Friday 26 February 2010

Art Deco Architecture

I've mentioned before how much I love the Hoover building however if your visiting London, it is a bit out of the way. I found this list of Art Deco buildings on the V&A website.

http://www.vam.ac.uk/vastatic/microsites/1157_art_deco/about/buildings/

click on the spots on the map and it will give you a picture, there are a lot in central London so its worth having a look.


I love the old theatres and cinemas and I would love to stay the weekend in Claridges it looks incredible!PhotobucketPhotobucket

Not on the map, but just as wonderful are some of the London Underground tube stations many of them were built in the 1930s.
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Look here for some more examples
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(I love objective photography like this)

http://www.artofthestate.co.uk/london_photos/park-royal-station.htm

enjoy :)

Wednesday 24 February 2010

Dissertation Finished!!

Yep I handed it in today.

what a massive relief!

Now I am going out to celebrate with my course friends :]

Friday 19 February 2010

Busy Busy!

I don't have a lot of time, my Dissertation deadline is exactly one week away and I still have the last few finishing touches to do before I print and bind my final copies eee! Im not worried, I know I will get it done in plenty of time.

I finally saw Ponyo on Wednesday, the cinema was packed because it was Orange wednesdays (nightmare!) Ponyo wasn't too busy though so thats ok.

The film is great, such beautiful details in the landscapes. I especially liked the underwater world with all the jellyfish and other sea creatues.
I loved the characters they were all so lovely, I wish everyone in the world was nice it would make life perfect!

The story itself is rather simple compared to most ghibli films, and I was glad because sometimes they can be too deep and consequently confusing because I imagine there has to be cuts when it comes to editing time. It is very family/child orientated, rated U therefore it is quite similar to My Neighbour Totoro in that way.

I loved the cheeky Ponyo theme tune, I had it stuck in my head :]
definitly worth seeing

Monday 15 February 2010

Valentines Day

I hope you all had a lovely Valentines day!

I had to work, but thats ok because me and my boyfriend Ben had a nice meal and went to see The Princess and the Frog on Friday night to make up for it :)

Work was super busy with Valentines couples coming out for a romantic dinner (I waitress at an Italian restaurant).

I got to take home some super cute heart balloons after work so thats cool. They are on little sticks and everything! I drew a cheesy face on one of them because I just couldn't resist.
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Here is a photo of me and Ben at last years May Ball. We will have been together for 2 years at the end of this April. <3 I am a very lucky girl.
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Saturday 13 February 2010

Princess and the Frog

WOW!

I was excpecting the new Disney film to be good, but I didnt expect it to be perfect!
It brought back all the great things about Disney 2D animation which seemed to be lost amongst a world of CGI and Pixar (dont get me wrong I like pixar films but its nice to see some good old fashioned tradtional animation) the use of colour in the film is outstanding, it makes the swamps of the south magical. I don't want to ruin the film for anyone so this contains no spoilers, just some things to look forward to!

Set in 1920/30s New Orleans The Princess and the Frog is heart warming and funny. The animation is fantastic, there is one music sequence which is all in the style of a 1930s poster. The songs in the film are great fun, despite being catchy there seemed to be a lack of any real choruses, with a couple of exceptions.

Tiana is the latest Disney princess and main character, shes been hard worker all her life, with dreams of owning of her own restaurant. She is charming, witty and down to earth. Not to mention in one scene she has a 20s bob with fingerwaves and a magnificant evening dress :D

The villain in this feature is the Shadow Man a voodoo witch doctor, think Jafar in a top hat and tail coat, he is evillllll! But also he has that humourous side which is always a great mix, he pulls some great faces and he loves a good sing song too.

It took a long time for me to warm to the Prince Naveen character because he is so vain but thats really the whole point.

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Also look out for the equally as fantastic minor characters such as Ray, Charlotte, Mama Odie and Louis who are awesome!

I don't know what else to write expect I coud see this film again tonight and enjoy it just as much!
This is Disney at its best, a Classic for a new generation and I can't wait for it to come out on DVD!

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Tuesday 9 February 2010

Sticky Toffee Pudding

I made a sticky toffee pudding at the weekend it was yummy.

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it was served with vanilla ice cream.

2 weeks until my dissertation hand-in. Got to go do some work now!

Saturday 6 February 2010

Studio Ghibli

If you have been reading my blog for a while you might know I am trying to collect all the Disney Classics films on DVD. I LOVE Disney, I think its a mix of nostalgia and obviously the fact that all the films are great.

However I havent ever mentioned that I'm a big fan of the Studio Ghibli films, you will have heard of Spirited Away and most probably seen it.

I did 3 shifts at work last week so I have a bit of money, so I bought some more Ghibli films:

The Cat Returns
Nausicaa
Laputa Castle in the Sky
The great thing about my university is that they do film and animation courses so they have most Disney and Ghibli Dvds in there, so I can borrow them, watch them and then decide if I like them enough to buy :)

I already own Howls moving Castle (which insidently is based on the book written by Diana Wynne Jones)which I would really recommend, and Princess Mononoke.
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I love the detail in the scenery of the Ghibli films, they really do transport you to a different place, most places are modelled on earth but a kind of utopian or sci-fi earth. If youve seen any of the films you will know what I mean (hopefully!) I think the easiest way to describe the films would be magical with a hint of japanese madness.

A funny heartwarming film would be My Neighbour Totoro, look out for the cat bus, its awesome!
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I think Totoro is next on my list, after I buy Snow White.

Ponyo is the latest film by Studio Ghibli and has already been released in Japan and the USA. I can't wait for it to be released here later this year, it will be my first Ghibli cinema experience :D

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Friday 5 February 2010

Shepherds pie

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Last night it was my turn to cook for my housemates and my boyfriend, we take it in turns each week to do one meal and sit to eat together. Its always really nice to have a good chat. We also get a pudding :P

I made 2 shepherds pies since there was 6 of us. I also did some roast parsnips for those of us who liked them (I may have got distracted and let them go a little too crispy!)
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My other housemates bought a cheesecake and made a raspberry coulis to go with it.
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It was lovely :)

Wednesday 3 February 2010

My 21st Birthday

It was my 21st birthday on the 24th of January, and I had a wonderful time!

all friday I baked and prepared food and the decorations for my Mexican themed party.
PhotobucketPhotobucket matching birthday cake and fairy cakes.

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me and my best friend vicky, she came all the way from coventry to wales with some of my other friends to see me, which was lovely! I loved her pinata skirt, (a tutu with crepe paper sewed onto the layers) awesome!
There were lots of great costumes, plenty of moustaches and sombreros.

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Food wise I made cheesy nachos with jalapenos, I heated wraps and pitta breads to go with the chilli my boyfriend made. Then I just cut lots of raw cucumber and carrot for the tonne of salsa and other dips I bought. A mexican feast!

I also made a Tequilla Sunrise to go in my cocktail fountain. And of course a pinata filled with sweeties.
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anyway, glad I finally posted this because its very delayed!

Monday 1 February 2010

Uma Turan

some beautiful vintage inspired hats,

this one reminds me of marlene dietrich in 'The Lady is Willing'
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Lara Jade photography for Uma Turan
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Marlene Dietrich

I don't think I would ever be brave enough to wear anything so wacky, so there are some lovely 1940s style hats with veils and some 1960s style pill box hats as well as fascinators.
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photography by Corin Ashleigh Brown


www.umaturan.com


enjoy :)