Project Runway: A Times Square Anniversary Party - The Recap

I know, I know - I'm a little late with my Project Runway recap.  Okay, I'm A LOT late but I have a good reason: I'm in the final stages of getting ready for my trip so don't get mad at me okay.
I had the good sense to take some crude notes but I tried to keep them to around one sentence per thought so that I didn't miss that much but I ended up missing some stuff anyways...
I'd like to get an important part of this recap out of the way: GUNNAR DEATHERAGE IS BACK!!

I don't know why but I'm so so SO happy that he's back!  Honestly, I prefer his look from his appearance on season 9 but...

 


...He's still adorable so it doesn't matter!

Okay okay - I think I've expressed enough of my love for Gunnar...On to the task at hand: runway time!

Jump on in!

PR Season 10: No live-blogging antics this season (Maybe?)

I know what you're thinking: Katzi, why haven't you been pimping this new season of "Project Runway" for the live-blog?!
Well, I'll tell you - I received an email from Cover It Live about them changing their rates and our humble account will no longer be free.  And I'm going to take it as a sign since the last 3 seasons we live-blogged (All-Stars included), I've been kind of "Meh" about the whole show.  Yes, I'm beyond happy that Mondo won All-Stars but I felt like it was because All-Stars was clearly a vehicle to right the wrong of Gretchen winning season 8 blah blah blah.  Joshua McKinley was whatever and yes he won and all that but look who he was competing against...  I think they're on a never-ending quest to find another person as quirky and wonderful as Christian Siriano.  There.  I said it.  It's something I've said before but I feel like it's even more pronounced.  Not to say that Mondo isn't great because I am over the moon with love for Mondo.  Mondo is magnificent and I love him to pieces and he's the best thing to come from the Lifetime era of Project Runway.   But since the show moved from Bravo to Lifetime, it's been on a slippery slope downward because it has to find its personality again. 

NOT TO SAY THAT I DON'T LOVE THE SHOW BECAUSE I DO, I REALLY DO BUT...
To me, it's in a weird place and I will take Cover It Live being weird as a sign that maybe live-blogging isn't the route for this season.

And just so you know, I'm not saying goodbye to Project Runway.  In fact, I'm going to Lauren's tonight to have a mini viewing party and I plan on recapping it tomorrow.  I hope to be able to still do recaps the day after and maybe this season will be the season that will make me start enjoying it again?  We'll see...

On that note, be sure to tune in tonight at 9pm for the new season of Project Runway.  You know you miss Tim's wisdom, Heidi's bi-polar-ness, Nina's ice cold stare and Michael's wacky comments!  Who knows - maybe we'll find another live-blogging site and start up again or maybe I'll move the live-blogging to WordPress...hmmm lots to think about...



GMA photo via Michael Kors' Instagram

fresh.i.am goodies

I finally got my shirt from Fresh.i.Am!  I picked it up while visiting my sister after I got my tattoo.  LOVE IT!

 

 

 

Thanks guys!  Get yours here

Friday the 13th

I did it!  I finally did it!  What's that?  What did I do?  I got a Friday the 13th tattoo!  Wow - I'm quite the poet...Um, yes, I got a Friday the 13th tattoo like I've been saying I would do for a long time now.  I don't know what it is but this past week something in me has been like: "You WILL do what you say you're going to do".  So after some light protesting from my old man, I left on my tattoo adventure - including finally making it out to Only You Tattoo.
I had been saying I'd make it to the shop after Deb (our graphic designer) told me that her husband, Matt, was opening it - but that was FOREVER ago.  Okay, maybe more like over 2 years ago...
Matt is the kind gentleman who tattooed my Godparent stars on me 4+ years ago and just so you know, I WILL be back next year to get matching stars on the other side when my Goddaughter turns 10.



ANYWAYS - in the grand tradition of Friday the 13th, some tattoo shops offer up a Friday the 13th special: you pick from the specific flash sheet (it changes every Friday the 13th) and you pay $13 for the tattoo + $7 lucky tip.  I had always wanted to do it but I don't know what had been holding me back.  So on my crazy out-of-character momentum of last week, I just went and did it.
At first, I was a little nervous because it had been pouring down rain so much that I was a little nervous to leave my area but it cleared up after the old man and I went to dinner.  Then, I was a little nervous about the parking situation.  I know the general area where the shop is and parking is quite limited but I pulled into the precarious lot and luckily for me, a girl was just leaving.  Her spot?  Right outside the shop door!  Is that an awesome sign or what?!  After some inner celebration and much gratitude to the Universe, I went inside and signed in.  I thought about specifying Matt for my tattoo but as I glanced over the list, I saw that quite a few folks had already done that, so I decided I wouldn't be picky about who I got because if they're at Matt's shop, they've got to be awesome.

 

After about an hour of waiting and debating where my new tattoo would go, it was my turn.  I was being called back by Charles Chatov.  I follow quite a few tattoo artists on Instagram and he's one of them so I was very excited.
After I got all stenciled up, it was time to get drilled.  Matt was setting up his station so we chatted about work and Deb and stuff.  The whole time I was hoping he didn't get mad at me for not asking for him but everyone else was asking for him so...you know.  I also think they stopped doing tattooer preferences after a certain time just for the sake of getting everyone done by midnight - which was the cut off.  Either way, I told Matt I would try to bring a special guest by the shop on Tuesday and I'm hoping that last week's momentum will carry through to this week.  Maybe I'll schedule my consult with Matt for Tuesday so I can get started talking about my chest piece.  That's another story.
I kindly asked Charles if I could take some action shots - to which he said, "You better hurry up - I'm almost done!"  I think these came out okay.  Taking these also helped distract me from the nagging pain of the needle.  And despite his very serious look, he was quite smiley!

 

So what did I pick?  The boat, of course!



Small and simple but I like it!  And even though I didn't sit for hours and hours, my experience was very enjoyable.  I think I should make it a point to get work done by each member of the Only You Tattoo crew since they are all amazingly talented artists.  Check out their work here!

Best Coast

I was having a lot of "old lady" moments with Lauren last night at Best Coast!  Ugh!  It all started when I realized I hadn't been inside Variety Playhouse in over 14 years.  Yes, it has been that long!  I went with my friend and her Mom to some jam band concert thing because her Mom was friends with the band.  I couldn't even tell you who it was, I was just excited to be in Little 5 Points so late at night!  Oh, those were the days!
Anyways - old lady feelings aside, the show was wonderful.  I hadn't heard either of the opening bands but I heard very good things about them on the internets.
Moodrings was wonderful and I wish I had purchased their EP...
Those Darlins were awesome! I don't really know what I was expecting but I was pleasantly surprised! Those girls are feisty and their songs are super catchy and I kinda wish I had gotten some of their music as well. Guh - I was on the Fail Train last night! I think it was because I had to get up early this morning so I high-tailed it out of there as soon as the show was over.
Best Coast was wonderful! The last time Lauren and I saw them play was a their free show at Criminal a couple of years ago. I was glad to get tickets for the actual show this time! Hooray!




I think I also figured out the trick to my camera. The flash automatically comes up when the camera turns on and I usually push it down - which results in blurry photos (of course) or I'll let it flash and the result is whatever is below my flash is lit and the actual subjects in the middle of my frame are totally dark. So last night I tried what I do at work sometimes (on a different camera) - I let the flash pop up and I covered it with my finger so it would still go off. Oldest trick in the book, right?! Why didn't I think of that before?! Not the greatest results but much better than before!



I still like the camera for the zoom capabilities - on videos especially because I got in pretty tight for their cover of Storms and although it's pretty bumpy (because I'm in so tight), it's pretty damn good.



And here's a bonus video of No One Like You (before I was feeling adventurous with the zoom)


I was kind of hoping for them to play Angsty but that's okay. I loved the show and it was all kinds of wonderful and I hope that she comes back soon and I hope that Wavves will release their album so that they can come to Atlanta too!  I need more good shows this year!

More of my photos here!

Thursday, Schmursday

This week has been quite a busy one, I must say!

First the Air Sex Championships on Monday


A very super secret, "emergency" photo shoot on Tuesday


Intense graphics on Wednesday


And now it's Thursday. I'm all amped up for Best Coast tonight (!!) and I'm hoping the sky doesn't open up like it did on Monday. And last night. Yuck. What is there to lift my spirits on such a gloomy, gray day (besides the show tonight)? Oh, you know, just a visit from THE CUTEST PUPPY OMG!!


This is Luna (yes, after Luna Lovegood) and she belongs to Heather!I'm so glad Heather's husband brought her and her brother Wall-E to the office for a little visit.  They even got to play around with the resident office pet, Owen!


I tried to get more of the dogs playing but there were just so fast so here's one where Luna is being extra cute


I hope that has brightened your day!  

Air Sex - It's Serious Business (NSFW)

I was on a sexy roll yesterday, apparently.  After I wrote my saucy sonnet, I couldn't help but feel obligated to go to the Air Sex Championships.  After I saw Gingersnap's post about it last week, I declared I was going but on my way home from work yesterday afternoon, I wasn't feeling so into it.  Why?  I don't know.  My stomach was a little upset from work stress and I feel like I have an ulcer brewing but after thinking about it, I decided I'd go.  My inner drama kid was begging me to go!  I mean, when would I get another chance to see that?!   My old man said probably next year but I wanted to add this to my list of weird things I've seen and/or done as soon as possible!  No, I didn't participate even though I could have since they were encouraging folks to.  I didn't want to take the chance of looking like a fool, you know, with me being a novice to this whole arena as a spectator.  Either way, it was wildly entertaining and I loved it!  Some performers were better than others but the standout was Johnny West - crowned Atlanta's champion last night.
The rules are simple: for your first performance, you get to pick your own song and you have to perform simulated sex on your imaginary partner or partners.  If you get chosen to move on to the next round, you are given a secret mystery song picked by one of the judges.

I tried to take videos of all the performers but my camera battery died, so here's two iPhone videos (for now)

The host (and co-founder) Chris Trew



Johnny West's mystery song performance

Today is the day I wrote a sonnet for a piece of chocolate

With this photo, I declared I would write "the most beautiful sonnet" for this lovely white chocolate that a coworker brought back from his cruise to Spain.


I didn't think I would do it until my most fave Instagrammer Ellie Lopez (@el1ielopez) convinced me to do it.  My brother also gave me this bit of encouragement via Tumblr:


After another piece of chocolate, you know, for research and inspirational purposes, I scripted the prettiest and weirdest sonnet I've ever written.  Read it here or check it out after the jump!

Independence Day Shenanigans

Having a random day off in the middle of the week is weird - even if it is for the Fourth of July. I'm not complaining or anything but I feel like I should be having a three day weekend instead of a Hump Day off. Might as well make the most of it, right?! Right!
I took advantage of having today off and had a few drinks last night to do my favourite activity: Drunk Tumblin'. All of that fun stuff aside, I saw the prettiest rainbow I've seen in a long time! I admit I was a little hesitant to take a photo of it since rainbows have been a source of bad luck for me lately but I couldn't resist!
 
Such a pretty arch!  It was too wide for me to get a full shot but this totally works!

I couldn't resist this either


This morning, I got up a little early (middle of the week habit) and watched my favrouite movie for makeup and costumes: Sucker Punch. I felt so inspired by Baby Doll and Blondie's makeup that I spent most of my morning watching Sucker Punch makeup tutorials and decided I'd wear some Baby Doll eyes today.


It was also a good excuse for me to try out the new Jane Lens and Ina's 1982 Lens with the Hipstamatic update.

Other than that, today was pretty mellow. The old man and I are getting "white girl wasted" on some Parrot Bay frozen drinks and doing some light grilling.
 

Are you doing anything fun this Independence Day?

Magic Mike? Yes please!

Phew!  After all the Sharon Needles controversy, let's get on to the most important part about this weekend: Magic Mike FINALLY opened and Lauren and I went!  Thank goodness!  After seeing and hearing all these crazy things about it, I was practically jumping out of my skin to see it!  I mean, I get to see Joe Manganiello shirtless on a pretty regular basis on True Blood but to see him shirtless (and pants-less) for almost 2 hours straight (even if he was mostly in the background)?!  Thank the Lord!



Matt Bomber doing things like this?! YES PLEASE!


Alex Pettyfer being ridiculously hot? YES YES YES


I wish I had taken my friend Brad's advice: see the movie and then go to Swinging Richards afterwards. If you're not from Atlanta, you don't know that Swinging Richards is an all male nude show. Not quite the caliber of Magic Mike or Stallionz (remember that from Glee? It's where Sam worked for a spell...) but it's close and it's quite the experience - although I hear they're cracking down on the amount of ladies that go there since it's technically a gay strip club but, you know, technicalities and all that...
Ugh.  And I feel dirty too.  Not because I saw the movie but because I'm not a Soderberg fan.  Yeah, I said it.  I do enjoy the Ocean's 11, 12, and 13 movies but that's about all I can stand in his director's lineup. We gave The Girlfriend Experience a shot but it didn't quite grab us like I thought it would. I'm sure Sasha Grey was wonderful and I'm sure I'll give it another chance. Later.
Magic Mike had Soderberg's trademark angles and weird dialogue.  The only way I can describe it is like this: He's got the general idea of the script and it's there, on set, with the script supervisor but for some reason, he feels the need to tell the actors the gist of the scene and maybe a key sentence they need to deliver but they can deliver it any way they want to, so long as they get that one sentence out. Like weird ad-libbing or something. And I only say that because there were quite a few scenes where Channing Tatum was trying to get out something like "I'm not Magic Mike in real life" but he stammered and stuttered his way through it and it felt like a bunch of okay takes were strung together to make the scene work. There were also a few places where Cody Horn was waiting for her cue to react. 10 seconds doesn't sound like a lot of time but in movie time, it's like an eternity. It's not her fault...
I tried to watch the movie without my behind-the-scenes eye but I couldn't help it! There were so many places where I was cringing at the lines being delivered and the Soderberg Angle and the multiple conversations happening that it was hard for me to stay focused on Joe Manganiello's abs.  The horror, I know.  All of that aside, I enjoyed the movie. I mean, when do us girls get a male exploitation movie huh?! Hardly ever and this one definitely delivers.  I think I might splurge and get myself the Blu Ray extended director's cut version of it when it comes out on DVD.  It'll be worth it.

How was your weekend?

Nothing but love for Sharon Needles

Turns out Sharon Needles' presence in the A was a little more intense than I thought it was!  Though I didn't see any protesters, they were there.  She also met up with some activists before her show - which didn't go so well.  That explains why when I told her she was awesome she said, "Well, that's debatable".  I also learned that we have the same glasses.

Soulmates!  I kid.  Anyways - the bizarre meeting is also what spawned this during her show:

Honestly, it almost brought me to tears.  (I say "almost" because I didn't want to smear my makeup.  Priorities, people!)
But seriously though, I think the whole uproar is unnecessary.  I'm familiar with the pushing of buttons and that's all she's doing.  I think she's great and if Drag Race and Absolut has a problem with her, don't you think they'd come out and say something?  I'm guessing their absence from all this means they don't have a problem with it - though it would be nice of them to speak out on her behalf...
Either way I stand by Sharon Needles and I think she's very progressive and wonderful and she's definitely the future of drag.  Sure, there's minor bumps along the way but I love what she's doing with drag and I wish I had seen her particular brand of drag growing up.  Technically, I did with Marylin Manson but that's not really the same.  But it was pretty great that she opened with Manson's "Beautiful People".  Here's a short clip I took


I didn't want to watch the show from behind my camera so I turned it off right before it got really good.  Oops!
Here's a better clip from Project Q Atlanta


And here's more photos. I still stand by that it was a GREAT night and I hope she will return to Atlanta because I know I won't be the only one to welcome her with open arms.