Music to my ears #2

1. Royksopp: What Else Is There?

Someone posted this on my Facebook news feed this week. I remember seeing this video late at night on MTV2 a few years ago and being absolutely entranced. It was not the style of music I usually liked, the video was weird and I'd never heard of Royksopp before. I listened to this song for weeks and then promptly forgot it until now. 

I love rediscovering old, forgotten songs and this is definitely going back on my iPod.

2. Chris Malinchak: So Good To Me

Finally a song from the Top 40 in my list. I just think this song is great. It's so chilled, for some reason it reminds me of being on holiday, and the lyrics are really uplifting. It's a funky little love song that I can't get out of my head.

3. The Avalanches: Frontier Psychiatrist

Another oldie but a goodie. This song reminds me of being on placement in Romania. A couple of friends and I found this cool little cocktail bar on a boat and this song came on. It brings back some good memories.
Although this video absolutely absolutely terrified me when I was younger. Even now as grown woman it still give me the willies. It's just so trippy and random!


4. Song of the Lonely Mountain- Neil Finn

I've been having a bit of a Lord of the Rings/The Hobbit binge at the minute. Listening to this song makes me want to get my sword and defeat a dragon!


5. Joni Mitchell: Case of You

Joni Mitchell is a goddess, that is a fact. The first time I heard this song was through the film Practical Magic. Intrigued I looked up the singer, listened to a few of her songs and that was it. I was hooked! Her album Blue is one of the few albums I can listen to over and over again without getting bored of. The emotion of Little Green, the whimsy of Carey and the quiet despair of River are song which are etched on my heart forever. But if I were forced to choose just of her songs to listen to forevermore it would be Case of You. This is the song that first introduced to me Joni Mitchell and is therefore irreplaceable in my life.

Night At The Movies: Behind The Candelabra review

Who doesn't like going to the movies? Meeting up with friends to gorge on chocolate and popcorn while getting lost in a different world. I personally love going to the cinema, if I was brave enough I would even go on my own. I'm just not quite confident enough yet.
I usually try to go to see a new movie at least once a month but, as always, life usually gets in the way so it has been a long, long time since I last went. Seeing as I'm off for two weeks and free as a bird I texted a couple of friends and arranged to go see Great Gatsby.
We showed up at Movie House on the Dublin Road with about fifteen minutes to spare and were greeted by a huge queue. On Tuesday nights Movie House have their Crazy Tuesday promotion where all tickets are £3. It's always been popular but I've never seen it as busy as this. As we ended up being too late to see Great Gatsby we just got tickets for the  next show that was available, Behind the Candelabra.

The story, based on the book by Scott Thorsen, tells the tale of Thorsen's relationship with the legendary pianist and performer Liberace. Directed by Steven Sodehiem this movie  follows their tempetuous relationship over six years, charting the highs and lows and it's eventual demise.
Before viewing this movie I knew nothing about Liberace. I vaguely knew he was a flamboyant performer who revelled in gaudy and OTT glamour but had no clue about any of his personal life or what he was actually famous for.

In fairness if I were as rich as he was I'd probably blow all my money on diamond rings and golden bath tubs too

I think this may have had impact on my feelings about the film, I found the main characters extremely unlikable! Usually the point of films is for the audience to really root for the protagonist but with Behind The Candelabra I couldn't help feeling that the two main characters seemed extremely selfish and manipulative. Whether this is what Liberace was like in real life I do not know but it's how it came across in the movie.

I do feel that the two lead actors, Micheal Douglas and Matt Damon, gave amazing performaces. Seeing as I  don't know what the real Liberace was actually like I can't comment on whether Douglas was able to accurately depict him. A special mention also has to go to Rob Lowe, with his turn as plastic surgeon to the star Dr Startz, who provided some real moments of comedy.

All in all a grand movie. Quite long and I wouldn't be rushing out to buy the DVD so I give it 3 stars! Also I highly recommend you do not see this movie with your parents, there are some scenes that would make for awkward viewing.

Jeez movie reviews are hard, I don't know if I'll make this a regular occurrence!

Let me know if you've seen any great (or not so great) movies recently

Love

S x

C-c-c-cinnamon lips (AKA cinnamon buns)

I'm on the second day of my annual leave and I am bored out my mind! Don't get me wrong I have a thousand errands to do and my room looks like a bomb site. But I won't let those little things distract from my boredom so I decided to procrastinate by doing a little baking.

I have to say I never, ever bake. I am not a baker, it does not interest me. Just give me the finished cupcake I don't want to have to work for it. But I had a real craving for sometime sweet and cinnamon-y. A quick Google search brought up this recipe for quick 45 minute cinnamon buns. I substituted the cream cheese frosting for just regular old icing. Et viola

They are by no means perfect. In fact that big one at the bottom kinda looks like a big turd! But I am very proud of these. I baked these with my own fair hands, maybe I'll give up my job and open a cute little bakery. There'll be mismatch teacups and cool art on the wall. Everyone will know me and I'll have a romantic moment baking cakes with my hot waiter.... alright maybe I'm getting carried away myself.

Are any of you guys into baking? Any recipes to share? I still have two weeks off to fill so anything to fill my time.

Love

Sho x