Tuesday, January 31, 2012

the best of....


Yes....he's a complete douche....but you can't deny he's incredibly talented.  His lyrics are beautiful and sometimes they are just what you need.  Would I ever date him? No.  But would I listen to his music on an endless loop?  All. The. Time.
I'll be doing these every now and again...spotlighting a certain artist.
Any artists you'd like to see??

Monday, January 30, 2012

Weekend Collage

Weekend Collage

Weekend Collage by vanessanelson featuring flat heels

What an absolutely amazing weekend I had.  It was very busy!  We were in our last few days of pre-sale for our Spring gift with purchase at Lancome.  I made my goal (yay!) so I was very happy.  On Saturday night a few of my nearest and dearest and I decided to get together.  We try to all hang out at least once a month.  I brought the complete series of Saved by the Bell and it turned into probably one of the best nights of my life.  I am so blessed to have the greatest friends on the planet.  I haven't laughed that hard in quite sometime.  I'm reading "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo"....for the third time.  When I say "the third time" I should say...I started it for the third time.  I've never actually finished it so...wish me luck.  I'm completely obsessed with the mint/red color combo right now and Lancome has the most GORGEOUS palette called "Vert Tendresse" that I'm in LOVE LOVE LOVE with.  You have to check it out.  Also the new Rouge In Love lipstick line came out and now my favorite part about going to work is figuring out which amazing color I'm going to wear.

I hope you all had a fabulous weekend!  Did you watch the SAG awards?  What did you think about all the dresses???
xoxo

Friday, January 27, 2012

Friday Letters

Dear Eli Manning and the Giants,
You know what you must do.
Sincerely,
Vanessa (and Colts fans alike)

Dear Rachel McAdams,
If I woke up from a coma and Channing Tatum told me he was my husband...I wouldn't question it.  Get it together!
From,
Vanessa

Dear people,
I had to do my laundry at the Laundromat so...some of us have real problems.
(pictures to come)
Vanessa

Dear J. Lo,
Gurl!  What is up with your make up on Idol this year??  Let me help you!
Sincerely,
Vanessa (who is still pre-selling for Lancome's gift with purchase...I'm just saying)

Dear Tom Brady,
Gurl!  Get ready to lose to the Giants.  Again.
Love,
Vanessa

Dear Readers,
Hopefully we'll still be able to see each other next week....I'll be cheating on you with work.  All day every day....let's do this Lancome.  Have an amazing weekend!!!
xoxo,
Vanessa

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Thursday Ten

So cute for Valentine's Day

love it - tutorial HERE

Gotta love a beautiful sunset

Nars Gentle Cream Cleanser - removes EVERYTHING and smells like orange creamsicle....LOVE

I'm loving the pinks/corals right now

Paradise Bakery Sugar Cookies with Magnolia Bakery Frosting....these will get you a Valentine for SURE!
Recipe HERE

LOVE

So so true

Louis Vuitton Spring 2012 - I'm completely obsessed!!!


I've watched this a hundred times and laugh every time.

Anything you are currently loving??
xoxo

P.S. - Stay tuned for my update from the Sundance Film Festival AND my Golden Globes fashion review (yes it's really coming I promise!)

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

The Bachelor: "You're a great person ok?"

Oh The Bachelor.  I was really hoping someone else would show up claiming to be in love with Ben.  Chantal?  Michelle?  Ames?  But no.  We are now in Park City, Utah.  Why?  Because Ben claims he wants them to experience the outdoors and love it.  Because the outdoors are such a huge part of his life.  What about what they want Ben?  What about what they like?  You aren't the only one in this relationship you know!
As predicted Kacie B. is having a hard time.  She just wishes she could be going to the grocery store with Ben right now.  She just really loves produce and boring guys ok?!

Rachel aka Bangs McGee gets the first one on one date.
The Bachelor Copter makes its first appearance of the season and Rachel and Ben fly to some river or something.  What is really great about it is that they both talk about how peaceful and and romantic the lake/river is and then it cuts to a shot of like 500 flies flying all around them and that trash filled river.
Rachel has a nose ring.  Nothing really to say about it...just an observation (by having nothing to say I'm foreshadowing for the rest of their date)
Rachel has nothing to say (seeeee?) and it's awkward.  They have an in depth conversation about whether or not Ben was "little winking" or "squinting" and I want to drown myself in the swamp they are at right now.
Even though she sucks Ben takes her to dinner anyway and she finally gets the conversation going by announcing...."this fire is hot".  Very good Rachel!
The producers of the show try to make it sound like she's turning it around but all she's really saying is that she's never really going to turn this around.  She's a "bad communicator" and it has "ended all relationships in the past"....that sounds so promising that Ben gives her the rose..I'm going to say that it's because she makes out with him.  Cynical...perhaps.  Truthful? Yes.

Group date time.  Ben is riding a horse and doing a terrible job at it.  He looks like Billy Crystal in City Slickers.  Lindzi's heart "melts" at the sight of him riding a horse and Courtney drawls "watch out for poop" which is pretty much a metaphor for the entire show.  They are going fly fishing which is the hottest date of all time.

Now boys and girls I'm going to teach you about a strange scientific phenomena.  We call it "The Vienna Effect".  It's when a girl is completely heinous and she is literally covered in red flags and yet a guy just can't get enough of her.  Oh hey Courtney!  Weird seeing you here....
She compares catching fish to catching men (yes really) and she actually does catch a fish and we all get super jealous.
We have a Casey S. sighting!  I don't think she has spoken a word until now...and we get 2 words from her before Nicki interrupts.  I want more Casey S.!  In another Bachelor phenomena....Nicki is always red faced and glassy eyed aka completely sch-wasted.  Ben tells her she has a way of standing out during the group dates which is kind of the same thing as when you get told you have a great personality.

Samantha gets some alone time and announces "I have such crazy feelings for this guy, I feel like I should already have a ring on my finger!"....woah...slow down there killer.
Ben completely shuts her down.  She must be acting nuts when the cameras aren't around because Ben is becoming animated and angry like we've never seen before.  He tells her that on the group dates she's highly emotional and he can't justify giving her a one on one date because he doesn't think she's really serious about him and so she makes this face...

Then Ben says it's time to just end it and she needs to leave.  I really wish they would have shown what actually  happened because we barely saw this girl and now Ben is straight up going off on her.
Samantha goes to get her stuff and say good bye and the girls offer her some really heartfelt words
"you're a great person ok??"
ugh.
What I don't understand is that if he felt that way...why didn't he get rid of her last week and keep Shawntel?  HUH BEN????
Courtney gets the rose on the group date and all the girls have fantasies of drowning her in the pool of the Waldorf- Astoria.

Jennifer gets the next one on one date.  They repel down a cave or something...I don't know, I'm only half paying attention at this point because I have real problems like how I only have one diet coke left in the fridge.
BUT THEN Ben makes a statement that makes me want to take that last can of diet coke and throw it at his face (and we KNOW how I feel about diet coke y'all!)
Ben says to Jennifer "you think you'd be able to handle a crazier lifestyle?  The days aren't the same, I never really know where I'm gonna be or what I'm to be doing.  I have to be very flexible and have a relationship that is flexible".....
What?! Do you think you are freaking Brad Pitt or something?! What does he think he's up to that is sooo crazy?  He should be on his knees begging for Jennifer to live his boring life with him.
As Ben is giving her the rose he talks about how he wasn't sure of her.  Again he's giving off the vibe that she's this boring accountant and he's this wild man with all this stuff going on. You fake own a winery Ben, you aren't the most interesting man in the world.

Cocktail party.  Emily gets alone time and in a classic Bachelor move (seriously...you could set your clock to how a season of this show is going to pan out....) she rats out Courtney.  As she starts to do it Ben goes "I don't know who you're talking about and I know you aren't going to throw anyone under the bus".  And then Emily throws Courtney under the bus.  And this angers Ben! And he says "It's probably going to end up being your own demise".  Demise?   Wow...someone thinks highly of himself.  Ben is morphing into a big headed monster.  Who do you think you are?  You'll never be Brad Womack!

In a surprise twist Casey S. announces she's friends with Courtney!  She loves her and tells Emily so!  Casey S. is a freaking wild card people.  We need more of her.
Casey S. immediately goes and tells Courtney what Emily was saying about her.  This is so crazy!  It's like Casey S.  hasn't even been on the show until now...and she may not have been.  I'm not really sure at this point.
Courtney starts Criss Angel "mind freaking" Emily and it immediately starts paying off big in the form of Emily crying and saying over and over that Courtney really gets to her.

FINAL ROSE CEREMONY
Lindzi - in case you forgot...crazy face is still with us

Jaimie - she's venturing into Casey S. territory with lack of screen time on this show

Nicki - she's like Kasie B. in the same way that Leighton Meester is like Minka Kelly.  Similar but not as perfect.

Kacie B. - aka Minka

Elyse - eww

Blakely - remember when everyone hated Blakely?  Courtney's evilness has turned her into just one of the gals.  She was even seen highlighting Emily's hair in the bathroom at one point....wtf?

Casey S. - welcome to the party!

Emily - she's still in the game and a cat fight is sure to be coming next week....

FINALLY Monica the part time lesbian got eliminated.  Amazing that she lasted this long especially after announcing on the first night that she wasn't into Ben and all she wanted to do was make out with Blakely.

Luckily she's from Salt Lake City so really the limo is just gonna drop her off at home.

The show ends with a classic Bachelor moment: Ben says "we're going to Puerto Rico!" all the women cheer but Courtney says "I was just there 2 months ago".  Ha!  Just like Kristin Wiig's character on SNL "I'm the President of Puerto Rico so......"

Next week: Courtney throws down the gauntlet...and by that I mean she takes him skinny dipping.  Sorry girls...you're SOL.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012


Not exactly sure why but I chose to dedicate this entire playlist to the work of Michael Jackson.  What an amazing talent.  I know that for those after my generation....the view on MJ is slightly skewed.  Many of us watched the trial....heard the allegations and were left with that memory.  This man to me was so much more. There will not ever be anyone on this earth as talented as him (sorry Justin...).  He was the first artist to influence me.  One of my first sentences was "who's bad?".  I can still watch his music videos and listen to his songs for hours.  Say what you will.....the music industry was forever changed with him and will never be the same now that he's gone.

Friday, January 20, 2012

Friday Letters

Dear Friends,
Sometimes it takes all I have to not make an entire post about the lyrics to "Purple Rain".  Be waiting for it just in case.
Sincerely,
Vanessa

Dear January 18th 2012,
You were the day that Rob Lowe announced that Peyton Manning was retiring AND Mark Wahlberg announced he could have stopped 9/11.  I want to laminate that day and keep it in a scrapbook.
Thank you,
Vanessa

Dear Politicians,
A cool political ad would be one where a candidate karate chops boards for 30 seconds, then looks up and says "I approve this message".  Think about it.
Vanessa

Dear Everyone,
I dare you to watch this video without bawling your eyes out.  You cannot.



Beautiful.  You're welcome.
Vanessa
P.S. - You can skip to 1:15

Dear Etta James,
Your music is timeless.  You will be missed.
Love,
Vanessa

Dear Readers,
Have a fabulous weekend!  I'll be spending it up at the Sundance Film Festival stalking politely saying hi to celebrities.
xoxo,
Vanessa

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

The Bachelor: Where Everyone Freaks Out

Ben and the ladies are headed to San Francisco.  There are a lot of people who live in San Francisco while operating a winery in Sonoma.  Those people are called liars.
Ben meets up with his sister to chat.  Ben and his sister look exactly alike except that his sister has a less feminine haircut.

Emily (aka Eminem) gets the first one on one date.  For their date they are going to climb to the top of the Bay Bridge. CLASSIC BACHELOR MOVE.  This is something the Bachelor does with a girl to create a "deeper emotional connection".  As they start walking up the bridge...Emily starts having a panic attack.  I would be too but it would be because I was just realizing that I was on the Bachelor...with Ben.  Ben gives her a kiss on the bridge which apparently solves all her problems.  The only problem it solved is that it switched her fear of heights to fear of being stuck in a relationship with Ben (at least it should be).


Later they have dinner.  Emily tells Ben about how she was matched with her older brother on an online dating website.  Clearly this is a girl with some emotional baggage and family secrets.  So clearly...Ben gives her the rose.
Ben announces that he could very well spend the rest of his life with Emily.  I'm pretty sure he would propose to a banana if it touched his lips the right way.

Group date.  11 women.  Ben has a "leap list" which apparently is a list of things that commitment phobes make to keep themselves from getting married.  Things they want to do before "taking the leap".  On Ben's list he has written that he wants to ski down a hill of fake snow with a bunch of women in bikinis.  WHO DOESN'T have that on their leap list am I right!?


Rachel gets some alone time with Ben. By alone time I mean that she tells him she's really happy to be here and he starts making out with her.  She's really sticking with those bangs and with the fact that she's 27...we'll agree to disagree.

Meanwhile...tensions are high back at Bachelorette manor.  Brittney gets the next one on one date but she's "torn and confused" about it. She is freaking out.  She only wanted to be on TV!  She didn't know she'd actually have to date Ben!  I can't blame her for these feelings.  This would never happen to Bachelor Brad!
Brittney goes home and not a single care is given.

Lyndzie get's Brittney's sloppy seconds for a date.  They go up to City Hall and the door is locked.  Ben pulls a key out and unlocks the door.  Lyndzie states "I don't know who this guy is but he's amazing".  Gurl!  He doesn't really have a key to City Hall.  YOU'RE ON A TV SHOW.
They go into to City Hall and it's SEAL singing "Kiss From a Rose"!.....no it's not.  That's just what I wished had happened.  It's actually Matt Nathanson and I get the sads because he could be doing so much better.
*Side Bar: Watching Lyndzie and Ben kiss is super gross.  Like "Virgin Diaries" type gross. ALSO Lyndzie's hair and face look cray cray


They go to Ben's favorite "speakeasy" which he didn't even know existed until the producers told him.  Lyndzie reveals that she was dumped by her boyfriend of 1 1/2 years by a text that said "welcome to Dumpsville baby, population you".  So clearly she used to date Spencer Pratt.

CUT TO: Mysterious woman driving down the highway.  She's talking to Chris.  We don't know who she is! She says she was on Bachelor Brad's season!  He was on 17 times!  This tells me nothing!
And finally they reveal its....
Shawntel

And I like her!  She says she has very strong feelings for Ben and I'm confused because I'm all....do they know each other?  I later Googled this and found out that apparently Shawntel watched Ashley's season and developed a crush on Ben and Twittered all about it.  You go girl.

Back at the cocktail party, Courtney toasts to a "drama free night" and then starts a whole bunch of drama.  She's all like "I hate everyone" and does not give an eff.  Models do what they want to!  She does make complete sense when she whisper voices that "Blakely is the kind of girl your boyfriend cheats on you with" which is totally true.  Because boyfriends everywhere are always hooking up with girls who look like horses but make them feel "important".  If you need further proof...just Google the women the Presidents of our nation have cheated with.  Except John F. Kennedy.  He did everything right.
Anyway...bottom line is the girls start to realize that Courtney might be a psychopath.


The best moment of the night comes when Shawntel comes to the cocktail party and walks by the girls.  At first they don't even notice and then they are like "who is that?" and then the freak out begins.
Shawntel comes over to talk to Ben and he is all like "Holy $%@#!"
Elyse has been pulled away from Ben for Shawntel to talk to Ben.  She's so angry and it's so awesome and she makes this face...

Ben and Shawntel talk.  He talks about how they've talked before.  I didn't know that!?  Where?  On one of those Bachelor cruises?  At The Bachelor Pad auditions?  I'm so confused!
By the way...this is not the first time this has happened.  BACHELOR TRIVIA TIME!  During Byron's season (which I'm pretty sure no one watched except for me and my room mate Melissa), they introduced 2 girls from a previous season to be contestants.  One of them was Mary who ended up winning.  And by winning I mean getting punched in the face by Byron and repeatedly getting arrested for domestic abuse.

After talking to Ben, Shawntel goes to talk to the girls.  You remember the hyenas from "Lion King" right?...


"She's uglier in person" one of them says "you're a _____ loser!" says another.  Women hating other women for no real reason?  Say it ain't so.
Jaclyn the monster face says she's way better than Shawntel.  Umm......ok...?
Emily: "she just rides up on her hearse....no pun intended, and expects a rose?" Shut up.
Courtney: "if Ben gives her a rose....I'm leaving"  BYEEEEEEEEE
Ericka: "her thighs are bigger than mine so that's fine" uuggggghhhhhhhh

Ambiguous blonde girl: "What makes you think you deserve to be here over the girls who have been sent home already?"
Shawntel: "What makes YOU think you deserve to be here over the girls who have been sent home?"
OHHHH Bachelor BUUURRRNNN!

FINAL ROSE CEREMONY

Courtney - hesitates before accepting and then gives a really mature speech where she says she want him to know that she saw him talking to "what's her butt" and it was a lot to handle.  Ben has no idea what she's saying and just gives her the rose without responding.

Kacie B. - Probably a front runner for me

Elyse - I am not a fan.  *see picture above

Jaimie - Not a single word was uttered (again)

Jennifer - her star is fading

Kasey S. - Who are you????


Blakely - neigh

Monica - ???!!!! How is she still here?  This is disturbing.

Nikki - haven't seen much of her except for her weird emotional break down when Shawntel showed up so....


Samantha - whatevs

Before he hands out the final rose he attempts to say a few words.  Ericka freaks her mind out and basically falls down.  She's a mess and so is her hair.  It's crimped!  CRIMPED Y'ALL.
The girls blame Ericka's situation on Shawntel which makes total sense.  It was Shawntel who was feeding Ericka Xanax and Tequila.
After things get settled, Ben pulls a classic Bachelor move and doesn't give the final rose to anyone.
And I'm angry.  You kept Monica over Shawntel!?  Ericka breaks down into tears and Jaclyn walks out.  The worst part of this is how upset and defiant Jaclyn is.  Have you looked at yourself lately?


I mean...it's pure insanity that she thought she had a chance.

Ben walks Shawntel out and the girls are all relieved because they know and fear the dangers of someone who is better than them.
I'm not sure what Ben was thinking.  My guess is that he sensed the animosity from the other girls and didn't want to cause trouble.  Man up Ben!  I think Shawntel and him would have been great together.
But in true Bachelor form...Ben will pick Courtney.  I'm telling ya.

Next week they will be headed to Park City, Utah which makes me very sad.
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