Mandy Moore is Awsome

In the past, I didn't particularly dig Miss Mandy. I didn't hate her, I was just...indifferent (though the way she stood kind of bugged me. I think it was the fact that she's tall but didn't seem to be comfortable with it. As an Amazon, I find that to be unfortunate and it bugs me.).

So, after a quick peek at gofugyourself.com, I followed a link to the interview she did for Elle magazine. After reading it, I must say that I kind of love Mandy Moore.

She's self-depricating, diplomatically honest, and extremely earnest. She's everything you want a starlet to be. She's Kirsten Dunst gone right (not that Kirsten is completly wrong, she's just not what everyone says she is - more on that later).

And I know that the person writing the article is supposed to paint the celebrity-du jour in a positive light, but you can tell it wasn't hard. After reading this article, I just want to find her, sit down with a cup of tea and some finger sandwiches and talk to her. Really talk to her. She seems that cool. She seems like someone who's come to terms with who she was, who she is, and that not everyone will like her. And she's okay with all of that, which is really important.

The article talks a lot about her upcoming album. Given the descriptions (left her former record label to write and record with lesser known artists as opposed to recording "surefire hits" with no feeling; a smattering of lyrics that express the complicated emotions regarding someone you love but hurt your feelings that definitely appeal to the poet in me), I'm totally going to buy it. I am.

I openly profess my love for Mandy Moore and I'm not ashamed. I'm just as shocked as you are.

Huzzah For Lesbian Crushes

So I've decided that if I was totally gay (or a straight man), I would be madly in love with Nigella Lawson.

Because she rocks.

And yes, I love her.

There are several reasons why she is deserving of my girl-crush proclamations:

1) She's really the only woman chef-host on Food Network with no annoying qualities whatsoever.

Take for example top exhibits A and B, aka Rachael Ray and Sandra Lee. These two heifers are the epitomy of annoyingness for me - Rachael for her fake-seeming peppiness, retarded laugh, lame made-up words (E.V.O.O. and Yum-O. WTF.) and for the fact that she's heir to the Martha Stewart throne IMHO; and Sandra Lee because she's a skinny flavorless bitch who promotes half-assed-ness ("Semi Homemade" = lazy.)

2) She's got a hot British accent.

And you know me and accents... especially from the UK/Ireland... yes, even women with accents are pretty hot in my book.

3) Her cooking rocks.

This is coming from Ms. Foodie herself, who goes into death throes over a fine Zinfandel and is willing to spend $250 on a chef's tasting menu at the French Laundry.

Trust me. Her cooking and food philosophies are so right on.

4) She's not afraid to eat with gusto (and mess) in front of the camera.

The way she plows into a lamb chop.... It's.... That's just hot.

5) She talks to the camera (i.e. YOU) in closeup and in hushed, secretive tones.

It's like you're in some private one-on-one cooking tutorial with you and she's divulging something that could get you and her killed.

6) She's drop dead gorgeous.

Black shoulder-length hair, creamy skin, dark eyes, and curves for miles. (BOOM! BAMM!!) If you're a straight woman and you can't at least APPRECIATE that she's attractive, then get out of my face.