My Top 5

1. Small Town America

Although I come from a small town in northern California I’ve never considered myself a small town girl, nor have I considered northern California to be part of “small town America.” Recently I’ve been spending every weekend in east Texas, mostly near College Station. The best part of my visits is the long (and numerous) drives I take between big cities (because nothing in Texas is close together, nor does anything happen in the small towns). Along the way I pass dude ranches, grazing longhorn cattle, and trucks alongside the highway from which families sell crafts emblazoned with the Texas flag. When I stop to re-fuel, the gas stations are usually connected to barbeque joints or live bait shops. The waitresses in the local diners call me “sweetheart” or “honey” and many of the men sitting at the counter sipping coffee are missing some or all of their front teeth. While most of my friends from Texas admit these characteristics to be “redneck-ish,” I find them extremely comforting. There is something nice about the fact that the members of these small towns know each other and legitimately care for one another. They will do me a favor without asking for something in return and they are always interested to know how my day is going. Their friendly attitudes and down-home values are surely something to be admired. I only wish they would spread to America’s coasts, where in the midst of the crowds and our busy schedules, we sometimes forget the most important things.

2. Executive Suites—Why mingle with the masses when you can enjoy the game in luxury?

I’ve been lucky enough in the months of late to take in various sporting events from the comfort of my own suite. (Well, it’s not my suite. I’m a guest. But the people I pass on my way to the private elevators don’t know that.) In fact, a few days ago I watched a Chicago Blackhawks game in the opulence of a penthouse-level Executive Suite. “Watching” the game may actually be a bit of an overstatement. The suite, rather, was the experience. I pulled up to the United Center with my executive parking pass in hand, but because I was a little late, I assumed I’d still be parking in Timbuktu. Luckily, most of the people who have these parking passes must be of some importance, because a spot was saved for me no more than 20 yards from the main gate. Once I got to the penthouse level, the wining and dining really began. Never mind that the hockey players looked like little specs of dirt floating around on the ice—There were flat-screen TVs on every wall so we could see each shot replayed from every angle. Never mind I didn’t have to wait in long lines to get my polish dog and cotton candy—I had a full buffet to keep me satisfied. Never mind I didn’t spill my Diet Coke all over the person in front of me as I tried to crawl back into my seat—When I got thirsty our bartender was at my service. While being a true fan usually means enjoying all the quirks of your favorite ballpark or stadium, being treated like a celebrity definitely has its perks. My next mission—ditching the suite for courtside seats. I’m thinking I’ll go for a Lakers game, where I can sit next to Jack Nicholson.

3. The Ugly Bridesmaid Dress—Back in the limelight, but as an era that has (hopefully) passed.

All women know what it means to be a bridesmaid. There are the obvious duties like helping plan various aspects of the reception, and then there’s the dress. At some weddings, wearing the dress is more of a joke than a privilege. Gaudy colors, puffy sleeves, and a crinoline underneath. In fact, a lot of attention has been given to these tacky “costumes” over the years. There’s a movie all about them called 27 Dresses coming out on Friday and there’s even a Web site solely dedicated to the ugly bridesmaid dress, wedding dress, or tuxedo (www.uglydress.com). These dresses are those of the “one time use” variety. You’ll wear them in support of the bride on her big day, but they will be banished to the back of the closet (or worse—the dumpster behind the hotel) by the time the after-party rolls around. If they are kept around it is for an ‘80s-themed party where they are accompanied by fuchsia fishnets and a side ponytail. You get my point. But for those who may be in a wedding sometime soon (like myself), relief is in sight. According to Ramona de la Rosa, the executive vice president for merchandising for David’s Bridal, the hottest new trend in bridesmaid dresses is the “wear-again dress.” These dresses are more casual and fluid and are beginning to mimic what women would actually choose for themselves. In fact, some brides have gone so far as the let the bridal party choose their own dresses. Case in point—Eva Longoria. At her July 7, 2007 wedding to NBA star Tony Parker, Longoria had 12 bridesmaids. Each wore a different style dress. Finally brides are getting the picture, and thank goodness it doesn’t involve taffeta and elbow length gloves.

4. Hollywood’s Baby Boom

It seems that babies are all over Hollywood lately. And while this isn’t a new phenomenon (women have always had children), the public obsession with celebrity pregnancies has certainly reached its peak. A few celebrity toddlers are consistently beating out their parents for spots in the tabloids (Suri Cruise and Violet Affleck in particular), and the paparazzi now seeks the “baby bump” underneath every loose-fitting t-shirt or empire-waisted dress. Though neither is more than three days old, I assume Harlow Winter Kate Madden (daughter of Joel Madden and Nicole Richie) and Max Liron Bratman (son of Christina Aguilera and Jordan Bratman) will be our next targets. The public will move on, however, as soon as the next Burberry-clad baby is born. Luckily for us, A-listers Halle Berry, Jessica Alba and Nicole Kidman are expecting.

5. The Spears Family—More dysfunctional than ever.

Britney, Jamie Lynn and Lynne Spears are top five material for one reason alone—if they were to disappear tomorrow, who would we talk about? Within her gossip-ridden family tree, Brit takes the cake this week for her bizarre yet consistent multiple personality disorder. It’s nothing new, of course, we’ve just seen more shades of Britney in the past week than necessary. Who can forget the LAPD raiding her home during an alleged “hostage” situation involving one of her sons? Or perhaps Brit’s car shopping escapade at a Mercedes dealership in the San Fernando Valley to which she wore one of the dresses from her wedding to ex-husband Kevin Federline. Maybe the cheap wigs are affecting her brain, but seriously Brit, either get it together or get some help. As for Jamie Lynn, Brit’s 16-year-old sister, things are also not so great. Just before Christmas Jamie Lynn announced her pregnancy with boyfriend Casey Aldridge (it was first reported that Jamie’s mom, Lynne, actually sold the story for $1 million, but that has yet to be confirmed). Jamie has decided to put her acting career for Nickelodeon’s Zoey 101 on hold and move back to Louisiana to raise the baby. As for Lynne, the book she was writing on parenting has been put on hold “indefinitely.” I think we can all breathe a collective sigh of relief.