Merry Happy

Yes, it's here. Don't really have much Christmas spirit to be spreading it around, but doing my best. Whatever you do, have a good time doing it, eat a second helping of stuffing and have another round of eggnog. 'Tis the season, after all.

Cheers!

(extra points if you got the Community reference in the title)

(Image found here)

14 Actors Acting

The New York Times Magazine recently created a video series named Fourteen Actors Acting as a tribute to some of Hollywood's classic screen types, to celebrate their annual Hollywood Issue. The videos are short, black and white performances by 14 actors, directed by Solve Sundsbo. The stars include Jesse Eisenberg, Natalie Portman, Michael Douglas, Matt Damon, Vincent Cassel and more.

It's a really interesting video gallery, and some of the scenes are absolutely breathtaking. The music by Owen Pallett is beautiful and really ties the whole series together. You can watch all the videos here and then let me know which one is your favourite!

This post is supported by luxury watches

Found

Being a doodler, I love the concept of Found magazine. I'm always on the lookout for stray photos and crumpled notes, love how they allow me a personal glimpse in someone else's life. The people behind it collect all these found items and share them with the world. Isn't it a great idea? I actually laughed out loud when I saw the note above, which was found scribbled on a barf bag in a plane.

You can submit your own findings, plus you can buy their magazines and books online. For photography enthusiasts, they have a special book about found Polaroids, which goes straight to my Christmas wishlist.

So, take a moment or two to browse their site and next time you're in a supermarket, a bar or the library, keep an eye out for these tossed away treasures. They might make your day.

Won't it be strange when we're all fully grown

Today is Pulp day. I almost screamed with excitement when I heard the news. Yes, one of Britain's coolest bands are reuniting for some live shows this summer. I can't think of anything more exciting for someone who grew up in the '90s. Check out their official page and start saving up. That's what I'm doing.

Hotel Chevalier

Hotel Chevalier is a short film by Wes Anderson, a prologue to his 2007 film, The Darjeeling Limited, starring Jason Schwartzman and Natalie Portman. It's a 13-minute long love story, and takes place entirely in a hotel room, which makes me love it even more. You can watch it all on youtube, part 1 and part 2 .

The setting and atmosphere is beautiful, and the chemistry between Portman and Schwartzman works great. When watching this again today for this post, I fell in love all over again with the 1969 song Where do you go to my lovely by Peter Starstedt, which really helps set the mood for this film, although that's to be expected of Mr. Anderson, his films always have gorgeous music. Pure vintage goodness.

-Are you running away from me?
-I thought I already did.

Another day, another tag

The lovely Elviella tagged me recently (by recently I mean over a month ago) to answer 8 questions. I'm really, really late but finally, here they are. Feel free to tag yourselves!

1. Which movie/book/comic character can you relate the most with?
I don't know if it's about relatability, but one of my favourite book characters is T.S. Garp, from John Irving's The world according to Garp. A gem of a book.

2. Which is the physical characteristic that you always pay attention to when you see people? (e.g. I ALWAYS remember what people's hands look like)
I think I always notice the hair.

3. Three things that annoy you to no end?
Only three? That's tough. Let's see: a) rude people who push and shove you in buses and trains.
b) rude people who ignore the smoking ban. c) rude people who don't smile or say "thank you" and "please". You can see a pattern, right? Rude people annoy the crap out of me.

4. Who is your favourite band/singer currently?
Right now, it's Mumford and Sons. I'm listening to them non-stop.

5. Which is the first thing you do when you get in the internet?
Check my e-mail. Doesn't everyone do that?

6. Which is the latest film you've watched?
Buried, which was brilliant.

7. Something you really are looking forward to?

Christmas!

8. A thing you really have to do that you've been neglecting?

Updating my blog. Done!

I'll be back soon! Until next time, watch Terriers!

xoxo






This post is supported by Online Diamond Jewelry Store

Winner

Congrats Efi ! You're the winner of the tote bag! Drop me an email (you can find my address in my profile) to let me know where to send your bag.

Thank you all for participating, stay tuned for the next one!

Tote Giveaway!

It's atonement time. I've been absent for so long and I feel kinda bad about it, no time or mood to blog I guess. In the meantime though, I reached 100 readers so I want to celebrate a little with a giveaway! A large, brand new tote bag is up for grabs.

Roomy and practical, it has a zippered pocket on the back, one inside plus a handy compartment for your cellphone. The giveaway is open worldwide and all you have to do is leave a comment here until October 24.

Thank you and comment away!

xoxo

Penelope Tree

Penelope Tree with her big eyes, straight, long hair and skinny figure was an it-girl right up there with Twiggy and Pattie Boyd and an iconic model of the '60s. Or, as John Lennon famously said of her: "Hot, hot, hot, smart, smart, smart!"

She has been a favourite of mine for a long time, and wanted to dedicate a blog post to her. She looks amazing in her photos and although she stays out of the spotlight and rarely gives interviews, she still maintains her fashion status quo and is quite inspiring today.

The tagging game

Hello gang, it's been a while! I'm back now though, and it's time to respond to a couple of tags I got from Lorelai and beachcoma.

The edge of love

Saw The Edge of Love the other night, and although I didn't really like it, it was pure screenshot material. The film was made in 2008, directed by John Maybury, starring Keira Knightley, Sienna Miller, Cillian Murphy and Matthew Rhys. Set in World War II, it's basically the story of the two women, connected by their relationship to Dylan Thomas.

Portraits

Last summer, while strolling in London, we came across the National Portrait Gallery, near Leicester Square. There was an exhibition inside, the BP Portrait Award, which celebrated its 20th year. The art was incredible, especially for an avid lover of portraits such as myself. I find portraits compelling and incredibly beautiful, a strong face is so interesting and can evoke a plethora of feelings and memories. They also carry a nostalgic vibe, as I find them reminiscent of a bygone era before photography was an option, where people used to sit for hours for their oil portraits.

We had an amazing afternoon there, and I'm glad I bought the gallery's booklet which is filled with some of the most interesting portraits of last year's contest. The photos of this post are taken from the internets, as my scanner won't cooperate. You can check the credits at the end of the post, and also make sure to see this year's entries as well.

Georgie, Mary Jane Ansell

Hats and scarves, Tim Okamura

Agnes, Natalie Holland

Imagine, José Luis Corella

Guillem, Miriam Escofet

Harry Patch, Dan Llywelyn Hall
Changeling 2, Peter Monkman (1st prize)

Let's go to the mall

Sales are a dangerous and sneaky thing. You're browsing online, checking twitter and blogs when you find yourself over at the sale section of Asos, Tatty Devine and Topshop, lusting over things you can actually afford. How did that happen?

Winner!

Congrats to the winner, mademoiselle myrtilo! Thank you all for entering, I may do another book giveaway soon!

I'll be back later today with a "Yes, I went shopping yet again" post. What can I say, the sales got me.

xoxo

Summertime

More photos, less words. Had a great time on the island, a relaxing week was just what the doctor ordered. Lots of swimming, sunbathing, cocktails, ice creams, aloe vera and flip flops. My kind of holiday.

Book Giveaway

This is my 100th post and I thought we'd celebrate with a giveaway. Cool, yes? The prize is a book this time, Atonement by Ian McEwan. Here's the summary from Amazon in case you're not familiar with it:

The novel opens on a sweltering summer day in 1935 at the Tallis family’s mansion in the Surrey countryside. Thirteen-year-old Briony has written a play in honor of the visit of her adored older brother Leon; other guests include her three young cousins -- refugees from their parent’s marital breakup -- Leon’s friend Paul Marshall, and Robbie Turner, the son of the family charlady whose brilliantly successful college career has been funded by Mr. Tallis. Their elder daughter Cecilia is also present; she has just graduated from Cambridge and is at home for the summer, restless and yearning for her life to really begin. In the midst of the long hot afternoon, Briony happens to be watching from a window when Cecilia strips off her clothes and plunges into the fountain on the lawn as Robbie looks on. Later that evening, Briony thinks she sees Robbie attacking Cecilia in the library, she reads a note meant for Cecilia, her cousin Lola is sexually assaulted, and she makes an accusation that she will repent for the rest of her life.

Comment here for a chance to win this paperback. If you follow my blog or tweet about this giveaway leave me a separate comment letting me know. I will gladly ship anywhere in the world but please keep in mind that the book is in English!

Contest ends August 10. Good luck!

Paris Style

I first discovered My Street Style when they started following me on twitter, a couple of weeks ago. It's a relatively new street style site, where the photographers roam the streets of Paris capturing the style of the people. I love street fashion, I find it so inspiring and refreshing to see what real people are wearing in their everyday lives, so I was really excited to discover a new site about it, and a french one at that!



The site is both in french and in english, and there's also a section for the lucky ones living in Paris to submit their own picture. Oh, and while we're on the subject of street fashion, make sure to check out Streetgeist, to see what people in Athens are wearing.

(I love this guy!)

all photos courtesy of mystreetstyle.fr

ps. This is a scheduled post, so by the time you're reading this I'm probably slapping on sunscreen and refusing to get out of the water, i.e. still on holiday. Excuse me for falling behind on my blog reading-and-commenting! Hope all is well with you. xoxo

David Sedaris

David Sedaris is one of my favourite writers. His books always manage to make me laugh out loud or tear up while recognizing so many familiar experiences or painful realisations. He's unique in his way of taking the mundane in life and making it the most surreal, hilarious thing you'll ever live or read.

Therefore, I was beyond excited when a couple of years ago he came to Athens for a book signing. He was even lovelier in person, and it was fantastic to listen to him read an excerpt of his book. He signed two books for me, (yes, I brought two books, I'm a nerd) and I vividly remember me having a stupid smile for hours after.



The reason for this post is that I recently bought his book, Me talk pretty one day which chronicles his stay in Paris and his efforts to learn French. Oh, I so can't wait to read it!

"Real love amounts to withholding the truth, even when you're offered the perfect opportunity to hurt someone's feelings"

David Sedaris, Dress your family in corduroy and denim

Until next time, read a book.

xoxo

The island

Aaaaand, I'm off! The beach awaits me, so I'm leaving for a mini vacation, one week to be exact. I've scheduled a couple of posts to be published during my absence, and there'll be plenty more when I get back, tanned and rested.

Have a lovely week!

xoxo

Cracks

Cracks, based on Sheila Kohler's novel, is a film by Jordan Scott, starring Eva Green. Set in 1934, it gives us a look at the lives of the girls in a prestigious boarding school in Great Britain. More specifically, how the lives of the girls in the school's diving team are affected by the arrival of a new student.

Size matters

Sales don't start here until Thursday but many stores have already lowered their prices, trying hard to lure customers. I can't speak for others, but their devious marketing strategies worked like a charm on me, and after a trip to the shops the other day I got home with two new pairs of shoes.


Plastic red ballet flats. Dirt cheap and adorable! I have noticed a serious lack in red shoes in my wardrobe, so you can say these were almost necessary.

Floral-pop wedges. They do turn me into a small giant but they're quite comfortable despite the 10cm platform.

To tell you the truth, I also wanted to buy a hat for my holiday. I tried on a lot of them, but apparently, I have a huge head. No kidding, every single one of them was way too small on me. What's going on? I've just managed to come to terms with the fact that my hands are too big so I can't wear bangles, and now this. Does anyone else have this problem or my freakishly big head and I are alone in this? Oh, and there's no correlation between the size of one's head and IQ. Trust me, I googled it.

Luckily, I had my shoes and cupcakes to cheer me up.

Until next time, have a frozen treat.

xoxo