LISTENING ON REPEAT_Sia
You may know Sia, as I did from her catchy tunes ‘Buttons‘ that she performed on Rove that time, or maybe it’s the track ‘Breathe Me’ that’s featured on the likes of One Tree Hill and been remixed by Mylo et al and that my friend Jessie recently posted on her Facebook wall. Either way, I love this Aussie songstress for her quirkiness – she may not be wearing meat or live animals, but this girl sure knows how to stretch the boundaries and create a costume or throw some crazy body paint around. Her youtube clip about the ‘infant-o-criticize-analyser’ made me laugh – about an application that analyses the facial expression of babies when listening to her new album to produce a review. How often do music reviews drone on about the this and the that without actually giving you any real insight – maybe we’d be better to leave it to the babies! I like people a little left of centre, and I know you ladies do as well. Check her out on youtube and myspace.
ESCHEWING ROTTEN TOMATOES FOR_Love and Other Drugs
I had been looking forward to seeing LOAD since the preview invite arrived in my inbox; that was until just before heading out the cinema I checked the Rotten Tomatoes app to find out how it’d been faring. 48% stared back at me. Sadface! Happy to report this time, the critics and I didn’t see eye to eye. Jenene and I loved this movie based on Jamie Reidy’s memoir Hard Sell: The Evolution of a Viagra Salesman; the chemistry between Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway makes for a chick flick with a difference. Gyllenhaal plays Jamie Randell, the womanising, black sheep in his over-achieving family who moves to Ohio as a rep for pharmaceutical drugs, where he meets his match in Maggie, an artist with stage 1 Parkinson’s disease. Disclaimer: Jake’s gorgeous, naked body may or may not have influenced this hot five mention. Check out the trailer here – opens in cinemas January 1st.
PRAISING MY_shu uemura Eyelash Curler
Eyelash curlers had always been one of the beauty essentials I’d poo-pooed! Another step in my morning routine? Really? I couldn’t tell you what made me dig out my curlers recently, but I hand-on-heart love them now. I have it on good authority that these ones from shu uemura are the business when it comes to opening up your eyes and making your lashes touch the sky – and I’d have to agree. One pump before lashings of mascara and I can easily spot the difference – as have others around me who have commented. I originally picked mine up at Mecca Cosmetica, but you can also purchase online. Love love love.
LOVING_KatyDid Paper Goods
I always have a browse of nzgirl panel member Julia’s blog, StudioHomeOnline when I’m looking for something that little bit gorgeous and unknown – she’s got this great network of creative friends who produce some fantastic crafty products. KatyDid Paper Goods is no exception – japanese washi tape (you know my love for this already), folding rulers, paper drinking straws and these nostalgic hand-printed kiwiana cards, like the one above “Let Them Eat Pav”. A perfect place to make your Christmas gifts that little bit more amazing this year. Check out her store here.
DEMOLISHING CRAVING ANOTHER_Cake from The Caker
It’s the season for giving – and this week we received a delivery from our neighbours Maxted Thomas PR in the form of The Caker’s ‘The Perilous Cake’ – flourless, dark chocolate, gluten free goodness dusted with an icing sugar heart! We demo’d this bad boy – all three of us on the team with the help of the odd courier or two – in an afternoon such was its deliciousness. nzgirl Jordan Rondel loves to bake cakes – so that’s what she does as Auckland’s The Caker! Each week she concocts a specialty cake, such as this week’s ‘Lemon Curd Sandwich Cake’ that can be ordered alongside her two faithfuls, the aforementioned ‘Perilous’ and ‘The Elegant Cake’, a gluten and dairy free orange and almond offering for $35 each via her website. Heartily recommended!
FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE_The nzgirl hot five promise
nzgirl’s hot five is an institution on the site – and for good reason. It’s where we share our five favourite things from the week. You can’t buy a space in the hot five, it’s at our total discretion and Tee’s dictation and we want you to know that.
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