Starstruck
Humpday! I always look forward to the weekend, and even more so now that the Pilot’s been back to work. I like hanging out with him 😉
This morning’s bfast was the last of nana’s egg casserole
(I’ll ask her for the recipe- quite a few friends have asked for it)
with tea and toast
+ an oatie
and I’m heading off to a doc appt (1 month checkup!) with Livi.
While I’m driving around, I usually listen to Zumba music or podcasts. One of the podcasts I listen to regularly is the Jillian Michaels podcast, which is interesting because I’ve never been a huge JM fan. And then, I started listening to her podcast and her personality is entirely different than the one she portrays on TV. She actually seems almost likeable- she discusses fantastic topics and is always kind and gracious to the listeners who call in.
In the grand scheme of celebrity trainers (and there are quite a few nutty ones out there), she isn’t the worst, but of course, there are quite a few out there that I would personally love to work out with. I’ve talk about all of my faves here on the blog: Chalene Johnson –Turbofire is one of my all-time favorite workouts- Zuzana Light, who used to do the BodyRock workouts but is now doing ZWOW workouts on YouTube. I also love Shawn T from Insanity and the Physique 57 girls.
One of the trainers I haven’t talked about much is Gunnar Peterson:
That photo was taken at the G Fit party… I was totally starstruck when I saw him, and of course, didn’t say anything because I didn’t want to be a goober.
Gunnar is known for training Angelina Jolie, Sophia Vergara and Jennifer Lopez. I like his functional style of training and he seems genuine.
Have you ever seen someone you admire and chickened out of saying something?
Met someone famous?
I was so excited to meet Ani Phyo and then all I could say was “I love your donut holes.” Nice.
Hope you have a great day!
xoxo
Gina
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I was on vacation in Rome this past summer and saw that Michael Vartan and Jason Priestley were staying in my hotel….all I could do was go down to the bar every evening and sit a few stools down and drool over my glass of vino….no words. absolutely no words. They’d sit there and talk, people would chat with them, and I would be glued to my seat. no words.
Epic fail.
Oh my GOSH I am so jealous! Michael Vartan was my first celebrity crush back in his Never Been Kissed days hahaha. 🙂
Ohhhh me too!! I watched Alias mostly for him!! 🙂
Yes! I interned in Hollywood over the summer for a celebrity publication and met the Kardashians, Whitney Port, Paris Hilton, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Brenda Song, Trace Cyrus, David Arquette and a few others! Mostly reality TV people, but still fun!
Is Whitney as sweet in person as she seems on TV?
I have made the oaties 3 times now and they are delicious, but they do not look like yours. Mine are crumbly and they turn brown like the chocolate. Not sure what I am doing wrong. Each time they look different!
same!
I had the opportunity to meet Jenna Bush Hager and former First Lady Laura Bush at the National Book Festival in DC in 2010. When I finally got to the front of the line to get my book autographed by them, all I could say was “Wow, you guys are so pretty.” I felt so stupid. Oops.
I saw Keira Knightley in a restaurant in NYC but I didn’t say anything.
Most recently, I got to chat with Amy Chua, of Tiger Mom fame– she was great!
Years ago, when Tai Bo (spelling?) was really popular, I saw Billy Banks or whoever that guy is in Hawaii. He was at breakfast with his entourage. I thought it was pretty funny because he was in so many crazy corny commercials… ha!
I met Gina Grant at the Zumba convention and had my picture taken with her but still didn’t really say anything :/ And last year I met Krista Popowych (she’s a pretty famous instructor/presentor in Canada) and I acted like a total loser. It didn’t help that she had been teaching spin sessions all day and walked in looking totally perfect, and I had only done a step session and a yoga session and I looked like a total grease bucket.
I bumped into (literally) Salma Hayek while shopping but I didn’t bother her. Your nanna’s egg casserole looks so good!
Wow! Now I know why people say to soak up every second with your new baby. TIME FLIES! I can’t believe Livi is a month old. It makes me a little sad for my future mama self (4 more weeks). I will have to remind myself not to rush things, even the rough times.
And who knew there are so many uses for baking soda
I once met Jake Gyllenhaal when I was working in retail and he walked in and sat down on the couch in our store. I had to avoid eye contact just to prevent myself from melting into a puddle.
Oh my gosh, I definitely would have melted into a puddle in Jake Gyllenhaal’s presence! He is swoon-worthy, for sure.
I would have melted too. He is so cute and talented!!!
Jake Gyllenhaal has always been my biggest celeb crush!! He seems so down to earth and the fact that he is so stinkin dreamy doesn’t hurt either. I wanted to marry him.. Buuuut I’m getting married in April, so much for that dream. I kinda sorta like my guy alot though so I guess it’s ok! 🙂 (But seriously!! You saw Jake Gyllenhaal in person! Sigh.)
The only celebrity I have ever met was the girl who played Cornelia on the Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV show. Not exactly an A-list celeb, but my 7th grade-buffy-the-vampire-loving-self was super pumped! 🙂
Haha, I love Ani Phyo and her donut holes, too! My most starstruck was last Halloween. I did an interview with Ian Somerhalder (from the Vampire Diaries) and was trying so hard not to sound like a goober. But at one point he touched my knee to emphasize a point, and I totally lost my train of thought! It turned out okay in the end, though.
This is off-topic, but I had a question. I love my lululemon pants (and would wear them everyday if i could!) but I work out 6 days a week and have to pay for laundry, therefore can’t use them as much as I’d like. I want to buy more, but it’s just not in the budget right now. Any suggestions for other great (and flattering) workout/yoga pants that might be a little more budget-friendly?
Yes! Victorias secret has awesome foldover yoga pants. They fit great and last forever- I used to wear them in my dance days
Definitely hit up TJ Maxx or Marshalls. I almost always get my work out clothes/yoga pants from there and they’re usually under $20. Also, Old Navy actually has some great yoga pants/work out gear for cheap. I bought yoga pants there a year and a half ago and they’re still in good condition.
I definetly agree with TJMaxx and Marshalls. My sisters have been getting yoga pants for Christmas from there the past few years and I’m glad because it’s budget friendly and they are super comfortable.
I order all of my yogas, crops and PJ pants from Gap. They aren’t insanely cheap ($50-ish), but the quality is awesome and they are so comfortable.
You can also wash your lulu pants at home in cold water (bathtub works great) and then hang to dry (recommended even if you wash them in the machine). Also, keep an eye out for mark-downs on the lulu website under ‘We Made Too Much” — you can get great deals and the shipping is free! 🙂
Wow, I can’t believe Livi is already a month old! I hope the doctor appointment goes well. I once passed Mary Louise Parker when I was walking to Washington Square Park in NYC, but that’s as close as I’ve come to meeting a real celebrity, I think. I have met quite a few of my favorite musicians, though, and I’m always nervous and worried about what to say!
I don’t even like eggs and still that casserole looks good! I love how honest you are about the trainers and Gunnar sounds great- I like that his clients all have curves so it seems like he embraces that while keeping them fit. At my old job I used to do some red carpet interviews so I’ve met some famous people in a professional setting! I found that it’s always the bubbly, nice celebrities that are the easiest interviews!
I saw John Hamm and Ben Aflek in Harvard Square one day. They were shooting a movie there but I didn’t talk to them. I also saw Justin Timberlake and Jessica Beil in Harvard Square a couple years ago. That was really cool. Again, I didn’t talk to them but I got some good pictures! They seemed really nice.
I’ve actually taken dance classes from Shaun T at Equinox in NYC. He also comes to class when other instructors are teaching too! I didn’t realize he was the famous Hip Hop Abs Shaun T until much later!
No way!!
I met Chelsea Clinton four years ago at a Hispanic Youth Conference at TCU (Texas Christian University for those who may not know). She was campaigning for her mom at the time for the presidency. She was about to leave when I saw her, yelled her name, she turned around, we talked for a minute, and I got a picture with her. I was freaking out for the rest of the week!
Hi Gina, I was wondering what happened to Zuzana. I thought SHE was Bodyrock?.
From what I can tell, and I don’t know for sure, but I think she and Freddy broke up and ge had the rights for bodyrock. There are new hosts now but I like zuzana so much more
This is what I’ve heard too. Originally the story was that she would stick with Bodyrock, but it looks like she either got pushed out or left voluntarily. The new host is cute but I like Zuzana, so I’m thrilled that she’s back with her old channel. Plus there’s apparently crazy drama all over Bodyrock about the host switch thing, which I’d like to avoid.
I met Johnny Depp twice here in Oshkosh, WI.. he came to film parts of Public Enemy. They actually transformed our downtown area, complete with cobblestone streets and redecorated the businesses to fit the era the movie took place in, it was so neat! My bro and sister and I stood in the line outside the trailers and everyday after filming he came out and shook hands with the people in line. He seemed so nice and mellow. I remember he had very soft hands haha.
He looks like he would! Heh heh
I was so taken aback haha, I almost said ‘Oh my gosh how are your hands this soft??’
I would have died. JD is my little celeb obsession.
YEAH. I used to be obsessed with him too.. stinkin hollywood men.
I went to Glee Live over the summer and waited outside to meet the cast. They didn’t end up coming out, but I know if they did I would have been completely tongue-tied meeting Lea Michele. She is basically my idol!
LOL about the Ani Phyo story! And thanks for the insight on the JM podcasts – I was of the same mind as you regarding her TV personality but I think I’m going to check them out now. The only really famous person I’ve met is Nathan Fillion (from Castle). He is my grade 6 teacher’s brother, and one day when we were in school he came to visit. At the time he wasn’t on Castle – it was back in his One Life To Live days, before he was on 2 Guys, A Girl and a Pizza Place. I didn’t really have a clue who he was back then but I’d be pretty thrilled to meet him today! 🙂
Sat next to Jude Law at a restaurant once and saw Madonna in the park! They both live near me!!!
SO SO COOL though-i love celeb citings!
Jude Law! The Holiday… nuff said. 🙂
I listened to my first JM podcast yesterday! I am not a fan either, but I thought she actually was able to be helpful instead of obnoxious, like she came across on Biggest Loser.
When I worked at the UCLA Medical Center we’d have celebtrity patients but had to learn to eithe ignore them or treat them like everyone else.
i work at disneyworld at an attraction so i’ve seen lots of celebs 🙂
olivia is so cute gina, and of course bella is adorable as well 🙂 you’re so lucky!
random but i noticed i haven’t seen the “you might also like” part of your posts. you used to put them at the bottom of most posts!
A few years ago, I briefly talked to a guy in line at Trader Joe’s that looked so much like Lance Armstrong, but I wasn’t sure if it was him and was afraid to ask. I’m *still* not sure if it was him. I remember he had about 5 loaves of French bread and many cartons of eggs in his cart (among other things). It was either Lance Armstrong or someone preparing to make French toast for a lot of people. 🙂
A few years prior to that, I did see Andre Agassi and wife at the same Trader Joe’s but didn’t talk to them. It was packed that day and everyone was giving them lots of space–they parted the crowds at TJ’s. 🙂
I met Tim O’Brien, one of my all-time favorite authors, at a conference at which I was a presenter. I mortified myself by walking up to him and telling him that I was in love with him in high school. (He’s probably 60-something now.) It was amazing.
When I first moved to San Diego and I was committed a daily, two-hour+ full primary series yoga practice, I was doing it at a studio that was super hippy and bare bones and the yoga is world class and so is the teacher but it was not a glamourous studio, at all. It was a room, with smelly carpet and cracks in the foundation in a bldg that had been around since the 1950s or longer. Imagine my surprise when one very hot summer day (no A/C of course) in walks…Gwyneth Paltrow and plops her mat down next to me and I proceeded to practice next to her for two hours.
When I used to live in Wilmington, NC and that’s where they filmed Dawson’s Creek (same kind of studio, and this is 10+ yrs ago in NC when yoga was practically unheard of), I used to practice with Katie Holmes regularly. Long before Tom Cruise was ever on her radar screen!
Fun memories 🙂
Matthew McConaughey used to dine at a restaurant on Lake Austin where I worked for a couple years. He was always very nice, but totally played up the “stud” thing. He’d boat in (we had a boat ramp or you could drive up) and would make a whole show of putting on a shirt to come inside. haha! I’ve also met the guy “Big” from Sex and the City while hiking in LA (no idea his real name), and Sandra Bullock came to a smoothie shop where I worked when I was 17. And, he’s only a “local” celebrity in the Austin-area, but I met Coach Mac Brown (from UT) because he used to dine at that same restaurant on Lake Austin. He was a total douche, though, and tipped horribly!
My husband personal trains an R&B singer and we were invited to a video taping for her latest single. She was singing with another girl, who to be quite honest, I had never heard of. This girl was like Kourtney Kardashian’s long lost twin. When we met, all I could say was, “You are SO pretty!”. I’m pretty sure she thought I was hitting on her. My husband still makes fun of me about it. 🙂
Oh man! Getting star struck is so embarrassing. I met Bif Naked for the first time and nearly had a panic attack. Now I feel that I can hold my stuff together a little better. I LOVELOVELOVE with all my heart Tony Horton, and if I ever met him, I would most likely be massively goobery. I have seen Shawn T doing his dance videos to many times to be star struck by him, I would think he is just a big teddy bear! Have you seen his “Rockin Body” videos?! Please promise me that you will check them out.
I met my favorite author when I was in college. The best I could come up with was “I really, really like your books. A lot.”
And I was an English major. Eloquent, huh? ; )
I would love to meet some “famous” trainers! Zuzana, Lisa-Marie, Shaun T, Chalene, Cassey Ho, etc.
I was in a couple of music videos when I was really young and got to meet some cool bands. I have also met some celebrity athletes. John Cena once came into one of the gyms where I work too!
Hubby and I were chilling in the Palms Hotel parking lot, waiting for our friends to stop gambling and it just so happened the Elektra premire was there. We saw Jen Garner and Ben Affleck run into a limo. Blink and they were gone. We also saw Shaq enter a watch store in the Ceaser Palace mall, they closed the store for him, no one could get in or out. The crowd trying to snap pictures was nuts. Not a Shaq fan so I didn’t care. My favorite brush with fame though is being able to meet some of my favorite actors from Star Trek. Nichelle Nicols who played Uhura on the original series…… she’s amazing. all I could say to her was, :I love your voice. you are a wonderful singer” goob.
Gina, where did you get your placemats? I really like them!
i say yes to the egg casserole recipe 😀 it looks so yummy every time you post a pic!
i cannot believe it’s been a month since livi was born. i bet you’re thinking the same thing 😉
i say yes to the egg casserole recipe 😀 it looks so yummy every time you post a pic!
i cannot believe it’s been a month since livi was born. i bet you’re thinking the same thing 😉
i have no idea why it posted twice. oops!
I’ve met a bunch of the Denver Broncos, but I didn’t know who any of them were because I don’t watch football, so I just acted normal. My friend I took along, however, she was giggly and goofy all night lol
I love shaun t and jillian too! The two of them and bob harper would probably have to be my favorite celebrity trainers! But I do like some of Jackie Warner’s programs too! They all offer something different!!
Hey, Gina! Isn’t it Olivia’s 1-month birthday today?! Congratulations, again!
Bruce Willis story: I was walking into a surf shop in Malibu and saw someone coming out of the store carrying an enormous surfboard. I rushed forward to open the door, and saw that it was Bruce Willis.
He smiled and said, “Hey, thank you!”
I responded, “Oh no sir – thank YOU!!!”
He laughed out loud, and continued to take his new surfboard to his car.
Ughhhhhh.
I waited on Jack Johnson when I used to be a server! I am in love with him so I was really nervous. Luckily he was super nice and gave me an autograph!
I’ve NEVER met a famous person. I think it’s on my bucket list though! I just want to see if celebs are really different from the way they look on TB and magazines.
Olivia Wilde came in to the vegan restaurant where I worked last summer and I served her! She didn’t tip well 🙁
Also saw Weird Al at my restaurant and Bam Margera haha
Once I saw Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthe Broderick and their son, about 5 years ago at a museum in Florence!
I have totally chickened out of seeing TV stars and I always regret it. Now I live in NYC so I see celebs more often, but one day I swore I saw Apolo Ohno and decided to ask him….not him. Talk about embarrassing. Better luck next time!
I met Bruce Springsteen and was soooo nervous! I said “I’m going to throw up”! He said “no you aren’t” and gave me a big hug! Melt!
kathleen turner did a workshop for a class in undergrad
Haha. I’d be totally starstruck by seeing a celebrity trainer too! Jill and Chalene are two big faves!
I love to listen to JM Podcasts when I am running! She is way more mellow 🙂
I LOVE the Jillian Michaels podcasts! I listen to them again and again, some of them are so inspiring. In terms of famous people, I live in London and work in a popular restaurant, and the people I have served include: Daniel Radcliffe, Elle MacPherson, Jarvis Cocker, Brian Ferry, and princesses Beatrice and Eugiene (they are actually beyond gorgeous in real life)
I started listening to Jillian Michaels podcasts after you mentioned them on here. I like them a lot, and learn some interesting things; it makes my hour ride to and from work fly by. She definitely seems kinder/more relatable on the podcast. The one thing that bothers me is that whenever she’s trying to get a point across or even answer a caller’s question, she often launches into a too-long story about her and her life. It seems a bit egocentric (but she does admit she can be a narcissistic so at least she’s aware!) 🙂
P.S. Just read your family post and the picture at the end made me laugh out loud! I hope you didn’t ruin those cute flats!