My Loft is in the Atlanta Journal Constitution

So, the Atlanta Journal Constitution just ran a story on my loft if you wanna check out my new digs and the makeover I received from TBS "Movie And A Makeover" & designer Michael Habachy this summer.

There's a fun photo gallery that goes along w. the story. Yes, my loft is pink. I am fully aware.

This is where I live!

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Maybe I Hate the Holidays...Maybe I Don’t. Maybe I Do.

Perhaps I should call my therapist, but Mr. Jack Daniels isn't always on call when I need for him to be. Yes yes...I am one of those peeps that may love Christmas trees and presents, but the holiday season is anything but Cool Like Fonzie for me.

My latest column...is all about..well, holiday survival and stress-busting.

Live it. Love it.

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Caren-rella Goes to the Friggin Ball

Perhaps you think I am extremely familiar with balls. Well, I'm not. Hold on...ahh...I get what you're thinking. Stop the dirty visuals, perv...

I meant the kind of ball Cinderella went to. Anyway....I went to one recently.

Read this week's Sunday Paper column to find out how my iTunes habit almost ruined the BIG ball.

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Britney Spears, Calamity Jane and Albus Dumbledore
Current mood: bouncy

RIGHTO...here are a few links to my column online. I selected some of my personal favorites for your reading pleasure.

Obligations of the heart: Caren West works on conquering her fear of commitment

I really don't work anything out, but give it a read. It actually has nothing to do with relationships. Or, does it?

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A gay harvest: Sugar and spice makes everything nice

Find out why I wish Albus Dumbledore was my gay wizard boyfriend-not-boyfriend. What can I say? I love Harry Potter.

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Two-Faced: Social butterfly Caren West shows her many colors

Last week, I realized for the millionth time that I live a life of ultimate extremes. I am a bipolar event enthusiast set on not committing to any type of social scene or event circuit. Perhaps that's why The Atlantan included me as a social scenester in the October nightlife issue along with Janelle Monae, Nathan Abbott, DJ Rhythm and Patti Krohngold. I am honored, to say the least.....

Read more and see a great photo of Dave Grohl. Sigh.

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Not-so-plain Calamity Jane

More embarrassing tales about my life. Read on.

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Blindsided: There's no escaping Britney Spears

Need I say more?

ok..maybe I do..read these hysterical quotes:

"I also noticed myself being unusually bewitched, especially when listening to people talk about it on the radio (I like to imagine what facial expressions they are making during their commentary). I think she's a metaphor for America, really—a Kool-Aid mustached, barefoot, partially hydrogenated, sluggish fallen star that doesn't realize her own tragic unraveling because she is busy putting Calamine lotion on her kid's mosquito bites and eating Doritos. She is our anthem. Anyone feel like singing?" —Emilie Claeyes, interior designer, Hirsch Bedner Associates

"So, yes, I will admit, I love celebrity gossip. I blame this mostly on Angelina Jolie. Had she not stolen Brad from Jennifer, I probably would have never purchased my first US Weekly and thus begun my complete obsession with tabloids and celebrity blogs. Prior to that, I was a strictly 'read the covers while standing in the grocery line' type of girl." —Sarah Crosland, The Atlantan

"From what I've seen of the VMA performance, I can say this: She didn't want to be there and neither did her extensions. Don't worry about the obsession; it will pass." —Teresa Mariano, editor in chief, H Magazine

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Introductions: Making new friends beats killing time on the Net

Read on to find out about HGTV's "Designed to Sell," Project 961's new morning show and more. Click here.

Currently listening : Meiko By meiko

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What would you do if I sang out a tune?

I have been sucking at posting anything on MySpace. Shame on me.

Here are some links to a few of my columns in the Sunday Paper....

Enjoy (or else).....

xo,
C


What would you think if I sang out of tune?

My father and I used to religiously watch the "Wonder Years" together. To this day, I'm convinced that it's one of the all-time greatest television series ever created. I'm a complete sucker for shows that center on the rites of passage—the internal struggles that the Kevin Arnolds and Winnie Coppers in all of us endured as we became adults. And although I love that show, what I truly cherish are the times that I got to hunker down on the couch and hang out with my dad, who also taught me to love the Beatles, Bob Dylan and Creedence Clearwater Revival. Read More


Saluting the days of scratchy polyester uniforms at the Weekapaug Inn

I've always aspired to live a seasonal lifestyle so I can say things like, "I'm summering in New England this year. What about you, Biff?" Unfortunately, the closest I've gotten to such a scenario are my summers in college spent as a waitress at the Weekapaug Inn in Rhode Island. I worked three shifts, six days a week and had to wear a dull blue, scratchy polyester uniform with a white apron, à la Alice at Mel's Diner. Read More and More


How I learned to stop worrying and love the da bomb

It's always interesting when you find out an old flame is getting married. A few weeks ago, I had the "Your ex is getting married" bomb dropped on me while innocently enjoying hotties working the runway for the charity-driven La Monza Fashion Show at Dillard's in Atlantic Station.

I attended the event with my longtime business associate and friend who blurted out, "Oh my God! Can you believe that (insert name of ex here) got engaged and then unengaged?" Diverting his attention back to the runway for a second, he then turned to me and said, "You think they'll get married, right? I do." There was no mistaking the wistful, "I really hope it works out" tone in his voice. Read More and More and More

Currently listening : With A Little Help From My Friends By Joe Cocker Release date: 05 October, 1999

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When in doubt, twirl.

That's right. When in doubt...twirl.

This week in my column in Sunday Paper I reveal a reoccuring dream that haunts my slumber...ummm....totally involves a shower....but sadly not like I'm having relations with Christian Bale as Batman in the shower type dream. Sigh.

And...I talk about my new life philosophy courtesy of my fashionable pal Amy Flurry who is a style goddess for Atlanta PEACH and Lucky Magazine.

Read me.

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Captain's Log, Stardate 41507

When it comes to interior monologues, I have a strange habit of channeling Captain James T. Kirk—as if I were recording my thoughts for posterity. You can often see me walking around, looking quite normal, when, in my head, I'm saying things like:

Captain's Log, Stardate: 52386.3

8:30 a.m.: Month six and clothes in closet still seem to be shrinking. Could crack open the plastic-wrapped Pilates DVD and cut down on nacho intake from Melton's App and Tap in Decatur. Or not. Will leave clothes outside of closet and examine results over the next six months.

8:45 a.m.: Running late. Conducted a 20-minute search in the casa for car keys. Surfaced in decorative bowl filled with Milk Bones.

9:05 a.m.: Listening to Bob Seger's "Like a Rock" on way to office for inspiration.

9:10 a.m.: Arrive at office. Greeted by Furious, CWPR's mascot, a nearly blind 14-year-old golden retriever with an adorable protruding bottom lip.

9:13 a.m.: Refrain from tugging on Fury's lip, taking him for a walk in Dreamer's Park instead. Bring two Publix grocery bags for waste disposal. Celebrate super-sleuthing skills: Finally discover Fury's sneaky double-poop trick.

Granted, I don't do this James T. Kirk thing all the time, but it happens more than I care to admit. And lately, since hosting a "new and notable" wine tasting at Seasons 52 in Buckhead, I can't stop adding new and notable things to my mental chronicle. It's starting to drive me insane.

Read the rest of the story in the Sunday Paper....promise it's good. Peace out, bitches.

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Is the city too busy to hate too busy to care?

So...I have been totally slack about posting my columns from the Sunday Paper. What can I say..it's a been a busy year.

Here's this week's installment. Enjoy!

Is the city too busy to hate too busy to care?

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Caren West's Weekly Column Named "Best Guilty Pleasure" for 2006 by Atlanta Magazine

Happy Holidays!

Sorry I have sucked arse at updating my blog....BUT....I wanted to share a bit of good news. Atlanta Magazine -- in its annual "Best Of Atlanta" issue -- named my column, "In the Know," in Atlanta, GA's weekly, The Sunday Paper .....drum roll, please...."Best Guilty Pleasure" for 2006!

And, I quote (cough, cough), "There is no journalistic merit in publicist/party girl West's weekly column. Yet, like that proverbial train wreck, it holds us transfixed. We can't turn away from her chronicle of concerts, shopping, shoes, social snafus and copious alcohol consumption. So what if she drops names (often clients') and blathers on? Her disingenuous candor is a refreshing change from the cloying Carrie Bradshaw school of single-gal woeful musings."

Weird, right? When I think of guilty pleasures I immediately think of my iPod guilty pleasure playlist (refuse to divulge for personal reasons, OK...Lionel Richie's "Hello" and Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline" are definitely on it), my secret obsession for Harry Potter movies and my undying love for peanut M&M's. So, in my mind...if my column in any way shape or form compares to how I feel when eating peanut M&M's and watching Harry Potter DVDs, I am pretty friggin' psyched. Not to mention, being compared to a proverbial train wreck is kind of cool in a sick way.

So...please continue to send me ideas, tips, invites, press releases, criticism (ok, maybe not) and thoughts in 2007. Thank you to everyone who reads my column, has thought about reading it, or at the very least lies to me and pretends to read it. A special thank to the Sunday Paper and my former editor Elisabeth Bergman and my current editor Julie Douglas.

This Sunday you can read all about my hairy eyeball online at www.sundaypaper.com or in the print edition for those of you who live in Atlanta. That's right..I said, hairy eyeball.

Here are a few of my personal favorites:

Flying by the seat of my pants

Appetite for Destruction: Mullet flops and chili-swilling on Caren's big day out

How Manolo Touched My Sole

How I became the Runaway Bridesmaid: part one

When a man wants a man-purse, what's a girl to do?

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I grew brest buds!!

So....I did. I finally grew boobs at 32 with no help from the medical world.

Read about my fun bags in the Sunday Paper.

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