Spectacular! Spectacular!

On Friday I was lucky enough to see Priscilla Queen of the Desert the musical again, the second time in the past six months. This musical is one of the best I have ever seen; you can't help but feel good when you walk out of the theatre at the end.




Based on the 1994 Australian film starring Hugo Weaving, Guy Pearce and Terence Stamp (http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi8978713/), it follows three drag queens as they travel from Sydney to Alice Springs. Priscilla is just one of the best musicals, not for everyone but amazing none the less, I love it. It was a bit touch and go at one point though when the bus broke down but it was only a minor hitch. Ben Richards is so good as Tick, he has an amazing voice. When we saw it this time they had Alf from Home and Away as Bob. All the actors are amazing and work really hard it is just a fantastic show.


The way I feel after I've seen Priscilla is the same as when I saw Hairspray you can't help but be dancing out of the aisles with a massive smile on your face.


I love musicals, I have seen many on stage including Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, Chicago, Wicked, Legally Blonde, Grease and Sister Act, to name but a few. On stage musicals are just fantastic, the films are great but you can beat watching someone on stage singing their hearts out to a packed out theatre.


My love of musicals started young, from Disney to my all time favourite The Wizard of Oz. You can beat the musicals from the Hollywood golden era, you can say a lot about MGM but they knew how to do an amazing musical. As much as I love the classics there have been some fantastic new ones Moulin Rouge, was a cinematic treat, so opulent and colourful after each song I had to stop myself clapping away in the cinema.


Over Christmas I saw Burlesque, which although it didn't receive very good reviews I thought it was fantastic. The songs were all written for the film and were great, I suppose the fact that Christina Aguilera was the music producer probably had something to do with that.
There have been musicals that have left me a little flat, I saw the film Rent and wasn't convinced. Although I did see a DVD of the last ever Broadway performance and thought that was a lot better. Fame I have seen twice on stage and the classic film but I thought it was just strange. It doesn't really have a story and although the songs are good, the story isn't.


The only problem I have now is what to see next. Dirty Dancing? Ghost? Mamma Mia? Or The Lion King? Decisions, decisions...... but then again there is always Priscilla.

A girl's gotta have it

I love my lotions and potions, so I am actually surprised that I have not posted something like this before. So here it goes, I thought I would share with you some of the items that I simply cannot live without and would suggest you buy now and be forever happy. There is no reason to my choices, it is all purely stuff I have tried and fallen in love with.


Firstly, not a lotion or indeed a potion but something I buy loads of and cannot live without. Party feet, the little bit of gel heaven on a night out. Basically, they are gel insoles that you put where the balls of your feet rest in high heels and they alleviate the pressure avoiding that feeling of your feet burning on a night out. I love these and buy a pair every time I buy a new pair of heels. They are a god-send and although sometimes they don't stop the pain completely, they do avoid that horrible feeling you get the day after when your feet are still punishing you for the night before. There are loads available; Scholl are the originals and are great they stick really well and they do limited edition ones that are glittery, they cost about £5 but are well worth the money. Avon do some as well which I would recommend.


Now, another wonder product has to be Elizabeth Arden's Eight Hour Skin Protectant. Apparently the solution was originally to keeps horses hooves supple, how much of this is true I don't know but I can believe it. This caramel coloured sticky solution does smell a bit but it is amazing. It can be used as a lip gloss, or a gloss on your cheeks or eyes. It is fantastic for dry skin anywhere, from your elbows and knees to your hands. The whole eight hour range is amazing but the skin protectant lasts for ages as you only need a little bit at a time. It's not cheap but if you are lucky you might pick up a bargain at TkMaxx or cheapsmells.co.uk usually has good offers. This has been going for ages and when you try it you can see why.


Make-up wise here up my tips:




Nail polish you cannot beat Barry M for colour and value for money. OPI is good you are willing to spend a little bit more, especially there Burlesque glitter range, not great to take off but brilliant coverage and it lasts. Nails Inc is always great and over Christmas I found gift sets at TkMaxx with ten nail polishes for only £14, BARGAIN! However, Rimmel or Barry M makes your money go a long way.


Mascara, I think Maybelline Falsies is great and once I had it on and cried my eyes out and no running or smudging not many non-waterproof mascaras can claim that. Or Avon's Sonic boost vibrates and opens up your eyelashes, a little strange sensation at first but does actually work.


Lipglosses, I like Maybelline anything and Rimmel lip vinyl has great coverage and great colours.


For body lotions, scrubs or anything for the bath you cannot beat Soap and Glory. The pink (and now blue) packaging is enough to make me run to see what's new. With a distinctive smell everything they do is amazing and has brilliant names. Scrub your nose in it face wash, is cleansing and exfoliating. Sexy mother pucker is a lipgloss that plumps up your lips with a tingling sensation. The righteous butter is one of the creamiest and delicious body lotions just a must buy. All Soap and Glory sets are always sell outs. Over Christmas Boots frequently sold out, especially if they have them at half price or in the sale, if you can pick up a set you are one of the lucky one. Over the last couple of years they have launched a men’s’ range (which my boyfriend loves) and a best of British range, which is equally brilliant. They also do minis so if you are unsure on splashing the cash then buy one of these and try away.




A staple for every woman should be Simple make up wipes, not too greasy and gets to grips with dirt. They also are for sensitive skin so no irritation. Another one to note is Johnson's eye makeup remover pads are also really good for stubborn make up.


I probably have more so I will share them as I remember them but I hope you find something from the above that you love. Also if you have any tips leave a comment, I love finding out about new products.


Websites:
http://www.cheapsmells.co.uk/
http://www.avon.uk.com/
http://www.barrym.com/
http://www.soapandglory.com/
http://www.boots.com/
http://www.rimmellondon.com/
http://www.opi.com/
http://www.nailsinc.com/
http://www.maybelline.co.uk/

The fairer sex? or unfairer sex?

I know it is about five series too late but I have recently become obsessed with Mad Men. The HBO series set in 1960s America, at an advertising company in New York.




I love the fashion and its stylistic setting, it is amazing. Recently, however, I had a discussion with my boyfriend about the women in Mad Men and their independence. I argued that in the 60s women were finding their own independence, in that they could choose to be something other than a wife, if they wanted to. The sexual revolution was pushing forward with women being able to have sex with who they wanted and have the choice of birth control meaning they wouldn't get pregnant or the risk was lessened. He argued that the fact they sleep with married men means they are not independent as they are going on the whim of married men. Whereas, I could see his point, I argued that they fact they could choose to sleep with them and not be married to them showed their independence, maybe a little warped but it made sense to me.


I started writing this not to talk about the amazing series but that of women and sexism. In the show women are regarded as either wife or sexual object with not much (if anything) in between. In the world of advertising women were seen as the secretary or the wife. So when Peggy moves up to copywriter it is a move that the men look shocked at as in those times a career was not a viable opition for a woman being a wife was meant to be their goal.


Many people like to think that sexism is something of the past and is not really an issue in modern times; however, anyone who has seen the news or read a paper recently will see that in relation to sport this is not the case. The recent case with Andy Gray, Richard Keys and Sian Massey highlights this perfectly.


In case you didn't know Sian Massey was the female linesperson at the Liverpool game, who Gray and Keys didn't think knew the offside rule and made comments about women in football.
Surely there are many men who don't know the offside rule? The fact she is a woman doesn't mean she has a chip in her head that says she can't compute the offside rule. It is frustrating that things like this are still happening, the glass ceiling it seems is glued shut and women are still hitting their heads as they rise up.


I must admit that I am glad that Andy Gray has got the sack, although there seems to be more to it than meets the eye. Sky didn't put up with racism when Big Ron made a comment so why should they put up with sexism. At least Keys apologised to Massey.


Just goes to show that the mad men in the world are still there and still opinionated.

Is there such a thing as an easy relationship?

Relationships are hard, people say that if they are meant to be it will be easy, but this is not always the case. When two people from different lives come together, there are bound to be (at some point) tensions. No matter how compatible you feel you are, there will be times when you get stressed and take it out on that one person who you wish you didn't.


When I say relationships, I don't just mean those between you and your partner, but those with your friends and family. Every relationship has to have time spent on it, building up a trust and code that only you two know. It needs time to grow and you have to make an effort. They need to know that you will be there in their time of need and in return they will be there for you.


I think sometimes, people put more time and effort into their friendships as friends you don't always see. Whereas your partner you sometimes take for granted, as you assume they will always be there, but like friends these people are with you by choice and can leave whenever they want.


Recently I have come to appreciate the relationships in my life.


I have been with my boyfriend for over 5 years and recently it has been a little tense. Mainly because we were both thinking the same thing but not willing to be the one to bring it up. We had started taking each other for granted and not appreciating what we have. However, after a shaky, not very well thought out 'confrontation' we had the opportunity to talk it out and things have changed for the better. We have recaptured that feeling we had when we first met, the romance, the excitement and the new-ness, that makes me feel like I did when we first started seeing each other. Not only that we have opened the honesty door and feel we can say anything without fear of upsetting each other.
Due to the shaky, not very well thought out 'confrontation', I have come to appreciate a lot more my wonderful friends. My group of close knit girl pals came to my rescue with pizza, glee and words of comfort that made me think how great they are and how lucky I am to have them. I also got to see new friends in a new light, that really helped being able to talk to someone a little on the outside that was able to give amazing advice.


Like all things in life relationships need to be nurtured and you have to appreciate that you have to make time for the special people in your life. Who knows when you will need them or when they will need you.

exams, exams, exams

To say I am feeling a bit sorry for myself at the moment is putting it lightly. I don't like to wallow in self-pity, so I'm trying not to but be warned this will be a shorter than usual post. Unlike most things I'm keeping the reason close to my chest until a suitable times arises, if it does.


On to other things, exams are reaching fever pitch I have already completed my shorthand, well the first one, I should find out the results this week. Then Monday I have the dreaded law exam, so much to remember  I just hope I remeber something, anything! Or that a question comes up that we have already done, here's hoping. Then next Friday I have my sub-editing exam, which should be fine, at least I have Priscilla afterwards, something to look forward to.


Whereever you are in the world, keep your fingers crossed for me and lets hope I nail the exams!


A normal post about musicals is on its way...

Watch this space

Sorry for lack of posts.


They are on their way, I'm preparing for exams at the moment so a little bit stressed, but never fear a blog post is on its way.

Icons: "I never think of myself as an icon. What is in other people's minds is not in my mind. I just do my thing."- Audrey Hepburn

Icon is defined in the Oxford Dictionary as the following: 

                  Noun

1 (also ikon) a devotional painting of Christ or another holy figure, typically executed on wood and used ceremonially in the Byzantine and other Eastern Churches.

2 a person or thing regarded as a representative symbol or as worthy of veneration: this iron-jawed icon of American manhood



3 Computing a symbol or graphic representation on a screen of a program, option, or window.

4 Linguistics a sign that has a characteristic in common with the thing it signifies, for example the word snarl pronounced in a snarling way. 
(http://oxforddictionaries.com)

Now, I am a massive fan of iconic women, I have shelves of books about interesting women that have done something in the world or been a fleeting popular culture icon.

Over the decades there have been a whole host of iconic women, including: Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn, Queen Victoria, another who I have a biography waiting to be read, Coco Chanel, Oprah Winfrey, Cleopatra, Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters, Amelia Earhart, Edie Sedgwick and Billie Holiday to name a few. As well as I think my idol Kylie Minogue, Madonna and of course Lady Gaga. All of which have contributed to society or popular culture, or changed people’s perspectives on issues.

I have countless books on Marilyn Monroe, her short life fascinates me. Every book I read highlights a new area that I have never seen before or a new fact that has recently come to light. Some might argue that she is not an icon but a blonde bimbo who didn't have a clue what she was doing, but the fact she was known as a dizzy blonde with a curvy body that women imitated surely highlights her iconic status. She is someone who is referred to as an inspiration for artists or actors. Also the fact that if you dig a little deeper you realise that she was not a dizzy blonde but a very smart woman who wanted a career on her own terms.

Before she died she was in the process of starting up her own production company so that she could be seen as a serious actress rather than a comedy piece of fluff. In a savvy and potentially dangerous move, she had it added to her contract that she could ask for script changes and choose the films and the directors she worked with. Something that was unheard of in the Hollywood studio system, which saw actors tied into contracts with one studio doing as they were told.

In a time when women were largely seen as either sex goddess or homely wife, with not much in between, Marilyn Monroe was trying desperately to push these boundaries to give herself a better life. As she said "An actress is not a machine, but they treat you like one, money making machine."

I have said in a previous post how I am reading a biography on Jackie Kennedy Onassis, another woman who is seen as an icon of her time, but to be honest I can see why she was a fashion icon but reading the book I am on the fence. I haven't finished it yet so I suppose I should wait but Jackie Kennedy is not what I was expecting, the book implies she knew of Kennedy's indiscretions and seemed more concerned with spending money on doing up the White House. Although on foreign visits she seemed to shine, getting on with foreign prime ministers and kings but other than that I'm not sure.

I suppose in many ways she became more of an icon after the death of her husband as this gave her the opportunity to step out of his shadow. So for now I'm undecided but will let you know what I think when I have finished the book.

It makes me wonder looking at the definition if all these women are icons. It does make you question the term, they all represent a time and a place, but then I suppose it's not the definition that counts but what the women did that matters. As long as people are still interested, reading up on or making films about them they are icons, especially if they influence future generations.