The 2011 Oscars~not so hot...

I had intended to blog about the Oscars today, but I was left so utterly UNINSPIRED by the fashion, not to mention the broadcast itself, that I'm tempted not to touch the subject, despite my having looked forward to it for MONTHS. OK, OK, I'll digress for a moment....

What the HECK was going on last night? First off, what was with all of the unkempt hair styles? I'm the first to say "no" to the updo, but that doesn't mean we have to let our fly-aways run amok (I'm talking to YOU, Amy Adams and Scarlet Johansson!!)
And, Amy... Can we talk about how this dress could have been so AMAZING, were it not for that TERRIBLE necklace? It's fine on it's own, but really, dear - not with that dress.

Not to mention, you, Scarlet. *scratching head* What is that dress exactly? Not my favorite, not even close, that's what it is.

Love it or hate it, Cate Blanchet is about the only person who could have rocked this couture look from Givenchy...
I personally like it, but I know I'm almost alone in that... It's definitely couture, that's for sure...

Nicole Kidman is GORGEOUS, but her Dior number left me cringing:
The hip-accentuating structure is AWFUL, and otherwise it looks like a cheap wedding gown. No, thanks.

However, Natalie Portman is GORGEOUS in Rodarte, and her tassel earrings were completely adorable.

Gwyneth Paltrow looked SMASHING, as she always does, in Calvin Klein. And love me or hate me, I actually enjoyed her earrings and brooch =)

Halle Berry's Marchesa dress was gorgeous, but she can pull off so much more. Show us whatcha got, Halle!
I would have liked to see her in a bold color, like Jennifer Hudson...
This was a little "holy boob attack!" for me, but the color was nice, and she looks SMOKIN'!

Florence Welch was frightening... the gown reminded me of a good-will find...

Kudos to Hailee Steinfeld, from True Grit, who looked adorable AND age-appropriate. She should teach some of her peers some lessons (I'm looking at YOU, Miley Cyrus!)

Sharon Stone? She didn't attend, but Cuella DeVil did...
Cruella chose a ravishing Dior number, and her signature hair and sharp facial features identified her right away..... ;)

Typical Helena, but I can't really knock her. She has her own style and she wears it with pride. unlike so many of her ill-dressed cohorts, she consistently delivers AMAZING performances in her movies. So she can dress like a kook, if she wants to. At least in my book.

I was pretty excited to see Sandra Bullock this year. I was hoping she's come out swinging, like Reese Witherspoon did last year (freshly divorced from Ryan Phillipe). But Sandra looked sad (who can blame her, really~the Oscars must have mixed memories for her), and severe in her bright red Vera Wang and pale make up. We love you Sandra, smile!! =)

I LOVED Hillary Swank's Gucci gown!! LOVE IT!! But she needed some accessories. Not too much, just a cuff? Or maybe earrings?? Something?!

Poll: Is or is not Helen Mirren the sexiest lady alive? Polls closed. Results are in. 100% of people vote she's drop dead sexy. How do you do it, Helen?!

Ummmmm so, WHO is Jennifer Lawrence? She's HOT, I know that. I feel silly, but I'd never even HEARD of "Winter's Bone" before. WHAT a red carpet debut!

Mila Kunis in Ellie Saab looked AMAZING. Not so 70's now, eh? ;)

Marisa Tomei WINS the Best Dressed of the evening in my book. The vintage Charles James is outstanding, plus I lust love her to death.

Penelope Cruz just had a BABY for goodness sakes! H.O.T. Hot.

Michelle Williams can rock a pixie-cut like nobody's business. And I love a beaded Chanel gown as much as the next girl (read: I LOVE IT A LOT!!), but I'd have preferred her in a bloder color that didn't wash her out so much.

Now Reese Witherspoon is my fashion ICON. I LOVE everything she wears... almost. She said yesterday that this dress was a game-time decision, and I think she should have gone with her first instincts (oh, what might have been!). To me, she looks like she's wearing one of those hair pieces they sell at the mall, and a dress that looks straight out of the 90's. While it's not awful, she could do (and has done) waaaaaaay better.

Let me make on thing clear... I love Monique Lhuillier - but Mandy Moore looks washed out in this nude beaded dress. She should have walked the carpet in the gorgeous blue number she sang in. Alas, hindsight is 20/20.

Annette Bening and Warren Beatty were adorable together! LOVE them, and LOVE her Naeem Kahn number!

Aaaannnnnddd, my FAVORITE leading man! I'm so glad he won Best Actor, he COMPLETELY deserved it! Not to mention the Kings Speech was an absolutely excellent film (and totally deserved its win for Best Picture), and his arm candy, (wife, Livia) is nothing to be sneezed at. ;) If you could be anyone right now, who wouldn't want to be Colin Firth?!

Justin Timberlake is adorable. All the time. Period.

And Robert Downey Jr. is delectable. His presentation speech was one of the few redeemingly funny parts of the night (despite being a repeat of a joke by Ricky Gervais from the Golden Globes). And his choice of navy blue over black? Mmmmm-hmmmm. *sigh*

Anne Hathaway looked drop-dead-amazing in her vintage Valentino...
But I COULD NOT get over how much she resembled an over-caffeinated cheer leader during the awards! What was UP with the hosting?
James Franco, while very cute, was HIGH AS A KITE if you ask me. Wtf?! Are you BEGGING never to be nominated or even INVITED to the Oscars ever again?! And Anne Hathaway, albeit a wonderful actress, was just too much. They had no script (or at least it appeared that way), and actors? They NEED scripts.

Overall, I was let down by the night. I wanted so much more for the evening, and with the largest audience for an Academy Awards in history, I bet the Academy did too. It's supposed to be all about the glitz and glam, but it felt like they were trying to cater to the MTV VMA's audience.

So, what outfits did you love/hate? Any sympathy to be found out there for the hosts? And most importantly, who should host NEXT year?? It has to be better next year... right?!

Hope you enjoyed my Oscar round up! Happy Monday, friends!

WAHOO!!

Ladies and gents, we made it to FRIDAY!!! Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some relaxing to do... I hope you have a wonderful weekend ~ I know I will! Happy Friday, friends!

Perfect Zzzzzzzzz's

Remember how I said I can't stop changing things in my home?? Well, my bedroom hasn't been changed one little bit since we moved in. That's right. We have a bed, a dresser and white walls. Exciting, right?? Wrong. We want to re-paint and re-decorate, but it's going to have to be on an UBER-budget (read: someone pays us to re-decorate). I want someplace calming and relaxing (read: getting rid of the intense fan/light combo that makes you feel like you're in an interrogation room.). I'm thinking blues? Maybe greys? I'm really not sure though... Do you love your bedroom? Do you have any suggestions for mine? It's pretty small - it will only accommodate our bed and the dresser, and maybe a nightstand... I'm open to any and all ideas! For now, here are some spaces that currently inspire me...

via Elle Decor
Could I keep the walls white and still make my room look this chic? I'm a little chicken when it comes to white walls. I'll admit it, I lean on paint colors like a crutch. I think the luxe drapes add a lot of drama without needing paint... Maybe that's the ticket...

via High Gloss Magazine
I love all the color in this room. I really don't know how people combine this many colors and still make it look like a pulled-together space. Guess I'm still learning that one. The Navajo rug is brilliant~I never would have chosen that pattern for this room!

Louis Vuitton vintage suitcases as a nightstand? This bedroom can't help but be fab!

The soft palette in here is incredibly soothing. And those sconces are adorable! This makes me long for a beach home in the Hamptons *sigh*

via Elle Decor
Modern bedrooms can sometimes feel cold to me, but this is proof that minimalist modern can feel comfy and chic~sign me up!

via Elle Decor
A gabled roof and lattice windows will automatically make your bedroom cozy. Sometimes I get jealous of people whose houses have natural character... All I've got is asbestos popcorn ceilings~curse you 1970's building styles! ;)

via Elle Decor
I bet all the gentlemen would love to live in this bedroom. Why you say? It belongs to Meg Ryan =) Those tall windows and the barn door are adorable. Would you do a barn door in your home, or is it a bit too rustic? I personally love them.

I think a style like this is much more within my reach. It's pretty much monochromatic, and the up-to-there window treatments give the ceiling extra height (which my room desperately needs!).

Greys are so chic right now (they're the new taupe, as my friend says), and the yellow/grey look is particularly adorable. One thought, however... would this look feel right for all seasons? I could see myself becoming sick of the yellows in the middle of winter (unlike most of the rest of the country, I hang on to winter and it's "cold weather" ~60 degrees, as long as I possibly can!).

via Elle Decor
I'm falling in love with cowhide rugs lately; they add a bit of rustic interest to any room. I also love the look of the white walls and that gold side table.

This bed is GINORMOUS! Even so, it looks like a cozy place to cuddle.

via Elle Decor
What adorable window treatments! These are just too sweet for words! I've also always wanted an antique bust in my room. I think I'd use it to display particularly lovely necklaces (maybe something from my ultimate jewelry crush, Stella and Dot?).

via Elle Decor
Doesn't this room remind you of a more modern version of the children's room in Mary Poppins? I keep expecting Julie Andrews to walk into the frame and sing, "A Spoonful of Sugar."

via Elle Decor
This is proof that you can have a more masculine room without it feeling like a man cave. The plaid bedding and dark, rich wood tones make a man feel welcome in the space, but the softness of the drapes and the sweet ocean themed prints keep the space fresh enough for any chic lady.

via Elle Decor
This room feels so British I think it must speak with an accent. The metalwork on the bed frame is so classic, and the wallpaper is divine! If I went to boarding school in England, I would make SURE my room looked just like this.

via Elle Decor
That chaise is ADORABLE!! And that's it, we're putting french doors in our bedroom. Never mind the difficulty with our 70's, block-construction ranch home. It's done.

via Elle Decor
This modern take on the circus tent could have been SO BAD. But the rich fabrics, clean lines, luxe finishes, and attention to detail makes it SO GOOD. Bravo! P.S. Can I WEAR that fur throw on the sofa? Ok, thanks.

via Elle Decor
A tan, wing-backed, nail-head trimmed headboard? Kill. Me. Now. Death by pure design awesomeness!

See, now this makes me think I could TOTALLY make a bold color work in my bedroom. And anyone who knows me, knows I'm addicted to green. Would I be brave enough, though? Somehow I'm envisioning the color in my room looking like a sour green apple sno-cone exploded... Maybe not, after all.

via Lonny
Wow, holy gorgeous! This room looks rich~that's about all I can say. From the antique headboard, to the zebra rug to the painted silks... wow.

via Elle Decor
Those sconces spell D-R-A-M-A, in a good way. And can we talk about that white body pillow with green piping?? Yeah, I'll take eleventy-hundred of those, please and thank you.

via Elle Decor
Did you think I could EVER make it through a bedroom post without showing you something nautical?! Of course not! Oh blues and whites, where would I be without you?? And the vintage life-preserver looks amazing in this space. Yummy.

Holy longest post eveeeeeerrrrrrrrr!! I hope you enjoyed oogle-ing these photos as much as I did. Any you love? Hate? What is your favorite feature about your bedroom? I'm looking for ideas here, people! =) Happy Thursday, friends!