[source: Lilingworth]

When the preview link for the new Buddy Holly tribute album, “Rave On” popped up on NPR’s website on Monday, I was super excited. I’m not sure when exactly I became a crazed Buddy Holly aficionado, but it started somewhere with memorizing “American Pie” around the age of 8, [...]]]>

[source: Lilingworth]

When the preview link for the new Buddy Holly tribute album, “Rave On” popped up on NPR’s website on Monday, I was super excited. I’m not sure when exactly I became a crazed Buddy Holly aficionado, but it started somewhere with memorizing “American Pie” around the age of 8, hit a new high around the time I saw “Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story” in the early 90’s and remained with me every time I’d play the cast recording to death or hear Weezer’s love tribute song. He was cool long before it was cool to be a hipster, and I could listen to his songs and never be tired of them. And trust me, I didn’t earn any cool points in middle school for professing my love of his music…

But I guess it’s inevitable that he’d be back in style now that his glasses and geeky chic are cultural norms… only, I’m not sure this is a good thing. Because, to be perfectly honest, there are some songs on this album that would make you cover your ears and run for the hills… and I’m pretty sure Buddy would agree.

I found four songs that I liked:  Everyday by Fiona Apple and Jon Brion, Oh Boy! by She and Him, True Love Ways by My Morning Jacket and (You’re So Square) Baby I Don’t Care by Cee Lo. Everything else is, um, how do I put this gently… absolutely horrific? (And yes, this includes Paul McCartney’s version of It’s So Easy)

Most of the songs are overproduced and sung with no passion at all. It’s exactly the opposite of how Buddy Holly performed and recorded his songs… something that you can hear in those records still today. You can’t be lazy with his music, and these people seemed like they showed up to the studio on barely any sleep, drew a song out of a hat, drank something to sedate them, and sang these to their pet iguana. And then the producer just started hitting buttons and hoped that the end result would sound “cool.”

Tribute albums can be dangerous things… and this one, my friends, does the recipient no honor. Stay far far away from “Rave On” and stick to the real thing…

No, I’m not crazy. UCLA is more than just a school, but an actual BRAND on its own. As in, there are standalone stores (over 60!!!) in other countries (China, S. Korea, Japan) that sell the UCLA logo and campus aura, just like Hollister is sold like a surf [...]]]> GAP. Nike. Lacoste. UCLA.

No, I’m not crazy. UCLA is more than just a school, but an actual BRAND on its own. As in, there are standalone stores (over 60!!!) in other countries (China, S. Korea, Japan) that sell the UCLA logo and campus aura, just like Hollister is sold like a surf town to teens in the US (p.s. Hollister, California is not a cool place… really. It’s not.).

While it’s been huge in Asia for a decade, it’s really taking off in the UK right now. I mean, anyone that can charge $90 for a pair of sweatpants must be doing something right?

And I’m super happy to know that UCLA pride is spreading around the globe, even if they have no clue where Westwood is, with one exception. The shirts below could be found in Ackerman Union. They’re blue and gold and normal.

But these items of clothing? Dear friends, a good Bruin would never be caught dead in the evil color of red. Ever. EVER!

There’s also this funny shirt.

Um… what? That’s coming close to taking two logos you silly silly people!

So while I’m happy to see some awesome new designs and pure creativity, I’m sad to see the red. But I think I’m ok with the purple and green and orange… that’s kinda weird and cool at the same time. Being a part of the crowd, but standing out at the same time? Think someone would shout at me to, “Take off that green and red UCLA shirt!” ??  I think I’d get a pass on that one.

Anyhow, if you want to buy any “UCLA brand” clothing, you’ll need to shop outside of the US. ASOS carries a few of the men’s items each season (and they ship to the US for free!), and you can find other shops by searching for “UCLA clothing” on the shopping tab on google.co.uk.

Trust me… I’m very tempted…

On Saturday, we escaped from the warmth of the valley to the foggy breeze of the city for a little bit of a theatre treat. Through a very random series of events, Hugh Jackman decided to debut a one-man show in San Francisco for a very limited engagement at the [...]]]>

On Saturday, we escaped from the warmth of the valley to the foggy breeze of the city for a little bit of a theatre treat. Through a very random series of events, Hugh Jackman decided to debut a one-man show in San Francisco for a very limited engagement at the Curran. And the second I heard about it, I knew that we had to go!

Why? Well… because Hugh is pretty much the coolest guy in the whole world… that’s why? He can sing, dance, charm the pants off of gals (and guys) with that accent, is adorably witty, and he’s the most bad-ass comic book hero ever. If you ever play that game where you name what celebrity you’d like to be for a day with Mr. and I, his answer will always be Hugh. Wouldn’t you love to be able to jump between anything in Hollywood and Broadway in a single effortless bound? I thought so!

Anyhow, the show was a lot of fun and I’m sure everyone in the audience left a bit more in love with him than they were before… even the little old ladies that filled the matinee seats. In fact, I overheard one group of women say, “He wasn’t on the list before… but now he is #1.” And Mr. M, being the awesome musical-theatre/movie lover that he is, had a lot of fun too despite the overload of estrogen in that audience. Luckily there were two super gorgeous (and TALL!!!) dancing Broadway song girls to flank Hugh in many of the performances… I’m sure that helped the men a bit as well.

After the show, Mr. M ran out ahead of the crowd to grab me a spot at the stage door exit. And even though he rolled his eyes at me waiting there with my Playbill among the throngs of women (young and old), and ran across the street to Walgreens to buy me a pen, he waited patiently for me to get my autographs and photos.

My simple words to Mr. Jackman? “Thanks so much for coming to San Francisco – the show was so much fun!” Yeah… I’m a dork, but at least I spoke the truth.  And I’ve got a signed Playbill for the pile in the cabinet!

 Dalla Nona Jewelry, $150

Lilly Ellen Designs, $62                                          Punky Jane, $70

I’m a daily makeup wearer just to even my skin tone and brush [...]]]>

I’m a daily makeup wearer just to even my skin tone and brush away the blemishes. I’ll share my daily routine later… the 2 minutes and out the door routine.

But for now, this is makeup-less me. Thanks to all the brave bare faces that paved the way before me on this wonderful task of showing our real beauty!

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If you asked me who my favorite current author was, I would quickly shout back, “Nick Hornby!” without a moment of hesitation. You can blame my enthusiasm on either my lack of time for an extensive reading list, or just the fact that I’ve never laughed so hard out loud as I [...]]]>