Summer 2009

Summer 2009
Originally uploaded by Valentine Valentine

Summer 2009

Summer 2009
Originally uploaded by Valentine Valentine

Roll Over Beethoven

Last June for my friend Don's birthday we went to a Roller Derby in Nashville. The Damsels of Distress vs. The Assault Rivals. Ian was completely out of his element and had to overt his during half time when a very large shirtless man allowed audience members to throw darts at balloons that were stapled to his harry back. To say the least it was quite an experience.

I hope the new movie directed by Drew Barrymore, her directorial debut, is a little less shocking but just as exciting as watching girls in crazy outfits flying around a rink basically body slamming each other. Here are some photos from my experience and a spread from VS mag on the lovely ladies involved in the movie. I love me some Ellen Page from Juno and Juliette Lewis, on the list of my celebrity sightings - saw her in LA at a Thai restaurant. At that time she was dating Brad Pitt. Unfortunately he was not slurping curry soup with her that particular evening. - has to be one of the coolest chics in Hollywood.

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You don't have to turn on a red light.

Last weekend I became close friends with a color I don't normally have a relationship with. I literally have nothing in my possession that is painted, made of or even resembles the color red. Ian is scared of the seductive hue and I just generally don't like it. So when I was given the treatment and realized that the director wanted all items in the shoot to be red I was like
"OK, yeah. Red awesome. I totally love red."

I didn't have to lay it on that thick but I did have an inner chuckle as we were going through the shots.

Tim, the director - "So here she takes her hair out of a ponytail to signify letting herself go"

Me - "Ok I see she is wearing a jacket what color does that need to be?"

Tim - "Red. Oh and the hair band that needs to be red to. Now in this shot I want a surreal exotic looking make-up"

Me - "I can do that. Do you want a smokey eye with red patterns on the face or I can do a red eye?"

Tim looks at me shocked and surprised "You can make her eyes red? That would be amazing!"

Me - "Oh no I was talking about the eye shadow not her eye color."

"Oh" Tim looks down with disappointment.

Me - "Well, we could make her eyes red with contacts but if she hasn't worn them before it might be hard for her to get them in"

Almost before I finished he said "Do it! Get them!! That would be brilliant!"

So I bought a pair of red contacts lens on online from a costume site. And after all that excitement. She didn't even end up wearing them. Blurg!


The commercial is a test for a great director Tim Green who is expanding his show reel. All of the shots were done in super slow mo and involve water and girl in a red bikini, Melissa. The set had around 125,00 kilowatts of light on it most of the two shoot days. Melissa was required to stand within close proximity of these giant heat lamps while water was literally sprayed or poured on her in large amounts, usually directly into her eyes. Awesome! She never complained not once, I was hugely impressed. The few moments I had to spend up close to those mutha uckas to check her make-up was like standing next to a huge ball of fire. I felt like the sun was giving me a back massage and not a nice one. I cannot express how hot those frickin lights were. Thank God the rushes look amazing! I am very excited to post this one when it is done. I have a feeling it is going to be beautiful.

What you waiting for?

I have been craving cupcakes for about a week and today I finally had a reason to have one, ok two. Yesterday some close friends of ours asked if we would stay over and watch their three adorably entertaining children while husband, Craig, went to hospital to be with his wife, Emma, who was already in the hospital, 7 months pregnant. Her waters broke a few days ago and the doctors wanted to keep her in the hospital to monitor her and the baby. Ian and I immediately said yes, packed an overnight bag, grabbed our laptops and jumped in the car.

After almost a full day of waiting and some some tense uncertain moments the difficult decision was made to deliver the baby by cesarian - not an easy decision, but the least risky and turns out the perfect one for this situation.

Ian and I had the amazing honor of hanging with the children at their home while their new baby sister was literally being pulled into the world. We jumped and clapped with them when the phone rang and Craig shared the news that all was well with Mom and baby. We all celebrated by eating colorful cupcakes around the round table in the family dining room. Auntie Amy, Emma's sister and Chris, their close friend and Pastor were there to join in the festivities. Saying it was an intense and exciting day is obviously an understatement but how do you put into words sharing such a momentous occasion with a family that is well..um..probably one of the coolest families I know. Don't tell them, but I kind of have a crush on them and sometimes secretly wish I was a full blooded member.

This morning in true Craig fashion he said to us before walking out the door to visit Emma with the kids "I have two favors to ask of you guys. One - do you mind delivering this letter registered post?" hands Ian letter.

I nod and Ian says "Of course we will"

"And will you be Libby's God parents?"

Me - jaw dropped eyes wide, maybe a bit of moisture in the corners of them speechless. Ian - giggling.

Then Craig says "Think about it and let us know"

"Ok we will think about it. Hee ha ha hee." I say with nervous overwhelmed laughter.

Minutes later in the quiet of the house Ian and I turn to each other and simultaneously agree that we would be happy to be little Libby's god parents and I quickly send an email communicating our decision. So I may not be a blood relative but I feel like the next best thing. I am still a little giddy with excitement and find myself repeating to myself I am a godparent, I am a godparent. Olivia Dorothy Ann Borlase (Libby) we can't wait to meet you.

Here a few shots from the day just after we heard the news.


Evie


Barnaby


Bethany



And this is Olivia Dorothy Ann Borlase 4lbs 9oz

Let me take you picture

These are some of my favorite photos from the show in Kigali.

Part of Your World

My favorite part of going to school was getting ready in the morning and picking out what I was going to wear. I used have nightmares about going to school where uniforms were required. This idea seemed to be a perfect form of torture for my teenage fashion creative identity. Since my life now has no consistent contact with people I thought I would try and photograph my daily outfits and post them on my blog to hopefully inspire or maybe just entertain my readers. Here are my first two. I need to work on my poses but the first one was so hilarious I had to post it.



hat - froma boutique in nashville
sweater - river island
t-shirt - hanes
leggings - urban outfitters
shoes - vans (tk maxx)



scarf - top shop
shirt - twenty8twelve
jeans - earnest and sewn

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Not that Innocent

Had some time to read in Africa so read a novel I bought to read in South Africa, The Age of Innocence. I highly recommend it if you have already read it and when you get done rent the movie on itunes and watch that. It is unusual a for a movie to add to a book but this one actually does. Martin Scorces interpreted the incredibly descriptive literature beautifully. Daniel Day Lewis and Michelle Phieffer are incredible in there roles navigating the subtle nuances of the dialogue and portraying the undertones of their relationship gracefully.

Loved it!

Read it!

Watch it!