Blonde keyboard

Everyone knows a few blonde jokes even though there is no scientific proof of blondes lacking in intellectual ability, the media however spins a different story with movies like legally blonde & countless spoof movies like scary movie. One company seems to have taken it further with a rather quirky concept which they call “the blonde keyboard” - it’s a simple idea really, the bubblegum pink keys have little helpful descriptions. The number keys have little domino markings, backspace is now “opps!”, caps is cleverly marked as “WARNING size xxl letters”. the first time I saw it I thought it was ridiculous but after seeing it close-up I have to say its kind of grown on me & I can definitely see the humorous side of it, be warned though if you are not immune to the power of pink then you might be required to wear shades when operating this quirky piece of machinery.

Chanel spring makeup

Chanel just announced their make-up collection for spring 2009 & at first glance its obvious they have gone back to boho. The last month has been freezing & January too is set to be equally as cold but its clear Chanel have been looking forward into the warmer days we hopefully have coming. The collection is inspired by Coco Chanels undying love for fashionable bohemian styles & looks. Reds are prominent in the collection with gorgeous deep eye shadows, soft nude lips, both nail polishes “vendetta” & “django” go perfect with any spring outfit. My favourite thing about the collection so far is the limited edition satin lip colour compact that comes in 5 satin shades all in crème from yummy deep plum to a soft pale pink, it all comes in a gorgeous double-c shaped Chanel trademarked container.

crazy woman paints her car

If you were given 250 bottles of nail polish what would you do with them? Well one woman found the answer by painting her car entirely in nail polish. One day Jill Bell from Maryland in the USA noticed a bump on her car so she took some nail polish & painted over the bump in the shape of a band-aid. She liked the results so much that she then decided she wanted to paint her car entirely in nail polish! So after going through over 250 bottles of polish she was finally finished. She managed to get the bottles of nail polish with the help of people in her local church & her local clubs, the car she painted was a 1993 Saturn & apparently the whole job took 13 months..its just a pity the end result looks so nasty hence me not posting a pic of the actual car.

Bagtv

Bagtv is a new idea combining luxury bags with entertainment technology. The idea is simple enough luxury bags that you can watch a dvd or media file on. The bags themselves come in a range of different colours & fabrics but frankly I think they look kind of tacky. The dvd/media player doesn’t look the best either & I already have my doubts as to how long the battery life is..ok so it’s a good idea but the bags are not exactly stunning & the media player doesn’t impress. What I do when I want to watch a movie on the go is use my creative zen vision:m player - it does the same job as media player mentioned & a whole lot more so really even though the batgv is a good idea its not exactly value for money & lacks actual style. If however you do like the idea & would like to purchase one then simply visit bagtvs main website.

Sales dates

Another one of my favourite things about Christmas has to be the late December & January sales, almost every shop you can think of is having a sale & after checking out most of the sites to see what’s on offer I’m happy to report its all looking great especially warehouses generous 70% off selection, happy hunting.

Topshop - Sale starts 26th Dec
Warehouse - 50% off now, 70% off Partywear from Boxing Day
Oasis - Sale now on, up to 50% off
Net a Porter - Sale starts 27th December, up to 50% off
My Wardrobe - Sale now on, 30% - 50% off
Miss Selfridge - Sale now on
Dorothy Perkins - Sale now on, new lines just added, up to 50% off
French Connection - Sale now on, up to 60% off
New Look - Sale now on
Marks & Spencer - Sale starts Christmas Day online, 27th Dec instore River Island - Sale online now, starts 26th Dec instore
Agent Provocateur - Sale now on, up to 50% off
La Senza - Sale now on, up to 50% off

Department stores
Harrods - 27th Dec
Harvey Nichols - 27th Dec
Liberty - 26th Dec
Selfridges - 27th Dec
Fenwick - 27th Dec
Debenhams - 26th Dec
House of Fraser - 26th Dec
John Lewis - 27th Dec

Party strap solution

Ready for new years & the parties that come with it..of course! Got the perfect dress?..definitely! Oh but..this strap doesn’t go with..argh! that’s right it’s the dilemma of the annoying bra strap even the strapless kind, its never easy to find the right underwear to go with a party dress but I did see a really good solution today. Brastraps.com offer a great selection of straps that are elegant & offer an extra little bit of style not to mention they are very secure. From jewelled straps with Swarovski crystals to freshwater pearls they will enhance the look of any party dress & they are perfect for a last minute glitzy look. Oh & they are not hard to use either they just snap onto any bra that has detachable straps, even if you don’t get them for the party season they can still be used to change the look of some of your favourite tops & dresses, they are currently having a 40% off sale at the moment but it ends on the 1st of January.

La senza gets pussycat dolls

A few weeks ago I posted the new collection of pussycat lingerie exclusive to bebe well now they have released their eagerly awaited collection for the amazing la senza. So which store got the best deal? Well I’d have to say la senza, there is obviously more to each item of clothing from appearance to actual design. The prices for each store seem to be almost identical but there are a few price differences here and there however its nothing major & because its la senza its always great value for money, if you want to get your hands on this new collection then pop into your nearest store because they are being snapped up for Christmas extra quick. On a similar note agent provocateurs 50% off sale began today on their website & will begin in stores on the 27th of December - after seeing what’s on offer I have to say its not their best sale yet but maybe the stores themselves will have more to offer.

Last minute party makeup

Are you a lover of nail polish? Then if the answer is yes it would be wise to check out the new Chanel paris-moscow collection. There are three currently available “nuit de russie” Russian night, “or de russie” Russian gold & “feu de russie” Russian fire, the base of each polish is black but the comes with a unique hint of colour that includes gold, red & blue sparkles that reflect the light & are perfect with any metallic eye make up you may be wearing this season..the only problem is the price tag, its currently retailing at 30 to 35 euros - santa please take note.

More party make-up, I already mentioned the new metallic’s range of Chanel polish that’s perfect for the party season so to match the eyes I would have to recommend bobbi browns new collection called simply “the party collection”. what’s in it? Six glitter glosses for the lips & six soft shades of shadow, all six perfectly demonstrate how great your party makeup can be when used right & the great thing with this collection is its easy application. There are custom mirrored palettes available too that can house your favourite shades so its perfect for home use or busy on the go, either way it wont let you down if you are looking for a more sophisticated look in this season of soirees & festivities.

*Xmas stuff*

My Christmas tree..well the top half anyways, its too big to fit in one shot - looks like even the angel was cropped oh well = )

Paul Williams (dirty money)

I have always been a big fan of Paul Williams series of books on organized crime in Ireland & its no surprise that after such a long string of publishing’s behind him that a DVD was to follow. Williams is more widely known for his work on the Sunday world newspaper as the resident crime correspondent & its no surprise that he holds the title, not only does he do the full research on the criminals that he writes about but he is constantly putting him in the line of fire. Ireland was rocked back in July 1996 when crime journalist Veronica Guerin was assassinated by a gang of drug traffickers & it’s those same traffickers that threatened the life of Williams too. The DVD was aired as a 6 part series on tv3 & concentrated mainly on establishment of the CAB (criminal assets bureau) - before the CAB Irish gangland was thriving & there was nothing the law enforcement community or even the government could do about it. After the murder of Guerin Ireland was galvanised in such a way that the people were calling for a change & so the law was changed to seize the proceeds of organized crime. Each episode runs at almost an hour long & tackles a different area ranging from government corruption to the godfathers of not only Irish but international organized crime & even to the vast wealth of the provisional IRA. Targets investigated & profiled in the series include the mastermind Martin Cahill “the general”, Gerry Huth “the monk” & of course the man charged with the murder of Guerin..john Gilligan. Having read the book “ the untouchables” the series didn’t exactly provide me with anything I didn’t already know but for anyone who is interested in organized crime especially Irish OC should definitely check this out. Its extremely well produced & really doesn’t blow anything out of proportion - it sticks to the facts & that’s what’s so powerful about it, few people really understand the size of organized crime in Ireland & after seeing this they will. With such detail & innovating production quality “dirty money” is sure to score high on the list of DVDs bought this Christmas - if however DVDs are not your thing then I would highly recommend any of the books by Paul Williams on the same topic.

***Happy Xmas***

I haven’t been updating by blog over the last few days due to christmas madness, busy finishing off christmas shopping & doing a million other things so happy christmas to everyone & have a wonderful new years

lisa
x

Top movies of 2008

1. The Dark Knight
Batman raises the stakes in his war on crime. With the help of Lieutenant Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman sets out to dismantle the remaining criminal organizations that plague the city streets. The partnership proves to be effective, but they soon find themselves prey to a reign of chaos unleashed by a rising criminal mastermind known to the terrified citizens of Gotham as The Joker.
“one of the best movies I have ever seen”

2. Taken

Bryan (Liam Neeson), a former secret agent living in the US. He is skilled in hand to hand combat, divorced; and loves his 17-year-old daughter Kim (Maggie Grace) who lives with his ex-wife and her new husband Stuart (Xander Berkeley). Kim wants to take a vacation in Europe with her friend Amanda (Katie Cassidy), and together follow U2's European tour. Kim's mother allows this, but Kim also needs permission from her father. Since Kim fears that Bryan will not consent, she pretends that they will only stay in Paris. Reluctantly, Bryan agrees. In Paris Kim is abducted by an Albanian mafia group who specialise in human trafficking, the race is on for him to get his daughter back before she disappears forever.
“non-stop action from Liam Neeson”

3. The Strangers
After returning from a wedding reception, a couple staying in an isolated vacation house receive a knock on the door in the mid-hours of the night. What ensues is a violent invasion by three strangers, their faces hidden behind masks. The couple find themselves in a violent struggle, in which they go beyond what either of them thought capable in order to survive.
“terrifying because it could happen”

4. Wanted
A young man finds out his long lost father is an assassin. When his father is murdered, the son is recruited into his father's old organization and trained by a man named Sloan to follow in his dad's footsteps. The anxious, clumsy and abused office clerk Wesley Allan Gibson has a hell and boring routine life: his obese boss humiliates him all the time and his girlfriend betrays him with his colleague and best friend during working period. When he meets the sexy Fox, Wesley is informed that his father was a professional killer that belonged to an ancient organization called Fraternity and killed by the skilled and powerful Cross, a hit-man that has betrayed the Fraternity. Wesley learns that his anxiety actually is a manifestation of his latent abilities and he joins the society under the command of Sloan. Trained by Fox, he changes his personality and attitude, being prepared to face the dangerous Cross and find a hidden secret.
“action packed bullet curving fun”

5. Step Brothers
Brennan Huff and Dale Doback are both about 40 when Brennan's mom and Dale's dad marry. The sons still live with the parents so they must now share a room. Initial antipathy threatens the household's peace and the parents' relationship. Dad lays down the law: both slackers have a week to find a job. Out of the job search and their love of music comes a pact that leads to friendship but more domestic disarray compounded by the boys' sleepwalking. Hovering nearby are Brennan's successful brother and his lonely wife: the brother wants to help sell his step-father's house, the wife wants Dale's attention, and the newlyweds want to retire and sail the seven seas. Can harmony come from the discord?
“the funniest movie of the year”

6. Quantum of Solace
Seeking revenge for the death of his love, secret agent James Bond sets out to stop an environmentalist from taking control of a country's valuable resource.
“bonds back but lacking real finesse”

7. Get Smart
American Maxwell Smart works for a Government spy agency in an administrative capacity. When the agency's head office is attacked, the Chief decides to assign Maxwell as a spy and partners him with sexy Agent 99, much to her chagrin. The duo nevertheless set off to combat their attackers by first parachuting off an airplane and landing in Russian territory - followed closely by a over seven foot tall, 400 pound goon, known simply as Dalip. The duo, handicapped by Maxwell's antics, will eventually have their identities compromised, and may be chalked up as casualties while back in America their attackers have already planted a bomb that is set-up to explode in a concert.
“cheesy but still good fun”

8. Doomsday
A lethal virus spreads throughout the British isles,infecting millions and killing hundreds of thousands. To contain the threat, acting authorities brutally quarantine the country as it succumbs to fear and chaos. The quarantine is successful. Three decades later, the Reaper virus violently resurfaces in a major city. An elite group of specialists, including Eden Sinclair, is urgently dispatched into the still-quarantined country to retrieve a cure by any means necessary. Shut off from the rest of the world, the unit must battle through a landscape that has become a waking nightmare.
“post apocalyptic thrill ride”

9. Iron Man
Tony Stark is the complete playboy who also happens to be an engineering genius. While in Afghanistan demonstrating a new missile he's captured and wounded. His captors want him to assemble a missile for them but instead he creates an armored suit and a means to prevent his death from the shrapnel left in his chest by the attack. He uses the armored suit to escape. Back in the U.S. he announces his company will cease making weapons and he begins work on an updated armored suit only to find that Obadiah Stane, his second in command at Stark industries has been selling Stark weapons to the insurgents. He uses his new suit to return to Afghanistan to destroy the arms and then to stop Stane from misusing his research.
“surprisingly fun & humorous”

10. You don’t mess with the Zohan
Zohan Dvir works as a Special Agent and lives with his orthodox parents in Israel. He wants to give up this life, which is full of dangerous encounters with Palestinians. While in the process of apprehending a Palestinian activist, known simply as the Phantom, he fakes his death, hides in a dog-kennel on a plane bound for New York, and decides to try his hand as a hair-stylist. He is refused employment initially, but when he offers to work for free, Dahlia hires him as a cleaner. When an hair-stylist, Debbie, quits, Zohan replaces her, wins over elderly female clientèle, and falls in love with Dahlia herself. Before Zohan could propose to her, Dahlia's landlord, Walbridge, who has been raising rents regularly, hires skinhead goons to terrorize the neighborhood, create misunderstandings between Jews, Muslim, Arabs, and Palestinians, and drive them out, so as to enable him to construct a new building which is topped by a roller coaster. When Zohan decides to confront these skinheads, he does not realize that he is in for quite a few surprises himself.
“adam sandler at his best”

Top video-games of 2008

Grand Theft Auto 4
“the GTA games have always offered a unique style of free roaming game play & this one is no exception - the character this time an eastern European hard man who arrives in liberty city you have battle your way through the underworld to make it to the top, the story is sharp & very engrossing - there are plenty of missions & side missions, sadly what really is missing is the over the top diversions from the other games, apart from that GTA4 is still the best game of the last year, its got more than enough to satisfy even the most hardcore gamer.”

Metal Gear Solid 4 & MG-online
“visually the best looking game I have seen in a long time, the MG series have always succeeded breaking ground for what videogames should play like - the story was impressive & rivalled many Hollywood blockbusters, the game play itself was flawless & the level design meshed perfectly with the character of snake - what really sold it for me was the inclusion of the online game MetalGearOnline which really shows how far online gaming can go - the best online game I have ever played.”

Left 4 Dead
“this game will change the way people play online, if you think going it alone to take on the hordes is a bright idea then you’ll be wrong - to survive here you have to work as a team or else end up being eaten by the undead. The bosses the AI & the environments all make you feel like you’re in you’re own horror movie - one of the best features has to be the ever changing way the game plays.”

Saints Row 2
“this game had everything that GTA4 didn’t, the over the top fun - it was all the side missions & diversions that really kept me playing this game, there are lots of unlockable rewards that really help make the game worth playing again, the best feature for me was the character customization - you can build your own character & then kit them out with clothing & jewellery, the shops that GTA missed out on Saints Row made up for, even the cars can be customized & as for missions? There are tons.”

Mercenaries 2: world in flames
“what really would have made the game better was to add more of a lifespan to it, the missions are very good & do keep you playing - there are a lot of features to unlock such as vehicles/weapons & costumes however it doesn’t change the fact that once you do complete the game & unlock everything there really is nothing else to do”

Call of Duty 5
“not as good as Call of Duty 4 but it will keep you playing until the release the next modern combat game, online it plays well & the new zombie mode provides a few laughs, as an online multiplayer COD5 plays exceptionally well but if like me you were used to using the more modern weapons then this WW2 shooter wont shine - only buy this if you are planning to get the online use out of it, otherwise wait until the next modern combat release.”

Tomb Raider Underworld
“the environments are crisp & clear, sadly the lack of a good control system & a constantly annoying camera keep this game from really excelling, if you are a fan of the series then you wont be disappointed.”


LittleBigPlanet
“sackboys world is a fun & creative one - exclusive to the play station 3 this platform is fun for all the family & will provide hours of game play, great for gamers of all ages.”

Far Cry 2
“online it plays well & the multiplayer death matches are highly enjoyable but as a single player mission driven game this really fails, the original was a great game but this newest instalment just didn’t live up to the hype - the level editor should keep you busy for a while.”

Man Hunt 2
“its nasty..its raw & its brutal, the original raised a world of controversy & this instalment raised so much controversy that it was banned - released finally & toned down the game is still highly extreme & really I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone who hasn’t played the original, they don’t get more hardcore than this - only for fans of the original.”

Games to look forward to in 2009
Resident Evil 5
Aliens: Colonial Marines
The Godfather II
Mafia II
Just Cause 2
Red Faction: Guerrilla
Call of Duty 6
Guitar Hero: Metallica
Top 10 albums of 2008

Barbie/Hello Kitty - yes! Dame Edna - fail!

In the past Mac collaborated with Barbie & it was a success, the new Hello Kitty collection looks fantastic but the latest…Dame Edna collection? Sorry but no. it looks awful & cheap in fact the first time I heard about the collection I thought it was a joke but alas it’s a reality. Launching in January the collection will include lipstick/lipglass/royal tour eye trio/wisteria eye trio/hi-light powder & a nail laquer..while it might seem like a nice collection but it looks too cheap - the red glasses..yuck, the purple just doesn’t work either - the only palatable part of the whole collection is the laquer. With the Hello Kitty collection launching soon after this I doubt many people will pounce on this one, in a word - fail.

Best DVD deal of the year

As a serious shopaholic I always go out of my way to look for the best deals & bargains out there & thought most times that only accounts for fashion its not always so, today for instance I saw one of the best DVD deals ever. Everyone has seen at least one of the Alien films after all they are some of the best sci-fi movies ever made & unless you have been living under a rock for the last 10 years you will also know there a series of predator movies too. Over the last few years the Alien movies have been sold in different box-sets for various prices, recently too the 2 alien vs. predator movies have also been sold in box-sets but today in HMV I picked up not only all 4 alien movies but the 2 avp movies & the 2 predator movies for only 20 euro, though I did have most of them already I would have to say it’s the best DVD bargain I have ever seen & it’s a perfect opportunity for anyone who wants all the movies at a very affordable price, they can be purchased on the HMV website too.

ALIEN is the chilling science fiction story of seven astronauts who become the victims of a galactic horror when they stumble upon an alien life form never seen before.In

ALIENS, Ripley is asked to go back to the planet where the aliens were first found, when communications with the colonists are lost.In ALIEN 3, Ripley finds herself a survivor of another alien attack. This time she finds herself on Fiorina 161, a penal colony. It is not long before Ripley realises that her doomed escape pod was contaminated with the alien. Now she is imprisoned on a planet where weapons are unavailable.

ALIEN RESURRECTION is set two hundred years after Ripley. A group of scientists clone her and the parasitic alien. Anxious to test out their new weapon the scientists abduct a crew. The alien escapes and takes control of the spacecraft with only 'Ripley' and a team of smugglers standing between it and Earth.

PREDATOR is set in the remote jungle of a Central American country, where an elite group of commandos led by Major Dutch Schaeffer embarks on a CIA mission to clear out a guerrilla stronghold and rescue the remaining hostages. However, the hunters become the hunted when a highly intelligent, otherwordly being slowly and methodically starts killing off members of Dutch's team.

PREDATOR 2 finds the police force of 1997 Los Angeles losing the battle against the drug lords and the gangs of thugs which control the streets. Suddenly the killers are the victims of an alien being..In

ALIEN VS PREDATOR, a group of archaeologists find themselves fighting for survival when they discover a number of aliens buried in the ice. Their survival rate is hampered further by the arrival of more aliens on a training mission.In

ALIENS VS PREDATOR - REQUIEM, a Predator on a homebound spacecraft has a baby alien/Predator hybrid burst from his chest, causing the ship to crash in the Colorado woods. Several facehugger specimens escape, planting eggs down the throats of a hunter and his son. The dead Predator's home planet receives a transmission of the alien outbreak, and a fellow denizen of his world is dispatched to clean up the multiplying aliens.

Bras for xmas (my personal picks)

Just a small overview of some of the bras in stores now for Christmas. I left out the prices because many of the stores are selling stock at various prices. The only problem I personally had was trying to find a matching pair of knickers to go with the Lise Charmel "Fantasme a Deux" bra, in the end I had to buy the bra in one shop & the knickers in another. If you are thinking about getting any of the ones mentioned then make sure you check first that they have the complete set. The prices I think are affordable enough & you really do get what you pay for in comfort & style.

Zombie confirms H2

After refreshing my myspace profile I noticed that someone on my friends list had changed their main pic..none other than Mr Rob Zombie, so what people change their pics all the time right? True but what caught my eye was the picture he is now using. At first I thought it was just a picture taken from his remake of Halloween but on closer inspection its obviously for a new Halloween movie, yep seems like the man who said he wouldn’t do a sequel is finally doing one for Halloween. His myspace page confirms it & a personal message from Rob states "It's on! I know it's been a rumour for awhile, but until it's a real deal I don't like to announce things." - production begins in march of 2009 with a possible release date coming October 2009. Friday the 13th is also being remade & is set to come out around the same time, I know which one my moneys on.

Mac + Hello Kitty = Meow!

In the past make-up giants Mac collaborated with Barbie & did it work? Oh yes it did it really did, the collection was sensational & sold record breaking numbers of product. This coming February will see Mac joining forces with another icon..Hello Kitty. Already the waiting lists are busy & fashionista’s are flocking to get top priority. The collection which will be officially released on the 10th of February will feature lipsticks, lip conditioners, glittery liners shimmery shadows, nail polish, sheer mystery powder & lots of pink. The waiting list itself will go live on January 7th so if you want to get your paws on this fab collection then act fast because it will only be available for a limited time of 8 weeks.

IsaDora's new diamond collection dazzles

First off..wowsers! IsaDora have always been easy to find & are always reasonably priced in fact they can be found in most pharmacies. I’m really impressed with their latest dazzling diamond collection its beyond fab. The diamond eye shadow palette comes with 5 metallic shades that are absolutely perfect for the winter season & will go with almost any outfit - its priced at only €19.95!, the mirror in the palette makes it perfect for something to just pop right into your handbag. Also impressive is the sliver plated crystal encrusted diamond ring lip gloss which comes in a yummy plum, priced at just €11.95 it’s a must have. Another product in the collection worth mentioning is the shimmer face powder called diamond glow which is priced at €15.95 - they are in available in store at the moment & wont be leaving the shelves until early February.

How to get the Japanese Resident Evil 5 demo working on your 360

Due to popular demand..I.E. people expressing great interest in wanting to play the new RE5 demo I have put together a little guide on how to get the demo working on any xbox 360 - for this you will need the following: an xbox 360 (obviously!) - a CD or DVD burner complete with a blank disc.. the RE5 file - I will not host this file directly for obvious reasons but if you contact me through mail/etc I will point you in the right direction.

Well first off this demo will work on all regions so don’t worry where your xbox came from - the main thing is that your machine is not illegally modified (chipped) if it is then forget about it. Lets get started

Instructions:

(1.) burn the content folder to a CD or DVD using a program like Nero, most CD/DVD burning programs should do the job

(your CD/DVD should look like this - see?)

(2.) turn on your xbox & go to the demos tab on your menu

(see the screenshot?)

RESIDENT EVIL 5 (demo review)

I got my paws on the Resident Evil 5 demo tonight & I have to say its all I expected it would be & more! First off the controls at first did seem very troublesome & a little ropey but this was easily fixed by changing the controls in the options menu. The aiming can be a little tricky too & there is a little issue of having to stand to shoot..hopefully this will be different in the full game, the quick turn does come in handy when you are overcome by crowds of enemies & believe me that happens quick enough! My tip here is to always remember to reload because you don’t want to be doing that when at the wrong moment. The enemies themselves are fierce & fast & will attack with knives & axes - & yes there is waves of them, you do feel a genuine fear as they charge & because ammunition can be scarce its sometimes better to run than to face them & run out of ammo. Perhaps the best feature is the co-op which works not only online but offline too! Here you really do have to rely on teamwork to make it through & communication is essential, swapping items with your partner/assisting in jumps/watching each others backs - its all here & it all works meaninglessly. So far only 2 levels come with the demo but they are both great fun & highly detailed with a claustrophobic setting that will bring you up close & personal with the enemy & give a great idea of how the finished game will look & feel to play, the visuals are impressive & some of the best I have seen on the 360 so far. If the demo is anything to go by then when the finished game is launched on march 13th it should be really something special, of course when it is launched I will be playing & reviewing the game so watch this space.