the Flat Screen: 'Project Runway' - Episode 1

First of all, welcome to L.A. & F.I.D.M. ! We missed you Heidi & Tim! Welcome quirky personalities, divas & future stars!

Let me just say I love the model spin off 'Models of the Runway' which shows the hit show, 'Project Runway', from the models point of view where they have no choice but to hope the designers deliver and it will take the attention off of them. But Heidi makes it perfectly clear, it is a battle for the models too. The greatest thing is you get the inside dirt on the designers (how they really are) and you get to see how they were even chosen anyway. So I'm geeked to see how that will be :-) The first challenge is the Red Carpet Challenge with the infamous, Nokia theatre as their inspiration. The red carpet is where many designers fall in love with Fashion. Guest judge Lindsay Lohan joined the wonderful judges, Nina Garcia, Michael Kors, and Heidi Klum for judging. Of course, Tim started it off with his infamous saying, "Make it Work" as he had to talk Johnny, new designer and former methhead, out of quitting or at least from giving up on the first frickin challenge because the pressure was TOO much. Mitchell annoys me immediately because he doesn't have his dress ready but the real reason is the measurements he took were ALL wrong. But he blames the model,Yosuzi , being 5 inches thicker - like really? like overnight? like women never lie about their true sizes? BUT, I can tell that Mitchell is already a hot mess and I will celebrate the day when he goes. But a part of me is curious about good ol' Mitch despite my previous comment but again, that's a tiny, minimal , itty bitty curious. People to look out for this season: Love Ra'Mon (should be careful since his piece was seen as safe & well structured), Irina (although the dress was very long), Love love love Carol Hanna and Christopher, where his piece was coined as having "had some bite to it" but he needs to be mindful of colors chosen People to NOT look out for: Hated Mitchell and Crystal ...Ra'Mon stayed whispering, a sly "Call Me" to Lohan. Ari was booted for her eclectic, out of this world fashion that had nothing to do with the red carpet or any that I know of. But still, I feel sort of melancholy because I wanted to see more innovation this season and I believe Ari had what it took. However, the verdict was in and Christopher wins the first episode and gains immunity for his rough meets feminine red carpet look. Winning look at the top or you can see at http://www.mylifetime.com/.

@TheAutty on Twitter

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The Stoop: Journey 2 Self-aquaintance

Journey 2 Self -Acquaintance

~My View~

I like to refer to this as Self 101. Self 101 is where we learn who we are and we get to know ourselves as far as what we like, what we don't like, what works for us, what doesn't, what kind of people we want to associate with.. basically the basics of who we are. Self 101 allows us to experiment with life. Think about it, this stage for many of us comes a few times throughout our life, for example, when we are young teens we go through puberty and in doing so we go through the attitudes, the pimples, the boys/girls, heartbreak, heartbreaking, etc. We start to see and fit into our own roles in life. This phase of Self 101 usually concludes at high school graduation.

When we go off to college we do the same thing but we are more knowledgeable about life than we were when we were 13 years old... so we would hope. College sets the stage for us to either magnify who we have become over the years or we have the golden option of abandoning that person to become a totally different person, this is especially true if the University doesn't welcome your personality or the person you were "back at home" so to speak. You start to see things in a new light as a result of the exposure secondary school offers. You find yourself once again experimenting until you find a comfortable "happy medium" for yourself. You are no longer bound by the rules set by Mom and Dad, you are your own person with your own rules; no one can make you or break you except you.. Bye bye Mom and Dad! Good riddens to your rules...! Here I am, here I stand, and here I go... let the battle of LIFE begin!!!!

The latter phase of Self 101 came with it's ups and downs, for one, you were independent. You marched to your own drum beat. You came in as late or early as you wanted to, you ate what you wanted to, you did who you wanted to, even went to class when you wanted to. On the flip side you were obliged to do well in school. For many.. you could burn the campus down but as long as your grades were good so was your relationship with the folks at home, which also meant you were able to continue rolling on wheels (a generous courtesy of Mom and Dad) and you had cushion if you ever got yourself into trouble.. The flip side is.. if you did not perform the way your parents expected you to.. you could be standing alone but not in a positive way. When the parents were not happy they could pull you out of school (which they were probably paying for), stop funding your bank account, turn your cell off, and oh my, take the whip (car).

So you've had a taste of what freedom/independence feels like. Now since you graduated from school the training wheels are about to come off. You either go back home with the family until you get yourself together or you move out and do your own thing.. this is what I like to think of as the final stage of Self 101. Here you are ALL ALONE.. you didn't have the same "cushion" you had when you were in college (at least most of us didn't). This is when you find out how much you and the rents' mutually value certain things in life, you see how much of Self 101 you retained and finally you get to experiment by taking what you learned in the latter phases and using it to improve the person you have become, whatever that may mean to you. It's funny because at this point in your life (now that college is over and the care free life is gone) you no longer have excuses such as I was young or that was then.. now it's you and the meantime. All your actions now become trials and error for you to continue to grow as a person because there is a reaction for ever action you take...

Now you have it, that's what I recall as my journey to get to the person I am today. I find that I still uphold a lot of the things my parents taught me when I was younger, even though some of those things I abandoned when I was back in phase 2.. I guess it's true what they say.. "train a child in the way that they should go and he or she will not depart." Everyday is a new day where I learn something new rather that something is something about me or simply life in generally, I strive to be an ongoing learner of life...

I hope this recollection of the past either brings a smile to your face or just takes you "back," in either case.. here's my 2 cents, can I have 3? LOL

Written by: Always Inspired

The Stoop: My Two Cents..

Written by: Always Inspired

You cannot be true to others if you are not true to self.. accept the person that you have become. It is only then that you can improve the person you are. Many people have misconceptions of who they really are and as a result they prevent themselves from receiving any advantageous insight, any MEANINGFUL relationship (of all kinds), true peace of mine, and ultimately they fall numb to the facts that are pertaining to their lives and well being. Acceptance of SELF brings about change and when you have the right tools in your possession, that change will make you a better person at the end of the day. You will BECOME a person you can honestly & sincerely be proud to present to the world around you.

Created: 11/08

Global Fashion Bloc: Fashion's Night Out!

In an effort to celebrate the world of fashion on the first day of the phenomenol New York Fashion Week, while revive the dismal retail industry and restore consumer confidence one cute bag or shoe at a time, U.S. and international editions of Vogue magazine have coordinated a first-ever "Fashion's Night Out" on Sept. 10.

In the U.S., 700 retailers in New York City are participating, from Local Boutiques to department stores like Macy's, in addition to the King of Prussia Mall in Pennsylvania, and all 40 Neiman Marcus stores around the country. Not to mention, stores in the United Kingdom, Greece, Italy, Russia, France, Brazil, India, Spain, China, Germany, Japan and Taiwan will also take part.

As America's Fashion Capital, New York City has pulled no punches about welcoming this global retail event. They have partnered with American Vogue, the Council of Fashion Designers of America, and NYC & Company, the local tourism and marketing agency to make this event a much needed success. Besides, aside from the financial sector, fashion is the second largest sector in NYC and home to more than 800 fashion companies.

on Sept. 10th, Manhattan will be showered with top designers like Manolo Blahnik, Kenneth Cole, Sean Combs, Carolina Herrera, Tommy Hilfiger, Donna Karan, Michael Kors, among many others. Celebrities and models taking part are scheduled to include Cindy Crawford, Hugh Jackman, Karolina Kurkova, Sienna Miller, Coco Rocha and Charlize Theron. In addition, there are rumors of musical performances, downtown barbecues, shoe capsules, limited-edition rings, sweepstakes abound, fab makeovers, brow bars, and haircut stations at sundry spots.

Champagne bottles will pop, food will be blissful and there will be fierceness raining everywhere around the world. In other words, it is set to be an event to be remembered and hopefully, it will give the retail industry a favorable outcome in spite of the economy. In the words of Vera Wang, "To put it bluntly, if people don’t shop, people lose their jobs." For additional information regarding FNO, go to http://www.fashionsnightout.com/ or to see what Vera Wang, Diane Von Furstenberg and Oscar De La Renta have to say about this event, go to http://www.vogue.com/. Happy Shopping!

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the Fashion Bloc: Hot Mess or Keep it Coming...

I totally love Solange's new look, she is working the short look effortlessly and she has definitely set herself apart from her sis officially. Despite her hot new do' she's been getting a lot of flack with this complete look BUT I'm feelin it....Love those bizarre Moschino shoes and overall fun look which is typical Solange fashion. Both her and Beyinny (Beyonce Knowles) were promoting Samantha Thavasa & Disney Collection at Tokyo Disneyland Hotel in Urayasu, Chiba, Japan. Keep it coming So!

To put it simple, I'm NOT feeling this look at all. The oversized bag, badly cut short shorts aka- Dukie shorts, and toddler cup are all a hot mess. I usually like the "low-maintenance" look Miley tends to go for but this is ...hmmm....BUT no, I take it back, I do like one thing about this look and that's the cowboy hat....OVERALL though, Miley needs to do a major "Do-OVER".

I hate to do it to newest Hip-Hop upcomer Lil Brianna but she looks a HOT MESS. She is just doin wayyy too much with this. Clearly she's young and maybe trying to develop the style but since when has being young been an excuse to be random? Especially with those Star Trek shades...But if I gotta choose a good piece from the randomness, I'm goin with those kicks....High top PINK Converse get me every time ;-)

Contrary to popular belief, I dig this look. It shows CB's versatility and uniqueness. The random peace sign shows off his new tatt while the light blue skater sneaks with the pushed up socks give it a sort of pop to the already whacky, yet cool look. Sooooo......despite the Urban meets Grandpa feel I TOTALLY am all over this look. Keep it coming CB!

Alexis Bledel is my girl and seeing her makes me miss "Gilmore Girls"sooooo much but why did you go to the Teen Choice Awards with this? Its cheap looking, its a horrible fit and out-dated. But the shoes just take this hot mess look to the level of "WTF?!" Double Do-OVER needed.

So...which is it: DO OVER NEEDED OR KEEP IT COMING? Leave your comments - What do you think OurBloc Fam?! @TheAutty on Twitter