Oscar Nominations Dress Challenge 2015

It's that time of year again! I need help finding a dress for Oscar Nominations morning on January 15, 2014.  It's early again this year and we are going to have to do this over the Christmas break. Remember though, the winner gets a $25 gift certificate to the store of their choice. For those of you that are new to this challenge, YOU get to chose the dress that I wear for a one of Hollywood's biggest events. 

Here are some guidelines:

1.  It is not a red carpet event: I am looking for a dress that is simple, classic and understated.  Think of a DVF wrap dress or a Jackie O. sheath.  I am short (5' 3"), so I want to show off my legs versus lots of cleavage (which I don't have anyway) to give the illusion of height.  I love shoes, so I want to pick something hot and sassy from my shoe wardrobe.  One note:  Even though I want a dress to show off my legs, please no so-short-I-can-see-your-hoo-ha dresses.  The Oscar Nominations are a very conservative event, so I'd like to keep it that way.

2.  I will be working at 5AM PT that day: I want a dress that is easy, comfortable and not fussy.  I hate pulling and tugging at my dress while I am working. Also, I LOVE pockets!

3.  I like color: It looks great on camera and adds brightness to my face.  Please avoid red or crazy patterns because they have a tendency to moray on camera. I've done blue, two purples, and a hot pink, so maybe a green or yellow this year?

4.  The budget is important.  Let's keep the dress under $250 and it has to be available online in sizes 0 or 2. 

Here are the winners from 2011-2014 to give you an idea of what has won in the past:

For more information on the winning dresses from 2011-2013, click here, here, here and here.

2011:  Dress by Banana Republic

2012:  Dress by Aqua

2013: Dress by ModCloth

2014: Dress by Eliza J.

Are you up for the challenge? 

The Rules:

1. Find me a dress by Monday, January 5 at 11:59 p.m. PST. It must be available online. So post the link in the comments below with your contact info.

2.  The dress must be available in the U.S., but international contestants are welcome to join us for this contest. 

3.  Two finalists will be announced on Thursday, January 8 and the winner will be announced on Thursday, January 15.

4.  Winner will receive a $25 gift certificate to the store of their choice.


If you have any questions, post in the comments below.  Ready, get set, shop!

A 1:60 Scale Boeing 777 Built Entirely from Paper Manila Folders

A 1:60 Scale Boeing 777 Built Entirely from Paper Manilla Folders by Luca Iaconi Stewart sculpture paper models flight airplanes Inspired by high school architecture class where he was assigned to create simple paper models using cut paper manilla folders, San Francisco-based designer Luca Iaconi-Stewart went home to begin construction on an extremely ambitious project: a 1:60 scale reproduction of a Boeing 777 using some of the techniques he learned in class. That was in 2008, when Iaconi-Stewart was just a junior in high school. Unbelievably, the project continues five years later as he works on and off to perfect every aspect of the plane. Relying on detailed schematics of an Air India 777-300ER he found online, he recreates the digital drawings in Adobe Illustrator and then prints them directly onto the paper manila folders. But everything has to be perfect. So perfect, that Iaconi-Stewart says he?s actually built two airplanes, the one you see here and the numerous failed attempts including three tails, two entire sets of wings, and multiple experiments to ensure everything is just so. The paper plane-making wunderkind hopes to finally wrap up the project this summer and isn't quite sure what will happen next, but thinks an even larger 20-foot model could be an interesting next step. So far there are no plans for the completed model to go anywhere, but it would look great in an aeronautical museum or in the lobby of a certain aircraft manufacturer?s lobby. Just some suggestions. All photos courtesy Luca Iaconi-Stewart. 

They had ONE JOB to do

Mission Accomplished!

Friday I swore that we would get the Jaguar into the garage to join the MGB before any more snow flew.

After a furious flurry of garage reorganization by Monique and me on Saturday, behold:

Victory, victory! Rah! Rah! Rah!
Victory, victory! Siss-Boom-Bah!

A Call To Mentoring...

Mentoring…

I posted this quote today because I felt like it was resonating with me more and more. 

It's about the need to give back in an industry that has given me so much. I live in a town where people are constantly asking me, "You're a reporter, but what do you really want to be?" I always tell them, "I'm doing it, I'm living it." 

Hollywood is a town filled with people who are striving to achieve their goals on a daily basis, waiting for their big break and dealing with rejection from every direction. It is possible to work successfully in this town, but there's only one way to do it — hard work.

In addition to the hard work that is required, a sense of humility, kindness, respect and gratefulness is also needed along the journey. These qualities get lost so often and it makes me wince to watch some people stumble along the way. I want to see people succeed and I think we are all better when we have that mentor in our life to guide us along the way to cheer our success and brush us off when we fall. It's an art that is lost in the entertainment industry, so I think it's time to get back to helping the next generation on their journey.

I find that I get more out of mentoring than the people I am helping. It feels really good to give back. So I decided to do a mentoring group for 2015. I want to gauge interest from aspiring broadcast journalists, TV hosts and reporters of all ages in a once-a-month Google Hangout to chat about the industry. I will also give you a monthly assignment…video or writing…so we can share our work, offer constructive comments and cheer each other on. I may also bring in a few industry guests to chat with us as well.

While I am still formulating some of the ideas, let me know what you think. If it's a large group, I may divide it up. If you are under 18 and want to participate, you are welcome to join us, I will just need written permission from a parent or guardian. 

Interested and want to join me? Give me a shout out in the comments below so I can get the ball rolling in the new year. 

The horror. The horror.

I walked out to the driveway today, and what did I see?

Snow! Snow on my ridiculous Jaguar!!!

I really thought I had until Thanksgiving week to get enough room cleared out of our garage to fit both the Jag and the MGB. But this outrage can not stand without a swift and decisive response.

It's time for super-Tetris mode in that garage. I don't yet know how I'm going to do it, but I can not let this beautiful car sit under a blanket of snow this winter. I just can't.

Camaro Update: 11-11-2014

Since my last blog, I have managed to remove my engine from the Camaro. The damage is fairly minimal thus far, but the damaged roller lifter did damage the bottom of the lifter bore, requiring it to be sleeved.  That's ok though, as it will allow use of larger body roller lifters.  I will be switching to the bushing style lifter, as their added durability seems worth the price, even if it is more than double.  I highly doubt the car will be back on the road in 2015, which on a brighter note, will allow me to finish off all the small things that I've never got around to finishing/fixing.

Among the items I wish to finish are as follows: Trunk carpet, nitrous system, sound system, new brake lines, gauge cluster, interior items/upgrades, fuel tank pickup/sending unit, window net, trans shield, and other safety items required for the track.  While I pondered going with a 540 short block, I simply can't justify the cost at this time, nor would I ever get the wife's permission!  So, I have chose to fix what I got, and go the bushing style/larger bore roller lifter.  If I do ever get that 540 block, I can get it setup for the larger lifters, and all of the upper end will transfer from my 454 block.

I've been dragging my feet lately, but hope to get back on track in the next few weeks while on my furlough.  I can't promise major progress, as I won't be purchasing much, if any, parts for install.  That said, my roll control and nitrous kit are both complete (minus a nitrous plate) and ready for installation.   Until next time!