Poptart

Musings by a pop culture tart

Thursday, April 26, 2007

I totally adore Rich from FourFour. He's brilliantly funny and cracks me up with his America's Next Top Model recaps. And, he's cute too! I want to be him when I grow up. Except, you know, the lady version LOL.

I also have a girl crush on Drew Barrymore. I think she's incredibly stylish and pretty "normal" looking for an actress (in that she has boobs and hips!). I also see she's on People magazine's Most Beautiful People 2007 list.

Also on the list of the Most Beautiful People are:

Eric Bana

Scarlett Johanssen

Helen Mirren

Wentworth Miller

Pete Wentz

Pete Wentz? I know, what the fuck!? He's not what I'd call beautiful... but then I'm not a 14 year old girl LOL.

Also on the list, Jennifer Aniston, Halle Berry, Patrick Dempsey, Reese Witherspoon, J.Lo and a few other "really really really ridiculously good looking" people. The magazine has also published photos of some of the "beautiful" people without makeup. Like Jessica Biel (top) and Rashida Jones.

Sure, they might not be wearing any make up, but these photos have definitely been photoshopped! (And okay, maybe I'm just a fat jealous cow because I don't look like that without make up on LOL.)

[Source: Oh No They Didn't, People Yahoo! Google]

Tart at 5:17 PM | 3 comments

Lest We Forget

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

"They went with songs to the battle, they were young.
Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them."

This poem is usually said at commerative services around New Zealand and the world today. April 25 is Anzac Day and I've felt a little sad today, just thinking about war and all the lives given and lost during the wars.

I've also been thinking about my grandparents, my grandfather fought in Crete, Egypt and Italy during World War II as part of the 28th Maori Battalion. My grandmother was a driver in the Women's Auxillary Army. My grandfather was too young to sign up, so he lied about his age (he was only 17 when he left NZ). He signed up with his two (or could be three I'm not 100% sure) brothers. One was killed and the other fought during the infamous Battle of Monte Cassino in Italy.

About 7 years ago, I went to Turkey on holiday and was fortunate enough to attend an Anzac Day dawn service at Gallipoli. It was very moving and just made me think about all the lives lost, not just New Zealand and Australian, but also Turkish. It's very sobering really.

Tart at 5:46 PM | 2 comments

U-G-L-Y

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Last night, on the way home from the gym, I stopped outside Shoe Connection in Cuba Street and looked at the boots in the window.

Euw. They were ugly. All of them.

Don't believe me? Check out the photo I snapped on my mobile phone (as proof of fugly-ness).

Those blue ones are particularly fug, ditto the grey ones on the bottom right. I am not even going to talk about the leopard print pair *shudder*. However, I don't think I'm the right demographic for these shoes, 10 years (and 20 kilos) too old for these.

Now, to get rid of that awful mental picture of ugly shoes from my mind, I need to look at something pretty.

Like this water baby...

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Yeah, I feel much better now.

Edited at 3.06pm: Man, those ugly shoes made me forget some important news!

I am an auntie again! My sister had a baby girl this morning, weighing in at a good 8lb 3oz. No names or any other information at present, but I'm so excited and can't wait to meet the newest member of our whanau.

Tart at 2:15 PM | 4 comments

Bits and Bobs

Monday, April 23, 2007

It's been a pleasure to commute on the buses these last two weeks (and not because I got to sit on the seat that is situated above the wheels that vibrates quite nicely LOL) but because it has been the school holidays. I definitely notice fewer commuters on the buses during holidays, which is great as it means I get to sit down for the 25 minute journey, as opposed to standing the whole way. Alas, school holidays are over now (first day back today), so this mornings 8.12am bus into town was full with stinky kids. Ugh.

I saw the funniest video clip today - it's on Will Ferrell's website, www.funnyordie.com, and it is freaking hilarious. Please please check out the clip The Landlord, I cracked up! I'm not a big Will Ferrell fan (I think he overacts and doesn't come across as funny, but annoying), but this clip made me giggle. The kid is just too cute.

Still no luck on the boot buying front! Damn you hefty calves. Oh to have chicken legs. I've checked out a few websites that do made to measure boots, but all are overseas and the costs is quite prohibitive (the NZ dollar doesn't go far when you exchange it for pounds). Still, my quest will continue. Somewhere, out there, is the perfect boot for me!

I saw a brilliant film yesterday - Snow Cake. It features Sigourney Weaver and Alan Rickman (whom I adore!). Weaver plays a high functioning autistic woman, and her performance is amazing (personally, think her acting here surpasses what Dustin Hoffman did in Rain Man). The film is funny, engaging, poignant and whimsical. Great acting from Rickman too, I love his weariness and his slightly mocking overtones. And I love his voice - very sexy (the boyfriend says his voice is like that because he has a speech impediment... whatever! I don't care, he's still damn sexy LOL).

There's a plethora of sporting events happening at the moment. First there's the U19 Rugby World Cup (which I have just been told, NZ beat South Africa in the final - woo hoo), the Cricket World Cup (NZ Black Caps down to final four), America's Cup, Super 14... I have sports watching fatigue. Which is rare for me as I am a big sports fan.

In other news, it's Anzac Day on Wednesday. Anzac Day (April 25) is a day that commemorates all New Zealanders killed in war and also honours returned servicemen and women.

Anzac Day does not mark a military triumph (like V.E day in the UK). The date itself marks the anniversary of the landing of New Zealand and Australian soldiers - the ANZACs - on the Gallipoli peninsula in 1915. Thousands lost their lives in the Gallipoli campaign, including 2721 New Zealanders (almost one in four of those who served on Gallipoli).

Anzac Day was first marked in 1916. Services (almost like funerals really), are conducted all over New Zealand, big cities and small towns alike. There are often dawn services, timed to coincide with the initial landings in Gallipoli. Sometimes there will be a parade. It's a very moving ceremony.

I'm thinking of going to the Wellington dawn service on Wednesday, something I haven't done for a long time. When I was growing up I'd attend dawn services with my grandfather, who served in the 28th Maori Battalion during World War II.

[Sources: RNZRSA, NZ History]

Tart at 2:13 PM | 0 comments

The Curse of the Too Big Calves

Thursday, April 19, 2007

After meeting the BF for lunch today, I strolled along Lambton Quay, checking out the numerous shoe stores.

I'm looking for new winter boots. I admit, I've already got several pairs of boots, but one pair is coming to the end of their life span, another has a stiletto heel so high and a toe so pointy, I can barely walk in them for more than two hours and the other two pairs are ankle boots and I'm looking for a new mid-calf to knee length boot, so therefore, new boots are needed. I'm looking for a flat, wedge or low heeled pair - not too pointy toe. Something comfortable that I can wear all day.

And thus begins my fruitless and frustrating quest. To find a pair of boots that fit my rather chunky legs! (And that are not ugly, have you seen some of those fugly slouchy numbers? Or worse, the ones with a fold down bit at the top that just scream "Puss'n Boots"! LOL).

Most of the boots out at the moment will not zip up my calf, I swear they're made for women with legs as thin as a 10 year olds arms! I swear, even my arms wouldn't even fit them LOL.

I've seen a couple of pairs of boots which say "wide calf fit" on the tag, but it's the price under the tag that's prohibitive - $499 for some! They were nice those $499 boots, but at the moment, I can't justify spending that much.

Which is a shame, because my fat calves deserve to be encased in some nice leather this winter LOL.

Tart at 8:35 PM | 3 comments

Fun, random stuff

Sunday, April 15, 2007

Best link to make me laugh hilariously, click here. I couldn't even read the article, I was laughing at the pictures. So tragic. Love it!

A friend of a friend forwarded this to me the other day...

1. Do you like your name?
It's okay LOL. It's not a common name and I like having two middle names

2. Who would you trade places with for one day?
Victoria Beckham. Firstly, because I'd shag David to an inch of his life, then meet Katie Holmes and tell her to "run, run like the wind" as far away from that little freak munchkin she married and then I'd eat something, cos the woman needs a sandwich or two!

3. What’s the first thing you’d do with $1,000? (other than pay bills)
Buy a ticket to some exotic locale - the Seychelles

4. Which of any superhero's powers do you covet?
It'd be pretty cool to be invisible

5. What’s your favorite quote?
Is life not a thousand times too short for us to bore ourselves? (Friedrich Nietzsche)

6. What’s your best habit?
Neatness and tidyness

7. Are you a hugger?
Yep, sure am

8. What’s the last nice thing you did only for yourself?
Got a massage, pedicure, manicure and aryuvedic facial a week or so ago

9. What one album for a desert island?
One? Umm... I think it'd be one of the Green Room compliations by Loop Records. A collection of songs by NZ artists

10. What one book for a desert island? JUST KIDDING!! - LOL
I'll answer anyway LOL. Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding!

10. Are you a planner or spontaneous?
I'm a planner, as much as I delude myself into thinking I'm spontaneous

11. Living or dead, who’d you most like to meet?
Elizabeth 1

12. All time favourite commercial?
That cartoon KFC ad from the 70s ("and Hugo said you go, and I said no you go and we all went to Kentucky Fried")

13. What has been your favourite age so far and why?
Hmm, high school was pretty great, university was fun and my mid 20s rocked, but I'd have to say that the age I'm at now is my favourite. I have a job I love, earn great money, travel, have a cool BF and a funky old house

14. What’s your favourite thing about your country?
That it's small - 90-odd% of all New Zealanders live within 40km of the ocean. You can drive for a couple of hours and go from wild tussock barren landscape, to mountains, to lush forests and pretty beaches and then drive back again to a city

15. What’s one convenience we have available today that you wish you had when you were younger?
A computer! I never had one until I was in my 20s and living in Japan

16. Would you have a second home in the mountains or at the beach?
Beach baby! It's perfect in summer and when it turns cold, there's nothing as wonderful as a dark, moody beach in winter, very atmospheric

17. … a boat, an airplane or an R.V.?
Airplane, so I would've have to sit in economy class again

18. How did you meet your spouse or significant other?
At a party

19. What’s an important thing to teach a daughter?
To be independent and strong

20. What’s an important thing to teach a son?
How to cook and clean LOL

21. Favorite comedian?
Oh, toughie. Eddie Izzard, Andy Evans, Billy Connolly, Dai Henwood, Billy T James ... most British or NZ ones, not a huge fan of American comics (mainly because some of the cultural references I don't get)

22. Back, side or stomach sleeper?
All three!

23. Beauty or brains (for yourself)? Beauty or brains (for sig. other)?
Brains for me. Brains for him

24. Music, news, talk radio or silence while driving?
Music, then sports talkback radio, then silence LOL

25. What’s the next language you’d like to learn?
Italian

Do you ever match a song to a person? Whenever I hear certain songs I always think of people I know. For example, at the gym today they played "Sweet Home Alabama" which always makes me think of my Dad. He loves this song, plays it at every family party/get together LOL. He also plays it on the guitar and sings a pretty good rendition of it too.

So, other songs that remind me of friends/family:

Can't Touch This, MC Hammer - My sister LOL. She loved that song "back in the day", even had my mum make "hammer" pants for her and her best friend. They memorised the lyrics and dance moves too LOL.

Love Is All Around, Wet Wet Wet - My mum. She had the soundtrack to "Four Weddings and A Funeral" and this was her favourite, played it over and over again.

Everlong, Foo Fighters - My boyfriend. One of the few CDs that we both have (Foo Fighters, "The Colour and the Shape") and just a song that he loves.

Tequila, ? - Best friend since 4th Form. She has a huge party in 7th Form, a tequila party (where before I left, my parents showed me the different ways of drinking tequila, man, my parents rocked LOL). The party was awesome, and we played this song quite a bit during the course of the evening.

Bright White Flame, Underword - Good friend and university sidekick, this song featured in the short film we made for short film competition LOL.

Pinball Wizard, The Who - Flatmate in London, who sang this song for about 4 weeks in preparation for an audition he had for a part in a West End musical.

Spinning Around, Kylie - Old flatmate and best friend, it was our "going out" song, the one we'd put on as we got ready to go out on the town.

Tart at 1:33 PM | 0 comments

Fetish

Saturday, April 14, 2007

Fetish {fet·ish}
–noun
1. an object regarded with awe as being the embodiment or habitation of a potent spirit or as having magical potency.
2. any object, idea, etc., eliciting unquestioning reverence, respect, or devotion: to make a fetish of high grades.
3. Psychology. any object or nongenital part of the body that causes a habitual erotic response or fixation.

[Dictionary.com]

Was talking to the BF yesterday about fetishes (as you do on a Friday night after work LOL).

We were talking about fetishes (my shoe one) and how I really thought it was more of an obsession rather than fetish, considering most people think of fetishes as related to sex. You know, people have a toe fetish or rubber fetish and can only get off when licking toes or wearing rubber LOL.

So, that got us talking about our fetishes well, not really fetishes, more like turn ons.

The BF said that one of his fetishes is tight knee length skirts with a split, fitted shirt and killer heels… the sexy secretary look! (Hmm, will keep this little tidbit at the back of my mind for future reference LOL). He also likes women with ponytails, black lacy bras and undies, long red hair (hmm, I have short dark brown locks LOL), big boobs, tiny waists and white skin (good, I have those LOL).

As for me, I have a thing for rumpled bed hair, strong hands, dimples. I like tanned skin and a bit of a hairy chest (not back though, euw). A great bum and legs is hot, so too are broad shoulders. I find glasses sexy, so too a guy in a sharp suit and tie. I am a sucker for blue or green eyes and love a guy that can talk dirty LOL.

Some of the stuff we talked about was pretty tame (some wasn't and it was hot and I'm not going to write about it here... well, not today anyway LOL).

Tart at 1:02 PM | 1 comments

Guilty

Wednesday, April 04, 2007

"Only you can set me free

Cause I'm guilty - guilty - guilty as a girl can be
Come on baby can't you see" (Bananarama)

Oh yes, I have commited a heinous crime. A terrible tragic hateful crime.

I commited bunnycide! And not once either. Twice. I'm a serial killer!

But I think you'll understand.

I mean, just look at this little cutie. Wouldn't you want to eat it?

Mmmm, milk chocolate Lindt Bunny. So lovely. I bought three last week, thinking I could hold out until Sunday (the traditional day we eat Easter eggs), but this week I've managed to devour two of them. I have no will power! Those cute little eyes, that little red ribbon, the bell... it's all taunting me to eat it LOL.

Three years ago today, I met my BF. Awww. Can't believe it's been that long. Seems much longer LOL.

We met at a party (long and involved story which I'm too lazy to get into), but all that's important is that a very good looking blonde man came up to me and started talking and we clicked immediately. I wasn't tongue tied or dorky or pathetic (which usually happens when I meet good looking men I'm attracted too). We connected, but I left with my then BF (of two weeks - told you it was involved!) so didn't really think much more than "god he was hot and so nice too".

Fast forward a few weeks, the then BF and I are not working out (very frustrating to find out that after obsessing about this man for 2 years and finally getting together after mis-starts and bad timing etc, we have the chemistry of a wet tissue!). Anyway, the very good looking blonde man, through various machinations, managed to get my phone number and called me up one day, asked me out for a drink. And that, they say, was that.

It hasn't always been an easy relationship (a year long distance, plus those 8 months we broke up when he was overseas), but we've made it this far. I'm very happy, though finding sharing a house a bit of hard work because I am such a fusspot neatfreak and he's... we'll he's not LOL, and I love having him in my life (even if he does leave wet sandy towels and clothes on the bed).

So, to my sweet, funny, smart, sexy, very good looking tanned blonde surfer boy. I love you babe. Even though you don't read this blog, I just wanted to put it out there, in bloggerspace for all to see!

Tart at 4:06 PM | 4 comments

Answer me

Tuesday, April 03, 2007

I have a few unanswered questions just floating around my head today...

Why is it that when I wear the cheapest pair of shoes I own (very average $11 heels from No.1 Shoe Warehouse), I get more comments and compliments than when I wear my super cute, pricey designer pairs?

What has happened to Adam Ricketts? He was so hunky and buff when he played Nick on Coronation Street. Now he's all gaunt and far too thin on Shortland Street. The boy needs to pack on some pounds (he's still cute though ... remember that music video he released and he was naked in it? I do, quite vividly LOL).

Why, if my right middle finger is bruised and sore after an incident with a brick (my finger, crushed under), does my left arm/wrist ache?

Why don't they make sports bras for girls with big boobs? It is nigh on impossible to find a sports bra that goes up to a DD or E. Obviously us girls with big tits aren't meant to have supportive underwear when we exercise.

Why do I like banana cake, banana smoothies etc, but cannot stomach the actual fruit on their own?

Why can I remember the exact date I first met the BF (April 4, 2004 LOL), but have no clue as to when we first had a proper "date"?

Tart at 4:06 PM | 3 comments