The Top Five

I hope everyone has an incredible and safe time tonight.  As 2010 draws to a close, here are some Top 5 lists for you.  It's been a great year here at Red Carpet Closet. Thanks for being a reader and a friend.  Happy New Year!

Top 5 Most Read Posts of 2010
1.  Disneyland's Club 33:  I have a feeling this post will be at the top in 2011 too.

2.  Dos and Don'ts on the Red Carpet, The Sequel:   What?!  You didn't like Part One as much?

3.  Publicity and Web Series:  My most controversial post of the year, but it always draws in a lot of readers.

4.  Behind the Scenes of Mommy XXX:  Well, this focused on Sony's web series about an adult star, Demi Delia, raising two kids.  The series was shot in a very Osbourne-like reality show way and this episode was shot in 2009.  Demi started to manage the mistresses of Tiger Woods, so I imagine the tabloid aspect of this entire tale drew many readers here.  It is one of the most fascinating stories I have ever covered.  Read the blog, watch the episode, and I think your initial perception may change.

5.  Behind the Scenes with Taryn Southern:  This lovely lady had a great year, so I know there are many guys out there drooling over this smart, ambitious actor/producer/writer/host/singer.  If you aren't familiar with her, check out some of her work, she's one to watch.

Top 5 Most Absurd Searches on Red Carpet Closet:
These always make me laugh, misspellings and all!

1.  "Does (sic) and Don'ts for a Red Person":  Um, hmmm, I don't discriminate by color on my blog.  Anyone can mess up on the red carpet.  I guess you were looking for this post?

2.  "I want to see your peacock behind the scene (sic)": Okay, I realize these are lyrics in a Katy Perry song, but I don't write about Katy, peacocks, or Teenage Dreams, this is more my style here at Red Carpet Closet.

3.  "Kristyn Burtt piernas":  I rarely write about the crazy things people put in a search engine to find me, but I remember my 7th grade Spanish.  Thanks for looking at my legs, I think?  I am not going to direct you to the photos, instead you can enjoy me all bundled up at the State Fair of Texas.  Enjoy!

4.  "Rachael Hip Flores boyfriend":  Hmmm, I am not sure if Rachael has a boyfriend or not.  I will ask her, but here is my favorite story about Rachael in 2010 when she won a Streamy Award for Anyone But Me.  Well-deserved!

5.  "her choir robe":  As a lapsed Catholic, I don't have much use for choir robes these days, but I did wear one this year for the XBox 360 Kinect premiere. Was this the style you were looking for?

Finally, I was able to discover a lot of new blogs and make some great online friends this year.  Here, in no particular order,  are a few other writers to check if you don't already follow them:
New Blogs to Check Out in 2011:
1. Jenna Birch at Seven Style Notes:  She's 18, a strong writer, and just adorable.
2. Shauna Sever at Piece of Cake:  I gain 5 virtual pounds every time I read her blog.
3. Emily Schuman at Cupcakes and Cashmere:  There are lots of fashion blogs, but I don't think anyone does it better.
4. Elle Sees at Elle Sees:  A great overall blog, but her posts on throwing theme parties for everything from Mad Men to NYE are my favorites.
5. Indiana Adams at Adored Austin:  Probably the quirkiest and funniest blogger of the bunch.  She makes me laugh and I know she would be the kind of girl I would want to have a cocktail with.

Birthday Weekend Fun

After a rough start, my birthday weekend turned out to be pretty fun.  I was supposed to wait until Friday to open my gifts, but I caved from the temptation and ripped them open on Thursday....or was it Wednesday?  Either way, it brightened my day and I have already worn my new bracelet and ring several times.  The photo below is my tribute to every amazing fashion blog out there.  What do I do?  Strike a JC Penney's catalog pose in the bathroom of Bouchon.  Blogs like this and this do it way better than I do.

Here are some other images from my birthday weekend:

Getting dressed in the closet:

Hanging with pals at the IAWTV Holiday Fiesta:

My favorite Nine West boots were the perfect addition to new winter blue sweater from Roni B.:

My neighbors make the best holiday cookies!  Thank you, Whitney and Chris.

Come on back tomorrow for the start of a fantastic holiday makeup giveaway for you!

Remember to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, or Bloglovin.

Photo #2:  Courtesy of Maria Timolat

Photos #5 & 6:  Courtesy of Brenda White

Weekly Wrap-Up

Oh, what a week it has been....ping pong, reality stars, and All That Jazz.  Here's a quick round-up of what happened this week:

Me and my pal, Maria, at the opening night of SPiN Hollywood.  We dressed up that night, but I only got a picture of our shoulder straps.  Oh well.  


1.  A visit to the opening of SPiN Hollywood courtesy of Lexus Dark Ride.  Thanks for the invite, guys!  We saw Susan and Vienna and Michael, oh my! (An Oscar winner and a couple of train wrecks all in one sentence.)

2.  It's week 6 of MoreWireLess and we take you right into High Speed Bluetooth.  Hope you're learning something, kids.  Sponsored by Broadcom:


3. Stupid for Movies:  I was lucky enough to visit the set of Stupid for Movies back in April where I interviewed Mike Rotman, Mark Keizer, and Wade Major for The Web Files.  They kindly invited me back and let me pick a movie to discuss.  So, here's the show, All That Jazz, and the story of my highly inappropriate dance routine in junior high:


4.  While I was on Stupid for Movies, I talked about a website I am obsessed with:  Cupcakes and Cashmere.  The content is definitely for the fashionista who is ultra-girly, but I am a huge fan of the site and its creator, Emily Schuman.

5.  Official Blog Roll Call:  I think I am going to start an official blog roll, so if you are interested in linking together, let me know in the comment section.

Next week, we will have a new episode of The Web Files featuring the talented and handsome, Al Thompson, of Johnny B. Homeless and Lenox Avenue.  I will be covering the Plug-In Conference up in San Jose through Wednesday and then running back down to LA to check out the red carpet of ITVFest.

Enjoy your weekend!  My weekend will be filled with a trunk sale at my favorite store, Roni B., my first show of the season at the Hollywood Bowl (Planet Earth!), and a little yoga to relax the mind, body, and spirit.  Let me know in the comment section what you are doing with your weekend.  See you next week at Red Carpet Closet!

May Musings

Photo Courtesy of Kathryn Gray.

1.  Jewelry:  Since my trip to NYC in April, I realized how much I missed my East Coast home.  Even though I keep forgetting to watch my 2009 SAG screener of Julie and Julia, I am well aware of the nostalgic token necklace Amy Adams wore in the movie.  Score!  A fun way to carry NYC with me at all times....until I saw the price:  $75 at the Transit Museum.  For a token that costs nothing for the Transit Authority with a simple silver chain, that's a mighty fine mark-up.  Nice try, but I am a more savvy shopper than that.  So, I searched around Etsy and came across this fantastic vintage spin on the token necklace.  While the necklace is no longer sold on Etsy, the designer, Kathryn Gray, still sells it on Ebay.  You will find her under the name "gallery54s".  In fact, there is one of for sale right now.   I scooped mine up for $29.99.  I love a bargain and a better design than the original one!

                                                               Photo courtesy of Best of LA.
2. Angelini Osteria:  Each month, my pal, Andre, and I get together for our unofficial Supper Club.  Yep, I am a foodie who used to live and die by her NY Zagat's Guide.  So, this is my informal way to keep the foodie in me alive.  This month's choice was Dre's pick.  We headed to Angelini Osteria for an amazing Italian meal.  Even with reservations, we still had a wait, but it was well worth the wait even with the cramped quarters.  From the duck to the pasta with black truffles and Italian sausage to the Branzino to their signature Lasagna Verde, it all made for a meal that I am still thinking about.  It was filling enough that I skipped dessert that night, and I rarely skip dessert.  If you are in LA, be sure to add this to your list and be sure to make a reservation over at OpenTable.  If you have a suggestion for next month's Supper Club, let me know.  I am always looking for new places to try.

                                                               Photo Courtesy of Reprise.
3.  Reprise:  I am a big proponent of theatre, not only as a musical theatre geek, but as a supporter of the arts.  In my recent Tonys post, I mentioned my upcoming visit to Reprise's How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.  Instead of writing a review, I will give you the rundown on how I feel about this show:
Broadway
Promises, Promises
Ticket Price:  $126.50 for 4th row, Center Orchestra
Stars:  Kristin Chenoweth, Sean Hayes
Supporting Bombshell:  Katie Finneran
Director:  Rob Ashford (Nominated for a 2010 Tony Award for Best Choreography)
Show: 1960's Office-Based Musical Comedy
When I Attended the Show:  Day 2 of Previews.
Thoughts:  Too long, miscast leading lady, sloppy 
choreography,  rough around the edges, star turn for 
Katie Finneran (nominated for a 2010 Tony), a fun performance
by Sean Hayes (2010 Tony nominee), a few bright spots dulled by an uninspired cast.
Final Thought: Promises, Promises is Mediocre, Mediocre
LA
How To Succeed
Ticket Price:  $39.50 for 12th row, Center Orchestra (with a Facebook promo code offer)
Stars:  John O'Hurley, Vicki Lewis, Jason Alexander (He is not in the show, but he often makes the introductory announcements like the night I was there.  By the way, the Jenny Craig endorsement deal is working, he looks fantastic.)
Supporting Bombshell:  Melissa Fahn
Director:  Marcia Milgrom Dodge (Nominated for a 2010 Tony Award for Ragtime)
Show:  1960's Office-Based Musical Comedy
When I Attended the Show:  Second week of a two-week run
Thoughts:  Josh Grisetti carries the show surrounded by a strong supporting cast, clean chorus numbers, tight direction, a cast that looks like they are really happy to be there, the show has the same running time as Promises, Promises, but still feels shorter.  
Final Thought:  A great night for the LA theatre scene.


So, while the Great White Way is an amazing place to see theatre, don't forget that sometimes the best productions are often in your own backyard.  I had a more enjoyable night at the theatre for less money.  So, support Reprise, they have a terrific slate of shows coming up next season.  

                                                           Photo Courtesy of Cupcakes and Cashmere.
4.  Coach Bag: It's no secret that I have a ridiculous affinity for accessories.  I am always looking for the latest shoe, bag, or cocktail ring.  Well, the talented Emily over at Cupcakes and Cashmere recently designed a new bag for Coach.  It is a limited edition collection that I have added to the top of my "Want" List.  Her inspiration board for the design truly tempts my credit card to backflip out of my purse and over to the Coach site.  Pre-orders are being taken online now.  


Let me know what your May musings are in the comment section below.  I am always looking for a new fashion, food, or cultural obsession.  

Musings......

                                      

1.  Vacation:  Okay, this isn't a very practical vacation because this place is expensive, but I just wanted to share the amazing place I was fortunate to experience:  five days of heaven at the Montage in Laguna Beach.  It is one of the most perfect places on the West Coast and I want to thank my brother for working so hard all year at his job and taking me as his date to the award ceremony and trip.  Yes, I actually took a few days off and the company was extremely generous with their corporate gifts including a heavenly massage at the spa and my new Ray-Bans.  Thank you!

                                      

2.  Fashion Website:  For the fashionistas out there, I hope you bookmark this site, Cupcakes and Cashmere.  I don't know what I envy more: the photography, the fashions, or Emily's perfect wardrobe styling.  Either way, you might pick up a few fashion, decorating, or cooking tips.  I am adding Emily to my "People I Hope to Meet" list.

                              
3.  Famous Houses:  I have watched too many E! True Hollywood Stories episodes.  I was recently on a shoot and realized the house next door to the set was used to film Kendra Wilkinson's reality show.  This was only after I noticed the house I jog by with my puppy several times a week is the site of a pretty gruesome murder of an actor.  Yep, I recognized the house from E!  So, I guess I have an eye for celebrity real estate.....or I'm just watching too much E! (I'll also keep you guessing on the actor, I want to keep my jogging route private.)

4.  Jewelry:  Last weekend, I attended UniqueLA, an independent design and gift show, and I came across this cuff in my favorite color combination:  chocolate brown and gold.  The designer put it on my wrist and I said, "Sold!"  I love it and I have a feeling it will turn up in a few episodes of The Web Files since I have barely taken the cuff off.  Check out Henri Lou Jewelry for more information.

5.  Purse:  I wanted a huge slouchy bag to carry my notebook for The Web Files, my laptop, and all of the other junk I cart with me each day.  After looking around at bags that were more than my mortgage payment, I settled on a nice, affordable Steve Madden Manhattan Satchel.  Not only does it look cute, but it saved me a bundle.  It's up on Amazon for $98, but I found it at Off-Broadway Shoes in Hollywood for about $25 less. Score!