Obsession of the Day

My New Gratitude Journal

I am very obsessed with having a planner to carry everywhere with me and while searching for a 2012 edition, I decided that I wanted to snag a journal too. I've always wanted to be a journaler but have always lacked the motivation, so I decided that this year was the year. When I saw this Gratitude Journal, I knew that it was mine. My problem had always been being able to find the words to write in a journal, but how simple is it to be able to write down every single day one or two things that you are thankful for? Even when times are hard, practicing something like this can really help us realize all of our daily blessings.

Today, I am thankful for this beautiful January weather. What are YOU thankful for?

Beyonce Baby Bump Watch

Well folks, certain sources are now claiming that Beyonce has landed in Houston and plans to have her baby there sometime in the next week. For now, Beyonce's Baby Bump Watch continues.

Verdict: STILL PREGNANT (or, you know, the surrogate is)

What I'm Listening To Now

Who Knows What Time It Is?

It's Girl Scout Cookie time!!!! While Christmas usually checks in as "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year", Girl Scout cookie season comes in as a close second. The timing is curious, waiting just long enough for all of us to fall off our New Years Resolution wagons and console ourselves in a pile of Samoas. Somebody over there is using their ticker.

This year, there's a new Girl Scout Cookie in town, the Savannah Smile.

Now, obviously, this cookie would automatically be better if the name were instead "Sara Smile" in an ode to Hall & Oates, who I'm sure eat loads and loads of Girl Scout Cookies. Instead, it's more lamely named after the hometown of the Girl Scouts, Savannah, GA. Whatevs.

The Savannah Smile is a bite-sized, lemon-wedge cookie dusted in powdered sugar and bursting with lemon flavor. I'm not sure that's enough for me to fall off the resolution wagon, but sure, I'll try one.

Get on out there and support your local Girl Scout troupe, and let me know if you like the Savannah Smiles! If you can't find any cookies, just swing by my office around Valentine's Day. The nation's stock will most likely be here.

Obsession of the Day

You may think this is a dumb Obsession of the Day, but you'd be wrong! Cuties are sweet little clementine/ mandarin combo that come right out of California and man oh man are they delicious. You can have two for only 80 calories which makes them a great snack, especially if you're looking for a little post-holiday bloat down. I swear I'm not getting paid for this post [wish I was!], I just love these little fellers. I dare you to try them.

What We Have Been Missing

Two weeks is really a long hiatus for a blog, especially around the Holidays when there is DRAH-MA. Let's see what we missed.

BEYONCE HAS (NOT) HAD HER BABY

After some confusing reports around New Years Eve that stated that Beyonce and Jay-Z gave birth to a baby girl named Tiana May Carter, it seems as though we can all rest assured that the surrogate Beyonce is still pregnant. Come on now, y'all. You know that Beyonce and Jay are gonna come up with a name that is WAY better than Tiana May [or I hope so anyway]. If we are to believe anything the internets say, reports are that Beyonce is actually due to give birth TODAY at an undisclosed location. Say your prayers and do your Hail Mary's cause it looks like a Rap Deity may be born today.

KATY PERRY AND RUSSELL BRAND ARE GETTING DIVORCED

Why does everyone continue to act like this is such surprising news? There were elephants at her wedding people. ELEPHANTS!!! When you do something that extravagant, the marriage is definitely doomed. That being said, I feel as though the real reason behind this split is likely because Katy realized she couldn't understand one bloody word that was coming out of Russell's mouth.

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE AND JESSICA BIEL ARE ENGAGED

Please pause for a moment of silence while all mid to late twenty something girls shed a tear [or several]. This rumor has yet to be confirmed and, frankly, I hope it isn't because I find them to be such an odd pair. However, if it is, we will wish them all the best! Kind of.

THE CAST OF LES MISERABLES THE MOVIE HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED

And it's not as exciting as you would think. Let me give you a little background on how much I love Les Miserables. Its a lot, ok? I've read the book, seen the movie [multiple times], have been playing the songs out of my trusty piano book for years [not very well, I might add], and it was my first Broadway play. When I heard that they were making another movie-musical version, I was ecstatic! That is, until today. Hugh Jackman is confirmed as the load role of Jean Valjean which I think is brilliant. I had originally heard that Anne Hathaway might be playing Eponine, but it seems as though she's actually playing Fantine, which is an interesting choice. Playing Fantine's daughter, Cosette, will be Amanda Seyfriend which is odd considering there is only a 3 year age difference. I don't know that I love that choice, but Amanda is evidently a classically trained Opera singer so I have no doubt that she will be able to handle the role. But the kicker, oh the kicker is that out of Scarlett Johansson, Lea Michele and Evan Rachel Wood who were all options for the part of Eponine, the part has gone to Taylor Swift. TAYLOR SWIFT!!!!!! Why is she out to ruin my life???? Has no one ever heard her sing??? I mean, the girl is fine at what she does, but I hardly think she has the chops for this. But I digress. Will it be enough to keep me from seeing the movie? Most likely, no. Is it the first sign of the Apocolypse? You betcha.

Happy New Year

Good Morning Everyone! I sure have missed you all! After a very fabulous and relaxing Christmas vacation [with the exception of one very sick day], I am happy to say the blog is back!

I hope everyone is having a stellar 2012 thus far. I have to say that 2011 wasn't exactly the favorite year of my life, but I really feel like things are on the up and up. I kind of have a love/hate relationship with resolutions, so I've kind of restructured the typical set up this year and instead have a list of Resolutions, Goals, and a 2012 Bucket List.

My resolutions are relatively boring, like start a retirement fund, create a good emergency fund, etc. Boring things that I can actually achieve. Some of my goals including cursing less, taking more pictures, blogging more (yay!), and actually getting up right when my alarm goes off (this didn't go so well yesterday, but was much easier today). My Bucket List is in a very new phase [I just started it last night], but right now I want to do something courageous and do some volunteer work. My hope is that as I achieve this things I will mark them off my list and as I think of new things I will add them and by the end of 2012 I will be feeling new inside and out. What have you resolved to do in 2012?

OK, enough of the mushy mushy, let's get on to some celebrity gossip already!!!!

To Be Continued.....

Obsession of the Day

Awards Season Is Almost Upon Us!

It seems like just yesterday that I was doing reviews on The Golden Globes and The Oscars, but here we are again with 2012 Golden Globe nominations being announced this morning. There were definitely some surprises, good and bad, but overall I think the nominations were fairly predictable. In years past, it has seemed as though the Golden Globe noms and wins would slightly predict the Academy Award noms and wins, so I'm excited to see how the Oscar nominations will compare and contrast.

BEST PICTURE, DRAMA
"War Horse"
"The Ides of March"
"The Help"
"Moneyball"
"Hugo"
"The Descendants"
Note: I have only seen half of these films and while I enjoyed "Ides of March", I do not under any circumstances think it is Best Picture material.

BEST PICTURE, COMEDY
"The Artist"
"50/50"
"Bridesmaids"
"My Week With Marilyn"
"Midnight in Paris"
Note: I've only seen "Bridesmaids" in this category, but it has my full support. I dare you to show me a movie that is funnier.

BEST ACTOR, DRAMA
George Clooney, "The Descendants"
Brad Pitt, ''Moneyball''
Leonardo DiCaprio, ''J.Edgar''
Ryan Gosling, ''The Ides of March''
Michael Fassbender, ''Shame''
Note: Again, I've only seen a few of these, but let me say first of all, "Moneyball" was a drama? Compared to this other films, I'd have to say that one of these things is not like the others and "Moneyball" is it. Additionally, Gosling got nominated for "Ides of March" but not "Drive" in this category? That makes pretty much ZERO sense. "Drive" was one of the most dramatic movies of 2011. I find this category to be a bit strange.

BEST ACTRESS, DRAMA
Viola Davis, "'The Help''
Meryl Streep, ''The Iron Lady''
Tilda Swinton, ''We Need to Talk About Kevin''
Rooney Mara, "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo''
Glenn Close, ''Albert Nobbs''
Note: I will admit my ignorance in what the rules and qualifications are for receiving a Golden Globes nomination, but does it seem odd to anyone else that movies that haven't even been released yet are nominated?? That seems a bit unfair.

BEST ACTOR, COMEDY
Jean Dujardin, "The Artist''
Brendan Gleeson, ''The Guard''
Owen Wilson, ''Midnight in Paris''
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, ''50/50''
Ryan Gosling, ''Crazy, Stupid, Love''
Note: My vote in this category obviously goes to Ryan Gosling, but mostly because I haven't seen the other movies. Oops.

BEST ACTRESS, COMEDY
Michelle Williams, ''My Week With Marilyn''
Jodie Foster, ''Carnage''
Kristen Wiig, ''Bridesmaids''
Charlize Theron, ''Young Adult''
Kate Winslet, ''Carnage''
Note: Come on. Kristen Wiig, obvis.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Albert Brooks, ''Drive''
Christopher Plummer, ''Beginners''
Kenneth Branagh, ''My Week With Marilyn''
Jonah Hill, ''Moneyball''
Viggo Mortensen, ''A Dangerous Method''
Note: I loved Jonah Hill in Money Ball, but I wouldn't be surprised if Albert Brooks took this one. I wouldn't be mad at that, but I am a pinch surprised that he was nominated over Bryan Cranston.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Berenice Bejo, ''The Artist''
Octavia Spencer, ''The Help''
Jessica Chastain, ''The Help''
Janet McTeer, ''Albert Nobbs''
Shailene Woodley, "The Descendants"
Note: Voting for Octavia Spencer here.

BEST DIRECTOR
Martin Scorsese, ''Hugo''
George Clooney, ''The Ides of March''
Michel Hazanavicius, ''The Artist''
Alexander Payne, ''The Descendants''
Woody Allen, ''Midnight in Paris'
Note: Scorsese every time.

BEST TV SERIES, DRAMA
"American Horror Story"
"Boardwalk Empire"
"Boss"
"Game of Thrones"
"Homeland"
Note: Oh my word, this is like asking a mother to choose between her two new babies. I would love, love, love it if "American Horror Story" or "Homeland" won. If you aren't watching either of those shows, you need to get on it asap!

BEST COMEDY SERIES
"New Girl"
"Enlightened"
"Episodes"
"Glee"
"Modern Family"
Note: I'm surprised that "Glee" is even nominated this year as it has totally sucked balls this season. I love "Modern Family" and my money is on them, but I also think it's good that "New Girl" is getting some recognition. It was a rough start, but in my opinion, it has slowly become one of the funniest shows on television.

BEST ACTOR, DRAMA
Steve Buscemi, "Boardwalk Empire"
Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad"
Kelsey Grammer, "Boss"
Jeremy Irons, "The Borgias"
Damian Lewis, "Homeland"
Note: Come on. Bryan Cranston, obviously.

BEST ACTRESS, DRAMA
Claire Danes, "Homeland"
Mireille Enos, "The Killing"
Julianna Margulies, "The Good Wife"
Madeleine Stowe, "Revenge"
Callie Thorne, "Necessary Roughness"
Note: Claire Danes all the way. I was just having a conversation with some fellow "Homeland" lovers about how great she is in that show.

BEST ACTOR, COMEDY
Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock"
David Duchovny, "Californication"
Johnny Galecki, "The Big Bang Theory"
Thomas Jane, "Hung"
Matt LeBlanc, "Episodes"
Note: It doesn't get much funnier than Jack Donaghy.

BEST ACTRESS, COMEDY
Tina Fey, "30 Rock"
Amy Poehler, "Parks and Recreation"
Laura Dern, "Enlightened"
Zooey Deschanel, "New Girl"
Laura Linney, "The Big C"
Note: Tiny or Amy here. Again, glad that "New Girl" is getting some recognition, but Zooey isn't ready for a GG just yet.

BEST TV-MOVIE OR MINISERIES
"Mildred Pierce"
"Too Big Too Fail"
"Cinema Verite"
"Downton Abbey"
"The Hour"
Note: I only saw "Mildred Pierce" in this category, but it was pretty darn phenomenal.

BEST ACTOR, TV-MOVIE OR MINISERIES
William Hurt, "Too Big Too Fail"
Hugh Bonneville, "Downton Abbey"
Idris Elba, "Luther"
Bill Nighy, "Page Eight"
Dominic West, "Appropriate Adult"
Note: Don't really care in this category.

SUPPORTING ACTOR, TV-MOVIE OR MINISERIES
Peter Dinklage, "Game of Thrones"
Paul Giamatti, "To Big To Fail"
Guy Pearce, "Mildred Pierce"
Tim Robbins, "Cinema Verite"
Eric Stonestreet, "Modern Family"
Note: Obviously Eric Stonestreet.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS, TV-MOVIE OR MINISERIES
Jessica Lange, "American Horror Story"
Kelly Macdonald, "Boardwalk Empire"
Maggie Smith, "Downton Abbey"
Sofia Vergara, "Modern Family"
Evan Rachel Wood, "Mildred Pierce"
Note: Sorry ERW and Sofia Vergara, but I have to go with Jessica Lange here. She nails the creepy psychopath role on "American Horror Story".

Merry Ghetto Christmas

I'm not sure if this is hilarious, sad, or sacrilege, but I'm rolling with it! It's Christmas time in da hood, y'all.