I’ve been lately addicted to trying out new lipsticks, lip glosses and lip balms, and I thought I’d share my experiences with a couple of them. I’ve got quite dark pink lips, so a lot of shades won’t work for me, with my natural lip colour shining through.

Bourjois has quite a large range of lip glosses, all under the name “Effet 3D”. There’s the standard Effet 3D, the Effet 3D Cosmic, and the Effet 3D Max. Basically I think they’re all the same, with the Cosmic being more glitterier and sparklier, and the Max being shinier.

I tried out the standard Effet 3D and went with a nice dark red shade called Rouge Classic. The colour is great and gives the proper type of cover for my lips. The gloss is a little bit on the gooey side, and is slightly too sticky: strands of my hair keep getting stuck in it, which is a bit of an annoyance. It does however have the right amount of shininess in it. The application brush is a bit simple, and I found it difficult to apply the upper lip curves properly.

I always hate it when lip glosses smell and taste “chemical”, but the Effet 3D doesn’t suffer from either of those problems. It has a candy like smell, and a similar taste. Like other lip glosses, the longevity of this one isn’t that great, and you do have to re-apply it often during the day.

I really liked this lip gloss, and I think I’ll be wearing it often in the future. Colour-wise I think I went with exactly the perfect colour for my lips, although I would love to try out some of the other ones too.

Bourjois Effet 3D: £6.84 at your local drug store.

There’s a cool contest going on, run by Chris Cardinal and Threadless.com. The idea is to turn one of the Threadless T-shirt designs into a cake! To check out all the rules etc head on over to Threadcakes.com.

Here are a couple of amazing cakes some people have created:

Compare with the original design of “I Wish I Were”

Compare with the original design “The Apple”

Compare with the original design “Long Journey”

Compare with the original design “Catburger”

Compare with the original design “She Doesn’t Even Realize”

Compare with the original design “Capistrano Spring Break”

Compare with the original design “Camouflage”

There are loads more in the Threadcakes Gallery, but these were the best ones so far (in my humble opinion). The contest is open till August 3rd, so expect some more amazing cakes in the following weeks.

We’ve seen a couple of trailers for 9 already, and it’s definitely one of the movies I’m most excited for. Firstshowing has featured the latest posters for 9’s release, and they’re a series of character posters, each one featuring one of the 9 rag dolls. I thought I’d expand a little bit on that and give the descriptions that we have so far about each of the characters:

1: is the oldest of the dolls, and their self-proclaimed leader. He is clever and sly, but also domineering, irritable, quick-tempered, and slow, if not unwilling, to trust 9. Voiced by Christopher Plummer.

2: a kind, delicate old inventor. He is fascinated by garbage, and loves to explore the wastelands and look for parts for his inventions. He is not in very good shape, always walking with a cane, and can only see with a lorgnette. Voiced by Martin Landau.

3 and 4: curious but shy twin dolls. They are unable to speak, using flickering lights to communicate with each other, but when they need to explain things to someone else, their eyes turn into film projectors. They instinctively run and hide at the sight of danger.

5: healer, tutor, and skilled mechanic. He is the journeyman of 2, the great engineer and inventor. He is a diligent worker, a meek spirit, and a devoted friend. He is missing his left eye, which he presumably lost in a previous monster attack. Voiced by John C. Reilly.

6: a wild and impulsive artist. He has visions of the past and future, channeling his visions through drawings to interpret them, which are accurate in predicting events and help solve mysteries that puzzle 9. Voiced by Crispin Glover.

7: a female warrior. A rebel and a loner, she is fearless and brave. She is impatient and can be reckless and stubborn, but makes up for it with mobility and grace, caution of her surroundings, and calmness in dangerous situations. Voiced by Jennifer Connelly.

8: a giant, cumbersome brute. He is 1’s personal bodyguard and would die for him, though he is crude and mocking towards everyone else. He is strong and fierce, wielding two masterful weapons, but isn’t very clever and is easily deceived. Voiced by Fred Tatasciore.

9: the main character. Good-hearted, thoughtful, and sincere, he is always willing to risk his life to save others. Despite being a newcomer to the group, he displays leadership qualities that can help the others survive. He seeks truth in the history of the world and the dolls, and wishes to know the meaning of life. Voiced by Elijah Wood.

I love this series of posters and they’re a great introduction to all these different characters. I can’t wait for this movie to come out!

I’m one of the few people that didn’t love Juno when it came out last year. Sure it was a fun little movie, but it wasn’t as super or as fantastic as some people were claiming it to be. Now comes Diablo Cody’s (the screenplay writer who did Juno) newest movie Jennifer’s Body. Starring Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried, this just looks crazy.

Here’s the description from FirstShowing:

Described as a Heathers-like dark comedy, Jennifer’s Body tells the story of a seemingly-perfect cheerleader whose life is thrown into disarray when she gets possessed by a demon, begins eating boys in her small town, then faces off against her best friend and the Satan-worshipping band that made her evil.

[Watch the trailer on MissGeeky.com]

As usual I’ve been pretty behind with editing and uploading my photos lately; I definitely have to get more of a routine going to actually keep up that stuff.

Yesterday I went to Opentech, an informal, lowcost one day conference on technology, democracy and community. I’ll try to write up something about it soon, but for now here’s a pretty picture I took of the Open Rights flyers:

Interesting links for July 3rd through July 5th:

• Blade Runner and Spike and Angel’s House For Sale – The real name of this place is the Ennis House, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, and it's just so weird and quirky.
• Book Reviews (Sort of): Paradise Island, The New Mars, and The News Mars (A Family Vacation) by John L. Manning, Jr. – I got two of these books for review one and a half year ago, but they were just so bad, I couldn't even get past the first chapter. This review (although not really a review cause this blogger also barely made pass the first couple of chapters) explains exactly what's so bad about it.
• The top 250 best movies of all time Map – Interesting "tube map" style visualization of IMDB's Top 250 movies; are those really all 250 movies listed there?
• A Paper Craft Castle On the Ocean « Tokyobling’s Blog – Wow, now that's some serious origami!

Years ago back when I was in high school there was this book that my sister had to read for school (in Dutch, might I add) and she hated it. Because of that I automatically assumed it sucked and refused to read it. Not long after that it became a world wide hit, yet I remained saying it was an awful book (while never having read a word of it). Until I saw the movie and decided to give it a go anyway. Well, that book was the first Harry Potter (to be very fair I have actually read the Dutch translation now and compared to the original, it does really really suck).

I kind of had the same reaction to Twilight from Stephanie Meyers. I had read a bit of it, a couple of chapters, but my opinion was mainly formed by the many book review blogs out there. In my eyes, it seemed like a weak hyped-up rip-off from many other great vampire books. Now I haven’t read the book yet, but after seeing the movie I might actually give it a go (ah, history repeats itself).

Twilight is about Bella Swan, a teenager that moves to the small gloomy town of Forks to live with her father. As she starts her junior year in high school she becomes fascinated by Edward Cullen, a mysterious and captivating student. Bella soon discovers that Edward is hiding a secret, after he impossibly saves her life from a van with his super-human strength and speed. She is determined to unravel his secret, but the truth is more terrifying than she realizes. Edward is a vampire. Any normal person would just keep away from him, but Edward and Bella fall passionately in love with each other. And so begins the forbidden relationship between a human and a vampire.

Is Twilight a great movie? No. Not by far. It seems much more like a made-for-TV film or a regular TV show. The special effects are horrendously bad, the acting is bland, the editing seems choppy at times and the pacing is pretty slow. And yet, it’s turned out better than I expected. True, my expectations were very very low, but there’s something about this movie that makes me like it. It’s one of those guilty-pleasures type of movies, that I know will end up on the list of movies I can watch when I’m sick to my stomach lying on the couch from fever or flu.

Story-wise it isn’t original at all. Girl falls in love with a good vampire boy. Vampire boy is tempted by her blood and refuses to see her. Bad vampire boy finds out about girl and hunts her down. Good vampire boy saves her and realizes he cant live without her. Been there, done that. If the book is anything like the movie, I still remain convinced that there are way better vampire stories out there, with much more complex and interesting mythologies.

If you want a cheesy easy romantic flick for a summer afternoon, try Twilight. I liked it much more than I expected, and I’m even considering seeing it’s sequel New Moon in the cinema (not completely sure yet, depends if anyone else is interested in coming along).

Twilight is out now on DVD.

Last year I blogged about the Disney Fairy Tale Wedding Dresses; some of them I loved, but others were just plain hideous. I’m not sure when these newest dresses were released, but I’d thought share the latest additions to the line.

Now one thing I just don’t understand is the ugly backdrop of all the photos. Unlike the previous batch, the quality of these photos just aren’t up to scratch, and the colourful backdrop really doesn’t help showing off the dresses. I still think some of these dresses don’t have anything remotely “princessy” or “fairy tale” about them, and certainly don’t have anything to do with the characters they were inspired by.

Cinderella

Once Upon A Time…

Not so long ago, one girl dreamed of going to the ball and finding her prince. This famous fairy tale begins with a single wish, an exquisite dress and the dream of a lifetime.

Today, the timeless Cinderella tale comes alive with classic glamour. Silk tulle and duchess satin make these gowns fit for a true princess. Stunning touches of scattered crystal and silver threading sparkle and shine like the midnight sky.

Sleeping Beauty

With a single kiss, Sleeping Beauty’s dream comes true. She finds her prince, falls in love and discovers that she’s already a real princess.

Here, this classic tale is retold in regal fabrics of satin, chantilly and netting. The theme of pretty romance rings true with beautiful touches of crystal and pearl embellishments — perfect for any princess.

Luminous, radiant, graceful, harmonious

Snow White

The Fairest Of Them All…

The first to show us that true love lasts forever, Snow White finds her prince and claims her kingdom.

This collection captures her gentle grace and beauty in exquisite silk, chiffon and satin. Beads, pearls and lovely appliqués tell the story of sweet elegance and enduring love as this fairy tale comes true.

Jasmine

Follow Your Heart…

A new world awaits Jasmine as she follows her heart and finds true love. Here, fairy tale wishes take flight and happily ever after becomes the greatest adventure.

This enchanting collection reflects Jasmine’s bohemian spirit. Gowns drape in chiffon and satin. Exotic details include clustered beadwork, appliqué lace and just a touch of wanderlust.

Ariel

Love Changes Everything…

…As Ariel soon finds when she places her heart above all else. Willing to cross oceans for true love, Ariel discovers the world beyond the sea all that she dreamed it to be.

This romantic collection pays tribute to Ariel’s oceanic home with touches of pearl beading and underwater imagery.

Silk cascades and drapes for a sultry look that transcends time and two different worlds.

Belle

The Heart, Like a Rose, Blossoms When Loved…

Open and true, Belle sees beyond the surface, making all that she casts her gaze upon beautiful. Guided by her heart, Belle finds her prince, breaks a spell and claims her destiny.

This story continues in stylish sophistication with ribbon and bands of satin. Here, taffeta and tulle blooms pay tribute to Belle’s gracious spirit. With elegant details like scattered beading and lovely lace, this fairy tale lives on.

I think my favourites are the second Cinderella dress, the second Sleeping Beauty one, and the first and the third Jasmine dresses. I really don’t like the Ariel and Belle dresses, while I just loved those lines in the previous collections (the Ariel Collection 2 and the Belle Collection 1).

Check out all the dresses at the Disney Fairy Tale Weddings website.

(Photos courtesy and copyright of Disney)

Episode 122: “Where the hell is Carlos?”

Interesting short film about a happily married couple on the verge of realizing the American dream – Jessica is pregnant and Daniel finally gets the money to open a small diner. But when they hire Carlos, an illegal immigrant from Mexico, they find that they are targets of blackmail:

Turns out I can’t embed the video anymore (I could a couple of days ago, when I scheduled this post), so check it out at Vimeo.

Amelia: A look at the life of legendary American pilot Amelia Earhart (Hilary Swank), who disappeared while flying over the Pacific Ocean in 1937 in an attempt to make a flight around the world. I think this could put Swank as a contender again as Best Actress at the Oscars this year.Release Date: October 2009 (US), November 2009 (UK)

The Invention of Lying: A comedy set in a world where no one has ever lied, until a writer seizes the opportunity for personal gain. Starring Ricky Gervais, Jennifer Garner, Tina Fey, Rob Lowe, Jonah Hill.Release Date: September 2009 (US), October 2009 (UK)

Inglourious Basterds: There already have been a couple of trailers out for this Tarantino flick, but this French one has a completely different vibe to it. During World War II, a group of Jewish-American soldiers known as “the Basterds” are chosen to spread fear throughout the Third Reich by scalping and brutally killing Nazis. The Basterds soon cross paths with a young French girl named Shosanna who runs a movie theater in Paris that is frequented by soldiers. Release Date: August 2009 (US, UK)

Couples Retreat: A comedy about four couples who head to a tropical resort for a vacation. While one of them is there to work on their marriage, the others fail to realize that participation in the resort’s therapy is not optional. Release Date: October 2009 (US, UK)

The Informant: The government decides to go after an agri-business giant with a price-fixing accusation, based on the evidence submitted by their star witness, vice president turned informant Mark Whitacre (Matt Damon). Release Date: October 2009 (US), November 2009 (UK)

Planet 51: Because Ice Age is out in cinemas today, a couple more animation trailers have been released. This is the second trailer of Planet 51, where its inhabitants live in fear of alien invasion. Their paranoia is realized when an astronaut arrives from Earth. Befriended by a young resident, he has to avoid capture and recover his spaceship. Release Date: November 2009 (US), December 2009 (UK)

Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs: Another animation trailer! This time it’s the second full length trailer for Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs. Inspired by Judi and Ron Barrett’s children’s book, the film focuses on a town where food falls from the sky like rain. Release Date: September 2009 (US,UK)

Forbidden Reality (aka Smersh XXI, aka The Interceptor): Based on the novel by popular sci-fi writer Vasiliy Golovachev, the film is about an agent who is betrayed by his partner while transporting a new psychic weapon. Believed to be dead, he escapes and takes new identity so he can live in peace. But is later forced to return to Moscow to confront a secret organization. The trailer is completely in Russian (without subtitles) so it’s a bit difficult to follow what is happening, but the visuals look pretty cool. Release Date: unknown

Trailers courtesy of FirstShowing