<3 lyrics

Music is one of my greatest loves and of course I love the melodies, the bass, the harmonies...but something I really love is when all of these elements are combined with amazing lyrics. I'm a sucker for words! I love to read, I love to write, I love poetry, I love to talk and I am just generally in love with language. With the song 'Love Rain' by Jill Scott featuring Mos Def I feel my passion for music and language are combined to form an undeniable alchemy. The melody is oh so simple and it's the words that are the real star, however had this been just a poem rather than musical poetry or poetic music I don't think it would have the same effect. I love the imagery this song creates in my mind, the dynamics and emotions of the relationship depicted in the song are perfectly portrayed. This is definitely one of my favourite songs of all time! Hope you enjoy it as much as I do it makes 'my heart beat in a now now time signature'(just listen to the lyrics lol...)

Thoughts for Today *2*

What thoughts have dominated my mind today?...

Glasses - I had to take a trip to the opticians today as I needed some new glasses, I only have to wear them when partaking in certain activities but I was still really excited cause I haven't had a new pair in ages. There were sooooo many frames to pick from and they do a 2 for 1 deal so I had to choose 2. Honestly I was in that shop for ages trying to pick the perfect balance between 'sexy secretary' and 'nerdy' chic'. You wouldn't have thought it would have taken so long I mean it's only a pair of glasses which I won't even be wearing all the time. However I actually considered it to be quite an important decision as people tend to gauge your personality somewhat from first impressions and speaking to people they've told me that they tend to perceive a woman differently when she wears glasses so I wanted to make sure I got some that complimented my personality perfectly! Eventually I decided on one really funky 'kitsch' pair and a more conventional one (for work and so forth) I pick them up next week so I'll post pics :)

Make Up - The majority of girls I know wear some make up at least some the time (myself included). The primary reason for make up is to enhance your natural beauty and just add that little but extra but for me rule no. 1 is that make up should ALWAYS without a shadow of a doubt make you look better NEVER worse or what is the point of wearing it. The reason this was on my mind today as whilst shopping on Oxford Street I saw a girl with the most ridiculous make up on. I can't imagine what she was thinking when she applied it thought that it was appropriate and then left the house. Now even when I'm not a fan of a certain look I can usually see where the person is coming from and appreciate it's appeal. With this girl however there was no appreciation or understanding from me! She looked like she was going to a Halloween party...masses of blue of eyeshadow, big false spider leg look-a-like lashes and a ton of black eyeliner is not the best look for a spring day. Maybe she wanted to recreate an editorial look she'd seen in a magazine...but there's a time and a place for everything and the Primark customer services queue is definitely not the place! She just reminded me to be even more aware about the make I choose and not to wear too much of it because applied in the wrong way it really can make you look terrible.

Lynwood Rose - I'm really excited as when the 3 great talents that are Raphael Saadiq, Q-Tip and D'Aneglo join forces they call themselves 'Lynwood Rose'. I've heard that they are set to release an album soon and I can't wait! I've been listening to some of their tracks just to get me in the mood :) You can listen to some on the Linwood Rose playlist at the side.

The Fun of the Fair!

I went to the Funfair yesterday and it was so fun! I haven't been for ages because as you get older it's not exactly top of your agenda and since I don't have any kids yet it doesn't really cross my mind. I saw the Funfair had come to town on my way to work this week so I thought the weather's going to be nice so why not? I had such a good time it just brought back those great childhood memories. Going on so many rides that your stomach flips and you nearly want to throw up, bumping people on the bumper cars, eating ice-cream and candy floss, winning prizes...I truly embraced my inner child yesterday and I'm glad. Life gets so serious sometimes so it's refreshing to have some good childish fun :p

Thoughts for Today

I thought I'd start blogging my most prominent daily thoughts...and then perhaps I'll Psychoanalyse myself (I am a Psychology graduate after all) or even better other people can have a go at analysing me too :)

So what did I think about today?? There we two main topics I ruminated on...

Travelling - I actually think about travelling every single day now. For some reason it has now become top on my list of things I want to do and of the utmost importance. I think it's a good thing that I want to experience as much of the world as possible but I also think it's bringing out some not so great qualities in me...for one wanting something so badly can only leave you feeling disappointed when you don't get it or things don't go to plan. Obviously due to time and money constraints I have to plan my travel in a considered manner when really I'd rather just back up tonight and be off travelling the world tomorrow. Sometimes the frustration of not being able to do something I really want or having to wait for it leaves me feeling really down. The second bad quality it brings out in me is envy (*the 6th deadly sin*) I'm not even usually a envious person but when I hear stories of some of the places people I know have been to I cannot help but feel a teeny bit envious. This is a typical envy evoking scenario.

Travelling (and just ever so slightly bragging) friend: "I had such a great time traveling in India, China, Australia, New Zealand, Morocco...(2 mins later), Dubai, Sudan, Peru...you should really try and do more travelling yourself"

Me (through gritted teeth, a fake smile and deadly envious thoughts): "Wow sounds like you had a really great time I'm so happy for you. I am going to travel I just need to sort out a few things first" (sigh)

Bras - This sounds like a strange one, but at times I find bras super annoying and I don't always like wearing them. I mean they serve an important function and I really do think

they look nice (I love picking out pretty or sexy bras) but I just find them quite restrictive! Obviously I wear a bra and usually it's not too bad cause I wear it just whilst I'm out then I'll take it off when I come in, however I do relish occasions when I don't have to wear a bra which is why I choose certain tops and dresses to wear when I go out so I can go bra-less. The reason bras were on my mind today however is due to the fact that I was at work. The working day is quite a long one considering I leave my house just after 8.30am and don't get home until around 7.00pm...so basically this means over 10 hours of wearing a bra!! Trust me for someone whose not a fan of bras this is a lonnnnnggggg time! I don't think about bras every time I'm at work because I usually choose a comfy one but today I didn't and once discomfort set in I was reduced to thoughts of the bra burning feminists of the 60s...good times I'd say :)

Cassie's Naked Ambition

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Reminiscent Rhythms

My second Reminiscent Rhythm comes from one of my favourite albums of all time... a classic in my mind 'Where I wanna Be' by Donell Jones. I've always been a huge fan of Donell Jones and for me he is extremely underrated just listen to this album and you'll see why. There are so many great tracks on this album but I've picked the title track 'Where I Wanna Be' this time. There will definitely be more Donell Jones tracks featuring in my 'Reminiscent Rhythms' enjoy :)

Media Madness

I've never understood why the media especially sources people perceive to be credible (i.e. the news) or bodies that have great influence (i.e. the government) tend to hype situations to a level that I think is unnecessary. It's like they take pleasure in whipping people into a frenzy.

Every time there's a big story or topic of concern all sense of reason goes out the window and the media set about publishing and broadcasting in such a way that the only obvious outcome is panic. First it was Mad Cow Disease, then it was Bird Flu, then it was SARS and now of course it's the infamous Swine flu. Now I know myself that I've never been affected by the any of the diseases the media previously hyped and neither has anyone I know so I doubt I'll be greatly affected by Swine Flu...even if I was it's still just a flu I'd just take the medicine and move on. Considering no-one has died from it in the UK yet I don't why the media hype is so great...it's got people wearing face masks and all sorts!!

Now we move on to the government, obviously they have a duty to protect the people and regardless of how dangerous Swine Flu is they want to stop in from spreading. I believe they are on the right track by quarantining people that have contracted the flu and providing information leaflets to people with the actual facts (cause believe me if you just watched the news and read the papers you'd get the impression we were all in grave danger of dying from it). However I have to say I find the government's 'CATCH IT, BIN IT, KILL IT' campaign a bit dubious. Do they think people are stupid?! How can you tell people to use a tissue (or cover their mouths) when they sneeze, chuck the tissue in the bin and then wash our hands?! What do they think we have been doing our whole lives?!!

I just find it beyond reason that people have been dealing with the common cold and flu basically their whole lives and as soon as a new strain arrives the government thinks it's necessary to teach people how to use a tissue!! They would be better off telling people not to worry because if they do catch the flu there is an anti- viral available...because at the moment the hype is just too crazy! I've got my friend's telling me 96,000 people could die in London...hmmm until 1 dies I don't think I'll worry! And apparently face mask sales have increased so rapidly the companies that make them have had to increase their production.

This just re-iterates what a powerful machine the media is but in this case instead of using their power to benefit people they've got them all concerned, giving the suspicious eye every time someone sneezes on the train. I can't take the media seriously anymore it's just a circus.

'A Very Berry Mind...of my own!

I write this post as 'Bonita Berrybum' as that is my blackberry pin name based on A tribe called Quest's song 'Bonita Applebum' (click to see the video) I just replaced the apple with a berry cause it's blackberry... but people never seem to get it! It seems obvious to me perhaps they just aren't aware of the song and think I have a fruity porn star alto ego just dying to be unleashed!

Any who (I kinda strayed from the point a bit lol) I've had a blackberry for ages now and I love it. It's everything you need in one package: the Internet, e-mails pushed straight through to your phone, blackberry pin, Facebook, MSN or any other social networking site you might use it's just an all around solution allowing you to keep in touch with people and organise your life. So as you can see although blackberry's are known to have their technical faults...it's nothing but love between me and my berry.

Now when I first got my blackberry I got quite a lot of stick from people mainly things like 'oh why've you got that big ugly phone...' 'your blackberry always crashes haha!' you get the gist! And it was also quite lonely in the blackberry club (not that we minded) I only had 4 or 5 blackberry contacts on my pin that I could converse with, we were the elite few that recognised the benefits of being berry!

Fast forward a year and the scene is completely different! Long gone are they days where I had 4 blackberry contacts now I'm close to 40! And the funniest thing is that everyone that used to criticise me and my blackberry has now joined the club. It seems strange to me as blackberry's have not changed during that time, the features are still exactly the same maybe they look slightly better but trust me any improvement is appearance is definitely minute. The only thing that's changed is the last year is blackberry's popularity especially amongst younger people. I work in a phone shop and the increase in the sales of blackberry's especially since the start 0f 2009 is beyond belief!

So it seems that once a product gets 'socially validated' everyone wants one which I think is just totally ridiculous! If you truly like something you should get it and if you don't like it then DON'T get it! As adults our choices should not be so greatly influenced by what's popular and what everyone else around us has...it just shows how much people love to follow fashion! Not me though I do my own thing, I have a very berry mind of my own!

I've been tagged so here goes...

Be one with the Fro tagged me in this note so it is my duty to respond ;)

8 things I look forward to:

1. Having Children
2. Getting Married
3. Buying my first property
4. Travelling the world
5. Visiting restaurants ;)
6. My next back massage
7. Receiving something I have ordered from ASOS
8. Catching up with old friends

8 things I did yesterday:

1. Went to work
2. Ate ribs and wedges prepared by my boyfriend
3. Wore sunglasses
4. Drank 2 Capri Sun Orange
5. Played Cluedo (I am a master detective!!)
6. Ate a banana and a kiwi
7. Took the bus
8. Fell asleep listening to Kanye West's album

8 things I wish I could do:

1. Drive!! Well I can drive but I need to pass my test lol it's getting rather ridiculous now
2. Speak another language fluently... although my French is improving due to summer tripes to the South of France
3. Dance Ballroom and Latin. I am going to learn!
4. Eradicate world poverty
5. Play the Piano like Sakamoto Ryuichi
6. Go on a holiday whenever I wanted
7. See a sunset in every country
8. Be a food critic! Best job in the world!

8 shows I watch:

1. Heroes
2. The Apprentice
3. Gossip Girl
4. Match of the day
5. The Wire (Just started thanks to Broadband )
6. Desperate Housewives
7. Master Chef
8. Eastenders

Do you remember...?

Following on from my post yesterday about young love who remembers these?

The ones I used to receive (and on occasion send) had yes or no boxes that you had to tick but it's the same idea lol! Simple yet highly effective. Ahhhhh the good old days...

To anyone who never received one of these back in the day, this one's for you!

Reminiscent Rhythms

I'm a highly nostalgic person and there's nothing that makes me reminisce more than a great song that reminds me of even better times...

This song is by one of my favourite artists and 'lovely ladies' Alicia Keys, not only do I love the song but I love the feeling behind it. It reminds me of young crushes and first time loves...remember when your stomach would flip upon seeing a certain someone? Remember the butterflies...? Enjoy!

The Interpretation of Dreams

Whether my dreams contain highly unusual or highly conventional content I usually tend to read quite a lot into them...this may have something to do with the fact that I studied Psychology and Sigmund Freud the forefather or Psychology believed that dreams were the "royal road to the unconscious".

Freud presented a topographical model of the mind; in which the mind is divided into 3 parts. The Conscious, this is the part of the mind that holds what you’re aware of. You can verbalise about your conscious experience and you can think about it in a logical fashion. The Preconscious, this is ordinary memory so although things stored here aren’t in the conscious, they can be readily brought into consciousness. Finally there is The Unconscious, Freud felt that this part of the mind was not directly accessible to awareness. In part, he saw it as a box for urges, feelings and ideas that are tied to anxiety, conflict and pain. These feelings and thoughts have not disappeared and according to Freud, they are there, exerting influence on our actions and our conscious awareness.

Freud's model of the mind has often been represented by an iceberg metaphor with the conscious being the tip of the iceberg the only part that it is visible whilst the majority of the iceberg lies beneath water and is unseen (the preconscious and unconscious).

I'm not saying that I believe everything Freud ever said (because believe me he had some quite far fetched ideas!), however I do believe he may have been onto something when he explained the link between our dreams and our unconscious feelings and desires. Many a time I have dreamt about something and only after having that dream have I realised there is someting I really want, really need to do or some unresolved issue I need to resolve. That's not to say I have to dream to think about certain aspects of my life logically but obviously our conscious thought is immensely influenced by social stipulations including moral and social norms so the mind is not as free to think about things as we would wish, sometimes we may push thoughts away as we feel that they would not be deemed to be socially acceptable. When we dream however, the mind is free from such stipulations and thoughts can flow in as they wish.

So...to conclude I don't let my dreams guide my life (i.e. if I dream about fish I don't automatically presume someone I know is pregnant lol) but I do believe that dreams contain more truth then some people would like to believe. After all even though you're asleep it's still your mind so everything you dream about is always there you're just not aware of it most of the time!!

What do you think? Is there some meaning within our dreams? Or are they just a load of random images and scenes our mind creates whilst we sleep?

Just a link...

I saw this video the other day during a rare moment of watching Channel AKA formally known as Channel U. I was really shocked as this is the type of music young people are making and listening to these days.

Not only is the song not great musically I don't think it really gives out the right message to young people regarding relationships. The girl on the track is singing 'All I am is just a link to you...' and dancing around like it's cool and the guy is saying 'you wanna be wife but we both know wifey is a no go!'. Basically it evokes the idea that it's OK for guys to decide that a girl is not good enough for anything but sex...and that females should accept it! It's a dangerous message as I know children as young as 12 that watch Channel AKA all the time and I feel it's giving them a skewed vision of reality, females need to know that there are guys out there that will treat them as more than just a sexual object and guys need to be taught that females deserve more respect than is shown in these types of videos.

Pump up the Jam

I have a day off today so I'm thinking hmmm what should I do? I have a friend's birthday celebration but that's not until the evening so I still have the whole day to play with...I know what I should do go to the gym but when it comes to the going to the gym I'm always procrastinating.

I joined up to my local leisure centre a month ago and I've been really good going to countless dance classes, aerobic classes, spinning, swimming even water aerobics! However when it comes to the dreaded gym I've only been once :(.

I know I should go more often as it's important for cardiovascular fitness, it could really help me improve my stamina plus I can count how many calories I'm burning but I can't help but find it boring. When I go to a class it's fun I interact with other people and there's a class leader to motivate me, when I go to the gym it's just me and my ipod.

That's where I need the help I'm going to have to use the music to motivate me so if anyone knows of any songs or (play-lists would be even better) that really get you motivated in the gym then please help me out! It would be much appreciated :).

Thanks

Bikini Trends 2009

The season we all love (to hate!) is nearly upon us...Bikini season!! So wherever you'll be sunning yourself this year make sure your bikini is as hot as the weather with these 3 trends for summer 2009!

Just like last year the cut away swimsuit (monokini) is a big trend for 2009 although this year they have vamped it up with some even more racy and intricate designs. Personally I love cut away swimsuits but it always surprises me that they manage to look more scandalous than a traditional 2 piece bikini when you are actually wearing more! An optical illusion maybe?

The one shouldered theme of autumn and winter is set to continue so expect one shouldered bikini's and monokinis to be a big hit on the beach this summer. I like this look as I think it adds a funky edge to the typical bikini, not too sure if I'll be participating in this trend yet though as I'm not too sure just how much support just one strap will offer!! This may just be a trend better suited to the smaller busted ladies ;)

Animal print bikini's are set to be big again this season and I am definitely not complaining! I love bright colours and interesting patterns so I find that animal print just makes a hot bikini all the more eye-catching. I love the one below!

Leopard Print Bikini- Top £13.75 Bottoms £13.75 available at http://www.asos.com/

So these are 3 bikini trends set to hit the shops this summer, but of course as usual there will be absolutely loads of bikini's to choose from and something to suit everyone so get shopping! And top tip check out Primark in Marble Arch they've got loads of designs to choose from for as little as £6...bargain!

Firing on all Cylinders!

Being born and bred in North London, I am an avid Arsenal supporter!! If you follow football you'll have noticed Arsenal haven't been doing too great lately. A string of defeats at the beginning of the season followed by an inability to score goals more recently had left us trailing Aston Villa in The premiership and contemplating a UEFA cup spot next season. Thus understandably I was nervous this week as we faced Roma in the second leg of our bid to reach the top 8 in the Champions League.

We took a 1-0 lead to the Stadio Olympico so I was hoping that if we failed to score we could at least hold on to that. Unfortunately my hopes were dashed after just 10 minutes when due to some shambolic defending, Juan scored and the playing field was once again even.

All through the game I watched nervously hoping we would score and equally hoping that Roma would not. After 90 mins it was still 1-0 to Roma on the night and 1-1 on aggregate. Thus I had to suffer another nervous 30 minutes...but still no goals. So after 90 minutes at the Emirates and 120 minutes at the Stadio Olymipco the last spot in the final 8 had still not being decided and we were headed for the dreaded penalties! I hate penalties!

Actually I don't hate penalties...I quite like them when my team is not involved. Penalty shoot out between Man United and Chelsea in the Champions League final last year? Loved it! Penalty shoot out in the Carling Cup final between Tottenham and Man Utd a fortnight ago? Found it relatively entertaining. Penalty shoot out between us and Roma on Wednesday? I couldn't bear it! I was absolutely terrified and when Eduardo missed the first penalty I couldn't help but fear the worst.

BUT my team stepped up and they did me proud, the held their nerve and we won 7-6 on penalties! I can't remember the last time I was so excited to see us win (actually when we beat Man Utd earlier this season lol) I was up out of my seat dancing around the room! It was a great feeling and one I've really missed :(

Luckily our good fortune continued and today we pulled out another good performance beating Blackburn Rovers 4-0 and ending our run of 3 games without a premiership goal at home.

So all in all I'd say it's been a good week for us and I am once again a happy Gooner! Now you may say barely scraping into the Champions League final 8 and beating Blackburn Rovers at home is not much to shout about but it's the confidence it brings. We're still in the FA cup, we're still in the Champions League and right now we're 4th in the table. Hopefully my North London rivals can do us a favour tomorrow by beating Aston Villa! And then we'll be back firing on all cylinders :)

Oh yeah one last thing... the cherry on the cake to my great week of footie was Liverpool thrashing Man Utd 4-1 at home! Hahahahahaha that's for all the Man U supporters that continually taunt me about Arsenal!

What a Legend! A reminder of why I love music x

I just came back from seeing John Legend perform live at Brixton Academy so I thought I'd write a quick blog about it. All I can say is wow! That man is an amazing talent. I love all 3 of his albums so was hoping the he would be great live and he did not disappoint. I don't understand how his voice can be so amazing yet so effortless he sounds exactly the same live as he does on CD in fact he sounds better! To top it off he is a superb pianist...and he write his music too his talent just oozes out I am most definitely in awe! Mr. John Legend I salute you...

I took that pic :D

Trend for Spring...White Nail Polish?

Whilst in the shops recently I had noticed a lot more white polishes on the shelf and when reading a fashion magazine on Sunday I realised why. White nail polish is set to be a big trend for spring, with Chanel recently sending models down the runway wearing bright white nail polish. Hmmm I thought white nail polish sounds kinda random the only white I usually have on my nail is the tip of my french manicure! However never one to discard something without giving it a chance I tried it out and I actually really like it!

I think it's all about getting the right shade of white to suit your skin tone and there are so many options from opaque to iridescent to sheer so have a look around and find one to suit you. Also if you don't want to go for the full on white look that are a lot of off white options too. Let me know what you think is this trend a hit or miss?

The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency...

...Coming soon to a TV near you! Based on the novels Alexander McCall Smith the eponymous agency is located in Botswana. The novels have now been turned into a TV series by the BBC starring the extremely talented Jill Scott as the lead character. Jill Scott plays Mma Ramotswe, Botswana's only female detective. The series also starrs Anika Noni Rose.

Last Easter a pilot of the fist episode was shown on BBC1 and it was absolutely fantastic, if you missed it you missed out! But not to worry the BBC have now filmed the remaining episodes and they will be on our screens very soon. Make sure you keep you eye out for it! Trust me you won't be disappointed.

The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency on the BBC.

Geek TV

If you regularly read my blogs you'll soon come to realise that I'm a geek, thus my geekdom is reflected in all areas of my life. Recently it has manifested in a love for a new TV programme that is broadcast on BBC2 'Richard Hammond's Engineering Connections'. I first watched this programme last Monday and I thought it was great! The premise of the programme is that Richard Hammond (from Top Gear) looks and some of the world's greatest modern engineering feats and then links them to ancient innovations.

Last week it was based on Taipei 101, the world's tallest skyscraper. Not only did this episode make me really want to visit the Taipei 101 but it also outlined all the engineering secrets behind a skyscraper that manages to stand strong despite being in an area that is susceptible to both earthquakes and tsunamis. The engineering connections ranged from a birdcage to bamboo! I really enjoyed that episode but was still sceptical thinking that maybe it was a one off and I would not enjoy future episodes, however I watched it again yesterday where it featured the Keck Deep Space Observatory in Hawaii and it was just as good. I love learning new things and I love Science so this programme is right up my street, the only sad thing is I missed the first episode of the series...but there's always BBC iplayer :p

Anyway just thought I'd write a quick blog about that as I love finding good things to watch on TV my Mum will be happy too as she hates it when I watch things like Gossip Girl and Desperate Housewives lol.

Check out 'Richard Hammond's Engineering Connections' if your interested it comes on at 7.00pm every Monday on BBC2.

Saint or Sinner?

I haven't blogged for ages lol...guess I haven't quite got the hang of this blogging lark yet. Anyway whilst at work today my colleagues and I had a rather interesting debate so I thought I'd write a blog about it.

One of my colleagues suggested that when it came to females and their sexual behaviour they were either good or bad. Fair enough...I agree with that, however he expanded on this by saying that if you were a virgin or a wife that had married her one and only sexual partner you were good whereas if you weren't a virgin or had engaged in sexual activity with more than one person you were bad. Thus he stressed that when it came to a female's sexual exploits there was no continuum you were either a saint or sinner...

Of course I had to beg to differ, in my book there has to be a continuum. A female that has had 3 sexual partners all of whom happened to be long term partners cannot in my mind be compared to an extremely promiscuous female who has slept with countless men regardless of how well she knows them!

His argument was that the lady that has slept with her 3 long term partners is still not as good and can never be as good as the virgin or the woman that married her one and only partner so why differentiate her from the ho? My argument is that she is nowhere near as bad as ' Lil' Miss Promiscuous', so why not differentiate?

It was a very interesting debate...but in the end I concluded that he was wrong as life is just not that black and white! What do you think? Once a woman has slept with more than one person is she tarnished? Should there be no distinction between a female that's had 2 partners and one that's had 200?

FaceSpace

Is it me or has the line between 'Facebook' and 'Myspace' become blurred? Now I was never on Myspace as from what I heard and occasionally saw it was not something that appealed to me. I felt Myspace was primarily a place for promoting your craft whether it be music, art, modelling, comedy...etc so I couldn't understand why a lot of people I knew that had no craft were on there lol I felt they were just promoting themselves...and for what reason? Then I was told there was another reason for being on Myspace 'linking' or forming contacts with members of the opposite sex so I decided I definitely didn't want to be party to it.

Now when Facebook arrived I was understandably sceptical about joining but after being reassured it was nothing like Myspace I joined. I was pleasantly surprised when I joined Facebook as I actually really loved it not only did it provide me with a fun and cost effective way to keep in contact with my friends, it also allowed me to reunite with some friends I hadn't seen for ages. Rekindling my primary school friendships would could be better?!

I loved seeing how my friends lives were progressing and discovering how people had changed over the years. Every time I got a friend-request I was excited to see what 'long lost friend' it was or who was my latest acquaintance to join the Facebook craze.

Recently however. that all changed, I am no longer excited when I log in and see friend-requests. I now receive on average 10 requests per day from people I don't know and have no desire whatsoever to get to know. It's beyond me why people want to add random faces they see on the Internet but I have to admit I find it extremely annoying. When I asked one of these randoms 'do I know you?' he said 'no but we can get to know each other, I'm just trying to be social'. Hmmm why not be social with people you actually know?! Now don't get me wrong I am by no means anti social but I just believe in meeting people in the good old fashioned 'face to face' manner instead of over the net. Call me a dinosaur but hey each to their own. Friend's have suggested I change my privacy settings, but then that would prevent people that actually know me from adding me. So I guess I'll just have to leave or put up with it.

Seems as though Facebook is more similar to Myspace than I thought and all social networking sites eventually become a playground for prowlers (and begfriends lol)...sigh

Golden Gowns

The annual 'Golden Globes' were held last night, honouring the stars of both big and small screen. Of course I had a close eye on the most important aspect of the ceremony...The Red Carpet Fashion!! Here's a few of my best, worst and in between picks!

The Best

Eva Longoria Parker

Eva looked stunning in a strapless, a full-skirted crimson Reem Acra gown with an awards-appropriate carpet-sweeping mermaid hem, but it's her eye-catching celestial diamond earrings that are the real stars of this look. I love the way she lets the dress do the talking by choosing simple hair, makeup and accessories. Eva never disappoints on the red carpet.

Anne Hathaway

Anne Hathaway as always looks classic and elegant in a strapless, flowing Armani Prive navy blue gown with a dazzling beaded bodice. She is also sporting her signature pulled-back 'do and bright crimson lips. A timeless beauty.

Jennifer Lopez

Lopez showed off her toned post-baby bod in a plunging gold Marchesa dress. This dress is not the best outfit I've ever seen Jen in, but I'm glad to see that after having her twins last year she's back & looking hot. Good on ya Jen!

Beyonce

I'm usually not a fan of Beyonce's red carpet looks because sometimes she just goes way over the top but this year I think she looked dazzling. She wore a sparkly, beaded Elie Saab gown, Lorraine Schwartz jewels and a sleek but simple ponytail.

Megan Fox

Megan Fox worked the red carpet at her first Golden Globes in a curve-hugging metallic Ralph Lauren dress. I'm loving the green accessories too!

Kate Winslet

Double nominee (and double winner) Kate Winslet shows that black doesn't always have to be boring and basic in a strapless Yves Saint Laurent column dress, complete with velvet and diamond belt detail, gorgeous diamond earrings and bracelet and statement red lips. Kate is definitely representing for us Brits!

Evan Rachel Wood

The 'Wrestler' beauty looks every inch a movie star in this sequined, tiered Elie Saab gown with a plunging neckline and simple hair and makeup.

Kyra Sedgwick

The best dress older lady was Kyra Sedgwick, a knock-out in this cranberry-hued belted and bustled Oscar de la Renta gown, reminding us all why she's a repeat nominee: She knows how to work it and is always a crowd pleaser.

Brangelina

Best dressed couple has to got to Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. The nominated duo looked devastatingly fabulous, with Angie in a shimmery, drop-waist Versace gown.

The In Betweeners

The ladies in white: Salma Hayak and Eva Mendes.

These ladies usually deliver on the red carpet but this year they were both wearing white and for me although they looked 'nice' they both fell a little short.

Salma as usual got the 'big guns' out in a figure hugging Grecian-style Dior gown. She looked hot and as always is a reminder to all the stick-thin starlets out there that real women do have curves, I just wanted her to take it up a notch.

Eva Mendes

At first glance, Eva Mendes' white strapless Dior gown is a total knockout, paired perfectly with a loose updo and intricate turquoise necklace. But what's that happening on her hip? Looks like an excess of fabric became a messy, floppy, outfit-killing trimming. Should have left that bit at home Eva...

Frieda Pinto

'Slumdog Millionaire' beauty Freida Pinto goes against the grain for her first Golden Globes, choosing a simple, ruffled, saffron-hued Christian Lacroix strapless gown that perfectly complements her complexion. I think she looks stunning, but the dress just is just a tad raggedy or she would have made it to the best list.

Hayden Panettierre

I'm a big fan of Hayden's and I feel she really stepped up her fashion game in 2008 but she let me down here. Her deep purple Gianfranco Ferre gown, with jeweled detail at the chest is 'nice' but for me she's just not 'popping' like she usually does, even her complexion looks weird lol.

The Worst

Renee Zellwegger

Renee Zellweger bares it all (well, almost), in a Carolina Herrera gown with a sheer, split-shouldered top and mermaid hem, topped with a curled updo. Guess she figured no one would be looking at her hair ...lol

Cameron Diaz

Cameron Diaz channels Malibu Barbie in a stomach-turning bright pink Chanel dress, with criss-cross, ruching and draping detail. She even tries to match her lip color to the dress... a definite no no! What were you thinking?

Drew Barrymore

The normally bubbly, edgy star disappoints in an over-the-top John Galliano for Dior grey/blue strapless gown and seriously teased up bob. Better luck next year Drew.

Maggie Gyllenhaal

'Dark Knight' beauty Maggie Gyllenhaal loves taking fashion risks, but she's gone a bit too far in this blue leopard print Lanvin gown. With a distracting pouf topping off the one-shouldered style and an up-to-there slit, she should really be on the prowl for a new stylist. Meow!

Taraji P. Henson

'Benjamin Button' star Taraji P. Henson is always stunning, but the ruffled, fluttery detail on her J. Mendel gown overwhelms her lovel figure, and the multi-colored print leaves an underwhelming impression. She could have glammed it up a bit.

Quote of the Month

My quote for January is "Feeling orange but sometimes blue" as it clearly denotes the battle that I often have with my emotions. I'm a naturally positive (glass half full) person and always try to remain upbeat and optimistic (orange), but sometimes I can't help but feel down (blue), but it's only recently I'm accepting that it's ok to feel blue sometimes you can't always be happy because people expect you to be the happy one. I'm not actually sure this is a quote come to think of it, but it is the title of an album by Ledisi and I like it so I'm having it as my quote of the month :)

...x...Poetry by Me...x...

Scented Warmth


I breathe in your secrets,

Soft as angel wings, Cold like infant death,

And my heart aches.

A little too soon and…

You slip into my leather notebook,

Smooth as wine from promised dusk.

Brush…Your skin against mine,

Tender like sacred fingers.

Hold…Your eyes in line with mine,

Adorned with ribbons,

Each one telling a lie.

I move onto you.

You shed yourself of musky cotton,

But you’re still wrapped in a linen of silent disillusion,

So close I can drink it.

You breathe in my naked thought,

Because anyone else would choke,

As I lie with you,

Entangled in scented warmth…

The longer you wait the better it is?

Secretly wishing to have it all the time.

To over indulge in the sweetest sin.

To close your eyes and it's all you see.

To steal it, over and over until you've had enough, yet never be truly satisfied!

To take what isn't yours, yet revel in the consequences.

To give it up, and remember how good it was.

To see yourself in someone Else's eyes to touch souls, yet forget names.

To scream, in the heat of passion, yet cry in the icy after thought, yet to be melted away, with the remembrance.

To never forget your first time, yet want to take it back.

To go forever without a touch, yet realise its been a day.

To taste the sweetest thing, yet never to be replete.

To want till you have it all, to lust your life away…
And enjoy every minute.

French Film

I have a penchant for French Film so I thought I'd write a quick blog about it. I'm not sure exactly what I love about French films, it probably has something to do with the language as I love the sound of French and even listen to quite a few French music artists. It all started when I watched 'Amelie' starring my favourite French actress Audrey Tautou (you may have seen her in the Da Vinci Code) I instantly fell in love with the film. It was like nothing I'd ever seen before I loved the music, the way it was filmed and most of all I loved the story. Amelie is a waitress who to decides to change the lives of others around her for the better. What I enjoyed most about the film was Amelie's character, she is such a daydreamer and is highly peculiar with her own little rituals (much like myself lol) but you can't help but like her.

After loving Amelie so much I decided to watch other french films to see if I would like them just as much. I watched another of Audrey Tautou's film called 'Priceless' and I loved that aswell. Because they both starred Audery Tautou and were both uplifting and humorous films, I thought maybe I only liked a particular type of French film. However since then I have watched many French films including 'La Vie en Rose' for which Marion Cotillard won an Oscar and my love has only continued to grow. I am a French film fanatique! Lol

If you want to get into French film, I recommend these as they are light-hearted and easy to watch before you embark on the more serious ones!

'Amelie' (2001) or 'Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amelie Poulain' which is the French title. It translates to the fabulous destiny of Amelie Poulain.

'Priceless' (2006) or 'Hors de Prix' is the french title.

Au revior

Book Worm Weekly

Happy New Year! Hope 2009 brings nothing but the good stuff :) to all my readers.

Now for my review of Double Cross.

Rating: 8.5/10

I really enjoyed this book I've been impressed by the 3 previous books in the series and book number 4 did not disappoint. This one was a real page turner, I started reading it on Monday and had finished by Tuesday. Like the previous books race plays a major role in Double Cross, racial inequality is still rife with the black Crosses being dominant over the white noughts. The book focuses on 2 main characters firstly Tobey Durbridge a young ambitious nought who is determined to go to university and make something of himself despite his subordinate position in society and secondly Tobey's best friend (whom he also happens to be in love with) Callie-Rose Hadley. Callie Rose is the daughter of the 2 main characters from the first book in the series and is mixed neither nought or cross and is just trying be herself not who everyone thinks she should be.

Tobey is trying to keep on the straight and narrow but is struggling with demons being a nought boy in an exclusive school. He begins to realise that it's hard to cling on to his ambitious dream whilst the streets around him are carved up by rival gangs. Offered the chance to make easy money just for making a few 'deliveries' Tobey becomes affiliated with the most infamous nought gang in his area. Little does he realise how that one decision can bring down violence on both himself and Callie. As a consequence Callie Rose gets hurt and Tobey is determined to seek revenge. Tobey embarks on an elaborate plan to not only bring down 'McCauley's' infamous nought gang but also the rival cross family the 'Dowds'. Tobey is playing a dangerous games affiliating with both rival gangs (hence the title of the book; Double Cross).

I won't reveal much more about the story line in case you decide to read it. I really don't want to spoil it because it's a great read. It's explosively page-turning, dramatic and full or relevance for our wold today. Along with the rest of the 'Noughts and Crosses' series I highly recommend it, fiction doesn't get much better than this!

What I'm reading this week... This week I'm reading a book called 'Sexing the Cherry' by Jeanette Winterson. Sounds kinda naughty I know...but it was recommend to me by a friend. I have a friend who studies English Literature at university and as English Literature is something I really enjoyed at school I would have loved to study it at degree level, but alas I studied Psychology! Lol. Anywho I take advantage of my friend's studies and she recommends books from her reading list that she has read and thinks I would enjoy and 'Sexing the Cherry' is one of them. So don't blame me for the provocative title...blame her!

Sexing the Cherry (1989)

ISBN: 978-0802135780

Review next week!