9.29.2010

Tears Have Met Their (Inexpensive) Match!

I love wearing mascara. Without it, my eyelashes are nearly invisible. However, it takes a special kind of mascara to be able to withstand a full work day (and night out) on MY eyelashes. Between the all-day wear and the occasional watery eyes or perspiration from exercise, mascara has quite a task to undertake. I've tried some truly horrible mascaras up to this point; I've gone from one extreme to the other, trying the most expensive formulas and the most inexpensive kinds. While it is true, in regards to mascara, that you do get what you pay for, I have found a few exceptions to this rule (in the most unlikely place).

First of all, I usually only bother trying out waterproof mascaras, or anything dubbed "long wearing." It doesn't pay to try anything else, because it will just end up smearing under my eyelashes, making it look like I was crying all day (or got caught in the rain). With that said, about a year ago I found the perfect mascara for me: Clinique Lash Power Mascara - Long-Wearing Formula. It goes on quick and evenly, giving my lashes the perfect coat of darkness while also enhancing the length and volume. The best part: it stays on ALL. DAY. LONG. It has never budged from its proper place on my lashes until I take it off with eye-makeup remover (though it does take a little extra time to take it off, since it is so budge-proof). It really is amazing.

In the meantime, I've continued to test different mascaras to find at least one other brand/formula that wears as perfectly as my Clinique mascara - it's always nice to have a back-up. After lots of trials and just as many errors, I came across two mascaras (from Cover Girl, of all brands!). I was hesitant to even try them, since inexpensive mascaras haven't led to the best results. But, I opted for two waterproof formulas and decided to go for it. After a few days of testing them out, I came to the surprising result: they work! They're cheap, they're accessible, and they work!

The two mascaras I found:
Cover Girl Lash Blast Length Waterproof Mascara
and
Cover Girl Professional Remarkable Waterproof Mascara

Both formulas were smudge- and smear-proof. The Lash Blast mascara provided volume I could enhance with extra coats, or leave more naturally with one coat. The Professional mascara went on thicker, but not so thick that I had spider lashes. Most importantly: both made me very happy to not see dark circles around my eyes at the end of the day.

If you're in the market for inexpensive mascara, I highly recommend these. If you're looking to spend a little extra, the Clinique mascara is fantastic.

Stay Fabulous!

9.06.2010

2010 Primetime Emmy Awards - Winners vs. Losers (Part II)

There were a few surprises. Many upsets. Some may say many actors were "robbed" out of awards. Others consider this one of the best Emmy Awards shows in regards to rewarding deserving recipients. I agree and disagree. Why? Let's go through the awards and I'll explain.

First up: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series – awarded to Eric Stonestreet (Cameron Tucker, Modern Family). Considering the other nominees and the high esteem that Modern Family has been given lately, this was both surprising and deserved. I wouldn't call myself a true Modern Family fan, but I have watched episodes along the way and have found them to be quite funny and entertaining – especially in regards to Stonestreet's character. It's nice to see a relatively unknown actor rewarded so early on in his high-profile career. However, Jon Cryer and Neil Patrick Harris provided some fierce competition, and I wouldn't have been opposed to seeing either of them take home the Emmy.


Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series – awarded to Jane Lynch (Sue Sylvester, Glee). What can I say. I called this one. If Lynch wouldn't have won, I would have held a protest. She has to be one of the funniest characters on TV at the moment, with some of the best lines written for a comedy series – ever. I've seen the other nominees, and none of them compare to the hilarity that ensues when Lynch appears on the screen. She just. never. gets. old. Not to mention the fact that while she's a bully and a tad crazy, she's also multifaceted and draws in a few "Awwwws" from viewers when the scenes involve Sue visiting her sister, who, from what I can tell, lives in an assisted living facility. Lynch is a true gem.


Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series – awarded to Aaron Paul (Jesse, Breaking Bad). I can't say much about this since I've never watched a single minute of Breaking Bad. What I can say is that John Slattery and Terry O'Quinn may have been better picks for this award, so this was a little disappointing.


Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series – awarded to Archie Panjabi (Kalinda, The Good Wife). Who? I think that was a common reaction to this award announcement. Unless you watch The Good Wife (which I don't), you probably don't know anything about her. I was rooting for Christina Hendricks (Joan Harris, Mad Men) to grab this award for many reasons. I'm sure many men out there were hoping for the same. Ha.


Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series – awarded to Jim Parsons (Big Bang Theory). I've watched Big Bang Theory enough to know he's been deserving of this award for many years now, so it's nice to see him finally win it. Step aside Steve Carell and Alec Baldwin – your time is up.


Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series – awarded to Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie). Another show I've never seen, though that might change now. Toni Collette has been a strong presence in the comedy world lately, so I wouldn't have been surprised to see her receive this award. As much as I love Lea Michele in Glee, I'm not sure that she's on the same level as Toni Collette or the others. Yes, Michele is funny, but I have a feeling it's more because the show has fantastic writers, and less because of her acting abilities (though her vocals are to die for).


Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series – awarded to Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad). SO upset about this one. I've heard Cranston was a shoe-in for this award, but I'd like to voice my disappointment, as a fan of all the other shows' stars that were nominated. Kyle Chandler – brilliant in Friday Night Lights. I wouldn't keep watching if it wasn't for him (and Connie Britton). Jon Hamm – come on. No one wears a 1960's suit better than he does in Mad Men – not to mention he plays Don Draper's character like no other could. He's a character you love and hate at the same time, but regardless, you can't stop watching to see what he'll do next (or which sin he'll commit next). Along with John Slattery, he and Hamm have the perfect male drama duo going on. Then there's Michael C. Hall for Dexter. One thing I admire him for is his desire to keep working through his cancer treatment. It made me tear up a bit when he received his Golden Globe award while wearing a black head covering to hide his hair loss from treatment. He doesn't want people to be sorry for him – he wants to be known for his work, and that he certainly is. When I first started watching Dexter, I was very surprised that I felt so much sympathy for a serial killer. But that's what makes him a great actor – he invokes sympathy and compassion from the viewers by playing to the human side of his character, offering moral justification for his murderous exploits. It's hard NOT to like him. And then, I can't forget Hugh Laurie. He plays a cynical, sarcastic, outspoken jerk – and he does it well. House has been a long-time favorite of mine, for the simple reason that I love Laurie's acting. His character says what others are thinking, regardless of whether it's tactful or polite or not. He also has the best eyes in show business, only slightly beating out Josh Lucas for that title. :) The other thing I love about Laurie – you would never be able to tell he's British from his accent on House. I had no clue until I saw him in an interview. It's funny – British actors/actresses seem to get a handle on the American accent quite well...but if you reverse the roles, it's quite the opposite. Americans trying to pull off British accents (convincingly) can often be dreadful to listen to. Even the best of them can't always pull it off. But I digress...the other nominee in this category was Matthew Fox. I could take him or leave him. I was slightly annoyed by the fact that Lost won ZERO awards for it's final season...but I'm not sure Matthew Fox would have been my pick, compared to Terry O'Quinn winning best supporting actor. Sorry, Matthew. You're just not as great as you were in your "Party of Five" days.
So who would I have given the award to, considering I loved most of them? I'll go ahead and pick Hugh Laurie.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series – awarded to Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer). I've seen her in The Closer on a few occasions, and I can't say I was too impressed. She's not bad, but certainly not "outstanding." My choice would have been Connie Britton for Friday Night Lights or January Jones for Mad Men. Britton has been an overlooked actress who deserved an award long ago. Her role on FNL is flawless – she comes off as a "perfect mother, wife and principal," but fans of the show know that she's endured her share of struggles and flaws like any other. Any actress who can portray the kind of depth that she does deserves to be recognized. Fingers crossed for the next award show. As for January Jones, she plays one of those characters you admire at some points, but want to reach into the TV and strangle at other times. She lets her husband walk all over her (granted it was the 1960s, so that happened often, but still...) and seemed to be quite naive in many ways. But she also had an internal fire that she let out once in a while that made me really like her. January Jones plays the role well – she makes you feel for her at times, but also angry at other times. Any actress who can make me feel that way is pretty convincing.

Outstanding Comedy Series – awarded to Modern Family. The only competition Modern Family really had for this award was Glee. Not just because I watch it, but because of the hype that's been built up around both shows, compared to the other nominees. Modern Family and Glee are the two shows that are popular today, for people in all age groups. Very few shows appeal to such a wide variety of viewers like these two shows do. From teens to the "better than 55" crowd, Modern Family and Glee is where it's at.

Outstanding Drama Series – awarded to Mad Men. I can't complain with this one, because it's a very deserving cast of actors, writers, producers, etc. I read an article in "Vanity Fair" a few months ago that explained all of the preparation it takes to film a single episode of Mad Men. They take into consideration the exact day and time of the year in which the episode takes place, and create sets, props and clothing that keeps it as authentic as possible. If the show takes place on January 21st, 1963, they actually go back to the real records from that day in history to find out what the weather was like, so they can film the scenes accordingly, dress the actors accordingly, etc. They also find out what was on TV that day, so if the TV is on in the episode, it's airing something authentic to that day in history. All of the clothing is exact to what they wore in the 1960s, all of the props, from food to furniture and accessories, are rounded up from places all over the world – collectors on ebay, thrift stores, etc – wherever they can find authentic props that were actually from the 1960s. Knowing what really goes into the creation of a single episode of Mad Men makes me appreciate the show even more, and I can't find a single reason why any other show should have won this award. Mad Men simply is outstanding. Not to diminish the talent and creativity involved in Dexter, True Blood and Lost...I love them all...but Mad Men is on an entirely different level.
 
Finally, to complete a significantly longer post than I originally intended, I'll lump together the "Guest" awards, and comment by saying that they REALLY should have awarded these actors during the live broadcast, and not at an earlier date. I can only imagine the comedy that would have ensued if Neil Patrick Harris and Betty White would have taken the stage together. Each of them won Emmy Awards for Outstanding Actor/Actress in a Comedy Series, for NPH's role on Glee (which was one of my favorites to date) and Betty White's appearance on SNL (her long-awaited and highly anticipated appearance). For the Drama category, the winners were John Lithgow for his role as the Trinity Killer on Dexter (another much-deserving actor) and Ann Margaret's appearance on Law and Order. I haven't seen Ann Margaret in anything since "Grumpy/Grumpier Old Men" (which I loved), so it was great to see her recognized after all these years, even if it was just for a guest appearance.

So, overall, there were some upsets (best actor) and some surprises (Jim Parsons), but I think it was one of the most entertaining Emmy Awards shows that I've seen in recent history. Well done, Emmy Award producers.

Stay Fabulous!
*Jen*

8.31.2010

2010 Primetime Emmy Awards - Deconstructed (Part I)

What can I possibly say about the 2010 Primetime Emmy Awards that hasn't already been said? Not much. But I'll give my opinion anyway. This post will deconstruct the actual show as a whole. Posts to follow will involve the winners/losers (Part II) and the fashion (Part III).

We'll start at the beginning. Best. Opening. Number. Ever. Maybe it's because I'm a huge fan of "Glee," which the opening number was based one, but I think it was a funny spoof regardless. When Jon Hamm and Betty White got down with their bad selves in the dressing room? HIL-ARIOUS. I also loved the cameo appearance (and subsequent dissing) of Kate Gosselin - I love to despise her. What a way to begin the show. If you haven't seen it, here's the full-length video of the opening number: 2010 Emmy Awards Opening.

Once the Emmy Awards began, Jimmy Fallon proved he was a force to be reckoned with in the world of award-show hosting. He was eloquently comedic without being tacky - and that's hard to do. There weren't any cricket-chirping pauses while waiting for laughs after a bomb of a joke - everything he said was appropriately funny, but not overdone. A far cry from award shows of the past. One line that stood out was his dig at NBC, and timely camera-panning moment over to Conan O'Brien - glad Conan can take a joke with the best of them.

Some changes to the award-show set-up this year included faster-paced "and the nominees are" segments (although the presenters seemed to race through the nominees a bit too quickly at times), along with less presenter banter prior to the announcement of the nominees. History shows that this isn't always the case. How many times have you watched award shows and winced uncomfortably when two presenters tried to be funny or act playful, only to fail miserably? That only (thankfully) happened twice this year: once when Lauren Graham told Matthew Perry that he'd be playing another gay guy (in Mr. Sunshine), and the other point when Jon Hamm and Betty White exchanged yawn-worthy words during their presentation - a duo like that had the makings for some exceptionally hilarious jokes. But it fell flat in so many ways. The script writers for the Emmy Awards should be ashamed of wasting that opportunity on lame comments and sexual innuendos.

Along with those changes to the overall show came the severely uneven category segments. They (sadly) flew through the awards for comedy and drama categories, but then sauntered through the miniseries category like it was going out of style. As a result of these erratically paced segments, they [very unfortunately] cut off Matthew Weiner's acceptance speech for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series for "Mad Men"...but then they gave the stumbling, fumbling Al Pacino all the time in the world to say nothing at all. Seems like there's something wrong with that.

Overall, Fallon was a breath of fresh air as the host of the show. Aside from the pointless Twitter transitions that were, once again, poorly scripted by the writers, along with some uncomfortable silences, Fallon set the bar high for future host.

So, that's all for my thoughts on the show overall. Your thoughts? Leave a comment! Check back later for more on the Emmy Awards, including commentary on the winners and judgment day for the fashion (and fashion victims).

Stay Fabulous!
*Jen*

8.25.2010

I Want Wednesday

My very first post on my new blog happens to fall on "I Want Wednesday." Every Wednesday the theme of my post(s) will involve something I want. Whether it's an attainable object or just a really cool "dream" item, Wednesdays will be reserved for these special finds. I may post additional "wants" on other days, but it sounds better to say "I Want Wednesday."

Other themes to look for on my blog: "Movie Monday" and "Photo Friday." I think those are self-explanatory. What happens on the other days in between will depend on how busy I am...and whether there is something fabulous to talk about. I don't want to feel obligated to blog; on the contrary, I want to write when I feel like I have something to write about - not something contrived. So if I go a few days in between posts, that means I haven't been inspired lately.

The point of my blog? To write about my opinion, of course. I can say whatever I want and people can either read it...or not. That's the beauty of a blog! Obviously I hope to gather followers and other contributors along the way to keep things fresh, send me new ideas, etc. So I'll make my opinion as user-friendly as possible. :}
So, to begin with my very first post on I WANT WEDNESDAY:

I came across this on neatorama.com and thought it was super cute (though somewhat impractical):


It's a mini camper! At first it looks like it could be motorized, but it's actually a pedaled contraption with handlebars inside as the steering wheel. But how cool is that! Room for storage, a shelf for your laptop, and even cooking space! Yes, it's impractical, but I'd want it just to say I have it.

There are certainly some unique, thoughtful, creative people out there - ideas like this never cease to amaze me in regards to what people are capable of.
Additional note: you can view more pictures and a description from the designer HERE.

Stay fabulous.
*Jen*