Cap ou pas cap?

Can you guess who this is?

Surprisingly, it's not McDreamy.

Here's a clue:

Yap, it's Marion and Guillaume.

I adore that these two are together. It's terribly romantic. And if you haven't seen Jeux D'enfants (Love Me If You Dare), then you are full of fail. Especially if you are a girl. And you hate love. I love Marion. I love Guillaume.

Out of point, but:

J'adore la robe, aussi.

Also, is anyone not psyched for Nine?

Esoteric Inklings

The words 'esoteric' and 'nefarious' have been floating around the office a lot this week. I know, whaaa? The only reason I even know the word esoteric is because of writing 340.

Anyway, esoteric seems to describe my ultimate Christmas wish. The other stuff is just cuckoo bananas items, business as usual. (Isn't the phrase cuckoo bananas just great? I picked it up from Degrassi a while ago and have only now resurrected it.) This Christmas List was done at the request of my darling Choops, but anyone else who wants to give me presents is welcome to. That's YOU, NB!

(Speaking of NB and presents, he did a wonderful job of getting me the microplane for our 2 year anniversary present. All the TV chefs have one, so of course, I believed that it was the only thing standing between me and great zest.)

The regular stuff first:

1. 2010 planner

I need a planner, because now that I am a grown up, I plan on 'doing drinks' and 'getting together' after 'checking my schedule' . And while the computer is all well and good, it is not as fun. I also associate it too closely with work.

Here are my requirements:

- Small-ish, and light. Must fit in my purse.

- Cute. Must not be embarrassed to take it out in public.

- Of good quality paper. Must be able to withstand personalization with highlighters and other office supplies.

- Must open to the spine (eg. spiral binding). I am left handed and if it doesn't open all the way it's realllly hard to write.

Inspiration: Here, and here, and here, and here. All are somewhat lacking.

(The picture is from Red Velvet Art - their stuff is sooo cute, especially the underpants. But no planners :( )

2. Feather skirt

I know, you are probably like errr... fashion faux pas. But I think they are so cute.

Requirements:

- A wearable colour. There is a hot pink one floating around the internet that I am not digging.

- A fun length. And by fun, I mean short. Not like teeny tiny, but you know, not matronly.

Concessions:

- This would also be acceptable in dress form, if the top of the dress is cute too.

(I am a medium, or size 12 uk, 6 us)

3. Rain boots

Granted, it rains maybe 3 days a year in LA. But boy, on those 3 days, I always wish I had Wish William's Wellingtons.

There was a pair from the Gap that I loooved a couple of years ago, navy with a pink trim. All gone now.

Requirements:

- Cute (duh)

- Not too colourful. I need to be able to wear this with whatever outfits, and probably my polkadot raincoat.

(I am a size 8 1/2 us... 39 eur... I think uk 7 1/2? I used to be 8 but my feet have been shrinking...)

Speaking of boots...

4. Motorcycle boots

So, my beloved brown Payless boots have a hole in the zip from four years of loving, a million spilt drinks and one winter of sledding (Yes, I went sledding in heels. The were wonderful ice picks). These Pradas would be an excellent replacement. (I also have my over the knee black Victoria's secret boots, but they are pretty whorish and not entirely work appropriate, and also, they make my feet feel a 19th C Chinese woman with bound feet... and a computer...)

Requirements:

- None, kind of. I mean, black or brown. Heel, or none. Knee-high or mid-calf. (Er, not ankle though. And mid-calf might look cankly, but I am open to your good taste).

5. Rolling pin

It's just one of those things that I really need but have never bought. I have been using a wine bottle (always available in my apartment) covered in clingfilm. It does the job, just not as well.

Other things that are always welcome:

Costume jewelry (or real, that's cool too), accessories (hats, scarves, gloves, over-the-knee socks, leggings, arm warmers, sunnies, umbrellas, weird hair things), clothing basics (cardigans, basic tees and tanks), kitchen things (fun cookie cutters, cook books, pie tins, weird shaped cake pans, holiday sprinkles, pretty jars for sugars and flours, cake stands).

Isn't this necklace sooo cute? From here!

And now, it's time for... the Ultimate Christmas Wish:

To be a Portland Housewife.

Let me explain. Portland housewives don't have to be from Portland, but they generally are, because that's where all the cool kids are from. They stay at home all day and bake and craft with their young children, then blog about it. They crochet and make cute stuffed animals out of felt and play dress up and have herb gardens. They shop at farmer's markets. They buy handmade. They go thrifting. They loiter around Etsy.

My first experience with the Portland Housewife was Amy Karol, and I believe she is actually a Portland Housewife. Then the Bluebird Vintage girl, who has a child and is crafty cool so qualifies, then the Red Velvet Girls and now I am just swamped with blogs to envy and projects to wish I was doing.

Anyway, seeing as I actually like my job (other than the whole waking up and having to work thing), and really only want to dabble in Portland Housewivery for now (although, in 5 years, I will be all over that shizz), I would like to craft more.

So what I need for that is: Patterns. A sewing machine. Books. Someone to teach me to knit. Someone to teach me to crochet. Cool wools. Cool fabrics. Needles. Buttons. Stamps. Inks. Funny-shaped hole punchers. Ribbons. Cute papers. A wicker basket to keep them all in.

Any contributions would be welcome.

Speaking of Gossip Girl

Eeeyoh, the two main girls in the Plasticines have adorable desirable enviable hair. I think it's time to get my bangs back.

If You Don't Already Love Quinn Fabray...

You should now. Know that my roommates and I once spent an entire drunken evening doing this song and dance around Korea Town. It was really ugly.

Girl Crushes

1. Olivia Thirlby

Have loved her since Juno. Saw New York, I Love You last weekend and while I can't say I appreciated all of the films (uh... someone please explain the Shia one to me), I loveddd her in it with that dorky kid from Star Trek and the newest Terminator.

2. Dakota Fanning

Already expressed my adoration for her pretty recently, but her Teen Vogue shoot was BEAUTIFUL. Tell me her eyes weren't retouched. I'm excited for Joan Jett and the Runaways, and also for New Moon. She is the perfect Jane, with that creepy perfect child star face.

3. Diana Agron

Oh Quinn Fabray. How can anyone not love her? She's pretty, and skinny, and hilarious. And she can sing. 'Nuff said.

4. Candice Accola

Vampire Diaries is a dreadful show full of bad story and cheap rip offs of other vampire things that shall remained unnamed. Saving grace: Handsome boys and the hilarious things that Caroline says.

Oh wow, also, she was in Juno as the female lab partner. Was she the chick who had to go lie down in the nurses office who was bitching at her boyfriend for having a wine cooler at his brother's frat house? My love deepens.

5. Anna Kendrick

I know, I should be ashamed, 2 of the Twilight chicks made it on here. But she cracks me up every time I see Twilight. "Oh... you're so... funny... heh..." and "She's right though, my boobs do look awesome in this."

And apparently she is pretty legit in whatever real movies she has coming out between the Twilight saga stuff. Am excited.

Hmm... It would appear that other than D Fanning, all my girl crushes are the pretty, bitchy, occasionally bimbotic frenemies. Can't help it, they get the best lines.

Other mentionables: The Emmas: Watson and Roberts. I will always love you both. KStew, I love you but just not quite as much.

Santa, baby, forgot to mention one little thing...

A hedgehog!

I really really really want a hedgehog. I was going to get one in Portland, because apparently they are illegal in CA. However, it turns out they are in the price range of $75-$300, rather than the $10-$25 that I had been expecting.

Why do I want a hedgehog?
a) They are so cute.
b) They are not as expensive or high maintenance as dogs/chinchillas.
c) They eat spiders, of which I have many.

So please buy me a hedgehog.

The Birthday List

Get excited, y'all, it's that time of the year again. The time where you buy me presents and I do stupid things like wear a dress everyday despite the cold because Heidi Montag told LC she should back when they were friends.

So here we go:

1) Twilight DVD (Release date: 21st March)

There's nothing better than special features and deleted scenes of making out.

2) Polaroid 600 film

I have always wanted a Polaroid. I found one in a thrift store for $6 so I just had to have it. Natch I jump on the band wagon way too late, because they've discontinued the film. But the guy at the store assured me this camera shop would sell it. He was wrong. So now I have a cam with no click flash zoop. Please help.

3) A new pair of everyday flats.

Mine are in a depressing state, you know, holes in the bottom and the sole falling off.

4) Mani/pedi

My nails have been looking pretty ragged lately. That's actually Rona's foot like two years ago, but whatever, you get the gist.

5) Hugs and kisses all round. Or alc. Ooh, a trip to Vegas?

Ok that is it. For now....

A***** likes to...

I've decided not to be all cryptic with my name, seeing as I've mentioned it before. Plus, it's not like it's not the 3rd most common girls name of the 1990s.

1. Go to Google and type your name likes to in quotes (ex. "Meghan likes to")
2. Report back on the first 10 results
3. Be sure to paste the directions at the top

(I got a lot of 'dance' so I skipped the repeats)

1. Amanda likes to distract herself with silliness
2. Amanda likes to write
3. Amanda likes to dance
4. Amanda likes to do it in her community
5. Amanda likes to meme (?!?!?!)
6. Amanda likes to party
7. Amanda likes to poop (baha)
8. Amanda likes to photograph in a non traditional environment
9. Amanda likes to sing, dance and act
10. Amanda likes to manage dump cycles

And no 11, because it's so good: Amanda likes to drink.

One Hour Left!

Use the first letter of your name to answer each of the following questions. They have to be real...nothing made up! If the person before you had the same first initial, you must use different answers. You cannot use any word twice and you can't use your name for the boy/girl name question.

1. What is your name : A***** (if you don't know my name...you don't need to)
2. A four Letter Word : Arms
3. A boy's Name : Adam
4. A girl's Name : Alexandra
5. An occupation : Assistant
6. A colour : Aquamarine
7. Something you'll wear : Armor
9. A food : Aubergine
10. Something found in the bathroom: Ants
11. A place : Amsterdam
12. A reason for being late :
13. Something you'd shout : AAHCHOO!
14. A movie title : Apocalypse Now
15. Something you drink : Alc. Duh. Come on.
16. A musical group: A1. A Teens. I can't decide which to pick.
17. An animal: Anteater
18. A street name : Alameda
19. A type of car : Audi
20. The title of a song : Anything For You (you know that I'd go anywhere, for your smile, anywhere... Oliver Twist)

Facebook Entertainment

When work is slow I oft find myself perusing people's notes on facebook. Sometimes I get bummed that no one has tagged me in them so I don't have an excuse to continue the chain (case in point: 25 things, and also those Mr Men pictures going around). Today, I have decided to just blog some. Take initiative and all that.

This one is from a girl from secondary school : The BBC reckons most people will have only read 6 out of the 100 books here.

Instructions:
1) Look at the list and put an 'x' for those you have read.
2) Star (*) those you plan on reading.
3) Hex (#) those you've never finished
4) Tally your total at the bottom.
5) Put in a note with your total in the subject
(and because I'm special, I am going to put a % for the ones I've seen the film version of)

1 (#%) Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen (I read the abridged v in pri 6. To this day, I maintain that I hate J.A)
2 (X %) The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien
3 (X ) Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
4 (X %) Harry Potter series - JK Rowling
5 () To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
6 (#) The Bible
7 (X %) Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte (has anyone else seen the AWFUL MTV version???)
8 () Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell
9 (X %) His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman (<3)
10 (# % ) Great Expectations - Charles Dickens

Pitstop Count: (X) - 5, (*) - , (#) - 3, (%) - 6

11 (X % ) Little Women - Louisa M Alcott
12 ( %) Tess of the D’Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy
13 () Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
14 (#) Complete Works of Shakespeare (Just the ones we did in school...JC, A&C, O, Merch of Venice. And I saw Titus and R&J)
15 (* ) Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier
16 ( X) The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien (maybe.. since i've read the others)
17 ( ) Birdsong - Sebastian Faulk
18 () Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger
19 (X) The Time Traveller’s Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
20 ( #) Middlemarch - George Eliot

Pitstop Count: (X) - 3, (*) - 1, (#) - 2, (%) - 2

21 ( X %) Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell
22 ( X ) The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald
23 ( ) Bleak House - Charles Dickens
24 ( # ) War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy
25 () The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
26 ( * ) Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh
27 ( ) Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
28 ( ) Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck
29 ( X %) Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carrol
30 ( % ) The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame

Pitstop Count: (X) - 3, (*) - 1, (#) - 1, (%) - 3

31 (* %) Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy
32 ( ) David Copperfield - Charles Dickens
33 (X %) Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis
34 ( ) Emma - Jane Austen
35 ( ) Persuasion - Jane Austen
36 ( X %) The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - CS Lewis (How IS this not under Narnia? - I didn't write that, but I agree)
37 ( X) The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
38 ( ) Captain Corelli’s Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres
39 ( X %) Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden
40 (X %) Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne

Pitstop Count: (X) - 5, (*) - 1, (#) -, (%) - 5

41 () Animal Farm - George Orwell (saw the play)
42 (X %) The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown
43 ( ) One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
44 ( ) A Prayer for Owen Meaney - John Irving
45 ( ) The Woman in White - Wilkie Collin (saw the musical)
46 (X %) Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery
47 ( ) Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy
48 ( *) The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood
49 () Lord of the Flies - William Golding
50 (#%) Atonement - Ian McEwan

Pitstop Count: (X) - 2 , (*) - 1, (#) - 1, (%) - 3

51 ( *) Life of Pi - Yann Martel
52 (X %) Dune - Frank Herbert (well, I saw Children of Dune. OW OW JAMES!)
53 ( ) Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons
54 ( ) Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen
55 ( #) A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth
56 ( ) The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
57 (#) A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens (abridged version again)
58 (X) Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
59 (X) The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time
60 ( ) Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez Pitstop (does it count if I wanted to see the movie?)

Count: (X) - 3, (*) - 1, (#) - 2, (%) - 1

61 ( * ) Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
62 (X %) Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
63 ( ) The Secret History - Donna Tart
64 ( X) The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
65 (% ) Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas
66 ( #) On The Road - Jack Kerouac (reading it right now! bought it for NB but really so I could read it)
67 ( ) Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy
68 ( % ) Bridget Jones’s Diary - Helen Fielding
69 ( *) Midnight’s Children - Salman Rushdie
70 () Moby Dick - Herman Melville Pitstop

Count: (X) - 2, (*) - 2, (#) - 1, (%) - 3

71 ( %) Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens
72 (# %) Dracula - Bram Stoker (abriiiidged... man I had a lot of abridged classics as a kid)
73 (X % ) The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett
74 ( ) Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson (they have this at my mum's shop)
75 ( ) Ulysses - James Joyce
76 (*) The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath
77 ( X %) Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome (and then I made myself a bow and arrow)
78 ( ) Germinal - Emile Zola
79 ( # %) Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray
80 ( ) Possession - AS Byatt Pitstop

Count: (X) - 2, (*) - 1, (#) - 2, (%) - 5

81 ( X %) A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens (did you guess abridged?)
82 () Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell
83 () The Color Purple - Alice Walker
84 ( ) The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro
85 ( X ) Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert
86 ( ) A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry
87 (X) Charlotte’s Web - EB White
88 (* ) The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom
89 () Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (No, but I WROTE a spoof, that should count)
90 ( ) The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton

Pitstop Count: (X) - 3, (*) - 1, (#) -, (%) - 1

91 () Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad
92 ( X ) The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint Exupery
93 ( ) The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks
94 ( X% ) Watership Down - Richard Adams
95 ( ) A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole
96 ( ) A Town Like Alice - Neil Shute
97 ( #% ) The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas
98 () Hamlet - William Shakespeare
99 ( X %) Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl
100 ( ) Les Miserables - Victor Hugo (saw the musical!)

Pitstop Count: (X) - 3, (*) - , (#) - 1, (%) - 2

Total: (X) - 31, (*) - 9, (#) - 13, (%) - 32

I'm pretty proud of my numbers. I mean, generally, I've read most of the things that I want to read. And the ones that I never finished... usually means that I got bored half way. Sometimes I might have been a little young at the time I attempted to read them (Like A Suitable Boy and Atonement) It's a little embarrassing that I've seen more movie versions than read the books, but I am looking into Hollywood, so I guess that's okay.

Now you try.

Hung Over At Work

Things I need to blog on:

-Vday weekend to Hearst Castle

-Cinnamon Palmiers

-Movies I've seen: Frost vs Nixon, Coraline, International (don't do it!), He's Just Not That Into You, ... there are more...

Stocking Stuffers

Here are some financially realistic things:

1) Cookie Cutters

I only have hearts and people. Which is all very well, but how can I make pretty snowflake cookie ornaments?

2) A black scarf

Starlets always look so cool and layery, and I want to be cool too. But the only scarf in that vein that I have is maroon and a little bright... taking away from the layering. If ya get me.

3) A grey/black knit cardigan / oversized hoodie. Either / Or.

Because I have one I love that's brown, but I wear so much black and they don't match. And then all my black ones are kinda fitted.

4) CDs

I don't have the new Killers, and I want it. I'm sure there are other things I would listen to if I was given them. I still don't have the 2nd maroon 5 album, which makes me a fail fail. I want Circus. but I can steal that off roomies.

Uhh... I could also do with a new bag, in the oversized and (p)leather variety. One of those wool hats that people perch on the back of their heads that somehow don't fall off. A beret? A wallet.

Maybe I should start thinking of summer clothes.

I love lists.

My 2 Front Teeth

Here is my list! I don't know why I act like y'all have been waiting with bated breath, I guess I just like to be dramatic.

1) A KitchenAid Artisan Mixer

So I don't get blisters trying to make the egg whites form stiff peaks.

Arrived this morning, courtesy of the East Coast branch of the Family.

2)A Not Too Short Not Too Long Double Breasted Cowl Necked Grey Pea Coat

So I can look like Edward Cullen, but a girl. JK.

I believe that is on the way, many thanks to Choops and the Singapore Friends.

3) A piping set

So my cupcakes will look cool.

4) A Killer Interview Outfit

So I can get a job at an agency. Comme ca? Maybe, but I really wanted a frilly blouse with it.

5) A MacBook Pro

So I can be all trendy-mac-cool and also so I can woo without having to attach this embarrassing alien eye to my computer.

Ok, that's all I have right now.

All I want for Xmas is...

3 months rent

My side mirror on my car to get repaired

My plates renewed

My car insurance renewed

Health insurance for when I graduate

A job, also for when I graduate

When did life get so grown up?


I guess, in less depressing but still unattainable goals:

A spring break vaycay

A computer with a battery that lasts for more than 20 minutes

Real list coming soons, I swears. I know my #1 is arriving tomorrow anyway :)

27 days

Baby It's Cold Outside

Here is what is making me happy at this moment:

1) I finally got my Advent Calendar off Ex-Arty-Neighbour, and it is more glorious than you can imagine. Little windows with chocolates somewhat resembling the Lindt Truffle Ball Things, and a 3-D tree! Plus, because it was the 7th, I got to crack open 7 little windows and share :) I know, I'm so nice.

2) We did our Secret Turkey exchange. Yes, you heard right. The roomies and I have a little tradition going on where before Thanksgiving we do a secret-santa like thing with a $10 maximum, then we switch gifts after. Mel had me, and she bought me some large underwear. It is a running joke with us that I wear a lot of giant underwear. Which really, I do. Sexay.

3) The Ex-Neighbours had their annual x-mas party, and I got a French for Children book from the white elephant. I love it, because even though I took French for more than 10 years, I am still at child level.

4) I got to talk to NB on webcam for a fairly long time, and laugh at his horrible hair and tufty facial fuzz.

5) The Irvine non-relations sent along a bag of 22 romance novels that Rona and I are working our way though.

Here are some things I am not happy about:

1) I have a final due tomorrow morning that I am only starting on now. There is a long story behind this, where everyone in my class thinks our teacher is an idiot, especially after he announced over Thanksgiving that he changed his mind about not having a final, please make ourselves available on the last day of finals to do a group presentation. Horrendous uproar from class ensues, because half of these people have already booked tickets home for before that, ecstatic to have no final. He settles on an email final, which is grammatically incorrect.

2) There is never enough sleep.

Here are some things that I am neither way about, but that I am sure you will find interesting:

1) The 2-week boyfriend, here on known as Facebook Foul (much like Party Foul, so named for his question upon being broken up with: what will we put on facebook?), drunk texted me on Sat with what suspiciously looked like a booty call. Luckily, I was too enthralled with my romance novel to be even slightly tempted..

2) The Spanish Summer Senor Facebook chatted me about how he wants to get married and have babies, but is lacking the woman and job. This will probs surprise a lot of you, but that's just how he is. He likes to be affectionate.

Twilight

Today, my 4 o clock class was canceled because of Thanksgiving. (Is it normal that spellcheck says there's only one L? I thought there were 2...let me know, someone. It might be American spelling or it might be Amanda Can't Spell.) Anyhoo, Emily and I were at the UV, famous for their $6 movie tickets, and noted that Twilight was playing at 4:15. Uh, hells yea. Then I texted Rona, and she decided that it was worth skipping class for.

You know what that means...

Overall, I did like the movie. Quite a lot. I thought it was a good adaptation with a great cast, but some of the editing was a little awkward, they could have used a leeetle less exposition and also I wish they would have put a couple more million into the special effects, because while it looks good for the most part, there's a couple of really awk looking 'flying through the air' moments that ruin the movie.

Question of the day: How are there so many non-white people in this tiny ass town in WA? Like, props to the movie for having such a diverse cast, but you KNOW that aint real life.

First off, cast. Because that is obvs the most important.

Kristen Stewart was amazing. Or I thought so, I've read that she was boring but um, read the books, Bella is dull as balls. She got a bit into it sometimes, but she was cool and her hair was very pretty. Her make up might have been a little distracting at times.

Robert Pattinson was hot, duh. His voice and looks were kind of channelling Hayden Christensen in Star Wars at some points, but only in the best of ways as opposed to the angsty teen ways. He was really great when he or someone else said something awkward, then there would be a pause and then he would just get this wtf kind of look.

Others: I LOVED Jessica. In the book, she was annoying as eff. In the movie she was HILARIOUS. Mike was cuter than I thought he'd be. Eric was Asian, and basically had the same character as all the cool funky Asian guys of the last couple of years - 21, Disturbia, Nick n Nora.. Nikki Reed was pretty great, and looked better as a blonde than I expected. Jasper was funny. Alice was pretty, I really liked Victoria... I mean they were all great. Charlie was awesome too, way more of a DILF than you'd have expected. Jacob had bad times hair. So did Cam, he's much hotter in magazines. Carlisle's voice was a little over-actingy at the end.

Best scene: Oooh, it's a toss up for me between the baseball scene, the scene where Edward first drives Bella to school and looks really hot and puts his arm around her, or when he appears in her room and they make out. For the making out, duh.

(um, I stole all my pics, and this one has a watermark... please don't kill me, whoever owns this!)

Best-worst scene: When Edward first smells Bella in the science lab... FUNNIEST FACE. I didn't think he was meant to be that obvious, and he def didn't look like he wanted to eat her. He looked like he wanted to throw up.

Worst scene: When Bella figures out that he's a vampire and says she's not scared, and to make her scared he insists on making her see him sparkle? That makes no sense. Taking off your shirt is not going to make a girl scared, only mildly disappointed that there are no abs.

Best parts: Apart from the cast .. and my list of best scenes... the cinematography was beautiful, everything had a really nice look to it. The soundtrack was pretty amazing, except where the eff was Decode? Some of the dialogue was really hilarious. Rob's wardrobe was sharp, and by sharp I mean hot. Oh actually you know what, when Cam beats Bella up, that was pretty good. Look out for Stephenie Meyer's cameo, it was god-awful and oh so great.

Worst parts: Like I said, a couple of the special effects shots really ruined it for me. This will break everyone's hearts, but the 'dazzling' really looked more like 'sweating'. And when Edward jumps out the window with Bella, they take some leaps that look like really bad wire work, I think if they had more force pushing off it would be more believable. Um, 'Spider Monkey'? Horror horror. That was Rob's own invention I think, but it was a fail fail. And then they're in a tree, and she's all 'this doesn't happen! this isn't real!' but er, hello, he pulled exactly the same trick when he dragged you to the clearing to see him 'sparkle' and you didn't seem phased at all at that point. Did not make sense. Likewise, how did you know James was tracking you before they said anything about James being a tracker? Other than that... some of the dialogue was really expositional, there was a scene where they sit on a rock and he tells her about being a vamp... pretty dull stuff. This is pretty minor, but when Eric 'lost control' of his van, I thought it looked like he was out to get her on purpose. Just the editing there, I think. The other question was, in the prom scene, why was Bella wearing leggings? That's a fashion faux-pas if ever there was one. And even if it wasn't, how the eff did she put them on?! She's wearing a bloody cast!

OH flashbacks = BAD TIMES. Really dramatic shots in the Phantom Of The Opera sepia of Carlisle turning people and them making horrid faces. Hmm... seems like Carlie might be the weakest link here.

Lots of people made a really big deal about the Cullen house not being like in the book, but it really didn't bother me, I quite liked it.

But, you know, that was a pretty detailed thing of what was bad, just so you're prepared. Because really, if you are or ever were a fan girl, it's totally worth it. Just for the *sigh sigh* I wish someone would look at me that way and say 'you're my life now' and stuff...

Warning: Worst date movie ever. Boys, the only way you can benefit from this is if your girlfriend watches this and is feeling really mushy and you do something nice like hold her hand... but any sex you have will be purely the slow candle-lit type, so I wouldn't bother if I were you. Send her off with her friends and be prepared to hear about how inadequate you are.

Reasons to get a job

I'm broke, and I need money to attain my summer lust list.

1. Gladiator Sandals - yea yea, jump on the bandwagon. Why not? I love wagons.


I had a big debate between high and low, long or ankle... I've decided on low ankles, so I can walk to school and not look like my legs are stubby and fat.

2. White sunglasses - I used to have a pair, and I loved them. 3. OPI nail polish in Brisbane Bronze - Ok, so it's one of OPI's least creative names, I rarely paint my nails (although they've been blue all summer) and the colour isn't that exciting.


But still, it's a little something to remind me to behave in NB's absence.

4. Some white / light grey straight jeans - a bit slow on this one, but seriously, a girl can only survive so long on one pair of jeans!


(these ones are a little tooo skinny for me, but google is not giving me any better pics...)

5. Some dark green knee length shorts - I need some shorts that are not too short to be worn to an office.


(I guess black is fine too...)

6. A trench coat - I've just always wanted one, so I can be mysterious. And Zara is on sale now, doncha know.


And I did just watch Get Smart, and Anne Hathaway's white one is adorable, n'est-ce pas?

7. A light, pretty, comfortable cardigan - for all the fall layering.


There's one I quite like at Zara for cheap. Basically, I love Cate Blanchett's entire wardrobe in Notes on a Scandal.


Okay, that's all I have for now. I wish I had a perfect 10, but Oh well. I guess you could add wellies, a maxi dress and a lacy black peek-a-boo bra.

Basically, it goes back to the ultimate question in my life: why can't I look like I fell out of an urban outfitters catalogue??



Also, your thoughts on me getting bangs? Yay or nay? And if so, should I do it now or wait for fall?

Handsome Man Alert!

Does anyone remember Handsome Young Son from Being Julia?

His name is Tom Sturridge, and we are now on Tom Sturridge Watch.

Has anyone heard of Tom Sturridge? Why didn't anyone bring him to my attention?

Here is the long story.

Rob Pattinson is allegedly dating Camilla Belle (aka Eye Brows from 10000 BC, the movie we have still not yet watched), right. Just now I was at Luke's Blog, where he was gushing about how hot she was, and was reminded that I wanted to stalk her. Her Wikipedia says she is close friends with actors Rob Pattinson and Tom Sturridge (er, also Cameron Diaz and Maria Sharapova, but who cares about the women, right?). And I was like, eh? Who is this guy? And HIS wikipedia says that he is Rob's BFF! Dubsteeeff, you'd think this would have come up sooner? Someone needs to change Rob's wiki to add this deet in.

So anyway, now we must watch The Boat That Rocked, when it comes out next year. And some movie called Maestro about Australian pianists. Er...


More interesting facts: Was lots of crazy Twilighters' first choice for Edward. Was cast in Jumper but got pulled for Hayden, because he's famous. SAD!

Ugh, distracted

So I have finally finished all 3 of the Stephanie Meyer books (Twilight, etc), and now I can continue with my life. Except I can't, because of course now I have that mood stuck in my head so how can I go back to writing a romantic comedy screenplay when I am so desperately in love with a crappy teenage soul mate romance novel?

Anyway, more on life soon. I thought I'd give a Top 10 List of Handsome Soul Mate Man Names, because the name Edward really doesn't cut it for me. If I've been influenced by a book or person, I'll say it. Lots of them are names that I've used for characters, so I have biases. Also, I totally cheated and stuck some names that interchange in preferences for me.

Top 10 List of Handsome Soul Mate Man Names (And some periphery men you'll want around in times of trouble.)

10. Jonathan - Coveted older brother of childhood friend - The crushed on neighbour, maybe? J names work for that. Probably the less mystical of the soul mates.

9. Alexander - (Nicholas Wong, I put this in for your benefit, this has nothing to do with Alex.) - To me, he will always be a big brother who is very protective and perfect for your best friend. So obviously he's someone's soul mate. But anyway, he's a shiney person, friendly and full of laughter. Actually, Nicholas is in this category too for some reason.

8. Gareth - Used in: King Arthur Legends. But also a neighbour of mine when I was little - More the best-friendy type to me, the one you are instantly friends with and can be yourself around.

7. Luke - Used in: Star Wars. Also, the Witches. And Lucas, in Empire Records and One Tree Hill. Hmm, could George Lucas = Luke in his mind? Interesting. -

6. Dylan - Used in: J-17s book series from way back when, Diary of a Crush - This is obviously the bad-ass boy who is incredibly Indie and writes love songs for you. Damian counts for this boy too. And Hayden. And Aiden. Nathan. I could go on...

5. Christian - Used in: Not precisely sure, but Christian Bale and Christian Slater were both hotties in their day - This is the boy who is sort of from another era/parallel universe, the dragon-slaying type. Sebastian might also work here... its the 'stian' ending that counts. Oh go on, throw Caspian in too.

4. Lance - Like Lancelot? Also, my cousin's name. Creepy?

3. Blake - Actually, I just found this one. But it's growing on me. I like the strong B, the single syllable... and it's not that common. Hmm.

2. Tristan - Used in: Tristan & Isolde. Another cousin's name. Their mother was pretty romantic. Oh yea, and the Gilmore Girls! - The aloof one? Actually, I like lots of 'Tr' names, Trevor, Trenton, there's just something about them.

1. Will - Used in: Every good book with a good boy. Most notably His Dark Materials and the Dark Is Rising. Oh yea, and A Knight's Tale - This is the perfect boy who locked eyes with you one day and magically you both knew each other. Will, of course, is MY soul mate, so you can all go find your own.



Er, I guess this wasn't really a very good list, coz I got like 50 names in there. Not really a top-ten then, though you know that Will would be number one on my list.

Some notable men that didn't make it: Darling Max, you have my heart, but I didn't love your name. Poor Edward, too.

I'm sure there will be objections, from Sonia in particular. Tell me if I left anyone important out.

Really Hawt

Let me begin with an anecdote:

When I was home in December, I was having a day out with my friend, Bev. We were in Borders, loitering around the tween book section and noticed a large pile of some melo-dramatic series about vampires. We half-seriously joked about how I should buy it, but then I thought it looked so awful I refused.

Anyway, turns out this book was Twilight, a movie coming out soon, but more importantly, starring Cedric Diggory! (Ok ok, his real name is Robert Pattinson.)

I'm sure you all remember being broken hearted in like... sec 2, when the most handsome man in the Harry Potter series DIED. And then reliving the heartache when he turned out to be actually handsome, in the movie, and again, DIED! Well, now Rob-bob is playing a vampire, so he's immortal - suck on that, Voldie!

Why didn't I buy the book, Damnit!