Book Review: The Fault In Our Stars

Over the long weekend I read John Green's novel, The Fault In Our Stars. The book follows a sixteen year old cancer patient named Hazel Grace Lancaster as she finds love with August Waters, after meeting at a cancer support group.

I was stunned by the use of words and language throughout the book. Considering that both Hazel and Augustus are teenagers their views of the world, their understanding of it, and their use of language are mind blowing and way beyond their years. It led me to the understanding that this was done on purpose. These aren't the "traditional" children that we think of in certain books, like Twilight. Instead these kids have a different outlook on the world and its meaning, and the meaning of life and everyone's purpose here, because of their sickness.  Sickness leads the mind to see things in a different way, not necessarily the true way things are, but a different way.

Hazel was okay with that fact that she was going to die. It isn't until she starts falling for Augustus (Gus) that she starts to think of herself as a grenade, something to come into people's lives and leaves nothing but destruction and pain in the wake of her death. Still Augustus pushes for her love and in the end the two have a beautiful love story.

I really enjoyed that it wasn't the "traditional" love story in a sense. It is filled with joy and with heartbreak, but that is what happens when reading a book dealing with real life situations. The author stayed true to the fact that the characters were sick teenagers and didn't have them do things that seemed too extreme or out of the ordinary.  In the end I feel like it is a story that people can relate to. It is a love story that you can relate to and a story about family that you can relate to.

I can't wait to see what they do with the movie, out in theaters June 6.

Kim Kardashian's Wedding Dress...

That's right! Kim Kardashian's Givenchy wedding dress deserves its own post. 

Lets all take a moment…..ahh-mazing!! I have to admit that Kim looks so much better since she has been with Kanye. She isn't wearing as much makeup and her style isn't so ghetto. She looks better. She looks like the fashion icon she has always wanted to be. Thank goodness, just in time for North. 

The wedding took place on Saturday, May 24, 2014 in Florence, Italy in front of roughly 600 guests. Of course the only pictures to come out of the wedding so far have been released by Kim and her clan, except for a blurry paparazzi shot. Now that Kim is being a "private person" she has been holding all of the cards with the pictures that she releases. Releasing them at her own time, instead of selling them to magazines.  

In case you haven't seen them yet, here are the pictures…

Congrats to Mr. and Mrs. West…

Maya Angelou has passed away...

It is a sad day for millions all around the world. World renowned poet and author Maya Angelou (86 years old) has passed away. Angelou passed away at her home in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.  Aside from being a poet and an author Angelou was also a professor, activist, actress, singer, and dancer. Her most well known, highest praised, book is I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings.

In 2010 President Obama bestowed on her the Medal of Freedom, the highest honor a civilian can receive. Angelou can count herself as one of the greatest writers of her time, if not the greatest.  The world was a better place with her in it and her legacy will always live on through her tremendous strides in literature and human rights. She helped define a generation and helped give a voice to the voiceless.  This is truly a huge loss to the world. 

Forever in our hearts. Rest in peace...

Hayden Panettiere is pregnant!!

Hollywood has babies on the brain!! Insiders have revealed that another starlet is with child.

What happens when a cute TV star meets a Ukrainian boxer? Well you get this good looking couple above. Hayden Panettiere (24 years old) is pregnant with her first child with boxer fiance, Wladimir Klitschko (38 years old).  

The couple of five years have been engaged since 2013. The couple have no plans of wedding until after the political issues in the Ukraine are resolved. Both have been very vocal about their views on the issues going on in Ukraine and want to make sure that when they get married that his family will be able to be there and be safe. 

Congrats to the parents to be!!

Mr. and Mrs. West

It is official! Kim and Kanye are officially husband and wife. The ceremony took place Saturday, May 24, 2014 in Florence, Italy. This is the third wedding for Kim and the first for Kanye.

Congrats to the happy couple on their marriage and we wish them a lifetime of happiness!! 

Donald Sterling Gives Up the Clippers?

According to TMZ Donald Sterling as just relinquished his controlling ownership over the Los Angeles Clippers and given the power to his wife, Shelly Sterling.  TMZ also reports that she is talks to sell the team. 

Now who is going to buy them? Magic said he didn't want them, but there are plenty of people out there who do. Only time will tell. 

The Kimye Wedding is almost upon us!!

That's right everyone, it looks like this wedding is set to take place in a matter of hours.

The only confusing part...where are they getting married tomorrow? Florence, Italy or Paris, France? It appears that there are two wedding locations being put together right now, one in each city. Friends and family are posting pictures on Instagram showing that something big is happening at the Palace of Versailles.  There is also an insane convoy of cars arriving there. But if Paris is the place, why the big to due in Italy? Hmmm...what are these two up to?

Maybe there will even be two wedding ceremonies? Dare we say it! Could it really be? They love each other so much they're going to get married twice?! Take that Kris Humphries. There were rumors swirling that the couple couldn't legally marry in Paris because they weren't established residents there, maybe that explains why the Italian wedding too.

Here's another theory...what if the rehearsal dinner is just at the Palace of Versailles in Paris, France and the actual wedding tomorrow will take place at the Forte del Belvedere in Florence, Italy because of their whole Parisian residency thing? Food for thought. Maybe they will get married at Versailles tonight and the reception will be in Florence? Ahh there are so many possibilities. 

Still from the looks of it, whether the wedding takes place in Paris or Florence, it is going to go big. So much for modesty, but then again we are talking about Kim and Kanye, could we expect anything other than an over the top event? I'm sure this will be one for the books. Obviously money is not even a thought for this wedding. (But without it being on TV does that mean that Kim is actually putting her own money towards paying for this?! Gasp!)

I just feel so left out of this wedding of Kim's. I felt so involved in her last wedding to Kris Humphries, it was almost like I was there and with this one all we get are a couple of hashtags from Kris Jenner. Not cool Kimye. Not cool!

Kimye

That is right everyone...the Kimye wedding is almost upon us and Paris must be so proud. With it clear on Instagram that most of the family is in Paris no one is "officially" confirming that it is for the wedding. The only person to actually give us a hint is none other thank Kim K's momager Kris Jenner. Who on May 19th posted a picture of herself riding a carousel with the Eiffel Tower behind her, which wouldn't be a big deal to anyone if not for her hashtags: #herecomesthebride and #KayneheartsKim. This is the closest to a confirmation that we will probably get out of the now private Kim Kardashian.

Still in a matter of days Kim Kardashian will be married...again. Let's hope that this one lasts. I think it will though. I believe that Kayne has changed her for the better, at least style wise. Plus the couple have an adorable 11-month old daughter, North West, who is the pride of both of Kim and Kanye's eyes. Their chemistry has always been undeniable and now that they are together we actually have a couple photographs out there of Kanye smiling. 

More details to come as we learn more about the wedding...

Baby on the way!

Another Hollywood couple has a baby on the way...

Rachel Bilson (32 years old) and Hayden Christensen (33 years old), a couple for the past 7 years, are expecting their first child together this fall. Even though there are no plans to wed before the baby "They've both talked about this for a while and are so excited" says a source who spoke to Us Weekly. 

Bilson and Christensen met on the set of Jumper in 2007 and were engaged by 2008. The couple called off the engagement in 2010 due to long distance. Still they couldn't stay away from each other and were back together in no time. Flash forward to today the cute couple are excitedly awaiting the arrival of what is sure to be one of the most adorable babies in Hollywood.

Congrats to the happy parents-to-be!!

And the winner is...[Spoiler Alert]

For the first time in The Voice history the winner is...

Josh Kaufman from Team Usher!!! Congrats to Josh and Usher for breaking the Adam Levine and Blake Shelton winning streaks. Josh deserves this and worked really hard to get there. 

Adam Levine still made a winner out of his finalist, Cristina Grimmie, when he told her that regardless she has a record deal with his record label. Lucky lady!

Congrats again to Josh Kaufman on his win!! 

Ciara Gives Birth!!

Ciara (28 years old) and her rapper fiance, Future (30 years old), welcomed a baby boy named Future Zahir Wilburn.  The bundle of baby boy joy was born yesterday, May 19, 2014, and weighed in at a whopping 9 pounds 10 ounces.

This is the first child for Ciara and the fourth child for Future, who has 3 other children from 3 previous relationships; 2 boys aged 11 and 1 and a 4 year old girl. Ciara is one accepting woman. Hopefully now that he is engaged to Ciara the rest of his children will be by her. Less drama for him.

The couple got engaged in October 2013 after Future proposed with a 15-carat diamond ring. Now that baby Future is in the world let the wedding watch begin!!

Billboard Music Awards 2014

The Billboard Music Awards aired last Sunday (5/18) and it seems that this was the year of bright colors and daring fashion.  With new trends starting from some of the most ridiculous things, like Amber Rose's visor inspired sunglasses.  Since summer is upon us already in Southern California bright colors and shiny things are in.  Some stars had hits and others had misses.  This year seems to be the year that the critics are having a hard time unanimously agreeing on those hit and misses.  This is my opinion of some of the red carpet fashion:

Best Dressed

Jennifer Lopez looks fierce in this sheer, red dress by Donna Karan. It's eye catching and reminiscent of her 2000 Grammy Awards green Versace dress. It's amazing that she still has such an amazing body. Perfect JLo style.

Rehab did Kesha good. She looks absolutely beautiful and healthy in this Ines Di Santo dress. This is the most put together I have seen Kesha...ever and if she keeps this up I could see her becoming a fashion icon. She is a risk taker and sometimes it really pays off. 

Nicki Minaj has come a long way from the crazy, wig wearing rapper we were first introduced to. In this Alexander McQueen dress she looks sophisticated and elegant. I know that is weird to say considering it has a cut out bodice, but she looks great. She has an amazing body and she should show it off. She isn't too over the top or too over done. It is a good classic look.

I really dig Kylie Jenner's new punk, edgy look.  I think her new blue 'do goes good with the all white ensemble. I admit the white dress is a bit risque for a 16-year-old, but it works for her. She could have worn better shoes. I don't think they kill the outfit but they don't make it either.

John Legend is known for making the hearts of women everywhere melt with his romantic ballads and in this outfit he is making my heart swoon. I love his Gucci jacket and shirt and he wears it so well.  Lucky Chrissy.

Carrie Underwood tried to stick to her classic look, with a little bit of risk mixed in there with this Oriett Domenech dress. Even though I am not a fan of the color, I do appreciate the dress for what it is. The silver bodice is my favorite part and I think the most flattering park of the dress.

Kendall Jenner should take a note and realize this is how you make a statement. Amber, in my opinion, is dressed better than Wiz. I love her Moncler Lunnets sunglasses, even if they remind me of a certain ridiculous visor that was so popular for all of 15 minutes. I think they both push the envelope with fashion, but stay true to what is them and what works for them. 

Worst Dressed

In this Georges Hobeika Signature dress Miranda Lambert looks like she should be going to a club. I like the color, but I do not like the weird cut out in the middle. I understand she wants to show off her new slim body, but I just don't think this was the dress to do it in. 

 We get it Kendall, you are an adult now and you want to take risks with your fashion and show the world that you are the model you claim to be, but this outfit is not flattering. I am so tired of all of the talk of Kendall's side boobs. This Olcay Glusen jumpsuit just looks funny on her. The halter top is a bit bizarre. I think she could have worn something else that would have made her look more "high fashion".

Chrissy should have taken the queue from her husband on this one. I love the length of this Fyodor Golan dress, but I just feel like everything else just isn't working.  Her harsh bangs do not flatter her face. I think the dress isn't flattering for her frame. She should give all of it back to the store she got it from. 

Kelly Rowland tried something a bit more edgy and sexy with this Cushnie et Ochs top and Fausto Puglisi bottom. I feel like the top looks too cut up. It isn't flattering, it could be on someone else maybe. She's newly married and feeling sexy, good for her, but she could have worn something less bizarre on top to bring the sexy.

Iggy. Iggy. Iggy. Good thing you had Nick Young on your arm Sunday night.  This Zuhair Murad dress makes her look older. The color is flattering with her skin tone and her hair nicely compliments the dress, but I can't get over the fact that it looks so old lady ish.  The lace accents should have done just that, accented, but I feel like it pulls away from the look of the dress and draws the eye more to that then the actual dress. I don't think it did her any justice.

Powerhouse 2014

      This weekend I went with my sister (Kaitlyn), her friend (Jaclyn), and my boyfriend (Fernando) to Power 106's Power House 2014.  The concert was in Anaheim at the Honda Center where the night before the Kings beat the Ducks for a spot in the finals, but that is a different story.  We were all so excited to get to go to Power House this year since it was a line up of people that we actually wanted to see. Kaitlyn is in love with Trey Songz and since we can't really find shows for him she used this as her chance to see him. Fernando and I are obsessed with Childish Gambino and even though we saw him in concert two weeks before for his Deep Web Tour we used this as an opportunity to see him again. Can't see him too many times I say. He is a mastermind. Anyways back to the concert.  We were so excited to see Nicki Minaj and Jennifer Lopez too (even though I was probably more excited about her than anyone else). Still the concert was a fun experience.
      When we got there at 6:30pm the doors still weren't open and the show was supposed to start at 7:00pm. I was fine with the show starting late, but they kept everyone waiting outside their sections for so long it was getting frustrating, because of the crowds.  Overall the show was good. There was a lot of great performances. JLo came out and did her thing, she was amazing. She had great dancing and singing and effects.  Nicki Minaj came out perfectly.  She didn't put on a crazy, extravagant show with dancers. It was just her and her DJ and she did her thing. She brought out Soulja Boy and that was exciting, since he was the only surprise performance that we saw. Trey Songz did great live and he even took off his shirt (eek!!).
     Even though the concert was a lot of fun there were a few drawbacks to the night. For one the waiting. We had to wait forever for everything. To get in (twice) and then in between sets while they set up for the next person. It was getting out of hand. Here you go from being hype and pumped up from one act and then they make you wait 15-20 minutes for the next person. That was disappointing. This is a complaint that I had only because he is my favorite and I love him.  Childish Gambino only came out and sang 3 songs!! That really disappointed me, even though I saw him a couple of weeks earlier I was sad about his short performance.  I felt like everyone got longer sets and did more and they gave him the short end of the stick. And it was annoying to see people not showing him the respect he deserves as an artist. The sound was also a frustrating part of the show.  It was hard to hear the performs over the music.
    We ended up leaving early because we were frustrated with things and because we saw most of the people we wanted to see. We only missed Wiz Khalifa. I don't know if we will go back to Power House again, but it was a fun experience. I guess I would go back if it was a great line up again and if Childish was there again. lol.