“G.G.”: A Toast to 100 Episodes with a Royal Roast

*SPOILER ALERT*

We have watched our precious preppy Upper East-siders transform into budding brides and lavished lads, so it would only make sense for the 100th episode to highlight their growth.

Growth for the characters, however, hasn’t revealed growth for the show, and Gossip Girl gurus have been patiently awaiting a record-making comeback. With Blair’s wedding on deck, “G.G.” had a royal opportunity to redeem itself for its second-rate scheming. Lucky for die-hard fans like myself, this week’s episode played out as if it were 2007, complete with shocking twists and revolting revelations.

For this week’s recap, I thoroughly thought out techniques to summarize all of the emotions that swept over me during an hour of nail biting and edging to the end of your seat. How could I describe the sense of relief as Serena rushed to Chuck to reveal the highly dramatic reason for Blair’s change of heart (the pathetic pact Blair had made with her acquaintance upstairs)? How could I describe the excitement of the royal roast as Gossip Girl’s Blair Blast interrupted the ceremonial bliss? How could I describe the sense of utter contempt as Louis and Blair said “I do” and cut their hideous wedding cake together? How could I describe the shocking pangs of excitement as Louis finally added something meaningful to the plot? How could I explain the sadness I felt as Dan pulled up the getaway car for the royal runaway? And lastly, how could I explain the confusion as Gossip Girl’s identity was revealed so suddenly, without warning?

I realized why not let our favorite socialites do the talking. Here are some of this week’s most memorable quotes!

Gossip Girl: ”Once upon a time, Princess B was a virgin queen and her king was named Archibald. Who would have thought that in just five short years she would turn that headband into a tiara for real?”

Celebrating the present goes hand-in-hand with taking a look back at the past. You can’t be thankful for today if you don’t look at the journey you took to get here, which is why this line was fabulously fresh yet totally in line with Gossip Girl tradition. Witty and memorable, Gossip Girl reminds viewers that Queen B of Constance Billard School is now the soon to be Princess B of Monaco. Her king Archibald is a nice lead into Nate’s storyline for the episode, which was reflecting on his pathetic love life over the past few years. Too bad his new love interest is still in the inner circle of Upper East side drama (the real Charlie Rhodes)—they just can’t seem to get away can they?

 

Chuck Bass: ”I can’t allow you to destroy Blair’s wedding. You think because I love her, I want her all to myself, but I’m not that man anymore. I just want her to be happy, and if marrying Louis will do that for her, that’s what’s going to happen.”

Here’s a toast to “I’m Chuck Bass.” He had a few good years as the guy you love to hate, but I think I love him more as the guy you love to love. After pouring his heart out to B, professing that the one person who loves him is standing right next to him (for the millionth time), we finally get to see the changed Chuck Bass. Yes. I miss the devious, scheming Chuck, but there is something maturely manly about Manhattan’s most not-so-eligible bachelor. His selflessness reveals a true love that makes him that more attractive. Though if there were any time for Chuck to be selfish, this would be the time. GG fans can’t just chuck Chuck, and Blair can’t either.

 

Georgina Sparks: “Bless us, Father. I have a feeling we’re about to sin.”

Making the top of any list in the Upper East Side is a big deal, and for Georgina Sparks, taking the number one slot on Manhattan’s Elite Enemy list is exactly where she wants to be. Little did we know, Georgina’s competition for the number one enemy is none other than herself—Gossip Girl! The episode had to end with a bang, and with a bang it did. The revelation that Georgina is Gossip Girl is a little hard to believe. But that’s another conversation. Georgina utters these sweetly devilish words as she’s dressed in Father Carvallia’s cassock, or better yet the “divine intervention costume.” The elevator doors close, and the suspense lingers. Although Georgina isn’t my favorite character, her return definitely stirs the plot pot up. And with Jesus on her side (apparently, he owes her one) I really had no good guesses for what would happen next. The last thing I expected was Georgina to be typing the latest GG post. My guess? The writers are trying to throw us off, and Georgina is just really good at being really bad (a hacker perhaps). Guess we won’t be saying au revoir to Georgina for a while.

 

Serena: “I know that it scares you, and I know that it’s a risk. But don’t enter into a false life just because you’re afraid to face your real one.”

After the odd opening musical number with Serena starring as Marilyn Monroe and Blair filling in the shoes of Audrey Hepburn, I didn’t know what to think. I’ve analyzed television shows enough to know there was a little bit of foreshadowing, but in what way? Was Serena truly looking out for BFF Blair? After years of stupid decisions and failed relationships, Serena finally learns that you can’t lie to anyone about the way you truly feel. Whether it scares you or not, you have to be true to yourself. The heart-felt scene between the long-time lovebirds reveals a sense of maturity S rarely is known for. She is the friend that every girl needs, the friend that tells it like it is. “But maybe the pact is just an excuse to protect yourself from the messiness and uncertainty of a life with the man you really love.” Of course, Blair’s precious pact is more important than any advice from the people who care about her. She follows through with the over-the-top wedding, which includes hats on the guest list, and in turn, has to learn the hard way. As for the aforementioned foreshadowing, Serena’s musical dream includes a scene where she grabs Dan the one person she “keeps coming back to” but Dan rejects her for Blair. Nice touch GG writers. Once again, Serena puts herself out there and loses in the battlefield of love to none other than her best friend Queen B, er shall I say, Princess B. Oh, the irony.

Louis: “From now on, there is nothing between us but a contract. Our marriage is all for show. And you’re going to put on the best damn show anyone ever has. You’ll smile for cameras; stand by my side and wave like, like you don’t have a care in the world. And when we are alone, we’ll be like strangers to one another. And that will stay this way until I say its over.”

Eek. Seriously, this scene makes me shiver. Every bone in my body tensed up as Louis danced with his pretty princess, but whispered words of a mad man. A powerful mad man. Although I hate everything about Louis, including his terrible acting skills, I must say if this was the episode for him to actually evoke emotions from GG watchers, he succeeded. By far the best twist of the night for me. It was totally out of character for Louis, but very well scripted and perfectly executed. At least Blair had it in her to call her savior for help–too bad it still isn’t Chuck. You lucky, lucky Dair fans.

There is so much to look forward to for next week’s episode. Has Georgina been Gossip Girl all along? If you ask actress Michelle Trachtenberg, she’ll tell you she has no idea.

“I knew the 100th episode would end with a bang, but definitely didn’t expect that!” Michelle told US Weekly. She also said that it was probably a really big surprise for her cast mates since “big secret” scripts are only given out to the people involved in the scenes.

Are Dair fans in for a treat, while Chair fans have to angrily throw their towels in? How is Serena going to react to Blair’s Back-Up Plan having to do with Dan?  Here’s a sneak peak into the drama. See you next week!

Xoxo Sunny

Sana Ashraf is a fashion writer and fashion show intern and is a junior at the University of Michigan. Sana loves reading fashion magazines, shopping sprees, city lights, color coordinated closets, and all four seasons.

Senior Job Search

Calling all SENIORS! NOW is a good time to start looking ahead to your future, and for some of you, this might mean looking for a job. Here are 10 things that YOU can do RIGHT NOW to start your job search!

Decide what matters to YOU. Your parents may have dreams of you becoming the next CEO of company XYZ, but that might not be what you want. So take the time to sit down and make a list of things that that YOU want to do, companies that YOU want to work for.

Find your strengths. Make a list of your skills and talents. This will not only help you write your resume, but also give you something to think about when researching companies.

Find your weaknesses. Also make a list of things that you aren’t good it. That way, if you see more than one of those skills listed for a particular job, you can scratch that job off your list. Or, if you see maybe one or two of your weaknesses listed, mark that job and come back to it. Call and ask someone in HR how much those skills are involved in the job, and ask how the company could help you to develop those skills.

Do your research. Researching a company helps you in several ways: first, and most importantly, you will learn what they do and why they do it. That way you won’t have to ask those questions during your interview, and if they ask you about their company, you’ll have the answers. And, using your strengths and weaknesses lists, doing research will help you figure out if the job is the right fit for you.

Perfect your resume. Take your resume to family members, professors and anyone else you can think of and ask them if they would hire you. Resumes take time, drafts, and a whole lot of editing to perfect.

Go to your campus’s career services office. Career counselors are there to help you figure out exactly what YOU want to do – so go talk to them. They are professionals and will do whatever it takes to help you find the job that’s right for you.

Do some practice interviews. Interviews can be scary, especially the first, oh, one or five times. See if your career center has someone who can practice with you. You can also practice with professors and family members.

Network online. Facebook. Twitter. LinkedIn. See who you’re connected to and who they work for. You especially want to reach out to your school and your sorority’s alum and ask if their companies are hiring.

Go to career fairs. Career fairs are great places to network, find internships and find jobs. Don’t forget to bring your resume and remember your interviewing skills – you could be asked for an interview on the spot!

Reach out to professors. Chances are the professors who teach in your major have had several jobs in that field. See if they know of anyone hiring. Also, if a job requires recommendations, ask a few professors if they’d be willing to write/call in recommendations for you.

Debra Schreiber, a senior CL writer, is a senior journalism and Spanish double major at Duquesne University. She loves Duquesne University’s Career Services, and credits her career counselor, Coralyn McCauley, for teaching her how to look for a job. 

Gossip Girl: ‘Father and the Bride’ Schemingly Good

*Spoiler Alert!*

Last week’s episode left most GG lovers annoyed and frustrated. Blair losing a baby with no real consequences and making a pact with God to never be with Chuck, along with Serena and Dan starting a fake relationship was a disappointment for a midseason premiere. So, naturally with the 100th episode of the hottest Upper East Siders just around the corner, I was definitely hoping that “Father and the Bride” would bring plotting mediums back to Manhattan. Luckily for me, GG got its scheme back (for the most part). Check out the top 5 OMG moments Gossip Girl stirred up to get me back, and take a quick look at the top 5 moments that could have been left out.

Top 5 OMG Moments

1. The Tripp Trap: Pardon my pun, but I couldn’t help myself. The trap was perfect. Serena and Nate stage a fight, use their biggest frenemy Gossip Girl to their advantage, and get Tripp exactly where they want him–feeling like he almost got away with it. I have to admit, I usually catch things but this plot I didn’t see coming at all. When Serena fought with Nate, I couldn’t grasp my head around how she could believe Tripp over Nate. After all, he was the the culprit in nearly killing Serena in a car crash to escape a political scandal. But as Serena was discussing details of the car crash with Tripp, and discussing how Nate has changed I really thought she believed Tripp. Just as Tripp starts to tell Serena who he thinks is responsible (his wife Maurine), voila! Open sesame, que in dramatic door opening with Nate and Grandfather Archibald present the whole time. As I guessed, Tripp was responsible for the crash that killed Blair’s baby and ruined Chair’s chances. So what was the juicy motive behind Tripp’s second car crash stunt? Being unloved by Grandfather. Guess we can’t have our cake and eat it too.
2. Beauty and the Beast (Beatrice and the Priest): Okay, so Beatrice is no Belle but during most of the episode she tries to step into Belle’s lovely and pure hearted shoes. Sucking up to Blair is her main goal and she even decides to throw her an alternative bachelorette party to keep Chuck from finding her. Of course, the OMG moment wasn’t that she had a secret agenda with her partner in crime, the Beastly Priest. (I still don’t understand how a servant of God could commit such dirty crimes, but I guess anything’s possible on the Upper East Side). Instead it was that she backed out, and dumped her heaven on earth for her own angelic reasons. At first, Princess Beatrice and Father Carvallia attempt to get Blair humiliatingly drunk and alone with Chuck to reveal her true feelings, thus keep Father Carvallia on the Royal Court. However, Beatrice surprisingly gets a conscience after a drunken night full of heartfelt conversations and a mistaken arrest. Beatrice’s future sister-in-law losing her baby was obviously not enough for her to start caring, but a wild night out on the town with lots of tequila and Officer Weiner was.  But hey, whatever works. As for the Beast, when his Princess backs out he decides to let his inner ugliness take over and gets Beatrice banished to missionary bootcamp in East Africa. Yet, another failed attempt to incorporate religion in a world full of plotting priests and lying lovers.
   

   Bride to Be with her gals at her Bachelorette Party

3. Void Vows: As Gossip Girl mentioned in her sign off, “Talk is cheap. So if you don’t have anything nice to say, you might as well shut your mouth.” Or just do what Louis did and get someone to talk for you… er write for you. I don’t know if it was just me, but I was totally surprised to see that Dan would do that. Then again, Dan’s character has been below sea level. We’re all just drowning in his demise. But really? I thought he cared about Blair (which he clearly does since his vows were piercingly touching). But writing fake vows for a guy she’s about the spend the rest of her life is a low blow, especially for Dan– Brooklyn’s token good guy. Guess you can take the man out of the Upper East Side, but you just can’t take the Upper East Side out of the man.
4. Divine Intervention: Badass Bass is back. Yes, the “I’m Chuck Bass” Chuck is scheming with none other than Father Carvallia to break off the wedding. “She already thinks I’m a villain, I may as well become one” is how he devishly replies to Father Carvallia’s divine intervention deal. I was definitely surprised to see the two unexpected allies teaming up, though it makes sense since they share a common goal: to stop the Royal Wedding. Now all we can hope for is that Blair doesn’t end up hating Chuck for leaving his Good Guy ways for his schemingly better red suit.
   

   Chuck spying on Blair.

5. Dan’s Yoga Stretch: I didn’t think Dan was going to have much more a story line than being Serena’s fake boyfriend or Blair’s punching bag. But surprisingly, his so called Western pitch is too far of a stretch for what his viewers and publishers want. They would much rather read a sequel to his gossip-filled, juicy look into the inside life of Manhattan’s elite (who wouldn’t?). What’s more OMG material than the fact that he’s writing a sequel to Inside, is what executive producer Josh Safran has to say about it. “His second book is going to be very integral to the second half of the season,” Safran says. “If his first book ruffled a few feathers, this ons will ruffle a lot more.” Ruffling feathers? Sounds schemingly perfect to me.

 

Top 5 UGH Moments

1. Serena Uploading S By S to the Spectator- After Nate pulls Serena’s column, she snoops around and figures out it was Seriously thought she had more class, loyalty, and patience than that.
2. Serena Lying to Dan about Their Fake Relationship- I almost hate Serena as much as Dan right about now. Why are both of their characters losing quality personalities? Okay, quality might be pushing it but at least they were confident before. Now Serena is so insecure that she can’t come out and tell Dan she has feelings for him. Does she really have to lie about Blair needing them to continue their fake rendezvous? Clearly, effects from the car crash are bogging her memory and she forgot that she is Serena Van der Woodson. Serena, there are a million men in Manhattan–move on!
3. Blair’s Belief in Beatrice- Blair and Beatrice on good terms? That stunk of fakeness from the opening moments of episode 12. Blair used to be Queen B, the queen schemer. She always kept her friends close, and enemies closer, catching the bad in the brat before they could even blink. To see her losing her royal powers to Beatrice saddens me.
   

   Beatrice cozying up to Blair before the Bachelorette Party.

4. Dan’s Blame Game Against Chuck- Dan had no reason or proof to think Chuck was behind the riot at Blair’s bachelorette party and it was really annoying to watch Dan blame him with no proof. The fact that Dan told Blair and once again kept Blair in the dark from Beatrice’s true motives was pathetic, and sadly so Dan to mess things up. I miss the old Dan. (Anyone agree?)
   

   Blair telling Chuck to stop following her.

5. Baby Blues- The fact that the show uses the loss of the baby as the fake reason for why Beatrice and Blair are on good terms is not okay. If it was the real reason, then the show would have been doing something right. They would be showing that something as serious and life changing as a miscarriage can bring two bickering women together. Instead, they use it as the fake version of Beatrice’s conscience production. Come on writers; you can do better than that!

This week’s Gossip Girl was definitely better than last’s, and I’m hoping the 100th episode starts off with a bang. We know there are going to be a few bruised egos (and hearts), guess we’ll just have to tune in to see whose. Also, if you haven’t seen the promo check it out here! Our favorite bad turned good girl is back, dear old Georgina.

– Xoxo Sunny

Sana Ashraf is a fashion writer and fashion show intern and is a junior at the University of Michigan. Sana loves reading fashion magazines, shopping sprees, city lights, color coordinated closets, and all four seasons.

CL’s Guide to Planning a Cupcake Party

 

With so many upcoming holidays (Valentine’s Day, Saint Patrick’s Day, Cinco de Mayo, and this CL intern’s birthday, to name a few), what classy co-ed doesn’t need a theme? A simple, cost-effective way to celebrate these holidays with your friends is a cupcake party. Cupcakes can be decorated in any way, making them an ideal palette for any celebration. Also, cupcakes can be made in a dorm or apartment without an oven! Let CL show you how.

Step One: Oven or no oven.

If you have an oven in your dorm/apartment, you’re already set. If not, you have  some options. You could go to your local bakery and request un-iced cupcakes. Or, you could by a cupcake maker.

These snazzy little devices make miniature cupcakes, and can be bought at local stores like Target (this CL intern has one and loves it!). You could also request that your friends bring un-iced cupcakes with them.

Step Two: Bakin’ the cakes.

Make the cupcakes about one hour before your guests arrive. This will give the cupcakes  time to cool, which needs to happen so that the icing will not melt while your guests  frost and decorate them. You can either make the cupcakes from scratch or buy mixes from your local grocery store (this CL intern loves Duncan Hines and Betty Crocker). Make sure to make or buy a variety of flavors (i.e. chocolate, vanilla, white, marble). If you make mini cupcakes, set a dozen on each guest’s plate. If the cupakes are of regular size, set a half dozen on each guest’s plate.

Step Three: Icing technology.

Just like with the cupcakes, you can make or buy the icing, and you should make or buy it in more than one flavor (i.e. chocolate, vanilla, orange chocolate, almond, anise). To make the icing different colors, you could use food coloring, but be warned that this will dilute the icing, making it runny and difficult to work with. To avoid this outcome, buy Wilton’s icing colors (which this CL intern recommends, along with anything else Wilton!). These will produce strong colors and not make your icing runny. Wilton’s products can be found at arts and crafts stores like Michaels.

Make the icing colors according to the holiday or event you are celebrating. Then, place the icings into separate bowls in the center of the table – don’t forget to label the flavored icings!

Make sure that you have good spatulas for your guests to spread the icings with. To decorate, you can either use plastic bags, by filling them with icing and then cutting off the bottom points on one side of the bags, or icing bags (another great Wilton’s product). These icing bags will allow your guests to use a variety of icing tips to create patterns and make flowers for their cupcakes. Leave one icing bag out next to each icing bowl.

Step Four: Other toppings, for your consideration.

You can also purchase pre-made sugar flowers for some flair. Sprinkles are always classic. Other topping ideas are edible glitter, cinnamon drops, nonpareils or sugar pearls. In addition to these, you can also put festive figures or symbols on top, as shown below.

Leave these out in small bowls for your guests to use as well.

After these first four steps, you are ready for your friends to come over and create some amazing cupcakes!

Step Five: Cupcake favors.

Allow your guests to take their cupcakes home. Set aside a cupcake box for each guest with their name on it.

Debra Schreiber, a CL senior writer and Duquesne University senior journalism and Spanish major, has fond memories of baking chocolate chip cookies with father growing up. She believes this led to her passion for all things baking. She has most recently taken cake decorating classes at Giant Eagle Market District, Robinson location, and hopes someday to open her own bakery.

Fabulous Winter Trend : Shearling Coats

Hi guys ! We are just getting into the heart of the cold winter days. And we all must stay warm and stay fashionable. I personally love winter fashion. I love layers, boots, scarfs and just everything. My favorite winter trend by far has to be Shearling Coats. These coats are glamorous.

I love these coats !  They are sometimes pricey but I like to consider them to be investment pieces.

 If these are a little out your budget…here are some looks for less :

  

 

Shanae Hatchett is a sophomore English major with a minor in Public Relations at Hampton University. She is obsessed with fashion,shopping, magazines, celebrity drama, and reality tv all while wearing cute shoes with a caramel macchiato in hand.  

 

 

Gossip Girl Midseason Premiere: The ‘End’ of The Affair Disappoints

*Spoiler Alert!*

Gossip Girl ended with lots of loose ends in December. A very pregnant Blair finally acknowledged her love for Chuck and the two on-again off-again lovebirds shared a passionate kiss, cue the fatal car accident. Blair and Chuck are both rushed to the hospital. Serena wants to take Gossip Girl down. Nate becomes editor-in-chief of The Spectator (with no experience or credentials might I add). Dan is still a lonely boy, except with a boring storyline. Charlie/Ivy runs away. Forward to the January midseason premiere. So many exciting things were left untied, what will happen next Gossip Girl?  Well within the first minute, we uneventfully find out that Chuck is A-okay, Louis and Blair are back on, and Blair has lost the baby. How convenient.

At first I was hoping that it was one of Blair’s crazy dreams. How could they tell viewers the baby died so nonchalantly? Some say because it is Gossip Girl viewers shouldn’t expect much from the baby storyline, but I’d like to disagree. Gossip Girl used to take risks, and maybe having a baby would have been too out of the ordinary for the “perfect” Upper East-siders, but the writers should at least illustrate a realistic portrait of a mother and father losing an unborn child. The only scene that Blair shows a moment of true sadness regarding the miscarriage is when the nurse tells her she lost it in one of the much-too-short hospital flashbacks. The supposed father, Prince Louis is not at all concerned with the baby and does not even acknowledge its loss. Instead, he is too worried trying to find out if Blair is having an affair. Typical.

What is equally as depressing is the way viewers find out about the miscarriage. It is completely out of character for the OMFG show; I would expect an ornate party or at least a little more emotion.  Instead we have Chuck saying something along the lines of “I wanted to be there for you after the baby.” The script throughout the entire episode felt extremely detached and confusing. After Chuck questions why Blair hasn’t been responding to his texts and phone calls, Blair says the car crash was not an accident, but the universe’s way of saying the two should not be together. GG could have taken the loose ends and tied a knot in a more creative way (hence kept the baby, show how Chuck and Blair raise it together and the problems that arise), but instead they decided to go back to square one and prolong the inevitable, Chair.

At first, Chair is led to be over because of an affair with none other than Brooklyn’s Finest, Dan Humphrey. Lonely Boy hasn’t been so lonely lately as Chuck discovers when sending a spy to follow the two suspected lovers. First, we see Blair hiding out at Dan’s apartment, then they are spotted together at Vera Wang’s boutique where Blair is getting fitted for her custom bridal gown, and later on sneaking into discreet buildings. Blair tells Dan he has to keep the secret between the two of them and God. Yikes! Could it be that the baby was Dan’s? Could it be that they did not actually lose the baby, and she just didn’t want the baby to be a part of the chaos between Louis and Chuck (which would explain the lack of emotions from Blair towards her miscarriage)?  A crazy plot like that is so Gossip Girl right? Wrong.

 

Cue the most unbelievable, totally out of character, reason for Blair sneaking around: church. Indeed, our once evil Queen B who made her minions tend to her every need–and punished them demonically if they didn’t–is now converting to Catholicism and going to the Priest for help. Help in dealing with the loss of her child, right? Wrong again. Instead, she is going to church secretly for guidance on a deal with God she makes. We see in a flashback that after Blair finds out Chuck’s chances look bad, she turns to a character who is rarely used in the Upper-East Side: God. Blair promises to keep her vow to marry Louis and never be with Chuck again if God lets Chuck live. Now, I’m all for cheesy, but did the director really have the church doors open with a glowing nurse and a beam of light to notify Blair that Chuck was okay? Come on. Blair then visits Chuck and says “Just because we can’t be together, doesn’t mean I don’t love you.” Hello, the nurse was already on her way to tell you that Chuck was okay before you made your promise to God (who do you really even care about?).  I forgot this is Gossip Girl, the show where logic is always written out. Obviously, the writers were running out of ways to keep Chair apart. They got the viewers hopes up (mine especially) for a Chair happily ever after, and once again crushed it. Not because Blair really loved Louis, not because she had a baby by another man, not because she was secretly madly in love with Dan, and not because she just didn’t love Chuck, but because of some promise she made to God. Serena tries convincing Blair her reasoning is crazy–that it was modern medicine that cured Chuck and that God wouldn’t punish her for being with the one she loves, but Blair feels that Chuck will die and she will be responsible for it because it would be God’s way of punishing her for breaking her deal. So that’s that with Chair. Will they be together? Who really knows anymore. All I know is the writers need to get back on their game!

In other news: Lily misses her “niece” Charlie/Ivy so much that she hires a private detective to find her and when Rufus and Lily find another girl by the same name at Julliard, they take it as mere coincidence and think nothing of it. Louis, Chuck, and Nate accuse Dan of having an affair with Blair and Serena comes to the rescue (to make sure they don’t find out about the racy church-going truth) and instead says he is having an affair with her, and Blair was just helping them cover it up. The ex’s share a midnight kiss and a longing stare (really, who cares about Derena anymore–wasn’t that so 3 seasons ago?). Besides being Blair’s BFF and still crushing on Dan, Serena is also the new addressee of all things gossip. The take down of Gossip Girl has led everyone to send there blasts and photos to S, The Spectator’s hottest new blogger. Serena thinks she can use them for good, but what good comes from gossip? Fellow Spectator worker Nate comes across some interesting information that shows Chuck and Blair’s car accident was no accident after all, and the limo was actually intended for him. Interestingly enough, the only person that may know who wishes death upon the Manhattan’s finest bachelor is Gossip Girl. I think it has to do with Trip, as I can recall a shady conversation taking place in Episode 10. Guess we’ll see what’s going on with our favorite Upper East Siders in next week’s episode ”The Father and the Bride”–complete with Blair’s bachelorette party and a run in with the cops. How I’ve missed those (cue anything to do with Jenny)!

Sana Ashraf is a fashion writer and fashion show intern and is a junior at the University of Michigan. Sana loves reading fashion magazines, shopping sprees, city lights, color coordinated closets, and all four seasons.

Project Runway All Stars Episode 2 Recap

Hello, classy co-eds! For those of you who missed last night’s glamorous episode of Project Runway All Stars, here is a run down of what happened!

The twelve remaining designers were challenged to create a gorgeous evening gown for a night at the opera. While some designers were excited to create a show-stopping gown, others were not as enthused. All of the designers agreed that Austin Scarlett was the one to beat because of his incredible talent when it comes to evening wear.

While the designers were given $350 to purchase fabrics for the gowns, they were only given one day to put it together. Because of this time constraint, many designers were forced to alter their original designs so they could finish in time.

In the end, all of the designers finished their gowns and sent their beautiful models down the runway! The judging panel, including guest judges Mark Badgley and James Mischka of Badgley Mischka, were left stunned by a few of the dresses and were not so impressed with others.

Austin Scarlett a.k.a. “King of Couture” lived up to his nickname and won the challenge with this gown:

Michael Costello came in a close second with this black showstopper:

Anthony Williams came in third with this white gown:

The judges were not impressed with this gown made by Kara Janx:

Although the judges praised April for using something besides black, they were not fans of this red number, which put her in the bottom two.

The judges felt this dress, made by Sweet P, was more appropriate for a high school prom than a night at the opera. Sweet P was eliminated for this look.

So, co-eds, what did you think? Did you agree with the judges’ decisions, or would you have made different choices? Let CL know in the comments below! Also, be sure to check out the CL re-cap of One Tree Hill. Finally, if there are any shows that you would like us to re-cap each week, let us know!

 

Rachel Osman is a sophomore Journalism major at Indiana University. She loves all things television and looks forward to recapping Project Runway All Stars each week for the awesome CL readers!

CL Top Ten: What and What Not to Pack for Study Abroad

We understand that you want to look and feel your best abroad – all the better to impress those cute foreign guys ! However, that does not mean that you need to take your entire closet and more with you. Below are five things you should definitely pull and pack because you love or really need them, and five items that you can say adios to for a few months, buy abroad, or carry on your person at all times.

To pack…

Your go-to jewelry pieces. Do not bring your entire jewelry box with you, just a few simple pieces that you wear on a regular basis . Narrow down your selection to a top three or four. Too much jewelry will weigh down your luggage, and there’s also always the chance that pieces could get lost.

Basic make-up. Simple mascara, foundation, lip gloss, eye shadow and liner will do. Don’t go crazy and bring every make-up product you own.

Necessities for your well-being. Make a list and double check that you have the items you use every day, such as contact solution (which you need to put into a container that complies with flight regulations), contacts (bring extra in case you lose them or they tear!), your glasses case, retainers, etc.

Work-out clothing. If you don’t bring work-out clothing, you won’t work out.

Simple clothing. Pack items that complement one another, sticking to a basic color palette. Doing this means you will need to pack fewer items because everything matches (freeing up space for clothes you buy abroad!) and losing one item won’t throw your whole look off. For extra tips, check out these matching pieces!

 

…or not to pack…

Books. Buy them abroad if you can. Books add weight to your suitcase. Definitely buy notebooks once you’re there.

Laundry detergent. Again, buy it there. It weighs too much, and it will be too much trouble putting it into bottles that are consistent with flight regulations.

Your passport. Don’t pack this – you’ll need it to get around the airport and the country, so keep it on your person at all times.

An umbrella. It’s incredibly useful abroad, just buy it there.

All of your shoes. …Just don’t do it.

Debra Schreiber is a returning CL intern from summer 2011. Now a senior, she did a spring break away trip to Spain her sophomore year, packed unnecessary things, and one of her favorite T-shirts disappeared.

CL Asks Classy Co-eds – What are Your Favorite Kid Movies?

Looking for a fun night with friends, family, or sorority sisters? Try a classic kiddie movie night, with these suggestions from co-eds like you.

 

“Peter Pan.” Not the cartoon. 2003 version with Jeremy Sumpter – Anissa Gilbert, Duquesne University, junior ISM and marketing major.

“The Princess Bride” and “My Neighbor Totoro.” – Gabrielle Tomasko, Duquesne University, integrated marketing communications and digital media arts major.

“A Little Princess.”  – Kelsey Daugherty, Duquesne University, senior, nursing.

“Aladdin.” – Michelle Lawrence, Duquesne University, senior, nursing.

“Sleepover.” – Sarah Williams, Duquesne University, sophomore psychology major.

“The Little Mermaid.” – Leanne Gallaway, The Art Institute of Pittsburgh, senior photography major.

“The Nightmare Before Christmas.” – Brooke Mendoff, Duquesne University, sophomore public relations/advertising and broadcast journalism major.

“Lion King.” – Alycia Washington, Duquesne University graduate, public relations and advertising degree.

“Despicable Me.” – Liz DeCarlo, Duquesne University, sophomore physics and modern languages major.

“Homeward Bound.” – Lauren Pitzer, Duquesne University, sophomore psychology major.

“Beauty and the Beast.” – Ellen Dimmick, Duquesne University, sophomore history major.

“Christmas Eve on Sesame Street.” – Elena LaQuatra, Point Park University, sophomore TV broadcast major.

“The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.” – Amy Kerlin, Duquesne University, sophomore political science and communications major.

 

Debra Schreiber is a returning CL intern from summer 2011. Her favorite kid movies include “How to Train Your Dragon,” “Ratatouille” and “The Pebble and the Penguin.”

 

CL’s Top Ten Tips to Writing Thank You Notes

Now that all of the wrapping and tissue paper have been cleared away, it’s time to reflect on who got you all of those wonderful presents. It can be hard to get started on your thank-you notes when you’re all full of ham and cookies, so CL presents these top ten thank-you writing tips.

Keep track of who sent what. There’s nothing worse than thanking someone for a gift that they didn’t send. Make a list, and check it twice.

Keep boxes and envelopes. This is the best way to make sure that you have everyone’s updated address. If you’re not sure, ask your parents for their address books. Make sure to record the updated addresses in an address book of your own.

Use stationary. Thank-you notes should look simple and clean. Please don’t use notebook paper.

Write the thank-you notes out. No computer print or paper, either, unless your handwriting is really that bad.

Make each card personal. Directly thank the person the gift is from right off the bat. Mention the specific present(s) in the note and why you like them/how useful they are.

Invite friends and family to see you. If you’re having a New Year’s party, invite them.

Don’t do all of the notes in one sitting. Your hand will cramp up. But make sure to write them sooner rather than later.

Double-check your list again. You wouldn’t want to miss anyone!

Don’t lick the envelopes shut. Envelopes just don’t taste good! Try sealing them with festive stickers instead.

Send the notes ASAP. They should reach your friends and family members before the new year.

Debra Schreiber is a returning CL intern from summer 2011. She is a senior at Duquesne University, studying Journalism and Spanish. When she’s not studying, you can usually find her at the gym, reading or catching up on her favorite shows.

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