InterContinental Westminster

Last weekend, I was lucky enough to get a sneak preview of the brand new InterContinental Westminster before it opens its doors to the public this week. 

The new addition to IHG's London portfolio attempts to inject a new lease of life into an historic former government building, Queen Anne’s Chambers. In an area where politics, business and influencers come together, the hotel is situated right next to St James Park station and is within a few minutes' walk of Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, and the Houses of Parliament. The hotel offers 256 rooms, 7 meeting rooms and exceptional dining at the Blue Boar Smokehouse and Bar.

The dinner, drinks, overnight stay and brunch were all courtesy of my lovely friend Katie who works in the head office and when she asked if I would be her plus one, I jumped at the chance to experience abit of "understated luxury" as they call it. 


Regal revolving doors controlled by delightfully polite men dressed in grey suits and hats led us to the stunning lobby which was a vision in itself. A fabulous glass roof gave oodles of natural light with a splendid view of the lobby bar. 


We were given an Executive Room which was absolutely out of this world. Everything from the room size, furnishings and little touches (like the latest issue of Harpers Bizarre propped up on the pillow) went down an absolute treat with me! I am also rather impressed with techy gadgets and I can confirm that there were gadgets a-plenty. The rooms are decked out with a swanky TV/Mirror combo as well as Bose speakers throughout, with seperate controllers in dressing room, bathroom and bedroom. Whilst we were getting ready, we obviously tested these bad boys out by getting into our robes, standing infront of the mirror and doing our makeup and hair to the musical stylings of Rhi Rhi (and abit of Kanye West was thrown in for good mesaure).

It was at this point that we made our way down to dinner. We were promptly greeted by the Maitre d and shown to the bar which can only be described as a secret speak-easy that could have easily been a creation of Chuck Bass (ohhh yes, I said it!). Unfortunately, we were famished, so decided to skip the bar, save it for later and head for the meat. 

The Blue Boar Smokehouse takes its inspiration from the best American pit masters, with a menu evolving around authentic smoke house techniques, whilst maintaining its British influence. We were informed that the on site charcoal and smoking ovens aim to produce rustic and classic home comfort dishes but with a modern twist. I was pleasantly surprised at the menu which was quite heavily meat focused. 

I went for Duck Eggs and Wild Mushrooms to start which was simply devine. The Duck Egg was covered in breadcrumbs and laid over some marinated mushrooms on a slice of light toast. To follow, I went for the standard Fillet Steak option that I regularly go for, however this one was stuffed with Oysters. It was cooked to perfection (medium-well) and served with exquisite home cooked chunky chips. At this point, I could barely move but Katie and I decided to share the Poached Pear, which again, was just divine. With a steak that rivals Gaucho and service on par with my afternoon tea experience at The Ritz, the whole experience was nothing short of exceptional.

We then went onto Kings Road and mingled with some questionably named people and headed back to the plush King size bed that awaited us. After a delightful 9 hour sleep, we returned to the Blue Boar for a full english brunch which was exquisite! 


Overall, an AMAZING hotel in an awesome location. If you want a cheeky overnight stay and a spot of luxury, definitely give this new IHG addition a go! A solid 9/10.

Peace,
O x

Film Review: Rust and Bone

The Cast: Marion Cottilard, Matthias Schoenaerts

Director: Jacques Audiard

The Rating: 15

The Venue: The Curzon (Soho), London

After seeing the beauitful Marion Cottilard speaking about her new film Rust and Bone at the BFI as part of the London FIlm Festival, I was absolutely dying to see it. 

My sister and I met, Prosecco in hand, eager to see our favourite frenchy in action and I must say that it completed exceeding expectations and it was simply stunning. 

The Plot: 

Rust and Bone is french film that is a bizarre combination of being a melodrama that isn't melodramatic. In short, it is about an Orca trainer who loses her legs in an accident whilst performing with the killer Whales at Antibes Marineworld, who then begins a relationship with a broke and desperate bare-knuckle-boxing single father who makes ends meet by fighting and deceiving those closest to him. 

Best bits: 

The special effects used to make Cotillard a convincing amputee are extraordinary. This is a gorgeous, sometimes necessarily brutal film filled with tiny moments of power from Cotillard: Stéphanie sitting on her balcony, alone, proudly going through the movements of her killer-whale routine to an invisible audience with a soundtrack to Katy Perry in the background. 

Bad bits: 

I like a good romance in the film and I found the male lead annoying at times. There is no way that I would put up with the way he treats her at times but at the same time, I love how he learns about himself throughout the film and changes....this however, does not happen in real life!

The in-between bits:

In a typically french way, there are ludicrous amounts of sex scenes in this film- some long, some short, some subtle, some graphic! But the use of these intimate scenes make the film wildly raw and add a huge amount of tention between the audiences and their love/hate relationship with Schoenaerts' performance as Ali. 

The acting in this film is nothing short of phenomenal. Both Cottilard and Schoenaerts show astonishing depths of character, conveyed by simply a touch or a look at times. The love story is unconventional and thats what makes it so gripping. It is achingly romantic in a frustrating yet gripping way, so typical of a french film. 

Conclusion:

Brutal yet beautiful and loved every minute- a definite MUST SEE.  

Out of ten: 

A solid 9.5

Catch the trailer here:

Peace,
O x

Mt. Wolf EP Launch @ Corsica Studios

Last night I hopped over to Corsica Studios for the launch of Mt. Wolf's EP Life Size Ghosts. In all honestly, I wasn't overly sure what to expect! Two members of the band are from my native isle of Guernsey, lead singer Kate and guitarist Steve. My memories of Kate come down to her playing the main roles in numerous local productions and being somewhat of a music prodigy and Steve, well, for anyone that knows Steve you can only really describe him as one of the coolest people around. He is always doing something exciting, from working in the music industry to schmoozing with the x-factor finalists, Steves always been a cool kid. I had heard wonderful things about Mt. Wolf from my sister who has seen them live several times but I only started listening to the tracks about a week ago. I LOVED the tracks that were on their youtube channel and was really interested to see how they would play such songs live. 

Before I go on, lets talk a little bit about the band and their background. 

Even though the band members currently reside in London, all members are from the seaside. As I mentioned before, two of the members are from my native island Guernsey (lovely lead singer Kate Sproule and the incredibly cool guitarist Stevie McMinn), whereas producer and electric guitarist Sebastian ‘Bassy’  Fox is from Dorset and drummer Alex Mitchell from Brighton. They say that this shared experience of living near the coast has had a profound influence on how they make music, shaping the landscape for their dark and hypnotic but beautiful world.

They describe their sound as ‘Dreamfolk’, a cinematic fusion of both Folk and Electronica, the band mix a  unique hybrid of strings and instrumentation with heart-melting harmonies and contemporary 

electronic and bass influenced sounds, drawing on influences like The XX, Little Dragon, SBTRKT, Bon Iver and Youth Lagoon, whilst easily standing out from the current female-vocal-led alternative/ electronic scene. 

I would say that this description is very fitting and true. Their set started with a somewhat experimental track with minimal but seriously strong vocals from Kate, which I thought worked really well because it showcased how they were playing every element of the set themselves. It was intriguing and inspiring to see four seemingly different characters come together and be completely in tune with each on the stage. They didn't even need to make eye-contact with each other to bring a variety of sounds, instruments, beats and rhythms together with natural ease and musicality. 

I absolutely adored the way they subtly intertwined Kate's violin skills into a few of their songs. She has a somewhat awing presence on stage which makes you appreciate how stunning her vocals are, even when there are some seriously awesome bass beats to compete with. My personal favorite of the set was Cry Wolf. What an awesome song. I have been listening to it on repeat! I am actually obsessed. Vocals are haunting and melodies are beautiful, definitely my new song of the moment. 

(Photos by http://www.facebook.com/paulbencephotography)

There is not a shadow of doubt in my mind that Mt. Wolf are meant for big things. They are SO unique and I really think there is a place for them out there. Out of all of the musical comparisons they have been given, they have an edge on all with such a rare and special offering. I will absolutely be keeping a close eye on them and urge everybody to stop what you are doing and visit the Youtube channel and also the Soundcloud set. 

As I said, watch this space!

Peace,

O x

Monday Morning Blues?

We all suffer from the Sunday Night Fear and the Monday Morning Blues, with most of us adopting the view that the four day week/three day weekend is something that is long overdue. It is all too easy to get in the mind set that Monday's are awful and dread them so much that it can consume you. I have found that this attitude has really affected my mood and most certainly my performance in a rather negative way. So, I have since decided to view Monday's as an AMAZEBALLS (yes thats a word, in the dictionary and everything!) day of the week!!!  Be positive, be happy- its the start of a BRAND NEW WEEK! 

If the attitude change is quite hard for you, why not try a few of these tips which I think can get rid of the "End of the weekend" blues. 

1) Make the most of your weekend. Make Saturday super duper full, get EVERYTHING done and chilllax on Sunday

2) Watch something on Sunday night to take your mind off the fear of Mondays- if you don't already, I would recommend Homeland as a serious Sunday treat! But make sure you get an early ish night, remember that every hour you sleep before midnight is worth two compared to that of after midnight

3) On Monday morning, get up 20 minutes earlier than usual, have a long shower and make a cooked breakfast. It is important to kick-start your week with an amazeballs (yes, I said it again!) breakfast. The shower will help wake you up too!

4) Work out on Monday night- get some endorphines going. Exercise not only clears my head, but gets me the perfect combination of energised and relaxed, ready for a good nights sleep. 

5) Lastly, I would highly recommend doing a good food shop on Monday night. A lot of my life revolves around food (sad but true) and I find it a very exciting prospect to come home to a full fridge, it makes the week ahead that bit easier

Peace,

O x

Benjamin Francis Leftwich- Live at KOKO, London

It is no surprise to any of my friends or blog readers that I am a MASSIVE Ben Leftwich fan so when I heard of his upcoming tour, I did not hesitate and bought a pair, faster than you can say Jack Robinson (shameless Kiss Kiss Bang Bang quote!). It goes without saying that it was the wisest £30 I have ever spent. There is something so unbelievably unique about his voice. Unlike many other artists, his music actually transports me. It takes me out of my own city life of PR, stress and socialising and takes me to a place where I feel like its only me in the room. 

I first discovered Benjamin Francis Leftwich through a song I heard on my favourite TV show, Grey's Anatomy. From there, I have avidly followed him and his music and tried to see him live at every possible opportunity. Although many people may have never heard of him, KOKO was literally jam-packed with avid fans. He played some of my favourites including ‘Pictures’, ‘Butterfly Culture’ and '1904' but I was a little disappointed because my favourite of all his songs was his encore, "Atlad Hands". It was beautifully sung and he experimented by playing it with no amplification at all. If you were fairly near the front, I can imagine it would have been phenomoneal but I was fairly near the back bar and all I could hear where the clinking of glasses, opening of ringpulls and annoying chatty bar staff!!!!



But all in all, his set list really showcased his talent beautifully and he worked his magic to transport each and every one of us. 

FACT FILE:

• Ben was boring in York in 1987 to South African and Australian parents!
• Ben had a fairly nomadic childhood, spending just as much time in Sydney as in his native U.K.
• Ben taught himself to play the guitar at age ten, inspired by Elliott Smith and Bruce Springsteen
• Ben once fronted an indie pop band called the Nicoles before embarking on a solo career
• Four of his tracks have been featured on ABC's hit show Grey's Anatomy

A few links for you!

Firstly, Benjamin Francis Leftwich- Pictures!

And lastly, my cover of Atlas Hand (complete with cheesy picture slideshow):

Atlas Hands by Olivia McMonagle

Great PR stunt: Coke Zero and Skyfall

Working on Coke is potentially one of the most exciting projects I have been involved with as it is a completely multi-facetted brand. I am particularly in love with the latest PR stunt created by Antwerp agency Duval Guillaume Mode where Coke Zero helps to promote the launch of the new Bond film, SkyFall.

At Antwerp Central station in Belgium, several unsuspecting Coke Zero customers had the chance to experience 70 seconds of James Bond-like adventure. After purchasing their Coke Zero from the touchscreen vending machine, customers were presented with the message “Want a Chance to Win Exclusive Tickets to Skyfall”. After entering their name, they received the instructions: “Go to Platform 6. You have 70 seconds to unlock the 007 in you.”

The violin-playing street musician standing next to the vending machine began playing the Bond theme, and the would-be Bond was on his way.

Getting to Platform 6 Antwerp Central station on a normal day is probably quite simple, but several obstacles were placed in the way including joggers, a dog walker, a collapsing fruit stand and of course a Bond girl. Once the person arrived at the platform they had to sing the Bond theme to receive their free Skyfall tickets.

Fabulous PR and LOTS of fun. I absolutely cannot wait to see SkyFall, its going to be a cracker. 

To watch the video scroll down below.

Peace,

O x

Budget, Bargain and Blow-out BB creams and such!

As I get older and my skin has less blemishes, I have really tried to wean myself off using foundations. During the day time, I typically prefer to let my skin breathe and not wear any type of coverage or very little, but as time passes I'm realising that a light tinted moistuirser or BB cream with SPF would really benefit my skin in the long run. Having searched high and low, I tried a fair few and I’ve decided to review my favourites, all of which I would highly recommend.

ON A BUDGET?
Witch BB Cream (approx. £6.99 from Boots/Superdrug)

This BB cream claims to cover existing blemishes whilst clearing up any possible new ones so I was quite intrigued to see how it would look. I tried a small patch on my hand which was considerably thicker that I had expected but I decided to give it a go.
After applying a small amount with a sponge, I could instantly tell that this was quite a lot heavier than I had hoped. Instead of a light consistency, it felt more like a giant tube of creamy concealer on my face, which actually ‘set’ on my face almost instantly.
Even though its consistency was not what I had expected, I will say that the coverage was pretty impressive. Its peachy tone matched perfectly with my skin and gave it a very glamorous look with great coverage. If you are looking for good coverage but without using a heavy and expensive foundation, this is definitely the way to go. It lasts practically all day and smells delightful.
It wasn’t exactly what I was looking for because I wanted something a little lighter and more natural looking for the day, but the thick texture would deliver on covering up problem skins so if this is what you are looking for...Go Go Go!

WANT TO GRAB A BARGAIN?
Garnier, Miracle Skin Perfector All-in-One BB cream (approx. £9.99 from Boots/Superdrug)

A staple in my daily make up bag now. The cream is of a thick consistency BUT a little goes a long way and it blends really well. It smells fresh and citrusy like all Garnier products, and is really pleasant to put on.  The coverage is just enough to even out skin-tone and not look like you're wearing something on your skin. It moisturises very well and has SPF which makes it great under make up for those that are put off by conventional greasy/ opaque white sunscreens on the face. I like to apply this product to freshly cleansed skin, with a bit of concealer under the eyes for a very natural and glowy look. It's a great way to "detox" from heavy foundations, and great for day time wear.

PAYDAY BLOWOUT?
Laura Mercier, Illuminating Tinted Moisturiser (approx. £32.99 from Space NK, House of Fraser, Selfridges)

This is BY FAR my favourite of them all. My ideal product would be light and natural looking, but with good coverage and to really make it amazing, I would love for it to give my skin a dewey glow. With this illuminating tinted moisturiser, I got ALL of the above.
It is so lightweight and really lets my skin breathe. People have actually complimented me on my skin when I wear it, which is something that has never really happened before!
The one thing I would say was that it the shade I was recommended by the lady behind the counter (Nude) was a little lighter than I expected and it made me look quite pale. If you are going for the English rose look then pair with a deep red lipstick but if you are looking for a “just got back from holiday” look, pair with a bronzer, like the one from St Tropez.
The great thing is that it can also be worn in the evening, with a little powder over the top to make it slight more matte. I would really go as far as to say that Laura Mercier owns the world of base coverage for perfect skin!

I hope that gives all of you a little food for thought if you are contemplating buying a new tinted moisturizer or BB cream.

Peace,

O x

Eating Clean and Lean and LOVING it!

As you have probably seen from a fair few posts on this blog, I have become fairly obsessed with diets and eating healthy. I don't really like fad diets so I have tried to find one that produces results but also works for me in the long time. Having spent the summer abroad in the obesity capital of the world, I found myself really struggling to stick to a healthy lifestyle. The mornings were fine as I would eat yoghurt and fresh fruit and a small bowl of cottage cheese but then lunch and dinner proved a lot more difficult. Portion size is just crazy over there, everything is times TEN! 

I have however found a good lifestyle diet that really works for me- the James Duigan's Clean and Lean Diet. I don't stick to it religiously but I follow it and it has really worked so far. 

In brief, it is based around eating clean! It recommends going back to nature with pure, organic foods and cutting out the nasty stuff, such as caffeine, refined sugar (Duigan dedicates a whole section to how nasty that stuff is for your body), alcohol and processed foods.

Upsides:
The great thing about it is that it is completely logical and realistic. It isn't based around giving up things you love, but instead just cutting out elements that are unnatural or processed. I personally LOVE protein rich foods as well as fruit and veg so this diet really allows you to use all the things you love to make amazing recipes that are low in fat and great for trimming. 

Downsides:It is fairly tricky for me to completely give up carbs and I don't really like the carbs that you are allowed, like Quinoa, so instead I just allow myself a carb in the morning (granary toast) and try other low carb options like polenta (which I know LOVE) if I want to include that in my lunch/dinner. I also really struggled with giving up alcohol. It isn't that I can't, its just that I like to go for the odd tipple after work and at the weekend etc, so instead I have tried to stick to clear spirits with a low-cal mixer like a Gin and Tonic. Another element which was hard for me was salt I LOVE SALT. I add salt to everything because I don't really like onions so salt and pepper is often my main seasoning when I cook. However, I would highly recommend sprinkling chilli instead of salt and pepper because it gives it a great taste AND it speeds up your metabolism. 

Example day menu:
This is an example of a typical day of me doing the Clean and Lean (as I said, not religiously as I have adjusted it to my lifestyle) :

Breakfast- Scrambled Egg Whites with Mushrooms and Tomatoes and two large spoons of cottage cheese, One Banana, Large glass of water

Mid morning snack- 10 grapes and 1 large glass of water

Lunch- Green mixed salad with avocado, beetroot, cucumber, watercress and half a cup of homemade vegetable soup

Mid afternoon snack- 2 tbls Hummus with raw carrots and cucumbers and 1 large glass of water

Dinner- Salmon and Vegetable Stir-fry and a green tea

Other tips:On days where I am planning a fairly substantial run or work out session, I am always wary of not having enough energy. I would really suggest trying some frozen berries, whey protein and skimmed milk to recover properly and give you a detoxifying energy boost! 

Go ahead and try it! If you are looking for a quick fix you can try it in its most extreme version, but if you are looking to keep healthy whilst still working out at the gym, I would highly recommend it as a basis for a great diet but with a few adjustments here and there! 
I have recently told my mum about this and 2 weeks in, she is drastically seeing results and LOVES it!



Peace,O x

The summer of all summers...

Well, where do I start? I was lucky enough to stay in one of the best cities in the world in one of the most beautiful apartments and really explore the city like a genuine New Yorker. 

First on my list of things to discuss and share is probably one of my favourite spots in the city- Le Bain rooftop bar at The Standard Hotel. 




Le Bain’s kitschy-funny astroturf in the late afternoon hours is probably one of the most incredible sights you will ever see. The perspex allows you to look at the city from a unique view and will make you fall in love with Manhattan. A friend managed to get us into a launch party at the venue, which has a very strict door policy, and we took a sneaky look around the renowned "Boom Boom Room" which boasts similar views, a 25 person hot-tub and a live DJ. But it was the quirky style of the rooftop that took our breathes away, as we stood sipping on Mojito's taking in the spectacular views. 
After a wonderful week, roaming the streets of Manhattan and causing havoc in the bars of the Lower East side, it was time to pack up my heels and handbags and replace them with shorts, t-shirts and running shoes. Yes, it was time for camp- my summer home. 
My arrival at Trails End was filled with excitement, happiness and a little bit of nerves. As soon as I entered the gates, I felt home. It is the strangest place, it literally feels like you have never left and you were only there a few days before. 
We had a week of orientation before the lovely little campers came along which gave me a chance to get to know my wonderful staff. I had a great mix between counselors who had grown up at camp and counselors who were brand new to camp which made me so excited that they were about to start the journey I began a few years ago. 

A week later, the campers arrived and all the fun began. Each and every one of my fabulous campers had such an amazing personality to bring to the summer and I was so excited to be part of their first summer at camp. 

The never stopped all 8 weeks of the summer and it just got better and better with every day. But one very sad day in August, the time finally came to say Goodbye for the summer and return to London and the dreadedapartment hunt... Oh lord.

Luckily, it was not quite as bad as I had hoped. Sophie and I found an absolutely fabulous little apartment on Lavender Hill and become official residents of Clapham Junction on October 2^nd!

Here’s to a new home and a new season!

Peace,

O x

WATCH THIS SPACE

So, it appears that my blogging has been a little less frequent in recent months which is probably something to do with the fact that I have been out of the country since June. In these last few months I have travelled, loved, laughed and had the absolute time of my life! Alas, the time has come to say “Farewell”, “Adeui” and “Goodbye” to Summer 2012 and say a big “Hiiyaaaa”, Alohaaaa” and “Hello” to Autumn/Winter (and of course my love of knitwear and tights!!).

For all of you that have missed my annoying tweets and Facebook updates to remind you to read my posts....I’M BACK! And for all of you who do not regularly read...watch this space! I have returned to London with a whole host of new ideas to explore and review. This weekend will be dedicated to writing a bunch of things that have been on my mind, waiting to burst out and grace the pages of the world wide web.

I hope you all have a sweeeeeeeet weeknd, lets pray for no rain in London town please?!

Peace,

O x

Met Ball: Wonders and Woes of the Red Carpet

The Costume Institute Ball, held at the Metropolitan Museum in NYC was held at the beginning of the week which meant that my Tuesday morning was occupied with sifting through the wonders and woes of the red carpet!

I have to say that there were a fair few beauts for me! I would even go as far as to say that they have outdone a large majority of the Oscar dresses.

So, I have compiled a short list of the ones I adored and the ones who…well, “didn’t work” for me!

First up, the beautiful  Camilla Belle wearing Ralph Lauren. I absolutely ADORE her classic metallic gown. It is a wonderful shade for her complexion and the plunging neckline really suits her small bust and slim frame. Her makeup and hair are also pretty flawless. Her amazing glow was offset by a deep burgundy lipstick that popped against her skin, adding drama in a classy way and paired with the Hollywood glam side-parted up 'do gown, this look was a winner!

Next up, is the stunning Jessica Alba wearing Michael Kors. I am a real fan of the luxe/gold/metallic trends that are in and have been eager to see it done well on the red carpet. Miss Alba has done just that, sporting this gorgeous Grecian goddess gown. I also love her effortless loose curls, she looks divine.

Gwyneth Paltrow always does SO well with the red carpet. Her Oscars dress choice of Tom Ford was my personal favourite so I was eager to see how she would step it up for the coveted Met Ball. I will say that it did not quite top the Tom Ford number BUT her legs are phenomenal in these gorgeous silver backless Prada number. The girl can do NO wrong!

The lovely Kate Bosworth wearing a lush Prada number was another one of my favourites. Feathers were the detailing of the night (see also Beyonce and Diane Kruger) but Kate’s two-tone flapper dress is just divine. Her effortless hair together with striking makeup make a great combination of classy, glamorous and natural- all the things we love about Kate…the girl can surf after all!

Now on to the not so successful…

I was really NOT enjoying SJP’s Valentino Haute Couture number. Her style is hit and miss for me. Occasioanlly she gets it bang on, other times I find it so random and mismatched. This slightly whimsical gown is pretty shapeless and unflattering for her and all in all, I just don’t think it lives up to someone who is meant to be the queen of city style. She still has a wonderful figure, so why not show it off? Instead, I think she has settled for the almost frumpy shape and curtain-like design- DISLIKE. 

Lily Collins’ wearing Valentino was a VERY interesting choice, opting for a fashionably romantic creation, Lily wore a sheer lace Valentino couture gown. I personally HATE the dress and think she must have just been given it as opposed to chosing it. She is young and beautiful, she should be wearing something daring and sexy, not look like something out of Little House on the Prairie. I will say that although I am not a fan, she makes it work and still looks lush, but a massive thumbs down to the dress itself.

Lastly, it’s my girl Kirsten Stewart wearing Balenciaga. Let’s face it, she isn’t necessarily the biggest fashionista, but she does have a distinct sense of style, which is very edgy yet chic. While most young stars play it safe in flouncy feminine frocks, K-Stew isn’t scared to go outside of the norm but I genuinely would have preferred her in jeans and converse. The dress is far too busy and unflattering. I applaud her for taking a chance, but for me, it didn’t work. That could be the jealously talking though. I am never going to like a girl who has been with Robert Pattinson….

Also, although I was bowled over by her dress choice, I want to mention my ultimate Girl Crush, Rosie H-W- she is just too beautiful. And alsoooo, Mary Kate Olsen, WHAT THE HELLLLLL?? She looks about 80!!!!! 

Anyways, those are my highs and lows, wonders and woes…enjoy!

Peace,

O x

Best of British Costume Exhibition Opening @ the London Film Museum

I was lucky enough to be invited as a blogger to attend the 'Best of British' Costume Exhibition opening at the London Film Museum- South Bank, which was celebrating the Blu-ray and DVD release of The Iron Lady.

Welsh star Alexandra Roach, 25, who plays the young Thatcher, was amongst the special guests at the County Hall exhibition which displayed a stunning range of Consolata Boyle's brilliant designs worn by Meryl Streep in her Oscar-winning portrayal of Margaret Thatcher, as well as Alexandra herself in Thatcher’s younger years.

The dazzling Iron Lady displays included a wealth of Consolata Boyle's stunning designs from The Iron Lady, including Thatcher’s iconic royal blue suit, the elegant Chiffon dress she famously wore to dance with Ronald Reagan in the White House, her maroon and navy pinstripe suit and an extensive collection of bags, jewellery and props from the film, everything intricately based on Margaret Thatcher’s own outfits and accessories.

There were some delightful biscuits and champers which went down a treat! 

The exhibition itself was very interesting as the costumes were paired with descriptions and video clips to swot up on your knowledge of Thatcherism! It was also rather quiet at the beginning so we really got to take our time at each piece and actually learn abit about the history of it all. 

It is a rather minimal display but I most definitely recommend taking a little tour of the exhibition if you are planning on a short day of cultural ambling. Plus, outside the museum is a fabulous little row of great cafes, so pop in for a bagel or some noodles!

The Iron Lady: Best of British Costume Exhibition will be open to the public from Wednesday 3 May. Tickets available on the doors daily. Pre-booking not required- http://www.londonfilmmuseum.com/

Peace,

O x

The Lucky One- European Premiere

Last night, I was lucky enough to have tickets for the European Premiere of The Lucky One held at The Curzon in Chelsea. My lovely sister, Annie works in Film and Entertainment PR and managed to wangle us 3 cheeky tickets to see Mr Efron in the flesh so I went with two of my best friends. I am partial to a good rom-com and was really looking forward to a bit of cheeky celeb spotting so all in all, I was pretty gosh darn excited!

The premiere itself was pretty low-key with the director (Scott Hicks), author (Nicholas Sparks) and two main characters (Zac Efron and Taylor Shilling) making small announcements before the screening but unfortunately, as soon as they finished talking, they left!

So, now on to the film. 


The film is based on the Nicholas Sparks novel of the same name, and if you've seen any other film based on a Sparks book (The Notebook), you will know what to expect- particularly, some pretty corny lines like, "You should be kissed every day, every hour, every minute." I am mocking it, but I love those lines. Why don’t people ever actually say stuff like that anymore? I may be a ridiculous romantic at heart but come on people, keep romance alive and crack out the corny lines!


The Lucky One tells the story of Logan (Efron), a Marine who, while serving in Iraq, stops to pick up a snapshot of a pretty woman (Beth) that’s been left on the ground with the message “Keep Safe x” on the back; that moment’s pause saves his life from an overwhelming explosion which wipes out the majority of his platoon, so he determines that when he returns home he is going to track the woman down and thank her. 


Having made it out of the war, Logan then decides to go on a walkabout to find the woman in the picture.  After traveling on foot from Colorado to Louisiana to find her — a task that seems incredibly easy, given the lack of clues in the photo — he then somehow can’t bring himself to explain why he’s there.  


I won’t elaborate on the plot points but I will mention that the predictability of the storyline is somewhat saved by the efforts of the cast. Zac Efron and Taylor Schilling make the perfect couple and the onscreen chemistry is rather enthralling to watch. I would also note that Blythe Danner’s performance of Beth’s slightly eccentric grandmother is stunning and familiar, reminding me of my own Nan. The star of the show for me was actually Riley Thomas Stewart who played Beth’s young son Ben. He felt like the most natural character on the screen and acted out some incredible witty scenes which got a fair few laughs in the premiere. 


I would also mention that the scene of a rather racy nature is quite superb. The tension leading up to it is cleverly thought out and the fact that Zac Efron has blossomed into a somewhat muscly strapping fellow was rather pleasing to the eye- he has most definitely been on the protein shakes and hit the gym hard. I would definitely disagree with the rating and would say that it was perhaps a little racy and also quite violent at times. 


All in all, a great romcom. A little predictable but great none-the-less. This is an emotional, visual and romantic screenplay that will likely stay with you for some time. If you loved The Notebook and Dear John, you will LOVE The Lucky One. And Zac Efron (even though he is rather short in real life…).


Check out the trailer here:

Peace,
O x

These are a few of my favourite things...

We are not talking about Raindrops on Roses or Whiskers on Kittens here, but instead I thought I would share some of my favourite things from the last few weeks- a small selection of products, places and general niceties that I have discovered whilst roaming the streets of London.

First up is the Travalo (in a very girly shade of pink!). I discovered this bad boy when I was passing through Duty Free and I have since found it rather hard to live without. It is the perfect size to just pop in your handbag and you can change the scent as often as you want! It also has an integrated fill level indicator window to show how much fragrance you have left, so you never run out unexpectedly. The best thing about it, is that it is AIRCRAFT APPROVED!

It retails at around £6.99 and comes in 5 different colours. I would most definitely recommend it.

Secondly, is the lovely Monmouth Coffee shop (Covent Garden branch). I was absolutely delighted to go to this little gem last weekend after hearing that it was mentioned in Stylist’s Top Coffee in London. We went on a Saturday afternoon which I thought would be crowded, but we waited a mere 5 minutes for the table and got seated by extremely pleasant hosts. The actually coffee shop has such charm and wonder to it. It's oaky interior make it feel warm but it's all the people clustered inside around the register and communal tables that bring it to life. There is very limited seating but it is most definitely worth the wait!

Next up is the wonderful Saucy Fish Co products. I am currently on a low carb diet so in the evenings I tend to not have potatoes and stick to meat/fish and veg. This has been made increasingly easy by the wonderful products by The Saucy Fish Company which provide fabulous cuts of fish with scrumptious sauces to accompany it. They are currently on special offer at Sainsburys, a mere £5 for 2- I have stocked up for about a month, ha! Definitely advise trying them for a flavoursome, healthy and cost-effective dinner.

Lastly, is the new Burberry Sheer Summer Glow Highlighter. Unfortunately, it is not released yet but I did just read about it and it looks absolutely incredible. I have been looking for a combination highlighter for a while and this one has the EXACT shades I am looking for. Although I cannot comment on how it looks on, I will most certainly be purchasing when it is released in May. It is rumoured be retail at around £42 and can be found in Harrods and House of Fraser stores across the UK.

Peace,

O x