Happy 97th Birthday Vivien Leigh!

"I hope I've one thing that Scarlett never had. A sense of humor. I want some joy out of life. And she had one thing I hope I never have. Selfish egotism." ~Vivien Leigh



"I Swore I Would Never Fall In Love With A Boy In A Rock & Roll Band"

I am so excited about the new EP by The Pierces that is due out at the end of October. They are one of my favourite bands, I love their quirky, unique approach to song writing and music. Thirteen Tales Of Love And Revenge was a fantastic album with brilliant stories. I wish I was that musically talented.

"We’re The Coolest People At McDonalds”

Let's Do The Time Warp

I had such a brilliant time this weekend at the Vintage Festival @ Goodwood. There was one point during the early evening when we were all starting to feel a bit tired and irritable that i got the giggles just thinking about all the strange things we had done that day - pie & a pint in a 40's pub, cocktails in a 30's bar, a 70's roller disco, dancing in a 60's northern soul club. Not to mention all of the amazing things we'd seen and the fantastic clothes (almost) everyone was wearing. I really can't wait to go back next year and experience the whole weekend.

It was a shiny bright earth spin.....

I'm completely head over heals for this short film. How lovely it must be to have a family of creative types to make such fun and beautiful work.

"I'm bored of cheap and cheerful, I want expensive sadness"

I'm worshiping at the temple of Alison Mosshart at the moment. She must be currently the coolest woman in rock and roll. I'm really loving the latest The Dead Weather album and hoping The Kills will release a new record soon. Oh to be a talented, hot rock goddess, jamming with the guys, touring the world, chain-smoking, drinking tequila and habitually clad in gold Dior boots.

 

Geek Is Chic

At last!! I had a successful glasses shopping trip, after putting it off since February!! Now I just need to decide between the Dior glasses and the Bvlgari ones. I love geek chick. Ahhh!! Help!!

"Nobody's happy in a poodle skirt and a sweater set!"

Next month I'm going to the Vintage Festival at Goodwood and I'm so excited. Spent the last few days online trying to find the perfect dress to wear and... i have fallen in love!

This "Soda Fountain" dress in ginger by www.modcloth.com is absolutely gorgeous, and i think it would look amazing with my red peep toe wedges or some red pumps. I think it might be a real pain in the arse to order and have shipped over here though, so I'm still contemplating it for the moment.

Whilst looking for dresses I’ve been inspired by the film Pleasantville, which is one of my all time favourite films, if you haven’t seen it I highly suggest you do. Not only is it a great original story, and very aesthetically pleasing, it also says some really important things about gender, race and identity. I really could talk about this film for hours, but instead I’ll post some of the beautiful imagery  :-)

Jeffrey

The reason I haven’t posted anything for a few weeks is because I’ve been feeling especially sad. On the 4th of July I had to have my beautiful cat Jeffrey put to sleep. She was given to me by my parents for my 5th birthday, and this June she was 20 years old. It's been really hard adapting to life without her, she was such a wonderful companion.

Here are some of the things I will miss most about her:

Our night time cuddles in bed

Her ridiculously loud meows

Her attitude towards Ralph

How she used to sit with us at dinner

How her bell jingled as she came down the stairs

How she used to sit on people who didn't like cats

How she bowed her head so I could kiss it

Giving her biscuits before bed

The cute noises she used to make when she was asleep

How she loved me more than anyone else

 

"With a cocktail waitress, who thinks she's an artist"

"I can never read all the books I want; I can never be all the people I want and live all the lives I want. I can never train myself in all the skills I want. And why do I want? I want to live and feel all the shades, tones and variations of mental and physical experience possible in life. And I am horribly limited." — Sylvia Plath
 
I'm still really struggling with my lack of creativity, everywhere I look I see people in full blossom and I feel like a shrivelled shrub that hasn't been watered for years. I guess that's why I haven't posted anything for a while.
I don't want to be a professional appreciator, I want to put something new into the world.
In the meantime, I’ll post this beautiful picture of Jenny Lewis, a woman who doesn't seem to be running too low in the creativity department and hope it'll inspire something. (I can't stop listening to "Next Messiah" - it's like an addiction!)

"I Collect Hobbies"

I'm really looking forward to finally seeing "The Brothers Bloom" which is out next week. I've waited about 2 years to see this film, so I hope it's as good as it looks. Great cast and it's written & directed by Rian Johnson who also did the fantastic teen noir film "Brick" and it's staring Adrien Brody who I find incredibly sexy! Absolutely love the above poster as well.

"Hand-Dyed To Recall The Colours Of The Atmosphere"

I have fallen completely in love with Anthropologie's "Gathered Sky Bedding". It's totally impractical and so expensive I haven’t even considered doing anything more than staring at the webpage 3 times a day but like all doomed love affairs there is pleasure in the pain.

http://www.anthropologie.eu/bedding/Gathered-SkyBedding/invt/7530601492005&bklist=icat,5,shop,forhome,shopbyhome,bedding

"There's Nothing Not To Love About Me, I'm Lovely"

"Why Don't You Love Me" - Beyoncé from Beyoncé on Vimeo.

"I Can Resist Everything Except Temptation"

Have been taking the time recently to try and re-discover myself. I find pieces of myself all over the place, some I had forgotten about, misplaced and some I never knew existed.

Over the last month I have been listening to Rolling Stone Magazine's 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time, and I feel full.
I'm struggling with my lack of creativity, and that could be why I have spent some time recently reading about groupies/ band aides of the 60's/70's. I feel like if I cant be creative then I’ll at least surround myself with it.

I found this gorgeous photo of Bebe Buell, who along with Anita Pallenberg, Marianne Faithfull & Uschi Obermaier is one of my favourite rock star muses. To say I am envious of the amazing lives they have led is an understatement. Maybe they didn't write amazing songs like "Wild Horses", but to have inspired them must have made them pretty special.

Arianne's Birthday Playlist

For Arianne's Birthday this year i made her a mixtape (one of my favourite things to do) of songs that i thought she would enjoy and songs that are very important and personal to me. I'm really pleased with this one :-)

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

It's Delightful, it's Delicious, it's De-lovely

These are a few photos that I took at the tea party that threw for Rachel & Evie when they came to stay in February. Unfortunately I was suffering from the hangover from hell and had to ask my Mum & Aunt to pitch in more than I had planned, but Rachel had a fab time! The cakes went down a treat especially my home made Orange & Lemon Starcakes. The best part was all the gorgeous babies, especially Evie in the beautiful (and appropriate) cake dress Mum & I had bought her.

... And That's Why Music Matters

Music Matters - Kate Bush (23-3-10) from Music Matters on Vimeo.

R.I.P Alexander McQueen

I am so shocked and saddened at the death of Alexander McQueen. He was an absolute fashion legend whose shows combined all the best of fashion and theatre. There has never been anyone like him and there never will be. I always looked forward to his shows every year, and feel so sad that there wont be any more and that we probably didn’t even see the best of him. It was always a dream of mine to own an Alexander McQueen original, but for now I’ll have to make do with looking at pictures of the beautiful work he created and wearing my imitation scull scarf as a tribute. I hope where ever he is now he is at peace.

 

 

Vanity Fair Class Of 2010

I am just loving the new Vanity Fair Class Of 2010 cover shot by my favourite photographer Annie Leibovitz. So many brilliant young actresses including Rebecca Hall, Oscar nominee (!!!) Carey Mulligan, Abbie Cornish (whom I love, especially in Candy) and Mia Wasikowska (who was just amazing in In Treatment). Having looked through some of the spread I love the 1930's, ivy league/Hollywood studio theme, I can't wait to buy the magazine and have a closer look. Only thing that could have made it better...the inclusion of Zooey Deschanel!

Just Like A Pill

So this is the first post of the new year for me, for boring reasons which i won't go into. So far the year has been pretty busy, difficult, silly, dramatic, snowy, tiring, frustrating and confronting.

I've started some individual psychotherapy, which has been really tough, but i can see a little bit clearer now. I don't feel any better, but i can see how i can use the therapy to help me a little better. It wasn't until this week that I realised, the whole time i have been ill i thought i had to be strong to get better, but perhaps i need to be vulnerable, show how i really feel, let someone in enough to help.

I had a pretty manic New Year in our nations capital. I went to an Alice in Wonderland themed night at a night club in Covent Garden. It was a good laugh, but tough on my friends who were working through some pretty emotional issues that the drink didn't help to say the least! Anyways, it gave me a good excuse to don a pair of fluffy white rabbit years and a pocket watch!

Rachel, Evie & Ned are coming over to the UK for 2 weeks in February, and i am so excited. I miss them so much. California was such a happy time for me, and i can't wait to spend some time with my little niece again. I’m throwing Rachel & Evie a ladies tea party whilst they are here, I’m looking forward to planning it all and buying gorgeous napkins and cakes. I bought a really pretty dress off asos.com to wear as well :-)

I'm feeling like i really need to shake things up at the moment, like I’m re-creating myself. I want to buy some new clothes, get a new haircut, join a dance class and force myself to do some things I’d normally say no to.