monday mantra: remember...

endlessquotes.com

books always fit...

I don't have an e-reader or an Ipad. I love the feel of paper -- cards, notebooks, magazines and most of all, books. And my Amazon account proves it.

Here are my latest Amazon purchases. There's not a Pulitzer Prize winner in the bunch, but hey it's summer!

Parisian Chic, Ines de la Fressange
I'm not Parisian, but I can dress like one...

Decorate
This may replace the Domino Book of Decorating as my go-to
budget friendly decor book.

Bossypants
I could always use a laugh.

Untold Story, Monica Ali
What if Diana didn't die?

And two books purchased just because I want to watch the movie versions, which will almost surely disappoint me after I've read the books.

Snow Flower and The Secret Fan
Hugh Jackman is in the movie!

One Day
I'm a sucker for a good love story.

What are you reading?

gossip genie

On Friday, I stepped away from the laptop and BB for all of 15 minutes, and this happens: 

people.com

people.com

Will the People magazine-proclaimed "World's Most Beautiful Woman"  ever find love and happiness? If I were Gossip Genie, I'd blink her right back with 2002's Sexiest Man Alive.

You think he's reminding her to pick up the dry cleaning?

monday mantra: life is...

bogochita.tumblr.com

tgif!

Whew! It's been such a long and busy work week. I've never been so glad to see Friday in my life. Time to relax on my deck...overlooking the ocean, lounge with a glass of wine on the custom-made banquette that surrounds a teak-and-steel lava-rock fire pit...

simon upton, elle decor

Wait, that's Courteney Cox's house. Well, a girl can dream.

In the meantime, let's listen to some music that takes me back about 30 years or so...

youtube.com

Have a wonderful weekend!

tears of joy...

mirvish.com

Hugh Jackman reads this blog. Otherwise, how could he possibly have known my favourite songs? He sang  them all beautifully on his critically acclaimed one man show. I cried tears of joy. Not pretty tears of joy--but the chest heaving, sniffling, loud ugly cry.

He opened the evening with Oh What a Beautiful Morning (a song that I love so much I've blogged about it here and here). It began to feel like an out of body experience, though I remained relatively calm.

As Hugh sang this love song to his wife, the rest of the audience (women and men of all ages) swooned. I sobbed and lost it completely.Ugly cry became embarrassing.

Hugh with the luckiest woman in the world

The show just kept getting better. He sang as Peter Allen, performed numbers from his favourite movie musicals (Singing in the Rain! An American in Paris!), and danced like nobody's business --gyrating flamboyantly, skillfully, sexily, and adorably.

When Hugh ended the show with Mack The Knife, a song I only secretly adore, I wondered...How did he know? There can only be one answer: We're soulmates.

Me and Hugh

Michael Bublé - The Way You Look Tonight

sexy...romantic...Do men understand that sometimes all it takes is this song and those words? *sigh*

style crush: Ellen Barkin!



oprah.com
I agree with her rules, but I've broken 6 of them today already.

 Ellen Barkin is one of the coolest chicks on the planet. Her timeless style -- the chic bob, fitted one-colour clothing, little to no jewelry, pointy shoes --simplicity at its finest.

not a flip flop....

Flip flops are wrong wrong wrong unless you're walking near the pool, beach, or in the comfort of your own home. But sometimes you just need a flat sandal....

marc by marc jacobs black turnlock sandal

So simple and on sale!

eating dress...

It wasn't exactly a life changing experience, but good things do happen when you least expect them. Finding this citrus boxy shift (which I blogged about 7 months ago) on sale at Zara, is a very good thing. It's chic, lined, the perfect length and oh so cool and comfy.

My summer eating dress!