Brilliance in the form of a video

Best opening sequence for an awards show ever!!! Well it's as good as Hugh Jackman at the Oscars IMO.

Brilliant!!

Also I dyed my hair - the bottom half of it is BLUE!!! I'll take proper photos soon but I got home and it was dark and the photos never turn out as good so here's an iPhone taken photo.

It's turned out to be a fabulous colour. I love it so much I'm going to add more blue & darken the brown a little. That will happen Thursday night since vie got a work function tomorrow night. So that puts proper photos back until the weekend - so bare with me.

Glitter Sparks & Happyness
x x x
Brooke

Music Mondays: Awesome Songs

It's that time of week again - Music Mondays.

This past week we were asked in our store to bring together 5 - 10 songs to make an awesome playlist that we can play instore. The songs can be anything you liked but the purpose of the songs were that they made you smile or feel good.

Of course my list couldn't stop at 10 so I put together 26 songs that make me smile and are totally awesome. Some of them (by certain artists) I would have chosen differently but they had to have no swearing - it's missing early Kings of Leon (purely because they swear in the songs I love the most).

• Sam's Town (Abbey Road Version) - The Killers
• Knights of Cydonia - Muse
• All You Need Is Love - The Beatles
• The Pioneers - Bloc Party
• Vanilla - British India
• ...Baby One More Time - Britney Spears
• London Calling - The Clash
• Good Girls Go Bad - Cobra Starship
• Patins - CSS
• NYC - Interpol
• The Resolution - Jack's Mannequin
• It Aint Me Babe - Joaquin Phoenix & Reese Witherspoon (from Walk the Line Soundtrack)
• Cocaine Blues - Johnny Cash
• We Are Your Friends - Justice
• LSF - Kasabian
• Can't Stand Me Now - The Libertines
• Anyone Else But You - Moldy Peaches

(It's not the Moldy Peaches version but I still love it to pieces - Ahhhh Juno)

• Woo! Alright - Yeah... Uh Huh - The Rapture
• Up All Night - Razorlight
• My Love Is Stronger Than Your Love - Red Riders
• Run - Snow Patrol
• Hard To Explain - The Strokes
• A-Punk - Vampire Weekend
• Kill The Director - The Wombats
• Don't Stop Believing - GLEE VERSION
• Your Song - Ewan McGregor (from Moulin Rouge Soundtrack)

After I submitted this list I kept on remembering other songs that I would have put on here (I mean there's no ELVIS) . This list is filled with songs that I always go back to to make me smile and that will pull me out of any kind of funky mood that I have managed to get myself into.

It's a tough thing deciding which songs will make you smile everytime you listen to it - try it, I promise you'll stall and then once the list is made you'll make excuses as to why you forgot other songs that you've remembered after writing the list (I know I did - I'm still making excuses).

One of my work mates said to me - "It's ok to have missed songs because when we get sick of this list we can just make another one". I don't think I'd ever get sick of these songs though I wouldn't mind adding to it as we go along.

Glitter Sparks & Happyness

x x x

Brooke

P.S I'm seriously going to dye my hair now. I got distracted by Camp Rock and Criminal Minds (polar opposites) yesterday and then the night just flew by. Blue hair TONIGHT! I'm such a procrastinator when I don't know how something is going to turn out.

Movie I MUST watch

Holy cow! Can someone please tell me when this movie is going to get a release in Australia?!?!? Or at the very least when it gets leaked on the interwebz can someone tell me where?!?!

This looks so ridiculously brilliant I can barely watch the trailer without freaking out.

Ok now I'm off to go put blue hair dye in my hair!

Glitter Sparks & Happyness

x x x

Brooke

**EDIT** I've just found the following trailer - so spooky! I think being buried alive would be simply horrible and this trailer alone gives me the creeps - but I want to see it.

 

Looks like we've got some amazing movies coming out soon and I for one cannot wait.

A Storm Invades Australia: Week 2

At the beginning of the month I posted about week 1 of Stormy's visit. Well I figured now is as good a time as any to fill you in on the second week - the week we travelled and enjoyed being tourists in our own country.

L-R: Storm, Me, Lauren & Crystal (back)

Our journey started from Melbourne to Sydney where we spent 2 nights and 3 days running around, shopping, visiting iconic Sydney things (like the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House - but you've seen them before so I'll just show you the fun pictures) and basically having a great time together.

I don't usually eat all that many cupcakes but for some reason when the American arrived all I wanted was Red Velvet and luckily for me I could find it wherever I went.

L-R: Crystal, Storm, Lauren & Me

On our first night in Sydney we decided to (I'm not sure how) do make-overs and we all ended up with a massive lightning bolt and mega 80's hair. I honestly do not know how I managed to end up with the black lightning bolt (it was annoying to wash off) and my hair didn't appreciate the mass teasing (or back combing) but it was a funny night with many faces streaked with tears from too much laughing. We have SO many photos from this night but SO many of them are un-internet postable (but they may be made into a mini movie and posted at a date TBD).

On our second night in Sydney we met up with my Uncle Paul who had managed to organise free tickets to see the musical Wicked (he works for the Theatre Company who have it playing in Sydney). We had amazing seats and drank green "Oz-mopolitans". We heart Uncle Paul!

Next up was BEACH TIME! We headed further north after our adventures in Sydney - all the way to Palm Cove in Queensland. Palm Cove is a beautiful little spot between Cairns and Port Douglas and we were lucky enough to stay at the Sea Temple Resort & Spa (AAAMMMMAAZZZZIIINNNNG!!!). We got an upgrade to a 3 bedroom apartment with PLUNGE pool while we were there and I claimed the biggest room with the king sized bed (naturally).

I have never been this far north of Queensland before so this was a new experience for me - we travelled out to the Great Barrier Reef where Lauren and I managed to "Find Nemo" and view some spectacular fishes. It was so relaxing and as soon as you put your head under the water it felt like you were in another world. Lauren and I kept on waving at each other whenever we saw a new beautiful fish or bright blue starfish. It was a funny way to communicate underwater.

L-R: Leah, Storm, Lauren, Crystal & Me.

We also fed Kangaroos, went to a zoo, visited a crocodile park and saw jumping crocodiles from a boat, ate crocodile burgers, watched Jamies Food Revolution while eating Fish & Chips, drove around in Ron Burgandy, blasted Florence & The Machine wherever we went, Leah failed everytime we went out to dinner but made it up by getting free drinks, baked and ate cheese the entire time we were away and we chilled out on our outside patio drinking and listening to really loud music (Franz Ferdinand & Vasco Era FTW).

I always find travelling with these girls is really easy and fun - we've done it so many times now that it just seems like we could go anywhere together and we'd be fine. We had a blast being tourists together again and it was so lovely to be able to showcase a little slice of our country to a very dear friend.

I loved having Storm visit and I wish she could have stayed here longer. Now that she's gone again our house feels quieter.

I miss her already but I know that even though there are thousands of miles seperating us that we'll still be visiting each other when we're old and grey. I'll always have a place in my life for this lady - I only wish that I saw her more often and that we lived closer to each other.

Glitter Sparks & Happyness

x x x

Brooke

Music Mondays: Klaxons are like woah

Yeah that's right. Their new album is pretty unbelievable - in a fantastic way! There is more singing and chanting and it's pretty much superb.

I am very much looking forward to seeing them soon in Melbourne.

On a non-music note my hair is still purple. The blue dye should arrive tomorrow. At least my heart hopes so. I'm nervous but excited about the blue. No one seems to find it strange that I've decided on blue next but there is always that fear before the dye.

You know I'll post pictures once it's done.

Glitter Sparks & Happyness
x x x
Brooke

Friday funny: Justin Long FTW

A friend of mine posted a link to this interview with Justin Long on her Twitter. It's hilarious and makes me love that man so much more!!!

It's in three parts but I promise it's worth the watch!

One of the features that I love on my iPhone is that it saves text messages as a conversation. Just helps enhance the funny.

Glitter Sparks & Happyness
x x x
Brooke

Happy Shopper: More Shanalogic goodies

Today was a lazy day.

I spent a lot of the afternoon snuggled up on the couch watching Season 1 of Criminal Minds with a blanket wrapped around me (to save myself from the arctic weather that has settled in this week).

I also spent some time trying to figure out a way to re-design my blog (or at least edit the layout and header design) with very little luck. I'm not very html saavy and the templates were kicking my arse! Anyone who can offer help please do!!

So I decided to take some new happy shopper photos of items I have recieved from Shanalogic.com.

I've had this print by (I think) Helena Garcia for a very very long time but only now have I managed to frame it and give it the love and attention it deserves. It's no longer available in the shop but I love it so much I had to share.

For my birthday my siblings bought me all thing Shanalogic (it's nice to see I'm training them well) and one of said items was the Rubix Cube Necklace by Chemical X. I think the best thing about this necklace is that it is an actual WORKING Rubix Cube!! Perfect for the mega nerd inside me.

The other item the siblings bought me was the Alice Charm Bracelet by Locketship. I've been lusting after these items since they were initally posted on Shanalogic and I was super happy when I opened the packaging and it was this bracelet. It's so beautiful and cute and the heart "tings" against the other charms when I wear it so I walk around like a cat with a bell around it's neck.  

I'm a very very happy shopper anytime I order anything from Shanalogic - I'm an even happier shopper when it's a gift (because it means all my hinting and obsessing is being listened to).

I also got my hair cut today - I've lost the angled cut and it's back to normal now. The ends of my hair on the longer side were beyond frazzled so I decided to take the plunge and now I've got a kind of longer length bob. I'm yet to dye it blue (because the dye was out of stock - it should arrive next week) so I'll give it another good conditioning treatment or two before I attack it with bleach and blue dye.

All in all this was a very un-productive but lovely day.

Glitter Sparks & Happyness

x x x

Brooke

Music Mondays: music to save your mood

I know it's not Monday anymore but I had a bad day today and this was about the only thing that got me out of my funky mood.

Old school Kings of Leon cures all. Before the arenas, before "Sex on Fire", before the radio airplay, before the model girlfriends and famous friends there was just four boys playing amazing music.

To this day they still manage to save me from my horrible moods.

Glitter Love & Sparkles

x x x

Brooke

IT'S ARRIVED: iPAD LOVE!

I've had it for approximately 30 minutes and already I'm in love!

About a month ago at work we were told we all won iPads through an incentive that we had forgotten about - today they arrived!!!

Currently it's syncing with my iTunes but I cannot wait to figure out exactly what I can do with this beautiful creature of a machine. It's beautiful, sleek, and simply gorgeous! I don't know exactly what it's purpose is - all I know is I'm so happy I have one!

I'm going to JB Hi Fi to go buy accessories for this thing so that I can protect it as much as possible.

I brought it home and took photos because I just couldn't wait to share the amazingness!

I'm going to see Scott Pilgrim Vs The World tonight (it doesn't start for 3 hours so I have at least 2 hours with the iPad before I have to leave it).

'Scuze me while I disappear for a few days (I'm SOOOO glad I have the weekend off)

Glitter Sparks & Happyness

x x x

Brooke

Music Mondays: We Are Scientists review

** We Are Scientists - photo by ME! **

Ahh We Are Scientists - is there anything better?

I went to this show on behalf of Rave Review (even though I had already bought a ticket - my friend Lauren enjoyed it for free) and my review of the evening is up for all to enjoy.

ASH and WE ARE SCIENTISTS @ Billboards 04/08/10

WORDS BY: Brooke Jagoe

WOW! Check out the full gallery HERE! (Photos by Laurence Barnes)

Co-headlining shows don’t work properly in Melbourne. It’s a fact – especially when the bands are not really similar enough for the co-headline label to be used.

This was the feeling of many people who turned up to Billboards on Wednesday night for the W.A.S.H double header. While this combination would have worked in the UK, it didn’t here. Those who were there early were only there for We Are Scientists and those who turned up later were only there for Ash – there was no middle ground, at least not from the people I spoke to.

Read the rest here...

I realised after it was posted that there are some grammatical errors in the review (going from present to past tense etc) but I'm blaming the excessive tiredness that had worn me down last week. I'm only just starting to catch up on the sleep I've been missing out on.

Glitter Sparks & Happyness

x x x

Brooke

Engulfed in music videos

* We Are Scientists setlist = scored! *

While I come down from the Splendour Sideshow high and are once again unable to string together enough words to warrant a blog I thought I'd share a couple of videos from the bands who have invaded my whole being over the past 7 days.

WE ARE SCIENTISTS - It's pretty much always about them. This isn't a music video like what I've shared before but a mini film that shows the extra side to them that I love so much.

And here's a their music video for "Nice Guys" - an amazing bad-ass scooter video that shows that the SilverFox has mad skillz.

THE STROKES - as previously mentioned it was my first time seeing them live and I'm still trying to find the words. Here's one of my absolute favourite video clips (possibly ever) for "Heart in a Cage". It's so simple but so eye catching.

FLORENCE & THE MACHINE - this woman is a powerhouse. She belted out song after song to a sold out arena and left tingles up my spine and tears in my eyes. This video clip is pretty much what I'd want my own video clip to look like (if I had that kind of talent as a musician) - the sparkles, the lights, the glitter - ahh Florence!

FOALS - I've already written about how much I love this band and shared 2 of their videos but there is something about this band that totally sucks me in everytime. This video for "Spanish Sahara" is mesmirising.

30 SECONDS TO MARS - probably seems like a strange mix to throw in with this bunch but it was absolutely amazing. This video for their new single "Closer to the Edge" is one of the most beautiful videos that incorporate live footage that I have ever seen - and then there's that moment the piercing blue eyes draw you in and takes your breath away.

TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB - SO much energy that you just want to dance and shake your booty (evidence was the kid that was right near me - he was so into the music he kept hitting his butt into me. He was having such a blast you couldn't help but smile at him). This is the super cute video for their song "Something Good Can Work"

I know it's not Monday but I've been hanging out with these awesome bands for the past 7 days (by hanging out I mean being in the crowd dancing and singing my heart out and living in their music). It's been a super tiring week and my eyes are currently hanging out of my head but I wish it wasn't over already.

I've got to somehow review the show I went to last night - it's my mission for tomorrow night - and once it's up I'll share. I've also got part 2 of the Stormy visit and more stories from my London trip (gosh that feels like so long ago now).

Glitter Sparks & Happyness

x x x

Brooke

A Storm invades Australia - week 1

On July 13th 2010 I had my first official camp friend come and visit me and stay with me and allow me to show her around my country. I've had some camp friends get in contact with me on their travels through Melbourne but they've never come to Australia purely to hang out with me - until now.

My lovely friend Laura (who shall henceforth be known as Storm - because that's what we call her) travelled all the way from California to join me and my friends on a little adventure. It's not unusual that she's done this - we had her meet us in London in '07 for a 3 month trip and we spent a week with her last year in her home town on our USA adventure. We're travel buddies and are already planning for another journey.

Here's a photo journey that gives you an idea of what we got up to for the first week.

We took Storm to an AFL match where we drank a lot of beer, ate meat pies and watched the mighty Collingwood thrash the pants of St Kilda.

On my b'day we headed to the ACMI in Melbourne to check out the new Tim Burton Exhibition. We couldn't take photos inside the exhibition but I got a bit too excited by the bat-mobile! This exhibition took my breath away - being a Tim Burton fan I was in nerd heaven!

We also wandered the alleyways of Melbourne and took silly photos while trying to find a cupcake shop. I got a mini red velvet (!) cupcake.

Other things we got up to: pizza pirate parties complete with flashback  movies (Don't Tell Mum The Babysitters Dead), Summer Heights High marathons, pavlova and pasta nights, drinks by the Yarra River, failed attempts to get a taxi to take us out - resulting in geeking out on Star Trek, dinner parties with my family which include Kyla (my niece) proclaiming that she "loves Stormy", lots of Nandos (because apparently they don't have it in the USA) and somehow managing to have a Twilight marathon without trying (it's becoming a tradition).

Week 2 will be coming soon - I'll post it this week, it's just I didn't want to overload with the photos. I had over a thousand to chose from!

Glitter Sparks & Happyness

x x x

Brooke