The Reader

I saw The Reader last night. It's a very sad story, but the film is great. Kate Winslet earned that Oscar. The film is based on the book by Bernhard Schlink.

David Kross, a fantastic German actor, plays the young Michael Berg. One summer when he was 15, he has an affair with Hanna Schmitz (Winslet) who was 36-years-old. Hanna is illiterate, and he reads books to her including The Odyssey and her favorite The Lady with the Little Dog. One day Hanna leaves without notice, and Michael is heartbroken.

Ten years later, Michael sees her again when he is in law school attending a trial of women Nazi S.S. guards. He discovers that Hanna was one of those guards, and she is back in his life. Michael has the power to save Hanna from prison, but he does not.

Ralph Fiennes plays the older Michael. He spent his entire life trying to understand what happened with the woman who he had a relationship with as a teenager. It is a story of love, forgiveness and redemption. You won't leave the theater feeling great, but the story is powerful and the acting is exceptional.

Ryanair to charge for toilet use

Irish budget airline Ryanair may start charging for toilet use on their planes. Umm, ghetto! You have got to be kidding me. Chief executive Michael O'Leary said that they may charge anywhere from a penny to a pound via coinslot.

Honestly I'd rather they raise the price a few bucks than have to pay to use the loo. Surely there are people like me who rarely carry cash. If they have to go to the restroom on the plane, are they just out of luck?

I flew Ryanair to Venice and Dublin. Both times the experience was fine for what it cost. It's definitely no frills, and you have to pay for any food and drink or extras. I really hope that O'Leary decides against this ridiculous measure.

David Archuleta goes on tour

Awww, little David Archuleta is growing up. He kicked off his tour this week in Virginia, and I saw him last night at The National. The season 7 American Idol runner-up did a fantastic job considering it was only his second show. He said "I've never been here [Virginia] before, but you guys sure have a lot of energy." God bless him.

I have to admit that I am a fan of his radio-hit song "Crush," but wasn't familiar with his other songs. I'm pretty sure that the screaming girls in the audience knew all of the songs though. The screaming got louder whenever he said the word love - which was a lot.

He mostly sang tunes from his debut self-titled album. He also sang a few of his favorite songs from 2008 including "Love Song" by Sara Bareilles. The crowd went wild when Archuleta sang hometown boy Jason Mraz's hit "I'm Yours." He also pounded out a few notes on the keyboard.

Archuleta's smooth, soulful voice will probably only improve since he's a mere 18-years-old. He genuinely seemed appreciative of his fans. I hope that he stays that way because it is really endearing.

Lucia, Lucia

I recently finished reading Lucia, Lucia by Adriana Trigiani. It's such a lovely, well-written book. Lucia Sartori is a beautiful and talented seamstress for B. Altman's in 1950. She lives with her family in Greenwich Village. In a time where marriage and finding a husband is of the utmost importance, Lucia struggles to find a balance between her love life and her career.

Lucia has the unconditional love of her childhood sweetheart and fiance Dante DiMartino, but she knows that he and his family will want her to give up her career to be a housewife. She breaks off the engagement. Soon after this, she falls in love with a handsome charmer John Talbot. Unfortunately, Talbot turns out to have a few skeletons in the closet.

The story is told as a flashback through Lucia to her neighbor Kit, who refers to her as Aunt Lu. Lucia, Lucia is heartfelt, romantic and occasionally heartbreaking. Trigiani's descriptions of New York City and Italy, particularly Venice, are wonderful and will make you want to pack up and take a trip.

I was especially pleased with the ending of the book. Trigiani is a superb writer; she has the ability to draw you into her characters' lives. I would also highly recommend her first novel Big Stone Gap.

Kate Bosworth wins after-party best dressed

[Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images]

Kate Bosworth looked radiant in this sparkly Alexander McQueen dress she wore to the Vanity Fair party on Sunday. The sheath dress was studded with Swarovski crystals. Reese Witherspoon's and Anne Hathaway's dresses also featured Swarovski bling. Love it!

Gorgeous Oscar men

[Stewart Cook/REX]

There is nothing sexier than a man in tuxedo, and these men really knocked it out of park.

-Robert Pattinson. Everyone's favorite vampire looked beyond handsome in his Dolce & Gabanna getup. He presented a montage of romantic films of the year.

-Hugh Jackman. The evening's talented and debonair host wore a three-piece Burberry tuxedo.

-James Franco. The Milk star and presenter looked suave in a Gucci tux and black tie.

-Daniel Craig. Craig could give James Bond a run for his money in that Dolce & Gabanna suit.

-Brad Pitt. The man sure knows how to wear a tux. Pitt was wearing Tom Ford from head to toe.

Best and worst at the Oscars

[Steve Granitz/WireImage]

Light colors like ivory and white reigned on the red carpet. Anne Hathaway, Nicole Kidman, Marisa Tomei, Taraji P. Henson, Evan Rachel Wood and Penelope Cruz were all wearing gorgeous dresses in ethereal colors. I was disappointed with Kate Winslet's steel gray Atelier YSL gown and helmet hair. At least she had a fabulous acceptance speech to make up for it.

Best
-Penelope Cruz. The Best Supporting Actress winner's vintage white Pierre Balmain dress was very elegant. She wore it with a 69-carat Chopard necklace.

-Reese Witherspoon. The Best Director presenter's black-and-blue Rodarte gown embellished with Swarovski crystals was daring and different. I like that she took a risk.

-Anne Hathaway. Her sparkly, strapless silver Armani Prive gown was majorly glamorous. The back of the dress was especially pretty.

-Natalie Portman. Her hot pink, strapless Rodarte gown was lovely. She accessorized with bling by Kwiat.

-Angelina Jolie. I hate to say it since I'm not a huge fan, but I liked her black strapless Elie Saab gown with a sweetheart neckline. The giant emerald ring and earrings were pretty much amazing.

Honorable mention
-Jennifer Aniston. The presenter wore a silver Valentino strapless dress with Jimmy Choo shoes. She worked it even with Brangelina looming in the front row.

-Tina Fey. The funny girl wore a silver sparkly Zac Posen dress. I was happy to see her finally mix things up beyond basic black.

Worst
-Beyonce. Her black-and-gold House of Dereon gown looked tight and extremely uncomfortable.

-Whoopi Goldberg. The presenter wore a leopard dress that showcased her chest tattoo. It scared me.

-Jessica Biel. I didn't like her white satin Prada gown. As much as we know she works out, why would you want a huge piece of extraneous fabric draped over you?

-Heidi Klum. Her red Roland Mouret gown was too busy with the asymmetrical cut and folds. Her coral bracelets and earrings also seemed out of place.

-Sophia Loren. Yes, she looks great for 74, but her yellow froufrou dress was straight out of 1980.

Successful Academy Awards

The Academy Awards tonight were by far the best I've ever watched. I think that the new format appeals to a larger audience. It didn't feel like a stuff awards show like it sometimes can.

Triple-threat Hugh Jackman opened with a song and dance montage of the nominated films. Anne Hathaway joined him for a Frost/Nixon duet. Who knew she could sing? Hugh did a great job hosting. I also loved his song-and-dance routine with Beyonce, Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Dominic Cooper and Amanda Seyfried. However, was Miss Beyonce lipsynching? We'll probably never know.

I liked the way they announced the best actor and supporting actor awards. Previous winners including Anthony Hopkins and Shirley MacLaine came out on stage and gave an introduction for each nominee. It made the awards seem more personal, and I know that the actors appreciated it.

Sean Penn and Kate Winslet were the Best Actor and Actress winners. For me it was a toss-up between Mickey Rourke and Sean, but I figured the Academy would give it to Sean. Heath Ledger and Penelope Cruz won for their supporting roles. Heath's family accepted his award on behalf of his daughter which was a tearjerker. Slumdog Millionaire took home a lot of awards including Best Picture, Best Director (Danny Boyle) and Best Song ("Jai Ho").

Oscar night!

It's finally here! The 81st Academy Awards are tonight on ABC. Despite this year's sad and/or depressing film nominations (besides Slumdog Millionaire), the Oscars are featuring an exciting new format. Young actors like Twilight star Robert Pattinson will take the stage as presenters. Beyonce is performing, and High School Musical stars Zac Efron and girlfriend Vanessa Hudgens are performing together.

Hunky Hugh Jackman is hosting the show. Having an actor makes so much more sense to me than the usual comedian types that they have host like Jon Stewart or Ellen Degeneres. I think he'll do a great job. Maybe he will sing and dance for us.

I'm so excited that they decided to shake things up. Ratings haven't been what they used to be, and I think this new format might give them a boost. I can't wait to see what the stars are wearing!

Puccini's Tosca

I saw my first opera tonight - Puccini's Tosca. The opera is sung in Italian with English translations. The Italian language is so beautiful.

The opera takes place in the time of Napoleon's reign. Floria Tosca is in love with a handsome painter Mario Cavaradossi. She thinks that he is cheating on her because he uses the likeness of a woman they know for a painting he is creating in a church.

Cesare Angelotti escapes from prison and visits Cavaradossi in the church. He hides him in his villa. The evil Chief of Police Baron Scarpia finds out that he has escaped and comes to look for him. He takes Cavaradossi on suspicion of hiding the prisoner. Scarpia has other motives because he wants Tosca for himself, so he tricks her into thinking that she can save her love by spending one night with him.

The music is absolutely incredible. It's a tragic love story, but it has definitely peaked my interest in operas, and I will be seeing more. Hopefully Puccini's La Boheme will be my next opera adventure.

Leighton Meester goes for the gold

[Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images]

Gossip Girl's Leighton Meester made her first NYC Fashion Week appearance at the Proenza Schouler fashion show. I just love to say Proenza Schouler. Some bloggers didn't like this outfit, but I think it's fun and hip. I love the mixing of the green and gold metallics. The David Yurman cocktail ring is fabulous too. I also like Meester's new blunt, eyebrow-skimming bangs.

Carnevale di Venezia

[Destination 360]

Venice Carnival 2009 started last Saturday, February 14, and it goes until next Tuesday, February 24. Oh, how I wish I was there!

The mask tradition in Venice dates back to 1268. Carnival was outlawed by the fascist government in the 1930s but was recently revived in the 1980s.

Maskmakers used to hold a special place in Venetian society. If you ever get to beautiful Venice (which is a must-do for anyone), you need to buy a mask. When I was there I bought my mask from Ca' Macana, the shop that made the masks for Eyes Wide Shut. You can also get them on their site, http://www.camacana.com/.

New Moon art revealed

[MTV]

MTV revealed the artwork for New Moon. Loves it! I really like that font; it was used for Twilight too. The font is similar to what was used for Stephanie Meyer's books as well.

How exciting that the movie will be out one year after Twilight hit theaters. New Moon is supposed to start filming on March 23.

Claire Danes looks happy

[Graylock/Abaca USA]

Claire Danes wore this lovely Narciso Rodriguez dress to the designer's fashion show on Tuesday night. I am liking the cut of the dress; the lines are flattering. I also like it paired with black opaque tights.

Plus, the newly engaged actress has an adorable fiance, British actor Hugh Dancy (Confessions of a Shopaholic). Maybe that's why she looks so happy. You don't see Ms. Danes smile that big for photogs very often.

Gwyneth Paltrow supports hubby

[Splash]

Coldplay was snubbed on all four of their nominations at the Brit Awards. That didn't stop the top-selling band from rocking out at the charity Warchild concert last night at O2 Empire Shepherds Bush in London with the Killers and U2's Bono.

Celebs galore came out to the show including Chris Martin's wife Gwyneth Paltrow, Sienna Miller and Courtney Love. Gwyneth is rarely seen with her husband these days. I hope that her showing up to this show means that all is well! Her outfit is interesting. She definitely likes short hemlines. I don't really like the shiny leggings look, but I think the jacket tones them down a bit.

First set of 3 for Idol's top 12

Alexis Grace, Danny Gokey and Michael Sarver are through to the Top 12 in American Idol. I called two of those. I was hoping that Ricky Braddy would've been the third pick, but I figured that the popular Anoop Desai would get the spot.

I didn't think "roughneck" Michael's version of Gavin Degraw's I Don't Want to Be was that great. Hopefully his voice and stage presence will improve because he seems like a great guy.

Danny's version of Mariah Carey's Hero was heartfelt and hard to resist. It's quite obvious that all four judges love him (along with the rest of America). Sadly, his wife passed away four weeks before his audition.

Alexis's version of Aretha Franklin's Never Loved a Man was soulful and powerful. I liked her outfit last night, but her straw fedora-jean skirt-vest combo tonight was atrocious.

Michael and Danny both should rethink their shirt choices. The busy patterns aren't flattering and distract from their singing. I would love to see Danny in a Banana Republic cardigan and dark jeans; and Michael would look great in something dressier (i.e. a shirt and tie).

Kristen Bell thinks spring

[Humberto Carreno/Startraks Photo]

I love Kristen Bell's fresh, springy dress. It makes me tired of this cold winter weather. Bell wore the Jill Stuart dress to the designer's fashion show. She wore a Revolve Clothing cardigan over it, which was no doubt needed for the chilly NYC weather. The nude Stuart Weitzman pumps are great for elongating the legs. I'm so excited that pointy-toed shoes are back.

I just recently found out that Bell is the narrator for Gossip Girl. Who knew? I want that job. I have the "you know you love me, XOXO" down-pat.

Barbie's runway show

[Imaxtree]

In honor of Barbie's 50th anniversary, she got her very own Fall Fashion Week runway show in New York. Fifty American designers including Vera Wang, Marchesa and Tommy Hilfiger created looks for the collection.

Rachel Roy designed the look pictured based off the first Barbie created in 1959. Other designs included gorgeous dresses, casual looks and swimsuits. Edgy, futuristic Barbiewear was also shown.

Herve Leger at Fashion Week

[Imaxtree]

Herve Leger by Max Azria, the bandage dress king, showed his ready-to-wear collection during New York Fashion Week on Sunday. The models sported variations of the bandage dresses we have seen on so many celebs including Kate Winslet, Victoria Beckham and Megan Fox.

The models were wearing bushy ponytails and super-high strappy heels and boots causing two of them to topple over. Ouch!

The dresses are very flattering and retail around $1,500. Herve Leger's Web site says, "The body-shaping cut of each item, characterized by the aptly named 'bandage dress,' sculpts the woman's body to perfection." I really need one of these babies. It's too bad I couldn't get one when gilt.com had them for ridiculously low prices.

Kate Moss meets Marilyn

[Bert Stern]

Supermodel Kate Moss is on the cover of this week's New York Magazine. Her photo shoot by Bert Stern is reminiscent of a similar shoot done by Stern of Marilyn Monroe in 1962. Moss's accompanying article by Amy Larocca says that at 35 she is a woman now.

Moss claims that she isn't pregnant with rocker boyfriend Jamie Hince's baby, although recent photos of her growing belly would suggest otherwise.

Moss's line for Topshop is finally arriving stateside in New York this spring. I can't wait! Those Brits are so lucky to have Topshop at their disposal. The store's chic and affordable clothes will surely take America by storm - think Forever 21 but better quality.

Rob Pattinson to attend Oscars

It's confirmed; Twilight will be representing at the Oscars. Robert Pattinson will be in attendance and will present at the 81st Academy Awards in L.A. on Sunday, February 22. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Lohan's disappearing act

[Getty Images]

Lindsay Lohan is shrinking by the minute. Every time we see Lohan she is skinnier! What is going on with her? She was in NYC for fall fashion week. Here she's with Brit designer Matthew Williamson. He is opening a new store in Manhattan's meatpacking district. Williamson designs such beautiful, feminine clothes.

Lily Allen's "It's Not Me, It's You"

Lily Allen released her sophomore album It's Not Me, It's You last week. I am really digging it. I loved her first album Alright Still, and her latest effort doesn't disappoint. Her songs are pretty typical Lily - upbeat, cheeky and crass. I like that she sings with a distinct British accent.

Her first single "The Fear" is fantastic. I love the line, "I'm not a saint, and I'm not a sinner. Everything's cool as long as I'm getting thinner." Allen has had to deal with the paparazzi and the pressures of fame, like all celebrities, and that is apparent in this song.

Her song "Him" about God is silly and somewhat blasphemous. She asks if God has ever tried cocaine or tried to evade taxes. I always skip that one on the album. The rest of her songs are catchy and fun. She talks about watching "tele" with a guy she likes in "Who'd Have Known" and "Chinese."

You can download the entire album on Amazon.com for $3.99. That's quite a deal!

J.Lo and Marc doing well

[Splash]

Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony's relationship appears to be doing just fine. Midway through Marc's Valentine's Day concert at Madison Square Garden, his wife walked on stage with their twins Max and Emme.

People caused a ruckus after J.Lo didn't wear her wedding ring with her dress to the Golden Globes. She later said, "Every time I'm not wearing my ring, people think I'm getting divorced. Divorce is not, and never was, an option." She explained that her bling just didn't go with the Marchesa dress. Good for them; I hope it all works out.

Alright, now onto those shoes. J.Lo was her usual diva self in some to-die-for Christian Louboutin heels and a black sparkly one-shoulder dress.

Spring pearls

If you only buy one piece of jewelry to carry you through spring and summer, you should buy something with pearls. I love this pearl cluster bracelet from J.Crew. It's whimsical, feminine and won't break the bank at $75. I also love the layered pearl necklace look. Buy some inexpensive strands from Forever 21. It's a new twist on Jackie O's favorite accessory.

Entertainment Weekly Twilight Director's Diaries issue

[Entertainment Weekly]

The Twilight Director's Diaries edition of EW hits stands on February 20. First of all, the photo on the cover alone is enough to make you want to buy it. Holy gorgeousness! It's also filled with Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke's personal notes about the movie from her book Twilight: Director's Notebook out on March 17. There are sketches, production notes, photos, wardrobe info and much more.

We learn from Hardwicke's diary that she originally wanted Edward Cullen to have long hair. They put extensions on Robert Pattinson, but he hated them. Thus originating Edward's sexy trademark locks. I can't wait to read Hardwicke's notes and juicy details about the filming of the movie.

Jessica Simpson presents ACMA nods

[Tony R. Phipps/WireImage]

Jessica Simpson announced the 44th annual Academy of Country Music Awards nominees along with fellow blonds Julianne Hough, Kellie Pickler and LeAnn Rimes. I think she looks great. I like the chignon - I'm sure it's courtesy of her hairdresser BFF Ken Paves. The all-black outfit is flattering, and her accessory choices are on-point with the long, layered necklaces and Bochic earrings.

Brad Paisley led the nominations with six. The awards will air on April 5 from Vegas on CBS.

Joaquin Phoenix acts looney on Letterman

This is so bizarre. Joaquin Phoenix appeared on David Letterman to promote his new movie Two Lovers. I really hope that it's a joke, but this seems too elaborate to be a stunt. He acts like he's on something, and he doesn't participate in the interview at all. I don't really think drug and alcohol abuse is something to kid around about especially when your brother died of an overdose!

The strangest part of the interview was when he couldn't remember his costar Gwyneth Paltrow's name! Letterman told him that he appears to be "taking some time off tonight." Unbelievable.

First lady does Vogue

Michelle Obama graces the cover of Vogue for the March issue. She was photographed by Annie Leibovitz. Her magenta shift dress is by Jason Wu, the designer who created her inaugural gown.

I like the cover - it's simple and tasteful. She looks classy as usual, but appears to be ready to get down to first lady business.

Yowza!

[Harper's Bazaar]

I can't wait for my March issue of Bazaar to arrive. Gossip Girl's Ed Westwick, 21, is featured in a spread with the much older supermodel Helena Christensen, 40. They almost smooch in this photo. Ugh, why don't more men dress like Chuck Bass?

The March issue also features Sarah Jessica Parker on the cover. What more could you want? Ed and SJP, love it!

Fashionable Freida Pinto

[Fred Duval/FilmMagic]

Slumdog Millionaire star Freida Pinto hasn't missed a fashion mark yet. She wore this fabulous Chanel cocktail dress with strappy black Jimmy Choos to the ELLE Style Awards last night. She was named Best Actress at the ceremony. Pinto's elegant style is helped by the fact that she always chooses pieces that are classy yet modern.

Uncle Vanya

I saw Russian playwright Anton Chekov's play Uncle Vanya starring Maggie Gyllenhaal (The Dark Knight), Peter Sarsgaard (Jarhead), Dennis O'Hare (Milk) and Mamie Gummer (Stop-Loss). The play was published in 1899 and first performed in 1900. It is now playing through March at the Classic Stage Company in Union Square NYC.

Each character is miserable in his or her own way. Gyllenhaal plays Yelena who is married to the elderly, self-centered professor Aleksandr. She falls for the doctor Astrov played by Sarsgaard. Gyllenhaal plays Yelena quite well. She has the extreme boredom of an idle life down pat. It's interesting to see the real-life couple interact onstage.

The title character Uncle Vanya is played by O'Hare. He too is in love with Yelena. I don't think he did Vanya justice. I was on the front row, and he kept spitting profusely, which was very distracting since I was worried it was going to land on me.

Gummer, who is Meryl Streep's daughter, plays Sonya. She does an excellent job. Sonya is in love with Astrov, but he does not love her because he is taken by Yelena's beauty.

The play is sad and the recurring theme is the despondency of wasted lives.

Biel wears Oscar to host Sci-Tech Oscars

[David Livingston/WireImage]

Jessica Biel wore this gorgeous strapless Oscar de la Renta dress to host the Sci-Tech Oscars. I just love the colorful brocade. She accessorized with Martin Katz diamonds. What in the world are the Sci-Tech Oscars you ask? They honor the more technical side of movies that most people don't understand.

Ed Catmull, president of Pixar Studios, won the Oscar for lifetime achievement in computer animation. Excerpts of this will air on the Oscars on February 22.

He's alive!

Twilight hunk Robert Pattinson finally emerged this weekend in London. He attended a pre-BAFTA party hosted by Vogue. His hair appears to be trying really hard to return to its full glory. It better hurry because New Moon starts filming next month.

I think he looks great though. I'm sure he's enjoyed the time away from the craziness.

He's Just Not That Into You

I saw He's Just Not That Into You this weekend and loved it. It has an all-star cast that works well together - dare I say better than the powerhouse cast of the Ocean's 11 franchise. Don't get me wrong, this movie is definitely a chickflick, but like the book, it offers helpful advice to women who might not see the clear picture when it comes to relationships.

Gennifer Goodwin plays a naive girl looking for love. She goes out with Kevin Connolly who brushes her off because he is in love with someone else. Justin Long's character befriends her and gives her some much-needed straightforward advice on love.

Bradley Cooper is married to Jennifer Connelly, but he falls for Scarlett Johansson. It was pretty hilarious because every time Scarlett would come onscreen the women in the audience would openly profess their disgust for her (ahem, for her character).

Drew Barrymore plays a girl who is tired of meeting people on the Internet and wants to find a real person to date. Then there's Ben Affleck and Jennifer Aniston who have been together for 7 years, and he still hasn't married her.

It's a heart-warming movie, and you'll leave the theater with a smile. There's something to be said for that with the likes of Revolutionary Road, Milk, Doubt, The Wrestler and The Reader in theaters.

BAFTA fashion

[Joe Furniss/WireImage]

Award season is in full swing. The BAFTAs (British Academy Film Awards) were last night at the Royal Opera House in London.

Black and yellow was seemed to be the color scheme of choice. I loved Emma Watson's Temperley London gown. Thandie Newton wore a gorgeous black-and-gold vintage strapless gown. I hate to say this, but I really liked Angelina Jolie's Armani Prive strapless dress.

Grammy fashion

[Kevin Mazur/WireImage]

Gotta love the Grammys. The bad fashion almost always outweighs the good. It's a night when people let their hair down and try to have fun with their style. Sometimes they succeed; other times it's disastrous.

On key
-Katy Perry. I actually liked her Basil Soda bubblegum-pink gown. It was very glam and a big change from her usual hotpants outfits (like the fruity get-up she performed in).

-Jennifer Hudson. Her black-and-white, origami pleated RM by Roland Mouret dress was lovely. The Cartier diamond snake bracelet added a touch of rock-and-roll glam. The black, sparkly dress that she performed in was fabulous too.

-Gwyneth Paltrow. I loved her metallic, beaded Versace dress with silver tights. It was fun and perfect for presenting at the Grammys.

-Miley Cyrus. I thought Miley's Herve Leger for Max Azria black gown with oversized rosette was fab. Her fun accessories kept it age-appropriate.

Off key

-Carrie Underwood. I didn't like her gold, prom-ready Zuhair Murad gown.

-M.I.A. Yes, she is pregnant, so some slack should be given, but her the wild blue dress and tennis shoes really hurt my eyes.

-Leona Lewis. Her skin-colored halter dress by Randi Rahm was unflattering and left her all one color.

-Paula Abdul. Her bright yellow Basil Soda gown had off-kilter metallic accents and weird pleating on the bust.

-Paris Hilton. He shiny, multi-colored dress (if you can even call it that) was simply hideous.

Grammy night

The Grammys were interesting last night. I loved Radiohead's performance of "15 Step," which was featured in the movie Twilight. The USC marching band performed with them, and it was hot!

I also liked the "Swagger Like Us" performance that started off with very pregnant M.I.A. singing "Paper Planes." Her bathing suit outfit was a bit out of control, but I thought the men (T.I., Jay-Z, Kanye and Lil Wayne) looked handsome in their tuxes.

Another memorable performances was my grandma's beloved Neil Diamond singing "Sweet Caroline." I'm pretty sure I saw T.I. dancing in his seat. I also loved the Jonas Brothers performance of "Superstition" with Stevie Wonder. They're adorable and super-talented.

I liked Sugarland's performance of "Stay" followed by a cameo in Adele's "Chasing Pavements" (winner of Best Female Pop Vocal Performance). It was an unexpected combo, but it worked. I was happy that Adele won Best New Artist.

Chris Brown and Rihanna were no-shows after he allegedly assaulted her with a deadly weapon. What theee? It's so tragic; I thought they were such a sweet couple.

Robert Plant and Alison Krauss went home with Album and Record of the Year for Raising Sand and "Please Read the Letter" respectively.

Foolish Phelps

Oh Michael Phelps. The marijuana inhalation incident allegedly took place in November when Phelps was visiting the University of South Carolina. C'mon, surely he had to know that one of his "friends" would leak a picture.

Phelps apologized for his behavior. "I will say that with the mistakes that I've made in my life, I've learned from them...It's definitely not what I wanted, and it's clearly not what my mom wanted," he told The Sun.

Kellogg's has dropped him from their endorsement deal. He still has Visa, Speedo, Omega and PureSports sponsoring him.

I'm a firm believer in Luke 12:48, "From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more." Yes, he's young, but he has so many people who look up to him. People make mistakes, but doing something as simple as abstaining from illegal drugs shouldn't be too much for him to handle. Also, smoking the gonga can't be great for his swimming.

Ashton Kutcher spoke out to defend Phelps via Twitter, "Go ask your 20-year-old kid what they did last weekend." Umm, no. Every 20-year-old kid does NOT smoke marijuana. Grow up.

I have a feeling that this will be like Kate Moss's cocaine scandal. Hopefully Phelps will learn from his mistakes, and he'll end up back on top.

Louis Vuitton Stephen Sprouse collection

Marc Jacobs created the Stephen Sprouse collection for Louis Vuitton. Sprouse was a fashion designer and artist best known for his neon-bright, graffiti prints. Sprouse died in 2004.

Sprouse originally worked with Jacobs in 2001 to create graffiti-inspired Louis Vuitton it-bags that sold out everywhere. Model Agyness Deyn is pictured here with the Graffiti Green Speedy bag. Madonna has also been seen carrying one of these.

You can purchase yours at eluxury.com. These babies are obviously not very recession-friendly. I'm obsessed with the Graffiti Pink Keepall bag, but at $1,500 I'm going to have to keep dreaming about it.

Pregs M.I.A. to perform on due date

As an M.I.A. fan I was shocked to read that she's going to perform at the Grammys this Sunday - the day her baby is due! First of all, I had no clue that she was pregnant. Secondly, this sounds like a very bad idea. I hope she doesn't plan on showing that swagger unless there's a doctor on hand. She told USA Today, "They say that you're often late the first time, so I'm planning to go."

Ginnifer Goodwin wins best dressed at premiere

Ginnifer Goodwin showed up the other ladies at the L.A. premiere of the star-studded film He's Just Not That Into You. I love this orange Bottega Veneta dress. It's fun and springy. The brown sandals, clutch and amber necklace are great. Plus, her hair looks fab too!

Jennifer Connelly wore a green, sequined Balmain dress. I admired her bold choice, but she is looking scarily thin lately. Scarlett Johansson wore a strapless mermaid Oscar de la Renta floral gown. She also is sporting a new darker 'do. I liked Drew Barrymore's two-toned Lanvin cocktail dress. Jennifer Aniston kept it casual in a black Burberry pantsuit and ponytail.

Stephen King trashes Stephenie Meyer

Stephen King had this to say about Twilight author Stephenie Meyer in USA Weekend, "Both Rowling and Meyer, they're speaking directly to young people... The real difference is that Jo Rowling is a terrific writer and Stephenie Meyer can't write worth a darn. She's not very good."

It sounds to me like he might have a case of the green-eyed monster. Last time I checked, people weren't exactly comparing King to Faulkner or Hemingway. Regardless of his opinion, any author who is able to reach so many millions of people is a successful writer. To me a "good" writer is one whose writing causes you to become lost in the story that they are telling. It's interesting that this terrible writing has been translated into 37 different languages and sold over 40 million copies.

Taken

Liam Neeson is such a bada in Taken. He's 56 years old and puts actors half his age to shame in this film.

Neeson plays Bryan, a retired CIA agent who has moved to be closer to his 17-year-old daughter Kim (Maggie Grace). This was a stretch considering she is 25, but whatever. Kim goes to Paris with her annoying friend Amanda. Unbeknownst to her father, they're going to follow U2 around Europe. Not surprisingly, they are abducted by a group of Albanians running a sex trade the very day that they arrive in the City of Lights.

Bryan's love for his daughter is sweet and genuine. He's in prime fighting shape and has a special set of CIA skills that give him an advantage against the pondscum he's dealing with.

I enjoyed Taken. It was entertaining and suspenseful. Interestingly, this film was released in France a year ago.

Christian Bale goes psycho remix

Oh man. Christian Bale's tirade was caught on audio while filming last July on the set of Terminator: Salvation. RevoLucian put together this hilarious remix.

Apparently a director of photography walked into the shot while he was filming a scene. Is that really any reason to go nuts and treat someone like dirt? This makes me wonder what really happened when his mom and sister called the cops on him last year.

I met Bale in London in 2005. He seemed like a nice guy. What the heck happened? I hope he enrolls in some anger management classes pronto!

Adele to strike a pose

Brit singer Adele is scheduled to appear in Vogue. She apparently met and was charmed by editrix Anna Wintour. Adele described her as being "so nice." The "Chasing Pavements" singer will be shot this week by famed photographer Annie Leibovitz.

Huarache-inspired sandals

Huarache-inspired shoes are hot for spring. What's a huarache you ask? It's a traditional leather sandal made in Mexico. You can get this fabulous Pour La Victoire pair from piperlime.com. It is available in this sand color that I love and also in mod green. Jessica Simpson makes a cute and affordable pair for $89 - also on piperlime.com.

Jennifer Hudson's Superbowl performance

Jennifer Hudson gave her first performance tonight since the tragic death of her mother, brother and nephew last October. Her performance of the National Anthem at Superbowl XLIII was stellar. It must have been so hard for her. She nailed it though. She looked lovely in a black military style jacket, black skinny pants and heels.