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Let Me Tell You Who Is Jennifer Lawrence
Who is she? That’s the question that ricocheted around last year’s Sundance Film Festival after Jennifer Lawrence showed up in Winter’s Bone, chillingly raw as a rural teen determined to find her meth-slinging dad and save her family home. Lawrence’s performance, earning her a best-actress Oscar nomination, was both unsentimental and exquisite, nearly convincing us she’d grown up skinning squirrels in the Missouri Ozarks. In fact, since she went without a trace of makeup (except some bloody bruises) and peered out from under a low wool cap, it almost went unnoticed that 20-year-old Lawrence is stunning, with a cherubic, translucent face suggesting a tweeny softness that belies an old-dame brawn and wicked wit rare among Hollywood ingenues.
It was only for her role as the shape-shifting Mystique in this month’s X-Men First Class-naked save for blue body paint-that Lawrence submitted to a twice-a-day training regimen and a high-protein diet that allowed her to sculpt, yet maintain, her curves. “I knew that if I was going to be naked in front of the world, I wanted to look like a woman and not a prepubescent 13-year-old boy,” Lawrence says, adding, “I’m so sick of people thinking that’s what we’re supposed to look like.”
For a gorgeous movie star with the irritating luck to be discovered at 14 while on a spring-break trip to New York City, Lawrence’s lack of pretense is almost unnerving. In interviews, she accompanies self-deprecating punch lines (“Yeah, that’s how I’m gonna sign my name at, like, the doctor’s office-’Oscar nominee Jennifer Lawrence’”) with full-revolution eye rolls, tossing in Dumb and Dumber quotes whenever possible. Growing up in Kentucky, she was raised by a camp-director mom, a construction-company-owner dad, and two older brothers who never made her feel precious. “Being the youngest and the only girl, I think everyone was so worried about me being a brat that they went in the exact opposite direction of treating me like Cinderella,” Lawrence says. “I’d slap my brother on the arm, and he’d throw me down the stairs. I was always like, ‘Can we talk about excessive force, please?’”
Even when Lawrence is playing vulnerable on-screen, she still exudes a formidable, ever-so-subtle defiance. “She finds strength in every moment,” says Anton Yelchin, with whom she stars in both the Jodie Foster–directed dark comedy The Beaver (as a valedictorian with a painful past) and this fall’s Like Crazy (playing a girl whose boyfriend is pining for his ex). “I’ve watched her do two characters that are different, but they both have Jen in them, which is dignified. Even if they’re broken, they’re never weak.”
With her name now occupying space on every director’s short list, Lawrence was recently picked for the lead in The Hunger Games, based on Suzanne Collins’ postapocalyptic trilogy in which two teenagers are forced to fight to the death-the most coveted part for an actress since The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. So it looks like the bullied little sis had better get accustomed to star treatment. “When you’re on set, everybody’s like, ‘Oh, do you need water? Here’s 45 bottles!’ It’s really bizarre,” she says. “I’m still getting used to it. I’m still in wonderland.”
The Interview On Mariah & Nick’s Island Wedding
They hadn’t even gone public with their relationship – in fact, they had only recently begun seeing each other – when Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon decided to take the plunge. “We got tattoos!” says Carey. “His is on one shoulder to the other and it says ‘Mariah.’” And hers? “It’s on my lower back and it says ‘Mrs. Cannon,’” she says. Only after that did they ink a marriage license – and pull off the surprise wedding of the year. Carey and singer-actor Cannon first met in 2005 at the Teen Choice Awards but only started dating in late March. Just weeks later, to the shock of a lot of their friends and family, they whisked off to Carey’s Bahamian estate and wed in a sunset, ocean-side ceremony April 30. While still on their honeymoon, the giddy newlyweds spoke exclusively to PEOPLE‘s Liz McNeil about their whirlwind courtship, Cannon’s candy-themed proposal and – yep – having kids.
So, how does it feel to be married?
Mariah: [Laughing] Who wants to go first? You go first.
Nick: It feels amazing. My cheeks hurt from smiling so hard. I’ve been smiling for days.
Mariah: It’s comforting – and something I’ve never felt before. Which is really being in love and happy with someone who really understands me and isn’t trying to do anything but make me happy. It’s wonderful.
It happened pretty fast, didn’t it?
Nick: In our minds, it was a love-at-first-sight thing. Since we’ve been together, we’ve been inseparable.
Mariah: I don’t think anyone realized what we already knew – that we were going to get married.
When did you first know that?
Nick: I’d always admired Mariah from afar, but once we connected I felt it was destined: This has to be my wife.
Mariah: I definitely knew. Of course, everyone is running the photo from the 2005 Teen Choice Awards . . .
Nick: From then on, I thought, “I have to get closer to her and express my true feelings.” I was praying I’d have the chance to share them with her.
Mariah: People were very skeptical and told him, “You can never get past her people.” I only knew that he’d say nice things about me. So I thanked him when [I saw him again].
Nick: I said, “I meant every single word. Hopefully I can express more to you.” She was down-to-earth. From that point, we built a friendship.
In late March, Carey flew to Antigua to shoot a music video for “Bye Bye,” from her new album, E=MC2. She cast Cannon, 27 – star of MTV’s Wild’N Out, and an entertainment minimogul with his own record label and clothing line – as the romantic lead.
Mariah: I told people, “I like him and want him to do it.” The song was a love story. It was perfect for us.
Nick: From the first time we sat down to discuss the video at the Beverly Hills Hotel, we connected. We had so much in common spiritually, and we laugh at the same things. I didn’t have to put on my Mac Daddy suave mode. I was able to be myself with her. We are both eternally 12 years old.
Mariah: [Laughing] We were having a such a good time on the shoot.
Nick: I brought her little pieces of candy. I’d write little third-grade notes instead of being over-the-top.
Mariah: He wrote a note, “Will you be my girlfriend?” with boxes for yes or no. In the video, we’re boyfriend and girlfriend. It seemed very natural.
Were all your friends surprised by your marriage?
Mariah: Some were, but some weren’t. One thing [few people] knew was we got tattoos a few weeks earlier. So anyone who saw my [Mrs. Cannon] tattoo wasn’t surprised.
Nick: To me rings are special and exciting, but tattoos mean more than anything. They’re forever and ever. They professed our love.
Mariah: And they hurt!
Nick: A lot.
Why did you keep your engagement and wedding plans a secret?
Mariah: We only told people who had to know. [To everyone else] we said we were [going to the Bahamas] for the video. If we brought a million people with us, it would’ve been obvious we weren’t shooting a video.
The week of the wedding, Nick and Mariah traveled to her estate on the Bahamian island of Windermere on a Gulfstream jet. They also flew in boxes of live Maine lobsters, fine china and Dom Pérignon champagne. Just a dozen guests attended, including BFFs like rapper Da Brat.
Mariah: Only about four people knew we were going down there to get married. Once we were there, they gave me a bachelorette party. Everyone calls me Mary Poppins. No matter how provocatively I might dress, I’m very prudish. So they did everything they could to shock me. They had a grab bag full of silly things they think a bachelorette wants. They were so happy they got to embarrass me.
Describe your wedding dress.
Mariah: It was a simple, slim-cut dress [by Nile Cmylo] in an off-white that turns into a very pale pink to match the sand. And [Christian] Louboutins – I can wear high heels with Nick because he’s tall. Flats are not in my repertoire. Nick looked beautiful in his tux.
Nick: I think it was Balenciaga.
How was the ceremony?
Mariah: We got married at sunset on the beach. We were trying to get the really golden light. It was late – of course I was late, it’s just in my DNA. We had a white carpet on the sand that went to the water’s edge. My pastor Clarence Keaton flew in from New York. The whole wedding was really beautiful and sweet. Being there with loved ones under the sky . . . it was a spiritual moment.
What were you thinking then?
Mariah: When I walked down the aisle, I was thinking, “My veil is blowing all over the place!” It was really windy. I was nervous. We didn’t know if they would make us speak.
Nick: I haven’t been shy in years, but I was speechless. I was elated, but I was thinking, “Don’t pass out.” What the pastor did was really cool. He said, “The eyes are the window to the soul,” then gave us an entire minute to stare into each other’s eyes. So I was saying, “Don’t cry.”
Mariah: With the sun setting on the turquoise water, we kissed.
Nick: We had our passionate wedding kiss. Then I swooped her off her feet.
Mariah: He carried me to the water.
And afterward?
Mariah: The cake came out. Everybody stumbled over their toasts. They didn’t know what to say. They thought they were coming to a shoot!
What about a honeymoon?
Mariah: That was being here [in the Bahamas] after the wedding. Some friends stayed, too, but it was really time for Nick and I to be together.
Have you thought about kids yet?
Mariah: It’s part of the whole purpose of getting married. I’d just want our children to have the best childhood and upbringing they possibly could.
So you have thought about kids?
Mariah: Yes.
Nick: Absolutely.
What do you love about each other?
Nick: She is beautiful on the outside and 10 times as beautiful on the inside. She is such a giving, nurturing spirit. Someone who has spent their entire life making others happy.
Mariah: We really do feel we are soulmates. I never felt a love like this was in the cards for me. I was always so career-oriented. I would hope and pray for my friends to find love, but I never did that for myself. And then? Everything just fell into place!
4 Tips To Keep Healthy Pets
Your pets are part of the family. Keep them safe and healthy this holiday season by keeping a few tips in mind.
There’s so much going on this month as we prepare to celebrate Christmas and ring in the New Year. Your pets are noticing the changes in the house and in their daily routine. An odd tree is going up in the living room, new smells are coming from the kitchen, and you’re coming home later in the evenings after work, after running just one more errand.
With so much going on right now, it’s important to remind ourselves about the potential dangers for our pets that come into the house with that tree.
1.Chocolate, onions and raisins. We all know these foods are dangerous (even deadly) to our pets, and it seems like there are more of them around the holiday table. Remember to keep such foods out of their reach, and don’t let your guests give in to those puppy-dog eyes begging at the table. Check out this full list of foods that can be dangerous to pets.
2.Ornaments and ornament hooks. Have you ever dropped one of those decoration hooks in the carpet? They’re almost impossible to find and fish out, yet one of my cats can make quick work of running off with one. Instead of those metal hooks, this year I’m using festive red ribbon on all of my tree ornaments.
3.Festive plants. We’ve all heard that poinsettias are poisonous to pets, but a quick search on the Internet will have you questioning that common wisdom. Some say yes; some say no. I say: Take caution with any new plants in the house. At the very least, ingesting a new, strange plant can cause an upset tummy in pets. How much extra time do you have to scrub the carpets right now?!
4.The front door. Packages are being delivered, visitors are coming and going. Make sure your pets stay put and stay safe.
I wish you and your pets a happy and healthy holiday season and a merry Christmas! I hope they get everything they’re wishing for. Oh, and you, too!
News From Magazine Reviews
How To Make Mood Lighting For The Holidays?
Let’s get electric this week! Lighting is one of my five must-haves because it can transform your life into a seductive life-lighting affects us on a primal level. They don’t call it mood lighting for nothing! You can change the feel of a room with a flip of a switch or the strike of a match.
One of the quickest and best investments you can make for altering your private atmosphere is a dimmer switch. I put dimmer switches in every room possible, even the laundry room. I transform that room into a coatroom for parties simply by putting a collapsible clothes rack and lowering the lights. This easy trick will be a treat to enjoy year-round, but it will also be the perfect tool to create glowing rooms for holiday gatherings throughout the upcoming months. By simply installing a dimmer switch, you will be able to soften the lights instantly, adding drama and intimacy to a room not to mention quickly changing the ambiance of your entire life!
Life is not just boring black and white. The interesting things are in the gray areas that we live in on a daily basis, and the same goes for lighting! Dimmer switches are a simple way to add a little middle ground between off and on and bring some life to your lighting. Softer light is much sexier and flattering, and it can add some rich tones to a not-so-exciting room.
Below is an easy step-by-step way to install a dimmer switch that takes no time (even for the DIY-impaired). Let the ambiance begin!
How-To Install a Dimmer Switch
Note: Dimmer switches come in four popular varieties: slide, dial, touchpad, and switch/slide combo. It is important to read the directions for your particular device, but this general how-to guide will show you just how easy it really is to make a dramatic change in your space.
Materials: Dimmer switch kit, screwdriver, wire-cutters or wire-strippers, cordless drill and screwdriver attachment, needle-nose pliers, circuit tester
Safety First: Be sure the power to the circuit you are working on is turned off at the main breaker box or fuse panel. Breakers: Find the right breaker in the breaker box and flip it to the “off” position. Fuses: If you have a fuse box, find the right fuse and remove it completely from the panel. Test to make sure the power to the circuit has been disconnected by simply flipping the switch to the “on” position and have the lights turned off. (Once the switch plate is removed, you need to double-check that the circuit is disconnected by testing the wires with a circuit tester.)
Step 1: Use a screwdriver or a reversible cordless drill with a screwdriver attachment to remove the old switch plate.
Step 2: Remove the switch from the exposed workbox by unscrewing the screws at the bottom of the switch. (This is the step in which you should double-check that the circuit is off with a circuit tester.)
Step 3: Disconnect the wires that are attached to the light switch. There should be three wires: black, white and green (it may be a bare copper wire in some cases).
Step 4: Use the wire cutters to cut the three exposed wires just below their plastic coverings. Strip the wire about 3/8″ using the wire-cutters or a wire-stripper (this tool makes the job of stripping much easier, but isn’t necessary).
Step 5: Connect the black wire in the existing box to the black wire on the new dimmer switch by placing the two exposed wires next to each other and twisting on a wire nut (make sure that the bare wire is completely encased in the wire nut). Do the same for the white wires and the ground wires (green or brass) as well.
Step 6: Bend the wires in a zigzag pattern so that they easily fit back into the workbox. Push the switch into place and adjust it so that it’s straight, and the orientation of the switch is correct (up is “on” and down is “off”). Tighten the two screws to hold it in position.
Step 7: Install the new switch plate by tightening the provided plate screws.
Step 8: Switch the breaker box back on or reinstall the fuse.
Step 9: Test out your new dimmer switch to make sure that the installation was a success and enjoy!
Note: If the switch does not work, turn off your breaker or fuse again and double-check your wiring. Check that black is with black, white is with white, etc. (Also be sure that the wire nuts are tight and secure.)
Now that you’ve got these simple steps, go ahead and start living your most seductive life!
What are you waiting for?
What type of lighting is your favorite to create a sensual mood?
News From http://www.kissmagazines.com
