The Guy from SOA is Christian Grey (I'm a Poet and Didn't Even Know It)?!

No! No! No! A millions times no!

The guy from Sons of Anarchy is playing Christian Grey in the upcoming 50 Shades of Grey movie?!

NO!!! This is worse than the time Katherine Heigl was cast as Stephanie Plum in the film adaptation of One for the Money!!

Okay, first of all: who read 50 Shades?

Me too! I read all three--in fact, I was in a book club that was started for the sole purpose of reading these books and talking about them. Not once did somebody make a comment about "yeah, when I think of Christian, I picture the blonde, scruffy guy from Sons of Anarchy."

*sigh*

The whole time I read the books, I pictured Christian Bale (circa American Psycho) as Mr. Gray.

This... but a little less violent/bloody/creepy

Yes. Bingo. Hello Mr. Grey!

Nope.

What happened to Alexander Skarsgard?? I thought he was in the running for the role! I'll admit, I wasn't too keen on the idea at first but after seeing him on an episode of Conan this summer, I decided that he would suffice.

Not the guy from Sons of Anarchy.

AGH.

Anyway, I'm done ranting.. I have already had an e-meeting with the book club girls and we have made plans to see the movie when it comes to theaters (but we will make snarky, sarcastic comments the entire time).

What are your thoughts on movie Christian Grey? Yea or nay?

Teenagers Suck, Meeting "Love and Theft" and Happy Birthday, America!

To begin:

I hope that everyone has a wonderful day today--be sure to thank a veteran or current service member for all they've done to keep us safe and free. I am so very proud to be the wife of a veteran and thank God everyday for my freedom. 

You may have noticed that I'm running a little behind schedule this morning (my posts are usually up by 8am CST)--I worked last night, got home, ate some pizza, got really sick (baby apparently doesn't like Pizza Hut) and just laid in bed watching "Hardcore Pawn." I'm feeling a little better today, just very dehydrated (I'm keeping the water and Gatorade flowing!). 

Anyway, my mom and Auntie Sharon came to visit us on Tuesday and Wednesday--we had such a fun and memorable time! As always, here are the bullet points and pictures to tell the story! 

Tuesday

• The girls arrive just in time for lunch--we get a couple of entrees to share at Jalisco's (my favorite Mexican restaurant).
• Get ready to head to the pool at the hotel!
• Arrive at pool to find three teenage boys in the hot tub--we head to the other side of the small room with our wine (mom and Sharon) and Watermelon Oreos (me) and set up camp to visit and relax. Next thing we know, the teenagers are in the small pool, deliberately splashing us. Auntie Sharon (a high school English teacher) politely asks them to stop; they don't. It continued to escalade from there (the next thing Sharon told them was "splash me again and die!"), eventually resulting in a waiting game to see who would give up and leave the pool first. Mom and Sharon won (I finally gave up and returned to my mom's room for a nap).  Moms: 1 Stupid Teenagers: 0
• Met Brandon (after he got off work) for dinner at our local homestyle chicken restaurant--as always, the chicken and noodles were out of this world! 
• Returned to the hotel to sit around the pool, visit some more and relax (I ended up staying in my moms room--Brandon brought work home so he didn't miss me too much). 

Auntie Sharon (people ask if she's really my aunt--she is actually my buddy Turin's mom and she and her husband are best friends with my parents--so she's pretty much family!), Me and Momma at Jalisco's.

I had to "inconspicuously" take a picture of the teenagers--I only got one of them (over my right shoulder). For an even better account of what happened, check out Sharon's blog.

Wednesday

• Slept through the hotel's breakfast (my mom was nice enough to bring me back a yogurt and blueberry bagel).
• Gave the girls a tour of where I work. 
• Had a fabulous soup and salad lunch. 
• Said our goodbyes :/

I had about two and a half hours between when my mom and Sharon left to when I had to be at work, so I took full advantage and enjoyed a two hour nap. Then, it was time to get up and head to work!

My "work"--meeting famous people.

I would be lying if I said I knew who "Love and Theft" were; I've never been a huge fan of country music. However, we met with and interviewed them before their concert last night and they seemed like pretty cool guys. We have a bunch of bands/musicians coming through this weekend for the big "Wild West Fest" festivities, so I'm looking forward to meeting with and talking to more artists over the weekend.

More pictures/stories to come, I'm sure!

Party, Party, I like to Party

Chic on a Shoestring Decorating, 

Rolling Stone Subscription for $3.99?!

This is probably the most random post I will ever have but I have to share the news..

(This probably goes without saying but this isn't a recent cover.. I just love Kurt Cobain)

For the next 36 hours, you can score a year long subscription of Rolling Stone Magazine for only $3.99 (regularly $103.99)!!

I definitely don't agree with the politics in the mag (it's just a matter of skimming past those articles..), but it is hands down the best pop culture mag out there.

There is a list of other magazines on sale too on Tanga's website (click here for the link).

Check. It. Out.

(P.S. I'm not being endorsed whatsoever for this post--I just thought it was an awesome deal and had to share! You're welcome.)

I Was on TV with Ryan Gosling (and What I Wore Wednesday)

Brandon and I spent the last week in sunny (and apparently freezing at 60 degrees..) California for our honeymoon.

We had so much fun and were able to do quite a bit--which I will post more about later--but one of the main highlights was Brandon's and my national television debut!

Ryan Gosling (or as I like to call him, The Gos) and Me--we're pretty tight. He's such a camera hog, though!

One of our favorite shows is 'Conan'--so we HAD to go see a taping while we were in LA. It was a blast! I highly recommend going to see a taping of your favorite show is you're ever in LA, New York, Chicago or wherever! It's so much fun AND it's free! Boom and boom.

Anyway, we knew who was going to be on the show a week ahead of time (The Gos, Kevin Hart and ZZ Ward) so I planned my outfit out while I was packing. And it was sooooo cute!

So bright--but you get the idea. We had about 3 hours between registering for Conan and the actual show so we cruised around Burbank and found the BEST gelato/coffee place and cute little boutique to kill the time (which of course my husband LOVED--I'll post more about those later..). This picture was taken in front of those shops!

I actually won the dress from a giveaway by Happy-Go-Lucky. The dress itself is from Jourdan's Jewels, which is an online boutique that has the cutest dresses, shoes, accessories, etc. at affordable prices!

Source

Seriously, how cute is this dress?? I paired it with my encircled bird earrings from Simply Sweet Creations and some black ballerina flats.

Totes adorbs!

P.S. If you haven't noticed, I chopped my hair off and LOVE it.

Before--December 31, 2012

After--January 8, 2013

Party, Party, I like to Party

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5 Celebrities Sexier Than Channing Tatum

Was anyone else upset over Channing Tatum receiving the "Sexiest Man Alive" title this year?

Dress up a bit, Tatum.

 I was.

And still am.

I'm not sure what it is about Channing Tatum, but I have never been a fan. I don't know if its because he's super overrated or if its because he always looks like he just came out of a fight.. and lost (his face always looks swollen to me..)--I'm just not a fan.

So, Annie.. who do you think should have been named "Sexiest Man Alive" for 2012?

I'm glad you asked!

I now present to you the 5 men who should have won the title over Channing Tatum (in no particular order):

Patrick Wilson

He sings. He dances. He's a college grad. Did you see his smile? Come on, People mag--he's waaayyyyy better than Channing Tatum. 

James McAvoy

Nobody ever seems to agree with my on this one but come. on. He's got the accent. The messy bed head hair. And have you seen the movie "Wanted" (if you have, you know what I'm talking about--if not, watch it)..? 

Bradley Cooper

He was last years 'Sexiest Man Alive,' but he deserves at least two terms in a row. I shouldn't even have to give a reason why he deserves the spot more than Tatum. In my mind, he remains king.

Bradley Cooper > Channing Tatum

Even though he no longer pitches for my beloved Colorado Rockies, he still holds a special place in my heart. I was at game 4 of the NLDS (Rockies v. Phillies) and I still cheered for him (while everyone else was booing) after he completely blew the game and our chance to advance in the series. Oooh, Huston.. that's okay. Your smile makes up for it.

Aaron Paul

I know I said this list was in no particular order but Aaron Paul definitely takes the number one spot. When he isn't toked out of his mind or tweaking out on "Breaking Bad," he's reeaallly cute. It's the eyes. And the ridiculously perfect smile and teeth (which make his character of drug addict Jesse Pinkman somewhat unbelievable.. but I'll continue pretending to look past it). And the fact that he's a hopeless romantic in real life makes him that much more attractive. 

I lied again.

I have one more to add to my list..

The sexiest man of them all is...

My fiancé, Brandon!

He's a war vet, computer genius, excellent cook AND he surprises me with flowers and gummi bears when I'm having a bad day! Sorry ladies, he's taken..

Do you think that Channing deserves the title of "Sexiest Man Alive"? If not, who does?

Don't forget to sign up for Operation: Christmas and to enter my giveaway for a beautiful cashmere scarf!

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My Top 8 Celebrity Girl Crushes

Admit it, we all have them: Girl crushes. In case you've never heard the term, let us Urban Dictionary the definition: When a girl has a crush on another girl, but they don't want to date them. It's more like they want to be their best friend. Bingo!  

So, without further ado, here is my Top 8 Celebrity Girl Crush/Women I Admire/People I Wish I Could be BFFs With! list.

8.) Sandra Bullock

I have loved Sandra Bullock since she starred in “While You Were Sleeping” way back in ’95. She is a dynamic actress who can play a fun, energetic role like Grace Hart in “Miss Congeniality” or a dynamic and gripping character like Linda Schell in “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.” But the real reason she made my girl crush list? She is one of the nicest, most genuine actresses in Hollywood. I have read on several occasions how giving and down-to-earth she is–most Hollywood actresses could (and should) take a lesson from Sandra.

7.) Toni Collette

I don’t know what it is about Toni Collette, but I think she is absolutely fabulous. She is one of those actresses who doesn’t get as much credit in Hollywood as she deserves (Hey, Academy–remember “Little Miss Sunshine”? Yeah, you screwed the pooch by not giving her a nod). Collette brings extra heart and likeability to any character she plays which is why she comes in at #7 on my girl crush list.

6.) Meryl Streep

Umm, duh. She’s Meryl freaking Streep. Enough said.

5.) Adele Arakawa

I have been watching Adele Arakawa on the news for as long as I can remember. She is epitome of professionalism and is an amazing role model for women in broadcast. When I was in high school, I had the opportunity to meet Ms. Arakawa; she was very kind and humble, which made me admire and respect her even more.

4.) Kristen Wiig

She is hilarious. She is talented. She is fearless. How can anyone not love Kristen Wiig?

3.) Natalie Portman

You have to admit that Natalie Portman is pretty amazing–any actress that can play an obsessed, psychotic, bi-sexual ballerina so believably is alright in my book. Not to mention she is gorgeous, stylish and a Harvard grad.

2.) Sheryl Crow

I have been girl crushing on Sheryl Crow, since my dad gave me one of her CDs when I was 13. I loved her music from the get go (so much so that over the years I’ve bought all of her albums) but began to admire her when I saw the kind of person she is. Ms. Crow is not afraid to stand up for what she believes in, which I think is refreshing and admirable (the 'one square of toilet paper' comments she made a few years back were a little questionable.. but hey, she didn’t care what anyone had to say–she was going to spread her message!). I have also heard that she is extremely down-to-earth and generous.

1.) Kate Winslet

There is no actress quite like Kate Winslet. She is incredible–she can seriously play any role you throw at her. I also think she is the most beautiful actress in Hollywood. Plus, she’s freaking hilarious (if you’ve never seen her on “Extras”, watch this now)–and smart. All that being said, she is most definitely #1 on my list of girl crushes.

So, girl crushes. Do you have them? Agree or disagree with my list? Let me know!