If you've been around me for any length of time, you'll know that Taylor Swift and Gilmore Girls are two of my very favorite things. There's also a good chance that this will come up in conversation or something you will observe upon meeting me. 

 

So, it was a big week for me as a fangirl of these things. Taylor Swift released her 12th original studio album with “The Life of a Showgirl,” Lauren Graham (Lorelai Gilmore, Sarah Braverman and a slew of other iconic characters) received her Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and, finally, Sunday, October 5, marks the 25th anniversary of Gilmore Girls, my favorite show of all-time. 

 

Let's recap the week, shall we? 

My friends and I have had plans for TLOAS release since it was announced. My friend, Athena, and I bought matching shirts. I decided to put some sparkle on mine with rhinestones. Naturally, I couldn't find the rhinestones I had so I had to buy more of that and glue. I had to hurry and do it before it before heading to my next adventure. Thankfully, my mom helped me and we got it done in plenty of time. I loved the final result. 

 

Thursday evening, since I was house/dog sitting, my friend Liz came over for our tradition first listening. Since we met in 2021, as coworkers, we've been doing these Taylor release listens the night her albums come out. Red: Taylor's version was our first. Usually it involves coffee, sitting closely hovered over one of our phones and a mini photo shoot or sort of reaction video, or dance, as we listen through.

 

We usually try to keep within the theme or wear whatever color is featured for the album. I had an orange shirt, did some orange eyeshadow and used some of the Fazit sparkles (the ones Taylor wore to the Chiefs game last season) to add a bit more shine for the ‘Showgirl’ life.

 

This album listening felt a bit quicker than others in the past. We only had about 30 minutes before the release when Liz arrived. She brought Starbies and we caught each other up on our days and how things have been lately. Then, we settled in with our coffee and anxiously stared at the clock, getting cued up for the listen. We came to the conclusion that time has never moved more slowly than it did in that window. Plus, the album itself was only around 45 minutes or so total.

 

Liz and I sat outside with the twinkling lights aglow around the backyard. The weather was absolutely perfect and finally feels like fall. And Liz's new bestie, Charlie, jumped up on her lap to celebrate the occasion with us.

 

 

I loved it upon first listen. Sure, there were a couple of surprising moments (cough Wood cough) and other plot twisty moments, like only she does. 

 

I didn't really have any expectations going into it because even the albums I haven't necessarily claimed as my favorite, or been sure about in the past, always prove to be masterpieces or something I change my mind about later on. 

 

To me, this album feels like Reputation's older, wiser sister. She personifies the idea of fame and the life of a performer in many different elements and aspects. Her songs and themes are always so much broader than the simple TMZ headlines or clips they pull for clicks on social media. 

I booked it to Target after walking Liz out and saying goodbye. I figured I might as well give it a shot. Thinking back through the years, I realized this is the first time I've actually done a midnight release. Usually I've ordered the bundle through her website or would just go to Target the day of the album drop. 

 

Over the last few years as the craziness of Taylor continues to ensue, everything flies off the shelves so much quicker these days. Or they limit the quantities, so it's a whole thing. This was one album I just HAD to have. So, I went…And I'm so glad I did. It was such a fun experience. I walked up to the door and Taylor music was BLASTING. There was even a little Swiftie crafty station and they had Target employees outside, welcoming people in. I walked in, saw that there was a line/ticket station, where a Target employee was handing out tickets for the album release. 

 

I, then, had about two hours to kill in Target. I never thought I'd be bored in a Target, but I was starting to get very tired. I picked up a few things I needed, paid, then decided to get a Starbucks and sat down to scroll through X to see what Swifties were posting about their own release night experiences. 

 

Finally, it was time to start lining up at 11:45 p.m. The anticipation was building! Eek. I have to say it was very organized. They'd call out numbers in groups of five, and then you were able to buy the album and the other CD variants behind the “Guest Services” counter. It didn't feel like it took too long. I, of course, went with the vinyl and picked up another CD. I DID IT! 

 

I got in the car, immediately opened the album and put it in my CD player. Yes, my car still has one and I use it ALL.THE.TIME. Usually just Taylor's albums on repeat, but occasionally I'll switch it out to the likes of Stevie Nicks or Billy Joel. I drove back to the house I was housesitting. My mind was so wired, I knew I was going to have a hard time falling asleep. I took the dogs outside one more time, but was still wired and my head was hurting. It was hard to come down from the high. 

Friday was a bit rough. i'd only gotten a few hours of sleep, but figured I'd be fine with something to eat and more coffee. I had a slow morning, then let the Showgirl-ness continue, wearing orange and listened to the Taylor Swift Sirius XM channel 13 with a mix of old hits, fan notes and messages from Taylor. It was fun to just be in the Taylor zone. 

Since I could only buy one album, I wasn't able to get one for my friend. So, I thought I'd go to another Target to see if they still had some. Just before I left, she'd texted that they'd found some in LA where they were. I was in the mood to do something, so I drove around, listening to the album and ended up going through Dutch Bros. I had their cookie butter latte, which was so delicious. 

 

I'd seen a Taylor related event happening nearby, so I figured I'd drive over there and see what it was all about. It's a cute little boutique I'd heard of, but never been to – Sandstone. They had a matcha bar setup outside, Taylor blasting through the speakers, along with teal and orange decorations. I walked in and they had some of the cutest things – Clothes, candles, jewelry and everything was 13% off in honor of the day's festivities. I found an Autumn Harvest candle and a cute chain/layered necklace that still kind of worked for the ‘showgirl’ vibe. There was some sort of tattoo setup in the middle of the store, but I didn't check it out. I grabbed a cookie on the way out and went back to the car. 

 

I kept thinking about getting my nails done, but decided I didn't want to wait for it. I wanted to get back to the house for another big event I'd been anticipating. 

Lauren Graham, my Taylor Swift of the acting world, iconic mother – Lorelai Gilmore – actress, author, producer and just all around inspiration received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. When it was announced either late last year or earlier this year, my mom and I agreed it was a MUST – We had to be there. 

 

But, alas, life had other plans. These days, they don't give much warning as to when someone's ceremony will be. So, they'd given about a week, but by then we'd already had things come up. I was SO SAD. There have been plenty of things I've missed, but this one of those moments that made me genuinely sad to have missed. 

 

I'd taken the day off from work, but I'd already agreed to watching the pups.

My mom also hadn't felt well, and took a couple of sick days the week before, so she didn't want to miss work again. I was thinking of how I could somehow manage to work it out, even if I went by myself. But, no such luck. 

 

One of my friends I've made through online/met at Lauren Graham's book signing about 12-14 years ago, was there. She sent me updates all day and I was so grateful for it. It did feel like I was there. She even got a sneak peek of her star, the day before, as they placed it on the sidewalk and finished buffing, sanding it and doing what they need to in order to make it closeup ready. She's in between Courtney Cox and Katherine Hepburn, which just seems incredibly fitting for her. 

 

I tuned in via livestream through Variety's YouTube channel. I was in tears in the first few minutes. Amy Sherman-Palladino, creator of “Gilmore Girls" was there and said a few words. UGH. That had me with tears streaming down my face. To top it off, Scott Patterson (Luke Danes), Kelly Bishop (Emily Gilmore), Yanic Truesdale (Michele) and Matt Czuchry (Logan Huntzberger) were all in attendance. I couldn't believe it. Then, of course, Mae Whitman and Sam Jaegar of her “Parenthood” family. You could just feel the excitement and buzz through the screen. 

 

After the ceremony ended online, fading out on Lauren getting pictures with her star from every angle, Amber texted back that she'd gotten a selfie and autograph from Lauren. She'd gone down the line of fans of the main section, then made her way over to fan section on the other side. I was even more sad that we couldn't make it. She's one of those people that I've wanted to meet again forever, but the timing and opportunities just haven't worked out. sigh…someday, someday, maybe (true fans will get it). 

 

I had a poke bowl delivered and devoured it. Then second guessed it, and just had a generally slow afternoon. I tried to take a short nap since I didn't sleep well and I'd had a headache coming on that was starting to get worse. I had to pick my mom up from work, then went home for a bit to rest up, use the heating pad and needed to pick up my shirt and bracelets for the evening. I was in so much pain and threw up. I felt so nauseous and terrible. It was getting closer to the time that I needed to be at the pre-game party at one of our friends/coworkers' houses. I kept thinking I'd feel better, but it just kept getting worse. We were all bringing fun things - there were going to be Showgirl Krispy Kreme donuts, Showgirl-themed cupcakes, Greek food, pastry puffs, pizza and salad. I'd bought a charcuterie board for the occasion. 

 

But, last time I'd pushed it with having dinner with friends, it backfired and I felt worse. So, I tried to rest as much as possible, hoping that I wouldn't have to back out altogether. I left my house and went back to the pups. I tried to just sit/lay still on the couch and turned on Taylor's XM radio channel for a bit. I was so close to canceling because I just didn't think I could make it. 

The Life of a Showgirl means that the show must go on, whether you're feeling well or not. That was Taylor's mentality throughout the Eras Tour. That's where the “Crowd is King” idea came from for the Target Special Edition Vinyl. It isn't an option to cancel. 

 

Suddenly, I just got this burst of energy that felt like maybe I'd be able to make it. I figured I'd start getting up and ready, and if I still felt good, I'd head over there and do my best to make it through the movie. I couldn't miss it! I had the bedazzled shirt, the earrings, the sparkles and the sequined skirt. It was an event that I could not miss. I'd been counting down the days for this! I was able to move around, get ready and felt a lot better, so I made the decision to go. 

I drove over to the theater, snacking on a little something since I didn't feel like eating dinner and also tried to stay hydrated, sipping tea out of my Stanley cup. I had a few minutes to kill before the crew got there, so I just scrolled through socials and people watched as other Taylor fans walked out of the theater in their showgirl attire - some with sparkles and feathers, others with casual PJs and feather boas. It was fun to see everyone's interpretations. 

 

Then, I was able to see, and meet up with, my own peeps. There were hugs and they were so glad I could make it. Me too! I missed gathering with them at the shindig beforehand. But, once we were all together, we went into the theater and settled in. They'd also put together a little goodie bag of candy for me from the candy bar. So fun! I went with peanut butter m&m's and some of the sour straws. 

I adored the film, which is really just a behind-the-scenes, peek-behind-the-curtain on the making of the first music video, “Fate of Ophelia," more on the process of making that, Taylor talking more about the inspiration behind the songs themselves, and, being able to watch the visuals/lyric videos for said songs. 

 

Yes, Taylor has changed a lot when it comes to her style and her sound. However, when I watch her creating on the music video sets or talking about her vision, I see the same 17 year old girl I remember from the CMT: Making the Video specials. She has the same creative heart and eye for the art that she always has. It was so fun to look down at our row of friends, singing along and making up our own choreography, like “Got me dreamin' 'bout a driveway with a basketball hoop…”

 

There was so much laughter, singing and just pure joy from our row and in the theater in general. After, we all hung out in front of the theater, being ridiculous and laughing. We even made plans to go back for the Twilight marathon. I felt better, so on my way back to the house/pups, I stopped at Sonic for a corn dog, all while jamming out to Taylor. 

There used to be a thing called “Disney-bounding” where you dress in regular clothes as if you were Snow White or Mickey Mouse, or whatever character you wanted to go as. So, that's what I did with my outfit today. I went for a Lorelai-esque outfit. It ended up being a little closer to Rory, but I was still happy with it. 

 

We left the house around 10ish in the morning. We stopped in Valencia for lunch at Lucille's BBQ, where we hadn't been in quite some time. It was quick and tasty! Since Lauren Graham had just received her Star on the Walk of Fame, I wanted to see that while we were there. Parking around Hollywood Blvd. is never fun, so we drove around a bit; thought we'd found a spot but it wasn't available on Sundays. We drove up a bit, but realized it was going to take too long to walk to the star and back. Plus, I didn't want to get hot and gross before the event at The Grove.

 

Dad dropped my mom and I off for a few minutes, and he circled around the block a couple of times. I took a couple of pictures with the star below, a couple of my feet, a few by itself and mom took a couple too. We ran into a couple other fans who asked if we'd been to the event at The Grove. We said not yet, but we were heading there. They hadn't gotten tickets and mentioned that they weren't letting in anyone who stopped by or wanted to get in. We mentioned that we'd only gotten in because a friend had extras and was able to pass them to me. 

 

There's a romance to Hollywood Boulevard that I've always enjoyed. Yes, it's messy and not the glamorous picture it's painted to be in the movies. But, I love it just the same. And seeing some of my favorite people in the entertainment industry receive their stars in Hollywood is just one of those teary-eyed moments that I love witnessing. 

We made our way to The Grove and walked by the setup for Gilmore Girls: A celebration of 25 years. It was a special pop-up with Warner Bros. Tour Hollywood and The Grove. My mom and I missed the sign up but put our name in for the waitlist (that didn't end up existing). Thankfully, a friend of mine we've met through the Gilmore fan community had a couple extra tickets, so she transferred them over to me. I was so grateful to her! 

 

They didn't let us get in line until about 10 minutes til 3 p.m. So we wandered around the shopping center. My parents have been in some years and it's still been a couple for me, too. There are so many different stores. And, as luck would have it, since Taylor Swift has been dropping orange doors with clues and QR codes all over the world, there happened to be one at The Grove, too. So I had to check that out. All of the letters have been solved, and the phrase is: “You must remember everything but mostly this: the crowd is your king.” There was a QR code to scan, then when you put the phrase into Google, it takes you to a “visualizer” video for “Fate of Ophelia." She's always thinking of some crazy thing to do next with these album releases. And we're all here for it! 

 

We went through the “Farmer's Market” section, and I had to hit the newsstand - I never get to buy actual magazines, so I went a little crazy. There's just something about the smell of fresh print. I'm weird like that! I found some fun things that our Barnes and Noble or other retailers don't always carry. 

We'd taken a few more photos, gotten a few more steps in, then started heading back to the Pop-Up line. We spotted my friend, who'd also decided to come for the final day. We talked to her for a few minutes and then figured it was time to get in line! We didn't have to wait too long, and we were in the shade. It sounds like the line was a lot more controlled than the day before and went smoother. So, that was a plus! 

 

☕Luke's Diner (for coffee and hot cocoa samples, all from the Scotty P's Big Mug Coffee line); 

🚙 Lorelai's Jeep; 

🌼1,000 Yellow Daisies setup; 

🍁Gazebo fall setup; and, finally,

🛍️Official Warner Bros. Gilmore Girls merch

 

There were photo ops, plenty of merch, various pins given at each station (commemorating the 25th anniversary, which team for Rory's boyfriend you're on and some other references). So cute! I love collecting pins. 

 

Naturally, I also went a little crazy with the merch. Mom got the salt & pepper shakers set. I got a postcard from “Stars Hollow," a tea towel with a cartoon illustration that says “Reality has no place in our world” with the gals in the center of town, the Luke's Loungefly backpack and a set of two satin scrunchies that say Luke's. Very happy with my purchases. From there, we were pretty much done, so we walked out. Such a fun event, especially on the actual day of the Gilmore Girls 25th anniversary. 

 

There was more to it than we'd originally thought, and after walking through and seeing everything for ourselves, we thought it was worth it for the experience. And has us even more excited for the Holidays Made Here event in December. My friend said someone from WB shared that there would be some sort of unveiling and that Scott will most likely be there the first day for something special. I'm sure I'll have major FOMO when it actually rolls around. But, still excited about what's to come either way. 

 

These are a few snapshots from the afternoon festivities: 

 

After we were done, we met up with dad and ended up getting some pretzels since my friend gave us a few vouchers for free pretzels at Wetzel's Pretzels, and I met up with her one more time to say goodbye, and that we'll hopefully reunite in December for the WB Holidays Made Here event. I got a cinnamon sugar pretzel and we all got lemonades since it was so warm. It was crowded and there weren't really too many spots to sit, but we did find a bench to sit a ways down and enjoy our snack for a bit. Before we left, I wanted to stop by Sprinkles to get the Chai Sugar Showgirl in honor of Taylor's release weekend, since it was only going through today. I ate it when I got home. It was very rich and sweet, but delicious. All of their cupcakes are. 

What a fun weekend! It was busy, a little chaotic and pain-filled at times, but so fun. My heart feels full as we head into the new week. I'm excited about this season and all that's to come.