Humpday Hottie: Jamie Dornan

Time to say hello to Christian Grey! Ok, admittedly - I got through only a couple chapters of the book, I was just really battling to buy into it. But now that this Irish actor is taking the lead reigns (wink), I miiiight be persuaded otherwise; talk about 50 Shades of Swoon. 

Born James Dornan on 1 May 1982, Jamie grew up in the suburbs of Belfast, Northern Ireland. Whilst at boarding school he played rugby and got stuck-in with the drama department (my favourite combination). He used to be in a folk band called 'Sons of Jim' (serenade session anyone?).

It seems whenever I've had an unknown hot guy swoon moment, it's actually been Jamie Dornan.
Sophia Coppola's Marie Antoinette, he played Count Axel Fersen; do we blame Marie for flirting? No.

Then I saw some very steamy Calvin Klein adverts with Eva Mendes, and boy did I want to be her.

(Let's look at that one a little bit closer...)

Recently, I saw him in the TV series 'Once Upon A Time' as the hot sheriff...

Who was also The Huntsman

Unfortunately dear friends, he is off the market: recently married and expecting his first child! 
(Jamie as a daddy will certainly get me swooning even more...)

But don't despair, here a few more pics to get you weak in the knees

Tuesday Tune: Lou Reed 'Walk on the Wild Side'

American rock legend Lou Reed passed away this weekend. He was the guitarist, vocalist, and principal songwriter of the Velvet Underground before embarking on a solo career that spanned several decades. 'Walk On The Wild Side' was released in 1973 (a year into solodom) to not much commercial success although deemed a chart hit. 

Holly came from Miami, F.L.A.

Hitch-hiked her way across the U.S.A.

Plucked her eyebrows on the way

Shaved her legs and then he was a she

She says, "Hey babe, take a walk on the wild side"

He said, "Hey honey, take a walk on the wild side"

Candy came from out on the island

In the backroom she was everybody's darlin'

But she never lost her head

Even when she was giving head

She says, "Hey babe, take a walk on the wild side"

He said, "Hey babe, take a walk on the wild side"

And the colored girls go

Doo do doo, doo do doo, doo do doo

Little Joe never once gave it away

Everybody had to pay and pay

A hustle here and a hustle there

New York City's the place where they said

"Hey babe, take a walk on the wild side"

I said, "Hey Joe, take a walk on the wild side"

Sugar plum fairy came and hit the streets

Lookin' for soul food and a place to eat

Went to the Apollo, you should've seen 'em go go go

They said, "Hey sugar, take a walk on the wild side"

I said, "Hey babe, take a walk on the wild side"

Alright, huh

Jackie is just speeding away

Thought she was James Dean for a day

Then I guess she had to crash

Valium would have helped that bash

She said, "Hey babe, take a walk on the wild side"

I said, "Hey honey, take a walk on the wild side"

And the colored girls say

Doo do doo, doo do doo, doo do doo

Map It

Mondays should be (vaguely) educational. I love these maps. I think I should carry around this one particularly with me everywhere, just for those bleh days when one bumps in The Pessimistic South African. There are a few of these sad creatures around (not many in Cape Town, obvs). But next time I'm enduring painful complaining I'll whip this map out and say, 'SEE! We're NOT the leaders in corruption! Nor homicide, nor fascist movements (points dramatically to Britannia), not even deadly shark attacks! So why don't you hop on off to Oudtshoorn, and go for an exhilarating ostrich ride!'

(If you can't see it big enough here's the link: http://thedoghousediaries.com/large/5414.png )

Example of exhilarating ostrich ride:

Tuesday Tune: 'Emmylou' - First Aid Kit

Blue Eyes sent me this song when I was working in India and he in the States, it's a cutie

Oh the bitter winds are coming in,

And I'm already missing the summer.

Stockholm's cold but I've been told

I was born to endure this kind of weather.

When it's you I find like a ghost in my mind,

I am defeated and I gladly wear the crown.

Chorus:

I'll be your Emmylou and I'll be your June

And you'll be my Gram and my Johnny too.

No, I'm not asking much of you

Just sing little darling, sing with me.

Now so much I know, that things just don't grow

If you don't bless them with your patience.

And I've been there before, I held up the door

For every stranger with a promise.

But I'm holding back,

That's the strength that I lack,

Every morning keeps returning at my window.

And it brings me to you,

And I won't just pass through,

But I'm not asking for a storm.

Chorus:

I'll be your Emmylou and I'll be your June

And you'll be my Gram and my Johnny too.

You know I'm not asking much of you,

Just sing little darling, sing with me.

And yes, I might have lied to you,

You wouldn't benefit from knowing the truth.

I was frightened but I held fast,

I need you now at long last.

I'll be your Emmylou and I'll be your June

And you'll be my Gram and my Johnny too.

No, I'm not asking much of you,

Just sing little darling, sing with me.

Lily Meyers - 'Shrinking Women'

When i was 13 and announced I wanted to be a lawyer, my mother told me that female lawyers were too hard and unemotional.

When I ferociously jumped into opinionated debate, I was told to calm & quieten down because I would intimidate boys and no one will want to marry me.

I fear I have started to shrink.

Bryan Cranston's Advice to Aspiring Actors

Some good thoughts to ponder if you're an artist

My dog - the paradox

Tuesday Tune: 'Call Me Maybe' - Vintage Jukebox cover

I'm absolutely loving these vibey vintage covers, they just put me in a super duper good mood and get me Charleston-ing through my day (no but really).

This bubbly little cover will have you jiving with champagne in no time

Keeks in the Kitchen: Chicken Laksa

Super Easy. Super Quick. Super Healthy. Super Winning.

SERVES 4

3 3/4 cups canned low-fat coconut milk
generous 3 3/4 cup chicken stock
2-3 tbsp laksa paste
3 skinless, boneless chicken breasts about 175g each, sliced into strips
250g cherry tomatoes, halved
250g snow peas, halved diagonally
200g dried rice noodles
1 bunch fresh coriander (cilantro), coarsely chopped

Method
1. Pour the coconut milk and stock into a saucepan and stir in the laksa paste. Add the chicken strips and simmer for 10-15 minutes over gentle heat, or until chicken is cooked through.
2. Stir in the tomatoes, snow peas and noodles. Simmer for an additional 2-3 minutes. Stir in the coriander and serve immediately. 

Emmy Awards Nominations

It's award show time! The best of the silver screen will be honoured Sunday night in Hollywoodland. Half a day ahead in Hong Kong, I'm hoping I can spend my Monday hiding from the typhoon live-streaming the statue-giving. (Don't you dare mess with my internet Mr Super Storm).

Here's a list of all the 2013 Emmy nominations for your perusal: 

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series

Bryan Cranston as Walter White, Breaking Bad

Hugh Bonneville as Robert, Earl of Grantham, Downton Abbey

Damian Lewis as Nicholas Brody, Homeland

Kevin Spacey as Francis Underwood, House of Cards

Jon Hamm as Don Draper, Mad Men

Jeff Daniels as Will McAvoy, The Newsroom

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Vera Farmiga as Norma Bates, Bates Motel

Michelle Dockery as Lady Mary Crawley, Downton Abbey

Claire Danes as Carrie Mathison, Homeland

Robin Wright as Claire Underwood, House of Cards

Elisabeth Moss as Peggy Olson, Mad Men

Connie Britton as Rayna James, Nashville

Kerry Washington as Olivia Pope, Scandal

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie

Michael Douglas as Liberace, Behind the Candelabra

Matt Damon as Scott Thorson, Behind the Candelabra

Toby Jones as Alfred Hitchcock, The Girl

Benedict Cumberbatch as Christopher Tietjens, Parade's End

Al Pacino as Phil Spector, Phil Spector

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie
Jessica Lange as Sister Jude Martin, American Horror Story

Laura Linney as Cathy Jamison, The Big C

Helen Mirren as Linda Kenney-Baden, Phil Spector

Sigourney Weaver as Elaine Barrish Hammond, Political Animals

Elisabeth Moss as Robin, Top of the Lake

Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program
Ryan Seacrest, American Idol

Betty White, Betty White's Off Their Rockers

Tom Bergeron, Dancing With the Stars

Tim Gunn and Heidi Klum, Project Runway

Cat Deeley, So You Think You Can Dance

Anthony Bourdain, The Taste

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series
Jason Bateman as Michael Bluth, Arrested Development

Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper, The Big Bang Theory

Matt LeBlanc as Matt LeBlanc, Episodes

Don Cheadle as Marty Kaan, House of Lies

Louis C.K. as Louie, Louie

Alec Baldwin as Jack Donaghy, 30 Rock

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Laura Dern as Amy, Enlightened

Lena Dunham as Hannah Horvath, Girls

Edie Falco as Jackie Peyton, Nurse Jackie

Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope, Parks and Recreation

Tina Fey as Liz Lemon, 30 Rock

Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Selina Meyer, Veep

Outstanding Reality-Competition Program
The Amazing Race

Dancing With the Stars

Project Runway

So You Think You Can Dance

Top Chef

The Voice

Outstanding Variety Series

The Colbert Report

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart

Jimmy Kimmel Live

Late Night With Jimmy Fallon

Real Time With Bill Maher

Saturday Night Live

Outstanding Miniseries or Movie

American Horror Story: Asylum

Behind the Candelabra

The Bible

Phil Specter

Political Animals

Top of the Lake

Outstanding Comedy Series

The Big Bang Theory

Girls

Louie

Modern Family

30 Rock

Veep

Outstanding Drama Series

Breaking Bad

Downton Abbey

Game of Thrones

Homeland

House of Cards

Mad Men

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Bobby Cannavale as Gyp Rosetti, Boardwalk Empire

Jonathan Banks as Mike Ehrmantraut, Breaking Bad

Aaron Paul as Jesse Pinkman, Breaking Bad

Jim Carter as Mr. Carson, Downton Abbey

Peter Dinklage as Tyiron Lannister, Game of Thrones

Mandy Patinkin as Saul Berenson, Homeland

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Anna Gunn as Skyler White, Breaking Bad

Maggie Smith as Dowager Countess of Grantham, Downton Abbey

Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen, Game of Thrones

Christine Baranski as Diane Lockheart, The Good Wife

Morena Baccarin as Jessica Brody, Homeland

Christina Hendricks as Joan Harris, Mad Men

Jane Krakowski as Jenna Maroney, 30 Rock

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Adam Driver as Adam Sackler, Girls

Jessie Tyler Ferguson as Mitchell Pritchett, Modern Family

Ed O'Neill as Jay Pritchett, Modern Family

Ty Burrell as Phill Dunphy, Modern Family

Bill Hader as various characters, Saturday Night Live

Tony Hale as Gary Walsh, Veep

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Mayim Bialik as Amy Farrah Fowler, The Big Bang Theory

Jane Lynch as Sue Sylvester, Glee

Sofia Vergara as Gloria Pritchett, Modern Family

Julie Bowen as Claire Dunphy, Modern Family

Merritt Wever as Zoey Barkow, Nurse Jackie

Anna Chlumsky as Amy Brookheimer, Veep

26, unmarried and childless

Absolutely LOVED reading this article I found on convergemagazine.com written by Amanda Bast

“What’s Next?”

Both of my brothers recently had kids that more than likely complete their families. They’re both older than me, so it makes sense they’re at a different stage. They met and married their wives, they bought dogs and they had kids, all in a nice little sequence. I love watching them build their lives together. It’s a really good thing. When my last brother got married, I was in my early twenties. No one uttered anything about me getting married then.

But now? I’m 26 years old, unmarried, and childless. The comments are starting.

“What’s next?”

“When are you getting married?”

“Babies look good on you!”

“Better get started!”

I shouldn’t be overly concerned with what they’re saying. They’re only teasing or encouraging me with the next step in my life. It’s harmless! No one means anything by it, it’s just time for me to be heading in the same direction as my peers. It makes sense. I get it.

But it doesn’t feel very nice.

Believe me, I am fully aware that I am unmarried and childless. Heck, I don’t even have a real job at this point in time. I’m aware that I’m getting older. I’m aware that I’m not following the same patterns as my parents or my brothers or many of my peers. I’m aware that my biological clock is ticking. OH MY GOSH I AM SO AWARE.

So when you — friends, family, acquaintances, Twitter followers and blog readers — remind me that I’m far behind where one would expect to be at my age, it makes me feel broken. I feel like I’ve done something wrong. I feel like I’m letting you down or making some horrible mistake.

I am 26 years old.
I don’t have a husband. I don’t have children. I don’t have a career.

Instead of relishing in the freedom, blessings and limitless possibilities that this stage of life offers me, I am left frozen, feeling like I’m not enough. Like what I’ve done doesn’t really matter or that I’ve accomplished nothing. I’m an outcast. I’m defective. I’m panicked. When you comment on my life stage as if there was something I could do to change it, it makes me feel inadequate. Most days I truly do love where I’m at right now, but when people question my marital status, I think I’m messing up my chances to do anything worthwhile with my life.

What if my ultimate goal has nothing to do with marriage or kids or a career? What if my aim was to love people well, and to fully embrace the gifts I’ve been given? Would that be enough? What if my life goal was to simply run the race, to be called a good and faithful servant at the end of it all? Maybe that would mean marriage and children and a thriving career, but maybe it wouldn’t. Is it ok if it doesn’t?

When you ask when I’m getting married, I don’t have an answer for you. When you hint at me having kids, it makes me jealous of new parents. When you prod about my lack of a stable career, I get frustrated. When you ask these questions, it doesn’t help me grow. It doesn’t help me feel content with where I am. It does more damage than you realize. Maybe you’re just trying to make conversation or small talk, or maybe you’re genuinely interested in my life. For that, I’m very appreciative.

I would like to suggest one thing, though: instead of asking me what’s next, ask me what’s now. Ask me what God is teaching me, ask me what I’m struggling with, or what brings me joy. I am learning, I am growing, and I am happy. I would love to tell you all about it.

I am 26 years old. I don’t have a husband. I don’t have children. I don’t have a career. I don’t have what people expect I should have, but I am abundantly blessed with absurd, exhilarating, and fantastic things I would have never dreamed up on my own.

So please, my dear friends, don’t ask me what’s next. Ask me what’s now.

Amanda Bast has this secret ambition to be the world’s first ever sit-down comedian. For now, she teaches tiny children and writes on the side. Check out more of her musings atmandimarie.com or follow her on Twitter @mandiemariebee.

Amanda can be found at http://mandiemarie.com.

Tuesday Tune - 'We Can't Stop' vintage cover

Let's all just forget about this Miley crass train, and pretend we're in an age of shimming and sparkle (and no twerking). Here's a cute little cover of Ms Cyrus's current hit:

Tuesday Tune: 'We Are Never Getting Back Together' cover by Angie Miller

Ohhhh, I love me some good covers. I love me some Taylor Swift (seriously, why aren't we friends yet?!). And I'm also rather partial to spending Sundays lazying on the couch watching American Idol (or be it, any and every day when you leave the country and set the season to record...)

AI isn't all great, but the meh parts are always worth dealing with when the upside is discovery artists like Angie Miller. This is a cover she did before entering the Idols realm. Her clarity is incredible and I really love how she's managed to make a song that's become a bit cheesy with replays (and fast climbing up the ladder of drunk karaoke standards) into meaningful and heartfelt. 

Enjoy x x x

Tuesday Tune: 'A Thousand Years' cover by Boyce Avenue

Beautiful song by one of my favourite cover artists

Royal Baby Family Pic

Loving the realness of these royals, also the doggie :)

Springfield vs Herschel Hockey

Nothing like a bit of friendly school rivalry (clearly I'm a Springfield girl).
Good luck to my alma mater when they take on Herschel in hockey Friday 16 Aug

Thursday Thought

Starlings Cafe

Being a Southern Suburbs girl, this cafe name has been swirling around my social circles but no one had fully let me in on the secret (not even my own mother!). 

But here I am back in Cape Town after many a months, on a crisp Sunday morning with Blue Eyes trying to find a good ending to the 'Where should we have brunch' thought path. "What about Starlings?", says his mum, "It's just down the road, that-a-way", she waves. Close is good we think. We hope for the best, but try keep the expectations on a slow simmer - it's just suburbia afterall. We head 'that-a-away', parking in the vague direction and take a stroll down Belvedere in hopes that something magical may just appear.

And then just like that, there are people heading through a little garden gate and we follow the smell of good coffee, strolling in confidently like we've been in on the secret the whole time. And it's a good secret. 

Like most good Sunday mornings, it begins with a cup of good coffee and since Starlings serves Origin Coffee this particular Sunday morning began with a great cup. From there I may have done a lot of um, ahhh, oohhh, hmmmm's as the breakfast menu all looked ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS but thankfully for once Blue Eyes too looked a tad undecided.

 I went with the Salmon Pancake/Omelette that came with avo and a tomato salsa. Blue Eyes ordered the Cheese Souffle with parma ham and stated that "it was the best thing I've eaten all year" (this is a big deal ). He even let me taste, a little, and it was incredible. But I'll have you know there was no need for food envy from my side, my plate was fantastico *so wows all round*

We were both very sad that this secret had been hidden from us for so long, but it is awfully exciting to unexpectantly have one's expectations blown out of the water so on a simple Sunday morning.

Starlings Cafe
94 Belverdere Road, Claremont
Twitter @StarlingsCafe
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/StarlingsCafe

Happy Monday Morning!

August!

Humpday Hottie: Mike Vogel

 When I was in highschool, my little skateboard loving brother rented a film. Which he then continued to rent numerous times over because it was 'so cool'. I didn't complain, because the lead actor was 'like so cute'. So began our numerous screenings of 'Grind' and my decade-long crush on American not-so-famous actor, Mike Vogel.

Vogel was born in 1979 and hails from Pennsylvania, which is conveniently close to dear New York City and its array of acting and modelling castings. He started out in the modelling world (are we surprised? No.) as a Levi's guy (yummy) and was later cast in the tv series 'Grounded for Life'. Grind was released in 2003 and then he popped up two years later in the screen adaptation of The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants (the teenage crushing continued). 

He's continued to have supporting roles in decent films (Poseidon, Rumor Has It etc) but has recently resurfaced on my radar playing 'Barbie' in the new TV series, The Dome. I wasn't convinced I wanted to start watching the show, but then I saw he was in it and the teenage girl in me stayed tuned (Yes, I'm quite into it now).

Sadly, I have to inform y'all that he is in-fact married. With 3 daughters. Although that is quite adorable in its own right. And he's definitely quite the yummy daddy. Mmmmm.