So, officially one week until Survivor starts! I’ve never been so happy to have a show back, but my god it’s a wasteland out there.

Jeff Probst gave a lengthy interview discussing all the new contestants, as well as his views on some of the returnees, and it sounds like an interesting season. He says the idols come into play like they never have before. He says that James will no longer be the worst-blunder-ever title holder after this season, and that we have two, yes, two love affairs. One of which he boasted about how thrilled the camera guys were to get intimate consummation footage. Um….ew. He also said it was the rainiest season they ever experienced and the survivors suffer more because of it. I can do without suffering beyond the normal suffering because…not much fun to watch. Like the season where we watched them starve to death for weeks on end. Not entertaining really. But…otherwise, it sounds like an interesting season if nothing else. But can I reiterate that having a lurve connection when you stink really bad and haven’t bathed in a very long time? Yeah…ew to the extreme.

And yet, my DVR is already set and I am happy.

Mostly I can’t wait for the next season of Dancing with the Stars and Top Chef - both not until March. Which, gee, the strike better be over by then!

When does Big Brother start? Yes. I know. I’m just asking….

Thanks for all the title suggestions…keep em coming! It will give me a few things to read while I wait for Sophie Kinsella’s non-shopaholic hardcover, Remember Me, to be shipped to my door the end of February. Who else has fun stuff coming out soon?? I’m so behind the curve….

Tags: Writing by Donna
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So…I actually watched Americal Idol auditions. Yes, yes, it’s gotten that pathetic. I didn’t learn from Dance Wars, I had to go and watch horrible people pretend to sing. Okay, so I didn’t watch the horrible people, I ff’d through those parts, which really makes an hour show go by in a literal blink, as it turns out!

Sigh.

In the meantime, while waiting for the Writer’s Strike to end, I’m catching up on a few books in my towering To Be Read pile. Currently reading Tangled Up In You by Rachel Gibson and enjoying it. What’s on your nightstand these days? (Hey, a To Be Read Pile can never be too tall!)

Don’t forget to play in our week-and-a-half long SHaQ Attack contest. See Monday’s blog post for details, except you now have until 10pm EST next Wednesday, a week from today, to enter. AND there will be three winners instead of one! Woo hoo! Winning Blog Babes announced Thursday, Feb 7. So vote already!

Tags: Writing by Donna
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So, no fun reality shows to watch. And Project Runway is a repeat this week. Boo.

I was desparate enough that I taped Dance War and….wow, it’s just not really very good, is it? Out of the four performances, I liked one. Carrie Ann’s group did a nice job with Papa Was A Rolling Stone. Otherwise, not impressed. And, let me get this straight, they finally announce what the winner gets…and it’s a show called Dance Wars, but they get…a recording contract? This whole thing seems very slapped-togetherish. And though I think Drew is adorable, he’s not the most natural host in the world, either. So….disappointment. I guess I’ll have to wait for new stuff to start next month!

AND! Because, unbeknownst to me, no one will be going home on Project Runway this week, we’ll just keep the contest running until next week and I’ll pick not one, not two, but THREE winners! Woo hoo!! But you can only vote once.

So check out yesterday’s blog for the details and vote already. It’s more fun than Super Tuesday!

Tags: Writing by Donna
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If it’s Monday, it must be time for another contest!

This week, we’re going to play Who Gets Voted Off? And since we’re only MACing one show right now, yes, I’m talking about Our Tim Gunn and Project Runway. Even if you don’t watch, you can still play. A guess is all anyone can make anyway. If no one gets it right, everyone who guesses will be entered to win, so play why don’t you?

Okay, your choices (and you’re choosing who you think will go home) are: Ricky, Sweet Pea, Jillian, Chris, Christian, or Rami.

Send your votes to donna@donnakauffman.com with “You’re Out!” in the subject line. Winner announced in Friday’s blog gets a free book of choice from my website bookshelf.

Good luck and happy guessing! If you want to make a more informed decision, go to Bravotv.com and check out the runway.

Happy Monday everyone!

Tags: Writing by Donna
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It’s Friday, woo hoo! And that means it’s SHaQ Attack contest winner time. I took it easy on you this week, you only had to drop me an email, and boy do you guys like those weeks or what? I did pick a winner from the pile of entries and…..drum roll….this week, the winning Blog Babe is Cindy A!!! Woo hoo, Cindy!!!

Okay, so I’m formally complaining. To….someone. Now that we don’t even have Amazing Race anymore, things are getting a little slim. It’s Project Runway and…..yeah. That’s about it. American Idol needs to get past the ridiculous early rounds so I can actually watch it. And then February might get here so we can play Survivor again. And….maybe Big Brother. It depends on just how desperate I get. Has anyone checked out Cashmere Mafia? It’s…okay. I’m holding out for Lipstick Jungle. But I can’t say the commercials I’ve seen are thrilling me all that much.

What are you missing during The Strike? I’m not missing Grey’s or Private Practice as much as I thought I would. For me, it’s Dirty Sexy Money and Men in Trees. I’m hoping the new show Eli Stone turns out to be good. Anything with George Michael singing Faith in the premiere episode has to be worth watching at least once.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Tags: Writing by Donna
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So, last night Rafael Nadal got totally played Down Under at the Australian Open by this new up-and-comer, Tsonga. Wow, was that guy on or what? Insane level of play on both sides, and yet he won in straights. Very entertaining! As was the Sharapova domination over Justine Henin. Henin is not my favorite player. In fact, she’s…really not. So seeing her win streak come to an end didn’t bother me in the least. I know, I know, so mean, but we all have our villains and heroes, right?

In other news, Our Tim took the remaining seven designers to a pier warehouse where they got to grab as many Levi 501 brand denim as possible, then create something fresh and iconic for Levi Strauss. They all tackled the project with enthusiasm and it was interesting to see what could be done with denim.

My favorites were (sit down) Ricky’s little dress (I know! Shocking but true!), Christian’s fierce jacket and jean ensemble. His use of sleeves for the bottom part of the jean pants was really inspired. And Chris’s little blue dress knock off. I loved the structure.

My least faves…Sweet Pea actually made a beautiful dress, there was nothing wrong with it and a lot of right, but it was really just blah to me. I thought Rami’s was all over the place, though it was made well. But my biggest “what were you thinking???” moment is reserved for both Jillian and Victorya. Both are excellent designers who have been in the spotlight more than once and came very, very close to winning in their joint effort last week with that amazing trench coat. So…what do BOTH of them decide to make from their denim this week? Trench coats. Yeah. I know. And neither coat came even close to matching last week’s Neo-inspired look. At least Jillian’s appeared to be made well. Victorya’s was simply a hot mess.

In the end, Ricky wins (I know!! And he actually deserved it!) with Christian and Sweet Pea being the other top two. Rami and Chris were safe, leaving the Trenchcoat Twins on the bottom. It was really a shame to see it come down between those two. I’d have thought both Ricky and Sweet Pea, and maybe even Chris would exit before these two, but no. One bad trench, and you’re out! This time, it was Victorya. She picked a really bad week to have a bad week. Both Ricky and Sweet Pea delivered big, so there was no way they were going home. And though Chris was at risk, his take off on the little black dress was still head and shoulders above there coat creations.

Bye Victorya! Go back to making cute baby doll dresses!

Next week? I can’t even begin to figure out what they’re making. Something….pornographic? Yeah. I hope I have that wrong. Way. Wrong.

I hope everyone is having a great week! Don’t forget, this is your last day to enter this week’s SHaQ Attack contest. Details in Tuesday’s blog. It’s a no-brainer contest week, so don’t miss your chance for a free book!

Tags: Writing by Donna
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Hope everyone enjoyed their extended weekend!

I know I did, and that was definitely enhanced by a most satisfying win on the season finale of Amazing Race.

We had Ron/Chris, Nick/Don, and TK/Rachel racing the final leg, and the thing I enjoyed most about this, was I could sincerely root for all three teams. And, in a first for me, all three teams were actually competing like racers. They respected each other, got along well with their partners and the other teams, and all of them seemed to “get” that this was a race, but that, otherwise, it was just an amazing experience they all got to go on together. Thoroughly enjoyable finale.

It was also fun that it was close, right up to the last roadblock. And wow, what a final roadblock that was, huh? As much as I was rooting for Nick and Don, I found myself rooting for Rachel to beat out Chris, just….because. And I was thrilled when she kept her head, completed the puzzle, and raced back to a very exhilarated TK. Hard to believe he’s only 22, and she’s only 23, isn’t it? Very mature, those two. I loved how they competed during the race, loved how then dealt with each other, and how they truly enjoyed and absorbed every single second of the experience. Gratifying and well deserved win!

Cannot wait until next season! Not sure how they’ll top this one.

Oh…and Phil climbing the glacier? Yeah, that was all kinds of hot. More Phil-doing-stunts next season, please!

Now it’s SHaQ Time! I said I’d go easy on you for this week’s contest and I meant it. Send an email to donna@donnakauffman.com with “Pick Me!” in the subject line. I’ll draw one name from all the entrants and announce the winner on Friday. Winning Blog Babe gets a free book!

Speaking of free books….for previous winners who haven’t gotten theirs yet - they all went in the mail today! Woo hoo!!

Aaaaaaaand……..dish!

Tags: Writing by Donna
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Happy Friday everyone! My world is very shiny at the moment - but that’s because it’s entirely encased in ice. Here’s hoping the temperature rises and soon…..like before I have to get in my cute little car and drive anywhere.

In the meantime, how about some Runway MAC? This week our designers were asked to create an avant garde, over the top look based on their model’s hairstyle. (They were sent onto the runway in everything from dreadlocks to crimped cascades of hair.) I immediate thought Chris would rock this one, as it’s right up his over the top alley. Turns out I was right.

So, everyone picks their models, and then Our Tim informs them they will work in teams of two, and only use one model. Chris ends up with Christian, which I loved. Now, I know Christian seems like an annoying, egotistical little thing, and he is, but the thing is, he totally seems to get that about himself and does have a sense of humor about himself. If you look, the other designers always laugh with him and seem to really enjoy his antics. And I do, too. Something about his snarkiness appeals to me. I don’t want to know what that says about me.

Rami gets Sweet Pea for the mismatch, Kit ends up with Cry Me A River Ricky, which is a good fit as they enjoy each other and she actually makes him laugh, which leaves Victorya and Jillian, aka Team Sominex. Talk about your monotone, non-emoting, next to no personality duo. But they are both excellent designers, so I was really interested to see what they’d come up with.

One day into the two day challenge, and Tim surprises them with the news that, using their other model, they have to make a ready to wear outfit to complement the avant garde outfit. They were…not thrilled about this.

So, Rami spends the whole time giving Sweet Pea a hard time, which is a shame as I like Rami, but man, lighten up. Sweet Pea gets her revenge by making the best ready to wear garment in the room, to ensure her butt doesn’t go home. Rami’s dress is gorgeously draped as usual, but avant garde it is not.

Ricky and Kit…I have no idea what that mess is, but Scarlet O Hara at the county fair with kitchen curtains for a hoop dress is close. A shame. And Ricky’s ready to wear looks like a pillow case made into a slip. Not impressive.

Victorya and Jillian stress out about time management from minute one, which is valid considering its always a problem with both of them, but sheesh already. However, they totally knock this out of the park with a killer black trench coat, jodphurs, and a cute white blouse with lacing up the back to go with their model’s faux hawk. Very Neo Meets The Derby. Their ready to wear was kind of cute, but I didn’t see how it tied in to the avant piece.

But Chris and Christian, named Team Fierce by Our Tim to a great laugh from everyone, really knocks it with an amazingly tailored layered dress (42 yards of fabric in this one dress!) with a Vegas style shoulder….thing. And Christian’s ready to wear, while not exceedingly well tailored, was the only one that clearly had something to do with the original design.

Thankfully the judges agreed and gave Christian the win. (There will be no living with him now, but he’s so ridiculous about it, it makes you laugh rather than roll your eyes. I think he knows what a put on he is.)

On the other end, Rami gets rants about his constant drapage and for not working better with Sweet Pea, who, I thought made the best ready to wear and it did lend itself to the original. But it’s Kit and Ricky who end up on the bottom. FINALLY, I thought we were done with Ricky. I have no idea how he’s made it this far. At least Sweet Pea has redeemed herself several times, but this guy? Not so much. And please, burn the damn hats. But no….they send team leader Kit home instead. A shame, as, although not a favorite, she was interesting to watch and a good personality.

Next week? Denim Hell.

On to the SHaQ Attack - this week, in honor of the Australian Open (my man Baghdatis is still alive - woot!) I asked you to name the grand slam event featured in one of my books. The answer is Wimbledon, featured in Not So Snow White. Out of the avalanche of correct answers (see, I told you it was easy!) I picked a winner - and the winning blog babe is Amanda!! Woo hoo!!

I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday weekend! I will return Tuesday with more MAC and a new SHaQ!

Be safe, have fun…..aaaaaaaaaand dish!

Tags: Writing by Donna
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So, pout, Lindsay Davenport’s run at the Aussie Open is over. I’ve been enjoying her comeback after having a baby and was hoping she’d give me someone to root for on the women’s side this go around.

In other news, the juggernaut that is American Idol started last night, but I’m pretty done with the whole whackjob singer portion of the program and will wait until we’re actually meeting potential contestants to jump in and decide whether it’s a MACworthy endeavor this go around.

Have I mentioned that I’d really like the writer’s strike to be over right about now? Has anyone checked out some of the new shows they’re unearthing? I did try Cashmere Mafia…but am waiting for the Brooke Shields vehicle, Lipstick Jungle, before deciding if I’m going to follow. Sex and the City is still sorely missed by me and I don’t know that this can fill that void. However, there is an interesting series starting the end of the month called Eli Stone that I think my former-Cupid-loving heart has to give a look-sie. Or, you know, they could give the writers the compensation they deserve on digital sales and we could go back to watching the series we already know we love. Just an idea. Before you know it, it will be summer already. (It’s like 17 degrees today, so a girl can dream…)

The dearth of television distraction is forcing me to do things like….read! I just got the latest “Between the Numbers” Stephanie Plum book, Plum Lucky and am looking forward to dipping into that one. Sophie Kinsella has a new one coming out soon as well that is already on my pre-order list. What are you all reading?

Tune in tomorrow for Project Runway MAC. It looks to be an interesting week. And don’t forget to enter this week’s SHaQ Attack contest. Details in Monday’s blog.

Tags: Writing by Donna
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I’m not really sold on this show. And you know how much I love dancing…but, the concept isn’t really grabbing me. Perhaps if they actually, oh, I don’t know, explained how the competition will work and what it is the kids are playing for, that would help. For an ABC show, it seems kinda slapped together. A shame, because, as I said, I loves me some dancing. I’ll give it another week and see if they ’splain things.

Oh, I do have one gossipygirl tidbit about the show…did you know that cute contestant Zach is Julianne Hough (of Dancing With the Stars fame) ex-fiance? No, really. And she called it off. Um…Julianne, why did you let such a good guy go? Cute, talented, pre-med, tight with his family… I mean, if I were a few years younger (okay, okay, a lot of years younger, shut up) I’d be hard pressed to kick him to the curb… Yes, even for Apolo Anton Ohno. But even his talented adorableness doesn’t, unfortunately, save an otherwise questionably clumped together program.

In other news, none of my teams are left playing for the Super Bowl, which is no fun. But! The Australian Open has begun and no more rebound ace is the latest news there. Apparently Lleyton Hewitt carries some weight DownUnder. But there have been a lot of complaints about the surface since the event switched to that surface many moons ago, so his weighty opinion was just one of many, I’m sure. It gets sticky in the heat, and January is summertime in Australia which translates to hot, hot, hot..so, yeah. Playing a sport where you need to slide and skid across the court doesn’t work too well when the court is sticky. I’m glad to see the change instituted. Now…if we could just wave a wand and make Agassi magically a dozen years younger so he can play again, all would be great. Well, that and a women’s field that I actually care about, but I do have my priorities…

Speaking of Grand Slam tennis….don’t forget to enter this week’s SHaQ Attack contest! Details in Monday’s post. And this week, it’s all about the tennis, baby. But anyone can play. Honest!

Good luck!

Tags: Writing by Donna
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