Cute boys. Just because.

This week I’ve been suffering with a cold and have been feeling pretty fed up so this post is to help cheer myself and hopefully you lot up too. You’re welcome.

Victoria

xoxo

I’ll have what she’s having

I think I naturally gravitate to female writers because I’m inspired by their voice and their ability to reap success in an often male dominated field. Nora Ephron was a talented writer who knocked doors open for female screenwriters and wrote films that are firmly embedded in our culture. She also produced and directed films, no mean feet! After her recent death from cancer, I felt the need to acknowledge the inspiring legacy she leaves us with.

For those who have never seen When Harry met Sally, the title of this post comes from that film and that scene when Meg Ryan acts out having an organism for Billy Crystal in a diner. That moment sealed Ms Ephron’s legacy in cinema forever.

Nora Ephron has written, produced and directed some of the most watched and loved romantic comedies that have come out of Hollywood. They are truly iconic – When Harry met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve got Mail are all brilliant examples of the genre and some of my favourite films. And they are all her vision. She brought Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks into our romantic lives and produced films that are warm and witty and have made me long for my own happily ever after.

You’ve got Mail is one of my favourite ever films. It’s hard to explain why. It can be corny and predictable and isn’t really laugh out loud funny but it’s warm and romantic and the perfect film to curl up with when you’re feeling down or sick. I love the setting of New York, the fact that the heroine works in a book shop and her favourite book is Pride and Prejudice and the fact you know who she’s meant to be with from the opening scene.


These quotes are just a sample of her genius wit and show what a character and talent she really was. She wasn’t afraid of having her own voice.

So thank you Ms Ephron for creating films that will remain on my shelves forever. You were truly inspiring.

Are you a fan of Nora Ephron’s films?

Victoria

xoxo

Glamour puss

I went Xmas shopping at the weekend and my eye caught the girls on the Benefit make-up counter dressed up in forties style. One of them ended up defining my eyebrows, putting mascara on my mum and selling us £100 worth of products as pressies for us!

I love the idea of having a retro style and admire people with the confidence to wear it everyday. On the occasion I wear red lipstick, I instantly feel more glamorous and I’d love to experiment more with vintage. I was eyeing up the Benefit girl’s pin curls, which I might have to try at Xmas.

I think nowadays most people are pretty casual and that’s probably why I adore old school glamour as it’s so different to how we are now. I’m not sure I’m ready to go full out forties style but I shall try to channel some retro style when I can.

If in doubt, I shall look to the ultimate glamour puss style icon, the always inspirational Marilyn Monroe!

“I don’t mind being burdened with being glamorous and sexual. Beauty and femininity are ageless and can’t be contrived, and glamour, although the manufacturers won’t like this, cannot be manufactured. Not real glamour; it’s based on femininity.”
― Marilyn Monroe

Do you have a glamourous alter-ego you wish you could let out?!
Vix

xx

My dream guy

My lovely blogging friend Jules has set up a new blog called Wordshaker – a magazine for the modern woman. She asked me to take part in this week’s theme – crushes – so I have submitted a post all about my dream guy.

I’ll give you a hint as I’m so good to you – he’s made up of 3 celebrity men :)

Please head over and let me know what you think about my crushes and who your dream guy would be!

Vix

xx

Fake photos

As you know I do like the Kardashians and I looked at their photo shoot for their new clothing line with interest, especially as the photos were taken by famed photographer Annie Leibovitz. However, I was startled to see this pose of all three sisters all looking the exact same height.

This photo has totally been airbrushed. Khloe is 5 foot 9 where as Kim is 5 foot 2 and Kourtney just 5 foot. I think it’s sad that someone felt it needed to be photoshopped to make them all an identical height. I like the fact Khloe is different, she stands out and should be proud to be tall.

Air brushing just sends out a completely wrong message about body image. We all see these photos in magazines and even pretty celebs or models are air brushed into an unattainable person – smooth skin, a tiny waist and absolutely no flaws. We should celebrate how different people are not trying to make everyone look the same.

It makes me laugh when I see adverts for mascara on TV. Every advert has small print below it – lash inserts used and lashes enhanced in post production. I want to see what the mascara will actually make my lashes look like not see a fake advert as it make me less likely to buy the product!

I wish there wasn’t a fixation with airbrushing or Photoshop and we could see people how they really are and accept them for that. We should be proud of how we look!

What do you think about airbrushing?

Vix

Forever 27

The sad news came in on Saturday that Amy Winehouse had passed away. Although not shocking due to her well documented long battle with drink and drugs it was a tragic end to a talented singer who just couldn’t seem to shake her demons.

It also means that Amy joins the group of big talents who met tragic ends – the Forever 27 club. Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain and Brian Jones all met similar tragic ends at the age of 27. Amy was born in the same year as me 1983 but whilst I’ve celebrated my 28 birthday she and the others in this group never will.

I don’t think we’ll ever understand why so many lives have been cut so short or why people so blessed with talent seem to throw it all away on drugs and a life of reckless abandon. Sure we can blame the hangers on who encourage their party lifestyles or the drug dealers who supply their habits or the media who make sure they publicize every stumble but ultimately they made the choice to go down the path and refuse to get the help they needed.

Reports are coming in that Amy just gave up caring about herself and whether she would live or die. She even reportedly mentioned the Forever 27 club to those around her, feeling sure she would join it and actually thinking it would be better to go out at the height of her fame. She has ensured she will be remembered for her outstanding album “Back to Black” – which is already back up at no.1 over here – and maybe she will now finally find her peace.

Vix

xx

***New playlist added on the Playlist page – work out mix***

Swapping work for love

Jennifer Aniston has apparently decided to take a year off from her film career to focus on new love Justin Theroux. Whilst this seems silly to us mere mortals who always have to juggle personal life with work, I actually applaud her for it. Her job involves visiting film sets in far off places as does Justin’s whilst both are surrounded by others actors and actresses who tend to be a promiscuous lot. I think if she’s found someone she cares about she should give it the best chance possible and leaving him for 3 months isn’t doing that. By staying in the same place they can actually get to know each other and build something solid enough for when they do go back to work.

As a single gal I struggle to find a personal life. I commute to work so am out of the house 12 hours a day from 7am to 7pm, which doesn’t leave a lot of time for a social life to even find someone to date let alone actually fitting in the dates to begin with. The weekend rolls around and I’m tired, want to see friends and family, write etc which also means I don’t feel like pursuing my future husband :)

I can really relate to Jennifer’s struggle even though she is a millionaire A list star because it’s so hard to get the right work / life balance nowadays and one areas usually ends up suffering. If you have the money like she does to take work out of the equation then why not try it. It may be that their relationship ends up fading anyway because it’s not right but at least she’ll know she gave it the best shot and won’t walk away wondering if her career cost her love.

But I’m not an A list movie star and will remain wondering whether my work life is costing me happiness in my personal life or whether fate just hasn’t got around to sorting out my love life. And I suppose that’s the key to the whole debate – none of us know what is around the corner, we can focus on work or love but they both could fall apart anyway or something could change when we least expect it. Sometimes that’s of little comfort when I see people around me with their diamond rings and wedding plans but sometimes that’s all that does comfort me.

Would you give up work for love or vice versa?

Vix
xx

Cut throat

Cheryl Cole has been dropped from the judging panel of US X Factor after just two weeks. Her boss and mentor and supposed friend Simon Cowell reportedly didn’t even tell her in person and is blaming executives at Fox TV for the decision. Cheryl is currently keeping quiet but I imagine she feels angry, humiliated and let down by Simon who took her out to LA with the promise of American stardom and then cast aside when it went wrong. what I find laughable is the reason given is US audiences can’t understand her Geordie accent – um didn’t they realise she had an accent before they hired her? Didn’t they test audiences? So it is just a publicity stunt or did other judge Paula Abdul stick her claws in? We’ll never really know probably and although I’m not CC’s biggest fan it got me thinking about how work is cut throat now.

A couple of generations ago you took a job and you stayed for life. Even my mum has done the same profession since she was 15 (hair dressing). Nowadays, You compete for the best jobs, you’re constantly on the look out for new opportunities and you expect your employer to develop you and give you career progression or you’re out of the door. Promotions and pay increases are fought for. You have colleagues at work and rarely friends. And you need to watch who you trust. Cheryl learnt a valuable lesson over the X Factor, just because Simon seemed like a friend he was actually her boss and he had to make the right decision for the show, the company in that case. But sometimes the cut throat atmosphere of the work place is exhausting. Are we better off now that we have more job opportunities and aren’t just stuck at one company forever or are we missing out on loyalty, long term benefits and a better work / life balance?

I used to think I’d never be a stay at home mum, that I’d always work for a good career but lately I’ve wondered whether I will actually stick by that when I settle down. There’s something to be said for buliding a solid family life and avoiding the stresses of work life where the house always wins.

What do you guys think?

Vix

xx

Superinjunctions are a super waste of time

Currently the news over here is alight with the story of super injunctions – male celebrities getting the courts to place an injunction on the media reporting their affairs. A famous footballer recently got one taken out to save his affair with a Big Brother contestant from coming out but Twitter revealed his name anyway and now an MP has named him in Parliament so all the press are naming and shaming Mr Ryan Giggs.

I am disgusted that you can pay thousands to a judge to cover the fact you are a cheater but the women involved have their names dragged through the mud. Whatever you think of Imogen Thomas sleeping with a married man, she wasn’t cheating he was the one with the family yet the law protects him. The law should protect victims not footballers who can’t keep their trousers on!

Why do these men always cheat? It seems like there isn’t even one footballer who can’t help himself despite having a wife and kids. They seem to be praised for being “men” not blasted for being bad role models to all the young football fans out there. But it’s not just footballers, there are apparently quite a few injunctions in place by various celebs too scared to face the music over their indiscretions.

If you don’t want the world to find out you cheated, don’t do it in the first place! If I was their wife I’d name and shame them myself and get the hell out but I suspect Mrs Giggs will stick by her husband and his millions.

Do you think the court should allow these injunctions?

Vix

xx

Kinda loving the Kardashians

I have a confession to make – I am becoming slightly obsessed with watching the Kardashian’s TV shows. Three are being shown over here on the Viva channel – the original Keeping up with the Kardashians and the spin-offs in Miami and New York.

I’m not usually a fan of reality TV shows, not least because they’re usually setup and not “real”. I watched some of the Osbournes but they annoyed me and I watched Katie Price’s once before she got mean but I’ve avoided The Only Way is Essex and didn’t really get The Hills.

There’s something sucking me into the Kardashians though – maybe it’s their ability to laugh at themselves, their many rows followed by cute make-ups, the fact they actually work and seem to be shrewd businesswomen and their many struggles with love. Whatever it is, I find the show hilarious and oddly compelling.

I’m even tempted to buy their book, don’t judge me :)

Any other fans out there?

Vix

xx

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