Ooh, la la, Chanel on Rue La La

Rue La La, an online site featuring select daily designer limited sale items, had Chanel clothing and accessories for available today.

Although I would love to own anything Chanel, there were two things in particular that caught my eye. First was the Chanel Black Platform Sandal with Jade O-Ring for $899. I think they are unique, and I really like that the ring on the shoe is green because it makes more of a bold statement.

The second thing I really liked was the Chanel Vintage Quilted Lambskin Mini Flap Bag for $1,299. The reason I fancied this purse more so than the others is because of the blue color, and as I mentioned in a previous blog, the across-the-body shoulder bag purses are really in style right now.

What I was most surprised about was the fact that almost all of the Chanel items listed were sold out. How can people afford that kind of stuff right now? I'd like to think that someday I will be able to...but I still think I'd feel a little guilty even if I could afford it. Obviously Chanel is one of the top designers in the world--Chanel is well-known for its classy, timeless pieces, and the quality of every fabric is excellent. I still don't know how I feel about paying that much for something that I may only wear a few times though. I suppose if money wasn't an issue I would probably buy a few expensive designer things, but I can't imagine owning a whole wardrobe full of Chanel. Some things are left to be desired; just looking at the Chanel items on Rue La La was good enough for me this time around.

Racey with Lacey Nails

I was reading this month's Cosmopolitan where I came across a picture of some really cool lace-covered fingernails. I kind of want to try it, but I'm not sure how difficult it would be. Of course I would have to buy some lace, probably a thin lace, and then I'd have to cut it precisely to fit each individual fingernail. Then I'd have to figure out how to apply it all without making a huge mess. I found an online tutorial that may be helpful. Maybe one day when I'm bored and feeling ambitious I can give it a try. I don't want my nails looking like the picture below though. They look like a glob of hot tar was splashed onto the tips of this girl's fingernails. NOT sexy.

Another in-trend right now with nails is doing a plain color for the fingers and doing something a little more dazzling for the middle finger and/or thumb, like a bold zebra print or sparkly confetti nail polish. Nail polish can really serve as an accessory if you play it up right. All you have to do is pick the right colors and be a little creative.

Film Review: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

I recently saw The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, a film based on the same titled book by Swedish Stieg Larsson. At first I was a little weary because I had to grab my glasses in order to be able to read the Swedish subtitles, but I quickly forgot that I was even reading when I became absorbed in the movie. It was honestly one of the best movies I have seen all year. I love the kind of movies that require you to think, or to at least be forced to pay close attention to details in order to be able to follow the unfolding of events taking place in the movie.

The central theme of the film is the unraveling of an unexplained disappearance of a young girl which leads to the chasing of a murder mystery. Meanwhile, the audience gets a preview of what the main female character, Lisbeth (the girl with the dragon tattoo), goes through on a daily basis—harsh abuse and degradation by males. Many of the issues throughout the novel involve the sexual abuse of women. Lisbeth is one of the most interesting female characters I have seen in a long time. Instead of being an unrealistically strong woman who can overpower men, she instead uses her brains and patience in order to seek (justified, in my opinion,) revenge against them. As weird as she seems, there is something about her that is likeable and keeps the audience rooting for her—perhaps it is sympathy for the unfortunate, undeserved beatings she endures, or maybe it is the glimpse of helplessness in her eyes that angers me even more for what is being done to her. Many of the scenes were very disturbing to watch, but at the same time, I think it’s important for people to realize that abuse is something that women all over the world still face on a daily basis. I later learned that the original Swedish title translates to "Men Who Hate Women." That would have been an appropriate title to keep because the film is filled with abuse towards women.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is the first in Stieg Larssson's trilogy followed by The Girl Who Played with Fire and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest. If the books are anything like the movie, then I am sure I will also like them. I recommend The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo to anyone who enjoys mystery/thriller films and can handle some unsettling images. It is definitely meant for a mature audience.

My film rating: 4.5/5

My Style According to Madewell

I love J.Crew, so when I received one of their daily emails about checking out a new clothing website with a J.Crewesque flair, Madewell.com, I decided to check it out. I entered a Madewell shopping spree contest (cross my fingers that I win ;), and at the end I filled out a brief questionnaire that told me my style based on my answers. Apparently my style is "Understated Glam." It said,

"Your keen eye and cool aesthetic define your elegantly edgy style. And when it comes to denim you're all about simple and sleek, so try a pair of our skinny ankle jeans - they're super-slim and perfectly streamlined."

I suppose I can concur with that answer. I like to take smart risks with my outfits, meaning I go for the dernier cri, but I find the line between stylish and faddish so that I don't waste my money buying something I think that is really hip at the time but then can't wear a few months later when it goes out of style.

After doing some browsing online I decided to do some in-store browsing. I hit up the J.Crew in a nearby outlet mall, and I had so much fun shopping by myself! They had a super sweet sale going on too, which made my shopping even more pleasant. I bought a peach-colored sequined tank top with a matching white and peach stripped light-weight sweater (perfect for a breezy summer night) as well as a cute work skirt and a cotton multicolored scarf all for $100! If that isn't bargain shopping then I don't know what is. Ahh yes, I love my J.Crew style. Although Madewell.com is somewhat similar, I have a feeling that I'm going to remain a loyal customer to clothes supporting the J.Crew tag.

Book Review: The Magicians

I just finished Lev Grossman's The Magicians today, and I loved it! To put it simply, the novel reminds me of Harry Potter, except aimed for a more adult audience. Okay, well to be honest, I never actually read Harry Potter, but based on the few clips of the movies I've seen here and there, I'm claiming that they are similar in several ways. If nothing else, it's the realm of wizardry that correlates the two--a story centering around a boy who pursues a life of magic and encounters strange, sci-fi like characters along the way, all while trying to figure out his life's purpose. Quentin, the main character, is moody and self-destructive. The oscillating first and third person narrative causes the reader to become frustrated with him because he has so much potential and has all the tools he needs in front of him, yet he is never satisfied. Essentially, the novel is about Quentin's quest for happiness. I felt so invested in his character by the end of the novel that even I was wondering what had to be done for him to finally be complacent. I guess I'll just have to wait until the next novel to find out. The sequel, The Magician King, will be released next summer.

Although the novel is about 400 pages, it was a pretty fast read. I recommend Lev Grossman's The Magicians to anyone who likes a Bildungsroman combo of action intertwined with a love story. I give it 4.5/5 stars :)

A Lackluster Film With Two A-List Stars

Is it just me, or have the recent films released these past several months been overly corny? I went to the movies with a friend the other night and we were deciding between Killers with Ashton Kutcher and Katherine Heigl or Knight and Day with Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz. We ended up picking Knight and Day, and let's just say that the title was just as cheesy as Knight (Cruise) trying to be an overly-suave "knight in shining armor" for Day (Diaz). The movie as a whole was simply overdone. The action scenes were pretty good, so if some of the corny dialog would have been simply cut out, it would have been a better movie.

Let me try to describe how trite some of the scenes with Cruise and Diaz were. First of all, only ten minutes into the movie Day is already falling for Knight and sharing personal information in hushed whispers in one of the most awkward public places to try to have an intimate conversation with someone--an airplane. Secondly, after about twenty minutes into the movie, in what was probably the most cliche moment of the entire movie, Day walks up to Knight and kisses him...in the middle of the aisle on the airplane after speaking to him for only a few short minutes. The movie was ruined for me before it was even halfway through.

Another stupidly comical part was at the end of the movie when Day let herself be captured by "the bad guy" in hopes that Knight would try to rescue her. The criminal who supposedly has no problem killing people doesn't try to rough Day up in order to get information out of her. Instead, he injects her with truth serum which essentially leaves Day in a giggly, valley-girl state in which she confesses her love for Knight. Diaz shouldn't have taken this role, even if she was acting aside ultra-famous Cruise. Her character was annoying on so many levels. She followed around Knight like a lost, needy puppy dog. It was not a flattering role for her. Even though she played a sometimes-ditzy blonde in Charlie's Angles, at least she could handle her own and was more of a kick-ass character. She actually had a personality in that film, whereas in Knight and Day it seems like she's just along for the ride. You can hardly call her a sidekick.

I was excited to see Knight and Day because I figured it would be good with two A-list actors, but I was definitely wrong. Even throwing two great actors into the leading roles in this movie did nothing to improve the horrendous dialogue. In addition, although the action scenes weren't too bad, even they were watered down by the way the film was produced. The producers were somehow able to lackluster the seriousness of the action scenes, making them seem kiddish and extinguishing a sense of urgency necessary for an successful action film. I can only hope that the next movie I see won't leave me as disappointed.

My Film Rating: 1.5/5 stars

An Unsatiable Craving

I don't know if it's the Summer season, my hormones, or all of the commercials flooding my TV screen recently, but my craving for ice cream has been absurd. I will literally skip dinner just so I don't feel as guilty about devouring a frosty treat. I'm sure you have seen the commercials too. Dairy Queen is celebrating the 25th birthday of the blizzard, and while it should be a celebratory time, my waistline is telling me the party needs to come to an end. DQ knows what it's doing by flooding my easily dessert-persuadable-mind with images of the sweet, creamy, ingredient-loaded blizzard.

In addition, they did a double blast by advertising their irresistible DQ cakes for Father's Day. So, of course, I rationalized with myself that the DQ cake would be the perfect gift for my father after our long day of golfing and figured that it would be okay to indulge "just this once" because I was buying a whole cake, and everyone in my family would eat some. Yeah, well that rationale didn't just kick me in the butt, it has decided that a better punishment would be to attach its little fat particles to my rear as a constant reminder that not my dad, but I, ate half the cake myself. If that isn't the right step in the direction of obesity, I don't know what is.

BUT, in my defense, I recently watched "America's Favorite Foods" on the Food Network, where it was revealed why DQ is so tantalizing to my taste buds. Ironically, it's because they don't freeze them! Let me explain. Regular ice cream is so cold that it often freezes many of our taste buds, thus preventing the total enjoyability of the ice cream flavor, whereas Dairy Queen uses soft serve ice cream that isn't quite as cold. Those few degrees can make a load (of flavors) of difference and effect the total ice cream experience. DQ's secret is what keeps millions of people visiting their numerous locations daily. And that is why, even when it's cold in the wintertime, it can't freeze (haha, get it?) my craving for a Dairy Queen treat.