1) Better Oats’ RAW Pure & Simple Oatmeal: Here’s the thing—I love oatmeal. But I hate making it. My husband can attest that when milk and the boiling of it are involved, I inevitably scorch the heck out of the pan. Soooo, I took a liking some time ago to Kashi Instant Oatmeal. But THEN, on a recent shopping expedition to Meijer this month, I spotted this new brand on the shelves. And people, I cannot believe it’s instant as it tastes exactly like it’s homemade. The best part? There’s not an speck of anything artificial about it! Just oats and some flax. Pour a little honey and some walnuts on top and I have a breakfast that’s healthy for me in five minutes. Love starting my day that way!

2) Bombay Bicycle Club’s “A Different Kind of Fix”: I first heard of this band when one of their songs appeared on the Twilight Eclipse soundtrack (which, side tangent, aren’t those the BEST soundtracks?!). Ever since, I’ve become a big fan of these baby-faced boys and I was giddy waiting on this new album of theirs to drop this week after having sampled a few of the tracks. “A Different Kind of Fix” happens to feature what—for me—has been the song of the summer. Listen to “Shuffle” and then see if YOU can get that piano loop out of your head—it’s so infectious!

3) Beirut’s “The Rip Tide”: Ahh…this band!! I cannot say in enough words how much I love it, but when I hear their frontman, Zach Condon, sing, it’s like a little part of me melts inside. His voice is SO distinct! Add those horns and accordions this band is known for, and you have a sound that just mesmerizes me. So many songs I love on this latest effort of theirs, but give “Santa Fe” and “East Harlem” a whirl and then see if you’re not convinced to buy the whole album.

4) My new Fossil watch: One look at the Bridgette in the Fossil catalog that landed in my mailbox in August and I was a smitten kitten. Somehow, this year, I became a watch person again, after not having worn one for years. Which meant, for a while there, I was pilfing my husband’s watch to keep time at weddings. This style has the perfect blend of modern and masculine that I tend to lean toward for accessories and I’ve already gotten so many compliments (Bonus? The dials glow-in-the-dark!)

5) Crazy, Stupid, Love: OK, so this film came out at the tail end of July. Which means I didn’t have time to squeeze it in last month’s “What I’m Lovin’” installment. But that’s OK, because, basically, I’ve been loving this movie since I first saw stills of Ryan Gosling in a suit filming it over a year ago :) Oh man…how good was this movie?! You know if you saw it. And if you didn’t, well, it involves a sweet storyline between Steve Carrell and Julianne Moore. And lots of Ryan Gosling. His abs in particular. WHY HAVEN’T YOU SEEN IT ALREADY?!!!

6) The Help: Is it or is it not the Summer of Emma Stone? You can’t escape that girl at the cinema, but if she keeps turning in performances like she did in “The Help,” I’ll be OK with that! I was torn going into this film because I’d loved the book SO much when I read it a few years ago for a book club pick and the trailer? Well, it totally made it look like a chick flick (I was left thinking, “Where’s the meat of this story?”) But then, the film itself did NOT disappoint. Matter of fact, I was left teary-eyed in more than one spot! Wonderful performances from an all-star cast — I wouldn’t be surprised if Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer get Oscar nods for their portrayals of Aibileen and Minny. Great pick to take your mom or grandma to!

See more of Gail’s work at www.gailwernerphoto.com. Become a fan of Gail’s work on Facebook. Follow Gail on Twitter.

I’m doing that….thing again. The one where I have a stack of odds and ends in my inboxes that trails from movie trailers to interesting news stories to just, well, cool artsy stuff that friends and co-workers have shared with me and I’m all, “Oooh, I need to remember to share this with so-and-so.” And then I forget. So, Internet (and lovely blog readers), allow me to make you my so-and-so—AND clean out my inbox—all in the name of sharing some fun Web finds with you!

I want to live in Karl Lagerfeld’s library. Or Julianne Moore’s.

My friend, Ravyn, shared a Tweet last week to Arrested Development, Lego-style. I might have laughed so hard I snorted. I mean, they even painted Tobias blue! Oh Brad Pitt…you made me like you in this article. Like you in a way I haven’t liked you since I “Legends of the Fall” liked you. Or since “I-remember-when-there-was-no-Brangelina” liked you.  Excited to see this flick with Nickolas. Photo credit: Nadav Kander

This camera case! I love it! So much!

We have a cute retro kitchen. Now I want an entire cute retro house thanks to this article.

Photo credit: Nancy Palmieri

This artist? She paints ON people. Then, she photographs them to make them look like a 2-D painting. Wait..what’s that? Your mind’s blown too??!!!

Flavorpill has a stupendous round-up of the 2011 Word Press photo winners for best in photojournalism. Some of these photos are so difficult to look at but are a reminder of the power of images and why we need this kind of eye on the world. Totally moved me. Photo credit: Andrew McConnell

And finally, you’re telling me I can’t trust online reviews anymore? This is devastating for a girl who’s placed many an Amazon.com book order on the merit of those little stars!

See more of Gail’s work at www.gailwernerphoto.com. Become a fan of Gail’s work on Facebook. Follow Gail on Twitter.

I don’t remember when I first heard from Emily. But when that email landed in my inbox, it was filled with sweet comments and a “I’d really love to meet you sometime!” Emily is an Indy-area photographer herself (who also just landed a job teaching kindergarten—right, Emily?!) She’s so sweet and will be helping me second shoot a few weddings later this fall. Since she’s being so kind to help me out (I love when photographers can “scratch” one another’s back in the name of being there for one another—I’m always looking for ways to foster that with other photogs :) ) I didn’t hesitate when she asked if I could return the favor and take some photos for her for some new marketing/branding materials.

Emily, you are SO much fun to hang with —and I hope you agree that these photos just make your personality radiate off the (Web) page! Looking forward to shooting with you this fall!

Does she have a killer smile or WHAT? She also was totally rocking the whole “feather in her hair” trend. After we hugged and first started chatting, I was all, “Wait…is that…is that a feather?” It was so teeny tiny and barely there that I just loved it! This was such a quick session (an hour+ of chatting followed by a “Oh shoot, we better get a move on before we lose the light“!) When Emily changed into this dress for a second spot she’d found for us to shoot, I gasped. See, I love polka dots. And navy blue. And her boots. And that truck. And this light. Okay, I’m shushing now ….. Overheard by me during this session: “Girrrrrrllllll….stop being so CAAAAAUUUUUUUUUTEEEEE!!!!” This whole set of images is so lovely to me but I am over-the-top in love with this black and white. Maybe one of my favorite portraits. Ever. And it was perfect straight out of camera too. And to end on — this sweet girl brought her grandma’s quilt along. You know, I like a girl who thinks of her grandma when she does a photo session, seeing as how, well, I kinda did the same thing :)

See more of Gail’s work at www.gailwernerphoto.com. Become a fan of Gail’s work on Facebook. Follow Gail on Twitter.

1. What color are your toenails painted?

OPI’s “A Oui Bit of Red”

2. What color are your fingernails painted?

There’s no polish on these 10 digits; in fact, MAYBE once a year can I say my nails are painted. I don’t have the patience to do it (though I love the results), and I hate how, a day into the process, I’ve already chipped it on some finger (or fingers). Also, I LOATHE the smell of fingernail polish remover.

3. What is your favourite brand of nail polish?

OPI or Essie.

4. As the norm, do you DIY your nails or get mani/pedis?

Definitely DYI. I just have a hard time spending money on my nails when, in that department, I’m such a no-frills, low maintenance kind of gal. And I look at the money I could spend there and think I’d rather spend it on my own equivalent of treating myself—new tunes or new books.

5. Have you ever had a gel mani? Do you recommend it?

Oh gosh….I think in high school maybe? For prom? I had my hands professionally manicured for oohhhh, all of 2 months before I realized a) I am just not a professional manicure kind of gal and 2) THEY ARE A PAIN IN THE BUTT TO REMOVE. Like, seriously. Still have awful flashbacks to the three hours it took me to soak/sand ‘em off.

6. What is the last movie you watched on television? (TV, Netflix, Redbox, etc.)

“Back to the Future Part Two” with Nick. Man, you want to laugh at a movie? Watch the scenes where they’re “in” the future and it’s like, what, 2020 or something? Seriously, where’s my hoverboard? Flying car? Self-drying jacket? HAHAHAHAHAHA

7. What is the last movie you watched in the cinema?

“The Help” and “One Day” (I lovveeeee seeing movies — one of my fave pasttimes)

8. Is there a movie that everyone talks about as if it is a classic but you haven’t seen?

“Citizen Cane” is up there…so is “The Godfather”. But the one I tell people and they’re like, “YOU’VESERIOUSLYNEVERWATCHEDIT?” has to be the Lord of the Rings triology. And don’t bother trying to convince me. Many before you have tried.

9. What is your favourite movie soundtrack?

Just one?? Oh that’s so hard! Well, I have three: 1) Almost Famous  (that movie is in my Top 5 fave films of all time)  2) 500 Days of Summer (every song on there is just golden — one of the few movies where I had to IMMEDIATELY  own the soundtrack afterward) 3) Once (ditto No. 2 — when I first watched Glen and Marketa perform “Falling Slowly” I pretty much melted into a giant puddle on the floor)

10. Have you ever seen a movie and thought it was better than the book it was based on?

Yes, actually, I have. “Julie and Julia.” Don’t waste your time on the book — the movie is FAR superior (and has way more Julia Child as brilliantly portrayed by Meryl Streep). Also, I’ve never read a single Nicholas Sparks book, but I tell you what, I don’t care to ever actually READ “The Notebook”. Not when Ryan and Rachel did it that kind of justice.

Topics from Roots and Rings (and sorry this week’s are kind of random!)

See more of Gail’s work at www.gailwernerphoto.com. Become a fan of Gail’s work on Facebook. Follow Gail on Twitter.

Maybe it’s because God knows California has a special place in my heart. That, if I hadn’t put my roots down here in the Midwest (with a loving family, husband, friends and great jobs), that I’d be a West Coast girl in a white-hot minute. But since I’m not (and chances are, never will be), I cannot even begin to express the gratitude I have for the friendships I’ve forged online over the past year with an incredible group of photographers in California.

So much so that, earlier this year, I put feelers out with several of them about paying California a visit. And when I say feelers, I mean emails to these gals along the lines of “Oh gosh, I miss you!!!…I miss California!!!…I need to come visit! Can I stay on your couch?” Bold, right? But more and more, I’m becoming a bold kind of girl. Because, here’s a lesson I keep learning over and over in my 20s: YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER WILL BE IF YOU’RE NEVER BRAVE ENOUGH TO ASK.

Because these women—Mary and Jasmine and Amber and Erin, (and all the other friends I lunched and dined with during my week-long stay in SoCal)—are as incredibly generous as they are, they welcomed me to their Golden State and into their homes with open arms. At some point, I’ll share a peek at everything I did during this vacation—relaxing in Santa Monica, watching live music in Hollywood, kayaking in Newport Beach—but this month’s self-portrait is more about taking a moment to celebrate 21st century friendships (because no way would I have had these opportunities even 10 years ago) and capturing the view from one of those couches*—each of which allowed me to park my tush and spend valuable time catching up face-to-face with some of my favorite women. Miss you all already!

*Amber, just so you know, if I could have, this couch of yours would have been crammed into my suitcase. The book shelves behind it too :)

See more of Gail’s work at www.gailwernerphoto.com. Become a fan of Gail’s work on Facebook. Follow Gail on Twitter.