a few gorgeous gowns

loving these

image via Wallpaper World

Kate Hudson in Prabal Gurung at Elle's 17th Annual Women in Hollywood Tribute in 2010

via People
As if they even had to ask... Hit or miss? Hit. (Duh.) Kate Winslet in Jenny Packham with Van Cleef and Arpels diamonds at the César Awards in Paris this month.

this winter in holland

Oh, Holland. Way to keep up the charm.

The weather is so cold and icy there this month that Amsterdam's residents can ice skate on the lovely canals.

image via The Huffington Post

Equally exciting, the Dutch are finally getting their very first Apple Store, which, originally rumored to open a couple of weeks ago, has been scheduled now for March 3. I'd love to be there!

political iphone

 omg'dess, did you see? Obama for America has revealed their new iPhone cases. They are so crazy cute and genius for showing one's support of our dear president.

woody allen on making movies in nyc

In anticipation of Sunday 84th Academy Awards, I'd like to share this awesome video of my beloved Woody Allen's appearance at the 2002 Oscars, where he made a plea for filmmakers' continuing to make their art in New York City. It's also very funny. I would love if he showed up Sunday evening.

P.S. Here's the montage, if you're interested.

happy president's day

Hope you're enjoying a day of celebrating our nation's leaders. This video might certainly inspire a giggle. I first saw it my freshman year at IU, brought to me by the same ladies who introduced me to the puppy cam.

happy friday!

What are your weekend plans? I'm very excited to be on the radio today! I'll be on WNIN 88.3 (the Evansville-Henderson-Owensboro NPR member station) from 3-5 p.m. CST working for the pledge drive! If you're thinking about contributing, this might be a good time :)

Oprah at the Taj Mahal last month... one day before my parents were there :)

this is true for all girls but me (not) (& episode 2)

wow, what a photo

to me, this is endlessly funny

Create Your Own Luck is finally available!

Cozy

the Thylane Lena-Rose Blondeau controversy

a super cute wedding photography website design... recalls Juno :)

I just recently realized how much Claudia Schiffer looks like Brigitte Bardot!

seriously awesome iPhone cases

Mr. President can sing!
Indianapolis keeps it classy. (and I'm not being ironic. Way to rock the Super Bowl, Indy.)

happy valentine's day

I hope you have a lovely lovey day!

image courtesy of Alex's Facebook page :)

Also, congratulations to Maria and Alex, who got engaged this weekend! You are two beautiful people and I love you both. You are excellent for each other!

airport yoga

Do you practice yoga? I've taken classes and followed DVD guides for a few years now, and recently I made the big investment and signed up for my first month-long membership at a local yoga studio, Yoga 101. From what I understand, it's not Bikram, though it has some Bikram influences. The room is very hot, just the same— around 100º! I really enjoy it. It helps me clear my head a bit and it's so physically intense. Sometimes during class drops of sweat fall from my body to the mat (which, particularly during lying-down poses, I cover with a towel) and I frequently see beads of sweat running down my legs! I wear only tiny cotton stretchy shorts and a tank top or a sports bra, and when I'm finished everything is drenched in sweat. It's awesome!

I recently read about the San Francisco airport's new yoga room. How cool is that?! The airport is a wonderful place for yoga, since people can get so cramped on airplanes. I think it's particularly cute that they had to come up with their own icon for the yoga room, since there wasnt yet one in the international guide of airport pictograms.

via Stamford Advocate

via Runmem

on twins

via Kiss the Groom

What is up with the photographic fascination with twins? Or just fascination in general. I have always fantasized about what it might be like to have a twin. Maria and I were practically raised by the Olsens, and to be honest, we thought we looked just like them. I remember one time we went to get our hair cut and Maria literally brought the VHS case (ha!) for Our Lips Are Sealed so the stylist, Nata, could make something similar to what Mary Kate was wearing. We also wanted to be Hallie and Annie in The Parent Trap. (It's still my secret life-ambition to be one half of an adorable, super-cool and hilariously mischievous pair.)

via Families.com

seeing two Lindsay Lohans (The Parent Trap 1998)

via AlyssaMarieRamos

seeing two Hayley Mills(es?) (The Parent Trap 1961)
via HelloGiggles

This recent article from National Geographic talks about the possibilities for discovery in studying twins' genetic codes, and features some awesome portraits. It even shares a national twin convention in Ohio. NPR recently published this story about photographers' love for twins, and still, stories like this one from Vogue about Mary Kate and Ashley (who are, of course, famously fraternal, not identical) captivate my attention. I think it's so cool that these two have memories that they share in a way that they literally can't always see the lines between each other. What would it be like to have such a strong connection with another separate person? What would it be like to share the womb?

Also noted: This woman isn't Angelina Jolie's identical twin, but she could have fooled me.

Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen

image source unknown

Tamera (left) and Tia Mowry, on Tia's wedding day (they're now Tamera Mowry-Housley and Tia Mowry Hardrict)
via TractHer TrailHer

Tegan and Sara Quin

via Jack Johnson

Jenna Bush Hager and Barbara Bush
via Composite Drawlings

via Neatorama

The Siamese Twins: Chang and Eng Bunker

via TopTenz
Ann Landers and Abigail Van Buren

via MSNBC

Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss

Joanna Goddard (who is a fraternal twin herself) posted recently about naming identical twins and telling them apart.

image source unknown

Little Olsens, via Blueberry Lake

happy friday!

Photo of a painted harpsichord by Alexandra Roberts Photography, from Caroline and Cornelius' wedding day


<3 Michael McRobbie and IU <3


omg, you might just pee your pants when you see kitlers (thank you, Lynn)

beautiful trail :)

revisiting marcel

afternoon with an elephant

In the spirit of kale-eating, my future-dietician, cooking former-roommate Augusta was wearing this t-shirt when we most recently Skyped. Have you seen them? Apparently, there's all sorts of courtroom drama because Chick-Fil-A got all riled up about "Eat More Kale," saying it sounds too similar to "Eat More Chicken." If you can, buy a t-shirt to support the cause. (The nutrients cause, of course.)

how did I get a degree in journalism without ever having heard of the Proust Questionnaire?

social media guide, & breakfast treat

hehehe

found on Facebook

some thoughts on names

via Hype Girls


January was a huge month for baby name mania, what with Beyoncé and Jay-Z making history with their little lady, Blue Ivy Carter (professionally known as "B.I.C."). I love the meaning behind the name, particularly the "Ivy," which I don't really care for in itself, but the pun on "IV" is really clever. (Beyoncé's pregnancy announcement was so uplifting. Give it another view here.)

I just love talking about names, which is of course why I visit Nameberry.com almost daily. They always have stats on which names are most popular every day and great blogging on name trends and history. Its cultural commentary and a good sense of humor make it entertaining even to people who aren't parents or expecting.

In that spirit, here's some name info I've picked up recently and enjoyed.

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Did you ever read The Indian in the Cupboard? Remember the name Omri? This commentary on his name made me giggle!

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Am I the only one who confuses Mira Sorvino with Mena Suvari?
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Did you know that Shirley was originally a male name?

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a famous and fitting stage name born of a birth name

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Ellen reveals the secrets of celebrity baby-naming

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white-hot ultra-modern super-slick names
•
what comedians name their kids
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Aaand... top names in pop culture in 2011.

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image source unknown

that's why her hair is so big. it's full of secrets.

It's awesome to me how immediately most of my generation will get this joke. Pop culture, you are a minx.

found on Facebook

Also, I found out recently that Janis Ian is a real live person, not just a mean girl. AND the actress who plays Janis Ian, Lizzy Caplan (she's so pretty!), is apparently dating Matthew Perry, a.k.a. Chandler from Friends. Dude. What a small world. (I love how every Google result on the search "lizzy caplan matthew perry" right now is about what an odd pairing it is, and I do like how this article shows what a fantastic pairing they are.)