Remembering Whitney

By now you have probably heard that Whitney Houston passed away yesterday at the age of 48. According to her website, Houston sold more than 170 million albums over the course of her career. I, personally, have sung along to "I Wanna Dance with Somebody" approximately 154 million times over my 31-year career as . . . well, myself. If you have a facebook page, it is likely that you have posted a YouTube video of your favorite Whitney song, or that you know someone who has. If you have not yet listened to Whitney's isolated vocal track on "How Will I Know," click here to gain a new appreciation of just how talented she really was.

But what really was Whitney's "Greatest Love of All?" She had skyscraper highs and seemingly bottomless lows (anyone remember Being Bobby Brown?), but I believe her greatest accomplishment is probably the one we have heard the least about: her daughter, Bobbi Kristina, pictured below with Whitney in 2011.

Photo courtesy of the Bert Show.com

Perhaps I just have a soft spot for other motherless children. Perhaps it is because Houston once said of her daughter, "She encourages me and inspires me. When I look at her eyes and I see myself, I go, 'Okay, I can do this. I can do this.'" As you remember Whitney in all of her triumphs and troubles, take a second to think of Bobbi Kristina as well. Her road will long and hard. It will only be made worse by the fact that her grief will be public. Best of luck, Bobbi Kristina. Your mother was an unbelievable talent and the world is a little less melodious today. Pin It

What I'm Running To: Creator by Santigold

After a rather unfortunate bout of the stomach flu this weekend successfully rid me of my last five lawyer pounds, you'd think I would be taking a little vacay from the 24 Hour Fitness, right? Wrong. It's time to get back on the elliptical! I will be heavily relying on this Shuffle staple to get my feet moving again. Take a look.
 p.s. Close your eyes while this video is playing if you tend toward motion sickness. This footage has a definite Blair Witch quality to it.

    

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First Look: Friends with Kids

She attended Yale. She's beautiful. She co-wrote and starred in 2001's indie hit, Kissing Jessica Stein, and she's been going home to long-time love and life partner, Don Draper Jon Hamm, since 1997. I'd hate her if she wasn't so damn brilliant. If you're not yet familiar with Jennifer Westfeldt, you will be. She not only stars in Friends with Kids, due in theaters on March 9th, but she also wrote and directed the film. Oh yeah, Friends with Kids also stars Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Bridesmaids' Chris O'Dowd, Parks and Rec's Adam Scott, and my soulmate, Jon Hamm. Sign me up!


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What I'm Running To: Learning to Fly by Tom Petty

"Well, some say life will beat you down
Break your heart, steal your crown
So I've started out, for God knows where
Guess I'll know, when I get there"

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Sneak Peak: Jason Wu for Target

If, like me, you count Entertainment Weekly, Lucky Magazine, and People among your sources for hard-hitting news, you probably already know that the first sneak peak of the new designer-Target collaboration was released today. If you are getting your news from, say, CNN, or the WSJ, then this is probably news to you, so keep reading! The Target designer collaborations have been largely hit or miss (point: I still count my 2007-ish Loeffler Randall for Target peep-toe flats among the most worn shoes in my . . . ahem . . . extensive footwear collection. I even SuperGlued them back together at my desk once. Now that's love! Counterpoint: Zac Posen for Target. What was that?). So who is Jason Wu? Jason Wu is most widely known for designing First Lady Michelle Obama's dress for the 2009 Inaugural Ball.  You know, this one:

Photo courtesy of de la Pen

Jason Wu has also outfitted Hollywood ingenues like Natalie Portman:

Photo courtesy of Style Frizz

and Emma Watson:

Photo courtesy of My Dress.My High Heels.My Style

Right now you might be asking, so, Kami, what makes Jason Wu so special? Why does everyone love the Wu? For starters, he tends to favor a more structured silhouette. This is good news for my curvy sisters. Are you busty? Hippy? Listen up! Look for items that define the waistline. It's the fastest way to take 10 pounds off your frame.

My biggest complaint with regard to all of the Target collections has been the quality of the materials used in them. I will likely continue to complain about the quality of the items in these high end-low end collabos because this is precisely where the corners are being cut in order to offer the designer items at the Target price point. That said, not every collection has disappointed. Tucker for Target, for example, put out several quality pieces that were well worth the $29.99 that I paid for them.

I have high hopes for you, Mr. Wu. Please don't let me down! Want to see what Jason Wu has come up with for Target? Here's your sneak peak at several items from his collection:

Word on the street is that both the navy blue minidress on the left and the pastel patterned dress on the right ring in at $40. The handbag in the center of the photo is priced at $50. Intrigued? Jason Wu for Target hits stores on February 5th. Which is a Sunday. Guess what I am doing on Saturday, February 4th? Did you guess camping outside of the Target? Because I am definitely not risking a repeat of that Missoni for Target debacle.

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What I'm Running To: Living for the City by Stevie Wonder

Girl, when you are Living for the City, you can run all the way to Funkytown.
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Happy New Year!

So we have reached the end of 2011. What say you? Good? Bad? Meh? Good, bad, or indifferent, in about 12 hours it will all be over. 2011, that is. Here is what I resolve to do in the new year:

1. Become fully financially independent. I'll be honest, I'm not entirely sure what financial independence means. But if it means walking into a restaurant and knowing that your card isn't going to be declined when you go to pay, sign me up! I won't be making this journey alone. I will have the ladies (and gents) of LearnVest to help me along. If, like me, you would describe yourself as financially illiterate, sign up for LearnVest's daily emails and free(!) financial bootcamps. It just may be the encouragement you need to keep it in your purse. Your plastic, that is!


2. Read at least one new book per month. I have decided to start with The Road by Cormac McCarthy. Note: I have built in a Hunger Games hiatus for the week of March 23, 2012. During the week of March 23rd, I am totally permitted to stop everything and (re)immerse myself in the world of jabberjays and Capitol mutts.

3. Eat (slightly) less cheese than I currently eat right now. I may be approaching that age when my cholesterol may actually matter. Maybe.

4. Get my cholesterol checked. This will determine just how much cheese I will have to eliminate from my diet.

Whether your new year's resolutions include losing those last 5 (or 10 or 15, or whatever) pounds, making an appointment to see your doctor, getting to the gym regularly, calling your grandparents more often, or learning a new language, best of luck to you! If you are out tonight, please make sure you have a designated driver or the number for at least one cab company programmed into your cell phone. If you are partying in the LA area, The Auto Club of Southern California offers free "tipsy tow" services to members and non-members alike. Tipsy tow will not only provide you with a safe ride home, but they will also tow your car anywhere within 7 miles of the point of pick-up. To contact AAA Tipsy Tow, call 1-800-400-4222.

I had to think and think and think some more to come up with a popular song that includes some reference to NYE. This is what I came up with. Hopefully your evening is more fun than this guy's was. And despite what One Republic and Timbaland say, it's never too late to Apologize. Happy New Year, friends!

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