tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63019030745095447562024-03-01T10:43:04.190-03:00Someone Once Said...fmd74http://www.blogger.com/profile/12068742350378371627noreply@blogger.comBlogger339125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6301903074509544756.post-24683495040074187222012-04-14T15:54:00.007-03:002012-04-14T16:42:53.077-03:00A Few of My Current Favorite ThingsI know it's been forever since I posted, but I'm going to try to do better if for no other reason because I want to share what I find and what I like with someone - and let's face it, when it comes to beauty and random thought, HRH is not the best listener.<br /><br />I thought I would start off with a few of my favorite things right now. It's a bit of an odd mish-mash of things, really, but worth a looksy.<br /><br />To start with, I am loving white balsamic vinegar. I've been making a simple vinaigrette with white balsamic and it's amazing. It elevates everything.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg47BNkUfDwFDIXatCIsLNyT2rjpgPrJr4XVSMpAsqFWvd6ay4voluhGqV9EYPefnspd7c_Dayxe8jRf8nry8gezfOs_RHUhysXdHyQAd2ovCcO3U3KwQG3CAXn2nWA1E1KK9EIa86OYZY/s1600/0003915341317_300X300.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg47BNkUfDwFDIXatCIsLNyT2rjpgPrJr4XVSMpAsqFWvd6ay4voluhGqV9EYPefnspd7c_Dayxe8jRf8nry8gezfOs_RHUhysXdHyQAd2ovCcO3U3KwQG3CAXn2nWA1E1KK9EIa86OYZY/s320/0003915341317_300X300.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731335255684528290" border="0" /></a><br />The entire Rouge in Love collection from Lancome is remarkable. From the great texture, long lasting, non-drying formula, to the amazing variety of colors to choose from. The color I chose is Midnight Rose, but really it could have been any of them.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii1hekCMM96STkhIrOy2hE_YIF-XChfPo9lbs3YqkJCpLTC4MwoVLqdI605qWVqJtzcgMWA6v0LqP4mlRRcBeytHPC0iKWsF3Rqb1smgG-CKW0lozWfTVvAoiIs7YF6RV0kmOxyvQFhM0/s1600/lancome-french-touch-absolu.jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZmYg0phby4SrEsPaCPE_q7oeYeQQPPWCs0lOb9AJbelO5aV05JRjD-t4tD4pqQcGPU-mBJQC9gQ39_PL54qq8iM9fjXpA6QbHGZWmiWv_AyIktbTkfxwy3HqcjDfwuMquPA0KgCVrE5o/s1600/000329669.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 298px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZmYg0phby4SrEsPaCPE_q7oeYeQQPPWCs0lOb9AJbelO5aV05JRjD-t4tD4pqQcGPU-mBJQC9gQ39_PL54qq8iM9fjXpA6QbHGZWmiWv_AyIktbTkfxwy3HqcjDfwuMquPA0KgCVrE5o/s320/000329669.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731334735424414898" border="0" /></a><br />Shiseido Cotton Pads. These are the very best cotton pads you will ever use. I got them because I got so frustrated with cotton pads that would fall apart before I was done using them. I thought it was a total splurge, it wasn't. They are moderately priced at around $9 and there are tons of them, you don't need 5 to remove your makeup and if you want you can even cut them in half. They are just that good. There is no transfer to the other side - genius. Out of all of my favorite things on this list, this is the least glamorous and the one that has brought me the most satisfaction.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9-EdnOfM5IWOmisEa06WbCZcyqqQ3jx36Kk0fuIEKV5okBAGIqyVlJfKjPHROSGfLKFbSIKQVtk4nLct-wjoMeRXMFl2h5xg-T0RZvwjw0adq5yvqD08D_ZeXl9oSmTi7yWVxAUy_4wg/s1600/608_42121_P.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9-EdnOfM5IWOmisEa06WbCZcyqqQ3jx36Kk0fuIEKV5okBAGIqyVlJfKjPHROSGfLKFbSIKQVtk4nLct-wjoMeRXMFl2h5xg-T0RZvwjw0adq5yvqD08D_ZeXl9oSmTi7yWVxAUy_4wg/s320/608_42121_P.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731334550523178274" border="0" /></a>Tata for now!fmd74http://www.blogger.com/profile/12068742350378371627noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6301903074509544756.post-22320233179964183552011-03-04T17:55:00.003-03:002011-03-04T18:16:41.226-03:00The New Love of My Life<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIL0Ukdylyo6DIuBj0CPCVZDffT5BTSzsDFSM8iYZlNuePoyRMe3Vi0wmD5TEHZjVB62icBWmhpal8k2dDWWa-TwUTda6iWjkKQd9BPKZUg1NE5B6JmAHbOGi0NRdlDU5nrbmj-1fMUQc/s1600/46c22fba65de492b_Screen_shot_2010-04-06_at_10.50.51_PM.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 368px; height: 296px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIL0Ukdylyo6DIuBj0CPCVZDffT5BTSzsDFSM8iYZlNuePoyRMe3Vi0wmD5TEHZjVB62icBWmhpal8k2dDWWa-TwUTda6iWjkKQd9BPKZUg1NE5B6JmAHbOGi0NRdlDU5nrbmj-1fMUQc/s400/46c22fba65de492b_Screen_shot_2010-04-06_at_10.50.51_PM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580336668767619874" border="0" /></a><br />I found my day cream! Yay! This is a highly moisturizing cream with pure and simple ingredients that aren't complicated and don't try to do too much. The simplicity of the ingredients is what convinced me that I should go for it.<br /><br />Lately I've decided that the best thing I can do for my skin is to clean well and moisturize well using products that encourage the skin's natural anti-aging properties. I don't have wrinkles yet - yeah, hate me, if you want - so I really don't need to be putting stem cells or caviar on my face just yet. If my skin is luminous, smooth, and awesome, that's enough for me. Well, that's enough for anyone, really.<br /><br />The main ingredients are Emollient oil and natural active ingredients: shea butter, beeswax, aloe vera and soy protein. Symdiol 68T paraben-free preservative complex.<br /><br />It's developed for people with sensitive skin too - which is good for me because my eye area is pretty sensitive. It's a medium consistency cream but it spreads well and soaks right up into the skin. This product is also commonly used as a makeup primer. It's one of those multi-fantastic products that works to remove makeup, under makeup, as a moisturizer and furniture polish (not really, but maybe, I wouldn't know). I used it today as a makeup primer and my skin was so grateful. It's going to be the perfect winter primer. It'll keep my skin smooth and moisturized and super, super beautiful.<br /><br />Here's the best part - it's not expensive. Don't you just love genius people who can make awesome things with ingredients that are readily accessible therefore less costly? There is limited distribution outside of France, but it can be found on Amazon and ebay quite easily.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.embryolisse.com/com/products.php?type=1&id=32">Read more about it here</a>.fmd74http://www.blogger.com/profile/12068742350378371627noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6301903074509544756.post-84358455458144442732011-02-18T14:59:00.000-02:002011-02-18T15:00:37.287-02:00Love It!Their performance at the Grammy's was awesome - I.Love.Them.<br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/fNy8llTLvuA" allowfullscreen="" width="640" frameborder="0" height="390"></iframe>fmd74http://www.blogger.com/profile/12068742350378371627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6301903074509544756.post-83370513303321417042011-02-17T12:31:00.005-02:002011-02-17T12:47:03.411-02:00Baby Soft Skin<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitD6IUUJlqHPmJ2daomFyuGAhU4_CRIUvvz6Q914Sf6_kdoQMyqMljWxGGm3BzRr4nUMgQoTQBGSAZ3ySCqOlV5aDSKx7sLUD9fFgM68lNmdO8Dy-y8crrUxHiveU2dhckurIHNOwI34I/s1600/baby+face.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 361px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitD6IUUJlqHPmJ2daomFyuGAhU4_CRIUvvz6Q914Sf6_kdoQMyqMljWxGGm3BzRr4nUMgQoTQBGSAZ3ySCqOlV5aDSKx7sLUD9fFgM68lNmdO8Dy-y8crrUxHiveU2dhckurIHNOwI34I/s400/baby+face.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574669894792272994" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Baby Soft - seriously</span><br /></span></div><br />I recently started using a new brand called Sejaa - Gisele's all natural, organic, anti-aging super moisturizer and mud treatment - and I love it. You all know how much I like to moisturize, massage and pamper my skin, so I'm pretty pleased with myself for having discovered this line.<br /><br />I was drawn to the brand because of the overall proposal. I don't usually use all-natural brands, unless you could L'Occitane, and I don't particularly seek out brands that are organic or "no animal testing". In general I like to use the tried and proven mega brands that spend gagillions on research and development. This brand however is low key, really eco-friendly, non-pretentious and focuses on giving your skin love - natural love.<br /><br />Since I've been currently shopping around for my new true love and the price was attractive, I didn't think I had anything to lose.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoyNFxXWbtuDYaKem36rv5004TBWrMTMeBCZb3ybGupDcnPsGcZ286pjre1fNEH_Ah8gDvXHhrKKrMhi7o8GT06lkXFt91EEPZE5cMxCZSUtrnMvPzBIlOZYAwQ_udJjPycg50LuLvCwA/s1600/sejaa_nc.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoyNFxXWbtuDYaKem36rv5004TBWrMTMeBCZb3ybGupDcnPsGcZ286pjre1fNEH_Ah8gDvXHhrKKrMhi7o8GT06lkXFt91EEPZE5cMxCZSUtrnMvPzBIlOZYAwQ_udJjPycg50LuLvCwA/s400/sejaa_nc.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574669521901048562" border="0" /></a><br />I bought the mud treatment - I love, love, love doing weekly mud treatments, it keeps my skin so tight and bright - and the night cream. I did the mud treatment first and followed the instructions - not rocket science - wash and spread, when it dries remove with warm water and a washcloth. It left my skin fresh and squeaky clean. I spritzed with Avène Thermal Water and it was perfect. Next, I applied the night cream. The smell was almost like play-doh, but not at all unpleasant. When I woke up in the morning, my skin was baby soft - I mean, <span style="font-style: italic;">really</span> baby soft. The night cream was not at all greasy, super easy to spread, spread like a dream, and best of all - my skin was baby soft.<br /><br />Bottom line: if you're looking for something that won't irritate your skin, natural, highly moisturizing and within your budget, I recommend this line. There are three products: Day Cream, Night Cream, Mud Treatment.fmd74http://www.blogger.com/profile/12068742350378371627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6301903074509544756.post-38128581647998267232011-02-11T16:49:00.001-02:002011-02-11T16:58:54.225-02:00Pretty Orange Lippies<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjptHxW5EScz8XYp5VzRG8AxCgzEcSHNA8E5pCfiRyT8f2GZvZR3-7ZdgiveInXiY9JTJcx__gn6YxkrQk2emVvdJvodR0IhciatjqT4RZvABferiqs9qfkQTS9QPZyQd6HEBP91yeAMmI/s1600/d6efecf4024f8961_dunst_c.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjptHxW5EScz8XYp5VzRG8AxCgzEcSHNA8E5pCfiRyT8f2GZvZR3-7ZdgiveInXiY9JTJcx__gn6YxkrQk2emVvdJvodR0IhciatjqT4RZvABferiqs9qfkQTS9QPZyQd6HEBP91yeAMmI/s400/d6efecf4024f8961_dunst_c.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572505727048824402" border="0" /></a><br />I am fascinated by orange lipstick lately. Because of the nuclear heat south of the Equator right now, it only seems fitting that this should be one of the colors of the moment. Like the surface of the sun.<br /><br />MAC makes a really beautiful orange, Lady Danger. It's very bright and intense. There is a way to tone it down though by mixing a bit with clear gloss first. It makes the color translucent and more wearable for every day life - especially if you're just a normal person and not Rihanna.<br /><br />There are many ways to wear bright colors, but the most sensible way is to tone down everything else to a bare minimum - the way Kirsten Dunst and Grace Kelly are wearing it in these pictures.<br /><br />There are millions of oranges out there from drugstore to high end department store brands. You just have to try on different ones until you find your ticket - the perfect one for you.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrdGRNyIpelNbDuRRj3QzCvMxYBXknSzAjqAQ-Vaq4xCfKTJksseoHdpey-0AJqY8d-4TlTWR_PylyL67dq_zVzCQDRjXF8L_luIDvMypjEQo5yUlQ7ZegGmr28l6Uliw6NJM3GoruDqU/s1600/grace+kelly+3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 319px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrdGRNyIpelNbDuRRj3QzCvMxYBXknSzAjqAQ-Vaq4xCfKTJksseoHdpey-0AJqY8d-4TlTWR_PylyL67dq_zVzCQDRjXF8L_luIDvMypjEQo5yUlQ7ZegGmr28l6Uliw6NJM3GoruDqU/s400/grace+kelly+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572505823452611298" border="0" /></a>fmd74http://www.blogger.com/profile/12068742350378371627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6301903074509544756.post-48265085974014927892011-02-10T15:25:00.006-02:002011-02-10T16:59:59.144-02:00The Loss of a Teadrop Diamond<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUTnNKURqtLpMcEnwacXXIBGkVKtQXX2zkiTRJA41GLTV9XtbL4Nb9aj0DpQyPl8zwu5xVWTTQEeCKZwY_BeMeix4EDWygQ-M17nwvY8uPwEmbaXBXqk-KbnhyphenhyphenOOpwzLrjQLYetieFtO4/s1600/image.php.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 278px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUTnNKURqtLpMcEnwacXXIBGkVKtQXX2zkiTRJA41GLTV9XtbL4Nb9aj0DpQyPl8zwu5xVWTTQEeCKZwY_BeMeix4EDWygQ-M17nwvY8uPwEmbaXBXqk-KbnhyphenhyphenOOpwzLrjQLYetieFtO4/s400/image.php.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572135150584473122" border="0" /></a><br />Lately I have been really hard to please in the movie department. I just watched Tennessee Williams' <span style="font-style: italic;">The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond</span> - a screenplay only found after he died. People, there's a reason Tennessee kept this a secret - it's really no good. Although, since I have not read the screenplay myself, I don't know if I should pin the blame on him (technically he's blameless, as he chose not to reveal this particular work), or on the director who to me grossly misinterpreted the characters to the extent that it felt amateurish and green - two things Tennessee Williams is not.<br /><br />It feels like an unfinished story. It's like he started it and finished some of the characters, but hadn't gotten around to fine tuning and perfecting all of them. The whole story is so full of holes, gaps, craters, character flaws and what-have-you that it was impossible for me to really get behind.<br /><br />In fact, it kind of made me mad because I really wanted to like it. It stars two of my favorite actors, Bryce Dallas Howard and Chris Evans - be still my heart. It's well cast in my opinion, the costumes, hair and makeup are excellent, not to mention that it's set in the roaring 20's - very attractive. It promises but does not deliver.<br /><br />While Chris Evans is a super hot hunk of burning Southern love in the story (although, he didn't take off his shirt the whole movie long - I don't get that), and is able to portray what he was given to work with to the best of his ability, his is the worst written character. It's contradictory, lacking depth and reason, there are no explanations, just strange. Unlike his character, Bryce Dallas Howard's is very well rounded, excentric, endearing, passionate and well written. The contrast is severe and gives the viewer the feeling that they don't connect - square peg, round whole. There are two other significant characters in the film, one of which stands out to me particularly, and that is the role played by Ellen Burstyn - the dying aunt of a friend. Spactacular and award winning.<br /><br />That being said, the movie is very attractive because of the glamor, colors, actors, etc. If you can put up with a "hero" who to me is a terrible person with no redeeming qualities but his looks, no background story that would explain his lack of character, coldness and lack of empathy and understanding, or anything that would help endear him, then you will enjoy it immensely. The hair, makeup and spectacular wardrobe were the only redeeming factors for me.<br /><br />I know I may be alone in this sentiment and that there must be a plethora of glowing reviews out there, but this is what I think. You should probably watch it and decide for yourself.fmd74http://www.blogger.com/profile/12068742350378371627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6301903074509544756.post-58290314641566772642011-02-08T10:39:00.004-02:002011-02-08T11:29:10.566-02:00Movie Review: Black Swan<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWYgZaiad7FmQGo9egyYuytBJDkW8_-SjKfeFYDN9fmqZGpEsE1dv7TCsFHTLcsXnTe-m_hsDU6NsusYG0-pg2z4B4tIFGjMdOMSHAlWXhFviUIP_eWukzZRQnqsKQMuTXOCG02FILjWo/s1600/Black-Swan-natalie-portman.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWYgZaiad7FmQGo9egyYuytBJDkW8_-SjKfeFYDN9fmqZGpEsE1dv7TCsFHTLcsXnTe-m_hsDU6NsusYG0-pg2z4B4tIFGjMdOMSHAlWXhFviUIP_eWukzZRQnqsKQMuTXOCG02FILjWo/s400/Black-Swan-natalie-portman.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571309964349425074" border="0" /></a><br />After being presented with a wave of mediocre to downright ridiculous offerings such as: <span style="font-style: italic;">Eat Pray Love, I Hate Valentine's Day, The Backup Plan</span> and several Nicholas Cage contributions - just to name a few - the movie <span style="font-style: italic;">Black Swan</span> literally blew me away.<br /><br />It is an emotional thriller and psychodrama of the most intense kind. One review said it was "Fantastically deranged at all times............ a glittering, crackling, outrageously pickable scab of a film". The film grips you from the very first scene with its hideously close photography and never lets you go.<br /><br />It takes you on a journey through the twisted and fragile ill mind of a young girl who is picked for the role of a lifetime - the Queen Swan in the ballet Swan Lake. Faced with the monumental task of playing the Black Swan - the dark side of role - and being such as vulnerable, naive little ninny who lets her overbearing and controlling mother dictate every aspect of her life, the task seems almost too much for her. As she breaks down emotional and mental barriers in her life, she begins making progress during rehearsals but at the cost of her sanity.<br /><br />Her relationship with her mother is twisted and wrong and it seems to only get worse as she does better - and worse (in her mind). That whole business with her mother is confusing and leaves a lasting impression, unfortunately. Her stupid bedroom filled with cute stuffies is in itself bordering on child abuse - since Nina the ballerina is in her 20's. You can tell from the way her mother treats her that she not only hangs all her hopes and unaccomplished dreams on her little girl, but also works double duty to try to infantilise her in a severly creapy way.<br /><br />The dancing, while vital to the story and an interpretation of everything you see, is unbelievably beautiful but almost secondary to the storyline. When you finally get to see her dance the White and Black Swan it's amazing. A take your breath away, give you goosebumps, awestruck moment in the film.<br /><br />A good movie, to be sure, and worth every penny. It gave me a whole new respect for Natalie Portman as an actor and a person. The kind of commitment it takes to play the role the way she did is beyond my scope of understanding. I hope she wins the Oscar. In my opinion, she's the only one in the running. Watching Natalie Portman transform and morph into what is essentially a "creature" is terrifying and downright scary - which is fascinating and thrilling.fmd74http://www.blogger.com/profile/12068742350378371627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6301903074509544756.post-46230604520500706982011-02-07T20:52:00.003-02:002011-02-07T21:01:05.509-02:00Romantic Hair and Makeup<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidehL1MqYhaomjIFT-4iMwh8r0R9SbMXFCtU_oLsEf7bhV3nKzqT8hbomKP8mfrkrZ2gQmuIEclYHUGkVr1GfxmouUOQJUCIxXQyprdTLILyVI7dbHwDQQ0Zrh-_LKYvK5muJmc7HXsPA/s1600/grace+kelly+3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 319px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidehL1MqYhaomjIFT-4iMwh8r0R9SbMXFCtU_oLsEf7bhV3nKzqT8hbomKP8mfrkrZ2gQmuIEclYHUGkVr1GfxmouUOQJUCIxXQyprdTLILyVI7dbHwDQQ0Zrh-_LKYvK5muJmc7HXsPA/s400/grace+kelly+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571085915383303474" border="0" /></a><br />This is an awesome slideshow with the most romantic looks from film. Really great ideas for a romantic night out like Valentine's Day, or just for any time. Go to<a href="http://www.bellasugar.com/20-Most-Romantic-Looks-From-Movies-7258444"> BellaSugar</a> and have fun!<br /><br />I'll be blogging properly soon. Ta ta!fmd74http://www.blogger.com/profile/12068742350378371627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6301903074509544756.post-13083173489861120782011-01-26T11:15:00.003-02:002011-01-26T11:54:24.222-02:00What Have You Been Up To Lately?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUcF1z6jgiOqXCq30n5P2EaChwyumXx3wCrqW4TEFOWo7tSaOBHJ9QxbVVkG0ZpVuFShBSjDlDMGIcdoBlrtzPkq7oYnqee7IFtWDz48oyRds7CTMzov-Tq7jCSCcdT57fz-_ARvmRwp0/s1600/guerlain+muguet+quadrilobe+with+aromiser.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 348px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUcF1z6jgiOqXCq30n5P2EaChwyumXx3wCrqW4TEFOWo7tSaOBHJ9QxbVVkG0ZpVuFShBSjDlDMGIcdoBlrtzPkq7oYnqee7IFtWDz48oyRds7CTMzov-Tq7jCSCcdT57fz-_ARvmRwp0/s400/guerlain+muguet+quadrilobe+with+aromiser.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566492350182649106" border="0" /></a><br />Books<br /><br />I'm big into the thriller/romance genre right now - they're the kind of page-turners that keep you up until the crack of dawn - I love it when that happens.<br /><br />TV<br /><br />I am <span style="font-style: italic;">loving</span> the new season of Top Chef. All of the stars from past seasons who didn't win come together to battle it out for a second chance to win the grand prize. Awesome! I'm also really into <span style="font-style: italic;">Off the Map</span>. Hubba, hubba, hubba<br /><br />Drink<br /><br />Tea, like always. I'm also big on iced coffee right now too.<br /><br />Makeup<br /><br />I've been sticking to the basics - mascara and gloss. I've been alternating between two glosses from Clarins, Eclat Minute in a light baby pink, color 001, and Baume Couleur in a bright pink, color 05. They're perfect for the summer because they're super glossy but lightweight at the same time. The colors are fresh and youthful.<br /><br />Buenos Tiempos<br /><br />Dinner parties with my friends. I love setting a perfect table and receiving guests in my home. I just had some of my silver items refinished and there is nothing classier than serving water from a silver water pitcher. Our last theme was Italian feast - it was super buenos tiempos!<br /><br />Looking forward to...<br /><br />School holidays ending so the kids can get back to their normal schedule. I can't take everyone all up in my business all day long. I long for the days when I'm the only one in the house all morning long.<br /><br />Wish List<br /><br />Right now I want a perfume I just read Guerlain is launching Muguet. They've launched it before, but this year there's a precious bottle to go with that is hand painted and has one of those old fashioned poofy squeezy things from classic old perfumes.<br /><br />I also want one of those super TVs.fmd74http://www.blogger.com/profile/12068742350378371627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6301903074509544756.post-91774072415376769772011-01-25T15:17:00.007-02:002011-01-25T16:20:18.699-02:00Most Awaited Movies of the YearI am so impressed with the list of movies coming out this year. I sense it will be a great movie theater year. I love going to the movies and I'm going to make a serious effort to watch all of the movies on my list at the theater. I know there may be some good ones accidentally left off my list, and I'm not sure if I found the list with movie releases for the whole year, or only for half, but here goes anyway.<br /><br />Season of the Witch<br />The Green Hornet<br />The Dilemma<br />Black Swan<br />The Eagle<br />Hall Pass<br />The Mechanic<br />Limitless<br />The Adjustment Bureau<br />Take Me Home Tonight<br />Jane Eyre<br />Red Riding Hood<br />Paul<br />Your Highness<br />Arthur<br />Water for Elephants<br />Fast 5<br />Thor<br />Priest<br />Something borrowed<br />Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides<br />The Hangover 2<br />X-Men: first Class<br />Green Lantern<br />Transformers: Dark of the Moon<br />Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 2<br />Captain America<br />Cowboys and Aliens<br />Monte Carlo<br />Conan the Barbarian<br />The Three Musketeers<br />Footloose<br />Breaking Dawn<br /><br />Most of these already have trailers available for viewing, but I'm too lazy to put them all up but I'll leave you with one delicious morsel:<br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" class="youtube-player" type="text/html" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/tPZfa7bZzF4" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen></iframe>fmd74http://www.blogger.com/profile/12068742350378371627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6301903074509544756.post-63940584659948392552011-01-21T11:53:00.004-02:002011-01-21T16:18:40.514-02:00Paging Dr. House<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMCKJkLn_QhfZEGkN7q4LweaRBxVmmWrwZ4vjkrhmpYIeNdl9LHLIIusWRVhYRqk4Qhm1ZR9IwjzYSgPj5zEPRJui37D2CukNlhJ9c6WM0sS1er55XHTNJqTSna6NyeqGqqWZSAYzBoB4/s1600/3+FOTO+PARA+EL+BLOG.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 381px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMCKJkLn_QhfZEGkN7q4LweaRBxVmmWrwZ4vjkrhmpYIeNdl9LHLIIusWRVhYRqk4Qhm1ZR9IwjzYSgPj5zEPRJui37D2CukNlhJ9c6WM0sS1er55XHTNJqTSna6NyeqGqqWZSAYzBoB4/s400/3+FOTO+PARA+EL+BLOG.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564648317662716754" border="0" /></a><br />As a wife and mother I not only have to be a chef, maid, teacher, handyman, therapist, stock and inventory person, miracle worker and superhero - I also have to be a doctor.<br /><br />For some inexplicable reason I have to look at suspicious moles, rashes, non-existent injuries and the likes and give a preliminary diagnosis on a daily basis. I don't know if they know that not only do I have no idea what I'm talking about, but my degree from the university of ER, House and Grey's Anatomy is not real. I don't go to med school, or hook up with nurses in the on-call room. I don't even own a stethoscope. As an observer of TV medicine I am not qualified to give any kind of opinion, fictitious or otherwise, regarding the state of anyone's health.<br /><br />There is also a very important element everyone keeps forgetting - I don't <span style="font-style: italic;">want</span> to look at anyone's ailments, injuries, rashes, moles, infections, yucky eyes or ingrown toenails. The reason why we have health insurance is not because of emergencies. In cases of emergencies the public hospitals look after you pretty well and you can usually come out of there with mediocre medical treatment, which when compared to other countries is not that bad at all. No, the reason we have med is so that if there is anything suspicious on anyone's person at any time, instead of coming to me - a medically ignorant person at best - for an invented diagnosis with memorized lines such as: "subdural hematoma", "blunt force trauma", "hypertensive myocardial fibrosis", they can just schedule an appointment with a professional.<br /><br />Isn't that the best solution for everyone?<br /><br />In some rare cases I have been known to give sound advise. I once told HRH that his shoulder was not hurting because 2 days earlier he may or may not have eaten some bad chicken. I also told another friend that her hives were not from eating ramen noodles the night before, that if she had a stomach ache or nausea it would have been an indication that something was wrong with what she ate, but otherwise she could probably relax.<br /><br />Somehow, for some reason, unbeknownst to me, I keep getting stopped in the hallway to diagnose - what in my opinion is usually nothing - and when I give an unsatisfactory diagnosis, which I most certainly will nearly every time, I get screamed at. So uncool.<br /><br />Currently I have been holding off on a specific diagnosis. Someone came to me with their hurt finger. There is no sign of anything, it doesn't really hurt when it's moved, only when it's pressed, there is no bruising, swelling, redness and barely any soreness at all. Contrary to what "someone" had concluded it is <span style="font-style: italic;">not</span> broken. This leaves me with one possible alternative - it's nothing and they should just wait for it to go away and stop whining about it. This particular bit of advice will not be well received, so I'm stalling. People, particularly men, want to be babied when they're sick and "hurting" so I'm thinking of telling said person that I've seen this injury before and that while serious and oh-so-very painful, there is no treatment and that in most cases the body will heal itself and that they just have to wait for that to happen, but in the meantime, try icing it 2 times a day, drinking lots of fluids and taking a good nap.<br /><br />You think they'll buy it?fmd74http://www.blogger.com/profile/12068742350378371627noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6301903074509544756.post-73304993402117950282011-01-19T12:39:00.005-02:002011-01-21T16:20:44.728-02:00Looking Forward To...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim-QE7jUZX9UTxXqZs0uYNYJ6E2CutNFtbZKXO0R7MZRCv-LOzkwvjUU9AvkNZsMaLqH6mivzYFbThBl6IMHT4c11GCc7GQAZVZ3eKZVbkmyuggHtN-vcToLaavIfDenbGh4nBl6CjY-I/s1600/off-the-map-williansallanblog1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim-QE7jUZX9UTxXqZs0uYNYJ6E2CutNFtbZKXO0R7MZRCv-LOzkwvjUU9AvkNZsMaLqH6mivzYFbThBl6IMHT4c11GCc7GQAZVZ3eKZVbkmyuggHtN-vcToLaavIfDenbGh4nBl6CjY-I/s400/off-the-map-williansallanblog1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563924266198873154" border="0" /></a><br />I feel like this is going to be a really great year. There are so many movies coming out that I want to see - tons of Marvel superhero movies, new series, travel, tons of awesome stuff.<br /><br />I just started watching a new series, <span style="font-style: italic;">Off the Map</span>, which stars the love of my life, <span style="font-style: italic;">Bride and Prejudice's</span> Martin Henderson - mi corazón. I have no idea if the plot will hold, but I will be a huge fan regardless. The story centers around a podunk clinic out in the middle of nowhere we know - I don't think - kind of Central America looking, actually. There are a handful of young American doctors who want a new start so they head out to God forsaken territory. What we're hoping for is lots of drama and story that is not related to anything medical, promiscuity - tons of it, all the doctors doing everyone, interesting adventures and medical cases - and last but not least, to see Dr. Keeton every single week.<br /><br />I am really looking forward to <span style="font-style: italic;">Thor</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">Captain America</span>. When both of the actors materialized on stage at the Golden Globes I almost went into cardiac arrest. Jesús Luz, I didn't know where to look. Both movies promise to be more than fantastic, so I'm counting the days.<br /><br />Top Chef: All Stars is awesome! I love this season. It's the best of the best in one tremendous challenge after another. I love it!<br /><br />In completely non-viewing related news:<br /><br />Picnic season is upon us and if you know anything about me you know I love to picnic. I only hope the rain stays away this weekend so we can have our first picnic of the year.<br /><br />My brother and sister are getting married to their respective finacées this year. For the longest time I was the only one married in my family, so this is very exciting news, indeed.<br /><br />My Kindle arrived and I'll tell you what, it was love at first sight. When I held that tiny gadget in my hands and turned it on for the first time, I couldn't help but marvel at the beauty of life. I looked at that little reflection of me and it just made it all worth it. All the months of waiting, the weight gain, the sleepless nights, the expense, none of it mattered anymore because here I had the most beautiful reflection of my husband's love for me - the Kindle.fmd74http://www.blogger.com/profile/12068742350378371627noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6301903074509544756.post-50907239585409738792011-01-18T14:32:00.004-02:002011-01-18T14:54:29.688-02:00Rested and Ready to Go!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitu8p1LbCgiTiVBM_TApjQyzQqZPzSjJUIfetEtDgx5fgUbEtN7SEF58dnzUTur8Q7u5YMpqNROpIX1Du6RI2HKOInbr6ZNvrJTC6yvagF2rUxjdZ9qAQDOBnT2sSggxHjOn_NBu4mQ2U/s1600/sunset_hammock2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitu8p1LbCgiTiVBM_TApjQyzQqZPzSjJUIfetEtDgx5fgUbEtN7SEF58dnzUTur8Q7u5YMpqNROpIX1Du6RI2HKOInbr6ZNvrJTC6yvagF2rUxjdZ9qAQDOBnT2sSggxHjOn_NBu4mQ2U/s400/sunset_hammock2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563569194533715746" border="0" /></a><br />I just came back from holidays and thought I'd give you the rundown on what we did. We couldn't go very far because HRH had to stay close in case things went to the Devil with his company and he had to come racing back to Rio. We ended up spending some time in Saquarema. It's a quaint little beach town that is neither pretentious nor crowded and this makes it peaceful and affordable.<br /><br />One of the coolest things we did was go crab fishing. What a rush! We used these McGyver style nets that looked like basketball hoops with a fish dangling in the middle as bait. Once the net thingy was lowered into the water it took literally 1 minute for it to fill up with yummy delicious crabbies - for the most part they were small soup crabs, but we did get some larger ones too. We actually did better than a lot of the old timers out there with us that night on the bridge and I think we owe it all to some funky fish bait. My brother-in-law walked into a restaurant nearby to see if we could buy some bait and he said he had nothing and then he remembered that there were some groty old fhish in the back of his freezer that we could use - stinky fishy magic, I'll tell you what.<br /><br />With our catch we made a creamy crab soup with half of the bucket and an intense crab broth with the other half which later became the world's best risotto. I'm not joking, overstating or in any way, shape or form exaggerating. It was the very best anything we've ever eaten, or will ever eat - ever.<br /><br />We went to the beach every day at around 4pm because it wasn't so hot at that time - watched the sun go down, ate ice-cream at dusk, checked out the bimbo cops who watched the main square every day - they were SNL hilarious complete with mirrored aviator glasses, matching pink watches, long blond extensions, bimbo poses and all. Buenos tiempos. I tried to take a couple of pictures without them knowing but I'm not a very good spy and was unable to capture just how ridiculous they were.<br /><br />All in all it was super restful and very fun. Thing 1 and Thing 2 had a blast so we hope to do it again soon. I will say one thing for being back: there is nothing - and I mean nothing - as wonderful as coming home to your own bed!<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Ta ta!</span>fmd74http://www.blogger.com/profile/12068742350378371627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6301903074509544756.post-59086506225288256482011-01-06T21:35:00.000-02:002011-01-06T21:36:36.694-02:00Can't Wait for This One<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/OeavDokLrOE?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/OeavDokLrOE?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>fmd74http://www.blogger.com/profile/12068742350378371627noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6301903074509544756.post-75898330369292035172010-12-10T16:19:00.009-02:002010-12-10T17:37:15.714-02:00Last Night...I saw I guy make out with a harmonicaLast night HRH and I went to our friends' show at a new Texas style bar/saloon/steakhouse/line dancing joint (yes, I said joint). HRH went because he was asked to play the banjo during a couple of numbers. The plucka-plucka of the banjo may make me want to tear out my hair then attack my teeth when he practices at home, but I do understand that when it comes to serious country music and bluegrass, you can't not have a banjo.<br /><br />Arizona - the name of our freinds' band - is super cool. They have an awesome repertoire with one hit song after another. They look like rock stars and they're so well rehearsed the show doesn't feel stiff or uptight in any way. They have tons of fun and it shows. Their set was going just fine when all of a sudden this ridiculous snake creature slithers out of his hole and after insisting for all and sundry to get up and play the harmonica with them, he finally gets called up.<br /><br />Let me describe him for you. Stupid hat/cap, dark sunglasses (in a dimly list establishment AT NIGHT), earrings on both ears, skinny jeans that are strategically ripped in special places, LOW cut V-neck Tshirt and ----- necklace/chain. He looked like a total douche.<br /><br />He gets up on stage and starts making out with his harmonica and playing like a man possessed by Narcissus himself as well as several other harmonica playing demons. To say that he was stealing the limelight would be an understatement, he was more like an attention whore/vampire/hog all rolled up in one - and that's being kind. I'm going to call his solo in "Sweet Home Alabama" - "An Ode to My Penis". Was the solo, and subsequently the song, good? Yes, yes it was, though it got old fast. Was his performance entertaining? Yes, if nothing else it was hilarious and very ridiculous which is perfect fodder for blogs, jokes and gossip. Did it sound like he was playing to his penis? Yes, a little bit.<br /><br />I would like to say he only got up for one number, but that would be a lie because then he proceeded to shove the drummer off his stool and then told the base player to take a walk. Why was he given this much freedom to do whatever he wanted, you ask? Well, because first he was being all needy and grabby in public, and it's always better not to argue with a douchey slimy looking crazy in front of everyone as it will most likely turn into a bar fight if you do. And second, because he's friends with the owner's sister's boyfriend.<br /><br />We're taking the kids to Arizona's show tonight, here's hoping we don't cross paths with the most ridiculous person alive again.<br /><br />FYI, I really tried to find out his name, but it seems even the people standing next to him, the band members and people he was greeting like long lost friends pretended they didn't know him when I asked them what his name was. <span style="font-style: italic;">Not</span> surprising.fmd74http://www.blogger.com/profile/12068742350378371627noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6301903074509544756.post-68411251786494664662010-12-07T18:43:00.002-02:002010-12-07T20:04:59.999-02:00Lady Chatterley's Lover<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu9Ovq4nmokSETZqwF8g5QVDJfLhPLYmYCnypjxC5U6L4GkQN3fcGgXVRnpZ5fD7OIpaWC4FmtYDaEs3FahuXz29VmId0gmYxWqWr3RqFEbJyTPavQMGCVgczZ3m2EptxOIVob14bCqyM/s1600/41EAUd7waeL._SL500_.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu9Ovq4nmokSETZqwF8g5QVDJfLhPLYmYCnypjxC5U6L4GkQN3fcGgXVRnpZ5fD7OIpaWC4FmtYDaEs3FahuXz29VmId0gmYxWqWr3RqFEbJyTPavQMGCVgczZ3m2EptxOIVob14bCqyM/s400/41EAUd7waeL._SL500_.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548064715870352290" border="0" /></a><br />I just finished reading D.H. Lawrence's <span style="font-style: italic;">Lady Chatterley's Lover</span>. I had seen the 70's movie ages ago but I had never read the book. When I first started reading it, it took me a couple of pages to get accustomed to the style of writing. For the most part it was the excessive use of exclamation marks that threw me, and then there was the Hugh Grant style narration. It really felt like Hugh Grant or Anthony Hopkins was the narrating with all the starts and stops. Very British.<br /><br />I do love British writing though, so I decided to power through and I'm glad I did. It's a great book. Well written, insightful, honest and kind of pornographic. After <a href="http://sos-flowerpower.blogspot.com/2010/06/best-served-cold-disclaimer.html">my last experience reading sex scenes written by a man</a> I thought I would never be okay, but as it turns out it's not all men, just some - or possibly one. D.H. Lawrence deals with it head on in a very factual and straightforward way. It's interesting.<br /><br />The book is not only about animal lust and sex between a lady and her gamekeeper, no, it's about how boring the British nobility is, for one. It also touches on their social divide, love, tenderness and real intimacy. It's not a shallow book with no substance past the sex, so it does keep you interest and while reading it you understand how relevant the sex is, and even the description of it is.<br /><br />I highly recommend it if you're in between books and you don't know what to pick up next. It's a solid read and a good time.fmd74http://www.blogger.com/profile/12068742350378371627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6301903074509544756.post-54923163724496855852010-12-07T17:59:00.002-02:002010-12-07T18:39:38.506-02:00Justified: The Real Deal<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPF9K37MW5p_Ra9jtn4TOpMjePEC6ClRp-ng3SbqeFy0ZZ-kwVapJh957j6MNaEDEd98c71GcTvSDpqsinfQm1BtdxoG23MoqUUY3U_4xMQGJ7QvnQvNTH5DEigqLVGYRA9GbTUOCnm-4/s1600/justified-fx-premiere.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 211px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPF9K37MW5p_Ra9jtn4TOpMjePEC6ClRp-ng3SbqeFy0ZZ-kwVapJh957j6MNaEDEd98c71GcTvSDpqsinfQm1BtdxoG23MoqUUY3U_4xMQGJ7QvnQvNTH5DEigqLVGYRA9GbTUOCnm-4/s400/justified-fx-premiere.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548042588649217522" border="0" /></a><br />Finding a new show is as fulfilling as finding a new brand of makeup you never new existed and always hoped you'd find.<br /><br />While looking for something interesting to fill my Grey's Anatomy Monday night slot while the show is on hiatus I happened upon the coolest show on TV right now, <span style="font-style: italic;">Justified</span>. During the first episode you follow a super bad-ass US Marshall as he literally does a Billy the Kid style quick draw and kills a super creepy bad guy with nasty skin resulting in his transfer from Miami back to hicksville Kentucky, his home town.<br /><br />The show makes Timothy Olyphant into a quasi superhero who can bring down seriously evil and ignorant white trash without breaking a sweat and wears a cowboy hat with the grace and ease of John Wayne. He's even got a swagger. With winner lines like the ones below there is no doubt this show is going to just get better and better. Super witty, hard-core without being grotesque like <span style="font-style: italic;">The Shield</span> and some other shows out there, it's a recipe for success. The show has been renewed for a second season and considering the reviews it's getting, I wouldn't be surprised if it hangs around for some time.<br /><br />God help me, I love it when bad guys get brought to justice. Buenos tiempos people. Surprising how different two shows with similar story lines can be. Do you remember that show I call <span style="font-style: italic;">Circling the Drain </span>- <span style="font-style: italic;">In Plain Sight </span>(I literally had to look up the real name)? That show is so lame it's enough to make you turn off your TV and wash the dishes. Thank God for decent writers.<br /><br />Fave lines from episode 1:<br /><br />[<i class="fine">giving the prayer at Boyd's camp</i>]<br /><b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0648249/">Raylan Givens</a></b>: Dear Lord, before we eat this meal we ask forgiveness for our sins, especially Boyd- who blew up a black church with a rocket launcher, and afterwards he shot his associate Jared Hale in the back of the head out on Tate's Creek bridge. Let the image of Jared's brain matter on that windshield not dampen our appetites, but may the knowledge of Boyd's past sins help guide these men. May this food provide them with all the nourishment they need. But, if it does not, may they find comfort in knowing that the United States Marshal Service is offering fifty-thousand dollars to any individual providing information that will put Boyd back in prison. Cash or check, we can make it out to them. Or to Jesus. Whoever they want. In your name, we pray. Amen.fmd74http://www.blogger.com/profile/12068742350378371627noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6301903074509544756.post-26763166894764426732010-12-02T20:42:00.004-02:002010-12-02T21:13:24.607-02:00My Birthday<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCAh6lmuJUDlt3-2tf1VffYwoSoBRjeSone1A6IRKVfMCEnde9XrSogZXFCxwuyS0t7a1L84o1zRI2Qm7TXqIH8-AvFxeOdBY7l4wh9wVbf-2b_zGWH7baOZ1Gn5Y7GywS5UqT2p-Y9aA/s1600/Photo0027.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCAh6lmuJUDlt3-2tf1VffYwoSoBRjeSone1A6IRKVfMCEnde9XrSogZXFCxwuyS0t7a1L84o1zRI2Qm7TXqIH8-AvFxeOdBY7l4wh9wVbf-2b_zGWH7baOZ1Gn5Y7GywS5UqT2p-Y9aA/s400/Photo0027.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546224679325001586" border="0" /></a><br />It was a typical spring evening in Rio de Janeiro. The humidity in the air was so thick you could wash your hair with it, or cut it with a knife - if you're into everyday, unoriginal expressions. My hair was defying the law of gravity and proving every stereotype associated with curly/frizzy hair. At one point I considered cornrows like Monica when she went to the Bahamas in Friends, but rejected the idea when I got a mental image of what my face would look like - a perfect, shiny circle. Not flattering.<br /><br />Earlier in the day I had woken up to find an orchid waiting for me, and only moments later opened the door to find a delivery guy with another one. It was clear that even though I was having one of the worst bad hair days since everyone in the 80's, someone very powerful was smiling in my direction. Still recovering from the beauty of the orchids and the sparkling fairy happiness of my Christmas tree, I drank my morning iced mocha and turned on my laptop.<br /><br />While I opened Outlook I held my breath hoping and praying that my smiling Protector would remove emails from my inbox if there were too many - luckily (or by divine intervention) there were so few emails I finished the first part of my morning to-do list before you could say sushi. And that's exactly where I went for lunch. My sister and Tati kidnapped me and whisked me off for an extravagant lunch at a wonderful place where we ate crazy delish food and drank kiwi frozen caipisakes (caipirinha made with Japanese sake). So good.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd1HyQrgsLSYFtWRU6FQNf6RMcfcmn09ogan9t_FwgD2BkumDQ7KU0D0aW35tvEyNtTqy8U8eOVllSQyKepIkuAM5Q80Q_M_wpBQllnvX3upQEwB5NAQANHWDGZLeqrbGe7R4CdIyUR6E/s1600/Photo0030.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd1HyQrgsLSYFtWRU6FQNf6RMcfcmn09ogan9t_FwgD2BkumDQ7KU0D0aW35tvEyNtTqy8U8eOVllSQyKepIkuAM5Q80Q_M_wpBQllnvX3upQEwB5NAQANHWDGZLeqrbGe7R4CdIyUR6E/s400/Photo0030.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546224459845428386" border="0" /></a><br />Was my day over? - not quite. A good friend of mine offered to make me a special birthday dinner - Peruvian food. I had long suspected that I didn't like Peruvian food because when I was there we never ate Peruvian food - in fact I don't think we ate anything resembling food at all. We lived on a poo related diet, as it turns out. After dinner last night, I can say with complete and surprising certainty that Peruvian food is delicious. I wish I could go back in time and eat real food there - I lived 2 whole years in a country and never really experienced the cuisine. Sucks so much, you know?<br /><br />Our memories and impressions of a country are definitely linked to the food we eat there. If you eat crap kebabs for 2 full years, there is very little chance that you're going to remember your time there fondly. All that to say, I had a tremendous birthday, received so many birthday wishes I was positively overwhelmed. I am surrounded by amazing friends and a huge wonderful family.<br /><br />Now that I've turned 58 - at least it feels that way - I'm researching anti-aging skincare creams and will let you all know which one I choose to use next. Most likely a good cosmeceutical brand.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Tata for now!</span>fmd74http://www.blogger.com/profile/12068742350378371627noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6301903074509544756.post-71740286321508311692010-11-29T20:00:00.003-02:002010-11-29T20:17:31.230-02:00What's Up?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnPnSTzH0WRDt0Ut8MGSqWtxGFJ-bch0G-wh0w-hN78nMapmGQpmSExpEo0GUKh9rkbHk1OTLpDgB2ZL8upRBsCZotza66MHv7vSclavNqp5oqUdpMKdYclQ71U6Dq85dUxjJSPT3QfjE/s1600/2558714833_437c8f2b94.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnPnSTzH0WRDt0Ut8MGSqWtxGFJ-bch0G-wh0w-hN78nMapmGQpmSExpEo0GUKh9rkbHk1OTLpDgB2ZL8upRBsCZotza66MHv7vSclavNqp5oqUdpMKdYclQ71U6Dq85dUxjJSPT3QfjE/s400/2558714833_437c8f2b94.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545099302620591922" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Book</span><br />Lady Chatterly's Lover - never read it, liking it a lot<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Song</span><br />I'm so happy I can listen to Christmas songs now! Happiness<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Food</span><br />Because of the heat I am loving all types of cold salads, caprese kebabs, niçoise salad, things like that<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Drink</span><br />Iced tea, iced coffee, iced anything and everything. Also, I made the world's most delish sangria yesterday with chardonnay, brandy, white grape juice, guarana soda (a drop), fresh plums and cherries. Heaven! It tastes like I Heart Dior smells - fuity happiness<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Anticipation</span><br />Putting up my Christmas tree tomorrow - oh joy!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Movie<br /></span>Saw the new Harry Potter yesterday and it was awesome - buenos tiempos indeed<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>fmd74http://www.blogger.com/profile/12068742350378371627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6301903074509544756.post-53433877244929751542010-11-29T10:50:00.005-02:002010-11-29T15:02:20.600-02:00RIP Leslie Nielsen<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRAwLjsN0aPfMAeaFDMp2qM2SYJ5TROTYpEWKX6I4C6vmiYYbTh1e9PmiShDneKcalTPrpgKHz_TCJcTfw96RJ2xoO3U2r_Q4EeEJyV41vJU_m26w_9gaVL4FPluuOQ9LNsjV3J40Z9kQ/s1600/LeslieNielsenOct08.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRAwLjsN0aPfMAeaFDMp2qM2SYJ5TROTYpEWKX6I4C6vmiYYbTh1e9PmiShDneKcalTPrpgKHz_TCJcTfw96RJ2xoO3U2r_Q4EeEJyV41vJU_m26w_9gaVL4FPluuOQ9LNsjV3J40Z9kQ/s400/LeslieNielsenOct08.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545013738143786274" border="0" /></a><br />It is with a heavy heart that I write today as the news of the parting of one of my favorite actors has reached me only moments ago. If you follow this blog you know how I feel about Leslie Nielsen. He has brought so much laughter and happiness to so many. He will be missed.<br /><br />It is impossible to talk about his greatness without mentioning his greatest achievement - super silly movies. To recall his lines in <span style="font-style: italic;">Airplane, Wrongfully Accused </span>and <span style="font-style: italic;">Naked Gun</span> is to get a glimpse into the man who made the most ordinary phrases fantastic. Hollywood will be hard-pressed to find a replacement for him.<br /><br />When I need serious cheering up there is no amount of meditation, deep breathing, or what-have-you that will do the trick as quickly as a few minutes of quality time with my good friend Leslie who has never let me down. I don't remember where I was when the Berlin wall came down - who does? But I do remember where I was when I first watched <span style="font-style: italic;">The Creature Wasn't Nice</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">Dracula</span> - <span style="font-style: italic;">Dead and Loving It</span>. Do you remember the last question on your last test in high school? No. But I'll bet you remember what Frank Drebin read when he was trying to wake everyone up at the President's dinner in Naked Gun 2 1/2.<br /><br />We say goodbye to a great hero this week. I raise my glass to you Leslie Nielsen - May you rest in peace, you beautiful cotton-haired bastard!fmd74http://www.blogger.com/profile/12068742350378371627noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6301903074509544756.post-21234047935252138782010-11-24T10:55:00.004-02:002010-11-24T11:59:04.622-02:00Holidays and Whatnot<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVvWWBeE5p5rmGNJT318jTXiLfvWFbaJyDrGVL1d8X7TejNDlchNZexaVtmV77xfLk3zKOK30skKbzgYeAyTVhqOWBOolKW6IFke177zLdywMdsDoxJ7xvev9OiQ65Ktlz33FyZGji0Pw/s1600/don-quixote-2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 340px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVvWWBeE5p5rmGNJT318jTXiLfvWFbaJyDrGVL1d8X7TejNDlchNZexaVtmV77xfLk3zKOK30skKbzgYeAyTVhqOWBOolKW6IFke177zLdywMdsDoxJ7xvev9OiQ65Ktlz33FyZGji0Pw/s400/don-quixote-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543114766709511538" border="0" /></a><br />Thanksgiving is nearly upon us and while the spirit of this wonderful American holiday remains very much American in theme, we all choose to celebrate it in the Roman fashion - stuffing ourselves beyond reason then falling asleep because there is no way we could ever get up and walk away.<br /><br />For me at least, it's a time to reflect on whether or not I want to do this 2 or 3 more times - in lesser or equal volume - over the Christmas holidays. The answer is an unequivocal no, but due to all the tryptophan in the turkey I not only get sleepy, I also have selective memory loss and forget what it all entails and move forward with the ridiculous obstinacy of a 2 year old only to be surprised at the amount of work and stress I've brought upon myself.<br /><br />Albert Einstein once said that insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results. By this logic I would say that I'm insane. Completely out of my mind. You know why? - because even though I know I'm going to be cooking and cleaning and spending like a freak, my hands will be reduced to nubs and stubs, my bank account a punchline, and my house a three ring circus, I'm still going to do it and hope that the outcome is different because I love seeing my family, especially all the siblings I don't see often as they live in different countries and states. We're a majorly loud and obnoxious bunch with a very peculiar sense of humor and I love it.<br /><br />So I'm going to face this first of several holidays, rally, and go forth with my golden helmet of Mambrino and my lance and charge that windmill giant that is the Christmas holiday season at full speed. Oorah!fmd74http://www.blogger.com/profile/12068742350378371627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6301903074509544756.post-6846297689199765882010-11-19T16:43:00.005-02:002010-11-19T17:05:02.638-02:00Man From EarthThis movie is brilliant. I can't review it because it would lose its charm, so I'm just going to say that I highly recommend it. It's different, not commercial, not predictable, not boring. It's a group of people in a room talking - and it never feels stale or long. It's based on a book by Jerome Bixby, renowned science fiction author. Watch it. Totally worth it.<br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/hFVmx0J0ztU?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/hFVmx0J0ztU?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>fmd74http://www.blogger.com/profile/12068742350378371627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6301903074509544756.post-80536932389830998042010-11-18T17:24:00.005-02:002010-11-18T17:53:49.885-02:00Pinocchio?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1x8IX0LYqirNO2SuiX-dci0r1dmTEe8MG3C1v-lIp-jxASjrrPDQ_j1emn6cEMRAKBIgG67_cT9586Z8spwi60hQUgfSjihCkvDuykWdH33BmPmTyLnn0OIHQu-NOmSKtDef1UywpI1o/s1600/pinocchio.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 270px; height: 283px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1x8IX0LYqirNO2SuiX-dci0r1dmTEe8MG3C1v-lIp-jxASjrrPDQ_j1emn6cEMRAKBIgG67_cT9586Z8spwi60hQUgfSjihCkvDuykWdH33BmPmTyLnn0OIHQu-NOmSKtDef1UywpI1o/s400/pinocchio.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540979941500426354" border="0" /></a><br />So as it turns out, I make stuff up. I didn't realize I was such a major Pinocchio fibber, but like the guy in Big Fish, apparently I need help. Very specific memories from my childhood have turned out to be nothing more than the overactive imagination of a ridiculous child. Go figure.<br /><br />I remember hearing a story my Majah used to tell us about how my Dad rescued her from some pervy rapist Moroccans in Holland. I retold this story numerous times and every time it sounded more and more like an action film starring Vin Diesel. A while back we were having one of our rowdy Sunday lunches and I asked Majah to tell the story and it was so different from mine that I couldn't tell it was the same story. Somehow when I heard it as a child I imagined it as well and my fertile mind went wild. Mother gave me an inch and I took a friggin' league. I was disappointed, but I survived.<br /><br />Today I found out that once again I just made stuff up and convinced myself it was fact and passed it off to others as truth. Many years ago, about 100 to be exact, I was 5 yrs old and very impressionable. We lived in the south of Brazil, I had a mutt named Canela (Cinnamon) and an old fusca my brother and I converted into our club house. We both shared a bicycle and we were forced to eat the most awful food imaginable because my Majah was a devout follower of Adelle Davis - the cruelest woman alive. I'm talking orange juice with brewer's yeast cruel. So far, so true.<br /><br />Somehow I got it into my pea brain that my Fajah drew cartoon strips for an erotic magazine. I remember my brother and I messing around in his office and finding things that confirmed without a shadow of a doubt that my father made a living by drawing sex stuff. Say it ain't so. Fine, it ain't so. My father was not working for an erotic magazine, did not sit around drawing sex stuff and was not Vin Diesel. Is there any truth to anything I remember? As it turns out, Fajah worked for a magazine with varied subjects - non of which were sex related - and mostly drew political cartoons and on occasion a couple making out or so, but there was no nakedness and definitely no porn.<br /><br />Now I find myself questioning everything. Like, did Fajah rescue me from a drunken bum who tried to grab me late one night when I was on his shoulders and we passed by a bar. In my recollection he punched the living daylights out of him - which wasn't difficult since he was so drunk. Then he walked into a phone booth, changed into his leggings and cape and flew me to safety. Well, the first part about punching the drunk guy at least has to be true, right? Right?fmd74http://www.blogger.com/profile/12068742350378371627noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6301903074509544756.post-10266557844925766452010-11-18T00:08:00.003-02:002010-11-18T00:42:17.711-02:00I'm Back<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1jIK3P9ODtFGrCiB3VByBNTRF1rsE0kVTOrYcL0HmiADeSdDSlrHeKn-apwS1m8P7BDzuMa2ufmdTLEHbIXX9yeCdQJ1MmoRGqUXVRhZweo0sP4Bj4YBRfVZ-TaF2eVl_zbNokvT6J0Q/s1600/sleeeping-pup.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1jIK3P9ODtFGrCiB3VByBNTRF1rsE0kVTOrYcL0HmiADeSdDSlrHeKn-apwS1m8P7BDzuMa2ufmdTLEHbIXX9yeCdQJ1MmoRGqUXVRhZweo0sP4Bj4YBRfVZ-TaF2eVl_zbNokvT6J0Q/s400/sleeeping-pup.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540714483750666194" border="0" /></a><br />I've been in a bit of a funk lately. It has not only influence my normal everyday life, it has also effected my creativity. Things that would normally not bother me have been getting under my skin - or just downright pissing me off. On the one hand an innocent bystander could say that I have lost it, on the other hand however, the issue could be everyone else and not me at all.<br /><br />Several times over the last few weeks I have had blogworthy experiences that I've ignored because I just knew I wouldn't hit the mark - far from it, I'm pretty certain I would bore you all to tears. For example, I watched <span style="font-style: italic;">Eat Pray Love</span>. Did you watch <span style="font-style: italic;">Eat Pray Love</span>? Well, I did - snore. If I'm being fair I will point out that her trip to Italy was very enjoyable. It was fun, delicious and very Julia. The rest of the movie however was boring. The whole story revolved around an overly needy, ridiculous American who refused to be happy even though she really had no cause for discontent. Even when faced with less fortunate individuals, having a wonderful dream job, friends and family who love her, she insisted on being a drag. In Brazil we have an expression for people like her - mala sem alça. It means a suitcase without a handle - very difficult to carry, a dead weight.<br /><br />I decided not to blog about it when I realized that all of my friends and sisters enjoyed the movie immensely and only had good things to say. For the sake of clarification I'm going to let you know now that my friends and sisters were not referring to the book which from what I hear is a whole new world of exploitation of the needy, divorced, unhappy middle aged woman. An adventure into mediocre writing and lack-wit mush. Having been forcibly subjected to the ocean of stupid that was <span style="font-style: italic;">The Shack</span> I have stayed away from all overhyped books like the plague.<br /><br />Having said that, I urge you all to watch it, because from what I gather I am alone in this belief and need to be institutionalized. I feel like Elaine Bennes when she watchet the <span style="font-style: italic;">English Patient </span>on Seinfeld and hates it and then ends up losing her job and getting shunned from polite society, ostracized and made to feel less than mentally sane because of it. Favorite line in that episode: <span style="font-style: italic;">Die already! Just shut up and die!</span> Hilarious.<br /><br />I'll ask you all to bear with me as I try to find my way back to faithful blogging and being awesome again.<br /><br />A bit of good news though - William has officially asked Kate to marry him and gave her his mother's beautiful ring. A wedding is soon coming and if it's anything like Charles and Diana's we're in for a real treat. I remember watching it on TV as a child - it was a magical, surreal, fairytale wedding that the world will not soon forget.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Tata for now!</span>fmd74http://www.blogger.com/profile/12068742350378371627noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6301903074509544756.post-62423522166635577032010-10-14T21:08:00.003-03:002010-10-14T21:13:42.444-03:00Nail Polish Love - mi corazón<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1U0Wna38aOx-8a7fQrS7WOtCoPhrf04pWU5Mxlpc1FYP5EAQ67GwGKcjRji10kHCNy6gQhSdW-jpLZpfo8fXZQkWYvrjRZkocAt-iDo9GShZDPofSoMpRox5-GN3P1_EiutRtMHMFIW4/s1600/aw10lwrenscott072_RF_FLT.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1U0Wna38aOx-8a7fQrS7WOtCoPhrf04pWU5Mxlpc1FYP5EAQ67GwGKcjRji10kHCNy6gQhSdW-jpLZpfo8fXZQkWYvrjRZkocAt-iDo9GShZDPofSoMpRox5-GN3P1_EiutRtMHMFIW4/s400/aw10lwrenscott072_RF_FLT.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528059092126233490" border="0" /></a><br />I have just fallen in deep, deep love after seeing this on the <a href="http://www.thelancomeblog.com/">Lancome Blog</a>. Now I just need to find it, or more realistically, it's doppelganger. Mission accepted. I'm going to find it's evil twin and then post my find here.<br /><br />Question, is it weird that I just don't feel the whole green nail polish thing? I feel left out, what with everyone still talking about Jade, but really, no me gusta. What about usted?fmd74http://www.blogger.com/profile/12068742350378371627noreply@blogger.com1