Tina Fey's Bossy Pants

Literature

I am rekindling an intermittent love for reading - this is the cumulative effect of various components: (1) A dramatic change *i.e. reduction* in (job-related) stress levels (2) more time and (3) a pending invitation to a local book group helmed by my gorgeous friend, Rebecca.

A major incentive to get my reading grove back.


So, on a recent trip to Chapters *happy sound* http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/home/ Darren and I picked up a ton of reading material ( D is a bone fide book-worm and charges through multiple books per week with gusto) and not wanted to scare myself during this early and vunerable stage, picked out Tina Fey's self-penned Memoirs entitled, Bossy Pants.

I loved reading this book - Tina Fey has a joyous way with words and I fell into her comical flow and whipped through the chapters in no time at all. I fell more and more for her stories, character and drive as I weaved through the book and now have a borderline obsession with 30rock and SNL. Gaaaa more TV!

Loved it, would highly recommend for a light hearted read and endearing story. This is a hard working girl done good!

New Fashion Blog

Fashion/ Career

Uh oh...I've started another blog... and it's all about Fashion! It seems like my Success Blog had already spawned a successful offspring - I was starting to realized that (a) I love writing about beautiful dresses and (b) this love was somewhat eclipsing my Success Blog, so much so, that it was all I was writing about!

So... I have decided to syphon off all my Fashion Posts and start a new Blog, purely devoted to my favorite fashionistas and gorgeous frocks... And here it is:
Libby's Fashion Faves! Here's to the next Blogging chapter, hurray!
http://libbysfashionfaves.blogspot.com/


And just for old time's sake....

Sienna Miller in Dior

Here is one of my favorites fashion savvy stars, lovely Sienna in a divine Dior Dress back in 2005 at the Venice Film Festival. I love this style and her accessories, make up and hair are the perfect compliment to the outfit. Beeautiful!

Fashion Faves #5

Fashion 

Awwwww, I had to squeeze in another quick Fashion-Faves Post.. what with Venice Film Festival and a slew of premiers and other glorious high fashion events being catalogued in magnificent technicolor. Here are my picks from the week:

1. Zoe Saldana in a Barbara Bui dress

Zoe hits the jackpot again in this fabulous mini dress. not many could pull this off but the combination of her incredible figure and natural poise means she pulls it off with aplomb. Fabulous!

2. Kate Winslet at the Venice Film Festival

So simple yet so chic - Beautiful Kate blows us away with this classic LBD and classy beige blazer. J'adore her!

3. Madonna in a Vionnet Gown

Oooo lala, Madonna! I love love love this printed gown with cute and flattering butterfly design. The material girl still works it like the perennial pro. 

4. Beyonce in Lanvin Dress

The big news of the week - Bey and Jay are having a power-bubba and broadcast the news in Super Star fashion at the MTV Music awards. Beyonce looks radiant in this gorgeous Lanvin Dress with (probably) one of the most photographed baby bumps in history!

5. Natasha Poly in Gucci 

Good lord, I love this Scarlett Maxi! Ms Poly looks amazing - I love everything about this dress - the colour, the cut and the belt detail. Just beautiful!

Fashion Faves #4

Fashion

I just can't help myself... I love blogging about beautiful people in beautiful dresses! Herewith my latest instalment of fashion favorites from the last couple of weeks. 

1. Anne Hathaway in Alexander McQueen

Queen Anne continues to shine in this beautiful cream, lace-embroidered dress at the 'One Day' Premier. Her nod to old Hollywood glamour with her bright red lips and ravishing waves is picture perfect. Beautiful, beautiful. 

2. Zoe Saldana in Valentino (dress), Louboutin (shoes) and Salvatore Ferragamo (clutch)

I love Uhura! Zoe Saldana's natural beauty is truly off the scale and she continues to soar above us mere mortals while wearing her daring and exquisite fashion choices. Here she looks amazing in a salmon pink leather dress and gorgeous heels. 

3. Rose Byrne in Dolce and Gabbana (Dress) and Sergio Rossi (Shoes)

New-Kid on the Block, Rose is taking Hollywood by storm and it's no surprise when you she what she wore for her interview on Letterman last week - what a stunner! Go for it Rose! 

4. Jennifer Garner YSL Blue Satin dress. 

This is one of my favourite dresses of the year so far and I had to include. Ms Garner looks unbelievably gorgeous in this off-the-shoulder satin dress. So beautiful she almost takes your breath away. 

5. Kate Winslet  - St John Knits

I love Kate and love love love her new advertising campaign for St.John Knits. She has so much charm and grace as well and staggering natural beauty. A triumphant role model for the modern woman and looking sublime in this adds for the casual knitwear company. 

Long Words

Career

I have so enjoyed blogging and combined with a return to reading, I am finding my vocabulary has improved exponentially. I thought I would showcase a few of my favorites which I am sure, will help me as I strive for success:

Neolithic:
Pertaining to the Last phase of the Stone Age. Totally useless but such a great descriptive word

Agamemnon:
The commander of the Greeks in the Trojan war and son of King Atreus of Mycenae. What a superb word (and what a great name for a dog).

Salubrious:
Promotes health and/or pertaining to all things healthy. How fabulous a word. I feel virtuous merely typing it.

Sentient:
The power of perception that is directly linked to the senses and can also be referred to as 'The Conscious Mind'. AKA "Gosh, I feel very sentient today" **not the correct usage but I urge everyone to start using it and maybe we will invoke a revolution, particularly amongst the student world {It is the perfect way to demonstrate how one is recovering from a hangover}

Totemic:
A natural object given the status as the emblem of a group, family or clan. Sometimes distinctive. Sometimes weird.

Schlong:
A naughty choice and taken for the German 'Schlange', meaning serpent,

Perpetrator:
Someone or thing that commits a heinous crime. A strange choice but it has a nice ring to it and maybe linked to my recent discovery of 'Law and Order'.

Meniscus:
A marvelous word but the use of which is sadly restricted to commentary regarding the knee (i.e helpful for skiers and squash players).

I'll try and incorporate all the other into my day to day but will, of course, be on the lookout for more.. Ahh words, they add to the tapestry of life, make us chuckle and make us frown. I will continue my search for the ultimate word list!

The Girl Who Played With Fire

Culture

Ahhhhh, I have finished another book. This time I succumbed to the hype and picked the second of Stieg's best selling trilogy, 'The Girl Who Played With Fire'.












I was in a funny place with the books - I had started the first ( and then lent it to a friend), seen the first film ( but fell asleep before the end), started watching the second film ( and fell asleep at the beginning) and hadn't even touched the Hornet's Nest. Hmmmmm. Where to re-start?

I plumped for the second literary installment and from the get-go, found it most compelling. I had a vague image in my mind of characters from the [Swedish] cinematic version but this was not entrenched too deep as to encroach on my own interpretation of the book. I am intrigued as to the Hollywood film release and wonder if they will sugar-coat the devastating first book which contains scenes that even the most haggard of souls would find disturbing.

The Girl Who Played with Fire (Vintage Crime/Black Lizard)

I really enjoyed the second part of Larson's Trilogy - the story continues from the first and revolves around a triple murder in which Lisbeth, our hero, becomes completely entwined. I don't have a huge experience in reading spy novels or thrillers, but this was a great introduction to the genre, was fast paced and extremely compelling. It has inspired me to re-watch the second film and most certainly encouraged me to crack on with the third book and then return to the first.. A cracking book to read on holiday, on the tube or just for fun - 9/10!

Fashion Faves #3

Fashion Faves

Uh oh.. this blog appears to be turning into a fashion - lover's blog.. Well, let's see now, all the people in the photos below are extremely successful (so it's vaguely relevant). 

1. Miranda Kerr in David Jones

She is becoming a favorite - check out the new mum (!!!!) looking unbelievable on the runway in this Scarlet gown. 

2. Emma Stone in Dior ( the dress) and Lanvin ( the shoes)

Ahhh Emma, now a regular in the 'best dressed' columns and I love this 60's inspired dress by Dior. She is looking oh so grown up at the Teenage Choice Awards. 

3.  Nikki Reed in Etro ( the dress) and Ferragamo ( the clutch)

I LOVE maxi dresses and could wear them all day every day. This one caught my eye and I think Ms Reed from the Twilight contingent looks fantastic. 

4. Miranda Kerr 

Ahhh.... another Maxi and another picture of the gorgeous Miranda. She-who-can-do-no-fashion-wrong. What a gorgeous photo. And with a mini Bloom bundle in tow, who wouldn't gaze and sigh. 

5. Uma Thurman in Versace
Uma looked amazing in this majestic Versace gown down in Cannes. The dress has beautiful lines accentuating her amazing figure and love her sea-green droplet earrings.

Looks like my fashion pages are becoming a regular fixture... so until next time...