Pretty in Plaits

I keep on seeing pictures of braids and girls looking the perfect mix of school-girl prep and disheveled artiste. Yet unfortunately for me, the mix tends to sway more to the little school girl side. This of course not helped on bit by my required polo and khaki pants.

But alas, a girl can never give up. After this additional reminder I think I will give the hair style another chance. Wish me luck.

here it goes again

another school year started althoughhhhh, i have lost the usual feeling associated with the first day. I feel very...settled now. Perhaps its the atmosphere of my almost-800 student school and the people i go there with, or perhaps its just the fact that ive been doing this for the past two years. even the hella hard ap's aren't giving me butterflies - even though i got the hardest of the hardest teachers (woohoo). this should be an interesting, fun, bbuuusssy year.

i just hope i get to look around and freakin' blog from time to time! :)

keep you updated,
xoxo martha

my dearest sincerest apologies

I realize that I have been quite sucky at blogging lately. Unfortunately, since my coming home to Houston, I've been running around getting ready for school and meeting up with friends before the day when I would be seeing some of them in khakis and polos. But alas, no fears, I will return to my daily blogging, even amidst the ssttacckkss of homework. A girl needs a bit of 'me' time, eh?

Much love my dear reader,
xoxo
marthamydearest

I really want a....

Circle Bicycle. Just like the ones in the Olympics closing ceremony. Did you seem 'em?!

Talk about attention grabbing down the streets of Houston.

Christina Applegate on her mastectomy

I'll have the best boobs in the nursing home. I'll be the envy of all the ladies around the bridge table

...said Christina Applegate today on Good Morning America. Great spirit and attitude for a woman who had a double mastectomy. You go girl. Woot.

Julia Nunes

Whoah. This girl is amazing. She's so cute and funny and her nose is adorable and have you seen the first video??!! Ahahah. ♥

http://julianunes.com/ GO! Right now! Fo' real.

How gorgeous is this dress?! Though summer is quickly coming to a close, with school knocking on the door, and my interest in clothes returning to the usualy palette consisting of grays, blacks, and navy blues, I can't help but admire this dress on Leighton Meester and sigh, wishing I were back at the end of May, having a summer brimming with opportunities, adventures and excitement awaiting me.

Thakoon for Target!

Thakoon will be the new designer for the Target GO International collection, featuring his designs in the fall of 2008, from late september (so soon!) through January. With the fab coats and darker-toned floral print dresses he designed for his Fall 2008 collection, I'm sure we can expect many goodies for the cold weather to come.

Target has had some wonderful designers - Patrick Robinson, Erin Fetherston, and now Richard Chai. But this??!

OH, Target, how I do love you.

Vanity Fair

I'm a Vanity Fair newbie, but seeing the cover with Carla Bruni I just couldn't resist from reaching out and buying the darn thing.

OH and who else loves the equestrian look of the outfit??! I'm a gusher for that style.

Presidential Mayhem

I figured I've got time for politics. They don't interest me much. Therefore, I know pretty much just two things about the Presidential Election 2008 - McCain, an old, white-haired old man in his seventies, is the Republican nominee, and Obama, the first serious African-American candidate for U.S. President, is the Democratic nominee.

Oh, and one more thing (this now makes three) - McCain loves using celebrity to take Obama down. First there was the Britney/Paris ad, in which the senator compared the Democrat to some pop stars we all know too well. Now, Obama has "dreamy eyes", as said by some of his followers featured in another ad. McCain. Seriously? What, are you jealous?

We all know the purpose of McCain's tv spots - bring down Obama by attacking his best attributes, the almost celebrity-like following for the man Democrats seem to love. I'm sure the interviews and articles in People and Elle have aided his image.

But McCain, how is bringing down the opponent like this any satisfaction for us, the voters? If Obama, as you say, would not make an acceptable President, then what? Should we simply settle for the other guy?

McCain, instead of attacking your opponent, market yourself. Tell us why we should vote for you, not why we shouldn't vote for the other guy.

New Target GO Collection/Designer

(1) Zipper-front skirt -black
(2) Sleeveless Ruffle Dress - black
(3) Long Cardigan - black
Skinny Bedford Corduroy Pants - worn indigo
Ruffle Shirt in off-white and orange
(4) Striped Tank - white and gray
Windowpane skirt - orange
Leather vest - light yellow-brown
(5) Paint stripe racerback tank - navy blue and white
Sweetheard dress - black
(6) Bubble skirt - royal blue
(7) Sweetheart dress - blue and white w/. black

The GO International collection needs no introduction because everybody knows of the genius idea Target has had - invite high-end designers to design clothes on the lower end of the money spectrum; allow average girls and women alike the opportunity for fine clothing, certainly without paying the price.

Before I was just kinda excited for the designers, only because their style didnt really fit mine - the clothes they offered were not necessarily ones I would wear (and unfortunately I had missed Erin Featherson's heart bags and flowy, girly, English Breakfast Tea dresses).

Here comes in Richard Chair with his bold yet girly dresses, straight skirts, and casualy, ordinary-but-not pants and jackets. I'm SOO excited for the sweetheart dress with blue flower print and the black version as well. The shape looks amazing and feminine without becoming too girly. The blue flower version will be perfect for a the Houston autumn months to come, and the black - a perfect LBD for going out. Finally. I've been searching long enough.

I've also been searching long and hard for straight, plain skirts - perfect addition to a crazy top, I think.

And, with looks like these, is anyone surprised his clothes are so yummy?

Freaky Deaky

Dede Koswara is a 'tree man'. Seriously. His limbs look like the roots of an oak tree. I don't envy you, buddy, not at all.

Is Your Mouth Watering Yet?

I wish I could post a picture here of the actual place - the decor is seriously amazing. Styling a little French town, complete with an ornate gazebo, French street names naming the corners, and so much food you have no idea what to choose from.

You walk around with a tray and card, which you swipe each time you get some food (you pay at the end). A cute little place to visit for lunch and dinner. And umm cake and pie? and crepes? Leave room for desert.

Unfortunately for those outside Ontario, it only has locations in Toronto and Ottawa. (but lots in Toronto, good for me, hehe).

www.richtree.ca

FASHIONBEAUTYCULTURELIFE

Thanks to the Toronto Star I have discovered LUSH Magazine, about a month ago. At first I paid no attention to it, setting it aside on a shelf, not expecting much from a newspaper add-in. It was today's rainy, muggy, 14-degree weather mixed with sheer procrastination from reading my school summer reading books that I turned over the initial page. Inside I discovered vast pages laden with photographs advertising grand hotels, pricey vodka, and the upper-class of upper-class designers. I was amazed with the beauty and quality and depth of the color of the pictures accompanying the well-written text. Turning each page was pleasure, if not simply for the feel and texture of the paper. The pages thicker than most glossy magazines, the entire product felt like and looked magestical.

I have lately been quite dissappointed with Elle (Mariah Carey? seriously?) and even my backup, Vogue, for becoming too commercial and not beautiful and extravagant. LUSH allows me to flip through 128 pages of pure art - no paparazzi celebrity spottings, no B-class companies plopping their advertisement on every other page of the magazine.

I love a great photograph, where the lighting and clothes and model all harmoniously interact. "Tailored to the lifestyle of the young, single, and well-travelled, LUSH will target the educated women, between the ages of 25-55, indepedent women with professional careers". Although we may not all fulfill the requirements for the target client, LUSH sure does let you play make-believe.

I Really Wanted That Thing.

I can't get over this song. After hearing it on SYTYCD it's been on my mind since. The choreography by Sonya is amamamazing. I adore it. It's so raw and sultry and with a touch of a dirty sexiness. I love it.

Courtney and Mark
Sonya

Song:
The Garden
Mirah

WTF?

"Mathew McConaughey to plant son's placenta in orchard". UUHHH.

First B.O., now this. People's 'Sexiest Man' my bum.

Summer Olympics Beijing 2008

I love the time of the Olympics - watching athletes compete, performing to the highest of their abilities; a sense of sportsmanship and unity fills the world. The Games sort of remind me of camp, everyone in one place, together, as one, although everyone takes over a city and everyone is from the whole world. But still.

The opening ceremony for the Olympics this year was actually quite impressive. My expectations were quite low, being that Beijing was criticized so much for air pollution, strict regulations, etc. I especially liked the lighting of the Olympic Torch - a creative idea to have a man run in the air around the stadium to light the spiraled torch, the fire following a curvy path from the torchbearer all the way to the top of the corkscrew.

The fireworks too - whoah.

All in all, I think these games will be impressive and full of excitement. Perhaps the strictness of the Chinese officials might benefit the organization and overall outcome of the Games?

We shall see. Can't wait for the rest of the sports. Diving! Swimming! Gymnastics! My faves. Whooo go Poland!


What did you guys think of the Opening Ceremony? How do you guys think the Olympics will come along?

SYTYCD Fever No More

And the winner is...

JOSHUA!!!!! ahakjfkdajlasofiajsdkfjas!!!

After a wonderful finale, Joshua, the guy branded with "no previous experience", is the winner of the fourth season of So You Think You Can Dance. I am really happy and satisfied with his win because, well, who the hell doesn't love him?

Truth be told, Katee was my first pic. When the top four was on the stage and Courtney's name was called, I felt that my theory, my guess, as to who the winner would be was that much closer to being correct. BUT unfortunately, when the top three were standing up there, Katee was sent home :( At least they gave her money.

Either way, it doesn't really matter who won, each one on the top 4, even top 6, was AHHHMMAZZINGG.


SO NOW for the actual performances of the finale. I loved the idea of redoing all of the best dances of the season. Seeing them once again, all better-performed than the first time, was astonishing and pleasant and entertaining. My favorites: Katee and Will's Pas de Deux, Courtney and Mark's Jazz, and Chelsie and Mark's hip hop. The rest were obviously worth watching, but the three mentioned above were works of art. breathtaking. le shit.

Now for the alternate entertainment - or, the time-filling, audience-getting stuff they stuck on in addition to what everyone was actually there for.

I have to start off with the Jonas Brothers (JB, some call 'em). Ummmm. Really? Their clothes were okay. The lyrics made no sense. They could have at least had great voices to back up how hot they amongst them tweens. Seriously. I felt bad for poor Nick (the younger curly-haired one, right?) trying his hardest to keep up with the music and even keep pitch. Joe had a better time of actually being heard, at least. The performance was not spectacular; sadly, it was what one would expect of a boy band popular amongst the 12 year old crowd (and older...way older). At least they didnt lip sync.

The Cirque du Soleil piece was quirky and interesting and very entertaining. But it was choreographed by Wade Robson, so I guess I'm not completely shocked. Mourning the death of a bunny? Brilliant.

Popping was out of this world. Did you see the Robert guy??!! MANNN. No wonder IKEA booked him for that commercial. Phillip was also great, and like the judges said, he was more musical. It was hard to decide which guy I enjoyed more, because they were somewhat different: there was Phillip, who tried to keep with the music and apply moves to the music, and on the other hand there was Robert, who did whatever the hell he wanted, doing his stuff, music or no music (what music?).


And that's a wrap people. So You Think You Can Dance Season 4 is officially wrapped up. siigh. What shall I do for my dance fix now, you ask? Well, for one, SYTYCD Canada will be starting up this fall, so maybe Ill be able to find it on the internet (hehe). Or I think I'll sign up for some dance classes. I think I have been inspired.

Primetime in No Time

Miss you favorite show last night?

Well don't sweat it! Rambling host Frank Nicotero keeps you up to date on the hottest shows on primetime - Project Runway, America's Best Dance Crew, many other popular and not so popular shows, and, of course, SYTYCD (!!).

http://www.primetime.tv.yahoo.com

SYTYCD!

IT'S SYTYCD FEVER! Ahh I'm really excited for tonight's finale - part two. Ahhh!

I really really really think that Katee will win - she has the most training and talent and charisma and everything. There has not yet been one dance where she has gotten negative feedback. Not one. She deserves it. Especially after they almost didn't let her be in the top 20.

BUT I really do think that Joshua has a pretty good shot at taking home the gold just because he keeps on being branded as the guy with "no previous talent". Sheesh. (although I think that Joshua is an amazing dancer and don't mind him shirtless one bit).

Read on here:

http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20217452,00.html?iid=top25-20080807-%27SYTYCD%27+recap%3A+Believe+the+hype

Remember Him?

Remember him? The popper from the SYTYCD season 4 auditions who gave up his spot?

He's in the IKEA commercial doing his thang.

A Bit of Redecorating

New look. You like?

The Sisterhood Continues

I thought I had surpassed the period where YA books and chick flicks were anticipated with excitement and engorged with enthusiasm. I loved the cheesy endings, romantic stories, and forever friendships. And I had thought that that period of my life, a period of insecurities simply ameliorated with these indulgences.





But alas, we always return to the days of our youth (or younger youth), which is why I am surprisingly excited for The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.

Perhaps it is the nostalgia speaking; I miss my friends in Houston after 2 months here in Toronto with mainly people more many years my senior. Or maybe its the simple joy of returning to the times where I would devour the books, them being the only thing on my mind.

The cast is hot too. Blake Lively? Alexis Bledel? America Ferrera? A few actresses I llooovee. I think it's that kind of natural beauty they posses that does it for me.

Whatever. Im going. August sixth is already marked in my calendar.

The Dark Knight

While in Newmarket, I went to see The Dark Knight with a friend (sidenote: this makes about three movies in the past month. I hate going to the movies with friends, so this here is breaking a personal record). You see, I'm not much of a DC Comics/Batman/action-genre movie kinda girl myself, but shhiitttt - this thing blew.me.away. Batman was hot, Morgan Freeman was noble, and Heath Ledger ... assdfkjl;lksj!! This man was AHmazing. True, he closed himself in a room for long periods of time and even fell into a bit of a depression to get into character, but it all amounted to him performance being stellar. He was so believable and he had sculpted the character down to the tiniest tics and mannerisms. The bits with shooting were a bit scary and Heath's face laden with scars was as well, but all in all, the movie itself blasted my expectations: spaceship-style.