Every now and again (every second day, really) I’m in a thoughtful mood, reflective and wondering just how I can make my day better. In a sense of fitting more in during the day, or making things easier for myself, and just enjoying life more whether it be at work or at home.

Whilst I don’t really watch Oprah at all, whenever I do turn on the TV and see an episode, it can be a home-making episode, or a ‘Big Give’ episode, or a celebrity interview – but she always seems to be so comfortable and confident in living the best life.

Cue, Robyn Okrant who took it upon herself to use all of Oprah’s multi-media resources to LIVE a life that Oprah seemed to subscribe to. Via Oprah’s TV show, the Oprah website, the O magazine – every day would be an Oprah experience, down from enjoying a celebrity interview in her magazine, to making sure to change your bedsheets weekly, or recipes to try utilising seasonal fruit and vegetables. It would be *anything*.

I’m a couple of chapters in, and I’m exhausted. How could anyone possibly change SO much of their everyday routines, their weekly home chores, or the way they worked at their day job in order to live like Oprah? We will see.. a full review to follow..

Originally written for Sassi Sam

Ah, The Carrie Diaries. Candace Bushnell’s prequel, and back story to one of the biggest icons for women in recent years. Fashion icon, shoe-buying enabler Carrie Bradshaw has been someone everyone looked to for advice on dating, friendship and what to do when your boyfriend doesn’t have enough wardrobe space for your shoes.

This goes back to high school days for Carrie, with a university career looming, and her independent style is already notable. She’s the strong one of her group, and is still trying to prove herself as a writer, shying at the definition especially around a boy named Sebastian Kydd.

To read this gives you insight into what drove her, and motivated her to move to New York to begin her career as a columnist and I may say that I was more won over by this Carrie. I think this does give the character, and her motivations more depth than the TV Show or movie can give – because the visuals became so influenced by product placement, Jimmy Choos, Manolo Blahniks and phrases such as “he’s just not that into you” – some of the character development became a bit lost in the material things.

Even with all the hype surrounding the character, who has become more of an icon than a ‘character’ – let alone another chapter in Carrie’s story coinciding with the release of the 2nd film, I was surprised at how drawn into her story I was. There are no clichés here with Carrie and she isn’t the most popular girl in school, nor the least. She stands out but its her strong will, and feminist qualities that make her an icon even in teenage form. She’s still a romantic, but she doesn’t fold or bend to anyone’s will in order to make out with a boy and park with all the other cool kids.

This is definitely a book that shouldn’t be spoilt, I won’t tell you any further but I will leave you all with this line. Something to think about on a low day, on a day when you feel less of a woman and start comparing yourself to the glamazons you see everywhere you look.

“What if I’m a princess on another planet? And no one on this planet knows it?” To paraphrase, anyone on Earth can tell you that you can’t be a princess, that you can’t be a writer, or a scientist or whatever YOU want– but only you can decide your path. I think that Candace Bushnell via four passionate women with different ambitions, different values has given us all an extra kick up the butt to remind us that we can be as powerful as we want to be, with or without Manolo Blahniks.

Available now: HarperCollins RRP$24.95

Originally written for SassiSam

One may easily dismiss Lauren Conrad, made famous for her ‘roles’ in Laguna Beach, which then led to the Hills. Anyone could easily judge her as just another reality star wanting to extend her 15 minutes of fame and, if not music, why not writing? But that would be a mistake, as with this follow up novel to her first in LA Candy – she proves she’s here to stay (as author, and clothing designer).

Lauren returns with her second book Sweet Little Lies, catching up where we last left off with LA Candy – where scheming Madison has whisked Jane away to Mexico to escape the tabloid scandals of her being caught in a tryst with her boyfriend’s best friend. Only Scarlett, Jane’s best friend knows that Madison is not who she’s pretending to be.

The adventure continues with the scandal still having a ripple effect on the four girls, with the tension between Jane and Scarlett as the show, and all its superficiality drive them apart. As I read this, as well as LA Candy – whilst its classed as teen fiction, and its written in that easy to read style – I couldn’t help but keep thinking of her friends on Laguna Beach and the Hills, and wondering who ‘Madison’ represented, or who Gaby would be(my thoughts are Audrina).

LA Candy, and now Sweet Little Lies brings reality TV and all that glitters is faux into the spotlight. There’s always been criticism – which is arguably fair, because of the fact that how ‘real’ can it be when there are cameras around during the most mundane times of the day, or on a date, or at work? On the flipside, of course when cameras are around conversations will be a bit forced, or scripted in order to promote a certain image.

It reads light, and has the appropriate amount of fluff with a liberal dose of very descriptive brand names, labels and hot L.A hangouts which surely will entice anyone to again want what Jane or the author (Lauren) prefers to wear, as America’s sweetheart. I can say the stories within the first two novels definitely will leave me hanging waiting around for the third one, recently officially named as Sugar and Spice.

Available now at Harper Collins RRP $19.99

Premiering tonight (Sunday, 14th June) on HBO is the Season 2 opener for True Blood, probably my 2008 fave new show. It was such a subversive show; hard to describe enough to do it justice. Funny, quirky, dark, oh so graphic (sex & violence wise) True Blood is a vampire show,  created by Alan Ball of Six Feet Under fame that supremely shows how juvenile Twilight is. (Oh why oh why don’t some of you see this?!) The show is also based on a series of best selling novels by Charlaine Harris about a southern barmaid that can read people’s minds in a society and time where vampirism is not a myth but a fact.

If you haven’t seen an episode before, go. Rent it. Watch it. Borrow it off a friend. You will completely forget that Anna Paquin was ever a little girl that couldn’t leave without her piano. (Note the film reference..) And Stephen Moyer plays the most, deceptively dangerous, yet quietly spoken Southern gentleman of a vampire that you will ever come across in Bill Compton.

Wow. It has taken long enough – a film that was shot at least a year ago, and its finally been given a release date of August 14th in U.S cinemas.

If you don’t know about it, its the adapation of a sprawling epic novel by Audrey Niffennegger of a man that time travels, without a Delorean no less and without choice. It happens at the most awkward times, and he always loses his clothes when he ‘lands’. Henry has known Clare since she was little, and she meets him throughout her life, at different ages, and different stages of his own life; younger, or older. Its such an intense read, I needed to be able to put it down at times, and read something lighter, something that I needed to focus on left. Once it was finished, I was bawling my eyes out – something which happens so rarely when I read. I needed the story to continue, I needed the characters to come into existence, they are written with such tangible, and emotional description that to close the book on that last page actually felt like I was letting go of someone and something real.

This is why even the trailer, has me taking a deep breath. It is going to be a real treasure if the movie can do any part of the book justice; even if it doesn’t translate everything (which I really don’t think it can, its so intricate and at times confusing with the constant time traveling, and flash backs and flash forwards) with Eric Bana as Henry and the stunning Rachel McAdams as Clare.. I will certainly be watching this as soon as I can, opening day, a preview screening, watching this with a friend or two and embracing the notion that love can find you at any time, and any place.

Watch the trailer; see for yourself.

I feel as if the subject line, the book, the movie is something I will remember for a very long time.  I should preface that this won’t be a straight out review – it could entirely veer into some embarassing – no. I won’t go there. But it will be a book vs movie review because there are some interesting lessons to learn from both.

The book is written through letters, with headings such as ‘If he’s not calling you..’, or ‘If he’s not sleeping with you…’ through to ‘If he’s not asking you out..’ and so forth. And then letters from supposed women giving examples of guys they’ve met but oh? Maybe they’ve lost their phone. Oh! They probably don’t have credit, and they can’t text back. Or he’s just too busy. He’s a big shot! Too busy! And then the author comes back with; uh.. hello? If he’s into you, NOTHING will stop him.

It totally makes sense! Yet we make all these excuses. Because.. I don’t know why? Don’t ask me. I haven’t yet met someone to make me not be told by my sister that I need to read this book for a bit of tough love.

Then comes the movie..what was it going to be like? Such an ensemble cast with Ginnifer Goodwin, Justin Long, Ben Affleck, Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Connolly, Bradley Cooper, Scarlett Johansson,  Drew Barrymore.. oh man. What. A Cast of eye candy.

That in itself was reason for me to see it, I can’t lie. And I could see from the trailer that it was moments of dating, or long term relationships; waiting by the phone, waiting for a ring, avoiding temptation, all of the things both men and women go through I suppose in hoping that they’ve found the right ‘one’.

When you have such an ensemble cast, you can expect that there have to be ‘lead’ storylines, and the others are just supporting. In my opinion, the strongest stories was Aniston and Affleck as Beth and Neil – a couple living together, happily for 7 years, no ring, no engagement. WHEN was it going to happen? All of the pressure from her family to get married, or what did it mean, did he NOT want to be with her? Was it just convenient?

And there is Goodwin and Long – Gigi and Alex. Gigi is the hopeless romantic girl, the eternal optimist and the one you have to shake your head at, constantly waiting by the phone (but I SO want that pink phone she has in her apartment!), or thinking her cell phone has lost reception, or maybe she missed the call altogether. Or she was in the shower. And despite not being called, or waiting for so long.. she happily moves on; whilst asking bar owner Alex for advice, seeing as he told her bluntly about her first date with Conor (Kevin Connolly) the one that ended with a polite ‘nice to meet you’ ; He’s NOT interested.

Throughout the film, Alex teaches Gigi all about the ‘Rules’ as described throughout the book, guiding her through some awkward first dates, or ‘auditions’ and just how NOT interested these guys are. Oh, and the remarkably romantic exceptions she hears of, are merely those; exceptions.

Then there is Bradley Cooper & Jennifer Connelly.. and Scarlett Johansson. Oh man, ever since Alias where Bradley was Will Tippin, Sydney’s best friend; I’m so happy he’s had some recent success with this role, and in the Yes Man. But I digress. Cooper and Connelly play Ben & Janine, married, renovating their apartment, but there’s something missing. A spark? I’m not sure if its the character.. but I just found Janine to be cold, and lacking of any real ‘warmth’ to her. But then, sorry to say – next to Scarlett Johannsson as Anna. She. Is breathtaking. And the chemistry she and Ben share, phwooar! And.. they play James Morrison’s You Make It Real. And during another sweet scene, Keane’s Somewhere Only We Know. I am such a sucker for a great movie soundtrack.

All of the characters mix together, indirectly, or directly, and are friends with each other, or Anna knows Conor, and then Conor meets Drew Barrymore, and so on and so forth and for about a 2 hour film.. or was it over; I didn’t look at my watch once. Not once. I had a great laugh, and during some moments was worried there wouldn’t be a happy ending, or when there were amazingly romantic scenes, or heck.. Ben Affleck doing the dishes, I’m sure I let out a loud girly whimpering sound. Or at the scene where Gigi was nervously trying to get a guy’s attention, or Beth getting embarassed by a distant cousin saying she has a few miles left on this ‘model’, I and a few others in the cinema surely groaned and laughed awkwardly, possibly because we’ve all been through it.

It just completely won me over, and although it is a movie with some tough love.. it still makes me feel okay that I’m a completely romantic sooky la la.

Let’s get this straight, just because I’m female does not mean I’m all crazy about Sex & The City. In fact, it never really grabbed me. Sure I saw some of the appeal, and sometimes I do characterize myself as a bit of a ‘Charlotte’ – but its not something I could watch over and over again. So when I got excited to see Lipstick Jungle, it wasn’t going to be a new SATC – it was just new.

The lives of three career women, less haute couture conscience than their first Candace Bushnell imagined counterparts, played by Kim Raver, Lindsay Price and Brooke Shields seemed more realistic, more relatable than Sarah Jessica Parker ever could be in mink, and a tutu, and heels.  I mean, for me coming in on a random episode, the haute couture fashions of a columnist was more distracting than anything, and the plot wasn’t at the forefront when it should have been.

I digress! Kim Raver plays Nico, stoic fashion magazine editor. Lindsay Price a young fashion designer named Victory, who is just coming off a bad review of one of her shows, and then Brooke Shields as career woman Wendy, wife and mother, head of an award winning film production company. Whilst all careers sound equally glamorous and stereotypically so, the show digs a bit deeper to show the frustrations within each job, and the hard work each must endure, or the sacrifices made in order to just get by each day. Wendy, sacrificing family time whilst they grow closer to their father; or Nico, fighting to stay in control of a competitive magazine empire, whilst men around her clamour to see her fall, whilst her marriage to a college professor is nothing exciting to go home to.

Overall, what makes the show most enjoyable is the friendship between the women, and no they don’t tell each other everything, they each have their own secrets, or at least they don’t tell each other everything immediately, but they don’t agree on everything. Nico is often accused of being ice cold, and less ‘oh, cry on my shoulder’ than Victory is, whilst Victory herself is accused of being naive, and Wendy is accused of neglecting her family sometimes… all this only makes them more endearing.

Which leads me to the book, Candace Bushnells’ original imagining for the three -.. which straight away bothered me that they were in their mid 40s. Okay, sorry. Not bothered me but perhaps I don’t see them as having these issues whilst middle aged. Or perhaps I can’t relate, and hope that I don’t wait until my 40s to find love! Yeah.. maybe that’s it.

But what also sets the book apart from the TV show interpretation is that all the women are so ensconced in their careers, they really do lose sight of what is really important. Yes, its definitely important to be empowered in the workplace, and to feel like women are equals with men in the office – but the women are written as so cold, more than stoic, just cut throat, cunning, and nowhere near  emotionally approachable, or feminine in the way the three actresses convey.  Wendy’s husband in the book is also a cruel, malicious manipulative man, the children the most spoilt, and likely to grow up to be Paris Hilton’s proteges. That’s just to name a few differences.

Even Nico’s affair with Kirby isn’t written as warmly as it appears on screen, and Nico’s thoughts of Kirby are purely superficial, purely physical. Perhaps that is what it was meant to happen, but immediately aside from Robert Buckley being faint, and fall off your chair gorgeous, the chemistry, and the way he really connected with Kim Raver, and the way their relationship developed – it was more than physical. I’d rather have that than what Candace Bushnell envisaged.

It's all sparkly..

As much as I love crime novels, and great courtroom dramas – I’m a girly girl and absolutely love chick-lit, though I hate saying that, so let’s go with fluffy light romantic novels. I didn’t know what I was looking for when I found this, but it sparkled, it was a lovely cover, and thus – I do judge books by their covers.

This is about Emma who is at her wit’s end dealing with her hunky, rich but reliably unreliable, and drunk boyfriend Leo, who turns up plastered at her 30th birthday, and she decides then and there to be done with him. They’ve broken up many times before, but this is it. Or is it? Soon, Leo meets someone, a beautiful unpredictable girl who changes Leo in so many ways, for the better, much to the pains of Emma, who still misses him. Does he still miss her? This is such a cutesy novel, well written, and well paced, detailing not just how the breakup affects Leo or Emma, but the friends around them, and if they would only reuinite.. it would be magical.