Easter

Today is Easter, a day as Catholics we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus after 40 days of Lent where we pray, fast, and repent our sins from the previous year. If I look back and reflect the past 40 days leading up to Easter I can say that it was probably the best Lent I have ever had. Now I know my Grandmothers and even my Mother would scold me for saying that I have had a "fun" Lent but I am a Senior in College and just to give you a little inside scoop on my life here is what has happened in the past 40 days....

Ash Wednesday- went to Ash Wednesday Mass at Gonzaga's Chapel. Beautiful service. Later in the day bought two of my guy friends Sports Illustrated Swim Suit Edition Magazines at Barnes and Noble after the weekend prior saying I would (thanks vodka sodas). Ps- I bought them with my ashes still on my forehead

First weekend of Lent- One of my best friends Dad visited. The weekend was filled with good friends, good conversation, good beer, and great plans for a graduation party. I believe Gonzaga played BYU this weekend as well... Go Zags

Week leading up to Vegas... the school week leading up to Vegas I had many emotions and thoughts spewing threw my head, the BIGGEST and most important was "Sarah DO NOT LOOSE ANYTHING IN VEGAS" I am prone to loosing things and boy did I not want this to happen in Sin City. As my group of friends and 300 other Gonzaga Seniors prepared for Vegas I participated in more girly activities than I had all year, getting nails done, hair done, even got a spray tan. Wow. I immediately had to turn on Sports Center after doing all of those things.

Vegas.... flying into Vegas my heart was beating so fast with excitement and adrenaline... my best friend next to me blared "Cant Tell Me Nothing" by Kanye West as we landed, this was going to be a great four days. The next four days were filled with laughing, cheering, giggling, dancing, drinking, and most importantly the WCC Tournament. The four days were filled with memories that I will never forget with people I love and cherish. Most importantly I came home with all of my belongings (I think)

Week Post Vegas.... Flying home from Las Vegas I was on a flight with Fr. Spitzer. Later laid in my bed unable to move for 24 hours. Mid terms and papers filled my calendar as I struggled to finish them like a JV 2 team against Varsity in the fourth quarter.

Spring Break.... R&R all week. Just what the Dr. ordered. Along with high intensity work out classes with my mother and a self prescribed detox I spent my Spring Break at home in Portland exploring old favorites of mine and walking around my beloved city. I was able to reflect on Lent in this time period and what I was trying to do "more" and "give up" in these 40 days. Spring Break was also spent applying to jobs and perfecting my resume... still need a job.

Weeks after Spring Break.... these weeks did not seem real. It was spent with some of my best friends laughing as always and reminiscing of the great four years we have spent together. One Saturday my friend and I got in a bike accident early in the morning (I was in a "ho down cowgirl" outfit from the night before and she was in a fur vest) which luckily we walked away with only bruises and cuts but that lead into one of the greatest days ever. Ps- this bike accident was in front of 3 firemen.
This Saturday was spent biking, watching the Senior 5K run, playing a volleyball game, playing football, dancing, laughing, Jack and Dans, and celebrating a great friends birthday. It was one of the best 24 hours. It started out as just a Saturday in college but I will look back and remember that Saturday for all the things I did and all the people I was with.

Easter Vigil.... Went to my Grandmothers retirement community for an Easter Vigil service. This was probably the most hilarious Mass I have ever been to. My Dad and I were scolded by some Nuns thus were asked to do the offertory.

As I look back and reflect upon Lent and the past 40 days I can say that it has been the best 40 days in my college experience. One of the things that I wanted to do in this Lenten time period was to live every day to the fullest, because you never know when or if it is going to be your last day. I can say that I lived up to this promise, in a very unconventional way.

Happy Easter!

Call Me Maybe

Hey I just met you, and this is crazy, but heres my number, call me maybe?

Call me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepson if probably the catchiest tune I have heard since Justin Bieber's Baby. All over Gonzaga's campus this weekend girls were blasting this song at parties and at the bar and before you knew it every person was singing along willingly or not. Now the lyrics and songwriting are worse than a Paris Hilton song something about the tune and the chorus sung over and over again immediately puts you in a great mood. We all can relate to meeting someone or seeing someone and wanting to give them your number just for the slight chance they'll call. Ms. Jepson voiced what all of us feel, "before you came into my life I missed you so bad, I missed you so so bad."

I downloaded this song Friday and have played it over 200 times.

March Sweeps according to a programming nerd

After a long hiatus (again) I have decided to return to my blog as well I need someone or somewhere to divulge my thoughts.

My last and final Spring Break of my academic career was a few weeks back, and now some of my friends were on beaches or sipping Coronas I spent the break as my mom's assistant as well as catching up on my favorite and new favorite shows. March is a slow after sweeps the beginning of March on the networks but provides an open void for cable networks. The entertainment focused networks BRAVO, E!, MTV, and VH1 all premiered shows in the beginning of March. Some like Shah's of Sunset disappoints and makes me want to vomit while others like Million Dollar Listing: NY had my mouth watering. The second thing I love in life after popculture is real estate. I am a real estate junky and had my jaw to the floor during the 44 minute premiere. The three main characters not only provide whit, drama, and good looks (well two out of three) but the apartments and duplex's show cased in the show provide the extra pizzaz.  Million Dollar Listing: NY is one of the best spring premieres for the cable network that continues to bust out entertainment, home, and style focused "docu-series".

Oxygen, a network that has failed in the past few years hopes to see big numbers from their new "docu-series" Brooklyn 11223. The show is focused around two girls who used to be best friends since kindergarten but after a crazy shore night one the other of sleeping with her boyfriend. While watching five minutes of the show I thought I was just watching another dramaticThursday night at Star Bar. The show not only lacks a solid plot line but the fan base will fizzle after episode 3 when we are tired of hearing the argument if Joanie slept with the boyfriend. I turned it off after 10 minutes and don't plan on watching one more second of Brooklyn 11223.

The entertainment focused networks are pumping out shows left and right hoping for a big break with one of their 10 premieres in March and April. With Real Housewives of New Jersey premiering April 22nd on BRAVO the competitive networks have a few more weeks to get some ad sales and big ratings before the Jersey girls win the ratings raise for the long haul.  (This season looks extra juicy)

Call me Albie Manzo -

http://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/real-housewives-of-new-jersey-season-4-teresa-giudice-explodes-2012223

Hip Hop Princess

I haven't blogged in months. It breaks my heart a little inside that I have been neglecting this blog as I get so much joy every time I write and divulge my love and opinions of pop culture.  I can't believe it is already a new year.. yes I know I am 9 days late getting to the Happy New Year text/tweet/blurb but hey it is still January!!!!

 So much has happened in the past few months in pop culture yet at the same time nothing too exciting that I feel has needed my undivided attention. Break ups, make ups, hook ups, new reality shows, 15 minutes of fame have come and gone but not until Baby Blue arrived did anything truly catch my attention.

First and foremost I am overjoyed that Beyonce and Jay-Z finally had their baby, Blue Ivy Carter. I can only imagine how this little girl will be cared for and loved. She truly was born into hip hop royalty.
Slightly jealous of who her godparents are going to be... Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin maybe?

It is so refreshing to see moguls in the entertainment business show so much love and compassion towards each other as well as to continuously succeed in their own careers. I hope Beyonce and Jay-Z stay together and are able to raise their daughter as a family in their magical hip hop kingdom. If you haven't already listened to Jay-Z's newly released song, Glory, just two days after his daughters birth I suggest listening to it. on repeat. It is much more heart felt than many of his songs as he even speaks of an unfortunate miscarriage for Beyonce and how the birth of Blue is the greatest feeling he's ever had. It's hard not to smile while listening to this song.
One can only imagine the outfits Blue Ivy will be sporting in 2012

72 Days of Publicity

  Kim Kardashian filed for divorce from her husband of 72 days Kris Humphries this morning..... this was less shocking to me on my Twitter feed than who I tried to flirt with on Friday night.

  If anyone is surprised by this news you should watch the E! special on their "Fairytale Wedding" The whole wedding, marriage, and "true love" they saw in each other was a scam and total publicity stunt in my eyes. The immature ogar-esque Humphries was easily manipulated into making a few bucks off of the Kardashian Royal Wedding event. Most people didn't even know who this guy, Kris Humphries, was before he made an appearance on Season 6 of Keeping Up as we tilted our heads and asked he is in the NBA why haven't I heard of him?

  The wedding event brought in 10 million viewers, the highest watched show or special for E! As a person who was involved with ratings and scheduling the on a daily basis this summer for E! this was a fantastic accomplishment, but what is an accomplishment if it is unjust or immoral and just for publicity. Ratings = ad sales = $$$ into the Kardashians Hermes handbags.

   I used to love the Kardashians, some may say I am Kardashobsessed. After experience with E! this summer and their lives getting more and more in the public eye and new business ventures that are going more off of their brand and brand equity I have to say I am no longer a fan. I miss the days of watching them work at the Dash store, go out to eat, talk about their relationships. I don't care that you have to go to another photo shoot or that your Bentley is in the shop yet again.

  What used to be a fun show to watch on E! has turned into a momager who will do anything for 10% and her kids just looking to make as much money and get publicity until their relevance diminishes.

   With Kourtney and Kim Take New York premiering in less than a month we will have a chance to see Kim and Kris fighting and their quick marriage quickly go down the tubes. No word yet on if her filing for divorce and his reaction will be on film... Kris released a statement this morning in which he stated he is "bummed"

                 
                       They'll be back together before we know it....

                                              

Outward with the Housewives

    This week was part two of the Real Housewives Reunion and boy did I wish there wasn't even a part one. The combination of the drama, the fake tans, nails, and high pitch voices made me cringe. These women, specifically Teresa Giudice are middle aged and yell and fight like 16 yr. olds.

    As an avid Real Housewives viewer I must say that New Jersey along with New York and Atlanta are going down hill. Bravo built their brand around the franchises but since 2005 when the first season of Orange Country premiered the network has moved upward and onward.
No longer are we seeing the housewives and what they normally
would do on their daily lives or how these women are living the fantasy lifestyle 99% of Americans do not live, instead we are seeing fights at a babies christening, high heels races, and enough leopard and animal print for the Central Park Zoo. New Jersey along with OC, New York, and Atlanta has had many cast changes due to lack of interest in some of the housewives as well as housewives leaving for various reasons. The network brings on new, younger, more hip housewives for different viewers to connect with but, sometimes that fails to bring in viewers ie: Cindy Barshop from New York season 4.

    Beverly Hills Housewives, in the the middle of its second season has a very much different vibe and feel compared to the other franchises. Yes they live in one of the richest areas in the United States and still have drama on the show, but the story lines and fabulous outlandish lives of the housewives draw the viewers in. The two new "friends" of the housewives Brandi and Dana will add quite the one two punch to the season as Brandi calls herself a slut and Dana flaunts around her $25,000 sunglasses. With housewife Taylor Armstrong's estranged husband's suicide days before the premiere they have edited him out from the season although the looming story line of their terrible and rumored abusive marriage is strong through every episode adding some personal ethos for the viewers. 

    With Miami and D.C. canceled, a revamp of the New York Cast, and lack of a strong audience ratings for the New Jersey season one has to wonder are the Housewives headed for cancellation land?

Playing No More

It's the middle of October... a month after network shows premiered for the first time. There have been many hits but many shows have already been cut from the lineup for their poor viewership and lack of followers. Some are surprised and some you have to wonder what was the network thinking in the first place?

   The Playboy Club... when I saw that this show was canceled I did not even flinch. The idea and concept was good, unique, interesting but the show lacks in audience. Being on the Peacock network with a strong Thursday night comedy lineup male viewers do not tune into NBC as often as they may tune into CBS to watch How I met Your Mother and Two and a Half Men.

 The Playboy brand may have ultimately prevented audiences from even sampling what was ultimately a rather tepid period crime drama. It's a soap, which inherently appeals to women. But it's a brand so tied to men. It was doomed from the start. Early on, the idea of building a primetime series around the Playboy brand seemed like a novel plan. After all, E! Entertainment's The Girls Next Door had helped push Playboy and founder Hugh Hefner into the mainstream — and 60 years after the magazine first launched, Playboy now seemed almost quaint and tame.

    The Playboy Club was doomed from the premiere.

The CW premiered a new reality show H8R which was promoted as a "celebrity confrontation show" The host, Mario Lopez creates situation where celebrities surprise, confront and hope to win over their biggest detractors. Or h8rs, in text-message speak. From my perspective this whole concept is just dumb. Whoever was the producer and made the programming decision to put this on air should reevaluate their priorities.... haters are going to hate especially if the biggest celebrity you can get is Scott Disick, Kourtney Kardashian's boyfriend/baby daddy. 

Pregnant in the City of Angels

Something must be in the water of the Hollywood Hills this year, everyone and anyone who is a A list star is pregnant, wanting a baby or just had a baby. From the power couple of Hip Hop Beyonce and Jay Z to Jessica Alba and her husband Cash Warren to our favorite Disney star Hilary Duff, babies are in the air! I have to admit that I am a sucker for a good celebrity pregnancy... I anticipated the Beckham's baby girl being born almost as much as the royal wedding. I love seeing that a celebs baby was born and the name that seems to top the last celeb baby. Are celebrity babies outshining their celeb parents? 

Recently I had a conversation with a friend who bought into the whole Beyonce's baby bump is fake theory and does not believe that she is actually pregnant. They think it is a publicity stunt for her to gain album sales or that she doesn't have to diet post delivery. You have to wonder why in the world would B want to do this? She is a 30 year woman who is happily married and it is a natural step for her and her husbands life to have a baby. She has said in many interviews that she can't wait to have children not just for increased album sales.... even if her recent album plummeted on the charts.
Celebrities want to grow their families with their significant other... or their "fling" of the moment, they are just like any other woman who has a growing belly we just see that growing belly on a daily basis on Perezhilton.

One of the many pregnant stars that I admire for trying to live a normal family life and raise their children as normal as they can be are Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck. Garner pregnant with her third child seems to be a hands on mom as possible compared to many of her peers. She kept her pregnancy quiet amongst rumors over the summer as it is a family decision and matter to share with the world that they are in fact pregnant. Jennifer and Ben know that even though they are some of the biggest stars but they are also normal people trying not to drink too much of Hollywood's water.

Why is is that when two or three or ten celebrities are pregnant at the same time we get all abuzz and wonder what the gender will be, will they get divorced right after the baby is born, what will be it's name? As a culture we love to obsess over popular culture, especially over celebirites and when they are pregnant and have kids we can't keep from reading and obsessing how adorable they are taking their kids to ballet, to karate, or going to the farmers market. We memorize their names, how many kids they have in their family, and find fashion inspiration in one certain 5 year old.
The new celebrity obsession..... celebrity babies.

long lost blog

After a 6 month hiatus I have decided to get back to blogging!

Talk Show Shakeup

With the exit of long time talk show queen, Oprah, there is an enormous gap to fill. While some networks will try to brand the next Oprah or sail troubling waters with shows like "The Talk" ABC has decided to give the longtime favorite and America's sweetheart news anchor, Katie Couric her own talk show.

Couric who was a Today Show host from 1991 to 2006 went on to be the only female solo evening news anchor on CBS. With Emmy awards showing she succeeded as a solo evening news anchor many viewers could not disagree more. Not only were ratings terrible, but critiques and viewers alike could not gain connections with Couric as she was not taken seriously. Hopefully this new show will bring in the viewers who loved seeing Couric laugh, cook, and plan weddings with long time co-host Matt Lauer on the Today Show.

The big question is will Couric take the show in a route that Oprah found herself on..... one day Oprah could have Jennifer Anniston and chat about her upcoming movie and dating life and the next day have a very serious 45 minute show about rape in the Middle East. Oprah was able to connect with her viewers on various levels emotionally, spiritually, and showed her raw core especially with her struggle with her weight.



If Couric wants to survive with the other afternoon talk shows such as Dr. Phil, Rachel Ray, Ellen, and others she needs to connect on a personal level and gain back those viewers who woke up for 15 years to her shinning face on the Today Show.

Couric's show is supposed to premiere the Fall of 2012 leaving viewers anxious to see what she and her team have up their sleeves for another year.

Red White and sign for a Divorce Here

If you have been living under a rock or just do not pay attention to current events Arnold Schwarzenegger has a love child! When I saw the news this morning I had to think what the hell! Why do men in power think that it is okay to sleep with their staff or have affairs and have a secret relationship and a CHILD with a woman other than their wife or significant other while still in their relationship? 

Arnold and Maria Shriver seemed to have an All American marriage with fame, money, notoriety as well as a long line of strong Kennedy genes. What could possibly go wrong? Exactly what they have: fame, money, notoriety, and she has the strong Kennedy name and tie to uphold. Such demands as well as their whole relationship and his race and time as the Governor of California has been in the public eye, maybe grass wasn't so green on their side of Wilshire Boulevard. 

who's choo are you on?

Meet Melissa Gorga. Teresa Giudice's sister in-law as well as one of the newest cast-mates to Real Housewives of New Jersey. Unlike some of the other Bravo RH franchises the cast-mates are family. And as we have learned in the past two seasons in Jersey "blood is thicker than water." The first episode sure put this saying to test as the Giudice's attended Teresa's brother, Joe, and his wife, Melissa's sons' christening. Of course Bravo showed only a 30 second clip from the actually christening at the church and focused on the wedding like reception held at an upscale hall. 

Sparkles, gold, and everything gaudi could not mask the tension between Teresa and her brother Joe as well as Teresa's husband Joe... I know confusing. What was supposed to be a lovely evening celebrating the christening of a beautiful baby turned into an all out brawl between the Guidice's and the Gorga's as well as their respected cohorts and sidekicks. 

This scene was ridiculous! Middle aged men wrestling around and yelling at each other in both English and Italian what I assume were some pretty nasty Italian swear words... 

This scene looks like it is the theme of season as we divulge more into Teresa and Melissa's family history and why there is so much underlying tension between the two..... the scenes with the Manzo's and Lauritas were all heart warming and brought some of the more REAL and down to earth moments to the episode.... hopefully the new girls don't steal the spotlight..

I can't wait for the rest of this what looks like JUICY season! 

new goal for the summer: meet chelsea handler

Yes I do have a goal to meet ms handler. i mean come on now it shouldn't be tooooo hard...... she is one celebrity and comedian that i admire for her wit as well as her hard to explain charm. I amm just dying to meet her!

Her newest book, Lies Chelsea Handler Told Me, arrived on bookshelves all across America this morning and you know that I just had to buy it, i mean come on who are we kidding. already 50 pages in i have caught myself crying of laughter and literally rolling on our living room floor as her staff, friends, and family share their stories and shenanigans that are Chelsea Handler.



I have always known that Chelsea is quite the character but I did not know that she was THAT MUCH OF A CHARACTER. From the practical jokes she pulls on Johnny, to telling and lying for a week to Heather that she is pregnant, to telling Stephanie to put a baggie of ecstasy in her cervix through airport security (when it really was Excedrin), Handler knows how to be the life of the party while still packing a punch.

new city. new friends. new summer.

 School is out.... for now and it is SUMMER! This summer is going to be quite different than being in Spokane Portland or Central Oregon. This summer I will be in Los Angeles. As my new internship grows nearer and nearer I am joined with many mixed emotions. Excitement, nervousness, bravery, timidness, and many more mixed emotions are getting me excited for my first day at E!

I am going to use my experience in the Los Angeles area to my full advantage. Make a list of different things I want to see, do, and experience all around the area. I know that the three months will go by quick and I can't let it pass me by with out going out of my comfort zone!

Now it's time to pack up the car and head down I5 straight to California!

ROYAL WEDDING

Yes, I watched THE Royal Wedding in the middle of the night last night. Was it worth it????? Absolutely!!! From the music, to the church bells, to the crowd, to the array of hats and headresses, to the gowns and dresses to the bride and groom this wedding will be remembered forever.

The commentators on the network I watched kept reiterating how in love the now Duke and Dutchess looked compared to when Will's Father and late Mother married in the early 80's. The love between the two is undeniable. The smiles, the hand holding, the kiss all had amazing chemistry I could not stop ooing and ahhing.

This Royal Wedding was perfect in all shapes and form. I am sure that many things went wrong but to the viewer this wedding was out of a storybook.

Every Girls dream to become a princess happened...

end of the year

tick tock tick tock end of the year is so close.......

i am loving this show love love love love loveee

I can sleep when I get older

This week has been hell. I have never had so many projects, tests, papers, presentations, etc due on the same day and thank god it is all over.

Throughout this week a couple of things have kept me sane as well as some sort of calm... with a few singing/yelling sessions in the shower.

1. Gym sessions- even if it was 45 minutes exercise is the perfect way to destress in college when everything is crazy and you need a little time out of the classroom or library

2. Music----- different music for the different time of day/ degree of stress has defiently helped me through this week
        My top picks: My Girl, The Temptation.... yes surprising but this song with its soul and good     time theme puts me a good mood
                              Waiting on an Angel, Ben Harper... perfect and mellow
                              Let's Go Crazy, Prince.... need a pick up.. Prince. Enough Said

3. Friends-- Seeing some of my close friends this week even for 5 minutes brightened my day as well as kept me sane as well as to keep on studying, writing, editing, and see the light at the end of the tunnel.

And now I am off to bed. So excited to be able to sleep 7 hours!
Here is a PSA I worked on for one of my broadcasting classes.... could be worked on a lot more butttt its due in the morning and this girl needs some beauty sleep! 

Mastering Augusta

Phil, Tiger, Fred, Vejay are all in the last round of the 2011 Masters at Augusta National Course in Georgia. Many people may be surprised but I love golf. I am not the best player but I have grown up around golf and have the ability in Central Oregon to walk 100 yards to one of the best courses in the Nation from my bedroom.

The Masters is the first of the Majors to be played in the golf season, as well as the most coveted. The iconic green Masters jacket is a symbol of golf greatness around the World. To have achieved a green jacket, or multiple as Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Arnold Palmer, and my favorite Phil Mickelson have is monumental in the history of the Masters.

The Masters may be boring for some to watch, but for a golf girl like me 8 hours on the green is bliss.

Happy Birthday Dad!

Today is not only the final day of the Masters, but also a memorable day in my family, it is my Dad's birthday. No fuss or demands are ever made on my Dad's birthday even though we have had family get togethers and may make a bigger deal out of his birthday than he would like. Celebrating my Dad's birthday makes me realize how much I appreciate what he does for not only my family but the company he runs. He is the most dedicated and hard working person I have ever met. Work for him does not stop when he leaves the office nor does it stop on family get aways. My Dad deserves a day of celebration for all that he has accomplished and all of the lives he has changed.

Happy Birthday Dad!

My main girl Oprah

Love her or hate her but Oprah Winfrey has changed lives across the world. I have been an avid viewer for year and years, I grew up with the big O and wouldn't have it any other way.

With her daytime talk show, in its 25th season, own production company, magazine, school, charity, and now her own network this lady can do it all. As a young woman I respect what Oprah has been able to accomplished and where she has come from. Oprah grew up with a mother who neglected her and did not want to have Oprah as a child from the start. This makes me heart broken thinking that ones own mother would not want their child.

Last night I had the opportunity to watch Oprah's Master Class as well as Oprah 25th Season Behind the Scenes. Both of these classes had inspiration to me in two different ways.
The Master Class showed Oprah on a deeper level as well as telling her inspiration and her mantra of creating a better self and reaching farther and farther for your goals. Oprah with all of her money and fame was sitting there so raw and organic back to her roots.




Oprah Behind the Scenes provides inspiration but in a very different way. This path of inspiration is very personal to myself as the viewer dives into production of a day time talk show. To see the different ranks of producers, production assistants, supervising producer, and the woman behind the Oprah Show, the executive producer, is a dream. Getting nearer and nearer to graduation and making a career decision or path it makes women and men in these jobs seem more real and gives me hope that I could and may do their jobs. Producing a show like Oprah is like nothing else... hopefully I can land a job at the Oprah Winfrey Network sometime in my life.