The Oscars 2012: A little slow...but at least there's the fashion!

Sometimes I feel like the Oscars is a bit like New Years parties…a whole lot of buildup, but somehow you always end up just a little disappointed. This years Oscars was like that New Years when you really, really just wanted to go home and sleep but just couldn’t find a cab. It was a slow, slow wait until the end of the show and the reveal of The Artist as the winner for best picture (and really, was anyone actually surprised?)

I’m not quite sure what my problem was with the Oscars this year. I’m usually not a huge fan of award shows, but managed to sit through the Grammys, the Golden Globes, and the Film Independent Spirit Awards in their entirety. And I have to admit, I was entertained. Sure, I cringed a few times when the intro speeches were beyond awkward, or when Nicky Minaj decided to stage a very very odd exorcism on stage, but generally I enjoyed the show.

Something about the Oscars was just off this year….and I’m not just talking about the misbehaving microphones. As far as film-based award shows go, I’m now a big fan of the Film Independent Spirit Awards (if you don’t know what I’m talking about, check it out next year. Go independent film!)

So here’s my Oscars breakdown in 100 words or less:

-       Billy Crystal needs to update his joke book

-       Rooney Mara has awesome hair and knows it

-       Christopher Plummer is the man and won best supporting actor for Beginners

-       Octavia Spencer won best supporting actress for The Help

-       I wish I was as cool as Emma Stone

-       Meryl Streep won best actress for her portrayal of the famous/infamous Margaret    

        Thatcher and rocked a fabulous gold dress while doing it

-       Jean Dujardin won best actor for The Artist. (I clearly need to see this film pronto)

-       Direction: Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist.

-       Music, original score: The Artist.

-       Music, original song: Man or Muppet from The Muppets. (Everyone loves the 

        Muppets)

-       Screenplay, adapted: The Descendants

-       Screenplay, original: Midnight in Paris.

-       Foreign Language: A Separation, Iran.

-       Animated Feature: Rango

-       Art Direction: Hugo.

-       Cinematography: Hugo.

And of course how could I forget the fashion! Personally, I was a bigger fan of the fashion at the Golden Globes (Jessica Alba’s dress was to die for) and the SAGs (Rose Byrne’s totally chic jumpsuit!). But this years Oscars did have a few standouts:

LOVE this entire ensemble on Milla Jovovich. White dresses were popular on the red carpet this year, and Milla's was classy, with just the right amount of sparkle (my favorite combo!). Love the pop of red in her lip colour and the sideswept updo.

image courtesy of justjared

My best friend and I had a disagreement about Michelle William's dress. She absolutely loved it and thought it was a huge step up from some of Michelle's other more matronly outfit choices as of late. I almost love it. The colour is FAB. So young and fresh! I love the ruffle detailing and I'm even okay with the peplum (a detail I usually consider universally unflattering). I think it's the little silver bow. Don't get me wrong, I love a good bow, but I think this one just looks out of place. I think if she wanted to incorporate a bow she should have chosen a small silver necklace with a cute little bow on it. But Michelle is still awesome, bow or no bow.

image courtesy of ibtimes

Emma Stone. Just so elegant. I can't go on about how much I love this dress enough. Emma is all class (with a healthy dose of good humour). I think she looks every bit the hollywood starlet she is.

image courtesy of ibtimes

Three more fabulous white dresses. My favorite by far (and probably one of my favorites of the night) is Guilliana Rancic's. First, I will say, I'm not a fan of her hair. I think it could have looked a lot softer. But this lady is a trooper. She just had a battle with breast cancer and underwent a double masectomy and here she is working that red carpet in a drop dead gorgeous dress. Rooney Mara looks every bit as edgy as she usually does. Her role in Girl with the Dragon Tattoo has worked wonders for her sense of style. 

image courtesy of telegraph.co.uk

One ensemble I was disappointed with was Natalie Portman. She looked beautiful and put together but the dress was a bit "prom-y" for my take. Sorry Natalie, I think you fell a little short here. 

image courtesy of just jared

And finally, I don't know how I feel about promoting your soon-to-be-released film on the red carpet but it sure is funny watching someone finally dare to mess up Ryan Seacrest's suit.
Check it out here

what did you think about the oscars this year? Who was your best dressed?

Making A Difference, One Dollar at a Time

Since this week is Valentine’s Day we wanted to continue to share the love. But perhaps a different kind of love then the romantic love celebrated on February 14. How about a shared love for every human on earth? It’s easy to get wrapped up in our chocolate and sparkly goodies and forget that someone, somewhere in the world is hurting. And yes, it can be upsetting watching the news and feeling like, not matter how much you care, there’s not a lot you can do. And sometimes that’s true….but not always! There are so many fabulous people today that are making it easier for everyone to extend a helping hand to a person a world away who maybe isn’t sure where there next meal is coming from.

We found ZOE Alliance and are so excited to be teaming up with them this week. ZOE works to provide meaningful employment in small villages around the world, ensuring fair wages and skills training.

ZOE works with businesses like Orangefish so that you guys, through purchasing high quality, unique products, can help out in areas like Haiti.

For example, one of our new products this week is a board game called “Ti Ta To 10.” Each purchase of Ti Ta To 10 ensures more than an economy and jobs, it ensures sustainable development for an entire community.

Proceeds will go towards:

• Provide adult vocational training in computer skills and English
• Additional areas of study include: wood carving, sewing, adult literacy, and other subjects
• Provide funding to develop grade 7,8 and 9 schooling

Curious about the game? Here’s how you play and the story behind it!

From Haiti we travel to India where beautiful silk and cotton throw blankets are helping women in the rural regions of Dharmapuri.

Finally we head to Guatemala. This fabulous handcrafted Jadeite Jade pendant is bringing a little extra sparkle to the lives of individuals in Guatemala.

Check out these products and start making a difference today!  

Celebrating Valentine's Day with Best Friends, Wine, and Jewelry

Jewelry and Valentine’s day – two things that seem to go together like peanut butter and jelly.

And yes, while it is nice to get some roses and a fancy necklace from your significant other, but who says you need a guy to have gorgeous jewelry?  And speaking of significant others if only we could find these men in real life we would be all set.  If you had to pick one of the following guys to be your “other”, which one would it be?

 But instead of focusing on men, we should really be thinking about the great female friends we have in our lives.  Nowadays I rarely head out without my fav gal pals in tow.  They keep me out of trouble… or at least they try, they are always willing to take one for the team and they never, never, never, let me make a bad choice when it comes to men.  After every horrendous date or terrible pickup line, they’ve always been there to mock the guy and say “you could do so much better!”

They are the ones that encourage me to take risks and always say “why the hell not” and tell me how great I am – even when I am not feeling so great.   These gals help to make life lots of fun – there is never a dull moment and always lots of laughs – which is what living life should be all about.

So why not surprise one of your besties with a necklace this Valentine’s Day?  I love the simple silver design that keeps the jewelry chic and not cheesy. They have incredibly inspiring quotes on them that will encourage you to embrace your power, dreams, and beauty.

Some of the famous quotes include:

• there is no way to happiness, happiness is the way

• believe in yourself and magic will happen

• and this above all: to thine own self be true

• what lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us

• your life is your own, you mold it, you make it

• go confidently in the direction of your dreams live the life you've imagined

And while your getting one for your friend – pick up one for yourself too!

Whether you’re enjoying a romantic meal at your favorite restaurant, drinking wine and watching Ryan Gosling flicks with your best friends (just as an fyi he was fab in Drive …and I also loved him in Crazy Stupid Love… and I love that he is a Canadian), or just spending a quiet evening at home on your own - have a wonderful February 14^th!


PS. Guess you can see who I would pick as my "other"!

Girl's Night Out: Hangover Prevention 101

So it’s girl’s night out. You’re hitting the town with your best friends, accompanied by your favorite men, Jose, Jim, and Jack.

A few  “here’s to you, and here’s to me, the best friends we will ever be and if we ever disagree, then bleep you and here’s to me!”   shots later and you’re starting to get a little worried about catching that early flight tomorrow.

Don’t worry, it’s happened to the best of us… just like that walk of shame that no one ever takes!

Hangover tricks I’ve tried:

-        Drink water between cocktails

-        Eat a giant bowl of pasta before bed

-        Bananas?

-        Greasy Diner food (okay, so maybe this one is just an excuse to eat a lot of bacon)

Sometimes these tricks work…but usually it’s a big of a gamble as buying a lottery ticket. Next thing you know, you’re in the taxi on the way to the airport and you’re wishing you could hide in a dark room all day.

Don’t let the hangover fear cramp your style! Check out this amazing hangover-helper we recently discovered! Yeah, I know it sounds farfetched, but after lots of dedicated testing, we’re more then a little happy to say that, it actually works… and trust me we gave it a run for its money. 

It’s called Bytox and it’s a small clear patch that you wear under your clothes while you’re drinking. No, it’s not made from some creepy mixture of toxic chemicals; it is all-natural, incorporating mainly B vitamins! Impressed? So were we!

And we’ve hooked it just in time for Super Bowl weekend! So now you can hang out with your girlfriends Saturday night and still have lots of energy to cheer on your fav team Sunday. And ladies – if you don’t watch football you should…here is a link to the hottest hunks in the NFL!

http://wavegirl22.hubpages.com/hub/The-Hottest-Hunks-of-the-NFL

I want to say "Go Giants"but Wes Walker of the Patriots might make me change my mind!

Crack open a cold one or break out your favorite wine – have a great time and then let us know how you are feeling!

Check it out HERE