Cannes, the White House and Some Links

I love the First Lady's choice of this sparkly Peter Soronen gown for her second state dinner. The colour is super fab and the style is fierce rather than dowdy. Michelle's tousled hair and dramatic make-up are also a clear win in my opinion. The only drawback? The fit on the right side could be better, there seems to be a squished boob situation.

Mrs. Obama does seem to have a thing for sequins and glitter (an endearing quality), like the stunning Naeem Khan she wore when receiving the Indian Prime Minister some months back.

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In addition to Cate Blanchett's dramatic and

gorgeous McQueen, several other ladies came

to play at Cannes this week.

Kate Beckinsale in Temperley

Kate in Balmain. The actress wowed with a bunch of

gorgeous outfits including a day look, a black Gucci Premiere,

a Marchesa confection and a sparkly Gucci Premiere

number. I'm thinking the Marchesa is my least fave. 

Cheryl Cole in voluminous Cavalli. The

singer was paid $500,000 for a 30 minute

party performance. Not a bad deal.

Eva Herzigova in Dolce e Gabbana

 

Eva Longoria wore a sexy and sparkly Naeem

Khan one day and a dramatic Pucci gown the next.

Also loved her orange down at the state dinner.

Julia Restoin-Roitfeld at the Armani party

Frida Giannini had several glam ladies

looking fantastic in Gucci minis...

Frida Giannini and Salma Hayek (who was a

Lady in Red at the Wall Street premiere.)

Camille Belle in a one-of-a-kind Gucci

covered in Swarovski crystals -- love the shoes!

 

Naomi Watts

Evangeline Lilly in Pucci

What do you think of this one?

I'm kind of on the fence about Nicky in

Marchesa. I think maybe it would have

worked better with a different hair style?

Discuss.

{Photos: here and here}

Some Weekend Links

*A Sawyer likability index (always high where I'm concerned.)

*Ten iconic dresses of the last 50 years - what's your pick?

*Misha Barton in a wedding dress.

*Kate Moss looking great (and wearing her clothes backwards) at the launch of her latest Topshop collection.

*Gleeks go Gaga.

*A DIY pouf.
*Author Catherine McKenzie has started a new Facebook group to bring attention to new authors.
*Nekkid Marc.
*A great giveaway - Gold Bamboo Table Tray at From the Right Bank

For the Toronto peeps...

Benefit Brow Bar is opening at Holt's in Yorkdale - make your appointment now for their grand opening event. What are your plans for this long weekend? Maybe Victoria Day fireworks? Or you could always hit the Spring Artisan Show at the Distillery District or the CONTACT Photography Festival. You can also snag your tickets for Coco Rocha's Strut for a Cure Benefit being held on the 27th.

In case you missed it...

Bloggers' travel faves and tips, a book to inspire your wanderlust and one to read when you get to your destination, along with some eye candy to entertain you in the meantime. Also, don't forget to enter the Little Brown Pen giveaway if you haven't already.

I will be biting my nails to the quick during the Champions League final game this Saturday (Forza Inter!) and then attending my nephew's 3rd birthday party in the evening (Happy Birthday Luca!!) I anticipate Sunday will be spent chewing up what is left of my manicure before and during the LOST finale. What are your weekend plans?

Getaways Guest Blog Series: Nicki of The Cherry Closet

Nicki of The Cherry Closet is sweet and super chic. Not only does she run her own virtual vintage store, but she also authors a pretty awesome blog.  Here Nicki shares some beautiful memories and photos of her fave vacation destination, a country I hope to visit sometime in the near future!

Favourite Vacation Spot

A Charming little traditional fishing village in Portugal called Praia da Luz in the West Algarve. It's really beautiful, with cobbled streets, Portuguese pottery and cute little restaurants. Elderly locals nod their head in acknowledgement, cats wander the ancient walls and the atmosphere is quaint, low key and relaxed.

Where to Stay

I'm lucky my family have a villa there, but there are a number of gorgeous little apartments and seaside hotels overlooking the beach! The area suffered when the news of Madelaine McCann's disappearance brought floods of people to the area and negative press, but the location has remained a safe, reliable location to visit.

Where to Eat

Two of the best restaurants are:

Fortaleza - a 16th century medieval fortress turned into a restaurant! It serves incredible food, the decor is amazing and atmospheric (think old candlelit chandeliers and swords of armor) and you can sit outside overlooking the ocean. Gorgeous!

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O'Celeiro - a traditional Portuguese restaurant with some eccentric offerings, including a giant pepper mill carried by two waiters, flowers served on your plate, and a giant glass of brandy served as a complimentary course after dessert! The waiters take a photograph of every table of diners and they keep volumes of dusty old books lined up on the shelves to look up in case you ever return!!

What to Do

You can rent a car and discover for yourself all the little coves, deserted beaches and surfers' paradises if you like to explore. If you stay local - Lagos is on your doorstep with the stunning marina and more nightlife. A weekly fish market is a popular event where you can buy fresh catches of the day and cook up a storm! There is a famous tourist attraction at Lagos also - the museum of medieval torture instruments - if that floats your boat!

You can also find cute boutique shops, endless cafes and it is, of course, a golfer's paradise. One place I would recommend seeing is "The edge of the world" - the western most part of Europe. It was where travelers believed you would fall off the edge of the ocean if you kept sailing! Very beautiful.

Five Vacation Essentials

* My iPod - Music makes a travelling experience, I believe! A mixture of all your favourite tunes - for travelling on a plane, snoozing on the beach, driving in the car or getting ready for a night out.

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* Sun cream - Portugal can get very, very hot! So safety in the sun.

* A great book - Every holiday needs a great read. You soak up the sun and the words at the same time and remind yourself how much you love to read and that you don't find enough time to do it!

* Camera - I don't go anywhere without my camera. It's an essential!! It helps me slow down and appreciate what I'm seeing, and who doesn't love to revisit through images!

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* Notebook and pen - I think a lot when I travel, and when I relax, so I enjoy finding the time to scribble down thoughts, ideas and ambitions.

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Packing Tips

When I visit somewhere hot, sunny and chilled out like Luz, I tend to pack an obscene amount of light, floaty sun dresses and always end up buying even more out there! Pashmina scarves are a must too - for breezy walks by night and covering up in the sun in the day. My packing tip: leave enough space to take things back!

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What I Bring for the Journey...

A good book, and my favourite playlist on the iPod. I'm also a puzzle freak so always include a sneaky crossword book or scrabble board to pass the time!! I always ensure I have lots of water to drink, moisturizer to refresh and just to be a diva, a silk sleeping eye mask goes a long way!

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Favourite Travelling Companion

Probably my girlfriends! We know how to relax and enjoy each others company, or explore new places and try new experiences together.

The Next Spot I'd Like to Visit...

I 'm really keen on going to Japan, I have never been anywhere like that before and think it would be fascinating - the food, the fashion and the customs. Followed closely by Canada - for the scenery (and the odd Canadian Mounties too!!)

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All photos courtesy of The Cherry Closet, unless otherwise noted.

Lost Wednesdays: What They Died For

WARNING: POST CONTAINS EPISODE SPOILERS

"I thought that guy had a God complex before."

Oh, how I love Sawyer. And Miles when he made that "Are you sure this is a short cut?" comment after he, Ben and Richard had been walking in the jungle for three episodes. I am going to miss this show something fierce. Even though it usually reduces me to screaming, begging and occasionally throwing things, it has been a really great run regardless of how it ends. That said, I am really expecting them to bring it on Sunday and I can't wait.

 

I'm not at all surprised that Jack jumped at Jacob's job, but I wish Jacob would have been clearer in his explanations and instructions (even with the fire burning away he seemed reluctant to spill!) That said there were a lot of beautiful moments in the episode: Jack stitching up Kate on the beach at the beginning (talk about coming full circle) and Sawyer so pensive, it was moving. I guess it was nice that Jacob gave them a choice (and I thought the explanation of Kate's crossed out name was good - "it's just a chalk line in a cave"), although I'm not sure how they are supposed to take on NotLocke in Smoke Monster form. I suppose it all boils down to Desmond (where IS Desmond, anyway?), he seems to be doing a pretty good job getting everyone together off island, too. That is going to be some concert.

 

Ben thoroughly entertained me, as always, and in this episode he did so both on island and off. I can't believe that he and Rousseau had sparks! And he totally killed Widmore! I'm thinking Richard's not dead, he'll probably swing in at an appropriate time to help save the day. There has to be some benefit to being an ageless immortal.

 

Screencaps

Okay, so two more hours. Aside from wanting to know all the mysteries of the island I would also like to find out what the deal is with Aaron (is he indeed special?) and who Jack's ex-wife is (Juliet, I presume?) What questions are you eager to have answered?