SJP to the rescue!

Oh my, I'm in love with this look.

Glamour was asking its readers today if the ensemble Sarah Jessica Parker wore to the premiere of her new flick "I Don't Know How She Does It" is a DO or a Don't. And I say wholeheartedly, "DO!"

She looks like a sexy superhero! A couture fashion goddess! Now, I'll admit, no mere mortal could pull off this daring Giambattista Valli gown and matching cape-- in fire engine red, no less. But I applaud a little risk on the red carpet. Movie openings, galas-- that's the time for celebrities (and wanna-be's with an invite) to have fun with fashion, not to play it safe. And yet, I'm often let down by lackluster looks that are in desperate need of a shot of attitude.

Luckily, we can count on a certain crimson-clad, cape-draped superwoman to spice things up.

How does she do it? :)

So tell me, what do you think of SJP's look? Fierce and fabulous, or fashion overkill? As a die-hard "Sex and the City" fan-- I'm watching first season TV reruns as I type-- I am firmly in the SJP-can-do-no-wrong camp, but I'd love to hear what you think!

xoxo,


Image via Glamour

Happy Birthday, Marilyn!

I know the day is almost over but I couldn't let it slip away without wishing a happy birthday to one of the original glamour pusses, Ms. Marilyn Monroe. Can you believe she would have been 85 years old today? I stumbled upon these images earlier, which showcase a star in the making, and my breath was taken away. How stunningly gorgeous is she? I mean, she always looks good in any of the many photos that have been released, but she just looks so young and fresh and full of life here-- ready to tackle the world!

These photos, taken by LIFE photographer J. R. Eyerman, show the 22-year-old starlet in her early-career days, when she was still a newbie in Hollywood and her locks weren't yet that platinum blonde she later would become known for. Eyerman captured these photos in the fall of 1948, following Marilyn through the showbiz training-- acting, singing, dancing-- that would one day make her an icon.

Below are a few of my favorite photos (don't mind the arrows), but you can see the entire 18-image collection (and get the story behind the photos) in the LIFE.com gallery.

I love the mix of grace, attitude and casual realness in these photos. I've always loved Marilyn just for the fact that she was such an incredible sex symbol and yet she wasn't a toothpick-- she had curves and she knew how to work them! She oozed confidence and I could definitely learn a trick or two. I really want to watch some classic Marilyn films now... "Gentleman Prefer Blondes" or "How to Marry a Millionaire" or maybe "Some Like It Hot" ... Do you have a favorite?

And while we're playing favorites, which other silver screen sirens are you a fan of? Old school or new school, I'd love to hear!



P.S. In honor of Marilyn's birthday, I purchased a bright red lipstick for myself that I plan on wearing fiercely, most likely with a smoky eye but perhaps with some heavy, black liquid liner too, a la the timeless beauty herself. Don't you love how I can find any excuse to purchase makeup? :)

P.P.S. This is my 300th post! Woo hoo! I'm sure it would be a lot higher if I posted every day, but hey, you gotta pick your battles.

Little Miss Four Eyes

Some of you may not know this, but my vision is not exactly 20/20. This could be applied figuratively to my life but at this moment I mean it in the very literal sense. In fact, much to my chagrin, I recently had to get a stronger prescription. (My mother, although she can see, is "legally blind" and I dread the day that my own eyesight gets that bad.)

Many people, outside my friends and family, likely don't know I wear glasses because I very, very rarely wear them out in public. My purple Ray-Bans-- although not as hideous as the tiny, angular, librarian-esque frames I donned in middle and high school-- are primarily reserved for use at home, specifically late at night when I am in my pajamas in bed. They only grace my face outside if I have slept one too many nights in my contacts (a very bad habit of mine, I have to admit) and my eyes simply won't have it.

However, I would most certainly wear my glasses more often if I looked as cute as Anne Hathaway, who was the most lovely four-eyed creature on-- surprise, surprise!-- the red carpet for the Los Angeles premiere of her new animated flick, "Rio."

I mean, this is just not fair how adorable she looks! It's kind of gutsy wearing glasses on the red carpet, but she pulls it off gorgeously.

Granted, the overall aesthetics may not just be because of her natural beauty. Those tortoise shell frames got it going on, too.

Which reminds me that I've been wanting to purchase a new pair for myself, ones with a bit more vintage flair and personality. Mine are slightly dated, going on four years now I think, and the lenses are scuffed and scratched.

If I did treat myself to some eye candy, the first place I'd look is Warby Parker. Have you heard of them? You likely have since the company has been a darling of the blogosphere, but in case you haven't here's the scoop.

Warby Parker is a collaboration between four friends who wanted to provide an alternative to the overpriced and bland eyewear available today. Their fashionable frames retail for just $95-- a steal when you compare them to my pair, which cost upwards of $300. Plus, for every pair purchased, Warby Parker donates glasses to someone in need. How amazing is that?

I'm partial to colorful frames rather than basic black, so I'm loving:

Nedwin, in summer green

Miles, in amber or sandalwood matte

Wiloughby, in checkered revolver

Colton, in sandalwood matte 

(or, if you really want to get some stares, in tangerine!)

Which frames do you like best?

And for all you girls with glasses, check out... The Girls With Glasses! (They've been a bit quiet lately but they've promised to be back in full force soon and I bet you'll love 'em. One half of the duo is Brooke White, who is one of my favorite American Idol finalists! I was rooting for her all the way on Season 7! :)

Hope you're having a wonderful week!



P.S. If you didn't see my last post, check it out. I have a fashion dilemma and I need your help! :)


Anne Hathaway image via Glamour

Oscars Fashion

Oh, Oscars fashion. You left me dazzled. Wasn't this year's red carpet simply divine? At least, I thought so. Watching the arrivals in the hours leading up to the 83rd Academy Awards, I found it hard to find much that I didn't love (hence the longish, photo heavy post to follow). Almost every star who walked out on the carpet looked fabulously glamourous-- just as they should for Oscar!

Still, I have to play favorites and so my picks for Best Dressed of the night are... drum roll please...

(If you've read my awards show fashion recaps in the past, you know I love color and so my choices won't surprise you...)

Jennifer Hudson in a shockingly good, electric tangerine Versace gown that hugged her curves in all the right places. If those recent ads weren't reason enough to join Weight Watchers, her Oscars look has me almost running to sign up. (Did you catch that? Almost running? Ha. Me. Run. Ha.)

Tied for fabulosity on the red carpet was the always smoldering Mila Kunis, who still looked hot even in a romantic lilac lace number by Elie Saab. Now, if I lived in a dream world and actually strolled down an awards show arrivals line, this I imagine is how I'd want to look. Fun, pretty, vibrant... and still smokin'.

Now, onto my long list of runners ups... I told you there was a lot to love!

Near the top of my list was Academy Award winner for Best Actress, Natalie Portman. She and her growing baby bump look so regal in this aubergine Rodarte gown. I heard some criticism of her "matchy-matchy" look-- note the Jimmy Choos and tassel earrings-- but I think she looked perfect and radiant... ready to accept an Oscar.

These ladies were equally stunning, all in very different ways.

Amy Adams sparkled in a midnight blue L'Wren Scott column gown, and I loved the contrasting pop of emerald jewels at her neck and wrist.

Jennifer Lawrence looked like a "Baywatch" bombshell in a form-fitting tank dress by Calvin Klein; her blonde flowing locks and bronzed makeup were just right, too.

Reese Witherspoon, one of my all-time favorite actresses, went classic in a black-and-white Giorgio Armani Prive gown-- which reminded some of the Valentino Julia Roberts wore when she won the Oscar for "Erin Brockovich" and others of, well, vintage Barbie. Both not bad comparisons in my book!

Then, there were those ladies who simply sparkled and shined...

How adorable to Hailee Steinfeld look in this Marchesa frock that she helped design? I swear, this girl knocks it out of the park every time. Don't we all wish we had stylists when we were in high school?

Also cute as ever was Michelle Williams in a simple but body-con Chanel sheath.

Mandy Moore looked elegant in a nude, crystal-encrusted Monique Lhuillier gown (which, I have to say, looked much better on TV than in this photo).

And Hilary Swank, who is not usually a fave of mine, won me over this year with this fun and feathered metallic number from Gucci.

Thanks to the eternally gorgeous Oscars co-host Anne Hathaway, the fashion surprises didn't stop once the celebs went into the Kodak Theater. She had eight-- including her red vintage Valentino bustle gown she wore pre-show-- wardrobe changes. What girl wouldn't love playing dress up in these designer frocks? (I think my favorite is the first, the burgundy silk Atelier Versace gown.)

via Bitten and Bound

Unfortunately, her counterpart's sudden wardrobe change wasn't as fabulous. Moderately funny, but not fabulous.

Poor James. I had high hopes for Franco but he was just so lackluster, I half expected him to fall asleep. Luckily for Anne, it made me appreciate her over-the-top enthusiasm that much more. At least with her I could tell she was actually delighted to be there.

So... what was your favorite fashion moment from the Oscars? Or favorite moment in general? Admittedly, the red carpet was, by far, my favorite part. I can't lie. But there were some genuine speeches that left me tickled and pulled at my heartstrings (sometimes simultaneously, like Luke Matheny's). And I loved seeing the PS22 chorus close out the show with "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." Those kids rock my socks.

Oh, and while there were many nominated films I have yet to see ("The Fighter" and "The Social Network" to name a few), I really want to go check out the night's big winner now, "The King's Speech." Though, it will probably come out on DVD before I find the time... story of my life.



Images via here, here, here, here, and here

SAG Fashion

So, I totally forgot about the 17th annual Screen Actors Guild awards. Like, it didn't even occur to me that they were on until about 11 o'clock last night.

No!!! was my immediate thought.

And then I realized: Wait a second. All I really care about is seeing what people wore. Thank you, Internet.

So I browsed. I oohed and ahhed. There were a few ughs in there, too, as always. But, I'm too nice to point out the fashion that failed. Instead, I've compiled here the fashion that, in my opinion, was fabulous. Take a look and let me know what you think! (to see bigger, click the photo!)

Ladies in Red

I adore Mila Kunis in this belted, flowy Alexander McQueen dress. It is romantic yet edgy and young at the same time. And her wavy locks and trademark smoky eyes are the perfect fit. She looks cool and a bit sassy, just as I imagine her to be.

And Tina Fey, well, I just applaud her! She has been known to find herself on the worst dress list; but she looks stunning in this red lace Oscar de la Renta gown. It hugs her in all the right places and the embellished bodice adds a bit of fun to a dress that could otherwise be too serious for the comedienne.

Shining brightly

Critics debated whether her crisp white Azzaro column sheath was a bit too tight for her baby bump, but I think Natalie Portman looks gorgeous. (The $2 million in Tiffany jewels doesn't hurt, either.) And I even heard criticism of her hair, that it was a bit too severe. But I don't mind the pulled back look-- because just look at that skin! Flawless! Glowing! Pregnancy is doing Portman good.

Onto Julia Stiles, who, I have to say, looks better than ever. This is how I would want to look on the red carpet. Seriously, that faded navy-and-white Monique Lhuillier gown makes her look lit from within, don't you think? And her hair is great, too. I love the tumbling golden ringlets over her shoulder.

"Glee" starlet Lea Michele abandoned her usual show-stopping ball gown for a sleeker style. Her shimmering sliver Oscar de la Renta dress is sexy but not over the top, and the combination of dewy skin, nude lips and just-rolled-out-of-bed hair completes the effortless look.

Fun & Funky

I've probably mentioned it on here before, but I love color on the red carpet. Don't give me black and boring. Give me fun and funky! I give kudos to gals who take chances when it comes to fashion and I think these risks paid off.

Claire Danes is bringing spring early in her floral belted Louis Vuitton gown. The ruffles at the bodice gives her a little oomph where she needs it and the pops of pinky-orange on her lips and tips-- ahem, nails-- are an unexpected but fun contrast.

Hailee Steinfeld, of "True Grit," is the new face of young Hollywood, and the new face of fabulous young Hollywood fashion. Two awards shows in a row she has nailed it, looking fresh, pretty and age-appropriate (she is only 14 after all). Hailee looked picture perfect in cream at the Golden Globes. She went an entirely different direction this time in a magenta, black and tangerine-striped Prada dress but again, picture perfect! And so cute. I kind of want to wear a shorter version of that dress this summer.

Soft & Nude

Now these weren't my favorites but they are getting honorable mentions. Lea Michele's "Glee" co-star Heather Morris looked sweet and chic in a strapless, crystal embroidered, peachy Romona Keveza dress-- proving fair girls can go nude.

Also looking ethereal was Angie Harmon. The train is perhaps a bit overboard, I'll give you that. But I can't help but love her feathery ballet pink Monique Lhuillier gown. So frilly and feminine and hey, I'm a girl's girl.

Daper dudes

Fashion isn't all about the ladies. Check out these handsome fellas: Justin Timberlake in a Simon Spurr tux and James Franco in a Gucci suit. But really, who am I kidding? I don't care about what they're wearing. Take it off boys! Ooh, sorry. Got a bit carried away there. I'll simmer down...

A different approach

"Modern Family" hot mama Julie Bowen showed the boys how it's done in a Catherine Malandrino paintsuit. You may knock her choice but you gotta give it to her for guts. In a sea of gowns, Julie wasn't afraid to stand out-- and her body is smokin'.  

A forever do...

Finally, I'm throwing in the classic, forever beauty Betty White-- pictured here accepting her SAG award for Best Female Actor in a Comedy Series for "Hot in Cleveland"-- because 1) we should all be so lucky to look this good at 89, and 2) she is the reason I missed the awards to begin with! Besides the fact that I forgot, I was too busy watching her and my new girl crush, Jennifer Love Hewitt, in the Hallmark Hall of Fame movie "The Lost Valentine." Betty had me blubbering like a little baby. It was the sweetest and saddest love story ever. If you see it on while flipping through the channels, you should watch. You won't be disappointed.

There you have it! My SAG fashion rundown. So, did you watch the SAGs? Do you agree with my choices? Who was your "Best Dressed" of the night? (Mine's a tie between Mila and Julia.)

Red carpet images via Yahoo!
Betty White photo via E! Online

New fave... Ghost Whisperer

Last week I discovered my new favorite show: "Ghost Whisperer."

I know, I know. The series finale was last year. Better late than never?

Here's what happened: It was, I want to say a Thursday night, and I was up late-- which is nothing new-- flipping through the channels-- also nothing new-- when I stumbled upon "Ghost Whisperer" on WE TV (Side note: I love "My Fair Wedding with David Tutera"!) "Hey!" I thought. "This is new!." So I watched. All it took was one episode and I was hooked. (The fact that they keep running marathons helped the addiction along, of course.)

First, I was captivated by the complete and utter gorgeousness that is Jennifer Love Hewitt. You'd have to watch to get the full effect but her hair looks absolutely perfect in every scene. I am totally envious of her waves. Anyway, Miss Love-ly (sorry, couldn't help myself!) plays Melinda Gordon, an antiques shop owner in a small town and she, oh yeah, just so happens to be able to see and talk to dead people. Or, as her grandma called them, "earthbound spirits" who have unfinished business with the living that is preventing them from "crossing over" into the light.

Second, I was entranced by the hotness and hunkiness of David Conrad, who plays Melinda's unbelievably charming, romantic and supportive hubby, Jim Clancy. Unbelievable as this perhaps too-good-to-be-true character may be, I'd totally play the damsel in distress to his prince and fall into those strong, toned and tanned arms. Just sayin'. Oh, and he has pretty nice hair, too!

Third, of the five or six episodes I have recorded and watched so far (most from Season 1), none have disappointed. They all suck me in and keep me clicking fast forward through the commercials to see what happens next. There's funny moments, cute moments and enough semi-spooky moments to keep things interesting. I will say though that "Ghost Whisperer" is most assuredly a "chick show." Which is not to say a guy wouldn't want to watch it (he likely would for other reasons, see: Jennifer Love Hewitt) but at the end of every episode I get a little choked up when the ghost imparts its final message, finds closure and crosses over.

I know. I'm such a sap! But I love it. I'm thinking I may have to go out and buy the series on DVD.

So, have you seen the show? First run or in late-night marathons like me? And have you discovered a new favorite show? I'd love to hear!



P.S. Time is running out to enter my giveaway! Do it! :)

P.P.S. While we're on the topic of Jennifer Love Hewitt, what did you think of her dress at the Golden Globes? I wasn't the biggest fan, though she did look romantic, soft and ethereal. Her hair and makeup on the other hand were perfection. Some things never change!


Top image via "Ghost Whisperer" facebook
Other images via the show's official website

Conundrum

Ahh, the eternal question: To be a red head or not to be a red head? Well, at least that's my current conundrum. This photo of the ever-gorgeous-no-matter-what-her-hair-color Emma Stone represents my state of mind (state of hair?) perfectly.

Although red is always a popular choice in the fall and the color has been made even more trendy this season due to all the celebs trying out the look, I personally have been thinking of going red forever. Well, more specifically, I have been thinking of dyeing my hair red for several years now, and even added some red streaks into my blonde mane in high school (or was it college? I can't remember), but I have been particularly preoccupied by the idea for the past couple months.

Okay, full disclosure: I have two boxes of auburn-ish hair dye (Clairol's Perfect 10 Ginger in a Snap, if you'd like to know) that have been sitting unopened, unused, for oh, about three months. I haven't quite gotten up the courage to take the fiery plunge, let alone do it myself!

So tell me, what do you think of Emma's new look? (It is for her role as the goldilocks Gwen Stacy in the upcoming "Spider-Man" movie.) Like I said, I think she looks beautiful either way, though she is actually a natural blonde.

And perhaps more importantly, what would you think if I went ginger? I'd love to hear your thoughts! (My friends and co-workers have mixed feelings about it.)

Hope you are having a happy Monday!




P.S. My Monday has been very productive but it just got even better when the lovely Meagan of Mo Pie, Please informed me that I won her very first giveaway! Woo hoo! I'm so excited! The prize is two linocut prints from The Big Harumph. Go show Meagan and the shop some love for their generosity!


Photo via Yahoo! Movies


Edit (Dec. 13): Thanks for all the support, guys! If I go red, you'll definitely be the first to know! :)

Weekend bits

Happy, stormy (here anyway) Tuesday, everyone! Now, don't let those above photos fool you. I didn't get another tattoo. (Not to say I haven't thought about it-- sorry, Mom!). I did, however, eat some yummy food. See, all of those photos are just snapshots from my weekend, which was spent in the wacky and wonderful town of Hollywood.

The boy has been dog-sitting for the past week for a couple who lives just a few blocks away from the corner of Hollywood and Highland. Even though there is tons to do, he has been a bit lonely, so I went to visit him and the pups he's been watching.

Unfortunately, I didn't think to snap a photo of Edna and Babe, so you'll just have to take my word for it when I say they are adorable. They are mom and daughter, so they love to snuggle and, as strange as it is, lick each other. Babe is young and full of energy. Edna is a tad chubby and seems to waddle about on her stick legs. At first, Edna was frightened of me-- she was even shaking!-- but she soon warmed up and decided that, in fact, she loved me and wanted to sit on my lap and be pet all. the. time. Still, so cute.

While the weather has been awfully gloomy and drizzly, the boy and I did get out to explore the neighborhood. Our weekend included:

:: Eating at Aroma Bakery Cafe on Sunset, where much of the food has a Mediterranean vibe, the picture menu goes on for days and the portions are huge. The waitress talked us into a sampler, which included pita bread, hummus, french fries, a cucumber-and-tomato chopped salad, pickles and hot sauce. It was enough to feed four people, at least, so by the time we got our rosemary chicken (served with delicious pine nut rice and a house salad) we were almost too full to eat!

:: Searching out High Voltage Tattoo, better known by TLC watchers as LA Ink, Kat Von D's studio. I've loved and tuned into the show for years, and continue to be a fan even though the last two seasons have been more focused on personal drama than tattoos. I was hoping to see Kat, of course, but the only people I recognized inside the shop were Adrienne and Khoi. While I didn't leave the shop with some new ink (not yet!), I did purchase a High Voltage hoodie. (I couldn't resist.)

:: Waiting in line outside The Griddle Cafe. It was so worth the wait, which actually went more quickly than expected. (We were quoted 45 minutes but I'd say it took 30.) Ever since seeing The Griddle Cafe featured on Yahoo! a month or so ago as one of the best pancake houses in the nation, I knew I had to go. It did not disappoint. Because I couldn't decide and because our charming server suggested it, I got a single (but still huge) Banana Nana, a buttermilk pancake filled with brown sugar-baked bananas, plus an order of Eggs Benedict. But their Benny isn't like anywhere else. The poached eggs sit atop a thick slab of ham and instead of English muffins as a base, The Griddle Cafe uses potato skins. The whole thing is swimming in creamy, dreamy hollandaise sauce that makes you feel guilty but it is so good you don't care. I even added avocado, which was totally unnecessary but still delightful. I also had a bite of the boy's French toast, which had a heavy hand of vanilla extract that made it taste like there was unseen vanilla bean ice cream on top. Seriously, to die for. Go. Now. And if my recommendation isn't good enough, maybe you'd believe Justin Long? He was in a booth just a few feet away from us. That's Hollywood, baby.

:: Trying unsuccessfully to go see a movie at the Grauman's Chinese Theatre (there were no good movies playing, incredibly) and having a creepy homeless dude that reeked of alcohol come up to the boy and pull on his sweater while we were looking at the celebrity footprints and handprints outside. Again, that's Hollywood, baby. As an alternative, we went to Hooters (my first time!) for a late-night snack. Five pieces of medium, naked chicken wings and an Amstel Light for me, training burgers and fried pickles for the boy.

So... where did your weekend take you?




P.S. On Friday night, I went back to my alma mater, Pepperdine, for "Blue and Orange Madness" (aka, Midnight Madness). It was wonderful to see my sorority sisters and even my little sis. I kind of felt like I was in college again (complete with a midnight trip to Jerry's Deli afterward). But the reason I'm telling you is because part of the festivities included a dunk contest. Last year, Keion Bell dunked over five people and the video became a YouTube sensation. Well, this year he had to one-up himself... and he did! "Seven human beings!!!!!" as the announcer said. Basketball fans, you can watch it here.

Food, Wine + Zooey

Two Sundays ago (but who's counting?) my bestie Marielle and I went to the inaugural Los Angeles Times Celebration of Food & Wine. After seeing a full page ad in the Times about a month or so prior, I immediately marked my calendar, invited Marielle and then like a good friend pestered reminded her to buy tickets. (And gave her a discount code, yippee!)

Well, it turned out to be a beautiful day-- the day before Labor Day, in fact-- and not just for the obvious, gluttonous reason. It was so wonderful to spend a carefree day with my best friend in the whole world, indulging in tasty treats but also catching up on each other's lives. We're both so busy all the time that moments like those don't happen often, so I cherish them when they do.

The actual event didn't fail to deliver, too. Though trying to find parking in L.A. always proves to be challenging, especially when thousands of people are all going to the same exact place, the venue itself was pretty spectacular: the backlot of Paramount Pictures Studios. While browsing around, weaving between people and hopping from booth to booth, I would occasionally stop to look around and think, "Wow, it looks like we're on the streets of New York!" Which of course only made me remember my unfilled yearnings to visit the Big Apple. But never mind that...

All told we spent about three hours sampling various gourmet foods and wine. Mostly wine. (I have to say, I was a bit frustrated to see that many of the vendors-- especially the food trucks-- we're charging for food as opposed to giving away free samples, as I had expected. We did pay, after all, to get in. That would be my only complaint of the event.)

During our journey around the outdoor fest, we devoured lots of sweets: salted caramel ice cream from the Cooking Channel's Ice Cream truck, cake balls from Delicious Wishes of Beverly Hills (toffee for me, and I think peanut butter for Marielle, or something similarly divine), and a zeppole (basically an Italian donut, covered in powdered sugar) from Rosa's Bella Cucina. We had to fork over a $1 for that last one, but it was sooo worth it.

We balanced out the sugar with a few salty bites: spicy yellow curry (made with coconut milk, potatoes and carrots) from Sedthee Thai Eatery, some bread and cheese (I ate the bread and gave Marielle my cheese) from La Brea Bakery, and a surprisingly delicious mungbean patty but I don't quite remember who from. Blame the wine.

Speaking of vino, there were tons of wineries to taste, and though we had eight drink tickets each (plus extras from a kind lady who gave me hers at the gate), the vendors didn't much care to take them. We sure didn't mind!

First there was a refreshing Sauvignon Blanc from Dutcher Crossing Winery, then a nice, light Syrah from Farella-Park Vineyards, followed by a crisp Pinot Grigio, from the LA Times Wine Club (who we liked for their hearty pours).

Our favorite at the festival, though, was Pech Merle Winery. They won points for taste and experience, because unlike the other wineries, they gave us a true tasting, letting us try several of their vintages. We loved them all!

We also tried Korean black raspberry wine from Kook Soon Dang that was dangerously good, as in, it tastes so much like juice you would get drunk before knowing what hit you. Similar to that was VeeV Acai Spirit. I'm not one to sip straight liquor-- I'm a cranberry and vodka kind of gal-- but with this I'd make an exception. Pour VeeV into a martini glass and you're good to go.

Lastly, we tasted Evan Williams Honey Reserve Bourbon. This would be the one thing we tried that didn't win us over. Too strong, we both tossed it-- but kept the cute plastic shot glass it came in. Guess we're not bourbon girls.

With all that alcohol flowing, and a bit of a buzz going, we took a few silly pictures. Who can resist posing with a Sake bottle or ... doing whatever it is we're doing in that second picture. Oh, I know what we're doing. We're making fools of ourselves! Gotta love it.

As the sun began to set, we made our way over to the Hollywood Stage for the evening attraction. No, not food or wine-- but a concert by She & Him. You know-- Zooey Deschanel!

Even though I had never heard Zooey's music before, I was uber-excited to see her, because she is just so darling. (I finally saw "500 Days of Summer," well, this summer.) Though I had told Marielle who would be performing, she didn't realize who I was talking about until we got to the stage. And then she was just as excited as me! We talked about how beautiful Zooey is while swaying to the music... Her voice sounded as sweet and as lovely as she looks.

Even the back-up singers were adorable. All the ladies were wearing fun, colorful dresses with black tights. Perfect! (And check out that guy's white hat in the audience... too cool!)

The whole gang... Matt Ward, the "Him" in She & Him, is on the far left. And isn't Zooey's green dress pretty? The layers fluttered up and down when she jumped to the music, shaking her tambourine.

Closing out the show, Zooey and Matt tackled the piano, pounding the keys together.

The crowd shouted encore after the band left the stage and a few minutes later, She & Him obliged with one last song. With the last notes hanging in the air, the crowd began to break up. As we were leaving, I noticed that the Crepes Bonaparte truck (if you've watched "The Great Food Truck Race" on Food Network, you'll recognize this truck) was still open for business. Even though I was a tad full and it cost a couple more bucks out of my pocket, I couldn't resist.

I ordered my usual-- Nutella and banana-- and Marielle tried a savory Ranchero crepe. We devoured them on the walk back to our car... Both got two thumbs up!

So there you have it. My first food and wine fest. I consumed many, many calories that day but overall, I'd call it a culinary success.