Let's Be Cool: February 2012

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Movie of the Week

So I have decided to start doing a movie of the week post because, well, I watch a lot of movies.

This week's Movie Of The Week is Simon Pegg and Nick Frost's Paul. I didn't see this movie when it originally came out into the cinema and it took me a while to actually take the time to watch it and to honest I do regret not watching it sooner because it is quite fantastic. It's nice to see an alien, close encounter etc type movie redone in a new way. The overall plot of the movie is not unfamiliar and that is the charm of it; they play on alien movie clichés and use them to their strengths.

I will do a quick summing up for anyone who hasn't seen the movie. So Graham (Pegg) and Clive (Frost) are two British sci-fi enthusiasts who have made the trip from the UK to San Diego for the annual Comic-Con. While there, they decide to take a bit of a road trip around the supernatural landmarks of the states (I guess that's what you'd call them). While on this trip they encounter Paul, who after having been 60 years on planet decides that it is time to return home. The geeks take him on board their RV and in doing so the adventure really begins. While on the road they meet the bible thumping Ruth played by my girl-crush Kristen Wiig, the special agent Zoil played by Jason Bateman and the not-so-special agents whose names I can't remember played by Bill Hader and Joe Lo Truglio.

The character of Paul, voiced by one of my idols, Seth Rogen, is most definitely the best alien I have seen on the screen since E.T. He is however most definitely not a cheap copy of E.T. Instead though, Paul is everything that you would expect from an alien having spent 60 years on Earth, kicking back and advising both the government and the entertainment industry on matters extraterrestrial-related and otherwise. He smokes with a trooper, curses like a sailor and gets high like various other stereotypes. Seth Rogen, like he has done so in movies before, creates the perfect balance between being foul-mouthed and then caring and sweet. He, in my opinion, stole the show.

As far as the actual jokes themselves go, to be honest, I think if had not have been for the exceptional cast, then the movie would probably have sunk into oblivion as just being a good CGI project but nothing else. You would expect more than jokes about anal probes and being gay from the guys who brought you Hot Fuzz and Spaced. Don't get me wrong I laughed a lot, but i just expected more than gay jokes that's all. It still is a really really good laugh though so I would highly recommend it.

Overall Rating 7/10

image vie geekadelphia.com

Cheers for reading,

Jane

Saturday, February 25, 2012

iTuning

So having just opened iTunes, I meant to click the Date Added top bar but instead clicked Plays, and this led me to discover something quite interesting about my music-listening habits.

The top ten songs in my iTunes with the highest number of plays are:

(I'm even including the YouTube links so ya'll can listen to them. I am just too good to ye!)

10. Toop Toop - Cassius

9. Hounds of Love - Kate Bush

8. Just One of Those Things - Brazilian Girls featuring Dearie Blossom

7. Ambling Amp - Yeasayer

6. Panic - The Smiths

5. Billie Holiday - Warpaint

4. Love Cats - The Cure

3. Not In Love - Crystal Castles featuring Robert Smith

2. The Whole of the Moon - The Waterboys

and finally with a play count that I am too embarrassed to reveal...

1. Neil Young's Heart of Gold

And what, you may very well ask, did I discover from this exercise?

I have simply fantastic taste in music.

Well according to me and my iTunes anyway...

Cheers for reading,

Jane

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Six People I Would Marry

This is a shamelessly self-indulgent post about famous people I would marry.
In no particular order...

SETH MEYERS

Just so I could make him read the newspaper to be every morning over breakfast. Also he's quite a cutie.

JASON SEGEL

Long time crush. See my life plan.

JEREMY CLARKSON

He is my ultimate older man crush. Well everyone on this list is older than me but since Mr. Clarkson is old enough to be my father, I think that needs justification. Even though people call him a chauvinist, a racist, and a grumpy old man, I don't care. I still would.

RYAN REYNOLDS

Needs absolutely no explanation.

GREGORY PECK

With the imminent invention of time travel, I will be on that.

KRISTEN WIIG

Ultimate girl crush right there. I would settle for BFF's though.

all images via google.images.com

I wouldn't put Ryan Gosling on the list because I would want him to still have an air of mystery about him. Obviously he would be my bit on the side. Obviously.

Cheers for reading,

Jane

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Everything You'll Need In My Handbag

I made a decision some months ago, that I was sick of not having makeup in my bag all the time. In deciding to put together a makeup that would stay in my bag all of the time, I discovered something quite phenomenal. Evolutionary, if you will.

I am demon for changing handbags. I don't carry a rucksack or a backpack so I change my bag according to how many books I will have to bring into college on that chosen day. Sad, I know but anytime I go into town to actually buy a rucksack I get sidetracked by something prettier, girlier and with a great deal less practicality. Now back to my discovery...

It's a mini bag. A bag inside a bag. A bag with everything you need that can be pulled out at a moment's notice and thrown into another bag without rummaging for tissues, tampons or other things in your handbag begin with a T (to carry on the aliteration of course). It really is the best idea that I have ever come up with, having made my life immeasurably easier. So here are the contents of my bag and how they have so greatly improved my life.

Elizabeth Arden's 8-hour Cream

This stuff is one of those products that once you buy it you'll wonder how you ever managed without it. A bit of flaky skin? Apply it. Chapped lips? Dab it. Dry hands? Rub it. A small graze? Smear it. A hole in your shoe? Stroke it. I was just kidding about the last one but the stuff really is very good. You can pick it up in Brown Thomas and pretty much any good pharmacy. The 8 Hour range includes a number of moisturizers, lip balms and treatments. The orange balmy Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant really is the best one available, as it is a saviour for elbow, hands, lips and even for keeping your eyebrows in place!

Benefit’s Tan About Town

You know how annoying it is when you’re out and about and you wish you had thought to throw some makeup into your bag? Well fear not. Benefit has the remedy for your forgetfulness and the name of this remedy? Tan About Town. This phenomenal little trio of Benefit classics is a godsend. I picked mine up in Brown Thomas before Christmas for a measly little sum of money and it is quite spectacular. Included in the cute little box that it comes in is Some Kind of Gorgeous Foundation (investing in a good little travel-sized concealor brush will make this a handy little 1.8g sample into an on-the-go lifesaver), Badgal Lash black mascara (the great thing about this is that no expense was spared on the brush) and finally Hoola Bronzer (another travel size powder brush is also necessary for this little beauty). These products are small enough to fit into a handbag but big enough to be useful. Not really meant for every day use but perfect for having in your handbag for minor emergencies.

Stuff That Smells Nice

Remember those little free sample perfume sprayers that you always thought were completely useless? Well I have Stella McCartney's Lily and Dior Addict in my bag and they have proven to be dead handy. I don't actually wear Lily or Addict but Chanel don't issue sample vials so I have to make do. Also those tiny handbag size Nivea deodorants are invaluable.

Other Essentials Include...

A bunch of hair ties and bobby pins, a couple of tampons (it's handy to keep them on-call for friends too), a pack of Kleenex, a mini packet of 10 wet wipes, compact mirror, one of those high-vis armbands that I have never actually used but like keeping in my bag just in case, an iPhone cable, chewing gum and finally plasters because if you know me, you'll know how necessary they are.

And finally the magic bag that holds it all...

Studded clutch from River Island. It used to have a little wristlet thing on it too but that unfortunately came off the night I stupidly decided to use it as a going out bag. This bag doesn't seem to be available in black anymore but is is in cream, which I personally think wouldn't be a great choice as since the bag would be for day to day use it will probably get a little grubby. All in all this little baby has become my ultimate go-to for on-the-go emergencies. You're welcome ladies!

Cheers for reading,

Jane

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

the instagram diaries

- ship necklace -

- pretty window -

- one of the perks of being a reformed nail-biter -

- Midterms themed all-nighter -

- Pink Lady iPhone -

- wearing RI gold blazer and Oasis blue scarf -

- flowers -

Just as an extra little note I have also had a few more articles published with Studenty.me, one of which that you can read HERE. This one was definitely the most fun article that I've written so far and a lot of people of complimented me on it even though it's just a little jokey thing. It was even featured in Studenty's Top Ten Stories of the week post. I know that this isn't like a massive deal but I'll take little victories as they come!

Cheers for reading,

Jane

best in show

OhMyGodOhMyGodOhMyGod
I'm not going to give an ill-informed analysis of what exactly I think about London Fashion Week but did you see the Burberry Prorsum show? Amazing. Now instead of posting a series of picture scammed off Style.com, I will just post Burberry's Youtube video. It's actually quite beautiful.

Mary Katrantzou also did not fail to impress but since there are no videos of that, cue the series of Style.com photos. As far as unusual shapes and pretty (crazy) patterns go, Katrantzou hit the nail on the proverbial head.

Christopher Kane was in my opinion the absolute best show. The strict red/purple/blue colour palette on a backdrop of black was just inspired. There was something a little sinister to it but the simple hair and dewy makeup made it wearable rather than just looking like a stylish serial killer.

Oh! the things I would do to be in that front row!

(images via style.com)

Cheers for reading,

Jane

Monday, February 20, 2012

The Del Rey

It's not every day that when a girl says "my handbag", it does quite literally mean her handbag. Lana Del Rey has now entered that elite club of which the likes of Grace Kelly, Jane Birkin, Jessica Stam and Alexa Chung are already members. It was only three years ago that Mulberry announced that the would make their first bag dedication - following in the footsteps of Hermès and Marc Jacobs - and Alexa Chung was the object of their affection.
After seeing the video of Del Rey's first major hit Video Games, Mulberry's Creative Director Emma Hill apparently proclaimed that she had to meet the girl behind the music. Lana obviously made a good impression.
The bag comes in a range of colours and will be available from May. The lucky Miss Lana is however the only one who will get her paws on the white ostrich skin edition (pictured bottom left) as it was made especially - and exclusively - for her.
Lana was photographed (about five million times I'd say) yesterday sitting front row at Mulberry's A/W 2012 show in London with the bag tucked neatly onto her lap and even at one stage being shown off in all its glory on the floor by her feet. There is absolutely no doubt about the fact that this bag is a reference to the bygone Hollywood glamour that influences Lana's style. It is definitely something that you could imagine Nancy Sinatra carrying in the crook of her elbow: gangster or not.

all images via google.images.com

So what do you think? Yay or Nay?

Cheers for reading,

Jane

Sunday, February 19, 2012

team building

(Taken with instagram)

So this weekend, my Habitat For Humanity team journeyed off into the abyss.

Well not so much into the abyss but in search of Esker Monastery which actually proved extremely difficult to find on Friday. We were about to start our Team Building Weekend and the first team building exercise of the day was actually finding the place. And we did. Eventually.

Overall it was a really great weekend. There was a lot of playing games, alternative song-writing (pictured above), bonding, sharing and then the whole thing was rounded off with a legendary game of Kings. If you happen to be Kings-inclined, then I have something amazing to share. The "With My Pants Down" rule. When you draw whichever card you have assigned to be the New Rule card then embrace the "With My Pants Down" rule. Fear not. It is more innocent than it sounds. Kind of. At the end of every sentence the phrase "with my pants down" must be said. It sounds juvenile but it is fairly hilarious. Image the innuendo! Actually it's not so much innuendo but just blatant statements. Literally no sentence is safe... with my pants down.

Cheers for reading,

Jane

Friday, February 17, 2012

how i intend to look while travelling next year

I intend to look very stylish next year while travelling with my friend Caitlin and even though I know I will more than likely look gross and sunburned all the time. A girl can dream can't see?
So here are some outfit courtesy of Polyvore.

Sightseeing