Quote of the Day

"Don't count the days,

make the days count."

Muhammad Ali

Life as an Intern

::Lauren Conrad::

So as I mentioned last week I just started my internship at 790 The Zone, the top sports radio station in Atlanta. I'm in promotions and marketing, so basically any event that goes on...I have a lot of planning to do. Like the AFC/NFC championship game we're planning for 1500 people this Sunday...I'll be working from 9a to midnight on Sunday. Life as intern. I won't lie though, this is one the best companies to work for and I wouldn't trade it for the world. I wanted to this SO BAD.

Life as an intern isn't exactly how Lauren's life was on 'The Hills' but hey I'll take it.

Quote of the Day

"Good judgment comes from experience, and often

experience comes from bad judgment."
Rita Mae Brown

Look of the Day: Anne Hathaway and Co.

Anne Hathaway had such a fabulous dress on for last night's 14th Annual Critics' Choice Awards. Hathaway, whose new movie (Bride Wars) hits theatres today, was on Vogue's best dressed list this year.

Rightfully so.



InStyle held an event in Beverly Hills on behalf of award season last night. There were so many cute dress and great shoes that I decided to share all of the looks I enjoyed. Here's Debra Messing in a saucy navy blue number...I haven't decided if I really like it or if it's trying too hard.




This is soooo something I would wear.




I love a kelly green dress...the gold shoes go with it well.




Great dress. Bad hair.




Such a girly girl dress...one word comes to mind - whimsical.




Very clean, polished, high society look. Loves it...

Hello Lover: Giuseppe Zanotti sandal

FIERCE!


Came across these the other day on Piperlime. Even though they're out of my budget at $650, I absolutely LOVE them. Can't wait to wear sandals again...spring hurry won't you? I miss you.

Review: Cadillac Records

I must admit. I didn’t really want to see Cadillac Records after seeing the trailer. For whatever reason (Beyonce’s mediocre acting efforts), I was a bit skeptical. But I couldn’t have been more wrong.



This was a really good movie. I don’t even have anything deep or artistic to say about it. People were just acting real good in this movie. They weren’t acting well…they were acting good. Jeffrey Wright was absolutely brilliant as Muddy Waters. His performance was one of the best out of the cast. Adrien Brody delivered as expected and Beyonce actually did a good job. She was believable – to some extent there were moments where she just looked like beautiful Beyonce in a wig – but I have to give it to her. After this performance, I can seriously consider her an actress. (My favorite part: whenever she dropped the F bomb.)



There were many people in this movie: Gabrielle Union, Emmanuelle Chirqui, Cedric the Entertainer. But I do believe the diamond in the ruff was Columbus Short as Little Walter. He was genius. I didn’t even know he was in the film and he blew me away. Aside from Jeffrey, he was hands down the strongest actor in the movie.



If you haven’t seen and especially if you enjoy music, YOU MUST GO SEE THIS MOVIE. I highly recommend it. However, don’t take any young ones to go see it. The only downer about this movie is that there were a lot of unnecessarily exposed breasts and people using the eff word along with ‘mother effer’.



Aside from that though, it was flawless.

The Importance of Skin Care

With the kind of skin I have, skin care is vital. Everyone should have this attitude, but they don’t. Not necessarily because they don’t care, but because they’re ignorant. I’ve had numerous conversation where people are telling me they just wash their face with soap and water and then wonder why they’re having problems with their skin. I’m here to help.



KNOW YOUR SKIN TYPE. Figure out what kind of skin you have. Is it oily? Do you bother from many blemishes? Is it dry? Both? Sometimes dry then sometimes oily? Once you get to the root of your skin you’ll know how to deal with it.



CLEANSE. Wash your face with at least twice a day. No questions asked. If you’re in a field where your face is exposed to dirt, oil or make up on a daily basis you may want to up it to 3 times a day. Don’t use soap…at least Dove. Find a cleanser that works for you and stick with it. And make sure you’re using the right one. If you have oily skin, make sure the cleanser isn’t for normal/dry skin.



EXFOLIATE. You should at most be exfoliating your skin twice a week, definitely once a week. Even if you have “perfect” skin, you’ll just feel better if you do it. If you have problem skin, your pores will thank you. Make sure you’re not scrubbing your skin senseless, but instead getting rid of dead skin on your face.



PROTECT. Many people don’t even address this step but it’s really important. No matter what race you are, what season it is or how good or bad your skin is, you should use sunscreen. Exposing your skin to the sun without protection is like playing Russian roulette. It will age faster and your chances of skin cancer are greater. Even if it’s just basic SPF (should be at least 15) slap a little on your face before applying moisturizer.



MOISTURIZE. Just like your cleanser find the right one for you, don’t just slap on lotion or Vaseline. There are tons of great options at your local drug store or do your research to see which one would work best for you. If you’ve got oily or problem skin a lot of cosmetic brands offer a moisturizing gel, which is less oily and abrasive than your typical moisturizer.



Hopefully, I’ve helped. If you’ve still got questions, ask for answers from someone you know who has really great skin. And you never know…they may not even have good skin, just great skin care.

Small Talk: The Fiance

“I just wanna make music.
If seven people wanna hear it, cool.
If seven hundred people wanna hear it, cool.
If seven million people wanna hear it, they’re gonna pay me, but it’s cool.”

Getting Back on Track

This is probably the 100th article you’ve read about starting your New Year off right and getting back on the wagon. Hell, even Oprah’s fallen off. But it’s not about how many times you fall off; it’s how many times you get back up again.


“Fall down seven times, stand up eight.”



REFLECT.
Stop and realize why you want to start all over again…why you want to work towards your goal. More importantly, what’s the real reason you fell off in the first place? Why do you want this? When do you want to get there? Do you want it for someone else or do you want it for yourself? It’s imperative to know the answers to these questions so you don’t repeat the mistake.



REFOCUS.
Keep your eye on the prize. Get rid of all distractions; eliminate anything and anybody that will try to stop you. KNOW WHAT YOU WANT. It’s very necessary. Then, make a plan to get there. (Make it realistic, will ya?) If you’re giving yourself a year to get there, then take it week by week. Better yet, take it day by day. It’s all a part of the puzzle. Plan, implement, execute. It’ll all come together in the end…if you follow the plan!



REJUVENATE.
Get fired up, get excited, get back in the game! Take classes. Find a mentor. Create a journal. Make a goal poster. Do whatever takes to get you going – to ultimate place where you are eating, sleeping and breathing your dream/goal.



REEVALUATE.
Think about your routine before you fell off. Analyze what worked for you and what didn’t. Incorporate what did work in your daily routine and add on to it. Whatever didn’t work, figure out why and never do it again.



RECOMMIT.
Address your goal as if this was the first time you committed to it. Take it and yourself very seriously. Set yourself a deadline and let just a couple of friends or family members know when it is so they can hold you accountable. Solemnly swear to never talk about or come across this problem again.

Look of the Day: Carrie Underwood

I love this dress! You know I loves it...Carrie rarely disappoints me. Here she is at the People Choice Awards.





I absolutely adore this emerald number. GORGEOUS!

Quote of the Day

"I don't know the key to success,
but the key to failure
is trying to please everybody."

Bill Cosby

Where I've Been

Hey loves!

With my new schedule...I actually have a 9 to 5 now...I haven't been able to post. My new internship is AWESOME and I can't wait to tell you more about it. I will be sending out newsletters on daily basis and posting again shortly. I've got some good material and the new site is almost ready.

Don't fret. Your girl is still here.


XOXO,

Mattie

My Wedding Dress: The Search Is On

Here's the dress I've finally selected for my bridesmaids! It feels good to have made a choice. It's also a really good price.





Also, we've selected what tuxedos the guys will rent and the fiance has already been measured for his tux. After much discussion and a preliminary list, we've estimated that 300 people will probably witness our nuptials. (Our families alone came to over 200 people.)



So with that being said finding a venue and my dress is CRITICAL! But I have made the decision to have an outdoor wedding. (Pray for good weather...) If not, what about this for the recption indoors?

Nope. No wedding dress yet, but I will be attending the annual "Running of the Brides" sale at Filene's here in Atlanta on March 20. Am I crazy? Yes, maybe a little but me and the girls are having shirts made and going on a mission. THIS DRESS WILL BE FOUND.

Hopefully...


Anyways, I'm off to look at lots with the fiance. Yes, that's right. In addition, to a massive wedding, we're attempting to build our first home. In a recession.

Review: Seven Pounds

As much as I love Will Smith, his new movie, Seven Pounds, just didn't do it for me. To tell you the truth, I think it tried a little too hard.

Not too long ago, I got into a debate with the fiance about Will Smith wanting to win an Oscar. He doesn't think he'll do it and I argue he will, but after this movie. I'm not so sure. Let me be clear. I enjoy Will as an actor. He's funny, smart, entertaining - the quintessential movie star - but I didn't see any of the above qualities in the movie. It's safe to say that this was his darkest role yet.

The film moved along really slow but was yet predictable. I think for the most part anyone who saw the film knew what was going to happen at the end. It had a great story, but it was executed poorly. Chopping up the story to build suspense wasn't the way to go. Had it just shown in a normal timeline, I would have enjoyed the movie even more. Either way, I still figured out what was going to happen. Rosario Dawson's performance didn't do it for me either. And I like her.

With its thorough effort to be deep and be one of the movies the talk of Tinseltown - earning Globe and Oscar nominations inevitably - it really fell flat. Surprisingly, I haven't read anything good or bad about the movie. Will was on Oprah the week before it came out which is truthfully the only reason I went out and saw the film. The trailer didn't do anything for me, it doesn't give any clues and neither did Will anytime he was questioned about it during an interview. But I see why now.

There was nothing to talk about.

If you haven't seen yet because your schedule hasn't allowed you...don't. Just wait until it goes to RedBox and rent it for $1. That's really all it's worth.

You be the judge.

Screen Shopping: Spring Wedges

With spring only a couple of months away, I couldn't help but do some screen shopping (get it? online window shopping) and check out what designers had planned for our feet. Needless to say, I was impressed and excited. I decided to share. Check out these wedges:


1. Ralph Lauren Collection
Metallic Leather wedge
$450

2. Tory Burch
Annamarte
$310

3. Frye
June Sling Back wedge
$198

4. Kenneth Cole Reaction
Cedar of the Pac
$79

5. BCBGirls
Ramos2 Wedge
$109.95

6. Cynthia Vincent
Luella
$400

7. Jean Paul Gaultier
Braided Patent Wedge
$835

Dating on a Budget

Being in a recession during your relationship can kind of…what’s the word I’m looking for…suck. But don’t fret, if you’re trying to save a few extra dollars and maintain a lively relationship there’s good news. You can actually do things yourself, stay in at the house, meticulously plan in advance, enjoy the outdoors and use what you got. Yes, really. It can be done. Here’s how:



Do It Yourself. Here’s an idea. Instead of going out to dinner, why don’t save yourself money and cook it yourself. I know. Crazy idea. If you don’t know what the hell you’re doing, grab your honey and cook together. It ends up being fun and funny – lots of inside jokes will be born – and you actually get exactly what you want to eat because you’re the one making it. And the groceries you’ll buy to make what you were going to order at that snobby downtown restaurant will cost you a fraction of what you were going to pay. Mention that to your honey and he’ll be all over the DIY dinner.


Be A Homebody. It doesn’t matter how big or small your place of dwelling is. If you keep it clean enough, invite people over. Usually when you get a group of people over, you can end up having a good time for free – or close to it. Have a game night. One of my favorite things to do is invite a group of friends over and play Taboo. One night we had about 20 people over in our one bedroom apartment playing Taboo until 2am. It was good times. You can do a movie night, watch the big game or have a themed dinner party (like Fiesta night!) Have certain people bring refreshments or make certain dishes since you’re supplying your house. A lot of the time, you end up having a much better time then getting all dolled up, paying $20 at some door to impress people you don’t even know.


Plan In Advance. Ok, I get it. You can’t stay in the house and do it yourself all the time. But for those times you do go out, make sure you plan. It’s a great way to avoid surprise expenses. Wanna see that new movie in theatres on Friday? Order your tickets online to avoid the long line when you get there. Make reservations, especially on weekends to avoid the wait. If you’re taking a trip, the earlier you get your tickets the cheaper they’ll be. It’s the same thing with tickets to a sporting event, concert or show – if you know about take advantage. Not only will it save you a lot of time, but you know what they say: time is money.


The Great Outdoors. Seriously, the world is at your disposal. Take advantage of it! Go for a bike ride, take a walk on the beach, have a picnic in the park – these are all readily available things for us to do for free. If you guys both like basketball, hit up an outdoor court and play one on one. People watching is one of the funniest things to do. You can also take pictures of the city, go window shopping at an outlet mall or visit historical landmarks of where you live. The possibilities are endless. So next time your sweetie tells you there’s nothing to do, tell him to take a hike. Literally.

Show Me What You Got. Use what you got. You’ve probably got a lot more “wealth” at your fingertips than you recognize. When you go anywhere ask if they have a student discount, then show them your awesome student ID (no matter if you graduated, as long as you still have it) and reap the benefits. Gift cards to restaurants are your best friend. The fiancé had a gift card that he hadn’t used for a year. One night we didn’t feel like cooking (or spending money for that matter) and we used that gift card. It was one of the better dinners we’ve had and all we had to pay for was a tip. If you’re going out to a lounge or club, many times admission will be free before a certain time – be fashionably early in that case. Take advantage of daily specials and/or discounts. Got a friend or relative that works somewhere you’d love to go? Milk your connect. Just don’t abuse it.


You see, there’s so much to do at little to no cost. Dating in a recession doesn’t have to be in a rut. All you have to do is think, plan, maybe work a little and use what you got. After that, it’s smooth sailing.

Happy Dating!

Look of the Day: Kate Hudson

I love this look! Kate Hudson has been impressing me lately with her choice of wardrobe. I absolutely adore this mini dress with black tights and platforms. The colors are perfect and it's a bit unpredictable. I don't think it's first thought to put a multi colored sequins dress with dark tights, but it totally works.

Very well done.

The City: Love It or Hate It?

So, 'The Hills' New York spin off, 'The City' premiered last week and I loves it! I mean what's not to love? The clothes are better...it's not as completely mindless as 'The Hills' and Whitney works for Diane Von Furstenburg. Olivia is a far better antagonist than Spencer and New York is, and always will be, better than the west coast.

But hey, that's just what I think. Did you catch the premiere last Monday? What did you think?

Look of the Day: Lauren Conrad

There almost wasn't a look of the day today. I'm so serious. Technically, today's look isn't even from this year. Honestly, celebrities looked alarming tacky or boring for New Year's and it's a slow news day.

So, I'm taking it back to 'The Hills' finale where Lauren donned this cute little number. (She didn't have a picture with just her in it, hence Audrina. I guess her dress was cute too.) I really enjoy Lauren's style...very seldom does she disappoint. She's very laid back yet stylish without trying too hard. What's not to love about that?

New Year, New Beginnings

Dear World,

It's officially 2009 and most of us have made resolutions. Some of us have one or two while others have concocted an entire list of things to do that we may never get to. But this year I challenge myself (and everyone reading this) to change for the better. Change is instantaneous and a choice. I'm choosing to be myself at my best no matter how hard it may be. Here's a few things I plan on working on/changing in 2009

• strengthening my relationship with God: clearly this is at the top of my list. This doesn't mean going to church more (necessarily) but instead praying more, reading the Bible and having much more faith!

• being in my best body ever: that doesn't mean losing or gaining weight per se but just looking and feeling good

• having the wedding of my dreams: every girl has thought of this day but in real life, weddings cost beaucoup bucks but I'm not going to let that dictate the fabulosity of the day

• starting a web show: this is something I've wanted to do for a couple of months now and after thorough planning, the help of great friends and vast tenacity this resolution may turn into real life as soon as next week

• building my first home: it's something that the Fiance has always wanted to do and now I share that same dream

• NETWORKING: just got a new internship and plan on networking my butt off while I'm there...

• maintaining and cherishing relationships: I have a great family, becoming a part of an awesome one and over the years I have had some really great friendships with people who I don't necessarily see or speak to everyday but because of these people I've been the happiest I've ever been. My ultimate goal is to keep it that way.

I guess all in all what I'm trying to say is that change isn't bad. And I'm not doing it because it's what I'm "supposed" to do. I'm not doing it so people like me more, to more money, to be envied or anything like that. I'm not changing because I'm unhappy or even because 2008 was a bad year. Instead I'm changing for the better, because striving to be better is NEVER a bad thing. Come 2010, I'll be changing for the better AGAIN!

Have you made any changes or resolutions for the New Year? Let me know! Leave your comments...

YYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!

I love my life! 2009...the year of new beginnings!

I'll explain more later...