Liebster Award!!!

 Well this is a pleasant surprise! What a great way to meet new bloggers!
I'm stoked to have been nominated for the Liebster award by the dazzling Eleanor who writes this charming blog called 'Little thoughts from little people:
 

http://littlethoughtsfromlittlepeople.blogspot.co.uk/

Its aimed at blogs with 200 followers or less and is a wonderful way to connect and establish a wider social network. So I have to answer Eleanor's 11 questions then ask 11 more to 11 people I nominate.
Rules down below!!

Here goes:

1) What's your favourite book?

Lolita by Vladmir Nabokov... ofcourse. I plan to write a review about this disturbing yet beautifully written novel quite soon actually. Its the most intriguing book I've ever read.


2) Where do you want to travel?

Paris!!! Again!!! That would be my main destination because I adore the bookshops and galleries and tall, slender apartments.

3) What's the top of your bucket list?
Go fishing in Spain.

4) What do you hope to achieve by the end of this year?
Improve my writing and complete my first year at university with successful results.

5) What's your favourite Ice cream flavour?
Cookie dough.

6) What's your favourite nail polish called and who makes it?
While I am a bit of a cheapskate with fancy nail polishes (I can only dream of my own O.P.I collection) I do possess one called 'Tropicana' by Revlon- a vibrant tropical island orange that just screams summer and flamboyance.

7) What's you're favourite band?
At the moment I am torn between the White Stripes and Nirvana, but I am more of a single artist fan right now- Lana Del Rey, Beyonce, Marina and the Diamonds, Florence and the Machine and Maria Callas.

8) What's your favourite makeup brand?
Lime Crime!! It is such good quality stuff- I hardly ever need to reapply. Plus it has unicorns on the packaging!

9) What's your favourite film?
Breakfast at Tiffanys. Audrey is an angel, the fashion is glorious, the story line is heart warming and the music sweeps me away every time. I can probably quote it word for word.


10) Which celebrity would you like to meet?
Carey Mulligan. I really respect her as an actress and I think she'd be such a sweetheart to talk to!

11) A random fact about yourself!
I paint mermaids in my spare hours.


Glad that's over heehee! Here are my sassy questions for my sassy nominations:

1. Whats your favorite genre of music?
2. If you could pick one item from your wardrobe to show off to me what would it be?
3. Which do you prefer: lip stick or eye shadow and what brand?
4. Top female role model?
5. Heels or flats?
6. Whats your dream/goal/ambition for life?
7. Tell me a secret?
8. Pet peeve?
9. Favorite thing to do when theres nothing much to do?
10. Whats the most interesting place you've ever been to and why?
11. Favorite quote?

And the sassy nominees are.... (drum roll please!):

1. Zsuzsanna Wrywood.
2. Frugal and Louboutins.
3. Q.
4. Princess Kriss.
5. Brogan E.
6. Marissa.
7. Charli Beaumont.
8. Patrice Renee.
9. Andrea.
10. Alexa Gora.
11. Olivia Louise Le-Moine.

Here are the rules!

You have to link back to the person who nominated you
You have to answer 11 questions
You have to nominate 11 blogs with less than 200 followers to answer your questions
You are not allowed to nominate the person who nominated you
Finally, you must let the people know that they have been nominated


Have fun kids!! Its a delight to be involved in something so fun!


x

Bow down bitches. Beyonce's taken over.

 I'd never paid much attention to the Queen Bey before. Sure, I liked the tracks she built in Destiny's Child and little dittys like 'Bootylicious', 'irreplacable' and 'Halo' but she never hit me as hard as she has with her new album 'The Visual'.

No one saw it coming. I've been told there were 80 songs recorded and I have heard a good 9. Don't judge. I'm taking it slow.

Every song has been given a video.
"I see music," Beyonce said in a video announcing the album, “It’s more than just what I hear.  When I’m connected to something, I immediately see a visual or a series of images that are tied to a feeling or an emotion, a memory from my childhood, thoughts about life, my dreams or my fantasies.  And they’re all connected to the music.”

Isn't she just gorgeous?!

After watching http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcN6Ke2V-rQ  Self Titled part 1 and 2 ('a mini art feature comprised of several parts to give a glimpse into the entire project')  I was astonished by her sensibility and down to earth groundedness that is hard to come by in performers these days. I see her as both a mother and an artist- a strong woman who can dance and sing and nurture and think and impress and be fabulous all in one go.

The first song from the Visual that hooked me was, ofcourse, Pretty Hurts.

Any woman whose any woman will relate in one way or another to this song- the feeling of competition and self worth being rocky and the idea of body and image consuming one's time and thoughts.

I waited and waited and eventually the video for Pretty Hurts was released and it was both shocking, sad and empowering.

 
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ebcsGuU55E

'Its the soul that needs the surgery'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIv1z6n3Xxo

The next song to grasp my attention was the sultry Yonce. That base line is sexy, the calm, sassy lyrics are snappy and the video is filled with leather, red lip stick and dancer limbs. Too catchy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzrSbfpZ8-g

Beyonce is not weak in either body or mind. She has IT. That special something that comes from the hardest of hard work. As she said in a Self Titled video 'I work harder than anyone I know.' I don't doubt it.

I have rediscovered a new role model.
 
x

Review: Lime Crime Red Velvet Lip Stain.

I got home from work today to find a package on my bed- don't you just love that feeling?? When you don't quite know what it is because you've done so much online shopping recently... a good thing and a bad thing... I should probably cut the card up but lets be honest... I'm not gonna do that... ever.

So I open the box to find a picture of two unicorn heads on the inside of a pink lid and nestled in an excessive cocoon of lime green tissue paper I found my purchase: the Lime Crime Velvetine liquid to matte 'lip stain'.

This has been my first ever purchase from Lime Crime and I cannot stress how excited I was to see that unicorn logo. Whats not to like about unicorns?!

Its very ideal the package arrived today because tonight I had a friend's farewell dinner- and what better time to test this bad girl out!

Now be warned!!! When I first applied it was messy business! It performs as a very watery lip gloss that one applies to the shape of one's lips and it dries into matte form. I may have gotten a bit carried away thus staining my chin and teeth but after a few wipes with a tissue it was fine. You are basically painting your lips and you have to be careful to get the right shape and make it even on top and bottom lip because this stuff is BOLD.

The end result is divine as velvet though.

Please excuse my fuzzy pictures. I have a terrible camera. That'll change when I'm rich and famous though ;)

This product is HIGHLY recommended for those of you who want to make a sophisticated statement that is both fun and a little bit dark.

I can't wait to buy more Lime Crime makeup!!

x

Pearls.

Pearls:

A friend of mine let me play with her camera at a Christmas shindig last year. Seeing as we were both wearing pearls, we had a giggly time snapping these ever so sophisticated pictures!

These decadent balls of calcium carbonate remind us of the chic ladies of high society who drape themselves from chin to collar with ropes and ropes of pearls!! We are ever so jealous!!

I purchased my short strand of fresh water pearls cheap in Vietnam after a nervous haggling war. They are sold cheaper than perfect pearls because, well, in comparison they are a dime a dozen, with little dents and odd curves to make them more lumpy than smooth and round.

My friend's pearls however are made of glass and were purchased in an op shop. REGARDLESS... one gets what one can get. These beauties are still beauties never mind the cost, they are sturdy and just as elegant as the real deal, only with more character.
 

Think Chanel. Think Babe Paley. Think Jacqueline Kennedy. Think Daisy Buchanan. Think mermaids.

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A Woman You Should Know...

Waris Dirie.

I believe its very important to know of as many interesting, intelligent, influential and inspiring women as possible because there are so many and yet I find I can name more '' '', '' '', and '' '' men than I can women. So here is one I want to share because she is such an amazing woman and everyone should know about her:

Waris Dirie was born to a nomadic family in Somalia in 1965.

At 13 years old she ran away to escape an arranged marriage to a man as old as her father. She eventually moved to London where she worked for an uncle who had been appointed Somali ambassador. But when his term in office ended, Waris took a job at McDonalds.

One day in McDonalds Waris was discovered by a photographer called Terence Donovan. From then on her modeling career took off and she became a world famous super model.

At the height of her modelling career, Waris spoke of the female genital mutilation she had undergone as a child.

She has written a book called Desert Flower which I am currently reading.

I first learned about Waris after watching the stunning film Desert Flower staring Liya Kebede. Highly recommended. It has won many awards.

In 2010 Waris was appointed Peace ambassador for the Year Of Peace and Security by the African Union.

After an attack on herself and her home, also a kidnapping, Waris quit her modelling career to focus on her work against female genital mutilation. She has founded the Desert Flower foundation, founded the PPR Foundation for Women's Dignity and Rights, raising money for schools and clinics in Somalia. She has also won many awards, written books, and starred in one James Bond film.

I believe her to be a truly remarkable woman, with a name that fits her- she not only survives but manages to blossom in harsh and challenging conditions, whether it be the desert, London or New York.

L.D.R.

ON LANA....

I'm surprised my first ever post wasn't about the raven haired angel headed hipster that is Lana Del Rey.
That queen of disaster... that black beauty... light of my life, fire of my loins... you get my point. I'm slightly obsessed and have been for about a year. Not sure when its gonna wear out, but the love is going strong and I embrace it with arms wide open unlike some crazy cats who like to conceal. Idiots.

The first song that hooked me was the melancholy, reminiscent 'Video Games'. Those strings being stroked like the strings of a rainbow... am I getting a little carried away? Not sorry. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cE6wxDqdOV0   and that music video? Perfection!!! The old clips are warm, textured, childish and a little wild in a summery sort of way. Another example that would fit well in my previous post about nostalgia, she depicts what I was talking about quite sweetly... but there is always an darkness to Lana that cannot be overlooked.

I have read many an article about this striking artist- many a nasty article. Yes, people say she has been moulded by the music industry. I don't give a fuck. So is everyone else in the entertainment universe. Sure, Lorde bitches about her, but don't get me started on Lorde!!! That kid needs to quite bitchin and keep playin cos she has 'IT' but keeps ruining 'IT' by focusing on the flaws of other performers... she despises 'phonies' who have been created by fat cats to catch the attention of pop culture public, yet she is one herself. To coin a phrase dear Lorde: 'LEAVE LANA ALONE!!!' (she says with mascara drizzled cheeks beneath the covers of her bed sheets).

Besides, part of the appeal of Lana are her flaws... she gets nervous when she performs live, her voice is girlish and she stammers now and then, some of the messages in her music aren't messages at all, they are simple things that mean something only to her and to those who keep minds open and are willing to understand the vulnerability of this artist. She is human- despite the IMAGE that has been formed about her. I see her flaws and silly moments and I appreciate them because they make her more intriguing to me. Theres always gonna be dirt on someone- I'd rather listen to their music and see where it takes me than focus on rumors and gossip. Keep it pure people.

Her music videos are indeed works of art- that ol American nostalgia captured quite well in the video 'Ride' along with its base line and those piano chords... it just works ok?! Most covers of her music are rubbish because no one can get that purr of a voice that she creates.

She never fails to surprise me- for example, her cover of 'Heart Shaped Box' by Nirvana is flawless. I have never heard her voice reach such heights for such a duration of time, it is a song that suits her. WATCH IT NOW!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPIJk0MKSWM

Ofcourse, with some songs, it does take a few plays to really get obsessed, but thats ok. I have time.