VicPicks

My Portfolio (writing and design)

2008-11-15T15:39:00.000-08:00

South End News, writer, photographer October 2010-present
As a contributor for the South End News, I cover the community events, politics, art, and culture beat for the South End neighborhood of Boston, covering local events through in-depth articles and photography.
Getting their say: Residents react to redistricting proposals; December 21, 2011
South End Soccer kicks up funds: Event raises $3K for popular youth league; November 9, 2011
Going green: Restaurants committing themselves to environmental practices; nominations for the greenest businesses ongoing; March 16, 2011
Solemn remembrance: World AIDS Day installation provides reflection on life and loss.; December 8, 2010 (special to Bay Windows)
Showstopperz stealing the show: Local dance troupe combines new with old, comes away with life lessons; November 23, 2010
Businesses celebrate anniversaries, successes: Community support and local products trump economic downturn; November 10, 2010
Sneakers in every shade, Unique event pays homage to urban creativity; October 12, 2010

Beacon Hill Patch.com, columnist, writer, photographer August 2010-October 2011
As a contributor for the Beacon Hill Patch, As a writer for Beacon Hill Patch, I wrote a weekly "Great Escape" column giving moms ideas on how to take a break from the kids. As a community reporter, I covered community events, politics, art, and culture beat for the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston, covering local events through in-depth articles and photography.
Discover Treasures at Tibet Emporium, Friday Patch Passport; July 29, 2011
Beacon Hill Winter Dance Brings the Glamour; January 31, 2011
MGH's First Baby of 2011 Born; January 2, 2011
Five Charities to Give To This Holiday; December 19, 2010
Common Tree Lighting Draws Hundreds, Heats Up a Chilly Night; December 3, 2010
Neighborhood Author Unlocks Shroud's Secrets, Author Gilbert Lavoie speaks to an audience at Hampshire House about his research on the Shroud of Turin; November 18, 2010

Great Escape
The Great Escape: Ideas for Moms to Get Away From It All,
The Champagne and Rose Body Treatments at the G20 Spa and Salon; February 9, 2011
Cocoa and Cabernet Sans Kids, The Dessert, Chocolate, & Wine Night Tour at Boston Chocolate Tours; February 16, 2011
Take an Afternoon Tea Break, Cambridge's Upstairs on the Square offers Springtime Afternoon Tea; March 30, 2011
Find Some Blooming Peace in Flower Arrangement, Twig offers floral design courses that satisfy the soul; June 3, 2011

Back Bay Patch
Marky Mark in the Park, Film crews spotted in the Public Garden filming scenes for Mark Wahlberg's latest movie, Ted; May 10, 2011
Back Bay Association Honors Liberty Mutual at Annual Meeting; May 9, 2011

Hollywood East Connection, writer, photographer April 2009-presentAs a writer for HollywoodEastConnection.com, I am responsible for researching and tracking down stories about celebrities and other aspects of the entertainment industry that are connected to the New England area. While covering certain stories, I have also been responsible for the photography. You can find some examples through the links below:
Christmas 2011 Events Continue in Boston; December 8, 2011
New Footloose Screens at Fenway; Features Appearances by Stars; September 9, 2011
Cop Contestant for “Expedition Impossible” Talks About Adventure of a Lifetime; August 25, 2011
Director Mike Mills brings sneak screening of Beginners to Boston Common Theater; May 23, 2011
Debra Crosby’s Talent Quest TV Show on MyTV New England Announced; August 27, 2010
MyTV New England Launches New Distribution Program; July 19, 2010
Mario Lopez stops by the 2010 Health Expo; June 15, 2010
Sex and the City 2 Takes Over Boston; May 27, 2010
HEC Profiles: Teenage Actor Anthony O’Leary of The Company Men; February 9, 2010
Director John Wells Premiers The Company Men at the Coolidge Corner Theater; January 31, 2010
The Town Shoots Around Fenway; September 21, 2009
The Zookeeper Shoots on Boston Common; September 16, 2009
Psychic Duo Tapes TV Pilot in Boston; September 12, 2009
Boston Health Expo Celebrities; July 4, 2009
Author Dennis Lehane Speaks at Emmanuel College Commencement; May 13, 2009

PartyEarth.com, photographer November 2010 – October 2011
Party Earth Boston features all the most best places in the city to spend an evening out. I was responsible for gathering photos for many of the featured neighborhoods, venues, and landmarks.
Downtown / Financial District
Allston / Brighton
Back Bay
Beacon Hill
Waterfront / Fort Point
Brighton Beer Garden
The Other Side Cafe

CityRover.com, writer, photographer August 2010-May 2011
CityRover newsletters feature all the most affordable hidden gems in the city with your best bets on places to grab a good cup of coffee, food, cocktails, listen to music, dance the night away, or even learn some Boston trivia. (IF LINKS DO NOT WORK, SAMPLES CAN BE PROVIDED UPON REQUEST)
Fleece Blankets and Lunch Frittatas; October 24, 2010
Liquid Lubrication at CafeNation; October 18, 2010
A Fine Group of Gentlemen; October 8, 2010
The Right to Drink at the 21st Amendment; October 5, 2010
For Pizza and Ice Cream Lovers; September 29, 2010
"Sex, Drugs, and Rock and Roll" Trivia; September 26, 2010

"Blunch is the Word; September 19, 2010
Sweet!; September 10, 2010

Tremont 647's Pajama Brunch; September 12, 2010
Sweet!; September 10, 2010
Code 10; September 10, 2010
Fort Point's Drink Lair; September 1, 2010
Asgard - Not a Buttocks Protector; August 28, 2010
Silence Your Sweet-Tooth Cravings; August 24, 2010

Boston2Night.com, writer, photographer Summer 2010
As a writer for Boston2Night I covered a variety of food, fashion, and nightlife events in Boston, often taking my own photographs to accompany the pieces.
Sanctuary Offers Relax and Unwind Evening Specials
Back Bay Social Club Opens its Doors
10th Annual Summer Boston Restaurant Week Kicks Off
Blu at the Sports Club/LA Hosts Fashionable White Nights featuring Rooftop Deck Grand Opening V.I.P. Party
Best Lobster Rolls in Boston

A K Peters cover illustration, design October 2008
While Production Editor at A K Peters, I took on the special project of coming up with an illustration and design for a recent book cover. Utilizing my skills and training in fine arts, I provided a variety of watercolor + pen & ink illustrations and graphic designs using InDesign, from which a final design was chosen. This design incorporated 2 of my illustrations and can be seen below.

TheDateVine.com, writer, web editor October 2006, December 2007-March 2008
As a paid content writer and researcher, I posted dating tips on places to go in Boston that crossed a variety of spectrums, including but not limited to: culture, performance, relaxation, sports, volunteering, nature, shopping, comedy, and politics. As web editor of the Boston page, I was also in charge of picking top tips and lists, and posting them to the web page. In many instances I also took photos that corresponded with the tips. You can find my tips and lists posted under the names: (LINKS NO LONGER ACTIVE)Victoria, Victoria Kichuk, VK, and RachMonPhoebs.
TheDateVine.com; Boston

80108 Media, writer February 2007-December 2007
Before go2 Media bought them out in late 2007, 80108 Media was a Boston-based text messaging service dedicated to delivering customized insider content on a variety of topics. I served as the writer and researcher for their Boston Steals and Deals channel, providing my subscribers with atleast three SMS message chains per week that served as notifications for free events, sales, and other bargains to be found around Boston in that particular week. You can also find below a number of my texts that were selected as "Best of Boston" from across the variety of channels.
(LINKS NO LONGER ACTIVE, SIMPLY SERVE AS RECORD OF 'BESTS')Boston Steals and Deals archive
Best of Boston Thumbcasts: Boston Steals and Deals; October 30, 2007
Best of Boston Thumbcasts: Boston Steals and Deals; October 27, 2007
Best of Boston Thumbcasts: Boston Steals and Deals; September 13, 2007
Best of Boston Thumbcasts: Boston Steals and Deals; September 8, 2007
Best of Boston Thumbcasts: Boston Steals and Deals; July 3, 2007
Best of Boston Thumbcasts: Boston Steals and Deals; June 7, 2007
Best of Boston Thumbcasts: Boston Steals and Deals; May 15, 2007
Best of Boston Thumbcasts: Boston Steals and Deals; May 12, 2007

To Pinch, or Not to Pinch?

2007-10-28T19:39:00.000-07:00

While we all laughed as Kevin Federline got all huffy about the possibility of the penny being pulled, the reality is that our little copper friend doesn't get the respect he used to. Somewhere between the disappearance of penny candy and the downfall of the penny carnival, we all have become less inclined to care for common cents. I myself have always been one to "see a penny, pick it up", though the luck has not always necessarily followed. I personally like to believe the "Pennies from Heaven" mythology, where for every time you find a penny on the ground, it means that someone in heaven is thinking of you. For more pensiveness on pennies, read Laura Rowley's Some Thoughts for Your Pennies.

The Friday VicPick Video: 2007 Boston Marathon

2007-04-19T21:02:00.000-07:00

Well, it looks like I have to apologize yet again for missing some posts this week, but there is more busy-ness going on for reasons which I may explain later, but in the meantime, as I promised earlier in the week, I have a video from the Boston Marathon as I saw part of it not far from my apartment. In it, you can also catch a glimpse of one of my roommates and my boyfriend. You may also hear my voice and the voice of a boy standing next to us that was very friendly (and probably drunk at 1 in the afternoon) and calling out all the names of the people he could read on their shirts to encourage them. We even got a few hand slaps from excited runners as they passed by! Congratulations to everyone who ran, particularly those from other countries (saw some representing Japan, Korea, and Germany) as well as those very old competitors--you are greater athletes than I could ever be!

Its Marathon Monday!

2007-04-16T10:29:00.000-07:00

As you have recently been made aware, I am now located in Boston, and as such, today is a very big day--its Marathon Monday! That's right, today, right now, the running of the 111th Boston Marathon is going on, and though the winners have already been decided, everyone that was behind them will still be crossing the finish line well into the day. I hope to get out and get some pictures, because despite earlier forecasts, the weather has not been a total disaster and the temp. has been somewhat moderate, with limited rain and wind, and a thin cloud layer. I've already seen some Boston College students who live in my neighborhood celebrating the day, as Marathon Monday is also a very big day for co-eds to partake in all-day drinking, as area classes are cancelled.

The Friday VicPick video: MadTV iPhone home

2007-04-12T22:30:00.000-07:00

While Apple just sent out the word that their new operating system, OSX Leopard, which was set to be released this spring, will now instead be released in October, as development of the much anticipated iPhone has caused a lag in the Leopard development schedule. You can read more on the announcement here.

In MadTV news, a couple weeks ago they featured this rather clever sketch on Apple's iTechnology. Too funny.

MADtv - iRack (including blooper in the end)

2007-04-12T19:46:00.001-07:00

Have you checked out my Steals and Deals yet? The Boston Globe has...

2007-04-12T18:35:00.000-07:00

If you haven't checked out my Steals and Deals channel from 80108 Media, then what are you waiting for? While you are at it, check out this great article by the Boston Globe which talks about 80108 Media, and even specifically mentions my channel! You can also now find my pic and bio on their correspondents page.

Gone to Tralfamadore...

2007-04-12T00:55:00.000-07:00

Kurt Vonnegut, iconic author of works such as Slaughterhouse-Five died Wednesday at the age of 84. The reclusive intellect suffered injuries to his brain after sustaining a fall at his Manhattan home a number of weeks ago. He was one of the few remaining prominent authors that had served in World War II. He is survived by his wife, photographer Jill Krementz.

The new apartment!

2007-04-10T16:20:00.001-07:00

So, as I've let you all know, the reason for my sabbatical from posting was because I moved into this new apartment out of state. I am now (almost) fully settled into a wonderful place in the fabulous city of Boston, with 2 really great girls as roommates. As I've said before, I have long considered myself a great bargain shopper--one of the main reasons why I started this blog--however, this move was a great lesson in resourcefulness, as a move, particularly one out of state, can be quite expensive. To this end, I have a lot of information to pass along on a variety of topics, and because I have so much to share, I'm going to have to spread it out over the next week or so. In order to make it easier on my brain, I'm going to try to keep things somewhat "chronological", meaning I'll start with rental tips, and then the actualy physical moving part, and then things like shopping for stocking the apartment and such. Hopefully I can remember everything because I actually learned quite a lot!

FREE SAMPLE ALERT!

2007-04-10T16:08:00.000-07:00

If you haven't bookmarked it already, make sure you click on the link to the Walmart free samples page. They regularly offer free samples on a variety of products, that require nothing more than your mailing address and name in order to receive them. I check them out frequently as the offers change all the time, and its always fun to receive a little trial size something-or-another in the mail when it arrives!

This week they are featuring a variety of items, including contact lenses, lotion, allergy pills, and pore strips.

Long time no see!

2007-04-09T10:28:00.000-07:00

Well hello everyone out there! Yes, I'm back, writing about bargains and the like from an all new location--Boston, MA! I've moved in to a great apartment with 2 fabulous roommates and we have all settled in quite nicely. Now that the unpacking and craziness have seemingly settled, I finally have some time to get back to this blog. First thing is first though, I want to let you all know that in addition to my move, I have started writing for a media company that sends insider info and top selections about what’s going on in Boston each week. I’d love for you to check out my stuff and tell me what you think. I write a “channel” called Boston:"Steals and Deals", which is delivered 3 times per week via text message, and covers all the best bargains and sales in the area. You'll also be able to take part in exclusive deals available only to 80108 clients. You can sign up at 80108, or click one of the the buttons below, which are also among the ads on the borders of my blog. The service is FREE, but normal text messaging fees from your wireless carrier apply. 80108 has over 70 other channels about various topics in 15 cities – check out any that interest you and please pass the info on to others.
I know that many of you that are reading this are not in the Boston area, but if any of you have unlimited text message plans, it would really help me out if you sign up for the service. Not only does it make me look better to the company by doing a good job of promoting my channel, but I also receive a bonus if I get 50 people to sign up by April 23rd. If you happen to have any friends or family that may be interested, I would also appreciate if you passed along this info to them letting them know about the service. So check out www.80108.com, and if you have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to ask!<

I miss you too!

2007-04-03T21:46:00.000-07:00

I know! I haven't posted in weeks--but believe me, a LOT has been going on! Rest assured however, I will return with a whole bunch of new posts starting on Monday of next week--in the meantime, enjoy your Easter, Passover, or rest of the work week and weekend!

PoP! Goes My Heart - Music and Lyrics

2007-03-08T23:30:00.000-08:00

The Friday VicPick video: "You are gold and silvah-ah-ah!"

2007-03-08T23:11:00.000-08:00

The above video is from the movie Music and Lyrics with Drew Barrymore and Hugh Grant. The basic storyline is that Hugh is a former 80s pop star who pairs up to write a song for a modern star in order to revive his career. THe fictional 80s band he was in is called "Pop" and is very much inspired by Wham as one singer from Pop went on to be a household name (George Michael) and the other one didn't (the other guy from Wham). Hugh plays the other guy. As you can see, the video is very 80s-like, with a mixture of bad performance elements, and really bad over-acting. Hugh does all of his own singing, impressively enough, and the soundtrack is currently outselling the likes of Fergie, Gwen Stefani, and Justin Timberlake on iTunes. I saw the movie myself, and it was quite hilarious, Hugh's sardonic humor and 80s style singing/dancing performances are reason enough to check it out!

News!

2007-03-08T23:05:00.000-08:00

Yes, if you're keeping track, sorry, I missed a post yesterday--but with good reason! I am getting ready to move into a great apartment out of state on the 17th! So, please bare with me as my posts become irregular over the next week or so--but I have a lot going on! Rest assured though, I will have lots of great posts to come about things like shopping at Ikea, using Craigslist for free furniture, tag sales, creative projects to turn junk into useful things for your home, and lots more!

Tips for your Finances

2007-03-07T08:35:00.000-08:00

~Keeping Your Cool in a Shaky Market by Ben Stein: How to keep a good head when the financial waters aren't so sound.

~Five Ways to Grow Your Income by 20 Percent by David Bach: Some simple ideas on how to raise your income in a relatively short period of time.

~Why Women Need a Healthy Relationship with Money by Suze Orman: Millionaire and financial whiz Orman speaks specifically on issues women have with how they treat money, and how they can circumvent those problems.

Silly Snails

2007-03-07T08:24:00.000-08:00

I couldn't help but laugh when I read this article, and I thought I would just share it with all of you. If you have ever thought that bargains were just for the big folks, then you obviously have never stopped to think about what snails can do to save. Well, according to this article, Snails Save Energy by Re-Using Mucus Trails, carefully re-tracing the paths left by previous snails in order to save on the tremendous amount of energy that they must expend in order to produce the mucus that they use to get around. Sure, to us its not a major concern to conserve on mucus, but I guess the point is that the quality and quantity of what you save is directly proportional to your size!

Celebrity Looks for Less: Oscar-worthy

2007-03-06T10:48:00.000-08:00

Just like after the the Golden Globes, commercial fashion designers scrambled to create dresses similar to some of those worn by the lovely ladies at the Oscars last week. Just in time for the upcoming prom-season, these ultra-affordable replicas are definitely red-carpet worthy.

One of my picks for best-dressed at the Academy Awards, Helen Mirren's Christian Lacroix gown was specially designed just for her, and probably cost thousands. You can get edressme New York's version for only $325.

Jessica Biel's fuschia belted number was so popular, it was copied not only by edressme New York and Faviana. Edressme New York's version can be pre-ordered for $320 to be shipped starting April 10.

As seen on Access Hollywood, Faviana also created replicas of Kate Winslet's and Rachel Weisz's dresses, as well as Reese Witherspoon's dress, another one of my picks. Edressme New York also created two replicas of Jennifer Hudson's dress, in both regular and plus-sizes.

No cure for Mondays?

2007-03-05T08:50:00.000-08:00

While everyone knows that Mondays can be a pain, it is also universally accepted that afternoons, any day of the week can be a struggle as well. It usually comes right after lunch, when your body is digesting food, it tends to make you sleepy, and not apt to move around. Little did we know, however, that the cure for these "afternoon slumps" is in what you eat. It seems just by adding a few specific items to your lunch or snack, you can help to fight off that tiredness, and stay the naturally perky and sweet self we all know you are!

Beyonce feat Shakira - Beautiful Liar

2007-03-01T21:45:00.001-08:00

Friday VicPick video: Shakira, Shakira, Beyonce, Beyonce

2007-03-01T21:32:00.000-08:00

Marking her second collaborative effort where the other person she is singing with opens the song by repeating her name, Shakira is being featured in a new duet with Beyonce. The song is called "Beautiful Liar" and the video for it was just released this week, after receiving a lot of preliminary buzz. The song is originally from Beyonce's album, B Day, and the re-recorded duet version with Shakira will be on the re-released version, as initial sales for the record were sluggish. The video marks a rarity in that not only are there two women singing the duet, but their characters actually team up as opposed to fight over a man. I also believe it is the first time there has been so much booty shaking crammed into 3 and a half minutes. I'm a big Shakira fan, so I think adding her to this song and the video are great, and kudos to Beyonce for coming up with the idea for the two to pair up. I had always thought that they shared things in common, both in dancing style as well as looks. For me, Beyonce had always particularly evoked Shakira in the "Baby Boy" music video with Sean Paul. The "Beautiful Liar" video purposely plays on these similarities, as you will find it is often hard to tell the two apart!

Celebrity Looks for Less: Madonna's Hair

2007-03-01T10:17:00.000-08:00

This past weekend, we saw a lot of fabulous dresses, hair, and make-up for the Academy Awards, and likewise at the after parties. Madonna for one, looked stunning at the popular Vanity Fair party, and vamped it up old-style in a floor length clingy black Versace, and softly curled hair reminiscent of the Golden era of Hollywood. Now, I can't say for certain how she got her hair to look like that--odds are it took a team of people, with lots of special tools and products, or it might have even been specially grown in a magical land that only celebrities know about. In any case, I can tell you how to get your hair to look very similar to her's, and it won't cost you nearly as much as having a Hollywood hair stylist do it for you.

Me doing pin-curls on a friend (They're not as painful as they look.)

Pin curls are an old-fashioned way of curling your hair, and was a technique used often back in the day before we had curling irons and hot rollers. In order to do them, all you need is a bunch of bobby pins (approximately 2 per curl, the total number will vary greatly according to how many curls you want and how think your hair is). After washing and towel-drying your hair, carefully comb through it and simply take small, 1 inch sections of hair between your two fingers and wind them (not too tightly) around your fingers starting at the bottom and winding up towards your scalp. Use the two bobby pins to form an X as you pin them in place against your head. Repeat this all over your head until you have all your hair pinned up, then tie a scarf or wear a knit cap to hold everything in place. The best bet to do this style is to do it the night before you want your hair curled, or if you have all day to get ready, shower in the morning then spend the rest of the day with your hair pinned.

The picture to the right shows myself at a college ball where I used pin curls to curl my hair.

The point is that the pins should be left for several hours, allowing your hair to dry completely. When you are ready, take all the pins out and use your fingers to pull apart the curls and comb through them with your fingers. Turn your head upside to lightly spray the curls, but believe me when I say that they will stay very well on their own without any product. Just make sure you have your hair parted and arranged the way you want before you do spray them with anything.

In rich people news...

2007-02-28T22:46:00.000-08:00

When you are wealthy enough to not have to worry about saving your money, and searching for bargains is more of a "fun activity" than an actual way of life, you are what us regular people would call, "rich". When you are "rich", I have been told one of the things you can do with your gobs and gobs of cash is to go to auctions and spend money on frivolous items like class American movie memorabilia, or baseball cards. Apparently there are a lot more of these "rich" people than I thought (and not all of them are celebrities), as a bunch of them did just that this week! It seems that a rare Honus Wagner baseball card that had been previously owned by Wayne Gretsky, was auctioned off for $2.3 million. For that much, you would have thought that there was a more famous baeball player on the card, because I have never heard of this guy. Apparently the reason why the card is so rare is because the cards were originally sold with tobacco, and Honus Wagner was against tobacco usage, even way back in the day.

That's pretty respectable, gotta say.

The other auction that made news this week featured Audrey Hepburn's infamous black gown from the opening of the classic movie Breakfast at Tiffany's. About $800,000 from the proceeds of the auction are being donated to help build schools in India.

That's pretty respectable too, gotta say.

FREE SAMPLE ALERT!

2007-02-28T21:26:00.000-08:00

Go here and fill out a simple form to get your free sample of Dove Pro-Age in the mail. You can choose 1 sample among 3 different choices of rich night cream, deodorant, or hand & body lotion and body wash.

Excitement!

2007-02-27T22:03:00.000-08:00

The (seemingly) long-awaited 2 hour premiere of cycle 8 of America's Next Top Model airs tonight at 8 on the CW network. As is my custom, I've studied the pics of the new contestants, and picked out my favorite girls, and they are as follows in descending order: Brittany, Samantha, and Jael. As a long -time fan of Top Model, I've watched since the very first cycle, getting numerous friends addicted to it along the way, though I have to admit that I have gotten worse at predicting finalists and the eventual winner as they have gone on. I also have become more of a fan of Tyra Banks, though many have seemed to dislike her more now that she is more than just a pretty face. In any case, I know I will be glued to my screen tonight, and I'm sure millions more fans like me will be doing the same!

*******SPOILER ALERT*************

A big heads up--this year, the girls will going to Australia for their international destination. Let's see if they can handle being fierce in the land down under!

Someone was bound to get him sooner or later

2007-02-27T21:44:00.000-08:00

Over-famed blogger Perez Hilton is known for his cutting comments on celebrities of all sorts, coupled with pictures that sport paintworks style special effects, often making it appear as if celebrities have urine running down their leg, or coke dripping from their nose. Other, more subtle posts feature pictures with words scribbled over them, outing closeted celebrities, or just plain calling them names. He often makes it clear who his favorites are, as you will never find a disparaging post on his namesake, Paris Hilton, or “saint” Angelina Jolie, as he likewise makes up unflattering names for those not on his good side. Now one such celebrity is suing him for posting topless photos on his site. It seems that Universal City Studios Productions LLLP, on behalf of Jennifer Aniston, or as referred to on the site, “Maniston”, announced last week that they are suing Mario Lavandeira, otherwise known as Perez Hilton, for posting the photos taken from scenes that were edited out from the final version of the movie The Breakup. Read the full story here.

Hmm, that can't be good

2007-02-27T16:12:00.000-08:00

Well now, I am no stock market expert, I don't own any stocks in anything, and I would have to say that my collective knowledge of the stock market would probably be equal to the average person's awareness of the cultural mores of Djibouti--yeah, that's about zero. In any case, its been widely reported today that the Dow plunged by more than 500 points in one day, though it did regain some ground before the bell, closing down at 3.29 percent, signaling the worst day for the market since September 11th. All that stuff I just said might make it seem like I know what I am talking about, but again, I don't, so your best bet would be to read the article on Yahoo through the above link.

By the way, if you were interested, I do know that Djibouti is a country located on the northeastern coast of Africa, right above Ethiopia. They are one of 35 countries where scouting exists, and they have a number of fish that have appeared on their postage stamps.

See that, I just gave you a new wrinkle in your brain.

You are welcome.

Flashback

2007-02-26T22:08:00.000-08:00

Penelope Cruz landed herself on many best dressed lists at the Oscars this year in a beautiful and elegant blush colored Atelier Versace dress with a fitted bodice and oversized mermaid train with ruffles. While I thought the dress, and the actress in it, looked amazing, I couldn't help but be reminded of a dress Sarah Jessica Parker wore in the series finale of Sex and the City in 2004, which was also Versace couture.

Penelope's 2007 Oscar gown

Is Versace becoming too predictable?

Carrie Bradshaw's 2004 farewell

Some more Oscar fashions for you...

2007-02-26T21:51:00.000-08:00

Not all of the best dressed peeps were Oscar winners, or presenters, or even guests at the actual event. Post-Oscar parties are a big deal in Hollywood, and going means that you might not necessarily have the goods to win the coveted award, but you're hot enough to trot into the biggest parties of the year. Below are my VicPicks for best Oscar party dresses.

Madonna in Dolce and Gabbana at the Vanity Fair party

Ellen Pompeo in Alexander McQueen at the Vanity Fair party

Victoria Beckham in Azzedine Alaïaat the Elton John AIDS Foundation party

Oscar Fashion Report

2007-02-26T10:29:00.000-08:00

The 79th Annual Academy Awards were last night, and though on the whole it was rather eventless, as no one streaked or made brash political statements, no one showed up wearing anything unbearable to look at, and the host, first-timer Ellen DeGeneres was funny yet classy and unassuming, the biggest thing was how long the show actually went on for. Coming in at roughly 3 hours and 50 minutes, perhaps its a good thing that there were no major fashion disasters, as having to look at one for that long might permanently burn bad fashion into our brain.

Among the trends, navy was a common color, as Maggie Gyllenhal in Proenza Schouler, Reese Witherspoon in Nina Ricci, Jody Foster in Vera Wang, Emily Bunt in Calvin Klein, and Ellen's girlfriend, Portia De Rossi in Zac Posen, all wore it. There were a lot of strapless dresses with mermaid trains, as well as the Grecian-inspired one shoulder look. American Idol loser/Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson was disappointing in a brown Oscar de la Renta with pockets (which, in my opinion, have no business doing anything on an evening gown). Nicole Kidman struck an always impressively statuesque pose in bright red Balenciaga, but her demure facial expressions are becoming more awkward with the more Botox she uses, and it makes me sad. Anne Hathaway, who recently compared herself to Lindsay Lohan , seemed to learn little from her experiences shooting The Devil Wears Prada, and wore an ill-fitting white brocade strapless Valentino dress with an obnoxiously oversized bow on the bodice. Cameron Diaz could have done better in her white off-the-shoulder Valentino number, but Kirsten Dunst looked dreadful in a confusing silver short-sleeved Chanel Couture dress with feathered bottom.

For my top picks, I actually am going to be on the uneventful side as well, as I enjoyed Nicole's daring red dress, and as blue is my favorite color, I have to say that I liked Reese's and Emily's dresses as well. While some had her on their worst dressed list, I actually liked Gwyneth Paltrow's brick colored short sleeve Zac Posen number, with side-swept stick-straight hair (similar to Nicole Kidman's). Additionally, I thought Kate Winslet's seafoam green Valentino number and Isla Fisher (aka, Borat's girlfriend) looked wonderful as a red-head in an emerald dress by Monique Lhuillier. Cate Blanchette, in a silver one-shouldered Armani Privé dress, kept to her word, and played dress up yet again in an elegant and tasteful way.

I'd like to also give special props to the, ahem, older women at the event, as I felt that both Diane Keaton, a presenter for Best Picture, and Helen Mirren in Christian Lacroix, a winner for Best Actress, looked stunningly beautiful--a coup for women in Hollywood who refuse to do anything but age gracefully! Bravo!

Addendum: When you can't find it out yourself, you just have to find the right People to ask. As per the question posted here, I put in a question at People.com and they answered:

I have been searching everywhere for this! I thought that Diane Keaton looked absolutely beautiful presenting Best Picture, particularly in light of her past fashion faux-pas on the red carpet, but what designer was she wearing this year? – Victoria, CT

Keaton, who copresented the award for Best Picture with Jack Nicholson, wore a belted, long-sleeved Ralph Lauren gown. She dressed up the basic black dress with a sparkly large pendant by Neil Lane Jewelry.

FREE SAMPLE ALERT!

2007-02-25T20:45:00.000-08:00

In case you were one of the two people in the world who didn't watch the Oscars last night, during one of the commercial breaks, the winner of the Dove Cream Oil commercial contest was announced. I entered the contest and didn't win (obviously), so because I'm a little bitter, I don't have the name of the girl who won or her comercial here for you. What I do have is a link to get a free sample of the product the commercial was for. Enjoy.

Britney Spears interview 1999

2007-02-22T22:53:00.001-08:00

Remembering Britney, as Baby Tries Rehab, One More Time...

2007-02-22T22:44:00.000-08:00

I am not now nor have I ever been much of a fan or the former Mousketeer. While you will find some of her songs on my iTunes, that's only because I happened to have a lot of the Now CD compilations. No matter what your like or dislike for Britney, however, it is terribly sad to have to witness the unraveling of a fellow human being in front of everyone's eyes. In tribute, this Friday's VicPick video is of Britney circa 1999, on the Rosie O'Donnell Show, when Brit was about 17. Its hard to believe she was ever that young and innocent--but not that much. Rosie even remarks at one point, "You're a levelheaded young girl and I hope you stay that way and I think you will." At this point, it seems that the most anyone can hope for is for her to get the help she needs and clean herself up so that she can take care of her babies.

Rewards programs

2007-02-21T21:14:00.000-08:00

Retail rewards programs are great for frequent shoppers of stores, particularly if you can join these programs for free. Rewards programs are based on the basic premise that you can earn points for spending money at a certain store. These points are able to be "cashed in" for rewards of certain amounts, that can be redeemed very much like gift certificates. Even if you aren't a frequent shopper at certain stores, sometimes you can earn rewards just by signing up or providing certain information. These bonuses are fun to use, particularly if you're itching for a little spending, but don't have that much cash to blow! Below are some rewards programs that I have used.

Famous Footwear rewards program

Best Buy Rewards

Staples Rewards

Best of Bob's Rewards

If you can use these rewards programs wisely, they can be very useful, and may actually provide you with some actual rewards. This week alone, I spent my ten dollars in bonus bucks at Bob's, and got a rewards check from Staples in the mail.

Trying to improve literacy in America

2007-02-21T12:40:00.000-08:00

Honestly, I am not trying to create fillers here, but I am coming across a ton of articles on finances, taxes, and savings, and all of it seems like it can be very useful, so I'm posting links and summaries of them all here!

Tricks to Soften the Pain of Saving--Its not always easy to save your money, a discussion on how to go about it.

The 8 Qualities of a Wealthy Woman--The amazing Suze Orman talks about qualities that she herself possesses.

How To: File Taxes for Free--An important tip for the upcoming tax season.

Lazy Day

2007-02-20T20:35:00.000-08:00

Due to some new freelance work and some other projects that I need to get done, I'm going to be a little lazy with the site this week. Hopefully, you all will bear with me as when I do have more free time again, I have a bunch of great things to post about! In the meantime, here are some interesting articles on finances.

Fear Can Cost You Money--Famous financial analyst and writer Robert Kiyosaki discusses points on why he believes the rich keep getting richer in America.

To Get Rich, Just Follow the Instructions--Former host of Win Ben Stein's Money, Ben Stein, talks about the common sense ways you can keep your financial house stable and in the green.

Some more useful reading

2007-02-19T17:08:00.000-08:00

Smart Tax Strategies for Younger Workers--Everyone dreads tax season, as the stress can be overwhelming when it comes to making sure you get all the appropriate paperwork done. However, for young people new to the workforce, there is an added frustration that comes along with the new experiences. This article has some great tips just in time for tax season.

Protecting Yourself When You're Self-Employed--As more and more workers are venturing into self-employment, its important to know the risks and to prepare yourself with as many resources and good, reliable information you can get your hands on. This article, by finance wiz Suze Orman, is a good starting point.

How I got my brains

2007-02-19T13:01:00.000-08:00

Some may credit genetics, others, a deeply intellectual academic upbringing, still others may call it the luck of the draw. I now know that my intelligence comes from the caocao bean. That's right, chocolate has made me smart, and I now have the science to prove it! A recent study (funded by candy maker Mars) shows that an ingredient in coacoa can help boost blood flow to the brain for hours. Like another recent study that found a diet that included regular amounts of dark chocolate can help boost good cholesterol, thereby boosting heart health, it seems that science is finally proving the stuff that I've known for quite some time.

CHOCOLATE IS GOOD STUFF!!!

Celebrity Looks for Less: Special Edition Britney Spears' new haircut

2007-02-17T16:31:00.000-08:00

While she might not be done figuring out how much her divorce is going to cost her, and she might not know how to keep her bar tab low, but it seems America's former favorite pop princess has figured out a great way to save on haircuts, expensive shampoos and styling products, hairstylists, and extensions. Witness, Britney's own personal tribute to Sinead O'Connor, in all of its hairless glory. It seems Miss Spears was spotted this weekend at a tattoo parlor in the San Fernando Valley with her head completely shaved, where she spent over an hour getting two small tattoos on her wrist. You can read about how she lost her locks here.

MMMM, yummy, reading

2007-02-17T13:41:00.000-08:00

Five Ways to Watch TV on Your PC

Warren Buffett heads list of top 2006 donors

Why Women Have Fewer Babies

Rethinking Retirement Savings (or Not)

too

SNL -- Weekend Update iPhone Special

2007-02-15T23:32:00.001-08:00

The Friday VicPick video: oooooo, iPhone...

2007-02-15T23:25:00.000-08:00

As I mentioned here a few weeks ago, Apple has debuted a new iPod, that boasts of all the features you can find in a cellular phone and mp3 player, in one fancy-ass phone. In honor of that, SNL had the following skit in the same week. Enjoy!

Where NOT to go on dates if you want to keep it cheap

2007-02-14T20:48:00.000-08:00

Forbes just released their list of 25 Most Expensive Cities for a First Date. They used the average cost of a men's haircut, a movie ticket, pizza, a bottle of wine, gas, and dry cleaning as their siginificators for this evaluation of cities 200 U.S. cities with a minimum population of 100, 000 people. The top ten list is as follows:

1. Stamford, CT 2. Newark, NJ 3. New York, NY 4. San Fransisco, CA 5. San Jose, CA 6. Oakland, CA 7. New Haven, CT 8. Hartford, CT 9. Seattle, WA 10. Portland, OR

I'd just like to point out that 6 of the top ten cities are in Connecticut and California. Must be something with the "C" states. Of course, for some great ideas on how to keep your dates on the less expensive side no matter where you are, try some of my tried and true tips and ideas for "First Date Ideas on a Budget".

"I love Archie, and the whole gang!"

2007-02-14T19:16:00.000-08:00

While he not be one of the most popular strips in the Sundays, and his comic books are not nearly as popular as they used to be, Archie is still around, and sadly, he lost a friend on February 8th. At the age of 85, Joe Edwards, "an artist who worked on the 1942 debut issue of Archie comics and later created the character Li'l Jinx, has died." You can read more about his passing here.

If you're a big fan, like me, or Archie and the gang, you can check out a really fun website featuring comics, free desktops, and contests, here.

Because its important to have chocolate

2007-02-14T13:58:00.000-08:00

If you are, like many in the northeast, snowed in on this Valentine's Day, then why don't you try your hand at some of the absoluely mouth-watering chocolate desserts here. Whether its a Raspberry and Chocolate Dessert Martini, an Upside-Down Black Forest Pie, or a Bittersweet Chocolate Lava Cake (my personal favorite), any of these are just as good (if not better) than being able to go out to eat at a fancy restaurant. Enjoy!

Now that is a real love story

2007-02-14T11:51:00.000-08:00

Recently in Rome, archeologists unearthed the skeletal remains of a couple that are believed to be about 6,000 years old. Even more remarkable than the state of their remains, is that the couple is quite visibly holding each other in their arms. While it has not yet been definitely determined that the individual skeletons are that of a male and female, DNA testing will be able to tell that within the next few months, You can read the whole story here.

The Politics of Blogging

2007-02-13T19:20:00.000-08:00

Just an interesting story for bloggers in general, it seems that a second blogger has had to quit any and all afiliations with John Edwards presidential campaign due to comments made in their personal blog. You can read the newstory here.

Happy Valentine's Day!

2007-02-13T19:16:00.000-08:00

Some Valentine's Day Resources:

~Choosing the perfect chocolate gift can set the stage for your romance

~The most searched for flowers and what they mean

~Date Night Movie Guide

~Valentine's Dinner Date Etiquette

What NOT to give on Valentine's Day

2007-02-12T22:48:00.000-08:00

The following are all taken from REAL ads in flyers and on the radio.

-"Give a gift she'll really love this Valentine's Day, give the gift of laser hair removal..."

Umm, no she won't, and don't.

-"Give the gift of fitness and health..." (a women's gym membership)

Give this gift, and you can sign the card, "Yes, it does make you look fat." because that is pretty much what you're saying with that one.

If you're really stuck trying to find a last minute gift idea for Valentine's Day, check out my previous post. If worse comes to absolute worse, go with the old stand-bys--flowers, chocolates, and jewelry. Here's a little money saving tip when it comes to buying roses. If you buy a color other than the traditional red, such as pink or white, they'll cost a little less. More than anything, just remember that sometimes the most sincere expressions of love are also the simplest.

Did somebody say Chinese McDonald's?

2007-02-12T21:25:00.000-08:00

Did you know that KFC's biggest market is China? With over 1.3 billion people, its not difficult to see that being able to tap into even a small section of the Chinses fast food industry could lead to big pay-offs. But what are the implications of taking sometimes iconic business models and products, and adapting them to a foreign culture? I saw this story on Sunday's NBC Nightly News and found correspondent Mark Mullen's blog entry on the topic to be very interesting. You can check it out here.

The Grammys fashion report

2007-02-11T22:33:00.001-08:00

Last night was the 40th Annual Grammy Awards, honoring the best and brightest in people who put stuff on CDs or iTunes. I of course, tuned in, and was very excited to see performances by Christina Aguilera, John Mayer, Corinne Bailey Rae, and Shakira, among others, as well as yet another great Grammy opening performance which featured a reunion by The Police. The stage itself was amazing in terms of modern set design. As for the fashions, according to Yahoo, Subdued styles dominated Grammy fashion, but if they mean that everyone for the most part looked pretty decent, then I agree. There was a lot black, or black with metallic silver or gold, and halter necklines and strapless dresses.

I was slightly embarrassed for Vanessa Minillo and Petra Nemcova, who almost wore the same exact dress.

My favorite was actually Kimberly Caldwell, who wore a beautiful floor length black lace over white dress, that had an elegant mermaid tail that started just above her knees. Her hair was a little funky for the dress, but she's young, and it was the Grammy Awards.

The politically undertoned show featured a prominent shout out to Barack Obama during an improvised lyric in Wyclef Jean and Shakira's performance of "Hips Don't Lie." Additionally, the formerly shunned Dixie Chicks, whose fall-out for a derogatory comment made about the president four years ago inspired their current album, Shut Up and Sing, found sufficient retribution in winning awards in all 5 of the categories they were nominated in.

I was also very proud of Connecticut homeboy John Mayer, who besides winning two awards, classed it up by wearing a black jacket and pants for his performance on stage with John Legend and Corinne Bailey Rae, then switching to a stunning black tux in the audience--now if he would only cut his hair and stop making those weird faces when he performs.

Make your own Valentine's Day

2007-02-11T20:19:00.000-08:00

As I said in a previous post, Valentine's Day doesn't necessesarily, and shouldn't have to be about expensive gifts like diamonds or iPods. At its most basic (though admittedly, some might say juvenile), Valentine's Day is about simple but pure expressions of like, which is why I have always been fond of the art of making Valentines. During the Victorian era, Valentine making was very popular, as friends and lovers would make ornate cards of paper, ribbon, and lace, to be given and received on this February holiday. To encourage the tradition of homemade Valentine's, here are some tips and ideas for this Wednesday.

-Courtesy of craft-guru Martha Stewart, here you can check out How to make a Valentine's Day heart garland.

-Create a very romantic evening by having an indoor picnic. Clear out the living room, and spread out a nice blanquet. Light some candles, or the fireplace if you have one, and make sure you have a vase of flowers nearby. The menu can be anything that is simple to eat , like fried chicken, buttermilk biscuits, and cole slaw. Other foods that you might have on your menu are assorted sandwiches, fruit, cheese and crackers, spring rolls, pasta salad, fruit salad, and cookies.

-Cheesy, but useful, and can be endearing if you word them right--make your own love coupons good for things like kisses and hugs, back rubs or massages, errands, chores, home-cooked dinners, or if you have any special talents, like playing a musical instrument.

-Even when I was in college, I enjoyed making Valentine's and exchanging them with friends, because I have always thought that Valentine's Day is about any kind of love, and friends should celebrate that regardless of whether or not they have boyfriends or girlfriends as well. While we didn't have desks to hang envelopes from for our Valentines like in elementary school, in the dorm, we made Valentine holders from brown paper lunch bags to hang on our doors. We would put our names clearly somewhere on the front, and then decorate them using whatever we had at our disposal--magazine clippings, markers, stickers, or even paint from my art courses.

-And of course, I highly suggest you try to make some of your own Valentines for the special people in your life. Use glitter, paper doilies, markers, stickers, and construction paper to make them. You can also cut pictures out of magazines or flyers, lace, beads, even wallpaper sample books, or, if you are very artistic, try your hand at some drawing or simple sketches or romantic images like cupids, roses, or other flowers, using colored pencils. Creativity is good for the soul, and is underused by many people which is a shame as it has been proven that you cannot achieve your greatest intellectual state unless both the analytical and the creative hemispheres of the brain are maximized. And you thought that Valentine's Day was all about your heart!

FREE SAMPLE ALERT!

2007-02-09T21:58:00.000-08:00

What better way to start off a Monday than to get yourself a couple of free goodies! The first one is for women only (sorry guys, but I bet your aren't).

If you click the link and fill out your info, you can get a sample of the New Always Clean maxi pad.

The second sample, in keeping with "clean" commercial naming trend, is forAquafresh Extreme Clean toothepaste. If you click the link and find the button on the top of the page that says "Savings and Special Offers", you will find an option to request your free sample. You can then chooseto either have your free sample sent in the mail, where you will then be asked for your address, or you can print out a coupon to redeem for your free sample at your local store.

KT Tunstall - Suddenly I See

2007-02-08T22:50:00.001-08:00

Friday VicPick video: KT Tunstall--"Suddenly I See"

2007-02-08T22:48:00.000-08:00

Since the Grammy Awards are this Sunday night, I thought I would post the latest video from Grammy nominated artist KT Tunstall. Her first single "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" off the album Eye to the Telescope, was nominated in the Best Female Pop Vocal category. I saw this amazing woman perform in December and let me just say, anyone who can perform all her own songs entirely by herself deserves proper appreciation and respect. Think of all the money she saves on a back-up band! Seriously, go out and get her album, its interesting both from a musical and lyrical standpoint, and well worth the purchase. Your bargain today--in this video, you get two KT's for the price of one, for FREE!

Shocker

2007-02-08T21:50:00.000-08:00

You know, the one day I'm not at the computer most of the time, and I have to hear about Anna Nicole's death from some woman freaking out and talking way too loud on her cell phone in the home furnishings aisle of Target. Yeesh, you know, there are just some things that no bargain is worth. Anyways, unless you were under a rock and far away from your local Target, then you know that Anna Nicole Smith was found dead in her Florida hotel room at the age of 39. In the end, I feel that it was the cumulative result of her tumultuous life that resulted in her untimely death. This is why they tell you stay away from drugs, kids.

I have no doubt that her daughter, Danielynn Hope, will be well taken care of, as there are 2 men fighting over the opportunity to be her father. Who is going to take care of Sugar Pie?

I see CHEAP travel in your future...

2007-02-07T21:45:00.000-08:00

Just a little article I found on Yahoo by Rolf Potts on how to travel cheaply by following some basic tips and advice. Potts is the author of the book Vagabonding, a sort of guidebook for people interested in travelling overseas for an extended period of time. Among his suggestions for extending your travel and reducing your costs, Potts writes, "No matter how intricately you've planned and budgeted your travels back home, what you learn from your first two weeks is far more valuable in the long run. Thus, be prepared to adjust your itinerary and reconsider your budget as you make new discoveries."

Puppy Bowl!

2007-02-07T21:35:00.000-08:00

Usually, I watch the Super Bowl for the halftime show, and of course, the ubiquitous ads, but I actually saw neither this year, as I found this much more interesting. They don't have ads, they don't have a football, they don't have uniforms, they don't even have humans, unless of course you count the referee that comes out and vacuums the field every now and then or cleans up after one of the players makes a mess. I'm talking, of course, about the Puppy Bowl III that aired opposite the Super Bowl on Animal Planet. If you missed it, you can check out some of the clips through the links, and don't forget to watch the Kitty Half Time Show sponsored by Bissell.

VicPick: Vo5 Silky Experiences Shampoo

2007-02-06T21:05:00.000-08:00

I have always really liked Vo5 Shampoos and Conditioners as they are easy to find (they're sold just about everywhere), they come in a variety of different formulas and scents, and they are CHEAP! Now, once again, don't let the misnomer of thinking that because something is cheap, it must not be a good product, cloud your thinking. I have always taken very good care of my hair and have often received compliments on it. I have tried most of the Vo5 formulas-- from the 5 Vitamin Formulas, to the Moisture Milks (I am a big fan of the "Creamy Fresh Peaches" scent), to the very soothing scentedTea Therapy line. While I discovered my latest find this summer, it is not on their website for some reason, but I HIGHLY recommend their new Silky Experiences line, particularly in the scent "Champagne Kiss." This intoxicating scent has a subtle strawberry tone to it, and makes your hair touchably soft afterwards, with just the right amount of the scent lingering for most of the day. This line boasts of its added silk proteins, and is well worth the 78 cents you can purchase it for!

Gift giving for V-Day

2007-02-04T19:56:00.000-08:00

In this modern age of massive commercialism, unremitting capitalistic tendencies, and the indefatigable appeal of the almighty dollar, I somehow am still amazed at how unavoidable consumerism has come to be. For one thing, I am continually blown away by how much couples will spend on each other during the holidays. Now make no mistake, if you are in an important, worthwhile, and lasting relationship, and are financially stable, I see no reason why you can't spend a lot on each other. But when it comes to couples that have only been dating for a short period of time, or are in high school, or college, or are just starting out, isn't it a little ridiculous to spend hundreds of dollars on each other? Hundreds of dollars that could be spent on any one of the numerous monthly bills you are struggling to pay, or tuition, or books, or perhaps, you come to the realization that you should cut up your credit cards and stop spending money you simply do not have? In the spirit of responsible spending--as in the case when it applies to gift-giving within couples for Valentine's Day, I highly suggest you check out this great little article at CNN.

Have you had your (coffee) break today?

2007-02-02T20:21:00.000-08:00

There are a heck of a lot of coffee drinkers out there, as evidenced by the amount of Starbucks that inhabit densely populated areas. While I am not a coffee drinker myself (I prefer hot chocolate), I was very amused to hear this report that states after recent comparison taste-testing, McDonald's is the best purveyor of coffee around, beating out both the nearly synonomous Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts. While my lack of appreciation for coffee means I cannot confirm or deny the "trained taste-testers" findings, I trust the fellows from Consumer Reports who decided that the cheapest option in the 'fast food' coffee market is also the best tasting. Keep this in mind next time you assume that plunking down 7 bucks for the name-brand grab-and-go java is really your best bet.

Groundhog Day

2007-02-02T19:16:00.001-08:00

In honor of this outcast of the popular holidays, and to mark Punxsatawney Phil's annual 15 minutes, today's Friday VicPick video (albeit late today) is of the classic Bill Murray movie, Groundhog Day. Like his other great philosophical films, Ghostbusters, Ghostbusters 2, Caddyshack, and What About Bob?, I've always felt that this movie speaks to the deeper meaning in every day life such as, "why are we here?" and "what is the meaning of life?". Such subtle undertones are what propelled Murray movie's career. They're subtle, but they're there.

As for the official 2007 report, Punxsatawney Phil says:

El Nino has caused high winds, heavy snow, ice and freezing temperatures in the west.
Here in the East with much mild winter weather we have been blessed.

Global warming has caused a great debate.
This mild winter makes it seem just great.

On this Groundhog Day we think of one thing.
Will we have winter or will we have spring?

On Gobbler's Knob I see no shadow today.
I predict that early spring is on the way.

Apologies

2007-02-01T06:16:00.000-08:00

Hey kids, I'm out of town for the day, so not a lot of posts until maybe later. Hope everyone has a good day, and I'll be back tomorrow with your Friday VicPick video and anything else I can dig up!

Celebrity Secret Drug Store Finds Revealed!

2007-01-31T10:07:00.000-08:00

Just before I went to bed last night I caught a very short piece on The Insider where stars on the Golden Globes red carpet were asked about their favorite products that they use that anyone can get at their local drugstore. Here's what they revealed:

Jaime Pressly from My Name is Earl uses St. Ives medicated face scrub to keep the skin on her face from becoming too dried out or clogged up from all the heavy make-up she has to wear everyday on the show.

Vanessa Williams from Ugly Betty uses Albolene facial cleanser/makeup remover.

America Ferrera from Ugly Betty and Chandra Wilson from Grey's Anatomy both use Maybelline Great Lash Mascara, or, "the kind in the pink and green tube," which was also our very first VicPick on this site!

Just goes to show you, if you want the hook-up on all the best finds for the greatest bargains, make sure you check it out here at VicPicks!

In Tribute of Barbaro

2007-01-30T19:53:00.000-08:00

I forget exactly how I found this article, and it is slightly on the longer side, but if you're like me and cared about his story at all, do yourself a favor and take some time to read this beautifully written piece on Barbaro by Nancy Armour, a sports columnist at the Seatle Post-Intelligencer.

FREE SAMPLE ALERT!

2007-01-30T17:25:00.000-08:00

Haven't had one of these in a while, but I just saw a commercial highlighting a great one from Pantene. They have a new "Time Renewal" collection that is supposed to undo years of damage to your hair as a result of brushing, washing, sun exposure, styling products, and coloring treatments. After filling out a really quick survey and they calculate for you how badly damaged your hair is, you can pick your free sample from 3 different product choices. Just click the link above to get your's.

Barbaro's Legacy

2007-01-30T10:16:00.000-08:00

While Barbaro may have lost his brave fight yesterday after suffering a career-ending injury in the Preakness last May, besides his captivating and inspirational fight to survive, it seems that the treatments and rehabilitation he received over the past 8 months may mean significant progress for other injured horses.

Besides bringing more awareness to the specific injury itself, Barbaro's story also may help fund research for laminitis, a condition he acquired as a result of uneven weight distribution in his limbs, and show people that euthanasia is neither the immediate nor the only option when it comes to injured equine.

Says Rick Arthur, the equine medical director for the California Horse Racing Board, "It's taught people what can be done, and there will probably be horses in the future who will live based on what happened with Barbaro."

You can read more about the story, here.

Barbaro

FINALLY, AS PROMISED!

2007-01-29T21:54:00.000-08:00

The long, long, long, long, LONG overdue recipe I originally promised in time for the holidays. Yes, I know, its well past that now, but its chocolate and peanut butter, and that stuff is good ALL YEAR ROUND! Plus, they're quick, easy, require few ingredients, and no baking!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls 25 chocolate wafer cookies, finely crushed 1 cup + 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar 1/3 cup honey 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons smooth peanut butter Mix together in large bowl cookie crumbs and 1 cup of the confectioner's sugar. In a separate bowl, whisk together the honey and peanut butter until well-combined. Add to the cookie crumb mixture and stir well (mixture may be crumbly). Using your hands, shape the mixture into 1 inch balls. Set the balls aside at room temperature until ready to serve, or store in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days. Just before serving, roll the balls in the remaining 2 tablespoons of confectioners' sugar.

Helpful hint: To crush the chocolate wafer cookies, simply place them in a gallon sized ziploc bag and roll over them with a rolling pin or canned food item.

ENJOY!

Bloggers and Politics

2007-01-29T21:18:00.000-08:00

Recently sworn in history-making Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, has been making bloggers and important part of her agenda. The Madame Speaker has put communicating with bloggers at the top of her priority list, as a number of politicians are realizing the importance of this new sort of grass-roots politics in the virtual age. Learn more about what Pelosi, and other prominent politicians, are doing to get connected, here.

The 2007 Awards Show Season--Now in Full Color!

2007-01-29T11:13:00.000-08:00

The Screen Actor's Guild Awards were last night in LA, and although I did not get to watch it, I am impressed by all the red carpet pictures today. Unlike the false predictions for their predecessor, the Globes, which featured mostly black and white gowns, there was in fact a rainbow of color choices at SAG. This is perhaps no more clearly seen than on the ladies from Grey's Anatomy, a favorite of mine that won for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series. Indivdual winner Chandra Wilson, who won for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series, gave a shout out during her acceptance speech to the obviously absent Isaiah Washington, saying, "It's about those 10 cast members sitting over there and the other one in rehab. Y'all just hold me together." Something tells me that if Isaiah had been there, he would not have appreciated the rainbow of fashion we saw last night.

Some very sad news...

2007-01-29T09:39:00.000-08:00

I am extremely saddened to report that after fighting very valiantly to recover from his injury and the complications that resulted from it last May, the beautiful Barbaro was euthanized. It seems that the recent setbacks, particularly one this past weekend, necessitating more surgery, caused the courageous colt to suffer pain and discomfort, and Roy and Gretchen Jackson, his owners, made the decision after he had a difficult night.

"And finally, O MASTER, when my useful strength is gone, do not turn me out to starve or freeze, or sell me to some cruel owner to be slowly tortured or starved to death; but do thou, my MASTER, take my life in the kindest way. And your GOD will reward you here and hereafter. You will not consider me irreverent if I ask this in the name of HIM, who was born in a stable. Amen."
~from "The Horse's Prayer"

Barbaro

TV Flashback: Viewing like its 1999-- Current Stars as Former Flops

2007-01-28T21:34:00.000-08:00

So, I was trying to clean up my total disaster of a bedroom this weekend and as I was going through some papers, I found an old section of a TV Guide circa 1999. Before I tossed it out in pack-rat disgust, I flipped through some of the pages to find it was from a fall television preview guide. As I looked at what shows were on that year, I was titillated to discover a number of current stars in shows that later tanked, some in the very same year they debuted. For your pleasure now, take a look at those who went on to much bigger and better things.

Linda Cardellini, currently in ER then in Freaks and Geeks
This critically acclaimed NBC show was picked as a "TV Guide Fall Favorite", but never found its niche with the fans. Lasting a slightly better than terrible 18 episodes (roughly 1 season), Cardellini played "a pensive brainiac who has begun to rebel and hang with the freaks", or, as it were, the geek within the freaks. After being cancelled in 2000, she later went on to play Velma in the Scoobie Doo movies, and has been on ER since 2003.

Amanda Peet and Jaime Pressly, currently in Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip and My Name is Earl then in Jack & Jill
A cute, but continually struggling, by-product of the now defunct WB network, this diamond in the rough cast also featured the likes of Simon Rex who later appeared on the same network with Amanda Bynes and Jennie Garth inWhat I Like About You and in Scary Movie 3 and 4. While Peet concurrently starred in The Whole Nine Yards movie with her current co-star on Studio 60, Matthew Perry, while Jack & Jill had its run from 1999-2001, Pressly wouldn't star in Not Another Teen Movie until after the show ended. In addition to being recently engaged and expecting her first child with fellow actor Eric Cubiche, she also stars on the NBC hit sitcom, What About Earl?

Jennifer Garner and Jennifer Love Hewitt, currently in Catch and Release(movie) and Ghost Whisperer then in Time of Your Life
This disappointing spin-off of Party of Five featured a pre-Felicity/Scott Foley/Alias/Daredevil/ Electra/Hollywood divorce/Ben Affleck/re-marriage/baby Violet/(oh, and let us not forget the epic Dude Where's My Car either)-- Jennifer Garner, and a formerly younger and spunkier Jennifer Love Hewitt, in a show that filmed 19 episodes but only aired 13. Though Ben's movie did beat his wife's in the box office this past weekend, it is decidedly so that Garner went on to much bigger and better things and Hewitt went on to CBS.

Kate Walsh, currently in Grey's Anatomy then in The Mike O'Malley Show
This far from memorable show that lasted all of one episode was just one of a number of stints a formerly blonde Walsh had on some rather formulaic-ly named sitcoms, including a recurring role on the Drew Carey Show, before finding success as a redhead in the hit drama, Grey's Anatomy. Other sitcom sidetracks include appearances on: The Weber Show, The Norm Show, and Complete Savages, as well as slightly meatier fare on the similarly fated dramaKaren Sisco.

Katherine Heigl, currently on Grey's Anatomy then in Roswell
Another doomed WB darling, this show unwittingly held another future Grey's star captive from 1999-2002, where she played an orphaned alien from the supposed 1947 spaceship crash in New Mexico. Colin Hanks, Tom Hanks son, and future star of the cult hit movie Orange County, also starred.

Anne Hathaway, most recently in The Devil Wears Prada (movie) then in Get Real
Marking her debut as an actress, before finding success on the big screen in the Princess Diaries, Hathaway co-starred with Christina Pickles (of Friends fame as Ross and Monica's mom, Judy Gellar) in this light-hearted Fox sitcom that lasted all of 9 episodes.

Prince Beckham?

2007-01-26T10:30:00.000-08:00

While he hasn't officially moved to the States yet, and it still remains to be seen how well his soccer will fair in light of his supposed Hollywood ambitions, it seems that David Beckham is already charging the gates...of Disney that is. In a new ad campaign featuring the slogan "Disney Parks: Where Dreams Come True", the soccer superstar is among a number of famous faces dressed as classic Disney characters in photos taken by the uber-acclaimed photographer, Annie Leibovitz. Beckham portrays the valiant Prince Philip from Sleeping Beauty, atop a white horse bearing sword and shield in the face of the fire-breathing dragon (though the dragon is not visible). Beyonce and Scarlett Johansson, among others, are featured as part of Disney's Year of a Million Dreams. You can check out all the beautiful photographs here. Becks admittedly pulls off the dashing prince thing well, but does this mean we have to refer to Victoria as "Princess Posh" from now on?

Angelina on Ryan Seacrest

2007-01-25T22:53:00.001-08:00

The Friday VicPick video: Angie untainted

2007-01-25T22:18:00.000-08:00

In honor of all the attention that Miss Jolie has garnered herself lately for her suddenly snoblike behavior on the red carpet of the Golden Globes last week, I've found a great clip of her formerly outspoken self where she remarks on a number of things that are particularly interesting in hindsight.

She talks about having "a football team of kids" and when asked if they would all be adopted, she replies "yeah."
Amongst having "kids from all different cultures" she would like "3 lovers" because that "seems like a good number" and says that she

"...never had a one night stand, I don't believe in unsafe sex, I'm the most responsible person when it comes to those things...I'd love to have great men that I know or women and be sexually free with them."

--Angelina Jolie circa 2004 on her sex life

The interviewer, Ryan Seacrest, who was subjected to her silent indifference at the Globes references a quote where she talks about spending a few hours with a man in a hotel room and then going home to put her son to bed as being all she can handle. When asked about love and marriage, she remarks that she "can't be looking for love," because when it comes to having a man around, she has to consider her "kid" (she had only adopted Maddox at that time) saying "I take that very seriously."

And is that the only way we can regard you now, Angelina?

Walmart secrets

2007-01-25T16:30:00.000-08:00

As promised, I have some secrets to share with you about Walmart, which unfortunately is taking over the world as we speak. These secrets come courtesy of a former employee that I know, who was all too happy to share them on the condition of anonymity (with Walmart's ever increasing power, who knows what their evil influence could do to you).

Sam's Club

Enjoy this post? Want more secrets? For more specifically on Walmart, check out the website Walmart Watch. For insider secrets on Old Navy and Bath and Body Works, keep a lookout right here!

Winter Tips

2007-01-25T14:51:00.000-08:00

Coming up in next month's Family Circle, you'll be able to find a handy tip of mine when it comes to taking car of your car during the winter months. This past weekend, I happened to share another cold-weather-related tip with a friend of mine when it comes to testing whether or not a pond is frozen enough for ice skating.

To test the ice of an outdoor pond to determine whether it is frozen enough for skating, carefully walk out on the ice towards the middle and jump up and down. If you fall through, the ice is not ready for skating.

Disclaimer: This tip is meant as a joke, please do not try this at home.

Cooler than cool

2007-01-24T18:55:00.000-08:00

No matter what your political persuasion, I hope we all can agree that the big shiny bright spot of the always droll State of the Union address last night was seeing a woman sit behind the president for the first time in our nation's history, and hearing him address her as "Madame Speaker." Can I have a 'what what' for equality? You go Nancy Pelosi!

Celebrity Looks for Less: Going for the Globes

2007-01-24T14:42:00.000-08:00

In a previous post I discussed my fashion picks for the 2007 Golden Globes. For those of you who, like myself, enjoy the red carpet fashions, I've found some recreations that are much more affordable than the original versions. Below are some beautifully done dresses that can make anyone feel like a movie star for a fraction of the price.

Eva Longoria's navy-colored Emanuel Ungaro gown was an admitted first for her, and a favorite of mine as I am always a fan of blue. After the Globes this year, Access Hollywood had a piece on celebrity-inspired gowns by Faviana New York and featured a newly created knock-off of her 2007 Globes gown, as well as ones inspired by Drew Barrymore, Penelope Cruz, Kate Winslet, and even Beyonce. I've worn a Faviana gown myself and can attest that they are beautiful gowns of quality yet very reasonably priced. Faviana is known for recreating celebrity red carpet looks and famous dresses from film and tv, and making affordable versions available to regular people.

One of the few spots of color in the ultra-unusual red carpet choice of yellow, Reese Witherspoon's strapless canary cocktail dress by Nina Ricci cost thousands more than eDressMe New York's version which can be pre-ordered for only 198 dollars and will be shipped mid-March.

Former American Idol contestant Jennifer Hudson went for simple and sleek black Vera Wang, a designer who epitomizes soft sophistication and feminine elegance, and charges plenty for it to boot. However, eDressMe New York also has a version, and this one retails for only 295 dollars and can also be pre-ordered to ship come mid-March.

A penny saved is a...nickel earned?

2007-01-24T14:13:00.000-08:00

While Kevin Federline attempts to save the penny by proving that uselessness knows the value of other useless things, it seems that Fed-Ex may indeed have a bright idea, as with the recent rise in the price of copper and an anticipated coin shortage due to people hoarding and melting them down, could turn the one cent piece into a 5 cent piece. By "rebasing" the penny and making it the same value as a nickel, the coin shortage problem could potentially be circumvented. Read more about it here.

A great site

2007-01-24T10:19:00.000-08:00

Post Secret is a community art project wherein people are asked to send in homemade postcards that anonymously disclose a secret that they have. Some of those that are sent in are posted on their website and are changed every Sunday. There have also been a number of Post Secret books that have been published featuring cards that did not make it to the website. I like to check the site out once a week to see the beautifully expressive artwork that everyday people are capable of, but more importantly, I am always moved to read the secrets and imagine the heavy burdens that all of us quietly carry around with us every single day. Last night however, this one couldn't help but make me laugh...

Let this be a warning to you! Sometimes its best to keep your bargains to yourself!

OH THE STUFF!

2007-01-23T22:11:00.000-08:00

YES--There is stuff! Stuff that is coming, about what is going on, stuff that I've promised, some surprises, some pictures, etc., and all of it, will be coming at you vvvvvvvvvvvery shortly. I'M SERIOUS!

Post Golden Globes

2007-01-16T11:09:00.000-08:00

So last night was the Golden Globes, and despite the fact that I fell asleep for a good half hour around the 10 o’clock mark, I did manage to wake up in time to see the always pronounciation-ally challenged governor of California hobble out on his crutches from his recently broken leg to present the final award to Babel for the Best Picture-Drama category.

The It-couple of the new year, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were seated together along with the cast of the nominated film, Babel, and were less dazzling than they are cracked up to be. Brad’s face was caked with make-up and visibly stiff and awkward. Angelina’s hair was pulled back severely from her face, and looked frailly thin in her strapless charcoal grey St. John dress. Supposedly, Angie had a lot of trouble selecting her dress this year as all the dresses the designer showed her were only “so-so.” As per their normal public behavior,Brangelina were both so fascinated by all the obviously less attractive people around them that they barely looked at each other all night, including when Brad got up with the rest of the cast to receive Babel’s award at the end of the night.

America Ferrera (one of the few women I saw dressed in an indigo colored custom made gown by Brian Reyes--a nice change) was supremely sweet, and brought many in the audience to tears during her acceptance for Best Actress in a Comedy for Ugly Betty, after accepting the Best Comedy award earlier with the entire cast. Their screams of surprise and excitement were audible when their first award win was announced, as the first time winner proved to be quite a coup for a show in its first season based on an internationally popular telenovela.

Fashion:
Despite predictions earlier in the evening from supposed “fashion insiders” at Access Hollywood that we would see a lot of color on the red carpet, my fashion instincts were dead on as I felt that we would and did in fact see a lot of black and white.

Shopping at the Black Market:
Jennifer Hudson, Catherine Heigl, and a pregnant Nancy O'Dell all chose the always classic black. Courteney Cox wore a sexy sheer black lace dress with nude underlay and capped sleeves. Sharon Stone, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Mary Louise Parker, Tina Fey, Hilary Swank in Chanel couture, also chose black, while Jennifer Lopez wore a black toga-style Marchesa dress with gold trim. Penelope Cruz chose ruffles while Cate Blanchett wore a black lace off-the-shoulder number with an asymmetrical-hem by Alexander McQueen.

Staying at the White House:
Forget your mother’s outdated fashion guidelines about wearing white after Labor Day, winter white is here to stay and many at the Globes this year wore various shades of it. Evoking classic Hollywood glamour, some stuck to the classic white like Heidi Klum, Ellen Pompeo, Salma Hayek, Cameron Diaz (in Valentino with more ruffles and a black ribbon bow around her waist), and the always classy Kate Winslet wore a draped white Azzarro column dress with a dramatically dark red lip. Hayden Panettiere, from Heroes went for a white strapless number with emerald earrings and gold embellishment. Drew Barrymore learned her lesson from her bra-less stretchy green disaster last year and was beautifully elegant in a Grecian inspired John Galliano for Christian Dior gown. Nicollete Sheridan also went strapless with black ribbon trim, and black tulle poking out from an oversized mermaid tail. Jennifer Garner was in white with silver vintage Gaultier. Teri Hatcher wore a long white gown with a draped back and silver embellishments. Others, like Emily Blunt, chose off-white or cream-colored tones. Ali Larter, also from Heroes wore a cream Reem Acra.

Golden girls:
It seems only fitting that on Hollywood’s Golden night, where both stars of television and film are honored, that golden metallic shades were popular with fashion forward stars like Sarah Jessica Parker, Vanessa Williams, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Sandra Oh, Beyonce, and Julia Louis Dreyfus. Salma Hayek even tapped the trend herself by pairing her white number with golden stilleto sandals. Jessica Biel went backless in a gold dress with a softly pinned updo, and Vanessa Minnillo wore a gold satin number.

Green with envy:
Other than a random yellow dress from Reese Witherspoon (with red shoes no less) an admitted first for Eva Longoria in a navy Ungaro gown, and a seemingly appropriate pink strapless column dress on Jada Pinkett Smith, the one color that did seem to pop up repeatedly were various shades of the revived green, which showed itself not only in its rich emerald jewel tone on the likes of Renee Zellwegger, Helen Mirren, and Maria Menounos, but also in the more muted mint shade on Felicity Huffman, Becki Newton, Tawney Cypress, and Elizabeth Mitchell.

Other trends:
Once again, oversized chandelier earrings were big, a leftover of recent award seasons past. Necklaces were skipped in order to not over-accesorize the dramatic danglers. Hair was mostly worn down, in soft waves, or pinned somewhat off of the face.

Hits:
While no one really stuck out for me as a certifiable hit in the fashion department, by default I will have to give my best dressed to Emily Blunt. The British new-comer who caught our eye earlier this year as the red-headed snobby assistant in The Devil Wears Prada wore an elegant cream colored dress with pearl embellished straps and an over-sized mermaid tail. Her win for Best Supporting Actress in a TV Miniseries or Movie for Gideon's Daughtermeant that she brought home two great prizes of the evening--her Golden Globe, and sexy Canadian crooner, Michael Buble, her boyfriend and date for the evening.

As a close second, Catherine Heigl also stunned in her strapless black number with a ruffled train and diamond jewelry. She is proving to be quite the red carpet stunner.

Misses:
The oh-so-awesomely talented Meryl Streep gave a hilariously cool and confident acceptance speech for her win as the fashion editor in The Devil Wears Prada, but her chameleon like qualities as an actress did not seem to absorb any of her character, Anna Wintour’s, expertise in the fashion department. While she did go for a trendy cream colored number, the color was too pale for her skin tone and nearly matched her hair color, to the point where she seemed like a faded picture.

While men have far fewer choices in the fashion department, making it that much harder to stand out, one would think it would also make it that much harder to mess up. Leave it to Charlie Sheen. In presenting the clip for his “big brother’s” film, Bobby, Emilio Estevez seemed hesitant to stand to receive recognition despite Charlie’s insistence, and a close up of his face while sitting in the audience seemed to read “I’d rather you not remind people that we’re related.” Long passed his days as the cool guy on campus, Mr. Sheen seemed to have forgotten to comb his hair after standing out in the wind for a cig, and then neglected to button his jacket as he walked out on stage. The entire tux itself seemed atleast 2 sizes too big for him, and the jacket and pants seemed to be hanging off of him, resulting in an over-all sloppy appearance.

Golden Globes Tonight!

2007-01-15T12:49:00.000-08:00

I'm a big fan of awards shows, and though I am very disappointed that I missed the People's Choice Awards last week, all is not lost because tonight is the best awards show of all--the Golden Globes! I find this to be the most entertaining of all the awards shows because not only does it feature both television and movie stars, but they also seat them in dining tables in the audience and feed them champagne all night long--so by the time you get to the end of the show, you often have some very drunken stars giving acceptance speeches! Don't miss it!

PS I'm sorry to say that posting may be slow this week, as unfortunately in addition to heading out of town at the end of the week, I'm having problems with my internet connection at home. I will try to make posts in the meantime so that they will be all ready to go up whenever I do have an internet signal at my availability.

Definitely NOT a bargain

2007-01-12T19:46:00.000-08:00

In an attempt to boost the profile of soccer in this country (or football as its known everywhere else in the world), the L.A. Galaxy of Major League Soccer has signed a 5 year deal with David Beckham worth $250 million dollars. The 31 year old former England team captain who is married to the former Posh Spice, of the the Spice Girls, has been doing less than awesome in the past two years playing for a team in Madrid, Spain. David started dating his wife, Victoria, in 1997, and married in 1999. Despite having 3 sons together, there have been rumors that David, or "Becks," has been unfaithful to "Posh" throughout their marriage. While the always fashionable couple is not shy about publicity, as they often make the top of most yearly best-dressed lists and most-searched lists on the net, neither has been immune to scandal, as in addition to David's philandering, rumors have swirled around Victoria regarding everything from an eating to disorder to breast implants.

In any case, by all accounts this expensive move by Major League Soccer is said to be an attempt to boost the popularity of the sport in this country, which lags behind the rest of the world where events like the World Cup draws massive crowds ad hysteria. However, for a league that is struggling to draw crowds, one wonders what Becks salary will do to tickets prices when sporting events for families are already at the point of ridiculousness. Becks insists that it isn't about the money--he wants to help the sport of soccer--in a city that will make it very easy to work on a career in show-business.

Shakira - MadTV - Translation (Objection Parody)

2007-01-12T18:43:00.001-08:00

Another Shakira spoof

2007-01-12T11:34:00.000-08:00

In anticipation of next week's new Celebrity Looks for Less: Shakin' it Like Shakira, this Friday's VicPick parody video is of another classic Shakira video, also done by Mo Collins on MadTV. This one is a spoof her video for Objection (Tango). Enjoy!

Catch-up on reading

2007-01-11T13:46:00.000-08:00

Before I do my own catch-up on all those topics I promised, I have a couple of articles of interest that I wanted to share, so I'm gonna post those first.

I believe in Barbaro

2007-01-11T12:58:00.000-08:00

Remember Barbaro? The promising young colt had many excited for the possibility of a Triple Crown winner in 06 before suffering an almost unbearable to watch injury in the first few lengths of the Preakness last May. After undergoing surgery to repair the 3 bones that were shattered in his right hind leg, he developed a condition called laminitis a few months later. This condition, caused by uneven weight distribution, is common among horses with this injury and is life threatening due to the effects of separation of tissue in the hoof wall. Now, after months of treatment for the laminitis, which included removal of a significant portion of Barbaro's hoof, he suffered a setback a few days ago due to the laminitis. Doctors at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center had to remove more tissue from the affected foot as well as change his cast. Since the recent surgery, doctors have performed new X-rays that show no new complications in either leg, and the horse is still eating well and moving on his own to the best of his abilities. You can read more about this postive sign here.

As an animal lover and a former horse-back riding enthusiast, I have been keeping an eye on the courageous Barbaro since his initial accident in May 20, 2006. You can be sure that any and all updates I can find will be hosted here as I continue to hope for the best for this brave-hearted horse. You can also find a variety of resources, including updates, photo galleries, FAQs, and other information at University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center website, which has a link at the very bottom of the page for fans to send Barbaro your good wishes.

Barbaro

The new improved Congress--now with subpoena power!

2007-01-10T18:27:00.000-08:00

Thanks due in large part to large-headed Senator Ted Kennedy, today the federal minimum wage was raised for the first time in over 10 years. While I applaud raising the minimum income floor from $5.15 and hour to $7.25 an hour, there are opponents who worry what the hike will mean for the economy. You can read a real-life analyis of the situation here.

The lights are dark on 1313 Mockingbird Lane

2007-01-10T14:55:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, at the age of 84, Yvonne De Carlo, died. Best known as Lily Munster on the popular television show, "The Munsters," she also starred in the epic "Ten Commandments" and on Broadway in Stephen Sondheim's "Follies."

How About Them Apple Inc.?

2007-01-09T11:29:00.000-08:00

Today, Apple Computers CEO Steve Jobs unveiled the new iPhone, Apple's first foray into the world of telecommunications. They also debuted a new product that allows people to send internet clips and video from their computers to their television sets. As a reflection of these new avenues, it was also announced that the company will now be known as Apple Inc. Read more about the announcement on Yahoo or straight from the horse's mouth at Apple.

Happy New Year!

2007-01-08T22:58:00.000-08:00

HAPPY 2007 EVERYONE!!

I hope everyone's New Year has gotten off to a great start! This is the very first post I have made in the year 2007, and frankly, I am ashamed I did not get to it sooner! But alack and alas, sometimes life throws things at you, and my time management skills were caught on holiday! In any case, I do have a whole bunch of things I want to post about, so the next week or so you can look forward to:

Celebrity Looks for Less:

VicPicks:

long

Old Navy

Bath and Body Works

Walmart

So stick around--there's lots of great stuff to come!

Oh geez

2006-12-27T23:09:00.000-08:00

Apparently, its not enough that these two are possibly the most genetically perfect-looking people in the world, but as if that weren't enough to make our collective self-esteems suffer, they are now out to make us all feel bad about our inside qualities as well. Yeah, Brangelina did the ultra-good-karmic good deed of giving out gifts to Colombian refugees in Costa Rica on Christmas day. So while you thought that spending time with your loved ones while remembering the birth of Christ was enough to get you into heaven, take a number, because we'll all have to wait in line behind Brad and Angelina.

More ideas on how to save on heat

2006-12-27T22:56:00.000-08:00

Yahoo Answers is featuring some tips by users on how to save on heat. The ideas are well put and useful. Of course, you could just use my mother's idea.

Holi-daze

2006-12-27T22:47:00.000-08:00

So yeah, Christmas definitely snuck up on me, and it ended up being very uneventful so it would be hard to even notice that its already passed were it not for the fact that all the busy-ness and running around has made me extremely tired. I have not, however, forgotten about that holiday recipe (yes, its suitable to have in the post-season) and of course the long-ago promised (and now long over-do) secrets of some of your favorite stores.

VicPick: Reese's Peanut Butter Trees

2006-12-21T17:27:00.000-08:00

We haven't had a VicPick in quite awhile, so I thought I would point out in similar fashion to one of the first I selected back in October, Reese's has their holiday Peanut Butter Trees out! While I usually enjoy these in the convenient 6-pack tray, I found a bargain at my local Rite-Aid, where if you bought the individually packaged ones, you could get 3 for 99¢! So rather than get the 6 in the tray for $2.50, I was able to get 6 for only two bucks! A great stocking stuffer, refer to my previous post on the pumpkins as to why I believe the holiday inspired treats to be more tasty, and satisfying, than the traditional cups.

Final days

2006-12-21T17:09:00.000-08:00

So, its getting down to the final days of the Christmas shopping season--but for my sake, and your's, I won't say exactly how many. While I procrastinated horribly this year, I was very lucky and able to get the majority of it done this past Tuesday in a single trip to the mall. If you're done with you Christmas shopping, and are looking for some fun stuff to do at home while everyone else is out insanely ransacking the stores, I've got some cute little websites for you to check out!

Whatever you end up doing to celebrate your holiday, just make sure its fun!

My Christmas shopping

2006-12-19T20:38:00.000-08:00

Well, I drove over to the mall yesterday and got most of my Christmas shopping done. After a slow start, I hit it big with some deals at FYE and found gifts for both my mom and dad. I also found something for my best friend at another store, and even grabbed a pair of some really cute pin-striped dress pants at Deb for myself for only 10 bucks! However, that was not my only exciting find. I, like many, am a huge fan of Grey's Anatomy, and while strolling down the mall main-way, I stopped dead in my tracks as I laid eyes upon a larger than life picture of Ellen Pompeo and Patrick Dempsey, none other than Meredith and Dr. McDreamy themselves! The billboard sized picture was in the window of New York and Company as part of their winter ad campaign.

Pre-Op

2006-12-19T20:08:00.000-08:00

Everyone's talking about cycle one Top Model Adrianne Curry's breast implant confession story, but look what she said about them before she got them done!

"If I got implants, then my doctor ripped me off! J/k I have nothing against implants, but I have never gone under the knife for anything. I live in La La Land (Hollywood) Just about every woman here has breast implants. I am not against them, if it makes you feel better about yourself, how can it be bad? My friend just recently got hers done. She was in HORRID pain for 3-4 days. I could hardly speak to her on the phone, she was so fucked up on pain killers. She’s happy as a clam now. You need to think long and hard before you decide to do something like this. Watch informational videos talk to women who have implants, and hear their stories. Also, try to cop a feel! You need to decide what kind you want saline, silicone, tear drop shape, ballon shape, ect. GOOD LUCK! PS- I have considered getting very small implants for the last 3 years. I have boobs that chaqnge sizes on me depending on my weight. As of now, there are still more cons to it then there are pros, so I havent had it done"

--Adrianne Curry on her blog, months before her implant surgery

What prompted Adrianne to spill this? Back in June of this year, a visitor to her blog asked her if she had implants. You can check out the dish here.