The Life of Sixteen Stars.

My Picks from Tumblr #8

2012-02-17T04:29:00.000-08:00

A slightly wordy version this time...I do love Tumblr & the gems it throws up!

Where this all came from & more shizzle.

2012-02-17T04:17:00.000-08:00

My nails this week:

In honour of V-day, along with these:

Lurrrvely!

In other news, had a 'Boner Night' The official term right there - like a date night, but with more excitement! (Was going to explain that it's a standard female boner thing, but then read the description & it's not quiiiite what I mean...) with the BFF, during which we discovered possibly the best toilets in the world & remembered just how much we love living in London <3

Now just waiting for payday to roll around before we go somewhere else & do it all over again!

Any suggestions for places to go in central welcomed - but in general we're pretty up for the whole getting-lost-and-loving-it thing :)

As for now, I'm just gonna sit back & watch the #LFW tweets roll in!

Wols

2012-02-02T08:00:00.000-08:00

Just a swift post to share the cutest thing I've seen all day...

Bloody love owls <3

Practice makes perfect

2012-01-27T08:37:00.000-08:00

...eventually! In no way claim to be an ace just yet, but I do enjoy learning how to do jazzy new things like so;

From this

(not 100% sure if I can technically share this image...so just in case, there's a little silhouette of the main part)

To this

Bloody love Photoshop ♥

Date Night

2012-01-27T06:03:00.000-08:00

On Tuesday, I was planning to go & see The Artist, as it's cheap as chips on a Tuesday. Because it's such a fancy film, Adam & I thought it'd be fun to dress up all fancy too...

(Old photo, but I was wearing this dress)

Unfortunately it seemed that everyone else had the same idea & both showings were sold out :(

But all was not lost...after a cheeky beverage in a bar over the road from the ridiculously packed out cinema, we went for a wander & found an uh-mazing Mexican restaurant!

It's called Taqueria - London's authentic Mexican Taco café.

It's not huge (but we did have decent elbow room), and it's not super fancy (I'm pretty sure our cutlery holder was Ikea's finest...), but the staff were lovely & Mexican & so was the amazing food!

We got a couple of dishes each & proceeded to share - the only way to do Mexican in my opinion;

Limes, guacamole & another dip on the left, Enchiladitas Suizas de Poblano (aka cheesy goodness) on the right.

Caldo tlalpeño

& the remains of our Quesadillas & Gringas!

All washed down with this beauty

Michelada
Pacífico, lime juice, Worcester sauce with hot sauce and a salted rim.

Yum.

Definitely worth a visit if you're hungry & in the Notting Hill Gate area!

My picks from Tumblr #7

2012-01-14T10:56:00.000-08:00

No real theme this week...just what I'm liking at the moment :)

All links on my Tumblr (apart from the last photo...that's just old-fashioned good times!)

Limited facial expressions

2012-01-13T04:21:00.000-08:00

Yesterday Sj & I went shopping at Westfields to find her a party dress for her birthday next week! Exciting stuff.

But before we got down to the serious business of selecting outfits & shizzle, Sj took me over the road to the smaller, tackier shopping center to show me the most UHmazing thing ever - one of the photo booths that takes a strip of different pictures & gives you two copies!

After the first set, we were hooked (& proceeded to go into the Poundland opposite for props)...

And then took a few more, just in case...

BIG love for this - we're already planning our next trip ♥

Because I've got you...

2012-01-09T08:28:00.000-08:00

Know what made my Sunday?

Dancing to Frank (and others).

Alice's remix

2012-01-07T14:15:00.001-08:00

Happy List

2012-01-03T09:01:00.000-08:00

This isn't a list of mine, but a list as featured on a blog I'm loving reading at the moment, Rockstar Diaries, but I love everything about it...

here is mallory's list of 10 things that make her terribly happy:

when the screen goes completely white during a movie & the whole theater is bathed in a beautiful glow
cutting my finger nails {strange but true}
any sandwich that involves toasting/grilling & cheese
the way a piece of paper feels after it's been covered with writing from a ballpoint pen
the faces of little kids listening to you while you read them a book
the feeling you get as you climb the first huge slope of a roller coaster
half-melted ice cream
the first time you're alone after a first kiss with someone & can privately & ecstatically freak out
getting a genuine & meaningful compliment
reading while taking a bubble bath

I first saw this image at the Tate Modern exhibition "Exposed". Have it on a postcard at home & absolutely love it.

What would be on your Happy List?

Recently...

2011-12-30T07:36:00.000-08:00

Golly gosh it feels like I've been busy recently! It really makes me appreciate taking photos whenever the opportunity arises though, as otherwise I probably wouldn't remember half of these things so clearly or be able to share as easily...

Before the festive spirit really kicked in, I was taken to Amsterdam!

As I've been before (with Lyzz while at Uni), so there wasn't the usual pressure of a city break to see & do everything. Which meant we had a lovely time just wandering around, enjoying the Dutch-ness of it all.

(this is a shop called Cheese & More. With cheese & a Christmas tree in the window. What else could you possibly need?!)

Then I started getting into the Christmassy spirit in a big way;

Winter Wonderland with Bracey (trip 1 of 2!)

Christmas shopping in Selfridges (not the most festive of decorations, but I really did love the paper birds they had hanging everywhere)

Decorating Fit Flat

And teaching the others how to make these beauties! Considering doing a separate post on the making of these, as I've shown them to 5 different people now & the reaction is always so cute when they're done. Who cares it's not Christmas anymore, right?

And then watching ~~very high brow television~~ total rubbish.

I then went home & noticed something a little out of the ordinary...

The Dogs advent calendar!

Amazing roast dinner numero uno...

And dins number 2!

All in all, it's been uhmazing.

I heart Christmas <3

My picks from Tumblr #6

2011-12-23T03:37:00.000-08:00

Getting a little excited about Christmas now! About time really, it being December 23rd & all...

Liiiiiinks?

My picks from Tumblr #5

2011-12-05T03:50:00.001-08:00

Tumblr's been throwing up some good'uns recently!

For links & shizzle, all images are click through's on my tumblr page.

Enjoy!

Two months well spent

2011-11-28T02:35:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I went to see the tallest tree ever made out of toy bricks!

It's the Lego Christmas tree at Kings Cross St. Pancras - two months in construction and made from 600,000 bricks!

Even the baubles are lego...

There were so many people swarming around having a look & taking pictures, but I don't blame them - it really is impressive in 'real life'!

Mad about the Mo

2011-11-15T18:30:00.000-08:00

If I was a guy, I don't think I'd wait for Movember to have silly/fun facial hair...

But congrats to all of my awesome guy friends who are doing it & raising monies & awareness for all cancers that affect men ♥

A trip to the movies

2011-11-09T05:24:00.000-08:00

I went to the Coronet cinema at Notting Hill Gate last Monday night to see The Ides of March (which was a pretty good film - always nice to see people like Clooney & Gosling doing a 'thinker').

The cinema itself is beautiful!

It totally feels like you're going to the theater to see a play. We sat up on the balcony, but there were seats in the 'stalls' too.

To be honest, I think sitting up top was probably best, because the seats are all tiered ensuring a really great view (because there's nothing more annoying than sitting through a film & watching the back of someone's head...)

And what really sold it to me in the first place, was the fact it's only £3.50 on a Tuesday - any film, any time. Amazing.

Currently making plans to go back & see The Rum Diary, which looks pretty epic!

Boo!

2011-10-27T10:42:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited for Halloween, it's a touch ridiculous!

But on the bright side, it's meant that I've already got my costume sorted (for work...boo to working weekends!). I'm going to dress up as a Mexican Sugar Skull.

I googled a few images for inspiration...

And then promptly started on my own face! (Using face paints from Clinton Cards which were reduced from 99p to 49p. Win!)

Taa daa!

Bloody love Hallow's Eve. What is everyone else going as? I'm looking forward to seeing everyone else, but not looking forward to the journey to work...Kinda hoping I won't scare any children!

My Picks from Tumblr #4

2011-10-12T12:31:00.000-07:00

For the usual links & shizz - starry---eyed.tumblr.com <3

Easy Peasy Lemon Chicken

2011-10-11T10:28:00.000-07:00

This is probably one of my new favourite things to make for lunch/dinner/other people!

Partly because it's so super easy (I don't really 'do' baking...), & partly because it's yummy!

I made it for the first time back in the so-called-summer when I had a friend coming for dinner, who was on a diet so wanted something fairly healthy. Add to this the fact it was super warm outside, and the only things I can usually make are either super unhealthy, or don't exactly require 'cooking' (aka put in the oven & eat).

Que calling The Mother in a slight panic on my way home from work & her explaining how to make the following:

Lemon Chicken

This is what I used

Lemon Juice

One lemon

Couscous

Rocket (but any salad really would be okay - I just really love rocket)

Salad dressing

Chicken pieces (in the past I've usually used really large chicken breasts fillets, but these were on offer & worked a treat too)

*I also added a chicken stock cube in the couscous, but forgot to add it to this picture...oops!

After a quick defrost of the chicken I put it all on a baking tray and zested the lemon (I don't have a proper cheese grater, but the small grate-y side works just fine)

So then you've got all the zest to sprinkle over the chicken pieces

I added some lemon juice just to make it super juicy & help to stop the chicken drying out too much.

The just pop under the grill for about 10 minutes (roughly - until it's cooked really! And making sure to turn them half way through.)

While they're cooking, I added a chicken stock cube and some more lemon juice to the couscous & 'cooked' it!

By this point the chicken was a little brown, but in a good way!

Like this:

Then just pop it all on the plate & you're done!

It's also actually really nice cold for lunch the next day too!

I heart anything this quick & easy <3

Unexpected Love

2011-10-07T04:27:00.000-07:00

Ohmygosh. I never thought I'd say this, but I think I might be in love with a parker.

(Can you guess who it's by yet?)

This is a bit odd, because my choice of coat is usually a little smarter, less waterproof & doesn't tend to remind me of the 90's...

These are a little more of what I usually choose for winter-wear:

H&M

Zara

River Island

However, after seeing this coat firstly on Fashionfoiegras.com, and then searching around on net-a-porter (no luck - boo!), I went directly to the designers website...and it made me love it even more!

Elizabeth and James

Lovelovelove it!

Unfortunately the the price tag (£780.61) is a little out of my range...but I'll definitely be keeping my eyes out for a high street copy!

My Picks from Tumblr #3

2011-09-28T09:33:00.000-07:00

Geeking over groceries

2011-09-27T08:18:00.000-07:00

Went for a mooch around Ikea with The Mother a couple of days ago, and as we happened to go in the evening, a delicious dins of meatballs was inevitable...

Omnom.

After a bit of a browse (and purchasing a few bits we never knew we ~~wanted~~ needed!), we went to the little bit at the end where you can buy all the Ikea food for funsies at home, and I realised how amazing the packaging design of everything is!

Love that the wine's called Glogg (Swedish for "Glug"?)

Sardines (they looked better in real life - turns out it was quite hard to get the contrasting silver just right in a hastily taken phone picture!)

Fish paste...

And Crab paste!

I was going to spend a little more time being a geek & taking pictures, but was starting to get funny looks from people just trying to buy groceries. Kill-joys.

Bloody love Ikea though <3

A little something

2011-09-23T09:02:00.000-07:00

To pass the time...

A fun website that popped up between friends of mine on Facebook:

Draw a Stickman

It's a litte silly, sure, but a whole lot of fun too - a really cute way of reminding people to "be creative - every day".

Which in turn, reminds me of a list I saw on Tumblr a little while ago:

(http://paulzii.tumblr.com/post/3360025995)

Enjoy!

A thought...

2011-09-16T07:10:00.000-07:00

One of my best friends really doesn't like ska.

Actually, quite a few people I know seem to feel fairly indifferent towards it. Which I totally don't understand! How can you not enjoy it?! It's just so happy & uplifting! Big love. Especially for this song at the moment (although having just watched the official video I don't think it really does it justice. But hey ho).

What are your thoughts on Ska? Love, Hate, or somewhere in the middle?

My picks from Tumblr #2

2011-09-13T06:30:00.000-07:00

Love this outfit.

Adore the wings on these birds.

(Again, none of these pictures are mine but if you'd like to, visit my Tumblr for click-throughs, sources & shizzle).

Ghost Bikes

2011-09-12T04:47:00.000-07:00

I read a small snippet about Ghost Bikes in a piece of press recently (I forget exactly where...), and after having a look around the website think it's a lovely, if slightly sad idea that's totally worth telling people about.

"Ghost Bikes are small and somber memorials for bicyclists who are killed or hit on the street. A bicycle is painted all white and locked to a street sign near the crash site, accompanied by a small plaque. They serve as reminders of the tragedy that took place on an otherwise anonymous street corner, and as quiet statements in support of cyclists' right to safe travel."

The Ghost Bikes were originally set up in St Louis, Missouri in 2003 but soon made their way across the pond.

"The ghost bike movement began when Patrick Van der Tuin saw a vehicle hit a woman in a cycle lane in St Louis. He later placed a white bike there with a notice saying: "Cyclist struck here."
ghostbikes.org/press

Passing it each day, Van der Tuin was impressed that drivers took note and slowed down."

It's scary just how many people are knocked off their bikes every year, and devestating how many die as a result.

Anything that helps people to remember cyclists, slow down or just take more time to look out for them is amazing. To do it in such a visually striking way just makes it that much more amazing.

"Ghost Bikes now operates in 43 countries and 75 cities worldwide".

Naked Leopard

2011-09-08T07:04:00.000-07:00

I was going to title this Nude Leopard, but naked just sounds so much better :)

(I am, of course, referring to my nails this week):

Have been up to all sorts recently. Went down to the 'bourne to see the Mother, Brother & Dog & generally chillax by the sea...

Then after a super swift turnaround, it was off to see some lovely London ladies for film-watching, drinking & eating far too much & general good times! Oh, and a spot of nail admiration, obviously...

These were both done by the lovely Dani, who's website you can find here.

Apart from that, it's been fairly quiet...but in quite a nice way :)

Something I plan on trying next week

2011-09-03T05:00:00.000-07:00

Devilled Chicken
(Real Fast Food, Nigel Slater)

For two, with green salad:
2 cold chicken legs (or as I plan on using - a whole bunch of skinless chicken strips...but why argue)

For the paste:
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
2 cloves of garlic, finely crushed
2 tablespoons fruity chutney (mango preferably)
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce or mushroom ketchup
A good shake from the Tabasco bottle

Mix the ingredients to a paste. Slash the skin and flesh of the chicken with a sharp knife and spread the spicy goo over the meant and inside the slashes.
Grill, 10cm (4 inches or so) from the flame, till sizzling and hot right through - about 10 minutes, turning once.

Chicken cooked in this way makes a wonderful sandwich. Slice the meat from the bone while still warm and pile into a crusty roll or soft floury bap, then spread with lashings of mayonnaise and a few crisp green leaves.

I was personally planning on making this with chicken strips, and serving with couscous and salad. However, reading about the possibility of having it in a crusty roll is making my mouth water! Perhaps something for lunch the day after?

It should look a little something like this:

(Pictures to follow, promise.)

My picks from Tumblr, this week.

2011-09-02T09:46:00.000-07:00

(None of these photos are mine - visit my tumblr for links, click through's, credits & shizzle).

This one made my mum laugh :)

Recently...

2011-09-02T08:23:00.000-07:00

Playing (and winning!) scrabble at the Fitflat - what can I say, we're pretty wild...

A day of mooching around Southbank with Sj

& Simon

We went to the Press Photographer of the Year 2010 exhibition (which I would highly recommend! It's free, and totally worth a visit).

I spent the day in Camden with Leanne, and after a spot of chinese & impulse buying, we spent many happy hours in a really cute cocktail bar...

Thanks to the legendary Leanne Effect (and happening to know someone who had just started work there), we got the happy hour prices all night long!

Totally worth a re-visit.

I've also been putting my culinary skills to the test, and made my first Mac'n'Cheese! It wasn't quite as good as The Mothers, but there again, what is?

There are about 4 dishes I can claim to make pretty well, but if someone stays for more than a week it's pretty much destined to be beans on toast after day 5 :)

I've also been working on my nails a bit more, and collating all the pictures into one (online) place. The oh-so-wittily named nailing-it*.

I wish I'd thought of taking pictures of my nails right from the start, but oh well. I just thought it might be nice to see them all together, especially as it's rare for more than a couple of days to go by without someone commenting on them/asking how I did them/if they're wraps (definitely not!)

But check out, enjoy & let me know if anyone tries any/has better designs I can ~~steal~~ adapt...

*Feel free to throw any better nail-related puns my way...

My favourite fashion item?

2011-09-01T15:35:00.001-07:00

I Heart Scarves by starryeyed featuring a wool shawl

What would yours be? xo

Before I forget, the little things

2011-08-21T15:27:00.000-07:00

Playing the Gin Game (every time I made her a new G&T during the course of the evening, I'd make it stronger & stronger, waiting for the moment when she'd say "oo, it's a touch strong...never happened..)

Watching Shawn the Sheep (with a big smile on face), then promptly switching the channel over to watch Midsummer Murders/CSI/anything with a 'decent' body count.

"Going like the hairy clappers!"

Downing wine like water & insisting on driving home - racing over all 50 million of the speed bumps, because "if you go fast enough you don't even notice them!"

Everything being called a "wee beastie".

Calling me a "poor fish face" if I was winging about something or other.

Liking KitKat Chunky's.

Every inaminate object with a face was always a boy, with an amazing name (such as Wilf, the owl).

Laying out cereal, bowls, mugs, tea, coffee, plates for toast, butter, jam, marmalade, and anything else hanging around in the mornings if there was ever anyone staying over.

Getting in from the hair dressers at 11am, pouring a large glass of white wine while saying "it's been such a long morning...would you like one? Get a glass, you know where they are".

Anyone stepping in the door, regardless of the time of day, being offered "Wine? Beer? Gin? I've got some juice? Or some nice whiskey? How about a coffee? Tea? There are some nice biscuits in the cupboard!"

Teaming Chanel no. 5 with bright pink lipstick & powder if going out & about after 5pm (even if it was just to the cinema).

Asking me what "Your Generation" thinks of a whole range of topics & issues.

Being so open minded & forward thinking about so many issues, when so many of your friends are so old fashioned & stuck in the past.

Calling the people of Sitges in Spain "just lovely" because they're all "as gay as you like" and therefore "as safe as houses!".

Flicking through cruise brochures, not being able to find a cruise you wanted to go on, because you'd already been everywhere.

Getting a bit more pissed than usual & gossiping about family history.

Seeming to know all bus routes in SW london, & the quickest possible tube journey to anywhere & everywhere off the top of your head.

Apologising for taking your shoes off at 10pm, even if it I was hanging out in my pj's.

Calling your (bright pink) mobile "that wretched thing", & trying repeatedly to learn how to text.

Insisting that the doorbell was broken, not that your hearing was getting worse!

Fighting with the rose bushes.

Making "mashed potato" using the magimix.

Standing outside your door & waving & waving whenever we drove away until we turned a corner & couldn't see you any more.

Complaining that your 3 floor, 3 bed house was "simply tiny".

Coming out with the most amazing phrases & sayings.

Calling everyone "blessing".

Lending us hats for the Royal Wedding.

Keeping copies of the paper from the Queen Mother's jubilee (in 1998).

"Why are all my friends so dreary?"

"It's wet as fishes outside!"

"oh you poor woppit, do you want some drugs?" (I assume she means means medicine, but who knows!)

"I think he's a good Pope...Ignore the pedophiles...He doesn't kiss the carpets like the last one....And he plays piano well."...

(Referring to me & my cousins) "what with all of you growing & getting new faces, it's very difficult to keep up with my photo frames."

Trying to feed the hedgehog I found in the garden cherry pips.

Told the Grandmother about Seasick Steve & she said "aw, what a woppet. Sounds like a lovely man"

(Watching TV, quite quiet for once, and then Gary Lineker came on...) "I used to think he was a nice man. But then I found out he cheated on his wife. Don't like him any more".

"See the South African team? They all look like females. Ridiculous."

Referring to Lawrence Fox as "that gorgeous man"!

"You'd make someone a good wife, you're so tidy!"...think she's getting me confused with someone else...

Going to the races. Watching the races. Declining any social events when a big race was on. Enjoying my horse-joke (how'd you make a horse hungry in four letters? ....... M T G G!)

"No, I don't think a man would do that...slitting the throat is much more of a lady-like thing to do"

"You know, I think I'm getting old..."

Watching every race going (the more accidents, the better).

Taking me to the races!

To be updated, as & when.

Missing you more than I'd have expected, already <3 x x x x

It's a Small World...

2011-08-18T12:40:00.000-07:00

I really do love the internet.
What with moving in to Fit Flat recently (pictures to follow), it's been a while since I've had a little while to just sit & browse/stumble/explore. And golly, have I been reminded how much I miss doing so;

"akinobu izumi: tiny world in a bottle"

An unidentified sunken vessel in a tiny bottle

First hatched sea turtles

Tiny dark green tree and a tiny couple

I think the tiny couple in the park are my favourite. They're just so teeny & cute! Or the jellyfish, but that could be because it sort of reminds me of home (Eastbourne), when we'd go down to the newly built marina, and when you looked down in to the water we could see jellyfish sometimes! Which is a little scary when you think about it...being sting-y & all...no one wants to risk a Monica/Joey/beach scenario!

2011-06-09T11:48:00.000-07:00

I swear, I'm about to get as angry as those birds!

Stupid game.* *I may be slightly biased, as I get a touch angry when I can't get past a certain place in a game. This is why I don't usually play video games

But it's pretty cool that chrome are giving it away for free today!
What with that, and Google's Homepage today, it's pretty ace :]

Speaking of games (of the computer/games console variety), there are a couple I don't generally mind, and one I even request to play with The Boy when we have time to do nothing.

One of the games I don't mind playing - and I say this having lived in a house with four other people who loved playing all sorts of games - is Skate.

I can see how it might get a bit boring after a while, but it's quite quiet and the sound might grate on some, but it's the kind of repetitive noise you grow to quite like I think...That, and do a great impression of! Ha.

Another I don't really mind is Viva Pinata. This is quite a girly game, I suppose, because it's got cute made up animals and you have to grow things for the animals to eat so that they evolve! (Which is a lot more exciting when it happens, trust me).

See? Cute! Again, it's a game where you can go at your own pace, and no one's going to shout at you if you get killed, or whatever. Ideal!

But the one that I really do enjoy playing and request to play is Heavy Rain.
"Heavy Rain's story is a dramatic thriller modeled after film noir, featuring four protagonists involved with the mystery of the Origami Killer, a serial killer who uses extended periods of rainfall to drown his victims. Ethan Mars is a father who is trying to save his son from being the next victim, while investigative journalist Madison Paige, FBI profiler Norman Jayden, and private detective Scott Shelby are each trying to track down clues to the Origami Killer's identity."

Just reading the synopsis makes it sound like a really engaging film, and playing it is even better. I love that you can take control of the characters - a great example of this was when The Boy had just bought it, and was playing with our housemate. I wasn't playing as I'd just got in from work but stuck around to watch (it really does look amazing - if you're into the way films look, I'd recommend it just for the atheistics), and they were playing the part of the journalist Madison Paige.

She's a young woman (I'd say mid 20's, but they probably tell you her age somewhere in the game), and had gone into this creepy old man's house to ask him questions about the killer. The old man left the room, so Dan & our housemate James had the choice to look around the room, and you choose where she looks, how long for, etc.
Anyways, they had a little look around & after not finding anything sat back down just as the old man was coming back into the room with drinks for him and for her.
The old man offered Madison a drink, and Dan & James had to decide wether to drink & be polite, or be rude & refuse.
I tried my best to perswade them not to drink the drink, as not only was he not drinking, but you didn't even see him making them!*
But being boys with controllers in their hands, they ignored me...and she was poisoned!!!
Acemazing game, definitely play it if you have the chance. I'd totally recommend it to anyone, especially if they don't usually play games.
*Totally been paying attention to all the police in school who told us we were going to be spiked every weekend...Eastbourne's such a lovely place!

Most other games, I find are good & all but when I can't do something...or get stuck somewhere...I just have no patience! But I suppose there are worse things to get angry about :]

Sans Vous, ma petite un.

2011-05-05T16:28:00.000-07:00

Out of interest - if you're reading this & have me on Twitter, tweet me your favourite film quotes! & not the "I love lamp" type - nice ones, please :)

The tattoo on my right foot reads "Sans Vous" (or phonetically - "soun vou").

It's French for "without you" - a quote from the film Amelie. It's short for;

"Without you, today's emotions would be the scurf of yesterdays".

Scurf means just bits and remainders, such as dandruff and the scummy bit left in the bath.

I take this to mean that without 'you' (and I like it, because it can apply to anyone who causes you to react to them in any way), the emotions felt today would just be the scummy remainders of yesterdays emotions - like there would be nothing new, and it would just be a bit blah...if that makes sense?

Usually when people ask what it means, I just say "without you" - which in turn, sounds a touch 'emo', but I don't necessarily want to explain the full meaning to just everyone...

So I do think it's pretty awesome when people I actually know really well, or have known for a long time, or those who just listen & remember know what it's short for - they're few & far between!

And I do think it's reasonably important that when someone has something marked on their body for life, that if you're told why, you generally know...plus most of the time the storys behind tattoos are awesome :)

Can't wait to book the next one!

Ps. If you've never seen Amelie...take the time, it's totally worth it.

http://youtu.be/8G7CkdZoEK4

The film itself is subtitled, but the only English trailers have a ridiculous American Movie Voice over the top, which ruins it!

I reckon this, & Vanilla Sky are probably two of my favourite films...possibly a topic for my next post :)

...watch this space!

Swiftly, briefly, nothing

2011-04-26T12:39:00.000-07:00

Just a swift something - I don't have photoshop at the moment, so have to go the long way round to see what I'd look like with different hair...

*Edit: I was going to post the 'finished' picture here, but it's just too darn creepy - using polyvore instead of photoshop means it looks a little like I've ripped off my face & slapped it on someone else's. Hannibal Lecter-stylee.

So enjoy the mental image instead! :)

**Edit number two (the scary picture I made just popped up on Polyvore & I realised it's just too funny not to share (I hope, anyways :) ))

I can't really be blamed - who wouldn't want hair like that, right?
And *skills* like that too, perhaps? Ha.

Hunting for a hairdressers at home to go & visit at the weekend, so fingers crossed all goes to plan :}

Dreaming of a space to count sheep...

2011-04-25T10:17:00.000-07:00

The time to move out of my Gran's (actually really lovely) house & into a flat of my own, with my BFF Sj is drawing ever nearer - & I couldn't be more excited!

The contract on her current flat (in Southampton) is up at the end of June, so we've got May & June to flat hunt! Which is going to hopefully be super fun! :)

In the mean time, it means I can have bit of a think about how I'm going to decorate my room. This is really rather exciting because it means buying new bed linin, throwing away a whole bunch of rubbish & having a lovely new sanctuary - which I guess is pretty standard with a new house!

The bedding-thing especially excites me because I've been putting off buying anything that could be classed as 'decoration' or 'furnishings' since I've been in London as I was staying with my Gran, & really didn't want to make it feel permanent. But now...!

This all leads to looking at dreamy pictures of bedrooms, and other people's houses in general, mostly on Elledecor.com, Sweethomestyle.tumblr.com & the 'interiors' sets on Polyvore.com;

Quite liking the general simplicity of this picture...I guess as more of a 'mood board' than anything else, but it's cute.

(http://imgspark.com/image/view/all/1615306/)

Love the fuzzy chair! Is it just a rug that's been put on a regular chair? If so, I know what I'm going to be getting at Ikea!

(Both above, from ElleDecor)

I selected 'bedroom' & 'beach' & these were just a couple of what they came up with! Uhmazing.

The idea of having a balcony coming off the bedroom is just dreamy <3

Soft white bedding will always look irresistible! Plus, I think I just really quite like this picture - it reminds me a lot of a picture my friend Oli took (he did photog at Uni & it was part of a project) of my bed when we lived in the same house a couple of years ago. I swear his pictures just make everyday objects look like something amazing. Super talented person, really.

I think I really just want somewhere I can paint white, have super soft bedding with ~~just the right amount of~~ far too many pillows, minimal clutter and the biggest bed the space can take :)

All of the above, in London, on a budget...easy, right?

Online Shopping

2011-04-21T15:35:00.000-07:00

Is pretty much making my life right now - I don't get paid until next week (and might just wet myself with excitement!), so right now browsing online is like window shopping, but from the comfort of bed...ideal <3

Catching my attention right now is a lot of stuff from Topshop - usually I'd be loving the dresses, but not so much at the moment. It seems to be the week for cute sweatshirts & bikinis - a slightly odd combo, but when you're 'shopping' from bed, anything goes;

YES RAGLAN BY ILLUSTATED PEOPLE

VOUS ET MOI LOVE HEART TANK

TRUE LOVE RAGLAN BY ILLUSTRATED PEOPLE

RED ROPE PRINT BANDEAU BIKINI

BLUE ANCHOR STRIPE BIKINI

A little visit to Westfields after work on Thursday might be in order...(!)

A quick catch up.

2011-04-12T13:41:00.000-07:00

So I now have a macbook! And am fully loving it like a child ♥

The other (slightly more major) news is that I have a job!(!!!)
Not just any job either, but Marketing Assistant at Tomas Lyte.

It's pretty awesome so far - I've been to a sample sale, lunches, drinks, and seen pretty much how the whole business works, which has been really interesting! So much so, I feel that I could probably bore anyone who would let me to death with how trophies are made, how to gift wrap something properly and all about SEO & affiliate marketing...Laaavely.

Other things that I've been up to recently...

It was Bracey's birthday at the weekend! Which obviously meant:
Slough + Local Pub + Engagement parties + cocktails + shots + 90% of people vomming & lots of fun in the sun :) (not quite in that order though!)

(L-R) Sarah, Holly, Adam, Bracey, Liam, Fran & Megan.

Totally better than candy necklaces!


More or less how the evening went...classy ;)

Wish I'd taken a picture of the massive fry up I had the following morning. Deeelish.

And The Boy's gone off on tour! Cheeky devil.
The new band he's joined are pretty awesome & have supported people like Zebrahead & Less Than Jake & I'd seen the old lineup play a few times over the years spent in Southampton, so I knew they were pretty awesome :)

They're called Kids Can't Fly - check 'em out if you like happy, upbeat ska! (shameless promo, but I honestly would recommend them!)

It's generally been quite a lovely couple of weeks, just seeing friends & learning a mind-boggling amount at work!

Therefore I'm off to hop into bed and watch the rest of Katie - my beautiful friends. Really makes me not only feel so grateful that I don't have any serious medical conditions, or have been the victim of any horrific attacks, but also really inspiring from an entrepreneurial point of view - here's a girl who's only...25(ish?) & she's set up a charity, made these programs and helping so many other people. What a winner <3

Nighty night xo

Hello, new technologly!

2011-03-28T12:50:00.000-07:00

Not having my laptop is killing me.

On the bright side, I have the most wonderful Mother in the world, so fingers (& toes) crossed, my next blog post could be coming from one of these beauties!

Cannot wait. <3

Twitter's Birthday!

2011-03-21T10:29:00.000-07:00

Did you know Twitter has been going for five years already?! I certainly didn't, until I came across this tweet by @madebymany;

Whoa! Happy 5th birthday Twitter - check out what they're doing to celebrate http://discover.twitter.com/

The link directs you to a really cute video with 'famous' people talking about why they use twitter, who they follow, what they're interested in, and so on.

It's a real range of people too, from @SnoopDogg to @RichardBranson and @sfzoo (San Francisco Zoo).

However, one of the 'recommended' people I'm now following with great interest is Paolo Nespoli - @astro_paolo. His Twitter bio describes him as "European Space Agency Astronaut, Flight Engineer of ISS Expedition 26/27 (Dec 2010 - May 2011)". On the video, he comes across as a really nice guy, too!

And his Twitter stream is stuffed full of amazing pictures, such as the recent 'Super Moon' -

(http://www.flickr.com/photos/magisstra/5546395094/sizes/z/in/photostream/)

Definitely worth a look!

An online snap-shot of my skills...

2011-03-21T09:55:00.000-07:00

I've been spending the past couple of weeks applying for jobs (some look really interesting - so fingers & toes crossed on that front!), and something that occured to me is that it would probably be a good idea to pop an example of something I did whilst at my recent internship, so this is a press release I put together, (with the photo I took and edited, then compiled the list of contacts, and sent out...)

Assembly Studios Appoints New Account Director for London Studio

"Assembly Studios has announced the appointment of Benedicte van Boxel as Account Director for its London studio.

Van Boxel has over 15 years’ experience in the new media and creative industries, having worked previously at RDF Media / Contact, Pictures Production Company, Red Bee Media (formerly known as BBC Broadcast) and Razorfish. Her new position will see her heading up the client services teams across the UK and UAE regions and maximising global development opportunities.

“I’m delighted to be joining Assembly Studios at such an exciting time’ said Van Boxel yesterday. ‘They’re a great bunch of people, lots of energy and fresh ideas; I’m really looking forward to the new challenge.”

Van Boxel will work closely with Managing Director, Richard Conner, and CEO, Matt Fairman.

Conner says: “We are always looking for ways to improve service delivery and ensure that our client partnerships are long term relationships, rather than flings. We’re delighted to have Benedicte on board – we know she’s exactly the right person to ensure we continue to achieve this.”

Van Boxel, the recipient of a number of industry accolades, including both an IMAA and Promax US Gold award for her work at BBC Broadcast, joined Assembly Studios this week."

As a result, is was posted on the Creative Boom website! Exciting stuff, eh?

A lot of the other things I did were more internal/confidential, so I can't really show any examples here...

However, I did set up a few different social media channels for Assembly Studios which you can check out if you fancy:

Assembly Tumblr.com

Assembly Behance.net

As well as managing the Assembly Twitter, Facebook (wich got shut down! Grumble.) and the Assembly Blog.

To be fair - quite a lot of fun for online 'geeking out', as it's sometimes refered to by The Boy. I wouldn't have it any other way!

Stop the Spot!

2011-03-13T09:33:00.000-07:00

I don't have the best skin in the world when it comes to blemishes, but especially whilst it's still pretty chilly outside & therefore the heating's on practically 24/7!
(To be honest, the optimum temperature for anywhere I live is pretty warm, because I really dislike wearing lots of layers at home...so maybe living with an O.A.P for now is a good thing!)

Because of this, I thought I'd share my favoriteist ever blemish treatment;

Sephora Stop the Spot!

Stop the Spot! $5.50

I find it's the best thing for when you feel one of those huuuge ones just lurking...or even just for getting rid of little normal ones!
When I first got it I thought oh, the tube's pretty tiny & wasn't sure if it was worth the money, but the amount you need to use is so minuscule it lasts forever!
I think I bought mine in Brighton, but can't seem to find it on the internet in the UK, but the French site I did find it on (it's a french brand) ships to England - yay!

Because with weather like this, it might be time to stock up :(

A thousand times yes, when it comes to Dior...

2011-03-09T06:39:00.000-08:00

I saw this beauty in the April ELLE, & can't stop thinking about it...

Wouldn't it just be the most beautiful engagement ring? Dior, £1900.

It actually really reminds me of a necklace I spotted a while ago.
Failing that, I'd be willing to accept this also...

Dior, £2800.

Nothing wrong with a bit of imaginary planning...

Birthday Plans

2011-03-07T10:53:00.001-08:00

I know my birthday is still...over 4 months away, but nothing wrong with a little planning(!)♥

Miiiiiilk!

2011-03-07T08:21:00.000-08:00

Cravendale "Cats with thumbs" may just be my temporary favourite advert at the moment -

I still blame Cravendale, however, for the urge to shout "miiiiiiilk!" every now & again -

Turns out the website's pretty jazzy too! Check it out here.

The ads were created by Wieden+Kennedy - "Cravendale is passionate about milk. This lighthearted campaign shows Cravendale’s superior taste and quality through a gang of polydactyl cats preparing to get to the Cravendale milk they love."

Makes me think that maybe I'll buy some next time I'm doing the shopping - good advertising should be rewarded, right? (This will be my reasoning when I get a new job & happen to wander past mulberry...)

Tumblr

2011-02-23T12:32:00.000-08:00

I really forgot how lovely Tumblr can be until I set one up for work a few weeks ago (having totally neglected my personal Tumblr).

At work, it's usually just the architecture-themed blogs I look at, but even those are beautiful.

(Via ArchitectureBlog)

I signed up for Tumblr Dec 17th 2009 (yep, actually went & checked), & until recently was pretty sure that apart from those on it & other slightly-geek-about-new-things-on-the-internet people knew about, but if the recent press it's been getting is anything to go by, it's just getting bigger & bigger - which, in this case, definitely means better... *Note - when I can find online copies of the articles that have mentioned Tumblr, I shall update this post!
In the meantime;

An awesome 'I heart Tumblr' blog post

Find others equally obsessed with random things/people/places

Tumblr's 'Goodies'!

Cute Boys With Cats. Don't think I need to say more!

And a few of my favorite, random pictures from the site itself:

Oh, apart from the occasional bits of text, there are some amazing links too -

http://www.metalmother.com/motherboard/index.php/2008/11/married/

Enjoy! ♥

Job + Flat = The Dream.

2011-01-30T12:27:00.000-08:00

Time's been going so quickly! I've now only got about a month left at my internship (this is my excuse for lack of blog-posts - all my blogging effort has gone into this blog. Check it out, it's pretty jazzy.

But this means that I've got to start looking for a 'real' job now! Which is exciting & scary in equal parts...Well actually, I think that now I've had this experience in an office environment & know that I'm actually capable of doing the job, I'm more excited.

Which is definitely a good thing! Because with a job comes a flat (hopefully)!
Therefore, it should come as no great surprise that I've spent many hours already looking at property porn.
Ranging from the 'I could never afford this in a million years, but isn't it beautiful'

For the Super Rich only

*sigh*
But having said that, there are a few gems I've come across too, which aren't eye-wateringly pricey, which is nice to know. Only thing is, I don't know where I'm going to be working, or who I'm going to be living with (either The Boy or Sj) & where they'll want to live...Because I don't really have a preference at the moment, as long as I'm near a tube or train.
This is mainly because my hatred for busses can threaten to become consuming at times.

And another awesome side to moving out will be being able to decorate!!! Eeeee.
Hello Ikea!

As for the job hunt - well!
The websites I've been casually looking at include:
Artshub
Creative Review
Brand Republic
University of the Arts

I think I'm going to start applying to a few jobs listed soon (when I know my current leaving date, etc.), but a couple of friends have mentioned that it might be easier to sign up with a recruitment agency, so I might just do that too!

FIngers crossed :]

xo

Recently...

2011-01-30T11:51:00.000-08:00

Interning (InDesign, Excel, Phonecalls, Shoreditch, Office, Sitting, Fun!)
Swimming (& trying not to drown)
New Years (Wahoo, 12 hours, Dancing, Drinking)
Sammie-Jo's birthday (Lunch, Kaos, Messy, Cute)
Bracey & Megans (Drinking, Films, Games, Food, Pj's)
Ikea (Meatballs!)
Plan-Making (Weekends!!)
Future Planning (House & Job Hunting)

Loving Life ♥

A lazy post...

2010-11-29T13:19:00.000-08:00

Click to enlarge. It's amazing :)

xo

MILF in the making ;)

2010-11-11T14:57:00.000-08:00

I can't believe I haven't blogged about this yet, but one of my bestest friends Helen is expecting her first Bubba soon!

She's due in Feb, so is looking a little more bump-y right now - all very exciting :)
At first it did seem a little surreal that one of my friends was going to have a little person (we're not grownups yet, surely!), but now it's just plain exciting!
Something else to look forward to will be in a few years, when I can proudly show the little one beautiful pictures of her Mummy getting waaaasted** :) teehee.
This has also recently meant fun times in shops I wouldn't usually go into/avoid...baby item shops!

Everything's just so small & soft, it's hard not to want to buy everything in sight! In the end though, I managed to narrow the gift-buying down to this;

so soft & tiny! Aww. Almost worth having one...almost :)

I think if I could just spend silly amounts of money & borrow someone else's baby for dressing up, the company for the job would probably be The White Company. I would love to post some pictures of the bits they have online, but they're all GIF images...so go check out the website!
Actually, having a browse around the 'adult' part, there are quite a few things that would make lovely Christmas presents.
I especially like the "Home > At Home > Home Accessories > Small Solid Clear-Glass Tealight Holders". (Hint, hint).

*Also, a handy tip shared by both The Mother & The Grandmother; when you've got morning sickness, eat ginger biscuits & drink ginger beer!

Speaking of Christmas, it's that time of year again - the annual Christmas shopping routine of mild panic (don't know what to get/who to get for/how much to spend), followed by an almost euphoric (interesting definition, no?) feeling when you find something that's just right. Then a general feeling of smugness, provided this has all occurred before Dec 23rd.
Oh, I bloody love Christmas!

xo

Ps. **

She's gonna be one hell of a Yummy Mummy ♥

Simple pleasures...

2010-11-11T13:57:00.000-08:00

I actually can't wait to be able to paint my nails again!

(Click to enlarge & enjoy the detailing!)

16 days & counting...(or 12 working day, which sounds nicer) ♥

Ps. All pics from fuckyeahprettynails.tumblr.com & wah-nails.com!

Yes!

2010-11-04T06:27:00.000-07:00

Just browsing Asos, as you do, & came across a necklace which I very much want now!

It's so lovely & simple...Just a bit of a shame it's £102.60...

Fingers crossed Accessorize rips it off sooner rather than later :)

Ps. Story & pics of The Boy's graduation to come shortly! So proud <3

Sitting Vs. Standing

2010-10-31T14:47:00.000-07:00

Well!
I was planning on posting about something really interesting that I read in the Sunday Times Style mag & post a nice little link to the article, but apparently you have to be a (paying!) member to see it! Pfffffft.
I don't think so. Especially when the mag is free in the first place! Outraged.
Anyways, it was basically all about working standing up as opposed to sitting down. It's pretty interesting when you think about it, & as the article pointed out, most creative offices have people getting up & down & being generally more active than most others.

It also went on to explain about how the whole work/stand up thing is really catching on in America! There are places you can buy desks & 'work stations' that adjust in height, so you can stand & type or whatever it is you do for a bit...
I think it sounds like a pretty good idea to be honest!
One of the women they interviewed for it (I forget who it was...but left the magazine on the tube for some lucky person to read), but she either owned or ran her business, and apparently really enjoyed standing & doing work for a couple of hours at a time.
So not only does it make you (potentially) more creative, but you burn about 280 more calories a day...not too shabby!
I actually think it sounds like a really good idea, especially as at the moment I spend about 9 hours a day on my feet, but generally have plenty of energy throughout, & never find it difficult to "think on my feet" as it were...
I wonder if my new employers would find it odd if I started working standing up in the middle of the office?
Perhaps one to try at home for now...

xo

Ps. Just found this, which also highlights the health benefits slash tries to scare you into standing 24/7!

Are you sitting down for this? Well, you may want to stand up, actually… recent studies have confirmed something that common sense has been telling us all for years: spending too much time sitting down is bad for your health. A study recently published by the American Cancer Society shows that spending much of your waking hours seated (i.e. that 9-5 work shift) has a deleterious effect on your health that puts you at high risk for obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes – even if you diligently exercise every day!

Dumdumdum!

Gillette gets Twitter buzzin'! (Or so it should have been called...)

2010-10-10T14:38:00.000-07:00

'Mazin (via brandrepublic.com);

Gillette adopts Twitter for beard campaign

By Sara Kimberley, campaignlive.co.uk, 04 October 2010, 02:50PM

Gillette is launching a popularity contest on Twitter using identical twins as part of a brand-awareness campaign.

Gillette: twins Dean and George Georgiades star in latest campaign

The campaign will feature identical twins Dean and George Georgiades, who are only distinguishable by their facial hair, compete in a series of challenges to find out if men look better with beards.
The twins will be competing against each other over the next few weeks, with challenges ranging from a pasta-eating competition, to finding out if shop assistants prefer the "svelte of face" to "the hirsute of chin", all of which will be posted online for fans across the UK to watch and comment on.

Gillette is encouraging members of the pubic to vote for one of the brothers via Twitter. The winner of the contest will be the brother who has the most followers on the microblogging site.

James Nunn, Gillette brand communications manager, said: "We are extremely excited to be involved with Dean and George’s debate. The decision to be cleanly shaven or grow a beard is something that has probably crossed the mind of most guys out there."

A hella good idea, no?

Totally going to check out if there's any Twitter buzz (no pun intended) about them yet!

Personally, I think the whole beard debate depends on the person...unless it's the 5 o'clock shadow & it happens to rub against your face - ouchie!

xo

Dallas Clayton dot com

2010-10-09T15:04:00.000-07:00

The boy just posted a link to this website on my facebook - and it's just lovely!
Full of things like this;

RAINY DAY PROJECT
Please print, cut into rectangles, and glue to the price tags
of select department store jackets:

This is a magic jacket.
It is made from six thousand melted pennies.
It weighs more than a baby goat
and has protected me from many rare spirits
thought to do harm to the circulatory system.
With this jacket, you will live forever.
Without it, you may never love again.
Use this jacket wisely.
It knows you well.

And this;

WALK ON BY
Something to say
to a stranger this week
passing on your walk to work
or wherever it is you walk

is “Hey, remember that amazing thing you did…”
then just give them the thumbs up,
like you remember it too
and it was amazing.

I guess I do tend to love silly, sappy things like this (see most previous posts), but it really does just make you feel all happy inside :]

In other news - got my copy of ELLE in the post yesterday - have been saving it for tonight in bed, then will no doubt finish it tomorrow eve, in the bath, after work. Laaaavely ♥

2010-09-24T16:42:00.001-07:00

Wow, been a little tardy on the old blogging front!
But in my defense, working full-time, without a computer staring you in the face is tiring! Although the number of saved drafts on my phone with notes of things to blog about is getting silly! The most recent of which is the 54th London Film Festival!

I found a little booklet all about it on my way home from work tonight, & it looks really amazing!

I think that top of the films I'd like to see are Black Swan & 127 Hours.

Black Swan is the film about Ballet...to be honest, I don't know too much about the narrative of the film, but I do really like Natalie Portman, & the trailer looks pretty amazing;

And it's by the same director as Requiem for a Dream, which I really like. I especially love the title of Requiem - I had to look up the meaning of requiem after seeing the film for the first time a couple of years ago, as I didn't know the meaning. It's also known as a 'Mass for the dead' - because once you've seen the film, you understand it's about the 'death' of the American Dream, & the way the protagonists all descend into madness in one form or another.
Which kinda looks like what happens in Black Swan, by the look of the trailer...should be interesting!

Lovely bit of fcuk....

2010-08-29T13:49:00.000-07:00

On my way to work, I usually slow down & have a little bit of a window-shop (aka daydream) in front of the French Connection windows - they are lovely.
However for the past couple of weeks, it's not been the clothes that have caught my eye & made me stop, stare & smile - it's been the adverts.
They're about...10 foot high I would guess, in a mixture of black & white & colour. The general theme is 'The Man' & 'The Woman'.

Enjoy!

I personally think the reason this works so well is because The Man is the type of manly-man women would like their men to be, (& I suspect men would like to be), & the women is very feminine, yet both of them have a certain amount of attitude & humor.
I reckon it personifies the French Connection brand pretty accurately, as well as being something lovely/amusing to look at!

Voices

2010-08-11T17:35:00.000-07:00

“The first thing you forget about a person is their voice.”

I disagree.

In my mind, I can still recall a certain accent, or the way some of my best friends say things slightly differently, putting emphasis on different parts of words.

I hope I never forget those things.
♥

If you can't say something nice...

2010-08-03T14:59:00.000-07:00

This past week or so (my birthday! But more of that hopefully tomorrow), I've been called "really positive" & "always really happy" by a couple of people...

I guess you just have to think of it this way;

Gotta love the Bambi!

xo

Starlings glaore.

2010-07-21T15:59:00.000-07:00

Just having a browse on a blog I really enjoy reading - Wild Blackberries - I don't know the author (blogger?), but came across it one way or another, & just adore the way she writes!
Anyways.
This video was on a post, & I felt like I wanted to share it too! The Boy said it was his favorite song by Marling, & I think having seen the awesome video, I'd probably agree...

Over on WB, she's said that it is one of her reasons for wanting to go brunette & I totally agree!
Have a feeling my hair will end up something like this when the weather cools down a bit.
Hopefully something like this;

Before I got completely off track, I was going to mention the birds in the video - it's shot in Brighton, but the starlings do the exact same thing around the pier at home (Eastbourne) too!

Pretty amazing to watch, but definitely better 'in the flesh', as it were. (By the way...not too sure who the randoms filming it with added commentary are. The price you pay for getting a video from youtube I suppose!)

Hope you enjoy the birds as much as I do :]

xo

Let's get lost...

2010-07-11T13:27:00.000-07:00

I don't think I've liked an advert so much in ages. Only seen it on TV once though, which seems odd. Has anyone else spotted it more than me?

I'm really liking the music too. I thought it sounded a little bit like the American Beauty music, & it seems I wasn't the only one! After a bit of a search, it turns out it is from the soundtrack from the film. It's track 2 - 'Arose', by Thomas Newman.
Actually, listening to it is really making me want to watch the film!
But music aside, I really really love the ad. Partly because who hasn't had one of those moments - when lost in a book/your phone screen/whatever you're doing, only to look up & realise you've been in your own world for a bit?
Plus I personally find it pretty aesthetically* pleasing, which is always nice.

Coincidentally, whilst looking for the youtube address for the above advert, I came across a previous Samsung ad, but this was for their 3D TV. I've seen it before, thought it was pretty cool, but never really given it much thought past that. However, I then found some more information about it here, which made the whole thing ahellofalot more interesting!
Basically;

 "The £8m campaign will include TV, press, outdoor and online advertising over a three-month period.

 In the TV campaign, which has been created by the ad agency CHI, a city grinds to a halt as giant Samsung 3D TV screens "blur the boundaries of reality".

 The ad took eight months to produce, required 81 crew members and used 1,256 TV sets to create effects including a three-storey-high cat and what appears to be South America's Iguazu Falls plunging into a city centre.

 Samsung's campaign has been masterminded by the electronics manufacturer's marketing director, Mikah Martin-Cruz, the executive behind the famous "Paint" and "Play-Doh" commercials for Sony's Bravia TV.

"The campaign really captures the spirit of 3D TV and brings to life the amazing experience the technology can deliver," said Martin-Cruz. "The launch of the first 3D TV in the UK is such a culturally significant event, we needed to do it justice with a visually exciting campaign that captures the audience's imagination and feel we have done exactly that. Creatively it's a new direction for Samsung and one that's close to my own heart.""

I had no idea that they had actually planted the TV screens all over this city in real life! Which, I think, makes it pretty impressive...

xo 

*Fully had to use Google as a spellchecker just then! But then, it's nice to also find out a proper definition of a word you think you know.    

Formspringing good fun.

2010-07-10T12:19:00.000-07:00

On facebook earlier, I happened to come across www.formspring.me - from what I can gather, it's just a website that asks you questions at random, & allows your answers to be seen by others. It also lets other people (friends, or strangers) to ask you questions anonymously. I reckon it could be quite fun, especially as the questions it generates are so random. So, for funsies, I thought I'd do a few on here;

Q. What was your favorite movie as a child?
A. Lady and the Tramp - hands down! Aside from the fact you can't beat a good Disney film (& the collection was extensive), Lady & the Tramp is just so lovely...But it seems so odd it's so old now!

Q. What TV show do you wish would go off-air for good?
A. Erm...I guess it's too late to say Big Brother, so I think I'd have to go with the latest Kerry Katona TV 'thing'. I can't say I saw it, but the adverts & everything written about it seemed horrible. It really is car-crash telly. I think that the saddest part is watching someone go through such personal issues/problems/whatever, while being followed by a camera crew, in some misguided attempt to revive a career. The whole thing just makes me feel sad.

Q. Do you believe there's intelligent life on other planets?
A. I think it'd be pretty arrogant to believe that we (on earth) are the only things in the universe. I mean, the amazing & diverse range of living organisms we have on such a tiny planet does make you think that surely there must be some pretty amazing stuff elsewhere.

Q. Are you more of a talker, or more of a listener?
A. Wowee. Well...I think that it really depends on the person/situation. I guess I find it easier when I don't know someone very well to just ask them questions about themselves & listen to the answers - because everyone likes to talk about themselves, & it's the easiest way of making small talk! But when I really get to know people or just feel more at ease, I guess I do tend to chatter a bit more...

That's all I'm gonna do for now because dinner's ready! But it was pretty fun, I'd recommend :]

xo

Hop Farm Festival

2010-07-05T15:53:00.000-07:00

Wow, not blogged in ages! But to be honest, it's because I either haven't had time (which leads to making notes of things to blog about on my phone...many, many lists!) & also because I've been a touch lazy on-line-wise recently. Been doing too much reading of other blogs & not enough maintenance of my own! Tsk.
Anyway.

This weekend just gone (the 2nd/3rd/4th) I went to Hop Farm Festival with The Boy, & a group of his friends. It was amazing! Although we only got tickets for the Saturday + camping, as opposed to Friday & Saturday, it didn't feel like we were missing out on anything!
My trip of joy started on Thursday, when I went to Andover to see The Boy, and generally hang out slash be cooked for by his mum! Which was lush. I also discovered that although I'm shockingly shite at video games, Red Dead Redemption. is actually pretty fun!

According to The Boy, it's a "sandbox game", which means the type of game where you just run around shooting things & doing missions - like playing in a sandbox, I suppose.
Although I didn't do any of the missions (aka couldn't, & didn't want to risk a temper tantrum by trying), it was pretty fun just riding around on the horse shooting people & finding different parts of the map, etc.

And it looks pretty amazing.

But anyways! Back to my trip.

So on Friday we went to the station & met everyone with all the bits & pieces, and got group-saver tickets to Paddock Wood which turned out to be a bargain! *Mental note - travel with four, or groups of four people in future!
After a couple of hours traveling (car, train, train, bus) we arrived at the camp site & pitched the tents...another mental note is to never go camping ever again without one of these (although maybe not green...);

After a night of strongbow-fulled fun times, it was was time for the music & shizz!
The lineup for the Saturday was (in reverse order);
BOB DYLAN
RAY DAVIES
MUMFORD & SONS
SEASICK STEVE
PETER DOHERTY
LAURA MARLING
JOHNNY FLYNN
THE MAGIC NUMBERS
FOY VANCE

Foy Vance - Didn't see...Don't really know...not a lot to say!
The Magic Numbers - Saw the second half of their set, was really good! Really nice & chilled, bit of a sing-along going on in the crowd, was pretty nice yet mellow.

Johnny Flynn - Erm...Didn't see...& honestly can't remember why! I have a feeling we were getting food. Which was pretty amazing, to be fair :]
Laura Marling - A lot better than I expected. I suppose this is because I thought that although I like a lot of her songs, I couldn't really imagine her performing live. She was really sweet though! Tried chatting with the audience a little, but seemed pretty awkward. Bless her. But I like that she tried. & the music was really good in that it really seemed to fit the summer-festival mood. Really nice way to warm up the day.

Peter Doherty - I personally didn't see, as the sun was getting to me a bit & came over all funny...what a weeny. But from what I gather, he played some tunes & was generally okay.
Seasick Steve - Highlight of the day. Absolutely amazing!! There aren't really words, apart from I think I'd like to marry him a little. Especially when during Mumford & Sons, the stage camera spotted his little head poking around the side of the stage, watching them! Too cute for words. And! His backdrop on stage was a blue flag, with a silhouette of himself, doing pretty much this pose (legend);

Mumford & Sons - Were really good, as expected. Played some real tunes that had pretty much everyone having a bit of a dance around, loving life! Great to sing along to at points as well.

Ray Davies - Only saw the last couple of songs (due to more food-getting - fatties), but he seemed to be a really good live performer! When we were making our way back into the midst of the crowd, he really had everyone going which was really fun. He also had a couple of laughs with the crowd, & just put everyone in a really great mood! Which was almost a shame, seeing that he was followed by...

Bob Dylan - a bit of a disappointment. I think an article The Grandmother saved me from The Telegraph summed it up pretty well - "if attend expecting to hear the young man of Blonde on Blonde or Bringing it All Back Home, his powers undiminished by cigarettes & time, then you will leave disappointed...The encore - the almost inevitable Like a Rolling Stone - was the one song where Dylan's discipline slipped & he strained to sing like his younger self...Both old & young fans were happy to assist as his voice was left horribly exposed by the rousing melody". I think that the change in the way he sang his old songs, combined with his complete lack of 'performance', and coupled with all the hype surrounding his set was what made it fall a little short of expectations. Which was a shame, but at the same time it was pretty interesting to have seen him live, as it were.& not forgetting, he is 69!

The rest of my trip consisted of another night in the tent(!), the train back to Waterloo & a mini trip along the South Bank where The London Literature Festival was taking place! A lovely surprise. The boys had some drinks & I purchased a second hand book (A Million Little Pieces in case you were wondering - a book I had previously bought a couple of years ago, read, loved, lent out to a friend & haven't seen since! Highly recommend it).

I then returned home & had the longest & possibly best shower I've had in ages! & to top it off, someone at work said I looked tanned today! Which, if you know me, is quite an achievement! Ha. All in all, a laaavely weekend!

Now to start making plans for Camp Bestival over my birthday weekend! But more on that in another post.

xo

Audrey Hepburn's favorite poem.

2010-06-17T07:42:00.000-07:00

Unending Love.

I seem to have loved you in numberless forms, numberless times…

In life after life, in age after age, forever.

My spellbound heart has made and remade the necklace of songs,

That you take as a gift, wear round your neck in your many forms,

In life after life, in age after age, forever.

Whenever I hear old chronicles of love, it’s age-old pain,

It’s ancient tale of being apart or together.

As I stare on and on into the past, in the end you emerge,

Clad in the light of a pole-star piercing the darkness of time:

You become an image of what is remembered forever.

You and I have floated here on the stream that brings from the fount.

At the heart of time, love of one for another.

We have played along side millions of lovers, shared in the same

Shy sweetness of meeting, the same distressful tears of farewell-

Old love but in shapes that renew and renew forever.

Today it is heaped at your feet, it has found its end in you

The love of all man’s days both past and forever:

Universal joy, universal sorrow, universal life.

The memories of all loves merging with this one love of ours –

And the songs of every poet past and forever.

— Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941, written in 1890).

Well I never...

2010-06-17T07:24:00.001-07:00

Over the past few days I've been thinking about it, & the time has come (as the walrus said), to start applying for (media-based-preferably within PR) internships!
This means that today I'll be re-looking at my CV, crafting an interesting, yet informative cover letter (I hope!) & applying to anything that looks interesting!
Although, because the competition is bound to be pretty tough, I think I'm going to have to come up with a more creative way of marketing myself, AKA not using the standard CV format...This will inevitably lead to several spider diagrams!
All the thinking I've been doing about applying for internships & shizzle has, in turn, led me to thinking about what to wear to interviews, etc...

If I had a decent wage (*sigh*), I would fully be clicking 'buy' on this right now! & maybe this one... but I'm not sure if it's a little too messy? I suppose it would depend on what the company was like. But I really do love a nice dress - it's so effortless to create a 'look', yet can seem really put-together & professional. Laaavely!

Oh! Something else I decided to blog about today, was inspired by an old women who came into work - she had the most lovely, old-fashioned voice, that really reminded me of old movie stars such as Audrey Hepburn.

And! I've just found out from Wikipedia, she recorded a spoken-word CD in 1992 featuring classic children's stories. It sounds amazing! Almost as good as being read a story by Stephen Fry;

Just reading about Audrey on Wikipedia is making me want to rent all of her other films (the only one I've seen so far was Breckfast at Tiffany's).
I suppose, until then, I will have to make-do with a book I've borrowed from Lyzz, by Stephen Fry called The Liar. Will let you know my thoughts on the book soon!

xo

Asher Roth

2010-06-14T17:05:00.000-07:00

One more swift Youtube video - it's Asher Roth doing a Radio 1 live lounge version of his single "I love college".
I think the best part is just how much he's smiling throughout the whole thing! Cute.

xo

Example/Ke$ha.

2010-06-14T13:41:00.000-07:00

It's terrible - over the past few days, I keep thinking of things to blog about, but haven't been near my computer, or have just been doing other things! So, I've been (slightly genius-ly) making notes on my phone :)
So I think I'll put them in separate posts, to make things easier...
Anyways;
Firstly was something I came across on youtube;

It's Example covering Ke$ha's Tic Tok in the Radio 1 Live Lounge, which I thought was pretty ace!
Although it's embarrassing to admit, I quite like the original, but this version is a really nice contrast.

xo

Plans & Such.

2010-05-31T11:16:00.000-07:00

Found out a minute ago, we will spend (on average) 25 years of our life asleep. 7% of this we spend dreaming.
That's just under two years of our lives spent in dream land...or, if I'm counting myself, it's probably a hellofa lot more than that, given to the amount of time I spend daydreaming! Ha.

I reckon this would be a fun dream;

Anyways...what else have I been up to, I hear you ask! I've now been at my new job for two whole weeks! I'm working at Office, in London & it's pretty sweet! Just waiting to be paid so that I can start (ab)using my staff discount!
These are the ones I've currently got my beady eyes on:

For play -

For work -

Laaavely!

In other news, Lyzz (who is living with me at the moment - beautiful times!) & I have seen rather a lot of Elephants!

Lyzz with an elephant outside Harrods.

& inside Selfridges.

Nothing else too major to report...apart from when Lyzz & I were at Danni's flat a couple of nights ago, Danni started drawing in Lyzz's foot...long story short, she drew the most amazing picture on one of my feet, & as soon as I have some money to my name (probably August time I reckon) I'm going to have it (or something very similar) tattooed! Very exciting(!)

Danni did illustration at uni & if you like, you can see more of her work here: coroflot.com/daniellecurtis

The Greek.

2010-05-25T14:36:00.000-07:00

Recently I've been reading My Sisters Keeper, a book (& now a film) by Jodi Picoult.
The books basically about a child who was genitally made in order to save her older sister, who has leukemia. It raises several different & difficult issues regarding morals & ethics surrounding things like test-tube babies, stem cell research, etc.
The book overall, I thought, was good in that it taught me a lot about the legal issues regarding morals & ethics, as well as the medical concerns about things such as stem cells, as well as how diseases like leukemia are treated.
The only problem I had was that you could see the logical ending to the book, which stopped me from enjoying it as much as I could have. However, it was very well written & because there were a couple of unanswered questions which did keep me reading 'till the end.
One thing that I did really enjoy about the book, was that the father was a keen armature astronomer & every now & again, it would tie-in a story about greek mythology.
One of the stories I enjoyed most, I have decided to share here;

Fire & hope are connected. The way the Greeks told it, Zeus put Prometheus & Epimetheus in charge of creating life on earth. Epimetheus made the animals, giving out bonuses like swiftness and strength & fur & wings. By the time Prometheus made man, all the best qualities had been given out. He settled for making them walk upright, & he gave them fire.

Zeus, pissed off, took it away. But Prometheus saw his pride & joy shivering & unable to cook. He lit a torch from the sun & brought it to man again. To punish Prometheus, Zeus has him chained to a rock, where an eagle fed on his liver. To punish man, Zeus created the first woman - Pandora - & gave her a gift, a box, she was forbidden to open.

Pandora's curiosity got the best of her, & one day she opened that box. Out came the plagues & misery & mischief. She managed to shut the lid tight before hope escaped. It's the only weapon we have left to fight the others.

This, I like. I think the Greeks had a lot of really cool stories to explain things they didn't understand. I might have a look at some more sometime.
Whaddya think?
xo