Yes, pumps/flats. I have some and I want more, but in some seasons if they are not mainstream 'fashionable' they are hard to find. Even when I go clubbing for the past five years, it is pumps. Pumps or flats are wonderful little things, some can be pretty, some can be total Goth or Emo. For some reason, my little ole legs just cannot handle heels anymore. And one place in Leeds, 'Cockpits' the best night ever, all the girls wore pumps or flats. It's where Goths, Punks, Emos, and the like, hang out, and if you come in heels, its a no-no.
For the more adventurous girlie, crocs! They are good for walking everywhere. They are sturdier than they look. Just mind the escalators. For some reason, they stick and can be hazardous so not recommended for train stations, airports and the London Underground.
The top picture, pumps from New Look, and the bag from Oxfam Shop, Leeds. Second Picture, Crocs from Hawaii $30. Third picture, pumps from Diesel.
Pumps left, cream with gold rim and bow Faith, right flower prints from Island. Fancy clutch bag from a Macmillan Fund-raiser event last year.
Pink glossy pumps/flats from Miss Selfridges
Wonder what I will be wearing tomorrow for my son's belated 18th. I may wear this top (from Jane Norman) with some skinny jeans (even though I do not look skinny when I wear them). I haven't been able to wear the top since gaining that extra steroid weight. But I tried it on the other day and I am good to go.
And maybe those pink flats.
I checked wikipedia's history of house and various relevant articles on the origins of house music, and it seems, according to this article, it originated in Detroit. But... reading it leaves me a little confused. I was there dancing to House music in 1988, in Northern England, and in that year remembering reading an article in 'Smash Hits', the good ole bible of pop music back then, that it was a lot of young men in England that pioneered the sound. The old article also mentioned the Manchester nightclub Hacienda as the place to be. Where America wouldn't listen or even dance to this new genre, Europe did, and So did I. Yes, a certain Detroit act may have started certain elements of this genre of dance, but, he also was influenced by a lot of the New Modern Romance electronic music, including that of Human League (yet, another class act from Britain) and he was influenced by Kraftwerk.
It is also the British DJs that are a master of this genre. Name a famous DJ now, and yep, he is British. New York and Chicago danced to this music too alongside Northern Britain, but Detroit was slow to progress.
For me personally, my history of House is a combination of the everything and everyone. In the UK and in the USA, young talented techno musicians were busy as a bee doing their thing and the whole thing emerged. I don't think there is a true origin of the genre, and for me, that is the whole spirit of House, its a mixture of various influences and someone had to give it a name and gain credit for it. But in the UK, a lot of the British acts were champion at it and it hit our mainstream Top 40 Charts, and it was those acts us Brits were dancing to after the not so hardcore dancers went home, we stayed to dance to this new stuff. Detroit who? But its there for all wikipedia readers to read and yak, at least the Brits do get a mention, and most of the names in the article http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Techno#Noted_artists and there it is, Hacienda but in 1985 it quotes
"In the UK, a club following for house music grew steadily from 1985, with interest sustained by scenes in London, Manchester, Nottingham, and later Sheffield and Leeds. The DJs thought to be responsible for house's early UK success include Mike Pickering, Mark Moore, Colin Faver, and Graeme Park."
1985 people!!!!! 1985!!!!!Some of the acts in 1987/1989 were influenced and had been listening to the Chicago club scene, so why is Detroit still gaining credit? again, the article confuses me. But it does make reference to Derrick Brown, the Detroit House music pioneer, suggesting one House musician had purchased one of his synths.
As for the Rave scene/parties, now that is a whole different kettle of fish. Did you know it even goes back to the psychedelic scene, including the Beatles, and is all British in origin.
If you listen to their track Infiltrate 202, that is the sound us UK House junkies were dancing to.
(Video below)
One act I do remember was 808 State, yes, everything had numbers and dashes, maybe because the young men wanted their names to look like the names you give a NASA space rocket. No, wait, they named themselves after various synths. 808 State got their name from the Roland TR-808.
808 State's Pacific State was my first intro to trance/ambient/chill out. BBC's Radio One DJ Gary Davies (remember him people?) played this track every day for 3 months. Wikipedia finally gives credit where do.
"His promotion single-handedly helped propel the acid house group to the top of the UK charts and into the public consciousness"
There's probably more to the history and origin of today's dance scene, but for me, it was and still is the British DJs and acts that get it out there. And don't forget the Ibiza sound, a whole breathing sound of its own for serious clubbers who go to Ibiza from all over Europe.
And don't forget Prodigy, rave/house act or whatever you call them, were signed onto Madonna's label. Still using good old fashioned analogue synthesizers such as the Moog to incorporate their own sounds. They got their name from Liam's first analogue synth, the Moog Prodigy.
It is hard to find the full length track on the internet but here is the video someone uploaded.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93R-KQ9THa8 I have my collection of old skool house on vinyl/cassette, and no way of getting it into digital format just yet.
Did I miss something? it sounds nothing like D'n'B but they do call themselves it. The cheek. Ok, I was wrong, one track was nothing like D'n'B but this one is slightly D'n'b http://www.last.fm/music/Pendulum/_/Hold+Your+Colour but my ears tell me it sounds a lot like rave.
My favourite of his work is Inner City life as featured in the Soundtrack of Trainspotting, starring a very young and handsome Ewan McGregor. The track featured alongside other house/psychedelic or whatever your want to call them artists Underworld and Leftfield.
Need to get back into my favourite dress this summer. Its a classic 40s style chic dress I purchased from Top Shop a few years ago, and it always seem to stay within vogue. Since being on steroids, I haven't been able to wear my fave clothes, including my fave t-shirt
And Babydoll dresses are still here, thank goodness because I love them. I already have a few in my collection, but here is one lovely dress from New Look, my favourite shop at the moment. http://www.newlook.co.uk/1893045/189304507/ProductDetails.aspx
Babydoll dresses are perfect for any shape, height, size, etc. And for someone like me with still some of the steroid and cream cakes fat still on my legs and thighs, I am looking forward to wearing my own collection this spring/summer.
The dress below, I am saving it for a special occasion. Just waiting for that occasion to occur. Anyone want to take me out, or shall I wear it for any occasion. The dress next to it and the following dress, I cannot fit into them since cancer, but again, more to motivate me to get back into shape.
And to accessorise your hair, short or long, try these lovely gems again from New Look http://www.newlook.co.uk/women/jewellery/hair_accessories/ProductList.aspx
Me thinks I need to do some shopping. Have to wait till pay day.:(
How to stay healthy and young looking. To start with, healthy eating, duh?
One reason for this blog is to share some of my secrets and passions. Some have asked why I look so young, why no wrinkles, why I have the perfect body shape, etc. I think there is no secret or right way, but certain things is what helped me keep in shape so I thought I share. Since having to go through chemo and those surgical procedures to fight cancer, my face and body is not looking as it used to be, but if I go back to my old routine of skin care and healthy eating, I am hoping I can get back to my usual self again.
So,
1) eat protein enriches foods such as eggs, full or semi skimmed milk, noodles, plenty of greens, peppers, lean chicken, and treat myself to a bag of Fish and Chips every once in a while. I do not eat a lot of cream cakes but for some reason since working at my current job, cream cakes is what is keeping my energy going (slap my handies)
2) walk everywhere. I don't like to drive. I do not have a car, so I bus it or walk everywhere.
3) Apothecary. Your skin needs all the extra love and care, so I do go for the more luxurious, expensive products, organic butters, anything with essential oils, and for nearly ten years, dabbled in my own home making cosmetics.
Some of my secrets is due to healthy eating. Since moving out of my parents home I went down a more healthier route of cooking. I love stir fries, Japanese and Chinese cooking, and Italian dishes.
Other reasons for healthy looking skin is the cosmetics you use. So for Thursdays, its the day to treat yourself to a luxury pampering.
This week, you can find some fun stuff to pour into your bath courtesy of Morrison's Supermarket and other retailers. Only certain stores are stocking this new product, and like some other similar products, do disappear, get discontinued, etc, http://www.ilovecosmetics.eu/stores/
So, I am doing my bit to protect such a wonderful bath time experience.
You all probably think I have gone mad.
Well, I am.
I buy a product. I love the stuff. Cannot get enough of it. Go back to my beauty product retailer, ie Debenhams, Harvey Nichols, etc and find they no longer stock as it is being discontinued. Why? Was I the only person buying their stuff?
They worked on my sensitive skin where everything else failed. So you have to hunt around for other products. There are plenty out there.
Next time for Treat Yourself Thursday, I have recipes to make your own cosmetics. Yep., I make my own too. Its easy.
For now, before I go. here is what my skin is loving.
The Sephora Body Butter was purchased in Hawaii, I cannot get these products in the UK. So when this runs out, I am skuppered. I may have to order some from France if I am desperate. But it smells gorgeous and it does make your skin smooth.
Crabtree and Evelyn boutiques can be found both here in the UK and in the USA, and Australia.
http://www.crabtree-evelyn.com/eng/aboutUs/GlobalDirectory.cfm?&var=d&ckey=US The scent is Summer Hill. This will compliment with any Rose or Jasmin perfumes/cosmetics. This past season or so, Rose and Jasmin are the fashionable scents to be wearing, and Summer Hill will compliment both. It has a gentle Rose scent with hint of something fresh and breezy. Remember not to mix different perfumes/scents on your body. I was told one scent can overpower another and you will end up with a weird scent altogether by mixing the wrong things, so its best to buy your perfume and buy the scented bath/shower gels, creams/body butters with similar scents or even better, buy the whole matching scent set.
For my face, I have been trying these products. They are new to us Brits, but I tried their Mango butter whilst in Hawaii and loved it to bits. They do a great range of stuff for your face too and can be found in all your organic or health food stores.
For my hair this month I have been using Avalon Organics Shampoo and Aussie Miracle Hairand for my lips Burt's Bees Lip 'Guava' Shade' Shimmer
To motivate myself to get back my old body and mind, I will post a picture of how I am looking this week. Not too good I know, but as I progress, I want to see if there is any improvement by regularly updating my blog.
Here goes....
See, argghh! My face still has the steroid fat I cannot shift, or is that old age? I do not know. If anyone out there has any tips please holla www.twitter.com/returnofthemaja
Just started playing Dragon Age Origins on the Xbox 360. I have been trying the online thing, where I can upload my character that I created and should be able to view it on this website http://social.bioware.com/903610/ But for some reason technology does not work as it should be. And my little Elf is not showing up on the website. Hopefully by next week i will have it up and running. He is a Magi Elf, and kinda cute, and I am quite eager to show him off. lol. But whatever achievements i do make during the game, and sent it to EAs server, i can then tweet then and FB them. So, hopefully, fingers crossed, I will make some progress.
I am not much of a chef, my mum didn't have time to teach us her 'culinary skills' and I always get too distracted which sometimes end up my kitchen being set on fire or my food drying up in the pan. But when I get down to it, I can make some gems in my kitchen.
But let's start with the essentials. Despite my inability to cook, I do love cooking. I always make sure I have a large selection of herbs and spices, and sometimes like to be adventurous and try some new spices/vegs. This week I purchased some Star Anise to compliment my Chinese dishes. Star Anise is one of the ingredients for the Chinese 5 Spice Seasoning. You can make your own but there is one ingredient that is not so readily available - Cassia, a Chinese bud of the Cinnamon variety. So if anyone knows where they sell it in the UK, Leeds area, please holla me @twitter www.twitter.com/returnofthemaja
Back to the essentials. These are some more items needed for your kitchen if you want to make some more of the gems
Beef stock Miso stock (instead of vegetable stock, it has more flavour than most of your vegetable stocks) Pasta Mozzarella Balls (not the dried or blocks of Mozzarella, but the balls that are soaked in some liquid in a bag. Perfect for pizzas Dill Basil Pesto
British supermarkets are now selling a lot of Japanese products, so I have recently invested in some Shoyu Soya Sauce. This is actually tasty on its own with a hint of ginger in any stir fry with some fine beans and other crispy veg. If you dont want anything fancy and just a quick lunch or dinner, do a quick stir fry with any veg lying around in your fridge or cupboard and splatter in some of that Shoyu Soya Sauce. And if you have time, marinade some fresh salmon steak in Teriyaki Marinade for 10 minutes, and grill. Serve with your Veg that you just stir fried. NICE!!!
Other essentials A rounded frying pan, not the flat ones. Especially if you use that smaller hob on your cooker.
Mortar and Pestle. Some of your spices that you can buy come in seeds/pods as well as fine powder, and if that is all they had available that particular week when you are desperate for that all important ingredient, mortar and pestle will save the day, cause you can crush the little blighters.
Fresh Live Basil Fresh Liv Dill Fresh Live Chives Fresh Live Herbs Herbs are being sold in fresh living pots for you to water in your kitchen. Sometimes i ended up not using them though as they make a lovely smell in your kitchen, especially the basil and fresh mint.
Mascarpone Greek Yoghurt Creme Fraiche Fromage Fraiche Cayenne Pepper Paprika Ginger Garlic Mace Red Wine Sherry Sundried tomatoes (small packs are sold in most supermarkets along in the section where you buy your colesaws Jar of roasted peppers Mayonaise Sour Cream
Some of these ingredients I will explain further in later blogs. Yes, Sherry is perfect for most meals, and so is red wine. I am not an alcoholic! (do you know how hard that word was to type just then)
Freezer You purchased all these fine fresh foods and oops, nearly reaching their sell by dates, but your freezer will save you pennies/euros/cents. You can freeze almost anything, including that nice salmon steak you bought before the weekend.
This blog is in progress. I will add more essentil ingredients when I can.
But for now, here is something i created this week for Sunday's lunch.
Roasted Pepper Soup
I love my blue willow set. Anyway Roasted peppers Basil or pesto Olive oil Garlic Passata Tomato puree Vine tomatoes creme fraiche sundried tomatoes (these were marinated in olive oil, basil and garlic before hand). Veg stock
Most soups I tend to fry the vegs gently in butter, but for tomatoes and peppers i used a little olive oil and sunflower oil instead. Add all your other ingredients into a pan and fry gently till the fresh vine tomtoes are softer. Add the stock. Simmer for ten minutes or so, then add creme fraiche. Simmer for another minute or so, and voila. Soup is ready.
Music that influenced me musically, influenced my style, my habits, my lifestyle. Once a month, on Mondays, I will list some music and links that have shaped me as a person. But knowing what to start with is the hardest part.
Monday 18th Jan 2010 At work we have the radio on, and they played an old Eurythmics track. So i will start with that. This is the first track I heard from Eurythmics even tho they had at the time been around for a while. But the video was pretty cool too. Love the trumpets and the eighties style electric guitars is what defined the Eighties in its own style. The Eighties was made up of great Electronic music which pioneered the dance movement in the late 80s. I cannot imbed the video but here is the link. Check out my youtube channel www.youtube.com/mj2fedup for the link as well, or you can search for it yourself. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NxT9FrpPYQ
For the more adventurous girlie, crocs! They are good for walking everywhere. They are sturdier than they look. Just mind the escalators. For some reason, they stick and can be hazardous so not recommended for train stations, airports and the London Underground.
