Must See TV

For 2012, I decided to cut back on watching television. I've been doing fairly well so far, but unfortunately I do admit to getting sucked into the occasional bad reality show or random episode of House Hunters International on a Sunday afternoon. In order to prioritize my TV viewing, I started thinking about what shows are my absolute *must watch* vs. what shows I can live without. Here are the ones I decided on.

How I Met Your Mother

This show kind of stands in the stead of my favorite show of all time, Friends. It's in it's 7th season now and I have loved it since the first episode I watched, when Ted was looking for The Slutty Pumpkin. (Which incidentally turned out to Katie Holmes. :-/ Talk about a Major Disappointment.)

 Funnily enough, I absolutely love every single character on this show except for the Ted who the entire show is supposed to be about. I'd be perfectly content if Bob Saget were just telling his kids about how hilarious his friends were in their 20s and 30s and slipped the story of how he met their mother in there somewhere. Oh yeah and Jason Segel is on this show which is of course what makes it appointment television.

The Big Bang Theory

 I heart this show and all of the nerdy banter, comic book fanboying, and general merriment. Plus there's always the chance of a Wil Wheaton cameo...tell me you didn't love yourself some Wesley Crusher back in the day! Also, I adore Dr. Sheldon Cooper. He is an evil genius in the making if ever there was one. I'm also incredibly amused by Mayim Bialik (TV's Blossom) as Amy Farrah Fowler, Sheldon's girlfriend.

Grey's Anatomy/Private Practice

I realize that these are two different shows, but they are created by the same person, one follows the other, and they are constantly doing crossover episodes since one is a spinoff. I freaking love these shows. I have from the very beginning of each one.  I love all the drama, discord, and the diversity of both casts.  Hot doctors, weird diseases, intense operations, hot doctors, Addison's amazing shoes, hot paramedics, hilarious banter, hot doctors...I mean it's really just about the math with these. Must watch. For sure. 

PS- On Private Practice...Taye Diggs is often shirtless. You're welcome.

The Voice

After the debacle that was Taylor Hicks, I swore off musical competition shows forever. When I heard about The Voice, a show where people audition with the judges backs turned and then the judges choose them based solely on their voice by hitting a button and turning around DRAMATICALLY in their chairs...I was definitely intrigued. Then when I realized I'd get to fangirl over Adam Levine once a week, I was definitely in. There are so many fun elements to this show from Christina & Adam's weird underlying sexual tension, to Cee-Lo's baby hands, to discovering that Blake Shelton has never heard Nirvana's Paint it Black. 

The Voice also forces us to think about the tough questions. Can America judge people based solely on their talent and not their looks? Will Cee-Lo stop petting that creepy white cat? What exactly *is* Christina Milian's purpose on the show? And of course the age old question...WTF is Christina Aguilera going to wear on her head next?

Smash

I think this series might officially replace Glee for me. I still love Glee but it's become a bit heavy handed over this last season and I find myself just tuning in for the songs. Smash is brand new show that just debuted about a bunch of people trying to create a new musical about Marilyn Monroe. The songs in it are a blend of originals for the musical and already well known songs. The talent of this cast is INSANE. A great mix of familiar faces and Broadway alumni. So far it's about 6 episodes or so in and I am LOVING it. 

Once Upon a Time

A show about fairy tales? SIGN ME UP! Full disclosure here, I'm only a recent convert to this show, even though I've DVR'd every episode since it premiered. I absolutely love the concept, the town it's set in, and of course that one of my major girl crushes, Ginnifer Goodwin is in it and playing Snow White. There's a lot of heart, romance, mystery, and intrigue on this show, plus everyone's hair and makeup is FAB. If you love all those old fairy tales, and are too scared to see that NBC show Grimm, this is definitely a show to watch!

What shows are on your must watch list?

Any new ones you're loving?

Blog Contest Winners Announced!!

Yay for blog contests! I'm so excited so many people entered and were kind enough to promote my little Blogoversary giveaway! I picked the winners using random.org and out of 105 total entries (ZOMG), and we have three winners! 

Winner #1 is ..... Amy!

Amy wins signed copies of Beauty Queens by Libba Bray, Prom & Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg, and Audrey Wait! by Robin Benway

Winner #2 is....Eli! 

Eli wins signed copies of Hex Hall and Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins, and The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab

Winner #3 is.... Lori! 

Lori wins signed copies of The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, Shine by Lauren Myracle, and Hourglass by Myra McEntire

Ladies please email me with your address to claim your prizes within the next 48 hours! 

Thanks to everyone who entered!

Why 'The Hunger Games' Is Ruining My Life

Last summer, when the book finally closed on the epicness that is the Harry Potter series, I was saddened and nostalgic, but also a bit relieved. My fandom membership was officially over and I could go on about my life as a responsible law abiding, tax paying, adult. I mean, I'd already kicked my Twilight habit...what else could possibly get me into that much of a frenzy? 

Enter The Hunger Games. 

Dang it Suzanne Collins...why did you have to write such a RIVETING series of books? What did I ever do to you? I read the first book in one sitting not even knowing that it was part of a series. Thankfully I read it just a few weeks before Catching Fire, the second book was released. Oh wait did I say thankful? I meant CURSES because I had to wait another 365 days for the final book, Mockingjay. 

Oh what? Sorry, I paused to think about how Mockingjay ended and took my heart and will to live with it.

Moving on...

Naturally, once the series became successful there were rumblings of a film being made. As I mentioned at the time, I had my misgivings as I do when any amazing book I love becomes a film, but since Suzanne herself was writing the screenplay so it seemed like it probably wouldn't end in epic fail (coughBreakingDawncough) As more people were cast, and it seemed like things were really starting to happen in a positive direction, I became fully on board with the idea of The Hunger Games movie.

It seems like once was happy and excited by the idea, dozens of images of the film started to flooding the Internet, further filling me with anticipation.Trailers were released, magazine articles promoted...it became an insane publicity storm that affected me more than I care to admit. I suddenly became addicted to Tumblr. Do you know that Tumblr is full of HG related gifs and that most of them are bloody amazing? 

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Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss GAH! I thought she would be super va-va-voom and not at all suitable for Katniss. I'm so happy I was wrong...she looks awesome! 

Elizabeth Banks as Effie Trinket. GAH again! Look at her outfit...this is EXACTLY how I pictured Effie when I was reading! (Side note- am I alone in thinking that Elizabeth Banks was the blonde mom on Modern Family?)

Josh Hutcherson as Peeta! Squee! I heart the boy with the bread! Plus he's adorbs, and from interviews I've seen has such a cute personality! 

Wes Bentley as Seneca Crane! Whiskey Tango Foxtrot...it's totally the pot dealing boy next door from American Beauty! But let's be real, we're all just there for the beard right? To paraphrase the great Chris Rock, Wes Bentley is the Commodores but the beard is Lionel Richie!*

Amandla Sternberg as Rue. The fact that she reminds me of a slightly older version of the princess is not going to be okay for me when I watch the film. I already know it.

Let me pause in my gushing to speak briefly about Liam Hemsworth. Frankly, he does nothing for me. 

Now this isn't a problem since I'm neither Team Peeta nor Team Gale but yeah...I find him slightly um, less than evolved looking. Let's just say when I see him, I think a hybrid of these two:

Now according to my friend Jessica, he's quite attractive in real life and has a sexy Australian accent. Meh, I still think his brother Chris is more my speed. 

Am I right ladies?

Since I've exclamation pointed myself into oblivion, let me further continue with my exaltations over the magic that is Cinna Kravitz. 

I LOVE GOLD! Even when it's guy-liner!

Ok...I've searched the Internet for this picture Ellen showed during her interview with Lenny and I cannot find it. LOOK AT IT! This is just begging to be my new laptop wallpaper! 

Side note- Does anyone else hear "Fly" while they're looking at these? Just me? Oh...ok.

Dear Cinna...Feel free to light my fire. Any time. No...seriously.

Oh my heck, I hope I don't throw any panties at the screen!

There's slightly over TWO WEEKS until the movie premieres! My advanced age and parenting duty prevents me from going to a midnight showing, (chagrin) but I do plan on going on opening weekend and I have the perfect shirt to go along with it! (Yes I have a shirt...and?) In order to be fully prepared for the movie, I think this weekend I'm going to take a little trip back to Panem!

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Is anyone else INCREDIBLY excited or is it just me? Do you have a shirt or HG themed outfit?? Are you going to a midnight showing? Do you plan on laughing hysterically at Woody Harrelson's hideous Haymitch wig the whole time too?

GAH cubed!!! I can't for this movie to be released!!! 

* If you don't understand that reference because you aren't old enough to know who The Commodores are, please refrain from telling me. kthxbye

Friday Five (5)

Happy Friday! I'm at a complete loss for five things to write about today so I figured while it was still mildly relevant, I'd post my five favorite Oscar dresses! There's nothing like ending your week ogling dresses you can't afford!

(in random order)

1. Octavia Spencer in Tadashi. Frankly I'm a sucker for anything that sparkles, but this color and fit suited her perfectly.

2. Jessica Chastain in Alexander McQueen. This dress was very polarizing on Twitter, and it was definitely a risk but I absolutely loved it! Ginger Goddess ftw.

3. Cameron Diaz in Gucci. I loved how soft and pretty Cameron looks. Normally she's such a badass with her ripped biceps and what not but here she's oh so feminine and lovely and the cream tone and texture on the dress complete the entire loveliness vibe. 

4. Viola Davis in Vera Wang. Viola and Vera are obviously a winning combination and this emerald green is TDF! Viola's skin makes me want to coat myself in cocoa butter...flawless!

5. Penelope Cruz in Armani. THIS DRESS. She looks like Spanish royalty which if we're being honest, she kind of is. Gorgeous!

There were tons more that I loved and quite a few that I was not a fan of, but these were definitely my favorites. What were yours?