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As I’ve mentioned, I’m very into Anthropologie right now. I’d buy almost everything in the store if I could. Since I don’t have the funds for that, I try to stick to the sale section. To ease myself back into blogging, I’d like to show you the dress I found on sale during a trip up north to Schaumburg with my fellow Anthro-loving friends. I wasn’t sure about this dress at first, but now I love it and want to wear it every day.

Anthropologie Reed Shirtdress, Anthropologie Snakebite Belt (best belt ever), Old Navy wedges

A better look at the detailing.

I am so in love. The dress is sold out online, but if you’re interested in finding it (it also comes in blue plaid – which I originally wanted but wasn’t at the store – green, red, and navy), you can try calling stores and seeing if it’s still in stock.

I don’t know if this blog will turn into an “outfit of the day” blog – I don’t know if I’m stylish enough for that, but I’d like to keep track of what I’m wearing and what works for me. I’m just happy that I’ve finally figured out what I like to wear, and I’ve learned (from The Blind Side, believe it or not) that if you don’t love it in the store, you’re not going to love it at home.

So I’m back, and I’ll try to be a better blogger this time around!

But one of the other topics I was hoping to explore in this blog is something that, at 25, I’ve only recently gotten into – fashion. Well, maybe I’ve been into it for longer, but I’ve only recently figured out how to dress myself, mostly through trial and error.

Dressing well originally came not as an interest, but as a necessity. For most of my life, what I’ve worn hasn’t really mattered. From first grade through senior year of high school, I wore a uniform. Starting with green plaid jumpers and puffy-sleeved white blouses and evolving into blue oxford shirts and navy blue pants, I knew what I’d be wearing every single weekday. Never try to sell me on wearing navy blue pants again – it will never happen, no matter how hard you try. When I wasn’t at school, it was mostly jeans (including horrific mom jeans I wore in junior high – no wonder I got teased) and long-sleeved Old Navy t-shirts, with some Maurices and American Eagle thrown in there. I was a fan of jorts, too. Hot.

Miranda Priestly would not approve.

Once I got to college, I thought I would need to learn how to dress myself. Which I did – sort of. Then I realized that no one dresses up to go to class, and if you do, you’re a tool (at least at my massive Big Ten school). Behold my college uniform – jeans, hoodie, sneakers, no makeup, ironic/fake vintage tshirt under hoodie, the end. My going-out clothes: same jeans, same ironic tshirt or maybe a cute tank top, actual makeup, bar stamp, the end. Oh, and I also frequently wore gaucho pants in public. Shut up, they were in. I also had not yet discovered hair straighteners, believing that since my hair is naturally straight, I didn’t need one. Thus why my hair resembles a blond ‘fro in every picture from college.

Then I graduated and got a job, with an office and a 401k and a dress code. My office is more business casual, and I can wear jeans on Fridays. I’ve been working for a while now and have bought a lot of boring clothes, only to never wear them, or bought boring layering pieces, only to layer them with other boring pieces. But figuring out your style doesn’t happen overnight. As the great Brenda Dickson of “Welcome to my Home” so eloquently states before teleporting into her closet in a gold dress, “Fashion is something that can be acquired by looking at a lot of different fashions.”

Do you like this gown? It's very dramatic.

But it’s true – I started reading People StyleWatch (basically Fashion for Dummies) and InStyle and started actually listening to Stacy and Clinton on What Not to Wear. And, perhaps most pivotal, toward the end of college I discovered the holy grail (but the killer of my wallet) that is Anthropologie. While I do own several (eh, make that quite a few) items from this wonderful but overpriced boutique of amazingness, their whole aesthetic can be recreated without spending a ridiculous amount of money. Plus, they have wonderful sales, as long as you keep an eye out and get what you want before it’s gone.

Overall, though, I can’t wear items from that store head-to-toe. I don’t like looking costumey, so usually one at a time is all you need. I’ve been told recently that I dress well, which makes me really happy. I want to present a good image to people – as vain as it does sound, I like looking good and presenting myself well.

I’m debating posting outfits and what I’m wearing in this blog – not sure how anonymous I want this thing to be. And once again I’m getting long-winded (can you tell I haven’t written in a while), but I’m hoping to start posting wish lists/recent buys soon. And tune in soon for my liveblog of the Bachelor!

Where are the milkman and the paperboy?

Whoa, I digress. But to me, San Francisco = Full House town. That’s how cool I am. Unfortunately, Jake and his final five did not go on a date to the Full House house, but we did get long walks on the beach (and ruined boots), virgin confessions, and Vienna nearly prompting Jake to yell “I need an adult!” by stalking him in a castle dungeon, finding his bedroom and crawling into bed with him. Hot.

We’re getting down to the wire here, with only five ladies remaining to vie for Jake’s heart – Tenley, Ali, Vienna, Gia, and Corrie. We get three one-on-one dates and one two-on-one date. Corrie (whom I’m guessing was prompted by producers, but I ate my words about her once this week, so I could be wrong – more on that in a bit) issues the ultimate fakeout by announcing that arch-rivals Ali and Vienna are going on the two-on-one date, before announcing “Just kidding! It’s Vienna and Gia!” Crap. That would have been the most epic catfight ever.

Date summary: Jake and Tenley have dinner atop Coit Tower (which I know best as the tower where Comet and his collie girlfriend watched the Tanner family search for him – yes, I am a sad individual), Tenley remains clingy and Taylor Swift-princess-y; Gia and Vienna visit a “castle” (scare quotes because America just has lame fake ones…I miss England *tear*), in which Jake is clearly happier and more relaxed with the former and looks genuinely terrified of the latter; Jake and Corrie have a date so awkward I have to hide my face, rowboating in a park and visiting a museum after hours (Awesome! I’d be on board for that one…ahem, boyfriend); and San Fran resident Ali gets to show Jake around her neighborhood in a cute summer dress ruined by suede boots, before frolicking in the surf and destroying said boots, which despite Ali’s bitchiness is by far the least awkward date.

By the end of last night, Gia had become my favorite of the remaining ladies, as she annoys me the least, and Jake does seem to really like her. Last night’s results were pretty apparent from the very beginning of the episode, and sure enough, Corrie was the one who was sent packing. She never really got much time with Jake, and when they did have time together, there was no chemistry. There always seems to be the one girl who just squeaks by every week, not doing much to stand out, but just sweet enough to always get a rose. And last night she filled another token Bachelorette role – the virgin.

Corrie’s revelation of wanting to wait until marriage was really the first time she’d stood out on the show. I wish it wouldn’t have been – what difference does it really make in the end? I would say that that’s not something you should talk about on TV, but given the nature of this show, it’s probably going to come out sooner or later. I kind of feel bad for her that she’ll always be known as “the virgin” from this season, when, as I found out this week, she’s actually a pretty awesome person.

So remember how Corrie was introduced on the show as a “wardrobe consultant”? I assumed that, like the other vague titles assigned to the show’s contestants (“marketing representative,” “pharmaceutical sales,” “event planner,” to name a few), that meant something along the lines of “works at Forever 21 at the mall.” Which is totally fine, I just think it’s humorous how the shows tries to spin it. But I have eaten my words. Ladies and gentlemen, Corrie really is a wardrobe consultant! She’ll help you build up or scale down your closet, be your personal shopper, or teach you how to put together outfits. Which honestly, sounds like a pretty awesome job and one I’d want to do if I wasn’t still figuring these things out for myself (hoping to start fashion blogging a bit more soon)!

So now that I know more about Corrie, I really like her, and I wish we would have gotten to know her as much as some of the other women on the show. I think it’s really cool how she’s starting up a business and doing something she loves – definitely a good message for the young women (including myself) who watch this show. She obviously has smarts and initiative, but unfortunately all people will remember her as is “the virgin.” I wish we could hear more about the bachelorettes’ personalities, jobs, and what they like to do for fun, but is that really not what people want to see? I guess the formula sells, so it’s not going to stop anytime soon. But it’s too bad Corrie isn’t around anymore…I would have liked to have heard more from her.

Plus this dress is really freaking cute.

Next week – hometown dates to meet the girls’ families and the MOST DRAMATIC (NONEXISTENT) ROSE CEREMONY EVER. Looks like one of the girls wants to bail. Join me next week for more awkward dinner conversation, Chris Harrison purple shirts, and gratuitous Jake ab shots. Hoping to get a fashion post in here sometime soon too!

Just soak up that awesomeness for a minute. I have been transported into a Time Life collection. Or into a wood-paneled living room in front of a fire on a bearskin rug with my lovah. I am flying high up on the wings of love, and I am not coming down.

So here we go again, easing on down the road with our Bachelor and his shrinking harem. Thanks for the feedback on last week’s post! I’m going to keep this one shorter, as I don’t want my whole blog to become a giant tl;dr. I’ve decided to do a bit more analysis in this post (using that English degree!), and post a recap as a separate entry.

Last week, our Bachelor kicked to the curb two crazies and one who had two seconds of camera time, and this week, he didn’t let up. Now that we’ve seen Jake in action for a couple of weeks, I’m not sure he’s ready for “this journey,” or “this process,” as past stars of the show were fond of calling it. It really seems to be wearing on him, and I’m actually feeling some sympathy for him. As much sympathy as one can feel for a man who is simultaneously dating more than a dozen women. Seriously, if I were approached to be the next Bachelorette (and did not have a very cool boyfriend already), I’d ask, where do I sign? Twenty-five men vying for my attention? I can’t argue with that. Unless they’re creeps. They don’t get roses.

Skepticism was abundant when Jake was chosen as the next Bachelor, with his lack of personality cited as the main cause. Many (including myself) were of the mindset that Reid (who came in third on the last season of The Bachelorette and made a dramatic return to propose in the finale – and was rejected again) would make a better Bachelor, with his sexy nerdiness and hipster glasses…definitely a guy whom I’d want to get to know better. A different kind of guy than the chiseled macho alpha-males who have starred in every single season. Of course, I could write a whole blog entry about the lack of any Bachelors who weren’t lily-white (Black president? Cool! Black bachelor? America’s not ready!), but that’s been analyzed plenty by better writers than myself.

America loves chiseled abs, too.

But it was Jake who was chosen – my theory is because America currently loves pilots, thanks to the heroic efforts of Captain Sully a year ago (side note: Captain Sully’s first name is Chesley, not Chelsey, which I just figured out a couple of weeks ago. Reading comprehension fail). Jake’s supposed lack of personality could have made this season totally forgettable, but he’s been surprising everyone..

I’m definitely getting on board (haha, PUN!) with Jake. Last night, not only did he dump both women on his two-on-one date, but he stepped it up even further when he stopped the middle of the rose ceremony (could this actually be THE MOST DRAMATIC ROSE CEREMONY EVER?) to consult the wise old sage Chris Harrison and ask if he had to give out two more roses. He’s been critiqued for his lack of personality, but I’m enjoying his honest, no-bullshit approach to the ridiculousness that is this show. I’d almost argue that he has too much of a conscience to be a proper Bachelor, but it’s still possible to play by the rules of the “game” and still be a nice guy – Andrew is the best example of this. I bet the producers, however, aren’t thrilled that he’s throwing their formula for a loop. I won’t be shocked if he pulls a Brad and rejects both women still standing at the end.

But only time will tell. He’s feeling CONNECTIONS (this word was uttered no less than five times in last night’s episode) with several of the women, and that could potentially turn into something. Whether that’s marriage, an engagement that lasts a few months, or dating until the post-show press tour is over (the most likely outcome if past seasons are any indication) remains to be seen. But until then, I will be setting my DVR, feeling embarrassment for setting my DVR, drinking at the word CONNECTION and gratuitous chiseled ab shots, and flying on the wings of love with our pilot protagonist.

Now, where did I put that bearskin rug?

I first got hooked on this show while visiting family over Christmas back in 2002. ABC Family (I think) was showing a marathon, and after the requisite 20 minutes of making fun of it, my mom, sister, and I were hooked and had to watch the entire season (those marathons – that’s how they get you!). This was the second season, featuring vanilla banker Aaron very obviously early on picking out the resident “I don’t really care” girl, Helene, proposing in the finale, and then immediately chasing other women once the cameras turned off. Not too long after was the first season of The Bachelorette, featuring the show’s only married couple to date, Trista and Ryan, setting the gold standard for every season to come. Following that was the season featuring Andrew Firestone, who is to date the only Bachelor who was truly likable. He was really enjoying his time with all the ladies! These seasons, for me, kind of set the bar (however high a bar for a show about one person dating 25 people can be) and while I haven’t watched every season religiously, it’s kept my attention since.

So fast-forward seven years later, and here we are, with our 14th bachelor full of hope for finding a wife in the midst of 25 ABC-selected women. Meet Jake, a commercial pilot (which, despite my fear of flying, is totally sexy. What can I say, I like a man in uniform.) with commercial good looks and a commercial personality.

Hey, ladies, wanna take a ride on my jumbo jet?

In fact, Jake is so vanilla that I consistently forget his name and refer to him as “Travis,” and one of my notes from last night refers to “Jason.” (both names of previous Bachelors). So as this recap progresses, do not be alarmed if a Travis or Jason enters the picture all of a sudden. As for the girls, they are all bleached and tanned carbon copies, and I did my best to keep notes on who was whom, but I can’t make any promises for 100% accuracy.

Anyway, let’s get to the show. We’re up to the third episode and have gone from 25, to 15, to 12 women, and have sent “Tee hee, I said ‘landing strip’ in Cambodian!” Channy and “Chris Harrison feels awkward” Rozlyn packing. We open with friendly, HGTV alum, non-threatening Chris giving the girls the first “date card” of the week, with Vienna scoring a one-on-date. You can practically see the steam coming out of Ali’s ears, after her hot date last week and that unbreakable CONNECTION she and Jake now have. It amazes me how after eight years of this show, these women still don’t realize for what is they’re signing up (I had to avoid a dangling preposition there – go English majors!).

Our manly man Jake arrives on his motorcycle to pick Vienna up, and they board a helicopter toward a secret destination. All the shots of the Hollywood Hills from the air make me want to visit LA and wonder why I voluntarily live in a place where it gets so cold the snot in your nose freezes. The copter lands on a remote bridge (which I swear I’ve seen on TV before), where the duo will be suited up for bungee jumping. Despite the fact that he’s a pilot, Jake freaks out about the height. Vienna is scared of heights too, which obviously means they have a CONNECTION. But true to Bachelor form, they conquer their fears, take the plunge, and of course Jake uses the opportunity to get a Spider-Man-style kiss in. Fast forward to awkward conversation, dinner and the obligatory hot tub. I’ve never had a date in a hot tub – apparently I am missing out. After these few hours, Vienna can see herself marrying Jake, goes home and tells the girls what a good time she had with him. Bad call, girl.

Up next, we get the eight-women, one-man group date (two women, Gia and Valishia, don’t get dates at all this week. In the words of Nelson Muntz, HA ha!). Ali, Jessie, Tenley, Elizabeth, Kathryn, psycho Michelle, Ashleigh, and “wardrobe consultant” Corrie (there’s a new term for “works at Forever 21″) hop into a limo with Jake and end up at the Jon Lovitz Comedy Club, where they are greeted by…Jon Lovitz himself! Who will always be Ernie Capadino from A League of Their Own to me. God that movie is amazing.

He'll give the girls a little pickle-tickle, and he'll be on his way.

Here’s the kicker: the girls have to get on stage and do their own stand-up routines! In front of not only Jake, but a whole audience too! They freak out. Not gonna lie, I’d be terrified too. I’ve done a lot of theater, but getting up in front of a huge audience just being yourself is a different beast. Most of them fail miserably, either by resorting to making fun of new villain Vienna (Corrie), gratuitously cussing (Elizabeth), or telling awful golf-related “hole” jokes (psycho Michelle). Ashleigh does the best job (after a nervous crying jag earlier), telling a few blonde jokes. You can’t go wrong with blonde jokes.

It’s afterparty time! The girls take turns fighting over one-on-one time with Jake, and at this point my cat is totally bored and has slept through most of the show. They start telling him about how much they hate Vienna and how he “wasted a rose” on her. Uh, did I miss something? She didn’t seem that bad to me, and I know a Bachelor villain when I see one. Back at, the house, the rest of the girls are ganging up on her. “You don’t know what Jake likes, and you don’t know what Jake wants.” Because you all do. Because you all know him so well.

Now we get to psycho Michelle, for the MOST DRAMATIC MOMENT OF THE EPISODE. Michelle’s insanity has manifested itself since day one – she is here to find a husband, she wants one-on-one time, she’s here for Jake. I bet she’s not here to make friends either. Despite the fact that (her words) she is “not over-emotional or dramatic,” she forces Jake to kiss her, states “Are you kidding? That was nothing!”, he looks genuinely terrified, she says she can’t stay, and he agrees that it would be best if she left. What? That’s not how it was supposed to go in her mind! She is escorted to a waiting taxi, and that is the last of psycho Michelle. Jake may be bland, but at least he knows a crazy when he sees one, which can’t be said about every Bachelor. Due to tonight’s drama, Jake informs the rest of the girls that there will be no rose given out that night. Shit just got real, you guys.

I will eat your soul.

Wow, this recap is getting really long. If you’re still with me, congrats. One more one-on-one date this episode: a Sea World endeavor with Ella, who compares a date with a man she barely knows to her wedding day. One of the token moms this season, Jake (aka the producers) surprises her by bringing her son to Sea World. Cue tearful reunion. Jake, Ella and her son see the whales, dolphins, and seals (which make me sad – Free Willy still affects me, you guys), Jake and the kid bond, and I act like a typical girl and swoon. Shut up. Ella, after one date, could “see herself married to Jake.” They have a CONNECTION. Ella’s son leaves, tearful separation ensues and Jake presents Ella with a rose at dinner. It’s makeout time!!

The week’s dates are over. But this recap’s not! Hey-o! Meanwhile, back at the house, the girls still hate Vienna, so much so that no one will sleep in the same room with her. No potential girl-on-girl action for Vienna, pervs. She apologizes to the other girls for bragging about her date with Jake, Ali still hates her, I want to punch Ali in the face and tell her despite the fact that she’s my age she looks 40.

That night at the rose ceremony, there’s more Vienna hate to go around, as she has a rose and has nothing to worry about. Elizabeth, who has refused to kiss Jake, steals him away and tries to talk her way out of the fact that she’s a tease. She’s like the Jonas Brothers and their two remaining purity rings. “Look, I’m so hot, you know you want me…FAKEOUT! You can’t touch!” Jake grows frustrated with her, but she still believes they have a CONNECTION.

And finally, ding ding ding, here comes Chris to break up the party. Jake starts handing out this week’s roses – Gia, Wardrobe Consultant Corrie, Tenley, Ali, Jessie, Kathryn and Asheigh are safe, along with Vienna and Ella. Out are Valishia (whom I had never heard of until the end of the episode), and tease Elizabeth, who wishes she would have kissed Jake and still maintains that they have a CONNECTION. Up next week: some kind of bus trip and Jake throwing a rose in a fire. DRAMA!!!

And…exhale. Thus concludes my first-ever television recap. That was long, and I skipped Idol to do it (thank God for DVR). Hope it wasn’t too much plot summary and not enough analysis – gotta avoid that. Let me know what you think, and what you thought of the episode! Join me next week as I drink every time the word CONNECTION is uttered.

I do know there isn’t a huge rush, however. It’s just a blog. It’s my hot blog, I do what I want!

Also, I need to get back to work. But I have pages of notes on last night’s Bachelor (including about 10 uses of “CONNECTION!”) just waiting to be organized into a recap. I know you’re waiting with bated breath.

And lo, this blog was born. While I’ll definitely be blogging about Idol, I’ll also recap other reality shows (The Bachelor and Project Runway among them), along with celebs, fashion, and whatever else might cross my mind.

A little bit about me: I’m a twentysomething college grad, I work in writing/editing/PR and I live with my curious and moody cat. I majored in English, and I love reading fiction and nonfiction, all things England, and dreaming of owning a flat in Notting Hill. At the same time, I admittedly watch too much TV and spend too much time online, so this endeavor seems appropriate.

Bear with me as I try and figure out the intricacies of WordPress, check out some of the awesome blogs in the links to your right, and check out my Twitter (yes, another plug) for my thoughts on tonight’s Golden Globes. And if there are any bad TV shows you’d like me to recap, leave me a comment and let me know!