The death of Gossip Girl as we know it...

by Brittany Geragotelis

There's a new book coming out later this year that's got me super excited! I mean, so excited that I could just DIE.

The book? Gossip Girl: Psycho Killer

photo credit: Poppy

No, this isn't a joke. Like other reimaginings of classics like, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Jane Slayre and Little Vampire Women, the author who created the famed series Gossip Girl is taking her beloved UES darlings and turning them deadly. I for one am beyond psyched...I mean, would you look at the book cover? Is there anything cooler than that?

In a move that brings her books to a whole new level, Cecily von Ziegesar has taken the book which first introduced us to Blair Waldorf and Serena Van der Woodsen and given it a darker twist. Instead of backstabbing gossip, think actual backstabbing. As in beautiful, popular serial killers!

Now, I happen to have certain connections that have put a copy of the book into my hot little hands and can't wait to check it out. In the meantime, here's a summary of what you can expect:

Welcome to New York City's Upper East Side, where my friends and I live, go to school, play, and sleep—sometimes with each other. It's a luxe life, but someone's got to live it...until they die.

So begins Gossip Girl, Psycho Killer, a reimagining of the groundbreaking first Gossip Girl novel, featuring all-new, hilariously grisly scenes and over-the-top gore, by the #1 New York Times bestselling author Cecily von Ziegasar.

Just as in the original story, Serena van der Woodsen returns from boarding school hoping to make amends with her BFF Blair Waldorf—things just haven't been the same since Nate Archibald came between them. But here's where our tale takes a dark turn: Serena decides that the only way for her to make things right with Blair is to eliminate Nate. If that means killing him, well, c'est la vie. The attempted murder doesn't go unnoticed by Blair, however, who isn't about to let Serena kill whoever she wants—not when there's Cyrus Rose and Chuck Bass and Titi Coates and everyone else who's ever irritated Blair to get rid of first...

American Psycho's Patrick Bateman has met his match in Manhattan's newest, most fabulous trendsetting serial killers, Blair Waldorf and Serena van der Woodsen.

Now this is some gossip, I'd love to hear about! What do you guys think? Pick it up or leave it on the shelf?

5x5,
B.

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.

You don't have to turn off your TV til Fall

by Brittany Geragotelis

If you're like me, summer used to be a bummer time for me. Beyond the fact that I'm an adult now and no longer get three months off to relax and recoup, the warmer time of year meant that all my favorite TV shows would be going on hiatus and I'd be stuck watching re-runs or crap-TV.

Luckily a few years ago, networks got smart and started to realize that we need our TV year round and began to offer new shows during the summer months. This was a TV lover's dream of course, and I've been in heaven ever since.

So, what shows will I be watching over the next few months? Here are a few I'll be tuning in to:

photo credit: ABCFamily/
The NineLives of Chloe King

"The Nine Lives of Chloe King" (ABC Family) premieres June 14th
Chloe soon learns she's part of an ancient race which has been hunted by human assassins for millennia—and that she may be their only hope for ultimate survival.

photo credit: ABCFamily/PLL

"Pretty Little Liars" (ABC Family) premieres June 14th
Four teens are being stalked by their dead best friend, while trying to find her killer.

photo credit: Oxygen/The Glee Project

"The Glee Project" (Oxygen) premieres June 12th
From the makers of the show, executives are doing a contest to find the next "Glee" star.

photo credits: Oxygen/The World
Accordingto Paris

"The World According to Paris" (Oxygen) premieres June 1st
What it's like to be a rich and famous heiress.

photo credit: ABCFamily/
Switched at Birth

"Switched at Birth" (ABC Family) premieres June 6th
Two teenage girls discover they were accidentally switched as newborns in the hospital

photo credit: NBC/Love Bites

"Love Bites" (NBC) premeires June 2nd
An hour-long romantic comedy anthology series featuring three loosely connected modern stories of love, sex, marriage and dating. Each vignette will involve an array of guest stars.



What do you think? Are any of these shows going to make it onto your TiVo this summer? Or is your TV watching on hiatus for the summer?

5x5,
B.

I totally love Selena...

by Brittany Geragotelis

photo credit: CelebBuzz

...Gomez if you were wondering.

I'd never really felt strongly one way or another about the "Wizards of Waverly Place" star. I'd seen her when she first appeared on "Hannah Montana" and then watched as she became friends with former Disney star Demi Lovato. I thought she was a bit on the sassy side for the mouse network and always sort of preferred Miley to her.

But as the years have gone on, I've grown to really like the cutie. And not just because she's dating the Biebster (I can't say I've caught Bieber fever yet). Nope. It's a mixture of the projects she's done, the way that she never ends up in the tabloids for anything worse than dating a superstar, how she handles herself in interviews and most recently, the songs she sings. Namely, her latest single, "Who Says." The song's all about how every person's beautiful and that you should never let anyone else tell you that you aren't. I like a young person who can be a role model and try to bring the right kinds of messages to other kids.

So as of right now, I'm officially a Selena Gomez fan. Even though she's dating Justin (we totally saw them locking lips a certain awards ceremony on Sunday, didn't we?)...well, let's just say I won't hold it against her.

A day of Pampering....

by Brittany Geragotelis

For months, I've been teasingly trying to get my boyfriend to go with me on a spa day. Now, I'm not usually the kind of girl who gets regular mani & pedi's—In fact, I rarely pamper myself in this way....partly because it's a luxury that I can't really afford (and would rather spend on a good meal or a good movie)—but the idea of bringing Matt along with me to have my nails done sounded like a good chance to relax while spending some couple time together.

I always brought up the spa thing in a joking manner...Matt being such a manly guy, I never thought he'd actually go. But for my birthday, he surprised me with gift certificates for a couples spa day which included a mani/pedi, a 10-minute leg/foot massage and a 10-minute back massage. I was so psyched that 1) I was going to get a day of pampering; and 2) Matt was going with me to enjoy it!

Though it took Matt about 10 minutes or so to loosen up (a guy was doing his nails and massage and I think he'd been hoping for a girl to be the one touching his troll feet), eventually he relaxed and started to enjoy his metrosexual experience.

Of course I was in HEAVEN. I rarely get a chance to sit back and let someone massage my stress away and paint my nails, so the day was a treat. Did I mention that the chairs that we were sitting in were AMAZING?!?!?! They were massage chairs and once we turned them on to the "automatic A" setting, these invisible massagers popped out of the inside of the chair like little alien fingers. It felt so good and relaxing, that at some point I closed my eyes and thought I could fall asleep.

I picked a glittery polish for my toes (Matt chose clear) and a shimmery gold shade for my fingers (again, Matt chose clear; I tried to convince him to put on some color and I had the female technician on my side too, but he wasn't having it) and relished in my day of beauty.

By the end of the day, I'd decided that a bit of pampering every once in a while wouldn't be a bad thing. Maybe not once a week like some people can afford, but I think that once a month would be doable. And the best part? Matt thinks so too!

5x5,
B.

Friday afternoon cartoons

by Brittany Geragotelis

It's no secret I'm a Buffy fan...so, when this video was sent to me on my birthday you know I had to watch it. And even though it's a cartoon, I really wish this show would've been made. I woulda been all over it!

And to think this would have been a cartoon I actually would have enjoyed watching with my kids!




Happy Friday, enjoy!

5x5,
B.

Is it weird....

by Brittany Geragotelis

So, every once in a while (Okay, maybe more than once in a while), I'll be sitting around and something will come out of my mouth that will leave Matt saying, "Huh?" And then I'm left thinking, "Is it weird that (fill in the blank here)?"

Here's a list of some things I've been thinking about lately...I'm leaving it up to you guys to tell me if they're weird or not:

IS IT WEIRD THAT...

photo credit: Just Jared

...whenever I put on sunglasses, I actually think people might mistake me for a celebrity? Sort of like Cinderella and her glass slippers. I even find myself thinking about what it would be like to end up on a page in the tabloids like, "Celebs are just like us!" walking around Manhattan with my Sbux.

...I think that my life would actually make for a great reality show. Only minus the bar fights and crazy hookups and drama-rama. But sometimes I just sit there and think, "I'm really kind of funny...now this would be quality TV!"

...I really hate attention but still think I'm going to be famous one day. Seriously, by the end of my birthday day my anxiety levels were on high because of all the phone calls, FB messages, e-mails and texts—and I actually think I'd be able to handle any kind of fame? Seriously?

...I love orange juice but really don't like the smell of oranges. I don't know what it is, but the smell of the fruit really leaves me with an "ick" feeling, but I'd drink orange juice every day if I could.

photo credit: ABC/Alias

...Part of me thinks that I'd make a really good cop. Or doctor. Or actress, karate kid, spy, reality show judge, stunt double, chef, publicist, lawyer or teacher. Apparently there isn't anything I think I can't do, there's just not enough time to do it all.

...I kind of think my dreams are prophetic? One time I had a dream about a specific burger they had at McDonald's, but when I went there to get it, they had never heard of it before. A month later the burger showed up as a special menu item. Coincidence? I think the universe was trying to tell me it was time for a new Value Meal #7.

photo credit: Dimension/Scream

...I can't stand violence but I love horror films. If I see a fight I panic, cry and feel sick to my stomach, yet I would choose a slasher film over any other genre every time if given the choice.

What do you guys think? Weird or oddly normal. Your call....

5x5,
B.