2012 Oscars, WOMEN WHO ROCKED IT!

My take on the Oscars tonight? The WOMEN ROCKED IT!

We have a tendency to really bash on our rich and famous, I know I am as guilty of this as anyone. They are too pretty, they are superficial, they are so out of touch with reality etc. etc. etc. 

But I watched the backstage live feed for the Oscars last night and I just really have to give props to a few women who really rocked the Oscars. They were stunning, they were classy, and they were genuine. They are real woman, powerful women, yes, but real women non-the-less who really rocked it tonight and deserve a little R-E-S-P-E-C-T! 

So, keeping in mind that I didn't watch the actual show but the backstage stuff with clips from the stage here and there, here's my list! 

Octavia Spencer was sooo BEAUTIFUL, she looked absolutely gorgeous tonight! Her Winners Speech was so touching and I teared up a little when she was too overcome at the Thank You Camera to say anything else. She soo deserved all of praise and attention she got tonight! She was fantastic in "The Help", and she is indeed a phenomenal woman! What an inspiration for real women everywhere! ♥

Meryl Streep, a class act she as always and of course just looking radiant as usual. So excited about her 3rd Oscar win! For anyone who doesn't know, she's had like 17 nominations but her last Oscar win was in like the 80s, so tonight was really special for her. Just LOVE her! She alluded to her being around less in the coming years, but I hope that isn't so; I will never have 'Streep Fatigue'. Watched her interview in the press room. I loved her discussion on her new project for a Women's History Museum and the importance of the project for young women, but also for young men. ♥

AND FOR THE FASHION POLICE IN ME, WHO DO I THINK LOOKED AWESOME?!

Ok so admittedly, I just really love Emma Stone. :) Girl didn't win any awards last night, but in my opinion, she's a winner. I love how well she is doing now and can't wait to see even more of her. She also looked fantastic as usual cheering on her costars for "The Help" Love her, loved her dress!

Glen Close is on of my all time favorite favorites and even though she was mostly there to enjoy the show last night, she brought it on the red carpet. She just radiated confidence. Take a look at her rocking that dress!

Last Night a very classy Penelope Cruz hit the red carpet. Props for her very ladylike Jacqueline Kennedy esc look. I personally thought she looked lovely.

AND FINALLY, A NOD TO IN MY OPINION, THE TWO LEADING MEN OF LAST NIGHT! LET'S BE HONEST, WE CAN'T LEAVE THEM OUT AFTER ALL. ;)

Funny Man Billy Crystal is like comfort food for the Oscars. Love him or hate him crass jokes and all, he isn't afraid to poke fun at anyone in the industry if the shoe fits and he seems to have boundless energy! And give the man a cigar, a ninth stint hosting the Oscars is nothing to turn your nose up at!

Last but certainly not least, I give you Christopher Palmer! His latest role in "The Beginners" brought him an Oscar last night for Best Supporting Actor. It was a brave and thoughtful role about an older man coming out of the closet after his wife dies and Christopher Palmer gave the role great dignity. At 82 he is the oldest individual to ever received an Oscar, and I believe is 2 years younger than the Oscars themselves! Of course to me, he will always be Captain Von Trapp. ;)

And there you have it!

HAVE A BEAUTIFUL DAY!

Hobbies For Sanity

EVERYONE needs at least one hobby for the sake of sanity. Or, in my case, several time consuming hobbies...like completing puzzles, reading, crocheting, and most recently, pottery painting and knitting.

....OK So, I also sing along with the radio/my iTunes at the top of my lungs when I'm home alone, but I don't know if that counts as a hobby....:-)

The Point Being That:

As I nervously await word on my application for Teach For America, nurture ulcers concerning our future in general, wade knee deep through Italian tenses, conjugations and idioms, and continue to function at my usual high velocity speed, these hobbies bring me little snippets of much needed peace. My brain temporarily becomes a quieter more well ordered place when all I have to worry about in that second is the next stitch, puzzle piece placement, color choice or plot twist.

With that in mind I have been spending increasing amounts of time and money at UW's "Paint The Town" (A habit I am going to have to regulate better from now on :-D).

AND, as already mentioned, I have begun to learn how to knit. 

Don't get me wrong, Crocheting Is Awesome! It's fast and it's really pretty easy once you get the hang of it, but I have, and I wanted more! I had know from the start that I wanted to both Crochet and Knit since most everyone I talked to in the respective circles did one or the other and claimed their craft was better and hardly anyone seemed to do both.

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!

So, after months of crocheting like crazy, I armed myself with some new weapons. 

FIRST, I needed one those Crocheting for Dummies/Young Children kits with pictured instructions, beginning materials, and easy starter patterns. That started me off really well when I started crocheting. 

CHECK!

SECOND, I needed some alternate yarn cuz the yarn that comes with these projects is never soft enough for say, a scarf which is always the more fun beginner project (since it's something you actually have a use for). 

Caron Simply Soft in Pistachio and Pagoda.

CHECK and CHECK!

I started out small with a little pocket purse and then skipped the other projects that I was less interested in and started on a very basic scarf in the pagoda yarn. :)

AND....

TA DA! 

Not too bad if I do say so myself. ;)

And you know what? I feel a little bit better, so mission officially accomplished. <3

HAVE A BEAUTIFUL DAY!