Random Beautiful Thoughts

Bridge over St Lawrence River on Canada-US border...to heaven?

Music: I seem to listening to a lot of soundtrack music theses days, which is kind of cool as that usually means discovering old gems. Maybe I'm watching movies late at night with terrific music I can't always ID, but no fear. I have Shazam. I have fallen in love with my Shazam App on my phone for two reasons. First, the obvious one, is that it names the song I happen to be listening to but can't figure out what it is or who is singing it. Secondly, it keeps a running list of the songs I have tagged. This is most helpful as when I am on iTunes shopping for music I ALWAYS forget "that song" I meant to find. However, my number one Summer of 2011 Soundtrack has been the Galaxie Satellite 70s channel. I could listen to this channel day and night and have yet to not like a song I've heard there. Cheesy and classic, from rock to disco, I love it all. But I think the smooth jazzy 70s R&B is my absolute fave. It was a toss up between The O'Jays, The Spinners and The Chi-Lites but Marvin Gaye snuck up and won....here, have a G&T and lets groove by the pool....

Book: Well so much for my noble James Joyce summer intentions. This summer has been all about The Game of Thrones for me. I read the first one, then watched the HBO series based on the first book, and I am now officially hooked. Medieval, fantasy, thriller, and horror all wrapped up in 4 (soon to be 5) delicious books, each one at least 1000 pages. Well written, beautifully woven stories with fantastic characters that drew me in and make it hard to put down. Not only that, but I am reading it on my Kobo app on my lovely little powerhouse, my Blackberry Playbook. I ADORE my Playbook, it is the perfect little tablet. It fits in my purse, lets me go all over the interwebs, listen to music etc but the book reading is one of my fave options. It is back lit and the font size means I can read without my readers. In the dark, even! Yay! The portability is super cool as it fits nicely in my hand and my purse which my iPad does not do. It holds a charge forever. I don't think the Game of Thrones books would fit in my purse, which is bulging with so many other Important Things. And paper. Anyways, this is the summer of Game of Thrones and if you haven't picked it up, you should. 

Yes. That is Sean Bean.

See how awesome? Love my Blackberry Playbook!

Food: This has been the summer of BBQ. All kinds of yumminess has hit the grill, but I have to say my daughter Emilie made the winner this year. She takes fresh sweet corn on the cob, removes the husks, and puts it right on the grill to cook. It doesn't take long, really just a few minutes with the cobs being turned. While it cooks, she makes this killer homemade spicy sauce with mayonnaise, fresh lime juice, sriracha sauce (oh yeah...) and some chilli powder She slathers the grilled corn with this, then grates fresh parmesan on top. Best BBQ veggie ever. I don't have the exact amounts for the ingredients but a quick Google search would probably turn up a variation. As for sweets, the Lindt Fleur de Sel dark chocolate bars have turned me into a chocolate glutton. Seriously, I cannot believe how delicious the sea salt and chocolate combination is. You simply must try it yourself. And if you are feeling really wild, try the Passion Sea Salt & Caramel. Oh man. Chocolate heaven. Who knew dark chocolate could be so very very bad?

Fashion: One of my favourite looks this summer has been my baggy shorts with platform sandals. I've been loving my ivory Wilfred Tropez shorts from Aritzia and these cute cork wedges from Aldo. I've had some foot issues (surgery end of September will end my woes thank god) so I have had to keep the heels pretty reasonable. Which if you know me, is hard. Boo hoo. Anyways...these shorts, these shoes and a nice flowy silk top makes for a sharp yet easygoing elegant summer look. Key aka Very Important: Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse on the legs and a lovely pedicure that includes pretty soft skin on the feet. This, ladies, is a deal breaker.

Skincare du Jour: Sunscreen! I've spent a good deal of time this summer cruisin' in a convertible and wow, one can COOK if one isn't careful. So, lots of sunscreen on my body and face has been key. Keeping in convenient makes me more likely to apply. I LOVE my Ombrelle stick- it is in my purse at all times and goes on my face especially forehead and nose, as my sunglasses are huge and cover a lot of my face. And for my arms, shoulders and legs, Kiss My Face makes an spf 30 spray oil sunscreen that I adore. I discovered it first at The Standard Hotel Miami and could not believe something that smelled and felt so nice could protect me from the sun. I use on my hair when I'm by a pool or at the beach. It smells like honey, but only slightly. Amazing stuff. Hard to find in Canada but I stock up in Whole Foods when I'm in the States.

Make Up: Urban Decay Cannonball Waterproof Mascara (read about my love for this here) and MAC Blot (which I've also raved about) powder have helped me through some hot and melty days! Love them both and can't imagine hot summer days without them. Cannonball goes on soft and slick and lasts all day without flaking or smudging. And MAC Blot, if you haven't used it, is miraculous. Deposits almost NO colour, yet makes any shiny or oily spots disappear and lasts hours. Could. Not. Be. Without.

Perfume: Lately is has been super hot, as summer should be! When the heat and humidity are so oppressive though, a light hand is called for perfume wise. Annick Goutal La Violette has got me through. It smells like sweet violet candies- soft and soapy, and stays close to the skin. The violet is somehow a "cool" flower so violet scents tend to be cooling and perfect for warm weather. They have a simple old fashioned feel to them and there is a rainy fresh garden feel that I just love.  I get decent longevity from almost all perfumes so while some complain that this does not last on them, on me it lasts a few hours. It is a simple soliflore but somehow so perfect and light.  The "love at first sight" flower...fitting.

Random Beautiful Thoughts

Music ~ As a long time fan of the musical weirdness that was Roxy Music and is Bryan Ferry I was keen to hear Olympia. His latest release features some pretty cool dudes including Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood, Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea, just to name a few. But it is the spooky & ethereal Brian Eno rejoining that adds that Roxy magic, especially evident on Tender is The Night. I feel like this song is…humid and dense, if that makes sense…

Speaking of a little weirdness (I mean this in the best way) how about a little Jonsi (from Sigur Ros) and the oh so pretty Go, Do

Go sing, too loud

Make your voice break- sing it out

Go scream, do shout

Make an earthquake

.....so pretty, right?

Book ~ Just finished Jonathan Franzen’s Freedom and I loved it. I still love him for his famous Oprah dissing ( I am not a believer in The Church of Oprah) and for the weird Franzenfreude that arose as a result of his great reviews. Sour grapes much? Anyways…his books make me want to have a pencil nearby when I’m reading so I can underline phrases that blow my mind. Sometimes I read them out loud… a few times. Anyone who grew up in the 70s/80s and who had even a modicum of family dysfunction needs to read Jonathan Franzen. The Corrections spoke to my generation and moved me in unexpected ways. Freedom reminded me of how politics were so important to my parents and how they shaped my beliefs. It also reinforced (in my humble opinion) how important it is to take responsibility for your parenting and for your children. There is a weird over-protective/let-kids-make-the-important-choices dichotomy going on these days. Parents who cry “poor me” and act like martyrs while not letting their kids walk anywhere on their own or take responsibility for their bad behavior. It’s like a reversal of what parenting should be….”in my humble opinion”… Freedom is not just about parenting by any chance…but that is one of the things I took away from it.

Food ~ Well, post holidays I am happy to purge my system of chocolate and celebratory dinners with a normal eating routine. It doesn’t take long to feel energized and healthy again when pounds of chocolate, butter and champagne are eliminated (ok…reduced…) from the diet. During these cold days, curries are among my favourite dishes and my Lalah's Curry Powder and Patak's curry paste get a real workout. One of my favourite vegetarian dishes is Spicy Rice and Lentils. It doesn't use curry but has lots of warmth and yumminess and was always a favourite with my daughter and her friends, even when they were young. Hey, it doesn't have to be gross chicken fingers and frozen fries! 

Fashion ~ Ah, let us thank the fashion gods for the big circle scarf, shall we? I have a big thick wooly black one from Urban Outfitters that I have been living in during our cold snap. It’s a scarf, a hat, and a neck warmer. A win for me! Also, Canadian chain Aritzia has a line called TNA that makes super cozy parkas that are lined with a faux fur. Mine is blue grey military style and with the hood up & my circle scarf wrapped around my neck you can colour me cozy. What I want- did anyone else notice Natalie Portman’s character in Black Swan was constantly wearing what looked like cashemere sweatpants and hoodies? All in pale greys, blushes and cream colours! Cozy stuff for lounging around the house are pretty much my favourite items and these look like the ultimate. I can pretend to be a ballerina ;)

this is how I imagine my make up :)

Cosmetic du Jour ~ For some reason I am embracing black eyeliner on my upper and lower waterlines. It looks sexy and smoky, yet subtle and Lancome Le Stylo Waterproof pencil in Black stays put. Loving me some Bobbi Brown right now. Her award winning Long Wear Cream Shadow in Cement is my daily go-to neutral eye shadow these days, and her Pot Rouge for Lips and Cheeks in the pretty and cheery Pale Pink is giving me a blush. Dust it all over with some Illuminating Bronzing Powder in the pale golden bronze colour of Aruba and I look like I am happily surviving winter with a healthy glow.

Perfume du Moment ~  I have been craving warmth and the smells that come when the earth is alive, ie flowers, grass, trees and the way everything smells when the sun shines on it. You know, when it's. Not. Winter. A little spritz of Annick Goutal Songes or Comptoir Sud Pacifique Aloha Tiare gives me a "warm sultry tropical night walking under fragrant flowers" in a bottle and just make me happy. I think it makes people around me happy too, as when I wear either of these I am constantly hearing “Mmmm what are you wearing, you smell so good”. Works for me! A few sprays of Jo Malone Vintage Gardenia at bedtime guarantees sweet dreams. This white floral blend has soft and gentle notes of cardamom that adds a warming element, perfect for a cold and blustery night