Live Fast, Die Pretty

InterContinental Westminster

2012-11-30T07:28:00.004-08:00

Last weekend, I was lucky enough to get a sneak preview of the brand new InterContinental Westminster before it opens its doors to the public this week.

The new addition to IHG's London portfolio attempts to inject a new lease of life into an historic former government building, Queen Anne’s Chambers. In an area where politics, business and influencers come together, the hotel is situated right next to St James Park station and is within a few minutes' walk of Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, and the Houses of Parliament. The hotel offers 256 rooms, 7 meeting rooms and exceptional dining at the Blue Boar Smokehouse and Bar.

The dinner, drinks, overnight stay and brunch were all courtesy of my lovely friend Katie who works in the head office and when she asked if I would be her plus one, I jumped at the chance to experience abit of "understated luxury" as they call it.

Regal revolving doors controlled by delightfully polite men dressed in grey suits and hats led us to the stunning lobby which was a vision in itself. A fabulous glass roof gave oodles of natural light with a splendid view of the lobby bar.

We were given an Executive Room which was absolutely out of this world. Everything from the room size, furnishings and little touches (like the latest issue of Harpers Bizarre propped up on the pillow) went down an absolute treat with me! I am also rather impressed with techy gadgets and I can confirm that there were gadgets a-plenty. The rooms are decked out with a swanky TV/Mirror combo as well as Bose speakers throughout, with seperate controllers in dressing room, bathroom and bedroom. Whilst we were getting ready, we obviously tested these bad boys out by getting into our robes, standing infront of the mirror and doing our makeup and hair to the musical stylings of Rhi Rhi (and abit of Kanye West was thrown in for good mesaure).

It was at this point that we made our way down to dinner. We were promptly greeted by the Maitre d and shown to the bar which can only be described as a secret speak-easy that could have easily been a creation of Chuck Bass (ohhh yes, I said it!). Unfortunately, we were famished, so decided to skip the bar, save it for later and head for the meat.

The Blue Boar Smokehouse takes its inspiration from the best American pit masters, with a menu evolving around authentic smoke house techniques, whilst maintaining its British influence. We were informed that the on site charcoal and smoking ovens aim to produce rustic and classic home comfort dishes but with a modern twist. I was pleasantly surprised at the menu which was quite heavily meat focused.

I went for Duck Eggs and Wild Mushrooms to start which was simply devine. The Duck Egg was covered in breadcrumbs and laid over some marinated mushrooms on a slice of light toast. To follow, I went for the standard Fillet Steak option that I regularly go for, however this one was stuffed with Oysters. It was cooked to perfection (medium-well) and served with exquisite home cooked chunky chips. At this point, I could barely move but Katie and I decided to share the Poached Pear, which again, was just divine. With a steak that rivals Gaucho and service on par with my afternoon tea experience at The Ritz, the whole experience was nothing short of exceptional.

We then went onto Kings Road and mingled with some questionably named people and headed back to the plush King size bed that awaited us. After a delightful 9 hour sleep, we returned to the Blue Boar for a full english brunch which was exquisite!

Overall, an AMAZING hotel in an awesome location. If you want a cheeky overnight stay and a spot of luxury, definitely give this new IHG addition a go! A solid 9/10.

Peace,
O x

Film Review: Rust and Bone

2012-11-13T08:12:00.000-08:00

The Cast: Marion Cottilard, Matthias Schoenaerts

Director: Jacques Audiard

The Rating: 15

The Venue: The Curzon (Soho), London

After seeing the beauitful Marion Cottilard speaking about her new film Rust and Bone at the BFI as part of the London FIlm Festival, I was absolutely dying to see it.

My sister and I met, Prosecco in hand, eager to see our favourite frenchy in action and I must say that it completed exceeding expectations and it was simply stunning.

The Plot:

Rust and Bone is french film that is a bizarre combination of being a melodrama that isn't melodramatic. In short, it is about an Orca trainer who loses her legs in an accident whilst performing with the killer Whales at Antibes Marineworld, who then begins a relationship with a broke and desperate bare-knuckle-boxing single father who makes ends meet by fighting and deceiving those closest to him.

Best bits:

The special effects used to make Cotillard a convincing amputee are extraordinary. This is a gorgeous, sometimes necessarily brutal film filled with tiny moments of power from Cotillard: Stéphanie sitting on her balcony, alone, proudly going through the movements of her killer-whale routine to an invisible audience with a soundtrack to Katy Perry in the background.

Bad bits:

I like a good romance in the film and I found the male lead annoying at times. There is no way that I would put up with the way he treats her at times but at the same time, I love how he learns about himself throughout the film and changes....this however, does not happen in real life!

The in-between bits:

In a typically french way, there are ludicrous amounts of sex scenes in this film- some long, some short, some subtle, some graphic! But the use of these intimate scenes make the film wildly raw and add a huge amount of tention between the audiences and their love/hate relationship with Schoenaerts' performance as Ali.

The acting in this film is nothing short of phenomenal. Both Cottilard and Schoenaerts show astonishing depths of character, conveyed by simply a touch or a look at times. The love story is unconventional and thats what makes it so gripping. It is achingly romantic in a frustrating yet gripping way, so typical of a french film.

Conclusion:

Brutal yet beautiful and loved every minute- a definite MUST SEE.

Out of ten:

A solid 9.5

Catch the trailer here:

Peace,
O x

Mt. Wolf EP Launch @ Corsica Studios

2012-10-31T04:44:00.002-07:00

Last night I hopped over to Corsica Studios for the launch of Mt. Wolf's EP Life Size Ghosts. In all honestly, I wasn't overly sure what to expect! Two members of the band are from my native isle of Guernsey, lead singer Kate and guitarist Steve. My memories of Kate come down to her playing the main roles in numerous local productions and being somewhat of a music prodigy and Steve, well, for anyone that knows Steve you can only really describe him as one of the coolest people around. He is always doing something exciting, from working in the music industry to schmoozing with the x-factor finalists, Steves always been a cool kid. I had heard wonderful things about Mt. Wolf from my sister who has seen them live several times but I only started listening to the tracks about a week ago. I LOVED the tracks that were on their youtube channel and was really interested to see how they would play such songs live.

Before I go on, lets talk a little bit about the band and their background.

Even though the band members currently reside in London, all members are from the seaside. As I mentioned before, two of the members are from my native island Guernsey (lovely lead singer Kate Sproule and the incredibly cool guitarist Stevie McMinn), whereas producer and electric guitarist Sebastian ‘Bassy’ Fox is from Dorset and drummer Alex Mitchell from Brighton. They say that this shared experience of living near the coast has had a profound influence on how they make music, shaping the landscape for their dark and hypnotic but beautiful world.

They describe their sound as ‘Dreamfolk’, a cinematic fusion of both Folk and Electronica, the band mix a unique hybrid of strings and instrumentation with heart-melting harmonies and contemporary

electronic and bass influenced sounds, drawing on influences like The XX, Little Dragon, SBTRKT, Bon Iver and Youth Lagoon, whilst easily standing out from the current female-vocal-led alternative/ electronic scene.

I would say that this description is very fitting and true. Their set started with a somewhat experimental track with minimal but seriously strong vocals from Kate, which I thought worked really well because it showcased how they were playing every element of the set themselves. It was intriguing and inspiring to see four seemingly different characters come together and be completely in tune with each on the stage. They didn't even need to make eye-contact with each other to bring a variety of sounds, instruments, beats and rhythms together with natural ease and musicality.

I absolutely adored the way they subtly intertwined Kate's violin skills into a few of their songs. She has a somewhat awing presence on stage which makes you appreciate how stunning her vocals are, even when there are some seriously awesome bass beats to compete with. My personal favorite of the set was Cry Wolf. What an awesome song. I have been listening to it on repeat! I am actually obsessed. Vocals are haunting and melodies are beautiful, definitely my new song of the moment.

(Photos by http://www.facebook.com/paulbencephotography)

There is not a shadow of doubt in my mind that Mt. Wolf are meant for big things. They are SO unique and I really think there is a place for them out there. Out of all of the musical comparisons they have been given, they have an edge on all with such a rare and special offering. I will absolutely be keeping a close eye on them and urge everybody to stop what you are doing and visit the Youtube channel and also the Soundcloud set.

As I said, watch this space!

Peace,

O x

Monday Morning Blues?

2012-10-29T08:49:00.000-07:00

We all suffer from the Sunday Night Fear and the Monday Morning Blues, with most of us adopting the view that the four day week/three day weekend is something that is long overdue. It is all too easy to get in the mind set that Monday's are awful and dread them so much that it can consume you. I have found that this attitude has really affected my mood and most certainly my performance in a rather negative way. So, I have since decided to view Monday's as an AMAZEBALLS (yes thats a word, in the dictionary and everything!) day of the week!!! Be positive, be happy- its the start of a BRAND NEW WEEK!

If the attitude change is quite hard for you, why not try a few of these tips which I think can get rid of the "End of the weekend" blues.

1) Make the most of your weekend. Make Saturday super duper full, get EVERYTHING done and chilllax on Sunday

2) Watch something on Sunday night to take your mind off the fear of Mondays- if you don't already, I would recommend Homeland as a serious Sunday treat! But make sure you get an early ish night, remember that every hour you sleep before midnight is worth two compared to that of after midnight

3) On Monday morning, get up 20 minutes earlier than usual, have a long shower and make a cooked breakfast. It is important to kick-start your week with an amazeballs (yes, I said it again!) breakfast. The shower will help wake you up too!

4) Work out on Monday night- get some endorphines going. Exercise not only clears my head, but gets me the perfect combination of energised and relaxed, ready for a good nights sleep.

5) Lastly, I would highly recommend doing a good food shop on Monday night. A lot of my life revolves around food (sad but true) and I find it a very exciting prospect to come home to a full fridge, it makes the week ahead that bit easier

Peace,

O x

Benjamin Francis Leftwich- Live at KOKO, London

2012-10-25T05:04:00.006-07:00

It is no surprise to any of my friends or blog readers that I am a MASSIVE Ben Leftwich fan so when I heard of his upcoming tour, I did not hesitate and bought a pair, faster than you can say Jack Robinson (shameless Kiss Kiss Bang Bang quote!). It goes without saying that it was the wisest £30 I have ever spent. There is something so unbelievably unique about his voice. Unlike many other artists, his music actually transports me. It takes me out of my own city life of PR, stress and socialising and takes me to a place where I feel like its only me in the room.

I first discovered Benjamin Francis Leftwich through a song I heard on my favourite TV show, Grey's Anatomy. From there, I have avidly followed him and his music and tried to see him live at every possible opportunity. Although many people may have never heard of him, KOKO was literally jam-packed with avid fans. He played some of my favourites including ‘Pictures’, ‘Butterfly Culture’ and '1904' but I was a little disappointed because my favourite of all his songs was his encore, "Atlad Hands". It was beautifully sung and he experimented by playing it with no amplification at all. If you were fairly near the front, I can imagine it would have been phenomoneal but I was fairly near the back bar and all I could hear where the clinking of glasses, opening of ringpulls and annoying chatty bar staff!!!!

But all in all, his set list really showcased his talent beautifully and he worked his magic to transport each and every one of us.

FACT FILE:

Ben was boring in York in 1987 to South African and Australian parents!
Ben had a fairly nomadic childhood, spending just as much time in Sydney as in his native U.K.
Ben taught himself to play the guitar at age ten, inspired by Elliott Smith and Bruce Springsteen
Ben once fronted an indie pop band called the Nicoles before embarking on a solo career
Four of his tracks have been featured on ABC's hit show Grey's Anatomy

A few links for you!

Firstly, Benjamin Francis Leftwich- Pictures!

And lastly, my cover of Atlas Hand (complete with cheesy picture slideshow):

Atlas Hands by Olivia McMonagle

Great PR stunt: Coke Zero and Skyfall

2012-10-22T02:58:00.000-07:00

Working on Coke is potentially one of the most exciting projects I have been involved with as it is a completely multi-facetted brand. I am particularly in love with the latest PR stunt created by Antwerp agency Duval Guillaume Mode where Coke Zero helps to promote the launch of the new Bond film, SkyFall.

At Antwerp Central station in Belgium, several unsuspecting Coke Zero customers had the chance to experience 70 seconds of James Bond-like adventure. After purchasing their Coke Zero from the touchscreen vending machine, customers were presented with the message “Want a Chance to Win Exclusive Tickets to Skyfall”. After entering their name, they received the instructions: “Go to Platform 6. You have 70 seconds to unlock the 007 in you.”

The violin-playing street musician standing next to the vending machine began playing the Bond theme, and the would-be Bond was on his way.

Getting to Platform 6 Antwerp Central station on a normal day is probably quite simple, but several obstacles were placed in the way including joggers, a dog walker, a collapsing fruit stand and of course a Bond girl. Once the person arrived at the platform they had to sing the Bond theme to receive their free Skyfall tickets.

Fabulous PR and LOTS of fun. I absolutely cannot wait to see SkyFall, its going to be a cracker.

To watch the video scroll down below.

Peace,

O x

Budget, Bargain and Blow-out BB creams and such!

2012-10-16T05:18:00.002-07:00

As I get older and my skin has less blemishes, I have really tried to wean myself off using foundations. During the day time, I typically prefer to let my skin breathe and not wear any type of coverage or very little, but as time passes I'm realising that a light tinted moistuirser or BB cream with SPF would really benefit my skin in the long run. Having searched high and low, I tried a fair few and I’ve decided to review my favourites, all of which I would highly recommend.

ON A BUDGET?
Witch BB Cream (approx. £6.99 from Boots/Superdrug)

This BB cream claims to cover existing blemishes whilst clearing up any possible new ones so I was quite intrigued to see how it would look. I tried a small patch on my hand which was considerably thicker that I had expected but I decided to give it a go.
After applying a small amount with a sponge, I could instantly tell that this was quite a lot heavier than I had hoped. Instead of a light consistency, it felt more like a giant tube of creamy concealer on my face, which actually ‘set’ on my face almost instantly.
Even though its consistency was not what I had expected, I will say that the coverage was pretty impressive. Its peachy tone matched perfectly with my skin and gave it a very glamorous look with great coverage. If you are looking for good coverage but without using a heavy and expensive foundation, this is definitely the way to go. It lasts practically all day and smells delightful.
It wasn’t exactly what I was looking for because I wanted something a little lighter and more natural looking for the day, but the thick texture would deliver on covering up problem skins so if this is what you are looking for...Go Go Go!

WANT TO GRAB A BARGAIN?
Garnier, Miracle Skin Perfector All-in-One BB cream (approx. £9.99 from Boots/Superdrug)

A staple in my daily make up bag now. The cream is of a thick consistency BUT a little goes a long way and it blends really well. It smells fresh and citrusy like all Garnier products, and is really pleasant to put on. The coverage is just enough to even out skin-tone and not look like you're wearing something on your skin. It moisturises very well and has SPF which makes it great under make up for those that are put off by conventional greasy/ opaque white sunscreens on the face. I like to apply this product to freshly cleansed skin, with a bit of concealer under the eyes for a very natural and glowy look. It's a great way to "detox" from heavy foundations, and great for day time wear.

PAYDAY BLOWOUT?
Laura Mercier, Illuminating Tinted Moisturiser (approx. £32.99 from Space NK, House of Fraser, Selfridges)

This is BY FAR my favourite of them all. My ideal product would be light and natural looking, but with good coverage and to really make it amazing, I would love for it to give my skin a dewey glow. With this illuminating tinted moisturiser, I got ALL of the above.
It is so lightweight and really lets my skin breathe. People have actually complimented me on my skin when I wear it, which is something that has never really happened before!
The one thing I would say was that it the shade I was recommended by the lady behind the counter (Nude) was a little lighter than I expected and it made me look quite pale. If you are going for the English rose look then pair with a deep red lipstick but if you are looking for a “just got back from holiday” look, pair with a bronzer, like the one from St Tropez.
The great thing is that it can also be worn in the evening, with a little powder over the top to make it slight more matte. I would really go as far as to say that Laura Mercier owns the world of base coverage for perfect skin!

I hope that gives all of you a little food for thought if you are contemplating buying a new tinted moisturizer or BB cream.

Peace,

O x

Eating Clean and Lean and LOVING it!

2012-10-16T04:24:00.001-07:00

As you have probably seen from a fair few posts on this blog, I have become fairly obsessed with diets and eating healthy. I don't really like fad diets so I have tried to find one that produces results but also works for me in the long time. Having spent the summer abroad in the obesity capital of the world, I found myself really struggling to stick to a healthy lifestyle. The mornings were fine as I would eat yoghurt and fresh fruit and a small bowl of cottage cheese but then lunch and dinner proved a lot more difficult. Portion size is just crazy over there, everything is times TEN!

I have however found a good lifestyle diet that really works for me- the James Duigan's Clean and Lean Diet. I don't stick to it religiously but I follow it and it has really worked so far.

In brief, it is based around eating clean! It recommends going back to nature with pure, organic foods and cutting out the nasty stuff, such as caffeine, refined sugar (Duigan dedicates a whole section to how nasty that stuff is for your body), alcohol and processed foods.

Upsides:
The great thing about it is that it is completely logical and realistic. It isn't based around giving up things you love, but instead just cutting out elements that are unnatural or processed. I personally LOVE protein rich foods as well as fruit and veg so this diet really allows you to use all the things you love to make amazing recipes that are low in fat and great for trimming.

Downsides:It is fairly tricky for me to completely give up carbs and I don't really like the carbs that you are allowed, like Quinoa, so instead I just allow myself a carb in the morning (granary toast) and try other low carb options like polenta (which I know LOVE) if I want to include that in my lunch/dinner. I also really struggled with giving up alcohol. It isn't that I can't, its just that I like to go for the odd tipple after work and at the weekend etc, so instead I have tried to stick to clear spirits with a low-cal mixer like a Gin and Tonic. Another element which was hard for me was salt I LOVE SALT. I add salt to everything because I don't really like onions so salt and pepper is often my main seasoning when I cook. However, I would highly recommend sprinkling chilli instead of salt and pepper because it gives it a great taste AND it speeds up your metabolism.

Example day menu:
This is an example of a typical day of me doing the Clean and Lean (as I said, not religiously as I have adjusted it to my lifestyle) :

Breakfast- Scrambled Egg Whites with Mushrooms and Tomatoes and two large spoons of cottage cheese, One Banana, Large glass of water

Mid morning snack- 10 grapes and 1 large glass of water

Lunch- Green mixed salad with avocado, beetroot, cucumber, watercress and half a cup of homemade vegetable soup

Mid afternoon snack- 2 tbls Hummus with raw carrots and cucumbers and 1 large glass of water

Dinner- Salmon and Vegetable Stir-fry and a green tea

Other tips:On days where I am planning a fairly substantial run or work out session, I am always wary of not having enough energy. I would really suggest trying some frozen berries, whey protein and skimmed milk to recover properly and give you a detoxifying energy boost!

Go ahead and try it! If you are looking for a quick fix you can try it in its most extreme version, but if you are looking to keep healthy whilst still working out at the gym, I would highly recommend it as a basis for a great diet but with a few adjustments here and there!
I have recently told my mum about this and 2 weeks in, she is drastically seeing results and LOVES it!

Peace,O x

The summer of all summers...

2012-09-28T09:01:00.000-07:00

Well, where do I start? I was lucky enough to stay in one of the best cities in the world in one of the most beautiful apartments and really explore the city like a genuine New Yorker.

First on my list of things to discuss and share is probably one of my favourite spots in the city- Le Bain rooftop bar at The Standard Hotel.

Le Bain’s kitschy-funny astroturf in the late afternoon hours is probably one of the most incredible sights you will ever see. The perspex allows you to look at the city from a unique view and will make you fall in love with Manhattan. A friend managed to get us into a launch party at the venue, which has a very strict door policy, and we took a sneaky look around the renowned "Boom Boom Room" which boasts similar views, a 25 person hot-tub and a live DJ. But it was the quirky style of the rooftop that took our breathes away, as we stood sipping on Mojito's taking in the spectacular views.
After a wonderful week, roaming the streets of Manhattan and causing havoc in the bars of the Lower East side, it was time to pack up my heels and handbags and replace them with shorts, t-shirts and running shoes. Yes, it was time for camp- my summer home.
My arrival at Trails End was filled with excitement, happiness and a little bit of nerves. As soon as I entered the gates, I felt home. It is the strangest place, it literally feels like you have never left and you were only there a few days before.
We had a week of orientation before the lovely little campers came along which gave me a chance to get to know my wonderful staff. I had a great mix between counselors who had grown up at camp and counselors who were brand new to camp which made me so excited that they were about to start the journey I began a few years ago.

A week later, the campers arrived and all the fun began. Each and every one of my fabulous campers had such an amazing personality to bring to the summer and I was so excited to be part of their first summer at camp.

The never stopped all 8 weeks of the summer and it just got better and better with every day. But one very sad day in August, the time finally came to say Goodbye for the summer and return to London and the dreadedapartment hunt... Oh lord.

Luckily, it was not quite as bad as I had hoped. Sophie and I found an absolutely fabulous little apartment on Lavender Hill and become official residents of Clapham Junction on October 2^nd!

Here’s to a new home and a new season!

Peace,

O x

WATCH THIS SPACE

2012-09-28T08:55:00.003-07:00

So, it appears that my blogging has been a little less frequent in recent months which is probably something to do with the fact that I have been out of the country since June. In these last few months I have travelled, loved, laughed and had the absolute time of my life! Alas, the time has come to say “Farewell”, “Adeui” and “Goodbye” to Summer 2012 and say a big “Hiiyaaaa”, Alohaaaa” and “Hello” to Autumn/Winter (and of course my love of knitwear and tights!!).

For all of you that have missed my annoying tweets and Facebook updates to remind you to read my posts....I’M BACK! And for all of you who do not regularly read...watch this space! I have returned to London with a whole host of new ideas to explore and review. This weekend will be dedicated to writing a bunch of things that have been on my mind, waiting to burst out and grace the pages of the world wide web.

I hope you all have a sweeeeeeeet weeknd, lets pray for no rain in London town please?!

Peace,

O x

Met Ball: Wonders and Woes of the Red Carpet

2012-05-10T06:24:00.001-07:00

The Costume Institute Ball, held at the Metropolitan Museum in NYC was held at the beginning of the week which meant that my Tuesday morning was occupied with sifting through the wonders and woes of the red carpet!

I have to say that there were a fair few beauts for me! I would even go as far as to say that they have outdone a large majority of the Oscar dresses.

So, I have compiled a short list of the ones I adored and the ones who…well, “didn’t work” for me!

First up, the beautiful Camilla Belle wearing Ralph Lauren. I absolutely ADORE her classic metallic gown. It is a wonderful shade for her complexion and the plunging neckline really suits her small bust and slim frame. Her makeup and hair are also pretty flawless. Her amazing glow was offset by a deep burgundy lipstick that popped against her skin, adding drama in a classy way and paired with the Hollywood glam side-parted up 'do gown, this look was a winner!

Next up, is the stunning Jessica Alba wearing Michael Kors. I am a real fan of the luxe/gold/metallic trends that are in and have been eager to see it done well on the red carpet. Miss Alba has done just that, sporting this gorgeous Grecian goddess gown. I also love her effortless loose curls, she looks divine.

Gwyneth Paltrow always does SO well with the red carpet. Her Oscars dress choice of Tom Ford was my personal favourite so I was eager to see how she would step it up for the coveted Met Ball. I will say that it did not quite top the Tom Ford number BUT her legs are phenomenal in these gorgeous silver backless Prada number. The girl can do NO wrong!

The lovely Kate Bosworth wearing a lush Prada number was another one of my favourites. Feathers were the detailing of the night (see also Beyonce and Diane Kruger) but Kate’s two-tone flapper dress is just divine. Her effortless hair together with striking makeup make a great combination of classy, glamorous and natural- all the things we love about Kate…the girl can surf after all!

Now on to the not so successful…

I was really NOT enjoying SJP’s Valentino Haute Couture number. Her style is hit and miss for me. Occasioanlly she gets it bang on, other times I find it so random and mismatched. This slightly whimsical gown is pretty shapeless and unflattering for her and all in all, I just don’t think it lives up to someone who is meant to be the queen of city style. She still has a wonderful figure, so why not show it off? Instead, I think she has settled for the almost frumpy shape and curtain-like design- DISLIKE.

Lily Collins’ wearing Valentino was a VERY interesting choice, opting for a fashionably romantic creation, Lily wore a sheer lace Valentino couture gown. I personally HATE the dress and think she must have just been given it as opposed to chosing it. She is young and beautiful, she should be wearing something daring and sexy, not look like something out of Little House on the Prairie. I will say that although I am not a fan, she makes it work and still looks lush, but a massive thumbs down to the dress itself.

Lastly, it’s my girl Kirsten Stewart wearing Balenciaga. Let’s face it, she isn’t necessarily the biggest fashionista, but she does have a distinct sense of style, which is very edgy yet chic. While most young stars play it safe in flouncy feminine frocks, K-Stew isn’t scared to go outside of the norm but I genuinely would have preferred her in jeans and converse. The dress is far too busy and unflattering. I applaud her for taking a chance, but for me, it didn’t work. That could be the jealously talking though. I am never going to like a girl who has been with Robert Pattinson….

Also, although I was bowled over by her dress choice, I want to mention my ultimate Girl Crush, Rosie H-W- she is just too beautiful. And alsoooo, Mary Kate Olsen, WHAT THE HELLLLLL?? She looks about 80!!!!!

Anyways, those are my highs and lows, wonders and woes…enjoy!

Peace,

O x

Best of British Costume Exhibition Opening @ the London Film Museum

2012-05-03T02:23:00.000-07:00

I was lucky enough to be invited as a blogger to attend the 'Best of British' Costume Exhibition opening at the London Film Museum- South Bank, which was celebrating the Blu-ray and DVD release of The Iron Lady.

Welsh star Alexandra Roach, 25, who plays the young Thatcher, was amongst the special guests at the County Hall exhibition which displayed a stunning range of Consolata Boyle's brilliant designs worn by Meryl Streep in her Oscar-winning portrayal of Margaret Thatcher, as well as Alexandra herself in Thatcher’s younger years.

The dazzling Iron Lady displays included a wealth of Consolata Boyle's stunning designs from The Iron Lady, including Thatcher’s iconic royal blue suit, the elegant Chiffon dress she famously wore to dance with Ronald Reagan in the White House, her maroon and navy pinstripe suit and an extensive collection of bags, jewellery and props from the film, everything intricately based on Margaret Thatcher’s own outfits and accessories.

There were some delightful biscuits and champers which went down a treat!

The exhibition itself was very interesting as the costumes were paired with descriptions and video clips to swot up on your knowledge of Thatcherism! It was also rather quiet at the beginning so we really got to take our time at each piece and actually learn abit about the history of it all.

It is a rather minimal display but I most definitely recommend taking a little tour of the exhibition if you are planning on a short day of cultural ambling. Plus, outside the museum is a fabulous little row of great cafes, so pop in for a bagel or some noodles!

The Iron Lady: Best of British Costume Exhibition will be open to the public from Wednesday 3 May. Tickets available on the doors daily. Pre-booking not required- http://www.londonfilmmuseum.com/

Peace,

O x

The Lucky One- European Premiere

2012-04-24T04:24:00.005-07:00

Last night, I was lucky enough to have tickets for the European Premiere of The Lucky One held at The Curzon in Chelsea. My lovely sister, Annie works in Film and Entertainment PR and managed to wangle us 3 cheeky tickets to see Mr Efron in the flesh so I went with two of my best friends. I am partial to a good rom-com and was really looking forward to a bit of cheeky celeb spotting so all in all, I was pretty gosh darn excited!

The premiere itself was pretty low-key with the director (Scott Hicks), author (Nicholas Sparks) and two main characters (Zac Efron and Taylor Shilling) making small announcements before the screening but unfortunately, as soon as they finished talking, they left!

So, now on to the film.

The film is based on the Nicholas Sparks novel of the same name, and if you've seen any other film based on a Sparks book (The Notebook), you will know what to expect- particularly, some pretty corny lines like, "You should be kissed every day, every hour, every minute." I am mocking it, but I love those lines. Why don’t people ever actually say stuff like that anymore? I may be a ridiculous romantic at heart but come on people, keep romance alive and crack out the corny lines!

The Lucky One tells the story of Logan (Efron), a Marine who, while serving in Iraq, stops to pick up a snapshot of a pretty woman (Beth) that’s been left on the ground with the message “Keep Safe x” on the back; that moment’s pause saves his life from an overwhelming explosion which wipes out the majority of his platoon, so he determines that when he returns home he is going to track the woman down and thank her.

Having made it out of the war, Logan then decides to go on a walkabout to find the woman in the picture. After traveling on foot from Colorado to Louisiana to find her — a task that seems incredibly easy, given the lack of clues in the photo — he then somehow can’t bring himself to explain why he’s there.

I won’t elaborate on the plot points but I will mention that the predictability of the storyline is somewhat saved by the efforts of the cast. Zac Efron and Taylor Schilling make the perfect couple and the onscreen chemistry is rather enthralling to watch. I would also note that Blythe Danner’s performance of Beth’s slightly eccentric grandmother is stunning and familiar, reminding me of my own Nan. The star of the show for me was actually Riley Thomas Stewart who played Beth’s young son Ben. He felt like the most natural character on the screen and acted out some incredible witty scenes which got a fair few laughs in the premiere.

I would also mention that the scene of a rather racy nature is quite superb. The tension leading up to it is cleverly thought out and the fact that Zac Efron has blossomed into a somewhat muscly strapping fellow was rather pleasing to the eye- he has most definitely been on the protein shakes and hit the gym hard. I would definitely disagree with the rating and would say that it was perhaps a little racy and also quite violent at times.

All in all, a great romcom. A little predictable but great none-the-less. This is an emotional, visual and romantic screenplay that will likely stay with you for some time. If you loved The Notebook and Dear John, you will LOVE The Lucky One. And Zac Efron (even though he is rather short in real life…).

Check out the trailer here:

Peace,
O x

These are a few of my favourite things...

2012-04-19T09:22:00.002-07:00

We are not talking about Raindrops on Roses or Whiskers on Kittens here, but instead I thought I would share some of my favourite things from the last few weeks- a small selection of products, places and general niceties that I have discovered whilst roaming the streets of London.

First up is the Travalo (in a very girly shade of pink!). I discovered this bad boy when I was passing through Duty Free and I have since found it rather hard to live without. It is the perfect size to just pop in your handbag and you can change the scent as often as you want! It also has an integrated fill level indicator window to show how much fragrance you have left, so you never run out unexpectedly. The best thing about it, is that it is AIRCRAFT APPROVED!

It retails at around £6.99 and comes in 5 different colours. I would most definitely recommend it.

Secondly, is the lovely Monmouth Coffee shop (Covent Garden branch). I was absolutely delighted to go to this little gem last weekend after hearing that it was mentioned in Stylist’s Top Coffee in London. We went on a Saturday afternoon which I thought would be crowded, but we waited a mere 5 minutes for the table and got seated by extremely pleasant hosts. The actually coffee shop has such charm and wonder to it. It's oaky interior make it feel warm but it's all the people clustered inside around the register and communal tables that bring it to life. There is very limited seating but it is most definitely worth the wait!

Next up is the wonderful Saucy Fish Co products. I am currently on a low carb diet so in the evenings I tend to not have potatoes and stick to meat/fish and veg. This has been made increasingly easy by the wonderful products by The Saucy Fish Company which provide fabulous cuts of fish with scrumptious sauces to accompany it. They are currently on special offer at Sainsburys, a mere £5 for 2- I have stocked up for about a month, ha! Definitely advise trying them for a flavoursome, healthy and cost-effective dinner.

Lastly, is the new Burberry Sheer Summer Glow Highlighter. Unfortunately, it is not released yet but I did just read about it and it looks absolutely incredible. I have been looking for a combination highlighter for a while and this one has the EXACT shades I am looking for. Although I cannot comment on how it looks on, I will most certainly be purchasing when it is released in May. It is rumoured be retail at around £42 and can be found in Harrods and House of Fraser stores across the UK.

Peace,

O x

Film review: The Help

2012-04-11T06:08:00.001-07:00

I had heard a lot about The Help before I finally got around to watching it even though I bought a copy of the book months ago which shamelessly sits on my shelf, brand new and completely unread. I get annoyed if I hear too much about a certain film- it puts me off watching it. One of my favourite things to do is to view a film which I know nothing about- except for maybe the title. I find it exciting to guess and build a picture in my mind, only to be completely corrected when I actually watch the film. Unfortunately, I knew a great deal about the film and had read various reviews beforehand but one Sunday night, I decided that it was time to make my own opinion up about a film that has got somewhat ‘mixed’ reviews.

The Help is based on Kathryn Stockett’s best-selling novel and tells the story of racial discrimination in 1960’s Alabama, from the point of view of the help. A young aspiring journalist, named Eugenia Phelan “Skeeter” (played by Emma Stone), is born into a very wealthy family and sits within a friendship group who base their lives around marrying into another wealthy family, having children and then hiring help in the form of African-American maids/nannies. Unlike the women in her social circle, Eugenia is inquisitive, bold and career driven. As an aspiring journalist, she notices the poignant role that the help take in the children’s lives yet the sheer lack of praise and respect for what they do. Eugenia becomes increasingly unsettled with what she is witnessing and decides to write a controversial book from the view of the help. After a struggle, she manages to find a couple of African-American maids, Aibileen (Viola Davis) and Minny (Octavia Spencer), who are willing to share their stories with her. The story is narrated by Aibileen, who is the real protagonist of the film.

The Help is a bit of a whirlwind of emotions. I found myself happy, sad, frustrated, angry and most of all dumbfounded that all of these events were very much real- it really hit home how times have changed. The film follows very simplistic fundamentals of film making and in my opinion they have done a wonderful job. The casting is flawless, the script is well structured and the pacing is good -it never feels slow despite being over two hours! The themes of the film are very obviously spelled out and there’s a very clear definition between who they have positioned as good and who they have positioned as evil.

The characters were casted incredibly well and had me engaged from the word go. The delightful Emma Stone makes for a great lead. Her slightly nerdy nature and outsider qualities really appeal to those of us who have a slightly insecure part of our personalities. In my opinion, the real stars here were Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer who take a couple of rather stereotyped black maids and turn them into strong, bold and aspiring females. I also rather admired Sissy Spacek in her rather cameo role of the old mother of one of Eugenia’s most awful friends.

It is a very thought-provoking film, and although simple and obvious at times, it has really positioned itself well because it appeals to a broad audience. It is very much a woman’s movie however, instead of incorporating the very obvious elements of a chick flick or rom-com, it positions women in a very different light, which I found very refreshing. All of the main characters are women and the film itself is set in a woman’s world, leaving the men in the background of the storylines.

Overall verdict:

The Help is simple and effective. It manages to educate and inform but in a refreshing way that challenges the normal conventions of films of this genre. I can definitely see what the hype is about and would most definitely recommend it to anyone who was considering giving it a watch.

If you like Forrest Gump, you will love this.

If you like Iron Man, you will probably not like this.

A solid 8.5/10

If this has inspired you, perhaps check out the trailer:

Peace,

O x

So, it turns out I want to be a surgeon…

2012-03-29T02:56:00.000-07:00

In early January of this year, I discovered the most intense television series of my life and have since wondered how on earth I survived without it for this long. Serious kudos to the writers of this show because I have never felt so engaged with characters and hooked by story lines. I am THIS close to packing up my career in PR and going back to Med School so I can intern at Seattle Grace to become a WORLD CLASS SURGEON/meet my very own McDreamy/Denny Duquette...

I am not a massive TV lover, but I do love a good box set and I have to say that Grey’s beats them all…HANDS DOWN.

It has got to the point where I am now up to date with the current series and my days of Grey’s Anatomy marathons are slowly coming to an end. I thought that in celebration of this genius show, I would share a very extensive list of some of the hilarious wittering’s that I have found from other sites as well as some of my own so all you fellow Grey’s fans can comprehend quite how incredible (and obsessive) it can get!

P.S: if there is anything on this list that you don’t get, you are not a true Grey’s fan. Sorry.

YOU KNOW YOU’RE A GREY’S ANATOMY FAN WHEN….

You've decided you want to be a surgeon despite your lack of science skills (a B at GCSE science just won’t cut it!)

You start McNaming all your McFriends and everything else in your McLife.  

You can randomly quote Grey's anytime, anywhere (“Are you two lesbians?” “Us two?! NO! We screw boys like whores on tequila!”)

You think “George O’Malley” EVERYTIME you hear 007, instead of James Bond (possibly the most painful moment of my life..)

You know the code to open the drugs cupboard is 1221, haha!

You think it'd be a sin for Meredith and Derek not to be together   You want to cut open Rose with a scalpel

You suggest that you and your boyfriend should get a post-it marriage

You get asked to do something at work and you automatically want to say “isn’t there an intern that can do that?!”

You get the hiccups and you think you are going to die  

You cried when Meredith almost died (even though it would make no sense if she did)

You would marry Denny Duquette (ohhh yes, my favourite!)  

You now know what not to do when disarming a bomb from somebody's body cavity.  

You talk about Grey's ALL THE TIME to everyone, even if they have NO idea what you are talking about  

You tell your friends about what happened in the latest episode even though they're not listening- and you usually end up being pissed off at them  

You get emotional everytime you hear 'Chasing Cars' on the radio

You will never look at a ferry boat the same way again

You shudder when you hear the name Gary Clark

You wish you had an Anatomy Jane doll growing up

You hear Arizona and think of the Paeds surgeon not the state

You know more about aneurysms than you ever thought possible

You refer to children as "tiny humans"

You find yourself asking: "What Would Bailey Do?

You lie on the bathroom floor when you're depressed  

You hear a song that was in an episode and you immediately say "OMG that's from Grey's Anatomy"  

You wish you were best friends with Cristina Yang  

You tell your friends you've watched someone perform open heart surgery in an elevator 

You're officially naming your children Addison, Meredith, Izzie, George, Derek, Bailey, Alex, Owen, Callie... you get the idea  

You wish Dr. Addison Montgomery was there to deliver your baby  

You have dance parties in your living rooms to get over a crappy day at work/argument with a friend  

You constantly refer to your best friend as your 'person'

You have a Grey's playlist in your iPod/mp3 (every single song!!!)  

You go to every movie with Patrick Dempsey in it, just so you can get your McDreamy fix

You wish you could be admitted to SGH when you're sick

The shooting was possibly the most terrifying, intense and mind-blowming moment of your life!  

You wish they were as bad-ass as Bailey

You hate it when McDreamy is being a McAss

You have all five of Bailey’s rules memorised

The word LVAD brings up such sad memories that you want to cry….oh Denny..

Standing on air vents helps you relax

You want a sparkly red pager

You class people as heavy drinkers if they are on par with Meredith and her tequila drinking

When Ceviche is a patient, NOT a seafood dish!

You have a headache, so you think it could possibly be a tumour

You want a pair of Arizona’s roller skate sneakers (haha!) 

You wish you and your friends could hang out at Joes Bar

You wish someone would look at you like the way McDreamy look at Meredith

You know that the 5 second rule doesn’t just apply to food

The word “Ass” is your go to insult  

You want to go to the hospital just to check out hot doctors, hopefully you'll find someone like McDreamy, McSteamy, Evil Spawn or Bambi  

You think surgeons are the coolest in the medical profession (obvi..!)  

You want to have ALL the characters as your roommates (well okay maybe not all...living with the chief and Bailey may not be fun...)

You question your dr.s diganosis, because that's not what mcdreamy would say.

You have lost weekends watching episode after episode….after episode (my record was 28 episodes in one weekend…#proudmoment)

You suddenly have a thing for ferry boats

EVERYTHING relates to and reminds you of Grey’s Anatomy

And finally, If someone interrupts you during Grey's they should fear for their life.

Peace,

O x

Ramblings of a Londoner…

2012-03-28T02:53:00.001-07:00

It has been one of those days today and I really need to vent.

I am currently working on a post about my personal favourite spots in London having been a resident for quite some time BUT because today has not been the best day, I am going to have a healthy rant about the city that brings me joy and laughter but also anger and annoyance!

So, below are a few things that just seem to become acceptable when you live in London; some funny, some irritating but ALL scarily true….

ENJOY.

Unwelcome friendliness from strangers is met with you avoiding eye contact at all costs or looking directly at the floor, because let’s face it they’re either going to ask you for money or tell you about God

£200 per week is an acceptable price for a box room above a newsagents

You start to accept queuing as a way of life

You expect men to make an effort in their appearance. They actually style their hair (using hair products) and to wear decent clothes. Jeans and a t-shirt are no longer socially acceptable- we are not in Loughborough anymore, Kids!

It is entirely acceptable to go out on a week night. In fact, every night is fine to go drinking. Even Sunday...

You pay £12 without blinking for a cocktail that blatantly cost the bar 28p

Scoffing at people who live in outside of Zones 1-3, even though you were raised on an Island with a population of 77

You hate to say that someone jumping underneath a tube is actually rather inconvenient to your commute

You block out loud noises- you just don’t hear sirens anymore or the obnoxiously loud neighbours praying at precisely 6.45am who strategically have placed their lounge above your bedroom (I hope you are reading Mr Patel!!! It is just rude…)

You wouldn’t want to live anywhere else but a city….until you get married

You say ‘mate’ constantly (most annoying habit I have picked up)

And lastly, Anyone not from London is a ‘wanker’

Rant over,

Peace,

O x

Welcome to the REAL WORLD...

2012-03-26T11:36:00.003-07:00

Having graduated without overdrafts or loans thanks to the support of my wonderful and very giving parents, I thought that living in London as a working girl would be a chance to give something back to them and to say goodbye to the poor student days of coupons and crappy food and instead branch out on my own and enter the adult world where you could buy a cheeky Mulberry once in a while, eat out regularly and maybe, just maybe SAVE.

Oh how wrong I was.

Instead, I have become twice as strapped for cash as I ever was, choosing a career for enjoyment as opposed to money. It has got to the point that over 70% of my monthly income is on outgoings, which leaves me with around £50-50p/w to live on (that includes having to buy food!!!). I am very thankful to my parents who have helped me out at times when I literally had 0.01p in my bank account a fair few times...

So, for all the graduates who are thinking of moving to London, whatever you do, SAVE before you make the move. Make the most of living at home and not having to pay extortionate amounts on accommodation. Make the most of lovely home-cooked meals. Make the most of chats with the family and spending time with your parents.

But if you do decide to do it, here is a few handy tips to help you budget and save!

Plan your Meals

Always do a weekly menu plan before you do a big shop. This way you will only buy what you need and resist those promotions for things you won’t really eat! This also helps with planning meals that can carry on to the next day to save money & waste, for example, I make a huge Spaghetti Bolognese in the slow cooker so I can have spag bol one night and the next night I will use the remainder to make a lasagne or have it with something different like rice.

I usually do a big meat/fish shop once a month and spend around £35. I will buy mince, chicken breasts, fillets of sole/cod/haddock etc and then I will portion them into sandwich bags and freeze. Then I do a grocery shop every 3-4 days where I will spend between £5-10 on fresh produce so that I don’t waste any food. I also do a shop purely for the food I eat whilst I am at work. I spend around £10 for the week, which will consist of Muesli, Yoghurt, Salad leaves, Veg and Lunch meat (chicken breast chunks, ham etc).

Don’t spend more than you have!

A simple one but one so many people fail to stick to and fall into the cycle of going into overdraft every month! Make a budget and stick to it so you know all your outgoings for the month and what you estimate to have left over for extra’s. I generally make sure that all of my outgoings go out the same day I get paid so that I know exactly what I have to last on for the rest of the month.

Put some away

As soon as I get paid, I pay my rent, bills, phone bill etc and then try and put around £100 into a separate account that I don’t have a card for so would need to transfer it by going online or into the bank. That way I can try my best to survive on what is actually in my bank account and because it isn’t physically there to spend at the touch of a button, I usually resist. It is good to have there at the end of the month, just in case you desperately need something. Like food, or…new shoes? I jest. I haven’t bought a pair of shoes in at least 6 months….#depressing.

It might also help to get a savings jar and put your spare pound coins in there. I would suggest a "jar of dreams' because you have to smash it to get into it so it is a good one if you lack will power!!

Make a wish list

Last but not least, I always make a small wish list that I will treat myself to on pay day to celebrate my hard work. I am not talking about the latest iPad, a Mulberry bag or some new KG’s, instead just some, affordable useful things that repay you for your hard work. I usually make quite a large list and then carefully select between 3 and 5 items which make the cut. This month, I am going to treat myself to a new cookbook (sad I know), a new Lipgloss (much needed), some magazines and a nice pair of shorts I spotted in Topshop.

I don’t mean to put you off the big city people, but just be realistic. If you have the chance to live at home, I would really recommend it whilst you are job-hunting, interning and even when you land your first job for the first year or two. You will then be able to live somewhere lush and enjoy all that London has to offer without worrying where the next penny is coming from.

A massive thanks to my parents for supporting me nonstop through my move, but mostly for teaching me how to budget and do things for myself.

Calories, Calories, CALORIES

2012-03-23T09:30:00.001-07:00

Over the last few weeks, I have got somewhat obsessed with calorie counting and what I put into my body. There are a fair few myths out there about health and nutrition but having trying a few of the fad diets, I realise that these methods are abit of a “cop-out”. A very wise and trusted source told me a fair few tips to eating healthily and I have since adapted the philosophy that everything is okay in moderation and that permanent change is the only thing that will make a difference and withstand the test of time! No more DUKAN diet that’s for sure.

I have since brought carbs back into my life! But not naughty carbs like fries, instead I have opted for good carbs like oat bran, sweet potatoes and wholemeal/grain bread. It has simply been a case of swapping out the naughtiness for a load of nutritious goodness to cut down on calories, high salt intake and unnecessary bad fats (which cause cellulite ladies!!!).

Some top substitutions:

Swap cream and cheddar cheese for cottage cheese- You will save about 15 grams of fat in the process, assuming you use low-fat cottage cheese, you will significantly boost the protein content of this meal. Sometimes it can be hard to adjust to the taste, so if you need more flavour, try drizzling on some low-sugar maple syrup or sprinkling cinnamon over the top.

Swap French fries for homemade chips- instead, you can thinly slice fresh potatoes, spray with cooking oil, sprinkle with salt and herbs like chili flakes, basil or oregano, or freshly ground pepper and bake! Yum!! Even better is to substitute baked sweet potato fries. Sweet potatoes are full of fibre and beta carotene which is an added bonus.

Swap flavoured yogurts for plain non-fat yoghurts- flavoured ones are high in sugar, and unless you buy non-fat, they have a substantial amount of fat. Choose plain non-fat yogurt and add your own flavours with sliced fruit and chopped nuts, and a splash of vanilla extract. Use organic honey as a sweetener or even a bit of fruit jam- yum!

Also, if you have over indulged ever so slight, why not try a fun way of burning some calories! I read around this and some of these really made me laugh so I thought I would share!

Give them a go!

1. Swing a lasso over your head 375 times.

2. Do 250 breaststrokes (about 10 minutes).

3. Alternate between cat pose, cow pose and downward dog 13 times, holding each for 30 seconds.

4. Walk up 33 flights of stairs- for those of you with a bungalow of one floor flat….sucks to be you.

5. Lift and lower a soy sauce bottle 170 times with your right hand and a wok 170 times with your left.

6. Take a leisurely walk in the park for 51 minutes.

7. Sing the "Grease" original soundtrack from start to finish.

8. Degrease by scrubbing in the shower for 15 minutes, then spend seven minutes shaving, three minutes toweling off, four minutes moisturizing, and 20 minutes blow-drying and styling your hair.

9. Wiggle while you watch TV for 40 minutes: Fidgeters burn up to 350 more calories a day than couch potatoes

10. Relive the '80s: Lip-synch George Michael's "Faith" 16 times

Happy eating lovelies!

Free Starbucks!

2012-03-16T08:44:00.000-07:00

So, free Starbucks? You are thinking…what’s the catch,right? Well actually it was just a very clever little stunt to get people talking about the new friendly and approachable Starbucks service that is being implemented in all stores. Personally, I have never been bothered that they called out “Tall Skinny Latte” instead of “Olivia” because I am after a simple morning coffee buzz. I mean, it would be different if that method was used at a Drs surgery where they called out your procedure or problem instead of your name…can you imagine? But when it comes to coffee, I expect a smile but not to become best friends with the Barista. I find it a little bit invasive actually and a little over-familiar. I don’t want every Tom, Dick and Harry knowing my name in the coffee shop. I have made an executive decision to come up with a new name each time I go…keeping it interesting!

PR wise, I think it worked pretty well. There was talkability and most certainly increased footfall into the stores. I read on BBC News some of the Twitter reactions, these are a few of my favourites:

When the barista in Starbucks asks you your name so they can write it on your free latte, I dare you to say 'Costa' - @martinsaunders
So Starbucks is giving away coffee if you tell them your name. Who's got the best fake Starbucks name? Anyone told them your name's Robocop? - @DonnaBow
The whole Starbucks name thing is a real test for my paranoia. I now need an alias for buying coffee - @PoppyD
What will staff in Starbucks do if public refuse to give name? Not serve, stand like broken automata, cry? - @phuplate

Anyway, enough of that!

ITS FRIDAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!

Have a great weekend all!

Midnight in Paris

2012-03-15T09:37:00.003-07:00

Well hello there lovely people! Sorry I have been somewhat absent from the blogging scene but I was busy sauntering down the Champs-Élysées, chewing on Escargot and window shopping in Cartier in sunny Paris. So, rather obviously, I have decided to blog about my long weekend to one of Europe’s most beautiful cities with my friend, Sophie.

Friday, 3.45am- alarm goes off. I AM NOT A MORNING PERSON, so getting up at this time offends me. However, seeing as I was getting up to go to Paris, the ridiculously early morning was somewhat cushioned by little pangs of excitement churning in my stomach. About 15 minutes later, a quiet toot from the taxi driver outside signalled that it was time to leave cloudy London and venture to London St Pancras to start our weekend. We got to the station and check in as normal and once through security, I treated myself to a Café Nero breakfast baguette. The Eurostar journey went very quickly, with me asleep the majority of the way.

Before I knew it, we pulled into the Gare du Nord station where we were greeted by scorching sunshine! The sun was out and the Ray-Bans were on…we had arrived! We hopped in a cab, checked into our hotel, got changed and then headed out to see the Cathédrale Notre Dame. We roamed around taking pictures and then we ventured into the Cathedral itself. Even though I am not really religious, the Notre-Dame Cathedral itself was a truly magnificent site!

Later that day, we made our way to the Eiffel Tower and its surrounding gardens where we came across a group of extremely talented dancers. We watched them for around an hour as they all took turns to show off their moves…think Step Up but with less attractive French people. In all seriousness, they were incredible and it was a definite highlight of the trip. That evening, we went to an Italian and had Calzones with some Gin on the rocks (not our choice…) and then headed to bed.

The next day we decided that it was time to have a little look at the other lovely touristy sites in Paris so we ventured to the Arc de Triomphe! If anyone has ever been there, you will know that once you get off the metro you will have no trouble finding the Arc itself. HOWEVER, it is quite confusing to actually get to it. We ended up walking around it for about 20 minutes and then realising that you had to go in an underground walkway to get to it. Entry was free for under 26’s which was a massive bonus so we made our way up one flight of stairs. Then two, then 5, then twn, then what felt like 100!!!!! We finally reached the top, legs like jelly, out of breathe and breaking into a slight sweat but still, we were at the top. Unfortunately, it was a little cloudy do the view from the top wasn’t fabulous but it was still rather lovely to get a view of the “golden triangle”.

We then sauntered down the Champs-Élysées and looked at the shop windows at all the things that we couldn’t afford. I made a cheeky pitstop in H&M and found a fair few bargains. I got some black and white humbug cropped trousers, some snake skin leggings and my personal fav- an incredible hot pink blazer (my best of buy of 2012 BY FAR)- win! We stopped off at a lovely little café for a late brunch and walked the glamorous people of Paris walk by.

It was dinner time, so what is more fitting than a traditional French meal….snails and all! Yes, I did, I tried escargot (snails for those who aren’t familiar). And it was bloody lovely- albeit a little chewy. We ate Rillettes, Steak and Mussels and washed it down with Champers and some questionably strong Long Island Ice Teas. We had a fabulous waiter and he taught us how to eat everything properly and even fed me snails at one point. He was also wearing an England Rugby shirt, what a lad!!! We ate so much that we had to wait over an hour before we could even attemp to walk home!! At around midnight, we then waddled back to the hotel to bed, too full to move.

The best day had arrived. It was DISNEY time. We arrived at 10.30am and went straight to the souvenir shop to deck ourselves out with Disney gear. We decided on the Minnie Mouse ears and much to the a lot of peoples dismay, walked around with them ALL DAY on our heads. We met Goofy, the Rat from Ratatouille, The Incredibles AND Tweedle Dee- still pretty star struck. The funniest part most definitely where I tricked Sophie into overcoming her childhood fear of rollercoasters. I insisted that the Rockin Roller Coaster (Aerosmith ride) had no loops or corkscrews and was simply a rock tour where you sit in little carts. Ohhhhh but it wasn’t- it is probably the BEST ride there with loops and corkscrews a-plenty! Pretty sure she nearly had a heart attack as it started but secretly, she LOVED it!

On our last day, we made our way to Montmarche and grabbed a Corona in the sun- what a great end to a great trip.

The only negative side of the trip is that we felt rather unsafe at times. There are large groups of men and they can be very forward and have no boundaries or clue on personal space. I would suggest if you are a girl, to not make eye-contact or respond to any of their jeers/comments- it just encourages them. If any of you have seen the film “A Midnight In Paris”, I am afraid to say it is quite the opposite at midnight. I didn’t bump into Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Dali or Picasso- bummer! Midnight in Paris should definitely not be spent outdoors walking around!!

But all in all- a wonderful city.

Bisous!

O x

Let’s talk….adverts

2012-03-01T09:18:00.001-08:00

Last week at work, we had a review of all the best and most influential ads and viral videos for this past quarter and it got me thinking about some adverts that struck a chord with me, personally. I actually don’t watch a huge amount of TV as I am big on streaming and watching stuff on my iMac online (4OD, iPlayer etc) so adverts are something that I tend to skip or not see that often. Saying that, if I am in the mood, I am partial to a good advert or two. So I thought I would share with you some that really made me think, laugh or ask questions….

VW- The Bark Side

The first which really caught my attention was the Volkswagen advert which was played during the Superbowl a few weeks ago. This is Volkswagen’s second go at the Star Wars theme for the big game day spot which last year’s advert featuring a child who very desperately wanted to be Darth Vader. To say it was successful is an understatement – more than 48 million hits on YouTube (!!).

It’s no surprise then, that VW wanted to match that success this year and that they did! The fact that it continued the theme worked very well, going viral within hours. Take a look for yourselves with the link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ntDYjS0Y3w&feature=player_embedded

D&G- The One Sport

The second was a personal favourite of mine purely because this man cannot get any more beautiful. He is literally the most incredible man I have ever seen in my life. I love a man who is into sport and keeps himself healthy and this guy is SO buff but without being an absolute beefcake. His face, his body, his EVERYTHING. Check it outttttttttt ladies (or men, if you are that way inclined…)

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

REN skincare

A last but not least, a slightly….provocative entry! The REN skincare brand video came to my attention whilst I was working at my last agency who was working with the brand at the time. It is a very bizarre concept but I think it works. I have a funny story about it actually….

I HAD to share this with work collegaues so I showed one or two people. The reaction then caused quite a stir in the office and after 5 viewings and a crowd of about 20 blushing ladies and 10 aroused men, I got a phone call from IT. They had received notifcations that I was viewing and searching for pornographic content on the work system and that it would have to be reported to my manager. I LEGIT nearly died, on the spot. How do I get out of that one?! I explained to my boss, showed her the video and all was sorted but I do have the slight reputation that I am the office pervert…brilliant.

Anyway, enjoy…!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjSDmtfl638

Peace,

O x

My daily cost effective lunch- Salad recipe

2012-02-29T12:45:00.001-08:00

To avoid the daily Chicken, Bacon and Avocado baguettes that I have been consuming for the last month (daily), I have found a fool proof and cheap alternative that has left me feeling VERY good. I am a massive carb lover but they do make me feel sluggish on a regular basis so I have decided to allow myself just 1-2 carby meals a week and switch to the lighter stuff. This is an attempt to get back on some healthy regime but also doing it realiastically after my massive Dukan Diet fail. On a serious note, if you want to shed the pounds, definitely look for an alternative because the Dukan Diet is seriously hardcore. I would recommend the Clean and Lean which my friend Hannah introdcued me to. It is much more realistic and achievable and takes a mere 2 weeks but I think I will stay on it for the long haul with minimal exceptions.

Aside from just wanting to get healthier, the London lifestyle has taken its toll on my bank account! I discovered that I was spending at least £20 on food for my lunches per week which is too much for my liking! I have since made a daily salad recipe which has left me completely satisfied, carb-less and most importantly with a few extra pennies in the pocket.

Ingredients:

Salad leaves

Cucumber

Cherry Tomatoes

Avocado

Chicken/Turkey breast chucks and/or thin sliced ham

Grated cheese

Method (I may be stating the obvious here but here goes….) :

Lay the leaves onto a plate

Chop the cucumber into small circles (5 or 6)

Add the tomatoes (4-5)

Chop the avocado into 4 sections/chunks

Lay on the desired meat (my personal favourite is ham AND turkey…mix it up abit!)

Sprinkle some grated cheese

And there you have it….a yummy, healthy salad.

I buy the ingredients for the whole week on a Monday morning and spend a mere £8.52. If you are particularly cash-condisous, I would really recommend the Bernard Matthew Turkey Breast chunks, which retail at just £1 from Sainsburys and Tescos and one pack will last you for two lunches. Perhaps you want to splash the cash? Try the Tescos Finest Wiltshire Ham with your turkey chunks.

This is literally perfect for anyone on a budget and who wants to get in shape and healthy. I wish I had done this during my student days!!

Happy eating and slimming people!

Peace,

O x

Rumble in the Jumble

2012-02-28T01:21:00.000-08:00

When you think of a jumble sale, you think of old rubbish that no-one really wants, right? Images of old books, crappy board games and silly Ellesse t-shirts that we used to wear when we were 8 come to mind. Well, instead try imagining this....delicious cakes, style icon hand-me-downs and a room full of celebrities and thats what I got when I sauntered into Old St Pancras church for the Rumble in the Jumble sale.

Arriving shortly after 6pm with my lovely sister, we joined a healthily busy queue. We waiting approximately 15 minutes before we were greeting by a smiley and enthusiastic Gemma Cairns who guided us to the entrance desk. Paying just £2 on the door, guests were asked to bring some jumble to donate, which was then divided up and sold band then anything left over was donated to Oxfam stores. Celebrities helping out included Kate Nash, Harry Potter actress Jessie Cave, fashion stylist Grace Woodward and food writer Gizzi Erksine and (my personal favourite celeb spot) Bridesmaids star (and Dawn Porter’s hubby-to-be) Chris O’Dowd. Stars who couldn’t attend but donated clothes included Lauren Laverne, Claudia Winkleman and Jimmy Carr.

After browsing for a nice amount of time, my sister had her bargain eyes in full go-go mode and spotted an electric blue Luella cashmere cardi donated by Lauren Laverne for a mere £20!!!! There was not really time to think about it, so she handed over the cash and swooned at her purchase. We found a quiet corner to try things on whilst coming across a shoe stall, where Annie proceeded to find yet another bargain, Topshop booties for a tenner! BARGAIN!

Anyways, all in all, it was a roaring success for all! The shoppers were delighted, the hosts were chuffed and the charity was rolling in it with a donation of over £7000 to Oxfam!!

Here are some cheeky snaps! Look out for Chris O'Dowd...SUCH A LEDGE!

Grace Woodward!!

Caroline Flack

Sara Cox

Dawn Porter (Fellow Guernsey Girl!!)

Chris O'Dowd

Peace,

O x

The Oscars: Fashion Favourites and Fails

2012-02-27T05:49:00.000-08:00

Monday mornings are often the most depressing days. It is the end of the weekend and the start to a long work week. However, one thing that makes it far more enjoyable is the fact that it is not just ANY Monday, it is the Monday after the Oscars which means a morning of scouring over the images of the red carpet to see who has impressed and who has made a fashion faux-pas. I have detailed below my favourites and the the fails from both the red carpet and the after parties.

My top 3 favourites:

Kristin Wigg: This dress is absolutely stunning. After her quick rise to fame after her role in the hilarious rom-com “Bridesmaids”, Kristin was almost seen as a little bit ‘dorky’ but on the red carpet, she was the picture of femininity in the J.Mendel nude tulle strapless gown with woven bodice and hand-pleated layered skirt. The hair also works well with the colouring of the dress but I have to say that I do miss her as a blonde! The colour is also pretty hard to pull of with quite a fair skin tone but she does it very well. My guess is that she went for a cheeky St Tropez spray tan, or better yet, an actual trip to the South of France.

Gwyneth Paltrow: I absolutely ADORE Tom Ford. Everything about that man is sexy but so classy. He is one of the characters that plays on simplicity but also makes it interesting, whether its texture in the materials, shapes in his eyewear or masculine spice in his fragrances. To pair with Gwyneth Paltrow was yet anoter stroke of genius. The gowns rich material is elegantly highlighted as it drapes over her slim silhouette- she doesn’t look a day over 30. Classic, stylish and feminine, 10 out of 10 to bother Gwyneth and Tom.

Emma Stone: I have always been a little unsure about Emma Stone. Since she played the annoying ex-girlfriend of my childhood crush Justin Timberlake in one of my favourite films "Friends with Benefits", I have always found her rather annoying. But she was extremely charming and funny whilst presenting an award with Ben Stiller and I thought she looked stunning. She wore a Giambattista Valli dress, in an eye-catching shade of red, accented by a big bow- absolutely incredible.

My top 3 fails:

Shaliene Woodley: I was expecting big things from this new rising starlet being the star of one of the most talked about films of the year. Unforuntely, in my opinion she made a massive “boo-boo”. She chose a Valentino Couture dress which was beautifully simple in shape with the most intricate of detail but frankly it was just too severe and covered up. I think it was admirable that she played it safe, but for such a young girl, she should be taking risks and playing with shape, colours and necklines. Next time, show us some leg!

Nancy O’Dell: This was probably the worst dress for me. It just did not match at all. Who puts canary yellow with sultry black lace? To me, it was just mixing themes but not in a cool juxtaposing way like that of Alexander McQueen etc, but instead just a massive mess. The dress by Chagoury Couture may have been acceptable at the MTV awards, but at the Oscars, it was simply too garish and loud and I thought it lacked class.

Missi Pyle: Lastly, this bizarre choice from Missi Pyle was definitely abit of a mistake. The colour was interesting because it was quite fitting to the upcoming seasons but the material looked cheap and the overall shapes made the dress look somewhat unfinished. It almost looks as if the designer has had a last minute hack at the dress and left several bits hanging off.

Overall, not a fan at all- sack the stylist!

Honorable mentions

The other starlets who I think deserve a mention is the gorgeous Cameron Diaz, the youthful Selena Gomez and the stunning Diane Kruger. Not quite making the cut in my top three, but all three looked radiant and classy in an array of gowns from Dolce and Gabana to Gucci. I thought that Selena Gomez went for a very feminine style which made shaked her teeny bop image and shifted her more towards the mature and serious actress persona. Cameron Diaz is usually one of the first people I look for on the red carpet because she rarely makes mistakes. This time was no different and I really loved the shape on her slim figure. The only criticism is that it was a little simple- perhaps next time she should try thinking outside of the box.

Diane Kruger’s gown for the Vanity Fair after show part was a very daring choice and that is why I love it. She has had a fair bit of negative press but I think she makes it work. On someone like Katie Price, we would be looking at a seriously trashy attempy at a red carpet dress but because it is Diane, who oozes style and class anyway, I think it is a nice change up and perfect for an after-party look.

I also have to mention Natalie Portman and her choice of Christian Dior dress? I really was not a fan. I thought it was quite frumpy and was a fairly bland choice for an event of this calibre but I have seen nothing but praise for her choice this morning- each to their own.

A massive congratulations to all the winners!

On my agenda for the week: GO AND SEE “THE ARTIST”.

Peace,

O x