Gwyneth Paltrow is My Spirit Animal?

To be fair, I was on the fence about Gwyn for years. Yes, she's got the unattainable perfect blonde hair and porcelain gluten-free skin but is that enough? I specifically asked myself that very question after finally being allowed to watch Shakespeare in Love at the tender age of 14 when my mother gave in to my bribery. I had great taste in films even then! Okay, so as I watched the movie I realized the leading lady was a nice looking blonde who spoke too slowly, although I noted maybe Shakespeare was to blame for that last oddity.

Years later, aka LAST YEAR, I ended up randomly watching a lot of her films –including Country Strong, OY - and reading about her in my favorite magazines and online outlets where she was suddenly an expert on everything from skincare to eating clean. This counts as exhaustive research, so I've since worked through the fact that she named her kids after fruit and a major Biblical character, respectively, and grown to love her for who she is: an Oscar-winning Actress turned NYT Bestselling Author who is married to a Mr. Coldplay. As if that wasn't enough, she has been deemed MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN BEYONCE. Let that sink in for a moment. 

So for all of you non-believers/haters, I present to you 8 reasons to adore Gwyn:

1. She is 40 years old and looks like this.
2. Her list of past-suitors sounds like the Oscar red carpet line-up: Brad Pitt (in his prime), Ben Affleck & Luke Wilson. 
3. She's married to Chris Martin and all signs point to a happy, healthy marriage. Say you don't love Coldplay and I'll say you're a liar. 
4. Leonardo DiCaprio inspired her to become a vegetarian. 
5. Her favorite look? Jeans and a t-shirt with minimal make-up. (In love, yet?)
6. "I feel my most beautiful when I am truly myself. Meaning, when I accept exactly where I am in time and space, and I'm not judging myself in any way, and I feel that I have the peace that comes with loving yourself and all of your flaws," she told People.
7. Her kids eat healthier on the daily than most adults I know but Gwyneth does let them eat Oreos and Cheetos. Hello, Mom of the Year.
8. She and Chris go on double dates with Jay-Z and Beyonce on the regular, telling Harper's Bazaar in a recent interview they have a lot in common: "We're all calm, grounded people." Word!  

XOXO,

B

Budget B.

Sunday night I got my life together aka hit the gym, did laundry, cooked a meal and made a "budget." Well, sort of. I'm too ADD/FUN to make one of those daily excel spreadsheet types that I'm sure Dave Frightening Ramsey no doubt endorses. I do, however, like to set goals for my superfluous spending in the coming months based on activities and social events I want to make sure I'm fully prepared to own.

So whilst watching Beyonce's doc I made a running list of items and events worth saving my rubles for - here they are, in no particular order:

Bonnaroo 2013 tickets

Warby's

A trip to Parlour & Juke for a trim and some mint tea with Marwa

She & Him at the Ryman tickets

JT & Jay-Z tickets, wherever they decide to play I am there

Lollapalooza 2013 tickets (are you seeing a trend here?)

Hair Chalk (for said music events)

Some sort of fancy workout for the month of April/May, i.e. Pure Barre, HotBox

Laser hair removal

Spring Dresses

THESE 

xoxo,

B

A Chic White House.

This is me taking the time to acknowledge four more years of chic in the White House. Regardless of which man you voted for you have to admit the Obama ladies are both well-dressed and adorable. Michelle is always a picture of class wearing labels I can actually pronounce, and I love that she isn't afraid to be photographed doing things other than sitting in the audience listening to her presidential husband. Oh, and she's friends with Beyonce. Don't pretend like that isn't impressive. 

And all politics aside, this election was a win for tween fashion with Sasha and Malia. You know they have the best party favors at sleepovers.

P.S. Shout out to Brian Williams and the state of Colorado - the true winners in this election. 

xoxo-B

Kanye/Kim 2012.

Not to get political with you (again) but election season is HERE.
Overachievers have already voted and put a picture of their American flag sticker on Instagram. #nofilter
Most all conversations with anyone somehow come around to which character was the least dopey in the last debate, Paul Ryan's hair and how PBS without Big Bird will suck. So friends and loved ones, by all means be a good American and vote, but please, let's change the conversation. Especially if you're trying to be charming/fun. Nobody wants to be an Ann Coulter.  

Here are some acceptable, un-presidental points of discussion:

Halloween Costumes

Trust falls

Honey Boo Boo's Future

If Beyonce ever gets nervous

Why you continue to watch Nashville

Should you have a baby

Should you get a dog

Why you haven't been asked to be on Girls, yet

Bath Salts

Ryan Gosling

Going gluten-free 

China

In the words of Kanye, I'm just trying to change the color on your mood ring. Go vote.

XOXO

B