I have not blogged since Monday and with no excuse like Christmas or dreaded New Year to fall back on then I can only apologise... hopefully the image of the cute dog left out in the freezing cold should warm your hearts to me.
This week has been a strange one with lots of decisions, factors and choices to think about and it makes me realise as you get older the choices you make become more and more important. I'm struggling now to deal with choices now and I haven't even got kids (shudders) to think about!
Sometimes, when I let my mind wander and I may display a glazed over look and be drooling slightly to the onlooker I revert back to when tough choices involved.. shall I wear the black or blue jeans to the youth disco? With my pocket money shall I buy a burger and fries or burger and drink at McDonalds? Life seemed so uncomplicated back then and the choices seem irrelevant now, but back then.. these were big decisions.
So I will try to keep calm, focused and concentrate on the things that matter the most.. not let the little things muddle in and confuse me.
The blog will resume its normal duty next week :) thanks for sticking with me.
Yes, that's right SGS is absolutely back in town after the rather fabulous visit to NYC last week. I am in a rather "down with Britain" kind of mood at the moment, I just ADORE the Big Apple. So rather than witter on for paragraphs I shall list some brilliant things about the city, which should hopefully sway your decision to visit if you never have!
Now they say home is where the heart is, and I can see why that statement rings true. Your heart is occupied by the ones you love the most, your family (not the crazy extended family) your beloved, friends and even pets. Yet somehow I think I have left a piece of mine in New York - cheese factor 7/10. I truly believe I could live there and be happy with The Boy, minus missing some of my other heart pieces.
Here is why:
1. There is ALWAYS something to see - my advice would be to walk as much as you can, and look up... the buildings are incredible and Times Square is always buzzing.
2. The people are friendly - we had help from New Yorkers when it came to transport, offering to take photographs, fixing bikes and even swiping me through the subway when I lost my card!
3. You are only a couple of blocks away from Central Park - the fact you can escape the hustle and bustle of the city and step into a park with trees, lakes and skating rinks is just incredible. The landscape is just beautiful..
4. Even the most shopping repellent people will find a shop for them in New York - 5th Avenue is incredible for the Fashionistas, Greenwich Village perfect for the little suburb shop types and Century 21 is a designer discount store that has to be visited! Even TB, not a shopping fan and fuss-aholic found shoes, pants, jumpers and polo shirts that he was pleased with.
5. The landscapes and architecture are fantastic, stroll over Brooklyn Bridge, go to Eliis and Liberty Island to see the Statue of Liberty and view the skyline, go to the 86th floor of the Empire State Building to have a 360 degree view of Manhattan, marvel at the instantly recognisable Chrysler Building, Flat Iron Building and Trump Tower.
I could go on, but I won't... oh and the food, the food is something else. I'm in currently in Peanut Butter heaven.
So wherever your home is, remember to leave some heart behind.
Fellow readers, SGS is off for a vacation (sadly not a staycation) to New York on Thursday morning when everyone else will be tucked up in bed. Am I excited?! I certainly am, not bottle of pop excited yet but I can feel my spiritual home calling me.
So in light of my fabulous trip I will combine some of my Blog features in today's post.. so you don't miss out :)
Let's start with..
Tunes for a Tuesday
I blame Coco - Caesar
Coco is the daughter of Sting and Trudi.. the star couple that literally bang on about having tantric sex, how unfortunate for her. Unlike other siblings that have famous parents and seem to f*** up their lives (think Chloe Madeley crashing her car when drunk) Coco has a beautiful voice and Caesar is a great record. Apparently she's been working on her album since she was 15 and with the help of a Swedish producer and pop pixie Robyn I'm sure she'll do great things in 2010.
Owl City - Fireflies
"Fireflies" is a single released early in 2009 by Owl City. Adam Young wrote and produced the track for Owl City's second album, Ocean Eyes. It has had massive chart success and reached Number 1 in several countries, and looks set to do the same in the UK. Adam describes his sound as synth-pop and I certainly seem to be riding on a wave of butterscotch pop when listening to it.
Guilty Pleasure - The word 'fugly'
I first encountered the word 'fugly' after watching the epic movie, Mean Girls. You may be wondering what it actually means, so I'll break it down for ya..
F****** + Ugly = Fugly
Two insulting words rolled into one.. genius!! So Lindsay Lohan, before she became a complete arse, plays the new kid in a High School with a cafeteria full of cliches- Jocks, Nerds etc and with the outsider kids (a Goth and a fat gay guy) plans to take down the pack of Mean (but ultimately popular) Girls. They have a burn book where they write horrible things about students and teachers including calling girls "Fugly Sluts"... excellent.. whats not to love?!
In this clip, Head Mean Girl, Regina George goes ape...
Nuff Love
1. Two insulting words rolled into one, saves on time and oxygen usage 2. Can get away with saying it infront of those who don't approve of swearing- eg. Parents, Priests, Jesus....
Nuff Hate
1. It's totally childish... as insults go it's down there with "I'm telling your smelling" 2. Fugly is a REALLY American word, which lets face it, us Brits find annoying.
Fashion Fix erm Tuesday (normally Friday)
Headbands quickly became a must-have acessory of 2009 and I still haven't had my fill. Brilliant for adding a touch of va-va voom to a boring outfit and look pretty in hair up or down. Admittedly some of the hairband fashion I couldn't get my head around, namely the fake plait band which some girls chose to wear in a different shade to their own hair.. fugly!!
Feathers in fashion are hot, hot, hot right now! Combining them with a headband?! Genius... love this headband. The brilliant blues and greens makes a bold statement, meaning you can wear a black outfit and have instant x-factor. Pricey? Yes.. Gorgeous.. Yes.
Think Hollywood glamour, Bette Davies, Grace Kelly, Greta Garbo.. these are the images this headband conjures up with me. This beautiful pleated headband oozes that retro glamour feel, and I could just imagine any one of the Hollywood greats wearing it. I think this has the potential to be dressed up or down and for the price tag, as a special treat is definitely worth the money.
Well I hope your week ahead is prosperous, and take care in the snow.. pink plaster casts only look cool when you are 7. Undoubtedly your week won't be as good as mine, I am off to one of the best cities in the world but enjoy it anyway.
So I think we can all appreciate, it's pretty cold. Most of us.. infact all of us have had snow, whether it be 1 inches.. or 10. Perfect weather to get on the layers and wrap up warm... layering doesn't have to be practical, it can be sexy too!! Ok, so maybe when you have tripped over (as I did yesterday) you won't care but at least you'll look fabulous darling.
Here are my Top 3 knitwear pieces to keep you toasty during snow time.
Perfect for covering up when it's chilly, the soft knit will keep you comfortable while the cowl neck and oversize sleeves means you could easily fit a jacket of gilet over for a relaxed yet stylish look. Purple is also great for livening up black tights or leggings... mmmhhh toasty.
The waterfall edge has been used everywhere this autumn/winter and you can see why. Pretty, feminine and flattering it suits all body shapes and gives a far more interesting edge to cardigans. This fine knit will allow you to layer up underneath with vest tops and long tops and you could team it with a mac, scarf and gloves for a bit of Parisian chic.. at an affordable price.
Knitwear can be boring, we all tend to have the staple black or grey cardigan and while these items are good to have in your wardrobe, why not experiment? Bold patterns can be great for adding a new edge to your look and updating old clothes like dresses and skirts. This cardigan has a great pattern and could really compliment bright colours, why not try with a pink sweater dress? or mustard polo neck?
Keep safe and warm in the snow and remember.. it's fine to hit kids with snowballs.
2010 sees the end of Big Brother in the UK but not before CeLebrity Big Brother 2010 kicked off last Sunday.
To my delight, Sisqo was introduced on stage by an annoying Davina McCall who looked like she was wearing a Gorilla gilet. The rnb blonde midget then went on to sing on his classic hit 'Thong Song', and I instantly fell back in love with it!
So repeat after me, "She had dumps like a truck, truck, truck..."
Nuff love 1. Infectious chorus, gets you shaking your rump 2. Upped the sales of thongs by 300% 3. Helped to smash the stigma of female undergarments
Nuff hate 1. Sisqo tries too hard, always back flipping.. perhaps he has ADHD? 2. Some of the lyrics are questionable.. "She had thighs like what".. erm yeh, what exactly? like a gazelle? athlete? 3. Ahh I'm picking now... nothing more
These are the tunes I'm digging on a snowy Tuesday!!
Beyonce feat. Lady GaGa - Videophone
Beyonce is probably Queen of all things r n b and GaGa is the electro Princess so this collaboration can be only be written in the stars! Good ol' B always does some great collabs notably She Wolf - Shakira and Wigger Sean Paul and this effort is no exception. The video pays homage to the dark/gothic style Rihanna has adopted and well the 20 costume changes must be a GaGa tribute. A sultry, sexy beat and Beyonce in some jaw dropping costumes - Ring a ding ding!
Marina and the Diamonds - Hollywood
Tipped to be one of THE biggest break through acts of 2010 is Marina and the Diamonds, and I'm proud to say she is Welsh. So alongside Ellie Goulding we have another artist to come from the the land of Jones'. Marina was born in Aberystwyth to a Greek father and Welsh mother, so thats where she gets her dark good looks from and ability to drink pints on a match day. Hollywood is taken from her album entitled 'The Crown Jewels' and will feature other singles such as I am not a robot so fix up, look sharp and get listening.
Into the Wild.. no, not the Welsh Valleys.. the film.
Happy New Year beloved readers, all 3 of you :)
For those of you who haven't seen this film, I urge you to. It was one of the most thought provoking films I have ever seen, and not in a pretentious sort of way like ultimately 'Wall-E' did with their message of Save the Planet etc etc....
I will give you the story in a nut-shell,
Emile Hersch plays Christopher McCandless, who after graduating from Emory University as a top student and athlete abandons his possessions after being disolusioned with his parents, expectations and society in general. He gives his entire $24,000 savings account to Oxfam and hitchhikes using any means of transport possible, to Alaska to live in the wilderness. Along the way, Christopher encounters a series of characters that ultimately influence each others lives....
It just got me thinking about how we view our lives, and because it is based on a true story it seemed even more poignant. Christopher is disolusioned with his life, on the outside he has what seems an almost perfect exsistence. Top grades, savings for College, a supportive family yet inside he feels completely trapped. Trapped by the things we humans seem to value the most... money, possesions and status. He does the bravest thing I can think of (barr giving your own life for another), gives his money away, abandons his car, leaves his family and sets off to Alaska on his own without money, phone or an idea of how he'll get there.
I can't say I'm above this.. because I'm not. I constantly judge myself on how much money I have, what job I do and I lament the things I don't have instead of cherishing the things I do.
As a non believer in New Years resolutions I am going to be realistic and say that when I have a bitch-fit over something irrelevant or chastise myself for not earning more I will try to remember what I do have that is free.
I have people in my life that love and support me unconditionally, and what could be more real than that?
