We are so so close to the end of 2017! It's crazy to believe we've moved almost 365 days around the sun, again. But, here we are.

And you know what that means, it's time to meet the most fascinating. Usually this list is done in jest. It's full of ridiculous list makers like Blake Lively's baby and the guys who decorate their beard. But this year, it felt like a changed was needed.

I took an Instagram poll to see who you guys thought was the most interesting. Turns out, you did NOT think Melania Trump was interesting, but really loved the Pope. You thought Selena Gomez was a joke, but loved on Taylor Swift.


This has been quite a year, from Trumps Inauguration at the beginning to powerful men being dethroned by its end. It's been a year of strength and triumph but also sadness and despair. It's been a year of greatness. And this year, I felt like this list needed to focus on the real people of 2017.

The do-gooders, the change makers, the most fascinating. Lets do this.

10. THE 'THIS IS US' CAST // This show has quickly become a worldwide phenomena. It has a cult like following that will keep this show on the air for years to come. The story line covers drug use, alcohol abuse, race, foster care, weight loss, weight gain, miscarriage, loss, death, love, marriage and everything else in between  It's true what you've heard, every episode may make you cry, but its in that good feeling kind of way. Trust me on this one, this is not a show you want to miss.



9. KARDASHIAN BABIES // Even though I don't watch their show, follow them on social or particularly like any of them, its hard to deny the fact that they are indeed fascinating. This has been the year of the babies. Kim is pregnant by surrogate with her third, Khloe just announced she is pregnant with her first and Kylie is still refusing to share her baby news. This family is a little quirky, but aren't all families? Their first goal is to protect each other, and for how huge their influence is, I find pretty awesome. I may not agree with most of what they do or like watching there show, but millions and millions do. This next year, we will finally "meet" all the Kardash babies and its safe to say, the lives of these babies is going to damn fascinating.


8. TAYLOR SWIFT // Agree or disagree, you have to admit, Taylor is having her year. She started 2017 hiding out in what I can only imagine to be a NYC flat where even the annoying paparazzi couldn't find her or her 20-something year old british boyfriend. She had burned most of her celeb relationships with the epic Kayne phone call earlier in 2016 and was creating a new album. Move along to August 2017 and we got a taste of her new sound and unfortunately her new hairdo. November she dropped her newest album reputation and I haven't stopped listening since. On top of the music industry, earlier in 2017, she won a groping lawsuit against a creepy Denver radio station host and won. The best part, she sued for $1 to prove the point that it doesn't cost money to be a silence breaker.


7. DAISY RIDLEY AS REY IN STAR WARS // Let me be honest up front, I have only seen three Star Wars movies. Don't hate, I LOVED them, just not on the top of the movie priority list right now. But, even without seeing the most recent Star Wars, I too, have heard the buzz that is Daisy Ridley and her character Rey. I think the Telegraph said it best "Leia aside, previous Star Wars films weren’t exactly heavy on inspiring women – and it’s great to see how Rey has captured the imagination of younger Star Wars fans, giving them a female character they can look up to, whose courage and strength they can emulate – and who they can actually enjoy dressing up as." Go Star Wars for casting a strong female lead, RIP Carrie Fisher. Now, if we could just figure out if she's Lukes daughter, Obi Wan's granddaughter, Luke’s daughter and Obi Wan’s granddaughter or Han and Leia’s daughter (and Kylo Ren’s little sister). Regardless, it's going to be fun to watch and find out!

6. IVANKA TRUMP // Think what you must of her father and his antics, but Ivanka is killing them game. She's smart, outspoken, bold, (stunning!), a mother, a wife, designer, author and businesswoman. She's also her fathers right hand woman. She is proving that woman can take on any role they want and they can do it all. You might not agree with her policies but I think we can all agree, seeing a strong woman in a leadership role is what the world can use.



5. MEGHAN MARKLE // This is Meghan's second year on this list. Last year, she was the girl who broke Harry as his girlfriend. This year she is making her debut as the fiancé of the prince. While that is incredible fascinating, her marital status isn't the only reason she is fascinating, even if she will be the Royal Highness the Duchess Of Sussex. First, she's so smart, graduated from Northwestern (she was a kappa!) with a double major in theatre and international relations. She's been acting forever. She's obviously stunning. She's been married and divorced (a first for the royal family). She's an advocate for the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women. And as a Global Ambassador for World Vision Canada, she has traveled to India and Rwanda to promote clean water initiatives and women's education. Her and Harry bonded over their love for humanitarian work and there is no doubt their union will be absolutely fascinating. Harry got lucky with her. She's the real royal here.  


4. JJ WATT // JJ Watt is a football player. He's a defensive end for the Houston Texans and all around football badass. He is the reason I initially drafted the Houston Texans as my defense in my fantasy football team. However, earlier this season he broke his tibia. Okay, so what makes JJ fascinating? Besides the fact that football is his career, he's one of the best humans.  He lives in Houston, it's his home and his community. After Hurricane Harvey came in and ravaged the town, he set a goal to raise $200,000 in Hurricane Harvey relief. He was on Instagram daily with updates on his fundraising and pushing goals to raise more. Wanna know how much more?  J.J. Watt ended up raising more than $37 million from more than 200,000 donors. Go JJ. 



3. THE HURRICANE RESPONDERS // This year brought some of the worst hurricanes in history. From Hurricane Harvey in Houston to Hurricane Irma that devastated Puerto Rico, Florida and so many more islands, we saw devastation, but we saw hope. In total, Harvey inflicted more than $200 billion in damage and Irma inflicted more than $66 billion. Yes, billions. In the midst of tragedy, look for the helpers. Look for the first responders. Look for the people giving up their own lives, possessions and money to help those they don't even know. It was absolutely incredible to see the relief people brought to those affected by the hurricanes. For Harvey, over $510 million has been raised and thats not counting the federal money. For Irma, the fundraiser, Hand in Hand raised over $55 million. People are doing good things.


2. THE CALIFORNIA FIREFIGHTERS // Through December 3, more than 6,762 fires burned 505,391 acres this year. During that same period last year, 4,742 fires burned 244,297 acres. The five-year statewide average for that period is 4,749 acres and 202,696 acres. More than 8,500 firefighters have battled the blaze, the largest mobilization of fire crews to fight any wildfire in California history. The firefight has cost $130 million. 8,500 firefighters, let that sink in for a bit. Firefights from all over the country have come in to help with these wildfires and they aren't slowing down. It’s now the third-largest fire in California history but is likely to become the second. This is a shout-out, a thank you, a huge virtual hug to all those men and woman risking it all to protect others. You are the real MVPs.



1. THE SILENCE BREAKERS, THE #METOO MOVEMENT // It's safe to say, 2017 has been the year of the powerful female. From Tarana Burke who created the #MeToo movement to Alyssa Milano who popularized and encouraged its strength; this year has been the year woman have said enough is enough and stood up to the "powerful" men in their world. October 5, we saw the ungraceful fall of Harvey Weinstein, only to be succeeded by men like Louis C.K., Kevin Spacey, James Toback and Mark Schwahan. Girls, keep fighting, keep talking and keeping standing up for yourself. Let's make this a standard and not an exception. 



Honorable Mentions: 
Generation Z - the new new millenials
Serena Williams - won Wimbledon while pregnant!
Santa Ana winds - goes hand in hand with the firefighters
The Pope - you guys voted him in!

Happy Friday friends! Thanks for joining me again in another list of the most fascinating. If you created a list, who would be on your list? Leave them in the comments!

So maybe I didn't get interview by Vogue, but let's pretend shall we.

Do you guys know Kaeleen From With Dignity and Coffee? Oh, you dont? That sucks. She rocks. Okay, so I don't personally know her, but I know that I read her blog daily and I love what I read. She's honest, hilarious and I think if we knew each other, we'd be great friends.

Like Kaeleen, I love Tay Swift. Throw shade, roll your eyes, I don't care. I am a proud Taylor Swift fan and I would die to be in her #squad. That girl has mastered music and she's getting a lot better at displaying her life in the public eye and dating in general. Or maybe she's just not talking about it as much.

Anywayssss. In case you missed in, Vogue interviewed Taylor in her house which is awesome. Taylor answered 72 questions in 3 minutes. It's amazing.


I really wish someone was interviewing me in my mansion in New York, but instead I'll just pretend that Anna Wintour is interviewing me and I'm offering her coffee. Here are my answers to Vogue's 73 questions.

PS. I only counted 69. What's wrong with me.

1 // What's keeping you busy these days?
Fixing up our new house, binge watching the People v. OJ and planning for San Diego!

2 // What's the most exciting thing in life right now?

I just love this quote... 


"Real life is a funny thing, you know, in real life saying the right thing at the right moment is beyond crucial.  So crucial in fact that most of us start to hesitate for fear of saying the wrong thing at the wrong time; but lately what I've begun to fear more than that is letting the moment pass without saying anything. I think you deserve to look back on your life without this chorus of resounding voices saying 'I could've but it's too late now'.  So there's a time for silence and there's a time for waiting your turn; but if you know how you feel and you so clearly know what you need to say you'll know it and I don't think you should wait, I think you should speak now."

I can't get enough of Taylor Swifts new CD. It's just as good [if not better] than the last. I admire how she sings with conviction and honesty. I just love her, she's my fav right now.

I'm freaking out. I'm leaving for Boston in the morning for six weeks. For those close, they know that being home has been a bit of a struggle for me. Not the physical part of being home, or even the living with my parents part, I love that part. But the fact that my life went from going-going-going at a hundred miles-per-hour to two miles-per-hour in a span of 24 hours. One day I was in Malibu, the next I was driving across the desert to Arizona.

So, because of that slow-down anxiety, most would think I'm thrilled to fly across the country to enjoy Boston for six weeks, but... While I'm completely excited, I'm more nervous than ever. Basically the next six weeks determines my entire future, but I can't think about it that way, it's just hard. I feel like I have this enormous pressure I have to live up too and if I fail, I feel like I'm going to let a lot of people down. I have all these dreams, goals and aspirations and while they are entirely mine, its hard for me to say that some of those goals aren't there to please others as well. I want to make my family proud, I want to make my friends proud, I want to make my boyfriend proud. I want to show those who said I couldn't do it, wrong. I want to prove to my mass com professor that deciding I wanted to be a lawyer wasn't out of haste, but that I can actually do it. I want Dr. Benton to be proud, I want to make myself proud. I think that's what it really comes down to, me. If I were doing this to please those around me, I would have quit already. I would have moved onto something easier and much more accessible. But I'm going to do this for me. I'm going to prove to myself (and everyone else) that I am stronger than I give myself credit for. That regardless of what I doubt about myself, that I am smart enough. It just takes a little faith I guess. Faith in myself, in my abilities, and in what I know I can do. So, like I said in my post on March 16th, this is the big time baby. Here we go.

FEARLESS is not the absence of fear. It’s not being completely unafraid. To me, FEARLESS is having fears. FEARLESS is having doubts. Lots of them. To me, FEARLESS is living in spite of those things that scare you to death.

Boston scares me. I'm afraid of failing. But I'm not going to. That's the spirit. If you're not here to root for me, don't bother, I don't care. I'm going to do this regardless.

So Kate, knowing my love for blogs recommended Bob Lefsetz and his 'letters.' He claims to be the 'First in music analysis' and honestly I think he's brilliant. He isn't your typical blogger in the sense that he emails his letters to you after subscribing to them. However, he has this way of expressing feeling and emotion, the way I feel about music, into words that I could never dream of. Back to my blog "It's a Revolution" I talked about how Taylor has this way of inspiring people through her lyrics and her music. Today, Bob sent his daily email and his words said what I was feeling. So, I thought I'd share his genius about the music industry with you today....

"She played too long, the skits became tiresome, but last night I saw the future of the music industry, and it was HEARTWARMING and EXCITING! I got there during Kellie Pickler's set. I expected glitz. But what I got was a crack band, and rather than an overemoting "American Idol" contestant, a woman who was thrilled to be there, thrilled to be performing to this audience of peers and soon to be peers.

During the intermission this cauldron of estrogen typed text messages to the Verizon screens. There were none of the salacious and snarky comments of the hipsters, just endless expressions of friendship and love for Taylor. About to go to the bathroom, I was confronted with Ms. Swift on the big screen. Talking about being friendless in high school, but having something special. She urged those in attendance not to feel bad if they didn't fit in, if you were pursuing your dream, your time would come.

And then I RAN out for my pee, figuring there would be more interstitial material before Taylor took the stage that I didn't want to miss. And I was confronted with a vast wasteland. Barely a soul in the halls. Everyone was INSIDE the arena. This wasn't a perfunctory show, but an EXPERIENCE! They were bonding, they didn't want to miss a moment. I was aghast at the dancers in the opening number. Was this necessary? Kellie Pickler had done without, she'd relied solely on the music. Thank god, this was about it for bouncing bodies, the music took over. There were endless costume changes, all this peripheral shit that I deemed superfluous, but was obviously the fantasy of a nineteen year old. One with a bunch of hits who'd earned the right to do it HER way. It was quite clearly her show. No adults saying no, just the endless hopes and fantasies of a teenager.

I'd played both albums incessantly in order to prepare. But no matter how many times I'd heard them, I was no match for the girls in the audience. THEY SANG EACH AND EVERY WORD! It was like a school exam, one that got you the date of a lifetime, one that gave you the keys to the kingdom. They WANTED to know these songs, they were the story of their life. I've been going to shows for decades and I've NEVER EVER heard the audience sing along like this. To say it put a smile on my face would not convey the unbridled thrill I got being there. This was what music was supposed to be, not posing, not attitude, but JOY!

Even the six year old behind me in a newly-purchased t-shirt was singing along. They'd bought "Fearless" and played it in their bedrooms, when their friends were over, when they were depressed, when they were happy. That's what music is...ACCOMPANIMENT! And now you can take it along with you, on your iPod. Music is EVERYWHERE! And you HAD to go to this underpriced show (top ticket $59.50), it was a tribal rite.

"You take a deep breath and you walk through the doors
It's the morning of your very first day"

Do you remember high school? Both the trepidation and the hope? Wanting to date a senior but believing he has no idea you exist? That's a story Taylor Swift told. She had it right. AND THE AUDIENCE KNEW IT!

"'Cause when you're fifteen and somebody tells you they love you
You're gonna believe them"

You still want to believe them, no matter how old you are. It's just that attrition sets in, you want to have hope... Listening to Taylor Swift's music gives you hope. Does it last? Does it matter? A decade ago girl power was represented by the Spice Girls, a manufactured act that neither wrote nor played, and it was dubious as to their singing abilities. Taylor Swift is the OPPOSITE! She's the veritable BEATLES! The fact that she writes her own material makes all the difference. There's an honesty that cannot be denied. Her looks are secondary. And when she actually picked a lead on her acoustic guitar you could see Guitar Center's stock go up. Youngsters model after their heroes. If Taylor Swift can do it, I CAN TOO!

Instead of Mariah Carey clones, melisma-popping girls with their hands in the air singing bland crap, we're going to have a generation of empowered women needing to state their truth, delivering something that starts in the head and the heart as opposed to the office of a plastic surgeon. No one's done as much for women's music since JONI MITCHELL!

Highlights? ALL THE HITS! Singing "Teardrops On My Guitar" at the other end of the arena... If you haven't been in love with someone who hasn't loved you, you're not alive. If only you could TELL THEM! But you can't. The rejection would just be too painful, you'd be MORTIFIED! So you've got this secret crush, that can go on for years. "Hey Stephen", with its jaunty groove that forces your toes to tap and head to bob involuntarily. The lyrics of obsession are just the cherry on top. "Tim McGraw", introduced in a video by the man himself. "Should Have Said No". Why do people cheat and lie?

Most of the hit crap is massaged by middle-aged people, giving the public what it thinks it wants. But this filtered crap bears no resemblance to reality. But Taylor Swift's music is direct from her to you.

"You should have said no
You should have gone home
You should have thought twice before you let it all go
You should have known that word 'bout what you did with her'd, get back to me
And I should have been there, in the back of your mind
Shouldn't be asking myself why
You shouldn't be begging for forgiveness at my feet
You should have said no
Baby and you might still have me"

They say that feminism has taken a hit. That little girls want to dress like whores and trade on their sexuality. But Taylor Swift sacrifices neither her femininity nor her dignity. You don't have to play by a man's rules, and you have the right to call out bad behavior. That's an ongoing theme in Taylor's work, expressing hurt, pain, wanting to set wrongs right. Fascinating in a culture where everybody's supposed to be a winner, where you can't show vulnerability, where you put on a smile and bury your feelings. But obviously Taylor's got it right. This gig was SOLD OUT! Even the UPPER DECK, high above the three rows of luxury boxes, was full. And that's almost like viewing a show from the OUTSIDE! There were no losers. No moments when you went out for a pee and a pretzel. But the true highlight was "White Horse".

Oftentimes during the show Taylor would just stand there, drinking up the applause, not like a pro, but someone reveling in having made it, basking in the acceptance, FINALLY! And after one of these long pauses, launching back into patter, and Taylor spoke regularly, it was an ongoing conversation with the audience, she told the assembled multitude how great they were and said they deserved a special guest. JOHN MAYER! I was stunned. He's not country. And he's not female.But Taylor Swift isn't country either. Occasionally a banjo was featured, but this was pure rock and roll. More guitars than you see at a classic rock show, no tapes, no hard drives. Top Forty is for drum machines, for altered voices, country's for music.

There was a big roar. But there wasn't the love for the rendition of "Your Body Is A Wonderland" that I expected. But then John switched from an acoustic to an electric, the same worn-out Fender that he uses to play those Stevie Ray Vaughan licks, and Taylor started picking out the notes on her acoustic...

"That face of an angel comes out
Just when you need it to
As I pace back and forth all this time
'Cause I honestly believed in you"

This ain't revenge rock. This isn't accusatory, rather the protagonist is disappointed, and is doing her best to display strength.

"I'm not a princess
This ain't a fairy tale
I'm not the one you'll sweep off her feet
Lead her up the stairwell
This ain't Hollywood
This is a small town
I was a dreamer before you went and let me down
Now it's too late for you and your white horse
To come around"

Actually, this was Hollywood. But almost none of the throng in attendance will achieve any fame. They'll have victories and disappointments. They'll go to school, get married, have jobs and children. Hopefully they'll avoid the diversion of drugs in the fast lane of life depicted in a media that's full of sensationalism but absent much reality. Life's the same for everybody. You start off scared, knowing nothing. And by time you realize nobody knows anything, that the bullies and those screaming from the pulpit are full of shit, no smarter than you, it's too late, your skin has sagged, you're over the hill. Money matters, but it's not everything. A smile on the face of a loved one, helping another...they can make you just as happy as the billionaire, if not happier.

But suddenly the "artists" were aligned with the billionaires. It became about lifestyle, separating yourself from your fans. But on her way back from performing in the rafters Taylor stopped and hugged fan after fan. Because she knew what it meant to them. And what they mean to her. We're in it together. There's no show without an audience. And an audience is drawn to flash once. But to sustain a career, you've got to deliver more than a momentary hit, more than train-wreck value.

Taylor Swift has earned her headliner status. And she delivered on it. My complaints as to length and style are irrelevant. She did it her way. And that's all that matters in this life, having no regrets. Wall Street told us they had the economy handled. Clive Davis told us if we just did it his way music would not only survive, but be great. But they were both full of shit. As the Beatles once sang, you've got to think for yourself. Taylor Swift heeded their advice. And by hewing to her own line as opposed to someone else's she's inspiring a generation of young women. And me too.

She made me a believer. Not only in her, but music and the music business. If someone as great as Taylor Swift can make it, think of all the great acts to come!

I'm sorry, I know that was long, but he said how I felt and I thought everyone deserved to hear it from him. Go to his website and subscribe today, it's totally worth it.

It's not often that you leave a concert completely inspired. Maybe I look deeper into the whole concert experience than the 12,000 screaming pre-pubescent girls, but the Taylor Swift concert last night legitimately inspired me. She has the most positive view on ife and it's apparent through her music. I know what you're saying....Being all of 19 years old she's been through a lot right? Even though she's young, all of her songs are about relationships, heart breaks, life, experiences and things that move her. She's not afraid to cry about things, but at the end of the day she's happy and smiley and she reminded me that things change. While life experiences obviously effect your outlook on life, at the end of the day it shouldn't stop you from doing it all over. Yes, erring on the side of caution is important in some situations, but it should never limit us. It doesn't matter what I've been through because things will change.

Why do we do this? Lately I have been in this funk, that no matter what I do (or eat), I can’t seem to shake it. One minute I’m happy-go-lucky, and the next I’m reminiscing, [People say he’s only in my head] yeah sometimes it’s the smell of a sweatshirt, [Gonna take time but I’ll forget] or a ticket stub or even the smell of chlorine [Say I need to get on with my life]- but it still doesn’t make it any easier. I wish I could just shake it off, wake up one morning and feel relieved. It’ll come, it always does, I just wish I could make it come sooner.

Running, running as fast as I can - I really hope I make it (do you think I’ll make it?). I’m running, keep holding my hand. Its so we don't get separated
Be the one I need, Be the one I trust most. Don't stop inspiring me Sometimes its hard to keep on running, we work so much to keep it going. Don't make me want to give up.

Even though that kicked in the chest feeling sucks, it’s the little things that make me feel better. Coming home to the best roommates ever, knowing they’ve been there too, looking at my Christmas tree, talking to my mom, bbm’ing. Maybe we just need to learn to “drink up the sunshine.”

I don’t wanna dream about all the things that never were. Maybe I can live without- When I’m out from under, I don’t wanna feel the pain. What good would it do me now I’ll get it all figured out. When I’m out from under. And part of me still believes, when you say you’re gonna stick around. And part of me still believes we can find a way to work it out. But I know that we tried everything we could try So let’s just say goodbye forever.

I don’t wanna dream about all the things that never were.

To me, “FEARLESS” is not the absence of fear. It’s not being completely unafraid. To me, FEARLESS is having fears. FEARLESS is having doubts. Lots of them. To me, FEARLESS is living in spite of those things that scare you to death. FEARLESS is falling madly in love again, even though you’ve been hurt before. FEARLESS is walking into your freshmen year of high school at fifteen. FEARLESS is getting back up and fighting for what you want over and over again…even though every time you’ve tried before, you’ve lost. It’s FEARLESS to have faith that someday things will change. FEARLESS is having the courage to say goodbye to someone who only hurts you, even if you can’t breathe without them. I think it’s FEARLESS to fall for your best friend, even though he’s in love with someone else. And when someone apologizes to you enough times for things they’ll never stop doing, I think it’s FEARLESS to stop believing them. It’s FEARLESS to say “you’re NOT sorry”, and walk away. I think loving someone despite what people think is FEARLESS. I think allowing yourself to cry on the bathroom floor is FEARLESS. Letting go is FEARLESS. Then, moving on and being alright…That’s FEARLESS too. But no matter what love throws at you, you have to believe in it. You have to believe in love stories and prince charmings and happily ever after. I think love is FEARLESS.

I’m not bulletproof, and that’s okay.

Say you’re sorry: That face of an angel comes out
Just when you need it to. As I pace back and forth all this time
‘Cause I honestly believed in you holding on, The days drag on stupid girl I should have known, I should have known

That I’m not a princess This ain’t a fairytale
I’m not the one you’ll sweep off her feet
Lead her up the stairwell, This ain’t Hollywood,
This is a small town I was a dreamer before you went and let me down
Now its too late for you and your White Horse, To come around.

Baby I was naïve, Got lost in your eyes
I never really had a chance. I had so many dreams about you and me.
Happy endings; Now I know, and there you are on your knees, begging for forgiveness,
Begging for me Just like I always wanted, But I’m so sorry

Cause Im not your princess This aint a fairytale.
I’m gonna find someone, Some day who might actually treat me well.

This is a big world, That was a small town. There in my rearview mirror, Disappearing now. And it’s too late for you and your White Horse to catch me now