10 Hours Until Fashion and Reality TV Collide

"Project Runway" returns with Season 8 tonight, Thursday, July 29, at a new time, 9 pm et/pt, supersized as 90-minute episodes. Hosted by supermodel and fashion maven Heidi Klum, the hit series provides 17 talented designers – the most in series history – with an opportunity to launch their careers in fashion, under the watchful eye of mentor and Liz Claiborne Chief Creative Officer Tim Gunn. Judges Michael Kors and Nina Garcia weigh in on the best and worst of the runway.

"Project Runway" enthusiasts can also interact with fellow fans, show insiders and designers by following @projectrunway on Twitter or visiting www.facebook.com/projectrunway for the latest "Project Runway" news and updates.

The Y Rebrands

For the first time in 43 years, the YMCA unveiled a "refreshed" brand.

It will call itself by the name that most people already use: the Y.

The national resource office, YMCA of the USA, has already begun the transition to the new brand. Ys across the country will transition fully within five years.

"By making it clear that the Y strengthens the foundations of community through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, we shed light on the mission of the YMCA: To put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all.

"The Y’s former logo had been in place since 1967 and was the organization’s sixth since its inception. The refreshed logo, with its multiple color options and new, contemporary look, better reflects the vibrancy of the Y and the diversity of the communities it serves. The new logo’s bold, active and welcoming shape symbolizes the Y’s commitment to personal and social progress."

I'm afraid to mock this too much, but... I have been a member of "the Y" since I was born. I have watched our local branches grow, expand, and flourish. And now as I go, I notice a lot of Silver Sneaker members. Maybe it's just my branch - but "Young Men" do not flock to my YMCA.

Do I really think this rebrand will help attract young people? No.
Is the Y caving in to what everyone already refers to it as? Yes.
Did the Y single-handily make the Village People irrelevant? Probably.

What are your thoughts on the rebrand?

FB Revelation

Facebook certainly helps to connect to current and long-lost friends.

I love seeing what everyone is up to. Who married whom. Who got knocked up. Who is working where. Who lost a ton of weight and who gained even more.

One thing I don't like is when people don't have pictures of themselves as their profile picture. I don't care how much you like the Steelers or if a flower is pretty. I want to see your face... especially when I might not remember your name.

I'm not sure how long ago, but within the last year someone requested to be my friend. His name didn't really ring a bell, but he went to my high school. He had one of those ridiculous photos, perhaps of his bike or maybe of his truck. All I know is I didn't exactly know who he was, but I figured he must have been in the band or something.

Well, said person finally put up a photo of himself. And I recognized his immediately.

He was the fatass who used to make fun of me on the schoolbus! Admittedly, I pretty much got over it in high school, since he was not in any influencer cliques.

But why in the world would that grade-school bully request to be my friend?!

And worse, I confirmed his friend request!

He ain't no friend of mine!

(Yes, I realize I said I was over it, but after this initial shock has worn off, I will be fine.)

I have lots of frenemies as friends on FB, but this is my first enemy. Are you connected to any enemies or frenemies on Facebook?

Disappointed by Dick's Sporting Goods

This week I went out in search of new sneakers. I am very brand loyal. But last time I purchased sneakers, I noticed the popularity of Asics (at the gym and in the store) so I gave them a try. Well, I hated my pair.

I decided I needed to go back to my favorite brand (and the only sneaker my grandmother, who was a coach and physical education teacher, would wear) adidas.

I'm sorry I left you, adidas, never again. I promise.

I have had so many pairs of adidas, I can't count them all. I tried Nike once - chin splints. I tried New Balance once - chin splints. And this Asics pair didn't even give me an opportunity to get chin splints because they gave me blisters well before the chin splints could have developed.

Monday I made a special trip to Dick's Sporting Goods to get my sneakers. In I walked, straight to the back, and then I stared at their huge wall of sneakers. I found the pitiful woman's section. I saw three pairs of adidas sneakers, actually only two because the one pair was in two different colors.

I thought to myself, "this must not be right." And I started searching... walked around the corner, circled the kids section, braved the men's sneaker side (through their men's basketball section, running section, baseball section, trail section - my goodness, Dick's certainly caters towards one gender). But nothing.

Finally after 10 minutes of staring with confusion and searching without luck, I found the ONE shoe saleperson (side note: Dick's Sporting Goods should have had more people on staff since July 5 was a holiday for many people).

Me: "Are those three pairs the only women's adidas sneakers you have."
Shoe Boy: "Yea."
*Silence*
Me: "Ooookay. Thanks."
Storm out of store.
Door Person: "Find everything alright?"
Me: *Grumble*

Luckily, our Dick's Sporting Goods is very close to DSW Shoe Warehouse, which caters toward the females. Not only did I find a plethora of women's sneakers (many, many more than at Dick's Sporting Goods). I found a much better selection of adidas sneakers.

I bought two pairs!

To put that in perspective, if I would have bought them at Dick's Sporting Goods, I would have bought out their entire selection of adidas sneakers for women.

So, Dicks (if I may call you that), where the hell do you get off insulting women with having a quarter of the sneaker selection compared to your men's section?! And why do you only carry two pairs of adidas sneakers (you had more of a selection of the hideous Sketchers Tone-ups)?

I won't be back to Dick's Sporting Goods.

My grandmother would be so disappointed in that store too. She no doubt would write a letter-to-the-editor. This rant is in honor of her and the struggle she fought to overcome women's rights in athletics (and her brand loyalty to adidas).

Girl Scout Logo Makeover

This week marks the first time in 30 years Girl Scouts have launched a national marketing campaign. The organization hopes to broaden their image and show they do more than cookies, camping, and crafts. (Although, I'm not sure a logo can emulate that.)
The most noticeable change is the new Girl Scout logo. Their distinctive trefoil mark has gotten a makeover. Branding and design agency, Original Champions of Design, updated the logo with modern hairstyles (they gave the girls bangs), perkier noses (revelational), and longer, thinner necks (aren't adolescences getting fatter?).

The iconic Girl Scout color will also change - to a bolder green (I didn't realize how faded the green of the logo had looked. I like the updated color better.), and the font will be all lowercase – in an attempt to make the logo feel more casual and approachable (lowercase - everybody's doing it).

What are your thoughts?

Panegyri Greek Festival

The 22nd annual Greek Festival hosted by the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church (4376 West Lake Rd.) is this weekend.

The fun starts on Friday, July 9 at 2:30 p.m. and lasts until Sunday. Admission and Parking is free.

Most people go for the food, but there is also entertainment by local and touring Greek dancers and musicians.

I go for the food.

If you have never had authentic Greek food, you really should try something besides Gyros and Greek Fries (but those are at the festival too).

I recommend Moussaka (layered eggplant and spiced meat filling topped off with a creamy bechamel sauce) and Spanikopita (spinach, onions, cheeses and herbs that are stuffed in crispy, flaky phyllo dough).

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING:

Go with a plan!

You have to purchase food tickets when you arrive and all the lines (for tickets, food, and drinks) are long. So you want to know exactly what you are getting, how much it is, and where it is at. Do not wait in the wrong line or without enough tickets - there's no mercy! The tickets are refundable, so if you underspend you can get your money back.