OK- So I’m standing in line at The Produce Place several weeks ago. I kept thinking that the girl looking at oranges looked familiar. Then it hit me. It was her. My style goddess. If I had to pick three celebrities who I would love to raid their closets (and have a magic wand that immediately switched everything to my size) they would be Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Aniston, and the girl checking out oranges: Gwyneth Paltrow.
I am in no way a celebrity stalker, so I really had to look the other way – you know all nonchalant in an I could give a crap who you are kinda way. Then, I just decided: Screw It. I’m taking her picture on my iphone. This is what I got:
GP is super tiny in real life
I was going to leave it at that. Really I was. But then, my inner star-stalker temporarily possessed me and before you know it, I was talking – to her – Gwyneth Paltrow. Now, the ice breaker, of course, was my middle daughter’s gorgeous curls. It’s hard to be near her and not comment. So I took the opportunity and ran with it. I mean, really, I knew we had so much in common. We are both bloggers. We are both tall blonds (with standing appt’s with our hair dresser to keep it this way!). We both are moms of young children. We both are from the East Coast. We both like a detox. She lives in England and I’ve been to England. We are both married to rock stars (OK- so mine is a rock star in the data-marketing world. Really- he is and I’m sure Coldplay works with data marketers so give this one to me, OK?). Plus, I was in high school theater productions and even had an agent at one point, so we are practically twins separated at birth. See, it was destiny.
I sneaked this pic while she walking to my car. In fact, ALL of these pictures were, until now, not known about. So, shhhhhhh, don't tell her!
Before you know it, she had agreed to let me show her some of my favorite places in Nashville. She got in my car (she’s trusting, that Gwyneth) and I dropped my kids by the house. She even commented on my dining room Chandelier, “Didn’t you blog about that?” That’s when I fought the urge to bear hug her. I, ever so coolly said, “You read StyleBlueprint?” She responds, “Oh, yeah. That’s why I agreed to get in the car with you. I read it every day.” Well, call me a monkey’s uncle. Gwyneth Paltrow reads SBP every day. It was a pinch me moment. Right at that time I passed some seriously bad smelling gas. I rushed her out of the house so she would not clue in. My hope is that she still thinks it was the dog….
We first stopped by Import Flowers as I had called Elizabeth, blog partner, and I knew she was there. She told me the StyleBlueprint partnership was OVER unless I brought GP by. Yes, I would have said the same thing. I love Import Flowers so the ruse was on.
Can you tell Elizabeth was excited to spot Ms. Paltrow?
Next, I drove her to The Perfect Pair as I could tell from the shoes she was wearing that this was the store for her. It was. In fact the shoes she had on were sold last year at The Perfect Pair. She bought three pairs of shoes, a pair of Mingle earrings and 2 Virgin, Saints and Angels necklaces. I should have kept that agent and done the acting thing. I want to walk into The Perfect Pair and buy all that.
I had Whitney, co-owner of Perfect Pair, take this picture of the awesome starfish bracelet on sale there (really- I love that bracelet). But, of course that was to keep Gwyneth Paltrow from knowing I was sneaking a pic for all of you to see! Ha ha!
Next, I swung her by Petit Chateau since I love this store and they are going out of business. My thought was that maybe she could just buy up the whole store and let these two great gals that own it get on with their design firm and leave the retail behind. Buy she did, but she left plenty for you to still buy as well. Get yourself over there as everything is as of April 1 (today) 40% off and we are talking brands like Oly Studio, French Laundry and one-of-a-kind antiques.
Gwyneth Paltrow at Petit Chateau. I wanted to tell her bra strap was showing, but I really don't think she cared.
Gwyneth said what she wanted most at this point was the perfect pair of jeans, another scarf, and perhaps some vintage cowboy boots. I knew the perfect destination: Imogene + Willie. I did a U-y in the street which caused a minor accident. Gwyneth was kind enough to explain to everyone that we were in a hurry and handed out my cell phone number and took pictures with each person involved which cast some sort of magical spell over all of them and we were able to speed away.
Gwyneth with Carrie and Matt's pet dog, Lale.
We arrived at Imogene + Willie and she scored big. I think the owners there, Matt and Carrie Eddmenson, immediately replaced me as her new Nashville BFF. I mean they are just too cool and I couldn’t keep up. She hung out there and finally told me that she would catch me later. I knew the dream was over and I was gracious and told her goodbye. Perhaps she suspected I was taking all these pictures?
GP checking out the goods at Imogene + Willie.
I was kinda mad at those cool cat owners of Imogene + Willie. Why did they have to be so engaging and simply ooze style and cool in a way that I could never compete? Man- they even made it onto her top places to shop list featured on Gwyneth’s blog GOOP.
Alas, we’ll always have those few hours. During that time, it was just me, Nashville, and GP. And, I do have a momento (besides stolen moments captured on my phone). My dented car door from my U-y experience:
It's such a great story it's a shame to have the door fixed. If you try real hard you can even make the dent look like a G. Gwyneth did comment that mine was the first minivan she had been in. I bet she loved it so much that she buys one for her crew. I wonder if they make Honda Odysseys with the steering wheel on the right-hand side?
Enjoy your day. And, if you really believe this post….April Fools!
Brought to you by Elizabeth and Liza of StyleBlueprint and Rachel Halvorson, AKA Gwyneth Paltrow, fabulous decorator and writer of NestEgg Blog.
© 2010, StyleBlueprint. All rights reserved.
28 Responses to “Gwyneth Paltrow, my new best friend.”
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GREAT!!!! Thanks for the fun read. You got me hook, line
and sinker.
You got me! That was hilarious!!!
Brilliant! I am crying I am laughing so hard! I KNEW that sassy little stance looked familiar! :-)
I’m laughing laughing laughing. This is hysterical!
Liza,
You are hilarious!!! What guts you have. I am sooo jealous you got to hang with GP. Maybe we’ll get her to join the mini van club!
That was brilliant! You totally had me, and I was so impressed! Thanks for the morning pick-me-up!
Liza, I was believing you until you wrote you passed gas. You don’t pass gas!
No- I really don’t. Esp now that I’m gluten free! But, anything for a laugh:-) Of course my hope with that line was to get someone to spit out their coffee from laughing:-)
I was living the dream with you. Sounds like a perfect day to me! GP was just icing on the cake!
hook, line, and sinker… I had been so excited for you that whole time…
Love love love it. Hilarious Liza!
This was terrific! Much better than the time I told my then 9 year old (3 yrs. ago) that Miley Cyrus and Billy Ray were coming for dinner, and then we were going to Miley’s concert.
Because my hubby is in the music biz, my daughter believed me! It was by far the WORST April Fool’s joke I ever pulled. She cried and cried and cried. What kind of mother am I?! I’m sure I’ll have the therapist bills to prove it one day!
Thanks again for the great post!
Laura Lyn
GP would be lucky to hang with you two for a day.
Liza — you are hilarious!!! You had me oozing with envy that you got to hang out with GP and now I am laughing hysterically! I am now late for a meeting because I had to read every last word and stare at every picture — but that is OK, because what better way to start the day than with a big old belly laugh!!!
Thanks!
LOL Love it!!!
I actually believed the gas part! hilarious. thanks for the best part of my day :)
Fantastic…had me going all the way!!!!
Very funny. You had me until the car accident. I was starting to wonder about GP .Whose Honda cruiser starred in the blog…or do you both drive them? Hope there is a way to get G to read this blog. Excellent
You are a genius.
Fun, fun, fun!!
I was hooked the whole time, kudos to elizabeth and eliza.
GP here.
Miss you and your stylish mini van!
xoxo
No way! I totally fell for it! You two are SOOOOO funny! Happy April Fools!
believed every word, funny
first time i’ve EVER been fooled. good one!!
Whhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!! :)
You ALMOST had me!! I actually thought it was really GP!
But I’m not QUITE gullible enough to think you actually chased her around town!!! Since I read GOOP a couple of days ago (on her WONDERFUL REVIEW OF NASHVILLE) I knew she had been in some of these places……..so, it didn’t seem too far-fetched that you might have run into her! GREAT BLOG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You guys are very creative! In more ways than one.
I loved this and never thought I was being goofed.
Thanks for the fun.
good one. You got me . . . . although I was starting to wonder why I never saw her face! Happy April Fools.
Hysterical! And I totally fell for it.