Inception

It isn't new, but if you haven't seen it, you absolutely must.

It is a challenging movie to describe, yet it brilliantly takes a simple concept and through a meticulously woven story introduces you to a world that is fantastically imagined. The movie is essentially about dreams and dreaming, and how they can have a profound influence on who we are the decisions we make.

Christopher Nolan (writer and director) makes this story entirely plausible through his incredible attention to every minute detail. The cast is also sensational, lending themselves nicely to the depth of the characters they portray. Highly imaginative (with movies these days I find that is an accomplishment of its own), and therefore grippingly entertaining. I have watched it three times now, to get a full grasp on some of the details one might miss as you are engrossed in following the plot the first run through. Each time I find myself more drawn into it, as I am continually impressed with how gifted a storyteller he is! I love unique stories, and here this movie achieves its mark magnificently.

The good news is, it is out on video so you can easily rent it for your viewing enjoyment right now!
Beware, it is close to 2.5 hours long.
You won't regret it!

Inspiration

A super cool friend of mine has an incredible inspirational photoblog that is worth taking a peak at! She is a gifted photographer, and truly captures a story in each of her gorgeous pictures (and as you may already know, I do love great stories). It is difficult to say much more because after all, a picture is worth a thousand words, and everyone walks away with their own unique message.

http://marisareda.blogspot.com

It puts a smile on my face.
As Marisa puts it, "Life is Beautiful".
Enjoy!

Bobbi is Beautiful

Bobbi Brown. LOVE her!

While there are many things I love about her, her quest to help women embrace their own unique beauty is truly inspiring.

I have been a Bobbi Brown customer from the very beginning. It started with me being drawn to the simplicity of her make-up message: her make-up was intended to enhance your looks in a natural way, helping you be a more beautiful you rather than transform you into someone else. In the 90's that was a novel and revolutionary concept indeed. It turned out to be the platform that launched her career, and the rest is history.

Since that time I have gotten to know more about Bobbi's beauty philosophy through the simple and sage advice she offers in her beauty books (I love, "Bobbi Brown Beauty" and "Bobbi Brown Living Beauty"). She is an impressively smart woman! There is the obvious; she is clearly a gifted and creative make-up artist, and a seriously savvy business woman (kudos). Beyond the obvious is a woman who is using her substantial influence in an oftentimes shallow and superficial world to promote a dwindling commodity, self-esteem.

Most recently I discovered how magnificently she discusses the various challenges of a fragile period in all of our lives, adolescence, in her book aimed at my daughter's generation, "Bobbi Brown Beauty Rules". It is genuinely lovely. She uses real people (not just professional models) to demonstrate her points, and she delves into varied subjects from diverse ethnicities, to braces, to nutrition, and more.  

Thank you Bobbi! You have been a huge part of my growth into a more confident woman, and now you are helping me guide my daughter down that road as well.

A cute note... My daughter felt so connected to Bobbi after coveting her new beauty bible, Bobbi's Beauty Rules, that she asked "is Bobbi Brown too famous to do my make-up for my graduation?". She is 11 years old. The world is still full of so much magic and mystery to her, it is beautiful. xoxo

PRETTY sure is POWERFUL

To connect with more personal information about Bobbi go to www.everythingbobbi.com/en/

You can buy her make-up at many stores, online at Sephora and her own website www.bobbibrowncosmetics.com/index.tmpl

Godiva - heavenly hot chocolate

It is seriously chilly in my corner of the world right now, and if you are craving a way to warm yourself right down to your soul, look no further. There is something supremely comforting in a steaming cup of hot cocoa. I have been a faithful follower of this ritual since childhood, and while my tastes have evolved, it never fails to satisfy. I have sampled many hot chocolate mixes, and a few simple rules are bible: real hot chocolate must be made milk rather than water, the more chocolatey the flavor the more satisfying it is (sugary just makes it taste sugary), and personally I feel it is better if you don't add anything to it (like marshmallows).

In truth there are many hot chocolate mixes that I can enjoy well enough, but given the choice, my all time favorite is Godiva milk chocolate hot cocoa mix. Simply heavenly!

It can be found any place Godiva products are sold, which nowadays happens to be almost everywhere (their stand-alone stores, major retail stores such as The Bay and Chapters).

Once you try it, you will never be able to go back to un-fancy hot chocolate again, and I know your life will be better for it :)

Life moves fast; never sweat the small stuff, and enjoy every drop!

Baguette baby

I adore the versatility of a simple baguette. It can be a snack, an accompaniment or even a main dish, and when it is a good one it is reliably delish!

This is where my Premiere Moisson story is born. They make THE most heavenly bread this side of the pond. Yes, I hate to state the obvious, but bread is an institution in many countries in Europe, and the attempted replicas in North America too often fall woefully short on the required dense flavour and chewy texture. In Croatia there is a bakery literally at every street corner, and no meal is complete without some bread someone brought back fresh that day from the local baker. I come by the obsession honestly, it is in my genes...

Premiere Moisson has managed to hit the right notes with truthfully every one of their bread creations I have ever tasted, and how magnificent is it that they are an artisinal bakery that uses only all natural ingredients (yeh!!!!).

Their baguette in my humble opinion is seriously Paris (and even Croatia) worthy! Crusty outside, chewy interior, and unmarred pure bread flavour. Eat it naked or add your favourite topping, you will enjoy it, guaranteed.

Delicious bread is my idea of the manna of the gods. Enjoy!

Lunch a Munch a Lunchskins

They are ingenious!

This little darlings are reusable lunch bags made of pastry bag material (therefore, definitely food grade approved). Unlike some other "green" food storage products these feel right to put your lunch in. Hard to explain, but trust me, it isn't like wrapping your sandwich in a hankie. They come in gorgeous and fun designs, a velcro closure that works amazingly well, and most incredibly they are top rack dishwasher safe!

As an added bonus they were invented by a group of moms (3 green moms) in the US, and they are still manufactured in the US. Yes, hard to believe but true, they are not made in China... Details at www.lunchskins.com

They are available at many retailers, and all over the net.
One place I found a large selection and free shipping is: www.greenmunch.ca

Bonne appétit you funky mommas!

Skin savior

With winter in full swing in my corner of the world, we all tend to feel the tug of dryness on our skin. As with many other things, I have tried more than my share of skin moisturizers over the years, and without question the very best I have ever found is Cetaphil. I have used their body moisturizer for years, and have newly discovered their facial moisturizer is just as splendid. Totally lovely!

What I love is that it soaks in quickly, never feeling greasy, and yet it keeps your skin silky smooth the entire day. The other bonus is that it is entirely fragrance free.

It can be found at any local pharmacy, as well as through on-line pharmacies. I also appreciate the pump format it comes in, which makes it conveniently simple to use. I swear by this stuff!

I also read that Jo Malone (of personal fragrance infamy), agrees. Apparently even someone who could easily buy or create any moisturizer her heart desires, chooses to import this one from North America for herself. Interesting isn't it?

I think simple products that work are heavenly!