen many times over the season, but it was difficult to see the cut of the dress under the vest; the look was then cluttered more with a pink snakeskin belt. (Although the guest judge Cynthia Rowley did like the belt.) I love Kenley, but I think she should have left the belt on the accessories wall. Kenley had fun designing for someone who had a similar personality to her own.

(Left - Right: Joe's losing design, Leanne's design, Suede's design)

Joe is OUT, and I just finished crying about it... I am overjoyed with this decision. I have been waiting every week for Joe to get the boot, and I would get so annoyed whenever he spoke about making it to the end... there are just others much more deserving. Example? How about the 80's business suit for a middle-aged woman? He had a graphic designer for a client - that should have opened up exciting design possibilities. This is also a woman going on interviews - who wants to hire a stuffy graphic artist in this modern world? Not even worth describing, Joe sent a navy blazer and charcoal striped skirt down the runway. Moments like that I have to ask myself, Where's Blayne when you really need him?

Leanne designed for a woman interviewing to be a teacher. I thought the judges were too harsh at first, ranking her in the bottom three, but that was when I was looking at the outfit through my own 32 year-old shopping eyes. I'd wear it in a heartbeat, it was sophisticated and I loved the charcoal piping on the jacket, but the look as a whole does age the younger woman. However, without the coat, it was a very cute dress that did show off her model's figure. Leanne had to deal with difficult clients, especially the mother, who caused her to scrap her first design.

I thought Suede may redeem himself this week, but no luck. The judges hated the fabric he chose, and the pairing of the jacket with the dress. I was drawn to the patterned dress, somewhat reminiscent of a Pucci print. His client was a photographer, and the judges did not think this look conveyed that. Just as the judges accused Joe of having an outdated notion of how a working woman should dress, perhaps they also have an outdated notion of a photographer's uniform? (As far as I know, there isn't one, and this outfit would work, depending on the type of photography and the particular job.) Why's everyone hating on Suede?

Posted by at 12:28 AM | Comments (0)

Project Runway - The Zodiac Challenge

Project Runway - The Zodiac Challenge

Runway show starts at 3:42 minute mark:

((Ninth in a series about Project Runway, Season 5 by Mary Salmon))

NEXT EPISODE ON BRAVO WED., 9/17, 9:00PM EST
GUEST STARRING DESIGNER CYNTHIA ROWLEY
DESIGNERS CREATE CLOTHING FOR COLLEGE WOMEN:
THE TRANSFORMATION FROM COOL SCHOOL STYLE TO WORKING-WORLD SOPHISTOCATION

Eight out of the original sixteen designers remain, and for this challenge, the eight eliminated designers return to team up with them. They are paired up randomly and each team is tasked with creating an avant garde look – a design that must be inspired by the zodiac sign of one of the team members.

Before the actual runway show, the designers attend party Heidi is hosting at the Rose Center for Earth and Space at the Museum of Natural History. At this party, the designers are able to get feedback from their peers on their designs from Project Runway alumni - Daniel Vosovic, Kara Janx, Jay McCarroll, Christian Siriano, Carmen Weber, Allison Kelly, and Robert Plotkin. The alumni will also choose the winning design, and for the first time, two designers will be eliminated in the same week. Considering that Terri and Blayne were the two voted off this week, it does make you wonder how much personality had to do with the decisions the alumni made.

The four top designs are pictured above (clockwise from top left): Aries design by Joe; winning Sagittarius design by Jerrell; Scorpio design by Leanne; Aquarius by Korto)

Leanne’s Scorpio was my favorite design. I think Jerrell won because he was being judged by his peers and he is much more charismatic than Leanne. To Jerrell’s credit, you could certainly mix and match the different components of his look – I would wear the skirt, but not the whole ensemble together; I was a bit surprised he was chosen as the winner of the challenge. Korto’s flowing garment was a pretty, blue, ethereal interpretation of Aquarius. Joe’s design, it seemed apparent, was more Daniel’s design – his partner; we have seen Daniel do that flamenco look in the past.

The four lowest ranking designs are pictures above (clockwise from top left: Libra design by Suede; losing Libra design by Blayne; Aquarius design by Kenley; losing Leo design by Terri)

I have no idea what my girl Kenley was thinking (or smoking) during this challenge. Her design was a ridiculous costume that did not get Aquarius across at all. I would not have wanted to see her voted off, but her overconfidence was irritating, as Leanne pointed out, and I think it’s the worst design she’s has created all season. I would never wear Blayne’s design, but man, I was a little shocked that everyone HATED it. They DETESTED it. I honestly did not think it was as bad as Suede’s design – he has disappointed me two weeks in a row. Blayne’s look was avant garde and he explained well how his design captured the essence of Libra, but I’m apparently alone on this one. Instead of being a super-b*tch to Keith, Terri may have had more of a chance with her Leo design if she had let Keith, her partner, contribute. I truly don't blame him for deserting her to take a nap. When she tried to bring that fact up on the runway, it actually worked against her.

I am disappointed that Leanne didn’t sweep it three weeks in a row, and I believe if they had stuck with the traditional voting format, she probably would have won again. The three designers I would like to see at N.Y. Fashion Week at the moment are: Leanne, Kenley (despite the mess she made of this challenge), and Jerrell. Maybe Korto deserves it more than Jerrell, but I guess his personality has grown on me quite a bit since the start of the season. I just wonder why Joe is still with us. I still love a few of Suede’s past designs, but his performance has been too weak at this stage of the game. Tomorrow night we are down to the final six: Joe, Kenley, Korto, Leanne, Jerrell, and Suede.
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In Celebrity news....

Easy, breezy, beautiful Ellen DeGenres?

It’s reported that Ellen DeGeneres is the new face of CoverGirl.

On Tuesday’s Show, Ellen confirmed the rumors that had been circulating on the Internet about being the newest CoverGirl.

"You know how I always like to share what's going on in my life with you all, and I was going to give you some news, and unfortunately rumors started circulating all over the Internet," she tells the audience.

"I am here to set the record straight right now. I am not pregnant. It just turned out to be a bump. I went and had it checked out," she cracks. "That's not the news. I am the new face of CoverGirl."

She then jokingly poses as a model. "That's the first thing they teach you when you're a CoverGirl," she quips.

Although her campaign is not set to launch until January, "somehow people found out about it," she says.

She then gives her audience a glimpse at what goes on behind the scenes at a CoverGirl shoot.

"They’re putting some lip liner on me man, they love lip liner!" she says. "I got hours and hours."

She says she's "very, very excited" about the new gig.

She adds, "It’s a very cool thing Im honored and the photo shoot was 'easy, breezy, beautiful CoverGirl'". Source US Magazine

Posted by at 09:11 AM | Comments (0)

Project Runway: The Diane von Furstenberg Challenge

((Eighth a series about Project Runway, Season 5 by Mary Salmon))

NEXT EPISODE ON BRAVO WED., 9/10, 9:00PM EST
GUEST STARRING DESIGNER FRANCISCO COSTA
DESIGNERS CREATE CLOTHING INSPIRED BY ASTROLOGICAL SIGNS

Maybe I jinxed Suede by naming him as one of the three I'd like to see show at Bryant Park because after this week's hideous design, I think I'm going to have to take it back. I've decided that the three designers who I'd like to see would be Kenley, Korto, & Leanne, who happened to be the three top designers of this challenge.

(Left to right: Korto's design, Leanne's winning design, Kenley's design)

The designers were asked to create a design inspired by Diane von Furstenberg's Fall 2008 Collection - A Foreign Affair, a 1948 film starring Marlene Dietrich, in which she portrays an entertainer/spy in Berlin who escapes to Shanghai and then to New York. Diane let the designers use her very own sample room to find the fabrics they would use in this challenge. The winning design will be available exclusively to American Express card members.

Leanne's design was for the undercover spy, and Diane like the mixing of the menswear-style jacket with the very feminine 30's/40's style dress, in a gorgeous deep blue, with the ever-so-elegant ruffled train starting at the lower back. All of the judges were impressed. Even more impressive is the fact that Leanne had immunity for this challenge; it was her second win in a row. I'll admit that I doubted her at the start of the season, but she has won a place in my heart, especially as we get to see her personality a little more. Leanne can't stand Kenley, though, my favorite from the start.

Kenley had a very small amount of fabric to work with for her dress, but she fell in love with the pattern, and went for a Shanghai-inspired look. If she had made a second piece, she may have won. Korto's design seemed to have a very universal appeal and would look good on many different body types. The fabric she chose, in fact, was used in an American Express commercial that aired during the program.

(Left to right: Suede's design, Stella's losing design, Joe's design)

It was finally Stella's week to leave. Let's face it; we all knew that was inevitable. Unfortunately, that means another week of having to watch Joe. Joe's design for Diane was Shanghai gone awry. The judges were not impressed with his design, especially his horrible backless top. His hooded shawl, in black with a pink lining, was kind of cool on its own (that may just be because the pink/black color combination reminds me of the Pink Ladies' jackets), but his look was incongruous. He has been a stronger designer than Stella, so I don't disagree with the judges' decision. Stella's design was very poorly constructed and her cape was, as Diane put it, "Dracula."

Posted by at 09:20 AM | Comments (0)

Project Runway - The Saturn Challenge

((Seventh in a series about Project Runway, Season 5 by Mary Salmon))

NEXT EPISODE ON BRAVO WED., 9/3, 9:00PM EST
GUEST STARRING DIANE VON FURSTENBERG

A description of the challenge from the seventh episode of the season is shown in the clip above. (Fast-forward to 5:00 mark.) Chris Webb, lead color designer for Saturn, explains to the designers that for their next challenge they have been provided with five Saturn hybrids (85% of the vehicles are able to be recycled) and the designers are given four minutes to collect materials. The cars are stocked with loads of the material used to make these cars, explaining how there were so many seat belts available for the designs…

Tim Gunn warns that the designers need to step it up – that this challenge is again about innovation, as was the challenge in the first episode of the season. He asked the designers to rise to the occasion. Some designers, as always, embraced the concept with more enthusiasm than others. As you can imagine, some of the materials were not the easiest to work with and the designers were certainly getting frustrated over broken needles.

Keith was the antithesis of cool throughout the challenge, especially after his model sat down in his design, which split in open in a few areas. He did his best to mend it before she hit the runway. Kendall freaked out (and she was entitled, in my opinion) because her model quit, which set her back hours of work, as she had to adjust to the measurements of her new model. She got it together and advanced to next week with an interesting use of air filters.

"I have so many wack-a-doodle things; I have no idea what I'm going to do with this stuff,” said Suede; his design was not in the top three, but I did like it. He used cargo netting, floor mats, sun visors, and seat covers to construct his futuristic cheerleader gone wild creation pictured below. I’m not quite sure where I would be able to wear this, but there is something very fun about it. We have reached the point in the season where I like to have chosen the three designers I would like to see show at NYC Fashion Week. I have decided that Suede is in my top three.

It was Leanne Marshall's week to score the win, and it was truly well deserved. Her design is reminiscent of Dolce & Gabbana's Spring 2007 line. (Pictured below: On the left, Leanne's design created from seat covers, cushions, and seat belts; on the right, Dolce & Gabbana) What you cannot see in the photograph is the amazingly constructed back of the dress, but I have included the runway clip, so check out Leanne's dress in action if you have a moment. Rachel Zoe, stylist & fashion editor, perhaps best known for her petite stature, was one of the guest judges. She said she would wear it right to Paris. (Rachel Zoe will soon have her own show on E! - The Rachel Zoe Project.) Laura Bennett, season three finalist, filled in for Nina Garcia on this episode as a guest judge. All of the judges were thrilled with her design. I adored it and I've been rooting for Leanne for a few weeks. I think she would create an amazing collection for Fashion Week.

The other designers who made it to the top three were Korto, with a 1960's style mod coat-dress made entirely of woven seatbelts and Jerrell, with the futuristic design shown below. Terri did not make the top three this week; she did, however, make fun of Korto's design, who the judges conversely were extremely impressed with. The judges are paying more attention to Jerrell, the dark horse this season.

Runway Show starts at 1:55 mark...

The three big losers this week were Blayne with an ill-fitting dress made of seatbelts and pieces of a broken mirror; Stella with top and skirt that just didn't seem right together; and Keith - I think his design was just too plain. Ultimately, the judges decided to send Keith packing. He cried.

Posted by at 08:19 PM | Comments (0)

Dressing Up Drag Queens on Project Runway

((Sixth in a series about Project Runway, Season 5 by Mary Salmon))

NEXT EPISODE ON BRAVO WED., 8/27, 9:00PM EST
GUEST STARRING CELEBRITY STYLIST RACHEL ZOE

The video posted above is the beginning of the sixth episode of the fifth season of Project Runway - it is absolutely worth watching for the introduction of all the drag queens! (You may want to fast-forward to the 2:45 minute mark.) The challenge was for each designer to create a look for a drag queen - a design that suits their persona. Chris March advises the designers that "fashion is all about putting on a show. So, be as theatrical and over-the-top as you can be."

The three designers who came out on top were Korto, Joe and Terri. I will admit that even though Joe's design did meet the criteria of the challenge more completely than Korto's design, when it came down to the decision between the two of them, I was rooting for Korto; I just don't like Joe, and despite this winning design, will still not be rooting for him... Terri's geisha-on-acid inspired design, I do believe, was the fiercest we have seen yet this season!


(Left - Right: Korto's design, Joe's design, Terri's design)

To his credit, Joe's Love Boat-inspired pink catsuit, with the all-important lifesaver belt that serves a dual-purpose, was a fantastic design, and as you can view in the video below, his model completely worked it on the runway; you could tell Varla loved it. I would have liked to have seen Leanne's design break into the top three - it was futuristic, geometric and certainly appropriate for a drag queen. Sweetie wore Korto’s design down the runway and the detachable skirt was a nice touch. I also loved the crazy, spirally pieces on the shoulder. Korto has experience designing for plus-sized women, and that skill translated well for this challenge. (Sweetie is also a fun one to watch on the runway – next week we’ll be back to the tall, thin girls who are competing for the spread in Elle Magazine.)

Runway show starts at 2:15:

I was surprised that Blayne did not end up in the bottom three, as his design malfunctioned on the runway with a sagging wing. (I have a friend in New York City who reported to me from reliable sources that Miss Understood hated it, too.) Okay, part of me will miss Blayne, but the other half of me is wondering what's taking him so long to get kicked off!

RuPaul was the guest judge, but not a particularly noteworthy guest judge. The judges agreed that Keith’s design was messy, and even his fellow designers are whispering behind his back about his constant use of fabric swatches. RuPaul, however, had not seen Keith’s other designs and was a fan of this look. Daniel lost because he designed a cocktail dress (again - you may recall he did the same for the Olympics challenge) and not a look appropriate for a drag queen.

(Left to Right: Keith's design, Daniel's design, Jerrell's design)

The judges felt that Jerrell's look was too tame for a drag queen. Ironically, he's been too over-the-top on most other challenges to date. I do feel that kicking Daniel off was the right call. The hardest part of the show for me to watch was Hedda Lettuce being mean to Suede; I’m so glad they were able to make it work on the runway! The scenes from the next episode are intriguing... all I can gather from it is the designers will probably be designing with material they are not used to working with, and something very heavy-duty, but that's just my best guess.

Posted by at 08:10 AM | Comments (0)

Project Runway - Lipstick Jungle Design Challenge

NEXT EPISODE ON WED. NIGHT, 8/20, AT 9PM EST - DRESSING UP DRAG QUEENS, GUEST STARRING RUPAUL

((Fifth in a series about Project Runway, Season 5 by Mary Salmon))

The fifth episode of Project Runway left me disappointed on a few levels. The best design (in both my and Heidi Klum's opinion) did not win the challenge nor the guest appearance on Lipstick Jungle; I believe this is because Brooke Shields liked the winning design by Keith and Kenley more, and I have a feeling that Brooke had the final say. The designers each had thirty minutes to sketch a design, and then each had the opportunity to sit down and pitch their idea to Brooke, who chose six designs to move forward; the designers were paired up with partners (the other six designers whose sketches Brooke did not choose) with varying degrees of success.

I don't watch Lipstick Jungle, but my friends who do watch told me that the design Brooke chose did not suit her character as well as Stella and Jerrell's design would have. "I loved it… when it came out, I was like, ‘Boom!’,” said Heidi. The other reason for my disappointment in this episode was the judges' decision to kick Kelli off the show. I love both Blayne and Daniel for different reasons, but I do believe that either one deserved the boot before Kelli, based on their work from all episodes we have seen thus far. Kelli won the very first challenge! She may not have won the big prize on the final episode, but I really enjoyed her personality and watching her on the show; I would love to have seen her final collection. Granted, the look she created for Brooke's character was, as Michael Kors put it, "Slutty, slutty, slutty...," but was it worse than Blayne's design? Keep in mind they were told to design a day to night look for a high-powered, working woman. I just don't think the shorts fit the challenge's criteria. Daniel was such an apathetic helper to Kelli; it was infuriating! I think partner challenges are innately unfair, but it did make for good television as we watched the tensions rise between all the pairings of designers.

(Left - Right: Terri and Joe's design; Jerrell and Stella's design; Keith and Kenley's winning design)

Runway show starts at 3:33 minute mark:

Kelli and Daniel's design and Blayne and Leanne's design both came under the judges' scrutiny. I wish they had broadcast more of the conversation that led to Kelli going home; although her reaction was that "she would rather go out being herself than trying to be someone she's not." Project Runway goes on, and I'll get over this very poor decision, hopefully by the next episode, which is about designing for drag queens. As my friend Kim said, "I'm not looking forward to that one; I like when they make dresses and more normal clothes." I tend to agree, but of course I'll have to watch, as I am now a Project Runway addict and feel like I know these people just a little too well...

Up until this point I had not been a fan of Stella at all, but you could tell by their design that Jerrell and Stella were able to work well as partners and truly collaborate, with remarkable results. I can picture Brooke wearing that design much more easily than I can envision her in the winning design, but I dwell, and Brooke thought there was "a lot going on."

(Left - Right: Blayne and Leanne's design; Kelli and Daniel's design)
"I at least took a risk, even if it was too hoochie-mama." –Kelli

Posted by at 09:02 AM | Comments (0)

Rings of Glory – Project Runway Olympics Challenge

((Fourth in a series about Project Runway, Season 5 by Mary Salmon))

WATCH WEDNESDAY NIGHT, 8/13, ON BRAVO AT 9PM EST - BROOKE SHIELDS IS THE GUESTJUDGE
CHALLENGE: DESIGN FOR A HIGH-POWERED, PROFESSIONAL WOMAN

When Heidi tells the designers that Tim Gunn is waiting downstairs to tell them about their next challenge, Jerrell Scott says, “You know, I really don’t have any idea where we’re gonna be going; I just really hope it has nothing to do with female wrestlers.” I think we all echo your sentiment on that one, Jerrell, but this challenge was indeed the most athletic design challenge yet this season – creating a look for the United States’ Olympic team to wear at the opening ceremony of the Olympics.

The designers are not told what the challenge is until they arrive at The Armory Track and Field Center. “We pass a hospital, and I get really, really nervous because the last thing I want to design is nurses’ uniforms or scrubs. Although, I could design a good straitjacket,” Kelli Martin comments on the ride.

Once informed of the challenge, the designers sought inspiration from photos at the Armory – this does lead to several designers creating retro-looks for the runway; there were not enough fresh, new looks. The top three designs were the most fashion-forward of the bunch. Well, at least Terri’s and Korto’s designs were. I loved Suede’s little skirt, but he didn’t quite make the cut.

Olympic speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno is the guest judge and explains to the designers the importance of the opening ceremony, “It’s basically the Olympians’ version of the catwalk… unlike anything I’ve ever experienced in my life… you walk in with honor… you’re representing your county… it’s dear to my heart.”

You can tell by the expressions on their faces, that several of the designers are not thrilled with this challenge. Poor Daniel… “I’m into high-end glamour. This has nothing to do with what I’m really used to… it’s just all very confusing.” As you can tell by his design, he really didn’t understand the challenge, though I do wonder if Kenley had not discouraged him from adding the red bolero, would he have snuck through to the next round unscathed, rather than ending up in the bottom three? She said it was too "Wonder Woman," but I think Daniel could have used that to his advantage. The judges and Tim both mention that an Olympic athlete is as close to a super-hero as we have! Michael Kors asks of Daniel's cocktail dress, “She’s from the Republic of Cocktail Land?” and says, “Well, if her sport is drinking, it’s a good dress.”

"It's like they heard the challenge in another language..." - Michael Kors

Joe is too cocky right off the bat with his “sportswear background” and his oh-so-inspired skort. The skort was too long, as Michael Kors pointed out. Maybe Joe just gets on my nerves – like when he threw a hissy fit because Daniel was working on the machine he had been using? Or maybe he bugs me because he was so over-confident.

It did crack me up when Terri caught Keith stealing the fabric she had selected. “A sister gotta keep one eye open; that’s all I’m saying.” I think she should have won the challenge, but I did also like Korto’s winning look and use of lightweight leather. Maybe if Terri had lost the scarf – in my opinion the design was perfect without the scarf, and a bit “too much” (and less sporty) with it.

Jennifer couldn’t get past being girly and feminine, and that isn’t who she was designing for. I’m glad Daniel gets another chance, but he better get it together soon because right now, he’s losing points fast. I can't say that I'll miss Jennifer and the "surrealism" of her designs... did anyone see anything surreal in ANY of her designs? Jerrell's design was over the top, and not at all athletic, but he skates on to next week.

This challenge meant a lot to Korto, as America has truly been a place of new opportunities for her. She was born in Liberia, West Africa and in 1990 there was a civil war; her family had to either leave the county or stay to be raped, tortured, or even executed. America is now her home, "A place where I have this chance to actually fulfill my dream..." When she is declared the winner she says, "I feel so good. They loved my outfit. It was just confirmation that I am good enough. I'm worthy of this. It's about freaking time."

Suede, Blayne, Leanne, and yes, even Stella, deserve honorable mentions on this challenge. I actually do think Stella deserved to move on to the next round. She described her design as “space age and modern,” and although her use of black was questionable, her design was one I would have chosen, were I an Olympian, over several of the others. Kenley’s design would be a great outfit to stroll around the city in, but it wasn’t suitable for an opening ceremony. The same could be said of Suede’s look, but I do love that skirt!

Posted by at 10:09 AM | Comments (0)

NYC at Night Challenge on Project Runway

Tomorrow night (Wed., 8/6) on Bravo at 9pm EST - The designers take another field trip. The episode is titled "Rings of Glory" and from the preview it looks like the challenge is to design some sort of Olympics getup - maybe an outfit for the opening ceremony?

The challenge of week three was to create a look inspired by “New York at Night.” The designers found inspiration in a wet, battered magazine on the ground; a planter grate around a tree; clocks; and various photographs they took, some more abstract than others. Sandra Bernhardt was a guest judge.

((Third in a series about Project Runway, Season 5 by Mary Salmon))

On top:

Kenley – Uck. Ok, I get it. I understand on some level why the judges gave her the win, but gack, yack, eew. The neck looked so uncomfortable. I have always hated shoulder pads, and I also hate the way the fabric seems to come two points over the shoulders, pads or not. Kenley executed her design well, but it did not seem to jibe with her photograph, which was part of the challenge & which Leanne’s design did perfectly.

Leanne - I really liked this skirt and shell; I would wear it in a heartbeat. It looked to me like it just came off the rack of the designer section of Harrods or Selfridges. Black may not have been the most exciting choice of color, but let’s face it, women love black. Once a friend of mine commented about how so many women were wearing black dresses at a wedding. I replied, “It’s because black is slimming,” not as a catty remark, just stating the fact, but of course I’ve never lived that comment down… I honestly think this design was the winner, the most NYC at night. Someone just needed to hand the model a martini. Maybe it’s because I would never wear Kenley’s design that I feel this way, but admittedly, Kenley has been the stronger player in the previous two challenges.

Terri – She created a very strong, but also a very feminine look. I liked that her design really stood apart from the others and looked so comfortable, sexy and flowing.

The bottom three:

Emily – Well, at least she liked her dress… without that awkwardly placed, totally unflattering ruffle, she may have had a chance.

Keith – Although his dress actually resembled his inspiration, who really wants to wear newsprint? It struck me as some sort of flapper-dress gone wrong and failed to flatter any part of the body.

Jennifer – This look was too matronly; it also reminder me of what Hugh Hefner’s maid might wear. It could have been a cute maternity sailing outfit, maybe… The proportions of Jennifer’s design created a bulky feeling and the hemming was a mess.

Joe’s dress was certainly a reflection of his photo – the most literal of all the designers, but nothing new, nothing exciting, and nothing that made me think WOW or this is what NYC at night is about; it was just boring. I also didn’t think this was a great week for Kelli. The top was just horrid and I think I was annoyed that she seemed so very happy with it; it looked more like something Stella would design. I'm not even going to discuss that one-trick pony this week.

I bet a lot of people hated Blayne’s creation, but I immediately could picture Hayden Panettiere wearing it. Emily’s dress had a ruffle done all wrong and Blayne’s dress had an even larger, more eccentric ruffle, but it was done, not perfectly, but quite well. And no, not everyone could wear his design, but it was bold and fun. This challenge gave us a bit more insight into each designer, and I am still not quite sure who I’m rooting for; I'm vacillating between Kenley, Leanne, Suede, Terri, and Blayne at the moment. I think Blayne is my underdog.

Posted by at 10:12 AM | Comments (0)

Project Runway - The Green Challenge

((Second in a series about Project Runway, Season 5 by Mary Salmon))

NEXT EPISODE - WED., 7/30 AT 9PM EST ON BRAVO

Tomorrow night's episode BRIGHT LIGHTS/BIG CITY * GUEST JUDGE: SANDRA BERNHARD
Challenge: The sights, sounds, and styles on NYC serve as the designers' inspiration.

Last week's episode of Project Runway featured a green-themed challenge. Each of the designers had to make a cocktail dress for their model using only green fabrics, which are environmentally responsible textiles such as hemp, bamboo, and jersey. The biggest surprise to the designers was that the models would be doing the shopping and selecting the fabric, so the designers had no control over fabric choices; this did lead to several models bringing back the same fabric - giving the designers another challenge of making that same fabric that others were working with look unique in their own design.

Once the models returned with their fabric, they had 30 minutes for a consultation with their designer. Some designers chose to listen to what the model asked for more than others. Stella for one was not going to make the flowing cocktail dress with a low draped back that her model requested, as it did not reflect her biker-chic design aesthetic. That isn’t what she does, and she needed to get her personality into the dress. Luckily, her model was glad Stella went her own way with the a-symmetrical creation with lace-up stitching on the sides to reflect her biker-chic style. Natalie said it fit well and Nina said it was much improved from last week. (Although, after the garbage bag fiasco, it would be hard for Stella to do worse!)

The winner of each challenge usually receives immunity in next challenge, but for this challenge winner gets his or her product produced and sold by bluefly.com. (They say they are only making 150 dresses. I emailed to reserve one, but received an email that I would be placed on a wait list. If the demand is so high, crank out a few more than 150!!! Although, I guess it’s more special to know you have one of only 150 in existence.) Suede, to create the winning cocktail dress, cut the satin his model chose into bias strips for a very unique looking pattern and the skirt of the dress was flirty and fun, and as Natalie observed, “tulle can look like Ballerina Barbie or something, but he used it just right.”

Natalie started her own line of vegan shoes, as she always saw styles of shoes that she loved, but didn't want to buy shoes made with leather, for example. “As a vegan, it’s been challenging finding designer shoes made of alternative materials. This collection offers a great selection without compromising quality or style.”

Michael Kors said Suede’s design was the right dress on the right girl and admired that even though Suede had the same satin fabric as so many other designers, with his manipulation, he created a new fabric.

“Natalie Portman loves my dress. This is such a high right now.” – Suede

The two big losers were LeAnn with her over-worked brown Peter Pan dress, and Lesley – overworking the same unfortunate brown satin – was kicked off. Michael Kors explained that for satin to work, it needs to look like it wasn’t touched by human hands, but that Lesley’s creation looked like it had been touched by 20 set of hands; he also thought it was too short. Nina Garcia followed up his comments by saying, “I think shiny, tight, and short is the quickest way to look cheap.”

One of my favorite designers, Kenley Collins, was complimented by Nina Garcia that she was the only one who used the satin fabric correctly and made her model look elegant. Natalie Portman observed that the design was adult and glamorous and as far as Kenley herself, “She has such a great vibe… it’s like some broad from the 40’s…”
Daniel Feld was literally sewing up to the very last second before his model walked the runway. His was a sexy, short, fun black dress with pockets, and it was beautiful.

And as annoying as Suede is when referring to himself in the third person... I want that dress!

Posted by at 02:04 PM | Comments (0)

Watch Tonight! Project Runway - Season 5

(This is the first entry in an ongoing series of reviews of Project Runway, Season 5 by Mary Salmon)

WATCH TONIGHT ON BRAVO AT 9PM EST - NATALIE PORTMAN, GUEST JUDGE

The first challenge on the season opener of Project Runway, Season 5 was revisiting a challenge from Season One; Austin Scarlett was the guest judge because he won the original challenge with a dress made of corn husks; he attempted to impress upon the new group of designers that the key to this challenge is innovation. As we know from the previous four seasons, these 16 designers will start getting booted one by one, before we get to really know a few of them. No one wants to be the first designer kicked off, obviously. SPOILER ALERT: Assuming you missed one of the hundreds of reruns of this episode on Bravo, I'll be giving away the winner & loser.

The designers must construct a look from purchases made at a grocery store. The designers were given $75 each and 30 minutes to make their purchases. I think I was expecting a necklace of cherry tomatoes or a dress made of cabbage leaves. On the whole, these designers were NOT innovative enough with this challenge, too many of them relying on tablecloths (Jerry used a shower curtain), but the idea was not to buy a type of fabric, even if tablecloths are sold at the grocery store.

Some designers did manage to deliver. 27 year-old Kelli Martin (self described as "if Vivienne Westwood and Betsey Johnson had a child") owns Black Market, a boutique in Columbus, Ohio. Her creation was a delightful surprise. I liked her immediately for making the comment, "I definitely, definitely, definitely, did not want to get any kind of tablecloth or anything that resembled fabric; that was too easy." She instead opted for vacuum cleaner bags splattered with bleach and dye for her skirt, and being innovative paid off. She described her creation in the works as "it's going to be pretty ugly in a great way." I agree.

Kelli was declared the winner, but I'm sure a fan favorite was the molded form dress made of blue plastic cups that Daniel Feld, age 25, designed. (He had to iron the cups to get them to cooperate.) Daniel had made the comment during his introduction that his designs are "always show-stoppers," and he was right in this instance, but Kelli's creativity using the spiral from a notebook to create a hook & eye closure, as well as her use of burnt coffee filters and the push-pins that added a gold accent under the bust were so resourceful; I'm sure it couldn't have been too comfortable, but damn did it look good on the runway, and that's kind of the idea...

The two biggest losers boiled down to the cocky Jerry Tam, age 32, owner of the company Form who was a little too pleased with his shower curtain raincoat. The judges mocked it, calling it both something you would wear when you are in a slasher movie, or rather, when you are dressing to kill someone. OK, the judges’ sense of humor is not for everyone, but I'll admit, I enjoyed seeing Jerry taken down a notch. I was surprised, however, that they allowed Stella Zotis, age 42, a custom rock regalia designer to stay; her designs are appropriate for rock stars & pimps, but the garbage bag she sent down the runway looked like a witch Halloween costume made at the last minute, or half of one, as there really was no top to this outfit, just a draped bag. I think everyone was sick of listening to Stella bitch about her uncooperative garbage bags.

Tan-a-holic urban wear designer Blayne Walsh, age 23, sent by far the most bizarre creation down the runway made of jump ropes and cupboard liners... it was horrid. He was going for obnoxious and he achieved it. Heidi observed that his design was "playboy bunny gone grunge."

Also pictured in this entry are a top made of mop that I really liked, and Kenley Collins' design using lawn chair material for the skirt. She is a 25 years-old freelance designer who works with loud prints & plaids; she is very likable, and I look forward to seeing more from her as the season continues. Kenley and Kelli are my favorites right now... we'll see how my opinions change with the new challenges. I would love to see what you readers are thinking about Season 5, too, so post a comment!

Posted by at 01:46 AM | Comments (0)

Project Runway returns..

Our favortie show is back... Bravo's highly-anticipated fifth season of the three-time Emmy-nominated and Peabody Award-winning creative competition reality series Project Runway returns Wednesday, July 16 in a new time slot -- 9/8c.

Returning to the runway, host and supermodel Heidi Klum heads a panel of industry luminaries, including judges, top women's and menswear designer Michael Kors, and fashion expert Nina Garcia, as they decide who is "in" and who is "out." Tim Gunn, Chief Creative Officer at Liz Claiborne, Inc., will once again act as a mentor to the designers as they take on weekly fashion challenges.

The 16 Project Runway contestants will be whittled down week-by-week to the finalists who will show their own line in front of an audience of fashion industry movers and shakers at New York Fashion Week.

When Debbie Breneman isn't shopping she's reading your emails. If you have a shop, a sale, event, fun fashions, products, celebrity fashions, gossip, or a new business you'd like to see mentioned here, email dbreneman@seacoastonline.com or debreneman@gmail.com.

Posted by at 07:23 PM | Comments (0)

Let's talk about 'Sex … and the City'

Just when you thought you'd heard enough about "Sex and the City" … Deb Breneman Goes to the Movies.
(Warning: This piece will have spoilers in it.)

So, what's wrong with a little meaningless sex, an overabundant love for shoes, closets full of fabulous fashions and hanging with your BFFs, gabbing about life's woes, relationships and hot gossip? Uh, nothing.

I don't know what planet some of these critics are from, but hey, that's just what most of us girls love to do (um, besides the meaningless sex thing). And when it comes to Samantha's character … come on, there's a Samantha in every crowd, right?

I'm a fan, but not an obsessive "Sex and the City" addict. I watched the show mostly for its fashions. But when all the negative reviews came out, with numerous critics saying it's degrading to women, boring, too long and predictable, etc., my curiosity got the best of me.

But I wanted to wait until the hype died down – avoiding catfights with crazed SATC fans. Really, it's just not pretty rolling in the aisles of a movie theater with your favorite dress over your head, clawing some girl's hair out for a good seat. Besides, you could break a nail.

Before the movie, I met my girlfriends down at Outback Steakhouse for a couple of drinks (not your typical New York hot spot, I admit, but it's close to the theater). We had some appetizers and an intense "Sex and the City" gabfest – then off to the 7:45 show.

To be frank, I liked the whole story premise, how all the girls' relationships were moving in the direction they had always dreamed of – with babies, weddings and all the right accessories. Of course, there were unexpected twists and turns and, hello, a few fashion disasters.

Specifically, Carrie – my favorite fashion-obsessed diva disappointed me with the "simple suit" she picked for her wedding day. I hated it. It looked like something Julie Andrews would have worn in "The Sound of Music."

What a relief when she agreed to do the Vogue shoots and eventually ended up receiving a gorgeous couture gown from Vivienne Westwood. But to my disappointment, it didn't fit. Her tiny boobs were lost in what seemed like a mammoth D cup bustier. She looked hideous on her would-be wedding day – no wonder Big bounced.

And what the hell was with that blue bird on her head? Sure, Carrie has been known to pull off some crazy fashion risks – like gigantic flowers rooting out of her chest – but a blue bird as an accessory on her veil? Oh, no she didn't.

I have to admit, it was a little painful to watch Carrie so broken up over that Big #@$*%&! I liked the old Carrie in the series, when she used to go through men and toss them aside like a worn-out pair of Manolo Blahniks. But we all know Big was different in her eyes. It's true, there's always that one guy we're willing to let treat us like a doormat, once in our lives – then, hopefully, we grow up.

I'm told a key theme in the film is forgiveness. Well, call me Miranda, but that's a lot of forgiving. First, this whole wedding thing was doomed from the beginning. The proposal was so unromantic. Big says, so should we get you a diamond? Carrie says no, just a big closet. Great punchline, but what's wrong with having both? Romantic is being woken up at 5:30 in the morning at your vacation beach house by your lover reciting a poem asking you to marry him as the sun rises. That's how my husband asked me – I don't know, maybe I'm just spoiled.

And let's not forget the whole on-and-off, 10-year relationship with Big. I never would have put up with that. I'm a firm believer in the old saying "either (bleep) or get off the pot." But that's just me. And I would never have forgiven Big for ditching me on my wedding day. I'm still not over it, even if Carrie is. You just don't do that when you're in love.

It seemed we were supposed to blame Carrie for getting so caught up and going over-the-top about her wedding, but I think it's a girl's right to have a fairy-tale wedding. We dream of this day from childhood – don't take that from a little girl. Hooray to Carrie for beating her wedding bouquet over Big's fat head? He sooo deserved that. (I cried at that part.)

I'm still peeved about her forgiving him and getting married at City Hall. I know, I know, there's a meaning we're supposed to get out of it, but what about Carrie's fairy princess wedding? Big needed to man up and give that girl her special day.

Moving on, I love the incredible friendship the girls have for each other. It was endearing to see Carrie trudging through the snow on New Year's Eve in 5-inch heels, wearing just her jammies under her coat, to reassure Miranda that she wasn't alone during her breakup with Steve.

Another fabulous scene was the makeup between Miranda and Steve. Although, again, I don't blame Miranda for being so pissed off at him for cheating, and I'm not sure if I would have gone back to him. But he seemed so remorseful and desperate to have Miranda to forgive him. Not like Big – how come that jerk never tried to go to Carrie's apartment to win her back? I mean, the only thing he did was e-mail her – uh, dumb. Listen, when you screw up that bad, there better be some big-time trying in my book. Is anyone getting the feeling I don't like Mr. Big?

Anyway, I have to give Steve props for desperately showing how much he loved Miranda. And I loved the symbolism of the two of them meeting halfway on the Brooklyn Bridge, having agreed that if they both showed up they would leave the past behind. (Either that or jump. Sorry, just kidding.)

Samantha is simply fabulous, of course, and I think many women live vicariously through her. In the movie, Samantha struggled with her love for New York and her love for Smith, her TV star boyfriend (by the way, he's lost that baby face from the series and looked very distinguished).

I have to respect Samantha, even though she's an over-the-top sex fanatic (in the movie, her monogamous relationship with Smith is constantly tested by the presence of her totally hot neighbor).

She doesn't compromise her beliefs, she's strong and beautiful, and she shows women over 50 that you still can be hot, independent and desirable. It's not over until it's over, baby.

And sweet Charlotte's happily-ever-after ending was finally getting pregnant with her own baby after trying for so long. But my favorite part was when she told Big, "I curse the day you were born." You rock, Charlotte!

Though the movie was loaded with drama, there was no shortage of funny stuff, too. What was up with Miranda's "jungle"? What woman doesn't keep her goods manicured nowadays? Yikes, that freaked me out just a bit. And Charlotte pooping her pants after drinking the water in Mexico? Gross, but funny.

All and all, I loved the movie. I would have changed a few fashion choices for sure, but it kept my attention and I wanted more.

Behind all the cosmos and the glamour, it's about what we women go through in real life – with all its highs and lows. How men may come and go, but our female bonds keep us strong. A great writer once said that life doesn't always turn out to be your fantasy, that's why you need friendships that are real to get you through it all.

I hope I didn't give too much away ;)

Debbie Breneman

When Debbie Breneman isn't shopping she's reading your emails. If you have a shop, a sale, event, fun fashions, products, celebrity fashions, gossip, or a new business you'd like to see mentioned here, email dbreneman@seacoastonline.com or debreneman@gmail.com.

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BRAVO PARTNERS WITH UNICEF FOR CHARITY FASHION SHOW DURING "THE A-LIST AWARDS"

BRAVO NAMES UNICEF BENEFICIARY OF CHARITY FASHION AUCTION FEATURING CLOTHING BY "PROJECT RUNWAY" DESIGNERS DURING "THE A-LIST AWARDS," AIRING THURSDAY JUNE 12 AT 10 PM ET/PT

Lauren Hutton Will Be Honored With "John Frieda Beauty Icon Award" During Ceremony

Confirmed Talent For Bravo's "A-List Awards" Include: Kat Von D, Molly Sims, Tila Tequila, Jack McBrayer, Margaret Cho, Dina And Ali Lohan, Tyson Beckford, Nikki Blonsky, Kathy Griffin, Karina Smirnoff, Caroline Rhea, Candace Bushnell, Niki Taylor, Rachel Dratch, Christian Siriano, Tim Gunn, Padma Lakshmi, Jessica Stam, Tom Colicchio, Obama Girl, Simon Doonan, Jonathan Adler, And East Meets West For The First Time When The Housewives Of Orange County And New York City Meet On The Red Carpet Pre-Show!

Bravo has selected the U.S. Fund for UNICEF to be the beneficiary of proceeds from a charity fashion show to be held during "The A-List Awards," airing on Thursday, June 12 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. Designers from Bravo's Peabody-award winning, Emmy-nominated series "Project Runway" will be paired with celebrities to design dresses. Pairings are as follows:

Candace Bushnell and season 2 designer Daniel Franco

Holly Kiser and season 4 finalist Chris March

Kathy Griffin and season 2 designer Nick Verreos

Katrina Smirnoff and season 3 finalist and "Fan Favorite" Michael Knight

Kat Von D and season 4 finalist Sweet P

Niki Taylor and season 3 finalist Laura Bennett

Nikki Blonsky and season 3 designer Malan Breton

Rebecca Budig and season 3 designer Alison Kelly

Each designer will create a look for the celebrity fashion show and the designs will be available online after the special's taping on June 4 until June 11. Interested parties can bid on BravoTV.com with all proceeds from the auction going to support UNICEF's relief efforts in Myanmar.

Iconic model and ageless beauty Lauren Hutton will be awarded the "John Frieda Beauty Icon Award" during the ceremony for her timeless beauty. The award celebrates someone who has made a long-lasting mark on the industry and is a spokesperson for iconic beauty everywhere. Hutton, who has appeared on the cover of Vogue 25 times, is a celebrated model, actress and entrepreneur with her own line of beauty products.

Bravo brings viewers an iconic night celebrating the best in food, fashion, design, beauty and pop culture with its first ever "The A-List Awards," honoring those who have made an indelible mark in the arts, and showcasing some of the leading creative minds working today. Hosted by "My Life on the D-List" star Kathy Griffin, "The A-List Awards," taped at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York, premieres on Bravo on Thursday, June 12 at 10 p.m. ET/PT, and a special red carpet pre-show hosted by Tim Gunn airs at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT.

"The A-List Awards" will be produced by Magical Elves. Dan Cutforth, Jane Lipsitz, Charlie Haykel serve as executive producers.

Posted by at 10:05 PM | Comments (0)

"SHE'S GOT THE LOOK," PREMIERING ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4

Winner Will Land Contract with Wilhelmina Models, Inc. and Photo Spread in SELF Magazine

Hosted by Supermodel Kim Alexis

Supermodel Beverly Johnson, Celebrity Stylist Robert Verdi and Wilhelmina President Sean Patterson Serve as Judges

TV Land today revealed the ten finalists competing to be the new face of the fashion industry in the network's new original reality series "She's Got The Look" premiering on Wednesday, June 4 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. The six-episode series, a collaboration with Wilhelmina Models, Inc., sets out to discover a sophisticated, beautiful and confident woman 35 or older destined to become the next great supermodel.

The winner will receive a lucrative modeling contract with Wilhelmina Models, Inc. and a fashion spread in SELF Magazine. Iconic supermodel Kim Alexis, who has graced the covers of more than 500 magazines, hosts "She's Got The Look." Supermodel Beverly Johnson -- who made history as the first African-American model to appear on the cover of American Vogue -- celebrity stylist Robert Verdi and Wilhelmina president Sean Patterson are featured as regular judges on the series. The series is executive produced by Emmy Award-Winner Allison Grodner ("Big Brother," "Blowout").

TV Land's nationwide search, which included months of online submissions, auditions and regional competitions around the country, resulted in flying 20 contenders to New York City. These semi-finalists were put to the test of expressing themselves and their fashion know-how. Ten finalists were then selected to live in a New York City loft and compete in challenges such as photo shoots, runway competitions and tests on their fashion sense. At the conclusion of the competition, one woman will be crowned the ultimate winner.

"Television and the fashion world have historically overlooked real women in their 40s and 50s," states Larry W. Jones, president, TV Land. "TV Land is thrilled to showcase in an entertaining way these ten gorgeous women with rich life experiences."

"Wilhelmina is so excited to be able to show that beauty has no age limits," states Sean Patterson, president of Wilhelmina Models. "We look forward to adding the winner of this competition to our ever-expanding roster of beautiful men and women."

"She's Got The Look's" Ten Contestants Are:

Bahia, 37

Hometown: Beverly Hills, CA

Raised in a conservative Muslim family, Bahia is finally at a place in her life where she can embrace her beauty instead of trying to minimize it. She is ready to show the world that she is beautiful inside AND out.

Celeste, 50

Hometown: Chicago, IL

This vivacious 50-year old believes that this competition is her second chance at becoming a supermodel. Having strutted the runways in Europe when she was younger, Celeste knows exactly what it takes to make it in this business.

Hope, 35

Hometown: New York, NY

A fiery 35-year old beauty, Hope is proud that she has overcome the obstacles of her childhood and is now raising 3 children. Becoming a model has been her life-long dream and she believes that now is her time.

Karin, 40

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA

This striking Swede didn't always view herself as pretty. Having overcome extreme social shyness and awkwardness, Karin is experiencing the birth of her own beauty as she begins to realize that she deserves to be included in this supermodel set.

Kathy, 39

Hometown: Suwanee, GA

Melissa, 38

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA

Melissa is a sassy All-American girl thrilled to get her second chance at a modeling career. She is ready to take on any challenge and says she looks better now -- at the age of 37 -- than ever before.

Paula, 37

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA

Edgy and confident, this 37-year-old put herself through college on a sports scholarship and believes that beauty comes from within. She is a self-professed competitor and is ready to tackle the modeling world.

Roxanne, 40

Hometown: Las Vegas, NV

This red-headed beauty has a spirituality about her that calms her during rough times -- including overcoming a difficult divorce. Stronger and wiser from her life experiences, Roxanne is finally ready to commit herself to modeling.

Sharon, 63

Hometown: Baldwin Hills, CA

A sexy and charismatic woman, Sharon exudes joy and is determined to try new experiences. With the recent passing of her husband, Sharon relies on him for inspiration in this competition, knowing that he always encouraged her to be a model.

Tanya, 45

Hometown: Orange County, CA

Having overcome a difficult childhood, Tanya's proudest achievement is creating a positive life for her family. Stabbed several times as an adolescent, this mother of five is the president of a non-profit organization group in her hometown and is committed to her missionary work in Africa, where she lectures young women on empowerment.

"She's Got The Look" is an Alison Grodner produced exclusively for TV Land. Keith Cox and Sal Maniaci serve as executive producers for TV Land; Sean Patterson is executive producer from Wilhelmina.

Premiering on Wednesday, June 4 at 10 p.m. ET/PT
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But first -head over to the "What not to Wear" event.

What could be better than a gathering of friends, a glass of wine, and a surrounding of beautiful clothes???
This Wednesday, June 4th, is Womenaid's What Not To Wear Gathering!! at Le Club Boutique/Choozy Shooz

We have gotten a great response to the event and some questions too, so here are some updates:

1. You will not be pulled out of the crowd and marked as a fashion victim! There are plenty of us on the Board and committee that fall into that category and we're ready to "take one for the team" on that front.

2. Le Club Boutique and Jane Holt of Choozy Shooz will be open for shopping!!!! Last year, we moved the beautiful clothes out of the way and this year, they are the center of attention. And Beth Gross-Santos of Le Club Boutique and Jane Holt of Choozy Shooz have generously decided to donate a portion of any proceeds of that evening to Womenaid.

So browse away, ask questions from Beth and Jane (they have amazing taste!) and if you see something that catches your eye, buy something pretty for you and help Womenaid as well.

If you haven't rsvp'd yet, please do so at rsvp@womenaidportsmouth.org. Todd Carey from Philbrick's Fresh Market will once again be one hand with his tasty wines, so how can you go wrong. Get over hump day with Womenaid's What Not To Wear!

When Debbie Breneman isn't shopping she's reading your emails. If you have a shop, a sale, event, fun fashions, products, celebrity fashions, gossip, or a new business you'd like to see mentioned here, email dbreneman@seacoastonline.com or debreneman@gmail.com.

Posted by at 06:24 PM | Comments (0)

"BRIDEZILLAS'" IS BACK…

There is no wedding season without Bridezillas. And this year, she's back with those selfish antics you still can't believe she's capable of. But just when you thought Bridezilla was the biggest headache to walk down the aisle look out! This season she has some serious competition her family! That's right this season her family has had enough and won't take it anymore.

WE tv kicks off wedding season with the return of its signature bridal series BRIDEZILLAS premiering Sunday, June 1 at 9p/8c. Finally, our Bridezillas meet their match when the families fight back. Marking "Bridezillas" fifth anniversary, WE tv will Go Bridal every Sunday night all year long! WE Go Bridal is also home to the returning series PLATINUM WEDDINGS and WEDDING CENTRAL. Season five of BRIDEZILLAS consists of 22 one-hour episodes.

Bridezillas continue to take the world by storm shocking family, friends and fiancés in order to make their storybook weddings come true. No one and nothing can prevent them from achieving their perfect day. Except this season, when our Bridezillas face some serious competition.

Their families fight back and turn out to be their biggest opposition yet! Move over Bridezilla, here comes Momzilla! In our season premiere, bride-to-be Jennifer's future mother-in- law cannot stand her and is banned from the ceremony. Or so she thinks. Turns out fiancé Sean isn't too happy about his mother's interdiction after all and when mom turns up at the ceremony, she tries to convince her son not to get married! Momzilla stops at nothing to get her way. When the officiant asks "speak now or forever hold your peace," does Momzilla bite her tongue or let out her wrath?

Will Bridezilla take a back seat to Momzilla on her wedding day? Tune-in once more as our "Bridezillas" return with more temper tantrums and hair-raising hissy fits than ever before...this time with help from the family.

Premiering Sunday, June 1 at 9p/8c.

When Debbie Breneman isn't shopping she's reading your emails. If you have a shop, a sale, event, fun fashions, products, celebrity fashions, gossip, or a new business you'd like to see mentioned here, email dbreneman@seacoastonline.com or debreneman@gmail.com. (Enclude pictures and video's if you have them).

Posted by at 06:26 PM | Comments (0)

'Sex and the City: The Movie' trailer (2008)

(video bycarlost)

Girls, it's time to celebrate. Put on your stilettos, grab your girlfriends, have a couple cosmopolitans and head to the movies this weekend. Sorry guys, it's a girl bonding thing.

"Sex and the City: The Movie" (marketed as "Sex and the City") is the 2008 romantic comedy feature film adaptation of the HBO comedy series Sex and the City (itself based on the novel "Sex and the City" by Candace Bushnell) about four female friends living in New York City. The series often portrayed frank discussions about romance and sexuality, particularly in the context of being a single woman. It is currently set to be released this weekend May 30, 2008 Cast: Sarah Jessica Parker ... Carrie Bradshaw, Kim Cattrall ... Samantha Jones, Cynthia Nixon ... Miranda Hobbes, Kristin Davis ... Charlotte York Goldenblatt, Chris Noth ... Mr. Big

(Check out the behind the scenes video on their fashions by costume designer Patricia Field) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j30apPlia9E

When Debbie Breneman isn't shopping she's reading your emails. If you have a shop, a sale, event, fun fashions, products, celebrity fashions, gossip, or a new business you'd like to see mentioned here, email dbreneman@seacoastonline.com or debreneman@gmail.com.

Posted by at 07:48 AM | Comments (0)

‘The Hills’ are alive with fashion

I’m coming out of the closet. Yes, it’s true – I’m a “Hills” fan. The blend of unscripted drama and “Laguna Beach” reality show spinoff chronicles a cast of high school rich kids going through their coming-of-age dramas. What? It’s not easy being filthy rich.

“Laguna Beach” took off back in 2004 and spawned its spinoff in 2005. “The Hills” features Lauren Conrad (named Teen Choice TV Female Reality/Variety Star for 2007) and some of her old gang, following them onto college and fabulous new careers, shopping sprees, friendships, loves, betrayals and, oh yes, lots of juicy drama.

When “Laguna Beach” debuted on MTV, I was embarrassed to tell anyone that I actually watched a show about ridiculously rich high school kids. I kept my obsession quiet until one of my co-workers confessed that she liked it, too. I would disclose her name, but she’s still in the closet.

I really got sucked in around the time Lauren was going through her dating woes with Jason Wahler and his drinking problems. Then there was Brody Jenner with his wandering eye for the ladies. For the record, I wasn’t a fan of either of them. I liked Lauren’s old flame (“Laguna Beach” Season 2 cast member) Stephen Colletti best. So I was excited to hear the recent gossip that LC and Stephen might be having a fling once again on the new season. The suspense is killing me.

Another highlight was LC’s breakup with frenemy Heidi Montag.

In case you missed it: Roommate Heidi traded Lauren in for her boyfriend, Spencer Pratt, who in my opinion is a strange dude, causing conflict in Lauren and Heidi’s friendship.

The newest season is said to be hotter, with more drama – Lauren and girls in Paris, an LC fashion line and the alleged breakup of Heidi and Spencer. I’m excited to see how it all unfolds. I think Heidi is finally onto the creepiness of Spencer and his over-the-top jealousy. Or is she? Heidi just wants to be back in Lauren’s crowd. What, not enough camera time, Heidi?

Now Spencer is Radar magazine's newest advice columnist, enlightening perplexed readers on everything from finding – and keeping – "hot girls" like Heidi Montage to dealing with "family affairs." His “Yo Spencer!” column debuts in the April issue of Radar. Yo, please.

Part of the show’s seduction is the fabulous fashions sported by Lauren, Whitney, Audrina and Heidi. All the girls introduced incredible California trends on the show and Lauren’s fashions especially stood out. Of course, she did attend the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising and work as an intern at Teen Vogue. I loved Lauren’s look, with cute baby doll dresses and leggings paired up with the latest in handbags and accessories.

So it wasn’t surprising that LC lunched her fall ready-to-wear casual dresses and skirts collection during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Here’s a video of her new line – the Lauren Conrad collection. Also look ahead to other “Hills” fashionistas jumping into the fashion pool with their lines – galpal Whitney Port and Adrienne Baravetto co-designed a contemporary clothing line Eve & A that is launching this fall in upscale boutiques.

Also, Heidi has announced her upcoming Heidiwood collection. Hmm, what a coincidence. It was reported that Heidi was talking trash about LC’s line, saying “Lauren’s line is not necessarily something I would wear.” Well, looks like the catfight continues on the catwalk.

Check out Lauren Conrad’s reasonably priced line at www.laurenconrad.com

And check out all the drama on the new season of “The Hills,” starting March 24 on MTV; you might get sucked in, too.

By Debbie Breneman
Fashionista

Just in-

Back by popular demand! The Perfect Fit event

What are the two most important pieces of clothing when it comes to fit? Your bra and favorite jeans -- so don't miss the annual Perfect Fit event on Saturday, March 29, from 12-4 p.m. for your personalized bra & jean fitting.

The Dressing Room & Bella Intimates at Rosewood at Rye, 150 Lafayette Rd Rye, NH or call 603.964.1101 & 603.964.7775

I love hearing from you! If you have a shop, a sale, event, fun fashions, products, celebrity fashions, gossip, or a new business (breath) you'd like to see mentioned here, email dbreneman@seacoastonline.com If your having problems reaching me with this email? try debreneman@gmail.com

Posted by at 06:00 PM | Comments (0)

Project Runway - The Fierceness

Project Runway Season Four’s finale (part two) did not disappoint. Victoria Beckham was one of the judges, along with Heidi Klum, Michael Kors, and Nina Garcia. We saw the collections of Christian, Jillian, and Rami.

I guess I feel a little guilty for being so happy that Christian won. This is probably due to the fact that I was surprised by how much I liked Jillian’s collection; many pieces looked, as Top Chef host Padma Lakshmi phrased it, “very sexy and very wearable,” (in an “I want that!” sort of way). I adored her third look – sort of a modern take on equestrian, I especially loved the sweater. She also had a great cocktail dress, a few dresses that were not my style, and a fabulous closing piece with flowing pants and a very sexy bodice. My favorite was the black and red hooded coat. She did also have one heinous striped top with the overwhelming knit sleeves reminiscent of two mops, but many of her looks were feminine and chic, though, as a whole, I did agree when Nina Garcia commented that it felt “a little disjointed.”

Rami’s collection, for me personally, was not that fun to watch. He had a few beautiful evening gowns, but he also had several pieces, including an oddly gathered gold Grecian dress, and other shapes that, in my opinion, were simply unflattering to a woman’s body; this is ironic because his collection’s inspiration was celebrating women and femininity. His color palette could have used a second opinion, and Michael Kors did criticize him for some of his color choices, though they did give him props for branching out, having previously been accused of always draping. The judges were especially crazy for his evening gowns.

Christian's show felt like a runway show should – decadent and over the top. He did lose the pink feathered pants we saw on part one, per Tim‘s advice. However, he kept the large ruffled neckpiece. (In my opinion, he did make that look work on the runway.) His was more of a theatrical, couture production, but nothing I’d actually wear. There was, perhaps, a bit too much black in the collection, but his execution was flawless. The progession of color with each piece was great, and his final dress was fabulous. “…I am the youngest winner of Project Runway ever, it’s crazy, but, hello, did you have a doubt? C’mon… What up?” “This won’t be the last of Christian… people need to see more of the fierceness…” Yes, we do.
-Mary Salmon