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--Guestblogger Chris Cerf

I should be getting ready to go sell ice cream as I type this, but one a line of several mechanical problems is has kept me off the street for about a week.  I had a bearing burst in the back wheel of my trike, which tankfully Worksman Cycles covered under their limited warranty, even though it says wheels are excluded.

I hope to be back on the road in the next few days, or whenever the new wheel gets here.  My plate has been pretty full lately, what with school (I graduate in August), my day job, my girlfriend, and social life (or lack there of).

Speaking of, "social life", my PR class had a guest speaker last night, Brian Burch of Lambert Edwards & Associates who talked all about new media in PR.  I enjoyed the presentation, and thought he made some good points about what is, "new" about using new media for PR, and what stays the same, as well as some very practical tips for operating as a PR person in the social web.  It is encouraging to see that local agencies are at least begining to take new media seriously, and have people who are passionate about it.

I found myself thinking after the presentation that if I am going to end up in PR, I'd like to focus on new media, exclusivly if possible.  I asked my prof if she thoguht there would be anyone willing to hire a full-time new media PR person; and she said, "probably not".  That was kind of disappointing, but it also made me wonder, "why?"

I'm sure no matter who you talk to with any knowledge of social media and networking, and Public Relations/Advertising, they will tell you that this is the direction things are headed.  My prof said the new media is, "too new..."  and that struck me as BS.  I think that a lot of the tools and sites out there have yet to ripen, but that doesn't mean they aren't bearing fruit.  Plus, this game is about being ahead of the curve, not on top of it.

I've thinking about how to integrate my passion for all things Web 2.0 with my career for a while, and last night got the wheels turning again.  I'm thinking about starting a marketing firm that specializes in constructing and maintaining a social-web presence, and integrating that with a client's current web presence, and marketing-mix.  I'm still a ways from starting anything (like I need another thing on my plate) but its fun to talk about with potential partners...

In an attempt to get back on the ball, I signed up for about a dozen web 2.0 sites last night, all of which I was lead to by FriendFeed which is a cool site that keeps track of your updates from all across the social web (over 40 sites).  It's nice to have all the information in one place, which I have tried to do before using Google Reader, iGoogle, and Yahoo! Pipes to varying degrees of success.  I like friendfeed's simple layout, and how easy it is to add you info/friends from other sites.  I see this getting even easier once Open ID gets wider mainstream acceptance.  You can also create "virtual friends" by adding the public profile links of anyone you want to your feed regardless of weather they have friended you, or even if they have a firendfeed profile.  This is a very cool, if slightly creepy feature; but it would make stalking Kevin Rose much easier if he diddn't already have a FriendFeed.

The only complaint I have about FriendFeed so far is the sub-par facebook integration.  You can access the FriendFeed site from your facebook page, but you can't put a box in your profile with the last 10 updates or anything.
As I start to use the various sites that I signed up for just to add them to my friendfeed, I'll post my impressions.  Look forward to my thoughts on: Mixx, Mister-Wong, StumbleUpon, Ma.gnolia, Furl, Diigo, Identi.ca, GoodReads, Library Thing, Yelp, Vimeo, Seesmic, Plurk, and more!

Anyway, time to eat breakfast and learn html/css...

Most South African houses don't have any heating, except a fireplace. That makes winter so hard, even it is not that cold. You have to get used to wear layers of clothes and wrap yourself into blankets at night to stay warm.

During the day we move with the sun trough the house. Like the cats, we search for the warm spots. The sun is our only heating. In the morning it would be Luzies room. In the afternoon it is our bedroom. I try not to miss any minute of sunshine in my room. Only than I can open the doors into the garden and lay on my bed with the sun shining on me.

Except on Fridays. That is the day when our neighbor burns his twins plasic-nappies. He makes a fire right next to my bedroom-door behind the wall, and when I am lucky the wind doesn't blow in my direction. The smell is awful. The twins are only a few months old, so this will go on for quite a while.

But he is convinced that this is the most ecological way to get rid of the nappies, because they disintegrate not in 50 000 years. He says.
I don't know what difference it makes wether they rot at a place where they don't bother anyone for however long, but I am not so sure about the air-pollution.

Maybe someday it will rain smoked plastic-nappies. Like frogs in the movie Magnolia.

+++++++

I am getting lost in style blogs. Really enjoy looking at the pictures of people in all different places of the world. It is a bit like travelling. Capetown, Munich (love these picts!) and Berlin. Love the Budapest style.

I was a little apprehensive about buying Roxy, despite the fact that it was dirt cheap at my local TJ Maxx.   Although I do not own any other Roxy brand products, I am familiar with their line, and I didn't really think that their perfume would be a good match for me.  However, I had read the notes, and felt them to be non-offensive, so I figured I would purchase it.  Worst case scenario, I was out $15 - best case scenario, I found the perfume that I had been missing out on my entire life.

CLASSIFICATION:  Hip, young, sporty

AGE GROUP:  Teen/college

SIMILAR SCENT(s):  N/A

FORM: Eau de Toilette

Picture this.  Hawaii.  2008.  Scantily clad and well-toned, your high school girlfriends and you are playing a vigorous game of volleyball in the sand.  If you can visualize this as well as I can, the scent that you are associating with that scenario is none other than Roxy perfume for women.

Young.  Hip.  Dynamic.  Crisp.  Sporty.  All of these words describe Roxy.

Roxy is a very consistent fragrance; it smells the same from the bottle as it does on paper or on skin.  The fragrance is long-lasting, and does not need to be re-applied throughout the day.  Not that I would want to;  I feel too old and dowdy to be wearing such a sporty, active fragrance.

Roxy isn't an unappealing scent, but the way it makes me feel is not desirable.  Plus, my usual preference isn't usually for fragrances of this type.  While it is distinctive, and not bad for what it is, I will not be looking to keep my bottle, although I may attempt to try it again and reconsider.

Although I didn't mention this early on in my post, Roxy does remind me a bit of a younger, sportier, and pinker version of Davidoff's Coolwater original.  It's been years since I smelled that scent, hence the reason why I did not list this above, but smelling Roxy for the first time immediately made me associate it as such.

REPORT CARD

(We highly recommend reading our guide to understanding our grading system if you haven't already)

First sniff (bottle): B-

First sniff (skin): B-

Worn scent: B-

Staying power: A

Scent as compared to note(s): B

Bottle: C

Overall: B-

In my opinion, Roxy is best suited for the younger, sportier female.  It is an appealing, non-offensive scent that is perfect for casual, summer wear.

R.I.P Estelle Getty

July 25th, 1923 - July 22nd, 2008

Coming in September 2008, Harajuku Lovers perfume by Gwen Stefani! Five scents will be released in this line, all available in two sizes (10 mL and 30 mL) and in solid perfume form (as a set of all five). Each fragrance is molded after Gwen's four real-life Harajuku girls (Love, [Lil'] Angel, Music, and Baby). The fifth scent shall represent their leader, "G."

The bottles are two-piece "dolls" that are molded according to their real life Harajuku counterpart, making displaying these on your vanity counter that much more fun.

Below is what you can expect out of each of these scents:

Love — a floral with notes of bergamot, pomelo (citrus, a little like grapefruit), peach, rose, jasmine, orchid and musk

Lil' Angel — a fruity floral with with notes of different berries (raspberry, cranberry, blackberry), pineapple, rose and amber

Music — a floral with notes of clementine, pear, jasmine, sweet pea, honeysuckle, vanilla and musk

Baby — a powder musk with freesia, bergamot, rose, jasmine, musk, heliotrope, vanilla and violet

G — a food lover’s fragrance with mandarin, coconut, apple, freesia and sandalwood

Continue reading for more specific details on what notes to expect!

• LOVE is a floral with top notes of sparkling bergamot, pink pomelo, peach and bamboo leaf mist; a heart of watery peony, living hydroponic lace rose, jasmine sambac, nectarine blossom, creamy paperwhites and Egyptian jasmine, and a drydown of petally ylang, creamy vanilla orchid, sensual musk and blond wood.
• LIL' ANGEL is a fruity floral with notes of raspberry, cranberry, blackberry and pineapple; a heart of pear blossom, candied violet and sugared rose, and a drydown of lollipop accord, hinoki wood and crystal amber.
• MUSIC has top notes of clementine and sparkling pear; a heart of jasmine sambac, sweet pea and honeysuckle, and a drydown of vanilla, skin musk and sleek woods.
• BABY has top notes of freesia, bergamot and white rose; a heart of orange flower, tiare flower and jasmine petals, and a drydown of white musk, soft woods, heliotrope, vanilla and violet.
• G has top notes of crisp mandarin, fresh coconut and apple skin; a heart of jasmine sambac, soft freesia and magnolia vapor, and a drydown of coconut cream, white sandalwood and cottonwoods.

Editor's note: While some have chosen to prematurely criticize these upcoming fragrances, I can't wait to sample each of them! Only a true perfume snob would pass judgment on a perfume [line] simply because of it's designer, what the bottle looks like, the name of the scent, etc. I give Gwen credit in keeping things fresh and fun - her fan base may have a large demographic but a good part of it consists of the younger audience.. to simply ignore that aspect of your market would be pretty imbecilic, wouldn't you say?

According to the Daily Mississippian Online the rivalry between Ole Miss and LSU has been dubbed the "Magnolia Bowl." Thanks to this I will no longer think of Magnolia has four hours of torturous cinema that starred Tom Cruise but instead I will think of four hours of LSU whipping the ass of Ole Miss.

This rivalry will have its own golden trophy in the shape of a magnolia, I'm sure that's a piece of hardware any team can be proud of.

Interim ASB President Elizabeth Yerger says:

"The trophy should be ready by the Nov. 22nd game between Ole Miss and LSU. We want to get t-shirts, stickers, cups and water bottles for the event. We hope we can get it officially down on paper very soon. The name has been chosen, but as of right now, it's not ratified. We had our first game with LSU in 1894. We as students have defined this rivalry and we think that we should honor it."

I'm sure everyone wants a t-shirt proudly showing their affections for magnolias and football, all rolled up in one.

Does President Yerger realize that Ole Miss has lost seven of the last eight games and about 60% of all games against LSU? Probably not.

Andrew Remson, director of athletics at LSU, said:

"The rivalry between LSU and Ole Miss has been going on for a very long time. Both universities look forward to it every year. I am a third generation student. It's a tradition for both schools. This trophy just gives us more of an opportunity to demonstrate our respective school spirits."

Just add this to an ever growing collection of trophy games that have been invented the past. Except most of those trophies are cool and not some golden flower.

The movie was Willy Wonka and the chocolate factory.

No words would ever be enough to describe how wondrous the effect of such magic happening before a seven-year old kid's eyes. My heart was so full, my mind racing with thoughts and possibilities. The experience changed me; it awakened something absolutely positive and inspiring, it opened my mind to a different world, so beautifully different to our small country town where amazing things happen, where the streets seem to have a life of its own, where men lived to find their dreams. That such a world existed, that such a world is achievable became the guiding light on which my life's path began to unravel.

At seven years old, i became a dreamer.

I became a dreamer and a movie addict.

Twenty one years later, that kid who lived in that small country town is still a movie addict. I am no longer just a dreamer though as i have learned throughout the years that dreams are merely the starting point of even greater things; now, i am actualizing those dreams and taking the right path.

Hopefully.

Because at 28, i still am weak. I falter a lot. And i still depend on movies to awaken something magical; i still watch a good movie to pump up my creative juice; i still go back to watching a movie everytime solitude beckons.

And this is where my list starts.

1. Schindler's List - I wasn't able to watch Schindler's List when it was first shown and won the awards it so richly deserved back in 1993. So when i got the chance to watch it the first time two years ago, i know that i will be swept away. And i was. The depth of the story and the value placed on life, on human life, is extraordinary. The movie is not about war or the Jews or the Nazis. It is about hope and about the triumph of the human spirit. Whoever saves one life, saves the whole world.

2. Malena - The first thing that drew me towards the movie was of course the beautiful Monica Belluci. Ms. Belluci is one of the greatest beauty i have ever seen on the screen (forgive me, i just have to say that). I could write a hundred poems just describing her beauty. So casting her to play that mysterious and seemingly perfect Malena Scordia who captivates every man who lay eyes upon her, young and old alike, was perfect. It is a movie about sensual awakenings, yes. But to me, Malena is more about the evolution of a young man's perception of the world; how he has come to realize that the world can be cruel and irrational and unjust and that one must do his best to be positively different, to start something that is good.

3. La Mala Educacion (Bad Education)- I have been a long-time fan of Pedro Almodovar's film making. His movies are dark, comedic, and yet deep, thought provoking, and moving. Such is La Mala Educacion where Gael Carcia Bernal plays the sensitive and sexy transvestite Zahara (his performance of Besame Mucho while in a very tight dress, full make-up and wig was amazingly believable). Almodovar dwells on what is cruel and unfortunate and builds on it a beautiful and moving drama about the inconsistencies and painful realities inside the Catholic Church; the movie is about how our childhood experiences greatly affect and define who we are in the future.

4. Cinema Paradiso - It was only recently that i get to watch this movie eventhough i have heard of it when it was released in the US. I have to say that this is one of the greatest films that i have watched in my 28 years of existence. The movie is all things at the same time. It makes you feel and think about so many things, essential things. The experience of watching it and dwelling in its story is magnificent. It is about life and how one must live it with an insatiable thirst for ones dream, for that one single, most powerful dream that commands who you are; it is about undying love and how it can consume you and define how you shall live your life.The movie reaches something deep and profound and lonely in ones heart.

5. Basic Instinct - The first sexually explicit film that i watched. I remember my mom getting so angry when she found out that i watched the film and gave my father the look when she found out that he allowed me to watch it. Sharon Stone was deliciously amazing as the she-devil cum writer/novelist in the movie. And the sex scenes are, well, simply put, stimulating (an understatement).

6. 300 - I think what made this movie beautiful was not exactly the theme about glory and honor and courage, which is kind of staple in this type of films, but the graphic quality of its colors and its tones.

7. Perfume: The Story of a Murderer - I was able to watch this film last year and i was enthralled. It is about one's quest for love and acceptance. The cinematography is captivating, you can almost smell the elements on the screen.

8. Shortbus - I am not sure if this is an American Indie film (because man, if it was mainstream, you'll screech on your seat while watching, whatever that means!) but when i got the chance to watch it, boy was i amazed. The movie may well be categorized as a sex flick, it may be said further that it is a gay film but it is more than that. One finds a little of one's self in every character of the movie, hetero or homo. The characters are so fully developed that all of them contributed to making the film so rich and meaningful. It shows the varied levels of relationships and how we are defined by the partners or lovers we choose. The movie is smart, funny, and endearing. Further, it shows sex as a symbol of freedom and ownership of ones self. You are so far behind you think you are first.

9. Gattaca - Gattaca is about the power of dreams and how far one can go by just following and pursuing it. It is about perseverance and the power of the human will to overcome even the most seemingly insurmountable limitations of one's self. Uma Thurman is a goddess. Etha Hawke is a god. I got the better end of the deal. I only lent you my body - you lent me your dream.

10. All about Eve - If there would be one reason, just one, to watch this movie, it would be because of Bette Davis. Miss Davis delivered a superb performance that is usual for an actress her caliber. Without her, the movie would have been dull and boring. Another wonderful element of the movie is the script; the script has wit scattered all over it. This is one of the classics one should never fail to watch. Fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy night!

11. The Piano - Holly Hunter deserved her Oscar for this movie. Jane Campion wonderfully crafted this film; if there would be a category for lyrical filmmaking, as to lyrical poetry, this movie would be in that category. The movie is haunting as if the melody of the piano possesses Holly Hunter everytime she plays it.

12. Legends of the Fall - An epic story about family, courage, honor, love, and integrity. Anthony Hopkins is amazing in this film. It was those who loved him the most that died young. He was a rock they broke themselves against however much he tried to protect them.

13. Moulin Rouge - Rockin songs, costumes design, and cinematography. Although i generally classify Moulin Rouge as a pop film, that is aimed to be mainly entertaining, it has a few gems up on its sleeve like the outstanding performances from Nicole Kidman and Ewan Macgregor. Mushy but surprisingly entertaining. The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.

14. Antonia's Line - This movie is about women; about their families; about their strength, their dreams and the challenges that they go through. It is about acceptance and about celebrating life. But moreso, i think the movie is about how women can be full and complete and self-actualized without men.

15. Volver- Penelope Cruz showed great depth in this movie. Volver is a dark, a bit comedic but dark. The movie is about going back, going back to one's family, to one's roots, to the past in order to resolve the future.

16. 12 Monkeys - What made an impact to me in this movie, was how the complicated plot and story line was flawlessly intertwined. I also remember how Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt gave such amazing performances in this futuristic sci-fi movie which i really have to watch again.

17. Notes On A Scandal - I consider Cate Blanchett and Judi Dench as two of the finest actresses of today and having them both in one film is a treat to watch. Both of them gave a superlative performance in the movie. A story about manipulation and the conscious errors/mistakes that we make by not pursuing/declaring the things that we love and we live for. It's a movie that tells us that no matter how good people can seemingly be, there is still a part of them that dwells in evil, even if its just a small part.

18. Monster's Ball - A moving and solid movie. A masterpiece simply because all is well crafted and perfectly thought-out. Although the movie may be prevalently about racism, what lies beneath is a touching story of renewal and love. of acceptance and forgiveness, and of hope.

19. To Die For - Well, i got interested to watch this because of the Oscar nominaton of Nicole Kidman. The story is about ambition and determination and how one can get so devious in attaining them.

20. Magnolia - One of the most bizarre and layered dramas i have ever watched. It is a movie about people looking for happiness and meaning. The irony and metaphor are scattered all over the movie. This is not a movie for those who loves simple plots as the film needs thinking and rethinking. The characters are so complex and yet fully developed. Philipp Seymour Hoffman showed brilliance preceding his Oscar win.

NOTES (as listed on perfumania.com): Mandarin, Bergamot, Cassis Berries, Lemongrass, Gardenia, Jasmine, Magnolia, Pomegranite Leaf, English Rose Petals, Wimbledon Grass, Cashmere Musk, White Amber Crystals, Vanilla.

I purchased a mini bottle of Maria Sharapova based on reviews I read, which namely claimed that it was a light, floral, sporty fragrance. I am ashamed to admit that I had no idea who Maria Sharapova was, aside from being an attractive blonde as displayed on the packing for her perfume, and that didn't much matter to me. The notes seemed non-offensive, if not a little mysterious (hello, wimbledon grass?), and, although I know not to judge a book by its cover, the bottle appear to house some light and feminine juice.

CLASSIFICATION: Feminine, floral

AGE GROUP: Perfect for anyone

SIMILAR SCENT(s): Reminds me of Estee Lauder Pleasures

FORM: Eau de Parfum

Apparently, Maria Sharapova is a famous tennis player, and that may be why so many people thought of this scent as sporty. I can only reason that they know that she is sporty, because I do not consider her perfume to be at all. Not that that is a problem. I'm not even quite sure I want to smell sports (sweat?) and flowers together, anyway.

Maria Sharapova is a nice, floral fragrance. It is a bit on the strong side, but not overwhelmingly so; a little does go a long way, however. Although pleasant, there is nothing that sets this fragrances apart from its competitors. I myself found it to smell a lot like I remember Estee Lauders Pleasures to smell.

I can't smell a specific note at all, which may be for the best (remember that wimbledon grass?) Rather, it reminds me of a bouquet of flowers. It is what I would call a romantic scent, and because of that, I would not wear this perfume on a casual outting; rather, I would recommend this perfume for someone looking to purchase a light floral for their dinner date. Kind of strange for a tennis star's signature fragrance? Perhaps.

On a positive note, this fragrance does not change much from initial spray, or even from what I smell directly from the bottle. What you see is what you get from Maria Sharapova.

(We highly recommend reading our guide to understanding our grading system if you haven't already)

First sniff (bottle): B-

First sniff (skin): B-

Worn scent: B-

Staying power: A

Scent as compared to note(s): B

Bottle: B

Overall: B-

Maria Sharapova is, again, pleasant and non-offensive, but not my usual style of perfume. Where I am not rushing to wash this scent off my skin, I am also not planning on buying this fragrance anytime soon, nor do I really ever have a reason to wear it, as I do classify it as more of a romantic/evening scent.

NOTES (as listed on sephora.com): iced accord, yuzu, pomegranate, peony, magnolia, lotus flower, acajou, vegetal amber, musk

I had heard of Versace Bright Crystal (and even had smelled it) before, but I must not have gotten a very good whiff, combined with that I didn't get to smell it on my own skin (a co-worker brought it in, but I was already wearing perfume; I only got to smell it on other girls), because it didn't leave a lasting impression. Upon receiving a sample of it a few days ago, I was eager to test it on myself. I was very pleasantly surprised!

CLASSIFICATION: feminine, clean, floral

AGE GROUP: college

SIMILAR SCENT(s): Vera Wang Flower Princess, Guess New

FORM: eau de toilette

When I had smelled Bright Crystal previously, I don't particularly remember being impressed, although, I did acknowledge that it was a "nice" smell. I never considered, after sniffing it from the bottle and on other girls a few months back, that I would ever be interested in purchasing it for myself. And, I was half right. While I'm most likely never (although - never say never) going to own this perfume, the only reason is because I have two already that smell almost identical to it.

To me, Bright Crystal smells almost identical to Guess New (which I love - check out my review here), with a pinch of Vera Wang Flower Princess (which, although I didn't immediately fall in love with, I enjoyed - check out my review here). This equals a very feminine, clean scent with a nice floral splash. I actually really do enjoy this fragrance, and, had I not ever smelled Guess New, I'd probably have fallen in love with Bright Crystal today. I still think quite highly of it, but it's like seeing this fantastic, dangerously death defying stunt being done by someone after you've already seen it done by someone else at least once a week for the last few months - it doesn't discount the stunt at all, and you give the second person credit, however, it's just not as impressive since you're already used to seeing it. The same would be true of Guess New had I smelled Bright Crystal first.

Don't get me wrong, I highly recommend Bright Crystal as an addition to your perfume collection if you enjoy a good girlie floral scent.. but it's not worth the money if you already have Guess New, and maybe not even worth it if you already have Vera Wang Flower Princess (since, although they may not smell all that similar when compared on their own, they are in the same category). OR - perhaps you've smelled those other two fragrances and thought they smelled hideous. If that's the case - no need to bother sampling this one! Because they're very similar.

Regarding the specific scent itself, I can't really say anything new since it reminds me so much of other fragrances that I have reviewed. The only upper hand that it has on Guess New is that it's a bit stronger overall (on the other hand, this could be a bad thing if you enjoy the level of fragrance per spray in Guess New), is a slight bit more mature, and, if your a floral fan, it has a bit of a floral aspect (or more of a, if you consider Guess New one), which is hence the "splash of Vera Wang Flower Princess."

I apologize for the redundancy of this review, but for me, this was a very redundant scent. I do really like Bright Crystal, though.

REPORT CARD

(We highly recommend reading our guide to understanding our grading system if you haven't already)

First sniff (bottle): A

First sniff (skin): A

Worn scent: A

Staying power: A

Scent as compared to note(s): A

Bottle: C (cute idea, but just looks silly to me for some reason)

Overall: A

Recommended to anyone seeking a feminine, clean, floral fragrance. Buyer beware if you already own (or do not like) Guess New and/or Vera Wang Flower Princess.

You look like... a perfect fit,
For a girl in need... of a tourniquette.
But can you save me?
Come on and save me...
If you could save me,
From the ranks of the freaks,
Who suspect they could never love anyone.

'Cause I can tell... you know what it's like.
A long farewell... of the hunger strike.
But can you save me?
Come on and save me...
If you could save me,
From the ranks of the freaks,
Who suspect they could never love anyone.

It struck me down, a gradient
Like Peter Pan, or Superman,
You have come... to save me.
Come on and save me...
If you could save me,
From the ranks of the freaks,
Who suspect they could never love anyone,
Except the freaks,
Who suspect they could never love anyone,
But the freaks,
Who suspect they could never love anyone.

Come on and save me...
Why don't you save me?
If you could save me,
From the ranks of the freaks,
Who suspect they could never love anyone,
Except the freaks,
Who suspect they could never love anyone,
Except the freaks,
Who could never love anyone.

NOTES (as listed on fragrancenet.com): tuberose, magnolia, sandalwood, vanilla infused musk, pear, and jasmine.

I was curious to smell Curious by Britney Spears again (excuse the terrible pun); I had sampled her debut perfume when it first came out, and ruled it out right away. However, I saw a roll-on scent stick when shopping for perfumes today that was ultra-cheap, and couldn't resist.

CLASSIFICATION: floral, feminine

AGE GROUP: perfect for anyone / mature

SIMILAR SCENT(s): n/a

FORM: Perfumed Shimmer Stick

Although not nearly as bad as I remember from a few years ago, Curious is definitely not my style. The scent is distinct and flowery, and quite feminine, yet the magnolia note makes the scent much more mature than something I would normally wear.

When first applied, Curious has a very fresh and appealing opening, yet it unfortunately fades rather quickly. I am sure that this probably has something to do with the form of fragrance I sampled (perfumed shimmer stick). Once the opening fades, the fragrance is all magnolia and whimsy. Not unpleasant, but just not something I prefer to wear on a daily basis. I cannot smell pear or "vanilla infused musk" in this perfume; had I been able to smell those two notes, I really think Curious would have been much more interesting.

(We highly recommend reading our guide to understanding our grading system if you haven't already)

First sniff (bottle): B

First sniff (skin): B

Worn scent: C

Staying power: B

Scent as compared to note(s): B

Bottle: N/A

Overall: C

I plan on keeping Curious around for a rainy day, but I don't plan on wearing it again anytime soon. I would, however, recommend it to anyone looking for a slightly more mature floral fragrance for those that do usually buy perfumes marketed for the 18-24 age bracket.

CLASSIFICATION: clean, slightly feminine

AGE GROUP: college, mature

SIMILAR SCENT(s): Ralph Lauren Blue

FORM: eau de parfum

I remember when this first came out. I wasn't sure what to expect, and while it's not one of my absolute favorite perfumes and in heavy rotation, I was pleasantly surprised. Judging from the name on it (Britney - personally, I love her), I figured it would be very pop, very young, very energetic, very flirty. I was wrong on all counts.

Britney's debut perfume is, surprisingly, a bit more grown-up than one would assume prior to smelling it. Is this a problem? Not at all. Just caught me a bit off guard, is all. While I don't have anything against Curious, and no real complaints, I also don't really have anything entirely wonderful to say about it. Don't get me wrong - I've worn it proudly, and it still adorns my vanity with some of my favorite perfumes, but it's definitely not one of my "big dogs" and it will probably never see a day in my heavy/regular rotation. Does that mean that it's a bad fragrance? No! Just that my cup of tea lies in fragrances that are a bit lighter, a bit fresher.

Upon reading Jackie's review, I was a bit surprised. To me, Curious smells like Ralph Lauren Blue (and please - compare this review to , you'll see that they are very, very similar), which to me it seemed Jackie was a bit more apt to defend. Perhaps to her nose, they smell nothing alike (she and I have a history of enjoying the same fragrances, but disagreeing on their specifics - i.e. what other perfumes they smell like, what classification they would be, etc), but, buyer beware! If you weren't all that impressed with, or currently already own Ralph Lauren Blue, it is my opinion that sampling or purchasing Britney Spears Curious would just be a waste of time. Had I realized how similar these scents were (to my nose), I would have never purchased the small bottle of Blue that I did, since I already owned Curious. Just a precautionary word to the wise.

The fragrant qualities of Curious are pretty simplistic (again, at least when being sniffed by my nose). Slightly feminine, slighty clean, slightly (to borrow the word from my Blue review) colorless. It's a good scent to wear around the house, doing errands, on a casual lunch with girlfriends... but if you're looking to make a lasting impression, skip Curious and go for something with a little more kick. This one is laid back and pretty much goes with the flow, taking a back seat and not really captivating the wearer or her "audience," so to speak. I've never once worn Curious and received a compliment or been asked what I was wearing; not that this is the deal maker or breaker when it comes to my perfumes, but what with my scent obsession and ever-revolving perfume choices, what I wear is often a topic of discussion when I'm amongst my female friends and co-workers. Never once did Curious demand attention from any of them.

Again, is this is a bad thing? No, not at all. In regards to what Curious actually SMELLS like, I really can't put my finger on it. Floral, I suppose, would be the best way to sum it up. Although I would agree that this is feminine, it's not as feminine as most fragrances that I classify as such. On me, the scent doesn't really change from first smell from the bottle to the smell on my skin after hours of wear. Major points for staying power, though - I can just sniff Curious from it's bottle (not even applying any to my skin), and smell it moments later when I'm nowhere near it anymore. At least for me, it's definitely a lingerer.

First sniff (bottle): B

First sniff (skin): B

Worn scent: C

Staying power: A++

Scent as compared to note(s): B

Bottle: A++ (although I didn't really discuss it in my review, this is one of my favorite perfume bottle designs ever)

Overall: C+

Not something I wear often, it's still a nice break from my normal scents. I would recommend this perfume for casual wear during any season (but for some reason I mostly associate it with Autumn).

This is a very quick post because I really should be in bed....we leave so early in the morning to travel to the airport.  Two  sweet summery cards...the first one Tilda with 'pink' lilacs and the second one is a cute bug butterfly from alota Rubber Stamps which has been cut out twice and layered to give dimension.  Lots of sparkly stardust on both of them!  Hope you have a great few weeks.......and if you're going on holiday too, have a fabulous time!!!  See you soon................ 

The weather is a determining factor in tree flowering; some trees require chilling, yet other flowering trees require hot, humid temperatures. The flowering dogwood tree, Cornus florida, blooms in Florida in March, but it can flower in Tennessee in April, largely because of the temperature differences. A flowering apricot tree, Prunus mume, can bloom in Georgia in January, but in Illinois, the flowering is delayed until April or May, depending on the large temperature difference. Flowering cherry trees bloom in red, pink, and white colors, and some varieties bloom over a period of one to two months.

Flowering magnolia trees of the Japanese cultivar, Magnolia stellata, and Magnolia x soulangiana can bloom in winter, with colors of red, white, pink, and purple, yet the Southern flowering magnolia tree, Magnolia grandiflora, blooms during the summer with large, white, fragrant flowers. The Sweetbay flowering magnolia, Magnolia virginiana, blooms in summer and fall. Magnolia flowering trees can bloom any month of the year, some evergreen, some deciduous.

Flowering crape myrtle (crepe myrtle) trees have been hybridized to flower in spectacular colors of red, pink, white, lavender, and purple during the summer and fall. Some crape myrtle flowering trees will rebloom and others flower over a period of 90 days.

Flowering crabapple trees bloom mainly in the spring in flower colors of white, red, peach, plum, and apricot. Not only are the large blooms fragrant on the flowering crabapple tree, but plum red fruit grows for wildlife during the fall. The fruit of the flowering crabapple tree can be made into crabapple jam or crabapple jelly.

Flowering cherry trees are native (Prunus caroliniana) to the U.S., and the beautiful Japanese Kwanzan and Yoshino, flowering cherry, hybrid trees blossom in Washington, D.C. During the Spring as an exciting American National Treasure. Civic pageants are held to celebrate Spring festivals at the Nation's Capitol, Washington, D.C. at Macon, Ga., and other cities and are scheduled to begin with the blossoming of the Japanese, flowering cherry tree. Grafted flowering, crabapple trees bloom with fully red, white or pink flowers very early in the Spring. Flowering dogwood trees bloom to announce the arrival of spring in colors of red, white or pink. Flowering plum trees are fragrant and white in native or grafted forms, developed as Japanese hybrid cultivars.

Flowering pear trees are fully covered with white, one-inch flowers as grafted hybrids developed by scientists to grow in Northern and Southern gardens. Fall and Winter flowering trees, such as camellia, cassia and apricot, bloom in seasons where color and fragrance are rare. Flowering peach trees are available to buy in colors of red, white, pink and peppermint.

Queen Anne and Magnolia residents just received a flyer from Seattle City Light saying they want us to partner with them to help our neighborhoods conserve energy by passing out light bulbs. Neighborhood Power Project (NPP) It sounds like a good idea.

Maybe SCL should also consider partnering with developers and realtors to design and sell smaller, more efficient single family homes. A couple of light bulbs isn't going to do much for my new McMansion neighbor with four bathrooms, three gas fireplaces, and a hot tub. We could all benefit by practicing a little voluntary simplicity.

I really like this  card...it's not often I say that about my cards!  I had some time last night to play and came up with this.  I love the alota background image (Item description -  Country M-036)...I've had it for a while and bought it after seeing a card made by Claudia with it.  It was a stunning card, as Claudia's always are, and I really wanted to try to come up with something different......sometimes it's really hard to get an image out of your head!  Anyway, I coloured both the alota background and Tilda, after cutting her out, with copics and added stardust glitter.  Sentiment is from hero arts.  Thanks for looking and have a great day.  I'm off to do some serious packing now!

Well, it's been a lovely sunny day here today...great weather for a change!  Unfortunately for me, I had lots of indoor jobs that needed doing and  didn't get to see much of the sun ;-(   I did find time to have a play in my craft room though and this is what I came up with.  I had no idea what I was going to make until I sat down and looked at my Magnolia stamps..........it all came together in the end and I think Tilda and Edwin look quite cute together.

Magnolia stamps - Tilda and Edwin.  alota Rubber Stamps - Sofa.  Paper - BG.  Cuttlebug corners. Brads from stash. Coloured with copics and highlighted with stardust.  TFL

I've decided to start writing about my journey getting my next feature film, CLEAN, made. I will try to add to this story as new events unfold. It may be a bit slow at first, but hopefully as things begin to come together, I'll have more to share. 

The story so far...

My production company, Off Leash Films, has teamed with British Production Company, Lock & Loru Productions, headed by producer Amyra Bunyard. At the moment, we are sending the script out to talent and raising finances at the same time. We plan to shoot in England with a largely British cast. We are also looking into other various locations that offer tax incentives, etc. 

I am both the writer and director on the film and the script is loosely based on a story idea by myself and Teal Minton. CLEAN will be produced independently and I will be maintaining full creative control throughout to ensure the film we make is the one released. Those familiar with my first feature, THE PLAGUE, will understand.

CLEAN is a psychological thriller dealing with personal, cultural and social identity. It is a series of complex, interconnected stories that move back and forth in time while building steadily toward its climax. I have been told that it's MEMENTO meets MAGNOLIA (for those in need of a more commercial description). And though I call CLEAN a psychological thriller, I believe that it encompasses many genres and cannot be easily categorized (much like the Writers & Director's Cut of THE PLAGUE is not really a horror film as most people think of horror today, yet it's the closest genre description one can apply). 

As our filmmaking journey continues, so will these posts. Please stop by and see how we're doing. I intend to speak openly and honestly as to the events that unfold so that both fans and other filmmakers will have a good idea of what it takes to get a film made and what can happen along the way. 

Glad to have you with us!

Hal Masonberg

My friend Heidi from Norway (Heidi's Papier Verden) has a fantastic sketch for you to try this week over at Friday Sketchers.......and also has a very generous sponsor who has provided a fabulous prize.......check out Friday Sketchers for more details. 

Loved this sketch Heidi, so easy to use...thanks very much!  I used Tilda and cocktail stamp from the new summer kit along with an Alota background stamp.  My copics had another outing.......I'm so liking these now.......Tilda's dress does match the papers more IRL, for some reason the light has made it change colour!  Glossy accents added to cocktail glass, sentiment from Hero Arts and paper is Euphoria by Basic Grey.....fabuolous papers!  Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to pop over to FS to see some amazing cards from the Sassy Sketchers!  Have a great weekend!

Magnolia High School's percussion arrangement of "Ma Meeshka Mow Skwoz" from Mr. Bungle's Disco Volante:

(c. 1995, written by Trey Spruance)

~Dan - np: Mr. Bungle - Disco Volante