You can meet Francia Raisa from "The Secret Life of the American Teenager!"

by Brittany Geragotelis

When we decided to shoot Francia Raisa, one of the stars of "The Secret Life of the American Teenager" I wasn't super psyched. Not because I didn't like her...but I'd simply never watched the show before. So, after we had the actress on board, I knew I had to do a little research. Yes, a lot of my research for work involves watching TV.

How jealous are you?

photo credit: ABCFamily/Secret Life of the American Teenager

Anyway, I began to watch the show and at first was like, "Really? This is what has teens obsessed these days? (It's ABC Family's number one show and is a fave among teens; even celebs like Kendall Jenner and Selena Gomez are fans) It was like "7th Heaven" pregnant (an astute observation, since I later found out that creator Brenda Hampton, was the mastermind behind this show as well).

But as I continued to watch it, I slowly got hooked. Now, only partway through season 4, I'm officially a fan. So the prospect of meeting one of the show's stars is way exciting for me now! And on that note, I'm sure a lot of you out there would be psyched at the chance to meet her, too. Sooooo, because I love you all AND because it's Friday, here's a way you can make your dreams come true!

5x5,
B.

Lauren Graham (yes, she's really that cool!)

by Brittany Geragotelis

Not to brag, but a few weeks ago, I got to hang out with Lorelai Gilmore. No joke.

Okay, so the night really consisted of us and about 450 other people, sitting in the Barnes & Noble in Union Square NYC, and she was doing a Q&A for her new book, SOMEDAY, SOMEDAY, MAYBE, and she was actually there as herself, Lauren Graham, and not her beloved fast-talking alter-ego, Lorelai from Stars Hollow, but still. It was a great night.

As mentioned, "Gilmore Girls" and "Parenthood" fans flocked to the multi-level bookstore for a chance to meet Lauren in person. I got there two and a half hours early to secure a seat for myself and three of my friends (my gal-pal Kate, Siena who's also my publicist at S&S and my intern Rose) and reveled in the lively chatter that went on around me until the woman of the hour arrived. And when she did, it was to gasps of the crowd and applause.

Kate, Rose, Me and Siena @ Lauren Graham's book signing in the Barnes & Noble in Union Square. Oh yeah, we found my book on the shelves!

The Q&A was really interesting! It lasted about 30 minutes and covered topics from Lauren's writing process to her acting career and then she took questions from the crowd, who mostly gushed about how awesome she was. And she was. Guys, she's seriously as gorgeous in person as she is on TV and totally relatable and sweet. Also....funny as hell.

Anyway, we were all there to snag a copy of her debut novel, SOMEDAY, SOMEDAY, MAYBE, a fiction book about an aspiring actress. Apparently she drew upon some of her own experiences during her journey to stardom, and then filled in the blanks with fiction (for more on this, see her quotes below). Sounds cool, huh? Here's the description:

"Someday, Someday, Maybe" is totally having a WO-mance with "Life's a Witch. "

It’s January 1995, and Franny Banks has just six months left of the three-year deadline she set for herself when she came to New York, dreaming of Broadway and doing “important” work. But all she has to show for her efforts so far is a part in an ad for ugly Christmas sweaters, and a gig waiting tables at a comedy club. Her roommates―her best friend Jane, and Dan, an aspiring sci-fi writer―are supportive, yet Franny knows a two-person fan club doesn’t exactly count as success. Everyone tells her she needs a backup plan, and though she can almost picture moving back home and settling down with her perfectly nice ex-boyfriend, she’s not ready to give up on her goal of having a career like her idols Diane Keaton and Meryl Streep. Not just yet. But while she dreams of filling their shoes, in the meantime, she’d happily settle for a speaking part in almost anything—and finding a hair product combination that works.

Everything is riding on the upcoming showcase for her acting class, where she’ll finally have a chance to perform for people who could actually hire her. And she can’t let herself be distracted by James Franklin, a notorious flirt and the most successful actor in her class, even though he’s suddenly started paying attention. Meanwhile, her bank account is rapidly dwindling, her father wants her to come home, and her agent doesn’t return her calls. But for some reason, she keeps believing that she just might get what she came for.

Someday, Someday, Maybe is a story about hopes and dreams, being young in a city, and wanting something deeply, madly, desperately. It’s about finding love, finding yourself, and perhaps most difficult of all in New York City, finding an acting job.

Besides autographing copies of her book, Lauren also took the time to say hi to all of us fans individually. And when it was my turn, Rose snapped a pic of us together (not my finest angle I'll admit). That's when she saw it. My cell phone cover....

Me and Lauren Graham. Lauren's gorgeous as ever!

"What's that?" Lauren Graham asked.

"It's my book. It came out in January," I answered.

Admittedly, I was a mess by this point. Despite all the celebs I've interviewed and hung out with and met in the past, I was so nervous. No clue why. But I'm pretty sure I resembled an escaped mental patient since I was shaking so much and stumbling over my words, a fact that Lauren was gracious enough to ignore.

"Okay, first...where can I get my copy of the book? And second, how can I get a cell phone cover?" Lauren Graham continued.

Yes, THE Lauren Graham asked where she could get my book. I was officially dying.

"Well the book's out now and if you e-mail me, I can get you the book and the cell phone cover," is what I meant to say, but I think it came out kind of like, "Mrrllllllll blurgh, harumsh...IReallyAdmireYouAndMyMomLovesYouToo." 

And then I shoved my business card in her hand.

That was my moment with Lauren Graham. We may not have become instant besties (though it's just a matter of time), I was so honored that she even noticed. She had about 450-500 fans there to see her and we were at the beginning of the line, which meant she still had a few hours of signing to go. And yet she was sweet and funny and real and totally smart.

Lauren taking questions at the signing

If you weren't lucky enough to see Lauren in person (and have your own special moment with her....don't be jealous), here are a few gems from the Gilmore Girl herself!

"There's nothing more important than a good story." --Lauren Graham on her family's love of storytelling while she was growing up

She found writing her book SOMEDAY, SOMEDAY, MAYBE harder than acting because people weren't around to help her when she was stuck.

Lauren turned her book in, in chunks. At first she used to turn it in to her editor chapter by chapter, but then began to send it in bigger sections. Her reason? "You can't ask someone to read something for the first time, a second time."

Triple threat: Talented, Funny & Smart!

Part of what she found funny about her book was exploring an outsider's view of Hollywood. "I like the ways that people misunderstand showbiz."

"I didn't want to write about anyone who would think this song was about them." --Lauren Graham, on why she chose not to write a memoir or base any of her characters off of real people

"It's like a happy, less naked 'Girls.' Less 'Smash' and more 'My So Called Life.' " --Lauren Graham on the vibe of her book, SOMEDAY, SOMEDAY, MAYBE

Lauren described acting as having high/low self-esteem. "You go in just knowing you're right for something, but still feeling like you're not worthy of it."

One of the best mother/daughter relationships on television.

What was Lauren's writing schedule like? She said she had to just get into the habit of writing 1,000 words each session. She believes you just have to write, get something down on paper, and then you'll have something to work with.

Lauren described writing as "a process of implied rejection."

She shared that there is a similar flow of concentration between acting and writing. "And then sometimes I was in a fight with the book!"

"You start with yourself and then make something up." --Lauren Graham on the way she develops characters in her acting roles as well as in her book

Lauren's a Glam-Slam!

"The best you can hope for is a great collaborator." --Lauren Graham on working with her editor

"Writing a memoir isn't particularly interesting to me. I'm not like Ellen [DeGeneres], where I can write, 'Water bottles--they're crazy!' and it's funny." --Lauren Graham on choosing to write fiction

Lauren talked a little about how she felt (and sometimes still feels in Hollywood), saying she's been at parties where she's like, "How did I get here?" She also said that most of the time it feels like there's a really awesome party going on somewhere and she just isn't there....

"It's a hustle to be a creative person." --Lauren Graham

5x5,
B.

***So what do you think? Do you love Lauren even more now that you've read this? Are you gonna run out and buy her book? Leave me your thoughts in the comments below!

Review Time: Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?

by Brittany Geragotelis

Review Time: Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling

The Story: Mindy Kaling has lived many lives: the obedient child of immigrant professionals, a timid chubster afraid of her own bike, a Ben Affleck–impersonating Off-Broadway performer and playwright, and, finally, a comedy writer and actress prone to starting fights with her friends and coworkers with the sentence “Can I just say one last thing about this, and then I swear I’ll shut up about it?” 

Perhaps you want to know what Mindy thinks makes a great best friend (someone who will fill your prescription in the middle of the night), or what makes a great guy (one who is aware of all elderly people in any room at any time and acts accordingly), or what is the perfect amount of fame (so famous you can never get convicted of murder in a court of law), or how to maintain a trim figure (you will not find that information in these pages). If so, you’ve come to the right book, mostly!

In Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?, Mindy invites readers on a tour of her life and her unscientific observations on romance, friendship, and Hollywood, with several conveniently placed stopping points for you to run errands and make phone calls. Mindy Kaling really is just a Girl Next Door—not so much literally anywhere in the continental United States, but definitely if you live in India or Sri Lanka.

How cute is Mindy Kaling?

Why It's a Must-Read: I've always been a fan of the show, "The Office." Besides the fact that there's weirdo Dwight, boy-next-door Jim, and hopelessly loveable Michael--there are some wickedly hilarious women in the cast. And heading up these smart and funny gals is Mindy Kaling. Besides playing the self-absorbed and girlie Kelly Kapoor, Mindy is also one of the head writers of the show.

So, this means that literally every word of Mindy's debut novel, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?, is gut-wrenchingly funny. Seriously. Every. Single. Word. From her introduction to the chapter titles, the book had me laughing (and yes, it was out loud) and reading my favorite lines to my boyfriend (who just wanted to sit there in peace and peruse reddit). In this cheery memoir, fans will find out exactly where Mindy came from and what brought her to where she is today: a huge success.

Mindy's funny AND sexy (oh, and don't forget smart!)

What a Character: Like I've mentioned about a billion times, Mindy is freaking hilarious! But not just that, she's also smart and is one of those amazing women who've managed to infiltrate the old boy's club of comedy and turned it inside out. And as a person, she's totally likeable, because she has an intense love for her girlfriends. You're not going to see her screw her BFF over so she can go out and see a guy. So, she's funny, smart AND loyal....everything you want in a new friend. And that's exactly how you're going to feel after reading this book.

Who doesn't like nerdy, embarrassing kid photos of celebs?

A Little Something Extra: Besides the stories in the book, Mindy also regales us with awesomely embarrassing photos of herself as a kid! And as a college student. And an early professional. There's just so much to Mindy that I didn't know before and I'm so glad that I picked up this book. It was well-worth the read!


5x5,
B.

Celebrity Whore

by Brittany Geragotelis

Last night I ran into a celebrity. It wasn't one of those sightings where you spy that star from your fave show on the street while he's walking by in his unassuming outfit, all scruffy, with his eyes hidden behind a darkened pair of sunglasses and drinking an iced green tea from the Bux. Where you Tweet about them as soon as they've gotten far enough away from you that you can pull out your phone descreetly. Hell, maybe you don't care about decorum at all and you whip your phone out right in front of him and snap a quick pic before he can get away. No, this was different.

It was different because I know this person.

Now, we're not besties or anything, but this starlet, let's call her Penelope (and no this isn't even remotely a clue to her real name, so don't even start guessing. You won't get it, I promise), runs in the same circle of friends as me. We don't hang out, but I see her every once in a while, which is way cool--

--at least it would be if I didn't turn into a blithering idiot every time I talked to her.

For most people, this reaction would be understandable. Most people don't regularly find themselves standing face to face with celebrities. But me....this type of reaction is unacceptable. Because the truth is, for 10 years it was my job to do just this.

As an editor at American Cheerleader, I interviewed celebs like Miley Cyrus, Dakota Fanning, Kendall Jenner, Ashley Tisdale, Ashley Greene, Ashley Benson (there were lots of Ashley's), Debby Ryan and even Jamie Foxx. And being the celebrity-obsessed person I am, I was nervous to talk to each and every one of them. But I always pulled it together long enough to make a good impression and get a great interview, before going and freaking out in private.

So, why is it that every time I get around Penelope, I feel like such a loser? Suddenly, I start saying the stupidest things, ask the dumbest questions, get all tongue-tied and revert back to the uncomfortable nerd I was in high school.

It could have something to do with the fact that I'm not actually interviewing Penelope. See, when I was interviewing the other celebs, both of us were there to do a job. It was my job to ask a slew of questions that would allow our readers to feel like they got a chance to have a peek into that person's real life. And of course, it was the star's job to put forth the image they wanted their brand to reflect as well as highlight whatever project they were working on at the time. Neither of us was being ourselves...not really. We were both playing our roles, being on our best behavior. And that's what trips me up about my encounters with Penelope. My role becomes...just me. And just me is someone who geeks out when she meets celebrities. Just me is someone who cares what creative people that I admire think about me. Just me is self-conscious and not always polished and still that nerd in a lot of ways. Just me isn't always calm, cool and collected.

And if I'm really honest with myself, if Penelope wasn't famous, I have to wonder whether I'd really even care what she thought about me. The answer is: probably not.

So, what I realized about last night is that I need to start embracing my real self. And if someone doesn't like who that is, that's fine. Because the truth is....she's pretty cool, too.

5x5,
B.

Review Time: The Truth about Medium

by Brittany Geragotelis

Review Time: The Truth About Medium by Gary E. Schwartz

The Story: Every Monday night millions of Americans tuned into Medium, NBC's hit drama featuring Allison DuBois, an ordinary woman who helps police solve baffling crimes through her ability to communicate with the dead. What most don't know is that this fictional character is based on a true-life medium named Allison DuBois, who is a consultant to the show. For four years, DuBois was the subject of rigorous scientific experiments conducted at the University of Arizona by Harvard-trained psychologist Gary Schwartz. The Truth about Medium chronicles many of those experiments as well as the real-life cases Allison has worked on and reveals hard laboratory evidence that psychic ability and mediumship are real.

The REAL Allison Dubois with Patricia Arquette, who played her in the show, "Medium"

Why It's a Must-Read: It's no surprise to those who know me that I'm a bit obsessed with psychics and matters of the spiritual realm. Sometimes I think my dreams are prophetic and I absolutely believe that there are people out there who have the gift to speak to the dead as well as know what will happen in the future. I think some of us are just more intuitive than others. Allison Dubois appears to be one of those people. I was a huge fan of the show when it was on and have read all of the (real life) Allison Dubois' books. I think the cool thing about Gary's books is that they're all rooted in factual evidence. Now, I'm already open to the possibility that people have these gifts, so I don't need to be convinced. But I know lots of people who are less-inclined to think this way (my boyfriend for instance). So, I really liked this book, because Gary talks about the actual scientific evidence that mediumship exists. The ways that he and his staff conduct these tests and the results that they find are all very interesting and worth reading about.

Author and experimenter, Gary E. Schwartz

What a Character: Now, because this is non-fiction, the characters in the book are real people, but no less fascinating. It's worth mentioning that Gary is first and foremost a scientist. In fact, I would venture to say he's a bit of a skeptic about things like psychic abilities and mediumship...until the facts reveal themselves. I think this actually makes for much more honest experiments. He's simply out for the truth and has dedicated his life to finding it--whatever that may be. 

And of course, the book is full of information on highly accredited psychics/mediums such as Allison Dubois, Laurie Campbell, Janet Mayer, Debbie Martin, John Edward, Suzanne Northrop, Sally Owen and Mary Occhino. Gary touches on some more than others, but it's all really intriguing to see who has scientifically been proven to be able to do the things they claim to be able to do.

Famous medium Allison Dubois

A Little Something Extra: This isn't really about the book, but if you're looking for a little bit of drama to go along with this fantastic read, be sure to check out this insanely wicked episode of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" where Camille Grammar invites Allison Dubois to a dinner party she's having. Let's just say, spirits were running a bit high through the dinner and everyone got more than they bargained for!

5x5,
B.

Awwwww! The Newfoundland

by Brittany Geragotelis

So, at our apartment, Fridays mean Mexican Food and movie night! My BFF, Tammy comes over and we all chow down on nachos and tacos and watch a movie. Then, Matt usually sneaks off to play video games and Tammy and I stay up watching various shows on Netflix.

Last Friday's Netflix option was the comedy, "Samantha Who?" If you didn't see it when it was on, it's a really funny show starring Christina Applegate ("Up All Night") and Melissa McCarthy (from "Gilmore Girls" and "Bridesmaids"), where Christina's character has amnesia after being hit by a car and slowly remembers all the awful things she did in her former life.

Anyways, Melissa's character has these dogs. These incredibly large, ginormous, bear-like dogs. Now, Matt and I have been wanting a dog for a while now and we're always looking at pups on Reddit. So, I decided to look this breed up.

And they're insane! They're called Newfoundland's and they're huge and adorable! I don't know if I could handle a dog this size, but they are so, so cute! So, because it was just too much adorableness for one person, I decided to share some pics with you! Let me know what you think. Would you be willing to take on a dog this size or does size matter?

5x5,
B.

Review Time....Hiding From Reality by Taylor Armstrong

by Brittany Geragotelis

Review Time: Hiding From Reality by Taylor Armstrong

The Story: NOT EVERY FAIRY TALE HAS A HAPPY ENDING. . . . Reality hit Taylor Armstrong hard one tragic evening last August when she found the body of her estranged husband, Russell, hanging in his California home. Fans across the country were shocked at the horrific news of his death and even more shocked to discover that behind the glittering “reality” of Taylor’s life on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills lurked a painful story of emotional and physical abuse that she had been terrified to tell.

With searing honesty, Taylor candidly examines her difficult journey from the abusive home in which she was born to the low self-esteem that kept her constantly on the run from herself, to the tumultuous marriage that ended in suicide, and ultimately to her realization that only by sharing her moving story could she help other women.

Taylor and her husband Russell Armstrong. In her book, Taylor discusses the events that led up to Russell's shocking suicide.

Why It's a Must-Read: The first "Real Housewives" that I fell in love with was the cast from Beverly Hills. I found them to be the most entertaining and interesting, and was happy that there weren't any physical fights (I'm looking at you Jersey cast). I was always fascinated with Taylor Armstrong, the beautiful yet tiny woman who was married with a young daughter. As I watched the seasons progress, it became increasingly clear that she was in an abusive relationship. And then when the news broke that her husband, Russell, had committed suicide....well, my desire to read Taylor's book to hear the real story grew. 

What you get through reading Taylor's book is what seems like an honest look at what it's like to be in an abusive relationship. You could feel her heartache and hopelessness throughout, and even begin to understand what she was going through. It didn't feel like Taylor had written the book with the intentions of making her ex out to be a villain. In fact, considering everything she went through, one wouldn't blame her if she had been a little more one-sided in her recollections. But that's not what Hiding From Reality is about. Domestic abuse is a problem and I've known a few people who have been in similar dangerous situations themselves, and I found the book to be helpful in trying to begin to understand what it's like to be stuck in a situation like this. It's well-written, honest and harrowing.

What a Character: Like I said before...I was always a fan of Taylor. And when we began to discover the abuse she was dealing with, I felt for her. The book actually gave a much more detailed look at her life growing up--what led her to look for men who were either unavailable or not right for her, why she gravitated toward unhealthy relationships and how she made it to Beverly Hills and onto the show. Though it's difficult to understand why a person would stay with a man who beats her and belittles her, the book really does try to explain the complicated feelings that are involved in an abusive relationship. In the end, the reader is left with hope. Hope that those who are in these kinds of situations may get out of them (alive) and that they can (hopefully) stop the cycle of abuse.

A Little Something Extra: Amidst the seriousness of her memoir, I was psyched to hear that Taylor was a cheerleader growing up and that she was even a staff instructor for the organization NCA (National Cheerleaders Association), which was coincidentally, the same cheer group that I taught for for five years! (Fun Fact: Another "Desperate Housewife" that called herself a NCA staff instructor? Eva Longoria!) And if I know cheerleaders, I know that they're strong and they can persevere through any tough times. I have high hopes that Taylor will end up on top.

Follow her on Twitter @TaylorArmstrong and then go out and buy her book!

5x5,
B.

You're Fired!

by Brittany Geragotelis

My plane had just landed in Mexico on a Friday in January when I turned on my phone to find that I had several messages left for me. My heart sunk when I listened to my co-workers tell me that everyone at my job had been fired. After 10 years of working for the magazine (across three different companies) I was losing my job. And I wasn't even there when they did it.

Even though I knew I had some exciting stuff coming up with my book writing career (I ended up getting a 3-book deal with Simon & Schuster the very next week. Talk about great timing!), the whole thing came as a major shock to my system. I spent my weekend going through various emotions: fear, anger, frustration, annoyance, grief, etc.

Being fired is jarring. Even if it was a job you had lost interest in or hated, having the choice to leave taken away from you can be really difficult to deal with. And if you're let go in a way that isn't reflective of all the long years and hard work you've put in for that particular company, it can be a serious slap in the face. But beyond the fact that your ego can be hurt by being let go, the fear of the unknown is so much worse.

One of my friends was just fired yesterday from a job she'd held for several years. She was promoted in the last year and had contributed largely to the company...she's still unclear about the reasoning behind the decision, but is dealing with the emotional side of losing her job. What I've been trying to press upon her is that this could be the beginning of a much brighter future.

In fact, many uber successful people were fired from jobs....only to go on to take the world by storm. So, just to remind her and anyone else who might be going through a similar situation, here's a quick list of some of those people who've had doors closed only to have others open for them.

GIULIANA RANCIC

That was then: Three years after graduating from school, Giuliana landed a job at E!. While being tested for a reporting position, she had the opportunity to interview "That 70's Show" star Wilmer Valderrama at the premiere of the movie "Summer Catch." In the film, he plays a guy who hooks up with his friends' mom, so Giuliana took a play from the movie by asking him if he'd ever done something similar in his own life. The two bantered playfully after that and Giuliana was happy with the quirky interview. Within minutes after the interview aired, she was fired.
This is now: Two months after being canned for the risque interview, E! swallowed their pride and rehired Giuliana as a correspondent, because of all the positive feedback the segment had received. Today, Giuliana is the co-host of "E! News" along with Ryan Seacrest, one of the hosts of "Fashion Police" with Kelly Osbourne, Joan Rivers and George Kotsiopoulos and stars in her own reality show with her husband Bill Rancic, called "Giuliana & Bill."

MADONNA

That was then: Once upon a Times Square, the Material Girl used to work at a Dunkin' Donuts in NYC. Anyone who's worked with Madonna knows that she's an incredibly hard worker....but has a bit of a diva-ish demeanor. That's why it's not surprising that Madge was fired after squirting customers with donut jelly.
This is now: After becoming a singer, songwriter, performer, actress and entrepreneur, Madonna now has plenty of people to get her coffee. She's sold over 300 million records worldwide and is so famous she only needs one name.

ELLEN DEGENERES

That was then: One of our favorite funny girl's first big breaks on television, came when she was given her own sitcom, "Ellen." The show paralleled Ellen's comedian lifestyle and became a quick hit. In 1997 though, at the height of its popularity, Ellen came out as gay both on the show and in her personal life. In fact, the episode where she admitted this to her therapist, was one of the highest-rated episodes ever. Unfortunately, ratings fell quickly after that (many think because of people's ignorance and close-mindedness over her being gay), and the show was cancelled.

This is now: In 2003, Ellen made her big TV comeback with her celebrated daytime talk show, "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" which has received critical praise. Since then, she's hosted the "Academy Awards" and "The Primetime Emmy's", and has been awarded 13 Emmy's herself. She was also the voice of Dory in "Finding Nemo" and was a judge on "American Idol" for a season.

JERRY WEINTRAUB

That was then: In the middle of his burgeoning music career, Jerry was fired by legendary artist John Denver for representation. This was particularly difficult for Jerry, since he'd practically created John Denver's career as we knew it and he'd become a great friend to him.

This is now: Being fired by John Denver didn't keep Jerry down for too long. In fact, he worked with so much talent in his life: Bob Dylan, Led Zeppelin, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Moody Blues, etc. Not to mention that he got into film producing, churning out hits like "The Karate Kid" and "Oceans Eleven."

OPRAH WINFREY

That was then: A few months before Oprah graduated from college, she was offered a full-time job as a reporter. In her new job, Oprah was very expressive in her emotions, crying while listening to a sad story and giving her opinions on the job. At the young age of 22, she was fired.

This is now: Shortly after that, Oprah was set up with a job as a co-host of a morning talk show called "People Are Talking." This was the beginning of the career she carved out for herself with the eventual creation of the long-running and successful "The Oprah Winfrey Show." Since being fired from her first reporting job, she's become a talk show host, actress, producer, publisher and philanthropist.

5x5,
B.

Kris Jenner....And All Things Kardashian

by Brittany Geragotelis

Review Time: Kris Jenner...And All Things Kardashian by Kris Jenner

The Story:

You think you know her . . . 

     On Keeping Up with the Kardashians, we watch Kris Jenner do it all. She runs a household, manages her children’s successful careers, produces four television shows featuring her larger-than-life family, and still finds time to tweet to her fans. How does she manage to maintain her composure, enviable elegance, and unflappable sense of humor? After raising six children of her own, in addition to being a stepmother to four and a grandmother, multitasking is Kris’s way of life. But she would have never made it without her unwavering belief in God. In this thoughtful, candid, and no-nonsense memoir, Kris Jenner is an open book about the good times and the rough patches.       
     If you think your life is chaotic, try keeping up with Kris Jenner.
Why It's a Must-Read: I'm Kardashian-obsessed, so I knew I had to pick up Kris' book when it came out--and I wasn't disappointed. The interesting thing about the book is that it's much less about "The Kardashians" and more about Kris' life leading up to the famous family we now know. In the book, we get an honest look at Kris as she grew up, her marriage to Robert Kardashian, her early years with Kourtney, Kim, Khloe and Rob, the affair that eventually broke up her marriage and her relationship with OJ and Nicole Brown Simpson. That was one of the most intriguing parts of the book: learning about the friendship she and Robert (and later, she and Bruce) had with OJ and then what happened when Nicole was murdered. The book also answers the question so many haters have about her family--what are they famous for, anyway?
What a Character: After reading the book, you really begin to feel like you know Kris. And for someone who's created this phenomenal brand...well, I think we could all learn a lot from Kris Jenner.

A Little Something Extra: I've had the pleasure of meeting Kris on two separate occasions. First, when we went to the Jenner house to unveil Kendall's cover for American Cheerleader magazine, and another when the Kardashians went to cheer on Kendall and Kylie at their first cheerleading camp. I have to say....I was SO nervous to meet Kris the first time. I had nightmares for weeks that she was going to see Kendall's cover and hate it. She seems like such a momma bear and you can just tell she doesn't take crap from anyone (You'll see this in her book too. She's fiercely protective of her family). 
     But I can honestly say, Kris Jenner was so nice and sweet! She welcomed us into her home, was so gracious, kind and personable, and incredibly supportive of her kids! And at the same time, you can just tell she knows what she's doing. She runs the household like she runs her business. We had E! with us when we visited the house, and she knew exactly how to interact with the reporters and handled everything like a seasoned pro. It's hard not to admire what she's created, and I for one, could learn a lot by her business savvy and can-do attitude.

Follow her on Twitter @KrisJenner and then go out and buy her book!

5x5,
B.

The K Girls with Bruce!

Things I learned from Jerry Weintraub

by Brittany Geragotelis

I recently picked up a book that I had bought my boyfriend as a present several months ago. It was called When I Stop Talking, You'll Know I'm Dead and it told the stories of producing and managing powerhouse Jerry Weintraub. I originally bought it for my beau because it was about a producer and Matt has produced a few things in the past and has a tremendous love for film. Matt though, isn't really a book person, and still hasn't read it, and even though I have a to-read pile of about three dozen books, I decided to pick this one up.

Besides being a book lover, I'm also inspired by movies (Bring It On, Stick It) and TV shows (Hello, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"). I think it's just one more way to tell a story and that's attractive to me. And of course, as we wait to see whether one of the major movie studios will pick up Life's a Witch, my interest in learning more about the film industry has been peaked. Lastly, I'm really trying to learn as much as I can about branding and marketing as I focus on building an audience for my book release later this year. So, I thought that When I Stop Talking, You'll Know I'm Dead would be helpful in all these respects.

I was right.

Before I read the book, I didn't know all that much about Jerry Weintraub. I knew he produced a lot of movies. That was it. I didn't even realize which movies he'd done (FYI: he produced all the Oceans movies and The Karate Kid franchise), I just recognized the name and knew he was kind of a big deal. What I ended up learning about Mr. Weintraub and from him, was so much more though. The tagline for his book is: Useful stories from a persuasive man. And this is exactly what this book was. Through reading about his life, one can't help but learn a lot about business. And even though I'm not a producer or musical artist, there was so much advice that translated to my life.

Not to suggest that you shouldn't read the book for yourself (Because you really should. I don't care who you are, or what you do, it's worth the read), but I thought I'd give you The Top 6 Things I Learned From Jerry Weintraub.

1. "Work for the joy of the work." In the book, Jerry says that his father taught him this particular lesson. It started as a way to buy a particularly awesome red jacket (you'll have to read the book for more details on this), but passion quickly began to drive his professional endeavors. At one point he took his career in a completely different direction, stepping away from a business that was immensely lucrative and successful, simply because he no longer enjoyed the daily work it entailed. Not that he wasn't a hard worker--he was ALWAYS working--but he wasn't enjoying what he was doing anymore. So, he closed up shop and focused on something that made him happy. Surprise, surprise, he became rich and successful off of his next endeavor, too. And not surprising: he was happier for it.

2. "Do not get attached to the world as it is, because it's always changing." Although most people nowadays recognize Jerry as a movie producer, he started out in the music industry, booking acts for tours. One of the first significant things he did was see that the old model of how musical acts traveled and played at venues, was old. Smartly, he came up with a way to cut out the middle man and made a lot of people a lot of money. This angered the former gatekeepers, but it's his ability to change with the times that's served him so well over the years. And he not only changed, but led that change.

3. "Be willing to be lucky." Jerry was working in the mailroom at William Morris when he overheard a few young executives talking about an assistant job that was opening up at MCA. He took the information, contacted the man he'd heard was hiring, got himself an interview and landed the gig. He told his boss he could do a variety of skills, even though he couldn't, and managed to BS his way through it. When his boss eventually found out he couldn't do assistant work, he'd already proved his work ethic and drive so much that they bumped him up to an agent position and hired another assistant. As you read his life story, you see that this was often the case with Jerry. He was given a lot of amazing opportunities in his life--luck you might call it--the difference is that he took those lucky instances and used them to change his life.

4. "Interesting is valuable." While at MCA, Jerry tied up the phones one night, causing the president of the company to be unable to use the line. The president called him the next day and confronted him about the personal call (Jerry had been fighting with his girlfriend) and instead of making up an excuse, he told him the truth. It was because of the fact that Jerry zigged when others would have zagged that intrigued the president enough to meet him in person, which eventually led to a close personal and professional relationship. He learned that sometimes by doing the unexpected, the unexpected happens as a result.

5. "Potential clients will judge the health of the company based on your appearance." Though he couldn't afford it at the time, Jerry bought a Rolls-Royce and hired a driver because he figured that if he looked successful people would think he was successful. This fake it til you make it attitude is something Jerry used often. He made people believe that he could do anything--and then he delivered.

6. "Persist, push, hang on, keep going, never give up." So much of Jerry's success came after he was told "no." What separates him and others with big dreams is that he didn't take no for an answer. He was always moving forward and eventually turned every "no" into a "yes." It just goes to show you that rejection is often just the beginning. Imagine what Jerry's life would've been like if he'd given up every time he heard "no." Now imagine your life as a bunch of "no's" just waiting to be "yes's."

This is only six of the amazing lessons you can learn by reading Jerry's book...and trust me there are dozens and dozens more. Seriously, pick up your copy today. And if great advice isn't your thing, there's a lot of scoop on celebrities in there too (Hello Brad and George!).

5x5,
B.