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!

Help Someone's Dreams Come True

by Brittany Geragotelis

I'm a huge believer in people going after their dreams--and the bigger the dream the better! I also really love the idea that I have the power to choose who might become the next big thing! There's something really empowering in that....and I know first-hand how important having people believe in you can be to making your dreams come true. As many of you know, I got my start on Wattpad, where fans championed me into reaching 18 million reads of my book, Life's a Witch online. It was because people gave me their support that I ended up getting my book deal with Simon & Schuster.

And since my first published book came out Jan 29th, I've been asking my fans to continue to support me by buying my book. As much as everyone LOVES free stuff (music, movies, books, etc.), the bottom line is: it takes major time and money to create these things that you love to watch, listen to and read.

So I think that one of the coolest things a person can do is use their influence by getting involved in things they believe in. For some of us, that starts by believing in a person. Stephanie Lynn is a friend of mine who is both an awesome actress and a phenomenal singer. I met her when my fiancé was promoting his feature-length indie film, The Graduates, about five years ago. Stephanie played the "hot girl" in his movie (yes, she's hot, but don't hate on her) and when I first met her, I admit, I thought she'd be sort of mean or snooty. But she is nothing like that. She turned out to be as nice as she is pretty, and majorly talented....even outside of acting. I remember one of the nights we were promoting the movie in Ocean City, MD, and we were sitting around and Steph was singing a few songs she had been working on. And guys....she was SOOOO good!

Fast-forward five years and Stephanie Lynn is now working toward making her own dreams as a singer come true. I totally admire her dedication and love for music and would do anything to help her reach those goals. Including helping to fund her first album. Stephanie Lynn just launched her Kickstarter campaign and I've already donated $100 to her future career as a singer! I know you don't know her like I do, but take a listen to her music and decide for yourself if you'd like to hear more from her. You can donate any amount (and trust me, every little bit helps), and if you don't have the cash, you still have your voice. So, if you can't give, please post about this on your social media. You could help make someone's dream come true. And I think that's pretty awesome!

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....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.

How do you feel about Friends with Benefits?

by Brittany Geragotelis

I went to the movies this weekend, to take a little girl time out to see a chick-flick called Friends With Benefits with my BFF Tammy. Starring smooth-dancer and pop crooner Justin Timberlake and the sassy, sexy Mila Kunis, FWB was super fun and super funny. Perfect for a Sunday afternoon with the girls.






The premise isn't exactly groundbreaking: Girl (Mila Kunis) is dumped by boy (Andy Sandberg) for being too clingy. Guy (JT) is dumped by girl (Emma Stone) for not being clingy enough. Girl and Guy meet, become friends, decide that instead of dating they're just going to sleep with each other—no strings attached. And neither of them thinks they'll get hurt in the end.



Uh, huh. Yeah.



Besides the obvious plot points, I really liked the movie. I enjoyed the playful and sarcastic banter between Mila and JT's characters. I also loved that by taking out the romance at the beginning of their relationship, they were much more capable of being honest with each other. Neither is trying to impress the other, so they can say and act exactly how they want, being more themselves than with anyone else.

Now, I was already a fan of Justin Timberlake (what can I say, I grew up listening to N*Sync and loved him in the Disney movie Model Behavior back in 2000) and Mila Kunis has officially become one of my top girl crushes (ever since I saw her in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, I've thought she was so freaking cool), but the movie really was worth paying the $12.50 for admission. There are a bunch of throw-backs to 90s music and some pretty fun dancing scenes. Oh, and did I mention that JT and Mila are naked almost the entire movie (I don't think anyone in the theater was complaining)?

So, yes, a bit unoriginal, but better than the other similar movies that are out there. So, grab your girls and go see it. You won't be sorry!

5x5,
B.

"Crushing" on actress Sasha Jackson!

by Brittany Geragotelis

I recently did an interview with Blue Crush 2 star—and all-around cool chick—Sasha Jackson for American Cheerleader, all about filming her new surf film (which is on DVD now!). Besides being gorgeous, hilarious and wicked smart, this Jack of all Trades is an amazing actress. So get out your sunscreen and prepare to learn everything you ever wanted to know about this blond beach beauty!

photo credit: NBCUniversal/Blue Crush 2

AC: How does it feel to have your new movie Blue Crush 2 coming out on Tuesday?

Sasha Jackson: I don’t really know how to put into words how I feel. I’m proud and excited to see how people will react to Blue Crush 2. I hope they enjoy watching it as much as I enjoyed making it. Basically, it feels rad!

AC: Doesn’t it take a long time to get through the whole process of a movie?

Sasha: It depends on the genre, script, location, etc. Pre-production took roughly three months, but director Mike Elliott and producer Greg Holstein were working on it a year prior to that. We spent three months in South Africa shooting the movie, then post-production took about eight months.

AC: We all saw the original and loved it—so what can fans expect from this one?

Sasha: The only commonalities between the two films is the name (obviously), killer surf scenes and female empowerment. Aside from that, the story is totally different, it doesn’t pick up from the original plot as a lot of sequels do. It’s a brand new cast and location; there’s more intense surfing by some of the top surfers in the world, who are also part of the cast—not just surf doubles.

Blue Crush 2 showcases South Africa at its finest. The audience gets to see parts of South Africa that you’d never be able to see on vacation or on TV. We have everything in this movie: the real Roxy team and competitions, sacred surf spots, exotic animals, friendship and the incredible bond between the most unlikely family.

AC: Did you do your own surfing in the movie?

Sasha: Both Elizabeth [Mathis] and I had three weeks to learn how to surf right at the start of the shoot, but we were mainly taught how to look like we’d been surfing our whole lives. Surfing is made to look so easy, but it was extremely challenging! However, we loved every second. We weren’t allowed to surf after those first three weeks until the very end of the shoot due to insurance purposes, though, which was very tough because we just wanted to catch a wave!

The water week we did at the end of the shoot was awesome and we were surfers by the end of it. We were catching waves and it was a blast. In the movie, anytime you see us paddling and standing on the boards, it’s really us; the rest is mainly our doubles due to the waves being enormous and the conditions being dangerous. There were also moves in there that take years and years to learn, so we could never have done them justice.

AC: What was the hardest thing about surfing?

Sasha: Accepting that you have absolutely no control over the ocean. If a huge set comes and you get held under (unable to see which way is up and being tossed and turned around like a rag doll) there’s nothing you can do about it.

When filming dialogue scenes we’d have to deal with the rip tide, meaning we’d shoot three or four lines of dialogue then have to paddle so hard to get back to the same point so the background was the same. Continuity is very difficult to maintain when filming on the ocean. The ocean definitely controlled our shooting schedule. Days completely changed due to bad weather conditions.

AC: What was it like filming in such a beautiful location?

Sasha: Filming in South Africa was awe-inspiring and incredible beyond words. I feel so blessed to have experienced such a wonderful country. We shot in the winter so it was bitterly cold, which luckily doesn’t come across in the movie. The crew would be in full capestorm wear—gloves, balaclavas, hats, etc.—and we’d be in bikinis, trying to stop our teeth from chattering. But we saw so many incredible things (dolphins would swim around us) and we’d sit and eat lunch while watching the whales breaching. I will never forget it. South Africa is embedded in my heart forever.

photo credit: NBCUniversal/Blue Crush 2

AC: Now of course there’s a love story in there…what was it like working with your on-screen love interests?

Sasha: Ben [Milliken] and Chris [Fisher] were both great guys, and we all became good friends, so there was no awkwardness at all. I was so lucky to get to work with such an incredible cast.

AC: Speaking of love interests, who’s your celebrity crush right now? Maybe we can hook you up!

Sasha: I don’t really have any celebrity crushes to be honest—though I do think Eric Dane and George Clooney are gorgeous.

AC: This looks like one of those girl power movies. What did you learn about yourself while shooting this film?

Sasha: Three months away from my home, friends and family was a big challenge for me. I was in a lot of scenes so I didn’t have as much time to stop and stay in contact with everyone back home or chill with the rest of the cast. It was lonely at times.

Due to the weather, quite a few of us caught bronchitis, lung infections and hypothermia (twice). I fractured my scaphoid bone in my hand and had a tiny hairline fracture on my spine—it was intense. Shooting this film taught me that if I could keep going all day, every day for three months in those conditions, then I can pretty much do anything. The main thing I learned was that sometimes it takes more strength to ask for help and admit that you don’t know what you’re doing, than to deal with it alone.

AC: You had a sick body in the movie…any pointers for getting into swimsuit shape?

Sasha: Swimming is one the best forms of exercise, and yoga was very useful, too. But if you want to get a great body, try surfing!

AC: After being on the beach in paradise, was it hard to come back to the States?

Sasha: Had I been filming for a month it would’ve been so hard to come back. But I was so homesick by the end of the shoot that I was happy to be going home! Plus, I wanted to be in sunny California again.

It was tough to come back and adjust to my normal life again, as South Africa became my everything! It was my home, and my job, and leaving the cast and crew who’d basically become my family was so difficult. I still talk to them every week and I miss them all very much.

photo credit: NBCUniversal/Blue Crush 2

AC: When you get a bunch of girls together in one place, they don’t always get along. Did you guys all make friends or cat-fight through the whole shoot?

Sasha: There was no competition whatsoever; it was actually the polar opposite. Having gone through all the tough stuff together, we were incredibly close and became each other’s biggest support systems.

AC: You’re actually from London, but you have a totally believable American accent in the movie. Do you ever trick people into believing you’re American just for fun?

Sasha: I can easily switch in and out of my accent without thinking about it. People actually think I’m putting on a British accent, not the American one. It’s fun to go into auditions American then say goodbye in my real voice and watch the shock on their faces.

AC: What is it about the U.S. that you like better than your hometown?

Sasha: The weather and the beaches!

AC: At the shoot, you told us you were so over the Prince William/Kate Middleton hooplah. Tell the truth…did you wake up in the middle of the night to watch the ceremony?

Sasha: No I didn’t, but I did TiVo it. When I saw that it was five hours long, I fast-forwarded through everything aside from the arrival, the vows and when they came onto the balcony.

AC: You mentioned that you like to write. Is that something you’d like to pursue in the future?

Sasha: I’d love to. I’ve written two movies and one TV series so far. It’s a great outlet for me to stimulate my mind and escape from everyday life now and then.

AC: What’s one thing you’ve always wanted to do, but have been too afraid to try?

Sasha: Karaoke.

AC: What other projects do you have coming up?

Sasha: I’m shooting a movie this year called Tarantula, starring Billy Zane, Danny Trejo and Rodger Halston.

photo credit: NBCUniversal/Blue Crush 2

AC: Why should people buy Blue Crush 2?

Sasha: Because the surfing is insane, and you get to see South Africa, cute boys and beautiful scenery. To be honest, it’s just a really feel-good movie. I’ve watched people’s reactions and they all leave with huge grins on their faces. And there hasn’t been a Blue Crush film for 10 years! Isn’t that a reason in itself?

**Be sure to buy your copy of Blue Crush 2 today and stay tuned for the August issue of American Cheerleader to see the cast modeling the best in back-to-school fashion!

A $2 million dollar engagement ring?

by Brittany Geragotelis

By now the whole world's probably heard that Kim Kardashian is about to be made into an honest woman. Yes, after a whopping 6 months of dating (five months longer than the dating time-frame of her younger sister Khloe and Lamar), NBA player Kris Humphries popped the question to the Kardashian Mogul last week on May 18th. Yes, you read that right...they got engaged on MY BIRTHDAY! That makes the news extra special!

photo credit: Daily News

The other thing that's special about the engagement? Uh, the 20.5 carats that's now sitting on her finger and the reported $2 mill that Kris paid to get her to say "yes!" After that, I got curious about what other celeb's rings were like. Here's a rundown of some of the hottest celebs and the rocks that made them want to don a wedding dress.


Khloe Kardashian (& Lamar Odom); Cost: $850,000; Carats: 9

photo credit: US Magazine

Ashlee Simpson (& Pete Wentz); Cost: $150,000; Carats: 4

photo credit: CelebrityBrideGuide.com

Reese Witherspoon (& Jim Tosh); Cost: $250,000; Carats: 4

photo credit: fashionallure.com

Paris Hilton (& Paris Kasidokostas Latsis); Cost: $4,700,000; Carats: 24

photo credit: iLively.com

Nicole Richie (& Joel Madden); Cost: $75,000; Carats: 6

photo credit: BuzzNet

Katie Holmes (& Tom Cruise); Cost: $100,000; Carats: 6

photo credit: Herald Sun

Katherine Heigl (& Josh Kelley); Cost: $65,000; Carats: 4

photo credit: CBS News

Kristen Bell (& Dax Shepard); Cost: $100,000; Carats: 3

photo credit: SheKnows

Heidi Klum (& Seal); Cost: $150,000; Carats: 10

photo credit: VH1

Gisele Bundchen (& Tom Brady); Cost: $145,000; Carats: 5

photo credit: PopSugar

Christina Aguilera (& Jordan Bratman); Cost: $78,500; Carats: 5

photo credit: Yahoo

Carrie Underwood (& Mike Fisher); Cost: $150,000; Carats: 5

photo credit: People.com

Beyonce (& Jay-Z); Cost: $5,000,000; Carats: 18

photo credit: HollyScoop.com

Jennifer Anniston (& Brad Pitt); Cost: $500,000

photo credit: PopSugar

So, which ring is your fave? Leave your answer in the comments below!


5x5,
B.

I've been a bad, bad blogger....

by Brittany Geragotelis

First off, I know I have some serious apologizing to do. My life has gotten crazy insane lately: I've been hot in the middle of writing Life's a Witch, which is coming along nicely, but since I'm publishing it as I go, there's a lot of pressure for me to get things right the first time. I've been having to edit it as I go along, which is new for me, because I usually wait until the end to do this. So, it's taking a lot more of my attention away than usual.

I've also been away the past few weeks on business trips. First, to beautiful Hell-A to do a photo shoot with the beautiful and sassy Francia Raisa from "The Secret Life of the American Teenager." I'd never seen the show before, but when I found out we'd be shooting her for the cover, I gave myself a crash-course in the very popular ABC Family show. At first, I thought it was silly....basically "7th Heaven" only preggers. But the more I watched, the more obsessed I got. So now, I am officially a fan, and meeting Francia (who plays Adrian on the show) was a real treat. She was very sweet, a little sassy (in a good way), and totally up to play dress up. And whereas I've run into some trouble in the past when asking actresses about their personal/love lives (some have basically shut down the interview!), Francia wasn't afraid to dish on this side of herself. You'll have to wait for the feature to read exactly what she said, but it was a great time.

Next, we headed over to Universal Studios for a shoot for our back-to-school fashion with the cast of Blue Crush 2. I'll let you in on a little secret....usually when you go to celebrity shoots, the stars are perfectly nice and professional. We have a great time, but in the end we all know that they're doing a job and we never really connect in a real, meaningful way. Don't get me wrong, with some of the people we've shot, I really would have loved to become friends with them outside the realm of the entertainment world...but it doesn't happen often. This shoot was totally different.

So, the star of the movie is Sasha Jackson, a beautiful blond from the UK. I met her for the first time when she came into the office with my contact at NBC/Universal for the Bring It On movies. Right away, I knew she was different than most actresses. Sasha was HILARIOUS (in an amazingly inappropriate way), she has THE best accent, but can switch to an American accent seamlessly. She's gorgeous, has this teeny-tiny little figure, while not looking like skelatore. In short: the girl is freaking awesome!

But again, I didn't know if this was just her doing her job promoting the film or really just her coming through in the meeting. When we eventually got to the shoot at Universal, I realized that this is just Sasha. She's friendly. She's outgoing. She's real. Sasha will be a total professional when the situation calls for it, but when she gets to know you, she's got a dirty kind of humor and won't censor herself around you. This kind of honesty had us in stitches and to be honest—we all sort of had girl crushes on her. While on set, we goofed around, hung out, talked about dating, our personal lives, dancing around our rooms to loud music and bonded over our mutual love of McDonald's. This time, when we left the shoot (and our new fave starlet) behind, I think we actually had a friend. We're now friends on FB and I have the luxury of getting bits and pieces of her wit and talent on a daily basis. How lucky am I!?!?!

But the awesomeness didn't stop there. Because after we wrapped that shoot, we headed over to Kendall Jenner's house—yes, her ACTUAL house. The one she lives and tapes in! We followed her cheer coach over to their gorgeous house (if only I had the money to get a place like theirs....sigh.), and waited (nervously) in the dining room for Kris, Kylie and Kendall to join us. Our staff were all nervous (I mean, how often do you get to hang out at the Jenner house?) and I was just hoping Kendall and her momager, Kris, would like the cover and her feature. As we waited, we checked out a wall full of black and white family portraits over the years. This was truly amazing; to see how the whole fam changed year after year was really cool. We even saw the infamous half-naked pic of Kourtney when she was preggers! Getting a glimpse into their personal lives off-camera was unbelievable.

We'd set things up so E! would come by to cover the unveiling and waited for everyone to arrive. When all the introductions had been made, we got straight to the interview with E! and then dropped the cloth that was hiding Kendall's first magazine cover EVER! Her reaction was perfect; you could tell that she genuinely loved it and was so excited to be honored for something she loves to do. And Kris was gushing over it (this was a far cry from the nightmares I'd been having for weeks that included Kris finding something she hated about it and threatening to sue me. In actuality, Kris was SO nice and complimentary of the magazine and cheerleading.). You could tell that Kris LOVES her kids and is their number one fan. On another note, you have to respect her for being such a great business-woman. She really took charge during the shoot (but not in a control freak sort of way) and knew what she was doing the whole time. It was very impressive just being around her. Oh, and Kylie was there too....a little bundle of energy and was so excited to talk about how she wanted to join the cheer squad next year. Of course, I offered to shoot her for the magazine when she finally does become a cheerleader. Now if we can only get them to let us shoot at their house.....

To round up this little celebrity update, one of my co-workers went to comic-con last weekend and, knowing that I'm a big Buffy fan, got me autographs of the actresses who play Harmony and Glory. He also got pics of them holding up signs for me! How sweet is that?!?! (And expensive...apparently it costs $35 apiece for the signatures and pics!).

So, again, sorry for being MIA....I'm going to try and be better about this from here on out. I hope all these pics made up for it!

5x5,
B.