Oscars 2011

I've had this award show on my Outlook calendar for a few months now. The Oscars are to me what the Masters are to Grant. It's a big flipping deal.

All in all, as I've sat and watched the red carpet shows, (I watch all of them) I've noticed a few things.

1. Those that were HORRIBLE at the Golden Globes were much improved this evening.

2. The colors of the evening were black, white, silver, lavender, red and plum.

Alrighty, let's get right into it!

This is Helen Mirren. I always think she looks so beautiful and age appropriate.
HANDS DOWN: The winner for the night for me was Mandy Moore. These pictures do not do the dress justice. She looked SO STUNNING and Monique Lhullier makes a beautiful, beautiful gown and I LOVED THIS.
Again, the pictures don't do it justice!!

Hey, Marisa Tomei, THIS IS TOO MUCH GOING ON AT THE BOTTOM, HERE. TOO MUCH.

Nominee Melissa Leo had someone make her a dress from a doily.

Oh, Michelle Williams. Oh, sweet girl. We are so, so proud of you. The daisy dress from the Golden Globes is forgotten. You're all kinds of cute and we welcome you back with open arms. But, don't do the daisies again. We will shun you.

Helena Bonham Carter is also much improved from her Golden Globes debaucle as well. However, it must be said that it isn't too hard to improve from wearing two different shoes. That was insanity.

Halle Berry is beautiful as always.

I think it was really nice of Gwyneth Paltrow to come to the Oscars dressed as a full-length mirror. Now all her friends can check their makeup, hair, and adjust their cleavage without having to go to the bathroom. So sweet, Gwyneth!

This is Florence who is wearing an antique 1906 table cloth.

The shape of this dress is KILLER.
Mila Kunis is in a lovely, lovely color. I had to search really hard to find a picture that wasn't so covered in her ta-ta's.

I LOVE this color. (Long time readers of Jen the Newlywed's Award Show Red Carpet Recaps know that I LOVE ME SOME JEWEL TONES). I feel like it could've been an inch longer, but still, just beautiful!

When Nicole Kidman stepped out of the limo, I wrote down in my notes (yes, I take notes) "KIDMAN = GORGEOUS!" However, when they panned down to view the whole dress (the initial shot was just of the bodice) I wrote next to her name "The hip area is confusing".

This is Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem. They are beautiful latin lovers and she is wearing a beautiful dress that is very very spicy.

Reese is so stinkin' cute. The dress didn't wow me but she's just adorable.

FYI - Celine Dion just had twins. Freak.

Cate Blanchett chose a dress that is lovely in color but odd in design. I'm perplexed by this whole situation going on up on top. I feel like their should be a face of a president in it. Just George Washington's head into that circle cut-out and you've got a lavender one dollar bill.

Oh, hey! Matthew and Camila! It's soooo good to see y'all again. Remember when we vacationed together?!?

Aside from the fact that this dress goes down to her belly button, it really is stunning and very Oscar-esque. She is gorgeous.

It's so cool that a Ken Doll came to the Oscar's.

In my notes it says "Mark Ruffalo's wife is wearing two dresses. Ugly and confusing".

I wish her dress was cut straight across at the top, but the color is great on her!

Scarlett wore a great color but I didn't like the dress. However, anything is better than the Bride of Frankenstein hair situation she wore back at the Globes.

Her hair has improved. And I liked the back of the dress here.

Sharon Stone scares me.

Annette Bening got her dress from the future, quite possibly from a space ship.

My notes say "Anne Hathaway = OSCAR PERFECTION"

Absolutely beautiful. I also really like her hair this color... it's a bit lighter and softer.

How adorable is Amy Adams and her husband?!

She never lets me down with the jewel tones. I think this dress is prettier from afar than it is up close. I think her necklace is awkward. But Amy never really does wrong in my eyes!

Alrighty folks! Thoughts? Opinions?

If I Wrote a Psalm....

God is good.

He is gracious and loving and kind.
He is gentle. He helps me.
He overwhelms me with peace in a time where it would seem that no peace could be found.

He quiets my mind.

He puts the right words in my mouth at the right time.
He transforms my heart.
He is generous with blessings.
He loves me even when I don't love Him back.

On the days where I forget He is my God, He is still there, catching me when I fall.... and I don't even recognize that HE is the One who caught me. I'm so wrapped up in myself that I just think I'm graceful and caught myself.

I'm not graceful.
He is gracious.

God is just and fights my battles for me.

He warms me.

He showers me with joy.
He fills me with hope.
I'm never alone, even when I feel alone.
He protects me and my family.
At just the right time, He brings just the right people into my life.

I am so unworthy of His love yet my cup runneth over.

Even though I don't know what my future holds, HE DOES.
I am walking blind, but He is the One that cleared the path in the first place. He knows it back and forth and holds my hand with every step I take.

He knows me.
He knows my heart.
He knows that He made me to love music and He speaks to me that way sometimes.
He knows that I love His starry skies so He shows them so brightly just for me.

He has been present for every moment of my life.
He has seen everything I have done.
He watched when I turned from Him.

He waited with open arms for me to return.
He forgave me.
He redeemed me.
His mercy is abundant.

He listens.

I am my Beloved's and He is mine.

He made me. He loves me.

I love Him.

Things You Should Know About My Weekend

1. I knew ahead of time that it was going to be awesome because Grant's parents were coming to town! We hadn't seen them since Christmas so this was a long overdue visit. They arrived late Thursday night (they drove from New Orleans) and we pretty much went straight to bed as soon as they got here safely.

2. Friday I had to work so Grant's mom visited a friend that lives in town while Grant and his dad played golf.

3. I worked till 6:30 and met them for dinner at Yardhouse. If you live in the Houston area, YOU NEED TO GO TO YARDHOUSE. It's probably one of our top 5 favorite restaurants. There is a creamy tomato bisque that makes me all emotional.

4. Saturday we went to a baby shower for my cousin Katie and I got to see Grace, Scarlett, and Juliet. They were in matching purple twirly dresses and it was a bit too much for me to handle. (If you're new to Jen the Newlywed, you can see photos of Grace, Scarlett, and Juliet in the sidebar to your right). There was strawberry cake there and I was just thrilled about that.

5. After the shower, Grant's mom and I went to the outlet mall in Cypress. This was her first time there and we had an excellent time. We shopped while the boys played golf for the second time.

6. Something happened while we were there that I will now refer to as "The Shoe Incident of 2011". I'm slightly embarassed and also slightly proud to say that I came home with FIVE pairs of shoes yesterday. FIVE. Please pray for me. I couldn't stop myself.

7. Grant's mom got a jacket in Chico's that was normally $60.00 for FIVE DOLLARS AND NINETY-NINE EVER-LOVING CENTS.

8. I LOVE THE OUTLET MALL.

9. We were so exhausted from all the successful shopping that we just came home, ordered pizza, and watched a movie with the boys. We watched "Life As We Know It" with Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel. Super cute movie.

10. Yesterday morning when I woke up I realized that I was losing my voice. Not sure why...I wasn't shouting/singing/sick/congested or anything but my voice was going. This normally wouldn't bother me too much except for the fact that I knew I was singing a MAJOR song on Sunday morning at church that requires me to have my voice "full-throttle" if you will. I went on vocal rest for Saturday night and prayed that when I woke up Sunday morning it would all be alright.

11. When I woke up this morning, it wasn't alright.

12. I prayed in the shower that God would give me just enough voice to make it through my song.

13. The first run-through of the song did not go so well.

14. Something happened around 9:00 (30 minutes before the service) and, although still quite raspy, I could hit all my notes and with just enough power!

15. Jesus is worthy of all glory, honor and praise.

16. I love to sing.

17. After church, we took Grant's parents to the Cadillac Bar for brunch and JEN PUT DOWN SOME FOOD. The amount of food at their brunch is overwhelming and wonderful and I can refuse nothing. I want it all, thank you very much.

18. I love Diet Coke.

19. After that, we had to give hugs and kisses and say goodbye :( We know that Mom & Dad have to get home safe and get on the road early, but we sure love having them here. They are such a blessing!

20. I drove to the hospital to hold my new little friends, twin boys Marco and Massimo. My friend Laura just had her baby boys on Friday afternoon. She now has THREE little boys!! They are so so precious and they look just alike. I loved snuggling with them and visiting with Laura and Sergio. Such beautiful baby boys... what a gift!

21. After that I took my friend Liz her birthday present and some coffee from Starbucks. We sat in her living room and chatted about our weekends while sipping coffee and playing with her baby girl, Lily. It was such a nice afternoon :)

22. Then I came home and began my Sunday evening date with the couch, a blanket, and the remote. ME LOVE IT.

23. Had a long, fun talk with my BFF Lindsee this evening. She is all kinds of wonderful.

24. I'm laying in bed, blogging to you people and I am ever so comfy.

25. THAT IS MORE THAN ANY OF YOU PLANNED ON READING AND I APOLOGIZE. I'm gonna go stare at my FIVE new pairs of shoes now.

Mercy.

Who Are These People: Grammy's 2011

Okay, okay, I know, I'm late. REALLY late. You see, I have this thing called a job and they require that certain things be accomplished and they seem to have no understanding of my duties and responsibilities to blogging about major award shows. I apologize for the delay.

I'd like to throw out a disclaimer. While I have an immense and useless knowledge of television and movies, my background in pop "music" is slim to none. I don't know who most of these people are or what Grammy-worthy music they have contributed. I'm only here to talk about the clothes.

This is Willow Smith, daughter of Will & Jada. She is cute as a button but starting out very young on my "WHAT ARE YOU WEARING?!" list.
Oooh, Selena Gomez.... I have no idea what you sing but I do think that you were the best dressed of the night, my dear!


It's like I've always said... the classic, modern suit would look SO much better if the pants were made of aluminum foil.

I don't know who this is. I don't know what she sings. And I certainly do not know what she is wearing.
Martina McBride is looking better with age!


Hear Ye, Hear Ye! Readers of this Blog! Be it Known that on February 13, 2011, the Artist Known As Lady Gaga Arrived to the Grammy Awards in a Dinosour Egg.

The Egg was carried but completely normal people.

I'm so glad that Kim Kardashian was there with her musical talent.

It's the Kidman-Urban's! Any surprise babies we need to know about, you two?!?

Katy Perry arrived several months early for the Halloween party thrown by her sorority. The Celestial Angel Hussy will totally win the prize!

Justin is handsome and I was almost willing to give this a thumbs up (even though the tux is white but I think he is 14 or something so I'll let it slide) but me-no-likey the tennis shoes, Beebs.

Jordin Sparks was feeling very indecisive so she just said "Both!"

Hello, Jennifer Hudson is SKINNY and the front of her dress should be longer and then she would've been a winner for me.

ATTENTION JENNIFER LOPEZ: If there were ever a message that anyone had to give you that was of the utmost importance, THIS IS THAT MESSAGE. Listen carefully.... are you ready? Here it is... DO NOT SIT DOWN. I REPEAT. DO NOT SIT DOWN.

You know, I feel like every award season there is atleast one person that I look at it and I'm all like "Man, it's as if they photo-shopped her head on my body". I mean, look at Heidi Klum's arms!! They are SO SKINNY and freakishly similar to MY arms! Craziness!!

When Grant and I go out with our friends, this is what we look like.

Again, no idea who this person is.... but my feeling for her dress is hatred.

Hi, who are you, and what have you done with your hair?

I am not okay with this. Two very enthusiastic thumbs down.

Crystal Bowersox = surprising in a lovely emerald gown. Stay Classy, Mama Sox.

And that's all she wrote. Night night, friends. Hope you enjoyed it!!