Monday 19 September 2011

autumn cravings


It happened yesterday, it took the October issue of Harper's Bazaar UK (that's Alexa Chung's eye staring at you) to get me into full autumn swing and two family members with burning fever, hubby and our younger daughter. People getting ill is definitely a reminder that it is autumn. Yesterday I had a magazine craving and hubby went to lengths to get me a copy of something I liked. It was a Car Free Sunday in Antwerp and everywhere we drove there where policemen blocking the streets to the international magazine shop. Then he got a brilliant idea: the gas station by the Crown Plaza Hotel (hubby's burning forehead is probably all my fault!). Back to that magazine, I'm really enjoying its content. It has a British theme and I can't explain it but it's somehow arty; makes me want to go visit galleries and hang out in bookshops. Isn't that what people do in autumn? And yes, I had another craving yesterday: baguette and red wine, which means autumn has definitely arrived.

Time to explain the above photo. It turns out that I have many curious blog friends and some of them were interested in knowing what was in my Amazon package last week. I got One Day by David Nicholls. Usually I get reluctant to read books that everyone is reading but there was something about the storyline, and I want to read it before I see the Anne Hathaway film. I also got The History of Love by Nicole Krauss, which was a tip from Monica at Bohemian Twilight. Then I got two fantasy books for hubby from the Song of Fire & Ice series by George R.R. Martin. He's now reading the first, A Game of Thrones (and no, we haven't seen the TV series). The DVDs in the package were the BBC series North & South, based on Elizabeth Gaskell's novel, and season one of Lipstick Jungle.

Lipstick Jungle needs an explanation (if I'm rambling here, please bear with me). The show was cancelled after only two seasons and I know it had flaws. But I think one reason for its failure was that it was introduced as a replacement for SATC, which it certainly wasn't. I don't know about you guys but TV shows don't always have to have a perfect story for me to enjoy them. Lipstick Jungle was simply a show that managed to steal my heart, especially the cast, good music and, often, wonderful conversations.

Does anyone remember this one with the girls up on the rooftop at the end of the pilot: Wendy [Brooke Shields]: "I lost my virginity in moccasins." Nico [Kim Raver]: "You remember what shoes you wore?" Wendy: "It was the most memorable part." Nico: "Oh honey!" (I couldn't find it on YouTube but if you fast-forward to 02:10 of this video you can see it). The pilot also ended with one of my favourite songs, Sheryl Crow's Always On Your Side (here featuring Sting). At that moment they had my heart. Yes I'm really that easy! The second episode ended with another favourite song of mine, Missy Higgins's Where I Stood, which I've added to this post. And let's not forget another reason why I loved that show, actor Andrew McCarthy. You need an explanation? Please keep in mind that I grew up with St. Elmo's Fire and Pretty in Pink! Need I say more?!!

Thanks for allowing me to ramble. I hope this Monday will treat you nicely!

photo credit: Lisa Hjalt

18 comments:

  1. Hi there :)
    Weatger up here is AMAZING! We have an indian summer going on with sun and relatively warm temperaturtes - at least for being above the polar circle! Soon we will put our tracking shoes on and head for the mountains, maybe I'll even smap a picture or two to show you ;)

    Hugs,
    Signe

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  2. Thank you, Lisa, for indulging my curiosity. In autumn my Amazon book list goes longer than ever. And yes, one should definitely read the book before seeing the movie inspired by it. I haven't seen Lipstick Jungle and I was wondering if I might like it. I probably would, in between Seinfeld, M.A.S.H. and Friends. Have a beautiful day! xo

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  3. Wow you all went through a lot to get that issue of Bazaar! So something I would do :)

    Oh and I just loved Lipstick Jungle too! I was so sad that it got cancelled.

    Hope you're having a lovely Monday! xoxo

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  4. I loved One Day. I bought it as soon as it was published and it was one of the nicest novel I read last year. Hope you'll enjoy it! I've never watched Lipstick Jungle, but it sounds perfect for lazy and rainy fall/winter week-ends...

    http://notjustaprettydress.blogspot.com/

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  5. I remember lipstick jungle! It was so cute...bummer that it got canceled!

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  6. I'm reading Game of Thrones at the moment. sometimes I need some fantasy to escape, and that one def does the trick :)

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  7. Lisa, you made me laugh with your Bazaar treasure hunt. Certainly something I would do! I love Autumn but after weeks of illness in winter with two kids, I am loving the 32 degree's here in Sydney and hopefully putting the colds behind us. Hope everyone gets better soon. x

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  8. Haha if you want something you get it (or you get your husband to get it for you haha). I'm so bad at reading books lately. (you can't blog while reading... ;) But lipstick jungle and game of thrones sounds interesting... Might get those for the coming cold and dark evenings :) (oh and I thought I would download the Asos app to keep track of some of the things for my wish list... I've already bookmarked soany things. I swear, that thing will ruin me)

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  9. Oh wonderful! Great Post! Yes, we had Lipstick Jungle for a brief moment in time too. Loved it! And who doesn't know Andrew McCarthy!!??? and Pretty in Pink? Yep, definitely one from the 80's right? You're too much!
    Helen

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  10. Oh I hope your family gets better soon and also would like to suggest that you get good quality vitamin C supplement, plus good multivit with 15g of zinc in it and, olive leaf extract (if you can get Solgar - go for that one, otherwise don't buy any other as they differ). Take 1000mg vit C plus multi plus 1 OLE daily as per instructions. This will help you build up your immune system and get it ready for cold months. Plus eat tons of vegetables and fruits.

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  11. I never watched Lipstick Jungle. Maybe I was missing something. I hope the family is feeling better soon... lots of chicken soup! xo

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  12. I have come here from tinajo's blog. You have a very interesting blog. Since I also dislike mainstream books, your recommendations are extremely valuable to me. Lattes are my favourite too :)

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  13. I like the sound of lipstick jungle - i need an autumn snuggly sunday really soon - those autumn germs are feeling a bit too nearby in this house too x

    http://fashionistable.blogspot.com/

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  14. Well that should have been fashion and frank - copy and paste?? x

    http://fashionandfrank.blogspot.com/

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  15. The History of Love is one of my favourite books ever! I hope you'll love it too!

    x E.

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  16. lol, those lines made me chuckle. it looks like a fun show, never even heard of it before you mentioned it.
    look forward to your book opinions.

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  17. hey, I have also liked Lipstick jungle :)

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  18. Wow, Lisa, the music is delicious ......

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