On February 21, King Harald of Norway celebrated his 70th birthday, kicking off a weekend of festivities during which a host of royals turned out for, including members of the Swedish, Danish, Dutch, Belgian and Luxembourg royal families.
February 21
The King's actual birthday was celebrated with a service at Oslo's Trinity Church, attended by members of his family. He then unveiled a statue of his mother, Crown Princess Märtha, a gift from the Norwegian national assembly, the Stortinget. The evening was capped off with a dinner at historic Akershus Fortress.
Crown Princess Mette-Marit looked just great the statue unveiling. The little beret and and the wavy hair was a very soft and feminine look. A big contrast to the hideous hairband she wore to the church reception.
Her sister-in-law, Princess Märtha Louise's fashion sense was the flip for me: At the church service she looked lovely in her bias-styled hat and beige floral jacket. At the statue unveiling she looked like a mismatch with her plain wool hat and the long black coat with the blue fun fur trim on the cuffs and on the hem of the coat.
Queen Sonja looked like a bear swallowed her whole at the statue unveiling, attired head to toe in fur. I know it's cold in Norway, but was that much fur really necessary? Hasn't she heard of moderation? Like wearing the fur coat without the fur hat, too?
At Akershus, Mette-Marit was the picture of grace and elegance with her curly hair pinned back loosely. Her new gown was a soft and billowy beige-coloured gown. She also wore a short, beige fur jacket at her arrival.
Princess Märtha Louise donned a gown she wore ten years ago -- to her father's 60th birthday reception! The floral pattern makes me think more of spring than late February, but the colour is nice and vibrant and it looks good on her. Although I didn't care for the rat-tail like hair thing she had going on.
Her husband, Ari Behn, fared even worst in the hair department, neither having shaved nor trimmed his long hair for his father-in-law's birthday.
Queen Sonja and one of the King's sister, Princess Astrid, donned evening gowns they wore the previous week (or two weeks) for Princess Astrid's 75th birthday celebrations. Bah humbug! I know the royals need to recycle gowns, but could they not have recycled a gown that wasn't worn so recently?
February 23
The royal contingents from the rest of Europe arrived in Norway -- and they brought their furs with them! Princess Märtha Louise emceed a concert at Rådhuset for her father, which was attended by the various royal guests. Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit then hosted a private dinner for the royal guests at their residence, Skaugum.
The Norwegian royal ladies all donned new gowns.
Queen Sonja was decked out in a minimalist white gown with a belt cinched at the waist, accented with a white fur stole when she arrived.
Crown Princess Mette-Marit looked lovely once again in a one-shouldered grey number and black chandelier earrings. Her hair could've used some work as it seems it was curled but not much else was done to it to give the curls shape.
Princess Märtha Louise chose a purple gown accented with a floral print and black lace.
Queen Silvia of Sweden recycled a red lace gown that she has worn in recent months, but it is a nice dress on her.
Speaking of recycling, Princess Anne of Great Britain recycled (what a surprise) a sky blue gown. Not one of her best gowns but not one of her worst either. But the real fashion faux-pas of Anne's look on this evening was the horse blanket she apparently borrowed from the horse stable. What was with the red and navy plaid cape Anne wore on the red carpet? Nobody is saying she needs to wear fur capes, stoles or jackets as the other royal ladies did, but a horse blanket? I know that you like horses Anne, but this is a bit extra.
Princess Alexandra Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg arrived on the arm of her cousin, Danish Prince Joachim, looking every so classy in a black satin fitted jacket and embroidered skirt.
Their cousin, Princess Alexia of Greece looked beautiful, too, in a black satin skirt with a black and white floral and leaf print jacket with a big black flower in the middle.
Crown Princess Maxima of the Netherlands looked quite good in velvet -- surprisingly since velvet isn't a very flattering fabric for curvaceous women, even one who is aglow from a seventh-month pregnancy. My only complaint: Her one-sided hair style was a bit girlish for my taste.
Too bad that the hair of her sisters-in-law was not my only complaint. Their hair styles were actually good, it was their outfits that made me cry. Well, not so much Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands's outfit. It was very ethnic-inspired (as in Russian or Moroccan) with its red beading and accented gold trim, and quite lovely, just not my taste.
Now, Princess Mabel of Orange-Nassau on the other hand, really made me cry. Her lacy gown with the see-through bra was just an attrocious sight. And certainly not fitting for a royal event. I guess Mabel likes to shock others with her appearances. Well, it worked.
Another shocker of the evening: Princess Madeleine of Sweden's short, nightie-like pink gown. Unlike Mabel where her bra beneath her dress caught your eye, it was Madeleine's bountiful cleavage that caught your eye here. It was a nice dress on the whole, and certainly Madeline probably would've been complimented for it had she worn this dress to a private party for one of her friends who are her age, but for the 70th birthday of the King of Norway, it was rather revealing and inappropriate even.
February 24
The King and his family and their royal guests spent the morning at the Norwegian Museum for Cultural History. Bundled up in their winter hats and scarves, the royals enjoyed some traditional Norwegian songs and dancing, and of course, the snowy scenery. Princess Märtha Louise's two daughters, Maud Angelica and Leah Isadora, partook in some of the activities like collecting firewood and being pulled in sleds. The day was capped off with a gala dinner and ball, where the royals dug into the royal vaults for their spectacular tiaras and jewels. A fireworks display was watched from the balcony of the royal palace.
Fun in the snow! Prince Joachim was the most dapper gent in his cap and red scarf. And Princess Märtha Louise's daughters were ever so cute in their little backpacks, which were nearly as big as them!
For the gala dinner, nearly all the royal ladies arrived in new dresses. (The exceptions being Queen Silvia and Princess Madeline of Sweden -- who arrived in her navy Nobel gown, which is quite nice, actually, -- Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, Princess Anne (what a surprise, again!) and the Duchess of Gloucester.)
Crown Princess Mathilde of Belgium stole the fashion runway with her cream-coloured beaded dress with the fun hem and elegant elbow-length gloves.
Princess Märtha Louise's strapless floral gown was also very lovely.
Infanta Cristina of Spain, who traded down when she was escorted by a disheveled looking Ari Behn rather than her dashing husband Inaki, looked elegant in a navy satin gown.
Crown Princess Mary also recycled a gown from the New Year's receptions in Denmark this year, but this gown is quite nice. A deep burgundy velvet gown that accents her pregnancy figure quite nicely and is a nice contrast with her pale, porcelain skin and her dark hair.
The outfit Crown Princess Mette-Marit wore on this occasion was more matronly than any of the previous gowns she wore, but it was still nice. A cream coloured top with a pink skirt.
In her first tiara event, Princess Mabel was very disappointing. She chose a flapper-like gown by her favourite Dutch designers Viktor & Rolf that made it seem as if she had gone bra-less.
The arrivals seemed to be a bit random however, but a nice mix of the royals: Crown Prince Phillippe of Belgium with Princess Madeline of Sweden, Prince Edward of Great Britain with Crown Princess Mary, Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden with the Duchess of Gloucester, Infanta Cristina of Spain with Ari Behn, King Constantine of Greece with Princess Astrid of Belgium and Prince Friso of the Netherlands with Prince Lorenz, Archduke of Austria.
My favourite part of the evening: When the royals hit the dance floor. Queen Sonja looked like she couldn't get out there fast enough while her dance partner, her husband and the birthday boy, seemed a bit resistant. Prince Henrik of Denmark (without his wife Queen Margrethe II, who was at home recovering from knee surgery) and Crown Princess Maxima shared a dance and apparently a mini contest to see whose belly was bigger! Crown Princess Mette-Marit shared a dance with King Carl Gustav of Sweden, though they seemed more interested in talking than dancing judging by their initial animated gestures.
Formal portraits were also taken of the heads of state and crown princes and crown princesses in attendance.
Closeups of the royal ladies' gowns:
February 25
Before the royal guests returned home, they were treated to a ride in horse-drawn carriages.
Finally, we get to see Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus! I don't know why they didn't part in the event at the museum since their cousins did.
I have also a new royal crush: Prince Lorenz, Archduke of Austria, who looks so handsome in his fedora. There is something very dapper about him!
In his speech at Akershus Fortress, the King said: "It is fun to be alive, at least most of the time. For my own part, I think it's a privilege and a treasure to be king in Norway, and I'm glad I get to perform a lifelong service for the Norwegian people."
February 21
The King's actual birthday was celebrated with a service at Oslo's Trinity Church, attended by members of his family. He then unveiled a statue of his mother, Crown Princess Märtha, a gift from the Norwegian national assembly, the Stortinget. The evening was capped off with a dinner at historic Akershus Fortress.
Crown Princess Mette-Marit looked just great the statue unveiling. The little beret and and the wavy hair was a very soft and feminine look. A big contrast to the hideous hairband she wore to the church reception.
Her sister-in-law, Princess Märtha Louise's fashion sense was the flip for me: At the church service she looked lovely in her bias-styled hat and beige floral jacket. At the statue unveiling she looked like a mismatch with her plain wool hat and the long black coat with the blue fun fur trim on the cuffs and on the hem of the coat.
Queen Sonja looked like a bear swallowed her whole at the statue unveiling, attired head to toe in fur. I know it's cold in Norway, but was that much fur really necessary? Hasn't she heard of moderation? Like wearing the fur coat without the fur hat, too?
At Akershus, Mette-Marit was the picture of grace and elegance with her curly hair pinned back loosely. Her new gown was a soft and billowy beige-coloured gown. She also wore a short, beige fur jacket at her arrival.
Princess Märtha Louise donned a gown she wore ten years ago -- to her father's 60th birthday reception! The floral pattern makes me think more of spring than late February, but the colour is nice and vibrant and it looks good on her. Although I didn't care for the rat-tail like hair thing she had going on.
Her husband, Ari Behn, fared even worst in the hair department, neither having shaved nor trimmed his long hair for his father-in-law's birthday.
Queen Sonja and one of the King's sister, Princess Astrid, donned evening gowns they wore the previous week (or two weeks) for Princess Astrid's 75th birthday celebrations. Bah humbug! I know the royals need to recycle gowns, but could they not have recycled a gown that wasn't worn so recently?
February 23
The royal contingents from the rest of Europe arrived in Norway -- and they brought their furs with them! Princess Märtha Louise emceed a concert at Rådhuset for her father, which was attended by the various royal guests. Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit then hosted a private dinner for the royal guests at their residence, Skaugum.
The Norwegian royal ladies all donned new gowns.
Queen Sonja was decked out in a minimalist white gown with a belt cinched at the waist, accented with a white fur stole when she arrived.
Crown Princess Mette-Marit looked lovely once again in a one-shouldered grey number and black chandelier earrings. Her hair could've used some work as it seems it was curled but not much else was done to it to give the curls shape.
Princess Märtha Louise chose a purple gown accented with a floral print and black lace.
Queen Silvia of Sweden recycled a red lace gown that she has worn in recent months, but it is a nice dress on her.
Speaking of recycling, Princess Anne of Great Britain recycled (what a surprise) a sky blue gown. Not one of her best gowns but not one of her worst either. But the real fashion faux-pas of Anne's look on this evening was the horse blanket she apparently borrowed from the horse stable. What was with the red and navy plaid cape Anne wore on the red carpet? Nobody is saying she needs to wear fur capes, stoles or jackets as the other royal ladies did, but a horse blanket? I know that you like horses Anne, but this is a bit extra.
Princess Alexandra Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg arrived on the arm of her cousin, Danish Prince Joachim, looking every so classy in a black satin fitted jacket and embroidered skirt.
Their cousin, Princess Alexia of Greece looked beautiful, too, in a black satin skirt with a black and white floral and leaf print jacket with a big black flower in the middle.
Crown Princess Maxima of the Netherlands looked quite good in velvet -- surprisingly since velvet isn't a very flattering fabric for curvaceous women, even one who is aglow from a seventh-month pregnancy. My only complaint: Her one-sided hair style was a bit girlish for my taste.
Too bad that the hair of her sisters-in-law was not my only complaint. Their hair styles were actually good, it was their outfits that made me cry. Well, not so much Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands's outfit. It was very ethnic-inspired (as in Russian or Moroccan) with its red beading and accented gold trim, and quite lovely, just not my taste.
Now, Princess Mabel of Orange-Nassau on the other hand, really made me cry. Her lacy gown with the see-through bra was just an attrocious sight. And certainly not fitting for a royal event. I guess Mabel likes to shock others with her appearances. Well, it worked.
Another shocker of the evening: Princess Madeleine of Sweden's short, nightie-like pink gown. Unlike Mabel where her bra beneath her dress caught your eye, it was Madeleine's bountiful cleavage that caught your eye here. It was a nice dress on the whole, and certainly Madeline probably would've been complimented for it had she worn this dress to a private party for one of her friends who are her age, but for the 70th birthday of the King of Norway, it was rather revealing and inappropriate even.
February 24
The King and his family and their royal guests spent the morning at the Norwegian Museum for Cultural History. Bundled up in their winter hats and scarves, the royals enjoyed some traditional Norwegian songs and dancing, and of course, the snowy scenery. Princess Märtha Louise's two daughters, Maud Angelica and Leah Isadora, partook in some of the activities like collecting firewood and being pulled in sleds. The day was capped off with a gala dinner and ball, where the royals dug into the royal vaults for their spectacular tiaras and jewels. A fireworks display was watched from the balcony of the royal palace.
Fun in the snow! Prince Joachim was the most dapper gent in his cap and red scarf. And Princess Märtha Louise's daughters were ever so cute in their little backpacks, which were nearly as big as them!
For the gala dinner, nearly all the royal ladies arrived in new dresses. (The exceptions being Queen Silvia and Princess Madeline of Sweden -- who arrived in her navy Nobel gown, which is quite nice, actually, -- Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, Princess Anne (what a surprise, again!) and the Duchess of Gloucester.)
Crown Princess Mathilde of Belgium stole the fashion runway with her cream-coloured beaded dress with the fun hem and elegant elbow-length gloves.
Princess Märtha Louise's strapless floral gown was also very lovely.
Infanta Cristina of Spain, who traded down when she was escorted by a disheveled looking Ari Behn rather than her dashing husband Inaki, looked elegant in a navy satin gown.
Crown Princess Mary also recycled a gown from the New Year's receptions in Denmark this year, but this gown is quite nice. A deep burgundy velvet gown that accents her pregnancy figure quite nicely and is a nice contrast with her pale, porcelain skin and her dark hair.
The outfit Crown Princess Mette-Marit wore on this occasion was more matronly than any of the previous gowns she wore, but it was still nice. A cream coloured top with a pink skirt.
In her first tiara event, Princess Mabel was very disappointing. She chose a flapper-like gown by her favourite Dutch designers Viktor & Rolf that made it seem as if she had gone bra-less.
The arrivals seemed to be a bit random however, but a nice mix of the royals: Crown Prince Phillippe of Belgium with Princess Madeline of Sweden, Prince Edward of Great Britain with Crown Princess Mary, Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden with the Duchess of Gloucester, Infanta Cristina of Spain with Ari Behn, King Constantine of Greece with Princess Astrid of Belgium and Prince Friso of the Netherlands with Prince Lorenz, Archduke of Austria.
My favourite part of the evening: When the royals hit the dance floor. Queen Sonja looked like she couldn't get out there fast enough while her dance partner, her husband and the birthday boy, seemed a bit resistant. Prince Henrik of Denmark (without his wife Queen Margrethe II, who was at home recovering from knee surgery) and Crown Princess Maxima shared a dance and apparently a mini contest to see whose belly was bigger! Crown Princess Mette-Marit shared a dance with King Carl Gustav of Sweden, though they seemed more interested in talking than dancing judging by their initial animated gestures.
Formal portraits were also taken of the heads of state and crown princes and crown princesses in attendance.
Closeups of the royal ladies' gowns:
February 25
Before the royal guests returned home, they were treated to a ride in horse-drawn carriages.
Finally, we get to see Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus! I don't know why they didn't part in the event at the museum since their cousins did.
I have also a new royal crush: Prince Lorenz, Archduke of Austria, who looks so handsome in his fedora. There is something very dapper about him!
In his speech at Akershus Fortress, the King said: "It is fun to be alive, at least most of the time. For my own part, I think it's a privilege and a treasure to be king in Norway, and I'm glad I get to perform a lifelong service for the Norwegian people."
The 79th Annual Academy Awards
0 Comments Published by Alexandria on Monday, February 26, 2007 at 8:25 p.m..
Last night was the Oscars. And the winners were:
Best Picture - The Departed
Best Actress - Helen Mirren, The Queen
Best Actor - Forest Whitaker, The Last King of Scotland
Best Supporting Actress - Jennifer Hudson, Dreamgirls
Best Supporting Actor - Alan Arkin, Little Miss Sunshine
Best Directing - Martin Scorsese, The Departed
Best Adapted Screenplay - The Departed
Best Original Screenplay - Little Miss Sunshine
Best Documentary Feature - An Inconvenient Truth
And my verdict on the show: Boooooooooooring with a capital ZZZZZZZZZZ.
Ellen was a safe choice as a host, but not particularly entertaining. She made cheesy jokes and the staged skits (eg. giving Martin Scorsese a script or having Steven Speilberg take her picture with Clint Eastwood) were even worst. The show was boring and bland. There wasn't a single moment of spontaneity during the scripted parts.
And the speeches were for the most part, uninspired.
So to get to the really fun part: the fashion.
The Good
Jennifer Lopez was a surprisingly well dressed. Anyone who knows me would never mistake me for a J-Lo fan, but last night she was glammed up to the nines and rather than her barely there attire or her overdone style, last night she was just right. She was part Grecian goddess and part thirties-glam. A good mix on her.
>
New mama Maggie Gyllenhaal was just the picture of grace in her one-shouldered navy and black gown. She looked so serene and poised that I could even look the thick band of black beads or ruffles at the hem of her dress, which she could've done without.
>
Last year's Best Support Actress winner Rachel Weisz (The Constant Gardener) was a sight in silver. The strapless silver number trimmed with a thin band of diamonds was just beautiful and made her porcelain skin seem even more porcelain.
Bow to the Queen! Helen Mirren was a winner in more ways than one last night. Firstly, she gets top marks in my books for someone who knows how to dress her age. In Hollywood that is apparently not quite common sense. She didn't dress in a matronly manner nor did she let it all hang out, saggy boobs and all. She dressed with class and style, in a gown that complimented her body and didn't expose too much of herself. And at the end of the night, she had a little golden guy to go along with her golden gown.
While I am not usually fond of beige or nude as a colour choice for evening gowns as it washes most people out, Emmy Rossum's one shouldered beige number had just enough of a hint of pink to not wash her delicate complexion out. And the silver band right below her chest was a nice accent to break up the outfit.
At the after-parties, Diane Kruger partied in a purple tiered purple number that wouldn't necessarily work on other women, but on her, it worked nicely.
And supermodel Tyra Banks is a stand out in this red satin number. You'd think it was a slam dunk to look good when you're a supermodel, but you'd be wrong, as evident by her colleague Linda Evangelista (see below). Perhaps the way the top half of this dress is cut there were some chances for a "wardrobe malfunction," but after many years on the runway, I'm sure that Tyra was a pro and properly taped her dress in the right places.
Normally I am not a fan of Diane Keaton's manly style of dressing. But this time around she looks darn good in her black dress, enough that I'll even let the tinted glasses go. I'm just happy that she's not in a suit or her trademark gloves.
The Almost Good
The usual fashion starlet Cate Blanchett was an almost perfect 10 in her beaded silver number with the decorative brooch-like decoration on her shoulder. If only something had been done with those curly wisps at the front of her head. It looks like a cowlick that couldn't be sorted out.
Last year's Lead Actress winner Reese Witherspoon (Walk the Line) had the opposite problem of Cate: Pefect, straight long blond locks but a rather uninspired, boring dress. And no jewellery made the whole look even more plain.
The Bad
Nicole Kidman looks like a copy of Charlize Theron at last year's Oscars:
The red bow is practically bigger than Nicole's teeny tiny head. This picture makes Nicole's head look even tinier.
Supermodel Linda Evangelisa is a walking of example of when bad dresses happen to supermodels. Come on Linda, you're a supermodel. You have a better body than half of the population yet you choose to wear this moo-moo?! It does nothing for your figure. I could wear that dress on one of my fat days and still look good!
Meryl Streep, you really should have borrowed something from the wardrobe department of The Devil Wears Prada. It would've been a marked improvement to this number you apparently pulled blindly out of your closet. I know that you like the Bohemia look, but can you do that on your own time not at the Oscars? Did you make any effort?
This year's Best Support Actress Jennifer Hudson (Dream Girls) was no dream in this brown and silver creation. It is clear that you are well endowed, but this dress feels like it's two sizes too small for those assets. And what's with the silver bolero jacket? The collar is so big and ruffly it looks like you parachuted onto the red carpet with it. And please, don't pull a Meryl Streeep and stick your hands in your pockets.
I don't know what to make of Kirsten Dunst's outfit. From the waist up she looks like a prep school student with her bangs and her collared dress. From the waist down it looks like tumbleweeds are gathering at her feet.
And the men of the Oscars ...
My first love, George Clooney, who looked like a classic Hollywood gentleman. (swoon, swoon)
And my runner up, Leonardo DiCaprio, whom I've never given a second look to before seeing The Departed, but I was missing out all these years!
Best Picture - The Departed
Best Actress - Helen Mirren, The Queen
Best Actor - Forest Whitaker, The Last King of Scotland
Best Supporting Actress - Jennifer Hudson, Dreamgirls
Best Supporting Actor - Alan Arkin, Little Miss Sunshine
Best Directing - Martin Scorsese, The Departed
Best Adapted Screenplay - The Departed
Best Original Screenplay - Little Miss Sunshine
Best Documentary Feature - An Inconvenient Truth
And my verdict on the show: Boooooooooooring with a capital ZZZZZZZZZZ.
Ellen was a safe choice as a host, but not particularly entertaining. She made cheesy jokes and the staged skits (eg. giving Martin Scorsese a script or having Steven Speilberg take her picture with Clint Eastwood) were even worst. The show was boring and bland. There wasn't a single moment of spontaneity during the scripted parts.
And the speeches were for the most part, uninspired.
So to get to the really fun part: the fashion.
The Good
Jennifer Lopez was a surprisingly well dressed. Anyone who knows me would never mistake me for a J-Lo fan, but last night she was glammed up to the nines and rather than her barely there attire or her overdone style, last night she was just right. She was part Grecian goddess and part thirties-glam. A good mix on her.
>New mama Maggie Gyllenhaal was just the picture of grace in her one-shouldered navy and black gown. She looked so serene and poised that I could even look the thick band of black beads or ruffles at the hem of her dress, which she could've done without.
>Last year's Best Support Actress winner Rachel Weisz (The Constant Gardener) was a sight in silver. The strapless silver number trimmed with a thin band of diamonds was just beautiful and made her porcelain skin seem even more porcelain.
Bow to the Queen! Helen Mirren was a winner in more ways than one last night. Firstly, she gets top marks in my books for someone who knows how to dress her age. In Hollywood that is apparently not quite common sense. She didn't dress in a matronly manner nor did she let it all hang out, saggy boobs and all. She dressed with class and style, in a gown that complimented her body and didn't expose too much of herself. And at the end of the night, she had a little golden guy to go along with her golden gown.
While I am not usually fond of beige or nude as a colour choice for evening gowns as it washes most people out, Emmy Rossum's one shouldered beige number had just enough of a hint of pink to not wash her delicate complexion out. And the silver band right below her chest was a nice accent to break up the outfit.
At the after-parties, Diane Kruger partied in a purple tiered purple number that wouldn't necessarily work on other women, but on her, it worked nicely.
And supermodel Tyra Banks is a stand out in this red satin number. You'd think it was a slam dunk to look good when you're a supermodel, but you'd be wrong, as evident by her colleague Linda Evangelista (see below). Perhaps the way the top half of this dress is cut there were some chances for a "wardrobe malfunction," but after many years on the runway, I'm sure that Tyra was a pro and properly taped her dress in the right places.
Normally I am not a fan of Diane Keaton's manly style of dressing. But this time around she looks darn good in her black dress, enough that I'll even let the tinted glasses go. I'm just happy that she's not in a suit or her trademark gloves.
The Almost Good
The usual fashion starlet Cate Blanchett was an almost perfect 10 in her beaded silver number with the decorative brooch-like decoration on her shoulder. If only something had been done with those curly wisps at the front of her head. It looks like a cowlick that couldn't be sorted out.
Last year's Lead Actress winner Reese Witherspoon (Walk the Line) had the opposite problem of Cate: Pefect, straight long blond locks but a rather uninspired, boring dress. And no jewellery made the whole look even more plain.
The Bad
Nicole Kidman looks like a copy of Charlize Theron at last year's Oscars:
The red bow is practically bigger than Nicole's teeny tiny head. This picture makes Nicole's head look even tinier.
Supermodel Linda Evangelisa is a walking of example of when bad dresses happen to supermodels. Come on Linda, you're a supermodel. You have a better body than half of the population yet you choose to wear this moo-moo?! It does nothing for your figure. I could wear that dress on one of my fat days and still look good!
Meryl Streep, you really should have borrowed something from the wardrobe department of The Devil Wears Prada. It would've been a marked improvement to this number you apparently pulled blindly out of your closet. I know that you like the Bohemia look, but can you do that on your own time not at the Oscars? Did you make any effort?
This year's Best Support Actress Jennifer Hudson (Dream Girls) was no dream in this brown and silver creation. It is clear that you are well endowed, but this dress feels like it's two sizes too small for those assets. And what's with the silver bolero jacket? The collar is so big and ruffly it looks like you parachuted onto the red carpet with it. And please, don't pull a Meryl Streeep and stick your hands in your pockets.
I don't know what to make of Kirsten Dunst's outfit. From the waist up she looks like a prep school student with her bangs and her collared dress. From the waist down it looks like tumbleweeds are gathering at her feet.
And the men of the Oscars ...
My first love, George Clooney, who looked like a classic Hollywood gentleman. (swoon, swoon)
And my runner up, Leonardo DiCaprio, whom I've never given a second look to before seeing The Departed, but I was missing out all these years!
Labels: Hollywood
This is what my fortune cookie from my dinner said tonight: Your graceful qualities make difficult things seem easy.
Labels: Quotes
7:15 - I'm a Kayak, Hear Me Roar
0 Comments Published by Alexandria on Saturday, February 24, 2007 at 10:23 p.m..
This week's episode was called "I'm a Kayak, Hear Me Roar," based on an analogy Emily makes.
Show summary: Lorelai drives to Yale to tell Rory that she and Christopher have broken up. There, she runs into Paris and Doyle doing yoga -- the only humerous part of the opening sequence.
So Lorelai and Rory go for a drive during which Lorelai tells Rory that her marriage to Rory's father has ended after only a few short months. Rory's reaction? Not only is she not surprised, she apparently "knew" that her parents weren't right for each other. The car runs out of gas and Lorelai and Rory have to walk to the gas station.
At Friday night dinner, Lorelai is supposed to tell her parents that she and Christopher have split up but when she and Rory arrive at the Gilmore house, there is already tension because Richard doesn't want to come down for dinner as he's watching an important golf game. The house is now also dry because Richard can't drink alcohol so Emily has removed all the alcohol from the home and is serving mocktails, which only frustrates Lorelai. During dinner, Lorelai fails to find the right time to tell her parents of her marital breakup. Rory encourages her mom to tell Emily and Richard before Emily proceeds further with the wedding celebrations, telling her mom "Save the cornish game hens" (the 400 or so birds that were apparently to be served at the reception).
At Luke's Diner, Babette and Miss Patty are having an encrypted conversation about the breakup of Lorelai and Christopher's marriage, using the analogy of a hen/beagle/rooster/peguin/ostrich. Kirk overhears and takes offence to a rooster and a penguin getting together and mating.
The following day, Emily calls Lorelai at home because the pharmacy will not deliver Richard's medication and she wants Lorelai to pick up the prescription. Upon arriving at the Gilmore house, Lorelai finds everything in chaos. The maid Aurora is in hiding and the chef has quit because he is fed up with the challenges of cooking to Richard's dietary needs and Richard failing to eat the food he's cooked. Lorelai stays and helps at the house, which includes sorting out some of her dad's finances.
In Richard's office, Emily finds some alcohol and proceeds to pour herself and Lorelai each a drink. Lorelai tells her mom about her marital breakup, to which Emily says, "I hardly know what to say."
Emily makes the analogy that she is like a canoe: She and Richard are in the canoe and they have to work together to steer the canoe. She takes care of the house so that he can earn a living and take care of her. While Lorelai is like a kayak: She steers the kayak herself and doesn't need anyone to help her, even a man. Lorelai's reply is "I'm a kayak, hear me roar." It seems like mother and daughter have bonded when the following day things return to normal: Emily takes a jab at Lorelai for only getting 60% of her deposit back for the wedding reception.
Rory meanwhile decorates Logan's New York apartment based on all the themes of her childhood birthdays because he missed out on such birthdays. But Logan comes home and announces that his dad wants to take them out to dinner. At dinner, while Logan is away from the table, Mitchum asks Rory what she thinks the next step in Logan's life should be. Then he implies that together he and Rory have been plotting Logan's life for him and that he is currently a success because of the two of them. Back at the apartment, when Rory tells Logan about the talk, Logan shirks it off, telling her that she's been "Huntzbergered."
Logan then gets a phone call from a colleague saying that their new internet investment has fallen through, and that essentially Logan has lost his $3 million trust fund.
Luke's sister Liz arrives with TJ and baby Doula in tow. Their place is being fumigated and they need to bunk at Luke's place for a few days. While staying there, Liz asks Luke if he's contacted Lorelai since Richard's heart attack. This starts a conversation about Lorelai. TJ doesn't think that Luke should get back together with her because he thinks that she's all about drama while Liz thinks that Luke should call her, even if only under the guise of how her father is doing as a concerned friend. Later, lying in April's bed, he can overhear Liz and TJ discussing him and Lorelai.
My commentary: Firstly, I was really bothered by Rory's reaction to the news of her parents breaking up. How did Rory know exactly that her parents weren't meant for each other? She was hardly at home during the brief length of her parents marriage since she was either away at school or in London with Logan over the Christmas holidays. And when she was around, she was the one questioning why her mom was keeping secrets from her dad (like writing the character reference for Luke), and advising her that "honesty was the best policy." Not to mention that Lorelai wasn't exactly forthcoming about the details of her and Christopher's marriage, how much did Rory actually know about her parents' marriage? And since Rory was the one advocating such a policy while Lorelai was insistent on keeping such things a secret, why did she not once ask about how Christopher was doing or where he was? Whether you're a Christopher fan or a Luke fan it should be pretty clear that Christopher was head over heels in love with Lorelai and that when they broke up, he must have been heartbroken even if he "understood" the reasons why. Rory had to have known that her dad was heartbroken over the marriage, yet she didn't give a second thought to her father and how he was doing. The only emotion Rory seemed to show regarding the end of her parents' marriage was during Friday night dinner when she advocated her mom to "Save the cornish game hens."
I also found Alexis Bledel's performance in the opening sequence during the car drive rather unconvincing. She didn't seem particularly consoling of Lorelai regarding the break up, even if her words were.
As for Emily's reaction, maybe part of it can be blamed by the booze, but I don't think all of it can be. Twice this season alone we have seen Emily lecture/advise her daughter about marriage being hard work and how she thinks that Christopher is the best for Lorelai even if he sometimes does things Emily does not approve of. Yet her daughter announces that after only two months her marriage is breaking up and Emily has not a single word? Emily who always has a word about everything even when she's not asked has nothing to say when her daughter announces that her first marriage is breaking up?
And even Emily does not ask how Christopher is or where he is. Emily and Richard have both always liked Christopher; the Gilmore and Hayden families go back for decades and the Haydens are important social ties for the Gilmores. And as appearances are so important to Emily you'd think that if she didn't care about the marriage breaking up, she might care about how the marriage break up might look to her DAR friends.
The next day it seems that things are back to normal with Emily reading the newspaper when Lorelai arrives for breakfast and the only thing Emily says is that she can only get 60% of her deposit back. But that doesn't justify the lack of reaction to the marriage breaking up.
The canoe/kayak analogy is an interesting one, and to some extent I think it's true. But on a practical level, I think there must be something in between. It's not good to be completely in Emily's position and to not know how to do things for yourself should you need to, but it's also not good to be completely in Lorelai's position and to be so independent that you do so much for yourself that you don't need others. In relationships people like to feel needed.
It seems to me that now that the writers have Christopher out of the picture, they are trying to rush things along to get Lorelai and Luke back together as soon as they can. Now that Christopher is out of the picture they don't want to waste a single minute dwelling on him so they are cutting him out altogether, including his relationship with Rory. Yes, there were no scenes between the two of them in this episode, but certainly Luke's longing look as he lay in April's bed by himself is a sign that he's thinking of Lorelai.
The broader strokes of this storyline have also not been dwelled on by the writers. This storyline isn't just about the end of a marriage between two people. Rory and Gigi are also a part of this equation, as are Richard and Emily and Francine (Christopher's mom, even though we never see her) are, too. Gigi moved into Lorelai and Rory's home. For a brief time Lorelai was her step-mother and the only mother figure she's had in a few years. That's significant for a four year old. And Lorelai's words at the beginning about Christopher and Gigi always being in Rory's life felt hollow because clearly they won't be, not on the same level.
This also affects Christopher and Rory's relationship. They've come a long way since the first season and Rory unequivically siding with her mom on the end of the marriage means that she'll never see her dad in the same way.
And so this episode marks the beginning of my David Sutcliffe withdrawal. It was such a treat to see him every week, and now that he's gone, I'll miss the spark he added to the show and the chemistry he and Lauren Graham shared. Someone at my GG forum has mentioned that he is in negotiations to do three more episodes. I presume that one of them will be when Christopher comes back for Rory's graduation from Yale. I guess Lorelai and Luke will be back together by then, too. I will need to drink when that inevitable reunion airs.
Show summary: Lorelai drives to Yale to tell Rory that she and Christopher have broken up. There, she runs into Paris and Doyle doing yoga -- the only humerous part of the opening sequence.
So Lorelai and Rory go for a drive during which Lorelai tells Rory that her marriage to Rory's father has ended after only a few short months. Rory's reaction? Not only is she not surprised, she apparently "knew" that her parents weren't right for each other. The car runs out of gas and Lorelai and Rory have to walk to the gas station.
At Friday night dinner, Lorelai is supposed to tell her parents that she and Christopher have split up but when she and Rory arrive at the Gilmore house, there is already tension because Richard doesn't want to come down for dinner as he's watching an important golf game. The house is now also dry because Richard can't drink alcohol so Emily has removed all the alcohol from the home and is serving mocktails, which only frustrates Lorelai. During dinner, Lorelai fails to find the right time to tell her parents of her marital breakup. Rory encourages her mom to tell Emily and Richard before Emily proceeds further with the wedding celebrations, telling her mom "Save the cornish game hens" (the 400 or so birds that were apparently to be served at the reception).
At Luke's Diner, Babette and Miss Patty are having an encrypted conversation about the breakup of Lorelai and Christopher's marriage, using the analogy of a hen/beagle/rooster/peguin/ostrich. Kirk overhears and takes offence to a rooster and a penguin getting together and mating.
The following day, Emily calls Lorelai at home because the pharmacy will not deliver Richard's medication and she wants Lorelai to pick up the prescription. Upon arriving at the Gilmore house, Lorelai finds everything in chaos. The maid Aurora is in hiding and the chef has quit because he is fed up with the challenges of cooking to Richard's dietary needs and Richard failing to eat the food he's cooked. Lorelai stays and helps at the house, which includes sorting out some of her dad's finances.
In Richard's office, Emily finds some alcohol and proceeds to pour herself and Lorelai each a drink. Lorelai tells her mom about her marital breakup, to which Emily says, "I hardly know what to say."
Emily makes the analogy that she is like a canoe: She and Richard are in the canoe and they have to work together to steer the canoe. She takes care of the house so that he can earn a living and take care of her. While Lorelai is like a kayak: She steers the kayak herself and doesn't need anyone to help her, even a man. Lorelai's reply is "I'm a kayak, hear me roar." It seems like mother and daughter have bonded when the following day things return to normal: Emily takes a jab at Lorelai for only getting 60% of her deposit back for the wedding reception.
Rory meanwhile decorates Logan's New York apartment based on all the themes of her childhood birthdays because he missed out on such birthdays. But Logan comes home and announces that his dad wants to take them out to dinner. At dinner, while Logan is away from the table, Mitchum asks Rory what she thinks the next step in Logan's life should be. Then he implies that together he and Rory have been plotting Logan's life for him and that he is currently a success because of the two of them. Back at the apartment, when Rory tells Logan about the talk, Logan shirks it off, telling her that she's been "Huntzbergered."
Logan then gets a phone call from a colleague saying that their new internet investment has fallen through, and that essentially Logan has lost his $3 million trust fund.
Luke's sister Liz arrives with TJ and baby Doula in tow. Their place is being fumigated and they need to bunk at Luke's place for a few days. While staying there, Liz asks Luke if he's contacted Lorelai since Richard's heart attack. This starts a conversation about Lorelai. TJ doesn't think that Luke should get back together with her because he thinks that she's all about drama while Liz thinks that Luke should call her, even if only under the guise of how her father is doing as a concerned friend. Later, lying in April's bed, he can overhear Liz and TJ discussing him and Lorelai.
My commentary: Firstly, I was really bothered by Rory's reaction to the news of her parents breaking up. How did Rory know exactly that her parents weren't meant for each other? She was hardly at home during the brief length of her parents marriage since she was either away at school or in London with Logan over the Christmas holidays. And when she was around, she was the one questioning why her mom was keeping secrets from her dad (like writing the character reference for Luke), and advising her that "honesty was the best policy." Not to mention that Lorelai wasn't exactly forthcoming about the details of her and Christopher's marriage, how much did Rory actually know about her parents' marriage? And since Rory was the one advocating such a policy while Lorelai was insistent on keeping such things a secret, why did she not once ask about how Christopher was doing or where he was? Whether you're a Christopher fan or a Luke fan it should be pretty clear that Christopher was head over heels in love with Lorelai and that when they broke up, he must have been heartbroken even if he "understood" the reasons why. Rory had to have known that her dad was heartbroken over the marriage, yet she didn't give a second thought to her father and how he was doing. The only emotion Rory seemed to show regarding the end of her parents' marriage was during Friday night dinner when she advocated her mom to "Save the cornish game hens."
I also found Alexis Bledel's performance in the opening sequence during the car drive rather unconvincing. She didn't seem particularly consoling of Lorelai regarding the break up, even if her words were.
As for Emily's reaction, maybe part of it can be blamed by the booze, but I don't think all of it can be. Twice this season alone we have seen Emily lecture/advise her daughter about marriage being hard work and how she thinks that Christopher is the best for Lorelai even if he sometimes does things Emily does not approve of. Yet her daughter announces that after only two months her marriage is breaking up and Emily has not a single word? Emily who always has a word about everything even when she's not asked has nothing to say when her daughter announces that her first marriage is breaking up?
And even Emily does not ask how Christopher is or where he is. Emily and Richard have both always liked Christopher; the Gilmore and Hayden families go back for decades and the Haydens are important social ties for the Gilmores. And as appearances are so important to Emily you'd think that if she didn't care about the marriage breaking up, she might care about how the marriage break up might look to her DAR friends.
The next day it seems that things are back to normal with Emily reading the newspaper when Lorelai arrives for breakfast and the only thing Emily says is that she can only get 60% of her deposit back. But that doesn't justify the lack of reaction to the marriage breaking up.
The canoe/kayak analogy is an interesting one, and to some extent I think it's true. But on a practical level, I think there must be something in between. It's not good to be completely in Emily's position and to not know how to do things for yourself should you need to, but it's also not good to be completely in Lorelai's position and to be so independent that you do so much for yourself that you don't need others. In relationships people like to feel needed.
It seems to me that now that the writers have Christopher out of the picture, they are trying to rush things along to get Lorelai and Luke back together as soon as they can. Now that Christopher is out of the picture they don't want to waste a single minute dwelling on him so they are cutting him out altogether, including his relationship with Rory. Yes, there were no scenes between the two of them in this episode, but certainly Luke's longing look as he lay in April's bed by himself is a sign that he's thinking of Lorelai.
The broader strokes of this storyline have also not been dwelled on by the writers. This storyline isn't just about the end of a marriage between two people. Rory and Gigi are also a part of this equation, as are Richard and Emily and Francine (Christopher's mom, even though we never see her) are, too. Gigi moved into Lorelai and Rory's home. For a brief time Lorelai was her step-mother and the only mother figure she's had in a few years. That's significant for a four year old. And Lorelai's words at the beginning about Christopher and Gigi always being in Rory's life felt hollow because clearly they won't be, not on the same level.
This also affects Christopher and Rory's relationship. They've come a long way since the first season and Rory unequivically siding with her mom on the end of the marriage means that she'll never see her dad in the same way.
And so this episode marks the beginning of my David Sutcliffe withdrawal. It was such a treat to see him every week, and now that he's gone, I'll miss the spark he added to the show and the chemistry he and Lauren Graham shared. Someone at my GG forum has mentioned that he is in negotiations to do three more episodes. I presume that one of them will be when Christopher comes back for Rory's graduation from Yale. I guess Lorelai and Luke will be back together by then, too. I will need to drink when that inevitable reunion airs.
Labels: Gilmore Girls
So the saga of my parents car being stolen is coming to an end.
The insurance company's policy is to wait 30 days before making a settlement. But my parents' insurance broker told them that the process is usually not that long. If cars are not recovered within two or three days then the car is basically a write-off in the eyes of the insurance company. The thinking is that if a car is gone for just two or three days it was taken for a joyride. But for longer than that and it means that the car was taken for other motives. In the case of my parents' car, it's likely that the car was taken for its parts as the Matrix shared parts with many other popular Toyota vehicles, such as the Corolla.
On Tuesday they started the assessment process, figuring out the original value of the vehicle and then determining how much it has depreciated since it was purchased. And from that point on things happened very quickly. On Thursday the assessor called and gave my parents the dollar amount they will be reimbursed -- which was 2/3 of what they paid for the vehicle originally. A pretty good figure since a car's value depreciates by $5,000 the minute you drive it off the lot. My mom was pretty happy with the final amount.
So this afternoon I went car shopping with them. All my life my parents have bought sedans on the account that my mom said she felt more comfortable driving small cars. But this time around, what did they buy? A SUV! Go big or go home was apparently their motto this time! They bought a Nissan X-Trail to be exact, in platinum. They will get their car on Wednesday.
So their car theft story comes to a conclusion in just a month. In one month they lost one car and bought a new one.
The insurance company's policy is to wait 30 days before making a settlement. But my parents' insurance broker told them that the process is usually not that long. If cars are not recovered within two or three days then the car is basically a write-off in the eyes of the insurance company. The thinking is that if a car is gone for just two or three days it was taken for a joyride. But for longer than that and it means that the car was taken for other motives. In the case of my parents' car, it's likely that the car was taken for its parts as the Matrix shared parts with many other popular Toyota vehicles, such as the Corolla.
On Tuesday they started the assessment process, figuring out the original value of the vehicle and then determining how much it has depreciated since it was purchased. And from that point on things happened very quickly. On Thursday the assessor called and gave my parents the dollar amount they will be reimbursed -- which was 2/3 of what they paid for the vehicle originally. A pretty good figure since a car's value depreciates by $5,000 the minute you drive it off the lot. My mom was pretty happy with the final amount.
So this afternoon I went car shopping with them. All my life my parents have bought sedans on the account that my mom said she felt more comfortable driving small cars. But this time around, what did they buy? A SUV! Go big or go home was apparently their motto this time! They bought a Nissan X-Trail to be exact, in platinum. They will get their car on Wednesday.
So their car theft story comes to a conclusion in just a month. In one month they lost one car and bought a new one.
Labels: Life
New Twist on Old Favourites
0 Comments Published by Alexandria on Wednesday, February 21, 2007 at 9:37 p.m..
On Monday night, while flipping through the TV channels I came across this show on the Food Network that I had watched occasionally called Healthy Appetite With Ellie Krieger, who is a nutritionist. Her recipes are aimed to be healthy and nutritious without being bland or boring. On Monday night she did some classic foods with new and healthy twists on them. The mac and cheese looked quite good!
Macaroni and 4 Cheeses
Yield: 8 servings
Cooking spray
1 pound elbow macaroni
2 (10-ounce) packages frozen pureed winter squash
2 cups 1 percent lowfat milk
4 ounces extra-sharp Cheddar, grated (about 1 1/3 cups)
2 ounces Monterrey jack cheese, grated (about 2/3 cup)
1/2 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon powdered mustard
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 tablespoons unseasoned bread crumbs
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan
1 teaspoon olive oil
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Coat a 9 by 13-inch baking pan with cooking spray.
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the macaroni and cook until tender but firm, about 5 to 8 minutes. Drain and transfer to a large bowl.
And who doesn't like a Caesar salad? (I could do without the shrimp however.)
Caesar Salad with Grilled Shrimp
Yield: 4 servings
1/4 cup pasteurized egg product
1 clove garlic, minced (about 1/2 teaspoon)
1 1/2 teaspoons anchovy paste
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons lemon juice
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan
Salt and pepper
8 cups coarsely torn romaine lettuce
2 cups Garlic-Scented Croutons, recipe follows
20 to 24 Lemon Pepper Grilled Shrimp, recipe followsIn a small bowl, whisk together the egg product, garlic, anchovy paste, mustard, Worcestershire sauce and lemon juice. Slowly add the olive oil in a steady stream, whisking the whole time. Stir in the Parmesan and season with salt and pepper.
8 slices French bread or other crusty bread (about 2 ounces)
1 teaspoon olive oil or olive oil spray
1 clove garlic
2 pinches salt
1 pound large shrimp (20 to 24 per pound), peeled and deveined
1 teaspoon olive oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons lemon juice
Macaroni and 4 Cheeses
Yield: 8 servings
Cooking spray
1 pound elbow macaroni
2 (10-ounce) packages frozen pureed winter squash
2 cups 1 percent lowfat milk
4 ounces extra-sharp Cheddar, grated (about 1 1/3 cups)
2 ounces Monterrey jack cheese, grated (about 2/3 cup)
1/2 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon powdered mustard
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 tablespoons unseasoned bread crumbs
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan
1 teaspoon olive oil
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Coat a 9 by 13-inch baking pan with cooking spray.
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the macaroni and cook until tender but firm, about 5 to 8 minutes. Drain and transfer to a large bowl.
Meanwhile, place the frozen squash and milk into a large saucepan and cook over a low heat, stirring occasionally and breaking up the squash with a spoon until it is defrosted. Turn the heat up to medium and cook until the mixture is almost simmering, stirring occasionally. Remove the pan from heat and stir in the Cheddar, jack cheese, ricotta cheese, salt, mustard and cayenne pepper. Pour cheese mixture over the macaroni and stir to combine. Transfer the macaroni and cheese to the baking dish.
Combine bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese and oil in a small bowl. Sprinkle over the top of the macaroni and cheese. Bake for 20 minutes, then broil for 3 minutes so the top is crisp and nicely browned.
| Nutrition Information | |
| Nutritional Analysis per Serving | Calories: 392 |
| Total Fat: 11 grams | Saturated Fat: 2 grams |
| Protein: 18 grams | Carbohydrates: 56 grams |
| Fiber: 3.5 grams | |
And who doesn't like a Caesar salad? (I could do without the shrimp however.)
Caesar Salad with Grilled Shrimp
Yield: 4 servings
1/4 cup pasteurized egg product
1 clove garlic, minced (about 1/2 teaspoon)
1 1/2 teaspoons anchovy paste
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons lemon juice
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan
Salt and pepper
8 cups coarsely torn romaine lettuce
2 cups Garlic-Scented Croutons, recipe follows
20 to 24 Lemon Pepper Grilled Shrimp, recipe followsIn a small bowl, whisk together the egg product, garlic, anchovy paste, mustard, Worcestershire sauce and lemon juice. Slowly add the olive oil in a steady stream, whisking the whole time. Stir in the Parmesan and season with salt and pepper.
In a large bowl, toss the dressing with the lettuce until well coated. Add the croutons and toss to combine. Divide the salad onto 4 plates and top each plate with 5 or 6 shrimp.
Garlic-Scented Croutons:8 slices French bread or other crusty bread (about 2 ounces)
1 teaspoon olive oil or olive oil spray
1 clove garlic
2 pinches salt
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Using a pastry brush, lightly brush both sides of the bread with oil. Cut the garlic in half and rub it on to both sides of the bread. Sprinkle with salt. Cut the bread into cubes and spread onto a baking sheet. Bake until bread is crispy and golden brown, stirring once or twice, about 10 minutes.
Yield: 2 cups
1 pound large shrimp (20 to 24 per pound), peeled and deveined
1 teaspoon olive oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons lemon juice
Preheat a grill pan over a medium-high flame, or prepare a grill. Toss shrimp with the olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, toss again and grill until cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer the shrimp to a plate and drizzle with the lemon juice.
| Nutrition Information | |
| Nutritional Analysis per Serving | Calories: 325 |
| Total Fat: 17 grams | Saturated Fat: 3 grams |
| Protein: 29 grams | Carbohydrates: 14 grams |
| Fiber: 3 grams | |
New website for the Norwegian Royal Family
1 Comments Published by Alexandria on Tuesday, February 20, 2007 at 9:42 p.m..
On the eve of country-wide celebrations in honour of King Harald's 70th birthday in Norway, the new website for the royal family has been released. At Kongehuset, there are new official pictures for King Harald, Queen Sonja, Princess Martha Louise and a micro-site for Crown Prince Haakon, Crown Princess Mette-Marit and their family.
Causing some discussion on royal boards is the fact that the Crown Princess's son, Marius, has his own biography on the website, while Princess Martha Louise's daughters, who are in line to the throne unlike Marius, do not have a biography other than being redirected back to their mother's profile.
However one feels about Marius being positioned so firmly as part of the Norwegian royal family, the new website is at least good eye candy!
The new official portraits of the King and Queen. (The one of the Queen is just radiant.)
The new official portraits of the Crown Princely couple. (The black and white one of Mette-Marit is just stunning!)
Four beautiful portraits of Martha Louise. (I love the last one -- it seems like such a natural pose for her!)
Causing some discussion on royal boards is the fact that the Crown Princess's son, Marius, has his own biography on the website, while Princess Martha Louise's daughters, who are in line to the throne unlike Marius, do not have a biography other than being redirected back to their mother's profile.
However one feels about Marius being positioned so firmly as part of the Norwegian royal family, the new website is at least good eye candy!
The new official portraits of the King and Queen. (The one of the Queen is just radiant.)
The new official portraits of the Crown Princely couple. (The black and white one of Mette-Marit is just stunning!)
Four beautiful portraits of Martha Louise. (I love the last one -- it seems like such a natural pose for her!)
I confess, I have a new Food Network crush. It started a few weeks ago when I was watching the Food Network. I can't remember what he was cooking but I know that it was enough to get me to keep watching. Then I kept tuning in during his weekly show, Good Deal With Dave Lieberman, where he entertains on a budget. He's a native of Philadelphia who was discovered by a New York Times food writer, Amanda Hesser. He moved to New York City and started a career as a private chef, cooking for the rich and to write his first cookbook, Young and Hungry: More Than 100 Recipes for Cooking Fresh and Affordable Food for Everyone. In 2006, he published a second book, Dave's Dinners.
His official website is here.
There is something simply down to earth and charming about the way he cooks, and how excited he gets about the ingredients and the simple, basic techniques to cooking and baking on a budget. He makes even inexpensive, $10 per person meals look like a fancy feast. Maybe it's not something that Martha Stewart would create, but as a young adult, it's something I could do for my friends, and perhaps that's part of the allure of him. (Plus he's not bad to look at either!)
This afternoon, I watched an episode of his show called "Late Night Chocolate Party." Chocolate plus a cute chef preparing it -- what more can a girl ask for on a Saturday afternoon?!
Show description: After the movies, the concert or the comedy club, Dave’s late night chocolate party provides the right pick me up when you just don’t want the evening to end. Chocolate sweets and drinks for the late night crowd.
Chocolate Dipped Hazelnut Shortbread
Yield: About 1 dozen
1 cup husked hazelnuts
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, room temperature
1/3 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 ounces good-quality semisweet chocolatePreheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Cranberry Almond Chocolate Bars with Tangerine Zest
Yield: About 12 servings
(This is actually the picture from the episode, not just some random picture.)
1/2 cup slivered almonds
3 cups chocolate morsels, (about 1 1/2 (12-ounce) bags)
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 tangerine, zested Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Yield: About 16 brownies
Rich, decadent, moist and chewy with chunks of candy bars melted in, you couldn't ask a brownie for more. One of the best parts about them is that you can do them in one bowl, so cleanup's a breeze. The one thing you have to remember is to put the candy bars in the fridge before you got to chop them up or you'll get mush instead of chunks.
1 1/2 sticks (12 tablespoons) butter, melted, plus a little more for greasing the pan
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons water
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
10 mini chocolate-peanut candy bars, crumbled (about 1 1/2 cups), refrigerator cold (recommended: Snickers "fun size")Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
His official website is here.
There is something simply down to earth and charming about the way he cooks, and how excited he gets about the ingredients and the simple, basic techniques to cooking and baking on a budget. He makes even inexpensive, $10 per person meals look like a fancy feast. Maybe it's not something that Martha Stewart would create, but as a young adult, it's something I could do for my friends, and perhaps that's part of the allure of him. (Plus he's not bad to look at either!)
This afternoon, I watched an episode of his show called "Late Night Chocolate Party." Chocolate plus a cute chef preparing it -- what more can a girl ask for on a Saturday afternoon?!
Show description: After the movies, the concert or the comedy club, Dave’s late night chocolate party provides the right pick me up when you just don’t want the evening to end. Chocolate sweets and drinks for the late night crowd.
Chocolate Dipped Hazelnut Shortbread
Yield: About 1 dozen
1 cup husked hazelnuts
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, room temperature
1/3 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 ounces good-quality semisweet chocolatePreheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Place hazelnuts on baking sheet. Bake until they're a shade darker and fragrant, about 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside to cool.
Lower oven to 325 degrees F.
Place hazelnuts in blender or food processor and pulse to coarse bits; set aside. Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt to blend; set aside.
Beat butter and sugar together with a wooden spoon until smooth. Beat in egg. Gradually beat the flour mixture into the butter mixture. Add the chopped hazelnuts and mix until distributed evenly throughout.
Form into long cookies and place on greased cookie sheets. Bake until firm, about 15 minutes. Remove from oven and cool on racks.
In a saucepan over lowest heat or in a double boiler, melt chocolate. Dip 1 end of cooled cookies into melted chocolate. Place back on cookie sheet to harden.
Cranberry Almond Chocolate Bars with Tangerine Zest
Yield: About 12 servings
(This is actually the picture from the episode, not just some random picture.)
1/2 cup slivered almonds
3 cups chocolate morsels, (about 1 1/2 (12-ounce) bags)
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 tangerine, zested Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Line a 13 by 9-inch baking pan with aluminum foil.
Lay out almond slivers on baking sheet. Bake in oven until light brown, shaking the baking pan occasionally to mix them around, about 10 to 15 minutes.
Melt the chocolate morsels in a double boiler over low heat. Mix in the cranberries, almond slivers and tangerine zest.
Pour into prepared pan. Smooth the chocolate mixture out into an even layer. Cool to room temperature and then refrigerate until hard, at least 1 hour. Use a knife to break up chocolate into jagged, varied sized bars.
Yield: About 16 brownies
Rich, decadent, moist and chewy with chunks of candy bars melted in, you couldn't ask a brownie for more. One of the best parts about them is that you can do them in one bowl, so cleanup's a breeze. The one thing you have to remember is to put the candy bars in the fridge before you got to chop them up or you'll get mush instead of chunks.
1 1/2 sticks (12 tablespoons) butter, melted, plus a little more for greasing the pan
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons water
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
10 mini chocolate-peanut candy bars, crumbled (about 1 1/2 cups), refrigerator cold (recommended: Snickers "fun size")Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Grease a 9 by 13-inch cake pan (aluminum is fine) with butter. Beat the 1 1/2 sticks butter and the sugar together in a large bowl until blended. Beat in the eggs 1 at a time, then stir in water and vanilla. Sprinkle the salt and baking powder over the mixture, then mix in. Do the same with the cocoa. Finally, stir in the flour until just blended.
Put the candy bars in a food processor or blender and pulse on low speed until all the bars have been reduced to a coarse crumble. Fold the crumble into the batter thoroughly. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for about 30 minutes, until the center is set, the edges look a bit crusty, and the top of the brownies start to crack a little. Cool completely before cutting into squares.
Spicy Cocoa Cream and Strawberries Transfer to a bowl and serve with strawberries for dipping.
Yield: About 6 servings
1 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons superfine sugar
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
Small pinch cayenne pepper
2 pints strawberries, rinsedUsing a hand-held electric mixer, whip the cream until frothy. While whipping at low speed, gently sprinkle in the sugar, cocoa powder, and cayenne until well combined.
Yesterday I took the day off from work to head out to some appointments, ranging from a massage appointment (good thing, too, since I woke up with a crink in my neck which Nancy helped to sort out) to one with the dermatologist (again), then to the bank to buy RRSPs and to renew expired RRSPs and finally to the library to pick up my copy of Murder in Amsterdam by Ian Buruma, which Emily from TRR recommended. By the time all those appointments were done, it was 2:30 p.m. and I hadn't had lunch and I was exhausted.
On the way home I stopped by the mailbox, which is around the corner from my house. (I have a "smartbox" which is common in new developments. It saves the postal people from having to walk door to door to deliver your mail. Instead they have boxes with nine to twelve "cubbies" in each of them, each of which has a key. Each cubby is assigned to a home and that is where you get your mail. When the postal person goes to deliver the mail, he or she can open all of the cubbies at once and just slot your mail in.)
So stuffed into my little cubby (this always wrecks the bigger issues of my magazines) were two big envelopes from Portugal! I was hungry and tired and it was cold and windy, but I wanted to stand right there and rip them both open. They were both from Teresa, of course. (Who else do I know from Portugal?!) But I got ahold of myself and was able to carry the packages home first and somehow I was able to make it through the door and take off my jacket, scarf, mittens and hat before ripping into the packages.
She sent me a beautiful black heart-shaped necklace for Valentine's Day. Here I was feeling a wee bit sad for myself that I was single on Valentine's Day yet my parents thought of me and all across the oceans, so was Teresa. The lesson: Even if you're single on Valentine's Day, there are still people who love you and fill your heart. And coincidentally, I was looking for a black necklace last week, having realized that I had necklaces in a variety of colours yet I had these black sweaters with no matching accessories.
In the second package, she sent me beautiful blank notebooks in two different sizes. They are from the company her husband works for. They have beautiful antique-looking pictures, some in sepia tones, which just adds to the vintage feel of the pictures. The photographer is named Ricardo Oliveira. The little notebook is just perfect to slip into my purse for notes and reminders to myself of things I come across. I will need to come up with a special use for the bigger notebook. I don't want to "waste" it by filling it with mindless thoughts. Such a special notebook from across the oceans deserves a special purpose.
This afternoon I watched a few minutes of Oprah, which she discussed the notion of karma essentially. The point was that all of your actions have led you to the point in your life you are at presently. So all the things I have put out in the world for the past 27 years have gotten me to this day. I don't know what I did to deserve someone like Teresa in my life, who is so thoughtful and endless in her support. But I am truly greatful.
On the way home I stopped by the mailbox, which is around the corner from my house. (I have a "smartbox" which is common in new developments. It saves the postal people from having to walk door to door to deliver your mail. Instead they have boxes with nine to twelve "cubbies" in each of them, each of which has a key. Each cubby is assigned to a home and that is where you get your mail. When the postal person goes to deliver the mail, he or she can open all of the cubbies at once and just slot your mail in.)
So stuffed into my little cubby (this always wrecks the bigger issues of my magazines) were two big envelopes from Portugal! I was hungry and tired and it was cold and windy, but I wanted to stand right there and rip them both open. They were both from Teresa, of course. (Who else do I know from Portugal?!) But I got ahold of myself and was able to carry the packages home first and somehow I was able to make it through the door and take off my jacket, scarf, mittens and hat before ripping into the packages.
She sent me a beautiful black heart-shaped necklace for Valentine's Day. Here I was feeling a wee bit sad for myself that I was single on Valentine's Day yet my parents thought of me and all across the oceans, so was Teresa. The lesson: Even if you're single on Valentine's Day, there are still people who love you and fill your heart. And coincidentally, I was looking for a black necklace last week, having realized that I had necklaces in a variety of colours yet I had these black sweaters with no matching accessories.
In the second package, she sent me beautiful blank notebooks in two different sizes. They are from the company her husband works for. They have beautiful antique-looking pictures, some in sepia tones, which just adds to the vintage feel of the pictures. The photographer is named Ricardo Oliveira. The little notebook is just perfect to slip into my purse for notes and reminders to myself of things I come across. I will need to come up with a special use for the bigger notebook. I don't want to "waste" it by filling it with mindless thoughts. Such a special notebook from across the oceans deserves a special purpose.
This afternoon I watched a few minutes of Oprah, which she discussed the notion of karma essentially. The point was that all of your actions have led you to the point in your life you are at presently. So all the things I have put out in the world for the past 27 years have gotten me to this day. I don't know what I did to deserve someone like Teresa in my life, who is so thoughtful and endless in her support. But I am truly greatful.
Labels: Friendship, Life
