love this...

Kenneth Jay Lane necklace: Emilio Pucci dress:

ASOS sandals:

Shay Todd top:

Graham Elliot Second Anniversary Dinner

I was somehow lucky enough to score an invite to the Graham Elliot second anniversary dinner last night. If you don't remember, Graham Elliot is my favest Chicago restaurant. I'm kind of sort of obsessed and take all my visitors there. Apparently Chef Bowles and Co. recognize my super fandom and consider me a regular worthy of an invite to this special event. Mr. EWP and I were SO excited!

The invite said to dress summery, so this is what I came up with to wear [Darn Mr. EWP always taking pictures from a seated position. So unflattering!]

Anthropologie dress (I'm totally in love with the Parisian-esque city print!), Forever 21 bangles and headband, Guess shoes (you can see my runner-up shoes in the back)

There was a cocktail hour with all the booze you could drink. Or, in my case, all the fun and creative non-alcoholic beverages you could drink. Mr. EWP was supposed to get my cute drink in the pic, but apparently didn't get the memo, so here is me and part of a straw.

Mmmmm..... Graham Elliot

The Menu: White tuna, pea bisque (may have been my favorite course), salmon confit, jidori chicken, and strawberry shortcake (my fave GE dessert).

Mr. EWP and I both remarked how the folks at Graham Elliot really brought their A game. While the restaurant is usually scrumptious, last night everything was just elevated and decadently delicious. Even the popcorn was better than normal!

And did I mention this was all on the house? We spent not a dime and ate and drank like kings (and princesses!)

Me and the hubs taking a break from shoving food in our mouths to smile for the camera.

Our new friends. Mindy and I follow each other on Twitter and found out we were both headed to the dinner and got a kick out of meeting each other in real life. Mr. EWP and I had a total blast with her and her boyfriend.

And, once again, I got a tour of the kitchen. The folks at Graham Elliot are seriously way too nice to me.

And then, the big finale: after dining at his restaurant at least 7 times, I finally got to meet Chef Bowles!!! I've forgotten the name of the cute bow-tied guy on the left, but he's the front of the house guy and super cute and nice. I almost asked if he was single so I could try to set him up with someone. I found him that adorable. But I restrained myself. I was already embarassing Mr. EWP enough with asking for a picture with the Chef.

We had the most wonderful time and were so honored to be invited to be a part of the second anniversary celebration. Thank you to everyone at Graham Elliot for a wonderful night!! Wishing you many more anniversaries.

xoxo,

EWP

Plastic Hollywood

Hollywood is no stranger to plastic surgery.  Throughout the years there have been many celebrities who have gone under the knife with both exemplary results and those mishaps that grace the cover of weekly tabloid magazines.  The main difference is aesthetic plastic surgery as a whole is that it has become more socially acceptable than in years past.  This "social acceptance" of sorts has become a double-edged sword for both celebrities and laypeople alike.  More and more physicians are coming across patients who don't know when to stop, who seem to be "addicted" to plastic surgery procedures, or frankly suffer from a medical condition known as "body dysmorphic disorder". 

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a defined as a disorder in which the affected person is excessively concerned or preoccupied by a perceived defect in his or her physical appearance.  This usually leads to disruption in one's ability to function in their daily activities as the affected person considers their perceived defect to be shameful and embarrassing.  This disorder has also been associated in conjunction with anorexia and bulimia, as well as social anxiety, OCD, and ensuing depression. 
BDD is of concern in the field of plastic surgery, and now more magnified with some celebrities getting repeated procedures, camera-ready with distorted features and all.  Patients with BDD may come to appointments requesting multiple procedures that they are not suitable candidates for.  Plastic surgeons should decline to operate further on patients who display signs of BDD and appropriately refer them to a psychiatrist if needed. Enabling only seems to make things worse, as we saw in the case of Michael Jackson.

As seen in the lay press recently, reality star Heidi Montag, 23, underwent 10 surgical procedures in one day.  What would lead an attractive young lady to want to bring upon such drastic physical changes all at one time?  Is there an underlying psychological issue that should have been addressed or is this just a major publicity stunt (or some wacky combination thereof?).  It's a slippery slope in the celebrity-obsessed culture that we live in, and an issue that seems increaslingly prevalent as plastic surgery takes a front row seat in pop culture--on the internet, film and television. 

SATC 2 - An EWP Review

Some things are so big that they make an EWP come out of her leave of absence and blog. The Sex and the City 2 movie is one of those things.

First of all, like all big events, an outfit was necessary.

This is what I wore:

Badgley Mischka dress, belt stolen from other dress, black crinoline for some much needed pouf, David Yurman ring, Anthropologie flower clip (I was wearing a much bigger flower earlier but figured people sitting behind me wouldn't be able to see and switched), and black peeptoe Louboutins.

Not my best creation, but I found myself with only 15 minutes to get ready and threw this together. Not bad for only having 15 minutes.

Well, the movie, folks, was not good. It was all really stupid and didn't make much sense. And, well, it was pretty racist. I was pretty offended most of the movie. In all, the girls' problems all seemed contrived and stupid, as we thought they would be after they wrapped everything up so well in the first movie.
This is so sad to say, but it was definitely not worth seeing :(

For those of you who haven't seen it, that's about all I'll say here. I give you the good, the bad, and the ridiculous below:


SPOILER ALERT. If you have not seen SATC 2 and don't want to know some plot points, do not read ahead. SPOILER ALERT.








Okay, everyone gone who doesn't want to read? Good.

THE GOOD:

1. With the previews saying "we were stuck between wild sex and a baby" I was really afraid the movie would be about Big and Carrie having a baby, which is so not them. Luckily, the writers agreed and stuck true to the Carrie character and no babies for them. Phew!
2. I don't know if this is good, but I'll stick it here: I'm pretty sure I went to high school with one of the guys who sang at Stanford and Anthony's wedding.
3. Speaking of the wedding - Liza was fabulous. Seriously. Wonderful. Her doing "Single Ladies" was maybe the highlight of the entire movie.
4. The fashion. Not as ridiculous (or expensive) as the last movie, but still wonderful nonetheless. The desert landscape led to many flowy, dreamy maxis and jumpsuits. I loved them all.
5. The Indian butler made me cry when he talked about his wife. SO SWEET. And unexpected.

THE BAD:

1. I get motherhood is hard. I really do. But Charlotte complaining and crying about how being a mother is just so tough when she is a housewife with a full-time, live-in nanny was just utterly ridiculous. What's so tough, Char? You don't have to worry about a work-life balance, and you apparently don't even watch your kids. So please let me know what is so darn tough. Nothing? Okay, that's what I thought.
2. The entire braless nanny storyline was unnecessary and didn't do anything for the storyline except make Charlotte wholly unlikeable and crazy.
3. Abu Dhabi? Really? The ladies need to stay in New York. Stop sending them places. I don't like them in LA, don't like them in Mexico, and I don't like them in the UAE.
4. That said, I was excited to see the girls in all the glamour that is the UAE (that place is swank and cosmopolitan, folks), instead the movie portrayed it as backwards and awful. Did the producers think that blatant anti-Muslim xenophobia would make for clever humor? Because it didn't. I was offended the entire time. Especially when the movie had a group of angry men chasing the girls because Samantha was wearing shorts and had condoms in her purse. And then they donned burkas to get away. It was not funny. It was offensive. We don't need backwards Muslim stereotypes in the movies. I guess I should be happy they didn't add in a terrorist subplot.
5. Why are Stanford and Anthony in a marriage where Anthony gets to cheat? Wholly disappointing. Stanford deserves better than that. And while we're fighting for gay marriage to get legalized the last thing we need is this bad gay stereotype of promiscuity.
6. Aside from Big, the men don't have any part at all. Steve and Harry each have one line.
7. The "I am Woman" karaoke scene made me cringe. It was slow, it was boring, and there is no way those characters would have done that and not made fun of themselves for doing it. And, lord, it went on forever. It would. not. end. No more karaoke, please.
8. WHERE WAS GILLES MARINI??? I was convinced he'd be in the sequel.

THE RIDICULOUS:

1. I'm as big a proponent of high heels as anyone can be, but there is a time and a place for everything. And even I would draw the line at wearing 5 inch heels in the desert. The girls looked ridiculous sinking into the sand with every step they took. Couldn't they have been put in a sexy gladiator sandal? It would have made WAY more sense.
2. Carrie cheats on Big (yes, kissing your ex-fiance is cheating), and what does he do? No big fight. No expression of betrayal. They don't even talk about what was going on with them. No, Big gives her a giant black diamond ring. WHAT???? Since when does the cheater get gifts of giant jewelry?
3. More ridiculous? Carrie was driven to cheat by the fact that Big bought them a tv. To watch movies together. I'm sorry, you're in your 40s and 50s, every night can't be out on the town. Watching a movie together at home doesn't sound so bad. And, sure, tv wouldn't be my ideal anniversary gift, but I'm not going to go run off and cheat because of it!

picture-aholic

Random pictures from my week:
This past weekend I went to Austin with the boyfriend to help him find a place to live when he starts law school at UT in the fall. So of course I made him take me to the hey cupcake! trailer.Next to hey cupcake! is an adorable candy/chocolate shop that has some pretty crazy treats

a random Tuesday lunchpretty new panty set

my curls!

happy weekend!

Skin, Sun, and One Sexy Little Slugger

My roommate Lauren is in love with David Wright, the third basemen for the New York Mets, and since I am a die-hard Yankee fan, we went to the Subway Series this past weekend!

Proudly sporting my pin-striped Yankee hair bow I began chatting with a Mets fan who told me that Wright recently had suspicious moles removed and had helped found Mission Skincare, a new product line infused with SPF for athletes!

Wright, 27, told Cosmopolitan magazine, � It really wakes you and makes you realize that you need to do everything you can to protect yourself from the sun,� about his recent procedures.

So as you embark on summer vacations, take mine, and Davy�s advice to lather on the sunscreen and protect yourself and your family from those harmful UV rays!

Three things I love Thursday: May 27, 2010

1. Vintage Playboy covers:They were so playful and oddly innocent. I might hang one in my apartment if it wouldn't give my mom a heart attack.

2. Cream and sugar sets:

I wish I could find this exact set! Here and here are similar sets and here is an adorable elephant creamer.

3. A little late on this but...

Christian Dior's 2011 resort collection:

so very Barbie, so very fun!

Happy 100th Birthday to the Bra!

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

2010 marks the 100th birthday of the bra and the Today Show on NBC has put together a tribute piece about the occasion.

But I have an even better idea! Treat your twins to something they'll love more than Vickys latest secret... a breast augmentation!

Enhance your chest and celebrate your sexy little self and sing Shania Twain's Man I Feel Like a Women in front of the mirror with a hair brush.

Random images I like today

OK! Magazine Teaser About Celebrity Plastic Surgery Secrets Revealed!

So I must confess I started subscribing to OK! Magazine because of Bethenny Frankel�s new column Bethenny Dishes, but I have been pleasantly surprised to find that the magazine has turned out very reliable and satisfying for celebrity plastic surgery gossip.

Coming out tomorrow, Thursday, May 27, 2010 Kendra Wilkinson Baskett (The Girls Next Door), Kim Kardashian (Keeping Up with the Kardashians) and Audrina Patridge (The Hills) will be the magazine cover celebrities enticing their cover story about the plastic surgery secrets the stars don�t want their fans to know about!

Frank Ryan, M.D., Beverly Hills, (known mostly as Heidi Montag�s surgeon) said that celebrities will gush about their procedures and doctors to their fellow A-list friends, however, they �don�t want anyone to know� (ie their fans) that their perfection does not in fact come from exercise, a healthy diet and good genetics. �There�s a myth to maintain, that they�re special, just naturally beautiful,� he says in the article.

Here in the office Alix, Olivia and I are dying in anticipation about what sort of gossip OK! is going to reveal tomorrow, and as usual, we will read, research and report back for you all!

So check back!

Sex and the City 2: Samantha Denies Plastic Surgery but Plugs Botox

I won a contest yesterday from MCPriceless and was lucky enough to be given two tickets to the WORLD PREMIERE of Sex and the City 2: Carrie On!

The movie was filled with fabulous clothes (lots of Halston Heritage and Dior) and a surprise performance by Liza Minnelli doing Single Ladies by Beyonce.

Specifically one interesting plotline was when the girls were at brunch and the character Samantha (played by the stunning Kim Cattrell) said she hadn�t had any plastic surgery procedures done and was �all natural,� but then later in the film admitted to having used Botox�.

Catrell has regularly admitted in the press that she uses Botox�, and after seeing her in person, I also think she has gotten a chemical peel, as her skin is flawless.

I won�t spoil anymore for you! I�m sure you will love it! Sex and the City 2 opens in theaters on Thursday, May 27, 2010, be sure to order your tickets in advance from Fandango as it will surely sell out!

Texture Tuesday: May 25, 2010

Notte by Marchesa dress:Christian Louboutin Parisienne 120 platform pump:BCBGMAXAZRIA dress:W. Kleinberg belt:Big Buddha Sasha clutch:

A Cleanse

I feel like I'm being overstimulated and overrun on the internet - between blogging, facebook, etc, I just feel overly reliant on being online.

So I've decided to do a cleanse. I'm taking a leave of absence from blogging, facebook, twitter, and email. Not sure how long I'll last, but I'm trying for a month, like my very own EWP lent.

Hope you'll be patient during my cleanse.

I'll miss you all!

xoxo,
EWP

[Update: Okay, I thought about it and I actually can't give up doing Meet the Steffens because I need to put my pictures somewhere or else I'll go crazy. I take a lot of pictures. So keep checking MTS to see what I've been up to]

love this...

Diane Von Furstenberg maxi dress:

Vintage Chanel gold bar clutch:House of Harlow 1960 bangles: