Eat Pray Shop

I actually had two days off in a row this weekend! It was so amazing, and needed! Saturday, I spent the entire day shopping, and then went to see Eat Pray Love. I don't want to say too much about the movie in case some of you haven't seen it yet, but my favorite part was when Liz (Julia Roberts) was in Italy, eating all of that great food. In fact,  I've been craving pasta ever since!  Overall I thought the movie was ok. There were parts that I loved, and parts that I didn't, but just for the locations alone it's worth seeing. (not to mention James Franco!) Here are some of my favorite stills from the movie:

Did you see Eat Pray Love this weekend? What did you think?

Total Eclipse of the Heart

Rather than dealing with the midnight madness, I opted to see Eclipse this morning without the screaming teens. (which I highly recommend) And, all I have to say is OME!!! (oh my Edward, for you non-twihards) :) Eclipse is the best movie of the Twilight Saga so far! I wasn't really expecting to LOVE it as much as I did. Typically, I purchase my Twilight tickets in advance, and make an event out of it, but not this time. Maybe I've just been too busy to think about it, but I wasn't all that enthusiastic about opening day like usual. In fact, I didn't even think I was going to see it today, but WOW...am I glad I did! I don't want to ruin it for anyone, especially if you haven't read the books, but this is the first time you really see some emotion from these characters. Finally, they feel three dimensional! In the first movie, I felt like Edward and Bella's love went from 0 to 60 in an instant! In this installment, you get to see exactly why they love each other, and why she loves Jacob too. The relationships seem better developed, and the dialogue is far less cheesy. Eclipse perfectly sets the stage for Breaking Dawn, and flawlessly captures the book. And, did I mention that Robert Pattinson looks other worldly?! I mean, how can someone be so gorgeous??!!  I will be seeing it again, before the weekend is over!

How about you? Are you planning to see Eclipse this weekend? And, if you've already seen it, what did you think?

Song of the Day: Ricki-Lee - Can't Touch It

I just got home from my reunion this morning, and have unpacking, laundry, and oh yeah...I have to run off to do a job! It's all good though. I had an amazing weekend with my family, and we even managed to squeeze in Sex and the City 2! Unfortunately, I don't have a gushing review which totally bums me out! I was completely disappointed! If you haven't seen it yet, I don't want to spoil it for you, but it just seemed like they were trying too hard. Again, SUPER disappointed! I don't know what else to say other than, if you really have your heart set on seeing it, go and make up your own mind, but you've been warned. There was one little jem in the movie which I hunted down as soon as I got home. "Can't Touch It" by Aussie singer Ricki-Lee is the SATC2 theme song, and the perfect work-out beat! Exactly what I need to kick my butt into gear,  after 4 days of  what should be called "the family food fest!" Time to get back to business!

I hope you all had a fantastic weekend!

P.S. Only 3 more days to enter my Bobbi Brown giveaway!

Click here and leave a comment to enter.

The winner will be announced on Monday, June 7th.

Good Luck!

Carrie-ing On

With Sex and the City 2 opening today, the entire blogosphere has been getting ready to "Carrie on." The anticipation is always so exciting, though I'm anxious to see if the movie lives up to it's hype. To get us all in the SATC spirit,  Katie of Fashion's Maven has been breaking down the series by season, with a detailed synopsis of each episode. It's been so much fun reading her posts, and reliving some of my favorite SATC moments. Great for us busy people that want to re-watch the complete series and first movie, but don't have the time. Thanks Katie! I feel totally up to speed now, and ready to see SATC2! Unfortunately, I'm going to be on a plane today, so I'll probably have to wait to see it tomorrow or Saturday. It's going to kill me to wait!

Are you going to see Sex And The City 2 today? Any special SATC plans? Do tell! :)

p.s. Don't forget to enter my Bobbi Brown  giveaway!

Virtual Vacay: An American Girl In Paris

I can hardly contain my excitement for the new Sex And The City 2 movie, (which opens Thurs!) that I've been taking a trip down memory lane, and re-watching some of my favorite SATC episodes. At the top of the list has to be the two-part series finale. Oh, how I would love to have my own "American Girl In Paris" moment someday! Remember when Carrie first arrived in Paris? She was full of wonder, and awe to finally be in the "The City of Light" and the fashion capitol of the world! 

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Carrie arrived at the Hotel Plaza Athénée , with a New Yorker turned Parisian wardrobe, carefully packed into her pink and white, Vivian Westwood luggage. What girl doesn't dream of an arrival like that? At the center of Paris fashion, the Hotel Plaza Athénée is surrounded by Paris's most exclusive designer shops on avenue Montaigne that include Christian Dior, Chanel, Max Mara, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Céline, Valentino, Calvin Klein and Hermès.  Can you just imagine? My first view of Paris and this gorgeous hotel would match Carrie's... sheer joy! Flowers would be everywhere, as well as the predominant accent color of red (including window awnings and table umbrellas). Looking up from the street is the wrought iron balcony where Carrie jumped up and down in glee at her first site of the Eiffel Tower.

I would jump in glee too! Seriously, how could you not?!

Check out the interior of the Hotel Plaza Athénée :

 

the lobby

The Penthouse Suite

I love the dusty amethyst and rose tones of this classic French decor. Tres chic!

 

Who could forget this scene, when Carrie gets stuck having lunch with Alexandr Patrovsky's ex-wife?! The real restaurant, Kong,  is situated on the top floor of the Kenzo boutique overlooking the Pont Neuf, the oldest standing bridge across the river Seine. Kong is intensely decorated by star designer Philippe Starck who always pushes the envelope. With a modern geisha theme, and a key feature in the SATC finale, there is no doubt that this place becomes one of the hottest tourist attractions during the day, that only gets more fabulous as the city lights dance across the Seine.

 

 

After wandering the streets of Paris, site-seeing and shopping..

I would not be waiting for the Russian! Because I never liked him anyway. (Mikhail the dancer, yes! Aleksandr with the weird artist, NO!)

Instead, I would be admiring my new souvenir!

The classic Chanel 2.55 Flap Bag. Perfect way to remember Paris, no? :)

One of my favorite lines from the entire series was in the last episode, where Carrie tells Aleks exactly the kind of love she's after. I feel her words as if I'd said them myself...

"I'm looking for love. Real love. Ridiculous, inconvenient, consuming, can't-live-without-each-other love. And I don't think that love is here in this expensive suite in this lovely hotel in Paris."

Ok, maybe not the hotel/Paris part. :) 

We all know how the story unfolds for our girl Carrie...

Me, on the other hand,  I'm still waiting for my dream trip to Paris, and that "Big" love.

*Sorry for the long post, but I just HAD to! :)

Lazy Monday

Sorry about the very late post today. I think I may just get it in under the wire. ;) I got swept away by this early June gloom weather, which didn't help me get motivated. Yes, today was one of those days that I hardly got out of bed, ordered pay-preview, and got caught up on Gossip Girl.

A lazy Monday is exactly what I needed, and anyway...tomorrow is a new day, and a new blog post.

Hope you all had a great Monday!

Dream Job

The other day I was taking one of those fun little "get to know yourself better" quizes, and one of questions was...What would be your dream job? And just like that it hit me...

I have my dream job!

I feel so blessed to be doing what I love for a living, and there's not a job out there that I'd rather have. :)  

Yesterday was a fun day at the office, so to speak. You've heard me talk about Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, here and here. Well, I hadn't seen them in a while as they've been in the recording studio, so it was fun to spend the day, getting them ready for their Ellen Show appearance. We started at noon, with a scheduled taping at 5:30! Yes, you too can look as glamorous as the stars if you spend at least 3+ hours in hair and makeup. lol! It's funny how there's so much time spent getting ready, and then it's over in less than 4 minutes! In case you don't watch the show, here's the video of my handiwork, which is nothing compared to their awesome performance of "Tiny Light!" (warning: they really rock out at the end, so if you're viewing at work, you might want to turn the volume down)

And yes, they're really that good live! I was standing in the studio during sound check, as well as the performance and each take was incredible! I can't wait until they're back in LA to see a their whole show! 

Oh, I forgot to mention a little "fun fact" about this performance. Do you remember the cute little girl in the movie "Love Actually," with the really big voice?

Olivia Olson as "Joanna" in Love Actually

Well she's all grown up, and singing background vocals for Grace Potter and the Nocturnals! Now you'll have to watch the clip again to look for her!

I love my job! :) 

Unusually Fine

Unusually Fine Photography is comprised of  Max & Margaret, who are both sought after artists in their own right. Together, they capture the most incredible images. Most recently, this team shot a beautiful wedding in Anguilla, and stayed to shoot "the day after" pictures. What a great idea, having professional photos taken of your 1st day of  marriage! You must check out the amazing-ness on their site.

As much as I adore their camera skills, I'm obsessed with the short films they make! They are so adorably charming! Check them out...

These videos make me want to brush up on my French!

The Luck of the Irish

Let's face it, everyone turns a little Irish on March 17th. (shhhh...I'm Swedish) Today, I'm making my famous Key-Lime cupcakes to celebrate "all things green" with my nephews. It's our tradition. Since I can't bake cupcakes for everyone, here's a virtual cupcake from me, to you!

{via}

And,  how about a little music? One of my favorite Irish singers, doing one of my favorite songs...Damien Rice singing The Blower's Daughter. Such an amazing song! The Blower's Daughter was featured in the trailer for the 2004 Mike Nichols film Closer, as well as in the film itself. You'll notice scenes from the movie are included in the official video.  

So, whether you celebrate with green beer, cornbeef and cabbage,  a shamrock shake or key-lime cupcakes...I wish you all a very lucky and festive St. Patrick's Day!

Oscar Roundup: Beauty

Oscars 2010 was all about romantic glamour, and Hollywood gave good face! (and hair) There were some definite beauty trends emerging from the red carpet...just in time for Spring!

Bold Lips:

From Left: Sandra Bullock, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Cameron Diaz

Sandra, Maggie and Cameron made a statement on the red carpet with their bold lips. Sandra wore a raspberry shade to add a pop of color to an otherwise classic look (Chanel Rouge Coco Lip Color in Paris), Maggie brightened up her pout with a fresh fuchsia tone (Nars in Schiap) and Cameron went with a warm tomato red (Chanel Lip Definer in Rouge and Chanel Rouge Coco Lip Color in Gabrielle).

Soft & Feminine:

From top left to right: Anna Kendrick, Kate Winslet, Rachel McAdams and Zoe Saldana

Soft, ethereal and romantic describe the makeup looks of Anna, Kate, Zoe and Rachel. All with slightly different versions of the same theme, they take "pretty" to a whole new level. Here's the breakdown:

  

Anna Kendrick (makeup by Sara Glick):

Cheeks:  tarte's natural cheek stain in eco-cheek on the apples of her cheeks.  Lips: tarte's LipSurgence natural lip stain in charmed (light pink) as a base, topped with tarte's double-ended lipgloss in samantha (used the samantha side-pale cotton candy pink) for added shine.

Kate Winslet (makeup by Jillian Dempsey):

Eyes: Avon True Color Eyeshadow Quad in Blushing Raisins (using the Raisin shade for definition), Jillian Dempsey for Avon Professional Kohl Eyeliner in Black, Lancôme Brow Expert in Naturel, Lancôme Hypnôse Drama Mascara in Excessive Black. Face & Cheeks: Avon MagiX Face Perfector SPF 20, Lancôme Photôgenic Lumessence Foundation, Lancôme Dual Finish Powder Foundation, Shu Uemura Blush in Pink 30. Lips: Lancôme L’Absolu Rouge in Rich Cashmere, Lancôme Color Fever Gloss in Hotness.

Zoe Saldana (makeup by Vera Steimberg for NARS Cosmetics):

Face & Cheeks: Orgasm Illuminator, Enchanted Cream Blush (Summer 2010), Lamu Multiple (Summer 2010). Eyes: Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base (Summer 2010), Brousse Duo Eyeshadow, Nuits Blanches Eyeliner Stylo, Larger Than Life Volumizing Mascara. Lips: Love Devotion Lipstick (Summer 2010), Ophelia Lip Gloss.

Rachel McAdams (makeup by Kayleen McAdams):

Eyes: CHANEL Fluid Iridescent Eyeshadow in Fountain, rose gold shade in the CHANEL Quadra Eyeshadow in Spices, CHANEL Soft Touch Eye Shadow in Slate, CHANEL Inimitable Mascara in Noir. Lips: CHANEL Rouge Coco Lip Colour in Rose Comete, CHANEL Glossimer in Futile

Modern Hollywood Glamour Hair:

From top left to right: Cameron Diaz, Anna Kendrick, Kate Winslet and Sandra Bullock

Cameron Diaz wore her hair in an updated version of a "Veronica Lake" style. She looked modern, sexy and glamorous. Great combo!

Anna Kendrick’s hair was young and modern. Her undone chignon was the perfect compliment to her romantic blush gown.

Kate Winslet also had "Veronica Lake" waves, but in a very polished, understated way. She was there to present, so this was the year to keep it classic and subdued. Kate always gets it right.

Best Actress winner, Sandra Bullock,  wore a sleek style with tons of shine. Her gorgeous brunette hair, had a barely there wave on the ends to soften the look. Perfect hair for her golden moment!

Honorable Mention:

Carey Mulligan and Kristen Stewart

What a differnce a little hair color makes! I'm loving Carey Mulligan's new blonde do. She looks so chic! Very Mia Farrow! 

Kristen Stewart had been rocking the dyed black-Joan Jett look, ever since filming The Runaways. It appears that she's lightened up her locks, going from drab to fab! The rich chestnut color compliments her pale skin, softening that rock-n-roll edginess. She looks like "Bella" again! 

All images via Getty Images or WireImage

Oscar Roundup: The Fashion

Romantic glamour ruled the red carpet at last night's Oscars, which personally I loved! Ruffles, frills, and trains took center stage, as Hollywood's A-List reminded us what movie stars should look like.
Here are my favorites:

Champagne:

 

Sandra Bullock in Marchesa, Cameron Diaz in Oscar de la Renta, Kate Winslet in YSL, Miley Cyrus in Jenny Packham

Ruffles:

Demi Moore in Atelier Versace, Elizabeth Banks in Atelier Versace

Edgy Glam:

Carey Mulligan in Prada, Kristen Stewart in Monique Lhullier

Prints:

Rachel McAdams in Elie Saab, Maggie Gyllenhaal in Dries Van Noten

and my favorite look of the night...

Anna Kendrick in Elie Saab

Virtual Vacation: Moorland View - Devon, England

One of my favorite movies is The Holiday.  In the movie, two women (Iris played by Kate Winslett & Amanda played by Cameron Diaz) become intertwined when they swap houses as part of a holiday Home Exchange. The house, that Amanda rents is called "Rosehill Cottage," and is as quaint as a cottage could be. Exactly the kind of romantic place I dream of staying! Only I can't stay there, because it’s not a real house.  It’s a fiberglass set.

Here’s a what the cottage looks like in the film:

And here is Moorland View. A real rental in Devon, England:

Doesn't this look just like Rosehill Cottage?
When I came across this sweet little house, I immediately put it in my "Dream Destination" file!

 
Moorland View is a boutique cottage in an idyllic 13th century village in the hills of Dartmoor National Park, Devon, UK. (about 3 hours outside of London)  It has everything you could want…charming decor, a cozy wood burning fireplace, a copper tub for two, complimentary use of the nearby Bovey Castle country club and spa, and there’s even a local village pub. All set within one of the UK's prettiest historic villages.
 

Ok, seriously this would be like vacationing in the movie! Now if only I could get Jude Law to come knocking at my door…