Citizen Cope show

I saw a great Citizen Cope show tonight. I wasn't entirely familiar with their music, but I had free tickets, so I was excited to check them out. I'm really glad that I did.

Citizen Cope's lyrics are soulful, and the songs have good beats. I love his songs "Brother Lee" and "Bullet and a Target." He must be very popular among college students because I'm pretty sure that 95% of the people in the audience were wearing a North Face jacket and/or UGG boots.

Guest singer Alice Smith sang with him on a few tunes. She was amazing. Her voice is very unique and powerful. She has a new album out called For Lovers, Dreamers & Me. I definitely want to check that out!

Doubt

Director John Patrick Shanley brings his Tony and Pulitzer prize-winning play Doubt to the big screen. The film takes place a year after JFK was killed at a Catholic school in the Bronx. Father Flynn (Philip Seymour Hoffman) is a priest trying to shake up the old Catholic customs that are strictly held by Sister Aloysius Beauvier (Meryl Streep). Sister Aloysius is the school's principal, and everyone is deathly afraid of her. Sister James (Amy Adams) is a sweet, naive history teacher.

Sister Aloysius and Sister James notice that Father Flynn has taken an interest in the only black child in school, Donald Miller. Sister Aloysius has no actual proof of an inappropriate relationship, but she tries to threaten and guilt Father Flynn into leaving the school. Miller's protective mother is played by Viola Davis.

This film is an acting powerhouse!

Not cool

The NY Post ran this cartoon today. I think it's so cruel. Jessica Simpson may not be as small as she was in her Dukes of Hazzard days, but the way people are acting you'd think that she became morbidly obese. Human beings fluctuate in weight; most people just don't have to do it in front of millions of people. No wonder Ashlee stepped up and defended her sister!

Joaquin's music career a hoax?

It appears that my prayers were answered, and Joaquin Phoenix probably isn't losing it. One source told EW that, "He said 'It's a put-on. I'm going to pretend to have a meltdown and change careers, and Casey [Affleck] is going to film it.'" Hmm, what an interesting concept. I hope that frightening beard was all part of the elaborate hoax.

Joaquin's a great actor, so I'm glad that he's (probably) not going to give it up. His rap skills, on the other hand, leave much to be desired. He makes a pretty dope Johnny Cash though, so we'll see how this thing turns out.

Byeee Ugly Betty

Things aren't looking so hot for America Ferrera and co. on Ugly Betty. Beginning March 26, ABC is shelving Betty in favor of Christina Applegate's Samantha Who? and In the Motherhood starring Megan Mullally and Cheryl Hines.

This doesn't sound positive. I've been fairly loyal Betty watcher since 2006 - mainly because it was in the time slot before Grey's Anatomy. The material hasn't been so stellar recently, and sometimes it's downright ridiculous. Also, it doesn't make sense for someone in the fashion world like Betty to still dress in those awful outfits. This was really starting to bug me. Even her tacky sister Hilda dresses better than she does!

Borough Market = mini heaven

One of my favorite places on Earth is the Borough Market in London. This place is an absolute sensory overload. It's nestled in the south bank of the Thames near London Bridge. At 250 years old, it's London's oldest food market.

You know how you go grocery shopping at Whole Foods then walk out feeling a tiny bit full from all the free samples? Well multiply that feeling times five, and that's the way you feel leaving Borough Market. There are samples galore. Cheese, fish, fruit, meat, vegetables and desserts are just a few of the market's fresh offerings. They have the most sumptuous blueberry cookies.

The British pound is falling as we speak, so now is a great time to visit England. The Borough Market itself is worth the trip if you ask me!

How the mighty has fallen

Jessica Simpson performed yesterday at the KISS Country Chili Cookoff in Pembroke Pines, Florida. I'm not even going to discuss the weight gain because a) it's mean and b) girls fluctuate in weight all the time. That said, this outfit is all kinds of bad. The high-waisted momjeans, the huge leopard belt and tiny tank top are so unflattering.

I still think that she should've never left Nick Lachey. He was a good man, but she got too hungry for fame. Now she's resorted to performing at chili cookoffs. Oh my...

SAG's best and worst dressed

Best dressed
-Taraji Henson. The Benjamin Button star looked fab in a fitted, white Herve Laroux halter gown.
-Anne Hathaway. Anne's white with silver crystals Azzaro dress was gorgeous. Anne was nominated for her role in Rachel Getting Married, which is funny because this dress is basically my dream wedding dress.
-January Jones. I loved the Mad Men star's edgy-meets-grecian black and gold-embellished Andrew Gn gown.
-Laura Linney. The John Adams winner rocked a coral, one-shoulder Michael Kors gown. The color was flattering on her pale complexion.
-Kate Winslet. Kate looked great in a cobalt Narciso Rodriguez gown.

Honorable mention
-Marisa Tomei. I really liked her yellow/gold Elie Saab gown with the cinched waist and flower on the shoulder. It was a daring choice!
-Katie Holmes. Katie's simple, brown Jil Sander sheath dress was understated yet glamorous.

Worst dressed
-Teri Hatcher. Wisteria Lane would not approve. Her Monique Lhuillier dress looked like a big, white sheet with a belt around it.
-Susan Sarandon. Yes, we all know you look amazing for 62, but please stop showing the world your massive cleavage. Her black gown was not very flattering.
-Mickey Rourke. The Wrestler star wore a silver suit better suited for the ring.
-Tina Fey. She was a big winner for the night, but I just didn't like her short, strapless dress. It was so boring. She should've gone way more glam!
-Dev Patel. This Slumdog's ill-fitted suit was too short and too tight.

Golden couple?

I was not a fan of Angelina Jolie's blue Max Azria gown. It looked like a backless sack. Her constant smug expression didn't help matters either.

I know Brad is sporting the 'stache for a role, but that dark hair is not his best look. Brad looks so much younger with lighter Meet Joe Black-esque locks.

Brad and Ang were nominated for Best Actor and Actress for their roles in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and The Changeling. Sadly (or not), these two lovebirds went home empty-handed.

Sean Penn and Meryl Streep win Best Actor

Sean Penn won Best Actor at the SAG Awards for his role as Harvey Milk in Milk. It was well deserved. He had a nice speech too, and he even gave shout-outs to his fellow actors who were not nominated like Benecio del Toro for Che.

Sean was looking quite handsome in a Giorgio Armani suit. I'm so glad that he and his wife Robin Wright Penn are back on. They're a good Hollywood couple!

Meryl Streep won the Best Actress award for Doubt. She seems to be extremely popular amongst the Hollywood set. People in the audience gave her a standing o.

The Wrestler

In The Wrestler, Randy "the Ram" Robinson (Mickey Rourke) is an aging wrestler doing gigs at rec centers and gyms. After he has a heart attack, he discovers that he is alone. He tries to build upon a relationship with a stripper played by Marisa Tomei who at first only treats him as a "customer." He also unsuccessfully tries to patch up a rocky relationship with his daughter (Evan Rachel Wood).

There is a lot of blood and gore during the wrestling stunts. I had to avert my eyes several times. I always thought that these type of wrestlers did fake stunts - definitely not the case in this film!

Rourke's character is both touching and heartbreaking. He's an exceptional actor. I think he earned his Golden Globe, and he'll probably win the Oscar too.

Alec in New Moon?

So it appears that Dakota Fanning is definitely in as Jane in New Moon. Now director Chris Weitz has to find Jane's brother Alec as well as the rest of the Volturi. The actors pictured are from a people.com poll: Tom Felton, Lucas Grabeel, Freddie Highmore and Gaspard Ulliel.

My vote is for Lucas. According to Meyer's description of Alec compared to Jane, "his hair was darker, and his lips were not as full, but he was just as lovely." I think Lucas fits this, plus he is similar in looks to Dakota too. He was in High School the Musical and Milk.

Mo' money mo' problems

I saw Notorious tonight. As a big Biggie fan, it was nice to get the back story. Jamal Woolard was excellent as Christopher Wallace (aka Notorious B.I.G.). Christopher Jordan Wallace, the son of B.I.G. and Faith Evans, played the young rapper. He really did have a rough life. It's hard to believe everything he went through before he was shot and killed at age 24.

I didn't realize that Sean Combs, played by Derek Luke, had such a huge role in making B.I.G. who he became, but then again it was produced by Diddy.

Apparently Lil Kim wasn't happy with the way that she was portrayed. I really didn't think she was portrayed that negatively. It seemed to me like she thought that he wanted to be with her when he was just interested in working with Lil Kim as an artist once he was married to Faith Evans.

It's unbelievable to me that police still haven't found the murderers of Biggie and Tupac.

Bush twins read letter on Today Show

This is a tearjerker! We got a glimpse into the lives of Jenna and Barbara Bush after 12 years as granddaughters and daughters in the White House. The open letter "Playing House in the White House" was originally published in the Wall Street Journal on Jan. 22 to Sascha and Malia Obama.

It's mayjah

Posh looks fabulous. She's never afraid to be herself. This dress is from her line Victoria Beckham Collection, and the shoes are by Christian Louboutin. However, her best accessory by far is her husband David.

Full list of nominations

http://carpetbagger.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/22/and-the-nominees-are/

Clint Eastwood was really shut out. I thought Gran Torino was an exceptional film. It's nice to see that Australia got one nod for Best Costume Design since that film cost so darn much! The Duchess was also nominated for this award.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button was nominated for 13 awards. Brad Pitt just seemed like Brad Pitt to me in this film, especially as he starts to age younger.

I can't wait until February 22!

Oscar nods announced

Oscar nominations were just announced! There were a few shockers. Kate Winslet was nominated for Best Actress for The Reader. Apparently her people had campaigned for Best Supporting Actress in that role and Best Actress in Revolutionary Road. Poor Leo was snubbed again. I think the Academy has something against him.

Taraji P. Henson was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for Benjamin Button. Love it! Anne Hathaway, Angelina Jolie and Meryl Streep got Best Actress nods. Michael Shannon was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role as a mentally ill man in Revolutionary Road. I thought he was excellent. Heath Ledger was also nominated for his role as the Joker in Dark Knight.

Slumdog Millionaire, Frost/Nixon, The Reader, Milk and Benjamin Button got Best Picture nods. Go Slumdog! The film received a total of 10 - count 'em 10 - nominations.

Dakota Fanning for Jane?

Apparently Dakota Fanning, 14, has been offered the role of Jane. There were no auditions; she was simply offered the role. Jane is a vampire and member of the Italian Volturi who first appears in New Moon.

Jane is described as small with a "Botticelli angel-like face." According to Stephenie Meyer, "[Jane] puts the illusion of pain inside her victim's head. It's a very effective form of torture."

I hadn't thought of Dakota for the role before, but I think she'll do fine. A lot of fans think the petite Kristen Chenoweth would be the perfect Jane.

Director Chris Weitz is supposed to start shooting the film in Italy and the United States in March to be on schedule for a Nov. 20 release date.

George Clooney goes back to his roots

George Clooney will return to ER for its final and 15th season. Clooney has said that the show helped launch his career. He hasn't appeared on the show since 2000. I might have to tune in for these episodes!

Revolutionary Road

Tonight I saw Revolutionary Road with Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. It is a great film, however, it is utterly depressing. It's impossible to love a movie that is so somber.

Frank and April Wheeler appear to be the perfect couple on the outside. They live in a beautiful home in the outskirts of the city and have two children. On the inside, their lives are a mess. They are unsatisfied with their very existance, and they get the idea that moving to Paris - where people really "live" - will solve their problems. Things don't quite work out as planned, and the end of the film is shocking.

Kate definitely earned that Golden Globe. She is the type of actress who truly becomes the character that she is playing. I think Leo deserved the GG too. He does passionate scenes so well, and is one heck of a crier.

Smokin'

This is an outtake of Robert Pattinson from VMan. Smoking is so bad, but this photo is so good. It was taken back when he had his dreamy hair. I hope it grows before New Moon!

Not very heroic

Oh where do I begin? Mariah Carey was introduced by her husband Nick Cannon who was, strangely enough, the DJ of the Neighborhood Inaugural Ball. Was this Nick's first job since Wild 'N Out? Anyway, from the first note, you knew this performance wasn't going to be the version of Hero that we know and love. I think she may have added a few new words to the song too.

She was also on the verge of busting out of her skin-tight black dress. Well at least this will put the pregnancy rumors to rest!

J.Lo loves Marchesa

Jennifer Lopez wore this bright blue Marchesa gown to the Latino Inaugural Ball. She's such an unapologetic diva; love it! This dress is so much better than the slightly scandalous gold Marchesa dress that she wore to the Golden Globes. Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig, co-founders of Marchesa, should have helped a sista out.

Hmm, we can't see if she's wearing her diamond or not, but that's a whole different issue!

Having a ball

Beyonce sang "At Last" during Barack and Michelle Obama's dance. They seem to be so in love!

Jason Wu, 26, designed Michelle's ball gown. Wu's life is about to drastically change! It was a pretty safe choice, but I think it went well with the mood of the evening. I loved the one-shoulder strap, and it was very flattering on her statuesque figure. Mr. President was very handsome in a tuxedo and white bow-tie.

Joe and Jill Biden were also a good-looking couple. Jill wore a simple red, strapless gown.

Not a San Francisco treat

Twelve singers are through to Hollywood from San Francisco. I can't believe that they liked pagaent girl. I'm not going to be able to handle hearing her annoying laugh all season. I really liked the guy who was taking care of his sick mom.

Simon told one auditioner that he didn't like his weird hair color (which happened to be his natural color). He came back with "the carpet matches the drapes." Oh man, T.M.I.

New judge Kara copped a 'tude with Simon when he was interrupting her with his incessant "yes or no."

Aretha's fierce hat

Aretha Franklin wore a large, gray hat with a rhinestone-studded bow to sing "My Country Tis of Thee" at the inauguration. I thought it was kind of precious. If anyone can wear it, she can! You go girl.

President Obama is sworn in

President Barack Obama was sworn in on the Lincoln Bible. He delivered his inaugural address to America this afternon. It offered hope, but was fairly somber in light of the state of our nation.

I loved the way he began with "every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms." He went on to say, "In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned."

It gave me chills when he said, "why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath." Amazing!

Inauguration day!

It's Inauguration Day our 44th president! Barack and Michelle Obama were just seen leaving Blair House on their way to St. John's Episcopal Church. They look very elegant. Michelle is wearing a gorgeous "lemongrass" coat and matching dress by Cuban-American designer Isabel Toledo. I love the embellished collar. She added green Jimmy Choos and leather gloves from J.Crew. Fabulous!

Poison Ivy and opera

Tonight's episode was all about the Ivy League and the opera. How plebeian!

Serena got into Yale, while Blair was wait-listed. Blair threw a hissyfit and tried to sabotage a teacher (who looks like a 15-year-old) and eventually ended up getting her way as usual...sort of.

The whole gang went out for a night at the opera. Lily and Rufus's relationship s in full swing. I've been wanting to go to the Met for such a long time. If the featured fashion is any indication of the opera dress code, I will need a formal gown stat! Blair's orange ruffle dress was tres fab.

Chuck defended Lily when she was being attacked in the powder room by that creepity-creeper uncle Jack. Oh dearest Chuck, you do have a soul! Now he's back in Lily's family and back at the reins of Bass Industries.

It was a happy ending for all except Serena and Dan. Hmm, did I spy a break-up phone call foreshadowing?

Joaquin the rapper?

This is just too, too weird. Joaquin Phoenix made his big debut at Vegas club LAVO this past weekend. When he said that he was retiring from acting to pursue his music career, I thought he meant more along the lines of rock or country music. I definitely didn't peg him for the next 50 Cent. Yikes!

Something fishy is definitely going on with him. I really hope that it's not a drug problem after what happened to his brother River. Get well, Joaquin!

Marvis toothpaste

When I was in Italy a few months ago I brought back a few tubes of Marvis toothpaste. I gave some as gifts and kept a few for myself. I'm obsessed with this stuff. Ginger mint and jasmine mint are my favorite flavors. These are made in Italia, and the silver tube and colorful lids are very chic. You can find these at Anthropologie and Amazon.

I feel luxurious every time I brush my teeth. Grazie!

Just out to Starbucks

Lady Gaga's "Just Dance" is the #1 song according to iTunes. The first time I heard this song on the radio I gasped. Is this extremely popular song really just about getting wastey at some sweaty club?

However, my biggest concern with Miss Gaga is how long it takes her to get ready in the morning. It can't be a quick process to turn your hair into a giant bow and get into a painfully tight catwoman suit. This is just her day wear too!

Bride Wars

I saw Bride Wars today starring Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson. It was cutesy and hit just about every wedding cliche there is. Hathaway proved to be the better actress (as if we didn't already know that). Hudson did have the better fiance and wedding dress though - a gorgeous cupcake Vera Wang. My favorite line of the film was "You don't alter a Vera Wang; you alter yourself to fit Vera!"

Hudson and Hathaway play best friends Liv and Emma who have dreamt of their wedding days since they were little. Tragically, they end up having their dream weddings booked on the same day at The Plaza Hotel, which causes them to become archenemies. There were a lot of things that didn't add up in this film, but it was still a good laugh.

I hope they make it

Josh Duhamel and Fergie's wedding was last weekend. They gave out their invites after the wedding, which is apparently a trend with celebs. Umm, how do guests know to attend the wedding? Do they get a personal phone call?

They also gave out this caricature with their invitation. How cute! They seem like a great couple. I hope they last!

Fish=Sea Kittens

PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) wants fish to be renamed sea kittens. This campaign was created to increase awareness about the pain that they feel. PETA also says that they "are just as intelligent (not to mention adorable) as dogs and cats, and they feel pain just as all animals do."

My dad, an avid fisherman, would not be happy about this. Aren't young catfish already sea kittens anyway?

Why Mariah?

Dear Mariah,

You can really sing. I would love to be able to reach octaves only audible by dogs the way you can. However, I think you should consider getting a stylist.

Why do you dress in clothing that is several sizes too small? Why do you wear shiny, cropped bomber jackets? Why do you always show your midriff, cleavage AND wear a mini skirt? Just wondering...

Your friend,
Erin

Sad day

It's a sad day in the retail world. Circuit City is liquidating their stores, Motorola lays off 4,000 and Saks Fifth Avenue is cutting 9% of their workforce.

This economy is so depressing. When will it all end? I really hope things start to look up for this country soon.

The hero of the miracle on the Hudson

Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger was the pilot of the US Airways plane that was safely landed upright in the Hudson River. It must have been so scary to hear those words "brace for impact" from the pilot of your plane. He was the last one to get off the plane to safety, and all passengers survived.

He truly is a hero. What an incredible story!

Defiance

I saw Defiance tonight. It was excellent. The film is based on the true story of the three Bielski brothers (played by Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber and Jamie Bell). They're Jewish and escape the wrath of the Nazis to form a brigade in the Belarussian forest of Poland. They develop a sense of community that is dependent upon each other for survival. The brothers' bravery ended up saving hundreds of lives.

Liev's performance was great. He's a really good actor, but for some reason I always picture him in Scream. Jamie Bell from Billy Elliot also did a nice job. OK, now let's discuss Daniel Craig. Holy smokes! He just has that rugged manliness that is so sexy, and let's not forget those blue eyes. Defiance is a very different role for him from James Bond, but he is equally as tough and masculine in this film.

God is good

It appears that every passenger got off of the Charlotte-bound US Airways plane that crashed into the Hudson River. The culprit may have been a bird that was sucked into the engine. Praise the Lord that everyone is fine. What a miracle that the plane stayed afloat!

There's a new Castro in town

Last night on American Idol, Jason Castro's (last season's fourth-place finisher in case you've already forgotten) brother Michael tried out and got his golden ticket. He sang Gavin Degraw's "I'm in Love With a Girl." It was actually kinda good. I don't buy his claim that he just started singing 20 days before auditioning.

He definitely has a different look from Jason - less Rastafarian, more punk rocker. Michael also called his brother the "girly" one. Hmm, he sure could have fooled me. Nonetheless, I'm anxious to see how he'll do in Hollywood week.

Dreamy Louboutins

These Christian Louboutin Hyper Prive pumps in light gold at Bergdorf Goodman are absolutely to die for. I picture them under my wedding dress (someday). Or, perhaps for a night out with J. Brands and a fun top.

I suppose that in this economy it's not the best time to fork over $900 for shoes, but a girl can dream.

Sony P Series

Sony has unveiled their P Series laptops for pre-order. I really want one of these little things in this fabulous red color. They're perfect for travel at a mere 8" and feather-light 1.5 pounds. They come in four nice, shiny colors: onyx black, emerald green, garnet red and crystal white.

Windows Vista Home Premium is the operating system, which most "netbooks" don't have. They also come equipped with built-in GPS navigation in case you get lost.

Starting at $899.99, these will cost you a pretty penny! I have a feeling that they're worth the splurge though.

Too cool to shower

I'm just not a fan of this couple. Why does Jessica have headphones on? I bet she's not listening to "Sexy Back." Don't they have anything to talk about? They look like they just rolled out of bed. Good grief, you're famous! Someone is going to take a picture of you.

Jai Ho!

If you haven't seen the Golden Globe winner for best drama Slumdog Millionaire yet, you really must do so. The song Jai Ho by AR Rahman is played at the end during the credits, and the cast does a Bollywood-esque dance. Download this song! It's a great workout tune too.

BodyPump it up!

Oh how I love BodyPump. You get to work out your entire body in less than an hour, and you don't have to look like a fool while pretending to appear to know what you're doing in the weight section (aka man's section) of the gym. I've been taking this class since 2005, and it hasn't gotten old yet. It is distributed by Les Mills, who also does BodyStep, BodyFlow, BodyJam, etc. The class is available in over 70 countries around the world.

The songs are upbeat and loud. There is a new "release" every few months with brand new set of songs. You work out the following body parts for a whole song for a total of 10 tracks...

1. Warm-up

2. Squats

3. Chest

4. Back

5. Triceps

6. Biceps

7. Lunges

8. Shoulders

9. Abs

10. Cool-down

I prefer to take the 5:45 a.m. class twice a week. It's not as bad as you think, plus it's a great feeling to be done with your workout for the day.

Twilight DVD out in March

The Twilight DVD will be released on March 21. Amazon has it up for pre-order for $22.99 - not bad for having five extended scenes, five deleted scenes and loads of extras! As for the cover art, they could have picked a more romantic Edward and Bella pose. I also would have rather seen the Cullen crew over James, Victoria and Laurent. Oh well, it's what's inside that counts!

Eyelash drug

The NY Times featured an article about a new eyelash drug Latisse brought to us by Allergen, the company who created Botox. This prescription drug helps grow long eyelashes. It uses the same formula as their eyedrops to treat glaucoma. Ick! Oh, and it'll cost you $120 a month.

I'd rather just use my Shu Uemura eyelash curler and call it a day. Latisse can't possibly be worth almost $4 a day, can it? That's practically the price of buying a daily tube of my favorite Maybelline XXL mascara.

France's museums free for those under 25

Well done Sarkozy! France's national museums and monuments are going to stop charging admission prices to those under 25 starting April 4. This includes the Louvre and the Musee d'Orsay. Admissions to museums can get a bit pricey, especially as a tourist trying to hit up all of the main attractions.

If only we could get our president to do this in America. I think that it would really bring a much-needed appreciation for art that we are lacking.

Now the question is, can I fit in a spring trip to Paris this year?

Diane Von Furstenberg's Warhol swim collection

Diane Von Furstenberg's Andy Warhol swim collection is tres chic. I adore Andy Warhol's works, and this collection does not disappoint. The Liz cover-up in Warhol flower green would be the perfect piece for my March trip to Kauai, Hawaii. It's too bad that it costs more than the amazing flight deal that I found! This 23-piece collection features flowing dresses and pop-artsy swimsuits. Love it.

Plus, while you're at dvf.com check out the 70% off sale on fab clothes and dresses. The classy Michelle dress is one of my favorites.

Vanessa Hudgens did not audition for New Moon

Yes! The rumors are false. Vanessa Hudgens did not audition for role of Leah Clearwater in New Moon. Thank goodness. The last thing the movie needs is a High School Musical star. I don't think Vanessa has what it takes to play the tough, strong-minded werewolf Leah. It seems Twilighters don't have to worry about that now though!

My vote is for a different Vanessa, Jessica Szohr of Gossip Girl. She seems to have the 'tude to play Leah.

Idol season 8 begins

It's that time again - the eighth season of American Idol! New judge Kara DioGuardi made her first appearance tonight. I think she'll be great to balance out Simon's cruelty, Randy's nonsense and obviously Paula could use the help. Kara held her own. She's opinionated, and she has the resume to back up her opinions.

There were definitely some hilarious and shocking moments tonight. Bikini girl almost got into a fight with Kara and Paula. Yikes! I'm with the girls on this - she is not a good singer. My vote is for the precious Scott MacIntyre. He's legally blind and Seacrest tried to high-five him. That was awkward. It's going to be an interesting season!

My first post at last!

It's a wanderlustful life indeed. I'm so excited to be writing about all of the things that make my world go 'round.