"baby i was born this way"

it's heeeerrrrrree!  i heard "born this way" first thing this morning on my way to work.  i literally got chills as the music started.  the pulsating beat.  the vocals.  the anthemic message of self-love.  the infectious way it made me want to dance.  i admit that it took a couple listens to make me completely obsessed with it, but now i am.  totally & completely.  the count on my itunes is already at 42.  is that normal?  anyways, it's amazing!  the message is so empowering, and it's strange/lame/whatever, but i feel like this one song has already made me feel so much more comfortable in my own skin.

"i'm on the right track baby i was born this way!"

** rant warning **
a lot of people are claiming that gaga ripped off madonna's "express yourself".  yes, there are obvious similarities between the two, but it's definitely not a copycat version.  i actually think of it as an homage to madonna.  seriously, the song is unique enough to be viewed as it's own hit. and honestly, how many other artists have "paid tribute" to past artists or even just used the exact same music only with different lyrics (ahem- rihanna "sos", flo rida "right round", jay-z "young forever"... etc, etc.)?  so, even if "born this way" is similar to "express yourself", who really cares?  it's already #1 in 21 countries... guess not too many people care.

panera at home

i love panera.  especially their broccoli cheese soup.  and their strawberry + other fruit salad with poppyseed dressing.  and their sandwiches.  did i mention i love panera?  well, if i feel like it's a sandwich day i usually get the frontega chicken panini.  it's really good & all the flavors work really well together.  last night, i had a girl's dinner date with my l.a. bff and i decided to try my hand at recreating the panini with my wonderful panini press.  i looked up the ingredient list on panera and picked everything up on my way home from work.  it was super easy to make & they turned out great (in my opinion)!  i even made one for hubby when he got home from work (at 10pm!) & he loved it!  the only thing i'll try differently next time is to use a thinner bread because the ratio was a little off.  or maybe i didn't put enough stuff inside... hmmm.  either way, i will be making these again!

my ill-ratioed, yet delicious frontega chicken panini

"we are all born superstars"

lady gaga has released the album cover for her new single "born this way". she is looking fierce and channeling an alien-ish vibe (with the face & shoulder protrusions).  i think the simplicity is stunning!  the single release date has been bumped up to this friday, february 11... it's so sooooooon!!!

'bld'elicious

hubby wanted to take me on a date before he left for his business trip.  we usually do dinner dates at one of our usuals, but i wanted to switch it up.  i decided that we should go on a brunch date to a restaurant i've been dying to try for over a year.  i saw it on 'the best thing i ever ate' on food network and i knew i had to go.  the magical place i am talking about is bld restaurant.

we were lucky enough to get seated right away (it's a pretty packed place, especially for brunch).  the restaurant is what i would call 'upscale diner' style... very good vibes.  we both got mimosas with fresh-squeezed orange juice.  delish!  fresh-squeezed o.j. definitely made a difference in the mimosas. while sipping, i read over the menu to see what all there was, but honestly, i knew exactly what i was getting before we even got there.  blueberry ricotta pancakes.  hubby ordered the fried egg sandwich with fries. when my pancakes arrived, they smelled incredible and they were gigantic!  oh.my.god.  they were soooooooo good.  like amazing.  even life-changing.  i thought i would be able to eat both of them due to an insane krav maga morning session, but i couldn't even finish one.  i really tried though.  even thought about sitting there the rest of the afternoon just so i could finish them.  seriously, indescribably good. and the sandwich?  well, let's just say it was the best dadgum sandwich.  not the mention the fries were perfect. hubby ate every last bite, but not before i had to beg to try it.

so in summary, it was one of the best dates and probably the only one where we've walked away planning our next trip there.  i am still dreaming of the food... i feel a mild obsession coming on.  wait, i'm already obsessed.

cavill + wilde = epic

rumors are flying that the front-runner for the role of lois lane in the new superman movie is olivia wilde.  yessssssss!!!  unbelievably amazing!  i think she would be the perfect lois lane for snyder's vision of a modern superman. now, just picture it for a minute.  henry cavill & olivia wilde in a movie together.  as lovers.  the hotness of it is mind-blowing!  (i am not ashamed to admit that i have a huge girl-crush on her.)  so please, zack snyder / chris nolan, please cast olivia as lois and make ridiculously happy!

other actresses reportedly testing for the role are rachel mcadams, dianna agron, malin akerman, jessica biel, and kristen stewart.  mcadams is seriously being considered and i think she is a solid second choice for the role.  i'm not feeling glee's agron & don't really have an opinion for the other two.  and kristen stewart?  why in the world is she even being considered?  omg i will hate this movie forever if she is cast.  she is completely undeserving of sharing sexy screen time with henry.  (consciously stopping rant now.)

* update: it's been confirmed that stewart was never offered the role... whew.

jgl love

the rumor has re-emerged that joseph gordon-levitt will reunite with christopher nolan to play a part in the dark knight rises.  sweet! this is getting so exciting!!  i loooove jgl... what an immensely talented actor! he was fantastic in inception (another film obsession of mine) and i am thrilled that he could be joining my beloved batman.

anyways, no news as to what role he might take on. previous rumors had jgl as the riddler, which nolan has said will not be a villain in his movies (maybe).  the web is abuzz with the idea of jgl reprising the role of the joker (due to his uncanny resemblance to heath ledger), but let's hope not.  that's a legacy that should be left as is.  besides, with the casting of tom hardy as bane & anne hathaway as selina kyle/catwoman, the dark knight rises already has two villains.  realistically speaking, jgl could potentially play the new da or assistant da, considering the deaths of harvey dent & rachel dawes in the dark knight.  other options include him playing a rising cop or a mobster. seriously, the possibilities are endless and he will no doubt be amazing as any character.  i just hope nolan will announce the role soon... i'm getting anxious.

for more jgl love

lovely mila

the ladies sure looked great at the sag awards last night!  there were a lot of blush tones, plunging necklines, bold colors, and flowy, floral prints.  my best dressed goes to mila kunis.  she wore a stunning crimson chiffon alexander mcqueen gown that i fell in love with the instant i saw it.  the gown was strapless and belted with a bold pattern.  mila complemented the dramatic gown with her soft, wavy hair and neutral makeup.  i loved her entire look!  sheer perfection!

my second favorite of the night was princess lea michele.  she wore a blush, caviar-beaded oscar de la renta gown with a deep plunging neckline.   (she is always wearing oscar!)  she also completed her look with tousled hair and neutral makeup.  i absolutely adored the gown, but there was something a little off about it on her.  it might have been the way the neckline sat or just how she was posing throughout the night. either way, she still looked great!

here's the rest of my best dressed list:

angie harmon in monique lhuillier 

hilary swank in versace

hot momma natalie portman in azzaro

heather morris in romona keveza

claire danes in louis vuitton

omg.omg.omg.omg.omg!

oooooomg!!  henry cavill has been cast as superman for the new superman movie.  *sigh*  be still, my beating heart.  i am seriously bouncing in my chair at work and smiling to myself while concealing squeals and giggles. but who is henry cavill you ask?

yup, this guy.  he is my male obsession!!!  i first saw him in the count of monte cristo in 2002 and fell in love.  for reasons besides henry, i have watched that movie more times than i can count.  but that's a story for another time because it truly is my favorite movie ever.  anyways, he laid low for awhile with small-ish parts in tristan + isolde and stardust.  and then, i found out he was in the showtime series the tudors.  man, oh man was i excited!  yet again, a story for another time (i'm trying to stay on topic here).

back to superman.  the reboot is going to be directed by zack snyder (300, watchmen) and will be produced by... wait for it... christopher nolan!  omg, seriously!  can this get any better??!?!  as for the movie, warner bros. has stated that they will attempt to give superman a modern feel and i think they cast the perfect superman for that.  not to mention, it's about time henry finally got his big break!  he was dubbed the "unluckiest man in hollywood" as he was chosen over for the roles of batman, james bond, edward cullen, and bryan singer's superman.  anyways, i can't wait to see what they come up with.  the targeted release date for the superman is december 2012.


between now and then, i have immortals to look forward to where henry is half-naked, sweaty & sexy, the greek warrior theseus.  i'm positive it will be better than lame-o clash of the titans and i only have to wait until november 11, 2011.


on a side note, superman is hubby's favorite superhero and i'm sure he's just tickled with excitement knowing that my henry will be donning the cape & shield (insert sarcastic glare).

for gratuitous henry pics

white by vera wang

i love vera wang.  i always dreamed of wearing a vera wang wedding gown. alas, i had to forego those dreams when i got married last year.  i was convinced decided that i would rather put the money towards our reception than my dress.  it was totally the right decision to make and even now, i am so in love with the dress that i wore... it was absolutely perfect for me!

but for all you lucky ladies & future brides-to-be, vera wang has designed a new, budget-friendly collection called white by vera wang.  the dresses will be sold at david's bridal and will all be under $1,400.  yes, vera wang for under $1,400.  (muffled sobbing)  images of the dresses were released this morning and they are gorgeous!!!  so elegant.  so feminine.  so ethereal.  absolute vera perfection!  although, i admit, some of the dresses resemble those of past jim hjelm collections.  but saying that francesca pitera's designs are another personal favorite, i'm definitely not complaining! anyways, the gowns will hit stores february 11.  buy one, be fabulous, and work that runway, errr, aisle.

the lyrics are here!

the lyrics for "born this way" were just released an hour ago by gagita herself. check 'em out!  the lyrics are inspirational & celebrate self-love & acceptance, just the way we were born. anyways, gaga is just a huge tease... i wanna hear the beat, dammit!  breathe... only two more weeks.  i know it's going to be amazing.

we are all born superstars.

haute! haute! haute!

never have i ever been so in love with a haute couture collection as i am with elie saab's spring 2011 collection.  i adore every single gown that he created and sent down the runway yesterday during paris fashion week.  the dresses are beyond gorgeous and so very feminine.  i am absolutely obsessed with the dreamy, romantic vibe that the collection exudes.  each dress is intricately designed with details such as delicate flowers, beading, lace, sparkle, and sheer, flowy fabrics in flattering silhouettes.  asymmetrical hemlines, one-shoulder necklines, and high slits add the drama that you expect from a couture collection.  brilliant.  fabulous.  amazing.

while the collection is feminine, it is also obviously glamorous and sexy so i fully anticipate seeing some of these gowns on the red carpet at the oscar's.  

au revoir!

krav maga - my latest obsession

hubby and i joined krav maga worldwide last week.  we both decided that we needed a change in pace in our fitness routines & hubby decided that i would benefit from learning self-defense (ya know, in case anything ever happens).  for those who don't know, krav maga is an israeli self-defense fighting system that specializes in hand-to-hand combat while focusing on counter-attacks.  basically, it's pretty bad-ass.

i was really nervous before our first class last tuesday because i had no idea what to expect.  during class, we learned the basics: throwing punches, 'bows, and knees.  we also learned the best technique to get out of a chokehold originating from your side.  i survived the class, felt great and thoroughly enjoyed it!

we went back for round two on thursday night. there was a different instructor and o.m.g. i almost died.  he seemed so nice until he made us do sprints and every other imaginable plyometric exercise for almost 10 minutes!  at one point, hubby was so yellow that i thought he was going to throw up in the room haha.  after running through the basics again, we learned how to maneuver out of a chokehold that pinned us up against a wall.  i'm telling ya, it's all really helpful stuff!  anyways, by the end of class, i was completely exhausted.  but i felt excellent... like i could take on the world.

round three was on saturday morning.  they taught us how to turn the fight into our favor if we were pinned on the ground with the attacker on top.  not gonna lie... it was a little awkward having a stranger straddling me.  but once i got in the right mindset, i managed just fine.

due to a busy schedule & a badly busted up hand (thanks, grappling gloves), we haven't been to class since saturday.  the time off has made me realize that i am obsessed with krav maga.  the feeling i get after a class is unbeatable.  i feel confident, accomplished, and just all-around fantastic.  not to mention, the amount of stress-relief that one class provides is amazing! beating the crap out of stuff for an hour really does work!  everything we've learned readies us for realistic situations & i already feel better prepared for whatever could happen.  anyways, i cannot wait to go to class tonight.  that feeling is totally addicting and i am totally addicted.

i.love.lady.gaga.

"scheiße".  that is the title of the new lady gaga song reportedly off her upcoming album born this way.  the remix of the song was debuted yesterday in paris at the mugler menswear show, for which nicola formichetti asked gaga to be the music director.  {background: gaga & formichetti, now the creative director of thierry mugler, have had a long history of collaboration.  he is the man behind many of gaga's famous looks including the origami dresses & the vintage metal armor bodysuit from her "paparazzi" video.}  anyways, the remix sounds amazing & has a dark, pulsating beat that makes me wanna dance.   i've been listening to it all morning & can't wait for the full release!  you can check it out by clicking on the link below the picture.  

"scheiße remix" (perezhilton.com)

gaga 2010, on the right

halloween 2009

now, since i just started this blog, i think it's only fair that i warn you that i have an unhealthy obsession with lady gaga.  like, little monster to the extreme.  i know all of her songs & dances by heart, i know what outfit she wore to what, i play her songs on the piano & i buy lady gaga signature items (yeah you, heartbeats).  not only that, but i watch her videos when i need a pick-me-up, fantasize constantly about meeting her, convinced hubby to let us enter our wedding reception to "just dance" & i love making my own gaga outfits to dress up like her (only on special occasions). i've never had an artist affect me the way that she has, but i guess it's because she truly is a phenomenal performer with an amazing voice, immense passion & such creative vision.  yup, 100% obsessed.

i know i sound crazy, but i warned you!  be prepared to read a lot about gaga because i think 2011 will be another huge year for mother monster.  the song "born this way" is schedule to be released on february 13 (the same day that she will be performing at the grammy's) & the album born this way is slated to drop on may 23.  needless to say, i am very excited!

britney's back

2011 will be her year!  britney's back with a chart-topping smash "hold it against me".  i am completely obsessed with this song & taking all measures possible to prevent song burn-out.  however, it's not working out too great since i can't resist dancing & jamming out in my car during my commute.

anyways, it's rumored that she will be performing at the grammy's, but nothing has been confirmed yet.  she's been hitting the studio hard & looking awesome!  my guess is that she'll be there, just hopefully, not with a disastrous performance like last time.

britney was a huge part of my life in high school and i'm crossing my fingers that this is her big comeback.  back then i had every cd, knew every song, watched every video, learned every dance... yeah, i was obsessed.  even now, i use her as workout motivation.  just check out that body!

go get 'em brit-brit!

'the dark knight rises'

anyone who knows me knows that i am beyond obsessed with christopher nolan's batman films.  in particular, the dark knight.  i don't know what it is exactly about nolan's interpretations that draw me in so much.  maybe it's the darkness, or the realistic-fantasy aspect, or the excellent cast.  either way, they are amazing & i love them.  a lot.

i have been following deadline.com for the past year for any rumors news about the third film.  back in october, the title was finally released... the dark knight rises.  in regards to casting for the dark knight rises, there have been rumors flying basically since the dark knight was released in theaters.  the list of actors/actresses that have been (falsely) associated with the film is ridiculously long.  in november, it was revealed that nolan was searching for a male villain & one (possibly two) female leads.  tom hardy was named the male villain and today, finally, there is closure.  the female lead has been named. the role of selina kyle will be played by none other than.... anne hathaway!

Anne Hathaway

i am very excited about this!  she is a great actress & i think she has the depth to play a part in nolan's ensemble.  {by the way, for those who don't know this, selina kyle is catwoman.}  however!  warner bros. never said whether anne would actually be playing catwoman (sneaky, sneaky).  i think anne has beautifully feline features so regardless of whether she dons a catsuit, she is a perfect choice!

as for tom hardy, he will be playing bane.  i admittedly know slim-to-none about this character.  after a little research, bane (is briefly) an escaped prisoner that became ridiculously strong after getting hopped up on drugs.  he will reportedly have to put on a good deal of sexiness muscle for the character.

Tom Hardy

in conclusion, the anticipation that i feel for this film is undescribable.  i cannot wait until july 2012!  until then, i will continue to amuse you with my obsessions over batman & company.

oooh marchesa

this is olivia wilde in marchesa at the golden globes.  omg. i. love. this. gown!!!  the fabulous-ness of it is unreal! the chocolate brown dress with the gold ombre-effect sequins was gorgeous.  absolutely breath-taking.  i do wish that olivia had worn her hair up to better showcase the gown, but aside from that, i am totally obsessed.

check out her ferosh gold spiked
louboutin booties

on a side note, i didn't watch the globes in full, but i did watch ricky gervais' opening monologue.  was it over the top?  yes.  did he cross some lines?  yes. was he offensive?  eh, i guess.  regardless, he was hilarious!  i seriously cannot understand all the controversy surrounding him as the host.  i mean, the hfpa knew exactly who they were hiring and what could come out of his mouth.  i guess at this point, they're just covering themselves because someone complained about getting their feelings hurt... boohoo.

my obsessions

one of my resolutions for 2011 was to start my own blog.  i've always wanted to start one but never thought i was interesting enough to publicly display my thoughts.  realizing that it's already half-way through january, i decided it was time to just do it.

choosing on a theme seemed like a challenge.  but after watching the golden globes, i realized that i have an extreme number of obsessions in my life.  aha! the theme for my blog.

so here i go.  i'll write about my many, many obsessions and hopefully entertain you along the way.