The best chocolate bars ever… September 29, 2010
Posted by Lauren Cooke in Foodiness, Graphic Design, Photos.Tags: branding, chocolate, Graphic Design
2 comments
The pictures do the talking for me…
How attractive are you on a rating of 1 to 10? September 28, 2010
Posted by Lauren Cooke in Advice, Fashion, Inspiration.Tags: dismorphia, Self-esteem, the media
9 comments
Girls, it seems, don’t like themselves very much. They are known for wearing makeup, shaving their legs, and wearing uncomfortable shoes. More negatively, girls are seen as the dominant gender when it comes to a lack of self-confidence, eating disorders, and body dismorphia. Whatever the reality of these sweeping overgeneralisations, one thing is clear. Women seem to underestimate themselves and their looks on a daily basis.
A colleague brought this to my attention. His point, eloquently put, was that men are able to interest women more attractive than themselves, because no woman he has ever met rates herself high enough. So, there we are, plodding along believing that all people see is our big noses, our moles, and any other imaginary flaw that we are able to concoct. Despite the fact that in actuality the men in our lives see us as beautiful and technically out of their league, we continue to self-depricate.
So, what would you rate yourself on a scale of one to ten? I rated myself an optimistic six – I can see so many flaws that I couldn’t imagine being higher. I wasn’t told what I would be scored, but apparently I seriously underestimated myself. If this is the case for me, who has a reasonable opinion of herself, then I dread to think how unattractive some of my most wonderful and beautiful friends think that they are.
If your rating is low, then is it individual self-esteem issues, or a deep-seated problem with society and the things it makes us aspire to? Perhaps, rather than issues unique to each of us, there is an element of group thought. Perhaps we aren’t brought up by the media, or by people around us, to concentrate on our good points. And sure, none of us want to be cocky or self-obsessed, but a little boost on our self-perception and personal attitude seems like it may be really useful. Instead, however, we are all underestimating ourselves all the time.
So, now you know you are more attractive than you think, what would you rate yourself?
Film Review | Resident Evil: Aftermath (3D)! September 24, 2010
Posted by Lauren Cooke in Media, TV & Film.Tags: 3d films, aftermath, film review, resident evil, resident evil 3d, resident evil aftermath, review
add a comment
You know I love zombie films. I just do. I couldn’t tell you why, but I m a massive Romero fan, and can list of a myriad of facts about zombies, zombie hunting, and different zombies theories. Not a typical obsession for a girl, especially one who doesn’t particularly like the dark. Still I can’t deny that there is something about the zombie genre that pulls me in!
Resident Evil is one of the zombie series’ that has never let me down. They are always sleek, sophisticated, and really quite scary. The games are bloody terrifying (I have sat through many hours, let me tell you!), and the films are loyally based on them. For this reason I was really excited about seeing Resident Evil: Aftermath, and even more so once I realised it would be shown in 3D. Horror, it seems to me, is the ideal medium for jumpy 3D images, and I wasn’t disappointed.
You see, I loved this film. Everything felt much more real thanks to the 3D imaging, and I hold my hands up to jumping a few times. They were even more loyal to the game than normal too, down to the creepy axe/mallet wielding boss and the creepy-ass dogs. Even Wesker was as wildly annoying and hard to kill as he should be.
Despite a slightly silly start (the scene setting was done too fast in my mind – I would have liked a little more time to be spent in the Umbrella facility in Tokyo, for technological marvels if nothing else!), this was awesome. Just the right mix of action, survival, challenges and, of course, zombies. It was brilliant, and I came out exhilarated and wanting to watch all the Resident Evil films again.
A big thumbs up from me!
The Versatile Blogger Award September 23, 2010
Posted by Lauren Cooke in Meme, Social Media.Tags: blog award, bloggers, Meme
1 comment so far
I have been lucky enough to be given an award three times this week – by Kate, Cie and Tina. Thank you girls! Not that you’d ever know that we all knew each other, eh?! Hehe.
There are, of course, rules to go with this lovely award: 1. Thank and link back to the person who gave you the award; 2. Share 7 things about yourself; 3. Pass the award to 15 blogs you enjoy and let them know they’ve been given the award.
Soo, here we go – 7 things about me:
- I own about 100 pairs of shoes, and probably around the same number of dresses. Despite this obvious excess, I still have many days when I feel like I have nothing to wear, which is quite impressive really.
- Now that I am single I am discovering that I actually quite like my own company. I have even gone to the cinema by myself a few times, although I’m not brave enough to see Resident Evil all on my lonesome. My favourite personal time is to spend an afternoon in the pub, curled up on the sofa with a good book and a glass of rose! Wonderful!
- I have two lists of favourite films. One is the respectable list, featuring Fight Club, and American Beauty, and other intellectually stimulating movies. My second list, however, features all the ones I know I shouldn’t like – and is largely dominated by brilliant-yet-crappy action films and zombie movies!
- I am a bit of a survivalist at heart – I even wrote an article about it. A little bit of me is always planning for what to do in case of some sort of apocalyptic nightmare happens, and I find it hard to switch it off. One day I will probably end up living in an isolated cave with a tinfoil hat on my head, but never mind!
- I am on antidepressants, and currently am starting to wonder if I am perhaps on a slightly too high dosage. After all, I seem so incessantly cheery that I am giggling and joking nearly constantly. It is quite fun, but I will probably have a word with the doctor next time I go!
- I am starting to be more brave, because I used to not do a lot of things because they made me nervous. Amongst my new “brave” plans are going to salsa, joining a gym, and travelling on my own – although having just seen Wolf Creek, this won’t be in Australia!
- I always have a new project on the go. Sometimes they fall by the wayside due to a complete lack of time, but other times I stick by them. I am fickle you see, and like having lots of things to occupy my time!!
I can’t think of who to pass this on to, so I am going to take a leaf out of Amber’s book – if you want to be tagged, consider it done!
My new fashion venture – Digital Stylist September 23, 2010
Posted by Lauren Cooke in Fashion.Tags: Fashion, stylist
3 comments
I always seem to have a new venture up my sleeve, don’t it?1 Still, this is something I have been thinking about doing for a long time, and I have been putting together the website with a whole shed load of eagerness. Or eagarity. Either, really.
Anyway, the idea is to do some work as a fashion stylist, all over the internet. The packages are designed, the website is looking swish, and as of today it is all up and launched!
Introducing…
Go have a look around, and tell me what you think!
Best on the Highstreet | This Season’s Shoes September 21, 2010
Posted by Lauren Cooke in Fashion.Tags: boots, Fashion, shearling, Shoes, trends, winter
6 comments
I love shoes, as you may well have guessed. I would imagine the rather sizeable shoe collection would be your first clue. However, although I dream of owning a number of wonderful designer pairs of shoes, I don’t want to spend lots of money on them. Thanks to this, most of my wonderful shoes come from highstreet brands like Topshop (their clothes may be horrid, but I lurve their shoes!) or New Look. So, in the spirit of window shopping and being able to justify it, I thought I would write a post to sum up the best “on trend” shoes that are credit card friendly.
Click the image to go to the product page!
Shearling shoes
Shearling and furs are everywhere at the moment. Some of the fuzzy creations I hate, but other examples actually make me feel all appropriately wintery and snuggly. The line between cute and terrible is a thin one, but in my opinion you can’t go much wrong with these ones.
OK, they might be slightly tasteless, but these New Look boots are Snow Queen boots!
Shearling is actually sexy in these Topshop boots!
Working the "walking boot" look pretty effectively at River Island
Chunky Heels
The 90s have returned! In many ways this is, quite frankly, terrifying. However, some of the designs have made chunky heels look as good as possible, and I have found myself pining after examples like the oh-so-coveted swallow heels from Miu Miu. On the highstreet the risk is that shoes will look a little outdated, but there are still some modern interpretations out there…
I feel I should dance to the Spice Girls in these. OK, so I always dance to the Spice Girls... but still!
Slightly more wearable court shoes from Topshop
I may be in the minority loving these quirky ASOS boots, but I don't care!
Brogues
These seem to have been in fashion for ever, but I still don’t own a pair. I find that they are quite hard to do, and the majority of the brogues out there can look a little grannyish. However, there are some lovely ones, you just have to hunt them out.
Be bold and brave in yellow brogues from Irregular Choice
Brogues in boot form from ever-lovely Bertie
If you must wear flat brogues, these floral ones from Miss Selfridge are probably the best!
See anything you like?!
What a weekend! September 20, 2010
Posted by Lauren Cooke in Life, Chatter & Politics.1 comment so far
By god, I needed a weekend like this. A weekend involving sheer drunken abandon, heels I can’t walk in, and lots of irresponsible behaviour. Essentially I have been desperately requiring my first single night actually out on the town, and this Friday’s work leaving do was the ideal opportunity.
So, we started the evening at the Castle Balti in Warwick, which is a very delicious Indian restaurant that no doubt wished we weren’t anywhere near as loud and excitable as we were. Having tucked into a perhaps overly creamy Chicken Tikka Pasanda, and gossiped with all of my lovely colleagues, a very few of us traipsed into Leamington to continue the evening. Unsurprisingly, me and the other girl going out were the drunkest of the bunch, and when she left I proceeded to just carry on drinking and dancing. I was having incredible trouble with my very high and very spindly heels, which explains why I ended up outside clinging to the arm of one of the group. This transitioned into a quick kiss, which whilst undoubtedly thoroughly drunk, was just what my soul needed.
Anyway, the night was followed by a morning of hungoverness, lying around on the sofa moaning and whining. Then my parents and sister came round to stay over whilst dropping her off for her first day at uni on the Sunday. I am soo incredibly jealous of her and the fact that she is going to be enjoying the utter brilliance of Fresher’s Week. Still, I got to spend Sunday reading the brilliant book that is World War Z in the pub, so all is not lost!
More Pretty! Stunning Flocked Floral Pencil Skirt September 17, 2010
Posted by Lauren Cooke in Fashion.Tags: Fashion, per una, pretty, skirt
5 comments
As those Charlotte Olympia shoes disappeared off eBay as fast as I could add them to the blog, I thought I could justify another post about something pretty today!
Per Una Floral Flocked Pencil Skirt
Anyway, today’s pretty is this floral skirt from Per Una. Usually this brand is a little dull for me, a little fuddy duddy and, dare I say it, out of date. However, occasionally they surprise me, and this is one such case.
I can see this working so well for winter. It is sexy, at the same time as being warm and winter appropriate. The flowers beg to be teamed with a velvet coloured jacket, whilst the tweed would go beautifully with a rich burgundy poloneck – or even some bright pink heels. In essence, it is my perfect pencil skirt for winter, and I want it! Maybe I will try it on this weekend…
Semi-Daily eBay | Stunning Charlotte Olympia Heels September 17, 2010
Posted by Lauren Cooke in Fashion, Semi-Daily eBay.Tags: charlotte olympia, daily ebay, Fashion, Heels, Semi-Daily eBay, Shoes
add a comment
Stunning Heels!
I love Charlotte Olympia heels. They may just be my favourite. The chunky platform, the funky heel. The Louboutin-esque shape. I dream of owning a pair, which is why I wish this particular example was in my size – they are only £50!! Please, someone with size UK5/EU38 feet, please buy them!
A Little Political Rant… September 16, 2010
Posted by Lauren Cooke in Life, Chatter & Politics, Rants.Tags: pope, pope rant, pope visit, rant
add a comment
Pope Benedict
I am sorry guys. I have been steering clear of politics for a while now, but I had to put my head above the parapet to have a little rant about, you guessed it, the Pope’s visit.
Firstly, let me state my position when it comes to Catholicism. I don’t like the religion – I disagree passionately with its depressing and heart-wrenching emphasis on guilt and regret. I disagree with its outdated and frankly dangerous attitudes to homosexuality, contraception, and a myriad of hot topics that really need to be reviewed. I dislike the gathering of immense wealth, and the long studied history of maltreating people. Catholics, however, I have no problem with. It is merely, as is all too often the case, the organised religion and all of its many failings that I protest against, rather than the normal everyday people who happen to believe its teachings. That said, of course, I will happily debate with anyone over the “rights and wrongs” of being gay, or using a condom. Or being gay and using a condom.
Everyone is aware of the Pope’s visit. After all, we should be, as it is the regular tax payers who are funding this trip. This, as you may have realised, is what I need to rant about.
The thing is, you see, that we are a non-secular country. Although Christian (in various different forms) throughout history, in this enlightened age anyone is free to believe in whatever they want, and as such we don’t conform to secular views of a country-wide religious direction. We are growing ever prouder of our multiculturalism, and many many faiths are practised under our grey and overcast skies. Noone should be separated based on their faith.
Why, therefore, is one religion having so much money spent on it? Why, more to the point, is one incredibly rich and affluent religion failing to fund itself? After all, I and many others have no interest in seeing a theologically conservative and thoroughly indoctrinated and old-fashioned man, and don’t see why my money should pay for it. There is plenty of cash in the Catholic churches coffers, let me tell you, and I don’t see why they aren’t coughing it up.
Don’t get me wrong. I don’t have a problem with the Pope visiting. As the Queen said (good god, I am agreeing with the Queen!) earlier today, freedom of religion is very important in our country. The tax payer’s money funding it, however, seems more than a little cheeky…
