Movie madness

O.K. so I just got off a really tiring week and now I'm ill in bed *sigh* so I decided to make a lovely video of all the films I might possibly drag myself along to in the next year. :D Enjoy!

I missed off 'Leap Year' - January (Amy Adams!)

Movies at the Cinema

Tonight I went to see Cirque de Freak at the invitation of some friends and I have to say it was surprisingly good! Obviously the first movie in a series, the beginning of an epic battle, but satisfying enough anyway. The casting was amazing, and the beginning credits were really something special. This is the type of movie that would work really well for a family evening, as it will appeal to all ages and genders.

Future movies I would like to see include James Cameron's (of Titanic and Dark Angel fame) Avatar, New Moon, St Trinian's: The Legend of Fritton's Gold - the first one was really good! -, Valentine's Day and of course anything with Sandra Bullock in it (she's one my Goldie Hawn and Bette Midler list!).

Honouring Vania's Birthday...

Out in the blog-o-sphere, there is a competition running for an ARC of Beautiful Creatures - a haunting paranormal romance set in the deep south - and the reason I mention this is because:

A) This is an extremely desirable ARC (for us teen romance readers).

B) It's about birthday presents.

Entrants are suggesting suitable presents for birthday girl Vania, and she'll pick the winner. It's one of the best spirited competitions I've seen and I think it's a great idea! So, if you're interested in the competition, or just a challenging and positive way to spend half an hour or so, pop over to Vania's blog and leave a comment!

For inspiration (?!), here's my suggestion (spotted at an Apple Store yesterday!):

"I think that you should consider one of the Wacom Bamboo input devices -http://www.wacom.com/bamboo/bamboo_craft.php - this will let you do some really original stuff via your computer, and be a great asset in your personal and professional life. :) [It's what I want for christmas aside from a copy of Beautiful Creatures!] Happy Birthday Vania!

Hugs, Sandpipper."

Grease retro meets my life...

I have a fan heater! Finally!

It's my first, it's industrial strength, and I'm hoping it will make getting out of bed in a morning look just a little bit more easy.

I had a choice of 10-15 dull white plastic ones, and a red metal beast, so of course I went with the red one. :)

Mini review: it's sort of LOUD, it trundles along.... but it sure does heat quickly. And for the price it looks very nice... It has a tilt sensor thing which is extremely unfortunate: if you pick it up and move it the thing shuts itself off, like a fuse has gone and it can take you ages to get it back up and running. :(

Can't you just see it on the set of Grease??

Most recent Itunes purchase...

Simply Beautiful - Al Green

First Heard: The Secret (movie starring David Duchovny and Olivia Thirlby)

If I gave you my love,
I tell you what I'd do
I'd expect a whole lotta love outta you
You gotta be good to me
I'm gonna be good to you
There's a whole lotta things you and I
Could do
Hey hey

Hey hey hey

Simply beautiful simply beautiful simply
Beautiful
Simply beautiful simply beautiful simply
Beauti..
Simply beautiful
Simply beautiful
Simply beautiful
Simply beautiful

What about the way you love me
And the way you squeeze me
Hey
Hey simply beautiful hey

And you get right down it
And the love is getting you through it

Simply beautiful [Repeat to end]

A good night in: Elizabeth Hoyt's "The Raven Prince"

I was given this book as a Secret Santa present at Christmas, and nine months on I have now, finally, read it!

The Bio

Anna Wren, a simple widow who lives with her mother-in-law and a maid she took in years before, is sadly in need of money. When the job of secretary to a recently returned Earl opens up, Anna applies for the post. She works on transcribing the Earl's theories on agricultural practice at the Abby's library, gradually coming to know a man who has been deeply scarred by the loss of his family to small pox, and then his wife in childbirth years later. Anna thinks her only chance to be with Edward romantically is to play a demimonde in one of London's brothel houses, wearing a mask to disguise her features. A single night of pleasure to relieve her growing feelings for him, a man whose social standing is so far above her own as to make a match between them unthinkable.

The Review

I enjoyed this book. I don't think it lived up to its hype very well though. Although the narration of the book was top notch, I felt that the characters' feelings and pasts were not adequately explored, and parts of the book dragged on. It was not a very compelling read. There were some 'mystery' aspects to the book, but they never truly came to the fore even at the book's end (which featured a half heart, ill plotted, unsurprising 'blackmail' event).

This historical romance was good enough to pass the time, but I have read better books from the same genre - by authors such as Lynsay Sands (who's works often feature wonderfully comedic scenes), Teresa Medeiros and Gayle Callen, for instance. I might at some point in the future read more of this author's work, but I'm not going to log onto booksonboard and buy her back catalogue anytime soon, unfortunately.

Movie Night: The Sleeping Dictionary (5*)

Tonight I watched a little know movie from back in 2003. 'The Sleeping Dictionary', a historical romance, set to the background of 1930s British Imperialism in a remote jungle landscape and starring Jessica Alba, Hugh Dancy and Bob Hoskins. It was beautifully shot, the story at once sad, poignant and uplifting.

IMDB: In 1936, the expatriated young and naive just-graduated British John Truscott (Hugh Dancy) arrives to the Sarawak, a British colony, to work in the Iban society. The beautiful Selima (Jessica Alba) is assigned to be his "sleeping dictionary", to live and sleep with him and teach him the language and habits of the locals. The reluctant John and Selima fall in love for each other in a forbidden romance.

Charity Spotlight: Cinnamon Trust

This charity has arms which reach all across the UK (Cornwall to Scotland!), its run by elderly people for elderly people, and that means its efficient and effective!

The point of Cinnamon Trust is to help people keep or re-home their pets when they get to an age where they can no longer look after them by themselves - they might need someone to help them take their cat to the vets when he gets ill, to bring them pet food, or to walk their dogs.

This charity does amazing things, including helping elderly people to keep their pets when they move into homes, or to temporarily look after a pet when they themselves go into hospital for a particular operation (etc).

This is an amazing charity. Take a look at some of the Trust's 'case studies'. There can be no doubt that this is a wonderful charity to get involved with!

So what are you waiting for?

http://www.cinnamon.org.uk/

Dreamy bags - Mandarina Duck, New Range!

Mandarina Duck are my absolute favorite bag designers, they make comfortable bags which actually sit obediently on my shoulder and are made from top quality materials! What more could a girl ask for?

These are my two 'wants' from the 2009/2010 collection, see what you think:

1) Haiku

(pictured top)

2) Lips

(pictured bottom)

Books I want to read...

Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Ice by Sarah Beth Durst

Fallen by Kate Lauren

The Dark Divine by Bree Despain

Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves

Tempted by P.C. + Kristin Cast

Rampant by Diana Peterfreund

Most recent Itunes purchase...

Running Up That Hill - Placebo

First heard: Vampire Diaries pilot

It doesn't hurt me.
You want to feel, how it feels?
You want to know, know that
it doesn't hurt me?
You want to hear about the deal I'm making.
You, you and me.

And if I only could,
Make a deal with God,
get him to swap our places,
Be running up that road,
Be running up that hill,
Be running up that building.
If I only could, oh...

You don't want to hurt me,
But see how deep the bullet lies.
Unaware I'm tearing you asunder.
there's a thunder in our hearts, baby.

so much hate for the ones we love?
Tell me, we both matter, don't we?
You, you and me.
you and me, won't be unhappy.

And if I only could,
make a deal with God,
And get him to swap our places,
Be running up that road,
Be running up that hill,
Be running up that building,
if I only could, oh...

"Come on, baby, c'mon c'mon darling,
Let me steal this moment from you now.
Come on, angel, c'mon, c'mon, darling,
Let's exchange the experience"
oh...
And if I only could,
make a deal with God,
And get him to swap our places,
Be running up that road,
Be running up that hill,
(with)No problems.

And if I only could,
make a deal with God,
And I'd get him to swap our places,
Be running up that road,
Be running up that hill,
with No problems.

"If I only could, be
running up that hill.
If I only could, be running up that hill.