April 2013 Favourites

What a hectic month! I feel like I haven't sat down for longer that 10 minutes, and that's why there's been a significant lack of posts this month. Honestly, I've just been overwhelmed with trips away, and coursework. What a combination. So lets get into this...

TV: The IT Crowd
The nerd in me wants to be in the IT Crowd. I don't even care. I want the Roy shirts and I want Moss to be my answer phone message. What I've found with the IT Crowd is that the audience can go either way with it, it's a Marmite programme. However, I'm quite clearly in the 'love it' corner; clever and witty writing, sweet casting, and the fact it's all on Netflix makes me all the happier. Also, it's so 'quotable' it makes cry with joy.

Film: Almost Famous
I watched this at the beginning of the month, but it's a film genre I really like. Set in the 70s, the film sees a high school boy begin to write for Rolling Stone Magazine and follows an up and coming band on their american tour. I really enjoy music films in general  and this movie just has a beautiful juxtaposition of naivety and reality of the music industry. I like it, and plus the cast includes the beautiful Kate Hudson and Zooey Deschanel and the simply great Jason Lee, I don't really know where you can go wring with this. I wouldn't say this is one of my favourite films, but I did enjoy it rather a lot and that's something.

Music: The Strypes
Can we talk about my obsession with the Strypes please?! Even if you say no, I wouldn't listen. I first saw them on Later... with Jools Holland and I was in awe. These boys are 16 and 17 years old and already are talented, tight musicians - Also, how much do they look like the Beatles?! With 60s/70s blues and rock influences, I'm jealous of everything about them. BIG TIME. I guarantee them world domination - after myself of course.

Make up: BeautyBlender
Granted, it's a tool and not a make up product but oh well. Since it turned up in March's Birchbox I've used it every day to apply my foundation. I'll write up a review in the next couple of days, but what I will say is that now I totally understand the HUGE hype over this sponge. Pricey but worth it; you can grab it for £16 pounds each or £24 for 2 on BeautyBay.

Skin Care: Bioderma
Maybe this is my purchase of the year. It's flipping brilliant. a couple of drops on a cotton pad and my entire face of make up has been wiped away, even the stupidly tough mascara. Unfortunately, it can only be purchased in Europe at the minute, however, I've been doing a bit of research and allegedly Bioderma will be coming over to the UK very soon, but there is no set date or designated store just yet. Dammit! I know this bottle is going to last me a long time, but it looks like I'm going to have to take a quick trip to Paris to get some more when it runs out, oh what a shame!

The Reeve Guide To... Paris - Day 4

There is nothing quite like waking up to fresh coffee in the morning. Honestly, I think if every person had a pot brewing in the morning there wouldn't be war. Anyway, off the point there. This coffee this morning was particularly special; we had breakfast in the The 2 Moulins Café. THE CAFE WHERE AMELIE WORKED. Being one of my top 5 favourite  films ever I think it would have been near impossible for us not to go there, especially as it was 5 minutes from our apartment. In the cafe itself there was a huge movie poster signed by the director/actress (I can't remember, I think my eyesight or memory is going, to be honest, probably both) and aptly named dishes such as the 'taste of Amelie' which consisted of coffee and crembrule. Charming.

After a massive breakfast, and after Alex has suitably demolished the left overs on everyone's plates, we had to pack up and leave. Even now, I have the strangest feeling I've left something behind...
And so we began the trek, cases in hand, to the Gard du Nord. Obviously, making detours in various bolongaries to buy gifts of macaroons for relatives (you can't beat them, I promise you) and more of the delicious tiger buns for the train journey.

Then, oh and then, my mum found the most amazing fabric and habbidashery emporium I have ever seen. Material in every colour and  texture, and for every occasion. How could I resist? (Side note - it was mega cheap and I'm easily persuaded) I ended up buying some ridiculous satin, pattern wise think Hawaiian shirt. Who wears satin any more?!  Let alone Hawaiian prints?! Well, me shortly, once I've worked out what I'm going to do with it. A skirt? Maybe? I don't even care. I'll wear it as a head dress if I have to. 

With gleeful faces we walked the last leg of the journey. An hour early, we stopped at McDonald's. French McDonald's is properly fancy. Coffee in actual cups and saucers and a box of macaroons (which quickly became McMacoroons, my dad, full of puns). I think its definitely the little things like cups and saucers in fast food chain restaurants that make me a little over excited. Oh Paris, you bring the best out of everything.

Departure. Urgh. I'm writing this on the Eurostar as we speed through miles and miles of flat fields and farmland. It's a bit odd, thinking about it. In less than 2 hours I'll be in Ebbsfleet and everything that has happened in the last 4 or so days won't be daily occurrence any more but an anecdotes or photo.

I think I've worked out what I left in Paris. I left my heart in Paris.
Until next time,
Josie

The Reeve Guide To... Paris - Day 3

 Covered passages

A cane seller's window (one of the original shops) / one of the many gorgeous patisseries 

La Galerie Lafayette

Stained glass dome / Jelly shoes / 101 top class make up counters / designer clothes

Arc de Triomphe

How could we possibly leave Paris without having a proper look at the Eiffel Tower by night?

I'd 100% recommend.

The Reeve Guide To...Paris - Day 2

I'm starting to think the aim of this trip was to wear me out as much as physically possible and it hasn't been done better than by the Eiffel Tower itself. Amazingly we managed to walk up it or at least as far as we could go, to the second floor. still, over 700 steps is nothing to be laughed about. My mum was gasping, I was nigh on crawling up the iron stairs. My Dad and Brother, however, seemed to be just fine. I clearly need to do more exercise.

The tower is spectacular, just catching a glimpse between buildings it enough to get me a little excited. But when you're standing under it, it simply blows my brains out. It's inconceivable that in 1889 such a structure was opened when the rest of the world was still trying to catch up, It's no wonder Mr Eiffel turned it into a permanent structure. Also, great fact: amongst royal families that came to view the structure in the opening year, along so did Buffalo Bill the bison hunter. Random.

The top was something not for the faint hearted, level 3 was only accessible though a lift which had approximately 10-12 people in it. Cramped to say the least. But once you are out on the viewing platform, you can see for miles. Unfortunately on the day that we went up it was overcast, a grey misty fog covered most of the city but we could still see large landmarks. But, regardless it was spectacular.

Tourist tip: When buying tickets for the Tower, if on the signs it says the top platform is shut, chances are it isn't. Ask for a ticket for the top, they're just reducing the queues down and the interest of tourists.

After grabbing the lift down to the ground we headed towards the Latin Quarter of Paris. If I'm honest this was pretty uneventful for us; it was raining and there were police everywhere. Although, there are so many churches to duck into in the event of a down pour and each one contains some serious works art. I don't think you can go to Paris and not look at religious art, it's on every corner and in every museum, drink it in. I know, maybe you don't want The Crucifixion in gruesome detail in stain glass or oil paintings, it's not necessarily the content but the skill of the art is special. Again, drink it in.

That brings me on the the next event: visiting the Notre Dame. I think we timed this perfectly, as we were looking at the famous stained glass, the choir to walked into their seats/pews and mass began. When you go from land mark to land mark I think as a tourist you forget that these places are part of every day life for people too. When the choir sung, It reminded me of that. Their voices also gave the church a truly beautiful atmosphere, I'm not going to say spiritual  but it helped me understand exactly why so many artists devoted their time to furnishing it to perfection.

Our final stop off the day was a walk though the back streets past the Moulin Rouge. I can assure you, it looks far better at night when it's all lit up, the dusty red windmill looses all of it's 'spectacular spectacular' romantic charm in the day light. But still, it's a sight you can't got to Paris without seeing.

The Reeve Guide To... Paris - Day 1

 

Maybe, just maybe I've had he busiest day ever. Ok, maybe not ever, but I feel like could now  probably sleep for 3 days, after all, I do get worn put like a toddler.

Finally I'm back in Paris! The home of art, romance and great coffee and cake. Why wouldn't you want to be back here?! This time, instead of a school trip I'm going with my family, so I might actually get to see Paris this time and not just Disneyland and odd shopping centres. Not that I didn't enjoy the last couple of  times I've been here, but its completely unstructured this time. And I'm excited about that.

The Eurostar journey flew by and before we knew it there we were in the wildest taxi ride. If anything would want to put you off driving ever again it's a taxi in Paris. Cutting corners, running though red lights, narrowly dodging pedestrians and watching car scraps left right and centre. In hindsight it made me realise that not everyone is the same as London where you wait for the green man before crossing the road, in Paris you run for your life.

As the taxi was speedily winding around the roads, an artisan district emerged with cobbled streets. There were shop stalls of cheese, fish, meat, 101 bakeries and cafes all companied with bustles of people weaving their way around the stalls. It felt like we were in a bit of a time warp, 50 years behind the rest of the world. It was pretty beautiful.

Up a little hill and there's our apartment with the slightly very eccentric owner. Everything in the apartment is a little 'temperamental'; the locks on the bathroom, the keys in the front door, the boiler, the satellite on the telly. But to be quite honest, I'm going to be sleeping under a chandelier and that's never happened before, so already I've decided I may never leave.

Suitcases down, and we're out the door again. I think that's what happens when I go on holiday with my Dad, he's got this ridiculous habit of not being able to stay still for longer than 20 minutes or so.

After some exploring of the local area around Montmartre, and quick view of the Eiffel Tower through the mist, we headed for the Louvre and went via the tube, or the metro, which sounds far more French and fancier. Obviously, we headed straight to the Mona Lisa by Da Vinci like every other tourist that goes into that art gallery. Maybe this is me being a bit young and very naive to the ways of art, but I found it somewhat underwhelming considering you have a painting of the last supper which is bigger than my house on the adjacent wall. I can appreciate art and the skill of Ms Lisa, but with all the other beauty in other pieces around the gallery and exhibitions I think to go only to that painting you would seriously be missing out, as I know a lot of tourists do. I don't know, maybe I need to research it before I slate it.

At this point of the day, I think it was safe to say we were exhausted and hungry and began to navigate our way back to our tiny apartment and more importantly, dinner. From the metro we ended up walking everywhere. I mean the Sacre Coeur is set on the highest point in Paris. We walked up that hill. I'm telling you, I looked like a wreck; out of breath, cold but over heating and without doubt starving. Thankfully we found a restaurant, Chez Eugene in the square near to the church. Hearty traditional French food, cheesy cabaret (who sung Robbie Williams and The Carpenters, what a winning combination) and deranged décor. I'm talking confetti on the ceiling and merry go round horses.

A strange day: waking up in suburban London and about go to sleep in the heart of Paris was only  topped off by a glimpse of the Eiffel Tower all lit up in the night sky. Which was something I won't be forgetting in a long while.

March 2013 Favourites

March, it's such a middle of the road month. Granted, there was Mother's day and my brother's birthday, but it doesn't mean it was totally great (sorry, Alex). It's this time of year I begin to loose my attention span for most of my school work, anyone who knows me is undoubtedly familiar my ability to find random games to avoid coursework deadlines. It's a skill that's on my CV. So in March I have a tendency to delve into all sorts of other things, so here are a list of my favs of this month...

TV: The Village
Granted, this aired on the 31st of March but seriously, aside from watching The Office all month on Netflix, this is the only series on the telly that actually got me excited. It's about a man, Bert Middleton, retelling his memories of the village in which he grew up from 1914 onwards. The cast is pretty special; Nico Mirallegro especially. He's working his way up my 2013 hot list, BIG TIME. I saw him in My Mad Fat Teenage Diary, and he was featured briefly in the ASOS magazine. I think it's his eyebrows or his accent, but he's effortlessly cool. Either I need to be married or best friends with him. That's the deal.

Game: Assassin's Creed Brotherhood
I've really nerded out over this game over this last month. Seriously, I've even embarrassed my brother. Maybe it's because the character wears a cape or jumps building to building - both of which I do not own/am capable of, and that's fine, and which is why I've played it all month long.

Music: Justin Timberlake - The 20/20 Experience
Finally JT is back! Super high notes, clean tailoring with an odd pinch of Jay-Z in the mix. It makes me very very happy. I went to his last tour way back in 2008 with my Mum and I kid you not she was screaming louder than I was. With any luck she'll buy me a ticket to the tour, fingers and toes crossed.

Make Up: Maybelline Expression Color Tattoo 24hr Eyeshadow
I brought this about 2 weeks ago in On And On Bronze, and to every social occasion I've worn this. It's super simple and gorgeous, and has really pretty golden shimmer. I just love it, and there's definitely going to be a review in the up coming days.

Accessories: Leather Vintage Clutch Bag
I'm going to label this bag as vintage, it is kind of. Brought from a charity shop, it's old, worn, and it was a right bargain. How could I resist?! It's pretty small, it only just fits my purse and phone in, but it's quite nice to just carry about if I'm just popping out to get a few things and and be easily dressed up with it's classic style.

Jewellery: Black Faceted Bead Statement Necklace

What a mouthful, and what a necklace. Again, I brought it from a charity shop and it's really inspired me to *possibly* make my own version. A ribbon is attacked tie into a bow at the back of your neck, gives it a bit of decadence and fanciness to a very simple outfit. A wardrobe staple.

Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter - Review

I have a serious love affair with lip products. Guaranteed, at any given time during the day I will have at least two lip balms in my bag. Often Boots will lure me in with their 3 for 2 offers and suddenly £25 vanishes from my account. Its my own fault, I'm too vulnerable to offers involving lipstick.

This is my first lip butter from Revlon and honestly, I friggin love it. It's very casual, that doesn't mean this lipstick is only ever seen in jeans and a tee shirt, but instead it's in understated elegance, a silk blouse. It's the type of product that makes you look like you've spent time in the morning to look presentable, but in in reality you've spent literally seconds. My kind of thing.

It's got a great colour pay off despite the balm texture to it which would make me assume that it is quite sheer. But I'm wrong. It's also got a slight glitter in the formula and leaves your lips looking voluptuous with a gorgeous sheen, that would be the moisturising qualities of it. The colour range of this product is truly lovely: from cute pinks to peaches to vampy purples, I think it suits every occasion. 

Also, because I'm a complete sucker for aesthetics, the packaging is a translucent trellis pattern in the colour matching the lip butter. It's just pretty and completely echoes the simplicity of the product. Urgh, I'm actually struggling to find something I don't like about it, which is a sure fire sign I'll be buying more - and for £7.99 who can blame me!