I have no words.
The Monday video
May 31st, 2010
Lap Dancing
May 30th, 2010I’m sorry if you’re reading this in expectation of writhing, scantily-clad women.
It’s about balancing things on your lap, generally a laptop or in my case, dinner. Both hot and uncomfortable.
Years ago I found a padded tray and Ikea and recently threw in out after years of faithful service – it was getting icky.
Happily I’ve found alternatives, and groovy alternatives at that.
This is one of many from Lap Desk Lady, on etsy.
from Lap Desk Lady
It’s US$44.95 and that doesn’t include shipping.
A cheaper option is one I found at ANBC, in the basement of Raffles City. The large one is $39.95, has an easy clean plastic top, a cushion for your lap, and a few fun designs.
Crystal Rocks
May 29th, 2010Another season of American Idol over. This one was not the most exciting…the right people got kicked out at the right time, and the best two, Lee Dewyze and Crystal Bowersox, made it to the final. Very few surprises, no controversy.
And I think the right person won -- Lee is way more mainstream, and probably needed the win more than Crystal.
Crystal’s outstanding individuality and talent means she will have a very bright future, with or without the title.
I’m crushing on this song.
I’m really looking forward to her first album.
Guess the profession
May 28th, 2010Yep…Allen E Brown’s a pimp who’s just been sentenced to 18 years in jail. Will he be allowed to keep his hairdo?
Mary Russell
May 27th, 20108/10 for the series
I’ve mentioned before that I’m a big fan of detective fiction, especially books set in the 1920s-50s. So as part of my reading repertoire, of course I’ve read one of the masters of the genre, Sherlock Holmes. (for a time I worked in Baker Street in London, and would regularly pass the plaque on 221B)
this version bears no resemblance to the 'real' Holmes
Sherlock Holmes (the real one, not the RDJ sexed-up one) is a paragon. If you are at all familiar with him, you’ll know that he’s immensely smart, intense, disciplined, observant and learned. He’s just not very good with people and relationships.
Arthur Conan Doyle hooked him up with Irene Adler, his nemesis/love interest, but it never really came to much.
So beloved is Sherlock Holmes that he has spawned a ton of ‘epilogue’ books. From those writing as if they were ACD, to creating other characters around Sherlock. One series was written with Irene Adler, another with Sherlock Holmes in a cowboy setting.
My favourite though, is the Mary Russell series. Author Laurie King doesn’t try to outdo ACD. Instead she’s taken enough of the background that we know about Sherlock Holmes, and create a new stage, and an entirely new chemistry with Mary Russell. So while he’s still Holmes, with all the quirks we know and love, introducing a young mind for him to train, shape and eventually spar with, humanises him nicely.
When we meet her, Mary Russell is 15. Holmes has retired from detecting, and spends most of his time in his home in the country. Although he’s more than twice her age, they take to each other as kindred souls (The Beekeeper’s Apprentice) and eventually they marry. She is an American girl, recently orphaned, prodigiously smart, one of the few women of the era to be learned, an Oxford grad. She’s feisty, independent, intellectual and a lot of fun.
Laurie King describes her:
Mary Russell is what Sherlock Holmes would look like if Holmes, the Victorian detective, were a) a woman, b) of the Twentieth century, and c) interested in theology. If the mind is like an engine, free of gender and nurture considerations, then the Russell and Holmes stories are about two people whose basic mental mechanism is identical. What they do with it, however, is where the interest lies.
Their chemistry, and perhaps the female perspective, makes the books accessible and enjoyable. Laurie King’s writing is more engaging than Conan Doyle’s (as all the Holmesians pelt me with rocks), and Russell is wonderfully human, great company, and a thoroughly modern heroine.
Laurie King creates stories around Holmes and Russell (as he calls her), where they adventure, solve crimes in so far, 10 books. The adventures are boisterous, as well as being satisfyingly intelligent. They are meaty with crime, with a great sense of history. As you would expect from a successful series, beyond the accessible writing, attractive character, there is no real book without a great plot. And King delivers with some ingenious stories with just enough twists and rooted in real history to keep you going back for more.
O Jerusalem is one of my favourites. It’s one of the early ones, Mary is 19. Mary and Holmes undertake a mission in the Palestine, and it’s great adventure, lots of interesting learning about the area at the time, and the relationship between Mary and Holmes is starting to turn from teacher-pupil to some kind of a partnership.
Russell is an equal partner in the adventures, and not just a Watsonian sidekick. She is a good detective in her own right, and not just a foil for Holmes. (Russell thinks Watson is a bit lame, but very nice)
I used to think that no one else would read these books except for a few of us, until I realized they’ve been selling well since the first, in 1995, and the books regularly make the New York Times bestseller lists – in fact they’re so popular that there are sites dedicated to Mary Russell. (must check if there’s an FB Fan page) The latest, The God of the Hive is the tenth in the series…and is right now winging its way to me from Amazon!
If you’re going to start reading the series, I really envy you – you have 10 great books ahead of you!
FJ finds Sale Season (early)
May 26th, 2010By Fashion Jeannie
I walked down Orchard Road last week, ostensibly to catch up with a good friend over coffee. Two hours, I told myself, and I¹ll be back home. Four hours later and laden with shopping bags, I hung my head down low, wonderinghow I was going to eat for the next three weeks, I fought through the crowds, and headed home.
Officially, the Great Singapore Sale starts on the 28th of May. But to beat the shopping frenzy, some shops have started putting up the sale flags. I’ve put together of a list of my favourite stores that have gone on sale.
Nicholas
01-323 Stamford House
In my very humble opinion, Nicholas is one of Singapore’s best local designers. Nicholas’ collections are structured, beautifully draped and most of all practical! No more sweating while looking uber cool. And he’s very, very affordable. His jersey dresses hardly go over the $200 mark.
He also carries Vice and Vanity, local jewellery designer with pieces reminiscent of Marni (to me anyway) – made mostly of acrylic and leather.
Prices are slashed up to 90% off and you get an additional 10% off total bill for Nicholas VIPs, law Society members, OCBC Titanium and Arts Platinum card members. Additional 20% off total bill with a minimum spend of $500
Sale started on 19 May and lasts for 11 days
Eclecticism
Wisma Atria, 01-07 & Isetan Scotts (Eclecticism counter level 2) 
Eclecticism carries LA celebrity brands like T-bags, Sweetees , Rachel Pally, Ella Moss and as well as several pieces of American Apparel.
During the sale, get up to 70% off Free People, Mink Pink, Ella Moss, Splendid, Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent, Orle Kiely etc
Sale started 14 May
Trove
It’s at the Esplanade, so a bit out of the way for me. But when I go to an event there, I always ensure that I make a pit-stop at this very hip designer boutique outlet.
Recently opened in December, it is having its ingural mid-year sale.
Designer boutique outlet, Trove is having its first-ever mid year sale.
Pick up brands like Karen Walker, BeaYukMui, Walter, Minimarket. Lover and Sample at 5 – 80% off, with pieces starting at $20.
Good thing is, co-owner Victoria is often at the shop, and I love her frankness. If something looks off on you, she will tell you. I value honest opinions.
TAXI!!
Sale started Monday, May 17th and goes on to Sunday, June 13th!
Alldressedup
Paragon #02-37, 290 Orchard Road
Isetan Scotts, level 2, 350 Orchard Road
ION Orchard #03-11, 2 Orchard Turn
To me Sven Tan is the fashion designer genius of Singapore. He helped put Singapore on the global fashion map.
Since Tina Tan-Leo of The Link bought his label, his designs have been seen on the covers of international magazines and sold on net-a-porter, yoox and big department stores in the US.
This Summer, the label collaborated with Ketna Patel, Asian pop artist for happy, bright clothes and accessories with fluoro pops. I expect many of these will go on sale. Get me in line, quick!
Alldressedup, together with the other Link boutiques start their end of season sale on 28 May. VIPs receive additional 10% savings on sale and regular items.
Jayson Brunsdon
Australian Jayson Brunsdon’s designs are about cinematic feminity, a touch of cinema to drama. His collections exude screen grandeur redefined as practicality is injected into his frocks, giving a clean look of cosmopolitan flamboyance.
He was Australian Designer of the Year 2007 and more recently, being a resident judge on Project Runway Australia.
His fans include supermodel Helena Christensen, pop star Kylie Minogue, actress Eva Longoria and the Crown Princess Mary of Denmark.
The label just started its Great Singapore Sale on 21 May. Discounts up to 70% off.
Wisma Atria #02-47/47A
Her Glass Slipper
My problem is, I can’t resist shoes. When I’m having a bad hair, bad skin, bad mood day, looking into the mirror in a pair of hot hawt shoes always makes me feel like a million bucks again.
Her Glass Slipper is run by some of the nicest people I know in the shoe business in Singapore. This multi-label store just went on sale. Get Marc Jacobs at 82% discount, Michael Kors, Nebuloni, DKNY at up to 72% off, 1 for 1 deals and $19 special buys! Other brands on sale include Repetto, Cocomojo, HGS, Ras, Kenneth Cole, Jinny Kim, Rokail, Chrisitian Lacroix, Holster,Jane Holli, Gambini and Beverly Feldman.
Besides the stores above, the following bigger stores are also on sale:
- Topshop up to 50% off
- Warehouse up to 50% off
- Karen Millen up to 50%
- Robinson’s up to 70% off
- Fred Perry pop-up shop up to 70% off (22, Ann Siang Road)
- Guess up to 50% off
Fashion Jeannie is a regular contributor to the groovini. More Fashion Jeannie stories can be found under the Fashion-Beauty tab. For more info on FJ, click on the ‘About’ tab.
Beautiful Genes
May 25th, 2010
Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall, back in the day
What happens when a distinctive-looking rock n roll star and a 6ft blonde Texan model have a child?
Georgia May Jagger, that’s what.
She’s just 18, and has become the latest face of Chanel. But she’s only modelling part-time. She’s still doing her A levels.
With the gap between her teeth (which she’s going to keep), doesn’t she remind you a little of Karl Lagerfeld’s other muse, Vanessa Paradis?
In an interview with the UK’s Daily Mail (2008), she sounds pretty grounded. Which you’d need to be, thrust into the limelight and adored for your looks when you’re so young.
I don’t think anyone in my family has ever wanted to be famous. They just wanted to do what they are good at – my mum wanted to be a model and an actress, and if you are successful in those jobs you do become famous, it’s just how it is. But that’s not the reason she wanted to do those things – and that’s not the reason why my dad wanted to be a musician. I think if you have talent and you want people to be aware of it – and you deserve it – then that’s fine. But being famous for being famous, without any specific talent and without working, is not good. It-girls are awful.
And this is her older sister, Elizabeth, who’s also a model.
Imagine the wardrobes those girls must have!!
This week’s Monday pick-me-up
May 24th, 2010Motivational video. At least, that was the intention.
Sometimes, you really should just give up.
Lady Gaga, Redux
May 23rd, 2010So THIS is what Lady Gaga looks like without all the usual shenanigans.
Pretty normal...