Watch a Preview of the New ABC Series "Scandal"

I don't really watch "Grey's Anatomy" or "Private Practice" but I'm predicting that I'm going to be all over this series. And even though I don't watch Shonda Rhimes' other two shows, there's no doubt she's good at what she does.

Via Clutch Mag: 

TV’s it girl Shonda Rhimes is gearing up for the debut of her latest drama, Scandal, which premires April 5 on ABC. The show, which stars Kerry Washington and Columbus Short, is about a D.C. political crisis management expert who handles potentially explosive (and embarrassing) cases for many of the city’s elite. Scandal is based on the real-life exploits of Judy Smith, one of D.C.’s biggest power players. Smith worked as a White House aid to President George H. W. Bush, and served as counsel to Michael Vick, Monica Lewinsky, and former D.C. mayor Mayor Marion Barry. Click HERE to watch a preview of "Scandal"

Scandal is Rhimes’ third series for ABC and will begin airing April 5 at 10 pm.

Judy Smith, Shonda Rhimes and Kerry Washington

Mad Men Season 5 Starts March 23, 2012!

I can't wait!
 
 
 The 2 hour season premiere of Mad Men airs Sunday March 23, at 8PM Central on AMC.

Are You Ready For an American Idol Clothing Line?

So American Idol is doing a clothing line now? Okaaay. I have to admit, I haven't paid much attention to American Idol since Carrie Underwood won it, so what do I know really...

Kohl's has teamed with the Fox show to create an exclusive American Idol apparel collection under a new brand, Authentic Icon. The line, announced by Kohl's, will be sold from April through June of this year to coincide with the latest "Idol" season (its 11th!). "For over a decade American Idol has seamlessly woven fashion and music together to transform lives and create music icons." 

Authentic Icon clothes hit the junior's and young men's departments of Kohl's and kohls.com in April 2012. I don't want to say that this all seems kinda cheesy, oh wait. I just did. Well anyhoo, enough of my opinion, will you be checking for it?

...

I'm Hooked (Hooked!) on The Hunger Games.

Honestly, I was never even checking for The Hunger Games, but I kept seeing and reading little things about the book and people were excited about it, and I'm talking about ADULTS here. I know the books are YA (Young Adult, teen) fiction, but the response I was seeing from the grown set is what ultimately piqued my curiosity, and before I knew what happened, I was at the checkout at Barnes & Noble picking up a copy of The Hunger Games for myself. I read it in four days. I couldn't put it down! Suzanne Collins, the author makes you wonder what's going to happen next at every turn. Which is why I now have the second book Catching Fire. I am so into it. Mockingjay (the third book in the series) is up next for me. I think what appeals the book to adults is the fact that Suzanne Collins touches on some real adult themes in this series. Class warfare, the haves oppressing the have nots, reality vs. perception and so much more. 

The Hungers Games Trilogy Box Set

Beyonce's First Post-Baby Performances Scheduled.

via US Weekly: For the first time since 2011, Beyonce Knowles, 30, will perform her greatest hits during a special three-night engagement over Memorial Day Weekend at Revel Beach's Ovation Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Knowles, who welcomed daughter Blue Ivy with husband Jay-Z (real name: Shawn Carter) on January 7, last hit the stage at New York City's Roseland Ballroom for "4 Intimate Nights with Beyonce."

Tickets for Knowles' three concerts -- scheduled for May 25, 26 and 27 -- will go on sale Friday, April 6 at 10 a.m. EST at all Ticketmaster locations, on Ticketmaster.com and by calling 1-800-745-3000.

The "Love on Top" singer's husband, 42, performed just weeks after his daughter's birth at NYC's Carnegie Hall. His concerts benefited the United way of New York City and the Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation.

WATCH: Pres. Obama's "The Road We've Traveled"

WATCH: The Making of a CHANEL Jacket...

Pattern classes were the classes that I disliked the most back when I was in design school. My first pattern teacher was very, very intense, if you were off one sixteenth of an inch on your pattern, he would notice and deduct you an entire grade letter. Students who took his classes felt like nothing they did would ever be good enough. He expected PERFECTION. That scarred me mentally! Only recently have I been able to shake that feeling and begin to discover the wonders (wonders!) of pattern making all over again and I ironically strive for the same type of "perfection" I was taught in my pattern classes all those years ago. This is why I think the video below is so awesome. The hand detail that goes into a CHANEL jacket is incredible (which also explains their luxury price tag). A great pattern is where it all starts...

In Case You Missed: "The Announcement" Magic Johnson's HIV Doc To Re-Air

In the wake of finding out that my city ranks first in the country in AIDS cases per 100,000 Magic Johnson's "Announcement" seems timely (a documentary about his life before and after revealing to the world that he had contracted HIV, directed by Nelson George). It will re-air on Thursday evening March 15th on ESPN. Watch the trailer below:
 

WATCH: Brandy & Monica's Interview on Power 105.1

It's a long one but it's pretty good. So grab yourself a beverage then press play to check it: 

WATCH: Carol's Daughter New "Transitioning Movement"

As someone who has recently transitioned from relaxed to natural hair (check out my Tumblr for a glimpse into my hair journey) this new campaign from Carol's Daughter featuring Solange Knowles has me intrigued... check it below:
 
 To learn more about Carol's Daughter's "Transitioning Movement", sign up for the newsletter on their website so you can be one of the first in line to get more details about the site’s launch! There’s also the chance to become one of their first featured “Transitioning Beauties of the Week.”

WATCH: Esperanza Spalding's Radio Music Society Trailer

Sounds like one of those albums you can just press play and then leave it alone. Esperanza Spalding's Radio Music Society will be available on March 20. 

J. Lo is Red Hot on Her 2nd Cover of VOGUE.

Jennifer Lopez will be the "shape issue" cover girl for Vogue Magazines April 2012 issue.

My DIY Turtleneck Mini Dress...

I turned a black, Old Navy size medium turtleneck blouse (that I wasn't wearing by the way) into a mini dress and actress Keke Palmer's dress that I spotted in a magazine spread was the inspiration. 

See more HERE.

Will You Be Watching "Styled by June?"

June Ambrose, stylist to the stars has a new reality show coming to Vh1, "Styled by June" will you be watching?

Get More: Styled By June, Styled by June , June Ambrose , Celebrity Stylist , Stylist to the Stars

Banana Republic Stuns Airline Passengers with Fashion Show

Check out behind the scenes video from Virgin America flight #407 from New York to Los Angeles where passengers were caught off guard by a Mad Men themed Banana Republic fashion show that happened right there in the aisle of their flight. As a blogger myself, I can't even say that I wouldn't have been like "WTH?" lol. Even the bloggers who were invited by Banana Republic to the fashion show didn't know it was all happening on the plane. They were told that the show would be happening later that night. Check it below:
 

Are You Checking for Madonna's New Fragrance?

I don't usually do celebrity fragrances. Oh.. wait. Because I do own a bottle of Glow by J. Lo. Ok, you know what? No judgement. Because some of ya'll probably own Beyonce's Heat or Britney Spears Fantasy perfume so don't even try to explain it away. We've all fallen (seriously though, I just spritzed that Glow by J. Lo on the other day. It has a sort of "clean and fresh" scent that I like) Anyhoo, Madonna is coming out with her "Truth or Dare" fragrance and I was surprised that this was her first...

Heidi Klum Opens Up to Elle Magazine About Her Marriage

via Us Magazine: For the first time ever, the 38-year-old supermodel and host of Project Runway opens up to ELLE's April issue about their shocking split.

"I feel like I'm in the eye of the tornado. It's emotions inside of your body that are a tornado. And then the outside world doing all this craziness -- with you wanting it or not wanting it -- is another tornado," says Klum, who shares four children and a $14.2 million Brentwood home with her ex. "But as hard as it is, so is life. And sometimes I think a curveball just comes at you. Instead of something straight that you catch, it hits you in the head from the side that you didn't expect."

Dude Disrespects Girls Everywhere on Fashion Star

Ok, I know I'm supposed to be all upset at Nicholas, a menswear designer from Australia for making the silly comment to Jessica Simpson that women's opinions don't matter to him when it comes to his precious menswear (really dude?) and really it does upset me (grrrr!!) but all that aside, why was I was mesmerized by Nicole Richie's black maxi dress? Because I was. She rarely misses an opportunity to be fabulous... watch the clip below to check it: 

The NBC show, hosted by Elle Macpherson, will premiere on March 13th at 9:30 ET.

16 Year Old American Idol Contestant Stuns Singing Whitney Houston's I Will Always Love You

Gutsy "American Idol" contestant Jessica Sanchez took on Whitney Houston's biggest hit, delivering a performance that awed the show's judges. When host Ryan Seacrest asked the panel to name Wednesday night's top two singers among the 13 finalists, Steven Tyler was ready. "Jessica Sanchez and Jessica Sanchez," Tyler said. Watch below and continue reading this HERE. 
 
She does kinda stick it. Wow.

66 Year Old Debbie Harry Mistaken for 25 Year Old Lindsay Lohan

Well...

Who Run the World? GIRLS! Sara Blakely is Youngest Self Made Billionaire

And I must say, I helped her get there by owning a pair of Spanx. Some of you probably helped too. Congrats to her. It's a good look...
via HuffPo: Sara Blakely, the founder of ubiquitous shapewear company Spanx, debuts on one of the covers of Forbes' new Billionaires issue as the youngest self-made woman to earn the big "B" title at age 41. 
Florida native Blakely started her first business in 1990: a babysitters' club. But Spanx famously began when Blakely, at age 27, cut the feet off a pair of pantyhose to wear under her cream-colored slacks for their figure-flattering properties. "I needed an undergarment that didn't exist," she told Forbes. 
 While holding down a day job, Blakely worked tirelessly to build her Spanx empire, shipping items in the wee hours of the morning and aggressively approaching Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus to start stocking her products. 
 Continue reading this article HERE.

PREVIEW: Oprah's Bobbi Kristina Interview...

On Sunday, March 11, Oprah will sit down with Whitney Houston's daughter, Bobbi Kristina; her sister-in-law, Patricia Houston; and her brother, Gary Houston, on a special episode of Oprah's Next Chapter airing at 9/8c, only on OWN. Bobbi Kristina shares personal memories of her mom and how she would like the iconic superstar to be remembered. The family also addresses the rumors and speculation surrounding Houston's death. 
Watch a sneak preview now. For more on Oprah's Next Chapter visit Oprah's Next Chapter. Watch below:
 

Visiting Kentucky!

Visiting the State of Kentucky (Louisville) for the Travel South Showcase and the people here could not be more hospitable. There's something to be said about the charm that the Southern States bring and they bring it in spades. The Travel South Showcase is the only regional conference that is 100% focused on the southern states of Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana (that's us!), Mississippi, North Carolina,South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. 

Check back for more updates (and pictures) from our trip along with trip ideas from these great Southern States. And follow us on Twitter @hipcandy and @hiptripadvisor for real time updates on our Kentucky adventures!

Take me to Hip Trip Advisor

WATCH: Jennifer Hudson & Ne-Yo in "Think Like a Man"