.

Cheap fabulosity!

Gap

Patrick Robinson is the head designer for this season.

Target

Belted wrap Polka Dress for $39.95

Guess Carrie 5 Pump, $89.95

Kenneth Cole bracelet, $44

I love “Ugly Betty” but ugly is something America most definitely is not:

I’ve been working like crazy and haven’t blogged for a week. I’m taking a quick day trip to LA this morning but once I get back blogging will resume.

Rebecca.

Every so often I will post pictures of what I wore somewhere, be it a party, an event, etc. Since it’s Sunday, this is what I wore to mass this morning:

The top is from Target, which I bought randomly last night after going to the movies. I don’t usually wear floral fabrics, but it was on sale and it jumped out at me. My pants are a denim trouser I got at Old Navy maybe two or three months ago.

I bought these sandals a few years ago at a random boutique in the French Quarter of New Orleans.

Accessories:

This rosary bracelet is from the gift shop of St. Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney, Australia.

This is my chastity ring, something that was a gift and therefore I can’t tell you where it’s from. (Sorry.)

And lastly, my glasses are the Absolutely Fabulous Vintage Gold Rimmed Sunglasses from Lulus.com.

I would actually like to include reader outfits as well. If you would like to be featured, let me know.

Pax Christi, Rebecca.

*Note: A “cross post” is a post that is on both Modestia and CFS. The Rumor Has It thread is a Catholic entertainment news thread I started last Lent. If you would like to read more past posts of this thread, go to my CFS archives.

Celebrities

The sole purpose of this thread is to relay positive
Catholic entertainment news. With all of these celebrities having babies out of wedlock in the last six months, I think it’s important that I salute those Catholics in the industry who are expanding their families in a God-fearing manner.

With that intro, I thought I would make this the baby edition of the Rumor has it thread:

I heard through the grapevine that “Bella” producer Leo Severino and his wife gave birth to a baby girl in July. I have another friend ready to give birth in a few weeks (I’m praying I make it back to LA by the time the baby gets here), and now we wait on the Willits baby #5 due in January.

Ali Landry and Alejandro Monteverde’s daughter Estela’s first birthday was covered in the August issue of Hola Magazine (pictured above). Actor Eduardo Verastegui is Estela’s godfather.

Congrats to all, and hooray for Catholic babies!

Did you know that one of the two executive producers of LOST is a practicing Catholic?

In an interview on the radio program “Personally Speaking with Monsignor Jim Lisante,” [Carlton] Cuse said, “The issue of faith and reason is really central to the lives of all people who are religious and grappling with a desire to find meaning in their lives. It felt like some of those larger issues would be relevant to a show which sort of examines the nature of existence the way Lost does.”

Though he doesn’t have any interest in proselytizing, Cuse knows how to skillfully weave spiritual elements into the show’s stories and characters. He said, “I think it’s about not putting things upfront. If there are religious issues in the show, they’re buried in the background of a show that’s essentially sort of an action-adventure-drama. Source

Eduardo Verastegui recently made a trip to Puebla, Mexico with a group of volunteers from his foundation Mantle of Guadalupe that “has the dual mission of providing assistance to minor pregnant women while promoting adoption; and better shelter conditions for impoverished families in underserved regions.” There’s plenty of pics here . I noticed a guy with a Sony camera in some of the pictures, and I’m wondering if there’s going to be some sort of documentary published about the foundation?

TV/Film News

Great news everyone: Transformers starlet Megan Fox is going to play Mother Teresa in an adaption about her life. Check out one of the promo posters:

Ahaha, just kidding! She’s not even wearing the right habit! That poster is a promo for one of Fox’s new comedies that is doomed to bomb at the box office. I know it’s going to bomb because after I saw this fake trailer for the fake MT movie which one guy called “atheist porn”, I’m sure there is nothing funny about the movie…

More great news that involves two words and a number: Lethal Weapon 5! I’m not even joking. Rumor has it that both Mel Gibson and Danny Glover have signed on to the project that will probably begin production next year (?)…allegedly the script is “fantastic” though I’m wondering what kind of action movie is going to be produced when Danny Glover just turned 62 last month…I’m just sayin…

Former NFL player Danny Abramowicz has created a sports-themed men’s show to premiere on EWTN August 31st…dude shows aren’t really my thing but I’ll probably check out the first episode….

Are there Catholic themes in the latest X Files blockbuster? A CFS reader pointed me to a review that claims the film is anti-Catholic, but Fr. Peter Malone seems to think there is merit to the film…tomorrow I am going to go see The Dark Night, but the X-Files is next on my list and I will be sure to write a review of it, probably next week…

And speaking of alleged anti-Catholicism, it appears that people aren’t very happy with the new Brideshead film…I’ve never seen or read Brideshead, but a number of Catholics have come out against it. Barbara Nicolosi said the integrity of the book was “eviscerated” in the latest adaption…this movie is also on my list of ones to see ASAP…

Right now I’m reading “Left to Tell,” a book by Immaculée Ilibagiza about her surviving the Rwandan genocide. I’ve mentioned before that Passion of the Christ producer and LMU alum Steve Mcveetey was maybe(?) talking about doing an adaptation of the book, but I also just learned that there was a
documentary made on Imaculee too.

A movie about St. Thomas premiered in India on July 3rd…

An Act One Alumnus’ new movie “This is My Body” screened in Hollywood a few weeks ago.

Might there be a new Fatima movie in the works?

Origin Entertainment is working to bring the story of the apparitions of the Mother of God at Fatima Portugal to the big screen. The story was made into a movie once before in the 1950’s, but recent events, like the assassination attempt on John Paul II, the revelation of the 3rd secret, and the recently published recollections of Sr. Lucia are all good reasons to tell a more complete version of the story today. Also, today’s CGI can render events like the miracle of the sun and the vision of hell much more impressively.

Catholic Media

My newest project “Pilgrims,” a World Youth Day mini-series, will have its web premiere September 1st. You can see the teaser here . The official trailer will be out next week.

The Hands & Feet Show is undergoing some major changes. Jose, G, and the ladies save Aneesa are no longer a part of the crew for various reasons. Javier and Aneesa will be teaming up with their parish priest Fr. Roberto to overhaul the old show and create new content. It’s sad news yes, but let’s pray for the crew and encourage them in their new direction. The newest episode of the 2.0 version of the show premiered earlier this week…

It looks like Lisa Hendey of the Catholic Mom Moments blog and podcast has ventured into video. You can watch “Catholic Book Chat with Lisa” here.

And finally, have I got big podcast news for you! The Rosary Army has officially hit satellite radio…Sirius Satellite Radio. Greg and Jennifer Willits of the Rosary Army and SQPN apostolates will have a three hour show on Sirius Satellite Radio five days a week. For the time being they will continue to podcast in addition to the show, though it looks like the second season of “That Catholic Show” is going on hiatus.

I was so happy when I heard this news, because it means that the Holy Spirit truly is working within those of us involved in Catholic Media to bring the Gospel to others.

If you would like something included in the next Rumor Has It thread, email me.

Pax Christi, Rebecca.

*Note: The original version of this article had a blurb about singer Jaci Valesquez who was incorrectly referred to in my news source as a Catholic singer. Because the purpose of this thread is to relay exclusively Catholic entertainment news, I took the piece about Jaci out.

A four-page interview with me is posted at Soul Food Cinema.com, one of my CFS site affiliates.

I didn’t mention this blog because the interview was about CFS and my film projects, but regardless, reading it will give you more insight into who I am.

Pax Christi ladies, Rebecca.

Who says it has to be itsy bitsy?

That is the tagline for Jessica Rey’s line of modest swimwear.

Rey Swimwear’s 2008 collection is named “Audrey” because we hope to capture [Audrey Hepburn's] sense of style, grace, class, and of course, fun. Each style this season is named after one of her most loved characters- Holly, Jo, Eliza, Sabrina, and Gaby.

I first became aware of Jessica via Facebook when I was invited to attend the event Catholic Underground, a wonderful apostolate started by the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal that I had heard great things about, but was never able to attend because it was in New York and not on the West Coast. There are other chapters around the country, and Jessica and some of her friends decided to organize a SoCal CU with the friars. I haven’t been able to attend any events this summer due to my traveling, but as soon as I move back in on campus in a little over a week I intend to make CU a regular habit.

Jessica is a Catholic actress, model, and designer who has been in a variety of television shows and commercials. Perhaps what I think is the coolest part of her resume was her role as one of the rangers in the popular children’s series Power Rangers.  She also gives talks to teens about modesty and chastity. 

I must say that in my time I’ve seen some pretty ridiculous “modest” swimwear. I call some of these lines ridiculous because if I showed them to some of my (Catholic) friends who play water polo or surf, two very active water sports, they would probably laugh in my face. To buy Jessica’s very cute and dare I say practical line of swimwear, just click here. For updates and to talk to Jessica directly, join the Rey Swimwear Facebook group.

For more modest swimwear options, check my modest apparel blogroll to the right.

Happy Shopping ladies, Rebecca.

PS: Jessica and her friend Robyn blog here.

Why yes, it is the apocalypse. I am applauding Nicky Hilton on this blog (at least for five minutes.)

I was parousing a fashion blog when I saw this photo:

Cute shirt, cute shades, very cute bag, and…do my eyes deceive me? Is that…a rosary necklace? I wanted to cry from joy when I saw this. There are all kinds of individuals both famous and non-famous alike who wear rosaries as jewelry. Don’t misunderstand me here, it is not improper to wear a rosary around your neck. As a matter of fact, I’ve read that historically rosaries were typically worn around the neck. I myself do it on occasion tucked into my shirt as a reminder to pray it sometime during the day like Eduardo Verastegui here on the right.  

However, for some reason in our modern age, the rosary has become a fashion statement. I’ve seen rosaries in music videos, on TV and in movies, etc. There are actual rosary necklaces (like this one here) that are in the style of a rosary if that’s the look you want. But an actual rosary is a prayer, it’s a devotion to our Lady, not something to show off.

 For your proper wearing of a rosary necklace Nicky, you win a Modestia award.

Because plus size girls want to be fashionably modest too…

If you are well endowed, sometimes modesty can be slightly tough. I myself am very shapely, and I’ve had to retire old dresses and skirts that were a little too revealing around my hips and backside.  

Bandlu.com has a number of very chic, modest choices for plus size women. Behold:

The look of the week posted to the right is also from Bandlu.

Happy shopping ladies, Rebecca.

Circulating around the Catholic blogosphere is a message from a SoCal priest about modesty:

“When I showed the article to the Pastor, he told me to be more charitable. So, you are getting the friendly version.” Father John Lyons, OMV

Parents are often obliged to correct their children over
and over again – about the same thing. They would
really prefer not to have to do it, but if they didn’t they
would be guilty of sinning by omission. Priests feel the
same way. One of the things that we often have to
correct people about is the use of immodest clothing.

Dressing Immodestly Is A Sin

At this time we most especially need to remind girls
and women to not wear immodest low-cut dresses or blouses.
Women and girls should be careful that their dress is
not revealing at all, even when they bend over or kneel
down. Maybe some women do not know that revealing
clothing is a source of temptation for most men. If you
doubt this, ask a man. If a woman knows that such is
the case, and still she would wear such clothing, then she
would be committing the sin of scandal.

Immodesty Is Wrong At All Ages

Unfortunately, even some older women of otherwise
upright character, even daily communicants, sometimes
wear such revealing clothing. Maybe they think that
they’re beyond the age of posing a temptation (and
maybe they are). However, they are giving bad
example to others – most notably their own daughters
and grandchildren. They, too, are committing scandal.
Those who see them will think: “She’s a good Catholic,
and she wears revealing clothing. It must be okay.”

Immodesty Does Not Fit God’s Standards

Someone might argue that the wearing of revealing
clothing now meets with society’s standards. It may
indeed meet with society’s standards; however, we can
safely say that it does not meet with God’s. As
Christians, we are not to be followers of society’s
standards, but the standards of Christ. We urge every
woman to examine her wardrobe (and that of her minor
children if she has any), and get rid of all clothing that
is immodest unless it can be adapted to be worn
modestly.

What Would Mary Do?

If a woman has doubts about the modest use of a
particular article of clothing, it may be helpful to ask
herself if our Blessed Mother would wear such clothing
if she lived in this day and age. Or, to ask herself if our
Blessed Mother would be pleased with her wearing the
article of clothing in question.

Let It Be Known

We suggest that you cut out this bulletin article, make
copies of it, and give it to women and girls who need to
hear this message. Even give or send the article
anonymously, if necessary. Those who desire to do
what is right will take the correction to heart and put it
into practice.

“Immodestly Dressing”
By Father John Lyons
Headlines by John Michael
St. Peter Chanel Church Bulletin, California

Susan Sarandon where you been?

Kirsten Dunst, Josh Hartnett, & Susan Sarandon

Randomness:

Actress Julianne Moore

Singer Kelly Rowland at the launch party for Nokia Skate Almighty

Singer Fergie at the launch of her new shoe collection

Actress Tichina Arnold at one of Hale Bob’s summer flings

X-Men Actress Anna Pacquin

And we’re back…

My trip to Australia was awesome. For details and pics visit CFS.

To get us back in the groove here are some random pics of celebs out and about:

Singer Pink leaving Actress Jamie Pressley’s baby shower

Ya know, I may just have to go there and say that Jennifer Lopez is one of my style icons…she’s always polished from head to toe.

Jessica Simpson at LAX…cute jacket…

Nicole Fiscella on the set of Gossip Girl

Liv Tyler, her ex-husband, and son Milo

Disney Actress Keke Palmer at Planet Hollywood…now this is how teen stars should dress…

The Hills’ LC and a friend out shopping in LA

Actress Kirsten Dunst