'American Idol' Non-Cap

Consider this my little one woman protest against the train wreck that American Idol has become this season.  No.  Train wrecks are interesting.  What is the dullest possible thing imaginable?  Watching paint dry is too trite.  Watching paint dry while being forced to listen to watered down versions of America's favorite country/pop/rock songs followed by inane repetitions of the words "in it to win it, "beautiful," and "doing your thing?"  That's a little more like it.  

I did something tonight that I haven't done once over ten seasons of being an avid Idol maniac.  I stopped watching.  This is huge coming from someone who once wrote a recap of how she imagined the show went down because she was out of town and had to miss the episode (This actually happened.  During Season 5).

But 8:00 came around and I had to make a choice among Idol, Modern Family, and the Bulls game.  I could only choose two.  I could've gone upstairs or something, but who can move?

I opted to just stop recording Idol.  And I feel as if a duffle bag holding the weight of Ryan Seacrest's suit budget has been lifted from my shoulders.

Will I watch the finale next week?  Probably.  But only if the Bulls aren't playing.

Source: http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/hammervision/2011/05/american-idol-non-cap.html

Meg Ryan Amber Tamblyn Ali Larter kate hudson

What Mama Say: A Tribute to Our Mothers

“Wash your face, use some soap…You better listen to your mama.” What better soundtrack for our Mother’s Day montage than Jason Mraz’s What Mama Say (Life Is Good)? Here, a musical tribute to the Tastemakers and mothers who participated in our Mother’s Day round-up.

Source: http://blog.toryburch.com/2011/05/what-mama-say-a-tribute-to-our-mothers/

Penelope Cruz nicki minaj Carmen Sandiego Cheryl Burke

Writing...With Children -- I'm Coming Out

Last night I came out to my brother and his wife.

Not that kind of "came out."  I came out to them as an aspiring novelist.

I've been toying with admitting my secret shame to people for a while now.  My husband knows. (He'd have to.  He's the one who watches the kids when I sneak out to Starbucks on Saturday and Sunday morning to write.  Yes, I am one of those sad people.)  My mom knows.  I think I've dropped it into other conversations with other people when I was sure they weren't paying attention.

I've been so furtive about this because I've always felt like kind of a jackass whenever I reveal to people how I've spent almost every nap time since September of 2009.

Well, I felt embarrassed before I actually quantified what I've accomplished over the past year and a half.  I have written two full manuscripts and I'm currently working on my third.  Sure, the first book features an awful protagonist whom my husband says I would probably bitch about incessantly if she showed up in any book I was reading.  And, sure, the second book doesn't technically have what professionals call an "ending."  

But each and every word on those pages are mine.  And each and every second I spent working on those books kept me away from further atrophying my brain by subjecting it to rerun after rerun of NCIS. 

So, yes.  My name is Julie Hammerle and I am a writer.  

Source: http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/hammervision/2011/05/writingwith-children----im-coming-out.html

Jennifer Garner Jennifer Love Hewitt Lindsay Lohan Torrie Wilson

Seattle Fashion Week wraps it up

The past two nights showcased extremely talented designers, all of whom are ready to make their stitch into the globe-enveloping cloth of the fashion industry. Personal Best of Show favorites include both Los Angeles designer Jordan Klein (not Calvin Klein, though just as flooring) and�Darkheart Eco Apparel from the Men’s Fashion Night and H.O.I.A.(House of [...]

Source: http://blog.su-spectator.com/2011/05/seattle-fashion-week-wraps-it-up/

kate hudson jessica alba kim kardashian blake lively

MuchMusic Movie Preview: June 2011

From superheroes to the supernatural, June has movies for everyone’s taste. We see Cameron Diaz as a Bad Teacher, Ryan Reynolds as the Green Lantern and Shia Labeouf returning for the third time as Sam Witwicky, sans Megan Fox. Check out what’s on tap for the big screen in our pick of the top five [...]

Source: http://blog.muchmusic.com/muchmusic-movie-preview-june-2011/

Suri Cruise Jennifer Lawrence Bethanie Mattek Sands Annette Bening

Cat?s Meow: Lynn Wyatt

We need a ten-gallon hat just to hold a list of Lynn Wyatt’s Texas-sized accomplishments. Here, the style icon, legendary philanthropist and major league hostess shares the secrets to her success. Think martial arts, a little Alice Munro and a can-do spirit. See the feature… Photo by Pheobe Rourke-Ghabriel

Source: http://blog.toryburch.com/2011/05/cats-meow-lynn-wyatt/

kim kardashian blake lively nicole richie kendra wilkinson

Sasquatch! 2011: Day 1

All rejoiced merrily as the doors for the first day of Sasquatch 2011 opened. The only ill-will in the air belonged to the roving gangs of Canucks and Bruins fans, who warred with each other throughout the entire day whenever they came into contact (which was often). The labyrinthine maze of the Honey Bucket complex [...]

Source: http://blog.su-spectator.com/2011/05/sasquatch-2011-day-1/

cheryl burke Salma Hayek Candice Michelle Eva Longoria