Live the Dlush Life

Adam Lambert Would Be, Like, My Best Friend

I am so excited about American Idol this year, more so than I've ever been.

Although I have watched the show regularly since it first began, after the audition shows are over, my attention tends to rise and fall based on who is contending for the crown.

For instance, I was a big Justin Guarini fan so I definitely watched the first season. He lost, but I was okay with Kelly Clarkson winning because she seemed like a regular girl who would be in my dorm or something.

Carrie Underwood was also cool, but I liked her even more when she released that "Before He Cheats" song. Who ever thought someone could make trashing a car so musically appealing?

I also watched last year because I thought David Cook and David Archulata were both guys I would have dated in different times in life.

For instance, David Cook is the type of guy I would go out with now, while David Archulata reminds me of the guy who took me on my very first date (I was five and he took me to the drug store and let me pick out any piece of candy I wanted. I picked out Skittles).

On the other hand, I thought Fantasia was talented, but stopped watching after a while because it seemed obvious she was going to win. I found Taylor Hicks boring in a kind of "my-Dad-would-like-him" way and Jordin Sparks was just too high-schooly for me.

This year is the best ever and,for me, it's all because of Adam Lambert.

I mean, Danny Gokey's got a good voice, but he seems like the guy my older sister, Jen, had a rebound romance with after she broke it off with her fiance. They even have similar voice -- and that's a problem for me.

When she broke it off, he got a guitar, stood outside what he thought was her window and started singing "Hey Jen," instead of "Hey Jude."

Of course, it was my window and I was trying to sleep. Ugh.

Kris Allen is a cutie, and I would probably vote for him in another season (and date him if he wasn't married), but this year is all about the Adam.

Adam is, like, the best guy friend I've never had, but always wanted. He's cool (knows how to put on mascara), nice, funny, a great singer and he dresses great.

I could see talking with him about my problems with a guy who looks like David Cook and would actually try to understand without seeing it as a way to make me like him instead.

Adam would also let me know that there's a guy who likes me for me and not because I spent hours trying to look cute.

I'm not alone. My friends think Adam is a dream and so does my Mom. We're all rooting for him to be the next American Idol.

There are some guys I know who are threatened by Adam because he dresses cooler than them, but they're just threatened, I just know if they got to know him, they would realize how cool he is.

In fact, I'd bet he'd even tell David Cook and Kris Allen what a cool girl I am and why they should date me.
 

Goofing Up Pageant Questions Better Than Winning?

If you didn’t get a chance to watch the Miss USA pageant, you’re probably regretting it.

With all the talk and gossip around Miss California’s answer to her on-stage question, it’s hard to ignore the pageant all together.

For those that have been living under a rock and missed the entire buzz around Miss California for the past few days, let me fill you in. During the 57th annual Miss USA pageant, contestants from across the U.S. strutted across the stage in Las Vegas, Nevada, in hopes of a national title, a New York apartment, and many other amazing prizes.
 
The audience was entertained with swimsuits, evening wear, and most importantly, the judges’ questions.

I will say that I wasn’t impressed with many of the answers to the questions, but Miss California’s answer seemed to shock a majority of the nation.

She started out trying to give a politically correct answer, stating that she was happy she lived in a country where people could choose to marry anyone they desired (in some states).

The answer took a sudden turn that I definitely wasn’t expecting. She contradicted her first statement by saying that she was happy to be raised in a country and in a family that valued marriage between a man and a woman. I can say that Perez Hilton was not the only one who was taken back by the shift in her answer.

Miss California’s answer has stirred up much talk across the US and amongst many of the judges at the 2009 pageant. Many of them stated that Miss California’s final answer had negatively effect the score that they gave her. It makes me wonder if the title would have been hers if she censored her answer a bit more to appease the judges (especially Perez).

This isn’t the first time we have seen a flopped answer to a judge’s question cost a contestant the crown. I think we can all remember the hype around Miss Teen South Carolina’s answer in 2007 to her on-stage question about why Americans cannot locate the U.S. on a Map.

Her scores in the other categories made her a front-runner until her horrifying answer basically knocked her out of the running all together. Maybe it’s time for the Miss Universe organization to apply as much emphasis on public speaking as they do on fitness and beauty, just an idea.

One thing that is in their favor is that both Miss California and Miss Teen South Carolina received a great deal more publicity than the actual winner. I guess the lesson we can take from their mistakes is that debauching your answer may actually work in your favor (notice that I haven’t even mentioned the true winner once). With all else said, Miss California was able to single-handedly make the Miss USA 2009 pageant a memorable one.

If Susan Boyle Can Do It, I Can Too

Unless you live under a rock, you know about the Scottish, "Britain’s Got Talent" star and worldwide sensation: Susan Boyle.

Well, evidently until Thursday night, I’d been living under a rock.

I’m sitting in class on Thursday night and I overhear someone talking about Susan Boyle and I immediately think in my head, “Who the hell is Susan Boyle?” 

Next thing I know, someone from across the room belts out, “Oh my god, I love Susan Boyle!!”

Very confused, I look to my friend on my right and ask “What is Susan Boyle?”

Before I know it, someone has pulled up the YouTube clip of Britain’s Got Talent, and there is 47-year old Susan Boyle staring out with her sheepish grin, microphone pressed to her lips.

I sit back, anxious to understand what has got everyone in such a frenzy over this unassuming woman.  All the while, thinking this must be some kind of sad joke.

Mere moments later, the hair on my arms are rigid with goose-bumps, my jaw’s dropped, and my eyes are filling with tears.

I was completely floored and blown away by Susan’s musical talent.  The sound of her voice was like an angel singing.

Along with the snickering crowd, before Susan began her extraordinary performance, I judged her.  And looking back, I should’ve known better.

Considering the overwhelming pressures I’m feeling as graduation creeps its ugly head around the corner.  I’m faced with too many changes, too many choices, and too many decisions.  I just feel like taking a timeout – from life. 

But there’s a lesson to be learned from Susan: if she can withstand 47 years of pressure and come out on top, I think I can handle a few monumental life decisions at 21 years old.

You are a true inspiration, Susan Boyle!

Not So Game On 'Parks and Recreation'

When I heard that the producers of “The Office” were coming out with another comedy, I couldn’t contain my excitement. I don’t think I have been as excited for the release of a new TV show since “Gossip Girl.”

But, here it is, “Parks and Recreation,” which stars Amy Poehler and Rashida Jones (a former “Office” cast member), which debuted April 9.

It’s filmed in a documentary style method similar to “The Office,” and also mimics that show’s dry and serious comedic lines in an everyday environment.

Will this similar technique work as well for “Parks and Recreation” as it did for “The Office?” Last night we got gained some insight into that question.

Well, to my enjoyment, “P and R” was sandwiched between two “Office” episodes, but while the trailer showed some hilarious moments, “Parks and Recreation” so far hasn’t lived up to my big expectations.

Not to say that it was horrible, it certainly had some bright moments, but, overall, I was a little disappointed.

When I look back at my first experience with “The Office” I remember thinking “This is weird, what is going on?”

My friends assured me that as soon as I got to know the characters a little better and understood their individual personalities the show would be hilarious.

They were right, so I am hoping after I get into the season a bit more and truly begin to understand the dynamics and details of each character I will have the same turn-around with “Parks and Recreation” as I had with “The Office.”

One thing I wasn’t disappointed with last night was Amy Poelher’s take on her character, Leslie Knope.

As an actress, she’s creative and funny, and that definitely gives me some hope for the show in future episodes.

I do wonder, though, if her character is too similar to Michael Scott on “The Office” (Both are mid-level managers with big dreams and big ideas).

“Parks and Recreation” has all the basics to potentially be a hit, but I think it may be doomed to the shadows of “The Office,” making the fact that it was wedged between two “Office” episodes rather ironic.

I am not ready to give up on “Parks and Recreation” quite yet.

I will give it a few more weeks so I can get to know the characters better and maybe the show will grow on me.

If my past with the “Office” can predict anything, hopefully I will be able to fall in love with the each character on the show and come to love Leslie Knope like I love (and hate) Michael Scott.

Michael Scott move over, “Parks and Recreation” has begun.

Tonight I'm Heading For "The Hills"

Season 4 of "The Hills" wrapped up with so many unanswered questions, and tonight is the night I will finally get some of those answers. I have found myself obsessed with the dramatic lives of the reality stars on "The Hills" and can’t wait to see what Season 5 has in store. 

As the season ended last fall we witnessed Heidi and Spencer’s failed nuptials, Whitney moving to “the City,” a hopeful prospect on Audrina and Justin Bobby’s relationship, and Lauren and Heidi looking as though there may be hope for their friendship in the future. With a marriage, a move and a make-up all wrapped up I wonder how the Hills can top it this season, but it looks hopeful.

The drama-packed trailer of Season 5 shows a tearful encounter between former BFF’s, Heidi and Lauren, looking as though friendship may be in the cards for them after all. After so many seasons of their epic feud I wonder if this season will finally bring the end. As the saying goes, as one door closes another one opens. Could a truce between “frenemies” Lauren and Heidi open the door for new problems between Lauren and Audrina? It looks as though Brody Jenner, Lauren’s former flame, may be the root of the problem once again.

In the Season 5 previews, we’ve see something stirring between Brody and Audrina, and I wonder if we will see a sequel to the memorable Jen Bunney birthday incident (I hope not!). 

Of course it wouldn’t be Season 5 without loads of drama between my favorite couple, Heidi and Spencer.

This season looks to be full of accusations, problems, and …. Bar fights? To be honest, I’m surprised it took until now for Spencer’s fuse to really blow, but we are about to see it all come to surface this season.

Unfortunately, Season 5 will be bittersweet for all "Hills" fans. It will be Lauren’s last season of filming and I will be sad to see her go.

That isn’t the end for the rest of the cast. Audrina still plans to continue on the realty circuit herself and we always have former “Hills” cast member Whitney Port to continue the drama in her spin-off reality drama “The City.”

As for tonight, I will be enjoying all the drama and Lauren’s final season in the comfort of my home.