SMASH!

GUYS!!!! There's a show about broadway musicals, and it is obviously amazeballs in neonlights. 

Season 1 has just begun to air in South Africa on Mnet Series, Thurs 19h30 but has already finished in the states - and yes, it has been picked up for second season. You'll love it especially if you're in the industry, or just like watching talented people kicking ass. 

Without giving much away, basic storyline follows the makings of a Broadway musical based on Marilyn Monroe. The cast includes American Idol runner up Katherine McPhee as a newbie actress/waitress, Megan Hilty as the talented but never a star been-in-the-business-for-10years girl, Will & Grace's Debra Messing as co-writer of the new musical and some other peeps you'll recognise.

It's just very cool ok, even Blue Eyes sorta maybe enjoyed it :P

Thursday Thought

Tuesday Tune: Freshly Ground 'Take Me To The Dance'

Just LOVING this new tune from local SA band Freshly Ground. More electro sound from them, and the tune just makes me wanna jam.

Found a clip of them performing on SABC 3 morning show, Expresso:

Thursday Thought

Tuesday Tune: Charlotte Martin covers 'Wild Horses'

Another cover for Tuesday Tune and another So You Think You Can Dance discovery!

'Wild Horses' is such a classic coming from one of the coolest rock bands EVER, The Rolling Stones (off their 1971 album, Sticky Fingers). I heard this version on the latest season of SYTYCD when choreographer Mandy Moore used it for a contemporary piece danced by Lindsay and Cole. The cover comes from an American singer/songwriter Charlotte Martin - who also happens to be Miss Illinois Teen USA 1994. It is off her first full-length album, On Your Shore, released in 2004.

Here is the full version from Charlotte Martin:

And the dance from So You Think You Can Dance Season 9

Win a Trip to New York City!

Ug. It's like everyone collectively decided to disappear to NYC suddenly, and the jealousy is unbearable! And then today a competition emerged with a first prize of a trip to the Big Apple. Check it out here

1886 Steampunk

Spot me as the wind-up dancer in this steampunk concept piece shot by Adrian Lazarus at Truth Coffee Cult. 
1886 Steam Punk from Adrian Lazarus on Vimeo.

Happy Monday Morning!

Start of a new week, lots of enthusiastic optimism - even if the Cape Town wind is howling outside, and the possibility of me making it to gym is rather minuscule (because it's cold outside and that is hard). However this Monday morning we don't get to complain, because last night that Austrian guy decided to jump from the stratosphere casually back to earth. So no, Monday is perfectly dealable. You are above letting the weather affect your mood. And you are more than capable of being proactive in conquering some personal quests. Except I think I'll have some more coffee first. Good coffee is very important on Monday mornings.

And something to ponder over said coffee:

People will find you ploughing your potato field and attempt to make you feel guilty for failing to harvest spinach.

What Should I Read Next?

Found an awesomely cool site that suggests books to read based on books you've enjoyed. All one does is type in the title of a book and then a list pops up of suggestions one may like. Delightful :) Off to the library I go!
http://www.whatshouldireadnext.com/index.php

It's Friday! Where is my rainbow cake?

Thursday Thought

Tuesday Tune: Sleeping At Last 'Turning Page'

I discover a lot of cool tunes through my utter devotion to So You Think You Can Dance, the show wows me and reignited my passion and drive for the art form. But along with witnessing such amazing performaces and choreography, is finding gorgeous pieces of music.

This is just lovely. The band Sleeping At Last 

Please excuse the horrid twilighty video... just close your eyes and soak it all in :)

TURNING PAGE

Written by: Ryan O'Neal (Sleeping At Last)

i've waited a hundred years.but i'd wait a million more for you.nothing prepared me forwhat the privilege of being yours would do.

if i had only felt the warmth within your touch,if i had only seen how you smile when you blush,or how you curl your lip when you concentrate enough,i would have known what i was living for all along.what i've been living for.

your love is my turning page,where only the sweetest words remain.every kiss is a cursive line,every touch is a redefining phrase.

i surrender who i've been for who you are,for nothing makes me stronger than your fragile heart.if i had only felt how it feels to be yours,well, i would have known what I've been living for all along.what i've been living for.

though we're tethered to the story we must tell,when i saw you, well, i knew we'd tell it well.with a whisper, we will tame the vicious seas.like a feather bringing kingdoms to their knees.

Thursday Thought

Hemp Now!

Hemp. Heard of it? Perhaps accompanied by thoughts of pot-smoking hippies? 

In reality, hemp is an incredible plant. A weed in fact, which means it grows REALLY easily. It's extremely versatile and can be used in the production of numerous products, and most importantly - it's super duper environmentally friendly. The problem with hemp, is that it's associated with marijuana and illegal drug use, even though the cultivar farmed for produce is different to the illegal dope kind. It seems to be very difficult to separate the arguments of allowing legal marijuana use and lifting the ban on hemp farming, and they are two really different issues and ones that can be engaged with separately. 

I recently took part in a photo shoot as part of an awareness campaign for hemp and its uses. As mentioned before, I've been working with Miss Earth South Africa since 2008 and am still quite involved in the organisation, and it was through this connection that I came to be a part of Hemp Now's campaign. The newly crowned current Miss Earth SA, Tamerin Jardine and I shot in Noordhoek at Hemp House (yes, a house built with hemp) in hemp clothes along with a gazillion different types of hemp products, from beauty products to hemp milk to hemp surfboards - you name it, there's a hemp-made one! Whilst the official photos haven't been released yet... I do have a few sneaky behind the scenes ones.

There is now an official South African hemp petition to be signed, and can be found at http://www.hempnow.co.za/ - please go have a squizz at it. Hemp products can be found at The Body Shop and Hemporium.