Country Spotlight: Thompson Square

May 18, 2012 at 12:09 pm , by Ron Kelly

They may have just been crowned the Academy of Country Music’s Vocal Duo of the Year, but Thompson Square certainly flexed some potential Entertainer of the Year muscle when they visited us here at Ladies’ Home Journal a few weeks ago. Shawna and Keifer Thompson not only impressed the room with an intimate, stripped-down set of their hits (be sure to check out the video after the jump), but they also earned an instant, easy rapport with the staff and kept us all in stitches with their hilarious stories and banter. (One coworker enthusiastically emailed me her review after their performance: “It was like a 2-for-1 show—music and comedy!”)

Still, when the husband-wife act landed in Las Vegas last month for the ACMs, they were—to hear them tell it—feeling like long shots. “You’re going up against Sugarland and they’re kind of like the new Brooks & Dunn,” explains Keifer, giving props to the two acts that have dominated the Vocal Duo category since 1991. “We’ve been around a couple of years, but it’s really just been a year and a half that we’ve been in the thick of things. We figured it might take us four more years to even get close.” But luck proved to be a lady—and her husband—that fateful night: T2 hit the country music jackpot and became the first new act to take top honors in the duo category in 20 years.

“It’s hard to process all that’s happening. Just hearing you introduce us in there and saying we’re the Vocal Duo of the Year, it’s weird. It’s a strange feeling,” Shawna admits. “I kind of compare it to getting married,” Keifer adds. “You think you’re gonna have this amazing feeling come over you, like, ‘Oh, we’re married, and this is what it feels like when you’re married.’ But it doesn’t work that way. It probably took us 10 years for us to finally feel like a married couple. And that’s how all of this feels. None of it feels real. It’s truly a dream come true.”

While Keifer and Shawna remain incredibly humble, the award is far from being undeserved. Their breakthrough single “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not” was the most played song on country radio in 2011 and they’ve taken home three American Country Award wins plus multiple Grammy and CMA nominations in the past year. And in a few weeks they’ll be vying for two CMT Music Awards, with a double nomination (for both “I Got You” and “Glass,” their latest release) in the Duo Video of the Year category.

“We don’t have any kids but I’d imagine it’d be harder to say that one’s better than the other,” says Shawna, finding it difficult to play favorites with her video creations. Keifer is equally as torn, but ultimately does reveal a preference. “I thought ‘I Got You’ was a brilliant video. [Director] Wes Edwards did a fantastic job of putting that whole thing together and it was so different,” he says. “ ‘Glass’ is our new single and you want that one to win, too, but from an aspect of what deserves to win? ‘I Got You.’ Hands down.”

Whether they come out on top at the awards show, a win is definitely headed fans’ way when the duo heads back into the studio later this month to work on new music for their next CD. “We actually got about 16 things demo’d and we’re going to start to put some tracks down in preproduction,” Keifer says, noting that there will be a more diverse range of material on the new album than on the first. “We’re gonna have some really beautiful ballads, which we don’t really have on the current album—except for ‘Glass.’ We were just really scared about being pigeonholed with that whole ‘hokey married couple’ thing on the first record.”

The CD will still be rockin’, though, Shawna promises, proving she’s learned some lessons on the road from all of the extensive touring T2 has done. (Currently, T2 is opening for the red-hot Lady Antebellum Own the Night tour.) “It’s hard when you’re a new artist to go out and play new songs for people that aren’t familiar with you,” Shawna explains, “so it’s important to have some energy. When fans come to our show, they’re going to hopefully have a good time and rock out with us.”

For now, you can rock out with Thompson Square by viewing their fun-filled LHJ performance after the jump. You’ll also find some highly entertaining bonus interview moments, in which I get their he said/she said take on everything from KISS-ing on the ACM red carpet, what drives them nuts about each other and why Keifer may start following Blake Shelton’s lead on Twitter.

Read more

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Book Club Guest Blog: Expectations and Next to Love

May 18, 2012 at 11:48 am , by Ladies' Lounge

Today’s post is by Neely Kennedy of Reading Group Choices, a leading online resource for book club tips and discussible selections. 

In June’s LHJ Book Club pick, Next to Love, author Ellen Feldman tells the heartbreaking, but hopeful story of three women’s lives during the paradigm shift of the Baby Boomer generation—1944-1964, spanning WWII and the war in Vietnam.

Babe, Grace and Millie are young wives whose husbands have been drafted to fight in WWII. When the trajectory of their future is forever changed by war’s tragic events, their imperfect, yet steadfast, friendships prove the only constant in their lives.

In the excerpts from the book below, Feldman illustrates a woman’s instinct for survival—the ability to adapt to whatever twists and turns life may present.

Work: Women are constantly breaking through the barriers of perceived gender inferiority, especially when taking on jobs traditionally (and stereotypically) held by men.

“…her father laughed at her for applying. Who did she think she was? He said the same thing when she went to work at Diamond’s rather than a five-and-dime. Who did she think she was? It was the refrain of her life.”

Marriage: In the thick of a long marriage, there often comes a point at which we recognize our original expectations were somewhat idealized.

“Babe thinks of Claude. It always comes back to Claude. Love may endure a lifetime, but it is less reliable on a day-to-day basis.”

Friendship: Long-lasting friendships are often our greatest source of support, but can also be complicated and painful.

“And here they are all these years later. They love one another with atavistic ferocity, though it occurs to Babe sitting in the sunporch, these days perhaps they do not much like one another.”

Motherhood: As we move from childhood into adulthood, we grow to know our mothers not only as mothers, but also as humans—flawed and imperfect.

“The scene is picture perfect, a spread in one of the women’s magazines she and Millie subscribe to. Except it can’t be because in the world of those glossy pictures, mothers do not ask their daughters to keep secrets.”

Society: Many women struggle to meet the expectations society places on us.

“She is ashamed of being a woman alone in the world without a man, unclaimed, unvalued, a reproach to the laws of society and nature. When she found Charlie, she thought she had taken care of all that for life.”

Book Club Bonus! Ask members to discuss expectations pertaining to each of the topics above: work, marriage, friendship, motherhood, society. What does it means to be in a relationship (romantic or platonic) without imposing your own expectations? How we can find more personal fulfillment through expectations we place on ourselves, instead of through our expectations of others?

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4 Easy Ways To Make Your Shoes More Comfortable

May 17, 2012 at 9:30 am , by Gabrielle Porcaro

In our Killer Heels story, we discussed the fact that wearing super-high heels can lead to some foot issues. Now, I would never tell anyone to stop wearing heels completely (everything in moderation, right?). They can do wonders for your legs — not to mention your self-esteem — but there is nothing worse than having to hobble around with sore, achy feet. Luckily there are some genius products out there that mean you don’t have to suffer.

Pressure Pointz from Foot Petals are one of my new favorites. They’re small thick adhesives you can stick  right on the area where your shoe is hurting to relieve any pressure — these definitely will be in my purse all summer. Dr Scholl’s massage gel insoles fit into any shoes and will keep you feeling like you’re walking on pillows all day. If you do get a blister, Nexcare has great waterproof bandages that will help you survive until they heal. And what about smelly feet (which can be painful to those around you)? I’m a big fan of baby powder, but then I end up tracking white footprints around my apartment. Summer Soles scented insoles keep your shoes and feet smelling fresh.

Stock up on these products and (some new shoes) and your feet will be forever grateful!

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Healthy Wisdom from Maya Angelou

May 16, 2012 at 2:40 pm , by Amelia Harnish

“It’s in the reach of my arms, the span of my hips, the stride of my step, the curl of my lips…” If you recognize those lines, you know Dr. Maya Angelou literally wrote the book on being a phenomenal woman. Now, at 84, the legendary poet and author is asking women to take control of their health.

I had the honor of speaking with Dr. Angelou on the phone this week. There’s something about her booming voice and metered way of speaking that commands attention. From the moment she said hello, I felt like I was talking to my all-knowing grandmother, and I had better listen.

She told me she learned early on that putting yourself first is the best thing you can do for those around you. “It seems on the face of it that it’s selfish, but it’s the opposite,” she says. And she’s right: How can you take care of children and aging parents if you don’t take care of yourself first? In honor of National Women’s Health Week, Dr. Angelou is asking us all to take a good look at ourselves: What can we do better?

“Look in the mirror. You’ll know what to do,” she says, without any doubt.

Almost two-thirds of American women are overweight or obese, and nearly 20 percent still smoke cigarettes. Both are major risk factors for heart disease, the number one killer of women in the United States. For African-American women, the stats are even scarier: four out of five are overweight or obese and they have the highest rate of death from heart disease, according to the CDC.

But it’s important not to focus just on getting down to a certain size, she says. Also listen to your body: “Sometimes women feel like they’re in competition with other women. They’ll never look like the model in the magazine, so they give up. The truth is you’re not in competition with other women. You’re in competition with bad health,” she says. “I encourage women to be present. Our bodies tell us when we’re well, and when we’re not well. Don’t be in denial.”

In honor of the opening of the Maya Angelou Center for Women’s Health and Wellness in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Dr. Angelou wants to know: What inspires you to be healthy? Share your story on the Maya Angelou Center for Women’s Health and Wellness Facebook page. A passage from the winning healthy inspirations submission will be featured inside the center, and runners-up will receive an autographed copy of Phenomenal Woman.

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Jillian Harris Blogs The Bachelorette: Episode 1

May 15, 2012 at 3:43 pm , by Ladies' Lounge

Another season of The Bachelorette kicked off last night with Emily Maynard, a single mom who competed on The Bachelor after she lost her fiancée in an accident several years ago, only to find out days later that she was pregnant with his child. If last night’s premiere was any indication, this season is the one to watch, and we’re excited to announce that we have Jillian Harris from season five of The Bachelorette recapping for us every week! Jillian currently runs her own interior design firm and hosts Canada’s Handyman Challenge on HGTV Canada. She’ll be here sharing her insight with us every Tuesday—be sure to check back all season long!

Hi everyone! I’m so excited to be blogging for LHJ.com for the new season of The Bachelorette—I think it’s going to be a great one! First off, I have to say I think Emily is so, so beautiful. And I don’t mean to devalue the importance of my time on the show or anyone else’s, but I really think this season of The Bachelorette is the most important in terms of what it means for her. I wanted to find love, of course, but at the time I kind of looked at it like, whatever happens, happens. But I think because she’s a mom and she’s bringing her daughter along with her on this journey, the pressure is really on, and I hope this is it for her.

That being said, I also have to say that the show packed some major cheese last night, maybe more than ever. I loved Randy but seriously, what the heck was up with the granny get-up? It was so hard to take these guys seriously. I obviously loved Arie; he is so dreamy and I’m pretty sure he’s already a front-runner for Emily. Now as for Kalon, a.k.a. helicopter guy? I’m all for standing out, but in the least pretentious way possible, which in my opinion, helicopter guy didn’t achieve. At first I thought Jef the hipster was kind of a joke but he’s right, the other guys probably will underestimate him. I love what he stands for and I think his charity work is a huge turn on.

Overall there were definitely some good-looking men and I’m sure there are some solid guys in the group. I know that for me, that first night was such a blur (and no, not because of the champagne!). Emily is going to make some good decisions and some bad decisions, but at the end of the day I’m pretty sure she’ll pick the right guy. Whether it lasts or not has nothing to do with the show, and everything to do with their “real life” relationship. I know I picked the right guy and I actually believe that for a time, it was a successful relationship. I just hope that hers is a successful relationship that lasts longer than mine did.

Until next time,

Jillian

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The Coolest New Way To Sell and Buy Stuff Online

May 14, 2012 at 1:20 pm , by Gabrielle Porcaro

How does that saying go—one person’s trash is another person’s treasure? HipSwap is a newish (started last year), marketplace that connect buyers and sellers locally and across the country. Think of it as an eBay/Craigslist/Gilt-like site for fashion and home goods. Hipswap’s goal is to de-creep the online selling and buying experience by creating communities. In some cities they even have a delivery service. It’s also a very visually pleasing and user-friendly way to sell some items that you aren’t wearing or using any more and make some cash. (It’s also a perfect site to spend that cash!)

Hipswap also features some fashionable closets you can shop from, like Kyle Richards from Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and other fashion “experts.” You might just recognize a familiar face (yep, that’s me).

Happy shopping/selling!

 

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How-To: The Half-Updo That Everyone Will Be Wearing This Spring

May 14, 2012 at 10:48 am , by nykiaspradley

When Nicholas Penna Jr., owner of SalonCapri in the Boston-area, sent us the photo of this fancy-schmancy updo we flipped over his handy work, and then preceded to find out when he would be in our neck of the woods next so that he could give us the ‘do. Turns out, according to Penna, the style (he calls it “The Crown”) is simple enough for  any updo novice (US!) to do on themselves. Here’s how he told us to get the look…

STEP 1 If your hair is naturally straight, follow STEP 2 and STEP 3 below to curl the hair. If your hair already has a curl to it, skip to STEP 4.

STEP 2 Separate hair into top and bottom sections. Clip the top section up, leaving the bottom section to hang.

STEP 3 Using a 1 1/2 inch curling iron, curl all of the hair that is down. Alternate the curling direction between counterclockwise and clockwise. Repeat this step with the top section of hair.  Separate curls with your fingers to achieve a piece-y look.

STEP 4 Take a 1/2 inch to 2 inch piece of hair slightly above one ear and pull it across the head to the other side and let the section drape slightly so there will be enough room to pull hair pieces around it. Combine the draped section with a small piece of hair right behind the other ear and pin the joined hair pieces with a bobby pin.

STEP 5 Starting at the side of the head where the first hair section was taken from, select another piece of your hair from under the draped section. Lift it upwards, over, and then under the draped section, leaving it to fall underneath.

STEP 6 Next, grab another piece of hair from under the draped section a 1/2 inch to an inch over and follow the same step. Continue across the head by choosing random pieces and pulling them over and under the draped section until you reach the other side of the head.

STEP 7 For the last pinned piece, lift it over and under but let it wrap over the first bobby pin used to secure the draped hair section (to make the bobby pin less visible). Take a second bobby pin and secure the final wrapped piece where the draped section was first secured above one ear.

STEP 8  Finish with a light spray of medium hold hairspray, like Shu Uemura Sheer Lacquer.

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