#hashtag this is hilarious

The Emmys: Looks I Love

Kaley Cuoco in Vera Wang

This past Sunday's 65th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards brought out the good, the bad and the ugly (here's Vera Farmiga channeling Morticia Addams, and who knows what the heck was going through Amanda Peet's mind while she was getting dressed) — but mainly the good, as evidenced by these lovely ladies in the most stunning red carpet ensembles, in my opinion. Trends aside, I thought these women all looked fabulous in their own ways.

Giuliana Rancic in Mikael D

Kiernan Shipka in Delpozo

Lady Mary Michelle Dockery in Prada

Elisabeth Moss in Andrew Gn

Kerry Washington in Marchesa

January Jones in Givenchy

Tina Fey in Narciso Rodriguez

Jane Krakowski in Zac Posen

Images via Just Jared and The Huffington Post.

Interviewing Kristin Cavallari

On Saturday, I had the chance to meet and interview Kristin Cavallari (of MTV's Laguna Beach and The Hills fame), who was promoting her latest shoe collection in collaboration with Chinese Laundry at the Southlake Town Square Francesca's boutique. (Check out a snippet of the interview here.) I've interviewed some cool people (Ian Kinsler, Sidney Fullmer, a Steamboat Springs, Co. woman who won the lottery and more), but this definitely took the cake. Once a week my college roommates and I used to gather in the living room to watch The Hills, taking in every "reality TV" cat fight Kristin and her frenemies endured. It's funny, though, because in reality, Kristin is the sweetest person. She's very real and genuine and doesn't seem like she has a catty bone in her body when you talk to her. I had a total blast — this is definitely one for the books!

*Update: check the article here.

1/3/5/9 images credit WireImage.

my hair essentials

1. L'Oreal EverCurl Sulfate-Free Shampoo and Conditioner

2. Organix Moroccan Curling Perfection Defining Cream

3. Aveda Light Elements Smoothing Fluid

4. Pantene Anti-Humidity Non-Aerosol Hairspray

A few days ago, my aunt and I were discussing the plights of having curly hair. I've had curly hair my entire life, and when I say curly, I mean unruly, tangled, can't-brush-when-it's-dry ringlets/waves/frizz. I used to despise my hair, especially throughout middle school and high school when it seemed like all my friends and everyone else had beautifully shiny, stick-straight hair that they could run their fingers through whenever they pleased. Aside from having Justin Timberlake as my boyfriend, that is what I wanted most out of life.

However, a few years into my 20s, I started to appreciate my hair because it was different and because I finally learned how to properly take care of it. (I have this burned-into-my-brain memory from 5th grade when my friend Maggie asked me why I always wore my hair in a scrunchied bun at the nape of my neck. BECAUSE I'M 10 AND MY MOM DOESN'T HAVE TIME TO DO MY HAIR SO THIS IS HOW IT LOOKS OKAY.) Basically through trial and error, I discovered products that worked best for me and a manageable morning routine that doesn't make me want to, for lack of a better phrase, pull my hair out.

Curly hair needs moisture, and this L'Oreal shampoo and conditioner provides plenty of it. Post-shower, I comb and brush my hair so that it's tangle-free but still wet, then scrunch this Organix cream into my curls. Then I part my hair how I usually wear it and use a diffuser to dry it without overheating. Once it's dried a bit, I run this Aveda smoothing fluid over the top of my head, throughout the hair closest to the crown where frizz occurs — this tames crazy flyaways. Lastly, I lightly spray a bit of Pantene anti-humidity hairspray to catch any frizz that might remain. Unless I drive with my windows down or whip my hair back and forth, it usually stays in place throughout the day.

If you have curly hair, what products do you love and why?

My NYFW Faves

From Rachel Zoe:

From Ralph Lauren:

From Oscar de la Renta:

From Nanette Lepore:

As you can see, I'm loving dresses for spring, especially those with quarter-length sleeves, lace and pops of color. To be expected, all of Oscar de la Renta's pieces were gorgeous, and I was surprised by how ready-to-wear most of Rachel Zoe and Ralph Lauren's outfits actually were. Fashion is so subjective, but I prefer to see beautifully made, unique and classic (normal) pieces walk the runway, rather than something totally outlandish (case and point — apparently Mary Kate and Ashley think muumuus and baseball cap/cloche hat hybrids are on trend).

All images via The Cut.

Gone Shopping: Fall Wish List

1. Earrings // Kendra Scott

2. Skirt // J. Crew

3. Shoes // Rachel Zoe via DSW

4. Bangles // J. Crew

Here in the great state of Tejas, we don't get the season commonly known as fall until maybe November-ish. We might have several "cool" days here and there between September and Thanksgiving, but 70- and 80-degree temps are not unusual. (There's a reason no one's ever said, "Don't you just love Texas in the fall?") It's sad, really, because in my opinion, fall is the best season of them all. Pumpkin spice lattes; crisp, colorful leaves; a chill in the air; scarves; boots; turtlenecks; and the list goes on. I long to one day live in a place where all four seasons occur in their proper place.

Alas, I can currently only dream of fall fashion, so instead I'm craving trendy neutrals, which provide an easy transition from a colorful summer wardrobe into a more muted fall palette. I already have these Kendra Scott earrings in turquoise, and I wear them with practically anything, they're so versatile. The black ones are très chic and I can see myself pairing them with everything from dark skinny jeans and a flowy white blouse to a solid color shift dress. This J. Crew skirt I recently saw on Julia, and I fell in love — so fashionable and multifaceted. I've been searching for the perfect mid-heel ankle strap sandal, and I'm about 99 percent set on purchasing this Rachel Zoe pair (love the gold clasp). I've also been in dire need of some arm party action, and where better to start than with these gorgeous J. Crew bracelets?

I'd love for this to be a series, so be on the lookout for at least one Gone Shopping post per week!

Fro, yo

My friend Dorothy and I recently started this workout called Pure Barre. Have you heard of it? I like to refer to it as hell on earth while I'm in one of the hour-long classes, but afterwards I feel like a million bucks. It basically unleashes a full-blown attack on your abs, thighs, arms and butt (aka the seat) and makes you shake so violently that you're convinced everyone around you is wondering what on earth is wrong with you.

But this post is not really about how I'm trying to achieve a six-pack that will probably never be. It's about why, and its name is froyo. Frozen yogurt is literally the next best thing to breathing — low-fat and non-fat yogurt in delicious flavors like cookies-and-cream and red velvet topped with strawberries and Reese's. BRB, going to get some now.

But really. This is the treat I sometimes like to get post-Pure Barre when I'm done cursing my body for being so out of shape. It's 7:45 p.m., I've just finished an intense workout, it's 145 degrees outside and all I can think about is that cold, delicious goodness. Now I just need to figure out if it's possible to make this stuff at home so I don't have to keep holding my breath at the cash register hoping my froyo weighs less than $4 worth. I mean, I'm trying to maintain a budget here.

#BrunchMe

One of my favorite things to do now that I live in the Dallas-Fort Worth area is go to brunch. Brunch has never been big in San Antonio, but in DFW, it's the hip thing to do on a Saturday or Sunday morning (whether you had a really fun time the night before or not). Two of the brunch spots I frequent are Del Frisco's Grille and Bread Winners because they each serve a variation of my fave combo, eggs Benedict and mimosas.

Uptown Dallas has some of the most fun places for people my age to brunch, shop and go out, so I'm really hoping that when it comes time for me to move out of my aunt and uncle's house, I can find an affordable apartment in that area.

Let's talk about cupcakes

Okay. If you've never experienced Sprinkles, then you are missing out. The cupcake craze is certainly sweeping the nation — the delicious Bird Bakery (owned by Elizabeth Chambers and Armie Hammer) opened in S.A. a few months before I left — but Sprinkles is the true cupcake original. Sure, they're $3.50 each, but I'm tellin' ya, you get what you pay for: a giant, flavorful cupcake worth every crumb and every bit of that rich, decadent cream cheese frosting.

But as if that weren't enough, now I can get a Sprinkles cupcake TWENTY-FOUR-SEVEN at the Cupcake ATM. The electronic menu shows the available flavors, you swipe your card and BAM, out pops a fresh cupcake ready to be inhaled. This video says it all.

I think it's safe to say I found my newest indulgence addiction.

That time I met Oscar PR Girl

Most people don't know this, but my first-ever job interview was for Oscar de la Renta. It was late summer 2010, right after I graduated. I was following Erika Bearman on Twitter, and one day, she tweeted she was looking for an assistant and for interested applicants to email a resume and short description of why they'd make the best choice. Thinking I had nothing to lose, I emailed the contact she gave and promptly forgot about it. Days later, someone from her team emailed me asking to interview me in-person, in the ODLR New York City office. I almost dropped dead.

I flew to New York for 48 hours, during which I toured the Met, acted like a tourist fool in Times Square and interviewed with Erika (I curse Instagram for not being as popular then as it is now — I'd totally have snuck a pic). I was woefully unqualified and albeit a tad unprepared, but the experience is one I'll cherish forever. Needless to say, I've been following Erika's rise to popularity and learned more about Oscar de la Renta's designs, which is why I love these recent videos from Vogue's YouTube channel.


I also love Kate Bosworth (Blue Crush, what what) and adore her easy yet glamorous sense of style. I've never been one to gush at weddings or wedding dresses, but the simplicity of her dress and how it allowed for her true beauty to shine through was just too good not to share.

The Mag Queen

Welcome to The Mag Queen! This is a place where I hope to document my journey as a career girl, my travels and my fashion inspirations. In April of this year, I started my first full-time job (after several post-grad internships) as a magazine editor in Dallas. I stuffed my car full of clothes, shoes and accessories and drove straight from my hometown, San Antonio, to my aunt and uncle's house in DFW. I am currently still crashing with them — I mean, a girl has to be picky about her first apartment.

I hope you will follow along with me as I navigate the real world (what is a budget, anyway?), but I feel I should warn you it's possible you might start to wonder if I am certifiably insane when I begin to post about how often I visit Sprinkles or the million reasons why I love cold weather.

Thanks for reading.