Thanks to a fellow Brisbane author I’ve been able alerted to The Book Seer. A fabulous website that suggests books based on the last book you just loved. Just enter the book title and author and The Book Seer will suggest a list of books you might enjoy.
A big thank you to Captain Decibel for sharing and to The Book Seer for tapping into the available book networks to give some exciting recommendations – who says the book is dead
I recently held a girls movie marathon. It was part of my Youthful New Year campaign where I committed to throw 10 parties in 2011. I previously posted about the movie marathon in the post, Chick Flick Bonanza,which might be useful if you’d like to host your own chick flick marathon.
Here is the promised Ultimate Chick Flick catalogue. I am not saying this is the list you have to use and by all means suggest your own titles or themes (sentimental not your cup of tea? that’s no problems). This was the official chick flick marathon list:
Picture Perfect — Staring Jennifer Aniston, Kevin Bacon, Olympia Dukakus and directed by Glen Gordon Caron. It’s a 90’s tale of a woman who wants to get ahead in her career but isn’t considered for promotion until she pretends to have the picture perfect life her boss expected. In the process of fulfilling the stereotype, she might just find her perfect reality.
Coyote Ugly — Staring Piper Perabo, Adam Garcia, Maria Bella, and directed by David O’Neil. Girl finds herself and love by losing a significant amount of clothing. Throw your pop corn at the screen and have heated discussions about women of substance.
Alien — staring Sigorney Weaver and directed by Ridley Scott. What can I say, Sigorney Weaver kicks butt. And no matter how many times I’ve seen this movie it still takes me on a white-knuckle legitimately terrifying journey.
Out of Africa — staring Robert Redford and Meryl Streep. Directed by Sydney Pollack. Based on the true story of Danish duchess and author Karen Blixen. Karen relocates from Denmark to Kenya with her husband, where she falls madly in love a with nomadic game hunter.
The Way We Were — Staring Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford also directed by Sydney Pollack. It’s the story of two very different by passionate personalities that fall in love. The relationship is stormy, and it appears unable to accommodate both of them.
A Streetcar Named Desire with Vivien Leigh and Marlon Brando or Cat on a Hot Tin Roof with the steamy coupling of Elizabeth Taylor and Paul Newman — Both Tennessee Williams plays with strong emotional themes, intense dialogue and raw brooding atmosphere. Infact Streetcar comes with the tagline, “when emotions go savage” and that could very aptly describe Cat as well.
Notorious — staring Ingrid Bergman, Cary Grant and directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Notorious is a film-noir thriller with the protagonist, Alicia (Bergman) agreeing to spy on a ring of Nazi’s operating out of South America. Alicia as spy is enlisted by company man Devlin (Grant) following her fathers arrest for treason and a romance that threatens her mission blooms… Or is the mission threatening any chance for romance?
The Notebook — Staring Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams, directed by Nick Cassavetes. It’s the timeless tale of young love from two different worlds.
Somewhere in Time — Staring Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour. It’s a trippy fantasy where a man self-hypnotises himself into time travel so he can meet the woman of his dreams. The jacket promises, “Beyond Fantasy, Beyond Obsession, Beyond Time Itself …he will find her.”
Titanic – with Kate Winslet and Leonardo Dicaprio. Near. Far. Wherever you are. You have to admit this is an epic romance. It has star crossed lovers, tragedy, shipwreck.
But that is not on a plane. 
To me, there is no more legitimate symbol of (and for) celebration than popping the cork on a bottle of champagne.
So, you can imagine with the rise of budget airlines that encourage self-catering you may at some point be tempted to celebrate that anniversary holiday, overseas vacation or other fabulous reason for boarding a plane, such as Qantas returning to the air with your own bottle of Champagne.
This is part of my 101 Ways to Live series (follow the link to read the original post).
Take my advice, this is not a good idea. A bottle of Champagne has no business on plane. The pressurised cabin will create a cork-popping experience. Imagine the sort explosive shower winning MotoGP riders can only dream of – and look, no hands!
As part of my “Youthful New Year” campaign I set about planning the ultimate girls weekend movie marathon. Invite some friends round, play some movies.
What could be simpler right? There is a whole host of chick-flicks to choose from, almost too many to make sense of and I’m promising the ultimate experience. I’m starting to feel the pressure.
The idea is to be casual and not too expensive. I struggle with both of these concepts, surely this is a genuine occasion to hire that frozen margarita machine and professional AV equipment. Maybe I could hire a theatre. Maybe I could hire professional caterers to peel grapes and put vol-au-vents directly into my mouth. No. No equipment hire, no OTT decorations, no becoming an elaborate event.
So I invite ten gal-pals to my place. The only complication with that is some minor furniture adjustments are needed so we all fit. The simple solution is for everyone to bring a cushion or pillow. That way if you’re not on the couch you’re not suffering on cement.
In line with the casual and affordable theme all guests were asked to bring their favourite snack. A brave move for any hostess because you run the risk of being greeted with 10 packets of Doritos or Aussie gold brie (available at 7-11s and all good servos). Fortunately, there were a whole range of snacks and nibbles brought from candy to cake, with savoury in-between. Success!
If you’re planning a similar event and want ideas of what to bring or ask for I can recommend:
- Cheese and/or antipasta platter
- Chips and dip (there’s always a place for this)
- Arancini & Asparagus Filo’s
- Banoffee pie
- Share bowls of lollies and chocolate
- BBQ chicken wings
- Pop corn
And for dessert/supper I recommend Nigella Lawson‘s Budino di Cioccolato. Is it hot chocolate? Is it chocolate pudding? I don’t care, as she says, “it is like chocolate satin cream” and you’ll find the recipe in Nigella Express.
I stuck to the casual and affordable concept and made a homely style beef stew; packed full of flavour with rosemary, garlic, red wine and cous cous for everyone. It slow cooked away while we watched a movie and didn’t call for a large commitment from me to be in the kitchen.
We watched an obscene amount of movies (possibly more media consumption than is recommended for an entire week), talked and ate. Everyone seemed relaxed.
I’ll devote anther post to the Ultimate Chick Flick movie catalogue. Promise. It’s coming soon. The important thing is we spent a very delightful afternoon and evening.
Exciting news for the cosmetic buyers among us!
Bobbi Brown: pretty powerful stuff has officially launched their Australian website with lots of exclusive introductory offers not to mention free shipping!
The site offers the full compliment of products, as well as an advice corner, the latest tips and tricks and training from the Bobbi Brown beauty artists.
Visit the Bobbi Brown website to find out for yourself.
Henri Cartier-Bresson: The Man, The Image and the World is now showing at the Queensland Art Gallery. It celebrates the life and work of photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson.
The exhibition features over 250 photos, many of which capture iconic periods in history such as post-war Europe and USSR, Japan, revolutionary China and a grief stricken India.
I found the work to be beautiful, haunting and very moving – not just in a creative sense but as photojournalism the work skillfully captures the expressions and emotions of the subjects.
One thing I found truly captivating about the exhibition was the breadth of work. It made me curious to know more about the man. His motives. Why he felt compelled to see so much of the world and capture it in time.
The exhibition is beautifully laid out in the Queensland Art Gallery and is showing until 27 November 2011. It’s well worth the visit.
Icons of Style Exhibition toured the east coast of Australia finishing in Brisbane in October.
The exhibition highlighted some of the famous costumes from the TV show, Mad Men and was curated by Janie Bryant, the shows award-winning costume designer. If you missed the exhibition you can catch the essence from the below interview with Janie for Chadstone Fashion TV (with exquisite white lily’s in the background):
I love the idea anyone can be an icon of style using design principles. That what is worn can be change the way you interact with the environment and how other people perceive you.
The Fashion File
Janie Bryant has also released a book called The Fashion File, where Janie shares her tips, tricks and strategies in creating the now very famous style.
Haphazard. That’s my posting schedule. Fortunately I have a patient audience! Thank you.
If it’s of any consolation at all I have been a busy little bee! I’ve been living the mantra of my blog – even if I’ve neglected to keep you updated. Having taken a moment to catch my breath I’m feeling a little recharged and re-focused.
Am I still a an optimistically bitter woman? Yes. Do I still love architecture, good wine and excellent food, the smell of rain, travel, men with big noses and high heels. Most definitely.
The next couple of posts will be retrospective. And then…
That’s right folks – the beautiful people were out for the MBFF!
Now, I”ll be the first to confess there are huge gaps in my fashion appreciation. I know what I like and I love the idea of something as practical as personal covering (i.e. clothing) as a form of expression. Risk-taking in this form is also very engaging. It can be spectacularly awful or wonderfully sublime.
Day Four – Emerging Designers had some standouts. Check out the beautiful fabrics and lines of Eva Lilly. Sabrina Saunders crisp clean shapes and the aysmetrical one shouldered gown of Sharka Bosakova is just divine. I will definitely be keeping my eye’s (and purse) alert for these emerging brands.
You can find out more about emerging and young designers at the Young Designer Markets held in South Bank. The YDM are held on the first Sunday of the month on Little Stanley Street.
I’m so excited about the upcoming Brisbane Writers Festival!
Starting on 7th September, the festival includes a range of guest speakers and workshops. Last years festival was great – I got to see Norman Doidge, of The Brain That Changes Itself fame. The whole day was a great vibe. This year?!? Again there’s lots to look forward. You can see the writers festival program at their website – even if you can’t commit to a session head down to GoMA and the Library to soak up the atmosphere.
We’re celebrating winter big-time this year in Brisbane. An authentic cold-snap is well underway in the city.
Personally, I’ve always laughed at Brisbane’s winter – it brings out the ridiculous from residents. It’s the only city I’ve been to (and I’ve travelled) where you can sit at a sidewalk cafe with someone beside you in an outfit straight from a ski village and seated opposite someone in shorts and flip-flops. Anyway…
What I am looking forward to is the Brisbane Winter Festival. Promising it’s very own lodge, alpine winter food festival, cosy fireplaces and Glühwein (authentic mulled wine). Can’t wait? No need to. The festival opened on 9 June and runs until 26 June 2011.
I had the pleasure of being invited to the genuine (champagne) gallery exhibition opening of an artist friend. She was opening at an artists cooperative in Chinderah.
A Shared Moment of Stillness | Clare Bryant - Mixed Media+Collage
Unfortunately I was too sick to go, which I really regret. Not just because I love to go and show support of young artists. But this was an important occasion for my friend and I very much wanted to be there for her.
Despite missing the fabulous opening, I have since had the opportunity to view some of the works. I’m impressed. The works are very intricite and detailed yet subtle.
1960s Lost Photo | Clare Bryant - mixed media+collage
Two of my favourite pieces I’ve included in this post — A Shared Moment of Stillness with its trippy, sophisticated detail contrasting with the stylised figures of the central characters. And, 1960s Lost Photo where I see inspired from vintage illustrative artists.
You can see more information about the Love and Breakfast exhibition and artist here
Fragments of Eva 