Beware: name-dropping to follow!

Ryan Gosling: Everybody really loves this guy, huh?

One of my back-in-the-day Georgia best friends was in town last weekend (we’ll call her Ral) and we got into a very serious discussion about our celebrity crushes. Ral nominated Ryan Gosling–who everybody seems to have a massive thing for–but I was at a loss.

Girl crush? Easy: Mandy Moore! (And, obviously, Kate Middleton–or, at least Kate Middleton’s hair.)

I know at least 3 other girls who share my Mandy Moore love - she's pretty, but in a cute, girl-next-door way, not a threatening "strangle an mountain ox" Megan Fox way

But guy crush? Hmph. I drew a blank. That’s one of the problems with living in Hollywood: it’s inevitable at some point that you’ll actually run into your celebrity crush, and in my experience, it completely ruins the mystery!

Josh Hartnett: just as squinty in person

First it was Josh Hartnett, who I used to think was the dreamiest thing ever. Then I actually met him and the magic was gone. He’s cute (and super nice), don’t get me wrong. But leave-my-husband, throw-away-my-life, run-off-to-join-the-circus gorgeous? Eh. He does mix a mean drink, though.

Ryan Reynolds: Does anybody else see a resemblance to Jason Lee here?

When I worked at the gym during my early “poor writer” LA days, I served Ryan Reynolds, another old favorite. Yes, yes, he’s very cute. I wouldn’t kick him out of bed for eating crackers. Buuutt…I don’t knoooow…maybe it was his frown, or his baseball cap pulled super-low? He just didn’t do it for me.

Tom Welling

Tom Welling? Aka, The Most Intense-Looking Man I Have Ever Seen in the Flesh? Met him. Twice. The earth did not move. Next.

Brad Pitt: Legends of the hairdo

We’ve already discussed Brad Pitt at length in previous posts. I’d totally make him my number 1–but only if we’re talking Brad before he began fashioning his own Pitt Army. Like, Brad circa 1995 (see Exhibit A, above). Obviously, he now gets humanitarian points, which ups the sexy quotient…but managing a family of 73 children while keeping up a thriving career also leads to bags and grey hair. Increasingly, no me gusta.

Eddie Vedder: thinking about how life is pain

That leaves me with the ol’ Ed Ved, who remains my always and forever love (in theory)…but only for his voice. I think if I were actually alone in a room with him, I’d probably have to offer him some gum and cologne. He looks a little musty, no?

Yes, I am aware that my nitpicking the relative hotness of these celebrity gods is rich. Moving along…

So, I got nobody. (I tried to plead “having a crush on my boyfriend” as an excuse, but the motion was denied.) Who am I forgetting? Has LA really made my eyes that jaded?

Inquiring Jolies want to know: who do you love?

Two of our favorite things: Mandy Moore and puppies! (WireImage/E. Gologursky)

Some people don’t understand our Mandy Moore obsession–and we get the confusion. Sure, there are other actresses/singers in Hollywood who tick more of the marks: some are more beautiful, others have more drool-worthy bodies, still others are, perhaps, more talented. And yet: we love. (But, let’s be real: she’s still totally gorgeous, has a lovely, non-stick-insect figure, and is crazy talented!)

We’re suckers for behind-the-scenes dirt, too, and so we can’t help being tickled that everybody we know who has worked with Mandy or crossed her path swears up and down that she’s one of the most genuinely nice people–celebrity or “real”–you’ll ever meet.

Plus, she has great hair! And it is now red. The end.

Jennifer Lopez has been named World’s Most Beautiful Woman by People magazine. Somebody’s publicist deserves a raise!

Click here and scroll down to watch the video “J.Lo’s Changing Looks” from the People TV archive. It’s fascinating. She looks incredibly different from her Fly Girl days. (Then again, if I ever were to become famous and have somebody dig up photos from 15 years ago, they’d be in tears and rolling on the floor laughing, so who am I to point fingers?)

Other highlights of the Most Beautiful issue include Beautiful at Every Age featuring some of my favorites like:

The perennially stunning Blake Lively, 23 years old (seriously, does she ever look anything less than a perfect 10?)

Blake Lively featured as one of People magazine's Most Beautiful 2011 (Credit: Jemal Countess/WireImage)

L’Oreal Paris spokeswoman Kerry Washington, 34 years old:

Kerry Washington as one of People magazine's Most Beautiful 2011 (Credit: Imago/Zuma)

Halle Berry, 44 years old:

Halle Berry as one of People magazine's Most Beautiful 2011 (Credit: Vince Flores/Celebrity Photo)

and Demi Moore, 48 years old:

Demi Moore as one of People magazine's Most Beautiful 2011 (Credit: George Pimentel/WireImage)

The issue also features Next Generation Beauties (including Andie McDowell’s ridiculously attractive daughter Rainey Qualley, Ireland Baldwin, Lily Collins, and Elvis’s granddaughter Riley Keough), Star’s Weirdest Beauty Tricks, and 25 Beauties (and Hotties) at 25.

But most importantly?! They feature my girl Mandy Moore! Love her forever.

Mandy Moore (makeup-free?) as one of People magazine's Most Beautiful 2011 (Credit: Don Flood)

People Magazine’s Most Beautiful issue is on sale now.

Mandy Moore at the Golden Globes (WireImage/Granitz)

Girl crush Mandy Moore looked fabulous at the Golden Globes! (Or is that just me, being all girl crush-y?)

Whatever! I love her. (more…)