Sports Talk

Tomorrow I am headed off to the Oakland A's Stadium to be an extra in an upcoming movie called Moneyball, about Billy Bean, the general manager of the Oakland A's baseball team. Billy Bean is played none other than the one and only Brad Pitt and the movie also stars Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jonah Hill, and Robin Wright. Regardless of who I might see, I am just excited to get in on the action! I love the energy and everything that goes on on a movie set. I've been an extra in a couple movies before this and wasn't disappointed in either experience. The coolest thing is, Moneyball actually sounds like a sports movie that I'd want to watch, which doesn't frequently happen because I'm not exactly the huggest sports enthusiast. So for this post I thought I'd list my favorite baseball films and why they are extraordinary to me.

The Natural

Of course my number one is a Robert Redford movie, but I promise I am not completely biased. This film to me is so much more than a baseball movie. I love the story of an older guy joining a major league years after he lost his chance after being inexplicably shot by a younger woman. The movie holds so much intrigue and I love the time period and the love story. It's long, but it's definitely worth watching.

Fever Pitch

Another predictable choice for me. People might say this is nothing more than a romantic comedy disguised as a sports movie, but I think the combination of the two gives this movie the perfect balance. And also the perfect date movie, especially for those who are dating avid sports fans while not being the biggest fans themselves. This to me is one of Drew Barrymore's best performances.

Field of Dreams

Who can forget the now classic line, "If you build it, they will come"? This might be the baseball movie of all baseball movies. I hate to admit that I haven't seen it since late childhood, but the fact that I loved it then says a lot. I love that it mixes fantasy with baseball and that the storyline is so intriguing that even those who don't have the remotest interest or understanding of the game can still enjoy it...and want to see it again and again.

Flapper Style

I just finished reading The Beautiful and Damned by F. Scott Fitzgerald and although the story-line isn't exactly uplifting, I couldn't help but be drawn in once again by Fitzgerald's incredible storytelling. A theme Fitzgerald often gravitates to is the emptiness of the high society, partying life. I picture Gloria in The Beautiful and Damned wearing beautiful flapper style dresses to the many parties she attends. How nice is it that we can dress like Gloria without taking on all her drama? Here are a few flapper style dresses I found that are perfect for a Great Gatsby theme party or just a dressy night out:

Dress: H&M

Dress: H&M

Dress: Corey Lynn Calter, bluefly.com

Dress: Yumi, asos.com

Artist Spotlight: Bella Pilar

Years ago, I discovered Papyrus greeting cards and let me tell you, it was love at first sight. The reason why I fell so hard for their cards was because of the incredible artist Bella Pilar, who's stylish and beautiful illustrations adorn many of the company's greeting cards, as well as journals, gift bags, and stationery sets. I have since tried to track her down and was overjoyed when I found out on her Facebook page that she was starting a blog called Juniper Valentine, which features her new artwork with cute little captions underneath that add to the illustrations' overall flair. I envy her talent and just adore the chicness of the women she illustrates. I can't pick favorites because I would have too many, but here are several of her illustrations that stood out to me just to wet your appetite:

Looking Fabulous

Hello my fellow fashionistas and faithful followers. I realize that I have been quite inconsistent with my blog these days and I apologize for my lack of posts. To be honest, I have lately felt uninspired and in a bit of a rut. You may have seen my previous post about my grandma's sudden death. Needless to say, it has definitely rocked my boat and made me less inclined to write about fashion. However, I can now say that I am ready to start off again, this time with a more conscious attitude about the things that really make me happy, and to be quite truthful, beautiful style always does.

I am always on people.com, looking at this weeks style hits and misses. I love checking out the star's latest looks and voting whether or not they hit the mark. I find that I often get a lot of inspiration for my looks that way. So, without further ado, here are a few of the celebrities who I think are looking top notch right now:

Lea Michele

Nicole Kidman

Eva Mendes

Marion Cotillard

Zoe Saldana

Jessica Alba

In addition to People's style section, another site I frequently visit to check out the latest star looks is instyle.com, which features the look of the day. I love how up-to-date they are, often posting multiple looks in one day.

The Perfect Boyfriend Shorts

Well, I finally found the perfect pair of boyfriend shorts that I have been searching high and low for at H&M. The perfect boyfriend shorts actually mimic the perfect boyfriend: They are relaxed and give you your space, and make you look great and feel comfortable.

I wanted shorts that were a relaxed fit without falling too far down my waist, which often happened with jeans that were too big. These were exactly the fit I was looking for. I actually went a size up to get the exact loosness I wanted.

The shorts are so casual that I wanted to dress them up by pairing a nice tee with my nude platform pumps that I've been living in this summer.

I fell in love with this studded tee from Urban Outfitters. I love the zipper embellishment especially. I almost wish I bought it in grey too...

In Memoriam of My Beautiful Grandma: 11/3/1936-7//16/2010

Last Friday, my family received the devastating news that my grandmother, my mom's mom, passed away suddenly. The tragic event was very unexpected and shocking to the whole family. I am still suffering from shock, but as I look through photos and read some of the many messages, letters, cards, and notes she wrote me, it is all starting to sink in. My grandma was an incredible woman with the hugest heart. I don't think I've ever known anyone with as many causes as she had. Her death is a loss to so many people who were blessed to have her in their life. I am so glad I got to spend my graduation weekend with her and that she got to be a part of it. She was so happy to be there and was so proud of me. I'll carry that last memory I had with her forever. I will miss her so much, but I am comforted to know that she is spending eternity with the Lord she devoted her life to.