Music Mondays: The Lonely Island

IDK what's not to love about the latest digital short from The Lonely Island - John Waters, nerds, creppyness, Nicki Minaj and Jorma. This video just makes me super excited for their next album.

I love this more than I could possible put into words.

Peace Out

 - Brooke

Instax 52 weeks - week 4

Week 4 of 52

This is a clown that I have had for as long as I can remember. It's losing its yarn hair and a lot of the face paint has disappeared but I love it anyway. 

It's been a scorcher of a day today and I've spent the day in our cool house watching blu ray DVDs (are they still DVDs?) on my new blu ray player. 

I'll be back tomorrow or Tuesday to share pics from last nights CSS gig - what a super rad night that was!!

Peace out
- Brooke

Purple Again

If you couldn't tell already I get very bored with normal coloured hair. Even though over Christmast it felt festive and fun to have bright red hair I had gotten to the point of boredom once again. Add to that the fact that everytime I went anywhere I would see a whole bunch of people with the exact same coloured hair as mine and it was time for a change.

Last night I put a packet mix purple hair dye directly over the red. The last time I dyed my hair red I used the Schwarzkopf new Excellence range and I was happy with how even it came out so I decided to try my luck again and purchased the Brilliance Luminance in the Ultra Violet.

Purple feels like my go to colour when I'm feeling bored. I usually only dye the underneath or a partial chunk of my hair purple but this year I'm going to be brave and embrace the whole head of purpleness.

I love it. It came out so much more even and vibrant than I expected and has mixed so well with the existing red that was already covering my hair. It'll be interesting to see how long this colour holds and what colour it fades to. I think next time I might have to invest in some SFX hair colour but for now this is perfect.

I really would love to put a streak of turquoise in the side of this hair - maybe that will be step 2.

What do you think? Do you have a go to hair colour?

Peace out

 - Brooke

P.S It appears the only place inside my house that I can get great lighting is in the bathroom with me sitting in the bath or leaning over it. Does that happen to anyone else? What are some tips for getting better natural light in your shots? What do you do?

P.P.S That necklace was a Christmas gift that my sisters bought from Shanalogic.com - you can get your own HERE. The silver stars in my hair are Christmas card peg clips that I bought from Big W super cheap. I have a whole bunch of them just laying around. I use them to display my instax mini photos but I think the silver goes well with my new hair colour.

Fortune Cookie Hottest 100

Yesterday was Australia Day so as any Australian does I hung out with friends eating lamb (well they ate lamb - I ate chicken), drinking and listened to Triple J's Hottest 100.

This year to make things interesting Lauren had some fortune cookies and on the back of these fortunes were a bunch of numbers - we decided that these numbers corresponded with the numbers of songs in the countdown and the person with the worst song would get pushed in Laurens pool. We were letting fate decided who'd end up sad and drenched for our amusement.

* My fortune*

My fortune cookie list:
#2  Big Red - Rock It
#17 Mark Ronson & The Business Intl. - Bang Bang Bang {ft MNDR & Q Tip)
#28 Darwin Deez – Radar Detector
#33 Tame Impala – Solitude Is Bliss
#36 Chiddy Bang – Opposite Of Adults
#42 Gorillaz – On Melancholy Hill

All in all I think I ended up with a pretty good list - though I don't much rate Tame Impala.
 

 
Leah's list:
#5 Boy & Bear – Fall At Your Feet
#22 Children Collide – Jellylegs
#25 Gotye – Eyes Wide Open
#26 Crystal Castles – Not In Love {Ft. Robert Smith}
#30 Yeasayer – O.N.E
#32 Foster The People – Pumped Up Kicks

Lauren's list:
#5 Boy & Bear – Fall At Your Feet
#16 The Jezabels – Mace Spray
#18 Cloud Control – There’s Nothing In The Water We Can’t Fight
#28 Darwin Deez – Radar Detector
#31 The National – Bloodbuzz Ohio
#37 Gorillaz – Doncamatic {Ft. Daley}

 
Crystal's list:
#1 Angus & Julia Stone – Big Jet Plane
#12 Drapht – Rapunzel
#15 Duck Sauce – Barbara Streisand
#22 Children Collide – Jellylegs
#26 Crystal Castles – Not In Love {Ft. Robert Smith}
#35 Mark Ronson & The Business Intl. – The Bike Song {Ft. Kyle Falconer & Spank Rock}

We decided Leah lost with the Foster The People song purely because we didn't know it all that well. She didn't end up in the pool.

Crystal had to work and turned up to Laurens to pick me up about 6pm. We were supposed to go to the movies that evening but since I had been enjoying a few beverages and the countdown was still in the 30's she didn't make me go (sometimes sisters can be nice).

I was supposed to dye my hair purple yesterday but as you can probably guess I got distracted. I thought I would have time to do it tonight but we went and saw True Grit (AMAZING). I think I needed some subtitles when Jeff Bridges was mumbling to understand his drunken rants but it was a marvellous movie. I have to dye my hair tomorrow night because I want purple hair for CSS on Saturday night. I'm pretty nervous to see how the purple takes over the red. It should turn out interesting enough (I hope).

Oh I'm far too busy for my own good.

Over and Out

 - Brooke

Music Mondays: CSS

Today I'm going back to what I planned to share last Monday (before I was distracted) - CSS.

CSS are a band originating from Sao Paulo Brazil and are known for their dance-rock-indie-pop-sexy music (I think that's an apt description). After signing to SupPop Records the band released an English version of their very popular debut album CSS.

It was late 2006 that I was introduced to this glorious band. They had just performed an intimate show at Revolver Nightclub in Melbourne and I was reading all about it (but not actually going to the gig) online through friends of friends of friends. I was working at a record store at the time and decided to give their album a listen while I was pricing stock - it was instant addiction.

Their music is catchy, fun, cheeky, energetic, gleeful and when listening to their music I feel like I'm at the coolest party in the world (even if I'm in my bathroom by myself getting ready to start the day). I've had the pleasure of seeing them at big music festivals (Glastonbury), smaller venues and big venues. Every time it's a bright explosion of fun.

This Saturday night I get to see them at The Corner Hotel in Richmond and I am so excited I could squeel. It's been almost 3 years since I last saw them at the last V Festival in Melbourne and the closer it gets to this show the more I realise I've missed going to a seriously fun gig.

I love CSS and so should YOU!

WEBSITE: HERE
TWITTER: HERE
FACEBOOK: HERE
MYSPACE: HERE

Peace Out Lovelies!

 - Brooke

Instax 52 weeks - week 3

Week 3 of 52.

My puppy is so cute but sometimes can be so difficult to photograph. He's a bit too hyper and big and hairy but I love him to pieces.

It's been a great weekend. Today I went shopping and although I only bought a heart shaped bag (cute!!!!) I managed to overcome that shopping sadness with a viewing of Black Swan and Salsa for lunch. While I'm on the Black Swan subject I just want to join in on the super love fest that's circulating for Natalie Portman and this movie. It was INTENSE! Brilliantly acted and created and just simply amazing.

Time for me to relax and de-tense by watching Sweet Home Alabama (I know what a change).

Peace out friends
- Brooke

Why I Love: Parks & Recreation

Rob Lowe Goes Nuts from Rob Lowe

Oh it's almost back. I'm so excited I can barely contain it. This show would have to be one of my favourite comedies to come out of the USA in the past few years (it's on par with Community and The Office - I love it THAT much).

It's a cute funny little show filmed in the same faux documentary style as The Office but it centres around a small Parks department in Pawnee. It has the quirky characters, the loveable characters and the down right mental characters.

I'm more excited about season 3 because they've somehow managed to get Rob Lowe and Adam Scott to join the cast on a reoccuring basis. Oh man this season is going to be great! *EXCITED FACE*

Check out their official website HERE

Buy Season 1 HERE and Season 2 HERE from Amazon (or for Australian buyers get Season 1 from JB Hi-Fi HERE)

Do you guys have any shows that you're looking forward to starting soon?

Glitter Sparks & Happyness

x x x

Brooke

Music Mondays: I really needed this

I know this is a day late. I really wanted to post this last night but our computer was scanning for viruses and my iPad was not allowing me to embed.

Last night I intended to post about CSS but then in my youtube searching I came across this video of The Killers live at Glastonbury 2007 and my decision on what to post was made for me.

I was actually in the front row of this crowd and it was one the greatest concert moments of my life. There is not many things better than being in a crowd of multiple thousands of people chanting "I've got soul but I'm not a soldier".

Just watch it and maybe you'll understand a tiny bit.

I was going to let this one wait until next week but I needed to watch this again today for my sanity.

Can I go back to this moment please?  

Glitter Sparks & Happyness

x x x

Brooke

Instax 52 weeks - week 2

I promised that all my instax photos wouldn't be of my nieces and nephew but when they're this cute on film it's hard to not include them.

Oh I'm going to love this project. The nieces are obsessed with this camera. I think they love the fact that a photo pops out straight away. They are facinated with the mini photos and LOVE to watch them develop. The squeal, yell and giggle as the photos develop then they run around showing everyone the finished photos - so cute!

How's everyone elses Instax projects going? Remember share links so I can check them out!

Glitter Sparks & Happyness

x x x

Brooke

Sideshow madness

Last week was such a busy week for me. Not only was it my first week as the official store manager at my travel agency (hello promotion!) but we had a bunch of Falls Festival sideshows to experience. Summer festival time is always my favorite time of the year - there are so many amazing bands performing in our city. Not only did I head out to see Lightspeed Champion but I managed to see 3 other favorite bands.

Hot Hot Heat played at the Corner Hotel in Richmond on Monday the 3rd. I always have so much fun at a Hot Hot Heat show. Lead singer Steve has the best Afro in the biz and is the best front man to have staring contests with.

Their music reminds me of our time in London. We we living in London when their 3rd album was released and as we had limited access to new music it was on high rotation in our room. Their music is fun and has a great punch to it.

INTERPOL INTERPOL INTERPOL!!! Interpol played at the Palace Theatre in Melbourne on Friday the 7th. As I mentioned previously I have so much love for this band. They are captivating, brooding, enthralling and I simply can't get enough. Friday night was no exception.

Not only did we get a fine collection of older songs but they also played a gripping version of The New & ended the night with one of my favorite encore song selections ever (NYC, PDA & Not Even Jail). Perfection!

**** OMG HOW YOUNG DOES MR BANKS LOOK  (/end fangirl moment - but srsly *swoon*)****

Saturday the 8th we returned to the Corner Hotel for a super fun dance party with The Rapture. It was a stinking hot day and though it had cooled down by the evening it was a sweaty dancing evening finished off with a stage invasion.

All in all a very fun week. It's not over yet music wise. This month I'm going to see CSS at the Corner Hotel and then next month it's 3 Andrew McMahon shows across the country (weather permitting).

I re-dyed my hair last night and went and had a trim today. I'm currently sitting on my futon watching Harry Potter #3 (I'm having my own little marathon) and all I can smell is my dog. He has that horrible wet dog smell because we've had some mental weather here this week. I'm not going to complain about it anymore though because there are people out there dealing with a much more temperamental mother nature than we are ATM.

Gotta go enjoy the rest of this movie & paint my nails.

Glitter sparks & Happyness
x x x

Brooke

52 weeks

It's decided - I'm joining in.

I've always wanted to do a 365 photo project but I know my attention span would destroy my ability to keep taking a photo a day for a whole year. I saw over on Kaylahs' blog that she's doing 52 weeks of Instax and I think it's a brilliant idea.

I am going to take at least one Instax Mini photo per week and will post it here on the blog every week. I'm thinking I'll post it every Sunday because it seems like a day that I'll be home.

**** EDIT - I've also joined the 52 weeks flickr group created by Veronica over at Crack the Sky - she created this awesome button that links to the flickr group that I have on the side of my page (and below). It's a lovely place where we can all share our journeys.

Let me know if you're doing it too so I can check out all the different pics - I'll try my hardest for them all to not just be my nieces and nephew. I can't promise anything though - they take the cutest pictures.

Glitter Sparks & Happyness

x x x

Brooke

thedwarf.com.au Lightspeed Champion

Last Sunday I ventured out after a day of pyjama wearing watching movies to the East Brunswick Club to photograph Lightspeed Champion's Pyramid Rock Festival Sideshow for thedwarf.com.au (geez try saying that sentance 3 times fast).

I arrived at the venue at 9.45pm (which is relatively early) to find that he was already on-stage - thankfully this was to be an early show which meant a not too late night.

* As always - click on the image to be taken to the gallery at thedwarf.com.au *

To be honest I was a little worred about this gig - usually the lighting at the EBC is not the best and it's a pretty dark venue at the best of times - add to that Dev's delicious dark skin and I was worried I wouldn't capture him as well as I should. My worries were not warranted - not only was the lighting moody and atmospheric (but still bright enough) but my newest lens is so awesome the photos turned out lovely. I must be getting better at this.

* As always - click on the image to be taken to the gallery at thedwarf.com.au *

The show was glorious - Dev was sweet and charming and his voice was beautiful. I've listened to a little bit of his cd's before but I don't think I've given them enough of my time - his music is delightful.

Check out more of his music at his webite HERE, at his myspace HERE, on his flickr HERE

I've been a busy girl this week - it was my first week as the official manager of my travel agency, I helped unpack all my Grandmas stuff at her new house, and I've seen many lovely bands (one more tonght). I think I'll post some more photos from the bands (all p&s camera) in one blog after tonights show - seems the easier way to write all about them.

Today I'm going to relax, try to stay cool and eat an icy pole before trying to get myself ready in this heat for tonight. It feels like summer has finally arrived.

Glitter Sparks & Happyness

x x x

Brooke

Falls Festival 2010 - 2011

New Years can sometimes be a big disappointment so the best way to combat that is to go to a 2 day music festival interstate. We've been terribly unfortunate to miss out on ballot tickets for the Falls Festival in Lorne Victoria (our home state) so this was the second year that we decided to cross the Bass Strait and head to Marion Bay in Tasmania for the much more relaxed version of the Falls Festival.

Rather than using my words to try and explain the couple of days when we camped near the beach and listened to glorious music, I'm going to use some pictures - more after the "jump" (lots more!)

HAPPY 2011

How did you spend your New Years?

This is how I celebrated mine:

INTERPOL!!!!!

I'm home from the Falls Festival in Marion Bay, Tasmania where I spent the past 3 days in the sunshine dancing to some of my favourite bands. I'll post more pictures of this adventure in a couple of days once I've had a chance to sift through the photos.

HAPPY 2011!!!

Glitter Sparks & Happyness

x x x

Brooke